#For my well being I do like picturing this lawyer as getting their boss the best deal that they can and then relocating to a new evil

[violent138]

Changed my mind, the funniest Gotham outsider POV would be the company lawyer who has to tell a besieged secretary that her boss has been arrested yet again and that meeting needs to get moved. In fact, to be safe, the whole calendar should be thrown out the window, sorry about that.

I'm imagining this lawyer losing his mind on a near daily basis because while he can't be party to crimes, he's got a functioning brain and has spent years giving his bosses subtle advice. That they don't follow. Ever.

[julietsbb]

so pondphuwin legal drama tv show where phuwin is a famous boxer with anger issues and pond is a defence lawyer

brought to you by a) pw being cute and doing silly boxing moves as they were shooting stuff for promoting fancon b) the pictures on pond in specs today and c) ppw in suits (and d) i want more unhinged angry phuwin content HE WOULD DO IT SO WELL and e) I want pond in more three piece suits and glasses and I’m desperate for him to have another role where he gets to sound intelligent/smart)

so Phuwin absolutely loses his shit at some asshole and beats him bloody I don’t care if it was justified or not or betty or righteous doesn’t matter but the dude hits him with an assault charge

And Phuwin can’t go to jail because then he can’t box and that would make him lose his mind because it’s the only way he knows to process his anger so IN COMES DEFENCE LAWYER POND who doesn’t even fucking want this case, he spends his time defending like, actually down on their luck people who deserves an extra chance BUT he’s also working in a corporate word that needs to make money and his boss told him to take the case because he’s friends with phuwin’s agent and pond is the bestest or some such and he owes his boss a favour

Anyways they obviously hate each other because phuwin’s anger at the entire situation keeps going off and makes pond’s job harder etc etc (also both of them are very attractive and they also hate that about each other)

And so it’s the night before the first hearing (they’ve been trying to dig up stuff to discredit the victim somehow) and pond snaps and is like “Jesus Christ if it can stop you from going off in court tomorrow just punch ME and get it out of your system I would prefer that actually” (it’s 2am and he has no filter left)

And pw’s character is like “????? what”

And pond is like “never mind I’m just tired” and pw’s like “no wait punching you sounds good actually could we do that because I’ve been wanting to punch your stupid fucking face with your stupid fucking glasses—“ and pond’s like “well if you’re punching me it’s sure as fuck not on my face because a) I need my glasses and b) it wouldn’t actually help your case if I showed up looking like my client with the assault charge just assaulted me, so it would defeat the purpose of it all” and then pw’s like well where the fuck can I hit you then and pond gives it serious consideration and it becomes, slowly, apparent, that he Knows Things™️ about being hit, saying stuff like “the meat of my thighs if I sit down or my buttocks if I’m lying down somewhere but that would be more awkward. possibly my chest too but let’s avoid my diaphragm and gut area” and like, he gets up and takes off his jacket???? and tie!??? and phuwin’s like “????????” but it also kind of makes him want to hit him more and pond tells him to control his punches so they don’t accidentally hit somewhere they shouldn’t and phuwin laughs in his face because don’t he know he’s talking to a professional boxer actually??

And so they find some way Phu gets to punch him in a way that’s Safe Sane and Consensual and phuwin thinks it’s weird as shit wtf kinda lawyer did they GIVE him but he…… can’t deny he feels better afterwards. And pond gets some MEAN bruises but they’re all covered up by clothes so it’s fine actually as he’d hoped his brain is much clearer after (actually after the first two punches pond has to tell him that he can hit harder than that it’s okay. phuwin hits harder)

Anyways court the next day isn’t a total disaster they haven’t lost YET bought themselves some more time the team celebrates with a beer that evening and they’re the only two left and phuwin’s tongue is loose enough to ask about it and pond’s is loose enough to answer, tell him about how people can enjoy pain in different ways, how it’s something he practises on occasion but has done so for a good long while and Phuwin is like o______o and like… “so it’s not just… punches?” And pond laughs in his face and tells him about how there’s a million different ways and types and personally he would usually prefer a heavy flogger to his back on a normal day but he’s tried this and that.

And phuwin’s char is FASCINATED and his fingers are starting to itch like they usually do for a boxing glove but less familiar and well worn, more new and existing. Exhilarating.

Anyways so Phuwin gets a new way to channel his anger and becomes the calmer for it in the rest of his life and pond guides him through it all very patiently whilst a) having a Great Time but also b) having a very Bad Time because he’s entering into a non-work intimate-but-not-sexual (yet) relationship with Important But Obnoxious Work Client (who really is less obnoxious once his shoulders unclench)

Also phuwin’s character has a cat that’s as aggressive as he is.

(Ps: maybe it turns out the “victim” was actually paid by one of pw’s competitors to deliberately piss him off to sabotage him or something I don’t know but they discover SOMETHING shady and thus there is plot they can bond over)

(Pps: they fall in love your honour)

[hollandorks]

haven

battinson! bruce wayne x f! reader

chapter four

Summary: After the sudden deaths of your mother and grandmother, you’re forced to return home to Gotham…and to the man who broke your heart three years ago. Back in Bruce Wayne’s inescapable orbit, you vow to get to the bottom of your former best friend’s new cold personality. But Bruce’s secrets aren’t what you’re expecting. a

a/n: had today off work so I wrote two chapters while watching the film for the *checks notes* millionth time. Anyways, in this chapter we get to see why the reader hasn't figured out Batman's identity...and it's because she as one (1) braincell to her name.

Series Masterlist

word count: 2.6k

“No,” he said. He went to walk away, the lines of his body rigid, but paused. “I’m glad you’re okay,” he said over his shoulder. 

She wondered if it was true.

The next morning, y/n woke up to good news in the form of an email from her editor granting her a leave of absence and temporary assignment at the Gotham Tribune. The editor there had been cc’d and asked her to call at her earliest convenience.

Then she saw the small package on her nightstand, delivered by Alfred sometime while she’d slept. Her phone had been returned and his short note told her to check to make sure everything was in order.  

She immediately called the editor of the Gotham Tribune. 

��Jansen,” he said in a gruff voice. 

“Hi, this is y/n, we emailed about my temporary assignment?” She absently spread the articles about Batman across her bed. One of them was a huge picture of some sort of…light signal against the night sky. Her brain turned that picture over while she spoke. It looked like a bat. She almost laughed. Subtle. 

“Oh, right!” She could practically hear the editor, Jansen, sitting up eagerly. “We heard about your attack, but your identity is being protected by Gotham police. What are you proposing? A tell-all?” 

“Well, I’m glad they’re tight-lipped. You heard one of them got away?” A noise of assent. “And a tell-all is only part of it. Part tell-all, part investigative report, part vigilante op-ed. I want to investigate who was murdered and why. I have a hunch that this was…not your run of the mill hit. There were four of them, two victims bound and gagged. And then this bat guy–I assume you know plenty about him–he steps in and tells me to run.” 

Jansen paused for so long she was afraid he would tell her no and hang up. “That’s a lot of work,” he finally said. “But if you do it right…hell of a piece. Front page, at least.” 

“You’re not going to tell me my hunch is made up? Or tell me not to go after the Batman?” She raised her eyebrows. Part of being an investigative journalist was getting the boss to believe in it enough to pursue the story–and part was pursuing it even after being told no. 

Jansen scoffed and said, “Fuck no. My source at GCPD is thinking the same thing about the murders. One suspect may have ties to the Gallo family in New York. All three who were caught lawyered up real quick without a word. And the Batman? Three years this guy has been around, even made national news last year, and you know what I have on him? Squat.” 

Y/n scrambled for a pen and flipped over the picture of the light signal to scribble notes. “Can you get me that source’s name?” She wrote out a note about the Gallo family and underlined it twice. 

“Nope.” He popped his lips on the P. “But I heard that Gordon took a shine to you. Batman’s right hand man.” 

She hummed and wrote another hasty note. “I preemptively asked for an interview but he told me to shove it.” 

“Sounds about right.” 

“Listen–can I work from home? Since the fourth suspect got away, I…don’t really want to be out and about in the city if I don’t have to be.” She would go into the Tribune offices if she had to, though, but working from home would also offer her a lot more freedom with the article. She was concerned about her safety, sure, but really she needed free reign to do what she wanted. 

Jansen chuckled darkly. “I get it. Sure. Send me updates as you get them and weekly summaries of your work. If I come across any leads, I’ll send them your way. Are you in protective custody right now?” 

She glanced around her room and thought about all of the security Wayne Tower offered. “Yes,” she said, and it wasn’t a lie. It just wasn’t the police protecting her. It was the Wayne legacy. 

“Well, be careful. If it is the Gallo family and they’re trying to set up here in Gotham….” He didn’t need to finish the sentence. 

“I will be. I have a lot to research right now anyways. And thanks–this helps me out a lot.” 

Jansen outright laughed this time. “Listen, kid, if you turn out right about any of this–or even manage to get more information about our friendly neighborhood vigilante–it helps me out a lot. I’m not being altruistic here.” 

“Thanks anyway,” she said with her own laugh. She had known as much when he had agreed to the assignment. It was a big thing, and she was willing to tackle it. She knew how the business worked. She could make the paper and its editor look really good if it worked out. “I’ll be in touch.” 

“I’d tell you to be safe, but we both know you investigative types aren’t like that. So I’ll just say this: don’t die before you get me a story.” 

They hung up. 

Y/n immediately opened her laptop and typed up everything she’d learned from the phone call. Then she made a list of research topics: the Gallo family and their potential ties to Gotham, how to get the GCPD to feed her information, the Batman, and a whole lot of other things that may or may not be connected. 

Her eyes fell again on the picture of the light signal–to the bat in its center. 

She chewed her bottom lip as she stared at her phone on the bed. Gordon wouldn’t give her an interview, at least not yet. 

The idea was a flash of lightning. 

Officer Martinez, with his mustache and wide eyed wonder at the home of Bruce Wayne. 

She did a quick internet search but couldn’t find any contact information for him specifically. There was, however, a general call number for the GCPD station he worked at. 

“Hi, I, um, had you guys come out for a robbery not too long ago and this really cute–” She gave a fake giggle, “–officer came to take my report…I’d like to send him an e-giftcard, you know, to say thank you? So if you have an email or something I could use…I promise it isn’t a scam. This is so embarrassing, I’m sorry–” 

The woman on the other end of the call sounded like she mostly just wanted y/n to hurry and hang up. “What’s the name?” she interrupted. 

“Officer Martinez. Cute mustache and–”

“I know the one. Hang on.” The sound of a keyboard clicking filtered through the call. “Here’s his official work email. So no funny business, alright? Or we’ll trace it back to you.” 

Y/n typed the email address in as the woman gave it to her. “Oh thank you so much!” 

Before she even finished hanging up she was writing the email. 

Officer Martinez–

You came to Wayne Tower after I witnessed a murder, and I was just reaching out because you seem trustworthy. I know that one suspect got away and, honestly, I’m afraid. If you have any information you can give me it might help with my peace of mind. Another truth? Lieutenant Gordon intimidates me, so I definitely can’t ask him.

Anything you can give me would really help. 

Feel free to email me–I know giving out any more personal information would be unprofessional and I really respect what you do. I don’t want to get you in any trouble. 

Sincerely, 

Y/n 

She read through it and wondered if she was laying it on too thick. But she knew, the same way she knew this case was big, that Officer Martinez would be a willing source. Even if he didn’t know that that was what he was doing. 

–

Y/n spent the rest of the day in a deep research hole, her eyes aching by the time the sun set. She hadn’t seen Bruce or Alfred either time she’d left in search of food or caffeine. 

She was in the study again, feet bare against the chilly hardwood floors, staring at a spot that looked like faded…white paint? She frowned as she ate her sandwich one-handed. Since when had someone painted on the floors? She tried to make out what it said, but almost all of it was scrubbed away. Maybe it was leftover from the bombing investigation. There was a section of flooring and a window that were much newer than everything else. 

It was late again, nearly one in the morning. Time always passed quickly when she was deep into a story. Her back and eyes hurt, her wrists cramped, and her brain was mush. But she hadn’t thought about her grandmother all day, and the ache in her chest was a little better than it had been the day before.

She leaned against the nearest window. She wanted to go out, but she would be lying if she said she wasn’t still scared. 

She rested her forehead against the window as she finished the last bite of her late dinner. Something bright caught her eye.

The light signal. The one with the giant bat. 

She straightened. What had that article said? A way for the city to call the vigilante when in need? 

She stared at the light. It was cloudy, which made it almost easy to trace the path of the light down, down, down…

She could see the half-built tower in the distance. Wayne Tower had a perfect view of it, in fact. 

A thrill ran through her blood. 

Forget staying in–she needed to get to that light before it was turned off. 

She ran down the hallway, the sound of her footsteps reminding her of a million games of tag, half of which had ended with a sleepy Alfred scolding them for waking him. She slowed her steps automatically. She didn’t want to be caught now, either.  

She grabbed her shoes, jacket, phone, and pepper spray then ran back out again. 

The elevator ride felt like it would never end. She was afraid that she would step outside and the light would be gone. 

But no–when she stepped out to the chagrin of the security, whom she had to remind weren’t there to keep her prisoner–the light was still bright in the sky. 

She held a hand out for a taxi. Thankfully one was passing by. 

Maybe her luck was turning, she thought as she got in. Things had to go right after going wrong so often, right? Especially lately. That was one thing she believed in her life–things would always revert to the mean. A lot of bad meant a lot of good would come to even out the scales. Bruce had broken her heart…then she’d accepted an offer for her dream job in Bludhaven. 

“Where to?” the cabbie asked as he scrolled Instagram with one hand. 

“Um,” she said, smushing her face against the window and trying to estimate the distance. “Can you just take me like ten blocks straight that way?” She pointed.

The cabbie set his phone down and looked at her skeptically. “Whatever you say, lady.” 

The ride was quick, made quicker still by the lack of traffic. She paid and got out, eyes on the sky. The cabbie muttered about crazy rich people as the door shut. 

It was harder now that she was closer, but there was an entire city block nearby that seemed to be under construction. And there were two really tall buildings there, each still only half-finished. 

She jogged down the sidewalk. One hand clenched the pepper spray while the other held her keys between the fingers. It wouldn’t be enough if a murderer wanted to shoot her in the head, but it was all she had. Maybe it was stupid, coming out so late when she was probably the target of a mob hitman. But she couldn’t let it go. 

The block under construction was surrounded by a huge fence topped in barbed wire. The only way in, as far as she could see, was a gate that required a code for entry. She cursed under her breath, the words fogging in the chilly air. 

There was a roar from behind her. 

She whirled and ducked behind a trashcan in the same breath. Her heart stopped as the noise came again. 

Headlights pierced the air and a car sped straight up to the gate. 

Calling it a car was like calling a dinosaur a lizard. It had armor or something on it and an honest to god rocket on the back. It was less of a car and more of a tank. She could see the bones of it underneath, some type of semi-familiar sports car. Bruce would love a car like that, she thought. He loved adding ridiculous modifications to cars. 

She shoved away the thoughts of Bruce and quickly took out her phone to take a couple of pictures, just in case. She’d left her actual camera in her room and silently cursed herself for it. 

The gate slid open and the car sped through. The gates started to slide closed almost immediately. 

This was her chance. The signal light was still on for the moment and she doubted many other cars would drive into a construction zone at nearly two in the morning. 

She ran through the closing gates. 

They clanged shut behind her a second later. 

Okay, now what? she wondered, glancing around. One of the tallest towers was to the left, another one to the right. Now that she was almost directly below them, it was nearly impossible to tell where the light was coming from without circling the whole block. It looked like it was coming directly from the spot where she stood, but she knew it was only because it was coming from somewhere close. 

She chewed her lip and glanced around more carefully. And–there. That weird tank of a car was parked beneath the tower to the right. She heard soft clanking and then a caged elevator started to lift on the outside of the building. 

Bingo. 

She ran over, wishing she had more skills suited for being a secret agent. Her footsteps were anything but silent and her breath gasped through her teeth as she ran. She kept to the shadows as best she could, which was made easier by the lack of lights on the whole site. But if there was anyone else around, she wasn’t being that stealthy. 

She looked up. 

The light switched off right as the noises of the elevator faded. 

Double bingo. 

The elevator was descending, empty now. 

There was another car, too, half-hidden. 

An unmarked police car. 

She took a picture of that for good measure. She knew for sure now that she was on the right track.  

That fire was back within her. She was so close to finding out if her hunch had been correct. She was close to…well, something. She knew it. 

She went to the elevator and stepped inside. One button, and she was headed to the top. 

Her palms were sweating. The long ride up gave her time to think, which was bad. She had fucked up. She realized that now, but hitting the button to go back down did absolutely nothing. She really should have thought things through more. 

She had no idea what–or who–was at the top of the building. She had no idea if the Batman was actually a nice guy or not. He could very well take one look at her and toss her off the edge. Her mind spun with possibilities, including her death being ruled suicide, the trauma of the deaths of her family too much. 

Or what if the murderer who’d gotten away had lured Batman up there? Or what if they were in cahoots? What if that editor, Jansen, was in on it too? 

She really, really should have thought this through a bit more. 

The doors opened with a noise so loud she winced. 

When she looked up, she was face to face with a gun.

Next Chapter

taglist:

@ktficworld @grunge-n-roses5 @anon-cat-posts @projectdreamwalker @slovakshadow @warsaur @lachillona02 @crazyunsexycool @doetic @alexiris @that-girl-named-alex @harry-bowie-mercury @vaniasagitaa

[nyaagolor]

Merry DL6mas!

I wrote an inordinate amnt of words about Edgeworth and MVK and dynamics and meta and w/e, stuck it below the cut so I don't obliterate ur dashes

So originally I wanted to make a relationship flowchart for all the characters and then realized that the amnt of caveats would make the image entirely text so I’m just forgoing the image altogether and doing this group by group starting with the VKs bc DL6mas and whatnot. It’s an essay and also unorganized so um. Have fun or apologies in advance? 

Anyway. I think AA1 intending to be standalone and then getting these additional games does some fun things to the characters but especially for Manfred. I’m of the opinion that he was not created or written to be deep or nuanced or anything. He’s the final boss, we weren’t supposed to get more on him, he’s honestly just a symbolic representation of the forces Phoenix works against rather than a character in his own right (in AA1 at least). He’s cartoonishly evil and that was supposed to be it— and then we get JFA and Franziska and suddenly Manfred gets all this retroactive characterization as the story is built beyond its initial parameters. That’s part of the reason why I’m so interested in him— all this new information comes exclusively through other characters and insinuations rather than him actually being on screen up until Investigations and even then it’s like 4 lines. We get more on Manfred, yes, but it’s a shadow on the wall. I’m sorry to bring up allegory of the cave about the gay lawyer simulator but w/e I’m a melodramatist, it’s an allegory of the cave situation. The reason I bring that up is because I don’t really think about Manfred in the same way as other characters; I piece together how I think of him though his relationships and impact on others rather than as an independent dude. His past is inconsequential to me and the ppl who flesh him out are the real troopers but he matters to me more as a vessel for narrative themes than anything. This is all to say that everything I’m doing is conjecture and just kind of filling in the gaps based on my current understanding of the text. Headcanons for the broad and far-reaching audience of me, myself, and I. 

That being said. The whole spiel I just went on about “Manfred as defined by his relation to others” works quite nicely as tie-in to how he feels about Edgeworth, because I think Edgeworth occupies this symbolic space in MVK’s mind. Yes, Edgeworth is a kid he mentors and who lives in his house and who he is legally responsible for, but Edgeworth is also this physical manifestation of his failures. Edgeworth is a child, yes, but to MVK he’s a ghost, a consequence, a punishment. He may not be a VK, but he IS karma (sound the turnabout melody I am kissing you on the lips for this line btw). 

This also means that the way MVK views Edgeworth as an extension of his own thoughts about the DL6 incident rather than solely as his own person, which is something that changes pretty drastically over time. The way he talks about and to Edgeworth goes beyond who and what Edgeworth is as a person because for MVK, there was always an aspect of the self in there, and MVK interacting with Edgeworth is as much a reflection of his own identity as it is how he feels about Miles. 

If there is one thing the entire VK family does extraordinarily well it's projection, and I think MVK has been doing this since he brought Edgeworth into the picture (and before that, but it’s only relevant to me now). This is personally how I rationalize how absolutely batshit half of MVK’s actions are. I know the actual reason is “we expanded the characters around him which necessitates certain actions to drive the plot and inconsistency results from this expansion” blah blah blah paratext more or less confirms this, but we are going full Watsonian in this bitch. 

I have talked at length about the actual medical stuff around gunshots and how bullets are typically removed from joints specifically because of how badly they damage the surrounding tissues over time, I’ll link the post if anyone is curious, but tldr bullet wound symbolism. I bring this up now because I think the bullet acts as a physical representation for DL6, it literally and metaphorically tears him up inside. No one else knows about this murder, most people have forgotten the penalty, but he never did, because he can’t. For someone who has structured his entire self on the idea of perfection, this is an event of unprecedented magnitude, and the living proof of it is eating dinner at his table every night. MVK sits with the weight of what he’s done, and whether or not he feels justified or guilty or w/e doesn’t even matter because it’s making him lose his goddamn mind. His behavior gets more intense, more irrational, because before he was just a massive, scheming, paragon of perfection (and corruption but shh) but now he is in this inescapable cycle as the result of his choices and his choices exclusively. I don’t propose to know nor care about how he felt about it or what the specific emotions he felt were because they’re not particularly important in my mind, only that the lingering ghost of DL6 is driving MVK kinda bonkers and that drastically alters how he interacts with Edgeworth and Franziska. 

I’ve seen a lot of debate about why MVK took in Edgeworth, but my hot take is that he actually doesn’t know. I don’t think MVK ever processed DL6, I think he is filled with contradictory feelings (how ironic) and that this is what eats at him through all those years. Why did he take in Edgeworth? Because he felt guilty? Because he wanted to train him into everything his father hated as a twisted kind of revenge? Because he wanted a prodigy and saw himself in Edgeworth? It’s all of them, it’s none of them, it doesn’t matter, he doesn’t know. Why did he prosecute Edgeworth right before the statute of limitations ended? Was it revenge? Hatred? A way to test his prodigy? To project his own gnawing nest of emotions onto the person he felt embodied the incident? Same deal. (the real answer is that it doesn’t really matter bc we were not supposed to think about it this hard but. Shh. dw about it.)

I don’t take much interest into Manfred’s inner world because I ultimately think that a lot of his actions, while completely under his control, are him acting on impulse, on him doing irrational things because DL6, in a sense, killed him too. He comes out of that elevator a different person (not worse (can’t go down from rock bottom), not better, just a different kind of asshole), but destroyed from the inside out by a murder he committed. He’s so arrogant, so entitled, that he could never let this go, and I think that drives so much of the insane shit he tries to pull. He has centered his life around the axis of DL6 and he will always be pulled back into its orbit. The further we get from DL6 the more time he has to think, the more it tears him apart, the more the contradictory feelings about it rear their heads in turn and create this guy who is just desperate and angry. And when it’s days before the statute of limitations he just becomes completely subsumed by it all. He was always cruel, but now he’s cruel and desperate and completely willing to drag everyone down with him. The desperation is the important part. 

I will say though that he is, irrefutably, his own downfall. He molded Edgeworth in his own image, he created Phoenix Wright the defense attorney as a consequence, and it is the two of them who send him to his death. He is the one who planned the murder of Turnabout Goodbyes. From beginning to end, it’s his own hand. Manfred is one of the only characters in this series whose actions are not precedented by extenuating circumstances. It’s allllll him. He’s the bitch. He has been and will always be a selfish prick and for as much as he is lashing out because of DL6 he does so by dragging others in. 

Extremely long prelude to say that I think how he treats edgeworth varies so wildly over time and is so irrational in its presentation because of everything I mentioned before. He is Edgeworth’s greatest kindness and his worst nightmare— at the same time!! Multitasking king. He takes in Edgeworth as a snap decision for reasons he doesn’t entirely understand, and I think because of that he never quite views Edgeworth as a son (at least in the traditional sense). Edgeworth is not his child in the same way that Franziska is his child (and we will get to her in a different post I promise), but he’s not just some random kid either. Manfred is emotionally tied to him through DL6, and I think the fact colors the way that Manfred treats him. It’s a dynamic that I can’t really put a label on, because it’s mentor/student with so much extra baggage that it feels different than that. There is an emotional connection between them, a sense of atonement and revenge, and I don’t think either of them will ever be able to articulate what that means. Manfred does not address Edgeworth as his child, and I think there is an attempt in his language to distance himself from Edgeworth, but he finds himself drawn to Edgeworth all the same (bc Edgeworth is DL6 etc etc). He did not ask for a child, he does not WANT a child, but he has one! Get fucked!

MVK is obsessed with his own image, with this idea of perfection, and insofar as Edgeworth is DL6, Edgeworth is an extension of MVK. He pushes his ideals and tactics onto Edgeworth the second Edgeworth decides he wants to be a prosecutor, because even more than Franziska, Edgeworth is MVK’s living legacy. He is quite literally Manfred’s midlife crisis and I think Edgeworth wanting to be like him and becoming this Demon Prosecutor is this insanely fucked up kind of catharsis in MVK’s mind. And as Edgeworth becomes more like him, as he takes up MVK’s mantle, he becomes a mirror— that is where shit gets fun. I don’t think I need to spell out the ways in which MVK was simultaneously caring and cruel to his kids— you’ve seen Sound the Turnabout Melody, you’re seen Turnabout Goodbyes, we know this song and dance. 

The more time Edgeworth spends around him, as Edgeworth reflects more of Manfred back at himself, MVK simultaneously becomes proud and revolted. Edgeworth is growing beyond the consequences of DL6 and into a mirror of his adopted father figure mentor person. He is, from the ashes of DL6, becoming Manfred von Karma, and I think that drives MVK insane. He is becoming firmly entrenched in MVK’s life at this point. For as much as Edgeworth is DL6, he is now MVK himself. He becomes a walking contradiction, and Manfred’s projection then manifests as this rapidly oscillating clusterfuck of reactions. Edgeworth is out of his control but he’s super important to MVK— recipe for disaster. 

He builds Edgeworth up, teaches him everything he knows, starts to treat him like a son while at the same time irrevocably traumatizing for the rest of his life. He loves who Edgeworth is becoming while hating everything he stands for, and I think this absolute garbage pile of a child-rearing philosophy is as much a projection of himself as anything. It was never about Edgeworth the person. At first, MVK does not care in the slightest about Miles Edgeworth and it is only when he does, even a little bit, that shit hits the fan in my mind. Edgeworth the physical manifestation of DL6 is being overtaken by Edgeworth the Demon Prosecutor, and MVK starts to be proud of him— but this is an eventuality he did not plan for and cannot do anything about. For both of them, it’s personal now, and no amount of pushing each other away is really going to fix that. 

Anyway I don’t think literally any of this was intended. Manfred is not this deep, I am making literally all of this up, but it’s fine. If you got this far I salute you. Miles time. To pivot to Edgeworth’s POV for a while, I think that from the very beginning, Edgeworth looked up to MVK. It’s not the same idolization that Franziska does, but it’s up there. Obviously he idolized his father, but DL6 not only served as a complete evisceration of his family but also his ideals. Gregory the man was dead, but if criminals can kill his father and get away with it, that collapses the foundation on which Miles built his understanding of justice. Gregory the defense attorney– his ideals, his legacy, his philosophy– he died in that elevator too. Edgeworth pivots, completely independently, from a man who wants to protect to a man who wants to punish (and I firmly believe that this was his own decision and not Manfred pushing him into it, if MVK had not adopted him he still would have become a prosecutor just not so much of a dick). 

But so Manfred takes him in, and was spectacularly ill-equipped to handle this. I always saw Manfred as emotionally distant on the best of days (he’s born in the 50s what did u expect) but for Miles, who he barely considers a son at all, he isn’t capable of being the emotional support he needs. He never would be and never wanted to be. That’s layer one of baggage. What MVK does provide for Miles, though, is a purpose. Miles does not wallow in his father’s death, because he is taken in by someone who acts as a paragon of Miles’ new worldview. Manfred never lets a criminal get away. He is perfect in that way, and it gives Miles a tangible (albeit impossible) goal to strive for. MVK mentors him in this worldview and gives him the tools to outlet his grief and rage into something productive— fucked up and wrong, maybe, but productive. That’s layer two of baggage. 

For as complicated and twisted and contradictory as MVK’s feelings towards Edgeworth are, Edgeworth for most of his childhood sees MVK as this pillar of everything that is good and treats him with intense amounts of respect. He accepts any cruelty as tough love, he adopts his ideals and his tactics and his suit. Edgeworth needed *something* after the grief of DL6 and MVK is what he got, so Miles latches on and never lets go, for better or for worse. Miles Edgeworth is not Manfred von Karma but he actively tries to take his shape because whether or not it’s reciprocated, Edgeworth loves him and everything that he stands for. Manfred cares about him in that respect at the very least. And ultimately, this is my big take on Edgeworth: I think Edgeworth actively chased MVK. He became MVK on purpose. It’s a result of trauma and built entirely on false pretenses, but Miles is the one who takes the initiative and Manfred indulges him— And then Turnabout Goodbyes happens. 

Everything Edgeworth is, everything he made himself become, is wrong. Edgeworth has molded himself into a person he does not recognize and that person turned out to be a monster. The person Edgeworth idolized, respected, and maybe even loved is the very person who destroyed his life. He is wearing the skin of the monster he wanted to destroy, and he did it on purpose (in his mind). This is not to say he had much if any agency in this situation— this is not a path he would naturally take, this is structured entirely under false pretenses, and he was clouded by grief, traumatized, and most importantly nine, but what matters here is that Edgeworth FEELS like it’s his fault, and the complete collapse of his worldview AGAIN is what drives all the bullshit of RFTA. Edgeworth is not MVK (and you can tell because he is capable of self-reflection which MVK is ostensibly not (or at least unwilling to)), but it still drives him to this complete and utter devastation. He sees Manfred in himself and it isn’t until AAI1/2 that he’s able to see Gregory as well. MVK filled a need for Edgeworth at the lowest point in his life (and absolutely made him worse but that’s not the point). Edgeworth respected and loved Manfred’s ideals, STILL chases the idea of the man, and because of that still cares about him. He becomes aware of who the monster he loved is, and how has to reconcile with what it means to be that person’s reflection and legacy despite knowing— and feeling, and BEING— all the harm he caused.

Those contradictory feelings that I talked about earlier? Love and hatred all mixed together— questions that cannot be answered and actions taken without knowing why? That’s Edgeworth’s final gift from Manfred: he inherits the bullet and the legacy he carries forward. Unlike Manfred, though, Edgeworth takes that pain and shares it, lets other people in, scoffs at the veneer of perfection and allows himself to be hurt and vulnerable and it is only in that way that Edgeworth can break out of VK’s shadow and break the cycle. He holds onto the ideals that he learned from Manfred, separates them from the nastiness and acknowledges the place they came from. It’s obvious in the way that Edgeworth carries aspects of that legacy forward that he’s capable of disseminating everything that Manfred is, acknowledging the way he’s been influenced by him and what he still respects about the man despite it all, and make peace with the rest of it. The cycle of violence and corruption started with Manfred and Edgeworth makes sure that it ends with him too. 

I have a ton more to talk about with respect to his teaching methods and the nitty gritty of how he interacts with his kids but that’s for the Fran post. This is more of the “whys” than the “hows” but I’ll get there :)

Anyway, I think that’s it. I’m sure there’s more that I’m missing but my head is beyond empty rn and I can’t think of anything else I wanna talk about with respect to these two. I know I literally just spewed 3k words about into this textpost but I do love chatting about them (total shock I know) so if u also have thoughts or ideas abt anything related to them lmk :3

[redbullcateringfiction]

Chapter 7 -

Cantata

Arabella is the executive assistant for Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff. 10 years into her career, it looks like the tide is changing, and she's beginning to question her relationship with him. Is it something more, or nothing but an idea lingering in her head?

F/M, Fluff, Boss/Employee Relationship, Romance, Pining, Love, Slow Burn

Seventh chapter below the cut or click here for AO3

Click here for the previous chapter on Tumblr, and click here for a list of all chapters

(Total: 30502 words thus far)

Sorry about how long this chapter took. I am, in fact, getting a literal PhD. So sometimes I have to focus on that and not Toto Wolff, although it is really hard. There's a joke somewhere in there about fanfic authors. Feel free to make it.

~redbullcateringfiction

“So…how was dinner with Toto?” Bono asked. 

“How did you know about that?” I shot him a glance.

“You do know that you’re in a hotel filled with your coworkers, right?” He responded. Fair enough.

“Well…it was nice,” I shrugged. 

“That’s good, that’s good. Hey,” He said softly, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me in. This was never good. Bono only ever pulled me in for a whisper when he was about to tell me something very, very bad. The list of previous times was short.

The engineering supervisor had just fired the craziest person on the team. It’s good to be a little crazy in Formula 1, but Gino had taken it 5 steps too far, and was lucky to have not gotten hit by a car. Anyway, the engineering team desperately needed me to distract the media and coordinate his removal with security in such a way that no one would happen to notice the short Italian man being dragged out by his ear.

My mom collapsed during a race. Turned out to just be heat exhaustion.

In most recent memory, Lewis has COVID. I had just spent a few hours with him and Toto, in close proximity. 

Bono had a talent for lowering his head in such a way that no one could possibly hear what he was about to whisper to you, and this was no different. “Look yourself up,” He whispered, while simultaneously gently letting go of me. This could not be good. At the same time, my phone buzzed with Jeffrey’s contact popping up for a phone call. This has to be bad. There is no alternative. 

I declined his call, and immediately went to Safari as Bono looked over my shoulder. 

“Who was that?” Bono asked.

“My lawyer.”

“Your lawyer? You have a lawyer?” He asked, with such a sudden expression of shock.

“More a friend who’s a contracted lawyer. A lawyer friend. Who I have a contract with. A friend who is a lawyer who I have a contract with,” I explained.

“You said ‘contract’ so much I’m starting to think it’s some sort of freaky 50 Shades thing.”

“Jesus, Bono,” I complained. 

“You have to admit you made it sound like that.”

“Fair,” I groaned, finally typing my name into the search bar.

Trending ~ 1 minute ago - It’s not silly season, right? How is there F1 drama already? with a picture of Cathal and me from years ago.

Trending ~ 1 minute ago - Why is Cathal Lynch obsessed with his ex-girlfriend? Cathal Lynch appears in… 

Trending ~ 1 minute ago - Cathal Lynch shows for Pre-Season Testing wearing Red Bull shirt 

“Jesus, you gave me a scare. That’s not that bad. He’s just being weird again,” I sighed, turning to Bono. My heart rate started to slow down. Bono raised his eyebrow. 

“And yet…you’ve clicked on none of them,” Bono sighed. “Keep scrolling.”

I did as he said. Suddenly more recent articles pop up. 

2 minutes ago - Four Odd Bottles releases new song, “Bitch”, moments after Cathal Lynch spotted in Bahrain  

4 minutes ago - It’s time to cancel Cathal Lynch: “Bitch” is a retelling of Radiohead’s “Creep”…and somehow creepier  

8 minutes ago - Was Arabella a “Bitch?” A lookback at Cathabella 

10 minutes ago - “Bitch,” please. How Arabella Lazaar used Cathal Lynch to make her seem more integral to Mercedes than she really ever was 

23 minutes ago - “Bitch,” is a great song. Sorry, not sorry.  

45 minutes ago - Is “Bitch” that bad? The conversation on new Four Odd Bottles song takes over Twitter. 

48 minutes ago - Expletive-filled song by Four Odd Bottles is the newest crazy ass song from a fucking creep  

“Oh…oh no,” I sighed. 

“Listen, I wasn’t going to not tell you,” Bono explained, grabbing me by the shoulders again. “Here’s the thing. And listen to me carefully. This is about Cathal. Not you. Public Relations is about to call Toto and ask that he puts forward a request to have him banned, even if temporarily. I had them wait until the two of you got back. Are you still listening?”

I was, but I couldn’t blame him for asking. I knew my eyes had glazed over. “Yeah, yeah. PR. Banning. All that.”

“Okay. Arabella, this guy is a fucking creep. But we’re going to fix this,” Bono explained.

“No, no. I will,” I sighed.

“No, no. You will not touch this. Yes, it's almost entirely your job, but this is the time you pass off a responsibility to someone else. And you will absolutely not listen to that song. Do you understand? Do not listen to it. It’s fucking weird,” Bono pushed his hair back.

“I imagine it is. I also get the sneaking suspicion I should listen to it,” I explained. “I can’t understand what’s going on without it.”

“Arabella, all you need to know that’s going on with it is that your ex-boyfriend is still writing songs about you, but this one is just plainly mean and weird. And he used you as a publicity stunt for it. Like, c’mon. That’s what you need to know about it.”

“Arabella, come over here for a second,” Toto called, suddenly appearing in the hallway behind me. Shit. I stepped towards him, and he grabbed my shoulder. That had now happened a bit too frequently in the past few minutes. I know this is a shit show. But this must be a real fucking shit show. “I’m sure you already know about it. After all, no one can really seem to keep their mouths shut. Anyway, I’m about to call the FIA. This is the first time something like this has happened, so don’t hold your breath. Hopefully though, they’ll seek to make an example out of this kind of behavior. Regardless of how messy this is for you , no team should be dealing with shit like this. Bono!” Toto suddenly called out.

“Yeah, yeah?” Bono asked, nearly running over. 

“Who invited the little…Lynch? Who invited Lynch? Do you know?”

“I’ve asked around. Don’t think he was invited by anyone,” Bono shrugged.

“Oh, good. I was worried someone had invited him. Since he just showed up with a paddock pass, this is a different situation. Alright, I’m about to make the call. Arabella, I know it’s difficult, but I need your complete focus, alright? 100%. This is no one’s problem, except his. Thankfully, this has to be a violation of something. Yeah, celebrities are publicity stunts in and of themselves, but usually they’re invited.”

“I’m just going to head off to Lewis’s team meeting while you make the call, okay?” I offered.

“Of course you will. Schatzi, you’re brilliant. This is why you’ve been doing this for so long. Only you could handle this,” Toto smiled. He patted me on my back and walked off, immediately hopping on the phone. 

“Alright then, let’s go,” Bono answered, guiding me to the meeting room. As soon as we walked in, all of Lewis’s team quickly set down their phones and looked at me with horrified looks.

“If I can keep my mouth shut about this, everyone else can, alright?” I nodded. “Toto will be in here in not 5 minutes. If we aren’t talking strategy when he comes in, he’ll keep us here all night.”

~

“Okay everyone. Goodnight. See you all in the morning. Bright and early,” I waved goodbye to Aero. I looked at my watch. 9:35pm. We had really pulled it off with plenty of time for many people to get a full night of sleep. Except the engineers, but that was by choice. Many of them would be practically foaming at the mouth at the gate wanting to run in and get to work on the car. All night they would discuss different strategies to turn everything into a well oiled machine. For many of them, the driver is just driving their good work. Yes, a good driver makes all the difference, but to them it's their car.

“Arabella,” Toto called after me. I had gone into autopilot and started walking towards the elevator without a thought to whether Toto needed anything from me. I turned around with my hands up.

“Sorry, sorry. What’s up?” I asked, approaching him. 

“You’re absolutely brilliant,” He said, opening his arms and giving me a great hug. First kiss, second kiss. Each cheek, just a brief touch. “Just absolutely brilliant. No one but you, yeah? No one but you. Okay, I have good news.”

I looked up at him as he finally let go. “Yeah, and what’s that?”

“He won’t be let in the gates tomorrow. Or all weekend. Or all season. Temporary ban for the season. Turns out it's a violation of some rule to use a paddock appearance for personal gain when it’s not written into your contract. Since he wasn’t invited, the contract was pretty explicit in not allowing that,” Toto explained. “Bad news is when he gets turned away at the gates tomorrow, I expect the press will be all over that. But it’s not too bad. The FIA won’t name you or the team as the cause or anything. Just plain breach of etiquette. I can only imagine what ridiculous thing that psycho will say about it though.”

“Thank you. Really, thank you,” I answered. “Did PR have any notes for me?”

“They’re hands off of you if I’m honest. Main concern is the look for the team. Even had to call Red Bull’s PR since he tried to make it seem like they invited him. I recommend you take a look at the new news if you want a laugh about it. Crazily enough, I was the 2nd call to the FIA. Red Bull had already called them about it to get him banned because of the implications,” Toto laughed. Yeah…I have to admit. It’s kind of funny when you think about it. I laughed with him.

“So…I can do what I want when it comes to it?” I asked. 

“I know you very well, and I imagine the worst thing you could manage to do would be good for the team. So, yes. Whatever you want. I trust you more than them,” Toto smiled. 

“Well, let me think about it, yeah? I’ll let you know before I go through with it,” I explained.

“Don’t bother. Like I said, I trust you.”

I gave him a look with a raised eyebrow.

“Okay, well now I’m concerned. What is that supposed to mean?” He asked with a slight giggle.

“Speaking about it at all? Is that fine?” I asked.

“I had no idea what you were about to say. Don’t mess with me like that, Arabella! Yes, of course, speaking about it is fine. Just nothing stupid, obviously.”

I nodded. “Well…I ought to be off to bed. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I shrugged. 

“Oh, of course. Goodnight,” Toto nodded, as I wandered towards the elevator. As I arrived in my room, I stared at my phone. My mind begged me to check to see the updated news. Afterall, who could resist reading the various essays that weren’t really about themselves, but were instead about their ex-boyfriend talking about them. We had dated for some time, but not nearly long enough for Cathal to still be this pissed off about it. In fact, I had started to doubt whether he really still cared, or was just using a shitty microcelebrity like myself to constantly relaunch himself into fame. All the songs he had written about me when we were together were just crappy love songs, but they had so many little suggestions as to who the woman (or women) might be, that the fans and media couldn’t resist speculation. Since we have broken up and he has yet to find another muse as satisfactory, instead he just keeps milking a years-old break up. 

It would be sad if it weren’t so frustrating. I never really quite liked the spotlight. Yes, I had been photographed with several celebrities, especially drivers and Toto, but there was always an understanding among the media that it was nothing more than business. Maybe a few F1 articles might mention me by name, but nothing quite like the sudden spur of attention I got when Cathal “accidentally” went public with our relationship. I tried to make it work after that. I had just spent 2 weeks being the face of a multi-year search for “the girl,” and then spending the next several months being the center of attention because I was a famous singer's partner. Not to mention, I also happened to be brushing shoulders with a world-champion driver and was the certified micromanager of a world-champion team principal. 

But after the breakup, nothing for Cathal changed. I guess things for me didn’t change either. I kept the same exact life going. Maybe he figured since I hadn’t really had some sort of breakdown, quit my job, and moved continents, that I hadn’t moved on, and he gave himself permission to keep going on and on. But I have changed. I have moved on. Cathal only remains relevant in my life because he forces himself to be. I can’t allow myself to give him what he wants by obsessing over the news articles. Nothing will change for now, at least until Cathal is turned around at the gates tomorrow morning.

Instead of torturing myself, I called Jeffrey back.

“What time is it there?” He answered instead of a hello. 

“Not even 10pm, calm down,” I explained.

“Well, have you seen the news?”

“Obviously, I’ve seen the news, Jeffrey.”

“Sorry, sorry then. Have you heard the song? It’s fucking amazing. He manages to sound like a misogynist, a lemon, and a weasel all at once,” Jeffrey laughed.

“No, Bono told me to avoid it.”

“Bono? Like, Peter Bonnington? You’re friends with Bono?” Jeffrey asked, sounding so very impassioned that it began to feel like he didn’t believe me. 

“Yes, Peter Bonnington. And yes we’re friends. He’s practically my work husband.”

“I thought your work husband was Toto,” Jeffrey cackled, evilly.

“Very funny. Listen, I called you back not to be your court jester. I called you back because I need your help.”

“Oh, you finally admit it, yeah?”

“Jeffrey. I will cut you out right now.”

“Alright, alright. You did sign a contract though.”

“Jeffrey!”

“Fine, Arabella. I’m listening.”

I took a deep breath. “I need to do something. This time Cathal took it too far,” I explained.

“You don’t even know how far though, Arabella. Not without listening to the song,” Jeffrey groaned. “Before you do anything, you need to understand the full scope.”

“I’m not listening to it.”

“Fine, don’t. Let me explain it to you at least.”

“No quotes.”

“No quotes, got it. Alright, get in your head for me the song Creep by Radiohead. It’s not quite a cover, probably to avoid any copyright issues with him writing a freakish song, but it’s similar enough for you to imagine. Then, he must say ‘bitch,’ 40 times. Basically, the whole argument in the lyrics is a woman who tries to appear incredibly nice but is trying to keep some sort of hidden motive under wraps. That motive? An obsession over a celebrity that she constantly stalks. But instead of her calling herself a bitch, it’s the celebrity calling her a bitch. The funniest part about all of it though, is that he is obsessing over you.”

“Is that quite as funny as you think it is?”

“Oh…yeah, I guess not. I guess…it’s just creepy.”

“No, it’s hilarious,” I laughed. “He just seems like an idiot, doesn’t he?”

“More like a stalker who completely misunderstood the appeal of Creep. Absolute nonsense.”

“Well, what do you think I should do about it?”

“Honestly, you could just write an extremely short tweet and it would probably destroy the European internet. This man competed in Eurovision with a song about you.”

“Yeah, and didn’t even qualify,” I mumbled. “Anyway, no. I want something serious.”

“Well, then, write a statement. I’ve got a friend at The Guardian. It’ll be published in 20 minutes.”

“You’re bullshitting me,” I replied, starting to mess with the skin on my fingers. An unfortunate hold over from my more anxious days. 

“Not at all. He’s an editor for the essays column. If you write it well, we can get it published. But I’d wait until the morning at least to see what happens when he comes through the paddock.”

“He won’t be coming through the paddock. FIA issued a temporary ban. He’ll be turned around at the gate,” I explained. I could hear Jeffrey tap his fingers, and I waited for his response.

“Write the essay tonight. Get it to me in the morning. Just remember, I’m 3 hours behind. You have to send it before 6am there, so I can make any necessary edits,” Jeffrey ordered me.

“Hold on, hold on! What do I even write about?” I asked. I picked my fingers faster.

“You know what to write about. Send me a cute headshot for the article too, and any pictures you might have of the two of you together,” Jeffrey continued.

“No, no I do not. I am an assistant, not a writer.”

“Oh hush. Give me everything, I’ll take out anything that needs to be gone.”

I took a deep breath. “Alright.”

“Alright, go on and write! Talk to you in the morning.” Jeffrey hung up. I sat staring at my phone for a few seconds before jumping up and grabbing my laptop. There was no time to hesitate. I sat my fingers on the keys and began to write. 

~

“I’ve got a surprise for you!” Cathal smiled, as he threw down an envelope onto the couch. 

“What is it?” I asked, barely looking up from my computer. He picked the envelope back up and placed it in my hands.

“Sundae, don’t touch my laptop,” I sighed, setting my computer off to the side. Sundae immediately began typing on it. I couldn’t shoo her away. It was too cute. I opened up the folder he gave me and there sat a whole bunch of pamphlets. 

“Uhhh,” I began filtering through them, just picking up on little details here and there.

“I booked us a resort in Morocco! We can visit your family!” Cathal cheered. I looked at him. I could feel my eyes nearly bulging out of my skull. I tried to tone down my expression, but my face was fighting my brain.

“So we can do what?” I asked. I couldn’t have possibly heard that right.

“Oh no. Did I mess up? To visit your family,” Cathal remarked, quickly sitting down next to me. This sent Sundae right to his lap. 

“No, no. You didn’t mess up. Not a mess up. Not one at all. I just wasn’t expecting it,” I smiled. 

“Oh, good. It's during the winter break. Ramadan is then, right?” Cathal asked. 

“Ramadan is in May this year,” I explained.

“I thought it was a winter holiday?” Cathal questioned. 

“It’s a Lunar calendar. It was in January in the 90s or something.”

“It can’t be a Lunar calendar. Don’t Jewish people have one too? Chanukkah is always around the same time.”

“They have leap months,” I explained. 

“Oh…sorry. Well, when will it be during the winter break again?” 

“Like…10 years or something?” 

“Well...hold on...actually, I don’t know if I can reschedule it out that far.”

“I actually think visiting during Ramadan would be the worst possible time considering I’m not religious,” I explained.

“Oh, then good!” Cathal smiled. Yeah. Awesome. I can’t wait. 

“This was really nice of you. I’m so excited to visit them.”

“Great! Yeah. Maybe we can make it an annual thing.”

“Let’s not. I mean…I’m just not close to them. I’m happy to visit my parents in the Netherlands, though.”

“I thought you were super close to them. You visited them every year, didn’t you?”

“As a kid I did. It’ll be good to see them though. Don’t worry. I’m really excited,” I beamed. 

“Good. Quit scaring me though. You’re making me worried I did something wrong.”

“Sorry.”

~

I kept writing, and starting over. I’d write the whole thing, and start it over again. There was no way I’d be happy with it though. Every edit and every change only made me more frustrated. I do know that it’s time I finally put this to rest. So as I desperately searched for the words to say that in a way that would make sense, I kept writing. I wasn’t thinking about what I was writing, just the words I wanted to use somewhere, at some point. By the time I looked down, I had it. 3am. A whole 3 hours early. I sent it over to Jeffrey. My phone buzzed just a few seconds later.

Jeffrey: I’m looking it over now. Passes the smell check though. Go to bed. 

No way he read it that fast. I stared at his text and started to think of a snarky reply to his order, but he was right. I didn’t have much time to get a lot of sleep. I would have to smush 8 or so hours into only 3. I shoved my face into the pillow, trying to force the sleep to come. Instead, I think I just suffocated myself until my brain was deprived of enough oxygen for me to be knocked out. 

It worked though. I woke up just 3 hours later, and rediscovered what I already knew. You cannot possibly smush 8 hours of sleep into 3. I decided to spend most of my morning routine trying to get rid of any signs of sleep deprivation on my face, and thought I did a pretty good job. I stepped out of my room and knocked on Toto’s door. 

“Coming,” I heard him call. He swung the door open, and there he stood in the process of buttoning up his shirt. 

“Oh, how did you sleep?” He asked, turning his head as he looked at me. 

“Shit, do I look tired?” I asked, trying to adjust my hair as best possible.

“It’s a common greeting in the morning, is it not? You look fine,” Toto smiled. He took his hand through his hair and stepped to grab his bag. I caught the door with my foot. “But you must be tired if you thought that was the implication, yeah?”

“I think I sort of…forced myself to go to sleep somehow. I don’t feel too tired though.”

“That’s a lie,” Toto smirked.

“Yeah, that was a lie,” I sighed.

“Alright. Let’s go. First day of the season. First day of the season!” Toto cheered.

Tag list: @daddyslittlevillain, @littleheaven

[alwaysxyou]

I think what's extra frustrating about this whole situation is just the not knowing when or why of it. Like I know it can't go on forever but there have been so many times where it seems like we're getting somewhere (bye bye Elevator) and then bam something else hits us. I just hate it for louis

i said i wasnt going to respond to this right now but im fired up now and i am going to answer it. none of this is about coming out none of this is about larry none of it is about being gay even! it's does louis know he deserves better.

you don't want to draw attention to your actual relationship - why do you need to even speak about it? answer questions with that you'd like to keep your private life private and that's the end of it. "oh you used to be so open? yeah i was a lot younger and now ive grown up a bit and realized i want to keep it private" any one who pushes it is labeled as an asshole interviewer. publicist listening in to every single non-live on air interview and jumping in to skip questions if necessary. only do live interviews with anchors and hosts you trust and have agreed to keep it professional beforehand. get the best media training in the business and have every possible answer locked into your brain.

you don't want people to think you're gay - why not? nothing wrong with being gay. but in any case, see answer above about not wanting to talk about your personal life and then turn the answer back to the fans "im not/i don't like to talk about my personal life but what matters to me is the fans and im so honored to have fans from that community." next question

"well he needs the publicity" well he's not getting any now. the only publicity from that stunt walk was talking about how young she was, or how quickly he moved on from e. how about louis at a charity event? the gossip sites post pictures of louis with f or stories he tells but want to know what else they would post in the same way? pictures of louis with a dog. or a lizard. or a hamburger. or shirtless!

also! where is the doc promo! or tour promo! where is the exclusive with first look photos and interview with day of tickets coming out? where are the ticket specials in the cities where tour needs to be sold more (buy a tour ticket get a free movie ticket)? where are the merch bundles (buy a shirt get a movie ticket voucher)? or just merch in general? where are the radio spots and the billboards and the bus stop ads and the commercials and the social media? radio interviews in tour cities? they wouldn't do a press junket yet but! and if no one brought those up why isn't louis or his manager saying something and asking for those plans and those rollouts? and if they aren't getting those or know what to ask for why aren't they hiring people to figure out what's not working and make it happen?

you don't have to come out, you don't have to reveal your relationship, you don't have to even elude to anything. but you do deserve better treatment, better promo, a better image. privacy, kindness, fans, general population respect. what might have been the way people did it in 2013 isn't the same as 2023. but all of louis' rollouts are stuck there. once upon a time for an artist, the worst thing you could be was gay. and even if that's not the case anymore, if that's still where your head is okay. you don't have to come out. but you don't deserve to be doing this shit or putting yourself through this either.

he got out of sony, he got out of modest. he claims to be the boss so goddamn put your foot down and take a fucking stand. if there's lasting contracts or whatever get the best lawyer out there and fucking take back what you deserve. and don't fucking settle for anything less. someone on your team has an idea you don't like? too bad for them, you pay them, you make the ultimate decision. and if they don't let you or try to fuck you over, you hire someone else. and do that again and again until you get what you want. life is too freaking fucking short to not be putting yourself into the best possible situations wherever you can. louis deserves that.

[siriuslysatorusimping]

Finally got my power on again, but I am sorry you had to go through with your job. It's disgusting how there are people out there like that. My dad is black and my mom is Mexican/Navajo, so I know all about people like your shit boss. I hope you do have a case because people like that are vile. Also, thank you for creating fics for our blue-eyed king because, WTF was that ending? My expectations were in hell, but damn Gege went lower. I had to deal with that terrible open-ended ending and this freaking hurricane just my week. I'm choosing to live in Delulu and picture him with our girl just eating sweets and being lovey-dovey. At least I know he's alive and getting the life he should have had in the manga. Keep your head up, Kiko; better things will come your way!

Oof. I’m sorry you’ve been dealing with power outages! It’s crazy how far the hurricane’s reach is. A friend in Minnesota said he was dealing with stuff because of it.

Yeah, the thing with my ex-boss is that not only did he refuse to communicate clearly, I now think he does it on purpose so he can have an ‘excuse’ to fire people when he wants. The thing is, his team is still less than a year old. I was the first hire. But he’s already fired two people and one has quit. All three women of color. The first fire was a black woman, the one who quit was black, and I’m Asian. The one who quit said that when she put in her notice, people in the same office as her (the company has offices across Texas) told her that it wasn’t a good look for him. And that was two days before he fired me for supposed lack of performance on goals he never communicated. Unfortunately, discrimination cases (especially racism ones) are almost impossible to prove. And idk if I have the energy to try.

I was already struggling to make ends meet because of all my lawyer debt from the divorce, which my ex-boss knew about, too. I’ve been cutting expenses in every way possible and still coming out in the negative, now with no income, I genuinely have no idea what I’ll do if I can’t find another job soon. He fired me four days before benefits run out, too. So I can’t afford therapy, my neurology, or my ADHD medication now. I’m essentially totally fucked over and my ex-boss knew what he was doing. My biggest issue has been trying to process that someone could do something so cruel while pretending to be a good person. People are disgusting and I somehow keep forgetting long enough for them to do things like this to me.

I’m not officially diagnosed with autism because the process is long and expensive and I couldn’t afford it yet, otherwise I would have a disability discrimination case because I was transparent about needing clear communication in order to be successful.

I just feel very hopeless about the situation.

I’m very qualified for my field, and I interview incredibly well. But getting an interview is the hardest part because of the automated resume screeners companies use now.

In the end, it’ll be for the better. I don’t have to see my ex-husband at work and the environment was getting toxic because my ex-boss had essentially told me if I didn’t like his communication style, there’s the door. So, I was already passively looking. I just have to ramp up my search. And survive long enough for things to start getting better.

I’ve applied for unemployment, which should help a tiny bit, but the max they cover is only a small fraction of what I was making so it won’t be enough to cover my lawyer debt, bills, and student loans (which are private so I can’t pause the payments). I told a friend that 2024 might beat out 2020 AND last year for the worst year of my life so far. Shit just keeps happening.

BUT, I digress. I’ll do my best and try to keep my head up. It can’t stay awful forever. (I hope)

The JJK ending just existed for me, tbh. I wasn’t really surprised since it felt very shonen to me. I just hope Akutami can get the rest he needs and take care of his health now that it’s done. It’s also possible the official volume release will have additions since he’s done that in the past.

As for Gojo? I miss him. But in Another Level, he’s thriving. He’s living his best life with Rinko and the others.

I’ve been working on the two AU pieces I’ve posted previews for just for me, so we’ll see if I finish them. The first has really been a self-indulgent way to process some traumas but it’s been pretty cathartic.

Thank YOU for this message, and for reading my brainrot fics! It makes my heart feel so full to know the stories I’ve created for my own sake are enjoyable for other people to read 🥹

I hope you’re well, even in light of the hurricane effecting so many. 💕

[simpingforsimjake]

The Guilty Defence - Chapter Three

Warning: slight mention of insomnia and PTSD. 

Y/N knocks on the door and quickly adjusts her blazer before hearing a 'come in' from Jay and steps inside.

Jay was like your typical boss: tall, handsome, neatly suited up outfit with his hair brushed up and sleeves to his elbows. Anyone could've swoon for him. As he sees the door open, he glances at Y/N and smiles,

"Ah, you're here. I knew you would come as soon as I called you Prosecutor Y/N~" he says in a friendly way before standing up and gestures to the sofa. "Come, have a seat."

Y/N chuckles before going over to sit down.

"Thanks Jay. So, who confessed? Who did the hit-and-run this morning?" she asked while drinking some water.

Jay cleared his throat and sat down, an uneasy look on his face.

"Do you remember the double homicide case back in 2013 and then the drug induced driving in 2019? The one by Johnny Martinez?" 

Y/N almost choked on her water and widens her eyes.

"J-Johnny- you being serious? He just got out of prison a few years ago-" she replied before quickly scrambling for the documents and looked through the information.

"Yes, that Johnny. He was well behaved in prison...I wonder why he suddenly did a hit-and-run. Anyway, the evidence seemed very clear that he did it. However, there's something a bit fishy...the car registration number doesn't match with the name." 

Y/N looks at the picture of the car, and then back at the document. 

"Don't worry Jay, I'll be adding this to the case. But since Jake is a lawyer, could he interrogate him tomorrow? I got an appointment with my therapist."

"With Gyuvin? Yeah, that's fine, just let Jake know." he replied.

___________________

"Gyuvin~ it's been a while~" Y/N smiles while walking into the room and hugs him. 

"Y/N~ how have you been? How's work going?" He asks while sitting down and pulls up her medical records.

"Tiring, long, stressful to the point that I think I'm gonna get bald...how's mum doing?" 

"She's doing good, just that she misses you. Anyway, how's your...insomnia and PTSD..?"

"Not that good...? I don't know, I need more medication, can you prescribe me some?"

"Sure," he said before starting to type on the computer and stands up to get the medications. 

"I hope I can visit you and mum one day...work is hectic. Oh yeah, have you heard about the hit-and-run case? Apparently the convict is Johnny Martinez, not Kim Seongkyu." 

"What- you mean that guy who did the double homicide and drug induced driving?" he said in shock while passing the medications to her. 

"Mhm, Jake is doing the interrogation...I wonder how it's going."

"I bet its going fine." 

_________________

Johnny just grumbled in his seat, mumbling incoherent words to himself before hearing the door open and sees Jake walk in with a pile of documents on top of his laptop before sitting down and sighs. 

"Johnny Martinez. We meet again I see," Jake says while opening the laptop and glances at him in a way to keep his mouth shut from the threat before clearing his throat.

"So, you're confessing that you did the hit-and-run case that happened a few days ago instead of Mr. Kim?" he says while pulling out some pictures and CCTV footages. 

"Yes, it was me...so what?" Johnny says while relaxing back on his chair as if it wasn't a big deal.

"Then, can you explain to me why the car registration number doesn't match with your documents?"

Johnny sighs before replying,

"I borrowed a friend's car, and he had insurance so I was able to use it." 

"So, just because you borrowed your friend's car, you decided to do a hit-and-run and caused a murder? You do realise that you could go to prison for up to five years according to Article 5, Section 3 of the Act of Aggravated Punishment? Maybe even more depending on other crimes we might find on you..." Jake says while raising an eyebrow at him. 

Johnny sighs, annoyance evident on his face. 

"Oh really? What if I tell you that I also killed Y/N's father a few years ago?" he says with a teasing grin on his face.

Jake suddenly tenses up, before glaring at him and then turns around towards the mirrors.

"Can you stop recording for a second?"

He then turns back to Johnny with a deathly stare.

"You idiot, don't mention a word about that here. Anyone could eavesdrop and I would be indicted from my job." Jake mumbles, irritation clearly shown in his tone of voice.

Johnny then chuckled before leaning close to him and whispers in his ear.

"I still have the knife you used hidden somewhere with your DNA on it. If you want to get away with it, then give me a less harsh sentence. I'm clearly innocent." 

Jake then looked at him in disbelief before hitting his fist on the table pissed off and sighs. 

"That wasn't me stop making up lies. But fine. I'll see what I can do." 

_______________

Thanks for reading this chapter~

[theendlessrambles]

9/28/24

I haven't written here in awhile. I only seem to do so when I have a lot of my mind. I swear I'm not always this negative I just seem to save it all for in my writing. Life has gotten better I'm just in another rut before a new change. I have stopped smoking, started college, and am in a healthier relationship. My roommate and I also get along much better now. College, work, and truama therapy at the same time has proven a struggle and I've been showing up to work late. I now have to go in Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm. I did try and find a diffrent position, but due to my warnings they won't let me. I'm hoping this helps with my schedule as I am burnig out. I also have FMLA time to help with my C-PTSD episodes. I'm thankful that I have union otherwise I may have just been fired instead. It may have not been smart, but I am not being discrete about being burnt out to my fellow coworkers and that I'm struggling. I'd rather be honest that college and a full time job are having negative effects on me than leaving it to the imagination. Work is also stressful with my boss/family friend leaving. She leaves the first week of October. The bullying in the department has finally stressed her enough to leave. They don't just bully her, but everyone. There's only a few people there who are able to handle stress and regulate their feelings well enough to save face during their shift. Lots of other techs have left as well. The change is something I view as negative it's a lot at once. The second in command in the company will be over seeing our department. I worry if she will like me and if she will be present enough in our department. We have a mandatory meeting with her on Tuesday to go over the changes. Truthfully I want to run away from the position, but it seems I am stuck there for awhile. Maybe this is a good thing.

I also have been stressed with some billboards lately. On them is the face of my molesters lawyer running for judge. The people who know him and me have said they don't think he will get it as the other lawyers laugh behind his back. This is true, but does the general public know that? At first it didn't bother me,but as November draws closer it has me on edge. I need to speak to my therapist about this soon as it has just started to truly sink in that he has a chance to become a judge. I know this doesn't affect me in the bigger picture, but it still upsets me. Rightfully so. With the change of schedule in my job I will likely have to get a new truama therapist that fits my new schedule. I cried for an hour on the way home from work over this fact amd then saw the billboard with the lawyers face on it. Maybe I should change my route home when I'm so emotionally upset.

I wanted to smoke a cigarette on my way home after all of that, but instead got panda express. This whole not smoking thing has made me very fat as I've been buying fast food more often. Even when I'm bot upset it's easier than making dinner. I seem to not have a lot of time. Hoping the new schedule helps with that. I haven't been walking my dog. I can tell this is effecting both of us. A few months ago a homeless man tried to attack us and she scared him off. I was able to go back on the trails with another person and eventually on my own again. Same with my dig as she would get nervous around that spot to. A few weeks ago there was a stabbing in that spot. I haven't taken walks since then. I'm hoping my boyfriend will walk with me and my dog there soon as I build back my confidence to go back there.

Speaking of the boyfriend things have been going well. We have dates amd see each other often, but not in a burdensome way. He's very romantic and we do arts and crafts together. We have been off and on again with our friendship since our middle school days because we struggled with admitting our romantic attraction to each other. It took us a decade to do so, but it's nice to have finally done so. His family likes me and my family likes him. He's the type of man I can see marrying not because of society's standards but because I want to. The only struggle is being physical. I have never seen him naked, but he has seen me nudes. Whenever things are sexual i am always receiving but never giving. He has truama and other issues, but won't go in depth with me. It's hard.on a selfish level I wonder if he doesn't reciprocate my feelings and if he's gay, but I know this isn't true. He's bi at the very least and his body language has shown physically intrest. However it is something I worry about deeply. I hope this is something we can get through together or something he can handle on his own. I want to be able to have a deeper relationship with him. On a lighter note we are going to a halloween party as Mario and Princess Peach.

College is going well and I have good grades. It is all online and suits my lifestyle well. I don't think I would do this well if I was in person. NY struggle is turning things in on time and APA formating. APA formating seems the biggest mountain I have to climb as it is what I get marked down for the most. I have a mentor through a program I signed up for. Hopefully this will help with my struggles.

[lyon-amore]

Oath

JakexFem!Mc  One-shot Suitable for everyone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A year had passed since we had managed to save Hannah and Richy. MWAF had kept him alive although in poor condition. He was urgently hospitalized. For Hannah, she still had to go to therapy and consult with lawyers and police officers about her situation in the reckless murder of Jennifer Hanson.  All of that made me open my eyes and leave my job where the only thing my boss did was exploit me. I yelled four things at him and left. I decided to go to Duskwood, live there with my friends and help Hannah recover.I got a job in the library, surrounded by so many interesting books… And that Jessy was grateful because she knew that she could trust me to offer information.  I came to live in Duskwood because of Jake. I was sure that he would have liked to be there with her sister and help her, but by helping us in the last moments I told him to run away so he wouldn't be found, cutting off any connection with all of us.  As far as I'm concerned, I didn't mind. The last message I got from him was that he was in a safe place. There were no more messages after that.  Well, okay, maybe I was a little sad about not getting texts from him, but I wasn't going to stay like my friends weren't important either. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dan Would you like to go to the Aurora tonight?  Cleo You're kidding? Phil still forbids us from going  Dan But maybe our little detective will let us sneak in.  MC Being a friend of the owner doesn't mean that I can easily take you  Richy In addition to the fact that she herself made the sign that Thomas and Cleo are prohibited from entering 😬  MC Sorry guys, at first I thought it was a joke 😅 I never thought he was really going to hang it Thomas Don't worry MC. Besides, tonight I was thinking of meeting up at Hannah's.  Jessy When do you think she can get into the group?  Thomas She is still affected, but she has already started to have a little normal life At least I know she has a group chat with Lilly and MC.  Cleo And how do you see her, MC?  MC Good, well…As far as it goes, it seems that she is doing a little better These things aren’t quick to bounce back Jessy 😔​  Richy You don't have to say it It was good that at least we were together at that time  MC You were brave both 🙂  Richy Thanks MC😁  Dan And what about the virtual criminal?  Jessy DAN! 😠 Richy Dan!  Cleo Dan 🤦  Thomas Dan…  MC Calm down guys, I'm fine 😅 Nothing yet But as long as he's okay, we don't have to worry. Jessy But leaving you alone... 😕  MC I'm not alone I have you guys 😄  Cleo 😊  Richy And that makes our “favorite” womanizer have a free hand 🤨  Thomas I don't think that will happen  Jessy At least if we leave Phil alone with MC for a long time 😳 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Just then, in the group with Lilly and Hannah, we received an image of the Duskwood map. Exactly a specific place. I keep looking at the picture. It doesn't come from who it is.Lilly's text makes me react. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lilly MC!  MC Yes, I see it  Hannah But what is?  MC I think I know Lilly Do you think it's Jake?  Hannah It has to be him Who else could send this to us without a profile? But this part of the map…  MC It's the church -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  I had seen too much of that map to know where it was. I smile. Maybe there is something in there for us. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Hannah Then we have to go!  Lilly What if it's not him? What if is someone wanting to set a trap for us?  MC Well, we have to take a risk I plan to go Hannah Me too  Lilly God… I guess I'll have to go because I can't leave you girls alone...  MC See you there  Hannah See you later, MC  Lilly Please don't be late I want us to be together...  MC I will not be late ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luckily, it was break time. I grabbed my jacket and bag, walking out of the library and putting up the sign that we'll be back open in half an hour. I was hoping it wouldn't be too long, I don't want to be fired either. Lucky it was close. Near the church Lilly and Hannah were waiting for me. When I saw them, I gave them a big hug like it had been a long time since we'd seen each other. We were a disaster, the three of us together.     "So we have to go in?" Lilly asks, looking carefully around.     "Jake may not be here, but at the same time, he may have left us something." Hannah gazes determinedly at the church.     "I agree, since he wouldn't want to put us in danger," I say, clutching my bag tightly.     "Then let's go…" Lilly takes our hands, like a scared little girl.       I understood it. It was too hopeful to think this way and then give ourselves a reality check and get into trouble. There was no one inside the church. Totally silent. We walked down the long hall, the smell of incense accompanying us. There must have been a Mass earlier. But what exactly were we looking for? We began to look through the benches in the background, each time going further forward. But nothing.     "Now what?" Hannah asks, crossing her arms sadly.     "Maybe it was a joke if we haven't been caught by now." Lilly seemed more upset, seeing how her older sister had been disappointed that she hadn't found any clues about her brother. I decide to go to the big table at front of us. It was the only place we had not yet examined.Below it were three small boxes with our names. My heart began to beat fast.     "Hannah, Lilly! Here!“ I yell, picking up the small objects.      They approached and I gave them each theirs. Opening them revealed some small SD cards and a set of headphones. Typical of his puzzles.     "I guess there's something that wants us to hear or see what's in it," Lilly guessed.       << Please, don't let it be a farewell audio…. >>  I sit away from them, wanting some privacy if I wanted to see Jake. But will it be a video? Will it have his voice or will it be distorted?  I had never heard what it sounded like before and was curious to know. I put the card in the mobile, waiting for him to read it. It contained an audio. Well, it was to be expected. I put on my headphones and, with my finger trembling, I press the audio. Preparing myself for the worst.   "Hey, um... Wow, I'm bad at this..." The audio starts and I laugh as I listen to him speak. It didn't have the distortion. His voice was clear and mature, but he seemed nervous. "I never thought I'd record an audio with my voice, so I hope you don't laugh." Too late “You must imagine that this must be a farewell audio, but it's not” I notice the audio a bit strange, there seemed to be a background echo "MC, I just wanted to thank you for all you have done. Yes again. I don't think I'll ever know how to thank you." I try to control myself, but the tears that come to me are of happiness. I feel important. Not because he has to tell me, because I've come a long way in having courage with myself as well.     “Surely you must be angry that it wasn't a video, but I had my reasons for not making one. And also because you don't deserve it, didn't I tell you not to go to Duskwood?" He makes me laugh. I broke his promise, but he never said that I couldn't come after finding Hannah, it was a hole in his promise. "I suppose I can forgive you, but for this time.” I close my eyes, feeling calmer. Hearing him makes me happy. I take the mobile to my chest, continuing to listen."I'm trying to find a way to see you, but for now, I guess I'll just have to wait." I don't care... I don't care because I know you're okay, Jake...  "I wish I could see you, sitting there in the church, listening to the audio for you" I open my eyes nervously, looking around, does he suppose or is he looking at me? Is here?      I check my mobile, noting how much audio I have left. It doesn't put it on.     "What the..." I don't move. I stare at the phone in surprise. Do you mean…     "But who knows?" The echo… sounds very clear… or is it just the headphones? “Maybe I'm right where I need to be now.”  I feel as if someone breathed on my neck, just at the same time those words sounded.I'm shaking...I can't control myself...     "It's not my imagination, is it?" I ask, my voice cracking. "Please tell me it's not my imagination."      I reach my hands to the headphones to take them off and hands hold mine as if helping me take them off. Electricity runs through my entire body.     "Depends on what you think at this moment," says the same voice on the audio.      I turn and see a man with dark hair and a tired look. But he smiles for me. I've never seen him and even so, I can quickly identify him.     "Glad to meet you in person, MC," Jake says to me, very slowly, leaning against the bench.     "I could say the same, Jake." I wipe my tears, smiling back at him. "But what are you doing here?" I thought you were running away. "     "I've been keeping you guys hanging around Paris for a while." He winks at me mockingly and I laugh. “Besides, I wanted to come even for a little while to see my sisters.”     "I understand. ”      I find it normal. I look over at Hannah and Lilly who are looking at us and smiling. Wait... They don't seem surprised... Did they know all this time? I look at them angrily and then at Jake.     "I can't believe it... ”     "Don't get mad-"     "I'm not mad, more like I'm surprised."     "That's not what your expression says."       This is what I get for trusting a family that loves to keep secrets. Jake takes my hand and strokes it. Great… I can't get mad now. I blush and so does he. Giving me a look that made me embarrassed, it seemed like she was admiring something.     "I've dreamed for a long time of being able to see you and hold your hand..."      My face burns when he says that. Aah... Please... Let this really be real...     "Me too..." I whispered, looking down.     "MC, I may not be in Duskwood for long" I look up, scared of losing him again now that he's here ", but if I didn't tell you now, then I wouldn't know when" I nod with a lump in my throat “: No matter how far away I am or how long it takes to get back to your side, I want you to know that there will be no one I want to spend the rest of my life with." I can't stop shaking and Jake sees it, grabs my other hand and tries to calm me down by circling the backs of my hands with his thumbs. The sound of my crying rings through the whole church.     "You can't tell me this to give me false hope…" I say, though it's hard for me to speak, "You just can't…"     "It's not false hope." I look into his eyes. Yes, he is being sincere, but what can I do if I know that I will be waiting for him again, without knowing a single word about him? I lied when I said I was fine without him. I'm not "I will always come back. I swear to you. "     “Swearing is a very personal thing, Jake…"     "That's why I do it." He rests her forehead against mine. We are so close... Can you hear my heart?  ", you are so important that for you I would give my life.”     A sigh escapes me and I hear him laugh. I can't help it, those words make me emotional.      As if both of us were thinking about it at the same time, we slowly get closer until we kiss. It's an awkward kiss at first, but as we continue, he becomes confident and brings his hand to my cheek, caressing it lovingly. The lump goes away and I feel much better than before.We don't even realize how long we've lasted if it wasn't for Lilly.     "Guys, you remember you're in a church, right?" she asks us, from across the benches.      We break apart and I hide my face leaning on her shoulder, embarrassed. We break apart and I hide my face leaning on his shoulder, embarrassed.    “Lilly, it's not cool to interrupt them,” Hannah says, and I hear her giggle a little.    "I asked for your help, but there was no need to break the moment," Jake sounds annoyed as he strokes my hair.    "You would have thanked us after nine months if we hadn't stopped you," Lilly continues jokingly.    “Lilly!” Jake and I shout at the same time, and both sisters laugh. Jake looks at me and I see how he smiles shyly.I give him a small kiss on the lips and hug him, dropping to my knees on the bench.     "I'm glad you're here... "     "I'm glad too."      He hugs me tightly, as if he doesn't want to let me go.  With this oath, it is enough for me to be happy. If he'll always come back to me, then waiting won't matter to me.

[alexissara]

The Iconic Matriarch

[Art by Kanesha Bryant from Thirsty Sword Lesbians: Advanced Lovers and Lesbians]

The Matriarch in Thirsty Sword Lesbians is one of my artistic prides and joys. I've created lots of comics, short stories and worked on several games. The Matriarch to me is a design stand out. I want to talk about the design of that playbook more specifically sometime but instead I just want to talk about the iconic for the playbook here. The iconic here is an AU version of my OC Jillain Owlnight. Jill originated as a NPC character in a roleplay that was the adoptive mother of one of my partners OCs. I really loved her and so did she. Jillian was a lawyer who did her best to help people, she was a scrapy woman in independent practice and single just doing her best. Still she was wise, she loved magical stuff, was a big fan of birds and was did her best by her new kid.

She recurred in some other roleplays as a mother figure as a staple wink and a nod or as someone's lawyer. Eventually though, she was brought into Love Beyond The Holy Light, which was a webnovel I had been working on for a while as a powerful witch with an affinity for owls, a POV character and the mother of another POV character. This fantasy version of her was probably my most in-depth dive into her as a character. This and the following modern roleplay really finished the refinement of what this character was.

Jillian is a trans woman who lived a really hard life with bad parents, runs away from home and has fend for herself or is taken in by some magical bird, either way she is living a fairly different life than other kids. She gets a lot of skills because she needs to be all around good to survive and the lesbian falls in love with a girl, typically after years there is a sad break up, she goes through a flop era and gets her shit together when there is a kid in need that she had to care for. From there on Jill is a mega mom, she does everything for her kids and tries her best to make the world a better place. Maybe she slips up at one point, sells her morals for the kids safety or comfort but eventually turns around to do right by her kids.

Which brings us to this iconic AU version of Jillian. I wanted a version of her to do something new with less baggage. I think I said to just warrior her up at first but I was asked to provide a bit more detail and I suggested a bit more of a Sci-fiy kind of vibe. Kanesha then used the very little guidance to make this master piece. I don't know what they intended but clearly they took inspiration form the playbook too, where they gave Jillian mob boss vibes since one of the examples for The Matriarch is a mob boss. The amazing details were basically all their idea.

After getting it here is kinda how I picture everything about her working but this is just my headcanon, I hope people take her and do whatever their brains come up with for her. To me this version of Jillian runs a queer gang. Their all about bashing back and smashing the system. She is a very proud mom of her kids wearing stuff they made for her. Each color of bean represents a different kid she has taken under her wing. The eye patch was made by a sweet daughter of hers as well and the bracelets were gifts from her oldest daughter. She rips off the rich and gives back to the queers posing as a CEO or something to explain the luxuries her organization affords people.

Her family mechanic is her right hand in the mob, one of her older kids and her wife. Jillian has Been around from her experience living on the streets and traveling for jobs and warm food. Then she has In The Family due to her crime family being a known force that is not to be fucked with.

Anyway, that was my idea for the iconic here. Have you played The Matriarch, if you have what were they like? Do you have any ideas for one or been in a game with one? Did the Iconic art give you any ideas like it did for me? I'm also just always happy to hear about any TSL OC, let me know in the replies and stuff.

If you enjoyed this or anything else I've wrote, consider subscribing to my patreon to help me make more good lesbian and trans art. https://www.patreon.com/AlexisSara

[tyrannosaurus-trainwreck]

“Like a fucking lizard! O_O”

Jonathan: May 12th.  Dracula would have made an amazing lawyer.  It’s like he has some infinite pool of experience to pull from in terms of where things can go wrong!

Dracula: How many lawyers can someone have?  Like, just as a hypothetical, if you wanted to eat ten lawyers but still have one lawyer left, could that be a thing you did?

Jonathan’s just like, sure, I guess if you want a math problem’s worth of lawyers or you really don’t want one person to have too clear a picture of what you’re up to for perfectly normal Count Dracula reasons, you could totally have a bunch of lawyers, ha ha.

The way this guy waffles back and forth between “Dracula is going to murder me and is up to no good” and “I couldn’t possibly lie to Dracula about anything if I know better, I’m his lawyer” is amazing.

I love the bit where Dracula is like, “Hey, Jonny, my friend.  Have you written to anyone since the one letter to your boss?”

Dracula just looking this guy dead in the eye and being like, so, written any good letters lately?

Jonathan: Have I written to anyone since the one letter that I handed to you to post.  I don’t know, Count, did I give you a fucking letter to post?  Did you notice me hoofing it through the interminable forest surrounding your remote castle to the fucking post office?  Did you see me hurling letters out the windows at random pigeons in the hopes that one of them was a messenger pigeon?

Dracula: So that’s a no?

Jonathan: Yeah, that’s a no, bud.

Dracula: So why don’t you write one now and tell your boss we’re having a great time and I need you to stay another month?

Jonathan’s like “A. Fucking. Month. You want me to stay an entire goddamn month.  Another month.  Here.  With you.  In this castle.”

Dracula: :)

“When your master, employer, what you will, engaged that someone should come on his behalf”

Dracula really sat there and was like “You know, whatever you call the guy who runs your entire life and makes you do things” to Jonathan’s face.  In Dracula’s defense, Jonathan’s response is literally:

“It was Mr. Hawkins’s interest, not mine, and I had to think of him, not myself”

but also like, man.  Don’t call the dude out like that to his fucking face, that is some mannerless nonsense.

For real though, Jonathan--you almost got eaten by wolves.  The only reason you didn’t get eaten by wolves is because your client is a wolf-wizard.  (Mem., my client is a fucking wolf-wizard.)

Speaking of which, Dracula does have the forethought to be like “What if someone blabs before I get the chance to eat them?” and reminds Jonathan not to go rambling on about Dracula’s ability to control wolves or being a giant train table-reading weirdo.

Jonathan does finally stop being so painfully English about shit and goes through Dracula’s mail the second he has a chance.  Drac’s got guys in Whitby, Varna, London, and Budapest.  Fortunately, Jonathan has a chance to write all this down.  Unfortunately, he’s probably not going to remember that he wrote it down any more than he remembered he wrote down everything the locals said about the count before Jonathan insisted on heading right into a vampire’s castle.

Dracula takes a hot second to specifically warn Jonathan not to fall asleep anywhere but his bedroom, which is a weird goddamn thing to warn somebody about, but also Dracula’s previously implied that the locked doors all have a pack of wolves behind them, so.

Jonathan’s take on it is that he could give a good goddamn where he falls asleep so long as Dracula’s not around, which is… a choice.  I get it.  But also, I’m guessing there’s a reason the peasants were all “witch” and “vampire” and not just “Well, it’s Count Dracula.  You’ll understand if you ever meet him, he’s… well, he’s a lot.” and then staring intently at Jonathan like he was an idiot.  There’s probably more than one problem in the castle, is the thing.

A little later, Jonathan needs some air and climbs up to where he can take in the view.  The view he gets is of Count Dracula shimmying out a window and parkouring his way down the wall like a fucking gecko. 

Jonathan: I could tell it was Dracula from his hands, which I’ve had so many opportunities of studying, an extremely normal thing for an extremely normal person to do.

Sidebar: I guess people had to be weird about something before they could be weird on main about feet?

“But my very feelings changed to repulsion and terror when I saw the whole man slowly emerge from the window and begin to crawl down the castle wall over that dreadful abyss, face down with his cloak spreading out around him like great wings.”

As anyone who’s ever hung off something by their knees can tell you, Dracula’s done some very specific tailoring to get that shit spreading out around him like wings and not just flopping straight down over his head, leaving him stuck there because he can’t see shit.  He probably spent weeks workshopping it the first time he was like, “Ah, yes, time for my midnight lizard crawl” and immediately regretted it because he got tangled in his own cape.

“I thought it was some trick of the moonlight, some weird effect of shadow; but I kept looking, and it could be no delusion.”

Jonathan: Ha ha, I’ve definitely thought I saw some shit because I was a little high on gas fumes or carbon monoxide poisoning in the past, but this motherfucker was really doing it! Man. That’s fucked up, though?

“What manner of man is this, or what manner of creature is it in the semblance of man?”

Every villager between Castle Dracula and the Danube, in unison, while crossing themselves:

“Ordog” (Satan)

“pokol” (hell)

“stregoica” (witch)

“vrolok” and “vlkoslak” (were-wolf or vampire)

[pwilzfan73]

True story behind The Conjuring 3 – inside Arne Cheyenne Johnson’s “the devil made me do it” court case

The latest instalment in The Conjuring franchise once again has its roots in a real-life case.

By Patrick Cremona, Radio Times. UK.

Published: Friday, 21st May 2021 at 2:56 pm

The Conjuring 3 takes its title from a real-life court case that dates back to the 1980s. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It takes a look at the case and the Warrens’ involvement in the case that originated the phrase “the devil made me do it”.

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga return as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren for the next instalment in The Conjuring horror franchise, with the new movie heading to UK cinemas on 28th May 2021.

As with the previous movies in the franchise, The Conjuring 3 is taken from a real case file with reported connections to the supernatural. Previously we’ve seen spin-off movies focused on the Annabelle doll, also inspired by the Warrens who keep it in their occult museum.

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as Lorraine and Ed Warren. Warner Bros Pictures.

The case in question this time around is the trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, a man who was convicted of manslaughter in Connecticut in 1981 – becoming the first person to have claimed a defence of demonic possession during a murder trial.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It true story

The Conjuring 3 is inspired by the trial of 19-year-old Arne Cheyenne Johnson, who was charged with murdering his landlord Alan Bono in February 1981. During the trial, the defendant gained infamy for becoming the first person to claim a defence of demonic possession in a United States court – although perhaps unsurprisingly this version of events was not accepted by the judge.

His defence rested on testimony given by the family of his fiancée, Debbie Glatzel. Debbie’s 11-year-old brother had reportedly been the subject of demonic possession in the months prior to the murder, with his parents having grown increasingly worried by a number of unexplained and ominous events.

The story really starts in July 1980, when the 11-year-old David Glatzel was helping Johnson clean up a Connecticut rental property he was prepping to move so he could move in.

While there David claimed to have come across a “burnt and black-looking” old man who he claims pushed him into a waterbed saying he would bring them harm if they moved into the house.

When David returned home he continued to see the old man. He described him as having a white beard, wearing jeans and a flannel shirt. David claimed the man’s skin was charred as if he’d been burnt too. The young boy experienced night terrors and woke up with bruises and scratches on his body. He’d wake screaming and tell his parents he’d seen the sunken features of the old man “like an animal”, with horns, pointy hears and jagged teeth (via People). (The Conjuring 3 demon appears to have gone a different route, with early photos showing a white masked man wearing a striped red long coat.)

The family said they also had heard unexplained noises coming from their attic.

In trying to get to the bottom of the issue they had called in Ed and Lorraine Warren – who by this point were already well-known paranormal experts – to diagnose and cure their son.

Ed Warren said he heard banging and growling sounds coming from their basement, and that he also say a rocking chair move on its own. Speaking to paranormal researcher Tony Spera, Ed claimed David’s toy dinosaur also walked on its own towards the family. He also said a deep voice spoke to them saying: “Beware, you’re all going to die.”

Lorraine also claimed she saw a black mist appear next to David while her husband interviewed him. “While Ed interviewed the boy, I saw a black, misty form next to him, which told me we were dealing with something of a negative nature. Soon the child was complaining that invisible hands were choking him—and there were red marks on him. He said that he had the feeling of being hit,” she told People magazine.

David’s mother Judy had previously claimed it was a ghost, but the Warrens rejected this idea saying it was an indicator of a demon.

Lorraine also claimed she saw David being choked by invisible hands and he told her “he had the feeling he was being hit”. She told People that she could see red marks afterwards and she heard him growl and hiss. Lorraine also claimed he spoke in unrecognisable voices, that he recited passages of the Bible as well as Paradise Lost. Debbie Glatzel also claimed he spit, bit, kicked and swore at her and he flopped around “head to toe like a ragdoll”.

She also told the Chippewa Herald Telegram that “he manifested. Just a face on the wall. High cheekbones. A narrow chin. A thin nose. Big black eyes hidden in dark holes. He showed his teeth.”

Ed Warren also told The Washington Post: “Right away, I knew there was something to this. I felt like a good fisherman when he knows there’s something on the line.” He added that he thought there were 43 demons inside the boy, and David named them all.

David Glatzel’s exorcism

In the movie, Father Gordon (Steve Coulter) blesses the home. The priest’s name was changed for the movie, but a Roman Catholic priest did visit the home to bless it.

After continued efforts from the Warrens, the Glatzels, and multiple priests (including Rev Francis E.Virgulak) a formal exorcism took place, with witnesses claiming that a demon fled the child’s body.

Ed Warren claimed Arne, who was present at the exorcism, shouted: “Take me on, leave my little buddy alone!”

Apparently, David showed signs of improving, but Arne started to deteriorate. TV series A Haunting covered the case in the episode Where Demons Dwell, claiming that the demon took control of Johnson’s car forcing it into a tree. While he was uninjured, he was shaken by the experience. The series also blamed a demon when Johnson fell from a tree while working.

Judy told The Washington Post she paid $75 an hour for a session with a local psychiatrist too, but it was up to church officials to set up and pay for further psychological testing (via Newsweek). David’s parents were told he was “normal” but had a “minimal learning disability”.

Alan Bono’s murder

Clearly not content with its newfound freedom, though, the story goes that the spirit then immediately took control of Johnson and it was under his control that the murder of the landlord took place several months later.

Johnson and Debbie Glatzel decided against renting the original home, and instead rented a small house near Debbie’s work. Debbie was working a dog groomer for the landlord, Alan Bono, 40, who was also the kennel manager.

Bono, who has been renamed in the movie as Bruno Sauls, lived in an apartment above the kennels.

On the day of the murder, Johnson had taken the day off work and spent the day with Debbie, 26, at the kennel. Along with some other companions, Debbie, Johnson and Bono had lunch at a local restaurant and enjoyed a few drinks, becoming drunk in the process, and when they later returned to the kennel a heated fight broke out with Bono becoming increasingly agitated.

During this argument, Bono seized Debbie’s nine-year-old cousin Mary, who had also been present, and refused to let her go – which then led Johnson to confront him and eventually stab him repeatedly with a five-inch pocket knife, all while growling like an animal. Bono suffered “four or five tremendous wounds” mainly to his chest area.

Bono died several hours later and Johnson was later arrested roughly two miles away from the murder. The murder is believed to be the first murder in Brookfield, Connecticut’s 193-year history, and the first in the 30 years since the town had police records.

The next day, Lorraine Warren immediately claimed that it was a case of demonic possession, which naturally led to much media coverage around the world.

Ed and Lorraine Warren

Ed and Lorraine Warren arrive at Danbury Superior Court - Getty

Arne Johnson’s Trial

Johnson’s trial began on 28th October 1981 at Connecticut’s Superior Court in Danbury.

Johnson’s lawyer Martin Minnella attempted to enter a plea of “not guilty” due to demonic possession stating Johnson “was possessed by a demon, and it was a demon who actually manipulated his body.” It was the first known court case in US history that had attempted this defence.

Minnella, speaking about the case and the fame that followed, said: “The courts have dealt with the existence of God. Now they’re going to have to deal with the existence of the Devil.” (via the New York Times).

However, the plea of not guilty due to demonic possession was immediately thrown out by presiding judge Robert Callahan who said that it would be “irrelative and unscientific” to allow testimony on these grounds, and so despite the ensuing media attention the jury was not legally allowed to consider demonic possession.

Johnson’s defence claimed that he hadn’t been the same after Glatzel’s exorcism, and witnesses were called upon saying they saw a demon transfer from Glatzel to Johnson. Debbie Glatzel also testified that Johnson behaved similarly to Glatzel. Ed Warren claimed Johnson had made a “fatal mistake” by taunting the alleged demon.

Debbie claimed Johnson had come to Bono’s apartment to repair a stereo for him, but that Bono had been drinking red wine and the pair got into an argument about payment for the repair. She also said Johnson was in a trance when he stabbed Bono.

According to reports, in the three months Debbie and Johnson had lived next to Bono they had been friends. The police believed that Bono and Debbie’s relationship was more than boss and employee, but Debbie denied this despite the police claiming the argument was over her rather than the stereo. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It does take this angle into the story, exploring the ‘jealous lover’ plot, which was also shown in the 1983 movie The Demon Murder Case (starring Kevin Bacon).

L-R Patrick Wilson (Ed Warren), Sarah Catherine Hook (Debbie Glatzel) and Vera Farmiga (Lorraine Warren) in New Line Cinema’s ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.

After the jury deliberated for more than three days, Johnson was convicted of first-degree manslaughter on 24th November 1981 and was sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in prison. He was released in 1986 having only served five years of his sentence.

Even though demonic possession was not actually allowed as a legitimate defence in the trial, the case became colloquially known as “the Devil made me do it case” – hence the subtitle of this film.

Where are the Glatzels and Johnson now?

Johnson married Debbie Glatzel while he was in prison. He also got his high school diploma while inside. The pair went on to have two children.

Lorraine Warren went on to write the book The Devil in Connecticut with Gerald Brittle detailing the case, and they shared the profits from the sales with the Glatzel family. David’s brother Carl Glatzel did speak out against the book when it was republished in 2006 saying it was a “complete lie” and that “the Warrens concocted a phoney story about demons in an attempt to get rich and famous at our expense.”

Carl claimed the Warrens told the family they’d be millionaires – it was later confirmed they were paid $2,000. Carl also says David was suffering with his mental health at the time, but he recovered. In 2007, David and Carl filed a lawsuit against Brittle and the Warrens for unspecified financial damages. They sued the authors and publishers for violating their privacy, libel and “intentional infliction of emotional distress.”

Brittle claims his book is based on fact and he interviewed the Glatzel family for more than 100 hours, which he has video of. Lorraine Warren also said the six priests who performed exorcisms on Glatzel agreed that he was possessed.

Debbie Glatzel and Arne Johnson have always backed the account of the possession, but David’s father denies his son was possessed.

How the movie tackles such a complicated case and how closely they stick to the real life events remains to be seen.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is released in cinemas on 4th June, 2021 on HBO Max and 28th May in the UK.

[jjungkookislife]

The Nanny [Ch. 2]

↬ pairing: lawyer!seokjin x nanny!reader

↬ genre: single dad au, fluff, smut 18+

↬ summary: Jin needs a nanny for his son, but when he hires you, he gets that and so much more.

↬ wc: 8.3k

↬ warnings: cursing, hair pulling, spanking, marking (slight), dirty talk (tiny), oral sex (f. giving and receiving), bd!jin, fingering (f. receiving), unprotected sex, cum eating  

↬ date: August 14, 2020

Jin thinks about you for weeks on end, his eyes staring longingly at the picture of the three of you at the park. He can’t deny the fact that he has feelings for you much longer. You’ve been a consistent part of his and Dae-Hyun’s life.

Not only do you care about Dae, but also Jin. You thought about your boss more than you should. You wonder if he’s eaten, if he’s well-rested, or if he’ll have time to take Dae-Hyun out on the weekend. You become more involved in their daily life, especially on weekends when you’re supposed to be off. You and Dae-Hyun have become attached at the hip, Jin being thrown into the mix.

The two of you talk more and more, building connections over common interests and Dae-Hyun. It takes Jin several weeks before he dares to ask you on a date, much to your surprise.

It happened after you had spent the day with the two of them at the park, deciding to get ice cream before heading home. You had tucked in Dae-Hyun for his nap, watching him sleep for a moment when Jin called you out into the hallway.

“Are you okay?” You had asked him, taking in his clammy appearance. His usual confident demeanor nowhere in sight.

“There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you,” he said nervously, his large hand rubbing the back of his neck as he looks down at you. You raise your brow in confusion. You nodded for him to continue.

“I was wondering if you’d like to go on a date with me?” You’re shocked that he’s finally asked you out, your smile putting Jin at ease before answering with a yes.

“Oh, thank god! I thought you would say no,” Jin admits, making you chuckle.

“Why would you think I’d say no?” You ask, stepping closer to him, your hand moving to brush his hair out of his eyes, smiling when you notice the light blush on his cheeks, his ears turning red.

“Do you have a no dating employees policy I should know about?” You tease, making him shake his head as your hand moves down to stroke his cheek. He melts into your touch, taking a step forward to close the slight distance between you.

Your gaze met his, his breath caught in his throat as his palm cups your cheek before he captures your lips with his, taking you by surprise. Your eyes flutter shut, your hand moving to his chest, gripping the material of his shirt as you kiss him back eagerly, mewling softly as his teeth gently tug on your bottom lip before releasing it. He rests his forehead on yours afterward. His smoldering gaze has you melting under his touch, his lithe fingers caressing your cheek. He smiles coyly and takes a step back.

“Are you free tonight?” Jin asks, his smile is hopeful, his ears burning crimson as he awaits your answer.

“I don’t know. I need to check with my boss first,” you tease, smiling brightly.

Jin throws his head back as he laughs. His distinct laugh causing you to burst out into giggles before the two of you shush each other when Dae stirs in his bed. Jin wipes the tears away from his eyes, leading you further down the hallway until you’re both going down the stairs and entering the living room.

“I can have my mother watch Dae-Hyun tonight, and we can go out to dinner,” Jin states, his heart hammering in his chest.

“That sounds great, Seokjin!”

“I’ll pick you up at 8?”

“I can’t wait! I’ll head home so I can start planning my outfit. I’ll see you tonight,” you assure him as you hug him quickly before grabbing your belongings and heading out the door.

To say you’re a nervous wreck is an understatement. You don’t know what to wear and your room looks like a hot mess. You’ve tried on dresses, skirts, dress pants and jeans, but you can’t seem to pick anything you like enough to wear tonight. You clean up your room whilst also looking for something to wear until you see your little black dress hanging in the very back of your closet. You take it out, holding it up in the air as you inspect it, making sure it’s not too revealing but also shows just enough to be cheeky.

You try it on, admiring yourself in the mirror to make sure it sits right on your figure before you move onto your vanity to do your hair and makeup. You’ve kept an eye on the clock, your nerves twisting in your stomach as you finish getting ready just as the ten-minute warning alarm goes off.

You curse, looking for jewelry to wear tonight before you delve into your closet to look for your comfortable heels and your black clutch. You take a long look at yourself in the mirror, hoping Jin will like your outfit as you lean over your vanity and spray your favorite perfume. When you set the bottle back on the surface, your doorbell rings throughout your apartment, making your body freeze for a moment. You leave your bedroom and make your way to the front door.

You inhale and then exhale deeply as you unlock the door, twisting the doorknob and pulling it open, your smile widening when you see Jin standing on your doorstep with a bouquet. Your cheeks flush with heat, bashfully accepting the bouquet as you step aside to allow him into your home.

“Thank you, Jin. I love them,” you say as you make your way to the kitchen with him behind you to place the bouquet in a vase with water, heading back to the living room to grab your purse. Jin is radiating with nerves as he leads you to his car, stopping at the passenger’s side to open the door for you and help you in before he walks over to his side.

Jin is nervous. He could feel sweat beading on his forehead as he starts the car, but before he can pull out of your driveway, you place your hand on his arm, making him turn to look at you.

“Hey, relax,” you giggle, making him chuckle. His hands ease up on the steering wheel as he turns to look at you.

“I’m sorry,” he apologizes, his ears burning red as he looks at you, admiring your beauty. “I just want this to go well.”

You squeeze his arm in assurance before leaning over the center console, tugging the belt over your shoulder when it keeps you from leaning down further. Your other hand cups his cheek, your smile making him want to melt into a puddle.

“Relax Mr. Kim. I already like you.” You admit, your cheeks surging with heat as your eyes drop to his lips before they meet his gaze. Jin’s heart is thumping in his chest rather loudly, his hands growing clammy as you lean closer, your breath ghosting his lips before they brush against his. He’s taken by surprise, a soft gasp escaping his pink lips. His eyes flutter closed, and he reciprocates your actions. His palms cup your face, his lips overtaking the kiss to make it more passionate without either of your tongues getting involved.

You break away, smiling brightly at him. “Feel better, Jin?”

Jin nods, a genuine smile on his lips as he squeezes your hand before he finally checks his rear-view mirror and backs out of the driveway.

When you arrive at the restaurant, Jin has relaxed enough around you to open your door and take your hand in his. You smile bashfully, allowing him to lead you to the entrance of an exquisite-looking restaurant in the heart of the city.

You admire the modern art decorating the entrance, your heart racing when you feel Jin’s hand on the small of your back as he leads you forward, giving his name to the host before you’re led to your table. All around you are couples enjoying a pleasant night out, dressed impeccably; the men in suits and the woman in elegant dresses with large diamond earrings that dangle from their earlobes. You try not to focus on their scrutinizing looks as you walk past, allowing Jin’s hold on your hand to give you the courage to get past the wandering eyes as you get to your table.

Candles sit on the table, illuminating the area as they sit atop the white tablecloth beside the small vase of fresh flowers. Two menus sit closed on the table, the host informing you that your server would be along soon. Jin nods, his smile bright as he holds your hand over the table and asks if the restaurant is okay.

“It’s beautiful,” you answer honestly, your eyes falling onto the string quartet that plays on the opposite side of the room on a small, elevated stage. You can admit it’s beautiful, although it was a tad overwhelming.

Jin releases your hand, allowing you to open your menu, only for your eyes to widen when you see the prices. You swallow your gasp as you continue to look on as Jin suggests meals for you to try. All of them priced more than you’d ever spend on one meal.

When the server arrives, Jin has her bring you both a glass of wine to give the two of you more time to browse through your choices. You bite your lip before settling on a pasta dish, shutting your menu, and setting it to the side for the server when she returns to take your order.

“Are you as nervous as I am?” Jin asks, his bashful smile putting you at ease as you reach over the table to squeeze his hand.

“There’s no need to be nervous, Jin. You already know I like you.” Jin blushes at your words, his hand suddenly feeling sweaty in your hold as he uses his free hand to pull his tie loose.

“Relax for me, Jin. Let’s enjoy dinner.” You smile brightly as he nods in agreement.

As the night goes on, Jin seems to be more and more relaxed until he’s able to get you laughing at his jokes; his loud laugh making you laugh harder. You love the way his eyes shine with happiness when he laughs, his broad shoulders shaking as he clutches his stomach, his face red as he tries to catch his breath. Tears have escaped his eyes, breathing in heavily before he calms down at a story you’ve told him about your past.

You wipe your tears away, careful not to smudge your makeup as the server comes over, placing the book with the bill on the table and stepping away. You’re quick to grab it, but Jin takes it from your reach and places his card inside it, giving you a stern look that has you rolling your eyes. With your salary, you’d be able to pay for dinner tonight.

Once the bill is settled, Jin takes your hand in his as he leads you out of the restaurant. The two of you get into the car, Seokjin’s hand lingering on your knee for a moment before he starts the car and begins driving.

“There’s one more place I want to take you to.” He says as he turns right and you wonder where you’re going as the lights pass you by.

Five minutes later, Jin is parallel parking on the street, getting out of the car to open your door. His hand stays on the small of your back as you walk along the sidewalk. You recognize the area, it’s near city hall with some high-end boutiques lining the block, but in the middle of it all is a historic fountain that’s always lit up at night.

Jin seems to have calmed down since the beginning of the date, but some nervousness lingers as he leads you into a small shop. You look around, noting the simple décor, flowers in vases sitting on the few tables inside. You walk closer to the glass display, looking down to see several flavors of ice cream.

“Ice cream,” you beam excitedly as you glance at Jin, who is standing behind you, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

“Yeah, I bring Dae here often. It's our secret spot,” he states as he holds your waist as you look over the flavors before picking your favorite. Your heart warms knowing he's sharing something special of his and Dae's with you. Jin orders his ice cream. He pays for both, then he takes your hand after you each grab your cones from the holder.

“This is so good!” You gush licking your ice cream, as Jin leads you to an empty spot by the fountain where the two of you can sit.

“I’m glad you like it, Y/n.” You nod, taking another lick, squealing when you feel some get on your nose. Jin chuckles, wiping it off with his thumb.

“Thanks.” your cheeks flush with heat as you scoot closer to him before offering him some of your ice cream. He does the same to you.

“I think I like mine better,” Jin says as his tongue pokes out to lick the ice cream.

“It’s good but mine’s better,” you smile, causing him to roll his eyes, lightly shoving you with his shoulder. You laugh, turning to meet his gaze, your heart thumping ridiculously loud in your chest as you lean in closer. Your eyes look down at his lips, aching to taste them as you meet his eyes once again.

Jin uses his free hand to cup your cheek, his thumb caressing it softly as you lean into his touch. Your eyes flutter shut as Jin leans forward, his soft lips meeting yours. You kiss him back eagerly, loving the sweet taste of his plump lips as you place your hand on his thigh, mindful not to drop your ice cream on him.

When you break apart, your breathing has grown heavier, your cheeks are flushed with heat, and it turns your lips up into a smile. Jin admires your radiating beauty. His heart beating as fast as yours in his chest, his eyes twinkling with adoration as he watched you silently for a second. You break eye contact, no longer being able to withstand the intensity of his gaze; his soft chuckle making you smile at your ice cream as you bring it to your lips.

“Too shy to look at me, babe?” Jin teases as he licks his ice cream, awaiting your response.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, babe,” you smirk, making him laugh loudly, drawing the attention of those near you, but you don’t care as you join him, laughing until your sides ache.

“It’s been a while since I’ve laughed that hard, Y/n. Thank you.”

You grin, wiping the tears from your eyes before licking your ice cream. Jin can’t help but notice the way your tongue swirls around it, forcing himself to look away. You smile smugly, knowing where his thoughts have gone as you continue to lick your ice cream and move closer to him. Jin can feel the heat radiating off your body as he drapes his arm around you, pulling you closer as you finish your ice cream.

You rest your head on his shoulder, watching as people walk by on dates similar to yours. You take his hand in yours, squeezing it.

“I’m glad we finally got to do this,” you admit shyly.  Jin looks down at you as you look up at him.

“Me too,” he whispers as his lips brush yours.

“Do you think Dae-Hyun is asleep already?” You ask, and Jin chuckles, reaching into his pocket to take his phone out to show you the picture of his son that his mom had taken.

“My mom wants to keep him until tomorrow so she and dad can spend time with him,” Jin explains as he puts his phone back in his pocket.

“So, you will be home all alone?” Jin gulps, your sultry tone throwing him for a loop.

“Y-Yeah,” he responds, his face burning cardinal, his skin becoming heated as he forces himself to maintain eye contact.

“What’s wrong, Mr. Kim?” Your teasing voice has him biting his lip, his smoldering gaze making your thighs clench together. An action he doesn’t miss.

Jin suddenly feels confident, his face no longer resembling a tomato as he leans in to whisper in your ear. “Why don’t we go home and you can find out?”

“Let’s go,” you grin, rising from your seat and extending your hand out for Jin to take. His eyes are wide with disbelief, his feigned confidence ripped out of his body, and submerged in the fountain behind him. He gaped at you, his tongue feeling heavy as he tried to figure out what to say.

“I'm waiting, Mr. Kim,” you sing, biting back a giggle as he rises and takes your hand. You grin giddily as the two of you walk to the car, Jin opening the door for you. You stop him before you get in his car.

You cup his face, making him look at you before you speak, “we don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to.”

Jin places his hands on your hips, gripping you tightly, his forehead resting on yours. “I want to.”

His lips meet yours, his hands pulling you flush against his body, and you feel his arousal press against you as you moan into the kiss. Your arms move up to wrap around his neck, pulling him closer to you.

“Fuck,” he curses, pulling back as his hooded gaze meets yours. You bite your bottom lip, batting your lashes at him.

“I’ve got to get you home,” he groans as he kisses you once again.

*

Jin kisses you the moment you’re on the doorstep. Your back hits the front door and you’re not surprised to see that by ‘home’ he meant his place.

“Ow,” you giggle as the doorknob digs into your back uncomfortably. Jin chuckles, apologizing before he feels your hands on his thighs. He swallows thickly, looking down at your hand as it slides into his front pocket, your fingers purposely brushing against his thick bulge.

“Baby... fuck,” Seokjin’s breath stutters, his forehead resting on your shoulder as you pull his keys out of his pocket, but your other hand squeezes his cock through his pants. A hiss escapes him, followed by a heady moan that has a fresh wave of arousal wash over you.

Seokjin takes the keys out of your hands, immediately fumbling them as he tries to unlock the front door while you wrap your arms around his waist from behind, your hands roaming up his chest.

“Finally,” Jin grins as he opens the front door to lead you inside. You find yourself pressed against the front door once again after he shuts and locks it.

Seokjin kisses you passionately, loving the dulcet sounds that he draws from your lips. His hands run down your body, settling on your hips to pull you closer to him as he trails kisses toward your neck. Your fingers laced in his hair, soft moans escaping you as his teeth gently nip the sensitive skin of your throat.

“I’ve wanted this for so long,” Seokjin admits bashfully

“Me too,” you moan in response, heat flushing over your body as his hands cup your breasts. His touch lights your body aflame, yearning for his lips to meet yours.

Jin chuckles, cupping your face as his beautiful lips press against yours. You kiss him back eagerly, softly, as you realize you wouldn’t mind kissing him for the rest of your life.

“D-do you want to go upstairs?” Jin blushes, the tips of his ears burning as his delicate touch has you leaning into his large palm. Your breathing has grown heavy, your kiss-swollen lips poutier as you nod, “yes.”

Seokjin exhales a sigh of relief, taking your hand in his to lead you up the stairs toward his bedroom.

He locks the door after you, pressing your body against the wood as he kisses you.

“Seokjin,” you moan his name, his lips trailing kisses down your body as his hands slide underneath your dress. He hums in response, his fingers toying with the waistband of your panties.

You curse, begging him for more before his lips meet yours once again. Your hands weave in his hair, tugging it gently as his large palms grip your hips.

“You feel so fucking good,” he rasps in between kisses. He leads you to his bed, falling onto it with you on top. You giggle, moving to straddle him with his wrists pinned to the bed.

“Never thought I’d get you like this,” you muse with a smirk on your lips. Seokjin chuckles, “you can have me in any way you want, baby. I’m yours.”

You moan in response, your pussy pulsating at his words.

He’s yours.

“I like the sound of that.” you grin as your hands release his wrists, making Jin pout before you kiss him. You roll your hips against his, loving the moan that leaves his lips as his eyes squeeze shut and his head lolls back.

“Fuck, Seokjin. I want you inside me so fucking bad.” You lick your lips, admiring his beautiful neck that you’re yearning to mark with your lips.

You plant a kiss on his neck, loving the saccharine moan that slips past his lips before his hands are gripping your hips tightly.

“I want you,” Seokjin breathes as his lips capture yours once again. His hands gripping your hair as he kisses you excitedly.

Your fingers undo the buttons of his shirt, feeling the smooth skin of his chest as you tug the shirt out of his pants. You feel every ridge of his abs before you’re tugging at his belt. Seokjin kisses your neck, nipping at the flesh as you tug the belt out of the loops to discard on the floor.

You’re bubbling with excitement, your hips grinding on him harder, faster as your breathing grows heavy.

While your hand works on undoing the button of his pants, and pulling down the zipper, your lips are planting kisses down Seokjin’s chest. His eyes are bright with excitement. His sweet moans filling the room as you move down his body until you’re tugging his pants down his thighs.

A deep blush appears on Seokjin’s cheeks; even his ears are bright red.

“Cute.” you giggle, pecking at his lips. He smiles shyly before your hand wraps over the bulge in his boxers. Jin grunts, eyes fluttering shut as he bites his bottom lip in a poor effort to muffle his moans.

You grin, licking your lips as you stroke him in a languid pace. You tease him, wanting to hear more of his mellifluous cries.

“Please,” he begs, his dark hooded eyes on yours. You nod as your hand slips into his boxers to wrap around his thick cock.

You stroke it softly, marveling at the size and weight of it in your hand before you decide it would be easier on you (and him) if you took his boxers off.

You’re surprised just how big (and pretty) Seokjin’s cock is, but of course, you’d expect nothing less from such an ethereal man. You marvel at it, at a complete loss for words.

“Baby?” You look up at Seokjin, worry clear in his eyes.

“Will it fit?” You splutter, meeting his gaze then looking back at his dick. His thick dick, with a blunt head that had pre-cum, dribbling down the shaft. It was mouthwatering, and the look on your face must have said so, because Seokjin blushed, but his chest swelled with pride.

“Why don’t we find out?” You nod eagerly in response as you wrap both hands around it, stroking it before you take a tentative lick of his length. Seokjin looks down at you, licking his lips as he sees you get into a slow rhythm. Your lips wrap around the head, mindful of your teeth as you have your first taste of him.

You lave your tongue on his cock, coating it generously with your saliva as you stroke him with your hands. You know you won’t be able to fit all of him in your mouth (or throat) but you’re willing to try later on. Seokjin is content with what you’re doing now, bobbing your head up and down while his hand weaves in your hair.

Moans of your name roll off his tongue, followed by curses and pet names that have you aching to be filled with his cock or fingers; you’ll take either at this point.

You hate how wet your panties have become as they cling to your skin and your thighs rub together in search of relief. Seokjin notices, so he guides you to turn so he can push your panties aside and slip two of his fingers into your wet cunt. You moan around his cock, slurping lewdly as you rock back on his fingers. Muffled begging fills the air as you suck on the head of his cock and spread your legs further.

Your dress is bunched over your hips, your ruined panties pushed to the side, and Seokjin rips them off your body. You gasp in shock, your mouth widening the slightest bit to allow more of his cock into your mouth. You inhale deeply, taking his cock as far down your throat as you can, holding it for a few seconds before you come up for air.

A bridge of saliva connects you to his cock, your teary eyes meeting Seokjin’s penetrating gaze.

“Fuck, you look so hot, baby.” You don’t have time to speak before his lips are on you once again.

You lay on your back with your dress tossed on the floor along with your bra. Seokjin is kissing his way down your body, biting and sucking as he goes. When he reaches your thighs, he grips them in his hands, kneading them before he spreads them apart.

“I can’t wait to taste you,” he winks, making your heart thunder in your chest as he lowers his face. You moan loudly as he dives right in.

“Seokjin!”

“What, babe?” Seokjin asks as he looks up at you from between your thighs. You don’t think you’ve ever seen anything more erotic than that. Your mind is completely blank as you see him lick his lips, savoring the taste of your cunt.

“More,” you murmur as he plants kisses on your thighs, a teasing smile on his lips. You eye him cautiously, feeling his fingers tease at your entrance before he pushes them into you while his lips wrap around your clit.

Your eyes squeeze shut as pleasure courses through your veins, your spine tingling as you grip the sheets as tight as you can. Seokjin listens attentively to every cry and moan that leaves your pretty lips, each of them making his cock throb as he ruts into the mattress.

Seokjin wants to learn about you, about your body and the pleasures it holds and receives. He wants to know what you like, what you don’t like, and what you’d want to try. He wants to memorize everything about you and this moment.

Your fingers tangle in his inky locks, tugging it gently as your thighs quiver. You know you’re close; you know he can get you there faster than any other person ever has, and the thought thrills you. You clench around nothing, earning a groan from Seokjin.

You place your legs over his shoulders, squeezing his head between your thighs as you curse and moan his name. Seokjin doesn’t stop. In fact, he continues his ministrations at a slightly faster pace as he watches your body tremble and arch.

It’s for him. It’s all for him, he realizes as cries of his name fill his bedroom as you orgasm, hard.

Seokjin can’t help but notice how gorgeous you look at the peak of your pleasure. Your pupils are blown out, your hair splayed into a mess on his pillow, and your body shaking as you try to control your ragged breathing. Your lips are swollen from biting on them, and your fingers ache from gripping him, and the sheets extremely tight and yet, you look just as beautiful as the day he first laid eyes on you.

“Fuck,” you sigh with a wide grin as Seokjin kisses your lips, allowing you to taste yourself on them and his tongue. He nestled between your thighs, his hard cock nudging at your entrance.

“You taste divine,” he whispers, kissing your cheek, then your nose, and finally your forehead. You giggle, pecking his lips, “so do you.”

“Ah,” he blushes, chuckling before he kisses you once again, his tongue slipping past the seam of your lips.

“Do you want to?” He asks boldly, looking down between your bodies.

“I do,” you answer as you wrap your arms around him to pull him closer as he lines his cock up at your entrance. He pushes into you, the blunt head stretching you open as his lips capture your cry. 

The stretch is welcoming. Your nails dig into his shoulders as he waits, giving you a moment to adjust to the stretch. He peppers kisses all over your face, murmuring sweet words in between each kiss.

“Tell me when you’re ready,” he tells you as he kisses your neck. You hold him tight in your arms, your legs wrapping around his hips to pull him in further. Seokjin grunts, kissing your chest before he grabs your hips and flips the two of you over.

“It might be better if you’re on top,” he suggests. His hands hold your hips before you take more of his cock, planting your hands flat on his chest. Your eyes feast on the smooth planes of his chest, admiring the ridges of his toned stomach.

“Feels good,” you state, biting your bottom lip as you set a slow pace that allows you to take more of his thick cock. Your lips meet his and the two of you kiss passionately as you ride him. His hands explore every inch of your body as he fucks into you.

Moans fill the air in a delightful symphony and you lose yourself to his touch. Seokjin holds you tight, kissing you, and murmuring sweet nothings into your ear before he moves you onto your hands and knees.

You arch your back, feeling Seokjin’s hands grabbing and kneading your ass in his hands as he slowly thrusts in and out of you. He wraps one arm around your waist while the other moves up your back until he’s got your hair in his fist to pull you up.

“You feel so fucking good,” he groans, his eyes shut as he continues to fuck your cunt. You grip his arm, holding him to you as you look at him over your shoulder. His hand releases your hair before it wraps around your throat as he kisses you.

“You take my cock so fucking well, baby. Just wanna fuck you all night and cover you in my cum,” he grunts, smacking your ass before kissing you again. His hands then cup your tits, rolling your nipples and gently pinching them until you become a moaning, trembling mess.

“Please make me cum, Seokjin!”

Seokjin grunts, his hand moving between your thighs to rub your clit. Your moans grow louder, your body flushes with pleasure as he fucks you harder, faster, until you’re seeing stars and coming undone on his cock.

“Seokjin! Seokjin!” You scream his name as you clench around him, falling forward with your ass up in the air. Seokjin grips your hips, fucking you through your orgasm, and you wonder if he’ll bruise your ass by the way he’s pistoning in and out of your cunt. You don’t care though, you’re too overwhelmed by the orgasm that’s just wracked through your body.

“I’m gonna cum,” Seokjin hisses shortly after as he pulls out of you. He moans, stroking his cock as you roll over onto your back so that your eyes meet his. He curses, licking his lips as he strokes himself faster, muttering your name until he’s groaning and grunting, cumming on your stomach and tits. You watch him with hungry eyes, licking your lips as he cries out your name.

“Fuck, fuck…”

“I hope you’ll cum inside me next time,” you say absentmindedly as you dip your finger into his cum before popping it into your mouth to suck it clean. Seokjin watches you with wide eyes, “really?”

You grin. “Yes, baby. I'd love to be filled with your cum, Seokjin. I want to have it deep inside me and maybe have you fuck it all back into me before giving me another load.”

“Fuck, you’ll be the death of me,” he grunts, kissing your forehead as you dip your finger in his cum once again.

“Do you want me to get you a towel… or a straw?” He smirks, with a proud look on his face.

You roll your eyes at him, shoving him lightly, “a towel will do.”

Seokjin nods as he gets out of bed, and you admire his broad frame. His shoulders look even better without a shirt on and his torso tapers off nicely to his waist.

“I can feel you staring,” he laughs as he returns with a damp towel to wipe his cum off your body before he climbs into bed beside you.

“You’re nice to look at,” you respond, which makes him blush and hide his face in your neck. You giggle at seeing him so flustered before you have him meet your gaze. “I really like you.”

“I do too,” he answers honestly as he cups your face to kiss you.

It’s not long until you’re making love again, tangled in the sheets and each other until you’re too tired to go again.

When you finally fall asleep, Seokjin stays up a few more minutes, admiring your sleeping form. How had he been so lucky to have found someone as marvelous as you? His heart skips a beat as he sees you curl up into him more. You sleepily murmur his name, holding him tight as you settle in.

A profound warmth builds deep in his abdomen, blooming into his chest as he realizes he’s liked you—maybe even loved you—for quite some time now. He’d been a fool for letting so much time go by without confessing and going out with women who weren’t worth his time. He’d been a fool, but as he looked over at you sleeping soundly in his arms, he knew he’d never have to go through that again. He only hoped you felt the same.

“Mm,” you groan as you rouse from your sleep, an inexplainable warmth around your waist. When you owlishly open your eyes, you quickly remember the events of last night and how you ended up tangled in your boss’s sheets.

You look down. Seokjin’s black locks splay on your stomach as he’s curled up against you, clinging you to him. He looks so peaceful, asleep, so angelic. Your fingers run through his hair, pausing when he stirs and continuing when he settles.

The morning sun has just risen, some light filtering through the cracks in the curtains. The warm glow of morning light puts you at ease, settles your racing heart as you look around the room. A smile tugs at your lips as you see a picture of you, Seokjin and Dae, sitting proudly on the bedside table.

On Seokjin’s dresser is another picture of you and Dae, inside a beautiful silver frame. Tears threaten to spill from your eyes as you realize that you’ve become part of their family as they have become yours. The love you hold for both boys is monumental, and you couldn’t imagine your life without either of them.

You wipe away at the tears, but some still land on Seokjin, who wakes up dazed. He rubs his eyes as he sits up, not missing the sniffle you’ve tried to do discreetly.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” His voice is soft, full of concern as he wipes your tears with his thumbs. A worried frown appears on his lips. Did you regret last night? Had the two of you moved too fast?

“Nothing, nothing.” You wave your hand as you smile at him, further confusing him. “I just love you and Dae so much.”

Jin instantly relaxes, exhaling the breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “We love you too.”

You take a shuddering breath, giggling as you wrap your arms around him before he kisses you. You fall back into the pillows with Jin on top of you, your hands on his broad shoulders as he pulls the sheets over the two of you and he makes love to you again and again until you’re both too tired to go on.

“I’ve got some clothes in the guest room, Jin. Why don’t you go downstairs and wait for Dae, and I’ll go get dressed?” Jin pouts as he wraps his arms around you, walking behind you with his chin on your shoulder as you walk to the guest room.

“But I don’t want to,” he pouts, making you laugh before he releases you.

“You’ve got to, or your mom will know.” You open the closet door, dropping your towel on the floor.

“Fuck,” Jin curses under his breath as you grab a sundress out of the closet and throw on over your body, glad that the dress has a built-in bra.

“Why must you do this to me?” Jin whines as he pulls you into him, his hands playing with the hem of your dress before they slide upward to grab your ass.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you sing as you peck his lips before moving back to pick the towel off the floor. Jin groans, his cock twitching in his pants as you blow him a kiss before leaving him alone in the bedroom.

“Seokjin!” You hear his mother call out moments later, amused, when Jin runs past you in the hallway to greet his mother and his son.

“I missed you!” Jin exclaims as he picks up Dae, who’s ecstatic to see his father. Dae giggles, pushing his father away as he blows raspberries on his cheek.

Seokjin’s mom sees you; smiling knowingly before she looks at her son. Jin blushes, avoiding his mother’s gaze.

“Dae had breakfast and wanted to see you, sweetie. I hope I didn’t interrupt,” she says, looking at Jin and then at you.

“Uh, no. We were just discussing her… schedule,” Seokjin lies, his ears turning bright red as he picks up Dae-Hyun in his arms. He looks at you, mouthing, ‘help?’

Seokjin’s mom wasn’t born yesterday, so she laughs and says, “sure. I hope you figured it out.”

“Daddy, can we go to FunLand with Y/n and Grandma?” Dae asks as he reaches out for you. You take him from Seokjin, kissing the top of Dae’s head.

“My day is free,” his grandma answers. Seokjin looks at you and you nod, smiling.

“Sure thing, kiddo. I just need to go put some sneakers on and Y/n needs shorts,” Jin tells his son before you set him down on the couch.

“Why don’t you and I leave your things in your room while they get ready?” Mrs. Kim asks her grandson before taking him up the stairs.

“I have a pair of shorts in the laundry room I can slip on under this,” you tell Seokjin. “Are we still going to talk about my schedule?”

Seokjin blushes, shaking his head. “I didn’t know what else to say. My mom knows now.”

“Is that bad?”

“No, of course not. I just don’t want Dae to know just yet. I really like you and I want to see how things go before we tell him. I hope that’s okay? I’m not trying to hide this. I just don’t want to get his hopes up. He loves you so much, Y/n. I don’t want him to lose you if things don’t work out.”

“Hey, I get it. We can take things slow… slower. Last night was amazing. But we don’t have to do it again until you’re ready,” you assure him, pecking his cheek.

“You’re amazing, you know that?” Seokjin grins as he wraps his arm around your waist, his fingertips brushing your hips.

“I’ve been told once or twice,” you wink before going to the laundry room. Seokjin watches you go, swaying your hips as you disappear into the room. He jogs up the stairs to his own bedroom to change his shoes and join everyone downstairs.

“I’ll sit with Dae,” Seokjin’s mom volunteers as she takes Dae by the hand and puts him in his car seat. You smile at Seokjin and he kisses your cheek before he walks you to his car to open the door for you.

The two of you haven’t talked about last night or how affectionate you’ll be toward each other in front of his son. You don’t want to get Dae-Hyun’s hopes up so early on, but you also don’t want to treat Seokjin as just your boss.

You hope the conversation will happen soon though. Perhaps once Dae is in bed later tonight?

When you pull up to the amusement park, Dae is in Seokjin’s arms listing off all the rides he wants to get on and all the foods he wants to eat.

You indulge him to an extent, holding his hand in yours as he leads you to the carousel. You get on with him, waving at Seokjin as you go around and around until it’s time to get off.

It’s when Dae is tugging at his father's hand, saying, “daddy potty” that you’re left alone with Mrs. Kim.

“You’re good for them, you know?” She states as the two of you sit on a bench.

“Pardon?” You ask with a baffled look on your face.

Mrs. Kim smiles. “My boys. You’re good for them. I can tell how much they both love you. It’s nice to see my son so happy. Dae too.”

“I love them both,” you respond with a bashful smile.

Mrs. Kim grins as she places her hand on top of yours. “It warms my heart hearing you say that. Jin and Dae have been through a lot over the years, and it’s nice to see Seokjin’s icy exterior crumble into the warm-hearted man he once was. Thank you.”

You don’t have time to respond as Dae-Hyun comes barreling toward the both of you, shouting, “grandma!” It takes seconds for him to throw himself at her with his arms wide open for a hug.

“Why don’t you and I go ride those little ducks you love so much?” Dae’s eyes widened with excitement, looking at his dad to ask for permission.

Seokjin looks at his mom. “Are you sure?”

Mrs. Kim winks at her son before taking Dae away from the two of you.

“She’s something else,” Seokjin laughs as he sits beside you on the bench, his hand on yours.

“She means well.” You smile before interlacing your fingers with his.

“Let’s go get you a stuffed animal,” Seokjin decides as he rises from the bench before you follow suit. He leads you to a booth, paying the employee before taking three darts to pop the balloons. You watch on intently, giggling when he misses all three shots. He huffs, pouting before paying again.

“Why don’t you let me try?” Seokjin blushes before he hands you the darts. You hit every balloon before being declared the winner and picking out a prize; a small stuffed Dalmatian.

“They rig the damn thing,” Jin mumbles as you walk away with your new stuffed animal.

“Hmm,” you agree, chuckling when Seokjin stocks his tongue out at you.

“How about some ice cream for the winner?” Seokjin asks as he takes your hand in his, pulling you to the side, away from the crowd.

You’re about to ask what’s wrong when his lips find yours, his hands cupping your face as he kisses you. You kiss him back eagerly, moaning softly when he gently tugs on your bottom lip, ending the kiss after.

Seokjin smirks, “sorry, I just haven’t been able to kiss you in a few hours.”

You giggle, “I don’t mind.”

“Good.” Jin winks at you before he takes your hand in his to lead you to the ice cream shop.

* When you’ve got your ice cream, you sit on a bench under a tree beside Seokjin. Your stuffed animal, which you’ve named Dot, sits between you.

“So about last night…?” Seokjin cheeks turn pink, clearing his throat as he looks at the stuffed animal.

“Yeah…?”

“Would you want to go on another date with me? I mean… I know we kind of already, um… slept together, but I was hoping I could take you out again?”

“I’d love to, Seokjin,” you assure him with a smile before kissing his cheek. He squeezes your hand, smiling in return.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like this,” he muses, looking into the crowds to avoid your gaze.

You give him a perplexed look, brows furrowed, “like what?”

“Giddy. Nervous. Full of life. Don’t get me wrong, Dae is everything to me and I’m glad I’m lucky enough to be his father, but sometimes I felt like…” Seokjin trails off, shaking his head.

“Like what?” You prod.

“Like something was missing…”

Seokjin turns to face you, chuckling when he sees the ice cream has melted all over your hand. He brings one of your fingers to his lips, his tongue licking up the melted treat. Your eyes widen in shock before you pull your hand away and Seokjin is laughing loudly. His shoulders shake as he laughs, tears running down his cheeks. You huff, sticking your tongue out at him, but regret it when he cups your face.

He whispers. “Put your tongue away before I put it to good use, baby.”

You moan, your pussy clenching around nothing before you nod. Seokjin smiles, taking off his backpack to take out a pack of wipes to clean up your hands. You let him, too shell-shocked to do much else.

“How are you feeling?” He asks as he tossed the trash into a garbage can.

“Sore,” you smirk, answering him.

He rubs the nape of his neck as his ears burn scarlet, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’m not used to taking huge dick,” you shrug, but Seokjin's blush deepens.

“Don’t say it like that!” He covers his face with his hands, scandalized. You chuckle before moving his hands out of his face, pecking his lips.

“Say it like what?” You prod, but he shakes his head. You kiss his cheek before taking his hand in yours before you lead him to another roller coaster.

Ride after ride, you and Seokjin spend two hours on rides Dae wouldn’t be able to ride until he's older. You were thankful for the opportunity to spend time with Seokjin, and as he laced his fingers with yours; you couldn’t help the bubbly feeling in your stomach. Seokjin could be the one and the thought excited you and flustered you.

“Let’s get one for Dae and meet up with your mom,” you say as you stop at another booth. Seokjin agrees, paying five dollars to play. You had tried paying before, but Seokjin just shook his head and paid for everything. You hoped he’d let you pay for something, although technically, your money was his.

You shake the thought of your head for now as Seokjin wins a stuffed Dalmatian for Dae.

“He’ll love it!” You exclaim as you admire the small red collar on its neck as you hold it in your arms before walking alongside Seokjin.

“Hey,” Seokjin starts, gently moving you to the side of the sidewalk to keep from blocking the way. “I know we’re taking things slow… kind of. Would it be okay if we kept this from Dae a little longer?”

“Of course, Jin. We’ll take this slow,” You smile reassuringly, stepping forward to press a chaste kiss on his lips. He must be apprehensive of this situation if he’s had to ask you twice, but you don’t let worry consume you, knowing you both want what’s best for Dae.

Seokjin grins, his hands on your hips to hold you close. His forehead rests against yours, his eyes meeting yours.

“Stay for dinner tonight?” You nod in response, pecking his cheek before turning to hide your flustered face.

Seokjin chuckles, his hand cards through his hair as he feels the heat of his blush spread. The both of you walk in a comfortable silence beside each other until Dae is yelling for Seokjin in excitement.

Dae-Hyun talks about the rides he's been on shortly before he falls asleep in his father’s arms. Mrs. Kim trails behind you as you all get in the car to drive home.

Once you arrive at Seokjin’s, he lays his son down in bed before asking his mother if she’d like to stay for dinner.

“Oh no, I need to get home and feed Bella,” she states. Bella was Mrs. Kim's new puppy that had stayed home with Mr. Kim, although Mr. Kim would forget Bella’s schedule.

“I’ll call you soon!” Seokjin tells his mom as she’s dashing down the steps to get into her car before driving off.

You sit on the couch with Seokjin for a bit, cuddled into his chest as he absentmindedly plays with your hair.

Your chest fills with a warmth that spreads throughout your body, making you smile. You could get used to this.

thank you for reading! ♡ if you liked it, please let me know! 💌

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© jjungkookislife - I do not allow reposts or translations of my work on any platforms, this includes Youtube.

[anna-justice]

Partners - Upstead

Summary: My take on 8x03 (be ready for some deep analysis and feelings!!)

Warnings: fluff, angst, jay halstead having 27 anxiety attacks

Requested: Yes! #25, “I’m not leaving.”

…

“You catch that?” Jay asked his partner as they exited the interrogation room. 

Hailey gave a quick nod, “Yeah, he knows something. He’s good at pretending he’s not scared though.”

They rounded the corner, picking up their pace to head back to the bullpen, “Hey, Upton.” Both of them turned to face the resident desk sergeant. Hailey immediately noticed the package in her hand, she grimaced internally. “Not just calling me anymore. Now the feds are sending me packages for you.”

Hailey took the package off her hands, keeping her face as neutral as possible. She could feel Jay’s gaze on the back of her head. “Thank you.”

“You’re gonna have to rein this in at some point, not that I don’t like being your mail lady.” Trudy said dryly.

“I know.” Hailey said, wanting out of this situation as fast as possible. “Thank you.”

“Uh-huh.” With that she left from the same way she came from.

Hailey looked down at the package, smiling softly. This wasn’t the first package she had gotten and of course she was flattered, but she wasn’t sure the bureau was the best place for her. “The feds?” Jay asked, pulling her out of trance. Hailey grimaced again, this is not how she wanted to tell him. 

A few minutes later, Hailey sat at her desk. All too aware of Jay leaning over her, his hands braced on her desk. (It didn’t matter that his own was less than three feet away, it never had.) He was attentively watching their boss, but she was too focused on him to even hear what he was saying. She distracted herself further by going back to typing on her keyboard, but Jay had other plans. “What did the feds want?”

Hailey took a deep breath, sitting back in her chair. She stared forward for a second. The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on her. She remembered why she got the permanent spot in intelligence in the first place. She remembered how stand-offish and lost Jay was at the beginning. She remembered all the times he asked Voight if he had heard from Lindsay, how his face fell when he finally realized she was never coming back. Even if Erin was a ghost now, she wasn’t always. “It’s a job offer.” She grinned at him. Even if it was a hard no, the feds still were fighting for her.

Jay didn’t miss a beat, “Well, that’s good. Where at?” 

Hailey held her breath for a second, “New York.” She said, reluctantly. She looked up at him, hoping to catch whatever feelings he was trying to hide. 

“Cool.” Jay said. They smiled at each other and then Jay high tailed it out of there. He felt like his chest was going to explode. There was this feeling in the pit of his stomach: fear, dread? He had no idea, but it rivaled the way he felt the whole time he was overseas. 

In the span of ten minutes, he felt like he had been transported back three years. As many times as he told himself that Hailey was not Erin, and that he and Hailey were not him and Erin, he couldn’t help but worry. If you look at the facts, it’s clear. Hailey told him she was leaving, she didn’t disappear in the middle of the night with no goodbye. She didn’t ignore his phone calls and clean out their once shared apartment all by herself. Erin did. 

Hailey pulled him out of the dark whole that it caused. She pushed him to go to therapy, she made him talk about his PTSD, she got him help. She was his partner, his best friend. As happy as he was for her, and as sure as he was that she would excel there, he wasn’t ready for that to be over. He wasn’t sure that he could handle it, no, he was sure he couldn’t. He would go with her in a heartbeat. Even though New York City was one of his least favorite places in the world and his entire life was in Chicago, he would drop everything and go with her. She was the biggest part of his life now, what would be left for him here if she was gone?

Hailey watched walk away from her desk, he was only across the room, but he was too far away. How could she ever handle 800 miles?

…

Hailey stood leaned against the wall in the conference room, Jay in front of her, hunched over a chair. She wouldn’t lie, part of her felt stupid about not taking the job. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, but nothing would beat the feeling of a foot chase in -6 degree weather in Chicago or an interrogation with Jay. And that moment only reiterated that.

“And as I have said, I’m not asking any questions. I’m just giving him the info.” Hailey stifled a laugh. “We learned that there was a woman inside that house, so clearly, we’re missing something.” 

The lawyer jumped in quickly. “He’s got nothing to say.”

Jay started again, “Look, Truman, you’re gonna get booked on your warrant at the end of the day, so we don’t have to release you in 48. We can keep pressing-”

“All right, this is enough.” The lawyer interrupted.

Hailey locked eyes with the suspect, staring him down in an almost empathetic way while Jay continued to lay out the facts. “You’ve got motive, no alibi, you were in the area. You see how easy I can make it that you and your girl, you go for a little joyride, you’re looking to settle some scores, you entered the house and slaughtered everyone inside?”

“I’d never step foot inside that house.” Truman said, his lawyer pushing him back into his seat. 

Hailey took a step forward, it was her turn. “You would never step foot in that house?” She looked at Jay before locking in on him. “Why’d you say it like that, you would never?” She leaned on the table, getting a little closer to him. Her gaze was intense, but her approach was a little softer than Jay’s just a few seconds before. 

Jay watched Hailey lean across the table, happy to let her take over the questioning. She was so good at her job, and anytime he got to watch her, he savored every moment. She made him a better cop. 

“This little girl,” Hailey said, pulling out photos from the crime scene and laying them out in front of him. “Watched her mother get killed in front of her. Her whole family was murdered in front of her.” She took a breath, he couldn’t bear to look at her. She knew she was close to cracking him. “This tiny kid has to deal with those moments of violence for the rest of her life.” Her tone became more aggressive as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Look at me. You said you would never step foot in that house, and I’m guessing that’s because of retribution, because of Benny?”

His lawyer tried to hold him back, but Truman continued. “It’s not because of Benny. I would never step foot in that house because of her.” He pointed to the picture of McKayla, Hailey looked down, confused along with Jay. “She’s the reason why. She’s protected. I go near her, I end up dead.”

Hailey looked back at Jay, somehow the whole situation was more confusing than when they started. But, even so, they had gotten the information they needed. Hailey left the room with a million questions, but she was satisfied. They were so good together. 

…

After a long few days, Jay and Hailey sat at a bar that wasn’t Molly’s at a bar table by the window. They both had their hands on their beers, resting on the table. If either of them reached out any further they would be touching. “All right, let’s do this.” Jay said, chuckling. “Just rip the bandaid off.” Hailey laughed. “What did the FBI offer you?” On the outside he was joking with his partner, on the inside he was praying that she didn’t care enough about it to tell him.

“Hmm, okay.” She said, looking down at the table. She smiled genuinely, “Joint level task force, with the HIG. All interrogations, all high-level targets.” 

Jay trained his eyes on the table, “Sure, sure, sure, sure. That sounds awesome.” Hailey laughed out loud and Jay shrugged, you couldn’t tell by his smile, but he was losing hope. “Is it good pay?”

“It’s great pay.” Hailey shook her head, “Honestly, it makes me a little embarrassed about what we get paid.”

Jay smiled at her, “Well, you’d probably be really good at it.” He couldn’t look at her, because he was being serious. He knew she would be good at it, but she would have to be good at it in New York.

“Yeah, maybe. I don’t know.” Hailey said, shrugging.

“You liked it out there, right?” Jay asked.

“Uh…” Hailey trailed off as the waitress set down their check. “I don’t know if I like it. I think it was just what I needed at the time.” She explained.

Jay nodded, “Okay, but you don’t need it now?” And even though those were the words that came out, it felt like he was asking her something else.

“No, why? You think I need it?” Hailey asked immediately and Jay laughed. “Are you trying to tell me I should take it?” And even though those were the words that came out, it felt like she was asking him something else.

Jay sucked in a breath. “No, uh…” He stared at the table, trying to find the words to say what he knew he wanted to say, they never came. “I’m saying it’s a good job for a good cop.” He was being serious, and honest and genuine. But he wasn’t saying what he needed to say. He smirked at her, just for a moment, but enough for Hailey to catch. He stood up with the check, but Hailey grabbed his attention as he turned back.

Hailey stared at his then empty seat, slightly frustrated. He just didn’t get it, and as much as it scared her, she needed to spell it out for him. Her shoulders met her ears and she talked quickly, “You could tell me you don’t want me to take it.” She shrugged, shaking her head, obviously trying to make the heavy statement a little lighter. “It was an option.”

 Jay opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He was at a loss for words. He shook his head, smiling. He wanted to tell her how much he needed her, he wanted to tell her how much he wanted her to stay. But, an opportunity like she had been given didn’t come around everyday, and he refused to be the thing that held her back from what she wanted to do. “I want you to do whatever you want to do.” He looked her directly in the eye and for the first time all night, said exactly what he was thinking. “I’m just practicing self preservation here.” 

Erin. Was all Hailey could think, it was all she could think about all day. She refused to walk away without at least some closure, for both of them. She sucked in a breath. “The agent on the phone said the only reason a good cop doesn’t take a job like this is ‘cause they’re scared.” She finally got the nerve to look at him, because she was, she was so scared. “Implying that I was afraid of change and that I wanted to stay here where it’s safe…” And didn’t she? She didn’t want things to change, she felt safe in Chicago, with Jay. 

“So, he’s a dick.” Jay deadpanned, causing her to laugh. He sighed when finally saw the pained expression leave her face. 

They both laughed for a moment, locking eyes. “I don’t think that’s why I don’t wanna take it.” Hailey let her gaze fall, his green orbs too much for her to handle. She took a breath, “I don’t want to take it because of you.” She confessed. 

Jay stared at her, his brain all together stopped working for a second. All he was aware of was her soft smile and how fast his heart was beating.

Hailey watched his face fall and she wasn’t sure if it was fear or shock, but she knew it was too late to back track. “I’m better, with you as my partner.” Partner, they both had such a love/hate relationship with that word. At this point it felt like a cop-out. “You know, you, 21, Voight. I know I’m better here.” She shrugged, looking down and back up at him. “So, I’m not gonna take it.”

Jay fought the urge to smile, his emotions were all over the place. “You sure?” He asked, and he wasn’t quite sure he was asking her. It could have meant so many things. Was she sure about not taking the job or was she sure about him?

“Yeah.” She said almost immediately. 

The waitress returned with the paid bill, reminding the two that the earth was still turning. And they weren’t the only ones in it. Jay quickly put his card away and Hailey stood up, pulling on her jacket. It felt like so much had changed between them, but really nothing had. 

Jay looked at Hailey, concerned, she looked sad almost and he was worried he had caused it. “He wasn’t really wrong though, was he?” She looked up at him with glassy eyes. “You gain something, you give something up.” He was right, but she didn’t care. She would give it all up if it meant gaining him. 

Jay had only seen Hailey cry two times before then: the night McGrady was killed and the night they fought Booth. Both of those times he wanted to kill the son of a bitch who hurt her so bad, but right now, he was almost sure it was him. “Maybe but, not always.” 

Hailey looked at him and was hit with a wave of something indescribable. She couldn’t pretend anymore, she couldn’t just be his partner. They were so much more than that now. In a span in three seconds it felt like the last three years of her life replayed for her, and she remembered everything. The way he fought to be her partner and actually going to therapy, the way he defended her against Booth, the way she felt when he was shot that night in the parking garage, the way it felt to see him after she was kidnapped, the way it never felt with Adam. The way he tackled her to the ground in that van, completely careless with his own life for her sake, how hard it was to imagine not working beside him. How hard it was not being his partner, how hard it was finding him that day in that room. The way she cried for him in the waiting room, the way she kicked herself everyday for not telling him how she felt. The way he fought for that woman, the same way she wished someone would have fought for her. How much she missed him while she was in New York. She remembered everything. 

She groaned, this was it. “It’s been a long time…” She looked away, she couldn’t take it, wiping a stray tear from under her eye. “Since I saw you as just my partner.” 

It hit Jay like a semi truck, he couldn’t believe what she was saying. He had no idea what to say, so he didn’t. He took a step forward, his heart clenching at the sight of the disheveled girl in front of him. He captured her lips with his, lifted her up off her toes so she could reach. Her arms found her way to his neck, one sliding slowly down his chest. They both thought they were dreaming, they had both wanted this for so long. 

After what seemed like forever, they both finally pulled away. Hailey blushed, Jay’s gaze hot on her face. She shook her head, “No way, I’m not leaving. Definitely not now.” 

Jay laughed, “Is that all I am to you? A piece of meat?” 

“Would you be offended if I said yes?” Hailey smirked.

“Not at all…” He sighed out, leaning down to kiss her again. This time, letting his hands get tangled in her blonde ponytail. 

So there they stood, making out in a bar where no one knew them or their history. They weren’t colleagues, they weren’t best friends, they weren’t partners. They were just Hailey and Jay: they were everything.

…

A/N: I loved writing this so much. I think I’ve watched the episode a million times and this just seemed more fun than posting an analysis! Let me know what you think! Thank you for reading! <3

[hddnone]

The one with serial killer Bucky and cop Tony (rated T)

***

Tony joined the police force to stop what had happened to him to happening to anyone else ever again.

It hadn’t ended up being that simple. Being a rich kid who ‘played at being cop’ had meant Tony had to prove himself over and over again to each new coworker and each new boss. And rubbing their noses in his success hadn’t helped him make friends, but he did make detective and work on cases to catch the type of bad guys that had haunted his nightmares as a kid.

And still showed up as an adult, sometimes, but working the cases meant he caught so little sleep that nightmares weren’t even a big deal anymore. Really, totally not, he’s absolutely fine, Rhodey, stop worrying and go do the military gig thing.

Then dead bodies started dropping in NYC and while that wasn’t exactly new, the fact that the dead bodies were being found in posh penthouses or limo backseats made this a spotlight case. The only connection to the bodies were the method of kill, two bullets to the head.

And that the dead all had their hands in something nefarious - sex trafficking, arms trading, or the last one being child molestation.

Yeah, Tony wasn’t feeling too much sympathy for the victims. Or any sympathy at all, really. The guys who were being brought down were the actual bad guys - so much more than the girls on the corner being brought down to the station for turning tricks. But bribes and lawyers meant those guys had stayed out of Tony’s reach.

Those types of bad guys were not, however, outside the range of this vigilante’s gun.

News reporters were breathing down his chief’s neck which meant his chief was breathing down his neck. Tony had a job to do, to track down this killer and bring him to ‘justice,’ and zero desire to close his case no matter what it did to his record.

Well, he had zero desire to tell the rest of the world that he’d found the guy. James Buchanan Barnes, more commonly called Bucky by his friends, was the ex-military sniper with new penchant for taking out richer, fatter, US-based targets. Tony had his own curiosity to quench, solved the puzzle, and now sat on a pile of information he had only a minor ethical dilemma on keeping secret.

And because Tony can’t resist stalking the most interesting person he’d ever been after, Barnes realized he was made and fled the country. In the middle of a massive man-hunt for the serial killer stalking the city, there was no way for Tony to get the vacation time he needed to follow Barnes. He had to let Barnes go, let the man run and hide and wait out the storm.

Or.

Tony quit his job, dipped into that trust fund money, and went after Barnes, hopping from country to country on a merry chase.

Until Barnes stopped running, staying in the hotel room he’d rented in Budapest when Tony burst inside.

Tony blinked as Barnes continued standing there rather than fleeing out the window or a trapdoor or whatever new method Barnes tried for losing Tony. “You done running?”

“You done chasing?”

Barnes voice was low, a bit gravely. This was the first Tony had heard it, with how quiet the man usually was.

He liked it.

“I hope so,” he admitted. He put his hands on his hips and looked around the room. Small and shabby, but good enough for a quick stop. Barnes certainly knew his way around the world.

“You shouldn’t have come alone.”

Tony shrugged. He hadn’t even brought a gun. There was a taser tucked into his pocket, but he didn’t reach for it. “I’m not your type.”

And that hurt a bit to say, because Barnes was even more attractive in person. Tony had spent enough time admiring the photos to know the difference. The pictures were flattering, but in person was wow. Damn that mouth, with those lips, and those eyes.

“You’re not?” Barnes asked, and he looked Tony up and down.

Barnes was checking him out.

A serial killer was checking him out. Tony shouldn’t be gleeful about that.

But Barnes was checking him out.

“Not for murdering, anyway.” Tony grinned and pretended he wasn’t flirting.

“Rich kid like you doesn’t have any skeletons in his closet?”

So, Barnes knew who Tony was, which was to be expected. A guy smart enough to get away with multiple high profile murders was smart enough to look into who was on his tail. The shot about Tony’s past didn’t hurt, of course not, Tony was absolutely used to that being dragged behind him everywhere he went with everyone he met and this was no different.

No pain, none at all, totally fine.

“Not ones I’ve made,” Tony said, and it wasn’t a lie. “My father, on the other hand…”

“You want my services,” Bucky said, lips curling down into a frown.

“No, no, that’s not it,” Tony waved off. “Just wanted to let you know that the skeleton-crafting and closet-stuffing didn’t run in the family. My demons are old news, nothing exciting there. That’s not why I’m here.”

“So why are you?”

Tony cleared his throat and tried not to blush. It was stupid, and he knew it, knew it when he was lost in the chase and not thinking about what would happen if he ever caught up to Barnes.

“To say thank you.”

Barnes was clearly startled. “To thank me.”

Tony shrugged and dug his hands into his pockets. “Cases like this, the focus goes to the target and maybe their families, but I know how much their death means to their victims. Cause for plenty of celebrations, I’m sure. But they don’t know who you are, and I do. So I’ll say it for them, and a little bit for myself.”

A red flush crawled across Bucky’s cheeks, and Tony couldn’t hold himself back anymore.

“And, as part of the gratitude, I could take you to dinner?” He bit his lip, waiting.

“You’re not what I expected, Detective Stark,” Barnes said softly, his posture relaxing as he took a step toward Tony.

“Call me Tony. Not a detective anymore.”

“I’m behind on the news, it seems.”

“You’ve been busy lately,” Tony offered with a graceful smile.

“Guess so. Sounds like I could use a nice, relaxing dinner.”

It took a moment for Tony to realize what that meant. “Oh,  you - ?”

“Yeah.” Barnes’ smile was a soft, beautiful thing. “Take me to dinner. And call me Bucky.”