#Anya is really fun to me because she does so much so quietly

[blissfulrain12]

why do you think Anya told Jimmy she was pregnant when she did?

she clearly knows jimmy might become violent. did she just want to rip the bandaid off, so to speak? did she think he'd be weirded out by the pregnancy and stop abusing her sexually? did she just panic?

this is one facet of the story I'm still scratching my head about. maybe there isn't a clear answer, but you have a ood grip on the characters and their motivations. what do you think?

Anya's hard to pin down but from my understanding of her so far she tells Jimmy because she's trying to regain control of her situation. She's telling Jimmy, in her own way, that he messed up. He can't hide what he did.

Anya and Curly are paralleled, so where Curly is defined by inaction Anya is defined by action. Anya is smart, determined, and a planner. She's a problem solver. When she was denied medical school she found a way to be a nurse anyway. When she met the crew of the Tulpar she started studying psychology. When she noticed her Captain was stressed she reached out. When Jimmy made his psych eval hard to do she told someone. Post crash she basically leads Jimmy around by the nose.

So when it came to her SA she took action. When Anya confronts Jimmy she's made her position as favorable as she can. The most lethal weapon on the ship is under her control and the Captain believes her. So yeah, I can see why she felt she could take back control here. She has evidence (the pregnancy) and Curly will back up her word when/if she goes to authorities so Jimmy better back up.

The thing is Anya is amazing but she's not perfect and sometimes action isn't the right thing to do either. She misjudged the level/type of danger Jimmy was. In the way that Curly failed to see the abuse for what it was while Anya did, Anya failed to see how Jimmy reacts to things while Curly did.

Curly fawns and freezes because Jimmy escalates. Jimmy's the kind of person who matches what's given to him. The type that thinks it's unfair if he doesn't have the last hit even if he hit first. When Curly brings up that Jimmy struggled Jimmy tells him the praise he gets is annoying. When Curly tries to argue back during the birthday scene Jimmy slams his hand on the table. When Swansea kills Daisuke with the axe Jimmy gets the gun.

So Anya wanted Jimmy to back down but he escalated instead. He leaves her sobbing and wanting him gone. I think if she knew this side of him pre crash she would have handled things more like she does post crash: carefully and indirect.

So Anya told Jimmy because she's a proactive problem solver that thought if she had the gun under control and Curly's support she could get Jimmy to back down not realizing he's more likely to escalate instead.

[oh-for-fic-sake]

The Stand In Chapter Fourteen

Masterlist

Summary: After your little adventure in the meadow henry has no issues with showing off the budding relationship. And you soon find that the closer you got the harder it was to ignore the attraction between you both. Henry was suffering just as much as you, so why not just ask to help?

Warnings: Adult Situations 18+, Smut, No Minors!!, Swearing, Hand Job, Slight Sounding, Ruined Orgasm, Horny Nerds Being Horny, Violence, Heated confrontation Fluff.

A/N: so ended up switching a few things around on this one. I'm proud of this though, I'm trying to make this realistic with their interactions with the anxiety and nerves but in the end love conquers all. I hope you all enjoy xx

wordcount: 21,000+ (sorry 😅)

Taglist- many tags aren't working and I'm unsrue why so I'm going to add them ass reblogs to try and fix it.

You shrunk into the seat of the car as henry pulled into set. He swung the car around parking it just between your and joeys buses. You saw Joey, Tee and Anya watching you both from the small tent awning Joey had on the front of his bus. They eyed you knowingly as they sat outside in the shade having a little break between takes.

"You know I forgot how fun these little Peugeots are! Shes like a little turbo go cart!" Henry said grinning ear from ear as he flicked off the ignition. And leaned slumping in the seat, then made you jump with a heavy hand landing on your thigh with a clap sound, his hand swooped down between your legs lightly smoothing the tiny swollen wound. You winced a little at the small sting but henry hushed you, pivoting in the seat to face you concerned, hand still smoothing over your leg, then patted as he spoke to you.

"Honey? You doing okay there? You look upset" he said slowly drawing your attention away from the others who were chatting away to one another stealing glances. And your not suprized, henry was driving topless and they could see it no doubt.

"Y-yeah I'm fine... I'm not upset just? Thinking is all?" you stuttered a little turning to face him pressing a hand to his curling your fingers around his thumb. Henry sighed, he could see the worry in your eyes. You were frightened of being judged, for some reason. He had to school his features as you bit your lip. He told himself it was because that had been the first time anything like that had happened. He was going to be your first everything. But you needed time to adjust to it, needed time to realise you were an adult and you were allowed to do these things. That it was okay- more then okay! Perfect even. You needed time to realise you were allowed to fall in love With him, and he had to give you a good enough reason.

"Hey its fine, please don't worry I've got you love, no one will know if we don't tell them... What we do is our business. We don't owe anyone any explanations and even if they do find out about our little naughtiness I doubt they will tell on us" he spoke up, trying to reassure you, he wanted you to know he had your back, that he understood and was with you every step of the way. He could remember his first ever sexual exploration. It was scary and new, but fantastic and rewarding. He wanted you to be comfortable. And you had been! You hadn't given him any indication you hadn't liked it. In fact your all but curled around him afterwards, blushing sweetly and littering his chest with kisses and soft caresses.  

You were both on cloud nine, it was only when he got a few hundred yards away you began getting quiet and shy again. You thought they would know. Mind racing, feeling more and more upset with yourself as he drove the car into the carpark along side the busses.

" y/n if you want to keep this... relationship a secret a little longer I don't mind, I will wait as long as you need love-"

"I-its not that- I'm not ashamed of what we did...or do! I don't care if they know we are... together?" Henry nodded slowly smiling more and more. He couldn't help feeling a small sense of pride, he had a victory! You were coming around! He was ecstatic, it was the first time you ever admitted you were going steady. The first time he had heard you call this what it is. You were together. A couple, courting dating whatever! It all came to the same end result.  

You were his, and he was yours exclusively. Henry was soo caught up in his excitement, the revelation that you were ready to be seen as his little lady about set 'officially' that he had almost missed your next words.

"I just I mean I'm not used to it is all... I'm happy with us though with how things are going...Like the dates and...Exploring and stuff..." you muttered squeezing his thumb in your hand trying not to sound whiney, or childish. But you were embarrassed.

"I just don't want you to feel that you have to let everyone know if you don't want to... if word got out, I don't want to embarrass you" you uttered quietly letting your fears come to light. You were uneasy and aware of what this could be seen as- people could mistake you for boyfriend and girlfriend and you didn't want them to until you knew yourself. For the time being you were just dating. Nothing was set in stone or official yet, and you wasn't going to press him and come across as a selfish, needy little virgin. Your eyes flicked to the others once more and a panic set in.

'what if they knew?- they could see it or smell it... And Henry isn't wearing a top- its fucking drenched! And... Oh my god I'm a fucking slag! They will know! Joey Anya- they would find out and then? Oh god no... This was a bad idea- he's gonna drop you now... Your a fucking slut! And ruined his tank... Because your a slut... OH GOD What is Tee gonna say? Would she judge you too? think your throwing yourself at henry? That you were too easy? Were you a whore? Slut? You'd let him do that in the middle of a fucking field? Wouldn't they all see that as something slutty?... What does he really think of me now?... I'm a fucking cheap slut, I should have stopped him, and... And then I'd? Regret it... could I ever regret it? He fucked me on his tongue?! HE FUCKED ME! OH GOD.. OH MY GOD , TALK ABOUT BAPTISM OF FIRE!... no no I'd  never regret that, never regret my first sexual encounter being with this gorgeous man, strong gorgeous experienced man who had me riding his face like a champ'

Your thoughts raged and you slowly began flushing reliving the way he had managed to have you come undone to thoroughly, but suddenly you were snapped out of them by a warm set of lips pressing sweetly against yours. A hand cupping the back of your neck possessively. You moaned a little as henry pulled you to meet him in the middle of the car, snogging you over the hand break. You shivered drinking him in as he invaded, conquering your mouth with teeth and tongue that had a slightly different taste. Your tummy flipped as you realised it was probably you... But it didn't gross you out? Not like you thought it would, if anything it gave you a rush. He tasted of you, you had branded him in a way. Claimed his mouth for yourself in a new and enticing way. It made you feel smug.

He groaned tightening his hand on your thigh that he still held and began a languid journey north. His hand finally settled twisting cupping your still damp centre makeing you whine and try to arch away from him, stupidly you didn't want him to feel how needy you was for him. Which was silly as he knew by now just how much he turned you on.

"You still there honey?" he purred against your lips smiling as you fluttered your lashes at him, revealing a dazed set of eyes. You bit your lip and nodded trying to ignore the huge possesive hand holding you intimately.

"Good, I'd hate to loose your attention again~ especially when your thinking yourself in circles, making yourself guilty for something you shouldn't." He muttered into your cheek pressing kiss after kiss along the smooth skin moving lower and lower teasing your jaw with a sharp nip. His hand stayed put not moving at all, instead it was you who moved, unable to deny your hips from rolling onto his palm despite your knickers still being wet from your earlier activities. You were weak for him, and you wont even deny it.

"I'm so happy, so happy to hear you say that you don't want to hide love. I want nothing more then to parade you around set, to kiss and cuddle you as I see fit, I find it hard holding back sometimes I just want to scoop you up and steal kisses... Do you really mean it? Can I? Can I love you openly?" He asked in a needy tone you'd not heard before. Your heart seized as the word love left him. 'L-love did he just? HOLY SHIT... OH MY GOD-HE LOVES ME?! I... no no no ... just no he didn't say he loves you... just that he could love you as in affection... but he didn't say I love you so... But... He wants people to see! To know you were... a couple? Or dating, he isn't ashamed or anything! so that must count! It must mean he has real feelings! This isn't a fling! FUCK YOUR NOT IN A FLING! YOUR BUILDING A FUCKING RELATIONSHIP! Fuck yes! That's my man.  My man. Henry Cavill, Mr thunder thighs himself- Geralt of mother fucking Rivia in the flesh- and what tantalising flesh it is... thick and fucking juicy'  

Henry held his breath cursing inwardly as you froze face morphing into shock as he asked his final question. The word love slipping out, he didn't regret it, it was the truth. But he did panic, it was too early for him to say that! Fuck he was only just making this into a semi-public relationship. Still trying to convince you that he wanted you truly and he goes and jumps the gun, saying too much too soon. But he meant every word. Henry was in love with you it was just that simple. He opened his mouth to try and save himself some humiliation of being called out on it, or turned down. God forbid. But a smile lit up your face and you tipped your head to the side becoming shy flushing and twiddling your fingers nervously then spoke sweetly.  

"I-yes Henry... There's no harm, I thought you didn't want to? Not in public anyway..." you uttered feeling light, you hadn't realised how much you had needed to hear him say the words out loud. That he wanted  to be affectionate in public. I mean sure he was a little handsy in front of your parents but that was different they were your parents. But in front of the others? On set?  

But then again you shouldn't be too surprised, the man had kissed you in front of the crew after 'that' scene. At the time you just thought... Well you wasn't sure what you'd thought. But you handt thought it was on purpose, it was an accident wasn't it? He hadn't meant to kiss you or hold you as he did.

"Of course I want to show affection to my girl~ I always want to kiss and hold you but.. I don't want to push you, don't want to frighten you away and screw everything up" he spoke into your jaw still lathering you with kisses then trailed further down, pressing an open mouthed kiss on your neck. You responded quietly groaning when his hot mouth captured your pulse point and his tongue danced over it swiping  across it in fast motions mimicking what he had been doing earlier between your thighs then he pulled back ,sucking hard on the humming vein below making you whine.

"I-I'm not frightened, and  and I don't think you can frighten me aw-ay... or s-screw up. I-I love the time we spend together and the direction we are heading in, I'm just shy and nervous your my-" You stopped the trembling in your voice and stuttering coming to an end. You didn't want to finish that sentence. He wasn't your anything, you went on dates but there was nothing officially said, he called you his but never his girlfriend or other half. So really you wasn't a proper couple quite yet. And honestly you wasn't sure how to approach the subject. Asking him to be your boyfriend seemed to juvenile but saying you wasn't a couple out loud could ruin what relationship you had with one another. It was a risk you didn't want to take.

"I just? I wasn't frightened okay?. Of any of that, I was just ah!~ wond-dering if they will report you for drivi-ing uninsured" you said with a small shy smile gasping placing a hand to his chest as he helped himself to your slim neck, gnawing gently before dragging his teeth over the now damp skin. You groaned as his hand on your crotch began moving slowly side to side fingers curling them, clawing at you teasingly as if trying to tear a hole in your wet knickers.

You gasped and arched at him dropping a hand to his thick wrist as you saw the others eyeing the car curiously. Wondering why you both hadn't got out of the car yet. Henry chuckled pulling away from you completely letting you slump into the seat with a slow breath.

"Oh yeah? Me too I mean me driving your car is technically illegal~ don't tell me your mind was in the gutter?" He said with a cheeky grin and bit his lip sending you an over exaggerated wink. Then opened the door slipping out of the car.

"I-you HENRY!" You called out to him flushing knowing damn well what he had meant! Henry just shook his head at you snorting a laugh and waved a lazy hand to the small group sitting out side joeys bus watching.  

"The one an only honey, now come on out of the car, I think Joey is gonna be sick she doesn't look to happy" Henry said pulling the seat forward releasing the hounds from their seat belts in the back of the car.

"I'm not surprized! Her second car ride and you drove like a mad man!" You snipped exiting the car the  faced henry looking at him over the roof as he scooped up a queasy pup who looked traumatised.

"I'm sorry love these are just too fun!" He said closing the door behind him as Kal darted out of the car, even he seemed to be happy once having all four paws on the ground.

You rolled your eyes and rounded the car taking the keys as Henry locked it then found yourself tucked up beside him under one arm. You tensed as henry directed you both over to the others. You did try to pull away, but it was a knee jerk reaction. This was the first time he had acted like a couple in front of them and honestly? You were nervous. You didn't know why you just were.

Henry squeezed you to him then handed you joey, which you were thankful for, it gave you something to do with your hands. You petted her slowly as she wriggled to get comfy.  

"So where were you two all morning?" Joey asked as you both stood under the shade wanting to be out of the sun asap. It was too damn hot!

Tee watched with a knowing smile, she could definitely tell something had happened but not what. The look she gave meant she'd be hounding you later. Joey was grinning up at you arching his brows the half naked man then you clearly enjoying you both being all snuggly. Then again he had a bet. Anya took a sip of her drink smirking eyeing you carefully, as if you were a puzzle to be solved.

"Well I went to my mums then-" you began with a small rosey tint on your cheeks but Henry added his own two cents.

"We decided to eat alfresco~" Henry piped up smugly, chuckling giving you a little hip bump. You faltered. Huh? What was he playing at?

"Isn't that right love?" He asked suggestively. You snapped your gaze to him shocked. 'Did he really? He wants them to know?! HOLY SHIT! HES FLAUNTING! is this flaunting?... Well he does seem to want them to see you all...Snuggly..Soo? He did mean to show you off? And he did mean to kiss you and hug and be all cosy? FUCK ME YOU LUCKY SLUT! GO GIRL- GET YOUR PUSS EATEN BY A GOD AND THEN HAVE HIM BRAG ABOUT IT?!....No no he is just ? Just?... Okay he is teasing about eating out...AAAAHHHHH YESH! FUCKING YES GET THIS MAN PUSSY WHIPPED! Or a whipped pussy~ fucking hell how did I get here? How is this happening? what if? Wait he is teasing... they wont really figure it out... would they?'

"Ohhoho! Really now? That is interesting~ tell me was it a wholesome meal? did Tinks let you have some dessert?" Joey started wriggling his brows as he spoke drawing you from your thoughts. You squeaked heart skipping a beat realising your mind had wandered into the fan-slut territory once more, she was a rabid fangirl currently squealing and convulsing inside the recesses of your mind foaming at the mouth and weeping from her needy slit reliving the incredible experience Henry had treated you too... And was now casually throwing in everyone's faces.  

As happy as you were to have him being so open about what was happening between you and not making you feel like a sordid secret. You could have died on the spot. Henry laughed boisterously and his cheeks tinged pink, but he nodded making to reply. You panicked dreading what ever was going to come out of his mouth, he seemed like he really had no qualms about letting people know what had happened... Or that you were a 'sort of couple' especially after letting him know you didn't mind being seen, that you wasn't ashamed.  

In fact you think he may have a thing for it with the way his hand dug into your side and his eyes began to darken as they did before he began teasing you. Before Henry could reply you managed to cut him off with what could be classed as a yip more then anything.

"PICNIC! a picnic.. we had a picnic in the meadow... and some lead training for Joey that's all. I want to get her walking nicely" you said quickly. A little too quickly from the looks you were getting from the small group.

"Oh yes! Look at my sweet niece! How grown up she looks with her harness! Was she good?" Tee piped up seeing you were uncomfortable. She could see that something had happened, not bad. But something had you on edge and she didn't want to embarrass you or knock your confidence.

"The princess refused to walk on the grass until Kal walked beside her" Henry added rubbing your side trying to give you a few moments to calm down.

"Y-Yeah, then she darted under him and stayed put!" You sighed rubbing the pup's ears she leaned into you then turned lathering your fingers with kisses before tucking her head down trying to get more ear rubs.  

"Ah yes that's all well and good but I'm more interested in this picnic?" Joey huffed peering at you curiously, but there was a glee barely hidden behind it. He was quivering ready to burst from  excitement.

"It was a little lunch date Joey there's nothing much to tell apart from that" you said slowly trying to wash over what happened.

"Okay Tinks, you had a romantic picnic date... alone in the meadow.. with a half naked Henry-hunk and he got no dessert" Joey clarified with a small smirk putting the pressure on you.

"Yeah err?..." you said quietly trying desperately not to look any of them in the eye as they eye you critically. Henry huffed a laugh and tipped his head to you then tightened his arm around you pressing a small kiss to your head with a chuckle then spoke. You held your breath seeing the teasing look in his eyes and your gut twisted, blood running cold. You made to intervene but this time he was to quick for you to avoid disaster.

"I wouldn't say that, I ended up being treated to peaches and cream love" Henry said mainly to you making the others all gasp and giggle as your face flamed and you blinked up at him dumbly. 'Mother fucker said what now?'

"And I'm sure you enjoyed it?" Anya added with a soft snort finding the little teasing comments funny. Henry beamed down at you and snuggled you closer ,winking down at you. You stood there stupidly blinking trying to figure out just what the fuck was going on. And more importantly what to say, a comment like that was bound to have given up the ghost.

"Very much so!" he hummed leaning down pressing a sweet kiss to your cheek and chuckling as he pulled back.

"Good for you Henry we could all use a treat now and then!" Tee added trying not to laugh too much. You hadn't cried or got upset so it would seem you were fine with a little teasing. Which was good, it meant you were comfortable with the whole thing... Well more comfortable then she initially thought.

"And what a treat it was~" Henry purred into your ear watching you glow for him. You whined and moved pressing weakly at his chest as he snuggled you dragging you around to face him and curling around you, crowding you with his huge mass. You tried squirming away but he was having none of it and poked your sides below your ribs tickling at you until you were arching into him. Then once you stepped closer he could around you properly ensnaring you in his sweet embrace for the world to see..  

The others looked on watching the two of you fawn over one another blissful without a care in the world. Henry growled playfully pinning you to him laughing at the weak protest, and then began rubbing his stubbled face into your cheek. You yelped between whines and small grunts pouting at him. He rolled his eyes then twisted his head pressing dozens of kisses to your cheeks until you stopped whining and began giggling. Giving into him finally planting a solid kiss to his lips making his heart all but burst with pride as the others watched you kiss him!

"So you visited your parent's how are they? I really need to go and eat all their food..." Tee said quietly almost hoping you hadn't heard her as she saw the sheer admiration and love as you gazed to one another. It was about damn time! She doesn't even care what happened on your date now! What ever happened, it seemed the penny had dropped and the both of you were now an item. Hallelujah!

"They are fine, dads back from fishing now" you said to her pulling your eyes away from Henry and rested your head on him winding an arm around his waist holding him sweetly. No one had said anything really, they hadn't been nasty or sent you judgemental looks... So it was okay? Everything was fine! Better then fine it was perfect!

"Yeah he said he'd broken his carp record" Henry added nonchalantly shrugging peering down at you once more. He couldn't stop, and neither did he want to. You were here, in his arms publicly kissing and snuggling without a care! And by god now that he didn't have to hide your relationship he would stare at you as much as he pleased!

"Whoa wait- you met her dad too?" Anya said leaning forward and blinked casting Tee a glace. Even she seemed taken back He had met your dad too.  

"Yeah I went round with Kal to take Tinks on the picnic... It was my idea" Henry frowned not finding it shocking... Was meeting your dad a big deal? He was nervous sure and it was another step forward, meeting your other halves parents. But they were acting like it was a huge revelation.  

"Well fuck me" Tee muttered snorting slapping her thighs.

"Sorry Tee but your not my type~" He quipped smirking prompting a chorus of sighs and scoffs. Henry may be a loved up puppy but he was still a teasing little shit... If anything he was worse, on his own little high as he finally got to parade his woman around~ 'his woman. His no one elses~ fuck and what a woman you were?! Funny sweet cute and sexy... The most adorable cock tease on the planet and all mine! Mine to fuck and kiss as i see fit! God yes! The way you quivered and grinded shy on my tongue~' henry though licking his lips trying to recount to sweetest cunt he'd ever tasted, fresh and wanton!

He wanted to do it all over again all day every day! He'd happily survive of your dripping slit if he could. He hummed deep in his chest eyes fluttering closed and he tucking his face back into the crook of your neck unable to stop his imps from finding your neck once more, perssing a chaste kiss to the bright mark he'd suckled onto the supple skin in the car. Images of just how he'd latch onto the mark later when laying in bed with you, tangle in the sheets as he caged you below him~ 'yes... Fuck yes just roll on top trap your tiny form below him and have his wicked way with you, make you needy and pliant~ maybe grind your hot little pussy until you cum again and again, until your begging... Fuck yes! Make you beg for his mouth on your hot delicious cunt again!' he truly couldn't wait to taste you again, force you to succumb to his pleasure over and over and teach your body to let go and just feel. No anxiety. No fear. No thoughts, just him all over your body making you feel like the sexiest most beautiful woman on the planet. Worshipping you like you deserved to be worshipped!

"Yeah get your own" you snipped playfully squeezing Henry tighter. Henrys eyes snapped open at that and he grinned, you were becoming possessive. Good. Tee burst out laughing as you scrunched your nose at her for a second then gasped covering your mouth and ducked back into Henry's chest shocked by your own little outburst.

"Now now honey. You know I have my eyes firmly set on you~" Henry soothed whilst chuckling and pinching your ass making you jerk into him yipping then huffed at him pouting. But he stuck his bottom lip out at you mocking you and cupped the small sore spot he'd pinched.

"And hands by the looks of it~" Anya spoke wriggling her brows at you. But you just rolled your eyes and held him tighter still hiding somewhat.

"Why you standing like that though?" Joey asked noting the way you were trying not to put to much pressure on one of your legs. Your thigh still ached and you didn't want to pull it.

"She got stung by a wasp" Henry said for you with a sigh. You flushed as the others all sighed heavily with an unsurprised look. As if they didn't even need to question it, of course you'd get stung it just made sense, you freaked out over wasps at one point you had even dived into Freya's bus to escape one... It had been a running joke for days afterwards.

"Oh seriously? You ran didn't you? How many times have I said not to fucking run... Jesus" Tee shook her head at you finding t funny and exhausting. Each time you saw a wasp you ran. Every single time! She can't even begin to count the amount of times in school you'd jump up and haul ass at lunch when a wasp got too close. She would always have to pack up your shit and move spots to a 'safe zone'

"Yes she did, but its fine all sorted isn't it honey" Henry spoke sweetly, biting his lip trying to stop his own chuckles. But it had been funny, the way you growled and attacked then bolted. Running as fast as your little legs could carry you and then dropped to the floor like you'd been shot. He swore he'd seen similar scenes in wonder woman.

"I yeah... He sorted it, its just tender an swollen" you muttered quietly feeling embarrassed. But even you had to admit it was funny... Looking back on it anyway. And it had worked out in your favour so you wont complain too much.

"Well I'm sure a damp cool cloth will help, here why don't you go freshen up and then we can all hang out?" Henry said slowly trying to usher you away knowing you'd probably want to freshen up after he'd made such a mess of you, not even his tank had managed to clean you up properly.

"Yeah we should really start talking about the press tour" Tee quipped eyeing each of you slowly.

"Press tour? I thought you sorted that this morning?" You asked quickly looking at Henry who nodded then tipped his head to the others.

"Well I gave my views it seems I was too late though this lot beat me to it"  

"Beat you-oh about Tinks?" Joey exclaimed cryptically making you frown. You? What did they mean? Had you done something wrong. You made to ask what had been said but Any grinned at you making you relax.

"You our sweet little fairy are not flying solo on any interviews" she announced and you slumped in relief. You'd admit it had begun to play on your mind a bit now that filming was only for another ten weeks or so... Honestly you wasn't even sure when that side of things started.

"Oh thank god really?!" your words came fast as you breathed a massive sigh, a breath you hadn't known you were holding.

"Yes we cant throw you to the wolves can we?" Joey asked rhetorically whilst wiggling his brows. The choice of words made everyone scoff and you rolled your eyes smirking. It was nice having this type of banter so openly for a change without the worry.

"Err... well? Depends on the wolf I guess~" You teased looking to the 'white wolf' who smirked at you quirking a brow at you and gave a fanged 'Geralt' smile.

"Anything you'd like to share with the class honey?" He teased slipping into character for a second eyes becoming hungry even though you'd just fucking fed him... Maybe it true what they said about canines their hunger was never sated! The voice made you shiver, the low octaves making your body melt. You couldn't help it he just had one of those voices... The type of voice that destroyed every females knickers within a ten meter radius, but then using his Geralt rasp like a weapon? Jesus Christ! It was just too sexy! Very unfair really, he was a glorious man there should be a compromise! Like surely this type of perfection should have a flaw! But you'd yet to find it.

"No?... No I err fuck" you stuttered as he smirked smugly and laughed at you then began stepping away from the others with you.

"Soon love. Very soon. I promise" he hummed into your ear making you all flustered again. And with that Henry waved the others off pivoting around and made his way to your trailer deciding it was just too hot for anymore excitement today.

Henry moved through the set, he was in a little mood. Filming had been cancelled for the day, one of the generators that powered the cameras had died due to the heat, so half of set had a power cut. And honestly he was thankful. He was sweating bullets in the armour and it was fucking up the shots!

It had just been a bad day. First he woke up alone in bed, which meant he couldn't snuggle with you as he woke up properly, or feast on your cunt like he'd been trying to for the past few days since finally having you withering on his tongue. Kal had an accident in your bus which wasn't to bad but... He felt guilty as you mopped up the pee. Then he'd burnt his tongue on his coffee, been late getting in the chair and late for the shoot.  

And he just wanted to relax... And have an ice lolly. And to steal you away and feast on you... Probably feast on you then share the ice lolly to cool the both of you... Then go again. Currently he was waltzing across set back to his bus... Well your bus, that both he and Kal had migrated to. It had quickly become his own home away from home. Kal had not been impressed when the both of you left this morning having work to do. The bear didn't like being shut away in the air-conditioned bus with his tiny sister but it was tough luck. The pups wont be able to stand this heat and sometimes you had to do what you had to do. But Henry will make it up to them, he'd sneak some sausages from the food tent as a bribe.

Henry frowned seeing something fly high into the air and then heard yells of excitement. Followed by some loud feminine... Sexy growls and grunts. Curiosity got the better of him and he turned making his way to the large open space.

He came to a halt next to the group of spectators Freya, Anya, Tee and Joey were there watching. He frowned looking into the open space not sure what everyone was watching, you were there chatting with wolfgang and nodded then tugged your headphones on and spun around dragging in a few deep breaths.

Then it happened, you burst forth with a speed he hadn't known you'd had and twisted. You flung your hands out and struck, both hands holding your staff prop. Henrys jaw dropped. You looked fucking magnificent! You twisted and turned roaring angrily in a war cry as your twirled the prop around fluidly wielding it like a blade, in feminine swooping motions and fast twists.

"Why does she have headphones on?" Henry asked slowly eyes still fixed on you as you ran and rolled halting in a crouch baring your teeth in faux anger and bolted forward jumping high and spinning in something akin to a gymnastic move. He gulped watching your tight lithe body work and stretch in ways he'd only dreamed of.

"She's treating it like a dance... The only way she can do it she didn't have the time to learn like you" Anya piped up watching you as you covered ground halting in a jolt.

"What's she listening to?" Joey quipped moving to peek at your phone that was in Tees hand.

"Extended version of Geralt's theme from the first season... Gets her in the right frame of mind... This is for your fight scene Henry..." Tee said showing Joey the screen. There was a collective his and wincing as wolfgang instructed a tall extra to run at you with Geralt's rubber sword prop acting out the fight in Henry's stead. You grunted and staggered back as you were hit and ducked spinning striking the sword tipping 'Geralt' off balance and then tried to retreat only to be hit with 'arrd' and knocked off your feet into a dramatic 'head over heels' tumble.

"WHAT THE FUCK HOW? How did she spin that around her neck?!" Joey cried jumping on the spot as you did a fast back neckroll with the prop whilst ducking from 'Geralt' Tee grinned and eyed you. You were still good.

"She did baton twirling for quite a few years as a kid... She was really good won a few nationals... Its why we gave her the rubber one to practice everything not just close ups" she explained to the group who burst into another round of oo's and ah's as you did another little trick. An angle roll to swap hands and strike.

"She did? You mean she doesn't now?" Freya asked still unable to look away as your practiced your fight scene.

"Nah after she broke her wrist it used to play up she did three more circuits and then had to stop it got to much. She twirls occasionally but she don't compete anymore"  the woman explained watching as the fight began to wind down. Geralt winning.

"Fuck me look at her go! She isn't going down easy!" Joey said leaning forward completely investing in watching his play out even though he knew the outcome.

"Those moves are pretty cool... They look like feminine combat moves." Henry murmured in awe, shifting on his feet eyes glued to your sweaty, panting grunting form. He licked his lips as he watched everything, taking in the erotic sight before him. It was surreal watching someone act out the very moves he himself had been mastering. Watching the way he was going to subdue Keira. Holding her and rolling her to the floor and wrestling her weapon from her. Fuck knows how he is going to manage that without a hard on!

"Yeah its why she did it, her brothers all did karate. She wanted to but aunt Terry wanted sparkles and hairspray so this was the compromise. Y/n got to pretend she was kicking ass when she twirled and her mum got the glitz and glamour of competition." Tees explanation was met with a course of hums in agreement.

"Hey look Henry? Almost the splits lucky boy~..." Joey teased craning his head around to see the giant man. Henry dry swallowed and nodded jaw locking. He could see. You had managed to right yourself only to drop to the floor again staggering trying to dodge the well aimed hits.

"...A very loose set of hips...So even with the size difference you'll be good to go to town henners~" Freya added giggling behind her hand at him. henry hung his head and sighed. His arms crossed and fingers dug almost painfully into his biceps, willing his cock to stop twitching from the sight before him.  

"Oh fuck me..." he muttered quietly shaking his head and took another deep breath composing himself before returning his gaze to the dirt covered growling sexy vixen working her ass off to try and perfect the scene.

"She probably would if you asked nicely like a good boy.. Maybe a pretty please with a cherry on top? Seriously you gotta hurry up and tap that Henry, she wont make the first move you know~" Tee snorted out making everyone laugh. Henry grit his teeth. If only they knew, when he had you spread eagle before him there was only one cherry one his mind... And it wasn't going to be from him begging.  

Suddenly there was a cry. A true cry of pain that snapped everyone's attention to you. You were on the floor alone, your leg at a painful angle. It had been a running scene and your training partner was nowhere near you. It was obvious by the skid marks your slipped, one leg had stretched from under you and you crumpled to the floor landing on the other leg heavily.

Henry froze for a second and then snarled as he saw Mathew race to your side and start pulling at you trying to heave you up off the floor. You pushed at him hissing and yelping trying to bat him away crying. Mathew didn't listen and instead crouched and pulled you up with his hands on your ass. Henry saw red.

You sobbed as one thigh locked, cramping from your skidding then falling. And your other knee ached, feeling close to popping out. God it hurt! You remembered now, why you spent extra time stretching before doing this shit. You'd halved your warm up because you just wanted this over with so you can get back to the cool bus.

Mathew raced over and began tugging and pulling at you but you were in pain! You knew you should stay down and just roll so your legs weren't so twisted and relax before even thinking about standing up. But you just couldn't get the words out. Instead releasing hisses and gruntle moans as your legs tensed and screamed at you. Finally he had enough and forced you up making you cry out as you felt as if your knee and hip needed to click. Finally after some struggling you sobbed and pressed at him tears rolling down your face.

It was as you tried twisting away from him you felt it, he had his hands on your ass trying to  support your weight. It wasn't an accident either, he squeezed digging his fingers in making sure to cop a feel. You yipped gasping freezing for a second. This was the first time someone had done this, that someone was touching you- groping you without your consent. This was the kind of thing your brothers had protected you from.

Your knees shock and you lashed out at him as he tried tugging you up on your feet trying to coax you to slump forward and lean on him, his own feet trying to move your legs below you and force you to stand. You batted at him trying to make him release you as he pulled you closer hands still firmly on your behind, but you were cut off by a furious roar.

"GET THE FUCK OFF HER" Henry shouted as he  launched himself across the space, long legs carrying him over to you. Your blood ran cold when you noticed no one was close enough to stop him this time. Joey had tried to grasp him but henry was deceptively quick and he managed the thunder across the open space ridiculously fast and seemed to be within arms reach in seconds.

Henry dived at him fist swinging already barrelling towards the man who'd just been groping you seconds ago holding you in a tight grip. You yelped as Mathew spun and dropped you in a heap on the floor once again.

"NO-HENRY NO!-" you shouted from the floor trying to get up slowly but winced crumpling to the floor with your cramping leg. You watched in slow motion along with everyone else as Henrys huge form arched following the balled fist only to frown as another form darted past him shoving Henry out of the way with a grunt.

"MOVE OUTTA MY WAY!-" you gaped as you recognised the voice then everything caught up with you as you realised just who had shoved Henry out the way and pounced on Mathew.

"What? Kane?-OH GOD OH MY GOD NO! KANE NO LET HIM GO!-" you shouted watching in horror as he managed to capture an unsuspecting Mathew.

"I HEARD YOU WERE FUCKING WITH MY BABY SISTER?!" Kane screamed holding Mathew by his collar pulling him off the ground. Kane was older then Henry slimmer but slightly Taller and just .as strong. And very very frightening when angry with his battle warn appearance. He shook Mathew who was by this point squirm in panicking in the grip of your oldest brother as Kane screamed at him. He looked over his shoulder to henry nodding to you.

"You take care of her I got this no need getting your hands dirty~" he grinned evilly and turned facing the boy who looked ready to piss himself.

"holy shit henry no fuck stop him!"  You pleaded as henry leant down next to you and began straightening your legs and help you sit on the floor properly.

"You wanna fuck with my little sister huh? You think it's fun fucking embarrassing her you little cunt? Wanna start shit with her you got to go through me!!" You trembled on the spot as Kane began shaking the smaller man by his collar growling at him.

"Wh-what no I didn't- I haven't done anything!" Mathew squealed like a pig trying to save his bacon but Kane wasn't buying it.

"Oi Henry this the little cunt whose been stalking her?" He said turning around both fists still holding Mathew still overcoming the mans struggles.

"Henry don't you dare-" you warned hands tangling into his loose t-shirt now trying to pull yourself, the need to try and stop your brother from beating Mathew to a pulp was absolute. The pain in your leg becoming the least of your worries.

"You hush and sit your little ass down before you pull that leg anymore, I'll have words with you later" Kane growled removing a hand from Mathews collar to point at you making you whimper and shrink.

"Yeah that's him" henry confirmed with a shrug as Kane looked back to the huge man fawning over you. Then he turned slowly back to you his face softened as he saw the tears staining your cheeks and he wiped them away before managing to scoop you up quickly and hold you to his chest.  

"Henry?! oh god KANE NO?! PUT HIM DOWN! HENRY DO SOMETHING?! HELP HIM!" You panicked as henry began walking with you over to the busses out of the sun so you could rest up for a bit.

"Who Kane?" He asked glancing at your brother who was screaming in Mathews face almost reducing the little prick to tears.

"NO NOT FUCKING KANE OBVIOUSLY HELP MATHEW! GET KANE OFF HIM FOR FUCK SAKE KANE!!?" You shouted turning in henry's arms craning your head to see what your crazy ass brother was doing whilst henry walked passed the scene.  

"HENRY?!" You pleaded as he carried you further from the volatile man still shaking your creepy stalker.

"What? I will...Just give it a minuet... I need to sort my girl out first~" he said unperturbed by your brothers verbal and quite possibly brutal beat down of Mathew. Henry was actually a little glad... and annoyed that he himself hadn't got to Mathew quick enough. He sat you down and placed a hand on your shoulder pressing you to stay seated as you tried getting up to wobble across the space and stop Kane. Instead all you could do was watch from afar as your brother did what ever he was going to do.

"The only one who I will allow to put his hands on my sister is her boyfriend... Are you her boyfriend?" You heard Kane as he roared into Mathews face holding him tight making the smaller man look him in the eye.  

"N-no no I'm not" Mathew cried feet still kicking up dust as he tried getting distance between him and your irate brother.

"That's right your not-I'd never let her date such a fucking weasel" Kane pulled Mathew even closer to his face and craned over him growling slowly.

"if I ever hear you've been stalking her again-she even utters your name around me or I see you fucking blink in her direction again then I will come back over here rip of your head and shit down your scrawny little neck? We clear on that?" Your brother snarled cruely with a smile. It had been a long time since he'd scared off a creep... he forgot how much fun it was!

"Y-yes I wont I'll stay away I promise" Mathew sobbed quivering terrified.

"Good make sure you do because there are fucking eight of us as we don't take to kindly to our little sister being harassed cunt." With that said Kane released him letting him stumble back before Mathew could get his Barings Kane had pulled his arm back and punched him as hard as he physically could.

"Oh my god?! Oh my god? Kane you cant just? Kane you fucking knocked him out!" Kane rolled his eyes a you and turned to Tee before approaching the group. The others were speechless, it was one thing to hear about your protective brothers... another thing to see one in action. who you'd thought was a little to dressed up today and held an arm out to her.

"Wait a minuet- are you two? Are you with my brother?!" You asked frowning pointing from  one to the other.

"Errr...Guilty?" Tee grinned and held out your phone to you.  

"I? you-wait? How long?" You asked slowly taking the phone from her blinking dumbly

"Like...A few months?...like five?" She said timidly tucking herself into Kane's side much like you do with henry.

"I started messaging her to keep tabs on you here and then...Well then tee got mouthy and things were said...Its why I came home on leave now...I wanted to see her and tell mum and dad..." Kane said pressing a kiss to her head making Tee beam and giggle. You smiled nodding finding it cute.  

"Your not angry are you?" Tee asked anxiously, almost like she ha been dreading you finding out. Your face softened. You understood, by god you understood her fear. But it was ridiculous!

"No of course not! You silly cow its just a shock I mean... Kane? No offence bro but your like....A hard ass" you loved them! They both deserved happiness and if it was with each other then you wasn't going to complain.

"Yeah...But she loves it~ well over long distance maybe not when I've got her tied up-" he teased making her flush and you laughed loudly. Well well looks like the shoes on the other foot now~ But then you pulled a face as you realised what was said and gagged.

"Okay okay ew no- your my brother just no....do not need that image ever" you snapped growling at him as he gave a boisterous laugh.

"Yes because your any better loved up with this guy?" Kane asked tipping his head to henry who shrugged before nodding.  He couldn't argue. Henry quickly sat down next to you slinging an arm around your shoulders as if making a point.  

"Well we are off before security come running and arrest me~" Kane said slipping a hand into the back pocket of Tees playsuit making her jump and flush. You giggled melting into henry's side. It was a nice change not being the centre of attention as the others looked on in amusement as Tee flushed and giggled like a giddy school girl, a far cry from the mighty woman you all knew and loved one embarrassed and loved up~

"Kane love no need to rush...Security were watching they don't give a shit" tee said trying to fend off her embarrassment but Kane wasn't letting her get off lightly. Tee had been telling him all about the teasing she'd been doing and this was time for a little payback. She may be his woman, but shed been teasing his baby sister.

"...I was making an excuse to sneak away and rail you as soon as I could" he said loud and proud shrugging not missing a beat. You all burst out laughing a whooping as the usually brazen woman began stuttering all flustered unsure what to do with herself. Finally she gave up with a pout and settled for tucking her head into Kane's chest trying to hide away.

"Oh my god Kane seriously" you heard her mutter into your brothers chest pitifully. Trying her best to scold him but couldn't quite make the words strong enough.

"Right well then we shall see you the day after tomorrow, Henry keep and eye on that little cunt for me? If he so much as breathes in her direction you tell me" Kane said tipping his head to henry. You growled crossing your arms as your brother who was speaking over you to henry who was still curled around you.

"No he will not! Ah hen?" You snapped leaning forward trying to stand up getting ready to chew out your brother with the old 'I'm and adult, I can handle it!' But Henry wound an arm around the front of your waist and dragged you back to sit in his lap. Your rant died on your tongue as your ass met his thick strong thighs. You squeaked and looked back at him flushing when both arms coiled around you and he rested his chin on your shoulder.

"I will look after her Kane, you have my word" he hummed before dipping down placing a sweet kiss to your shoulder making you melt into his hard frame below you.

"I glad, someone needs to" Kane said with a grin before turning dragging tee away from set for their... activities.

You moved slowly back to your bus, wolfgang had decided to leave it there today. No one needed you hurting your leg even more today as tomorrow you were meant to practice with henry in the gym to finalise a few moves.

You grunted trying to lift the leg high to get up the steps which prompted henry to intervene.  He curled an arm around you opening the bus door  and stood right up against you.

"Here love let me" he said quietly and pushed the door wide open before two huge hands were at your waist plucking you from the floor.

"Oh its fine-" you said wincing try to scale the steep steps on your own but it was no good and you hissed once more. The ache in your legs was just to much at the moment. You needed a hot water bottle, pain killers and probably a hot shower too.

"Its not, that was a nasty pull honey, just let me take care of you" henry muttered in your ear and stretched his arms up showing off the raw power he possessed. If you hadn't been so shocked or in pain you'd have swooned.... On second thought you'll swoon about it later.

"S-sure" you agreed unable to argue when he was being so sweet with you. Within seconds you were carried into the bus. He kicked the door shut and still held you managing to dodge both excited pups as they came running to greet the two of you. But henry continued to the bedroom and placed you on the bed.  

"Now you stay right there until your legs sorted... you got any painkillers?" He asked stepping back hands on his hips looking like a big mother hen. You giggled at him and nodded finding him cute in that moment. It was sweet seeing him so worried it showed he cared.

"Err yeah paracetamol in the cupboard and maybe some biofreeze too" you informed him then preened as he grinned nodding before praising you.

"Good girl at least your prepared" he smiled impishly at you as you rolled your eyes and shuffled up the bed fluffing your pillow before flopping back on it.  

"Ok baby just stay right there no moving about you hear me?" He warned pointing an accusing finger at you.

"I wont love." You promised  crossing your heart making him scoff and look down only now paying attention to the hyper active howling sausage dog and her eager brother bear tapping and jumping about.

"Good. Kal, Joey watch over your mama. But be careful she's hurt" he added clicking his fingers coaxing Kal up onto on the bed and quickly scooped up Joey placing her on the pillow next to you. You didn't even have time to register the fact he'd called you Kal and Joeys mama. Because suddenly you were pinned by two happy pups trying to get cuddles and kisses.  

Kal laid ontop of you and began kissing your cheeks enthusiastically his huge tail thumping the covers hard enough to make the mattress bounce a little and Joey was up at the side of your face lathering you with her own kisses and occasional over excited nips to your nose.

Henry came back over a few minuets later as the two pups had calmed and were now just lounging with you on the bed, Kal had retrieved one of his rope toys and was chewing one end sharing it with joey; who was digging and chewing the tassel... That was bigger then her.

"Okay come on now take these and get your kit off~" Henry hummed handing you two paracetamol and glass of water then uncapped the biofreeze squirting some in his hands and rubbed coating both palms eyeing you critically.

"What?!" You yipped  almost choking on the tablets as he spoke. You coughed making some unflattering retching sounds and gulped more water down and your face glowed. You could  feel yourself shrink under his gaze, his eyes both darkening and twinkling with amusement.

"Gosh calm down~ I'm gonna massage my little ladies legs...is all~" he said cheekily knowing full well what he was doing to you. Not that he had any issues giving you the once over, if he thought your leg wouldn't seize and lock hurting it even more he would be going down on you already. You were weak and defenceless it'd be so easy to just crawl ontop of you and get to work. But like he said, he didn't want to hurt your leg any more.

"I'm fine Henry" you said shifting wincing drawing your legs up and digging your toes into the bed below you. You tried avoiding his gaze and wriggled nervously.  

"Mm hmm fine you may be but your already starting to wriggle out of your leggings my sweet~" he cooed nodding his head to you with a chuckle.  

"No I'm not- oh?? Err okay" You frowned at him and began to protest only to look down and see you had began using your feet to drag the leggings down your legs slightly. Tugging the cuffs down your feet.

"Come on roll over let me get a look at those buns~" he preened eagle watching as you fidgeted with your fingers peeling your leggings off of you and letting them fall to the floor. Henry kneeled on the bed at you rolled on your tummy. You wasn't mad enough to pass up a massage from him, even if you was embarrassed and had doubt. Fears about him touching your legs feeling the extra pudge and ripple like stretch marks. Which was stupid because the man had burried his fucking face between them just a few days ago, wearing your thighs like ear muffs! He knew what your thighs felt and looked like-fuck he knew what they tasted like among other things~

You trembled gasping when his hands parted your legs and tugged you down the bed a little settling on his knees between them. You swallowed drawing slow calming breaths into your quivering lungs. His large thick legs pressing your apart wider and wider as he drew you closer finally pressing his palms on your tender leg. You moaned softly as his huge strong hands pressed the tight knotted muscle. He was gentle at first the usual warmth that he had naturally in his hands was lost under the cool tingle of the biofreeze, the cooling gel helping to soothe the screaming tired muscle.

"That's it love just relax I got you" he breathed calmly making you shudder and melt into the bed. He pressed in slow smooth motions slowly easing out the tight muscle with fluid strokes.

You arched and flicked a foot tapping the his back lightly, hissing as he worked the muscle tissue deeper in wide pinching motions, plucking and rotating the hard lump. You pressed your face into the bed making the blankets muffle your moan of pain panting as he pressed insistantly.

"Good girl I know, I know honey but if it don't press harder its just going to go up~" he said guilty, he didn't want to hurt you, but a pull this bad? It could lock your leg and cease it, which would be incredibly painful. Henry knew from experience just how brutal that could be.

"Yeah I-I know" you heaved out wincing as he worked diligently over the flesh chaseing away the tense knots. You flinched when he hit another sore spot but he caught your leg before repositioning himself to kneel between your calves and pressed on with the massage determined to get this over with now rather then let it build over the next few days.

"Shh shh just breath deep, its eased already... slow breaths, not much more to go now love, but I need to get rid of it if not its going to creep into your butt cheek. Not that I would mind massaging this little peach but it would be very uncomfortable for you~" he soothed you and made you chuckle at his little teaseing explanation. After a few more minuets your leg finally went lax and relaxed no longer tight or in pain and Henry began on the other one, which wasn't nearly as bad, but was still tender in certain spots.

"I cant believe they are together" you finally spoke up as your mind wandered. You never thought Tee would end up with your brothers, well not seriously, sure she kissed both of your triplets but you were what fifteen? So it didn't count! But she was dating Kane? Honestly you could see it! She was rash and a scatter brain. 'Act first ask questions later' kind off woman and Kane? He was a 'you'll sit down and answer all my questions or else' which in all honesty Tee needed sometimes.  

There were many instances you had got her out of shit because she'd run in head first- or in many cases fucking swan dived into stupid situations with out thinking. Kane would be good for her, and maybe he'd lighten up a bit. Being the oldest he always took on the role as second dad. He acted like the weight of the world was on his shoulders, he believed he had to be a role model for all of you.

"What? Are you?-hey you supposed to be thinking of me when I'm lubing you up!" Henry pouted and tapped the tiny portion of ass cheek peaking from your underwear making you jolt and pout back at him before rolling your eyes.

"Henry that's menthol if we used that for lube we'd both be out of commission" you replied trying to ease the worried look on his face. He clearly thought you were about to mouth off at him for playfully slapping your ass. You wouldn't it actually sent a little thrill through you. Something you'd explore at a later date... Alone with porn.

"You'll be out of commission what ever lube I use that little miss is a promise~" he hummed grinning wriggling his brows trying to be sexy, yet he came across more like a cheesy johny bravo.

"Oh god really? That was Cheesy" you snorted shaking your head and looking forward once more resting your chin on your palm. The leg massage had somehow crept up on to your butt and was now slipping up your back, not that you were complaining.  The power in this mans hands alone was fucking heavenly. He was rubbing away what felt like a life time of stress. You'd be a new woman by the end if he carried on. So needless to say you wasn't going to stop him, fuck you were debating rolling over and going the whole hog!

'Fuck yes~ his hand would be magnificent on my tits! Just fucking yes! His meaty paws can squeeze a boob anyday~' you thought and closed your eyes trying to imagine the slow circles being rubbed on your breast, rolling them about grazing and teasing your nipples until they were hard... Your mind wandered during your sex scene he paid attention, even when acting he was thorough. Using your nipples to draw you higher, fuck using them to guide you to him! Pinching and plucking, he'd even bit! Bit your boob and suckled lightly~

"What can I say? I get all twisted when your thinking of your brother when I'm giving you a massage" he purred and crawled up you straddling the back of your waist his weight pressing you into the bed and his hands dragged your top higher up to your shoulders still languid firm drags  manipulating the muscles turning you to putty one perfect stroke at a time.

"I'm sorry what can I do to make it up to you?" You hummed quietly fluttering your lashes at him trying look over your shoulder innocently. He grunted and peered over your shoulder with a smirk making your stomach flipflop, breath hitching at the playfully look in his eyes.  

"Well that's a loaded question~" he quipped with a light scoff, and thrusted his hips a little before leaning down pressing a kiss to your shoulder blade then smoothed his hands up under your shirt to your ribs. You gasped when he began rubbing up and down, his long fingers grazing the sides of you boobs in featherlight touches.

"So back rub honey?" he asked sitting up pressing the heals of his palms into your back making you pout as his touch was pulled from your sides just as you began loosing yourself to the teaseing touches of your breasts.

An hour later you lounged back on the bed with henry, your blankets pulled loosely over your legs warming them keeping the pain at bay. Henry's massage had been a God send. Both your legs were feeling much better and you could move them without too much pain. They should be even better tomorrow if you too some tablets and took it easy.

It had gotten dark out both dogs were sprawled on the floor each munching on their very own raw hide chew sent over from your mum. Well they were both munching on Kal's raw hide chew, Joey had eyes bigger then her belly and was gnawing a tiny corner that Kal had softened and broke free. You and Henry were scrolling social media with a show on the tv for background noise. Occasionally you would show one another a funny meme or video you came across.

"Am... Am I your lock screen?" You froze hearing his amused warm tone as you locked your phone and flushed. Embarrassingly enough he was... Well Geralt was.

"I err yeah... Well its Geralt but.... Fuck I'll change it sorry its probably creepy right?" You said anxiously kicking yourself for not changing it. 'Fuck if this doesn't scream stalker vibes I don't know what will! Oh god! Think! Think- you forgot? It was to remind you what you were working for?-HELL NO! That's worse...Why is he smiling? He... He's laughing at me? Fuck no-he doesn't take me seriously... fuck I really am coming across as a fucking stupid fangirl-' Henry pulled you closer smooshing you against him and nuzzled his light scruff against your face making you whine and try to wriggle away. But he wasn't letting you go.

"I'm flattered honey~ I really am... But maybe we could upgrade?" He added smoothly. Before you could even register what he meant he was tapping your phone and slid to the camera.  

"Smile honey~" he said and pressed his face next to yours snapping a few shots of the both of you. You grinned and posed for a few giggling having fun then faltered as he dragged you in for another kiss locking lips with you whilst still snapping shots slowly he pulled back kissing your cheeks making you giggle a little.

"Now you set one of those as your background I'm not competing with my own characters little miss" he said snuggling you once again littering your face with kisses.

"Do you want one?... Like for your phone?" You asked in a small voice nibbling your thumb nervously. As he leant his head on your shoulder watching your phone over your shoulder.

"Well I will have a few but... Here take a peak" he said thrusting his phone at you. You gasped grinning seeing that the photo Joey had posted all those weeks ago was his background, resized so that you and him were the main focus dead centre.

"I'm... Your background?" You breathed out finding it surreal that you were here. You wanted to pinch yourself, somehow your life felt like a dream.  

"Yep since the day Joey posted it. Its the only photo I have of us so close you know? The one on the first day of filming you were so nervous, this one is just... Well its us you know? I'm going to get one of both my girls soon to replace it with" he said in a chipper tone not really seeing how the tiny detail had made your heart burst.  

"Both?" you said swallowing the excitement of realising he liked you enough to replace Kal as his background.

"You and Joey nugget of course" He reassured watching you scroll trough the photos setting one for your background, it was of the both of you grinning into the camera. You loved his smile, blue eyes glowing with happiness and handsome face soft and sweet! You just loved him happy... You just loved him.

You moved placing your phone down trying to lie comfortably but growled sitting up and shifting, beating the pillow fluffing it. Henry moved hitting your pillow and pulled it up trying to help frowning, he could see you were uncomfortable.

"Are you okay honey? Any pain?" He said worriedly the biofreeze was brilliant but sticky. And you were uncomfortable.  

"Er yeah I'm fine... I just... I'm just thinking about having a quick shower... The biofreeze is sticky Is all..." you trailed off, you really were uncomfortable, your blankets sticking to you making you feel gross.

"O-oh... right err yeah fine do you...I mean should I...Go out for a bit then and come back or?... I should probably get back" he muttered quietly pulling away unsure if you were hinting he should leave or not. He shuffled off of the bed and stretched, you sat up following eyes wide not wanting him to leave you but halted. Were you being selfish? You couldn't expect him to be with you all the time. But that's what you wanted.

Henry glanced at you he was becoming nervous worrying that he was overstaying his welcome. He supposed he was anxious you were both so very close now to becoming the couple he knew you could be. The single family unit but he wanted to let you make the decision's. He wont linger, no matter how much he wanted to stay.

"Oh no! No don't go!...Unless you want to err go or stay? Fuck you know you want to I mean I- you don't have to stay" you paused flushing when you realised how clingy you'd sounded. You had to admit you liked having Henry and Kal around. It made you feel safer having the both of them with you, the bus seemed empty without them.

"I don't... I-I'd like to stay. I... Can I stay? In the bed room of course! I will find something to play with" Henry froze holding his breath then cursed realizing what he had said and panicked stepping forward waving his arms about shaking his head.

"Fuck no that didn't sound right! I meant I can play with my phone! Or-or Netflix?!" He scrambled stumbling over his words as he cried them out hastily trying to undo the damage. You laughed watching him flounder about like proverbial fish out of water. Even Kal snorted at Henry unimpressed by his humans embarassing display.

"I know what you meant love... I wont be to long just a quick rinse okay? You can get changed while I'm in there and get comfy" You reassured with a smile. He turned to you slowly before clearing his throat and nodding he was pleased if not still embarrassed he thought he was over those pesky nerves but it seemed you just managed to make him crumble and forget himself.  

"I haven't got any clothes. I did bring another few bags over but they're gone." He said scanning the room quickly looking around for the bag he had stuffed away beside the bed again... Just incase.

"I.. They are in the top drawer... I found them when I was having a sort through and unpacked... I don't like the idea of you living out of a plastic bags" you said sweetly at him nodding to the drawer you'd folded his clothes into... You'd admit to taking your time folding them, his scent smothered them and you couldn't help but be drawn to them. You folded and refolded them each day. You said it was just to have something to do but you were lying. It was an excuse to smell him on the rare occasion he wasn't here with you.  

"Thank you love, that's really thoughtful  I will... Be in here just... yeah have a nice shower" Henry mused quietly reversing into the bedroom pointing a thumb behind him with a nervous chuckle then switched tactics ushering the pups into the room trying to distract himself.

You grinned and pulled a towel from the small pile of fresh laundry your mum had let you do yesterday morning. She had been a saint and most of the people on set were making frequent visits to your childhood home for showers and to use the washing machine. She didn't mind, in fact she loved it. And they had begun taking her chocolates as thanks, Anya had even made a point to find out what her favourite chocolates were.

You spun around slipping into the tiny bathroom trying to ignore the fact henry would be just the other side of the thin wall... where you'd be naked... and wet... and naked... completely starkers! You were a little on edge as you stripped and managed to step into the shower under the warm spray.  

It was then that your mind began wandering conjuring up scenarios of him bursting in on you. Unable to contain himself as he heard the water running. Images of the both of you standing below the spray tangled up in one another's arms kissing and rubbing~ rutting one another in the tiny space finally giving in to one another and making love.  

You slapped a hand over your mouth as you panted louder and closed your eyes. Knees weak and knocking against one another as you imagined him towering over you, fingers wandering over your form and settling at your nape pulling your hair until. You were angled up, lips parted moaning breathlessly as his magnificent blues bore into your own bright eyes. Then without warning he'd dive forward kissing you like never before and pick you up. Huge meaty paws holding your ass coaxing you to wrap your legs around his hips. A single hand would wander and with one small flick of his wrist he'd rub the weeping head of his cock along your clit, teasing you, wetting you with the creamy head before finally sink home! You could almost feel it.... Wait? WHAT WAS THAT?!

You gasped and slammed a hand to the side of the shower snapping your eyes open panting in shock. You whined looking down and flushed seeing your fingers had crept over your frame. Two deft fingers were nestled between your petals rolling your erect bud between them. You pulled them away slowly whining in both embarrassment and disappointment. You flushed lost yourself in the fantasy and he was just the other side of the fucking wall!? Jesus Christ! You just hoped you handt moaned outloud... if so you could try and say the water temperature changed or something. With any luck he would buy that. In the end you quickly shook your head deciding it'd be safer to just wash, rinse and get out asap.

You moved quietly out of the bathroom wrapped in a nighty,  a small towel around your shoulders catching the drips from your hair. You walked into the bed room and saw henry lounging back on the bed. The man was watching the small tv one arm behind his head stretching out his chest and abs he had shead his top and shorts... He always ended up half naked in here for some reason.

You eyed him appreciatively from the door he wasn't alone, Kal was laying along side the gorgeous man, the dogs back against his masters wide set of ribs. Joey was sprawled out flat on her back all four legs in the air on your pillow, and had Henry's hand supporting her snoring form as she teetered head first on the edge. You noticed it had been fluffed lightly, Henry spoiling the pup no doubt. His whole hand swallowing her and one finger curling rubbing the side of it against her tiny pot belly.

"Any room for me over there? You know? It being my bed and all~" you quipped making him turn to face you grinning eyeing you up and down.

"Well I can think of a few places to seat you my love~" he said and licked his lips making you go all bashful laughing at him before throwing the small towel from your shoulders at his chest making him chuckle and throw it on the floor beside the bed and hold out a hand.

"Come here you~" he said with a soft look he was far to hot to look this sweet! He was a huge built like a brick shit house, an insanely buff man.  And buff men were supposed to be meat heads, carnivorous manly men all 'fuck yeah testosterone!' Not sweethearts laying on a bed supporting the weight of a sleeping tiny sausage pup.

He moved over making room beside him letting you sprawl out cuddling up to him snuggling throwing one leg over him and settled, his hand around your waist breathing you in. You tipped back trying to avoid laying on him too much when your were still damp. You tipped your head back head to see what he was watching, and to your surprize he'd settled on a nature documentary narrated by David Attenborough.

Henry nuzzled into your neck groaning quietly littering your neck with kisses and sweet nips. It wasn't long before he'd rolled over managing to pin you to the bed below him with nothing kore then his huge frame. Two huge palms pressed either side of you taking just enough weight so he wouldn't crush you. Not that, that had any change to the way your breath hitched, pausing then laboured harder, lungs fighting for air and you heart thundering to life in your rib cage. You whimpered and moaned softly, mewling whilst feebly stretching out your legs then clenched trapping on of his own thighs between yours.

He chuckled then moaned into you, his barrelled chest vibrating against you with the low timbre of his groans. You huffed and grunted weakly below him. Henry continued mouthing and dragging his teeth over your neck before pressing on with his assault. He sucked and began biting harder and rocking over you. Rubbing his crotch on your thigh hissing and crying out, the godly sounds muffled by your neck that stayed securely between his mighty fanged jaws.

"Hen! Ah god~ I'm all wet stop!" You said and began giggling uncontrollably and he blew a raspberry on your neck tickling you.

"I thought that was the point?" He grinned cheekily at you then leaned forward pressing the gentlest of kisses to the bright red mark he'd left. He couldn't help feeling a sense of pride, in the coming days the red would become a bruise... Not that he wanted to leave bruises on you but this? This was different~ a love bite full of his passion and devotion, a little mark to show everyone you were spoken for. He smiled at you as you whined still trying to pull free from him and the bed that you were getting damp from your shower.

"Wetter is better love~ And trust me when I say you can drench me any day~" henry said pulling away from your neck and resting over you with a Cheshire grin and huffed a deep laugh at your flat look.

"Its not better on the sheets" you deadpanned at him tipping your head back watching him curiously, waiting for what ever mischief he had planned next.

"I beg to differ" he said winking then froze. He jolted and got up from you slowly sitting back on his ass. You frowned and shuffled to sit up beside him. But he wouldn't look at you instead shied away face burning red.

"H-Henry are you okay?" You asked watching as he pulled back and sat up awkwardly. He seemed to get uncomfortable and shy trying to cross his legs but you still didn't understand.

"Yes! Yes I'm fine I'm just fuck... It err I mean he..." henry breathed out quickly becoming more and more flustered.  He looked panicked.  

"He? What? Who Kal?" you frowned looking to the dog who was sleeping soundly at the bottom of the bed after moving over for you to lay beside henry. You scrunched your nose and followed the line of henrys huge muscular legs over his knees and fussy massive thighs then to his... oh.

"Oh err that shit I'm sorry did I? I mean I..." you stuttered looking away shyly as his boxers were straining against a huge lump, pulled tight over the hidden erect cock that had... popped up. You pulled back sitting up giving him some space and began apologizing saying sorry over and over as your face reddened, but you couldn't help staring at the bulge. It was just right there.

"No no its not you-well it is, but you couldn't have...You just drive me wild love" henry said unsure what to do, the man was embarrassed-mortified! He couldn't belive kissing you... Making out like a fumbling teenager would have made him this hard! Normally he had it under control, or managed to hide the half erect cock by tucking it into the waist band of his bottoms. But it had and now the question was what was he gonna do about it? If he left you'd know he would be at his bus whacking one out over you... And if he stayed? Well... he cant exactly just sit here with it can he?

"Well atleast I'm not the only one...you err I mean its..." you chuckled nervously trying weakly to make this a small thing and laugh about it. But that was not small! And there was nothing laughable about it!

"Fuck er... I'm so sorry god this is embarrassing!....shit love I, you just I really am sorry fuck... I was fuck I should have a cold shower it'll go away" he stuttered one hand dropping to cover the huge bulge in his boxers that had drawn all of you attention. Before you could even think you stopped him, moving a hand to his bare thigh tentativly. He froze and snapped his gaze to you as he felt your quivering fingers press lightly into his revealed thigh. You swallowed and placed your hand on the fuzzy thigh and drew a deep breath. You stared at him as he opened and closed his mouth, trying to speak but couldn't. He was far to shocked and finally closed his mouth and gulped as your hand smoothed small circles on his leg inching higher and higher you were eyeing him to see if he'd let you explore or stop you in your track.

"I Err... I'll do it-get rid of it" you all but whispered to him, your voice was weak and breathless as you battled yourself. You really did want to help him, as he helped you but... You'd never done anything like this before... never touched or played with someone before. You were a tad frightened that you were pushing it, that he'd say no and laugh... that he'd shoot you down and crush any confidence you had gained with him. It took a lot of courage to push yourself like this, to ask if you could explore a little... It was courage or stupidity, one of the two.

"What you? Oh god you don't have too love. I don't want to force you" henry said trembling in excitement, he couldn't help it. He wanted to jump for joy and drop his cacks. He wanted to smother you in sweet adorable kisses and tell you hat it was okay, there was no need to be shy. He wanted to let you do as you pleased and watch you as you innocently toyed with him and played with his cock! Your first ever cock!

He groaned and tilted his hips forward chaseing the image with his cock. Imagining your doe eyes looking at him in shock and wonder as you saw him for the first time. He smirked at the look on your face. Perfect pouty lips forming a tiny o, and your cheeks flushing. Your dainty hand trembling as it gripped him... just a little too tight making him cry out and rut up into your hand-

Fuck! he had to stop. He couldn't let you know how eager he was, how much he wanted to christen your hand with his cum and drench it. He grunted and bit his lip the image of him releasing over your hand, seeping through your fingers and lacing your wrist. Marking you for the first time in, marking you for himself. He had to calm down, otherwise you could feel to pressured, he didn't want you the feel as if you had to do anything.  

"... I know that.... But? What if I...Wanted to?" You said shyly looking away from him twiddling the downy hair on his thigh with your fingers. Twisting and stroking it making him shiver. You were still unsure of yourself but wanted to make him feel good, it was also a way to prove to yourself you were... Well an adult woman. As silly as it sounded you just wanted to please him and prove to him you wanted him and that if... If he did want to take this whole relationship further it wouldn't be once sided. You'd give as well as take, you didn't want to be a pillow princess and be more hassle then you were worth.

"You want to? Babe I don't expect anything-you don't owe me you know that right?" Henry said trying to temper his excitement. He placed his hand over your palm that was still resting on his thigh teasing him unknowingly.

"I-I'll help... If I can... I want to" you stuttered your face burning brightly still downturned not wanting him to see how embarrassed you were. You didn't want him to think you were forcing yourself, because you wasn't it was just? This was the first time you'd asked to... Wank someone before and you wasn't really sure how you were meant to ask. And you were probably making a hash of it. Plus this was Henry the sweetest, incredibly gorgeous sexy man who you had a crush on for years. The man you could whole heartedly say you loved.

"Oh okay well you can I just didn't think... I don't want to push you honey, this is a big step for you and I never want you to feel pressured" he continued making you swoon. He was so caring and thoughtful. How anyone could ever let this man slip between their fingers was beyond you. Because he was perfect, chivalrous and polite but cheeky and funny. He managed to put you at ease and make you feel invincible all at once. Even now when you quivered and flushed brightly, when you are an anxious mess one beaming grin is enough to wash away all the fear and doubt. He gave you a strength and confidence you'd never had before.

"Can I help?... I won't if you don't want me to-" you said a little jittery but he laughed cutting you off then pressed a sweet kiss to your cheek shutting you up in the most gentle of ways making your heart melt. He didn't pull back instead resting his head on yours looking you in the eye.

"I want you to, trust me I fucking want you too! Just be... careful I kinda need him" he chuckled slowly leaning back giving you some space then nodded to you slowly finally giving you permission to touch him. You gulped flushing brighter taking a breath but faltered freezing. It was one thing saying you'd touch him, but a completely different ball game actually doing it. Henry saw the hesitation and acted quickly, moving to you kissing your lips hard prying your mouth open whilst sneakily guiding your hand to his cock giving you the little nudge you needed.

You snapped your eyes open and squeaked into his mouth trying to free your hand as he moved making you cup his erection. Henry met your eyes smiling against your lips, but he didn't pull away instead pushed against you harder licking into your mouth and nipping at your lips every few seconds.

He rolled his hips up into your hand guiding you to pet his crotch heavily. He moaned when a few seconds later you took over testing him in your hand.

He was large and for a better word. Meaty. Thick and hard yet soft and pliable. You felt silly you'd expected his cock to be almost solid like the few toys you had! But no, he was stiff and thick, much more pleasant then any toy you had.

"whoa... That's err...swollen...hard.. Never err fuck sorry" you berated yourself as you realised you were speaking outloud.  

"No no, don't apologize honey... Its the first huh? Your fine.. Perfectly fine" he said softly  in a whisper almost frightened that if he were too loud you'd get spooked and run off locking yourself in the bathroom... He moved a hand to your outer thigh and rubbed slow circles ready to capture you should you try to make a hasty retreat. It was up to you how far you wanted to go, but he didn't want you running off scared. No. He would rather you said enough was enough and then everything would stop.  

Well maybe not everything, depending on how far you got he would have to make a quick trip to the bathroom to quickly rub one out. And if it came to that he wouldn't mind, it wouldn't be a loss. He would make it the loudest and most erotic hand job of his life. Moaning and grunting making sure you can hear just what you did to him, he'd cry your name over and over until he painted his hand with his cum and only be thinking of you. He wanted you to know just what you did to him, and it was you that did this to him. No one else.

"I… Yeah I've never.. Touched one before...  Sorry I should just shut up.. You don't need me narrating" you muttered the apology quickly still cursing yourself for being such a virgin. Fuck he must be getting sick of it, you felt like you were becoming too much work. That you were too new and inexperienced that you'd be a shit fuck and you'd chicken out at the last minuet. henry Squeezed his fingers around you ushering you to hold him tighter but didn't move, he let you lead but helped you along.

You gasped as his huge hand curled around yours and snapped your fact to him gulping slightly before wetting your lips and dragging your bottom lip between your teeth. he chuckled at you before groaning the low purr like sound shaking you to your core and you trembled analysing him as his eyes fluttered closed and he grinned at you.

"Its cute~ I find it very enticing, something about being your first just makes me wild! I love it when your exploring... The fact you trust me to share this with you makes me so happy~" he finished with a small chuckle which did make you feel better if you were completely honest it made you feel special.

"I just... Its? I don't want to be all pathetic and stuff over it, I'm not your first-" you prattled on nervously looking down once more only to pause and flush when you saw your hand dwarfed by his and felt a the throbbing in your hand. Him. His large cock trapped between your fingers that where still curiously testing him, pressing and prodding at him absentmindedly.

"Your my first virgin, its why I'm going so slow I want to go at your pace love. You can do what ever you want to do" he finalized and released your hand dragging his fingers across your wrist and arm in a feather light touch. You had to say you were shook by that, you had thought he'd popped someone's cherry... I mean look at him! He was stunning any girl would jump at the chance for this huge hunk to be their first. But he hadn't? So?  That would make this even more special? Wouldn't it?  

"I want to... Please you and... Play a little?" You cooed rolling your tongue around your mouth behind your teeth. You avoided looking at him, missing the beaming thousand Watt smile that lit up his handsome face.

"Then you do just that, no complaints from me. None at all"

"O-okay... Just tell me if I'm... Rough o-or hurt you okay?" You stuttered drawing in a deep breath steeling yourself for this new and hopefully pleasurable experience.

"I will love. I promise"

With that you moved twisting him in your hand and rubbing him drawing soft moans and keens from him. You flicked your eyes back to him. Your pupils dilated as you soaked in the sight. His brow was slightly furrowed and his pink lips parted, lip darting out lapping at them in concentration. His eyes fluttered, almost like when he was fighting sleep. He seemed unwilling to look away from you but couldn't help closeing the lids hiding the deep blue pools. You got more adventurous pressing your fingers a Tad deeper into the fleshy shaft and roaming him with your thumb drawing circles on the underneath. His reaction was a jolt, his hips swayed rolling up into you trying to chase something.

Henry tensed at the feeling of you delicatly holding him, tight yet at the same time soft, so soft as if he'd break. It was breath-taking to have your hands on him finally without him guiding you either. This was you ad you along, you were touching him because you wanted to! His head tipped back and he groaned unable to stop himself from arching his hips up, feeding your hand a little more of his cock. You gasped as he did and tightened your hold as if frightened he would slip free of your grasp.

"Y-You know? You can get him out love, he wont bite~" Henry said hands moving the lay flat on the covers either side of him his head lulled back  

"I wasn't... sure if that was okay..."

"There's nothing I want more then to have your tiny hands on my cock, I don't want to scare you is all... I'm not small and... it... I just don't want you to get worried" he said with a genuine look of concern. Your heart soared as the reality washed over you that he was more worried about you and how comfortable your were then just getting his rocks off. It was proof of just how much he cared about you, proof that he knew how big of a del this was for you. It almost made you believe he loved you back.

"... I wont be, I have seen cocks before, just not... touched is all... I want to I want to make you feel good but... don't know how" you muttered twisting your fingers a little more. For now you were content to just hold him, you wanted to take baby steps curling them around him through the boxers your eyes cast down at the admission but continue to play with him.

"O-Oh Fuck~ shit babe- that's it~ugh ughooofuck!" Henrys ground out, trying to remember to cry out rather then just grit his teeth and fuck into your palm with a quiet determination. Henry was a quiet lover for the most part... Well atleast during foreplay groans and grunts mostly until he was inside a soft wet cunt. Then he'd be as loud as he could! He loved the danger, the risk that someone might hear him having his way with a sexy little minx. And you were the only one he had eyes for now. And he wants nothing more then to let everyone know it.

Henry squinted his eyes at you for a second, his blues were dazed, blurred even from the throbbing pleasure that came from just having your hand around him. He watched you as you bit your lip rising to sit on your knees and lean over him resting on your other hand. It was cute, your face flushing as you concentrated on his cock, trying to forget just what it was in your hand no doubt. you were shy and nervous as expected and he couldn't find you anymore endearing. You were so sexy to him, pure an innocent but a little vixen in your own right.

"I could show you?" he offered moving his hand over yours again making you move lower trying to encourage you further. But his boxers didn't allow much more movement. He sighed and pulled your hand free. You tried ripping your hand away worried you'd crossed the line, but he didn't release you.

"No... no your fine honey, perfectly fine, here I'm just moving this out of the way is all~" he reassured you holding your hand in his while using the other, hooking a thumb under he elastic of his boxers twisting around behind him and shimmied them down under his ass. At the same time he scooted back, sitting up on your bed leaning his back against the built in head board behind him. You followed, well you had to he refused to release your hand, far too worried of you scampering off and looseing your nerve, if that happened he'd probably never get another chance. He had to encourage you, push past the nerves and thoughts and just feel. He wanted to make you feel comfortable and confident... And to do that he had to let you know you were doing well, that you were pleasuring him.  

And quite frankly, you were. So much so his cock was already dribbling all over the place eager to have your hands on him. He wanted you like no other, he wanted to kiss and bite at you, press himself inside of you and share your body, take you for his own morning noon and night! You completed him in a way he'd feared he would never experiance and he hoped it was the same for you.  

You were two sides of one coin, two puzzle pieces that he was eager to come together, to collide with you in the most primal of ways and prove just how perfect you both were for each other.

As the days ,weeks and months had gone by he had realised that this truly was it. He loved you, completely in every way shape and form you could love another. And it was his greatest hope to one day finally have you, not just in his bed, but in his life, his home and his family. Each day he grew closer to achieving that, each day he could see a life with you more clearly. But he was still holding back, because one wrong move could ruin it all. And he was not going to ruin this, his mother always said good things come to those who wait, and by god henry had waited a long time for you and he wont wreck it because he moved too fast.

You moved up beside him almost sitting on your own pillow that Joey had been curled up on, instead she had nestled herself under kal's chin at the bottom of the bed. Henry grinned at you licking his lip once before leaning over to you pressing a single loving kiss to your lips. It was innocent but no less intense, but this time wasn't full of the passion from before. It was the love, the emotion he put into the single peck. It blew you away. You could almost say it was love. Like the burning all encompassing love you admitted you had for him. He pressed your hand flat to his lower abs.  

You gasped when he smoothed a palm over yours holding it flat to his skin then dragged the palm south. He keened softly not holding back the small shudder as your fingertips burying into a thick thatch of curls then you froze. Your breath hitched when he'd pressed your hand into his boxers that were hanging low, barley covering the root of his cock, some curls showing over the top. He moved you further still letting you feel him, caressing the thick tame curls until you were touching the soft skin of his cock.

Henry arched groaning breathlessly as you cupped him instinctively, slowly pressing your fingertips in soft lines over the thick fleshy rod. He was warm to touch, unlike your toys that were cold... And the skin had a little movement as your slowly touched him managing to twist your fingers around him. Finally after what seemed like and eternity you had you hand wrapped around him in a loose fist. Fingers and thumb still pressing and rubbing at him trying to get used to the feel of him. He was weighty? Heavier than you'd thought he would be, and you couldn't tell just how long he was but your hand wasn't at his tip... Or touching his pelvis.

You eyed him biting your lip trying to watch him for any displeasure or tell tale signs that he wanted to stop. Consent went both ways and you didn't want to do anything he didn't want to. Even with all his praise and reassurance you still wanted to be mindful. You knew you could accidentally hurt him. Henry noticed you were eyeing him knowing at your lip consciously. He moved his hand from yours and placed his fingers to your chin curling them then pulled your lip free from your teeth with a smile.

"Go on love, its okay I want you to. I want to feel you explore and you can stop whenever you like. Remember you don't owe me anything honey, you don't have to do anything you don't want to" Henry praised smoothing a thumb over your lip and pressing a little firmer, without thinking you kissed the digit. Swiping your tongue over the pad in soft shy kitten licks. He chuckled and pressed a tad harder only to gasp when you sucked his thumb in your mouth trapping it between your teeth and suckled lightly making him moan at the sight of your slightly hollowed cheeks.  

He let you do as you pleased, your hand still on his cock tentative strokes being added to the little massage you were treating him to. He suddenly pulled back needing to fist both hands in the sheets below as you squeezed his cock a little tighter once more, like how you had over his boxers. Henry remained like that grunting throwing his head back trying desperately to hold his hips still wanting to give you time and space to have your own little adventure.

You tipped your head to him slowly then cast your eyes down to the twitching muscles over his abdomen finding the way they moved enticing, each slow tiny pump of your hand had him reacting, grunts and keens small jolts and stretching his legs out below him. Your skin prickled as he opened his eyes, the blues half lidded and lusty gazing at you strained, full of need. A need you understood. Your breaths became quiet pants whilst watching him tremble, flicking his feet placeing them flat on the bed with his knees bent only to kick out and straighten them again with a grunt.

You hissed still working him, moveing faster finding a rhythm, you noticed you got the best reaction from him if the squeezed him harder near his tip and used your thumb to rub over his slit as you reached the crown. He widened his legs and tried closeing them at one point. But you didn't stop, your hand moved all the time just toying with him, trying different motioned and flexing your hand trying to find out what he liked and what he didn't. Slowly swaying from side to side yourself making your own lips rub against your now swollen clit. Your nipples peaked thought the cotton making him watch your heaving chest licking his lips and huff a broken chuckle. He was glad you were also enjoying yourself.  

You slowly twisted your hand taking hold of him firmer holding your wrist in a less uncomfortable position. He was hot and very thick, your fingertips couldn't meet around him. Henry grunted as you held him before sliding down, following the velvet twitching flesh searching for his base. Henry eyed you as your eyes got wider as your hand travelled the distance of his cock. Then after what felt like hours your hand hit home. Nestling into his curls.

You swallowed dryly and squeezed a little harder watching as his mouth fell open in a wordless cry. You would have pulled away thinking he was in pain but the uncontrolled buck of his hips told another story. You grinned and moved your thumb pressing on the underside of him, feeling a thick... muscle? That was flexing, straining and twitching below him. It throbbed faster under the small circles your drew with your thumb.  

"fuck uugh aah shit yes that's it-FUCK FUCK BABE~ AHAHAHAAAUGH!" you flicked your gaze to Henry watching him fist the sheets either side of him tensing and flexing his powerfull body and curling forward slightly, his hips rising to meet you in shallow thrusts.  

You pulled your hand up holding him tightly all the way. He yelped and tried to follow your hand hiding a red flush creeping up his chest. It was incredible, you could feel him quivering, see every mighty muscle in him come to life and tense. His ABS spasmed beautifully and the pectorals in his chest flexed, biceps tense and bulging as he gripped the covers in two glorious fists. Then his shoulders? God the were stunning, broad and rippling as he jolted tugging at the muscles in his neck, muscles that looked perfect for biting. Your eyes blew wide and mouth ran dry, the fist wrapped around him was now pumping him in short fast strokes on auto pilot, like you just instinctively knew what to do. You'd not really put much thought into tossing someone off, never thought this could be that erotic. Many friends said it was a chore. Boring and a pain in the ass... And the wrists. Honestly they must have been doing it wrong, because this was insanely arousing!  

Just watching him was causing the heat to pool between your legs, every gasp and whine he released was echoed by your own soft mewls. Your thighs rubbing ever so slightly. His pulse beating faster and faster and the mewls became louder until they were true moans, cries of pleasure that were just as deep and powerful as he was.  

You moved your hand all the way across his shaft watching his face, the needy look was something that would always stay with you. You held the crown of his cock and twisted your hand pressing down on it letting it wet your hand. His warm precum dousing it in proverbial fire. You slowly drew up higher only petting him with your fingertips and  massaged, pressing into the wet thick flesh in slowly drags and twists. Henry jerked up yelping as you did so making the elastic of his boxers ping and slip front your hand revealing the once concealed sight of his huge erect cock in your tiny hands grip.

"Oh god, I'm sorry did I hurt you?!" You breathed out panicked making to releasing him fearing you'd caught him with a fingernail or something. But Henry was quick amazingly so. His hands snapping you yours holding you still and he moved moaning louder as he rutted the head of his cock into you almost cage like fingers bumping the tip onto your palm wetting it with small drops of cum already.

"Fuck! I-no its no ones ever-UHGH FUCK AHA SSHIT~ please! Please don't I need!" Henry babbled grunting and moaning as you flexed your fingers.

"Fuck I need you love~ soo bad please!" You grinned feeling more and more confident and grasped his hand prying it from your own and held it sweetly. You tipped your other hand around fisting him again then began to stroke him whilst rubbing circles into his sensitive tip. He grunted louder panting and pleading with every breath he had when both your hands worked in tandem slow short pumps at first then gradually longer and faster.  

Henry went wild below you moaning as your hand moved with ease along him coaxing out more cum from his tip that dribbled down over your moving hand. You tried to concentrate, watching as the taught skin wrapped around his cock give way to a beautiful glistening tip, the mushroom head was pink, but quickly becoming deeper in colour as you moved along him.

You slowed once more watching fascinated by him, your grip tightened again, all the... cum was making him slip through your hand easily so much so you were worried he would slip free of your fist. He growled almost snarling at you his hands came up to grab your hands once more only to stop and clench into fists and pin them to his sides not wanting to take over but at the same time needing you to finish him. Your nervous exploration quickly became almost sadistic teasing. You were fascinated with him, his reactions and sounds that drove your own blood racing faster and arousal to pool between your legs.

Henry's patience paid of when you smoothed his wet cock with your fingers and curled your thumb over his head as you reached the crown once more and stopped stroking. Instead you drew the pad of your thumb over his slit, exploring still, acquainting yourself with him. He was now hot, very very hot in your hand and seemed to have gotten harder and dare you say thicker from your... playing.

You leaned over him trying to get a better look. He was magnificent it a strange way? You'd never thought that cocks could be anything more then weirdly erotic, never beautiful but his was. A pleasing looking curve to him, thick and powerful just like the rest of him and... veiny? The thick throbbing veins wound around him like lace. Coiling and pretty?

He was frightening to behold in his glory long, longer than you thought a cock should be if you were completely honest, it was the type of cock that would pop in a 'monster cock' search on porn. yet you wasn't frightened? Far from it! You didn't care that your small frame would barley take him as far as you were concerned he was welcome to rearrange your guts!  

Your eyes trailed over him as you teased his slit, rubbing it and prodding with the flesh of your thumb it was big enough to press the tip of your thumb into. You did so gently remembering a video of a hand job once. The man had loved it but you knew you had to be gentle. You mimicked what you remembered pressing the tip of your thumb into it, just so the skin parted and the flicked, rubbing the sensitive flesh.

Henry cried out a gruntle moan growling and tried fucking up into you muttering 'oh god' over and over closing his eyes and throwing his head back. He liked that then? His groans got louder as you rubbed at him then squeezed with the rest of your fingers trying to hold him still.

"I-is that? Okay?... I mean its err... not to tight?" You asked frowning but he just cried out and widened his legs rocking meeting your hand with shaky thrusts. You quickly added your other hand to him. This time curling them both around him and jerking him up and down as fast as you could making sure to press your finger is along the veins as you went. He roared and ached up not expecting you to go at it like that be was thankfull for it, a few tears escaped his eyes as you work him through both hands, his eyes snap open and a cacophony of unintelligible sound pouring from him as his body spasmed.

You grinned and leaned over him pressing a sweet kiss to his shoulder before resting your cheek on it looking down as you continued fucking him with your hands twisting as you reached his base drawing a delicious high yip from him. He turned his head to you moaning into your ear, one of his hands wrapped around your waist digging the strong fingers into the soft swell of your love handles and closed his eyes. You followed suit loosing yourself in his harsh sounds, imagining him holding you rutting up into you singing this new beautiful melody.

Then without so much as a warning he arched throwing his head back again jerking harshly into your hand, his cock was tensing tugging his balls up meeting your hand and began pleading desperately eyes wide and wanting. He watched you, nothing else his eyes didn't look at your face instead his needy gaze bored into yours you could see he was close his eyes glazed both with unshed tears and an addictive heady lust that you want to see again and again. You'd never get tired of that look, the needy sexy thirsty look pick tongue wetting his lips and a flushed sweaty face torn between a tight look of concentration and a serene happiness. Giddy and excitable.  

"F-fuck DONT STOP! PLEASE-oh goooooddd fuck fuck please-love I -don't stop I want you to! AhUGH!" He babbled rolling his he'd back trembling legs trying to fuck up into your hands. You moaned yourself watching him loose himself.

"Your doing perfect-FUCK SOO~ YES PERFECT! Just- please don't stop fuck OH-OHGOD! I-I'm gonna cum! Fuck fuck yes just-oh God fuck babe please?!" He roared loud and suddenly stilled arched high. You felt it, the way his cock jerked in your hand pumping his release from his balls. Then he was releasing thick dribbles of cum spurt from his tip. In a blind panic you tightened your hand just under his crown and slapped your hand over his head suddenly afraid of him getting your sheets messy. You wasn't sure why. It was irrational but it was a knee jerk reaction.  

"FUCK FUCK- BABE?! Yes- OH! God ple-please I need to- please please fuck let go please I can't?!"He swore at contorted bucking into you powerfully as you did so. The flat of your palm blocking his release, forcing his orgasm to last longer as his cumulative was trapped in his cock. Henry squinted and rocked up into your palm grunting and choking on his own moans almost unable to breath then you finally pulled away. Gasping as he finally growled cumming in thick ropes across himself. The force of his delayed release making his cock bob and sway under its own power. He grunted and thrusted his hips moaning breathing heavy still letting loose more cumulative dribbling from him even as his cock began softening and laid back on his abdomen.

You blinked eyeing him cautiously as he panted looking up at the ceiling groaning, bringing his hands to his hair and dragging his fingers through it wiping his sweaty brow. You flicked your gaze to your hand smothered in his release. Without even a though you brought you palm to your face and sniffed, there wasn't really a smell to it, just male but clean? Then you craned forward and tentatively lapped at it.

It was... strange a peculiar taste but not unpleasant, musty and male but not salty like others had lead you to belive. You lapped gingerly and paused hearing him growl a very low Geralt growl through some harsh pants the force of his erratic breaths rocking the bed.  

"Baby you really need to stop that~ because if not we will end up doing this all night~" You flushed wide eyed at him and  

"I-Is that such a bad thing?" you quipped popping a finger into your mouth and sucking feeling sexier then you probably looked. You quickly tore your hand away from your face embarrassed at the thought wiped it on the covers beside you.

"oh god you think you can just tease huh? Well if you get me hard again I may have to just roll you over and show you just how long in can hold you on the edge hm?" he teased making you falter the image of being below him thrashing as he held you on the edge of rapture, which you just knew he would be able to do effortlessly, the ache between your thighs deepen. But he didn't give you a chance to dwell on it as he grinned mischievously at you and pounced. You squealed as he dived over you caging you below him not caring that h was now fully naked over you, or that his now flaccid cock was dirtying your nighty. He held you dragging your lips to meet his in a deep kiss, tongue and teeth both ravaging your mouth biting your lips and nipping at your tongue as you prodding him with it trying to ease yourself into his mouth keening.

You whined feeling a wet patch form on your belly from his cock rubbing into it. He rocked over you grunting and claiming your mouth as his own once more, not caring in the slightest that you now tasted of him. But then again it was probably the same for him and it was you. There was a possessiveness that came with tasting of one another. He pulled back holding himself over you with one hand gazeing down at you still pinning you with his abdomen and waist. His heavy from wasn't  uncomfortable, in fact it was very nice having him over you like this, comforting in a strange way?

He breathed in deep trying to draw in lungfulls of the delicious coconut mango shampoo and body wash you used. His free hand smoothed over your cheek cupping it in his hand. You whined closing your eyes nuzzling into the gentle palm sighing and fluttered your eyes relaxing in your own skin for what felt like the first time on your life. Henry's face softened, settling into a warm smile, wide blue eyes staring at you adoringly.

"I love you Y/n" you froze mouth hanging open as he whispered the words at you. You blinked and tried to breath or speak or anything! But you were shell shocked. 'he... He just? Oh my- no but? Henry just? OH FUCK! FUCK HE DOES- HE LOVES ME? HE LOVES ME! Joey, mum Anya tee- they were right! He-henry loves me back! I'm... Oh god' tears gathered in your eyes at the thoughts, the realisation that you were in love and loved in return!

He held his breath biting his lip cursing himself as you went quiet, the room became tense as the seconds passed.  Somehow he just couldn't hold back this time. He just had to finally tell you premature or not. He loved you whole heartedly and you needed to know. It had just felt right but maybe he shouldn't have blurted it out in his afterglow like that. But he had and he couldn't take it back. He wouldn't.  

You managed to compose yourself and swallow the lump in your throat just as panic washed over you when he opened his mouth. He looked apologetic and as if he was about to start to take it back. You didn't give him a chance to and moved sitting up on your elbows diving in for another kiss trying to pour your feeling into it. He must have got the message, he relaxed and smiled against your lips making you pulled back as tears began rolling down your face and you sniffed quietly trying not to bawl like silly little girl.

"I l-love you too H-Henry" you wept quietly somehow giggling through the tears and admission. Henry rolled on his side and wound his arms around you dragging you to his chest snuggling you. He grinned his heart about ready to burst as you told him what he'd been waiting so long to hear. He tucked his head into your neck kissing you as you cried sweetly. Happy tears of his own slowly streaking his face wetting your neck as he nuzzled into it muttering over and over I love you almost like he was making up for lost time, all the instances he'd wanted to tell you now spilling from him. And the best thing? Was you uttering it back every single time.  

This was it. This is what love was supposed to be open, warm and unafraid. Freeing and all consuming. And now he knew what true love felt like he wasn't letting go. He was never letting you go. He summarized holding you tighter as you clutched at him. Now all he had to do was fuck you silly to drive home the message, but that could wait. For now he was going to enjoy this feeling of finally having the love of his life in his arms. No secrets. No wondering. No uncertainty. You loved him and he loved you and from here on out it was the two of you against the world. He eyes you as your breathing evened out your tears stopped and you watched him skimming a finger over his chest swirling the small curls.

"I think we should get some sleep love, afterall you are training with me tomorrow and I wont be going easy on you~" he teased chuckling as you pouted.

"B-but I hurt my leg" you whined at him

"Your leg was fine when you were rocking on it earlier... Why were you rocking anyway love? Have an inch needing scratching?" he quipped prodding your side making you squirm and whimper at him cheeks flushing. He definetly knew you had an inch needing scratching. It was just a shame you really did need to be wide awake tomorrow.

"I-I? Just shut up you!" you grunted and snuggled into his chest more hiding away from him.

"Aww don't be like that, I promise once I'm done throwing you about tomorrow I will tend to your little Eden~" he teased making your whole body glow bright red at his sweet yet tempting promise.  

"D-Don't call it that!" you squeaked out at him.

"But Eden is cute? Or do you prefer kitty? Cunny? Princess parts? Love box? Fanny? No your right I don't like that oh what about Quim? Peach... But your ass is more like a peach-" he started listing off more nicknames for your most intimate parts each one worse then the others.

"Fuck okay okay Eden! Eden it is! Jesus Christ just stop!" you snipped trying to stop this madness. He released a deep belly laugh at your flustered look and held you tighter.

"Never~ come on lights out love"

"fucking give you lights out if you carry on" you huffed pouting but snuggled into him making him laugh as he flicked off the tv and bed side light.

"Ooo feisty I like it~" he muttered into the darkness pulling the covers over the both of you getting ready to settle for the night.

"Oh go to sleep, aren't men supposed to pass out after popping one off?" you asked with a sigh.

"Most men but love you forget I am a Witcher we have inhuman stamina so another three should do it if your offering~" he said cheekily making you sigh loudly making him press a kiss to your head.

"Good night honey, I love you" instantly the slight irritation you had melted and you tipped your face up and pressed a kiss to his lips making him freeze obviously not expecting the kiss.

"I love you too now get some sleep, if your throwing me around I want you well rested and on your A game." with that you both fell into silence drifting off to sleep tangled in one another's embrace the prefect image of a blissful couple.

[caitlesshea]

passed down like folk songs

4 times Nile hears Joe and Nicky tell a fake story of how they met + 1 time she hears them tell the real story.

1.

“We met at university.”

Nile pauses from where she’s sucking down her milkshake through a straw even in New York City winter because Chicago, when she smiles at whatever flowery love story Joe and Nicky are currently telling a bakery owner. 

“How lovely.” The owner says and then smiles at Joe’s humorous turn of events. 

Nile’s glad she made them take her to Max Brenner, even in this weather, because even though they aren’t tourists, she is. And neither one complained when she saw them greedily lap up the hot chocolate. 

She also saw Nicky eyeing a Hug Mug and she grabbed it before he noticed. Even though no one else celebrates Christmas, she does, so they’re all getting gifts.

“He was my English tutor.” Nicky says and Nile snorts, recalling both of their animated stories of their distaste for learning English when they did, hundreds of years ago.

“He was my best student.” 

And, Nile’s back to gagging. 

She loves them, she does. But there’s only so much poetic love she can hear them wax about each other before she tunes it out. 

She should’ve dragged Andy along with her, but her and Quynh opted to stay in their town home they’ve owned since the Industrial Revolution or something, and lord knows where Booker’s fucked off to. 

So, she’s walking around New York in November, so Joe and Nicky can go to their favorite bakery on the other side of the city from where their place is. 

“He really didn’t need any help with English.” Joe teases and Nicky smiles like this is a story they’ve told before. 

“Nope. We’ve been married for eight years now.” Nicky says to the owner, who squeals loudly. 

They end up leaving the bakery with more pastries than they paid for, much to Joe’s delight. 

“Eight years, huh?”

“It has been eight years since our last wedding.” Nicky says and Nile’s eyes bug out of her head.

“Wait, you’re actually married?”

They both stare at her like she’s lost her mind and she doesn’t know why she thought they weren’t.

“We’ve been married for a long time. Different places, different names, different countries.” Joe shrugs and grabs Nicky’s hand as they continue their walk. 

Nile pulls another bit of milkshake through her straw and follows after them. 

2.

“Your friend is very hot.” The woman, Anya, smirks at Nile as she gestures over her shoulder.

“Who?” Nile asks incredulously because for one quick moment she wants to answer with I don’t have friends but she knows that’s not exactly true so she just gapes at Anya with her mouth open. 

Anya, the daughter of their mark, who Nile is supposed to be getting to know, just points rudely towards Joe.

“Are you lovely ladies talking about me?” Joe slides up to Nile and puts an arm over her shoulders.

“No.” Nile says at the exact same time Anya says yes.

Anya smacks Nile’s arm playfully and smirks at Joe.

“I was just telling Nile how attractive you are.” 

Nile stares at Anya wondering when she got so bold and then looks at Joe who’s smiling and blushing, which she didn’t think was possible.

“Why thank you. But I am happily taken.” 

As if summoned by Joe mentioning he’s taken, Nicky comes over and places a hand on the small of Joe’s back as he separates from Nile.

Anya is pouting but Nicky just smiles.

“Were you talking about me, love?”

“I was just about to tell Anya how we met skiing in the Alps on vacation.” Joe turns to look at Anya and continues. “My Nico is not the most coordinated and he got his skis tangled and once we realized he was okay I asked him to join me in the lodge and we had hot coco in front of the fire. He still makes fun of my love for mini marshmallows.” 

Nile smirks at the story, knowing that some of it is probably true and when she turns back to Anya she notices what only can be described as heart eyes.

“That is the sweetest story.” Anya gushes and just as she’s about to go on, her father, their mark, walks up and smiles at her.

“Darling. Who are you friends?” 

As Anya introduces them Nicky turns to her and winks.

Yeah. They’ve definitely told that story before.

3.

“Do you wanna dance?”

Nile turns at the question and comes face to face with the most attractive woman she’s ever seen. 

“I’m Nile.” Nile blurts out unintelligently and the beautiful woman laughs and Nile’s fucked.

“I’m Frankie.” The woman, Frankie, smiles and leans closer to Nile. “Dance with me?”

Nile nods as she finishes her drink and turns in time to catch Joe’s smirk. She rolls her eyes and lets Frankie pull her out to the dance floor.

They’re in London, because Booker needed to be here for something he couldn’t say, but right now Nile doesn’t care. She convinced Joe and Nicky that they needed a night off and they let her drag them to a club. 

She’s forever grateful they agreed. 

She lets Frankie grab her hips and pull them flush together and after a couple of songs Nile feels want like she hasn’t since she died in the desert. 

“Your friends are staring at us.” Frankie whispers in her ear and it pulls Nile out of the moment.

“Huh?”

“Your friends. They’re protective?”

“Oh.” Nile tugs on the belt loops of Frankie’s jeans. “Yeah.”

“Introduce me to them.”

“What?”

“I want to meet your friends.” Nile looks at Frankie incredulously because really? 

“Kiss me.” Nile says instead. 

So Frankie kisses her and Nile ends up dragging her to meet Joe and Nicky. 

“Joe. Nicky. This is Frankie.” Nile introduces them as she steals Nicky’s drink right out of his hand. He scoffs and smiles so she knows he’s not mad.

“How do you know Nile?” Frankie asks them like they didn’t all meet tonight. Nile would find this weird but she’s immortal so what even is her life?

“Nile and I met at work.” Joe answers. “But I brought my husband to a work party and I’m pretty sure he stole my best friend.” 

Nile’s breath catches in her throat. She knows Joe’s telling a story and she knows they’re friends but something about the way he says best friend makes her heart clench. 

“And how did you meet your husband?” Frankie asks as she slides closer to Nile.

Nile assumes she’s being nice, trying to get to know them, but the cynical part of her that has only grown more and more since she became immortal wonders why Frankie is asking all of these questions.

“Oh, it wasn’t much different than this.” Joe gestures to the club and even though Nile knows it’s a lie her eyes still bug out of her head. 

“Really?” Nile squeaks and Joe smiles.

“Yes, although I think it was called a speakeasy. The one we met at had a dress code and everything. Fedoras, suspenders, the whole nine. Nico was very dashing.” 

Nicky smiles at Joe as he kisses him quickly, once, and then turns back to them. 

“He bought me a drink and the rest as they say is history.” 

Nile chuckles and Frankie seems enraptured by them and Nile gets it, she does, but she tugs Frankie back onto the dance floor. 

Later Frankie puts her number in Nile’s burner phone and Nile throws it on the ground and crushes it with her boot.

4.

“Did Dr. Jones tell you I introduced him to his husband?” Luca, the curator at the museum they’re canvassing asks.

“No, I don’t think so.” Nile smirks and Joe rolls his eyes.

“He didn’t introduce us so much as we met when I was helping curate one of the museum exhibits. Nico, as you know, is a photographer and he was hired to take photos before the opening.” Joe smiles like he’s replaying a pleasant memory. 

“Love at first sight?” Nile teases and Joe and Luca laugh.

“Seemed like they couldn’t stand each other at first.” Luca smirks and Nile raises an eyebrow at Joe who just shrugs.

“We figured it out eventually.” Joe turns to her and Nile knows the moment Nicky walks into the room because Joe’s gaze has left Nile and is now focused over her head. 

“Practice makes perfect.” Nile mumbles and Luca smiles at her as Joe leaves them to go stand next to Nicky.

+1

“Hurry up!” Joe calls after them as Nile, Andy, and Quynh cross the street to catch up to them.

Nile pulls her scarf tighter around her neck to keep the chill away. It’s New Years Eve and they’re back in London, because Booker, and they’re trying to beat the crowds out of the city to get back to Copley’s. 

They’re about to jump onto the sidewalk when Nile hears it; tires skidding, a sickening crunch, and Booker’s ear piercing scream. 

“James!” 

That’s new. 

Before Nile can even process what’s happened, the car is speeding away and Joe is trying to grab Booker by the shoulders while Andy and Quynh land on the pavement next to a woman, unconscious on the ground, body twisted in an unnatural way.

“Nile.” Nicky takes her by the shoulders and steers her away from Copley, lying on the ground, blood pooling around him, and the woman, who it looks like he was trying to save. 

Booker is inconsolable and suddenly London makes a lot more sense. 

“Booker.” Nile goes to say as she steps around Nicky and stops in her tracks when she sees the woman.

“Frankie.” Nile falls onto the pavement unconcerned with her jeans getting soaked as she gently touches Frankie’s face. 

She wants to scream, she wants to cry, she wants to blame this universe for all that is unfair. 

Booker’s hiccupping sobs cut through most of her inner turmoil as she turns to Andy and Quynh.

“We need…” Nile clears her throat. “We have to call the police.” 

“Nile.” Nicky’s voice is soft and she turns sharp eyes on him. 

She’s about to argue with him when there’s a loud gasp as Copley shoots awake right into Booker’s arms. 

“Sébastien.” Copley whispers as Booker starts crying in earnest now, mumbling in French, as Joe holds both of them. 

“We have to get off the street.” Nicky says quietly.

“We can’t leave her.” Nile grabs Frankie’s hand, the woman she spent a half a night with, and knows she can’t leave her alone.

“Nile.” Andy tries to placate her.

“No.” Nile stares Andy down. “No.” 

“Frankie.” Copley crawls over to her and Nile’s eyes widen and she’s about to ask how he knows her when Frankie gasps awake and turns to cough up blood.

“Shit.” Frankie says as she grabs her head and watches in abject fascination as her legs heal. 

Nile has just a moment to catch Frankie before she passes out and hits her head on the pavement.

“Now can we get out of here?” Andy asks exasperated and everyone nods as Nile picks Frankie up.

Back at Copley’s, hours later, Frankie listens as Joe and Nicky explain everything to her. 

Nile wants to comfort her, wants to know if this is why she felt drawn to her before, months ago. 

She has so many questions but they can wait until Frankie asks all of hers. Luckily Copley doesn’t have many, and he and Booker are cuddled on the couch together.

“Nicky and I met in the Crusades.” Joe says cheerfully, and Nile’s thrown back to the church almost a year ago when she heard the same story. 

In retrospect, it probably shouldn’t have taken her almost a year to figure it out. 

“We killed each other.” Joe jokes as he winks at Nicky.

“Many times.” Nicky smiles at Joe but Nile can see what she now knows isn’t just an underlying sadness of hurting his love, but the battle he wages within himself, nearly a millennium later, thinking he’s still not worthy, that he’ll never be able to repent for those sins he made outside of Jerusalem. 

“They never get to tell the real story.” Nile says quietly to Andy. 

“Real story?”

“Of how they met. I mean before tonight they maybe told it three times? You and Quynh, Booker, me.”

“Ah. Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“That must be really hard.” 

“They have fun with it.” Andy shrugs as she looks over at Quynh.

“I’ve heard some of the stories.”

“They’re not just stories.” At Nile’s questioning glance Andy continues. “I mean most of the things have happened, they just leave out the part where they already know each other.”

“Huh.” Nile thinks back to all the stories she’s heard them tell of how they met or how they got together and her heart aches that they’ve only been able to share the real version a handful of times.

“You’ll be able to have your own stories someday.” Andy nudges her and she looks over at Frankie.

“We met at a club.” Nile smiles at the memory. 

“Yeah, but tonight is when you really met. And someday they’ll be another to share it with.” 

That makes sense and Nile smiles at the possibilities. 

“So, Copley, are you gonna tell us why you were meeting up with a CIA analyst?” Joe asks Copley and Nile watches both Copley and Booker look at Frankie and then Copley gets up and goes toward his office.

“I was gonna tell everyone tomorrow.” Copley says as he leans against Booker, who pulls him closer to his side. 

Copley drops a file down on the table and Joe and Nicky open it. 

Nicky quickly loses all the color in his cheeks and stares at Frankie with something akin to awe.

“Is this real?” Joe asks and Copley nods.

“She’s a descendant of Nicky’s. We worked together before I left the agency and since I can never let anything go…” Copley trails off. “I got in touch and she said she was interested in her ancestry. I was gonna tell you what I found before I brought her in but well…”

Frankie looks around at everyone and then she makes her way over to Nile. 

“Hi.” Frankie says quietly to Nile as everyone else in the room starts talking over each other.

“Hi.” Nile says as they sway closer together.

“Is this why you never texted me?”

“Yes.” Nile breathes and Frankie smiles. 

“I forgive you.” 

“Oh you do?” Nile teases her and Frankie smirks before turning back to the rest of the room. 

Nicky has a strange look on his face and Frankie turns her questioning gaze to Nile. 

“He’s trying to figure out which one of us to give the shovel talk to.” Nile smirks and Joe laughs with his whole body as Nicky winks. 

“Is he?” Frankie smirks and tugs Nile impossibly closer. 

“Yeah.” Nile breathes against Frankie’s mouth before she closes the distance and kisses her.

“Let’s give him something to talk about.” 

This is a story Nile can’t wait to share.

[jordswriteswords]

Enjoying the asks and prompts, loved Pure Gold, a masterpiece, could I possible toss something in the kettle as well, 166 with 150?

“Fuck me.”

“Why are you naked?”

“What on earth are you wearing?”

“Oh...this is new.”

“Anyaaaaa,” Lexa whines to her sister, “what am I supposed to get Clarke for our anniversary?”

Mindlessly flipping the pages of the magazine, Anya asks, “What do you mean?”

Lexa fidgets on the couch. She pulls her feet up underneath her just to put them back down. She runs her hands through her hair and then knots her hands together, clearly distraught. “I don’t know, like, she, like, I, ugh, I just don’t know what to get her.”

Unperturbed, Anya asks without looking up from the page, “Are we thinking of a trip? Dinner? Money? You gotta give me something here Lex.”

Lexa’s cheeks burst into a hot pink and she chews on her bottom lip.

Finally, after a prolonged silence, Anya pulls her eyes up to meet her sister. Recognition immediately hits her. “Oh. Oh god, no.”

Cheeks aflame, Lexa whines, “Anya, don’t make fun of me.”

Clearly flustered, Anya puts the magazine down on her lap and runs her hands over her face. “I’m not,” she says. At Lexa’s raised eyebrow she repeats the phrase more aggressively. “It’s just weird. You’re my sister. Don’t you have any friends you can talk to about this?”

Lexa lifts one shoulder while she continues to chew at the skin of her lip. “I mean, I could talk to Costia,”

Anya rolls her eyes. “Yeah, let's not talk to the girl who secretly wishes she was bending you over the table.” She throws the magazine at her sister on the other end of the couch.

Lexa rolls her eyes right back. “She does not.”

A pained, exasperated sigh leaves Anya’s mouth. “Right, anyway, fuck, okay, I guess this is really happening.” She closes her eyes for a second, gathering her wits. “Okay,” she says, slapping her hands on her thighs. “let’s go to that store then. And don’t get all weird or I’ll punch you.”

Lexa springs up out of her seat, the wayward magazine falling to the floor. “Oh my god, Anya thank you so much!”

***

Clarke sighs for what must be the tenth time in the past hour.

“Oh my God, Griffin, if you don’t just tell me what the fuck you’re sighing about. And don’t say ‘nothing’ because the only thing you sigh about this much is missing Lexa and it can’t be that because we literally just left an hour ago.”

Clarke sighs again, then cringes at the look Raven gives her. “Honestly Rey, it’s just... I have no idea what to do for my anniversary.”

“That's it? Jesus, fuck, Clarke just bang her til she screams. Boom. Solved. You’re welcome.”

Clarke rolls her eyes at her best friend and swats at her arm. “It’s just that we’ve been together for a while…”

Raven shrugs flippantly. “So then bang her til she cries.” She pops a jellybean into her mouth from the bag on the coffee table and lays back on the couch, impish grin on her face at her suggestion.

Suddenly, Clarke blurts, “I think I want to propose.”

Raven chokes on the jellybean and immediately falls into a coughing fit. Clarke pats her on her back to coax her through it, cringing at the fact that she is the reason.

When she finally catches her breath, Raven responds - eyes leaking tears, “Oh, oh god. Okay, wow, I guess this is happening then. Jesus. Okay, let's head over to that store then. And don’t get all weird or I’ll punch you.”

***

Lexa: I can’t wait to see you tonight. I have a huge surprise for you <3

Clarke: Me too, love. I think my surprise will be memorable. xoxo

***

Lexa stands from the couch, the leather uncomfortable against her hips.

She sits back down. Still uncomfortable.

She stands again and paces until she’s behind the couch, her left hand leaning against the cushions for support. “Like what you see?” She asks, then mentally scolds herself.

Nope, definitely not.

The rubber shifts and hits her leg and she winces at just how awkwardly uncomfortable she feels.

Why did she let Anya convince her to buy this outfit? She paid a pretty penny for what appears to be only a Leather X that covers only her nipples and leaves her entire crotch exposed. Thankfully (or not) she purchased some leather underwear that could hold the - what she thought was a bit much - dildo that came with it.

In other words - she feels ridiculous.

Lexa adjusts her nipples to stop them from peeking out of their covers as she stands in the living room, nervously awaiting her girlfriend to get home from her suddenly extended shift at the hospital.

She hopes that Clarke isn’t too tired, otherwise this will all have been a waste.

The leather chafes at her skin and she wills the door to open with her girlfriend on the other side so she could focus on something other than the sweat forming under her squashed breasts.

As if her prayers were heard, the key in the door turns, snapping Lexa to attention in more than one way. She internally groans when the rubber hits the inside of her leg again at the sudden change in posture.

“Hey, Lex are you ready for our - why are you naked?!”

“What on earth are you wearing?!”

They speak at the same time.

Clarke grips her flowers tighter as her eyes widen, taking in the sight of a very naked Lexa as Lexa takes in the sight of her. Clarke is dressed in a long, form fitting black dress. Her hair is in bouncy curls around her shoulders and her makeup is heavy for the night out she obviously planned. In her hands are a bouquet of blue daisies - Lexa’s favourite.

Lexa blanches.

Heavy thumping sounds come from the doorway as Anya and Raven push their way inside. “What are you - ahhh!” Anya shrieks.

Lexa shrieks in turn.

“What?” Raven asks, pushing past them both and immediately trying to defend them with her body from whatever may be in front of Clarke.

“For fucks sake!” Anya bemoans, hand slapping over her face.

“Lexa!” Raven yells, eyes wide, and Lexa wonders what it would take for the world to swallow her whole. Her hands flail to cover… any part of herself, but there is just too much exposed.

“What are you doing here?” Lexa snaps are her sister. Anya knew what her plan was.

“I thought you’d wait til after dinner, not parade around your living room!”

Lexa’s face heats to a thousand degrees as she fruitlessly tries to hang on to her last shred of dignity.

“Oh, okay…this is new. That’s a look, Lexa. I don’t know if the restaurant would let you in, though. You know, no shoes, no shirt, no… dicks hanging out.” Raven laughs, walking into the house and dropping her purse on the hallway console.

Clarke’s brow furrows and her cheeks pink and her eyes lock onto Lexa’s new appendage dangling between her legs. She opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.

The heat in Lexa’s face rises to a point that she can’t control, and unbidden, tears spill out of her eyes half a second before she darts to her bedroom.

“Can you give us a minute, guys?” Clarke asks quietly when Anya and Raven call after Lexa’s retreating form.

The sobs are clear even through the closed door. Clarke knocks and opens without waiting for a response. She’s just in time to see Lexa struggle with trying to remove the dildo from her hips, fail, then collapse onto the end of the bed with her head buried between her hands.

“Lex?” She asks as she knocks again to let her know of her presence. When there’s no response she sighs, “oh, baby,” and sits next to her, her arm wrapping around Lexa’s shuddering shoulders.

“I’m so embarrassed.”

“Don’t be,” Clarke soothes, her fingers tracing along Lexa’s spine.

Lexa sighs. She wipes her eyes with the backs of her hands and lifts her head to look at her girlfriend. “Clarke, I was standing in the middle of our living room in a dominatrix costume with a giant dick sticking out.”

Clarke bites her bottom lip to try and stifle a laugh. “Yeah, okay, I mean…”

Lexa groans and Clarke has to grab onto her hands to stop her from hiding her face again. “No, no, okay, listen to me. I loved it, okay? I love you, Lexa. But, um, what’s with that? The costume?”

Lexa let’s out the most defeated of sighs, and her shoulders drop to match the expulsion of air. “It’s our anniversary,” she shrugs, “I wanted to do something special.” She glances from the corner of her eye at Clarke and almost immediately looks away from embarrassment.

Clarke smiles softly and shakes her head. She chuckles when Lexa’s ears start to turn pink.

Lexa sniffs and says, “God, I’m an idiot. Why are you all dressed up? You look beautiful, by the way.” She glances down at herself and groans again. “Ugh, I feel even weirder with how good you look.” With that, she pulls away from the blonde and covers her face with her hands again. She figures that if she can’t hide any of her body, she could at least hide her face.

Clarke drops down in front of her and pries her hands off her face, holding onto her wrists tightly and tracing her thumbs back and forth along the inside of them. “Lexa, look at me,” she coaxes. When she finally obliges, Clarke says, “I love you, in all shapes and forms.” She pointedly looks down at the dildo, eliciting a laugh from the brunette.

They sit in the quiet for a moment when Clarke makes a split second decision. “Fuck it. Lexa, I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Lexa responds, finally looking into blue eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“Stop. This is just - Lexa, I-I am so overwhelmed with gratitude that you would do this for me. You love me this much that you would do this to make me happy. It means… it means everything to me. You mean everything to me.” She pulls the necklace up and over her head, gripping onto the diamond ring attached to the end. “Marry me, please, Lexa. Marry me?”

A beat, then Lexa’s mouth falls open. “Are you fucking kidding me?” She groans. She leans back and looks down at herself. She’s got an eight inch dildo standing inches from Clarke’s face. “I look ridiculous!”

“Please don’t wear this to our wedding.” Clarke chuckles and glances down again, scrunching her brow after a second. “Actually, you know what? I don’t care. Wear what you want.”

“Claaaarke,” Lexa whines. “Let me get out of this costume and we can talk about this over the dinner you clearly prepared for.”

Clarke shakes her head. “Yes or no, Lexa.”

Lexa scoffs at the absurdity of a ‘no’. “Obviously yes, Clarke, I love you and - oomph!”

Clarke doesn’t wait to hear anything else as she surges up and tackles Lexa to the bed.

***

“You think Lexa’s okay?” Raven asks Anya. They’re sitting on the couch, waiting for the couple to emerge from the bedroom. “We’re getting close to missing the reservation.”

Anya shrugs. “I’m sure they're fine. She’s probably helping Lexa change into something…” she shudders, “more appropriate for the restaurant.”

“Maybe we should meet them there?” Raven suggests.

“We’re driving so they can drink and celebrate and not worry about a ride home.”

“Shhh!” Raven suddenly spits, finger pressed against Anya's lips.

They both freeze when they hear the first moan and the thump of what sounds like the headboard hitting the wall.

“Maybe we should meet them there,” Anya suggests.

“Let’s not hold our breath that they’re going to make it,” Raven responds.

They’re up and out of the apartment by the time the significantly louder rhythmic thumping, and the “oh, yes, baby, fuck me!” is out of Clarke’s mouth.

[cinderella1181]

Battle Cries Chapter 7 Henry Cavill/OFC

TITLE: Battle Cries

CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 7 /?

AUTHOR: Cinderella1181

WHICH Henry/CHARACTER: AU Henry Cavill /Juniper Denholm

GENRE: Romance/Comedy

FIC SUMMARY: Henry Cavill is the fourth son of the Lord and Lady of St. Helier. He is also now 37 still living at home and has no plans to move out. His father, recently retired, is forcing Henry to live on his own. Set up nicely, by his parents Henry has to find his place in the world and find real love for the first time with a girl he didn’t necessarily think he would even like.

PREVIOUS: Chapter 6

FIND IT ON AO3: Here

RATING: M (sex, language)

WARNINGS:Language...

AUTHORS NOTES: Juniper has a bit of a meltdown and we meet Rivers. Thank you to @ladyaudiophile​ for the Beta!

Taglist: @sobeautifullyobsessed​ @omgkatinka​ @carriebee1​ @thethirstyarchive​ @i-am-an-invisible-ghost​ @viking-raider​ @littlefreya​ @demivampirew​ @losille2000​ @iloveyouyen​

Juniper sat in the kitchenette and looked off into space. She could hear her name being said, but she was thinking about one thing and one thing only. Bloody Henry Cavill. 

“Juniper?” Madeleine said, waving her hand in front of her eyes. 

She looked at her best friend.  “ Hmm you said something?”

“I said a bloody lot of things. Where are you today?” she asked. 

Juniper sighed, looking at the window again.  “Henry.” She said quietly. 

Madeleine raised an eyebrow.  “Oh really?”

Juniper shook her head. “I shouldn’t let him get under my skin, but he does it with those damn blue eyes and those dimples.” she looked across to her best friend. “I don’t know why I keep torturing myself around him.”

“Maybe, and hear me out on this, he is perfect for you. He’s the exact opposite of Rivers, he’s funny, he’s sexy as hell, he’s sweet and kind.” Madeleine smiled at her.  “He is a good guy, and you should really give him a chance. Start over with him.”

Juniper laid her head down on the table and sighed. She closed her eyes, and shook her head.  “I don’t know. I stopped into the comic shop today before coming here and he just, oh he just made me so mad. But, he smiled at me and my heart fluttered. I just don't know what to do. And then, I passed Anya leaving as I was coming in, so I don’t know what he said to her, and he could be playing me for a fool and I just don't know.” She shifted her head so she could see her best friend.  “I bet he is way better than Rivers in bed.”

Madeleine laughed and nodded in agreement.  “I am sure he is a great deal better at many things compared to Rivers. You have a crush on him.”

Juniper made a disgusted noise in the back of her throat.  “I am an educated, socially aware woman. I do not have crushes. I form relationships with men who are my intellectual equals, and who have the same views as me.”

Madeleine laughed out loud again.  “My darling if that statement was true, do you really think I would date a boy in a band whose idea of a fun date is going down to the pub and then get some chips on the way home?” She put her hand on Juniper’s arm. “No, your heart wants what it wants, and sometimes they own a comic book store, and sometimes they work there for free.”

Juniper looked up at Madeleine and raised an eyebrow.  “He works there for free?”

Madeleine nodded.  “Aye, he does it just to get out of the house really. His mum and dad I guess still send him an allowance.” 

Juniper sat up.  “Are his parents rich?”

“His parents are the Lord and Lady of St. Helier. They are basically the governors of Jersey.” Madeliene said.  “You didn’t know?”

“No, not in all of the times I talked...oh my god, now some things that Marianne said on Friday night makes a whole lot more sense.” She shook her head.  “He really is not my type. He is the definition of the patriarchy.”

“He’s the fourth son. You liked his mum.” Madeliene said.  

“Yes,” Juniper replied quietly. 

“And you just got done saying that he wasn’t so bad.” Madeleine looked at her and smiled.  “He’s not perfect, no man is, but he is a good man, and he’d be good for you. You need a man like him.”

Juniper stood up and sighed.  “I don’t know what I need right now.” She sighed. “I am going to go home. I have dinner with mum and dad tonight. They are planning Thanksgiving.”  She got her scarf and purse.  “You and Joey are coming right?” 

Madeleine stood up and hugged her.  “Yes, we will be there.” She held her friend tight for a few moments before letting her go. “You’ll figure it out you know. I have faith that you will eventually see that he is a good guy and he is who you need to be with.”

“You have more hope about this than I do,” she said quietly.

Juniper grabbed her coat on the way out of the flat and began to walk home. Part of her wasn’t really sure why she was upset, but the part of her that defined who she was, was livid. He was the exact opposite of everything that she stood for. He was a part of the aristocracy. Even if he was the fourth son, it was still something that he was born into and a part of. Something that she couldn’t abide. 

Maybe, however, Madeleine was right, and she did have a crush on him. He was incredibly handsome, he was funny. He seemed sweet. He did help out, because heaven knows before he came along, Joey and Madeleine almost never saw each other. But it was something deep in her core that she just couldn’t get past. Her principles and beliefs were something that she held so close to her. She stopped across the street from the shop. She could just see him working quietly there. She did think it was nice that he was working for free. But he was a grown man with an allowance. He was all wrong for her. This had just cemented it. She was sure that she didn’t want him. She sighed, continuing her walk home. 

It didn’t take her long to wind through the streets to get to her house. She walked to her door and stopped, getting out her keys.  “Juniper?” A voice said behind her. 

She turned, and nearly dropped her keys. She worked her mouth a second and then finally got out.  “Rivers. What are you doing here?” 

He headed up the path to her house and stopped at the bottom of the steps.  “I just, I was just around the corner at the bakery. “ He held up a box to show her. “And I just thought I would come by and say hi. I was missing you this week.” 

“Really?” 

He nodded.  “Yeah, your mom called me and invited me to Thanksgiving. So, I wanted to stop by and see if that was okay. You know how much I love your mom’s cooking.”

She looked at him and nodded.  “Yeah I guess that is fine. We are adults. We can be friends.” She smiled.  “I want you to come. I am happy my mum asked you. Honestly.” 

He smiled at her and his big blue eyes danced. He bounded up the steps and held out his fist to her.  Juniper used her fist to touch his.  “Think your mom will make that avocado toast dip?

“I am sure she is.” She smiled.  “I guess I will see you then.”

“Yeah then.” He said and headed back down the stairs.  “I’ll bring my guitar.” 

“Joey will be thrilled.” She smiled. 

Rivers pushed his fingers into his blond hair and looked at her.  “Oh. Joey and Madeliene are going to be there?” 

She nodded. “Yeah, my mum invited them as well. Maybe I can get Joey to bring his lute.” 

“I mean, that’ll be nice.” He sighed.  “Hey look I gotta go. I will see you later.” He took a few more steps and stopped.  “Juniper, you looked really lovely today.” He smiled at her and left off down the street. 

Juniper stood there another moment.  “Fuck!” she said and finally let herself into her house. 

[sometimestxt]

Everyday

Fandom: SPY x FAMILY Characters / Pairings: Twilight (Loid), Yor, Anya / some Twilight x Yor Summary: The Forgers are the perfect fake family with perfectly fake feelings; flowers, sunset watching, and bedtime stories are to be expected, of course.

Word Count: 1,653 Read on ao3.

-

“Here, Yor, I got these for you.” Loid unceremoniously holds out a bouquet of flowers towards the woman in question. He shuts the front door behind himself so quietly it doesn’t make a sound.

Yor points a finger at herself. “For me?”

“I stopped by the florist on my way home—some of the neighbours were talking about us again—I believe this should quiet them down for the time being,” he elaborates. “They said it was ‘quite delightful’ when they saw me walking by with this in hand.”

“Well, they are lovely.”

Loid nods his head once in agreement, passing the flowers over to Yor. Following that, they head into the kitchen together. Anya sits at the dining table, her head buried in the latest volume of Spy Wars.

Her attention turns towards the sound of the entering footsteps and her eyes light up at the sight of Loid. “Papa!” she exclaims.

“What are those?” she asks next, pointing at the bouquet in Yor’s hands.

“Loid bought some flowers,” she answers with a smile.

Anya turns towards Loid with an expectant look on her face. “Did Papa get anything for me?”

“I’ve already gotten you enough things,” he reprimands.

“Maybe next time,” Yor intervenes. “Don’t you think these look nice, Anya?”

The young girl mumbles a few incoherent words in response.

Yor holds up the bouquet in her hands, observing it more closely. “Oh, there are lilies of the valley here… snapdragons too.”

She doesn’t see the way Loid’s posture straightens at those words. He swiftly inquires, “Are you familiar with floriography? The language of flowers.”

She blinks, gaze moving towards her fake-husband, then back to the bouquet. Her expression turns sheepish.

“I know of it, but I get a lot of the meanings mixed up. Oh, maybe I should understand it better, all things considered. And even you’re familiar with it…,“ she trails off.

Flowers aren’t necessarily her forte, but she does know a thing or two about thorns. And poison. Still, she probably shouldn’t say.

“No, it’s quite outdated. I don’t think many women these days understand it that well besides the most common flowers, such as red roses,” he reassures. “I’m not that knowledgeable of it either; I was actually wondering if you were. I’d only taken the florist’s recommendation for this.”

Anya stares at Loid, her eyes narrowed.

“Well, it looks beautiful,” Yor compliments. “We should put it in a vase.”

“Of course; I can do it,” he says, taking the flowers back from Yor. The kitchen becomes quiet once more as Loid busies himself with the bouquet and Anya turns her attention back to Spy Wars.

“Ouch,” Loid mutters suddenly, “pierced myself with a thorn.”

“Are you all right?” Yor asks immediately, concern lacing her voice.

“I’m fine; I’ve been hurt by much worse before,” he says wryly. “It’s barely a prick.”

Anya immediately jolts up and stares at Loid, her eyes wide. His focus stays on the flowers. The girl shakes it off before eventually asking, “Thorns?”

“Some flowers have thorns on them. They’re little prickly things. They hurt a bit when you touch them,” Yor explains. “Pretty things like flowers can be a bit dangerous sometimes.”

“Mama is pretty,” Anya says pointedly.

“Oh, well, this and that—they’re, uh, kind of different.” She chuckles then, a nervous hint to her laughter. “It’s not like I’m, uh—”

“Done.” Loid sets his finished work on the tabletop, interrupting Yor’s babbling. Anya seems to have lost interest, her eyes once again glued to the pages of spy shenanigans set in front of her.

Yor clears her throat then, gaze turning to the vase. The flowers are lined neatly. “Thank you, Loid.”

Daisies and daffodils make up most of the arrangement, she notices. A pure white. It’s accented with a few yellow roses and a handful of carnations, light red in colour. The lilies of the valley and snapdragons fill the rest, bringing it all together.

If she remembers correctly—

Her lips form into a small smile.

“Thank you for thinking of me, Loid, thorns and all,” she says softly, so quietly that only a trained ear can properly hear.

“It’s only natural for a husband to buy flowers for his wife,” he replies simply.

“Still,” she beams, “you’re very thoughtful.”

He turns his face away from her. “Think nothing of it.”

New beginnings, admiration, and happiness.

How sweet.

-

Twilight carries Anya in his arms as he strolls down the cobblestone path of the city. Yor walks next to him, diligently keeping up a perfect pace.

They look like the picturesque family, as they should.

The perfect fake family with perfectly fake feelings.

In his arms, he feels the steady rise and fall of Anya’s chest. She’s already fallen asleep. It’s been a long day after all, keeping up this farce. The sky is fading from a bright blue into a deep orange hue.

“Ah, the sun is setting,” Yor points out, her voice soft. “Twilight, right?”

He blinks. His face is neutral, doesn’t even move a single millimetre at her remark—he’s schooled himself in deceit, after all—but what if, what if. He gazes across the horizon and sees the shadows of buildings, homes, everything, silhouetted by the setting sun.

His mind runs at a hundred miles per minute; his backstory is perfect, Anya hasn’t let anything slip, his forged documents are infallible, and he’s a master of disguise. He hasn’t raised any suspicions with her, he concludes.

“Yes, twilight,” he eventually echoes.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” she continues. “It’s always so lovely to see the sky painted in such warm colours. Twilight might be my favourite time of the day, I think.”

She says it so easily.

“It signals the end,” he comments. “Of the day.”

It’s elusive, not quite there. There for a moment, then gone in the blink of an eye, disappearing into the night sky. Something out of reach.

“You almost say it like it’s a bad thing,” she observes.

He shrugs his shoulders lightly, making sure not to wake Anya. “Some of my patients don’t do so well in the dark, with twilight—the transitionary period. The darkness in particular can be a pain point, especially the unknown that it brings. It’s not uncommon.”

“Oh, I see.” Her eyes turn back to the horizon. “That’s too bad. It really is beautiful. I think the dark… is also comforting. I’m more comfortable in the dark.”

He raises an eyebrow in response.

“Not to be weird or anything!” she exclaims. “And, uh, even though it’s the end of the day… I do think twilight is quiet, and… warm.”

He almost laughs at the thought, but he can tell from her body language and from the inflection in her voice that she is being completely earnest.

“And I think,” she continues, turning to face him once again, “that this is the perfect way to end the fun day we had, Loid.”

His mouth suddenly feels dry and Anya stirs in his arms.

Twilight’s gaze moves from the little girl sleeping peacefully against his chest, to the woman walking by his side.

Right.

The perfect fake family with perfectly fake feelings.

-

Papa is a liar. He lies all the time. He lies about his work, he lies about her, he lies about flowers, he lies about everything.

Mama is a liar too. She lies—bad. Mama is not a good liar, but she still lies anyway.

Anya is also a liar. Anya has to lie, because if she doesn’t, maybe Papa and Mama will stop lying too. And when they stop lying, they won’t need her anymore, and she doesn’t want to be just another number again.

She’s heard enough of Papa’s lies and truths to know.

So Anya will lie and she’ll try her best at school and she’ll be friends with snotty little boys for world peace, but mostly for her Papa and Mama. She might even eat carrots too.

A yawn escapes her lips.

“Are you tired, Anya?” Mama asks, her eyes glancing at the clock on the wall. “It’s almost your bedtime, actually.”

“But Spy Wars isn’t over yet,” she whines.

Mama lets out a soft laugh. “A couple more minutes, then. It should be over soon.”

She picks up the petite girl once the show finishes, carrying her in her arms with ease. As she walks towards Anya’s bedroom, she suggests, “How about we get Loid to read you a bedtime story tonight?”

“What?” his voice exclaims from inside his room.

Mama stops in front of his closed door, giggling. “Come on, Loid. Anya’s been studying really hard lately.”

“Papa! Let’s read Spy Wars!” Anya shouts.

Papa doesn’t say anything, but Anya hears anyway. The door opens then and Papa has a frown on his face, but he still holds a Spy Wars book in his hands.

“You spoil her too much,” he mutters under his breath.

“I think we both do.” Mama laughs.

“I don’t get why this series has a cartoon, comics, and books,” Papa continues. He hits the cover of the book with the back of his hand as though that emphasizes his point. “It’s a bit much.”

Anya pumps her fist in the air. “It’s cuz Spy Wars is super cool! Right, Mama?”

“Yup, super cool.”

They walk into Anya’s bedroom next. Mama tucks her into bed, all tight and cozy, and sits on her right. Papa sits on her left and he opens to the first page of the book. He starts reading slowly, then Mama begins to read some of the words too.

Anya listens carefully. It’s quiet besides what they read off the pages, what they say out loud.

Papa and Mama lie a lot but sometimes they don’t, and Anya knows.

She closes her eyes as she listens to Papa and Mama’s voices.

That night, Anya falls asleep with a smile on her face.

——-

a/n:

I googled around for flower meanings, so there’s multiple interpretations for all the flowers I chose. I chose the ones I did for a reason tho ;)

09/25/19: added a few lines. This is what happens when u write a story in a couple hours and publish it right away

[jennycalendar]

imperfections (68/?)

read it on ao3!

look forward to just....chapters packed full of soft, because apparently that’s what’s going down for now. and forever. this fic is literally just 500% scooby family now and it’s very fun to write.

Not a lot of shit scared Faith. Or, okay, a lot of shit scared Faith, but she’d gotten pretty good at being brave about it anyway. As such, the twisting anxiety that had showed up when Anyanka had said that the demons were trying to end the world? That fucking freaked her out. So she waited until everyone had cleared out of the library but her, Buffy, and Giles, and then she said tentatively, “Hey, B, can I talk to you for a sec?”

Giles took the hint. He gave them both a small smile, then left, not seeming too bothered by Faith being all weird and secretive. That helped a little.

“Sure,” said Buffy, looking a little puzzled. “You okay?”

Faith exhaled. She’d kinda really liked being the cool, collected pillar of strength around B, with only a few minor slip-ups. But Buffy had done the whole apocalypse thing twice already, and she was the only other Slayer, which meant that the odds of her getting why Faith was so freaked were pretty high. “You’re not scared of this shit, are you?” said Faith tentatively.

Buffy considered the question for a long few seconds, crossing the library to sit down on the table next to Faith. “You know what?” she said. “I honestly don’t know how to think about it anymore. The first time…yeah, I was scared. Totally. But after the worst possible thing happens to you, you can’t—” She stopped, and ducked her head, taking a small, shuddering breath. “You can’t imagine anything worse,” she said shakily. “And that made it easier, for me—when the Master killed me—but then there was Angel, and—I don’t know, Faith. I really don’t know. I wanna tell you something awesome, but honestly I think it might just keep getting worse till it gets better—”

Oh, fuck. Faith reached out, draping an awkward arm around Buffy’s shoulder, and was startled when Buffy curled immediately and instinctively into her side. Nobody had ever done that before. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I-I didn’t mean to drag things up for you—”

Buffy shuddered. “No, you didn’t know, you—” She raised her head, giving Faith a watery smile. “And anyway, it’s different now,” she said. “Last two times ‘round, I didn’t have you.”

Faith’s heart pounded. “Yeah,” she said. “Yeah. You got me, and I got you, and we’re gonna kick this apocalypse in the face. And the next one, to boot.”

“You’re really awesome,” said Buffy softly, resting her cheek against Faith’s shoulder. “I’m really glad you’re here, Faith.”

And all of a sudden, Faith felt like she could fight dragons.

You seem to be taking the apocalypse in stride, said Rupert.

Jenny looked up at him; he was watching her with quiet, concerned eyes. “I don’t know,” she said, shrugging a little. “It’s nice to know that we have a walking encyclopedia of demons on our side.” She grinned a little, gently bumping his shoulder. “And also Anya.”

Rupert smiled back, still looking a little sad. I must admit my knowledge pales in comparison to hers, he said.

“So?” said Jenny. “She’s a thousand-plus. She makes all of us look like babies.” She slipped her hand into the crook of Rupert’s arm, kissing him on the cheek. “And she said you were bright for a man. I’m pretty sure that’s the highest compliment she’s willing to give a guy.”

Quite, said Rupert absently. He didn’t sound that convinced.

“Do I need to spell this one out for you?” As they reached Jenny’s car, she let go of his arm to open the door, turning around once it was unlocked. Placing her hands on Rupert’s chest, she said firmly, “You bring a lot to the table, England. We’re just as lucky to have you as we are Anya.”

I worry that—

“Stop worrying,” said Jenny, loudly enough to drown out the rest of Rupert’s sentence in the back of her head. “You’ve stopped plenty of bad stuff from happening.”

I worry, Rupert repeated, casting his voice a bit louder, that my current state of impairment may adversely affect our situation.

“What does not having a voice have to do with being smart enough to stop the apocalypse?”

That isn’t what I mean, said Rupert. He looked down at Jenny’s hands, then said quietly, I am still very badly shaken after what happened to me.

Jenny stared at him. Not once had Rupert ever directly admitted to something like that. “Oh,” she said quietly. “So—you’re saying maybe you’re not ready for an apocalyptic showdown?”

No, I don’t think I am, said Rupert. And worse than that is the fact that I don’t think I’m needed for this one anyway, not with Anyanka so capable of helping in my stead—

“Every pair of capable hands helps,” said Jenny, reaching down to take his own in hers. She kissed his knuckles, looking seriously up at him. “But that definitely doesn’t mean that you throw yourself into battle when you’re still recovering from the last one. Maybe you aren’t gonna be fighting evil alongside us this time around.”

I can’t just sit idly by—

“Then we’ll find someone to sit with you,” said Jenny. “Okay? I bet Xander would be up for the job.”

Jenny—

“Rupert,” said Jenny firmly. “You not being able to handle another battle so soon after almost getting killed is completely legitimate.”

As a Watcher—

“You’re not one, though,” said Jenny. “You chose to give that up to better protect your partner and your kids. Maybe Watchers have to throw themselves into the fray on their lonesome, but you don’t, because I am always going to be here to take the helm when you’re not able to.” She squeezed his hands, then stood on tiptoe, bumping her forehead against his. “You are not alone,” she whispered. “And you are always, always helping just by being yourself and loving those kids. I promise that’s enough.”

She felt Rupert draw in a soft, unsteady breath. He pulled back to look at her, eyes wide and wet.

“It’s enough,” Jenny repeated, thumb stroking the side of his hand.

“Jenny,” Rupert said in a small, hoarse voice, “I don’t think I can wait until my voice is all the way better.”

“What?” said Jenny, confused.

“You said—” Rupert swallowed. “When my voice was better—” He exhaled, then tried again. “Hearing you speak of me like that,” he said, “as though you have every intention of being by my side for as long as you possibly can—it, it solidified quite a lot of things for me. And we, we did discuss the possibility of you proposing to me again once I’d healed up a bit, but I’m healed enough. Perhaps it’s my turn to take us both by surprise.” He swallowed, giving her a shaking smile. “I really just can’t wait two more days.”

Oh. Oh—

“Jenny Calendar,” said Rupert. He was gripping her hands very tightly, like he never wanted to let go of them, like he never wanted to let go of her. “Will you marry me?”

“Oh my god,” said Jenny, and burst into tears. This wasn’t at all the reaction that either of them had expected, particularly not Jenny, who had never really been interested in getting married. But it was Rupert who had asked, Rupert who thought about every goddamn decision he made, Rupert who wanted to be with her even when the going got tough—

“So is that a—”

“Stop talking,” Jenny wailed, “the doctor said two more days!” She tugged her hands away from his to grab his face, pulling him down into a deep, tender kiss.

Rupert pulled back. Jenny, he said in the back of her mind, as much as you like keeping me in suspense—

“You think I’d say anything but yes?” Jenny demanded.

Rupert stared at her, raising a shaking hand to cover his mouth. He drew in a breath that sounded very close to a sob. Good lord, he said. To be truthful—I, I rather thought you might prefer not to—that is, I’ve never—never dreamed I would—

“Yes,” said Jenny, half-laughing, half-crying. “Yes, okay?” and tugged his hand away from his mouth so she could kiss him again. Rupert fell back against the car, and she pressed herself against him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he lifted her off her feet.

“Do you two ever stop?” demanded Cordelia’s voice from a few feet away.

Generally, this was when Jenny pulled away from Rupert and made some playful quip. But this was such a big, wonderful moment that she just couldn’t stop kissing him, especially not when she knew how lonely he’d been, how much he’d wanted something constant—

Rupert pulled back, grinning almost drunkenly at the children. “We’re getting married,” he informed Cordelia, then shouted, “WE’RE GETTING MARRIED!”

“Stop that,” said Jenny, and whacked his arm. “You are going to seriously mess your voice up and the doctor said—”

“Wait,” said Willow, staring at them both with a soft, wide smile. “Ms. Calendar, is that true?”

“We’re getting married,” Jenny agreed, laughing breathlessly as Rupert pressed a fiercely happy kiss to her cheek.

Without a word, Willow ran up to the both of them, throwing her arms around Rupert and Jenny both in a delighted hug. She was followed, much to Jenny’s surprise, by Cordelia, who was babbling a mile a minute about wedding plans and wedding dresses and what color the bridesmaid dresses should be—and then Xander, who sort of awkwardly inserted himself into the hug as subtly as he could.

“Not very subtle,” Jenny informed him.

“Shut up,” said Xander, then grinned. “Mrs. Giles.”

“Oh, no, we’re Jenny and Rupert Calendar now,” said Jenny immediately. Rupert started laughing. “Stop that, Rupert, you are supposed to be quiet—”

“What’s going on?”

The group hug broke abruptly apart. All eyes turned to Faith and Buffy, who were walking across the parking lot hand in hand, and Jenny felt suddenly nervous for a reason she couldn’t quite define.

Rupert, apparently, had no such qualms. “JENNY’S MARRYING ME,” he said very loudly, and once again lifted Jenny off her feet, twirling her around all but effortlessly. Dizzy and elated, Jenny laughed, hugging him tightly.

“Holy shit,” said Faith. “Holy shit—”

Buffy burst into tears.

That was enough to cut through Rupert’s jubilation. Setting Jenny gently down, he turned to Buffy with worried eyes. “Buffy, are you—”

“You guys are so cu-u-ute,” Buffy wailed, and hurled herself at Rupert, hugging him very tightly. Rupert made a strangled noise, but hugged her back, stroking her hair as she cried into his shoulder.

Faith was directing a heart-meltingly sappy smile in Buffy’s direction, a fact that she hastily tried to cover up as soon as she noticed Jenny was looking at her. Doing her best to saunter over to Jenny, she said, “So. You two are tyin’ the knot, huh?”

“Looks like it,” said Jenny, smiling softly at Rupert.

“Gonna do that before or after the apocalypse?”

“Now,” said Rupert. “Immediately right now. I’ll marry her in this car park.”

“He’s a little punch-drunk,” Jenny stage-whispered to Faith and Willow, who both did their best to hide their laughter.

Seeing as Giles and Jenny were very busy being all giggly and smitten (which, considering that it was Giles and Jenny, was like five times more smitten than Willow had ever seen anybody), it was unanimously decided that everyone would once again camp out in Willow’s room, just in case the newly-engageds got loud in their celebrating. Buffy had to head home, but she pressed a soft kiss to Faith’s cheek at the door, because that was kinda just the mood everybody was in tonight. All schmoopy and romantic.

Cordelia and Oz did stay over. Cordelia mostly just wanted to talk everybody’s ear off about weddings, and Oz mostly just wanted to see Willow’s new room. “It’s a nice room,” he informed her. “Very you. I like all the witchy posters.”

“Some of those were in Jenny’s room when she was my age,” Willow proudly informed him. “But she says she didn’t know half as much magic then as I do now.”

“Power to you,” said Oz, knocking her shoulder with a little grin. “Not that I’m surprised.”

“—and there was this one time I was a bridesmaid at my cousin’s wedding and we wore these terrible dresses and when I’m Ms. Calendar’s bridesmaid she’d better listen to my input on the dresses, because my cousin was totally not receptive to my opinions,” Cordelia was informing Faith and Xander, both of whom had very clearly zoned out five sentences ago. “Like, if your fashion-savvy cousin told you that your dresses looked like some five-year-old had puked glitter on a trash bag, you’d be smart enough to change the style, right, Faith?”

“Y’know, I’m starting to understand why we’ve never talked,” said Faith. Xander, in an attempt to defend his girlfriend, elbowed Faith. Faith elbowed him back and knocked him off the bed.

Unbothered, Cordelia smirked. “Right,” she said. “I forgot you’re Little-Miss-Wears-Whatever-Ms-Calendar-Picks-Out.”

“Better than lookin’ like I got my clothing off a dollar-store mannequin,” Faith shot back, grinning just as fiercely.

“Wait,” said Xander from the floor. “Do they like each other?”

“Loser,” said Cordelia to Faith.

“Uptight priss,” said Faith to Cordelia, and high-fived her.

“I don’t understand girls,” said Xander emphatically.

“You and me both, buster,” said Willow, dropping to sit down next to him. He grinned, rolling onto his side, and she grinned back. “So,” she said. “Giles and Jenny. Getting married.”

“Surprising absolutely no one,” said Xander, rolling his eyes a little. “Honestly, the only part that shocks me is that they haven’t just run down to the courthouse and eloped.”

“Shit, you think they might?” said Faith, sounding genuinely bothered by the concept.

All eyes turned to Faith. “Aww,” Willow cooed. “Faith wants to be at the wedding!”

“Shut up,” said Faith, lobbing one of the decorative pillows in Willow’s direction. Willow dodged it, giggling. “Like you don’t want to be there for it too!”

“Everybody knows Willow’s a softie,” Xander pointed out. “But Faith…” He trailed off. “The looks you were giving Buffy tonight! Like you wanted to kiss her whole face off.”

Faith blushed, looking strangely pleased, and settled herself back into the pillows, leaning a little on Cordelia’s shoulder. “Kinda did,” she said. “But can you blame me? Buffy’s the best.”

“Can’t argue with that,” agreed Xander.

“He had such a crush on Buffy for a while back there,” Cordelia informed Faith. “Thankfully, he upgraded.”

“No offense, Cordy, but I think he got it right the first time,” said Faith, then considered. “I mean, I guess I’d have to suck face with you if I wanted to make comparisons—”

“Oh my god, this is turning into every sleepover I had with the cheerleaders,” said Cordelia, giggling.

“Elaborate, honey bunch?” said Xander, sitting up very fast.

As Cordelia slid off the bed to whack Xander’s shoulder, Willow clambered up onto the bed next to Faith, smiling a little shyly at her. “Pretty fun night for the end of the world,” she said.

“You can say that again,” said Faith, returning Willow’s smile somewhat tentatively. “Kinda the first time I’ve had company for one of these things.”

“Well, it won’t be the last,” said Willow, and tucked her arm into Faith’s.

[coeurdastronaute]

Essays in Existentialism: Kiwi

Prompt– famous celebrity/musician clarke or lexa, your choice, decides to try tinder randomly just for shits and giggles. On the other end, normal person clarke/lexa, sees their profile, decides that they’re clearly a catfish and decides to swipe right just to see what happens. Aka when the person you’re sure is a catfish actually ends up being the real deal.

“I need a cigarette.”

“You’re on in three.”

“Just enough time.”

The manager wanted to argue, but she heard the familiar ding of a Zippo and she rolled her eyes before going back inside with a dramatic flourish. Grateful for the quiet, the singer tugged the collar of her coat up a little tighter and inhaled before adding more clouds with her smoke.

The past few weeks were nothing more than a blur and a dream of appearances and performances. These moments were stolen and perfect, though much too short. She asked for it, though. She wanted it, and she knew what all came with it.

On the old loading dock of a radio station in downtown, the singer inhaled at the nicotine greedily, and prepared herself for what she was about to do. Despite all of the knowing, there was still a distinct dissonance between who she pretended to be, and who she actually was. Being interviewed never made her comfortable, and she was a certified hermit, but for the rest of the world, she wasn’t.

“Oh, God! It’s you!” a voice appeared and ruined it, causing the leather-clad artist to groan slightly to herself. “I’m sorry. I was just… I smoke out here sometimes when it's too cold for the back parking lot.”

“Sorry I took your spot,” she grinned, the character coming out quickly, and almost frighteningly so.

“No, no, it’s fine. I mean you’re… you’re… you’re Lexa Woods,” the girl explained, as if it were news to the musician. “I saw you play three years ago at the Garden. It was amazing.”

“Thank you. I really should be going though.”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Can I give you a light?” Lexa paused, digging her lighter out of her pocket again after tossing the cigarette butt towards a near-empty dumpster.

The clouds were thick and heavy, while the cold was annoying and painful. The back dock smelled like wet garbage, and the city chirped all around, but it was almost home.

Shyly, the girl nodded and blushed. She couldn’t have been more than twenty and the thought made Lexa uncomfortable. Only a few years separated them, but what a few years it had been for her. With a large portion of it fucking girls like this one on coke-fueled binges, she was ashamed of herself, more and more. She was different now. She was figuring out what it meant to appear one way, and be another.

The intern smiled and thanked her. Lexa gave her two tickets to the show that night and made her way inside after a hug and a lot of thanks. She liked that part.

“You’re late,” Indra complained as the elevator dinged and Lexa pushed her hair around, digging her hands into it nervously. Her sister leaned against the wall, not saying much at all.

“Why’d you let me smoke? I’m trying to quit.”

“Because you’re unruly when I enforce anything.”

“Yeah, well.”

“Yeah, exactly,” her manager taunted, grabbing her coat as they were directed into the greenroom. “I have to leave you with one vice to maintain the rockstar image.”

“I have plenty, thanks,” Lexa snorted as she took a seat. “So what will I be doing today? Puppies and Questions? I liked that one. Or maybe photobombing pictures?”

“Some computer game thing,” her sister shrugged and typed on her phone. “If you behave, I’ll take you to lunch and then you can have the afternoon to rehearse with me while the nanny is busy with the kid.”

“Why doesn’t Anya have to do this stuff?” Lexa complained, looking at Indra through the mirror.

“Because she behaves herself and doesn’t land up on tabloids.” She scowled and rolled her eyes before meeting her sister’s eyes.

“Fine. Deal.”

When Lexa first had the notion of doing anything real with her music, she never once believed or dreamt of making it to that moment. But she had an old guitar and played for a lot of punk bands in high school before dropping out to play and refine herself. Her sister had a degree from an online university that she got while driving them around in a van and playing drums. They were a team. Their little band was a surprising hit. Even two albums later.

And then Lexa torpedoed them.

Lexa didn’t make it easy, but she was trying to get better. She had to get better, because Anya counted on her, and she just realized what that might mean. Things were different, and she let herself get off target. Now she was nothing but focused, despite her own initial resistance to it.

“Go get’em kiddo,” Anya winked and nudged her toward the booth.

“Hey, cheers, yeah, pleasure,” Lexa smiled and took the headphones after shaking hands with the radio hosts. Her manager gave her a nod and signaled for her to smile more. “Thanks for having me.”

“Thanks for coming in,” the gentleman beamed. “Are you ready to do a little live show?”

“Kind of excited about it, actually. I don’t get to play much for fun.”

“We’re going to separate the hour up into three segments,” the female producer explained as Lexa got herself situated in the chair, adjusting her microphone. “First, a little intro, some questions. Then, your manager okayed a little game segment. Last, a follow up and then you do a little song for us.”

“Easy day,” Lexa smiled, rolling up her sleeves.

When Lexa disappeared, it happened so quietly, that no one really knew about it. She snuck off, heartbroken, stoned, and drunk, and she was forced to get better, and she was forced to work on a new album because nothing else mattered. And it helped, to distract herself with work. She spent a good year really working through things on a guitar. It left her with something she was proud of, though now she had to answer for her time in hiding.

It started out simple enough, and Lexa was back in the swing of interviews and touring. It was nothing like when she was in a van with her sister, and living off of gas station food. Now she was international and on the biggest shows. The nerves were still there though.

The introductions went well enough, a little witty banter, but like clockwork, she could feel the switch that came in the questions.

“You were MIA for about two years, right?” the host ventured. “What happened?”

“It’s kind of simple. I had to write. I got my heart broken, plain and simple. Everything happened in a big of a whirlwind for me. I spent four or five years really hustling and coming up, and I got swept up in it. So I had to get my head on right.”

“Seems like some much needed R and R, right?”

“Definitely. Plus, I really got to grow in my sound, which has been an amazing experience.”

“You had a pretty gruelling schedule before?”

“Yeah, I made my sister schlep all over the world. She deserved a little time at home. Plus, she was incubating a human.”

“That probably does take a bit of energy,” the laughed.

“Now we just have more people coming on tour with us,” Lexa grinned and sipped her water.  

“But back to the album. It’s evident the change in sound. This is already being heralded as the best album of the year across the board. How do you feel about it?”

“I’m far too self-deprecating to ever consider it the best of the year,” Lexa chuckled and nervously toyed with her hair. “It’s something I’m proud of. I mean, I’m always proud of my work, but I feel different this go, and I think that’s what you hear in it. Heartbreak and a lot of figuring myself out. Can’t say I’ve succeeded much, but I gave it a go.”

“So heartbreak is a theme,” one ventured, smiling slightly. “You haven’t been back on the dating horse? In two years?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say two years. But the past few months, I have been very strict with myself.”

“So you don’t believe in love anymore?”

“Phew, wow. Um. I do. I’m not so sure I’m any good at it.”

“This is perfect. We are going to find you love today, Lexa Woods. Or at least, that’s what your sister proposed we do with you.”

“We’ll be right back with Lexa Woods, resident rockstar,” the other host interrupted the artist’s nerves. “Right after this.”

The music cut in and they were cleared. No one felt like updating her on what felt like an important piece of information, so she looked back at her sister, who just smirked. It was a dangerous kind of game, and all of a sudden, Lexa remembered how much she’d made her sister’s life difficult, and thus was deserving of these little jokes she played.

“You’re just going to need your phone,” an aide appeared and pulled some cords from somewhere.

“For what?”

“Tinder.”

“What’s that?” Lexa furrowed and handed over her phone as it was plugged in to the computer. The hosts just looked at each other before looking back at her.

“Basically, you set up a profile, and simply swipe left if you don’t like the person, and then right, if you’re attracted to them.”

“Isn’t that the thing for fucking?”

“We’re looking for love,” they assured her.

Lexa groaned internally, but nodded. She could handle fucking. It was love that was complicated and turned her into a monster. It was love that led her to Costia. It was love that fucked her over, a fact that her sister liked to forget in favor of the notion of romance.

Helplessly, she looked to Indra who was busy emailing on her phone. Anya sat in the sound booth, giving her sister a curt little wave. Penance, Lexa reminded herself. It was her duty.

She watched as something was put on her phone and they set up the basics. It was going to be a long day. No one would ever accuse Lexa of being a talker. It was a miracle she survived these types of things.

“And we’re back this afternoon with Lexa Woods, all-around badass and self-proclaimed victim of heartbreak. Welcome back again, Lexa.”

“Thanks for having me, I guess,” she smiled slightly.

“So you dated Costia, the model, correct?” an anchor ventured. “Is that who broke your heart?”

“I don’t like to name names,” she smiled coyly.

“How very chivalrous of you. Well, we just love the album, but we do want to hear more love songs, and so we thought we’d help you get back to a full heart, so to speak. Please welcome our contestant of the moment to another round of Rockstar Tinder!”

Noise effects went off in the headphones and Lexa shook her head, doing her best to maintain a bit of the tough guy persona she just had. In all reality, she wanted to run away and smoke, but she couldn’t. So she played along.

“I know this might be a little hard to believe, but I’ve never actually used Tinder,” she confessed, playing it up for the audience.

“We actually don’t have trouble believing that a rockstar would need help.”

“Even better. So we’ve been not too successful yet. But we think the third time doing this is the charm. We’ll even help you out.”

“Perfect. Let’s do it. Ladies, I’m coming for you.”

With a little chatter, they managed to form a quick little profile for the musician. They selected a few picture and tried to make it obvious and not obvious.

“So it’s left if I like them? Will they be swiping for me? How do I know if they like me?”

“Right if you like them,” the host laughed. “And I’m sure they’ll love you.”

It was a fun enough game. Lexa even found herself laughing slightly with all of it. It seemed so obscure to her. But a few people swiped on her, and she had fun chatting, trying to convince some she really was who she said, and others, that it was all fake. No matter what, she always told them to tune in and hear to verify. She even told a few that she’d have tickets waiting for the sold out show, and it was up to them to try it out.

No love could be found though. Lexa understood how exciting it kind of was, to swipe around and meet new people. It seemed weird to not just go to a pub and pick someone up in person though. She was clumsy online.

“Well, did you find love?” the host asked, wiping his eyes from laughing so hard at the musician’s antics. If there was one thing Lexa could do well, it was schmooze. She was one hell of an appearance.

“Unfortunately, no. And I had such high hopes that we’d find it in ten minutes.”

“Yeah, we struck out again,” the other sighed. “And with that, our suave singer is still single, so all you ladies at the show tonight, go ahead and throw some bras and such.”

“The way to my heart,” Lexa sang.

“We’ll be back in a bit. We have two live songs coming up right here in house. One from the new album and a cover, right?”

“Yeah, of course. Anything for you.”

“Goodness, you can swipe right on me any day,” the female host fanned herself.

“And with that, we’ll see you soon,” the other rolled his eyes.

The day had been long and exhausting, but something about sore muscles and incomprehensible tiredness felt welcomed. There was just a few more days left in her adopted city, and Lexa was more than eager to savor the feeling of her own bed. She was more than eager to savor the feeling of quiet and solitude that came in her condo.

Outside of the floor-length windows, she saw the city glimmer and for a moment, she ached to be out there. Instead, she stayed in, and she savored. She took the longest shower of her life, washing away the sweat and dirt from the concert. She snacked. She returned emails. She was utterly domestic and terribly boring.

Before, after a show, she would be out partying, drinking, smoking, going out somewhere. Four in the morning, and she’d be doing lines in the bathroom and not falling asleep until noon. It wore down her body and mind and heart, and also that of her sister.

Now, she was crawling into bed with a bowl of fruit, a nature documentary, and wool socks before one. But it was the only way her sister agreed to go on tour with her again. She’d be up by nine, in the gym by ten, and prepared for whatever they had scheduled for her. She was a team player, and she was done being selfish, especially after everything her sister did for her after the break up and implosion. Plus, she was oddly into the documentaries.

Ding.

With a growl, Lexa stretched and grabbed her phone from the nightstand, ready to decline whatever offer someone was extending by simply ignoring it.

Instead, she found herself looking at a Tinder match and rolling her eyes. She did meet with some of those she spoke with, the ones who showed up and believed her. That was actually fun. Now, it felt a little off, and weird.

But maybe her sister was kind of right. Maybe she could open herself up. She was better than she’d ever been. For a few seconds, she argued it over with herself while a very British host described the harsh environments of some random island. He told the story of birds that don’t see each other for six months at a time, and the female was missing. For a bird, the male looked extremely upset, and that was enough to nudge the musician’s decision making process.

For some reason, she sat up in bed a little straighter, as if she were actually going to work or something. But all that she did was begin to swipe. She was extremely discerning, and felt oddly covert, like she was hiding this from someone. She looked around her empty bedroom and leaned back against the headboard.

As soon as the urge to look came, it disappeared. The female bird arrived and they made little bird babies before the documentary moved onto another island with ugly little toads and an ant problem. Gone was the spark and motivation. Realism replaced the dreamy idea of love in the technological age.

With a final swipe to the left, Lexa sighed and snagged a piece of melon before preparing to shut off her phone.

And then she looked at the last person who appeared and she gave it one final go, flicking her to the right and tossing her phone hopelessly a second later.

Her sister might be right about opening herself up and not letting Costia win after rebuilding, but Lexa was certain that she wasn’t about to find anything worthwhile on Tinder, not even a random hook up. Because while she did want to believe her sister, she’d settle for just a warm body.

Across town, the music was thumping. The bar was filled to capacity, and the night was far from ending, as it was technically just starting. Already a few hours into her shift and just starting to sweat with filling drink orders, the bartender grinned, winked, flirted a little to pay the bills.

“No, I’m done, Rae,” the bartender shook her head as she poured and handed out a few shots. “No more blind dates. No more worrying about romance. This is a new start. I have my internship and I just want to be me for a bit. So stop setting me up and giving out my number.”

“It’s been--”

“I know how long it’s been,” she grunted.

“Clarke, I’m just trying to help.”

“Your blind date lives in his mother’s basement and plays video games as a profession. I think the sea is all dried up for me. No more help needed.”

“Suit yourself.”

“I do suit myself.”

With a self-satisfied nod, Clarke took a deep breath before steadying her customer-service smile and getting back to work.

On a good night, she made enough to be comfortable. On a great night, she could put some away for savings. Tonight was setting up to be great. So great, in fact, that she didn’t mind taking a breather and grabbing a drink herself when some terrible band started playing and the orders stalled out mostly.

Despite herself and her words, Clarke checked the Tinder notification she got a few hours ago, first. She didn’t mean to, but it was habit. She never used it, but from time to time it was hilarious to watch people try to flirt or just be complete weirdos.

The notification didn’t disappoint. Of course, the rockstar Lexa Woods matched with her. Of course, no one would ever think to pretend just a little and be more original when catfishing. Of course, this was her luck. But still, pretend as it was, it was flattering to think of the sex goddess who seemed to wear the tightest black pants and simple black shirts and leather jackets at all times, as being interested.

For the hell of it, Clarke ignored the shit band and hummed one of her favorite songs as she perused this rockstar’s fake Tinder. There was no way someone who looked like sex and sweat and all manner of perfection, who also wrote beautiful songs and played guitar in front of millions, would need a dating app. There was no way. That was like imagining said rockstar in fuzzy socks, and already tucked in bed with a facemask and nature documentary. It just didn’t make sense.

The pictures were definitely the rockstar that Clarke was picturing. Leaning against the back counter, Clarke sipped her drink and looked at the pictures of a girl and a guitar. There was one with her with a puppy, which was a problem. The profile was simple, the bio saying simply: Yes, that Lexa Woods.

She’d given up on love, so this made sense to her. With a smile, Clarke tried to type something clever, but failed terribly.

I know you play guitar, but if I were a drum, I’d let you bang me all night.

Satisfied that she’d at least make whoever it was smile, the bartender went back to work, quickly forgetting about the weirdo on her phone.

NEXT

[daveyjacobss]

lost & found | jack kelly

inktober day two

reader x jack kelly

[newsies modern au]

summary: Sometimes, you just need to get lost in a corn maze to find the totally-not-a-murderer love of your life.

a/n: this is bad and rushed but hey at least i wrote it, that counts for something right? honestly this started out as a legitimate imagine and then just went to shit so have fun reading i guess (none of it fits together or makes any sense but it’s fine)

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Going to a corn maze with her friends had originally seemed like a good idea to Y/N. It was finally October, after all, and they wanted to do something to celebrate the autumn season - what could be better than a corn maze? And then someone had made it into a competition: everyone splits up and whoever makes it out first wins. Even then, everything had still seemed okay, because Y/N would be damned if she wasn't going to win. Plus, how bad could it be, really? Pretty bad, it turned out. It had been half an hour and she was completely lost. Even worse, her phone had no service.

She groaned in frustration as she rounded another corner. She couldn't even be sure if she was going in circles, all the pathways looked the same to her. Her friends were probably already out, either worried about her or laughing since she was taking so long. She pulled her phone out of her pocket to check, but she still had no service and no new notifications. Sighing, she tucked it back into her coat pocket and continued to walk. Her gloved hands fidgeting as she moved, her fear levels slowly rising as she realized how isolated she was. Wasn't this how horror movies started? It was starting to get a hit darker out and she was a little more than just scared, praying that she would find the exit soon.

A noise from behind her made her jump, turning around quickly and taking a defensive stance. However, it was simply a boy that looked to be around her age standing in front of her, hands up in surrender. There was a small, amused smile on his face that brought color to Y/N's cheeks, as she let a small, embarrassed laugh. It took only one second more for the blush on her face to intensify when she realized that not only did the boy appear to be around her age, he was also insanely attractive. His jawline was sharp, his messy hair visible even with the cap he wore. The smirk on his face made her knees go weak.

"You alright there?" He asked, a teasing hint to his voice.

"Yeah, sorry. I'm a bit jumpy," she admitted sheepishly. He chuckled quietly, fitting his hands from his sweatshirt pocket.

"Well, I promise I'm not the murderer in some horror movie." She raised an eyebrow, gaining confidence as the conversation continued.

"You know, that's what a murderer in some horror movie would say to the vulnerable teenager separated from her friends," she retorted. He grinned, laughing loudly. He had the kind of laugh that made her want to join in on the joke, a sound that she felt vibrating her bones.

"Does it help if I tell you I got separated from my friends too?" He scratched the back of his head with a slightly embarrassed smile. "I'm sort of hopelessly lost." She sighed, looking around at the corn stalks surrounding them.

"Yeah, me too," she frowned, peering down one of the paths.

"Well then, off we go. A couple non-horror-movie-murderers just helping each other out." He had an infectious grin that made her smile back at him

"And what would your name be, Mr. Definitely Not A Murderer?" She asked as they began to venture down the path she had been looking at earlier.

"Jack. What's yours?" He looked at her with a kind smile.

"Y/N."

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"I can't even tell if I've already been here," she groaned as they walked. "Everything looks the same." She half heartedly kicked one of the maze walls, making Jack laugh. However, he soon grew nervous as the sun began to sink slowly in the sky.

"We really oughta get outta here soon," he commented. She rolled her eyes at him.

"No shit, Sherlock." He raised his eyebrows in surprise at her but she just shrugged.

"Fuck you, Watson," he smiled cheekily. She let out a laugh, continuing their trek through the big maze. Another half hour passed of them joking around and walking aimlessly, the sun starting to get dangerously close to the horizon.

Y/N removed her hands from her pockets as they walked, breathing onto them and rubbing them together to try and produce some worth. A gasp escaped her lips when his warm hands wrapped around her's. He rubbed them softly, sending shocks of heat through her body. She looked at his face with wide eyes as he stared right back at her, his movements slowing.

"Cold?" He whispered, his voice low in a way that made her heart beat faster. All she could do in response was nod as his face neared hers. At the very last second, she pulled away, her hands going cold immediately as she stuffed them back into the pockets of her sweatshirt. He looked confused when she glanced back at him, but she kept walking. He jogged a bit to catch up to her before they fell back into step together. They stayed silent for a few moments before he spoke up.

"I'm sorry if I read the situation wrong, I didn't mean to put in a position you didn't want to be in." He reached to scratch the back of his head again, a nervous look on his face. She felt a small smile form on her own face at his words.

"You're quite the gentleman," she grinned. "You know, for a horror movie murderer and all." She bumped her shoulder against his and he smiled again, laughing under his breath. It only took another couple of minutes of walking before she reached to take his hand, intertwining their fingers. She watched from the corner of her eye as the grin on his face grew twice in size as he squeezed her hand reassuringly. She gasped when returned her eyes to the path ahead of them.

"Look, there it is!" She pointed at the exit as they both began,  to run, breathing in the cold air and laughing the whole way. When they reached it, Jack fell to his knees dramatically, arms out and body open to the sky.

"Finally, we have been freed from our treacherous prison! The gods have smiled upon us on this day and granted us back our right to live outside these walls!" She giggled uncontrollably as he yelled, attracting stares from a few bystanders. Eventually, she grabbed his arm and pulled him off the ground. He brushed leaves and dirt off his jeans before looking up at her with a childish grin, offering his hand again. She took it and they walked to the barn where they're friends would be waiting for them. There was warm drinks inside, as well as a map of the maze. It was on a family owned farm, which meant all the employees were pleasant. As soon as they entered Y/N was tackled into a hug by one of her friends.

"Oh my god, where have you been?! We've been so worried!" Y/N hugged her friend back, her hand having been detached from Jack's. She glanced over to find that his friends were surrounding him, too.

"I got kinda lost," she explained to her friends sheepishly. They either rolled their eyes or sighed with exasperation.

"Well, Anya won - she made it out first." Y/N looked over at her friend, who grinned proudly, and gave her a high five.

"How'd you make it out?" One of her friends asked. Y/N blushed slightly.

"Jack helped me," she gestured over to where her new friend was laughing with a few other boys. As if he sensed them looking at him, he turned and met Y/N's eyes, smiling brightly and waving. She waved back before turning to face her friends, all of them with their jaws hanging open.

"And here we were thinking you lost," Anya laughed. "All the while you're in the maze winning that." Her eyes trailed over Jack's entire body before she turned back to Y/N with a smirk.

Jack was experiencing a similar situation with his friends after having waved to Y/N and explaining that they'd been wandering the maze together for about an hour. Elmer and Finch were teasing him, but Davey and Race (who knew Jack was a hopeless romantic, no matter how much he denied it) smiled at each other and then their friend.

"C'mon, we should be heading home," Y/N's friends reminded their group. They began to walk toward the parking lot, Y/N sparing one last look in Jack's direction. He wasn't looking at her, so she frowned and kept walking. Once she was out, Davey punched Jack in the arm.

"Ow! What was that for?" Davey gestured to the door and the empty space where Y/N and her friends had been.

"Your girl just left, you idiot." Jack frowned, a determined look settling on his features.

"I'll be right back," he told his friends, racing out of the barn. The boys whooped and hollered encouragement after him as he ran. Outside, he whipped his head around until he saw Y/N, sprinting in her direction. She gasped when he grabbed hold of her arm, pulling her back. When she saw it was him in front of her, she grinned.

"That's twice now you've scared me today," she teased. He laughed, somewhat out of breath.

"Can we talk?" He breathed, slipping his hand into hers. She glanced back at her friends, who all quickly looked away as if they weren't paying attention.

"One non-horror-movie-murderer to another?" She joked. "Yeah, what do you need?"

"I was hoping I could get your phone number," he grinned, blushing slightly. Her smile seemed to brighten. She ran over to where her friends waited at their car, coming back with a pen and paper in hand. She scribbled down her name and number quickly, handing it to him.

"And if I were, hypothetically, to use this number to ask you on a date...?" He proposed, waiting for her reaction.

"I guess you'd just have to see what happens," she winked, walking back to her car. She left him standing there, absolutely smitten.

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from: unknown number hey, this is jack from the maze

y/n changed unknown's contact name to horror movie murderer

to: horror movie murderer well hello, boy who definitely wasn't aiming to murder me and then was distracted by my charms

from: horror movie murderer ah, you caught me you're just too beautiful, i couldn't even focus on my evil plans

to: horror movie murderer i tend to have that affect on people ;)

from: horror movie murderer so about that date... i was hoping we could meet at jacobi's this weekend

to: horror movie murderer depends how do i know you aren't planning to try and murder me again

from: horror movie murderer if i show up with a chainsaw i promise you can run

to: horror movie murderer and if you show up with a gun??

from: horror movie murderer well then you're just doomed

to: horror movie murderer fair enough

from: horror movie murderer so, saturday? 1 pm for lunch at jacobi's?

to: horror movie murderer why not saturday sounds like a good day to die

from: horror movie murderer you're never gonna let me live that down are you?

to: horror movie murderer nope :)

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tag list:

@isarants @tomanybandstolove @seriously-ceci @tommyboyneedshercoffee-blog @bens-platt @ohblue @sorryyouroutofmyleague @tumblogbykarapaloma @earlyjunes @broadway-trashh @interwebseriesfan24 @whatacatchdxnnie @returnoftheborle @cozykleinman @timesarehardfornewsies @jackclyde @last-an-eon @annabethgranger123 @musi-xals @notyouraveragegryffindoor

(ask to be added to my october tag list or any tag list !!)

[this-blog-needs-a-new-name]

Lucky #7 (A Clexa Story)

So for anyone that is a clexa fan and follows this blog, here’s a fun sappy story of a long story I’ll most likely never post (lol) hope you all enjoy it.

UNTITLED

a story by me, Angel a concept: future leader, a story about two journeys - one life timeline: some where in their childhood where the lovers have spend the summer at summer camp and develop feelings that catches them by surprise. characters: Lets call them Clarke & Lexa, for now,,, part unknown in the story: Lexa is by the water sitting on the deck looking up to the stars.  Clarke comes to join her, even though she’s upset with her.  For what, I’m not sure yet but that’s okay because you may never know.

  “Why are you here Clarke? I thought you said I wasn’t your friend or anything in that matter.” Clarke doesn’t know how those words make her feel.  She’s angry and upset and she feels like she should yell back but what would that fix, nothing at all really.  They’ve be doing this dance all summer long.  Getting upset even angry with each other and fighting over nothing.  What did Clarke have to do to get Lexa to realize to understand? Understand that she just feels the hurt in her that Lexa wouldn’t trust or believe when she told her that sometimes being strong wasn’t always meant to being alone.  What did Clarke have to do to get Lexa to know that Clarke loved her, even with knowing that her fate was sealed.

She was to become the person that all people that new her family name fear.  That’s what scared Lexa the most.  To be fear for something she knew she had no control over.  She knew that fate would have her no matter what.  The family that gave her everything, would most likely be the one that would take the most important person to her away.  But what can she do, run not likely.  She wasn’t built to be weak or feel pity for it.  She’s had strong skin since she can remember and at 15 years old she felt more like an adult than the child she should be.  The child that should be laughing and making memories by the camp fire.  Getting in trouble for shenanigans that a teen would most likely be send home for.  But her summer was spend watching from afar kids be kids.  She was to grown up to be part of all this atmosphere.

She wanted to go home on most days but others, she long to be part of a group activity.  She just didn’t know how to act around kids her age.  Let loose was something she didn’t know how to do but Clarke, Clarke made her feel like she could let go.  Run free while she was still a kid, a kid that just wanted to burst out of her.  In the long run, Lexa stood her ground and mingled along.  She rather not make friends or conversation with no one that could really be up to her standards.  Except Anya.  Anya and her could spend hours training like they will be deployed at anytime in their life to serve their country.  But that wasn’t what these summer trips were about.  They were about laughing, playing and just letting go.  To enjoy some happy times and make memories.  Lexa just didn’t know how to be a kid anymore.

And Clarke wanted to show her, if she’d only let her.

“I didn’t say we weren’t friends, unless that is something you’d rather not be?”  Clarke felt her insides tighten at the thought of what Lexa’s respond would be.  Did Lexa really not cared for her enough to not even be just friends.  Clarke loved her with everything she is.  There’s no where in this life where Clarke rather be than here with the girl that made everything more special.  Even if it was just for the moment, for split second to see that face smile back at her.

“Is that what you want, Lexa? To be nothing?”

“I don’t know what I want anymore.”  Lexa took in a deep breathe and let it out just as loud.  She was feeling the anxiety that she fucked up royally for the hundredth time in the last few days.  She was always apologizing and honestly had no idea why she was being the way she was.  She’s been at this camp for the tenth summer in a row.  This camp was where she could be a kid and laugh and play and just be Lexa.  Lexa with her friends, with her piers even Lexa to her Clarke.  When did she lose herself that she’s felt she’s become such a burden to not just herself but everyone around her?  The last person she’s ever wanted to disappoint was the only person that seem to never leave her side.

For Lexa, Clarke was all she’s ever wanted and all she fear she’d lose.

“I know you think you don’t want anything right now but deep down at least know that I am always going to be here waiting for you.  Don’t ever forget that, okay.”  With that, Lexa got up off the deck and turned around to face Clarke.  She extended her arm in hopes that Clarke would take her hand.  Clarke doesn’t hesitate in grabbing it.  Lexa takes both Clarke’s hands in hers and brings them up around her neck.  She closes the gab between them and places her forehead together with Clarke’s.

 With a slight whisper of the wind and the sound of the night, Lexa smiles slightly before she pulls her face up and hesitates for a slight second before her lips touch Clarke's.  It’s a sweet kiss, the sweetest they’ve shared in a long time.  It’s gentle and full of hopes.  A kiss that means she’s not alone but has grounded her with the girl that’s held her together as long as she can remember.  Even at 15, they were much mature than those around them.  Together they were the kind of young adults that teenagers respected and envy but hate all together.

 As they separated, Lexa reached up to put her hands over Clarke’s as she let her fingers feel Clarke’s soft skin get goosebumps.  She smirked and Clarke laughs with her.  They stared into each others eyes in silence but with smiles upon their faces.  Lexa pulls Clarke’s arms back down and brings them down to her side.  She drops Clarke’s left hand as she brings her hand up to caress Clarke’s cheek and leans in to peck her lips again.  This time Clarke moans oh so quietly but Lexa hears it nonetheless.  There was nothing in this world that wouldn’t ever not allow her to not hear this precious gift of a girl’s voice.  Lexa intwines her right hand with hers and guides them towards the edge of the dock.  Lexa can live like this forever, just the two of them together but she knows deep down that this life’s path is not meant for her.  Not if she’d like to keep Clarke at safe distance from the future that awaits her.

“Tell me about the stars, Clarke.”

“What stars Lexa?”  With that, the rain starts to fall hard and they start to laugh as Clarke pulls Lexa by the arms to run inside.  But Lexa doesn’t budge, instead she pulls Clarke closer to her and kisses Clarke hard under the rain with a promise of hope.

“I love you.”

“I know and I love you but lets get inside before we catch a cold!”

 Lexa is just standing there with a big smile on her face just staring at the beautiful woman that makes the world seem tolerate.  A world that she can hope too hope.  Even if her fate is seal to be the leader for her people she knows that she can hope to make her proud.  With Clarke at her side, nothing can stop her from being the best kind of leader.  Better than her family, better than anyone who’s ever held this family together.  Lexa felt Clarke give her arm a little tug and she snapped out of her thoughts.  She stared at the blonde and with the little smile Clarke gives her she lets her feet move her towards Clarke before she knows it Lexa is guiding Clarke towards their cabin.  The rain was falling harder and fast now.  You could hear Clarke laughing from behind Lexa as Lexa leads them to the safety of their haven.  They run inside and closed the door with a loud slam as they laughed together and listen to the thunder roar outside.

“Well, that was close, we almost got fried.  Come on, lets get these clothes off before we catch a cold.  Come on, arms up Lexa.”  Clarke says with a giggle.

“Why must I always be the one to get undress first.  Why can’t y…”  Before Lexa could finish protesting, Clarke is removing her sweater over her head.  Than she reaches for her shorts, as she lets them fall to the ground.  She felt herself shiver with the cold breeze that hits her body from inside their cabin but that doesn’t stop her from reaching again across to Lexa to remove her sweater like nothing.  “Come on, hands up.”

 Lexa just lets out a small giggle shaking her head with amusement and does as she’s told.  Clarke makes sure to take both the sweater and shirt in one swift move up and over her head.  Than reaches for Lexa’s sweatpants but not before she smirks as she feels Lexa shiver when Clarke’s cold hands brush up against her hips.

“What?  My hands cold?”  Clarke asks with a lifted eyebrow and a cheeky smirk.

“Yes,”  Lexa responses “but go on the faster you finish the faster we can warm up under our blankets.”  Clarke felt her cheeks burn with desired, her heart skip a beat with taking in the idea of sharing any kind of sweet space and time with the brunette.  Even if it was just for a brief moment.

“Lexa.”

“Hm.”

 Clarke never finished her question as she reached to cup Lexa’s face and drew her into a kiss.  They kissed like this was the end of a bad yesterday and a happier tomorrow.  They kiss with love and tears that were yet to be shed.  They kiss knowing that they had each other no matter what.  They kiss with everything that kept them together and wanting to tear them apart.  They had this moment, this moment of pure bliss and adoration.  Neither of them wanting to let it go.  Clarke felt Lexa put her arms around her waist as she pulled her closer towards her leaving no gap between each other.  They were one and nothing could take this away from them.  Lexa pulled away to catch her breath as she felt Clarke chase her lips without wanting to let her go.  It was an intoxication that they both felt they needed to keep within themselves together.

 They pulled away, catching their breath as they heaved to steady their intake of air as they tried to steady themselves.  Clarke Smiled into Lexa’s embrace while she felt Lexa tighten her arms around her as she heard Lexa whisper into her ear.

“You make me want to be a better person even when the tide is bound to drown me.”  Clarke kind of laughed, giggled more like it but responded with the same kind of love in her voice.  “I know.  That’s why we fit perfectly together.  There is no one else out there for me but you.  Am I enough for you?”

“Yes Clarke always.”

 Without another word the two became one.  Lexa lifted Clarke and carried her towards the small cabin bedroom where they had put their beds together in order to sleep next to each other like they have done for as long as they can remember every summer. Clarke laughs as she feels Lexa tickle her sides as they fooled around on the bed like the teenagers they were meant to be.  Lexa would poke the sides of Clarke’s ribs and the blonde would squeal sweetly making Lexa laugh along with her.  Lexa would nipple and play with Clarke’s ear and trace her lips softly down Clarke’s neckline.  Her hands still wondering over Clarke’s midsection, caressing the soft warm skin and feeling Clarke’s laughter through her body vibration.  Lexa lives for these gentle moments of bliss with her girl.  Though they never went past the idea of just playing and fooling around in their undies, tonight Lexa felt braver as she reach for Clarke in another way but not before she felt blonde roll her over and top her as Clarke took a hold of her arms and place them over her head.  Clarke pinned Lexa’s arms tightly down holding her steady from allowing her to tickle her any further but as she stared into Lexa’s eyes she watched as the brunette’s laughter melted into a sweet gentle look.  A look like no other, Lexa was giving her heart eyes that made Clarke freeze in the moment feeling her heart stop at the sweet attention fallen towards her.  In this moment in time, the two stared at each other with more desire them both were willing to admit too.  Without even realizing it Clarke pulled one of Lexa’s arm up towards her face and felt Lexa’s touch burn her with anticipation of want.  Clarke’s heart started to race, as she realized that her other hand had found it’s way over Lexa’s own and felt their love beat together as one.  They could both feel each others needs but neither knew how to react to their own feelings for each other beyond a touch here and a kiss there.  It was a feeling like no other. Like the world had stopped and all they could hear and see was each other.  Nothing else matter but this moment in time.

“I want to see you.  I want to feel you Clarke.”  Lexa gently whispers up to her.  Clarke doesn’t look away when she hears Lexa ask her for her love.

“Clarke, I want…”  Lexa hesitates before she sits up on her elbow and reaches again to caress Clarke’s cheek, “Clarke I want to touch you more and…”  Again she hesitates to let the words come out freely and drops her eyes.

“I want to touch you and I want you to touch me.”  Lexa finally says.  Her ears and cheeks turning bright red and Clarke tugs at a smile reaching to place her finger under Lexa’s chin to lift her face up so the two can be looking at each other.  With a soft but gentle smile Clarke asks in return, “but I thought you didn’t want to go any further?”

“I don’t mind, just as long as it’s with you.”

“What are you saying?  Like there’s no other girls you’d like to get your hands on?  Does Lexa not have eyes for no other dirty girl but me?  And here I was jealous of An…”  Before Clarke could continue her mockery of the heir to the Grounder legacy, Lexa giggled and put her hand over Clarke’s mouth.

“Okay, I get it!  Though come to think of it, Anya really is something else.  I mean even Raven’s got those good latin genes!”  Lexa laughed as Clarke threw herself on top of Lexa to shut her up with a kiss.  They laugh into their own goofy moment of happiness.  They new each other but wanted nothing more to discover new boundaries that they alone could share.  After a moment, Lexa put a string of Clarke’s hair behind her ear as she brought her hand over Clarke’s cheek, staring deep into those ocean blue eyes.

“Let me just say this Clarke.”  Lexa holds their stare, “You’re so beautiful and I love you.  I love you so much.  I never thought in a million life times that I get so lucky to find someone like you.  To hold, to kiss, to fall in love every day like it be our last.”  Clarke couldn’t believe her ears.  Was Lexa really this much in love with her as she was with Lexa?  Her heart twisted inside her chest and it felt like it wanted to burst out.  To burst out into the world without any fear but hope that tonight was going to make tomorrow better.  Clarke just wanted to hold her, tight without ever letting go as they brought their bodies together and let the rain outside wash away the troubles of yesterday.

“I want you in my arms always.  I want you to always to be closer, to know more about what you feel inside and give to me or to each other everything even if we doubt ourselves for a second or for a life time.  Lexa, I love you too.”  With nothing else to say, Clarke took Lexa’s ring finger and kissed it.

 And under the stormy night the two became one giving to each other the greatest gift of a life time.  The gift of belonging to no one but each other because in this moment their love was real.

[almostafantasia]

sail with me to someplace new

clexa pirate au | chapter 9/13

Summary: When Clarke learns that her father’s trading ship has been attacked by pirates, she sets out on a daring rescue mission. The only problems – Jake could be being held prisoner anywhere in the Caribbean and Clarke has never sailed a ship before. To help save her father’s life, Clarke attempts to enlist the help of the notorious Captain Lexa Woods, a fearsome pirate who is just as broody and mysterious as she is unwilling to offer her assistance.

Read on AO3.

The walk back to Polis is a silent one. Lexa leads the way and she can hears Clarke’s footsteps just behind her as they navigate a path through crowded streets and winding alleys back to the docks.

The sight that greets them as they round the final corner onto the boardwalk that lines the beach is one of Lexa’s favourites. Even in a town as pitiful as Tortuga, the harbour at night is beautiful – shadowy masts towering into the air from the tens of empty ships afloat close to the docks, the lanterns on the deck of each one casting the entire area in a dim orange glow. With most of the crews out within the town itself, the decks are empty but for one or two men left on duty, and the stillness of not just one ship that is usually bustling with life, but an entire harbour full of them, is a wondrous sight that never fails to amaze Lexa.

However, the view doesn’t quite do enough to brighten Lexa’s mood. The refusals to help Lexa in her quest to finally put an end to all of Nia’s trouble, even from her own sister, gnaw uneasily at her insides.

The relationship between Lexa and Anya has always been a tricky one. On one hand they’ve always been close - growing up as the only two orphan kids on a ship of otherwise fully grown pirates gives you a special bond that never really leaves you, even into adulthood when you both captain your own ships. But Lexa would be lying if she said that it didn’t bring its share of struggles with it too; an age old grudge, selfish deceit, and a fiercely competitive edge (mostly on Anya’s part) that can be detrimental to them working together in the most crucial of times.

One might have thought that growing up together on the same ship, they would know each other better than anybody, but Anya still remains a complete enigma to Lexa. Her actions are unpredictable, the things she says are often brash and unexpected, and most irritatingly of all, the opposite cannot be said - she can read Lexa in an instant.

The implications that Anya was making about Clarke, however, send a shiver of discomfort down Lexa’s spine. She doesn’t understand how Anya’s words can be so far from the truth, yet still resonate with Lexa as clearly as they would if they were true. And if Lexa is completely honest, though she hasn’t even thought about looking in Clarke in that way until now, she’s just starting to realise that maybe she has been doing so all along.

She can’t even begin to understand how uncomfortable the comments may have made Clarke.

“I’m sorry,” Lexa voices her thoughts aloud, as she stands aside to let Clarke walk up the gangplank that leads back onto the Polis first, before following her onto the ship.

“There’s no need to apologise,” Clarke assures her. “We can come up with a new plan, a better plan.”

“I meant about Anya,” Lexa is quick to correct Clarke, all thought of their failed task in Tortuga having been pushed completely out of her mind. “The things she was saying. I’m sorry. Anya can be…”

Lexa pauses for thought, trying to come up with a word to describe her oldest friend in a way that does justification for how much Anya cares about her despite the relentless teasing.

“Blunt?” Clarke guesses, filling in the gap herself.

Laughing softly under her breath, Lexa nods in agreement.

“That’s the polite way of saying it.”

Lexa leads the way into her cabin, hurriedly tidying a few things away until the small circular table is empty but for three thick candles and two bottles of the finest rum in Lexa’s collection, dusty from disuse. Without the need for formalities, she removes her heavy coat, tossing it haphazardly over the furs covering her bed, before gesturing to one of the two chairs at the table for Clarke to sit in while taking her own seat in the other one.

“We’re drinking from the bottle?” Clarke asks sceptically, as Lexa uncorks one of the two bottles and draws it across the table towards herself, leaving the other in the middle of the table for Clarke to do the same with.

“Welcome to Tortuga,” Lexa replies, smiling across at Clarke as she holds her bottle aloft over the table. Clarke reaches for the other one, quickly removing the stopper, before raising the bottle in the air and tapping it against Lexa’s with a soft clink.

Silence falls over the cabin as they each take a swig from their respective bottles. Lexa watches in mild amusement as Clarke’s face morphs into a wince at the taste of the bitter liquid within.

“Not a rum drinker?”

“Not without having had a great deal more ale first,” Clarke answers, before quickly forcing herself to take another drink of the rum, grimacing again as she places the bottle back down on the table and swallows. “So, what’s the plan now?”

It’s Lexa’s turn to recoil. It’s late, she doesn’t have to worry about what’s going on above deck while the ship is docked, and she’s got a bottle of fine rum in front of her that’s practically begging to be drunk. The very last thing she wants to discuss is work, particularly after the night that they’ve had.

“Can we talk about something else?” she asks, sending Clarke a pleading look.

Clarke speaks almost instantly, barely taking any time to think before she says, “Tell me about Costia.”

Lexa almost chokes when she hears the words. She doesn’t know what she was expecting Clarke’s idea of a casual conversation topic to be, but it certainly wasn’t anything even remotely close to Lexa’s brutally murdered ex-lover.

Seeing the wide-eyed expression of surprise on Lexa’s face, Clarke jumps in quickly to add, “Only if you want to, of course. I’m just intrigued about what kind of person she was.”

“She was…”

Lexa starts her sentence, then promptly trails off. It’s harder than she thought it would be to find the words to describe Costia, not just because she was a one-of-a-kind girl for whom there aren’t the words to do her justice, but also because it’s been three long years since she was alive and memories fade fast in that time. After three years, Costia’s face is becoming a distant blur, her voice no longer serves as Lexa’s conscience, her laughter doesn’t ring in Lexa’s mind when she dreams of happy memories from years past at night in the lonely confines of her captain’s cabin. Costia becomes more of a ghost with each day that passes, until soon everything about her will have disappeared like a wisp of smoke into the air.

Pushing past the lump that tries to form in her throat, Lexa shrugs one of her shoulders and then concludes, “She was special.”

“I’m sure she was,” Clarke hums in agreement, a curious frown on her face as she looks at Lexa with an expression that suggests she’s expecting Lexa to say more on the subject.

“I was never supposed to fall in love with her,” Lexa continues, smiling happily as she begins to recall the happiest moments of her life. The memories are like the old rum bottles that they drink from, hidden by a covering of dust from their disuse but now that she brings them to the front of her mind, the dust unsettles and they become a little clearer. “I was never supposed to fall in love with anybody but especially not her. We met almost by accident. I had a huge row with Anya – this was before I became captain of the Polis and I’d just told her I wanted to leave her crew to get my own ship – and I stormed out of the inn where Costia worked in a temper.” Lexa laughs quietly under her breath at the memory of their first meeting. “I left my hat in there in my hurry to leave and she chased after me to return it.”

“It sounds like you made quite the first impression,” Clarke muses softly, her blue eyes twinkling in amusement.

“That I did,” Lexa agrees. “After she returned my hat, she told me off for throwing a chair at Anya and then offered to listen to me rant.”

“Do you make a habit of that?” Clarke asks, leaning forward in her seat with an air of mischief etched up on her face.

“Of what?”

“Of throwing items of furniture at people when they annoy you?”

Lexa laughs aloud, then takes another swig from her bottle before she answers, “Well, it’s either that or I hold a knife to their throat.”

Clarke’s loud peal of laughter fills the room and Lexa can’t help but chuckle along. She doesn’t remember the last time she had this much fun – in fact, she can’t remember the last time she had any fun at all. If only she had known that all it would take would be a couple of bottles of fine rum shared with an almost complete stranger, she would have perhaps done this much sooner.

She has a feeling, however, that it has less to do with the situation and more to do with Clarke.

“You make a lot of good first impressions,” Clarke tells her jovially. Sitting back in her chair and taking a quick drink, Clarke looks at Lexa expectantly, awaiting the next part of the story. “So, what next? You two just fell in love like that?”

“Pretty much,” nods Lexa. “We stayed up talking until sunrise and I think I knew right then that my heart would belong to her. I complained about Anya and she told me about her three brothers and her job and her big dreams of leaving that town to explore the world, and then before we even knew it, she helped me to acquire my own ship and I asked her to join my crew. It was … she was perfect.”

“What was she like?” Clarke asks, seeming genuinely interested in hearing the answer. It’s rather refreshing actually, to finally meet somebody who seems interested in what she has to say, instead of only caring about who she is and what her next actions will be.

“She was everything that I’m not,” Lexa shrugs simply, “and everything that I needed. She was kind, and patient, and made me feel like I actually mattered for the first time in my life. She made me a better person. And she was so, so beautiful. I don’t know what I did to deserve to call her mine.”

Lexa almost jumps out of her chair when Clarke’s hand reaches across the table to cover her own. The feeling of warm fingers gently squeezing her own is far from unwelcome, but when it has been years since Lexa has opened herself up to accepting any kind of physical touch, let alone affection, it’s startling at first to receive even the most basic contact from another person.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Clarke tells her, earnest blue eyes looking at Lexa with complete sincerity across the table.

“Ever since she’s been gone,” Lexa continues, her voice gentler and even more nostalgic than before, “I’ve always been worried about reverting back to my old self, about becoming the selfish person who threw chairs at Anya and stormed off when I didn’t get my way. Sometimes I am that person and I hate myself for it.”

Lexa reaches out for her rum, wrapping her fingers around the neck of the bottle and bringing it to her lips to take a drink. She drinks long and slow, savouring the taste, before finally placing the bottle back on the table with a thunk. All the while, Clarke watches her with curiosity etched on her face.

“Costia wouldn’t have wanted me to kill Nia,“ Lexa tells her, thinking back to the Costia that she knew and smiling softly as she imagines the way that Costia would scold her for wanting to kill her enemies when she could spend that time bringing about more peace in the Caribbean. Back when Costia was still alive, Lexa hated being reprimanded by Costia and would do anything to avoid conflict but now, when Costia has been nothing more than a memory for three years. Lexa would give up her ship for the chance to see Costia with her hands on her hips, the little crease between her eyebrows, and the tone of voice that seemed to be reserved specifically for disagreeing with Lexa. "That’s the only reason I didn’t do it. The selfish part of me from before Costia wanted to exact my revenge and cause Nia as much pain as she caused me, but there was always Costia’s voice in my head telling me to be the better person.”

Clarke’s fingers resting over Lexa’s give the gentlest of squeezes, before Clarke says, "I’m sorry if me asking for your help is asking for you to become that person that you left behind.”

“Don’t apologise,” Lexa tells her. “If I had gone after Nia and tried to kill her three years ago, I would have been doing it for the revenge, for purely selfish reasons, and that’s what Costia wouldn’t have wanted me to do. But now, we’re doing it to save more lives in the future, to stop more people from meeting the same fate as Costia. She would have liked that. She would have liked you.”

"I’m honoured,” Clarke says earnestly. “She sounds like an incredible woman and I wish I could have met her.”

It’s strange how one’s perception of another person can change so drastically in such a short space of time. It feels like Lexa has known Clarke for years, not just a couple of short weeks, and she can hardly believe that only a few days ago, Clarke was somebody that Lexa found irritatingly obnoxious. The Clarke that Lexa sits with now could not be more of a contradiction to her initial judgement of the girl from Nassau. Those qualities - Clarke’s stubbornness, her perseverance - are still there but now they are qualities that Lexa admires and envies, and Lexa sees them layered between other traits - compassion, loyalty, and strength even in the face of truly dire adversity.

In a way, Clarke is just like Costia. The two are vastly different in terms of personality, like the difference between land and the sea, but the presence of both brings out the best in Lexa and makes her want to always strive to be a better version of herself.

Lexa never thought she would ever find herself wanting to open up to another person again after Costia’s tragedy and the agonising heartbreak that followed, yet here she is, spilling stories from her past to an almost stranger.

The last time she did that…

Thousands of memories flash through the front of Lexa’s mind in a single instant, but there is one that stands out more than the others, the one from the night that she and Costia met.

“I want to show you something,” Lexa says abruptly, getting to her feet and gesturing for Clarke to do the same. 

She makes sure that her hat and coat are piled neatly at the foot of her bed, then unbuckles the belt carrying the scabbards for her dual swords with fumbling fingers, laying them carefully on top of her fur bedcovers too. 

It’s a big gesture. Lexa wears her swords strapped to her side from the moment she wakes until she lays her head to rest at the end of the day. When she wears her hat, coat, and swords, she is Captain Woods, respected commander of the sea, but for this, for what she is about to share with Clarke, she wants to bare herself as just Lexa, a humble pirate with an appreciation for the beauty in the vast world.

“Come with me,” Lexa says to Clarke. When Clarke gets to her feet, the bottle still clutched in her hand, Lexa adds, “Leave the rum. We don’t need it.”

Lexa leads the way out of the cabin and onto Polis’ deck. It was already late when they arrived into Tortuga and their quest to find comrades for an assault against Nia took them well into the early hours of the morning. Though the sky is still dark, the firsts glimmers of morning light are just starting to seep into the inky blue sky on the horizon, and Lexa knows that they doesn’t have long until the break of morning comes in its entirety.

“Have you ever climbed the rigging of a ship before?” Lexa asks Clarke.

Clarke’s head tilts back as she glances up at the mast that towers above them, seeming impossibly high from where they stand at its base on the deck. She looks at Lexa with anxiety on her face as she shakes her head.

“I’ll be right behind you,” Lexa assures her. “You can take it as slowly as you want. Your arms might start to hurt after a while but you can stop and loop them through the rigging to take a rest. The hardest part is ignoring the wind and the swaying of the ship as you get higher but that won’t be as bad while we’re docked as it would be out to sea.” When Clarke still doesn’t look entirely convinced, Lexa adds, “The view when we reach the top will be worth it, I promise.”

They start their ascent, Clarke first and Lexa right behind her, calling up encouragements and reassurances every time Clarke looks a little shaky. Lexa has been climbing ships for well over a decade and could probably reach the top of Polis in just a couple of minutes, even blindfolded, so this is a comparatively slow climb, but once Clarke picks up the technique and settles into a rhythm they start making faster progress and the crow’s nest above them becomes gradually bigger with each rung of the rigging.

When they finally reach the top, Lexa instructs Clarke to stay where she is while she climbs around Clarke and hauls herself effortlessly over the barred railing that encircles the crow’s nest. She reaches both hands down and helps Clarke to do the same, finally relaxing when they are both safely inside.

“Wow,” Clarke exhales, gaping around in awe.

The view is indeed breathtaking. Behind them, the town is still full of life, hundreds of oil lamps flickering and bathing everything in an orange glow. Ahead of them, the sea stretches out for miles, beyond the cliffs and beaches of the cove that secludes Tortuga from the rest of the Caribbean, all the way to the horizon, where the yellow of the sky hails the imminent arrival of the rising sun.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” says Lexa, sighing happily. She remembers showing Costia the same view for the first time and receiving the same stunned silence in response.

They sit down, legs hanging through the bars of the crow’s nest, and watch as the sky gradually gets lighter on the horizon.

With memories of Costia fresher in her mind than they have been for a long time, there’s still one thing that Lexa feels as though she has to settle with Clarke.

“Listen,“ she starts, getting Clarke’s attention as blue eyes wide with curiosity turn to look at her, "what Anya was saying earlier about there always being a girl involved…”

“Lexa, I don’t care,” says Clarke, resting her hand on Lexa’s leg.

“No, please,“ Lexa insists, ignoring the way that her heart pounds in her chest at the feeling of Clarke’s warm palm, even through the material of Lexa’s dark britches. "I just want you to know that it’s not true. Costia was the only one.”

“I thought nothing of it,” Clarke shrugs. “It doesn’t bother me whether you have a preference for men or women or both or neither. And I couldn’t care less whether there’s been one woman or a hundred. It doesn’t matter to me.” Clarke pauses, then squeezes her fingers against Lexa’s thigh before she continues, “And … and what Anya was suggesting, you know? Between you and me? To be quite honest, I’m flattered more than anything else that she saw me as somebody worthy enough to receive that kind of attention from somebody like you.”

“Somebody like me?” Lexa queries, her words almost getting stuck in her throat.

“You know…” Clarke answers vaguely, then glances away, her cheeks pinkening slightly. "You’re so brave, and strong, and yet so compassionate and…” Clarke takes a deep breath and continues, “and you lost somebody so special to you yet you kept going, you kept fighting for the rights of so many other people who don’t deserve to call you their Commander. I admire that a lot.” Clarke frowns, a hint of sadness in her eyes as she stares out at the yellows and oranges of the sky ahead, and then finishes, "I don’t think I know how to continue without him.”

 Lexa covers Clarke’s hand on her leg with her own, leaning into Clarke’s side slightly as she reassures her, “You lost your father earlier this week. I’ve had three years to grieve for Costia.”

“But still…”

“But nothing. You are the brave one. You’ve faced one obstacle after the other on this journey and you haven’t let it stop you from doing what you believe is right.”

Clarke glances up, the little smile that tugs at the corners of her mouth almost enough to mask the sadness in her eyes, as she teases Lexa, "Most of those obstacles were you.”

“Sorry,“ Lexa mumbles, though she does smile softly in amusement. Clarke’s comment does lead to wonder if her answer back in Nassau would be different, if she had the hindsight to know how things would turn out. But this journey that they have been on, right the way from their first meeting when Lexa threatened Clarke with a blade to her throat to where they are now, sitting at the top of Polis’ tallest mast and sharing stories as if they have been friends for years, despite the tragedy of Clarke losing her father along the way, has been one of Lexa’s greatest adventures. And if it continues as she intends it to, with her plunging the blade of her sword through Nia’s heart, it will go on to be her greatest triumph as a captain.

And all because of Clarke Griffin, an unknown island girl who has unwittingly changed Lexa’s view on the world forever.

(However long that forever might last, though Lexa tries not to think of what might happen if a confrontation with Nia does not go her way.)

“I know this isn’t really my place to say because I didn’t know your father,” Lexa says, lacing her fingers through Clarke’s and giving them a gentle squeeze, “but I think he’d be very proud of you right now. You really are an incredible woman, Clarke Griffin.”

 Clarke glances away, a pretty blush decorating her cheeks as Lexa continues to flatter her.

“Ever since I first met you I’ve been intrigued by you,” confesses Lexa. “Frustrated as hell, but intrigued. There’s just something about you that catches my attention. And then what you said the other day, it changed me. Because of you I’m trying to do something that I should have done three years ago. You’re a true inspiration, Clarke.”

On the horizon, the sun chooses that exact moment to appear over the sea. The sky lights up in a dazzling explosion of yellow, almost blinding in its sudden intensity. From the central point, where white hot orb of the sun slowly creeps up in the sky, the rays are visible shooting outwards in every direction, a beacon of light signalling the arrival of a new day in Tortuga.

Beside her, Clarke raises a hand to shield her eyes and lets out a breathy, “Wow.”

Lexa must have watched the sunrise hundreds, if not thousands, of times, but it is a sight she will never grow tired of. When she was younger, watching the sun slowly emerge of the horizon from the deck of Gustus’ ship was a reminder of the huge world out there waiting to be explored, a symbol of hope for an abandoned orphan kid trying to find her way. In the early years of her captaincy, with Costia by her side, the sunrise was a symbol of their love, a reminder of the night they met and a promise of an endless number of new days together. Since Costia’s death, Lexa has climbed to the highest point of Polis at the end of some of her darkest nights and the explosion of colour on the horizon has allowed to reminisce the happy times in her past, as well as reminding herself of why she must be the Commander and starting the new day with a fresh mind.

Today, watching the sunrise with Clarke is a symbol of new beginnings, of this terrifying yet incredible adventure they are about to go on where Lexa will either avenge Costia or join her. It’s an overwhelming prospect, Lexa’s most daring mission yet, but with Clarke by her side feeding her courage she hasn’t known since Costia, Lexa is full of hope that together they can pull it off.

“That’s a beautiful sight to fall in love to,“ Clarke muses softly from beside Lexa.

"What?”

Lexa’s eyes widen and her head jerks to look at Clarke. Surely she can’t be suggesting that…

“You and Costia,” Clarke explains, and Lexa’s heart drops in her chest a little bit, before Clarke repeats, “It’s a beautiful sight to fall in love to.”

Lexa can’t tear her eyes away from Clarke as she replies, “Yes, it is.”

[evodevo-geekmonkey]

Tara Maclay is awesome.

I was listening to a podcast and they started talking about Buffy and Tillow and I was pretty much happy until the host declared “Willow and Tara were great representation, except I was a little sad that Tara was stupid.”

OK. OK I stomped all the way home and though everyone is entitled to their opinion, this opinion is wrong.

Listen up, Tara Maclay is not stupid. Tara is actually very smart and no I’m not making this up. Glory, a freaking god, says so herself. She says she’s a little buzzed from “eating the witches brain” and declares “what a mind that girl has”. But don’t take a super villains word for it.

This person did say something right in her podcast, she said Tara is inarticulate. Right. She is inarticulate. So am I. That doesn’t make us unintelligent. Tara has trouble communicating. She also has a stutter. She doesn’t talk a lot and when she does she mumbles (especially in the beginning) and she often has trouble articulating ideas from her head. I don’t stutter but I definitely do do the rest of those. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told to speak up, or that I don’t make sense and I am aware that a lot of people think I am unintelligent because of this.

I’ve seen a lot of people unhappy that Tara wasn’t “well written” or “fleshed out” but I connected with her because she was. She was like me. She had a lot to say but she didn’t know how to say it. She had this whole world inside her head but this really lonely inability to share it. And yeah, you can have a lot of fun on your own making up constellations and seeing the magic in the world but you also do want to not be alone in it sometimes. Tara is a person who just wants to reach out and touch someone but she doesn’t know how.

Until Willow. Until she finds Willow and they touch, both metaphorically and physically in Hush. The world goes quiet and suddenly someone can hear her. Suddenly Willow can hear her and, in a beautiful twist, Willow likes what she hears. And we see this beautiful unfolding of Tara’s personality as she spends more and more time with Willow. Because Willow understands that she needs to listen to her. Throughout the series, Willow doesn’t just understand Tara in ways no one else does (for example Tara’s insect reflection joke) she actively seeks clarification when she doesn’t. In the scene where they look at constellations, Willow is at first perplexed by Tara pointing out the big pineapple, but she doesn’t dismiss it, she pursues it. She asks her what she means and when Tara says she made up names for the constellations, Willow says “teach me.” Tara is not boring, or empty or unintelligent you just have to listen to her and Willow knows that and more she wants to listen to her. She treasures the secret world in Tara’s head. 

And it’s the same with the fans. Didn’t you notice in Hush that Tara not only picked up on the fact that Willow was a witch but she also found out where to find her and how to contact her and actively sought her out to stop what was happening? People were having their hearts ripped out at night but she went out on her own to find Willow to try a spell she thought might stop them. That’s not only resourceful but incredibly brave. A kind of quiet courage and adherence to doing the right thing she shows over and over throughout the series.

Did you notice in the Body, the way she quietly tried to help everyone? The way she used her patience and empathy to act as an anchor to her friends?

Did you notice in Family that Tara figured out on her own that magic wasn’t inherently bad? That she wasn’t inherently bad? That she had the courage to walk away from her family and pursue it anyway because she thought she could do good with it?

Did you notice in The Real Me when she immediately understood that Dawn was feeling left out and othered and not only went to sit with her when the others were investigating the body, but also suggested that they try to make her feel more included?

Did you see her stand up to Glory despite expressing tremendous fear over what Glory does to people in the episode prior?

Did you notice how in Forever she understood why Dawn couldn’t bring her mother back, why they couldn’t interfere with natural death using magic, even though Willow for all her raw talent did not?

Did you miss when she instantly picked up on the fact that Buffy wasn’t Buffy when Faith was in her body? That she instantly picked up on the fact that house in Where the Wild things are wasn’t right?

Not only is she an amazing character, but she is one with an amazing arc. We see her grow in confidence through the episodes she graces us in, through having friendship, through fighting the good fight. And I think a lot of that is that when people started listening to her, she realized how much she had to say. Tara is a character who learned to say no. To say back off. To say I know what’s right and I’m going to stand by it. Buffy and friends give her the confidence to stand up to her father in Family and she stands up for Willow much later in the series when Anya tries to pressure her into using magic. To stands up to Willow when Willow does use magic on her.

And all throughout, Tara is patient and kind and observant. She is a very well rounded and believable character that, yes believe it or not, even has some rough edges to her. She is unyielding in her sense of right and wrong (which isn’t always a bad thing but can make her stubborn) and deeply insecure which does lead her to doubt the people she loves (including Willow) when they really do love her and want to be with her. And her insecurity is something she works on. She is well rounded and unique and we need more characters like her. 

Tara is not a character that is in your face and obvious, she is a character you have to pay attention to and care about to really understand. And I’m sorry if you don’t like that kind of character but in no way is she poorly written. In no way is she bad representation. Could she have gotten more screen time? Hell yes. But don’t sell her short because of that. She is one of my favourite characters of all time and there is a very good reason for that.

[marshmallow-the-vampire-slayer]

MTVS Epic Rewatch #163

BTVS 6x12 Doublemeat Palace

1) I think we can all agree that Doublemeat Palace is not going to go down in television history as one of the most iconic episodes of the century. But you know what? It’s not that bad. Or, at least, it’s not worse than other bad Buffy episodes, you know? There are some funny moments here and there, some big stuff for Willow’s season arc, and it gave us the opportunity to get all those lame dick jokes out of our system.

So, to celebrate the badness that is Doublemeat Palace, send me your favorite dick jokes that remind you of this episode. You know, just keep it classy. Or not? 

2) Willow was practically drooling as she described all the magic stuff they’d found at the Trio’s lair, which makes me wonder whether some of the stuff Amy told her at the end of the episode was really that farfetched or she was actually quite on point.

3) And after, what, three seasons? we finally get an answer as regards Anya’s source of income...

ANYA: When I was a vengeance demon, I caused pain and mayhem, certainly. But I put in a full day's work doing it, and I got compensated appropriately.

4) Cutest Buffy ever!

5) If there is one thing this episode does right is recreating the oppressive and gloomy atmosphere that pervades dead-end jobs in the service industry.

6) This is such a small moment but I kinda love it. The scoobies show up at Buffy’s work to show some support, and Buffy’s like...

...genuinely happy and smiling for the first time in a long time?

7) You’re a pig, Spike.

8) And then...

SPIKE: You're not happy here. BUFFY: Please don't make this harder. SPIKE: You don't belong here. You're something... you're better than this. BUFFY: I need the money. SPIKE: I can get money. Walk with me now, come on. BUFFY: I... I need to go help Gary with the fries.

The way she quietly asks him to not make it harder on her is rather heartbreaking. She’s not telling him to fuck off, as she would normally do. In a way, she’s admitting that he kind of gets her, very much in spite of herself. He’s right: she’s not happy, and she doesn’t belong there. And you can tell that she needs to busy herself when he offers her an out because she’s actually considering it. 

9) You know what? I think Halfrek became a vengeance demon so that she could the dramatic entrance thing on a daily basis. I mean...

10) OMG I’M HALFREK!

HALFREK: So, um ... you're marrying that man with the large upper arms? ANYA: Yes. HALFREK: Why? ANYA: Well, because I love him. HALFREK: Hmm. ANYA: Oh, we're gonna be very happy together. HALFREK: Hmm. ANYA: What?

11) Do you get the feeling Buffy was embarrassed to have Spike see her in her Doublemeat Palace uniform in this scene? Just the way she quickly removes her hat once she sees him...

12) This is not the most scintillating love-making to have ever graced our screens... 

(I do love the “teamwork” poster next to them, quite appropriate...)

13) Okay, this is really sad?

WILLOW: D'you want something? 

AMY: Um... yeah... actually. I mean, I don't know if you wanted to keep it, or...

WILLOW: You want it? Really?

AMY: Well, yeah, you know, I mean... it's not much, but it's home. Or it was. I don't know, I guess it's stupid, but...

She calls it HOME. 

14) I’m so ashamed, this is literally how I highlighted texts back in college. My friends used to make fun of me because of it.

15) It’s really difficult for me to read Amy and her intentions. On the one hand, she actively seeks Willow’s company. On the other hand, she holds a grudge against her because in her eyes Willow didn’t try hard enough to break the spell that turned her into a rat. At moments, it seems like she’s truly lonely and is desperately seeking for a friend. Then, it kind of feels like she’s only trying to mess with Willow’s mind? I guess it’s possible that she was doing both.

AMY: So this is it, huh? This is... gonna be your life from now on?

WILLOW: What? No.

AMY: Well, you're never gonna do it again. Ever. You're never gonna... feel how it made you feel.

WILLOW: Don't think that's the way to look at it.

AMY: Hey Will? It's your birthday.

WILLOW: Um, no it isn't. But now that you mention it, Buffy is coming...

AMY: Potestas.

WILLOW: What? Amy...

AMY: It's a gift. It's magic... and it didn't come from you. It came from me. Completely legal. Enjoy.

I think she might have also felt like, by giving up magic, Willow was trying to show she was better than Amy, that she was above the whole thing. And Amy kind of wanted to drag her down to the mud with her. 

16) One of my favorite Buffy scenes, tbh.

(they shouldn’t have been able to hold her back, though)

17) This was funny!

18) I do love how hard Willow was trying to fight off the urge to use the magic Amy had given her and to shake it off of her system. It truly took a lot of force of will (unintended pun.) Considering she later came clean to Buffy about the whole thing, I wonder if it wouldn’t have been better if she had told them about it while she was going through it. Of course, I guess she feared they might judge her or blame her for it. (Or, maybe, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to pull through and she didn’t want them to witness it...)

19) Again with the sadness...

DAWN: Buffy's never gonna be a lawyer, or a doctor. Anything big. XANDER: She's a Slayer. She saves the whole world. That's way bigger. DAWN: But that means she's gonna have like crap jobs her entire life, right? Minimum wage stuff. I mean, I could still grow up to be anything. But for her ... this is it. XANDER: Okay, but maybe you'll be a lawyer or a doctor, and you can use all your money to support your deadbeat sister. DAWN: Oh, that's terrifically better. Thanks.

1) This shows a lot of growth for Dawn. Just one season ago, she was the annoying little sister who believed her big sis was leading a glamorous life because she was a superhero who in her eyes could get away with anything. She’s older now, and she understands that killing demons, kicking butt and saving the world is not all that’s been cracked up to be. There’s a very sad side to being The Only Girl in All the World Who, and Dawn is finally able to actually get that. Also, imagine how many times poor Buffy has probably considered the same gloomy future... 2) Xander actually said what I was thinking. Buffy may not be able to get that Normal Future, but Dawn could, and she could definitely help lighten Buffy’s burden on some fronts (plus, all Buffy ever wanted was for Dawn to have a future, so she’d be giving her big sister exactly what she wanted.)

20) In the end, Halfrek got in Anya’s head, which basically means neither Xander nor Anya were ready to get married. 

21) Ugh this old lady was such a dickhead...

(I know that joke has probably been made a thousand times, but I’m not gonna waste my good jokes on this crappy episode, right? Also, I couldn’t come up with anything better.)

22) Willow doesn’t really know if Buffy is listening, but she needs to get this off her chest anyway. Also, I really love that Buffy is the one she keeps turning to during all her hard times in season 6. I just kind of wish Buffy had done the same, you know? 

WILLOW: Buffy, there's more. Something happened today... i-it wasn't my fault. It was Amy's fault, but I feel so bad about it. It was Amy's power, but, but it felt like I was doing everything myself. And I couldn't stop. And now it's gone and I feel kinda shaky and... like I, I need it ... Buffy?

I think it was important for her to admit that she felt like she needed magic and that she was struggling not to use it. It’s all part of the journey of giving something up, right?

23) I find a lot of beauty in the fact that it’s the lesbian the one who chops off the dick...

...and the one who is most scared of it, too...

24) Buffy asking for her job back at the end of the episode breaks my heart :(

[kinetic-elaboration]

January 30: Thoughts on 1x06: My Sister’s Keeper

Instead of eating dinner at a normal time like a normal person, or even watching TV in a normal way like a normal person, I took over an hour to watch a 40 minute episode and write these incoherent notes on it.

Okay, so the flashback saying seventeen years ago implies Octavia is seventeen, and here I was, pretty darn sure she was supposed to be sixteen as of the pilot. Not super sure how I got that idea but regardless, I actually do like it better, it makes somewhat more sense to me.

Aurora’s a pretty terrible person and tbh I wish the show had just gone there 1000%, more along the lines of the books. Like this show is so weak sometimes. Not that making her son an accomplice to a crime and telling him that making sure neither his sister nor mother is brutally murdered by the state is his sole responsibility isn’t bad enough but like...they could have gone harder on just how screwed up this situation is.

I guess since the massacre in S3 no one gives a fuck about Bellamy throwing away the radio but I remember when it used to be the Hugest Deal Ever that he did that (a laugh btw), and isn’t it funny how the very next episode starts out Hardcore Humanizing him by showing him as a small child just trying to take care of his sibling??

“It’s Octavia. She’s probably chasing butterflies.” Girl does that one time and it’s like her only character trait. I feel like ‘being a petulant brat’ should overshadow it but okay. (I don’t even dislike Octavia, I just think ‘butterfly chaser’ is more of an anomaly than a primary character trait.)

Lincoln’s mancave: OMG he has paper bound books and something that looks like a toy car?!? I’ve never noticed this before.

Generally though everything about Lincoln’s introduction (kidnapping Octavia, chaining her up, and most importantly refusing to speak to her in her language even though he’s fucking fluent in it) tells me that the writers cared 100% about drama and suspense and 0% about believability or long-term character consistency, which is part of why I have a hard time giving them the benefit of the doubt ever. Sorry.

First appearance of Monroe. Like 20 years after the pilot, sorry again but I still don’t believe she was cast that early and didn’t show up in a single frame for 5 whole episodes.

Never forget that Jasper was known for, what, weeks maybe, as the kid who can’t leave camp. Also I miss Jasper + Octavia friendship stuff tbh. Totally underrated.

Finn was considered a good tracker, that was like his one skill. Literally.

Raven’s so beautiful.

I know I always say I don’t hate Finn and then I badmouth Finn but like it’s so hard to see the connection between Finn and Raven and I’m trying, sincerely, but...I don’t know. Maybe it’s the fandom. Maybe it’s the annoying way he tells Clarke he’s “not sure” they can stop having an affair when, like, she literally just told him, she’s not going to have an affair and that’s totally the sort of thing one can choose to do or not do. Hard to tell.

Jasper is bi headcanon continuously constantly confirmed. “Finn? We’re not gonna find her with you?”

Bellamy is looking particularly beautiful in this episode. If no one has giffed his face when he finds the skeleton graveyard, someone should do that.

Speaking of: skeleton graveyard! That’s the kind of creepy shit I like. No idea what tf it is or why it’s there but it’s cool as heck.

So Bellamy braves the skeleton yard because O’s his sister, obviously, and Jasper because he likes her, and Finn because IDK gotta be a hero or something, but you know who else goes with them when all the little boys get scared and leave? Monroe. Boom. Another wasted character.

Aurora: “Fear is a demon. Close your eyes and tell yourself you’re not afraid. That is how you slay the demon.” Bellamy is such a wide-eyed innocent. He’s just trying so hard.

I stand by my theory that class disparity on the Ark has little to do with material wealth but I will admit the Blakes have a much shittier housing unit than the Griffins, the Chancellor, or anyone in Alpha based on the S3 quarters.

I still ship Clarke/Raven something fierce; I miss scenes like this one where they...you know...interact. I love that Raven loves flowers and thinks Abby’s a badass and I also love that they either walked all night or stopped to rest and ended up (literally) sleeping together.

The Grounders are obviously lame as a whole but even I am impressed by their sneak attacks. RIP other John.

Okay also by the way: the Grounders only attacked when the kids crossed the skeleton line, or as this helpful exposition points out, when they “crossed the boundary.” In other words, as of now, the total Grounder interaction with the Sky Kids has been: spearing Jasper when he crossed a boundary, (possibly rogue) spying, having their spy go (extra?) rogue and kidnap someone, and killing a couple more kids when they crossed another boundary (this one admittedly more clearly marked). So far, almost halfway through season 1, the Grounders really do not seem to give a fuck about the Delinquents. I really don’t think this ever had anything to do with land. I think if the kids were on Tri Kru land this entire time they would have been wiped out in Episode 2.

Anya will of course later cite the destruction of the Grounder village by the flares. Retaliation seems to come pretty late for that lol (I’ll have to watch, actually--DO they ever retaliate for that?), but at least it’s a definite, though accidental, form of aggression.

Okay, wow, it is canon that Bellamy and Octavia are from the section that would have been quietly killed in the original culling plan; it says Section 17 on their door.

Octavia’s first walk through the Ark is really beautiful though. Lovely sequence.

I love how they have their dance...in a hallway? Like undergrad parties in the atrium in Main.

How completely overwhelming and magical to be Octavia in that moment though, like she‘s literally only met 2 people her entire life and now she’s around all of these other kids, just dancing and having fun.

(Also it still bugs me what tf is behind Jasper’s goggles in this scene why I do obsess over random shit? And yet. Also also he’s 14 in that flashback what a trip.)

Lincoln’s neck thing with the skull hands on it is one of my favorite pieces of Grounder wardrobe.

I wonder if Lincoln doesn’t speak because in his head he’s like ‘oh shit, I’m in so much trouble, what the fuck am I doing, this is such a bad idea.’

I feel like they should have started figuring out that Jasper has some Pretty Big Issues sometime around here: can’t leave camp, starts screaming for Grounders to kill them, etc. Funny how no one is suspicious about this.

I find it semi-weird that the response to a solar flare is to start taking names, like--this makes me think there was no solar flare, this is just a trick of the totalitarian state. I mean “you know the drill, masks off, id chips out” sounds like this happens a lot--random person inspections just like random housing inspections. Also what is an “ID chip”? I feel like this is something you carry but you know what would have been cooler? Something in your skin. But this is a Fake Sci Fi show so they’re not going to go that route.

Was Bellamy going to “create a distraction” for O using police brutality?

Major props to make up making Marie Avgeropolous, a woman pushing 30 at the time this was filmed, look like she’s actually 15/16 years old.

Bellamy’s realization that O doesn’t know how to get home breaks my heart EVERY DAMN TIME.

This is definitely the moment when Shumway picked Bellamy to be his Chancellor assassin.

It’s not funny, but Finn, Bell, Jasper, and Monroe squeezed under a tent together just looks like the most awkward sleepover ever. Which is to say it is pretty funny.

No commentary, only respect, for the Clarke + Raven discuss Finn scene, but: “Do you love him?” / “I hardly know him” is gold because, yeah, she does hardly know him, and even though Finn would 10000% think otherwise, level headed people like Clarke know what’s what. (Aside: I actually think she was lying to him when she killed him--or that she meant ‘love’ in the general sense, the same way she loves, say Monty or Octavia or any delinquent. But that’s just me.)

I feel a little cheated over a proper Jasper/Octavia hug tbh.

LOL at Jasper wanting to take the knife out of Finn. “Mom, Dad said I couldn’t take the knife out...”

Next time on The 100: Raven and Clarke work together to save the life of a boy who two-timed them both. Then they fall in love.

Bellamy and Clarke and leadership, since I’m semi-trying to develop a theory here: nothing really about leadership in this ep. Clarke seems initially to be heading up the search party with Bell, but then she goes with Raven and has basically the C-Plot. From the point of view of the delinquents, in this ep, Bellamy is definitely the leader (again) and Clarke is the doctor.

[aeyolia]

Chapter 4 - Anya

The sound of the grandfather clock in her history lecture rang, signaling the end of her final morning class. She made her way down to the exit alongside Landon. By some miracle all their classes had lined up for the day, so he had been playing her tour guide.

“I'm supposed to meet a girl I met earlier for lunch. Do you want to come? She seemed pretty nice.” Anya offered him as they walked through the doors outside.

“I have lunch plans actually. We can meet up later though, are you done for the day?”

“No, I still have swim tryouts.”

“No kidding? My sister is on that team. Are you sure you're not stalking me Sterling?” he joked.

“In your dreams.” she shook her head, giving him a wave good bye. Landon gave her a small salute, merging into the crowd.

“Hey Anya! Over here!” Jess echoed through the court yard. She was sitting under a tree, waving her hand frantically in the air. Anya waved back and started to make her way over happily, hugging her books against her chest.

"HEADS UP!" someone yelled. Her head jerked around, and she watched as a football came hurtling towards her. She gasped and with her hands full the only thing she could do was close her eyes, preparing for impact against her face.

She waited.

And waited.

And waited.

“Hey...are you okay?” a voice finally spoke.

Slowly Anya opened her eyes finding the football only a few inches from her face, a hand wrapped around it. She followed it up the tanned, muscular arm to their face , and she felt her cheeks heat up

involuntarily as she took him in. There stood her savior, dressed in jeans, a plain white t-shirt and a letterman jacket.

Now, let it be known that Anya wasn’t the type of girl to just swoon over a cute guy, especially not a jock. But the way the sun shone on him just right, making the specks of amber in his whiskey-colored eyes shine as they looked down on her worriedly; she couldn’t help herself. It was the stuff of movies. He asked her again if she was okay, and that's when Anya realized she had been standing there gawking silently.

"Oh! YES! I mean... yeah...I'm fine. Thanks." she answered in a fluster. He gave her a smirk and turned throwing the ball back in the direction it came.

"WATCH IT HERRIDGE" he yelled back before bringing his attention back to her. "I’m Erik. It’s Anya, right?” he asked, and she gave him a confused look.

“You know me?”

"We are in Stats together." he answered, one arm stretching to scratch the back of his head.

“You remember all the girls in your classes?” she joked.

“Only the pretty ones.”

The sound of someone running grabbed her attention and she looked to see Jess bouncing her way towards them.

"Anya! I saw what happened. Are you okay?” Jessica’s asked as she looked over her. When all seemed well, she pulled her into a hug and turned to Erik. “Good save, oh Cap-ee-tan! I owe you for protecting my new protégé here.”

“Hello to you too Tot. And it was my honor.” Erik chuckled, sending another look at Anya. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, smiling. Jess' eyes darted between the two.

“Oh no you don’t. She’s mine. Keep your grubby paws off Golden Boy.” Jess spoke, latching on to Anya’s arm.

“Golden Boy?” Anya asked eyebrow raising.

"It’s stupid-" Erik sighed but Jess cut him off.

“Erik is Strongfield’s most eligible Adonis. Athletic All-star, Mayor’s Son, High School Valedictorian, Junior Class President-”

“Alright. Alright. She gets the point.” he rolled his eyes, his tanned skin unable to hide the pink hue in his cheeks.

“And he’s modest.”

“I hope you know what you’re getting into. Jess is a little high maintenance. Like a Pomeranian. ”

“I’ll show you Pomeranian!” she growled, only causing him to laugh.

“And tiny angry human is my cue to go. Golden boy stuff and all to do. It was nice officially meeting you Anya.” He spoke. “See you around?”

"Definitely." Anya nodded smiling back at him. With that he gave a wave to Jessica and started jogging back towards where the rest of the soccer team waited for him. Anya hadn't noticed she had been watching him leave until Jess cleared her throat. She blinked a few times and looked over at the blonde. “What?”

"Less than five hours here and you're already under Golden Boy's spell" she said shaking her head. "I am disappointed in you."

“I have no idea what you're talking about. “Anya lied, she felt her face heat up a bit and cursed it for betraying her. She walked ahead to where she had seen Jess sitting before.

"Right sure you don't." Jess answered sarcastically, plopping down with her back against the tree. Anya sat on her knees, not wanting to dirty her skirt. "Not that I blame you really. The guy was hand sculpted by the gods, it should be illegal to look that good." she joked handing her a sandwich. One that was almost lost to the ants under them as a voice startled Anya.

"Must be nice to be illegally good looking" it spoke from behind the tree. Anya looked at Jess who must have known who it was because her smile brightened.

"How long have you been lurking weirdo?" she asked snapping her fingers a few times. "Stop being a creep and show yourself." With that a boy dressed from head to toe in black came from around the tree. He had shoulder length dark hair, most of it concealed by a black beanie. She focused on his eyes, which were darting back and forth as he scanned her, shining in the sunlight. They were a deep, earthy brown - the color of the the ground after torrential rains. But there was something else in them, something glistening. They held secrets, the same way a pot holds layers of deep soil- cradling- because it is essential to keep the plant safe. The roots are held in place the same way his dark, liquidy eyes held so tightly onto his secrets. It sent shivers through her.

"And who’s this?" he spoke eyes still not leaving Anya. She crossed her arms uncomfortably. Jess picked up on it, thankfully, and smacked his leg.

"Stop that and be nice. She’s my new friend.” she ordered and the intense stare he had been giving Anya ceased.

“Dammit Tatsal you always ruin my fun” he smirked and plopped down next to her.

"I'm sorry for him...” she shook her head. “Anya, this is Xander Niles. Xan, this is my new best friend Anya. “ She introduced them.

“You mean someone finally took you off my hands?” Xander teased her. He gave Anya a genuine smile this time. “It’s a pleasure.”

“It’s nice to meet you too." Anya said returning it. She wasn’t too keen on how he had looked at her earlier, but it seemed to be his thing.

‘If Jess likes you well…you can’t be too bad.’ She thought to herself. .

"Yeah well she's a bit delusional." he said quietly. Anya's heart dropped and she looked at him. She hadn’t said that out loud. Had she? The boy didn't react. Perhaps he hadn't actually said anything. First the dream and now this. She was losing her mind. Anya took a bite of her sandwich, shifting from one knee to another. Xander’s eyes darted to her knees a moment before he sat up a bit.

“Jesus how can you stay like that for so long? You’re making my legs hurt” he spoke and shrugged off his leather jacket, holding it out towards Anya.” Here. Sit on this." He wore a cut off shirt that revealed two muscular arms, covered in small scars. “So, who were you guys talking about anyway?”

“Erik. ” Jessica answered and receiving a death glare from Anya, which she pretended to not see.

“Why am I not surprised?” Xander rolled his eyes. “What heroic act did he do this time?”

“Golden Boy saved my little grasshopper here from her face being rearranged. You should have seen the way they were looking at each other. I thought he was going to pounce her right there.”

“It wasn’t like that!” Anya tried to defend herself. However, it only made her look more guilty.

“Don’t worry new girl. That’s how he is with everyone. Likes playing the welcome wagon. ” Xander shrugged in dismissal. “The guy goes through girls the way Jess does a pack of cigarettes.”

“Oh, like you don’t?” she raised an eyebrow.

“Hey, at least I don’t pretend to be Mr.Right. Girls know what what’s up with me.”

“Oh…well that’s nice to know. Like I said it doesn’t matter. It wasn’t like that.” Anya smiled, but her shoulders drooped a bit. Another group of people walked by and stared a while at the three of them. “ It’s better than everyone else who’s acting like they’ve never seen a person before!” Anya yelled loudly, causing them to skulk away.

“Strongfield is boring Anya. Most of the people here have been with the same class since elementry. They’re just excited since you’re the first new girl since…well me.” Jess answered her.

“Personally, I think it has less to do with how long it’s been and more to do with who it is. I bet if some average Joe moved in no one would bat an eye.” Xan interceded. Both girls looked at him with wide eyes. “What?”

“Was-was that almost a compliment?” Anya teased.

“I am capable of noticing that you are above average in the looks department. Don’t worry though, you’re just not my type.”

“Oh, I’m heartbroken.” She shot back sarcastically. Her lips curved into a smirk to resemble his and Xander’s eyebrow raised.

“Oh I like you. I like you so much! ” Jess smiled, bouncing in her seat.

The three of them laughed and Anya felt a weight lift off her shoulders. It was the first time in a long time, Anya felt like she had finally belonged somewhere.

[thenewbuzwuzz]

Title: A Hundred Tiny Silver Deer Rating: T Words: ~3.6 K Ship: Spuffy Setting: BtVS season 7, in a manner of speaking Summary: Dimension-hopping Spuffy try to figure out what is wrong with season 7. Instead, they find out how to make everything more trippy and medieval.

Repost time! Linked above, on Dreamwidth, is my chapter of the recent Elysian Fields collaborative surrealism party, Exquisite Consequences. I think it's possible to enjoy each chapter separately -- after all, I hadn't read the previous chapters when I wrote it. The first paragraph is my prompt, written by relurker. The chapter title is from Tennyson's "The Last Tournament". I also borrow heavily from canon BtVS dialogue and a certain classic love story that is named in the chapter. A big thank you to Double Dutchess for the coherence beta! I have made a bunch of minor edits since the Elysian Fields version, BUT, if you read this and fall into a plot hole or anything else in particular bothers you, I'd appreciate a holler. I'm sure there's plenty left to clean up before reposting to AO3. One can also read it here, because why not:

“No, you’re right. Every time realities mix, it’s like playing dice with nitroglycerin. You’ll go back to your world in a minute, and reality will be a little different. I don’t know how much of this you’ll remember, or how much of your reality will be different. Extreme times… you know how it goes.” Dawn’s eyes were very bright, too. “Now, you two. Hold hands, close your eyes, and when I say the word, you’ll be in your own place. Bazinga!”

*** Buffy woke up feeling warm and happy, and a bit pleasantly sore. Her nose was smooshed up against... Spike. There was a light touch on her hair that stopped when she stirred. She opened her eyes to see Spike hovering his hand like he wasn’t sure where to put it. She took it in her hand and beamed at him. “Good morning!” Spike seemed to unfreeze. He put his other arm around her and held her close. “Best morning of my life,” he said after a moment. “You remember, then?” Buffy remembered lots of things. They were all jumbled together. Some of it was definitely a dream, thank goodness. (Spike streaming with light like a disco ball, wearing an ugly necklace.) Some of it, she wasn’t sure. (Could cheetahs really do that? And when had she resolved to visit a vineyard? She didn’t even like wine.) “I remember that you have my back,” she told him. “I remember making love to you.” He gave her a breathtaking, unguarded smile. Had she seen that smile before? It felt like she saw it for the first time. Wait, she’d been saying something. “And I remember saying bye to Dawn. Something about mixing realities. She was sending us home, but she said something might be changed.” Spike nodded. “Doesn’t look much like home, does it?” She looked around. “I can see why. There’s not a skull in sight.” They were in a room illuminated by indirect sunlight. The bedclothes were a rich blue and brown with a pattern like leaves or ferns. There were some candles and books and an armchair. “Yeah, I don't know this house. But I know who we are, so this isn’t a Randy and Joan day.” “Well, no randier than usual.” Buffy groaned. “You had to, didn’t you? But, y’know, there is something wrong with this reality. We’re in bed, with clothes. Who does that? There should be no clothes.” So they fixed the timeline. *** Afterwards, they got dressed and made their way to Revello Drive, which turned out to be only a couple of blocks away. Something was definitely off about this reality. Tucker's brother lived with Buffy, for one. So, apparently, did everyone else. There was a bunch of girls calling Buffy “the General” when they thought she didn't hear. And that First Evil loser, which Buffy had met in the real world back when Angel lived in Sunnydale, was apparently still a thing here. This reality’s Scoobies even had little tricks for distinguishing between one of them and absolute evil. What a fun place. “So, really, what you're saying is that we should keep our hands on each other at all times.” She slid her hand into Spike's back pocket. “Ah, thank you, you’ve hit upon the exact opposite of what I would suggest,” Giles said. Yeesh, these Scoobies had issues with Spike. Good thing that Buffy hadn’t taken the opinions of the local Scoobies seriously for a few realities in a row now. Dawn spoke up, “Buffy, don’t you remember what Spike did to you?” “No? I bet this Spike didn’t. I mean, of course he tried to kill me! He’s Spike. But that was years ago, and I’m over it. He has helped us all so much. What’s your problem, people?” “Oh.” Dawn considered. “So he hasn’t, like, tried to make you do anything you didn’t want?” “Pfft. Like he could.” “I wouldn’t hurt Buffy,” Spike said, “not unless she asked me to.” “Eww, Spike, I don’t need to know that,” Dawn said, but she was already grinning. She hugged Spike. “I missed you.” Not trusting Spike, imagine that. Wasn’t it so last season? Or month? Or at least last week? She wasn’t clear on the timeline. “Oh, wait! I haven’t told you guys! See, in our reality, Spike has a special chip that would trigger a headache if he tried to hurt people. He’s safe!” “Thanks ever so,” Spike said and rolled his eyes. Buffy checked under his shirt to see if he was corporeal there, too. He was. Spike pinched her. “Just checking you're not the source of all evil.” “So what’s the verdict? Is my butt evil?” “No.” He leaned closer to her. “It’s all things good and warm and delicious, like all the rest of you.” “Uh huh.” She suppressed a shiver. “You sure you’re not just peckish?” Giles had said some more words while they were doing their part for the war on evil, and Buffy debated asking what those words were. But just then, Faith walked in with even more girls, carrying weapons. They’d been out patrolling, Faith said, but couldn’t remember why they’d gone in broad daylight. It had ended well, though. While regrouping, they’d heard a distant underground explosion and found a whole arsenal of goodies, only protected by a few Bringers. “Hey, you’re just in time, guys,” someone piped up at the kitchen door. It was that twitchy guy who quoted movies all the time. The one who had teared up when Spike asked him who he was. Tucker’s brother. “I made an early lunch,” he said and gestured with oven mitts. The aroma of deep-fried onions followed in his wake. “You were right, Spike, ice water really helped.” After a lot of delicious, calorie-laden food, Buffy decided to follow the nagging feeling that she should be at a vineyard. It paid off. They beat up some Bringers easily, just like the last time she remembered, and Buffy got to King Arthur a battleaxe out of a rock. After some research, Giles and Willow told her the axe was originally supposed to be a scythe. Another reality change, then. As long as they were all going to be this harmless... *** Things got murkier when Angel arrived out of the blue and gave Buffy an amulet that looked oddly familiar. At least he didn’t want to stay and chat once he saw that Sunnydale wasn’t as apocalyptic as he’d thought. “It has a purifying power and a cleansing power, and, bonus, it bestows strength,” Buffy recited to the group after Angel was gone. “What is that about? I don’t think anyone here needs to be purified.” “Prefer me dirty, Slayer? Mutual,” Spike said and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Something clicked. “Spike,” she said. That’s where she had seen the necklace before. “You wore this in my dream. There was... a lot of fire. You were talking about cleanup, and everything was collapsing. I think you were on fire, too.” A dark-haired girl who’d introduced herself as Shannon spoke up. “It kind of sounds like what that creepy preacher guy said when he drove me here. A cleansing fire? He said it would cure the world of weakness.” Everyone went silent. “It’s okay, unfamiliar girl,” Anya finally said. “It’s not your fault the deranged clergyman died in a car crash, even if he was distracted because you were talking to him. And you never know, maybe he deserved it.” She gave Shannon an encouraging smile. Giles winced. “Anya’s right about one thing. We cannot avert every tragedy, only do our best.” “I’ve heard this before, though,” Willow said, hunched small. “About cleansing fires and letting them burn away souls and bring death.” Giles made a thinky noise. Sometimes Buffy was just so happy she had a Giles on her side. “I agree, we can’t rule out a connection to the Proserpexa temple on Kingman’s Bluff.” “So this amulet thing sounds pretty dodgy?” Buffy summed up. It was more of a hunch than anything, but more of her dreams were coming back, and she didn’t like them one bit. “It’s not impossible that Angel thought he was helping,” Giles said generously. “He has been misled before about what help, uh, entails. Of course, we may be able to discover more about the artifact with some research. There may be a use for it yet.” “Right. Thanks,” Buffy said. She handed the necklace over to Giles and caught Spike’s eye. “They put the spark in me, and all it does is burn,” she said quietly. “That’s what you said in my dream. And you were smoking, Spike. As in, there was smoke rising from you. Don’t do that.” Xander said, “You know what they say. You’re a fool if you think smoking is cool.” There was a hint of real concern in his voice. “And there’s more.” They had felt like Slayer dreams, now that Buffy thought of it. “I remember a phrase. Someone was telling you, ‘Touch her, you’re gonna wake up on fire.’ I think they meant me.” “Well, I’d say I’ve touched you all right,” Spike said. “We should find out what’s up with this,” Buffy said. “Could it be realities mixing together? Dawn told us – not you, the Dawn in the other reality – that what we did was like playing dice with explosives. I want to know for sure if my dice are going to explode, you know? Or anyone else for that matter.” She grasped Spike’s hand more tightly. *** “Okay, there’s the shadow of Jonathan’s old charisma spell,” Willow said half under her breath, sitting cross-legged with her eyes shut, “and this is the monks’ spell for Dawn. I think this might be traces of Sweet, gee, there’s a lot of wishes being made lately… actually, all of this stuff might not be wishes. It’s like patchwork around here. I’m sorry, Buffy, I’m not sure I could see a reality mixing into ours even if it was right in front of me. Wait, well, there is this thing… I’m not sure what it is.” She paused. “It doesn’t look like an alternate reality exactly, but it’s not anything else I know.” “Well, what does it look like?” Buffy was pacing. “Kind of similar to Sweet’s singing spell. Neater and less detailed than the other ones. It’s probably not a full world, but more like a pattern, like maybe something based on a story.” “That’s the penalty when life is but a song,” Dawn said like she was just remembering something. “Quite right, those were Sweet’s words,” Giles said. “We did all see that exposure to artistic reality changes can lead to combustion.” Willow repurposed the shadow caster to work as a portal to the reality she’d seen, so they could step in and investigate. She said it was a Prose Portal. Apparently, she’d read about those in England in some grimoire called “The Eyre Affair”. Willow said it would be easiest for Spike to enter the portal, because the story world was already linked to him. Buffy could follow. They said bye to everyone for the time being. Even Xander clapped Spike on the shoulder. “Hey, if you see any fluffy dragons in there, remember to grab one on your way out. We could use a luck dragon.” *** Spike floated in and out of scenes as if in a dream. Someone was reading a story to him. Maybe it was his mother, or maybe just the voice that he usually heard in his own head when reading – in any case, it was a voice he trusted and gladly followed. Some of the time, he saw himself from a distance, acting the story out. He loved a queen who wasn’t his to wed. His lady belonged to no king, true. It was to the graveyard that she returned faithfully every night, her sacred calling the only vow she had taken. But her golden hair shone brighter than that of any king’s bride. The wine was drugged. It let thorny love take root in his blood, and with it, sweet-smelling, sunlit death. Or was it that the blood was drugged? It was too late, at any rate. He’d already drunk it, felt it burn in his throat and all the way down to his gut (god, no, please, no). “Well, then, come, death,” they both said and gave themselves over to love. And all around them, the walls, the floor, the ceiling cracked and broke. He was in a bathtub, and she was threatening him with a sword. He’d killed her kin, it was true, but (he tried to explain) it was always a fair fight. By right of combat, he’d hold his own against anyone who dared say he was in the wrong. They were holding trial by combat right now, not against her, someone else, in a room decked with crosses (God their witness). He won, because he was right. Her castle was fenced with sharp stakes, but he leapt over them every night to send her messages. When enough water had flowed by in the stream, she would come out to meet him, he knew it. Alone in the wilderness, they slept on a bed of leaves and ferns, side by side yet chastely distant, a naked blade between them. In the morning, they found a new weapon in its place, red blade proudly curved, fit for a king. Many deeds he had done for her, and his madness was from her alone. He walked back home to her, barefoot, a fool, and she told him she knew him not. The other, more pleasant Iseult (Wait, who? He meant Buffy.) tried to soothe him and heal him with her soft, white hands. “Have I done something wrong?” she asked. He told her, “Just be Buffy.” A dragon returned every year to Buffy’s town, collecting tribute. It was a matter of time before it claimed her. The right thing was to volunteer as a sacrifice, so she wouldn’t have to fight. After all, his life was rightfully hers, because she had returned it. They’d drunk love mixed with death long ago. He knew how to make the story end right. It had been worth it. *** Buffy was good at dreams when she put her mind to it. She kept a dream diary, so she could remember her Slayer dreams in more detail. After the First Slayer attacked them all, Buffy had started practising ways of telling whether she was dreaming or not. She hadn’t wanted to be caught off guard again. So when she floated into the dreamlike story world and saw the air shimmer golden, something registered as slightly suspicious at the back of her mind. She was in a crumbling house. She’d had magic weed, and it was taking root in her blood. If she wasn’t careful, all her fingers would sprout purple, sweet-smelling sage flowers through the ruins, and everyone would know that she was in love with her death. The scene changed. Spike was in a bathtub, and she was threatening him with a sword. She remembered this, but it wasn’t quite right. He was supposed to be in chains, and she should be threatening him with blood. Wait, that didn’t make sense either. Was she dreaming? She jumped and watched herself float down slowly. She was dreaming. Or something like it. Now she remembered going into the alternate reality with Spike. She looked up, meaning to tell Spike what was going on, but he had disappeared. She flew around the dreamlike world and looked for Spike. Lots of forests, fortresses, and small towns. Not enough Spike. She found a cliff instead. There was a cave, and near the mouth of the cave, Spike was trying to put some chains on himself. They kept slipping off. She walked up and grabbed the chains to free him. He yanked them back. “Respect the narrative flow, would you! I want to see how it ends.” “Oh, no, you don’t. I say it’s not ending this way.” “I’m not afraid, Buffy,” he said and smiled. “I would, you know, for the right person? For you.” “I don’t want you to die for me!” Buffy yelled. Silence rang. What the hell. It was only a dream. “I want to live with you,” she added. Spike blinked. He pinched himself. “Am I dreaming?” he asked. “Yes!” she said. “Or close enough. I mean, I meant it, but also, you’re dreaming. And you really, really need to snap out of it.” The chains disappeared. “I’m not asking you for anything, you know,” he said, his eyes warm. She was on a throne now, and he was kneeling. “When I say I love you, it’s not because I want you…” “Well, why the fuck not? What’s wrong with wanting me?” “You’re missing the point, Slayer.” He sounded more like himself. “No, you’re missing the point! We’re going home! Together. Got it?” Spike finally seemed to come to his senses. He got up and looked around. “So this is where all the fire bollocks came from, is it?” Buffy nodded. She was so relieved to talk to Spike without thrones or misused chains. “Why fire, though? There isn’t anything really fiery here, so why was it that way back home?” “Well, what else does death look like for a vampire?” “Point,” Buffy said. “I guess it’s harder to have prophetic dreams about wood.” Spike started to waggle his eyebrows, but then there was a roar and a rumble. Something was coming out of the cave. A muzzle and a pair of round ears appeared, along with eyes that seemed to fairly glow with evil intent. It was a bear. “What is it with the bears?” Spike exclaimed. “I could live for decades at a time without running into one, until I met you. I hold you accountable, Slayer.” “Undo it, undo it,” Buffy said smiling and hefted her red axe. “I’d like to see you keep your calm when you’re trussed up like some sacrificial virgin and one of these things comes at you. Did you know they can decapitate a moose in one go?” The bear was half out of the cave now. It turned to stare at them with bright red eyes and huffed. Fire shot out of its nostrils. It was the greenest, most scaly bear Buffy had ever seen. “Wait,” Spike said, suddenly grinning. “You’re not a bear at all, are you, beastie?” He bounced on his heels and unsheathed his sword. “Spike. How is it good news that it can breathe fire?” “Aw, don’t tell me you never wanted to slay a dragon.” The creature’s skin glittered in the sunlight, covered in black, yellowish green, and transparent crystals. A long tail dragged behind it. “Dragon slaying it is, then. I mean, someone’s got to save the world from this fashion disaster. Glittery snakeskin overalls? So seventies.” And then it was on. The red blade sang through the air, Buffy’s muscles sang with the weight of the axe, and, though she might not have phrased it that way in another world, her heart sang to feel Spike fighting beside her. They weren’t getting anywhere, though. Spike had managed to leap aside from the flames every time so far, but the dragon’s skin was too tough. “Wait a mo,” Spike said when they retreated to rest for the third time. The dragon rumbled its way towards them like the world’s slowest rock avalanche. “I know this dragon. The head of a bear and red eyes like coals of fire… say, do its ears look tufted to you?” “Definite tufting vibe,” Buffy said. “Thought so. This fellow is from the Romance of Tristan and Iseult. ...Explains a lot, actually. Well, we’re not going to have any luck cutting its skin, and the saliva is poisonous.” “Any other good news?” Spike muttered something rhythmic under his breath, keeping the beat with one hand. “It will die if we shove a sword down its throat.” “Neat. What doesn’t.” “But we’ve got to be careful and not touch its tongue.” They made short work of the dragon, so that all the more time was left for wacky dream sex that defied everything: physics, description, and the status quo. “Okay, how do we get out of here?” Buffy said eventually, as they snuggled on the cave floor that could only be so comfortable in a dream or story. A map appeared in her hands. It was blank apart from a label that said, “BUSH”. “It's retrograde,” a white rat said from the deep end of the cave, “but that's… that's okay!” Buffy rotated the map, and it began to change like a kaleidoscope, along with the walls of the cave. Every stretch of wall bloomed with colorful tapestries of… her and Spike, in the best rendition of some textile artist. Buffy in a black beanie, standing side by side with Spike while the unconscious body of a six-headed lion draped over what was probably meant to be a car. Buffy hugging Spike, a wide grin on her face and a ring glittering on her finger. The two of them lying naked on the floor behind strategically placed pieces of rubble, in the ruins of a building that looked oddly fortress-like. Sitting on the porch while a porcupine creature squatted in the grass… had that been there? More and more tapestries appeared, and Buffy knew each one was a door, the way you know things in dreams for no reason. With a quite different certainty, she knew they’d be fine wherever they went together. Buffy and Spike smiled at each other and stepped through time hand in hand.