#Criminal Attorney High Desert

[dinodorks]

[ The skull of Tarbosaurus bataar, alongside artwork by palaeoartist Hank Sharpe. ]

"Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) returned an impressive collection of dinosaur fossils to Mongolia’s Ambassador to the United States, Batbayar Ulziidelger, at a ceremony at the Library of Congress on Aug. 3. The fossils were recovered through HSI investigations conducted by our offices in Arizona, New York, and Wyoming, and the collection was represented by a tyrannosaurus bataar skull, protoceratops fossil, alioramus skull, and saurolophus skull. The alioramus, which resembles a smaller version of a tyrannosaurus rex, is exclusively found in Mongolia – the source of many, extremely rare fossils. The specimen on display at the ceremony is considered one of the best-preserved fossils ever found of the dinosaur that lived approximately 70 million years ago.

[ The skulls of Alioramus (left) and Protoceratops (right), alongside artwork by palaeoartist Hank Sharpe. ]

“Today’s event is dedicated to acknowledge the solid contributions of the officers and special agents from Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. attorneys, judges, scientists, and all individuals present here at ceremony as well as those who are absent due to their duty, who made this day possible,” said Ambassador of Mongolia Batbayar Ulziidelger. “This ceremony is a testament to the strong partnership between the Government of Mongolia and the Unites States and we are fortunate to witness the first-ever public display of these Mongolian dinosaur fossils.” “We have gathered here to witness the return of dinosaur fossils from the United States to their homeland – Mongolia; these fossils, once lost to time and distance, now find their way back to the land, where they were first discovered,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Battsetseg Batmunkh. “The remarkable journey of these artifacts demonstrates the strength of collaborative diplomacy and a solid dedication to preserving our cultural heritage. I am delighted to acknowledge the valuable contributions of law enforcement officers and special agents, agencies, attorneys, judges… our collective efforts demonstrated the potential to effectively fight illegal smuggling, both bilaterally and multilaterally.” The first of these cases began in May 2012 when HSI New York initiated a cultural property investigation after receiving information alleging the illicit sale of protected fossils by a U.S.-based auction house. The investigation revealed that an individual, who later pled guilty to criminal counts of illegal importation of dinosaur fossils, was selling a fossilized alioramus skull through the auction house; that skull is part of the collection being returned. That same year, HSI Casper, Wyoming office received an HSI Tip Line report that a retail store was selling a fossilized tyrannosaurus bataar skull. HSI Casper began its investigation relating to the illegal importation and subsequent sale of dinosaur fossils originating from Mongolia, which has strong patrimony laws that prohibit the export of prehistoric fossils. These investigations led to multiple seizures of a wide range of paleontological fossils illegally taken from their country, including:a rare juvenile tyrannosaurus battar skull; a fossilized gallimimus skeleton; a tarbosaurus bataar skeleton; nests of dinosaur eggs; a saber-toothed cat skull; a complete psittacosaurus skeleton; and a protoceratops skull. Some of these dinosaurs lived more than 100 million years ago in an area now known as the Gobi Desert."

Read more: "HSI repatriates high-profile dinosaur fossils to Mongolia"

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Abby Vesoulis at Mother Jones:

Dr. Leilah Zahedi-Spung spent four years in medical school, four years in an OB-GYN residency, and three years in a maternal-fetal medicine fellowship learning how to care for high-risk pregnant patients. In her decade-plus of medical training, she learned that in some cases, the only rational and responsible option for medical intervention is an emergency abortion. In July 2021 she moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and discovered she was the sole provider in her area trained to perform second-trimester dilatation and evacuation abortions for patients who needed them to survive.

But in 2022, the Supreme Court delivered its Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, and Tennessee’s trigger ban—written in preparation for the possibility that the Supreme Court would overturn Roe—went into effect a month later. Suddenly, providing an abortion in Tennessee became an immediate Class C felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. There were no exceptions, even when an abortion was necessary to save a life or prevent serious bodily harm. Only after being arrested could a physician provide something called an “affirmative defense” to fight the charges. (Eight months after the trigger law took effect, the GOP governor signed a bill allowing abortions in limited medical emergencies.)

Given her unique work, which also includes genetic testing and live deliveries, Zahedi-Spung felt as if she wore a bull’s-eye on her back. She hired a criminal defense attorney—just in case—and immediately began looking for a maternal-fetal medicine position out of state. She didn’t want to leave Tennessee at all, she says, but her goal was “to not go to jail.”  Relocating for work isn’t a novel concept, but in the age of unfettered abortion restrictions, there has been an exodus of OB-GYNs from abortion-banned states, and dwindling interest among future OB-GYNs to settle in those states. The result is worsening health outcomes for the vulnerable patients and moms who remain. 

“As more clinicians leave those states, as more maternity care deserts happen, we will see poorer outcomes,” says Dr. Stella Dantas, an OB-GYN in Oregon and the president-elect of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “And I do think we will see more maternal mortality just by the sheer fact that we won’t have providers even trained to take care of some of these obstetric emergencies.” Indeed, 64 percent of practicing OB-GYNs who responded to a KFF (formerly the Kaiser Family Foundation) survey said the Dobbs ruling has worsened maternal mortality.  In the before times, a high-risk obstetrics patient might consider having an abortion to nearly eliminate their potential maternal health risks, or even just seek more frequent monitoring to decrease them. But what happens when there are fewer clinicians left to treat sicker pregnant patients—and higher numbers of them—as birth rates rise in abortion-banned states? Data from states tell the story.

Even before outright abortion bans, the states that eventually restricted the medical procedure had higher rates of pregnancy-related deaths, sicker patient populations, and less access to maternal and preventative health care, according to data from KFF and Surgo Ventures, a nonprofit that researches health and social issues.

[...]

The care deserts will disproportionately affect low-income people and people of color. In her new maternal-fetal health role in Colorado, Zahedi-Spung says many of her dilatation and evacuation patients travel to her from Texas, Oklahoma, and Idaho because of unworkable abortion laws there. Given the current reproductive health care landscape, they are the lucky ones. She fears others in abortion-restricted states lack the resources to travel.

“We know that privileged people will always have access to abortion. We know that they will always have access to health care,” says Monica Simpson, the executive director of Sister Song, one of the oldest reproductive justice organizations in the country. For everyone else, Simpson says, “thousands of people are falling through the cracks.” Further, the states restricting abortion are also less likely to have social support benefits to help moms and children. For example, 10 of the 13 states that rejected federal funds for low-income kids to get summer food assistance have banned abortion, either beyond six weeks or at conception. “Those same people who are anti-choice are the ones who want to cut welfare,” says Zahedi-Spung. “They’re the same ones who don’t want to provide food stamps. They’re the same ones who don’t want to expand birth control options.” 

The Dobbs ruling in 2022 has led to an increased rate in maternal mortality, particularly in states that have strict abortion bans.

[bllsbailey]

SUPRISE! The 'Merchant of Death,' Exchanged for Brittney Griner, Is Back in the Death Business

If there was a pool for “things that are inevitable,” I would have bet my house on the “Merchant of Death” getting back in the merchant of death business. According to the Wall Street Journal, Viktor Bout, the guy who Joe Biden traded for the America-hating, admitted felon WNBA player Brittney Griner, is back in his trade of choice. He’s selling arms to terrorists.  

Viktor Bout, the Russian arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death,” walked out of a U.S. jail almost two years ago in a trade with Moscow for U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner. Now he is back in business, trying to broker the sale of small arms to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants.  The 57-year-old, whose life reportedly inspired the 2005 Hollywood movie, “Lord of War,” starring Nicolas Cage, spent decades selling Soviet-made weapons in Africa, South America and the Middle East before being arrested in 2008 in a U.S. law enforcement sting operation.

America used to be circumspect about trading prisoners with Russia (a/k/a USSR). America would only trade high-value spies for high-value Americans. That usually happened without much fanfare. “Checkpoint Charlie” was a “usual” exchange point. Usually, men would be exchanged across a “bridge.” We would get someone back who added value to America, and we would (reluctantly) give up a spy.  

Times have changed.  

Ten years ago, Barack Obama offered up five terrorists to get an Army deserter back. Bowe Bergdahl was returned to great fanfare. His parents were at the Rose Garden as Obama announced Bergdahl’s return. Those five were back in the business of Taliban terror within a few years.  

Biden seems to have won top spot in the “Incompetent Prisoner Exchange” category because exchanging Griner for an international arms-dealing terror merchant isn’t just a terrible choice; it will undoubtedly end in the deaths of innocent people.  

When Biden made the Griner for Bout exchange, he said: 

She’s safe, she’s on a plane, she’s on her way home. After months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under untolerable (sic) circumstances, Brittney will soon be back in the arms of her loved ones, and she should have been there all along. 

Griner wasn’t “unjustly detained.” We might not like Russia or the thug who runs the country, but Griner violated Russian criminal statutes. Griner admitted that she brought drugs into Russia. Griner is an admitted criminal. Griner pled guilty in the hope of getting a reduced sentence. 

Griner was exchanged because she checked the boxes. She’s gay. She’s black. And she refused to stand for the national anthem, saying: 

“I personally don’t think it belongs in sports. … Black people didn’t have rights at that point,” Griner said of the creation of the Star-Spangled Banner. “It’s hard disrespecting [sic] a song that didn’t even represent all Americans when it was first made.” 

The Journal is reporting that Bout is directly negotiating with Houthi terrorists for weapons. The first shipment is for small arms – like AK47s automatic rifles, but the Houthis are awaiting approval and shipment of anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons. Bout’s American attorney sees no problem with Bout’s new “job”:  

“Viktor Bout has not been in the transportation business for over twenty years,” Zissou said. “But if the Russian government authorized him to facilitate the transfer of arms to one of America’s adversaries, it would be no different than the U.S. government sending arms and weapons of mass destruction to one of Russia’s adversaries as it has sent to Ukraine.”

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said of the Griner-for-Bout exchange:  

“We believe we can manage those challenges, but we will remain constantly vigilant against any threat that Viktor Bout may pose to Americans, to the United States going forward. I would just point out that there is no shortage of arms traffickers and mercenaries in Russia.”

Yeah, that didn't work out, Jake. 

The sooner this administration is out of office, the better.  

[militarydefenselitigator]

Understanding the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)

The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) serves as the foundation of military law in the United States. Established in 1950, the UCMJ standardizes legal procedures across all branches of the military, ensuring discipline, fairness, and justice. Whether you're a service member, a family member, or simply interested in military law, understanding the UCMJ is crucial. Let's delve into its key components and significance.

The Structure of the UCMJ

The UCMJ is composed of various articles that outline legal standards and procedures. Here are some of its essential sections:

Punitive Articles: Articles 77-134 detail specific offenses, ranging from insubordination and desertion to more severe crimes like assault and theft. Each article specifies the elements of the offense and potential punishments.

Non-Judicial Punishment (Article 15): This article allows commanders to discipline service members for minor offenses without resorting to a court-martial. Punishments can include extra duties, confinement to base, or loss of pay.

Courts-Martial: The UCMJ outlines three types of courts-martial – summary, special, and general. These courts differ in severity and the complexity of cases they handle, from minor offenses to serious criminal charges.

Rights of the Accused: Service members accused of offenses under the UCMJ have specific rights, including the right to counsel, the right to remain silent, and protection against double jeopardy.

Why the UCMJ Matters?

The UCMJ ensures that all military personnel are held to consistent standards of conduct, maintaining order and discipline within the ranks. It provides a legal framework that protects both the rights of the accused and the integrity of the military justice system.

Uniformity and Fairness: By applying the same legal standards across all branches, the UCMJ promotes fairness and equality.

Accountability: The UCMJ holds service members accountable for their actions, reinforcing the values of honor, courage, and commitment.

Protection: The UCMJ safeguards the rights of service members, ensuring they receive a fair trial and legal representation.

Real-Life Applications

Consider the high-profile cases involving military personnel that have brought attention to the UCMJ. These cases highlight the importance of a robust military justice system that can handle complex legal issues while ensuring justice is served.

For example, the case of a service member charged with insubordination might be handled through a non-judicial punishment, providing a swift and fair resolution. In contrast, more severe cases involving allegations of assault or misconduct might proceed to a court-martial, ensuring a thorough investigation and trial.

Understanding the UCMJ is essential for anyone involved with the military, from service members to their families and legal professionals. If you or someone you know is navigating the complexities of the UCMJ, it's crucial to seek knowledgeable legal counsel who specializes in military law.

For service members, staying informed about your rights and responsibilities under the UCMJ can help you navigate your military career with confidence and integrity.

Wrapping Up

The Uniform Code of Military Justice is a vital component of the United States military, ensuring that all service members are held to the same high standards of conduct. By promoting discipline, fairness, and accountability, the UCMJ upholds the values that define our armed forces.

If you want to learn more about the UCMJ or need legal assistance related to military justice, don't hesitate to reach out to a qualified military law attorney. Stay informed, stay prepared, and uphold the honor of your service.

For more information on military law and your rights under the UCMJ, visit our website or contact us at [phone number] for expert legal advice and support.

[advocateajaya]

Top Reasons To Choose The High Court Lawyer In Bhubaneswar

All lawyers want to be of service to their clients, but few do so in the way that family law professionals do. After all, the issues that are frequently on the line in family law cases—such as a child's welfare or justice for an abused spouse—have a gravity that is unmatched in many other legal disciplines. In this article, people or folks can augment or heighten their understanding of the mind-blowing facts and pieces of information about the family lawyer in Bhubaneswar or high court lawyer in Bhubaneswar.

High Court Lawyer In Bhubaneswar

Of course, family law covers a lot more ground than just those weightier subjects. But no matter where you find them, family law attorneys are crucial in assisting clients through some of the most trying times in their lives by combining their enormous legal knowledge with exceptional empathy. Family lawyers, as the name suggests, concentrate on problems that affect families. They deal with things like divorce lawsuits, adoptions, and arguments over child custody.

Writing prenuptial agreements, wills, custody agreements, and other legal documents is a common task. Even though some family lawyers litigate, it is a less frequent aspect of their work. The blame or no-fault method of conducting the case, the division of assets, and many potential grounds like as irreconcilable differences, mental cruelty, or desertion are just a few examples of things to take into account during divorce procedures. Another important factor could be the child's support and custody. Some criminal defense attorneys represent clients who have been accused of abuse or neglect in addition to handling family law cases.

In addition to the particular information, becoming a successful family lawyer also involves the same fundamental abilities as other legal specialties, such as effective writing and verbal communication, time management, critical thinking, and analysis. Furthermore, family lawyers should have excellent "people skills." Given the intensely personal concerns involved in family law, the capacity to interact calmly and productively with individuals who could be emotionally fragile is essential.

Inter-family issues fall under the purview of family law. It involves the establishment of new family relationships through a divorce and the termination of parental rights. Family law deals with adoption, contentious child custody disputes, and the accompanying child support obligations. Since it deals with matters about partnerships and children, family law is one of the most delicate areas of the law. The lives of their clients and family lawyers are extremely intertwined. The process of severing a couple's matrimonial ties is called divorce. A union is an agreement. According to the law, a marriage establishes a legal tie between the partners.

Family law attorneys can work for both small and large firms. It's a practice that works well for solitary and small firms. Family lawyers may conduct criminal law or estate planning in addition to family law. In a court's child support office, lawyers may also serve as judges, research assistants, or court clerks. When you practice family law, you have the chance to help people during one of their most stressful periods. You have the opportunity to help them protect their children. The best interests of those concerned in family law matters must be successfully represented by knowledgeable, empathetic attorneys.   

[avlegal]

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A DIVORCE LAWYER IN DELHI

Are you considering ending your marriage with your spouse legally? Divorce lawyer in Delhi There is never a smooth way to end a relationship with your partner. You experience different emotional disturbances. A decision to divorce and be legally separated from your partner should always be made with care and attention. Seeking the advice of divorce lawyers in Delhi is of the utmost importance to you. Divorce is one of their specialties. Before taking you to court for a divorce, they can explain the different consequences and laws

Divorce Legal Experts Are Important

It is generally a time-consuming and stressful process to resolve legal disputes. Mutual divorce and contested divorce are two types of divorce. Both cases require drafting and filing the petition in court. Different religions require different laws and acts for the divorce process.

Besides divorce laws, there are also laws pertaining to alimony, maintenance fees, custody of children, domestic violence, and dowry. With the help of our divorce lawyers in Delhi, we can assist you in your divorce proceedings. As a result of their assistance, you will have a smooth and stress-free divorce process.

Separation is sometimes desired by both partners. Despite all their efforts, they have made this decision to live together. Courts typically issue divorce orders between 6 months and 18 months after a mutual divorce is filed. In certain circumstances, however, the cooling off period can be waived by hiring best divorce lawyer in Delhi a competent attorney and you can easily get a divorce order. The top-leading divorce lawyers at Lead India Law Associates are here to assist you with your mutual consent divorce.

Contested divorce occurs when either the parties cannot agree on the divorce or there is disagreement over certain aspects of the divorce, such as alimony & maintenance fees, child custody, etc. All divorce processes require time, mental effort, and expense, but contested divorces are the most time-consuming and expensive. A contested divorce in India can be based on many different grounds, including adultery, desertion, conversion, cruelty, venereal disease, etc. You should seek legal advice from divorce lawyers in Delhi if you wish to file for a contested divorce in New Delhi.

There are several divorce courts in Delhi where you can file your divorce petition

Best Divorce Advocate In Delhi Divorce petitions cannot be filed anywhere. Before filing your divorce petition, you should be aware of certain things. You should always file your divorce case at the district court when you file your petition under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 or the Special Marriage Act, 1954. In addition to the district court where the marriage was solemnized, the district court where both the couples resided, and the district court where the respondent resided may be the place where you can file your petition.

family matters, civil matters, criminal matters, and property matters are handled by district courts and high courts in most Indian states. A court can provide justice to every Indian citizen.

1. What are the necessary things you should keep in mind before filing a divorce petition in court?

2. In order to file for divorce, both partners must have lived separately for at least one year before filing.

It is also important to consider the impact of divorce on your child if you have one. There are many stressful and time-consuming aspects of divorce. There is a possibility that your child may suffer from depression and situational stress.

3.You should contact a divorce lawyer in Delhi if you need divorce legal advice. When you are going through a divorce, you may not know how much it will cost, how it will affect you, or what the consequences will be. It is much easier to explain all these scenarios to a legal advisor.

4.It is never a good idea to rush this decision. The decision to get divorced can present one of the biggest challenges of your life. There are times when people want to return to their former partners after divorce. This happens when the couple makes the wrong decision

5. The most common reason for getting divorced is bitterness, bad experiences, and personal problems. It is important to plan for your future before getting divorced. Separating from your partner allows you to live a better life. Divorce petitions should be filed with future planning in mind.

Seek Assistance From Our Top-Leading Divorce Lawyers In Delhi

Now that you understand the importance of getting legal advice, you have begun to consider hiring a lawyer. It is possible to find a lot of lawyers in Delhi. It can be difficult to find the right lawyer for your case. It is my pleasure to present you with a post geared toward helping you select the most suitable lawyer for your divorce case. In addition to assisting you in your case, a good lawyer will also advise you on better alternatives & consequences.

Source:- https://avlegalalliance.com/view_blog.php?link=what-to-look-for-when-choosing-a-divorce-lawyer-in-delhi

[hhintonlaw]

[storiesofsvu]

Serendipitous Secrets & Surprises Ch 18

Rita Calhoun x fem!reader warnings: language, marijuana use, alcohol consumption, non graphic descriptions of assault & rape. Hurt/comfort.

The rest of the day was beyond exhausting. You and Carisi did manage to track down Richard and Jonathon, who both gave their statements. They went over their lists with you, confirming that all the girls on them were consensual except for Rita. You did your best to hold back any amount of emotion as they recalled the night, admitting to what they’d done, that Chip had convinced them into it and signed affidavits confirming what they said was true. It was when you were a block away from Richard’s office that you couldn’t hold it in anymore, puking in a deserted alley way, which prompted Sonny on insisting he’d drive you back to the precinct.

You wrapped up paperwork, made sure anything that had Rita’s name on it was locked away in your desk, double checked the conference room was locked, and then drug yourself back to your car. You had no energy to even think about cooking, opting to drive through McDonald’s for some comfort food. Knowing Rita had been in court that afternoon you were pretty sure she’d still be at the office but grabbed a couple of extra items for her just in case.

Upon arriving back at the apartment you saw her bag sitting on the island, blazer strewn over the back of the couch. You thought she was in the home office until you noticed the patio door was cracked open, a smell wafting into the apartment that piqued your curiosity. You only paused to pour out a hefty glass of expensive scotch before sliding the door fully open to step onto the balcony. Rita was perched on the outdoor sofa, her legs tucked under her, glass of wine and makeshift ashtray on the table in front of her.

“You smoking?” You asked softly, moving around the couch.

“Wine wasn’t cutting it.” She muttered back and you could hear the slight shake in her voice.

“Where did you even get weed?”

“Are you forgetting that I’m a criminal attorney?” She asked as you sank down into the cushion beside her.

“I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that.” You tossed the bag of McDonald’s onto the table and Rita offered you the joint, causing you to shake your head. “We haven’t had a drug test in a while, I’d hate to risk it.” Leaning forward you pulled out a couple of cheeseburgers, offering one to her.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Give it twenty minutes.”

Rita let out a shaky breath, leaning into your side and you wrapped your free arm around her, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. You ate your burger in silence, letting her finish off the joint before she nuzzled deeper into you. You could feel the way her breathing was starting to shake less, the way her body was relaxing into yours as the weed hit. Gingerly, she reached out and picked at the fries, though she still didn’t eat a lot. When she seemed to have hit her limit of food you kissed her head softly, murmuring out into the night.

“You gonna tell me about that broken arm now?”

“You asking me as a cop?”

“Baby….you’re high. Even if I wanted to take a disclosure from you I legally couldn’t.” You squeezed at her lightly, feeling the tremor run through her body. “You may have drunkenly fallen down the stairs that night but I know that’s not all that happened.”

“You lied about the lists.”

“I did. And I’m sorry for that. I just didn’t know how to approach the subject with you. Honestly…I still don’t really know how to.”

“It was a grad party.” She sniffled and your hand reached out, grabbing a napkin, figuring it worked for the time being. “I’d only had a couple of drinks…definitely wasn’t drunk.” Your hand rubbed at her arm as you pressed another kiss into her hair, encouraging her to continue. “Chip…had been hitting on me all night. Trying to get me to sneak off to the guest house with him. When…when I kept turning him down he tried to convince me into going with one of the juniors that were following him around, saying if I wasn’t going to give it up to him I should at least let one of them have a chance…”

Rita’s body shook, tears spilling freely from her eyes as she dug deep to pull up the memories she’d tried for so long to bury. She’d known that she would never actually be able to forget what happened that night, it was too terrible, cruel and heartbreaking. But to have to dredge it up and retell the story all these years later was somehow just as bad as living through it.

“He just wouldn’t give it up. He kept pestering no matter what I said or where my friends and I moved within the house. Eventually I snapped, told him I wasn’t just not interested in any of the three of them, I wasn’t interested in any man. He laughed in my face, asked how I could possibly know that if I hadn’t fucked him yet? He…said he would fuck the gay right out of me. When I said that wasn’t possible he told me I was a worthless bull dyke of a human, that I was a disgrace to the Calhoun name. One of my friends called him a homophobic pig and I threw my drink in his face.” She let out a heavy shaky breath, wiping at her tears, “in hindsight I guess that was a bad idea. If I’d just kept my cool and walked away this probably never would have happened.”

“Rita…�� you shifted slightly, softly cupping her cheek in your hand as your thumb stroked at her cheek, “you can’t blame yourself…”

“It’s pretty easy to.” She admitted, dropping her gaze from yours. You leant in, kissing her forehead softly.

“Gallagher’s a grade a sex offender who got away with it because of his white rich privilege. You were far from his first victim, and far from his last.”

“I know…”

Your heart broke at the utter despair in her voice, written in her eyes as her hands trembled in yours, you couldn’t help the few tears that managed to escape over your cheeks.

“You wanna put a pin in this? Come back to it later?” You asked softly, squeezing at her hand and she shook her head.

“Rather get it all out now.”

“Okay.” You kissed her temple softly, encouraging her back into your side, knowing she’d be more comfortable without your gaze on her while she spilled her secrets. She sighed heavily, wiping at her face again before linking her fingers in yours, trying to ground herself back into the moment, knowing that you were by her side, that you had her back and she was safe.

“I went outside to calm down…I was debating leaving. Chip must’ve followed me out with those two juniors, he was beyond furious, said he’d make me pay for embarrassing him at his own party. I told him to fuck off, tried to get back in the house but it was three on one…” she choked over a cry and you held her tighter to you, your own tears sliding over your cheeks. “I think my arm broke while I was trying to get away…I’m not even really sure…”

“Gallagher instigated it right?” You whispered and you felt her nod.

“He had the other boys pin me down…said…he’d show them how to properly fuck me then give them a chance, and it would count as their cherry. Even joked that they would get bonus points because I was a dyke…they were all pretty rough…but Gallagher…he was violent…every time I tried to scream, started to cry…he’d just hit harder…they would choke me, cover my mouth…eventually I just gave up…tried to cry silently so they wouldn’t break another bone.”

“I’m so sorry…” your other hand came around, cupping her closer to you, tears freely flowing down your face now, your pain increasing as Rita began to sob against you.

“I’ve never been in so much pain…they just used me for their own benefit, then left me on the dirty floor sobbing as they laughed and high five’d their way out of there. Proud of what they’d done. I’m sure Chip was bragging about it the moment he went back in the house.”

Rita let out another shaky breath, the hand she had squeezing yours loosened its grip slightly and you took that as the sign that she was done with the story. You held her for a moment, letting her try to gain her bearings before you spoke again.

“And then they blackmailed you with the pictures to not tell anyone what really happened?”

Her head shot up off your shoulder, red rimmed eyes staring back at you, her voice coarse when she spoke again.

“How did you know about those?”

“After I talked to Chip…he must’ve known he was being looked at…he dropped them off with the doorman, who gave them to me the next morning.” Rita’s hand ghosted over the cut on your temple, her lip quivering.

“He did this to you didn’t he?” She whispered and you sighed.

“Yeah.” You glanced up at her, a sheepish look on your face, “I’m afraid I haven’t been entirely truthful with you recently. I’m sorry. I wanted to dig into things, figure part of it out before I told you that I knew. I figured you wouldn’t want me looking into it at all.”

“What happened?”

“I met with some of the other girls that were under Gallagher, Richard and Jonathon, talked with them, looked at criminal records. Then I met up with Chip, I was trying to get anything out of him—not about you! I never once brought up your name…I just wanted more. Some legal jargon slipped out and he thought I was a lawyer digging up Dowland history, threw me against a wall, told me to back off. I…stayed at Carisi’s that night, discovered the photos in the morning…but we talked to Jonathon and Richard today, we’ve got affidavits from both of them and they’re willing to testify against Chip.”

“We?” She winced.

“Sonny and I.”

“Oh god…does the whole squad know?”

“No baby…” you rubbed at her arm soothingly, “Carisi put it together himself…but he’s seen the pictures…heard the boys stories…”

“Great…” she wiped away another tear as she rolled her eyes.

“Why didn’t you tell my Mom? You know she would’ve eviscerated those boys.”

Rita let out a heavy breath, her shoulders sagging, distracting herself by playing with your hand for a moment.

“Your Mom has always been one of the strongest, most powerful women that I’ve known. I didn’t want her to …see me as a victim. I thought she would think less of me because I let this happen to myself….I looked up to her, she had everything I wanted to have when I ‘grew up’. That’s why I stayed in the city until most of the bruises had healed.”

“She would never think less of you. She was working sex crimes at that point, she would’ve understood completely.” You stroked at the side of her face softly.

“Do…you…think less of me?”

“God no!” Your other hand moved up to cup her other cheek, “baby…I love you…all of you…no matter what. I’ve never once thought less of you and I never could.”

“Thank you.” Rita muttered, the tiniest of smiles on her cheeks. Your arms wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her into a hug that she returned just as tightly.

“I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me.”

“Good.”

You felt her arms slack and you pulled away softly, pushing back a tendril of hair off her face.

“Did…he ever do it again?” You winced slightly as you asked. Rita huffed, but shook her head.

“No. Thank God. I was terrified he was going to end up at Harvard with me but he stayed in the city. Not that working in the same courtroom was ever easy…”

“Did he have something to do with why you transferred to defence?”

“Technically…yes…” she felt the tears invading her eyes again, “I just couldn’t do it.” She grasped at your hand again and you ran your thumb over her knuckles. “I tried…I asked to be transferred out of SVU but there weren’t anyopenings. I couldn’t keep looking at all these pictures of beaten and raped girls, hearing their stories that were so similar to my own, I never felt like I was strong enough to fight for them. I mean…how could I be when I wasn’t even strong enough to fight for myself?”

“Baby…”

“I caught a case…Tara Haney…she was a sophomore in high school…ended up at a school party, was brutally gang raped by three senior boys. I felt like I was seventeen again looking at myself. I was broken enough….and then fucking Gallagher turned up as defence for all three boys. When I lost the case…god I’ll never forget the terror, the shame, anger on Tara’s face. She was humiliated in coming forward, her friends turned against her, saying she was just trying to cover up being a slut. Gallagher gloated his way through press and I…I started to spiral.”

You could feel your heart breaking with each word that she spoke, knowing that you’d been around for all of this and had no idea that it was going on made your chest ache. You wished there could have been a way for you to help Rita then, and wondered how much you could do now.

“I thought about quitting law entirely…running off somewhere, doing something completely different. But I knew that just wasn’t me. I asked again for a transfer but they wanted to keep me in the department, said I would find my footing again and be fine. I knew your Mom had been bureau chief over the department, I went to her for help trying to figure it out. She was the one that convinced me to switch sides, said it would be a waste of a brilliant mind if I quit law, I was better than running, and the D.A’s office wasn’t even using me to my full potential.”

“Is it…easier?”

“Yeah…” she shrugged, “I mean now it’s my job to prove that these guys are innocent. I don’t have to spend hours digging into photos, talking to victims, I’m able to paint them as just a false accuser, it’s my job to prove them wrong. They’re just another figure sitting in that box, not a victim. I dunno if that makes sense.”

“It does…” you squeezed at her hand.

“Thankfully my client list doesn’t always bring me into SVU, there’s cases spread across departments…but God…I was horrified when Laura came to me about Abby…Barba was still furious with me about the Rudnick trial he would barely listen to me when I kept hinting about the school. I couldn’t exactly come out and say I knew about the club without him finding out about what happened. I was so angry to know it was still happening…”

“You did what you could for Abby, and I know she thanks you for it, even if she was a little annoyed at the time.”

“It just…brought back so many fucking horrible memories.”

“I’m so sorry…”

Rita squeezed your hand, smiling across at you this time,

“You knew something was up…you just didn’t pry. You took incredible care of me, you always have.”

“Was that when you demanded I use my vacation days and whisked me off to Paris to propose?” You asked and Rita chuckled fondly at the memory.

“Yes. You were the light that my life needed, especially in a time of darkness, and I knew right then that I never wanted to let that go. I didn’t want to go another day without knowing you’d be by my side for life.”

“Rita…now you’re gonna make me cry for completely different reasons.”

“You’ve always been a sap.” She teased, leaning back against your shoulder, “it’s a wonder you’re Elizabeth Donnelly’s daughter.” You snorted out a laugh, leaving a kiss on the top of her head. Rita’s gentle sigh brought you a little bit of peace, knowing that she was feeling a little bit better as the two of you watched the sun sink into the horizon.

Rita did feel like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She’d been keeping this secret for thirty years, no one had ever found out, she’d never even so much as mentioned it to anyone aside from a very vague comment to Benson after the Gallagher case. Maybe a part of her was hoping that Olivia would read into it, understand what her words meant and start asking questions.

She’d been triggered again when he bird dogged the original case of hers as a Judge, but having him show up at her office blackmailing her into representing him sent her into such a panic she had to leave the office early. When she got home she remembered you were undercover, deep enough that she couldn’t contact you, the anxiety coursing through her making her lose the contents of her lunch and left her shaking for hours. She’d barely made it through the case, badgering and attacking the women who did come forward meanwhile she was the same as them, if not worse. It was as if she put on this hard shell of skin, if she really came off as evil and jaded this time, it would help her mental state. She’d never expected Carisi to win, though that had been the Judge’s call, but knowing Chip was going away, even for simply a year, made relief shoot through her veins.

Rita reached out, picking up the burger you’d previously offered her, realizing now just how hungry she was. You pressed a kiss to her head before you spoke,

“What’d’ya say I use up a personal day tomorrow and we go up to the Hamptons? Spend the weekend up there?”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. No work. Just us. I know how much the ocean calms you….”

“You’re in the middle of a pretty big case…”

“It can wait.” You kissed her forehead gently, “besides, I think my eyes are going crossed from staring at yearbooks all day everyday.”

“I’d really like that.” She snuggled deeper into your shoulder, crumpling the burger wrapper and tossing it back to the table, “thank you for bringing dinner.”

“Of course.” She let out a heavy sigh and your head tilted to look down at her, “what?”

“You need me to come make a statement don’t you?”

“Yeah…” you sighed, “it can wait til Monday, but having your testimony will give us leverage when it comes to flipping Chip. He knows who originated the club I just couldn’t get it out of him. Between your account and Richard and Jonathon’s testimonies I’d think he’ll be willing to deal.”

“And what? He just gets to walk?” She glanced up at you and you could see the shimmer of hurt in her eyes.

“Fuck no!” You replied, “we can get him for assaulting a police officer, blackmailing…what’s the fancy word for that? Extortion?”

“Coercion.” She mumbled.

“Not to mention you’re a witness now….witness intimidation and witness tampering, right?”

“Yeah.” She nodded, quickly doing the math in her head, “a max sentence of thirty years should flip him.”

“Hell. I’ll see what I can do to get the Judge from his last trial to pick up a day of arraignments, see what she has to say about it.”

“Thank you.”

“Baby…” you shifted, tilting her head up to you as you cupped her cheek in your palm, “I will do everything in my power to protect you. I always will. I want you safe. I want you happy. I want you healthy…physically and mentally.” You pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, “I know this is hard for you, how scary it must be, and I want you to know that I am here for you…every single step of the way. And I know it’s not going to end just because a trial happened, or Gallagher goes back to jail. You always have been and always will be my number one priority and that is never going to change.”

“What if I can’t do this?” She whispered and you stroked at her cheek.

“You can. Believe me. You are one of the fiercest, strongest women I know, and nothing changes that, understood?” She nodded weakly, “I’ll do everything I can to keep this from actually going to trial, but it comes down to Carisi and whoever ends up representing Gallagher and Dowland.”

“What’re we going to do about that? I can’t exactly drop Gallagher as a client without him knowing something’s up.”

“I’ll take care of it. I promise.” You leant in, kissing her gently, “you let me know when you’re ready to go and make your statement. I’ll come in with you, as your wife, not a cop. I’m here for whatever you need baby.”

“Thank you.” She murmured, squeezing at your hand once again.

“I know you want as few people to find out about this as possible, but would you be okay talking to George a couple of times? He does free sessions for me all the time. He’d do house calls if you want. Or I could set something up with the therapist we send people to? If you’d prefer someone you don’t know?”

“No..Huang is fine. Just…give me a few days.”

“I will.” You kissed the tip of her nose, “this is all at your own pace sweetheart, I’m not going to force you into doing anything, okay? I just want you to be able to process this, move through it and come out remembering that you’re stronger than what haunts your past.”

“I don’t know what I would do without you.” She muttered, her eyes watering yet again, but for a completely different reason this time as she pulled you into a tight hug. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” You left a kiss on her shoulder, your arms staying tightly wrapped around her body, “thank you…for telling me…for feeling comfortable enough to open up to me.”

“I’m only sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.”

“Don’t be.” You squeezed at her frame gently, “you deserve to be able to live life at your own pace.”

Rita gave you a soft smile, stroking at your cheek in admiration, wondering how on earth she’d gotten so lucky to have someone like you by her side. It was a moment later when you spoke again.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Did….I…ever hurt you? Or push you passed a limit?”

“No, darling no!” She immediately replied, concern on her features as she cupped your cheek again, “that’s half the reason we set the safe word in the first place.”

“What about when you used it?” You winced, glancing up at her.

“You did exactly what you should have…” she admitted, her gaze dropping to your hands, “you stopped. You made sure I was okay. I just…everything seemed to be crumbling down around me, it was one thing after the other that reminded me of what happened.”

“I’m sorry…”

“You don’t need to be. It wasn’t your fault. I wanted you, time with you, I usually feel so much better with you around, it was just…too much all at once.”

“You promise?”

“Yes.” She tugged your hand up, leaving a kiss on the back of it.

“Okay.” You sighed, glancing around the patio, “What’d’you say to a nice bath? Use one of those bath bombs Alex gave us, then watch the stupidest comedy we can find on Netflix.”

“I’d like that.” She sighed, but smiled at you as you tugged her to her feet, wrapping her in a proper hug now that you were standing. “Thank you for being here for me.”

“Baby…always. You’re my everything.”

You pressed a soft kiss into her cheek, letting your hand trail down her arm before linking with her fingers and leading her inside. You set up the bathroom with candles, a steaming bath and the IPad propped up to start the movie. Snuggling Rita into your arms under the water, you peppered her with kisses, happy to see her distracted and laughing at the movie you’d decided on.

Once the water was cooled you wrapped her in her coziest pyjamas, continuing the movie on the t.v in the bedroom with her curled in your arms in bed. She was out before you knew it, you weren’t sure if it was the relaxing of the bath, or the weed taking on a longer effect, but you still held her tight, pulling her to you to remind her that even in sleep, she was safe, protected, and you would always be watching out for her.

________ @bisexualcrowley @natasha-danvers @ineedafinghug @veteranwerewolf95 @billiedeannovak @stardust-galaxies @laurenhope13 @randomthingssss @imlike-so-gaydude @wannabe-fic-reader @gaylorrds @infiniteoddball @thatesqcrush @altsvu @disneyfan624 @svulife-rl @svushots @gay-ass-bitch @lesbianspacecowboy @delphineecormierr @venablemayfairgoode @whimsicallymad @mysticfalls01 @oliviaswifey @thatgaygiraffesquirrelgirl @swimmingstudentchaos891 @1000spices @screenee @nocreditinthestraightworld @beccabarba @redlipstickandplaid @cmmndrwidw @bumblebear30 @enduringalexblake @denpine14 @molllss @wosoimagines @lawandorderimagines @infernumlilith @yourtaletotell @australiancarisi @cerberus-spectre @whispered-tear-drops @snowsgay19 @michael-rooker @jj-arms @emskisworld @prettypyschoinpink @newyorker14 @wandas-wife

[needsmoresleepwrites]

Gift for Daiyanerd: Miyuki Kazuya. Always cool and collected. Has a great side profile. Good at baseball. Well, no, great is the correct word. (sofa’21)

Moratorium

Read on Ao3

ONE

Miyuki Kazuya

Always cool and collected. Has a great side profile. Good at baseball. Well, no, great is the correct word. Even when he sometimes messes up some of the smaller plays. Reliable. Daring. Funny. Charming. Has probably had a dozen girlfriends, or maybe not. Nobody has been able to get any concrete answer on that one question, but he's definitely a lady's man, his fan club primarily consisting of girls and women that claim they would leave their current lives just to marry him if he so much as hinted interest. Or at least that's what many of the magazines, both sports and gossip ones say about him

Not to be too full of himself, but Kazuya thinks that much of what they say has some foundation. Yeah, people like Yoichi and Jun know better but he has to agree that his catching skills are unparalleled. He might also really like sending magazine covers with blown up images of his smiling (smirking) face to Yoichi just to get a scathing reply or an angry call. His only response is his lady killer (annoying) laugh

He knows he's always being watched by someone, but it completely slips his mind that anything could go wrong on that day

The headlines are brutal and he's gotten many messages and calls from his friends. He hasn't really answered because, well, he hasn't been able to. But he knows what they're saying. He's laying at the hospital with bandages covering most of his torso. He has a sense of deja vu, having been in a similar position when he'd been in high school, but this is much, much worse. Something happened and everyone is scrambling to find out what

Everyone except Rei, who has been detained. The tabloids are lapping this up like it's the sip of water they've finally been allowed after being stuck in a desert for months. Except that they're ruining the lives of the people Kazuya loves the most

He sees different news channels trying to get interviews from the few people that make up his friends. They want to know about Rei from high school. They've dug up her whole life's story and put it on full blast. They want to know about Kazuya, as if they haven't already told all there is to say, invented and created his whole career. They talk about how Rei pretty much scouted him from a very young age. The same women that claim they would do anything for Kazuya have turned razer sharp, claiming that "they knew it all along" and that Rei "had it coming"

They all twist the information for entertainment and Kazuya closes his eyes, disgusted at what they say about her.

There had been an accident. His car had been hit and he knows he needed surgery. Later they found out it was all a setup and he went from being one of the richest people and baseball players in Japan to having nothing. His career may as well be over. It will take too long for him to recover. Games won't wait.

Kazuya throws the remote in his hand and wants to tell them all its lies. He knows Rei would never do something like this. She's smart. It doesn't make sense. As much as Rei will follow a gut instinct, especially if it's about recruiting potential, it's always based on logic. There is no logic here.

His name flashes on multiple headlines and all he wants to scream is no, I didn't she say she stole my money!

The machines connected to his body have been beeping for a while now and finally, nurses and doctors run in. They try to get him to calm down but all he can do is repeat It wasn't her! It wasn't her! Rei would never! Tell them to stop!

Soon he feels drowsy and he realizes he's been sedated.

Before he closes his eyes he sees a picture of Rei next to the news anchor. Her hair is down, her eyes look haunted, but her posture is proud. She's not in her usual suit. Instead, she's wearing that dreaded green top, almost drowning her, making her pale skin paler. She doesn't look right. It's not the Rei he knows. The Rei he owes everything to.

He feels the tears burn his eyes.

----

TWO.

It takes a little over a year for things to "settle" down, but once the storm is over, everything is ruined.

Kazuya still manages to get his face blown up on magazine covers, but this time it's for a different reason. He's now considered a victim and he hates the images of him being wheeled out of the hospital. Of the tabloids somehow getting a shot of his bloodshot eyes, his pale skin, and his hunched shoulders. He wishes his attorney had allowed Kazuya to do something, but everything was too precarious, we have to be careful. Careful of what? He can no longer play baseball. He was already pushing the age of acceptability, only being allowed to continue contracts because he was so good, was still quick, was dedicated in mind, body, and soul to the game. But now he was injured, would be in rehab, and nobody knew if he'd still be able to move as great as before. Nobody would take that risk

Rei is finally released, but her life is ruined too. Hers is worse than Kazuya's will ever be. Not just because she's the supposed mastermind of the accident and subsequent disappearance of his capital, but because she's a woman. It's made him sick how she's been torn apart and left behind. She had already been forcefully (through great results) making her own space at the table. This was just the excuse to make her disappear. Nobody wanted a criminal as their associate. The label was tarnished and it would take time to rebuild their name. "Apologies" had been passed around, but nobody would take the risk of allowing her space again

Nobody thought to ask her side of the story, to reach out and help. She was alone. Nobody could legally take what she's rightfully earned, but they can pile fines upon fines. She is "free to go" but they have severely limited what she can do.

It only makes sense that she finally retires. Kazuya goes to see her with the Seidou team. He breaks when he finally sees what they've done to her, all in "his name", to "protect him". Rei is strong, logical, smart, but she can't help but allow herself to show a bit of emotion at that moment. She wipes away at Kazuya's face, "There's nothing left for me here and there's no use crying. The only way to go now is forward."

Chris recommends that Kazuya go to the same rehab facility he went to in America.

Kazuya doesn't want to leave. It feels like admitting defeat, like running away, like he's abandoning his friends.

Yoichi grits his teeth, tells Kazuya he wants to punch him for being so stupid, "But hitting an injured person isn't my style, even though it's YOU."

There is little progress on his health, both physical and mental, and then Yoichi, who has been singlehandedly taking care of him whenever he has a moment to spare, nearly begs him, "Kazuya, please. Go. Don't let this defeat you. I don't want to admit it but I miss seeing that stupidly smug look on your face. Remember what Rei said. You have to keep moving forward!"

He can't help but laugh one night when he can't sleep, Yoichi's words and his concerned face plaguing his mind. He can't believe he almost let this defeat him. He can't believe he was down enough to force his best friend to make such a face, to make him cry for his sake. He feels like he's let everyone down, especially Rei.

He calls Chris a few days later.

Before leaving, he logs into his Twitter account, which, like any other media source, he's been avoiding for the past year. Someone has obviously logged in and cleared his notifications and as his last stand, no first, because even now "they have to be careful", Kazuya quote RTs an article he hasn't even read, but he doesn't need to. He chooses it because it has one of those headlines. He presses send and logs out.

I NEVER said she stole my money.

----

THREE.

It's two years when he finally comes back to Japan. His rehab had ended months ago but there was a part of him that had been afraid to come back. He's sure Yoichi had sensed it, which is why he'd pretty much dragged him back.

He remembers the conversation they had. It had been really late in Japan, he's sure that Yoichi was on the verge of passing out, could hear every yawn he tried to hide, but he wouldn't let Kazuya hang up, "I'm not hanging up until you agree."

Kazuya sighs, "There's nothing for me to do out there anyway. Here, I've been helping at the hospital."

"But you don't even like that kind of stuff! I bet you're bored out of your mind," Yoichi countered, and Kazuya has to admit that he's not exactly wrong. He misses the excitement from the diamond, feeling the burn on his thighs as he squats behind the batter, signaling different plays to his catchers, the feel of the ball as it lands perfectly in his gloved palm, the roar of the crowd as they once more strikeout another enemy batter. But he can't have any of that. This year Kazuya turns 30 and he has become stiff. He can't move as dexterously as before.

He hears some shuffling on the other end, as if Yoichi is changing positions on his bed, "Look. Not many people know this but...this is actually my last year playing."

Kazuya freezes at that. He knows Yoichi is still keeping up with his own records, has won his team countless matches for his boldness, knows they would never want to let him go. He briefly fears that maybe an injury is involved but shakes his head. No, Yoichi would tell him if that's the case, so then, "Why?"

"That's why I called and I need you to come back," there's another pause, not long, "I'm getting married."

Kazuya blanks out for a moment and then stops what he's doing altogether (he turns off the stove, he'd been making breakfast but this is more important. Besides, he had almost been done), "Married? Did you kidnap some poor girl? I haven't even heard of you dating."

"KAZUYA," he hears Yoichi yell, "I didn't kidnap anyone! And that's because my PR team has been making sure to keep things tightly sealed, and I guess we also haven't been able to see each other much too." That last part is mumbled but Kazuya catches it anyway.

Kazuya hums, still disbelieving, but only slightly. He knows Yoichi wouldn't kid about something like this so if he says he's getting married, he's getting married, "Congratulations then. Not sure how someone found you husband material, but they do say there's a type for everyone. How'd you meet her?"

"You are such a dick," Yoichi hisses, "How are we still even friends?"

Kazuya sometimes wonders the same thing. Yoichi has been with him at his best and worst and has never given up on him. He laughs, "My great personality?"

Yoichi snorts right before laughing, "Yeah right. Anyway, so I met this guy-"

"A husband?" Kazuya cuts him off, genuinely curious, but also can't help but tease, "You hid it so well with all those magazines. I'm sure nobody suspected. No wonder your team is doing such a great job at hiding this."

Yoichi yells into the phone, "Let me finish asshole! No! It's not a guy, her name is Wakana! And she's the childhood friend of this guy I met!"

Kazuya makes a tsk noise, "Yoichi, did you steal her from this guy? Are you a homewrecker?"

Instead of getting mad, Yoichi snorts, "As if. Can you believe Wakana was actually in love with Sawamoron for years and he didn't realize."

Kazuya adds, "So you seduced her?" before Yoichi can continue with the story.

"No? I mean, I'm not sure," but they both know that Yoichi probably couldn't seduce anyone even if he tried. Charmed, yes, but outright seduce? And a girl he liked? Very unlikely, "But she'd been tired of waiting and so I met her after she'd confessed and he rejected her."

"Hmm," Kazuya interrupts again, "So you took advantage when she was down. That makes more sense. She was probably so down about being rejected she would have said yes to anyone. Sadly that someone was you."

Yoichi is flabbergasted, "Take advantage?! MIYUKI, that's not- I'd never - just let me finish!"

Kazuya laughs, "Ok, ok. So how did you meet her? I won't interrupt again."

Just like that, Yoichi calms down and Kazuya notes the happiness in his voice as he laughs, not at Kazuya, but at something, the memory perhaps, and Kazuya is slightly jealous. He's not sure at what or who.

"So this kid, Sawamura, we were going to meet up at the park. He had something to tell me, but then I see him running after this girl, yelling about money or something. So I cut her off-"

Kazuya can't help but laugh, "Y-Yoichi, did you, did you attack the poor girl?"

"Didn't you say you weren't going to interrupt?!" Yoichi screeches, but he starts laughing a bit too, "And no, I didn't attack her but, well..."

There's a groan on the other end and Kazuya can imagine his best friend blushing to the tips of his ears, "I pulled her by the arm and she was surprised, but then she did something and next thing I know I'm on the ground, looking up at her and Sawamura is laughing like he's seen the most hilarious thing ever!"

He wonders if that kid was laughing as hard as he is now. He feels the tears tickling his eyes, his cheeks hurt, and he feels the force of his laugh pulling on his stomach, "I already like the girl. What happened next?"

Yoichi lets him laugh but his voice is annoyed, not at him he notes, but at what happens next, "So Sawamoron comes up finally and he knows the girl and I'm confused and just got thrown to the ground by a girl that doesn't even reach my chin, and I ask him why he was yelling about a thief, because that's what he was doing."

More shifting on Yoichi's end, "And you know what he said to me?"

"What?"

"He goes "I never said she stole my money!" so I knock him over the head because yeah, he's right, he was YELLING IT. Everyone in the goddamn park heard it! Made him buy me dinner and everything."

Kazuya feels a lump in his throat but pushes it aside, he turns the stove on again to finish preparing his breakfast, "I guess for Wakana I can go back. When's the wedding? And will I be your best man?"

----

FOUR.

Kazuya hasn't even been home a month when Yoichi walks into his apartment with their old Seidou team. Everyone seems to be there, even the first years like Ryo's little brother and Furuya. There really isn't anything Kazuya can do but move aside so that everyone can come inside. At the end of the group, right after the first years enter, he spots someone he doesn't know. A kid with unruly brown hair, brown eyes, and tanned skin who looks slightly nervous. His posture is too stiff but he's also looking around curiously.

Yoichi notices Kazuya looking at him and comes over for introductions. He pulls the kid into a side hug, "Kazuya, this is Sawamura, Wakana's friend."

Kazuya looks him over. He's heard a few things about him from Yoichi, "So this is Sawamoron?" he teases. He can't help the lift of his lips as the kid splutters in indignation.

A high pitched, "Kuramochi-senpai! You can't call me that anymore, we're practically family now!"

Yoichi howls, slapping the kid on the back, "You're always going to be a moron Sawamura, hyahaha!"

Sawamura grits his teeth for a second before standing up straight, stretching out his hand towards Kazuya, "Good afternoon, It's a pleasure to meet you! My name is Sawamura Eijun! Thank you for inviting me!!"

Kazuya looks at the outstretched hand for a moment before he doubles over laughing. Sawamura let's out another unidentified sound before yelling, "That's so rude Miyuki Kazuya!!" but he hasn't dropped his arm.

Kazuya takes a breath, isn't surprised he knows his name (briefly wonders if he knows who he is), right before taking that tanned hand into his own. Sawamura's hold is firm, if a bit sweaty, nerves probably, "Well, as you so clearly let my neighbors know, my name is Miyuki Kazuya." He pauses, "And I didn't invite you."

Sawamura pales slightly, looks over to Yoichi who just makes a rude noise, "Really Kazuya? You have to be a dick right off the bat?"

Kazuya only smiles brightly, finally letting go of the kid's hand, looks around his house, and says, "Actually, I didn't invite any of you over. Why are you all here?"

The others have already settled into his kitchen and, he peers through the doorway, there are bottles of coke and beer and the smell of oily pizza in the air. Jun has already made himself at home on his couch, a paper plate with a pizza on it. He's halfway into that slice and Kazuya doesn't know why Jun didn't just take an extra slice or two with him before settling down. Ryo and Haruichi are putting things in his fridge. He realizes now how empty his fridge must have been. He had been meaning to go grocery shopping but he supposes he hadn't had the energy to go. Kanemaru is clearing up some of the boxes he had yet to unbox, reading the labels Chris had helped him write, and arranging them accordingly.

He knows that many of these guys are still part of the leagues, wonders how they managed to take a moment to raid his home (notices a few faces are missing, like Yuki but he would have been REALLY surprised if they'd managed to get him to come over). He remembers how they'd made it a routine to visit him when they were at Seidou, knowing he could get lost in strategizing and numbers quickly. He feels a penetrating gaze and turns to see the new kid watching him intently. Kazuya can't help the grin that grows on his face and it's finally starting to feel like home.

He motions the two in, "Well, you may as well come in. Everyone is already inside. Feel free to raid my fridge and make a mess in my new kitchen."

Yoichi laughs, pulling Sawamura inside with him. The kid still looks slightly off-balance, but he sits next to the first years like he belongs and he wonders why this picture looks so right.

Yoichi dives in for the last slice of pepperoni pizza just as Sawamura is about to reach for it and then loudly exclaims, "Hey Kazuya, wanna hear something funny?"

Kazuya has already grabbed his own plate and he wonders how he missed all of these pizza boxes when they first came inside. He grabs one with sausage and mushroom, "Hm?"

"So while we were getting the pizza, we sent Sawamura to go get the drinks, right?"

Sawamura, who had just taken a drink from his can of soda, instantly spits it out and Kazuya is both intrigued and disgusted as he sees the drink mixed with spit cover his table, "Kuramochi-senpai, don't!"

He sees Kanemaru chuckling and Jun roars from the living room. Apparently, there were many witnesses to this apparently funny story. Haruichi pats Sawamura's back softly while the kid's face glows red. Kazuya is momentarily worried he might faint but then curiosity wins out, "Oh?"

Yoichi and he share a look, "Get this, we all gave him our share, right? So he goes in and comes back all mad, saying we didn't give him the right amount, but then, but then," It seems the rest of it is too funny for Yoichi to continue because he starts laughing and he notices Sawamura cover his face. He mumbles something but Kazuya doesn't catch it.

Ryo helps him out. He's also amused, a smirk on his face, "The girl stole his change."

Sawamura uncovers his face and yells, "I never said she stole my money!"

There's a moment of silence before...

Jun. He'd come back into the kitchen to get more pizza, "Who else could it have been? Had to be the girl at the counter, or did you just give up your money?"

Kuramochi, "Easy prey, how you're even a teacher is beyond me."

Kanemaru, "Wait. So it wasn't the cashier?"

Even Kazuya can't help but ask, laughter tickling his words, "Emphasis on "she"?"

Sawamura seems to realize his error and covers his face again. He's mumbling again but instead of being annoyed by the bad habit, Kazuya thinks it's almost cute.

"Haruichi?" Ryo questions and Sawamura uncovers his face to yell, "Onii-san! That's not fair! Haruichi you can't tell, you promised!"

Haruichi is looking back and forth between them, "Well..."

Then Furuya explains all, "He was flirting with the delivery guy."

It somehow gets even louder inside his house and Kazuya can't believe he thought of not returning. It's true that his baseball career is over, but this is where his family is at. This is where his life is truly at. He laughs until the tears in his eyes fall.

They spend hours getting him up to speed on gossip.

----

FIVE.

Even though he's only known Sawamura for a few days, maybe weeks, he's the one that keeps Kazuya company the most. And there's a big reason for that named Kuramochi Yoichi. Even though, or perhaps because, it's nearing the end of his contract, Yoichi gets busier. There are some rumors as to why he's finally leaving baseball, but just like he'd told Kazuya, everything is still under wraps. There are no incriminating photos and no face to put to those rumors jealous girls spread online. Kazuya wonders how things will turn out once Yoichi fesses up but until then, Sawamura becomes his shadow

One, he's not bound to such a strenuous schedule (Yoichi told him Sawamura is the grade school teacher at one of the local schools not far from Kazuya's new place. His new house is conveniently placed so close because it will soon be Kazuya's new workplace and they just happen to be on break now), and second...well, Kazuya's not sure. Yoichi didn't want to tell him. Not exactly

He remembers the last time he actually met up with his best friend.

Yoichi had invited him over for dinner and Sawamura had come up somehow (Kazuya comes to realize that Sawamura comes up in their lives very often). Yoichi had been contemplative. They'd just finished watching a movie and were just sitting there in the dark, the credits rolling.

"You know. If Sawamura had actually been interested in Wakana...I don't think I'd have ever had a chance with her. There's just something about him...he's so..." Yoichi makes vague hand movements, "you know?"

Kazuya laughs and wonders if this is what best men have to deal with with their to-be grooms. Jitters, he's heard them called, but he was sure this feeling was supposed to happen days before the wedding, not so far ahead when there wasn't even a date finalized, "Already second-guessing the married life?"

Yoichi doesn't even take the bait. He just sighs and leans back on the couch, "No, I'm serious. There's just something about Sawamura, he's so honest and hardworking. I can see why Wakana liked him."

"Careful, or I might start to think you actually want to marry Sawamura instead."

Yoichi kicks him halfheartedly, "Dumbass."

Their feet are still touching and Yoichi nudges him, "He's a good kid you know."

Kazuya leans out to grab his drink from the low table, takes a sip, "He does seem like it. Although he's a bit..." He tries to find the right word. Dense? Airheaded? No..."innocent?"

Yoichi laughs, "Yes! The stories I could tell you."

It gets quiet and Kazuya enjoys it. It's been years since the two of them have done something like this.

Yoichi breaks the silence again, "You know...Rei actually tried scouting him."

Kazuya takes another swig of his drink, deep, and tries to wash away the feelings of guilt. He hasn't spoken to Rei since the incident. Hasn't really asked about her although he knows she's ok, thanks to Chris

But he's curious now. If Rei had been interested in him then he was undoubtedly good talent, "What happened?"

Yoichi scoffs, "The idiot turned her down! Said he didn't need any fancy schools to play baseball."

Kazuya can't help the snort he lets out into his drink. He hasn't known Sawamura long but he can somehow imagine the face he'd make, how loud he would yell that statement with conviction, "Too bad." He's sure Sawamura could have been someone if he'd come to Seidou and he somehow feels cheated of something

"What position?"

"Pitcher, a southpaw, nasty throw," Yoichi grips his cup tightly. He looks over at him, "He's not a professional but he does still play."

It's a subtle nudge that Kazuya ignores.

Which is probably why he finds Sawamura so often on his doorstep.

Today he's managed to wrangle Kazuya out of his house, but only because it's work-related. The summer heat isn't terrible today so the two decide to walk and even though it's not that far, Kazuya finds himself lightly perspiring. Perhaps he's let himself go more than he thought, and he begins planning a timetable to get his fitness in a better state. Meanwhile, Sawamura is all smiles

"Hurry up Miyuki Kazuya!" He's already at the side door, opening it with his staff key, and Kazuya wonders if they should even be here. There are hardly any cars parked outside and the school is obviously void of children. Classes don't start until next week

"You don't have to call me by my full name," Kazuya tells him as he enters the building. Sawamura slides past him after closing the door, making sure it locks properly, "You can call me Miyuki-senpai."

"What?!" Sawamura's voice echoes in the hallway, "Why should I call you that?!"

"Because you're younger," he pats Sawamura's head and grins, "And smaller."

He slaps his hand away, a blush on his face, "I'm not small! And you're not even that much taller!!"

He stands closer to Kazuya and points at the few centimeters difference between them. Kazuya pushes him back, "Miyuki-senpai."

Sawamura just rolls his eyes and continues walking, "You really do have a terrible personality Miyuki Kazuya!"

Kazuya just laughs, "Thanks!"

"Not a compliment!" Sawamura yells and then points to the rooms in the hall they're in, "I'm usually here with the kids. Since the school isn't that big you'll probably get kids as young as eight and as old as thirteen in your class too, since you're the only gym teacher until Kuramochi-senpai gets married."

Kazuya nods, "Ok, Sawamura...sensei."

Kazuya notes how easy it is to rile up Sawamura. How his face will quickly turn red and his lips will form pouts or grimaces, his body reacting so honestly so quickly. Now he brings up his hands to cover his ears as he yells, "Don't call me that!!"

"Then stop calling me by my full name, it's weird."

"MIYUKI KA-"

Kazuya somehow manages to raise his voice enough to speak over Sawamura, "So Sawamura-sensei, where do the kids go out to play? Sensei?"

Sawamura looks like he's about to burst and goes off yelling. Miyuki follows him, laughing, their voices echoing in tandem

They end up outside behind the school somewhere. Even though it's small, Kazuya is impressed by how well maintained it is. There is a small playground to the side, which has been recently repainted, signs marking the walls and tape clearly discouraging anyone from touching. The mats at the bottom look worn but not in bad shape. Then there is a track that circles what looks like enough field to be a neighborhood. Most of it is empty and Sawamura's talking about how sometimes the kids will go out there and play soccer or volleyball or really whatever sports they need that requires a lot of space. The only place that looks like it truly has a defined purpose is the baseball field.

He feels excited and scared at the same time, wants to run to home plate, to feel the dirt path against his feet, crouch, and take in the view. But he also thinks this is a bad idea. Maybe he shouldn't have come here, shouldn't have accepted the job. He knows why they want him, why they're willing to wait a year for Yoichi to come and teach. He's not sure if he can take the pressure

"Miyuki-senpai," he turns to Sawamura, who is pouting.

He's not sure why he feels himself calm down, perhaps it's because he'll take any distraction, even if it's loud Sawamura, or maybe it's because Sawamura looks ridiculous with his cheeks puffed out and his eyebrows scrunched up between his eyes. Kazuya smiles. It hurts a bit to do so, "Is this all just for the little gremlins? Lucky them, I didn't have something so big at my disposal when I was at school."

Sawamura suddenly inflates as he grins, "Yeah me neither! I'm from the countryside from a school even smaller than this! Wakana and I had to go to the other side of town with our friends if we wanted to play baseball. That's sort of what it's like here too. We share with some of the other schools and really anyone is welcome to come here as long as the kids aren't out playing."

"Wakana, huh," Kazuya notes. He hasn't actually met the bride-to-be yet, "Is she in the habit of taking people's money?"

Sawamura looks confused and perhaps a bit upset, "What?"

Kazuya only smirks, "I heard how Yoichi met her."

Understanding fills his eyes and he groans, "I keep telling Kuramochi-senpai not to tell that story! It's all lies! Lies! Come on, let's go to the gym, your to-be base."

They head back inside and Kazuya feels the smile that spreads on his face is lighter, amused. It's relaxing being with Sawamura, "So what, she wasn't stealing your money?"

"No!" Sawamura defends, "I never said she stole my money! It was all a misunderstanding!!"

"So what? She was just borrowing it?" Kazuya pushes and can't help but laugh as Sawamura goes red.

"I-It, my, NO! She just grabbed my wallet!! But she wasn't stealing it!"

----

SIX.

Kazuya hasn't been teaching for long when it's time to prepare for Sports Day and he forgets how tiring it can be. Sawamura is ecstatic the whole week leading up to the moment all the kids are let loose to run and play, and he's not sure how the flow of energy works, who feeds off who, but everyone seems to be ready to burst with enthusiasm by then. Kazuya feels like he's the only one who is burnt out. He's not usually used to so much happening, at least not like this

The school asks him to give an encouraging speech before the event begins, which Sawamura jealously admits had been his job the last two years, but he grins all the same. He encourages him to do his best, just like he does to the children and Kazuya isn't sure if he should be offended or glad when he feels the flat of Sawamura's palm on his back.

By then, Yoichi has finally wrapped things up with his team. He still has a few more interviews scheduled, but he's essentially removed himself (as much as he can) from the public eye. He's announced he's going to get married and has been asked many times about his to-be wife, but just like Kazuya, everyone is kept in the dark. On the few nights Yoichi manages to call him, to check up on him, Kazuya teases that maybe this is the most elaborate plan he's ever seen, that maybe this Wakana girl doesn't even exist

Yoichi just laughs, "What? Is The Great Miyuki Kazuya actually curious?"

Kazuya scoffs, "Of course not, and don't call me that. I can't get Sawamura to stop, I don't want you doing the same. It's so weird."

They talk until they're both ready to pass out but Yoichi tells him he'll be there and that he'll bring Wakana too. There's something strange with the way he says this but it's late, they've both been up for too long, and Kazuya doesn't remember the unease the next day

He doesn't remember until Sports Day, right before it happens.

It's usually a big event with parents and friends and the neighborhood coming by to see all their children perform at their best. This school is slightly different because of its size. It isn't just their kids (as Sawamura likes to say and Kazuya, reluctantly, has started to call his students), but a few students from two or three of the neighboring smaller schools. He's never seen the field so packed with kids. There are also a lot of cameras and flashing and suddenly Kazuya feels uncomfortably warm. This year it's not only locals that are here. He can see various news channels documenting the event and there are probably other labels walking around, trying to figure out what the next scoop will be. Or perhaps they've already been hinting at it but Kazuya has been avoiding all the gossip. He briefly wonders if they're here for him and while this might be slightly true, he's sure they're more likely to be here to catch a glimpse of Yoichi and Wakana

He decides to stick with Sawamura for most of the day.

Sawamura seems to be oblivious to all the attention, focusing on the kids, high-fiving everyone who is going to race, yelling encouragements as they pass him by, and yelling out happily as the kids make the baskets and reach the finish lines. Kazuya tries to show his support as well and Sawamura drags him from one event to the next. The parents love him as much as the children do. He briefly wonders if Sawamura will have any voice left for the next day

It's around the time the kids finally get their break for lunch (and that Sawamura pulls him over to an empty patch of grass so that they can finally rest as well, how Kazuya was able to crouch for hours on end before is almost a mystery to him now, he really HAS let himself go) that he starts to hear them

"I didn't say she stole MY money. Did you really not know?" "Is she REALLY here? "The NERVE of her." "We should tell the principal to kick her out. Where is she?"

Everything starts to go quiet as Kazuya looks around. There are too many people around, but he manages to find her by the fence behind the diamond. She's looking right at him and Kazuya feels himself stop breathing for a moment. He isn't sure what he was expecting but she looks exactly like she did three years ago, except somehow better. Her hair is up in her typical bun, she's wearing a pink button-up with her trademark pencil skirt. There's a small coat hanging off her arm, which is the only sign he has that she plans to stay for the whole of the day's events.

He gets up, ignores Sawamura's confused, "Miyuki-senpai?" and goes to meet her.

He remembers how Yoichi had sounded over the phone the other day and realizes that when he said her, he hadn't meant Wakana, he had meant Rei. She's smiling at him and once they're close enough, she says, "Miyuki Kazuya, it's been a long time, hasn't it?"

"Rei," he all but whispers and he notices people are looking, the cameras are pointing in their direction and he smiles. He's so happy and relieved to see her. He wonders why he hadn't tried contacting her before, where the guilt and fear have gone. He thanks Yoichi, will thank him later as well, for always doing things like this for him, I'm the worst friend, aren't I? He can already see Yoichi's annoyed face as he threatens to punch him if he says anything so stupid again. He laughs, "It's been way too long. I'm sorry."

He finally has the chance to really apologize for everything, to offer his support, to ask how she's been doing, and he marvels at how Seidou is truly a family. His old teammates haven't just been trying to get him to move forward, they have also been helping Rei regain a semblance of her old life.

When they part, it turns into a game. They both know how things will go so they are bold, they grin, and take each other's hands in a firm shake.

"I'm sure I'll be seeing you on the field in the future." It's not a question.

"Of course." It's a promise.

At the end of the day, Sawamura and he are the last to leave the school since Sawamura offered to stay and clean up (and with him Kazuya). The sun is already on the verge of setting and Kazuya can't wait to take a bath and then crawl into bed. He doesn't want to wake up until a week from now.

As they're walking home (or really walking to his house because even now, he's never really asked where Sawamura lives, he imagines not far), Kazuya notices how quiet Sawamura is. He bumps his side with his shoulder, "Lost your voice with all that yelling?"

Sawamura looks over at him and shakes his head. Kazuya is momentarily mesmerized by this side of Sawamura. Quiet, almost shy. He's not pouting or angry, his features calm, slightly sharp on his handsome face. The remaining rays of the sun make his eyes look slightly gold and Kazuya wonders why he's suddenly noticing these things, "What's wrong then?"

The temperature had dropped enough that they were now comfortably wearing jerseys. Sawamura mumbles into the collar of his jersey and Kazuya is annoyed, but only slightly. It's that bad habit of Sawamura's and he wonders if he could tease those mumbled words out of him, is about to do that when Sawamura stops walking, closes his eyes, and yells out, "Do you like Miss Rei?!"

Kazuya is left speechless. At least that answers his other teasing question. Sawamura is as loud as always, "What?"

Sawamura opens his eyes, he's blushing and he can't seem to look him in the eye, "Well, there were those rumors...and then today...I mean, she's really pretty and just..." He goes quiet.

There's a lot here he wants to clear up, but he figures he should start with Sawamura's question, "No. At least, not really."

There's a question in those golden-brown eyes and Kazuya continues to explain, "I'm sure everyone on the baseball team liked her at one point. We were all teenagers and she's a really attractive woman, but that's it. Rei...she scouted me, believed that I could go far, pushed me, pretty much built my whole career. She's not really like my mom, not really an older sister...but yeah, like family."

They're both surprised by how honest he's been, which leads him to his own question, "Rumors? So you knew who I was. Is that why you called me by my full name?"

Sawamura looks embarrassed, "Yeah. I, I was curious about Seidou. I bet Kuramochi-senpai already told you about Rei and her coming to scout me?"

Kazuya nods.

They start walking again, "Well, I started seeing your name come up a lot. I always had trouble with my own catchers, I wasn't very good, sometimes my throws would go wild. I guess. I mean, they felt right, but Wakana, she was my main catcher, it was hard for her to catch them. Anyway, I started following your career. And just, well, then that happened and the rumors..."

They're quiet for a moment. Kazuya thinking back to how Yoichi had called Sawamura's pitch a nasty throw, the way Rei had pointed out Sawamura's staring while they talked and how Kazuya should catch for him, "When I saw him pitch, I knew you two would make a great battery. I knew you would be what could push him to greater heights, and that he would influence you too. All of Seidou. He has the heart of an Ace."

He's curious.

"Do you regret it?"

It's been a few minutes but Sawamura follows his question, turns to him, conviction in his burning eyes, "Never!"

----

SEVEN.

Kazuya finally gets to meet Wakana on his birthday. Yoichi tells him they're going out to celebrate at a fancy restaurant and he's not allowed to say no. Since he is the best man at their future wedding, he supposes it would be rude to not meet the bride-to-be so he pulls out one of his old suits, is relieved it still fits, and decides that's enough effort needed on his part. He also decides to forgo the tie and leaves the first two buttons undone. It's classy.

He's not surprised to see Sawamura also at the restaurant, and he's also not surprised to see him sporting a loud outfit. He's also wearing a suit but his shirt is a bright blue with baseball patterns, he's pulled up the suit jacket sleeves to his elbows (which, might he add, does not match his pants, but it somehow works), and he's actually wearing a tie. There's a girl trying to tame his hair but she soon gives up when Sawamura spots him and calls out, "Miyuki Kazu-mmyaa."

"Eijun!" the girl chides him, "We told you to be quiet!"

She's covering his mouth and let's go once he settles down. He rubs his hand through the back of his hair, ruining whatever work the girl must have done, "Sorry."

The girl shakes her head and turns to him, "So you're the famous Miyuki Kazuya, in the flesh."

Kazuya smiles, "And you must be the infamous money stealing Wakana."

They shake hands and Wakana laughs, "The one and only."

Yoichi comes up behind him, "Good, you're here. I thought I was going to have to send someone to drag you out of bed."

They're escorted to the back where they can dine in private. Yoichi walks in the back with him and Kazuya watches the way Sawamura's body faces Wakana even when they're walking. The way she pushes and holds his arm, laughs at what he says. The way that Sawamura lets her choose where she wants to sit and then makes space so that the table decorations aren't in her way. He sits across from her.

Yoichi whispers at him, "See what I mean?"

Kazuya doesn't need to see them interact to know why Wakana once liked Sawamura, but it definitely solidifies their closeness.

Wakana is very pretty. She has short hair that is slightly tinged with red, natural, she mentions when she sees him looking at her, "I get asked a lot." Apparently, it's a color she inherited from her great grandmother

She's as small as Yoichi claimed her to be, which makes her look tiny with her current company. She's wearing a simple and modest blue dress that matches perfectly with the ties Sawamura and Yoichi are wearing. She's just as honest as Sawamura is, and Kazuya wonders if all the people in his life are like that. It's refreshing. He instantly likes her and knows that Yoichi will be happy. It makes him happy too.

They're waiting on their food when Sawamura tells Yoichi that "Miyuki Kazuya" called Wakana a thief. Yoichi puts down his glass of wine, sending his best friend a glare, "I should have known you wouldn't behave!"

Sawamura is quick to respond, "It's all your fault Kuramochi-senpai! You keep telling that stupid story!!"

"The only thing stupid about that story is YOU Bakamura!!"

They look like children snapping at each other across the table and Wakana is just laughing. She turns to Kazuya, "Did he tell you what actually happened?"

Kazuya nods, "Sort of. Something about borrowing a wallet."

Wakana smiles, "Something like that, yes."

"See! I told you I never said she stole my money!!" Sawamura gets up suddenly but nobody notices the waiter coming with trays until the sound of plates falling to the ground and shattering are heard. But the worst part is probably the cake that Sawamura tries to save. Part of it lands on his hands, some of it on the table, but a big portion of it (thanks to Sawamura's interference), is now all over Wakana's dress. Everyone holds their breath, the waiter looks horrified.

Kazuya knows he shouldn't but he snickers and that seems to bring everything back to life. Wakana laughs and tells the waiter it's ok, she pats his hand reassuringly, "But can we get another cake? We'll pay for both of course."

The man is so relieved, he smiles and nods, and says he'll be right back to clean up, that he can also ask someone to help her out. Sawamura looks constipated and ridiculous standing there with chunks of cake in his hands.

"This is so coming out of your wallet Sawamoron!!" Yoichi cries out as he grabs chunks of cake from Wakana's lap and throws it on the table, "And YOU, I can't believe you did that!"

Kazuya only smirks, looks over at Wakana, and says, "Welcome to the family."

It seems like Wakana isn't just depleting Sawamura's accounts, but also stealing hearts.

----

OMAKE (months later)

It's the wedding night when Sawamura decides to crash at Kazuya's house. They're both exhausted and since they're both going to the same place the next morning, Kazuya doesn't make a fuss. When they make it home, they fight about who will take a shower first and Kazuya wins because, ultimately, this is his house so of course he has dibs. Sawamura pouts as he heads to the living room, ok, ok, just go you evil tanuki bastard.

When Kazuya comes out in a white t-shirt and boxers, he finds Sawamura already passed out on the couch, his arm and leg fallen off the side. He notices that he at least had the sense to take off his suit jacket and shirt. He's only wearing his undershirt and his pants have risen up his shins. Everything else is thrown against the back of the couch and his keys, cellphone, camera, and wallet, are all on the table. He's snoring lightly, his breath coming out more like little sighs, and there's a bit of drool where gravity has decided to do its job.

He's about to wake up Sawamura when he remembers something Wakana told him the first time they met. Right before they left the restaurant, she had pulled him aside, telling the other two NOT to come closer, Next time you get the chance, look inside his wallet. I promise it'll be worth it, and don't worry, he won't mind. He yells a lot but that's all there is.

The wallet is right there and Kazuya wishes it had landed the other way. At least like that, it wouldn't feel like he was snooping. No, he wouldn't. He doesn't really understand why Wakana wants him to look inside, but it's not really any of his business. He shakes his head and walks towards the couch. Before he can even reach forward, Sawamura shifts and mumbles a sleepy, "Kazuya."

Kazuya freezes at the stupid smile on Sawamura's face. He feels his face heat up and he's not sure why. He briefly glances at the wallet again, then moves to shake Sawamura's shoulders.

It takes a moment, a testament to how tired Sawamura is, before his brown eyes open and he sleepily mumbles, "Miyuki Kazuya?"

Kazuya hesitates for a moment. He doesn't have extra bedding and he knows sleeping on the couch is uncomfortable. They were going to share the bed, just like he always does whenever Yoichi visits, but suddenly he wonders if maybe this isn't a good idea. He tells Sawamura it's his turn to shower and nearly drags him to the bathroom. He stands outside just to make sure he doesn't pass out inside and somehow Sawamura looks even more drowsy than before. His skin is red from the heat of the water and they head to the bedroom.

Sawamura is out before his head hits the pillow. Kazuya arranges him on the bed properly and covers him with the blanket.

He finds it hard to sleep, the sound of his name coming from Sawamura's sleepy lips echoing in his head.

---

A/N:

I scoured Reddit for some inspiration and found this interesting prompt: "I never said she stole my money has 7 different meanings based on which word is emphasized." I sort of followed the prompt? LOL

things to note: 1. I just googled "prisoner clothes in japan" and green outfits came up, hence why Rei is dressed in a "green top" 2. I don't actually know how legal proceedings go in japan, if it would take longer or less (but this is fanfic so let's not question it) 3. Again, I don't know how long rehabs take but I'm not aiming for accuracy 4. If it wasn't obvious, Sawamura wasn't in the original Seidou team in this fic (lol) 5. Sports day apparently apparently happens around October (and again, Idk much about it)

I don't think I've ever written anything "complete" for this fandom but I hope you all enjoyed, especially you daiyanerd ^^

p.s. This got out of hand omg it's so long and hardly anything happens i hope you guys don't mind Orz Also, I kind of want to write more for this, maybe Sawamura's side of some of the events, maybe just a continuation, idk....

[dee6000]

His Name Is Police Cpl. Keith Heacook: White Police Officer "Stomped" to Death by Black Criminal

Only in a nation with as perverse an elite and leadership cabal as the United States of America would the death of George Floyd be cause for remaking our society and the horrific murder of a white cop by a black criminal barely be mentioned in local papers/local newscasts.

But that’s where we find ourselves in 2021, with the haunting specter of whites supremacy, white privilege, systemic racism, implicit bias, redlining, food deserts, and the historical legacy of slavery the ultimate curse upon which all black people are held back from achieving the so-called “American Dream.”

In reality, the nightmarish world America is increasingly becoming was on full display in the last moments of Delmar Police Cpl. Keith Heacook’s life. He was a white police officer, husband, and father to a 12-year-old son.

He was beaten to death by a black criminal, who was in the process of assaulting to elderly individuals when Cpl. Heacock was dispatched to deal with the situation.

Widow of slain Delaware police officer says violence against cops must stop, by Jeff Mordock, Washington Times, April 28, 2021

The widow of a slain Delaware police officer late Wednesday called for an end to the violence against police officers as 2021 is on pace to be the deadliest in history for law enforcement.

Susan Heacook, the widow of Delmar Police Cpl. Keith *Heacook, said he was simply doing his job when he responded to a fight-in-progress call on Sunday.

“The violence in our country has to stop. We can’t let this continue to happen. I will make sure another officer’s family doesn’t have to go through this,” she said in a statement. “Keith was one of the good ones, he didn’t deserve this. He was simply doing the job he loved to do — protect and serve.”

Mrs. Heacook said telling her 12-year-old son that he will never see his dad again was one of the hardest things she’s ever had to do. The son crumpled up into a ball and cried his eyes out, she said.

“Now our son will never have his father at any of his ball games ever again cheering him on like he always did, he won’t be there to teach him to drive, watch him graduate from high school, go fishing or do countertop jobs together (he helped Keith with his side business) and the list goes on,” the statement read.

Cpl. Heacook, who is White, is one of two officers who died in the line of duty on Wednesday.

He was declared clinically dead Wednesday after he was brutally beaten while responding to a 911 call, police say.

Randon D. Wilkerson, who is Black, is facing assault charges stemming from the attack on Cpl. Heacook, but Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings said those charges will be upgraded to murder.

The attack occurred when the officer was dispatched to a call about a fight in progress. Mr. Wilkerson had allegedly assaulted an elderly couple in their home, police said.

A Delaware State Police officer found Cpl. Heacook lying unconscious Sunday morning with “significant head injuries,” police said.

Through the first four months of the year, 111 officers lost their lives in the line of duty, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. That is an 11% increase from 98 during the same period last year.

A total of 360 officers died in the line of duty last year, according to the fund, the deadliest year for law enforcement since 1974.

More on the details of the vicious black on white assault:

A Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office deputy and a Delaware State Police trooper arrived on scene and found Heacook face down, unconscious, and surrounded by a pool of blood inside the home, according to court documents.

A resident of the home told police that she saw a uniformed police officer lying face down on the living room floor while Wilkerson stood above him. “The female resident stated she witnessed the accused/Wilkerson lift his foot and leg up directly over top of [the officer’s] head, and slam his foot down on his head repeatedly,” court documents state.

Our corporate media tells you George Floyd is a hero and all white people share the guilt in his death. Thus, statues must come down, as well as schools, buildings, and streets renamed to honor a habitual black criminal who had the misfortune of dying from a fentanyl overdose while resisting arrest.

Meanwhile, a black criminal stood over a white officer and basically stomped him to death with his foot, an apt metaphor for what’s happened to all white police officers and white America post the George Floyd insurrection.

His Name is Police Cpl. Keith Heacook. If white privilege existed, you’d know his name and how he died (and who killed him). If white privilege existed, the corporate media would be doing nothing but interviewing his grieving widow and young son, reminding the nation the cost of tolerating extreme levels of black criminality.

But you don’t know his name until reading it here.

This is the greatest reminder of black privilege in America. Had Cpl. Heacook shot and killed Randon Wilkerson during this incident, the latter would be the hero the media would be lionizing with posthumous articles all detailing how he was merely “trying to turn his life around.”

[go-redgirl]

Top Dems call on Cuomo to resign amid harassment allegations By MARINA VILLENEUVE, STEVE PEOPLES and MICHAEL BALSAMO today

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo confronted a stunning series of defections Friday amid allegations of sexual harassment that left the high-profile Democrat fighting for his political survival, angry and alone.

By day’s end, the three-term governor had lost the support of almost the entire 29-member New York congressional delegation and a majority of Democrats in the state legislature. None of the desertions hurt more than those of New York’s two U.S. senators, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

“Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear that Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of his governing partners and the people of New York,” the Democratic senators wrote in a joint statement. “Governor Cuomo should resign.

”The escalating political crisis has spawned an impeachment inquiry in an overwhelmingly Democratic state, and threatens to cast a cloud over President Joe Biden’s early days in office. Republicans have seized on the scandal to try to distract from Biden’s success tackling the coronavirus pandemic and challenge his party’s well-established advantage with female voters.

Never before

has the brash, 63-year-old Democratic governor

, who had been expected to run for a fourth term in 2022, been more politically isolated.

Some in Cuomo’s party had already turned against him for his administration’s move to

keep secret how many nursing home residents

died of COVID-19 for months, and the latest wave of defections signaled a possible tipping point.Cuomo’s coalition of critics has expanded geographically and politically, now covering virtually every region in the state and the political power centers of New York City and Washington.

 Among them are New York City progressive U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; the leader of the House Democratic campaign arm, U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney; Buffalo-based U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins; and a group of Long Island-based state lawmakers who had been Cuomo loyalists.“The victims of sexual assault concern me more than politics or other narrow considerations, and I believe Governor Cuomo must step aside,” Maloney said.

MORE

STORIES:

– Resignation demands grow as police get Cuomo groping report

– Report: Cuomo groped female aide in governor's residence– The claims against Cuomo: A look at the women's allegations Ocasio-Cortez, in a joint statement with U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, said that after a new groping allegation against the governor, she was concerned about the safety and well-being of the governor’s staff.  

“We believe these women,” they said. Cuomo on Friday insisted that he never touched anyone inappropriately, and said again that he’s sorry if he ever made anyone uncomfortable. He declined to answer a direct question about whether he’s had a consensual romantic relationship with any of the accusers .“I have not had a sexual relationship that was inappropriate, period,” he said. 

The state Assembly greenlit an impeachment investigation Thursday as lawmakers investigate whether there are grounds for Cuomo’s forcible removal from office. 

The state attorney general is also leading a probe into his workplace conduct. The firestorm around the governor grew after the Times Union of Albany reported Wednesday that an unidentified aide told a supervisor Cuomo reached under her shirt and fondled her at his official residence late last year. 

The woman hasn’t filed a criminal complaint, but a lawyer for the governor said Thursday that the state reported the allegation to Albany police after the woman declined to do so herself.  

Additionally, Cuomo is facing multiple allegations of sexually suggestive remarks and behavior toward women, including female aides. One aide said he asked her if she would ever have sex with an older man. And another aide said the governor once kissed her without consent, and said governor’s aides publicly smeared her after she accused him of sexual harassment.

Rarely in the modern era has a leading elected official survived such a political backlash from his own party, but there is precedent.Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, a Republican, refused to resign in 2009 after a scandal involving an extramarital affair. He would go on to serve in Congress. 

And in 2019, Virginia’s Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam resisted sweeping calls for his resignation after a blackface photo in an old yearbook emerged. Northam is still in office.  Cuomo said Friday he’d still be able to govern despite the growing list of elected officials who have demanded that he quit.

 He didn’t address the reality of an increasingly untenable position: Cuomo is still managing the state’s pandemic response and negotiating a state budget with lawmakers who’ve lost confidence in his leadership. 

More than 120 members of the state legislature called on him to quit earlier this week, a majority of them Democrats.

Full Coverage:

Andrew Cuomo

The defections of virtually the entire congressional delegation raised the prospect of further erosion of support. Showing no signs of bowing to the pressure, Cuomo raised new questions about the motives of the accusers. 

 “I won’t speculate about people’s possible motives,” he said Friday. “But I can tell you as a former attorney general who has gone through this situation many times, there are often many motivations for making an allegation. And that is why you need to know the facts before you make a decision. ”“Serious allegations should be weighed seriously, right?” he added. “That’s why they are called serious.”___

Peoples reported from New York City. Associated Press writer Josh Boak in Washington contributed.

[pilotseason2020]

CLARICE (ordered to pilot)

based on “The Silence of the Lambs” by Thomas Harris

Set in 1993, a year after the events of The Silence of the Lambs. The series is a deep dive into the untold personal story of Clarice Starling, as she returns to the field to pursue serial murderers and sexual predators while navigating the high stakes political world of Washington, D.C.

Cast (thus far)

Rebecca Breeds (The Originals) as Clarice Starling. Brilliant and vulnerable, Clarice graduated Magna from UVA with a double major in psych and criminology. Her bravery gives her an inner light that draws monsters and madmen to her. Her complex psychological makeup comes from a challenging childhood, and her drive comes from her need to escape the burden of family secrets that have haunted her throughout her life. Jodie Foster won an Oscar for the 1991 movie adaptation, and Clarice was then played in the 2001 sequel by Julianne Moore. (Feb 26)

Lucca De Oliveira (SEAL Team) as Tomas Esquivel, who attended Dartmouth on an ROTC scholarship and became a counter-sniper during Operation Desert Storm. He is initially suspicious of Clarice, and her singular background in the Bureau. Esquivel has gone through his own kind of hazing, and is torn between his love of service, and his belief that the FBI needs to shake off its “Old School” mentality. (Mar 10)

Devyn A. Tyler (The Purge) as Ardelia Mapp, Clarice’s closest friend and her roommate at the FBI Academy. Ardelia is brilliant and has developed strong coping mechanisms as a black woman working in the white male universe of the FBI. Ardelia has landed at the Department of Justice where she is an Asst. U.S. Attorney. She is vocal and open about the discrimination that’s rampant in the Bureau and in the D.O.J. (Mar 10)

Series Creator: Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet

Pilot Director: Heather Kadin

Producers: Jenny Lumet, Alex Kurtzman

Studios: MGM Television, CBS Television Studios, Secret Hideout

Genre: Thriller

Primetimer Pilot Preview: “recommend”

NBC is at this same time piloting “Langdon,” which also uses its protagonist’s surname as title. They are adapting the narrative of “The Lost Symbol,” a sequel to book-turned-film “The Da Vinci Code,” as an origin story for its protagonist, and that book was set in Washington, D.C. as well.

For three seasons, from 2013-2015, NBC was home to the television show “Hannibal,” also derived from Thomas Harris’ novels.

This pilot comes just after the conclusion of “Criminal Minds” after 15 seasons, so the network may be looking for a similar psychological thriller.

[yobaba30]

“. . . All Enemies, Foreign and Domestic”: An Open Letter to Gen. Milley

Dear General Milley:

As chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, you are well aware of your duties in ordinary times: to serve as principal military advisor to the president of the United States, and to transmit the lawful orders of the president and Secretary of Defense to combatant commanders. In ordinary times, these duties are entirely consistent with your oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…”

We do not live in ordinary times. The president of the United States is actively subverting our electoral system, threatening to remain in office in defiance of our Constitution. In a few months’ time, you may have to choose between defying a lawless president or betraying your Constitutional oath. We write to assist you in thinking clearly about that choice. If Donald Trump refuses to leave office at the expiration of his constitutional term, the United States military must remove him by force, and you must give that order.

Due to a dangerous confluence of circumstances, the once-unthinkable scenario of authoritarian rule in the United States is now a very real possibility. First, as Mr. Trump faces near certain electoral defeat, he is vigorously undermining public confidence in our elections. Second, Mr. Trump’s defeat would result in his facing not merely political ignominy, but also criminal charges. Third, Mr. Trump is assembling a private army capable of thwarting not only the will of the electorate but also the capacities of ordinary law enforcement. When these forces collide on January 20, 2021, the U.S. military will be the only institution capable of upholding our Constitutional order.

There can be little doubt that Mr. Trump is facing electoral defeat. More than 160,000 Americans have died from COVID 19, and that toll is likely to rise to 300,000 by November. One in ten U.S. workers is unemployed, and the U.S. economy in the last quarter suffered the greatest contraction in its history. Nearly 70 percent of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track. The Economist estimates that Mr. Trump’s chances of losing the election stand at 91 percent.

Faced with these grim prospects, Mr. Trump has engaged in a systemic disinformation campaign to undermine public confidence in our elections. He has falsely claimed that mail-in voting is  “inaccurate and fraudulent.” He is actively sabotaging the U.S. Postal Service in an effort to delay and discredit mail-in votes. He has suggested delaying the 2020 election, despite lacking the authority to do so.

The stakes of the 2020 election are especially high for Mr. Trump; in defeat, he will likely face criminal prosecution. The Manhattan District Attorney is investigating the Trump Organization for possible bank and insurance fraud related to the overvaluation of financial assets. New York’s Attorney General is conducting similar investigations, having successfully subpoenaed Trump’s financial records from Deutsche Bank. Mr. Trump allegedly pressured the U.S. ambassador to Great Britain to pressure the British Government to move the British Open golf tournament to Trump Turnberry Resort in Scotland. This incident is but one of many examples of self-dealing that may lead to federal criminal charges against the president.

Given this dizzying array of threats not merely to his political prospects, but also his liberty and wealth, Mr. Trump is following the playbook of dictators throughout history: he is building a private army answerable only to him. When Caesar faced the prospect of a trial in Rome, he did not return to face his day in court. He unleashed an army personally loyal to him alone on the Roman government. No student of history, Mr. Trump nevertheless appears to be following Caesar’s example. The president’s use of militarized Homeland Security agents against domestic political demonstrations constitutes the creation of a paramilitary force unaccountable to the public. The members of this private army, often lacking police insignia or other identification, exist not to enforce the law but to intimidate the president’s political opponents.

These powerful crosscurrents—Mr. Trump’s electoral defeat, his assault on the integrity of our elections, his impending criminal prosecution, and his creation of a private army—will collide on January 20. Rather than accept the peaceful transfer of power that has been the hallmark of American democracy since its inception. Mr. Trump may refuse to leave office. He would likely offer as a fig leaf of legitimacy the shopworn lies about election fraud. Mr. Trump’s acolytes in right-wing media will certainly rush to repeat and amplify these lies, manufacturing sufficient evidence to provide a pretext of plausibility. America’s greatest Constitutional crisis since the Civil War will come about by a president who simply refuses to leave office.

America’s political and legal institutions have so atrophied that they are ill-prepared for this moment. Senate Republicans, already reduced to supplicant status, will remain silent and inert, as much to obscure their complicity as to retain their majority. The Democrat-led House of Representatives will certify the Electoral College results, which Mr. Trump will dismiss as fake news. The courts, flooded with cases from both Democrats and Mr. Trump’s legal team, will take months working through the docket, producing reasoned rulings that Trump will alternately appeal and ignore.

Then the clock will strike 12:01 PM, January 20, 2021, and Donald Trump will be sitting in the Oval Office. The street protests will inevitably swell outside the White House, and the ranks of Trump’s private army will grow inside its grounds. The speaker of the House will declare the Trump presidency at an end, and direct the Secret Service and Federal Marshals to remove Trump from the premises. These agents will realize that they are outmanned and outgunned by Trump’s private army, and the moment of decision will arrive.

At this moment of Constitutional crisis, only two options remain. Under the first, U.S. military forces escort the former president from the White House grounds. Trump’s little green men, so intimidating to lightly armed federal law enforcement agents, step aside and fade away, realizing they would not constitute a good morning’s work for a brigade of the 82nd Airborne. Under the second, the U.S. military remains inert while the Constitution dies. The succession of government is determined by extralegal violence between Trump’s private army and street protesters; Black Lives Matter Plaza becomes Tahrir Square.

As the senior military officer of the United States, the choice between these two options lies with you. In the Constitutional crisis described above, your duty is to give unambiguous orders directing U.S. military forces to support the Constitutional transfer of power. Should you remain silent, you will be complicit in a coup d’état. You were rightly criticized for your prior active complicity in the president’s use of force against peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square. Your passive complicity in an extralegal seizure of political power would be far worse.

For 240 years, the United States has been spared the horror of violent political succession. Imperfect though it may be, our Union has been moving toward greater perfection, from one peaceful transfer of power to the next. The rule of law created by our Constitution has made this miracle possible. However, our Constitutional order is not self-sustaining. Throughout our history, Americans have laid down their lives so that this form of government may endure. Continuing the unfinished work for which these heroes fell now falls to you.

Lest you forget:

“I, Mark A. Milley, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”

The fate of our Republic may well depend upon your adherence to this oath.

Respectfully yours,

John Nagl and Paul Yingling

John Nagl, a retired Army officer and veteran of both Iraq wars, is Head of School at The Haverford School outside Philadelphia.

Paul Yingling, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, served three tours in Iraq, another in Bosnia, and a fifth in Operation Desert Storm.

[stacysmash]

End of the Year Rare Pair Challenge: BokuIwaAka Western AU + Enemies to Lovers

Rating: Teen (fun and lighthearted +heavy sexual humor/innuendos) WC: 4238 for @justforbadfriends!

Excerpt: 

Akaashi marched along the aisle, thumbs hooked in his belt loops as he swayed along with the train. His nerves were raw as he attempted to glance out the windows without the other passengers sensing anything was amiss. As marshals, they were accustomed to traveling alone or in pairs to the outer reaches of the West, hunting down criminals that couldn’t be handled by the local sheriff.

But the train he was riding on was carrying special cargo. The secret kind that somehow never stayed a secret when it was most important that it did. The attorney general himself gave the team their instructions in a back room at the station they left about an hour ago. Yamiji was sending him, his partner Bokuto, and the rest of the fearsome Fukurodani marshals to escort the cargo to its destination.

Yamiji had shown them what the cargo was so they knew exactly what they were dealing with and what to expect further down the tracks. It was a case of government-issued gold that was being delivered to a governor for some kind of diplomatic deal. To be honest, Akaashi didn’t like the way the whole situation smelled. And by Yamiji’s scrunched up nose, he didn’t like the stink of corruption any more than Akaashi did.

But they were marshals and it was their duty to do what the government said. The less Akaashi knew what was happening behind those fancy closed doors, the better. He knew men that had run away from their life as a marshal and suddenly found themselves an enemy of the government and criminals alike. Deserters never lasted long in these parts.

Akaashi smiled and tipped his hat at a lady as he allowed her to pass. She giggled and rushed away, fluttering her fan faster at her face. He stifled a snicker and turned back, freezing when he saw out the door to the carriage he was riding on.

Visible beyond the small window on the door was his partner, Bokuto, holding onto the railing while perched on the narrow landing between railroad carriages. To pass between carriages while the train was in motion wasn’t completely impossible, at least to anyone without a death wish. On either side of the platform were steps that matched up with every station platform with a high railing parallel to the door. On the other side of that was nothing but a rickety hitch keeping the cars attached to one another.

Regardless of not having a death wish, it was something that Akaashi had to do from time to time and he had little fear of opening up the carriage door and stepping outside. Bokuto turned and smiled at him. It was one of his rascally smiles that meant he had more play on his mind than work. Considering the seriousness of the situation, Akaashi thought it was an inappropriate moment to fool around but he couldn’t resist smiling back.

“What are you doing out here, Bokuto-san?” he called over the deafening noise.

Bokuto leaned back against the door and gripped the back of his hat to keep it from flying off in the brisk breeze. “It was suffocating in there. Had to take a break.”

“Not the most pleasant place for a break. Besides, it doesn’t give a good view in case we have company.”

“Better than in there! I kept looking around and the old woman next to me told me that I should’ve gone back at the station. I told her I didn’t have to pee and then the whole car gasped and glared at me. She was the one who brought it up.”

Akaashi snorted and shook his head. Perhaps it was better that Bokuto wasn’t around the gentler citizens. The rest of their team wasn’t much better, but they at least knew how to shrug off impertinent comments or questions.

It felt nice to speak to his partner, giving him a brief respite from his growing anxiety. Bokuto, after all, was more than just a partner with his job but his partner in life as well. Being with him was both calming and exciting, and he knew it would take the worst kind of situation to pry them apart.

“‘Kaaaaasshhii,” Bokuto teased as he straightened up from the door and leaned forward on the railing instead. “What’re you worried about?”

“I just have a bad feeling. This gol— this cargo is bad news.”

“I agree but we don’t have a choice but to deliver it. Otherwise, Yamiji-san will have our hides.”

“Or someone will have his.” Akaashi sighed and stepped forward as well, leaning over the railing to close the distance between them. “I’ll be happier when this job is over.”

“And then we can go back to just the two of us.” Bokuto’s sly words were accompanied with an even slyer grin, and he reached out to pinch Akaashi’s shirt. “All this tension is working me up. If we don’t get to fight today, you better prepare yourself.”

“I’m always prepared. Especially for you, Bokuto-san.”

“Oh ho, getting cocky, Akaashi?”

Akaashi raised an unimpressed eyebrow as Bokuto grinned proudly from his pun. “Keep it in your pants, Bokuto-san. We’re not even halfway to the station yet.”

Read the rest on AO3!

[hhintonlaw]

Best Criminal Attorney Victorville | Attorney High Desert

At the Heather Hinton Law Offices can help if you are facing serious criminal charges in High Desert. Best and experienced criminal attorney Victorville

[dictionarywrites]

mmm this batjokes au huh

mmm, okay, so bear with me here but

bruce wayne sees one last catastrophe, and it’s a big one. a big train crash, or a whole apartment block goes down, and like everything, like everything, it can be traced down to citywide corruption. 

not to one of the super villains. not to one of the criminals. just to a group of politicians and businessmen cutting corners and looking after each other, and as batman, bruce hears these guys going through this shit... and he’s had enough. 

he calls a group of villains together with some kinda bat signal. poison ivy. the joker and harley. two face. penguin. riddler. freeze. they all come out to this deserted fucking warehouse, and there, sitting on a desk with his legs swinging down, is bruce wayne. big dude, handsome, cleft chin. nice suit.

“you know,” he says quietly, running a hand through perfectly coiffed hair. “i’ve just about had it with gotham. i’m done with it, actually. i’m finished here.”

and all the villains are like, what the fuck. where’s batman??? what the-- bruce wayne? what?

“is that so, sweetheart?” joker says, and he’s immediately stepping forward, dragging his hand over bruce’s cheek because damn, he’s not ever gonna miss a chance to touch a guy like this. “Where ya gonna go?”

“no, no, joker, you misunderstand me,” bruce says, and he gently pushes joker’s hand down. joker turns a look to penguin and riddler like “get a load of this guy!” and they’re just like, we hate you joker, but you have a point. “I’m not going anywhere. gotham’s the one that’s changing. not me.”

“What do you mean?” Ivy asks, slowly.

and bruce explains. politicians? they’ve all gotta go. mayor’s office? out. most of the corp offices? gone. big wall goes up around gotham - big wall. a few hundred feet high, nobody comes in, nobody goes out. we stock up, and we fix things. fix what? fix everything.

just imagine bruce wayne setting up a fucking monarchy, and making all these fucking villains his generals. like... if they have enough money and they have actually nice places to live, if they’ve got stuff to do, most of them don’t actually give a fuck about villainy.

very strict, stringent import/export thing, but suddenly gotham is exporting shit the likes of which the rest of the world kinda desperately wants, so they go with it. they have to. gotham and the surrounding state area... it’s its own thing now, and it’s not worth fighting with.

with ivy, the whole thing can be a biocity. no more dim, dank, dismal gotham! no more fumes - everything’s eco friendly now. flowers bloom on every street. the fucking skyscrapers are insulated with grass and thick-growing vine. penguin runs fuckin entertainment venues. harvey’s justice attorney again, and justice is strict, but with no capital punishment. riddler runs the power grids, and runs city-wide entertainment schemes - fucking wildass scavenger hunts, citizens rewards for figuring out riddles, the kinda shit that goes wild on social media. freeze takes over the running of gotham general, and suddenly the hospital actually has funds??? money??? harley takes over arkham asylum, and makes it...... actually a good fucking hospital.

and there’s joker. standing in the middle of the warehouse, his hands in his pockets, his head tilted slightly to the side. all the villains are standing in varying states of “what the fuck”, staring at this rich kid that’s obviously cracked like a fucking egg, but joker... joker’s intrigued.

“Well, you called me here too, Brucey,” he says, laughing. “Whaddya-- You think I want in on your cute lil utopia? What do I get outta this? No more fun! No more chaos!”

“Well, Joker, I’d have thought that was obvious,” Bruce says simply. “I’m not the one that called you here. They all get purpose - they get funding, jobs, responsibilities, lives. You don’t get any of that.”

“What do I get, then? Nice big rocket launcher? Nice new car? A boy t--” 

“Joker,” Bruce says. “You get Batman.” And it’s like the whole word narrows to a point. Joker, standing in the middle of the room, staring into space. 

They’re all in.