#I was told as a kid having the door closed was a fire hazard and now im told it isnt I just wanna know who lied to me??? Which is it??? | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

rxnn · 6 months ago

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Bleeding Heart [six]

warnings! tooth rotting fluff cause i wanna, mentions of stalking, mention of a gun for like 2 sentences at the very beginning (it isn't used and no one is hurt)

one, two, three, four, five

❥❥❥

...one week later

Banging at his door made Jason jump, setting his well-loved book to the side and reaching for the .45 taped to the bottom of the coffee table. It was one of many he had hidden throughout his apartment, a safety hazard, he claimed.

“Jason!” A familiar voice called through the door. “Sorry to bother you but it’s important!”

He was up in an instant, forgetting the gun, and scrambling to get to the door. As soon as his hand was on the handle, he almost ripped the door off its hinges.

“Hey,” he said, breathless, praying she didn’t hear him almost trip over his discarded boots to get to the door as quickly as possible.

Shit.

He cleared his throat. “Everything okay?”

Everything was most definitely not okay.

Leia’s hair was messily pulled away from her face, her eyes were wide and quickly becoming glassy, her hands wrung themselves out as she looked up at him.

His mind drifted as she rambled on, he caught every other word, but not the full thing. How could he when tears were collecting in her eyes, a silent plea as her lips trembled slightly. He wondered if she would look at him the same way as he –

“So can you come over?”

“What?” His ears were on fire, they had to be.

“Can you watch Cal for a few hours? I didn’t plan on getting called in today, people just didn’t show up. I promise it won’t be long, I’ll get back as soon as I can. I just –”

“I don’t mind.” Jason interrupted her, shoving down any and all thoughts that were less than appropriate for the situation at hand.

Maybe one day – no.

The woman in front of him visibly deflated, shoulders sagging. She leaned against his doorframe, looking up at him again with her pretty smile.

“You’re a lifesaver.”

Jason’s heart skipped and he smiled down at her, heart feeling like it could burst. “Anytime, sweetheart.”

Her mouth opened and closed and she cleared her throat, neither of which Jason missed, a smug sense of pride filling him. “I’ve already got dinner made, feel free to have some. Just…please make sure Cal doesn’t hurt himself.”

Jason hummed, nodding. Easy enough.

Leia pushed off the door frame and walked toward her apartment. He snatched up his keys and locked his door before following her.

“I really can’t thank you enough for this.”

“It’s not a problem. Callum’s a good kid and you need help.”

“You promise? What about your night shift you were telling me about a few days ago? The one that got you that bruise?”

Jason stiffened for a second. It was a half-truth he’d told her when she saw the large bruise on his cheek bone. With his quick healing (thank you Lazarus Pit), he hoped it would be gone by the time it was time to pick up Callum from the bus stop, but Leia had been off work that day and spotted him leaving in his civilian clothes as she came back from dropping Callum off. She had told Jason to stay put and she ran into her apartment and came back with frozen peas wrapped in a hand towel. She had offered it to him without a second thought and he took it, exhausted and sore from the night prior. Maybe it was because it came from her, maybe he was in more pain than he thought, but he sighed in relief when the pain evaporated.

“You have to take care of yourself.” She had said, hands on her hips, scolding him. He wondered if she would say the same thing to him if he came home to her every night, if she would take care of him into the early hours of the morning like she had when he’d accidentally stumbled into her room. “How did you get that anyway?”

“I’m a bouncer.” He’d blurted out the first thing that came to mind. To his surprise, Leia just nodded in understanding.

“Makes sense.” She shrugged then grinned teasingly at him. “Bet the other guy looks worse, huh?”

Jason had laughed, peas still pressed to his cheek. It had hurt to smile, but it was worth it.

“Jay? You coming?”

His heart caught in his throat at the nickname. It wasn’t the first time she’d called him that and he prayed it wouldn’t be the last.

“Of course, sweetheart.” A cheesy grin plastered on his face, wondering if she’d call him on the nicknames. She didn’t. She shifted on her feet again, holding the door open for him so he could walk in behind her.

He glanced around, taking in the space. Most of the walls seemed bare with a few boxes stacked in the corner. The walls that were decorated were full of photos of the small family, much like Leia’s room, and two large shelves that housed a few trinkets and books with worn spines. The remnants of Leia’s cooking hang in the air along with the faint scent of her perfume he’d come to adore.

The overall layout was similar to his apartment if not smaller which made him feel incredibly guilty. There were a few stuffed animals and toys scattered across the floor, a coat hanging over one of the chairs at the small table, and a few dishes in the sink, proof of Leia’s hard work.

The soft padding of feet brought him back to reality as he closed the door behind him,

“Mr. Jason!”

A little body collided with his legs, small arms wrapping around him.

“Callum, honey, lets not overwhelm–”

“It’s okay,” he waved her off and shut the door behind him then crouched in front of the boy who grinned and waved. “Hey, little man. Mama has to go to work, so why don’t you give her a hug before she has to head out?”

Callum spun on his heel and hugged his mother who was smiling fondly at the two. Jason had never seen that smile before. A type of melancholy sweetness he’d never thought existed until now. She picked Callum up, hugging him close and kissed his nose. The boy giggled and wrapped his small arms around her neck.

It was so domestic, a life Jason thought died in the warehouse. A normalcy that he would never be able to grasp. Now, he watched it stand in front of him and giggle at each other.

“Go get your stuff and head out. I’ve got this one.” He risked reaching out and gently squeezed her arm, her skin warm and soft under his calloused hands. She let him and nodded, pressing one more kiss on Callum’s head before sitting him down.

“You be good for Jason, okay?” Leia held out her pinky finger, a faux serious look on her face.

“Pinky promise!” Callum wrapped his much smaller pinky around his mother’s and shook it side to side.

Leia nodded then gestured toward the kitchen counter where a dish was covered in plastic wrap. “Sorry about the mess, but feel free to have as much as you want.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She chuckled and shook her head before walking toward what he assumed was her bedroom.

Callum took Jason’s hand (the boy’s hands were only able to grab two of his fingers) and tugged him toward the couch where a plethora of legos were scattered across the worn rug. Most times, Jason had no clue how to act around kids, but after the short walks and small meets in the hallway, it became as easy as breathing.

“What are you working on?” Jason sat on the couch, leaning forward to peer down at the small lego pieces (and make himself not look as intimidating, not that that ever mattered to Callum).

“It’s Star Wars.” Callum responded. “Can you help me do the…” he pointed at the small booklet with the instructions.

Jason chuckled, picking up the small booklet. “Was Mama helping you?”

Callum nodded, picking up two pieces and fiddling with them. “Yeah, but her phone told her she had to go to work…I don’t want her to go.”

“She’ll be back before you wake up tomorrow.” Jason tried to assure the kid.

Leia watched the two from around the corner, heart warming at the sight before her phone went off again, bringing the boy's attention over to her. She texted back, saying she was headed that way and walked over to stand beside Jason, placing a hand on his arm. Electricity shot up his arm from her palm.

“Love you, Mama!” Callum waved.

“I love you too, baby.” She turned to Jason. “Bed time is in an hour. I put his pajamas on his bed, Callum knows his routine. If something happens, you have my number.”

Jason nodded once. If she was paying more attention, Leia would have noticed how he looked at her, the silhouettes of hearts dancing around his dilated pupils.

“Have fun!” He called over as she left, her responding laugh music to his ears.

“Be good you two!”

And just like that, she shut the door behind her, her quick footsteps fading down the hall. When he could no longer hear her, Jason turned back to Callum who was fiddling with the corner of the rug, frowning as he looked at the shut door.

“Why don’t we see how much of this we can get done, yeah?” Jason tapped Callum’s head with the instructions.

The boy’s face changed immediately, grinning widely as Jason pointed out the next few steps, handing him the small pieces he needed. This went on for a while, Jason moving to sit on the floor crisscross so he could reach all the pieces easier. Honestly, it was harder than it looked. With Jason’s bigger hands it was harder to maneuver some of the pieces correctly and more than once Jason thought about throwing the instructions out the window but decided that wasn’t setting a good example for Callum.

The incessant ringing of Jason's phone broke the moment and he frowned, rolling his eyes at the name that appeared and declined it.

They'd be fine without him for one night. Plus, Jason deserved a night off.

The ringing picked up again and Jason groaned, grabbing his phone and standing.

"Sorry, kid, this guy is gonna bother me till I answer. I'll be right back."

Callum nodded; face scrunched up as he focused on finding the pieces for his portion of the step.

Jason walked over to the kitchen, answering the call with gritted teeth.

"What?"

"Where are you? We've been waiting here for an hour!" Tim, Red Robin at the moment, hissed through the speaker.

"Busy tonight. You'll be fine." Jason replied, pinching the bridge of his nose.

The one night everything was going well for him. Out of all the nights these fuckers could've borrowed him it was tonight.

"And you didn't think to tell anyone?" Tim replied, probably rolling his eyes on the other end. Jason faintly heard Damian's chattering in the background getting progressively louder.

"It's none of your business what I'm doing," Jason replied, leaning against the counter, frowning at the floor. He could feel the start of a headache building in his temples.

“I found the gray one!” Callum cheered, holding up a single gray piece they’d been looking for for the past five minutes.

“Good job, kid.” Jason chuckled, watching him connect the pieces.

"Who was that?"

Jason ended the call, tossing his phone onto the counter. He sighed, his eyes catching a painting in the corner of his vision, and he froze.

Slowly, he turned, finding a crude painting of three people. He easily recognized himself, a smile painted on the face of his character. Next to him, Callum, much shorter and then on Callum's other side was Leia, dark hair framing yet another smiling face.

Despite how it was obviously made by the young boy not paying much attention to Jason's stiff, barely breathing form.

When he finally broke out of his stupor his fingers grazed over the painting, scarred fingertips reaching to grasp the normalcy of a child's drawing.

"You draw this, kid?" Jason called over, swallowing the swell of emotions

Callum scrambled over, peering up at the painting on the fridge and grinning. "Yep!" Then, he glanced at Jason's phone and his smile wavered, and sad eyes peered up at Jason. "Are you going too?"

"No." Jason said immediately, shaking his head. "Just my...uh...brother."

How could he? Especially now, after seeing the painting Callum made. The kid painted himself, his mother and Jason. Most would just glance over the paper, finding it cute and moving on, but Jason couldn't. It was something he never knew he wanted. He hadn't thought this would ever be an option in this second chance life of his. To have a child draw you in a place of care was something Jason had yet to experience and now that he had, he didn't know if he could ever let this feeling go.

"You have a brother?" The kid gasped, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "What's that like? I told Mama once that I wanted a sibling, but she said not right now. I heard it's like having a best friend."

Jason bit back any remark about his rather...rocky relationship with his brothers and instead smiled and ruffled Callum's hair.

"It is pretty fun most of the time. Now, let's keep workin', yeah?"

"Yeah!" Callum cheered, going back over to his spot, sitting crisscross on the rug.

Jason chuckled and looked over at the painting one more time, ingraining it in his mind, memorizing the beady eyes and wobbly smiles, the reds, blues, and yellows of their shirts, the sky, and the sun. A beautiful ideal of everything Jason had ever wanted, but never thought he could grasp.

He shook his head and moved to sit down too, careful to not step on the small Lego pieces scattered across the floor.

As they continued, Callum quizzed Jason: what’s your favorite color, who’s your favorite hero (his was Flash which made Jason laugh), what do you do for fun. Jason was as honest as he could be, leaving out a particular violent hobby that originally let him meet the boy’s mother.

“Mama likes reading too,” Callum pointed to the large bookshelves. “She used to read a lot while Auntie Matilda painted.”

“Auntie?” Jason paused putting together the pieces.

“Yeah, she went away after the crash. Mama says she’s in a better place, but we can’t see her anymore.” Callum teared up then, looking toward a picture on the wall depicting another woman with blue and pink hair split down the middle. She was beside Leia who was holding what he assumed was baby Callum wrapped in a green blanket.

Callum sniffled, rubbing at his eyes.

“Hey,” Jason suddenly felt guilty, scrambling to stop Callum from crying. He’d never seen the kid cry so seeing the tears falling down his small face made him panic. “Your mom was right, y’know?”

Callum looked up, bottom lip trembling. “But I miss her.”

“I know, bud. But you’ll be okay. She wouldn’t want you to be sad, right?”

The boy sniffled again then leaned his head on Jason’s arm and he went stiff, not sure how to proceed. He didn’t mind that the boy’s tears stained his shirt, no, he could care less.

“Thank you, Mr. Jason.”

“Anytime, kid. Why don’t you go get ready for bed?”

Callum whined and gripped Jason’s shirt.

“Can I not stay up a little longer? Please?”

“Nice try, but you know what your mom said and I don’t think she’d be too happy to find you awake when she gets back.” If Leia hadn’t given him strict instructions, he would’ve bent to the kid’s will immediately, but the last thing he wanted to do was test Leia’s trust in him that tonight showed. He wanted to prove that she could rely on him.

Callum groaned dramatically but relented and got up, going to his room. Jason kept his ears peeled for any sign of Callum getting hurt. While listening, he cleaned up the legos, putting their half finished project on the coffee table and putting the small pieces back in their bags then into the box.

“Mr. Jason!”

Callum’s shout made Jason rush toward the boy’s room.

“Everything alright?” He looked into the room, quickly scanning for intruders then Callum for injuries. Instead, he found Callum sitting in bed, grinning up at him.

“Can you tuck me in? Mama always does it.”

Jason sighed heavily, shoulders sagging just a little. “Sure, little man. And you can just call me Jason.” He winked at Callum who giggled as Jason pulled the baby blue covers over the pajama clad boy.

“Okay! Good night, Jason.”

“Night, kid. I’ll be here till your mom gets home, yeah?”

Callum nodded, yawning and snuggling further into his blankets that Jason had just tucked him into per the kid’s request. Jason was honestly a little surprised the boy went down so easily, having heard about how kids his age were little monsters but Callum was the furthest from it. Sure, he had his moments, but he was a child so that was expected. He credited it to Leia’s parenting.

Jason walked out, closing the door softly behind him. The temptation to wander into the room adjacent to Callum’s was beyond strong. It tugged at his conscience, what he knew would be a direct violation of her trust…but it was right there.

Before he could give in, he walked into the living room, curiously picking up a book that was on the corner of the couch. There was a bookmark made from a receipt from a local coffee shop that Jason took note of. It was halfway finished, not Jason’s usual pick, a fantasy novel judging by the cover, but he was desperate to have something in common with her. To be able to talk about this book whether Leia enjoyed it, her favorite character, chapter, anything.

He sat there for two more hours, keeping his ears peeled for Callum, but it was otherwise peaceful, calm. The silence was different from his lonely apartment. Their place was whole, warm and inviting while his was bare as bones, the home of a ghost. He clung to this feeling, hearing the shuffling of feet outside the door, he tucked the book back where it was, having gotten a little past Leia’s bookmark.

He stood, hearing the door creak open. And there she was, exhausted, but beautiful as ever. He walked over, footsteps light but enough shuffle so she could hear him approach.

“It’s me,” Leia called in softly, shutting the door behind her. She kicked off her shoes and tossed her bag to the side, smiling sleepily at him with her eyes half closed and hair messy.

“Hi,” he said, peering down at her. “Callum is asleep.”

“Thank you, really, it means a lot. You’ve done so much for us these past few weeks, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you.”

Her confession made his heart soar, but was overtaken by confusion when she pulled out her wallet, grabbing two twenties.

“Stop.” Jason rushed to put his hand over hers, stopping her from trying to pay him. He had more than enough access to money so taking anything from Leia, especially this, left a gross taste in his mouth.

Leia looked up at him with wide, confused eyes. She tried to push against his hand, but he gripped it just tight enough to keep it in place, pressing the money back in before tossing her wallet back into her purse with shocking accuracy. “Then how am I supposed to pay you back?”

Jason had no clue where the confidence came from, but the words came out so quickly, he couldn’t stop them.

“Maybe you could repay me with a date?”

The silence was heavy and thick, but then a smile broke out onto Leia’s face and Jason could’ve kissed her when she responded.

“I’d love that.”

Unbeknownst to both parties that were too in their moment of giddy smiles and warmth to notice the hints of a storm rising over the city’s horizon. A shadow growing in the distance took the form of Gotham’s protector. It peered through the window, curious as to why the Red Hood was absent, only to find him clinging to a civilian like she was the last good thing in the world. Maybe to him, the bloodied vigilante, she was.

Poor thing, the sun whimpered as it disappeared behind the clouds.

❥

“Where was Hood tonight?”

“He said it was something important but I thought I heard —“ Tim caught himself, brain too fuzzy to think of much else than getting in bed but was awake enough to remember that he wasn’t supposed to know what Callum sounded like.

“Heard what?” Nightwing – now back to Dick Grayson asked, raising a brow at his younger brother.

For once in his life, Tim cursed his inability to rest seeing as now it left him scrambling for an answer.

“He’s with Leia isn’t he?”

“What?” Tim sputtered, not missing how casually Dick leaned against one of the stone walls, crossing his arms.

“C’mon, Timmy. I’m not blind.”

Tim’s lips pressed into a thin line and he prepared himself for a lecture. Instead, Dick smiled kindly at him and nodded toward the almost too large computer dutifully named the BatComputer.

“So…you gonna share with the class or am I gonna have to sort through your shit myself?”

“As if you could get through half of it.” Tim snorted, glancing around to make sure Bruce and Damian had gone away for the night, leaving just the two of them in the Cave.

Dick shrugged, pushing off the wall to stand behind him. “Fair point, but it’d be easier to compare notes, right?”

Tim chuckled, beginning to type in his many passwords to open his treasure trove of notes and know-it-alls. He wouldn’t show Dick everything, no, Tim was going to be a little selfish, but Dick was right: it was better to compare notes and learn more. Afterall, Dick had already met her and was as observant as any other trained Robin. There was only so much Tim could see – feel from behind a screen.

So, still weary, he pulled up the first, much less in depth version on a smaller screen in front of him, allowing Dick to pour over the information.

“Thorough as always, Timmy,” Dick muttered as he scanned it.

“You’re not…usually you get onto me for this type of stuff.”

Dick hummed. “Well not this time. First, we’re both worried about Jason especially since he likes her enough to skip patrol.” Tim could’ve sworn Dick’s jaw clenched, but it was gone in a millisecond. “Second, she’s a curious thing, nothing wrong with a little background check. And third, well, if anything this is just keeping her and her son safe.”

Little…right…that’s what all the document Dick was looking at had. 'Just a little background check' his ass, but Tim perked up when Dick mentioned they were just keeping them safe. He was glad he wasn’t alone in that thought.

It’s to keep them safe, they told themselves over and over and over again.

“Right…now spill.”

Uhhh sorry I dropped off for a sec there y'all my bad.

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gleeful-northwest-fam · 2 months ago

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New (old) Drabble for y'all to enjoy (I made this a while back. Just happens to feel. Relevant :3)

— Mod 🥀

"You should talk t' her, ya know?"

The voice pulled him out of the apparent trance he had been in.

"About what, exactly?"

"You know exactly about what, ya pompous butt!" Bud shoved an accusatory finger into his shoulder. He still wasn't used to seeing him be so conscious of the language he used.

There were a lot of things Preston wasn't used to yet. Technology managed to baffle him despite his experience, the sheer amount of people that now visited his home daily made him want to tear his hair out, and he couldn't shake the feeling that Melody was an anomaly magnet. But the biggest, must elusive part of his new life was the little girl that was right now chatting up a storm with two other children

Pacifica Northwest. His one and only daughter.

In retrospect, Priscilla may have left a clue or two that that's what she wanted then to talk about- but those fell on ears deafened by paranoia and guilt, and as such he spent the last 13 years believing that there was no one to go back to, no one to miss him, only his step brother who most likely still hated him. Yet there was someone who he never, waiting patiently for his return, a complete stranger he had fallen utterly enamored with the moment he saw her

The kid was adorable in all senses of the word, lightening up every room she was in (literally, he was sure that jacket was a fire hazard), having some joke or quip for every occasion, and with a mind so fast and volitile he could barely keep up. He wants to know so much more about her, make up for the lost time, but...

Preston shook head and returned to the task at hand of securing the sentient carnivorous plant that had sneaked in without any of the kids knowing "I don't think it'd be a good idea"

"What?!"

"Hush! I just don't think is a matter worth pressing"

"Worth- Preston, that's your kid! She's missed you!"

"She can't miss me, I wasn't there"

The grimace in his brother's face made him realize how his words had come off and before Bud could start a shouting match, he cleared his throat

"No- it's not that is just- look at her! She has friends and charisma-"

"So?"

"And is avoiding me-"

"She's not avoiding ya, you're the one all closed up in that lab"

"Even when I'm not, I can't seem to connect with her. Isn't it better to not force it?"

"Oh but when ut comes to my boy..." he muttered, and Preston found the right excuse to turn around and press the digits into the keyboard of the vending machine

"Is this what this is all about? I never asked Gideon to come follow me- though I am proud of him for doing so. Arent you the one who told me to stay away from them?"

"Don't go changin' the subject now"

"You're not listening, are you? No, you never do. She doesn't need me , Bud. She's spent 12 years without me, and is doing better than I ever did at her age. I don't doubt my disappearance may have affected her, but the evidence is in our faces. Trying to form a relationship now- all it is likely to do is to open that wound for her. No, I... I shall keep my distance"

He walked down the stairs, holding onto the metal cage with more force than was necessary.

After a few seconds, hurried pair of footsteps joined his own "So ya just gonna give up like that? Don't you wanna be her dad now?!"

He stepped into elevator, hesitating for just an instant before pressing down, facing his step brother as the doors started to close, knowing he wouldn't get there in time

"I never said that."

#preston northwest #pacifica northwest #bud gleeful #gravity falls #reverse falls #short oneshot #my writing #ash n roses writing #don't you just love it when character's self hate end up hurting those they love the most?

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lightblueminecraftorchid · 1 year ago

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Wednesday, June 27th, 2023:

EPA app this morning said that the AQR was 366; firmly in the hazardous zone. When I went to bed last night, it was 240. Thankfully it’s back in the 200s range. Mom’s going out to buy a better our filter, because ours is only rated at 12, and the air quality alert in our weather app recommends a 13. Heaven if I know what that means.

Yesterday, the world was blanketed in a thick haze. The sun was up, but it seemed like a thick fog all day, except it smelled weird and metallic and smoky. I drove on the freeway to a babysitting job and found that I could barely see two miles in front of me.

My throat hurts a bit every time I swallow, but that’s been true for weeks. Par for the course.

In fun news, our school also had a COVID outbreak, so the KN95 mask my coworker gave me is doing two jobs at once. My rapid test this morning was negative (thankfully), and I don’t work in the classroom where the outbreak was, so I’m praying I don’t get sick. Both lead teachers plan on calling off tomorrow and Friday; I’m scared of how hectic it’s going to be without them. Also, one of our students’ parents is buying us an AC unit (and possibly an air filter) because we don’t have one yet. The poor kids have been sweaty and miserable while we keep the windows shut to keep the smoke out. At least we have fans.

The front screen door at home is broken and won’t close all the way, so we have to close the door properly. Nobody remembers to. Dad “doesn’t believe in all this smoke nonsense”, and does his work from home on the porch anyway. I don’t know how he does it. Mom is scared one of us is going to get seriously sick from the air; she and I mask every time we go outside.

We still have to let the dog out for the bathroom. I hope she doesn’t get sick, either.

Despite being told not to go outside yesterday or today, I have to keep on going to work. Can’t afford not to. I’m surprised they haven’t closed. We’ve had lot of rain lately, but the grass is still kinda dry; I wonder if we’ll even be legally able to use fireworks this year. Might have a muted 4th of July, not that we were planning to do much anyway. I’ll have the Monday and Tuesday off of work tho.

When I left for work at 7:45AM, the sun was hazy and orange against a grey sky. Now it’s mostly normal. Hope it stays that way.

I hate fire season. I hope the fires in Canada go out soon. And that we can get some gosh dang climate preservation methods before the fires don’t go out.

#Canada wildfires #US wildfires #smoke #air quality #for posterity

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stoptellinglieslois · 1 year ago

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Love fair Act 28

Vampire fanficftion Clark Kent human x Richard Grayson vampire no capes or tights but fangs or might.

Clark pov

We didn't open the door yet the two guards are still holding me as I am playing possum. "Don't open the door yet I have a plan just all of you fall back." I told them I did feel something like lightning inside of me I started to levitate off the floor.

I squeezed my hand into fist and the door was locked up where this magic is coming from my only guess is the Zeus ring. "Holy shit Clark." Richard hazard.

I pulled a Carrie. From the inside of the room as courtesans are being pelted with objects. As I am a few feet off the ground even from behind the door I scanned the souls of the people to find Thalia and I did.

Beside her is Bruce this won't take long as pandemonium is happening inside the room. It's like an invisible string I pulled on it and I knew it was Thalia she fell to the floor like a rag doll she is at my mercy now.

I was in so much pain my back felt like it was on fire I gave that pain to Thalia ten times fold, I threw the invisible string tugging at her whatever force let me bend and break her bones.

I heard a cruel cry of agony from inside the room I have dismantled her strength and that's when I opened the door.

Still levitating I glided towards the couple as people panicked as they saw me. Richard and Thomas are not far behind me. "Thalia look at what you've done now where is Al Ghul." Bruce gasp not understanding what is happening.

"Fine won't talk Thalia you will spend the rest of your days demented in the underworld." The dagger up my sleeve took flight on it's own and slit Thalia throat blood splutter out screams of murder echoed the room.

I was controlling the dagger it was all me the poisonous dagger floated menacingly towards Bruce. "Clark no please don't kill him." Richard grabbed my arm tugging for us to exit.

I ignored him for now but I didn't pull my arm away. "Did you try to kill Joseph Bruce." Shock his eyes went wide icy blue eyes penetrated mine, He looked at me more closely and understanding now who he was looking at something about him but there was no time to study it at this moment.

"No." Bruce answer.

"Don't lie to me." I motion the poison dagger closer to his eyes I could even smell the poison on the wicked steel.

"I never tried to kill you." He answers again he is scared but there is something else in this man I couldn't pin point what it was. "Don't lie to him boy." Thomas interjected at Bruce. "I swear I never tried to kill you." Bruce said walking towards Thalia.

"Step the fuck away from the evil you fool look what you've done to your kids to me. If I could I would kill both you and that bitch" Thomas in his anger clutched his heart shit !

"Grandfather oh god." Thomas slumped to the floor. "You've killed her it's good enough." Thomas says to Richard holding him he is still clutching his heart.

"It's time for you and him to go back and get Raz now she won't be coming back for both of you anymore." Thomas said and looked at me. "This is how I died anyways knowing my good for nothing son turned him and Jason into werewolf. Please watch over yourself your good boys." His eyes closed he was gone.

My anger boiled inside of me the dagger still floating went through the window and shatter the stained glass. "If I ever come here again or in the future for any affair about Al Ghul I will kill you by association." I threaten Bruce his face an expression of sheer ruined.

I started to faze in and out of this time frame as me and Richard started to be pulled in and out of consciousness. As I looked one last time to Bruce who is a mess on the floor clutching his father's dead body tightly.

I woke up feeling stiff and my body felt awkward and disoriented. It needed time to adjust to the feeling of being alive wow ! That means I was about to be truly dead.

I looked around and found the others watching me Richard came closer to my face.

"Good you're up." Tone Stark said it had a bicker in his hand with a blue liquid inside of it. "Zatanna woke up sooner then you guys we were worried that you wouldn't come to. She helped me wake you guys up it looks like something happened to Thalia the spell she cast disintegrated before our eyes." Tony's tone voice sounded a bit suspicious.

"I killed her and threw her soul into the underworld." I explained holding my head I felt dizzy a headache was about to start if I kept talking.

"Great then it's over." Stark sounded relieved looking at Steve.

"I hope her father's dead in a ditch somewhere otherwise it's done." I told them the room felt lighter as I reassured them.

I am here in the present day and I made such a impact in the past I wonder what the future would hold.

The end act 28 next is act 29

Thank you for reading

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swagsauce23 · 3 years ago

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firework go boom boom boom! | isabela madrigal

Pairing: Isabela Madrigal x Pyrotechnician!Reader Summary: The 3 times Isabela Madrigal encountered the hazardous, awkward and fire prone Reader. Word Count: 10k (bro i swear i got possessed by shakespeare or something wtf i didnt think it was this long) Content Includes: Light Swearing, my lackluster knowledge of fireworks and gender neutral reader (i switch back and forth between masc and fem words) Althor's Note: hi i haven't written in a long time so this might end up awful even though its so long (my love for isabela madrigal is so insane that i just HAD to do something about it so this is very self indulgent HAHA, some chars might be a little bit ooc so many sorries for that) there's some wholesome interactions here and there with the other madrigals, id also like to say im not columbian, so if there's anything wrong with this, please tell me! thanks! :)

Number one,

You carefully put your hand on the doorknob, turning back to where your sister and your mother are, preparing the food for lunch. "Mami, I'm going out to get my arms healed. Do you need anything?" You asked.

"Ah, no. Just make sure to come home safe, mi hijo." She answers, not looking up from boiling pot on the stove.

"I forgot the fireworks for Antonio's ceremony, mind getting them for me?" Your sister looks up at you as you give her an unamused expression. "¿Por favor?" She pleads. You sigh, before shaking your head. "You owe me!" You shout at her as you open the door to go outside. "Gracias, hermana!" She thanks you as you close the door behind you.

You make your way down town, where all the hustle and bustle is as the sun shines brightly on you. From Tia Julieta's little stand for her magical Arepa con Queso that can pretty much heal anything, to your own family's stand, where all sorts of firecrackers, fireworks, and other.. fire-y things.

The latter may or may not have exploded just a tiny bit the day before.. Nearly taking your fingers off from your hands when you were trying to show the kids the sparklers you made, which caused a firecracker to accidentally explode and resulted to the 3rd degree burns under your bandaged arms. It hurt just as much as the times your mami throws a slipper at you for whatever stupid thing you've done but you were glad that no one else got badly injured.

That being said, you continued to make your way to Julieta Madrigal's stand where, as usual, the long line of people is. You sighed impatiently, looking around before seeing Mirabel, smiling as you approached her.

"MIRABEL THE MIRACLE!" You shout at her direction, grabbing her attention as she turns back to look at you with a groan (Although there's a smile present on her face.)

"That nickname is absolutely horrible! I told you to stop calling me that." She scolds you playfully, you only grin at her as you appear at her side while she assorts different fabrics on the table in front of her.

"Well, it's true, isn't it? Mirabel the Miracle, always helping the people of Encanto. Mirabel the Miracle, makes the best stuffed toys I've ever seen my whole life! Mirabel the Miracle-"

"Okay- okay! You can stop now."

"I'm serious, your name even rhymes with miracle! It fits you." You say encouragingly with a small smile. She returns it with one of her own, (You don’t mention the slight downward tilt it has.) before her eyes drift downward to your bandaged arms.

"Jeez, you haven't checked that out with my mom yet?" Mirabel changes the subject as she asks you with concern, you only shrug.

A girl appears at your side, before the said girl transforming into Camilo.

"I believe those are the consequences of your actions." He teases you with a smirk on his face. You roll your eyes, "Did your sister tell you? Oh, who am I kidding, I pretty much embarrassed myself in front of the whole town." You sigh as you run a hand down your face.

"I think you should be more concerned with those injuries you have, you should really check that out." Mirabel says, scrutinizing the burns that aren't covered by the bandages on your arms.

You sigh dramatically, putting a hand on your forehead. "But my pride, Mirabel! The people of Encanto will now think of me as an idiota!" You exclaim haphazardly.

Camilo laughs loudly, "It'll never beat that one time with the amazing fireworks you made for my birthday." He says, pointing at you.

You and Mirabel processed his words, before Mirabel lets out a groan at remembering the horrible memory he brought up.

"Amazing? More like disastrous! It was horrifying!" She says with a laugh of her own.

"Wait, is that the one with the donkey scented fireworks-"

"Yes! Truly an unforgettable memory!" Camilo laughs even louder as he starts to remember more about what happened.

"Okay- wait! I don't think I should be the one being blamed for this, you were the one begging for those, I didn't even know how to scent fireworks!" You say as you try to put the blame on him, but he only laughs louder.

"And that was when you decided to put powdered donkey manure into the fireworks! I don't even know why you thought following Camilo was a good idea." Mirabel says as she points a finger at you, she begins laughing even harder at the horrible event. You cringe when you start remembering what happened.

"Well, I guess I wasn't thinking clearly. Also, I don't think it smelled that bad. I mean, the smoke seemed to cover most of it up." You tried to explain yourself but you were inevitably drowned out by the sounds of Mirabel and Camilo's laughing.

"Dios mio, Isabela had to cover the entire village with flowers for weeks!" Camilo says once he calms down from his laughing fit, you only groan louder at the embarrassing situation.

"And speak of the devil-"

As you were trying to get over the humiliation that was coursing through your body. Isabela Madrigal appeared on the center of the plaza, sprouting perfect flowers everywhere (to Mirabel's displeasure) as she slowly approaches the three of you.

"If it seems like I'm going to do anything irrational, please stop me." Mirabel says as grips your shoulder for mental stability.

"Sure, anything for my favorite Madrigal." You chuckle at her words as you put an arm around her, pulling her closer.

"I thought I was your favorite?" Camilo turns to you with a slight pout, you smile sheepishly at him before carefully putting another arm around him as well.

"Well, all of the Madrigals are my favorites." You say, both of the younger Madrigals groaning at how cheesy you are, just as Isabela stops in front the three of you.

"That includes me, right?" Isabela says jokingly, you raise your eyebrows as if to say 'Obviously.' with a small smile.

"Isa." Mirabel says, Isabel's eyes drift towards her.

"Sis."

"Adios, amigo." Camilo says as he senses the tension, removing your arm around him as he waves you goodbye as to go to who knows where.

You give him a small wave goodbye, looking between the 2 Madrigal sisters as they participate in an intense staring contest.

"Isabela, enjoying the lovely weather?" You say, cutting the tension with a knife. Isabela looks over to you, her eyebrows raising as she gives you a small smile.

"Mhm, Tia Pepa is excited as you can see, she's also very glad to hear Camilo not causing any trouble." She glances behind her to see Camilo playing with the children, before turning back to you. "It's nice seeing you around here, as well as accompanying my sister.." She says, teasing Mirabel and you can only pull her closer, making her groan in embarrassment.

"Of course. It's an absolute honor to be with her, Mirabel the Miracle. It's, also, an absolute pleasure to see you again." You put your hand up for a handshake, not missing the chance to tease Mirabel as she lets out another groan.

An amused smile appears on Isabela's face as she takes your hand, her eyes scanning the bandages around your arms. "Do you remember the donkey incident on Camilo's birthday? This person is the cause of that." Mirabel teases you back as she shoves your arm away from her shoulder.

"Mirabel!" You slap her shoulder weakly in retaliation as your cheeks grew hot from being embarrassed in front of her sister, causing you to release your hand from Isabela's.

Isabela lets out a small snort, immediately covering half of her face with her hand. You and Mirabel look at her with wide eyes. The silence is suddenly in the air, Isabela fake-coughs behind her hand, followed by a small 'ahem.'

"Right. Uh, Mirabel, Mamá needs help restocking the food." Isabela says. Mirabel raises an eyebrow at this, "You sure I'm the only one who's getting called?" She questions her suspiciously.

Isabela rolls her eyes, "I'll help too." She mutters quietly. A small smirk appears on Mirabel's face.

You quickly looked over at the place where Tia Julieta's stand is, seeing it empty with no people lining up at all. You looked over back to Mirabel and Isabela. "I’ll come with you, I need to treat these arms after all." You say, raising your arms slightly.

"Oh, right! We need you patched up. Let's go!" Mirabel says, grabbing your arm as she drags you towards her house. You wince at the contact, "Mirabel, easy on the arm, it's as weak as my will to live!" you joke as she loosens her grip on you.

"Perdón, just needed to get myself away from her before my will to live gets even weaker than yours." She sighs.

"Her? Your sister?" You ask, Mirabel gives you a look that says 'Who else?' You hum, looking back to see Isabela just trailing behind the two of you. She looks around the town before being stopped by a little boy tugging on her dress. She pauses for a moment, grabbing a flower from her hair to put in the little boy's. She gives him a small smile, he giggles before he says goodbye to her, running off to somewhere else.

"Just look at her, ay, she cuts my lifespan by 50%." Mirabel grumbles to you, you chuckle. "That's a little over the top, Isabela seems all right." You say, admiring Isabela as she gives more flowers to another person who approached her.

You're fully aware of Mirabel's detest of her older sister. You don't know her sister well, so you assumed it was because of sibling rivalry, or maybe jealousy. The normal sibling thing, but as you got to know the young Madrigal more, it was clear that it was something deeper and quite unhealthy. You've tried asking Mirabel about it in hopes that you can help, but it always ends up with you stuck in her room as she goes on about how much she despises her sister and how much her sister despises her. You're more than glad to indulge in her antics.

"Sure, but that's what she wants you to think! In truth, she's actually just "Señorita Perfecta Isabela." She continues grumbling and you can only laugh at the nickname she gave her.

"I think you're being a little too harsh on her, Mirabel." You look at her, slowly lifting your arm to put your chin in between your thumb and your index finger. "Don't tell me you're a part of the Isabela fan club!" Mirabel exclaims in shock. "There's a fan club?" You ask in surprise. Mirabel nods as another groan comes out of her.

"Well, come on, think of it like this!" You start, "You remember.. the fireworks I made for Camilo, right?" you ask, before shaking your head as Mirabel lets out a loud laugh. "Whatever! They weren't all that pretty when you first looked at them right?" You ask her,

"Well, I mean they were practically covered and smelled like horrible-" You shush her from saying any further, "Okay- okay, yes, but," You raise a finger, "When I lit it up, it flew into the sky, and boom! Beautiful- no, their true colors appeared!" You say, exaggerating your statement as you wave your hand in the air. You look back at Mirabel who has her arms crossed against her chest, with one eyebrow raised.

"I'm just saying, if you somehow find out how to light a spark with your sister, you'll know who she truly is." You say with a smile on your face as you nudged her arm with yours.

"Or, she'll just appear as total shit!"

"Mirabel!"

Isabela waves goodbye to the lady that came up to her, turning around to find you and Mirabel.. fighting? She's confused as she walks closer to the two of you, she can hear words like "Don't be so mean to her-" "She's mean to me, it's a mutually mean relationship!" Both of your hands were flailing around and eventually you and Mirabel giggled at the absurdity of the situation.

Isabela can see how you practically glow with her sister, that she can't help a small smile sneak onto her face at the sight.

"Oh, Isabela, the weather is beautiful but not as beautiful as you." A voice, similar to yours appears right beside Isabela, whispering right against her ear. She turns around to see your copycat. She rolls her eyes before lightly slapping Camilo in the face with her flowers, some of them ending up in his mouth.

He transforms back as he coughs the petals out. "You like them." He points at Isabela accusingly. Isabela rises a brow, slapping his hand out of her face, "Sure." She says sarcastically before making her way towards you and Mirabel, with Camilo trailing behind.

"I have never seen you talk or even look at someone like that." He teases his cousin, poking the back of her shoulder repeatedly. Isabela can only shoo him away, used to his antics that's made for annoying her.

"Isabela!" you call out to her, noticing her presence. She gives you a small wave as she nods at you, choosing to ignore Camilo's shit-eating grin as he runs past her.

"Hurry up, slowpoke! We can't wait for you all day while you do your perfect flowery- flower thing!"

Isabela scoffs and rolls her eyes as Mirabel drags you away, Camilo looking back at her with his eyebrows wiggling up and down.

"MIRABEL, MY ARM!"

The four of you shortly arrived in the Madrigal Home, where Mirabel quickly pushed you inside the kitchen where her mother is, Camilo and Isabela entering shortly after.

Julieta spins around upon hearing the footsteps stopping in the room, to find your very badly bandaged arms as she lets out a small laugh. "Go lean on the counter, I'm working on the last batch of arepas." She says kindly, turning back around as the four of you shuffle around the room. Camilo immediately going to the baskets on the tables that seem to have more arepas in them.

"Cause of injury, firework explosion. I thought they already went to you, mom. Turns out they haven't." Mirabel exclaims, lightly scolding as you get comfortable on the kitchen counter behind you.

"I keep telling you to be more careful. You remind me of my husband, except it seems that you get yourself in more dangerous situations than him." Julieta teases you with a laugh, making you squirm as Camilo and Isabela tries to not laugh at your predicament.

"Good thing dad isn't here. It'd be double the trouble." Mirabel says to her mother, making both of them laugh louder.

Suddenly, Camilo runs out of the room at lightning speed, grabbing all your attention with him. Isabela only looks at Mirabel and sighs, "He stole the arepas." She says, used to his troublemaking schemes.

"CAMILO!" Mirabel shouts as she dashes out of the room to chase him, you can hear shouting and running outside the kitchen before a large crash blows throughout the whole house.

Julieta shakes her head with a smile before grabbing 2 arepas from the baskets, walking outside before stopping to look at Isabela. "Isa, please finish that batch for me, and help them out with their arm. Gracias." She says one last time, leaving you and Isabela in the kitchen.

Isabela turns to look at you and gives a you an awkward smile, approaching the kitchen counter where her mother was filling the dough with cheese, continuing her duty as you quietly watched her.

"You should unwrap those bandages, I can see Mama cringe at how horrible you did it." Isabela says, nodding her head towards your arms. You look at them and back up at her, "I thought I did a good job." You say with an awkward chuckle as you slowly began unwrapping them just as she said.

"No wonder you and Mirabel get along. You both cause so much trouble." She says, and you can't tell if she's scolding you or teasing you.

"Well, I don't think Mirabel does on purpose. She's way too sweet and hard on herself. Even if she does end up causing a ruckus, it's probably because she's clumsy in that charming Mirabel way of hers." You start, "One time, she stepped on my toe, and we weren't even dancing together. We ended up making all the other dancers fall." You recall as you rub your neck embarrassingly at the memory. Isabela lets out a small laugh as she continues moving on with filling another arepa with cheese.

"That's something you two would definitely do. I'm not even surprised." She says, giving you a teasing smile.

"I wish she'd learn a thing or two from her beautiful, older sister, if not for me then at least for her future dance partners' sake." You say, returning her smile with a chuckle. (You didn't notice how her face flushed from the praise.)

"If only." She nods, agreeing with you. "But we don't talk to each other. Not that we want to anyway." Isabela says, focusing her attention back on the arepas.

"I guess you're aware how much Mirabel badmouths and shades you, for good reason or not, but I can guarantee that she's always admired you in a weird way." You say softly, gauging her reaction to see if this is something that she's comfortable talking about.

Isabela looks up at you, with a questionable look on her face. "Hm, how do you know that?" She asks, curious to know more about what her sister has said to you about her.

"It's usually only on very, very rare occasions. But, when she does talk about you in a positive light, she goes on tangents about how can you be so graceful and perfect, you know, how silky smooth your hair is!" You lightly tease her, taking a piece of your hair and twirling it around your finger. Isabela scoffs at the action as another smile sneaks on her face.

"I extremely doubt that."

"I'm not kidding, plus I have a younger sister, I think I'm more than an expert on this subject." You say, but Isabela only raises her eyebrows more at you.

"Did you also forget that I've been her babysitter ever since her 5th birthday?" You continue, not wanting to recall the reason behind how 8-year-old you found Mirabel, far from the fireworks that still blasted to the sky, despite what happened that night. You shake your head at the thought as Isabela hums while nodding.

"Well, point is, she talks about you a lot, negatively or positively. Sometimes all I hear is "Isabela this," "Isabela that," all day. Either way, it all comes from her sisterly love." You say, slightly teasing her. Isabela gives you a soft smile, a little happy that her little sister thinks of her in a good light somewhat.

"You should, I don't know, probably go easier on her, or something. It'd just suck if two of my favorite Madrigals are forever arch-enemies." You say with an awkward chuckle, but you got your message across.

Isabela listens to your words carefully, she's relieved that her baby sister thinks of her like that, yet guilt pools inside of her. The only times they haven't been actively hostile to each other is when you're around. Sparkly you, always trying to relieve the tension between them by bringing up an embarrassing story about Mirabel that Isabela wouldn't know in any other way, then Mirabel would counter that with another story about how you completely humiliate yourself once again. Now that she's thinking about it, Isabela has always admired how you're so carefree, in that charming way of yours. She's even a little envious every time her sister talks about you, maybe it's because she wants to be like you, or be with you. (Wait, what does that mean?)

Speaking of her sister...

Isabela shakes her head to ignore your last words, "That's funny, because all I hear from her is how great you are." she says, "Me? Great?" You ask, and Isabela nods to confirm, you shake your head in disbelief. "Didn't you just say that you don't talk to each other?"

"Well, it's more so her talking about you to mam��, as you just experienced." She explains, you nod. "Usually about how you dislocated your hand or how you single-handedly entertained all the kids." She continues, ignoring how you smiled at her with a sheepish grin from what she said, "Sometimes she says stories from your past, sometimes along the lines of how you let her light the fireworks at 5 years old, which was a very dangerous thing to do, by the way." She laughs as your eyes widen, "Snitch." You mutter quietly, she laughs louder at that.

"Don't worry, mamá loves you. Me too, even. You've always been nice to my family." Isabela says, and you fidget with the ends of your bandages at her words. "And I'm glad you can put my little sister on a leash when she goes too far." she adds, and you burst out laughing at the remark.

Your laughter was short-lived when your arm bumped hard against the island countertop, making you grimace in pain. Isabela quickly stopped what she was doing as she shoves an arepa from one of the baskets in your mouth. You gave her a nod as thanks while you covered your mouth with a hand to prevent any crumbs from coming out.

You continue chewing as Isabela looks at with you with concern, you give her a thumbs up as your arms began to slowly itself and she gives you a relieved smile before finishing the last batch of the arepas.

Mirabel comes back with her hand pinching Camilo's ear as she drags him back in the kitchen, forcing him to drop the arepas he stole back in the baskets.

"Where's mamá?" Isabela turns to her sister as she lightly scolds Camilo. "She's helping Tia Pepa calm down." Mirabel says deadpan, turning to look at her and turning back to see Camilo grin sheepishly.

You laugh at the Madrigals in front of you in amusement, stretching your arms as they seem to be fully healed. "Well, I'm going to go, now." You announce, their attention going to you.

"So soon?" Isabela says, and Mirabel looks at her with a suspicious expression.

"Unfortunately, I'd love to be in your company for a little while longer but I have a lot of things to prepare for, chores to do." You say, giving her a smile as you make your way towards the exit in the kitchen, "It was a delight to be with you guys and Camilo, don't cause trouble." You tease him, and he only shrugs with a smile.

"I'll see you guys later tonight. Thank you for the arepa, Isabela!" You bid goodbye with a wave as you race out of the house.

"What did you guys talk about?" Camilo turns to Isabela as soon as you're out of sight.

Isabela throws an arepa at his face.

❀

Number two,

You stood in a corner of the room, just looking around with wonder as your mother and sister engage in conversation with the other guests in Antonio's new room, just shortly after when he received his new gift.

The music was bouncing through the air, making the room so lively that the people around you started dragging their partners to dance along with. Soon enough, you made your way through the crowd to get outside— right before bumping into someone, nearly making both of you stumble to the ground.

"Hey! Watch where you're going-" They said, their voice tinted with annoyance, and you looked up to see Isabela's eyes meet yours.

"Ah! Isabela, sorry! I didn't mean to bump in to you." You apologized to her as you brushed off the non-existent dust on your legs.

"Oh, no, it's okay. It's no big deal." She said, shaking her hand to dismiss you. You gave her a small smile as you patiently waited for her to move away from the door that led to the rest of the Madrigal Residence.

"Sorry- were you trying to, uh, get outside?" She asked awkwardly, pointing the door behind her with both of her thumbs.

"Yes, outside." you said as you let out a quiet chuckle, she shuffled out of the way adorably, letting you go out first, following behind you shortly after.

You looked at her with slight confusion as she tries to avoid eye contact with you, looking at the other direction as both of you leaned onto the blue railing her home had on the second floor.

"So," she starts, "What are you doing out here? I mean, the party's inside there, you know." she asks, tilting her head towards Antonio's open door.

"I wanted to get fresh air," You pause, "which is kind of ironic because Antonio's room is quite literally an entire jungle and you know, there's a lot of plants and trees in there and photosynthesis and they release a lot of oxygen, so there's already a ton of fresh air in there-" you paused to catch your breath, "I mean, it's already sort of insane how a huge jungle can fit in there. Also, Antonio can talk to animals! That's insane." You exclaimed.

"You're acting as if our entire family doesn't have magical gifts." Isabela says with a small tease to her voice.

"Oh! Don't get me wrong, having a gift of any kind would just be enchanting." You raised your arms in mock defense, "Imagine I can make fireworks from my hands!" You say to her as you put your head on your hand.

"That would be disastrous." She says, you looked over at her with a raised eyebrow. "You would blow up the entire Encanto." Isabela explains, full-on teasing you now.

You gasp in offense jokingly, "You think of me like that? I would never!" You whisper-shouted, "Look, I've been working with fireworks since forever, I've most definitely never, ever, ever gotten a single burn in my entire life." You say, sarcasm leaking from your voice as Isabela lets out a laugh.

"Didn't you get dragged by my sister to eat our Mamá's famous healing arepas because of said burns?" She teases you with a smile on her face.

"Sarcasm, Isabela Madrigal! Also, not everyone is perfect. I think it's impressive enough that I've survived this long making explosives." You say, returning her smile with one of your own.

Isabela raises her eyebrows at your statement, "Wait, did you make the fireworks earlier?" she asks. "What? Of course! All by myself, sort of." You said as if it was common knowledge. Isabela only raises her eyebrows even more in surprise.

"You didn't know?"

"Well, I thought that your family was known for making fireworks, and that you were just sort of the trouble maker." She explains, but a smirk on her face appears as she teases you once more.

You shake your head in disagreement, "Well, you are very wrong, princessa." you say, the name slight sliding out smoothly as you let out a laugh in disbelief.

"It is I who makes the beautiful fireworks around our beautiful Encanto," You say, arms opening wide open as Isabela looks at you amused. "Do apologize to Dolores on my behalf for tonight, I always feel bad for her when I light them up." You whisper to her, rubbing the back of your neck.

Isabela lets a small laugh under her breath, "Sure." she says. "And, I was looking for Mirabel after that... fiasco back there, but she's nowhere. If you find her, check up on her for me, if you could."

"Oh, she's probably off somewhere causing some trouble. I'm surprised you're not with her." Isabela says, teasing you.

"Have some faith in your sister! I know I'm supposed to be her babysitter but sometimes it's the other way around." You say, pointing a finger at her, and she slaps your hand away with a smile.

"I can't have faith in either of you, based on the humiliating stories you two constantly tell me." She says, shaking her head in amusement.

You scoff, "Well, I can't say for much for Mirabel, I think you should get to know her yourself. But I'll be more than glad to give you reasons as to why you should most definitely trust me when your life is in my hands."

"I don't like how you phrased that." She says with slight concern, you only laugh at her. "But, okay, go on."

"I'm sure you know that I'm all about, fire and explosions- chemicals and all that." You say, "My mother is in no way in condition of making very hazardous explosives so she focuses on other things we sell. My sister is in charge of the materials, as well as the plant and flower alternatives for our fireworks." You explain, "So that only leaves me, I am absolutely not letting my mami do the work and there's no way I'm working with flowers, they annoy me." You finish rambling, letting out a small groan at even the thought of working with flowers.

Isabela raises her eyebrows at this.

You only just realized what you said as you quickly turned to her in panic, "Not in a bad way! It's just that, I hate flowers! Wait- no, I just get really sneezy around them, not allergic or anything! It's just that if they smell bad and my body acts up I get really sick around them. I'm not saying flowers smell bad, they're absolutely beautiful and they smell good! Most of the time- well actually, maybe sometimes. But even then they don't annoy me as much when you're around, they usually smell really good and really pretty too! Like you, you smell good- wait, that's kind of weird. You're pretty like a flower- yeah!"

While you continued to ramble, Isabela only continued to get more and more flustered as you unconsciously got closer to her. Flowers were sprouting on her hair and another one sprouted right in front of her, and right below your foot- causing you to fall forward on her and land in an extremely questionable position-

You only processed what just happened when you felt your hands land on the floor below you. You tilted your head to see Isabela's face so close to you-

"Dios mio, I am so, so, sorry-" You kept muttering apologies as you scrambled to get the both of you up, tearing your eyes away from her to save the tiniest bit of your sanity left.

"It's okay! I don't mind!" Isabela blurted out, you both realizing what she just said, causing one of your knees to give in as both of you fall on the floor. Again. Embarrassingly.

"Oi, hermano! Mami's looking for yo-" A familiar voice reaches you, your sister, only younger by a couple of years. She stands in Antonio's doorway before landing her eyes on you and Isabela, completely frozen in her tracks.

"It's not what it looks like!" Both you and Isabela whisper-shouted at her. Your sister could only stare horrified as the two of you stood up awkwardly from your previous positions.

"Hermanita, I can explain-" You started, but your younger sister only raised her hand for you to zip your mouth.

"I don't want to hear it. I'll just pretend I never saw what I just saw. That was a horrifying and traumatizing-" She said with a serious tone, but you could tell it was also to tease you as she had her head turned, using her other hand to cover her eyes from the sight she just saw.

"Okay, you know what, just go!" You ushered her back in the room in embarrassment. Looking back at Isabela and mouthing an "I am so sorry." to her. She smiles awkwardly at you and all you want at that point is for Casita to bury you under the ground.

You walk back into Antonio's room as your little sister leads you to your mother. She looks back at you and whispers, "Are you dating Isabela Madrigal?" She asks you with wide eyes.

"No! I'm not!" You whisper-shouted at her as you cover your face with your hands.

"What the hell was that back there then?" She asks, desperate for what's about to unfold.

"It's too embarrassing! I'm not telling you."

"You have to tell me!"

Isabela stabilized herself on the railing behind her, a hand on her flushed face as she waited for the embarrassment to fade away. The tiles in front of her clacked up and down, seemingly teasing her as Isabela let out a small huff. "Casita, no." She said before pushing herself to go back in Antonio's room.

She stood beside her Abuela as she watched the rest of the crowd have fun. Soon later, two of her beloved cousins came in her sight. Dolores and Camilo approached her with a smug grin on both of their faces, Isabela can only hope it isn't because of the very same thing that caused her to be so flushed.

"Hola, princessa." Camilo purrs at her teasingly as they both stand on either side of her. Dolores lets out a giggle when Isabela punches him on the shoulder harshly. "Ow!" He lets out a pained groan.

"Dolores, what did you tell him?" Isabela snaps her head towards her other cousin, Dolores raises her eyebrows innocently. "It's more like what he told me." Dolores teases as she looks at you from across the room, seeing you being bothered by your younger sister as she tries to get something out of you.

"I'm telling you, Dolores. You should've seen her!" Camilo says, recalling the day he bumped into you in town. "Oh trust me, I heard all of that a mile away." Dolores says knowingly as Isabela lets out a groan between the two of them.

"I have never seen Isabela interact with anybody like that." Camilo says, a hand on his chest to feign shock. "I mean, she doesn't really talk to anybody, does she?" He mocks her, "Excuse me, I'd like to tell you that I have many friends in Encanto." Isabela defends herself.

Camilo only shrugs with a teasing grin on his face as Isabela scoffs at him.

"I mean, Isa, all the times I've heard you in town is either your flowers swooshing in the air or Abuela forcing you to talk to someone, take, I don't know," Dolores' eyes looks around the room searching, when she lands on a certain handsome man. "Take Mariano for example." She says softly, almost sounding as if she's swooning, Isabela notices this with a small smile on her face.

"Pfft, she's saying you need friends, mi prima." Camilo says with a laugh, not before getting another nudge to the stomach, "Oof!"

"Well, I don't need friends, or anyone for that matter." Isabela says smugly, "I think I'm perfectly perfect, alone."

Camilo shakes his head in disapproval when he hears her say that and Dolores lets out a small chuckle at her. "Really? I thought you'd be more than glad to be a certain someone's friend." Dolores comments as her gaze goes back to you telling your sister about something, another grin appearing on her face as she overhears what you say.

"You're pretty, they say. It'd be nice to get closer to you, they say." Dolores whispers, Camilo lets out a buoyant laugh when Isabela sprouts flowers on her hair.

"Sis, weren't you just about to tell me something? What is it?!" Camilo asks excitedly and Isabela looks at Dolores only to find a smirk directed at her.

Dolores couldn't even open her mouth before Isabela shoves a flower inside to silence her.

Your sister only teases you when you finish telling her the embarrassing thing that just occurred a few moments ago, you cringed as your eyes dart around the room for them to land on Dolores and Camilo laughing, at Isabela's glowing face.

"That is embarrassing. You've embarrassed yourself in front of a Madrigal, that's twice the embarrassment!" Your sister says and you purposely ignore her to continue admiring Isabela.

"You don't even have shame staring at her, right after what just happened!" Your sister laughs, poking fun at you. You were about to shout at her in humiliation before your mother approaches you two.

"What are you two up to again?" She asks looking between you two, an amused expression on her face.

"Mami, they've completely dragged our family name to the ground, burned it, crushed it, completely and utterly destroyed it-" Your little sister teases loudly as she goes to your mother.

"Oh?" Your mother says as she looks at you with raised eyebrows.

"It's nothing! She's just exaggerating, ma." You say, pushing your sister aside.

"They embarrassed themselves in front of the Isabela Madrigal, mamá. We're talking about Isabela Madrigal here. The golden flower of Encanto- the eldest child of the Madrigals!"

"Mija, I think you're the only one who seems to care about this, your sibling would already be used to humiliating themselves."

"Ma!"

❀

Number three,

It's been a couple of days since the Casita broke down, as well as the rest of the Madrigal family losing their gifts, and finding Mirabel- A lot of things has happened and during this period, the rest of Encanto had to learn not to rely on the family. Without Tia Pepa's and Isabela's gifts, crops weren't as substantial and amongst other things like the donkeys running around town, much to Luisa's displeasure.

Isabela gets out of her room, done with cleaning herself up as the last touches of Casita were finished. She looks downstairs to see some of her family going about like her Tia Pepa adjusting Antonio's clothes, and she smiles when she sees Mirabel and Camilo doing whatever they're doing.

She hears a door opening beside her, and she turns to see Dolores coming out of her own room. "Dolores." She greets as Dolores leans against the railing beside her.

"You got your gift back?" Isabela asks, checking up on her as something clearly happened when they all finished rebuilding the casita earlier that day.

Dolores nods at her question, "It's... quieter, this time. Like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders." she explains.

"Quite literally." Isabela says, tilting her head towards Abuela walking towards Camilo and Mirabel as they engage in pleasant conversation. Dolores raises her eyebrows at her and lets out a small laugh.

"How are you and Mariano?" Isabela asks with a slight grin on her face, happy to finally be in this position instead as both of them slowly start walking downstairs.

"We only just talked a few hours ago, Isa. Come on, we barely know each other." Dolores says blatantly with a small smile on her face.

"I don't know, it looked like you two were getting to know each other really well." She teases.

Dolores rolls her eyes, "Well, don't be jealous. I'm sure you'll have someone in the future." she teases right back at her as Isabela lets out a small laugh, "We're taking it slow, if you really want to know."

"I'm glad to hear that." Isabela says with a smile, happy for her cousin as they reach the bottom floor. Mirabel comes up to her, "Hey Isa! I'm going outside, mom's calling for you! Great dress, by the way. Looks really good on you!" she says as fast as she went outside. Isabela shakes her head at her younger sister's antics.

"She's definitely up to something." Dolores whispers as she goes somewhere else in the house, probably to check the rest of her family. Isabela gives her a smile before going to the kitchen.

"Mamá? Mirabel said you were looking for me." she says as she enters the room, where her parents are, her mother making empanadas as soon as she found out her gift was working, along with her father, in charge of rolling the dough.

Julieta looks back to see her daughter all dressed up, "Isabela, you look wonderful! Wait- give me a second." She says before turning back to grab the knives far away from her husband, "Keep rolling that dough, amor." She says to him, wiping her hands on a nearby towel.

Isabela laughs quietly as her dad shakes his head in disapproval towards her mother.

"Mirabel says she's prepared a little something for the family. I was going to tell you to get ready but it looks like you cleaned yourself up quite beautiful, dear." Julieta says, putting a hand on her daughters cheek as she admires her blue dress.

"The dress is gorgeous, it's very..."

"Imperfect?"

"No, it's very you." Julieta answers with a soft smile.

Dolores' head pops in through the doorway, "Tia, Tio. I hear that we should be going now." she says.

Julieta gives her a nod, "We'll catch up," she says, turning back to her daughter, "You should go with your cousins. I have to make sure your papi doesn't somehow ruin the entire batch of food we made."

"Julieta, I heard that!"

The two girls looked back to see him pouting, laughing at him before Isabela waves goodbye to her parents, going beside Dolores as they start up another conversation.

"What do you think Mirabel's preparing?" Isabela starts, Dolores only gives her a smile and a shrug.

"I have a good idea, but I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise." She whispers and Isabela gives her a weird look. "All I can say, is that the surprise is right outside this door." She says, her hand pointing to the big, blue door in front of them.

The events that occurred to the Madrigals left many people in a scuffle, including you.

Many of the townsfolk approached your family for certain plants and herbs that the farmers typically didn't have, and on the normal occasion they'd rely on Isabela but since everything that happened, you were quite busy, even more so than when you're preparing fireworks for an upcoming celebration.

Speaking of celebrations, today was just after the day that the Casita has been rebuilt as well as the Madrigals getting their gifts back, assisted by the people of Encanto as a way to repay the family the night prior.

It's around noon now, the sun is slowly setting in the sky and you're just about to go to the plaza to prepare the fireworks for an afterparty, one that's to appreciate the Madrigal family for what they are and what they've done, an idea by Mirabel and the village was more than happy to help and celebrate.

You carefully carried the fireworks down town before Mirabel sees you, shouting your name with an ecstatic wave. You tried your best to wave back as you struggled to do so with the items in your arms. You can see her laugh as she stands by your side, offering her arms to help carry half of what you have. You thank her with a nod, handing her some of your fireworks.

"I'm glad to see Mirabel the Miracle thriving as always." You tease her, she only shakes her head as she balances the fireworks in her arms.

"Seriously? I was having such a good day too." She says in annoyance and you laugh, walking along with her.

"Well, you have no idea how glad I am to see you and your family doing well. This party too, great idea, by the way. I'm sure the entire family will be happy." You give her a wide smile and she returns it with one of her own.

"Thank you but I would say that it's a collaborative effort, really. I wouldn't be able to do this without the rest of you." She says with a smile, and you can tell that she's not taking it to heart.

You shake your head, "Ay, Mirabel, take some of the credit. You were the one who helped your familia adjust, you were the one who decided to have this fabulous party and you were the one that helped with rebuilding the Casita." As you continued to compliment her, both of you stopped in front of Casita.

"Not really, everybody helped-" She says before you shush her with a finger on your mouth.

"Hola Casita." You greeted with a small wave, the house opening and closing its' windows as a way to greet you back and as the door opens, you see Dolores whispering to.. Isabela.

You've completely forgotten about Isabela since Antonio's ceremony, utterly embarrassed at what previously happened as you rejected any thoughts that brings the memory back. It was easy, especially with so many things happening in a short span of time.

But now that's everything calmed down, you are now forced to meet the consequences of your actions.

"Isa!" Mirabel shouts as she waves a hand at her sister, nearly making one of the fireworks fall. "Mira- be careful!" You say as you tuck one that was on the edge of her arm back into her hold.

"Hola," Dolores greets you with your name as she drags Isabela beside her. "Fireworks?" She asks with uncertainty.

You slightly lift the fireworks in your arms, giving her a nod with an apologetic smile. "Sorry. You might want to get somewhere far away or, you know, cover your ears later." You advise her.

Dolores groans, "You need to work on like, silent fireworks, or something. I love the splashy colors but you know how the noise is for me." she says sadl and you nod.

"Fortunately for you, I am actually experimenting on something similar." You tell her with a smile and she raises her eyebrows in surprise, you nod in confirmation. "It's a little impossible to fully block out the noise, explosives and all that." You continue, "But we can definitely reduce the noise with some other alternatives. My sister is working on some plant-based ones for salts to keep the sparks colorful." You inform her as Dolores nods to your rambling, before hearing Isabela mutter a 'cute,' looking back at her with a grin as she gets caught.

"Plant-based fireworks, huh? That sounds cool, Isabela can help with that!" she looks back at you, going behind her cousin and putting her hands on her shoulders.

"What?" Isabela says in confusion.

"In fact, Isa will help you with the fireworks! Mirabel- come with me." Dolores says as she grabs Mirabel's hand,

"Wait, what about the fireworks?" Mirabel asks skeptically.

"Give 'em to your sister! She'll be helping after all," She says as Mirabel hands her sister the fireworks you were about to prepare.

"I- Wait- What?" Isabela stutters out as she watches her cousin drag her sister away from the two of you.

You cough onto your shoulders to grab her attention, and she turns to look at you.

"Great to see you again, Isabela." You greet her awkwardly.

"I'm glad to see you alive and well." She says with a smile, you shake your head at her teasing, "I'll take that as a compliment. Shall we?" You offer, Isabela nodding along as you walk with her towards the center of the town.

"So, plant-based fireworks? I thought you hate working with flowers." She teases, and you nod with a laugh.

"Not all plants are flowers, although I think you already know that with your gift."

"It's actually only just recently that I managed to create a plant that's not a flower."

"Really? Just recently?" You ask her in surprise, she nods. "I always thought you could do all sorts of plants. How did that come to be?"

"I don't know, magic, obviously." She says, and you give her a sarcastic ‘haha.’ "It's got something to do with my emotions probably. You know, I feel majestic and pretty all the time." You glance at her with a slightly weird look.

"What? Am I not allowed to feel pretty?" She says with a teasing grin, "Never said that. Plus, of course you're pretty." You say smoothly, looking back at the path in front of you as she chuckles.

"Tell me more. It’d be nice to get closer to you." You say, suggesting for her to continue. "Well, just as I said, pretty and majestic equals to flowers, sort of." She continues, and you nod as you listen to her words. "It's only when I tried expanding my horizons, seeing what else can I do, that I managed to create something else." She explains.

"I've always thought of you as an adventurous person, It's a bit interesting it took you this long." You comment on her, no malice intended.

"Ah well, not everybody is willing to risk their lives like you." She says, and you give her a side glare. "And I had lots of responsibilities, doing many things and a lot of stuff was put on me, you know, like.."

"Pressure?" You guess for her, "Something like that." She shrugs, "Either way, I managed to let it go and I've never felt better." She tells you with a smile, and you give her another one back.

"I guess that explains the dress too?" You ask, grinning at her, pointing your chin towards the splash of color on her skirt. She looks down and looks back at you with a smile, "Part of it. Do you not like it?" she asks with a raised eyebrow.

"No, it looks great on you! Very different from your usual pink dresses. It sort of reminds me of a..." You blank out for a little bit, thinking of a specific word.

"What?" She asks, curious to hear your answer.

"It reminds me of a firework." You answer with a smile, and her eyes widen at your claim. "You know, its colorful and all that, it really does fit you." You explain further, a little embarrassed as she giggles at your awkwardness.

"What other plants can you make?" You ask, she hums as she thinks.

"Succulents right now, cacti and all that." She answers.

"Do you think you can make one right now?" You ask, Isabela thinks for a little more before shaking her head. "What? Why not?" You pout at her, disappointed.

"If I make one right now, you'll probably fall flat face-first on the spikes." She teases, and you sigh.

"Maybe another time, then. Have you met my sister?" You ask her, and she shakes her head. "You two would get along. She's been experimenting with a lot of different plants lately, especially when people started coming to us for things other than fire hazards."

"You should introduce me to her then, it'd be nice to be with someone that doesn't hate working with flowers."

You look at her with another pout, just right as you see your sister approaches you from behind. She was about to say something, before recognizing that Isabela was with you. You don't even sense her before Isabela waves to someone behind you.

"Oh, hermana! I didn't see you there. Perfect timing!" You say as you turn around to see her looking between you and Isabela awkwardly. "This is, uh, Isabela." You say as you point to her awkwardly, "We're... friends?" you say, unsure, looking back at Isabela for confirmation,

"We're friends." She nods.

"Right, and Isabela, this is my little sister." You carefully put an arm around your sister, pulling her close. "Hola." She greets awkwardly as Isabela gives her a smile.

"You're uh, about to prepare the fireworks now, right?" Your sister asks you stiffly, "Si, we're just about to." You nod.

"Okay, give some of them to me, I'll help you." She says, raising her arms as you give her a weird look. "Uh, okay?" You give some of them to her as she goes to the firework setup you have in the middle of the town.

"I think she hates me." Isabela says after a moment, making you laugh. "No, no. Don't worry, that's just her. I promise she likes you." You say as you lead her to the other firework setups.

"She reminds me of you. Awkward, and stiff." She says as both of you lean down to one of the wooden planks for stabilizing the fireworks. You shoot her a glare jokingly.

"I hope she's not as fire-prone as you, because I'd be very concerned for her if so." She says as she glances at your sister just a couple meters away. You laugh at her concern for your sister.

"Don't worry, she's way better than me. But here, it's best if I teach you about these things.." You say, grabbing her attention as you put the stick of the rocket inside the tube. "That's all you have to do, these are the slightly bigger fireworks we have, but they should be safe with a crowd around." you tell her.

"Oh, are we going to light these up?" Isabela asks, "Mirabel wants your entire family to, but only these I think. The other pyrotechnics in town will light some of their own." You confirm.

"Isn't this a little dangerous?" Isabela asks with concern as you move on to the next firework setup, you look at her with a grin. "Of course it is, but as long as nothing goes wrong, we'll be fine. That's what make this perfect." You say, guiding her hands to put another rocket in the tube.

"I would say it's far from perfect when you end up with 3rd degree burns." Isabela says as you move on to the next setup. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you won't get burned if you're so worried about it."

"You'll push me out of the way?"

"I was actually thinking of using my body as a shield."

"It's like you're asking to get injured."

You and Isabela continue to tease each other back and forth, and soon enough all of the fireworks have been set up and a crowd has formed around the plaza. You can see Mirabel's figure in front of the crowd as her eyes search for someone, and eventually she finds you and Isabela.

She jogs over to your side, and you can see the rest of your family behind her. "Time for celebration?" You ask her and she nods enthusiastically. Camilo and Antonio appear beside her,

"Are we lighting the fireworks?" Antonio asks with wide eyes. "With parental supervision." You nod your head with a smile, "Lame." Camilo mutters and you can see his mother slap the back of his head.

Your sister comes up to you, handing you some sparklers as you distribute them to the Madrigal Family as you explain what to do once they're about to light the fireworks. You gave another to Mirabel before turning to Isabela to give her one of the last ones. A leftover sparkler remains in your hands.

"Where's Dolores?" You ask her, looking around the crowd to find no sight of her. "Pfft, probably somewhere with her boyfriend Mariano." She says with a grin as she goes behind one of the rockets, aligning with the rest of her family as they go towards theirs.

"Mariano? Wait, I feel like I've heard of him. Wasn't he your boyfriend or am I wrong?" You ask confused as Isabela gives you a smile, "It's a little complicated, but I guess this means you'll be lighting her rocket then?" She asks, pointing to the empty spot beside her.

"I hope she doesn't mind, I should really catch up on my gossip." You joke as you stand beside her, checking both of the directions on either of your side to check on the rest of the family, the crowd around you waiting for the opening.

You look at Mirabel beside you and nod at her, signaling for her to begin. She looks around the plaza and begins to shout loudly, "Everyone! On the count of three!" she begins, slowly inching her sparkler to the fuse of the firework.

"One!" The crowd shouts, you look around and are surprised to see Bruno himself slightly inching his own sparkler with rats on his hand, Pepa and Felix are guiding Antonio's as their own sparkler comes closer, Luisa seems to be slightly nervous but she pushes through.

"Two!" You can hear Camilo and Mirabel's voice loudly, they seem to be having fun, you thought. You turn to look at Isabela for her to give you an excited smile that you return.

"Three!" The rockets make a hissing sound as the sparklers make contact one by one, shooting them into the sky with colorful smoke trailing below them. You light the firework in front of you, and Isabela does too and you both scurry away from them.

They explode in the air, you can see Pepa's side turn into warm reds, oranges and yellows and the other side with more cooler colors.

"I can see why you do this sort of thing, dangerous as it is." Isabela turns to whisper to you, looking at the bright smiles that's on the faces of her family.

"I honestly just think it looks cool." You say with a shrug, covering one of your ears when you see the other pyrotechnics bringing in their own firework cakes and fountains.

The fireworks calm down soon enough and more people set their own shows in the middle of the plaza. The music is bustling and Isabela grabs your hand dragging you through the crowd.

"Mamá, Papá, I'm sure you've met Mirabel's friend before." She skids to a stop as you face her parents. Julieta's eyes lighten at the sight of you, bringing you in her arms for a hug. "Thank you for helping Mirabel set this up. It's a wonderful party," She says kindly and you heat up at her words.

Abuela Alma, Pepa, Felix and Antonio passes by you, as you give them a small wave, "Wonderful show! It was very colorful, the people of Encanto loved it." Abuela Alma compliments you, patting Antonio's hair as he sits on his jaguar.

"Si, I had a lot of fun." Pepa comments, "It was amazing, chica! I thought fireworks were already exploding from Pepa's head, turns out she was just very excited." Felix says, teasing his wife as she punches him lightly in the shoulder, the moon above her head shining a little brighter. Abuela Alma chuckles at their interaction.

"No hay problema, I only just set up the fireworks. I'm glad you had fun." You say as Julieta grabs your hands in hers.

"And I'm glad to see you not injured this time." She teases, and you heat up more in embarrassment.

"I've already eaten 3 arepas so far, chico." Her husband, Agustin says behind her and you laugh at his remark. "Abuelo Agustin! I'm glad to see you alive!" You say with a wide smile as Agustin gasps at you.

"Abuelo?! I am not that old! Isabela, control your cariño!" Agustin shouts at her with a smile, and you can only laugh at his reaction.

"Dad!" Isabela yells at him in embarrassment as Julieta laughs at her daughter and her husband.

"Es broma, señor!" You laugh loudly as he grabs you and lightly grinds his fist against your head.

A man calls your name from the crowd, "Oi! We're lighting up the fountains, it'd be nice to have a hand or two, mija!" he shouts loudly at you.

"Ay, I'll be there!" You answer him as Agustin releases you from his arms. "Do you want to come along, señor?" You offer. He turns to look at Julieta for permission and she nods at him, "Be careful." she warns him.

He nods at her, "Alright, let's go!" He says excitedly as he leads you to the crowd. You turn back to wave at Isabela. 'I'll see you later.' you mouth at her, and she gives you a smile as you disappear into the crowd.

Julieta turns to look at her daughter, "I didn't know you were dating them." she says with a proud smile on her face as Isabela's eyes nearly bulge out of their eye sockets.

"Ay, mamá, we're not dating." She counters, "Not yet!" Camilo suddenly appears, making her jolt.

"Dios mio, Camilo!" Isabela scolds him, "Tia Julieta, I hope you have arepas prepared because I can feel my doom coming." He says as he dodges one of Isabela's projectile-plant at him.

"Mija." Her mother says sternly but teasingly at the same time, Isabela laughs awkwardly when she sees her mother smirk at her, directing her eyes somewhere else only to see Dolores whispering something to Mirabel, making eye contact with her sister as they walk over to her with a grin.

"Dolores just told me everything." Mirabel teases her with a grin, Isabela groans as she and Camilo laughs at her.

"Don't act as if I don't see you admiring their sister." Isabela laughs as both of their eyes widen at what she said, "Wait, who?!" The two of them shout as they nearly trample her. Dolores watching them in amusement as if they're tiny kittens wrestling each other.

“Ay, even if you say you’re not dating them, I have full trust that they’ll take care of you.” Julieta teases her more, Camilo and Mirabel wooing at Isabela at the statement

“Mami, I’m telling you- we’re just friends.” She says, hearing a sarcastic “Yeah, sure.” from one of the younger Madrigals.

Isabela would've continued teasing them if it weren't for the loud familiar shouts that came from the middle of the plaza. She makes eye contact with her mother as they both rush to the crowd.

"We shouldn't have trusted them."

#i dont think i wrapped this up very well LOL #im just at shock that this is 10k words #thats cool i guess KEKW #anyways isabela madrigal is so pretty dhsakjda #you guys can send in requests for the wahmen of encanto #if you want YEP #encanto x reader #isabela madrigal x reader

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creativeashproductions · 4 years ago

Text

Change of Scenery // Evan Buckley

IN WHICH: Captain Bobby Nash has kept a secret from his friends, his wife and his step children since 2015 when he came to LA. Bobby’s eldest and only surviving child comes to LA to reconcile and make amends all the while she catches the eye of a certain blue eyed firefighter.

Warnings: Swearing, death/familial loss, pregnancy, blood, angst, injuries/medical emergency, and fluff

Words: 8k

A/N: Back at it with another 9-1-1 fic. Hope you enjoy, and I may just have to do another crossover with 9-1-1 and Julie and the Phantoms.

TO BE TAGGED SEND AN INBOX/ASK PLEASE!

Masterlist

There are moments in our lives that define us, whether it can be known as a positive or negative, but the outcome is always the same. A six-letter word that strikes fear and excitement into the souls of humans is change. The fear can be for ourselves or as a result of a child, a sibling, or a parent branching out on their own. Unfortunately, you had gone through a harsh and cruel experience on a cold winter night in the city you grew up in.

A typical Thursday filled with classes at the college you attended in Minnesota on a scholarship, nothing out of the ordinary. The plan had been to drive to your parents’ apartment to catch up with them for the weekend. Saturday morning was already reserved for a girls day with your little sister Brook and your mom. In the afternoon, you’d promised to take your brother Bobby to the ball diamond.

Your bag was packed, the plan to drive straight from class to St. Paul the following day to arrive in the daylight. Your dad struggled with worry when it came to you driving in the dark and especially in winter with icy roads.

“Y/N!” Dottie screeched from the living room of the four-bedroom dormitory. The pretty and curvy brunette had been the first friend you made in college.

Typically Dottie was on the quieter side, so when she screamed, you practically sprinted to the girl.

“Where’s the fire?” You demanded with a smirk at the reference to a topic that was a constant in your family.

The fire drills your father conducted every four months for an exit plan in case of a fire and general information to save yourselves. He had also trained you to remember fire hazards and how to call dispatch with clear information if that time ever came. It never did and hopefully never would.

“The Lakeview Apartments in St. Paul.” Dottie’s dark brown eyes spoke only of pity and concern. The five foot ten roommate literally caught you as you tumbled into her arms with a loud grief-stricken scream.

You were forever indebted to the brunette for the plans she sacrificed to drive you back to St. Paul. There was absolutely no chance Dottie would allow you to both drive and be alone with no news. The media hadn’t released the names of the 148 deaths the fire relentlessly tore from the land of the living.

“I want to prepare you for what you’ll see. Your mother suffered severe third-degree burns over the majority of her body.” The kind nurse, also one of your friend’s parent, explained as she guided you to the Burn Center in the Regions Hospital, “I don’t want to lie and tell you she’ll be fine. You’re an adult Y/N. You deserve the truth and not be coddled.”

“Is she gonna survive?” You quietly asked, “Has she woken up since she was brought in?”

“The doctor placed her on a high dosage of morphine for the pain. Your father hasn’t left her side.” Lucinda informed you with sympathy written as over her face, The hazel eyes unable to adequately meet yours.

“I’ll check on her, then could you take me to the rooms my siblings are in?” You asked, completely unaware Brook and Bobby had been DOA at the hospital.

Your father hadn’t answered the text messages or the voicemails you had left on his phone—radio silent. You couldn’t be mad when he was with your mom, but a text would have been nice.

“This is where your mother is staying for the unforeseeable future. If you need anything, you can call me.” Lucinda softly replied before turning her heel to head back to the Burn Centre’s front desk.

It was horrific walking into a room with no idea if the occupant who had raised you would survive. The confident, gorgeous mother you had for the past nineteen years was unfamiliar to you, the extensive gauze covering nearly every inch of her body. You almost couldn’t even recognize the man sitting in the chair with his hands wrapped.

“Dad? What happened?” You questioned the grieving man. The only person left in your family as you would soon come to know.

“Y/N?” Bobby gasped, pushing himself to his feet, staring at his only living child. The guilt ate at him just staring at you with those light brown eyes, “Oh, sweetheart.”

Your dad crossed the room in a few steps. The scent of smoke was still clinging to every part of him, but it was fine. Your dad was okay, minus the wounds on his hands. You’d always been closer with your father than your mother.

“Dad, what happened?” You quietly asked the ashamed firefighter that had to reconcile his feelings on the fire and his career—that struggle ending up pushing you away when he really just wanted you as close as possible.

“The building caught on fire after an ember from a heater lit a blanket on fire,” Bobby informed you with his eyes pinned on his wife. Bobby knew the chances of Marcy surviving were incredibly low, and he had to tell you that.

Bobby only knew the details passed on from a firefighter who pitied the man who’d lost most of his family.

“Is Mom gonna be okay?” You questioned, and the said injured woman in the bed weakly responded.

“Baby?” Marcy quietly questioned from her absolutely still position on the hospital bed, “Uh, Bobby.”

You left your father’s side to be as close to your mom as possible, with the clear plastic separating you for her safety. Your heart shattered at the sheer exhaustion in her pretty blue eyes.

“Hi, Mom.” You shakily spoke with one hand lightly pressed against the plastic divider. You didn’t even notice when your dad stepped up too.

“Marcy?” Bobby called out from right beside you, just as torn up, but Bobby carried extra weight on his shoulders, “We’re right here, Marcy. It’s okay. It’s okay.”

The muffled grunt of pain, your mom’s attempt to save you from grief, Marcy let out as she turned her head to look at you. You knew deep in your gut that this was the time place you would see your mom alive. And by the look in her eyes, she knew too.

“The...kids…?” Your mom’s breathing became more erratic as she questioned the man she viewed as her hero. The man she believed had saved her and their youngest children, “Where...are they?”

“The kids are fine.” The way your father said it and the tears led to the knowledge once kept from you.

“No.” You whispered, seeing the total grief written clear on his face. The pain meds and agony kept your mom from knowing the truth.

“They’re safe.”

“I knew you’d come and save us.” Your mom breathed as her eyes started hiding the pretty blue you’d now only see in pictures. In your dreams, until even those faded as father time cruelly pulled you along.

Then your worst nightmare happened. You watched as the woman you looked up to flatlined with the thought of her children safe. You’d always know she’d held on just long enough to find out the state of her children. You could only hope she’d forgive your father for lying to her as she died.

“Mom!” You screamed, fighting the arms of an orderly restraining you. You barely noticed the resistance to your frantic attempts.

One minute you were staring at a team unsuccessfully trying to revive your long-gone mother, then you were in a hotel room. The atmosphere tense and quiet between father and daughter, with the ghost of your dead family to keep you both company. You could hear Brook gagging every time you’d kissed your now ex. You could see Bobby toddling after you years ago.

At least you had your father—a father whose guilt festered until he couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“It was my fault.” He murmured, staring at the barely eaten burger that tasted solely just cardboard. He couldn’t bear to look at your face, “I didn’t mean to leave it on.”

Your head snapped to stare at him in disbelief, “What do you mean you didn’t mean to leave it on?”

“I-I went to the roof to sleep after your mom kicked me out. I didn’t have my keys to the apartment I had below ours.” Bobby began spilling the lies he’d told to you about his addictions. Of the apartment, you’d had no clue was even in his possessions.

The pain of losing your family tore into you, “You took my mom away from me. I’ll never get to share my wedding day with her. Shopping for a dress and gossiping about boys. I’ll never be able to wipe Brook’s tears during her first heartbreak.”

Each word broke Bobby more and more.

“You stole my future. You’re selfish, ungrateful and utterly pathetic. You cost so many people so much, all because you sought out your next high.” You spat, glaring at someone you’d never expected to hurt you. You didn’t notice your hands grabbing your possessions nor opening the hotel room door, “You couldn’t even properly try to get clean.”

“Y/N-”

“Get your shit together before you kill anyone else. I never want to see you again.” You sobbed with regret already festering in your body, but pride held you back from apologizing.

Upon your return to your dorm with Dottie by your side, you immediately began the process to enter an exchange program. Within a month, your feet entered Sydney Airport. You didn’t return to America for several years.

You took a job as a casual lifeguard on Bondi Beach, met Lucas in a meet-cute situation at the grocery store. You graduated college and found a job as a paramedic as you began becoming a flight paramedic. In 2020 Lucas and you discovered you’d be bringing in a little baby into the world.

Learning about your little Cashew growing safe in your womb fanned the flame of desire to reconcile. Ultimately the pride kept pushing the urge to apologize for the cruel words you told your father further away. You naively believed you had all the time in the world.

Remember the six-letter scary word? If losing your mom, siblings, and father was a devastating blow, losing Lucas was nearly tied. Your little Cashew lost their father before they even got to meet him. That was push enough to pack up your home and fly back to America with your father’s new address as soon as you could.

In the fallout of the apartment fire, your father relocated from Minnesota to Los Angeles.

Los Angeles, 2020

As soon as you’d found the nicest but cheapest hotel to stay in until you found a place, you walked the streets of LA. The first order of business of approaching your father at his workplace as you had no personal address. Residing still in Minnesota, Deputy Chief Evans had only given you the address of Bobby’s work.

You could only hope Bobby wouldn’t turn you away. That he was willing to bridge the gap, you’d widened over the years. That he could forgive the silence to each email, he sent when you changed numbers.

“We should go out to dinner.” The female voice was what brought you back to the present time. The woman was beautiful with her buzzed head and clear skin.

Right by her side was a dark-haired male of Asian ethnicity with a bag thrown over his shoulder, “If you’re paying, you bet I’ll be there.”

The two continued to converse in their own world until the man had to literally dodge you when they finally noticed you.

“Does Chief Bobby Nash work here?” You inquired, having no desire to enter small talk when the baby was sitting on your bladder again. You nearly retched when the man stared down at your swollen midsection, shocked, “It’s not his baby.”

Hen caught the evident disgust on your face, “He’s in his office. I’ll guide you there…”

“Y/N.” You supplied the firefighter. Hen smiled in response, “And your name is…”

“Henrietta Wilson, but you can call me Hen. That was Howard Han. He goes by Chimney, and I’ve been sworn to secrecy on the name.” Hen chuckled in her steps to the closed door of the fire chief. Hen swiftly knocked on the door to give Bobby a heads up.

“Come in!” Bobby called from his pile of paperwork he had pushed and waited to work on. It had slipped as the date came closer. Your twenty-seventh birthday, the seventh one since he last saw you.

“Cap, a woman is asking for you,” Hen told her friend and boss. It’s a good thing you didn’t choose to surprise your father because Hen was shorted, and your bump made manoeuvring around tricky.

“What can I do…” Bobby trailed off when he saw the girl waiting to talk to him. The pen in his hand dropped to the table in shock.

Hen glanced between the two equally taken aback individuals, “Am I missing something here?”

“Hey, dad.” You whispered to the man who’d been dreaming of this moment since the minute you left. He’d searched for you at your previous college and nearly made a missing person report.

“Dad?” Hen couldn’t pick her jaw up from the floor if she even wanted to because this was juicy information. Sure, Bobby had caved into telling his team, his family that he’d lost his wife and two children in a fire.

He rarely talked about his life before the 118, but he’d never mentioned having a surviving daughter. Not in the handful of times he’d talked about the tragedy, nor did he have any objects or photos of you.

“You’re really here?” Bobby lightly chuckled with a twinkle in his eye. Hen had only seen a handful of times. All of them had Athena in the scene, “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” You beamed, stepping closer to the man you’d missed dearly, “I’m so sorry for the way I left. What I said was cruel and untrue. You aren’t selfish, and I can’t blame you for something you couldn’t control.”

Bobby grinned. He’d stepped around his desk only to halt when he took in an undeniable development—the baby bump you carried.

“Is-”

“I’m pregnant. Six months along with a baby girl.” You laughed to the apparent disbelief in your father’s light brown eyes. His gaze continued to shift between the bump and your e/c eyes.

“Wow. Sorry, this is...wow.”

“She’s one of the reasons I wanted to come back. To fix our relationship because I want her to know her grandpa. You’re the only grandparent Poppy will know.” Bobby was quick to tug you into his arms as soon as the first tear dropped down your cheek.

There was so much you wanted to tell your father, but that overwhelming grief rose higher. You’d left Australia where Lucas laid in a plot in a cemetery. You left the friends you’d found in the city. Left the lifeguard job you’d come to love.

“Where are you and your partner staying?”

“He...uh...Lucas passed away recently.”

The arms holding you tightened in response to your confession, “Oh sweetheart.”

“I didn’t know where else to go. I can’t stay in the home we bought. Not the place he died when I couldn’t save him.”

“I don’t know what happened, but it wasn’-”

“Don’t coddle me. I was...am a paramedic. A flight paramedic, to be specific, so I know that my hesitation could be the reason he died.”

Your career took the father by complete and utter surprise because you’d always planned on a different job. Before the fire that claimed so many lives, you’d never entertained a career in the emergency field.

“We have a lot to catch up on. First, you need to know that I’ll always love your mother no matter what, but you need to know. I met someone when I first moved here, and we were friends at first. She divorced her husband. We started dating...sweetheart, I remarried.”

A wave of emotions flared in your chest, from betrayal to sadness and ultimately happiness. Having lost your first love, you understood and knew if love came around for you, you wouldn’t ignore it. Lucas wouldn’t want that.

“I can’t wait to meet her.”

Re-entering into Bobby’s new life was a difficult adjustment for everyone included. Tension had risen between Athena and Bobby for a brief period. Athena hadn’t even been aware of your existence, but she could fault Bobby. Athena had even told her first husband about her late fiance Emmett when they were still together.

It was difficult for you with the new addition of two step-siblings in the same birth order as Brook and Bobby had been. The Grant siblings had welcomed you into the family without any reservations.

“Did you ever get to fly the chopper?” Harry asked as he scrubbed the dirty dish from the Sunday family dinner.

It was the first dinner that had no awkward tension since you arrived back in the country. Athena had taken a bit to warm up, but it was nothing personal. She’d actually been the one to find you you’d been staying at a hotel. Mama Athena did not like her pregnant step-daughter living at a hotel. She’d actually stormed your room with Hen and Karen as back up to pack your room and leave for the Grant-Nash house.

“No. I had to help keep the patients alive. If I’m telling the truth...sometimes I didn’t even notice I was in the air.” You whispered to your stepbrother. He was just invested in your career as he had been when Bobby first entered their lives.

“That is so cool!” Harry enthused with soap suds splashing your thin knitted sweater. Harry’s mouth formed an ‘o’ when you flicked water onto his face in retaliation.

“Do you know Bondi Beach in Australia?” You inquired the youth with the chore of dishes completed.

“Yeah! There’s a tv show called Bondi Rescue! I watch the clips on YouTube!” Harry exclaimed, hot on your heels to the couch. Out of May and Harry, he followed you around with questions about your life in Australia.

“I was a casual lifeguard. I’m not featured on that show, but I would get called in when a lifeguard was needed. It paired well with my job as a flight paramedic.” You half-smiled, remembering the Bondi lifeguards who had welcomed you into the family. You became one of them when they started pranking you.

“Did you ever see a shark-”

“Harry, go brush your teeth. Leave Y/N alone.” Athena informed her youngest from the open patio doors. Your father, Athena and May had been outside as soon as the table had been cleared.

“But-”

“Harry,” Athena warned the youngest Grant. Harry didn’t attempt to argue with his stern mother; all he did was hug you quickly. You watched the young boy disappear into the hallway.

“He reminds you of your little brother?” Athena questioned. In your time of reminiscing, the older woman had settled in Harry’s previous position.

“A little.” You whispered, “Thank you for welcoming me into the family. For making my dad happy.”

“You know I may have some baby clothes put away if you’d like to use them?” Athena offered with that smile that made you feel at home. Athena was far different from your late mother, with her presence commanding respect and intelligence. Your mom was similar, but I suppose it could be described as a softer touch.

“Anyway, saving a penny is appreciated. I have a question for you also.” You hesitantly started with a bundle of nerves deep in your belly. Athena turned to give you her full attention.

“Well? Out with it.” Athena pushed, but she had a slight feeling of what you were about to ask her.

“My mom was one the strongest women I know. It hurts that my baby won’t get to experience her love and guidance, and you can say no. We’ve only known each other a short time, but would you consider...maybe being a grandma to my baby?”

Giddy was the feeling Athena developed along with the laughing smile that only came from happiness. The woman could only nod her head in response to your hesitant question. To Athena’s knowledge but not yours, Bobby was softly smiling, watching his formerly estranged daughter getting along with your stepmom.

“Oh!” You gasped as your baby kicked hard enough for her foot imprint to be seen through your knitted sweater.

Bobby was by your side in concern the second he heard your startled sound, but Athena wasn’t that concerned. Athena remembered having the same reaction.

“Are you okay?” Bobby frantically questioned. He faltered when the woman shared a belly-deep laugh at the sheer fear written in the seasoned firefighter’s eyes.

“Poppy was kicking.” You chuckled as your father’s shoulders dropped in relief, “Here.”

Your nimble fingers clasped around your father’s wrist to bring his palm to the spot Poppy was kicking. A certain lightness flooded your entire body, being capable of sharing this experience with Bobby. Watching tears well up in the grandpa to be’s brown eyes.

“Whoa.” Bobby breathlessly spoke as Poppy kicked against his palm. The feeling building in his was exhilarating with the small amount of grief mixed in, “I remember when your mom was pregnant with you. We didn’t know if we were having a girl or boy, but she was adamant you would be a kickboxer. So active.”

Athena watched as the relationship between father and daughter started healing directly in front of her eyes. The Sergeant was about to give you two some privacy when you caught her hand in your free one.

“Here.” You informed the older woman shifting to place her hand where your father’s hand had previously been. Your e/c eyes sought the wonder-filled different shades of brown eyes the couple had.

“You should get some sleep,” Athena spoke, staring at her hand resting on your bump. Her dark chocolate brown rising to find your gaze, “You won’t be getting a lot once she arrives.”

Bobby and Athena watched as you turned the corner to the spare room Athena’s parents used when they visited. For the time being, you’ve moved into the room, and the Grant-Nash house hoped you would stay. May had always wanted a sister, and Harry loved all the stories you told about Australia.

“You know, at some point, you’ll have to talk to her.”

“I just was-’

“-without anyone else being the buffer. Bobby, both your lives is evidence enough that some things are too trivial to stress over.” Athena pinned her stern gaze on her husband. The same husband is actively trying to avoid her penetrating gaze.

“What I did-’

“Is in the past, Bobby. You have a second chance with that wonderful woman in that bedroom and our grandchild. Now, are you sure that having the party at the firehouse is okay?”

A hand supported the base of your back where an ache tended to stay for most of the day. That ache wasn’t the worst symptom of your pregnancy. You had heartburn constantly that tied with unfortunate constipation that had thankfully lessened. Your purse always had a cardigan for the hot flashes as well.

“Perfect! May has my car, and Bobby needed that.” Athena beamed from the open bay of the 118. One of the firefighters, Eddie, if you recalled, snagged your purse and the specific ingredient for a recipe.

��You could have borrowed Bobby’s-”

“His vehicle is in the shop Buck.” Athena interrupted the only member of the 118 you had let to officially meet.

Now there were two suspects of the sudden shortness of breath you started experiencing. It could be Poppy in the limited space in your body or the handsome firefighter. Buck had to be hands down none of the most attractive men you’d ever encountered. His dark blonde hair had minimal height, but the soft waves made your fingers itch to feel it. His ocean blue eyes crinkled at the corners with mirth.

“Ah, so you’re flesh and blood of Cap?” Buck questioned from in front of you. His blue eyes centred solely on you, with half a mind thanking himself that he could navigate the station blindfolded in the dark.

“For the last twenty-seven years, I have been.” You retorted, stopping at the edge of the stairs to the apparatus. Your keen sense of smell catching one of your favourite meals your father had dug up from the recipes he hadn’t used in years.

A zing of electricity trailed off your arm when a calloused palm met yours. Your e/c eyes followed the path of tan skin until it reached the shirt sleeve of Buck’s t-shirt. The shirt emblazoned on the chest with the department’s insignia. The man in the casual uniform guided you safely up the stairs with his hand on your back.

The pressure of Buck’s hand on your aching back muscle nearly brought what would be an embarrassing moan from your lips. Thankfully a gasp of surprise fell out instead at the banner hanging with other decorations.

“What?” You choked, cupping your hands to your face. Pure unadulterated shock and affection flooded every inch of you.

The entire 118 squad intermixed with their loved ones surrounded the open area with grins. On a table behind everyone was many wrapped gifts. But the cake was the most impressive.

A large rectangular cake in the realistic shape of a fire engine parked in front of a fire hydrant with a fondant hose going to the truck. On top of the fire truck was the turnout boots next to the matching helmet, the 118 proudly on it. You adored the turnout coat draping off the top to hang off the side.

“If you look at the helmet, it says Poppy.” Buck enthused, guiding you even closer to catch the immaculate cake, “It has to be the best cake we’ve gotten from them.”

“Hey, my rebar head cake was phenomenal!” Chimney called with a belying grin on his face. His hand encased by a brunette woman about his height with her heels on.

“It’s a long story.” Buck offered as soon as you gave him a weird questioning look, “Let me introduce you to everyone!”

For the next five minutes, you spend it by meeting the family of 118, including Eddie’s completely adorable son. Christopher was happy to sit next to you as soon as Harry had found you. Slowly the others came closer to hear the stories.

“What’re the most common injuries on the beach?” Denny, Hen and Karen’s ten-year-old son questioned.

“Bluebottle Jellyfish stings. On one day, we had hundreds of people come to the tower for stings, and the treatment for the minor ones is stingose spray and ice.”

“My question is how a girl from Minnesota is a lifeguard in Australia. Especially on Sydney’s most dangerous beach.” Chimney inserted, waving his bottle of pop at you, his eyes kept moving towards the wine Maddie brought.

Unfortunately, the 118 wouldn’t be celebrating with the wine until their shifts ended in a few short hours. It was a damn miracle they hadn’t been called out yet.

“This former Minnesotan spent summers at my best friend’s parents’ place in Cali as a lifeguard. Also, Bondi is not the most dangerous beach in Sydney. That’s Tamarama.” You pointed towards the man who raised his hands in surrender.

“Have you ever seen a dead body?” Harry asked, bringing a sobering silence in the question’s wake.

Your body language changed as soon as he asked, “Unfortunately, I’ve seen death as a paramedic and as a lifeguard.”

“You’re a paramedic? I thought you were just a lifeguard?” Buck asked, interested in the new information. Buck could feel his Captain’s eyes on the back of his head; he was sure Bobby could smell the attraction on Buck.

“Casual lifeguard. Called when needed as a backup.” You turned your e/c eyes towards the arguably youngest member of the 118.

“How many dead-”

“Harry.” Athena warned her son from continuing a topic that killed the ease and happiness you’d shown previously, “Why don’t we stop talking about-”

“Too many, Harry.” You interrupted your stepmom with a gentle smile towards the woman, “It’s not just drowning that claims lives but also the cliffs surrounding the beaches. Lifeguards patrol more than the beaches and water. Lifeguards respond to medical emergencies, mostly spinal until the paramedics arrive.”

“Oh-”

“I had a fellow lifeguard leave the job because of the suicides we deal with.”

“...who wants cake?” Karen used the quiet interlude of the much too serious topic for a group of kids barely in the double digits of ages. All referenced children followed Hen’s life to the beautiful baked creation.

“Sorry for getting dark there.”

“We all know the dark side of the jobs we chose to do. You sound like you miss Australia. Are you going to return there?” Eddie questioned with one eye pinned on his son, consuming more sugar than he wished.

Eddie’s question did raise self-doubt, but you knew that ultimately living in Australia was no longer a viable option.

“There’s nothing there for me.”

Eddie, Buck and your father understood that mentality to a ‘t’ with family complications keeping them away. Your father for obvious reasons, whereas Eddie and Buck each had a living family with opinions only they saw right.

“You’re always welcome here. Especially when you bring that little cutie to the firehouse.” Maddie cooed towards your baby bump. The 911 dispatcher had asked many questions about your pregnancy.

Maddie was the type of person who could make a stranger feel like they had known for their entire lives.

“Here.”

A plate of the cake was thrust in front of your face courtesy of Maddie’s brother Buck. It is quite literally the perfect size you could ask for. In his other hand, he had a new bottle of water waiting for you to grab.

“Thank you, Buck.” Your shock must have shown in your voice when his cheeks flushed.

“This whole party is a celebration for you, so you shouldn’t have to get up...unless you want to!” Buck rushed to respond, getting more flustered with the amused look of his older sister on him, “You’re already doing something absolutely amazing, so you should get to rela-”

“Buck!” You laughed, ending the older man’s rambling thoughts. The entire party attendees had started watching Buck’s failed smooth attempt.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

Buck mutely nodded in response, “No prob-”

The bell was the one to interrupt him instead. The on-duty firefighters rushed down from the upper levels to the lockers. The swift suiting up impressed you as it was like you blinked, and the bay was empty.

“Should be the last call before they get off shift.” Maddie, still occupied with the cake she was eating, “That wine looks so good!”

Your attention snapped from the vacant spots the 118 vehicles parked to the woman ploughing down on the cake. Sure it was good, but not that good. Maybe you could tell as a pregnant woman, or perhaps you just caught some of the symptoms you felt.

“How far along are you?”

Maddie froze, “What are you talk-”

“You’re pregnant, right?”

“Don’t tell anyone. Chim and I found out recently, but we want to wait on telling people. Once the first trimester is over, everyone can know.” Maddie pleaded with two hands cupped under her chin in a prayer position. The pretty brunette using the puppy dog eyes on the new friend she’d made.

“You should tell Buck-”

“We will once we enter the safe zone. So tell me about your baby’s father.” Maddie swiftly changed the subject, unaware of the ache developing in your midsection.

“Lucas Gowan.” You mussed, recalling the freckled half Australian half Scots man with the thick red locks.

“Ooh, is he still in Australia?”

“Technically, he is. I met him at the grocery store near the university campus. I’d transferred to escape my grief. It was purely an attraction at first sight before developing into love at first sight. We convocated and moved into a cosy little place. We’d only just found out about the baby when Lucas passed away.”

As you told Maddie, your hand had moved to cradle the only remaining piece of Lucas.

“His death was unexpected and sudden. He’d taken a run the morning of our scan to find out baby Gowan’s gender. He fell off the side of the cliff. I was told he died instantly. The investigator believes his shoelace untied, and he stepped on it. Fell right off the side.”

“I’m so sorry.” Maddie breathed, leaning closer to hold your hands in her own, “He’d be so proud of you. For returning to the states. Do you keep in contact with his family?”

“He was an only child. Parents died in a car accident when he was ten years old. He was in foster care until he aged out of the system. Poppy is named after his mom.”

Maddie instinctively knew talking about Lucas was, “You know you get along pretty well with Buck... I’ve never seen him so flustered.”

“Maddie, I can tell you are a very intelligent woman, but you’re wrong here. Why would a guy like Buck be interested in a pregnant woman with a reconciling relationship with her father and his Captain while grieving her baby’s dad?”

Maddie tilted her head to the side, “Because I know my brother. He’s only ever had that look when I first moved to LA. Back when Abby was still important to him.”

“We’ll just have to agree to disagree.”

Maddie’s mouth opened to speak, but you were saved by the bell when Athena called you over for pictures. Then her attempts got thwarted once more when the 118 returned to the house perfectly synced to the end of shift.

“Driving here was the last time until the baby’s here. You’ve got precious cargo-”

“I’m seven months pregnant; I can still drive. There’s no law saying I can’t-”

Never argue with Athena Grant-Nash, “It may not be illegal, but I won’t endanger my daughter or my granddaughter.”

“I have to get to my OB/GYN appointment tomorrow. You and Dad each have a long shift during my scheduled appointment. Harry is both too young to drive and in school. May has a shift at dispatch. There’s literally no one available to take me.”

Bobby watched as two of the most important women in his life argued over something as trivial as driving. Harry shook at listening to someone fighting against his mother; she could be terrifying.

“I can take her.”

Everyone in the fir house turned to the voice who’d offered suddenly and found the sheepish form of a tall firefighter. Eddie’s eyebrows raised at his best friend.

“I don’t work tomorrow. I’ve got no plans. Albert’s got some date with a girl at her place.”

“I couldn’t put you out.”

“You need a ride, and I’ll be bored, so why not take my new friend to her baby doctor.”

“Baby doctor?” Hen parroted to her wife in astonishment towards her coworker and close friend. Both the women found the blatant flirting from Buck to the soon to be mother.

“She’ll take you up on the offer. She’s staying in our guest room. Come early for breakfast before you go. We’ll be having waffles.”

Buck found any excuse to visit the Grant-Nash home with the motive to hang out with you ever since the baby shower. From delivering baked goods from your favourite bakery to insisting on driving you to appointments. Didn’t matter if Athena or Bobby could take you; Buck was adamant he drove you.

The friendship was easy going and very natural, like a ball glove still moulded perfectly to your hand. The hangouts in your home evolved to weekly visits to restaurants with guidelines to the current event happening worldwide.

Ultimately it even led to a test date.

“You look breathtaking.” Buck breathlessly informed you once he’d gently pushed your chair closer to the table.

“Thank you.” You kindly responded despite thinking the complete opposite to the charming man sitting across from you.

Athena and May had helped you get ready for the date with calming words on how going on a date so far into the pregnancy was okay. Then, your father had tentatively inserted himself with sage advice on re-entering the dating scene.

“I thought we could grab some ice cream after,” Buck spoke up as soon as the waiter had taken your drink order. Buck had decided to refrain from alcohol and went with glasses of lemonade and water.

“You shouldn’t say that. I’ll just want ice cream.” You snickered, caressing the taut belly you’d grown to love. In fact, the firm push of a heel announced Poppy’s agreement with ice cream as dessert.

“How is Poppy?”

“The doc says she’s right on track. Healthy all around and in the position, she’s supposed to be at this stage.” Buck adored the affectionate smile that always appeared when the topic of your pregnancy was brought up.

“That’s amazing! Bobby gushes about you and Poppy. The fridge has an entire door dedicated to sonograms of Poppy. Even a few from that maternity shoot Hen and Maddie surprised you with.”

A few weeks had passed since the baby shower the 118 had surprised you with. Maddie had announced her pregnancy to the joy of the chosen family she had. Bobby had put together a crib he had painted. Michael, Athena’s ex-husband, had started making plans for adding on to the house for a room for the baby.

Despite informing the architect, you planned on moving out when you had saved enough, he’d made a sound argument. Athena would want a place for the baby to stay when you visited, or the woman demanded to babysit.

Now you found yourself in a National forest not far from Los Angeles, posing in front of nature. A surprise photoshoot Hen and Karen had organized with Karen’s brother Trey. Maddie and Athena had been the ones who drove you.

“Hold the teddy bear on your bump,” Trey informed you from behind his professional and intimidating camera. The photographer praised you in the rapid movement to listen to his offer.

“Hey! Maddie! You should take a few photos. I need a pee break.” You didn’t wait for Maddie to respond in your rush to the somewhat rustic bathroom hut.

By the time you returned, Maddie was taking a couple pictures. Then you took some with Athena to have on the nursery walls and for Bobby to have a photo for his desk.

“Now one with all three of you.”

Present

“So a daredevil.” You stated unsurprised that the firefighter had a history of recklessness. You don’t go into firefighting without a taste for danger.

“The bruises and blood fit better than the awful bleached hair during my time in Peru.” Buck laughed, recalling the questionable choice in his fashion pre-firefighting. Sometimes he missed the people he encountered in his period of self-discovery.

“You didn’t wear puka sh-”

“I did. Bleached hair, puka shells and Hawaiian shirts were my staples during my bartending years. I fit in with the aesthetic of the bar I tended.”

“Buck!” You nearly gasped at his raw honesty. Buck didn’t hold back any answers to your questions, but you each strayed from the topic of family.

Talking about the tragic family history wasn’t a good idea on the first time regardless of the time you’d known each other.

“You’re telling me-” Buck halted as soon as he caught the flash of discomfort flicker over your beautiful features, “Are you okay?”

“She shifted. Been sitting on my blad-” You cut yourself off with a hiss of pain. Buck’s eyes widened at the pain taking over your features, “Oh, that hurt.”

Buck went straight into work mode, “Have you been in pain for long?”

“No. A few cramps here and there today, but my doctor said it was nothing to worry about.” You informed the experienced first responder resting level to your knees.

Buck didn’t want to say it, but he was sure that you’d gone into early labour. There was no indication your water had broken, but he kept over the last hour together. Every once in a while, you shifted or pressed a hand to your bump.

“Has your water broken?”

You shook your head, “No, but...oh... that’s not a cramp.”

With that statement out, you clenched your fingers tight on the edge of the table as pain rippled in your belly. A contraction that stole your breath momentarily. In your contraction, Buck had dialled 911. Buck recalled that sometimes a woman’s water doesn't break until right before the birth.

“We’re not getting that ice cream, are we?” You snorted upon being lifted onto the gurney. How fortunate or unfortunate you were to have the 118 right there.

Hen had taken a position at your feet to check on your lower body while Chimney took your vital signs. You honestly didn’t like the look Hen and Chimney shared with Buck.

“What is it?”

“We’re gonna need to deliver here.” Hen sighed, giving you the facts that terrified you. When you envisioned having the baby, it was in a medical centre. Not in a restaurant.

“My office is large and away from the crowd if you want. I can show you the way.” Sophie, the restaurant manager, offered already starting to lead the way. Sophie would never know how thankful you felt for being able to have privacy.

“Okay, Y/N, is it okay if I check how dilated you -.” Hen breathed with her hand, gently disappearing until the thin blanket Chimney procured from the stocked ambulance, “Y/N when I saw I want you to do that.”

Hen didn’t need to check your dilation when she could see the baby’s head already.

“I’m right here.” Buck cooed in your ear. He had held your hand as his coworkers did their jobs around you.

“This isn’t the way I envisioned you seeing my pu-”

“Push.” Hen urged, cutting off your almost vulgar language, but it eased the tension in the small restaurant office. You couldn’t even see Buck’s flustered reaction as you bore down with the contraction, “Good! Take a breath.”

“You’re a strong woman. It never ceases to amaze me the strength women have.” Buck spoke, keeping your e/c eyes on his blue ones. His hand raised to push a strand of your sweaty hair off your temple.

“Once more push!” Hen called out just in time with the last contraction. The feeling of the pressure between your legs popping was moan inducing.

Poppy was silent. Your entire body froze, yearning for the sweet sound of crying instead of the eerie silence. The world stood still as Chimney worked on your baby girl.

“Pulse is strong,” Chimney announced, keeping his attention on the task of clearing Poppy’s throat and nose. And that sweet sound of crying commenced, “Congratulations Y/N, you have a beautiful baby girl. Let’s get you to the hospital.”

Your father beat the ambulance to the nearest ER in pure anticipation at meeting his granddaughter Poppy Nash Gowan. He barely noticed as Buck stuck to your side like glue. Bobby waited outside the door as you got checked over in the room.

“Quite the first date.” You mused towards Buck, who hovered in awe over the life form you had carried for nine months. You’d been pregnant for three quarters of an entire year to his fascination.

“All my meaningful relationships started with a medical emergency.” Buck finally looked up at you. He’d kept Poppy company in the bassinet while you delivered the afterbirth upon entering the hospital.

“Seriously?”

“Had a tracheostomy on Valentine’s Day with Abby, an earthquake with Ali and a newscaster in a crashed helicopter.” Buck listed off. He hadn’t even noticed scooping the newborn into his arms until he’d sat in the chair by your bed, “Why not add a sudden labour and delivery.”

“He would have liked you.”

The sentence came out of absolutely nowhere. Almost like something had ripped it out of your vocal cords. At the look of confusion, you elaborated.

“Lucas. He would have liked you. I think if it is possible, he might have pushed me into meeting you. I’ll still need to take it slow, but I’d like to give this a shot.”

That was all Buck needed to lean in closer to kiss you—the first of many kisses.

Some might disagree on how quick your relationship with Buck developed, but they didn’t know yours at all. It was natural with the firefighter who stepped into the role of father figure for a growing Poppy. By the time Poppy was one, you’d moved into a house not far from your father’s place with Buck. By the time Poppy was three, a pretty ring had sat on your finger. By five, the young girl had a baby brother.

“Your parents spoil Poppy.”

“You say that like you didn’t crawl into her crib during her afternoon naps.” You deadpanned towards your husband. Buck had the nerve to sheepishly grin, “You give in each time she says ‘pwetty pwease’ for a cookie.”

“It’s a crime to make her sad!” Buck defended himself, but a grin of amusement threatened his act, “Besides, you crack each time too!”

“Mhm. Just wait until Theo can talk.” You pressed a kiss to the sleeping infant strapped into the baby carrier. Theodore Robert Buckley could fall asleep in a thunderstorm if he was in Buck’s arms.

“Oh! Maddie wants to have Poppy over for a play date. Madster’s been begging for her cousin to have a sleepover.”

Maddie and Chimney’s daughter was only a few months younger than your daughter, but the two were thick as thieves. Buck had referred to the Han daughter as Madster with how similar her mannerisms were to her mother.

“Think they’d take the rascal?”

“Is this code for you wanting to have another?” Buck questioned with a twinkle of mischief in his blue eyes. The same blue Theo had inherited along with a birthmark like Buck’s on his bicep.

“I-” You choked, blinking furiously, “Evan, I pushed Theo out of my body barely three months ago!”

Buck inconspicuously winked in response with the sudden scream of excitement coming from Poppy. The rambunctious five-year-old ploughed into Buck’s legs full force. Falling into the practised ease, you’d unstrapped Theo from Buck’s chest and promptly had his tiny body stolen into his grandpa’s arms.

“There’s my boy.” Bobby cooed to the sleep drunk tiny infant. The little baby is crowded by his Gram Athena and Aunt May, “Gonna have to get you a Minnesota Wilds jersey.”

“Hell no. That boy is LA born and bred. He’ll be wearing a Kings jersey like the civilized.” Michael announced with the sudden arrival of Theo and Poppy’s Uncle Harry.

“Mommy? When are we going to Stralia?” Poppy inquired from right beside your leg. Her tiny handheld is the giant one of her dad.

“In a few weeks. Are you excited to see the mommy’s old friends again?”

“Hm. Can we see Dada?”

Buck may be Poppy’s father, but he’d never let Poppy go without knowing she had two fathers in all. Her first one waiting to meet here decades from the time she was born and solely referenced Lucas as Dada. Buck was grateful for the man who brought Poppy into existence; the little green-eyed tot Buck could never regret. Unlike Buck’s parents keeping his older brother’s existence a secret, the firefighter refused to follow in their footsteps. He’d continue to shower the late Lucas in gratitude and respect. He refused to make the same mistakes as Phillip and Margaret Buckley.

“Of course. C’mon Poppy, time to say goodbye.” Buck guided the little girl to the extended family showering her little brother with love. The little girl was quickly swung into Bobby’s arms, and Athena cooing at your infant son.

Changes. The six-letter word doesn’t have to be terrifying. It can be breathtaking, memorable and beautiful to experience.

Tag List(s): (PLEASE SEND AN INBOX TO BE ADDED! I CANNOT GUARANTEE YOU WILL BE ON THE LIST VIA POST COMMENTS!)

9-1-1 Taglist:

@julessbrown

Julie and the Phantoms Taglist:

#evan buckley imagines #evan buckley #evan buckley x reader #evan buckley x fem!reader #evan buckley oneshot #911 imagines #911 oneshots #oliver stark #evan buck buckely #evan buckley x y/n #evan buckley x you #caitsy and ash productions

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floxtingdrm · 3 years ago

Text

ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕖 𝟘-𝟝: 𝔸 𝕤𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤 𝕙𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕖𝕕.

@kimura-uzuri

(Y/n)'s POV

-"It's very charming..." You sweatdropped at the nearly falling apart building. If this was the definition of 'charming' then an average 'normal' would look like a garbage dump. How were you going to survive the night here? Not to mention the creepy 'This is totally not a haunted building' vibe you get from the said building.

-"Indeed, so much that I can't help but shake in fear," Yuu said bluntly grabbing your wrist.

-" Wonderful is it? Do come in!" The crow headmaster said before opening the door, it fell off, we need safety insurance cuz you are so suing the man-bird. Yuu just seemed like he lost it, sulking in the corner but still very adorable if you do say so yourself.

-"Now you two be good kids and stay here, I know this place might not be the best but at least it would keep you rain-free and indoors," the man said apologetically while you were patting Yuu on the back.

-"If you two need anything just go to my office, I'll be there doing paperwork. Also, don't go wandering the school at night, especially you (Y/n)." the crow disappear. As the door shut closed something else crawled on your skin, oh, you nearly forgot about the cat that had to ask for help earlier.

-"Get in you little midget, also here," you said handing it a towel, Grim, the cat-raccoon had entered the building just after the sky started pouring. Yuu wasn't really bothered by the cat's presence as he was finding old cleaning tools to at least clear out the cobwebs and dust in the room.

-"(Y/n) here, you might need this, there are a few rooms upstairs that are being unused right now. You'll be needing to clear out one of the rooms, also what are we gonna do with the cat?" Yuu asked as Grim glared at the said boy. "For your information, I am not a cat!!" Grim shouted in anger while almost causing another fire hazard.

-"Settle down you two, Grim you're coming with me to clean some of the rooms. Yuu you can start cleaning down here." The three of you split up as you and Grim started to walk on the creaking wood floors and old staircase, you might need a renovation for this place.

-"Nee Grim, Why did you want to come to this school?" you asked opening the door to a seemingly nice enough bedroom.

-"It's simple, I'm a genius who was destined to be a great magician," he said before pausing for a bit. "I've been waiting for the Ebony carriage to come to pick me up but... Gah, who cares the Dark Mirror just doesn't have an eye for this, I came here on my own. Though even if it didn't really bring back anything it would be a loss for the world. You humans just don't get it"

-" You did well, for a magical cat that is"

-"Not you too--!! Kyaa!! The roof is leaking!! Do something henchman!!" Grim said running to your spot hugging your knee. You sighed looking at the roof above you, "God are you there?" you said before earning a bite from Grim.

-"let's just go find some buckets, I'm sure we have some in this old building," You said grabbing the cat by its collar.

-"Can't you just use your magic? I was sure it was you who used the ice magic on me" Grim said making you raise an eyebrow.

-"No I'm magicless, last I remember I wasn't born into a magic family nor a family familiar with magic," you told him.

The hallway creaks as the cold wind blow by, whispers were heard but no one was around, finding something in a place this dark and drenched would be a problem. Just then a figure from the shadows appears before quickly disappearing again, uninvited guest or... ghost? A figure drew close, its presence was known after a loud shriek from Grim.

-"Calm down it's just me!" Yuu said holding several old buckets.

-"Pfft, not gonna lie Grim that was pretty out of character for you" you snickered just before getting a bite on the knee. But then someone just taps behind you on your shoulder not before realizing that something felt wrong.

-"Oh did you- WHO THE FRAP ARE YOU!?" you hissed at the ghost behind you. One of them just suddenly started laughing like a maniac before the second one and then the third. Was this a prank?

-"Oh that was a good one, *snickering* We haven't had a guest for so long."

-"I've been itching for some action, shall we gentlemen?" another one said as you quickly back away standing in a defensive pose.

-"Henchman who are you--?! Gyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaaaa--!? Ghooooooooost?!" Grim shouted you need medical insurance or else you might lose your hearing in the near future.

-"The people who lived here got scared of us and left."

-"We've been looking for more ghost pals, how about you guys?"

-"I'm good with crossing over but, I don't think my friend would like that so I gotta roll with it for now," Yuu hit on your head for saying that. But you weren't joking on that matter either, sometimes you just really wanna sleep forever then just wake up not remembering a thing.

-"Grr!! The great Grim isn't afraid of anything, ghosts are one of them!" Grim said trembling, you're giving him a point for effort though. And then fire.

-"Where are you aiming!"

"Over here~"

"Not us Grim, open your eyes!"

-"Shut up!! Don't try to give me orders!!" the cat-raccoon screeched in confusion and anger at the same time. Let's test out a few cat facts, shall we?

-"Oi! If you win this battle under our instruction we'll give you a tuna can!!" You shouted at the confused cat who immediately shot back to look at you only to refrain himself.

-"Wah!?... Geh. I-I'm a genius animal, I won't let some measly tuna can persuade me!!" Grim said continuing to fire at the ghosts. "Stop moving around so much!! Bunch of cowards ganging up on me!"

-" We'll get you three!!" Yuu shouted just before you.

-"Gah!? It's a deal then! Now tell me which direction to shoot!"

-"On your left!!" You and Yuu shouted influencing Grim. The cat proceeded finally hit a ghost.

On and on as the ghost continue to regenerate and then get burned by Grim's flames, you're still wondering how the building didn't burn down yet? The ghosts weren't doing any better trying to get a scare and not getting hit by the cat-raccoon's magic. You and Yuu had also constantly dodged the flames and magic that had was flying in the air. In a fit of rage that you couldn't dodge properly, you took the magic pen within your pocket and randomly shouted something.

-"The Fall of Ice: Protection!" You shouted not realizing any of your movements. Immediately the room turned cold and whenever the ghost or Grim tried to hit you or Yuu the ice shield would be able to help block it.

-"(Y/n)! You didn't tell me you had magic?!" Yuu shouted.

-" I just found out recently dimwit!"

-"Can't you help Grim?!"

-"No, the cat will handle it"

-" Why me?! And weren't you the one who froze me during the ceremony?!"

-" Sorry can't help it!"

-" Hot, hot, hot, hot!!!" A ghost shouted, it was just pure chaos and you being the centre of it.

-" Let's hit Em' one last time! Drive them out before the building gets more damaged, " you told Grim while also dodging some of the ghost attacks.

-" This is going to take forever if we don't stop, (Y/n) if you can use your powers try to work with Grim to usher the ghost away, I'll try to clean up most of the mess going on around here"

-"Fgnah!! You two are going to have to give me five cans for this type of work!!" Grim blew out fire turning around and up. "Sure! As long as we don't die!!" You said irritated and just waved your wand in the air.

The battle finally came to an end as the ghost begin flying away, the place wasn't too damaged as you and the others fell on the floor tired and beaten up. Icicles began falling on the ground, luckily they didn't shatter or anything else.

-"*Huff, huff* you humans *sure knows how to use *huff huff* me to do *huff huff* all the dirty work"

-" We'll still get you your tuna cans,... as promised"

-"Hey (Y/n) about your magic?"

-" Keep it a secret for now, once I find out the reason behind me having some and you not having any, we'll talk to Crowley about it"

-"And Grim, keep what you know a secret, I don't want to stir up problems right now"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

:))

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misslilli · 3 years ago

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Felix Felicis

MSR. AU. PG-13. | tagging @today-in-fic | read on AO3

Chapter 27 - Embarrassments And Evil Plans

[ FM ]

It’s not like I planned it or anything, but on the same day next week, I find myself back outside, walking the streets of Plymouth. Last weekend, snow has finally fallen but it had melted right away, leaving an ugly brown slush in the streets and pools of water on the floors. Somehow, I end up in front of the only Starbucks in town, oh what a coincidence.

I enter the coffee shop a little too exuberant for the wet floor and my dress shoes, so before I can catch myself, I slip in the puddle and fall face first to the floor. It knocks the air right out of me, stupid snow!

“Well well… isn’t it a nice surprise to have a man fall at your feet, in a Starbucks of all places.” I recognize the teasing voice even without looking up, my face burning with embarrassment. When I do look up, I’m faced with a smirking Scully waiting in line for her weekly sugar fix.

“Are you okay?,” she asks between laughs after she helped me up.

“Aside from my wounded ego? Yeah, fine.” I grumble at her laughter, that’s not helping little lady.

“Sorry. Come on, I’ll buy you and your fractured ego some coffee.” We step up to the counter to the eagerly waiting barista.

“Black coffee for Bob.” she says. “Peppermint Mocha, sweet cream foam and an extra shot of espresso for Nancy.” I say.

She hands over her credit card and at the end of the counter, as we wait, she raises an eyebrow at me. “Nancy? Really? Next time, I’m choosing the undercover names!” ‘She said next time!’

“I’m curious about that sugar mixed with more sugar concoction of yours, can I get a sip?” She gives me a ‘Yeah right’ look.

“Nu-huh, you’ve proven youself to be a concoction-snob, you’re not getting a sip.”

“Ouch, there goes my recently mended fractured ego again!”

As if we’ve never been doing anything else, we walk out of Starbucks and turn to head towards the junction where we’ll have to part ways.

“You should really invest in some sensible winter boots, city boy! These are just a safety hazard!” I burn my tongue on my coffee with a hiss.

“That won’t go well with the GQ cover look I’m going for, to be honest.”

“Well, maybe you should consider modeling for Land’s End if you don’t want to kill yourself in the winter that’s about to come!”

When she almost slips herself in her high-heeled boots, I offer her my arm. “Maybe you should start by taking your own advice, being on the Vogue side of the shoe department yourself!”

“I need all the height I can get, otherwise I won’t be able to see across the Starbucks counter.” I chuckle, taking another sip, my tongue still burning.

“Sooo how has your week been so far?” She goes on to tell me stories about her kids at school and the girls, then I tell her about my new case, as much as I’m allowed to, anyway. I also tell her about how my mother, while very helpful, is slowly driving me up the wall.

Skirting the fine line between friends and flirting, we never actually talk about what we are to each other now. I’m just glad we’re on speaking terms again and enjoy her company. Also, I’d rather chew my own arm off before I put myself into the friend zone voluntarily. We don’t arrange to meet anywhere else, like on a date - that would be like pouring gasoline over the line and setting the damn thing on fire.

We part ways with a short hug and head off in different directions, the coffee and something else warming us up from the inside.

—————

[ Teena ]

Over the course of the past few weeks, I’ve seen quite an improvement happening with my son, he’s not obsessing over work anymore and he seems to be getting better. Why, I can’t say, maybe it’s therapy, maybe it’s me taking care of him, maybe it’s something entirely different, like what’s happening during his walks on Tuesdays he keeps insisting on.

Either way, I’m glad that he’s doing better, I hate seeing him hurting.

Felix and I are spending a lot of quality time together and I marvel at the amazing child he’s become, despite his history. His mother is a piece of work in itself, she’s late every single time she picks him up from school, and this week, of course she does it again.

The call from Principal Skinner comes on the landline and I happen to be the one who takes it, which is how I found out about this situation in the first place. Felix doesn’t like to talk about it and, knowing my opinion of his ex-wife, Fox avoids talking to me about her like the plague.

The weekend passes, we talk, we cook, we laugh, we reminisce about the old days and I can’t wait for Sunday evening, when Felix returns with his mother.

She sends him into the house without coming in, which is rude in its own way, so I leave the two boys to themselves and step out of the house. “Diana, a word please.”

She’s surprised to see me there and I wonder if she talks to her son at all during those weekends because if she did, I’m sure he’d mention that I’m staying at their house for a while.

“I heard that you were late for pick-up again this Friday.” The defiant look she gives me is not new, I’ve seen it a thousand times when I tell her how I feel about her parenting abilities. She doesn’t think I have a say in the matter, but I’ve raised two children and I’m fiercely protective of them as well as my grandson.

“And…?,” she has the audacity to ask.

“It’s disrespectful to your child and his needs that you don’t seem to care enough to be on time. We’d appreciate it if you made an effort to be on time from now on. Goodnight.” Not waiting for a reply, I close the door in her face. I’ve said all I had to say.

—————

[ Felix ]

“… and a partrige in a pear treeee.” We finish singing all thousand verses of The 12 days of Christmas just before the bell rings for recess, proud that we mostly got it right. It’s really hard!

Sitting in my designated spot on the teacher’s bench, I take my chance of talking to Miss Anderson alone while Miss Scully is settling yet another fight between her kids on the playground.

“Hey Miss Anderson, can I ask you a favor?”

“Sure Felix, what’s up?”

“It’s about the trip to the Chocolate Factory on the last Thursday before Christmas. My dad’s coming on it too to chaperone and I was wondering if you could maybe put him with another group? I know it’s not very nice but I don’t want him to ruin my good reputation. He’s such a dork!” The last part I stage-whisper, to the laugh of Mrs. Anderson.

“It’s not very nice, no, but I get it, it’s no fun if your parents come on school trips. I’ll see what I can do, alright?”

An idea has formed in my head since the day dad told me he’d be coming on the school trip, an evil genius idea. I hope Miss Anderson will go along with it.

Feigning nonchalance, I swing my legs, pretending that this idea just popped into my head right now. This is the most important part in my evil plan so I need to get it right.

“Soooo… maybe we could put him with the fourth grade kids? They’re randy and loud and they fight so much, I think they need someone like dad to keep them in line!” That’ll teach him not to come on school trips anymore, hee hee.

Why Miss Anderson looks at me with surprise, I have no idea, but she agrees. Yes! My evil plan has been set in motion.

#moving past the angsty sh*t yay #on to happier times #I'm having so much fun with this!#xf #the x files #xf fanfic #msr #felix felicis

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stxrrywildflower · 4 years ago

Text

this town {g.w.}

pairing - george weasley x reader

summary - you introduce george to one of your favorite songs

warnings - none

this fic includes the use of modern technology

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

being a muggle-born, you usually spent summers back home with your family.

during that time, you were able to see your friends and extended family as well as do your usual ‘muggle activities’ as you usually called them.

your favorite part of all, however, was finally being able to catch up on all the music released throughout the year. you were almost cut off from the muggle world at hogwarts, and the time off allowed you to finally listen to what you were missing.

in the first few days off of school, you listened to as much music as possible. when you could, you wanted to show fred and george everything.

the three of you were going into your final year at hogwarts. naturally, you wanted to spend more time together; more specifically you and george for obvious reasons.

molly had extended the invite for you to spend the summer at the burrow. harry and hermione were joining the family as well, and she thought it would be sweet to invite you as well. you fit right in with the family, between getting along with everyone right down to making george ‘‘the happiest molly has ever seen him.”

after thoroughly explaining everything they needed to hear, your parents had finally agreed.

george greeted you in the field outside of his family home when you finally arrived, immediately enveloping you in a hug. “i’ve missed you so much sweetheart.”

“it’s been four days george,” you commented, though you weren’t exactly complaining.

“so? can’t i miss my girlfriend?” he spoke, adding on a hurt tone.

you pulled back first, hand moving up to cup his cheek. “i’m sorry george, i missed you too,” you beamed. he leaned down to kiss you deeply, only stopping moments later from the sound of footsteps.

“hey hey hey,” fred interrupted. “you have all summer to do that.”

you shifted away from george with a light blush on your face, allowing the boys to pick up your bags so you could head inside. “where are your parents?” you asked.

“out getting hermione and harry,” george answered. “so we got the house to ourselves.”

fred gagged in the back. “get your mind out of the gutter fred,” you rolled your eyes. “i don’t think i can after george’s innuendo.”

george finally had enough of your arguing and spoke up again. “since we have no one to criticize us, why don’t we work on those fireworks?”

↓

george snuck into your room almost immediately after dinner that night. he stopped abruptly right before entering, mouth agap and nearly frozen in place.

“close your mouth georgie, you know what molly says about the flies,” you teased.

“what’s that?”

you met george’s eyes, a slight smile forming at how much his expression matched a little kid on christmas.

it was no secret the weasley boys loved any muggle items arthur usually collected. the twins usually tinkered with them for their latest pranks. you never had the heart to tell any of them the true meanings or how they really worked.

“this is a smartphone, my mom let me bring it before school starts up,” you explained, patting the spot beside you on your bed for him to sit. “it’s how we basically communicate in the muggle world. we use it to talk, play games, music,” you rambled off.

“music?” george spoke.

you nodded. “yeah there’s different programs we can use. do you want to here some?”

george settled further on the bed, leaning close to you as you opened up your music service.

“this one is called ‘this town.’ it’s my absolute favorite song,” you added. “really?”

“yeah, it’s always been a dream to dance to this.”

a lightbulb went off in george’s head, though he managed to keep his reaction minimal. you let the song play through your phone speakers, a gentle smile forming right away.

george had a lot of planning to do.

_____

you were back in your room a few nights later. george was tucked firmly in your side, letting his head rest in the crook of your neck so your hand could run through his newly short hair.

“i kinda miss your long hair,” you spoke.

george brought his head up to meet your gaze. “i thought you hated my long locks,” he retaliated.

“i could never.”

“come on,” george tugged, standing up abruptly to pull you from the bed. “let’s go outside.”

“outside? george it’s pouring rain.”

your boyfriend huffed before shifting his facial expression into one you knew would get you. “alright fine,” you soon agreed.

without another word, george grabbed your hand to lead you out of the room and through the hallways. you had to be more quiet as it was fairly late at night and people were already starting to turn in.

“and why are we going outside?”

“it’s a surprise,” george answered. you mentally rolled your eyes, you should have known.

it took you a few minutes to get down to the base floor and george didn’t let a single clue go the entire time.

he stopped by the back door, opening it up and guiding you out by placing his hand on the small of your back.

“you didn’t,” you immediately spoke.

george raised on eyebrow with a grin. “oh i did.”

towards the middle of the field, george had set up a gazebo tent with various string lights twirled around the legs and up into the top. “isn’t that a fire hazard with the rain?”

george stopped dead in his tracks. you looked towards him, awaiting an answer to calm your concerns.

“i’ve already planned for that, we’re fully safe under here,” with that, he placed a gentle kiss to your nose.

you made your way through the field, occasionally jumping in the puddles you passed by. you were incredibly thankful george hadn’t told you to wear shoes.

the two of you finally made it to the tent. the rain poured through the top giving the illusion that the lights were the only thing surrounding you.

“dad helped me set it up,” george explained. “he’s been tinkering with some muggle speakers and finally got them working.”

“speakers? for what?”

george let go of your hand to pull out his wand. with one quick swoosh and a mutter of a spell, music slowly poured out. within just a few seconds, you recognized it as the song you had shown him just a few days before.

“now, may i have this dance?” he extended one hand out.

you bit your lip to hold back a giggle. the whole concept itself wanted to make you cry; dancing in the rain with the person you loved was becoming a dream come true.

you swayed back and forth, focusing on your movements.

george kept one hand on your waist, the other out to the side to interlock with yours. you let your head fall against his chest, focusing on the vibrations of his chest. his lips occasionally fell to place a kiss to your head.

“are you humming?” you inquired.

george let out a light laugh. "i love this song.”

you pressed your head further into his chest to hide your smile.

the rain continued to pour down around the two of you. after awhile, you forgot about it. you were already soaking wet after all.

you recognized the ending of the song begining and frowned. just one nearly four minute song felt like it went by way too fast.

if you were being honest, you didn’t want it to end.

but alas, the chords of the song were soon replaced by the continuous fall of the rain.

neither of you moved from your hold, choosing to savor the time together.

“thank you for this,” you spoke quietly.

george ducked down to press his lips to your temple, cutting through the rain for the simple gesture. “always, love.”

#harry potter #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter fanfic #george weasley #george weasley x reader #george weasley x y/n #george weasley fanfiction #george weasley fluff #the weasley twins #fred and george #gryffindor

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sashi-ya · 4 years ago

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{+18} - Law x Fem Best Friend ♥ CH.2

♥ Daily living with the Heart pirates crew AU ♥ Spoilers after Dressrosa Arc. Law´s backstory. ♥ Female reader. Little physical description. Everybody is 18+, canon ages. ♥ TW: Nightmares related to PTSD. Little NSFW. no further warnings. If you think I should include some feel free to tell me ♥Thank you for the likes and follows, I appreciate it them so so much! If you wanna know when I’ll be updating the next chapters, you can follow me on Twitter @LawIsMyWaifu, come interact I love to have mutuals that love Law and One Piece as much as I do ♥

Word count: 4.1K

» List of parts: {CH1} {CH2} {CH3} {CH4} {CH5} «

Chapter 2.

The sound of his low, raspy voice resonated all over my head, making my body react instantly. I gasped as I felt a strike of pleasure travelling down my stomach to in between my legs. Closing my eyes, unable to move, I didn’t want to move, I wanted him to keep whispering, to kiss my neck… “Hahahaha, I’m sorry, I’m just fooling around, your face, you look astonished Y/N-ya”, he said while laying back on the bed, laughing. I chuckled as I stood up brushing my clothes as if I was trying to fix them. “Stop it, I’m not into that you ass. Goodnight”, I said trying to dissimulate how agitated and embarrassed I was.

Almost running, I left the room, directly to mine, holding on my hand my underwear. I jumped to my bed resting violently on my back. “WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?” ... a little time passed until I passed out.

Hard knocks on my door woke me up. “Vice-Captain!! wake up! breakfast is ready!!!” Clione shouted from the corridor. “God damn how many times I have to tell this whole crew I fucking hate being awakened with shouting?” I mumbled annoyed, covering my face with the sheets.

I was brushing my hair when I remembered my “memory box” for some reason. Opened my drawer and found the little velvet red box that holds my “treasures”. Inside, there is a photo of my parents with me when I was 7, happy, eating some ice cream with them. It was taken during one of “the white parades”, on Flevance, before everything turned into hell. A little blue bow that my little sister used to wear, some photos of Law, Bepo, Shachi, Penguin and me when we were the only members of our crew. And, a necklace Law made with some seashells as a gift for my 15th birthday, were also inside.

I got watery eyes while looking at it, “I must be getting old”, I thought, “I got emotional over the memories” ... laughed and put everything back to its place.

“Morning..” I said, greeting the whole crew that was already devouring their breakfast. I noticed Law wasn’t there, so I had to ask. Uni told me he was in the control room preparing for the arrival at the next island. I took a few pancakes and some tea and headed to the control room to ask my captain if he needed help.

“Good morning, doc”, I saluted him. Law that was seated facing the controls, turned the chair to look at me nodding. He has more dark circles as always, so I asked him, “Oi, did you sleep last night? are you feeling sick again?”. “I’m ok, I didn’t get much sleep last night. I got caught up with the book I was reading”, he answered with his usual unfriendly tone. “Yeah, right” I answered back, rolling my eyes, and proceeded “Let me know if you need something before we get to the island”. Left the control room and went back to my room.

I knew him well to know he hadn't slept because something was worrying him, and not because he was reading the old comic book of “Sora, the warrior of the sea against the evil Germa 66”. But hey, Law never shows any emotion besides annoyance if he is not sick.

A few hours later, the submarine got to the shore of some winter island, and we all got ready to accomplish our assigned tasks. “Ok everyone, we will meet here at 7 pm, is that clear?” told my crew members, everybody agreed and headed to the island.

The temperature was pretty low, and it was snowing. Law was wearing the long black coat with yellow dots and our Jolly Roger that he used to wear at Punk Hazard, his hat and of course the Kikoku over his shoulder. I love when he wears warm clothing, he looks so cozy, hiding his mouth behind the collar. (He does it so his lips don’t get chapped with the cold breeze, haha). I don't like to wear the boiler-suit when we get to explore islands, so I decided to wear a long yellow coat with a hood, also with our crew's Jolly Roger emblazoned on the left side of the chest.

We asked a few civilians where to find a pharmacy and headed to the destination following their instructions. Law didn’t say much during the walking, as he normally does.

The island seemed a little bit deserted, yet it had picturesque streets, full of colour that stand out from the snow. It has cobbled lanes, some canals of crystallized water, there were wooden houses and shops with little lights that garnished their architecture giving the place a romantic aura. The scenery behind the city center included big snowed mountains and a big castle over one of the highest peaks.

I saw a boutique with some cute sweaters on display that caught my eyes and I wanted to try them on. “Law, would you mind if I enter here? I want to buy a new sweater.”, I said. Law looked at me and made a gesture with his hand as he was saying to go ahead.

While searching for the sweater I like on one of the clothing racks I saw through the shop window that a few kids approached the captain. The seller asked me if I needed some help, so I stopped looking at him and l directed my gaze to the girl in the shop. So, I forget about him.

After buying two cute pullovers, we continued walking through the picturesque streets.

When we finally arrived at the pharmacy shop, it seemed like it was closed, but the door was open, so we entered. I rang the bell over the counter and waited for someone to show up. Law walked in front of me and had his hand over his sword. I knew he was alert and trying to protect me even if he didn’t say a word. I didn’t think we could be in danger, yet he never fully relaxes when we are outside. After all, he is one of the most wanted pirates of our generation, so it's understandable he trusts no stranger.

After a minute or so, an old lady approached the counter from the inside of the store. She seemed a little weak and perhaps a little sick. She coughed, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, and then greeted us. “Good afternoon, how can I help you?”, she asked. Law handed her a list of supplies we needed, and we waited. “Oi, don’t you think she looks bad? I mean, she is probably sick, should I ask if she is ok?”, I told Law who gave me a disapproving sight. I rolled my eyes, and said, “Fiiiine…”, “You know that I hate you rolling your eyes at me, you did it yesterday and now too. Stop it.” I looked at him with an “excuse me?” face and while I was about to spit an insult to him the granny appeared. “I’m sorry, I put on the bag some of the supplies, but I don’t have everything you need. We are short on medicines'', she informed us and started coughing harder. “Excuse me, Mrs. Are you alright? are you sick?”, I asked as she seemed to lose composure from all the nagging coughing. Law, that hated when I don’t give a fuck about what he had just said, gave me the look of death. “Oh young lady, we are pretty much sick, a strange illness is hitting the island. Even the only doctor in town fell ill. The orphanage, though, is getting the worst part. All of the kids are bedridden”, as she said, the memories of Flevance and the amber lead disease hit me.

Law's expression changed to a more compassionate one and asked about the symptoms they were experiencing. He might be serious, he might not want to get involved in a lot of things, but he is a true doctor. And he can't let people die if he can help.

We decided to visit the orphanage in hopes of helping the sick people, so we asked the old lady to give us directions to it. She said it was pretty far from the city center and told us her husband would take us there with his cart.

"Thank you so much for offering your help, young doctors", said the old lady's husband that later told us his name was Gerald. The cart was pulled by two brown percheron horses that opened their way through the white landscape.

We had a small talk during the journey, until Gerald asked, "how long have you been together? Are you already married?". Despite the freezing cold weather, my cheeks turned to fire, and I could sense Law hiding his head even more into his coat and hat. Almost as if clarifying that we were no couple was a life or death situation I said, "WE ARE JUST BEST FRIENDS!". I realized I almost shouted and felt mortified. Gerald looked at us with a little smirk and kind eyes, excusing himself for the mistake.

A few minutes after we arrived at the orphanage. It took us almost 30 minutes to get there and the sun was starting to set on the horizon.

When we entered the place, the situation was worse than we thought. There were kids and adults lying on the ground, some of them shivering, others coughing while others were straight unconscious. A few nurses were working in order to maintain them, but the situation had clearly surpassed them.

Immediately Law and I started working. While I helped the nurses, Law used his ope ope no mi power to scan the bodies of the sick people.

We got to the conclusion that what they were suffering was a type of bacteria that caused the respiratory symptoms and the fever.

During our duty, there were times when our eyes interlocked, and we smiled at each other. I wouldn't say we like people suffering, but, we certainly enjoyed working to save lives together.

A few hours passed since we arrived there, the sun was already set, and outside it seemed as if a snowstorm was beginning. I've lost track of time until my portable Den Den Mushi started to ring. "Oi, y/n, where are you? Is Law with you? Are you alright? We've been waiting for you on the shore! It's 9 pm already and we were supposed to meet at 7!", shouted Shachi from the other side of the line. "Oh my God I'm sorry I forgot to tell you!... you see …" I explained to them what we've been doing and that we were probably not going to return to the submarine in a few more hours.

The kids and the other people began to get better and those who were helping there offered us some food that we accepted happily.

While we were having dinner, Gerald got back from outside, who's been in the forest collecting some firewood. He informed us that the weather was getting really bad so coming back to town would be pretty dangerous.

Law and I agreed that staying there for the night was the safer choice.

One of the nurses, Sister Alley, told us we could spend the night in the cabin next to the orphanage. "I'm really sorry guys, I wished we had a better place for you, we owe you so much. The cabin has a fireplace, Gerald would start a fire to keep you warm”, she said. We both smiled at her and thanked for it.

We walked some meters through the forest until we started to catch sight of a wooden cabin. Despite being a strong pirate, I’m the queen of the clumsy people, so I slipped off with what I assume was an ice patch on the already snowy ground. I was about to hit the ground when Law grabbed me by the waist and saved me from a few bruises. His face in front of mine, the feeling of being safe on his arms, I wished it has been eternal. But the romantic moment was destroyed by Law mocking me. “It must be the devil fruit; how come you are so clumsy? Be careful”, he said, and I told him to shut up, this time I wasn’t embarrassed, but I was almost angry at him.

“Here we are, let me help you with the fire”, Gerald said, opening the wood door that creaked as it moved. The inside felt cozy, there were a few cushions and pillows on the ground next to the fireplace. There were no separate rooms, so in the middle of the lounge there was some kind of mattress with a few blankets over it. Our “host” asked for forgiveness about the lack of separate beds, but Law intercepted him and said, “It’s ok sir, we are grateful to have a warm place to stay until tomorrow. If you need help with any patient during the night, just please tell us”. It might be ok for you, damn Law. Was I supposed to sleep with him? - I mean, I wanted to, but, he was still my best friend, and those thoughts should have been erased.

Gerald wished us a good night and returned to the main building.

I hung my coat and as I love to explore, I started to do so around the little wooden house. The kitchen seemed really equipped, so I grabbed a kettle and some cups. Gerald was kind enough to give us some tea bags, so I thought making some tea was a great idea.

Law was next to the fireplace, wearing only a sweater and his jeans. Apparently he has already hung up his coat and his white spotted hat. I saw him once more with a lost sight that seemed to contemplate the firewood.

Looking at him with my face resting on my arm that was over the breakfast nook, I got lost worshiping his profile. I’ve always adored his upturned nose, his spiky black hair, his facial hair, the contrast between his grey eyes and the tanned skin. How come he has always been so handsome, but I’ve never seemed to fully realize?.

The whistle of the kettle intensified as the water started boiling, but I was so into admiring my best friend's beauty that I didn’t notice. Law turned to me and woke me up from my reverie shouting “Oi, Y/N, the kettle!”. My stupid smile quickly erased from my face, and my whole skin turned red. “Sorry”, I said straight away and turned off the burner.

I served two cups, noticing that the tea has an amazing scent. I believe it was hibiscus mixed with some other spices, perhaps some cardamom and maybe a little hint of clover. The smell of the tea mixed with the slightly one from the logs burning, was wonderful.

I walked to where my captain was, “Here, I think you may like it”, I said and handed him a cup. Our fingers brushed softly when grabbed the tea, he looked at me and said “Thanks”. I sat not so near him over one of the cushions and sipped a little bit of my tea. Law looked at me and stood up from his place. I could sense how awkward he felt when he made a little pause, and then walked away.

Why is he leaving? Did I make him feel uncomfortable?, I asked myself trying to hide little stings of pain on my chest that traveled to my throat. Somehow I felt like crying, and when my eyes started to get slightly watery, Law approached me placing his hand over my right shoulder.

I turned my face to him, looking up with a slightly pouty face. I was about to cry, and I didn’t even know why when I noticed a blue little box on his hand.

He sat next to me and said, "Do you remember when we were 15?, that day when I gave you that necklace I made myself for your birthday? I looked at him confused but I answered, "yes, of course, I got it on my memory box, I'm afraid to wear it outside the polar cause it might get lost and I wouldn't forgive myself if I lose it". He was now looking at the little box moving it around nervously and finally said "I got you a better one". He handed me the little box still not looking at me.

"A present?? OMG Law, thank you very much!" When did you buy it??" I almost shouted in excitement while opening the box. Inside there was a fine rose gold necklace that has a little anatomical heart figure as a pendant. I grabbed it and admired the beauty of the jewelry I had in my hands. The heart had a little red stone crimped on it, that shined with every movement.

"Law, this is too much! It must have cost you a lot of Berries, I don't deserve such a fine jewel!, thank you so much", I expressed with a big smile on my face.

"You do deserve more than this, you know. I'm glad you like it", he said, a little embarrassed. “When you were buying the sweaters, I asked some children there if they knew a jewelry store, turned out it was just around the corner”, he confessed.

“Thank you so much, it is just perfect! You know how I adore hearts; they remind me of you.. “Doctor Heart Stealer”” I almost shouted, realizing I have said too much…

I tried to put it on my neck, but I couldn’t clip it right, so I asked him for help. He stood up, kneel at my back and passed from behind the necklace around my neck.

Some branches hit the window violently as they were suffering the merciless wind of the snowstorm outside.

He struggled a little and finally fastened the collar and when he did, the electric power went off. The fireplace was the only source of light, the dance of the fire created figures with shadows and highlights all around the walls of the cabin. We remained silent, maybe a little scared or even surprised, but enjoying the sound of the weather and the creak of the fire.

He was still behind me, and after a few seconds he placed a soft kiss on my back that sent a shiver through my spine. Once again I was unable to speak, did he… did he just kiss my back?.. Before I could say or do something Law stood up and headed to one of the windows. “The storm seems to be even worse than earlier; don’t you think?”, he said, trying to device something through the window.

I couldn’t focus on anything else than the kiss he softly planted on my nape, minutes ago. He suddenly yawned and walked to the mattress that was in the center of the room, on the floor. He then took his jeans off and hopped inside the bed, naturally. I remained on my spot, contemplating his actions. “How could he be acting so normal?, I’m right here. He just gave me a necklace, kissed my skin and now he just goes to sleep?” I said to myself, still with a confused expression on my face.

“Oi, aren’t you coming to bed?”, he asked me, freely. “Yes… give me a second”, I said, and ran to the bathroom. The toilet was pretty tiny and basic, but enough for me to hide for a few minutes. “Come on, Y/N you slept with him two nights ago, it’s ok, he is like your brother, it’s ok…” I thought, trying to calm myself down.

I finally left my hiding place and headed to the mattress. Law was lying there, he took off his sweater, probably while I was in the bathroom, so he was only using a white tight undershirt, that molded his torso anatomy. Some blankets were covering the under part of his body from his hips. He had his forearm over his eyes, covering them with his neck stretched back.

I bite my lip, as a reaction for such a tempting scene. I was enjoying it, watching him breathe peacefully. I started feeling hot, so I took off the sweater but not my jeans and approached the “bed”.

I thought Law was already asleep, so I got in bed trying not to wake him up. I muffled myself up with the sheets. I remained still, hearing the snowstorm, fixing my eyes on the wooden ceiling, as the memories of my childhood flooded my mind. It must be the snowstorm, the wind, the cold that triggered these memories. eventually I fell asleep.

“No, stop it, my family, leave us alone!!!!”, I screamed. “Y/n-ya! Y/n-ya!, wake up!” said Law, pulling me out from the terrific oneiric world I was submerged in. I got lost into his eyes, and remained there with tears streaming from my eyes, rolling into my cheeks. Law was holding me close to his body around his arms. “Are you having those nightmares, again? why didn’t you tell me?”, he asked, worried. “This is the first time in ages, I think it must be the storm, perhaps the orphanage, the children…”, I expressed amid tears. My best friend brushed his tattooed fingers through my hair, moving it out of my face, and then wiped the tears from my cheeks.

“Oi, do you remember what happened when I gave you the first necklace?” he asked, trying to distract me. A feeling of warmth invaded my insides, suddenly I felt happy. “I do...” I said, laughing timidly, and continued, “It was my first kiss”. He smiled back at me, and said, “Mine too”.

For a second we both closed our eyes. I was grabbing the pendant with my left hand cherishing it and the memories of our younger days when we kissed for the first time. We haven't had much time to think about love while striving to survive so we forgot about it, letting the days, months and years pass, leaving the experience as a mere child’s play.

Suddenly we started laughing, Law didn't let go of me, and our faces were pretty close. “Everything's better when you laugh, I hate it when you cry, it makes me so sad…” he said, rubbing his thumb over my right cheek. I stopped laughing, as he got even closer. Almost as if the point of our noses were about to touch. I could feel the warmth of his breath over my lips, and he did too. My heart started racing, and the only thing I could hear was the blood pumping on my ears. I wasn’t moving, I wanted him to kiss me, I wanted to kiss him… I just didn’t care that he was my best friend, I just needed him to kiss me. What is taking him so long? Why am I not moving if I wanted this more than anything?. After a good minute, that felt eternal, he exclaimed “Fuck it”, and plant the sweetest kiss over my lips. A feeling of happiness filled my insides, I’ve never been so joyful in ages, it felt the same way as the first time. I was like a teenage girl experimenting love for the first time. Both smiled still with our lips pressed. I doubted for a second if succumbing to my deepest desires was the right thing to do until he decided to turn the cute kiss into a more passionate one. From then on, the desire I’d been accumulating inside of me took control of my body…

We kept on kissing; Law slid a hand under my shirt timidly caressing the skin of my tummy. The kisses migrated from my mouth to my neck, mixed with little bites that surely would turn into hickies tomorrow.

“Law…” I gasped when his hands reached my breasts. “What?” he replied, whispering next to my ear and pinching one of my nipples in between two fingers…

Chapter 3

Ch1: Link

#Trafalgardwaterlaw #one piece law #law x reader #trafalgar d law x reader #Trafalgar law x reader #one piece x reader

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ficforce · 4 years ago

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Circles and Crosses and Heroes

Shinmon Benimaru x Reader OC Child SFW No set timeline as an OC AU Benimaru’s Daughter wants to get married

“Unca Konro!”

Konro bent down and picked up the toddler with a smile, she settled against his side and was content to be quiet whilst he finished his conversation with another man. Once he was done, Konro turned to look at her, “Do you even know where your mouth is?” The man pulled out a handkerchief from his belt, he usually kept it on him when he was babysitting, and wiped her face of the rice bits, “What’s up?”

She made a grab for the piece of cloth but missed as he pulled it away, “Can’t find Papa.”

“Papa is training with Arthur and Shinra,” Konro walked toward the back of the guardhouse with the tiny girl and slid open the shoji door. Arthur was lying face down in the dirt whilst Shinra and Benimaru went at it, Benimaru wasn’t fighting particularly hard but he was giving the kid a workout, “See.”

“Papa!”

Shinra let out a sharp yelp as the Captain caught his ankle and launched him across the yard into a wall, he hadn’t seemed to have made any effort to do so and that ticked Shinra off. The teen jumped up and fired up his feet to attack again - stopping as he realised that Benimaru was already by Konro and taking his daughter from the man. It melted his heart to see the little girl snuggle into the most dangerous man in Asakusa, she was a really cute kid and it was obvious she had Benimaru wrapped around her little finger. “What?” He demanded from his child, tipping his head back as she reached for his hair, “You never do this to Konro, he’s got more to pull on, brat.”

“Because she respects her Uncle, I need to get the reports from across town, Waka. Y/N’s not back yet.” Konro loved looking after her but he still had duties and he wasn’t going to leave a two and a half-year-old alone, “I’ll leave her to you - try not to teach her anymore swear words.”

“It’s not my fault she’s got big ears,” they were never going to forgive him for that. Benimaru kicked Arthur to wake him up and then held her out to Shinra, “I got a few errands to run too, take care of her. If her eyes turn into crosses then be ready to put out some fires…” He ruffled her hair and headed off, “Be good!”

Shinra looked at the toddler with a nervous smile, he loved kids, he loved playing with them and generally being around them but this was Shinmon Benimaru’s daughter. If even a single hair on her head were damaged - He’d be dead. He didn’t usually spend much time with her, mostly in Asakusa for training and when he did see her she was usually with her mother and not interested in anyone else. She was a cute kid, all of her father’s colouring but looking more like her mother, “You hungry?”

“Nope.”

“Sleepy?”

“Nu-uh.” she smacked her hand onto his cheek and pulled a little, “You gots shark teefs.”

Arthur sprung up and held his arms out for her, “He’s a devil! I’ll protect you, Princess!”

The toddler blinked at him and puffed out her cheeks, her eyes narrowing as her iris’ morphed into crosses and Arthur’s right sleeve caught fire, “Papa protek me…” They returned to circles and she wriggled around until Shinra put her down, “Wanna Daifuku.”

“But you said you ate already,” Shinra crouched down to her level, ignoring as Arthur waved his arm around and blew on the flames, they weren’t particularly hot but Shinra figured it would be dangerous if she burned something and it got out of control. “I guess that little old lady would be happy to see you though… Want me to fly you there?”

Benimaru’s daughter looked excited all of a sudden and bounced in place, “Like Papa does?! Like a witch!”

The teen snorted into his hand, he could see how the matoi might look like a fiery broom and give that kind of imagery, “Nah, Like a hero!”

“Hero?” She couldn’t quite imagine it but didn’t object when Shinra picked her up and kicked dust and fire up into Arthur’s face before rocketing up into the sky. The little girl squealed in delight and giggled as he did a loop just to show off a little.

He had them to the old woman’s stall in no time flat and landed in a pose. “That’s how a hero lands!”

“So dumb!” She didn’t care about his crestfallen expression and ran toward the old woman, grabbing her sleeve with big eyes, “Biddy!”

“O-oi… that’s kinda rude…” Shinra watched as the woman stroked the girl’s hair and made it a little neater, already fussing about how cute she looked and how big she was getting. Within moments the toddler was munching on fresh sweets and the old woman was shovelling more into a bag for her to take home to her family. “Don’t forget to thank the lady.”

“Thanks, Biddy!” She made a run between Shinra’s legs to the stall across from the Daifuku and began chatting with the vendor, watching as he threw some ingredients into a boiling pot of oil.

The teen figured that everyone likely knew who she was and he relaxed a little, Benimaru was loved by the people of Asakusa and he had no doubt that love was extended to his daughter. He half kept an eye on her as he chatted to the old woman, catching up on the latest news and then he felt that odd sensation he got when something was about to happen. Was it an infernal, red eyes zeroed in on the toddler, he would make sure she was safe first but then he gasped as he saw her stumble, her tiny little hands grabbed the pole holding up the hot oil and the boiling liquid began to spill toward her.

Shinra had never been so grateful for his speed as he had been then, the training he had received from Benimaru and all the practice he put into his Rapid attack were all worth it. He underestimated his stopping point and he ended up rolling a few feet across the street, the little girl bundled to his chest as he used his legs and arms to keep her from getting hurt. He glanced at the spot where she had fallen and swallowed thickly as he saw the spot now covered in oil, scorching the ground - he didn’t know how fireproof she was but the toddler would have been badly hurt. Sitting up he checked her over for any scrapes, “You okay?” Her crimson eyes began to fill with tears and she let out a loud wail as she began to cry, Shinra sighed in relief as he found no harm had come to her, she was just freaked out from the accident, “It’s okay, Save-the-girl-and-be-a-hero-man is here.” He hugged her close and picked her up, figuring he should at least carry her home.

— -

She stuck to his side from then, following him around the guardhouse, holding onto his pant leg and insisting he carry her for the rest of the day. When her mother arrived home first she ran to Y/N and the woman pressed a kiss to her head, “Thanks for helping out, Shinra.”

After that people began to return to the guardhouse for dinner or to get changed and go home, some of them had plans already but the whole place became more lively, Hinata and Hikage cheered as they saw him. The news of what Shinra had done to save Benimaru’s daughter had spread throughout the town… So it was really no surprise when the teen found himself pinned to the wall by his throat. Benimaru’s eyes were glowing bright and he looked about ready to incinerate the other there and then, “You made her cry.”

‘You made her cry,’ not, ‘You nearly let my child get horribly injured,’.

He couldn’t reply even if he wanted to, he grabbed Benimaru’s wrist and tried to loosen his grip a little so that he could breathe. He was about to kick at the Captain when the pitter-patter of little bare feet rushed toward them and the toddler pulled on Benimaru’s leg, “Nooo! Papa! No!” She tugged on him harder and a spike of heat travelled up the man’s leg as the clothing began to burn. Benimaru looked down at her as he extinguished the small flames, her eyes were beginning to water, the crimson orbs glowing as brightly as his and her body heat raised enough to dry out her damp hair from her bath. Letting Shinra go he scooped her up and carried her over to sit by the table, placing her on his lap and getting her to calm down before she had a burnout. “No hurt Shinra! You can’t!”

“Why not.”

“Gonna marry Shinra!” She yanked on her father’s clothing and pulled his sleeve down his arm. It was then that Y/N came in and took her from Benimaru, snuggling the toddler until her small tantrum calmed enough that she wasn’t a walking fire hazard. “Like Shinra!”

“Papa isn’t going to do anything to Shinra,” Y/N turned to half glare at the man, “Right, Beni?”

Benimaru shrugged and glared at the teen, he had other ways of showing his displeasure and if Shinra wasn’t dead after training the next day then he would just have to try harder. Of course, he was grateful that his daughter hadn’t been hurt and that the other had protected her but Shinra had let her get that close to danger in the first place. He had calmed down by the time dinner was ready and he looked around for his little girl, usually she sat on his lap during dinner, he froze when he saw her climbing onto Shinra’s lap. He glared across the table and his chopsticks snapped in his grip - that was his baby…

“Beni,” Y/N placed her hand on his thigh, “You’re the only man she really loves.” She could tell when he was jealous, he always pouted and his body temperature would rise, he had been known to get jealous even when Konro got all of their daughter’s attention. “She’ll forget all about him when he goes back to the 8th.” The toddler spent the evening glued to Shinra’s side, the boy blushing as she told him that he was her husband now and had to listen to her. Benimaru sulked the entire time and continued to do so even as he laid down to sleep.

Benimaru was used to being the hero for her, he didn’t like sharing her at all…

“Papa…” The door slid open a little and the toddler wriggled through the gap then ran over to him as he sat up, “Papa.”

“You should be in bed, what’s wrong, bad dream?” He let her climb onto his lap and pat his cheeks, grabbing his hair and making him bring his head down so she could press a wet kiss to his nose.

“Love Papa the most.”

#shinmon benimaru #shinra kusakabe #AU #OC #fire force #Hotaru

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brattyfics · 4 years ago

Text

Cape Disappointment | Part One

Pairing: Miguel Galindo x Black!OC [Chantel Williams]

Summary: Miguel doesn’t rescue a damsel in distress because Chantel Williams is not a damsel in distress.

Warnings: None yet.

Chantel Williams was a lot of things. Quirky, witty, sarcastic. Condescending, impulsive, sometimes even chaotic. She could be all those things and more, but she refused to be anyone’s victim.

“I’m not a damsel in distress. I’m not a damsel in distress…” She chanted over and over in a low tone.

On the side of a low traffic road, snow raining down on her head, Chantel willed the words to be true. Unfortunately, she remembered very little of what her Papa taught her about cars, eyeing the confusing parts under the hood with frustration.

Papa was a school teacher but he worked as a shade tree mechanic on the weekends to be able to afford dance classes for little Chantel. Teaching was his passion through and through. He would talk her ear off in the car on the way to recitals or while she did homework on the bench in his workshop. Being a bratty kid, she learned to tune him out when the topic didn’t interest her and not for the first time she regretted not soaking up more of Papa’s wisdom before he passed.

If she had, maybe she wouldn’t be stuck on the side of the road with no solution in mind. Empty handed and no closer to fixing the car, she shuffled through the snow. It wasn’t much warmer inside the car despite the thick North Face coat she wore with a matching hat and pair of gloves. She was sure she resembled a wet dog as she shook the snow off, not wanting the ice to melt into water droplets that would surely sting.

Just a week earlier, she’d splurged on the fanciest new smart phone after losing the older model at a dinner party. Even with all its promised features, it was useless. No signal and no nearby WiFi networks to connect to meant she couldn’t call her sort-of-sometimes boyfriend for help even if she wanted to. She couldn’t even call a tow truck!

Pride.

Another one of Chantel’s many traits. She liked to think of it as a positive thing. It kept her from being desperate, saved her from being dependent on others for her happiness. No one else seemed to agree her pride was a good thing.

Among the naysayers was her sort-of-sometimes boyfriend, Adam. Pride was what had led her to take off from the Yurt they shared on their week-long winter break getaway to race back to her industrial loft in the heart of Seattle despite the weather advisory. She would never admit it to anyone else, but she realized her pride didn’t always serve her well.

If not for her bruised ego, it would have been funny that her car had chosen to break down a few miles north of Cape Disappointment State Park. It was where she had been staying with Adam. The yurt was too far away to walk back to in the snow but still close enough that it only made sense to stay there for the night once the car issues were resolved. She wasn’t looking forward to ending the night with him.

Remembering Papa’s belief in God showing up when most needed, Chantel sent up a quick prayer. She really hoped she wouldn’t have to wait long for someone else to come down the otherwise deserted road. Winters in Washington were fairly mild so she wouldn’t lose her extremities to hypothermia or anything crazy like that, but she’d certainly suffer by way of the shivers.

Any sane person was cuddled up next to the fireplace in their cabin with a bowl of chili, or participating in heat-inducing sexual activities in their yurt to keep warm, not on the road driving. It was only natural for her thoughts to snowball into all the types of un-same people she could run into.

Indigenous women from Washington and Canada went missing far too often on roads just like the one she had so conveniently broken down on. Chantel had a bad habit of researching everything there was to know about topics when they peaked her interest and she knew too much about human trafficking in the area to not feel a considerable amount of fear.

“That would be my luck.” She muttered meanly to herself, resolving that whatever happened would be her own fault.

It wasn’t like a whole lot of people would come looking for her anyway. She had a large group of friends in Seattle, but she kind of had a reputation for taking off without saying much. She hadn’t even told anyone about the weekend excursion to Cape Disappointment! The family she had left she wasn’t close to, and by the time Adam realized she hadn’t made it back home it would be too late.

Yellow headlights bathed the narrow road, the light blinding her the closer it got. Her hazard lights blinked red, signaling that she was broken down, but Chantel second guessed whether she wanted the help.

“I’m going to be a sex trafficking victim all in the name of independence. Way to go, idiot.”

Her fingers fumbled around in the gigantic backpack she’d been using as a purse for the weekend, hastily pulling at the zippers until she found what she was looking for. A purple taser she purchased on Amazon for a whopping ten dollars. She doubted it would stop anyone in their tracks, but it was better than nothing.

It turned out the man who knocked on her window wasn’t an axe wielding serial murdering rapist, or at least he didn’t appear to be. She tucked the small device into her side as the ridiculously handsome middle aged man with a salt and pepper beard smiled at her through the foggy glass.

He looked harmless enough, sporting a pair of smart designer glasses and what Chantel knew to be a really expensive cashmere turtleneck sweater underneath an equally expensive Canada Goose coat. She wasn’t shy about looking him up and down as she assessed the risk. What if the male model was a decoy?

His neatly manicured eyebrows twisted down in confusion and she thought it was one of the cutest things she had ever seen.

She rolled down the window with a nervous smile.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

She hated how breathy the words came out but he was truly stunning.

Tall, fit, well-dressed.

“Are you alright? It looks like you’re having some trouble.”

A gentleman.

“What would make you think that?” Chantel spoke before she thought it through, but the stranger didn’t seem to take offense if the amused smirk on his face could be trusted. “I’m kidding. Yeah, no. I’m not alright. The car was making weird noises so I pulled over and now it won’t turn back on. I looked under the hood but I have no idea what’s wrong.”

He nodded attentively while she spoke, watching her lips with interest. She noticed him staring and licked them.

“I don’t know how much of a help I’ll be.” His bronze skin reddened with the admission and she wondered if he was blushing or if the cold was getting to him. “I don’t know anything about cars but I can give you a ride wherever you want.”

She’d like a ride alright. In his cushiony truck that may as well have been a royal carriage considering the circumstances. Or on his handsome bearded face that she couldn’t stop staring at.

Chantel wondered if he could tell what she was thinking.

Movement caught her eye and she noticed an identical black SUV pulling off the road to park behind the one Prince Charming departed from. Her hand squeezed around the taser instinctively.

Was the sexy stranger bait to catch naive, unsuspecting girls?

“...but I’m sure we’d both rather leave it to the professionals.” He gestured back towards the dark truck and paused, noticing they weren’t alone. Her breath caught in her chest when four bulking men slammed their doors shut and started walking in their direction.

“I apologize. That’s my security team. I left without telling them.”

Hmm. A kindred spirit.

Who was he to have a security team? Was he telling the truth? Or just stalling?

She wanted to believe him. To trust that it was in human nature to help one another without some ulterior, sinister motive.

Did she even have a choice? How long would she have to wait on the next passerby? There was no guarantee they would be any better than the (so far) kind stranger and his friends.

Chantel Williams was a lot of things, but she was not naïve. With surprising coordination, she swung the door open, knocking the man back several steps. Her boots crunched as she landed in the snow.

“Back up or I’m going to tase you!” She warned, putting space between herself and the stranger while keeping an eye on the approaching men.

The corners of his mouth turned up as he fought back a smile.

Chantel scoffed. He wasn’t taking her seriously.

“I’m not fucking around!” She insisted, charging up the small device. The buzz felt more powerful than she remembered. The man seemed to think so too, changing his approach. He spoke in a soft tone. “Can we slow down?”

“Don’t patronize me. Just back up like I said. No, this way!” She ordered until he stood across from her with his back to his men.

Behind him, they speed up their approach but they could only move so fast in the snow. Following her gaze, the strange man looked over his shoulder and gestured for the men to stall at the front of his truck several feet away. One of them shouted at her to put the taser away from his position. He sported two braids and a cut in his brow. Chantel shouted back at him to ‘shut the fuck up’

Mr. GQ gave another signal and like he was the conductor of an orchestra, all noise ceased. Well, all external noise at least. Chantel swore she could hear the sound of her heart ringing in her ears.

“Hey!” He demanded her full attention. His hands were up in a defensive position. “What are you looking for here?”

It was a great question but she had no answer for him.

Trouble maker. Fire starter. Full-time agitator.

Chantel was that way even as a child, responding to normal adolescent teasing with violence. Sharp bites in the classroom or royal rumble style fights on the playground were her specialty in grade school. She made anyone stupid enough to provoke her regret it whether big or small, male or female. That wasn’t to say she was organized or calculating in her plans. She acted and dealt with things as they came.

She had no idea what the endgame was when she pulled the taser, but she had to stick with it. The crowd of onlookers made her feel more justified in her rash decision.

“I don’t think you really want to hurt me.”

“Now, what would make you think that?” Chantel asked incredulously. He didn’t know her from Eve.

She was even more steadfast in pointing the taser in his direction but he didn’t seem phased.

“When you want to hurt somebody, you don’t wait around or warn them. You just do it.”

“Are you suggesting I should’ve tased you?”

He shrugged as if they were discussing the weather.

“That certainly would have been more effective.”

Was he serious?

“I mean I still can. If you keep talking I just might.”

He had the gall to laugh in her face.

Hysterically.

And it wasn’t fleeting or sarcastic. It was genuine laughter from deep down in his gut. She hated how beautiful he was, even in the middle of showing blatant disrespect for her ability to harm him.

“Seriously?” She griped, fighting against the way her face muscles twitched.

Giggle box.

When somebody at church mispronounced a word during the announcements or when her aunt murdered a hit song, she giggled uncontrollably. Papa chastised her for it, but it couldn’t be helped. When the urge struck and she got that itch in her throat, she had to laugh.

So naturally, like two birds of a maniac feather they shared a laugh in four (and counting) inches of snow.

***

GENERAL TAGLIST

@woahitslucyylu @briannab1234 @sheeshgivemeabreak @breakingnewsin-no-oneasked @angelreyesgirl @blessedboo @glimmerglittergirl @apantherinmypastlife @brownsugarcoffy @marvelmaree @starrynite7114 @scuzmunkie @thewarriorprincessxo @sadeyesgf @pearlkitten33 @imanerdychubbyqueen @literaturefeen @ourlittlesecretsoveragain @everyhowlmarksthedead @yourwonkywriter @trulysuccubus

MIGUEL TAGLIST

@thesandbeneathmytoes @taylortheeshowpony

#mayans mc #miguel galindo #miguel galindo x black!reader #miguel galindo x black!oc #miguel galindo x reader

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perishman · 4 years ago

Text

The Prodigal Son

Hey so this is for @nastyburger and their Dannyverse AU. Just so you know, it’s an AU that may not make sense without checking them out

Danny B. Fenton snorted, ashen grey smoke erupting from his nose as Dani landed behind him. For the first time in years, he was at Fenton Works for christmas, home of now world famous ghost hunters Maddie and Jack Fenton, as well as their elder child, Jazzy. It was once his home too. He knocked on the door. He didn’t know why, since he was expected. He supposed he just hoped it was Jazzy who opened the door. He was afraid to phase in. His parents might not buy that they “just didn’t hear him come in” when he was the most anticipated part of the holiday.

After a few seconds of silent waiting, Dani turned to her brother, silently asking if he really wanted to go through with this. And B wasn’t entirely sure he was. But, he’d promised Jazzy he would make an effort. The Fentons were old by now; it was why the elder child had returned home. The door creaked open, violet eyes glancing out before it was thrown open to reveal Madeline Fenton, hunched over with hair more grey than red, her hands rough and boney. Danny’s smile was still half formed when she latched onto him with a hug. Maybe it was his Core that had always caused him so much trouble, but she was cold to the touch. Most humans were. Silently, Maddie waved him and Danielle in. As soon as they crossed the threshold, Danny felt the house take aim at them, reacting to their shared ecto-signature. Danny had once removed its ability to sense him and Dani, but Jack had yelled at him when he’d realized. Danny had pointed out that it could’ve been Jazzy, but the Fenton patriarch had rebuffed that by pointing out Jazzy followed instructions.

Soon, Jack approached from the tree, a somewhat strained smile on his face as he said, “‘Ello Daneil. It’s good to see you. Same t’ ya Elle.”

Danny nodded, “Hi Ja- Dad. and uh, yeah. Glad to see you both as well. Merry christmas.”

“If yer more comfortable callin’ me Jack, call me Sparrow for all I care. Haven’t been yer father in years,” Jack said gruffly. Danny noticed it sounded more irate than sad. More bitter than apologetic.

The halfa siblings each raised an eyebrow and held up some bags (Elle had food, B the gifts), to which a younger, less bitter voice rang out from behind, “Food on the counter, presents are hidden in the guestroom.”

Danny hugged Jazzy much tighter than his mother had done to him. He’d been meaning to call her for ages, bur grading and hunting had been eating up his time. Despite not being back here in ages, he didn’t need to ask where the guestroom was, given that there was only one option. When he got up there, he snorted. The bright blue walls still had the fades that came from his posters; it was the same desk, so on and so forth. He wasn’t sure how to feel about it.

“They didn’t touch it for years, ya know. They were hoping you’d,” Jazzy said with a pause, “come home.”

The redhead ran his hand through his hair and laughed horsley, “Considering how I left? Why don’t I quite believe it was a bilateral decision?”

Jazzy pursed her lips, not having a response to that. There had been a lot of yelling that night. Ancients, it had been Christmas Even then too. For the longest time, the most that Jazzy, Sam or Tucker had heard was that Danny Phantom was more and more active than had been normal. That his fire had been tinted blue. It had been a terse few weeks, and everyone was frightened out of their minds trying to figure out where Fenton was staying. When they found out Vlad had taken him and promised to hide him… It had been a difficult time. Loathe as the Phantom was to admit it, Plasmius had supported his human half in a way no one else could, and Danny was in his debt.

Looking around the room some, Danny said, “I need to think about some stuff. You mind?”

Silently, Jazzy nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her. Danny looked around some more, and eventually found something he hadn’t seen in years. A picture of him with Sam and Tucker at eighteen, with the imprint of Dani in a nearly invisible red spot that almost no one else would see. If Danny had to hazard a guess, he was 19 here, and it was one of the last times he was happy at home. He sighed as he pocketed the picture and walked out. There was nothing more for him in that room, bar whatever present Jazzy had gotten him, he supposed.

“Look who decided to join ‘is family afta all,'' snorted the old man from the living room. Danni glared at Jack, who snorted.

Spitefully, Danny glared at his father and blew a smoke ring with his ghost sense. He knew it was childish, but Jack had been nothing but rude the entire time. To his surprise, it was his mother who glared at him with… a contempt usually reserved for Phantom... . Jack, for his part, almost seemed apologetic, before the mask was back on and he scowled. Both Jazzy and Danni rolled their eyes at their brother.

Sensing the tension bubbling beneath the surface that threatened to lash out, Jazzy turned to Danielle, and asked, “So. Elle? What’ve you been doing lately? Last I saw on instagram you were in, Madrid, right?”

Danni nodded, “Yep. Met a cute girl or two, which was nice. But Spain isn’t for me; not a fan of their food compared to Italian. Actually I spent the last few weeks of my europe trip in Milan. But I guess I forgot to post it…” she shrugged.

“Ooh, Milan. You have got to tell me all about it,” Jazzy said with a smile before she glanced at the falling snow.

Danny tried to listen, really. But Danni had already told him about her time in Milan (and the girls she met there in some form.) He felt himself zoning out, before his father jostled his shoulder and led him down to the lab. Danny wasn’t sure what he expected, but the lab was still the best kept part of the house bar hi- bar the guest room. His father had to take an automatic chair to carry him down. The radioactive green of the portal still illuminated the basement, but there was now a glass container that Danny could tell was lined with ectoplasm to prevent phasing. Smart. The eldest fenton offered a beer, which the son silently turned down. But soon Jack had sat the two of them down, like when Danny was a kid. Then, Jack had called them their ‘boys talks,’ but now it was clear what this was. Two broken men, trying to fix themselves by fixing the other.

“Now, you were always a bit oblivious on your best day. Which this most certainly isn’t. Suppose that’s my fault a bit. But, in case you hadn’t noticed. Your mother hasn’t said a word all day. Why do you think that is?”

Danny knew immediately, “Throat cancer. Jazzy told me a few weeks ago, when I was in Canada with Vlad… I tried calling, but…”

Jack snorted, whether he believed his son or not being unclear, “Right. Ya know, when you were a tyke, I wanted you t’ meet Vladdie,” a snort, “more than anything in the world. But now? I wish I’d never met ‘im myself. Would’ve saved my family. Would’ve saved him, come to think. Regardless. I want you to tell ‘er. Before she goes. So she knows who you really are.”

The room went cold, as Danny knew exactly what Jack meant, and he tried to force the hurt down in a level tone, before asking, “You knew? For how long?”

“Knew you had powers immediately. Saw you fall through your floor, but you were too comatose from the accident to remember. Didn’t know you were Phantom for a while, but when Vlad won his first term- unanimous votes my ass- I realized somethings about him. Things were cemented when I saw you beat him into transforming back to human. If somethin like that could happen from Vlad’s accident…” he gestured to Danny.

Danny stood, eyes burning with tears and ectoplasm as he snarled, “You knew. You had to know I wasn’t some druggie. And you still let mom send me to rehab? You still wasted weeks of my life. You tore me from my friends. You still sided with Mom in almost every fight. How dare you ask for me to give her my secret now? You don’t care. You just want your guilt off your chest and think I can do that.”

“I’m the reason it was rehab and not the dissection table. Maddie was on to you, you know. By timing alone, and the devices going off. But I lied to my own wife, your mother, for months. I regret what I had to do, but not what I did. I saved my son.”

That gave Danny pause. He wanted to believe it. But years of being alienated from his family made him wary. Part of him screamed that if Jack was being honest with him, he wouldn’t have let Danny risk life and limb with minimal intervention. He wouldn't have shot at him. But the boy that wanted to be a family again ached at the possibility opening up. At being his parents’ son again.

“Fine. I’ll do it. But after this? I don’t want to hear from you again, You’ll see me at the service, but after that, I’m gone.”

As he walked up the stairs, Jack sighed. Tears streamed down from the old man’s face. It was better Danny was angry at him, than the dying woman who’d nearly convinced him to experiment on his own son when they’d realized what happened. Jack didn’t see the incidents with Danny’s powers, it had been Maddie. And Jack had sent his son to rehab while he tried to talk his wife from the edge. He’d saved Danny, and all it cost him?

His son.

#Danny Phantom #dannyverse #danny b fenton #dani phantom #jack fenton #Maddie Fenton

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fanfoolishness · 4 years ago

Text

Finding the Way (The Mandalorian)

(Cara Dune & Din Djarin. After the events of The Rescue, Din Djarin could use a friend. Cara Dune doesn’t know what it means to be a Mandalorian, but some things are universal. Friendship, angst, alcohol, religious questioning. ~2400 words.)

***

She found Din Djarin alone, after the Jedi left with the child.

Cara wasn’t sure exactly when he’d slipped away from the bridge; there’d been a lot happening. Bo-Katan and Kosca had been deep in conversation about their next destination, Fennec was pinging Boba to set up a rendezvous, and she’d busied herself with gagging the unconscious Moff and stowing him away in a corner with extra restraints. The bastard had a lot to answer for.

In all that, though, she hadn’t wanted to look at the Mandalorian without his helmet. It had felt too private, too close, to watch his goodbye with the kid. Once the Jedi left, it seemed he’d taken advantage of her inattention.

Without a ship, though, he hadn’t gone far. He’d only been missing for fifteen minutes or so when she realized and started searching for him on the security console. She gave a hasty request for the others to watch the Moff -- not as if Bo-Katan would let him try anything else -- and took the lift downstairs.

She found him the next floor down from the bridge, inside the officers’ mess. The half-opened door was scored with blaster fire; likely Din’s work when the doors wouldn’t open for him. She peered in through the half-opened door, glancing away when she saw his mussed brown hair, a glimpse of his face. She still wasn’t used to it, and still wasn’t sure if it was okay for her to see him like this.

“It’s me,” she called, rapping on the door with her knuckles. Surprising a Mandalorian was a surefire way to an early grave. “Can I come in?”

His voice sounded strange without the mechanical filter. Human. Almost small. “Do what you want.”

That was encouraging, at least. He wasn’t kicking her out entirely.

She entered the room, rolling her eyes at Imperial waste. Real wood paneling lined the walls, and instead of the spartan standard issue bench tables in the rank-and-file’s mess, individual tables with sleek surfaces and cushioned chairs dotted the room. Gideon himself must have taken meals here.

Din sat at the bar at the back of the room. There was a half-drunk cup of liquor beside him, his helmet resting next to it, its visor turned away from him.

“So… you okay?” Cara hazarded, taking the seat beside him. It looked like he’d made a decent dent in a slim bottle of aged Corellian whiskey. Only the best for the officers, of course. This stuff went for big credits in the Core, enough so that she’d never tasted it herself.

“I’m fine.” He didn’t look at her. He just stared straight ahead at the wall, brown eyes fixed on nothing in particular. From the corner of her eye she could see the color of his face seemed off, red and blotchy in places. Hell. He’d been crying.

Her stomach twisted. “Look… I’m sorry about the kid. I know that had to be hard.”

He was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his voice was strained. “Grogu.”

“Sorry?”

“I found another Jedi a few weeks back. She said she couldn’t train him, but she was able to talk to him, mind to mind. He told her about his life before I found him. His name is Grogu.”

“Huh. Grogu.” She chuckled. “It’s cute. Suits him.”

A slight dip of his head, angled toward her. He was very still. She could see a muscle in his cheek twitching.

Blast. She was no good at this crap. She fished around for something to say, something that could help. Maybe she could get him to talk; listening might be easier. “You’re sure you’re fine? Because you don’t look fine.”

“I needed to help him find a Jedi,” Din said hoarsely. “I did what I was tasked to do. This is the W—“

But he cut himself off, turning his face away from her. His whole head moved to the side to shift his gaze, remnants of long years wearing a helmet. Every martial style had its tells, and she could see the differences between the ways Bo-Katan and Koska moved, and how the man beside her moved and battled. He was different from them, in fundamental ways, but she wasn’t sure why they could remove their helmets and he couldn’t. Until he did.

Cara shook her head. Think of something helpful. You can do this. “He’s gonna be okay, you know,” she said suddenly. “I know who that was. We droppers heard rumors during the war that a powerful Jedi took out the Emperor on Endor. It has to be him. Skywalker. What other Jedi would fly in here in an X-Wing?”

“Good,” said Din. He still wouldn’t look at her. “So the Imps will never take him again.”

“I’d like to see them try. I never knew a Jedi could do that,” said Cara. She’d heard stories, of course, but stories were one thing. Proof was another. “I’m just glad he was on our side.”

Din turned back to facing forward, jaw tensed. He nodded, a tight gesture that somehow seemed too broad for him. Without the helmet, it was disconcerting to see emotions popping up on his face, vanishing as quickly as they came -- sorrow, pain, shame. It almost would have been funny if it wasn’t so hard to look at. Live your life in a helmet, guess you never have to learn to control your face.

She took a guess at the emotion that flicked past, marked in the set of his eyes, the downturned lines at his mouth. “I’m sure you’ll see him again.”

“Maybe,” he said, and his gloved hands clenched on the table surface. He reached out and took a drink.

“I didn’t know you drank,” she said.

“I don’t.” His throat worked as he swallowed and drained the glass.

Oh. “Right.”

She reached out and took the bottle from him, pulling back a long slug on it. It burned, clean and fierce, but it was strong stuff. No wonder it sold for the price it did; she was surprised he wasn’t slurring already. “Be careful with this stuff, then. It’s not for lightweights.”

“I’ll be fine,” he said, then lapsed again into quiet.

Like talking to a durasteel wall, she thought. “Look, I wanted to make sure you were okay. That was rough up there. I just -- if you want to talk about it, or something, I can listen.” She leaned back in her chair, taking another drink of whiskey. It seared. “That’s all I’m trying to say.”

He turned toward her, canting his whole head instead of just moving his eyes. There it was again, the tell that he’d lived in his helmet for a long, long time. He took a deep breath, but he still couldn’t make eye contact with her.

“I know he has to do this. I can’t teach him, not the way he needs. I have -- I had to let him go,” he said. The words sounded well-practiced, like he’d said them many times before.

“I know,” she said. “I’m so sorry.” She tried a small smile, though her eyes watered suddenly. “He -- Grogu -- he was crazy about you, you know?”

A slight shrug, shoulders scarcely moving.

“Well, he was. Looked up to you like anything. You guys have a bond.”

“I did what I could for him,” said Din, closing his eyes. “I hope it’s enough.”

“It is,” said Cara fiercely. “You loved him, man. No kid could ask for more than that.”

He was silent, and when he opened his eyes again, she could see that they were damp.

She swallowed, took another drink, unsure of what to say. The quiet filled the space around them, a weighty, crushing thing.

Eventually she forced herself to speak again, casting around for something to say. “So…. They’re making arrangements upstairs. We’ll be rendezvousing with Fett soon, but you’re always welcome on Nevarro, too. Greef was heartbroken when I told him the Imps had the kid again, so I know he’d want to help you now. Have you thought about where you want to go?”

“I don’t know.” He turned away again, shoulders squaring beneath his armor.

“Well, if you don’t want to stay planetside for a while, it sounds like those other Mandalorians want your help. Honestly, if anyone could take back Mandalore, I’d put even credits on them. And on you. Dank farrik, you even have that sword now.”

“I don’t want it,” he bit out.

“Yeah, I heard. But you have it. May as well use it, right? Why give up a tactical advantage?” asked Cara. “Sounds like it belongs in the hands of a Mandalorian anyway.”

“All the more reason for me not to wield it,” said Din, and there was something sour, something wrong, in the way his face twisted.

She stared at him, raising her eyebrows. “What? Wait. Are you saying —“

“I broke the Creed. I showed my face,” he said, his voice cracking. “I had a choice, and this is what I chose. I am no longer worthy of my beskar.”

Cara tried wrapping her mind around it, remembered dragging him in from the battlefield, his blood hot and slick on her hand, the panic in his voice when she tried to remove his helmet to save his life. “You chose to show your face to your child who needed you. You did the right thing for you both.” It didn’t make sense to her. “I thought your people wanted to help foundlings. Well, you helped him!”

“It is forbidden,” he forced out.

“You’re still a Mandalorian—”

Anger, grief, pain, rapid-fire flashes in his eyes and face, every muscle tensing for battle. “You have never sworn the Creed. You know nothing about it!”

She bristled, fighting the urge to say something harsh, or worse, throw a punch at him to knock the sense back into him. Beside her he was breathing harder, chest visibly rising and falling rapidly. She bit her lip.

“Okay, okay, maybe I don’t know what it’s like to be a Mandalorian,” Cara admitted sharply, lifting her hands to calm him. “But I do know what it’s like to turn away from something you spent your whole life believing. Alderaan had no army, remember?”

He breathed a little slower. The flush of red in his face receded. “You never told me why you became a soldier. I assumed, after what happened --”

Her mouth twisted. “Close, but not exactly. I started seeing what my people couldn’t, before it happened. The Empire was rising and people were dying. Diplomacy stopped working a long time ago. When I told my family I had to fight, even if that meant killing, they turned their backs on me.”

“They were blind,” said Din. “The Imps weren’t going to stop expanding with peaceful protest.”

“Maybe,” she said. This was the hard part. The part that had taken her years to understand, that she was still trying to figure out. “I think now… we wanted the same thing. We just saw different paths to peace. They thought pacifism was the way. I saw the Empire killing people, terrorizing them, and that wasn’t peace. I had to fight for peace to even begin to exist.” She wiped her cheek, fingertips brushing over the tattooed Tear. “So I was offworld, trying to become a new recruit, when the Empire showed Alderaan what they thought about peaceful resistance.”

“I’m sorry.”

She gave him a tight, painful smile. “But the thing is, Mando, I’m still Alderaanian. No one can take that away from me but me. Not the Empire, not my family, not the royal house of Alderaan. Even if my family didn’t understand why I did what I did, I knew I was fighting to bring peace. That’s what makes me Alderaanian.” No matter what.

He gazed at the beskar helmet, shining beneath the overhead lights. Its black visor was an empty void, disconnected from its bearer.

She let out a bark of a laugh, blinking away tears. “I don’t know, man. It’s your life. Your Way. But if your Way won’t let you show your face to your own kid when he needs you, maybe some of those rules should change. If you still feel like a Mandalorian, I think that’s what makes you one, and not what anybody else says.”

He closed his eyes, hanging his head slightly. He shifted in his seat with a small clink, one armored arm now resting against his helmet. “I don’t know what I am now.”

Cara took another drink from the bottle, finishing the last of the whiskey. “We’ve got two women up there who’d kill you in a heartbeat if you said they weren’t Mandalorian, and they show their faces clear as day.” She shrugged. “Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to talk to them about some of this stuff. You could put it together with the old Way and make something new, something that feels right. But for what it’s worth, Mando… you’ll always be a Mandalorian in my eyes.” She clapped a hand over his shoulder, the beskar cool beneath her palm.

“It’s not --” He struggled, mouth thinning, before he let out a long breath. “That’s very kind,” he said slowly. He turned his head to look at her at last, searching her face. He looked strangely vulnerable like this, far more so than he had dying in the dust of Nevarro.

She nodded, attempting to smile, her mouth not quite getting there. “Well, it’s true.”

His face shifted into uncertainty. “Perhaps the Way of the Mandalore is not… the only way to be a Mandalorian.” He looked down at his helmet and swallowed. “I’ll speak with the others, at least.”

“It’ll take time,” Cara said softly. “You don’t have to figure it out right away. Just… maybe hang on to your armor for a while, that’s all.”

He was quiet. “Thank you. Truly.”

“Sure,” Cara said, nudging him with her shoulder and giving him a quick smile. “Any time. After all, what are friends for?” She leaned over the counter, pulling down another bottle of Corellian whiskey and grabbing an empty glass. “What do you say to a toast?”

A dry chuckle. “Sure. You’ll have to tell me if I’m doing it right. I’ve never done this before.”

“I think you’ll get the idea.” She poured them each a glass, and raised hers high until it caught the light. “To Grogu.”

The edges of his mouth turned up, just slightly. Just enough. He raised his glass to clink to hers, his brown eyes bright, his voice warm. “To Grogu.”

The whiskey burned in her throat, clean and pure. To finding the Way.

#the mandalorian #cara dune #carasynthia dune #din djarin #noromo mando #star wars #the child #grogu #my mando fic

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bondsmagii · 4 years ago

Text

Here’s something I really can’t explain.

To sum up: I shouldn’t be alive right now. I shouldn’t be writing this. I have no idea how any of this could have happened, but the fact you’re reading this now is kind of living proof that it did happen, so I suppose I’ll try and explain it as best as I can.

A little backstory for you. Way back in the late forties, my great-grandfather was a young man working with the local fire department. He came back after the war and just couldn’t settle into any kind of desk job, so despite my great-grandmother worrying about his mental state he ended up running into burning buildings for a living. Naturally he saw some messed up shit, but nothing haunted him more than a hotel fire that he attended.

At the time there had been an annual prize night for a local grammar school. Hundreds of kids and their families were crammed into the hotel’s large ballroom when a stray match lit up the curtains on the stage. Back in the day they weren’t exactly great about fire safety, and the walls and furniture were panelled or made with highly flammable materials. The whole room went up in minutes. Over one hundred people died, over half of which were children below the age of fifteen. It was an indescribable tragedy, and my great-grandfather – along with every first responder there – was scarred for life over the things he saw that evening.

My great-grandfather did his best to live with what happened, and for the most part he did well, all things considered. All of his grief seemed to be directed towards one little girl, who was never identified or claimed. She was badly burned but not unrecognisable; the theory was that her whole family had died with her, leaving nobody left to notice she was gone. She wasn’t the only person to suffer this fate, unfortunately – all told, five people were never claimed by families – but because my great-grandfather was the one to pull her body from the wreckage, he sort of became obsessed with her. He was preoccupied until his death with finding out her identity, and every year on the anniversary of the fire he visited her grave to lay a wreath. Unfortunately, he died without ever finding out who she was.

Fast forward a few decades, and I’m in my early twenties. My great-grandfather died when I was quite young, so I only had a small idea of this part of his history. It was, however, enough to make me wary of large fires – especially hotel fires. One summer, I’m visiting another city for my younger brother’s university graduation, and I stay the night in a hotel near the city centre. I remember fires were on my mind already, because initially they had tried to give me a room on the twenty-third floor, and I had politely refused and requested a lower floor. (An old maxim of my great-grandfather’s: never stay on a floor where you wouldn’t survive the fall.) Because of the graduation, the hotel was packed, and I ended up on the fifth floor in the end, but I figured it was better than nothing.

The first night was fine. The second night a fire broke out. The hotel had had some electrical rewiring done within the last month, and something went wrong. The fire smouldered for hours, undetected, before spreading into multiple parts of the ventilation system. Smoke and flame was pushed to all corners of the hotel before the fire cut out the power. Later, investigators would discover that the fire burned through the power for the smoke and fire detection alarms almost immediately – yet somehow the fire alarms went off. This is only the beginning of the inexplicable that night.

By the time the alarms woke me, my room was already filled with smoke. I had been drilled on this so many times as a child that it was instinctive for me to roll off the bed and onto the floor; only then did I start to panic. Luckily I had fallen asleep with the curtains open – the only time I had ever done that in a hotel – and the city lights illuminated the room enough to let me know the smoke was only in the top two thirds of the room, and not as thick as it could have been. I had time to crawl into the bathroom, wet a towel, and tie it around my nose and mouth. Then I crawled to the door and lay a hand flat on it. The door was cool, so I cautiously pulled it open.

In the hallway, it was pitch dark. This is the worst case scenario for any fire. Smoke disorientates people, and they feel ill from inhaling it. Panic compounds the confusion. People can get lost in their own homes – hotels are the worst place for something like this. People stand little chance of getting out if they haven’t memorised an exit, and even then it’s not foolproof. I should know. I always memorise exits, but when I went out of my room I turned the wrong way. I don’t know why. I was panicking, I was confused, and I just made the wrong choice. It should have cost me my life.

I realised my mistake as soon as I reached the end of the hall. The door there was propped open (fire safety hazard, I remember thinking, like it mattered at that point) but I could see no flames. The door led to the stairwell, and I had just crawled out onto it when the entire world went black. The smoke and flame had intensified, the fire sucking in oxygen and the smoke being forced up the stairwell like a huge chimney. It spilled over the edges of the landing and enveloped me even hunched on my hands and knees. My eyes began to sting and water; I couldn’t see anything. I crawled back and bumped into the wall, and for several long seconds that felt like minutes, I couldn’t find my way out of the stairwell. The heat was evaporating the water in the towel, and the sheer amount of smoke meant it wasn’t doing much good anyway. By the time I finally made it back out into the hall, I was coughing and choking. Panic made me pull the towel down. I only took the smallest breath before the floor tilted under me and I experienced a horrible rush of lightheadedness – with smoke so toxic, sometimes a breath is all it takes.

I kept crawling, heading back towards my room, now realising my mistake. At that point I was forcing myself to stay calm, but it wasn’t working. I had realised I had probably just gotten myself killed, and it was almost impossible to breathe. The temperature was climbing, and I knew the fire was close. I could hear screaming from somewhere nearby, doors slamming. Every single rational thought had left. I scrambled down the hallway in pure panic, and then I saw the child.

She was hunched down, looking right at me. She wasn’t in any kind of night clothing – she looked like she was still in the clothing she would have worn at the graduation ceremony, a neat little dress and polished shoes, a ribbon tied in her hair. She was perhaps eight years old at my best guess, and seeing her shocked some sense into me. Before I could speak or gesture to the direction she should go, she waved and then pointed.

“Come on, mister,” she said. “This way.”

Together we crawled to the other end of the hallway. Smoke was billowing from that stairwell, too, thick and dark though still not as bad as the other one. Either way it didn’t look good, but the little girl didn’t seem concerned – not even when we crawled out onto the landing, and the orange flicker of flames was visible several floors below.

“No,” I said. “It’ll be too hot.”

“Come on, mister,” she said again.

She began scrambling down the stairs, staying as low as possible. I could hardly leave her, so I followed.

The heat was unbearable, and by the time we were on the floor below, visibility was zero. The smoke was so thick and black that even the flicker of the flames had vanished; the only way I knew how close they were was from the heat and the deafening roar of it. Have you ever been near to a large bonfire? Have you heard how loudly it crackles? That’s nothing. Big fires, they roar. They sound closer to a freight train, a tornado. It’s a sound so loud that it sets off a primal kind of terror, even without the heat and the smoke to add to the danger. What I’m saying is that it’s something that’s very difficult to crawl towards, yet there we were.

I couldn’t see the little girl, but every time I began to panic she would reach back and touch me. The heat grew and I could smell my hair burning, my clothing threatening to catch. The floor was excruciating, and while I didn’t realise it at the time, I was in the process of receiving third degree burns on my hands and knees from the floor alone. I felt faint, the heat making my head pound. It seemed to drain my of my energy, and during those last seconds – as we passed directly past the floor where the inferno was at its worst – I was sure I was running only on pure animal instinct to get away.

Then we descended into the hallway below the fire, and it was all gone. The heat lingered, but it was nothing compared to what it was before. The smoke was hazy grey, high up by the ceiling. The little girl was tugging at me, and I realised I’d collapsed to the ground.

“Quickly, mister!” she said now. “Not far!”

In my pain and confusion, it didn’t occur to me that she wasn’t burned; that she had no difficulty breathing. She tugged hard at my clothing, and while I didn’t know that my clothing was alight at the time, later I remembered and wondered how she had done it. With her prompting and encouragement I made it down the last of the stairs and out into the hotel’s lobby, which was shockingly untouched. Alarms were blaring, but the room was free of smoke and many of the hotel’s employees remained there, grabbing people as they emerged, coughing, from stairwells and hurrying them outside. When I stumbled into the lobby I was immediately tackled by several employees who were, I was later told, beating the flames from me. I had stumbled into the lobby on fire.

I don’t remember anything else. I didn’t have time to mention the girl. I passed out, and was kept in a medically induced coma while my body recovered from serious burns. I very nearly didn’t make it, and when I awoke I had several months of painful operations and skin grafts to go. My hands were badly burned, though the doctors managed to save nearly all my fingers – I’m only missing the little fingers to the first knuckle, and while the scarring is bad I can use the hands well. My knees are badly scarred but functional. My back isn’t pretty to look at, but it doesn’t bother me now, not outside of itching in the heat. I forgot about the girl until just before I was released from hospital, five months later, but to my relief I was told that no children had died in the fire. Whoever she was, she had gotten out safe.

Almost a year later, my grandfather died. He was the son of my firefighter great-grandfather, and when my own father and I were around his house, sorting through his things, we came across some of my great-grandfather’s stuff. Medals, a few old photographs of the family, some letters. My father and I went through the pictures, my father pointing out relatives and telling a few stories here and there. What you would expect from such an occasion, really – but then I found an old picture of a little girl.

I recognised her immediately as the little girl I had seen in the hotel – there was no denying it. The picture was an unpleasant one, taken post-mortem, and while half of her body was badly charred the other half looked as though she could be sleeping. Her hair was the same, the bow singed but present. The dress was the same. I could even still hear how she sounded. Come on, mister! I was so shocked I didn’t say anything. My father looked at it for a long moment, and then he gave a sad sigh.

“I wish he had found out who she was,” he said. “That haunted him. He felt like he failed her.” He took the photo from me and looked a little more closely at it. “Nonsense, of course. He did everything for that little girl. I’m sure she would thank him if she could.”

She did, I thought. She did.

#creeptastic #creepypasta #my creepypasta #writing #my writing #short story #fiction #back at it again with the spaghetti afraido

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