#I JUST LIKE BIG MAMA AND MONA LISA OK

[b0njourbeach]

Ok now I have something to put in your inbox

I’ll admit, while I’m not as big of a shipper when it comes to fandoms, specifically Twst. I’ll mostly hear out others and most of the time get into it. (Examples include: JamiAzu AppleJuice, and FloRid)

But you, it seems have influenced me into appreciating and enjoying one I wasn’t too big on before hand: TreyKei

And it was all because of the one shot you wrote about them, AND OMFG IT WAS DEVASTATING- I CAN ONLY IMAGINE…LIKE GEEZ.

I can’t even call what Trey experienced in that as losing a lover because they never confessed D:

(Consider it like losing something that was never yours to begin with)

Treykei Treykei Treykei Treykei Treykei Treykei

Ahem.

You're most welcome! The oneshot was one hell of a good piece if I may say so myself but I've taken it down because I'll make it even better (Translation: "I'll make it more painful, for everyone inside and outside the story. I will tear apart everyone's heart once I'm done.") because I'm physically ill about them.

Like genuinely.

I've said it often but once i can't find any words except "djshshahsjdjdj *ugly sobbing* sskskkdj", I done for. I have many words and my ways on bringing across my message but there are only two topics that burn down all ability to create words, these two being one of them.

This story (if I ever manage to get myself to write it, Writers Block says Hi) will be my Mona Lisa, it'll be perfect, it'll hurt, a lot.

Admittedly, making people physically cry is the highest praise I can get (as a friend I used to know once said to me: "Your mind is a very dark place") because if I make people cry, I have achieved what I want to convey. And truth be told, the highest achievement of mine is making a different friend I used to know, who physically can't cry, tear up by a single story idea.

And honestly? Writing this oneshot physically hurt me as I was writing it, like legitimately heartache and tears. So if I'm going to write the story that repeats itself on a daily in my brain, I will be physically ill and will send the same pain, maybe even worse, to the readers.

I have a long history of writing that I won't elaborate rn, unless someone wants me for some reason, and I tend to hald-ass my stories sometimes - But Treykei (and one other ship) is a couple where it has to be perfect. And not just perfect, "Making Mama Rosehearts proud"-type of perfect.

... I somehow lost my track on where I was going and I think I said way more than anyone needed. Ahem, anyways your compliment means a lot to me and will be added in my folder of praises :>

[misteria247]

I HAD TO DRAW MOMMA MONA AND HER BIG RED SON THERE IS A SEVERE LACK OF MONA CONTENT IN MY AU AND I NEED TO FIX THAT—

In other news, ShellShock Mona in Turtles Forever wise Mona is very munched charmed to see younger versions of her husband and his brothers. Especially with the 12 boys!

As for the Rise Boys, she’s having the same dilemma as Raph is. Those are her sons but not ya know? So she’ll just keep an extra close eye on them, nothing more.

Ok so /maaayyybbeee/ she baby’s Rise Raph and Rise Donnie a bit more than the others but she won’t say—

Sgsgsfsfsfsgd bro I'm living for Mama Mona Lisa fr fr she gives me so much life!

And oh my God yessss! The 12 boys would just be awed seeing Shellshock Mona and seeing her being married to Raph. They'd totally say things like:

"She's our kickass sister in law, ain't she neat??????"

Meanwhile 12 Raph would just get a blushy whenever he sees Shellshock Mona and Raph and sees them do anything remotely domestic. Daydreaming about 12 Mona all the while and thinking:

"Damn, I get to marry the love of my life and have a family with her and have her become apart of the Hamato family and clan. This dynamite gal agrees to becoming my wife."

Like 12 Raph's over the moon when he thinks about it and his brothers will gently tease him but they're all happy that their brother gets to be with one of their greatest friends. The 12 boys would also keep a close eye on the Shellshock fam since they're technically family yet not, and they'll often times be ready to throw hands for them if they need too. (Much like how they do with the Rise boys and their friends that they've made with the others turtles). Because in 12 Leo, 12 Raph, 12 Donnie and 12 Mikey's eyes, Shellshock Mona Lisa and her family are apart of their clan somewhat so she gets the honorary Hamato treatment.

And the Rise boys, especially Rise Leo would notice Shellshock Mona's watchful eyes on them, since he's always obversing his surroundings despite his laid back demeanor. As soon as he sees Rise Raph and Rise Donnie getting doted on by Shellshock Mona Lisa, he'll definitely tease them in that signature sibling way such as:

"Yo Donald, Ralph! Mom two wants you guys!"

Earning sputtering from the other two turtles, one embarrassed (Rise Raph) and one somewhat annoyed by the teasing (Rise Donnie). Rise Mikey all the while thinks it's absolutely adorable and will just go:

"Dawwww-"

[sketchiefoxie]

Rottmnt X Adventure Time AU

Ok, so quick update on the characters!! I decided to swap around some of the character roles, to better fit the story and over all character themes. Especially since I’ll be doing Inktober this year, and drawing each prompt for the Rottmnt X Adventure Time AU.

Mikey + Finn = Mikinn

Leo + Ice King = Frigid Leon

Donnie + Princess Bubblegum = Prince DubbleBubble (Donnabelle lol)

Raph + Jake = Japh

April + Marceline = Apriline

Mikey Clone + Lemongrab = LemonMike

Shelldon + Peppermint Butler = Peppermint Shelldon

Mona Lisa (2k12) + Lady Rainicorn = Lady Salamander

Frida = Flame Princess

Big Mama + Flame King = Flame Queen

Cass = Ice Elemental

Sunita = Slime Princess

Draxum = Betty

Krang + Shape Shifting Alien = its still called the Krang, it just has shifting powers. Shredder = Lich

Splinter + Cosmic owl = Cosmic Rat

Casey JR + Huntress Wizard = Vigilante Wizard

Tree Trunks is a piggy bank named “Miss Porky Coin”. If you know you know.

Side characters that appear as Mikey: BMO, Prismo, Magic Man, plus extras like other princesses and characters.

[diisccvery]

Do not reblog. I also blame @peachiiihearts for encouraging me

I really want to watch more Rise episodes before adding Donatello and Big Mana but, years ago in like 2k12 period times I used to have a sideblog for 1987's Mona Lisa and watching the show kinda woke her up.

I'm thinking of bringing her back but as a Rise Time line AU where instead of a college student that got mutated after being kidnapped by a pirate.

She was a high school intern for a makeup company that was secretly using their products on salamanders to try out their creams and stuff, when the bugs got let loose before she could go to the press she was accidentally mutated and ends up working with Big Mama as one of her bodyguards.

[neonross]

Big sis au - origin story-ish

ok so i intially didn't have an idea who would be big mama's assistant (the turtle looking on)

i just figured she's could be either Venus, Jennika, or maybe even mona lisa even tho she's been mostly a lizard

i ended up just guessing it was venus since we haven't seen a rebooted version of her yet

ok now that that's settled,

this AU is about basically about Venus being the older sibling of the four

she is a yokai and not a mutant like in the original

Venus was an orphan for most of her life trying to survive in the hidden city she was about 6 at the time, she mostly lived in the streets trying to take or salvage what food she could get to make it through,

the only way she could entertain herself was to roam around the hidden city and to sneak into the battle nexus to watch the fights, and this is basically where she sees lou jitsu

she was pretty much amazed because he was the first human she ever saw and he was a powerful fighter too,

she for most part watched him fight in the battle nexus and idolized him

and eventually tried to copied his moves to try to steal food better

and one day she wanted to meet it and she attempted to sneak in where he was held surprisingly she succeeded, she was so excited to meet him and when she did she was kinda disappointed mostly because he was ignoring her

but she was very persistent even getting in his cell which he tries to kick her out

but eventually he gave in since company would be nice

lou mostly tolerated her at first since being kidnapped and being forced into battle would surely give someone a bad mood, he eventually got along and ended up being close after he got to know her more and her life in the hidden city,he was even impressed on how fast she could learn just by watching  his fights,

so-

after lou was kidnapped AGAIN and was taken to draxum, venus managed to follow H&M all the way there, after draxum explained his entire plan, venus attempted to help lou escape but was eventually caught by draxum and so Lou begins to retaliate and escapes while also being mutated into a rat, he grabbed venus and the four baby turtles and booked it out of there

when they finally reached the surface contemplating on what he’ll do now he offered venus to stay with him since they both have nowhere to go from here

why don’t they both restart their lives from scratch-

so that’s pretty much the origin

things pretty much ends up the same way only there's a fifth turtle

raph is still the leader because venus isn’t really interested in leading the gang so she let raph be the leader

because she prefers being in the back supporting and she mostly goes out solo since she much older around 19 when the series starts and like going out on her own since now that she's older she gets to go out on her own and explore

(i have no clue how to write a story i’m just

 writing it down because tend to forget some important parts of my AUs)

[officialsimppage]

-All for Us-

A/N- This is a Spencer Reid oneshot where the reader is a hitwomen. This is my first imagine so please dont be to harsh! also @jemilys you’re my favorite so I would really like your opinion! <3

!Warnings!- mentions of murder, angst, police, mentions of weapons.

Ohh, taking it all for us

Taking it all

Taking it all for us

Ohh, doing it all for love

Doing it all

Doing it all for love

  I get a call from my employer. 5'6" divorce lawyer named Amie Westler. Her husband is paying me 10,000 to end her life. By slicing her throat. I set a date. September 12th. 2 days from today. I have to do it, business is business. I need to make money for me and my boyfriend. We live a high lifestyle. Big house in the northern part of D.C. It is risky though. My boyfriend is a genius FBI agent, but for 3 years, it's been going well.

Taking it all for us, oh

Doing it all for love

Yeah, Yeah

   "Hey Y/N baby! Guess what, we have a case involving a hitman! It's crazy. There might be up to 200 victoms!" Spencer says as he walks through the door of our house. My heart skips a beat. Shit what if it's me?

   "Is there any, um, signature?" I ask pretending like I know nothing. This worries me. For all I know I'm the only hitman/hitwomen in D.C.!

   "Yes actually! The unsub writes 'ALL FOR US'  on the victims foreheads with their blood!" he says while walking with me to the kitchen area.

   Shit. That is me. I am the unsub the BAU is looking for.

Too much in my system

Money MIA

Mama making ends meet

Working like a slave

It's the next day and I am sitting in the living room reading a book while I start to sip my tea. My mind starts to wander to Spencer. Will they really catch me? I cover my tracks with my kills and my online status. It can't be possible to track me down. Then I get a text from my employer. '1 MORE DAY.' Reminding me I have to kill the divorce attorney soon. God I hope the BAU can't find me. Then I hear the front door open.

   "Y/M YOU WILL NEVER GUESS WHAT WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE UNSUB TODAY!" he yells running to me with his cute floppy hair and messenger bag. God I cannot lose him.

   "What baby?" I say looking up at him. Internally hoping he says 'it is a man!' or ' it is someone from Italy!' or something.

   "The unsub is a hit women. We think she is in a relationship and is doing it for her family or lover! It points directly to a women as it is so clean and we can't find an online presence." He says with much joy. Oh god. That's me. Y/F/N. I need to clean up my act even more. He cannot find out. It will ruin us both.

Daddy ain't at home

Gotta be a man

Do it for my homegrowns

Do it for the fam

I stand in our bedroom choosing an outfit for my next job. It needs to be black, functional, but classy. I choose a simple black jumpsuit to help me blend in. I head downstairs to what is known to Spencer as my 'lady cave' when it's my weapon stash. I choose a curved blade. I pack a bag with gloves and alcohol for clean up. I close and lock the door and head back up to see Spencer pacing back and forth in the living area.

   "You're home already Spence? I didn't hear you come in. Are- Are you alright?" I ask sounding concerned as I put a hand on his shoulder.

   "Y/N, the hit women is in the neighborhood. I'm worried for you wha-, whatt if you're her next victim?" he says as he starts to cry. He starts shaking and I lead him to the sofa to sit down.

   "Oh baby," I say with much pain in my voice. "I'm not going to get hurt! We have a security system and I work from home right? I promise you nothing will happen to me or you for that matter ok?" I say looking at his red and puffy eyes and tear stained eyes.

   "Ok, I love you Y/N." he says looking at me and pulling me into a hug.

   "I love you too Spencer."

Ay

Just for your love, yeah

I'll give you the world

Mona Lisa's smile

Hey

Hell, I'll do twenty-five to life

If it makes me your king

A star in your eyes

Today is the day. September 12th. It is 10:30 and Spencer told me he is working late because they are close to closing the case. Yeah right. I put my clothes on and grab my bag and head to her office. I sit and wait outside of her office for one hour until I see her walk out. I then walk out and start to follow her

SPENCERS POV

"Guys, GUYS! I have a presence I found her name! Well, her nickname for her. It's 'D0LLFACE' she is outside a law firm following her next target Amie Westler. I also found her body count is none other than 210 victims..." Garcia says on the phone to the FBI agents tin the SUV heading to save Mrs. Westler.

   "Thanks Garcia send us the address!" I say into the phone hanging it up. "Our number one priority is saving Amie Westler." I say to everyone in the SUV. We pull up to the law firm where Mrs. Westler works and follow the hitwomens tracks.

Guilty or Innocent

My love is infinite, I'm givin it

No need for prisoners

Bitch, please hands up

This is a stick up cause I'm

We walk to her position to an alleyway. She has the victim in a headlock and as she almost pulls the knife we yell-

Y/N POV

"D0LLFACE THIS IS THE FBI DROP THE WEAPON!" I hear a tall man yell. shit. im gone. they found me. i cant escape. "DROP THE WEAPON AND SHOW US YOUR FACE!" I drop the knife and shove the women towards the FBI agent then I see my baby. Spencer. He looks at me weirdly and puts down his weapon as he tears up. I pull off my face covering and face him and say.

"I'm sorry baby. I did it-" I'm cut off by him saying

"All for us."

I'm taking it all for us, oh

Doing it all for love

Yeah, yeah

[shirtlesssammy]

8x02: What's Up, Tiger Mommy?

Then:

Dean Winchester is back from Purgatory, and he’s tan, rested, and looking better than ever. Oh, and he’s BFFs with a vampire.

Now:

Chicago, IL

An elderly man heads to a bank to access his safe deposit box. He’s had it for a verrrry long time. He opens the box while the bank attendant is still there. 

She sees what he pulls out and it appears to be a very old bone. She’s taken aback but remains professional. She asks if there’s anything else she can help with and gets hit with the blood cannon. 

Sam, Dean, and Kevin are on the run and Kevin wants to check in on his mom. Dean hates the idea. He knows that Crowley is just waiting for Kevin to show up at her house. Kevin just wants to make sure she’s ok. Dean wants to find the tablet and blast Crowley away. Then it’s all “sunshine and sandy beaches.” #season15beachvacation He relents though and they head off to Linda Tran’s house in Michigan.

 In their completely inconspicuous car, the trio stakes out Mama Tran’s house.

They see her from the window. She seems fine. Dean then points out the mail carrier has put mail in her box three times already. And the gardener is over-watering the plants. Demons. 

They corner and kill both demons (it’s moments like this that make me sad about how many humans the brothers have killed with that knife. RIP, Carl the mail carrier). 

Mrs. Tran is inside talking with a friend when there’s a knock on her door. She opens it to find Kevin. Their beautiful reunion is briefly interrupted when the brothers throw holy water on her to make sure she’s not possessed. Resume hug. 

Sam and Dean check out the house because they smell sulfur. The demon possessing Mrs. Tran’s friend starts to escape (and tell Crowley where Kevin is) but Sam reverses the exorcism spell and then Dean stabs the friend. Uh, teamwork? 

Later, they try to explain to Mrs. Tran what Kevin’s life has been like for the past year. “Prophet of the lord? It does have a nice ring to it.” No, Linda, no it does not. She agrees to go with them, but not to a safe house. They have to find the demon tablet. The boys argue that it’s too dangerous, but Mama Tran isn’t budging.

Time to get inked up!

Next they head to a locker in Wyoming. The tablet is there though. Cut to later, the boys are in their fed suits and are interviewing a security guard who informs them of the break-ins with all the lockers. The guy who did it is in lock up downtown. The boys head there next. 

In the interrogation room, the brothers play Good Cop/Dude Who Spent a Year in Purgatory and Would Do Anything to Track Down His Angel Cop. In other words, Sam asks questions, Dean flashes back to Purgatory. Benny and him have captured a monster and Dean asks it, “Where’s the angel?” In the present day, Dean takes his tie off and strangles the prisoner while pulling the demon knife on him.

For Pure Science:

The man tells him about a pawn shop. We cut back to Purgatory, where the monster tells Dean of a stream in a clearing. “You’ll find your angel there,” he finishes. (You’ll find your angel there...you’Ll FInd YoUR anGeL thErE...YOU’LL FIND YOUR ANGEL THERE. coolcoolcoolcoolcoolcool) 

Dean kills him. They leave the holding cell without Dean killing the man. 

At the pawn shop, the surly shop attendant is decidedly unhelpful until Mrs. Tran lays some hard truths about his newly acquired car that is clearly not registered. 

They get the address to where the tablet is headed next. It’s there that a dapper dressed man greets Kevin and introduces himself as Beau to Kevin’s mom. He’s not here to take Kevin. He has an invitation for him to an exclusive auction of rare items --the tablet included. 

Dean asks what they have to bid. They don’t have anything. Then Sam looks at the Impala and the brotherhood crumbles to pieces, end of show. 

Sam then realizes that the items will be on display before the auction. All they have to do is have Kevin memorize the spell. 

They head to the auction and take a look at the items up for sale. Mjolnir! And the tablet which is covered from full view. So much for their plan. 

And then Crowley shows up. Just great. 

On the plus side, Crowley hits on Linda Tran. On the extra plus side, she hauls off and smacks him in the face, warning him away from Kevin. I love her. Dean levels some serious side eye at Crowley, but gets waylaid from the group by a young man in a garish Wiener Hut uniform. It’s Alfie, also known as Samandriel!

Samandriel is an angel, and is there to procure and protect the word of God. He asks about what happened to Castiel. “We iced Dick Roman and got a one way rocket ride to Purgatory for our trouble.” Dean then replies to Samandriel’s subsequent inquiries about Castiel’s escape by clenching his jaw dramatically. Oof. 

“There are some in Heaven who still believe, despite his mistakes, Castiel’s heart was always in the right place,” Samandriel says and I die a little. “Too much heart was always Castiel’s problem,” he follows up with and I wake up six months later buried in the earth.

Dean is also FINE with this emotional trigger and definitely does NOT flash back to Purgatory and that one time he finally found Cas after tracking him for like a year. 

He spots Cas in a clearing and calls out to him. Castiel looks around with apprehension before standing and facing Dean. There’s a hug! “Nice peach fuzz,” I mutter in my underground coffin. “Nice...peach fuzz.” (Boris: I’m still having war flashbacks to Cas’s fist clench here.)

Dean introduces Benny to Cas and asks Cas if he’s feeling okay. Castiel gets the implication immediately. “I’m perfectly sane,” he tells Dean. “But, then, 94% of psychotics think they're perfectly sane, so I guess we'd have to ask ourselves, ‘what is sane?’” Valid! 

Benny gets right to the point, asking Cas why he flapped away. Dean defends Cas and we get a peek at the story he’s imagined for Cas during their separation. Cas clearly got jumped by a monster that first day but has now kicked its ass and...lives by the water now? “I ran away,” Cas says abruptly. 

Disbelief and anger emerge in Dean. “I prayed to you, Cas. Every night!” Cas defends his actions. He’s being hunted by everything in Purgatory but mostly...he’s been hunted by leviathans. His goal in running was to keep them away from Dean. 

Castiel tells them to leave but Dean tries to make a case for a different plan. He’s got a way out, and he’s taking Cas with him. 

“I need you,” he tells Cas. And the leviathans can fucking BRING. IT. “Let me bottom line it for you. I’m not leaving here without you. Understand?”

Castiel looks at Dean and, with weight to his words says, “I understand.”

For Emotional Reunion Science:

Back in the present, oh my god where even WERE we? I have been on a journey, my friends, and I have SEEN THINGS. 

The auction starts. The Winchester crew fumble in their wallets like total noobs while Crowley sits back by Samandriel and taunts everyone. When the bidding for the first item starts on “three tons of dwarven gold” the Winchesters and Trans realize that they are in way over their heads. (Soooo when do we meet gold-smithing dwarves?) Dean heads off to the restroom which here is code for “following a demon and looking for the secret treasure storage vault.” Dean handily pickpockets the demon, swipes the key, and opens the door.

The room has a couple of demons in it, and one very discomfited Dean Winchester on its threshold. Wherps. The tablet is there, though. Back in the auction room, they set into auctioning off Thor’s hammer. Sweet. Mr. Villi from the cold open throws out a bid of a frost giant’s fingerbone and when that fails, tries “five-eighths of a virgin.”

Dean returns, mutters to Sam that “plan C tanked,” and Crowley tells him that “you should try plan "D" for dumbass.” I’m SORRY for quoting this whole episode but I love it. 

The Word of God comes to the auction block and Crowley and Samandriel throw out bids, including:

Three BILLION dollars (cue Austin Powers pinkie finger)

The Mona Lisa

The REAL Mona Lisa (where she’s topless - that explains the smile)

Vatican City

Alaska (but the auctioneer is NOT sold on Palin’s wilderness and WOW a Palin joke omg)

The moon (“You think a man named Buzz gets to go into space without making a deal?”)

The auctioneer mourns that the reserve price has not been met. He’s adding an item: Kevin Tran, Prophet of the Lord. Kevin gets zapped to the front of the room, bound in magical chains. Linda offers up her material possessions - her savings and her house - but the auctioneer isn’t into it. Then Linda bids her soul.

Crowley offers up as many souls as they want, and Samandriel announces that angels guard the souls in Heaven and won’t use them for barter. The owner is enticed by Linda’s sacrifice. Her soul is everything to her, and is therefore the most valuable thing to him. Crowley bids his soul and the owner laughs in his face and tells him that he doesn’t have a soul. Ouch.

When the bidding closes, the Winchesters talk to Linda about losing her soul. It’s no big deal, “you’ll just wish you were dead.” Um. Thanks, guys. Good talk. She asks for a minute alone to compose herself before handing it over. 

Samandriel approaches her and offers to protect Kevin, but she quickly puts him in his place. She watched a whole flight get killed and Kevin kidnapped. So thanks but no thanks...she’s putting her money on the Winchesters. 

Linda gets ready to sell her soul when Dean notices something odd on Linda’s arm. A burn mark. Her eyes glow red and Crowley says hello with her mouth. Beau, the smiling salesman, is in cahoots with Crowley. He burned the anti-possession tattoo off her arm, then Crowley jumped in and took control. Y I K E S. 

Crowley grabs the tablet and Dean brandishes the demon-killing knife. The Winchesters defend Kevin from Crowley, who splits with the tablet. Dean races after Crowley and Sam protects Kevin while Beau shoots up the place. He’s leveled his gun on Kevin when Sam comes out of NOWHERE and smites him with Thor’s hammer.

GLORY GLORY! Mr. Villi asks for the hammer back, but Sam looks at it, then asks where he got five-eighths of a virgin. He smites Mr. Villi in retribution. YEAH SAM. 

Crowley and Dean fight and Kevin races for his mom when Crowley smokes out and emerges moments later wearing his usual body. He carefully dusts off his clothes, taunts the Trans, and warns them about the Winchesters. “‘Cause the Winchesters – well, they have a habit of using people up and watching them die bloody.” Urg. Kevin, you deserved better. 

Kevin’s got a pretty good head on his shoulders. He shuts Dean’s platitudes down, because Dean tried to kill his mom when she was possessed. Life ain’t all desaturated extremes, Dean Bean.

The Winchesters head out to give Kevin some alone time with his mom. Sam asks Dean if he would have really killed Linda. Yeah. Dean totally would have done it to kill Crowley. “What’s one more nightmare, right?” Oh Dean bby no. Sam gives him sad eyes in response. 

A few moments later they head back into the room. Kevin and Linda are gone but there’s a note. Dean reads between the lines. Kevin will never trust the Winchesters because the moment Dean doesn’t need him, Kevin’s gonna die. (I’m just gonna...pound my head on a brick wall for a while, okay?) 

Dean then flashes back to Purgatory and Castiel calling out to him desperately as their hands separate. 

______________________________

I’ll Bid a Doodle of Dean and Cas Kissing for These Quotes:

All we need to do is find the tablet, whip up the spell, and – boom! – sunshine and sandy beaches.

What? Like it’s my first tattoo.

You hid the Word of God in a diaper bag?

Rest assured that we have a strict "no casting, no cursing, no supernaturally flicking the two of you against the wall just for the fun of it" policy.

Is that even a planet anymore?

I think too much heart was always Castiel's problem.

You know what's better than one private island? Two private islands.

I don’t wanna hear any more of your crappy speeches.

_____________________________

Want to read more? Check out our Recap Archive! 

[lightsburnbrite]

The Devil is in the Details: Part 10

@i-want--to--believe

Leon sat on the bench in front of his locker once he had changed back into his street clothes. It was an intense training and the mood was generally sour but it gave him time to think. Karina was right, she had been true to form for as long as he had known her, and it was never an issue for him before. Leon even remembered laughing because she’d been getting dressed for work in this pantsuit that looked so classy but had what sounded like tribal drums banging on in the background. Then there was the time she was wearing some band t-shirt with a scribbly, illegible text on it while bopping along to Cro and Samy Deluxe. The more that he thought about it, the more he realized that was one of the things he loved most about her, there was no way to pigeonhole Karina.

Making sure that he had at least a bit of privacy, he got his phone out to call her. It didn’t surprise Leon that it went to voicemail, he waited for the tone and then started his message.

“Hey Mausi. I’m so, so sorry. I was out of line this morning and you are completely right. Sometimes your sense of humor can be above me and I just was overreacting. I love you so much and I know I’ve got a lot more apologizing to do when I get home. We’ve got a meeting to go to but I’ll be back right after that. Love you.”

With a sigh, Leon hung up and then waited as patiently as he could before the team was released. When he pulled into his parking space and saw Karina’s car, he smiled.

“Hey Maus! I’m home!” He put his bag down by the door, his keys on the counter. “Where are you, babe?”

When there was no response, he assumed that Karina had taken Elsa out on a walk. Leon made his way to the bedroom but stopped short when he saw Elsa sprawled across their bed.

“Hey, pup.” He gave Elsa a pat on the head. “Where’s your Mama?”

Walking over to his side of the bed, Leon saw a small pink post-it note that wasn’t there this morning.

Thought you could use a break from me. -K

Leon held the note in his hand for a moment before placing it back down on the nightstand, smoothing the top so it stuck. He looked around for a minute to see if he could figure out where she had gone. Her suitcase was still in the closet so maybe she wasn’t planning on being gone for long. It made the most sense for her to go to the big house, she even had clothes there. As much as he didn’t like it, he’d giver her a day or two and then he’d drop by to see if she was ready to come home. Still, he thought he should call her again to set the record straight.

Again, it went to voicemail.

“I got your note, Maus. I don’t need a break from you, I want you to come home. But if you need some time away, I get it. I just…please come home as soon as you’re ready. Can you call me back? I just really need to hear your voice. Ok. I love you.”

Sitting down on the bed, Leon stared out of the door that led to the balcony. He had spent almost every night for the past two years with Karina. They rarely fought and when they did it never lasted more than an hour or so before they had forgiven each other. He felt entirely lost without her.  

Leon was beyond relieved when their once open practice was changed to a private one. He never turned down fans for autographs or selfies but not having to do it today meant he wouldn’t need to hang around any longer than he needed to. Practice for the next day had been canceled as well and while he’d normally put in some extra time, he really just needed to get to Berchtesgaden.

Sitting and waiting for the automatic gate to open, Leon realized he was holding his breath. Letting out a great sigh, he drummed the steering wheel impatiently as the metal seemed to creep along on its track. Finally, he parked and let himself in the side entrance. He had started up the stairs to their bedroom when he heard Olga call out to him.

“Herr Goretzka, what a pleasant surprise!” Olga was smiling and he could tell that she was indeed happy to see him. “I was not expecting you, otherwise I would have had lunch ready. Is Miss Ekaterina expected to be joining you?”

His heart sank. “She’s not here already?”

When Olga only looked puzzled in response, Leon nodded as if she was right to do so. “We had an argument and she walked out saying she was giving me a break from her. I don’t know where she went, I was really hoping to find her here.”

“I’m sorry. I have not seen her.” She offered a sympathetic head tilt. “Perhaps she is with her parents?”

Leon nodded again. “I had thought about that also. I’ll give them and her brother a call. Maybe they can help.”

Olga insisted that she make Leon some lunch before he left but soon Leon was on his way back to Munich.

***

Karina ran a shower with the water as hot as she could stand. She scrubbed her skin pink as she tried to figure out what she needed to do. She needed to think, but she couldn’t do that here, not now anyway. Her mind went back to how much she enjoyed roaming the streets along the Amsterdam canals and suddenly it clicked for Karina that she wanted to replicate that feeling.

After drying her hair, she grabbed her backpack, made sure her laptop and phone chargers were in there and packed a few sets of clothes plus her passport and set off for the train station.

Without a real itinerary, Karina made a list in her mind of where she wanted to visit and decided on Berlin, that was the first train leaving. Of course, flying would be quicker, but the train ride would give her a chance to figure out her next step. Leon had apparently decided that he did not like who she was and for Karina, the only two logical options seemed to be change or leave. The only problem was she didn’t like either of those options.

She spent the next week and a half, riding the train from Munich to Berlin to Amsterdam to Paris, checking in and out of hotels and spending her days in museums and galleries. She had gone through and deleted every single post off her instagram and now it was filled with clips of her view from the train and anything that caught her eye. She had heard Leon’s many messages but wasn’t ready to talk to him. Instead, she hoped the posts brought him some comfort accompanied by a short text; I’m doing some traveling. Be home soon.  

By the time Karina made it to Paris, she felt like she was ready to go home. It seemed somehow fitting that the Louvre would be her last stop on this impromptu European art tour. She was thankful that the crowd was small on a Wednesday evening and that the piece she most wanted to see had been practically ignored by those more interested in seeing the Mona Lisa.

Sitting on the floor, Karina gazed up and admired the detail etched into the marble of Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss. The sculpture was meant to be viewed from all angles but Karina found that she preferred what she saw while seated. The piece itself was beautiful on its own but knowing the story that the artist based his work on - the trials that Psyche went through, Cupid eventually warding off his vengeful mother somehow made it more significant. She figured that Leon had accepted her posts as proof of life and decided to offer this image as a clandestine message that she was thinking of him. The last few rays of sunlight seemingly embracing Cupid and Psyche led her to add The Sounds’ Sail into the Sun as a soundtrack to the story. Shadows stretched out across the Louvre’s floor as the singer crooned on:

We sail into the sun

We sail into the sun

Golden rays are shining down on me

They set my soul on fire

And let it burn free

I’m trying to believe

I’m trying to belong

I’d do it all again

I’d do it all for you

Karina timed it so that she would get home while Leon was at practice. She didn’t have much to unpack, but she did have things to sort out. She stood in front of her closet with Amy Dune’s Cool Girl monologue running through her head. Cool girl never gets angry at her man. She only smiles in a chagrin, loving manner and then presents her mouth for fucking.

***

As soon as Leon walked in, he realized that Karina had come home.

“Maus?” He called out. “Mausi, I-”

Karina walked out to meet him but held up her hand. “Before you say anything, can I just speak for a minute?”

“Yeah,” Leon wanted desperately to grab Karina and pull her against him, he wanted to hold on to her so she couldn’t run away again, but he refrained. “Of course.”

“I love you. I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember.” Karina felt her words catch in her throat but she willed herself to go on. “But I also love me. It took me a long time to learn to love myself and part of that was realizing that I am enough. I have never been anything but myself whenever I am around you and I will not change myself to better suit anyone. Even you. I’m sorry.”

Leon took Karina’s hand in is and smiled. “You are absolutely right and you have no reason to be sorry.”

“But you were so mad at me.” Karina pulled away slightly but then stopped herself, she didn’t want to seem too distant but she was definitely not ready to lower her guard. “I still don’t understand what I did.”

“You didn’t do anything.” He offered a sheepish shrug. “I guess the whole thing with the detective freaked me out and then Jörg said something about getting you under control. I don’t know why I flipped out on you and I’m so sorry that I did. Can you forgive me?”

Karina stood there for a moment but didn’t really have an answer. “I’m not sure yet.”

“Ok, I can work with that.” Giving her hands a brief squeeze, Leon gently let go.

Suddenly, Karina found that she couldn’t keep eye contact with him and moved her gaze to his feet.

“Karina, I meant it when I said I asked you to marry me because I couldn’t imagine my life without you.” Leon walked to the kitchen to get a glass of water. “That includes your terrible taste in music, extracurricular activities, whatever tattoos you might feel like getting, and whoever your friends are.”

With a laugh, she gave a slight nod, but Leon continued.

“I will give you as much space as you need to figure things out. I can sleep on the couch-”

She shook her head now. “I don’t want you to sleep on the couch. I couldn’t stand being away from you but I thought you didn’t like me, that you didn’t want me.”

As soon as Karina took a step towards him, Leon quickly moved to embrace her. “Do you know why I always picked on you whenever I was around?”

“Because I was small and annoying like a little mouse?” She spoke into his chest.

“Ok,” Leon laughed now. “I know that’s what I said but boys are stupid so that was the only way I knew how to show you that I liked you.”

Karina stood back and raised an eyebrow.

With a smile, Leon kissed her forehead. “Honestly? I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember too.”