#I’m sorry I think Darryl fell too

[ranx0]

Dan berry are you okay

[vinylmango]

Flower Delivery (pt. 3)

(ex!Nicholas alexander chavez x ex!black!reader)

Requests:

no cause you’re most recent nicholas chavez fic ATE DOWNNN girl pls write another i beg. or literally just other nicholas chavez fics cause your writing is incredible!! - 🍒

And

I know you literally just posted flower delivery part 2 but I need part three! It’s sooooo good!!!! - anon

Description: Just when you think your life is back on track and you landed a new leading role, he’s thrust back into your life when you find out he’s in the show too. Now as you start filming, you aren’t really sure what you want anymore.

Warnings: obsessive behaviors (cont’d), he’s your scene partner…turned kinda lover (kissing only), Ryan Murphy jumpscare (yikes), mentions of episode 4 of grotesquerie (just one scene)

Word count: 2.9k words

Note: Sorry for the delay on part 3, work has been working lol, but I really appreciate all of the kindness and love everyone has been showing my posts/page <3 I ended up writing this four different times before I finally decided I liked it lol and I decided to make it longer to make up for my lack of content since I posted the last one.

Also I know the timeline is a little wonky in this in terms of Nicholas’ filming schedule for Monsters and Grotesquerie, so let’s just pretend he finished filming for Monsters completely before starting filming for Grotesquerie.

Thanks for the request 🍒 and anon!

part one part two

masterlist

You couldn’t believe it, it was almost too good to be true. There hadn’t been any surprise deliveries or week-night break-ins for the past six months. It was almost like he just disappeared for the past six months, and part of you was relieved since you no longer had to worry about his annoying and unhinged behavior; but another part of you secretly missed him, although you had been trying to convince yourself that it was only because you had gotten so used to his presence that now it was just…different.

Since the last time he had showed up at your place unannounced you had finished the project you had been working on and landed a new lead role in a brand new Ryan Murphy project, Grotesquerie.

Although you were well aware of the controversies surrounding the director, your new agency convinced you to take the role. It was so different from anything you had ever done before, and you had been wanting to try the horror genre. It was so new, in fact, that you hadn’t even had the opportunity to meet the rest of the cast since you hadn’t auditioned in the traditional way and Ryan himself had asked you to take the role.

You were up bright and early to be on set for the first day of filming for Grotesquerie. You arrived on set at 6:30 and headed straight to the hair and makeup trailer after briefly saying hello to Ryan, the production team, and the other writers that were on set. You still hadn’t seen your scene partners, assuming they were in hair and makeup as well.

You fell into a comfortable conversation with the hair stylist and makeup artist, telling them about your other project and how you were a fairly new actor.

“Girl, don’t talk down about yourself like that. Everyone starts somewhere.” The makeup artist, Darryl, told you squeezing your shoulder as Keisha, your hair stylist, nodded in the mirror.

“Thanks.” You smiled at the pair of them before you all turned when your trailer door opened. A woman with bright red hair and green eyes walking in with a small smile on her face.

“Hey Sue!” Darryl and Keisha smiled and waved at her.

“Hey D. Hi Keisha!” The middle aged woman smiled. “Hi (y/n), it’s great to meet you. I’m Sue. I’m just here to make sure your wardrobe is correct for the upcoming scene.” She explained as you nodded. “We had a slight change to the filming schedule to work around scheduling conflicts for some of our crew so we’ll be filming a little out of order today.”

“Oh ok. No worries.” You smiled. “What’s the change?”

“Our intimacy coordinator has to pick her son up from school early today so we have to get the scenes she’s involved with out of the way first.” She explained. “When you’re done with hair and makeup and have your wardrobe on then she’ll quickly meet with you to discuss the way it will be filmed.”

“Ok. Thanks for the heads up, Sue.” You smiled again, though Darryl and Keisha could tell you were becoming anxious when Sue left.

“Don’t be nervous, (Y/n). Sarah, our intimacy coordinator, is amazing.” Keisha reassured you.

“And I know this is obviously your job, but the actor is…hot.” Darryl added after a slight pause. You and Keisha laughed as he pretended to fan himself.

Hair and makeup finished shortly after that and you were dressed and ready to go after Keisha made sure that the habit you wore in the scene was placed correctly.

You exited the trailer as you noticed a dark haired woman with curly hair was talking to a tall, broad man, dressed in a jacket with a thick white towel wrapped around his waist…your scene partner. Darryl was right. At least from the back, the man was hot and muscular.

Your hands grew clammy as you walked up to them, Sarah smiling and waving you over. You wore a small smile as you approached. The smile was replaced with your jaw nearly dropping when the man who was to be your scene partner turned around causing you to almost stop in your tracks. “(Y/n) have you met Nicholas yet?” Sarah asked as you joined their conversation.

“Yeah. We’ve…uh…met before.” You said, fighting against the lump in your throat that was forming. Your mouth was so dry it felt like you might choke. You swallowed visibly as Nicholas smirked at you.

You glanced over his appearance. Although the jacket he was wearing was pretty loose around him and pretty much hid his upper body completely, you could still tell he was way more muscular than he had been when you saw him last.

“Great!” She smiled with a clap of her hands. “Let’s head inside and talk through the scene then.” You and Nicholas nodded as you followed her inside the filming location. “Alright so the way the scene currently lays this out is (Y/n) you’ll come from the doorway to sit in this chair, Nicholas you’ll come from the bathroom there and then walk over to the door, close it, and then stand in front of the chair. You’ll say your lines and then (y/n) you’ll stand and you’ll walk backwards until you get to here.” She stopped at the dresser that was sitting below the cross that was on the wall. “Nicholas you’ll lift (y/n) and put her down sitting on the dresser and then the scene will play out…any questions about that?” She asks as you both shake your heads no. “Alright. Anything either of you don’t feel comfortable doing?”

“I’m ok.” Nicholas said, though you could feel his eyes burning into the side of your face.

“I’m good.” You agreed, looking at Sarah instead.

“Great!” She smiled. “And the intimacy garments are ok? Do either of you want a different one?”

“This one is ok, thanks Sarah.” You told her as Nicholas agreed.

“It’s good, thanks Sarah.”

“Alright, great. Thank you guys. I’ll be behind the camera the whole time so if we need to do a few takes I’ll be here to help with anything. If you want to try something else at any time we can do that too.” She explained as you both nodded.

How did you always manage to get yourself into situations like these?

She excused herself, telling the pair of you that she was off to get the production team and Ryan to let them know you both were good to go. Nicholas turned to you, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, and an almost wolfish grin on his face.

You had to admit that he did look really good. The way he was leaning allowed you to see his abs between the gap in the jacket since he hadn’t zipped it up. “You’re staring.”

“You’re the one smirking at me.” You redirected as he stood up off the wall and took a step closer to you.

“Like what you see?” His voice seemed deeper, huskier, as his dark eyes scanned over you before settling back on yours. He sent you a wink as Ryan and the production team followed by Sarah came back and Nicholas walked past you to his mark, handing his jacket to an assistant as you went into the hallway to wait for the scene to start.

“Action!” You heard the sound of the water shut off and you peaked your head into Father Charlie’s room before coming to stand in the doorway.

He glanced back before walking to stand a few paces in front of you next to the bed, the towel low on his hips and water droplets cascading down his chest. His hair was pushed back from his face and wet as if he really had just gotten out of the shower. “You were watching me. Earlier in the rec room.” He paused, watching your expression but you remained neutral. “Anything worth seeing?”

“It…It was…” you paused for a moment, letting out a breath. “An exhalation of God’s glory through physical prowess.”

“Yeah?” Nicholas sat on the bed, his face turned slightly down but his eyes raised to look over at you. A slow smile appeared on his face. That was not scripted, you knew that for sure. “It’s kinda become my side hustle.” He said after a second. Back to the script. He said his other lines as you continued to sit in the chair, back stiff against the back of the chair as your hands laid in your lap.

“They say…it’s a sin of the flesh, but, I say-“ he began to say as you cut him off with your lines.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, which is in you? Therefore honor God with your bodies.” You responded softly as he nodded, breathing out a simple ‘Yes’.

He stood up from the bed and stopped to stand in front of you, your gaze following him. He smirked at you, something the camera didn’t catch, before dropping the expression and walking to the door and closing it. To say your heart was beating fast would’ve been an understatement.

“This is exactly what they’re talking about right now at the Vatican.” You zoned out for a moment after he started delivering his lines, walking to stand in front of you again. You zoned back in when you heard the end of his line “celibacy, for those in the cloth.”

He reached over to you as you sharply inhaled when his fingers played with the cross necklace you wore. That wasn’t scripted either. You could see that he enjoyed catching you off guard and no one was yelling cut because the extra touches made sense for your characters.

“That’s…That’s difficult to imagine.” Your voice caught and he smirked as you looked up at him and swallowed thickly. It was an honest mistake on your part, but Nicholas was eating it up. At moments it was hard to tell whether he was currently in the mindset of Father Charlie Mayhew or Nicholas Chavez.

He licked his lips, still holding onto the necklace, his voice lowering. “Is it really so difficult?” He said more but you zoned out again when his hand released your necklace and unbuttoned your vest. He was delivering his lines while standing to the side of you, bent down in your face, so your faces were only inches apart.

You dropped the newspaper in your hand as he continued unbuttoning your vest, slowly. You hadn’t meant to, but no one yelled cut again, so you assumed it was fine. “The church is dying, Mother Eva.” He said as you breathed out again, not breaking eye contact. You could see in his eyes that he was amused, he definitely was enjoying this scene.

He delivered more lines and bent in closer to you and you couldn’t help your instinctive reaction. Your lips parted as if you were preparing for him to kiss you, like he used to do. All of this was like a flashback to how it used to be, and yeah, he had been unhinged but there was no denying that he was incredibly passionate.

“They know that change must come.” He said softly, your nose touching his before he stepped back completely from you, this time standing directly in front of you. He looked down at you as you took the opportunity to look over his body before looking down at the towel like you were supposed to do. You followed the scene instructions and pulled the towel from around his waist, letting it fall to the floor with a soft thud. You looked back up slowly at his face, your lips slightly parted as you watched him.

“It is still a sin.” You said as he picked your hand up and kissed your hand and wrist. He walked you over to the dresser like the scene outlined.

“We are…and we always will be.” He backed you up into the dresser, your shoes hitting it causing it to bump against the wall.

“Sinners.” You finished, practically whispering as your eyes looked over his face as he picked you up onto the dresser, his hands running down your sides as he stood in between your legs and your lips practically touched.

“So fuck it.” You could feel the movement of his lips against yours as he spoke, pulling the vest from your arms as you pushed your chest into him to get the vest off. He began unbuttoning your shirt and pulled the edge off one shoulder as he began to kiss there, your hands going to his hair.

Someone behind the camera coughed and the loud “Cut!” pulled you both completely out of the scene. You let out a gasp as Nicholas pressed a lingering kiss to your neck before stepping back.

You blinked a few times, your hands holding onto the edge of the dresser, as you let out a breath. You didn’t miss the way Nicholas wore a smug expression, but your smile widened when you pointed down subtly.

Nicholas raised his shoulders in a shrug as he secured the towel back around his waist. “Let’s take 15 and run it again. Thanks Jerry for ruining that take!” Ryan called passive aggressively. Jerry, the man who coughed, looked as if he wanted the earth to swallow him up.

You slid off the dresser and walked to your trailer, not noticing the way Nicholas excused himself just after you, easily falling into step behind you.

You fell onto the couch with a huff, annoyed at yourself for being reminded of the past. You were over him, there was no way you were going to entertain him again. All he did was bring chaos into your life.

“He broke into your apartment, remember?” You whispered to yourself, eyes widening when your trailer door opened and in walked Nicholas, closing and locking the door behind him.

“I know you still feel the same way I do.” He started as you shook your head. He stepped closer to you, standing in front of you much like the scene you had just had.

“You’re wrong.” He shook his head, smiling at your stubbornness.

“I saw the way you were looking at me. You got into it. It wasn’t just acting.”

“Says the guy who just tried to give me an unscripted hickey.” You retorted defensively, standing up suddenly and poking him. He caught your hand, intertwining your fingers with his as he pulled you closer, leaning down so he was only a couple inches away from your lips.

“Tell me you don’t want this.” He whispered as you remained quiet. “Tell me you don’t want me to ki-“ He was cut off by your lips crashing into his. You weren’t even thinking at that point. He was intoxicating, everything about him was intoxicating and you knew that you should just stay away, but it was him. It was hard to make rational decisions when he was so close and his very presence cleared all of the rationality from your brain.

He pulled back after the heated kiss, a smirk on his face as he looked at you. “So I was right.” He remarked, there goes the cockiness.

“Oh my God, just shut up.” You rolled your eyes before he obliged and pulled you close, his hands traveling up and down your body as yours ran through his hair and held onto his shoulders and biceps. He broke the kiss again to plant kisses from your lips to your neck, his teeth scraping against the sensitive skin on your neck, surely leaving a mark that you weren’t sure how you would explain.

“We shouldn’t be doing this.” You said, but you didn’t pull away from him. “The camera is going to see all of the marks you're leaving and we won’t be able to explain it away.”

“We’re filming a sex scene. It’ll be fine.” He decided as your nails ran down his arms, careful of the makeup and special effects on his back.

He groaned against your lips when a loud knock at the trailer door interrupted your activities. “They’re ready for you on set. Hair and makeup is just going to do some touch ups before we shoot again.” An assistant called as you placed a hand on his chest and stepped back.

“See you on set.” You said before stepping out of the trailer and walking over towards where Keisha and Darryl were waiting to do touch ups.

“(Y/n), why is your makeup so messed up around your mouth? Y'all didn’t even shoot a kiss yet.”

Let me know what else you’d like to see or share any ideas you might have!

[etre-grantaire]

god okay so I was thinking about Glenn Close last night (as I an wont to do) and the enormity of what he lost when he lost his trial just hit me. like he lost his son, and his entire history with his dead wife. and Glenn seems to me like the kind of guy who probably left all of Morgan’s stuff exactly where it was. her clothes still hanging in their closet, her perfumes and makeup scattered on the dresser, her mugs in the cupboard (which also leads into why he leaves Nick alone so often, he can’t stand to get rid of her things but he can’t be around them either so he just leaves), and now all of that is just gone. none of it ever existed. if he had lived and gone back to earth, he would have just gone back to an apartment that Morgan and Nick had never lived in and I don’t think he could handle that. 

and oh god that’s what I absolutely adore about people drawing him with Morgan’s wedding ring around his neck, because if it was on him when he was convicted and went to prison that that means it’s still there—it’s the ONLY thing that he would have to prove that his life existed, that he had a wife and a son and that they were happy. because everything else was completely erased. Morgan is not his Morgan anymore, and Nick is not his Nick. And even post-demon, he never will be Glenn’s Nick again.

the woman Glenn loves is gone forever (AGAIN) even though now she’s still alive (and oh god what a kick in the teeth—she would have lived if she wasn’t with him, the difference between her living and dying was loving Glenn) but now no one grieves her except Glenn

[blushie14]

Sleepy Muffin [Skephalo]

Bad needs more sleep nuff said >:v

It is now eleven o’clock at night. Darryl stares at his computer screen for a while until he sighs a bit in frustration. He's got a lot of work done, except for a video that he's been planning to upload today. 

Hours of editing was spent, but unfortunately Darryl has been unlucky lately. The editing software has been acting up and he would sometimes lose a little bit of progress. He was truly exhausted and it was getting harder to focus, but he wanted to get this video out asap. 

Maybe he should take another coffee break. 

He got up and walked out of his room. As he went into the kitchen, Zak was also there eating leftover take out and scrolling through twitter. "Oh hey! How's the video coming along?" 

Darryl grabbed a mug while waiting for the coffee to brew. "Ah, well… it's coming along. Hopefully, I won't lose my progress again though." 

Zak nodded but also had a look of slight concern. "Uhhh dude? Isn't that like your third cup of coffee?"

Darryl stayed silent holding the empty coffee mug, staring blankly at the wall.

"Darryl?... Darryl… Darryl!" 

"H-Huh? Sorry what? I-I blanked out for a moment!" He poured the coffee in his mug and started to drink.

"Jesus Christ, how tired are you?!" 

Darryl's mug was already almost empty as he put it down. "I'm really tired, but I'll go to sleep once I'm done. Promise." He yawned out.

Zak stared at him as he finished his coffee and walked back to his room. He has lived with Darryl for a while. He already knows that he pushes himself to work for hours on end until he gets it done. 

He also knows all too well that a sleep deprived Darryl has unpredictable results. Zak ponders for a moment before he eventually decided to go into Darryl's room. It is probably a good idea to check up on him. 

Zak opens the door and sees Darryl at his desk. He walked over and hugged Darryl from behind while resting his head on top of his head.

Darryl whined a little bit. "Geppyyy I'm still editing. What do you want?" 

Zak chuckled. "Just wanna watch you edit Darry. Something wrong with that?" 

"N-No I guess not.." Darryl blushed a bit before continuing to edit. 

Zak observed him while silently taking note of a few things. Darryl's eyes could barely stay up and he was barely making any progress editing this video. A little time passed by before Zak asked a question. "Soooo how many cups of coffee did you drink?" 

Darryl massaged his temples and yawned as he tried to think about his answer. "Uh… let's see…"

"Oh my god, it shouldn't take you this long to remember how many cups you drank."

"No! No, it's not that. I-It's just that.." Darryl nervously giggled, starting to feel loopy. "Are you talking about how much I had today or?" 

"...What do you mean?" Zak had a bad feeling in his stomach.

"I've been awake for like.. I think it's been 38 hours?"

"Wh- … Ah-..." Zak stood up in shock while Darryl laughed a little more and hid his face. 

"Oh no, I should've kept my mouth shut. Zak, just pretend you didn't hear that okay?"

"NO! Are you- you've been up more than 24 hours?! Are you crazy?!

"Nooo just leave me aloneeee don't worry about it!"

"Darryl I'm- I'm not leaving until you go to bed." 

"I am gonna go to bed, just give me five more minutes to edit this clip.."

"No, you need to go to bed! You've been replaying that snippet for like ten years and still didn't change anything."

Zak refused to let him stay up any longer than he had to. He kept insisting that he should go to bed now while Darryl was still being too stubborn to give in. Eventually, Darryl closed the editing software after saving his progress.

"Okay fine, I'll go to bed now. Are you happy you muffin head?" Darryl pouted, making Zak giggle a bit.

"Yes, now go to your bed."

"I will! Just say goodnight and go!"

"Ah ah ah! I said I'm not leaving until you go to bed."

Darryl groaned "Seriously?… Oh my goodness, fine!" He walked over and sat on his bed. "Better?" 

Zak smiled. "Yup! Now get some rest, okay?" Darryl nodded while Zak left his room. He closed the door and was about to walk away before he stopped himself.

He had a strong feeling in his stomach. He had a hunch that he needed to check if Darryl was actually going to bed. Lo and behold, the moment he opened the door, he saw him back in his chair staring at his monitor.

"Darryl, I swear to god." He facepalmed and laughed while the other let out a small scream before quickly standing up. 

"Wait, Zak it's not what it looks like! Look, I'm going to bed for real." He walked over, sitting on his bed again. "Okay, you can leave now." 

Zak rolled his eyes before sitting right next to him. "Nah, I think I'll stay right here." He smiled while Darryl started to protest.

"Wait you're not leaving? No, come on I promised I'd go to bed."

Zak crossed his arms. "I know, but you didn't promise you would go to sleep. So I'll just wait here until you fall asleep." He smirked, not falling for this again. 

Darryl went quiet for a moment. "...Nooo why would you do that, you're being ridiculous." 

Zak giggled, and the other being loopy couldn't help but giggle along. "You and I both know that the minute I walk out that door, you're just going to go back to your computer desk!"

"Nooooo! I wouldn't! Skeppy, leave my roooooom!" 

"Maybe, and this is just a thought, just maybe I'll leave once you go to sleep." 

"You go to sleep, you dunderhead!" 

"No! You first!" 

They bickered back and forth for a few more minutes until Zak had an idea to make up a "deal" for the both of them. 

"Okay, okay look. How about this. Let's say if I fall asleep before you do, you can get back on your computer and do whatever you want for as long as you want. And I'll never bother you about sleeping ever again."

Darryl's eyes lit up for a bit. "Wait really? So I don't have to sleep right now? And I can finish editing my video."

"That is only if you can stay up longer than me." He chuckled. There was no way he's going to fall asleep before he does.

"Hmm… you sure you wanna do this?" Darryl was confident he could stay up a little longer. He's made it this long, there's no way he was gonna fall asleep now.

"I mean, either way there's no way I'd be able to stop you if I fell asleep before you do. So yeah."

"Okay then, deal!" Darryl laughed. "You made a huge mistake, you muffin. I've had a few cups of coffee and I'm going to stay up so that I can finally finish editing!"

Zak giggled, "Whatever you say Darry. Whatever you say." 

Time went by as Darryl rambled on about random topics as a way to keep himself awake. Darryl was yawning every now and then while Zak stayed silent, wide awake.

"Dude, stop yawning. You're going to make me tired."

Darryl let out a devious laugh. "Hmmm maybe this is my plan all along Zak!" 

Zak covered his mouth with his sleeves as he had a mini giggle fit. 

More time went by and Darryl resorted to making up a story in song format. 

"🎶 Ohhhh there once was a little ducky boy, who was planning something for his ducklings. He wanted to make his little ducklings happy cuz he loves each and every single one! Buuuut then his own ducky, who he loves very much, wanted to be a big meanie pants. He forced the little ducky to stop and nowww, the little ducky is sad! 🎶"

Zak couldn't help but laugh at how adorable that was. He decided to go along with the analogies. 

"The ducky loves his little ducky too, which is why the ducky wants his one and only to take a break." He cupped Darryl's red face in his hands. "The ducklings will be patient and understand that the little ducky is tired." 

Darryl let out a flustered whine. "But I promised them a new videoooo!" Zak only sighed in response.

Even MORE time goes by. Darryl was laying on Zak's shoulder, struggling to keep his eyes open. Zak was also a little tired, but he was definitely wide awake compared to Darryl. 

"Hey… Zak? Have you- have you ever noticed that the word 'fridge' has the letter 'd' in it, yet the word refrigerator doesn't have a 'd' in it?" 

At that moment, Zak wheezed and lost it at this point, covering his face as he laughed head off. Darryl was giggling as he continued to talk.

"Whahat? It doesn't mahake any sehehense!" 

"BAHAHAD PLEHEAHEASE GO TO SLEHEEHEEP!" 

"Nooooooo!" 

It took a while, but Zak finally calmed down. He put one arm around Darryl and gently started playing with his hair, just because he felt like it. 

Darryl had his eyes shut for a moment before jolting awake again. "Zak noo…. quit making me tired, you.. you muffin…"

Zak smiled and wrapped both his arms around him, snuggling against him now, still playing with his hair. 

Darryl could feel himself drifting to sleep. "Gep..py..no.." Zak could barely hear him mutter his words. Despite his mumbling protests, Darryl started to hug Zak on instinct.

"You were saying Darryl?" Zak giggled as he heard him mumbling more words. Darryl's mumbling started to get slower and slower, until it eventually came to a stop.

"Are youuu finally asleep?" Zak heard nothing in response. He lightly gasped when he heard light snoring. 

"Awww.." He giggled as he hugged him a little tighter. Zak didn't want to leave his side. "It took you long enough.." He slowly closes his eyes.

"Good night, I love you.." 

[End] 

[artyblogs]

Mean It When You Swing It

Read on AO3

Summary: For @caruliaweek. Prompt: Confession. After two years, Carmen arrives at Julia’s doorstep with a bouquet of red roses. She finds a nightmare instead. Tensions ensue.

---

The first bouquet was a prank on Carmen. Carmen wanted to do something nice for Julia, to thank her for her infinite patience, for blindly doing what Carmen asked without protest, and for doing so without prying. Carmen wanted to do something nice for Julia, and people give flowers to each other, right? They are given to performers after their shows, and to graduates after their ceremonies, and to the sick so that they might feel better. They are given to parents and children and friends and partners. They are given in grief, and they are given in thanks, and they are given in affection.

There was a florist down the street from Julia’s flat, so there Carmen went.

“Whatever they are, they have to be red,” Carmen murmured as she regarded the dizzying collection. There were so many different shapes and sizes, in so many hues, and it was making for a more complicated task than she first thought. In her ear, the sounds of Player’s constant keystrokes blend into the background when he speaks (he once explained something about microphone settings and sound engineering, but most of it went over Carmen’s head).

“How about red roses? Nine of them?” And even through the mic, she could tell that he was smiling.

“Only nine? Okay,” Carmen said and she asked the florist for a bundle.

“Wait, really?” Player almost shrieked, but his sound settings came through yet again to normalize the volume.

“What’s wrong?”

“Uh, nothing.”

And that was that. It was only after the artifacts were set in front of Julia’s door, and after the doorbell was rung, and while they were on the plane out of Poitiers, that Ivy gently took Carmen’s elbow, steered her out of Zack’s earshot, and asked if Carmen meant to leave red roses for Julia.

“Flowers are flowers are flowers, right? Should I have left different ones?” Carmen asked.

Ivy’s mouth formed and ‘o’ and her green eyes grew wide with dismay. “Oh my god, you really don’t know.”

“Know what?”

Ivy clenched her jaw and scowled. She reached into her pocket, took out a small padded case, and unzipped it to reveal her Team Red earpiece. She plugged this into her ear, stood hands akimbo, and glared at Carmen’s left earring.

“Player,” she growled out. Carmen had never seen her so mad before; not even at Zack. And Player made a high-pitched squealing sound that she’d never heard him make before either.

“I didn’t think she’d actually do it!”

“God-fucking-dammit, Player! You know that Carmen doesn’t know about this kind of shit.”

“I’m sorry. But can you honestly tell me that red roses were the wrong move to make?”

“Do not try to worm out of this.”

“What do they mean?” Carmen asked. Ivy froze. Player too, fell silent. There was nothing but the drone of the plane engines around them.

“What do red roses mean?” Carmen asked again.

Ivy told her. And then she returned to Zack to give Carmen some time, and Player went radio silent for the same reason, and Carmen remained in the back of the plane, thinking.

Did she mean to give red roses to Julia?

---

Today, Carmen picks up a similar bouquet and signs the card with her name—her real name—and her hands take on an unnatural tremor. She flattens them against the counter, slapping the pen down in the process, and tries to distract herself by watching the florist tie a ribbon around the bouquet. They pull the free ends of the ribbon against the back of the shears to make them curl, then present the flowers to Carmen with a wink.

“Thanks,” Carmen says, weighing the flowers in her arms. Is this only nine roses? It seems heavier than she remembers.

“Good luck.” The florist takes the card and carefully tucks it into the tiny plastic trident bundled with the roses, then waves Carmen away with a smile. Carmen turns and continues down the street.

Carmen used to think she knew what love was. That at least Coach Brunt loved her the way a mother would love a daughter. She knows now that she didn’t. It was the kind of love that one has for a stuffed toy, or a limb, or a tool. She was beloved only because she belonged to VILE and did as she was told.

While she suspected that it wasn’t really love, she didn’t have confirmation of it until she met Carlotta Valdez. She believed that the woman who had captured her father’s heart had to be remarkable and she was right.

Her father gave her mother red roses. Usually a single rose, and sometimes a dozen of them at a time, but Carlotta preferred the single roses. She would tell Carmen how Dexter would break into some poor neighbors’ garden with a pair of shears in his back pocket, and how he would methodically choose the right one.

The neighbors entered their roses into competitions, so they soon learned to get dogs and guns. But Dexter never failed to get a rose. Not only because he was that good, but because he liked to see the look on Carlotta’s face when he presented them to her, and because he knew that no matter how beautiful the rose was, that Carlotta would always be lovelier.

Could Carmen love someone like that? The idea is…well. To be honest, she’s still not sure what love is and what love looks like, but she feels signs of it when she thinks of Player, and Ivy and Zack, and Shadowsan. She feels signs of it when she thinks of Carlotta. She likes to think she could. That she’s capable of it.

Could Carmen love Julia like that?

She would like to try.

Carmen carefully shifts the bouquet in her arms and crosses the street. Julia moved back to Oxford about six months after the raid on VILE headquarters. According to Player, most of VILE were round up by then, and the remaining work that ACME could scrounge up didn’t have anything to do with historical artifacts, so Julia had run out of reasons to stay.

Does Julia still drink tea? Does she still wax poetic about Older Futhark and Coptic?

Is she happy?

The apartment complex is really a collection of handsome brownstones that surround a small courtyard. There’s a barbecue pit set in concrete, and a swingset almost hidden amongst some trees. Two children make a circuit on their bikes, and a woman watches them while she idly pushes a toddler on a swing. Carmen avoids them as best she can and reaches Julia’s door. Music comes from inside; the radio, judging from the overlay of a DJ’s commentary. Carmen reaches up to press the doorbell and hesitates.

Two years and no word. No call, no text. Not even a letter. Two years.

Carmen takes a deep, steadying breath. It is unfortunate, but she had always intended to talk to Julia. Sooner than now, yes, but she did want to talk. She just…lost track of time getting to know her mother. To tell the truth, two years is not enough, but they have the rest of their lives. If Carmen didn’t come to see Julia now, then when would she stop by? In three years? Five?

Yes, it’s been two years, but Carmen is here now. She reaches up and presses the doorbell. There’s a muted chime from within, and a vague shout and footsteps, before the door is pulled open to reveal Julia.

“Hello?” Julia says, her eyes and face bright as if recovering from a bit of laughter, but her smile fades when she sees who it is. Her other hand comes up to cover her mouth.

“Carmen?”

“Hey, Jules,” Carmen says. The both of them stay like that for a moment, letting the music wash around them. The smell of roasted meat wafts around them too, as if Julia were interrupted in the middle of cooking dinner.

Julia’s dark hair is shaggy and ruffled. Carmen doesn’t remember if it’s always been that length, and she just carefully brushed it down for work, or if she’s growing it out. It looks good on her regardless, but then again, Julia could make anything look good.

“Who is it? Is it a package?” An alto voice sounds from within the flat. From the kitchen, wiping their hands on a rag, comes someone wearing an apron over their lean frame. Their dark, medium-length hair is tied back to keep it out of the way. At the sight of Carmen, they go very still, their brown hands still tangled in the kitchen rag.

It’s as if an ice cube has been dropped into Carmen’s stomach.

Julia looks nervously between the two of them. “Mars, this is Carmen, an old friend of mine. Carmen, this is my significant other, Mars Dakila.”

“I know,” Carmen says.

The first time Carmen saw Mars, she was sixteen on VILE Island. Back then, Mars Dakila was Cricket Bat. They arrived at the island and were shut away with the faculty for about an hour before they left with the Cleaners. The students of that year said that Cricket Bat wasn’t a thief at all, and Carmen had wondered why they were affiliated with VILE in the first place if they weren’t a thief.

She got her answer later, after Ivy and Zack had joined her crew. Sharkhead Eddie’s gang had taken over Darryl’s Donut Hole after all, and Carmen meant to break into the vault housed within and burn all of the counterfeit money. When she broke in, however, she found bodies instead. About five men were slaughtered, the dark blood pooling on the white vinyl, and she followed that trail of death to the vault, where Sharkhead Eddie gurgled wetly as he bled out on the floor. Cricket Bat stood over him in their spattered suit, with stained bolo knives in their hands, and dispassionately watched him die.

There was a newspaper article afterwards. The cops said that it was a mob battle, and Carmen supposed that in a way, it was, because the conflicts between VILE and the rest of the East Coast criminal gangs stopped after that.

Now, Cricket Bat, sorry, Mars is a scant seven feet away from Carmen—from Julia—and wiping their hands as if they’ll ever be clean. Julia steps between them, and Carmen blinks. She looks up at Carmen with a half-hard, half-pleading expression and the cold in Carmen’s stomach spreads through the rest of her body.

“We’ve met before,” Carmen says.

“In a different life. Do you want to stay for dinner?” Mars asks. Julia’s eyes widen as she tries to stammer something out.

“I’ll set another plate,” Mars says, and they disappear into the kitchen. Carmen watches them go, and when she’s certain that they’re out of earshot, she leans in towards Julia.

“Jules,” she whispers.

“Yes, I know. But they’ve changed,” Julia whispers back.

Carmen doubts that very much, but Julia continues.

“I swear they’ve changed. If you stay for dinner, you’ll see. Carmen, please.”

“Fine.” Not to see proof of this miraculous turnaround, but to get to the bottom of whatever the hell this is. Something is going on, and Carmen is going to save Julia from it if it’s the last thing she does. She straightens up and takes another deep breath. Julia slumps with relief.

“These are for you.” Carmen holds out the bouquet, and Julia’s eyes flicker with…sadness? Pain? She takes the flowers and cradles them against her chest, then gives Carmen a soft smile.

“Thank you. Would you like to come in?”

Julia moves to let Carmen inside, and goes into the kitchen. Carmen slips her converses off and sets them next to a shoe rack just inside the door. Julia’s heels and flats are there, neatly lined up, but there are also sneakers and brogues that do not belong to Julia. The hooks on the wall above carry two coats and two sets of keys. Carmen ventures in further, her horror growing by the second. Between the front door and the kitchen is enough room for a small dining table, and opposite the table is the living room. In the living room, on the wall above the sofa, is a collection of framed photographs. Carmen recognizes a couple pictures from Julia’s office in Oxford. There are also other people that have Julia’s eyes, or her nose. There is also a picture of Julia and Mars.

It’s a candid shot, judging from the blurriness and the tilt of the camera. Julia’s glasses are askew and she’s laughing. Mars, their face mostly hidden behind Julia’s, presses a kiss to her cheek. Carmen’s stomach lurches dangerously.

CLICK. The music stops as the radio is turned off.

“I’ll just get another bottle from the corner store, Babe,” Mars says as they head towards the door. They pull off the apron and toss it over the back of one of the kitchen chairs. Julia follows them, carrying a vase with the roses.

“I’m not sure that wine will ease this situation at all,” Julia says.

“We won’t know unless we try.” Mars slips on a pair of trainers, takes one of the sets of keys and turns to give Julia a quick kiss. “Be back soon.”

And with that, Mars leaves, shutting the door behind them. There’s an awful silence. Julia nods her head, like she’s psyching herself up, and turns to face Carmen. Her cheeks are pink.

This cannot be real. This…no. This is a sick joke. A prank. Ha ha. Carmen numbly watches as Julia sets the vase on a deep windowsill next to an old Skyflakes tin with a bunch of succulents planted in it. She beckons to Carmen, then returns to the kitchen. Somehow, Carmen finds the strength to follow her.

The kitchen is an organized mess, as most kitchens are while they’re being used. There is a bowl of mashed potatoes, a tray of roasted broccoli, and rack with two steaks. The sink is piled high with utensils. Julia takes a covered baking pan from the fridge. She uses a pair of tongs to take a steak from it and the places it in a skillet on the stove, where it starts sizzling. Julia puts the pan back in the fridge, sets the tongs off to the side, and looks at Carmen expectantly.

“Is ‘Mars Dakila’ even their real name?” Carmen asks.

“It’s their real name now,” Julia says. She turns the overhead fan on and returns to the skillet. There’s sauce in it too, and she tilts the skillet a little so that it all gathers to one side. Julia takes a spoon and begins scooping the sauce over the steak bit by bit, making sure to baste the entire thing.

“Does Player know?” Carmen asks.

“No,” Julia says.

“Do Ivy and Zack know?”

“No. And they don’t need to know.”

“Listen, Jules. I don’t know what they told you, but I know for a fact that they’re VILE. Faculty sent the Cleaners to clean, but they sent Cricket Bat to make messes. I….” Carmen pulls her hands down her face. “They’re dangerous, Jules!”

“Perhaps that was true two years ago, but they teach escrima at a local gym now. They’re reformed.” Julia picks the tongs back up and flips the steak, then continues scooping sauce. Carmen cannot believe what she is hearing.

“How long have they been conning you?” Carmen asks. Julia gives her a sidelong glance.

“They’re not conning me.”

“How long, Jules?”

Julia sighs through her nose. “We celebrated our one year about two months ago. Does that sound like a con to you?”

“Some cons go on for like seven years.” Carmen fights through a rising tide of guilt and desperation. Oh she is a fool. How could she possibly think she could go to Argentina for two whole years and expect everything to be fine? What an idiot she is! What a moron! And now Julia is completely blind to the danger she is mired in.

“It isn’t a con, Carmen,” Julia insists. She picks the tongs up one last time and uses it to prop the steak up on its side against the pan. She holds it upright and moves it a little every now and then to finish the sear.

Carmen could just…leave with Julia. She could just throw her over her shoulder and take her somewhere safe.

Julia sets the steak on the rack along with the others, then turns off the stove and the fan. She leans against the counter, her head hanging in defeat. “Carmen, why did you come back?” She asks in a hushed voice.

“What?”

“I mean, why now? Just as I was starting to…. I was finally….” Julia raises her head and Carmen doesn’t think she’s ever been the target of such longing. Unbidden, Carmen steps closer, and Julia’s eyebrows scrunch together as she continues to gaze up at her. Julia’s hand comes up as if to touch her arm, but she falters and it drops away.

“Jules,” Carmen breathes.

“You disappeared. I wasn’t surprised because that’s what you do, but then you stayed disappeared and I….” Julia drops her gaze. “You deserved to rest. You deserved to meet your mother in peace.”

She says the last part in near monotone, as if by rote.

“And I wouldn’t have been able to do that if it weren’t for you. I should’ve thanked you when I got that file. I should’ve thanked you sooner,” Carmen says. Julia’s cheeks turn pink.

“That wasn’t me.”

“I know it was you, Jules. Thank you for finding her.”

Julia waves it away, her blush spreading to her ears, but she asks, “is she nice, at least?”

“She’s wonderful.”

A bittersweet smile spreads over Julia’s face. “Good.”

Come with me, Carmen wants to ask. Julia could meet her mother and see for herself. But the front door opens, and Mars returns with a paper bag in hand. They slip their shoes off and put the keys back on the hook. Julia steps away so fast, it’s as if she’s scalded herself. She skirts around Carmen and goes to Mars. Carmen resists the urge to take her arm.

“I know you don’t like super dry wines, so I got a merlot,” Mars says. Their brown eyes light up when Julia comes near, and they hold the paper bag out to her.

Julia takes the bag and rucks it down to read the label on the bottle. “Not bad.”

“See? I know what I’m doing.” Mars kisses her cheek and—to Carmen’s dismay—Julia returns it. She does it absently, out of habit, before she catches herself and freezes. But Mars is already stepping around her and towards the kitchen.

“Was there enough sauce left for a third steak?” They ask.

“I managed it all right,” Julia says.

“Cool.” Mars comes to a stop just out of arm’s reach and tilt their head as they regard Carmen. “Sandiego.”

Carmen’s last name hasn’t been Sandiego in a long time, but she’s not telling them that. “Dakila.”

Behind Mars, Julia shies away as if witnessing an impending car crash.

“Would it be better if I ate with a butter knife instead of a regular steak knife?” Mars asks.

“You could make a plastic knife dangerous, Dakila.”

Julia gasps. “Carmen!”

Mars grins at Julia over their shoulder. “It’s okay, Julia. I’ll eat kamayan style if I have to.”

The name rolls so easily through Mars’ mouth with such familiarity and with such affection that Carmen must resist the urge to tackle them to the floor. Somehow, she unsticks her feet and moves out of the way.

---

The dining table is a small, rustic thing covered in scuffs and dents. To save on space, one end of the rectangle has been pushed against the wall. Julia sits at the remaining short side, and Carmen and Mars sit opposite each other.

While Carmen has never eaten dinner while within three feet of a serial killer, she has had worse evenings before. At least the food is good.

“But because I’m taking more classes than usual, my advisor expects me to graduate in three years, not four,” Julia is in the middle of saying. “I honestly didn’t think that I was taking that heavy a course load.”

“‘Doctor Argent,’” Carmen says, testing out the title. Julia ducks, her face going pink again. “It sounds nice.”

“My students already call me that, even though I tell them not to.”

“You still teach?”

“All phd candidates do. Just the introduction courses though, so it’s just the basics.”

“But you still love it.”

“I do.” Julia beams. “You know, I wouldn’t be able to do all of this in the first place if Mars wasn’t around. They take care of everything.”

“Do they?”

Mars has been mostly quiet all through dinner. They have a knife and fork after all, but they take care to keep their hands above the table, and to move deliberately and slowly. Once in a while, they’ll smile at something Julia says, as if sharing a private joke, or they’ll answer in short sentences, but that’s about it.

“Well, they do most of the cooking and the cleaning because they happen to like cooking and they happen to be rather fastidious,” Julia says.

“It’s the strangest sugaring arrangement I’ve ever been in. I’ve never paid anyone with chores before,” Mars says. Julia gasps and swats their arm, making them squawk.

“You absolute scoundrel! Don’t say that when we both know how whipped you are.”

Mars laughs. They laugh and their eyes light up again. “True! You’re probably the only person on the surface of this planet who could make me do anything.”

Carmen’s insides twist horribly.

After dinner, Carmen helps Julia clear the table and put the leftovers away. Julia ties the garbage bag shut with a double knot and tugs it free of the bin. Mars steps up to the sink and Julia tsks.

“Oh Mars, I’ll take care of those; you did most of the cooking.”

But Mars lathers the sponge and starts washing the dishes anyway. “It’s okay, Babe, I’ve got it.”

“I’ll help them,” Carmen says. Mars glances at her from the corner of their eyes.

“Really? Okay.”

Carmen takes a kitchen towel and stands at the dish rack next to Mars. Julia stares at them.

“You can’t be serious,” Julia half-whispers to herself, then louder, “Behave! Both of you.”

“Of course, Babe,” Mars says.

“I mean it,” Julia says, glaring at them both. “I will not come back to a dead body, understand?”

Mars smiles at her. “Yes, Julia.”

“Sure thing, Jules,” Carmen says.

This seems to mollify her, and she leaves to toss the garbage in the complex dumpster. Mars and Carmen wash and dry the dishes in silence. They pass the pans and the dishes first, and also the cutting board.

“You’re using Jules to escape ACME,” Carmen says. Mars’ eyes flicker, but they continue to wash.

“It certainly started that way, but then they stopped being a threat and I kinda…stuck around. Julia’s a remarkable woman.”

“Does she know how many people you’ve killed?”

“I don’t do that anymore; I promised her I wouldn’t,” Mars says as they place the trays and glasses into the rack.

“Oh, like that’s enough to stop you from killing again.”

“Be as skeptical as you want; I don’t care what you think. What matters is that Julia believes me.”

“What kind of sob story did you tell her to get her to trust you?” Carmen asks.

Mars shakes their head and starts cleaning the utensils. “I can’t believe this,” they mutter under their breath.

“Jules deserves better than to be swindled….”

“No, you know what, Sandiego? You just left her. You left. You wanted a fresh start and you got a fresh start and when you got it, you decided that there was no room in it for Julia. You decided that.”

By miracle, Carmen manages to not drop anything despite the shaking of her hands. Who the hell does Cricket Bat think they are to talk to her like this? As if she doesn’t care about Julia. Like she isn’t terrified that one day, she’s going to find out that Julia’s dead because Mars got tired of her, or didn’t need her anymore.

Because no matter what Mars says, they must be pulling a con. They have to be. They would never admit it, and if they passionately exclaim how much they ‘love’ Julia and it happens to sound genuine, then either they’re a very good actor, or they’re starting to buy their own con.

“How long did you expect Julia to wait around for you? Five years? Ten? Assuming you came back at all,” Mars continues.

“If Jules wants to be with someone else, fine. She deserves to be happy. But not with you. You’re a murderer,” Carmen says.

Mars glances at the vase of roses in the windowsill. “Maybe Julia shouldn’t take advice on her love life from you. Gotta say, green is an awful color on you, Sandiego.”

Carmen’s hands freeze above the utensils drawer. Everything else has been put away except one final steak knife. She holds the handle loosely between three fingers, and with one movement, she could just let go. She could drop the knife into the drawer.

Drop the knife, Carmen. Julia has been gone for several minutes now, so she’ll be back at any moment.

Drop the knife.

Beside her, Mars stands before a bare sink, hands empty except for a dishrag that they wind around their forearm in preparation.

“Mean it when you swing it, Sandiego.”

[sapphicmsmarvel]

JJ: Mama Said That It Was Okay

this is based off a tik tok,,, shush 

It was a calm day at the bureau, JJ had to go with Hotch to a jail. You were doing paperwork with Prentiss, Morgan and Reid

“So….” Emily began, “the kids calling you ‘mom’ yet?” She asked grinning. 

You smiled at the thought of those two, Michael was three and Henry was six. You and JJ had been married for about two months but were together for about two years before that. You nodded, “they’re getting there. They know I would protect them and their mom no matter what. I think that’s because Will told them I was scary and nobody would want to be my enemy.” 

Morgan laughed, “I have to agree with that, Lil Mama.” You rolled your eyes at him.  

Will and JJ broke up very mutually. It just hadn’t been working after Michael. So they were best friends. In fact he brought home a girlfriend once and you and JJ were two of the first people he met.

They were talking and you were joing in here and there. Right when you were about to say something, your phone rang cutting you off, you looked to see it was Henry’s school, “hello?” You asked, sorting papers. 

“Hello is this, Y/N L/N Jareau?”

“This is she.” 

“Hi, I’m calling about Henry LaMontagne, he was involved in a physical altercation, and we couldn’t reach his mom or dad, could you please come in please to pick him up?” “Of course.” You said, your stomach dropping, Henry was six, what kind of physical altercation could he get into?

“Thank you.”

“What's going on?” Reid asked as he saw you grab your bag, Rossi had just come down the stairs. 

“Henry got into a fight or something, they can’t reach JJ or Will which makes sense because ya know...saving lives and shit.” 

“Do you need me to go with you?” Reid asked, ready to go. “No,” you smiled, “they need to take this step mom thing seriously,” you looked at Rossi, “hope you don’t mind.”

“Go.” He said. 

---------------------------------------------------

You pulled into Henry’s school, preparing for the worst. What? You loved the kid dearly, you were there for his birth (but not with JJ). He was also a sweet kid, what the hell could he have done to get punched? 

You walked into the office after showing your ID, you walked to the secretaries desk, “hi, I’m Y/N L/N-Jareau, I’m here for Henry LaMontagne.” 

“Hi, Ms. L/N, the principal actually has the two boys in the office, right this way.” 

Your stomach sank, you had called JJ and Will, but again, voicemails. So you explained it to them and then hung up, you thought it’d be a simple pick up and go home. 

You walked in to find a boy you didn’t know holding an ice pack to his eye and two very mad parents glaring at you as you walked in. You looked at the other chair, where Henry sat without a scratch, except for red knuckles. 

Oh. It sank in, Henry did the punching, what could’ve happened?

“Hi Mama,” Henry said in a small voice.

“Hey sweetheart.” You said ruffling his hair, but your hand stayed there, combing through it. 

The mom of the child scoffed at your words, you looked over at her, your eyes narrowing into a glare. You looked at the principal, “what’s going on?” 

“Why don’t you sit down, miss?” He gestured to the chair in front of him.

You raised your brows, “actually, I’m fine standing.” 

He sighed, oh great. “Henry punched Darryl here,”

“Why?” You asked. 

“Well he-” 

“Not you,” you said to the principal, you looked at Henry, “tell me why, and tell the truth. You remember what your dad, Mom and I have discussed with you about telling the truth?” You asked.

The rule was: tell the truth, it’s nicer to tell the truth than lie, we won’t be mad.

He nodded, “Darryl said I was wrong for having two moms.” 

Your stomach sank and looked at him gently, “now hitting is never okay, you owe him an apology, yes.” 

He sighed, “I’m sorry, Darryl.” 

“Thank you Henry,” you turned and looked at Darryl and his parents, “Darryl owes you an apology.”

“For what?” His mom hissed. 

“For saying his moms are wrong.” You said, “he’s in a loving family, there’s nothing wrong with that.” 

“But, two women being married just isn’t right.” His father said, as if you were the stupid one. 

“You know what,” you said, “your ignorance is not worth my time. If your son says something to Henry like this again, I will schedule a meeting with you two, with his other parents as well. And you can face two FBI Agents and a police officer whose child is getting harassed by not only a child but also the parents as you two seem to not care about my son's well being.”

“Well being?”

“Bullying can be damaging, I’ve seen enough cases where a victim of bullying falls into depression and then it gets worse from there. This is on your hands.” 

You held your hand out for Henry to take and he did, you two left and went to go get ice cream. 

----------------------------------------------

Will came over to JJ and yours house, you explained everything. 

“So you guilted them?”

“Big time.” You said as you mixed the stir fry. Every week Will comes over for one big family night for the sake of normalcy with the kids. Coincidentally, tonight was the night. 

“Good,” he said as he watched Henry play with Michael. “They deserved that.”

“So now what?” JJ asked as she wrapped her arms around your waist, it was weird showing affection around Will but she knew today frazzled you. 

“If Henry continues to get bullied, we meet with the parents, if it keeps going, we know the law, I’m sure we can pin something on them.” You shrugged and JJ laughed. 

Dinner was ready, you three obviously talked to Henry about what happened and not to hit, just tell you three. 

Later that night after Will went home and Henry and Michael were in bed, JJ and you were in bed reading. “Hey,” she said gently.

You turned to look at her, “hi?” You smiled.

“I love how much you love the kids.” She said softly, “when Will and I separated, that’s what I was worried about. Finding someone who loves the kids as much as me and him, and they love back. And they love you so much and it makes me…” she swallowed, tearing up, “it makes me so happy.” 

“Aw JJ,” you wiped her tears and kissed her, “I’m honored to be welcomed into your family.” “What do you say about having another?” She asked.

“Do you want to have a baby together?” You asked back, you were trying not to get too excited, you loved kids.

She nodded against you, you smiled, “let’s have a baby.” You said, “can I be pregnant?” 

“Yes,” she laughed, tears streamed down both of your faces, “should we research tomorrow?”

You nodded, you two fell asleep cuddled into another, you couldn’t wait for the new member of the family.

[electricxmayhem]

When It’s Time

Fandom: Dungeons and Daddies

Relationship: Oakson

Word Count: 5,339

Authors notes: There’s a lot of gen content in this because I accidentally thought too hard about the plot and also I’m afraid of intimacy. Please just pretend the action was more drawn out and realistic. Also if the writing of this seems un-American I’m sorry I’m...not American. 

One

‘Did anyone think for even a second that this might be a terrible idea?’

‘All our ideas have been terrible, Darryl. This is our best shot right now.’

Trudging around yet another unfamiliar town was wearing on everybody, and the long day had only been made longer by Darryl’s mood. He had been a little extra crabby since his split with Carroll, which would have been understandable were the other dads not so on edge. 

‘Can someone else take Peter?’ Ron asked, shifting his shoulders under the weight of Paeden fast asleep on his back, ‘He’s heavier than he looks.’

‘Give him here.’ Henry rubbed his eyes and reached out his arms to take the exhausted boy. But before he had him, something caught his eye and he turned suddenly. Ron let go of Paeden’s legs and the boy fell hard into the dirt, startling himself awake.

‘What the fuck?’ He spluttered.

‘Oh my gosh, Paeden, are you okay, buddy?’ Henry fussed, pulling Paeden up and dusting him off while he squirmed indignantly. 

‘Yeah, I’m fine, I can take a hit.’ He sniffed, ‘What happened though?’

‘Oh, I think I just saw the sign.’

‘For the fortune teller?’

‘Yeah, come on, this way.’

Relief bringing a burst of energy, everyone followed Henry to a faintly glowing eye-shaped symbol carved into a wooden sign. Below, in similarly glowing letters the sign said ‘OPEN’. Below the sign was a small tent made of heavy red material.

Glenn reached out and knocked on the door. Nothing happened.

‘Did you just try to knock on a curtain, Glenn?’

‘Look, I’m really tired okay.’

‘Hello?’ Henry tried.

‘Enter.’ Came a creaking voice from inside.

Shrugging, the dads piled into the tent, shepherding Paeden ahead of them. Disappointingly, the tent was no larger on the inside than it was on the outside. There was barely room for 4 and a half people to squeeze in facing the woman sitting at the table within, commanding the room despite her small stature. She smiled at them in silence for what felt like minutes before Henry spoke up again.

‘Uh, are you the Seer of-’

‘Silverman? I certainly am, Mr Oak.’

Henry laughed delightedly. ‘Neat!’

‘Hey, Siri, what’s my name?’ Ron pushed forward.

‘You’re Ron. And my name is not Siri-’

‘Siri, call me uh, Adam Sandler.’

‘............No.’

Darryl waved his hands in the air.

‘We’re getting off track. Ma’am we’re here to-’

‘Let me guess. You vowed to take on the beast in order to gain the favour of Lady Lockwood, so that she might grant you an army to assist you in your raid of Castle Ravenloft.’

‘Uh, yes.’

‘So what do you want from me?’

‘Seems like you already know.’

‘I know a lot of things, Darryl, but I do hate a one-sided conversation. So come on, ask me nicely.’ The old woman leaned forward and clasped her hands under her chin. Her gaze was unnervingly bright for her wizened face.

‘We heard you might be able to give us some clues on the beast, see what we’re up against.’

The Seer chuckled. Drawing back a sheet of velvet she revealed a perfectly smooth crystal ball in the center of the table that glowed softly in the low light. Everyone leaned in.

‘You should know, first and foremost,’ The old woman hummed, ‘That I work for Lady Lockwood. I am forbidden to give you information like that.’

The dads groaned.

‘But!’ She continued, ‘I have one offer. For a few seconds I can allow one of you to see one day into your future. Whatever this reveals may offer you some...foresight into your battle.’

Darryl looked around at the other dads. Everyone seemed to be nodding. Paeden’s head was nodding too, in and out of sleep. 

‘I’ll do it.’ Darryl nodded firmly. 

‘There will be a price…’

‘No worries.’ Glenn held up a heavy bag, coins jingling as he did, ‘We’re good for that.’

‘Well, then, let’s begin.’ 

Without warning, the candles in the tent extinguished, leaving everyone blinking in total darkness. Small, cold hands found Darryl’s and he felt the cool curve of the crystal ball under his palms. Anticipation tingled through his arms.

And then suddenly he was somewhere else. His eyes fluttered open and low candlelight spilled in. He could still feel the hard wooden stool of the tent under him, but out of the corner of his eye he could see that he was reclining on a large bed with a thick blanket. It was kind of hard to see anything else, though, because it seemed like something was pressed against his face. He could hear movement and-

Oh God.

He was kissing someone.

Someone was sitting on his lap and he was kissing them.

Shocked, Darryl was vaguely aware of his shoulders moving to run his hands up the other person’s back.

‘Ow!’ The person recoiled suddenly, wincing in pain. Barely breathing, Darryl stared dumbly at the other person. At Henry. It was Henry and he had been kissing Henry and it’s not like he hadn’t thought about it but nothing had prepared him for it actually happening. There was no way this was right. He must have been in someone else’s vision-

‘Sorry! Sorry, I forgot-’ No, that was definitely Darryl’s voice. Those were definitely his arms, wrapped in bandages, moving frantically, touching Henry’s arms, his stomach, his hips-

Laughing, Henry grabbed his fussing hands gently by the wrists. ‘It’s okay, it’s okay! You were distracted.’

Henry was wearing an unfamiliar silk shirt with his old cargo shorts, which looked cleaner than Darryl had seen them in a while. He followed his future self’s awe-stricken gaze up to Henry’s flushed face, and watched as Henry’s hand reached out to brush his forehead. Finally, he heard himself take a breath to say something-

And his vision went black.

Darryl blinked in the darkness, a little shell-shocked, as the Seer gently moved his hands off the crystal ball. One by one, the candles in the tent lit themselves again, and in the flickering light the other dads were leaning in expectantly, searching Darryl’s face for clues. Paeden was sitting on the floor, dozing against Glenn’s leg. 

Darryl nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt Henry’s hand on his shoulder.

‘Whoah, Darryl, are you okay?’ Henry threw his hands in the air, looking worried.

‘It is something of a harrowing process, seeing one’s future,’ The Seer assured the room, ‘It may take a few seconds for him to adjust.’

Darryl massaged his forehead and turned to look at the others. Somehow he couldn’t quite bring himself to look Henry in the eye.

‘Sorry, sorry guys, I’m fine it’s just...that was weird.’

‘So what’d you see?’ Glenn prompted.

‘Did you see the beast?’ Ron added.

‘I was...in bed.’

A look of collective disappointment shot around the room.

‘Well hold on! It was a big bed in some kind of fancy room, and I had bandages on my arms, and Henry had some kind of sore back or something.’

‘How do you know Henry had a sore back?’

‘He was in there too.’ 

The others took this pretty easily. Sharing rooms and beds had become a pretty familiar sleeping situation during their time in this world.

‘Well!’ Glenn shrugged, ‘That’s what we get for doing this at night.’

‘No, wait, are you kidding?’ Henry cut across, ‘This is amazing! If me and Darryl are hurt, but we’re resting up in a fancy room, that must mean what he saw was after the battle! Now we know whatever beast we’re up against, we win!’ 

Darryl put this together. Not only was the fancy room most probably in Lady Lockwood’s house, but despite their injuries they were obviously strong enough to…

Well, they couldn’t have been that hurt anyway.

Glenn placed the bag of coins on the Seer of Silverman’s velvet covered table, and Darryl gave her a firm handshake which she returned with surprising force.

‘Before you go,’ She spoke up ‘Let me see the boy.’

Groggily, Paeden stepped forward, and the Seer fussed over him, holding his hand and pinching his cheeks.

‘I just love children.’ She cooed, ‘How old are you young man?’

‘Eight.’ Paeden snuffled.

‘And so brave for your age! Tell me, little one, how would you like a gift?’

‘Hell yeah.’

‘Paeden, come on, use your manners.’ Henry said.

‘Oh, that’s quite alright.’ The Seer smiled, and turned to pull something from the darkness behind her. ‘I’ve got something I know you’ll enjoy.’

A glint of metal shone in the candlelight and Paeden’s eyes widened.

‘A sword!’

‘Mmhmm, a sword named BeastSlayer. It’s just a name, but hopefully it will bring you luck. Do you like it?’

‘Yeah, it’s boss. It’s fuckin’ sick.’

‘Paeden!’ 

 ‘We should go,’ Darryl told the old woman, ‘But thank you for your help.’

She returned his shifting gaze with a knowing smile. ‘You’re quite welcome.’

And, pushing through the curtains into the clear night air, the dads headed back to the van, led by Paeden swinging a massive sword with reckless abandon.

Two

Darryl had always been a light sleeper, even at the best of times, but tonight he’d given up entirely. Knowing he needed to rest up for the fight tomorrow did nothing to quiet his racing mind, and his heart beating fast in his chest just would not let him sleep. He sat in the upright drivers seat and just stared out the window at the city walls. 

He thought about the first time Henry had kissed him. It had been to shut him up, but it hadn’t been mean. It had been rushed and desperate but comforting too. He’d felt guilty about the feelings that had stirred in him, cursed the butterflies in his stomach for making something out of what had been nothing but a peacekeeping move on Henry’s part.

What he hadn’t considered before was that there had been plenty of times that Henry had wanted Glenn or Ron to shut up, too. But he only ever kissed Darryl. 

Tomorrow, Darryl knew, he was going to have to fight and defeat something mysterious and threatening. He knew it was going to be hard, and that it was going to hurt him and his friends. And still he was more scared of the fact that he was in love with Henry Oak.

As if on cue, Darryl heard stirring from where Henry had been sleeping moments before. He cringed silently to himself and waited for Henry to inevitably notice him sitting up.

‘Darryl?’ God, his sleepy voice at that moment was almost too much .

‘Mmhmm.’

‘What are you doing up?’ Henry whispered.

‘I could ask you the same thing.’

‘To be honest with you,’ Henry climbed gingerly into the passenger’s seat, ‘I, uh. I swallowed my retainer a while back, when I was in bear form. So I’ve been kinda sneaking out at night and turning into a bear to try and, you know, pass it.’

Darryl blinked.

‘You swallowed...you had a retainer? And you haven’t- seen it?’

‘Nope! I hate to think what it could be doing to my insides. Never chewed gum a day in my life and this is what I get.’ 

Darryl chuckled and Henry smiled at him softly. Did he smile at him differently or was Darryl just reading into it too much? Was that just the way he’d always smiled? Or had he always been smiling like that?

‘You still haven’t told me why you’re up.’

‘Oh you know I just….  just got a lot on my mind.’

Henry reached for Darryl’s hand, which he shakily offered. Turning to face him, cross-legged, Henry turned his hand palm up and looked at it. Darryl shivered as Henry lightly traced his finger over the creases, stroking his fingers one by one.

‘Are you reading my palm?’ Darryl whispered, barely able to breathe.

‘Yeah.’

‘What does it say?’

‘It says I’m no psychic, but I just met one and according to her we’re gonna get through tomorrow, and I’ll be right there with you at the end of the day, sore back or not.’

Darryl closed his hand around Henry’s, squeezing gratefully. Glancing up, he saw Henry’s eyes searching his, open and honest, and he felt a crippling wave of guilt. There was no way he could tell Henry what he saw, but he felt awful keeping it a secret, keeping the image of Henry in his lap behind his eyes, even as he sat in front of him.

Darryl had the strange feeling of being a man caught spying in through the windows of his own house. Slowly, he let go of Henry’s hand and reclined his seat. Henry laughed almost silently as he watched him, before following suit and curling up in the passenger seat. 

‘What about your retainer?’

‘It hasn’t killed me yet. What’s one more night?.

Three

The next day dawned with the noise of false bravado, each dad secretly comforting himself with back slaps and battle cries, filling the morning with terrible jokes and tense laughter. Paeden enjoyed swinging his sword a little too close to people’s legs as they hiked towards the castle.

‘Paeden, I’m glad you like the sword but I think you should give it to someone else for the battle, okay buddy?’ Darryl suggested, ‘I don’t want you involved in the action.’

‘Why are you taking me then?’ Paeden huffed.

‘Well we can’t leave you on your own, someone might take you.’

‘I’d take them.’ He grumbled, swinging the sword in a low arc right next to Henry’s ankle.

‘Whoah! I need that!’ Henry was exaggerating his confidence as much as everyone else. Darryl could see that he was paler than usual, and he kept scratching at the skin around his fingernails. Looking around he could see that Ron’s forehead was sweaty and that Glenn had tied his hair back from his face. He only did that when he knew they were getting into some real shit.

The two guards at the castle door regarded them with undisguised judgement as the five of them approached. 

‘Hey fellas!’ Glenn waved an arm, ‘We’re here to take on-’

‘The beast?’ Said one of them, ‘Quite. You will see the lady. She is waiting for you.’

‘For some reason.’ The other one added, raising an eyebrow at each of them in turn.

Ignoring this, the dads and Paeden followed the first guard through the door into the huge entrance hall, and down through another door into a huge room with high stone ceilings and tapestries on the wall. In the center of the room stood a long wooden table, and at the end of it, in a high backed chair, was an incredibly muscular woman in a delicately embroidered tunic. She waved a hand for everyone to sit. There were notepads and pens at every chair.

‘So you are the brave warriors who have vowed to slay my beast.’ She looked skeptical. ‘I thought you’d be...I don’t know. Taller.’

‘We’ve got it where it counts.’ Glenn shrugged.

‘I don’t even know what that means.’ The Lady frowned. ‘Is the kid one of you?’

Paeden was drawing in his notepad. It looked like a drawing of himself with a six-pack.

‘He’s just tagging along. He’ll keep to the sidelines.’ Darryl assured.

‘Hell no. I’m fighting that thing.’

‘Maybe you should sit up in the box with me.’ Lady Lockwood patted his shoulder regally.

‘The box? Are you telling me you’re going to be spectating this fight?’ Henry asked.

‘Of course! Why do you think I have people challenge the beast at all? I just love a good blood sport.’

Everyone at the table looked uncomfortable. Suddenly, the Lady clapped her hands.

‘Shall we?’ And she swanned across the floor on legs like tree trunks, while four disgruntled dads and one disappointed boy stomped after her.

Outside the castle, the grounds had been surrounded with a large stone wall, encircling the lawn like an amphitheater. The features of the courtyard still remained; a few pleasant statues, a stone path, flower beds- but it was all overshadowed by a fifteen foot reinforced door set into the wall. No one could tear their eyes away from it. 

‘Well, this is where I leave you.’ Lady Lockwood smiled, one hand firmly on Paeden’s shoulder. ‘Good luck, warriors.’

‘Wait.’ Ron said suddenly, ‘Paeden. Give me your sword.’

‘No.’

‘Okay, thanks anyway.’

And just like that they were alone in the courtyard. Darryl could hear the other dads’ breathing in the tense silence.

‘Quick dad huddle?’ He suggested, and the others fell gratefully together, ducking their heads into the private space their bodies created. ‘Okay I don’t think we have much time so let’s just one-two-three-doodlers okay? One, two, three-’

‘Doodlers!’ Came the nervous response as everyone’s hands went up. Henry turned back to the door, and then back to Darryl.

‘Listen, before this kicks off, I just wanted to say-’

The ground shook. Slow, heavy footsteps echoed against the walls. Darryl tightened his grip on his hatchet and set his jaw. Then came the cry of Lady Lockwood, safe in her viewing box above them.

‘RELEASE THE BEAST!’ 

The door gave way, and standing in the courtyard was a huge, red dragon.

A dragon.

Oh fuck. 

For a second everyone just stood there, stunned. Then the dragon bowed its head and starting walking, covering too much ground with a single step. It took a while for all of him to come out of the door. 

Henry yelled indistinctly, and suddenly vines burst from the ground, wrapping around the dragon’s legs. They held for a couple of seconds, then they were torn apart like wet spaghetti, lying useless on the ground. Henry looked around desperately.

Already, Darryl had lost sight of Ron. He took this as a good sign.

Steeling himself, Darryl mustered all his strength and ran towards the dragon, hatchet raised. Uncertainty was beginning to grow in his stomach. Maybe that Seer woman had tricked him. Maybe they were going to lose and she had just shown him a fantastical image to spur him on. He aimed for the dragon’s face and caught the side of it as the giant reptile turned away. Strange blood wet his blade.

Darryl was still processing his own strike, catching his breath, when too late he realized the dragon’s head was swinging back in his direction, fast. He tried to scramble out of the way but before he could move the beast’s huge skull knocked the air out of his body, throwing him like a rag doll to the ground. Darryl’s lungs tried to make up for lost time as his head swam. Vaguely aware of the dragon leaning towards him, he dug his heels weakly into the ground. Tears of frustration filling his eyes as huge, awful teeth moved in-

Any breath Darryl had gathered was suddenly knocked from him again, but this time by something smaller and warmer than a dragon’s head. Henry rolled into the space between Darryl and the teeth, his back on Darryl’s stomach, and green poison sprayed into the dragon’s mouth. The dragon recoiled, shaking his head, and Henry was beside Darryl, holding his arm, checking his eyes.

‘Are you okay? Can you stand?’

‘Yeah.’ Darryl croaked, ‘I’m fine.’ He was well aware that the fight was far from over, and even as Henry helped him up, squeezing his hand worriedly as he did, he could see that the dragon had turned its attention to Glenn, armed only with wildly swinging nun-chucks.

A surge of adrenaline tightened Darryl’s grip on his hatchet as Glenn started running, and he moved to strike again, but quickly noticed something was happening. The dragon’s steps became short and unsteady, and its head whipped around in confusion, still oozing blood. With one final step, it fell in an indignant heap on the ground. Darryl couldn’t help but laugh when he saw two of the dragon’s legs tied together with four pairs of shoelaces. Ron stood up behind the heap of scales with a grin. Somewhere above them, Paeden cheered.

‘Hey, nice work, Ron!’ Darryl called.

Nun-chucks spinning, Glenn ran towards the writhing dragon and flailed at it’s jaw, resulting in a loud crack, and a strangled cry as he nutted himself on the rebound. The dragon snorted.

Little by little, smoke began to pour from its nose. Struck by fresh fear, the four dads slowly backed away. The smoke thickened as the dragon’s breathing got heavier, angrier, and with a ‘ping!’ the shoelaces snapped. The dragon was back on its feet. And it was staring at Henry.

Darryl swallowed. He hadn’t thanked Henry yet for stepping in when he was in danger, and there was no time like the present. Henry was standing with his hands out, fruitlessly trying to de-escalate the situation as flames started to lick the dragon’s lips. He moved, and the dragon followed, locked onto his target. And suddenly Darryl was between them, heart hammering, holding up his hatchet like it could provide any protection.

Henry’s hand found Darryl’s shoulder and pulled. 

‘Don’t you dare.’ He said as he pushed Darryl behind him, turning his back on the growing flames as he faced him. 

Time froze for a second as Henry’s hands cupped Darryl’s face.

‘Look,’ Henry rushed, ‘I know this is a bad time and I should’ve told you before, but I can’t die without saying I love-’

He was cut off as Darryl’s arms were flung around him in a vice grip, and not a second later flames hit them hotter than Darryl could have imagined. He wasn't sure if he screamed, he just focused on Henry’s head buried in his neck hard enough to bruise, and held his body so close he worried he could break it. Fire and desperation rang in his ears, tinted with muffled yells. Smoke filled his lungs.

And it was just smoke. Without warning the flames turned to black, choking, extinguished smoke.

He looked up. 

Glenn was wrapped around the dragon’s neck, kicking and yelling. The dragon’s head had dropped to the sooty grass, defeated.

‘FUCK YEAH!’ Glenn yelled, ‘I SLAYED THE FUCKING DRAGON!’

But Darryl was looking past him. Straddling the lifeless dragon’s back was Ron, and buried in the scales in front of him was the BeastSlayer.

‘Nice work, Glenn.’ He smiled genuinely. Glenn stared at the sword.

‘Yeah, I mean...you probably helped.’

From the box, Darryl could hear Paeden whooping, but his attention was turned back to Henry. His back, along with Darryl’s arms, was blackened. The adrenaline coursing through Darryl’s veins stopped him from feeling his burns as badly as they looked, but at least he could still feel Henry’s shaky breathing and bounding heartbeat against his own chest.

‘Henry?’ Henry didn’t move his face from Darryl’s neck. ‘Henry, we won. We did it, we survived.’

Slowly, painfully, Henry lifted his head. His tear stained face was still blank with horror. Darryl all but peeled an arm off Henry’s back to cup the side of his head. He leaned towards him, whispering into his hair. 

‘You should have let me protect you.’

Henry’s own hand covered Darryl’s as his brow furrowed.

‘Your job isn’t always to protect people.’

‘It kinda is.’

‘It shouldn’t be.’

‘Guys!’ Glenn yelled, ‘Come on bring it in!’

‘Can we maybe…’ Darryl felt the dull ache in his arms begin to sting, ‘Can we maybe have the group hug over here? And maybe don’t actually touch me?’

Henry disentangled himself from Darryl’s arms and turned shakily to take in the scene with a small shake of his head. Gingerly, laughing with utter relief, the four dads orchestrated a makeshift group hug as decorated guards marched out to escort them inside.

Four

The rest of the day was a blur. The dads were welcomed by an elated Lady Lockwood who quickly bustled them into the castle infirmary. Darryl spent his afternoon biting back tears as attendants washed and bandaged his burnt arms, and biting back embarrassment as they bathed the rest of him and laundered his clothes. Although he had to admit, his aching muscles had been crying out for a hot bath.

He couldn’t stop thinking about Henry. He hadn’t seen him since the fight finished, and everything had been so overwhelming he hadn’t had the chance to think. Well now he had way too much time with only his thoughts.

It was just...it had sounded like Henry was about to say he loved him. Loved him. Loved Darryl. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had told him they loved him. He had kinda resigned himself to giving out love and not getting it back. To protecting without being protected himself. 

Of course, he’d seen his future. Maybe it should have been obvious to him. But he had assumed that whatever happened would be Henry experimenting, or giving him what he wanted in celebration, or some weird fluke born from a rush of high emotion. It just hadn’t dared to occur to him that it could be something Henry had wanted too.

Henry wasn’t at dinner. A servant informed them he was on bed rest. Glenn and Ron were almost unrecognizable in new clothes fit for nobles, with washed hair and clean faces. Even Paeden had been dressed up, and was sitting at Lady Lockwood’s right hand side with pride. Darryl felt a little under-dressed, having opted for his newly cleaned polo shirt and jeans, but he couldn’t get into the spirit of celebration anyway. He was too nervous to eat, and ended up asking to be shown to his room early as the others laughed and drank.

The room hit him like a ton of bricks. Of course it was the room from the vision, but it still made everything feel frighteningly real. The red curtains, the heavy blankets, the low candlelight. He sat down to stop himself from pacing. How much time did he have before whatever was going to happen happened? Did he have time to go and pee? Did he even need to pee or was he just nervous? He stared at the candles for a second. They were only recently lit but had melted down a little already. If he wasn’t mistaken they looked pretty close to how they looked in the vision.

There was a knock on the door and the breath was knocked from Darryl for the third time that day. For a moment he was totally frozen.

‘Darryl?’ Henry’s voice came softly through the heavy door.

‘Yeah, uh, come in.’ Darryl called, and watched the doorknob turn and Henry appear in his room, dressed in a familiar silk shirt and his cargo shorts, clean apart from those stubborn iodine stains by the knees, freshly washed hair bouncing as he moved, glasses reflecting the candlelight. Darryl was a little entranced. 

‘I thought you were on bed rest.’ Was the first stupid thing out of his idiot mouth. Great job, Darryl. And they say romance is dead.

‘I’m supposed to be.’ Henry smiled, ‘But I wanted to come and see you.’

‘Well, sit down, take it easy. Are you okay?’

‘I’m fine, I feel way better.’

‘You look better.’

 Darryl moved his legs to let Henry get comfortable on the side of his bed, their hips parallel, close enough to hear each other’s breathing. 

‘I’m sorry-’ Darryl started.

‘Don’t.’ Henry cut him off, ‘Please don’t, just, let’s talk about anything else.’

Darryl took a deep breath to settle his nerves. He could feel Henry’s eyes on him as he looked at his hands.

‘Earlier. Before...this.’ He gestured to his bandages. Henry shifted his weight and nodded. Darryl noticed that he looked nervous, too. It wasn’t a look he was used to on Henry. ‘Were you about to say you love me?’

Henry looked very hard at the floor. Then he stared at the wall and sighed. Finally he turned his gaze to his own hands and stuttered ‘I-’

‘Just ‘cos I was wondering whether I should say I love you or I love you too.’

Henry’s shoulders dropped and his eyes widened. For a few seconds he just stared at Darryl, but there was no intensity in it, it didn’t hurt to meet his gaze. It was the stare of someone seeing something beautiful they hadn’t believed existed before.

‘I was.’ He whispered eventually, ‘I mean, I do.’

‘I love you too.’ Darryl smiled ever so gently and Henry softened completely, leaning forward stiffly to rest his hands on Darryl’s shoulders and leaning in as Darryl leaned in to him and their lips met like soot falling, soft and silent. 

Kissing Henry before had been exciting. Thrilling, unexpected, and forbidden. This time, it couldn’t have been more different. This time, Darryl let himself relax and melt into it, and his heart jumped as he felt Henry do the same, moving his hands from his shoulders up his neck and into his hair, taking breaks to smile against his lips. Darryl felt safe, trusted to take control as he gently took Henry’s glasses off, and lifted him carefully into his lap when he started slipping off the bed. 

This is a hell of a lot better with feeling Darryl thought as he appreciated the warm weight of Henry in his lap, and let his hands pull him closer by the hips, run up his back-

Wait, shit.

‘Ow!’ Henry recoiled suddenly, wincing in pain. Darryl floundered for a moment. How could he have forgotten? 

‘Sorry!’ He yelped, ‘Sorry, I forgot-’ As he frantically touched the unscathed parts of Henry, trying to somehow reverse his mistake.

Henry grabbed his wrists gently, careful enough not to disturb his wounds through the layers of bandage. 

‘Its okay,’ He laughed, ‘It’s okay! You were distracted.’

Darryl could do nothing but stare as Henry dropped his wrists. Looking up from his compromising position to Henry’s flushed face, smiling even after everything that had happened, watching the slight drag on one of Henry’s eyes without his glasses, he wasn’t sure how he could have possibly been this lucky. 

One of Henry’s hands gently brushed a loose strand of hair off Darryl’s forehead.

‘This is what I saw, you know.’ Darryl said.

‘What?’

‘This past few seconds. That’s what I saw when the Seer showed me the future.’

Henry’s face turned slowly into a shocked grin before he burst out laughing.

‘Really?’

‘Yeah!’

‘No wonder you were so weird about it!’

‘I was weird about it? Do you think the others noticed?’

‘Nooooo, they probably believe you. I mean we are alive, in a fancy house, and covered in bandages.’

Darryl relaxed.

‘You know I have two Darryl-arm-shaped patches of skin between the burns.’

‘Oh, God.’ Darryl laughed ruefully as Henry dropped his forehead to rest against his. 

‘Hey.’ Henry whispered. ‘Can I stay in here tonight?’

‘Are you sure?’ Darryl’s voice was slightly slurred by Henry running his thumb over his bottom lip.

‘I’m asking.’

‘Of course.’ 

With this, Henry kissed Darryl briefly one more time and crawled out of his lap onto the empty bed space beside him, where he lay on his front.

‘I’m just really tired.’

Darryl shuffled down until he was lying on his back.

‘Me too.’ He whispered. With everything that had happened, he would have done anything to hold Henry as they fell asleep, but with their injuries it was impossible. Instead he lay his hand, palm up, between them. Henry idly traced the creases with his finger, before folding his hand into Darryl’s. A gentle gust of wind through the room extinguished the candles.

Muffled by the pillows, Henry spoke up one last time.

‘You know, the others are going to figure out something happened.’

‘How?’

‘You told them I was in your bed in the vision. Now they know that we weren’t made to share they’ll know I must have sneaked in.’

‘Well, that sounds like their problem.’

Fin.

Authors note: This is not a songfic but the title is the name of a song which I chose for the lyrics 

‘All I want is you to understand

That when I take your hand

It’s ‘cos I want to.

And we are all born in a world of doubt,

But there’s no doubt,

I figured out

I love you’

[dontdietwd]

Day 65, part 2

The radio was silent, and the cars moved slowly down the streets, as if numb. My sobs slowly subsided and I forced myself to breath, just breath and gather my control back. I wish I didn’t have to let go, though. It was good there, at Daryl’s chest, his arm around me, hand resting on my back, grounding me. Sniffing and drying my face, I forced myself to let go, returning to my seat, but still closer to him that what was necessary now. I looked down as I tried to clean up my face, embarrassed. This had been the most obvious demonstration of weakness I had ever given in front of Daryl – in front of anyone, for that matter, and it was the second time in two days that I cried in front of him.

“Sorry,” I mumbled after a while, still looking down.

Daryl looked at me sideways for a quick moment and returned his eyes to the road. “You okay?” he asked dismissing my apology.

“I’ll be. I guess.”

“’S alright. You’ve just saved all of our asses, can break down all ya want.”

“Can’t believe that son of a bitch was gonna kill us all!” I finally looked up, eyes red but tears gone.

“Well, motherfucker’s dead now.”

“And so’s Jackie.”

“Her choice. Opted out, ain’t that what Jenner called it?”

I was silent for a long moment thinking about Jackie’s choice and the final, messed up, desperate minutes we had spent inside the CDC. How I had made Jenner open the door and all but told everyone on the group that I was pregnant. It was out now.

“What the fuck?” Daryl mumbled taking me out of my thoughts.

“What?”

“Look at that,” he pointed somewhere out of the truck, on the pavement. We were on a central Atlanta street, a few walkers bundled together by a wall on the sidewalk. “See that?”

“Holy. Fuck!” I’d seen it too. Nearly in the middle of the street a black duffel bag lay, the long tip of a rifle coming out of it. “Stop the car!” I told Daryl as I reached for the radio that had been sitting forgotten by my side on the seat.

“Hey, why are you stopping?” Rick’s voice came from it before I could press the button.

“You don’t see it?” I asked him. “To our right, thirty feet away?”

He took a few seconds to answer. “Yep. I’ll be damned, looks like the guns we gave the group from the elderly home.”

“Wonder why they’re here,” I said thought the radio. “Gotta get’em back though,”

“Sure thing,” he agreed through the radio.

By my side, Daryl said “Group of walkers there, gotta get it fast.”

“I’m fast enough,” I told him and pressed the radio button before Daryl could say anything. “I’ll go and get it,” I told the others among radio static. “You all just gotta honk like hell to attract the walkers away.”

“The hell you gonna go!” Daryl roared at me at the same time the radio came to life in my hand.

“We’re gonna get the bag back alright,” Rick told me, “but one of us is going out there, not you, Sam. Not in your condition, now that we know about it. Shane says he’ll go.”

I pressed the button immediately, glaring at Daryl who seemed to get angrier at me by the second, “I’m fast, Rick, it’s what we need now. Shane, I know you’re strong and capable,” I rolled my eyes, “but what we need now is speed. I go out, get it and run back, it’s all. So I’m going, of maybe Glenn.”

The radio was silent for a few seconds before Rick spoke again. “Don’t move, Sam. Just give us a minute.”

Growling, I let the radio fall back between Daryl and I. The small group of walkers from the sidewalk seemed to have noticed something had approached, but they were still uncertain, a few of them turning around to sniff the air. Two of three were already on the street, closer to the bag.

“That’s exactly why I waited as long as I could to tell people about the baby. I knew it was gonna be like this,” I hissed, elbow on the window frame, head resting on my hand.

“What, you knew people were gonna be worried ‘about your safety and the kid’s?” Daryl snarled in a low voice. “Yeah, kinda sucks having people care ‘about ya.”

“You know what I mean, Daryl!”

“I know you’re bitchin’ for no reason. Ya gonna need to slow down soon, so just get the fuck over it.”

I stared at him, mouth hanging a bit, for a few seconds. “Soon,” I finally spoke, “is not now.”

With that, I grabbed the axe from the floor of the truck and pushed the handle to open the door, quickly sliding out of it.

“The fuck, Sam?” Daryl yelled from inside.

“You cross the street and attract them on that direction. I’ll get the bag and come back before they reach you. Go!”

Knowing Daryl would make me stop if I gave him the chance, I moved, but still in time to listen to him cursing at me and getting out of the truck. Not looking back, certain that Daryl would be doing as I’d told him, I walked fast, rolling the axe handle on my right hand. Walking in a straight line I met the first walker before it could even groan at me, axe blade perforating its skull and brain easily. As it fell, I planted my foot on the head and pulled the axe out, twisting around myself and swinging it immediately onto the second one. Somewhere behind me, I heard loud bangs of a palm against a car, followed by Daryl’s voice yelling incoherent words to attract the walkers. I was already by the bag on the asphalt when I had to get rid of the third walker, a fourth one aiming at me instead of following the others towards Daryl. I looked around for a moment; five or six walkers were getting close to where he was still banging at the car; I could see him stretch his neck to try and see me from the top of their rotting heads. Looking back at my goal, I took the last few steps in a sprint, bending quickly to grab the bag’s handle. It was heavier than I had thought, but it didn’t stop me from throwing it over my shoulder and turning around to get out of there. Behind me, a loud growl sounded closer than it should. Aiming only with the corner of my eyes, I side kicked the too quick female walker, hitting her on the chest and making her fall back, growling angrily. My axe fell to the ground then, and the bag skipped from my shoulder.

“Sam!” Darryl yelled from a few feet away as he ran back to the truck before the walkers got to him. “Look out, they’re comin’!”

Looking to where he pointed, I saw another group of dead going in my direction. Cursing aloud, I knew I had to run immediately, so I hugged the heavy bag against my chest and fled, the worn out red axe abandoned on the asphalt. Before I could even close the door and settle on the truck, Daryl was already charging away, yelling and scolding. The door closed on its own with the truck’s movement and the other cars in the caravan followed us away, leaving the dead herd behind, hungry and growling.

 * * *

 I completely ignored the radio from then on. Daryl had already given up yelling at me for my imprudence, now he was just breathing hard, his face angry, but silent. He was a rude man, that was for certain, but I knew he cared and he had only gotten that angry because I had been at risk. He cared, and I just wished he would yell a little less, but then again, he’d been scared for me. Because he cared. I just wondered if he cared in the same way I was beginning to care for him. You know, the same way.

When I finished the discussion by saying now we had more guns and were safer than ever, he knew it was impossible to convince me of how reckless he thought I had bee. I didn’t think I was, I was fast and I defended myself and I got the weapons while the others were still sitting their asses on the cars discussing it. On the radio, Rick had said the same but soon had stopped. It was all quiet for a while, long minutes when nobody really knew where we were going.

“Wait, hold on a minute,” I broke the silence making Daryl glance at me and quickly looking away. “Didn’t you say ya gave the weapons to the elderly home group?”

Daryl took a couple of seconds, but mumbled “Fuck” under his breath just as the radio came to life on the seat between us, with Rick questioning the exact same thing.

Minutes later, the caravan was slowly approaching and carefully stopping by the brick wall of the home. The street seemed to be empty, but there was a square across the street with trees that could hide walkers. The brick wall had a whole in it, which Daryl quickly told me had already been there before.

As the group hopped off the cars, the silence around was eerie, the energies tense as we looked around and men instinctively got guarding positions, even if they kept looking over their shoulders to watch, as every other pair of eyes did, as I met Rick and Shane on the sidewalk and handed Rick the heavy bag I’d been carrying against my chest. As he held it by the strap, letting I hang heavily by his side, Rick put a hand on my shoulder, leaning in a bit to say “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I answered instinctively, subtly shaking his hand off with a shrug. “I’m good. You all?”, I looked briefly at Shane and pointed at Lori, where she stood with Carl near Carol and Sophia.

“Man, I gotta tell ya, that was some crazy shit right there,” Shane shook his head, an overwhelmed laugh on his voice

“You got Jenner to open the doors. That was –” Rick paused also shaking his head. “We owe you big, Sam.”

“No, come on,” I frowned crossing my arms. “You don’t have to thank me for that, that’s my job, is all. And I was saving my own ass too, and my –” I paused then and looked down at myself. Looking up again I saw a little understanding smile coming from Rick, “Why you not saying this to Carol? She’s the one who had a damn grenade!”

With that, I excused myself and moved away from them, making a straight line towards Carol, who saw me approaching with quick steps. Unceremoniously, I grabbed Carol by the shoulders and pulled, arms coming around her in a tight hug.

"Sam?" Carol asked in a weak voice, uncertain but accepting the hug, her own hands patting my back.

"You're amazing, d'you know that?" I asked pulling away, hands once again on her shoulders. "You had a fuckin' grenade!"

"W-Wel, it was actually Rick's, I'd – I just found it in his pocket –"

"Yeah, but he didn't even remember it then. We'd all have died there."

"Well, yeah –"

"Thank you."

Carol was stunned but smiled after a second, nodding, uncertain of what to do with this gratitude.

"I'll just –" I said suddenly and left in quick steps, but could still see from the corner of my eye when others thanked Carol as well, incentivized by my action.

I crossed the street then, all but running, and curved herself over the curb to throw up all the feelings and terrifying emotions I'd been having since that damned control room. As I heaved, even without seeing it, I felt Daryl approaching silently to guard my back, but it was the other women, Carol, Lori, Andrea, who ran to help. One of them pulled my dreads up and held them, someone was rubbing my back in soothing circles.

I had been thought this uncountable times before, always alone, hiding it in the woods, never wanting to concern or alert anyone of my condition, and always thought it was fine. I could handle it. But now, having their quiet support and Daryl's solid presence right there, I felt, at least for a moment, safer than I had felt in months.

 ***

 The patio was filled with walkers and everybody knew this didn't mean anything good for the elderly home. Rick was the first to shoot, right after a clear, loud "Fuck it!". Everybody who was carrying guns started shooting after he did, the walkers falling to the ground one by one. It was over in seconds, and for a moment all that could be heard was the children's cries and their mothers gently shushing them, crouched on the floor, terrified. We moved to the entrance then, a metal door that led to a large room filled with tossed around furniture, but otherwise empty. At the end of the room, double wooden doors lead to a long, dim corridor.

I entered with my .12 gunshot ready, right behind Daryl with his crossbow, just as attentive. There were no walking dead, just normal ones, a women’s legs outside of a door, some other one right ahead, a loud buzz of flies around the bodies and the solid smell. The ones in the front – Glenn, Rick, Shane, Daryl and myself – made no sound, on guard, starting to look around and into doors, but loud gasps and cries from behind us filled the empty space, as if the sight of dead people was scarier than seeing the walk and growl. Sophia was crying out loudly, Daryl turned around, lowering the crossbow just enough, whispering angrily for her to shut up. The fear from the two mothers immediately transformed into hatred for him man chastising the girl.

“Shut it, all of you!” I also whispered-screamed and motioned Daryl to move non with our swipe.

More walkers were approaching as we entered, attracted by the loud gunshots from before and the cries now, the last ones of the group closing the doors a second before the first walker bumped into it. The locks were broken and they had to rest their full bodies weight to hold it in place. I didn’t see more now, moving with the men to check the entire space. Many people were dead all around, inside rooms, on the corridor, in another big room and also upstairs. They were all dead for good, though, clear gunshots on their heads.

In a few minutes we had all joined again in one of the largest rooms, little less afraid now we knew there were no walkers inside. Rick was speaking, clearly trying to sound calm and confident.

“Upstairs is our best bet. We've cleared a few rooms, can barricade those if we have to,” he paused and looks around at the people, nodding in what he thought to be a reassuring way. “We'll be alright.”

“You mean it this time?” Carol asked from where she sat once again with her arms around her daughter. She was almost crying. “Or are you lying to us like all the times before?”

“That's unfair,” Lori defended her husband. “And no help at all.”

“He wasn’t lying, Carol,” I told her from close to the doorway. “He was just wrong. How could anybody know this would happen?”

“But what the hell happened?” Glenn voiced it, trepidation all over his voice.

“What do you think?” Andrea was the one to answer. “They got overrun.”

A loud snort came out of Daryl as he paced around looking from body to body and Andrea looked at him affronted.

“Something to say?”

“Yeah!”, he didn’t even let her finish her question. “How about 'observant'?”

“Observant? Big word for a guy like you. Three whole syllables!”

By the door I felt like puffing my chest out and walking over the blonde woman, but restrained, questioning myself for being so protective over Daryl. Nobody should talk to him like that, he was not stupid like people seem to think he was. Fucking prejudiced people. Daryl had been crucial to the survival of this group all along and still all this woman could see was his redneck label. But Daryl was a big boy and could defend himself, so I didn’t move.

“Walkers didn’t do this!” he started explaining angrily. “Geeks didn’t show up ‘til all this went down. Somebody attacked this place, killed these people, took whatever they wanted. They're all shot in the head, execution style!”

Yep, like I said, he could clearly defend himself. Without controlling it, I had a proud smirk on my face. He’d been voicing what I’d noticed since we’d walked in this god forsaken place. Andrea had lost her know-it-all expression and was looking at the gunshots, face fallen.

“Ya’ll worried about walkers? I'd be much more worried about the people who came and did all this,” then he approached Andrea again. “Get a dictionary, look it up,” and he pointed at his own head. “Observant”.

He crossed the room then, approaching me by the door on his way out. I looked proudly at him, sill smirking, an eyebrow shooting up. He expression didn’t change much, he was irritated and worried, but the corner of his lip did twitch a bit at my look. It was enough for me. He passed me and left the room, clearly looking to be alone or on the lookout.

People were sitting close together later on, spirits subdued, when Rick and Shane returned from the kitchens where they went looking for food. They found one single can of corn and Shane had potato chips and one single bottle of water, and that was all. They shared it among us all, including a bottle of whiskey Shane also had brought from the CDC. Daryl asked him to share it and I just looked away. It wasn’t because I would die for a swig or two and couldn’t that Daryl shouldn’t enjoy a little of the numbness he could get from it.

“What’s next?” Lori asked as she got up to join her husband by the window.

Rick didn’t answer, he just turned around and shared a long look with me. I held his eyes for a moment before nodding in Shane’s direction. He’d been mentioning Fort Benning for a while and Rick and I hadn’t heard him, we had chosen he CDC. Maybe it was time to give the man’s idea a try. Rick looked at Shane, who was already nodding his head and looking at me as he mumbled “Fort Benning.”

“We should’ve listened to you, Shane”, Rick told him. “Would have saved us a lot of grief ahead.”

“We couldn’t have known what would happen,” I said from where I sat next to Daryl. “The CDC was closer; we didn’t have enough gas to go all the way down to Alabama – we still don’t have it. We had to try it.”

“Yeah, but…” Rick shook his head. “Jackie would still be alive…”

“Was her choice, man. Do not take that on,” Shane told his friend.

“All these people…” Glenn entered the conversation. “Who’d have done something like this? Just… Come in here and murder everybody, even all the old people, how sick is that?”

Sophia flinched and nearly cried just to hear him say this and Carol hugged her. Lori moved to Carl, who also had gone pale, mumbling “Is this something we need to be discussing right now?”

“Uh, yeah. It actually is. I mean…” I got up from my spot and looked down at Carol and Lori. “I'd like a word with you two, if it's fine? Just us?"

The two other women nodded confused and got up, reassuring their kids they’d be back soon and that everything was ok, and we retread from the children and the men, going to stand at a corner.

"Look, I know things got a bit heated when we entered the home?" I started.

"We’re all on the edge," Lori told me, crossing her arms. "What we found here was far from what we were expecting, again."

"First the CDC, now this..." Carol said. "It's like one blow after the other."

"Yeah, but no matter what happened,” Lori crossed her arms and spoke firmly. “I will not let anybody talk to my child like that, or even talk about these things around him. I will always defend him, I'm sure Carol will too."

I took a deep breath and rested my hands on my hips, "Look, Daryl’s a brute, we all agree to that, but he means well. He told them to shut up and you're angry about that, fine. But at that moment, they actually had to shut up," Carol frowned at that and Lori took a breath to speak, her arms uncrossing and hands imitating my position, but I moved on. "I mean it, Lori. We all know silence‘s crucial when there’re walkers around, we taught you that ages ago at the quarry. We weren’t just saying, they are attracted by sound, ya’ll know that. They had to be quiet just like all of us did. You're so mad about someone calling out on your children that you can't even see he was right."

"I know we need silence, but I'm the one who's gonna tell my son to be quiet!", Lori rebated.

"But you didn’t! Lori, you were holding your son and he was being loud, you were not telling him to be quiet, same thing for you Carol. Sophia was crying and even you was whimpering, and not quietly!" I opened my arms, "Somebody had to! I mean it, if Daryl hadn’t said it, I would’ve and you’d be all mad at me instead of him”.

“There are ways to speak –”

"Look, Lori, Carol, I've been meaning to talk to you about this. We all know they're scared, more scared than all of the adults, it must be terrifying for them. But it will be even more terrifying if they find themselves in a dangerous situation without being prepared to react, to protect themselves.”

“I’ll protect him! And Rick will –”

“You don't know you're always going to be there to protect them, every time. They need to know how to avoid the dead, not to not attract’em, how to fight’em if it gets to that. We’re all always going to protect them, but we'll never know what will happen. They need ‘t stop acting so scared and helpless, for their own safety."

“And what do you suggest?” Carol tried but her voice still shuddered. “Arming the children? Giving them guns and crossbows?”

“Something like that, yeah,” I said firmly and saw their affronted expressions. And I could understand the idea as preposterous, but, well. “I don’t mean just give it to them and leave them to do whatever, I mean teach them. I mean reassuring them that they don’t have to be scared if they know how to react. And you two, too, I saw how scared you got out there, you need to… Come on, I don’t know, be braver? The world is not gonna go back to what it was, you heard Jenner, it’s all gone. We need to survive, we need to make sure the children survive, that my baby does, we need all to be strong as group, not just count on a few of the stronger ones to defend everybody.”

There was a moment of silence. I felt suddenly exhausted, and breathed out hard and I looked down, a hand pressing the bridge of my nose.

“How are you not scared?” Carol’s small voice asked me, a bit more gently than her expression was before.

I looked up at her, at Lori and then back. “You think I ain’t scared?” I snorted a fake laugh, trying a smile. “I’m a pregnant girl during the fuckin’ walking dead apocalypse. I’m fuckin’ terrified!” Lori and Carol exchanged an uncomfortable look, not knowing what to say. I didn’t know anymore, either. “We should get some rest. Just, please, think about it? We can’t have them getting terrified by the simple mention of murder. I told you once, Carol, that I could teach you and Sophia how to defend yourselves? Offer still stands.”

I turned my back on them then and left following the men who were leaving the room. Daryl waited for me, letting me pass first.

“We’re all rattled and exhausted, no one’s thinking clearly,” Rick was saying when I arrived, “But we have to start. Our lives depend on it.”

“You’re damn right,” Shane agreed once again shaking his head. “We can’t let our guard down again,” and as Daryl and I joined, we walked towards the stairwell where we found Dale and T-dog already sitting down. “Back at camp, having us some fish fried and no one on watch, and people died when they didn’t need to.”

“Hey,” I patted Glenn’s arm to stop him before we joined, and spoke in a low voice. “You did nothing wrong by talking about what happened here. It’s the reality and they need to start being able to handle it”.

After we all got together and crouched down to talk, Rick started, “Fort Benning, that’s the consensus.”

“When we’re leaving here?” T asked accepting the bottle Daryl handed him across the group.

“At first light”, I told them making the others nod. “I just worry about the fuel; we’ll have to get it from any car we can find on the way. And we’re wasting fuel driving so many vehicles, we need to lose a few. We’ll use the gas from whatever cars we leave behind, pro’ly be enough to leave the city. We,” and I pointed between Daryl and I, can keep the bike and lose the truck, it spends less gas,” and I looked at Daryl to see him nodding his agreement.

“That’d be a start,” said Shane. “Let’s just try to get a little shut eye tonight, ok? T, you get the first hour?”

 * * *

 I looked around for Daryl from where I had laid down on the hard floor against a wall. I thought he’d come to rest a bit at any moment, but as the minutes passed by and he didn’t, I started to worry. I knew he was not much of a sleeper, but he had to rest. There was a journey ahead of us, over one hundred miles separated us from Fort Benning, and there was no telling what we’d find on the way there of it we’d ever even make it.

Silently, I got up from my spot, navigating through my group companions’ sleeping forms, and headed to the hallway, looking around for him. He was a few feet away along the corridor, lying down on the floor just as I had been, one arm thrown over his eyes. Relieved that he seemed to be asleep, I approached quietly even with my boots still on my feet – you just don’t sleep without shoes on in this new world – and sat down against the wall, close to his head. I had lost sleep now anyways.

“You gotta sleep,” he told me in a real low voice, without having moved an inch.

“Can’t… Though you was sleeping,” I whispered, elbows resting on my knees.

“Can’t either,” and he still didn’t move.

We went silent. I closed my eyes and let my head fall back against the hard surface of the white wall. Daryl moved the arm covering his eyes to pillow his head, now just a breath away from my leg.

As he settled, I whispered, “You were great today, ya know that?” I opened my eyes then, straightening my head again and looking down on him. He said nothing but looked up at me, a question in his eyes. “Struggled together with everyone… Gave me your shoulder to cry and snot all over you…” I smiled then, a laugh in her voice. He did too, a corner of his lips moving up. “Helped secure this place and then!” I made a pause “shut Andrea up in front of everybody and it was aaaawesome!”

He laughed quietly, moving his eyes away from me. We were both strangely smiling now, among all the shit that had been going on.

“They underestimate you,” I said after a while.

“An’ you don’t?” he spoke quietly again, his voice more like a rumble.

“Guess I did… Once. In the other life. I don’ anymore.”

“Don’t know what ya thing I can do.”

“Well, for one, you’re ‘observant’,” I said smiling one more time, and he looked up at me again, the shy smile returning. “I mean, you really are, you’re the only one who noticed me being all pregnant. And the hunting and tracking go without saying… You don’t freeze out with danger, you’re logical. You’re more important to this group than you imagine.” And to me, but I didn’t say it. “They’ll see it soon enough as well, you’ll see.”

“Don’t care wha’ they think”.

“I know.”

“’S long as –” he started and stopped himself real quickly. I looked down at him again.

“What?”

“‘S nothin’.”

“No, as long as what?”

He removed his arm from under his head and covered his eyes once again. “Go to sleep.”

“Daryl?” I asked as I turned to my side and looked straight down at him, my head lined with his from above.

“What?”

“As long as what?”

He lifted his arm to look up at the ceiling and saw my face right there, humor in my eyes. He stopped what he was going to say, stunned by the position we found ourselves in, and took a moment to regain his wits.

“Only reason I’m in this group is ‘cause of you,” he started with a sincerity that stunned me. “Was it Merle and I, I’d be gone straight away from that fuckin’ roof. So as long as you don’t think I’m a piece of shit, I’m good.” And as I was just to stunned to move or say anything, he threw the arm over his eye again. “Now jus’ please go to sleep and leave me alone.”

“Alright….” I whispered, moving again. I quickly settled on the floor, against the same wall, my head close to his. “Good night, Daryl.”

He only grumbled in response. I knew it was enough of talking for him for a day. I was still smiling, butterflies inside my stomach, when I fell asleep.

[h-o-l-l-i]

Restore Me

Daryl Dixon x Nurse!Reader

Warnings: Language, mentions of blood, SMUT (18+ only), unprotected sex

Word Count: 8.3k

Author’s Note: This is my piece for Jen’s Mystery Box Writing Challenge, go check out her stuff...she’s amazing in every way at @coffee-obsessed-writer! , this was an absolute dream to write; I loved every second of it and I hope you all enjoy it as well! Let me know what you think and if you would like to be added to any of my tag lists! REQUESTS ARE OPEN!

my prompt was delivered to me as follows: So, for you, my dear, I have a TWD Daryl x reader request. This person sent in a summary then ask for smut, angst, fluffSummary: Daryl gets hurt u find him and nurse him back to health

Everything: @negans-lucille-tblr

TWD: @wings-of-a-raven // @daryldixonandfrogs 

Daryl Dixon: @jodiereedus22 // @coffee-obsessed-writer // @sourwolf-sterek32 // @mtngirlforever // @hyphymanatee // @momc95 // @dashesoflipstick

“How is my favorite prisoner?” Negan cocked an eyebrow up at the doctor who kneeled beneath him.

“Um, with his injuries that he sustained during his discipline Sir; not good…” the man stood up onto shaky legs and looked the leather clad leader in his eyes.

“Leave him in the dark for a couple of days, maybe he’ll cooperate then.” Negan replied flatly without any trace of human emotion.

“Sir, he is badly injured with multiple lacerations on his face, arms and abdomen; if we don’t treat him in this condition he might die—” the doctor attempted to be firm against Negan it didn’t turn out well.

“I don’t give a flying fuck about what happens to that sack of Redneck shit!” Negan’s voice boomed off of the high ceiling of the large room before his leather gloved hands grabbed the bright white collar of his lab coat and tossing him headfirst into the open side of the furnace.

The mood of the wide-eyed survivors of the Sanctuary shifted of that into fear of their leader’s actions. Negan clicked his tongue and wiped his hand down is scruffy mouth, “Well, we are fresh out of medical personnel, so go to the Hilltop and take theirs…” Negan pointed to his right hand man, Simon.

Simon nodded and walked towards the exit stopping short of the door when Negan’s voice broke through the silence again, “Take some of their shit too while you’re there.”

___

His bare feet slapped against the dirt path in the thick wooded area, his chest heaving large breaths of night air into his burning lungs. The mild sweat that glistened on his dirty skin caused his shaggy brown hair to stick to his forehead. He leaned up against a tree in an attempt to hide from a lone walker that was wandering through the woods; ironic, that’s him except for he’s barely more alive than the walker.

He brought his arm down to his waist to grip his knife, the snap of a twig on the forest floor signified the walker was within range. His beaten body staggered out from the large trunk and swung the knife into the walker’s face, sending it down to the bed of dead leaves. The walker’s dark, thick blood seeped from the large whole that the knife had created, “Shit.” Darryl huffed, leaning his arm against the tree he was once hiding behind.

His bright blue eyes squinted in confusion as he looked at the walker he had just killed, “What the hell?” He tilted his head gazing at the walker’s rather clean look about him, “Where did you come from?” His eyes followed the obvious trail the dead man had left behind. “Reed’s” he grunted.

___ Reed’s General Store, the crooked, dusty sign read on the shoddy roof of a smaller building. Darryl eyes surveyed the surroundings of the perimeter, before he readjusted his grip on the handle of the knife he had and he snuck closer to the door. He cautiously peered inside of the dirty window and saw nothing alarming inside, his bloody hand turned the knob and entered.

His eyes glanced around the looted shelves and racks that littered the shop; his rough hands leafed through the sizes of the left over clothing before going to the next rack. He slid the spray painted sweatshirt off of his body, the small streams of blood glistened in the beams of blue moonlight that trickled in through the broken window, he winced in pain as his skin stretched the bruises that dotted his skin, He dug his fingertips into the lip of the sweatpants that Negan’s men forced him into and stepped out of them as they fell to his ankles.

Just before his hand could make contact with the black shirt that hung on the silver metal prong you swung around the corner with your gun raised, “Don’t try anything or I’ll blow your head clean off!” He raised his hands and stayed silent, “Now turn around nice and slow; don’t forget bullets are faster than your knife on the ground.” He turned around slowly to face you and it was only then when you noticed that he was fully naked. “You hurt?” You refocused yourself in attempt to gawk at his generous member. You eyed him as you notice the bruises and the blood that glistened slightly; he grunted deeply in response to you, “Kick your knife to me.”

“I ain’t gonna hurt you, girl.” Your breath caught in your throat at the sound of his rough, gravel-like voice.

“I said kick me your knife, asshole!” You raised your voice at him. He followed your order and kicked the knife towards you, the tip of the metal blade grinding on the floor of the abandoned store. 

You bent down, grabbing the handle of the knife, placing it in your belt and returned the gun to your waistband of your jeans, “Cover yourself up.” You lowered your voice, his bare feet stepped back into the sweatpants and he quickly pulled them back up to his waist. “Did it bite you?” You motioned to the sweatshirt that lay bloodied on the floor.

“It wasn’t the dead.” He corrected you, his eyes looked down at you cautiously as he was becoming weary about the interaction that was happening.

“Let me see.” He stepped away but you quickly grabbed his wrist before he was out of your reach, “I’m not going to hurt you; let me look.” You coaxed him; he submitted, allowing you to guide him over to the check out counter to sit down.  “You belong somewhere?” You question him.

His breath hitched in his throat when you brought a wet cloth to a wound on his chest, his eyes connected with yours when you halted your movements, “You’re good…yeah I have a group I just—”

You glanced down at the clothes that he was ridding himself of and finally notice the orange spray paint on the sweats “Negan?”

His body tightened with your inquiry, “How’d you kno—”

“I used to work for him.” He leaned away from you slightly, his eyes filling with anxiety, “I got out too…I was one of his nurses. He said I cared about his prisoners too much.” You chuckled slightly to yourself and resumed cleaning his numerous wounds that scattered about his body.

“So he just let you go?” He said carefully watching how tender you were with bandaging him.

“No,” you paused, looking up to his eyes from the last wound that needed covered up, “He offered me to become a wife—said I couldn’t do my job anymore; so I packed a small pack and left.” You smirked at him.

“There,” you said sitting back up and placed your hands on your knees, “You’ll be a bit weak and  pretty sore for a couple of days but you should be okay…” his face relaxed for a moment as he offered you a small smirk of gratitude.

“You didn’t have to do thi—” he broke the tension that was beginning to build.

“Save it…” you voice trailed indicating for him to reveal his name finally.

“Daryl.” He introduced himself.

“Y/N.” You stated back to him.

He nodded, “thanks…You have a group now?” His voice was low and his tone was curiously cautious.

“Not anymore.” You stood, turning your back to him to rummage through your belongings.

“I’m sorry.” He twitted his thumbs and tried to stand up but stumbled.

You turned back around in time and your hands wrapped around his waist and grabbed his arm to steady him, “You’re too beat up to be on your own for a while, at least until you have some antibiotics in your system.” You warned, “You’re going to need antibiotics, Daryl.” You said rolling out a blanket on the floor and laying down on top of it.

You relaxed in your place on the floor, sliding over to make some room for him, “We can go down the street in the morning.” You closed your eyes but you know he’s about to speak again, “You’re not in any shape to be on your own right now; plus it’s dark out there and Negan has people looking for you.”

“You’ve done too much for me, Y/N. Thank you—” he cleared his throat.

“You need those antibiotics so your wounds don’t get infected; if they do, which they will without those antibiotics, the fever will burn you right up and turn your brain into soup before you come back.” He still tried to attest you; you lean up on your elbows, “Didn’t your Momma ever teach you any manners?”

He laughed at you and slid down off of the box he was resting on and onto the floor beside you. He placed his head on the make-shift pillow and folded his hands on his chest, “Alright.” He agreed and settled in beside you.

There were several minutes of silence between the two of you, just the music from the many crickets that sang outside, “I hope you don’t snore.” You rolled over to face him.

“Oh don’t worry, I do.” He laughed with his own words, his eyes hovering on your lips for an extended second. “You should get used to it.”

“Oh really?” You leaned your head on your elbow and cocked an eyebrow up to him.

He grunted and slowly rolled onto his side so his face was close to yours, his eyes gently running along the curves of your smile. “You said I’d be weak for a couple of days and I need the antibiotics and I’m in” he used air quotes with his hands, “no shape to be on my own right now” he mocked your voice as best as he could. “I figured that could take a couple days…” his voice trailed off.

“How do you reckon it’d be a couple of days?” You whispered finding yourself get lost in his blue eyes.

“I do feel like shit now.” He confessed.

“Well, the adrenaline from your grand escape has probably worn completely off by now and you are really roughed up; like bad…” you admitted, rolling onto your back, gazing up at the ceiling.

“I wouldn’t mind staying with you for a couple of days; I could help you find more water and I can even go hunting for something once you make me better.” His voice sent ripples through the tension that built back again between the two of you once more.

“Yeah…I guess that would be okay.” Your voice became thicker as your body relaxed for the first time in a long time; maybe it was because of not being alone; because of him…

“I can take first watch.” He said leaning up on his least injured arm, gritting his teeth slightly.

“No; you need the rest.” You argued back to him.

“From the looks of it, so do you.” He spat at you and smiled playfully, knowing it would get a rise out of you in an instant.

“You look worse than I do, Daryl. Don’t even try me!” You gently nudged an elbow into his side making him grunt slightly, “Shit, sorry!” You shot up, your eyes filled with worry.

“You’re good, Y/N.” He nodded, his hand guarding his side where you had just nudged him.

You lie back down next to him and the two of you listened to the harmony of the crickets play in the forest, the occasional dragging of a nearby walker. Daryl’s ears picked up on the dead giveaway of the dead, your hand cupped his, “They can’t get in…this place is actually pretty secure, not too easy to get inside.” You whispered, careful not to risk being too loud.

“For the dead,” he began but he saw in the moonlight the way your eyebrows furrowed down, “it ain’t easy to get inside…hell I was half dead when I wandered straight through that door.” His low, tired voice sent shockwaves through your body and goosebumps to erupt on your exposed skin.

“Well, you weren’t the quietest so I could hear you coming in.” You bantered back with him. This is nice, you thought; you had forgotten what it was like to be with a live person, a good person. “Okay,” you sighed, “We’ve got a long way for you to go tomorrow so, let’s get some rest…” 

___

The warm ray of sunshine burst through the dusty window on the front door onto your face. Your eyes fluttered open, you rubbed your eyes from the sleep that still hung there, “Morning.” Daryl’s voice hummed, “You snore you know that?” Half of his mouth curled up into a playful smile.

“I assume you’re feeling better; still look like hell though.” You teased and twisted around to kneel and begin to roll the blanket up for your journey.

“Still catching up on your beauty sleep too?” He said sarcastically and tossed you a rope to tie up the blanket to your backpack.

“Ready, Daryl?” You said tying the knot in expert time.

___

“It’s just down this road about eight and a half or so miles.” You pointed, his eyes bugged out a little at the normally reasonable number but it seemed impossible in his condition at this time. “Hey, we can stop and take breaks whenever you need to, okay…how about we go halfway and set up a small camp, I can change your bandages and we can do the rest tomorrow?” You suggested, he remained silent but he nodded. You took his hand into yours and began your journey to get the antibiotics that he needed, hand-in-hand.

“Why’d you say no?” Daryl asked  you after about twenty minutes of walking slowly together down the long road.

You jumped slightly at the sudden rumble of his deep voice, you looked over to him, “What do you—Oh, Negan.” You nodded. “That man’s a monster…he means well with some things but he just—” you rambled, “He just doesn’t know when it is enough, goes too far.” You looked straight ahead again, gazing down the long road that you still had to walk down. “How are you feeling?” You changed the subject.

He grunted, “I’m good, little unsteady but I can make it. Could use some water though…”

You reached into the mesh side pocket of your pack, “Shit.” You muttered, “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” You frowned heavily as you turned the water bottle upside down and nothing but a couple drops of water dripped from the lip of the bottle. “Daryl, I’m sorry…I must have not closed it tight enough or something.”

“I’m sure there’s a stream around here or something; we’ll find something.” He swung an arm around your shoulder.

You smiled quaintly to him and reveled in the most physical contact that you’ve had since before you turned Negan down. “You’re group must be worried sick,” he tilted his eyebrow to you in silent confusion, “Nice guy like you…you are most definitely missed.” Your heart fluttered within your glistening chest and you internally rolled your eyes at your comment.

“Yeah, I haven’t seen them for a couple weeks.” He revealed to you, a small drop of sweat hung on his forehead. “shit, it’s getting hot already; how much longer do we have to go yet?” He said scrunching his nose in acute pain that began to sting as the sweat moistened his bandages.

“Uh, maybe about half way there or so…let’s take a break, maybe find some water, set up camp for the night and I can change out your dressings.” You suggested to him.

“Yeah, that sounds good, Y/N.” He nodded.

The two of you walked down the road a couple yards more before veering off of the road down the small hill into the woods that lined both sides of the road. “This should do, you think?” You settled your hands on your hips and blew a hair from your face and pointed, “Should be easy to make a perimeter around here, set up in the middle,” you took a few steps into your venue for your home for the night, “here.”

Daryl’s eyes were bloodshot and his skin was moist and pale, his shaky arm was resting on a slender tree trunk; your voice muffled within his ears but he grunted in agreement to whatever you were going on about.

“Hey,” you clapped your hands, “you going to pass out?” You said wrapping your arms around his body, “you’re going to pass out, okay. Over here.” You said, hoisting his body slightly as you helped him move to rest on a large, fallen, rotten tree. “You’re dehydrated.” You said cupping his scruffy cheeks in attempt to focus his attention onto you.

“I’m fine, just a little tired.” He groaned, nodding his head.

“I know you are, but you need to stay awake for a little for me okay?” You raised your voice and began blocking him in, attempting to hide and barricade him on the tree he was sitting on. “There’s a stream about a mile into the woods, I need you to stay awake until I get back, Daryl.”

“You’re not going alone, it’s too dangerous—what if something happens to you.” His voice croaked in his dry mouth and his eyes fluttered slightly.

“Here.” You said, giving him his knife back, “Use this on whatever that tries to kill you, okay? I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He nodded, his eyelids becoming increasingly heavier and heavier.

___

“Wake up!” You shook his shoulder, “I have water, here—” you shot backwards as Daryl’s sweaty hand emerged and swung around wildly in the air. “Daryl! It’s me, Y/N!” You said calmly in attempt to get him to realize it was you instead of a walker.

“Y/N?” His deep voice sounded thick with hesitation, his voice was followed by his body that rounded the edge of the trees. You nodded and held up the full bottle of water to him, “shit—I’m sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking—”

“It’s okay, you were probably just having a mild hallucination from the dehydration,” you elaborated and sat on the dead tree, “Come on.” You patted the spot next to him, “Let me take another look at you.”

“Thanks.” He grunted deeply and took a long gulp of the water, sitting next to you. “You know,” he said as you helped him peel off his shirt to expose his numerous bandages, “After we ran into Negan, I didn’t think there was anyone else like us left alive.” His chest tightened with your fingertips picking the edges of his largest bandage.

You chuckled slightly to yourself, “Yeah, I guess there isn’t that many of us anymore.” You agreed, “Sorry.” You smiled up to him, “This is going to hurt a bit more, take a deep breath.” Your hand peeled off the last bandage, you leaned down so you had a better look at him to assess the wounds healing.

“How does it look?” He asked you with a hint of nervousness inside its density.

“Um, good…” you bugged your eyes out slightly, “You’re definitely going to need those antibiotics though…” you laughed and grabbed your backpack, rummaging into to it, retrieving your supplies.

Daryl’s pure blue eyes admired you silently when you were organizing your things before you dressed him again. His heart skipped in his chest and a cheeky smile crept onto his unshaven face. “What?” Your voice and sudden eye contact with him snapped him from the warm thoughts in his mind and made his eyes bug out slightly.

“Nothing.” He said shifting his gaze from your eyes.

You rolled your eyes at him and gently pushed his knee, “Daryl, what is it?” You furrowed your eyebrows at him, kneeling down by the tree he was perched on.

He hesitated and it was like you could tell he was trying to think of how to form his thoughts into a sentence, “No one’s ever cared about me. Especially like this. I ain’t used to it.” He confessed.

Your eyes lingered in his for a moment, “I’m sorry.” You whispered and stood up to your feet, sighing, “good news,” you faked a smile, “you’ll be good to go on your own in a couple of days, you’ll be all healed up then you can find your way back to your group.” Your smile faded a little at the thought.

“And what's gonna to happen to you? You said you don’t have anyone…” he grunted deeply in his throat.

You avoided his eyes, zipping the backpack closed, "I guess I'll just go back to moving around… and”

"Stay with us.” He interrupted.

“What?!” You said immediately in response to his outlandish proposal.

“You can stay with us, they’ll love you like I do—” his own voice stunning him. Your head snapped around to him quickly, “I mean—how much you take care of me.” He nodded in attempt to convince himself along with you.

“Oh,” you furrowed your eyebrows and shook your head from the timid thoughts you were having about what he actually meant. “I don’t know, I mean, I haven’t been in a group for a while and you guys seem to be close; I don’t think that’s for me anymore—” you finished.

“Think about it…okay?” He grunted and stood to his feet, you nodded in response.

The two of you worked on setting up a quaint camp for the night, Daryl doing the lighter contributions due to his injuries in the beginning stages of healing. You blocked off a perimeter and built a small circle of rocks to make a pit for a fire to cook and boil water. The tranquil sound of the woods slowly drowned out by your overwhelming thoughts of being with a group again and actually belonging somewhere.

The sun began to lower from its highest point in the sky, the rays of light shimmering down onto the forest floor where you were attempting to form a trap.

“Here.” Daryl said sitting beside you.

You smiled slightly back to him and then turned back to your hands fiddling with the sticks and twine, “I got it, Daryl. You should be resting for the rest of the trip tomorrow.”

“There’s no doubt in my mind that you can do it, I’m just trying to return the favor; let me help you like you’ve helped me.” He held out his hand, gently brushing onto yours, “Please.” He smiled at you, making butterflies swirl around in your empty stomach.

You giggled, “Okay,” you said handing it to him, “I guess your Momma did teach you manners after all.” You joked.

A chuckle rumbled in his scruffy throat and his hands began to tie the twine tightly, your eyes watched his hands working but it wasn’t long before your mind began to think about what else that man’s hands could do…

His muffled voice started to become more clear and you blinked away your thoughts, “Y/N…are you okay?” His eyes wandered into yours.

“Yeah, I’m good.” You said lacing your fingers together and bringing your knees up towards your chest.

“Here, put this about a hundred yards down there,” his finger pointed to a thin trail that was etched into the woods, “Now, don’t walk straight down there, just keep your eyes on it and walk beside it then set the trap up. Like this.” He told you and showed you how to set the trap to hopefully capture some food for the both of you.

___

Night time fell over your camp quickly, the small flames of the fire cast a light hue of orange on your faces. The musical sounds of the crickets filled the night air, breaking any silence. “I can take the first watch, you need sleep.”

Your heavy eyes blinked slowly, “Okay, but only for a couple hours.” You adjusted, making yourself comfortable on the dirt ground of the forest.

___

Your eyes fluttered open, the harmony of crickets was replaced by the sweet sounds of birds chirping, you shot up in realization, “Daryl!” You shouted, your heart jumping into your throat.

He stepped out from behind a tree, zipping his pants back up, “There she is.” he smiled and hobbled over to you.

You were quick to your feet, “What the hell were you thinking?!” You shouted at him, making his smile fade instantly.

“You needed to sleep, so I let you!” He defended.

“What if something happened, Daryl?” You shouted, tossing your arms up in the air instead of shoving him. “Or what if you fell asleep too and walkers came to camp or Negan found us—”

“Yeah, well he didn’t!” He raised his deep voice at you, “And nothing happened so I don’t know why you’re all upset at me lettin’ you sleep!”

“Unbelievable.” You scoffed, packing everything up again, “and to think I thought you were different…” you muttered under your breath, latching the buckle shut.

“What did you say?” He tipped his head down.

“Did you check the trap; you’ll need something to eat…” you changed the subject. He hesitated for a brief moment, “I’ll check it.” You said storming past him.

You returned shortly with a small rabbit in your hand, “Here.” You dropped it in his lap before walking past him where he sat by the small fire that he tended to.

“Aren’t you havin’ any.”

“Nope. Not hungry.” You said shortly.

He expertly skinned the rabbit and slowly turned it over the fire cooking it, “I’m sorry.” He said quietly, you looked at him with his hand extended out to you. You stood up and grabbed the meat from him and took a large bite making him chuckle slightly. The two of you ate in silence for a little while, it wasn’t long before the two of you ate it all because the rabbit was fairly small.

“Do you need me to change your bandage before we leave?” You inquired, swallowing the last bit of rabbit with a gulp of water.

“Nah, I can wait until we get there; you said it’s not long until we get there anyway, right?” He said picking at his fingernails.

“Yeah, about an hours walk from here if we take the road; ready?” You asked.

___

“How are you doing?” You asked him as he slowed his pace down, “Do you need some water? We can stop if you need to.”

“No, I’m okay; just a little sore, that’s all.”

You walked beside him and grabbed his hand, lacing your fingers in with his, “It’s just up here, then you can go back to your group.” You cleared your throat, “Without me.” He didn’t say anything but you noticed his grip on your hand got tighter.

The two of you walked a half a mile hand in hand in complete silence, the road veered off to the left and the trees cleared for a long building that used to be a strip of stores and businesses. “Here we are.”

“A veterinarian’s office?”

“Yeah, most medications are the pretty much the same; most people don’t know that so it should have what you need.” You said looking over your shoulder, walking towards the door retrieving your weapon and tapping on the glass section on the door.

After waiting a couple minutes for any walkers inside to come to the door where you just tapped, “Look’s like no one’s home.” You turned the knob to the door but it was locked; you took the end of your blade and smashed it through the glass, reached in and unlocked the door.

“Sit here, I’ll be right back.” You said, smiling to him before you wandered the isles and trailed your hand along the shelves, grabbing the supplies and medicine that you needed and put it in the red plastic shopping basket.

___

It wasn’t long before you returned to the front counter with the basket full of medical supplies for Daryl. “Take one of these, three times a day,” you said placing a white medication bottle on the counter, the contents rattling inside, “And take one of these in the morning for two weeks.” You looked up and he was staring intently at your face, memorizing it.

“You got it, Doc.” He grunted and tugged his shirt over his head, “thanks.” His tone tinged with pain.

You furrowed your eyebrows in response to his voice, but your brushed it off and peeled away his bandages and began to clean them. You could feel butterflies doing their dance inside of your stomach again, “What is it Daryl?” You asked not looking away from the task at hand.

“I think you should stay.” He responded.

“Daryl,” you sighed and sat back, making eye contact with him, “We already talked about it—”

“There’s an empty house you can stay in,” he continued, you leaned forward and resumed your work again, “if you don’t like it you are free to leave whenever…just stay, please.” His voice pleaded for your agreement, “They would be so grateful to meet the woman who saved my life, when I get back.” He paused, “We could need you there too, we don’t have anyone who knows half as much as you do anymore.”

You finished taping the last bandage secure to his abdomen, “There.” You said.

His heart dropped inside his chest, he looked down to the three large gauze patched on his bruised belly and nodded softly.

“I’m sorry, Daryl.” You whispered rubbing his knee gently.

“Yeah,” he paused looking at your hand on his knee then up to your face. The heartbreak in his eyes ate away at yours own, tears pricked the corners of your eyes.

You sprung up and cleared your throat, “Well, I guess this is it then.” You said turning away to wipe the small accumulation of tears that threatened to expose your true feelings about that man. You turned around to him to help him up but you were stunned when he wrapped his arms around your waist and presses his lips onto yours.

Your heart leaped within your chest, your hands easily found their way to the back of his neck, like they were going to where they were always meant to be. You kissed him back deeply, full of passion, his tongue teased your bottom lip gently asking for acceptance; you submitted and the kiss deepened, his hands wandered your body from your waist and settled on your ass.

You broke the kiss and he pressed his head on your forehead, “I—I can’t Daryl, I’m sorry.” You whispered, slipping away from his grip and grabbing your bag. “Here is where you need to go…” you pointed on a map that you sprawled out on the surface of the desk.

“Come with me.” He pressed, “you said it yourself, it’s dangerous for me to be out there on my own,” his eyes searched yours making your heart skip a beat. His hand gently made its way on top of yours, “Just a couple of days so you can rest.”

You flipped your hand over so you could intertwine your fingers with his, he smiled as he felt you squeeze his hand slightly, “Okay.” You nodded.

___

The two of you journeyed back to Alexandria over the next three days and two nights, you had stopped and made camp in abandoned buildings and scavenged what you could. The days that you spent together on the road was fun, Daryl taught you some hunting tips and you monitored his wounds.

“How am I looking, Doc?” He asked when you changed his bandages again.

“Really good actually,” you paused and changed the bandages faster because he was healing beautifully, “Those antibiotics are working great!” You paused, “How’s the pain?”

“Not so bad, I can tell I’m getting better but there’s still some pain.” He admitted, sliding on his shirt again. 

You leaned down and kissed his mouth sweetly, “Better?” You asked leaving your face inches away from his.

“Much better.” He smiled, rubbing your cheek with his thumb.

You quickly kissed him one more time before standing up straight again, “We’re almost home, right?”

“Yeah, about a half a day’s walk.” He paused, “I think we can make it before nightfall if we leave now.”

___ “Here we are.” He rubbed his thumb across the back of your hand nervously, “You ready, Y/N?” With the gentle squeeze of his hand the two of you walked out of the tree line and towards the gate of Alexandria.

“Holy shit!” Rosita said from the watch post, “Rick!” She shouted over her shoulder when she saw who was approaching the community, “Open the gate!” She ordered Eugene as she descended the ladder.

Rick’s attention was fixed on Rosita and the opening gate, the pistol bouncing in the holster against his leg as he came running; the other survivors emerged towards the growing commotion. “What is it? Negan?” His face hard with concern.

Rosita smiled happily, “Look!” She motioned with her arms out of the gate. Rick walked over towards the entrance and stopped in his tracks.

“Daryl?” He whispered, watching his face become more clear as he walked closer. Rick walked out of the community and closer to Daryl, the gap closing. Daryl let go of your hand and quickened his pace.

Rick’s eyes widened, his arms wrapping around his brother, “I thought you were dead.” He released Daryl, “Negan came here, looking for you; said you escaped, I thought—”

“I did.” Daryl interrupted, “Lucky enough for me, I found her.” He nodded to where you were standing a few yards back from where they reunited. “Her name is, Y/N; she saved my life. I got the shit kicked out of me just before I got out of Negan’s and my dumb ass stumbled into her and she fixed me up, gave me medicine…she’s good Rick.” He finished.

Rick placed a hand on Daryl’s shoulder, “I trust you, brother; welcome home.” He smiled then walked past Daryl over to you.

“Welcome to Alexandria. I’m Rick Grimes, Daryl tells me you saved his life; I cannot thank you enough for what you’ve done for him.” He reached out his hand from his hip.

You shook his hand, “Nice to meet you, Rick. I’m Y/N, it was great to know that there’s good people still out there…”

“You’re welcome to stay for as long as you want here, Y/N.” He smiled and the two of you walked back over to where Daryl was watching on.

“Thank you.” You smiled, Daryl took your hand in his once more, Rick smiled to himself when he saw this.

___

“This is where you can stay while you’re here.” Rick said, “I’m right over there in that house, the others are in that one there.” He pointed, “If you need anything, Y/N, please don’t hesitate to ask.” He smiled, “I’ll let you get settled in, I’m having dinner at my house; you’re welcome to come.” He patted your shoulder before walking away.

You walked up the stairs and opened the door, your eyes wandered the very clean interior of the model home that was all yours; it was weird, it was like the end of the world didn’t exist in this community; everyone was happy, clean and well fed…something you thought died when the world did.

You made your way into the kitchen and set the box of necessities that were given to you by Rick and the others, You brought your hand up and curiously flicked the handle of the sink faucet. Your eyes widened when the water generously poured from the opening, “Holy shit!” You exclaimed. You turned it off and ran upstairs and opened every door trying to find the master bathroom.

You turned on the water to the hottest setting and viciously ripped off your bloody, dirty clothes and hopped into the shower. You sighed heavily as the hot water washed over your body, the sweat, dirt and blood began to puddle before swirling down the drain.

You leaned your head back and relished in the warm water that rained down over your tired muscles.

“Y/N?” A man’s voice echoed through the minimally furnished home.

You shut off the water of the shower, “Hello?” You shouted once you realized that you were without a towel to cover up with.

“Yeah, it’s me.” Daryl said coming around the corner, “Oh, sorry.” He stood there, his eyes fixed on your wet, clean body. He cleared his throat, “Oh, here. I brought you a towel…” he said averting his eyes and handing you the fresh white towel.

“Thanks.” You said, wrapping it around your body, “What’s up?”

“Nothing, I was just wondering if you were settling in okay or if you needed anything.” He said internally battling himself to not let his eyes roll over every curve of your body.

“Yeah, it’s nice here…it’s perfect, actually.” You said, wringing out your wet hair that was leaving small rivers to run down your shoulders and into the crevasse of your breasts. 

“All right, I can get that, I’ll just leave it in the kitchen for you then… I, uh, I’ll see you—”

You pressed up onto your toes and kissed him, “…at Rick’s later for dinner.”

___

You picked out some clothes from the box that Daryl had placed in the kitchen, you settled for some shorts and a black tank top with a grey and white flannel that you tied around your waist. The sun was beginning to set on the first day that you were living in the community of Alexandria, it was just about time for you to meet the rest of Daryl’s group over dinner at Rick’s place.

You walked across the street towards the house with the warm glow of family and fresh smell of spaghetti aroma seeping from the open windows, the muffled chatter mixed with laughter echoed slightly off of the steel walls of Alexandria. You nervously knocked on the door and you heard the inside fall quiet.

The door opened and there you saw Daryl, a smile on his face, “Hey, you look great.” He stepped backwards allowing you to walk into the threshold of the home, “They’re all excited to meet you.” He said placing his palm on your lower back.

“Everyone this is Y/N. Y/N this is everyone.” Daryl motioned to his family who sat around the large table, their faces warm with wide, welcoming smiles.

“Welcome, Y/N.” Carol said, handing her a plate with a pile of food on it, “Have a seat.” She nodded to an empty chair that was next to Daryl’s.

“So, Y/N. What did you do before all of this?” Rick asked as everyone began their meal.

You set down your glass of water and wiped your mouth, “I used to be a nurse, I worked on a medical-surgical unit for a couple of years then I moved to the emergency room a couple of months before the end.” You told them, “When I found him,” you jutted your elbow out to nudge Daryl’s, “He was in pretty rough shape from Negan.”

The mention of his name turned the room on edge, “How do you know Negan?” Rick set his elbows on the table top.

“I used to live there and work for him as a nurse.” You remained completely transparent with them, “He said I got too close to the patients and told me I would have to marry him or leave…so I left.” There was a break in the tension when you finished your story about how you knew Negan. “I’m sorry for whatever he did to anyone else; what he did to Daryl…” your voice trailed, “I’m sorry.”

Daryl grabbed your hand, “It’s not your fault, none of it was.” Everyone smiled and resumed eating.

The rest of the night went on without a problem, the group welcomed you into their family. You learned about everyone and how they all ended up here at Alexandria and why they chose to stay there and put down some roots. Dinner was concluded and you began to gather up the dishes, you brought the large pile of empty plates into the kitchen and set them in the sink.

“It was great meeting you, Y/N. It seems like you fit in well around here; especially with Daryl.” Carol said turning on the faucet and begin washing the dishes, “I haven’t seen him smile like that in years.”

“Thank you, Carol.” You said feeling your cheeks flush a bright pink, “He’s a good guy.”

“I got it from here, Y/N. Thanks for the help.” Carol smiled sweetly to you, “Daryl’s outside waiting to walk you home.”

___

“Hey there.” You said, tucking your hands into the back pockets of your shorts.

“Hey.” He grunted, “C’mere.” He said, grabbing your shoulder and bringing you into his body closely and kissed the top of your head. You wrapped your arms around his body and inhaled deeply. “Want me to walk you home?” You nodded into this chest.

His arm gently perched on top of your shoulders, “Well, this is me.” You laughed and turned towards him. Your eyes sparked when they met his again in the moonlight of Alexandria, his eyes sparkled as he looked down at you. You could feel the tension rising between the two of you, it had been growing ever since you met him about a week ago in Reed’s General Store.

You cleared your throat, “You need them changed again or uh, how are you feeling?” You shook your head at how awkward you sounded.

He chuckled and gently caressed your cheek, “I feel a lot better when I’m with you.” He paused, taking your face in his hands; slowly and gently kissing your lips tenderly.

Things picked up when you wrapped your hands around his neck, he allowed his hands to slide down your sides ever so slowly and settle on your hips, gently squeezing them. You took control and turned him so his back was pressing on the door to your new home, your hand left his neck and pushed the handle down and you swung the door open.

Once inside, Daryl broke the kiss so you could close the door behind you. His rough hands pulled the hem of your tank top up, you took the hint and raised your hands allowing him to slide it over your head and down onto the floor. You eagerly tore at each other’s clothes as you kissed passionately while you ascended the staircase, stumbling a couple of times and laughing into each other’s mouths.

Daryl trailed down the sides of your hips and under your ass, lifting slightly. You returned your hands to the back of his neck and hopped up slightly to wrap your legs around his waist. You broke the kiss and looked deeply into his eyes, “Are you okay, Daryl?”

He kissed you again before answering, “Perfect.” He entered the room, carrying you over to the bed, gently laying you down on the fresh linens that were tightly tucked over the mattress. His body pressed over yours in the most heavenly way possible. His hands tangled with yours and brought them over your head, pinning you down underneath him.

His hips ground down onto yours making you moan, you could feel his lips curl up in satisfaction. “You like that?” His lustful voice sounded more rough than it normally was. You bucked your hips up frantically needing more friction and nodded your head rapidly. He let out a deep, throaty chuckle that sent a shockwave through your body and settled in your moistening core.

You could feel his hardening member through the thin fabric of his boxers, his lips became absent of yours and began to pepper sloppy kisses on your jaw and down your neck making you squirm, “Please Daryl, I need you.” You moaned into his ear. His hands roughly squeezed your breast, you arched your back giving him access to your clasp of your bra. His other hand reached underneath and flicked it open easily.

“You’re so beautiful, Y/N.” He said taking in you sip by sip, his eye drowning in your exposed breasts. His mouth skimmed down the center of your chest, veering over to one of your nipples, taking it in his mouth. His tongue flicked over the nub as he sucked; his other hand tweaked your other nipple in his fingers.

“Daryl!” You moaned through your breath that hitched in your throat by his touch, the wetness beginning to seep into your panties. “Please, Daryl.” You begged.

“You’re so fucking beautiful when you say my name.” He hovered over you and kissed you sloppily, your hands clawed down his chest, stomach and entering the lip of his boxers. He moaned into your mouth at your gentle touch on his cock as you agonizingly moved your hands up and down his length slowly.

You adjusted your hips and wrapped your legs around his waist and squeezed slightly, pressing himself harder onto you. His hands pulled down your panties and he gripped the base of his dick in his hand and pressed onto your clit, rubbing it roughly making you moan again and involuntarily buck your hips for more, “You want this?” He asked you, his head inches away from yours. 

You nodded, looking into his crystal blue eyes, “Yes, Daryl.” Without a second thought he pressed into you, squeezing his eye shut in pleasure at how you felt on him; you squeezed his shoulders as the burning sensation faded as your body got used to his girth. You moaned sweetly when he began to move slowly in and out of you, his mouth pressed to yours, kissing you lovingly.

“You feel so fucking good, Y/N.” He mumbled onto your lips, “So wet and tight,” he kissed you between his words, “I’m not going to last long.”

“Then you better fuck me right then or we’ll have to try it again.” You said breathlessly, moving your hips in sync with his. His length rubbed against you in the right spot making you moan loudly as you began to feel the warmth build in your center. “Faster.” You clawed your fingers into his hips.

He leaned on his elbows and moved his hips at a faster pace, he looked down to watch himself disappearing into you, “Fuck!” He exclaimed and tipped his hips hitting into you harder, “You’re pussy feels so good around my cock, Y/N.” He grunted, quickening his pace even faster, his hands balling up in the sheets. You moaned his name loudly and leaned your head back; his lips attacked the exposed flesh on your neck, gently nipping and suckling at the sensitive skin.

“Oh my God, Daryl! I’m going to come, I’m close baby!” You screamed, hooking your arms under his on either side of you and dug your fingernails into his back so hard that there were sure to be marks there the next day.

“Come with me, Y/N.” He kissed you and looked into your eyes, thrusting into your soaking center at a hard, animalistic pace. 

You squeezed your eyes shut tightly as the red hot coil snapped inside of you sending you into the euphoric high of your own climax, you walls clenching down on Daryl’s cock that was still thrusting into you. You clawed harshly at his back and he kissed you gently as he rode you through your high to reach his own.

“Shit, Y/N!” He moaned and sank deep into you as he began spilling inside of you, the warmth you felt made you moan along with him as he kissed you sweetly; a contrast to what your first time making love with Daryl was like.

He pulled out of you and rolled over to his back, his arm bringing you closely to his side. “Wow.” He said catching his breath.

You snuggled your head on his chest as he rubbed your arm, “Yeah, wow.” You smiled and caught your breath as well.

There was a silence that grew between the two of you that normally would have been awkward because of the tension between the both of you but that didn’t exist anymore. The silence was sweet, you both marveled in the company of each other, your breaths becoming in sync with each other.

Daryl broke the silence, “What I said in the woods three days after I met you, I meant it…” his tone low and soft.

“What are you talking about?” You moved your head so you were looking at his face, the stream of blue moonlight gently washed over his perfect face.

“I love you, I meant it then and I mean it now.” He cleared his throat and kissed you gingerly.

“As scary and crazy as it seems… I love you too, Daryl. Saving you was what I was supposed to do; falling for you was a choice.” You whispered, “I was alone and not far from being broken when I found you…fixing you, fixed me.”

“And I would do it all over again for you, Y/N. I was close to dying and you you saved me…you make me feel alive in a world full of the dead.” He squeezed you tightly to his body and the two of you drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

[blueraspberrymilkshake]

how about kyman with the prompt "do it, i dare you"?

Okay, I just want to apologize to @lochnessmonster for taking so long to post this prompt. Work has been a pain in the ass and I wanted to make this oneshot really good one. And it is! So I hope you enjoy this 2k+ ‘ficlet’! Heads up, this story has a lot of saliva references and Butters torture. I also made this one-sided K2, whoops, lmao.

~x~

“Do it, I dare you.”

Cartman said it so provokingly after Kyle let out a ’what?’ after hearing the brunette’s proposal. No, not that kind of proposal. 

Cartman dared Kyle to kiss Kenny. On the lips.

While the blond was sitting right next to him. In front of everyone in the room. 

“Okay. This is unexpected,” Stan retorted.

And he was right. In the past two hours, the teenagers were having a normal sleepover at Stan’s household (which had a severe lack of two parental figures since forever, resulting in underaged drinking on Stan’s part); and in the past thirty-five minutes Kyle wanted to play 'truth or dare’ and since then the other boys had done the most absurd tasks. 

Stan was given a wet willy by Craig’s middle finger.

Craig confessed he would still pee on the bed at the tender age of fifteen (Stan quickly left and came back from the bathroom and dropped a bucket of cleaning utensils waiting for him in the morning).

Cartman had to shove ice cubes inside his sleep pants and let it melt on his own sleeping bag.

Kenny had to impersonate a police officer while prank-calling Darryl Weathers (the boys later found out that the crazy man had recently went skinny-dipping at Stark’s Pond right after drunk driving and nearly ran over an unidentified child).

The other blond had it the worst. Butters had to find any undergarments Shelly left in her old room and wear them on his head. He could only find a worn out pair of brief panties. And to add fuel to the fire, he had to let his friends take pictures of him and share them with their friends… and his father.

Fast forward to the present, and all of the aforementioned highlights would’ve been better for Kyle. Hell, sticking a twig inside his dick sounded much less humiliating than kissing his friend. And that says a lot. 

Kyle blinked his eyes, still blindsided from Cartman’s request. “No, I’m sorry, did you just-”

“God, Kyle, do I have to repeat myself? I dare you to kiss Kenny!”

“I-I change my mind! Truth!”

“Nuh-uh,” said Cartman, wagging his finger. “You can’t change a truth or dare. Ain’t that right Craig?”

The dark-haired teen cleared his dry throat, trying to maintain his composure. “Y-you did came up with that rule yourself, Kyle.”

“See? Told ya." 

Kyle internally cursed at himself. Why did he insist on making every game so challenging? "I am not kissing him, Eric.”

“You have to. It’s a dare,” Cartman sneered.

“Why not dare Stan? Or Butters? Hell, even Craig seems more willing to do this!”

“Dude! No!”

“I have a boyfriend, asswipe.”

“And I still have my dignity, thank you very much,” Butters remarked ironically, adjusting the waistband of his newly given headwear. 

Two seconds later a small jingle left Craig’s phone, signaling the notifications he earned. As he checked his phone he snickered.

“What’s so funny?”

“Your picture got over a thousand likes on my Instagram, dude,” he even replied to one of the comments, “Why yes, those are menstrual stains.”

“A thousand?!” Butters shouted in agony, his face became sweating and his pupils wander around the room but nothing made him calm yet. “Oh God, is Charlotte going to see this?! I need to come up with a good dare, and quick!”

“Shut up, you guys!” the impatient Cartman interjected, with his head turning towards Craig and Butters.

“Alright, let’s get on with it, people,” he continued, snapping his fingers directly at his other two friends.

The older teen huffed, arms crossed as a form of protest. He wasn’t about to hear it.

“Kyle,” the taller boy leaned just a little closer, his tone low and browbeat, “your ass was going on and on and on about wanting to smooch a guy, and now’s your chance.”

Kyle’s eyes snapped back open, clearly outraged that Cartman would bring this up. He admitted to his friends he was questioning his sexuality; wondering if he liked boys as much as he liked girls. That was several months ago, and since then he would continue living his life with nary a definite conclusion. He should’ve known the taller boy would bring up personal information for his own gain.

“I didn’t know you’re bi-curious, too!” Butters beamed.

“Mhmm,” Cartman hummed. “And don’t act like you two haven’t done anything gay before. I haven’t forgotten the whole 'ookie mouth’ thing.”

“Ookie mouth?” Butters repeated, raising an eyebrow.

“We were eight!” exclaimed Kyle.

“And painfully inexperienced,” Kenny added with a hint of disappointment, earning him a glare from his former playmate.

“And now…” Cartman raised his two index fingers towards his chest and brought his digits together, “…you two can finally share each other’s saliva properly,” he punctuated his sentence by closing his hands together.

“Oh, dear God,” Kyle groaned, covering his face in embitterment. 

“You guys had to share saliva?” Butters gave off a mischievous look, his thumb and index finger on his chin. “Hmm.”

“Don’t even think about it, Butters,” remarked Stan.

“Why are you doing this to me? I don’t even like Kenny like that.”

“I saw the way you looked at him the other day. You were so focused on that sexy face of his, huh? You even smiled at him!”

“I was helping him study for our Final, you idiot.”

“It doesn’t matter. You could’ve said no. But something inside you said otherwise.”

“Eric, for the last time, I am not doing this. You better find something else for me to do.”

“Dude,” Kenny responded, his hand landing on Kyle’s shoulder. “let’s just get this over with.”

“You’re going along with this,” the frustrated teen assumed in a deadpan tone.

“Y'all know I never back down from a challenge,” said the smug boy, showing off a sincere grin.  “And compared to the other shit we’ve done tonight, Fatass is practically being nice to us. Besides, It’s not like he’s asking for a full-blown make out session.”

Kyle thought about this long and slow, and he snarled at Cartman. The brunette just raised an eyebrow, that shit-eating grin still plastered on his face. Kyle pursed his lips together, and finally gave up.

“Just a peck.”

Kenny nodded in agreement.

“Soooo?” Cartman was lying on his stomach, his feet in the air, and not caring for the remnant wet spot from his own dare. “Who’s gonna make the first move?”

Stan let out a forced cough and took another sip out of his can. 

“Rock, paper, scissors?” Kyle suggested abruptly. 

Each faced their open palms towards each other before placing their fists on top. When they drew the first time, they both had scissors.

“Best two out of three.”

They drew again, they chose rock.

They drew again, they chose scissors.

They drew again, they chose paper.

“How are you guys doing that?” Stan questioned.

And they drew again and again and again, but continue to reveal the same illusive weapon.

“Jesus Christ!” Cartman yelled, reaching towards the work desk and quickly found what he needed.  “Here!” A dime in front of Kenny’s face, the light from the ceiling causing the coin to glow in front of Kenny’s face. “Just flip a coin.”

“I-I call tails,” Kyle blurted out, just as the blond snatched the shiny object.

Kenny flipped the coin and caught it when it fell on the back of his palm. It landed on tails.

Kyle really wished he had some of Stan’s beer. 

“Alright Kyle, time to kiss yo’ man!” Cartman taunted. He was practically bouncing from excitement, and it wasn’t just from the ice cubes.

The redhead said nothing and instead sat still, taking the time to stay calm before he could look at his chosen participant.

“Look Kyle, we don’t have to-” suddenly Kyle placed a finger on the other boy’s lips, signaling him to stop.

“Why are changing your mind now? I thought you said you’d never back down from a challenge.”

Kenny was taken aback from his friend’s sudden change of inclination. He opened his mouth trying to find the right words, but the other teen beat him to it. “Come here.”

Kenny’s cheeks became redder and hotter as Kyle’s cold hands took hold of them. 

’If Fatass wants a show, I’ll give him a show’, the redhead thought.

Kyle took a deep breath before pressing his lips onto Kenny’s. He assumed the blond’s lips would be dry and chapped from the cold weather but instead they were soft and moist, but not from his own spit. Cartman must’ve had a play in this, because Kenny was wearing cherry flavored chapstick; the only person who liked that flavor was Cartman himself. He felt Kenny loosen up and give in to the passive kiss. Keeping his eyes shut, he let his hands wander at Kenny’s back - one hand gently grabbing strands of unkempt hair while the other stopped at his neck - pulling the other boy further onto him. 

“Uh… guys?” said Stan, finally speaking up, but his voice quickly became white noise. Craig gestured at the other boy, placing a finger on his lips, as he was quietly recording what’s left of this unforgettable dare.

Kyle captured his lips again, and again, and again, portraying himself as some touch-starved virgin; he could’ve sworn he felt Kenny’s mouth curve into a smile.

“Guys, you can stop now. Guys!”

“Welp, it’s a good thing I brought these,” Craig used his free hand to reach into his back pocket and a short pack of condoms fell on the floor.

“Craig!”

Thankfully for Stan, Kyle broke the kiss before this oneshot exceeds its PG-13 rating. When he opened his eyes again, he was met with a blankly inscrutable Kenny, his fingers lightly brushing his lips. Kyle’s eyes searched around the room, and everyone remained speechless. 

Stan ran a hand onto his raven-colored hair, clearly distressed of what he had just witnessed. “Holy shit, dude.”

Cartman blinked, as if he knew what he was going to say but couldn’t, and soon suppressed giggles evolve into raucous laughter. He was literally rolling on the floor as he does so, hardly attempting to regain his posture.

“Oh my - oh my God,” Cartman wiped his eyes as he tried to breathe. “You guys really did it!”

“Yeah!” Butters chimed in. “How embarrassing!” His snickering ceased as a buzz from his phone went off. He wasn’t too happy with his text.

“Oh jeez. My dad saw the pictures,” he bowed his head in shame. “He says I’ll be grounded when I get home.”

Kyle let out a long sigh. “I’m gonna rinse my mouth, now.”

And just like that, he promptly excused himself from the bedroom.

Everyone remained silent until Craig broke the ice. It was his turn after all. “Butters, truth or dare?”

~x~

After he was done using the bathroom, Kyle decided to get a bottle of soda to help wash down the aftertaste of Kenny’s mouth. When he took it from the refrigerator, Cartman was already stepping into the kitchen.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Kyle was pouring his drink into a plastic cup.

“My plan worked, didn’t it?” The brunette smirked.

Kyle pulled away from his own cup as the words processed through his head. “I knew it.”

“Don’t be like that, Kyle.” Cartman replied, hoping his own words would reassure the other boy. “No one will be able to recognize… this thing between us. Everyone will think you and Kenny have a thing.”

“Is that why you invited Craig and Butters? Just so they can have something to gossip?”

“Well, it’s hard for anyone believe anything Butters says out of his mouth,” the brunette sat next to the shorter guy, grabbing the bottle. “But with Craig, it’s nearly impossible to take no for an answer. I also wanted to see Butters make an ass out of himself tonight.”

Cartman removed the bottle cap; he was about to himself out before Kyle firmly grabbed his wrist.

“You’re not going to drink off the bottle, are you?”

“You took the last cup.”

“That doesn’t mean you can taint the soda with your backwash.”

The boy next to him scoffed. “Can I at least take a sip from your cup?”

Cartman was given the cup, and in return he gave Kyle a ludic stroke on his chin.

“Thanks, babe.”

Kyle rolled his eyes and smiled. He made sure he would get his cup back before Cartman could leave him with a single drop.

“I’m glad this whole thing is taken care of,” Cartman replied.

“There are better ways to keep our relationship a secret, dude,” said Kyle.

“Don’t worry,” Cartman nudged his arm. “This whole fiasco will die down in less than two months…maybe,” he stated his remark like it was supposed to make his boyfriend feel better. “…And now that Kenny’s got his wish he’ll stop vexing me.”

'His wish…’ it didn’t take Kyle to figure that one out on his own. “Kenny’s crushing on me, isn’t he?”

“What do you think?”

This all made perfect sense now.

“Cartman? Truth or dare?”

“Truth?”

“You’re jealous, aren’t you?”

Cartman didn’t say anything… yet. Kyle had already knew the answer. He just wanted to hear him say it. 

“Of the kiss? Of Kenny liking me? You thought that he was going to steal me away from you?" 

The brunette nodded his head but eventually answered the question, so faintly that Kyle could barely listen to it. He didn’t have to worry, though; because it was enough to earn him a tender kiss from his boyfriend. Unlike his last encounter, the redhead took his time on this particular person; the same person who had made him feel all types of ways but still managed to steal his heart. Kyle didn’t remove his hands when he parted ways, and instead they slid onto broad shoulders. He would never say it out loud, but kissing Kenny wasn’t as bad as he thought. However, the blond could never compete with the juxtaposition of silkier, shaved skin and softer, chestnut hair and chubbier cheeks and straightened, white teeth and the scent of coconut body wash, the list goes on and on. No one could ever take his place.

Their trance was broken when they heard a yell from upstairs.

"Jesus, Craig, there’s spit in my eye!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Butters!”

Kyle leered at Cartman when he started cackling, only to join in mere seconds later. 

“C'mon, you gaywad…” Kyle punched him playfully, “before they catch us.”

The best come back the other boy could come up with was, “Likewise, buttmunch.”

Cartman watched his boyfriend wander back towards the stairs before following suit.

[sweetsameli]

Chapter three: It Is Not My Place to Judge

After getting dressed, I slowly head to the galley; hoping to find it empty. Luckily, it was. I start searching for something to eat, finding the cabinets filled with a variety of food. I’m unsure of what I can take so I just grab a ration bar and sit down at the table, starting to eat it. I feel... unsettled. I’ve never had a vision turn into a dream, or make me fall asleep during meditation for that matter. I let my head hang, a little in embarrassed. Darryl must have come to see if I was alright and found me asleep on the ground, unless I slept walk to the bed. I bring my head up and rest it against my hand, staring at the ration bar. Which, I kind of doubt since I was in the middle of a vision/dream thing. A smile comes to my lips. How thoughtful of him.

“Whatchya smiling for?” I hear Darryl’s voice come through my train of thought. I turn my head to see him walking in. His face is covered in grease, kind of defining his very sharp, square jawline and I also notice his chin has a small dimple in it. He isn’t wearing his jacket so his tunic is also covered in grease, and revealing some of his bare chest. He wipes his hands with a rag.  

“Oh, um nothing. Just thinking of some good memories from my time at the temple.” I hastily lie. Ugh. He gives me a disbelieving look but doesn’t pursue to question it.  

“Hmm. Alright. Well, I’m working on your ship to pass the time till we get to Lothal. I could use a pair of hands?” He goes to the big chill box and pulls out some sort of drink, coming back over to the table to sit down. I watch him as he does that and contemplate whether I should ask him if he did in fact put me in my bed or should just leave it alone.  

“Um... So... Uh did you put me to bed last night?” the words slip out before I even finished contemplating. Well, dammit. “I uh only ask because I woke up in the bed instead of being on the floor where I was meditating.” He looks at me and takes a sip of his drink.  

“Yeah, I did. I heard some noise from your room. I forgot to have you lock it so it opened up for me when I got to it and there you were, collapsed on the ground. I tried to wake you but you were dead asleep so I thought it would be best if I just put you in the bed.” He says nonchalantly. I nod.

“Ah. Okay, well thank you. That was... very kind of you.” I smile. “What else needs to be fixed on my ship anyways?” He scoffs.  

“Plenty. The nebula really did live up to its name. I don’t even have life support back up yet because the engine keeps breaking somewhere else.” He narrows his eyes at me. “Do you know how to fix ships?”  

“Kind of? I know enough to get systems up and running, but repairing engines and such... not so much.” He nods, taking another sip from the drink.  

“Good. You can start on the systems for your ship then. I’ll keep working on the engines and hyperdrive.” He finishes his drink quickly and gets up. “And then maybe after this, we can start working on my ship.” He teases at me, smiling. He starts walking towards where my ship is and I get up to follow. We pass by a locker and he stops at, opening it up and pulling out some rebreather masks. He hands me one and I take it, putting it on. He puts on one himself and opens the hatch to where my ship is at, stepping inside. I follow after him, it’s a tight fit. I take a look around and the lights seem to be on but it feels...hollow in here.  

“At least the lights work?” I say jokingly, the mask muffling my voice and Darryl doesn’t respond. He is ducking under a bulkhead and going to the back of the ship. I follow him, not really having to duck as much as him. The lights seem to get darker and go to a red color and we finally get to the engine pod area. The engines look like they took a lot more damage than the outer hull took.  

“I can’t actually fit through the duct that leads to the cockpit because the other way is blocked.” He then turns around and looks at me sheepishly.  

“Why do I get the feeling that I was gonna help no matter if I knew how to fix ships or not?” I fold my arms across my chest and lean to the side a little.  

“Ha, you got me.” He rubs the back of his head. “What can I say? Can’t really change my height now.” I only give a grunt in response and crawl up towards the duct. I cast out my sight to see what duct I need to get too. I feel like a kowakian monkey-lizard swinging around to get to the correct duct. I pull myself up into the duct and crawl through it. He’s lucky that he is charming. I hate crawling through tight spaces. I let out an annoyed huff and continue to crawl till I finally reach the cockpit and slide out of the duct, landing on the ground behind the chair. I get up, dusting myself off and turn around to face the panels. They blink at random intervals and I go to the computer near the pilot chair, pulling up a systems report.  

It reads ‘Engine pod 1 and 2 offline. Navicomputer offline. Life-support and environmental controls offline. Shields offline. Comm system offline’ The list continues on and I groan.  

“Why don’t I just sell you then? Be someone else’s problem.” I ridicule the ship. Then sigh and start pulling up the systems I can fix.  

After working for a while, my back starts to ache and I stretch, hearing my spine make some very satisfying pops. I shake my hands to regain some feeling in them and stand up from the kneeling position I got myself into. Tapping on the screen and pulling up the systems report, I read over what is still offline.  

‘Engine pod 2 offline. Navicomputer offline. Shields offline.’ The list goes on for a bit. Ugh, I have only managed to fix life-support, environmental and maybe a few other things but there still a lot more to do. It does look like Darryl was able to get at least one engine pod fixed and I think maybe the hyperdrive. I should go take a break. I pull myself up into the duct and start to crawl back towards the engine pods. Popping my head through I only see Darryl’s legs poking from underneath one of the engine pods, bent at an awkward angle. I smile mischievously. I should scare him. I grab the bar ahead of me and pull out of the duct slowly, landing silently on the ground. Prowling towards him, I lean close to the opening where he is poking from.

“Hey whatchya doin!?” I hear him thwack his head against the engine, swearing something in Huttese and I hold back a chuckle. I move aside as he starts to move out from underneath the engine and he is glaring at me with strong intensity. His face is covered in grease, so I can’t tell if he injured but I can tell he wasn’t too pleased with being startled. I give him a flat smile. He shakes his head and stands up.  

“What was that for?” Darryl rubs his face, making the grease smudge around. I snort a little and then clear my throat. “What?”

“Oh, nothing. You just got a little something,” I point to a part of my face to indicate where a smudge mark is at and he tries to wipe at the spot but it just makes a bigger mess. I smile again. “Yeah, okay. You got it.” He gives me a dubious look. “Sorry, I got a little bored. I wanted to see if I could sneak up on you,”

“Hmm. Well, that won’t happen again.” He gives me a studied look. “Oh, and you’ve got something here.” He points to my face, near my cheek and I touch there, trying to rub at it then looking at my hand. Nothing has rubbed off onto my hand and he just smiles. “Here, let me get it for you.” He tries to rub my face with his hand and I just jump back, yelping a little. He laughs at me and I sigh annoyed. Damn, he almost got me. How dare he try to turn around use my trick on me. I look away and feel something fall off my head. His laughter stops and there is just silence between us. “Whoa.” He finally speaks up.

“What?” I say, slightly startled by the break in silence.  

“Your hair...” I blush now, realizing that my cloth hood fell off. I reach up to touch my hair, making sure it wasn’t wild or something but it only felt coarse and slightly greasy. I cringe. Ugh, I need to use the refresher.  

“I’m sorry, I probably smell huh?” I kneel down, grabbing my hood and standing back up.  

“No, it’s just that... It’s nice.” He smiles softly. “Is that natural or dyed orange? And is the violet also dyed?” I feel a bit self-conscious.

“Oh, uh no. All of it is natural. It’s a rare trait among my people.... My parents told me I got it from my great-great grandpa. He, too, was a... Strong force user. It’s why I was sent to the Jedi temple actually.” He nods and reaches over hesitantly, undoing the tie that holds my hair back into a braid and my hair slowly twirls’ out and he tilts his head to the side. I try to read his emotions but they feel blocked or maybe I’m too nervous to sense them.

“You should keep it down. It really compliments your face.” he says in a low, alluring voice. I feel heat rising up to my cheeks and a ping go through my heart. I am at a loss for words when normally in this situation I am the one who acts like this. Well, maybe not so... direct. I smile finally and put the hood back on. My nervousness still there in my stomach.

“Maybe I will keep it down. I’ll... think about it.” I hold out my hand, waiting for the hair tie. Darryl hands it back and looks away, his cheeks look a deeper color.  

“Let’s go take a break.” He starts to head out back towards where my ship is attached to his and I follow behind.  

That’s when I get struck with a feeling of wholeness. An odd feeling, one that I haven’t felt since I left to become a Jedi. It felt... strange but nice. That’s when I realize, the heat in my cheeks hasn’t faded and I shake my head. No passion, no attachments. Remember? I sigh, tilting my head down. Plus, I just met him. Darryl probably doesn’t even think of me like that. I’m a Jedi and he is womanizing, lying, laser brain scoundrel. I grit my teeth together and trudge to my quarters. Before I reach my door though, Darryl grabs my shoulder gently and I look at him; he then lets’ go and smiles at me.

“Just so you know, the refresher is just down there.” He points to a door that is a few feet from the galley and I nod my head.

“Thanks...” He starts to walk towards there. “Wait.” He stops and turns around. “Do you have... an area where I can... possibly train?” He raises an eye brow.  

“Why, planning on staying for a while?”

“Yeah, probably. I mean, it’s going to take a while for us to finish my ship, right?” He nods. “Okay well, I haven’t trained for some time and I could really use the practice.” He smirks, and tilts his head to the side.  

“Well I do have an area where I like to exercise. It should be big enough for you to practice in.” He starts walking towards the cockpit and I follow behind him. He takes a sharp turn before going into the cockpit and walks towards what looks like it was previously a storage room. It is filled with shut down practice drones, different weights scattered on the ground, a mirror covering one side of the room and some practice swords. The room even has a large mat in the middle to practice on. I nod my head slowly.  

“This should do. May I use it?”

“Sure. Go ahead.” He smiles and heads back to where the refresher is at.  

I walk into the room more and take off my hood, placing it near the rack of practice swords. I look at the mirror and stand up straight, looking myself over. My normal blue Jedi robes are charred mostly on the left side, the sleeve almost gone. I frown. I didn’t realize they were this bad. Good thing Darryl gave me that poncho before I went out looking like this... I look at my reflected face and see part of my cloth visor is burnt and pain aches through my chest.  

A memory flashes by, Ly’lis coming up to me after we just finished our Jedi Knight trials and she seems excited. She hugs me and after pulling back from the hug, is holding out a box. I take the box and open it, revealing a red cloth with intricate gold patterns. I smile big at her and hug her again.  

I touch where the cloth is brunt and a sad smile comes to my lips. I’m sorry Ly’lis. I bet if you saw this, you would just get me another... but I would just feel so awful if you had to go and spend more credits on me. I take in a breath and let it out slowly, grabbing a practice sword. I turn around and start to practice my forms.  

About an hour later, I'm in the middle of practicing my second form when I sense Darryl coming to the doorway. I continue and he leans against the frame, watching me. I sense from him a feeling of wonderment. I finish the form and he comes over to me, clapping softly.  

“Very nice. Do you wanna spar with me?” He smirks, smugness overcoming his wonderment from earlier. I look at him and notice he is in different clothes. The clothes seem to be a snug fit on him, the tunic being mid-sleeve and the pants coming up to about mid-calf. The outfit is all black.  

“Can I change first?” I put the practice sword down.

“Oh, I only let that happen on the second date.” He waggles his eyebrows. I get a feeling of lust now and I seductively smile at him.

“You wish this was a date.” Slight shock comes from him but his face doesn’t show. I don’t blame him; shock is an understatement to how I feel. Whelp, that was kind of stupid but it looks like he didn’t mind too much. I start to take off my outfit, wearing similar clothing to Darryl, only the tunic is sleeveless and my pants come up to mid-thigh.  

“Do you always come prepared to train if your clothes are too much?” He asks, tilting his head to the side.

“All Jedi do. ‘Be prepared for anything.’ First rule that was taught to me by my master.” I put the clothes next to my hood and come back to the mat, getting into a fighting stance. “Ready?” He gets into a fighting stance as well; one I slightly recognize. Huh, Reneji use to fight like that... “Do all Chiss use that fighting stance?”

“No. Only special Chiss use this stance.” He says, starting to circle me. I circle with him.  

“What does that mean? ‘Special’ Chiss? Were you part of a cult or something?” He chuckles at my question.

“No.” He throws a punch at me and I dodge, countering with a leg sweep but he jumps over it, bringing his foot down to my head. I roll backwards and jump up. He looks back at me, smirking. “Hmm, very nice counter and dodge.” I smirk.  

“Thanks. Now, what does it mean?” He comes at me, throwing punches again and I block them.  

“If I tell you, will you judge me?” He hastily says. I block the last of his flurry of punches and round house kick toward him. He blocks, grabbing my leg, staring at me intensely.  

“No. It is not my place to judge, especially since it seems like you haven’t judged me yet.” He twitches his lips to almost form a smile and flips me. I land on my butt, he’s about to get on top of me but I roll away just in time. Standing back up, I get into a fighting stance, he follows suit.  

“I use to be a royal guardsman for the Queen of Csilla.” I look at him dumbfounded and he uses that moment to kick me in the stomach. I cover the area, letting out a cough and land on my butt again. “Don’t lose focus,” He holds out a hand to me, “Or your opponent will over-take you.” His smugness is washing over me like a tropical storm. I take his hand and pull him down using the momentum to pull me up. While still holding his hand, I put a foot on his chest to show defeat. I look down at him, smirking.  

“I know.” He then smirks at me. I take my foot off him and back up a little.

“Huh, was not expecting that. I’ll remember that for next time. That is, if there is one.” He bows slightly. “Thanks for the sparring match. It’s nice to fight with an equal opponent.” I bow back to him.

“You’re welcome.” I straighten and look at him. “Is there any reason why you left? Isn’t being the Queens guardsman the best career you can get as a Chiss?” I walk over to my clothes and pick them up. He hasn’t really moved, just staring at the ground. He lets out a steady breath and straightens up.  

“There is but I don’t really want to talk about it at the moment.” He looks at me, and I see something haunting flash across his eyes and I just nod. “Thanks. I’m going to the galley to make some food; would you like me to prepare you anything?” He heads for the door, stopping at the doorway.

“Oh, sure. Just whatever it is you are having.” I say, walking towards him. We walk together into the galley and I break off, heading towards the refresher.  

“Have a good shower.” He winks at me. I purse my lips together and head inside. I can’t tell if he likes me or is just giving me a false sense in order to get into bed with me. I shake my head at that thought and start taking my shower. I let the water just wash over me, I tilt my head down and look at my hands. My left hands looks’ scarred and slightly red. I close it into a fist and a dull pain comes through but I don’t feel anything else. That’s when it hits me. I haven’t had a headache today... I turn my head up and look around. I put my hand out, feeling the flow of the force go through my body and the water starts to slow down. I pull my hand back and smile, the water returning to normal. It felt nice to have the force flow through me again.  

I hadn’t felt it this strong since I first landed on the moon of Yavin 4. It was where I had that dark vision for the first time and I pulled away from it. That gets me thinking... I hadn’t really had a full vision since then either. It was only that one I was having, and I kept running away from it. I bite my lip and realize that... I was rejecting the vision, rejecting the force. No wonder I couldn’t deflect that blaster bolt... I inadvertently cut myself from the force. I shake my head and smack my forehead. Idiot. I grit my teeth, and finish up with my shower.  

I step out and realize I have to put back on my dirty clothes and I cringe. I grab a towel, wrapping myself up and then cast my sight to see outside of the door. I see Darryl still working on the food, seeming focused. I chew on my lips. My bag is in my ship... what is wrong with me? Why didn’t I grab the stupid thing while I was on there? I huff and open the door, quickly walking to the hatch that leads to my ship.  

“Oh good, you’re done. I’m almost done with the food.” Darryl says, I turn around to see if he is facing me but he hasn’t turn around yet.  

“Okay, good. I’ll be right back. I just gotta get something from my ship.” I say quickly.

“To get some clothes, I’m assuming?” heat raises to my cheeks again. Kriff, did he see me? I turn around but he hasn’t moved. “I’m just guessing since your other clothes are, you know, ruined?” I can sense sarcasm implicated in his tone and I let out a sigh.  

“Uh, yeah. I’ll be quick.” I turn around and continue to the ship. Holding the towel close to me, I walk back towards the small cabin near the engines and look inside. My bag sits on the bed where I last left it. I open it up and pull out some clothes; a tunic that is teal, a grey vest to cover, a long black jacket, and a pair of pants that are a stiff light fabric beige colored, that are long. I pull out the boots that are black and very long and groan a little. That little womp rat. Ly’lis... She must’ve switched out my shoes when she was saying goodbye to me. I huff and start to dig through my bag, not finding any other shoes. I let my head drop, accepting defeat and starting to put my clothes on, leaving the hood down from the jacket. It all fits snuggly and I stare at the boots for a bit. I could just go bare foot... Why does she do this to me? Maybe next time I should just double check my bag. I’ve kept my clothes so well clean but no I had to get them all messed up and everything. Wait... there isn’t going to be a next time... It’s fine... Just clothing I'm not use to... I remember when she used to go off planet, she would dress up in fancy or suggestive clothing. Ly’lis never actually did anything with other beings, that was just what she was used to, how she grew up. I smile sadly to myself a little and finally just put the boots on. Then I remember that I never packed an extra pair of cloth visors. I’ll have to see if a shop on Lothal has any.  

I walk back to the galley and see Darryl already eating at the table, the food looking like some master chef made it. I reach the table and sit where a plate is already made up for me.  

“Did you really make this?” I ask, picking up the three-pronged fork and poking at the food. Darryl looks at me, raising an eye brow.  

“I’m not that posh. I know how to cook, and very well thank you.” He says miffed. I turn my head to face him.  

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I meant... well, you just seem so well off, why make the food when you can just have it already made and just have it rehydrated?” I say. He nods his head.  

“Ah, well I hate that stuff. It tastes... bland. So, I try to keep more... fresher items on board.” He goes back to eating his food. I look back at the food and start to eat it. It tastes... rather good.

“Wow, this is... good.” I smile, taking another bite.  

“Eh, you’ve been eating ration bars. I’m sure anything would taste good to you.” he flatly says.  

“I’m offended that you would think I wouldn’t land on a planet to eat actual food every once in a while.” I teasingly say. He finishes his food and folds his hands underneath his chin.  

“Oh really? Huh, thought you would’ve stayed away from market places and vendor shops in order to ‘stay on your path’?” He smiles teasingly at me. I purse my lips together.  

“Well, maybe sometimes...” He chuckles at me.  

“I’m going to ask you something, and please tell me if I am being too personal.” He looks at me with a gentle look. “How long have you been on this... quest?” I look at him, and then down at my food.  

“You said when you found me it had been about two weeks, right? Well, before that I had been out for about... two months I believe.” I poke at my food now.

“All alone?”

“Yeah...” I rub my forehead a little. “When I left the temple... Not everyone agreed with how I treated the situation. They all thought of me as a...” I bite my lip, remembering the feelings I felt before I left the temple. Thoughts of being a traitor, and a coward came rampaging to me when the others found out that I was leaving the temple instead of choosing a side. I sigh shakily, running my hand through my slightly wet hair. Darryl touches my arm gently and I turn to look at his hand then at him.  

“It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me all of it.” I smile a little and then look past him, the memory of seeing Ly’lis, Reneji and Aydgage coming to see me off plays in my mind again. The look that Aydgage gives me at the hanger bay just before I leave also plays in my mind, sensing his longing. My stomach twists in knots and I suddenly don’t feel good anymore. I pull my arm away from Darryl's hand and I put both of my hands into my lap. This is ridiculous. Why am I feeling like this? This isn’t like me... “Hey, are you okay?” Darryl asks, breaking my spiraling pit of darkening thoughts. I shake my head.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Sorry.” I start to get up, grabbing the plate. “Just not feeling good. Thanks for the food.” I go over to the cleaner and put my dish inside.  

“Well I mean that is one way to put that you don’t like the food.” Darryl teases, but I sense he is kind of hurt by it.  

“No, no. I loved the food but... just remembering what happened at the temple before I left...” I look over at him. “Brought up... unsettling feelings.” I take a shaky breath in. “I’m gonna go... meditate for a bit.” I walk to my quarters and this time, lock the door.  

I kneel down and sit on my legs and bow head down. My feelings are in a state of chaotic disaster and I am trying to calm them down. Maybe if I had followed Revan, my feelings would be less out of control. I’d be able to let them be free and express them without feeling like I am not at peace with myself. That I am burdening others and making them feel concern about how I feel. But... at the same time... letting my feelings just go rampant and unchecked could lead to bad decision-making and burden others with a mistake I have made. I rub temples, my hair falling forward. I rub hands down my cheeks, keeping the finger tips on my jaw and tilt my head up to look at the ceiling. I can’t even focus now without thinking that leaving was a bad idea. I let my hands fall all the way to my lap and then I remember Darryl touching my arm. I look back down at the arm he touched and I smile. I remember how I felt earlier and my smile fades away. I put my hands in my lap and try to focus on meditating now.  

I listen to thrum of the engine and hyperdrive, trying to focus again. There is no emotion, there is peace. My emotions start to calm down but I still feel a knot in my stomach. I let out a steady breath. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. I’m trying to clear my mind but Aydgage’s voice echo’s through my head, ‘...and may you come back to me, safely.’ The memory of him about to kiss me but instead kissing my forehead plays through mind over and over again. There is no passion, there is serenity. The fresher memory of Darryl pulling my hair tie out and touching my hair plays in my head, heat coming to my cheeks again. I clear my throat, shaking my head to get rid of the memory. There is no chaos, there is harmony. The message that Master Dauula gave me plays through my head, ‘Master Reneji has fallen... He has fallen at the hands... Aydgage...’ I bite my lip then let go, taking a shaky breath. There is no death, there is the force.  

I feel a little less overwhelmed but I still have the knot in stomach. I concentrate on my feelings I felt when Revan and a lot of the Jedi Masters’ and Knights’ came back from the Mandalorian war. I was only a pawadan at the start of the Mandalorian war and wasn’t allowed to follow. I think about it more and a lot of the younger Jedi Knights are the ones who are wanting to follow Revan. What exactly did they see that makes them want to follow Revan? Was it the power he showed the rest of us when he got back? His new lightsaber which was dark red? The fact that he was able to control his anger while fighting? I keep thinking of more and more possibilities, my mind racing down each path but finding no end. I hear the door chime. I look over at the chronometer and notice that a full night has passed by. I stand up quickly and go over to the door, tapping the button to open it. Darryl is standing there, using one arm to prop himself up against the door, dressed in a different outfit then when I last some him; wearing similar clothing when I first met him but his tunic is black now and he is not wearing his jacket still.  

“Hey...” He softly says, standing straight now. I can hear him think he wants to ask how I am doing, if I am alright but he pushes those thoughts away. “I made some breakfast, would you like some?” I smile slightly.  

“Sure.” He moves out of the way, gesturing his hands to let me go ahead of him and I go to the galley, Darryl following behind. I see that there is some fruit and gridle cakes on the table and I go to sit down. “Wow, shuura and muja fruit... I haven’t had these in years.” I start putting food onto my plate.  

“Years?” Darryl asks as he sits down, perturbed. “I thought that the temple would have stock full of fruits and vegetables?” He starts piling his plate full of food as well.  

“Ehhh... not really. At first, we did, yes.” I start cutting into my food. “As the Mandalorian war went on though, we had to start rationing food at the temple and sending out packages of food to the other Jedi who were fighting in it.” I chuckle to myself a little. “I remember making a package with one of the other pawadan’s, Ly’lis.” I giggle to myself a little. “We had finished packing it but forgot to put the label that it was food and not data pads!” I laugh a little harder. I feel Darryls happiness radiate off of him.

“Did you guys get to it in time?” I look at him, he is smiling, enjoying the story I am telling. I chuckle again.

“No!” I laugh, holding my belly. “Master Dauula came to us later on that week and told us what happened. We got in trouble!” I keep laughing and laughs along.  

“Were you a pawadan as well at the time?” He asks after the laughter dies down. I nod my head.

“Yes, I was.” I start eating my food again.  

“I’m assuming that Master Dauula is the same one from that message that you first watched?” I nod slowly, remembering I have one message left to listen to.  

“Yes. That was him.”

“What was he like?” I purse my lips together and tilt my head to look at him. Wait a minute. Why are we talking about me? I want to know more about him. That’s not fair.

“How about you tell me why you wanted to become a smuggler and I will tell you about Master Dauula?” I challenge him. He stares at me long and hard and sighs.  

“It’s hard to have a staring contest with a Miraluka.” he smiles a little and eats more of his food. I hold back a chuckle, trying to stay my ground.  

“Well, I mean yeah. We don’t exactly have eyes to stare at or with.” I hear him laugh in his throat but he clears it to cover his laughter. “Don’t choke on your food there.” I smile finally, going back to my food.  

“Ask me another time, and maybe I will tell you.” He finishes his food. “Besides, I want to know more about you. It’s not every day I get to talk to a Jedi, a Miraluka Jedi at that.” I turn my head to look at him again.  

“And it’s not every day I get to meet a Chiss smuggler, who was the Queens guardsman.” I take a sharp bite out of the gridle cake, but keeping my face turned towards him. He raises an eye brow.  

“Alright. Fair enough.” He stands up, stretching a little. “But first, we work on your ship. I might tell you something after that. If,” he points to me, “We can get it up and running today.” He winks at me and grabs his plate, taking it to the cleaner. I sigh, slightly annoyed and finish eating.  

“Fine.” I get up as well, grabbing my plate and going over to the cleaner as well.

“And no surprise scares. I managed to get rid of the bruise before it even formed.” He points to his forehead and I visibly bite my lip, smiling at the same time.  

“Damn, okay. I’ll try not to.” I reluctantly say, pouting a little. He pushes my shoulder a little and walks to my ship. I follow behind him. I hear him think of a plan to get me back but then he remembers I can hear his thoughts and he no longer thinks of the plan. We walk up to the hatch and go inside.  

“I’ll finish up the second engine pod and then see if I can bypass the door that is cutting us off from getting into the cockpit easier.” I nod my head and then stop, groaning. And I have to crawl back through those stupid ducts.  

“You get the easy job.” I mumble under my breath and head over to the duct I crawled through last time. I hear Darryl say something but I choose to ignore him and head to the cockpit. I land in the cockpit again and start working on bypassing the systems.  

*                                  *                                     *

I look over at the chronometer and do a double take as I noticed hours have passed by. I rub the back of my neck and look back at the system I was working on. I’m almost finished. I pull up the systems report again and it reports that shields I am working on are still offline. I breath in through my nose and breath out loudly through it. I don’t think I can fix while we are in hyperspace. I’m pretty sure it’s a part that needs be fixed and it can only be accessed through the outside of the ship. I run my hand through my hair. It feels a bit... odd. I’m not use to yet. I put my wrist in front of me and take the tie off, about to put my hair back into a braid. ‘You should keep it down. It really compliments your face...’ I hear Darryl’s voice echo in my head. I swallow a little and I pull my hair back into a ponytail instead. I start to pull myself up into the duct when I see the door open, Darryl standing there with a smug smirk on his face. I let go of the pole I was using to pull myself up and put my hands on my hips.  

“About time you opened the door.” his mouth parts in disbelief and I walk past him, smiling as well. I hear him walk behind me.

“Well, next time you want to fly into nebula, I’ll just leave your ship alone then.” He teases at me, but I continue to smile.

[irwintry]

Hallmark Movie Love Story

Warnings: swearing (he’s a potty mouth in this one folks)

Author’s Note: Christmas BABy!!! this was originally titled “the great snowmobile wreck of ‘18 and the hallmark christmas movie love story” lmao and there’s not even a snowmobile wreck in the story but that’s why i liked it

Word Count: 6.7k

Luke could read off all of the delayed or canceled flights by memory. He had seen them flash on every monitor he passed on the way to his terminal. Meanwhile, unhappy flyers were rushing by him to be the first at the information desk. Their holiday was ruined for sure, but his wasn’t, and that was all that mattered to him. He couldn’t figure out how his flight was one of the only ones on time, though he wasn’t complaining.

Even when boarding, he couldn’t believe his luck. The cruel part of him wanted to run off of the plane and rub the whole ordeal in the outraged flyers’ faces. His complimentary booze called his name, so he stayed put in the comfortable first-class cabin.

The skies didn’t look all that well, and turbulence had picked up right when they reached cruising altitude. If Luke didn’t know any better, he would say that the pilots miscalculated the possibility of the storm hitting their flight path. It didn’t matter to him now– he was up in the air, and everyone else was stuck in New York.

Luke had finished his first mimosa when the pilot announced over the intercom that the storm had pulled north, blocking the flight’s path and therefore preventing it from going farther west. His heart fell as he stared out of the frost-coated window, his eyes barely catching an inch of land below the clouds.

“Fuck,” he whispered and let out a breath. Luke believed he had a fairly strong intuition, and he trusted his gut. Right now, his gut was telling him that things were not going to go his way. If only it had told him that before.

The pilot informed them that they were landing in a town that started with S, but Luke didn’t care enough to register the information. He would buy a whole plane for himself if it meant getting home faster. The other passengers couldn’t say the same. If some of them were cute and desperate, he’d consider helping them, but certainly not the man beside him who reeked of B.O. and the burrito he chose to eat for breakfast.

Luke needed to get off of the plane in order to think coherent thoughts.

The plane touched down before noon, and already, the runway was slick and icy. The snow had started to fall only moments prior, and Luke knew that if it had been raining, it would be coming down in sheets. To his dismay, this was only the tip of the storm.

Karma was most likely going to fuck him up the ass.

There were no flights leaving from the tiny airport, and by the time he were to get onto the highway with the help of a taxi, it would be an hour into the storm. The roads would be closed by then. Luke had no choice but to go into whatever town was nearby and find a place to stay, and he was not happy about it in the slightest. He made sure everyone knew it by the look on his face.

All of his muscles were contorted in order to make a convincing irate frown. His mother would tell him his face would freeze like that, his cheeks all bitten in and eyebrows tightened together. He missed her, he really did, and he would love to see her if it weren’t for the lovely Winter Storm Dalton.

The ride into town was a nightmare– at least, it felt like it was to Luke. The taxi driver seemed content with the conditions, claiming that “not even an inch” had fallen, yet the occasional glance back through the plastic divider sent Luke into a minor panic. The radio station was a constant loop of Christmas oldies, and he wanted to reach up there and punch the off button, but he wasn’t that rude.

Luke didn’t hate Christmas, but if he couldn’t spend it with his family, he’d rather not have the holiday whatsoever.

There were only two motels within miles of the town, both with shiny new non-vacancy signs hung brightly in the office windows, and Luke wanted to tumble out of the cab and die. He tipped the driver a hundred before having them drop him off in the center of town. Before driving away, the driver told Luke about a few places to hit in the town before leaving tomorrow. This caused Luke to snort because he wasn’t even sure he would get out tomorrow, and he certainly wouldn’t be visiting any local art gallery.

He knew he looked fucking ridiculous. Everything on his body was designer, including his hat and coat. Even his luggage would cost most of the citizens of this town their arm and leg. Meanwhile, his shoulders pained him, and the tension had crawled its way up into his temples. He needed coffee.

Luke wandered for what felt like an hour, but it was really only two minutes when he stumbled upon a decent-looking coffee shop named The Coffee Pot. The windows were fogged, and it reminded him that warmth did exist, just not on his body at the moment. He could tell his cheeks and nose were bright red, and his ears were physically hurting his head even more.

The door chimed on his way in, and out of the many times Luke’s presence silenced a room, this had to be the most uncomfortable. All conversations ceased, and the only sound reverberating through the all-too wooden interior was the faint drone of Bing Crosby singing “White Christmas”. He clutched his suitcase and started towards the counter.

“The west coast too warm for ya, son?” an older man shouted from the back corner, and Luke didn’t hesitate to glare at anyone who chuckled. “This ain’t Malibu, sweetheart.”

“Give him a break, Darryl, he’s probably tired from travelin’.”

Luke’s head snapped over to the counter where the next voice came from. Instead of finding another grumpy local, he found you, a soft and smiley barista that clearly would get on his nerves if he spoke to you long enough.

You were leaned up against the counter as he approached you, and you were still smiling as you asked, “what can I get ya?”

Luke wanted solitude. He wanted no one to speak to him ever again. But he also wanted the richest cup of coffee he could get in Buttfuck, New York. “Small coffee,” he muttered, already digging into his wallet for a few dollars. “Darkest roast.”

“Cream ‘n sugar?”

“No.”

“Okie dokie,” you said. “You can put the fifty-cents in the tip jar.”

Luke quirked a heavy, wet (from the snow) brow. “Fifty-cents?”

You nodded. “The coffee’s fifty-cents.” You had already poured the coffee into a to-go cup, and now you were standing with your arms crossed. Maybe Luke wasn’t the only one with an attitude. “Can I get ya anythin’ else?” A sigh followed your question.

“No.”

“Ya sure?” You smirked at him, and he didn’t like that one bit. “We got food. Airplane food’s not quite as good as my world-famous pressed paninis!”

Luke nearly snorted. You were annoying, yet funny. World-famous... he’d had world-famous, and he was positive you hadn’t even come close to knowing what it tasted like. “Got any salads?”

“Um,” you mumbled. “No, I’m– I’m sorry, we don’t.”

Great. Poor service and no salads. Luke wanted to get the hell out of this town. “Fine. Gimme a world-famous panini, then.”

“Oh!” You grinned, your entire body jumping as you leaned your elbows back onto the counter. “Which one? We got– “

He didn’t listen as you listed off the sandwiches, so when you stopped talking, he played the lottery and said, “the last,” before setting down his cash and walking away with his coffee. Luke was normally nicer than this, but his day had been so fucked up already, and he wasn’t terribly in the mood for talking to a cute yet chatty barista. However, he did feel guilty for not saying thank you.

Luke took a seat at a table by the wall adjacent to the counter. Every single one of your customers stared at him as he did so, but just as he opened his mouth to retort a snarky comment, they returned back to their conversations. They were more interested in his rich, LA vibe, and they definitely wondered why he was here instead of there. He would rather be there than here any day.

He winced as he took a sip of his coffee. It was watery like he expected. No good coffee is fifty cents. The person to his right had been staring at his luggage for a good minute now, which for some reason, pissed Luke off to no end. Every little thing that bothered him was heightened due to the incredulous turn of events of the day. It wasn’t even two in the afternoon.

The coffee sat idle as he began to scribble down his thoughts into a random journal he picked up in Munich just the other month. His life was too extreme for the people of this town. They wouldn’t last a day in his boots, nor would he want them to even breathe near his boots. Someone could glance at them and he’d spit.

Luke wrote for a while, his thoughts pouring out onto the handmade paper without even realizing that a hot unknown panini had been placed down right in front of his nose. Also, a few of his crumpled bills had been strewn beside it.

“Few dollars too much,” you said, your face expressionless as you prepared to back away. “This is Spruce Creek, not LA. The world isn’t as shiny as it seems.” And then you were gone, and Luke wanted to laugh.

Everyone here thought they were so philosophical– it killed him. He shoved the few dollars into his pocket before staring at the steaming sandwich. A growl emitted from his stomach at the sight of the pesto running down the crusty sides, and Luke didn’t realize how truly hungry he had been until he reached for the sandwich and took a great big bite. He nearly moaned at the warmth spreading on his tongue. If only the coffee had lived up to his expectations, then maybe he would give this place a little more credit.

Luke pictured you in a city like New York, but he wasn’t sure you could handle the hustle and bustle. You certainly didn’t belong in LA– you seemed like the type that thrived off of snow and hot chocolate. Plus, you also seemed satisfied with the community you created with this coffee shop. Everyone was speaking to one another as if they were longtime friends... everyone but Luke. He didn’t want to be friends with any of them anyway.

Time ticked away faster than he assumed it would. Come mid-afternoon, the sun had set, and people were flooding into the coffee shop for food. They all looked the same to him, and they all knew each other’s’ names. Mid-afternoon slowly turned into early evening, and before Luke knew it, the whole place had cleared. His coffee remained untouched from earlier.

“Hey Curly, we’re closin’ up,” you called from the other end of the café. You were stacking chairs, your apron now thrown over your shoulder like a proper barista would. He had noticed you scrubbing down surfaces, but he hadn’t put two-and-two together.

“Fuck,” he muttered, eyes widening and pen slipping from his grip, though he made no effort to move. Luke had slept in cars and vans and buses, yet not once had he slept on the street. If he truly wanted to, he could go back to the airport and stay there, however, conditions were worsening outside.

The chair in your hands fell to the table with a spine-shuddering bang. Luke was just thankful he didn’t have all that much caffeine in him or else the sound would have sent his nerves flying.

“Where we ya headin’ to?” you asked, continuing your round about the floor.

“Does it matter?” he sighed as he rubbed his temples. “Got no fuckin’ place to stay.”

You didn’t answer as you stepped back behind the counter to shut off the lights to the kitchen.

“’m stuck in this fuckin’ town with all you fuckin’ people,” he said, “and Spice Crete is so fuckin’ small that your tiny ass motels turned me away. Me. I coulda given ‘em triple their nightly rates! So fuckin’ stupid. I’d rather’ve stayed in fuckin’ New York City with everyone else whose flight was canceled.”

“Spruce Creek.”

“What?” Luke snapped. He imagined that his face looked awfully crude.

“The town,” you giggled, shutting off the lights that were behind the camera. You walked over to him and placed your hand on the leg of an overturned chair. “’s Spruce Creek. Although, I wouldn’t mind the Spruce changing t’Spice. Sounds festive.”

He rolled his eyes.

There was another moment of silence as you stared at him, and he was about to say something about it before you said, “so, stay at my place.”

Luke knotted his brows together. Every line in his face deepened with confusion. “What?”

“I’ve got a couch,” you replied with a smile. “It’s not a California king-sized, but it’s some cushion until the conditions clear up. Free of charge.”

He was about to snort. He was about to say no. But he had no other options. Luke was forced to nod and accept your kind invitation. He hated that you seemed so happy about it.

-

Luke was grateful (truly, he was), but he could not handle your constant chatter. Were all small-town people the same? Did they all talk about nothing that mattered to him just to get under his skin? After you had taken him down the road to the tiny apartment building you resided in, Luke decided he was going to lock himself in the bathroom for thirty minutes of peace. The idea of brushing his teeth and scrubbing off the airplane and coffee shop grime tempted him, though the jingling of a collar snapped him out of his thought process.

A stout and slightly chubby Pitbull waddled over to greet the two of you as you entered through the (god awfully creaky) door. It went right to you, but it soon cowered back into the hallway right when it noticed Luke.

“That’s Grape!” you exclaimed, meanwhile making baby sounds to summon the dog back. “She’s shy when it comes to men. The vet thinks it might be because of her past owner, or something.”

Luke felt the disappointed come and go. Memories of Petunia hit him like a freight train, and it only reminded him further that he wanted nothing more than to be home with her. His eyes fell on the tree in the corner of the living room, and fuck, what a pathetic thing that was. Had you only gotten it yesterday? You didn’t seem like the type of person that had to settle for the runts. The apartment was decked out top-to-bottom for the holiday, so it didn’t make sense that the tree appeared to be seconds away from catching flame.

Whatever. It didn’t matter to him anyway. He was going to be here for a day or two at tops. And, if it had to be any longer, Luke would rather walk home.

And then the tree kept bothering him. “What’s– why’s your tree like...”

You huffed, but you laughed along with it. “Sad?” You shrugged and plopped down onto the hardwood floor as Grape came ambling over. “Couldn’t afford the price of a pretty tree.”

Luke frowned. Now that was unacceptable. “Where’s the nearest tree farm?” he asked you, eyes narrowing on you and the tubby pup that refused to look at him. It truly crushed him that he was not getting attention by that dog. If anything was keeping him back, it would be Grape.

“Um, there’s one behind Martha’s candle shop, so just like a five-minute walk,” you said. “Why?”

“I can’t sleep on a couch facing that fuckin’ thing,” Luke grumbled as he hugged himself with his arms.

“But I can’t– “

“Think of it as me leaving my mark.” He shrugged. The closer he got to closing himself off I the bathroom, the happier he would be. “Buying a tree will hardly put a dent in my wallet.”

You nodded, your lips pulling into a small frown as you lifted yourself off of the floor to stand. “You know,” you mumbled, “you’re gonna find some of the nicest people here in this town. They’ll treat ya like family if you let them. The storm will be over soon, and you’ll go back to your sports cars and model girlfriends. But there’s a warmth you’ll get here that you’ll never get anywhere else. Don’t flaunt things in their faces. People may not be rich here, but they have more worth than you will ever know.” You grabbed your coat from the small hook beside you. “Let’s go.”

-

Luke didn’t like receiving the cold shoulder from anyone, and for some reason, he hated it coming from you. You, the cute, chatty barista who somehow knew exactly how to piss him off. Yet, now that you were upset with him, the entire town would be on his ass. How could he hurt the sweetheart who owned The Coffee Pot? How dare he? Luke hardly expected to come out of this alive.

He didn’t know how to pick out a Christmas tree– he just saw them in movies and always dreamt of the day he could cut one down and decorate it himself. You, however, knew exactly where to go as you stalked off to the way back. Sure, he was right about there being a lot of runts, but there were good ones too. You certainly had experience in shopping for trees. You handled the saw with ease on the walk through the trees while he stumbled over stumps while the tree wagon nicked his shins.

Luke hadn’t made a snarky comment since you snapped at him, which honestly, he deserved. He was being a bit cruel to the folks around town. They had no say in his matters– it was not their fault that he was stuck in this god-awful place.

“If this fuckin’ thing hits my fuckin’– “

“This one,” you said, pointing to a great Fraser fir standing a whopping six feet (he guessed considering he was slightly taller than it).

Luke’s forehead scrunched. “It’s so– “

“Short?” you wondered aloud. “Mhm. I’ll name her Patrice. Who’s cutting? You, or me?”

He stuttered out a pitiful, “uh, I– uh– I-I don’t– “ before you sighed and kneeled on the snow-covered ground.

His eyes widened at your audacious action, and he wondered if you cared about your pants at all. Luke, on the other hand, was freezing his butt off. He was lucky he had a hat to keep his delicate ears warm, but his hands were numb in his coat pockets. The snow was falling in fat, chunky flakes that greatly affected his vision. The two of you looked kind of hilarious, all covered in snow and such, and you were somehow already well into your sawing. You definitely did have experience.

The word “wait” uttered from his lips a moment later.

“What?”

“I-I wanna try.”

You chuckled and sat up. Your arms were coated in needles, and your entire front side was caked in snow. “Give it a go, then,” you said, handing him the saw.

Luke knelt on the ground as he did his best not to wince at the fact that his few-hundred-dollar pair of pants was now soaked in snow, mud, sap, and many other things he didn’t want to think about. He laid down, just like you had, and shit, he wanted to whine about it so badly.

The floodlights overhead hardly shed a speck of light through the needles, which meant he couldn’t see a single thing of what he was about to cut. You had sawed a little already, so he searched and searched for the itsy divot you created.

“I look fuckin’– how the hell do you do this?” he asked, somehow already frustrated. His arms were cramping, and they hadn’t even moved.

You chuckled from above. When he glanced up (as best as he could through the lower boughs), you had grabbed ahold of the top to balance it out for when he began sawing. “Back ‘n forth.” You motioned it with your hands, and honestly, it looked more like–

“A handjob?”

This made you burst into a fit of unforeseen laughter, and that actually caused him to smile, too.

“Like a handjob, yup,” you said.

He nodded and returned his gaze back to the dark underbelly of the fir. Here goes nothing.

It took a bit of time, coercion, and tears, but Luke finally managed to cut down the small fir. He insisted on lifting it into the little wagon too, but the blunt end of the trunk fell on his toe, so you ended up helping out with that one. Truth be told, he wasn’t sure the experience had been worth it, but he promised you a better tree, and hell, you were getting a better tree.

“Cool beans,” you muttered, out of breath. A few snowflakes had stuck to your eyelashes, and that made him smile a bit. You were really pretty. Brushing off your hat, you huffed out, “now, let’s go get Patricia straightened.”

“I thought it was Patrice.”

You pouted. “Oh. Yeah. Patrice.”

Luke had no idea how he remembered that over you, but he knew that in due time, he would hopefully forget Patrice and this entire experience.

-

Luke awoke to a slobbery grin by his nose, and before he could register the puppy’s stare, he was being attacked with big, wet kisses. He had almost forgotten where he was as he laughed at the dog’s sudden friendliness, and then he smelled the burning from the kitchen. The half-open French doors separating the living room from the kitchen only hid so much, so the dancing mess that you were could easily be seen. He recognized the song playing softly through your phone as some song from “10 Things I Hate About You”. Honestly, his life at the moment could have been so much worse.

The spatula flew from your hands, and you yelped, causing poor Grape to waddle off in fear.

“Shit, Y/N,” you muttered to yourself, clambering across the bench surrounding the table to fetch the fallen soldier, “that’s not how you make eggs.”

Luke snickered, but he hadn’t meant it to be as loud as it was. You slipped onto the floor, and he heard your dog’s collar jingle from down the hall.

“Mornin’,” you huffed, kicking your legs out and accepting your defeat. “Like eggs?”

“Got ketchup?”

You groaned. “You disgust me.”

Luke cracked a grin.

“But no, sorry,” you mumbled with a shrug. “’m not a big ketchup fan.”

“You disgust me.”

You leaned forward to peer through the glass of one of the open doors so you could view Patrice in her bare glory. “Thanks, again. For Patty.”

He nodded. “Thanks for giving me a place to stay.”

You nodded, too.

“Need any help in the kitchen?”

Luke found out that you burned some toast, and you were about to serve him watery eggs, which didn’t make much sense to him considering the masterpiece sandwich you crafted for him yesterday. Now it was his turn to show you his skills, although they weren’t all that great. He just wanted things to go faster so he could get the hell out of Spice Girl Creek. The weather didn’t appear all that better just from his observations, but maybe it would be okay by the afternoon.

He had plated your breakfast when you said to him,

“Roads are still closed. We’re only in the middle of Dalton.”

Luke nearly dropped your plate. “Are you fucking kidding me?” He set the two plates down and began to pace a bit.

You shook your head. “But you’re more than welcome to– “

“Leave me alone,” he snapped and raced in the direction of the bathroom. Grape followed after him, and she soon began whining after he closed the door in her face.

Luke wanted to scream or cry or something in between. He was stuck in this town with you and all of those other weird old people that only saw him as a fake movie prop. He was real, and he was so mad that everyone looked at him as if he were the oddest frickin’ man who walked the face of the earth. Sure, he was pricey, and sure, one of his outfits cost more than your monthly rent, but that didn’t give them the right to stare. Just because he was untouchable didn’t mean he had zero feelings completely.

Maybe he was being unreasonable. He wasn’t a fucking god. All of Luke’s feelings stemmed from the fact that he couldn’t get home, and he really had no right to take it out on them. He had no right to take it on you, the pretty stranger that was being too fucking nice to him and his ugly temper.

With a sigh, Luke rinsed his face and walked out to join you for breakfast.

You were sat at the table when he walked back in the kitchen, your one hand petting a snorting Grape, the other struggling to pick up a few bites of egg onto a fork. “I’m sorry,” you said to him as he walked in.

Luke shook his head. That was the last thing you needed to say to him. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I really don’t want you to think I’m this rude.”

“No, I get it,” you said. “Ya just wanna go home. I get it.”

He sighed and took his spot on the bench across from you. From what he could remember, his grandmother had a table and bench set like this at her old home. They were nestled between three walls just like yours, but in your case, the kitchen was within arm’s reach.

A thought popped into Luke’s mind. “Do you– do you really run The Coffee Pot by yourself?”

You nodded happily. “Well, sort of. My friend Charlie co-owns it, but he moved away last spring. It’s been me and a few other pals for months now.”

“Jesus,” he said, taking a bite of his bland eggs. Ketchup would have been great, and he wasn’t sure he could ever forgive you for not having ketchup.

“So, I work ten to close,” you said as you poured a bit of salt onto your eggs. Not much better than ketchup. “You’re free to sit in the seating area with the regulars. Darryl might give ya a hard time again. Or, you could see all that Spruce Creek has to offer! Although you might not wanna become an abominable snowman, so it’s up t’ya.”

“Hm, I might,” Luke mumbled. He truly did need a head-clearing walk.

“Waterman’s Bridge is pretty in the winter,” you said, “especially when the river is frozen over. It’s just a ten-minute walk east. The local art gallery is nice. I actually have a few works in there myself. And– “

Luke began zoning out when you mentioned the art gallery. He didn’t know it then, but he had been caught up in the movement of your lips as you spoke. That was the first sign, and after that, he lost track.

-

He dropped by Waterman’s Bridge briefly, but his cheeks were too chapped to withstand the brisk cold of Winter Storm Dalton’s fury. Unfortunately, though he did bring a few beanies and a singular pair of gloves, none of them were thick or warm enough to brace the harsh winter. The next stop was the art gallery like you said. He swore he wasn’t going to visit it, but after you mentioned you had a few pieces hung up, his brain convinced him to drop by.

The building was about the size of your one-bedroom apartment, and the artworks were all cramped and snuggled together like your vintage furniture. This made it easy to spot your creations, and when he did, he found himself going back to examine them. The curator of the place recognized him, but to his luck, they only bothered him for a moment before leaving him be.

Your work wasn’t the worst he’d seen, nor was it the best. Truth be told, he didn’t know what to think about it. He spent a good twenty minutes analyzing the film photographs only to realize there was nothing significant to be analyzed. All Luke knew was that he couldn’t tear his eyes away from your art, and that troubled him. They were special because you made them.

He pictured you stretched out on the floor of your living room, couch pushed against the wall as you painted whatever damn thing that came to your mind. You probably carried your film camera with you everywhere, but he suspected that, since it was a literal blizzard outside, your creative eye was being restricted.

Luke quickly shuffled out of the gallery in order to avoid the gaze of the curator. He started in the direction of your coffee shop, but then he remembered the candle store, and oh, did he love candles. Maybe he would pick one up for his mother. Maybe he would pick one up for you.

“Luke, what a pleasant surprise,” you said as he walked in.

The heat hit him like a sudden gust of wind, and he had to shake the snow off of his coat and boats before walking off of the carpet and onto the hardwood. “Need a coffee fix,” he muttered, glaring at a few strangers (or regulars as you would call them) that happened to stare a bit too long.

“Small coffee?” you asked.

He bit his lip and leaned towards you. “Gotta be honest, your regular coffee is more water than coffee,” he whispered. A part of him wished he hadn’t said that, but then you giggled.

“I told Emily that her coffee isn’t nearly as strong as Charlie’s was.” You took a mug from the rack by the espresso machine and faced him. “All right. Prepare yourself for the best coffee you’ve ever tasted.”

Luke raised an eyebrow. “Bet?”

“Oh, I don’t need to!” you exclaimed. “I already know it’ll be the best coffee. If I’m wrong, then you can have Grape.”

“What?” Luke’s voice escaped him at a higher octave than he had hoped for. “You wouldn’t bet your dog on coffee.”

“Just you wait!”

Luke waited, and truly, he had to admit that you were right. The coffee was damn fantastic, but he wasn’t sure if it was the best he’d had. He would have to try every single cup of coffee he’d tried from around the world to put yours up to the test. But in the meantime, yes, your coffee was the best coffee, and he needed two more cups.

He stayed until close again, his stomach now stuffed with the same turkey pesto panini from yesterday. For the few hours he sat there, half of them were spent admiring you from afar, whether he wanted to admit it or not. Even the stranger next to him elbowed and teased him about it. Luke’s face fell, and he returned back to journaling.

Before exiting into the marshmallow world outside, Luke handed you a heavy brown paper bag.

“What’s this?” you asked, looking inside and fishing out a dark green candle.

“A candle.”

You knotted your brows together in confusion.

“For gratitude,” he continued. “’m not sure what scents ya like– “ He scratched the back of his neck, “–but I figured balsam and cedar was the best– “

Your arms were around his neck before he knew it, and he easily relaxed into your hug. Luke felt himself melt against you, his senses taking in your warmth and your scent purely for a memory stamp. He was slowing starting to realize that he did not want to forget about this experience or you.

“T-thanks,” you said, backing away as a great big smile grew on your cheeks. “This– this is the best thing you could have done for me. Thank you.”

“Course,” he replied. Luke began to smile as well.

Back at your place, you dug out boxes of ornaments. You had only just put them away yesterday once you got rid of your previous tree. A moment later, you invited Luke to help you decorate Patrice, and he jumped at the opportunity.

“What Christmas songs do you prefer?” you asked, stretching your arm out far so you could reach for your phone on the coffee table. The two of you had been untangling the metal hooks from the big ball they had forced themselves into. You let out a soft sound as you bent over, causing something to spark in Luke’s heart. “Traditional or gross modern?”

“I take it you got an opinion,” he muttered mockingly. “Traditional. Gimme that Bing Crosby shit.”

You grinned. “Man of my dreams.”

Luke wasn’t sure if you meant him or Bing Crosby. Whatever it was, it made Luke blush.

-

“Luke,” you whispered in his ear.

He groaned, rolling over and pulling the blanket higher on his bare torso to keep the chills from hearing your voice at bay. The shutter had already traveled halfway up his spine. In his dream, your fingers were tracing along his bicep as the other massaged his scalp. Your chests were pressed together, and the skin-to-skin contact was making his mind reel with pleasure and intimacy. God, you were so beautiful. How had he not noticed before?

“Luke,” you whispered again. Shit, did your voice get sexier?

Luke hummed, but it came out more like a moan as he imagined your lips sucking and biting–

“Luke!” you shouted, hitting his head hard with a couch pillow. “Wake up.”

His eyes snapped open to find you not in bed with him, but in fact, kneeling beside him fully clothed. Fuck.

“The roads are open,” you said. “Snow’s stopped.”

He jumped up, a grin spreading far on his cheeks. Before he knew it, he was lifting you up by the waist and holding you against him, his hand finding its way into your hair so he could press your head onto his chest.

“I take it you’re happy?” you mumbled against his hot skin.

“So fuckin’– “ His mind interrupted his tongue. That meant he could leave. That meant he had to leave. He had to leave you. Luke frowned and pulled away from you.

“What?” you wondered as you examined his suddenly worried expression.

His hands moved onto your cheeks, his thumbs grazing the soft skin underneath your eyes while he thought about what he was going to say.

“What?” you chuckled out lightly, but you soon lost your smile.

“Jus’ thinking about kissing you,” he said, “before I go.”

You were silent for a moment.

“’m sor– “

“I won’t want you to leave if you do,” you whispered, your hands reaching up to gently wrap around his wrists.

Luke nearly let out a breath, but he hadn’t brushed his teeth. “I gotta shower.”

You nodded, dropping your grip on his wrists as he dropped his on your cheeks. “Course.”

His heart was thumping loudly in his chest as he scurried around the small bathroom. He tossed his clothes to the floor, the toothbrush in his mouth nearly sliding back down his throat before he caught it with a gag. The water of the shower was hot enough by the time he had rinsed all of the toothpaste from his mouth, and then you knocked on the door.

“’m– I’m naked!” he shouted hurriedly.

“Yeah, um– I-I figured,” you stuttered out. He could picture you clutching your arms close against your chest like he knew you did when you were nervous.

Luke walked over to the door and opened it slightly so he could peak his head out. You were standing just how he imagined you would be, except he hadn’t expected to face the thick tension that he knew all too well. Your lips were pulled into a pathetic little pout, and it took every ounce of him not to tug you into the bathroom with him.

“I’m just– I’m– I’m gonna miss you,” you said. “I-I don’t– shit, I– “

Luke reached out and grabbed the back of your neck, pulling you in so he could press his lips against yours in a heated kiss. Maybe it was the steam from the shower, but every single nerve in his body ignited. You were kissing him back with as much fervency as he, and he couldn’t help but let himself taste what he had been missing these past three days.

“I’ll miss you,” he murmured breathlessly, nudging your nose and slowly kissing down your cheeks and onto your neck. “So much.”

You unexpectedly pulled away, your eyes frantic, and your lips tugged into a deep frown. “No, you won’t,” you said.

Luke rested his face against the door. “What d’ya mean?”

“Y-you won’t miss me.” You cracked a smile. “You’ll go back to LA– see your friends and family, and you won’t miss me. You won’t miss this town– you won’t even remember it. It’ll be like some dream to you.”

“No,” he said, “that’s not true.”

“Are you sure?” you laughed somewhat maniacally. “You’re famous, Luke. Famous people don’t belong in a town like Spruce Creek. This is for people who have no other choice.”

He shook his head, but you had already walked into your bedroom and closed the door.

-

You offered to drive Luke to the airport, but neither of you spoke the entire time. He wanted to say so much to you, though none of the words that popped into his brain seemed right. Nothing seemed right. Leaving you, despite knowing you for the few days he had, felt like the worst decision he was about to face. He trusted his intuition, and it was telling him to stay.

It continued to tell him to stay as he waited three hours for security to open. It told him to stay as he waited with the other five people at the wrong gate before realizing there was only one other gate to wait by. It told him to stay as he sat on his phone for another three hours, looking at all of the pictures he managed to take through the blustery snowfall. It told him to stay as he gathered his belongings and waited for his ticket to be scanned.

And lastly, it told him to stay as he turned around and rushed out of the airport, his belongings banging around on the pavement behind him as he hailed for a taxi.

His forehead had broken out into a dripping sweat by the time he made it to The Coffee Pot. It was minutes away from closing– he knew. Luke tipped the driver before clambering out onto the slushy road. He hoped you wouldn’t see him just yet.

What was he doing? He had a whole life waiting for him back home. What was he doing?

The door chimed as he stepped in, that familiar gust of hot air hitting him as Darryl shouted, “Ay! Malibu’s back! Give ‘em a kiss for me Stan.”

Stan made a disgusted face as every head turned to Luke. Every head including yours.

“Luke?” you gasped.

“My legs hurt,” he said, “so c’mere.” He nodded you over and watched you walk out from behind the counter. Your steps were wary as you neared. “’m done missing out on other chances. Who says I can’t fall for someone I just met? Who says I can’t drop a few things just to be with you for a bit? Who says it won’t work out?” He chuckled. “I just know I’m crazy about ya, and I don’t really know what else to do but stay.”

You grinned, pulling him down by the neck as you pecked his lips over and over. “See?” you mused. “Small towns ain’t so bad.”

He hummed, a lazily smile finding its way onto his lips. “With you, never.”

tags!

@lilhemmo @oh-annaa @youngbloodstyles @tommyswolves @lukeofmine @crystalisinfinite  @dammitbands

[blushie14]

Campfire Nightmare [Skephalo]

Ayyyy did someone say angst? :D  Sooo basically, hurt and comfort fic here. It involves these two sitting by the campfire (I mean, ‘campfire’ is in the title so-) I created a parody of a ghost story so I hope you guys enjoy that. It is spooky month right now afterall. Happy spooky month. :)

It was a peaceful Friday evening tonight. ...Okay well, it WAS a peaceful evening. There was a commotion happening over at Zak and Darryl’s home. It would seem as if they were arguing again.

Unfortunately, this wasn't their usual back and forth playful banter. Oh lord no, it's even worse. Something disastrous happened here.

One of Zak's pranks went wrong. Very, very wrong. Zak was trying really hard to explain himself, but Darryl wasn’t having any of it. 

"I said I was sorry!" Zak exclaimed. He isn't mad at Darryl. Far from it, but he was getting a little scared of how mad Darryl was getting at him. 

"Sorry!?" Darryl shouted. "Zak! The kitchen is an absolute mess! Why is there so much Kool-Aid powder on the floor!? And how are there pieces of bread stuck on the ceiling!? I literally just finished cleaning the house!" 

Zak winced and stayed silent for a bit. This wasn't the first prank that Zak did on him ever since they moved in together. There were many pranks before this. He does like to cause some mischief after all, especially if it involved Darryl. 

You’d think this would be unbearable to Darryl, but surprisingly, Zak's pranks usually don't bother him. Usually, Zak's pranks were harmless enough and he would always make sure that Darryl was okay in the end. Heck, Darryl would sometimes try to prank him back.

It was all fun and games until it was taken too far. Of course, it wasn’t Zak’s intention for it to go this way. It was just really bad luck. It was also pretty unlucky for this to happen to Darryl who was already in a horrible mood to begin with. 

"H-Hey-" Zak tried to calm him down. "Look, I'm actually really really sorry. I messed up, but I'll clean up everything. You know I always fix everything after I mess around!"

“Unbelievable!” Darryl let out a noise of frustration. He has had it with Zak's shenanigans. All the other things he tolerated, but this was just absolutely ridiculous. 

"Darryl please! I'm sorry! What else do you want me to do or say?!" 

"Maybe you can not be such an idiot once in a while?!" Darryl angrily spat out. "I swear, am I just someone who you like to mess with all the time?! Is that all I am to you?! This is what I have to put up with all the time?!" 

"Wh-.. I-…" Zak was speechless for a moment, feeling crushed. Does Darryl really think he means so little to him? And does he really annoy him that much? It was like a slap to the face.

Wait a minute.

“This is what I have to put up with all the time?”

That struck a nerve. Zak suddenly got angry and shouted back. “This is what I- What the fuck is THAT supposed to mean?!”

“You know EXACTLY what I mean when I say that! And don’t raise your voice at me!” 

This argument took a turn for the worse as things started getting ugly. It went on and on for a few minutes until Darryl was the one to end it all. 

“Okay. Stop it. I don’t want to hear it anymore.” Darryl said with a stern tone. Zak stayed silent with a slight frown in his face as Darryl continued to speak. 

"We are supposed to go camping tomorrow morning, but if you're going to keep being this way, then I don't want to talk to you."

Zak opened his mouth and tried to say something but closed it. He crossed his arms and looked down on the floor with a heartbroken look on his face. He has never seen or heard Darryl act so cold before.

Darryl didn't dare look at Zak. He knows if he took one look at Zak's sorry face, he'd probably feel bad. Not this time though. He refused to feel sorry for him. 

"I-I'll clean it all up." Zak broke the silence, mumbling probably the 20th apology for tonight. "I'm sorry..."

Darryl stayed quiet while carefully walking over the broken pile of plates and a broken picture frame. "Goodnight, Zak." He said with bitterness in his voice. 

As Darryl closed the door, Zak looked around the kitchen taking it all in. He looked at the clock. 9:00pm… This was going to take forever. He should probably start with fixing the sink.

He looked at Darryl's door, fighting back tears and holding himself back from going inside. Darryl needs some time alone right now.

He messed up.. he messed up so badly..

Darryl was laying on his bed, trying to calm himself down. A part of him did feel like he went too far, but he doesn't care right now. 

He was so tired. He was so fed up with his tomfoolery.

Moments like these just make him not want to see his face ever again. He was that frustrated. He lays there alone with his thoughts until he slowly, finally drifts to sleep. 

-

The both of them were at the campsite that Zak has talked about. It looked like Zak was excited to be here. He has talked to him about how his family took him and his sister here many times as a child.

Darryl was a little surprised how experienced Zak was. It was like he knew this place like the back of this hand as it seemed like they explored every part of the forest preserve.

The camp was set up surprisingly fast. It was pretty nice spending time just hiking through the forest. It felt like time passed by too quickly when they both realized it was already starting to get dark.

They headed back to the campsite. Darryl noticed that Zak already set up the campfire, along with a water bucket to put it out later. 

Time went by, and it was now completely dark. Darryl was busy roasting marshmallows by the fire before he noticed Zak grinning across from him.

"Hey, do you wanna hear something scary?" He eagerly asked him.

Darryl frowned a little. "No ghost stories around the campfire Zak."

"Aww come on!" Zak whined. "Please? My dad told me this story before when I was young. It was really good!" 

"So does that mean it isn't that scary?" Darryl hoped.

"Huh? Oh, no." Zak laughed a little. "That dumb story terrified me back then." 

"Oh my goodness." Darryl let out a groan, feeling like he was going to regret this. "Okay, just make it quick." 

Zak beamed. He grabbed a flashlight, turned it on, and held it below his face to get into the mood.

Darry felt himself shiver. He swore the world around him became so dark that the only things he saw were the campfire, and Zak as he had a frightening smile before beginning the story.

"Once upon a time, there was a young lady who lived in the forest. She fell in love with a young man, who she thought was really cute and sweet. But it had always seemed that the man wasn't aware of her feelings, until that fateful day..." 

"To her surprise, he suddenly asked her to meet him by the river which was a part of the forest. He told her to come alone, wanting to tell her something important. She was so excited, daydreaming and hoping that it was a love confession." 

Darryl hugged himself a little, knowing that things weren't going to end well. 

"She showed up early, eagerly waiting for him to come. She stood there, waiting for hours… until he finally showed up. She smiled wide, so happy to see him. But her smile slowly turned to a look of confusion."

"He brought his friends over...why? She thought they were meeting up alone. But before she could ask, all of them suddenly started to laugh."

"'Wow! I can't believe she's still here! How pathetic!' One of his friends sneered."

"Her face fell. How could they do this to her? She broke into tears when she heard her crush speak up."

"'Yeah! I can't believe she thought that I would ever date her!' His friends cruelly laughed harder as the man she thought she loved walked up to her."

"She slowly stepped backwards as her tears blinded her. He pushed her, making her fall into the river. Everyone ran off afterwards, not knowing the full consequence of what they've done.. None of them knew that the woman couldn't swim."

"None of them knew that he murdered her." 

Darryl was mortified as he clearly envisioned the scenario. He was too focused on Zak's story that he forgot about the marshmallows he finished roasting.

"Years passed, and the same guy and his friends have forgotten all about her. They went on a camping trip.. just like us.. to the same forest he drowned her in." 

"Things were fine until he noticed that his friends started disappearing.. one.. by.. one. At first, he assumed that his friends just decided to ditch him, but then he felt that something was wrong. He can't find any of them now." 

"It was getting darker as he was still looking for his friends, until he suddenly found something peculiar. Something.. or someone was emitting a bright glow into the river."

"Like a moth being drawn to a flame, he couldn't help but be memorized by it.. He went closer and closer until suddenly, BAM!" 

Darryl flinched a little by Zak's sudden loud noise. 

"A pair of arms suddenly pulled him into the river! The man couldn't do anything to escape before it happened, it was already too late." 

"Whatever that was, grabbed him by the neck. It tightly and painfully dug its nails deep into his neck. The man failed around in fright. As he opened his eyes, he suddenly realized a familiar looking face."

"That glowing figure, had that woman's face. That woman he pushed in long, long ago. She had tears streaming down her face… and she looked angry." 

"Showing absolutely no mercy to him, she kept him underwater. And he slowly suffered a long and painful death… Some say that her angry spirit still seeks for prey up north where the river resides in this forest." 

"Wait, what?!" Darryl exclaimed. "Are you saying that the forest she died in, is in this forest we are in right now?!" 

He heard a dark chuckle from Zak, something Darryl has never even heard from him. "Maybe. Coincidently, dead bodies have been found by that river a few times over the years. They all died from drowning. They were all men too."

"Oh my goodness then why did you take us here?!" Darryl frantically said, getting more scared then he already was. 

Zak turned off the flashlight and chuckled to lighten things up. "Dude, don't tell me you actually believe in this."

"It doesn't matter if I do or don't, Zak! Any sane person would stay away from places that have dead bodies lying around! What if we get hurt or worse?!"

Zak only chuckled more. "Calm down dude, there isn't anything that's gonna- OH MY GOD WHAT IS THAT BEHIND YOU!?" He suddenly shrieked out.

Darryl screamed and jumped from where he’s sitting, accidentally kicking the water bucket over which put out the fire. He looked behind him and saw… nothing.

As soon as he heard Zak's laughter, his fear turned into frustration. "Skeppy that was not funny!" Darryl shouted. 

Zak was still giggly as he calmed down a bit. "I'm sorry.. oh my god. You have to admit that was good!"

"No it wasn't! You scared me! I thought we were in danger!!"

"That story is made up!" Zak cleared his throat, completely calm now. "There's no freaky woman that died in the river, you have nothing to worry about!"

"Are you serious?!" Darryl groaned. "You made me jump and put out the fire, you jerk!" 

"Don't worry! I'll just get some more wood to burn and another bucket of water. We're fine!"

Darryl only sighed in response, glaring at him. They sat in silence for a moment. Zak slightly frowned, but then smiled apologetically. 

"I’m sorry.. I'll be right back." Zak said softly before taking his flashlight and leaving. 

Darryl wasn't even sure if he wanted to stay up anymore. He just feels like going inside the tent right now. Sitting in silence for what seemed like a few minutes, he suddenly heard a blood curdling scream. 

He quickly stood up. That sounded like Zak screaming. "Zak? ..Zak y-you better not be messing with me.. I swear-" 

"DARRYL HELP! SOMEONE HEL-" A big splash was heard in the distance. 

"Zak?!" Darryl grabbed his backpack and immediately started running. "ZAK?!"

He ran deeper into the forest with no flashlight, running as fast as he could. Panic taking over, he cannot recall where to find the river. He was desperately trying to hear where Zak’s screams were coming from.

"Crud, crud crud. Crud!" Darryl swears that this forest has become even harder to navigate through. Even though he was running as fast as he could, he felt like he was going nowhere.

He heard Zak's desperate cries for help coming from a separate path before hearing complete silence. Darryl tripped and fell before quickly getting up and running another direction.

"ZAK?! WHERE ARE YOU?! CAN YOU HEAR ME!? ZAK!" He didn't hear anything else before he finally stumbled upon the river. He saw the bucket that Zak took, laying on the ground.

But no Zak.

Darryl was panting, frantically looking around. That's when he saw it… No way. This wasn't possible... This wasn't real.

Something was glowing in the water. And it was exactly like he imagined it. It was the same thing in Zak’s story.

Darryl almost ran in the opposite direction, fearing for his life before he saw something else in the water. He saw him. She had Zak captive underwater.

SHE HAD ZAK. 

Having another rush of adrenaline, he grabbed a pocket knife in his bag, and jumped into the water, screaming out in both fear and rage.

"LET HIM GO!"

The spirit was confused to see another person jump in before shrieking in pain as Darryl managed to stab her arm.

 It was like a game of tug of war between the two. But because Darryl was being relentless, she eventually backed off, letting go of Zak. 

Darryl wrapped his arms around Zak and swam upwards to the shore. Once they were out of the water, he slowly dropped Zak and kneeled on the ground, shaking and gasping for breath. 

While he wasn’t looking, the spirit came up from the surface, going towards the both of them.

Before she could drag Zak's body into the water again, Darryl noticed her and quickly dragged him far away from the water. 

Even though he was absolutely horrified, he held the pocket knife in his hand as a threat. She stared at him angrily as he carried Zak's limp body away. 

When he was sure that he got out of her sight, he gently placed Zak on the ground, catching his breath once again. 

“Zak? ..Are you okay? ..Can you answer me?” He looked at him. Zak wasn’t moving an inch. Darryl immediately feared the worse.

He held him in his arms, shaking him a little. “Zak? ...H-Hey, please wake up.. geppy?” 

He couldn’t hear him breathing. 

His hand trembled as he checked for a pulse. 

...Nothing. 

Tears started falling from his face. “No.. nonononono. Zak, don’t do this. Don’t do this to me. D-Don’t leave me like this.” 

Darryl tried to perform CPR in a desperate attempt to revive him. It wasn’t working. He knows that it wasn’t working. But he was still doing it, refusing to give up on him so easily.

“Zak?!” More tears started falling out as he stared at his body in disbelief. “You.. You muffin head!” Darryl started to shout.

“If you don’t wake up right now, I’m never going to forgive you! You hear me?! I-I’ll never forgive you!”

His voice started to crack as he trembled even more, attempting to do CPR once again. Tear droplets hitting Zak’s face.

“I’m never going to forgive myself if you died because of me, Zak! Please! Say something! Please tell me that you’re faking it! Please tell me this is a horrible troll! P-Please!”

Unforgivable cold dead silence.

“No.. no..” He broke down and hugged Zak tightly as if his life depended on it, choking out sobs. How could he let this happen? 

Even with his blurry vision, he thought he saw something glowing from the corner from his eye. Did the spirit manage to follow him? Darryl doesn't know, but he doesn’t care.

“I’m sorry.. I’m so so sorry.. Z-Zak..” He barely whispered out. 

He wanted him back. He wanted to see his muffin full of life again. 

-

Darryl jolted awake, sitting upwards from his bed. He was breathing heavily, wiping the tears that were falling from his eyes. What a horrible nightmare...

He curled up, shaking.. taking a moment to process that it was only a dream. A terrible dream that felt way too real at first. He took out his phone to look at the time. It was 1:00am. He wasn’t going to go back to sleep at this rate.

He got out of bed and walked out of his bedroom. The moment he stepped out, he was surprised to see the kitchen, remembering that it was a total wreck before. But now it was as if nothing happened at all. In fact, it looked better than before.

The kitchen table caught his eye since there were flowers in a vase that wasn’t there before. He walked up to take a closer look at it and found out there was a note in front of the vase. Curious, he picked it up and read it.

“Hey! Good morning Darry! Hope you’re feeling a little better after last night. I’m still really sorry about that. It’s not much, but I hope these flowers cheer you up a little bit. I also bought a new picture frame in order to replace the broken one. When I wake up, you can tell me if you still want to go camping together.” 

Darryl’s eyes trailed off to the side. He didn’t even notice the picture frame near the flowers. He picked the picture frame up. The picture… The picture was the both of them smiling happily into the camera. It was taken on the day they first saw each other in person. He looked back at the note.

“I’m sorry that you have to put up with me sometimes. -Zak <3”

Darryl felt even worse as he started to feel an awful amount of guilt. Tears were welling up again. He looked across the hallway and laid his eyes on Zak’s room.

Zak was laying on his bed, half asleep. He was exhausted, taking over three hours to clean up his mess and set up the few new things for Darryl. He was just about to fall asleep until he heard his door open. 

He turned to his side, slowly opening his eyes. “Darryl?..” Zak looked at him warily until he sat up in both confusion and concern when he noticed that Darryl was crying. “Are you.. okay?”

Darryl still wasn't over the nightmare that he had. Even though it didn’t happen and he already knew Zak was fine, he was so relieved to see his face. He wrapped his arms around him tightly, sobbing quietly.

Zak didn’t know what to say at first. He didn’t know why or how Darryl was this emotional. As he hugged him back, he felt Darryl squishing him even tighter. “D-Darry? What’s going on? ..Can’t breathe.”

“I’m sorry.” Darryl quietly said, loosening his grip on him. “I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m-”

“Woah woah, Jesus Christ dude.” Zak let go of Darryl to look at his face that was covered in tears and frowned. “What the heck happened? Why are you crying? Sorry for what?”

“For being a dumb.. muffin head..” He wiped his eyes. “I-Idiot.. I’m.. I didn’t mean it. I-I didn’t mean any of it. I’m sorry..” He whined.

Darryl hugged him again, hiding his face against his chest. Zak looked down on him with a soft sad look on his face. He was still mumbling “I’m sorry” over and over again. 

Zak wrapped his arms around him, ruffling Darryl's hair a little. "Darryl, it's fine. I'm okay." 

"No, it's not fine!" Darryl cried out. "If I wasn't being such an i-idiot, I would've helped you clean instead of ignoring you like a jerk... 'Putting up with you all the time.' ..W-Why did I say that?!" 

Zak felt himself tear up a little. Because yes, that did hurt a little bit hearing that from him, but he wasn't expecting Darryl to be this distraught about it. Zak already knows that he didn't fully mean it.

"Aww Darry.." Zak rubbed his own eyes before hugging Darryl a little tighter, speaking softly. "Aren't you being a little harsh on yourself? This is all you're upset about? I'm not even mad about it anymore." 

"I-I'm sorry.." Darryl sniffled. "This might sound silly but.. I also had a really bad nightmare a-and," he started to tremble again. "I really thought I lost you." 

Even though Zak didn’t fully understand, he continued to reassure him. "It's alright Darryl.. I'm here if you want to talk about it. I'm here for you.." 

Zak still had both arms wrapped around him, lightly resting on his head. Darryl silently sat still, calming down to the sound of his slow breathing. After a few minutes, he opened up about his bad dream. 

He recalled how they were both camping in the woods. He remembered the ghost story and how it ended up being "real." And worst of all, how Zak.. slipped away from him.

Zak stayed silent and listened to every word. He would hug Darryl tighter if he was starting to get emotional again at some parts. Once he was done, Zak gently cupped his face as he looked him straight in the eyes.

"You don't ever have to worry about losing me. Okay?" 

Darry felt more tears falling as he held back a smile. "You muffin head. Are you trying to make me cry more?" 

Zak slowly started to smile, still having a hold on Darryl’s face as he gently pinched his cheeks. "Besides, even if you try to push me away, I'm not going anywhere.." 

He pulled himself closer to Darryl to make their noses touch. "..whether you like it, or not." Zak grinned.

Darryl smiled as he wiped his face one last time. A light chuckle came from him. "You know what? ..I think I won't mind if I'm stuck with you." 

"Good!" Zak let out a short laugh before hugging him again, peppering one side of his face with small kisses. 

Darryl was caught off guard until he felt himself melt. The sudden affection from Zak wasn't expected and as a result, it made him giggly. He slightly tried to squirm away from him, but he was trapped in Zak's arms. 

Zak felt his own heart melting as he heard just pure adorableness. He'd prefer Darryl's giggles over Darryl's crying any day. 

"I'm afraid you're stuck with me, Darry.." Zak giggled, continuing his kissing attack. Darryl squirmed even more, but to no avail. He was stuck as a giggling mess.

"Okay, okahahay! I gehehet it!" He gave up squirming in favor of trying to cover his flustered face from Zak. 

Zak slowly came to a stop and smiled. "Happy now?" 

Darryl was still giggling, but he nodded yes. 

Zak let out a hum of content and took hold of Darryl's hands. "You know, you really didn't have to apologize to me. I did basically destroy the kitchen."

"I know but I felt so bad.." Darryl whined a little. "I was being mean.." 

"Oh my god." Zak laughed. "Okay, then we're both idiots. There." The both of them giggled at this, happy that the atmosphere became light-hearted. 

"I'll take it easy with the pranks, Darryl." He gently squeezed his hands. "I'm sorry." 

Darryl smiled and squeezed back. "I'm sorry too. I'll try to watch my temper around you." He smirked a little. "Even though you make it hard for me to not lose my marbles."

Zak laughed. "Okay, you know what? That's fair." 

Darryl sighed as he hugged Zak, cuddling beside him. He felt like staying, not wanting to leave Zak's side. Zak didn't mind, he looked at his phone checking the time.

Zak groaned a little. "I think we're going to be too tired to go camping later today." 

"Oh my goodness, that almost slipped my mind… Should we reschedule it?" 

"I think we should." Zak smiled. "I don't mind."

It was silent for a while. They were looking into each other's eyes and were completely exhausted.

"I'm so lucky I have you.." Darryl mumbled.

Zak's eyes widened and his face flushed before he burst out giggling. "You idiot.. that's my line."

Darryl giggled out tiredly in response. After a few minutes, they finally fell asleep after a long night.. hand in hand.

And the best part? No nightmares took place this time.

[End] 

[mtvswatches]

Crazy Ex Girlfriend 4x17 I’m In Love

Click here for previous recaps!

Stray thoughts

1) So… they’re doing a big reveal where Rebecca will tell who she has chosen right in front of everyone they know? Now I’m kind of hoping she chooses herself (although please please let her be with Greg!) because if she is about to choose one of the guys then she’ll be breaking the other two’s hearts in a very uncalled for manner…

2) Oh, Tim, what’s going on with your life, dude? First, the vibrator song, and now he’s happy not to be spending Valentine’s day with his wife…?

3) Dream ghost!!! Because Rebecca, in true Rebecca fashion, had another poop attack and fell asleep on the toilet… Dream Ghost is going to tell her about her future. Will we get to see what Rebecca thinks her life will be like if she chooses each of the three men in her life?

4) Oh!!! This is her future!!!

5)  That was a cheap trick, show. You got me. Because she’s now imagining her future with Nathaniel and Josh…

…and she’s not entirely happy in any of them.

5) Oh, god, I knew going into this I’d be an emotional wreck but I wasn’t expecting to be crying by minute 6. There’s just something about watching Rebecca shouting in her own face, demanding to know why she’s not happy. I think I know the answer. I think she just has to choose herself, I think the title of this episode is about Rebecca finally choosing to love herself first and foremost, and above all.

6) And she got the answer, straight from the horse’s mouth…

REBECCA: Tell me. Huh? Tell me why you're so sad. Why aren't you happy with Greg? Huh? I mean, what's wrong with him?

REBECCA 2: There's nothing wrong with Greg. Or Nathaniel or Josh. They're all wonderful.

REBECCA: Okay, then why am I not happy, with any of them? Don't… don't I love them?

REBECCA: You do love them. The problem is, you don't know who you are.

7) Is working at that firm the best fit for Paula if she can’t take the cases she wants to take?

8) Hmmmm.

JOSH: I just want to be in love. Get married, have babies. I'm ready now. She has to pick me.

This really sounds like Rebecca could be replaceable. He’s not talking about wanting or imagining all of these things with her, he just wants them.

9) George has great plans for his future. He’s growing a ponytail. Nathaniel, on the other hand, seems to have nothing going for him except the possibility of Rebecca choosing him. I kind of wish they had brought up the fact that he was bored with his job before the finale?

10) I love them. I’m gonna miss them so much.

11)  I loved this!

There had been some references to how Rebecca creates the musical numbers in her mind but never had we seen if the other characters were aware of what she does or how they react to it. it was a small moment, but it felt like a huge pay-off for four seasons of storytelling in the form of musical comedy.

12) This medley ruined me…

I was a sobbing mess all throughout, I was crying and trying to sing along, and each song brought up so many memories and feelings. I knew I wasn’t emotionally ready for this episode, but damn, I really wasn’t ready.

But thankfully, I also laughed…

13) OMG TIME JUMP!!! And we can tell thanks to George’s lustrous ponytail!!

So her big decision has nothing to do with choosing one of the guys? But what happened on Valentine’s day a year ago?! And everyone’s there except for Nathaniel, Josh, and Greg, or so it seems...

14) Good for you, Valencia!

15) April adopted Hebecca, and she and Darryl are having a baby!

16) Was… Rebecca… masturbating in the hot tub?

I wouldn’t put it past her, and we know Hector is already very acquainted with how much she enjoys self-gratification, but this would be going too far, even for her…

But… let me say that as much as I love the joke, I can help but feel that Heather was underused even in the finale.

17) I did really enjoy the whole back-and-forth between White Josh and Rebecca. She had no idea what had been going on in his life – two massive fires, apparently – and he admitted to never quite liking her, which is absolutely true.

18) Now, this is what earns a “Respect” as a response…

PAULA: The thing is, is, uh and I say this with so much affection, um, either we do this, or I quit.

BOSS: What?

PAULA: I love this job. But I am not gonna walk around with a hole in my heart because there are people out there who need me and I'm sitting up here on my ass in a fancy suit. I have to be true to who I am inside. So. Thanks. I loved it here. Bye.

BOSS: Paula, wait. Let's talk.

19) Nooo. It can’t be him. It has to mean something else…

Which brings us to another person. The person I care about very much. And he's really the reason I'm here. Josh Chan.

I really hope it only means that he’s the one who gave her the courage to find out who she is or something, or I’ll be pissed off.

20) OH THANK GOD! It wasn’t him.

21) $80 dollars a month, Rebecca? I guess she still continues to be terrible with money.

22)  Josh has a girlfriend. I hope he doesn’t mess it up this time.

23) And it’s Nathaniel’s turn now…

NATHANIEL: You don't, you don't have to explain. You only get one life. And you got to live that the way you want. I think everyone deserves that.

I’m really proud of Nathaniel. He truly came such a long way, and even if they are not together, his love for Rebecca had such a wonderful impact on him – he became a better version of himself because of it. I was absolutely floored by how mature and understanding he was, I wanted to hug him so badly.

And he quit his job and he got a job at the ZOO! TALK ABOUT A DREAM COME TRUE!

24) it’s fUCKING GREG’S MOMENT AND I’M NOT READY FOR THIS.

25) What a wonderful moment!

PAULA: What are you doing?

REBECCA: Uh, sorry, nothing, nothing.

PAULA: No, that's not nothing. That's You're staring off into space, like you do. You do that a lot. What's happening when you do that?

REBECCA: I don't want to tell you. It's weird.

PAULA: Oh, come on, any weirder than the many, many weird things you and I have done since we met?

REBECCA: I've just… I don't know I've never told anybody, except for the Dream Ghost and Dr. Phil.

PAULA: What?

REBECCA: What the hell? Okay. When I stare off into space, I'm imagining myself in a musical number. That's how I sometimes see big moments in my life, as musical numbers. And because I do that, so does the show. And by show, I mean the very popular BPD workbook acronym, "Simply Having Omniscient Wishes.” So, yeah, I see myself in these songs.

26) Paula is suggesting that Rebecca should write down the songs that she creates in her mind and that’s what I’ve been saying all along!!!

27) Oh my god, here come the waterworks again…

What an amazing reprise and what a great way to bookend the story! I’m crying but I swear these are happy tears! It’s been such a long time since Paula and Rebecca stood holding each other’s hands outside a party and singing about how Rebecca should go after Josh. And here they are, still holding each other up through thick and thin and being each other’s person. It’s such an amazing moment for so many reasons. I can’t help but be in awe at such a wonderful portrayal of female friendship. It’s amazing that the person that helped Rebecca figured out what she wanted to do was Paula. It wasn’t Josh or Nathaniel or Greg. It wasn’t her therapist or her mother. It was her best friend, the person that’s seen her at her best and her worst and has accepted for the wonderful, weird, chaotic mess that she is. This scene also conveys a much more important and impactful message – that all you need is, well, you. It’s all right inside you. You just have to be ready to find yourself.

28) Oh, the wonderful, wonderful callback!

29) And her break-up with Greg did not feel like a break-up at all. She was basically telling him that she couldn’t be with him right then. And even though he said he wouldn’t wait, he’s still single… I swear to god, I’ve been dreaming of a Settle for Me reprise, and if they deliver one I’ll probably die.

30) It was so fun to see Rebecca working hard and learning how to sing and play instruments and write lyrics. But this part was what really got to me…

REBECCA: I came to this town to find love, and I did. I love every person in this room. Each and every one of you.

I’m so happy she finally realized that! That’s what I’ve been saying all along. She’d always been so worried about finding one person or one thing that would make her truly happy, and there were so many people and so many things that did it for her and she just couldn’t see it.

31) Oh, wow…

32) What a wonderful ending to a wonderful series! It truly was everything that I had hoped for and more. I really wanted the end of the show to be about Rebecca, self-love, and self-awareness, and the show delivered that in such a beautiful and moving way. I know I’ll cry every single time I listen to that medley! I was kind of concerned about the heavy emphasis on the rom-com aspect of the show in the last few episodes, but I’m really glad that was put on the back burner and it was left kind of open-ended – although I’m positive wherever she is, she’ll end up with Greg. This weird, wonderful show has meant a lot to me, and I can’t wait to revisit this story. I’m glad Rachel and Alina got to tell their story the way they envisioned it, and I think it was a terrific idea to end the story sort of media res – just when Rebecca was about to start a new chapter of her life.

I’m too emotional right now to properly convey exactly how much this show means to me and how impactful and groundbreaking I thought it was for many different reasons, but I’m certain the legacy of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend will live on, and I truly can’t wait to see what the wonderfully talented people behind it have in store for us in the future. I know it will be wicked good.

Goodbye, Rebecca. Goodbye, West Covina. It’s been a wonderful journey!

 32)  Hope you enjoyed my recap, and, as usual, if you’ve got this far, thank you for reading! If you enjoy my recaps and my blog, please consider supporting it on ko-fi.Thanks!

[nobodyzhuman]

Don’t Trust Dumbledore ch. 42

A/N: These last few chapters aren’t Beta read. All mistakes are mine.

Ron sat next to him rambling on and on about something, Quidditch maybe, but Harry wasn’t paying the redhead any attention. He was mapping out his escape route for later that day. Amelia Bones had owled him, telling him that she had the meeting set for Sirius to come in and see her. That Arthur and Mister Malfoy had already agreed to witness it, though they still didn’t know what they were witnessing exactly but had agreed. 

Harry originally hadn’t planned on going, but Amelia mentioned that she wanted to rush the custody hearing, less interference that way. Her plan was that as soon as she cleared Sirius she could call an emergency meeting. There had to be an hour gap time, a ministry law were they gave a chance for all those involved to show up and plead their case. But she hoped that with how quickly everything moved that neither the Dursleys (as if they would) or Dumbledore could show up and protest Sirius gaining control over Harry. 

Bones told him that he didn’t need to be there, but he felt that was bullshit. He wanted the chance to argue against anyone that tried to force him back to his vile relatives. Plus he wanted to be by Sirius’s side to show that was where he wanted to be. Not having much time to plan, Harry had rushed a letter to the twins asking for advice. They hadn’t responded yet, and he was worried they wouldn’t in time. So he started to plan himself. The first thing he needed to do was to ditch Ron and then get out of Hogwarts unnoticed. 

“Harry, are you listening to me?” Ron asked. He tried to ignore that part of him that wanted to snap at his once best friend, “Thinking Ron, sorry,” he muttered instead and tried to look apologetic. It seemed to work as Ron gave a short nod and went back to ranting. 

Turned out ditching Ron was easier then he thought it would be. Because as they sat there an owl appeared landing on Ron’s knees a small box attached to it’s foot. Harry watched as Ron untied it and carefully opened it, inside were some kind of sweets and Ron’s face lit up. 

“Twins?” Harry asked. It seemed like something they would do, especially if they were trying to help him, though he didn’t think Ron would eat anything they sent him. 

His ex-friend shook his head, “Charlie.” Harry grinned and Ron grinned back. He had no doubt that the candies were from the twins but the older Weasley knew Ron wouldn’t eat anything from them so Charlie sent it instead. Harry made a mental note to thank his friends later. He watched gleefully as Ron started shoving the sweets into his mouth, it took two before the redhead stopped, eyes widening before he crumbled to the floor unconscious. Harry laughed at the sight of his ex-best friend on the ground then gathered his things and left. 

His cloak was in his bag already, he had taken to carry it with him at all times for two reasons, first, so that neither Ron or Dumbledore could take it, second, in case he needed to disappear in a hurry. With it all he had to do was take the tunnel that led to Honeydukes where he would be meeting Sirius and Remus. 

He felt a little bad that him and Moony hadn’t told Sirius about what was going on. They were both worried about how the animagus would react. Padfoot’s trust in them warmed Harry. It also bewildered him, all Harry had to do was tell the man that it was important and Sirius agreed. No questions, no arguments. Harry just prayed that Amelia Bones was as trustworthy as she appeared. He didn’t want to be the one to put his godfather in danger all because he trusted the wrong person. 

Wrapped in his cloak he made his way out of honeydukes cellar and then outside, he grinned happily when he saw Remus and a large black dog at his side. He was quiet as he snuck up on the pair, Remus tensed when Harry got close, probably smelling him. He put his hand on the man’s wrist and smiled when Remus let out a relieved breath. He wasn’t sure if that was what got the excited bark from Sirius or if in his dog form he could smell Harry as well. They moved as one, away from store. At the end of the village Remus put a hand on Padfoot’s head and Harry tightened his hand around his godfather’s wrist. The feeling of being sucked through a straw made him gag and then he found himself in an office room. 

A blonde woman, Arthur Weasley who looked stunned at the sight of three of them, and Lucius Malfoy who blinked once before regaining his composure, greeted them. 

Bones gave Padfoot a calculating look before she nodded. “Mister Black, if you would please change, we can get started.” Sirius scuffed and then shifted into a human. Arthur made a choked sound and Harry watched as the man gave a panicked look between Sirius, Bones and Malfoy. 

“What exactly are we doing here?” Malfoy asked, moving to stand by the door way, close to the exit, Harry realized.  

“We are here, Mister Malfoy, to have an emergency interview slash interrogation for Sirius Black, once he has been formerly cleared, we will move down to court room 10 for an expedited custody hearing.” Harry watched as both Arthur and Sirius gasped at Bones, both clearly surprised. 

“We are witnesses,” Arthur said, as if he was just piecing together what he and Malfoy were doing there. 

“Yes, you are,” Bones said. Despite what was going on Harry couldn’t take his eyes off Arthur. The man’s eyes searched the room and Harry could tell the man was trying to understand why it was them here and not Dumbledore. Arthur stopped on him, gaze searching before he closed his eyes and took a breath. 

“Where do we start?” he asked when he opened them again. Harry felt himself let out a breath. Whatever thoughts Arthur may have had, he had settled on helping them. Harry just hoped he got a moment to talk to the man before he could talk to Dumbledore. For Arthur may have guessed they didn’t want him here, but he wouldn’t know they didn’t trust the man anymore. 

Turned out there wasn’t much for Harry, Remus, Arthur and Lucius to do. 

They sat, or stood in Mister Malfoy’s case, and watched as Bones questioned Sirius, after giving him a truth potion, of course. She got his versions of the events from the night Harry’s parents died and how Pettigrew become their secret keeper. Then she asked about what happened in Harry’s third year, asking Remus and Harry a handful of questions as well. At the end she gave Sirius the antidote and pulled out a piece of parchment. 

She tapped the parchment twice with her wand and then signed it, when she was finished she handed it to Arthur who sighed in and handed it off to Lucius. 

“Mister Black,” the blonde woman said with a smile. “It seems the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the Ministry itself owe you an apology. You have been accused of a crime you didn’t commit and locked away for 12 years without any evidence or trial. I will make sure to file a complaint on your behalf as well as a request for compensation, as you are rightly owed.” She tapped the parchment again, causing the paper to disappear. 

Sirius rushed to his feet pulling both Harry and Remus into a suffocating hug. 

Bones cleared her throat. “As badly,” she smiled again, “as I want to let you three celerbrate, there is more we have to do. I have to arrange the custody hearing and send out an announcement about it,” Harry put his hand on Sirius’s arm as the man started to growl, “I’m sorry Mister Black, by law I have to give any and all people involved an hour minimum to appear.”

Sirius dropped down into his seat, “how long do we have to wait?”

“I have already started the paperwork, it should take less than 10 minutes to finish it and gather the others. However, we can not start until exactly one hour after I have sent out the announcement. You three are welcome to stay in my office until it’s time.” She turned and looked at Arthur and Lucius. “You two are free to go, but I must ask that you keep what happened here, and the upcoming custody case to yourselves until all this is over.” Malfoy nodded and left the room. Arthur however seemed conflicted. 

The twin’s father seemed to want to stay and talked to them. He hovered at the doorway for a second before sighing, he gave Harry one last look before he turned away.

“Wait!” Harry called out, “You can stay.” The head of the Weasley family visibly relaxed before he turned and came back into the room. 

Amelia Bones left shortly after to get everything ready and the room fell into an awkward silence. 

“Why isn’t Dumbledore here?” Arthur asked after several minutes. 

Harry couldn’t go over it again. He whispered to Remus that he could give the red-head the details and he left the room. He stood out in the hall way back to Amelia’s door and waited. It seemed the twins were right about their father, the man was good and trustworthy, and Harry was almost positive he hadn’t known what his wife, son and daughter had been up too. He wondered briefly if Remus would tell him, or if they were just covering Dumbledore’s crimes. 

“Are you alright?” Amelia asked appearing at his side. 

“Think so,” he said, giving her a smile. 

“You know Potter, I have been very understanding of your circumstances and even kept your secrets, but I have to ask Darryl Owen? You guaranteed me his crimes were equally or worse than what he would be charged with. What could he have done that was worse then kidnapping and torture?” 

“He hunted down and killed Dark wizards,’’ he replied, “Remus has documents proof that Owen killed suspected Dark wizards, some for resisting arrest, other for being caught in the act, he also has proof of Owen planting evidence.” He watched as the woman in front of him grew more and more angry. “There is also proof his partner knew of some of his actions.” The department head cursed and stomped away from him. 

A second later he almost fell to the floor backwards as the door he was leaning against suddenly opened. Sirius caught him with a low chuckle, before pushing him back onto his feet. 

“Alright there pup?” the man asked. Harry glared at him then looked at Arthur. The man wasted no time before he rushed forward and hugged him. 

“I’m sorry,” the man whispered. “ I didn’t know.” Harry hugged him back. 

“I know.” Arthur pulled away and looked at him. “You didn’t seem the type to plot or lie, plus your sons seemed positive you had nothing to do with any of it.” Arthur gave him a sad smile. 

“I’ll give it all back,” the man swore, “everything they stole from you, and the marriage contract, I'll cancel it.” Harry held up his hand. 

“Don’t worry about the money, I don’t need it, and the contract is invalid. Dumbledore was never my guardian so he couldn’t sign anything.” Arthur gave him a look then shrugged. 

“If you’re sure.” the man said. 

“Mister Potter?” He turned to look at Bones. “It’s time.” Harry’s heart raced as he moved to follow her. 

[lucisfavoritedemon]

Fate & Destiny: New Friends Make Life Here Easier

Pairing: Dean x Nell

Characters: Nell, David (mentioned), Dean (mentioned), young Sam (mentioned), older Sam, Mick, Arthur, Gabe, Bobby, Darryl (Nell’s grandfather), Charolette (Nell’s grandmother).

Summary: Nell’s life living with her grandparents in Europe.

Warnings: Self-doubt, being put down,

Word Count: 2467

A/N: This is my interpretation of the show. Some things may not make sense right now, but the storylines will tie together in the end. Italicized portions are Nell and Sam thinking out loud while reading the book. I hope y’all enjoy!

Fate & Destiny Masterlist

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She hated it. 

Nell was miserable living in a new place. She missed Sam, and John, she missed making weekend trips to Bobby's while John went hunting. But worst of all, she missed Dean.

Yeah, sure he was rude to her, but he was her only best friend. It seemed like that to her at least.

“Nelly! There you are.”

“We thought we’d never catch up to you.”

“Uh huh. That was the point.” Nell spoke kind of annoyed at the two boys who had joined her.

“Come on we could help you.”

“No I don’t need help, Arthur, I just want to be left alone,” she spoke continuing to walk away from the two boys, who were now getting on her nerves.

“Oh don’t be so silly, Nelly, no one wants to be alone.”

“First of all, it’s Nelly, and second of all, I want to be alone. I don’t need two guys constantly glued at my hip hoping that if they help me they get something out of me.” She was getting more angry now at the two boys who couldn’t get the hint.

“Sorry Nell. Mick and I didn’t realize. We just thought since you just transferred here last month that you needed some friends to help you catch up.” Arthur spoke, trying to explain himself to her.

“Look maybe if you just back off, then maybe I would take you up on your offer. For now just, please leave me alone.” She said turning down a drive all the way to her grandparents house.

“Nelly, dinner will be ready soon. Go upstairs and wash up. We want to hear all about your day.” Nell’s grandmother spoke washing the last of the vegetables to go with dinner.

Nell rolled her eyes, but did as she was told. She entered her dark room, and threw her items on the bed.

“Have a rough day I see.” A voice spoke from the shadows.

“You have no idea.” She wasn’t phased by this strange man in her room.

“I know those boys were giving you a hard time again.” The stranger spoke, and Nell gave a smirk.

“Yeah they just don't know when to quit. I told them if they started to leave me alone that maybe I would take them up on their offer of helping me with my studies, but that'll never happen.”

“I hope not. That means you're going soft.”

“Oh Gabe you're funny. I'll never go soft. You have known me for 3 years and I have never gone soft on anyone for anything.”

“This is true.”

“Nelly! Dinner is ready! You better be all washed up.” Her grandmother yelled.

“I better go before I get yelled at, again.” She spoke to the stranger named Gabe before running downstairs to the dining room table.

She stood at her spot patiently while she waited for her grandmother to bring the food in.

“Go tell your grandfather dinner is ready.” She ordered and Nell did what she was asked.

She went to his study and knocked on the door.

“Come in.” A voice said inside, and Nell opened the door.

“Dinner is ready granddad.” She spoke softly peeking her head into the room.

“Tell her I’ll be there in a minute.” He said still working, not even looking at her when he spoke.

She closed the door behind her and gave a heavy sigh before walking back to the dining room.

“He said he would be out in a minute. Is there anything else you would like me to do before he gets out here?”

“No just stand there and wait. He won't be long.”

So Nell stood there in silence with only her thoughts entertaining her. She thought about school and Gabe helping her cope with the new change. She thought about what Sam and Dean could be doing at this moment. Probably sitting around at Bobby's bored out of their minds. She didn’t even realize she had checked out, until her grandmother yelled her name.

“You may sit now. You need to stop daydreaming and get your act together or you’ll never go anywhere in life.”

“Sorry it’s just I’m having a really hard time adjusting here. It’s very different than what I’m used to.”

“Yes darling, I have to agree with Nelly. She is in a new environment, and she doesn’t know how to handle it. Besides, losing her father ruined her. She is lost without her parents.”

“You're right. Which is why I called those two boys over to help you with your school work.”

“You did what now?” Nell raised her voice.

“You heard me. Those two boys you’ve been hanging out with are coming over to help you with your studies.” “Are you crazy? Those aren’t my friends. They are just two kids that follow me like lost puppies. My friends are back home in the states not here.” She yelled at her grandparents, angry at the fact that they are trying to beat the old Nell out of her.

“Do not raise your voice at us young lady. She was only trying to help. Your life is here now with us. You don’t have a home in America any more. They never cared about you there, so stop acting like a spoiled brat and be grateful we let you live with us. We could dump you out on the streets if we wanted too.”

“Then why don’t you just let me rot out there.” Nell screamed tears streaming down her face at what she just heard coming from her grandfather’s mouth.

Nell ran to her room upset that could talk about Dean and Sam like that. They were her only friends in the world, well, except for Gabriel.

“Hey kiddo what’s wrong?” Gabe spoke softly after Nell threw herself on the bed.

“I don’t want to be here anymore. I wanna go home. I hate it here. If it weren’t for you I’d run away.” She sobbed into her pillow.

“I know it’s hard now, but maybe things will work out.”

“No they won’t. I miss Dean and Sam. I just wish this was all a dream, that I could go to sleep and wake up at Bobby's.” Nell sobbed more wishing that her friends would just pop out if her closet and drag her away from this unfamiliar life.

Gabe stood there wishing he could do more for his heartbroken friend, but sadly he couldn't do anything but screw things up and make her more homesick. He felt bad that he made her feel worse. She was his best friend, and he didn't want to be the cause of her pain. He gently laid a hand on her back seeing if he could lull her into sweet dreams of her and the boys reunited. It worked and she fell asleep soundly with no more sobs escaping her lips.

~*~

Every night for a little more than a month Gabe would ease her pain and have her dream about her and the Winchester boys going on different adventures while at Bobby's. Hanging out in motel rooms while John is out hunting. This helped her get over the fact that she had been forgotten, until she got news from her grandparents about the Winchester boys.

“So, can we come over tonight to study for tomorrow?” Mick asked.

“Not tonight my grandparents said they have a surprise for me or news or something like that. Sorry guys.”

“It's okay. We understand will you call us after and let us in on the news?” Arthur pressed.

��Will do…”

“Nelly! Dinner is ready on the table!”

“I'll talk to guys later. Dinner's ready.”

“Bye Nelly!” Arthur exclaimed

“Talk to you later Nell,” Mick said.

Nell ran down the stairs, but was stopped in her tracks when she saw Gabe.

“I would turn back now while you can Nelly.” He warned.

“Oh come on Gabe be a little happy. This is the best i have felt in the last three months.”

“Nell, listen to me. This isn’t gonna go well. You’re gonna…”

“Nelly? Who are you talking to?” Her grandmother asked coming around the corner.

“No one grandma. I’ll be there in a sec. My shoe just fell off.” Nell said adjusting her shoe.

“Okay.” Her grandmother said before walking off

“Just calm down. Everything is going to be okay. I’ll see you after dinner.” She said to Gabriel before she followed suit.

“So, what was it you wanted to tell me?” Nell asked while she went to sit down.

“Now Nelly, we know how much you loved your little friends in America, but today your grandfather went to check the voicemail and found this.” Her grandmother said lovingly before handing Nell a telegram with what the message had contained.

It was form John: Hi this must be where Nell ended up. Sorry to bother you, but I was calling in regards if this was going to be her permanent residents. If so, please give me a call back. Do not call in regards of wanting to find me. Leave me a message and let me know at the number I provide.

This message then had his number, and it broke Nelly. She could feel the tears well up in her eyes as she read the message. She couldn’t even begin to describe what was going on inside her head…

“Wait, so dad really sent that message to your grandparents?” Sam queried.

“All of the secrets this just spilled and you’re questioning that?”

“Yeah. Also, you knew Mick and Ketch, AND you knew Gabriel?”

“Yes now please finish.”

She was lost and confused about what to really think. She thought John would never abandon her like this, but, sadly, he did.

Nell ran upstairs crying. She felt like the world hated her she wish she could just disappear and hope that no one would ever care that she was gone because clearly John didn’t. Neither did Dean. No one loved her the way she needed to be loved. Not even her own grandparents. They judged every little thing she did, and she hated it.

They were always questioning her, and yelling at her for thing she didn’t even know she did wrong. She was alone in the world that just wanted her gone.

“Hey Nelly.” Gabriel spoke softly after he thought she ah calmed down a little.

“You were wrong you know. Things didn’t get better they got worse, and you knew it didn’t you?”

“Know what?”

“That they were going to show me the message John left.”

“No, I knew they were going to try to lie to you. John left that message three months ago. They wanted to wait till you were starting to get your mind off of them to bring it up.”

This infuriated Nell. She wanted to call John and tell him that she no longer wanted to be with these people she was supposed to call family. So, she took matters into her own hands because she knew they would never let her talk to him. She ran away. She packed all of her stuff and ran away.

“Oh thank goodness we finally found you!” Mick exclaimed as him and Arthur ran up to her at a payphone.

“Great you two. Let me guess my grandmother called you, told you I ran away, and that you two needed to help find me.”

“Wow, you’re good.”

“Yeah I know, but I’m not going back there.” Nell said turning to the phone and started dialing Bobby’s number.

“Oh come on Nell just go back. Tell them you’re sorry and you can do whatever you please.” Arthur tried to persuade her

“Let me guess she told you to tell me that so I would come back? Yes hi I’m trying to make a call to the states.” She asked just as someone asked how they could help her before connecting the call.

“Please Nell just come back.” Mick begged.

“Hi I’m looking for Bobby Singer? Oh my gosh Bobby finally. It’s Nelly Charles. Yeah look I need a flight back to the states pronto...John isn’t answering any of his phones...yeah if that was okay with you...yeah I still thinks he’s mad at us…thanks Bobby you’re the best. I’ll see you in about 15 hours...bye.” And she hung up letting out a huge sigh of relief. She was going home.

Both Mick and Arthur looked upset at losing someone they thought they were growing closer to. They gave her sad looks as they went to go say their goodbyes.

“It has been really good to know you Nell.” Mick said extending his hand out for her to shake.

“I hope you find a good second chance back home in the states.” Arthur did the same thing while she shook Mick’s hand.

“I hope life leads us to meet again boys.��� She said a sad look appearing on her face.

They waved as the walked off leaving her alone with her bag of clothes to start walking to the airport.

“This is not how you handle the situation.” Gabe said appearing out of nowhere.

“What do you know? As far as I’m concerned you’re nothing but an imaginary friend I’ve made up in my head, and for the record you have done a horrible job at siding with me.”

“I’m not an imaginary friend. We have had this conversation before Nell.”

“How do I know you’re not imaginary because I seem to be the only one who can see you.”

“Yeah that’s for a reason. So, when I follow you around school people aren’t asking ‘hey who is that creepy looking guy following the poor new girl around?’”

“Whatever. I still say that you don’t really exist.”

“I do too.”

“Prove it then because honestly I have a hard time believing what anyone says at this point even the stupid obnoxious voice in my head controlling what I do!”

Gabe felt hurt by this. He wasn’t some imaginary friend she made up when she was five. He was the one who showed up in her time of need. He was the friend she needed when she was away from Dean for long periods of time. He was, her “Guardian Angel.”

“If you want me to leave Nell, then I’ll leave and never bother you ever again.”

“Is that a threat or a promise?”

“A promise.”

“Then leave Gabriel because you are making this situation a lot harder than it needs to be.”

Nell went to look over at him, and he was gone. She didn’t really know how to feel. She felt sad, lost, alone, guilty, but she couldn’t let these thought steer her away from the one thing she’s wanted since she first got here.

To go home.

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