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princessofprocrastination · 4 years ago

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She’s Creepy (Dream)

MASTERLIST

pairing : dream / clay x reader.

summary : apparently being a huge fan of a big youtuber is considered being a creep, according to minecraft gamer, dream. and ever since he called you mean things, your world turned upside down. (ANGST) (TRIGGER WARNING)

a/n : i’m aware i’ve been writing all angsts, i just enjoy a little heartbreak. this is a two part story!

you haven’t been on social media as a public figure for long, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t been on social media before this.

you knew people, you had people you look up to, as of many other social media influencers or content creators.

you grew pretty quick on youtube and instagram. your content mostly included room makeovers whenever you felt bored of your own home or your storytimes. you blew up from talking about your stalker.

since then, your subscibers stayed with you and supported you, saying that you have a charm, and that you exert good energy and vibes. and those type of comments have always made your day.

you always shared with your supporters about your life, not too personal but enough for them to feel included. of course, you’re not telling them your phone number or address, but you tried to share as many details you can legally in your story times.

that also meant that you would tell your supporters small details about you, such as what book you were currently reading or who you’ve been watching on youtube.

even before you stated posting on your channel, you’ve been watching a minecraft youtuber, dream and his friends.

some of your fans would tag them in some of your instagram posts, or tweets that brought no harm so you never really acknowledged it since it wasn’t hurting anyone.

you weren’t “fangirling” you’d say. it was more of you supported them and found them funny and entertaining.

coincidentally, you landed yourself on the dream team tiktok, which means that dream and his friends were all over you for you page.

and to show that you were active and not dead to your followers on instagram, you’d post a funny tiktok, usually included the dream team. you thought it was harmless. to you, it was just a way to show support.

but only a couple days later, hashtags about you and the dream team, more specifically, just dream, were trending.

when you saw this, opening your twitter app, you immediately went to find out what this was about. your heart jumped when you thought maybe dream acknowledged you.

in fact, it was worse.

what was trending was a short video clip during one of the dream teams chill streams on the dream smp.

the conversation between george, sapnap and dream went like this.

“you guys heard about that girl who kept reposting tiktoks about us on her instagram story?” george asked the other two boys.

“heard she watched us before she even started her channel” sapnap.

“i don’t know about you guys, but i think she’s being a little creepy.” dream said.

your heart sunk to your stomach. did your actions portray you to be a creep to other people?

“dream, you can’t just say that, especially on stream.” sapnap scolded him, george also mumbling something.

“why can’t i? i feel creeped out by her, a public figure posting me all over her socials.” dream replied, tone serious.

you clicked off the video, before it replayed again. you couldn’t get yourself to rewatch that, to hear those words again.

almost crying, you told yourself to suck it up, that this wasn’t worth you crying.

although they were who you looked up as minecraft gamers, this wasn’t worth your breakdowns.

that was until, you opened your direct messages.

you shouldn’t have. you knew the dream team stans would easily hunt you down, to ask you to back off from creeping their idol off.

but no, you still opened your dms. you expected a normal dm, ones that say they support you or some of your friends sending you memes through instagram.

what you didn’t expect was to see a flood of threats.

some said “kill yourself, you don’t deserve a spot on earth after what you did.” and “back off and leave my mans.”

it got worse from there. you thought maybe it’s just the dms, but you didn’t expect it to blow up more, with people tagging you with photos on instagram and twitter. people “cancelling” you.

you didn’t understand how this blew up like this. you were even more baffled to see some of your supporters sending you threats, too.

was this what you deserved?

you weren’t one to make rash decisions, nor were you a suicidal person.

you felt stupid. just because you supported big youtubers, you get this type of treatment?

the threats, the dm, never stopped. for three whole months, you had to deal with the never ending mean comments on your social media. you thought it would die down.

it came to the point of seeing your address and your phone number all over the internet. you never thought it would lead to this.

you didn’t know what to do anymore.

not long after, people started showing up to your apartment.

sure, your apartment didn’t have the best of security, which you blamed no one but yourself for being a public figure and living somewhere with little to no security.

they started with knocking on your door during ungodly hours. next was mailing weird stuff or sending stuff to your house. lastly, which tipped you off was that they would vandalize your apartment.

they would egg your front door, pee, or spray paint your walls of the outside.

you couldn’t handle it anymore.

soon enough, you knew you had to stand up for yourself. you had to call the police.

and that was exactly what you did. you called the authorities, which made the brave teenagers leave you alone.

while they were egging your house and making your life miserable, you knew this was the only time for you to make a rash decision. to leave the country, to somewhere no one else would fine you at. somewhere unpredictable, that no one would expect you to go.

it took a lot for you to book a plane ticket, box up your belongings and move to a completely different country, away from your hometown, florida.

you loved it in florida. though it was humid all the time, you enjoyed it. now that you had to leave, you only had a little while to cherish it before you leave it all behind.

and your family, your friends. the ones you’ve grown up with, ones you’ve grown to love and cherish. you had to leave that too. and without telling them too much information.

that hurt the most, needing to leave your loved ones behind, to start a new life, to start afresh.

DREAM’S POV

i didn’t know what was happening. one thing added onto another and soon it was out of control.

i didn’t say anything at the start, not thinking it would go this far. i didn’t know to what extent my fans would go.

sure, i saw all the things happening, but i didn’t do anything to stop it.

i saw her address and phone number all over social media, and did nothing about it.

george and sapnap said something, and pushed me to do something about it, but i didn’t. i was stubborn.

speaking of, it’s been months since i heard anything about her from her herself, everything i see is from my fans or hers, wondering where she is.

should i be worried?

YOUR POV

you left florida. the only people you told were your parents and your childhood friend, not trusting anyone else.

what you told them was vague, that you needed to leave, away from the US. specifically, you moved to Australia.

you made a decision to not live near the city, but the outskirts.

you were lucky that you weren’t a spender and you made more than enough money to make the decision to leave so suddenly.

lucky for you, you went to college and had a degree in law, so you didn’t need to worry about not having a job.

you never thought you’d make use of your degree this early in your life, thinking that youtube and being a content creator would last a little while longer.

you had to change you hairstyles, your fashion in general since you had to be in a more professional setting. although it was hard transitioning from a casual wear and having crazy coloured hair to wearing pant suits or formal dresses and going back your natural colour.

three years. it took you three full years for you to even think of visiting your parents in florida again. also, given the fact that you had a stable job and you couldn’t up and leave.

but recently, you were offered to work at another law firm in florida. you were happy to tell that to your family back home but at the same time, you were hesitant to go back to your nightmares.

but you braved yourself, since you missed your family dearly.

now, you were sitting on your desk in your cozy home, finalizing up the last of your move, like getting a house back in florida, this time with a better security just in case.

boxes of your clothes and belongings went first, to reach your new house there before you did so it was easier for you, not having to worry about your stuff.

you asked none of your family’s help, not wanting to burden them. instead you told them to just meet you at a restaurant you booked for you and your family and friends for dinner about three weeks after you landed.

although they protested, saying it was too long until they can see you again, you told them to not worry and that you were going to use those three weeks to start working at the new law firm.

you decided to take a straight flight from australia to florida, not wasting any time. although it was almost a twenty-two hour long flight, you sat throug and got to your hometown safely.

you didn’t know what was going on with the three boys you used to adore, since you didn’t have social media anymore.

but you didn’t mind it, it was peaceful.

two weeks since you’ve stepped foot in florida again. it felt amazing to breathe your hometown air again. it was refreshing.

you have fully settled in your new house, and workplace. you were glad to have met your co-workers. they were all super welcoming and made sure you weren’t left behind in anything.

so far, your transition from australia to florida has been smooth, and you weren’t worried about anything.

you got a car since you’ve arrived, so that you could travel easily from one place to another.

not to brag, but. you were making enough money to live a lavish lifestyle. a big house and a pretty expensive car, and that didn’t even make a dent in your bank account.

you were proud to see that you achieved all this yourself, and only within a couple of years.

you were just excited to meet your family in real life instead of facetime.

finally, the day of the dinner with your family came. unfortunately, you had to take a case in the afternoon, so you had to come to dinner in your work pant suit, with a turtleneck and a little late.

they understood it and told you not to worry about it, and that they would just seat themselves by your name instead of waiting for you. you promised you’d pay their dinners and apologized once again.

the sound of your heels comforted you as you walked from the valet to the restaurant. you were a little nervous to meet them again face to face after three years. but you couldn’t wait to catch up with them and tell them all about your work life that you could never tell them during the facetime calls.

you smiled to yourself, thinking nothing could go wrong. and nothing could really go wrong anyways, it was just a dinner after all.

but you hadn’t expected the three boys you used to idolize to be eating dinner at the same restaurant you and your family would be at, specifically, opposite your table.

you walked in the restaurant, telling the front of the house that you had a table reserved under your name and that you were pretty sure the rest of your family was already there.

she politely told you to walk alongside her, leading you to your family.

you weren’t paying attention to your surroundings. you were solely focused on seeing your family that you didn’t know that there were extra pair of eyes staring at you.

you smiled as your family saw you. your mum crying while standing up to hug you tightly, as she once did three years ago.

you could hear your friends shout your name loudly, as if to tell the whole world that you were finally here.

“don’t cry, i’m staying, no more going back to australia, i swear.” you told your mum, trying to reassure her that you were fine and that you were not going to leave her again, since she hadn’t stopped crying.

you moved to hug your dad, who had been patiently waiting for his turn after his wife. “you look great, kiddo.” you thanked him as he complimented your professional look.

you sat down, somewhere in the middle, between your family, opposite of your parents so that everyone could clearly see and talk to you easily.

with how noisy you family were, you were sure the entire restaurant knew your name and where you had just moved from.

they asked you about australia, what was it like to work there, away from your family. you caught up with every single one of them.

“don’t you live in that really expensive neighbourhood right now?” one of your childhood friends asked.

you winked at her, discreetly trying to answer her question. the whole table shouted and congratulated you for making it this far, in only a matter of short years.

you covered your face, shy, not wanting this part of your life to be told to everyone in the restaurant.

GEORGE’S POV

there she was. the person whose life we practically ruined. luckily, we didn’t ruin it all for her. i guess she made use of her brains and is working a normal job.

“dude.” i tried to attract the other two boys’ attention.

“i know.” both of them answered me.

“she’s rich rich, huh?” sapnap almost chuckled but was totally serious saying that.

“yup.” dream.

ah yes, clay. the man dream himself. sapnap and i tried to persuade him into making it right for her, for you.

sure, he had said those mean words, but he can take it back. three years ago, at least.

she disappeared three years ago. vanished. no one knew where you went. some say you moved out of the country, which deemed to be true. couple of years later people started to find out what you worked as, but i tried my best to help get rid of the information

but they just couldn’t pinpoint where. you basically uped and left everything.

and there was time to apologize, but it had been to late.

i thought she died, quite frankly. i didn’t want to be the cause of someone dying. well at least, not me, but my friend.

now us three were seated in a pretty formal and expensive restaurant to eat dinner. and we did not expect to see her here.

she came in a little late, wearing a very professional wear. seemed like you went to work before this.

i knew you were a lawyer, we three knew that since our fans found it out.

she looked completely different. hair not her usual crazy colours. just seeing her in heels baffled me. she was wearing something formal and that wasn’t what you usually wore, years ago.

DREAMS’S POV

she’s beautiful.

not that she wasn’t before.

but this version of her was different. her in her pant suit, in heels. a turtleneck under her blazer.

she looked elegant. classy. rich.

i mean, she is rich.

her family screamed when she told them where she lived. and man, that neighbourhood only had rich people. it had one of the best, if not the best security you could ask for.

it wasn’t easy to buy a house there. even if you had the money, you’d need a certain bank card to be allowed to even be shortlisted.

and if i saw it correctly, she drives a bentley that was just parked by a valet kid.

damn. she is one successful woman.

i know, how could i think this much of her, how dare i when i didn’t even apologized. i didn’t even try.

in fact. i did. even before she went MIA, fully on social media, i sent her direct messages everywhere. she never replied to any of them.

and i knew no one that had her phone number. and soon enough, no one had heard from her in three years.

and now she’s back. more beautiful than ever.

i needed to speak to her i couldn’t live with the guilt that stayed for these past three years.

my fans, my so called supporters made her life a living hell and i almost did nothing to stop it.

i’m sure she hates me. but i have to try somehow, right?

question is, she didn’t have a social media anymore, and i can’t just speak to her now that she was sitting opposite my table.

i kept on pondering as i heard a little bit of her conversation, about her life.

i guess she moved to australia, and worked in a lawfirm in the outskirts. so unpredictable of her. no one would’ve guessed that in a million years.

i watched as i see her smile as she listened to what her parents were saying.

i cherished the smile since i didn’t know when was the next time i’d see her.

she asked the waiter for the bill, covering the whole cost of her and her huge family’s meal.

damn, this girl is too rich for her own good.

she puts down the bill on the table, also leaving a generous tip for the waiter that served them. she stood up to walk after her family, needing to pass my table.

since she had been oblivious to her surroundings, i didn’t expect her to spot us, to notice us.

but i was wrong.

PART 2

#dream x reader #dream imagines #dreamwastaken #dream fanfic #dream imagine #dreamwastaken imagines #dream fanfiction

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lareinenoir · 4 years ago

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The Knots (Chris Evans Fanfic)

Warning: swearing

Summary: You receive an email from your boss that says your hairstyle is not professional to be on TV. When Chris finds out, he isn’t to happy.

_________

“Hey baby.” Said Chris walking into the house, hugging you from behind as you stood over the stove, continuing to make stir fry. “How was your day?” He asks, leaning on your shoulder and laying a small kiss on your neck.

“Fine.” You sighed and you toss some of the pork to Dodger who was laying on the ground right next to you.

“Fine?” He questions with a head tilt and a small frown. “What happened?” He asks as you move the pan and walk over to the rice cooker to the other side of the island to the rice cooker.

“Nothing, it was just a long day.” You smiled giving him a tiny spoonful of rice to try. “Good?” You asked quickly changing the subject and smiling at him as he nodded. “How was the shoot?”

“It went really well” He chews, stealing another bite and nods up at the towel on your head. “ I didn’t see you on the news today? That was today, right?” He asks remembering your shared calendar and the fact that you had circled it in a red marker, A red PERMANENT marker.

“No, I read the date wrong.” You said as he looked up

“What happened? Didn’t you do your hair last night?” he asks recalling the long night you had with wash day being yesterday and the style you decided to put your hair in. “Why’d you take it out, I liked it.”

“I found a different style. You ready to eat?” You asked grabbing some plates and started plating the rice and and the pork veggie stir fry on top. “You want some plantains?” You ask him as you continue to dodge his question of, ‘whats wrong.’ “We can eat outside or at the table?”

“Baby, whats wrong?” He asks once again as you stuff your mouth with rice. “Come on, you hardly said anything to me about your day.”

“Chris, I really just don’t wanna talk about it.” You say with a mouthful, accidentally on purpose slamming your fork down and walk away from the island. “Honestly!” You shout going into your shared room and slamming the bathroom door shut.

Ever since your big chop two years ago, you had always just left it out in it’s natural fro and put some products in it and if you were feeling fancy a few decorative hair pins and in the past year now more than ever. Chris loved your new found love for hair pins and little hair jewelry and bought you some. You always wanted to try Bantu knots and trying them out was a big step. Your husband was super excited and helped you out yesterday when it came to the washing, condition and moisturizing. You both were off that day and took advantage of it. You and Chris watched movies and ate some food with Dodger of course, laying at your feet as you sat on the bed and he helped you section the back of your hair.

“You wanna unlock the door?” He asks in a low voice, you could tell he had his lips to the doorknob and you sighed. “Did I say something wrong?”

“No, you didn’t say anything” rolling your eyes and you open the door after hearing how concerned he sounded. “I’m not mad at you, OK. I just really had a shitty day and I really liked my hair and I have to redo it and find a different style-” you wiped the little tear that escaped from your eyelid.

“Wait, why?” he asks as you stand in the door frame and he stood in front of you with his hands on your arms, rubbing them up and down trying to comfort you. “Why are you changing your hair?”

“I have to.” You sort of explain taking the towel off your head and grabbing the Shea moisture that stood on the end of the sink. “Go eat, never mind. Forget I said anything.”

Chris shook his head at you as you began to part little sections adding some moisturizer. He narrowed his brow and let out a little laugh. “No, stop. Tell me what happened.” You knew how much your husband hated when you beated around the bush. Personally you just didn’t want to bother him with it, but you knew how caring he was and how would jump to help at every opportunity.

Good afternoon,

Ms, Evans, you have been a proud and responsible worker here on on Channel12. Your years of dedication and hard work have showed us nothing that we don’t know. As you may know when you started working for the Channel, you signed a contract that explained the dress code, which included the following, Males must wear a tie and a collared shirt with dress pants. Females must wear a skirt that goes no higher that the knee and a shirt that shows no cleavage. Pantsuits and suits for men and woman are permitted. No untamed hair is allowed while on the air. a warming will be permitted the first offence, the second is a write up, the third is suspension. Any other offences against the dress-code is automatic termination. With that being said, you will receive a write up for the untamed hairstyle that was chosen. Effective immediately it will need to be changed by tomorrow, noon, in order to be on the air. If the hairstyle is failed to be corrected, we will proceed with termination

please enjoy your day,

Carter Rockman

“Chris, stop.” You said reaching for your phone. You saw the look in his eyes and he was livid. “Give it back, before you do something stupid.” You tell him as he holds your phone behind his back. His lips were tucked in as he stared at the ground. “Chris-”

“What the hell is this?” he asks, finally looking up at you. Letting out a sigh, you shake your head. “I’m calling him, matter fact, I’m going up there right now. Grab your purse, we’re going right now-”

“Chris stop.” You shake your head grabbing onto his arm as he went to grab the car keys from the counter. “This is exactly why I didn’t wanna tell you.” You said getting a bit frustrated and then laughing it off. “Don’t go up there-”

“why not!” he said with a frown. “This is unacceptable.” He holds up your phone for emphasis. “You’ve been there for years. They can’t do this! On your ass because of your hair?” He scoffed.

“That’s just the way things are, babe.” You say, holding his face in your hands. The little beard he had going, made you smile down at his lips as you gave them a quick kiss. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll change my hair and get on with it. It’s not that big of a deal.” You said trying to reassure him.

“Absolutely not! I come home to my wife who is upset and crying.” He retorts back shaking his head with a scoff. “You think I’m about to let this fly? Who is this man to tell MY wife that her hair is unprofessional and threatened termination because of it. Fuck that! They wouldn’t tell Viola Davis or Beyoncé or Tyra Banks or-“

“You don’t think I’m pissed too! I am beyond pissed, hell I’m more upset that I allowed it to happen anyway! People who look like me are judged all the time, especially with hair in the work industry. You of all people should know. There is nothing I can do about that. They aren’t going to change their minds because my husband says so. And even if they do, I don’t want them thinking just because my husband is Chris Evans-“

“I wouldn’t hold that against you and they sure as hell- they better not hold that against you.” He says still going off. “Why don’t you wanna fight this? It isn’t fair,babe...” he shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“ This isn’t Americas next top model. I’m not a model or an actresses or singer.” You shook your head. “I have to abide by the rules of my industry. If I act out or say ‘No’ or try and go against that, then I becomes the stereotype ‘Angry Black woman’.”

“Be angry! Baby, I don’t care.” Said Chris. “I’ll be there. We’ll be angry together-“

“That’s not the way it works.” You admitted holding onto his hands, giving him a pouty look. “I know theres a way to handle this, but I can’t risk my job.”

“Then quit.” He replied. “I provide way more than enough for us and Dodger.”He nodded over at the dog and you both laugh a little. Then he looks back at you and caresses your face. “You don’t need a job. I want you to be happy. That’s all.”

You brought him for a tight embrace as his arms wrapped around you tightly. You squeezed him and kissed his chest. “I love you.” You whisper as you both rocked back and forth. Pulling away you grin at him. “So, it’s five o’clock. I say we can finish some poetic justice braids in three hours if we start now.”

“I’ll get the comb.” He replied as you head for your room. “And one more thing,” He tells you as you and your turn to look at him. “Your hair is beautiful. No matter what style it’s in.” He grinned

......

The End!

Hope you all enjoyed. Let me know if I should do a part II. Anyway, stay safe and healthy.

Xo- Fridai @allthingzhiddleston

@queenshikongo3 @thatoneperson5000

@iam-laiya @victoriastefanie04 @arabescapr @pm-my-hubbies @honeymarvel @yanniebunny5151

@hookedinto-fictionalworlds @heartislubbingdubbing @unicorniorosacomefrutillas @nayr9e @kybaeza @multifacetedscorpio @naega-ooooooolf @schizonephilim @thatweirdwalangpake @grahoundart@kybaeza @nayrael @multifacetedscorpio@naega-ooooooolf @nirvanaslovechild @hisparadox @naughtybaroness30 @deansblackbeauty-deactivated202 @empressoftheundergroundsun @inlovewith3 @smartiedork @gerli49 @spookytyphoonbouquetsblog @angelicvixenn @wtfcantfindus @megapeacelovemusic-blog

#chris evans #chris evansxreader #chris evans x black women #chris evans x black reader #fangirls #fanfic #fanfics #fanfiction #chris evans imagine #marvel men #masterlist allthingzhiddleston #allthingzhiddleston

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misterewrites · 4 years ago

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Cheers from Newton Haven ( Mirror’s Edge)

Hey everyone E here with a surprising amount original works. haha so you can blame my good friend @hains-mae for this because she enabled me. So long story short I love writing. I love creating ideas, story plots, characters all that jazz. Often there's a lot of leftovers that i put away in word document just so I have stuff to work with or ideas i can use later. Most of the time I might write something just to get it out of my system but it usually just ends up gathering dust in my computer.

I've been getting more into modern urban fantasy stories and watching the unsleeping city which is a modern dnd show (highly recommend it. first season's free on youtube over at the dimension 20 channel) and naturally I wanted to write some so here we go.

I don't know how often I'll be writing this because this accidentally became my side project whenever I need a break from the underground but who knows might turn into another big layered project.

so basic summary is there are a group of friends, associates, reluctant allies, organizations and frenemies who work together to keep the peace of the supernatural world in check and to ensure it remains secret to everyone else while living their lives as best as they can. Today's chapter includes Finnrick Drift a private investigator wizard and his best friend Casey Remington, cleric of the hearth

that's it for me. have a great week! stay safe, take care of each other. wear your mask, wash your hands, get the vaccine if you can and I'll see you soon!

and if you wanna an easier place to read and leave me some good old comments or reviews you find the chapter right here https://archiveofourown.org/works/30599756/chapters/75486005

Not gonna lie i promised I’d try to promote myself more and it’s weird. it feels so weird. haha

It was a busy Friday afternoon in Midtown. People in designer named suits and dresses bustled across the sidewalks in all directions, too caught up in last minute phone calls or sudden late night work orders to notice anything else. The buildings that scraped the bottom of the sky were clean with a fresh coat of paint and maintenance, a testimony to the wealth and power that was found here.

So naturally Casey felt as out of place as fish out of water in his purple baseball jersey and black shorts just standing outside some fancy restaurants doors with his friend.

“Finny” Casey started awkwardly, his sea green eyes darting back and forth awkwardly “Any reason we’re out here being creepy? I got a Neighborhood Watch meeting at like 6.”

Finnrick or Finny as Casey referred to him, was no better dress than he was for the environment. A long black trench coat that was more stitching than fabric, a matching frayed faded fedora sitting comfortably on his head. He wore a nice collared dark red shirt tucked in a black vest but even that felt cheap and tacky compared to the thousands of dollars worth of clothing that passed them on the street every second. At least his black dress pants were dark enough to hide the patch up jobs and naturally the only kept squeaky clean were his loafers.

Finnrick sucked on the thin white stick for a moment before speaking up “I’m debating if it’s worth the trouble. I didn’t realize you had a meeting tonight.”

“Well we always meet up on the fifth. You know talking about treaties, clean up jobs, if any undead hordes have been spotted. My birthday cake.”

“Ah shit” Finnrick rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, his dark brown eyes apologetic “It’s your birthday? Did you want to go? I think I can handle it alone.”

Casey lifted the hat off Finnrick’s head and playfully ruffled his already messy black hair “You getting old Finny. My birthday is the tenth.”

Finnrick waved off his assault “I’m six months younger than you.”

“But” Casey gestured to the smattering of sliver streaks in Finn’s hair “You look older.”

“At least I don’t look like I’m 15. Dude you need a haircut. Everyone here thinks you’re a hippie.”

“A good looking hippie.” Casey gave a dramatic shake, his wavy dark brown hair flowing in the breeze.

The pair burst out laughing, doubling over trying to catch their breath as the business suits eyed them distastefully.

“Alright, let’s get this over with.” Finnrick made his way over, smiles and charm as they approached the doorman.

“Your cigarette sir.” The doorman spoke dully.

Finnrick pulled out the now finished lollipop “Don’t smoke but done anyway.”

The doorman gestured to the nearby trashcan but Finnrick opt to tuck it away in coat pocket. Disgusted but professional, the doorman gave strained smile as he allowed them entry into the building.

Casey nudged Finnrick curiously “Wizards? Warlocks? God not druids.”

“Probably. This is guy doesn’t have an ounce of magic in him but I wouldn’t doubt he’s got some casters on the payroll. Try not to leave anything behind.”

“I’m a freaking walking carpet here!”

“That” Finnrick grinned playfully “Is why you need haircut.”

Casey gave a fake snarl “Shut up and call the elevator.”

Finnrick whistled, amused by the near silence of the opening doors “Such fance. Barely a sound.”

“So what’s the plan?”

Finnrick scratched the little bush of hair he had on his chin thoughtfully “Ask some questions. Probably get no answers. Be threatened more than likely.

Casey cracked the tension in his neck “Think it’s gonna get ugly?”

“Depends on how many witnesses.”

The two made their way to the seventh floor, the elevator smoothly slowing to a stop before the doors opened with a ding. Two burly men in suits were waiting, flanked on either side as they gestured to an empty restaurant dining room.

“The boss will like to speak to you.”

Finnrick and Casey shared a look.

“Sure!” Finnrick beamed cheerfully, patting both the brutes arms as he passed “I was hoping to talk to him anyway.”

The men growled in annoyance but did nothing as Casey and Finnrick made their way to the center talk, unsurprised to find two glasses of wine waiting for them.

“After you” Finnrick joked, pulling out Casey’s chair for him.

Casey gave a mocking smile “Such a gentleman.”

“Only one I bet” Finnrick whispered before taking his seat.

Casey could hear the low hissing of whatever spells were on their chairs being dispelled.

Yep there was going to be trouble.

Casey eyed the room carefully in search for options: The room itself was pretty dark, dark reddish walls with dim lights to set the mood. Most of the tables had been left alone for whatever event this room was scheduled for later with the chairs stacked in the corner. A few feet to their left was the bar, unmanned but well stocked and a window to the outside nearby.

“Well, well, well!” A voice called out from some shadowy part of the room “Who do I have the pleasure of meeting this fine Friday afternoon?”

Finnrick rose to his feet, politely motioning to himself and Casey “My name is Fredrick and this is my friend Charles.”

The man’s hazel eyes shone with suspicion “No last names?”

“Of course” Finnrick grin “But there’s no need for friends, right? We are friends Robert?”

Robert paused, a barely contained rage shimmering just under the surface. His slicked back graying hair and tailored perfect dark blue suit were signs of a precise, irrational control. This was a man that was never told what to do and considered himself above everyone and anyone.

“Of course.” He answered a moment too late. He was not happy. “Of course. What are polite manners among friends?”

“Thanks Bobby!” Finnrick gave a friendly wink before retaking his seat.

Robert fumed but followed Finnrick’s example as a trio of secret service wannabes took their spots across the room: Inhumanly beautiful men with dark suits and shades. Something was off about them but Casey couldn’t put his finger on it.

“What do I owe the pleasure Freddy?” Robert sneered, hoping to see how Finnrick a taste of his own medicine.

“Well Bobby.” Finnrick went on, purposely ignoring the older man’s jab “As you know you have been stealing countless money from your employees.”

Robert chuckled darkly “I am afraid wherever you have been getting this claim is very misinformed. I am a simple, honest businessman.”

Finnrick nodded in agreement “Of course. Of course. That’s how you can say that with a straight face. Honest businessman of mundane practices.”

Casey felt his hair on his arm stand on end as the atmosphere in the room tensed. The brutes growled unhappily, the trio of bodyguards shifted uneasily and Robert’s eyes shone with understanding.

“I see.” He spoke simply “You’re from the other side.”

“Naturally.” Finnrick confirmed “No need to peer around the bush, is there?”

“No need at all. It is refreshing for such transparency. You don’t get that often in the world of business.”

“I doubt you give much either Mister Walker.”

“Enough games. What are you doing here? Some kind of union rep for magical freaks? Blackmailing me?”

Finnrick sat up with pride “Private investigator. Building a case against you actually.”

Robert carefully studied both men before him, trying to piece together their plan, their angle.

“Either.” He spoke after a few moments “You have all you need or more than likely you have nothing and you are simply here to smoke me out, hoping I will give you something to use against me.”

Casey felt Finnrick’s hand move underneath the table and a rush of chilly air brushed his leg.

Casey gave a quick nod to let Finn know he understood.

Finnrick cleared his throat “You’re aware of the works of Tolkien Mister Walker?”

Robert was caught off guard “What?”

“Elves.” Finnrick answered with a calming voice “Elves are the most famous of his characters that aren’t humans of course but there’s more: Elves, dwarves...”

“Hob…” Robert began but Finnrick cut him off.

“That’s a legal matter but yes. Wonderfully fantastic creatures.”

Robert narrowed his eyes “And?”

Finnrick leaned in close, smile mocking and cold “I hate when people take advantage of them.”

Robert was a cold, calculating heartless man who was used to being the smartest one in the room. The one who rigged the playing field in his favor, held every ace in his hand and led his prey exactly where he wanted them to be. He played with people before he destroyed their hope. He was the apex predator in the world of business.

It was satisfying to see that swagger and pride drain out of his face.

The businessman went for the button hidden underneath his side of the table, no doubt the switch to trigger the holding spells on Casey and Finnrick’s chairs. Of course Finnrick had dispelled them first chance he got and since the only other caster in the room was Casey, no one else noticed.

Robert’s face was the second most beautiful thing Casey had ever seen (first being Jaime but there was no need to tell her that). The panic, the fear, the utter confusion. Just poetic justice at its finest.

Finnrick shot to his feet with a surprising speed given his unremarkable build. He muttered the words of power, a magical incantation as his hand made the proper gestures to complete the spell.

The shades squad went for their weapons but Finnrick had gotten the drop on all of them. He pulled his hand back, a burning flame sitting peacefully in his palm. He pitched the flame forward, lobbing directly at the closet goon. The inhumanly beautiful man rose his arms to defend himself in time. The flame, mostly pressurized air, splashed over him harmlessly as the force of the attack shoved him back into the wall.

Casey followed Finn’s example. He stood as well (not as quick as his friend), a soft gentle light glowing from his hands. He glanced at the two remaining shades and aimed directly for them. A bolt of pure light burst forth from his palms. One goon got a chest full of holy energy and skidded backwards but the other was ready. He leapt to the side and narrowly avoided the attack as he slid out of sight.

The brutes charged towards the pair, murder in their eyes. Finnrick barely spared them a look as he snapped his finger. The two flames sigils he had imprinted om them when he grabbed their arms ignited, twin fires eating at their sleeves and sending them into a panic.

“What’s the plan?” Casey shouted, sending more holy bolts towards the shades.

“Up and over the counter.” Finnrick answered, tossing another fireball.

Casey quickly made his way closer, prepping to leap over the bar when Finnrick crashed into him, a strange whistling sound piercing his ears one moment then silent the next.

“Over buddy over!” Finnrick repeated, grabbing Casey by the collar and heaving him ontop of the counter. Casey flailed for a moment before glancing backwards. Finnrick was right behind him, hand outstretched as a blue translucent field of protective magic hung before the two while the shades opened fire with crossbows, the jet black bolts barely visible in the dimness of the room. They bounced harmlessly off the barrier but Casey could see the cracks starting to form.

Casey hopped over the bar gracelessly, struggling for a moment before clearing the jump. Finnrick tucked himself backwards, allowing himself to roll over the counter top and land on the other side with a thud.

“Remember when elves were honorable?” Casey huffed, quickly scanning the various bottles.

Finnrick scoffed “They were never honorable. They just acted better than everyone.”

“Remember when we were kids?”

“Vaguely. Pass the absinthe. I want to really make this hurt.”

“Blue bottle? These are all in German and Russian.”

“Green liquid. Come on Case I taught you better.”

“Right. I miss when the cartoons used to tell us the mafia was honorable.”

“Criminals these days.” Finnrick shook his head disappointingly “Just don’t make them like they used to. It’s all corporate shit.”

Casey began picking other bottles at random, wrapping them tightly with the tape he brought “It’s disillusioning I tell you. How right is he?”

Finnrick smashed a pane of glass. He took the jagged edge and slowly inched it over the counter, catching sight of the trio of shades for a moment before a crossbow bolt shattered the glass.

He flexed his hand, trying to relax his muscles. They were elves alright. They might be dressed in suits and ears hidden by some sort of glamour illusion magic but old habits died hard. Elves habits never died given their long lives. The trio had fallen into a close knit triangle formation: one fires, one reloads with the last taking aim.

“He had this whole operation locked tight. No one was talking. Either bribed them or made an example of them. Broken bones or horns. I had enough evidence to implicate him but bringing him to trial in the mundy court was going to be pointless.”

Casey moved the bottles back and forth to ensure they wouldn’t come loose midair “So what are we doing here?”

“Given his limited knowledge and the numerous magical violations I counted in this building alone, I figured he’s not registered with the Council.”

Casey’s eyes lit up in understanding “Gotcha. How long we got?”

Finnrick shook his hand back and forth “I’d say 10 minutes knowing the Council. Magic in an unregistered area requires a subtler approach for them. “

Casey snorted “Fake beards and stilts for the gnomes you mean? Robert will be gone by then.”

Finnrick’s face scrunched in concentration “He’s still here. Cowering under the table. He’s not used to dangerous wizards up in his face. Let’s scare him put huh?”

Casey spared his friend a glance “Big shot?”

Finnrick nodded in agreement “Aim high Case.”

And with a synchronicity only achieved through years of friendship, the two stood up at once. Casey threw the makeshift bomb high into the air as Finnrick formed the magical shield once more. Arrow after arrow bounced harmlessly off its surface as the bottles sailed through the air. Finnrick focused directly in the center of the payload. The shield dropped but the elves had broken formation and were all reloading at once. Finnrick pinched his thumb and finger together, murmuring under his breath. A small spark of flame fluttered wildly on his finger. He flicked it as quickly as he could towards the bottles. The spark spun and twisted as it floated towards the payload. The spark expanded, growing in size, and intensity, rapidly without warning. The air warmed as the spark exploded, smashing the bottles and engulfing the alcohol within. Flaming liquid, glass and hot air shot out in every direction. The elves were blasted off their feet and crashed against the far wall with sickening series of crunches. The floor above now had a massive hole in it and the brutes sprawled across the floor. Robert himself was thrown onto the ground, ash and soot covering his face as he struggled to breath.

He tried to call for someone but his ears were ringing and everyone was down for the count. He tried to search for the trouble makers but the smoke that filled the room was too thick.

The elevator dinged open once more and three pale suits came scuttling out. They clung to the walls on all fours, unnatural and repulsive. Their blood red eyes shone in the dimly light room, their fangs barred and ready for blood.

“Vampires!” Casey rubbed his eyes tiredly “This fucker has vampires. Loose by the way.”

“Right?” Finnrick shook his head “There are just so many regulations being violated right now.”

The vampires did not care. They dropped to the floor, gliding effortlessly midst the smoke and flame.

Casey took a step closer to the encroaching undead. He outstretched one hand towards them while the other clasped his necklace tightly. The vampires tilted their head quizzically at the symbol that adored the chain: It was a house of all things, a simple shape of rectangles and triangles no different than what a child would draw.

The vampires chuckled, their eyes bright with hunger.

Of course in their bloodlust they had forgotten something important: It was not the symbol but the faith behind it that was their bane.

Casey held the symbol as high as he could. The vampire shrunk away from him as his eyes blazed with holy energy, the symbol of home glowing with a harsh light. The vampires barred their fangs as a symphony of noises overwhelmed their senses: the soft hum of an air conditioner, footsteps thundering about, the chill of winter, the heat of summer, the overlapping sounds of cars and buses as the roar of crowds boomed in their ears. The city, the hearth of so many people, filled this room for a moment.

The vampires drew back, white smoking curling off their charring flaky skins. They ducked back into the elevator, hiding in whatever corner they could manage until the doors shut with a satisfying ding.

“Come on” Finnrick gestured to the window “I don’t want to be written up for unauthorized magic in an unregistered area.”

Casey and Finnrick scampered to the window. Casey’s face turned a sickly green when he realized how high up they were.

“Ugh I don’t feel good.” his stomach churned queasily.

Finnrick broke the window with his elbow, the fresh smoggy air of the city bringing some color back into Casey’s cheeks “I know buddy but it’s only eight floors up.”

“I hate you so much right now.”

“Okay cool jump now!”

Robert regained enough sense to see the troublemakers leap out the window without hesitation. He struggled to his feet when flickers of something began to form. Before he knew what was going on, the previously empty room was now filled with various creatures: Elves, dwarves, a gnome on silts had appeared out of thin air. They weren’t dress in any ancient medieval garb but rather dark blue jackets, jeans and combat boots with the initials M.R.R.D stitched on their clothing. They were no different than any one on the street aside their more unique physical features.

“M.R.R.D!” the gnome cried out, brandishing a strange clockwork pistol “Everyone freeze! We sensed a magical disturbance and a violation of the Arcane Veil!”

Robert rose to his full height “I am Robert Walker and I…”

The gnome opened fire and Robert could feel exhaustion overtake him. Sleepiness began to ebb at his resolve and before he could mutter another word, he closed his eyes. A dreamless sleep until he woke up in a council prison cell a few hours later.

-----

Casey didn’t scream as he fell through the air. He was too busy trying to keep his lunch in his stomach.

Finnrick waited a moment to make sure everything was in place and with a wave of his hand, the two began to fall much slower. They landed on their feet as if they had taken a step off the sidewalk instead of several stories up.

Casey began hyperventilating, trying his best to get his stomach settled. Finnrick began fanning his face when a man walked up to him.

Casey and Finnrick said nothing, waiting for the Arcana Veil to fill in any blanks they were missing. They could’ve told this man anything but they found from experience that it was just easier to roll with whatever the magical blanket that separated the mundane world from the magical decided.

The man peered at them, his gaze unsure and confused.

“Hey, you guys okay?” he asked helpfully.

Casey and Finnrick remained silent.

His eyes glazed over for a moment, a strange shimmering sheen within his pupils telling the duo that the veil was in effect.

“You guys are oddly dressed for window washers.” the man chuckled.

Finnrick glanced back to find a ghostly image of an electrically operated scaffold behind them, water buckets and squeegees included.

They shared a look.

“Would you believe it’s national window washer day?” Casey filled in.

Finnrick added “Yeah, they let us wear whatever want today. It’s only one day out of the year anyway and most of the time we work by ourselves so no harm done.”

the man nodded like that was the most reasonable thing he had ever heard “Right sorry. I’ll just be on my way.”

Finnick and Casey ducked out of the alleyway behind him, heads low and nonchalant as the human M.R.R.D members began to shut down the restaurant from the outside.

“Well that sucked.”

“Just a little. Here let’s go some dinner on me.”

“Damn straight on you Finny. Brutes, elves, vampires?”

“Oh my.”

“Now I’m ordering extra bread for that.”

#Original Work #original story #my work #Mirrors edge story

43 notes · View notes

alarriefantasy · 4 years ago

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Hi, all! So it seems that the wonderful AO3 user - objectlesson - aka on tumblr as - horsegirlharry - has sadly deleted their fics. I have only a few saved in my files, but there are some I would really love to possess, if anyone has them? I would really appreciate it if you would message me and let me know! :)

Also, I am posting the whole list of amazing stories they shared for our fandom, and I am marking (with an asterisk*) the ones that I have myself, in case anyone else would like them too! <3

Silver White Winters

by objectlesson

In which Louis catches a cloud and pins it down.

Words: 5106, Chapters: 2/2, Language: English

I Must Confess (I Still Believe)

by objectlesson

Louis shrugs, eyes on the road. “You look cute in the blazer, too,” she says nonchalantly, and what the fucking fuck, what is Harry supposed to think?

“You probably do, too, but I wouldn’t know because I don’t even think you own one? Do you ever actually wear the entire uniform?” she asks, deflecting.

“Not since freshman year!” Louis boasts proudly. “They stopped giving me demerits because it’s, like, a lost cause. I literally haven’t seen my blazer in three years, I just borrow Veronica’s when I walk into Mass.” Her grin is very cheeky and bright, and she’s squinting in the sun, aviators pushed up into the overgrown auburn shag of her hair. The horizon is hazy and pink-orange as dark sneaks up on them, the air smelling of sprinkler water and BBQ smoke from people leaching the last warmth of October before summer’s gone for good. Harry feels alive with possibility, eyes watering as she smiles at Louis, unable to stop. She wrinkles her nose like it’ll somehow hide the way it looks on her face to be in love.

Or, Harry is the new girl at an all girl Catholic Girl’s School, and Louis is the unattainable, dashing senior who changes her forever.

Words: 44304, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Powerless (and I Don’t Care It’s Obvious)

by objectlesson

“Oh no, Lou, don’t make me laugh,” he whimpers. His Ribena-purple mouth twists into a glorious, breakable shape, and Louis’s heart stops. He should not be getting turned on by Harry’s full-bladder discomfort, his little twitches, his hips-stuttering. And yet.

Words: 4090, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

The Pink Ghost of Princess Park

by objectlesson

The thought of the vibrator does not go away. It’s sitting there collecting dust all through January, and every time Harry and Louis have to leave town for a press event or a show or to record or what have you, they come back home, and it’s still there, the Pink Ghost of Princess Park, the fucking glittery haunting that Harry cannot stop thinking of Louis stuffing up his arse.

Words: 7556, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

*Life Saver

by objectlesson

Nerd Boy’s giant, dorky, adorable hand shoots into the air. Louis notices he has chipped red polish on a few of his nails and some tattered friendship-looking bracelets, like the sort you make in camp, and he might hear the distant chime of wedding bells. He thought he didn’t even believe in marriage because it’s, like, oppressive and heteronormative or whatever, but that was before Styles, Harry (Harry Styles!!! What an absurd, wonderful name! What a perfect thing to scrawl in the margins of all his notebooks surrounded in hearts!) appeared in the bio lab at his new school and ruined all his principles forever.

or, Louis is a sweetheart punk with a theater background and a heart of gold, Harry is an inexperienced nerd who plays by the rules. Classmates, lab partners, and eventually friends, what happens when Louis knows he’s in love, but doesn’t know how tell Harry?

Words: 14809, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Even Your Honey Dew

by objectlesson

It probably says something about Harry that he’s so obsessed with another omega’s arse.

Words: 9512, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

What a Heavenly Way To Die

by objectlesson

She’s thought about it a lot, and two big things seem to be holding her back, aside from the uncontrollable paralysis that overtakes her body every time she so much as tries to sneak a hand under the waistband of Harry’s knickers.

Or, Louis is afraid to do stuff to Harry, who has done a lot of stuff to her.

Words: 8052, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

A Firm Believer and a Warm Receiver

by objectlesson

a few months ago, Louis had his first heat. It was no big deal, aside from it being awkward and weird and all the other things it was supposed to be. He figured he would present as an omega, so he wasn’t exactly surprised or anything.

But then, last week, Harry had his first heat, too.

Or, the omega/omega sleepover fic no one asked for but y'all really, really need.

Words: 10895, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

You’ll Know What Makes The World Turn

by objectlesson

Sometimes, when things are messy and they have more than a few weeks apart, they need the reminder. It’s comforting to have stars to map your course by.

or, Harry’s blue bandana is a day collar.

Words: 4624, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Sing You Butterflies

by objectlesson

Louis stares for a moment before some primal sympathetic force in him activates. He has to help this boy. He can hardly walk, and he seems so young (yet ageless, beyond age, like a sea turtle or a parrot or a tree or something else odd and magical), and on top of all that, he has body glitter clinging to his skin, like that roll-on stuff his sisters used to use as preteens, only pink-gold and twice as thick. It’s, like, professional grade. He’s also wearing grass- and dirt-stained pink silk women’s underwear, so maybe he’s from London. Maybe he’s a drag queen who crawled all the way from a nightclub in Soho just to save Louis from his horribly mundane and woefully heterosexual neighbours out here in the middle of nowhere.

or, Harry’s a clumsy unicorn who accidentally stomps on a witch’s garden and is turned into a human as punishment, so he wanders into a nearby village covered in glitter, still figuring out how to walk on two feet, and meets the fairy-tale-fine Louis, who has to teach him how to live as a human and stop him from eating soap.

Words: 22701, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Holy

by objectlesson

She deserves not to be so goddamned put together all the time. Being in the world’s biggest and highest exposure girlband means she’s never seen without a flat stomach, a spray tan, contouring, eyelash extensions, the whole of her body inescapably toned and plucked and waxed so frequently she genuinely forgot what fucking color her own pubes are. Louis wants to eat burgers and smoke weed and be twenty three. She wants to wake up with Harry and spend the whole day in bed fingering each other because they finally don’t have to have goddamn acrylic nails for once. She wants to grow her pubes out. She wants to lounge around in a posh, red-velvet High Hefner robe.

Or, Louis is dressed like a fucking queen, Harry’s begging please.

Words: 6608, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Only One I Dream Of: A Drabble Collection

by objectlesson

A collection of all the m/m One Direction drabbles and timestamps I’ve written on tumblr, so my readers on here aren’t missing out!

Words: 5164, Chapters: 5/13, Language: English

Diamonds in the Moonlight

by objectlesson

The 70s au where Harry is a rich girl stuck in the suburbs who thinks she loves Shaun Cassidy, and Louis is the skater who breaks into her backyard and changes everything forever.

Words: 16136, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

In the Heat of the Night

by objectlesson

“You’re sleeping with me, obviously,” Harry says then, pausing to regard Louis with a funny expression, nose wrinkled and brows drawn tight. “Don’t tell me you thought that I’d let you freeze out here!? Absolutely not! C’mon, the bedroom’s cozy, I dragged a space heater out.”

Louis wants to protest about as badly as she wants to sleep next to Harry Styles, which is a lot. Too much.

Or, Louis is the only butch in London with a truck and Harry needs to move a couch.

Words: 7726, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Once Upon a Dream

by objectlesson

“M’not gonna half-ass our fake relationship,” Louis almost snaps, voice sharp with a defensive edge, like Harry wandered too close to a bruise with needy fingers. “Now kiss me again. We’re gonna make every shitty tourist here wish they had stayed in the Midwest. We’re gonna burn Disneyland down with our gay. ”

Harry shuts his eyes and opens his mouth, because he can’t fucking say no to Louis.

Or, a fake dating AU where everyone is lying and they happen to be at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Words: 16643, Chapters: ½, Language: English

From Now Until Forever

by objectlesson

The girls go to Britney Nite and Louis wears Juicy track pants and Harry is not ok.

Niall takes the pint glass back from Harry and takes a swig, regarding her over the rim knowingly. “You’re nervous,” she observes with a grin. “Because you’re gonna get drunk at a gay bar with Louis, and you haven’t told her yet that you wanna marry her.”

“Oh, my god, stop,” Harry scolds, hiding her face in her hands, everything suddenly hot and shivery. “It’s not that,” she adds, even though it most definitely is.

“Then…you’re excited to see Louis in a schoolgirl skirt and bra? Covered in that body glitter that smells like cotton candy?” Niall presses, waggling her eyebrows, making Harry blush at the mere thought of Louis’s golden skin shimmering and sticky under club lights.

Words: 9223, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Hello, Heaven (you are tunnel-lined with yellow lights

by objectlesson

“Oh, yeah?” Harry asks, playing dumb as he helps Louis out of his coat before hanging it up. “A new phone charger? Mine’s still broken, the electrical tape didn’t work.”

Louis makes a face at him, all arched brows and tongue pressed into cheek. “Oh a phone charger? Is that what you need?” he quips lightly, voice high and lilting in this sing-song way that’s so, so high and gentle that it’s scary. He’s putting on a show for Harry, and Harry’s thrilled with it, already shivery and hot-cheeked because Louis got him something naughty, and they’re talking about it without really talking about it, wrapping it up in layers of mundanity and domesticity, still so excited to play the role of two Adults living in their new Adult flat in London that they bought with their own money from the X Factor. Harry’s living an unimaginably glamourous life so suddenly, and Louis and his gifts are right in the middle of it, the heart of his every dream.

Or, Louis buys Harry things sometimes.

Words: 2988, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Dream About That Casual Touch

by objectlesson

And that was the first thing Louis noticed about her. Not her nipples, or not only her nipples, anyway, but the fact that she was so confident with her body and didn’t seem to care that her tits were sort of soft and floppy and uneven or that she had a little roll of pudge around her hips that poked over the top of her jeans when she wore crop tops. She wore what she wanted to wear whether or not it was in fashion or technically even flattering; her hair was always messy, she only wore makeup half the time, and she seemed to like heeled boots even if she was already fairly tall and they made her tower over the boys. Louis always thought it was so fucking sexy how unconcerned Harry seemed with what people thought of her, how comfortable she was in her own skin. That by itself seemed like a sort-of gay thing, so Louis kept a remote, careful eye on her, hoping to one day see something else that blipped her radar.

Or, Louis and Harry fuck up two dates before they finally get it right.

Words: 7678, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

*Smoke Dreams from Smoke Rings

by objectlesson

“When I get a craving?” Louis says, “You have to help me chase it away. Distract me”

Oh. Harry can think of about one hundred different ways to distract Louis Tomlinson. One hundred better uses for his mouth, for example. “Erm,” he squeaks, well aware of the fact that he’s grinning and dimpling and blushing all at once, his whole face a suddenly mortifying warzone of transparent emotion. “How?”

“By hitting my arm as hard as you can,” Louis announces, holding out the arm in question. It bridges the gap between them, stiff and expectant, and Harry stares, not entirely sure if Louis’s being serious, if this is some prank that he isn’t clever enough to understand, or if the promise of touching Louis under any circumstances is so titillating that he just can’t process it. Louis rolls up the sleeve of his hoodie then, revealing his pale inner arm in maddening increments, pushing Harry somewhere between drooling and vomiting, he isn’t sure which. He just knows that his mouth is flooded, and the barely-there ghost of Louis’s veins through his skin is the prettiest thing that he’s ever seen. “Go on, hit me,” Louis orders. “Don’t be shy,”

or, Louis enlists Harry to help him with his bad habit.

Words: 18116, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Black Stars and Endless Seas

by objectlesson

Or, A Star Trek Original Series AU where Lt. Styles is a young science officer on his first away mission, and Louis is the headstrong ensign assigned to his security detail, and maybe they would be able to function together professionally in a normal setting, but not when their shuttlecraft crash-lands and they end up marooned together on an improbably and unfairly beautiful planet.

Words: 32246, Chapters: 3/3, Language: English

Rose Garden Dreams

by objectlesson

Harry thinks it’s a fever-induced delirium, at first. After all, she’s been sick in bed for a full forty-eight hours following the Best and Most Important beach trip of her entire life because fate is a cruel and jealous bitch who doesn’t want Harry to go on a date with the girl of her dreams.

or, Harry is sick and Louis comes to visit her.

Words: 9464, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Palms Reflecting in Your Eyes

by objectlesson

Harry visits Louis at his campus and finds a crop on the wall.

Words: 6496, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Wrap You Up in Daisy Chains

by objectlesson

Ten minutes later, an awkward, long-legged, curly-haired, so pale she’s reflective, and so obviously gay-looking Harry Styles is sitting shotgun next to Louis in a bikini, denim cut-offs, and heart-framed sunnies.

Or, Harry and Louis and a too-small bathing suit.

Words: 10613, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

To Keep the Night From Ending

by objectlesson

It doesn’t always feel real to kiss in the dark, Harry guesses. He wants it to feel real. He wants it to be the realest thing, burnt indelibly into his skin.

Or, Harry and Louis take a night swim.

Words: 5036, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Good Enough to Eat

by objectlesson

“Fuck,” Harry mumbles, shuffling. “You won’t give me shit for it? It’s sorta weird.”

“No,” Louis breathes. “Promise.”

“Okay. I just…fuck, I can’t believe I’m telling you this,” Harry whimpers, and he must be blushing because Louis can feel waves of heat coming off him, his embarrassment a hot, palpable thing. “So, like…I love rimming videos. Nothing makes me come harder,” he admits, covering his face with his hands so his voice comes out muffled and strangled.

It takes Louis a few seconds to process, to mentally rifle through his Pornhub search history and remember what rimming even is; Harry has him so stupid he can’t keep stuff straight. His ears ring, and then it hits him, and, oh, fuck. His stomach turns and tightens so quickly he’s gasping, an audible and shameful scrape of air in the dark. “You…really?” he chokes out.

Or, Harry is convinced he’s never gonna be able to try his favorite porn fantasy on a real boy, and Louis offers to remedy this.

Words: 6722, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Grenadine Sunshine

by objectlesson

Harry’s only sixteen, it shows right now, and Louis wants…he wants so many things. He wants to taste the faint, sugary ghost of lip gloss, he wants to cup Harry’s face between his palms and swipe the shimmery wet shadows from beneath his eyes. He wants to show him everything he knows, even though he doesn’t know anything about this, about kissing boys or flirting with them or doing their makeup or even showing them it’s okay to want to wear makeup in the first place. Still, Louis just wants, wants and wants and wants. It’s what Harry does to him.

Words: 18067, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Only Angel

by objectlesson

Louis pops his hip out, looking down at Harry from beneath the cut of his fringe sassily. “How do I look?”

Harry…Harry doesn’t have words, not really. He sits there on the floor with a half-hard cock, gazing up at this taller, scarier version of Louis with wide eyes. “Like I want you to spin-kick me in the face,” he admits after a moment, shakily inhaling. “You look…really good.”

Or, Louis finds a pair of heels that fit, and Harry wants to be ruined, as per usual.

Words: 6599, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Someone Who Knows How To Ride

by objectlesson

Harry gives Louis a lap dance. Or, at least, he tries to.

Words: 5114, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Copper Kiss

by objectlesson

Harry’s not allowed to fly back to the UK without marks to remember Louis by.

Words: 4604, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

You Drive Me Crazy ( I Just Can’t Sleep)

by objectlesson

The first time Louis ends up in Harry’s bed is a total accident.

Words: 18520, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Christmas Without You

by objectlesson

It’s Christmas Eve and Harry misses Louis so badly he might be going little crazy.

Words: 5639, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Vinyl and Lace

by objectlesson

Harry tries on a skirt in the X Factor dressing room as a joke. Louis doesn’t think it’s very funny.

Words: 7541, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Touch of My Hand

by objectlesson

Words: 3104, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: One Direction (Band)

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: M/M

Relationships: Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Additional Tags: Tour Bus Sex, Bus Sex, PWP, Up All Night Tour, Uan era, Canon Compliant, baby boyfriends in love, Masturbation, Mutual Masturbation, Established Relationship

Born to Make You Happy

by objectlesson

Harry makes a quiet vow to himself that he will be the very best girlfriend Louis has ever had, even if he never actually gets to be Louis’s girlfriend.

Words: 25662, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Taste of a Poison Paradise

by objectlesson

Louis notices Harry’s mouth right away.

Words: 9894, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

A Little Love (is better than none)

by objectlesson

It’s supposed to be no strings attached sex, but Harry’s in love with beauty and tragedy and Louis Tomlinson so there might actually a few strings they’re not talking about.

Or, alternately, the four times they fuck and don’t kiss, and one time they fuck and do (with a few more times thrown in because I’m a mess and know how to write short fics).

Words: 15074, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

*Take Me Under the Blue

by objectlesson

Louis hasn’t even seen his legs yet. He doesn’t know how they work or how long they’ll be. Maybe they won’t suit the rest of Harry at all, and he’ll have to grow into them or something. It doesn’t matter; Louis has loved Harry for a year with scales, so he can’t imagine wonky legs putting a damper on his attraction.

He supposes he’ll just have to find out. In the meantime, he wonders how the fuck he got here, in his squelching wellies about to save the love of his life from the sea and take him to bed and bang him for the very first time.

It’s sort of a long story.

Words: 19011, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

#deleted fics #objectlesson #horsegirlharry #larry fics #larry stylinson #larry fic rec

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hellenhighheels · 4 years ago

Note

Hey! I was wondering where and how you get your professional clothes? Sorry I know this is off the wall but like. I own some nicer stuff (a blazer, some nice pants etc) but I always feel like I’m sort of missing the mark on how to “dress nicely” for like an interview or a job or smth. It’s probably all in my head but I just feel!! Ridiculous!! And a little like I’m playing dress up. So if you have any advice on like, wardrobe staples or how to get over that feeling I would love to hear it!!

I thrift SO MUCH.

The only thing I don’t thrift is suits, because suits need to be fabric-matching tops and bottoms to be a Proper Suit, and that’s...really hard to find. Also shoes, because most shoes are pretty worn out by the time they hit a thrift store. But shirts, pants, dresses, blazers...all thrifted.

So! If you’re trying to dress for a job interview, you’re going to dress pretty much the same way every time, in a work outfit that’s not going to offend anyone’s style sense. Trying to show off your fashion savvy is not usually wise in an interview setting unless you’re really feeling confident. It’s an interview, not a runway. You want to dress like a stock photo.

You want a pair of neutral-color (black, grey, navy, khaki) pants that fit you well. That means no muffin-top, and they reach to your ankle bone and/or have one crease before they hit the top of your shoes. A skirt is also okay--look for either an a-line (fitted at the waist and then loose around the knees, with a straight hem all the way around) or a pencil skirt. A-lines are comfier, pencil skirts are more business-y. Your skirt should be at or only slightly above knee-length. If you pick a patterned skirt, pick a plain shirt.

Pick a blazer or jacket in another neutral color--not the same as your pants/skirt, if you’re thrifting, because you won’t get a perfect color match and that looks sloppy. If they’re coordinating neutrals, that looks intentional. So khaki pants+navy blazer is fine, but a grey pants+different grey blazer is not.

You should probably do some research on how to tell if a blazer fits you properly, but in brief: if it’s straining at the buttons or shoulders, it’s too small; if it’s creasing around the neck/shoulder it’s too big. Make sure the stitches holding the vents shut have been removed.

As a fun fact, women’s business wear actually often has pockets--they’re just sewn shut to hold the shape on the rack. If the seam closing a pocket has a finger-sized hole at one end and you’re not just poking through the lining of the suit, then hey! free pocket! You should be able to open that up.

The shirt is where you can show the most personality. Make sure it’s not too tight (buttons straining is bad, if there are buttons). Pattern is fine--depending on what kind of job environment, pattern may even be a good way to show you have the right sense of humor/attitude for the job--but don’t go too crazy. Avoid really bright, high-contrast stuff. Earth tones and neutrals are your friend. Solids are also fine!

Shoes should be closed-toe. Black, brown, and navy are fine; nude colors are also okay. Be careful with colors in shoes in job interviews, unless you know the message you want to send and are okay with it. You don’t have to wear heels if you’re not comfortable in them--the way uncomfortable shoes screw up your body language is not worth it. Your shoes, more than anything else, are going to set the tone for the level of “businesswear” you’re going for. Simple, classic dress shoes are always a great thing to have. If you’re only going to buy one pair, do brown or black. Black goes with black, grey, and khaki; brown goes with navy, khaki, or maybe grey.

Dresses are great, if that’s something you’re comfortable in. I can almost ALWAYS find a suit-dress in a thrift store in my size for under ten dollars. Make sure it’s not too tight, and that it’s long enough, then just grab an coordinating neutral blazer to go with.

Mostly the fit of the clothes is going to be what makes the difference on whether you look like you’re dressing up. If you’re female, be sure your outfit is modest--think visiting grandma job interviewers often conflate immodest clothing and low intelligence. Mostly in a job interview your best bet its to dress in a way that isn’t too attention grabbing--you’re just showing you know how to look professional; your actual answers to questions should say the rest.

#if you want more specific clothing tips let me know #this is not how I dress day to day but the way you dress for a job interview is sort of a different thing #and varies a lot depending on job #Anonymous

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vampiresuns · 4 years ago

Text

The Stories Of Dead Kings | Prologue, Part 3

✴︎ THE STORIES OF DEAD KINGS ✴︎

4.5k words. In which the Palace continues to bring out things long ago buried within Anatole, the investigation commences and he makes an unlikely friend. CWs: Memory loss, death penalty.

You can read the rest of Anatole’s apprentice timeline series here.

Antu did not like the white dogs. A shame, because Anatole loved that breed — he had only seen pictures of it, drawings in books and a couple of paintings, but he thought it was a fantastic one all the same. They looked so funky and given his preference for raccoons, it was no surprise he favoured fuzzy, slightly funny looking but beautiful animals. He’d pet them later.

Antu liked the voice that called to Anatole even less. While he didn’t like it either, Antu reacted with a viciousness Anatole had never seen before.

Stay back! You’re not wanted! He threatened, his voice echoing in Anatole’s mind as he bared his teeth at the open air.

No! We don’t like it in there! You can’t make us go!

With the dogs pulling him through his clothes upstairs, he had to hold onto Antu for dear life, fearing his familiar would launch himself at the dogs. It made him a blur of hands, fur and hair.

“Ouch, Antupillán, don’t scratch me!”

As soon as they’re in the dark hallway, the dogs vanished, but Antu did not seem any more calm. Still in Anatole’s arms but ready to jump if needed, he was still growling at nothing and every time Anatole tried to make an advance, trying to walk down the hall to explore the room by the end of it, Antu tried to bite his hands.

“Fine, fine, fine, Antupillán, you win.”

When the ghostly voice purred behind them, Antu climbed over his shoulder before Antole could stop him. Of course his raccoon threw himself at an apparition, because demanding fair trials out of the Countess of Vesuvia wasn’t excitement enough for the furball he had for a familiar.

✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎

Anatole tried very hard not to growl at Portia when she brought him breakfast, but the Palace kept hours that were too early, even for him, who had become a relatively early riser out of habit — waking up at dawn was too much, what had happened to seven AM? At least she had come with coffee, coffee he chugged while he listened carefully at her.

He had no clue about how to feel about the clothes, though the shirt was a dream come true. Cross-tied and with a V neck opening, big bishop sleeves, and matching, deep emerald green pants and a sleeveless long coat. The coat had a gold embroidered trim, and it reached his ankles, It would flutter deliciously as he walked down the hallways, the clack of the black boots with a golden plate shoe tip against the marbled floors.

Everything was miraculously his size; he didn’t still comprehend nor trust the Countess’ motives for giving him clothes, especially when he had brought his own. Anatole might not have a personal tailor, but he was very dedicated and careful about his clothing. He always strived to be well dressed, so what was the reason for it? Ease him after his opinions last-night? That felt too much like trying to buy him into the Countess' good side. However, while it was true he didn’t know how to feel about her, he felt it was unfair to automatically assume the worst. This required further analysis.

Portia left his room and he looked at the clothes with a sigh. He examined for a minute longer as he ate another pastry. He looked at Antu, who was still pretending to be an angel after jumping from his arms to fight a ghost out of all things.

He was eating some grapes.

It’s pretty.

“We don’t accept gifts from people we don’t trust.”

Who’s we?

“Oh, is that how it is?”

You have never been very good at lying to yourself.

“And you’re awfully insightful this morning, huh?”

Antupillán continued eating his grapes, this time in silence. He had a point, Anatole supposed. It was a gorgeous outfit but he hadn’t been lying to himself when he said he didn’t accept gifts from people he didn’t trust, and after last night, he wasn’t sure he was on the best terms with the Countess, even if she did seem civil enough afterwards. He couldn’t wear this, even if he really, really wanted to. It would be wrong, it would betray his principles, it would—

It would have to do because when he turned to check where he had left his clothes, he realised the Palace’s staff had taken all of them to laundry them. When Portia had mentioned that, he had assumed they’d only take the clothes he was wearing last night.

“Fuckers.”

He hated people rummaging through his stuff. He was very, very close to deciding to throw all caution and professionalism to the winds and be contrarian as could be. It was a bad idea, but there was a part inside himself which had been kept dormant for the most part. That part made him want to remind people he wasn’t trapped somewhere with them, they were trapped somewhere with him.

Perhaps another time.

✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎

The Palace’s library was one of the most gorgeous places he had ever set a foot in. From its doors to its high shelves, with the high windows with stained glass and the plants, Anatole wished he had the entire day to get lost in it, explore every section, even the ones he wasn’t interested in. He wanted to ask why was the library locked up under so many keys, but he didn’t know if he’d get an answer, or if Portia knew, or if the Countess would be up to more of his really incisive questions about things she would deem out of Anatole’s range of incumbency.

If you asked him, Libraries should be public.

Despite how they left things last night, the Countess seemed to be in a great mood, complimenting his looks and treating him amiably. Anatole detected no deception nor flattery in her words; it threw him off for reasons he didn’t have the time to decode right now. Perhaps he had become too used to people shading half a light on things for reasons bigger than Anatole himself, perhaps the reason was another. It’d have to wait to be pried into.

“You told me you read.”

“Constantly, as long as my brain lets me.”

Silence fell between them. Well, this was starting to get awkward.

“Thank you,” the Countess said.

“What for?”

“You are very genuine,” she said. Anatole didn’t know what to do with that. Taking his silence as encouragement, the Countess continued. “Reading is a wonderful gift, shared by all citizens where I come from, but it’s woefully uncommon here.”

He hummed, squinting back at the Countess. He took a sharp breath as he made himself count to ten. He had felt the same need to speak without knowing what he would say as before, but this time he could anticipate it would be something angry. He didn’t need to know where these things were coming from to know he was about to ask the Countess whose fault was that, and then he’d be really, really done for.

He kept his mouth shut this time — Antu biting him softly (but strongly enough to make him hiss) helped. Time and place. He was better than this, he was taught better than this.

Wait, what? Taught what? By whom?

“Concentrate, for fuck’s sake,” he muttered between his teeth.

“Did you say something?”

“That this is truly a wonderful collection.”

“Anatole… you are my guest, if you wish to return here, you need only ask. But for the moment I would have your undivided attention here.”

There was something deeply intimate about prying into someone organisational systems. How they cluttered, why they cluttered, the organisation methods employed, the thought process behind it and what you could infer of it by looking. The way documents were studied and how and where notes were taken. In that sense, Dr. Devorak’s desk teemed with information.

It might have felt like prying a little too deep into him, but Anatole thought it was a fair exchange after he broke into his house. An eye for an eye wasn’t the best justice system, but hey, a little pettiness couldn’t hurt, besides, investigating the murder was his job now.

His musings were tampered by the mention of Asra working for the palace during the Red Plague. He didn’t remember living through it, though he had always assumed he must’ve been present for it, given their earliest memory was of a post-plague Vesuvia. It had ravaged everything. Plagues were like wars, they seldom discriminated. Not that Anatole knew of war beyond books. If that wasn’t the case this was, once again, nor the time or place to second-guess himself.

Do you know what an explosion sounds like, Asra?

After promising the Countess he would meet her for dinner, he set himself to work. Anatole loved few things more than a good puzzle without a solution, and once he grew determined he did nothing half-ways.

Lacing his fingers together, he stretched them, a waft of satisfaction dawning over him as his joints cracked.

“Let’s figure you out, Julian ‘Magic Cards’, hm?”

He didn’t expect his search to lead him back into the city, but with Antu in tow he’s determined to follow the trace his magic had cast into its streets. Vesuvia was a wild thing, a glimmering thing in the lowlights of dusk making Anatole wonder why hadn’t he insisted in seeing more of it, wondering how much memories of it could he be missing. What used to be his favourite spots? His favourite streets? His favourite garden?

He wasn’t one to dwell in the past, living in the past was no way of living, but that didn’t mean the past didn’t matter. He just wanted to be able to reclaim it, to say ‘this is mine, this took me where I am today, this made me myself, just like who I am today will make me the myself of tomorrow’. He looked at the past not with wistfulness but searching for an explanation.

The area he found himself in was crowded, urbanistically speaking, shabby, probably in need of repair, and while he didn’t stop chasing that trace something in his heart (and his temple) pulsed. Something unknown and caged, something which begged to be let out, something he couldn’t make out what it was. He hated not knowing, he was getting tired of getting all these feelings, these knowledge, these looks and these visions without any sort of explanation. This time he didn’t file it away for later, and yet whatever he felt, eluded him.

The word he was looking for and failed to find was Love. A word which would continue to escape him for a little longer, as Julian Devorak himself manifested out of an open door. Finally, he thought, throwing hypothesis and chasing them was starting to give him results.

Falling into a barrel and stepping on Antu’s tail were unforeseen outcomes. So was falling face first into Julian’s chest after he helped him out of the barrel, both of them looking at each other like deers startled by light.

After Julian let him go, he held Antu, petting him as a way to apologise for stepping on him by accident.

“I have a name, you know? Shopkeep isn’t it,” he said as he looked at the Rowdy Raven’s sign.

“Dare I ask what brings you to this neck of the woods, Not-Named-Shopkeep?”

Anatole caught himself smiling, but as he tried and failed to find a way to explain what had happened the smile faded from his face. Words eluded him and he had to admit he was very grateful for Julian taking it in stride. Because how could he explain any of this without giving away his new-found position? Or at all? He couldn’t find it in him to articulate such a thing — not to mention the glint in Julian’s eye as he turned to him was much more exciting.

It tied neatly to the trace of Anatole’s magic, like a master key he had been desperately looking for.

“Rumour has it you’re working for the Palace,” Julian sneered. “What happened to not being a snitch? I’m sure— well, by now— you’ve heard some interesting stories about me.”

“As interesting as you’re prone to not explaining yourself, though both of those might be gross understatements. And I take great offence in you thinking I’m a snitch. Don’t you think that had I told anyone you’d already be found?”

“I’m very slippery and you don’t know where to find me.”

“I found you now.”

“By accident I’m sure, not to say you aren’t talented and magnificent and all those things the rumours say… but you haven’t heard my side of the story.”

“Julian?”

“Yes?”

“Stop assuming the first thing about me and how I do things, will you, sweetheart?”

Julian’s cheeks went as red as his hair. Anatole let out a pained whine. Wherever that had come from, Anatole didn’t want to know and he expected it to not come forward again. He apologised; Julian, having composed himself, thought teasing him was a good idea but Anatole levelled a look at him that convinced him otherwise.

He sighed. Julian was right: he’d only heard things from the Palace and muddled rumours. A wanted poster was a statement of capture, not an absolute truth and it was obvious to him there was some sort of power imbalance playing against the doctor. So when Julian said he could get him a drink, to get the story and to pay him what he owes him from the reading, Anatole found it difficult to say no.

“I don’t usually accept trading payments unless previously discussed, or the party is in need, but you know what? I think I’m willing to do an exception for you.”

“Oh, please, you work for the Palace now, I think you’re set on the money.”

“You know, I haven’t discussed fees and wages with the Countess, do you think we’d be cell mates if I did?”

Julian laughed. One drink couldn’t hurt, right?

✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎

The flurry that erupted after the caw of the Raven would be etched into Anatole’s mind forever, becoming part of his daydreams unsanctioned. It was the kind of chaos which brought the familiar thump of an inconclusive memory. The Doctor might not have told him his part of the story, Anatole was well aware, but he did give him some insight into his circles and his person. Not anyone who was wanted by the Palace would shield the Palace’s investigator in the shadows so they didn’t get in trouble for hanging out with said wanted person.

As he vanished after an awkward and unfinished thank-you-for-not-being-a-snitch, Anatole turned to make his way back to the Palace, only to be met with Ludovico, who introduced himself and tried not to stare at him while he hailed a carriage for Anatole.

Anatole paid no mind to the staring. Whether it’s leftover staring from the day before, or staring driven by having found him in such an odd quarter of the City, he chose to ignore it. His apology for summoning a carriage for him despite him being the one who said it was a bad idea to leave the Countess waiting, was another thing altogether.

It was true Anatole didn’t particularly enjoy carriage rides, but why would a Palace guard would know such a thing? Did it have to do with how he felt yesterday when crossing the gates? As he stepped into the carriage he tried not to think about it, afraid he’d overthink his way into a migraine.

Relieved as he realised he was in time for dinner, Anatole took in the exquisite smells of what is definitely too much food. He was too hungry to think about the quantity for now, perhaps he could inquire about it after he ate something.

His appetite seemed to hold itself back at the mention of the Courtiers, almost evaporating altogether. He still forced himself to eat, he needed it after such a day in the City, while he listened with rapt attention to the Countess' words. He dabbed his mouth with a napkin before taking a drink from his cup, doing the same afterwards. That he didn’t have any issue distinguishing the cutlery from one another somehow didn’t call to his attention like his next words did.

“I know, and I promise you I’ll be careful.”

“You already know my Courtiers?”

“Oh no, no such thing it’s just—”

“One can never second-guess one’s intuition, is it not right Anatole?”

For the first time in two days, when he smiled at the Countess it was genuine. “Exactly.”

Just like he knew the painting, the gardens, that other version of himself walking through them and his opinions on subjects which required more education than the one he thought he had, he somehow knew the Court — being equal times prepared to brace himself for meeting it, and unprepared for whatever he may find.

He knew deep inside he could trust the Countess to have his back on that, however. It’s the way the word ‘Courtiers’ felt from her mouth: she didn’t trust them.

The mention of Julian’s hanging brought him back from wherever place of commodity his mind had gone into. The faraway look in the Countess’ eyes almost eluded him. Almost.

“Countess…”

“I am thinking about what you said last night, Anatole, but I expect you to understand I must seek to tend to my people’s needs.”

“And you think they need executions?”

“I think they need to see justice done.”

While restricted and mild, Anatole couldn’t help to look at her with some semblance of disappointment, his unspoken question dancing between them.: And is this justice? Is justice confession and punishment?

She truly must’ve given it a thought to not react with the same impetu as last night. Instead she changed the topic with a weary sigh, claiming such were tomorrow’s matters and stating having questions for him — not of his day, like Anatole had feared, but of himself. Being surprised at the change of disposition the Countess had shown today didn’t cover it. Bewilderment might.

At the mention of friendship, bewilderment fell short too. Sensing his apprehension, she smiled at him invitingly, jovially, exposing her hands to him in a gesture of trust.

“I am afraid I do not have many friends, nor know enough people who fear not my position in order for them to tell me what their true opinions are.”

Anatole sighed. “Countess, I do not wish to antagonise you when I say those things, I find it hard to help it, that is all. I’d like to think if I was in such a position the responsibility was so heavy I needed council, I would wish it was sincere. It’s not up to us how history remembers us but that doesn’t mean we have no choice in the matter. I believe our choices make us who we are, whichever those choices might be.”

“You are awfully impertinent,” the Countess said with a playful tone, “which must surely give you an advantage at life.”

Anatole laughed with his mouth open, his head thrown back. “No, but it does give me a strong personality. Tell me Countess, what do you wish to know about me?”

✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎

Out of all the things he found about the Countess, perhaps finding out she too understood the feeling of homesickness for a place you could no longer return to — because one couldn’t or one didn’t wish to — was the least expected out of them all. Anatole knew he had been born in Bgraz, Balkovia, but that’s all he remembered of his hometown. He didn’t even remember how he had ended up in Vesuvia, though the more he thought about it, the more he suspected he had some kind of relation to the City beyond his deceased Aunt having a shop there.

He didn’t tell the Countess as much, not even sure of how to word it aloud but it was refreshing to find someone with whom he could talk about these things.

The night was welcoming and cool. The stars were visible in the inky night sky, making Anatole wonder how they would look in Balkovia, that unknown homeland he couldn’t remember. The Countess’ words about Anatole not being quite like she had imagined him, or the intrigue she felt towards him pulled him away from his thoughts.

Anatole wondered if she, like Julian, was also a victim of the rumour mill. Word in town was she was a tyrant, yet she didn’t seem malicious — malice was something Anatole’s language filter picked up with incredible ease and it left a feeling in him hard to ignore. It didn’t just make him immediately stand on edge, it also felt like tarr on one’s skin. Hot, icky and venomous. The Countess felt lost, not malicious. Someone with good intentions and not enough turn out, as he had previously felt.

“Tell me, Anatole… Why did you come to the Palace? Why did you agree to help me?”

“I believe I said it was a matter of justice, last night.”

“You did, but when I asked you to come, you didn’t know what for.”

She got him there. The offer of trust from the Countess would not last if he wasn’t honest with her — perhaps if he was, he would be able to convince her to reconsider the way in which the Devorak affair was being conducted.

The answer was obvious, wasn’t it?

“Because it felt right. I knew that whichever answers I’ve been seeking, I would find them here.” Anatole existed in the liminal space between his heart and his head. They were extensions of one another. Living a full life required both.

When the Countess asked him if he had any questions for her, reassuring him he could speak freely, Anatole already knew what to ask and in his defence, the Countess shouldn’t have taken it as a vague question, because it wasn’t. The claim was just an excuse to elude the topic; the stage they were in, of whatever it was she, him and whatever else bigger than them had sent in motion was looking at them in the eye and avoidance would help exactly no one.

“You know I mean the murder investigation. The Count has been dead for years, so why now?”

“Ah, that is a right question to ask. Vesuvia is in dire need of help. Order needs to be restored… and I am in the unique position to restore it. However, I intend to lead by example, not fear. I must show the city I am capable. I have so many plans for Vesuvia. I was to see this city flourish… Perhaps you’ll be able to help me with those plans, Anatole. I could use more competent people on my side...”

Her loneliness was heavy, almost too heavy, the feeling pouring into her speech and threatening to cover Anatole under a heavy blanket, merge with his own unattended loneliness and trap him in place forever. Seen and unseen, craving connection and something more he couldn’t name nor grab, no matter how hard he tried to.

“It’s funny,” Anatole said, a knot in his throat. “I did not expect you to be as lonely as I am. I never allow myself to admit it out loud, let alone in front of someone else. Yet here I am.”

“You already know I won’t do things whatever way. I want to find justice, and I do not believe justice lies in a hanging. You are right, your position is unique, but it’s also risky,” Anatole paused to take the Countess hands in his. His next words came from the same unknown place as they did all those times he felt compelled to speak, though they were much kinder this time: “When we know something is not right, we do not settle. People like us, whatever that means, were not thrusted into the world to settle. Power wielded without reason, without justice, without kindness, without knowing the subject you must serve will always lack. I will not tell you what to do, you are capable enough, Countess, to figure that out on your own, but I will tell you this, as a friend: truth is the only thing worthy to be built on, and when we find that truth we plant ourselves in front of whomever dares us to move and we say they move. The truth can’t lead you astray, as unpalatable or hard to accept as it might sometimes be.”

Out of all the things he expects the Countess to tell him that he’s sweet is not one of them. He’ll take it.

✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎

Just between you and me… I think Count Lucio had a lot of enemies, too. Alone in his bedroom, having returned from exploring and chatting around with her, Portia’s words swirled around him, letters formed by a light orange haze, forming and evaporating in front of his eyes. Portia’s words came from rumours but they were enough to cast reasonable doubt about what might have transpired that night. It was kind of her to look after Anatole, so the least he could do was to take her words to heart.

Originated in rumours or not, Portia was right.

Going out with her was as strange as it was enlightening. He was sure the Chef, Hestion, had said something to Portia along the lines of how he expected Anatole to remember his way around the kitchen, only he had called him ‘Secretary Radošević’. Perhaps it had something to do with the investigation, but it made Anatole feel odd.

The servants in the Veranda had been very welcoming, but almost too welcoming and he was sure he had caught a couple of them speaking about him —not as if this was his first time in the Palace, but as if this was him returning to it. Speaking of returning, someone had congratulated him for becoming the main investigator for the case and how it was nice to have him back. Ignoring the way his vision splotched as best as he could, Anatole had only thanked them and turned back to Portia feeling lost and ill.

Normally, Anatole paid no mind to out of place comments. If someone demanded something of him he couldn’t remember, he tried to remove himself from the situation as fast as possible, but these felt different, the words staying with him even though his and Portia’s nightly adventures had finished.

What weighed him down the most, though, was the Countess wanting him to join them for the announcement tomorrow. It made sense, but he had a terrible feeling about it.

Antupillán was nowhere to be found. Anatole hoped that he had a good reason to be missing at a time like this.

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thiswasinevitableid · 4 years ago

Note

94 for sternclay for the winter prompts??? Especially if trans stern because I love that for him:’) either nsfw or sfw, hope you have a wonderful day!!!!! Your writing is a gift

Thank you so much! I went with NSFW, and Stern is indeed trans.

94. you overhear my ex mocking me for being single at a holiday party and introduce yourself as my SO with a kiss on the cheek but we’ve never spoken before

The things he does to pay for culinary school.

It’s not the catering gig that’s bothering him; he takes pride in making food at conferences and office parties better than expected. It’s the fucking red, white, and green uniforms they’re making them wear for this one. It’s hot, itchy, and he really would prefer to wear the winter sweater Thacker gave him last year. It’s rustic but festive. It’s also sitting in his car, because no one told him about these uniforms until he got here.

You can’t spring a surprise uniform on a guy who’s 6’4 and 190 pounds. The vest digs into his stomach, the jacket is too tight, and the pants don’t cover his ankles.

It’s too bad, this party is pretty fun to work. It’s for a big-name publisher looking to seem hip, so the band is good and the decorations don’t look like the Macy’s Parade puked all over the room.

The meals aren’t sit down, more a five hour cocktail party with canapes on trays and a spread of food at the back. Barclay sets out a new plate of crostini, wondering if they have enough fruit for the evening, when someone taps his shoulder.

“How can I help-”

“I need a refill.” James, his ex, smirks at him.

“Not the bartender.” Barclay picks up the empty tray.

“So?”

“I stopped being the guy to refill your drinks when you dumped me. Go ask whatever poor sap you dragged to this to do it for you.”

“Poor sap? Barclay, you sound like one of those boring mysteries you always read.”

“I’m trying not to swear, I’m at work.”

“Too bad you left me-”

“You broke up with me”

“-You could be enjoying the party instead of serving lukewarm food in a ridiculous outfit. Then again, looking like a clown suits you.”

“Man, c’mon.” Barclay can’t get into it here, James is absolutely the kind of guy who will use it to get him fired.

“Not surprised you haven’t found someone who wants to put up with your whole puppy-dog routine. What good is all that bulk if you’re just a pus-”

“There you are.” An arm snakes around Barclays waist and he freezes. James stands up straight, plastering on a smile.

“I wish I’d know ahead of time this is where you were working tonight. It feels wrong to be out mingling when you’re stuck back here. Oh well, next year.” A soft kiss lands on his cheek and in his surprise he turns to look at it’s source.

The man is almost his height, trimmer and dressed in a black suit with a blue and silver tie. He’s blue eyed, with jet black hair slicked back and a face that puts every movie star Barclay can name to shame.

Barclay has no fucking clue who he is, or if he’s mistaking Barclay for someone else. He doesn’t seem drunk enough for that.

“Mr. Stern, it’s an honor to meet you, I, uh, this-”

“This must be the ex you told me about, right, big guy?” Mr. Stern sets a protective hand at the small of his back.

“Uh, yeah. Babe, this is James.”

“So, where at Penguin do you work?”

“I, um, oh, look, someone is calling me. Bye, Barclay, nice seeing you again.”

The hand doesn't leave his back until James is out of sight.

“I’m sorry. He was harassing you and that seemed like the fastest way to make him stop.” Mr. Stern is still standing proud, but his voice is now softer, almost shy.

“That’s, uh, that’s totally fine. I really appreciate the help. Kinda surprise you saw flirting as more appealing than, like, pretending to be my boss or something.”

“He’d know I wasn’t, trust me. And don’t sell yourself short, Barclay.” Blue eyes lock onto him and scan all the way to his feet, “even a bad fitting uniform can’t hide what you have you offer.”

“Th-thanks.” He’s either going to hide behind the serving tray or ask this guy to take him home and he’s not sure which will reinforce Jame’s “puppy dog” taunt more.

The other man, sensing his discomfort, steps back, “Sorry, that was inappropriate. I know better than to flirt with someone who’s at work and can’t escape. I shouldn’t keep you from doing what you need to do.”

“I get off at nine.” He thwacks the tray over his mouth, “ow. Uh, and I don’t mind talking to you. If you want to. I, uh, I don’t want you to feel like you have to spend this whole party chatting with the help instead of having fun.”

A sigh, “I should go mingle. It’s really okay if I come back?”

“Yeah.” Barclay smiles. There’s no way this guy is coming back; if he’s here single, he’ll have a date in the next five minutes.

Fifteen minutes later, he’s standing a respectful distance away and asking Barclay how this compares to other parties he’s worked.

“Middle-ground. It’s not the one time I got to work my friends art gallery opening, and it’s not the wedding where someone tried to deck the bride with the chocolate fountain.”

“Oh my lord.”

“I was in the line of fire and was washing chocolate out of my beard for an hour.”

“No one at home to do it for you?” It’s not subtle, and nor is the glance he gets over the rim of a cocktail glass.

“Some things I’d rather not ask Mama’s help on.”

“You still live with family?” There’s no judgement in that smooth voice, just genuine curiosity.

“Oh, no, Mama’s my...I mean she’s technically my boss but she’s also my friend, almost like an older sister. I live above where I work because she owns the whole building and takes in staff rent-free when she can. It’s nice working at her place, since I can cut my hours doing this.” He gestures to the nearby table of season fare, “which does mean I missed the attempted kabob-maiming last week. Relatedly, I’m happy this isn’t an all you can drink party.”

“You and me both. Two years ago Dean Koontz threw a punch. I think it was--oh, um, excuse me, work calls.”

This time, Barclay allows himself a moment of ogling as Stern walks away.

They pick up where they left off when the other man comes back, leading Barclay to mention he’s a cook at Amnesty Lodge .

“Wait, really? I love the Lodge, the food there is incredible.”

Barclay’s skin matches his terrible red pants, “Thanks. The head chef has been letting me do more of the menu and I’m really proud of it.”

“You should be. It’s perfect, although it’s a pity you being in the kitchen means I haven’t seen you sooner.”

He tries to say thank you again, but it comes out a garbled squeak

“Was that too far?”

“Nope. Uh, it’s uh, just that I’m out of practice flirting or, like, getting compliments. They were pretty thin on the ground in my last relationship.”

“I see.” He’s learning to watch Stern’s eyes rather than the rest of his face, which hardly ever changes from it’s calm, professional set. Said eyes drip with disapproval.

Old habits of defending people--even ones who are dicks to him--kicks in, “I mean, he kind of has a point. No one wants to date a six foot puppy. Guys like me are supposed to be all in-charge and shit like that.”

Stern raises an eyebrow, “maybe you’re looking in the wrong places.”

“Got any ideas on where I, uh, should be looking?” He takes a half-step towards Stern, standing up straighter. Stern doesn’t move an inch, but gives him a proud smirk. The pride is directed at Barclay.

“Lots. And I’ll share them as soon as you’re off the clock.”

“Don’t I even get a hint?” Another step.

“No, Barclay, you don’t. You’ll just have to show me you can be patient.” His tone changes, laced with the promise of a hidden prize that Barclay will do anything to earn.

He just manages to whisper out “okay” as Stern is called away again. When he comes back, Barclay setting out clean plates and more silverware. They talk about restaurants, about Barclay’s friends and all the ways he tries to help them. Barclay endeavors to not go into full begging mode in public by looking at Sterns wrists rather than literally anywhere else on his body.

“What are those things in your cufflinks?”

“The Hodag. It’s a cryptid from Northern Wisconsin, and a really excellent example of completely fabricated cryptid that nevertheless goes on to have a life of it’s own. It’s very common in small towns, since if it goes well it acts a tourist draw. In fact, there’s some indication that even the Loch Ness Monster began as just such a hoax and-” He snaps his mouth shut, clears his throat, “sorry, I try not to talk shop at these things. It, um, tends to get on people’s nerves.”

“But I wanted to hear the rest. I mean, I have a high info-dumping tolerance because of one of my friends, but also you clearly know your stuff and I have no clue about any of it so please keep talking?”

Stern’s face is full of excitement, and he grows more animated as he talks. It’s the cutest goddamn thing Barclay’s ever seen, and he saw Dr. Harris Bonkers, his friend’s rabbit, as a baby bunny in a bow-tie.

He clocks out two minutes after nine, and Stern is waiting for him near the doors to the staging room.

“Are those the only clothes you have with you?”

“No. I have nicer stuff in the car that I planned on wearing.”

“Go get it. Here, I’ll walk down with you so you won’t have trouble getting back in the building.”

After jogging to his car while Stern waits for him in the gold and silver tinseled lobby, the older man guides him to an elevator. He’s pretty sure Stern is older than him; he’s a big deal, but not in some sort of prodigy way, which means he needed some time to get so well-known.

They’re so busy coming up with Cryptid-themed ice cream flavors that Barclay doesn’t notice the floor number until they step out into a darkened hall.

If Stern brought him up here so they could have a quick fuck, he’ll jump for joy.

“My office is this way. I figure you might like changing not in front of your co-workers or in a bathroom.”

Damn it, why does he have to be considerate instead of horny?

The office Stern brings him to is modestly sized with a huge bank of windows on the one side, facing out over the city. From here he can see apartments, stores, restaurants, all lit up in festive colors, trees dotting the little boxes of light.

Stern locks the door, leans back against it, and nods at the clothes in Barclays arms, “Put them on.”

“Here?” He eyes the wide windows, the fact that the other man makes no move to leave or turn around.

“Yes.”

He manages, around the heart trying to hammer up his throat, “Are, uh, are you gonna watch?”

“Do you want me too?” There it is, the immediate softness in his voice, and Barclay understands that if he says no, he’ll have his privacy.

“Yeah. Yeah, I do.” He reaches for the vest, gets the first button and goes for the second in a hurry.

Stern raises his hand in a ‘pause’ gesture, “Slow down.”

“Yes, yes Mr. Stern.”

A gentle laugh, “Not quite, big guy. Were we anywhere else, I’d tell you to call me Joseph. But here..” he tucks his hands casually into his front pockets, “here you call me sir.”

“Fuck” Barclay battles himself to keep his pace slow, needing to be good but also so turned on he’s afraid he’ll start humping the furniture. He forces himself to wait a count of two between each button, gets his vest and shirt off without further instruction. Stern watches him the entire time in silent appreciation. His shoes and pants are more awkward to take off while standing, and he braces himself on the desk, not wanting to sit without permission.

Then he’s standing there in nothing but his black boxers and the lights of town, laughter floating from the party while Stern studies him like a menu.

“Fold every and set it on the chair.”

He follows orders, boggles at getting hard from someone telling him to fold laundry. Jesus, Stern hasn’t even touched him. Is he even planning to? Barclay can’t decide which option he likes better. He returns to his spot in front of the desk, hands folded in front of him.

“Should I, uh, get dressed, sir?”

Stern pushes off the door, walking casually over like a shopper regarding a display, “That depends; do you want to do back to the party with your cock hard enough to hammer nails?” He glances down, then back up with a pointed stare.

“N-not really.”

Stern raises an eyebrow.

“Not really, sir.”

“Then we’ll have to do something about it.”

“Are you sure we should do it here?”

“Barclay, if we get caught, I’ll be twice as mortified as you. I’m only doing this because we’ve got this whole floor to ourselves.” He cups Barclay’s cheek and the sighs, rubbing his face against a warm palm.

“Okay sir, I trust you.”

A moan curls up between them as Stern’s other hand runs along his chest.

“Good boy. You like to be good, don’t you, Barclay? You like taking care of people?”

“Yes, so much sir, please, lemme be good to you.”

Joseph strokes his face, “That’s very thoughtful, Barclay. But I think it’s been awhile since someone took care of you. Would you like me to do that?”

“Please, sir.” The response is pulled from him, one of the many parts of him aching magnetically to be near to Stern.

The other man shoves his right hand down Barclays boxers, sliding his thumb over the head once before stroking steadily up and down.

“Holy fuck” Stern gasps, “a guy could have a lot of fun with this thing.”

“It’s all yours, sir.”

Fuck, where did that come from?

Stern groans, tips his head to kiss across Barclays chest, murmuring as he does, “Is that what you want, Barclay? You want this” he speeds up until Barclay’s hands fly to the edge of the desk, keeping him from dropping to the floor, “to be mine?”

He whines, nodding.

Stern’s hand stops.

“Yessir”

It starts up again, “what else do you want, big guy?” He’s still kissing all over his upper body, tone nonchalant.

“You, sir, I wanna fuck you or, or you can fuUUUck me if you want, not very good at bottoming-”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Stern lightly pinches his nipple, “what else?”

“I want to blow you, and, and FUCK, I bet you’re a fucking great kisser and I want you to fucking boss me around as much as you want, wanna wear a collar, a blue one, ohfuck” Barclay scrapes his nails along the woodgrain, “fuck, sorry, that was weird-”

“No, say more” his grip tightens and to Barclay’s surprise he’s panting, “tell me everything you want, even it’s got nothing to do with sex.”

“I want, fuck, to be tied up and told how good I am, want to wear something stealth sexy out in public, want to fuck in a cabin” his mouth is fully ahead of his mind, which is concentrated entirely in his dick right now, “want to eat at every five star place in the city, want to drag you places by that fancy tie, have a new car, buy any cookbook I see, I want, oh fuckohfuck, sir, I wanna cum please, want to so bad.”

“You can cum whenever you like, big guy. But you have to kiss me while you d-”

He cuts Stern off with a kiss, clinging to his shoulders and pouring desperate, deep sounds down his throat. Stern kisses back with precision and a pleased moan when Barclay cums in his boxers.

Stern eases his hand out and Barclay flops against him, face buried in his neck as he rumbles out a thank you.

“D-do you want me to blow you, sir?”

Stern kisses below his ear, “Yes, but that’s not doable right now. Unlike you, I don't have a change of clothes, and something tells me you’re a, um,” he bites Barclays ear, “messy eater.”

“Only when I’m enjoying myself, sir.”

“You don’t have to keep calling me that, unless it helps you come down.”

“I’m okay, Joseph. Heh” he smiles, inhales a minty cologne, “I like that name. It’s classic.”

“Thanks, I picked it myself.”

Barclay chuckles, snuggles closer while ignoring the sticky underwear.

“You know, I can give you everything you want. If you want me to.”

“Some of those are really fucking expensive, babe.”

“You really have no clue who I am, do you?” Stern steps back, moving to the other side of the desk and pulling out a packet of wet-wipes, sliding one across to Barclay before cleaning his hands.

“A really cute guy who should let me take him to dinner?” Barclay pulls down his underwear to clean the cum from his stomach.

“Ever heard of Lucky Park?”

“No fucking way. I man, I know it’s a pen name, but there’s no fucking way, a guy who’s never off the NYT Bestseller list wouldn't fuck a nobody cook.”

“If the cook was hot and interesting to talk to he would. The kitchen skills help a little.” Stern winks

“But you wrote The Peregrine Quintent, and Red Dust, jesus christ your stuff has been movies.”

“Now you see why James was so startled; I’m Penguins golden goose. That’s why I even have time to write books on cryptids; they know to indulge me. Plus I put out at least a book every two years for them and it always makes a fortune. Do you need to sit down? You look kind of lightheaded.”

“I’m fine, uh, just trying to make sense of it all. Also I can’t sit down unless you want my bare ass on your chair.”

“Another time. I guess you’re going commando for the rest of the party, but I think you can handle it, big guy.”

“Yeah, absolutely.” He grabs his pants and pulls them on, “holy fuck, this can’t be real, it doesn’t make sense.”

“Barclay” Stern touches his arm, “it absolutely makes sense. I had so much fun talking with you, you’re such a, um, a sweetheart. And you’re built like a wet dream. If, um, if this is too much too soon, tell me to back off but I, I’m serious. I can’t remember the last time I got butterflies like this around someone, or wanted to buy things or do things just to make them smile. You clearly look after so many people in your life; will you let me look after you, at least for a little while?”

“You really want to?”

“Unlike some people, I like big men with a gentle center. You can be my six foot puppy any time. Wait, hold on, that, um, that came out weird.” Stern giggles and Barclay, now dressed, pulls him into a kiss.

“I get it, babe. You wanna go show me off?”

“Of course. I’ll get my camera ready; we have to record your exes reaction.” Stern kisses his cheek, “after all, maybe this will teach him to know a good man when he sees one.”

#agent stern/barclay #sternclay #author au #pre-sugar daddy au #winter fills #taz amnesty

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crazedlunatic · 4 years ago

Text

Paparazzi

“Kurt, you need to get on the internet right now.”

Kurt, who was staring at his computer screen and trying to come up with an idea to fix a dress he was working on, sighed and removed Alec from speaker phone. “What?”

“So, they’ve figured it out.”

“Who has figured out what?”

“Your fandom has figured out who Blaine is. His full name and they know you two are engaged.” Alec said. “Eric saw it on Facebook. It broke out on Tumblr apparently. Now that they’ve got his name, well… you know people with blogs and social media.”

“They know his name and that we’re engaged. They would have found out his name when we legally changed our names anyway.” Kurt tilted his head, staring at his screen.

“Someone posted where he works. Address and all.”

“Fuck.” Kurt hung up, calling Blaine.

“Kurt, what is going on? I mean I know I made my social media profiles public after Harvard but I have 3,000 friend requests on Facebook, 5,000 new followers on Instagram, and I’m even getting notifications for a Tumblr I had open when I was fifteen.” Blaine said as soon as he answered.

“I don’t know. Alec just called and told me; that’s why I’m calling. What do I need to do?”

“This picture is from, like, my twelfth birthday party. What in the actual hell?” Blaine sounded like he was half paying attention to Kurt. “Why would anyone let me have my hair that short? It’s disgusting.”

“Blaine, can you pay attention to me?” Kurt opened his internet browser, googling ‘Blaine Anderson Kurt Hummel.’ “Oh fuck.”

“I know, right? I mean I know there have been pictures of me with you floating around since you made it big but they’ve never known my full name and honestly, they never even hinted at us maybe being together. And now they know my full name, that we’re engaged, and where I work at? I’ve also gotten ten things of flowers from random men which is flattering but creepy.”

“They’re mailing you stuff? Nobody mails me stuff.” Kurt scoffed.

“Little league soccer pictures? Pictures from the Sadie’s Hawkins dance in high school? Trigger warning would have been nice, just saying. I feel like I need to take a restraining order out on your entire fandom.” Blaine sighed. “I don’t even remember those skinny jeans.”

“People you went to school with before Dalton are probably uploading pictures now… geeze, Blaine. I’m surprised your sperm even took after those skinny jeans.” Kurt gasped. “What do we need to do?”

“I don’t think there’s anything we can do at this point. It’s just old pictures making rounds and there’s no personal pictures of us posted yet; just the same ones that the paparazzi uploads when we go to the gym or out to eat.” Blaine closed the internet from his computer.

“I am so sorry.” Kurt sighed. “They didn’t even act this crazy over me when they found my social media accounts.”

“Well they found your professional ones… I don’t have professional ones to have filtered.” Blaine responded. “But you better go and make your other one unsearchable because we’re listed as engaged so… so that’s how they know. Have you checked your personal Facebook, Kurt?”

“Oh, God.” Kurt sighed, pulling out his personal cell phone and pulling it up. “Apparently I’ve got so many friend requests nobody can request me anymore… on my personal one. So, it’s only a matter of time before pictures of us together, very clearly together, pop up.”

“This is fine. I mean, it’s not like you’re Matt Bomber or Neil Patrick Harris, okay?”

“This is three weeks after the New York show and London’s is next month. These are the first big shows I’ve done solo. Oh, God. Jason was right. She said this would happen but I didn’t think it would.”

“What?”

“He said once they caught wind of who you were, that we’d end up a power couple for the LGBT community. I don’t want to be a power couple. I don’t even wear good clothes to work anymore. I don’t like public speaking or having my picture taken or anything.”

“Relax, Kurt. This doesn’t mean we’re going to end up being a power couple.” Blaine interrupted his impending freak out.

“We’re getting married in three months. We’re having twins in five months. I can’t have a crazy fandom following, okay? It’s hard enough to remember to brush my teeth before bed some nights.” Kurt rambled on. “Oh my God.”

“What?” Blaine asked, sounding alarmed.

“There’s a picture of us shirtless and kissing from the beach trip we took after we got engaged. Oh my God, I’m so white. And you just look perfect. Great.” Kurt whined.

“Who the hell took it then?”

“I feel unclean.” Kurt whimpered. “I need to call a lawyer. Yeah, I should get a lawyer. And have these taken down because if my Dad sees this, he’s going to be so obnoxious for a year. He’ll mail copies to us and we’ll go home in and our room will be wallpapered in it.”

“Uhm… you’re marrying a lawyer.” Blaine said slowly.

Kurt looked at his phone when he got a text.

Looks like you’ve got a problem, kid. There’s a reporter here asking all about you and Blaine.

“They’re at Dad’s house. They are at Dad’s house.” Kurt yelped. “Blaine!”

“This will all blow over. I mean, we’re boring. You take an hour getting ready for bed and I can’t put lids on coffee cups. We are not interesting enough to hold attention that long.” Blaine said, voice gentle and reassuring.

“Y-you’re right.” Kurt took a deep breath. “We’re pretty boring. Surely it’ll blow over… right?”

Blaine didn’t answer and Kurt could hear someone, likely Adrian, saying, “Goddamn, Blaine. Could those pants have been any tighter?”

“Bob’s going to kill me.”

#wbuct drabble #wbuct prompt

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stones-x-bones · 4 years ago

Text

Champlain Falling For You || Mina and Bex

TIMING: Current PARTIES: @drowningisinevitable and @inbextween SUMMARY: Mina takes Bex to the Champlain Falls and they have a nice trip. CONTENT: Domestic Abuse mentions, Soft Repressed Gays

While Champlain Falls was infamous for being a big “make out” or date spot, Bex was aware that there were many other things to do there, as well. It was a sight-seeing spot, after all. It didn't have to be about that. Plus, it was mostly high school kids that came up here for that, because it was here or Hanging Rock and people went missing here much less frequently. Not that they didn’t go missing here, but they usually turned up somewhere else, and there wasn’t really any spot in White Crest where people didn’t go missing. But that wasn’t really the reason Bex was nervous today, as she sat in Mina’s car on the short drive up to the falls. Technically you couldn’t drive all the way up to them, you had to drive to the park entrance and hike from there, but the path was flat enough that she didn’t have to worry too much about not owning a pair of hiking boots. Or the fact that she didn’t have a pair of jeans. She put on some pants that were close enough, and her favorite sweater, since it did still get cooler at nights. And also because it could help cover up the bite on her neck-- she didn’t need Mina worrying about that. Now all she had to do was concentrate hard enough to keep thoughts of wolves and beef jerky out of her head, and everything would be just fine!

When they pulled up, Bex glanced over at Mina. “You know, I’ve lived here almost all my life and I’ve never been up here. I”m kinda excited to see if it lives up to the hype.” She hopped out of the car and came around to meet Mina, smiling through a random thought that popped into her head that very much wasn’t her own. “Shall we?” Held out her hand.

It was always nice to get out and into nature, Mina always thought. She liked being out in the woods, especially if it meant that she got to be around water, even if she was always a little uncomfortable about that fact. It was just a part of who she was, and it did more harm than good to ignore it. She’d ventured out to Champlain Falls a few times, in her first months in White Crest, only to leave as quickly as she’d arrived. She could usually sense a lot of Fae around. She hoped that wasn’t the case, though, especially since they were going later in the evening, just before sunset. She should be allowed to be excited about this without worrying about something interrupting her and Bex hanging out. She’d had Morgan help her with a picnic, there was supposed to be a nice view of the stars, the weather was nice. She just wanted to enjoy this.

After parking, Mina got out and went to grab her backpack from the back seat, her boots crunching a bit on old leaves. She took a breath of fresh air, feeling calm and relaxed even with the iron knife sheathed on the side of her thigh, tucked into her boot with her jeans. Slinging the backpack over her shoulders, she brushed down the front of one of her dad’s old flannels, making sure the buttons were done up properly, and gave Bex a smile. “I’ve almost hiked out here a few times, but it was always a bit crowded for my taste.” She took Bex’s hand. “I’m excited, too, though. If nothing else, it’s a nice day for a walk.”

As Mina grabbed her bag and adjusted her shirt, Bex took a moment to take her in. She looked good in a flannel, even if it was a little wrinkled and one side of the collar was flipped up. Bex didn’t own many flannels, and the ones she did own were hidden in the back of her closet. Today she had on some leggings, a turtleneck sweater, and her short pants denim overalls. She hadn’t had a pair of boots, so she’d borrowed a pair of Deirdre’s and they looked clunky on her feet. Not that she minded too much. She squeezed Mina’s hand back, but before they headed out, she reached over and flattened her collar down. “You look nice in this shirt,” she smiled, “I don’t think I’ve seen you wear a flannel before. You should do it more often.” She didn’t know the way up there, and let Mina take the lead as they headed down the path. She could already hear the falls already, as they echoed through the tall trees around them. The air smelled fresh out here, too, and Bex made a mental note to herself that she really needed to get out more. Maybe now that she had someone to go places with it would be easier. Being alone in the forest seemed frightening to her. “You know, I heard people go swimming up here a lot, too. I’d probably only do that if there was like, no one else around, though. I wonder if we’ll see anyone jumping off the cliffs.”

“Has my collar been like that this entire time?” Mina muttered, trying not to appear mortified. “I thought it was fine when we left. Still, I, ah, I appreciate that. I mean, I wear it sometimes. You just usually see me when I’m at school or dressed down in sweats.” She did make a note to maybe start wearing a few more of her flannels, though. There was no telling how many she owned, at this point. She couldn’t help but grin as she looked at Bex, tugging at one of the straps of her overalls to make sure it was firmly in place on the younger girl’s shoulder. “I like your outfit, too. It’s cute.” She started them down the trail, picking out the sounds of water. It was almost a bit like a call, like her body trying to push her in a direction to find a new home. Morgan and Deirdre’s pool was nice. It was fine. It healed her, and it was a place to lay her head and breathe. But it wasn’t a home. Her body wanted nature, not just water but rock and dirt and life. She had to remind herself that wants were not necessities and that she was doing fine, really. “I’ve heard that, too. I’ve thought about coming here for that, cliff diving.” Not around Bex, though. Not when there was the possibility she wouldn’t be able to control herself, even though she was doing better about not going scaly when they stuck their feet in the pool. “It’s a bit cold for swimming, though, for now at least.”

“Not the whole time, probably just when you put your bag on,” Bex grinned. “Fair. Just saying, you could stand to wear it more.” She leaned into Mina as she tugged on her shoulder strap and bumped her shoulder gently. “Why, how sweet of you. I appreciate the compliment,” she said with a wink, stretching out the word appreciate with a hand gesture to go along with it. People always said the appeal of nature was the quietness that came with it, but Bex had never found nature to be that quiet. Maybe it was because there wasn’t enough stuff going on around for her to concentrate on, so, instead, she heard a million and one thoughts inside her own head, instead. “Wait, you wanna try cliff diving? Doesn’t that, like, scare you? I’d be way too afraid to hit a rock, or land wrong on the water and smack something. I don’t know if I could watch you do that.” She winced a little, but looked back over at Mina with a grin. “Oh, yeah, definitely too cold. I get cold really easily anyway. And,” she finished, waggling a finger, “we came here for other things. As long as we make it by sunset, I think we should be okay. I brought my camera, too. For pictures of the waterfall. Don’t worry, I won’t take any of you.” She grinned. “Probably.”

“Well, okay, that makes it a little better.” Mina rolled her eyes. “I try to look semi-professional when I’m teaching a class, you know. But I’ll consider wearing flannels more, if you think they look nice.” She scrunched up her nose a bit as she attempted to hide a smile. “Laying that one on a bit thick, aren’t you?” She pulled her backpack straps up a bit tighter with one hand, the other still holding Bex’s. She felt nice. Happy, even. She wanted this to be something good for both of them, getting out of the house and off campus. “Bex, I’ve been cliff diving before. Quite a lot, actually. Usually if my dad and I would travel to places where there were any sort of waterfalls or steep cliffs, I would jump off. It’s not so scary after the first few times.” It even became something exhilarating, a willingness to let go of control, if only for a moment, and to just exist in the air as she plummeted before she hit the water. There was relief there. “You do get cold pretty easy. Don’t worry. We’re going to make it before sunset.” She looked at Bex, her eyes narrowed a bit. “Probably?” She stuck out her tongue.

“Somehow, I don’t think your students will think any less of you if you wear a flannel to teach,” Bex teased, “because I do think they look nice. Glad to know my opinion means more than your need to impress people like two years younger than you.” She just gave a chagrined smile but didn’t answer the tease. Spending time with Mina felt nice, no matter where they were, but she had to admit, being somewhere that wasn’t Morgan’s felt really nice. She leaned against Mina a little as they walked. “Okay, well, how I was supposed to know, little miss daredevil? Cliff diving is, objectively, frightening. And dangerous. And those are not things you’re allowed to argue with. Knowing my luck, I’d slip right as I went to--” Bex stopped mid sentence as a string of thoughts ricocheted in her head and she frowned. Shut up, Kyle! “Um...what was I saying? Sorry. Jump! Right as I went to jump. Have I mentioned I’m extremely clumsy?” Bex took a moment to glance away, taking in their surroundings. They must’ve been close by now, the water was getting louder and it almost sounded like wind rustling leaves. “Yes, probably. I know you said you hate pictures, but I wanna make memories. Things I can look at again.” Things that could make her happy when it felt like she never could be. “How cold do you think the water is right now?”

“They probably won’t, especially since they’ve watched me stumble in wearing sweatpants and a rather wrinkled shirt from a bar in Berlin after accidentally falling asleep at my desk again a few weeks ago, but still.” Mina didn’t mention that it was one of the nights she’d been scared to go back, afraid that someone was going to tell her that Bex’s sleeping condition had gotten worse. “I do try to maintain some level of professionalism. Flannel shirts scream ‘peer,’ not ‘girl that I should listen to because she’s the one that grades my quizzes.’ But your opinion does mean a great deal to me.” She snorted. “Doesn’t everything about me just scream that I’m a daredevil in all things?” She wasn’t. Mina was a coward. She kept trying to explain that, but it didn’t seem to click. She shot Bex a worried look. Sure, the younger girl tended to ramble (even if Mina would never call it that; besides, she did it, too), but she never spaced out in the middle of a sentence. Mina squeezed her hand to bring her back to the present. “I wouldn’t let you fall, you know. If you ever wanted to do it.” She could smell the water in addition to hearing it, clear and clean and nice. And, thankfully, she couldn’t sense other Fae. This could end up being a nice day, afterall. “Taking pictures of the falls would be memories enough?” she asked hopefully. “I might not even show up on camera, any. You don’t know.” She grinned cheekily, though. “Oh, it’s far too cold for you. I mean, I would be fine, but it’s pretty cold.”

“Oh, wow,” Bex couldn’t help the laugh that came out. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, but picturing you in that, sleep-deprived and standing in front of a bunch of also sleep-deprived kids, is probably one of the funniest things I’ve seen this week. Or, heard. But yes, I’m sure that was very professional of you. What, you don’t wanna be the cool teacher? The one all kids are buds with?” She liked this, this banter between them. She didn’t often feel relaxed or good enough around other people to be this way, but it almost came naturally with Mina. She was just...nice to be around. She chuckled again. “Good to know where I stand, then.” She put her hand up, level with her face. “Your students--” raised her hand above both their heads, “me.” Her boots scraped along the forest floor and she stumbled a little, squeezing Mina’s hand back. “Dammit, see? This is what I get for trying to make jokes. And you are, at least, to me. There’s many things you say you do that would make my heart stop, probably. Cliff diving included. I’d probably only jump if you jumped with me.” Bex rolled her eyes a little. “Oh, ha ha. I know you’re not a vampire-- I know what vampires are like. I’ve seen you in the sunlight.” She poked her in the arm. “What, are you an ice swimmer, too, now? If I would freeze to death, you would, too.” The trees began to part and Bex squinted through the waning light. “Oh! We’re close!” She tugged on Mina’s hand as she took off in a job, dragging the other girl with her. She kind of almost hoped there weren’t too many other people around, it would be nice to just enjoy some time alone with Mina.

“It’s not that funny,” Mina said, but she huffed out a laugh as well. “I was five minutes late and let the class out five minutes early. I couldn’t stop yawning. It was a bad morning. But I don’t really care about being a cool teacher. I think I’m a bit of a mess, really, but no one’s complained, and the students I tutor pass their classes. I’m not trying to be cool, just helpful.” Really, Mina was probably very much not cool. Anti-cool, even. She laughed. “Should you really be surprised that I rate you higher than a bunch of freshmen frat boys?” She steadied Bex subconsciously. “Careful. You know, I don’t think I have the, ah, street cred? That, I don’t think I have enough of that to be fully considered a daredevil. Most of this was all just stuff we all did. The other kids my age. Some of the adults, too, even. My dad preferred to just watch. We didn’t get a lot off days to just enjoy things. If we had a group together and there was a bit of down time, and we were in a nice spot, they took advantage. I didn’t play a lot of games, though.” She nodded, thinking about it. It would be dangerous for Bex, but, if she was there, then Mina could ensure that things went smoothly. “I’d jump with you. And you can’t possibly be certain I’m not a vampire. Maybe I’m a special vampire. Some of them can walk in the sun, you know.” Sometimes, Mina got dangerously close to revealing too much of herself, despite all of her fears that revealing herself would be exactly what she did. She played a dangerous game. Maybe she was a daredevil. “The temperature of the water isn’t the problem, it’s getting out.” She allowed Bex to drag her up, laughing a bit. “Be careful, please! I’d hate for you to actually fall.”

“It’s pretty funny,” Bex pointed out, “but only because I do know how much you usually care about being presentable. And, you know, you might be a mess, but at least you’re a cute mess. That’s a lot more than most of those kids can say. Especially the freshmen frat boys.” She let Mina steady her, let the smile on her face stay bright. Barring anything outrageous, Bex had a good feeling about today. There wasn’t much that could ruin this, even the annoying boy in her head. She thought another shut up, please, for just like, one night. A few hours, even. At him before focusing back on Mina. And stop asking who Mina is! “Street cred is overrated. You’re a daredevil to me, and that’s really all that should matter.” She tilted her head. “Did you run into a lot of other families like you and your dad? That’s, I mean, kinda nice, right? The only time I got to hang out with kids my age was during dinner parties or big meetings where all the parents only wanted to pay one babysitter. I actually met Frank at a dinner party, technically. There wasn’t a lot of time for games when I was a kid, either. Not for um, the same reasons as you, obviously. But I guess my parents thought other things were more important.” She glanced back at Mina. “Oh, no. I wasn’t actually serious. I am not brave enough for that, even if you’re with me.” With her arms around her, holding her. Bex felt her cheeks burn and looked away. “And I do know you’re not a vampire, because you haven’t tried to eat me yet.” She subconsciously scratched at the scabs on her neck. “Can they? Is that a real thing? I’m being careful, I’m always caref--” As if right on cue, the dirt beneath Bex’s foot shifted downhill and she yelped, grabbing for Mina. When she was standing up straight again, she cleared her throat. “Well, I’m usually careful. What was that thing about water temperature you were saying?”

“You’re mocking my pain,” Mina said dramatically, maybe playing up the situation a little. She didn’t get a lot of chances to do things like this, be lighthearted, and she always felt uncomfortable when she tried, but doing this with Bex was easy. Too easy, really, concerningly easy if she thought about it for too long. “Well, in that case, I suppose being a cute mess isn’t that bad.” And if her cheeks were turning a bit red at that, then it was probably because of the weather. “Oh, so your opinion is of the highest order, then? I’ll keep that in mind.” She tried to keep the smile on her face, though it was a bit harder than she would have liked as she shrugged nonchalantly. “We sometimes... the right term is hunted, really, with other families. There’s safety in numbers. But I didn’t fit in too well, so I was kind of odd woman out a lot of the time.” When she was really young, there was a lot of distrust around Mina, especially after she’d almost drowned someone. As she’d gotten older and better trained, she was just disliked on principle, most of the time. It was fine. She was used to it. “Did you like going to dinner parties?” She didn’t want to talk about her childhood anymore. “I think you’re very brave when you put your mind to it.” Mina let her expression turn serious, one eyebrow raised. “How do you know I’m not toying with you? The long game is always more fun. But, yes, some vampires can, though they’re more prone to bloodlust and-- that wasn’t particularly careful!” Briefly, Mina worried if this was a good idea. “I mean, water temperature isn’t that bad for me. Just, getting out when it’s cold. That’s rough.”

“So what if I am?” Bex chided. Somehow, she knew Mina didn’t mind. “My opinion is the most important, actually. You would do well to remember that, you know.” Bex was rarely, if ever, this confident. But Mina just made her feel overwhelmingly so. She could tell, though, that the subject of childhood was wearing on Mina. It was heavy on her, too. “I’d rather be the odd one out than the same carbon copy as everyone else, if I’m being honest.” She shrugged, almost a mirror to Mina’s previous motion. “Not really. They were so boring. All we ever did was sit around and be pretty and act good. As kids, we weren’t supposed to engage in the conversations. I kinda felt like...a decoration.” She scuffed her shoe along the ground and kicked a rock, watching it roll down the hill. Glanced over at Mina, quirking a brow. “Me? Brave? Just cause I didn’t run away from a giant chicken one time does not make me brave. I am ecstatically a coward and relatively okay with it, if it keeps me from being eaten.” It was mostly a truth. She was a coward who could not stand up to her parents, who could not ever reach for what she wanted versus what other people wanted from her, and she most certainly wasn’t someone who ran towards danger to protect other people. Those times had just been flukes. And pure curiosity. “Because you said you’d never lie to me,” Bex answered Mina simply, stopping at the bottom of the hill. The falls were just around the corner, according to the sign. She wanted to take her time in seeing them, to share the experience with Mina. “And so I trust you enough to have told me, if you were.” It was a simple fact. Bex trusted Mina would tell her if she was something like that, something different. She smiled and pointed at the sign. “Anyway, enough of all that. We’re close! Are you ready?”

“Someone could say that it’s cruel, what you’re doing, you know,” Mina said, hand over her heart, but she was laughing. “Oh, of course, your opinion is incredibly important to me. I’ll never forget that.” Wistfully, she added, “I’d really have preferred to fit in, honestly.” She’d really have liked to just be human and treated human, if only for a moment, by the people that she’d grown up with and admired for so long. And feared. And loved. And wished she didn’t. “Well, you’re far more than a decoration. That was silly, of them to treat you like one. And, yes, you. Brave. There’s more to bravery than standing stubbornly in front of a charging creature.” Which was really the only kind of bravery that Mina was capable of, at this point. “There are other types of bravery. And you seem to have no trouble in poking fun at me. That’s an awfully brave thing to do against someone that you’re really not sure isn’t a vampire.” She was smiling, but it turned serious pretty quick. “No, I won’t lie to you.” There was a knot forming in her stomach at Bex’s words, though. She should tell Bex. She should. But the fear that Bex would look at her in fear and disgust and run away from her was too much for even contemplate it. Instead, she squeezed Bex’s hand and looked at the sign. “Absolutely ready. Are you?”

“Some, yes. But you wouldn’t,” Bex pointed out, calling Mina’s bluff. The laugh helped a lot. “Yeah, me too. People just say that to make you feel better. Doesn’t really work, though, does it?” She squeezed Mina’s hand reassuringly, trying to keep her smile from fading to that sad, plastic version of itself. What is a child, but a decoration for their parents? She’d heard her mother say that once before. “I know,” she answered, “I’m a person.” Even if she didn’t feel like one at times. “Well, if you are a vampire, then fine, I’ll accept that I’m brave, laughing in the face of danger. Ha, ha, ha!” she mocked, giving her best Simba from the Lion King impression. It was pretty bad, but she didn’t much care. Mina made her not care about things like that. But enough of those conversations, Bex was ready to find the falls and see if they were as wonderful as people made them out to be. The sun was still peaking just through the trees and it was nearly the perfect angle. “Absolutely,” she agreed, tugging Mina’s hand as she raced around the corner. The roar of the water was so loud at first, Bex wondered if they were somehow in the wrong place. But as they came around the trees, and the falls came into view, she knew absolutely that they were. It almost didn’t look real. It looked magical. Bex swallowed the word down. The water was sparkling with the trickling sunlight, and there was a cloud of mist at the bottom of the falls that almost looked as if it were changing colors. Red to orange to blue and back. The entire grove was surrounded by trees, and shiny rocks, wet from the falls. Suddenly, she understood why people came here to make out. It was kind of a really romantic atmosphere. Her face flushed at the thought as she remembered her hand in Mina’s, glancing at the other girl for a moment, wondering if the sunlight was reflecting as sweetly off her hair as it did the water. “Wow,” she muttered, “to think something like this was hidden in White Crest.”

“Wouldn’t I?” Mina said, sticking her tongue out. She wasn’t even particularly bothered that Bex was calling her out. With anyone else, she’d be a bit worried that someone was picking up on her phrasings, the way she didn’t specify things or responded to questions with more questions. She didn’t mind, though, that Bex seemed to figure her out. “You are a person. A nice and good and kind person that I happen to enjoy spending time with, so, yes. You’re a person.” She poked Bex lightly in the ribs.”It’s rude to laugh at vampires, you know. And, honestly, do I have to be a vampire to be dangerous? I think I’m pretty dangerous.” That came with the territory, with having claws and fangs and an inhuman disposition. Not that she would say that. And, instead of lingering on that thought, she allowed Bex to drag her down the hill, the sound and smell of water filling her head. She was in awe when they finally rounded on the falls. Dark Score Lake was pretty, when it wasn’t a glass filled hole. There was always something dangerous about it, though, something that anyone could feel. Champlain Falls was deceptive, though. Pretty and calm despite the roar of the water. She could see why other Fae were attracted to this place, the way the light shimmered and shifted. She wanted to jump in and just stay there. She heard Bex speak, and she turned to look. Then, she was perfectly fine with where she was. “This is incredible,” she said, looking at Bex. “Remind me to thank Nell for mentioning this place to me.”

Bex had to look away from Mina, because for some reason, she almost felt compelled to close the distance between them and that just wasn’t something she could-- or should-- do. She cleared her throat. “Wait-- Nell told you about this place? Huh.” She wondered why Nell would’ve told Mina to take her here, but she wasn’t going to question it too much. Nell was always telling her to take time off and relax. This must’ve been what she meant. She tugged Mina’s hand. “I wanna go see how cold the water is before we find a place to sit,” she said, eager to look down into the spring and see how far down it really went. To see how crystal clear the water would be. As they headed towards the shore, she looked back at Mina, to their intertwined hands, then back up at her face. “You might be dangerous, but I’m not afraid of you. Even if you are a vampire,” she stated simply, turning to face forward again. “I know you’d never hurt me.” It was, in fact, Bex who would probably end up hurting Mina. Either with magic, or because, eventually, she’d have to return to her normal life. And Mina wasn’t a part of that life, was she? Her hand subconsciously squeezed Mina’s. Maybe she could find a way to hold onto her, maybe she could find a way to hold on to what she’d built outside of that life. She finally let go of Mina’s hand once she reached the edge of the lake and bent down, sticking her hand out to graze the surface. Here, away from the falls, it was smooth and still as glass, rippling out when her fingers broke the illusion. It felt near freezing, but she kept her fingers in, leaning down a little farther to get her entire hand wet. She could see it perfectly under the surface, and the rocks beneath it sitting at the bottom. “I think it might be too cold to stick our feet in,” she said, finally looking back at Mina with a smile, “we’ll have to stick with the pool for now.”

“Yeah, she-- she said it would be a nice place for a picnic,” Mina said. And a nice place to make out. Mina refrained from mentioning that or the tightness it caused in her chest, just like she refused to answer when Nell asked if she wanted to kiss Bex. She did. Want that. Very much so. She tried not to dwell on that fact too much. It wasn’t going to happen. She just didn’t see it happening. She followed Bex to the water and couldn’t help but want to dive in, never come up. The water was clear, and, when she brushed her fingers against the surface, cool, comfortable, to her, really, but all water tended to be comfortable when it wasn’t composed of salt. She swallowed tightly. She could just slip in and stay. Champlain Falls wasn’t a good, permanent place. It was too open, and too many people visited, but it was pretty, and she liked it, and she could acknowledge that she liked it. Again, she would have jumped in if Bex wasn’t there. Instead, she looked at Bex and flicked a bit of water at her. “Too cold for you.” But she took Bex’s hand and pulled her up, moving away from the water. She didn’t even think she wanted to stay, now that another option had presented itself. “I’m fine with that, actually. It’s nice enough to look at, and I packed dinner, so. Maybe another time.” Maybe she could come by herself one night and just stay, just for a bit.

Bex had grown accustomed to understanding the minute expressions people had and what that meant for their mood, their emotions-- with an eye for anger-- and when she looked at Mina it almost seemed as if she felt...a longing. For what, Bex couldn’t be sure, but it had something to do with the water, with the falls. With this place. She shook her head and frowned teasingly when Mina flicked water at her, though, and decided to stow that thought for later. She flicked water back at Mina before taking her hand and standing back up. She brushed her wet hand off on her overalls. “Another time, then,” Bex agreed, stepping in towards Mina as she moved away from the lake and back towards the trail. She paused to look around for what might be a good spot. “Hey, it looks like there’s a trail that goes to the top of the falls. Wanna check it out? We could set up dinner up there, watch the sunset from above?” It seemed like the best possible situation, really. No better spot. “C’mon, it’ll be perfect!” She said excitedly, tugging on both of Mina’s hands as she led them up to the trail that climbed back around the falls and to the top. It was maybe a little steeper than she’d prepared for, but it would be worth it, she decided, to make it up there with Mina. After all, the brochures said there was no spot more beautiful than the top of Champlain Falls in White Crest. She needed to see for herself.

“I’m following you. Carefully, please,” Mina said as she allowed Bex to drag her from the water, up the path, towards the trail. She seemed to do that a lot, let Bex lead her around. There it was again, that tightness, like the knowledge that she knew that she wanted to kiss Bex and knew that she couldn’t have it. So, she decided, she’d settle for this. Really, Mina would take what she could get. She’d never been close to anyone, and certainly not like this. “I think it’s going to be nice,” she added, making sure her footsteps were sure as the pathway got steeper, shifting the weight of her body so that her backpack didn’t attempt to topple her over. The view would be nice, she knew. It would be something enjoyable, and she was doing this with someone whose company she enjoyed, and it was just calming. She felt at peace. She didn’t think she was going to feel at peace anytime this week, not after Frank, not after things constantly seeming to get tense and uncomfortable around every turn. She didn’t know how to talk about things. That was the moral of the story. Mina Fitzroy had a bit of a communication problem. “It’s getting much steeper up here, Ms. Extremely Clumsy. Watch your step.”

“I’m being careful!” Bex said back to Mina, chancing a look. It was silly of her to risk it, but she felt like it was worth it. “And besides, if I fall, I’ve got you to catch me.” Smiled wide at her before she turned back around, intertwining their fingers for a better grip. There was that strange warmth growing inside of her again, pulsing in her veins. She wasn’t all too familiar with it, but it felt a little bit like a feeling she knew despite never, well, knowing. It was how she was supposed to feel towards Frank, how he wanted her to feel, but she knew she couldn’t. She knew it wasn’t possible. She just didn’t want to admit to either of those statements. That she didn’t like Frank and that she did like Mina. Blinking, she shook the thoughts away and slowed her pace so that she was standing beside Mina instead of walking ahead of her. She liked it better here. She could admit that much. That Mina made her feel comfortable and safe. She didn’t feel that way often. Maybe that’s all it was. “I think I...need to go hiking more often,” she huffed out, realizing her breathing was a bit labored. “Can we take a little break? I just need a minute.”

“I will catch you, but let’s not tempt fate, okay?” Mina asked, already worried that she might once again have to save the younger girl from a near fall. But, really, their fingers were laced so tightly together that, if Bex fell, Mina was likely going down right after her. Then, she’d have to figure out a way to make sure Bex didn’t get hurt on the way down. It was fine. It would be fine. She notice a place to sit on the side of the trail and tugged Bex’s hand gently in that direction. “Yeah, we can take a break. I could use a second, too. It’s been awhile since I’ve done a trail this steep. I usually just go a little bit into the woods for a workout.” She moved over to a fallen log and stretched out the leg that had been mauled from the wolf attack, rubbing at her ankle a bit. The bones still hurt, sometimes. If she thought about it too much, the scars felt raw, too. But that was only when she thought about it. She was healed. It was slow, some things were still wrong, but she was healed. It was better than being dead. “You’re welcome to join me when I start back running. I’ll probably do a few laps around Morgan and Deirdre’s neighborhood when I’m there. I used to run a lap around Dark Score every morning before school.”

“Why not? Are you worried?” Bex asked, raising a brow. But she kind of knew she was, weren't they both always? She followed Mina over to the log gratefully and sat down beside her, watching her stretch her leg out. She remembered Mina mentioning she’d been attacked by an animal that had messed up her leg, but Bex suddenly wondered if it wasn’t an animal at all, but, rather, an “animal”. She didn’t feel like bringing that up right now, though. It might ruin the calm happy that had seemed to settle over them. “Depends on what time you go. I have to be in class by 8am, but I usually go to the office for a few hours before class starts. Or, well…” she paused, “I used to.” The sun was beginning to set beyond the hills, but it didn’t really matter. They’d get up there in time. She gently prodded her hand away from Mina’s and dug her camera out of her pocket, turning it on. Aimed down the capture and took a picture of the falls in the distance. She then turned to Mina. “Say cheese?” she asked, giving her her best puppy eyes in hopes the other girl would agree to at least one photo.

“Only a bit,” Mina said, but she had a small smile on her face. She rolled her shoulder blades, adjusting the bag again so that it was comfortable. “I used to go around six. I like early mornings; they’re calmer, usually, and it’s nice to watch as things wake up, teem with life. It was always a good start to the day.” She noticed Bex’s hesitation, and a part of her didn’t want Bex to go back to the office, to her house, to her family. Mina… didn’t know what happened, not really. She was always a bit too scared to ask. What would she do? What could she do? “I can’t believe you got 8 am classes. I thought most undergraduates tried to find ways around those.” She looked a little lost, staring at the camera hesitantly. “Okay,” she said, quietly, before she sat up a bit straighter, her hands folding themselves in her lap. She looked at Bex, then at the camera lens, giving it an unsure smile.

“Liar,” Bex teased. She tilted her head in contemplation as she tapped the top of her camera. “Six isn’t a bad time. I could probably make that work. Most days. Plus,” she looked down at her camera to adjust the settings back to portrait mode instead of landscape, taking her time, “it’d be nice to spend that time with you.” Not that they didn’t spend a lot of time together already. But like now, running around the neighborhood would give them time away from Morgan and Deirdre’s. She lifted the camera again, looking through the aperture, before deciding on a different angle. She turned it around so that the lens faced her and scooted next to Mina. “Selfie,” she grinned, ready to push the button. But right before she pushed it, she turned her head and pressed a kiss to Mina’s cheek. Click. And then she was standing up again, swinging her camera by the string. “Ready to keep going?”

Snorting, Mina said, “Hardly.” She kept shifting, adjusting her hands, crossing and uncrossing her legs. She didn’t like just sitting like this. At one point, after she realized that the camera wasn’t going off, she glared at it for a bit. “I mean, I’m going to have to work myself back up to doing most days, so that’s fine.” She looked away from the camera to Bex, smiling genuinely. “I think that’d be nice, too.” She wouldn’t have asked, otherwise. She’d grown used to doing things like this in a solitary way for over a year, but she wouldn’t mind doing it with Bex. Actually, there was a lot of things that she wouldn’t mind doing with Bex. Maybe that was the scariest part of all of this. She hadn’t expected Bex to turn the camera around, and she hadn’t expected Bex to move closer, and she hadn’t expected Bex to kiss her cheek. Her eyes widened, and she stopped thinking for a moment as she attempted to process what just happened. She couldn’t imagine how embarrassing she must have looked in that picture. How mortifying. “I--” She looked up at Bex, blinking for a second, before she stood. “Right. Ready.”

This time as they walked, Bex would pause every few moments to take a photo. There wasn’t much left to say at this point, but she also didn’t mind the silence. She’d read once that being able to sit in silence with a person was the true sign of comfort. She glanced back at Mina as they approached the top, and the trail began to even out. Finally, she turned to face her fully, putting her arms out in a T-pose. “See? I made it all the way up the trail without falling once! Carefully,” she pointed out, grinning widely. They were just in time, too. The sun was at the perfect angle sitting atop the tree tips, the water was rushing below them, and it was even more peaceful and quiet up here than it had been down at the base. She waited at the top of the hill for Mina to catch up, before holding up her camera. “Go stand by the river,” she instructed with a wave. Her lips were still tingling from when they’d been pressed to Mina’s cheeks, but she chalked it up to the chill setting in.

Mina spent the rest of the walk taking a few deep breaths, holding them, letting them out. She usually did this in the water after a long day, when she needed time to collect her thoughts and figure out her mind, and that was kind of what she was doing, now. Every now and then the clicks of the camera would draw her back to the present, force her to make sure that Bex wasn’t at risk of falling, but she seemed to be holding her own. She grinned as they made it to the top, watching Bex spread her arms wide. “I’m impressed, truly.” She stopped for a bit and just looked. This reminded her of a river in the Black Forest that she’d briefly stayed in, the sound of rushing water, the way that everything seemed peaceful in spite of the noise. She breathed deeply, held it, let it out, her lungs grateful for the wetness of the air filling them. Finally, she walked over to Bex before she was motioned toward the river. “Really?” she asked, but she wasn’t actually complaining. She stuffed her hands into her back pockets and turned to face Bex, an eyebrow raised. “You know, you’re missing the actual sunset pointing that at me.”

“I’m actually kind of impressive,” Bex beamed, holding her camera up to her chest, before backing up a bit and glancing through the focus again. “Really.” She waved Mina so that she was standing in better lighting, glancing back at her. “Sunsets happen every day,” she said dismissively as she clicked the camera a few times. “This--” she put the camera down, gestured between the two of them, then the surroundings, “--this doesn’t.” Finally, she clicked her camera to rest mode and came back over to Mina. “I wanna look over the edge,” she declared, “will you hold me to make sure I don’t fall?” She knew enough of what she was doing, of the things she was asking. She knew what it meant that she’d kissed Mina’s cheek, and she knew well enough what the warm feeling in her stomach was. But she wasn’t ready, yet, to declare those things real. To say they were true. Maybe she just wanted to have a nice time with a friend. A close friend. She held her hand out to Mina. “Please?”

“You are, totally. One hundred percent.” Mina moved like she was told to, only feeling a bit awkward. Or, at least, only a bit more awkward than usual. Still a lot of awkward, but not as much as she was expecting. “Yeah, okay, but you see me just about every day. And this is a special sunset.” But she’d take however many pictures Bex wanted with only minor complaining, at this point. Really, she would, even though it made her horribly uncomfortable and self-conscious. “Yeah, I can do that. Just let me put my bag down away from the edge. Don’t want us to fall and end up losing it. Here, give me your camera unless you want to take pictures.” She moved their stuff over a few feet away to a spot that would be nice to set up when they got done, and walked over to Bex, immediately taking her hand when it was offered. Her eyes innocent, she asked, “Just to make sure, we’re not jumping this time, right? I mean, I would assume not because we’re both a little ill-prepared, clothing wise, but I thought I’d check just in case.”

“Wow, you agreed to that very quickly,” Bex chuckled, watching Mina move about as she set their stuff aside. Bex just smiled at her. “I’d take you over a sunset any day,” was all she said. Held out the camera when Mina offered to put it with the other stuff. She would have considered taking a photo had the idea not totally freaked her out. It was going to be woozy enough just looking, but she wanted to be brave today. She wanted to show Mina that she could be brave. Once Mina took her hand, Bex intertwined their fingers again, holding tightly. It felt as if her hand simply fit there. She met Mina’s gaze. “Oh, god, no. Definitely not jumping today. I already told you I’m way too afraid to do that. I think just looking over the edge is enough. I mostly just wanna be able to say I stood at the top of a waterfall. Bragging rights, really,” she teased, walking slowly over towards the ledge, making sure to keep an even footing the entire time, despite the amount of rocks that were in the way. Finally, she reached the ledge and paused, subconsciously squeezing Mina’s hand tighter as she leaned over. She could see the pool at the bottom from here, but she wanted to see more. She leaned out a little farther and the bottom came into view. Rainbow lights seemed to dance at the bottom of the falls, where they met the lake. Splashing up, flickering in and out. She even swore she saw what looked like a sky beneath it, rippling in the waves underneath. She tilted her head, entranced. Leaned a little farther. She almost wanted to touch it. It was compelling. Maybe there was another world on the other side of it. A place that was less cruel than this one. She hadn’t even realized her foot was nearly over the edge, she didn’t need to worry. Mina would catch her. Mina would pull her back if she was going to fall. She was her safety net.

Instead of answering, Mina stuck her tongue out at Bex. So what if she’d answered fast? There was that tightness again. She was beginning to worry that it might be a permanent thing. She was beginning to worry that this was something that she would want and want and want, and she couldn’t want it because what was she going to do if it was taken from her? She took Bex’s hand and walked over to the edge, and there was something that was comforting about Bex’s hand in hers, and, okay, maybe that was worrying, too. There was no voicing that, though. Instead, she grinned and said, “Bragging rights, of course. Not everyone can say they’ve stood on top of a waterfall.” She bumped her shoulder with Bex’s. “But not everyone can say they’ve jumped from a waterfall, either. Just something to think about.” When they made it to the edge, Mina planted herself firmly. In all honesty, she didn’t particularly like heights. She liked the rush that came from jumping from great heights, but the height itself was dizzying. Still, she looked over the edge a bit, taking in everything. There’s a moment where she just wanted to freeze there, and there’s a moment where she just wanted to let go and fall in, and she thought about it hard, about diving into water so clear she could see the sky. The sky? That was strange. Mina felt Bex tug forward, and she looked down at the younger girl’s foot barely on the edge. “Bex!” She jerked them back from the edge, stumbling and tripping and ending up on her back, the wind knocked out of her and Bex on top of her. Dazedly, she said, “You looked like you were about to fall.”

Mina calling her name made Bex snap from her trance. She turned to look at Mina, but she was already being jerked forward. It felt like it happened in slow motion, really. Mina stumbled, eyes wide, and Bex watched her foot catch on a rock. Her eyes then went to their intertwined hands as she was also pulled down, landing on top of Mina with a soft oof as she did. She had just enough time to put her one hand out and brace herself against the muddy ground so her head didn’t snap forward and smack into Mina’s. Instead, her face was mere inches from Mina’s and her eyes were staring wide and her breath felt like it was stuck in her chest. Ironic, she thought as she looked down at Mina, that after all her slips, Mina was the one to trip. She should get up, really. It looked a little like it might have hurt, or at least winded the poor girl underneath her. But her body was frozen, it would not listen to her when she tried to tell it to move. “Uh huh,” was all she said she stared down at Mina. Why couldn’t she move? There was another impulse in her head, overwriting everything else, all logic. An impulse Bex hadn’t felt in quite a long time. Not since she’d come back to White Crest. She was so entranced with Mina she hardly noticed that the collar of her sweater had shifted down and the scabs she’d been trying to hide were slightly exposed. Or the voice in her head that was shouting JUST KISS HER. She wasn’t even sure if it was her own or Kyle’s. She didn’t really care.

If Mina was asked if she’d like to kiss Bex, in that moment, she would be compelled to tell the truth. Yes, actually, she’d like that very much, please. And she had to force herself to look anywhere but at Bex’s lips. She focused on her eyes, her nose, the strands of hair in her face, her neck. Her neck. There were… Mina sat them up, her hands going to Bex’s collar and shifting it a bit to look at the scabs that were distinctly bite marks, and any thoughts of kissing were completely out of Mina’s mind as dread pooled in her stomach. “What happened? Where did you get those? What did that?” They looked like fangs, so it was unlikely to be a zombie bite, but there were so many creatures that bit and maimed and hurt and killed, and Mina felt absolutely sick to her stomach thinking about all of the possibilities that might have happened, and the look that she gave Bex was pure panic.

For a moment, Bex was confused. What was what? What did what? Her mind was still trying to catch up to herself. Mina sat them up, tugged at her collar, and that’s when Bex remembered. She stiffened, swatted Mina’s hand away and backed up off her lap. “It’s nothing,” she said quickly, “it’s fine. It was just--” her mind still reeled a little when she thought about it. She was still trying to grasp the fact that vampires were real and that Dani had killed one right in front of her. She swallowed, putting her hand over the marks before readjusting her collar to cover them. The look she gave Mina was one of matching panic, but for a purely different reason. “I-I didn’t wanna worry you. Or Morgan, o-or anyone. Really, though, I’m fine! It happened so quickly, so i-it wasn’t anything bad. Plus there was someone there who helped me. L-like you. A hunter. She saved me.”

Mina pulled her hand back to her chest as if she’d been shocked before she moved away, sitting up properly. “Bex.” It didn’t look like nothing. “Nothing” was a blase term that one didn’t use to describe things as significant as bitemarks. But she swallowed and listened as Bex talked, the stress building up behind her eyes dulling a bit. Bex was fine. Bex was saved by a hunter. The chances of whatever biting Bex being something that was contagious diminished with her mentioning the hunter. Mina knew that it would be unlikely that a hunter would have let Bex walk away if it had been a werewolf bite or a zombie bite. She swallowed and buried that thought deep, deep down. “I’m still worried. I still worry. I’m sure Morgan would worry, too. I think that’s just a general thing at this point.” She started to reach out but thought against it, instead putting her hands in her lap. “I’m glad you’re safe, and that you were helped, and that it’s not--” she choked on the words, “--not anything bad. I just--” would like to know what happened so that I can possibly insure that it never happens again and warn you about things that do this type of thing and give you something to protect yourself and possibly never let you out of my sight again. Deep breath. In. Hold. Out. She was working herself into a state of panic that she could tell, if she didn’t calm down, the stress was going to get to her. “Will you please tell me what happened?”

“Well I don’t need people to worry about me all the time,” Bex snapped back immediately, then bit her tongue. “Sorry, I-- sorry. I just-- I’m not some, like, defenseless little girl.” Like everyone thought she was. “But everyone keeps treating me like I am and I’m not. I’m not.” She wasn’t. She hated the way people looked at her bruises, hated the way people made her feel like she could never understand this world even though she was very obviously a part of it. She settled back on the ground, shoulders slumped. “It was a vampire,” she mumbled finally, “I-- stayed late on campus, in the library, one night last week. She was-- waiting for me outside, I guess. She just jumped me. I was--” Lucky Dani had been there. Had she not been, would Bex be dead right now? Or a vampire, too? Her chest seized. “How was I supposed to know vampires existed if no one tells me anything?” She looked over at Mina, at the sun setting behind her. She scooted closer. “I just didn’t want anyone to worry more than they already do.”

Sometimes, Mina snapped, lashing out with her words. Not a lot, though. She didn’t like to. She was taught to have more control than that. And she could have snapped at Bex, could have told the younger girl that she was going to worry about her regardless, and, maybe, if she didn’t go about getting herself into dangerous situations, then she wouldn’t be treated like a child. Instead, she said, “Okay. You don’t have to apologize. I know you’re not a child.” A vampire. Okay, and it was how long ago? Deep breath. In. Hold. Out. Lovely. She would have turned by this point. And what would Mina have done? Did she even have to ask herself this question? One of her dearest friends was a bloody zombie, for crying out loud. “Right. Vampires. I’m… glad it wasn’t worse. I’ll tell you about vampires. What I know, at least, which isn’t a lot. My dad and I didn’t go after vampires often, unless he thought it was worth it.” She sighed, rubbing at her eyes. “I’m afraid people are going to worry regardless, Bex. If you wait to tell them things, it only gets worse.”

Bex let out a really long breath. She didn’t wanna be talking about this. She wanted to enjoy this evening with Mina and she wanted to watch the sunset with her and she wanted to kiss her, maybe. Maybe. Her heart pumped in her chest again, but instead of answering, she just flopped back on the ground and let her arms splay out. She stared up at the sky, watching as it changed colors, and remembered the sky she’d seen sparkling at the bottom of the waterfall. She wanted to tumble into that world, where maybe things didn’t have to be complicated and magic wasn’t real and Mina didn’t have to suffer. “I don’t need to know about them anymore. The girl who helped me told me about them.” She stayed laying on the ground, but turned her head enough to look at Mina. She could see the worry in her eyes, the strange panic that had been there but was fading. When had they come to care about each other so much? Bex couldn’t remember. Maybe it was after the cockatrice. Maybe it was forever. “Hypocrite,” she said quietly. She looked back up at the sky. “Telling people wouldn’t have changed anything. I still would have been attacked, the vampire still would’ve died, and I still would just feel helpless.” She squinted a little. “Does that cloud look like a dragon to you?”

Instead of moving to lay down, Mina pulled her legs up and sat cross-legged. She put her elbows on her knees and then her head in her hands and just tried to calm down. There was nothing she could do. There was just nothing she could do, and she kept reminding herself about that even though it was rather difficult to remember, especially in that moment. Thinking about their earlier conversation, she blurted out, “I’m not a vampire, I promise.” Granted, at this point, it was pretty obvious that she wasn’t, but still. Sheisse, Bex had been attacked by a vampire. And she’d been joking about that earlier. “That’s-- It’s good you know. Go for the heart if you encounter another one. Or show them holy symbols.” She was explaining anyway, talking too much, even though Bex might already know this. “They don’t like those. And wood is preferable, actually. And if they don’t turn to ash, they’re not dead.” She took a shuddering breath. Calm down, please, just calm down. Be calm. “Sorry. I--” Where was the lie? She was a hypocrite. An actual damn hypocrite. “I know.” She craned her neck up, looking at the sky. “Actually, it looks like-- like a wolpertinger. A-- a rabbit, with a squirrel tail and wings and fangs.”

“Mina,” Bex said, sitting up finally. There was dirt and leaves in her hair but she didn’t really mind, her ponytail kept most of it away from her face. “I’m fine.” She put her arms out, turned them over then back. “You can check my pulse, if you want.” She scooted a little closer and held her wrist out to Mina, pulling the sleeve up. There were little scabs on her palms from where she’d hit the pavement, healing up, and little white scars dotting her forearm. “I know you’re not a vampire. You don’t have to promise that.” She didn’t really know what else to do. How else to convince Mina she was okay. She wondered if that was even possible right now. “Next time something happens, I’ll tell you, okay? Right away. I promise. I’ll tell you if something happens or even if something almost happens, or if I’m scared something might happen. If that’s what you want. I promise.”

Mina focused on breathing again. “I know you’re not a vampire.” I don’t think the hunter would have let you live. “I would have noticed if you’d gone missing. Turning isn’t instantaneous.” But she took Bex’s hand anyway, rubbing her thumb across Bex’s pulse before lacing their fingers. She needed to calm down. Why was she so upset about something that she couldn’t change? She knew there wasn’t anything that she could do, but she was still so damn upset because she cared. She cared. A lot. Her eyes snapped up to Bex’s as she said “promise.” I release you from those promises. It was on her tongue. It was her immediate response. She hesitated. She hated how bad that made her feel. “No. I release you from those promises. I can’t-- I can’t ask you to do that, not if you don’t want to. I don’t want you to be obligated to tell me something if you don’t want to.”

“Missing?” Bex asked, raising a brow. She hadn’t asked Dani how, exactly, one becomes a vampire, but the idea that turning wasn’t instantaneous made her skin crawl a little. She definitely did not want to become a vampire. Or something else. This world was already trying so hard to change her, she didn’t need a physical change to happen, too. “But I do want to,” she answered, confused by the wording. Why would Mina need to release her from her promise? She knew that they were dangerous. There was still so much she didn’t know. The roar of the falls behind them snapped her back to the present and she looked down at Mina’s hand grasping her own, as if it were a lifeline. “You mean a lot to me, Mina. If-- if there’s something I can do to make you less…” she gestured limply at her, knowing that she was still wrought with panic, “...upset, then I wanna do it. I didn’t know you’d be so upset. I didn’t think...it mattered what happened.” Absently, she put her free hand back over the scabs. “I was...really scared and I didn’t want to think about it again. And I was stupid, again. I didn’t run. I should’ve just run.”

“We talk and see each other just about every day, and-- and it’s a long process, becoming a vampire,” Mina said. “If I didn’t notice, someone else would. We also wouldn’t have been able to do today.” She was calming down. It was taking her a bit, but she was coming down. She shook her head. “I don’t want you to have to tell me something, even if it gets to the point that you don’t want to. Don’t-- don’t make promises, especially not with me, especially if you’re not one hundred percent sure that you’ll keep it. Otherwise, it’s dangerous.” She rested her forehead against her knee. “I-- I’m not upset? I’m--” scared “I care about you a lot, and I don’t want something to happen to you. That frightens me. I’m not used to-- I’m not good with losing people.” She looked up and tried to smile weakly, but she couldn’t make the muscles work properly. “I’m really not good with losing people, or the prospect of it.” Running wouldn’t have helped this, but Mina didn’t have it in her to say that. “You’re not stupid.”

“I think if I had turned into a vampire, I would’ve had to tell you, anyway,” Bex mused. Mina was curling in on herself and Bex recognized the behavior as something she often did herself. Bex scooted closer still, until she was right in front of Mina, knees touching shins, and prodded her to uncurl, at least a little bit. “But I do know. One hundred percent. And, besides, you said it was only dangerous if the person wanted to use it against me. I know you would never do that. I won’t...say it again, but I’ll keep to myself.” She grabbed both of Mina’s hands and squeezed. “You’re not gonna lose me. Okay? You’re not. I’m not going anywhere. I just got here. And, besides, where else would I go?” At least, not anytime soon. Maybe, though. One day. She’d have to go back home. She’d have to. She wondered what life would be like then. Could she still be Mina’s friend? Could she still feel this way for her? Bex cleared her throat. “I’m a little stupid,” she teased, smiling back at her. She tugged on her hands. “C’mon, the sun is setting soon, and I wanna see what you brought for our picnic.”

“It might have been just a bit difficult to keep a secret, that’s true.” But Mina was managing to keep the fact that she was completely inhuman a secret pretty well, so who was to say they both weren’t completely oblivious? “It’s dangerous when it can’t be kept, too. Words have a way of hurting people if they aren’t taken seriously, or if someone doesn’t want to keep them, or can’t keep them. That’s why I… released you.” She moved her head up and looked at Bex. “But, no, I wouldn’t do that.” Never. She’d promise to never hurt Bex if she thought she could get away with it. Somehow, she didn’t think she’d be allowed to make that one. She squeezed Bex’s hands back, even if she didn’t really believe the words. If Bex found out what she was, Mina didn’t think Bex would want to stick around. She smiled, small but real. “You’re not… Morgan helped me pack. It’s supposed to all be kosher.”

“Even if that’s true,” Bex started, “It’s worth the risk.” You’re worth the risk. The actual words stuck in her mouth, dry like sandpaper on her tongue. She swallowed them back and went back to pretending that this was somehow normal. “But okay. I won’t promise that then.” She’d just keep the promise to herself. She never wanted to see Mina look at her like that again-- that worry, that fear, that panic-- and she’d do whatever it took to make sure it didn’t. Bex let out a slow breath, then, before standing up and wiping the dirt off her pants as much as she could, before reaching down to grab Mina’s arm and tug her up as well. “I hope you brought a blanket in that bag. No picnic’s complete without one and I’d rather not continue sitting in the mud, as nice as it was.” She’d have stayed there all night if Mina had wanted her to. She came back over to their stuff and picked her camera back up, dusting it off. “All kosher, huh? Do you even know what foods are kosher?” It was nice, though, that MIna had put enough thought into a meal to remember Bex kept kosher. She turned her camera on and flipped to the picture of Mina standing by the falls. Then the one of the two of them on the log. She looked back over to the spot where they’d fallen just a few moments ago and wished she could have rewound time to just before it happened. Remind herself to cover the scabs on her neck. Pretend like they hadn’t been interrupted. She looked back at Mina and just smiled, gentle and soft, pinching at the edges of her eyes. “I’m glad we came up here,” she finally said, “despite...everything else.”

“It is true because I don’t lie, and, no, it’s not worth the risk,” Mina said, simply. “I’m grateful that you won’t. I don’t want you to be bound to something like that.” She didn’t know if Bex understood that she would have to tell Mina if something happened or even if she was just afraid. She would have to, and she wouldn’t be able to keep things to herself, and as much as Mina wanted to know she wasn’t going to take that agency away from Bex. She let herself be pulled up and tried to pull the leaves out of her hair, brush the dirt off her back. “Yes, I packed a blanket.” She’d been informed to pack a blanket. “I also brought one of those battery operated lanterns? Because it is going to get dark soon.” She went over to her bag and started pulling things out: the blanket, the tupperware, the lantern. There was a panel in the back of the bag that, if she needed, there was a much longer, much sharper knife than the one in her boot waiting in case she needed it. “I had to ask what was and wasn’t kosher,” she admitted. “But it should all be right. And vegetarian. Well, yours.” Mina just couldn’t do a completely vegetarian diet. She looked up at Bex and actually smiled. “I’m glad, too. I’m-- I wish I hadn’t freaked out. And tripped. But it’s still been nice.”

Sometimes the language Mina used confused Bex, but so far, she’d tried not to question it too much. It made more sense, now, why she was always so vague and wishy washy about some things, but Bex was finding herself more and more begging to ask the questions she didn’t think Mina wanted to answer. She’d stay quiet for now, though, because the evening had already been interrupted once, and if she did that again, then they’d miss the sunset. So, instead, she helped Mina set up their little picnic, pulling out the lantern and flicking it on, setting it next to the blanket as Mina laid it out. She crawled onto the blanket and started setting up the tupperware, grabbing the silverware and little plastic plates, before settling down next to Mina and handing her one. “And vegetarian? Aww, you remembered.” It was nice to feel remembered. She smiled back at Mina. “I can teach how to tell if something’s kosher, if you want. It’s not hard.” At least, she didn’t think it was. She’d just been raised that way, though. “You know,” she said idly as she scooped some food onto her plate, “I don’t think I minded the fall too much. I do think it’s funny that, after all your warnings about me being careful, you were the one that slipped.” Then, a little quieter, “I also don’t think I...minded that, either. It’s nice to know someone cares enough. To freak out like that.”

“Of course I remembered?” Was Mina expected to forget? “You mentioned it, and I know things like that are important, and I wouldn’t want someone to try and give me something that I couldn’t eat, so I didn’t think you’d enjoy that, either.” She started grabbing her own food, crossing her legs but sitting up straight, no longer attempting to cave in on herself. “Okay, it might not be hard for you to tell if something’s kosher, but I… might have a more difficult time with it, you know. I’m not used to these sorts of things.” She wasn’t used to most sorts of things. It’s fine. She snorted, rolling her eyes a bit. “It’s not funny. You were close to the edge, and I was just trying to make sure you didn’t fall.” And, really, that was something that Mina could affect. That was something that she could control and affect because she was here, and she could make sure that Bex didn’t fall off the edge, even if she couldn’t make sure that a vampire didn’t attack her. “Still. You can-- I was overreacting. You don’t have to tell me anything that happens to you. I’d like to know, but you don’t have to. And I’d worry anyway, but…” But she couldn’t stand the thought of losing someone, couldn’t stand the thought of losing Bex and not knowing what happened. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“You’d be surprised how many parents at birthday parties for all the neighborhood kids would forget,” Bex pointed out, “I ate a lot of bread at birthday parties.” She closed her eyes for a moment in a solemn nod. Opened them again to look over at Mina and grin, full faced and kinda sleepy. “I’ll teach you. You’ll be a pro in no time.” It made sense that someone who ate a mostly pescetarian diet wouldn’t really know the ins and outs of kosher foods. In fact, most people with normal diets didn’t even know. “It was kind of funny. Admit it.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “I wasn’t worried. I knew you’d never let me fall. Or, if I did, you’d come with me.” It really was that simple, wasn’t it? Bex chewed thoughtfully, before swallowing to answer Mina’s next question. Or statement. All of it just felt so...simple to her. Everything with Mina was simple, except the way she made Bex feel. “I know I don’t have to, but I want to.” She crossed her legs like Mina had, setting her tupperware in her lap. “That’s what friends do, right? They tell each other stuff. And I kinda get the feeling you’ll worry even if I do tell you stuff. So, might as well at least take out the guesswork, right?” She reached out to brush her fingers against one of Mina’s hands, playing idly with her fingers, lifting her hand enough to intertwine them. “But maybe...if I have to stay late at school, just for a bit, you could stay with me?”

“Yes, well, clearly they were stupid to not remember something as easy as knowing that you’re vegetarian,” Mina said. Looking at Bex with her sleepy eyes, she wondered if she needed to get the younger girl back, but she also just… wasn’t ready to leave, not yet. She’d like to still take things in and enjoy it, despite the slight hiccup in that. “I’d like that. No, no, it-- well, okay. Maybe a little funny.” Mina only admitted it because her body was still processing the stress from before, and any attempt to lie at the moment would end poorly. “You really trust me,” she said, not a question, even though there was quite a bit of surprise in her voice. She wasn’t used to that, being trusted so inexplicably. Especially when she just didn’t think she deserved it. Especially when there was so much that she herself wasn’t saying, that she should say, that she didn’t know how to. She felt guilty, but she just sighed and smiled at Bex. “I’m… probably going to worry regardless, yes. I’m afraid that might just be a given, at this point.” Bex touched her so much. It felt like they were always touching, always holding hands or bumping into each other or touching, and Mina was trying to get used to it, and it helped that sometimes Morgan was so touchy feely, but sometimes there was just an impulse to jerk back and prepare to fight that Mina was beginning to realize probably wasn’t a natural thing. Holding Bex’s hand felt natural, though, and she squeezed the younger girl’s hand. “Yeah, I can do that. Of course I can do that.”

“I sort of think they just didn’t care,” Bex shrugged, “but there were lots of people to keep track of, too.” She picked at her food idly, finding herself not entirely too hungry for some reason. She probably should have been, she hadn’t eaten lunch that day-- but her stomach felt as if it were doing circus tricks. She looked over at Mina. “I really do,” she confirmed, the statement as simple as that. She really did. It was the truth and that’s all there was to it. She could count the number of people she truly trusted on one hand, and Mina was most certainly one of them. “Well, I’ll try my best to make you worry less. Just know the feeling is mutual, though. You worry me.” If Mina’s sense of duty to protect people was anything like Dani’s or Adam’s, that meant she was in danger of getting hurt, just like Dani when the vampire had stomped on her, or how she’d thrown herself at the cockatrice. She squeezed her hand back. “You can be like, my personal bodyguard. I’ll pay you in...good company?”

“Again. Stupid,” Mina said. She couldn’t imagine anyone not caring about Bex. But, really, maybe she was just a little biased. Maybe. Probably. Definitely. All the words that ended in -ly. And Bex trusted her, and the thought of that made her sick, just a little, because there was nothing she’d done to earn that trust, not that she could think of. She didn’t deserve it, she didn’t think. “I trust you, too,” she said, quietly, and she did. She trusted Bex so much. Mina just… didn’t trust herself, and, in the end, she was too afraid that she wouldn’t actually be worth it. “I don’t know if that’s going to work, Ms. Clumsy. And now I’m going to be looking for vampires under every rock I see.” She smiled at Bex. “I’m all good, though, really. I’m--” It was hard to explain why Bex shouldn’t be worried about her, that she was fine, that she was used to things happening. “I hope you don’t worry about me a lot.” It was bad enough knowing that people worried about her and rectifying that fact with the knowledge that it wasn’t because they thought she was incapable. They just… worried. “You do need a bodyguard, I think. If only to keep you from falling off of waterfalls. This is adequate payment, though.”

“Please don’t go looking for vampires,” Bex said with an over exaggerated sigh. “And I will wear that name proudly. Call me Ms. Clumsy all you want, you were the one that fell over.” She gave a triumphant smile. She set her container of food aside and turned herself to face Mina fully, keeping their hands intertwined still. “I think worrying is one of my base personality traits. I don’t have a lot of friends, so I kinda worry a lot about the ones I do have. And you kinda fall in that category, so I guess we’ll just both have to agree to worry about each other. But, like...in a good way.” She huffed and gave a pout. “I don’t need a bodyguard, but it would be nice to have one. Only if it’s you, though. I’m not sure I could stand anyone else.” She looked back over her shoulder at the treeline, where the sun was beginning to set. Eagerly, she tugged on Mina’s hand, urging her to set aside her bowl as well. “Here,” she scooted next to her so they were facing the same way and pointed up at the skyline. “Lay down with me. We can watch the sunset together. My favorite thing is watching the sky change colors.”

“I won’t go looking for them, but it never hurts to be prepared, you know.” Mina was teasing, but she did make a legitimate mental note to add a stake to her backpack. Just in case. Not because she expected to have to use it, but also because she definitely feared she might have to use it. She narrowed her eyes a bit. “I tripped making sure you didn’t topple over the edge. Your foot was literally over the edge!” Maybe she’d jerked back too quickly or maybe she should have just paid better attention, but Mina was not the clumsy one in this situation. Even if she was the one to trip. “Then I guess we’ll just have to worry about each other. And I think you do need a bodyguard, but I’m willing to take the job. Do you need any credentials? I have… over ten years of experience dealing with these things.” It was closer to twenty, but she didn’t want to point that out; it might be odd. Mina set aside her stuff and leaned back, looking at the sky before turning her face to Bex. “Just to be clear, we’re not watching the sunset? We’re watching the rest of the sky as the sun sets?”

“If it makes you feel better, the girl that helped me gave me a flask full of holy water. I keep it in my backpack now,” Bex explained. And she had started wearing her Star of David again. Her mother would’ve been so happy to know that. She swallowed the thought down. “Oh, was it?” she asked, blinking, genuinely unaware. “I didn’t even notice. I just kept looking into the water and it was like, I dunno, entrancing. I even thought I saw like, another sky in the reflection. It was kinda weird. Almost made me wanna jump…” she trailed off, laying back to gaze up at the sky. They were at a slight angle, but the sunset was at their feet, below the tree lines anyway. “I get jumped one time and suddenly I need a bodyguard? Sheesh. Fine, I accept your credentials. You start tomorrow morning. Think you can manage?” Turned her face to look at Mina, and they were so close again. Only a few inches between their faces, shoulders touching. “We can’t see the sunset, anyway, it’s behind the trees. Plus,” she turned away, feeling a heat in her cheeks that hadn’t been there before. Must be the cold setting in. “Look how pretty the clouds are.” She lifted a hand to point. “It looks like a painting.”

Nodding, Mina said, “That’s good, that’s really good. Sharp wood is also nice to have on you.” Though, she didn’t know if she wanted Bex near a stake. That might actually be a really bad idea. “Maybe actually stick to the holy water.” She shot Bex a worried look. “It was. I wouldn’t have grabbed you otherwise. I… It was really pretty. I kept wanting to dive in, too. But you did say no jumping, so.” She’d thought she had seen the sky as well, but she hadn’t thought much of it. Now she was concerned, but it could wait. “One time is far too many. But, yes, I can start tomorrow. I know I can manage. Well… maybe. I think you’ll be the most difficult person I’ve ever looked after.” She couldn’t help but study Bex’s face, her eyes, her lips. Oh no. She felt a tightness in her chest. Instead of paying it any mind, though, instead of dwelling on it and letting it take over, she turned her head to fully face the sky. But her eyes flickered back and forth, glancing at the sky and then at Bex and then back at the sky. “It’s lovely.”

Bex was too fixated on the sky to notice Mina’s eyes flicking between her and the painting they were laying under. “Yeah, she mentioned that, too. Wood and garlic, I guess.” What a strange weakness to have, garlic. Then again, Bex had food weaknesses. She wondered if it was like that, like allergies. She watched a cloud drift into shadow and the colors of its base change from yellow to orange to a deep red, almost purple. Sometimes she wished she could just float away like clouds, drifting on the wind. “Calling me difficult actually takes away from your credentials, you know.” But there was an airyness to her voice, lofty and quiet. “Isn’t it?” She hadn’t felt this free in ages. If it were up to her, they’d stay here all night, looking up at the sky. Watch the cloud turn to stars, and the stars turn to dawn’s light. Without much prompting, she unfurled her fingers from Mina’s, lifting her arm, and scooted her way over, until her head was resting on Mina’s shoulder, and she wrapped her arm around her. “I’m glad Nell suggested this to you,” she finally said, “I think I really needed this.”

“Yeah, garlic’s good, too. I always forget about garlic. It just irritates them, really.” At least, that’s what Mina had learned. Her dad wasn’t a slayer, she most definitely wasn’t a slayer, they rarely went after vampires, so she’d only learned the most important information: holy water burns, holy symbols hurt, and stakes kill. What else was there to know about vampires? “I’m just being truthful. That’s actually one of my skill sets: complete truthfulness to any questions asked.” When Bex pulled away, she lifted her head, a bit confused, but settled back pretty easily when she figured out what Bex was doing. Again with all of the touching. Not that she minded. She didn’t mind, but it was so confusing. It was so nice, and comforting, and, really, she wasn’t used to feeling comforted, so maybe that was why it was so confusing. She swallowed back some of that tightness and rested her head against Bex’s. She didn’t want to think about that right now. She wanted to just stay there and look at the sky. It really was pretty. “Yeah, I’m glad she did, too.” Even if Nell wouldn’t stop bothering her with questions. “I needed it, too.”

“Do you think it’s weird?” Bex asked, settling into the nook of Mina’s shoulder. “That, like, movies and popular media stuff got so much of it right? Do you think it’s because that stuff is written by people in the know?” She’d wondered that for a bit now, ever since Dani joked about how she should’ve known it was a vampire simply because of movies. “OH, ha ha. Very funny. You know, just for that, I might actually make it even more difficult for you to watch after me. I don’t know how yet, but I’ll figure something out.” From the outside, someone might have assumed Bex was really an affectionate person, especially with the way she acted around Mina. But that was far from the truth. Somehow, though, all she wanted to do was be touching Mina, in whatever way possible. Shoulders, hands, arms. Anything would do. She made her feel safe. Comfortable. Warm. Like the shades of the setting sky, fading from blue to purple to orange, to pink. White clouds dotting the canvas. Bex reached up and took Mina’s hand again, playing with her fingers. “Hey, Mina?” she asked quietly.

“I don’t really know how much movies and popular media got right? I mean, from what I know, The Mummy was a terrible depiction of reanimated corpses.” Mina had to think about it for a moment, what she knew about that counted as popular media. “And… some of the stuff that we read in Morgan’s class is… close? I don’t really know, though. I mean, someone wrote down something accurate at some point and distributed it, and now here we are.” She shrugged before she narrowed her eyes at the side of Bex’s head, even knowing that the younger girl couldn’t see her. “I’d rather you didn’t make things difficult, please,” she said, but, really, did she expect any different? She settled back, catching Bex’s hand with her own and rubbing the palm of Bex’s hand with her thumb. “Yeah?”

“Okay, well, the Mummy doesn’t count cause it didn’t get anything right, technically,” Bex huffed. “But things like Dracula get scary close to the real thing. From what I know.” Stakes, garlic, holy symbols. She should’ve paid more attention in High School English. She nestled a little further into Mina, feeling her chest both seize up and somehow relax. Her entire body felt relaxed, and yet her heart was pounding. She’d felt like this once before. “Okay,” she conceded without much fight, “I won’t.” Her eyes wandered back up to the sky, and she watched as all the warm colors began to fade. Clouds began to blend in with the sky, disappearing into nighttime. They should probably start heading back, before it got too dark, too dangerous, but Bex just wanted to stay here. All night. Maybe even all day tomorrow. The waterfalls were still echoing around everywhere, wind rustling leaves, the quiet hum of insects chirping for the nightfall. Bex somehow felt at peace, out here, like this place was a haven. “I’m glad I met you,” she finally answered.

#chatzy #wickedswriting #champlain falling for you #chatzy: mina #mina #domestic abuse mention tw #//this...got long and i blame kat and ria

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sukkasupremacy · 4 years ago

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Secretary Suki—-A One Shot excerpt from “Fan & Sword”-

(Very Mild Smut warning :) )

Suki had just come home from dropping Yukari and Yumie off at school and was now ready to enjoy her day off from work.

Sokka was talking pretty seriously on the phone, “Yeah she should stay home if she’s not feeling well. I can manage my own schedule…yes that’s fine. Okay? Bye.” Sokka hung up.

“Hey love, you good?”

Sokka stuffed his notebook into his bag and gave her a thumbs up, “Yeah. My secretary is really sick today so I told them to send her home. Do you have work today?”

“Oh, that’s awful. I hope she gets well and no I’m off today.”

“That’s good, you should rest. I have to leave in like an hour so you wanna have some tea together? I made some before you got back.” Sokka got up and poured some tea for them to have together.

“Thank you,” Suki accepted the cup and drank from it, “Will you be able to manage without your secretary? I know it’s a lot to keep up with.”

“Pfft, yeah I’ll be fine. I’m Sokka!” He flashed her a smile and she rolled her eyes.

“Mmhmm. Well you can be pretty forgetful at times!” She teased taking another sip.

“Hey!”

Suki put her hand on his shoulder and chuckled, “Just kidding councilman. I’m sure you can manage.”

“Hmmm well...I do tend to forget things a lot,” Sokka took a sip and then an idea dawned on him, “Hey Suki, you should come to work with me! And like my secretary for today! It would be fun!”

Suki chuckled, “That sounds like a good idea in theory but will you even be able to concentrate with me around?” She raised her eyebrow and leaned forward to smirk at him.

Sokka frowned, “Hey! I can totally do work even with my amazing, beautiful, awesome, powerful, smart…,” Sokka trailed off and she covered her mouth to muffle her laughter, “Okay. You have a point.”

Suki picked up the tea cups and started to wash them in the sink, “Well the girls are going over at Katara and Aang’s later so I’m free all day. I would love to be your secretary.”

“ALRIGHT! BRING YOUR GIRLFRIEND TO WORK DAY!” Sokka got up and ran into their room and came back with an outfit, “Here! Wear this so you look like a person who works at city hall.”

Suki chuckled and took the clothes, “Well this should be fun.” She went to their room and changed into the white dress shirt and black tie, a black pencil skirt, and an emerald green blazer. Suki put her hair half up and applied a layer of her favorite lipstick. “So, do I look like secretary Suki?” Suki chuckled and grabbed a notebook and clipboard to put into her “secretary bag.”

Sokka blushed, “Wow, you look really beautiful!”

“Hehe, thanks councilman,” She gave him a hug and pecked his cheek, “Let’s go?”

Sokka exhaled the breath he was holding and smiled sheepishly, “Yes! Let’s go-to work-hehe.”

Suki rolled her eyes and took his hand.They made their way down the stairs of their apartment complex to walk to city hall. It was only a thirty minute walk and they had time.

Suki clutched his arm and looked at the beautiful cherry blossom trees around Republic City, “So when I get there, what do I do?”

“Well basically you follow me around and remind me of meetings and make my schedule. At meetings you take notes for me.”

“Sounds easy enough!”

Sokka smiled, “Ooo! Since you’re my secretary today then maybe...I could take you out for lunch?”

Suki raised her eyebrow, “Hmmm but this is a professional environment councilman so I think I’ll have to pass on that one. I don’t wanna get fired for going on non platonic lunch dates with my boss!” Sokka shook his head and rolled his eyes causing her to laugh, “Kidding. Lunch sounds fun.”

Sokka poked her cheek, “You are having way too much fun with this….It’s kind of cute.”

Suki giggled and kissed his cheek, “I’m just excited to spend the day with you.”

Sokka smiled and then they arrived, “Okay we’re here!” He opened the door and led her up the stairs to his office, “This is city hall! Here’s a big library with government books and stuff, here’s all the offices, council room, a meeting room, another one, another one...oh and here’s my office!” He opened the door, “Ladies first!”

Suki chuckled and entered the room, “What a gentleman.” He closed the door and followed her, “So where do I go?”

Sokka ran over to his secretary’s desk and pushed it next to his desk, “Here!”

She crossed her arms and smirked, “Will you even be able to concentrate, Councilman Sokka.”

“Yes Secretary Suki I believe in my will power!” He pulled the chair out for her because chivalry isn’t dead, “Let’s start work!”

Suki chuckled and sat down on the comfy office chair and watched him sit down and get settled. He made himself comfy, lit a candle for light, and pulled out his paperwork and notebook. He pulled out a schedule from Suki’s desk and gave it to her, “Here, that’s my schedule. When’s my next meeting babe?”

Suki read the schedule, “Uhhh, today at 12pm and that’s it. You have lunch at 1:00pm and go home at 6pm. Oh I missed this one you need to have whatever you’re doing done by 11pm.”

“Thanks Secretary Suki,” he chuckled and smiled at her, “Okay I have to work now. I’ll tell you if you need to write anything down. Oh and thanks Suki.” He leaned over to give her a quick kiss and got right to work.

Suki smiled and nodded. She watched him write and read for about thirty minutes, “So, love, what’s this meeting for?”

Sokka continued to write, “It’s for funding for the elementary schools. Toph said we’ll be taking some money from the police budget since they don’t need it and education is important but we still need this many pieces,” Sokka pointed to the balance, “So I’m trying to figure out who would wanna invest. Cabbage Corp is way too big so we need to go smaller and…”

“What about Future Industries? Hiro has a kid in the schools so he would probably wanna invest and they’re pretty successful but not too up there.”

Sokka grabbed her face between his hands, “You are a genius!” He smacked a kiss on her lips, “So smart Suki! That’s a great idea!”

She smiled and wrote down the idea, “So you don’t forget!” She scribbled the idea down and sat up straight in her chair like the ‘professional’ she was. Sokka made a call to Future Industries and they agreed in exchange for a sponsorship from the council which he could make happen. Suki wrote down the details of the call and Sokka got back to work. After awhile, she got bored and decided to watch Sokka again. She rested her chin on her hand and smiled, “Hey Sokka,”

“Hmm?” He hummed still focused.

Suki blushed, “You’re really cute when you’re working.”

“Thanks,” he said still focused

She got up and gave the side of his head a kiss, then his cheek, and then his lips. Sokka gave her that, ‘stop that’ look and she chuckled and sat back down.

“Suki, you’re making it so hard right focused right now!” He chuckled and flipped the page.

She twirled the quill in her hand and put her feet up on her desk, “Sorry you’re just so hardworking and I’m proud of you.”

Sokka blushed and turned back to his paperwork and whatnot, “Thanks.” After hour he glanced over at her and his heart stopped. “Suki you look so hot. Can I kiss you?”

She bursted out into laughter and got up as he did the same, “Hey before we make out, are you at least almost done with your work?”

“Yeah, I’m done,” he gripped her under her skirt and lifted her onto the desk. Suki chuckled and sealed the gap between them. Sokka pulled away and kissed her neck.

“Sokka.” She exhaled, “What if someone walks in.”

“My next meeting isn’t for ten minutes so,” he kissed down to her collarbone,”I think we can do it.”

“Hmmm,” Suki hummed. She pushed his face away and gave him a look, “Hmm well I don’t think you can do anything to me in ten minutes.”

“What? Yes I can!” He pouted.

Suki chuckled and hopped off the desk and went down on her knees, “No babe. Ten minutes won’t do me any good and you know that but,” she played with the zipper of his pants and looked up at his face which was tense, wide eyed, and red faced, “I could maybe finish you in ten minutes?”

Sokka nodded quickly, “Yes. Yes please do that.”

Suki chuckled and undid his pants and belt. She gently poked him and he jerked, “Wow, councilman, you’re rock solid.”

Suki kissed him through his briefs and he swallowed the lump in his throat, “Suki,” he exhaled.

Suki chuckled and pulled his briefs down and took him into her hands to stroked him and looked up at him, “You like?” She giggled and kissed the top and swirled her tongue around him and pulled off with a gentle pop.

Sokka groaned brought his hand to hair and massaged it, “Gah, yes Suki. Good. Like that.” He stuttered.

Suki moaned and licked a long stripe from his bass to the top and went down on him.

“Nngh! Fuck Suki!” He groaned out, whisper yelling because the walls in city hall weren’t that thick.

Suki moaned and continued as he rubbed her hair.

She pulled off of him for a brief moment to catch her breath, “Does,” she cleared her throat, “Sorry, it’s bigger than I remember.”

Sokka caressed her face and his face turned an embarassing shade of red, “Spirits, you’re unreal.”

Suki smirked and put him back into her mouth and hallowed her cheeks. She ran her hands up his thigh, leaving a burning sensation of pleasure where she touched.

Sokka gently pulled her in further and groaned, “Gah, Suki!” And moaned, “I’m close baby-“

KNOCK KNOCK!

Suki pulled off of him, “Shit.” She muttered. Suki pulled his briefs up and he flinched, still sensitive and shocked, and pulled his pants up and did them.

“Yes?!” Sokka called our still breathless.

“Meeting in five Councilmen Sokka.”

“Got it!” Suki chuckled and stood up to pat his shoulder, “You are something else Suki.” He kissed her cheek and blushed, “Can you see it still?”

She shrugged, “Just a little.” She smiled, “Does my mouth look okay?”

Sokka licked his thumb and wiped below her bottom lip, “You had some lipstick smudging but you should be good.”

Suki grabbed her clipboard and looped her arm in his, “Alright, let’s go Councilman.”

———

“In conclusion we will partially defund our city police since we have already implemented crime prevention programs and rehabilitation centers to prevent crime and we will reallocate those funds to fund education to make better citizens of the world. We will also strike an investment with Future Industries in exchange for advertisement of their company which we can do. Thank you.” Sokka sat down the the meeting clapped at his idea.

Suki rested her hand on his knee and smiled, “Amazing job babe.”

Sokka smiled at her and turned back to the meeting orator, “Okay everyone. That concludes our meeting today. Thank you!”

All the council people bowed their heads and got up to leave.

“Councilman Sokka!”

Sokka turned, “Oh! Hey Councilwoman Hisoka! How’s your day going!”

Hisoka gave him a side hug and smiled and Suki crossed her arms awkwardly, “Great! Good idea at the meeting Councilman Sokka!”

Sokka chuckled and she let go, “Actually, it was this awesome lady’s idea.”

Hisoka looked at Suki and asked, “Did you get a new secretary?”

Suki shook her head and offered her hand for a handshake, “Nope, I’m Councilman Sokka’s girlfriend nice to meet you.” Suki forced a smile and shook her hand.

“Nice to meet you, my name is Hisoka. Sokka’s like my best buddy here at work! Great guy!” She smiled, “You didn’t tell me you had a girlfriend?”

“He has children too. Two girls.”

Hisoka gasped, “Really? You gotta bring them on bring your kids to work day!”

Sokka felt the tension and put his arm around Suki, “Yeah, this my girlfriend, Suki, and we’ve been together for ten years? I think so? Yeah.”

“Cute.” Hisoka said with that weird smile of hers, “Well I’m going to go back to my office to finish up some paperwork. Catch ya later! And nice to meet you Suki” and then she was gone.

Sokka and Suki made their way back to his office and Sokka noticed her expression, “Babe.”

“Yes?” She said in an annoyed tone.

“I know what you’re thinking. Me and Hisoka are just friends.”

Suki sat down at her desk and rested her chin on her hand, “Hmmm she was awfully excited to see you and give you a hug.”

Sokka sat down and chuckled, “You are so cute Suki,” he poked her cheek and smiled, “Don’t worry. I only got eyes for you.”

Suki pursed her lip and blew a stray hair out of her face, “Okay fine. I trust you.” She turned her annoyed expression to him, “BUT if that girl tries to flirt with you again-“

Sokka laughed and looked at her sweetly, “You’ll kick her ass. I know. Calm down you fire ferret!” Sokka leaned his face close to hers and smiled, “ You won because you’re the one who stole my heart,” and pinched her cheek playfully, “Okay?”

Suki looked at the desk and pouted for a second then returned her eyes to him, “Okayyyyyy.”

Sokka rolled his chair over to her and gave her a kiss, “I love you. Okay?”

Suki tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear and smiled, “Okay.” Then she got an idea, “But how do I know that your secretary isn’t as pretty as me Sokka?”

“What? Since when do you get jealous?” Sokka saw what she was doing and he liked it.

Suki sighed and pushed her chair to roll it to the nearby wall, “How do I know that she’s not flirting with you? I mean every girl and some of the boys on this council seem to have heart eyes for you. So how do I know that you can resist them. I mean they are all pretty people.”

Sokka got up and chuckled, “Babe,” he got down on his knees to be at her level, “Only you.” Sokka rubbed her knees and she sighed

“Hmm...prove it.” Suki smirked and Sokka’s eyes widened.

“Right now?” He whispered loudly.

“If you want.” She teased tussling his hair.

“Well...I’ve always imagined fucking my secretary on a desk at work.” He teased, as a joke of course and Suki knew that.

“Ah Ha! So you do think your secretary is pretty?!”

Sokka laughed and slid his hands under her skirt to lift her off the chair and onto his desk, “Yeah, my secretary is really pretty,” Sokka winked and kissed her cheek, “She’s got a great smile, a beautiful body no matter what, clever fingers, a smart mind, pretty eyes, dark auburn hair, and a golden heart.” Sokka leaned into kiss her and Suki smiled out of the kiss, “And she’s from Kyoshi Island and was the incredible leader of the Kyoshi Warriors.”

Suki chuckled and brought her arms around his neck to pull him in, “Hmm I think I know her.”

“You think so?” Sokka chuckled and sealed her lips with a kiss and Suki leaned down with her back flat on the desk and Sokka hovering over her.

Sokka trailed his hands down her side and tickled it slightly causing Suki to pull away and giggle breathlessly, “S-Sokka,” She squirmed as he attacked her neck, “W-what if,SOK-,” she giggled and nudged his head, “What if we get caught?”

Sokka pulled out of her neck and tapped her nose with his finger, “That’s why I locked the door, silly.”

Suki raised her eyebrow, “Oh, so you were planning this?” She smiled and he leaned down to kiss her again.

“I got the idea while you were reading with your feet up on the desk,” he squeezed her hip and smiled, “So what do ya say, Secretary Suki?”

“Well don’t just stand there!”

Sokka chuckled and started to take her skirt off when the doorknob rattled.

KNOCK KNOCK!

Sokka groaned and Suki chuckled, “Yes?” He replied in a frustrated tone.

Suki got up and sat back down at her desk, “Councilman Sokka! There’s an emergency meeting in regards to the bender and no bender conflict in ten minutes. We will eat lunch during the meeting.”

“Okay!” Sokka frowned and Suki chuckled.

“Aww, no lunch date?” She teased while getting up to write the meeting down on the schedule.

Sokka slumped back into his chair, “And no making love on the office desk to my girlfriend!” He whined.

Suki snorted and glanced up at him, “Maybe when we get home.” She smiled and returned to organizing the notes from the last meeting.

Sokka looked at her wide-eyed, “Really?!”

“Yeah,” Suki said nonchalantly, “Just make sure to bring me on that lunch date sometime soon. I was actually looking forward to that!”

——-

#sukka #sokka #suki #avatar the last airbender #sukkafanfiction

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yodawgiherd · 4 years ago

Text

Red flag pt.3

>>>Read on AO3<<<

Soon brothers.

Just not yet. :D

In the following week, Mikasa learned more about sex than she ever did before. While the internet itself was a fickle teacher, giving facts and hundred and more opinions from anonymous users, Eren was an endless well of knowledge. It was her who asked first too, he didn’t even try to talk about it before Mikasa brought it up. And how could she help herself, with such an insane bomb being dropped on her!

First things first – she googled the name of the agency he worked at, just to be sure that he was not bulshitting her, but everything he said seemed to be true. The website was there, displaying the “ wide variety of services done by long-term professionals”. Although Eren’s name was not there, he told her that he is listed as Master E, a thing she immediately questioned. Over messenger, of course.

Master E? Damn that’s lame.

You wound me :(

I mean seriously, couldn’t you be something cooler?

Such as?

I don’t know! Master Evil. Dungeon Master. Lord of the Night?

Yea, I’m sure that dungeon master would be turning heads

….. Orgasminator?

Mikasa pls

Lord horsecock

Stoooooop I beg you!

Fine fine, you’re just jealous I’m that much better at naming than you

Sure am.

When he didn’t continue, Mikasa took the initiative.

Sooooooooooo, gonna tell me where the Master E came from?

Simple. Annie wanted to be Mistress A so I just latched onto her vibe

Uh-hu. So you are just that much unoriginal

:( sadly

Just imagining Eren pouting at his phone made Mikasa’s evening that much brighter. She wanted to see more of it.

Latching on Annie, you do that a lot don’t you?

Why is that?

Well, she’s the one who introduced you to this whole thing and even today she is the best at your agency, most advertised one too. Playing catch up your whole life? Maaaaaaster E? :P

Hey, it’s not my fault that men are bigger pervs than women.

Excuses

To be honest, I don’t mind being behind Annie, she’s good at this. Also, don’t tell her this, but she scares me sometimes

Scares you how :O

Annie can be really brutal when she gets into it. Nothing the clients don’t ask for, mind you, but still. If you’d see her victims….. the wounds……

Mikasa’s breath caught in her throat.

Are you serious?

I don’t know…. Am I?

Dork.

She frowned at her phone, but still looked when the answer pinged in.

I am partly serious though. She can be a nightmare, sometimes I feel like she’s on a one-woman crusade against the male population. And she’s getting paid for it too!

She sounds like a hell of a woman.

You bet :)

Master E also had several scenes online, to be bought and watched, and a few times Mikasa almost clicked the button and spent her hard-earned cash on kinky porn. It was the promise of a live show that stopped her from doing so. She didn’t know if she’s going to go yet but buying a video of something she could watch happening in real time was a waste of money. No, she wouldn’t spoil that surprise.

She learned much anyway, way too much even, things that made her blush and hide her face, things that made her quickly hide her phone. In moments like these, she was grateful that the communication was being done over the internet, as Eren was way too intense of a person to be talked about this face to face. Here, hidden behind her screen, she could pester him for ages, joking and making fun of whatever he gave her. And, during these conversations, she learned another important thing.

For a guy who was more or less a professional perv, Eren used a lot of emojis in his messages.

It caught her off guard, how normal and easy to talk to he was. She didn’t think that he was a monster or something, but Eren was right when he said that her opinion of him changed fundamentally once she found out about his job. Mikasa found herself texting to him, a lot, and he texted back, snapped photos until she started doing it too, and overall just had a great time. Levi was giving her sidelong glares when he kept catching her while she stared at her phone, grinning like a maniac, but she simply ignored him. How was she supposed to not laugh when Eren just sent her a photo of his cup from a coffee shop with a crying emoji. Apparently, they spelled his name wrong again and kept calling him Aaron.

What’s the most common thing they ask you to do?

She half hid her face in the pillow, already dreading the answer. The three dots that appeared in the corner indicated that he was typing an answer, and soon enough there was a ping.

I feel like I’ll disappoint you here.

Most of my clients are easily satisfied - basic bondage/dominance stuff works wonders

They could do that with literally anyone else

Like their boyfriends and stuff

Mikasa frowned, typing an answer.

Why don’t they then?

Ping

Sometimes it’s the professionalism I bring to the table, and then I understand them.

But often it's just a lack of communication

You’d be surprised how many things can be solved if two parties talk to each other.

I usually advise it too, tell them that they could be doing this with someone they love and not me

You undermine your own clientele like this? Mikasa wrote Why would you do that?

A few dollars ain't worth if they could be happier. Then again, not every one of them takes my advice, it's difficult to open up about things like these.

That gave Mikasa a perfect chance to poke at him.

Not for you, apparently :p

Ping

:D true, but I work in the business

The range of things they discussed was wide. Save for her past, which she did not want to talk about, and made it crystal clear too, Mikasa shared a lot. She told him all about her brother and the gym, sent him snaps from her workouts and then typed back angry emojis when he called her sweaty tryhard. His overall ignorance towards something that was a big part of her life did raise a question. Grabbing her phone more firmly, she quickly typed it out.

Haven’t you thought about doing any martial art yourself?

You deff got the figure for it.

A ping later there was an answer.

Bold of you to say that when you never saw me shirtless :P

But nah

I’m a lover, not a fighter

Plus, you’re just trying to recruit me to your gym, aren’t you?

Levi promised you a bonus?

Spill your beans, Ackerman

Damn spammer. Yet Mikasa was smiling again, which made Levi, who just happened to be passing by, groan.

“Don’t you have a client coming?”, he asked.

She shook her head.

“In an hour, I’ve got plenty of time to get cleaned up.”, she made a gesture with her hand, “Now shoo, I’m having a conversation.”

“With Sasha?”

“Huh?”, she looked up, puzzled, “Why would it be Sasha?”

“Cause I never saw you smiling this much before.”

One week turned to two, and suddenly the day of Eren’s show was here. He remained true to his word, never bringing that event up, keeping it completely in her hands, if she wanted to show up or not. Mikasa was uncertain. The mystery pulled her in, she wanted to see these things for herself. Watching it on the internet is one thing, but live show….

All the stories Eren told her only fueled such a flame. He always omitted names and such, for the discretion of his clients, but he didn’t hold back on the details. To be fair, Mikasa did ask for those.

Sasha wasn’t much help in her decision process either, because Mikasa didn’t want to share all the details about Eren yet. She told her friend that the guy from the bar invited her to a strange-looking place, and wanted to know if she should go.

“Did you two fuck?”

Mikasa frowned, realizing that Sasha can’t see her over the phone.

“No Sash, we didn’t. He’s a friend.”

“Oh, okay.”, there was a crack on the other side as she probably munched on another potato chip, “And is he a friend-friend, or friend-you-would-like-to-fuck?”

“Why is that the question?”

Sasha giggled.

“Dunno just wanted to ask.”

“You’re not helping at all….”

“Because it's easy! You either trust that guy and go or don’t trust him, block his number and never see him again. Boom, solved!”

If only it was so simple.

Yet when the day rolled around, Mikasa woke up with a decision in her mind. She’s going to go there. Eren was a great friend, and she was curious about this whole thing. She will be masked, anonymous, and if there is something she won’t like, the door will be there. This raised another question, however, of what does one wear to a BDSM club.

Mikasa, in her vanilla life, did not feel the need to buy anything made of leather or latex and wasn’t about to start now. There was one pair of leather paints she used to own until one day a completely random guy on the street told her that her ass looks really good in them. Mikasa threw those pants right out that evening. Public exposure was something she was NOT looking for. So, she had a small variety to choose from anyway. Mostly jeans, one or two skirts and a single dress that she wore to prom and that probably wouldn’t fit her anymore. Standing in front of the wardrobe, she contemplated calling Sasha again but ultimately decided against it. Mikasa Ackerman is a grown woman. She can choose her own clothes, damn it.

In the end, it was just a simple shirt and jeans combo. She reasoned that it added to her secretiveness, as anyone could wear what she was wearing. Satisfied with her completely basic appearance, she headed for the door, grabbing the keys and popping her head into the kitchen.

“I’m heading out.”, she announced, “Borrowing the car too.”

“Oh? And you tell me now?”, Levi tsked, shaking his head, “Damn brat, you really have no manners. When will you be back?”

“Later, maybe tomorrow. Don’t wait up.”

The words were already forming in Levi’s mouth, but Mikasa spoke faster.

“I’m an adult, so please. Just don’t.”

And, to her surprise, he didn’t.

“Fine. But if there is even a single scratch on the car, I’m taking it out of your paycheck.”

“That’s fair. I’ll see you later then.”

“Later.”, he was already half-turned back towards the Tv, before he added, “Drive safely.”

And that’s how, an hour and a half later, she was standing in front of a completely unassuming building. The door was just like any other, with a small sign and everything, not strange in the slightest. The security guard might have been a bit of a giveaway. He was tall, wide and dressed in a tailored suit that fit him perfectly. When Mikasa approached, he sized her up and down.

“I’m afraid that this is a members only club.”, he spoke in low barytone, “Do you have a card?”

“I uhh... I was told that I can come in. I’m a friend of Eren, my name is Mi-…”

The guard raised a hand before she could finish.

“No names, please. We pride ourselves on anonymity.”

Seeing Mikasa nod, he continued.

“Mr. Yeager did tell me that someone might be coming and that I should let them straight in. So I will do just that.”, he stepped aside, “Once you enter, the masks will be to your right, and after choosing one please don’t forget to return it. Enjoy your stay.”

Mumbling her thanks, Mikasa dipped inside, finding herself in a small room. There were the masks, just as the guard said, and another door that led to the club itself. She could hear muted music coming through. First things first, she stepped closer to the selection, casting an inspecting eye over it. There were several types, all possible shapes and sizes form full hoods to tiny eye-masks. After a bit of healthy consideration, she grabbed a black one that covered the upper half of her face, more than enough to remain anonymous. It was not likely that she would meet anyone that knew her anyway, let’s be honest. Masked, ready as ever, curious and wanting to see more, Mikasa took a deep breath and entered the door, stepping right into Eren’s world.

#eremika #fanfic #snk #see you in 2021 #maybeh

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reddieorrnot · 5 years ago

Note

4 for the reddie prompts please! Xx

here you go!! this is number 4 off of this prompt list.

i got so many prompt requests so fast omg i like to make these so long too,, i’ll try and get as many done asap and i hope you like this!! “My parents are going out of town this weekend.”

Eddie looked up from the comic book in his hands, and glanced over to Richie. The teen was lying on his bed, throwing a ball into the air and catching it before it fell on his face. Eddie found it humorous how Richie’s feet nearly hung over the foot of his bed, his height seemed to have betrayed his desire to keep the same bed throughout adolescence. When Eddie didn’t answer, Richie sat up and continued to speak.

“My dad’s got some dentist convention and my mom wanted to go. Doesn’t that sound so dumb, a dentist convention? What’re they gonna do, inspect each other’s teeth? See who can brush the best?” Richie looked genuinely confused, which prompted a giggle from Eddie who set down the borrowed comic.

They had been spending all afternoon at Richie’s, it being originally a plan for Eddie to receive some tutoring, but the two had finished way earlier than expected. It bewildered Eddie, how good at math Richie was. The boy only needed to learn a lesson once before being able to do the problems, along with applying further thinking with more difficult questions.

He would never admit it to anyone, but Eddie always stared in awe and amazement as Richie knit together his eyebrows ad solved his homework in record time. And apparently, Richie was also good at explaining how to answer the problem, because Eddie felt much more confident in his abilities after an hour of getting homework help from Richie. Neither one felt particularly in favor of ending their hanging out, so they decided to just relax in Richie’s room until Eddie needed to leave.

“I bet you’d do great in their teeth brushing contest, my little hygiene freak.” Richie crawled over to where Eddie was, sitting on the edge of the bed. Before Eddie could stop him, Richie brought his hand up and pinched Eddie’s cheek with a smile.

“Oh, stop it, Rich,” Eddie swat the hand away from his face, thinking about Richie’s comment. He secretly found pride in how clean his mouth was, and how pearly white his teeth were. He didn’t do the whole routine night and day for nothing.

“Come on, Eds. You know you would, you got a yapper so squeaky clean I bet kissing you would be like a minty oasis!”

It was stuff Richie said like that which made Eddie’s flutter, or the heat in his body to rise to his cheeks. Richie always was a flirt, saying things Eddie knew he didn’t mean. But there were moments where Richie would say something, something that indicated Richie had to think about his words, and it would leave Eddie damn near breathless.

“Shut up, and that isn’t my name,” was all Eddie could muster before returning his attention to the comic in his hands.

Richie had scooted over right next to Eddie, peeking at the comic and reading along. He must have gotten bored because soon Richie started speaking again.

“Maybe I should move everything in the house two inches to the left while they’re gone and see if they notice when they’re back…” Richie pondered, rolling onto his side and looking up at Eddie. As stupid as it was, it made Eddie giggle.

“That’s so dumb. But it sounds like something you’d do,” Eddie let out an exasperated sigh.

“They’d be so confused! Bumping into everything!” Richie exclaimed while rolling off the bed.

He stood to his feet and put on his best impression of his father, Went Tozier. “Here I am back in my home from my dentist convention, where I earned an award for farthest stethoscope up my ass-”

“Dentist don’t use stethoscopes, Richie,” Eddie cocked an eyebrow in amusement, only to be shushed by Richie.

“Guess I’ll just go and sit in my favorite chair! One I don’t even have to look at to sit in!” Richie then professionally strutted to an invisible chair, in a way that Eddie had to laugh at because it indeed did look like the way Went walked. Richie then mimed going to sit down, but landing right on his butt instead. He then put on a shocked expression, “Blasphemy! Could’ve sworn this chair was more to the right! Am I insane?”

Perhaps it was the voice, or the expression, or the concept of it all, but Eddie started to laugh so hard he fell back onto the bed holding his sides. Between the giggles, Eddie could hear Richie scrambling up and moving over to his side. Once Eddie’s laughter died down, he turned his head over to see his lanky best friend lying right next to him, Richie had the stupidest grin on his face.

“When I’m a big and famous comedian, and you’re my arm candy, I’ll be able to pick out your laughter at all my shows.”

Eddie hoped Richie couldn’t sense the nerves radiating off of the smaller boy.

“Like enough people will find you funny for you to have shows,” Eddie teased.

“Of course they will, Eds! And if not, I’m sure they’ll come for your cuteness,” That earned Richie a shove in the arm.

“You’re so weird, and stop calling me that. Your parents go out of town and the first thing you wanna do is alter the whole house by a few inches. Other teens would do other things,” Eddie rolled his eyes as he brought back their focus to the original topic. Richie’s eyes flickered with thought, filling Eddie with a mix of intrigue and anxiety.

“Okay, then I’ll do something other teens would do.”

Eddie’s brown eyes widened in fear, zoning in on Richie, something that could be easily mistaken for excitement. “Are you going to have a party?”

Although he opened his mouth to answer, the ringing of a phone cut Richie off before he even began. Just like that, Eddie’s attention was fixated somewhere else, and the discussion was over.

***

A few days later, Eddie lay on his own bed, listening to music play in his earphones. It had been a playlist Richie had made him, claiming he needed to expand his musical interests. And while Eddie didn’t like all the songs, he did like that Richie had sat down and made him this. At the first chorus of Boys Don’t Cry by The Cure, Eddie heard a phone ring. He thanked the universe that his mother wasn’t home, knowing she wouldn’t be happy with such noise blaring throughout the house. Abandoning his music, Eddie made his way over to the phone and lifted it to his ear.

“Now which of the stunning Kaspbraks am I speaking to?” Richie's voice filled the air around Eddie, familiar and deep.

“God, I hope you don’t usually start off like that, my mother would probably have a stroke.”

Richie laughed, “Oh, don’t worry your pretty head, Eddie Spaghetti. With all the things your mother and I do, I’ve come to learn that that woman's heart can take anything.”

Eddie’s face twisted in disgust, “You got a reason for calling me, Trashmouth? Or can I hung up and cut short your comments about my mom?”

“One day you’ll accept my ravishing romance with Ms. Kaspbrak,” Richie purred and had been any other statement in that tone, Eddie would have melted. Instead, he simply muttered a refusement, one that went ignored, nonetheless. “I’m calling you on this fine day to see if you can come over tonight? Possibly sleepover?”

“I’m not helping you move everything over two inches,” Eddie simply replied, getting ready to hang up the phone.

“Good, because I wasn’t gonna ask you. Think you can come?”

As much as Richie teased and joked, Eddie would never pass up a request to go over to his best friend’s house, especially sleepover. He found himself spending hours laughing at Richie’s jokes, eating things from his pantry that Eddie’s mother would faint at, and listening to the ramblings Richie went on. It all was Eddie’s own bliss, something he would never say out loud. But the concept spoke volumes loud enough in his own mind.

“Yeah, I’ll be there. What time?”

“Come around nine, and don’t wear or bring pajamas,” Richie said.

“Huh?”

“Just dress cute, like you usually do but even cuter. And don’t bring anything, I’ll let you borrow clothes or whatever.”

There was a beat of hesitation on Eddie’s part before he spoke, “Um, okay. You’ve got my spare toothbrush in your bathroom right?”

For reasons Eddie didn’t understand, Richie chuckled at the question. “Of course I do, never touch it. Remember, dress pretty, cutie!”

Before any questions could be asked, Richie had already hung up, leaving Eddie with his confusion alone. He put the phone down and looked over his shoulder toward the clock, he had about an hour to get ready and head over to Richie’s. He’d make sure to leave a note on the fridge for his mother, stating that he went over to Bill’s for movie night and would spend the night there. He would probably get yelled at for something so short notice and absent of her permission, but there wasn’t much else to do. So then Eddie commenced on picking out an outfit.

He supposed that he and Richie would probably go see some sort of movie or something, as they’ve done many times before. He didn’t get why he had to specifically dress nicely, though. He never got those instructions before they went to the movies.

You dress nicely for dates, a voice in Eddie’s head said.

He quickly repressed the thought and went to work in his closet.

Over time, he eventually settled on a pair of high waisted jeans, one of his favorite pairs, He liked the way it made his thighs look (and his ass), and dressing nicely to Eddie meant tapping into his confidence. He then picked out a dress shirt, one that was vertically striped with yellow, black, and white. Eddie then remembered some fashion advice Beverly once gave him, as he looked into the mirror. He tucked the dress shirt into his pants, and popped open the collar.

He immediately looked less like a businessman and more like those men in movies that always made Eddie blush. Wanting to top it all off, Eddie grabbed a belt he usually wore with pants that were too big and slid into the holes of his jeans.

He looked… hot.

A bubble of self-assurance formed in Eddie, as he shot himself a grin in the mirror. Whether Richie planned on them seeing a movie or what, Eddie was going to be hanging out in style. Picking out his outfit had taken a lot longer than Eddie had expected, noticing on the clock that he had about fifteen minutes to work on his facial appearance before needing to start walking over to the Tozier household.

Rushing into the bathroom, Eddie dug through the cabinets of medication until he reached what he had been looking for.

Eddie’s mother hated his curly hair, claiming it had to be neatly compact and short. But in a desire for adventure, or as much as he could get, Eddie had bought a hair product behind her back for volumizing curls. He swallowed nervously, placing the right amount into his palm and running it through his hair. As he finished and started to style it in the mirror, Eddie felt pleased with how he looked. For safety measures, he then brushed his teeth and did a few rounds of mouthwash. He couldn’t be sure that Richie truly did have Eddie’s emergency toothbrush in his bathroom, even if Eddie had forced him into never touching it a few weeks prior.

Soon Eddie was leaving his house and making his way over to Richie’s.

At first, he didn’t really notice it. Maybe his head was just somewhere else, daydreaming or wandering in thought. But it wasn’t long until Eddie saw how many cars were parked on the streets approaching Richie’s house. Even then, he didn’t think too much about it.

Some dumbass is probably just having a party, Eddie thought.

It wasn’t until he was standing in front of Richie’s house, when he saw tons of cars, heard music playing, where he realized.

It’s my dumbass having the party.

Eddie thought Richie was insane, didn’t he know better? By the looks of it, it looked as if Richie had invited the whole fucking school. Sure, cops didn’t care much and Richie wouldn’t necessarily get his party shut down, but it was just crazy.

Eddie suddenly understood why he had gotten asked to sleepover. Richie wanted Eddie to be here tomorrow morning so he’d have someone to help him clean up, it was pathetic. Richie hadn’t even told him there was going to be a party, but still expected him to help pick up the remains? Frustration erupted within Eddie as he made his way up the front lawn. Understanding more or less how parties worked, Eddie didn’t bother to knock. He opened the front door and was engulfed by the scene before him. Kids from all over his grade were walking around or chatting, cups in their hand and music filling the atmosphere. Had this been another day, Eddie would have taken advantage of such social event and would try to find his friends to have some fun. But he desperately wanted to give Richie a piece of his mind, so he shut the door behind him and went to work on finding his best friend who he was majorly pissed at.

First, he checked the living room, coming to face only a ton of teens dancing and singing along to the songs that were playing.

Then, Eddie made his way to the kitchen, expecting to see Richie chatting it up with a ton of girls and a beer in his hand. He was surprised to see none of this, but was grateful to come across Beverly and Ben leaning against the counter talking.

“Hey there, Eddie!” Beverly’s big smile cued that she was at most a little tipsy, which was fine. As long as she could point Eddie in Richie’s direction. “You look so hot!”

Ben chuckled and nodded, “She speaks the truth, you look really good, Eddie.”

His anger simmered down a little bit, enough to flash them both a small smile and feel flattery flutter in him. “Thanks, guys, any clue where Richie is?”

“He’s upstairs, I think. Saw him go up there a few minutes ago,” Ben said, trying to help. He received a small mutter of thanking from Eddie as he turned and made his way to the staircase.

Beverly took a long sip of her drink before leaning her head on Ben’s shoulder and letting out a dreamy sigh. “They’re really cute, aren’t they?”

Ben hoped Beverly couldn’t hear how loud his heartbeat got. “Yeah… Yeah, they’re really cute,” He told her while his mind struggled to stay grounded.

Eddie climbed the stairs, moving past more and more people. He wondered where Richie could be. He unintentionally had the thought of Richie hooking up with someone in one of the upstairs rooms, getting sick at the concept. Eddie pushed the idea away and continued with his search by banging on the first door he saw, the bathroom.

“Richie?” He called out.

An unfamiliar voice replied, and Eddie didn’t pay much mind to what they said, it didn’t matter. It wasn’t Richie.

He then moved on to Went and Maggie’s room, attempting to turn the doorknob but it wouldn’t budge. He then heard a giggle from the other side and a female call out, “Occupied!”

Richie wouldn’t giggle, Eddie told himself as he turned away from the door. Lastly was Richie’s own room, where he walked over to and turned the doorknob. Thankfully, it wasn’t locked.

As Eddie looked into the room, before him was indeed Richie, sitting on his bed with the same type of cup Beverly had while looking out his window. Eddie knew Richie probably wasn’t drinking though, with a party this big, Richie usually didn’t risk blacking out and not getting to remember all the fun. At the sound of a door opening, and the other noises from the party it invited, Richie turned his head and faced Eddie.

“Eds! You’re here! Was waiting for you to show up,” Richie’s initial face of happiness quickly morphed into a look of shock. “Holy Christ Eddie, I know I told you to dress cute but you didn’t have to come looking downright sexy!”

Eddie wished he wasn’t mad, or else he would have paid more attention to the compliment. Shutting the door to try and achieve silence, Eddie spoke.

“You’re throwing a fucking party?”

Richie must have heard how upset Eddie sounded, because his eyes got big and suddenly there was a pout where his smile had previously been.

“You… You told me to...?” He replied.

“I- What? No, I didn’t, Rich,” Eddie pursed his lips, trying to imagine in what universe he’d tell Richie to throw a party.

“Yes you did, when we were hanging out here a few days ago? When you said moving everything over two inches was stupid?”

Eddie groaned, throwing his head back, “I asked you if you were having a party. I didn’t tell you to have a party.”

Richie then shrunk into himself, frowning, “Oh.”

“Wait, did you throw this whole thing because you thought I told you to?”

The host of the party turned away shamefully, mumbling a small, “Yeah. Thought you’d like it, even though I should’ve known you don’t usually like big scenes.”

It was because Richie always had this impact on him, an impact that made Eddie putty in his best friend’s hands. But seeing Richie pull an act so great just for Eddie, to do something Richie thought he’d like, made all his anger vanish. It was replaced by gratefulness and empathy.

“Even though I never really asked for it, this was all a very nice thing to do, Richie. You know your house is gonna be trashed tomorrow morning, right?” The gentler voice made Richie gain a small smile, an improvement of mood that was enough to launch him into one of his voices.

“Nothing a few good hours of labor can’t fix, me ol’ chap!” He said gleefully in an awful British accent. It was so awful it made Eddie laugh, and that was all Richie needed.

“Well, then let’s go and enjoy your party,” Eddie said, putting his hand out for Richie to sat and stand up. Richie did so, not caring to grab his cup on the way.

When Eddie thought Richie was going to let go of his hand after standing up, Richie surprised him by not doing so. Instead, he gave Eddie’s hand a light squeeze as he started to make his way over to the door of his room. It made Eddie’s mouth run dry, and bundles of nerves ignite in his stomach.

Richie placed his free hand on the doorknob, but then pulled away.

Turning back to face Eddie, Richie leaned down to the shorter boy’s ear and whispered, “I wasn’t joking around earlier. You look really fucking good, Eds.”

Eddie would have been convinced he died right there and then if Richie hadn’t opened the door, and pulled them back into the event.

In the end, turns out he really did want this party.

#reddie #reddie prompt #richie tozier #eddie kaspbrak #richie x eddie

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