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#I’m glad he seemed to be in recovery at the hospital but everything’s a big blank after that
focsle · 1 year
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Such a sad journal. Haviland spent the last 20 pages sick and in pretty severe decline, and expressed anxiety that it might be consumption. He was discharged from the ship at Lahaina, spending at least two months there in the Hospital. In his last entry on May 23rd 1858, he said that he was feeling much better, was free of his cough, and was eager to finally go home but didn’t think he would get the chance to until next fall. Looking through the US consular records out of Lahaina there’s no record of him on lists of deceased Americans, at least not up to 1860. But again, he doesn’t exist anywhere I can find on paper beyond the closure of this journal. Who knows if he made it back or if something befell him on the return journey or what. I’d like to think he was able to see his family again, though.
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starjxsung · 2 months
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HEY STAR!!! so remember how I promised to spill about my injury updates??? umm I finally got some answers, which I'm excited about but everyone else seems nervous about lmao 😭 so basically I've had really bad knee pain for like, half my life and no one knew what it was. i recently had MRIs and I just had my follow up today so yayyy! the doctor was also kinda fine so that's a bonus 🤭 but I went with my dad since I'm back home rn and the doctor told us that he can see a few different issues from my X-rays and MRIs, and on their own, they wouldn't be a big deal. buttt since I have them all, they're causing lots of issues. he literally called me complex 💀 and he walked us through a couple surgeries that he thinks could help the problem. the one he thinks would help the most is kinda a lot 😀 basically he wants to cut through my femur, realign it so it's straight, and hold it in place with a plate and screws.... so yeah. and if I do end up going with that one, he'd do the left first, let it recover, and if it works well and heals nicely, he'd go back in to do my right. tbh I'm not really concerned about the actual surgery cutting into my leg amd sawing through my bone part, but I'm more worried about the recovery time especially because i play softball. but also I'm just glad to finally get answers after so long of doctors just telling me "yeah, there's something wrong, let's do physical therapy and see if it helps" FOR NINE+ YEARS 😭 like yeah atp i dont think its helping very much, is it?
but anyways I bought my ATE album and I'm excited for that. I MISSED YOU STAR BBY IM SO EXCITED TO FINALLY FILL YOU IN! HOW ARE YOU???
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my kitties say hello 💕💕💕
OH MY GOD????((( I mean I’m so glad you finally got some answers and that they were able to find an underlying cause but that sounds so intense ☹️☹️☹️☹️ have you scheduled the surgery yet or are you still deciding whether you want to get it? Also what IS the recovery time??? I’m so sorry bby that sounds really rough ☹️ especially since you play softball!!!! Keep me posted on whether you go through with it aaaaaa I’m rooting for you so hard and I’m sending you all my love and healing vibes ☹️🫶🫶🫶🫶 I will deadass send flowers to your hospital room I LOVE U 💐🌻🌷🪻🌹
ALSO MY ATE ALBUM SHIPPED YURRRRR comeback this week it doesn’t even feel real 😭😭 I’m seeing Ateez tonight and then flying to LA to see them again and then Lolla the week after next and I’m crazy busy at work AAAAA I’m so stressed but also just excited for everything and I wish I could take a month off just to sleep after all my shows 😭 ALSO HELLO TO UR KITTIES WOWOWOWOW THEY’RE SO CUTIE
I love u so much angel baby keep me posted on everything I’m rooting for u so hard !!!!!!!!! LOVE UUUUUU happy skz comeback week take care of yourself for me 👼🫶🫶🫶🫶❤️ here’s momo who’s also cheering for u
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whentommymetalfie · 1 year
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A new chapter! And again such a long one! 😃
And - wow! - thank you for your detailed answer to my question. 😃 It's really interesting to hear how you approached this big story. I too think, that it's really important to be aware of each character and their development and to maybe write it down to keep track of everyone. One can tell you're doing this because the story has never lost its thread.
And I have to say: I think the same can be said for your Oneshots. Yes, each and every one is complete in itself, but so is the big picture. Due to the fact that I discovered them not so long ago, I was able to read them all in one go, so that they really seemed like many small scenes from yet another big story. Which was great! 😊
But now to the new chapter: Alfie!!! You wanna shake and hug him at the same time. But then you get to know the complexity of everything. At first you think: Just lie down, damn it, Alfie! It can only go wrong… But then reading your/his thoughts on the subject that Tommy will of course relate it to himself when Alfie is exhausted and as a result will not ask him for help again puts everything into perspective. As already described above: One can tell how much effort you put into it and the development of the characters, which makes them incredibly alive and deep! And of course it goes wrong... but luckily there’s Esther! ❤️ I'm really glad you decided to keep her in the story. She is so great! ☺️ And such a nice ending, even if you want to shake Alfie again so that he finally says what he thinks! Things are looking as if they miiiiiiiight get going uphill. 😀
Thank you for the chapter! I am excited for the next! 😊
Thank you for another incredible message! ❤️  And here’s a very late (and again, very long answer, bear with me) 
I’m very happy to hear your thoughts on my one shots in the wtma-AU, because writing for that AU was very different from these long stories, since they’re not written in chronological order. I wrote most of them based on requests, and sometimes I got a request for something that I thought would fit better earlier in the timeline, so I had to do some planning and thinking to make it feel cohesive. Though when I think about it now, I’ve always taken requests sort of ’in bulk’ so I did have a chance to plan them out and make them work in relation to each other. I didn’t have quite the overview I’ve had with Breathe Again and Home to you, but I’m glad they feel like one long story, because that’s always been the goal. (And just a little note for anyone who enjoys the wtma-AU, I actually might have a story planned out for that, because I re-read them the other day and realized how much I’ve missed writing for it, and a little idea came to mind. We’ll see what happens.)
But back to the current story: your kind words mean the world. Alfie slowly but surely wearing himself out is something that’s been in the works from the moment Tommy got injured and had to be taken to the hospital way back in the beginning. And in some ways from the very beginning of Breathe Again. But I’ve tried to portray Margate as this sort of safe haven, where they’d gotten into a working routine of sorts by the end of Breathe again and the beginning of Home to you, which helped Alfie (and Esther) to care for Tommy. And of course Tommy’s recovery has taken a toll after so much new trauma. Which is part of the core of Alfie’s current struggle, seeing so much of the progress gone, like they’re worse off than when they started. While he’s also grown to love him deeply, and that makes it all the more painful to witness, especially since he feels guilty for being unable to protect him. 
Right I could ramble on about that forever, so I’ll just wrap it up there. 
I’ve been struggling with the new chapter, but I’m working on it, and it means a lot to know you’re excited for the continuation. Thank you again for your kind message ❤️ 
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thebookreader12345 · 3 years
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Shouting Match
Pairing: Sean Roman x Halstead! reader
Summary: Y/N and Sean were in what seemed like the perfect relationship, but when a close friend gets hurt, the two realize there were many faults between them and an argument ensues
Requested: Yes, by anonymous
Warnings: slight swearing, mentions of alcohol and gunshot wounds
Word Count: 1,777 Words
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"Jay, for the last time, I'm not gonna break up with Sean just because you don't like him," I tell my older brother.
"Why not, Y/N? I'd say that's a pretty good reason," Jay retorted as he followed me out to my car.
We had just spent the past 2 hours hanging out at Molly's so that we could catch up because it had been a while since we'd spent time together. But of course, as soon as the topic of relationships came up, a debate started that I had not wanted to get into.
"Look, Jay. I get that he's got beef with Intelligence, and they're practically your second family, but Sean's a really great guy. And once you get over whatever the hell has you fixated on him being an asshole, you'll see that. Now, I've got an early shift at Med tomorrow, and if I'm late, Will is gonna have my head. I'll talk to you tomorrow," I say before climbing into my car.
The ride to the apartment was pretty short, 5 minutes tops, and I was just happy to be home. I climbed out of my car and entered the complex, taking the stairs to get to the second floor of the building. From there, it was only a matter of seconds before I got to my door and unlocked it.
"Hey," Sean greeted from the couch as I came through the door. It wasn't weird for Sean to be in my apartment when I got home. Occasionally he'd come over so we could spend a bit of time together before our next shifts.
"Hey," I return and set my things down before joining him on the couch. I took a seat on his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck, placing a much needed kiss on his lips.
"How was work?" Sean asked and encircled my waist with his arms.
"You know, giving meds, checking in on patients, the usual," I reply, describing the everyday routine of my job as an ED Nurse at Chicago Med. "And then I got to spend some time with Jay at Molly's. It's always nice hanging out with him since I don't see him as often as Will. But what about you? How was patrol?"
"Fine. The only thing that happened was an attempted robbery, and we caught the guy," Sean responded. "Speaking of work, my partner's taking a day off tomorrow, so I'm gonna be partnered with Kim for the day."
I had no problem with Kim. Quite the opposite, actually. She was my best friend. However, she was also Sean's ex, so sometimes it made things weird between us. She assured me when Sean and I started dating that she was okay with it, and I believed that, but whenever the three of us were together, there was a bit of awkwardness in the room. We always got past it though, and Sean and Kim continued to be friends.
"All right. Keep each other safe, please," I plead and peck his lips before climbing off of his lap. "I've got an early shift tomorrow, so I'm gonna head to bed."
"Goodnight," Sean called after me. I ditched the clothes I was wearing, throwing them in the hamper with one toss. After I put on some pajamas, I climbed into bed and closed my eyes. Minutes later, I was fast asleep.
............................................
"Y/N, that's your second cup of coffee this morning," Maggie pointed out as she joined me at the nurses' station.
"Yeah. And...?" I trailed off, not seeing the problem.
"Late night?" Maggie questioned.
I shook my head. "No, actually. I made Jay promise not to keep me at Molly's past 10, and he stayed true to that. Today I'm just enjoying my caffeine." Just then, Maggie's pager beeped, and when she glanced down at it, she frowned.
"Incoming! Choi, you're up!" Maggie yelled into the ED. Ethan was the doctor I worked with the most, and I had no problem with it. We had grown to be close friends, and we worked quite well together. So, whenever it was his turn to accept an incoming trauma, I always followed to help him out. I thought today would be the same, but that all changed when the gurney was wheeled through the ambulance bay doors.
"Kim Burgess, late 20s, gunshot wound to the neck. Weak pulse. We intubated in the field," Courtney, the paramedic, informed us. My whole world seemed to stop as I watched my best friend get wheeled past me. And seeing her unconscious made things 100% worse.
"Y/N, you coming?" Ethan quizzed as he led the gurney into the nearest trauma room.
"I uh... Mags, c-can you...?" I stammer out, not even needing to finish my sentence for Maggie to understand what I was asking.
"I've got this," Maggie assured me and followed Ethan into the trauma room. Seconds after Kim was wheeled in, Sean entered the ED, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on me.
"Y/N!" Sean shouted and joined me by the nurses' station. "How's Kim doing?"
"I don't know," I confess and glance towards the trauma room she was situated in. "I make it a rule to not work on anyone I'm close with. What the hell happened? You guys were just supposed to be on a routine patrol."
"Intelligence called us up," Sean answered. "We were working a drug case and we ended up having to chase the guy down an alleyway."
"That's not what I'm talking about. You promised you'd keep Kim safe. You promised, Sean. So where were you when she was being shot at?" I implore harshly.
"I was taking cover like I was supposed to! We didn't have an eye so I ducked down behind a dumpster. What, you think this was my fault?" Sean asked.
"You're her partner, Sean. It's your job to protect her. Yet here she is with a bullet buried in her neck," I return.
"You're acting like I told her to make a move," Sean countered. "She put her own life in danger. I had nothing to do with that."
I scoffed. "You had everything to do with it."
"I don't think we should be having this argument here," Sean whispered.
"Well I think we should," I retort.
"Y/N," Sean started.
"Don't 'Y/N' me," I seethe. By now, the whole ED was staring at us, but I didn't care right now. "My best friend is dying because of you!"
"If it was me in there instead of Kim, would you be yelling at her?" Sean posed. "Cause I think you'd be trying to reassure her that none of it was her fault. So, what? Kim takes priority over me, your boyfriend?"
"At the moment, yeah," I reply and cross my arms over my chest.
"Just at the moment? I think she always has," Sean accused. "And if that doesn't speak to how our relationship is, then I don't know what does."
"What are you trying to say?" I ask.
"I'm not trying to say anything. I'm telling you that I'm through with this. I'm through with you," Sean emphasized. "We're done." As Sean stalked off back towards the lobby, everything he said really hit me.
We were done.
"Y/N? You okay?" Adam questioned once he noticed that I had practically froze in the middle of the ED.
"Excuse me," I murmur and push past him politely. My body was begging me for some fresh air to help calm myself down, so I made my way out of the ED, but that involved going through the lobby where Sean and the rest of the 21st district was waiting. I hoped that I wouldn't catch anyone's attention, but I should've known better.
"Y/N," Jay said and stood up when he saw me. However, instead of stopping to talk to him, I made a beeline straight for the exit. The automatic doors opened when I stepped near them, allowing a nice breeze to hit my face. My feet carried me to the front of the hospital where I took a seat against the side of the building and placed my head in my hands. That's when the tears began to flow, but I didn't stop them. Minutes later, I was joined by Jay, who took a seat next to me. For a few seconds, we sat in silence, but then Jay spoke up. "Natalie told me what happened."
"I don't want to talk about it," I mutter without removing my head from my arms.
"Well, as family, we're required to," Jay declared. "I told you Roman was an ass."
I laughed softly and picked my head up, resting it against the wall behind me. "I now see why you thought that. So everyone in the ED heard?"
Jay nodded. "Yeah. But don't worry. I'm sure they're all thinking the same thing as I am. Want me to have a talk with Roman?"
I shook my head. "No, but thank you for offering. I uh, I need to get back inside. We're low on nurses today. I'll talk to you later, Jay."
Jay's POV
A few hours later, Kim was awake and doing well, and I was just glad that she would be making a full recovery. As Adam and I were exiting her room, we just so happened to bump into Sean Roman, the girl who just, not even hours prior, broke my little sister's heart.
"Hey, guys," Sean greeted. "Is she awake?""
I crossed my arms over my chest. "Are you for real?"
Sean frowned. "What?"
"You broke up with my sister, that's what. Get the hell out of here!" I demand.
"But-"
Adam cut Sean off. "Kim doesn't want to talk to you. Not after what happened between you and Y/N. And I'd advise you follow Jay's orders."
Sean hesitated, but sighed. "Fine." He then walked off, leaving Adam and I standing alone in front of Kim's hospital room.
"All right man, I'm gonna head out. I promised Y/N that Will and I would come over after her shift, which is ending in like 20 minutes, so I've gotta pick up some pizza and beers."
"Okay. I'm gonna stay and keep Kim company. Have a good night," Adam spoke.
"Yeah man. You too," I return. And with that, I left the hospital to go spend some much needed quality time with my sister. Y/N would probably be hurting for a few days, but Will and I agreed that we'd be there for her every step of the way because that's what big brothers were for.
______________________________
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Text
You are my world. you three are my world now - h.h
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hello there! I'm back ! Sorry if it tooks so long, i have a lot of work during these holiday. I hope you like this little request. I didn't have time to be proofread (but a big thank you to@petersasteria who is always there to support me!). Remember that my native language is French, so don't be so mean if i made mistakes!
Feel free to like, share, comment and tell me what you think. Send me a message if you want to be added to the taglist for my next work!
Word count: 2300 Warning: angst, mention of pregnancy, small mention of blood, mention of placental abruption Pairing : harry holland Request: yes!
ღღღ
You didn't expect to be pregnant with twins at your age. The announcement of your pregnancy had also surprised more than one. Despite her support, Nikki Holland had still given the discourse on the importance of safe sex to her son. But Harry had given a more than mature speech in defense of both of you. He was able to prove to his family and to yours that you were ready and that the decision to continue the pregnancy was not rash.
You were now at the half of your eighth month and nothing could stand in the way of your happiness.
Nothing except maybe this.
Nikki had offered to have lunch with her this afternoon. Despite his work as a photographer, no longer having the company of his four children - since three of them left the family cocoon to live their own life as grown-up adults- weighed heavily on her. You accepted with pleasure. Harry, who was editing his third short film, had left you this morning to go to the edit suite, not without checking that you were okay. So, you joined Nikki at the restaurant. You shine in your long floral maternity dress. In the middle of the meal, you felt a violent contraction.
At almost eight months pregnant, it was no surprise that you could feel twins’ movements. You winced a little at the pain and your mother-in-law put a reassuring hand on your arm.
"Are you alright, darling?" she asking, a little bit worried.
"Yeah, yeah. They've just been in great shape for a few days now."
You apologized and went to the bathroom, struggling to cope with the pain of your contractions. When you noticed that your underwear was soaked with blood, your heart rate increased. You suddenly realized that a series of symptoms corresponded to what you had dreaded early in your pregnancy: the nausea that had occurred last night, the violent contractions since this morning and now the blood. Rather alerting signals that suggested a placental abruption. The obstetrician told you that this was a possible risk since you were having a twin pregnancy. You started to cry and panic for several minutes that Nikki ended up knocking on the bathroom door.
"Darling, is everything good in there?" she asked you with her sweet and worried voice.
"Could you come in please" you sobbed.
"Sure, darling. Are you sure you're feeling okay?"
She stepped carefully into the disabled cabin that you had used for space reasons. Nikki immediately noticed your state of stress. And you just told her everything in strangled sobs. She put a hand behind your back and gave you a very serious look.
"We have to go to the ER. We're going right away."
"I want Harry"
"Don't worry, I'll call him on the way"
And you haven't wasted a minute. Nikki simply left her phone number and table number at the counter before you got into your car. Dom will retrieve Nikki one's later. Holland family been known from the restaurant, the staff were comprehensive about your leaving without paid the bill. When you arrived at the hospital, the nurses greeted you directly and wasted no time either. You were taken to the operating room without being able to get your boyfriend's support.
☙♥❧
Harry arrived within fifteen minutes of receiving the call from his mother. No doubt he would receive a speeding penalty ticket later. He looked like a madman, mortified by worry. He was a bundle of nerves and sarcasm. Her mother was standing by the reception desk, waiting for her. She looked anxious. Tom was there too, trying to contact their father on his phone. When Dom finally picked up, the oldest Holland brother announced the urgency. Harry was shaking with worry.
"What happened mom?"
"I don't really know, baby. We were at the restaurant and the babies kicked. She went to the bathroom and when she didn't come back, I went after her. That's where she asked me to come into the bathroom and you know the rest. I called you straight after that. " Nikki explained, trying to get the stress out of her.
"Oh my god… where is she now?"
"The medical staff took her for surgery. I had to wait here. I couldn't go with her, baby. I’m so sorry."
"Ok ... Ok, I guess I have to wait here. Hope she's okay. God, please make her be alright."
They all made their way to the operating theater hallway for the public to wait for more information. Tom was still on the phone with his father, explaining that it would be better if he stayed at home with Paddy so as not to overcrowd the waiting room. He promised his father that they would all give news as soon as possible. A nurse in a surgical gown entered ten minutes later.
“Who's the father of miss y/l/n's babies?”
“I am. Harry Holland, I’m the father!” he almost screamed and cried at the same time.
“Come with me”
Nikki stood up cautiously and walked over to the nurse. Harry was ready to follow the nurse without giving any further information to his family.
"Excuse me. Can you give us more information on her condition?" Nikki asked
"Sure. We had an emergency caesarean. The babies are fine but there seem to be some complications with the mother. The surgeon is taking care of her."
"Is she going to be okay?" Harry asked hastily.
"She's losing a lot of blood but we're doing our best. Now please follow me." She said to curly one.
☙♥❧
Harry followed her to the nursery. His heart was pounding in mixed emotions. He was so impatient to meet his babies but at the same time he was worried about you. What if you don't survive from the complications? What was to become of him? Would he be able to live without you? Would he be a good father?
His last question vanished when he saw his two little babies in the incubator. Your twins had arrived about fifteen, almost a month earlier than expected, it was normal that they were in an incubator. Harry was going to have to make sure they put on weight. After filling out a few papers, one of the nurses offered to do some skin-to-skin contact with the twins so that they could get to know the three of them. Harry could not but be impatient with this and once prepared he settled into a seat. He was overcome with emotion, understanding how his parents had felt when Sam and him were born. He completely forgets the time, spending several minutes with his sons, one after the other. Harry knew he would place all his love in the two little beings he had taken turns holding in his arms. He was ready to lift mountains, cross the tides. Part of his mind was on you and he truly hoped he could go through life's trials with you. May your family experience all the times they deserve.
The nurse who had brought him to the nursery go up to him with a half-smile. She was sorry to disturb him during this privileged father-son moment.
"Your ... hm ... miss (y/l/n) is in the recovery room. You can go see her now"
Harry's heart burst with relief. He let out a sigh he didn't know he was holding back. The very new father nodded before placing his son in the nurse's arms so that she could put him back in the incubator. He decided to go find his family who had been waiting too long now. When he entered the waiting room, his mother and brother were still seated. Tom had his elbows on his knees, the phone in his hand. He seemed to be talking to someone. When the actor noticed his brother's presence, he spoke to him.
"Hey mate, Sam's here. Wanna talk to him? What's up? Does y/n's alright? And the twins?"
"Too much question. Give me Sam first!"
But the result was exactly the same. Sam asked the same questions as Tom and Harry winced as he tried to answer consensually.
"Hello to you too, brother. The twins are fine. I swear to God Sam, they look like a mini version of us. Two sons by the way ... y/n is fine, she's in the recovery room, I'm going see her right after that. I wanted to talk to mom and Tom first. "
"Glad to know I'm the last to know." Sam informed sarcastically.
"Hey, I was going to call you but I had to, you know ... go meet my sons. Father's job, it seems."
Sam chuckled behind his phone screen as Harry smirked in a mischievous and petty manner. He ended the call with his twin and turned to his mother and Tom. Nikki made her understand that she had heard, she seemed relieved that you were okay.
"Hey, before I go see y/n ... you want to see your grandsons ... and you, your nephew and godson, asshole."
"Harry, language" said Nikki.
"Of course I want to see my godson, stupid"
"Tom!"
The two brothers smile at each other. Just because one became a father and the other was a movie star, didn't mean they were going to change their ways. It was also their way, both of them, to decompress events. Nikki sighed in annoyance but kept quiet, too happy to meet, even only through a window, her first grandchildren. After a brief walk in front of the nursery, Harry announced that he was going to find you, leaving his family to admire your twins. They seemed so impatient to meet them in person but knew they were going to have to wait while you woke up.
☙♥❧
Harry entered the recovery room and walked over to your bed. You seemed to have already woken up from your artificial sleep. He grabbed your hand to give you the support you needed. A feeling of emptiness was felt in you, your gaze landed on your stomach, flatter than you had seen in recent months. Your eyes widened in panic but the reassuring pressure of Harry's hand drew your attention to him.
"They are fine, my love. They are fine. They are in an incubator in the nursery."
You burst into tears. The emotions being so strong.
"I'm so sorry Harry. I'm sorry ..."
“Hey… hey… you don't have to. You're okay… the twins are okay. And I still love you, I love you more than ever."
"Have you seen them?"
"Yes ... ugly like their father" he joked
You chuckled with a few more tears in your voice. You knew he didn't mean it, but humor was Harry's best way to decompress, and it worked on you too.
"My family is here. You scared the hell out of them. I think Sam was about to order a flight to kick your ass."
You chuckled again. It was so impressive to see the love that reigned in this family. You could never have asked for a better way to build your own family. Harry leaned over to kiss you.
"I love you, y/n. You are my world. you three are my world now"
"I love you more, Harry."
You stayed a few more days before you could get out of the hospital. You had decided to introduce the twins after their own discharge from the hospital. That's why, after almost a month of going back and forth to the nursery, you could finally bring your twins home. So you organized a little visit to Harry's parents.
☙♥❧
The sun was shining on London and you squeezed the doorknob of one of the maxi-cozy, Harry carrying your second son as you opened the door to the Holland family home. You were amazed at the ease with which Harry assumed his role as father. He was doing so well that you fell in love with him again.
"Is there anyone here?" He asked
"We're all in the garden, buddy!" Tom said
"You are obviously in the kitchen, dummy"
"For god's sake, Harry. Come into this fucking garden and let us see the twins!"
You let out a frank laugh as you mentally noted that you were going to have to have a conversation with Harry and his brothers about the vocabulary they were using.
You are therefore entering the garden. You noticed right away that Sam had come all the way from Scotland. Harry must have organized this with him too. You smiled, Nikki rushed over to help you with the change bags and you thanked him.
"So where is my godson?" Tom asked in the same way he did at the FFH premiere when he was looking for Jake Gyllenhal.
"Where's mine?" Sam asked too.
You approached Sam, putting the maxycosy on the table to unbuckle the seat belt and take your son in your arms. Harry was doing the same with your second baby.
"I'm happy to introduce you y/s/n"
"And there's y/s/n(2)." Harry added, so proud.
Everyone raved about the twins as you wipe away a tear, happy and proud. You were so moved by the love that reigned. Harry came to kiss you on the forehead, you closed your eyes, appeased by his gesture. The world could only turn better in his company.
"It's family portrait time!" Nikki said, her camera in her hands. "Tom, please get closer to your brother. Sam, stand next to y / n"
You all followed Nikki's instructions, who couldn't be more than happy to capture this important moment, bringing her work and family life together. You all smiled as you and Harry were in the center of the photo, carrying your twins in your arms. And at that moment, you were sure that your life could not be more beautiful than at this moment.
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sleep-i-ness · 4 years
Text
Wrong Door (Sirius Black x reader)
Synopsis: Your roommate wakes you up in the middle of the night because she can’t get into the flat. Or so you think. (Muggle AU) FOR MY 500 WRITING CHALLENGE
A/N: do not follow what reader does in this in real life. IF SOMEBODY PASSES OUT DRUNK AND DOESN’T WAKE UP, CALL AN AMBULANCE (usa people i don’t know what you do. call an uber to the hospital?)
WARNINGS: Alcohol, really shitty first aid, swearing
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BANG! Y/N bolted upright. Fuck, were they being burgled? She checked her watch, groaning at the time. It was 3 in the bloody morning and she had an 8am class. She swore lightly under her breath; she’d clearly fallen asleep while studying on the sofa, a textbook on her lap and an empty bottle of wine in her hand.
She wasn’t one for going out in middle of the week, unlike her roommate Marlene, so being woken up in the early hours of the morning was a common occurrence. Usually Marlene would just stumble back into the apartment, tripping over everything lying in her way. Tonight, she had clearly decided to break the fucking door down.
Y/N heard a key fiddling at the door, and she sighed. That was when the pounding on the door started. Time for her to go help Marlene out.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” she grumbled, extracting herself from the cocoon of sheets and cushions.
The banging didn’t lessen, and Y/N groaned as black patches clouded her vision momentarily. Mentally reminding herself to grab some water on the way back from the door, she trudged over to the hallway, propping herself against the wall for two seconds as she swayed slightly. Her fingers clasped around the latch and she pulled it, swinging the door open.
“You’re not Marlene.”
“You’re not James. Did he bring you over or something?” The brunette stranger rambled, pushing past her as he stumbled into the apartment. Y/N was too taken aback to protest at first, watching the man walk in as if he owned the place. “You can close the door, y’know. I didn’t bring back a girl this time because James said he’d literally kill me if I kept him up again. What a hypocrite.”
The man reached out to hang his jacket on an empty patch of wall, staring at it blankly when it fell onto the floor. He tried again, feeling for a hook that didn’t exist and Y/N watched him confusedly from where she stood by the still-open door.
“What on earth are you doing in my flat?” She found her voice at last; his audacity was astounding!
“Your flat? Love, just because James brought you over once doesn’t mean you can start claiming our stuff,” he seemed almost affronted, slurring his words as he let his jacket be on the floor. 
“No, this is my flat that I share with my roommate Marlene. Who the fuck is James? And, more importantly, who the fuck are you?” Y/N had to admit, she was getting a little riled at this point. This drunk man had just waltzed in and begun claiming the place as if she didn’t exist.
The man opened his mouth to protest before taking a good long look at the coral walls and pictures that hung all over them. He closed his mouth, paused, and turned to look at the hall table with their tatty fringed lampshade and geometric-print table runner. Y/N could almost hear the cogs whirring in his brain as he stared bemusedly at the room.
“Fuck. This isn’t my flat. Where am I?” He seemed honestly and completely confounded, scrunching his face up.
“You’re near Kensington, we’re a few roads back from the high street and the market. This flat block is number 48-53?” Y/N gesticulated as she tried to explain where exactly her apartment lay.
She was too busy explaining to notice the queasy expression spreading across the man’s face. He shoved back past her to stick his head out her door and promptly throw up all over her front step. Disgusting. And she was going to have to clean it up! He swayed back and forth, before collapsing backwards, narrowly avoiding falling feet-first into a pile of his own vomit. Y/N contemplated just leaving him there and shutting the door on him. But she knew deep down she’d sorely regret it if any harm came to him because she refused to help him. It wasn’t the dodgiest of areas, but the nights were bitterly cold.
“Hey,” she tapped him on his shoulders, calling upon her memories of first aid and how to deal with a drunk person. He didn’t stir, even as her taps got harder and she decided to take her chances and slapped him straight across the face. She gasped as a red handprint bloomed on his cheek, yet he still didn’t wake up. Hand still stinging, Y/N grabbed his arms, heaving as she attempted to pull him inside. Managing to pull him into the living room, she gently rolled him into the recovery position, ensuring that he was still breathing and that he wouldn’t choke on his own vomit. A dead man in her living room would be difficult to explain to her flatmate.
Y/N trudged to the kitchen, dragging her feet along as she pinched her eyelids to try and keep herself awake. She just needed to grab a glass of water to help with tomorrow’s inevitable hangover and a blanket for the drunkard. Somehow, she managed to complete the task, leaving her standing over the man now covered in her biggest blanket. She knew that she should go back to her room, but it just seemed so far, her legs protesting at the thought of moving an inch. Besides, the blanket was big enough to cover the two of them without having to even touch each other, right?
Sliding under the furthest corner, she quickly curled into a ball, eyes drifting shut before her head even touched the carpet.
:.
Waking in the morning, Y/N nuzzled further into the broad arms wrapped around her, sighing as she breathed in the stale scent of cologne and whisky. Her head pounding as she tried to recall the events of the night before that had led to her in a man’s arms. She startled, bolting upright as she remembered the drunkard who had stumbled through her door. And now she was in his arms. Fuck.
Seeing the man afresh with sober eyes, Y/N stopped to appreciate that he was actually really fucking attractive. It didn’t excuse him trying to break into her flat, but it helped, now knowing she’d cuddled him all night. God, that was embarrassing. How was she ever supposed to explain to the guy on the floor or Marlene what had happened. Slipping out from under the blanket, she tiptoed into the kitchen and slumped against the counter.
Coffee, she needed coffee. Then she could think about what had happened and how to sort out the man passed out in the living room.
Y/N filled the kettle up and spooned out the coffee granules into the cafetiere, frowning when her hand came into contact with air rather than her favourite mug. Fuck. It was still dirty from last night, probably abandoned on the table with her textbooks.
Meanwhile, Sirius groaned as he twisted under his covers. God, his head was aching, and his back was incredibly sore. Remus was going to kill him if he’d pulled a muscle; he was meant to be helping him move on the weekend. His mattress was uncomfortably lumpy; he knew he needed to get a new one, but he’d been putting it off. The bobbly fabric scratched his skin as he stretched out, flexing his fingers.
Hang on. Bobbly fabric?
Sirius cracked an eye open, flinching at the bright light. As his eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight streaming in, his heart rate picked up. This was not his apartment. He was pretty sure they didn’t have such awful, tasselled cushions or green lace curtains.
Did he-? He glanced down, releasing a sigh of relief when he noticed he was still fully dressed. Okay, so not that drunk. So how the hell did he end up here?
“Here.” A girl stood in the doorway, an unimpressed expression on her face as she offered him a steaming mug of black coffee. “I didn’t know how you liked it, but I have milk and sugar if you need.”
Sirius nodded, still trying to process how he’d got here. She stared at him, waiting for something. He quickly backtracked the conversation in his head. “Oh, no, I’m good, thanks.”
He sipped at the scalding liquid, face contorting into an expression of pain as it scorched his tongue. His eyes trailed over the girl, surely he’d remember someone this gorgeous. “So,” he winced, “how did I get here?”
She pursed her lips, as if she’d tasted something sour. Okay so that had been a bad question to ask.
“You barged into my apartment, claiming it was yours, threw up on my doorstep and then passed out.”
Oh fuck. His head spun as it tried to remember the events of the night before. He did recall somewhat throwing up, but it was a blurry flash. “Sorry about that.”
She hmphed, stacking some scattered sheets on the small coffee table and collecting up dirty crockery. Sirius swallowed the coffee, grimacing at the awkward atmosphere. Funnily enough his parents had never bothered to teach him the etiquette for accidentally bursting into the wrong flat and passing out.
His phone buzzed in his pocket and he fished it out, glad he didn’t have to feel the pressure of breaking the silence anymore.
JAMES: Where are u?
JAMES: When I said don’t bring a girl back I didn’t mean go back to hers
JAMES: Ur boss called. I said you were feeling under the weather. He said u should get over ur hangover & get into work
REMUS: Why did ur boss call me to ask if we went out last night? I said no btw
JAMES: He called again; said he’d fire you if you didn’t turn up before 11. I told him u were properly ill and I could send him a pic of the thermometer. I think I got you out of that one
JAMES: Mate, I’m getting a bit worried
Shit. When was that last one from? Okay, 11:15 and it was now 11:34. Sirius tapped out a reply to James, unsure how much detail to go into. I’m alright, be back soon. Yeah, that would do. He really couldn’t deal the endless mocking yet, once they’d found out what had happened they’d never let it go. So that would be saved for when the pounding headache had finally settled down.
His phone binged again. JAMES: We’re out of milk can you grab some on the way back?
Sure.
Sirius got to his feet, groaning as the room spun, beige walls all blurring into one. Rubbing at his face, he stumbled towards the kitchen, empty mug in hand.
“Hey, sorry, I don’t know your name.” He leant against the door frame, body sagging. God he was exhausted.
“Y/N.” Her tone was bitter, and Sirius couldn’t help the pang of guilt shooting through him. She’d probably stayed up all night worried he’d attack her or steal something.
“Well, thanks for the coffee, Y/N, and for not leaving me on the doorstep. I’ll get out of your hair now.”
He placed the mug down on the counter and slung his leather jacket on. She smiled at him, but it didn’t quite meet her eyes.
Y/N trailed him to the door, holding onto it as he stepped out, raising a hand goodbye.
“Bye.”
“Thanks, bye.” Sirius watched the chipped door swing shut, sunlight glinting gold off the battered number on the door. Hm, Number 51.
:.
Y/N groaned as the doorbell went. She’d just got settled into her studying. “Marlene, did you order something?”
“No. I’m broke.” Marlene yelled back, sticking her head out of her room. Her makeup was half done, mascara brush in hand and dress round her hips. “I can’t answer it like this!”
Y/N rolled her eyes. “Fine, I’m on it.”
She tipped the papers onto the floor, ignoring the mess they made. Future her could tidy that up. Trudging to the door, she grabbed her phone off the table. So that was where she’d left it.
“Hi,” she nodded at the delivery guy. He was holding a large bunch of flowers and Y/N bit back a sigh her eyes. Probably from another of Marlene’s boys. Honestly, she was thinking of opening up a flower shop, considering the amount of flowers Marlene’s newest was insisting on sending.
“Hi, I’m looking for,” the delivery guy scanned the list on his clipboard, “Y/N?”
She froze. Huh. “Yeah, that’s me.”
He tucked the clipboard under his arm, passing her the flowers. “These are for you. There’s a card with it.”
“Thanks.”
Y/N shut the door, staring at the bunch of vivid blooms in confusion. Who on earth would have sent her these? She racked her brains for any possible romance in her life, but nothing came to mind. With her luck, it was probably her grandma or something. Not that she’d be upset by flowers from her nan but a mystery lover was much more interesting.
She pulled out the gilded card from where it was tucked into the side of the paper, scanning the words.
Sorry for breaking in and passing out in your flat, princess. Text me if you want to go for drinks at some point: +44 7xxx xxxxxx
A smile broke across her face. Maybe she’d take him up on his offer.
-
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all hp tags: @missmulti @acciotwinz @1marvelavengers1 @samnblack @neymarlionelmessi7 @okkulta  @gredandforge @onestela@yourenotafailureoverall  @milkshakelol
sirius black tags: @holybatflapexpert @methamphetaminee @thefernandasantana @uglipotata72829 @cheapglitter @lozzybowe @persephonehemingway @blisfvlll @mads-bri @fific7 @electrasworld666 @ccosmic-illusion @anniewhoiam @20coldhearts @imcreepininyourheartbabe @whointhehellisbucky @isntmadrid @blackblossomqueen @wheezyreads @tugabooos @atomic-chickenwings @its-evita-here @inkandpen22 @Rue-123  @emilianamason @mesmerisedalien
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The Sanguine Web - Part 1
Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader
A/N: I hope you guys enjoy this, it is the first part of my 100 follower special, the other parts are coming shortly. I’ve been really wanting to a Hanahaki fic for awhile so here it is. I also want to do some different soulmate au’s so those will be coming soon! Love you guys so much xx
Warnings: Angst, mentions of death and blood
Summary: You try to figure out how to tell your friends your sick
Prompts
Masterlist
⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒
(y/n)’s pov
“I know this diagnosis is scary, but we’ve got a quite few options now,” Dr. Shaw smiled, though it felt a little backhanded, “Not, the only way we can guarantee your safe recovery is removal of the infection, but the good news there are plenty of doctors in the city who know how to perform the surgery so it wouldn’t take us very long at all to get you in. Alternatively, having your feelings requited will lead to the infection dying off on its own, or, you can try to resolve your own feelings. If you’d rather pursue one of those then a good first step is talking to them, as scary as that may be.”
“Okay,” I have to let everything soak in for just a minute, “Is the surgery risky?” “The actual surgery is very safe, though it will lead to the removal of your feelings for that person. The only real risk is the chance that it prevents you from falling in love in the future.”
“What are the chances that happens?”
“It’s about fifty fifty, and unfortunately there isn’t really a way for us to tell if that will be you, it’s just a risk we have to take,” she clasps her arms in front of her, “I’m not asking you to decide today, you’ve caught this very early so we’ve got a bit of time to figure things out. Until then I can recommend a therapist who specializes in Hanahaki’s, and there’s some antibiotics I can prescribe you that will help slow the infection.”
“Okay, thank you,” I swallow the lump forming in my throat, “I think maybe I’ll try and talk to him and work it out that way.”
She nodded, “Okay, most patients opt to try that first. We can still get you into surgery later if that doesn’t work out.”
“How late can I opt in?”
“Up until the infection starts spreading, once it’s outside of your lungs the surgery won’t do anything. However, if your feelings were to change at that point or your feelings are requited, there is still a chance you’d be able to pull through,” she began scribbling things onto a notepad, “That’s still far off right now, but this disease it unpredictable, so we’ll need you to come in every week for blood work and xrays. We’ll monitor everything very closely so we’ll know if we start getting close to the point of no return so to speak.”
“Alright, I guess straight to the pharmacy then?”
She nodded, “Good girl, and you call us if you need anything. If things feel like they’re accelerating or you start coughing up a lot straight to the hospital okay?”
I nod, “Okay, thank you.”
“Of course, I’ll see you next week.”
。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆   。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆
I took the subway to the pharmacy stuck in an odd state of numbness. Part of me wanted to cry, or scream, but I just didn’t do anything. I’m in shock until the woman behind the pharmacy counter begins speaking to me.
“Alright sweetheart what can I do for you?” “Just getting this filled,” I hand her my prescription with a forced smile.
She takes the paper, squinting at it before frowning, “Oh my…” she types a few things and sighs, “I’ll be right back,” I drum my fingers nervously on the counter while I wait for her to return, finally she does carrying a little white bag, “I know this isn’t totally appropriate but I know they only prescribe this for one thing and…” she trails off for a second, starting to blush, “Well my girlfriend had Hanahaki’s too, and she was really scared, but she ended up telling me how she felt and it was great, she recovered just like that,” she offers me a sympathetic smile, “I know this is hard but you should talk to them, I’m sure whoever they are, they’ll at least want to help.”
It’s sweet of her to say, so I thank her and shove the bag in my purse on my way out. I’m sure Peter would want to help, but he’s with someone else, and they love each other. I don’t get to confess and clear things up and live happily ever after. I have to move on, it’s the only option for me. I’m not getting that surgery and risking never falling in love again. That’s not fair. Just because I fell for the wrong person this time I have to never love again? Or die? 
I’m tearing up when I get home, and unfortunately everyone is already over. 
Betty beams at me from the couch, “Hey, how’d it go?”
“Good,” my voice shakes a little, “They think it’s just, um, allergies. I’ve got some pills that should start clearing it up.”
She nods, though all of them look a little concerned, “You’re gonna be okay then right?”
I lie through my teeth, “Nothing life threatening.”
“Okay…” she seems to buy it, but I’m sure she’ll end up drilling me on it later, “You wanna join us then?” “Sure, just, uh, give me a second,” I retreat to my bedroom, dumping my purse and jacket before clutching myself tight. I just want to cry, but I have to wait, everyone’s going to know something is wrong if I try to hide out.
I return to the living room after consoluling myself for a minute, taking a seat besides Betty on the couch, “We ordered pizza,” MJ smiles, “I got that veggie one I was telling you about.”
“Hope it’s good,” I bite my cheek, I feel guilty even talking to her.
“It’s amazing, you’re gonna love it,” she insists. 
Betty’s eyes bore into me suspiciously, “Are they really sure it’s just allergies?”
I nod, “Of course Betty, I promise I don’t need a lung transplant or something.”
“Are you sure?” she presses, “There was blood.”
“Blood?” MJ raises a brow.
Betty nods, “Yeah, she was coughing up blood last night, that’s why she even went to the doctor. It seemed worse than allergies.”
“My throat was just dry,” I try to explain, “I promise I’m fine, it’s just something in the air right now.”
“Okay,” she lets up, “But if you do need a lung transplant I’ve got you.”
“And maybe if you give (y/n) one of your lungs you two will get some sort of psychic connection,” Ned interjected, “I bet they’d make a tv show about you guys.”
Everyone starts laughing, and for the first time that day I let myself glance up at Peter. He’s so pretty, and so is his laugh, but before I can appreciate either of those things I start coughing. It’s an almost instant reminder that I can’t do that. Something tickles in my throat so I quickly stand up.
“Are you okay?” Peter frowns at me. I nod quickly, “Just need some water,” I cover my mouth with my hand as I struggle to pour myself some water. 
I bend over the sink to make sure none of them can see the petal I cough up. I know it must be a begonia. Last finals week was really stressful for me, and in the middle of the week Peter had dragged me away from the cave I was studying in to relax for a while. He took me to this cute little market and bought me some flowers while we were out, begonias.
I shove the petal down the garbage disposal and wash away the blood, I’ll have to figure out what to do when I start coughing up more, full flowers too. 
“Are you sure you're good?” Betty questions when I stand back up, I swear she has xray vision or something. 
“Yeah, better now,” I take a big swig of my water, “I’ll be good as new in a few days.”
。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆   。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆
“Make yourself comfortable,” Dr. Morrison picks a notebook up off her desk. She seems very nice, I just hope she’ll be able to help me work through some of my feelings, “I’m really glad you came here, therapy can be scary, especially in your situation, so coming here is already a step in the right direction.”
“Thanks, I’m still a little nervous, but anything to help.”
She gives one kurt nod and glances down at her notepad, “Absolutely. I’d like to know what your intention is here so I can know how to help you best. Do you intend to get surgery?” I shake my head, “No, I’m not gonna get the surgery. I want to just try and move on.”
“Alright, is this person aware of your feelings?”
I shake my head, “No, he’s with someone else so that isn’t really an option for me.”
She nods, “Okay, can I ask his name?”
“Peter.”
“Peter,” she repeats, scribbling a few things down, “Are you two close?”
“Yeah, he’s my best friend.”
“Is he aware that you're sick?”
“No, I haven’t told anyone yet.”
“Why’s that?”
“I know they’d ask who and I don’t know what to tell them yet, and it’s still new. I mean I want to tell them eventually, but I think I still need some time.”
“Of course, you need to process everything first, that’s perfectly reasonable. I do encourage you to tell them though, having a good support system is going to help you feel a lot better, and you can always let them know you just don’t feel comfortable telling them who it is.”
“I will.”
She smiled, “So, what do you like about Peter?”
I blush, “Everything I guess, he’s smart and he’s funny and I always feel really good when I’m with him. I don’t know, we just kind of click.”
“You two spend a lot of time together?”
I nod, “Yeah, we hang out all the time, I probably see him more than my actual roommate.”
“How would you feel about spending less time together?”
“He’s my best friend, why would I do that?”
“Separation is going to help you move on, I’m not saying stop being friends or avoid him, but giving yourself space from him is going to be good for you.”
。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆   。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆
I feel like therapy went well, I feel more hopeful when we finish, although I’m definitely tired. She told me the goal is to get me really comfortable with my feelings so I can move on. I decided to set myself a goal afterwards, I want to tell Betty before my next session, a week from today. I can’t hide it from her for too long anyway, we live together after all, and she’s already convinced there’s something more than just allergies going on. I debate even telling her when I get home, but Peter and Ned are in the living room, and I’m still not sure I’m ready.
“Hey,” Peter smiles to me as I walk in, “How was work?” “Fine. I didn’t realize you guys were coming over.”
“Oh yeah, we’re going to the movies. You should come, MJ is gonna meet us there.”
Dr. Morrison said separation is good, and I don’t really want to be their fifth wheel anyway.
“I think I’ll stay home,” I clutch my purse nervously, “Thanks for offering though.”
His lips pulled to a slight frown, “You sure? MJ picked some weird art film, it’d be more fun if you came.”
“Yeah, work was actually pretty tiring and I still have a bit of homework…”
“Okay,” his cheeks just barely dust pink, “Next time then?”
I nod, “Of course, you guys have fun,” I scurried to my room as quick as I could.
I don’t know what exactly made me start crying, I mean I’ve cried every night this week so maybe it’s just the overwhelming feelings again, but I think it was Peter. I don’t want to have to pull away from my best friend, I just wish I loved him the way I was supposed to. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, it just makes me feel gross. 
I end up hiding out until they leave, then I return to the kitchen for some hot cocoa and comfort food. I calm down a bit, but I’m still a little teary eyed when I pass out on the couch. I don’t know how long I get to sleep for, but what ends up waking me up is the front door opening. I peer through groggy sleepy eyes, expecting to find Betty, ready to scold me for not going to bed.
What I didn’t expect was Peter. 
He bent down beside me and set a hand on my cheek, “Wake up sleepy head, I know this couch isn’t that comfortable.”
“Hey,” I yawn before rolling onto my back, I push my arms up in an attempt to push the sleepiness out of my body, “Where is everyone?”
“Betty is back at mine and Ned’s, I came by just to talk to you, but it can wait,” he smiles and offers me a hand, “Come on bunny, I’ll take you to bed.”
I shake my head, “I’m up, what did you want to talk about?”
He blushes, “Let me help you to bed first.”
“I’m a big girl Peter, I can put myself to bed. What’s on your mind?”
He sits besides me with a sigh, “It wanted to make sure you’re okay, you’ve just seemed a little off this week.”
“It’s just allergies P, I’ll feel better in no time.”
“I don’t think so,” he frowns, “I don’t think allergies forget how to talk to your best friend.” 
“I didn't, I just don’t feel very good.”
“Are you sure? You know you can tell me if you’re upset with me or something…”
I laugh, “Peter why would I be upset with you?”
“I don’t know, you’ve just seemed off every time I’ve seen you this week.”
“Well it’s not you Peter, I just don’t feel very good. If I were upset with you I would just tell you.”
“Okay,” he accepts my answer though he doesn’t seem totally satisfied by it. Who am I kidding? It’s Peter, he always knows when something’s up. “You know I’m always here for you right?”
I nod, “I’m here for you too Peter.”
He wraps an arm around my neck and kisses the top of my head, “We could hang out for a little while, play some games or something.”
“I’m still pretty tired, I think I’m just gonna go to bed,” I blush as I stand, “Maybe some other time.”
His smile falls but he nods, “Okay, but it has to be soon. I miss hanging out.”
“Soon,” I agree, “I miss it too.”
He stands and pulls me into a hug, placing another kiss on the top of my head, “I’m sorry about whatever’s going on, you know I love you tons.”
It takes every ounce of my willpower not to burst into tears, to not break down and just tell him the truth. I can’t though, I know I can’t. It’s not his fault he doesn’t love me the way that would fix everything, he loves someone else and I want that for him, even if it makes me jealous, even if it kills me. I just want Peter to be happy. 
“I love you too.”
。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆   。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆
This morning Betty nearly caught me tossing a petal out the window, making it very clear that I’ll have to tell her soon. I’d much rather tell her than have her just find out, I just don’t know how. I think I should just sit her down and tell her, but I just want to sugar coat it somehow, make it seem better than it is. I’m trying to figure out some way to do that when I get called up to the pharmacy counter. I barely even realize I know the girl behind the counter this time. Adeline, MJ’s roommate.
“Oh hey,” she smiles to me, “Are you okay with me filling your prescription? I can totally grab someone else.”
I know she’ll know if I let her fill the prescription, it’s a little scary, but there’s enough separation between us that it feels okay, like a warm up.
“I don’t mind,” I smile back, “Just don’t tell everyone about the pills I’m popping.”
She laughs, “I’ll keep it to myself,” she turns to her computer, typing away before squinting at the screen, then it seems to hit her, “(y/n)...” she turns to me with a frown, “Do you?...”
I nod, “Yeah, but like I said, don’t tell anyone.”
“Of course,” she pursed her lips, “I’ll be right back.”
It was worse than I thought, Adeline and I aren’t super close, we get along, but we never hang out outside of group get togethers or parties. I didn’t expect her to look so upset or concerned, I thought she’d just tell me she was sorry, that she hoped I got better. It makes me scared of how everyone else is going to react.
“Here you go,” she frowned as she passed the little white bag to me, “You haven’t told anyone?”
I shake my head, “Not yet.”
“Really? Not even Betty, o-or Peter?”
“No one, I’m going to, just kind of figuring out how.”
She nods, “Yeah, I can’t imagine. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay, I’m gonna get better, it’s just a little scary for now.”
“Of course,” she smiles, but it’s one of those sad smiles I have a hard time looking at, “I, um, if there’s anything I can do just let me know. I could help you tell everyone,” she blushed suddenly, “When you’re ready of course. Just, uh, maybe it’d be easier to get it out of the way all at once you know?”
“Thank you.” It’s not a bad idea actually, maybe it would be easier than telling everyone individually. Then I just have to explain it once and answer all the questions once. I don’t have to answer all the questions over and over. It might balance out the reactions too. “That might be nicer actually, and you could probably help explain the medical stuff a bit more.”
She nodded, “Yeah, definitely, I mean do it however you need to, but if I can help in any way just let me know.”
“Thanks Adeline, I’ll think about it,” I give her an awkward little wave as I walk away.
I start making a pros and cons list in mind, weighing both of my options to try and figure out the best way to go about this, of course my thoughts are then interrupted by a phone call. Peter.
He’s been trying to get together, and this time I really have been avoiding him, following the advice of my therapist. I don’t know if it’s helping, I think about him just as much, the thoughts are just sadder now, but it’s what I have to do. My therapist knows how to get me better, and I have to get better or I’ll never get to see him, or anyone. It would be so much easier if I could just tell him that, I hate lying to him. 
“Hello?”
“Hey bunny,” he sounds chipper as ever, “How are you?”
“Good, how are you?”
“Well I’m okay right now, but I would be a thousand times better if you came over and helped me study?”
“I can’t, I’m sorry,” I glance around me, trying to think of something, “I have to go grocery shopping.”
“How about I come help you then?”
“I thought you needed to study?”
“I do but,” he pauses for a minute, “I know you said you aren’t avoiding me, but you know it went from not talking as much to suddenly we haven’t even seen each other in days.”
“Well why do we need to hang out all the time anyway? Just go hang out with MJ.” 
I don’t mean to sound as angry as I do, I’m just so frustrated. It’s not easy keeping this all to myself.
He stays quiet and then sighs. “You’ve been acting weird since you went to the doctor, I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on. I’m worried about you.”
“Nothing’s going on Peter,” I frown and wrap an arm around myself, “I’m just busy today alright?”
“You’re busy everyday.”
“I’m not, I’m just busy right now…” I sigh and hang up, I just don’t really know what to say to him.
。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆   。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆
After my awkward phone call with Peter I decided it would be best for me to tell everyone at once. I just need to get it out of the way, rip the bandaid off. So I texted Adeline, and she proposed that she and MJ would have everyone at their place to hang out today. She said it was gonna just be dinner and some party games, and everyone agreed to go. I told Betty and Ned I’d meet them there so I’d have a bit of alone time to get ready. I wanted just a bit alone just to prepare what I’m going to say and everything, I want this to go well. I want to walk into therapy tomorrow and tell her all about how I told my friends and I have this amazing support system.
A coughing fit interrupts my attempt to hype myself up in the mirror, it’s much more violent than they have been. The petals tickle a bit, and there’s usually a bit of blood, but it’s never like this. As a bit of blood splatters in the sink I hear what I assume is Betty coming back to retrieve some forgotten item. I kick the bathroom door closed and hope she just ignores me. Instead the door almost instantly starts creaking open.
“I’m fine!” I lean over the sink, trying to cover it with my hair, “Just give me a second!” I choke on my words.
The hand that’s set on my back is distinctly not Betty’s, “Jesus Christ are yo-” Peter stops mid sentence, just as the full flower falls out of my mouth, followed by a streak of blood. The full ones are much harder to cough up than the petals.
“I’m fine,” I quickly try to think of someway to explain this, “That was just in my hai-”
He seizes my wrist as I attempt to turn on the sink and wash away the evidence, “Did you cough up that flower?”
I flush, “Did you break into my house?”
“Betty gave me her keys so I could pick you up and figure out why you’ve been avoiding me! Now tell me what the hell is going on!” he demanded in the most concerned, Peter-like way he possibly could. 
I take a deep breath, glancing at the mess in the sink before I finally answer, “I have Hanahaki’s disease.”
His eyes dart between me and the sink, seeming to debate his next words carefully, “How long have you known?”
“About two weeks.”
“Were you even going to tell me?”
I nodded, “I was going to tell everyone tonight.”
He dropped my wrist and pushed a hand through his hair, I couldn’t even look him in the eyes, “W-Well it’s not that bad right? I mean there’s surgery, a-and I’m sure if you just talk to him he probably feels the same way.”
“He’s with someone else Peter, he doesn’t feel the same way.”
“That doesn’t mean he doesn’t also love you.” When I finally did meet his eyes they were glossy, and his cheeks were red.
“He doesn’t Peter, I just have to move on.”
“I’m sure he does, just tell me who and we ca-”
“I’m not telling you who he is. This isn’t his fault and I don’t want anyone to blame him or make him feel bad about it.”
“It is his fault!” he snapped before sighing, “Okay fine, you don’t want to talk to him, but there’s still surgery right? I know surgery is scary but this one’s pretty safe isn’t it?”
I nod, “It is, but there’s the risk of me not being able to love anyone again, so I’m not getting the surgery.”
“What?”
“I’m not getting the surgery, I’m just going to have to move on.”
“Okay but if that doesn’t work you’re going to get the surgery right?”
My cheeks dust pink as I shake my head, “No.”
His jaw is locked, his whole body tense, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that angry. “You have to get it.”
“I’m not getting the surgery Peter, but you don’t need to worry about me, I’m gonna move on and get better.”
“Are you kidding me?!” he snaps, “Telling me you’ll get better isn’t good enough! I understand if you want to try and move on first, but if that doesn’t work then you’re getting that surgery.”
“I’m not getting it at all Peter.”
“So you’re just going to die?!” his bottom lip started quivering, it startled me, I didn’t expect anyone to cry, “I’m not going to lose you just because some asshole doesn’t love you back! It’s not fair and I’m not letting it happen!”
“It’s not your choice Peter,” I hug myself because I have no idea what else to do, “Nothing is going to happen to me, I’ll be able to move on and I’ll be just fine. But, if for some reason that doesn’t happen, I really need you to respect my decision on this.”
A couple tears fell down his cheeks and he shook his head, “You cannot ask me to just sit back and watch you die.”
“I’m not, Peter I am going to be fine. I’m on medication that helps slow it down, and I’m seeing a therapist who specializes in Hanahaki’s, she’ll help me move on and I’ll be okay.”
“That isn’t good enough. There’s no guarantee you get better that way and that isn’t good enough for me.”
“I’m sorry Peter, but I can’t give you any other answers. I’m not getting the surgery, even if that kills me. I know that isn’t what you want to hear, and I’m so sorry, but that’s all I can give you.”
A few more tears escape and he pulls me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around his neck and went to my waist. We stay that way for a second, he rests his head atop mine while I wonder what to do. I don’t really know how to make him feel better, I don’t even know if I can.
Peter is the one to finally break the silence. “Who is he?”
“It’s not important Peter.” “Yes it is! You think he’s worth dying over!” his voice cracks and I pull away. It’s really hard to see him cry, and I can feel my own eyes starting to sting at the sight. “You won’t even reconsider it for your best friend so I wanna know what’s so fucking great about him.”
I start crying while I realize I can’t ever tell anyone it’s him. I can’t risk Peter finding out, I don’t ever want to put that on him. “It’s not about who he is Peter, I just don’t want to risk never falling in love with anyone ever again. I know some people are okay with that, but I’m not, love is important to me and I don’t think I’d ever be totally happy knowing I couldn’t have that. None of this is on him, he’s a really great guy, I love him a lot and I know you would to. I don’t want anyone to blame him or be upset with him or anything.”
“Well I hate him,” he snapped, “And it doesn’t matter what you say about him. My mind is made up and I think he’s a dick.”
“You can feel however you need Peter, but he’s a good person, the best I know,” I wiped his eyes, “Can you please keep this just between us for me? I really need to tell everyone on my own terms.”
“I won’t say anything,” he promised before pulling me to him again, “Do you think we could just ditch tonight? I really want to talk, just us, and I want to know what’s going on. I need to be able to help however I can.”
 I nodded, “Yeah, I can make something up.”
He nuzzled his nose against the top of my head before pressing a kiss to the same spot, “Thank you.”
。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆   。・:*:・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆
I ended up texting Adeline, who assured me she’d cover for us so we didn’t have to stress out about it. Peter watched my every move while I washed the blood out of the sink and threw the flower out of my bedroom window. Luck for me, he didn’t notice what kind of flower it was, or at least he didn’t comment on it. Actually he just sat on the edge of my bed, honestly I think he was just too caught up in his own thoughts to actually process what was going on. 
“So, did you have some questions?” I asked as I closed my window and took a seat besides him. He nodded, “Yeah, a few. Do you have some kind of timeline of how it’s going to progress?”
“Well the medicine I’m taking will slow everything down, right now it seems like mine is slow moving and my doctor thinks I’ll have a few months, but it’s really unpredictable. Things could get worse very quickly, but she said that’s pretty unlikely in my case. The coughing will get worse and there will be a lot more flowers and blood, but physically I’ll be pretty okay until the end. As for healing, I have until pretty much the last moments for my feelings to be reciprocated or to move on.”
“What about the surgery?”
“They’re able to perform it until the infection moves outside of my lungs. If I get to that point they’ll hospitalize me, but it won’t get to that point.”
“How long would you have if it did?”
“A few days max, I mean they’ll do everything they can to keep me going as long as possible, but there isn’t much they can do at that point.”
He clenched his hands and gave one stiff nod, “You said your therapist specializes in this?”
“Yeah, and she’s really great, she’s going to help me move on and sort out my feelings and all that. She does a lot of work with patients and their families, and she’s got a really good reputation. I really like her so far.”
“Do you think it’s helping so far?” “Well I’ve only gone once so far, but I feel like I can do this. You can look her up if you want, her name is Raina Morrison.”
“I will,” he assured before taking my hands in his, “Are you going to see her again soon?”
“Yeah, tomorrow actually. That’s why I wanted to tell everyone tonight.” He blushed, “I mean it’s still good you told someone right?”
I nodded, “I think so. It was just a little more overwhelming than I thought it would be.” 
I’m a little nervous about seeing her now, I’m worried that telling Peter wasn’t good. She told me separation was a good thing, that it will help me move on, I’m worried I won’t be able to do that now. Peter’s really protective, he cares a lot about everyone, I really love that about him, and I don’t know if I have the heart to tell him that we can’t spend time together. I don’t even know what explanation to give him now.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have freaked out on you like that. I’m sure it’s not good for you.”
“It’s okay, having you guys know will be better for me, I need to have my friends support in this, it’ll make everything easier.”
“Maybe we can just love you enough that he won’t matter anymore,” the smile he gives is weak and forced, he still looks like he might cry again.
I don’t know what to say to make him feel better. I know he loves me plenty, it’s just not the right kind of love.
“Thank you Peter,” I just ended up hugging him again.
He held me tight against his chest, “If you wanted I could help you talk to everyone, even if you end up doing it one on one. Maybe it would be easier to have me there.” 
“It’d be nice to have you there,” I pulled away to keep from crying again, “You, uh, you’ll get it now if I’m a little evasive right?”
A look of confusion overcame his face, “No. What reason could you possibly have to avoid me now?” his bottom lip started quivering again, “You might not… No, I won’t get it, we should be spending every second together that we can.”
“I need alone time to process my feelings, that’s how I’ll get better.”
“Then I won’t say anything!” his cheeks had flushed again in an instant, “I can sit there and be quiet and do nothing, but I need to be there for you. I need to spend as much time with you as I can…”
“Peter you don’t need to start savoring your time with me or make all these precious memories or anything like that. I’m gonna get better,” I squeezed his hands tight and smiled to him, “And it would help a lot if you believed that too, because right now it kind of seems like you’ve already decided I’m going to die.”
“I do believe that, I know you’ll get better,” he sighed, “B-But what if something happens? What if you’re all alone and you just need someone? I should be here, I want to be here.”
How was I ever supposed to argue with that? I can’t tell him he can’t be here for me, I don’t want to tell him he can’t.
“Maybe we should watch a movie or something before we start crying again?”
He nodded and cleared his throat, “Good idea. Maybe something funny?”
“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.”
We threw on some supposedly funny movie, but I wasn’t really paying attention. I don’t know if Peter was, but he seemed out of it too. We just sort of stared at the screen until everyone came back to my place. I had to get up from where I was laying with Peter and pretend I had food poisoning as Adeline told them. Really I just wanted to go to bed, the day had been extremely draining.
“Hey guys,” I smiled at them, doing my best to look sickly. 
Betty smiled sympathetically to me, “Hey, you feeling any better?”
I nod, “Yeah, I threw up a bit but I think I can just sleep it off. Don’t worry, Peter has babied me plenty.”
 “Well between that and the cough I think you need a little babying,” she wiggled a small container at me, “I brought you left overs for when you feel better.”
“I brought some for you too,” MJ added, flashing Peter a smile, “There in the car.”
“Thanks,” his cheeks dusted pink and I just prayed he wouldn’t give anything away, “I think I’m gonna stay with (y/n) tonight though, just in case she gets worse.”
“I’m sure she’s had enough of you hovering for one night Peter,” her smile dropped almost instantly, “I thought we were hanging out.”
I wonder if they’ve been fighting or something. A wave of guilt washes over me for avoiding Peter, for not asking if there was something he needed to talk about too. 
“We were together last night,” he frowned at her, “You know (y/n) and I haven’t hung out in awhile, and she’s sick, I should stay with her.”
“You two hung out all night and I’m sure her best friend and roommate is more than capable of making sure she doesn’t die in the middle of the night.”
Peter’s jaw clenches and I interject in the fear they may start arguing if I don’t, “Yeah, I mean thank you for taking care of me, but I’ll be fine. I’m probably just going to go to bed anyway, you should go hang out with MJ.”
His cheeks dusted pink and he nodded, “O-Okay, just as long as you're good…”
“I’m good,” I assured, “It’s been a long night, I really just want to get some sleep.”
MJ smiled, “See? You’re driving her crazy, just let the girl get some sleep.”
“I’m just taking care of her,” he snapped.
We were all quiet, Peter and MJ are always so mellow. I mean they act like they’ve been married for forty years, they don’t really fight. As long as I’ve known them they’ve just been… 
Stagnant I guess.
“Well she just said she doesn’t need to be taken care of so no need to smother her, right (y/n)?”
I just nod, “Yeah, I’m good. Peter go hang out with girlfriend, I don’t need to be babysat.”
He frowned, a small huff left his lips before he nodded, “Sure, whatever, let’s just go,” he gave me an awkward sort of side hug and called, “Text me!” before leaving with MJ, both seeming annoyed with the other.
Part 2
188 notes · View notes
your-cryin-fool · 3 years
Text
Married in Vegas
Pairing: Tom Petty x F! Reader
Request: I wish I had copied it down because unfortunately I do not remember it. But I would like to thank @run-down-that-dream​ for requesting it and for being so understanding that it took me until now to finish it
Word Count: ~1.6k
Warnings: Mentions of Tom smashing his hand while making Southern Accents 
Rating: T
Notes:  If you enjoyed this please lemme know! Just a like would be fine, but if you can comment or reblog, or even shoot me an ask about it I’d be so grateful! As much as I am writing this because it makes me happy, I also like to know how it’s being received by all of you! Thank you for reading!!
Tags: If anyone would like to be tagged in my fics please let me know :)
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Going on tour with Tom and the band wasn't anything new to you, you'd been with them on their previous tours, but this one seemed risky to say the least. It hadn't been long since Tom had recovered from shattering his hand, though you worried that going out on tour right away would mess something up, but when he assured you he would be okay, you believed him.
You sat next to him on the tour bus, he had his arm around you, your head was turned so you could look out the window and watch the dusty horizon, and he idly twirled strands of your hair.
"You okay?" He asked after a noticeable silence grew. "Seem awful quiet."
"Hm?" You turned to look at him, "Sorry I was zoning out a bit. I'm alright, though."
"Just makin' sure," he smiled then kissed your forehead.
"Be nice to get out of this bus though, I need to stretch my legs."
"Shouldn't be too much longer. You wanna take a walk when we get there?"
"Yeah I'd like that."
He moved his hand from off of your shoulder and held yours instead. You smiled and leaned against him, gently stroking his hand with your thumb. 
You eyed the thin pink line running down the back of his hand, and as you stared you remembered the circumstances that resulted in that scar. Mike calling you from the hospital telling you not to worry while Tom waited for an x-ray. And of course Tom telling you it wasn't a big deal when you burst into the waiting room looking for him. Then, what you remembered most of all and what you never wanted to see again, the pain in Tom's eyes. Not just pain from the injury, but pain from the doctor telling him that they could fix his hand but he may never play guitar again. Pain he hid behind a smart-ass comment. He didn't accept the possibility, you recalled him saying 'Fuck that' and you knew then that he was determined to prove the doctor wrong, and he did.  
"(Y/N)?" 
You snapped out of the memory, "Hm?"
"I was wondering if I could ask you something." Tom's voice was quiet, shy. Not a tone you were used to hearing when it wasn't just the two of you.
"What's up?" 
Just as he was about to speak, the bus stopped. 
He fumbled, almost as if he was counting on the engine to muffle whatever he was going to say.
"Well it's just--"
"C'mon lovebirds, we're here!" Mike beckoned the two of you as the band headed toward the exit.
"Guess I'll ask you later." He sighed, but a smile stayed plastered on his face as he got up from his seat, and helped you up after.
You stumbled slightly as your legs woke up, but Tom just held you tighter to stop you from losing your balance. You smiled at him, then headed toward the exit. When you stepped out you immediately felt the contrast between the nice cool bus to the dry desert heat, but it was only temporary as you headed into the hotel shortly after. 
Once you'd checked in, everyone went up to their rooms to rest from the drive. Your mind was preoccupied on what Tom could have possibly wanted to talk to you about on the bus, to a point where you didn't even notice him leave the room. 
Was it something bad? Had you done something? No, Tom would have told you then and there if there was something wrong between the two of you. Neither of you really believed in going anywhere angry, so if you'd fight, you'd always be quick to make up. And there was a lot of fighting when he was in recovery. 
His frustration with not being able to play anything or do anything, and your inability to help him. To say your tempers and stubbornness would clash was somewhat of an understatement. You knew neither of you meant anything you said, but you still said it, and you both would always apologize as soon as you realized you had said something that hurt the other. 
In all the years you had been with Tom, that was probably your most difficult time as a couple, but through patience and understanding, and beyond all things, love, you got past it.
"Hey, you ready?" Tom asked you after he had come back in, once again snapping you out of your thoughts.
You nodded and took his outstretched hand, then once again headed out into the arid city air.
The two of you walked hand-in-hand along the strip, pointing out the fun looking buildings and funny signs and taking pictures in front of them. 
It wasn't very often that he could go out while he was on tour, but one good thing about Las Vegas was that everyone there was too preoccupied with sight-seeing to pay attention to who was standing in front of them. It was a nice break. 
"So," you began, "What were you going to say on the bus?" 
He rubbed the back of his neck, "Oh right, well I…" 
You couldn't help but think that he seemed nervous.
"It's just that you mean the world to me, you know that?"
You laughed, "I had a hunch."
After a pause, you continued. "Was that what you wanted to say earlier?"
He shrugged, "It's part of it."
"You gonna tell the rest?"
He laughed, "I might." 
The two of you continued walking, and eventually he spoke again.
"What would you say Vegas is pretty known for?"
You looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "I don't know, casinos?"
"Yeah, but anything else?"
"Strip clubs, tourism, cocaine... wedding chapels."
"Right..."
He stopped suddenly and you looked at him. "Is this still about what you were gonna tell me on the bus?"
"Sort of." He pointed up at the sign on the building you stopped in front of.
You looked up to read it, then looked back at him.
"Wait are you-?"
"Do you want to?" 
You grabbed his face and kissed his lips. "Let's go." 
The two of you walked in and were greeted, not only by someone dressed as Elvis at the end of the aisle, but the rest of the band waiting for you.
"Are you kidding me?" You asked him, "You set this up?" 
"Well, I figured we might as well." He grinned.
"And if I said no?"
"Then I'd be pretty embarrassed I guess. Good thing you didn't."
You stood hand in hand at the altar, listening as Elvis spoke to you about what you were agreeing to, and then Tom asked to say a few words. 
"(Y/N), you helped me through one of the hardest times in my life. Having to go through surgery and relearning to play, I don’t know if I'd have ever been able to do that on my own. I know I probably wasn't much fun to be around, but you stayed by my side the whole time. Without you, who knows what I would have done, maybe I'd have done what the doctors said and stopped playing. But you believed in me, you've always believed in me. And I wanna return the favour, I promise to be there for you when you need someone by your side," he chuckled quietly, "And even when you say you don't. I know you're strong, but you don't have to do everything alone. I'll always be in your corner, I'll always believe in you, and most of all, I'll always love you."
You were fighting back tears, you thought this was a spur of the moment decision, something brought up just because you were going to be here, but he was speaking like he had it written down long in advance. As you dabbed at your eyes with a tissue, he pulled out a small box from his pocket, opening it to reveal a ring you recognized.
"Wasn't that your mom's ring?"
"She loved you, she would've wanted you to have it." He smiled.
The tears you were fighting back almost came out right then and there. You knew how much his mother meant to him, and you knew how heartbroken he was when she had passed away. So for him to give you a ring with such importance to him meant everything to you.
"But how... Did you plan all of this?"
"The guy dressed as Elvis is a surprise." He shrugged then slid the ring on your finger. 
Soon, the two of you said your 'I Do's' and Elvis declared you married. 
You kissed Tom and the guys cheered from the audience, and without really having a plan to do so, you'd just married the love of your life. 
––– 
That evening, you laid in the bed with Tom, tangled up in a cuddle.
"So, we're married," Tom said, a smile growing on his face.
"Apparently." You wiggled your ring finger and smiled.
"Can I talk about it at the show?"
"What, like, tell the whole world now?"
"Not the whole world, just a couple thousand people."
"And the press."
He frowned, "So that's a no?"
"It's a 'not yet', you know my parents, they'd kill me, well they'd kill you, if they found out we got married in Vegas."
"Yeah, I didn't really think of that. My folks would've probably been a little pissed too." He shrugged and his smile returned. "You know what that means, right?"
"What?"
"Means that we have to get married again, just not in Vegas. I'd rather not be killed because I couldn't wait."
"Well, if it spares your life, I guess I can agree to that." 
He pulled you close to him, "I'm glad that I'll get to call you my wife, even if no one knows."
"Well, the two of us know, and the boys."
"And Elvis!"
You yawned. "Right, can't forget Elvis." 
He kissed your forehead, and smiled at you, "Goodnight, Mrs. Petty." 
Just as you were about to drift off to sleep, he spoke up again.
"Can I tell the crowd I proposed?"
You laughed sleepily, "Sure." 
26 notes · View notes
knuffled · 3 years
Text
Just Practice - Chapter 17
here’s the ao3 link
The hospital garden was nestled along the northern side of the building and overlooked a small pond. Perhaps it was too generous to call it a garden. In reality, it was only a few flower beds of orchids and lilacs stowed carefully in terracotta pots. When the weather was nice, the patients would often spend some time there on the benches to get some fresh air. It wasn’t much but it definitely beat being cooped up in a hospital room with that stale, sterilized air that always made her feel more like a laboratory specimen than a human being.
After her surgery, Annabeth was allowed to visit the garden provided she went in a wheelchair to avoid agitating her knee. The doctor’s initial diagnosis had proven to be accurate once they ran some imaging tests on her: it was, in fact, a torn ACL. Annabeth had suspected as much, and she opted to get it operated on sooner than later. The surgery had gone quite well, actually. She had been lucky enough to only suffer a partial tear, according to her doctor. If she had suffered a complete tear, it could have possibly made both surgery and her subsequent recovery much more difficult.
Nonetheless, Annabeth didn’t feel particularly lucky. Honestly, in the week that she spent at the hospital, she hardly felt anything at all. Just numb. Her physical therapy sessions were the only things she had to look forward to in order to get her mind off of things. Otherwise, she was mainly stuck confined to her bed with her leg suspended in that god awful brace. Piper had brought her some novels to occupy her time, but Annabeth couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to anything she read.
Today was the first day the weather had been clear enough to head outside, and Annabeth had jumped at the chance to get out of her stuffy hospital room as soon as she could. She sat outside staring at the pond with her brain turned off, watching ducks glide across the water’s surface and preen their feathers.
Within another day or two she would be discharged from the hospital and would have to head back home, but she really didn’t want to. Her father had dropped by the day after her injury, but his visit was practically a formality. He had stayed for all of five minutes, only making sure she wasn’t dead really, before he left. On top of every other shitty thing that had happened to her recently, his visit only served to rub salt in the wound.
Sometime mid-afternoon, one of the orderlies told her that she had a visitor. Annabeth had been expecting Piper or Jason, but she was surprised to see Reyna approach her instead.
Reyna gave her a small wave, her hand hidden in the sleeve of her purple sweatshirt. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Annabeth said, blinking. “Fancy seeing you here.”
Reyna shifted on her heels. “I’m not intruding am I?”
“Funnily enough, my schedule is quite free these days,” Annabeth said lightly.
That managed to get the corner of Reyna’s lips to tug upwards. “Glad to see your injury hasn’t done anything to change your god-awful sense of humor.”
“It’s quite bad mannered to bully the infirm, you know,” Annabeth sniffed.
Reyna rolled her eyes and sat down at the bench beside Annabeth. “How’s your leg doing?”
Annabeth sighed and said, “It’s recovering. Just got surgery done a few days ago.”
“Surgery?” Reyna frowned.
Annabeth nodded. “Turns out I tore my ACL.”
Reyna grimaced and said, “Jeez, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“The doctors said that I’m lucky it was only a partial tear,” Annabeth said, smiling weakly. “But I don’t feel particularly lucky.”
“D-Did they say anything about how long it’ll take for you to make a full recovery?” Reyna asked hesitantly.
“They were pretty wishy-washy about it,” Annabeth said, shrugging. “Guessing they don’t want to be liable for being wrong. Only estimate they gave me was that I could walk normally in about two weeks or so. After that, depends on how well I respond to physical therapy.”
Reyna was silent for a while before she said, “Meet me at the college circuit someday. I’ll be waiting there for you. And then we can finally settle things.”
Annabeth picked at the hem of her shirt with a wan smile. “What’s there to settle? I haven’t beat you a single time. There’s a clear winner here, and it sure isn’t me.”
“You of all people should know you’re only as good as your last race,” Reyna said. “People in our sport can never afford to rest on their laurels.”
When Annabeth was silent, Reyna quietly said, “You look like you’ve already given up.”
Reyna’s words stung and made Annabeth recoil. “I’m sick of giving myself false hope.”
“The way I see it, hope has nothing to do with it. The only question is if you still want to try. If you still want to compete, then you’ll keep pushing until you find a way through,” Reyna said, shrugging.
“Now, I’m not here to tell you whether you should keep going or not. That’s up to you. But don’t hide behind hope as an excuse. If you want to stop, then own it.”
Annabeth stared at her lap for a while and said, “I- I don’t know. I need more time to think about it.”
Reyna nodded and said, “I don’t blame you. It’s a big decision.”
There was another pause before Annabeth cleared her throat and said, “I never got a chance to apologize. For what happened at the meet, I mean.”
Reyna furrowed her brow. “What is there to apologize for?”
Annabeth dug her fingernails into her palms. “I cost you the race. If it weren’t for me, you would have won state and placed nationally.”
“From what I recall, a certain someone was screaming at me to let her go because I was, and I quote, ‘throwing the fucking race’,” Reyna said dryly.
“Sorry about that,” Annabeth mumbled.
Reyna gave her a smile and said, “You have nothing to blame yourself for, Annabeth. It was my choice to stay and help you.”
A lump formed in Annabeth’s throat. “But why though? Why did you help me?”
“I already told you,” Reyna said, mock-exasperatedly. “Because we’re friends.”
“And that was enough of a reason?”
“There are more important things than high school cross country races, Annabeth,” Reyna said simply.
Annabeth bit her lower lip and struggled to wrap her head around Reyna’s answer. They were friends, but not so close that it made sense for her to abandon the championship for her sake. Maybe Reyna was just like that with people she deemed friends or perhaps it was just a decision made in the heat of the moment.
“And you don’t resent me or anything for it?” Annabeth asked.
“Not one bit,” Reyna said firmly. “I would do it again if I had to. I’m sure you would have done the same for me.”
“You think too highly of me,” Annabeth said quietly. “But thank you.”
Reyna raised an eyebrow and said, “So you would have left me lying in the mud with a fucked up leg just to a win a race then?”
Annabeth paused and said, “Well, when you put it that way, I suppose not.”
“See? Told you: there are more important things,” Reyna said, smiling. “Besides, I don’t want you using your injury as an excuse for when I inevitably kick your ass.”
That got a watery laugh out of Annabeth. “I’m just glad you don’t hate me.”
Reyna rolled her eyes fondly. “Of course not.”
Annabeth hid a smile and stared up at the clear, blue sky for a while before something occurred to her. “How did you know where to find me?”
“Percy told me,” Reyna said, shrugging.
Annabeth furrowed her brow and said, “You have his number?”
“No, we just happened to run into each other somewhere, and I got a chance to ask him.”
Annabeth’s heart beat faster in her chest. “D-Did he say anything else to you?”
Reyna shook her head. “No, but he looked like a mess though. Did something happen?”
Annabeth nodded and felt a lump form in her throat. Slowly, she told Reyna about everything that had unfolded after she had left her with Percy. Reyna listened quietly and intently the entire time that Annabeth spoke, but Annabeth couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
Annabeth finished by saying, “I know I shouldn’t have cornered him like that just because I was so angry about my knee, especially the whole confession thing, but at the same time, I can’t help being frustrated that he still refused to open up, right to the very end.”
When Reyna was silent, Annabeth looked at her and said, “You once said that you thought he lied all the time about how he felt and what he wanted. Is this what you meant?”
“Not exactly,” Reyna admitted. “I thought it was something more malicious, but after seeing how he is around you, it’s obvious how much he cares for you.”
“If he does,” Annabeth said softly, “it’s not in a way that I understand.”
“You’re not alone in feeling that way, I would imagine,” Reyna said. “We all have different ideas of what it means to love and be loved, and sometimes those ideas don’t match up.”
“And there’s nothing we can do about that then?” Annabeth asked.
Reyna shook her head. “No, it just means you both need to talk to about your needs. It’s not wrong to teach someone how to love you the way you need them to.”
“I would if he bothered to listen,” Annabeth said tersely.
“Really? From what you’ve told me about him, he seems to listen to you a great deal,” Reyna said, sounding surprised.
Annabeth worried her lower lip and hesitantly said, “I mean, yeah, I guess that’s accurate. But there’s still something that gets in the way, and I don’t know what it is.”
“I said this before, but it seems like he’s holding something back,” Reyna said. “Not in the way one hides secrets, but in the way you shoulder a burden, quietly and without complaint. Maybe it’s just that over time that weight has become too much to bear.”
Reyna’s words instantly struck a chord in her, even though she hadn’t fully processed them yet.
A wry smile danced on Reyna’s lips. “Reminds me a lot of my sister. Something about how sad their eyes look.”
Annabeth blinked in surprise - she had always pegged Reyna as an only child. “Wait, you have a sister?”
Reyna nodded and said, “Yeah, seven years older than me. Her name’s Hylla.”
She looked like she had more to say, so Annabeth remained silent and watched her. Reyna buried her hands in the pockets of her sweatshirt and stared up at the sky with a sigh.
“My dad was a physically abusive piece of shit growing up, so much so that my mother left him. Unfortunately, she didn’t bother to take us with her, for whatever reason, so we had to fend for ourselves. As the older sibling, Hylla took it upon herself to protect me until she was old enough to move out and take me with her,” Reyna said.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry to hear that,” Annabeth said quietly.
“It’s whatever. We’re fine now, for the most part,” Reyna said, shrugging. “But sometimes I can tell that it still eats at Hylla. It wouldn’t be that big a deal, but she has a hard time opening up or putting herself first. Over the years, I’ve tried my best to help her through it, but it’s something she still struggles with.”
“Eventually, I realized that there was really nothing I could do,” Reyna said, pursing her lips. “So instead I swore to myself that I would be open and straight-forward about everything, in the hopes that maybe if I could show her there was another way, it might change something. And who knows, maybe it’s all for nothing, but at least I am being true to myself and honest about what I want.”
Reyna traced the lines on her palm and swallowed thickly. “But it’s really tough. People think it’s easy and assume nothing scares me but they’re wrong. I’m terrified, like all the time, but seeing how much it tears away at my sister, keeping everything locked up inside, I— I don’t ever want to live that way.”
“I think you’re amazing,” Annabeth said softly. “I can’t begin to imagine how much courage that takes.”
Reyna gave her a smile and said, “Thanks. That means a lot.”
Annabeth shook her head. “I should be the one thanking you, for sharing all of this.”
“It’s no problem. I only brought it up because your situation reminded me of my sister and I. Maybe I’m totally off base about that, I don’t know,” Reyna said.
“No, um, it was definitely helpful,” Annabeth said.
Reyna took Annabeth’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “You still look conflicted.”
Annabeth laughed breathlessly and shrugged. “I-I don’t know. I guess I’m still having a hard time accepting that we’re even in this situation. It just hurts to find out that I didn’t know him anywhere near as well as I thought I did.”
“Why does that have to hurt?” Reyna asked. “What is it that troubles you so much?”
Annabeth had to pause and really think about Reyna’s question because nothing immediately came to mind. It was only now that she realized that it was actually kind of strange that she was so distraught about this to begin with. It wasn’t like there was anything particularly awful about the situation. After all, this sort of thing was totally common, but it still seemed to profoundly unsettle her all the same. She was just having a hard time understanding why that was the case.
“It’s hard to say,” Annabeth admitted. “I think it’s because Percy’s the only person in my life that I have ever truly been able to rely on, and finding out that I don’t fully know him scares me. If I don’t know him, utterly and completely, then how can I count on him? It just makes me feel really insecure, like this is all a house of cards that could come tumbling down at any moment.”
Reyna sighed and said, “I don’t know. I just think knowing someone is a pretty impossible standard to set for yourself.”
Annabeth furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”
“Well, in my experience, a person isn’t something to be known like a fact in a book,” Reyna said. “The human heart isn’t something quite so definitive. A person is always ever in the process of unraveling, constantly revealing themselves moment by moment, piece by piece. None of us ever really knows one another, but that doesn’t really matter. What matters is the effort we make to know one another, not whether we succeed. That’s all that love is: finding someone that you make the effort to know, to discover and rediscover, over and over again. And they do the same for you.”
“But then how can we ever trust anyone?” Annabeth asked desperately.
“You take a leap of faith,” Reyna said simply. “I wish I could say there was some trick to never having your trust broken but that’s not possible. Trust, by its very nature, is a brittle thing, but that’s also what makes it worth anything. The only reason trust holds any value at all is because it is something that needs to be earned.”
Reyna’s words made Annabeth recall what Percy had told her atop Aspen Peak. She hadn’t fully understood what he had meant at the time, but now she realized that there was a power to vulnerability that she didn’t know existed. It was a paradox but only by opening herself to heartbreak could she ever find what she was looking for: something permanent.
Annabeth managed a half-smile and said, “Percy told me it was like letting someone touch your heart with their hands and praying they didn’t crush it between their fingers, but that it was something we needed to do anyways.”
“That’s a pretty good way to put it,” Reyna laughed.
Annabeth sighed and said, “Would be nice if relationships weren’t so fucking complicated.”
“Agreed,” Reyna said, yawning. “I should probably get going. It’s getting late.”
Annabeth nodded. “Thanks again for visiting me and for the advice. It was really helpful.”
“And thank you for listening,” Reyna said, smiling.
“I hope someday I’ll be able to live as strongly as you do,” Annabeth said.
“You already live that way,” Reyna said, shrugging. “You just doubt yourself too much.”
Annabeth worried her lower lip and nodded. “Yeah, maybe you’re right.”
Reyna offered one final smile and said, “Guess I’ll head out then. Keep me posted about your leg and everything. When you can walk, we should hit up the batting cages again. Take your mind off things.”
“I’d like that,” Annabeth smiled.
“See you later, Annabeth.”
“You too, Reyna.”
Annabeth watched and waited for Reyna to leave before she sighed and headed back inside the hospital herself. She felt lighter for the first time in weeks. Reyna’s advice stuck in the back of her mind, and Annabeth took some time to digest it. She had a feeling it would help her figure out her path going forward.
:::
Piper came to pick her up on the day she was discharged from the hospital. By then, Annabeth could walk with the help of a brace that helped keep most of her weight off her knee, but she could only walk for a few minutes or so at most before the strain piled up and became too much. Piper leaned against the side of her car and watched Annabeth hobble over before she rushed in and gave Annabeth a hug.
“Didn’t realize you were so happy to see me,” Annabeth joked.
“Shut up,” Piper mumbled against her skin. “I’ve been worried sick about you.”
Annabeth swallowed thickly and whispered, “Thanks, Pipes.”
Piper pulled away and offered a gentle smile. “Ready to go then?”
“Yep.”
Piper opened the passenger’s side door for Annabeth and waited for Annabeth to take a seat before she did so as well. Annabeth rolled down the windows and relished in the late April breeze when it flowed across her face. Piper started the car and turned the radio on before she pulled out of the hospital parking lot and onto the interstate.
Once they were on their way, Annabeth turned to Piper and said, “You’re still okay with me staying with you right? I complete get if that’s not an option anymore.”
“No, you’re totally fine,” Piper assured her. “It’ll be nice to have some company. Besides, my place is too fucking big for only one person.”
“Your dad’s still away on a shoot then?” Annabeth asked.
Piper shrugged. “Probably. Didn’t bother asking.”
Annabeth nodded slowly and turned back to the window, but Piper looked at her and said, “Your parents aren’t going to flip out about this right?”
“Oh, I’m sure Helen will kick up a fuss, but that’s kind of par for the course,” Annabeth said.
“I’m all for it and everything, but have you really thought this through? I mean, leaving your family is a huge decision,” Piper said.
Annabeth gave her a significant look and said, “In all the time you’ve known me, when have I ever not thought things through?”
“Alright, fair point,” Piper admitted. “I’m still worried though.”
“I was going to have to leave for college anyways. This is basically only moving up the schedule. Besides, I’m pretty sure they’ll be glad to finally see me gone,” Annabeth said.
Piper grimaced and nodded. “I wish you didn’t have to go through all this. Especially now, with your leg and all.”
“It is what it is,” Annabeth said, shrugging.
They drove along in silence for a while before Piper glanced at her again and said, “I, uh, wanted to ask you about something unrelated.”
“Fire away.”
“I’m not sure if you know anything, but Percy has been acting really strange lately,” Piper said. “I’ve tried asking him about it, but he just smiles and says that it’s nothing.”
Annabeth sighed. She had been expecting this, but it was still rough now that it was finally here. Slowly, Annabeth began to explain the whole fake dating arrangement from the start of the school year and everything that had happened since then, culminating in their confrontation after her injury. Piper didn’t say so much as word, but Annabeth noticed the way her fingers tightened around the steering wheel so hard they drained of blood.
When she was done, Annabeth watched Piper with bated breath, waiting for the worst. Piper just exhaled forcefully and said, “Christ, what a mess.”
“I know,” Annabeth said mildly.
“So this whole time, you guys weren’t actually dating then? You were just lying about it?”
Annabeth hung her head and said, “Yeah, pretty much.”
Piper was quiet for a moment before she shook her head incredulously. “I mean, I knew something was up with how jittery you were about the whole dating thing, but I never expected this.”
“I’m sorry for not telling you sooner,” Annabeth said. “I was afraid you’d be mad at me.”
“Oh, I am mad at you. Furious, actually. But I’m equally as frustrated with Percy. As bad an idea as it was on your part, he should never have accepted. He knows better,” Piper said, fuming. “A pair of idiots, the both of you. What were you both thinking?”
“I’m sorry,” Annabeth said.
“Well, what’s done is done, I guess,” Piper sighed. “Honestly, maybe this what the both of you needed. Maybe now you’ll finally sort out your relationship.”
“Or maybe this is the end of it for good,” Annabeth said wryly.
“Love the optimism, babe.”
Annabeth huffed a laugh and said, “I’ll try my best to fix this, but I don’t know if I can.”
Piper was quiet for a while before she said, “Give it another shot. Maybe things will be different now that he’s had time to think about all this on his own too.”
“Yeah, you might be right,” Annabeth said.
There was another pause before Annabeth said, “You’re not gonna rescind your offer to let me crash with you, right?”
Piper snorted and said, “I have half a mind to, but I won’t. As stupid as you are, you’re still my best friend, and I’m not going to turn my back on you.”
“I don’t appreciate the insult, but thank you,” Annabeth said, smiling.
Piper glanced at her and jabbed her with her elbow. “Don’t look so happy with yourself or I might change my mind.”
“What, I’m not allowed to be happy that you called me your best friend?” Annabeth asked innocently.
Piper rolled her eyes and said, “Don’t try and schmooze your way out of this, you know what you’ve done. Especially, after that whole spiel about how you always think things through too.”
They pulled up in front of Annabeth’s house, and the brief levity in the air dissipated immediately. Annabeth set her jaw and took a deep breath, but her heart still beat faster in her chest anyways. Piper gave her a look of concern and squeezed her forearm.
“You sure you don’t want me to come with?” Piper whispered.
Annabeth shook her head. “No, this is something I need to do alone.”
Piper nodded but she still looked worried as Annabeth steadied herself and stepped out of the car. She hobbled to the front door and stepped inside with the spare key hidden beneath the flower pot. It was quiet inside the house, but the cars were still in the driveway so her father and step-mother had to be home. Annabeth pursed her lips and made her way upstairs to her room.
There was a suitcase hidden in her closet, and she pulled it out and opened it on the floor of her bedroom. She packed as many clothes as she could inside and stuffed her laptop, charger, phone charger, and water bottle inside her backpack. Once she was satisfied that she had everything prepared, she sat on her bed with a sigh.
Annabeth took a look around the room and felt a sudden rush of nostalgia wash over her. This was probably the last time she would ever come here, she mused. It was littered with all sorts of knick knacks and photos, posters and sketches. As much as she hated living in this house, this was the only place she could call her own. Leaving it almost felt like killing a part of herself off. Her step-mother would turn it into a storage room or something once she was gone, and soon there would be no trace that she had ever lived here. Something about that hurt, even though Annabeth knew it was for the best.
She stood up, feeling more than a little melancholy, and steeled her heart. There was still one last thing she needed to do. Annabeth put her luggage in the hallway and tentatively stepped into her father’s study. Thankfully, he wasn’t there. She riffled through the drawers of his desk in search of the old brown briefcase he stashed old letters in. It was always weird to her that he just kept letters, but he said he liked to have records in case companies tried to swindle him out of money. It was hidden away in some dark corner, and she dumped the contents onto the carpet.
There were hundreds of envelopes so it took her some time to sift through them all, but a few minutes later Annabeth’s worst fears were confirmed. There was an unopened letter addressed to her from Berkeley, dated October 4th.
That wasn’t the worst of it however.
There was another letter from Stanford. Northwestern. Duke. Cornell. Dartmouth. All dated from late September to early October. All unopened.
Annabeth had always felt something off about the fact that her Berkeley letter never reached her. She had dismissed it as a fluke but during her stay at the hospital it occurred to her that there could have been a more malevolent explanation. Seeing the letters now only confirmed her worst suspicions, but the sense of betrayal still hit her harder than she had anticipated.
She snatched the letters and stormed downstairs, as quickly as she could with her brace. Her father and step-mother were in the living room watching the news.
Helen blinked in surprise and said, “Annabeth? I didn’t know you were home from the hospital.”
Annabeth ignored her and held up the envelopes, her hands trembling. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“You’re going to have to be a little more specific, dear,” Helen said mildly.
“These are college letters. Addressed to me. Why did no one tell me?” Annabeth asked.
Helen shrugged and said, “I didn’t think they were important.”
Her excuse was so bad, it actually made Annabeth’s head hurt. “How could you not think that those might be important to your step-daughter, a senior in high school?”
A gleam of irritation flashed in Helen’s eyes. “You have been getting letters since junior year, and they always just asked you to apply, so I thought these were more of the same.”
“Let’s pretend for a moment that your terrible excuse is valid - you still should have shown me these,” Annabeth said.
“You’re still a child. Talk to your parents with respect,” Helen snapped.
Annabeth crossed her arms over her chest. “You literally lost me the chance to go to fucking Stanford, so you’ll have to forgive me for not having much respect for you.”
“Annabeth,” her father warned.
The smart thing to do would have been to drop it then and there. Nothing good could have come of this. The damage was already done. Continuing this would only make things worse.
Annabeth knew all this, but at that moment, she was filled with such uncontrolled rage, rage that had been built upon years upon years of horrid treatment from Helen and her father who couldn’t be bothered to care about the fact that his new wife routinely emotionally abused his first-born daughter, that she couldn’t bring herself to stop.
“She fucking knew this was important and she hid these from me anyways,” Annabeth snapped. “She’s so insecure about that fact that I’m more intelligent than her kids that she has to sabotage me.”
“Annabeth, that’s enough,” her father said sharply.
Annabeth turned to him and balled her hands in fists. “And you! You never say anything. You just let her treat me like absolute dogshit, and you don’t even care.”
“Young lady, you are so disrespectful that it honestly blows my mind,” Helen said coldly. “How you can accuse me of treating you poorly when you never bother to interact with the family and treat us like strangers is beyond me.”
“That’s rich coming from the person who couldn’t be bothered to visit her step-daughter once in the hospital,” Annabeth snorted.
A vein bulged on Helen’s forehead, and Annabeth knew she had her. “The reason I do my best to stay out of the house isn’t rocket science. From day one, you have done absolutely everything you can to make me feel unwelcome in this family-”
“Let me tell you something that you don’t seem to understand: no one is ruining your life, dear,” Helen interrupted. “You ruin things yourself and blame everyone else for it instead. You are just an ungrateful, spiteful little girl that does nothing but cause people pain.”
Annabeth stiffened like she’d been hit in the face with a shovel. Her thoughts turned to radio static and her chest squeezed so painfully that it was hard for her to breathe.
No words came to her.
Without meaning to, she turned to her father.
“D-Dad?” Annabeth asked, her voice cracking.
Annabeth wasn’t even sure what she was asking for, just that at that moment, she felt very much like she was seven years old again, asking him to check for monsters hiding in the closet. Back then she had taken it for granted that he would help her, that he would keep her safe. Suddenly, it made sense why she kept looking to him whenever Helen tormented her, even though she knew he would never come to her aid. She thought she had abandoned that hope a long time ago, but now Annabeth realized some small part of her had still held on to it, like someone tending to a dying flame.
Still, there was nothing that could prepare her for the silence in the living room at that moment as her father simply sat there, his lips pressed in a hard line, still not looking at her.
Annabeth forced herself to take a deep breath. She wasn’t going to cry. She wasn’t going to let Helen win this.
No, instead, Annabeth turned to her father and offered him a strained smile. “Since it is apparent that you aren’t going to say anything on my behalf, like always, I just wanted to tell you a few things before I left. And yes, I am leaving. I’m done living in this house, which should delight the both of you. I don’t know that would even worry you, but rest assured: I’ll figure things out on my own, like I always have.”
When Helen bristled at the accusation, Annabeth offered her a smile like poisoned honey and said, “Before you open your mouth, feel free to shut the fuck up. I’m talking to my father right now.”
Helen went red, but Annabeth stared her down, begging her to say something. Helen glanced at her father, but for whatever reason, he didn’t come to her aid this time. She shook her head incredulously and left the living room, leaving Annabeth alone with her father.
When she was gone, he looked at Annabeth for the first time and said, “You went too far.”
“I honestly don’t give a shit,” Annabeth said simply.
Her father opened his mouth to chastise her, undoubtedly, but Annabeth bulldozed on through.
“Don’t bother to defend her. I’ll be gone in a few minutes anyways, and then it won’t matter since you’ll never have to see me again. But until then, you are going to shut up and listen to me,” Annabeth said.
Her father pressed his mouth in a thin line, which Annabeth took as permission to keep going.
“I don’t know when or how things went so wrong between us. I still remember how it used to be, back when mom was still around,” Annabeth started.
“She’s gone, Annabeth,” he interrupted.
“Yeah, I fucking know, but you don’t seem to realize you weren’t the only one she left behind,” Annabeth yelled.
“She left me, too, you know? And you have punished me for that, every day since she left,” Annabeth said, her voice cracking.
Annabeth steadied herself before she got too emotional and shook her head. “But I want you to know something - I am proud to be my mother’s daughter. Despite your best efforts to make me feel otherwise, I will not apologize for that, for being here, for existing. And I’m done looking to you for help or safety or even acknowledgement given you’ve long since proven to be utterly incapable of that. And I want you to know that someday I’ll find people who love and accept me, and I won’t ever have to spare a second of my life thinking about you and how you made me feel. Someday, I’ll heal and you’ll be nothing more than a bad memory.”
With that, Annabeth left to retrieve her luggage from the hallway before he could respond and left the house for good. Piper was pacing around her car and rushed over to her once she heard the door open and threw her arms around her.
“Are you okay?” Piper asked. “It sounded pretty bad in there.”
“Yeah,” Annabeth said, nodding. “I finally let go of something I should have a long time ago.”
Piper studied her for a moment before nodding to herself. “Alright, looks like that’s settled then. Let’s go get something to eat!”
Annabeth raised an eyebrow. “You’re dropping it, just like that?”
“You look like you’ve got it figured out on your own,” Piper said, shrugging. “Besides, I can tell this is something I can’t really help you with anyways.”
Annabeth smiled despite herself and shook her head. “I never thought the day would come when Piper McLean would know when to let sleeping dogs lie.”
Piper rolled her eyes and stashed her luggage in her car trunk. “Don’t make me change my mind about letting you stay.”
“That’s an empty threat if I’ve ever heard one,” Annabeth said, sliding into the passenger seat.
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right,” Piper muttered.
“But seriously though,” Annabeth said, clearing her throat. “Thank you. For everything. It means more to me than I can say.”
“You’re welcome,” Piper said softly. “I’m happy for you. Leaving that hellhole was a long time coming. You definitely made the right call.”
“What happened to all the asking me if I was sure about it and stuff?” Annabeth asked.
“I’ve always wanted you to leave. I just didn’t want to influence your decision,” Piper said.
Annabeth was quiet for a moment and said, “You’re actually a really good friend, huh?”
Piper gave her a cheeky grin and started the car. “I’m offended that it took you so long to notice.”
58 notes · View notes
rosiehunterwolf · 3 years
Text
two halves of a broken whole
Prompts: Scars and Free Space (stealing Post-Fight from the twixt board)
Word Count: 2,191
Characters: Nya and Zane
Timeline: Immediately after season 9
Trigger Warnings: Blood, Needles, Brief Swearing
Summary: The Sons of Garmadon have been defeated. Garmadon is in prison. The city has been saved.
In the aftermath of the battle, Nya is more than ready to take a much-needed break. But the life of a ninja is messy. Recovery is never that simple. Although the wounds may have healed, the scars still remain.
Zane’s scars seem to match up, though. And maybe together, they can begin to heal.
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Nya stumbled through the dark kitchen, searching through the cabinets. She gritted her teeth as pain flared in her arm. Where are those painkillers? Ugh, how does Skylor find anything in here? There’s no system!
She gasped in relief as she finally found the medicine cabinet, but as she reached out to grab a bottle, she bumped her bad arm against the cabinet door. Crying out in pain, she jerked her arm back, and the bottles came tumbling down and clattering loudly to the floor.
“Damn it all,” she groaned, leaning her head against the cabinet. “Stupid, stupid arm, why do you have to be so weak-”
“Nya?”
Nya jumped, hitting her head against the cabinet door. “Ow! Zane, what are you doing here-”
The nindriod crossed the small kitchen in two steps, yanking off the damp towel she had draped across her upper arm, revealing a long, bloody cut stretching across the length of it.
“I knew it,” Zane muttered. “Nya, why would you hide something like this?”
“It’s not that big of a deal, I-”
“Not that big of a deal? Nya, this is serious! You need stitches! Next time, say something!”
She winced. “I didn’t want to bother you guys- Lloyd was way more hurt than I was, you guys had your hands full with him.”
“You could’ve gone to Skylor.”
“I wanted to prove I could do it, okay?” Nya snapped. “Skylor was so strong, walking off Garmadon’s power corruption like it was nothing. And she was being so generous, letting us all crash in her house like this- I didn’t want to bother her anymore, but instead, I just ended up bleeding out all over her bathroom floor.”
Zane shot her a sympathetic glance. “Nya, don’t worry about that now. Skylor will understand, and I can clean it up. The only thing we care about is that you are safe. Here, go sit down.” He gestured towards a kitchen chair and headed towards the cabinet. Nya slumped over into the chair, still clutching her arm, and Zane rooted through the medicine bottles, finally pulling out the painkillers and handing her three large pills and a glass of water. She eyed them warily.
“Isn’t this a little much? I mean, it hurts, but not that bad.”
“I still have to give you stitches, remember?”
“Oh. You’re doing that now?” Zane turned away, and Nya took the opportunity to down the pills, using the cheap coffee she had made herself to help her swallow instead of the water Zane had given her. “Nya, if I don’t do this now it will only make the cut worse.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know- ow!” she yelped as Zane rubbed at the wound with a wet, antiseptic-soaked washcloth, the fabric quickly staining red.
“I need to clean it, Nya. This would’ve been much easier if you hadn’t spent so long walking around with an open wound.”
“Okay, I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.”
“I’m going to go get a needle and thread, I’ll be right back.” Nya sighed, slumping back against the chair. This was exactly what she had been trying to avoid. The guys had been through hell recently. The last thing they needed was having to worry about her, too.
“Nya?”
Nya jerked her eyes open, turning her gaze towards Zane. What happened? Did I doze off?
Stupid coffee, not doing its job.
Zane seemed to catch on to this too, and frowned. “When’s the last time you slept?”
“I don’t need sleep, I have this magical liquid called coffee.”
He shot her a stern glance. “Nya.”
“Fine! I don’t remember, okay?” She reached for the paper cup again, but Zane snatched it from her hand.
“You can’t live off of coffee. First of all, it’s horrible for your health, second, it can never replace a full night’s sleep.”
Nya crossed her arms, grumbling. “Hey, at least I’m better than Lloyd. He dumps like five pounds of sugar into his.”
“Yes, well, Lloyd is sleeping. Like you should be.”
“Which is so not fair,” she huffed. “I spent weeks trying to get him to sleep and the second you guys get back, he does it instantly.”
Zane smiled, but his eyes were sad. “Kai’s always kind of had a way with him.”
“I know.” She turned her head, sighing. “I wasn’t trying to sound ungrateful, I’m so glad you’re back, but-” Nya let her hand fall to her side, where it bumped against Zane’s. Gently, she rubbed her fingers across the smooth metal, her heart pounding in her chest. Suddenly, she squeezed Zane’s hand, her breath coming in heavy pants as she closed her eyes.
“Nya?”
Her eyes snapped open. “I’m fine. Let’s just get this over with.”
“Nya, it’s okay if you’re not fine.”
“I am.”
“I’m sorry we left you as we did.”
“It’s not your fault, okay?” She tugged away from him. Her hands were trembling now- from the coffee? The painkillers? The fear? She didn’t know. “It’s not your fault.”
Zane closed his hands over hers, steadying them. “No, but it still wasn’t fair to you. I’m sorry you had to go through all that.”
“You don’t know,” she whimpered. “You don’t know what it was like. I wanted to give up so bad, and Lloyd-” she closed her eyes, breathing out slowly. “I don’t even know how I got him through it. He was so depressed. I can’t go through that again.” She turned sharply towards Zane, grabbing his hands. “I can’t. You hear me? That can never happen again.”
Zane squeezed her hands back, his eyes sad. “Believe me, Nya, I will do everything in my power to make sure it never does. But we are ninja. Dangerous things are going to happen, and if we spend our whole lives fearing that, we’ll never get through. We need to live life one day at a time. We need to trust in each other.”
“I do trust you!”
“Good.” He placed a hand on her arm, just below the wound. “Then you’ll let me patch you up?”
Nya glanced at the needle and swallowed, looking away. “Just go ahead. Don’t make me watch.”
“We really don’t have the proper numbing medication,” Zane said. “The painkillers will help some, but this is still going to hurt.”
“Believe me, I’m sure the sword going in felt a lot worse.”
Zane pressed his lips together. “Yes, I suppose it did. Ready?”
“Stop asking me if I’m ready and just do it already!” Zane flinched away, and she quickly added, “Sorry. I’m just a little on edge.”
“You’re going to be fine. Just hold still.”
The needle was cold on her skin, and then suddenly it was piercing through her flesh. It took all of Nya’s willpower not to jerk away, and she bit down hard on her lip, forcing back a scream. “Holy shit- Zane!” she broke off in a whine.
“I know, I know, I’m sorry. It’ll be over soon.”
She tried to focus on her breathing as the needle pricked her again and again, Zane’s tugs quick and tight.
“Augh, remind me to visit Kryptarium later and go scream at those assholes for doing this to me.”
“We could’ve gotten you to a proper hospital if you had spoken up earlier. This is your own fault.”
“Oh, yeah, blame the victim. Besides, I hate hospit- aaugh, Zane, are you almost done?”
“Done.” Zane neatly snipped the thread, and Nya slumped over onto the table, grinding her teeth together and clenching her fists.
She felt Zane’s hand on her back. “Are you okay?”
“Gaugh, I will be, but son of a bitch, that hurt!”
“Alright.” Zane’s voice suddenly sounded cross. “It’s over now. That language is no longer necessary.”
“Are you seriously scolding me for swearing right now?” The table muffled her yelp. “I’d like to see how you cope when your arm stings like hell.”
“Nya.”
“You’re impossible!” Sitting up, she told him, “If you’re going to be such a goody-two-shoes, could you at least get me an ice pack?”
Zane got her the ice, and after about half an hour, the pain had finally dulled to something she could sleep through.
Exhausted as she was, though, she wasn’t done yet.
“Come see me in the morning,” Zane was saying, cleaning up the last of the bottles and putting them back in Skylor’s medicine cabinet. “It should be fine, but I want to check just to be sure. And try not to sleep on that side. I don’t want the stitches coming out during the night.” As he turned to walk out of the room, Nya grabbed his wrist.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
He blinked. “To bed? Like any sensible person should be at this hour?”
“Not so fast, now it’s your turn.”
“My turn?”
“You patched me up,” Nya told him as she turned and rustled through Skylor’s junk drawer. “It’s only fair that I return the favor.” She pulled out a few screwdrivers, some scrap metal, and- score, a circuit board. And in pristine condition, too! Skylor always had the best stuff lying around. When you could find it, that is.
“But Nya, I’m not injured!”
She put a hand on her hip, glancing him up and down. Scratches and dents littered the ice ninja’s skin, and if she knew Zane, that was usually an allusion to something bigger going on.
“Oh please, the four of you came back a mess.” She walked around him, inspecting him. “Don’t tell me you came out of that whole ordeal unscathed. And I didn’t see anyone check you over today. Aha-” leaning forward, she rapped her knuckles against a spot on his back, near the shoulder, and the panel shuddered beneath her touch. “I knew it. This section isn’t sturdy. Take off your shirt so I can get to it better.”
“Nya, I am a nindroid, injury is inconsequential-”
“I said, take off your shirt! Or are you going to make me do it for you?”
Zane sighed, pulling off his pajama top so that Nya could see the damaged area better. The panel appeared cracked and loose, so, gently, she pried it off, revealing several frayed and broken wires. Part of the exposed circuits were fried.
“And you were telling me off for hiding my injuries?”
“It’s hardly the same. Human bodies cannot withstand the amount of force that a nindroid’s can. Plus, you are susceptible to infection.”
“Zane, I don’t care!” She got to work snipping at the wires and pulling some of the damaged parts out. “You’re still one of us. Just because you can take this sort of damage doesn’t mean you should!”
“I know. I was just worried about the others.”
“Well, it’s about time you thought of yourself for once. You can’t properly care for us if you’re not functioning at full capacity, anyway.” Sticking the tweezers between her teeth, she readjusted the wires and got to work on the circuits.
“I… I don’t like asking for help.”
Nya’s fingers paused.
“‘E ei’er.” The tweezers muffled her words, but Zane got her point clear enough.
“Sometimes we do need help, though. We are part of a team for a reason, after all.”
Nya removed the tweezers and wiped her grease-stained hands on a towel. “You’re forgetting that I was Samurai X before I was a ninja. I didn’t need any help then.”
“I didn’t forget, I just remembered the important parts. We were still there for you afterward, even on your solo missions.”
Nya was quiet for a moment. “Maybe that was why it was so hard with you gone. It was like a piece of me was missing. I couldn’t fully uphold the Resistance without you guys there to help.”
Zane’s fingers skirted across his heart. “I don’t know how we went on, with part of our souls realms away.”
Nya put a hand over his. “But we’re here now.”
“But you weren’t. We have all the pieces again, but they feel… broken.”
“Hey.” Nya pressed the metal against the gap in his back, using the screwdriver to secure it into place. She leaned back, admiring her work. Good as new. “I fixed you, didn’t I? Nothing will stay broken forever.”
“I can fix a car,” Zane sighed. “Or the Bounty, or the oven, or myself. But I have no idea how one goes about putting pieces of a broken heart back together.”
Nya sat down next to him. Their eyes met- stunning, electrifying blue against deep, gentle brown. “Neither do I. But maybe… we can figure it out.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “Together.”
“Together is good,” Zane agreed, putting his arm around her. “I think I like it a lot better than being alone.”
Sitting there, on the hard wooden chair, raw stitches in her shoulder, with Zane’s hard metal arms wrapped around her, she couldn’t have been in a more uncomfortable position. Yet Nya felt more at ease than she had in weeks.
For the first time since the guys had gone to the First Realm, Nya’s sleep was peaceful and uninterrupted.
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rantingwriter · 3 years
Text
Accidentally in Love (Hawks x Civilian Reader) pt. 2
Trigger Warning: Strong language, long hospital stay, lots of anger, depression, and more angst than last time. I swear there will be fluff later...starting in pt. 4.
 “Damn it,” you grumble as you try to support your weight with the parallel bars. 
“You are doing great, [y/n], just a little bit more.” Mayu, one of the physical therapists helping you with your recovery does her best to encourage you. 
The door slams open and you lose your concentration, collapsing to the floor. “Fuck!” 
Mayu cringes at the angered tone, “Ryo!!” 
The man who barged into the room bows apologetically, “I’m so sorry, I was running late,” he hurries off to the changing room for the employees. 
You feel your frustration boiling over, “this is pointless!” 
Mayu turns her attention back to you and her features soften, “Please don’t say that, you’ve only been at this for a week and you are making good progress.” Her positivity only serves to frustrate you more.
“What progress?! I can’t even stand for longer than a couple minutes at a time!”
“I understand your frustration-” 
“How could you possibly understand this?!” You gesture wildly at your legs. “You can stand and walk and you still have both of your feet!” Your chest rises and falls rapidly as you glare at the therapist. 
She simply sits on the floor with you and gives you a very soft smile. “You are right, I will never understand fully what you are going through. So, tell me, what is causing the most frustration and I can do what I can to help.” 
“All of it!” You raise your arms up like you are surrendering. “Trying to stand on these limp noodles, trying to get out of my stupid wheel chair, even getting out of bed…” Your anger quickly morphs to sadness, “it’s just too hard…” Mayu gently pats your shoulder. 
“It’s a process,” She shifts to sit next to you. “Healing can be a very long and difficult process, especially when you lose an ability you’ve been able to do so easily until now.” You feel a lump form in your throat, trying really hard not to cry...again. “I’m not going to lie and say this is easy, but I know you can do this.” 
You wipe your eyes and sniffle, “I’m sorry for yelling…” 
“It’s alright, I understand you are frustrated, but I am here to help.” The employee door opens again. “So is Ryo when he actually shows up on time.” The teasing tone and Ryo’s exaggerated response brings out a soft ghost of a laugh. “Are you ready to give it another try?” 
“Yeah, I guess,” she helps to get you off the floor and on your shaky feet. You grab the parallel bars and repeat the exercise you’ve been doing all morning. A light tap on the window near your station alerts both yourself and your physical therapist to a note on the glass. “What does it say?” You feel your arms give out, but you are able to land in your wheelchair this time.
“Let’s see,” The older woman walks up to read it aloud, “when you are free, please come to the roof. HaWkS!?” Her voice cracks at the name, “who, wait, who is he talking about?!” 
You hold your hand up, “probably me, he said he was going to pop by once I was awake.” You were starting to think he forgot about you. 
“Oh my goodness!” Mayu covers her mouth and looks at you, “are you two friends? Are you dating?!” She gets closer with each question, her eyes shiny diamonds that scream ‘tell me everything!’ 
“He kind of gave me a concussion,” you watch her expression drop into one of horror. “Not on purpose, it was during that big fight that landed me here.” 
“I see, well, we are actually done for today if you want to head on up.” She goes to grab her clipboard and record the progress from today. 
“Does the elevator even reach the roof?” You can feel a knot form in your stomach, why are you so nervous? 
“Yes, the recreational therapy team has a community garden up there for the patients. I can get you some information if you would like to join them for a session.” You never heard of such a thing, it does strike a cord of curiosity, but that is for another time. 
“Sure, just send some to my room when you have the time,” you wheel your way to the exit. “Oh, and uh...thanks for the pep talk.” You rub the back of your neck to hide your embarrassment. 
“No problem, if you need anything just let me know.” Mayu smiles and waves as you leave to go up to the roof. Sure enough, the elevator opens right in front of the door. You push the button to get the door open and find rows of box gardens, some raised, some lowered. 
“Wow, this is neat,” you take a closer look at some of the plants bearing fruit, when you spot your mystery visitor. Your eyes are instantly drawn to the huge red wings on his back. The same ones you saw before you went into your coma. You clench the wheels of your chair and swallow your nerves. “Um…” He appears distracted by something, as he scans the city streets below, his feet hovering off the ground. “Hello? Are you Hawks?” He looks over his shoulder and his features light up with recognition. 
“Hey! Glad to see you up and about!” He lands and folds his wings in a bit before approaching you.
“Yeah, mostly…” You weren’t entirely sure what to say to him. 
He doesn’t seem too sure either as he pockets his gloved hands. “Uh, what’s your name?” 
“[Y/n].” More silence follows, wow the awkward tension is a little too palpable. “Why exactly are you here?” 
He looks taken aback, his wings puffing up a small bit, “I just wanted to see how you were doing.” 
“Well, as you can see, I’m doing just great.” You can’t help the sarcasm as you move your wheelchair. 
His features fall, his eyes aimed towards what’s left of your feet. “I’m so sorry, I made a bad judgment call and you got hurt because of it. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?” 
“Unless you have some means to turn back time, there isn’t much you can do.” 
“There has to be something,” he lifts his gaze back up to plead with you. “I’ll do anything, just say the word.” 
You can’t tell if he is being genuine or not, before you can open your mouth a glint of something from the nearby building catches your attention. You wheel closer to the fence that lines the top of the building and spot a man with a camera aimed at the two of you. You whip your head around to face him, “is this some kind of joke to you?!” 
“What?” His golden-brown hues are full of confusion as you struggle to turn your wheelchair around. 
“Look, if you just came to Peacock for the camera’s or throw some kind of a pity party for yourself. I don’t want any part of it!” He looks between you and the nearby building, his feathers get ruffled at the sight of the camera. 
“No, wait, this isn’t what it looks like!” He holds a hand out to try and stop you from leaving. 
“Thanks for checking in, you can leave now.” You try to wheel your way back inside, but something is caught in one of your wheels. 
“I swear I’m not with that guy, he must have noticed me fly up here after I left my note.”
You aren’t paying any attention to him, you are too focused on getting away. “Stupid thing,” you try to muscle through the clog, but you end up tipping the whole thing over and landing on the hard surface of the roof. “Son of a bitch!” You slam a closed fist on the ground as you push yourself up. Tears of frustration and pain leak from your [e/c] pools. You feel a gloved hand on your shoulder but you quickly shove it away. “Don’t touch me!” 
“Please just let me help you,” he tries to reach for you again, but you stop him in his tracks.
“I’ve had enough of your help! Your ‘help’ is the reason I’m here!!” Your voice echoes around you, you wouldn’t be surprised if the camera man heard you. 
You can see the hurt in the hero's eyes as he backs away, his wings drooping as your words settle somewhere deep within himself. 
“Just go away…” you get your wheelchair back up and haul yourself into it again. You can hear the sound of his wings as he takes off, the force of the air blows your hair all over the place. You cover your face as you allow the tears to flow freely. If you were completely honest with yourself, you didn’t truly blame him. It was just easier than accepting your rotten luck. A couple of nurses hurry onto the roof and rush over to you. Apparently someone on the street heard you and told the staff in the lobby. You are immediately wheeled back to your room to rest and have your vitals checked. Your body is exhausted and so was the rest of you. You look out your window at the clouds rolling in, “nurse?” 
“Yes?” The kind man responds as he gets your table ready for dinner. 
“Would it be possible to send a letter to a hero agency?” 
He hums in thought for a moment, “I believe so, why?” 
“I...was just curious…” The nurse drops the topic and leaves you to your thoughts. “Doubt it would make a difference anyways.” You roll onto your side as your eyelids drooped, the sound of rain lulling you to sleep. Your dinner is left for you on the little table, along with a can of coffee with another note. ‘I still owe you a coffee, good luck with your recovery. -Hawks.’
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seriouslysam8 · 3 years
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Hey, hope your okay with prompts set at Hogwarts, but maybe one about Harry teaching Ginny in the DA or maybe Harry captaining Ginny in HBP, or even Harry teaching Ginny spells from Auror academy so she can keep safe. The first two are types of fics I’m always looking for but never seem to find many, but the dynamic of Harry teaching Ginny something is one I find really interesting.
Also, I wanted to say I’ve read your fic, Bromied, and a few others in the series, and I was meant to comment at the end but I just realised, I didn’t (sorry). So now I just wanted to say how amazing it was, I LOVE fics that go into Harry’s mental health and effects of the war and everything, beyond just nightmares (tho those fics are rlly good too). I’ve looked everywhere for fics that include Harry and addiction and read most of the then. I thought addiction was one of the things he’d probably struggle with, and your fic is one the best ones about that. I think it was written really realistically, and they were all very in character - which seems hard to do with a fic like that. And how you created the felix felicis addiction and the way it works (especially the inner monologue of felix and when Harry was in the recovery place) was amazing, considering you had no proper real life thing to go off of and the idea of being addicted to liquid luck isn’t really discussed in the books or movies. So a big well done, you’re amazing! Plus, all the hinny moments (my favs being when Harry & Ginny are having that BIG fight and he punches the wall, when he got admitted to the hospital, when they saw eachother for the first, generally all the breakdown to recovery stuff, basically Christmas - Five) in it were just *chefs kiss*.
Anyway, so do whatever you want with my idea, no pressure 😆
When Harry helped Ginny cast a Patronus during a DA meeting, Hermione couldn't help but comment on how comfortable the two were together. Also available on ff.net. Here's the newest prompt! Thank you so much for the idea! It was so much fun to write pining Ginny and clueless Harry! I'm so glad that you love Brontide so much!! It is, by far, my favorite story I've ever written so far. I hope you enjoy the one-shot! Let me know if it fulfilled your wildest dreams! Thanks for posting it with your name! I love knowing who is asking for stuff!!
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plainbrunettelbl · 5 years
Text
ABO (A) Togata Mirio & (A) Midoriya Izuku x (O) Reader Broken Bones and Notebooks
Word count: 3417
Warnings: None. 
ABO (A) Togata Mirio & (A) Midoriya Izuku x (O) Reader Broken Bones and Notebooks
Summary: Mirio finds himself in a hospital. Both Izuku and him start falling for the Omega doctor that takes care of him.
(Full credit to the gifs owner) 
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🌻🥦-Izuku had gotten a call while at his agency that his mate was at the hospital. He dropped everything he was doing and rushed over. How did this happen? His mate’s quirk was built to evade attacks so why was his Alpha laying in a hospital bed sporting multiple casts and bandages? 
🌻🥦-His mate was still waiting for a private room to clear up so he was put in the ER. Izu wasted no time tearing open his mate’s curtain and rushing to his side. 
🌻🥦-“Mirio! What happened?” He cried, trying to give his mate a comforting hug without injuring him any further. 
🌻🥦-“It’s nothing, Zuku. I just got a little beat up is all.” The blond tried to smile despite how much pain his body was in. 
🌻🥦-At that moment the curtain pulled back once again. You walked in with a tray of food, wearing a white coat. A happy smile on your face present. You set the tray down on the removable table and put your hands on your hips. 
🌻🥦-“Hello, I’m Dr.L/N, I will be the one taking care of you until you are fit to go back home. I assume you are his mate?” You asked, turning towards the slightly distressed, green-haired Alpha. 
🌻🥦-Izuku blinked back his teary eyes and nodded. 
🌻🥦-“Yes, I’m his mate. Can you tell me how long he will be staying here? Are his injuries really severe?” Izuku frantically asked, worried how long he would have to be away from his mate at night. The thought of going home to a cold bed was already unsettling to him.
🌻🥦-“It seems he has three cracked ribs, a broken leg, a broken arm along with a few fingers. He suffered a blow to the head but his scans came back normal so we are not too worried about that.” You informed, looking at his chart that you plucked from the end of his bed. 
🌻🥦-“Usually he would have to stay here for a few months in order to fully recover but since I am taking over you should be out within three weeks or so.” You hummed, eyeing his X-rays. 
🌻🥦-Mirio beamed at his mate from behind all of his bandages. “See babe! I will be out here in no time.” 
🌻🥦-Izuku leaned down to kiss his mates bruised cheek before turning back to you with a curious look. 
🌻🥦-“How come he is going to recover faster than normal?” He questioned, smoothing a hand down his mate’s encased shoulder. 
🌻🥦-“My quirk of course! I am only assigned to pro-heroes most of the time. Since your mate fits the bill, I am here to help him have a speedy recovery.” You beamed moving the tray of food on the mobile table closer to the pair. 
🌻🥦-“My quirk is unique. It allows me to heal a person by feeding them the food I make. It takes a little time since the food has to digest and distribute my healing nutrients all around your body. Since you have so many injuries it will take a while but you will get there.” You revealed a small bowl of chicken broth. 
🌻🥦-You had made it yourself this morning. Your quirk wouldn’t work if you didn’t make the food within twenty-four hours. So freezing your meals and giving them out to patients wouldn’t work. 
🌻🥦-You were assigned to pro heroes because of this. The higher-ups thought it would be best to focus all your efforts on recovering pro heroes rather than handling multiple civilian patients. 
🌻🥦-“This is it? Just chicken broth?” Mirio slightly whined, his Alpha pouting at the lack of meat. 
🌻🥦-“If you can keep this chicken broth down till tomorrow evening I will see what I can do about getting you some real food for dinner.” You grinned, trying not to snicker at his pouting face. 
🌻🥦-These men might be pro heroes and Alpha’s but despite their intimidating status you Omega didn’t mind their presence at all. It was like she was standing around with an old pair of friends. 
🌻🥦-Maybe it was their calming scents. The blond had a warm scent that reminded you of sun rays reflecting off the ocean. The green-haired Alpha gave off a scent of wet soil and sweet sage. 
🌻🥦-“Thank you so much, Doctor. I’ll be sure to watch him so he doesn’t gulp it down in one swallow. His stomach is an endless pit.” The freckled Alpha lovingly looked down at his battered mate. 
🌻🥦-His Alpha felt a little calmer than when he walked in for some reason but he just assumed it was because he knew his mate was in good hands. It had nothing to do with the sweet scent of fresh bread and ripe fruit coming from the smiling doctor. 
🌻🥦-He brushed it off. His Alpha was just happy his ray of sunshine was okay. 
***
🌻🥦-A few days had passed and Mirio was already looking a little better. The first thing your quirk healed was his head. He was even more bright and smiley now that his headaches were gone. 
🌻🥦-He had proven that he could hold down liquids so he was approved for solid foods. You were sure his Alpha was very excited about the news. 
🌻🥦-You knocked before walking into his room, he had been upgraded to a private room and moved out of the ER. Izuku was sat at his mate’s side writing away in his notebook. You walked in with two trays and a happy smile. 
🌻🥦-“Hello, good morning!” You hummed, setting down the two trays on in front of Miro and Izuku. 
🌻🥦-“Hey, Y/N!” Mirio beamed, sending you a dazzling smile. 
🌻🥦-“Morning, Y/N,” Izuku replied softly not quite looking you in the eye, still not used to talking to females even though he has been a pro hero for years now. 
🌻🥦-“I brought you some pancakes and bacon. There is enough for you too Izuku.” You hummed revealing two plates to feed the Alphas. The tray was nearly overflowing with food but Alphas had big appetites so you knew they would clean the plates no problem. 
🌻🥦-“O-oh you don’t have to do that Y/N. I am sure another patient needs it more than I do.” He blushed, refusing the food. 
🌻🥦-“Nonsense. I know that the new mission you went on took a lot out of you. Plus I have seen you favoring your right hand. I hope you didn’t strain it too much.” You said, giving him a knowing look. 
🌻🥦-He flushed and pulled the food closer to him without further complaint. 
🌻🥦-“How did you get him to do that Y/N? Usually, I have to force him to rest and recover after a mission.” Mirio said, amazed you got his Alpha to comply so easily. 
🌻🥦-“An Omega secret.” You winked, smiling at the two before leaving. 
🌻🥦-Both Alpha’s left in a daze while they ate their breakfast. 
***
🌻🥦-“Come on! We have been looking for an Omega even before the accident. We want an Omega to complete us and she could be the one. Why not ask her out and see how it goes?” Mirio asked, his blue eyes shifting around trying to meet his lover’s emerald eyes. 
🌻🥦-“She is just nice to us because it’s her job. We have no reason to believe she will actually be interested in us once you are out of the hospital.” Izuku let out a small huff, his Alpha was telling him to pursue the Omega doctor but his self-doubt and nervousness were taking over.   
🌻🥦-Izuku’s eyes shifted all over his notebooks page, trying to distract himself from the conversation and the warm flush creeping up his face. 
🌻🥦-“We don’t know until we try. We don’t have to ask her now but just think about it, will you? This near-death experience really made me realize that I want to pursue everything my heart desires. I want to come home to my Alpha and my Omega. Maybe a few pups as well.” Mirio grinned, picturing the sweet scene in his head. 
🌻🥦-His Alpha was already bouncing with joy at the idea. He was already picturing your eyes looking up at him after a long day. 
🌻🥦-They had been on a few courting dates in search of a third partner but they all had ended with neither Alpha satisfied. His Alpha was telling him you were their missing piece. 
🌻🥦-“I’ll think about it, Alpha. We shouldn’t rush things though. You still need to recover. No Omega is gonna want to go on courting dates with us if I have to wheel you in.” Izuku laughed, picturing him rolling in his mate, at a coffee shop, sporting two casts.  
🌻🥦-“Really? I think it will add to my charm. No one can reject these baby blues when I am weak and injured.” He pouted his lips and widened his eyes at his lover. 
🌻🥦-Izuku giggled before leaning over and pecking a kiss on his lips.
🌻🥦-“I guess I can agree with that.” 
***
🌻🥦-“I brought lunch! It has plenty of meat so your Alpha will be quite pleased.” You grinned, opening up the door, Mirio was propped up on the bed. 
🌻🥦-You smiled at the blonde before noticing the greenette was absent. 
🌻🥦-“Where is Izuku? It’s odd not seeing him by your side.” You asked, setting up the tray in front of him. 
🌻🥦-“He had to go to the office for a while. He has been putting off a few things to stay with me so now he has to go in for a bit and catch up.” He said, sending you a big smile, the tinge of sadness was lurking in his eyes. 
🌻🥦-You couldn’t have your best patient getting sad on you. 
🌻🥦-“What do you call a pig that does karate?” You asked, lifting the top of the tray. 
🌻🥦-“What?” He lifted a blond eyebrow. 
🌻🥦-“A pork chop.” You replied, cutting your hand through the air. 
🌻🥦-You were glad your quirk had healed up his ribs or the belt of laughter really would have done a number on him. His loud chuckles was a welcomed sound, the slight sparkle in his eyes even more. 
🌻🥦-“I didn’t know my doctor was also a comedian.” He breathed, clutching his chest with his uninjured arm. 
🌻🥦-“I am many things.” You winked, pushing his plate towards him and setting in the chair by his bed, where Izuku usually sits. 
🌻🥦-“You are staying?” His blond brow went up again, his good hand already picking up a fork. 
🌻🥦-“I have to make sure you don’t eat your whole meal in two bites. I remember your mate saying something about your bottomless stomach. I can’t have my patient choking on me now.” You laughed, pulling out a small notebook from your white coat. 
🌻🥦-You would work on tweaking and editing some of your recipes. 
🌻🥦-Mirio’s Alpha was already purring upon hearing you were gonna stay and keep him company. His human half was delighted as well. 
***
🌻🥦-He had finished his lunch and his mate was still not back. His Alpha was pouting at his other half being gone but something else was bothering him too. It had been a few days since Izuku had given him a good scrub down and his dirty hair was starting to bother him. 
🌻🥦-He was known to take multiple showers a day when he was well. Now that he was injured and couldn’t exactly take as many baths as he pleased he was feeling off. 
🌻🥦-“Y/N could you wash my hair? I can wait until Izuku got here if you feel uncomfortable doing it.” He said, look at the Omega sitting by his bed. 
🌻🥦-“Mirio, I’m a Doctor, washing someone’s hair is the least uncomfortable thing I can do to a patient. Would Izuku be comfortable with it though? I know how territorial Alpha pairs can get.” You questioned, tilting your head. 
🌻🥦-“I am sure he would understand. You don’t have to worry about him going all Alpha on you. We wouldn’t have been going on courting dates to find our third partner if either one of us was easily jealous.” He smiled, strategically letting you know they were poly. 
🌻🥦-For some reason, your Omega purred happily at the news. You shoved her aside and professionally nodded your head and smiled. 
🌻🥦-“Well, that is good to hear. Would you like to do it here or in the bathroom?” You asked, taking off your white coat, you didn’t want to get it wet. 
🌻🥦-“The bathroom. I would like to keep my bed dry.” He grinned, reaching to grab his crutches leaning up against the bed. 
🌻🥦-He had his head in the sink while you intertwined your fingers in his hair and massaged the shampoo in. You took note of is soft hair the moment your fingers threaded through it. 
🌻🥦-You Omega was already sighing in bliss at the texture. Omega’s loved soft and silky things. 
🌻🥦-It seems you weren’t the only one enjoying the feeling. The poor Alpha was putty in your hands. If the chair he was sitting in disappeared he would slump to the ground. 
🌻🥦-You had a soft spot for the Alpha so you continued to massage his head even though the shampoo was already worked in well enough. Izuku walked in while you were doing so, he paused at the bathroom door. 
🌻🥦-Mirio had told you his mate would be fine with it but that didn’t stop your Omega from letting out a tiny chirp. Izuku had been nothing but nice to you. You were a bit embarrassed at your reaction but you knew of about Alphas and their aggressiveness when it came to someone interfering with their bond.  
🌻🥦-During your residency, you had treated a few cases of the unlucky ones caught flirting with a person’s Alpha. 
🌻🥦-Mirio had immediately opened his eyes at the sound. He sat up fast and seemed ready to fight off whoever it was that made you chirp. You didn’t know how he was gonna do that with two casts but it made your Omega swoon. 
🌻🥦-Once he saw it was just his mate he released his breath. 
🌻🥦-Izuku widens his eyes in surprise and put his hands up to show you he meant no harm. 
🌻🥦-“Y-you’re fine! I’m not mad! I know it is your job.” He rapidly said, taking a step back. 
🌻🥦-“You sure do know how to make an entrance, Zuku.” Mirio laughed, leaning his head back in the sink bowl. 
🌻🥦-“I’m sorry, Izuku. I know you wouldn’t hurt me but I have seen way too many Alpha attacks with my occupation.” You nervously bit your lip. 
🌻🥦-He is a Hero and you chirped in fear at him! You felt a flush crawl up your cheeks. 
🌻🥦-“It’s fine, Y/N. I understand.” He reassured, clutching a familiar notebook in his hand. “I’ll just wait by the bed.” 
🌻🥦-You nodded before getting back to scrubbing Mirio’s soft hair. You rinse and conditioned his hair quickly. When you were done you wrapped a towel around his neck and lead him back to his bed. 
🌻🥦-Izuku looked up from writing and gave you a small smile. You flash him one back before taking the towel around his mate’s neck and began drying his hair.
🌻🥦-The Alpha was in a state of bliss again. Izuku would be lying if he said he wasn’t a tiny bit jealous. He wanted to feel your soft hands against his hair too.
🌻🥦-“What are you always writing in that notebook of yours Izuku?” You asked, talking your eyes off the blonde for a second and giving him a curious look. 
🌻🥦-“I have been asked to review a few students from UA and come up with way they could possibly improve their quirk. I am just going over the notes I made and writing down what I think could help them.” He said, lifting his notebook and showing you a sketch of a student’s quirk and small paragraphs going over their strengths and weakness. 
🌻🥦-You were done drying Mirio’s hair so you walked around the bed and peered at it over his shoulder. This student had an ice quirk and could only make the ice stay frozen for a limited amount of time. 
🌻🥦-Izuku had draw lumps of ice that the student was only able to manifest. They reminded you of huge hail balls. It said that the student was working on their arm strength to be able to throw them at opponents. 
🌻🥦-“Mmm. What if the student could shape their ice into a morning-star ball? It would be harder for a villain to ignore if icy needles were stuck in them rather than a chunk of ice bouncing off them.” You said, tapping your chin. 
🌻🥦-Izuku was star struck looking up at you. He was glad you were peering up at the ceiling in thought, not noticing the look of pure awe on his face. When he had gone out on dates with Mirio all the Omega’s seemed to only like him because of his hero status. 
🌻🥦-None of them cared all to much when he started rambling about certain heroes or making notes in the tiny notebook he carried around in his pocket. They certainly didn’t engage and offer any ideas to him. 
🌻🥦-They kinda just ignored him while he scribbled away and focused their attention on Mirio more. 
🌻🥦-He was completely bewitched. A quick flash of him and you cuddled on the couch going over his notes in his notebook while you offer advice every now and then. You asked him about what you could do to add to your meals to help improve them, also taking notes in a small notebook.
🌻🥦-“That is a great idea, Y/N. I’ll write that down. Thank you.” He blushed, quickly scribbling down your idea. 
🌻🥦-He might have been a little hesitant before but now his Alpha was howling at the idea of asking you out. He shot his mate a look and instantly knew his mate was already on board.
🌻🥦-Now they just had to find the right time to ask you out. 
***
🌻🥦-It was Mirio’s final day at the hospital. You were bringing him his discharge papers. You knocked on the familiar door and walked in. Your Omega was already whining at you. She didn’t want that Alpha’s to leave.
🌻🥦-But the Alpha was as good as new. He had gotten off his casts already and the only things left on his body were a few light bruises and scratches. 
🌻🥦-His mate stood by him, helping him put on a cornflower blue jacket. A black bag on the bed told you that he was already packed up and ready to go. They both turned to look at you when you walked in. 
🌻🥦-Mirio was sitting on the bed with his back facing the door so he had to strain his neck to look over. You could have sworn a sparkle was present in both of their eyes when they looked at you. 
🌻🥦-You didn’t want to jump to conclusions so you convinced yourself it was admiration for helping the blue-eyed Alpha get better. 
🌻🥦-“It seems our time has come to an end boys. I can say that besides the corny jokes, you were one of my best patients yet.” You grinned, thinking of all the cheesy jokes he told you. 
🌻🥦-He said he had to outdo your joke by making you laugh harder than he did. So far all he got out of you was a few snickers and chuckles. He made it his life’s mission to see you wheeze in laughter.
🌻🥦-“I don’t think so, Izuku and I were thinking, would you like to come out to dinner with us? We feel like it is time for us to feed you for a change.” He offered, his smile still on his face but you could see the slight nervousness on his face. 
🌻🥦-This offer was clearly more than a simple thanks. Poor Izuku was fidgeting where he stood, not looking you in the eye. 
🌻🥦-Your heart warmed at the two anxious Alphas. 
🌻🥦-“Sure. I would love to.” You agreed, your Omega yipping with joy. 
🌻🥦-You couldn’t wait to see how this turned out. 
This is my first time writing for this pair so feel free to tell me how you feel about them! Thank you for the support. Please reblog and leave a like. Both really help keep me motivated to write. 💛💚
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realtacuardach · 3 years
Text
On Ice
Figure Skating AU for Obiyuki Bingo 21!
(Special thanks for @sabraeal , @bubblesthemonsterartist , @ruleofexception , and youlee on the Obiyuki Discord for help with the music!)
~~~
Stepping onto the ice, Shirayuki felt herself leaving her troubles behind to stay, as they always did, on the benches behind the plexiglass. Her breath gusted out from her mouth, trailing behind as she glided to the center of the silent rink. She reached above her head, feeling her shoulders pop satisfyingly, before craning her head back to release the tension in her neck. Nothing could release all the tension she was feeling at the moment, but it definitely helped - somewhat.
She took another deep breath, bent her knee so that one leg stretched out behind her while the other took most of her weight - and pushed off.
The ice rink was a lot quieter now than it was in the middle of the day, the Olympic-quality rinks hosting times for ice hockey players, speed skaters, and ice dancers. It got even louder when the rink opened up for the public - those of the public who could afford it, anyway - because the director through that cultivating public support opened the rink up for more interest in the sports programs, a greater influx of talent that he could presumably snap up, and, of course, more merchandising opportunities.
Izana certainly likes to keep a finger on the pulse of everything, Shirayuki thought to herself, and choked a little on the foreign bitterness intermingling with the observation. Usually, it bemused her more than anything else, but today…
She tried to push the thought away as she finished one lap and started another, picking up speed. Cold air streamed more and more quickly past her face as she rounded the rink, making her eyes water, which at least gave her something to focus on.
I shouldn’t be surprised, I should have seen this coming, she thought, the cold and stinging eyes not powerful enough to slow down her mind. She slowed to a stop, realization dawning as she began to feel the burn in her calves. No, I’m not surprised, it’s what I expected.
Somehow, that only made her feel worse.
Shirayuki huddled down, resting her hips against the scuffed ice, her arms wrapped around her knees, the old insulated pants crinkling in a familiar way that soothed her, just a little bit.
Really, she should just be grateful that Zen wasn’t more hurt. He’d been lucky that she’d been watching the last-minute scrimmage he and his team had put on after hockey practice, before their paired skating practice. It could have been a lot worse.
She exhaled heavily, squeezing her face more tightly into her knee.
“All right there, Twirls?”
Shirayuki looked up and craned her head towards the sound. The side doors for the storage area for the Zamboni were open, and she saw the familiar form of Obi leaning against the machine.
She would have preferred to have been alone with her thoughts, but if anyone was to find her, she was glad it was him. She blinked away the traitorous moisture, put on her brightest smile, and nodded briskly. “No.”
Shirayuki cursed. She could never lie to him.
Even from across the rink, she could see his eyebrow arch, stretching the old scar above his eye. He straightened up a little, all his muscles at attention despite his deceptively languid stance. “Seem a little undecided there, Twirls.”
“I just got back from the hospital.””
“Yeah?” Obi responded. “How’s Ace doing? I’ve never seen Coach turn that shade of red before.”
Mitsuhide took a lot of things in stride, but there were two things that he absolutely did not. Like a proper Canadian transplant, the preservation and promotion of hockey was paramount to him. One did not mess with his hockey team and escape unscathed.
The other thing was Zen - his safety and well-being, not only as his friend but also as his star player, was also paramount.
So Zen taking a chance during the scrimmage to use one of his most acrobatic aerial leaps to soar over the other team (ostensibly intending to steal the puck and score a goal rather than slamming into the side of the rink and significantly spraining his ankle) had definitely...elicited a reaction from Mitsuhide.
He had vacillated between panic (“Are you okay, Zen? Can you stand? Is it broken, Shirayuki?”) and rage (You idiot! We were ahead by three goals. And this was practice!”)
Mitsuhide practically frothing at the mouth had unnerved most of the hockey players, so Shirayuki was grateful that Kiki had skated forward, shucking her gloves off to help stabilize Zen’s ankle as she splinted it before grabbing Mitsuhide by the back of his jersey and forcibly escorting him off the rink when he would not stop hovering.
(If it had been a less serious moment, Shirayuki would have laughed at the new redness burning the top of Mitsuhide’s ears as he was behind held by the third thing he had difficulty taking in stride.)
“Doctor says he’ll make a full recovery.”
“No doubt,” Obi grinned, walking smoothly towards her. “Between Coach’s mother-henning and your splinting skills, he didn’t have much time for it to get serious.”
The compliment glowed warm and low in her chest, but then it was overwhelmed by the cold feeling she got as she remembered what happened after Zen’s surgery. She fought back tears, hoping Obi wouldn’t notice.
He did.
“Twirls?”
She would have given everything to respond to him, but she didn’t trust her voice.
Obi sat down beside her, and she felt his arm move across her shoulders before squeezing them reassuringly. She leaned her head onto his chest, feeling the embroidery of his name push against her cheek, grounding her as his chest rose beneath her. A breath shuddered out.
“He’s going to be okay.” Deep breath in, deep breath out. “But Izana says he can’t do both ice skating and hockey any more.”
“Oh.” He rubbed her shoulder. “Well, that’s a shame, Twirls, but it does make sense. This isn’t a Disney Channel movie, he can’t do both at the same time forever. That’s a lot of strain for the ankle to take, even for a paragon like Ace. But he can still play scrimmages and stuff sometimes, right? Boss can’t expect him to just quit hockey completely-”
“He chose hockey.”
The soothing rubbing stopped. “What?”
Shirayuki cleaned her throat again, shuddered. “He chose hockey.”
The hand on her shoulder didn’t move, but she feel his muscles tensing, and she opened her eyes to see his other hand clenched into a fist. He must have noticed that she had noticed because he exhaled deeply and let his fingers relax.
“But...what about your competition?”
Shirayuki sighed and settled back against his chest. “It’s early enough to change categories, and I’m used to skating singles, anyway -”
“That’s what you think? Or what Boss thinks?”
She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter either way, it’s done.”
Obi was still for a long time, so still that Shirayuki eventually opened her eyes to check on him. His jaw was set so tightly that she was surprised that she couldn’t hear teeth grinding, and his eyes, which usually glittered with mischief or glowed with humor, were hard and flinty.
At her movement, Obi looked down at her, his eyes softening and his expression turning apologetic as his hand resumed its soothing rhythm. “I’m sorry, Twirls.” He looked out towards the Zamboni he was supposed to be driving, and snorted. He muttered, so low that she probably wasn’t supposed to hear, “I can’t believe he didn’t-”
Shirayuki shrugged, cutting him off. “He tried - at first, anyway. All the way to the hospital, he was holding my hand and promising that everything would be fine, that he’d figure something out.” She sighed. “I guess he did.”
“Or Boss did.”
“You know how important the team is to him.”
Obi squeezed her shoulder a final time before removing his arm from her shoulders and standing up. “I know how important you are, Twirls.” He held out a hand. “Come on, let’s go.”
She took his hand and let him pull her up. “Where?”
~~~
The moon was big and full, casting an ethereal glow over the frozen pond. Shirayuki took in a deep breath, feeling the icy sharpness of the air sting her nose, and smiled. She loved to skate anywhere, and she’d always be grateful for having the opportunity to skate at the rink, as fancy as it was. But there was something more...real about skating on a pond. It reminded her of the first time she glided across the lake near her grandparents’ pub, the feel of her father’s gloves beneath her mittens as he taught her to skate, of spinning free in the center of a lake, hair flying and arms outstretched, feeling light and airy and free.
Obi’s keys jingled as he shoved them into his coat pocket, stomping through the snow as he made his way over from his pick-up. “Feeling better, Twirls?”
“Just about,” she nodded. “The moon is so beautiful tonight.”
Obi hummed under his breath, and looking up, she saw him staring across the lake deep in thought.
“Makes me think of the night we met,” she continued.
It showed how much time had passed since they had met that Obi didn’t wince. She knew he wasn’t proud of how the first time they’d met officially was after he’d been caught for spreading debris across the pond where she had been practicing to trip her up and scare her off from the up-and-coming hockey player. Some enthusiast for the hockey team hadn’t liked that some outsider redhead was distracting The Zen Wisteria from the game.
Clearly, Obi had not been expecting her to leap over the debris without a moment’s hesitation. She could still remember the surprise and impressed look in his eyes as she met his stare head on after landing. He had even applauded her, which probably had some part in how quickly Mitsuhide and Kiki were able to catch up to him. Zen hadn’t been impressed with the stunt, but he had been impressed with the speed of Obi’s skating.
Despite Zen’s best efforts, Obi could not be pressed upon to actually join the speed skating relay team, but Zen had at least succeeded in getting him a job - reportedly to “keep him out of trouble” but they all knew better - at the rink. He took to driving the Zamboni with an enthusiasm that mildly terrified Mitsuhide, and he had a wealth of information on the surrounding area teams.
Obi gave a self-critical smile. “Good times, right? Except for when I got my face mashed into the snow by Miss Kiki.”
“It was good,” she agreed vehemently, “because it was the night I met you.”
She could feel her ears burning beneath her earmuffs and she quickly looked away over the lake. She heard a cough and saw Obi looking sheepish, one hand behind his head and red glinting through the olive skin of his cheeks.
“Same, Twirls.” He coughed again, and then made a shooing gesture. “Go on already, I know you’ve been dying to.”
Shirayuki needed no further prompting. She sat down in the snow, yanked off her boots, and slid on her skates. She pushed off the snowy ground and wobbled for a moment before steadying herself on Obi’s outstretched arm. “Thanks.” She stepped onto the ice, then craned her head back. “You coming?”
He kept gesturing towards the ice. “In a minute.”
The ice of the pond wasn’t quite as smooth as the ice of the rink - despite all his pleas in the past, Obi had never been allowed to take the Zamboni out for a “test drive” - but she liked that. The blades caught the slight divots and waves the water had settled into as it froze, and it reminded her of the lake back home. She could hear the birds settling into the nightly roosts and smell the fragrant scent of pine trees as a breeze blew into her face. Her nose was already red from the cold, and it felt amazing.
Shirayuki closed her eyes and spread her arms out wide. She felt free.
Na-na-na-na, na-na, na, I wanna start a fight!
Only years of experience in skating kept her from falling face first onto the ice, and she looked towards the sound. “Obi? What?”
The pick-up truck was running, the headlights spilling across the snow, and Obi was standing on the runner, holding onto the door with one hand and waving his phone with the other. Music blared out of the cab of the truck.
So, so what, I’m still a rock star-
“No time like the present, Twirls!” He bellowed over the music. “Let’s get that first-prize routine started.”
“Obi!” She was laughing now, her lungs burning beautifully. “Not that one!”
“It’s a good song,” he protested, “and it was the first one on Torou’s ‘Break My Heart, I���ll Break His Face’ playlist.”
Of course, Torou would have that as a playlist.
“Next one!” She yelled, making a new round around the perimeter of the pond.
“Fine, but I’m telling Torou!”
It was an empty threat, they both knew Torou would take her side.
I do my hair toss, check my nails-
“Yes!” Shirayuki crowed and pushed off to the center, tossing her hair and splaying her fingers along to the music.
Baby, how you feelin’?
She spun once, twice, three times before skating backwards shimmying her shoulders in time with the music. She went faster and faster -
You know you a star, you can touch the sky-
And she leapt. And again. And again.
She was breathless with laughter and could see Obi’s grin all the way from the shore between spins. 
The song faded, and the next began.
It took too long, it took too long, it took too long for you to call back-
“Too fast!” She called.
“Lies!” He called back, “Get it, Twirls!”
She stopped herself with a hand on the ice before tearing off around the pond, picking up speed.
This is the potential break-up song-
She began to make almost lazy spins in the center of the pond, her arms gliding in patterns in front of her and behind her head before speeding up once the chorus starting blaring.
Potential Break-up Song segued into IDGAF, and then into Cee-Lo. She was breathless and her arms ached from skating and her face ached from smiling and everything felt right.
We could have had it all, rolling in the deep
You had my heart inside your hand and
Played it to the beat-
Her heart stuttered despite herself, and she sighed.
“Twirls?”
She waved him off, and picked up speed. Faster and faster she went, leaving her hurt and anger behind, feeling nothing but the burn in her muscles, the ice beneath her feet, the chill in the air, and the music in her ears. One leap, two leaps, and then she slid back on her left foot -
We could have had it all!
-And she spun backwards into a Salchow.
She landed, blushing at the Obi’s whoops and cheers, and felt proud but spent. She slowed down, her heart pounding as Adele continued to sing, and skated towards where she’d left her boots.
Obi padded down towards them as well, bending down to scoop them up and lifting them out towards her as she approached. She shook her head vigorously and stuck out her hand. “No, your phone.”
He arched his brow. “Huh?”
Shirayuki thrust her hand towards the phone, fanning her fingers vigorously. “Your phone, gimme. Come join me!”
“Twirls…”
She knew it was cheating to give him The Eyes. She didn’t care. “Obi.”
He took a shuddering breath and covered his face with his hand. “Fine.” He handed over the phone and tramped through the snow back to the truck.
By the time he had pulled his old skates from the truck bed and laced them onto his feet, she had scrolled through the phone and disregarded several songs before picking the best one.
Obi stepped out onto the ice. “Gonna tell me what you picked?”
She pushed Play and stuck the phone into her pocket, zipping it. “Nope.”
“Twirls…”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” she chided, hoping the nonchalance in her voice drowned out the pounding of her heart. She reached out her hands. “Skate with me?”
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I’m not that fancy of a skater, Twirls.”
“I don’t want fancy, Obi,” she insisted. “I want you.”
That was...a lot more blunt that she had intended. But it was a night for change, and as his hand enveloped hers, it felt right.
She braced one foot behind her and pulled on his hand. And he followed.
Hand in hand, they skated to the center of the pond, and Shirayuki strained to hear the opening chords from the truck radio. As the piano began, she pushed off, with Obi following their linked hands.
What would I do without your smart mouth?
Obi’s hand tightened on hers, and she was hyper aware of how the heat of his palm burned hers through their gloves.
My head’s underwater, but I’m breathing fine
You’re crazy and I’m out of my mind.
This was moving too fast, she was being too forward. But it felt like all her pieces were falling into place. Obi wasn’t used to leisurely skating, he was more of a speed skater and going slowly nearly made him stumble. But in the next glide, his movements were more smooth and together they fell into the same rhythm.
Cause all of me loves all of you
All your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Their eyes met, and even now she could see some hesitation. Her grip on his hand tightened and she adjusted her stride so she was closer to him. Even as their breath fogged around them into the cold night air, she could only feel the warmth of him beside her. Shirayuki turned, skating backwards and pulling him to follow her into a small spin. And Obi, who she’d seen charm birds out of the trees, looked almost dazed before following along.
Give your all to me
I’ll give my all to you
You’re my end and my beginning
Even when I lose, I’m winnin’
Slowly, they spun around each other, the circles growing slower and smaller until she was fully in his arms. Even as his arms wrapped around her, she could feel hesitation in the quivering of his muscles. She took a big breath, laced with the scent that was so distinctly Obi, and took the plunge, laying her head against his shoulder.
His breath shuddered, and she was held so close she couldn’t tell where she started and he began.
Give me all of you, oh
Cards on the table, we’re both showing hearts
Risking it all, though it’s hard
There was always a risk to be completely honest. But she trusted Obi. She hoped he trusted her, too.
“Obi?”
“Yes?”
“Is this-” Despite her resolve, she could feel her fingers trembling. She had been brave up until now. “Do you feel- I mean…”
Obi pulled back and gave her an intense look. “Shirayuki.”
(She refused to faint, but hearing him say her actual name like that was making it a real possibility.)
“Yes.”
Her heart leapt into her throat. She was about to show that word all the appreciation it deserved, but then Obi opened his mouth again.
“But I won’t get in the way of-”
Only he could make her want to smack him and hug him at the same time. “There’s nothing to get in the way of, Obi. There’s just friendship there, and right now even that’s a little dodgy.”
Obi looked dazed again. “Oh.”
She smiled at him, adrenaline making her lips quivered. He brushed his hands against the outside of her arms and she melted against him.
The song had long since stopped, and they stood in silence for a long time.
“Shirayuki.” Obi began, and as much as Shirayuki liked his nickname for her, she definitely would like hearing her full name from him more often, especially when his voice held that husky tone.
She looked up and met his gaze, which was full of intent. He lowered his head to hers, slowly enough that she could pull back or pull away if she wanted.
She didn’t want to.
Instead, she lifted her head so that her lips met his.
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gumnut-logic · 3 years
Note
#45 Comparing hand sizes..
Alan and Jeff...
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With many thanks to @janetm74 for the read through and support.
Late night fic writing. I hope you enjoy it :D
Touches Ask Game - Send me a prompt
-o-o-o-
His Father’s Hand
They took turns sitting with their father.
It was a quiet room in the hospital, away from all the bustle and noise. Scott had made sure every detail had been attended to. Virgil had fussed to the point their father had banned him from the room.
Until Scott begged his father to let the whining puppy back in.
Virgil controlled himself after that.
Mostly.
John was more an observing spectre. There in three dimensions one day and a flickering hologram the next. The hospital helipad had been used multiple times by the space elevator.
The two astronauts spoke in numbers and scenarios. Usually, Alan would have been excited to listen.
But not right now.
Gordon, as usual was a firework let loose in the room. He tried to be quiet, but he seemed to sense their father’s mood and was desperate to compensate when it dropped.
It got to the point where Dad had thrown a pillow at him and nearly confined him to the naughty corner with Virgil, but the fact their father had been able to throw the pillow was such a sudden plus, they’d all been distracted in congratulating him on his progress.
Gordon had smiled like the sun.
Grandma was always there.
It was almost fascinating to watch her look after her son. Grandma had always looked after him and his brothers, but this was different. Dad was her little boy. It was ever so obvious that even Alan picked it up.
There were moments where she left the room and Virgil would frown and suddenly follow her. There were days where she would ramble stories to their sleeping father apparently at random. The odd thing was, they were all stories that Alan had never heard.
Kayo was always quiet. She would slip into the room, sit down beside his dad and look at him with such an expression of sadness it hurt.
One time Alan had gone out to grab a snack from a vending machine. He had come back to hear soft singing. A peek through the crack in the door and he had witnessed Kayo singing in Malay. Dad was asleep, but she was stroking the back of his hand with a finger.
Alan had made himself scarce for the next half an hour, scampering down to the cafeteria and filling himself full of comfort food. Virgil eventually found him, interrogated him - as Alan’s posture had obviously triggered some little brother alert in the big softie’s brain - and there had been flannel hugs not long after.
Dad’s recovery was hard.
As for Alan, he managed to sneak in some time alone with his dad. Sometimes he was awake and they would talk. About everything. Rockets, space, school, there were stories about his mom he had never heard, his grandparents, stories about himself and his brothers. Alan had plenty of those to share himself, and no doubt got several brothers in deep water in the process.
But other times Dad would be exhausted and just fall asleep. In those times Alan would just sit.
If his brothers came in, he had a video game at hand to provide the expected behaviour, but if they didn’t, he was quite content to just sit and look at his father.
Dad was some kind of heroic mystery.
Scott spoke of his father as if the man knew everything. If Scott had a hero, Dad was it. It was pretty understandable. After all, Dad had done so much and Scott had been there to see most of it.
Virgil’s hero was Scott, but when it came to their father you could see the love and respect in those brown eyes. Different from the hero worship of Scott, but there was some kind of pedestal in that gaze, nonetheless.
John was John. He put everyone on an equal standing. Probably had something to do with looking down on everyone all day. And Dad was no different.
Gordon loved with everything he had. Dad was Dad and had to be admired, but there was no hero worship there. Just a kid and his father…who had come back from the dead.
And that was where Alan sat. He had been eleven when they had lost Dad. Still a kid. Still needing parents. His father was kind of a mysterious mish mash of memories, hopes and made up ideas.
But god he loved him so.
Today was one of the days where Dad was too tired to keep his eyes open. Alan had spent the last few minutes looking at the grey in his father’s eyebrows and trying to remember what colour they had been.
Of course, he technically knew the colour. They had photos and holos after all, but the memories…trying to remember…
Eight years was ever so long.
Dad’s arm lay above the covers. The other hand was snagged by an IV, but this one was free.
Gold glinted in the dim light.
Alan frowned. Dad was still wearing his wedding ring?
He bent over to look a little closer. The gold was covered in fine little scratches, but it still shone.
Wow.
On a whim, Alan lay his left hand next to the limp one on the covers.
Dad’s was so much paler than his. Alan’s skin was still the skin of youth, though it sported a few freckles. There was also a difference in shape. Dad’s fingers were shorter and thicker, Alan’s were long and thin, yet smaller.
If anything, Dad’s hands reminded Alan of Virgil’s.
Though ever so much paler.
A frown. There was something about discovering this tiny and mostly irrelevant piece of information. He didn’t have his father’s hands.
Yet Alan, even more than Scott or John, emulated their father in career. Dad was a space jockey.
Alan was a space jockey.
Perhaps he had worshipped his father as a guiding light more than he had thought.
The hand on the bed suddenly moved and gently caught Alan’s fingers.
“Son?”
A blink at a pair of grey eyes peering up from him on the bed. “Hey, Dad.”
“A penny for your thoughts?”
“Um, not a great deal, Dad.” A smirk. “I thought you were a business man.”
His father’s lips twitched. “Do you have a counter offer.”
“I’m considering it.” But he only offered a smile.
His dad smiled ever so softly in return as he squeezed his fingers. “You’ve grown so much.”
Alan snorted. “Uh, yeah, they kept feeding me and, uh, here we are.” Another half-assed grin.
“Sorry I wasn’t there.”
The lump that immediately formed in Alan’s throat nearly strangled him. He forced the words out. “Not your fault, Dad.”
His hand was squeezed gently. “I’m still sorry.”
“Dad-“
“I’m proud of you, son.” His father’s voice was rough. “You’ve grown into a fine young man. I can see it even now.”
Again with the awkward rubbing of his neck. “Yeah, well, Scott sent me to bed on time and Virgil made sure I brushed my teeth.”
There was a snort from the bed, followed by soft laughter.
Alan found himself smiling. John had helped him with his homework and Gordon…well, Gordon was Gordon, his partner in crime.
The smile became a grin. “Could have been worse.”
Grey eyes stared up at him as his hand was squeezed again. “Yes. Yes, it could have been.”
Alan bit his lip a moment before leaning in and gently wrapping his arms around his father’s shoulders. “I’m so glad we’ve got you back, Dad. So glad.”
Weak arms did their best to curl around him. “Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
-o-o-o-
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nasaty · 3 years
Text
Forget me not
Aizawa-Sensei x Y/n-Sensei fic
TW: (eventually) violence, discussion of past death, just some bad feelings all around.
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Part 9/??
——————
“She’s got a decently bad concussion. She should start feeling more normal soon but then the pain is going to hit her. I’m going to have recovery girl come in and help her a bit, but you still need to keep her awake for a while. She can sleep in small segments but don’t let her sleep for more than two hours at a time for the next twelve hours.” The doctor gave Shouta a sheet of paper with instructions and a prescription for pain killers. They discharged you after that.
Shouta had called Nemuri to have her come pick you both up and take you back to the dorms.
“Oh honey…you got fucked right up.” Nemuri said as she opened the back of her van.
You heard Shouta talk to Nemuri and explain the situation. He leaned down towards you.
“Is it okay if you stay with me tonight so I can keep an eye on you?” He asked
“…oh…we can have a sleepover.” You said, still a bit dazed.
“Hah…yes we can have a sleepover. Nemuri is going to take us back now.”
“Thank you, Nem.” You gazed at her, and she ruffled your hair softly. Aizawa lifted you up into the seat of her car and sat on the other side. You laid on his shoulder and he whispered to you sweetly, not that you could tell what he was saying.
You took a short nap on the way back to UA and when Nemuri parked you woke up, feeling a lot more clear but you had a splitting headache.
“Oh wow this sucks.” You stated. As you got out of the van, hand in Shoutas hand for support.
“Hah…yeah it does. Do you want to take some medicine to help?”
“Yes please”
Shouta mouthed a sincere ‘thank you’ at Nemuri and she mouthed, ‘you owe me’ back.
As he was unlocking the door to his room, Midoriya appeared in the hallway.
“Aizawa-sensei? Y/n-Sensei?”
“Go to sleep, problem child.” Spat Aizawa.
“Oh don’t be so mean to Midoriya.” You defended.
“What’s going on?” Midoriya rubbed his eyes.
“Y/n-Sensei has a concussion. We ran into a villain tonight.”
“Are you and Y/n-Sensei dating?!” You both forgot you were wearing dress clothes rather than your usual casual or hero costumes you wore to school.
Aizawa sighed, “Go to sleep, Midoriya.” He ordered and you giggled.
He let you into his room and lead you to the couch, made you some tea and gave you a couple pain pills.
“Thank you for taking care of me Shouta.”
“I didn’t do anything.” He said.
“Yes you did. You saved me and you took me to the hospital and you’re taking care of me.”
He hummed.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t have been more help.”
“You saved that boys life.” He stated.
“The student?”
“Yes. He was from Shiketsu. If you hadn’t been near him when that villain hit you both, that blow would’ve broke his neck.”
“Oh….”
“You’re not really confident in yourself as a hero are you.”
“Yeah….not really.”
“You should be. I mean you beat me sparring, it’s not like you can be that bad.” He smirked.
“Yeah but I can’t do anything when it counts. Just in practice.”
“Your intuition kept that kid alive. I wouldn’t say thats nothing.”
“I just happened to be there though, it’s not like I helped.” You looked Shouta in the eyes and saw tears welling up in his eyes. “Shouta??”
“I would’ve done anything to have someone like you with me and Oboro. Maybe he’d still be alive. That isn’t nothing.”
You vaguely remember the news story about Oboro Shirakumo when you were in late middle school, the year before you started at UA. Your parents brought him up to try and get you to not attend, and you thought that was disrespectful.
“You we’re with Oboro?” You asked.
“Oboro was my best friend. Me and Hizashi’s.”
“Oh….wow….” Your eyes traced the ground frantically thinking of what to say.
“You saved more than that boy tonight, believe me. A whole community of people have their friend tonight. Their colleague, their family member. That’s because of you…. Please understand that.”
Tears streamed down your face and Shouta grabbed a tissue to dab your cheeks. He kissed you above both of eyes, and you fell asleep in his arms.
———————-
Shouta woke you up a few times in the middle of the night as he was told, and you continued your conversations. He’d let you sleep for an hour or so and then gently nudge you awake and you’d stay up, talking where you left off before. He kept notes on his phone to remember the things you talked about so he could bring it back up when you awoke again.
“Sometimes I feel like UA failed us.” You said.
“It’s gotten a lot better since we’ve returned.” Shouta observed.
“Fair. I just was thinking about the whole general studies/hero course thing because of Shinso and I was irritated. I was forced into the hero course but they never taught me the things I needed to do to actually work in the field, to keep myself safe. They acted like I had a strength quirk or something but then when I couldn’t measure up, they just ignored me.”
“I can see that. It was similar for me, but I decided to only pay attention to physical and practical hero work after Oboro passed and let everything else fall by the wayside. But they seemed to think that was fine because I was strong.”
“They needed to teach us how to work together more. And rely on each others strengths.”
“You’re right about that one. I’m hoping we’re doing better with that now.”
You fell back asleep.
——————
“Shouta why haven’t we worked together before? Like hero work? Not like….tonight… but like in general. We both have stealthy quirks, I feel like it would work well.” You asked.
“You want to know the real reason or are you just suggesting we team up?”
“Both I guess.”
“I realized recently I was ignoring you and being rude because I really liked you. I was trying to make my feelings go away but I couldn’t….so I just kinda gave in.” He admitted. “But we should do hero work together. You could find the villains with your quirk and I could erase them before they even know we’re there. And we’ve finally learned how to communicate so maybe it would work out…heh.”
“Did we really learn how to communicate? Or did we just stop being shit heads.”
“Same thing.” He smirked.
——————-
“I like the dress you wore tonight. Even thought it’s a bit destroyed now…you looked nice.”
“Oh but I don’t look nice anymore?” You teased.
“That’s not- I didn’t-“
“I’m kidding Shouta. Thank you.” He sighed in relief, and you continued. “So do you only have that one blue tie?”
“HAH yes. I bought it for the one press conference I had to do.”
“I knew I’d seen it before…you looked nice in it though. We should get you some more.”
He blushed at your use of ‘we’. “I’d like that.”
———————
“Shouta what kind of smells do you like?”
“What….kind of smells?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah. I was putting on perfume and tonight and I didn’t know what you would like.”
“Um…I guess I don’t really know. Never thought about it.”
“What cologne do you wear?”
“I don’t…? I’m just hygienic I guess..?”
“So you just naturally smell like sandalwood?!”
“I don’t know what that is.” He chuckled.
—————————
“Have you just been wearing that suit this whole time?!” You realized it had been hours and he was just sitting with you.
“I…..didn’t want to leave you alone while I found something else to wear.”
“Shouta.”
“What.”
“Go find something comfy to wear! I’ll be right here, I’ll be fine.”
He left the room for a moment and came back with a dark t-shirt and bright pink sweatpants on, another big shirt folded in his arms.
“Oh. My. God.” You bursted out laughing.
“Okay okay get it out of your system. Zashi bought these for me as a gag gift years ago... but they’re really comfy.”
“I love them. This is fantastic.”
“I brought you a change of clothes too if you’d like.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with me borrowing your clothes?”
“What kind of a stupid ass, irrational question is that?” He joked.
You gasped, “I’m serious!”
“Please wear my shirt.”
You giggled, “okay.”
——————
“Shouta.”
“Hmm?” He replied
“Do I have to work tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow is Saturday.”
“Oh thank god,” you sighed and he snickered. “Do you have to work tomorrow?”
“I took the day off. I thought I would just hang around and make sure you’re okay.” He said.
“You‘re sweet, Shouta.”
“I’m glad you think so. Sorry for….the way I treated you before.”
“I’m sorry too. We were both stupid.”
He laughed, “yes we were.”
———————
“Shouta.”
“Yes, y/n?”
“Was this date…and like the time in the showers…all a one time thing?”
His smile fell. “…did you want it to be a one time thing…?”
“No…I want it to be a lots of times thing.” You giggled and looked away.
“Oh…good.” His smirk returned and he kissed you on the cheek. As he pulled back you took his face in your hands and gave him a deep, loving kiss. You felt the tension release from his body and he threw his arms around you, pulling you into his chest. “It’s a lot’s of times thing, then.”
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