#I hate that she got clocked so quickly and that put a target on her

[hibiscus-reign]

I want to see Tiffany Rousso play big brother again…

[ox-imagines]

The First Mission

Hehe cue some backstory of my best boys! More Nakami + Akira, though this time set in their first year

“Are you alright? You look frightened.”

Akira looked up, long strands of glossy black hair falling around his face. A boy stood in front of him with an outstretched hand, offering to help him up off the ground. When Akira didn’t respond or move, the boy stepped around and knelt behind him.

Warm fingers brushed against the ghoul’s cheeks, gently gathering his hair. “You should at least tie your hair back so it doesn’t get in your way.”

The boy was Nakami Furukawa, the other first-year ghoul in Akira’s house. They hadn’t known each other long, but at present they were on a mission together, thus trusting each other to have the other’s back. Akira hated that Nakami had correctly clocked him as being frightened, but at least the ghoul seemed understanding.

“On your feet, Kawakami.” A firmer voice sounded at his side and he quickly did as he was told. He and Nakami were on their first mission, but were the only ghouls in Hotarubi. As such, they’d been sent with an older ghoul from Sinostra to keep an eye on them and make sure they both returned in one piece. “At least this way you’re out of my way, though,” the older ghoul chuckled, brushing back her platinum hair with the barrel of her pistol. Sinostra students were often inevitably drawn to more… explosive weapons in a way Akira feared he’d never understand.

A hand on his arm got his attention. “Here you go,” Nakami was attempting to hand him his katana he’d dropped, his orange eyes glistening curiously under the fluffy silver of his bangs. Akira took the blade with a mumbled thanks and sheathed it on his back with the other.

Akira found Nakami interesting, to put it in one word. He couldn’t figure out how someone like him made a demon pact, let alone survived it, but he supposed he didn’t know the boy well enough to truly question it. Akira himself had deep-running familial ties to the unnatural but not in a positive way; supposedly his ancestors had carried some sort of special abilities that had brought down a curse upon his family. The last thing he should’ve been doing was interacting with a demon in any capacity, but instead he’d humored it. He hadn’t believed his family’s old tales, but after making his pact he’d guessed his ancestors were probably ghouls as well.

Nakami spoke fondly of his family, something Akira couldn’t say about himself. He didn’t really talk about his family at all. It was better that way.

“Come on, art kids! This is supposed to be your mission, but if I catch this thing myself I’m taking the credit for my house!” The Sinostra ghoul called with a snarl, twirling her pistol around her finger as she strode away from them. 

Nakami grinned. “Come on!” Without further warning, he grabbed Akira’s hand and pulled his housemate forward, running after their chaperone. Akira stumbled forward but caught himself and fell into stride with Nakami. His cheeks blazed at the way the other boy was holding his hand, but Nakami didn’t seem like he was going to let go, clementine eyes fixed excitedly on the older ghoul they were trailing. The boy’s firm grip and the determined burn of his eyes caught Akira off-guard; Nakami had a very gentle voice and a sweet disposition that belied his current fervor.

“There,” the older ghoul pointed as they caught up to her. “Akira already helped demonstrate that it’s aggressive,” she chuckled, “but remember not to kill it unless it’s gonna kill you. I don’t need the Chancellor and that Jabberwock suck-up on my case for not bringing it back in one piece.” Their target was a Basan, a large rooster anomaly. The creature was unusually aggravated and had been terrorizing a little town at the base of the mountain it lived in. “Even though its fire is spectral and doesn’t burn like normal fire, its talons are still something you want to avoid. You should know already that it’s fast and it is mad, so be careful but be efficient.” She cocked her hip and rested her pistol-wielding hand against it. “Well? Go on.”

That was all Nakami needed to hear to jump into action. He leapt forward, his lithely muscled form moving like some sort of predator: fast and light and noiseless. He had a grace about him that showed no fear towards the anomaly, despite his artifact being a paper fan rather than a typical weapon. The Basan flapped its wings and jumped off the street, landing on the roof of a building to flee. In a single fluid, effortless move, Nakami jumped straight up, catching the edge of the roof with his hands and flipping up onto the building; he didn’t miss a stride in his chase and ran as soon as he landed.

All Akira could do was stare. He was completely and utterly in awe of the ease with which the other boy gave chase. He was otherwise frozen, too unnerved by the ferocity the bird anomaly displayed towards him the last time it ran.

“Go on, Kawakami. ‘Something wrong with you? Your little friend doesn’t seem to have a problem.”

With a bolstering sigh, Akira gave her a single resolute nod and approached a trash can sitting next to the building, climbing on it to pull himself up onto the roof.

The Sinostra ghoul scoffed. “No balls. It would’ve been faster if I’d just thrown you up there myself. Just go after it now that you’re up there.”

Akira stepped forward into a jog, eyes following the Basan’s movements as he planned how to catch up and cut it off. He watched as, a few-dozen yards ahead of him, the creature stopped running and turned to engage Nakami. It opened its mouth and spewed bright-red flames. Nakami didn’t catch fire, but staggered for a moment as the flames dissipated, as if dazed. The anomalous rooster lunged, trying to bite the boy, but he just barely dodged; he stumbled and fell to one knee.

His hand trembling imperceptibly, Akira drew one of his katanas as he raced forward, desperately trying to close the distance between himself and the anomaly. “Nakami!” he shouted as he got closer. The anomaly turned its head to look at him, its fire-red comb flopping. Him drawing the Basan’s attention away gave Nakami enough time to stand and move back, the boy pulling his artifact’s keychain from his belt. Nakami flared the fan out in front of himself and dropped into a defensive stance as the rooster creature lurched toward Akira. The anomaly leapt and struck out with its spurs, its large scaly foot knocking Akira’s blade from his hand and the spur catching him in his opposite shoulder. Heat spread over his skin as blood seeped through the wound and he cursed softly, placing both hands on his other katana’s handle as he prepared to face the creature again.

“Festuca.” Nakami’s voice rang warm and soft and calm, like a spring breeze over the rooftops. A faint humming resonated through the air and, seemingly from nowhere, a swarm of large flying bugs appeared over the rooster anomaly. It stopped moving, looking skyward, its comb flopping as it tilted its head. Akira watched in confusion and awe as the bird creature began attempting to catch the bugs, leaping up and snapping at them. Slowly, Nakami approached the creature from behind, a syringe in hand: the Academy-sanctioned anomaly tranquilizer they’d been sent with. In a swift, fluid movement he threw an arm over the Basan and stuck the syringe in its feathered body. It thrashed against his hold before gradually limpening. Gently as if carrying a child, Nakami lowered to the ground before carefully arranging it into his arms and lifting it. The bugs dissipated.

Akira was once again stunned. Where did this guy come from? He tried to sheathe his sword but pain lanced through his shoulder. With a wince, he switched it to his other hand to sheathe it on his back before picking up the other that he’d dropped. When he looked back at Nakami, the boy was cradling the anomaly, studying it with wide eyes as his fingers lightly stroked the fine, metallic feathers on its head. “You’re bleeding,” Akira stated bluntly as he noticed a wound on his housemate’s thigh.

“So are you,” he chuckled, taking a somewhat stilted step back the way they’d come from. “I’m alright, though. Are you?”

“‘Will be.” He lowered his head as he followed Nakami back, holding a hand against his shoulder to stem the bleeding. His first mission was complete, even if it wouldn’t officially be so until they were back on campus and had signed the form, and he hadn’t contributed anything.

[hyperfixationsporfavor]

The Kids Are Alright

(This is a prequel to my already existing fic Metropolitan Family Life. This fic is not an x reader and takes place in Suguru Geto's teen years. This will be leading into an x reader concept but if you're not into that you can read it as a one shot. Thank you.

Warnings: Smoking, drinking, swearing, crude behavior/language, 90s teen/young people cynicism (total teenage dirtbags), bad parenting, narcissist parent

The Kids Are Alright

Prequel to Metropolitan Family Life (Suguru in his early years- pre reader, late 90s au)

Suguru leaned back in his chair and shook his long hair out. He yanked the elastic hair tie off his wrist and used it to pull his hair up into a messy bun. 

Next to him, Ieiri let out a groan and buried her face into her folded arms. She didn’t have the willpower to lift her head up from her desk. 

“Shit, I’m so hungover.”

“Really? Satoru asked. “Here let me get you something.”

In an act of cruel playfulness he rolled up his magazine and slammed it down on the edge of her desk. Ieiri shot up in excruciating pain, clutching her head for dear life. 

“Satoru you fucking asshole.”

He keeled over in laughter. 

Suguru, who had secured his hair, reached into his backpack and pulled out a water bottle. He leaned forward and handed it to Ieiri. 

“Here,” he offered. “Just take a few sips.”

She grabbed the water from him and took a gulp. 

“How are you not hungover? You drank more than me last night.”

Suguru just shrugged. “Sheer willpower.”

She kissed her teeth and stood up. “C’mon let’s go. I need a cigarette.”

Satoru checked the clock on the classroom wall. “But lunch ends in five minutes.”

Suguru rolled his eyes and grabbed his backpack. “Then we should get out of here before the teacher comes back. 

~

With the three of them ditching gym class, something they occasionally did, they managed to secure something of a secret hideout. 

That was what Satoru insisted on calling it anyway. 

On the far end of the campus was an abandoned greenhouse that once was used for botany classes. It was in an ideal location where they never got caught. 

Suguru retrieved his lighter from his backpack and lit the cigarette that Ieiri had impatiently placed between her lips. She offered him one which he took. Suguru didn’t smoke as often as she did, but he’d occasionally indulge himself. He’d indulged himself in a few things since entering into this friendship. 

When Suguru had met Satoru and Ieiri, he was timid as hell. His shaved head and scrawny build made him an easy target for bullies. But his friends helped him grow more confident in himself, as corny as it sounded.

“How do your ears feel?” Satoru asked him.

“Fine,” he nodded. 

Suguru brushed his fingers over one of the studs. Last night, he pierced them on a dare. Granted the bathroom of a club with a heated sewing needle wasn’t exactly safe, but he liked the way it turned out. Of course, that meant he’d have to show his Dad later. He’d definitely be pissed he skipped class again, but he didn’t care. He never cared anymore. He was done hoping one day his old man would give a damn about him.

Suguru pulled out his sketchbook and a charcoal pencil, determined to finish his sketch before they left campus. He planned on painting it this weekend. 

Ieiri leaned forward to see. “It’s the ocean.”

Satoru sighed and leaned against the young artist, Ieiri followed suit and did the same, sandwiching Suguru in the middle. 

“Shit,” Satoru mumbled. “I can’t believe we only have another three weeks left.”

“I won’t miss this place,” Ieiri mumbled. 

The three of them would be graduating soon. With college exams already taken, and finals coming up. The time was quickly approaching to say goodbye. 

Suguru put his cigarette out and let it sit beside him. “I don’t hate this place.”

The three of them sat there in silence. The only noise to be heard was the scratching of the charcoal pencil.

~

Suguru was a curse on his parents. That’s how he saw it. His mother died in childbirth leaving his father to raise him by himself. 

His father didn’t like him. 

He was too sensitive for a boy. His head was always in the clouds. He was ungrateful. He was lazy. 

He existed. 

Suguru Sr., his dad, was the phys ed. teacher at his school. He took the job because it came with a coaching position for the school’s soccer team, one of the best in the country. 

The players on the team had a fair shot of going pro, something Suguru’s dad had initially hoped for in his youth. But a busted knee had cut his dreams short. 

Since he was faculty his son could get free tuition, and fulfill unaccomplished dreams. 

But Suguru was far from the ideal son who had been given his father’s name.

They argued practically everyday, and it only got worse the older Suguru got. His dad was a textbook narcissist who would bend over backwards for any random stranger, but couldn’t lift a pinky to help his son.

 Suguru was charged with doing all things domestic, from cooking the meals to cleaning the apartment. He also couldn’t blink without his father having an opinion. So he began to avoid him more and more. 

He couldn’t even remember the last time the two of them had spoken. 

Suguru pushed against his father whenever he could. 

He didn’t really like to drink or smoke but he knew his father detested it. So he did it whenever he could, just to defy him. He liked to pissed off his dad, so he stayed out until the early morning out of pure spite. He’d sneak into clubs he had no business in and allow eardrum shattering levels of music to swallow him up and carry him away. 

~

When Suguru got home he was more than displeased to find his dad parked on the couch in front of the television. A soccer game was on, and he couldn’t care less. He detested sports. Did his dad ever imagine himself as one of those players? In a completely different life with a family that made him happy?

“Suguru,” his father barked. “Get in here!”

He stood at the door for a moment, debating if he should just turn around and spend the night at Satoru’s. He decided against it, knowing he’d just have to come home eventually. 

He shut the door and dragged himself to where his father stood, standing beside him and waiting for a lecture. 

“Why weren’t you in class today?” he asked. 

His father’s attempt to look threatening was laughable. Suguru was almost an entire foot taller, another one of the many things the old man resented about him. 

“I wasn’t feeling well,” he cooly responded. “So I went to the nurse’s office.”

His father snorted. 

“So you’re not man enough to power through it? You’re so weak. But with that stupid haircut you look like a girl so you might as well act like it.”

Suguru clenched his jaw. “Can I go now? I have things to do.”

His father turned away from the television to face his son. He stood up when something caught his eye. “What the hell is that?”

“What?”

“That shit in your ear.”

Suguru smirked. “Do you like it?”

His father’s face started to turn red. “Are you trying to get kicked out? What will the neighbors say? You look like some effeminate punk!”

“It’s better than looking like you,” he shot back. “And maybe you should learn how to cook for yourself before you threaten to kick me out.” 

He turned to leave, much to his father’s annoyance. 

“Where the hell do you think you're going?” 

“To work at my shit job that you like to pretend you’re so proud of.”

When his father threw away all his art supplies a few years ago he’d gotten a job at the convenience store down the street to fund the recovery of everything he’d lost. 

His father scoffed. “Your mother would be so disappointed in you.”

“Well then I guess it’s a good thing she’s not here,” Suguru spat.

He went to his room to change for his shift. 

~

“Wow,” Satoru marveled. “That’s such a low blow to use your dead mom like that.”

He stood next to Suguru as he restocked the chips, speaking in between the mouthfuls of Doritos  he was eating. He was currently on his second bag. 

“Classic Coach Geto bullshit,” he muttered. “And are you planning on paying for those?”

Satoru pondered it for a moment. “I don’t know, wouldn’t I fall into the friends and family discount?”

Suguru stood up and snatched the bag out of his hands. “Sorry, but that only applies to people that don’t have American Express cards.”

Satoru pouted as he followed Suguru to the back where Ieiri was looking at the mini toiletries. 

“How much mouthwash should I bring? One of these is enough for two days right?”

“With how much you smoke?” Satoru snorted. 

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Stop stuffing your face and start buying some snacks. Will you Captain Dickhead?”

“Excuse me,” a man called from the front of the store. “Can you ring me up?”

“Right away sir,” Suguru replied. 

“Speaking of Captain Dickhead,” Satoru snorted under his breath. 

He and Ieiri trailed behind their friend to the register. The man handed Suguru his card and looked over to find Satoru, who instantly caught his attention. 

“Pardon me, but are those your real eyes?”

“Yeah,” Satoru answered. 

“They glow in the dark,” Ieiri added. 

The man tilted his head, examining Satoru’s features like he was a pomeranian in a dog show. 

“Have you ever considered modeling?”

“You know you’re not the first person who asked me that,” Satoru gloated.

Suguru rolled his eyes as he bagged up the man’s items. “Here you are sir.”

The man took his card back and stuck it into his wallet, then he retrieved another card out of it. “I work for the Vogue offices here, in Tokyo, but I have some contacts in Paris as well. If you're interested you should give us a call. I think you’d make a great fit in our fall lineup.”

After Satoru took the card the man took his shopping bag and left. 

“Well look who’s on his way to being the next Kate Moss.” Ieiri mused.

“Charles Bernard,” he read aloud. “That can’t be his real name.”

“Probably not,” Suguru jested. “He definitely just wants to harvest your organs.”

Satoru chuckled and stuck the business card in his wallet. “So do you need to do any shopping for the trip Suguru?”

In two weeks the third years would be taking their class trip to Okinawa, which had brought Satoru and Ieiri into the store in search of supplies. 

Suguru sighed. “I don’t know. It’s not like I want to hang out with strangers and I don’t know how to swim.”

“Stop making excuses asshat,” Satoru ordered. “Who said we’re spending time with the class?”

“Well I think the whole concept of a class trip would be lost without the class part,” Ieiri deadpanned. 

“Listen,” Satoru proposed. “I think we should fly down with the class. Then when we get there we’ll get a rental car and just do our own thing.”

“Okay now I know you’re completely insane,” Ieiri groaned. “We’ll get in trouble.”

“Only if we get caught,” Satoru argued. “We’ll check in when we get there, and then again when we leave.”

“But seriously, what if we do get caught?” Suguru asked. 

“Please my family just gave the school a new library, nothing’s going to happen. Plus if they get really mad we’ll just say we got kidnapped or whatever.”

This was a dumb idea on practically every level, Suguru was incredibly aware of that. But he had stuck with Satoru and Ieiri for a few years now and everything had managed to work out so far. 

One last adventure before they’d be pressured into pretending to be adults. 

“Fine,” Suguru agreed.

“Whatever,” Ieiri added.

~

The morning Suguru left he and his dad got into another fight. 

“You know,” he started. “When I was your age I didn’t get to go anywhere.”

Whenever his father spoke Suguru had gotten into the habit of holding his breath. He hoped if he’d stopped breathing the old man would stop speaking, but that unfortunately was never the case. 

Suguru just grunted as he tied his shoelaces. 

“You should be grateful you’ve been given this opportunity.”

Suguru said nothing, he hated it when his dad tried to make him feel guilty for just living his life. 

“Okay,” he said as he stood up. “I’m heading out.”

His father scoffed. “I knew it. You get to go have fun and you still have a bad attitude. I’d kill to be your age again.”

“Uh huh.”

Suguru walked towards the front door. His duffel bag felt like a million pounds, but nothing could stop him from getting the hell out of here. 

“You don’t like me do you?” his dad asked with an unwarranted exhaustion. 

The tone of his delivery made the teen stop in his tracks and turn around. 

“Huh?” he asked.

“You don’t appreciate anything I do.”

Suguru said nothing, even if he wanted to scream until his lungs shriveled up. 

“Bye Dad.”

He stormed out of the apartment and slammed the door behind him.

~

Satoru and Ieiri knew when Suguru was going through it. He slipped in and out of his bad moods like he was speeding through a winding road. They let him sit in silence. This should have been a positive experience for Suguru. He’d never been on a plane before. But of course the old fuck had to rob him of any of the joy he should have been feeling. 

“These seats are so cramped.” Satoru whined.

Ieiri rolled her eyes and shoveled peanuts into her mouth. 

“We get it, you’ve never traveled in coach before.”

“It must be so hard being you,” Suguru griped next to him.

Satoru exchanged a glance with Ieiri. 

“Um Suguru, do you want to switch places? Satoru offered. “You can look out the window and see the ocean.”

“I’m fine,” he muttered.

“But you’ve never been on a plane before and-”

Suguru shot him a look that made him stop. 

“I’m fine. I’m not an idiot I know what a fucking cloud looks like,” he spat.

Ieiri narrowed her eyes on him. 

“Suguru, I know you're in a bad mood, but that doesn’t give you an excuse to be an asshole.”

He scoffed and put his walkman headphones over his ears. He was pissed but he wasn’t suicidal. Ieiri wouldn’t hesitate to kick his ass off the plane and send him plummeting back down to Earth.

~

By the time the plane had touched down everyone was in desperate need of a little cooling off period. Satoru collected everyone’s baggage with the rest of the class while Ieiri snuck off to the airport smoking lounge with Suguru. Without saying a word, he pulled his lighter out of his coat pocket and she leaned in to light her cigarette. They sat there in silence among the rest of the nicotine addicted individuals. 

“I’m sorry about earlier,” he finally mumbled.

She didn’t look at him when she spoke.

“I’m not the one you need to apologize to.”

He thought back to how Satoru had flinched when he rejected his offer for the window seat.

“Look Suguru,” she continued. “Satoru really wants to have a good time while we’re here. Can’t we just give him?”

He nodded. 

“Yeah.”

“I know what it’s like to want to tear everything down but just fake it okay? For him.”

He grinned. “So is this you faking it?”

“Another word and I’ll shove this cigarette up your nose,” she threatened. 

He stood up. 

“Let’s go. The teachers are going to wonder where we are.”

~

They met Satoru in front of the shuttle bus their classmates were gathered around. Despite everything that happened on the plane his eyes lit up when he saw them. 

“There you guys are!”

“Hey,” Suguru started. “I’m sorry I was being such a dick earlier.”

Satoru just smiled. “You’re always a dick, dick.”

Ieiri snorted. 

“So are we all set?” she asked. 

He nodded. 

“We’re almost in the clear.”

Their homeroom teacher, Mr. Yaga, came up to the group of three with his clipboard. 

“Mr. Geto and Ms. Shoko, so good of you to join us.”

He turned to Suguru and handed him a small medication bottle of stool softener. 

“Mr. Gojo informed me you were having bathroom issues, so let me know if you need more.”

“I will sir.”

He clenched his teeth as Satoru and Ieiri giggled behind him.

“Alright class,” he announced as he turned to face the others. “Everyone on the bus.”

The three of them waited for the right moment to bolt. Once Mr. Yaga and the others were all safely on the bus they walked back into the airport and went to the rental car station. 

The woman behind the desk handed Satoru a pair of keys not even bothering to ask how old he was.

“Have it back on Sunday.”

~

Once the three of them had loaded their bags into the trunk they were off. They spent the first ten minutes arguing what type of music to listen to. 

“Come on,” Satoru groaned. “No one wants to listen to Alanis Morrissette.”

Ieiri guffawed.

“Typical guy response. Worship anything related to Nirvana or Oasis and turn your nose down at anything written by a woman.”

“Are you seriously comparing Nirvana to Alanis Morrissette?”

“If you read the lyrics to ‘You Oughta Know’ even your pea sized brain could figure out how inspired that song is!”

“Inspired my ass!”

Suguru made a vain attempt to break in from his spot in the back seat. 

“Can we listen to Queen?”

Ieiri scoffed from the passenger seat. “Suguru, take your old man music on your old man cassette tape and shove it up your ass.”

“Maybe it’ll help with my chronic constipation,” he mused as he read the label on the stool softener. “Thanks again for that Satoru.”

He turned around to glare at him. 

“Well you were acting like you were constipated!”

“Satoru!” Ieiri shrieked. “You’re driving! Keep your fucking eyes on the fucking road!”

Suguru smiled to himself. 

So much for faking it.

~

They miraculously arrived at the hotel in one piece. Satoru had driven them further up the coast and found a place right on the beach. 

When they got to their room Ieiri collapsed on the bed. 

“Okay chuckleheads. I call the bed, you two can bunk on the floor.”

“What do you guys want to do first?” Suguru asked.

“Recover from my near death experience,” Ieiri deadpanned.

Satoru just rolled his eyes. “I got us here alive. And I didn’t even hit that frog.”

He set his bag down and pulled some papers out.

“We should probably leave the room now. I have an entire itinerary planned out.”

~

They spent Friday just walking around the local shops and sampling all the different foods there were to try. They had dinner at a soba place where Satoru nearly scalded his tongue trying to eat too fast. 

“Eat slowly,” Suguru jested. “Or you’ll need these tomorrow morning.”

He pulled the stool softener out of his pocket and placed it next to his friend. Then he flagged down the waitress. 

“Excuse me, where’s the nearest pharmacy? My friend needs to stock up on this.”

Instead of getting angry Satoru just started laughing after the waitress left. 

“You stupid dick,” he wheezed.

Suguru snorted and tossed the medicine in the trash. Ieiri smiled despite herself and continued to eat her meal. 

~

On Saturday they woke up and drove to The Churaumi Aquarium and worked their way through all three floors. Suguru sat in front of a massive tank that contained a whale shark, stingrays, and a plethora of different fish.  

He sketched it so he could paint later. He was getting excited thinking of different techniques to emphasize the light that highlighted the magnificent patterns that decorated the shark's skin. He flipped back a few pages to look at his sketch of the ocean he’d done two weeks ago. It made him a little sad but he couldn’t say why. 

When he looked up he spotted a girl in front of him strolling alongside the whale shark. Her braid swung back and forth as she walked. Before he knew it she’d worked her way into his sketch. 

“Miss Amanai!” a voice called. 

A woman came racing towards her. 

“What’s wrong Misato?” she asked. 

“What’s wrong?” she asked in an incredulous tone. “ You don’t wander off by yourself. Your parents have been worried sick.”

The girl scoffed. “I’m not a child Misato, I’m fourteen.”

Misato gave the girl a look and she quickly sprinted back the way she came. Her caretaker chased after her, nearly knocking Satoru over in the process. 

He and Ieiri walked towards Suguru and sat down beside him. 

“Are you almost done? We were gonna hit the beach.”

He nodded. “Yeah let’s go.”

~

The beach was rejuvenating. Suguru sat in the sand and watched as Satoru tried to chase Ieiri with a sea cucumber. It backfired when a wave knocked him on his ass and the sea cucumber went flying back into the ocean. 

~

While the three of them attempted to build a sandcastle a group of girls approached them. Satoru stood up almost expectantly. 

“Can we help you beautiful ladies?” he smoothly asked.

Ieiri made a gagging noise and Suguru chuckled.

“Um,” one of the girls spoke up. “Actually I was wondering if your friend was single.”

Satoru looked over to Suguru with a flabbergasted expression, entirely unfamiliar with not being the center of attention when it came to these types of things.

“Yes,” Suguru answered. 

The girl held out a piece of paper. “Here’s my email address. You can send me a message if you want or whatever.”

He smiled and took the paper.

“Thank you.”

~

“Are you a freaking idiot!” Satoru howled. “What do you mean you’re not going to email her?”

Suguru shrugged. “What’s the point? We’ll never see eachother again.”

“She even saw through that hideous shirt you’re wearing,” Ieiri joked.

“Maybe she’s into Magnum, P.I.,” he snorted.

Apparently girls liked old man hawaiian shirts. 

~

Later that night the three of them shared a small bottle of scotch Satoru had swiped from his dad’s personal collection. 

They sat on the beach and passed the bottle around, mindful not to drink too much. In the morning they’d have to drive back to the airport to meet their class.

“Well I think we can mark this trip as a success,” Satoru gloated.

“Yes Satoru, you and your genius brain put this entire plan in motion. Is that what you want to hear?” Ieiri teased. 

“Well I had fun,” Suguru admitted. 

“Ha! Two against one. You lose!”

“Shut up and pass the scotch dumbass,” Ieiri ordered.

“I’ll miss you guys,” Suguru murmured. 

His friends stopped their lively banter and turned their attention to their friend. 

“What do you mean? Are you going somewhere?” Satoru asked.

He sighed.

“Nothing. Forget I said anything.”

“Suguru,” Ieiri prodded. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, it’s just…it’s just that sometimes I have a difficult time seeing my own future. Shit that sounds so fucking stupid. I guess…I’m just anxious about the future. Will there ever be a time I don’t feel like shit?”

“Everyone feels like shit sometimes. Especially if they're around bad people,” Satoru said with a knowing look. 

They all knew who he was alluding to. 

“Yeah,” Suguru cleared his throat. “I guess you’re right.”

“Suguru, you're a stupidly talented artist and you’re a good person,” Ieiri admitted.

“And you’ll never have to face the future alone. We’re best friends,” Satoru assured him. 

“But you need to live your own life,” Ieiri reminded him. “Don’t run away from the unknown.”

He smiled and covered his face. “I don’t hate you guys.”

~

In the early hours of the morning, Suguru woke up shoulder to shoulder between Satoru and Ieiri on the hotel bed. The room was still dark and the only noise was his friend's shallow breathing. 

Outside the ocean waves crawled onto the sand, creating a soothing lullaby when gently tapped down. 

He took a deep and closed his eyes, imagining his future and discovering a light. 

~

The End.

[dr4cking]

His Mother’s Garden.

masterlist taglist

draco malfoy x reader | smut | enemies to lovers

a/n : this is so random bye :”

"y/n, come down here for a minute, darling. i have something to tell you" y/n sighed slowly getting up from her lovely bed as she heard her mom called her to come downstairs.

"yes, mother?" her mom greeted y/n with a big smile while her father sitting on the couch, y/n feels like she was going to be interrogated, she grabbed a bottle of water and drink.

"sweetie go pack your stuff and dress nicely, we're going to stay at Malfoy Manor for 3 days." she felt as if her breath got taken away somewhere when she choked on the water, her mother worriedly run to her and smack her back.

"pardon me, mother. but i think i've misheard about what you just said" y/n's mother just chuckled at her daughter's reaction.

"no darling, you heard it right, we're going to stay at their place"

"but why so sudden, mother? you know i hate their son" y/n whines loudly thinking about how awkward it is to spend the day with the malfoys.

"well i met narcissa earlier in gringgots, its been so so long, you know we're very close when we were young, and your dad here is working at the ministry with lucius malfoy too, darling. so we really have to catch up" her mother explained it with her bubbly energy, she did tell y/n how she and narcissa were basically best friends in their time.

"but why do we have to literally stay there? we could've just hung out there and then go back home" y/n frowns, taking a seat beside her father.

"of course not, narcissa is the one who suggested the idea and it would be rude of me to reject it, now dont be a baby and do as i say its only for three days, honey. this is the end of the discussion or we're gonna be late" her mother cupped her cheeks smiling so wide and give her a little kiss on her right cheek before taking her hand and shoved her to go back to her room.

she goes to her room, started to packing while blabbering about her mother, she picked a pleated skirt and putting on a knit sweater, she put on a light makeup and grabbed her sneakers, she doesnt want to dress up so much because she didnt want to go in the first place.

she takes her bag with her going downstairs seeing her parents already waiting at the front door, she huffed.

——————————————

"ah, finally the (your surname)'s here! y/m/n, who is this lovely lady, is this y/n? oh my god, you've grown up" narcissa said as she hugs y/n after she hugged her mother greeting her family, y/n smiles and nod turning the gesture politely.

"lucius, draco! hurry, come here."

both of the platinum blonde-haired men appeared at the door, lucius greet y/n's father, giving y/n a small nod, but draco stayed behind his parents, just looking up and down at y/n smirking making her rolled her eyes at him.

the malfoys lead her family in, showing their room for their stay, the house elves taking their things. as y/n wanted to follow her parents, a hand grabbed her wrist stopping her steps.

she looks up only to meet the boy she loathed so much in their school. draco lucius malfoy.

"not so fast y/l/n" draco pulled her closer, a smirk still plastered on his lips.

"get your filthy hand off of me, ferret. i’m not in the mood." y/n snickered yanking her hand back.

"ooo, feisty. listen y/n, i just want to make a peace for awhile. at least can we try to be civil? i dont want to ruin our parent's moment, and besides that, you're staying in my house, i dont want it to be awkward." draco rubbed the back of his neck staring at her.

"ugh fine, whatever draco" y/n turns and run to follow her parents not wanting to talk to draco for any longer, leaving draco behind who just rolled his eyes at her behavior.

the day goes on so fast, their parents talked and chatted all day, leaving draco and y/n no choice but just to listened and joined their conversation, they both wonder if their parents ever get tired, as the night finally came, everyone already going to their rooms.

y/n wake up from her sleep groaning, she took a look at the clock, it was 2 am.

she rubbed her eyes, her throat feels so dry, she decided to go downstairs to grab a drink before going back to sleep.

"what are you doing at this hour, y/n?" y/n turns around from the refrigerator finding draco who stood behind her with his grey sweatpants. merlin's beard, he looks hot.

"cant you see im drinking, idiot"

y/n close the refrigerator and started to walk back to her room wanting to avoid draco as fast as she can but she only made three steps before draco pushed her against the refrigerator trapping her making y/n let out a squeal.

"you’ve got a big mouth, dont you sweet thing?" draco smirk seeing her flushed face, he pressed his body closer to her making her cheeks heated.

"d-draco i-"

"sshh, cat got your tongue now, hm?" draco rubbed his thumb on her bottom lip, tugging at it making y/n shivered at his touch.

"oh i see you like this, yeah?" draco leans into the crook of her neck, his hot breaths against her neck got y/n to rub her thighs together and draco placed his knee between them keeping her thighs apart.

he starts to pressed kisses along her neck causing her breath hitched, her panties are dampen when she takes a look at his lower part and his hard on brushed against her heat, she let out a soft moan and quickly pushed draco away from her.

"i- i should go" y/n runs to her room, cursing herself, draco behind her just chuckled deeply, satisfied at her reaction, but now he got some problem to take care of.

the next day came, y/n didnt get so much sleep after her last interaction with draco, just thinking about it makes a blush appeared on her cheeks, she threw away the thought of touching herself last night.

she quickly made her way to the bathroom and took a shower.

she just finished showering, putting on a bathrobe and letting off the towel on her head, but as she looked at the mirror, she screamed.

why is her hair green?!

only one name crossed her mind, she runs downstairs to get her target with anger bubbling up inside her.

"draco lucius malfoy! you better come back here! turn my fucking hair back to its color!" y/n yelled, running as fast as she can, catching draco who already ran away from her, without stopping his laughter.

"dont worry y/n, you look good with g-green" draco was panting heavily still laughing, he was still running but stopped at his mother's garden hiding behind it, hoping that y/n didnt catch him here. a smile never leaving his face.

but before draco could react more, he got tackled to the ground, y/n was hovering above him, her wand on his throat, threatening him.

she keeps talking but all he could think about was how hot y/n look on top of him, her new hair color still wet enough to drip the water down to his face, her top of the robe is low enough to show him her cleavage.

he quickly made his eyes back up to her, he would lie if he said this didnt turn him on.

"draco did you hear what i said? turn my hair color back!" y/n pushed his chest back down but her face redden as she realizes what was she doing right now, she quickly gets off of draco but only to be flipped over by him.

y/n was about to say something but got cut off by draco silencing her mouth with a kiss, he kissed her harshly, y/n was still in shock but not for long she melted into the kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck deepening the kiss, they're practically swallowing each other faces, tongues fighting over the dominance, moans coming off from their lips without breaking the kiss.

memories of last night coming back to their minds.

"fuck- you're so fucking hot. do you want this y/n?" draco said as he pulled away, breathing heavily.

"yes, yes please, draco" with that, draco attached his lips to her neck, sucking and biting making a mark of his.

y/n rolled her hips on his crotch grinding against him making him let out a soft grunt, he pulls away to admire his work and he goes to untie her robe but not before he asked her permission, she nodded vigorously.

draco untied her robe making her body fully exposed in front of him, he moaned softly at the view and his lips instantly latching onto her nipple sucking and pulling it between his teeth softly making the girl squirmed. his other hand grabbed her breast squeezing it, he was amazed at how her breast fit perfectly in his hand.

y/n tugged at his shirt signaling she wants it off, draco gets the hint and takes it off, she pulled his sweatpants down making his hard cock slapped up to his stomach. she whimpered at his size wondering if it gonna fits in her.

draco groaned at the feeling of her hand pumping his cock up and down, her thumb playing at his red swollen tip, precum already oozing out of it. he stopped her hand before he cums right there.

he spreads her legs wider making the perfect view of her glistening cunt in front of him, he licks his lip, started to kiss her thighs before going to her core making her body jolted out.

"draco.. please, do something" draco smirk, he loves how he gets y/n to beg him, she sounds so hot, begging suited her.

he licked up her slit before sucking on her clit, he moaned at her taste, sending vibrations to her body, y/n gripped his hair tightly moaning his name over and over again as draco's tongue thrusting in and out of her hole.

he then inserts two fingers in her and pumping them inside of her fast, curling them inside, his tongue still licking her cunt lapping up her juices, y/n already a moaning mess.

"yes! draco right there! right fucking there.. oh god im gonna-"

of course.

of course he pulled out, right before y/n could ever reach her high leaving her whining and glared at him in anger, draco chuckles looking at her face.

"stop being so fucking greedy, y/n. you only allowed to cum when my cock is buried deep inside you" draco pumps his cock tapping it against her cunt, lining his tip up and down at her clit, y/n gets impatient but draco pushed her hips down to stop her from moving.

he slowly pushed in his entire length inside her, both of them cant help but moaning each other’s name out loud, inch by inch filling her inside. draco stopped to let her adjust as he fully inside her. he wants her to feel every part of him. y/n wrapped her legs around his waist, nodding at him to move.

"god- you're so tight y/n, i cant barely move. do you know how long i've been wanting to have you under me" draco's breath tickling her neck as he buried his face on her neck, slowly picking up his pace as he thrusts in and out of her.

"yes- fuck.. harder draco i want it rough and fast, please" draco was shocked at how y/n think her tight little pussy could take him rough and fast, but he obeyed anyway.

he grabbed her legs, putting them on his shoulder and begin to thrusting harder, rough and fast like she wanted making her cried out at the angle.

"fuck! you're such a slut y/n, letting me fuck you senseless in my mother's garden, dont you scared at the thought of getting caught, hm? oh i bet you would love that, right?" y/n only could mutter a low 'yes' as draco keep pounding at inhumanly pace making her whole body shake.

"what is it? i cannot hear you, my little slut" draco gripped her throat with his hand, pressing their foreheads together as he stared deeply into her soul not even stopping his thrusts.

"y- yes draco im your slut, i'd love tha- g- god please.."

"stop stuttering." draco's hand move down to twirling her nipples in his fingers and pinch them lightly making her yelp.

"draco?"

draco and y/n stopped their activities for a minute, staring at each other in horror, draco smirk down at her while she stared at him in confusion.

he starts to move again, snapping his hips harder, making y/n gasped, he quickly put his hand over her mouth. draco was thankful that the bushes hiding their ungodly activities perfectly.

"yes, mother?" draco said casually as if nothing was happening right now, he quickens his thrust, going deeper and harder into her while a tear rolled down on y/n's face at the feeling of the knot in her stomach tighten and she had to hold her moans.

"what are you doing there, draco?" narcissa asked as she cant found her son anywhere, only hearing his voice.

"im doing some school stuff mother, i'll be quick and head inside" draco answers holding his moans between his words feeling he would cum any sooner, he hoped his mother take the hint and leave already.

like draco expected, narcissa gives him an 'okay' before going back inside the manor but not without the hesitation in her voice but she left anyway.

"fuck.. you almost got us caught y/n" draco chuckles as his hand left her mouth, a loud moan suddenly escaped her lips.

"you're insane draco, why didnt you s- stop- oh my god.. gonna cum"

y/n cried out she cant even finishing her sentence as draco brings his hand down on her clit, rubbing in circles, getting her closer to her high, his other hand going back to choking her, he leaned in to capture her lips to hold his own high, he wanted her to cum first.

and within seconds, y/n came undone, it hit her hard causing her legs to shake, her eyes screwed shut seeing the stars all she could remember was his name when she moaned it out loud.

draco look down at his cock covered with her juices milking him, he moaned loudly and with the last thrust he collapsed on her, spurting out all of his warm thick cum inside her, painting her walls white making the girl moaned too feeling so full.

he moaned her name into her ear sending butterflies to her stomach as he rides out their orgasms. draco pulled out slowly making y/n winced, their mixed liquids dripping down to their inner thighs.

"merlin. that was so fucking hot, y/n" draco said reconnecting their lips, kissing her with passion and emotion this time.

"that was more than being civil, draco" y/n laughs making draco join her laughter too. he starts to dressed himself back up.

"there i thought we were enemies" draco said as he cleaned her up and tying her bathrobe back.

"oh we are, i still hate you" y/n poked his cheek making draco laughed.

"didnt seem like it 5 minutes ago" draco said as he captures her lips on his again as he finished cleaning her.

"round 2 in my room tonight?" draco asks as he pulled away. y/n smirked at him.

"only if you turn my hair color back" and he pulls out his wand from his pocket and swished it turning her hair back to its natural color.

both of them heading back to the manor, feeling excited and new. they stopped at their parents already waiting for them to show up in the living room with a mix expressions worn on their faces making draco and y/n blushed madly.

"im glad we decided to stay." y/n's mother breaking the silence making the room filled with laughter.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

tagging : @dracoscum :( @hellounicorn @onyourgoddamnleft @whoreforgeorgeandfred @turn-to-page-394-please @youreso-golden @dracmalf0y-dm @f4iryluvy @arzfia @slut4dracoo @alexthealexthealex

[strawberrymilkgeorge]

Part Fourteen. There's No Way.

word count: 5k (not including pictures) warnings: swearing

behind the screen (irl dream x f!reader) series masterlist ultimate masterlist

a/n: yeeeeee very excited about this chapter!! we're getting so close to some good stuff!!!! hope you like it!!! (also, if you understand the reference to bug’s second tweet about mr clean, you’re a real one) 

______

Y/n laughed as she tucked her knees up to her chest, resting her chin on top as she stared at her computer monitor. "Yeah, okay, Gogy."

Quackity's laugh sounded through her headphones, cackling loudly and gasping for air as George defended himself in their voice channel. None of them were streaming, which allowed them to tease each other relentlessly without worrying about leaking real things. Currently, the target of the teasing was Y/n. Her guilty crime: Dream’s nickname for her. "She got his ass!"

"Oh shut up, Big Q," Y/n quickly spat back. "At least neither of us has a nickname that lies about our size. Short boy."

Quackity stopped laughing and pulled out his defensive card. "Okay, that's literally not funny. That's messed up of you to say, actually."

"Waaah," Y/n mocked.

"Okay, Bugsy, but no one seriously calls me Gogy, it's just as a joke," George defended himself. "I was only saying that I think it's cute how Dream calls you Bug!"

"Shut up," she mumbled with embarrassment. She loved the nickname and especially how everyone seemed to agree it was reserved for him. She wondered if he noticed that too, how everyone else, including most fans, called her Bugsy, leaving Dream as the only online friend who used the nickname.

"She's embarrassed," Quackity giggled. "Awww. Is the Buggy Wuggy embarrassed of having a crush?"

“I don’t have a crush,” she lied convincingly. 

“You better not. The title of your affection deservingly goes to me,” he said proudly, as if there was any shred of truth in his words.

“Get over yourself, Quackity,” George laughed, “before Dream tells you off again about being too short for Bugsy.”

“HEY!”

"I'm back," Sapnap announced as he unmuted in Discord. "What did I miss?"

"They're still bullying me," Y/n exaggerated.

“No, they’re bullying me!” Quackity scoffed.

“Sapnap, make them stop,” Y/n begged playfully. Usually Sapnap was on her side.

"It’s for a good reason though," Sapnap teased. "I mean, we'll stop bullying you if you admit to liking him," he lowered his voice slightly, probably since he lived in the same house as the man they were talking about.

Y/n smiled to herself and hid it behind her hoodie sleeve as if they could see her anyway. She kinda liked that she hadn't told Quackity or Sapnap about her official crush, enjoying having a secret like that. Well, a secret that George, Karl, and Naomi knew too.

"Then I guess I'll be bullied until the day that I die," she sighed. She swore she heard George cover a laugh with a cough and she sent his icon a death glare. He seemed to enjoy knowing her secret a little too much. 

"Is anyone going to actually stream today?" Sapnap asked. "I wanna do something."

"I'm thinking about doing Jackbox later," Quackity admitted. "Do you guys wanna join if I do?"

"Yes! Please," Sapnap whined. "I'm so bored."

"Sure, I'll play. Karl is spending the night so I can make him play too."

"Sleepover?" George asked. " Can I come?"

"Hm, no."

"That's messed up!"

"Can you join, George?" Quackity asked. "I need you in my title."

George hummed contemplatively and his voice turned mischievous, if only for a moment. "Yeah, if you get Dream to play."

Yeah, he definitely enjoyed knowing her secret too much.

"Right, you only play when your boyfriend plays too," Quackity groaned. "Cancel Dreamnotfound, I believe in Dreamsy supremacy."

"Says the man who asks me to marry him every day," Y/n scoffed.

"Actually, you're right! Bugity supremacy," he said.

"I swear it's become more frequent since I said you could flirt with me online again."

"It has, I'm making up for lost time."

Y/n rolled her eyes and Sapnap laughed. "I'll get Dream to play," Sapnap offered.

"So you'll play, George? I need you to commit," Quackity said.

"Yeah, why not," George agreed before adding with a giggle, "I wanna see Dream try to flirt with Bugsy."

"I hate you all,” specifically you, George, she thought. “I'm not playing anymore."

"NO, YOU ALREADY SAID YOU WOULD!" Quackity shouted.

"FINE," she groaned, a small laugh escaping her lips and completely exposing that she wasn't actually mad. "Speaking of Karl sleeping over, he's coming over in a bit so I'm gonna get off."

"Booo," Sapnap protested lightly. "Have fun with Karl."

"Let me know if he's going to play Jackbox with us. He better," Quackity threatened with no real substance.

"I'll make him," Y/n promised. "Bye guys!"

"Bye!" George and Sapnap shouted together before she disconnected the call.

Y/n stood up from her desk, stretching softly before looking around her room. She had a laundry basket in the corner, overflowing with clean, and now probably wrinkled, clothes waiting to be folded. She decided to use her time to clean up before Karl got there, even though they were probably going to sleep on the couches if at all.

She dumped the clean clothes onto her bed, tossing the things that needed to be hung to the side and neatly folded the rest. When she put her hoodies and sweaters on hangers, she noticed how much of her friends' merch she had. She had two GeorgeNotFound hoodies, a Sapnap shirt and hoodie, and even a Quackity hoodie. Karl didn't have any merch, but she did have a few of his personal hoodies that she had stolen from him over time and considered those her own exclusive merch, even though some of them had the Mr. Beast logo on them. She decided she needed Dream's merch.

For some unknown reason, perhaps it was because of how much she liked him, her face grew warm at the thought of wearing a Dream hoodie, even though it wouldn't have belonged to him. The idea made her nervous, like that would somehow give away that she had a crush on him if she bought some of his merch, even though she bought some of her friends' and even had Karl's actual hoodies. Despite the reasons that that was stupid of her to think, her brain said owning one Dream hoodie would be a dead giveaway of her crush, so she put off buying any. In reality, he'd probably laugh in his cute way when he heard that she bought one, or maybe go "whAT!" in surprise and happiness.

She desperately wanted to tell him things like that, tell him how happy his laugh made her and how adorable he was, or how she got butterflies every time he talked about anything at all. Since she couldn’t just call him up and tell him she hated stopped thinking about him, she decided to do something bold and subtweeted him, even adding a picture of herself with her face covered, hoping he would know it was about him, but that no one else would. She turned off comments for good measure, in case the stans made assumptions. Now that she threw away the "no flirting" rule for all her friends, she could do things like this. Worst case scenario is he thinks it’s weird, she tells him it was only a joke, and they go on their merry ways. Her heart would be broken, but nevertheless her ego would be somewhat saved. Harmless. 

Nervously ― plagued with the thoughts of possible consequences of posting something so bold and, to her, so obvious — she made her way to the kitchen and got a glass of water. He would know it was about him, right? And that's what she wanted? It was so forward of her to say to the world, especially since she hadn't tagged him in it. Leaving it up to interpretation almost made it like she was trying to hide it from him, which wasn't the case or she wouldn't have hit, Tweet.

She waited for him to tweet something vague about her as a response, or maybe even text her, before realizing it had the potential to make him uncomfortable. Maybe he would pretend to not see it so he didn't embarrass her, or didn't even know it was about him. Or maybe he's asleep and hasn't been on his phone. She looked at her clock. Dream asleep at 3:30pm? Unlikely.

As Y/n fell on her bed, contemplating whether she should delete the post and pretend like it never happened, she felt her phone vibrate and quickly swiped the screen to read it.

Y/n had to literally set her phone down to scream into her pillow. He was killing her. Stabbing her in the heart and twisting the knife with his sweet compliments and smooth delivery. He had to know what he was doing, the way he was talking to her like that. No one said "prove it" in that context without having something more behind it.

Why couldn't he just like her? Why did he have to be so nice and flirty towards all his friends? Why couldn’t she be the exception?

She picked her phone back up and left the messaging app, finding her camera roll and swiping through it in search for something to catch her eye. Food pic, meme, Karl’s cat, meme, picture of Naomi nearly falling off a sidewalk... where were her pictures of her face? Did she really not have any of herself? The seemingly endless scrolling stopped when she found one from when she first moved into the apartment. Naomi had taken pictures of every room to show her parents and asked Y/n if she could show her parents the streamers room as well. Y/n cheerfully agreed, and actually wanted to be in the photo because she loved Naomi’s parents like they were her own, so she jumped on her bed and smiled for the picture.

It was cute, the comforter she sat on was messy and looked comfy, and she liked the way she was posed, cross-legged and beaming at the camera with her dying plant on the windowsill in the background and fairy lights around the room. It was also back when her room was clean and presentable. Y/n thought it was a good photo and even would have posted it if not for the whole her being a faceless streamer thing.

She held her breath, contemplating if she should just send the image to Dream. She wanted to, she really did. But that fear of how he perceived her still nagged in the back of her mind.

Y/n must have been mulling it over for a while because as she decided to not send it, Dream followed up on his last text, clearly worried that he was pressuring her. She wanted to change the subject as soon as possible before she changed her mind and face revealed to him.

Y/n took a deep breath at the thought of how close she was to sending that picture to Dream. It wasn't the first time she genuinely considered it, nor would it be the last, but that was the first time she actually looked through her camera roll for options. She so desperately wanted to. Wanted to show him what she looked like. Wanted to hear what he thought of her. Wanted to hear him say, "I like you, Bug" after finally seeing what she looked like. Wanted to let him know how much she trusted him by showing him her biggest fear. It would be so easy to just rip off the Band-Aid; only a few clicks and he could see her face. See her.

But then there was the possibility of none of her fantasies happening. What if she sent him a picture saying, "here is me!" and all he says is, "nice", not finding her pretty or ugly? What if he thought it was just like... seeing a picture of a friend. He and I are just friends, Y/n scolded herself. But him seeing her opened up the opportunity for him to like her.

It was scarier the longer she put it off, almost like the more she postponed it, the more she had to prove. If Dream knew what she looked like from the beginning, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. But since she had waited so long to show him, she felt like she had to make it worth the wait.

Was she worth the wait?

Y/n's bedroom door swung open, ripping her out of her thoughts and letting her know that Karl had arrived. He smiled at her and she laughed in response.

"Hello, Karl. Ever heard of knocking?"

"Nope!" he responded as he set down a cupholder with three drinks on her nightstand. "How are you?"

"Good." Daydreaming out about Dream... again. "How are you?"

"I'm so excited!" He dropped his backpack on the floor and turned to her, pulling her off her bed and giving her a hug. "I've missed you!"

"You saw me, like, a couple of days ago," she laughed as she hugged him back.

"A couple of days too long," he sighed dramatically, rocking back and forth into the hug before Y/n lightly pulled away from him. "Where's Naomi?"

"Uh... in her room I'm guessing?"

"I'm going to go give this to her," he explained grabbing one of the drinks and walking out. "Don't miss me too much!"

Y/n laughed and shook her head, laying back down on her bed with her phone in hand. She reread some of the texts between her and Dream and couldn't help the large smile that plastered itself on her face.

When Karl came back in, he jumped on the bed, wrapping his arms around her stomach and snuggling into her side. "Hello."

She laughed but pushed him away slightly, trying to ignore the pout on his face at her actions. "Hi."

"Oh, happy December!"

"Already? Geesh."

"Yeah, only 27 days until the lake!!!!"

Nervous and excited butterflies festered in the pit of Y/n's stomach. "What drink did you get me?"

"Your faaavorite," he sang as he grabbed the drink letting her sit up and lean against the headboard before handing it to her.

"Thank you very much," she said as she took a sip. "Oh, hey, so Quackity wants to do a Jackbox stream tonight and I said you'd join."

Karl groaned and laid back on Y/n, careful not to knock her drink out of her hand. "Noooo...."

"You don't wanna play?" she asked genuinely, patting his hair lightly as his head rested on her legs.

"I just want to hang out with you. It's been so long since we had Karl and Y/n time."

She sighed. "I know, but it will be fun. We'll play for like an hour and a half and then we can hang out for the rest of the night and all day tomorrow until you have to go to Jimmy’s house," she bargained like she was talking a four-year-old into eating some vegetables.

"Hmph. Fine," Karl pouted. "Is Dream playing?"

She shrugged. "I think so?"

"That's why you want to play so bad."

"What? No! I agreed to play before Sapnap said he would ask him."

"Mmmhm. So that Tweet earlier wasn't about him?"

"The... Tweet?" she played dumb but her face warmed up.

"Or was it about me?" he joked. "Have you just been blown away ever since we met and you're still thinking about how cute I am?"

"Shut up," she lightly pushed Karl's head off her lap as her face grew hotter. "Am I wrong though?"

"I don't know!" he said as he sat up and looked at her. "I've never seen the man!!"

"Oh, really?" she asked. "I didn't want to post it because I didn't want people to think I was bragging about knowing what he looks like..." she sighed.

"Then why did you?"

"Because... I also really wanted him to see it," she said with a shy giggle.

Karl face lit up as he cackled at her. "Look at you, trying to flirt!! Let's gooo!!!"

Y/n buried her face in her sweatshirt collar and laughed.

"Oh my gosh? Y/n subtweeting and flirting at the same time?? What on Earth?"

"It only counts if it works."

"Did it?” Karl asked as he leaned back and played with his rings. “You turned off comments and I didn't see him subtweet you back."

"That's because he... texted me... instead."

"WHAT? What did he say?"

Y/n laughed. "He said I wasn't allowed to tweet something like that and then turn off comments so he can't tell everyone it was about him."

Karl cackled again. "HAHAH! So true though!"

"Whatever. I'm not telling you anything else about our conversation."

"Why, was it spicy?"

"No. But— this is weird to talk about!"

Karl frowned. "You don't have to tell me... I just think it's so cute. But if you ever do want to talk about how much you wuv Dweam, I'm all ears. Tell me everything."

Y/n rolled her eyes fondly. "Okay Kawl."

"What time is Quackity streaming?" Karl changed the subject, understanding that Y/n actually didn't want to talk about Dream.

"I don't know. Ask him. Also, tell him you're joining so he knows." She took another long sip from her drink as Karl pulled out his phone and texted Quackity.

Her fingers itched to make another Tweet about Dream and she finally succumbed, but decided to outright tease him instead of flirt, not hiding the identity of her target this time. Really, it was just an excuse for her to try to get his attention like she couldn't just text him and have it right away.

_____

"Sapnap!" Bugsy cheered as he joined the Discord, Quackity off talking to his chat while the others slowly joined. So far, the only people there were Sapnap, Bugsy, and Karl.

"Bugsy!" he called back with a giggle. "Hi! Is Karl coming?"

"I'm here, Sapnap!" Karl announced. "Bugsy and I are just using the same mic."

"Am I not good enough for you?" she teased Sapnap and he laughed.

"Well you're going to ignore me to talk to Dream once he gets here, so I need a backup so I'm not lonely."

Y/n rolled her eyes with a smile and Karl laughed.

"We can talk while they flirt," Karl promised.

"Both of you shut up," she scolded softly.

Pretty soon, the others joined. In the end, Quackity had convinced Bad, Punz, and Wilbur to play, as well as all the feral boys.

"You could only get nine people to play, Quackity?" George asked once Quackity unmuted. "Wow, you must not have friends."

"Hey! I have friends, George! I do."

"Then where's the tenth person, Big Q?" Wilbur countered.

"LOOK! It was last minute! Where's Drea– that man is always late, I swear to—"

"I'm here!" Dream said quickly, joining the voice channel. "I'm here! Hello, everyone. Hi, Bug."

Karl smacked his hand over his mouth to cover his laugh, which escaped anyway, as he nudged Y/n. She had immediately buried her face in her hands and Karl had to turn away from the mic so no one could hear him laugh at Dream's direct greeting.

She pinched Karl's side before greeting Dream. "Hi, Dream."

"Are you guys ready to play?" Quackity asked.

"Wait, no, we're going to have to have Gene! Can't you get anyone else?" Punz asked.

"Everyone I've asked has said no!" Quackity groaned. "I'm out of people. Deal with Gene."

Y/n and Karl looked at each other at the same time, thinking the same thing. Naomi had been talking about wanting to play Jackbox sometime but that she never has anyone to play with other than Karl and Y/n. She'd be meeting most of these people on vacation in a couple of weeks anyway, why not see if she wants to play?

"What about my roommate?" Y/n spoke up as Quackity sent the code to the Discord.

"Who?" he asked.

"You literally met her when you visited," Karl laughed. "Naomi."

"Oh, yeah! She's cool."

"Invite her to play," George said, making Dream laugh lightly and Y/n smile because they knew they had been talking a lot.

"Yeah, give me a second, don't start yet," Y/n said before sliding off her headphones and making her way to Naomi's room. Before Y/n could even knock, Naomi swung open her door quickly, phone open to the Twitch app in her hand.

"I heard everything," she rushed out, eyes wide and hopeful. "C-can I play?"

"Yeah, you want to?"

"PLEASE."

"There are currently 130,000 people watching, just so you know."

"That's fine, I'm cool under pressure." That was very true. Y/n wouldn’t have let Naomi join if she thought her friend couldn’t handle the attention. She thrived in it. "Should I come to your room?"

"Yeah, come on." Y/n led the way and pulled up a third chair to her desk. Karl offered to listen to the Discord on his phone so Naomi could use the second pair of headphones to listen to everyone. All three of them still used Y/n's mic, Karl muted on his phone. "Okay, kinda scuffed set up, but we're all here. Everyone, this is Naomi."

"Hello!" Naomi said happily. "Nice to meet you all!"

Everyone greeted her and Y/n noted the redness on Naomi's cheeks as George greeted her with a soft, "Nice to talk to you again, Naomi."

Karl giggled again and slapped his hand over his mouth; Y/n had a feeling he'd have to do that a lot this stream.

"Can we all agree to not pander?" Bad asked, earning a few approvals.

"What if we play one game where we only pander?" Dream asked. "Like pander as much as possible for every answer."

"Wait, yeah, let's do that so everyone can get it out of their system," Wilbur agreed.

"But Naomi doesn't know us well enough to pander yet," Sapnap countered.

"Yes I do," she said with a laugh. "I've watched enough streams and lore videos to know exactly how to get votes."

"Damn, okay then," Sapnap mumbled.

"Yeah, she'll be fine," George promise and Naomi blushed again, making Y/n laugh. Naomi joined the lobby on her phone and the round began.

Pandering being the goal was both annoying and hilarious because people used the same jokes, but it was funny to see how hard people were trying to get the audience votes.

"Something you would take with you on a deserted island," Quackity read out loud as the prompt showed up. "An iPad full of downloaded skephalo fanfiction, HAHAH, or dreamnotfound fanart." Everyone laughed and Y/n could hear George scoff at one answer in particular.

"Aw, I love Skeppy!" Bad said innocently.

"Was that your answer then, Badboyhalo?" Wilbur teased as everyone voted on their favorite. Y/n, of course, cast her vote towards skephalo, but still pretended like the other answer didn't make her jealous. The player votes were split, but the audience made Sapnap's answer win in a landslide.

"Okay, the most disappointing thing to hear from a friend," Wilbur read the next one out loud. "Dreamsy is real, and you don't have a shot with BugsyGames."

"What the hell?" Y/n laughed loudly at the similarity between the two responses. Dream was laughing so hard, wheezing like he would never stop, and the sound brought a large grin to Y/n's face.

Everyone's laughs overlapped and mingled with each other and it was such a happy sound, distracting everyone's attention from Y/n a little.

"That would be the worst thing to hear!" Quackity yelled. "Good thing Bugity is real."

Dream stopped laughing abruptly and instead yelled, "WHAT?" which only made everyone laugh harder.

"Vote!!" Bad reminded.

"Wait, Quackity, what did you just say?" Dream asked.

"Well, I've seen her face, so... I think she loves me more," he said, just trying to get a rise out of the other, which seemed to be working.

Y/n thought again about how close she was to sending a picture of herself to Dream earlier. He probably would have immediately used it against Quackity, but she didn't think she would have minded because it was funny to see Dream jealous, real or not.

"Only because you flew out to hang out with Karl!" Dream yelled. "I'd fly just to see her."

"Then do it," Y/n challenged before she could think and her heart stopped at her own words.

Dream went silent and it was Naomi's turn to cover her laugh with her hand, Karl's eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

"Why are you so defensive, huh, Dream?" Punz asked.

"Uh, you-you have to be when fighting for Bug's love and attention," he joked finally, and Y/n's heart resumed beating, a little fast at the implication of his words. Why did she say that? He probably thought she was so weird. "It's every person for themselves." Then again, so was he.

The votes were pretty split since they said the same thing, but the surprising thing was who said what. She expected one of them to be from Quackity, but she didn't know who wrote the second one about not having a shot. Sapnap maybe? Karl? They all joke around so who put it?

"DREAM?" Sapnap laughed. "You wrote that?"

"Well, yeah, I mean..." he trailed off with a laugh and Y/n's face caught fire. Did he really think he didn't have a shot? Because reality check: he’s the only one with arrows and the target is wide open. Was he joking or stupid or was she just not as obvious as she previously thought?

"Okay, okay, next one," Quackity laughed. "If cats were political leaders, everyone’s favorite president would be: Patches, okay," he paused as Dream cheered loudly, "and Bingus."

"Corpse isn't even here! Wrong audience!" Karl said.

"Bingus is for all audiences," Y/n mumbled, making Naomi laugh.

"Uh-oh, another faceless man stealing Bugsy's heart—?" Sapnap joked, immediately cut off by Dream's stern, "no."

"Naomi, you put Patches?" Wilbur laughed as the votes went towards the girl on Y/n's left. "Okay, she does know more than we thought."

"Oh, I know everything," she said evilly, double-meaning evident in her voice. Y/n gave her a look and Naomi just smiled innocently.

The pandering got so intense that Y/n almost cried tears of joy when the first Quiplash game was over and the no-pandering rule got put back into play.

"What, you don't like your name being every other answer?" Wilbur joked and Y/n shook her head.

"No. But certain ones were okay..."

"Yeah, the Bugity ones," Quackity joked.

Dream hummed out a soft, "Okay, Quackity," and the next game began.

The games went on as usual and Y/n had a blast. It was so fun to see her best friend interact with all her online friends for the first time and it warmed her heart how inclusive they were, making sure Naomi wasn't left out of jokes. It helped that Naomi's sense of humor was similar and that she already knew a lot about the streamers, but Y/n was still grateful for all the efforts put forth by her friends.

It also helped that George and Naomi clearly liked each other.

"Is anyone going to stream?" Quackity asked as he started wrapping up.

"I will if no one else is," Punz said. "I'm going to play Valorant."

"Oh, can I play?" Sapnap asked.

"Yeah, definitely, dude."

"Okay, I'll raid you." Quackity muted after thanking everyone for playing and Y/n left the call.

"Dude, that was SO FUN!" Naomi stood up and yelled. She sat down on the end of Y/n's bed, hands balled up in excitement.

Karl laughed as he fell on top of the bed next to where Naomi sat. "I'm so glad you guys all got along!"

"Yeah, I almost started crying when everyone was laughing at your jokes," Y/n laughed, swiveling in her chair to look at them. "That made me so happy."

"Oh my gosh, thank you so much for letting me play. I had so much fun. And they're all so nice and funny and I was worried they'd make me feel left out but they didn't at all."

"I'm so glad you had fun," Y/n said. "We'll invite you again if you want."

"Please do. Only if everyone's okay with it though!"

"I'm sure they would be."

“The lake is going to be so fun,” she sighed whimsically. 

“Because George?” Karl teased, causing Naomi to punch his arm. 

A Discord notification sounded on Y/n's computer and she turned to look at the screen, smiling when she saw Dream's name.

Dream: You left the vc so quick :( Bugsy: I have two goons to hang out with :( Dream: :(((( Dream: I wanna be the only goon you hang out with Dream: I was right, I don't have a chance with you Dream: Karl is the only focus of Bugs attention Bugsy: ?? Bugsy: lies detected Dream: wait really Bugsy: ... Bugsy: do I need to remind you of the tweet I posted earlier Dream: bug don't say things like that to me Bugsy: why not Dream: can you kick Karl back to his house so we can ft or call :( Bugsy: no <3 Bugsy: we can tomorrow after Karl leaves Dream: promise? Dream: don't get my hopes up bug Bugsy: yeah I promise :) Dream: :D

"Pay attention to me!" Karl whined. Y/n turned back around and saw that Naomi had left the room and Karl was laying upside down, close to falling off the bed with his head dangling dangerously close to the ground.

She laughed and typed one last message to Dream.

Bugsy: bye bye dream :) Dream: goodnight bug :] sleep well

"Okay," she huffed jokingly, turning back to Karl. "You have my full, undivided attention."

_____

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[cjjohansson]

NONE OF THIS WAS MEANT TO HAPPEN- PART 2

NATASHA ROMANOFF x BLACKWIDOW!READER

SUMMARY; After being apprehended by the Avengers and growing closer to Natasha, you let slip a secret she didn't know you knew. What happens when she realises you know the truth?

WARNINGS; mentions of abuse, swearing, previous suicide attempt, self harm, self doubt, mental health, smoking, drinking. sad natasha.

-PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION-

WORD COUNT; 4.5K

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“So you’re telling me Yelena lied?”

Natasha didn’t expect this. She hadn't heard that name for a while now, not since destroying the Red Room herself with the help from her but since then nothing but radio silence. She thought Yelena was too busy still trying to free other widows but she knew from finding you and helping you Yelena hadn't finished her mission yet. But she was confused at how you knew Yelena and still had her in your mind even through the torture of the mind control and manipulating you had experienced. She continued staring at you, she didn't know what to do or say to you.

“So was she lying or not Natasha?” your voice came through her ears making her refocus. Your voice sounded desperate to know the truth, you needed to know the truth.

“I don't know what you’re talking about y/n.” Nat knew she should tell the truth, why was she still hiding this part of her past from you, no one knew about the help she had received when destroying the red room but no one knew her as well as you. Only knowing each other for this short amount of time you both opened up in different ways, it was freeing for Natasha to see someone who went through the same pain as she did and it helped guide her in helping you. Knowing if she could help you it’d help herself, she still saw all the red in her ledger but she was determined to wipe it in hopes she could help you wipe yours. She knew how you felt about the terrible things you did under control and for all the years up until now. She knew you shared the same pain. Apart from you only had Natasha. Slowly growing more open with the team but Natasha had you AND the team, the team she had grown so close with over the years to now finally call her family. But still the lie fell from her lips like it was a simple song.

“You’re lying, I know you're lying and I don't understand why it's me Natasha!” your voice only grew louder the more frustrated you got.

“I still remember holding Yelena the day you managed to escape the Red Room, I remember her crying and having to keep her quiet at night so no one saw her and thought she was weak! She constantly fell asleep holding the only memory she had left of you. But it all stopped months after I was taken from her in my sleep being transferred to a new location! I remember mouthing to her ‘it’ll be ok, we will find eachother again’ but after that nothing. I cannot even remember how long ago that was now Natasha, the years after being put through the mind control barely anything feels real. It was all confusing at the time trying to work out who this girl was that I kept seeing in my dreams and anytime I asked them it would only end in a beating. I knew not to ask anymore. But I remember being sent on this mission to kill you Natasha! I remember after I finally woke up again and saw your face that this person in front of me will help because my friend never gave up hope in you! It was like all I could see was Yelena and this random blue haired girl!”

“I'm not lying. I don't know who or what you're talking about!” another lie, slipping past her lips like it was nothing. Her lies only fueled you with more anger and frustration. Her face just stayed staring at you like she was trying to burn the lie into your head. You thought you knew her, but the person who was standing in front of you now lying was most definitely not the same person you shared a kiss with only moments ago.

“You said I could trust you Natasha. You might be able to get away with lying to the team but you're forgetting we were taught to lie by the same people. I can see straight through you.” your voice hit back at her laced with venom, she could see the disappointment in your eyes. You slowly turned to leave, you couldn't stand here with her right now knowing she was lying. How could she lie to you after everything she has helped you with over the last few months. You thought you loved her, you thought she might have loved you. You got off the bed and walked towards the door, you couldn't be here right now.

“Y/n/n wait.” she grabbed your wrist, stopping you from reaching the door, the same wrist that was littered in a big scar from the time you woke up. Her touch burnt, all she received from you was a flinch and you pulling your wrist from her touch.

“Don't you dare fucking touch me Natalia! Only moments ago I thought I finally had someone I could trust, someone who would keep me safe. But now all I see is the Black fucking Widow stood infront of me. So no Natalia, I won't wait. I won't stand here while you lie to me straight through your teeth. I wont stand here while you tell me you don't know who or what i’m talking about when I held that some person for months through her fucking tears because her so called sister left without her! I picked up the pieces you fucking ruined and now you expect me to stand here and think that you're telling me the truth and Yelena lied all those years? You expect me to think the voice in my head the day I woke up after I slit my wrist wide open telling me to trust you is fucking lying? Because if it was lying I wish, I fucking wish I let myself bleed out right then and there.” You knew you hit her then, like your voice was so loud filling the room like it was pounding in her ears. She knew you were right that it wasn’t her standing in front of you but was the Black Widow trying to manipulate her targets for information. Before she could even reply, the sound of the door slamming brought her back to focus. She quickly wiped her cheek as she felt the tears slowly falling from her eyes, not even remembering when she had started crying. Why did she lie? Why did she ruin the chances of you? Ruining your trust like it didn't take so much time to try and gain it? What had she done? Her and Yelena were ok now, they had worked on their differences and she had apologised for what had happened all the years ago but why wouldn't she tell you that? She knew Yelena held a grudge and hated her for leaving without her when they finally saw each other again but that wasn't the case now. Everything was different now and the main difference was Natasha finally realising that maybe she was falling for you and she had ruined all her chances in that becoming a reality. She needed to give you space, she knew that if she was to chase you now it would only make you more angry, she knew she needed to figure out how to talk to you and explain why she had done what she had done, until then she couldn't risk seeing you.

-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-

It had been a week since your argument with Natasha. Nothing made sense to you. It was driving you crazy at how she lied to you like you were nothing to her, like you weren't the person she had spent nights laughing with over stupid movies and also crying too when talking about each other's pasts. You had only slept once since then, a few hours after your argument, you had finally made your way back to your room knowing she would have left. You felt exhausted, only moments before your argument you had woken up from a terrible nightmare to then being in the comfort of her arms, to then kissing her to then shouting. It was like the only thing your body wanted to do was sleep right then and there. When you woke up hours later looking at your clock did you see the time read 4am, you had slept for 12 hours and by that point you understood why.

-flashback-

You steadily got out of your bed still feeling disgusted from being in your gym clothes from the day before everything happened, you made your way to the shower knowing you needed to rid all this grime off of yourself. You stood still in the shower letting the water fall off your shoulders like it was the first time you had ever seen water before it felt relaxing. Letting yourself get lost in the feeling of it but still your mind grew to the thought of what it would be like if Natasha was standing behind you right now washing your hair, touching you so delicately like you could break from any sudden movement. It felt too overwhelming. You crumbled to your knees like your body could no longer hold your weight anymore, your tears getting lost within the water that was over your face. It felt like you couldn't breathe, you were trapped in a place with nobody you could trust. Your mind grew dark so quickly, like the only way to get out of this place was to reopen that wrist but she still lingered in your mind, the thought of her finding you on this shower floor was breaking you even more. Why were you still feeling this sympathy for her after everything that had happened. You couldn't do this you needed to get rid of this feeling inside, it felt like your body was on fire, you felt scared and it was something you hadn't felt for a few months now, you had felt safe in her presence to now feeling as if you would leave this room and pass out, you needed it gone. You scrambled up from your feet in a hurry trying to find anything in your bathroom for a release, you remembered Natasha had made sure anything you could hurt yourself with had been removed from your pending room after your incident. There was nothing in here you could even butter bread with, it only made you feel more anger towards her. You stopped looking, taking a deep breath and staring at yourself in the mirror, wiping your hand over the mirror to see yourself clearer due to the fog clinging to it. And that's when you realised this would do. Bringing your clenched fist up to pound into the mirror sending shards flying everywhere, thank god for your enhancements you thought, that brought a light chuckle out of you. Frantically picking a big enough shard off the floor and moving yourself to sit on the toilet you knew this would help. Blood came seeping out of each cut, dripping down your leg and running onto the floor, you knew you'd done enough. The pain you felt inside had felt like it had disappeared more and more after every cut. You moved back into the shower preparing yourself for the sharp stings of pain that would soon follow, washing yourself quickly and exiting your bathroom, closing the door and leaving it shut. You knew you’d had to clean up later but for now you dragged yourself back to your bed in hopes to sleep more even though you knew you wouldn’t.

-end flashback-

You sat on the balcony of the compound still trying to work out how and why this had happened, you hadn't seen her for a week, you knew people had grown suspicious as to why you weren't joint at her hip and instead was constantly wrapped in a blanket on the balcony. The only person to come over and talk to you was Wanda, you would never say much. Only asking her if she could get you some cigarettes from the shop and some vodka, you knew if she said no you could always just ask FRIDAY to get some delivered, but she always came back hours later with the two things you'd asked her for, you always sent her the softest smile with a quiet thank you and she would leave after that. You wondered if she knew she was feeding into your new addictions and a way to stop the pain coming forward. You wondered if you were taking advantage of her but still you never wondered to ask.

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You brought the cigarette up to your lips lighting it quickly, the feeling burning your throat and lungs as you slowly inhale the toxic chemicals it gives out, you had never smoked before this whole thing with Natasha, it wasn't until you had seen someone smoking in a movie did you grow curious of whole thing but now look, it was like you was a natural. Cigarette in one hand, half a bottle of vodka in the other, that is all you've done all week. You only moved from this spot to go to the toilet, not even bothering with food. It wasn't healthy and you knew that, you also knew this was a pathetic way of coping from everything with Natasha but it was helping.

A small cough is what brought you out of your train of thoughts, you looked up towards the door seeing her standing there. You hated how the first thing you thought was how beautiful she looked with the moonlight shining in just the right way. It made her eyes even more beautiful than they already were, you threw your head back to look at the trees across from you, no you needed to be angry at her.

“Smoking isn’t good for you, you know.” you wanted to chuckle at her but the hurt seeping through your veins was too much to deal with, gulping down the growing lump in your throat you continued smoking while staring. She sighed moving to sit opposite you so she constricted your view. You now sit facing her staring into her beautiful emerald orbs hoping the tears don't start to fall.

“I’m sorry” watching her slowly lowering her head after her words, her hands running through her hair, you're sure you heard a slight sniffle but you continued to stare, not caring to reply.

“Please say something, anything” she sounded so vulnerable, so small but you needed an explanation not just an apology. You go to speak but your tears are already threatening to fall so you turn your head to the side gulping down some vodka to ignore the pain.

“I'm not good at apologising, I'm even worse at talking about my past. I did lie. But I shouldn't have. I lied because I didn't want to remember what I did to her back then, the things I did in general back then.” you finally turned to look at her again slowly nodding for her to continue.

“Me and Yelena, we…errrr...we had a mission when we were young. Acting as sisters with two other agents as our parents. It was nice, you know, acting normal. I went from being in the Red Room, to a normal life. To then just be taken back away again. But it was different for her, I tried to not let them take her, she was too young, but like they said, I was younger…” she stayed staring down at her feet, you could tell it was a lot for her to be doing this, you were thankful she was opening up telling you the truth but you could see her discomfort seeping through. Holding out the bottle of vodka for her to take she brought her head up slowly looking at you and then to the bottle. She let out a light chuckle moving to accept the bottle from you and taking a drink. She gave it back, wiping the few tears that had escaped, you thought she was done talking until she sighed and carried on.

“I held her as they took us to the Red Room again, well me again, not her. It was terrifying. I just held her trying to shield her from seeing anything and everything, she just clung to me, sobbing. We were so young and I knew what was going to happen to her and there was nothing more I could do. I knew as soon as we were there she'd be taken from me and I'd never see her again. But I did see her, of course you know I did. It was quick stares walking past each other or it was me looking for her subtly when we would be eating, I couldn't protect her anymore. We could only protect ourselves. Any signs of love, affection or even friendship were frowned upon. How could I comfort her or look after her when everything I wanted to do I would have been punished for? That would have scared her even more. So I kept to myself.”

You didn't know how to react or what to do, the woman who was so continuously strong no matter what was thrown at her was sitting in front of you sobbing, it broke your heart and you knew it was breaking hers.

“Tasha, it's ok. Please.” you couldn't watch her cry anymore but you knew there was so much more she needed to say.

“No, y/n I...I need to do this.” you gave her a small nod, urging her to continue as you swallowed your own tears.

“She got out about 7 months ago too. Things happened and well me, her and our parents, Alexei and Melina. We took down Dreykov, we took down the main Red Room. I found out about all of these other widows that were placed all around the world being controlled. Yelena had this antidote that managed to break widows out of mind control, she found out the hard way what it was but we managed to save the widows that were at that Red Room. We only had one dose left, so with the help from Melina and Alexei they created more so they could go and save all the girls that were left. When you showed up I knew that clearly she hadn't finished the whole mission yet but I knew that 4 months wasn't a lot of time to do that hence why she hadn't reached you yet. I hadn't been in contact with any of them since then, I tried to get in touch but I never received anything back even up until two weeks ago.” she had stopped crying now, she looked more comfortable talking, it released this ache in your heart knowing she was becoming ok. You just wanted to hug her, so you did. You moved quickly, cigarettes and bottle of vodka long forgotten about and settled on her lap. She tensed slightly when you first sat down but soon enough you felt her relax, you just couldn't stop looking at her. Her eyes glassy from the tears she had shed, the light smell of the vodka she had drunk coming out from her lips as she breathed slowly. You just forgot everything that had happened in the past week. You cupped her face making sure all of her attention was on you, leaning in slowly to finally connect your lips in a gentle kiss. You finally moved away when you felt tears dripping down your cheeks, not evening knowing if they were yours or hers. Her hand came to settle on your cheek wiping away the tears that had fallen, the smallest of a smile on her face.

“I went to find them this week.” her words shocking you, making you shake your head confused. She laughed lightly at your reaction.

“Arguing with you just made me realise that I had no clue what was going on, I just left them with this information and took off, so I went to Melinas where I knew one of them would be and saw them there. That's why I had been gone all week.”

You felt relief when something rolled through you, although all this week you had been trying to avoid her, every time you moved from the balcony to the toilets you hoped she would pop out of nowhere. It wasn't until the third day you thought she was actively trying to avoid you too, it's what made you grow more angry. Thinking she just upped and left without a word but you now knew she didn't and suddenly all this anger and pain you felt towards her through the week was gone off your shoulders, but you now hated yourself for the way you reacted, the way you screamed and shouted at her for lying when now you understood why she done what she done out of fear of remembering. You hated yourself for the way you threw yourself into hurting yourself along with smoking and drinking. The guilt settled in your chest, it felt like it was too much to handle once again and you couldn't stop the tears from crashing down, a painful sob falling out of you as you suddenly felt like you could feel your thighs starting to tear and bleed again, like you could feel your throat burning from the bottles of vodka you had consumed and your lungs feeling as if they were suffocating from all the cigarettes you managed to smoke in such a short time.

Natasha reacted quickly, holding you tighter as you tucked yourself into the crook of her neck, a death grip on the back of her shirt as if, if you were to let go, this would all be a dream and she would disappear.

“Hey, hey, hey. Shhh it's ok, you're ok, I’m ok. We are ok. I'm here. I'm sorry for what happened and I'm sorry for leaving without explaining. I'm just so sorry.” her words were meant to be comforting but it only made you sob more.

“The things I did when you were gone Tasha, I overreacted. I'm sorry for everything I said that day of our argument. I understand everything now I do and I'm so grateful for you telling me and I'm so happy Yelena is safe. I'm so sorry. I’m so, so, so sorry.” your voice muffled as you sobbed into her neck only made her grow nervous. No one had said anything about you all week when she called to check in on everyone.

“y/n, what happened?” She spoke so softly, one hand stroking small circles at the bottom of your back and the other hand moving to the side of your hair to move your head up so you were looking at her. It made the words you were trying to say even harder seeing how much her eyes showed her concern and worry.

“M...my...my bathroom, I...I...I ruined it, haven't been in my room since you left. I've stayed out here just smoking and drinking Tasha. I felt so angry and hurt and I hate what I did because now I understand why and what happened and I just overreacted so much and all I've done is cause myself pain and I know you don't want to know or even think that but I have. I hurt myself Tasha, I broke my mirror to do it, gosh thats so fucking stupid and it was only the one time and that doesn't make that ok I know that but it hurts so much. I feel like I'm suffocating, this guilt is too much. You've come back to explain and now here I sit crying and making it sound like everything I did this week was your fault but it wasn't. I'm sorry.” you rambled on continuing to sob, her eyes now just looked so sad, it broke you but you couldn't stop the ‘I’m sorrys’ from falling off your lips but she still stayed stroking your back, leaning your foreheads together telling you over and over that it was ok and she forgave you.

Your sobs finally slowly subsided, the exhaustion finally settling in after the week that had gone by so slowly, it consumed you. But Natasha never let up her continuous flow of ‘its oks’ and never failed to tell you ‘I’m here’ until you finally settled in silence. The silence felt comfortable between you, even though the past hour or maybe even longer held so much pain for the both of you. Your grib finally loosens on her t-shirt, moving to sit up straight to look at her.

“Я люблю вас” she blurts out in a hurry, you stayed staring at her in shock. You made no move to reply or even hug her or kiss her, it made her grow nervous. You felt her tense underneath you straight after it came flying out of her mouth.

“It's fine, you don’t need to...umpth” you cut her off short pulling her into an intense kiss, moving to straddle her lap, she moaned softly into you, making you melt. Even through the gentleness it still felt so rough and aggressive, neither of you pulling away until air became a problem.

“я люблю тебя больше моя Наталья”

-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-ⴵ-⧗-

The night seemed to flow so much more calmly after your late night confessions. You both moved to Natashas suite in hopes of getting some more privacy. Your night consisted of movies playing in the background as you both consumed each other with so much love and affection. You knew for sure that no one could ever love you or care for you the way this woman could. It overfilled your heart with so much joy, that even after these years where she was in pain and she blamed herself and the word for everything that had happened to her, that she could still love and feel so deeply. How she could still love you with so much passion in such a short amount of time, when you both grew up being told that it would make you vulnerable and that it was for children.

You knew the way you grew up was terrible and traumatic but in this moment, laying in Natashas arms sharing the smallest of kisses, giggles erupting from both of you, kind words whispered as if anything louder would ruin the moment, you were somewhat grateful that somehow no matter where this life was suppose to take you or what was meant to happen with you, you had never been so happy to have failed your mission against Natasha Romanoff, because right now who knows where you would be or what you was doing. You managed to be so lucky that this woman still accepted you with open arms and made herself vulnerable and somewhere fall in love with you that nothing from your past mattered in this moment. All that mattered was the love you were sharing and the love you can only hope to continue to share into the future.

Maybe ‘None Of This Was Meant To Happen’ but god was you so incredibly happy that it did.

[wishuhadstayed]

It Takes a Village

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x reader

Word Count: about 3000

Summary: when the Hotchner fam is in need, it’s a good thing to have many helping hands. Part 9 to Begin Again.

Warnings: mentions of blood and pregnancy complications

Author’s Note: I really am sorry for that cliffhanger y’all. 😬 I’m just glad you still love me after being gone for like, a literal year. Shoutout to @agent-laufeyson you’re the best 💜 (PS, please ignore Haley in the below gif, also please picture Hotch in the hospital in casual clothes.) 😌

Previous Chapter

Masterlist

For a moment, Aaron’s whole world stopped turning. A cold, familiar sense of dread settled into his chest at the words, “You all may want to sit down for this.”

“Not again,” he thought. “I can’t do this again, we can’t do this again.”

“God please,” he begged internally, slumping into a chair, “if you’re listening, please don’t take her. We need her.”

Suddenly, the voice of a surgeon cut through the silent room like a knife.

“Sir, your wife lost a significant amount of blood. We had no choice but to perform an emergency c-section. Although your daughter is slightly pre-term, she seems to be in good health. However, we would like to keep her a while for monitoring.”

“And my wife?” He inquires, voice trembling with fear.

“It was touch and go there for a while, but we were able to locate the source of bleeding and get it under control. Your wife is out of surgery. She’s stable, but she is very weak and currently asleep. She will also be hospitalized for recovery. At least a week most likely, maybe longer.”

“Mama’s gonna be okay?” Jack pipes up.

“Yes, she is buddy,” Aaron replies, ruffling his hair. “Thanks to that doctor.”

“Thanks for making my mama feel better.”

“You’re most welcome,” the surgeon replied. “You and your dad can go visit her now. The rest of you will have to wait. She needs her rest. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you doctor,” Aaron says, shaking his hand with a sigh of relief.

“You go Aaron,” Rossi encourages, clapping him on the shoulders before he even had a chance to turn around. “Go see your wife and baby. We’ll wait.”

——————————————————————————

Entering your hospital room, Aaron thought your sleeping face was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Sitting on the side of your hospital bed, he grabbed hand as you stirred awake.

“Hello Angel,” he murmurs as you take everything in. “You gave us quite a scare,” he mentions, softly caressing your face.

“The baby,” you whisper, touching his hand.

“Ssssshhhh,” he soothes. “The baby is fine. She’s in the nursery. You just rest okay?”

Instant relief washes over your face. “Jack?”

“I’m right here mama!” he exclaims, scrambling into Aaron’s lap.

“I want to see the baby,” you tell Aaron.

“I know darling, but you really need your rest.”

“I NEED to see her, Aaron.” You plead.

Taking the hint, he begins to rise. “Jack why don’t you stay with mama, while I go talk to the nurse, okay?”

“Okay Daddy,” he agrees, climbing in the bed next to you.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better mama,” Jack says, looking up at you with the sweetest face.

“Me too, baby,” you reply. “Are you ready to meet your sister?”

“Yeah!” he exclaims with a look of excitement. “Can I hold her?”

“Of course you can buddy, as long as you’re careful,” Aaron replies as he re-enters the room. “The nurses are bringing her down.”

A few minutes later a nurse arrives holding a tiny pink blanket. “Who wants to hold her first?” She inquires.

“You should hold her first, Aaron,” you suggest.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he insists. “You’ve been the strongest, bravest mom I know already. You should hold her first.”

As the nurse places the tiny, squirming bundle with her father’s dark hair in your arms, all the stress and chaos of the day seems to just melt away.

As you free a tiny hand from the swaddle so she can grasp your finger, her eyes flutter open.

“She’s perfect, isn’t she?” you wonder aloud.

“Absolutely lovely,” Aaron muses, draping his arm around your shoulders. “Just like her mother.”

——————————————————————————

Meanwhile, cooped up in the waiting area, the BAU team began to grow restless.

“Maybe we should get out of the hospital and go shopping while we wait,” Garcia suggests. “I think Y/N deserves all the gifts and pretty things today.”

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” JJ questions.

“TARGET RUN!” all three women exclaim in unison.

They all wandered the aisles like kids in a candy store.

“I’m getting her balloons,” Penelope says. “Like so many pink balloons. Nobody can feel bad with that many balloons.”

“Flowers,” Rossi chimes in. “We should get her plenty of flowers to make the room cheerful.”

“We’ll have to get those from hospital gift shop,” JJ comments.

“I’d want chocolate,” Emily suggests. “Chocolate helps everything.”

“Look,” Morgan says, showing a pink stuffed bunny to Garcia. “It’s cute right? For the baby?”

“It’s perfect, Derek,” she assures, grabbing his hand. “Very cute.”

“Oh, a memory book,” Reid mentions. “So they can write down details every day.”

“Leave it to the genius to pick out a book,” Morgan jokes with a playful shove.

“Settle down, boys.” JJ cuts in. “As much as I’m sure she’ll appreciate the pretty gifts, she did just have a baby,” she reminds the group. “She needs some practical things too, trust me.” As she picks out a blanket and a pacifier, Henry begins to grow restless. As she picked up a snack for him, another idea crossed her mind.

“We should get something for Jack, too,” she thought aloud. “LEGOs. He loves LEGOs. And some gummy bears.”

A sudden ringing startles everyone.

“Ssssshhhhhhh,” Garcia commands as she puts the phone on speaker. “It’s Y/N! Quiet!”

“Hello my angel dear,” she lilts, “How are you feeling?”

“I’m very tired, but otherwise happy and healthy,” you report. “Is everyone with you?”

“We’re all here,” JJ chimes in.

“Hi everyone!” You reply. “In that case, I have news. The nurses have said that we’re allowed to have visitors first thing in the morning, if you’d like to see our newest addition.”

“Oh, wild horses could not keep us away, ma’am.” Penelope assures. “We’ll see you all bright and early.”

“Not too early, Penny,” you remind her. “You gotta give me a chance to wake up first.”

“Right, sooooo 10am then?”

“It’s a date.”

——————————————————————————

That evening, you soaked up as much family time as possible before the wave of visitors began. Aaron was a natural, as you’d known he would be from seeing him with Jack.

Watching him with the baby was quickly becoming your favorite pastime. The look of sheer enchantment on his face as he held her close and rocked her made you fall a little more in love with him every moment.

“Daddy loves you so much,” he coos to the tiny bundle in his arms.

“What?” he questions as he catches you watching.

“Oh nothing,” you reply, ruffling Jack’s hair as he slept by your side. “Just wondering how I got so lucky.”

“I think it’s me who got lucky. I thought I’d never love again. I was so closed off. I was prepared to spend the rest of my life as a single dad, doing everything on my own. Now,” he chokes out, “now I’d fall apart without you.”

“Good thing you’ve got two of us now to keep you boys in line then,” you return with a wicked grin. “She’s got you wrapped around her finger already.”

——————————————————————————

When you awoke the next morning, you were greeted by the most beautiful sight. Aaron still asleep in the recliner next your bed, his arm cradling the sleeping baby on his chest. While you hated to disturb the peaceful scene, you knew the team would be arriving as soon as the clock struck 10.

“Aaron,” you whisper. “Aaron, wake up,” slightly louder this time. He stirs awake, moving slowly so as not to wake the sleeping child.

“What is it babe?”

“The team will be here soon,” you inform him.

“Ah. I should go get ready,” he replies.

“Mama, can I hold her while dad gets ready?” Jack asks, startling the both of you.

“Oh buddy, I didn’t realize you were awake,” you say to him. “Of course you can hold her if you want.”

Jack scrambled into your lap as Aaron rounded the bed.

“Just be really careful with her bud,” Aaron reminds him as he settles the baby on his lap.

“I will dad,” he replies.

As Aaron walked away, the baby’s eyes fluttered open and she let out a small cry.

“Here, why don’t you give her a pacifier?” you suggest.

“Sssshhhh, don’t cry,” he says, giving her the pacifier, and then softly stroking her head.

“What do you think about your baby sister, Jack?”

“She’s pretty, Mama, just like you.”

“Thank you baby,” you reply. “That’s very sweet. I love you.”

“I love you too, mama.”

“And I love you all,” Aaron adds.

——————————————————————————

A short while later, a knock at the door alerts you that your visitors have arrived.

“You ready for this?” Aaron asks as he walks to the door.

“I’ve never been more ready. I just know they’re gonna be so in love with her.”

Aaron opens the door and the team flows in with their myriad of gifts.

Penelope hands off her bouquet of balloons to Derek and rushes over to hug you.

“Oh Y/N,” she gushes, cupping your face. “You look beautiful. It’s so good to see you, we were all worried sick.”

“Thank you Penny,” you reply, eyeing the room. “I’m assuming the shopping spree was your idea.”

“Oh shush woman,” she scolds. “You deserve it. We wanted your room to cozy and pretty because we heard you’re going to be here for a while. Sue us.”

“Thank you all for the gifts, you really didn’t have to do any of that,” you reply, tearing up as you address the whole room. “Just being there for us when we needed you the most was all we could ask for and you’ve gone above and beyond.”

“This is the least we could do, really,” JJ assures, softly rubbing your hand.

“Oh fine, be modest if you insist,” you reply with an eye roll. “I’d open all the gifts now, but I imagine you’re all much more interested in our slightly earlier than anticipated arrival.”

Seemingly for the first time since they came in, everyone notices Aaron’s presence and the little pink bundle in his arms.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” you continue, “the announcement you’ve all been waiting for. Introducing Miss Savannah Rose.”

“What a lovely name,” Emily chimes in.

“Thank you,” Aaron cuts in. “We would have told you all sooner but we actually just decided on it while we were here,” he says beaming down at his perfectly content infant daughter. “You can all hold her if you like.”

“I’m sure we’d all love to,” JJ replies, “but i think we should leave that you for now. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to spoil her rotten just as soon as she gets home.”

“Right! We just wanted to check on everyone and make sure you have everything you need,” Garcia adds.

“Well thanks to you guys, I think our hospital room is pretty well stocked. I just wish I could say the same for the nursery,” you say with a shrug.

“What’s wrong with the nursery?” Rossi inquires.

“I’m afraid that’s my fault,” Aaron admits. “Between me traveling so much for work and Y/N being pregnant and taking care of Jack, it got pushed to the wayside. I thought we had a bit more time.”

“Aaron, how many times do I have to tell you it’s not your fault?” you soothe, reaching for his hand. “We’ll figure it out together.”

“I know, I just wanted everything to be perfect for you.”

“It already is dear,” you assure him with a smile. “Why don’t you go get some coffee, you look exhausted.”

“Good idea babe,” he says, settling the baby into your arms.

“I could use a cup myself,” Morgan adds.

——————————————————————————

���Derek, I need your help,” Aaron pleads, once out of earshot of the room.

“Of course man, anything you need.”

“We’re going to be in the hospital for about a week while Y/N recovers and I’m desperate to have a nice nursery for her when we get home, but I obviously can’t leave her alone. I know it’s a lot to ask, but is there anything you could do to help?”

“Sure thing man, don’t worry about it. That’s the best gift I could hope to give you.”

“You’re the best,” Aaron replies, slapping him on the shoulder. “Just don’t let Y/N find out, okay? I want it to be a surprise.”

“My lips are sealed,” Derek promises.

——————————————————————————

That afternoon Derek had the whole team assembled in the nursery to get started.

“Alright everyone,” he begins, “We’ve got one week to make this the best surprise gift possible. Let’s make it happen.”

“What color should we paint it?” Penelope inquires.

“Got that covered already,” Derek replies while opening a paint can. “Purple. Hotch said it’s Y/N’s favorite color.”

“Oh Derek, it’s perfect!” she squealed, squeezing him tight. “She’s gonna adore it.”

“While the two of us are painting,” Penny addresses the group, “why don’t the rest of you do some some shopping?”

“Great idea, baby girl.” Morgan chimes in. “I think they’ve got the basics from the baby shower and I saw a crib and changing table in the garage, but I’m sure you guys can find things they’re missing.”

“Oh I think we’ve got this,” JJ states confidently. “Let’s get this show on the road,” she commands, herding Emily, Rossi, and Reid out the door.

When the group arrived back at the Hotchner house several hours later, the nursery walls were covered in a soft shade of lavender; as were Morgan and Garcia.

“I don’t know how you two managed to get any paint on the walls,” JJ said with a grin.

“Smile for the camera, you two,” Emily cuts in, snapping a picture on her phone as the couple hug and smile in their paint splattered clothes.

——————————————————————————

The next day conversation flowed as team was busily assembling furniture. Rossi, Reid, and Morgan worked on the crib while Penny, Emily, and JJ tackled the changing table.

“Let me know if you ladies need any help,” Morgan mentions casually.

“Oh right,” Emily grumbles, “because OBVIOUSLY the women need a big, strong man’s help, right?”

“I didn’t say that,” Derek counters. “I was just offering.”

“Oh not only will we get ours done without your help, we’ll get it done faster,” Emily challenges.

“Oh yeah?”

“YEAH!” all three women reply in unison.

“You’re on,” Morgan accepts.

“Oh you’re so going down,” Penny taunts, throwing pieces of plastic wrapping at Derek.

“Losers buy sushi for lunch?” Rossi suggests.

“Oh that could be pretty expensive for you Dave,” JJ comments. “You sure you’re up for that?”

“Ha ha, very funny,” Rossi says, rolling his eyes. “We’ll see about that.”

Two hours later, as JJ and Emily were finishing up the crib, the men came dragging in, arms full of takeout bags.

“Say cheese!” Penelope squeals as she takes their picture. “For the bragging rights.”

——————————————————————————

The next days were spent putting the finishing touches on the room.

A purple gradient butterfly mobile above the crib from JJ.

A bookshelf with a fully stocked library, specially selected by Reid. Emily places her floral covered photo album on top.

Lavender curtains with a shimmery overlay, Penelope’s contribution.

Derek’s stuffed bunny, carefully laid in a white gliding chair with purple cushions, which was generously paid for by Dave.

Derek lays a soft shag rug over the hardwood floor and drapes a plush floral blanket over the edge of the crib.

“I think that about does it, guys,” he says with a look of pride.

“You know, I bought them that photo album,” Emily comments, “it would be a shame if we didn’t put a few in there as a gift.”

“Yeah, but how do we get a picture of the whole group?” JJ wonders out loud.

“We could set a timer,” Penelope suggests.

“Yeah, but who sets the timer?” Reid asks, as he turns to see the whole group looking at him.

“Seriously guys?”

Between the camera falling over, closed eyes, and Spence not making it back before the timer, it took a few tries before there was a good group shot.

“And now a funny one,” Penny insists.

Once the photos, including the bloopers, have been printed and arranged in the album, JJ makes sure to write descriptions for each in the margins before setting it back on the shelf.

“Good job team,” Derek announces. “Our work here is done.”

——————————————————————————

After all the chaos surrounding the birth and a full week in the hospital, nothing felt better than standing at the door of your house with the love of your life and your two beautiful children.

“You ready to finally get some rest, baby?” Aaron asks as he ushers you inside the house, one solid arm arm around the small of your back and Savannah in her carrier on the other.

“Yeah,” you sigh, dropping your purse on the coffee table and slipping off your shoes. “I just wish we didn’t still have to worry about the nursery,” you groan, plopping down onto the sofa.

“About that,” Aaron says with a mischievous grin, offering you his free hand.

“What are you up to, Aaron Hotchner?” You muse as he leads you down the hallway.

“Just trust me,” he assures, coming to a halt in front of the nursery door. “Close your eyes,” he requests.

“What is going on here?” you inquire again.

“Just close your eyes please, darling,” he asks. “For me.”

“Alright, alright,” you comply, “this better be good.”

“Don’t open them until I say so, okay?”

“Yes sir.”

With eyes closed and Jack close by your side, you hear the door open and the rustling of paper inside the room.

“Alright,” he whispers, sliding his arm around your shoulders. “Open your eyes.”

—————————————————————————

Taglist: @ange-must-die @agent-laufeyson @poetsacademia @hotchners-slut @arganfics @ladyreapermc @rousethemouse @less-intelligent-spencerreid @tgibstan @themanip @word-scribbless @quillvine @glizzieborden @miss-united-ace @samayoshito @hotchnerundercover @pedropascalian @thenewnormalforensicator @crowdedimagines @sagittarianwolf @kleff03

[lavenderahs]

could you do a fanfic of michael taking care of the reader while they are sick :)

michael langdon fluff- taking care of you when you're sick

a/n - lowkey therapeutic to write bc i have a cold rn, literally haven't had motivation to write all day until i take nighttime cough medicine lol

-

taglist - @d3monslust @mllxngdonswife @brooklinn13 @kitty4860 @booboomother @the-hotel-cortez @forevercountess @cxdy-fxrn (lmk if you wanna be added or removed!)

"baby, please let me do something" michael whines as y/n is sunken into the couch. "i'm telling you michael, its only a cold, ill be okay hun, go back to work" y/n reassures michael of her health as he grabs his bags. michaels one trait that sticks out is definitely how stubborn he is. no matter how many times when y/n is sick, he will go above and beyond to take care of her. "okay" he exhales as he prepares to return to work. "seriously, call me if you need anything" he says in a deep tone. "yes michael i know" y/n fusses at his stubbornness. he's already out the door before she could lecture him once again.

thing is, michael didn't go back to work. he would only have 2 or so hours left anyway, so he decided to take a shopping trip. he sits quietly in the target parking lot; staring at his notes app. "what should i get her" he messes with his scruff. he quickly jots down a few items he'd think y/n would enjoy. "okay, ive got time to kill" he whispers to himself as he exits his car. while michael searches for gifts, y/n stays put on the couch, secretly wishing michael could have stayed, knowing she loves the comfort but hates asking anyone for anything. it was just a cold but michael always knew how to take care of her. michael has a broken soul, yet i still see the spark of happiness in his eyes. people become intimated by his presence, but oh if they knew the way he curls up in my arms after a long day, how his heart races when you rest your head on his chest. as y/n ponders these sweet moments of michael, the need for him grows stronger.

"youre getting a lot huh?" the cashier chuckles at michaels purchases. his hands graze the back of his neck "uh- yeah, its for my wife, shes sick" the older woman's face lights up "it's good to know there are good men still out there" she smiles as michael pays. michael carries the bag of goodies to his car. his face dropping when the clock displays 4 pm. "gotta kill another hour" he whines out loud. deciding on calling a to-go order in at their most favorite restaurant, bar type food but satisfied the both of them. as michael waited on his order, he prepared y/n's gifts. he bought a simple sage green tote bag to hold all her gifts; knowing she could never have too many tote bags. he restocked the necessites; hair ties, new panties and a dainty bralette, a beautiful lavender scented lotion, and some of the exotic flavored cough drops. his eyes glued to a lounge set the moment he walked in the store; warm colored sweats with a white crop top. he loved spoiling y/n, and to finish off the goodies, he picked up a simple bouquet of daisies.

"darling I'm home" michael said in a singy-song tone. y/ns head popped up from the couch, giving michael an inviting smile. "wait!-close your eyes i have a surprise" michael whispers "what now michael" she giggles in excitement. as her eyes are glued shut, michael slowly sets the totebag filled with gifts by her side, along with the to go box filled with their favorite meals. in michaels right hand holds the bouquet of flowers. "okay....open!!" y/n's eyes look as if shes seeing fireworks. her mouth forms a warm smile as her eyes water. "m-michael.. i love you" she chokes out. the overwhelming feeling of love makes her burst with tears. michael quickly places the flowers down, and rushes beside her. his arms wrap gently around her, pulling her to his chest. "i love you babygirl, i thought this would cheer you up" y/n chokes out a giggle. she lifts her head out of his chest to place a gentle kiss on his lips. michaels chest is filled with utter happiness and love. "come on, let's look at what we got"

2 hours or so later; y/n, passed out from the cold medicine michael encouraged her to take, wearing michaels hoodie and one of the panties he bought her. michael lays sprawled out on the couch, not moving a muscle, to keep y/n comfortable. his hands fumble with her hair, soaking in this beautiful moment between them. michael stays all up for a few hours, making sure y/n is a deep sleep. he smiles at the utter happiness he feels. knowing he's okay now.

[ninyard]

more stefan/andrew au? the last one was fucking amazing

(following on from pt 2 kinda following canon a lil bit but imagining their relationship panning out earlier than it did in the series? Fab)

Part 1 / part 2

-

“Andrew?” Neil was woken up by Seth’s pissed-off, tired moan. “Get the fuck out of here, you fuckin’ freak.” Neil heard the rustling of covers and Andrew’s footsteps coming into the room. “Yo, hey, are you deaf?!” It’d been a couple days since the incident in Columbia, and Andrew and Neil hadn’t really spoken since then. Coach had tried to get them to make up when Neil came back to his apartment, but his attempts futile. They’d only had a short conversation before Andrew got bored and left. All Neil got from Andrew’s lot since then was hostility and cold shoulders. Now, in the middle of the night, Andrew was breaking into the room of the three people he actively seemed to hate the most. Neil pretended to sleep, until he felt weight on the rungs of the ladder on his bed, and hands on the back of his T-shirt. Andrew practically pulled him off the bed, immediately waking him up from any bit of sleep he had left in him.

“Car. Ten minutes.” Andrew didn’t lower his voice for Neil’s half-asleep roommates. “I don’t like waiting.”

“I don’t care.” Neil retorted back in a hushed voice. “Leave me alone and let me sleep.” Andrew got real close to Neil’s face. The dim light of the moon outside the window showed Andrew unsmiling face. He was presumably sober, and Andrew sober was a much scarier sight than him being medicated and violent.

“Ten minutes.” He repeated again, matching Neil’s volume, hazel eyes burning a hole through Neil’s natural blue. Andrew put a finger to his lips and switched to German. “This is the only chance you’ll get.”

Neil had almost forgotten he’d spoken to Andrew in German in Coach’s apartment. He was startled at the sudden language change, and obliged when Andrew finally left the room. He got dressed underneath his covers as best he could, and decided against putting in his contacts, before jumping down off the top bunk.

“Bring that monster around here one more time and you’re moving out.” Seth groaned, but fully meant what he said. He turned around to face the wall and through the muffle of a pillow, Neil heard him say, “Now fuck off.” Matt, sleeping like a rock, was snoring on the other side of the room, totally unphased and undisturbed by Andrew’s swift entrance and exit.

Andrew was alone at his car when Neil pulled the sleeves of his hoodie over his hands in a desperate attempt to stay warm, the door of the dorm building shutting behind him. It was freezing outside, and Neil hadn’t realised it was literally the middle of the night until he saw a clock in the hallway reading an early 3:54am. The wind blew leaves across the parking lot with a whistle and a rustle, the dry fall leaves swirling around like tiny twisters on the tarmac. The campus was silent, on the night of a weekday, so Neil didn’t expect anyone to be out. Yet here Andrew was, leaning on the bonnet of his car with a cigarette between his lips, smoke quickly disappearing in the biting wind.

“You never answered my question on our little night out.” He spoke through the smoke, as Neil approached closer. “We’re going for a drive.”

“Do you ever sleep?” Neil’s voice was groggy from his own interrupted sleep. Andrew didn’t answer, instead flicking away his cigarette and sitting into the drivers seat. Neil walked around to the passenger side and sat in. When he tried to warm his hands on the hot air Andrew had blowing through the air-con, Andrew turned the heat off. Neil was sure if Andrew was medicated he would’ve laughed, but he instead opted for watching the road as they drove in silence. Neil sat back and tried his best not to fall asleep. His head bumped about on the headrest as they drove, and every time his eyes started to close, his sleep cycle begging him to come back to rest, Andrew would snap his fingers in his face or lay a punch down on his thigh. After a short drive, they pulled up into the empty lot of some National Park Neil didn’t know the name of. He was too tired to pay attention to the signs, but figured Andrew wouldn’t bring him to a park to kill him or let him go. Andrew was a man of truth when he wanted to be; He wanted to know why he was on the run and Neil didn’t have the energy to argue.

“Why are we here?” Neil asked at the same time Andrew said “What brought a runaway to Oakland?”They both paused for a moment, but Neil knew Andrew wasn’t going to answer his question until Neil answered his.

“It was the first place she wanted to stop.” Neil spoke through a yawn. “The others before there made her too paranoid. It was the first time she felt like she could close her eyes and actually sleep without feeling like she was…” He thought about his words for a moment. The last conversation they’d had, he told him he was on the run, but Andrew already knew that. Neil thought he’d got through to him by giving him half-honesty, telling him his parents were dead. He never brought up Riko, or his family, instead choosing the option of trying to appeal to Andrew’s inner child, who remembered Stefan. It was a stupid choice, and Neil knew that the second he chose it. “She could sleep without feeling like she had a target on her back.”

“Did you kill her?” Andrew said it so casually it felt like murder was something so normal, like eating lunch or going for a walk. Like asking if he killed his mother was just like asking if he liked the taste of garlic, or if he was having a good day.

“No,” Neil answered. He’d been thinking about what he would tell Andrew about his life since he seen him in Arizona. Who was he before Oakland? Where did they go? Who was he running from? “Riko’s family did.”

And suddenly Andrew was interested. His face was a mixture of disbelief and boredom. Neil told him his manufactured version of the story; that his parents were killed by the Moriyama family, and that they’d been on the run since the execution of his Father. He kept out the part about the Butcher of Baltimore, or the fact that he was actually still alive, but Andrew’s mind was at work as Neil told the story. If he didn’t look awake before, he did now. Neil spoke for an hour, maybe less, maybe more, flowing from story to anecdote to answering questions that Andrew slipped in whenever he wanted. Neil answered it all with mostly-truths, redacting the stuff Andrew simply didn’t need to know. Neil was a runaway, his family were in some bad business, but Neil was the only one left.

“I really didn’t think you could get any more stupid, yet I am constantly surprised.” Andrew tutted as he shook a cigarette out of the packet, into his hand. He rolled down the window on his side and smoked out of it, seemingly unbothered by the wind that just blew the smoke back into his face. “You knew who I was, but you knew Kevin too? How forgetful do you think people are?”

“I don’t know,” Neil told him honestly. “I just- We were so young. I met Kevin years before I met you. I just didn’t think I was important to anyone.” Andrew laughed a laugh that wasn’t really a laugh at all. It was the sound of dismissal, as though he didn’t believe a word that spilled from Neil’s tired lips. “I didn’t think I’d ever be particularly memorable or mean anything to anyone. That was the most important thing to my mom.”

“What, being unimportant?” Andrew didn’t look at Neil as he spoke.

“Being forgettable.” Neil sighed, thinking about his mother’s words that had been drilled into his head. If you’re too interesting, you’re asking to be killed. Be boring. Be normal. Be forgettable. “You fucked that up for me.”

“See, you keep blaming me,” Andrew shook his head as he took a drag from the cigarette that had been half-smoked by the wind. “I didn’t fuck up your life, Abagnale, you did.” Neil didn’t get the reference, but he didn’t ask either.

“I don’t mean it’s your fault. You didn’t do anything,” Neil tried correcting himself. “I couldn’t help it when I was around you. And all I could do every second of my days after Oakland was blame you because I couldn’t deal with the fact that I let you in. Everything I learned, everything I’d done, you came along and turned the place upside down because I just had to know you. I had to.”

“Why?” Andrew looked at him with that same uninterested look he usually had, when a medically-induced smile wasn’t spread across his cheeks. “What made me any different to the hundreds of other kids I’m sure you met on your travels, hmm?”

“You were real.” Andrew scoffed. Neil frowned at that and shrugged his shoulders. “We’ve been through this. Don’t waste my time getting to know me if you just want me to run. You want me to get lost in the park, is it? Is that why you brought me here?”

“Nothing better than some honesty with a view.” Andrew tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “How do you expect me to trust you when you’ve spent your whole life a liar? Be mad if you want, but I’m much less gullible now, you see. Once a liar, always a liar.” Neil sent Andrew a look as he hovered his hand over Andrew’s. When he just stared at it, Neil brought Andrew’s hand up to his collarbone where was a small, raised, pink scar sitting just above it.

“The motels phone.” Neil spoke quietly, as if Mary would hear, as if she was waiting to jump out from behind the car to take him and beat him again for letting his guard down, for being unforgettable. “It was the first thing she could grab when we got into our room. I never told her your name, and she beat me harder for it. I never wanted to let her anger ruin your name.” Andrew dropped his hand from Neil’s grip.

“Pretty unintelligent to take hits for someone you thought you’d never see again.”

Then Neil said, “I knew I’d never forget you.” Andrew tensed up at the almost-promise, and the memories came flooding back for Neil like a tsunami sweeping over every other thought he had. “I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.” Neil almost reached out to touch Andrew before he remembered the boundary Andrew had set that night in Columbia. Neil didn’t have a right to touch him anymore, and he knew Andrew noticed as Neil’s hand lifted and then hesitantly fell. “Tell me something I don’t know about this Andrew. I’ve told you my life, tell me yours.” He gestured to Andrew, sat across from him with an almost-frown on his face and a thinking mind hard at work.

“This Andrew doesn’t give a shit about what answers you think you deserve.” He looked Neil up and down. “I don’t owe you anything.”

“Why doesn’t Nicky know you’re gay?” Neil asked, instead of waiting for him to come up with something himself, it was much easier to get honesty from Andrew by prompting him. Neil watched as his jaw tensed for a second, thinking about the answer.

“Nicky is too involved in being the gay cousin to un-assume.” Andrew barely lifted his shoulders in the form of a shrug. “He hasn’t asked.”

“Why don’t you tell him?”

“I don’t ‘come out’,” He brushed off the thought with the flick of his wrist and a roll of his eyes. “I don’t fuck women in my spare time. Who cares?”

“Yeah, sure, but-” Neil had started to speak when Andrew cut across.

“At least I’m out to myself,” He nodded towards him. “You, on the other hand? Was it just Stefan who was into it or is the unnamed you just in denial?”

“I’m not, like…” Neil hated the sexuality question. It was confusing and messy and Andrew and Andrew and Andrew. “There was no one after you. It’s only been you.”

“By choice or by mothers hands?”

“Neither. Both?” He wasn’t sure how to answer. “The foxes are the first people I’ve let get somewhat close since then. That’s the truth. I haven’t wanted to. I’m just not interested in anyone.” The except for you part was silent, but he knew Andrew had somewhat heard it when he sat back, one hand on the steering wheel, the other arm resting on the door, as he took a deep breath that he tried to hide. Neil wasn’t even sure he was still into Andrew like that, because they were so young, after all. Andrew was still experimenting, and they never spoke about those kinds of feelings. They were friends who kissed each other because they wanted to know what it felt like. They kissed each other because maybe they thought they liked it. Maybe they’d have to do it again just to be sure. But that was so long ago, and so much had changed. Neil had had a crush on that Andrew, but this one? He wasn’t so sure. This one was harsh and mean, angry and unmoving. This one had been hard-boiled by life and wasn’t going to crack any time soon. He didn’t know if he felt things anymore. He didn’t know if Andrew was capable of a crush, or a kiss, or a simple, electric touch of fingers to skin.

Without a word, Andrew had switched on the ignition and idled the engine for a moment before pulling out and starting on the drive back to campus. Neil didn’t say anything else, he only rested his head on the window and watched as the morning sun slowly lit up the night sky, the dark navy blue taking over the black sky so slowly it was hardly noticeable.

He had pulled into his usual parking spot not long later, still not looking at Neil or speaking at all. He stayed still in the drivers seat after switching the engine off. Neil took that as his cue to leave. Matching Andrew’s silent treatment, he got up and shut the door without a word. Andrew had rolled down his window again, another cigarette already stuck between his lips. He watched as Neil walked around the car before he tapped the outside of his door twice to catch his attention. Neil spoke before he could.

“Give me a chance.” The wind blew his hair off his face, reminding him how cold it was, and why he should’ve worn a jacket. “Let me stay. I don’t have anything else.”

“Don’t be fooled into thinking I trust you.” He hung his hand out the window finally looking Neil in the eyes again. “It’s a matter of time before your egg timer runs out. Make use of it while you can.”

“I’ll bury Stefan forever, if you ask.” Neil offered in payment for the sudden change of heart in letting him stay, in cleaning his hands of the idea that Neil was after Kevin, or that he was a threat. “Say the word and we start fresh from today.”

“I don’t care,” Andrew took a long drag, one that felt like it was centuries long, like the sun would be up by the time he finished. He blew it out and raised his hands. “Kill what wasn’t real. Prove to me what was.”

Neil wasn’t sure what that invitation meant, but he didn’t ask Andrew to keep speaking. When they broke eye contact, he knew then Andrew wanted him to leave. Neil didn’t look back, heart racing, practically ready to burst out of his chest by the time he reached his dorm room. He opened the door as quietly as he could, careful not to disturb his peacefully sleeping roommates, and he crawled back into bed to try get some sleep before the practice scheduled for the morning. Instead of counting sheep, battling restlessness like a fight for his life, he thought of Stefan. He thought of the heart of Nathaniel that had gotten wrapped up in his blond hair and tiny frame. Neil fell asleep thinking about who he used to be, and what parts of that were real. What parts could he keep? His mind spent its last morsels of energy on dissecting Neil Josten, to make him feel a little more real.

The next time they saw each other outside of practice was when Kevin started coming to find him late at night to go to the court and practice together. Neil realised quickly he was going to become a night owl as a Fox, but it still took him a while to adjust to the late nights and early starts. But him and Andrew kept their distance; they didn’t speak if they didn’t have to, and their conversations were kept to a line or two each. They played their first match of the season, and Andrew had sent out shots for Neil like they were capable of working together. Then there was Kathy Ferdinand’s show, at which Andrew had hands all over him, holding him back from killing Riko on live TV. He had made a deal to protect Kevin, and then he was being psychically held back from doing so. Neil did what he couldn’t, and stood up to Riko, a conscious effort to gain his trust, to prove he was on the side of the foxes. Then there was that touch, that simple, light, barely-there touch, and Neil knew he’d won. He’d earned Andrew’s trust, at least for a moment, but that was all that mattered.

When Andrew ever-so-kindly reminded Neil later that Riko would find out about him, the original “Neil”, as easily as he’d strolled onto that stage to sit across from Kevin, there was no choice but to run. He couldn’t imagine any other option. His entire body went into fight or flight, and he struggled to sit still as Andrew held his collar and told him to stay.

“Why?” Neil asked, throat dry, hands shaking, after Andrew offered him protection for the year if he promised to stay. It was funny to imagine, as if there was anything he could do against the actual, guns-blazing, internationally dominating mafia. “Why would you help me?” Andrew laughed, and just about caressed Neil’s jaw in the most non-affectionate way possible. Neil felt his touch leave blood on his skin, but he didn’t flinch. Andrew was manic, and didn’t care. He looked as if he didn’t even feel the pain of a glass-shattering punch, and was actively enjoying the chaos that the morning had brought with it.

Andrew didn’t give him any sort of an answer until later that night, when he stepped into Neil’s space and told him to remember the feeling; Neil couldn’t run anymore. He had given his word to Andrew that he would stay, and as much as he had started to hate the Present-Day-Andrew-Minyard, he trusted him as a man of his word. Neil had killed the parts of Stefan that were untrue; all that was left was the real emotion he felt when he looked at Andrew. He was an asshole, but he was Andrew, and Neil trusted this five foot blond boy with his life. Perhaps it was crazy, perhaps he was officially, undeniable, finally signing his name on his death wish, ticking down the hours until his past caught up. Whereas running was his old line of defence, his current one was Andrew. Andrew was an unlit fire suddenly gaining embers, and Neil knew it was dangerous to let that fire grow. Especially when Andrew leaned over in Eden’s, crackers on his tongue, a drink in his hands, and whispered in German;

“Mommy’s not here to hurt you anymore.” Neil snapped his gaze towards Andrew, who was coming up on his high, speaking to Neil but watching the crowd on the dancefloor. His breath at Neil’s ear sent shivers up his spine, goosebumps on his arms. “My hands are open to have your back. Give it to me this time.”

[its-me-im-coraline]

Regrets // Victoria De Angelis

words // 1557

warnings // angst, mentions of abusive relationships (not details)

pairing // Victoria De Angelis x GN!Reader, Ethan Torchio x Platonic!Reader

author's note // taglist here. please only let me know if you want to be tagged on that google form so i know what to tag you on, thank you

I KNOW I MADE HER LOOK LIKE AN ASSHOLE BUT MY ANGSTY ASS NEEDED SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO BE ABLE TO WRITE THIS FIC SOOO... I LOVE VICTORIA, I DON'T THINK SHE'S AN ASSHOLE AND THE WHOLE I BULLY YOU MEANS I HAVE A CRUSH ON YOU TROPE IS STUPID IN EVERY OTHER OCCASION BUT IN FANFICTION ITS FINE

also i changed the original tittle because i didnt like it that much

request // yes

summary // Reader is Ethan's best friend and because of that they are around the band a lot. Maybe a hint of jealously, a toxic partner and a visit at the hospital will be enough to change their relationship with Victoria from hate to love. Or maybe the love was there all along.

The first time the two met each other was right after the band finally united. Y/N’s had been Ethan’s best friend for years now, making the fateful meeting inevitable - as well as the obscure amount of time they would have to spend around each other. If anything, the drummer was attached to the hip with his best friend, tagging them along to every show, many rehearsals (there was even a suggestion to come with him on Måneskin’s European tour - it would be a nightmare if they did).

Victoria did not take long to adopt a defensive mode against them, one that not even she could decipher. Maybe it was the way they were just always there, like leech attached to her bandmate, or maybe it was that annoying way they dressed, all out there and attracting her attention, or maybe it was that stupid girlfriend of theirs that just had to make it known they were a couple. She really did get on Victoria’s nerves a awful lot. She was nice, not going to lie, just maybe a little too nice - ickly nice, she’d say. She wasn’t sure why but that girl simply made Victoria’s gut drop every time.

For years, as that relationship lasted, Victoria and Y/N would butt heads, always at each other’s throat with something to say and complain about. What are they doing here again, the bassist would ask over and over again. Just here to piss you off, Y/N would say, walking to Ethan. Other times it’d be the opposite. It just always was… a mess.

Everyone could see the situation the two found themselves into but no one could do anything. No, not until they opened their own damn eyes.

The dislike between the two only grew stronger and stronger as time passed by, with their insults getting worse. Truth be told, no one expected it to get that bad, and now they just hoped to stop.

For a while, Y/N was facing some drama in the relationship, some that could end up pretty bad. Not few were the nights Ethan would get a phone call in the middle of rehearsal, sobbing heard even beyond his phone. Please, please come get me Ethan. I don’t think …. The rest was inaudible for Victoria, not that I care, she would remind herself, moving on with her work.

On occasion she’d joke about it to Y/N. What? Trouble in paradise, cucciolo? Oh well. Deep down she knew she should not say that but she could not control herself. Y/N was pretty put together some of those times, others they’d just snap with no regard to anything. Just shut your fucking mouth, they said once adding a few profanities to explain their anger.

After the fourth time it happened the blonde had gotten genuinely angry. “Ok, enough. Close your phone, Ethan,” she spat out, almost snatching it off his hand. “They can wait.”

“But-”

“No! They have cut short three out of our four rehearsals this week! This is the fifth rehearsal, Ethan, their fourth time! They’re a big kid now, they should not need you all the time.”

In time she would regret those words but in that moment they seemed appropriate. She had grown exasperated at their constant interruptions. Well, most of the time they were not really disturbing - they’d call on a break or just cuddle with Ethan on a break, at a time they had for the solemn reason of relaxing - but Victoria would not admit that. Not to herself and not to anyone.

“Ok.” Ethan whispered the words, silencing his phone with a heavy heart. He had a bad feeling, that he knew for sure, but he did not feel like fighting with the blond bassist.

The hours they worked passed by quickly, feeling more like quick moving water, their session was simply flowing. It was now quiet, maybe around three in the morning. 2.58 AM read the clock on the table. Ethan was sure his best friend was sleeping by now. He’d shoot them a text and then go to sleep as well - lord knows he needed it. Well, not everything always goes as planned.

Victoria was by him when it happened.

His phone started to ring while he was about to walk to his room. Y/N. If he was not concerned earlier that night there was no way he was not now. It was not common for them to call at hours like this, if anything they were usually asleep by eleven, maybe even twelve.

“Pronto. Che? A- cazzo, sì, sì. Sto venendo ora.” showing off my italian lol

“Ethan? What happened?” She was not sure of her feelings in that instant. Why was she even asking him? She did not care about them, right? But no, no, it was not worry. It was fear of guilt. And worry, but that she was not aware of.

“Y/N is at the hospital,” he breathed out, “they- uhm… Their ex hurt them - thank god their neighbor was there and heard what happened. Oh my- if-if-if he was not there Y/N-”

Victoria could not stand seeing her friend like that. She believes that she’s never once seen Ethan this emotional - not negatively emotional, that is. He always keeps his composure so well but this time it just was not possible. The blonde just stood there now, holding Ethan in her arms, whispering comforting things to him, hoping that he’d calm down a bit.

“I-I should’ve answered the phone Vic… It- I could have prevented this. Oh god, it’s my-”

“Ethan no! If it’s anyone’s fault here, it’s mine. I should not have snapped like I did.”

“I- yeah. Yeah, you know what, yeah, it is your fault.” He was sad, he was anxious, he was angry… A whirlwind of emotions really, and Victoria’s statement made him target it to her. “It is your fault Vic, with that-that stupid, stupid, conflict you two have. I’m leaving.”

“Where are yo-”

“To the hospital! Where the fuck else?” Ethan’s voice was rising by the second, as his blood started boiling in his veins. He knew he could not drive there, but he was not about to say it.

“I’ll drive you-”

“No. I can do it on my own.”

“Please. It’s the least I can do.” Victoria’s eyes were cast to the floor, unsure of what else to do. She knew that things were taken too far this time, the least she could do was drive her friend to the hospital.

The drive there was quiet. Neither knew what to say. Victoria was feeling guilty, afraid, and even worried about Y/N’s well-being, regardless of whether she could she tried to focus on the road. More injured people would not be helpful. Ethan on the other hand was fuming. He was angry out of his head; at his blonde friend, at himself and most of all that bitch, Y/N’s ex. She was the one to cause all of this, all of it, even problems he was not aware she was the cause of.

As they arrived there there was even more trouble on their way. He’s not family, he’s not a spouse, neither is Victoria. It was always like that. They would not let them pass if they were not either of those things but, god bless that man, the nurse that called him showed up, recognizing the voice and assuring the nurse, on the front, that he was indeed the only person on their emergency contacts, they had to pass. With a lot of complaining they were finally let to pass.

When they walked in the room Y/N was laying on the bed asleep and at first both their minds went to the worst case scenario. “I have given them some painkillers for now. They’ll be ok but some injuries cause severe pain -” he was walking outside along with Ethan.

Victoria was now left alone in the room with Y/N, although it felt as if she was looking at a photo of them rather than the real life Y/N. “I’m sorry,” was all she could say, the only thing that felt right to do at that moment. “It’s my fault -oh my it is! Ethan, he-he wanted to respond to the call by I-I got so angry!” She cried out, now grasping Y/N’s hand. “I can only hope he can forgive me. Hell, I hope you forgive me. It’s my fault you’re-”

“It’s not, Victoria.”

“You are awake?”

“It’s not your fault. I was already here when I called the first time. Neither of you could have changed a thing.” They were so calm - maybe it was the painkillers, she thought. “Thank you. For the apology I mean.”

“Yeah. I, uh, I’m sorry for everything Y/N. I-”

“Hey, stop! It’s ok. What’s by is by,” they laughed, never missing the opportunity to joke. (you know, bi - by… terrible pun)

“I, uh,” she paused, thinking of what to say next. She remembered a small chocolate bar in her pocket. She was about to eat it when the call happened. “I don’t know if you’re supposed to eat chocolate but I know you like it.”

“Oh my, it’s my favorite,” they gushed, prompting Vic to come closer.

“Come, sit, sit! We can share it.”

“Yeah, I guess we can.”

tag list: @bieberhoodforever @tabi-toast @ginny-lily @moriro-da-regina @the-killer-queenie @makapaka11 @teenyweenynightghost @superchrystaldrug

[tamagochiie]

Hi!! Could I request a hc for my man Levi Ackerman where he has been crushing on the reader for a while now but thinks he doesn’t really have a chance because she’s just so beautiful, kind and a little on the younger side. And he doesn’t really think that someone like her could ever be interested in someone like him. Then those toughts only get bigger as he sees how much time she spends with Jean or Eren or someone. And then some sort of drama is happening which eventually leads to this dramatic confession from both Levi and the reader. Hope that’s not too long? Have a great day!

First of all, I am SO sorry this request took so long to reply to. I was in a really bad headspace when I first got this, and I couldn’t write it properly at the time. But here I am now! Also, I got waaaay too into this, so I apologize that it’s a little long... 

Move My Mountain ; Levi Ackerman 

Levi Ackerman is nothing short of confidence and pride; insecurity scurries back into the shadows at the sight of him.

But you are sunshine and hope—all the good things in life wrapped in a lilting laugh, tucked in the corners of your lips when you smile, and the twinkling in your eyes;

Just the sight of you makes his title as “Humanity’s Strongest” fray at the edges and wither away, and it irritates him to no end. 

Of all the ugly his eyes have seen and horror his ears have heard, its you that has him weak in the knees, you are a sharp contrast to the stoic man.

You’re young, youthful, and promising—all the things Levi is not. 

Levi is many things, but worthy to feel the warmth you radiate as you walk into any room, a room that he might find himself lingering around in, is not one of them. 

Levi may be sharp, attentive, and quick on his feet (quite literally). But it takes him an embarrassingly substantial amount of time to realize his feelings for you—that no, he does not hate you, but rather he finds himself completely smitten over you.

He realizes he always has been since the first time he saw you as a cadet. You weren’t entirely talented, and your skills were questionably underdeveloped, but you had heart and you were just as determined and fiery as your counterparts. 

Levi looks forward to seeing you persevere during trainings; but he likes it better whenever you waltz into his office and assist him in paperwork he can clearly take care of on his own. 

And you find yourself feeling comfortable around the Captain, entertaining him through small talk or sharing a few fun facts with him that always leave him dumbfounded. 

Not that he’ll show it. 

He’s quite kind to you, and though you found it off-putting at first, you had eventually grown comfortable to it. You even found yourself growing selfish, wanting more and more after each visit. 

However, unbeknownst to everyone save for Erwin and Hange, Levi Ackerman is petty as he is incredibly violent. 

There’s a twinge of jealousy in his chest and a twitch in his eye whenever he sees Jean joined to you by the hip. He’s aware of the history you two share, being childhood friends and choosing to join the Survey Corp together after the attack on Wall Rose. 

But it doesn’t stop jealous seeping out of Levi like a waterfall. 

He hates it when he catches Jean ghosting around you, dipping down to you a little too close for comfort whenever he talks to you, so Levi’s patience snaps like a twig and he crinkles his nose in disgust, steam rising from him when he watches Jean throwing his arm over your shoulders, pulling you close to his chest while you laugh at his jokes. 

A line has been crossed. 

Unfortunately for Jean, though his actions meant no harm, he’s drowned in piles and piles of work within the following week. Levi has him carrying extra weight, makes him run more laps to his knees shake, and riddles him with questionable work from dusk til dawn. 

And just when things die down and the tide of Levi’s jealousy pulls back, it’ll come rushing back in when he catches Jean do another thing like leaning his head on your shoulder after a day’s worth of training. And it begins to bother you, picking at your skin until you can longer keep quiet and watch your friends suffer. 

You’re in the middle of handing Jean your bottle of water (because Sasha chugged all of his in one breath) when Levi cuts in. Maybe it’s the heat of the sun that casts over the training ground, or maybe its the fact that once again, Levi’s jealous has once again gotten the best of him and he’s playing it off as frustration for the whole squad. 

Whatever it is, there’s steam rising off as he glares at you and Jean. 

Levi clears his throat, arms folded across his chest as he taps his foot, “If you have time to drinking other people’s water, Kristien,” Jean chokes on his water when he realizes Levi’s presence, quickly saluting him, “then you’ve got time to do laundry.” 

Jean’s eyes widen, jaw slacking. “B-But I already did that yesterday, S-Sir.” You watch as Levi pulls his brows down, narrowing his gaze intensely as he strides up to Jean. He shifts uncomfortable under Levi’s inspecting eyes and clears his throat to try and gain some composure. 

“That’s the great thing about laundry,” Levi grits, “it always piles up, so why don’t you hurry the fuck up and fuck off.”

However, Levi’s plan to wedge you to apart because you offer yourself to help. 

You may be bubbly and full of life, and some may mistake your soft nature as someone naive and gullible, but you read the room easier than anyone. For the first time, Levi finds himself silenced; throat dried as if sawdust had been shoved into his throat, and he watches you saluting to him before excusing yourself along with Jean. 

Unluckily for you, you become the target of his boiling rage. He’s ticking like a clock, the countdown to another outburst lingering in the air. It’s your turn to be buried in the extra weight of chores and responsibilities, doing more laps and push ups than you can manage. But you never complain, not even once.

Not until Levi strips you and Jean from the opportunity to go out on an expedition and traded off for laundry. 

“I’ve had it!” You boom as you uncharacteristically lose composure, shoving the basket of dirty laundry to the side and causing Jean and Armin to flinch. “I’m gonna do laundry—laundry instead of joining the expedition? You’re kidding!” 

Levi had overworked you painfully til your knees shook and your head felt dizzy, and at some point you wondered if was still training you or if it had any ulterior motive.

“I’m only the barer of the news!” Armin defends, visibly shrinking as you slowly grow unhinged. 

“Then I’ll talk to him!” Jean steps in front of you, looking at you warningly as his chest heaves. “Jean, go away.” 

“No,” He’s firm, headset in stopping you. “Make no mistake, the man is short, but he’s scary as hell. You saw him when he beat the shit outta Eren.”

“I can take a punch,” You state dryly, “now move.” 

You place your arm on Jean’s shoulder, gripping it tightly before swiftly shoving him to the side, causing him to skid on the floor.

Determination drips from every step you take out the room and down the corridor. Your eyes directed towards one door and one door only. You wind past other captains and cadets, not bothering to even take a glance at them as you finally close in on Levi’s office. 

You storm in, not even thinking to knock. You’re met with wide eyes and looks of disbelief from Erwin, Hange, and Levi; they were in the middle of a meeting when you barged in. Erwin’s jaw slacks, his brows pull down as he looks at you quizzically, “Cadet—What are you—”

“You.” You seethes, breathing heavily as you glare at Levi. “Why am I assigned to do laundry instead of joining the expedition?” 

Hange and Erwin turn back to Levi with an alarmed expression painted on their face, as if they were only hearing this for the first time. “Surely, that’s not true,” Erwin chuckles lightly as he grips his hands on the armrest of the chair, shifting uncomfortably underneath the thick tension between you and Levi, “Levi, is this true?” 

“It might be.” He answers dryly, a bored expression in his dark eyes as he glares back at you, “But I’m sorry, am I supposed to be answering to you? Who the fuck do you think you are interrupting a meeting?” 

“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Your new found confidence not only shocks them, but most importantly you. 

You always kept yourself in your place, never needing to be reminded who you are and what you’re meant to do, always biting your tongue and cheek when you’re angry. You never caused any trouble, but always slyly getting your friends out of it. 

That is, until now. 

“Excuse me?” Levi looks at you in bewilderment. 

“What the fuck does doing laundry have anything to do with saving humanity?” You repeated, balling your fists till your knuckles color white. “I’m one of the best and you know it, yet I’m wasting my time cleaning Reiner’s DIRTY UNDERWEAR EVERY DAY.”

“Bold of you to assume you’re one of the best.” Levi is cold as the first winter of the year, looking completely unfazed by flow of your emotions. But you are, indeed, one of the best, nearly surpassing Mikasa. 

Not that he’d ever admit to it.

“Why am I staying behind?” You press, raising your voice as you take a few steps closer to the desk. 

Unfortunately, Hange and Erwin stay in the crossfire of your argument. They’re unsure when to take the beat to get up and leave.

They worry they missed that opportunity a while ago. 

“It’s dangerous and you’re not ready,” Levi clips. 

“I’m ready and you’re just taking your anger out on me!” You counter, “You don’t think I haven’t noticed how you’ve been taking your anger out on Jean and now on me?” 

“You made us work to the bone, but we persevered. We pulled through. So, if I can handle Reiner’s sweaty laundry, then I can handle saving humanity. Grow a pair and let me back in on the expedition.” 

“No.” Levi is stern, the grip in his pen is tight and his knees locked in as his ability to stabilize his emotions withers. 

“Why not?” You groan, throwing your head back. “Because it’s dangerous.” He states matter-of-factly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. 

“WHY DO YOU CARE IF ITS SO DANGEROUS?” You’re yelling, breaths labored and chest constricting as your frustration grows. You’re completely unhinged and with little to no care in the world how you look like to everyone in the room. Levi bangs his fists against the surface of his desk, swiftly standing from his chair. Erwin and Hange flinch at his sudden aggression, exchanging looks of surprise. 

“BECAUSE IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN TO YOU, I WOULDN’T KNOW WHAT I WOUDL DO.” 

Silence falls on the room and after a moment, everyone stands on their toes as they reflect the confession that slips Levi’s lips just moments ago. 

You, Hange, and Erwin look at Levi wish a slack jaw and a puzzled expression. 

“I don’t—“ You swallow thickly and take a deep breath, “I don’t understand what you mean… Why would you—”

“Hange,” Erwin calls out to his friend softly as he clasps his hands together, “I think this is the part where we leave.” 

Hange pouts her lip begrudgingly, “But—“ 

“Now.” Against her will and her wishes for juicy gossip, Hange mirrors Erwin’s actions as he rises from the chair and a hunched position and swiftly scurries out the room. 

You and Levi stand in a thick blanket of silence. Levi is a man of many words, though most are painted in aggressive and backs up his violent tendencies, so he admits his worries about someone and that someone being you, it means everything. 

It comes as a shock—a shock that feels electric and runs down your spine, you feel like you’ll lose your breath. “Why…why would you care?” You come down from your anger and the thumping of your heart calms down. “I don’t—I really don’t understand….” 

Levi licks his lips as he loosens his grip; for the first time you can see him clearly without having to second guess it. He shudders a breath as takes a step back from his desk, the chair scrapping against the floor as he abandons the paperwork and slowly yet surely walks to you. 

You grow tense and the budding anticipation in your stomach spreads through your body and up your throat. It’s only until Levi is a few steps away that you finally tear your eyes from him, dancing around the room desperately looking anywhere but him.

Levi halts his movement, only within an arm’s reach away from you. “I’m not good with words,” He admits in a mutter, more to himself than to you, “but I—I would like to be honest because you make me want to be honest.” 

Levi’s gaze wavers along with the rest of him; his arms fall limp , his hands clammy as he twiddles his fingers to ease the fear hammering in his chest. “I have…” Levi speaks softly, a sharp contrast to how he usually his. His voice comes out dry and gravelly as if he had just woken up. 

“I can easily read others as if I was looking at the back of my hand, and I know  when people feel things…But it took me forever to understand what I felt for you and when I finally caught up with it, I didn’t—I don’t know.” 

Hesitantly, as if you were scared to see something contradicting his words, you meet his eyes and you gasp. He’s looking right at you, eyes full of certainty yet wavering in his doubt that he’ll ever get a chance with you.

“What do you mean?” Your words come out so quiet, Levi almost misses it. “What don’t you understand?” 

“Out of all the things I’ve seen and heard, and all the blood my hands have been stained in, you move me.” 

He steps a little closer and you find yourself holding your breath, “You move me.”  

You don’t know what to say. You scan through your memories, all the ones that you had with him and try to remember what you felt. And maybe you did feel something for him, something more than just cadet and captain, but you never let yourself think too far from it. 

You were scared to let yourself fall, but for some odd reason, Humanity’s Strongest was letting him fall on his knees for you.  

You can’t help but smile and your eyes glistening as you take the final step to close the proximity between the two of you. “

If you’re saying what I think you’re saying then,” You sigh as you close your eyes, your breath fanning against Levi’s cheeks, “don’t be shy to move a little more and show me what you mean.”

 Levi’s takes a moment, studying the look in your eyes as he calculates his movements. He feels excited, but fear pulls the rug beneath his feet and all of a sudden he finds himself more scared of you than any mission he’s even been in. 

You hold his face in your hands, smiling at him. “Don’t tell me you’re shy now.” 

And just like that, your words egg him on and have him pushing all his doubt behind him.

 Levi’s lips are soft against yours, the kiss is gentle yet eager to go deeper. He’s reluctant to cage you in his arms, but when he feels you smile against his lips and how your arms wind around his neck, he realizes he’s eases in. 

Levi Ackerman has seen all the uglies in the word, and had his heartbroken one too many times to count, but you are the only one that moves him. 

[hiiraya]

until the end

masterlist

pairing: carol danvers x reader

words: ~1,276

warnings: angst, happy ending, carol is soft for the reader

requested: yessum

a/n: i haven't written this much for carol in such a short amount of time in 3 years wowow. just posting these as i go kdfhdsjf. hope you like it anon, and happy reading everyone! ♡

From the moment she woke up that morning, something in the back of her head was nagging at her, telling her that she'd needed to remember something important.

She'd been racking her brain all morning while getting ready, trying to remember if she'd missed a meeting the day before, or maybe she'd just forgotten to take the trash out the night before (you always had to remind her when it was her turn).

She rationalizes with herself that if what she needed to remember was that important, she'd remember it once she got to work.

But by the time lunchtime rolls around, she still hasn't got a clue.

-

"Hi, baby. We still on for later?"

You call her a little after lunch, asking about your traditional dinner and netflix nights with Carol that you've shared ever since you two started dating.

"Yep, I've only got a few more things to do and then I'll be on my way home as soon as I'm done."

She hears you hum in response from the other side, knowing you were working just as hard as she was on your end.

"We'll I'll let you get back to work, the quicker you finish the faster you can get home."

She ends the call with a promise to see you soon, Natasha entering the room just as she says goodbye.

"Was that Y/N?"

She hums as she nods, putting her phone away while the redhead sets down files about their recent target in front of her.

"What did you get her?"

She furrows her eyebrows at the question, looking at her friend like she'd just grown three heads.

"I haven't gotten her anything?" She trails off.

The last time Carol checked, your anniversary wasn't for another couple of months, so there's no way that Natasha could be talking about that.

Right?

She looks just as confused with Carols answer as Carol feels, the two of them awkwardly watching one another.

"Come on." Natasha coughs, interrupting Carols thoughts. "We better finish up this plan so you can get home quickly."

-

"It should just be a quick job. Two, three days tops."

"Sounds like a plan."

Her and Natasha were finalising the details of assignment they were given when she remembers.

Or rather, when she gets reminded.

"So, I'll see you the day after tomorrow?"

"Bright and early."

"Oh, could you tell Y/N that I wished her a happy birthday for me." The redhead says. "I'll make it up to them when we get back since I won't be able to see them till after."

"Shit."

Natasha looks at her with a worried expression, surprised at the sudden change in the taller woman's tone.

Clearly Carol wasn't as quiet as she thought she was.

"What's wrong?"

Shit. Shit. Shit.  

Today was your birthday.

And she forgot.

She looks at the clock on the wall, and groans quietly to herself. 10:48. Even if she gets home within the next twenty minute, she already knows it's too late.

"I gotta go, Nat, I'll see you later."

-

The apartment is dark when she makes it home, the guilt that's been steadily building since she rushed out after Natasha had inadvertently reminded her that it was your birthday increasing by tenfold when she sees the 'Happy Birthday!' cake sitting on your dining table.

You confirm her guesses when she spots you on your bed, your back facing her with the covers pulled up to your shoulders. It's late, but still early enough that Carol knows you shouldn't be asleep yet.

Nevertheless, she could infer why you went to bed early.

She knows the moment you figure out that she's in the room, your chest pauses mid-breath when you realize that you were no longer alone. That's all it takes for Carol to stride to your side of the bed.

"Baby, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to forget- I don't even know how it slipped my mind. This whole day, I've knew I was forgetting something and I hate that I forgot about your day, baby-"

She stops her ramble when you place a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently.

"It's okay, Car."

She can't see your face well in the dark, but hearing the way your voice sounds thick with tears breaks her heart even more.

"It's not okay, baby." She murmurs softly. "I forgot."

You don't say anything, instead sighing heavily as your hand slips from her shoulder, retreating back to resting underneath your head.

She stays there, kneeling in front of you in the dark, for a moment, trying to rack her brain for something- anything she could do to make up for it.

"Come on, we're going out."

You sniff quietly, rubbing your eyes in a way Carol knows is a way to hide the fact that you were getting rid any evidence you were crying. "Car, I don't feel like celebrating anymore."

"This is my fault, Y/N, and I refuse to let your birthday pass without celebrating it with you." She sighs. "Please, baby?"

Your stare is palpable, even in the dark, and she holds her breath, waiting for you to kick her out of the bedroom, or even for you to tell her to get lost.

"Give me five minutes."

-

"I'm really sorry again, Y/N/N."

You pause mid-scoop, looking at her while you set your ice cream cup down. Turns out there's not a lot of places open at this time of night, but you two made it work with what you had, sitting at an ice cream store that was thankfully open till late.

"You don't have to keep apologising, my love."

She knows that you're not mad at her, you told her on the walk over, but she can't stop the words from falling out of her mouth.

"I did want to spend the day with you, but I also know that work gets in the way sometimes. Even if you did forget, you did something about it. We're here aren't we?"

You send a reassuring smile her way, but you scoot closer to her until your thighs were pressed against each other when you see that she wasn't convinced just yet.

"Baby, birthday's have never been all that special to me anyways, I always cared more about the people I spent my day with."

She wants to argue that she couldn't even do that, and that out of the 24 hours of your actual birthday, she only managed to spend an hour of it with you.

"Any time spent with you is time well spent." You tell her. "You're here with me now, so that's all that matters, okay?"

-

It's only after a few more reassurances that 'I promise, Car, we're fine, I'm not mad' that she let's herself loosen up. She knows the guilt of today won't go away in an hour, but seeing you smile and enjoy yourself does wonders.

So when you pretend to lean in for a kiss just to smear ice cream on her nose, she doesn't have it in her to get mad. Not when you throw your head back laughing like a little kid, your smile taking over your features as you lean into her while you catch your breath.

She even smiles and poses when you take a picture of her before apologising (though she knows you're not sorry) and offering to clean the dessert off.

As you're wiping her face, eyes shining with admiration instead of the tears that were there just a few hours ago, she promises to never forget another birthday again.

"Happy birthday, Y/N/N."

[hyperfixationsporfavor]

The Kids Are Alright: Repost

The Kids Are Alright

(This is a prequel to my already existing fic Metropolitan Family Life. This fic is not an x reader and takes place in Suguru Geto's teen years. This will be leading into an x reader concept but if you're not into that you can read it as a one shot. Thank you.)

(Reposting this to see if queue makes a difference with interaction)

Warnings: Smoking, drinking, swearing, crude behavior/language, 90s teen/young people cynicism (total teenage dirtbags), bad parenting, narcissist parent



The Kids Are Alright

Prequel to Metropolitan Family Life (Suguru in his early years- pre reader, late 90s au)



Suguru leaned back in his chair and shook his long hair out. He yanked the elastic hair tie off his wrist and used it to pull his hair up into a messy bun.

Next to him, Ieiri let out a groan and buried her face into her folded arms. She didn’t have the willpower to lift her head up from her desk.

“Shit, I’m so hungover.”

“Really? Satoru asked. “Here let me get you something.”

In an act of cruel playfulness he rolled up his magazine and slammed it down on the edge of her desk. Ieiri shot up in excruciating pain, clutching her head for dear life.

“Satoru you fucking asshole.”

He keeled over in laughter.

Suguru, who had secured his hair, reached into his backpack and pulled out a water bottle. He leaned forward and handed it to Ieiri.

“Here,” he offered. “Just take a few sips.”

She grabbed the water from him and took a gulp.

“How are you not hungover? You drank more than me last night.”

Suguru just shrugged. “Sheer willpower.”

She kissed her teeth and stood up. “C’mon let’s go. I need a cigarette.”

Satoru checked the clock on the classroom wall. “But lunch ends in five minutes.”

Suguru rolled his eyes and grabbed his backpack. “Then we should get out of here before the teacher comes back.

~

With the three of them ditching gym class, something they occasionally did, they managed to secure something of a secret hideout.

That was what Satoru insisted on calling it anyway.

On the far end of the campus was an abandoned greenhouse that once was used for botany classes. It was in an ideal location where they never got caught.

Suguru retrieved his lighter from his backpack and lit the cigarette that Ieiri had impatiently placed between her lips. She offered him one which he took. Suguru didn’t smoke as often as she did, but he’d occasionally indulge himself. He’d indulged himself in a few things since entering into this friendship.

When Suguru had met Satoru and Ieiri, he was timid as hell. His shaved head and scrawny build made him an easy target for bullies. But his friends helped him grow more confident in himself, as corny as it sounded.

“How do your ears feel?” Satoru asked him.

“Fine,” he nodded.

Suguru brushed his fingers over one of the studs. Last night, he pierced them on a dare. Granted the bathroom of a club with a heated sewing needle wasn’t exactly safe, but he liked the way it turned out. Of course, that meant he’d have to show his Dad later. He’d definitely be pissed he skipped class again, but he didn’t care. He never cared anymore. He was done hoping one day his old man would give a damn about him.

Suguru pulled out his sketchbook and a charcoal pencil, determined to finish his sketch before they left campus. He planned on painting it this weekend.

Ieiri leaned forward to see. “It’s the ocean.”

Satoru sighed and leaned against the young artist, Ieiri followed suit and did the same, sandwiching Suguru in the middle.

“Shit,” Satoru mumbled. “I can’t believe we only have another three weeks left.”

“I won’t miss this place,” Ieiri mumbled.

The three of them would be graduating soon. With college exams already taken, and finals coming up. The time was quickly approaching to say goodbye.

Suguru put his cigarette out and let it sit beside him. “I don’t hate this place.”

The three of them sat there in silence. The only noise to be heard was the scratching of the charcoal pencil.

~

Suguru was a curse on his parents. That’s how he saw it. His mother died in childbirth leaving his father to raise him by himself.

His father didn’t like him.

He was too sensitive for a boy. His head was always in the clouds. He was ungrateful. He was lazy.

He existed.

Suguru Sr., his dad, was the phys ed. teacher at his school. He took the job because it came with a coaching position for the school’s soccer team, one of the best in the country.

The players on the team had a fair shot of going pro, something Suguru’s dad had initially hoped for in his youth. But a busted knee had cut his dreams short.

Since he was faculty his son could get free tuition, and fulfill unaccomplished dreams.

But Suguru was far from the ideal son who had been given his father’s name.

They argued practically everyday, and it only got worse the older Suguru got. His dad was a textbook narcissist who would bend over backwards for any random stranger, but couldn’t lift a pinky to help his son.

Suguru was charged with doing all things domestic, from cooking the meals to cleaning the apartment. He also couldn’t blink without his father having an opinion. So he began to avoid him more and more.

He couldn’t even remember the last time the two of them had spoken.

Suguru pushed against his father whenever he could.

He didn’t really like to drink or smoke but he knew his father detested it. So he did it whenever he could, just to defy him. He liked to pissed off his dad, so he stayed out until the early morning out of pure spite. He’d sneak into clubs he had no business in and allow eardrum shattering levels of music to swallow him up and carry him away.

~

When Suguru got home he was more than displeased to find his dad parked on the couch in front of the television. A soccer game was on, and he couldn’t care less. He detested sports. Did his dad ever imagine himself as one of those players? In a completely different life with a family that made him happy?

“Suguru,” his father barked. “Get in here!”

He stood at the door for a moment, debating if he should just turn around and spend the night at Satoru’s. He decided against it, knowing he’d just have to come home eventually.

He shut the door and dragged himself to where his father stood, standing beside him and waiting for a lecture.

“Why weren’t you in class today?” he asked.

His father’s attempt to look threatening was laughable. Suguru was almost an entire foot taller, another one of the many things the old man resented about him.

“I wasn’t feeling well,” he cooly responded. “So I went to the nurse’s office.”

His father snorted.

“So you’re not man enough to power through it? You’re so weak. But with that stupid haircut you look like a girl so you might as well act like it.”

Suguru clenched his jaw. “Can I go now? I have things to do.”

His father turned away from the television to face his son. He stood up when something caught his eye. “What the hell is that?”

“What?”

“That shit in your ear.”

Suguru smirked. “Do you like it?”

His father’s face started to turn red. “Are you trying to get kicked out? What will the neighbors say? You look like some effeminate punk!”

“It’s better than looking like you,” he shot back. “And maybe you should learn how to cook for yourself before you threaten to kick me out.”

He turned to leave, much to his father’s annoyance.

“Where the hell do you think you're going?”

“To work at my shit job that you like to pretend you’re so proud of.”

When his father threw away all his art supplies a few years ago he’d gotten a job at the convenience store down the street to fund the recovery of everything he’d lost.

His father scoffed. “Your mother would be so disappointed in you.”

“Well then I guess it’s a good thing she’s not here,” Suguru spat.

He went to his room to change for his shift.

~

“Wow,” Satoru marveled. “That’s such a low blow to use your dead mom like that.”

He stood next to Suguru as he restocked the chips, speaking in between the mouthfuls of Doritos  he was eating. He was currently on his second bag.

“Classic Coach Geto bullshit,” he muttered. “And are you planning on paying for those?”

Satoru pondered it for a moment. “I don’t know, wouldn’t I fall into the friends and family discount?”

Suguru stood up and snatched the bag out of his hands. “Sorry, but that only applies to people that don’t have American Express cards.”

Satoru pouted as he followed Suguru to the back where Ieiri was looking at the mini toiletries.

“How much mouthwash should I bring? One of these is enough for two days right?”

“With how much you smoke?” Satoru snorted.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Stop stuffing your face and start buying some snacks. Will you Captain Dickhead?”

“Excuse me,” a man called from the front of the store. “Can you ring me up?”

“Right away sir,” Suguru replied.

“Speaking of Captain Dickhead,” Satoru snorted under his breath.

He and Ieiri trailed behind their friend to the register. The man handed Suguru his card and looked over to find Satoru, who instantly caught his attention.

“Pardon me, but are those your real eyes?”

“Yeah,” Satoru answered.

“They glow in the dark,” Ieiri added.

The man tilted his head, examining Satoru’s features like he was a pomeranian in a dog show.

“Have you ever considered modeling?”

“You know you’re not the first person who asked me that,” Satoru gloated.

Suguru rolled his eyes as he bagged up the man’s items. “Here you are sir.”

The man took his card back and stuck it into his wallet, then he retrieved another card out of it. “I work for the Vogue offices here, in Tokyo, but I have some contacts in Paris as well. If you're interested you should give us a call. I think you’d make a great fit in our fall lineup.”

After Satoru took the card the man took his shopping bag and left.

“Well look who’s on his way to being the next Kate Moss.” Ieiri mused.

“Charles Bernard,” he read aloud. “That can’t be his real name.”

“Probably not,” Suguru jested. “He definitely just wants to harvest your organs.”

Satoru chuckled and stuck the business card in his wallet. “So do you need to do any shopping for the trip Suguru?”

In two weeks the third years would be taking their class trip to Okinawa, which had brought Satoru and Ieiri into the store in search of supplies.

Suguru sighed. “I don’t know. It’s not like I want to hang out with strangers and I don’t know how to swim.”

“Stop making excuses asshat,” Satoru ordered. “Who said we’re spending time with the class?”

“Well I think the whole concept of a class trip would be lost without the class part,” Ieiri deadpanned.

“Listen,” Satoru proposed. “I think we should fly down with the class. Then when we get there we’ll get a rental car and just do our own thing.”

“Okay now I know you’re completely insane,” Ieiri groaned. “We’ll get in trouble.”

“Only if we get caught,” Satoru argued. “We’ll check in when we get there, and then again when we leave.”

“But seriously, what if we do get caught?” Suguru asked.

“Please my family just gave the school a new library, nothing’s going to happen. Plus if they get really mad we’ll just say we got kidnapped or whatever.”

This was a dumb idea on practically every level, Suguru was incredibly aware of that. But he had stuck with Satoru and Ieiri for a few years now and everything had managed to work out so far.

One last adventure before they’d be pressured into pretending to be adults.

“Fine,” Suguru agreed.

“Whatever,” Ieiri added.

~

The morning Suguru left he and his dad got into another fight.

“You know,” he started. “When I was your age I didn’t get to go anywhere.”

Whenever his father spoke Suguru had gotten into the habit of holding his breath. He hoped if he’d stopped breathing the old man would stop speaking, but that unfortunately was never the case.

Suguru just grunted as he tied his shoelaces.

“You should be grateful you’ve been given this opportunity.”

Suguru said nothing, he hated it when his dad tried to make him feel guilty for just living his life.

“Okay,” he said as he stood up. “I’m heading out.”

His father scoffed. “I knew it. You get to go have fun and you still have a bad attitude. I’d kill to be your age again.”

“Uh huh.”

Suguru walked towards the front door. His duffel bag felt like a million pounds, but nothing could stop him from getting the hell out of here.

“You don’t like me do you?” his dad asked with an unwarranted exhaustion.

The tone of his delivery made the teen stop in his tracks and turn around.

“Huh?” he asked.

“You don’t appreciate anything I do.”

Suguru said nothing, even if he wanted to scream until his lungs shriveled up.

“Bye Dad.”

He stormed out of the apartment and slammed the door behind him.

~

Satoru and Ieiri knew when Suguru was going through it. He slipped in and out of his bad moods like he was speeding through a winding road. They let him sit in silence. This should have been a positive experience for Suguru. He’d never been on a plane before. But of course the old fuck had to rob him of any of the joy he should have been feeling.

“These seats are so cramped.” Satoru whined.

Ieiri rolled her eyes and shoveled peanuts into her mouth.

“We get it, you’ve never traveled in coach before.”

“It must be so hard being you,” Suguru griped next to him.

Satoru exchanged a glance with Ieiri.

“Um Suguru, do you want to switch places? Satoru offered. “You can look out the window and see the ocean.”

“I’m fine,” he muttered.

“But you’ve never been on a plane before and-”

Suguru shot him a look that made him stop.

“I’m fine. I’m not an idiot I know what a fucking cloud looks like,” he spat.

Ieiri narrowed her eyes on him.

“Suguru, I know you're in a bad mood, but that doesn’t give you an excuse to be an asshole.”

He scoffed and put his walkman headphones over his ears. He was pissed but he wasn’t suicidal. Ieiri wouldn’t hesitate to kick his ass off the plane and send him plummeting back down to Earth.

~

By the time the plane had touched down everyone was in desperate need of a little cooling off period. Satoru collected everyone’s baggage with the rest of the class while Ieiri snuck off to the airport smoking lounge with Suguru. Without saying a word, he pulled his lighter out of his coat pocket and she leaned in to light her cigarette. They sat there in silence among the rest of the nicotine addicted individuals.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” he finally mumbled.

She didn’t look at him when she spoke.

“I’m not the one you need to apologize to.”

He thought back to how Satoru had flinched when he rejected his offer for the window seat.

“Look Suguru,” she continued. “Satoru really wants to have a good time while we’re here. Can’t we just give him?”

He nodded.

“Yeah.”

“I know what it’s like to want to tear everything down but just fake it okay? For him.”

He grinned. “So is this you faking it?”

“Another word and I’ll shove this cigarette up your nose,” she threatened.

He stood up.

“Let’s go. The teachers are going to wonder where we are.”

~

They met Satoru in front of the shuttle bus their classmates were gathered around. Despite everything that happened on the plane his eyes lit up when he saw them.

“There you guys are!”

“Hey,” Suguru started. “I’m sorry I was being such a dick earlier.”

Satoru just smiled. “You’re always a dick, dick.”

Ieiri snorted.

“So are we all set?” she asked.

He nodded.

“We’re almost in the clear.”

Their homeroom teacher, Mr. Yaga, came up to the group of three with his clipboard.

“Mr. Geto and Ms. Shoko, so good of you to join us.”

He turned to Suguru and handed him a small medication bottle of stool softener.

“Mr. Gojo informed me you were having bathroom issues, so let me know if you need more.”

“I will sir.”

He clenched his teeth as Satoru and Ieiri giggled behind him.

“Alright class,” he announced as he turned to face the others. “Everyone on the bus.”

The three of them waited for the right moment to bolt. Once Mr. Yaga and the others were all safely on the bus they walked back into the airport and went to the rental car station.

The woman behind the desk handed Satoru a pair of keys not even bothering to ask how old he was.

“Have it back on Sunday.”

~

Once the three of them had loaded their bags into the trunk they were off. They spent the first ten minutes arguing what type of music to listen to.

“Come on,” Satoru groaned. “No one wants to listen to Alanis Morrissette.”

Ieiri guffawed.

“Typical guy response. Worship anything related to Nirvana or Oasis and turn your nose down at anything written by a woman.”

“Are you seriously comparing Nirvana to Alanis Morrissette?”

“If you read the lyrics to ‘You Oughta Know’ even your pea sized brain could figure out how inspired that song is!”

“Inspired my ass!”

Suguru made a vain attempt to break in from his spot in the back seat.

“Can we listen to Queen?”

Ieiri scoffed from the passenger seat. “Suguru, take your old man music on your old man cassette tape and shove it up your ass.”

“Maybe it’ll help with my chronic constipation,” he mused as he read the label on the stool softener. “Thanks again for that Satoru.”

He turned around to glare at him.

“Well you were acting like you were constipated!”

“Satoru!” Ieiri shrieked. “You’re driving! Keep your fucking eyes on the fucking road!”

Suguru smiled to himself.

So much for faking it.

~

They miraculously arrived at the hotel in one piece. Satoru had driven them further up the coast and found a place right on the beach.

When they got to their room Ieiri collapsed on the bed.

“Okay chuckleheads. I call the bed, you two can bunk on the floor.”

“What do you guys want to do first?” Suguru asked.

“Recover from my near death experience,” Ieiri deadpanned.

Satoru just rolled his eyes. “I got us here alive. And I didn’t even hit that frog.”

He set his bag down and pulled some papers out.

“We should probably leave the room now. I have an entire itinerary planned out.”

~

They spent Friday just walking around the local shops and sampling all the different foods there were to try. They had dinner at a soba place where Satoru nearly scalded his tongue trying to eat too fast.

“Eat slowly,” Suguru jested. “Or you’ll need these tomorrow morning.”

He pulled the stool softener out of his pocket and placed it next to his friend. Then he flagged down the waitress.

“Excuse me, where’s the nearest pharmacy? My friend needs to stock up on this.”

Instead of getting angry Satoru just started laughing after the waitress left.

“You stupid dick,” he wheezed.

Suguru snorted and tossed the medicine in the trash. Ieiri smiled despite herself and continued to eat her meal.

~

On Saturday they woke up and drove to The Churaumi Aquarium and worked their way through all three floors. Suguru sat in front of a massive tank that contained a whale shark, stingrays, and a plethora of different fish.  

He sketched it so he could paint later. He was getting excited thinking of different techniques to emphasize the light that highlighted the magnificent patterns that decorated the shark's skin. He flipped back a few pages to look at his sketch of the ocean he’d done two weeks ago. It made him a little sad but he couldn’t say why.

When he looked up he spotted a girl in front of him strolling alongside the whale shark. Her braid swung back and forth as she walked. Before he knew it she’d worked her way into his sketch.

“Miss Amanai!” a voice called.

A woman came racing towards her.

“What’s wrong Misato?” she asked.

“What’s wrong?” she asked in an incredulous tone. “ You don’t wander off by yourself. Your parents have been worried sick.”

The girl scoffed. “I’m not a child Misato, I’m fourteen.”

Misato gave the girl a look and she quickly sprinted back the way she came. Her caretaker chased after her, nearly knocking Satoru over in the process.

He and Ieiri walked towards Suguru and sat down beside him.

“Are you almost done? We were gonna hit the beach.”

He nodded. “Yeah let’s go.”

~

The beach was rejuvenating. Suguru sat in the sand and watched as Satoru tried to chase Ieiri with a sea cucumber. It backfired when a wave knocked him on his ass and the sea cucumber went flying back into the ocean.

~

While the three of them attempted to build a sandcastle a group of girls approached them. Satoru stood up almost expectantly.

“Can we help you beautiful ladies?” he smoothly asked.

Ieiri made a gagging noise and Suguru chuckled.

“Um,” one of the girls spoke up. “Actually I was wondering if your friend was single.”

Satoru looked over to Suguru with a flabbergasted expression, entirely unfamiliar with not being the center of attention when it came to these types of things.

“Yes,” Suguru answered.

The girl held out a piece of paper. “Here’s my email address. You can send me a message if you want or whatever.”

He smiled and took the paper.

“Thank you.”

~

“Are you a freaking idiot!” Satoru howled. “What do you mean you’re not going to email her?”

Suguru shrugged. “What’s the point? We’ll never see eachother again.”

“She even saw through that hideous shirt you’re wearing,” Ieiri joked.

“Maybe she’s into Magnum, P.I.,” he snorted.

Apparently girls liked old man hawaiian shirts.

~

Later that night the three of them shared a small bottle of scotch Satoru had swiped from his dad’s personal collection.

They sat on the beach and passed the bottle around, mindful not to drink too much. In the morning they’d have to drive back to the airport to meet their class.

“Well I think we can mark this trip as a success,” Satoru gloated.

“Yes Satoru, you and your genius brain put this entire plan in motion. Is that what you want to hear?” Ieiri teased.

“Well I had fun,” Suguru admitted.

“Ha! Two against one. You lose!”

“Shut up and pass the scotch dumbass,” Ieiri ordered.

“I’ll miss you guys,” Suguru murmured.

His friends stopped their lively banter and turned their attention to their friend.

“What do you mean? Are you going somewhere?” Satoru asked.

He sighed.

“Nothing. Forget I said anything.”

“Suguru,” Ieiri prodded. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, it’s just…it’s just that sometimes I have a difficult time seeing my own future. Shit that sounds so fucking stupid. I guess…I’m just anxious about the future. Will there ever be a time I don’t feel like shit?”

“Everyone feels like shit sometimes. Especially if they're around bad people,” Satoru said with a knowing look.

They all knew who he was alluding to.

“Yeah,” Suguru cleared his throat. “I guess you’re right.”

“Suguru, you're a stupidly talented artist and you’re a good person,” Ieiri admitted.

“And you’ll never have to face the future alone. We’re best friends,” Satoru assured him.

“But you need to live your own life,” Ieiri reminded him. “Don’t run away from the unknown.”

He smiled and covered his face. “I don’t hate you guys.”

~

In the early hours of the morning, Suguru woke up shoulder to shoulder between Satoru and Ieiri on the hotel bed. The room was still dark and the only noise was his friend's shallow breathing.

Outside the ocean waves crawled onto the sand, creating a soothing lullaby when gently tapped down.

He took a deep and closed his eyes, imagining his future and discovering a light.

~

The End.

[wannabe-fic-writer]

All Over Again - Chapter 12

Summary: What was lost can be found. 

Warning: 18+ Smut, Language, Violence. 

Ch. 11

* * * * * *

Despite the curtains opening and letting in the sun’s bright light, the beauty beside you remains asleep. 

A glance at the clock tells you that you’ve woken up an hour and a half earlier than need be, but you know you won’t be falling back to sleep so you decide to get up. Said task proves a bit difficult. Every shift you make has Lena tightening her hold on you, her nose brushing your neck as she snuggles closer. 

It takes a solid five minutes to slip from the woman’s loving hold. After ensuring she doesn’t wake up, with your pillow now in her arms, you head into the bathroom.

One nice hot shower later, you’re dressed in your work uniform, and in the kitchen fixing breakfast.

Just two weeks ago you were still getting used to this new routine of yours. 

You’ve loved every morning you woke up with Lena, some you spent getting ready together and others one of you stayed in bed just a bit longer thanks to the efforts of the other. 

The first day of your new job at the DEO was a rigorous one. First finding out that Alex works there, which truly wasn’t a surprise, and then being put through the ringer to ensure you were good enough for your desired position as a field agent. 

You know despite being accepted by a decent amount of your workmates, Alex is still holding you at a judgeable distance, but your two weeks has given you some credibility with her. 

All in all it was an adjustment period. One you’re slowly breaking out of. Here at your new home things couldn’t be more perfect. 

“Good morning.” 

Looking up from the slowly cooking pastry at your hands, you smile at the, clearly, still sleepy brunette. Her mouth opens to release a silent but powerful yawn. 

You smile softly at her, eyes rolling over the dark green silk pajamas she’s wearing,“ good morning beautiful.” 

She comes over to you, resting a gentle hand on your lower back, and leaning in. Your lips meet in a short, sweet, kiss. Her lips curve up against yours and you give her one more quick peck. 

“Mmm, those crepes?” Her body nearly melds into yours as her arms wrap around your torso, head laying against your shoulder.

One thing you’ve learned and absolutely love: Lena is a clingy morning person. 

For whatever reason, the woman just had to be close to you in the morning. You’d first paid attention to it a few days after moving in.

It was shortly after you’d woken up, as you were brushing your teeth, when she came into the bathroom and practically koaled herself around you. You asked what was wrong and her answer of nothing and a cute smile did you in. 

“Coffee?” She asks, reluctantly letting you go and moving over to the coffee pot. 

“Yes please.” 

Lena chuckles at the slightly childish tone your voice takes. Just as much as you’ve loved the past few weeks Lena has as well, possibly even more. 

She’s so used to being alone that this, having someone to come home to, to wake up with, it’s an unexplainable feeling. One she knows she could quickly become addicted to. The one thing she knows is that it’s scary how much she doesn’t want to lose this. 

Your girlfriend sets your mug beside the stove as you finish the last crepe. Making quick moves, you wash the dishes you’d used, and plate up the food. 

The green eyed woman watches you expertly fill her crepes with cream and top it with strawberries and chocolate. Once bacon is on the plate you place it in front of her with an over exaggerated wave of your hand and a bright smile. 

As usual Lena literally moans at the taste of the food. Before she can lick the chocolate off the edge of her mouth, you swipe it away with your thumb. Her eyes are trained on you as you suck the sauce off your finger. 

“Good?” You ask.

She nods, still looking at you with a bit of a dazed expression.

Knowing that your simple action flustered the CEO has you fighting to suppress a smirk. 

Together, you eat your breakfast, all the while talking about the movie you’d watched last night, possible plans for dinner, and the fact that you’re working with the UN to potentially get the energy core to places that need them. 

Lena is so deep into her excitement about the core that you can’t help but smile brightly at her. 

“I love you.” You tell her, staring straight into those pools of green. 

A blush creeps up her cheeks and she looks down, piercing a strawberry with her fork,“ I love you too Y/n, so much.” 

Placing a steadying hand on her thigh, you lean closer with puckered lips and Lena meets you halfway. Her lips are soft against yours like always. 

It lasts a decent minute before she deepens it, running her tongue across your bottom lip, then eagerly exploring your mouth as you let her. 

Just needing to be closer, Lena stands and moves between your legs. The kiss breaks for all of a second so her hands can run up your shoulders into your hair. This time your lips crash together, a hungrier force driving your actions. 

Lena moans at the feeling of your hands squeezing her hips and then slipping underneath her shirt. 

She’d only experienced the feeling of your hands on her like this a few times before and it makes her melt each time. The longing to drag you back to the room winning. 

Breakfast disregarded, she tugs on your hair a bit and you’d be more than willing to take this further, if the two of you weren’t due to work in such a short time. 

“L, you know I’d love to continue this but I need to be at the DEO in an hour and you definitely have some important meetings to attend to at L-Corp.” 

She groans, forehead falling to your shoulder,“ I hate that you’re right.” 

You laugh and kiss her temple,“ well I usually am so,” Lena swats at your arm good naturedly.“ I am all for picking this up where we left it, after dinner?” 

Nodding, she lifts up,“ okay.”

The both of you separate reluctantly to finish breakfast. Afterwards Lena starts to get dressed while you wash dishes. 

Walking back down the hall, you lean against your bedroom door, eyes trained on Lena as she applies her makeup.

You check the time on your watch then look back up,“ hey I have to get going,” she looks over at you,“ I’ll pick up dinner from Little Italy and meet you back here.”

“Sounds good.” She comes over and meets you in a sweet and passionate kiss.“ I love you,” she mumbles against your lips.

“I love you too.” With another short kiss you leave out, shrugging on your black DEO jacket, and exiting the apartment. 

In the private garage you approach the motorcycle you’d purchased. Much like New York, streets tended to be crowded in NC so you got a motorcycle, so you got a motorcycle. It’s a lot easier to get through traffic in it, especially during emergencies.

Due to the maneuverability and speed, you make it to the DEO in record time, going in and walking straight to the central hub. Alex stands at the center table, eyes watching the monitors.

“Director Danvers.” You walk over to stand at her side. 

She looks over you then back to the monitors,“ Agent Y/Ln,  we’re on watch, gear up and be on standby.”

You nod,“ yes Director.”

From there, you go grab your gear, chatting with the few agents you come in contact with. The second you’re ready you go back to central command. Assisting where you can until you’re needed.

The second the alert system goes off you’re beside Alex awaiting instruction. Brainy tells you all the situation and everyone gets ready to leave.

“Y/Ln I need you on the evacuation team. You all get those buildings clear and get everyone you can as far away as possible.” Alex instructs.

Everyone gets outside and into the DEO SUVs and you get on your motorcycle, following behind them to the targeted location. 

The second you pull to a stop you head to the building that’s taken the most damage. Debris falls from the top as the glass windows shatter by the second. 

“Let’s go, everybody out! We have to clear this building!” You shout to the people there. It seems that most people may have already left, those stuck in fear left behind. Their fear stricken states means you’re physically guiding some of them out of the building.

With whatever is going on still happening, you have to dodge the debris, getting a few cuts on your arm in the process. You get the last visible person out of the building before calling for anyone who may still be inside. 

There aren’t any replies, so you make your way out, only for a piece of the concrete ceiling above to come falling down. You tuck and roll out of the way, chest heaving with deep breaths. It’s far too late to notice the second piece falling but luckily it’s not your demise. No, instead there’s a blue and red clad form above you, body and cape shielding you from the shattering concrete. 

Familiar blue eyes look down on you, sans glasses, and those blonde curls. 

“Kara?” You ask with a frown, eyes scanning the get-up she’s in. 

She’s Supergirl?

Kara is Supergirl. 

Part of you is leaning towards how it makes sense and another part of you is upset you hadn’t noticed. 

Her eyes widen,“ h-how’d you-” the next falling chunks has her grabbing you and speeding you out of the building. She sets you on your feet at the back of one of the SUVs.“ How do you know who I am?” 

Your frown deepens,“ what’d you mean?” Footsteps sound beside you and Alex appears, glancing between you and Kara. 

“The Citadel is under DEO custody,” she informs you both, then asking,“ what’s going on here?”

The blonde leans closer to her sister, the hand on your shoulder remaining, the two whispering before Alex fixes you with a glare. After another whispered conversation, Kara’s hands wrap around you and she shoots into the sky. 

Being so high up in the air completely uncovered is just barely familiar. You’d been this way in Sokovia during the Ultron situation, free falling from the floating land onto one of the platforms of the many S.H.I.E.L.D transports.

This was a lot more unsettling though. Almost like it was too much freedom, too much air. 

It didn’t last long though, you were tumbling across a wooden floor in no time. Looking around reveals Kara’s apartment to you. 

Looking back at her, you raise a brow,“ well if I had any doubts before I certainly don’t now.”

“How did you know? Who are you?”  Her face hardens as she walks closer,“ why did you come here?”

“Lot of questions um, are they rhetorical?” She shows no sign of humor.“ I came here for Lena. I joined the DEO because I want to help people and I didn’t think being a cop would be enough.”

Her eyes narrow at you. She watches you closely, trying to figure out how honest you’re being. 

The door behind you damn near bursts off its hinges, an angry Alex marching in. She wastes no time trying to swing on you but you’re far from willing to let her beat you out of fear and anger.

Ducking under her fist, you slide back across the floor, and pop up onto your feet.“ Let’s not be hasty yeah? I understand why you two are upset. Secret identities aren’t an Avengers thing but it makes sense why you’re keeping your human identity private.” 

On the seconds long flight over you thought about this. And it did in fact make perfect sense. They have people they want to protect, people who would instantly be in harms way if any baddies found out who Supergirl really is. You suppose that’s one of the few benefits of the Avenging life. All the people you cared for were just as in harm's way as you were, if not more that is.

Alex’s eyes narrow at you,“ how did you know it was Kara?”

“I mean she just took her glasses off. From far away I wouldn’t’ve been able to tell but,” you look to Kara with a slight shrug,“ I know what you look like.” You say with a chuckle.

Both women share a look, once again having a silent conversation. 

Kara sighs once it’s over, then looking at you with the soft eyes you’re still getting used to.“ Y/n do you understand how important it is that no one find out who I am?”

“I swear to you I do.” 

“And how do we know we can trust you to keep quiet about this?” Alex asks, arms still crossed defensively. 

With a shrug, you push yourself up off the floor,“ look as far as you're concerned, I’m just the new chick who happens to be in your lives now. With how little you know of me there’s no reason for you to trust me. Quite frankly you don’t know that you can.”

Kara’s hand rises, fingers pinching the bridge of her nose,“ you aren’t helping yourself Y/n.”

“My point is. . . you’ll just have to trust me or kill me or whatever.”

“We’re not going to kill you.” Kara says when Alex says,“ we will if we have to.”

Your cheeks puff up before you release a deep breath. They look at you expectantly and you just raise your hands and remain silent. 

The conversation they now have is out loud, a back and forth about what to do. Luckily it ends in them agreeing to trust you, for now.

Alex’s finger pokes your chest,“ if you so much as joke about revealing my sisters identity I will end you.” 

Seeing the fire in her eyes, the obvious love and loyalty to her sister, you nod. Soft, understanding, e/c eyes bore into Alex’s,“ I promise I won’t. If you don’t ever trust me with anything else, know that this is safe with me.”

Her eye literally twitches before she steps back. It’s barely there, but you can see that she believes you. 

“I have to ask though,” your gaze moves to Kara,“ who else knows?” 

Knowing, exactly why you’re asking, Kara tells you straight out that Lena knows, and all of the Superfriends, aside from Kelly.

With a nod, and yet another promise to keep quiet, you ask to be taken back to your motorcycle. 

Just like before, Kara gets you back in seconds.

“Um, I-” you bite your lip,“ we’re okay right? I know I could’ve done that better, even if I realized it right then. You’re my friend, albeit a new one, but you’re my friend I would never hurt you.” 

The blonde’s jaw clenches, eyes searching yours for all the honesty and sincerity that’s there. When her gaze softens your shoulders drop. Hesitantly, you open your arms.

A smile pulls at her lips and Kara quickly accepts it. Teasingly she squeezes you a little tighter and while you notice, you don’t react in the way she expected.

“Come on now, I’ve been surrounded by super soldiers I can take a little squeeze.” 

As you throw your leg over your motorcycle and pick up the helmet, you look back to her,“ back to the DEO.” 

No matter how fast you drive down the streets you can’t beat Supergirl. She’s there long before you are to help contain the Citadel. 

You go through the standard debriefing, recounting how many people you’d evacuated and all your doings. 

Once it’s over, you stick around to do all the last of your work. Training and working on weapons takes you into the night. 

With a bright smile on your face at the thought of seeing your girl, you leave the weapons testing room, and go to the locker room. Putting your gear away, you head out, stopping to see Alex who’s with Kara.

“Um, Director, Supergirl, I’m leaving but as always I’m on call,” you say, approaching cautiously, “ see you tomorrow night?” 

Alex glances at Kara who can still hear the uncertainty in your voice and truthfully it softens her heart towards you even more.“ Of course,” she finally smiles,“ long as you bring cheesecake.” 

“Will do Supergirl.” After a joking salute to her and Alex, you turn to leave, Kara flying past you before you can blink. 

It doesn’t take long to get to the Italian restaurant though it does take a minute to wait for your order. Once you have it you ride back home with great caution. 

You aren’t surprised to find the place empty, in fact you take advantage of it. If the two of you do indeed plan to pick up where you left off, you want it to be special.

The second Lena steps foot in the apartment, she’s hit with the most intoxicating aromas she could imagine. Not only does the food smell delicious, the dozens of candles and flowers add to it, leaving the place smelling incredible.

“Y/n?” She calls, setting her bag down beside the kitchen’s bar, and looking at the table setting.

At the sound of your name, you scoop up the bottle of wine, and walk into the dining room. 

Lena’s eyes widen a bit at you. With the silk black robe on your body left open, she can see your chosen loungewear. It’s definitely meant to be enticing, accentuating every part of your body that you hoped it would and leaving enough to Lena’s imagination to almost make her drool.

“Welcome home my love.” You smile at her, handing her a freshly poured glass of wine while giving her a sweet kiss.

She hums against your lips and smiles back curiously once having pulled away.“ To what do I owe all of this?” 

You shrug,“ I just wanted tonight to be special. Even if it does go that far, you still deserve every bit of pampering I have planned for you.” 

“Pampering hm?”   

With a happy nod, you proceed with the rest of the night's plans.

Lena relents control to you and she’s beyond glad about that decision. 

Dinner and dessert is perfect in every way, your shared conversation making her fall in deeper with you. That then followed by the most relaxing bath she’d ever taken. And topped off with your invitation to a massage. 

Clad in the sexiest silky green nightgown you’ve ever seen, Lena approaches you. 

Her knees press into the bed and she inches closer to you. As opposed to lying down though, she places her hands on your shoulders, smiling down at your seated form.

“As much as I’ve loved every moment of tonight and I do plan to make good on this offer,” her fingers run over your collarbone,“ I think you’ve kept me waiting long enough.”

The tone of her voice and that look in her eyes makes you smirk,“ oh I have?” Pushing yourself up to kneel in front of her, you cup her cheek and pull her into a kiss. 

Her hands quickly find your sides underneath the robe, fingers working to find your skin.You trail your kisses down her neck, nipping at skin between her shoulder and neck. 

She revels in the feeling of your hands exploring her skin. The tips of your fingers brush her thighs and she shivers, silently begging you to go higher with a squeeze to your side.

Pulling away, you look into her hooded eyes,“ are you sure about this?” With your hands still on her, it’s hard to think straight.“ L, I need you to answer me.” 

“Yes,” her words are a breathy whisper,“ yes I’m sure.” 

“Just tell me whenever you want to stop, we won’t do anything you don’t want to.” 

The brunette nods. 

With her hand on the back of your neck, she pulls you into a kiss that’s fueled by her need for you. You bite at her lip, inciting a giggle from the woman that makes you smile amusedly. 

She wasn’t expecting the action from you, that coupled with her excitement over this pushed the sound from her lips. 

You take that moment to grasp the ends of her nightgown, an ask of permission in your eyes that she nods to. 

Inch by inch, smooth milky skin is exposed to you, until Lena kneels before you in all her naked glory. There’s no way you could stop yourself from drinking in the woman’s beauty, every curve, birthmark, and freckle. You swear she could be one of the wonders of the world. 

“God you’re breathtaking.” You tell her, making a crimson color bloom up her cheeks. 

In one swift motion, you grab the backs of her knees, and adjust her to lie down. A yelp leaves her lips at her eyebrows raise at you.

“Sorry.” You smile sheepishly, hovering over her to offer a quick apologetic kiss. 

The kiss returning to its previously heated nature when Lena cups the back of your neck. 

As your lips move lower, so does your hand. Fingers brush the woman’s chest and her gasp turned moan lets you know your actions are okay. 

Encouraged to go further, you pinch her nipple between your thumb and finger, rolling it to the perfect little peak. The sensation causes Lena to arch up into you, pressing her chest even further in your hand. 

You let that hand trail further down her body, lips finding hers again as you reach her pelvis. Her breath hitches when your hand hovers over her heat and you stop. 

Pulling away from the kiss, you ask,“ you okay?” 

She nods,“ yes.”

You wait a moment, just in case, but Lena’s far too eager for that. She kisses you roughly and raises her hips just so your hand slips down further. 

The second you feel her arousal on your fingers you both moan. You had no idea she was this ready for you. Gathering her juices on your fingers, you trail them higher to circle her clit. 

“Fuck Y/n,” she moans, fingers curling into your hair. 

Slipping a single finger into her heat, you also suck a nipple into your mouth. The timed thrusts of your finger with the swirl of your tongue builds Lena higher and higher. 

Lena has never been with a woman and she’s genuinely wondering why she’d never considered it. Here you are sending her to another reality with one goddamn finger in a matter of minutes.  But she knows, it’s not just being with a woman, it’s being with you. 

Through every curl you make against that spongy spot inside her she can feel your quiet confession of love. The kisses you trail across her hot skin are screamed praises. 

You touch her like she’s your queen and it sends her reeling. 

Her grip on your hair tightens, hips shooting off off the bed as you sink a second finger into her. A cry of your name falls from her lips and you swallow it, pressing your lips to hers and letting your tongue explore her mouth.

She can feel that coil in her stomach tightening with the way your fingers hit her g-spot. She chases the sporadic feeling, rolling her hips into your hand in hopes of getting that release sooner. 

Picking up on her need, you press your thumb against her clit, circling it in time with your thrusts. 

“Y/n,” she sighs.

“I know baby,” you kiss her neck,“ come for me L.” 

That’s her undoing. 

Her thighs shake, she pulls you closer just needing to feel you against her in this moment, as her juices spill from her against your hand. You slow your ministrations, riding her through her orgasm, with gentle thrusts and featherlight kisses. 

Maintaining eye contact with her, you remove your fingers, raising them to your lips and sucking her juices from your fingers. A moan sounds from her at the sight and you chuckle. 

“You alright?”

She nods, chest falling at a normal pace as her breath evens out.“ I’m more than alright.”

Just as you lie back, thinking the woman needs a breather, she’s straddling you.

Her hands make quick work of ridding you of your clothes. You had the privilege of seeing her in entirety and she’ll be damned if she doesn’t get the same. And she’s so happy she does. 

The sight of you, completely bare beneath her, is almost enough to make her come again. 

She wastes no time, cupping one of your breasts in her hand, and rolling your nipple between her thumbs as she takes the other into her mouth.

Kissing lower, she stops just between your legs. A kiss to both your thighs and then one right against your soaked folds.

“Jesus, Lena.” You sigh out.  

The urge to smile is hard fought off. Her goal, alongside showing you how much she loves you, is to put you as high in the clouds as you’d just put her. It seems she’s doing so. 

Her tongue curiously darts out, licking over your clit. You moan at the feeling and she moans at the taste. God you taste like honey and had she known before she would’ve listed you as her favorite flavor. 

Keeping one hand busy at your chest, she brings the other down. Fingers toy at your entrance as she keeps licking at your clit. The tip of her finger catches the way you tighten around nothing and she desires more than anything to feel you grip her fingers that way. 

So she slips a digit inside of you and gets exactly that. The moans and whimpers falling from your lips tells her all she needs to know about pleasing you. 

Her fingers pick up the pace, tongue flicking against you faster. 

Your fingers grip the sheets beneath you to the point where you’re sure your nails could pierce the fabric straight through to your palms. They tighten as the feeling inside you rises.

With the curl of your girlfriend’s fingers inside you, hitting that spot that drives you mad, you come undone. 

Waves of your arousal spill out directly onto Lena’s fingers, her tongue catching the even sweeter juices. 

Just as you did her, she helps you ride out the highest point of your orgasm until it seems you’re back down on earth.

“How-” a deep breath cuts you off,“ how many women have you done that too?”

The woman crawls up your body, kisses trailing through the valley of your breasts, up your neck, and to your lips,“ none.” She whispers.

Your jaw drops,“ seriously?” She nods and you laugh, wrapping her in your arms and pulling her body flush against yours.“ You are most certainly gifted my love.” 

“As are you.” She responds, kissing you once again. 

With the warmth of your bodies surrounding both of you, plus the work of the day, you both feel how tired you truly are.

Using the last bits of your consciousness, you slip under the covers, discarded clothes pushed to the floor.

“Hey,” you tighten your hold on Lena to grab her attention,“ I love you.” You tell her.

Leaning up, she kisses you once more,“ I love you too.” 

* * * * * 

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[cmagines]

What We Become: Prologue

Fandoms: Criminal Minds, Agents of SHIELD

Summary: In the aftermath of Afterlife, Y/N decides to leave SHIELD and aim for a job opening in the FBI.

Word Count: 1,278

           Nightmares were to be expected before starting a new job. That’s what you told yourself, repeatedly, until you halfway believed it. Never mind that your new job was likely to be a cake walk considering the last year you’d been through. Rapists? Murderers? Dark stuff, but nothing compared to the webs of violence and espionage you’d finally left.

           It was too early to be awake. It was too pointless to go back to sleep. The treadmill took a pounding from your feet, and then your shower ran as hot as you could bear. When you had first joined SHIELD, you had hated training, but now exercise was such a part of your routine that you struggled to rest without burning out the energy in your muscles. The shower that followed was even better. You could imagine that the water washed away more than just sweat and shampoo. On bad days, you unwillingly imagined tiny specks of stone being carried down the drain.

            The clock read almost six once you were dressed in your robe, so you took your time making breakfast, hoping that some food would calm your stomach. After all, you had no idea what exactly you were walking into and being prepared could only serve you well. Coulson had said you were a shoo-in, but it was a competitive position and you still had to get the other foot through the door. That in mind, you had a sizeable meal and packed an equally sizable lunch.

           Though there was enough time to fuss about your outfit, you didn’t see the need to bother. SHIELD agents dressed just like FBI agents. At the end of the day, a fed was a fed, and to make a good impression, you needed to show that you could fit in, play ball. You spent the rest of your extra time skimming recent news on your phone before heading out early in case of traffic. Driving was another thing you’d have to quickly get used to, right up there with staying in one place and cooking only for yourself.

           The FBI had a parking garage that connected to their two buildings. One was their training center, while the other was headquarters. Both were heavily secured – not to the point that you didn’t think a sufficiently motivated terrorist could get in, but enough so that you felt fine leaving your emergency stash of cash in the glove compartment before taking out your gloves.

           It was the first time you had opened the box, and you let out a deep breath as you saw them. Fitzsimmons had come through, as always. They were almost identical to the pair they had made for Skye – well, she went by Daisy now – except for that there was less texturing on the outside. Jemma had designed them that way to be less conspicuous. The gloves fit like gloves, to borrow a satisfyingly accurate phrase, but they felt airy enough to be comfortable.

           After you had landed in her shoes, Daisy had been able to help you in a more efficient way than Lincoln had been able to help her, simply because she knew exactly how to train you. Once you had a handle on exercising your powers, targeting your abilities came more easily. The gauntlets weren’t supposed to be as necessary as they had been in the beginning for Daisy, but it was better to be safe than sorry – especially among people who knew the bare minimum about how the world was beginning to change. You curled your fingers into fists and inhaled deeply, practicing the mindful breathing that Dr. Garner preached to you. Between Fitz’s genius engineering and Dr. Garner’s coaching, you felt confident that you could control yourself enough to blend in and leave your strange “heritage” in the past.

           Daisy ached to see you go and it pulled at your heart to leave her behind. She had become such an essential part of your life that it felt like betraying a sister, especially now that she could use your support more than ever. Her Secret Warriors project was on thin ice from the start, and a trusted right hand would go a long way to solidifying the tentative ground she rested on. But, as you looked down at your gloved hands, the power in them still made you wish you’d never set foot in Afterlife, and that was how you knew it was the right call to walk away.

           The question that remained was whether you had walked to the right place in the aftermath. Leaving your lunch and your go-bag – which you had packed in the spirit of optimism – in your car, you headed for the doors to headquarters and fastened your new ID to your belt where you could easily reach it. Bobbi would have had a fit if she’d seen, scolding you about how easily a thief could steal it. Right now, a thief was the last thing on your mind. You had an interview to ace, and hopefully a new team to impress.

           The directory told you where to go. There were two other people on the elevator when you entered, but only one of them got off with you on your floor. The big glass doors in front of the bullpen office space were more nerve-wracking than exciting, especially when you realized that if you failed to impress, the odds were slim that you would ever walk through them again.

           You weren’t certain where to go but hoped that if you walked with confidence, no one would think you looked pathetic or suspicious. Your gut told you that the man in charge would have an office to himself, so you picked a path that went along the left side of the room towards the mezzanine stairs. You caught the attention of a brown-haired man at a desk facing the wall you walked past, and to pretend not to notice, you looked at the wall instead and realized it was a memorial to agents who had died in the line of service. It was sobering.

           Maybe this wouldn’t be such a cake walk. SHIELD had put you through loads of convoluted worst-case-scenarios, some of them even involving aliens, but that didn’t mean that danger began and ended with what could be classed as science-fiction. Even with your added advantage – which you were determined to keep under wraps for as long as possible – you were fallible, just like Daisy, Sif, and SHIELD itself. Thinking otherwise would get you killed, and possibly some others alongside.

           Breathe. You were perfectly qualified. This was still bound to be safer than your former position. And as a bonus, no one was going to know what your former position actually was. An old friend at the Triskelion had helped you make sure of that. The last thing you wanted was to quit before you even began, beaten to the punch by breaking news or bureaucratic red tape. You were even outsmarting the newborn Index by legally taking a new surname. Just so you didn’t forget all you were capable of, all you had survived, and all you could still lose, you picked one that reminded you of family.

           The agent’s name was on a plaque centered on his ajar office door. You raised your left hand and knocked with your knuckles.

           “Come in,” the man’s voice called, sounding busy but almost friendly.

           With your wrist, you pushed the door open wider to step into the organized office and introduced yourself, politely but confidently. “Good morning, Agent Hotchner. My name is Y/N Johnson, and I’m here to interview for the open position in the Behavioral Analysis Unit.”

A/N: This crossover idea has been floating around in my head for a couple of weeks. I’m curious if anyone is interested, so I decided to write a quick little introduction. What do you guys think?

[in-my-feels-probably]

INEFFABLE - Kaz Brekker

Chapter Seven

If you would like to read this on Wattpad, it’s on there as well, my @ is in_my_feels_probably and there’s a few visuals and better descriptions and stuff on there. otherwise, enjoy, let me know what you think, and you can check out my masterlist for updates and more. don’t forget to read the prologue, it’s important to the story!

INEFFABLE – Kaz Brekker

ineffable (adj.) too great to be expressed in words, utterly indescribable; too sacred to speak of. 

Chapter Seven

Now in Kribirsk, East Ravka, the Crows and Arken sat around a table in a pub, mindlessly eating and drinking, thinking about the past days events. Kaz had left them there, leaving Elham in charge of making sure everyone stayed put while he scoped the city out, finding out what he could.

Arken was grumbling, slamming a flyer onto the table. “The Little Palace winter fete. There’s just no way he can find a way to the Sun Summoner without Nina. Especially during this ridiculous party, the place will be crawling with Second Army.”

Kaz suddenly approached the table, in an immensely better mood than the rest of them, despite his disheveled look. “We’re in luck. There’s a good chance we can crack on. Now that we’re three days’ travel from the capital, the next play is finding a way inside the Little Palace. It turns out the Kribirsk archives house the Little Palace blueprints. But, they’re kept under lock and key. Far from the prying eyes of the masses.”

Elham scoffed. “As if that’s ever stopped you.”

Jesper had perked up, high fiving Elham. “Yes.”

Arken looked confused, suddenly uneasy around the group. “What does that mean?”

“Time for a heist!”

“Jesper, I don’t think you could sound any more excited. Excited to get that kruge, finally pay me back all you owe me?”

“Oh, but Elham, isn’t my company a good enough payment?”

She threw her head back laughing. “Oh, honey, you’d have to be around me the rest of your life to pay off your debt. Honestly, I don’t get it, Kaz pays you as much as he pays me, how is it that you’re always asking me for more kruge? I must say, though, the satisfaction of watching you lose almost makes it worthwhile.”

Jesper gasped. “Elham! Rude!”

“It’s my money you’re losing anyways. Now come on, let’s go say goodbye to the goat, and get this show on the road.”

---

Elham stood next to Arken, watching Jesper hand off the goat that he had dubbed Milo, to a barmaid, giving his tearful goodbye. She rolled her eyes, and called out a goodbye to Milo, turning her attention back to Kaz, who was giving Arken instructions. He handed him a wad of money.

“I have a job for you. We need to hitch a ride east to the Little Palace. Make friends.”

Arken nervously chuckled. “But that’s the hardest job.”

Kaz tapped his cane to the back of Elham’s leg, signaling her to follow him. Over his shoulder, he called back to Arken. “You managed to win us over, didn’t you?”

Once out of earshot, making their way out the door, Elham muttered. “Hardly. He was our only option. I still don’t like him.”

“I’m not asking you to like him, I’m not overly fond of him myself. But he’s our only shot. We aren’t getting in the Little Palace without him.”

“Oh, come on Brekker, not with that attitude we aren’t. Now, what’s your big plan here, where are we going?”

He almost smirked. “You’re not going to like this.”

Kaz led them over to the alley Inej and Jesper were standing in. “Alright, Royal Archives heist, here’s the game plan. Watchmen are on guard around the clock. We want to get in and get out as quietly as possible. That means the hardware stays in the holster, Jesper.”

“Ugh, fine.”

“Inej, the dome on the roof is directly above the repository where the blueprints to the Little Palace are kept.”

“Got it, that’s my way in.”

“I’ll set a trail of phosphorus that will lead you straight to the target. The repository is secured at all times behind a two-part lock mechanism. So Inej, you have to leave the way you came in. Two hours after sunset is when you’ll go in, Jesper. You’ll need to blend in.”

“Easy.”

“The lighting valves are on the second floor.”

Inej nodded. “I’ll take my cue once I see the lights go out, and then follow your trail straight to the blueprints.”

“The archivist has to pull them a number of times a day, so we can’t steal them or they’ll know something is up.”

“So? Make a copy.”

“But careful, if you're heavy handed, you'll bleed the ink.”

“I know what I’m doing.”

Elham listened to the Crows talk back and forth, and then interrupted. “Well, I don’t. What am I supposed to be doing this whole time?”

The smirk crept back onto Kaz’s face.

“Well first, you’re coming with me to plant the phosphorus. I’m going to need you to keep the sarcastic comments to a minimum while we’re there, you are going to hate this part of the plan, though. I’m sure Jesper would love to hear them after we’re done. After we leave the archives office, I need you to distract the guards if Inej or Jesper get stuck...maybe take out one or two if necessary.”

“How am I supposed to do that? I can’t distract anyone. Kill, yes, but that seems like a bad decision.”

“It’s a last resort. Now, do you speak Suli? Zemeni?”

“No, I grew up in Kerch, I only learned Ravkan before coming to Ketterdam.”

“Well, let’s hope you don’t come across any guards then, otherwise you’re going to have to fake it. Now let's go, everyone get into place. El, you’re with me.”

---

Kaz and Elham stepped out of the carriage in front of the archives building in town. Kaz was dressed in clothes he wouldn’t be caught dead wearing in the Barrel. His usual hat was replaced by a beret, his black coat for colorful drapes. Elham, however, definitely got the shit end of the stick. She was wearing a knee length poofy dress, bright fabrics and Suli silk adorning it. She wore a matching drape around her neck, the same one Kaz was wearing.

Elham was grumbling, rolling her eyes. “What, I don’t get a hat too? Honestly, Kaz, I look ridiculous! Not as ridiculous as you, but still, you had to pick this?”

“You have to blend in, El.”

“Blend in? I look like a wedding cake! At least you get to wear something semi-normal.”

“You’re supposed to look like a foreign artist, El, one good enough to be working for the King. You couldn’t show up in your normal attire, could you?”

She huffed, smoothing down the folds and fabrics of her dress, and Kaz stifled a chuckle.

“Oh, this is funny to you? Is that why you brought me, just needed a good laugh? Bastard.”

“I brought you to play the part. You’re here for the guard. Men fall for plots like this much easier when there’s a woman in a dress around.”

“Well, if you’re wanting me to seduce someone, you seriously missed the mark. Should've let me pick the dress.”

Kaz rolled his eyes, sighing. “You’re here to be the distraction. He’s not going to pay much attention to me if he’s looking at you. I don’t need you to seduce him, hence this dress. Stop grumbling, let’s go.”

---

They stepped inside the office, and Kaz greeted the man at the desk. Elham looked around, uncomfortable after having to pass so many people on the way in looking like that.

“Good day to you, sir! My name is Ivanovski, the sculptor.”

Kaz turned and motioned to Elham, who stood awkwardly behind him. “This is my wife, she’s the artist, a very good one at that. She doesn’t speak any Ravkan, she’s Suli, but she wanted to come along and see the archive building, right, love?”

Elham stifled her shock, and gulped, turning to the man at the desk, who, as Kaz predicted, only had his eyes on her. Elham hesitated, before slightly bowing, and nodding her head towards the man.

The man seemed to lose his annoyed attitude, smiling at Elham. “She’s a pretty little thing, isn’t she? Exotic, there seems to be a lot of pretty women at the capital this year, it must be the winter fete. You’re a lucky man, Ivanovski, aye?”

Elham fought the heat that rose to her cheeks, stepping from foot to foot, flustered. Kaz’s face had gone cold for a second, his jaw clenched. He quickly recovered when the man turned back to him.

“Yes! Yes, she’s very beautiful, I’m the luckiest. Actually, the winter fete is what we’re here for. I am in desperate need of your assistance.”

Elham tilted her head towards the floor, no longer able to look in Kaz’s direction. She pretended to fiddle with the ribbons of her dress, lost in thought, while listening to Kaz talk.

“I am working on a real showstopper for the winter fete. I need the dimensions to the Little Palace entrances. The grand piece may be too grand to fit through the door frame. The King will have my head if his statuary must be parked in the courtyard. Can’t leave my wife here alone, can I?”

The man sighed, looking at Elham, before heading into the archives room to retrieve the prints. “Damned fete. I have to pull the blueprints every day. Wait here.”

Elham watched Kaz reach into his pocket to pull out the phosphorus, and so she shuffled in front of the man, stepping closer to Kaz, a bright smile on her face. She nodded again in the man’s direction, and he smirked, turning to head through the door. Kaz dropped the phosphorus to the floor, using the end of his cane to sweep it under the man’s foot, and it stuck to his shoe as he walked through the door, leaving a trail for Inej to use later.

Once through the door and far enough away from earshot, Elham let the smile fall from her face, whipping around to face Kaz, who looked very pleased with himself.

“I hate you. I can’t believe you made me do this. That man stared at me the entire time, eyeing me. You’re lucky I took my knife off of my thigh for this dress, otherwise I would have been tempted to use it. You weren’t much help either.”

“That was the plan. Can’t say I didn’t want to stab him for having to listen to him speak like that, though, but it worked, didn’t it?”

The sound of footsteps slowly approached them, and Elham quickly moved back behind Kaz as the man walked back in, handing Kaz a piece of parchment.

“Ah, may the Sun Summoner bless you!”

“Oh, I’m not a believer.”

Kaz leaned closer to the man, like what he was saying was supposed to be a secret his wife couldn’t here couldn’t hear. He eyed Elham, before turning back to the man. “No, truth be told, neither am I.”

The man chuckled, leaning in as well. “Why would you, you’ve got enough to believe in standing right behind you.”

Elham saw Kaz go rigid, and she stepped closer to him, getting his and the man’s attention. Remembering she was supposed to not know the language, she spoke brokenly, sounding unsure. “Ready? We go?”

Kaz was relieved to be leaving, placing a fake smile on his face. “Yes, love, we go.”

Elham waved goodbye to the man, smiling. He waved back, eyeing her as she and Kaz walked back out of the building to the carriage.

---

An hour later, and Elham had changed back into her regular clothes, knife strapped back onto her thigh. Kaz had decided the dress was too risky if she were to get caught on the grounds, and opted for the pair to both wear guards uniforms. Still, Elham was to remain scoping for other guards or for Jesper and Inej in trouble. If she had to, she’d attempt talking her way out. The knife was still a last resort.

Kad had also decided to keep her within eye shot near him, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention. Elham was stealthy, but she was no Wraith. And truthfully, although Kaz would never admit it to himself, after today’s events, he wanted her close. He didn’t very much like her being the distraction.

They were heading to their positions, Inej already inside, Jesper soon to follow. Kaz and Elham were slowly patrolling, on opposite sides of the courtyard, making their way to the meeting point outside the exit Inej would come out of.

Thankfully, Elham didn’t run into any guards. She had seen one on the way around, and quickly ducked behind a wall, clutching her knife. Kaz had held his breath watching her, but he remained at the door Inej would come out of, releasing the breath when the guard walked away. Elham made her way up the courtyard to where Kaz was standing. She took her place by his side, and hoped that if any other guards came by and saw them from a distance, they would just assume the two had been placed on watch together as an extra security measure.

It was a waiting game at this point. Elham every once in a while glanced at the door, scanning the windows and balconies for any sign of trouble. She let her thoughts shift away from the heist, knowing Kaz would be alert.

She had felt something on this heist.

She always felt something around Kaz, but she so often pushed it away.

She thought about how long she had known Kaz, when he brought her in at 14. He had told her about the girl he met when he was a kid, who turned out to be just another part of Pekka Rollin’s scam on him and his brother. He at the time had thought she was the prettiest girl in the world. He refused to say much else about it, it taking years for Elham to piece together the story.

But when they were 14, and Elham had been part of the Dregs for a few months, he met another girl. Elham couldn’t even remember her name, but she remembered how she felt around her when she would see her on a rare occasion. Jealous. The girl could hold her own in a fight, she was confident around the other members of the gang, and she had gotten Kaz’s attention. She was beautiful, no doubt about it, she was a year older than them, and she showed interest in him too.

The one thing about her that was distinct in Elham’s memory was the girl's walk. She walked like she owned the very place she stood, exuding confidence. Like she knew something you didn’t. Elham by now had grown into herself, she could be confident as well if she wanted to, but it took some time. Imogen was long gone, a fleeting moment in their past, but she left enough impact for her to stick in Elham’s mind.

While lost in thought, she hadn’t noticed Kaz’s gaze set on her, trying to figure out what she was thinking. He grew frustrated, finally just asking in a hushed tone.

“What are you thinking about? You’ve got that little crease in your brow, like when you’re really concentrating on one of those books you leave in my office. You’re distracted, so spit it out.”

Elham hesitated, before speaking. She knew he wouldn’t let it go. “Do you remember that girl from when we were younger, who had a kind of sidle when she walked? She had smashed that bottle over that one guy’s head for getting too handsy?”

Kaz stiffened, unsure of where she was going with this. He cleared his throat. “Imogen.”

That was her name. It fit her, Elham decided.

“Why?”

“I don’t know, I was just thinking about her. You...you--”

Elham stuttered, and Kaz grew uneasy.

“What, Elham? I what?”

He had turned to face her completely now, and she felt uncomfortable under his gaze, like she wanted to shrink away.

“Today, when the man was looking at me, saying all of that stuff...you looked at me like I would see you look at her.”

Kaz said nothing, but he was fighting to keep the heat from rising to his cheeks, his posture becoming rigid.

“And I was just thinking about where I had seen that look on your face before, and it was when you’d look at her.”

Kaz stayed quiet for another minute, just staring at Elham, who was beginning to regret speaking up in the first place.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t--”

Kaz interrupted. “You know, you don’t walk like her.”

Elham’s face scrunched up, confused. “What?”

Kaz continued, eyes glancing over her. “She walked with confidence and her hips forward, but it was too cocky. She’s going to get herself killed, if she hasn’t already. You don’t walk like that. You walk with your knees slightly bent, like at any moment you could get into a fighting stance. And your weight pivots to whatever side you have your sword on. You walk like a Valkyrie.”

Elham knew she was blushing now, unable to hide it. She couldn’t think of a response, just staring back at him. She was growing and more insecure under his gaze, and he had picked up on it, of course he had, he always did.

He couldn’t pretend like he hadn’t thought about the earlier events of that day, the rage he felt watching the man eye Elham and talk about her like that. He felt a pit in his stomach watching her smile at the man, and fiddle with her dress. He had noticed Elham’s glances at him in the archives office, studying his face.

He couldn’t pretend like, even though he had picked one of the most outrageous outfits he could find for her to wear, that she hadn’t looked beautiful. She always looked beautiful, even with the cuts and bruises on her face from just the events of last week alone. But he had never seen her in a dress, even if it was that dress, and she was a sight to behold.

She was supposed to be the distraction for the guards, but she ended up distracting him. He hadn’t decided whether or not that was a terrible thing yet.

He looked at Elham a moment longer, sucked in a breath, and broke the silence.

“I remember Imogen. She was pretty. Would’ve been good in any gang. But she’s not here. She didn’t stick with me all those years, did she? She’s not my Valkyrie. That’s you, El.”

She felt tears prick at her eyes, and she gave him a nod, her voice shaky. “Yeah. That’s me.”

She stared a bit longer, and then broke their gaze when she heard the door open behind them, immediately getting into a stance ready to attack if need be. Inej walked through the door, Jesper following after her.

Elham cleared her throat. “Are you both alright?”

Inej nodded, sending her a smile, Jesper coming up next to her, slinging his arm around her shoulder.

“One step closer to paying you back, love.”

She laughed again. “I don’t know, Jesper, might not be enough. I may just have to settle for your company.”

“Come on, we have a heist to plan.” Kaz nodded at the Crows, motioning them to follow him off the property and back into town.

Elham took a deep breath, and Kaz turned to her, watching her collect herself, getting more comfortable again. He nodded his head towards the path once more, and she stepped in stride next to him, Jesper and Inej on the other side of her.

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A/N - hi everyone, this is a longer chapter. i'm starting to put in some elements from the books, mostly involving kaz's backstory, i hope that's ok and not too confusing for those of you who haven't read it and have only seen the show. i'm a little unsure about how to feel about this chapter, so let me know your thoughts. feel free to comment or message me with anything, and thanks for the support!