#I´m gonna write up the next few parts of the commentary after the last chapter
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maythedreadwolftakeyou · 3 years ago
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Fic writer tag game!
Thank you for the tag @wind-on-the-panes :)
How many works do you have on AO3? 17!
What's your total AO3 word count? 167350. It took me 15 minutes to figure out where to find this/the stats page.
What are your top 5 fics by kudos?
Fallout from the Fade (744): Hawke stays in the Fade to deal with Nightmare’s demon... and survives. Getting back out however costs her more than she expects, and has drastic consequences. My long fic 
Provided it tied you down first (373): Inquisitor Trevelyan receives information that an important magister will be in a... compromising location, and has to blend in to get the information. She has to bring a mage along to help her, and her crush on Solas has nothing to do with why she picked him. This was a k!meme prompt and an experiment in writing smut/pwp, and people seemed to like it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Lost to night (235): After the events at the Winter Palace, Inquisitor Lavellan is both relieved the crisis is over, and exasperated with the court of Orlais. The only thing cheering her up is spending some extra time with Solas, and find themselves slipping away for some more private one on one time. When I was first getting into fanfic I mostly wrote generic protags. This fic was one of my first with writing specifically about my own Lavellan, and I like it for that reason :)
Less a Man than a Wild Cat (221): Fenris takes a trip out to the Storm Coast on some personal business... and a week later a cat with suspiciously familiar white markings in its fur storms into the Hanged Man and curls up in Hawke’s lap. I do still love this one, it was so fun to write. 
Banister Banter (218): POV/commentary from the other Inquisition members (like Dorian/Leliana) on the Inquisitor’s burgeoning relationship with Solas. Abandoned because I was trying to write humor and its very very very hard and I’m not great at it.
Do you reply to comments, why or why not? I MEAN TO AND I’M SO SORRY THAT I’M BAD AT IT... Before the Indoors Times of 2020, I spent almost all day out of service most weeks, including a lot of extended overnight trips. I also have a bad habit of saving comment replys as a “reward” for myself for whenever I finish writing the next chapter, but... my between updates time has been ever-increasing oops. ANYWAY SORRY, I do read and treasure them all. 
What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending? Ahahahahaaha... well I do try not to end them all on an angsty note just for, you know, the sake of everyone else. But with Letters to Fenris I did try to tear out the heart a bit, and my Mass Effect the people you love become ghosts inside you, and like this, you keep them alive fic I was trying to work through my emotions about my Shepard who picks the Destroy ending and dies. and i specifically headcanon she does die even though I did get the last breath scene because i think its more emotional/significant that way
What's the fic you've written with the happiest ending? Had to stop and scroll and I Don’t Write Fluff but I think the endings that are most positive are Less A Man Than A Wild Cat and Lost to Night. 
Do you write crossovers? Not yet, I might be tempted with something like a fairy tale but I’m not so interested in cross-fandom
Have you ever received hate on a fic? Not that I know of, though I know my delight in angst/pain will not be to all readers tastes and that’s perfectly fine
Do you write smut? If so, what kind? Yes, if it fits the story or is the point of the work. But there’s gonna be ~complicated~ feelings or circumstances involved.
Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not that I know of
Have you ever had a fic translated? Yes! Two of my fics are translated into Russian, Letters to Fenris and Fallout from the Fade :) 
Have you ever co-written a fic before? No, I write sporadically and at weird times, I think I’d be a nightmare to collaborate with
What’s your all-time favourite ship? I pretty much only have ships when it’s player character you get to design + another character, and you get to have some control over the narrative/there’s room for personal interpretation; which is why I only really write for Dragon Age/Mass Effect. Within those, I like Solavellan, FenHawke, and Shakarian; though there’s others I hope to write for and delve deeper into someday.
What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will? I never published it because I know I’m unlikely to finish it + the Mass Effect: Andromeda fandom wasn’t as large/interested; but I still love the start of the WIP I have examining Ryder’s complex relationship with SAM.
What are your writing strengths? I like to think I’m good at building tension. My favorite part of writing Fallout from the Fade was the section where I ended every chapter on a terrible cliffhanger and people yelled at me in the comments. 
What are your writing weaknesses? I’m not funny :( in real life too, i have to rely on absurdism 
What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic? If there is a translation in the text and it’s not more than a few words or lines at a time I enjoy it. Otherwise it can pull me out of the narrative. 
What was the first fandom you wrote for? Dragon Age :) didn’t start writing fic until after DAI, 
What’s your favourite fic you’ve written? Fallout my baby I will finish you someday... I have a whole outline and thoughts on upcoming stuff and everything I’ve been holding in my head for a year, but I need to reread it before I get back to it, and lord am I short on free time these days :( I’ve seen a bunch of people already post these, so not sure who all has done this yet but: @roseategales @m-m-m-myysurana @lesbianarcana and if you haven’t yet but would like to, please consider this me tagging you and @ me so I can read it! :)
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wintaejk · 5 years ago
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Jungkook’s FIC REC | series
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Because I spend a lot of time here on tumblr reading fanfictions, I wanted to create my own fic recs. Like that, I can recommend fictions that deserve more recognition and at the same time, if I want to reread one of them, I just have to come here.
Everything on this list is about Jungkook. And of course, all those works have been written by the authors I tagged next to the name of the fictions, they do not belong to me (and if the authors want me to remove their work from my rec, I will).
I also want to thank the authors. I really appreciate all your works and efforts to create all those beautiful stories. I send you all of my love.
I decided to try writing a commentary for each of the stories. I always try to use the right pronouns when talking about the authors, but if I used the wrong ones for you, don’t hesitate to tell me. I will change it in a minute.
(f) = fluff
(a) = angst
(m) = mature
The following fictions are all about completed and finished series. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.
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Complete
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— wanted (F) (M) | One ; Two ; Three ; Four ; Five ; Six — by @jincherie​
You were a deserter, a renegade, a wanted “criminal”. It was never in your plans to crash land on that planet, and it most certainly wasn’t in your plans to fall in love with it’s handsome ruler.
space au | alien au | royalty au | soulmate au | +56k
Commentary - To be honest, I don’t even know where to start and what to start with.                           But I think I’m simply gonna start with my first thoughts of this story. Because this fiction, I saw it multiple times on many fic recs. And to be completely honest, every single time I saw it, I found the summary attractive and intriguing but something was holding me. Probably the universe. The fear of being unsatisfied and disappointed.                           Because the difficulty with that kind of fiction is to immerse the reader in a universe they don’t know. You then have to describe it enough so that the reader can represent it in their head, but not too much to the point of becoming heavy. And this balance between the ‘enough’ and the ‘not too much’, you find it perfectly in ‘wanted’. I was not only imagining the scenery, I was totally living it. I was seeing everything, I was completely immerged, as if I had been living in that world my whole life.                            Also, the other risk with diving into a fantastic universe is the possibility of writing (or reading) something that has already been done. Yes, I already read stories where the characters are traveling from planet to planet. Yes, I already read love stories between an alien and a human. And yes, I read stories with kings before. However, this story is totally coming from the author’s imagination, or at least that’s the feeling I have. I don’t feel like I’m reading another story with aliens or in the future or a love story between a king and a non-royal reader that eveybody already knows by heart. No, I am reading Rha’s own story, her scenery, her plots, her descriptions... It was coming from her and it was her interpretation of an ‘alien world’ in the future. And I was even more stunned that I was not expecting that at all. It was in definitive a fucking good surprise. If you ask my opinion, I could even imagine it being the next best-seller book and then someone adapting this fiction in the next record-breaker movie.                             Now, let’s talk about the love story. Shit, fuck, damn. I’ve been craving a good love story these past few days and she gave it to me. A slow burn with a good amount of actions between the two characters, a flirty and sensual back and forth, a little bit of soulmate au, characters who have a personnality and feel truthful emotions, a last chapter with full on smut... It was for me a delight!                             And can we talk about that smut? Spoiler alert: Rha will make you wait until the very last minute, the very last chapter. And after waiting five long chapters, I personally only had two words for that smut... The. Fuck. I was so scared when I read the warnings and I saw tentacles and triple penetration. I was wondering where the author were bringing us. BUT BUT BUT!!! Holy fuck! I think we need all to respect a minute of silence in memory of the old me who just died. BECAUSE HOLY CRAP I FEEL LIKE A NEW WOMAN. No, but honestly, I am starting a new day tomorrow as a new person. This smut was something else. Never thought tentacles could be that exc.... Okay, I’m stopping now before making a whole essay on that perfect-amount-of-kink smut :)))                             I am going to conclude this lil (lol lmao lmfao) comment by emphasizing the work the author put in that fiction. For me, Rha’s story deserve so much recognition. Because this is clearly one of those fics where you can feel everything has been thought. Everything has an explanation, everything arrives at the perfect moment, everything is followed by a logical event, without being predictable. The plot, the secondary plots, the characters, the details... This author truly has nothing to envy to those ‘famous authors’ like J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Jane Austen...                             This was not the first fiction she wrote that I read (she actually is the second account writing about bts I followed) and it is not a surprise that I loved so much this story. I am even certain, even if I just finished reading it, that this fiction will be one of those that you remember of, even years and years after you first read them.                              So Rha, if you happen to read this, let me tell you that you have a real talent, and you should keep embracing it! Love you lots, sweetheart, and I’m looking forward your next pieces of art.
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— Falling Skies (F) (A) (M) | Prologue ; One ; Two ; Three ; Four ; Five ; Six — by @fortunexkookie​
Jeon Jiyeon was your childhood best friend; her brother, Jungkook, was something else entirely. Once upon a time, she had called you her sun and him her moon; it was fitting, given the constant push-and-pull between you two. You used to consider him a friend, but then he had gone from endearingly frustrating dumb boy to card-carrying fuckboy so fast it had given you whiplash.
You often wondered how Jiyeon wasn’t bothered by his behavior. In fact, she often seemed to encourage it. What you failed to see was that she was just trying to show you how he reflected your light. Jiyeon had realized he was in love with you even before he did, but of course she knew. It was a twin thing.
So despite the fighting and teasing, you always found yourself drawn back to him. You knew he was one of two constants in your life: the Jeon twins were - and had always been - your one indisputable truth. You were the sun, Jungkook was the moon, and Jiyeon was the sky holding you both up When she died, it ripped a black hole right through you.
friends to enemies | enemies to friends | friends to lovers | +50k
Commentary - I think I will never have the words to express how much I love this story. This fiction has its own place in my heart, and I have the need to come back from time to time to read again and again and again this beautiful piece of work.                          I’m gonna be honest with you. If you don’t like angst, if you don’t want to suffer even a little bit, this fiction is not for you.                          However, you would miss something. And a big something. Yes, your heart will sink, you might even cry but dammit, it is so worth it.                          Plus you will find some comfort in Jungkook and reader’s love story. Who doesn’t love a good ‘enemies to lovers’ at the same time of a ‘friends to lovers’. Did I mention smut? No, I did not yet. SMUT, ladies and gentleman. Good smut.                          In a few words to summarize that all, this is an amazing, wonderful, brilliant masterpiece. Just... go read it.
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— Roommates (M) | One ; Two ; Three — by @tayegi​
When you accepted to let Jungkook, your best friend’s younger brother, to live with you, you did not take into account how much he grew up… and became that handsome young man.
roommate au | best friend’s brother | college au | +25k
Commentary - I’m pretty sure I couldn’t count how many times I read that fiction on only one hand.                          This story is the definition of slow-burn itself. As well as a collation of a roommate au, a best friend’s brother au, a friends to lovers au and an older reader. Let me tell you that when Jungkook and reader finally decides to act on that tension, it doesn’t end up in fire, but rathen in a volcanic eruption. And let’s be honest, that is exactly what we are here for.
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— Animal (F) (A) (M) | One ; Two ; Three ; Four ; Five ; Six ; Seven ; Eight ; Nine — by @cutaepatootie​
“I don’t want to die without telling someone about her,” he says, his voice softening when he says ‘her’. “I don’t want to disappear without the world knowing about her and what she did for me.”
“About her?” the girl frowns.
Maybe his daughter? His sister?
The man turns his head and faces the girl, a soft, distant smile plastered on his lips. The gesture is nostalgic, sad, almost loving.
“Y/N,” he murmurs, the name rolling off his lips softly, just as softly as the waves of the sea roll over the sand. “Her name was Y/N.”
boxer au | flashback au | +115k
Commentary -  I’m not gonna lie, this story, I haven’t read it much. Simply because every single time I read it, I left some parts of my heart behind me.                         You can’t and I promise you that you won’t come out of this fanfiction in one piece. My heart broke the first time I read it. And the second time. And the third time. And this is probably the most I read it. Not that I didn’t like it, on the contrary: it is one of my favorite fictions in here. But there are some stories that you can’t read too many times, because they bring you such a combination of pain and joy, suffering and contentment, sorrow and euphoria that it is hard to handle, that you need some time to heal before reading it again.                          Putting words on what I felt while reading it is hard. I loved the characters, I loved the plot, the different stages of their relationship... And the end! I don’t think I would find someone who wouldn’t want for the end to be different. The last part let me in pain. Literally. I had a knot in my stomach and tears in my eyes. I had to stop two or three times to breathe in before continuing.                           In conclusion, if you love stories full of emotions, just go for that one. I read a lot, like a freaking whole lot. And fuck, this fiction is beautiful. Destructive also, but it is really worth it.
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— Bunny Boy (M) | One ; Two ; Three ; Four ; Five — by @parkmuse​
Catching feelings for your sisters friend wasn’t part of your plan.
sister’s best friend | older!reader | virgin!reader | +17k
Commentary - If you have the same taste as me in terms of fictions, you will like this fiction. There’s no complicated plot behind this story, but this is exactly what I loved about it.                          Sometimes, you just need a simple story between the reader and her sister’s best friend. A simple story between two young people pining for each other. A simple story maybe, but with a lot of charm.                          I particurly appreciate this story because of its simplicity. Love is not always complicated and impossible, and it is refreshing to read a story that remins you of that.
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— Cream & Sugar (F) (M) | One ; Two ; Three ; Four ; Five ; Six — by @taehyungforreal​
Stepping into this coffee shop was either the best or the worst idea of your life. You know that barista, you know he’s great in bed. You also know he’s the biggest asshole you’ve ever met.
escort au | barista au | enemies to lovers | +36k
Commentary - Cream & Sugar is another gem you can find on tumblr. Every time I read this serie, I fall in love once again with the characters of this stories. They are realistic, genuine and fierce. And this is what I love the most about Ashley’s fictions: the realism she puts in every single one of her work.                          The stories are thought, the psychology of the characters have been analyzed, the plot is consistent. This is not a coincidence I love everything that she writes; she has talent, and you should go read her fictions.                          And if you love slow-burn, sexual tension, and a good enemies to lovers universe, I warmly recommend you to start with this beautiful serie that I read multiple times and that I will continue to read again and again.
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— Everything in you (F) (M) | One ; Two — by @jjungkookislife​
Y/n wants a baby, Jungkook is wiiling to help.
best friends to lovers | roommate au | pregnant!reader | +24k
Commentary - If you are looking for a cute and soft Jungkook’s story, I hardly recommend you to not click on this one. And for the others who are ready to give it a go, make sure to prepare your eyes and soul beforehand. This fiction is made of 90% of smut. This is kinky Jungkook asf, this is filth, this is all we like to read. Plus if we add the friends to lovers theme on top of everything else, this fiction can be considered as the holy grail for sinners like me. (But if you consider yourself pure and innocent, I promise the damnation is worth it.)
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— the jeon twins (F) (A) ; kookie ending ; jk ending — by @krreader​
jk thought he was doing this for his twin’s good. falling in love with you while pretending to be kookie was never something he planned on doing and he hated himself for it.
twins!jeon | college au | badboy!jk | nerd!kookie
Commentary - I loved the concet of this fiction. A double ending, so everyone is happy at the end. Plus we have the duality of Jungkook in one fiction: the nerdy part of him vs the iNtErNaTiOnAl PlAyBoY one. And I have to admit that I’m a sucker for both of them. So having them reunited in one fiction is a delight.
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— fear is forever (F) (A) | One: fear in your eyes ; Two: forever and a night — by @gukyi​
there’s a werewolf in that forest behind your house, they told you, and he’ll eat you before you can even beg for mercy.
werewolf au | strangers to lovers | +8k
Commentary - For some reasons, this story hit me hard.                          I love reading werewolf au, or should I say that I just love everything that is supernatural and magical. But this one was different.                          No crazy smut, no mate au, no pack. At some point, I even thought about Red Riding Hood, but not because the stories are similar. Far from it.                          I didn’t realize it directly, but after a few days, I was still thinking about it, and I could imagine telling that story to my future children. And then I realized why I was associating it to Red Riding Hood.                          This story feels like a fairytale. The famous ones. The ones that you tell your children before they go to sleep. The ones with magic, as much in the story itself as in the way it is written. The ones that make you still think about them days after you first read it. This story is literally a fairytale.
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— Cafuné (F) (A) (M) | One ; Two — by @daffodilon​
cafuné - (brazilian portuguese)
“the act of running your fingers through your lover’s hair; among the few words that cannot be directly translated into english”
roommates au | friends to lovers | +19k
Commentary - This fiction is the personification of the friends to lovers au itself.                          You want soft? You will have soft. You want soft smut? You will have soft smut. You want soft smut with Jungkook? Seriously, I don’t know why you still are here reading my bullshit when you could be reading that beautiful baby instead.  
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— vaunt (M) | One ; Two — by @yminie​
Every weekend Beta Tau throws a ‘little’ party to help students relax and let loose, and the frat resident Jungkook has a big mouth that talks a lot of big game. You finally get sick of the lack of relaxation on your end and set out to see if he’s all talk.
college au | fratboy!jungkook | enemies to lovers | +18k
Commentary - I only have three words to describe that fiction: big dick Jungkook.                          You want reasons to go read this story? A lot of smut. A good amount of crack. A little bit of fluff to end the story. And also, fuckboy!jungkook; fratboy!jungkook; and Big. Dick. Jungkook.                          You want a little bit more of filth and sin in your life? You are in the right place, that’s all I have to say.
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— bad for you (A) (M) | drabble 1 ; drabble 2 ; Epilogue: undressed — by @yoonia​
His whole presence emits sin and danger, and you are not supposed to be attracted to him on the first glance. 
stripper au | bachelorette au | +31k
Commentary - Another fiction that I love reading again from time to time.                          And yes, cheating is wrong. Don’t do it at home kids. But no, I am not ashamed to love that fiction so much.                          I’m a sucker for Jungkook. But I’m a hoe for stripper!Jungkook. Plus the alchemy between reader and Jk is too good to not count that fiction in the top of my list of fictions. You add smut, fluff and the right amount of angst and BAM! You end up with a five stars fiction that you will devour until the very end. 
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paintingwithdarkness · 4 years ago
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Roydick + “you forgot to remove your snarky sticky note comments in this textbook and since i got kicked out of the library for laughing too loudly, im going to reply to each and every one” Thank you darlin' 👾
Lmao thx for the ask @dbakeiro! I’ve never written for Roydick before, so this should be new. Time to dig out my old stack of books from high school English 😂. I was a sarcastic bitch back then, so I should have some pretty good comments written in the margins I can use for this. I know it says ‘textbook’ but I’m gonna go with The Great Gatsby, because I completely defiled my copy with highlighters and sloppy cursive in the margins 😂. Hopefully my sense of humor will resonate with you.
Dick sighed heavily as he tossed the blue-covered book onto the table and slumped down in the wooden chair he’d just pulled out for himself. He buried his face in his hands, rubbing at his forehead with his fingertips. He did not want to do this. English sucked. At least math made sense to him. Metaphors, and hyperboles and idioms were just plain confusing. That was more Jason’s thing. There was a reason he always switched homework with his brother when they got home. Dick was the math guy. He did all of Jason’s algebra in exchange for Jay doing his English assignments. The only problem this time was that Jason had been caught cheating on one of his math tests, since he didn’t know any of the material. So while Jason was stuck in algebra tutoring, Dick had been forced to venture to the library to rent and read a copy of The Great Gatsby so he could complete his book report.
Overall, the book didn’t look too daunting. 180 pages. Dick could read that in a few hours. The only problem was the fact that he didn’t want to. Trying to comprehend the narrative while also searching for metaphor examples, foreshdowing, and vocabulary words meant that he would have to read each sentence at least twice so that he could complete all of the sections on his assignment. That meant actually getting through the book would take him twice as long. So not cool.
Reluctantly, he reached out and pulled the book closer. If he was being honest, the cover was actually a little creepy. Disembodied eyes and lips floated in a sea of blue. Below them was what looked like a city, bursting with lights. What was the point of the face? Was that supposed to be Gatsby? If so, Dick thought the dude was pretty ugly. And why would anyone want to write a book about an ugly guy?
He flipped the novel open. The first few pages gave the typical publication information and dedications. He skipped past those. When he got to the first page of the actual story, he paused. There was a green sticky note stuck to the margin. On it were a few scribbled sentences in print that looked like a kindergartner had written it. The letters were a mashup of capitals and lowercase, uneven in size and spacing. Dick gave it a quick once over. Maybe he wouldn’t have to read this book after all. If someone had already read it and done all the work for him by leaving their notes behind, all Dick would have to do was copy what they had already written. He had gotten lucky!
When he flipped to the second page, there was a sentence highlighted in orange and another sticky note. The sentence of the book read: “Conduct may be founded on the hard rock or the wet marshes, but after a certain point I don’t care what it’s founded on.” The response on the sticky note was: “Yeah, I don’t care either.”
Dick stifled a chuckle. So the last person who had checked this book out had decided to leave sarcastic commentary behind. Even if it wasn’t going to help him with his assignment, maybe Dick could get a little enjoyment out of this book after all.
He skimmed the next few pages before finding another sticky note. A few paragraphs had been highlighted; descriptions of a new character named Tom. After reading the highlighted bits, Dick read the note: “This Tom guy sounds like a rich, white asshole.”
A smile cracked the raven-haired student’s lips. After reading the description, Dick had to say he agreed with the note. Having his thoughts already written out by someone who agreed with him was ironically hilarious. Dick had barely started reading this book, and he didn’t know the person who had left these notes behind, but he had already made up his mind that he liked whoever it was.
On page 7 was another sticky written in response to a line of dialogue: “‘Now, don’t think my opinion on these matters is final, just because I’m stronger and more of a man than you are.”’ In the scrawled handwriting: “Ah, another case of fragile masculinity. Too bad male enhancement surgery wasn’t invented until the 50’s.”
Dick couldn’t contain the snort of a laugh that escaped him this time. Whoever had written these notes was one of the most sarcastic people Dick had ever met... or read from? in this case, anyway. Regardless, it was hilarious.
Unfortunately, his little outburst earned him a nasty look from the librarian. Dick shrunk a little in his seat. He would have to try to mask his reactions a little better.
He read a few pages more, filling in the description portions of his report as new characters were introduced. So far there was Nick, Daisy, and Tom. He wondered when he was going to get to the part with Gatsby. That was the guy the book was named after, so when the hell was this guy going to show up?
The next sticky note was placed next to a description of a female character named Jordan. A single sentence was highlighted: “I enjoyed looking at her.” The book was written in first person, from the point of view of this Nick character. The sarcastic sticky note response? “Yeah, what guy wouldn’t?”
Dick rolled his eyes. It wasn’t a particularly funny response, but the fact that the writer of the notes had chosen to comment on it said something about them.
It wasn’t until Dick got to the second chapter that he found another note. A paragraph at the bottom of the page had been highlighted, and the name Doctor J.T. Eckleburg had been circled. The sticky note said: “Ah. So this is the creepy fucker on the cover.”
A loud, “HA!” emerged from between Dick’s lips. It earned him a harsh shushing from the librarian. She was looking at him as if he were the most despicable human being she had ever met. Dick sunk lower in his chair. “Sorry,” he mouthed back at her. The librarian held up a single finger, and then pointed at the doors. One more chance, and then he had to leave. Guess it was three strikes and you’re out with this lady.
Dick tried his best to keep quiet as he kept reading. Occasional commentary from the smartass note-writer appeared every couple pages, mostly tame enough that Dick could get through it with a silent huff of laughter or a stifled giggle. Among his favorites were:
“I have been drunk just twice in my life.” “What a damn shame.”
“Catherine was a slender, worldly girl of about thirty, with a solid, sticky bob of red hair, and a complexion powdered milky white. Her eyebrows had been plucked and then drawn on again at a more rakish angle but the efforts of nature toward the restoration of the old alignment gave a blurred air to her face.” “Could have just said she was a clown. Ffs Wordsworth. No need for the garish description.”
“Suddenly, with a strained sound, Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily. ‘They’re such beautiful shirts,’ she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. ‘It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such- such beautiful shirts before.’” “Damn bitch. They’re just shirts. Get over yourself.”
The one that made Dick lose it however, was a note in response to a few highlighted lines of dialogue: “She got up and went over to Gatsby and pulled his face down, kissing him on the mouth. ‘You know I love you,’ she murmured. ‘You forget there’s a lady present,’ said Jordan. Daisy looked around doubtfully. ‘You kiss Nick too.’” The note-taker had written: “Just start an orgy, why don’t you, Daisy?”
Dick burst out laughing. He couldn’t help it. Amongst the many sticky notes written and stuck in the middle portion of the book were snarky comments about Daisy’s many lovers, Tom, Gatsby, and her fantasies about her own cousin, Nick. The orgy comment was the final thing that pushed Dick over the edge though.
He was in the middle of trying to calm himself back down when the librarian made an appearance at his side. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave, young man,” she said, sternly. “This is a library. Books are supposed to be educational; not funny.”
Dick nearly snorted at the librarian’s words, because he knew for a fact that she was wrong- plenty of books were written for the sole purpose of entertainment- but he wasn’t going to argue. He packed up his things, slipping the book into his backpack, before getting up and leaving the library. He could finish reading at home. At least there he could laugh without judgement from the old hag.
During the drive home, a brilliant idea bloomed to life in Dick’s head. All of the sticky note comments had been addressed in such a way that they were directly speaking to the characters they were about, almost like they were continuing or starting a conversation. Why then, couldn’t Dick help carry on that conversation? Why not add to the sarcastic commentary? Dick was pretty witty himself, and had already thought of a few responses to the comments the note-taker had left behind.
When he got home, Dick sprinted up to his room without so much as a hello to any of his siblings or father. He had thought that forcing himself to read this book would be torture at first, but now he was actually excited to continue, if only so he could leave his own mark on the book.
The first comment he responded to was one that said: “Well, that would be the global warming.” The line in the actual book was: “‘I read somewhere that the sun’s getting hotter every year. It seems that pretty soon the earth’s going to fall into the sun- or wait a minute- it’s just the opposite- the sun’s getting colder every year.’”
Dick pulled the sticky note out of the book and flipped it over, writing his response on the back in large, loopy cursive: “I thought global warming was fake news?” Then he stuck the note back in the place he found it with a smile.
As he neared the end of the book the notes started dwindling in number. Dick pulled out a sticky note written in response to the line: “Nowadays people begin sneering at family life and family institutions, and next they’ll throw everything overboard and have intermarriage between black and white.” Sarcastic Note-Taker had written: “Oh, the horrors!” Dick’s response: “At least he didn’t go after the gays, too. That makes him only a piece of shit instead of the whole pile.”
The last note wasn’t written in response to a particular quote, but the book as a whole. It was formatted as though the writer was just jotting down some final thoughts. Everything was bulletpointed.
Overall rating: 6/10
Had some entertaining parts, not too difficult to read, however:
Tom was a racist asshole
Daisy was a confused, manipulative bitch
Jordan was just plain full of herself
Gatsby was a liar
(Shame he died tho; R.I.P.)
Nick was the only decent character in this book
And honestly, wtf was the point of the creepy-ass face on the cover?
The 20’s sound lame. So much for “roaring” 20’s. These losers were living in the snoring 20’s.
Educational, I guess. Would not read again.
Dick chuckled. He actually didn’t know how to respond to this one. Instead, he figured he would leave his own note.
He scrambled around inside his desk, searching for the pad of sticky notes he knew he possessed. Like the note-taker, Dick tended to leave his thoughts on little post-its in his textbooks, though he was always certain to remove them before returning his books to the library. He didn’t know if the person who had checked this book out last had simply forgotten to remove their snarky comments, or if they had left them behind on purpose. Either way, Dick was glad because they had made this otherwise boring book actually entertaining to read.
Eventually, Dick victoriously held up a half-used pad of pink post-it notes. He scribbled down his own review of the book, and then tore the note off the top of the stack, sticking it into the back cover of The Great Gatsby, next to the green note left by the last renter.
Feeling satisfied, Dick slumped back in his desk chair. He had actually gotten through the whole book. Now all he had to do was finish his stupid book report. He’d filled out all of the major sections, and all he had left were the minute details.
Title: The Great Gatsby. Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Copyright:
Damn. Dick would have to go back to all of those pages he’d skipped at the beginning. With a sigh, he reopened the book, noticing something taped to the inside of the front cover he hadn’t before. It was a record of everyone who had checked out the book. Apparently the last person to check it out was a ‘Roy Harper’. The rental date was today’s date, exactly a year ago. Dick was a sophomore reading this book. That meant this ‘Roy Harper’ had to be a junior. Maybe he still had the same English teacher? It was worth a shot. Maybe Dick could actually meet the sarcastic note-taker in person. What a hilarious scene that would be.
With his mind made up on the matter, Dick copied his own name onto the record, that way, this ‘Roy Harper’ would be able to find him, too.
Roy groaned as he slumped down at his desk. English. His last class of the day. If he could just get through this last hour, then he would be free to go home. Just a measly 60 minutes. He could do this.
He rested his head against his shoulders, leaning back dangerously in his chair, precariously balanced on its two back legs. The other students around him were in various states of attentiveness. Some were diligently taking notes as the teacher droned through her powerpoint, while others resembled Roy, only hearing every other word, thoughts in a completely different place altogether.
When the bell rang, Roy nearly let out a relieved cheer. Now he could go home and (not) do his homework. Leaping up from his chair, Roy quickly shoved his English binder and pen back into his bag, before racing to the door of the classroom. Before his hand could grip the knob however, the teacher was standing in front of him.
“Mr. Harper. One of my sophomores said you lent him your copy of The Great Gatsby, and he asked me to return it to you.” She held a vaguely familiar blue-covered book out to him.
Raising a brow in confusion, Roy took it. Disembodied eyes and a pair of lips stared back at him. Well, that was creepy as fuck. But at least it cleared up the initial confusion.
“Uh, Ms. Lance, I think you’re mistaken. This is a library book-” By the time Roy looked back up from the cover, the teacher was already back at her desk. He really didn’t feel like having to explain it to her.
He shoved the book into his backpack. Now he would have to find the stupid sophomore who had done this. Honestly, was the kid really so lazy that he couldn’t return it to the library himself? Obviously, they had seen his name in the front cover and had decided to pawn the novel off on him. Whatever. That was a problem for future him to deal with. Right now, all he wanted to do was go home and take a fat nap.
When Roy woke up, for some reason, his mind immediately went to the book. Go figure. Now that the judgemental floating eyes of J.T. Eckleburg had reentered his life, he wasn’t going to be able to forget about The Great Gatsby until he found that damn sophomore who had decided to pull one over on him.
Roy growled as he threw off his bed covers and stomped to his desk where he had haphazardly tossed his backpack before his nap.
He dug out the book and flipped it open to the front cover. A neon pink sticky note flared against the crisp white of the page, stuck just above the name list of those who had checked out the book. Roy glared at it before reluctantly pulling it out of the book to read.
“Hi Roy, my name is Dick. I’m the sophomore who told Ms. Lance to give this book back to you. I know it’s not your book, since I checked it out from the library, but I do just want to set the record straight:” Roy’s eyebrows shot up in confusion. Did the note end here? He flipped it over. “I 100% blame you for getting kicked out, btw. Your notes are too damn funny. And since I did get kicked out, I decided to respond to all of them.”
Roy blinked back at the note for a moment. Who the hell did this Dick think he was?
He set the note aside and flipped the page. On page one, a familiar green sticky note was stuck to the margin. Roy could vaguely remember writing it. It had been over a year ago. He had completely forgotten to remove the notes before he’d returned the book, and now some stupid sophomore was mocking him for it.
Roy quickly flipped through the book. Several of his green post its were still stuck to the pages, but he didn’t see any more of the pink ones. So much for this sophomore supposedly responding to them.
Roy thought for a minute. Dick had used the back of his own post it to continue his message. Had he...?
Roy flipped the book open to a random page and pulled his old green note out. Sure enough, there was a message written on the back in that same loopy cursive Roy had seen on the pink sticky note.
Roy’s original comment said: “Could have just said she was a clown. Ffs Wordsworth. No need for the garish description.”
The response on the back said: “More like he was competing with Oscar Wilde than Wordsworth.”
Roy snorted. So the kid had a sense of humor after all. Maybe it was worth looking to see what else he had written.
Roy’s next note said: “Damn bitch. They’re just shirts. Get over yourself.”
The sophomore had written: “Maybe they’re Chanel?”
Roy snorted. So this Dick guy was into fashion, huh? Interesting. Then again, now that he was thinking about it, Roy had looked up the date male enhancement surgery was invented, just so he could prove a point in one of the notes he had written last year. Ironic how the research he had done hadn’t benefitted him in any way besides the satisfaction of getting to write that witty burn.
The last note Roy bothered looking at was the one written in response to his orgy comment: “No one said anything about sex. Eager for some action, are we? You skipped over bases two and three.”
One of Roy’s red eyebrows inched upwards. He didn’t know whether to feel amused or insulted. This note hadn’t just been written in response to one of his own; it had been directly addressed to him. It was like this stupid sophomore was trying to call him out.
Very well, then. The spotlight was on Roy now. Dick had set the stage, and it was time for Roy to deliver the dramatic soliloquy his audience was waiting for. Well... in this case, another snarkily written note to a snot-nosed sophomore- but same difference.
Roy dug around in his desk, searching for his sticky notes. He didn’t want to use green this time, because it would just blend in with all of his others. He wanted Dick to find his new note. Roy needed to put this kid in his place.
Eventually, he slammed a pad of neon yellow post its down on the desk in front of him. After dragging a pencil out of the cup sitting next to his desktop, he began scribbling his message.
Dick couldn’t help feeling a little giddy when he saw the book sitting on his desk as he walked into English the next day.
“Mr. Grayson, Roy informed me that you needed to borrow this from him again. In the future, I ask that you two stop using me as a middle man to deliver it. You’re an adult. I’m sure you’ll find a way of getting it back to him on your own once you’re finished with it.” Ms. Lance cocked a hand on her hip and raised an expectant blonde eyebrow at him.
Dick chuckled. “Of course, Ms. Lance. Thank you.”
Once the rest of the class filed into the room, Ms. Lance began her lecture for the day, and Dick busied himself with subtly scanning through the book for any signs Roy had left behind for him.
Like he had done, there was only one note that stood out; this time a bright yellow. It read: Who do you think you are, pawning this book back off on me? I did my job and returned it to the fucking library when I was done. I’m not your pack mule. Besides, that unnessesary call out on page 116? Like you even know what third base is.”
Dick scoffed. He ripped the yellow sticky out of the book and flipped it over. “You don’t know whether I do or don’t. Besides, that ‘call out’ is how you interpreted it. I just merely made a suggestion :).”
Roy’s eyes nearly popped out of his head when he walked into Ms. Lance’s classroom. Sitting up by the whiteboard, on proud display was that damned book again. That cocky little bastard...
Roy quickly flicked his sapphire eyes around the room to make sure no one was watching before he darted up to the whiteboard and snatched the cursed object. The sound of someone clearing their throat behind him made him freeze in his tracks.
“Mr. Harper, I believe I explicitly asked Dick not to use me as the middle man in your interactions with him. ‘Accidentally’ leaving this book in my classroom still counts.” The teacher leveled him with an unimpressed stare.
Roy swallowed. “Sorry, Ms. Lance. Won’t happen again.” He quickly scurried to his desk, not wanting to offend the woman any further. She was, after all, the one in control of his grade, and he could not afford to flunk.
Grinding his teeth in annoyance, Roy slammed the book open and located the new note, written on the back of his own yellow one. He dug a pen out of his backpack and scribbled a response.
When he was finished, Roy deflated. How the fuck was he going to get this book back to this annoying Grayson kid? He couldn’t leave it in the classroom, and he had no idea what the kid even looked like. All he had was a name...
“DICK GRAYSON, PLEASE REPORT TO THE FRONT OFFICE. DICK GRAYSON, PLEASE REPORT TO THE FRONT OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.”
Dick couldn’t help the embarrassed blush that spread across his cheeks as his name blared from the speakers posted in the hallways. Of course the office would choose a passing period, when everyone was in the hallways and could see him. Now the entire student body would think he had gotten into some kind of trouble. Students only got called to the front office for a few reasons.
He tried to hide his face as best as he could as he walked towards the office. As far as he was aware, he hadn’t done anything wrong, so there wasn’t any reason for the principle to be involved. Maybe he had won an award? He was one of the top students in his class, so it was possible.
The secretary was waiting for him when he entered the building.
“Mr. Grayson?”
Dick nodded his head.
“A friend dropped this off for you. Said you forgot it at home and would need it for English today.”
As soon as he saw the cover, the puzzle pieces clicked into place. Ohhh. This Roy guy was good.
Still feeling the tingle of embarrassment in his cheeks, Dick grabbed the book with a whispered, “Thank you,” before dashing back out of the office.
Once he got to his next class (not English), Dick took some time to think things over. He wasn’t going to play dirty like Roy had, but he had to leave the book somewhere Roy, and only Roy would notice. From what little information Dick did have about Mr. Harper, he knew that the junior had English after him, because the book had been waiting for him in Ms. Lance’s classroom that first day he had used her as a middle man to deliver it to Roy. That meant Dick could leave it behind somewhere close to the English classroom after his own class period, and Roy would find it the same day.
He nearly tripped over the damned thing as he entered the classroom. Sitting on the floor, just outside the English room was a shoe box with his name written on the lid. By now, Roy would recognize that loopy cursive anywhere.
Growling in the back of his throat, he picked up the box and opened the lid. Lo and behold, it was that fucking book.
“Really, dude? The front office? Cheap move, asshole. At first, I thought it would be a good idea to use the book to communicate with you, but honestly, it’s just getting stupid. And now that I know you play dirty, I don’t want to do this anymore. Meet me in person, outside the library today after school.”
Roy couldn’t help the smirk that formed on his lips. So Dick wanted to meet, huh? It was the type of move Roy would expect from a sore loser. They had had a game going on using the book, and now it was all coming to an end. He hadn’t expected that the kid would get so embarrassed from his little front office stunt. Whatever. If the kid wanted to meet, who was Roy to deny him his request? Besides, he had to admit, he was a little curious himself.
Dick glanced down at his watch nervously. He was standing outside the library, ten minutes since school had let out. Maybe this had been a bad idea. He’d wanted to meet Roy, once and for all, just to see who it was he’d been corresponding with. After all of the notes back and forth, Dick had to admit that he thought he and Roy were very like-minded. He’d like to get to know the junior a little better, that is, if Roy was willing. They could make good friends. But it would be a moot point if he didn’t show.
Five more minutes, and then Dick would call it quits and go home. Fifteen minutes was more than enough time for Roy to make up his mind about whether he would be accepting the olive branch Dick had extended, so to speak.
When his timer hit zero, the raven-haired boy shoved his hands into his pockets with a sigh. Guess he wouldn’t be meeting the smartass note-taker after all.
Dick turned, and was about to take a step away from the building when a shock of red appeared out of the corner of his eye. Quickly, he turned back around, and looked up, catching eyes with perhaps one of the most handsome boys he had ever seen in his life.
The other boy’s brows were furrowed, and there was a frown set across a pair of narrow peach lips. Blue sapphires, reminiscent of his own eyes gleamed back at him. There was a green snapback covering the majority of the boy’s hair, but the few strands of his bangs that were poking through the hole at the front where he’d turned the hat around, had been enough to catch Dick’s attention.
“You Dick?” The voice was a little rough around the edges, but warm and masculine-sounding. When the boy crossed his arms over his broad chest, Dick couldn’t help noticing the way the muscles of his biceps bulged from where they were poking out of the beige muscle shirt covering his torso.
It took the sophomore more than just a second to tear his gaze away from the taller boy’s arms, and refocus it on his face. Blinking, he gave a barely perceptible nod.
Before he knew it, the other boy had taken a step forward and was shoving something against his chest.
“Good. Now get your ass in there and return this piece of shit, already.” The redhead pointed at the entrance to the library, waiting for Dick to get over his shock and acknowledge the command.
Despite the surprise, Dick’s brain managed to come up with a witty retort. “You remember to remove your notes this time, Roy?”
The fine-toned arms recrossed over the equally toned chest. “You’re a real piece of work, y’know.”
Dick let a chuckle escape from between his lips. “You’re not half-bad looking, yourself.”
The blush that bloomed on Roy’s face nearly melted into his hair. Dick knew that Roy hadn’t been commenting on his appearance, but when he saw something he liked, he went for it. Dick wasn’t shy about flirting, and now that he had seen Roy in person, he couldn’t deny feeling attracted. He was bisexual and proud. Besides, he had always been a fan of red hair.
“I like your sense of humor,” Dick complimented. “How about I go return this ‘piece of shit’ real fast, and then we can get to know each other a little better.” He raised an onyx eyebrow in suggestion.
Roy scoffed. “Now look who’s aiming for third base.”
Another chuckle escaped Dick’s mouth. “I’d be lucky to get to first.”
Dick could just make out the corner of Roy’s mouth twitch. It was like he wanted to smile, but was holding back.
“Three strikes and you’re out. Just be lucky I’ve already thrown you a foul.”
Dick smirked. “You got that right. Did the umpire in the front office see through it?”
The comment sent those brilliant sapphires rolling. “Strike one.”
Dick hissed. “Yikes. I guess the pitcher doesn’t like it when he gets called out.”
“Strike two.”
Dick shrugged. “Maybe I’ll aim for the home run this time. Go big or go home, I guess.”
The smile finally emerged on Roy’s lips. “Just be lucky I swing both ways.”
Dick felt his heart flutter in his chest. Then, to be cocky, “I thought I was the one up to bat?”
A fond sigh escaped Roy’s lips. “Fine. But I’m saving the screwballs for later. We’ll see how you do on first.”
Dick smiled. “Sounds like a win to me.”
Well, this took me longer to write than expected, but it’s done! Hopefully you’ll like it, my dear. All of Roy’s notes were ones that I took directly from my own copy of The Great Gatsby. I figured his sarcasm would align nicely with my own. Dick’s responses I had to come up with on the fly 😂 And yep, I don’t know where all of the baseball stuff at the end came from, but it’s there, and it’s witty, so I’m leaving it. Hopefully this stupid little thing will satisfy your RoyDick craving for a little while. It was interesting to write 😂
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seriouslyhooked · 8 years ago
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False Alarms (A CS AU) Part 4/?
Modern AU where Emma is a Boston police detective and Killian is firefighter. They both get called to a fire in progress but it ends up being a false alarm, however there can be no denying the sparks between them. Includes fluff and my usual attempts at humor as well as a touch of fake-dating and meddling friends. Inspired by the song ‘False Alarm’ by Motoma and Becky Hill. Rated M for future chapters.
Part One, Part Two, Part Three ; Also on Fanfiction Here.
A/N: Hey all! This chapter was originally going to bring us to the two first dates, but I ended up writing a lot more for the first one than expected. As such this chapter just looks at their real first date from Emma’s POV. Next chapter we will get banquet from Killian’s POV and that will show us some of the strangeness of this whole fake dating dynamic. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy and thanks for reading!
“I still can’t believe you - Emma Nolan - said yes to a date. I mean the level of shock I am experiencing right now knows no bounds. It’s like that time we found out the people breaking into all those Baskin Robbins shops were old ladies just chasing a high. That’s how crazy it is that you’re going on an actual date.”
The commentary from her best friend made Emma’s already present butterflies spring back up to the surface. Truth be told, Emma had been fighting off these nerves all day, and the anticipation of the evening before her had been on her mind constantly, but she was purposely avoiding direct mention of it.
Clearly Ruby hadn’t gotten that memo, and she was not only bringing up Emma’s impending date, but comparing it to one of the most insane busts they’d ever made while on the force. Now Emma almost regretted telling Ruby the whole truth about this fake/possibly real dating with Killian. Not that Ruby hadn’t had her suspicions. She was Emma’s best friend and upon seeing the photo in the paper with the caption claiming she ad Killian were an item, Ruby immediately knew that the story was bogus. Emma was not dating Killian Jones, because if she were, Ruby would know and she would have already given Emma enough grief to last a lifetime.
“Ruby, it’s not like I’m a hermit.”
“Never said you were, but you know what an actual date entails right?” Her friend asked before filling in the details herself. “Flowers, food, wine… the man is going to open doors for you and pull out your chair. This isn’t some ‘we met in a bar and skipped the last names’ hook up. Your Sergeant is going hot and heavy on this, I guarantee it.”
“He’s not my anything, Ruby,” Emma professed, and then she began rambling more for the sake of not getting her own hopes up than Ruby’s. “This is just dinner. Honestly we’ll probably both realize that there’s nothing beneath the surface of whatever this is, we’ll learn a few details about each other to get us through my parents’ insane PR idea, and then we’ll go our separate ways.”
Emma felt a bad taste accruing in her mouth as she uttered these words, probably because they were so clearly false. Emma was actually hoping that everything she’d just said would be proved incorrect tonight. After a few days of texting and building the excitement, Emma was eager to see where Killian would take her and to get the chance to find out more about him. She had the basics of course (her status as a detective wouldn’t allow her to not do a little digging after all) but she didn’t know the man underneath that swagger and charm, at least not yet.
“Oh sure. You wore your best dress for a guy you know will be a dud. Totally believable.” Ruby flopped down on the chair in Emma’s living room waving her hand in the air like she couldn’t even entertain that thought being in the air around her.
Emma looked back down at the classic black dress she had on and she bit back a smile. Ruby was right. This was her best dress, and Emma had chosen it for that reason. Then she’d gotten frustrated at herself for not having more color in her closet. If ever there was a time to liven it up a bit that time was now, but aside from the gown she’d worn for the gala, Emma wasn’t exactly racking up bright ensembles.
“Is that your way of saying I look okay?” Emma asked and Ruby scoffed.
“You look hot as hell and you know it, Emma. Just get out of your own head, and whatever you do don’t tell that story about tazing that guy Belle set you up with.”
It probably shouldn’t make Emma smile to think back on that night. It had been the single worst date she had ever been on, and she only went because their friend Belle had been begging to set Emma up for months, but even Emma couldn’t dream up that ending. An unintelligent, borderline rude, self-absorbed guy talking her ear off about stocks all night was one thing, but when she found out he had a warrant out for his arrest in three states for fraud and then he tried to pull a butter knife on her for confronting him, it really clinched the title of most horrific date ever. Emma’s one silver lining had been tazing him when he tried to get away from her and the backup she’d called in, and all these years later that was the part of the story that stuck with her most. He’d made a hilarious sound when going down, and she’d taken just a tiny bit of joy in that pain. He’d been a real asshole after all and he’d conned a lot of people out of their hard-earned money, thus the warrants.
“Really? It’s a pretty good story. I could just leave out the part about how he lost a testicle,” Emma joked and Ruby looked liable to launch into a big long speech about why it wasn’t when she realized Emma was kidding.
“Very funny,” Ruby said, and right then the buzzer for Emma’s apartment went off.
“Shit he’s on time!” Emma yelled, not realizing that was a thing. Then again she never let anyone meet her at her apartment so maybe she should have known. Emma glanced around trying to figure out if she needed anything else as Ruby laughed and put her hands on Emma’s shoulders.
“Emma, chill. You are going to be great. Your instincts are never wrong, and you like this guy, so trust that. Plus he has a great date planned for you,” Ruby tossed in that last part off-handedly as she grabbed her coat to go.
“Wait! How do you know about the date?” Emma asked, frustrated that her friend had known all of this time and never mentioned anything until right now.
“Graham told me.” Ruby said that like it was completely obvious.
“Of course he did. You know I’m gonna get you back for not telling me when you knew I was stressing about what to wear, right?”
Emma’s threat was mostly empty, but there were a few ideas rattling around in her head about ways to even the score with Ruby, like bringing her lunch all next week and not giving Ruby the leftovers, or getting to the station house early every day so she got to drive and Ruby had to sit on the passenger side.
“You’ll be singing a different tune after tonight, girl. Now buzz the man up or he’ll freeze out there.”
Emma heeded her friend’s advice and she used the last thirty seconds or so to get herself together. She heard the distant sound of Ruby greeting Killian in the hall and him saying hello back, but when he knocked on the door, Emma felt her heart leap. This was it. She was actually going on a date with the guy her parents insisted she fake date. Emma shook away that line of thinking, trying to avoid the headache that came whenever she lingered on it. Instead she opened the door, and felt the air rush out of her lungs when she saw Killian.
Hot did not do this man justice, and Emma had a moment where she just stared. Taking him in and seeing the way he looked somehow better than he had in either a tux or his fire gear, Emma felt completely overwhelmed. Honestly it just wasn’t fair. No guy had a right to look this good or to walk this line between formal and casual, but Emma’s one real consolation was that as obvious as her staring was, Killian’s was just as bad, and he got a hold of himself only after she said hello.
“You look stunning, Emma,” Killian finally said and Emma knew that he meant it, which escalated the flips her stomach was doing right now.
“Thanks, you look…”
“I know,” Killian added easily and though it was a cockier thing to say, Emma could sense he’d done it to help cut through some of this fog between them. Then he handed her a bouquet of flowers that were beautiful, and again, unexpected. “These are for you, love. I know you said flowers weren’t really your thing when you texted but-,”
“I lied,” Emma confessed and then looked back up to him. “I love flowers. Or at least ones like this. But if you’d walked in here with an armful of those artificially colored daisies…”
“I shudder at the thought. No, these I chose for one reason. They reminded me of you, and the dress you wore at the gala. One look and I knew I couldn’t walk away from something so beautiful.”
Emma felt herself blush at the compliment that might have been construed as being about flowers but Emma knew was really about her. She snuck inside to put the blossoms in water quickly before coming back and taking his outstretched hand. There was only the briefest of hesitations on Emma’s part, but when her hand was safely in his, Emma had no regrets. Wherever tonight was headed, she wanted to go there, to see once and for all if these feelings she’d been carrying since meeting Killian could add up to something more.
Despite the fears Emma had about first date conversation and her own often bumbling awkwardness, Emma found herself really enjoying the company, and after a few requisite jokes about him knowing how to drive on the right side of the road, Emma eased into the dynamic between them. She was actually so comfortable that she neglected to notice their surroundings until they were already about twenty minutes outside of the city. Sensing her surprise, Killian commented on the decision to leave Boston tonight.
“I figured there would be a little more peace of mind if we left behind your parents’ stomping grounds. And to be honest, I was hoping to take you somewhere you’ve never been. As a native of the city, that seemed a harder prospect within Boston’s city limits.”
“That was a good call. So where are we going then?”
“Just outside of your parents’ kingdom,” Killian joked and then nodded. “Actually we’re already here.”
Emma peered through the windshield and watched as the roads they’d been on gave way to a beachfront property in the style of an old Victorian mansion. The beautiful blue color of the old home was crisp and clean even now in the winter months, and though there was snow on the ground, it was less extensive than back in the city thanks to the ocean being so close. The sun was long gone, but on a night like this one when the moon was full and the stars were out in full force, and when the old lanterns the house boasted were lit and lining the pathway to the front steps, this was a truly spectacular view.
“Want to go inside?” Killian asked when he’d parked the car and Emma was still just staring at the house. She nodded, allowing him to grab her door for her and lead her towards their destination.
The interior of this home was no less amazing than the outside, but Emma was amazed to find that it wasn’t a home or a hotel, but a restaurant. The sign at the door read Arendelle Café but that last word didn’t do this place justice. It was torn from the pages of a historically accurate period piece set here in New England, but it was also warm and inviting. The fireplaces were lit, and the seasonal decorations remained while the house was filled with a smell of really yummy, and exceptionally comforting food.
“There’s something I should probably tell you before we begin, love,” Killian said, suddenly sounding a little nervous and Emma looked at him with a smile, kind of enjoying his being thrown off balance.
“Oh?” Emma prompted, but before Killian could respond, a small woman with big eyes and a very expressive face arrived, looking positively joyous at their coming.
“Killian, you made it! And you must be Emma. We’ve heard so much about you. I’m Anna. And this is…” Emma watched as the woman looked around and then rolled her eyes. “My husband Kristoff was here a second ago, but with that man he’s here one second and distracted by something shiny the next.”
Emma swore she heard Killian cursing under his breath and muttering about Anna being too pushy for her own good, but Emma just gave him a look before extending her hand in greeting to the woman, who though very enthusiastic, was also kind and easy going.
“It’s nice to meet you, Anna. This place is beautiful. Is it yours?” Emma asked and Anna beamed with pride and nodded in response.
“Sure is! It’s been in the family for a long time, but I finally convinced Elsa to let me make it into this. It wasn’t like she and Liam were ever going to move out of the city, and a home like this one deserves to be lived in, even if people only stay for a little while at a time.”
“Liam?” Emma asked, this time to Killian and he scratched behind his ear. That name had come up a few times in their drive up here, but never in regards to their date specifically. What did Killian’s brother potentially have to do with this?
“As I was trying to tell you love, Anna here is my brother’s wife’s sister. Though I was informed that she and Kristoff were off tonight.”
Well shit. Did that change things? Emma wondered. Because now she was meeting his sort-of family and it was only a first date. Then again, Killian had already met her Dad, and he hadn’t been nearly as excited or inviting as Anna was being right now. The way Emma saw it that were probably even.
“We are off. We just wanted to see the girl you’ve been chatting up so much to Elsa. I swear we were going to be sneakier about it, maybe just do a tiny bit of spying from the back when you guys walked in, but then there was a scheduling issue and I was out here in the open. Next thing I knew you were here,” Anna offered, like all of that was totally normal to say to someone. Emma couldn’t help smiling though, because even if it was bizarre, she had to admit there was a definite humor wrapped up this reception.
“A likely story. Now, Anna, I beg of you, can you just show us to our table and put me out of my misery? Here I was half way to convincing Emma I’m a catch and then you come and muddle it all up.”
Emma rolled her eyes at Killian’s claim (even if he was technically right about her being closer to accepting that this attraction between them wasn’t going to be fading away any time soon) and the gesture pulled a huge grin to Anna’s face. She seemed about to make more comments when a man came up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder. From the easy affection between him and Anna, Emma assumed this was Anna’s husband Kristoff.
“I think we’ve done enough damage tonight, Anna. Let’s give them a fighting chance, alright?”
“Oh alright. It was nice meeting you, Emma,” Anna offered honestly and Emma nodded.
“You too, Anna.”
From there Killian made his goodbyes to Anna and Kristoff and then an attendant brought Killian and Emma to their table. They were completely alone here in a private room with a wall of windows in antique design clearly made new. That theme of restoring tradition while adding a timely feel carried through all of the furnishings here, but the best part of this space was they had a view of the water here, but also the intimacy of one of those fireplaces crackling off to the side. Emma had to admit it was incredibly  romantic. As someone who largely avoided romance, she was stunned at just how nice it was without being too exaggerated or over the top.
“Be honest with me, love. How dismayed at you over that display? I knew it was a risk bringing you here, but I hoped to avoid all that and just show you a good time.” Killian posed the question as he pulled Emma’s chair out for her and she immediately thought back to Ruby’s words from earlier about what made something a real date before sending him a smile.
“It was actually kind of nice to see I’m not the only one with a family who doesn’t know how to respect boundaries.”
Emma’s words allowed for a clear sense of relief to settle on Killian’s features, and Emma was glad to give him that. She was so eager to see him enjoying himself actually, that she reached for his hand across the table much to both of their surprise, but he didn’t pull back, instead running his thumb across her knuckles lightly.
“Is that a typical problem in your world, Emma? I know the comparisons to their success have caused you trouble, but don’t tell me they’re also – what’s the term – helicopter parents?” Killian’s musings pulled a real laugh from Emma, because he’d hit the nail on the head with that word choice.
“You have no idea. Don’t get me wrong I love my parents, but they’re just ever-present, you know? They hate thinking that there’s something about me they don’t know and my mother is a world class detective, so there rarely ever is.”
Emma left unspoken how this date was even more risky in that regard because Killian already knew that. It was why he’d taken her out of the city, and as someone who had lived here for only a brief amount of time, Emma was amazed that he’d found them somewhere so beautiful to go, even if it did have a tie to his family. This was perfect, and Emma was already feeling her old worries of being found out easing away.
“Aye. I think if we put them in a room with my brother and Elsa, it would be a show down of who can love their family more. I’m not sure who would win.”  
The idea made Emma laugh again because she’d seen Killian’s brother and sister-in-law in passing at the state house on the rare occasions that her testimony brought her out to that district in the city. They were both hard working from what she knew, and damn good ADAs. There was even talk of Liam ascending to the District Attorney position some day, but who knew? Maybe Elsa would be the one to take the job. Either way it was funny to think of her parents taking on two lawyers and trying to prove they loved her more than Liam and Elsa loved Killian.
At that moment the waiter came to take their order and Emma realized she hadn’t even looked at the menu. She ended up deciding to trust the special as Killian did, and she accepted the glass of wine that came from the bottle the chef recommended with that dish. It was a perfect blend, not too sweet or too dry, but just right, and Emma felt herself relaxing as she stole a sip of it. Meanwhile, Killian watched her curiously.
“Something on your mind?” Emma asked, and Killian took her question as permission to launch into an unexpected confession.
“Look, Emma,” Killian began, his sincerity and seriousness showing on his face. “I want you to know that I’m not sitting here fearful of your parents finding out about us or about this. I don’t need this to be a secret. I’m not worried about my job or reputation or anything of the like. But I know the position you’re in and that there are still some walls I’ve got to get past before you can trust me enough to choose me. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow, but someday I’m hoping you’ll be sure enough in me to do so.”
Emma hardly knew how to respond to that. It was an abrupt stream of honest feelings from a man she was still getting to know, yet who seemed so sure of her already. It perplexed Emma how Killian could appear so certain. He was talking about choices and by association commitment, and Emma knew that if she asked him the same question he’d choose her without hesitation. But he also seemed to respect that she wasn’t someone who moved so quickly, at least not in instances where her heart was truly engaged. It was almost like he needed to be honest with her, and she respected that even if his ability to give himself away so freely scared her a little.
“So you’re planning to stick around long enough for me to make that choice?” The idea was so foreign to Emma, because she just didn’t have romantic interests in her life who stayed. Recently that was her choice, but there were a couple of guys in her past who had ended things before she could, either because of her parents or because of their own asshole tendencies.
“Aye.” That one word held so much promise that Emma swore she felt the impact in her chest.
“And you’re ready to say that, even though we’ve barely even started this date?” Emma asked, her voice thick with emotion.
“I was ready to say that since that day on the fire escape, love. Granted I didn’t ever think to myself that we’d be fake dating at the same time I try to woo you for real…” Emma laughed as Killian trailed off and then he raised her hand up to kiss and finished his thought. “But I did think you were different and I knew I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t try and chase that feeling I found with you out there that day. That same one that keeps cropping up every time you’re near.”
“And what feeling is that?” Killian’s thumb ran along her wrist, pulling a flurry of sensation from her and a tiny shiver of desire as well.
“Like this is right. Honestly I’m out of my depths here, love. Until last week I thought myself content with just my work and nothing else. But now that’s all changed.”
“Because of me.”
Emma filled in that part definitively, but saying it out loud didn’t make it any less remarkable. It was so much for him to say so early, but even if his hints at making this last triggered old anxieties, the resounding feeling in Emma’s heart was relief because she trusted Killian and because she valued his not making this a game. These weren’t the words of a man going after his Fire Chief’s daughter just because. They were those of a person who was risking a bit of himself to potentially find happiness with her.
“Yes, because of you. Now, tell me I haven’t just made a huge mistake in saying all that,” Killian’s eyes portrayed a desperation that his tone concealed slightly better.
“You haven’t. I’m still here right?” Emma asked, squeezing his hand lightly.
“Astonishingly yes.” Emma smiled at Killian’s tone of wonder, like it was some kind of miracle that she wasn’t sprinting away form him. Come to think of it, it just might be given her track record.
“Well for the sake of honesty, you should know I don’t do this,” Emma admitted.
“What have dinner?” Killian joked and Emma smiled.
“No, I don’t have dinner with guys who openly admit to liking me and wanting to build something with me before we so much as hit the salad course. Call it a quirk, but it’s not my usual M.O.” Emma didn’t know what he’d do with her blunt statement, but the laugh that Killian rewarded her confession with made her feel so much better.
“I think it’s fair to say we’re wading through an unusual situation, love.”
Emma felt the same pulse of excitement at his use of that endearment. It always caught her by surprise, but the way that word sounded falling past Killian’s lips warmed her up inside. She was in serious trouble, but the only comfort for her quickly slipping control was that Killian seemed to be right there with her.
“Is that what you’d call it? I’d say it’s more nightmarish. I mean you realize that tomorrow it’s going to be me, you, my parents, and about a hundred other cops who all know me and my family, right? Some of these people have known me since I was a kid, and most of them are going to be overbearing and nosey in a monumental way.”
“I wasn’t speaking of that particular element, Emma. I was thinking more of the two of us. This spark between us isn’t your run of the mill, fleeting interest, at least not on my end.”
How any one could maneuver Emma from the disgruntled worries she’d slipped into from mentioning tomorrow’s banquet to this soft, melting person so quickly Emma didn’t know but Killian had done it. He managed to pull her from the mire of the mess her parents made and back into this date. No one else had ever brought her clarity like this, and it was intoxicating, to feel so much and yet not be totally petrified into making a run for the nearest exit.
“So you don’t go hitting on women on fire escapes very often?” Emma asked and Killian shook his head.
“You’re the first,” Killian confirmed and Emma smiled.
“Good. Let’s keep it that way, Sergeant.”
Emma’s flirtatious words set them off into the rest of a beautiful evening and the night that followed blew all of Emma’s expectations out of the water. The food was fantastic, the wine just as good, but Killian’s company was the best part of all. He was witty and funny, kind but able to give himself and others a fair bit of grief in the stories he told, and more than anything he knew when she wanted him to listen and when Emma began to feel slightly too exposed. It was astounding, watching him navigate every topic like an expert in her and her wants and needs, and by the time dessert was pulled away, Emma felt like she’d given Killian a view into her world and her mindset that very few people had.
“I have one last place I’d like to show you if you’re interested,” Killian said when the food was all cleared away and Emma could see that he was looking to her for opinions. One signal on her part that she didn’t want this and he’d toss aside his plan, but Emma did want this and she wanted to see what final thing he had in mind that could top the rest of this evening.
“Lead the way,” Emma said, accepting his hand again and following Killian through different corridors he seemed to know and up three flights of steps and into a final room that Emma never would have expected.
Like the room downstairs where they ate dinner, this room was home to a multitude of windows but not just along the walls. There were extensive skylights that were crystal clear, and though this structure posed a clear difference from the original design of the house, the end result was amazing. There were a sea of stars above them, and from this height the overlook out into the sea was further. At this vantage, the shores around them could be clearly seen cast in that same pale white light from the moon, and looking almost ethereal in their pale glow.
“I’m told sunrise over the water here is breathtaking, but to be honest, I’ve always preferred the stars.” Killian’s words were whispered, but with him standing so close, Emma could feel the rumble of his chest and the vibration of his cadence singing through her.
“Yeah, I’ve never been a fan of early mornings,” Emma replied in an attempted joke as Killian led her to the best spot by the gorgeous overseeing windows. In that spot there was a perfect view of the sea and stars together, and with the light pollution of the city far enough away, Emma swore she could see every constellation.
Emma took it all in, marveling at everything up here, but it only took a few seconds for her to be distracted by Killian’s closeness and the way it felt good to have him here. He was this strong, imposing presence, but there was no threat in his being so near. It felt good. Better than good actually. It felt like Killian had been entirely correct when he said this thing between them was right. It worked for whatever reason, and Emma didn’t feel the need to question it. Instead she wanted to explore it.
“What did you used to wish for?” Emma asked, turning back to Killian and seeing his eyes had never strayed from her face. “As a kid, when the first star appeared in the sky?” 
“It varied. Sometimes I wanted my Mum to buy more dessert than she was given to and for her to bestow it all to me before Liam could find it and eat it all as he usually did. Other times I wanted school cancelled for any old reason. It didn’t matter which one as long as I didn’t have to sit through history or Latin.” Emma laughed at his choices, knowing she’d had a fair share of similar wishes.
“No ponies or puppies for you?” Emma asked and Killian smiled.
“Definitely no to the former, but I think I asked for a dog once or twice, and by once or twice I mean a few dozen times,” Emma chuckled again, knowing she’d asked at least a hundred times for one. But her Mom was allergic, and by the time she was out on her own Emma was working crazy hours at the precinct.
“Sometimes I wish I could go back to that age, when everything seems possible. When the most ridiculous wish has a shot of being answered just because you want it bad enough.” Emma admitted, thoughtfully. She expected agreement from Killian, but instead he moved closer to her, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek.
“And what do you want, Emma? In your heart, what’s the one thing you want most right now?”
The question filled the space between them, and though there were arguably dozens of things that Emma might want in her life, there was only one thing she could think of right now. She decided to go for it and see if maybe she might make her wish a reality. She moved closer to Killian, pulling him down by the vest he was wearing and kissing him the way she’d wanted to since first stumbling into him on that fire escape.
To call this a kiss was almost too tame, for the fire behind it was intense and burning brighter than anything Emma knew. It was the culmination of all the back and forth they’d had going for a while now, and it delivered every ounce of interest, and every drop of chemistry that had been flowing between the two of them all that time. Emma felt branded by his lips on hers and the way Killian pulled her flush against him, inciting her whole body into a flurry of unbridled need.
Never had a first kiss held so much promise and so much satisfaction. There was just something about the way Killian tasted and the way he gave as much as he took that set her whole body aching for more. Yet that didn’t compare at all to the look in Killian’s eyes when they broke away. There, swirling in the dark blue pools that Emma couldn’t get enough of, was so much feeling and emotion and heart it made Emma believe in things again. Things that she hadn’t ever considered (about finding the one person who was right for her or who could make her world better) since she was a little girl who loved fairytales and stories about magic.
“Did that answer your question?” Emma finally asked, watching Killian’s triumphant grin appear when she did.
“Aye, love. It certainly did.”
After a little while longer spent there under the stars talking and stealing a few more of those invigorating kisses, Killian and Emma both decided it was time to head back. But when their drive back into the city came to an end, and Killian had walked Emma up to her front door once more, there was a feeling of not wanting things to end just yet that Emma knew they both felt together. Her hand was in Killian’s, and she tilted her head up to meet his gaze, seeing the same barely restrained passion on his face that she felt simmering inside her.
“You know we never got to have that drink that you mentioned at the gala. We could remedy that now if you want to come in,” Emma proposed, knowing that there would be a whole lot more than a drink if he said yes, and not caring in the slightest. Sex on the first date was totally fine with her. Actually it was pretty damn necessary given all the things that she was feeling.
“I thought you’d never ask,” Killian teased and Emma opened up the door, letting him inside, and the second the door shut behind them they were on each other again.
This kiss was able to move faster than the one before, and the slow perusal they were allowed back at the restaurant, gave over to something more demanding and needy on both sides. Emma reveled in the feeling that she was swept up in Killian and he was just as wrapped up in her. It was a total rush, but still it wasn’t enough. They moved to the couch, and the next thing Emma knew, Killian was above her, and she was arching closer, needing things to speed up and for him to meet her at the edge where she was already residing. The feeling of his hands on her body and his warmth above her made Emma crave so much more.
“Emma, much as I might like to continue this, I think maybe we should -,”
Emma knew he was going to say something about waiting (because if ever she’d met a guy who would play the gentleman card it would be Killian), but before she could try and convince him to live a little dangerously, the buzzer to her apartment went off, announcing someone’s request to get in from downstairs.
“Expecting someone?” Killian asked humorously and Emma shook her head, assuming it was maybe someone for another tenant, before hearing the voices that crackled through the speaker.
“Emma, honey, it’s Mom and Dad. Your car is out front and the light is on in your room so we know you’re up. Let us in.” Her mother’s voice was way too chipper for this time of night and it cut through the moment she’d just been enjoying with Killian so quickly, Emma felt like she had whiplash.
“Shit!”
Emma jumped up from the couch, trying to figure out what the hell to do in a dreadful scenario like this one. There was no second way out of the building currently because of construction in the back alley, and the snow outside meant Killian’s shimmying down the tree by her bedroom window was also out. Crap! Emma never had a situation like this before. Hell she’d never even had a guy in her room at home all those years. She had no experience to go off of, and a rapidly dwindling window of time to find a solution.
“How do you want to play this?” Killian asked and Emma found herself rushing around trying to figure out what to do. In a second a plan formed, but it was bad. Honestly it would probably fail miserably, but it was the only one she had and she needed Killian to go along with her on this. She grabbed his hand and pulled him into her bedroom, putting him in there and pushing him down on the bed, ignoring the continued smile on his face when she did.
“Look we’ve got two choices. Either you are super quiet and stay in here for five minutes while I get rid of them-,” Killian cut her off with a smile and a joke.
“You’re sure I can stay in here, love? Perhaps the fire escape would be more appropriate.” At another moment Emma would no doubt find that reference to their first meeting to be sweet or hilarious, but right now she was damn close to a full-blown panic.
“Or you explain to my Dad why you’re in my apartment late at night after a first date.” The humor from Killian’s face drained somewhat and he nodded.
“Good thinking, love. I won’t make a sound.”
“Emma?” Her mother’s voice came through as the buzzer sounded in her apartment again and Emma groaned as she opened her drawers up looking for the tools she needed to look un-date like in thirty seconds.
“Why don’t you just use the key?” Emma’s father said through the speaker, reminding Emma on some level that even if this was a nightmare it could have been so much worse because her Dad had a good point – what would have happened if her parents just walked in? Emma couldn’t stand thinking about it.
“I can’t find it,” Mary Margaret countered through the speaker.
“Can’t find it? But you never lose anything,” David said skeptically.
“Well there’s a first time for everything. Emma?” Emma ran back to the intercom.
“Hi, guys sorry. Come on up.” She pressed the button to let them in without another word and then ran back into her room.
Emma tried to make herself appear as normal as possible in the thirty seconds she had. She threw on a ratty pair of sweatpants and grabbed her bathrobe quickly, not even bothering to take off her dress as she tossed her hair up in a messy bun. She didn’t have time to wash off her makeup or anything like that, but she did spare Killian one last look and a truly apologetic expression.
“If we survive this, remind me to tell you how sorry I am and to thank you for everything that happened before this moment,” she said, shutting the door to her room before he could respond. She quickly turned on the TV and took one last glance in the reflection she saw in the window and sighed. God how had everything gone so wrong so quickly?
Just a moment later her parents knocked at her door, and Emma took a big breath in. She wasn’t well versed in lying to her parents by any means. Emma always preferred honesty and felt like to deserve the truth you had to speak the truth, but right now she was on a different level. All she could think about was getting them out quickly and none the wiser of her evening, and if she could pull that off she would finally be able to breathe again. She opened the door, ready to face whatever may come.
“Oh Emma, there you are. But look at you - you’re all red! Are you feeling all right?” Emma nodded, jerking back before her mother could put a hand on her forehead and check her temperature.
“I’m fine. Just really tired. What are you two doing out so late?”
“You make us sound so old,” Her Dad said hugging her quickly. “Your mother wanted cannoli and so we got some. We thought you might like some too.”
“Okay well thank you,” Emma said taking the box as her parents came in and made themselves comfortable. Emma noticed then that Killian’s jacket was still out here and she immediately ripped it from the couch before either of her parents saw it and chucked it to the ground behind her.
“You don’t want to eat it now?” Her Dad asked curiously, turning back to Emma. “You love everything from Mike’s.”
“I know, but I was actually all ready to get to bed. That much sugar so late and I’ll be up all night.”
“I didn’t think you were working tomorrow,” her mother replied, looking around the house as if searching for something, her eyes finally landing on Emma’s bedroom door, but she looked away and then Emma believed she might actually be getting away with it.
“I’m not but Ruby and I have plans so…” That wasn’t technically a lie, right? Especially since after this fiasco, she’d need grief counseling from her best friend to survive the mortification of this moment.
“Well in that case we won’t keep you. But we’ll see you tomorrow night, right?” Her father asked and Emma nodded.
“Yup. Wouldn’t miss it,” Emma replied, feeling profound joy as her Dad turned towards the front door.
“Her and Killian, David. Don’t forget, our Emma’s got a date,” Mary Margaret added, looking downright gleeful at the thought of Emma on a fake date with the man who was currently hiding in her bedroom.
“How could I forget?” her father grumbled, giving Emma a hug before heading into the hallway and leaving Emma with just her mother.
“I’m sorry honey, we shouldn’t have come over unannounced like this.”
“No Mom, it’s fine, really -,” Her mother squeezed Emma’s hand affectionately as a kinder way of cutting her off.
“It isn’t. We should have called first instead of assuming you didn’t have plans. I’ll try to remember for next time, okay? I love you.” With that and a final pat on Emma’s cheek, Mary Margaret Nolan left to meet her husband in the hallway, leaving Emma shaken but also slightly hopeful. Maybe she’d gotten away with this after all.
The moment that Emma closed the door behind her parents she felt herself slumping against it, totally and completely frazzled. On the one hand she was thanking every power in the universe that they (or at the very least her father) hadn’t realized Killian was here, but on the other she was so angry and terrified that they’d come at all. What they believed would be a thoughtful, well-received surprise had just thoroughly upended a night that was going really well. Now Emma had to face the music of that and hope that Killian wasn’t about to cut and run.
Turning around at the sound of her bedroom door opening again, Emma didn’t know what to say or do, but then she saw Killian’s smile and she froze. Wait was he laughing right now?
“Well I think I can safely say that’s not where I imagined the evening going. But it does make for a hell of a tale,” Killian said easily, and though he appeared rather laid back given the circumstances, Emma still felt a swell of anxiety.
“I’m pretty sure this is the part where you run for the hills and tell me that this is way more than you bargained for,” Emma said, resigned to the fact that this would likely happen, but then Killian was moving towards her and taking her into his arms again. His hand gently moved her chin up to look at him, and Emma held her breath in anticipation of what he would say.
“On the contrary, this is the part where I tell you that despite the familial surprises I had a wonderful time tonight. I can’t remember a better evening to be honest, twists in the road and all. It’s also the part where I beg you to consider more dates with me in the future because I don’t think one night like this could ever be enough.”
Emma responded to that request with the only answer she could fathom, another kiss that silently sealed her want to do that too. She poured a lot into that kiss: gratefulness for his being so cool about everything, joy at the fact that they’d come out of that relatively unscathed, and the bit more trust he’d earned by proving himself to be a good guy in this moment. Still, when Emma pulled back, she thought Killian deserved to hear her agreement as well as feel it.
“I’d like that. But maybe next time we go to your place at the end of the night?” Emma asked and Killian laughed. Emma knew he’d just found an apartment to move into since he’d mentioned it at dinner, and though it seemed inconsequential before, it was suddenly such a necessary turn of events.
“I think we can manage that,” Killian confirmed, his hand running over the small of her back soothingly. Emma immediately regretted this damn bathrobe, but she was too happy at the fact that he was still interested to feel truly bad about it.
“So I’ll see you tomorrow?” Emma asked.
“Tomorrow it is,” Killian agreed and with one last goodbye, he was out the door and Emma was left alone to replay what had easily been one of the best (but also craziest) nights of her life.
Post-Note: So there we have it. I am having a lot of fun with this AU so far, mostly because it’s not like anything else I am writing or have written before. This chapter was a little closer to stories I have done in the past (because first date fluff is always a necessity), but between the ending and the banquet which I will be writing about next chapter, I am putting CS in the line of some interesting obstacles. Hopefully you guys are enjoying the story and let me know what you all thought!
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