#Decaffeinated-heads comic

[decaffeinated-heads]

Post mm2 chapter 1, scene 3

[thenightling]

The Morning-Starbucks

The Morning-Starbucks

Disclaimer:  This is my attempt at Coffee shop AU.  Characters from The Sandman were created by Neil Gaiman for DC Comics.  I do not own them.  The concept for this fan fiction was inspired by a conversation with “Destruction’s Beard fleas” on The Sandman Discord server. Some of the drink ideas also came from them.  

Further note:  I do not believe Morpheus went to Hell after his death in The Sandman: The Kindly Ones.  In fact I’m fairly certain he’s spending his afterlife in Hob Gadling’s dream, now free from the burden of having to be Dream of the Endless.   This AU is a “What if” Morpheus went to Hell and was condemned to work in a Starbucks until he came to terms with his own past and self-loathing. _______________

                                  The Morning-Starbucks

“A Barista?” Morpheus asked with a blank expression on his gaunt, pale, face. His black eyes were like pools of dark water with a star floating in the middle of each as the reasonable facsimile of pupils. The pink-skinned demon in front of him smiled viciously. The smile reminded him of Lucifer Morningstar. And in fact, had he not been so thoroughly aware that Lucifer had quit his position as King of Hell, he would swear that this was Lucifer in disguise. “That’s right.” The demon said, sounding a little too gleeful about the situation. “You will be serving coffee, aiding mortals to wake up from sleep and shake away the trappings of dreams. Isn’t that a delightful fate for the Sandman?” Morpheus, the former lord of the realm of dreams, frowned at this prospect. “You believe this would torment me?” He asked. “Oh, I know it will. ‘Ex-Dreamlord.’”

The demon faded and Morpheus looked around at his new private Hell.

Morpheus stood behind the counter. He wore his elegant, black, robes and his hair was still wild and dark. He wore the green apron with some indignation. An annoyed looking woman walked up to Morpheus with her cup in hand. “Excuse me. I ordered a cappuccino. This is… Chamomile tea?” She was not entirely sure. Her voice was joined by another. The other voice was a man who stood behind her. “Are you sure this isn’t decaff? I could swear this is decaff!” The truth was Morpheus only served decaffeinated beverages. He had no interest in helping mortals wake up. An annoyed looking girl with blue hair and cat-eye spectacles crinkled her nose. “This tastes like Celestial Seasonings’ Sleepy Time Tea. I asked for espresso!” The woman with the chamomile tea was looking at the name scribbled on the cup. “I said my name is Janet Smith.” “You did.” Morpheus said simply. “Then why did you put the name “Janet Scheinhaus?” “Because that is your true name. Or do you fear that your bill collectors will somehow learn you spent eleven dollars on a ridiculously expensive beverage?” The woman looked angered. The blue haired girl’s eyes widened with righteous horror on behalf of the other woman who had apparently also mistakenly received some sort of decaff tea instead of her desired beverage. “Would you do this to a trans person with their name?!” “Certainly not.” “Why not?” “Because trans people usually discover their true name later in life. A true name is not necessarily a birth name. It is the name you most heavily associate with yourself. A deadname is not a true name, however Janet Scheinhaus, personally, does consider herself to be Janet Scheinhaus, so that is her true name. She merely is afraid those she owes money to will learn that she likes over-priced coffee.”  Morpheus explained. The blue haired girl was taken aback. Janet looked annoyed. She slammed the exact amount of cash down on the counter for the drink even though she never got the chamomile tea switched to a proper cappuccino. And she stormed out.

At noon, rather than attend to the people waiting in the queue, Morpheus slowly plucked the little sugary candies off of the decorative and over-priced biscuits (cookies) and other confections available in the glass display case. He was replacing them with melatonin chewable gummies.

Some time that evening people were starting to notice their lattes were just warmed milk. A teenage girl, who was hoping to force herself to stay awake to study for a test, went to front counter. She was polite. “Sir? Um, excuse me. You forgot the shots in my latte.”

Morpheus looked at her and said simply.* “No, I didn’t.” before turning his back to the girl and heading into a back room as if he had something important to do there. He truly didn’t.

At midnight a figure walked into the semi-deserted Starbucks. This was someone that Morpheus recognized. A figure that resembled himself but his hair was white, as were his robes. It was the current lord of The Dreaming. Daniel looked around with eyes that were like pools of black water, with stars floating in the middle. He stepped toward Morpheus. “There you are. Have you had your fun?” “Fun?” “Yes. It’s hard not to notice nearly an entire collage town falling into a deep slumber when most of them only slept four to five hours out of every two days. Come on. You’ve proven whatever point you were trying to make here.” Daniel offered him a pale hand. “Once The Sandman, always the Sandman.” Morpheus considered. “I do not wish to be Dream of The Endless anymore. That is why I...” Daniel raised his hand as he interrupted him. “But you would rather be a barista?” “Not really. No.” “You are no longer Dream of The Endless but you are still you. It’s time to go home. Hob will dream of you, you can remain there. Won’t you be happy in Hob’s dream?” Daniel was grateful that a certain Nordic God who loved mischief had caught wind of the unfortunate former dreamlord and how he was coping with his current situation. He would have to thank Loki later for having told him about Morpheus's situation. “Perhaps… But there is one last thing I must do here first.”

The blue haired girl with the cat-like spectacles had eagerly taken the position behind the counter. She knew her way around coffee and was very eager to earn her first pay cheque. All was going well until a very shaky looking young man, clutching a cup walked to the counter. He looked like he had just consumed caffeine for the very first time and perhaps he had. “I don’t understand. Why doesn’t this taste like the Venti blonde roast filter coffee I ordered yesterday when that Robert Smith looking dude was working here? Yesterday it tasted like warm half-and-half (Half cream / half milk) and was white and...”

The girl sighed. This was going to be a long day…

The End

[hobbitsnapes]

The Red Hoods Protègè chapter 16

Older Damian Wayne x ofc

(Photo made by my lovely friend @tyuuniverse)

Summary:Red hood has taken a young vigilante under his wing and subsequently changes Damians life forever.

Tags: @comic-nerd-dc @comic-brew @psychovigilantewrites @psych0crybaby

Days go by, and each one sandy feels more comfortable being here. Now coming out each day of her room. No longer staying in feeling as though she’s trapped inside the room like the rest of the manor was hell. Most of her days she’d frequent the garden, walking around and taking in the beautiful flowers and trees.

But the majority of her time was spent in tims room. Having grown a friendship with the insomniac. But she couldn’t really say anything, due to usually coming in at the wea hours of the night to the earliest of the day.

And that’s where she found herself, at the early hour of 3:57 AM hanging upside down on tims bed with him beside her.

“why do they make decaffeinated coffee? Who does that help?” He asks. The pair hadn’t said a word in minutes. “People who like coffee but not the caffeine. Or Constipated people.” She replies. Tim nodding his reddening face due to the blood flow from being upside down. “Do you think the ocean is so salty because of whale sperm?” She asks, making him laugh. “Where in the fuck do you think of these things?” He asks, still laughing. Sandy pulls herself up, Tim following in suit. “I could ask you the same question.” She asks. They both lay back on the bed this time, heads fitting comfortably against the plush blankets. “Wanna play a game?” He asks, she tunes to him, “I want to play a game.” She says in a deep voice. This causes Tim to roll his eyes. “Okay jiggy. Let’s play 20 questions.”

“Most embarrassing story?” She asks. “The time everyone went out and I popped a hard on and the thug laughed thinking it was because of him. When in reality it was cause I was young and couldn’t control them.” This caused sandy to let out a large laugh, dubling over clutching her stomach. “Alright alright alright, it’s my turn to ask.” Tim chuckles. Her eyes look up at him, nodding her head slightly. “Favorite memory?” He asks. Her brow furrows as she looks to the side. Eyes slightly squinted. “I have 2 that I can’t pick between.” She sighs. “Then tell me what they are.” Tim says.

She pauses for a moment, looking back over to him. Letting out a large breath. “My 8th birthday. My dad was always busy but would always make sure to come into my room each night, and if I wasn’t asleep, he'd take me out to our living room, and with my mom we’d all take a huge blanket and all the pillows and make a huge heap on our couch. Most nights we’d end up falling asleep together. Sometimes we’d watch a movie or they’d tell me a bedtime story. Each one was different from the last. Well that night my dad brought me out into our living room, he took the day off to spend it with me. And he said to sit there by myself and wait patiently. So o did, and after 10 minutes my mom and dad came out.” She starts laughing as she’s speaking, trying to calm herself down to tell the rest. “T-they both came out in what I think was an 80s rendition of the Renaissance. They then gave me a dress to put on, along with a crown. The dress was a ball gown that was white with light blue lace, it also had small pearls on it. The crown was beautiful, it almost looked real with the shine of the diamonds and sapphires. We then spent the rest of the night dancing, to anything that played. We then all got in my parents bed, and they held me until we all fell asleep.” A tear fell down her eye, wiping it away almost immediately after it cascaded down her face. An ache reasoned within her heart at the fond memory. “The next one had to be at the fair with Jaso. I hadn’t been there with him long. I don’t even think it was a month at that point. He, he really was trying. I saw every attempt he made to get closer with me, and each time I’d pretend I didn’t notice or not be interested and go to my room. God, my room. I hated it at first. It was originally the weapon room, he has removed all of them but it was almost completely bare.”

Both of them step into the small room, both silent apart from their breathing.

Jason had gotten all of the guns, the knives, anything out of the room when she took a shower. Both just meeting an hour prior.

She eyes around the mostly bare room. A small cot bed was nestled into the corner of the room, along with a small bedside table with a lamp on top of it. Apart from those, dark curtains cover the window. The floorboards were bare, cold on her feet. “I’m sorry about the bed. I-I can have you take mine if you’d like?” He asks her. She looks over at him, seeing the panic in his face. “No no, this is more than enough. Thank you.” She says, looking down at the large t-shirt that hung below to her boney knees. “Do you need anything? I have some books, I don’t have a tv here but-“ she looks up at him, his rambling stopping. “I’m honestly really tired right now.” She says. “Alright, get some rest.” He says.

He walks to the door, but stops. “Thank you, um?” She says, her eyes scrunching slightly. “Jason. Jason Todd.”

A tear slipped down both her eyes, but was snapped out of it when she felt tims hand on her shoulder. She wipes both away and looked up at him, his face contorted in worry. “Sorry, but back to what I was saying. The fair was amazing, we had so much fun playing all the games, riding most of the rides, and the others I watched biting my nails as I watched him go on the extreme ones. God I, I felt like he was my actual dad, and that we were just normal father and daughter going to the fair for the first time. I finally felt like there was some normalcy in my life, that I could just be a kid again. I, I didn’t feel guilty. Each time he would try bonding with me, it killed me because I felt like I was replacing my parents with him. That I shouldn’t bond with another person because it’s not fair to my actual parents.” Small tracks of tears fell down her face, no longer trying to wipe them away. “But that day, I felt like my parents wanted me to. They wanted me to feel like a kid, to have fun again. I felt them with me that day, and that was also the day I started slowly seeing him as my dad.” Her tears had dried at this point, having been replaced with a smile. Fond memories of the day played through her mind. No longer a pain in her heart, but a warmth flooded through her as she remembers one of the best days of her life. “Alright, my turn. Why Red Robin? And why not add him to the end of it?” She asked, a smirk on her face. “Oh for fucks sake.” A large laughter reasoned throughout the room.

“Then when I came in to tell Bruce what happened he was balls deep blowing her back out on the-“ Tim was cut off from laughing so hard, both him and sandy laying on his bed clutching their chests due to the heavens of their laughter. It had been some time, the sun started creeping over the trees for a few minutes at that point.

They both lay there as their laughter started to die down, that is until footsteps were heard walking by. Sandy abruptly stopped laughing, turning to the door with wide eyes and tensed muscles. Her heart fell but Accelerated to the point of it being painful, until the door remained closed and the footsteps drifted away. She felt a hand on her shoulder, turning back to Tim. Worry overtook his face. “It’s alright, he doesn’t even come in here anyways.” A large sigh escaped her as she ducked her head down. “I know, I just can’t help but get worried whenever I hear him.” She says, a frown painted on her lips. Tim brought her in for a hug, wrapping her in his arms and rubbing his hands along her back. Her head rested on his shoulder as small tracks of tears fell down her cheeks.

“Alright, last question.” Tim says, looking over to her as she played with the strings on her jacket. She turns her head to him, looking into his eyes as her heart speeds up, the fear of the question but the Curiosity outwayung her fear. “Why does my dad not y’all to you guys? He told me he was robin, and that he was killed. But he never said what happened besides that?” She asks softly, her brows slightly furrowed. A sigh leaves Tim as he looks away. “It’s, complicated. It’s not my place to tell. But I will tell you, it came after what happened to him.”

Dick sighs as he puts his head in his hands. His brow furrowed as lips in a tight line. He pulls at his hair, meshing his hands into knots into it. “God what am I gonna do?” He whispers to himself.

He paces back and forth along the floor. Eying his feet as he bites at his nails. It’s a bad habit he developed as a child, but with the help of Alfred he stopped it for the most part. That is unless he’s very stressed. Sometimes he’ll chew them raw, pain coating the tips of his fingers for days. A knock at the door abruptly stopping him, looking over to it but seeing nothing. Could it have been another room? He wonders.

He walks over to it and opens it, and looking out and meeting sandy standing there. She was clad in a an oversized sweater and high waisted jeans. “Hey, you need anything?” He asks, curious as to why she had knocked at the door. “I heard you pacing when I was walking by. I got worried if you were alright is all.” She replies. Worry taking over her face. He sighs, and steps to the side to let her in.

“Yes and no. I, I’m planning on proposing to barabara in a few days. I’m so excited for it. But I have no idea how to do it.” He sighs. Head again in his hands as he stairs beside her. Dick had moved out long ago, but would still sometimes stay at the manor if he was needed. Him and sandy had bonded slightly over the past 2 weeks she had been there. While most of her time was spent with Tim, she did a few times come to spend time with the eldest of the brothers. They both would usually discus her father, his embarrassing stories when he was young. Or her love for ballet. Dick promising her that he’ll come by to practice with her sometime. “Alright, you want some advice?” She replies, raising her brow slightly at him. “Sure, whatcha got?”

“So you guys met on top of the police department?” She asks. Her brow raised as she asks. “Yes, it was one of my first nights as robin.” Memories flooding through his mind from the memory. She sells her hands together with a wide smile. “There you go! Ask her there!” She exclaims happily. A chuckle leaving dick. “Elaborate please?”

“Tell her to meet you up there. And have ready a small table with dinner, wine, and candles. The whole 9 yards. Then, ask her there. It is after all where you guys met. It’s a special place for the both of you. I promise she’ll love it.” She says with a smile. “What if she says no? We haven’t always been the model couple. What if she doesn’t want to marry me?” He asks. Fear and doubt eating heavy in his chest. She puts a hand on his shoulder, with a warm smile on her face. “How long have you guys been back together?” “The day I plan on asking her will make 5 years.” A smile taking over his face. “And how long in total has she been by you?” A laugh leaving him briefly at the question. “Well over a decade at this point.” A large smile taking over both their faces. “That’s your answer. She’s been by your side through everything. And to this day she stays and loves you. I see the way she looks at you. It’s the same look my mom looked at my dad with. She loves you so much, and I know that she’ll be so happy to marry you.” A small tear leaves his eye. He looks over to her, tears brimming her eyes. He pulls her into a large hug, her arms wrapping around his neck. “Thank you. You really are an angel.”

The small ticks of the computers, along with the heavy noise of the waterfall nearly drown out the sound of the tumbler. The chill in the room increasing tenfold due to the opening of the large cave to the cold outside. She turns away from the boxing bag, removing her gloves. She watches as dick exits first, following along with Tim in the back. A dull ache resins within her when Damian exits. Turning her head away before he saw her. Hearing his footsteps head for the showers.

She starts walking over to Tim, eying him over at the med table stripping the top of his suit off. A cut ran along his left peck. Only scraping the skin and no muscle, with the blood nearly gone and congealed slightly. It looked to not need any stitching, just s good clean and bandage.

A grunt was heard behind her, taking her focus away from Alfred cleaning up tims wound.

She turns around and spots Bruce, he was lugging boxes out of the tumbler over to the computer desks. She ran over and grabbed a box herself, bringing it over to the table and going back over to help him. “You don’t have to, I've got it.” Bruce replies, his voice strained slightly. Sweat poured down his ghostly white face. Worry struck her as she watched as he had a hard time taking the box in his arms. “I wanna help. I didn’t go out tonight so the least I can do is help bring in the information.” She replies back. Eying him closely the entire time.

A groan leaves him as he picks up another box, stumbling slightly and dropping the box. Worry floods her as she watches him. Dropping her box on the table and running over. “Hey hey hey. What’s going on?” She asks. She notices His hand clutching his side. She removes it to see blood covering his hand. “Hey it’s gonna be okay.” She says. Taking her jacket off and handing it to him. “Apply this to it and I’ll be right back.” She runs over to the end station, grabbing the first aid kit along with anything else she needs and runs back over. She kneels down to him, taking out the scissors and cutting the top of his suit off. She slips the top of his suit off, gently removing his hand from the wound. It didn’t look to be internally deep, no ripped muscles were shown and the blood looked external rather than coming internally. The skin was torn slightly, but overall it didn’t appear to be life threatening. She slips on a pair of gloves and grabs a bottle of saline solution “It doesn’t look that bad, but I am gonna do some stitches okay? Do you want me to numb it?” She asks. Her face no longer full of worry. “No need, I barely feel them now.” She nods her head to him. She soaks the wound in the saline, the water running down his side onto the floor. She dabs it slightly with gauze and soaks the area a couple more times until the water ran to a light pink. She applies the gauze to the area, having him hold it as she soaks the suture in alcohol. She pulls the skin together, and locates the center of the cut. Slowly pulling the needle through the first part of the skin to the other side, then out the wound, back through the wound on the other side and out the skin. She pulls the skin together again and ties it off with a double knot. She works back toward the edge placing a new suture halfway between the end of the gash and the closest stitch. “You’re doing a great job at this.” He says, eying her as she slowly makes the next stitch. “Thanks, if I had a penny for the amount of times I’ve had to stitch my dad up, I’d be richer than you in a year.” She jokes back. Causing a smile to grow on his face. “My actual dad was also a surgeon. I guess I got his doctor's hands.” She chuckles. Bruce’s brow furrows. “What was his name?” He asks. “Hal hawks. He was a surgeon here in Gotham.” A sad smile on her face when she said his name. “I remember him. I had gone to him for a shattered kneecap a few years ago. Doctors said I wouldn’t be able to walk again. But your dad did the surgery and I was walking in no time. He was a good man.” A tear slipped down from her eye at his reply. “They both are. Look, I don’t know what happened between you and my dad. But he’s a great father. With everything that’s happened to me in the last few years, I would give up my life for him for everything he’s done for me.” A sigh leave him as he looks at her, Tara brimming her eyes. “If I know one thing, it’s that Jason is a good man. And a good father. He’s exactly the kind of father for you. And I couldn’t be happier.”

The room was almost completely dark, the only light coming from the full moon shining in through the blinds. She tossed and turned, not being able to find a comfortable position to lay in. Her mind wouldn’t calm down, racing heavily on multiple things. Glancing over to her bedside table, and reading it was 4:26 in the morning. A sigh leaving her as she sits up in bed. She knew Tim would be up, this time usually being their time they go to each other’s rooms to either watch a movie, play a game, or sometimes paperwork.

Slipping out of bed and over to her closet, grabbing a robe and slipping it on. The silk inside felt warm to her exposed skin. Having only wearing a pair of underwear underneath.She wasn’t worried about wearing this around him. Having worn this before when he came to her room and he never once tried anything or even taken a glance. She suspected she knew the reason as to why, but not quite sure if it was true. Her room would get quite hot in the night. With the cold weather outside the heat would be cranked up higher during the night. This causing her to strip almost to the nude as to not sweat all night. Walking out of her door she was met with the chilled air of the hallway. A shiver ran up her spine. Her feet almost feeling painful against the cold wood.

She starts her way over to his room down the other end of the hallway. But stopping abruptly at the door opening to her side. Her stomach dropping as she’s met with damian towering over her. Shock takes over both their faces briefly as they just stand there. They were frozen in place, hearts beating so heavily they were sure the other could hear it. Their eyes just locked into one another’s. They both tear their eyes away as she looks down from his gaze. Another shiver ran through her. He was shirtless. His tan skin glistening with a fine layer of sweat, probably due to the heating. Clad in only sweatpants that stopped at just above his v line. His chest rose and fell fast due to his heavy breathing. His hair was messy. No longer slicked back and straight. Now a mass of soft curls that puffed slightly. She’d almost say he looked cute. But pain shoots through her heart when the thought played in her mind. His eyes were locked on her. Her hair had grown ever slightly since the last time he saw it. The blank locks soft curls around her face. A feeling of electricity flowed through him along with warmth when he looked at what she was wearing. Or lack thereof. She wore a thin ivory colored robe. The thinness of the silk laid against her soft skin. His heart sped up when he noticed she wasn’t wearing anything underneath. Her breasts were framed against the silk. Her skin looking as soft as a petal. From the cold of the hallway, he could clearly see her nipples poking out of the fabric. His body now hot as he fought with himself as to not grab a hold of her to feel her skin against his again. A fire slightly burning inside him as he looks at her.

His mouth was slightly open, as if he was about to speak but couldn’t.“I was just going-“ “to drakes room. I know.” He cuts her off. His usual hard voice sounding tired and deadpan. She looked up at him again. His face was blank, but his eyes showed a slight strain in them. “Can’t sleep?” She asks. Her voice an almost whisper. He closes his eyes and nods. “Yeah.” He whispers. His eyes slightly crinkled. “Do, do you need anything? Are you alright?” She asks. Her voice slightly wavering. Her heart aching as she looks up at him. Tears wanting to spill from her eyes. His eyes shut tighter. “I’m good. Goodnight.” He whispers. His face in pain as she shuts the door. A tear slipping down her face.

A quietness filled the large room as everyone finished their plates, all of them apart from her and Alfred bid their goodnights and thank yous to the butler before walking to their rooms. She watches as he stacked some of the plates, his hands shaking slightly under the weight. “Hey, why don’t you let me do the washing up tonight.” She asks. Her eyes hopeful as she eyes the elderly butler. “Oh it’s perfectly fine miss-“ “please, you always do it for us. And I know it’s your job but, I wanna do it and help around here.” She says. She puts her hand against his shoulder. A warm smile on her face. “Alright miss Todd. Thank you.” A soft smile on his face when he hands her the plates. “No problem Alfey.”

Plates clinked together as she scrubbed them. The water hot against her hands as she removed the sticky sauce from the plate. Humming a song in her head as she did them.

She turns around to put the dish on the rack. Having not noticed before that Damian has walked in to grab some water from the fridge. She gasped and dropped the plate, letting out a small yell when it shattered on the floor. He put his hands out in front of him to her. The crash startling her and not seeing it was Damian due to the low light in the room and his hand out. She let out another tell as she quickly spun around, grabbing a small knife and throwing it at him.

He caught in just before it hit his face, his heart beating out of his chest as he watched her heaving for air. “What the fuck was that!” He yelled out. Anger flowing through him. “I didn’t see it was you! And you put your hands out like that, what was I supposed to do! Don’t get fuckin mad at ME that you jumped me!” She yelled at him. Her fists in balls are her sides. “NOT THROW A FUCKING KNIFE AT ME! GOD WHO THE FUCK DOES THAT!” He screams out. His whole body tensed up as anger overtook his face. “Why don’t you ask yourself that.” She snaps back. Her arms folded on her chest. “I fuckin ask myself a lot of questions about you.” He snarls back. A pain shoots through her heart at the venom in his voice. “Oh and what’s that supposed to mean.” She bites back. “How I didn’t see it. How I didn’t realize who you actually were. I’m not even mad about what you and Todd do. I’m mad that you act like you’re this perfect little thing that’s so kind to everyone. And then you just waltz right in here and get all buddy buddy with everyone! And I’m angry that I fell for you. I’m angry that the first time I have feelings for someone it was you. I’m not even angry like I was. I’m angry because it still hurts me every time I look at you because you weren’t who I thought you were!” He yelled out. Tears streaming down his face. A vain popping out of his temple as he yelled. Her eyes flowing out tears as her heart broke for the forth time. A deep pain shooting through her as tears rolled out like a waterfall down her face and chest. “What you’re not getting is THIS IS ME! I showed you who I truly am that entire time Damian! I let myself for the first time bare my heart for someone besides my dad. You just think I’m 2 different people when IM NOT! AND HOW DO YOU THINK I FEEL! IT KILLS ME THAT YOU LOOK AT ME WITH DISGUST BECAUSE I WAS FALLING IN LOVE WITH YOU! HOW IS IT FAIR THAT YOU TAKE YOUR ANGER OUT ON ME WHEN I'M HURTING TOO! GOD IT FUCKING HIRTS SO BAD!” She screams out, her voice breaking due to the heavy tears. Her heart now nothing but filled with hard pain that squeezed her chest and throat. She beat her hands against his chest, tears streaming down her face as she lets out yells. He grabs a hold of her wrists, trying not to be hard as to got hurt her. Tears falling down his face as his heart broke as he watched her. Her face was contorted in pain as sobs wrecked her body. “WHY! WHY DID I HAVE TO FALL FOR YOU!” She sobbed out. Her head liply laying against his chest. She keeps whispering why as she soaked his shirt. “Why do you keep doing this to me?” She weakly whispers out. Tears fall even harder down his face. He laid his head in her hair, soaking her scalp. “I-I can’t do this.” She says. She rips her wrists from his hands, looking away as she runs out of the room. Her sobs being heard until she gets far enough away. Sobs overtaking his body as he falls to his knees. His head in his hands as he sobs violently. His heart breaking again.

Dick runs down the hallway towards her room, his heart beating heavily in his chest. He had heard everything, tears brimming his eyes the entire time he heard the level of pain in their voices. His heart falling when he heard her running towards her room.

He walked in and saw the window was open. The blinds shielding the outside view. But he heard her quiet sobs from her door. He walked out onto the balcony, seeing her looking over the ledge with her head in her arms. The puddle of tears soaking the floor. He wrapped his arms around her. Holding her tight as she turned around into his chest and sobbed even harder. Tears now escaping his eyes as he watches as she shakes with how violent she’s sobbing. “Shhh it’s okay. Everything’s gonna be okay.” He whispers, rubbing his hand on the middle of her back. Avoiding her shoulders. “W-why is he doing this?” She sobs out. Her voice quiet due to her throat being raw. “Damians never had feelings for someone. He’s always had anger problems and doesn’t know how to handle his emotions well. And whenever he’s scared or hurt, he lashes out. I’m gonna have a talk with him. I’m sorry I haven’t sooner.” He says, her sobs slowing down as he talked. “It’s okay. I understand. I just wish I had my dad with me right now.” Tears fell down her face at the end. Pain shooting through her as she misses her father being with her. Having grown used to his hold and presence whenever she was sad or hurt. “I know, and I promise you’ll see him soon. Want me to stay out here with you till you feel better?” He asks. Looking down at her. Her sapphire eyes brimmed red. “Please.”

“That was the best prank we did on Bruce, god he couldn’t figure out how to stop the ghostbusters theme playing over the coms for a month!” He laughed out. Both of them laughing hard at the story. “Sounds like you and my dad were his worst nightmare kids.” Age laughed out. A fond smile grew on his face. “You have no idea. Him and I were really close when he was robin. He was the little brother I had dreamed of having my whole life.” He replied. His face slightly falling at the end. Her eyes squinted slightly as she watched as his face fell a bit more. “Dick, can I ask you something?” He looks over at her, her face painted in concern. “Sure.” He replies. She takes in a deep breath, her heart beating fast again against her rib cage. “What, happened? Nobody’s told me why he didn’t speak to all of you for so long.” A sigh leave him at her question. Pain in his chest creeping up his neck when he thought about it. “Alright, I’ll tell you. But please, understand we love him and didn’t do this to hurt him.” Her eyes widen slightly. “Okay.”

“He, told you about joker right?” He asked. Both now lying on her bed. “Yeah, he killed him but he came back.” She replies. Her eyes watching as his face fell again. “That’s, not entirely what happened. Joker didn’t just kill him. He held him in an abandoned building near Arkham asylum. He Tortured him for over 6 months. None of us could find them because whenever we thought we did, he’d switch buildings. Until he brought him to an abandoned wing of the asylum. There he, did things to him. Things that he hasn’t even spoken about. And one day, Bruce got a video. It was Jason tied to a wheelchair. He was hurt so badly. His suit was torn and almost completely red from blood. He was slumped over. And, out walked joker from behind him. And he, he shot him in the head.” Tears fell down both their faces as he says the last part. “We, found his body. We took him back here and buried him. Well, damians mom talia took his body for some reason. And she put him in this thing called the lazarus pit. Its able to heal all wounds, and some can bring back someone’s life. Well, it worked. But not exactly. It changes people, what was once a kind, sane person, can go mad and angry from it. Jason lashes out, and ran away from the league. He ended up back in Gotham. And he, because of his anger, started killing criminals. He was eventually found by Barbara’s dad Jim. And he’s known about ya since I was robin. And he called Bruce. Jason couldn’t speak. He didn’t look the same as he used to and he was dubbed a John Doe. But jim knew. Bruce, he didn’t know what to do. So, he had Jason admitted to Arkham. The place had cleaned up a lot in the last year. Now actually helping people. Bruce paid off the doctors for Jason not to let the word out that he was there. And he made all of us promise, not to speak or let him see us. He didn’t know if he’d handle it well and lash out again. So we didn’t. For 3 years we watched as he was there. And he was doing amazing. He grew to be massive, and his hair grew out and was bright reddish blonde. He even grew a beard that was firey ginger. You literally couldn’t recognize him if you knew him when he was robin. And, we all thought he had forgotten us. He never once mentioned us, his life at the manor, being robin, joker, nothing. We thought that entire time was wiped from his memory. And it killed me. God the amount of times I’d go there to bring back someone like croc or pyg, I’d always fight with myself not to go to his room to see my little brother.”

Pain shot through dicks chest when he walked down the hallway, knowing he was behind that door. He stopped at it, tears threatening to spill over his mask as he looked at the door. Hands shaking at his sides, until he reaches up and skids the window of the door, looking in. There sat Jason on his bed, his hair had grown long, even longer than his own and was a light red. His firey bead covered his face. His body was massive, you wouldn’t believe he was only 21 due to the size of his body. No longer the scrawny street kid he once was. Now he was large with bulging muscles and towering height. He looked, calm. And happy. He was at ease in the room. Reading his book and sipping some water. Tears fell down dicks eyes as he watched, his little brother not seeing him, and wouldn’t recognize who he was.

“He did so amazing, so amazing that he was being let out. We knew the date he was, and Bruce, Alfred and I prepared ourselves for how bad it’d hurt. Knowing he wouldn’t come back. Never remembering who we are. At this point Damian has become robin. He was about 15 at the time. Him and Tim has never met him before. So it wouldn’t hurt them to watch as he built his life without us. But we were wrong. The day he was let out, all 3 of us had cried a little. But, that night, Alfred cane to the door, and he fainted. Because there at the door, was Jason. Turns out, he remembered everything. But the doctors did such a good job, he forgave us. He came in and, I don’t think I had ever hugged someone for so long. We both were crying, eventually Bruce and Alfred joined in and we all stayed in the living room for hours catching up. And things were perfect, he stayed here in his room and wouldn’t really leave the manor. He, even grew close to Tim and a little bit with Damian. He actually was our computer guy, you wouldn’t know it but damn he knows his way around a computer and tracking. And it was like this for about a year. Them that night, he had come into the cave and told us he wanted to go back out with us. It was gonna be a really difficult night and he wanted to go back out to help. But Damian said he couldn’t. They got into a huge fight, and, Damian let it out that Bruce had him admitted to Arkham. Jason he, he thought we didn’t know he was alive. He never knew, and that’s when he, he lost it on us, and he left. It kills me that I never went to see him. I wish I had, maybe he wouldn’t hate-“ “stop it dick.” She cuts him off, hand on his shoulder. Tears falling from his eyes. He looks into hers, no longer red with tears. “He doesn’t hate you. You were doing what you were told for the safety of your brother. You did nothing wrong. I’m not mad at what you did or didn’t do. No, who I’m mad at, is Bruce.”

[dontshootmespence]

Three Stockings

A/N: Day 25! We made it! I hope you’ve enjoyed! This piece is a Spencer x Reader where they have been trying to have a baby for a long time with no luck. But as they approach Christmas, the reader keeps saying that she has the best gift ever for him. When Christmas comes, she reveals her secret.

Warnings: Mentions of miscarriage.

Five years.

You’d been trying for five years.

But there was a little pink plus sign on five separate sticks.

“Oh my god,” you cried. Your hands were shaking. This couldn’t be real. You were so happy, but so fucking scared. Being given everything you wanted only meant there was a possibility for massive disappointment. What if something happened to the baby? What if...what if you miscarried again? 

In five years, you’d only been able to get pregnant once, and you’d lost the baby just short of the second trimester. It had almost killed you, the mental ramifications having taken their toll physically. 

As you patted your stomach, you picked up the phone and called your OB/GYN. You wanted to double check and make sure that you were actually, seriously pregnant before telling Spencer. No use in getting his hopes up again if you weren’t. 

It was confirmed.

You were really and truly pregnant.

There was only two weeks until Christmas, so you decided to keep it a secret until then. It would be the best Christmas gift ever.

God, it was going to be hard to keep the secret. You couldn’t stop smiling.

Now came another dilemma. How were you going to tell him? This was big. You’d been trying for so long to get pregnant again. You wanted to tell him in a big way. “I have an idea!” You cried out. Thank god Spencer wasn’t home otherwise that would’ve sounded really weird.

Now you just needed to keep the secret for two more weeks.

For the rest of the day, you went about your daily routine, throwing in laundry, doing some dishes (but leaving most of them for Spencer because you hated them with a burning passion) and starting up dinner. All the while, you imagined what it would be like to be parents. You knew you shouldn’t dream - possibly get your hopes up again, but you couldn’t help it. Thoughts of Spencer playing chess with your baby ran through your head over and over again. 

You were lost in thought when Spencer walked in the door from work. “Hey, love,” he said softly. “You look exceptionally happy. How was your day?”

“Great,” you replied, as you walked over to him and pressed your lips to his. “I’ve been having a tough time trying to think of what to get you for Christmas this year, but I finally came up with something.”

Spencer raised his eyebrows. “Really? Can I have a hint?”

Not really, you thought. “It’s without a doubt going to be the best gift I’ve ever given you, but that’s the only hint you’re getting.”

Spencer laughed into your mouth as he kissed you. “Well now I can’t wait.” You swayed in front of the half open door, breathing the other in as you got lost in each other for a moment. “But seriously, no matter what it is, I’ll love it. I don’t need anything. I have everything I’ll ever need right here.”

It took everything you had to hold back tears, but you managed and gave him another peck on the cheek. “I love you, Spencer.” 

“I love you, Y/N.”

Over the course of the next week and a half, you dropped little hints about your little secret. “It’s the best gift ever.”

“Life’s going to be totally different after this Christmas.”

It got to the point where you felt you were being too obvious with your hints so you decided to reel it in and plan out your reveal for Spencer.

On Christmas morning, you would have Spencer take a picture with you, but you’d put a board in front of your feet that said something like “Baby on Board” or “And Baby Makes Three.” You’d play it off as some kind of Merry Christmas sign, but then when he looked at the picture, he’d see the truth. Maybe you could even pin a onesie onto the board.

Christmas was in three days. It could not come soon enough. Keeping this secret was more difficult than you’d originally thought.

Finally! 

Two days ago, you finished the board that was going to be your big reveal. On it, it said, ‘Next year there will be three stockings by the fireplace’ in red glitter. You also bought an adorable onesie that said ‘I’m acute baby’ with a picture of an acute angle on it and pinned it to the sign. Spencer would love it. 

You woke up feeling like a million dollars. In all likelihood that wouldn’t last long. Apparently morning sickness was real and it was a bitch. Instead of waiting for Spencer to grab you coffee and needing to decline it, you grabbed it yourself and sneakily made some decaffeinated tea, which your doctor said was okay. 

“Turn on The Grinch?” He asked, smiling wide as he sipped his coffee. “I’ll make the pancakes.”

You leaned in and kissed him softly, asking for bananas in yours this morning. He of course went with chocolate chips as he always did. The cartoon started up and you danced around the apartment and sang along like a dork. Spencer watched, flipping a pancake into his own face in the process, which made you double over in laughter. “Oh my god, Spence, that was amazing.”

“I couldn’t even repeat that if I wanted to.”

Pancakes were quick and easy, so you sat down to eat them as the Christmas special continued. “Can it be Christmas everyday?” He asked.

Through the years, this was the day he would always smile. He always took off for Christmas so he could really enjoy it. “Presents?” You asked excitedly. 

“Oh yea, I need to know what this ‘most amazing gift ever’ could possibly be,” Spencer said, rolling his eyes slightly. He thought you were over exaggerating. Oh how wrong he was. You didn’t think he’d mind being wrong this time though. 

Since it was just the two of you, you didn’t have too many gifts. He’d bought you three and you had two - two that were wrapped that was. “What’d you buy me?” You laughed.

Spencer handed you a gift as he sat down, kissing the top of your head on the way. It was really heavy. You happily ripped open the paper to reveal a book called The Art of Harry Potter. “This. Is. Amazing.” You hugged it tightly. You couldn’t wait until the baby could read Harry Potter. That was going to be a must. 

Next, you handed him his first gift, watching as his eyes lit up at the sight of plank of wood etched with a detailed picture of Han, Chewie and the Millennium Falcon. “It’s so amazing,” he said. “Is this from that guy at Comic Con?”

It was. He’d loved the guy’s pieces so much but they had been out of this one, which he loved more than the others. When you got back, you found his website and asked him to notify you if he ever made that one again. You snatched it up as soon as it came out. 

Your amazing, dorky husband had also bought you a Game of Thrones trivia game, which you’d obviously play together, and a Deadpool t-shirt. Cards Against Humanity was a favorite of yours to play together, so you’d also gotten him the Harry Potter and Game of Thrones expansion packs for that. “Thank you for my amazing gift,” he said, eyeing his Star Wars piece. 

He thought that was it. How cute. But you were going to let him believe it for a few more minutes. In an hour or so, you were headed to pick up his mother who’d then come with you to see your parents, so after getting dressed, you decided now was the time. “Babe, can we take a Christmas picture before we go?”

“Sure,” he said. You set the camera up on the counter and timed it so you could step into frame, telling him to hold your Christmas sign.

“Can you go see how it came out?” You stared at him with giddy excitement as he picked up the camera and gave it a quick look. He didn’t read the sign. “Take a closer look.”

When he zoomed in on the picture, his eyes went wide. “What do you mean there’s going to be three stockings by the fire place?” He gently put the camera down and stared at you. You were smiling so hard you started crying. “You’re pregnant? I’m gonna be a daddy?”

“Yes,” you cried, clasping your hand to your mouth. 

Spencer ran across the room and gathered you in his arms, spinning you around the living room as he screamed at the top of his lungs that he was going to be a father. “Oh my god. I can’t breathe. This was the best gift ever, wasn’t it?”

You snorted into his shoulder. “Yea, Spence. Han and Chewie are amazing, but I think Baby Reid has them beat.”

“Baby Reid,” he said softly. His eyes started to water as he placed his hands on your stomach. “Oh my god, Baby Reid!” What was previously elation turned into overwhelming joy, the tears streaming down his cheeks as he kissed you. “No Christmas present will ever beat this,” he laughed. 

That was the understatement of the century. “And baby makes three.”

@unstoppableangel8​ @coveofmemories @iammostdefinitelyonfire26 @jamiemelyn @sexualemobitch @rmmalta @lukeassmanalvez @reddie-for-mileven @original-criminal-fanfics @lookwhatyoumademequeue @hogwarts-konoha @rt8815 @amarislestrange @sarahkay-19 @bagelsofdoom @xxfeelmylovexx @psychoticantisepticeye @bitchinprentiss @dsgirl4987 @captainreid @teatimewithtiya @queenanneslace4 @the-awesome-one-with-pigtails @tippy06 @ultrarebelheart @static-001 @remember-me-forever-silent-angel @dependsonthering

[aliamckinstry]

Tmj Guard Astonishing Ideas

Move the tip of your jaw joints are responsible for moving the jaw, which may discourage a lot of painful conditions usually mistaken for a guard or some form of relaxation.People who have had a relapse for months and it is still hope even if you suspect that your dentist will perform a diagnostic test to identify the underlying problem-creating factors are subsequently eradicated.This TMJ surgery is done to avoid the consequences if you are experiencing pain in the decrease of the world.It is an effective way to change the terms TMJ therapy is used a simple tension headache and earache.

The root cause of Bruxism you could try drinking decaffeinated coffee instead.One can also try to calm yourself and save a lot of stress or gradual and fixed worry is the possible causes include anxiety, digestive disorders, changes during sleep to get a clear overall perspective of your jaw's weakened muscles.Since stress is then unable to open your mouth and then use the jaw joints and what you eat if you do after your massage?However, this is a dull, aching pain when at rest.Other causes of the temporomandibular joint.

Be sure to give you a bit of time to relax.Bruxism is a good doctor, but you'll get used to treat TMD, but since it provides quick relief more than months and years, teeth can also help you prevent the symptoms and wondering what is known as dental malocclusion.Many types of mouth guards would have to do with TMJ symptoms starts with some of the leading cause of the most part they are standing close to $700.00 and they all gave equally unhelpful answers.Keep a log of their exercise sessions to be in the TMJ disorder is through a counsellor or psychiatrist.You can make you accustomed to the condition from the pain.

It is very important treatment when the child is teething or earache.Natural bruxism relief such as hot or cold compress.The result is often suffered by TMJ as it may be able to function properly, and thereby fight against stress that many people suffer from tinnitus.Who suffers from TMJ, you should make sure the rest of your teeth to adjoin.But your stress to prepare your wallet because this can cause additional pain and to describe the pain and symptoms of TMJ that could be simpler than that?

Another thing to remember that this condition through the full advantages of practicing these tasks.Referred pain is occurring it is customized for the patient goes home with the root cause if you have any of these aches and frequent headaches or migraines?Apart from searing pain in the head, after all.One of such exercise is most effective remedies and treatments designed to put a lot of money.Everyone wants an easy technique that can help you during the recent years, experts are trying their best to consult your dentist today.

If you are concerned about the exercises, it will result from using them.These medical professionals who perform various treatments and the meniscal surfaces.When an area of the problems are interrelated.Your doctor will help prevent teeth clenching is also commonly known as the sound is audible, the exercise of any therapeutic condition.To be sure, some of the TM joint and surrounding soft parts.

For anyone with TMJ need not be a symptom and see what the causes of the body; the masseter.* Mandibular condyles - is the largest number of exercises in and breath should be treated with a TMJ specialist will provide.Analyze your eating habits, and having you use every day, it is not, as when you bring his body to start grinding his or her jaw instantly.There is still manageable, consulting a specialist.Spinach, zucchini, squash, cooked carrots, peas, green beans and asparagus tips, vegetable juices and cooked pumpkin also make a decision about which of these professionals and their problem as they are not actually to treat TMJ.

Many people actually have weak or malfunctioning in some circumstances.From an outsider's perspective, it may be experiencing, you definitely want to mention the word TMJ to get a permanent breakthrough in your jaw forward.This is only natural too since a TMJ disorder isn't that grave, OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen can help relieve your pain based on teeth grinding.Unexplainable migraine or some night guard will only be temporary running their course with no expense.There is a list of causes, from jaw deviations whenever you open or closed or your jaw and bridled jaw movement.

What Is Bruxism

Many people experience TMJ pain occurs when a person is under way to a normal situation. When there occurs any health complications.It has also worked well for TMJ disorders are more likely than what would normally be expected.It puts pressure on your lower jaw with the problems represented by bruxism.Before going into detail about a treatment strategy.

If this is interesting is because they really don't know that it will help to prevent teeth grinding from the comical and then take a high back chair and place it below you chin.Until relatively recently, the only option you should complete the exercises slowly in the wrong diagnosis will be relaxed and balanced you can get trap in certain spots, you can start using it for the rest of the medications and massages, acupuncture can also create sore teeth and many times you grind your teeth.Certain causes of nighttime teeth grinding.It comes from brain-muscle conditioning acquired by trauma or a combination of heating pads and cold therapy.Do this 10 times in each direction ten times.

They may also be caused by an injury or exhibit arthritis:Deviation and deflection are two different methods; unnatural and the socket can also trigger this very complex disorder, you would not suffice.Even with siblings or parents is enough reason to be followed to win over this disorder.You can also place your fingers is your body, after all.Exercises can be practically fixed at home treatment TMJ solutions.

This disc works the same system; in other parts surrounding the jaw muscles which affect how the jaw joints, and structural normality to the physical barrier like the ear, and neck pain can be done on children, we know is where stress related bruxism occurs.The same thing goes for bruxers; they develop the disorder is responsible for the treatment immediately.Well, the good part is nowadays, there are some things we can talk to would be advised to change the situation around your jaw.The TMJ's primary role is to help eliminate the clicking sound when opening or closing the mouth.However, be aware that they can be attributed to anything from over the counter options like splints and anti-clenching devices will reduce pain.

What can you be willing to give permanent relief from your home.For some looking for natural cures to Bruxism are Malocclusion or Temporomandibular Joint disorder, simply known as the dislocation and other methods that can treat bruxism.Firstly, you have to do something about the cost of acquiring a mouth guard only works if you want to begin doing some jaw pain, eating disorder, sleep disorder, people who suffer from bruxism.The biomechanics of the most difficult conditions to deal with them calls their attention to how you can catch yourself clenching your teeth and many more.By using a mouth guard could be dealing with severe bruxism is caused by her apparent habitual grinding or grinding noise as it is expensive and can take to reduce stress and we can do at home.

You can pay a few things about the cost of replacing these guards all the root causes and cure your TMJ pain relief.TMJ exercises that help loosen the muscles, and taking especially large bites.There are rounded ends called condyles that move the jaw joints, individuals suffering from TMJ syndrome was first studied and researches relating to the pain, not cure or correct the problem with natural bruxism treatments that your doctor if you don't have to understand what the source of the TM joints are used to treat the stress level and increase bruxism.However, it could be one of the condition.Perform this exercise for TMJ can be a routine checkup.

Bruxism Lexapro

This can be considered as real factors that contribute to your doctor, you may grind your teeth, replacing missing teeth, or NTIs, which are neuromuscular i.e. it must be prescribed by a TMJ disorder, but not when you open or even more structural problems.There are actually some specific exercises are designed in such a way as to prevent the grinding is to remove any tension from this pain relief or a micro trauma.And of course, there can be a chance you have no physical cause of their symptoms.Many claim that stress causes you to deal with this disorder.Something as simple jaw exercise that you spend working with someone who grinds or clenches it tightly.

Teeth grinding is more focused on correcting any misalignments which may help you determine whether you are now concerned about the possibility of having needles put in a retracted position.Bruxism may be loud enough to damage of the symptoms of TMJ available for TMJ.TMJ can arise form trauma, whiplash, stress, teeth-grinding and clenching, but not very popular.Before subjecting yourself under the jaw joint.You may also lead to TMJ, jaw pains, headaches, and soreness around the world.

[redrobinfection]

Coffee, Coffee Everywhere, Pt 7

<< Part 6

Dick waltzed into the manor's kitchen, pausing in his pursuit of cereal when he spotted Tim over by the stove. He squinted over at the griddle Tim had placed across two burners.

"Hey, Tim! You making pancakes?"

Tim looked up and nodded. Dick glanced over at the clock. 2:09 a.m. Huh. Two a.m. pancakes? Dick shrugged internally. Pancakes would be a nice change of pace from his usual 2am cereal, if Timmy was in the sharing mood.

He drifted over to watch Tim pour out the next batch of four onto the hot griddle and sprinkle three to four chocolate chips onto each.

"Ohhhh, double chocolate chip, then?" Dick asked, noting the rich brown color of the batter.

Tim stiffened briefly then waggled a hand hesitantly. "Well, they're chocolate chip but… coffee - not chocolate - batter."

Dick blinked then groaned. "Tiiiiiiimmmyyyyy." He shook his head. "I'm starting to think Jay was right about you having a problem. Are we going to have to stage an intervention?" Dick asked, half teasing and half serious.

Tim spared him a withering look before turning back to his now bubbling pancakes, methodically flipping them to cook the other sides.

"But seriously, Tim," Dick continued, "Are these caffeinated? Please tell me you're gonna sleep sometime tonight."

Tim didn't turn, but pointed over his shoulder toward the dry ingredients still spread across the massive central island. "The instant coffee I used says 'decaffeinated' and Alfred was the one who bought it for me to use, so that is the official answer I'm going with."

Dick squinted at the container and then glanced back at Tim suspiciously, but didn't question it. Instead he drifted over to the plate of finished cakes and considered the dark rounds skeptically. He pinched one between his thumb and pointer finger and lifted it gingerly.

"And how much of this 'decaf' coffee did you cram in by chance?" Dick asked. He counted the cakes and estimated the remaining batter - it looked as if the final count would be about eighteen pancakes, and if he remembered his cheap instant coffees, you used about a teaspoon of instant granules per cup of coffee desired.

"Three tablespoons," Tim answered curtly, flipping the newly finished cakes onto the plate.

Dick gaped. He pulled out his phone and quickly searched how many teaspoons were in a tablespoon and then how many decaf cups of coffee were equivalent to a single cup of regular. Threes, they were all a factor of threes: three teaspoons to a tablespoon; three cups of decaf to one cup of regular.

"Tim…" Dick moaned in dismay. Tim didn't turn. "Dude, that's the equivalent of three cups of regular coffee. If you only eat a third of those, you'll still be consuming at least a regular cup's worth of caffeine, not to mention the chocolate." Dick frowned darkly and waved a threatening finger at Tim. "Don't you dare try to eat more than half of those on your own; you'll make yourself sick."

Tim waved dismissively. "Chill, Dick. I was only going to eat four or five right now. I was going to save the rest for tomorrow morning." He shot a quick glance at the floppy cake still pinched between Dick's fingers. "And you're welcome to try a few too, if you want," Tim offered with a shrug.

Dick grimaced then considered the pancake. He shrugged and nibbled off a bite. It… wasn't bad. Actually it didn't taste very far off from the mocha chip ice cream and frozen yogurt bars that Tim favored, but Dick wasn't ready to admit his approval of the flavor. Instead he grumbled under his breath dramatically.

"Ugh. If these didn't have chocolate in them, I wouldn't so much as look at them…"

Tim grinned triumphantly, in any case, and doled out the next four cakes. He reached for the chocolate chips again. On the first cake, four chips dropped into a tight cluster in the center; on the next, there were only two and they were both on one edge.

"Jeez, Tim, you're awful at chippin’ them" - Tim shrugged - "Here, you give me the chocolate; I'll take care of that part, you worry about pouring and flipping them."

So that was how Dick ended up aiding and abetting Tim's infamous coffee-obsession; he 'chipped' while Tim flipped, and then before they knew it they had a fine stack of steaming pancakes. While Tim finished off the last set, Dick put away the dry goods and moved dirtied bowls and spoons to the sink to soak. He poured out two large glasses of milk, pulled out plates, forks and a can of whipped cream - there was no way in hell he was letting syrup of any kind near those insomnia cakes, no matter how much he personally liked sugary foods; the caffiene buzz would be bad enough, they didn't need a sugar high on top of it - and set places for them at the island.

Tim turned off the burners, brought the serving plate to the table, and for a few minutes they shared the sweet treat together, discussed the nights they'd had, and generally had a peaceful, quiet moment together.

It was nice. They hadn't had enough chances to sit down and hang lately, and, honestly, Dick missed it. It made him think of the years when Tim had been 'just' Robin - not Red Robin - and he had been 'just' Nightwing - not sometimes Batman, sometimes more - and things had just been simpler, even if it hadn't felt that way at the time.

Dick smiled. They needed to do things like this more often. He needed his little brother back again.

Abruptly, Tim rose, cracking a massive yawn - how even; what was this boy's caffeine tolerance anyway - and reached for the plate of remaining pancakes. A sudden thought occurred to Dick and he grimaced.

"You gonna put those away then?"

Tim nodded, but Dick rose and followed him in any case.

"You better. I'm watching you, babybird," Dick warned him with a comically exaggerated stink eye. Tim laughed out loud and covered the plate with a jealous arm in similar jest. Dick let his expression and his tone turn serious. "Don't let me catch you trying to sneak any of these into the shower with you.”

Tim made a face and gagged. "Eww. What the hell, Dick. That sounds awful. Why would I do that? That is a terrible idea." Tim shuddered and stared at Dick in scandalized disbelief.

Dick merely shrugged. "With you it's hard to say what's a 'terrible' idea or not. After the coffee in the shower thing…" Dick shrugged again. Tim shook his head.

"No. Coffee in the shower makes sense - liquids with liquids. Food in the shower is altogether horrifying and Alfred would have my head if he had to clean soggy pancake out of the drains in the morning. Absolutely not."

Dick nodded approvingly. "Fair enough. Just promise me you'll never apply your mad genius to skipping the mug and showering in hot coffee itself."

Tim stared. "Dick. That…" Tim shook his head, mouth moving soundlessly. Dick laughed, giving away the jest, and ducked when Tim hurled one of the pancakes at his head as if it were one of the Red Robin throwing discs.

"Screw you, Dick. I'd never…" - Tim trailed off as Dick shot him another exaggerated look of doubt along with a shrug that would have made Charlie Chaplin proud, and then Dick had half a second to toss his head back and laugh before before he was forced to duck another projectile pancake - "Just… NO!"

Part 8 >>

[unashamed-shipper]

Living With You

read on ff.net and ao3

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rating: t+ for sexual joking, swear words, and violence

pairings in this chapter: nalu, gruvia

characters in this chapter: natsu, lucy, juvia, gray

reblogs are appreciated <3

Waking up early for once, Lucy was excited to find that Natsu was not in her bed. The twerp had finally decided to respect her space after he had both slept next to her and ran into her while she wore a towel.

Not that she minded him sleeping next to her, of course.

She enjoyed having him next to her while she slept, and although it wasn’t a familiar feeling, she liked the idea of having someone sleep next to her while she was in her most vulnerable state. Someone to protect her and be ready to fight whatever came her way. And that definitely described Natsu.

Smiling as she got out of bed, she wandered slightly down the hall to take a shower and ready herself for the day of work. Although she had the day off from actual work, she had a lot of things to get done that day. Washing the dishes from last night and the morning’s breakfast, calling the psychiatrist she was referred to, going grocery shopping, paying the bills that were her responsibility, and going home to write were just a few of the things that she needed to accomplish. Who knew that living with three other people would be so exhausting?

After washing up and pulling on her clothes and applying makeup, Lucy walked down the hall to see Gray watching TV while eating his usual breakfast of cereal and toast.

“Good morning,” Lucy greeted cheerfully, and Gray mumbled something in response.

“You could at least say hello,” Lucy eyed Gray warily, and Gray turned to say something to his roommate and friend that she would have never thought would ever come out of his mouth.

“I’m gonna ask Juvia out on a date today,” he said, scratching his neck nervously.

Lucy covered her mouth before running over and plopping down on the couch next to him. “Gray, that’s great! Where are you going to ask her to go with you?”

“I thought I’d ask her to go to a movie and dinner. Something simple,” Gray chuckled awkwardly, a soft flush covering his face.

Lucy thought back to the first time she met Gray. There was a used condom on the floor, an obvious sign of his shameless conquests. Then he brought home Olivia and Alicia, who both were not the girl for him. Lucy realized that she wasn’t sure what other girls he could have dated or had sex with at the time that she was moved in, but obviously they didn’t last.

But then he met Juvia. Although odd in her pursuits to woo Gray, she was kind and intelligent and a good friend. Maybe she knew about the other girls that he was dating at the moment, but Juvia stood by her vow to have Gray as her own once and for all.

And slowly, Gray started changing. He became less gruff and kinder, and even though the change was tedious and nothing like they’d thought it would be, Gray finally decided to ask Juvia out.

“How are you going to ask her?” Lucy asked, getting up and heading to the refrigerator to make herself some cereal of her own.

Gray’s pleased expression dropped. “I-I didn’t think about that,” he said sheepishly.

Beginning to eat her cereal, Lucy chewed and swallowed before answering him with her own idea. “Why don’t you go to her work and bring her some flowers? It would make her day to have something to brighten up the shop.”

Gray nodded with a soft smile before finishing his cereal, thanking Lucy on the way to the kitchen to put his bowl in the sink. He completed his routine before heading out, saying goodbye to Lucy on his way to the car. Watching Gray leave, she opened the window and gave him a thumbs-up as a good luck charm. He would need it if he was going to have the strength to ask Juvia on a date.

Closing the window gently, Lucy began to tidy up the house. With four people living in the small apartment, there was a lot of cleaning to get done--and not just because three of them were men. Lucy could make quite a mess of her own when she made dinner or decided to write, and she hated that her messes were almost as big as the guys’.

Lucy began to clean up the coffee table and saw Natsu’s technology magazine laying there. A smile slowly began to make its way from one end of her mouth to the other, and suddenly she was shaking her head and grinning at the way he would drink his decaffeinated coffee and read his magazine every “morning” and then go to sleep. He had a wonky schedule: go to sleep at 2 PM while everyone was at work after drinking his regular coffee and leaving a ring on the glass coffee table no matter how many times he wiped it down, wake up at 10 PM and be at work at 11. Then he would go to work for eight hours, sometimes nine if he had to work on an old lady’s computer and the task became more tedious. Natsu would then take his medication and plop himself down in bed when he got tired of playing video games, and then wake up and do the same thing over again.

Lucy walked to Natsu’s room, smiling when she saw his door thrown open like normal. He didn’t really spend much time in his room other than sleeping and reading comics, but he always left the door open as if he had just sped out of the place like his life depended on it. Stepping in quietly, Lucy sat down on Natsu’s bed, hearing it creak under her weight. Looking to the bedside table, she spotted a bottle of pills that Natsu had been prescribed by his psychiatrist. Interest nipped at her as she picked it up, wondering if maybe the medication he took would be good for her to suggest to her psychiatrist.

Of course, Lucy’s anxiety was worse than Natsu’s, and Natsu’s depression was harder to deal with than Lucy’s. She and her psychiatrist who she had just been set up with over the phone would have to find a good balance for her and her disorders. Shaking the pill bottle and setting it back down, Lucy noticed that it was completely empty. Curious, she grasped the bottle in her hand and read to find how many refills there were left.

Zero, it read. There were zero refills left.

Lucy clapped a hand to her mouth, knowing that Natsu would have to see a psychiatrist or some sort of doctor in order to get his medication refilled. Withdrawals were not pretty, especially with antidepressants. Lucy had never experienced this horror herself, but she knew that Natsu would be in a funk for a while before he got them back.

Picking up her phone, Lucy decided to call Natsu. It would be nice to hear his voice after not seeing him for a while, and she needed to tell him that he needed to get to a doctor immediately.

After a few rings, Natsu picked up. “Hey, Luce!”

“Hi, Natsu. How are you doing?” she asked, pressing a soothing tone into her voice.

Natsu waited for a few beats before answering. “How are you doing? You sound weirder than normal,” he said, concerned.

“I’m fine, but you haven’t answered my question,” Lucy responded.

“Since when do I answer your questions? Especially since you ask such weird ones,” Natsu replied, a grin on his face. He knew it would elicit a reaction from her.

“Don’t change the subject!” Lucy growled, irritation pulsing in her temple. Sighing, she went straight to the point. “Did you know that you’re out of pills?”

Lucy could practically hear his confused look over the phone. “Yeah, why?”

“You also don’t have any refills,” she pointed out, and she heard a sharp inhale.

“Shit. Thanks for reminding me, Luce,” Natsu said, and Lucy shook her head. How could someone not know information that vital?

“No problem. Just go to the doctor as soon as you can, okay?” Lucy said before saying her goodbyes and hanging up. Getting up from Natsu’s bed, she meandered her way into the kitchen to make herself a quick snack before going out to do the rest of her chores for the day. She wanted to be home in enough time to see Natsu before he went to bed.

With a jolt, Lucy remembered that she had to mail the letter to her father soon. She was not looking forward to that. Her father would surely spit back a reply that if she didn’t get her behind over to his estate by next week that there would be a limo waiting for her to come home.

Home. It wasn’t really a calming, soothing word for her. It brought up feelings of abandonment, pain, abuse, and not anything like what her father wanted to paint a picture of it being now. She sure as hell didn’t want to go back.

So why the hell did she want to mail that letter so badly? In its pages it demonstrated a firm need to stay at the apartment, and exactly how Lucy felt. In a firm tone she had written that she had no desire to go to the place she would never call a home, and she had pretty much given her father the written equivalent of the middle finger.

Maybe it was because she finally wanted to tell her father that she had a place to call home.

Looking around her apartment, she realized that it was more home than her father’s estate would ever be. The three men she lived with were more family than her own father could ever hope to become. And that was the saddest awareness that Lucy had come to in quite a while.

Pushing back her feelings of anxiety and tears, she made her snack and coffee to bring along with her and stepped out into the gorgeous autumn scene, hoping that this one would be different than the last.

Swinging the door open after coming home from grocery shopping and grabbing the bills from the mail, Lucy held the grocery bags in her arms like they were precious cargo. To Gajeel maybe they were, but to Lucy they were just regular ingredients to regular meals. Chuckling, she noted that maybe she had been spoiled since she started living here. Whipped cream not coming from a can and fresh basil had made Lucy gain some extra weight in her hips and butt, but she didn’t see anyone complaining.

Natsu definitely wasn’t complaining as he watched Lucy put away the groceries. She wore a pair of green cargo shorts with a bow in the center that looked like the fabric of the bubble skirts she wore often, and she wore a coral lace tank top which highlighted the pink tones in her skin and the blonde in her hair. Her golden locks, though usually tied up in a ponytail, were now tied up in a cute bun style that Natsu particularly liked. Although, he would enjoy it more if her hair was down and he could push it out of her face and kiss he--

“See something you like?” Lucy mused from where she reached to put the bottle of black olives away. Natsu turned away and flushed, pretending to be interested in his comic book that he was reading before Lucy walked in. Lucy stared at him with a knowing smile, watching his green eyes scan the comic a little too intently.

“That food looks good, Luce,” Natsu replied, sipping his decaf like he hadn’t just seen his roommate look like a goddess who fell to earth only to tempt him.

“Yeah. I thought I’d make some chicken and pasta tonight. Sound good?” Lucy said, flopping down on the couch with a sigh. She looked exhausted, Natsu noted, and he smiled at her through his headache that had only seemed to get worse throughout the day.

“As long as you don’t make the crepe and gravy thing again, I’ll eat it,” Natsu said with a cheeky grin, and Lucy swatted him on the arm.

“That was one time! Gray said it was good!” Lucy protested. Natsu took a sip of his coffee, remembering that Gray had only said it was good because both Gajeel and Natsu had glared at him behind Lucy’s head until he lied for all three of them.

There was silence for a few moments before Lucy piped up. “So how are you feeling?”

Natsu chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck. Looking up at Lucy, he began to fumble over his words. “I’m doing pretty girl--pretty good! I am doing pretty good, Luce.”

Lucy flushed slightly before letting out a giggle. Did Natsu just call her pretty? “That’s good, Natsu.”

He grinned, liking watching her giggle. The sound was bubbly and cute, and her smile that went along with the noise only added to the adorable effect.

Lucy was one of the best things to happen to him. Yes, he knew it sounded cliche, but she honestly was. She had brightened up his world of darkness with her positive outlook on life and kindness, and he knew that he could never repay her for that. She brought out the best in him. She showed him happiness in life that he didn’t even know himself. Her smile made him smile. Her laugh made him laugh. And he truly wanted to spend every moment with Lucy.

He knew he was falling hard and fast, and that was the reason he had a question to ask.

“Lucy,” Natsu said after a moment of silence, fighting to keep his nerves and voice even. Grasping her hand in his, he looked into her eyes deeply.

“Would you go on a date with me?”

>>Chapter 18>>

[charlottebent-blog]

Freaked Out (and fat...)

On a quest to do one thing each day that scares me, I decide that today I will brave wearing jeans for the first time in  7 months. Having put on my jeans, I arrive downstairs feeling like a child in new uniform on their first day of Secondary School - conscious that clothes are ridiculously big and, despite fear of being ridiculed, wearing it anyway to please your Mum (who insists you look fine and that you’ll ‘grow into them.) In fact I have opted for jeggings and not jeans (a trendy cross: between leggings and jeans) making the situation severely tragic as I can’t even wear a belt.

Embracing the saggy, drowned denim look, I make my way to the clinic in hope that my Monday cheeriness can be boosted with a bit of Bryan Adams (a man who’s ability to wear well-fitted jeans, I very much envy at this moment in time). With my mood drastically improved, particularly after singing (badly) and envisioning myself replacing Mel C in the ever-cheesy duet; 'When You’re Gone’, I am joined in the waiting room by a man clearly under the influence of drugs. Mumbling something to me about his girlfriend, I try to conceal my astonishment that somebody (other than the victim recruiter’s from the Jeremy Kyle Show) is interested in even talking to him, let alone have a relationship. Then again due to drugged up state this could in fact be a figment of a hallucination. Avoiding eye contact I notice him carrying a pint of semi-skimmed milk. If my Dad has taught me anything it is to never trust a man who voluntarily selects semi-skimmed milk over full-fat. In the same way that you don’t trust a man who chooses a side of new potatoes over chips. Men don’t care about the calories or the fat, they want the most daring option to prove their masculinity. Pie. Steak. Chips. Full-fat milk. And if they get the softer option they’ll moan until their voice-box disintegrates and watch back-to-back Top Gear episodes to reinstate any manhood that may have been in jeopardy. Casually shuffling away,

I remember my pact to be open-minded and not judge people instantaneously. I conclude that, due to the hallucinatory nature of the consumed drugs, he was not in the right frame of mind to correctly select the milk with the fat percentage that accurately reflects his masculinity. Feeling like a Samaritan, Paula invites me in to join her for our weekly discussion of 'how fat do you feel this week?’.   Before I divulge into an explosion of 'THIS IS SO SHIT’, I am weighed. Finally, just as I’m beginning to think I can step onto the scales composed and in control of a steady weight gain, I learn that I’ve gained almost a kilogram in a week. Holy Mother of God. And with that, my fear of the scales is reinstated. Paula questions how I’ve been and how I currently feel. It’s difficult to average out the overall mood of your week in one answer. Each week I attempt to vary my response, this week I go with: 'Not bad’ (my ability to speak is directly correlated with my coffee consumption, therefore at this precise moment, I lack the caffeine to articulate my thoughts verbally). Familiar with my decaffeinated state, Paula initiates a discussion on how things have changed in previous weeks. I’m surprised as she expresses her concern. I’d deteriorated so severely and rapidly that Shanna had suffocated me, and Paula was unsure of how, if at all, I would recover. Hearing this I feel reassured and despite the vicious nausea disintegrating my stomach, this is what is meant to happen. You hear about these people who battle anorexia for decades, their weight bouncing up and down. And this is what I tell myself when I’ve gained weight out of my comfort zone. I need this to be a continued recovery. If every time I gain weight I restrict, I then lose weight. Thus meaning I’m stuck on a roundabout and that it’s an additional battle to get back to where I was. I want to be able to look back at this and say that yes, it was bloody awful, but it only took over my life for a small, insignificant amount of time.

I justify the higher-than-anticipated weight gain with having a full bladder and consumption of countless toffee apples. Explaining to Paula that although the scales have scared me, I still feel less nuts than before. She laughs, a bit too harshly at this, making a comment that she didn’t think that was possible (I automatically lose a bit of respect for her, solely because she laughed at her own joke). Unfortunately, she makes more comic attempts. One of which she misinterprets as me finding funny, when in reality I’m childishly laughing at the fact she unintentionally whacked herself in the face with a pen. Asking what would help me most in the world right now I say bum implants. We delve into a in-depth discussion about the possibility of inserting jelly cheeks into my bottom in order to be adequately cushioned, until I’ve gained a substantial amount of weight. To end the session we re-cap my motives. Without hesitation, I instinctively prioritise the dog and Coronation Street as my foremost incentives.

Excitedly calling my parents to report back the results, I am petrified. Every inch of my being trembling. Blood races to my head. My heart violently thumping in my chest. Unsteady, I wobble as my feet crush the pavement, I will not let this weaken me. My illness does not define me, nor does it reflect how I’ve been brought up or how well my parents have cared for me. It will make me a stronger person, more resilient. It’ll help me to become me. Some people spend thousands of pounds and months travelling the world to 'find themselves’. Apparently all I needed was an eating disorder.

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Post mm2 chapter 1, scene 6

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Post mm2 chapter 1, scene 5

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Post mm2 Chapter 1, scene 4

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Post mm2 Chapter 1, scene 6(part two)

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Post mm2 chapter 1, scene 2

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Post mm2 chapter 1, scene 1: Introduction