#I'm staring at myself on the mirror for the past hours screaming 'you don't like dabi YOU DON'T' AND I CAN'T CONVINCE MYSELF

[jessicas-pi]

Incorrect Quotes: The Time Travel AU With The Padawans edition

Derra: I keep a picture of all of us in my wallet. Whenever I face difficulties, I take it out and stare at the picture. Ezra, Sabine, Dae: Awwww- Derra: And I tell myself "If I can deal with these idiots, then I can deal with anything." Ezra, Sabine, Dae: Oh. --- Derra: If I can't cause tiny bits of chaos every day, I think my body will shut down.  --- Dae: What, I can’t be in a bad mood? It’s like people think, “Oh, Daesha is such a nice girl, Daesha is so happy-go-lucky! Daesha can’t be in a bad mood!” Well, you know what? Daesha CAN be in a bad mood. And right now, Daesha IS be in a bad mood. ---

Derra: Why do I always tell people we��re cool? We’re so very uncool. --- Ezra: Oh gosh I wish I got more sleep I only got six hours! Dae: Six? I only got three! Sabine: You guys got sleep? Derra, comes stumbling out of her room and grabs a jug of caf before saying: What year is it?? --- Sabine: Your smile? It makes my day. Ezra: Your happiness? I live for that. Derra: A room? Get one. Dae: Hotel? Trivago. --- Ezra: Small creatures are much more vicious because they have a smaller body to bottle up all their emotions. Derra: Ridiculous. Give me some examples. Sabine: Wasps? Dae: Terriers? Ezra: Dae. --- Derra: Am I a boy? Am I a girl? It doesn't matter. I'm a Sith, and I'm going to burn your house down. --- Derra: Anything else? Sabine: Yeah. Stay away from me! Derra: Alright. See you in the room we share. --- Dae: Wake me up- Ezra: Before you go go Sabine: When September ends Derra: WAKE ME UP INSIDE --- Ezra, to Kanan: The girls have been acting really weird lately. Do you know what's going on? *flashback to Dae talking to Kanan* Dae: I'm trying to set him up with Derra, obviously! They're Darkness and Light, two sides of the same coin. It's romantic! *flashback to Sabine talking to Kanan* Sabine: Derriphan said that she thinks Dae and Ezra like each other, and they're my two best friends, so of course I'm encouraging them to get together! *flashback to Derra talking to Kanan* Derra: Pff. I've never seen two people with less chemistry than Dae and Ez. But I don't want to cause suffering to draw power from, so I'm substituting teenage angst. I give Sabine six months maximum before she realizes her feelings and implodes with jealousy. *flashbacks end* Kanan: Kanan: ...all is as the Force wills. Ezra: That's not an answer. --- Derra: I am darkness. I am power. I am your worst nightmare. I could kill a man in more ways than you can imagine. I am the night. I am fury, I am a weapon, I am- Dae: A doll. Sabine: A cinnamon roll. Ezra: A sweetheart. Derra: Derra: ...stop it. --- Ezra and Dae: *making loud, shouty gorilla sounds at each other* Ahsoka: Hera, exasperatedly: Guys, Fulcrum is here. --- Dae: I'm willing to bet that some day I'll die from an animal I try to make friends with. Ezra: OMG SAME!!!! --- Dae: This family doesn't split up to do sensible, constructive things. It comes together to do awesome, stupid things. --- Ezra: Why aren't there friendship pick up lines? Pick up lines to make friends like- Ezra, to Dae: Hey, that's a cute outfit. You know where it would look better? On nobody else, because you're a beautiful individual. Derra, to Sabine: Be my friend or I'll set your entire family on fire. Zeb, watching: There are two types of people. --- Dae, to Derra: Excuse us for being gushy, but this has to be said. You are not a loser. --- *the Squad at Space Disneyland, in the teacups* Sabine and Derra: *spinning a little and talking* Ezra and Dae: *flying past them, spinning as fast as they can, screaming* --- Derra: Truth or dare? Dae: Dare. Derra: I dare you to kiss the hottest person in the room. Dae: Hey Ezra? Ezra, confused: Yeah? Dae: Can you move? I'm trying to get to the mirror. Ezra, deadpan: How very humble of you. Sabine: No, no. She's right. --- Sabine: Kriff. I give up. I admit the facts. Dae and Ezra are definitely a couple. Derra: Mm and why do you say that? Sabine: You saw her yesterday, Derra! She was wearing his shirt! Derra: And the day before that she was wearing Hera's spare overalls. Day before that she used Kanan's visor as a sleep mask. Do you know why I'm wearing booty shorts right now, Sabine? Because she took all my pants. Every single pair. And now I have to wear pink sparkly booty shorts because I have no more pants. Derra: Daesha isn't a girlfriend. She's a clothes thief. --- Derra: Someone will die... Dae: Of fun! --- Ezra: I just want someone to take me out. Dae: On a date? Derra: With a sniper gun? Sabine: Both if you're not a coward. --- Zeb: It's locked. You got a lock pick? Ezra: Yeah- Derra: *kicks in the door*

[crowtrobotx]

Chrysalis question time go!! will we be finding out anything more about Kris' past before she arrived in the village in the fic? We obvs already know the most important bits like her missing husband being the reason she was out there to begin with, but what about Lottie's maternal grandparents? Aunts, uncles, friends?

Also, this would either fall into irrelevant or major spoiler territory so feel free to skirt around this/ignore: do you think if Karl and Lottie ever made it to the States after they escaped the village, would he seek out his in-laws, even if out of pure curiosity?

(sorry I was slow at responding to this. I live in shame.) That is an interesting question! Thank you for asking. The answer is: I'm not really sure if there will be a reason in Chrysalis to bring anything up, but it's not out of the question for a side story or ficlet! Kris is more of a found family rather than blood family person; I slid in a little nod to her BFF and girlfriend who belongs to @grisailledreams in one chapter, but she does indeed have a fully fleshed out backstory beyond what she's mentioned. (Journalist, missing hubby etc.) It's just a matter of if it ends up becoming relevant... which it might or might not lol. I know "if it's relevant" is a funny thing for me to say given how much insane and unnecessary symbolic detail I throw in at the cost of like... literally anything else lmao but I do occasionally consciously leave a little bit to the imagination with characters sometimes! It's weird, blood relations for my OC's have never been something I've put a ton of stock in usually. I wonder if it's because I'm a hyper introverted only child who was only close with her immediate parents growing up? Time to stare in the mirror and psychoanalyze myself for 3 hours. As for the second question... hmm. Let's answer hypothetically lol. If Kris is alive and also not a big slobbering wolf monster now kept as the family dog (imagine her oversized dog house and purple rhinestone collar) she'd obviously have some explaining to do and would want everyone to meet. If she's dead/still a weremama then I think I would say Karl would learn about them for curiosity's sake (and to protect Lottie bc he'd be paranoid they'd try to come take her or something) but I don't really see him trying to meet them. They'd be too much of a painful reminder and he's got trust issues out the wazoo; Lottie's thoughts on the matter as she got older might sway him, though! I could actually see her being the more insistent one on meeting. Imagine you get a knock on your door one day and it's an over-caffeinated 20 year old trade school student screaming about how she's your grandchild and the most filthy man you've ever seen looming behind her.

[youarestellarverse]

Happy WIP Wednesday Tuesday!

Today, we have a special treat: a whole fic. Because I need the dopamine boost of having finished a thing. This might not make sense if you haven't read appendicitis fic, and you can't atm unless you downloaded it (that's why that feature exists, by the way! Always feel free to download my fics for your personal enjoyment! Just don't upload them somewhere else without asking).

But if you have read it and you want to read about Jason's stepmom freaking out in the aftermath, here it is!

Content warnings/dead dove tags: alcoholism, family enmeshment, parentification of the surrogate spousal variety, latent trauma from conservative Roman Catholicism (get it get it), past miscarriage, past stillbirth, medical neglect, domestic violence, emotional abuse

November 14th, 1:47 PM (Sweeney Todd, intermission) >Hey, Mom >I'm sorry to ask but I just threw up in a trash can for the 3rd time :(  >can you talk to dad for me?  >I feel worse than I did last night >I don't think I can play like this and if I talk to him myself he'll just get mad  >you know how he is >Annabeth can tell, she's been finding excuses to put her arm around me when we're onstage  >I already got dizzy once and she was the only reason my knees didn't give out >I just feel really awful. something's wrong. 

I can't sleep.

-

November 15, 2 AM

This is all my fault. I want to throttle my useless husband. I can't look at myself in the mirror. Thalia's voice is still ringing in my head.

The problem is, she's completely correct. This happened because I failed him. I wasn't there when he needed me. I was weak, and because of my weakness my baby almost died.

It would be the fourth time I'd killed a child I claimed as mine. Maybe it really is me. Maybe that bitch carrying him kept him from being poisoned by the nuclear waste inside me.

He's alive. I'm sure he is. T, as angry as she was when I left, has kept her promise and sent me a picture every 3 hours on the dot. The most recent one was 2 hours ago, and Jason was fast asleep with his stuffed wolf toy in his arms. He looked about twelve years old. I cried until I had a blinding headache. 5 glasses of cab so far. Headache gone, will come back worse, don't care.

The house is silent in a way I haven't heard in years.

Jason is so quiet, but he's never silent. He's always here, even if he's in the periphery. I never realized how much I rely on his presence, how sharply it would wound to know he's gone.

He looked like death. He had no color in his face at all, no warmth to his cheeks, no spark in his eyes. I almost didn't realize what was happening at first, because I'm so used to looking for a towheaded player among the sea of purple.

He got up. Number twelve. He took a step, stumbled, and collapsed, coughing on vomit as Percy Jackson screamed for the medic and doused him in ice water.

No one has ever glared at me like P did when they were loading into the ambulance. I felt like I was moving in slow motion as I ran down the bleachers to his side, but P looked at me like a lion protecting his cub. I had absolutely no doubt in that moment that if I touched Jason, Percy would have torn my hand clean off. That's how enraged he was.

I deserved it. I deserve every bit of shame I'm feeling now. I should have put my foot down the minute I got Jason's text and I CERTAINLY shouldn't have let R see it. Part of me wants to leave, to grab Jason from his sister's apartment and take him with me to Milan, but I know I have no claim over him. I should have fought harder when his father talked me out of adopting him.

I keep staring at the pictures T sent me. Jason looks so small and frail in that bed, with tubes in both arms and huge circles under his eyes and that horrible dye job his sister did.

I want nothing more than to hold him and soothe his pain. I poison everything I touch. If I don't stand between him and his father, his sister will eventually break or lose in a show of force. He needs me, I know he needs me, but every mark I leave on him bleeds.

I'm no Mary. I'm no Merrhoe. I'm Jezebel, just like my father said. The whore of Babylon. Wicked. Beyond salvation. I don't know why I ever thought I could stroke his beautiful angel wings without soiling his feathers like petroleum drowning a seabird.

-

November 15th, 9 AM >Just checking in >Thalia's finally asleep, she's been awake since yesterday :( >anyway I'm doing ok, they said I can go home today or tomorrow >I'll be at T's for about 6 weeks. You should come by for breakfast sometime. >(I'll talk to her first. I know she's mad, but I think she'll understand if I explain. You're both just trying to protect me, and I think she knows that.) >Anyway. Thanks for trying. I hope Dad didn't blow up at you because of me. >There's sugar-free gatorade in the garage, the waffles I made from sourdough starter in the freezer and naproxen in my med cabinet. Stay hydrated and away from tylenol today, ok? >And try a plain waffle right out of the freezer if your stomach feels funky. >Always works for me when it's not, y'know, sepsis. ^_^; [a photo of Jason in his hospital bed, still looking pale but slightly less pallid. There's a whisper of color returning to his face and he has enough energy to smile, albeit tiredly. He is using one hand to lift Lupa the Second's paw in a wave.]

-

November 15th, 11 AM

I have many regrets.

I barely remember what happened. There are three empty bottles of wine in the sink and an open one on the counter. I think I threw a glass at my husband. I think I called him a murderer. I'm pretty sure he slapped me, but I think I deserved it, and I must have hit back since he has a bruised cheek and won't speak to me. (I think he deserved it too. My husband and I deserve each other, really.)

My poor little Moses knew somehow that I got lost in vino last night. When we lived in California and his father was still screwing his PA, I used to bring Jason with me on tastings. He would charm the staff by talking about the different cheeses, and I would skip the bucket while he had their attention.

He'd call a car and hold my arm and let me lean on him as we went inside. He'd make me a cool cloth and some rice, like M. taught him, and keep me hydrated and medicated until I slept it off.

It's been years since I embarrassed myself like that. Still, he knew. Like always, he didn't judge me or insult me or call me names or accuse me of humiliating him; he just made sure I was okay as best as he was able.

I was in my car with my keys in my hand before I remembered Thalia threatening me with a custody battle to keep me from going anywhere near him until she gives the okay.

I hate her. If it got that far, she'd win no matter how good Julie is in court. Thalia is the Mary to Jason's Christlike goodness— the frightened young woman who sheltered that sweet little boy as he grew into a glowing, golden hero. All she'd have to do is look at the judge the way she looked at me: shaking with fury, but teary-eyed from the kind of fear that can only be born out of agape. The purest, highest form of love.

She'd win the case before I even walked through the door, and I would have nothing left to buoy me through the waters of my own shame.

~fin

DAMMIT AO3 I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF POSTING A FIC

[todoya]

I just think I'll never be able to get the "come dance with your son in hell" scene out of my head ever again

[skiyoosmi]

post-break up heartaches

verse 1. in the car that used to drive us to our home

⤷ kuroo tetsurou, oikawa tooru — more characters coming soon

⤷ verse 2 | verse 3

⤷ play. never let me go by ghostly kisses, forget about us by clinton kane

commissions: open

⇢ KUROO sighs for the umpteenth time of the day. he was so fucking exhausted and his body's about to give in to sleep any moment now. work has been beating his ass; there was this newbie who kept on messing up the documents needed by the board and for the whole day, he had to be the one to fix said issues. it's not like he wasn't paid enough for that; if anything, his paycheck was one of the most beautiful things he laid his eyes on— but god, even his body has its own limits and yet...

"ya.... yer not supposed to do this anymore. y-ya left me, remember?" you slurred, index finger pointing right at his chest as he circled his arms around your waist, huffing as you practically dropped all your weight on him. here he was, suddenly given the task of having to take you home after your supposed-to-be designated driver, miya fucking atsumu, also drank his brains out with you.

"be patient. still heartbroken because of you, y'know?" kenma softly tells him despite the tipsy feeling lurking in the back of his mind, shaking his head as he looked at you, whose system finally shut down and were now dozing off in the black haired man's arms.

"..... still?" he mumbles, looking down at your figure and he feels his heart contract with pain all over again.

"you can't expect her to be fine immediately, kuroo. it was your wedding day, supposed to be the greatest day of her life and yet it became the worst one... you left her at the altar alone."

he didn't reply anything— or rather, he was unable to. because what can he say to refute the truth? nothing. instead, he proceeded to his car with you still in his hold. he places you on the passenger seat, locking the seatbelts before jogging to the driver's side.

the car ride was calm as you slept soundly with your head occasionally hitting the window lightly as it swayed from side to side. he was sure as hell that if you were sober right now, you wouldn't even have the thought of seeing him cross your mind. he just knows for sure that you despise him with your whole being... at least, that's what he thought until...

"i'm sorry, tetsu. please come back," you whimper in your seat, voice quiet but he heard it nonetheless, "tell me what i did wrong so i can fix it."

the pitiful sounds and mumbles you made struck kuroo right in the heart and which makes him pull over an empty but safe road, just a block away from your (previously shared) apartment. looking over your form, he finds himself reaching out to touch your face, caressing your cheeks as drops of tears fell down slowly on them, "you didn't do anything wrong. you were fine. you were so perfect."

you squint your eyes at him, probably wondering if this was real or just a part of your drunken imagination. nonetheless, you hiccuped, "y-you... you left me and i... i still can't even bring myself to hate you... i just wanna ask you why? i just want to understand."

he thought he also knew the reason why but every single time he thinks about it, he's only led to one conclusion: because he was a coward. no way was this any of your fault— it's definitely not your fault that right at that moment, as he stared at the mirror, wearing the black suit you chose for him, the sudden fear of commitment loomed over him. it's not like it was your fault he suddenly got scared of losing you the way his parents lost each other. but now he thinks it's ironic, because he lost you anyway.

maybe... just maybe, if he had just met you where you stood at the altar, instead of leaving you alone in it, maybe he would've been happier. maybe his days would've started more with a smile from you as you helped him fix his necktie before going to work. maybe, the working hours he spends in the shitty corporate world would've been more worth it if it meant he can come home to you at the end of the day. maybe... maybe he wouldn't have to be stuck with this lump in his throat as he wonders what could've been happening if he just chose to show up and vowed his life to you.

but he didn't.

"i realized i wasn't just ready to tie my life with anyone yet. that's all there is to it, yn."

so with a heavy feeling stuck in his chest and a quiet promise to never see you again for the sake of not hurting you further, he starts the car's engine again, ignoring the words you replied but he was sure they will haunt him for a very long time... again.

i can wait for you no matter how long it takes, tetsu, you know that.

⇢ OIKAWA gives you what seems like a guilty smile as he stands in front of you, opening his arms and gesturing you to come closer. but the stoic expression on your face takes him back to the reality that the last thing you wanted to do today was to actually fetch him from the airport. it just so happens that his three best friends were caught up with work that they had no choice but to send you, the main ex-bestfriend slash ex-girlfriend, to him.

why did you agree when you practically loathe him with your whole being? well, it was probably because you weren't the devil who would reject your friends when they were literally on their knees as they begged you and for some reason, you thought he'll look pitiful going back to his home country after five years with no one to welcome him. yeah, that's it. it's not like you're still in love with him or anything.

"my car's just around the corner," you begrudgingly walk towards the car park with him quietly following. at the moment, he knew better than to get on your nerves or else there would be war. he hates that this happened to the both of you but he can't blame anyone else but himself. because who wouldn't hate their ex-boyfriend if they suddenly broke up with them over a phone call?

tension filled the car as you both sat beside each other. perhaps, this was what other people were talking about when they say that it's impossible for exes to be friends again, to not feel any awkwardness because you were sure as hell that the word "awkward" was an understatement of your situation right now. nevertheless, your eyes couldn't help but wander to his figure as he adjusted his body, opting for a more comfortable position in the passenger's seat.

he looked more youthful and you felt bittersweet— proud that his whole aura screams of "success" which meant that gone were the days where he longed to get that winter cup trophy, nor the times when he overworked himself and put a strain on his knee which led to countless arguments with you. if anything, he looked happier and it sucks because you're not even close to feeling that way... not without him.

"i heard you've finally gotten yourself your own condominium? that's great, yn!" he exclaimed as soon as you began driving to your destination, a hope lit within him that maybe you might just respond to him. just one smile, that's all i need, he thinks.

but you remain focused on your driving, choosing to reply with a single nod and a soft "yeah..."

disappointment fills his heart as he faces the truth that your relationship has really been ruined, along with your friendship. all because he was foolish to think that he couldn't handle the physical distance between you two. realization dawns upon him that he just made that same distance worse as you pull your heart further away from him.

"... i actually bought it for the two of us, you know?" he whips his head to your direction in surprise, heart clenching as he watch you let out a sad chuckle, "i just... i thought it would be nice if we had a place to permanently stay at and for you to have a home to go to when you're at japan. but yeah... i guess things doesn't go our way sometimes, does it?"

"i'm sor—"

"it's okay. i'm fine now," you quickly reply, shaking your head but keeping your eyes on the road. he tries to ignore the tears that start to form in them because he has no right to stop them, knowing full well that he was the one who caused them in the first place.

as if on cue, you halt your vehicle in front of a familiar apartment and much to your dismay, you find yourself looking back in the past when you used to live in that same place, making wonderful memories with the chocolate haired lad with you. you clear your throat to stop the sob that desperately attempts to escape your throat, "uhm... we're here."

"oh, yeah. we're here," he numbly states, already missing you despite the mere inches of space separating the two of you. you just felt so far away and he hates it. but this was the path he chose so he gets out of your car along with his things, turning to you once more, "uhh... thanks for the ride, yn. i know you probably hate me but yeah... it's very nice of you to put that past us and i guess i just want to say sorry for hurting you... i just..."

"i don't hate you, tooru," you softly tell him, "i just don't want anything to do with you anymore. to see you this happy, without me, is like a slap in the face because i'm not. it still hurts and i'm not fine. i just hope this will be the last time we'll see each other. be safe on your trip back to argentina. welcome home."

and with that, you start the car's engine again, no longer having the energy nor the strength to hear his reply. but he wishes you did because as he watches your car drive further away from him, he can't help but wish that he can take back time so that you don't have to go to that condominium and instead, go inside the home you once shared with him.

but i'm not happy, yn. because how could i call this place my home when you're not here with me?

at that moment, unbeknownst to the two hearts that long for each other break at the same time, you finally let out the tears and cries that you've been keeping since you saw him, knowing that no matter how much you try, you'll never be as happy as you were with him— simply because he left you with a hole in your heart that no one else can fill.

© SKIYOOSMI, 2021. reposting, translating, editing, copying and any kind of plagiarism are strictly prohibited, thank you.

[hailene]

𝒢oldₗₕₛ |𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝙸|

[𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦, 𝘐 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶.]

masterlist | wc: 3.3K

❏

"You did it wrong," you hear the boy saying for what felt like the hundredth time in the past twenty minutes.

You let out a frustrated sigh, closing your eyes in order to gather the strength to stay calm and not to lose your composure.

"I did it exactly the way you showed me," you say, almost hissing every word.

He clicks his tongue and comes a few steps closer to you, staring at the reflection of the two of you in the mirror.

"No, you didn't," he says simply, crossing his arms over his chest.

You wanted to punch him, you wanted to punch him so bad.

"Okay," you breathe. "I'll go over it by myself later, let's–"

"Later when?" Heeseung interrupts you. "We're supposed to be done with it in a few days and we're not even close to the final."

Unfortunately.

You let out a deep sigh and rub a hand over my face.

"How am I supposed to get it right when you're sitting over there criticizing every single breath I take?" You whine and he rolls his eyes.

"Do it again," he ignores you. "From the top."

You let out an exhausted groan, giving up. You were too tired to keep fighting with him. It took way too much energy.

He plays the music for you and you do your part, trying your best to get every single move right– or at least the way he showed them to you. It was past midnight and you were getting dizzier and dizzier with every single step, but you couldn't let that be seen– you knew Heeseung was going to say that you were weak and unprofessional.

"Again," you hear him saying from behind you after you finish your part.

"For fuck's sake," you scream, turning around.

Enough is enough.

He was looking at you with a clear lack of mercy in his eyes, but after all those years of training, a disappointed look– especially coming from a mere other trainee– meant nothing to you.

"Do it with me, at least," you speak. "It's a duet, we still need to be in sync and you can't just keep watching me from behind until you decide I don't suck."

He looks at you for a few minutes without saying anything, your chest heaving up and down due to the exhaustion and the screams that had just left your throat.

"Okay," is all that he says, before playing the music and getting into his position.

It takes you a second to process the fact that he didn't fight back this time. But you manage to get in your position in time. As you watch the two of you in the mirror, you realize that objectively speaking, with a little bit more practice, your stage can truly be legendary. You and Heeseung were the best dancers in your company and a lot of people were saying that you two could become the best in the industry after you'd debut.

"I have vocal training in the morning," he speaks, trying to catch his breath after you finish the routine "so I'm going back to the dorm now... you can keep practicing."

You almost laugh in his face. He had vocal training in the morning, while you had group dance practice in less than two hours.

"Okay," is all you manage to say as you watch him hopping his bag on his shoulder and preparing to leave.

"We have to finish this tonight, so you should work hard on this part," he adds before leaving.

You stare at the door for a few moments, trying to comprehend just how arrogant he could be. Then, your legs give out due to the amount of exhaustion and you feel yourself falling on the floor.

*

"Are you getting on well with the ace?" Sunghoon asks and you glare at him. "Okay, I guess not."

You let your head fall in your hands and let out a long sigh. Even though you could eat your full meal today, you genuinely couldn't bring yourself to. You could feel your stomach churning in pain but you felt like you would throw up if you swallowed any food.

"The choreography is not bad," you sigh. "The communication part, on the other hand..."

You shake your head.

"You're both awesome," you hear your friend speaking in front of you. "You'll do this stage together and get this over with, it's gonna be fine."

It's been a few days ever since Heeseung and you started working on the routine for that so called "legendary" stage and you were already beyond tired of the boy. The girls at the dorm were envious of you and that was even more frustrating. He's an asshole, you wanted to scream in their faces, but you'd probably only end up beaten up in a bathroom if you did that.

"Hey, by the way," Sunghoon starts speaking again. "Do you have ten minutes later? I wanna show you what I prepared for the project stage."

You raise your head to look at him, suddenly remembering the project stage. Sunghoon, like a lot of other male trainees here, were monthly preparing project stages, since the company wanted to debut seven of them in a boy group. You were sure your friend was going to make it in the final line-up because he was a hard-worker and he had a unique type of charisma that you had never quite seen before. Everybody in the company was sure that Heeseung was going to be part of the line-up. To be honest, you pretty much thought so, too.

You had to practice with Heeseung later, but you could definitely watch Sunghoon for a bit before that.

"Sure," you say and your friend smiles.

*

"Hoon, it's awesome!" You beam as you stare at your best-friend in awe. "Did you choreograph it by yourself?"

Sunghoon slides down against the wall and you throw his water bottle at him, which he opens and chucks down in a matter of seconds. His hair was damp, stuck to his temples and the nape of his neck. He had been practicing this for a long time, you could tell. It was no surprise, that was typical of Sunghoon.

"No, Jay helped," he breathes and you nod, since you already knew Jay was a mastermind of routines of this kind. "You know... it would be fair of you to show me your piece too, now."

You shrug, having expected this already. Fair enough, you think to yourself as you stand up. You play the song you were practicing on with Heeseung and get in your position. You had practiced it countless times, partly because you were a perfectionist, but also because Heeseung's nagging was absolutely horrible and you hated it and him with your whole might. At this point, your body was moving as if it had a mind of its own, flowing graciously and emphasizing the moves on the beats.

When the song finishes, you stare at your reflection in the mirror, pretty much pleased with the outcome. Your chest was heaving up and down, but there was a wicked grin on your face that you didn't quite know where it came from either.

"Holy shit," you hear your friend behind you, reminding you that you weren't alone in the practice room. "Yun, that's... that's... wow."

You can't help but smile, brushing the hair out of your face. Sunghoon's genuine praises were pretty rare, that's why they fed your ego really well.

"Good," you breathe, sliding down on the wall next to him, after taking your water bottle.

You feel your friend's gaze on you as you gulp down your water.

"It would've been so cool if we could have done it together," you sigh, closing the lid of your bottle. "We have been practicing together ever since..."

"The beginning," Sunghoon finishes for you and you nod. "It's alright, Yunie, they wouldn't be able to handle us anyway."

You feel a hot shiver crossing your body at the sound of the nickname Sunghoon used to call you when you had just met. You let yourself slide further, placing your head on your friend's shoulder. For a few moments, your soft breaths were everything that could be heard in the room. You felt a familiar type of dizziness choking you. It was never easy, but excellence came with sacrifices. All the time.

"God, how I wish it was you," you sigh with your eyes closed.

You feel his arm shifting and you lift your head the slightest bit, just enough for him to wrap his arm around your back and pull you to his chest. Even though he was sweaty, his minty scent was still tingling your nostrils familiarly. You snuggled up closer to him, trying to make yourself comfortable. You used to do it all the time in your first year— mere kids trying to find a sense of home in something, but ended up finding it in somebody. Just for a few minutes, you could go back to that feeling, even though you weren't kids anymore. But just for a few minutes, you could forget tha—

"Had a blank space on your list of conquests, Park?"

You sigh deeply before opening your eyes and heaving yourself up in order to face your beloved partner. You stand up, untying your hair in order to put it in a tighter pony tail.

"That's why we can't have pretty things," you mutter as Heeseung throws his bag on the sofa across the dance room.

You throw an apologetic look towards Sunghoon, who only gives you a smile, signaling that such words can't get to him.

"Or have you not been touched for too long, Yunie?" Heeseung continues and your head snaps towards him at the same time as Sunghoon stands up with his fists clenched.

"Ah, loverboy is mad now," Heeseung chuckles to himself and you feel rage rising in you.

"You talk too much crap, Heeseung," Sunghoon says, trying his best to maintain his calm.

"At least I'm not desperate," the boy shrugs nonchalantly.

You dart towards Sunghoon before he can throw himself at Heeseung, wrapping your arms around his body. The rules of the company were strict when it came to violence between trainees and one wrong step could make everything your friend had worked for so hard all these years go to waste. You couldn't let that happen.

You bury your face in his chest, clinging to the fabric of his T-shirt in hopes that he would let it go as he lets it go when it's only about him.

"It's not worth it," you whisper. "He's not worth it."

You let him go as you feel his muscles relaxing. You look at him, the softer light on his face taking you aback. You turn your head to look at Heeseung, who had a staring contest with your friend.

"Go," you say to Sunghoon, hoping to get rid of the tension in the room. "I'll catch up with you later."

Sunghoon looks at you as if asking you if you were truly going to be alright with a jerk like Lee Heeseung. You nodded the slightest bit, making the boy let out a deep sigh. He takes his bag and throws Heeseung another glare before leaving the room. You exhale deeply, turning towards your partner with your arms crossed over your chest.

"What?" He asks, expressionless.

You could almost feel tears of frustration gathering up in your eyes. He is going to debut and he's going to have so many fans, so many poor souls will be tricked to fall in love with him because they won't have the chance to know how big of a jerk Lee Heeseung is behind the cameras.

"Nothing," is all you say before brushing past him in order to get in your position. "Let's practice."

Rehearsal went smoother than usual and you liked to believe it was because Heeseung sensed your rage and he was afraid that you might burst. But deep down, you knew it wasn't that.

He was never scared of anything.

The more you went through the final details of the performance and through the choreography itself with full-energy, the closer you felt to collapsing. You couldn't dare to even think about asking Heeseung to stop, you just didn't want to deal with whatever complaints he might have for that. Trainees feel sick pretty often, that's no reason for them to stop.

"I thought we were practicing a full-energy version," you hear the boy muttering at some point. "You dance like you're fucking dead."

You let out a deep sigh, letting yourself fall on your knees after you grab your water bottle. You take a few sips of liquid from it, hoping it would make up for the lack of food from your stomach.

"Okay," you exhale with your eyes closed, before forcing yourself to stand up again. "Let's do it again."

"No, wait," Heeseung says and you turn towards him confused. "Are you gonna dance for real this time or am I wasting my energy again?"

You roll your eyes.

"I'll do my best," you say.

"Yeah? Well that's what you have been saying for the past two hours as well," he says on an annoyed tone and you clench your fists.

Not now.

"Let's just do it," you sigh. "Please."

"No, I don't want to," Heeseung says. "You're wasting my time."

You look at him, waiting for whatever his next lines might be. Because you felt like they might be final.

"I can't believe I was paired up with you, you're literally—"

That was the last thing you heard before you blacked out.

*

The first thing you notice when you open your eyes again is the familiar bottom of the bunk bed on top of yours. You were in your dorm, but you had no idea how you got here in the first place. Or what day it was, as a matter of fact.

You turn your head to the side, only to be met with Heeseung's sleepy figure dozed off on a chair next to your bed. The faint natural light was making his traits discernible, not that you wouldn't have known them well enough. Nobody else seemed to be in the dorm, though. Was it morning?

You heave yourself up, feeling your head throbbing. You hiss as you feel your whole body hurting, making it almost impossible for you to move.

"Are you fucking stupid?"

You turn your head towards Heeseung, who was looking at you with a light frown on his face. His voice was still raspy due to his sleepy state. It was weird to see the ace Lee Heeseung in such a disheleved state. But it was also interesting. It made him look more... human.

"Don't get up, I'll bring you some medicine," he sighs, standing up and heading towards the desk near the windows.

You let yourself fall against the mattress, closing your eyes. It happened. The thing you hoped would never happen happened. You fainted while there was someone else there with you.

The boy brings you a warm drink that you were already accustomed to, since you were always drinking that when you felt sick. Heeseung watches you as you gulp it down slowly, but you were too exhausted, both mentally and physically, to care.

"How many times?" You hear him asking and you turn towards him confused. "How many times has this happened before?"

You avert your gaze because you were genuinely embarrassed of the truth.

Heeseung sighs.

"How did you know?" You ask and he scoffs.

"How did I know?" He says, his tone slightly threatening. "Do you know how I knew? You fainted in the practice room while I was talking to you so I carried you to the nurse's office, who told me you were highly underfed and that she had no idea how you managed to practice all day yesterday."

You look at him in disbelief as he breathes heavily after his enraged speech.

"I knew you were stupid, but I didn't know you could go this far," he continues, in a lower tone. "Why didn't you tell me?"

It's your turn to scoff.

"Why didn't I tell you?" You almost laugh. "I gave my fucking heart for this little performance of yours and you had something to comment on every single fucking time, Heeseung. Not even once have you told me that it's okay, you kept saying that I needed to practice more. What did you want me to tell you? Hey by the way, I skipped my full meal day because I was tired as fuck because I practiced your stupid choreography by myself the whole night and couldn't bring myself to eat proper food so I will probably faint real soon? Is that what you wanted me to tell you?"

Your body was aching and your head was throbbing but the rage was too intense to care about any of those. Heeseung was staring at you, slightly taken aback. The surprise in his eyes, however, doesn't last for too long. He averts his gaze and presses his lips in a tight line.

"You should get some more sleep," he says slowly. "I'll be here with food when you wake up."

You couldn't bring yourself to fight back to that. You simply turned around in your bed and as soon as you heard the door of your room closing, you let the tears spill.

*

You had two more days until the stage performance. It was already speculated on SNS and a lot of people were excited to see two top trainees in a stage as a duo at the music show. You and Heeseung have been neutral with each other ever since you fainted during practice, but he did make sure you had a proper meal daily. You haven't told him yet, but deep down, you were thankful.

Today, professor Kim was supervising you two in order to give you the final tips and feedback for the official performance. Now, the two of you were looking expectantly at the woman between you and the mirror, who had her eyes narrowed at you.

"I am surprised," she says with a small smile on her lips.

Both Heeseung and you look at her confused, wondering if it was a good or a bad thing.

"As expected, the routine is flawless, your bodies move beautifully to the rhythm," she points out and you both nod your heads in a humble gratitude. "However."

Your eyebrows arch in surprise, wondering what she might have to add. The two of you were still panting, your breaths still shallow after demonstrating the choreography.

"Your performance is lacking chemistry," she says, her smile widening. "Your performance is lacking that special type of passion."

You blink a few times, not able to fully process what she was talking about.

"I know you have that in you, both of you," professor Kim speaks. "You just need to unleash that, your performance desperately needs it."

Then, she steps closer to you, looking from Heeseung to you with a suggestive glint in her eyes. Deep down, you were somehow expecting the performance to lack something. You didn't feel like it was perfect and you could tell neither did Heeseung. But you hadn't been able to pinpoint what that could have been. You knew now. But somehow, you didn't really want to know anymore.

"You're not kids anymore," she says softly. "Do whatever it takes to discover your chemistry, for the sake of your performance."

You almost step back, genuinely anxious about her suggestions. She was right. But completing this task felt impossible.

She grins sweetly.

"Break the rules, it doesn't matter," she adds. "Just look in love."

[elderflowerchampagne]

145 - spoilers continue

Not a great visit, but what a gift to be able again, at last, to say that.

It seems like there's a missed opportunity for the cards to actually mean something? Why not have the 10s take the elevator and the jacks take the stairs?

God, I can't drink or run or climb like I used to. Two visits in three days was too much for me. It probably would have been too much in The Before Time, too, but now that I live in Connecticut my visit frequency distribution will be very different. And I think that's the part I'll miss the most, the utter whim-ness of it. Bad day at work? Off to the McK. Bored? Back I go. Stressed and need to hide from the world for three hours? I know a place. And it'll be strange not to have that outlet.

But I also know it's time for that change, and it's probably been time for a long time. I want real things now. Which is why I've elected to spend 7 years in a PhD program that I'll finish when I'm 35, and yeah I probably still won't get a job, but it's 7 years of healthcare and maybe after that I'll be a mother or married or dead.

Speaking of real things, in May I'm headed to Actual Scotland for a conference, where I'm supposed to present a paper about immersive theatre. Which means that I'll get to justify every visit between now and then as Professional Development.

Anyway, not all that much to report. I spent this visit and some of the last one reacquainting myself with the building itself, and the objects that have grown so familiar over the years. Macduff's typewriter. Garcio the Balcony Boar. The wolf on the fifth floor (minor panic when I couldn't find him - he's still there, just on the other side of the room). The horrifying mushrooms with the holes in them in the taxidermist's cabinet. All this stuff which has for the last 10 years formed so much of the landscape of my life, and to be back among it again makes it feel like no time or horrible things have passed since.

But of course horrible things have happened, and I see them mirrored in things both old and new. You can't watch the matron furiously scrub at her hands with a napkin without thinking about Lady Macbeth, of course, but it also conjures those desperate early days of the pandemic when we thought that could save us. When Hecate reaches out into the darkness and frantically swipes at people who aren't there, who is she fighting? Who is she reaching for? Why can't she see us when she always used to be able to?

Everyone I've spoken to seems happy that the padded room, at last, has a scene, but I didn't realize until I saw it for myself that the only way to watch it is through the small rectangular window in the door. And standing on tiptoe, craning to see what small bits of action I could, reminded me of the awful isolation of these past two years, when we've all been staring at each other through rectangles.

I don't remember if I've ever thought this before, but after a small, almost unnoticeable jerk of her head during the rave, it occurred to me that maybe Sexy doesn't want to be doing what she's doing. I don't know if it happens with every performer, but it's right before they pick her up and she screams, and that certainly changes an awful lot.

I spent a lot of time just going through things in the Macduff apartments and the hospital. Those are my places - the safe, maternal, sinister ones, which I guess explains a lot about me. The matron seems to have latched on to TIS SAID THEY ATE EACH OTHER, which is a line l I love and nobody ever talks about. She's scribbled it all over her windowsill. I don't know if she still writes the line about the honest men on the pillar; I haven't seen that scene yet. God, it's so wonderful to not know things again.

Moonlight Becomes you was never a part I really paid particular attention to; at least it hadn't been in the months leading up to the shutdown. But for the first time I noticed that Danvers mimics the same choreography that she sees during the ballroom.

Sorry for the long, introspective, not-particularly-informative recap. I know Tumblr is no longer the place to be, in this or any other circle, but I'm not going anywhere or venturing into Discord or Reddit. I'm old school.

K

[wendystales]

Memories - lrh (Chapter Twelve)

Memories (also on Wattpad)

Chapter Eleven ※※※※※ Chapter Thirteen

I approach my boyfriend seeing him completely tense. The long, callused fingers from the guitar strings tightening in distress. His eyes didn't know where to look, staring into the spotlight like they were monsters from his childhood.

The thick brown coat was a few sizes too big for him, but he's still beautiful all the same. On the eyelids, a black eye shadow ending with a pink tip gave it a charm. The lip balm seemed to bring out the color of his lips, making me restless to kiss him.

“I don't know if it was a good idea.” Luke, let out all the air as I wrap my arms around his neck.

“It was a great idea! You look awesome.” I bite my lip, controlling the urge to take him into a room and do various indecent things. “Just relax and enjoy. As in a play.” I advise him, trying to calm him down."

Ever since the invitation for him to be the face of this perfume had arrived, I was bursting with pride and anticipation to see him doing his photo shoot, following something completely different from the band.

"Don't you think it's too exaggerated?" he asks, unsure of the look. I hold his face in my hands, touching our foreheads. I allow myself to drown in his blue eyes.

“You look handsome.” I say slowly, so he can record my words well. “Now, let's get this quick, because seeing you like this is making me very excited and I don't know how long I can take it.” I sigh, uneasy. Hemmo gives a nice laugh. Glad to see him more relaxed.

Watch out when the photographer yells for them to start. I give my boyfriend a little kiss, ready to pull away, but Luke holds me in his arms still.

“I love you!” he whispers, like a secret.

“I love you!” I give him a little kiss on the tip of his nose. "Anything just scream, I'll be right there." I blink at him.

I take a few steps back, not taking my eyes off his. So as not to bump into anything and make a mess of his work, I turn around, running behind the spotlights and flashbulbs.

I watched the photo shoot totally proud and delighted. Little by little Luke was loosening up and having fun. I don't wipe the smile off my lips, so every time he looks at me, he smiles more.

Nearly three hours later, my excitement was already making me irritated that photo shoot wasn't over and I feel like I lost all control when in the last costume, where Luke rips the white blouse. I hold my breath, staring at the ceiling, wondering how I'm going to make it home and calculating which is closest.

~.~.~.~.~

We left the elevator hand in hand and in hurried steps, we weren't running, but whoever passed us realized we were in a hurry. I squeeze his hand seeing the door with the number 609.

"Thank God." I comment euphoric as Luke opens the door.

He walks in and pulls me to his chest. His hand tangles in the hairs on the back of my neck, enveloping us in a desperate kiss. Urgently, I open the buttons on his shirt, feeling his other hand find my ass, squeezing hard.

I force the fabric to slide down his arms, enjoying the texture of his warm skin. The tequila flavor still inhabits our mouths, which makes the kiss better, plus the soft touch of his lips pressed against mine.

I roll my eyes as his beard scrapes my neck, along with his hot mouth, giving me goose bumps.

“The door.” I say with difficulty, noticing it ajar.

Together, we staggered back a few steps, closing it. Without much patience and with a lot of desire, we ended up staying there. Hemmings presses me against the wood, pulling me into his lap. I scratch the back of his neck when I feel his erection against me, releasing the electricity that seems to rush through my body.

It was amazing how seeing him on stage, with those tight pants and silk shirts moving me. Honestly, he can wear anything, and at the end of the day I'll be falling for him. Not to mention the eyes full of glitter. He had me in the palm of his hands like that. So beautiful. So magnificent.

Luke always knew this look messed with my hormones and destroyed my self-control, and in the end it always ended up like that, having sex, because I couldn't help myself.

Of course, the drink has a big weight in this, but I'm not going to take our blame for this story, after all, we teased each other from the moment we stepped into that dressing room.

The desperation and excitement is such that we reach our first orgasm right there, against the door. No foreplay, no undressing completely, and not caring if anyone passing in the hallway heard anything.

It was something far above lust or desire. Despair to feel our skins against each other. Taste and touch. That feeling of feeling incredible, loved, wanted, as if the only chance to stay alive was there inside of us.

I wake up in a jump. My heart pounded, causing pain. My body seemed to boil, prompting me to kick the covers off quickly. The fresh memory of the dream causes shivers. The way I felt his touch, all those sensations and reactions my body gave.

I lie down on the bed again, wanting to calm down and not think too much about the dream, or what else seemed like, memories. I don't know how to handle it, these are the first sexual memories I have with him. My God, how am I going to look at Luke now?

I pick up my phone, which poin just over an hour earlier than I planned to wake up. Since I know I won't be able to get back to sleep anymore, so I start getting ready for today's meeting.

I decide to have breakfast first and once again review my past contract to get a sense of what will be discussed. Between one paragraph and another, I browse my social networks seeing what's going on.

Without being impressed anymore, I watch a little video or two that some fans make about Hemmo and me. Slightly, I melt at the way we look and smile at each other.

I go back to my room, and head for a shower. I hope that water takes those memories from earlier today down the drain, but the steam seems to open more fields in my brain.

I close my eyes, feeling various parts of my body tingle, as if he's there, touching me, holding me. My breath heaves and my belly tightens. What the fuck is going on?

Cheating on me yet again, my brain presents me with the two of us on the floor of that hotel room. In my kitchen. In the car. In some bathroom. Some of the countless times we'd lost ourselves in each other's arms.

The many times I ran my hands over his chest, drawing a new path, as I thought in that hospital hall. The times his mouth wandered over my body, his hands took me with such force and conviction.

The phone ringtone brings me back to reality. I turn off the alarm and hurry my shower. With Noah's guidance, I change into something comfortable and a bucket hat Calum gave me to hide my pink hair.

After a few hours, I find myself analyzing a huge photo of myself at the Hastings agency reception. With Noah, I follow a huge hallway to a conference room, where Mr. Hastings and a lawyer would be waiting for us. The twin next to me has a hard face, which is weird since Noah is always so excited and smiling.

“Marnie, dear! Long time no see! How have you been? Did you receive my basket?” Mr. Hastings question me without waiting for me to walk right into the room.

“Hi! I'm great and yes, I loved the basket, it was very kind.” I squeeze his hand, not knowing quite what to do.

“Hello son!” it's not exactly a warm welcome, but I want to believe it's just because we're in a work environment, dealing with serious matters.

“Hi Dad. Can we start?” my friend guides me to a chair.

During the meeting, Mr. Hastings clarified some news of the new contract. Things like: salary increase, partnership with new brands and the whole process of publicizing the names that already worked with us.

“Closing here, you will go to the closet to take new measurements. These numbers will be sent to the brands that hired you and they will send you clothes for you to use on a daily basis. For example: if you go out with Leah for coffee, you must wear a Louis Vuitton coat, so the photos you take will publicize the coat and well, nowadays young people find everything and want everything you wear. You will get a scale of which brands to use, so it's easier for you.” Mr. Hastings explains by summarizing a contract sheet.

As for photo shoots, until my arm gets better and I can get rid of the cast, I'll be limited to rehearsals on jewelry, makeup, glasses and shoes. On my hair, if the contracting brand determines, I will have to wear a wig.

I keep mentally reading every line of that contract, wondering if I could handle it all. Well, you’ve handle it for the past two years, it shouldn't be that hard.

As determined, after the meeting, Noah walks me to the closet. A huge space where had several clothes and accessories, as in The Devil Wears Prada. My measurements are taken and I get annoyed when the guy who's putting the measuring tape around my waist grumbles that I've put on weight.

The bad thing about being a model is it, this constant imposition of a perfect body. Since the accident, I don't remember seeing anyone on Leah's foot for her to lose weight or keep her body. I always watched her nervous appetite, not caring if it would add to her number on the scale.

Okay that Leah's biotype was skinny and maybe that made things easier for her. But since I understand myself by people, I've always been short and broad hiped and never cared. And even if I erased a few years, I don't think I've changed much.

From the reflection in the mirror, Noah sinalized for me not to care what the guy says, but I think it's kind of difficult. It's not just him talking about my body, it seems like everyone on the internet has an opinion about my weight, especially some Luke fans.

Blocking in my mind, the offensive words that I always end up reading through social media. However, I keep watching my body in the mirror, wondering if it wouldn't be better to lose some weight.

Soon after having my measurements taken, Noah is called to a meeting with his father and a french businessman, leaving me alone. As I wait for the car to arrive, I consider what I can do on my last day off. Everyone is working and I don't want to disturb anyone.

Finally, I decide to go to my mom's office and have lunch with her. I go down at the door of a huge, mirrored building. At the front desk, I ask about her office, getting a badge before I go upstairs.

The frosted glass door holds a huge space, which occupies one/quarter of the eighth floor. The various prints, fabrics, furniture and color palettes create a fun atmosphere, contrasting with the white walls of the place.

"Marnie! Hey!” a woman with curly hair, tied up in a purple turban, approaches with a huge smile.

“Hi.” I reply politely, but having no idea who she is.

“Oh, sorry.” she seems to notice. “I'm Dominique, your mother's partner.” I open a bigger smile, now informed. "Have you come to see her?" she guides me in the office inside.

“Oh yes, I came to have lunch with her.” Dominique smiles broadly and sympathetically.

"She's going to love the surprise. She's just finishing up with a customer. Want something while you wait?”

“Oh no, thanks!”

Dominique walks away, making it clear that anything was just asking, that I was home. I'm amazed at how things evolved for my mom, before she just had a small room away from the center and now she had all this space and staff.

I watch several people go from one place to another, making projects, budgeting, designing furniture and spaces. My mother's laugh brings me back just in time to see her in her office doorway, rosy cheeks, awkwardly in Mr. Marshall's company.

I open a smile finding the scene adorable. I look for Dominique, hoping she hasn't shut up in her office yet, as she might know something about the two of them. I find the brunette, leaning against the reception desk smiling like me.

"Marnie?" I turn quickly, finding Mr. Marshall next to me. “How have you been?” I hug him while my mother stands wide-eyed in the door.

He hadn't changed much. The face that was once smooth now had a very charming gray beard. The hair was still dark.

“I'm great, thanks. It's great to see you.” I keep my smile, finding it all wonderful, unlike my mother.

“I'm sorry about the accident. I would have send you something, but I didn't have your address and it was a little difficult to reach your mother.” he admits sympathetically. Have I told how much I like him?

“No problems. I’m grateful for your consideration and about you have found my mother again. Isn’t, mom?” her gaze at me turns withering. I'm screwed.

“Well, I'm also very happy to have found Debra again.”

I hold the 'awn' who insists on wanting to leave, when he smiles delightedly at my mother. Man, he's so into her.

“Hm, sorry to be rude, but taking advantage of our meeting, I want to invite you to a new restaurant location opening. It will be this Wednesday.”

“Oh, I'm honored. It will be a pleasure. Right, mom?” I watch my mother want to sink into the ground and disappear, and I can't help think how funny is it. "Do you mind if I invite my friends?"

“No! Of course not! Feel free.” he opens a gentle smile. His gaze flies to my mother and there they stare at each other for a few seconds. “Well, I have to go. Debra, thank you so much for the project, it's beautiful. Marnie, it was a pleasure to see you. Until Wednesday.” he hugs me again. With my mother, I notice them without knowing how to say goodbye.

I wait for Mr. Marshall to leave the office to let out the sigh caught in my throat, which my mother doesn't like.

“Stop this!” she slaps me on my back. I walk into her room laughing at the whole past situation.

“My God, you guys are so in love. Why don't you just assume it?” I ask, sitting in the chair across from her desk.

"Because there isn’t nothing to assume. It's a professional relationship.” she replies angrily, setting the table.

“Mom?” I call her, until she looks at me. I raise an eyebrow, emphasizing that I don't believe her.

Her shoulders slump, letting go of the tension. I watch her hide her face in hands after a sigh. Her eyes catch mine and a nasal laugh breaks the silence, then I see her there, shy and unsure, a small smile, which soon opens, reflecting all over her face.

"I don’t have age for this anymore. I mean…” she takes a bunch of flowers from behind the table. “Look at this.”

"Awn." I cover my face, not taking it. “Of course you have agr for this. If my father can find someone and be happy, then of course you can too. Mom, you're young and beautiful, and there's an amazing guy who's into you. He's clearly in love and apparently he's been doing everything he can to demonstrate, you should give him and… you a chance.” I finish in a whisper, touching myself that those words were good for me too.

I replay in my mind everything Luke has been doing, trying to win me back, and I'm glad that, somehow, I giving both of us a chance, even if it's a non date. I let out a laugh at the memory of the invitation, before letting my mind drift back to this morning's memories.

“I think you're right. Maybe on Wednesday, I can talk to him.” her red cheeks make me smile more.

“It's a great idea. How about we discuss this over lunch?” I suggest, listening to my belly come alive.

“Great idea.” she picks up the phone, dialing something.

Since I had nothing to do, I stay until early afternoon with my mother, gossiping about her crush on Mr. Marshall, about my relationship with Luke, about the meeting and our Wednesday night outfit.

Dominique joins us in a few moments, having fun with my passionate and nervous mom.

Around 3pm, Ashton calls, inviting me out for coffee, just him and me, like old times.

“Why can't I go? Do you not love me anymore?” I cover my mouth, stopping the laughter from coming out, when I hear Calum yell..

“Yeah! I can't take you anymore. How am I going to talk bad about you if you're there?” Ash replies.

"You are talking here. What does it matter to talk there? At least that way you buy me coffee.” Calum rebuts. While the couple argue, I listen to the fight, paying attention to the details of the ceiling.

"Are you still arguing? What the fuck is just coffee? Who is so important for all this? The pope?” I hear Luke arrive and realize he doesn't know I'm the guest.

“It's actually Marnie and from my experiences she's very important to some of the people here.” I don't need to see Ash's face to know he's making fun of Luke.

"Can I go?" I bite my lip, holding back the laugh.

“If you let him go and I don't, I'll never look you in the face again.” Calum gives the ultimatum.

“I don't know if you can hear me, but I'm still here and would like the DTR resolved if possible.” I say out loud, hoping it works.

“Sorry, Marnie. Five seconds.” Irwin asks. I think about making a joke with the band's name, but it's better to leave it alone.

"Is she listening?" Luke speaks in amazement. “Why do you…” then everything becomes too muffled and I can't hear.

“Enough! Nobody goes but me. I want to go out with my friend and I will. Marnie was right, I shouldn't have introduced you.” I hear Ash mumble, causing me to laugh. “Give me your address, I'll be there in a few minutes.”

We ended the call and I return to questioning my friendships. Why God? Why?

Sitting at a small table on the sidewalk, Ash and I discuss which coffee to drink. It wasn't very difficult to know that he loves coffee and understands a lot about the subject, which gives me complete confidence in letting him choose which one I should try.

When the cup reaches the table, I taste the drink under his hopeful, curious gaze. I open a smile, approving of my best friend's choice. I hi-five him, celebrating.

"It was the coffee you had the first time we went out together." he comments with a cute smile.

“Awn, Ash!” I can't stand the way they always remember everything. "So, ready to officially become older tomorrow?" I crack a smile, excited about our dinner tomorrow.

“No! I found a white hair this morning.” he grumbles, eliciting a laugh from me.

“I don’t see anything.” I comment, trying to cheer him up.

"I wasn’t talking about my top hair." he comments, drinking his coffee next.

"Ashton!" I reprimand him, covering my eyes, traumatized. “I don't want to think about it. I don't want to think about it.”

I hear his laugh, letting me laugh too. The problem with having intimacy is exactly that, your friends no longer filter out what to say to you.

“So why didn't you bring Cool Guy Cal?” I change the subject.

“Because I spend the whole day with them, I can't stand to look at those disgusting faces anymore.” I laugh, imagining what a mess that studio must be. "And how am I going to speak ill of him with him here?" I complete this last part with him, laughing. “Exactly.”

“And you have something bad to say?” Ash shakes his head.

“No! Cal is an amazing guy.” Boys… “But I wanted to spend time with my best friend. After the accident it was difficult to have time alone. How are you?” I shrug.

"Surviving. It's only been a month and it seems like, I don't know, six. There's still so much I'm discovering.” I look at my coffee thoughtfully as I twirl the spoon in it.

"Finding out what? Your feelings for Luke?” he mocks. I scold him softly, laughing. This is a sensitive subject. "So how was the kiss?" I spit half the hot drink back into the cup.

I look at my friend in full alert. I can't believe Luke told him. We had agreed to wait a while. Irwin kept his smile curious, waiting for my answer.

“I’m sorry…?” he raised his eyebrows and then it hit me. He played and I delivered. "Ashton!" I kick your shin.

“Ouch! You who kiss and I who get beaten?” he rubs his shin, confused.

“How did you find out?” My God, does everyone know already? "Have you told anyone?"

“No! I didn't say anything and I didn't even try it with Luke. But how do you think I wouldn't notice? I've known him for years. He comes down Sunday morning, all smiling, all silly, more than usual. Super in a good mood after a party like that. Hemmings never wakes up in a good mood.”

I take a sip of my coffee, wanting to hide my smile.

“And about you?! You're my best friend! It's easy to see what's going on. Even more after what I already followed the first time. So?” the australian asks curiously, causing me to laugh.

"It was just a kiss. I don't know, it was automatic, and I ended up giving him a little kiss, and he took advantage of the break and kissed me. And I left.” my cheeks heat up as I hold in the sassy smile.

“And what does that mean?” he drops into his chair. I shrug.

“I do not know. I like Luke's company. I really like! He makes me feel safe and so unique. He's fun and so silly.”

"That he is!" Ash comments in a whisper, making me laugh.

“And I like it all, but…” the words don't come out anymore.

“You are afraid.” he completes.

"What if he gets to know me better and he doesn't like this Marnie?" I dry swallow. Ashton grimaces thoughtfully, considering my question.

“Nah!” he shakes his head, dismissing the possibility. “Luke loves you, Marnie. And you know this.” He points a finger at me. I look down, embarrassed. “The only thing left is for you to understand and accept how you feel about him. Of course, in your time, no pressure.” he adds quickly.

My heart speeds up with the direction of the conversation. I organize in my mind all the events that happened between Luke and me. All your discreet and indiscreet advances. All his looks and smiles at me, his shy, goofy way.

On the other side, I put everything that we lived before the accident. Everything I saw and remembered. I stare at Ashton, slumped in his chair, waiting for my answer. I take a deep breath, nodding my head positively.

“I think I already know how I feel about him.”

[thermaflute]

Forever Together

a/n: Ahhhhhhh this is my first collab with the BNHA POCuties and I hope I did alright. Fun fact about me: I’ve never actually been to a wedding so I was a bit all over trying to figure this out. Despite all the rewriting I did on this I still had a ton of fun on it and it made me realize I need to write more fluff. Please give my buddies works a read here, everyone worked super hard on this collab!

Synopsis: It wasn’t easy for either of you to admit that love wasn’t an awful emotion, it was even harder to confess that maybe you felt love for each other. The real challenge however, was getting the two of you to say the two simple words that would bind your complicated selves forever.

Word Count: 3.1k

Your hands jittered against your dress, tears threatening to form behind your eyes. The mirror in front of you revealed absolute decadence, your dress was a marvelous white, lace trimmings all around. Your usual hairstyle now in its natural state, you looked gorgeous. But your insides churned with intimidation. It was going to be a small wedding, yet you felt as if there were a sea of people out there, waiting to see you. You feared they’d be able to tell that you were scared. 

You two had started talking about marriage a long time ago. Well, rather how you detested it. You two were friends in high school, you were in general studies, and he was in the hero course. He often came to you about his problems because he needed a perspective from someone out of the hero loop. He was a bit aloof but you never seemed to mind, and you two surprisingly connected well into your second year. That day’s conversation started over some left over cake from a group project you had, you mentioned your preferred cake, he mentioned his. You stated that if it were up to you your wedding cake would be f/c, if marriage was your thing at all. He agreed with you, and you both confided that you thought love was a joke that led nowhere. Love was a finicky pursuit that would inevitably end in disappointment and heartbreak.

That disappointment never came. Neither of you were proud to admit it, but the two of you started to feel...things...for each other. It wasn’t immediate, it was slow and gradual. You went to college, he joined the Hero workforce, and neither of you stopped caring for each other. He made time to visit your dorm, and when you could, you would bring him lunch at his office. He always made room for you, and you always made room for him. That’s just what friends do.

Except, friendship was a boundary that was quickly dissolving. You found yourself yearning for his presence and days that he couldn’t make it felt so unnatural. His conversations with you would make you smile beyond your face, and you found yourself addicted to hearing his laughter. He was kinda beautiful, oddities and all. You despised the nervous feeling you began to get around him, so you decided to be honest. 

“I mean, where the fuck did he get the idea that I wanted to study with him like? First of all, you worry about you, second, you not finna catch me getting an F for your dumbass like you’re not even cute.” Shoto didn’t respond, he simply stared at you with a small smile, and you quickly realized that you were ranting. “Ah I’m sorry for ranting, how was your day?” 

“You’re fine, I like hearing about your day. However, to answer your question, it was alright. It got better when I saw you though.”

Your eyes quickly glanced at him before looking away and you feigned a joking attitude. “Ha, you do miss me, I thought you forgot about me the second you walked out the door.”

He eyed you, clearly missing the joke, “I could never y/n, I think about you everyday.” There was nothing for a few seconds but the sound of laughter in the hallway and a poorly managed club screaming outside. “I didn’t mean to say it like that.” It came out very harshly.

“Oh you’re fine, I knew what you meant.” You looked away for a minute, the tension getting worse. You had to end this  “I’ve been thinking about it for a while and I may have caught some feelings for you Shoto.” 

He frowned at you and your blanket that was wrapped around him caught on fire. He quickly put it out and glared at you, “You...You make me feel sick y/n.” He left, leaving you with a burnt blanket and a pitiful sadness. For nearly two weeks, he avoided you, making sure to leave you on delivered and telling reception to not allow you up. The truth was, he felt the same, and he knew he made a mistake when he told you that, but he genuinely had no clue how to tell you he was interested in you without it sounding like a curse on your life.

You were unavoidable, the fact you two didn’t accidentally cross paths until the cafe was astounding. So much of your interest and favorite spots combined so it was inevitable that he would run into you again. You saw him sitting alone at the usual table and decided that if he was going to ignore you, he was going to have to give you a proper response first. You sat in front of him, immediately startling him. He quickly grabbed his things and mumbled an apology underneath his breath.  

"Wait! I know how you feel about all that, trust me I'm not happy either but I just wanted to be honest. You’re really important to me, and it’s nearly impossible for me to fall for someone but you made it in. I don’t regret liking you either, because you’re genuinely a good guy but blowing me off for two weeks has me reconsidering if you’re even that. Do you know how long I’ve been crying? God, you didn’t have to insult me now Shoto."

"I didn’t insult you?"

"How else am I supposed to inter-." You thought about who you were dealing with and realized you'd been going about this the wrong way. "Okay, well if you're not insulting me I need you to elaborate on what ‘You make me feel sick’  means."

The stoic man in front of you seemed to look frustrated with you cornering him. But he understood the sudden drop in your friendship with him was upsetting you. "I told you too much. I shared too much of my time with you. You gave me entirely too much of your own, and now I feel ill when I see you. I feel even worse when I don't. You told me that you were interested in romance, and that sickness engulfed me. I-” He seemed as if he was straining to talk to you, he was clearly flushed and you can feel the heat radiating off of him. “I think I have feelings for you as well.”

You two sat at the cafe in silence, both radiating very murky energies. Passerby’s stared at you and the Pro Hero in confusion, both of your boring holes into anything else that wasn’t each other's eyes. You broke the silence first, “Shoto, I don’t mind the feeling. I know we shitted on it for a few years now, but uh, it’s not awful.”

“It’s not,” he responded, still staring painfully somewhere else. The cafe was still busy around you, but for some reason it felt like you two were the only one’s there. It felt like that often with him, even in this weird ass situation you were still comforted by his presence.

“Do you want to go out?” You finally asked him, he was sweating bullets. You two looked like highschoolers, it was honestly embarrassing how difficult that was for the both of you. He gave you a quick sorry and quickly left with all of his stuff. You stared at the empty seat in front of you in half disappointment and half awe. He really just got up and left, again.

You look back on that so fondly now, you two were young adults, unsure about the world and each other. Too scared to label the affection you already gave each other. To think you would be walking the aisle for that man in a few hours was not only ironic, but kind of terrifying. Sure your commitment issues got better, but they weren’t exactly gone. You loved Shoto with your whole being but something about getting married scared you shitless.

You reverted back to the safety of your memories, and quickly checked to see if you still had the screenshots from when you first got together. You remember trying to act cool about it but you immediately called up every friend you had to tell them the news.

You giggled at the messages, feeling the warmth of the past wash over you. You two really blossomed, slowly but surely breaking down boundaries that neither of you even realized was there. Days turned into weeks, weeks to months, and months to years. Your mutual “experiment” with love seemed to be really stable. After a while of being together, of course others began to question what was next.

The light filtered through the blinds of your apartment, your senses slowly came on to the rest of the world, dragging you from a dream that was already fading into obscurity. You feel your body get closer to skin, and you breath in the lovely scent that you’ve come to adore. You felt kisses on your shoulder and a slow sigh from behind you before the sheets became soft again, you were fading back into sleep. 

“Can I talk to you about something?”

Your heart jumped. “Sure.”

“I had something longer prepared for this after a talk with my mother but after laying here with you, I think it would be better if I just said it. I’ve been thinking a lot about marriage lately. I know it’s a large commitment, but I can’t see myself anywhere else with anyone else but you. I love you more than life itself. ” He snuggled closer into you and wrapped you tightly. “You don’t have to answer now, I just wanted to let you know how I felt.”

You rolled around in his arms to look at him, his hair was all over, his eyes were lidded and clearly still exhausted, but he was so sincere.

Your sleepy voice came out as a croak, you extended your hand up to stroke his hair back, revealing his forehead. You scrunch your face up at him and act as if you’re thinking. “I don’t even like you though.” You gave him a slight giggle, and kissed him. “I would love that baby.” You feel some tension leave his body and he smiles at you with glossy eyes. How long was he thinking about this? He leans into you and plants a kiss on your nose and you both fall back asleep, entangled together with thoughts of forever. 

Forever. The word felt so solid when you were with him, like it wasn’t something that could falter or fade. But whenever you thought about it too long you grew terrified, the word became too solid. It felt inescapable. You know it’s just the fears speaking, but you just didn’t want to find out that things could be different. As the days grew closer and closer, your anxiety worsened as things around you changed.

“Yes, this is my Fiancee, y/n.” “I saw a few houses near that park you like, would you like to check it out with me?” “Have you decided on what colors to decorate the venue.” “Fuyumi wants to know if she can handle the catering and the flowers? Are you alright with that?” “Well since you’re indecisive I’m just going to book them all and we can just go everywhere for the Honeymoon.” It seemed as if everyday he was reminding you that this wasn’t a dream. It was always the slightest things, the easiest questions that would leave you with the realization that this was for real. You two were no longer teens that were scared to hold hands, but real adults that love each other enough to put it on a legally binding paper. No amount of movies, girl talks, or family could have prepared you for the stress you were going through. 

You snapped out of your thoughts again and looked at the time. You had to walk out soon and your nerves were fried. The movies made this seem so easy but here you were, glued to the chair, trying to find any reason under the sun to either go through with this or run away. The door to your dressing room opened and in came your friend, the maid of honor.

“Well you don’t look too happy.” They looked partially stressed from all the running around but was still checking in on you before everything started.

You tried to make a face that looked reassuring but you ended up just looking like you were going to cry. 

Your friend held you, careful to not harm your dress. “You got this y/n, you look too pretty to be this sad on your special day.”

“I know, I’m just really nervous.” 

“Well don’t be too hard on yourself, Shoto isn’t exactly doing any better.” 

You look at your friend confused, they take the hint that you weren’t aware this whole time that he’s been really frazzled. 

“Well Izuku had to quickly get a backup suit. Shoto was so stressed that he burnt through his suit. Seeing as your dress is still in one piece, I think you’re fine.”

You felt oddly comforted by your fiance's stress, in the oddest way possible it was nice to know that this wasn’t difficult for just you. “Oh, that’s kind of funny.”

“I know right, man's been so worried about this forever, I guess it’s just all coming out now. See, y’all are literally the same.”

You look around with a small smile already starting to feel better. “Thank you.”

“No problem, that’s what I’m here for! However, Imma really need you to hurry up because Izuku said he’s starting to literally steam through the suit and they really can’t get another backup.”

“Fine, I’m coming.” You stood looking down at all the white underneath you, you felt the anxiety creeping up and swat it away just as quickly. “I got this.”

You barely heard the music, or saw anybody on the way down the aisle. Your mind completely blanked, only remembering the sensation of an arm locked around your own and the vague feeling of a bouquet in your hand. You focused only on the man in front of you, he looked happy to see you. His hetero chromatic eyes that always brought you peace once again managed to make you feel calm. 

Eijiro began his spiel, he was so happy to hear that you guys were getting married and practically begged to officiate. You both agreed, thinking it was beyond sweet that he wanted to do this for you two. As the red head continued his speech, you slipped away into a revelation that forever wasn’t a terrifying word anymore, it was actually something rather nice to look forward to. 

Shoto held your hand and returned to appearing mostly stoic to anyone else that wasn’t you. You learned to tell when he was happy from the occasional slight smile, but mostly through his eyes, they had a particular gleam in them when he was emotional. He seemed well composed, but after years of all that Hero training you could still see the small wisps of steam lifting off his suit. 

"Do you take Y/n to be your wife, to cherish in friendship and love today, tomorrow, and for as long as the two of you live, to trust and honor her, to love her faithfully, through the best and the worst, whatever may come, and if you should ever doubt, to remember your love for each other and the reason why you came together with her this day?”

For a split moment he saw you how you used to look and remembered the second he fell in love with you. You were in your uniform still, leaning over a railing, making a joke about how fun it would be if he made an ice ramp to slide down. You were at ease with him, and it always made him feel at peace with you. 

"I do.”

“Do you take this ULTIMATE manly man Shoto to be your husband, to cherish in friendship and love today, tomorrow and for as long as the two of you live, to trust and honor him, to love him faithfully, through the best and the worst, whatever may come, and if you should ever doubt, to remember your love for each other and the reason why you came together with him this day?  

You laugh at the redheads words, the audience does the same. You realize that no matter what anyone else saw him as, he was always your hero. Sure he's never saved you from a burning building, but he was the first to save you from just feeling alone. Whether it was a tutor, a cry session, or just some fun, he was always there for you. You want to always be there for him, and even if you can't do it perfectly, you promise that you'll always try.

“I do.”

"Well alright then, you two are officially married! You may now kiss the bride.”

You lunged at your now husband, completely forgetting that he was technically supposed to be kissing you. He didn’t mind it at all and returned your kiss with equal admiration and love. Though you two will probably continue to be complicated for the rest of your lives, you can at least do it together.

“Forever right?”

You smiled at him in tears, the audience was full of excitement and fervor but it all felt silent and peaceful to you. “Forever.”

[sammy-gvf]

We get along (for the most part)

Chapter 2 

OC X Lee Bodecker

———————————-

Warnings- a little angst and cursing. 

Plot- The local rebel badass girl and Lee Bodecker have had run ins, lets see how it goes, shall we?

Word count : 2,705

MINORS DNI! THIS STORY WILL EVENTUALLY GET 18+. PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS. I DO NOT FEEL LIKE GETTING IN TROUBLE FOR YOU BEING STUPID. THANKS. 

 CHAPTER ONE IS PINNED ON MY PROFILE!

Sunday morning.

Slowly, I woke from my slumber hoping that I slept through church. Unfortunately, the sound of footsteps coming towards my door tells me differently. Knocking at the door, I hear a quiet voice come through the crack of my door.

“Maggy, are you up? Mamas goin have a fit if you aint up for church.” 

That's my brother John, he is always there to wake me up on sundays. He enjoys going to church. I’m not really into it, i usually try to go back to sleep but my parents barely ever let me sleep through church, small town equals gossip. No matter what you do, someone is always talking about you. Sat the wrong way? Gossiped about. Sneezed during church? Gossiped about. Literally anything you do is talked about among the town residents. I was the talk of the town when I was in high school, everyone knew I was sneakin around with Arvin. No one  liked it obviously, bein called every name in the book. I didn't care clearly, it didn't bother me or Arvin. 

I groan and slowly get out of bed, stretching and looking out of my window. It's a beautiful sunny day in Knockemstiff, I never thought I would ever describe this run down town like that, it's quite beautiful here though. Open fields for miles, I could see why no one would want to leave. I mean in old age, you could just do anything with your land and live off it. 

Getting up, I feel my feet hit the cold wood floor of my room. Everyday, I hope I don't get a splinter from the floor so I wear slippers throughout the house. I head to the bathroom to look at myself in the mirror. My hair is disheveled and almost out of the bun that I had it in the night before, my eyebrows are out of place and the bags underneath my eyes are prominent. I sigh and splash some cold water on my warm face. I grab my toothbrush and go for it, spitting out the toothpaste and flashing my teeth in the mirror to make sure I didn't miss a spot. 

I heard my parents and brother moving around pretty quickly so I looked at the clock near my bed. It's 9:30 am, church starts in about 20 minutes and it takes 10 to get there. Quickly, I put my hair in a low bun, slapped on some powder and a plain lip color, a rose color to compliment my fair skin. Hopping around, I grab a plain flowy blue dress that goes up to about the middle of my thigh and a pair of white keds, quick and simple. 

I step out of my room and grab my clutch so I have something to hold while in church, I usually can't keep my hands still. I shut the door behind me and head out to the living room to see everyone quickly eating some toast off their plates in the kitchen, I hop over and steal a piece of toast and bacon off Johns plate and then we are out the door. 

Hopping in my dads truck, the ride there is quiet. We don't talk much in my family, only at dinner once and a while and sometimes when my father drinks. Which is only when he is done work on Fridays. I make sure I'm out of the house on fridays, he never stops talking when he is drinking. My parents and I have never been that close really, kind of an unspoken family thing. Mother stays quiet and does her motherly duties as us women are expected to do once we pop out a few puppies. I refuse to be like that. 

The ride to church is scenic,open fields for miles and so many animals to look at. I enjoy the breeze coming through my hair but I just wish it was from me driving my car out somewhere I have never been. Like maybe California, it's probably beautiful. I have never been to a beach, as a matter of fact I've never been out of Knockemstiff before. I envy everyone who leaves this place and never comes back. As soon as I can get out of here, I will. I swear on everything I love. 

The car stops and I get out, my feet hitting the dirt road below me. My keds are gonna need a cleaning after this. Stepping around the car, I separate from my family and hop around the back of the church to smoke a quick cig before I go through the church doors to act like I'm holy for 2 hours. 

Stepping to the left side of the church, I put my clutch on a bush and grabbed a cigarette from the pack stuffed in my bag. Quickly I light it and suck on it as quickly as I possibly can to just get a moment to myself. Looking out into the distance, I always forget that the cemetery is this close to the church. Graves for as far as the eyes can see. That distracted me to the point where I forgot how quick I was smoking and ended up inhaling too much smoke at one time, leading me to cough quite loud. I throw the cigarette on the floor below my foot and crush it quickly. 

I hear an oh so familiar voice in the distance as I finish my coughing fit. 

“ Ms. Lane, what a pleasure to see you on this fine sunday.” He says, walking towards me with his fingers hooked around the belt loops of his pants.

Same uniform everyday, never fails.

“Say, what are you doin here behind the church all by your lonesome? “ Lee says as he stands next to me, I can smell the tobacco and mint on him the same as I did last night. I look over at Lee with an exhausted look on my face from the coughing fit I just had.

Lee looks down at the ground and a grin forms on his face, sneaky bastard never misses a beat. 

“Ms.Lane-” Lee begins to say and I stop him

“Please, for the love of christ call me Maggy. I am not 16 anymore, Lee.” You say as you start to walk past him. He grabs your arm and stops you. 

“Maggy Lane, just know I know about your little reputation.” Lee says as he still has you by the arm, kind of digging his nails into your soft skin as you try to pull away a bit.

“As a matter of fact, I was there when you began your little shenanigans. Be careful of how you talk to your sheriff, little lady.” You look at him in disgust as he tries to intimidate you. 

“ Also, I told you those cigarettes was bad news, you're lucky I don't stop on over and talk to your pop about your little habit.” Lee says with a smirk on his face. You finally wiggle out of his grip, your arm dropping to your side with crescent shaped marks on your arm. You rub the spots where Lee's fingers were just digging into your upper arm.

Looking up at him, he tips his hat at you and starts to walk away. You spit on the ground near his feet and he turns around on his feet, quick. 

“ I hope you know you're a prick, Bodecker.” You spit out at him. 

Immediately, you are backed up against the wood boards of the church, both of Lee's arms on either side of your head. Your heart is racing and your breath is hitching. You're frozen. 

“Listen to me, you little bitch.” Lee inches closer to your face, your noses almost touching. You turn your head to the side hoping that he won't really notice but he grabs your face and holds it so you are looking him directly in the eyes.

“Your little mouth will get you in trouble, especially with me.” Your breath hitches as he gets closer. Your heart could explode. You were terrified. 

“ Lee, church is starting. We better get in there before we miss anything” A voice in the distance yells. 

 Instantly, Lee lets you go and strides back to the unknown voice. 

You stand there with a shocked look on your face, as if you had just seen the devil up close. You were frozen in your current position but as soon as people started going in the building you sank to your feet and sat there for a minute breathing heavily. You fixed yourself up and stood outside the door of the old church, taking a deep breath before going in and finding your seat next to your family. 

 Church dragged on and on, I felt like I was going to fall asleep. A screaming preacher, so many people in such a small space. Half way through, I got up to go to the bathroom and caught Lee staring at me and he gave me a small smirk. Creep.

Stepping into the bathroom, I look at my face in the mirror. It's still slightly red from where Lee had his disgusting hand around my chin. I pushed on the spot and it felt like it was going to bruise. 

“ Fuck” I whispered to myself as I turned my head side to side to look at the red around my lips and on my chin. This is for sure going to bruise. 

I splash some water on my face to refresh myself and then I step out of the bathroom to bump into something in front of me. 

“Shit, I am so sorry” You say as you back up into the oak door and look at the person in front of you. 

“ Oh, no worries hun.” the woman in front of you says. 

You look at her quickly as you step aside, sticking out your hand and you say “I don't think I have met you before, I’m Maggy Lane.” 

She sticks out her hand and shakes yours firmly, she is a very pretty woman with short brown curly hair. 

Thin and very well put together, can't be more than 25 years old. 

“ It’s very nice to meet you sweetheart, I’m Ruth Har- I mean Bodecker.” She says smiling as she pulls her hand back from the handshake and puts it back on her clutch bag. 

“You the sheriff's wife?” you say as you cock your head to the side questioningly. 

“Yes, I am.” she smiles, “ We've been married now for about a year, a very fine man he is.” She says as she steps aside to talk to you for a minute before she steps into the bathroom.

You were shocked, Lee actually was married? He was such an asshole, you didn't think anyone would want him. As you had said the previous night, you would tell his wife if he had called you another pet name but she looks so sweet. He doesn't deserve her. You had just said that assumin he even had a woman at home. 

“ Thats nice, say you ain't from around here, are ya?” You say in a little southern drawl, she aint from these parts. You can tell by the way she says certain words. 

“ No darlin, i'm from Tennessee.” she smiled “Met Lee out there while I was workin in a bar.” she blushed a bit.

“ Huh, well look at that.” you say as you cross your arms and lean against the doorframe of the bathroom. “ Lee does get out of town then.”

She chuckles and you look at the time, church is going to be over soon.

“ Well, it was very nice meeting you, Mrs.Bodecker.” You say as you turn your back and start walking towards the stairs to go back to the chapel area. 

“ You too, darlin.” She says waving at you. 

“ See you around” You say as you head back up the stairs. 

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

Chapter 2 already? I’m crankin shit out lol 

Hope yous like it so far! Dont forget to leave opinons/replys and as always dont forget to like/reblog!

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[hwauas]

🎭: "belladonna"

jung wooyoung | 정오영 - 2,086 words

you couldn't believe this day came. the adrenaline was rushing through your veins. Wooyoung, the Jeong Wooyoung, coming over tonight. you spend the day preparing your house, cooking the dinner, and of course getting ready. you needed everything to be ready, and to be perfect.

     the table was ready. some flowers in a vase. two plates, two cutlery sets, and two glasses for water. you dispatched few pearls on the white tablecloth. you created a soft atmosphere thanks to candles on the table, and little lamps in the rooms. you made sure all your apartment was cleaned. everything needed to be at its place.

it looked like you were having your boyfriend over. but Wooyoung wasn't your boyfriend. and would never be your boyfriend. who would like to date someone like him? it was just a formal dinner between you both.

     of course, over the year, you learnt to stop having pity for wrong people. your work forced you to build your heart into a heart of stone. people were bad. and you couldn't do anything for them. it was the path they choose, and so they chose the consequences. they were aware few people — or nobody — would appreciate them. and these person would slowly turn themselves into agressive and antisocial, becoming lonely, so lonely. this is how it works.

Wooyoung was one of them. he was searched by a lot of mafia gangs. sometimes for little crimes: swearing, assaulting, or for some debts. but also for big crimes: stealing important informations from these gangs, spying on them.

among these mafias looking after him, the popular S-SK band of mafias. according to rumors, S-SK was for Seoul-South Korea. yet, any informations ever leaked before about that or something else.

     anyways, Wooyoung was clearly involved into the dark side of the city, and even S-SK was chasing him. you were doubting about something or someone saving him. he was in too big troubles.

     tic. toc. tic. toc.

     the clock announced 8pm, and quickly after, the doorbell announced someone was here. Wooyoung, of course.

you didn't really like the fact you were having someone's like him over. but you had to do it for your boss. it was just an evening. just a moment, before getting rid of him.

     “y/n. thank you for receiving me.”

Wooyoung entered your apartment and removed his shoes.

“i was surprised when i was told to come here instead. weren't we supposed to meat at your boss's place?”

     “yeah, that's right. but there is a hold-up. he asked me if i was okay with seeing you without him and i just couldn't cancel this dinner less than twenty-four hours before. i hope you don't mind?”

     “not at all. i appreciate you didn't cancel. i'd have get mad. thank you.”

     you faked a smile, and asked him to follow you to your living room. you made him sit on your sofa. and after giving your dear Wooyoung something to drink, you sat besides him, on the sofa.

     “so. about this deal. what is it?”

Wooyoung asked as he sipped on the whiskey you gave him.

     “oh come on. we have so much time to talk about this. don't be this formal.”

Wooyoung only sighed and sank into your sofa.

“when did it all started?”

     “start what?”

by his behaviour and the tone of his voice, you recognise a nonchalance. he was annoyed — you cut him to the quick.

     “being... bad. stealing, spying on, having debts on purpose. all that.”

you had a serious gaze on him. you knew you needed to have a control on yourself not to help him — anyways he was a lost cause. you just needed to stall for time.

     “i don't remember when exactly. i was just... young. it started with little things. and i was failure to my parents. they never encourage me to do something. the only one that believed in me left. since i've never been a fan of school, i never did anything by myself to study, to work or anything. you know.. just people here and there got me into this. and i'm not complaining. i have somewhere to sleep. something to eat everyday. somewhere to take showers. clothes. it's enough i guess.”

he was avoiding your gaze, looking straight in front of him. there was the turned off TV.

     “who left? who was he, or she?”

you were curious about what he just told you. it was very intriguing: you needed to know more about this for your own pleasure.

     “San. a friend. my best friend.”

Wooyoung sipped on his whiskey again, and so you did on yours. you didn't really know what to say.

“but you don't need to know much about him, right? so leave him alone.”

     with that, Wooyoung finished his glass of alcohol in one gulp. you understood what does this mean: you couldn't ask anything about this San anymore. you then stood up and went to the kitchen. Wooyoung wandered around to find the dining room, and sat on a chair in front of a plate. the atmosphere got him less tensed, and you immediately knew you did good.

    you came back with the dish, and served you both. it was steaming, yet once you came back from the kitchen to put back the dish there, you both started to eat.

     “so i was saying, about-”

     “about the deal. i know. this is what you're waiting impatiently since you arrived here, Wooyoung. okay. then let's discuss about this.”

you didn't say anything, wanting him to go first. after all, he was the one obsessed with that. right?

     “so, since this agency is holding files we are both interested in, but since their security is very strong, i thought about infiltrating someone in there. we can pretext it's for an internship, for few days. but then, the person there has to be very cautious.”

Wooyoung didn't say more after, and continued to eat. it seemed he was liking what you've done.

     you waited longer, hoping him to continue — which he didn't. you then frowned, and stopped eating for a moment.

“what for?”

     “the security. all the parts in the building are well secured.”

he rolled his eyes, as if you asked the dumbest question ever. but you were too focused on his lips to notice this. Wooyoung was eating everything. and this fulfilled your heart with joy and happiness.

“do you think somebody will make it through the whole security system to steal the files?”

     ”of course.~”

     you kept in mind all the informations he gave you until now, eating your plate till it was empty. you were thinking again and again about what he told you. you had to remember everything. every single details. but you wanted to stare at your victory too.

     “i'm getting thirsty. can i have some.. water.. please?”

Wooyoung's voice was very low. every words seemed hard to say.

     “of course, Wooyoung.”

you sat up and went to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water from your fridge — one you prepared on purpose for him before, meticulously. you came back, and opened the bottle to pour it in his glass.

“by any chance, you don't have any information about the security? where are cameras? where are stocked the videos? where is their room to look through these cameras? any motion detector, or metal detector?”

     Wooyoung tried to drink, but he couldn't swallow more than three times. he gave up for the moment, and just focused back on you.

“i do. it's in my phone. but as long as i'm not sure we're both into this, i won't show anything.”

his voice got raspy, and he ended up almost whispering. you faked a reaction, worrying about him.

     “are you okay? you wanna lay down maybe..?”

you asked with fake worried eyes. but deep down, you were happy. everything was working. everything was going well.

     Wooyoung nodded. he took a deep breath as he was trying hard to keep his head up. his pale skin under his dark clothes started to shine: he was sweating. drops here and there were forming, rolling, and disappeared somewhere on his clothes.

     you stood up and went by his side. you tried to get him back on his feet, and almost pulled him through the rooms to lay him down on your sofa — but you knew this position wouldn't help at all. you made sure he was comfortable in your sofa, and left to clean the table. once you were in the kitchen, far from him, you couldn't help but squeal in happiness.

     “y/n: 1. Wooyoung: 0.”

you whispered to yourself, all happy about what you achieved. you were cruel, but you were loving this part of you — even though it already scared you in the past.

     “oh please don't scream like that! my head! it hurts even more!”

Wooyoung tried to shout out, but it hurt him even more than the squeal you did. since you knew what happening to him, you knew this noise you made have been altered: the sound seemed closer, stronger, and higher.

     “i'm sorry.”

once again, you used your talents to fake your emotions. worry, and guilty about your squeal. you put down the bottle of water and the glass on the coffee table.

“i'll get you some medicines. and a wet towel. wait for me.”

     you rushed through your apartment to get these. once you were in your bathroom, the door closed, you took out your phone to call your boss. of course, you tried to stay as discreet as possible. you even put a random towel in the washbasin and turned on the tap to pretend you were indeed moistening the fabric for him.

     “about time! i thought you would never call me!”

     “i'm sorry boss. it got a little bit longer. but everything's fine. he ate everything. and i managed to gave him water too. and of course, i watered the poison down in this water too.”

you said with shining eyes. you were proud of yourself. it was an another mission you accomplished.

     “okay but the way you're getting rid of him, i don't give a fuck, Belladonna. i wanna know about the informations you've got from him.”

     you tried to sum up all the informations your boss needed. anyways, you would meet him to tell him everything in details.

and you smiled as your boss again complimented your work.

     “i knew you wouldn't disappoint me. you're not the best S-SK member for no reason.”

     you finally hang up with him quickly after. looking at your reflection in the mirror, you offered yourself a smirk. you made sure to arrange your top, making sure to reveal a tattoo on your collarbone. the words 'S-SK : Belladonna' were written here, under your skin.

you were a member of this mafia band. Belladonna was your code name, and somewhat your new identity since you chose this path.

even though you did horrible things, you would never ever give up on  S-SK.

     you took the towel, and barely wrung it. you came back by Wooyoung, slowly dying in your sofa. and the first thing he noticed what your tattoo. the fear slowly appeared in his eyes, and all over his face.

     “S-SK..? Belladonna..? i trusted you..! how could you..!”

Wooyoung tried to do something, but he was too weak. even screaming was hurting him even more.

     “shhh, honey... the poison is taking the leads. give up. you have no chance.”

    “the.. poison..?”

     “the belladonna, honey. why do you think my code name is Belladonna? because i kill with the belladonna, of course.”

you put the towel on his forehead. it would change nothing. of course.

“belladonna, a flower. isn't it paradoxical that a flower.. so precious, so delicate, so beautiful.. can kill a human? i look harmless. but i kill. just as you, i'm a bad person, Wooyoung. you're not the only mafiosi here, honey.”

    as Wooyoung finally gave up, you took his phone from his pocket. you left your apartment, locking him up in there. anyways, as he was dying, he couldn't do anything.

you texted two S-SK members to ask them to get rid of the corpse for you. and of course, your boss and you would use Wooyoung's information without any misgivings.

     in this life, the strongest makes the rules.

it's killing.. or being killed. and guilty or sorrow weren't feelings anymore for you. a S-SK mafia.

[amunraanders]

KAI PARKER X READER

Summary : Kai meets Reader for the First time at the bakery. Reader has No Idea who he is but soon enough she will find Out (I'm not good at summaries)

PART ONE.

(Y\N) stormed Into the Salvstore's Boarding House as If a Thunderstorm was right behind her.Quickly Walking Into the living room she Put the cupcakes on the table and threw herself on the Couch besides Elena who was sitting next to Damon.

Elena wanted to say something but (Y\N) inerrupted her.

"You Guys won't believe what just happened" she started pouring herself a Drink as everyone watched her.

"I went to the bakery earlier today to get the cupcakes Caroline ordered for our little get together.So I stand there in Line and barely two minutes Into waiting some Guy bumps into me. As Always i had some Coffee with me wich was as you guessed burning hot and as this Dude bumps into me its content spilled all over my Dress and Floor" She gulped her Drink down in one go visibly angry about the situation.

"So I'm thinking ..wow this can't be Happening.He just walked by as if nothing had happened,so I started walking towards him ,grabbing him by the shoulder,making him turn around" (Y\N) pointed at her Coffee stained Dress annoyed and in disbelief.

The others Just stared at her in shock not knowing what to say ,they kept glancing at one another but No one said anything.

"And I'm Like geez are you blind?aren't you going to apologize?Look at the mess you Made" she gulped down her second Drink while she stood Up walking around the living room angrily looking for a mirror.

"Not to mention that he was on his phone this entire time.His eyes glued to the screen, but I couldn't Help but notice how he was grinning this entire time and I thought 'great another freak' .Just as I thought that he wasn't going to say a Word he looked Up at me and started blabbering nonsense for at least 3 minutes.

"Oh Hey didn't notice you were in the way.I Just Made and Twitter Account and I'm new to this technology stuff so it took some time but now I'm all Set Up but wow people Share the stuppiest Things on here.Like Who wants to know what they Just had for Dinner or what Kind of movies they're watching .I mean I don't .so . Kinda crazy.Huh?"

(Y\N) stopped in front of the mirror staring at the mess of a dess she had on.

"I was honestly baffled by this whole situation.I Just started at him dumbfounded" she said pausing for a Moment to wipe the excess Coffee away from her dress in a desperate attempt to dry it.

Damon pulled Elena closer to him as he whispered Into her ear "does this sound familiar to you?" Elena glanced at him with confusion in her eyes wondering for a Moment before she realized who Damon might be talking about.

(Y\N) was about to go on with her story when Damon spoke Up.

"Wait a second. Do you remember what he looked like? Something that caught your eye? Like large Rings?Lots of them"

She stared at him in disbelief.Her eyeballs almost falling Out of their Sockets.

"Do you know this Guy? Honestly I couldn't Help but notice how blue his eyes were..reminded me of the ocean..Any-anyways let me Finish"

Elena started tugging at Damons Shirt in hopes of getting his Attention when (Y\N) started ranting again.

"So when he finally put his Phone away he Just turned around without saying anything and grabbed the cupcakes that I had to picke Up and walked away" She was heading to the Couch again literally throwing herself on it. Elena handed her another Drink and she seemed to relax for the First time in the past few hours.

"Again I Just stood there dumbfounded by everything that had happened" gulping down her last Drink she let her head Fall back into the Sofa cussions.

Caroline stared at (Y\N) Kind of cathing on , about who he might have been.

"What happened next?You still brought cupcakes did ,you strangle this dude over it?" She giggled a bit after playing the Scene Out in her mind.

"I Wish I would have.I regret it by now.This Guy was the Most annoying Person I've ever met and he only talked for 3 minutes"

"First I Made Sure that I buy new cupcakes after that I quickly followed him outside but by the time I caught Up with him ,he was gone.Like magically gone.Vanished Into thin air.Like how is that even possible?One Minute he's standing right next to me the other minute he's gone.And I swear to God I felt Like being watch the entire time I walked Up to my Car"

At this Point everyone started to murmur stuff and (Y\N) quickly went in wanting them to hear the whole story.

"So Here comes the freakiest Part about this whole Freak Show" (Y\N) said nevously .

"When I finally get Into my Car ,I notice someone opening the door and getting Into the passengers Seat .Its this Guy again and I Start thinking to myself 'this Guy is either lunatic or his head is waay too far Up his ass to think that he could get away with Entering my Car without permission.just Like that."

At this Point everyone knew who (Y\N) was talking about and they were Just as pissed Off as she was.Kaid had promised them to stay away from her.She and Matt we're the only humas left in their Gang and everyone got worried when Kai started asking questions about her.

"So at this Point my blood is boiling and all I can think about is how I'm going to slap him Out of my Car If he won't Go willingly but then again I didn't know who he was .He could be a Psychopath for all I know and Just as I wanted to say something He started blabbering again.It felt Like it was going in for hours"she said her eyes closed ,hands resting in her lap.

"He goes 'Hey there cutie.I'm a bit rusy at this Thing called 'socializing, but you're really really pretty so I thought I'd ask you Out.Like on a Date.Movies or Dinner?Maybe both.What do you say?Your Heartbeat is Off the chats so I guess Its a yes' and this entire time He was eating a cupcake 'more Like devouring it' licking the frosting on top and Off his Fingers.I thought I was going to Pass Out"

The others shifted their Attention to the kitchen as Kai leaned into the door frame while eating a cupcake , he was visibly amused by (Y\N) Story and Just as Caronline was about to say something He Made a "shhhh" sign using his Magic to Cut her Off mid sentence.

"I thought Well ok this is it ,If I say No he's going to murder me or something but then He pulled Out a pen and grabbed my arm writing something on it.His fucking Phone number and Name.I was baffled" she tried so hard to say something,to Push him Out of her car to scream but nothing came Out of her mouth.Kai eyed her Up and down one Last Time before getting Out of the Car and vanishing Into Thin Air.

Damon felt and uncontrolable Anger burning inside of him but He tried hard to Push it away to ask (Y\N) one question . And He prayed to God that the answer wouldn't be ,'Kai' or Else he'd have to rip his Heart Out.

"What did it say? His name I mean" He asked while balling his hands Into fists .

That was when Kai slowly Made his way from the kitchen towards (Y\N),still eating his cupcake, frosting smeared all over his lips.

" 'Kai' that's what it said.Awwe don't Look that surprised I bet you all knew from the beginning" He has smriking from ear to ear seeing her with her mouth wide open as He made his was to to Couch sitting right next to her.

[romance2d-otomegame]

The Route Thief

Sumary: Everybody used to tell me to stop playing those games, but what can I do? An otome game is pretty addictive and specially if is one like Wizardess Heart. This game is my life! Wait, I didn't mean literally... Then, why I'm suddenly inside on my game!? Is that Hiro and Zeus? When I said this game is my life I didn't mean to want that this game BE my life!

Pairing: Hiro x Marian

Chapter 2

It's been three days since I woke up and find myself in a totally different place. Regardless to say that I haven't get up from bed since then, and I just stayed here in a fetal position whit the covers over my head. I've been waiting for me to really wake up but... This not seems to be a dream. Times pass just like a normal day of 24 hours, I sleep, feel hungry and get thirsty just like the real life. The food got taste, I can feel pain and touch the staff like always. This... Doesn't feel like a dream anymore. Whatever happened to me on that airplane, it took me to this enchanted place. But... Not any place, I've been joining points and... It seems that I'm in a place identical as is describe on my favorite otome game, Wizardess Heart. Apparently, I live at the Kingdom of Queensblade, and of course, when I asked, there's actually a neighbor kingdom named Gedonelune. The Queen of this kingdom is named Sherazade. And... It does exist a place called Gedonelune Royal Magic Academy. Now you know why I've been waiting to actually wake up, but, three days have been enough, I think, I finally have stared to accepted. I probably die on my past life and now I was reincarnated on a character of a game just like those animes where you're hit by a truck and then send to another world so you can fight a demon lord whit a sword and the help of a useless goddess.

"Young lady? Are you awake?"

I don't know anymore.

"Please rise, breakfast is ready. Then, you could... Take a bath perhaps?"

I lazily took off the soft covers and sit. This young maid is Clarisse, she attends me. She cleans and brings food an medicine for me. Is not that I've been treated bad, they actually treat me like a princess. A bath uh? When I said that I haven't left bed on three days I wasn't kidding. Take the count whit the three days I spend sleeping after falling from the horse. Yeah, probably Clarisse is worried for me. A bath wouldn't be that bad.

"I think I'll take a bath. "

I get up from bed and went to the bathroom

"I - I'll get ready your clothes then young lady!"

You don't have to sound so happy you know. A bath surely do wonders, I feel so refreshed. I took a look of myself on the mirror, long blond hair, eyes so blue like sapphires, perfect pink lips... This is, my new look uh? Is not that bad. I look cute. Clarisse handed me a beautiful blue dress whit a military stile and a blouse underneath. She brushed my hair and put a ribbon on it. She also do my make up.

"okay! I'm done! Hehe, it finally seems that the young lady is back!"

She laughed and I look myself on the mirror. Wait that is... Really me? Oh my God! I look SO CUTE! What is this!? This is how I look right? I look like a porcelain doll!

"he hehe heh... "

"You-young lady? Are you felling well?"

She snapped me back to reality and I felt embarrassed that she saw me admiring myself on the mirror.

"ah! I-I'm fine, I'm sorry I make you feel worried. "

"Ah! No! If the young lady feels nice enough to laugh then I feel happy for you. "

You said that but you definitely thought I was crazy right?

"if the young lady feels better today, then why don't take a walk by the garden after breakfast? A little sun will do you good. "

Since I'm not a prisoner here and probably this is my new life then why no?

"Okay, I'll do as you say. "

I eat my breakfast and then I went on a round for all the mansion. This place is like a castle! Big chandeliers hanging, beautiful paintings, golden vases and marble floors. Through a crystal door I saw the outsides shimmering whit beautiful flowers.

"Oh my god that place look so beautiful!"

I was so lost on myself and the walk, that I totally forgot that I was living another life. There were flowers and trees I've nerve saw in my life. A gorgeous fountain was sending a fresh breeze. And that pergola on the middle if the garden is just like something out of a dream, I always thought on how cool it be to have one, you can sit here whit a set of tea and a good book and relax. Everything was so gorgeous!

"Hehe, are you enjoying your walk young lady?"

"Eh? Ah, of course. This place is beautiful, I've never been in a mansion this huge!"

"Uh, so, did you not, remember something?"

Ah, I see, she make me do this walk to see if I can remember something. I guess, I can't tell them that I'm not lady Marian. And even if they believe, I doubt they'll treat me good.

"Well... "

"For your own good you better remember. "

A severe voice surprise us. It was that woman that was yelling at me the other day. Later I knew she was actually... Marian's mother.

"Thanks goodness that at least you finally leave that room and look decent today. "

That's the nicest thing you can say to your daughter?

"We are going to have visits today, so you better behave understood?"

"Visitors? Who is coming? A noble?"

"He is more that just that. He is your fiance. We couldn't hide from him that you had an incident, and since he's on Queensblade on vacations, he have to come and see you. I hope that you'll remember something from your interaction whit him."

"Oh, I see. "

So now I have to act like a lady perhaps? Uh?... Wait a moment...

"Wait, did you said fiance!?"

"Oh heavens! Keep your voice low! A lady shouldn't scream like that. "

"But you really said fiance? I have a fiance!?"

"Of course you have. And that's why you must behave in the best way. And keep in secret that you lost your memories, we don't want the son of the House of Brundle think of you like you're defective. "

She leave saying no more. My mind went blank for a moment, Did I hear well?

"Did she said House of Brundle?"

"Yes young lady, that was what she said. "

"Wait, then, what's the name of my fiance?"

"His name is Zeus young lady, Zeus Brundle."

"... "

"... "

"Hold on a second!!"

I grab Clarisse shoulders

"Kya!"

"Are you talking about Zeus Brundle!? You know, tall boy, light brown skin, bluish hair and eyes that have the attitude of a peacock and always wears a stupid scarf!?"

"Wha- What? Co-Could it be... Do the young lady remember young master Zeus?"

You're kidding... You're kidding right? I dropped my hands from Clarisse shoulders and let myself fall on the ground.

"Yo-Young lady?"

This is impossible... Do I'm really on the world of Wizardess Heart!?

To be continued...

[harryfreakinstyles2]

Torn (Part 1) H.S.

The sunlight is streaming through the curtains and gleaming off the vinyl flooring of my apartment while I try to force myself to roll out of bed. My alarm is screaming at me for the tenth time this morning. My eyes strain against the intrusion of light as I reach for my phone on the nightstand to stop the ringing in my ears from that damn alarm. I glance at the text on my screen from my best friend that I must have received after passing out around one am last night while trying to finish my essay.

Julie is almost the complete opposite of me in every way. She's unorganized and scatter brained and way more adventurous than I will ever be. But she also makes our little two-bedroom apartment feel like home even with the dirty dishes she leaves in the sink and as crazy as she drives me, I would honestly be lost without her.

Me: You know I had that essay to finish! But it sounds like you had fun like usual! I might have to join you next time! We'll see! Lol

I text back and head to the bathroom to hop in the shower before class. I turn the water on and wait impatiently for it to heat up, my tiny bathroom becomes filled with steam as the hot water helps wake me from my zombie state and relaxes my muscles. I'm dreading class this morning. My stupid elective class I took because I figured it would be an easy A to fill in the extra credits I need to graduate in May, but I am starting to realize that the easy A might not be worth the painful boredom of sitting in that stupid class twice a week. I hurry along getting ready as the morning is rushing by faster than I realized and soon I'm running out the door praying I have time to get coffee on the way.

*

I stick my key in the lock of my apartment door still sipping on my iced coffee. I feel mentally drained after having to put so much energy into staying awake in class, luckily it's the only class I have on Thursdays. I can smell the scrambled eggs as soon as I walk into the apartment. Julies favorite hangover food, I will never understand how that girl can go out so much during the week and still go to work and finish all her school.

I walk into the kitchen and I laugh to myself while taking in Julies disheveled appearance, the aftermath of her late night out.

"Shut up", She groans glaring at me from her spot in front of the stove.

"I'm sorry, but you look pathetic" I laugh again not being able to hold in my amusement.

"Don't be a bitch, you're just jealous that I had a blast last night while all you did was write a paper all damn night." Julie snaps at me but I can see the hint of a smile on her face.

"Alight alright" I say with my hands up in surrender not wanting to actually piss her off. I pull a barstool out from under the counter and take a seat across from her.

"I was serious when I said you are coming out with us this weekend" she huffs, "We are going to this cool hipster club that just opened down the road. It is going to be a lot of fun. And I'm not giving you a choice, so tomorrow night, we'll head out around ten." Her words rush out fast. I am assuming it's so I won't have the chance to interrupt her and make an excuse of why I will not be doing anything of the sort. I roll my eyes when she turns back around to flip her eggs.

"I really don't want to... It's been a long week between work and school and all I want to do is sit on the couch and watch a movie." I groan at my relentless best friend. This is her third attempt in the past two weeks to try and get me to go out.

"Allie, you're 21, not 81. Would you please stop being so lame and just come out with us!" She pleads with me, "It'll be fun I swear!"

"Ughhhhh fine but if I hate it and get bored then I'm coming back home!" I say giving in but still hating the idea.

"Fine fine! Ahhhh yay!! It's going to be great!" Julie excitedly jumps up and down like she is twelve and are moms said yes to a sleep over on a school night. Finally she stops, leaving her dark brown hair messier than it was before, if that is even possible. I try my best not to laugh at her again.

"Alright I'm going to go to my room for a bit before I have to go to work at 6. Do you work tonight?" I ask. Her work schedule is constantly changing every week I can never keep up.

"Yea unfortunately, I wanna call out but I can't because I have tomorrow night off to go out and I actually need to make some money for a change." She says with a groan.

"Okay then I'll see you tomorrow! Be sure to put on your best fake smile and maybe brush your hair or something or you won't be getting very many tips tonight" I tease her as I walk to my room. I turn around just in time to see her middle finger raised in the air at me with a smile on her face.

*

My evening shift at the local coffee shop blurs by as the hipster kids and sorority girls shuffle in and out throughout the evening. I found I was convincing myself that going out tomorrow night is exactly what I need to get out of this comfortable rut I have found myself in the past few months. With graduation about three months away I should probably have some actual fun before my college days come to an end even though night clubs are not exactly my idea of fun.

*

I wake to a loud pounding on my bedroom door. "Allie!!! Get up! We have to pick out an outfit for you for tonight! I have to leave for work soon! Get up! We won't have time later!" Julie continues banging on my door.

"Ugh, Jules! Give me like 10 minutes!" I groan back at my annoying best friend. She insisted last night that she had to pick out an outfit for me because I don't know what a proper "club outfit" is.

Ten minutes later I've brushed my teeth and changed into some shorts and a t-shirt. I open my bedroom door to find Julie sitting impatiently at the counter with a cup of coffee.

"Okay, come on in and let's get this over with." I say to her rolling my eyes. This is not what I want to be doing at nine am.

"Oh stop being so dramatic." Julie mumbles at me as she walks past me and into my room.

I follow behind her and sit on my bed as she starts to dig through my closet for her version of an acceptable outfit for this evening.

"Okay, so we want something sexy but also comfortable. Maybe some skinny jeans and a cute tank top. Or even a jean skirt," she says excitedly.

"Sexy. Really. You know I can't pull off sexy." I mumble at her. Does she honestly think I can be sexy. She has definitely lost it. In the thirteen years she has known me I have never been sexy. I don't even own anything that could be considered sexy.

"Yes, sexy. You have the curves all you're missing is the attitude Al."

I don't have the first clue on how to come off as sexy, but I have a feeling Julie is going to teach me. This was such a bad idea. I can already tell that tonight is going to be a disaster.

Twenty minutes later I'm standing in front of my closet staring at myself in the floor length mirror in one of Julies jean skirts that rests nicely on my hips and stops a few inches above my knees and only makes me slightly uncomfortable. She has paired her jean skirt with one of my low-cut white tank tops and a pair of short strappy black heels. Lucky for me it has been a warm winter and it only gets into the mid-sixties right now at night here in Georgia. Especially considering Julie told me I am not allowed to wear the gray cardigan I tried to put over the tank top.

"So? What do you think?" Julie asks me while I stare at myself in the mirror. She's beaming, obviously proud of her work.

"Umm I like the outfit, but I'm not sure," I mumble.

She rolls her dark brown eyes at me, "Allie, you look hot trust me. You just have to own it. That is the key to being sexy, it is all about the confidence."

"Alright," I try to say with a sense of confidence, but my voice betrays me and I sound even more unsure than before.

"Shit, I have to go I am going to be late for work" Julie says as she rushes out of my room. "You look amazing! I will be back in time for us to do our hair and makeup before we leave! See you later girlie!" She yells to me before she slams the front door closed behind her.

I let out a breath I didn't notice I was holding as I look at myself once more in the mirror. My chest fills the tank top nicely threatening to overflow because of the pushup bra Julie forced me to wear even though she knows I hate wearing it because it makes my boobs look even bigger than they already are. She doesn't understand that problem seeing as she barely has any boobs. The tight tank top paired with the fitted jean skirt shows off my tiny waist and curvy hips. The jean skirt goes down just far enough to cover my full upper thighs. Overall I don't hate the outfit as much as I expected to, if I wear my long blonde hair down and maybe curl it a little I think I might be able to pull it off.

I groan staring at myself in the mirror one last time before collapsing onto my bed. I have no idea what to expect tonight I haven't been out since my freshman year. Even though Julie will be there I can already see myself sitting in the corner the whole night. I hope the night won't be a complete disaster. At least all our friends will be there and I can catch up with Emily. I push away the anxiety as I hang my outfit for tonight back up and head to take a shower.

I'm sitting on the couch buckling the straps of my black heels as Julie walks out of her room looking like a Victoria Secret model in her tight dress that leaves little to the imagination. She spent an hour doing my hair and make up after she got home from work and I spent most of that hour telling her to tone it down. It has always been that way with us. She is the one who wears full make up and heels almost everyday and I am the one who forces myself to put on eyeshadow every now and again and wears converse as much as possible. But somehow we always seem to balance each other out, she helps me step out of my comfort zone and I keep her from being arrested.

"See this is why I don't go out with you!" I grumble at her.

"What are you talking about? I didn't even do anything!" Julie says defensively while grabbing her matching clutch off the kitchen counter.

“You didn't have to, you just come out looking like that and when I stand next to you I look like a freakin sack of potatoes!"

"Are you kidding me!?! Look at you! I wish I had those curves! We both look great and we are ending the conversation there." Julie says annoyed at my comment.

"Whatever." I mumble back.

"You are not going to start this night pouting, so get over yourself and let's go the Uber is ready downstairs!" she says sternly. Julie is the kind of person who has no problem telling you how it is, she has been that way ever since we were kids.

The Uber ride to the club lasted barely five minutes leaving just enough time for my stomach to get queasy with nerves. The car comes to a stop in front of a building littered with people stumbling in and out of the doors. Julie says a rushed 'thank you!' to the Uber driver as she pulls me out of the car behind her.

"Come on! Everyone else is already inside!" she says as she pulls me along after her and into the crowded building. I glance at my phone it is now ten o'clock, I will stay till at least midnight and then leave I decide.

The room is so dark it is hard to see the faces of the strangers as we shove our way through the crowd to find our group of friends waiting for us. There is a slight stench of smoke in the air and my heels stick to the floor just enough for me to notice. I hate this already. Julie is aggressively pushing her way through the overly friendly crowd of strangers. I decide that my best bet is to stare at the back of her head and follow closely behind her so I don't get lost. Suddenly Julie does a high pitch squeal letting me know she has found our friends. Our usual group of friends are standing around a high top table toward the back corner of the club. There's Maya, who Julie and I met in freshman English. Julie gets along with her better than I do because they have similar personalities and Maya will go out with her any day of the week where I will not. Then there is Dylan the common frat boy with the perfect hair and teeth, wearing his usual khaki pants and button up shirt. Maya and Dylan have been dating for a little over a year now. Next to the already drunk Dylan is his best friend Sam. Sam is in the same frat as Dylan and despite being best friends, Sam is sweet, polite, and funny unlike Dylan who is usually obnoxious. Sam is much more attractive than Dylan with his light brown hair cut short and his muscular arms looking perfectly tanned in his white button up. On the other side of the table there is Tabitha and Emily. Tabitha and Maya have known each other since middle school so they are really close similar to Julie and I. Wherever Maya is, Tabitha is usually close by. I get along best with Emily out of the three girls. She is quieter than the others and although she has no problem going out and having a good time she has a lot of other priorities she is focused on as school is coming to an end. We tend to sit and talk whenever we are all hang out while everyone else is drinking and goofing off.

"No way! Allie you actually came!?!" Maya says too dramatically bringing the attention of the whole group to me. "I mean Julie said you were coming but I thought she was just joking!" Maya continues with an annoying giggle and I force myself not to roll my eyes at her.

"Good to see you too Maya. Can someone point me in the direction of the bar please." I say to hopefully change the topic. I am going to definitely need a drink to get me through this night.

"I was just about to go get myself a drink if you wanna come with me?" Sam offers with a smirk making me blush like always.

"That would be great! Thanks," I say with a smile.

Sam is quiet most of the time but he is charming. And he is one of those guys who is absolutely gorgeous and has no idea.

Julie rushes over to the girls and the giggling starts instantly as Sam and I walk away from the group.

We make it to the bar with Sam only having to guide me past one group of drunk guys. Even with heels on I am still quite short making navigating the crowded club difficult as I can't see where I'm going. I order my usual crown apple and sprite, and try to refuse when Sam wants to pay for my drink but ultimately he wins as he hands the bartender cash and walks away with me following behind.

"So are you as ready for graduation as I am?" Sam awkwardly starts conversation over the loud club music as we make our way back to our group of friends. This was the usual with Sam. For a guy who is this attractive and has girls falling all over him, he always comes off awkward when we try and talk.

"Yeah I'm so excited, but also incredibly nervous. There is too many decisions still left to make," I awkwardly laugh.

"I get that. You would think that since we are finally finishing we would be less stressed out not more," Sam says with laugh.

I turn to respond catching his blue eyes, leaving me speechless. I am saved as we arrive at the table and Sam is greeted by Tabitha begging him to dance with her. She clearly already had a few drinks and Sam is too sweet to say no.

The night feels like it is dragging on forever. I'm not having a bad time but there is definitely other things I would rather be doing and on top of that Julie seems to be in a crap mood for some unknown reason so she is not making the night any better for me. It has been about an hour and a half and I've had three drinks making me just tipsy enough that my nerves have vanished.

"Jules I really have to pee!" I whine at her again.

"Okay okay, just give me a minute," She says staring at her phone.

"I've been waiting like ten. Just point me in the direction of the bathroom. I will just go by myself," I say back irritated as I sway back and forth to help with my urgent need to pee.

"Okay fine, go towards the bar and to the left," She instructs me without look away from her phone. I am trying not to get annoyed at her but she begged me to come out and has barely said two words to me since we got here.

"Thank you!" I say dragging the words out dramatically.

I make it to the bathroom without any issues to my surprise considering the three drinks I have had and the crowd seeming to have grown in the last hour. Luckily there is only one girl in line and I don't have to wait long. I wash my hands and check my make up in the mirror surprised it still looks almost perfect. I walk out of the bathroom and reach down pulling the hem of my skirt further down my legs as I walk.

"Ugh fuck!" I mumble as I collide with something solid and liquid pours down my skirt and legs.

"Oh shit! Sorry!" I hear a thick English accent respond.

I look up to find bright green eyes staring directly into mine. They are slightly covered by a mop of beautiful dark brown curls. His eyes stay locked on mine so intently that I have to look away so he can't see me blush under his gaze.

"It's fine. It was my fault I wasn't paying attention." I say faster than I intended as I wipe at my skirt.

"Wait a minute, let me uhh...." the handsome stranger starts to say as he looks around and then disappears and reappears with a rag from the bar.

"Here, I'm really sorry," He says again holding his hand out to me with the rag in it.

I take a second to glance at the tattoos covering most of his left arm. Quickly dragging my attention back to the liquid running down my legs I grab the rag hoping he didn't notice my staring. I wipe at the remainder of whatever he had in his cup off my legs and look up to find him staring again.

"Thanks," I mumble quietly despite the loud music as I hand him back the rag. My cheeks feel like they are burning, partially from the alcohol in my system and partially from his staring.

“The least I could do. I'm Harry," He says with a smile revealing large dimples in his cheeks while holding out his empty right hand for me to shake. I stare at his outstretched hand for a minute before grabbing it.

"Allie, nice to meet you. Sort of," I say returning his smile and taking his hand in mine. His large hand makes mine feel even smaller.

"Allie." he repeats with a smirk. His accent making it sound beautiful while his eyes continue to stare into mine making my stomach flutter. I am so happy I downed that third drink or his stare alone would have made me a mumbling mess by now.

[witness-protection-official]

Warning! Lots more cussing this time, mention of doing drugs, and god tier acting from both parties

Also very long this time I spent a sold three hours writing this

Witness Protection - An Eyeless Jack x Female Reader Fanfiction

Chapter 3

You felt as though you were going insane. The man hadn't said a single word to you since the weird field area. Only lord knew if the ancient vehicle you sat in had a working radio. Asking was out of the question, you still had tape over your mouth. Couldn't check, you had tape gloves that went all the way up your arms, rendering them useless. With half lidded eyes, you stare at your disheveled figure in the side mirror. Dear god, you looked like shit. The blood on the side of your face had caked into a gross brown and was beginning to flake off, leaving you looking like you were a burn victim. You wince internally. You had mangled hair, with strands sticking every which way. Bags under the eyes displayed your lack of sleep and slowly depleting sanity. With a nearly inaudible groan, you tap your head against the glass. 'Can't he just kill me and get this over with? I don't know how much sitting in dead silence I'm going to be able to handle.' You slouch heavily, slowly sinking to the floor of the truck.

"You'll hurt your back sitting like that," his monotone voice stated off handedly. You huff and remain there. He sighs and grabs the back of your shirt, tugging you up to sit properly. You groan. Apparently sitting weirdly isn't even an option. He remains facing foward, not even glancing in your direction. Unable to spit insults at him, you level a heated glare at instead. He either doesn't notice or doesn't care. Maybe a good mix of both. It wasn't easy to tell how long you sat there, giving a dirty look to a man that probably couldn't even see you past the hood he had been wearing this entire time, but you assumed it had been about ten minutes or so. The truck suddenly stopped. You break out of your hate filled trance and look around. Why did he park in an actual parking lot? Was he going to let you go? The thought filled your heart with hope. He popped open the center console and pulled out a large bottle of what sounded like pills. Christ, was he about do just pop a few pills to deal with your bullshit? He pulled his mask off, placing it in the back seat. The cap popped off and he dumped a few out, throwing them into his mouth and closing the bottle. He pulled the hood down, giving you a clear view of the side of his head. You voice your distress at his appearance in muffled screams. He sighs heavily, leaning his head back against his seat, not seeming bothered. The screaming grew louder as his features shifted.

He opened his eyes and glanced at you, letting you get a clear view of his eyes. The screaming ceased in shock. How had you not seen them under his mask? With how bright the blue of his iris was, one would think they would glow in the dark. He pulled the visor down to examine his face in the small mirror embedded inside. He licked his teeth, turned his face from side to side. It finally clicked why he sounded familiar. He was the weird guy that had been staring at you when you changed out shifts with a coworker. You sigh internally. No point in thinking about it now, you guessed. He had murdered someone and kidnapped you, you had bigger things to worry about. His buckle clicked and you snapped out of your thoughts.

"I'll be back," he said simply, clicking something on the side of the door and closing it. Did- did that fucker just turn the child lock on?! Where the fuck were you gonna go in blood soaked clothes and taped up arms?! You send a hateful glare at his retreating form. He went into a store. A very large store. The fuck was he doing?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

He bit the inside of his cheek as he entered the store. Did she really have to scream like that? Probably, not everyday you see a man with grey skin. And it's also not everyday you see him suddenly become a shape shifter after popping some pills. Either way, it really wasn't a boost of confidence for his already weak self esteem. Whatever. He had a reputation to uphold, and that meant keeping his cool, constantly. He'd already almost lost it on her while she was being annoying the night before. No point in risking it now. Jack sighed and rubbed his eyes. He began his journey towards the clothes section of the store before he paused. He forgot to ask what her sizes were. He facepalmed. And she had been wearing heels too. He grumbled, figuring it'd be easier to deal with that later. Right now he had to focus on getting her clothes that weren't stained with blood. He debated on heading to the woman's section, guess her size. No, bad idea. Someone is bound to try to talk to him. He was a tall man, he had no reason to be in the woman's section, and people were bound to wonder. Both his pride and crippling social anxiety told him to not risk it. Avoid talking with people was a priority. With a deep breath, he swiveled on his heel, headed towards the mens. He'd just grab some smaller sized jeans or something. There was a time where baggy jeans were popular right? He furrowed his brows as he thought, as he did a lot. His mind continued to wander until he reached the clothes. He eyed the jeans and opted to grab a pair of skinny jeans, in a random size that looked like they would fit her. He wasn't exactly staring at her legs, so he hoped that brief mental image he had in his mind was enough. He turned to the shirts. Any of them would work, they just couldn't be too big. He really wasn't in the mood to listen to her bitch and whine about him being a 'pervert' because it dipped too low and showed her bra.

He grabbed a basic black tee, looking to be maybe a size smaller than he got his own shirts. That'll do. He got a second pair of pants and a second shirt, just for good measure. He bit his tongue. He knew a little bit about the hygenic needs of a woman, but he hadn't smelled any blood or hormonal spike on her, so he figured she'd be fine for now. As he made his way to a different part of the store, he passed a shelf of hoodies. He backed up. Should he get her a hoodie? That would be awfully nice of him. She had done nothing to deserve any form of kindness from Jack. Letting her live was the extent of his mercy for her. 'But if she isn't cold that's less things she'll have to bitch about…' he mulled it over in his head before deciding. He'd get another hoodie for himself and let her wear it passively. 'What a fucking genius you are, Jack, absolute genius' he congratulated himself, grabbing a dark colored hoodie that was in his size. He nodded, satisfied and went to get a few more items.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

You had been pretty confident he up and died in that store, he took so long. But alas, he had to return. You watched his form make it's way to your side of the truck and reflexively shifted away. He swung it open, placing the bags he held ontot he ground while he stood onto the step to reach your seatbelt clip. He tore off the tape, unclipping the restraint. The tape on your mouth went next.

"Spit an insult at me and I'll cut off your tongue," he quipped. You closed your mouth. "Good girl," he himself seemed to cringe at what he just said, judging by the sigh he released. You scrutinized his face as he worked on the tape on your arms with intense concentration. He had tiny freckles all over his face. They were so small it was impossible to see them from a distance, but they were everywhere. His nose, his cheeks, even the top of his neck and between his eyes. You would've found him attractive if you didnt know it wasn't what he actually looked like. Tanned skin and soft looking auburn hair helped him sell the whole 'fucking gorgeous' thing.

"What's with the whole 'pretty boy' get up?" you murmur. He pauses and looks up at you, confused. "why did you choose this look to be normal?" He searched her face for any underlying intentions. When he found none, he shrugged.

"Didn't get a choice," He finally managed to get the tape off of your hands and arms.

"You got damn lucky with it then, you coulda been ugly," you shrugged. He took a deep breath and didn't respond, instead reaching into the bag and pulling out a package of what appeared to be baby wipes. "I'm not a baby,"

"I noticed," he opened the package and pulled out a wipe. He gripped your jaw and turned your head to the side.

"I can do this myself,"

"Don't trust you," as usual, his response was simple. He wiped the dried blood off of your face rather harshly.

"Hey, hey! Be gentler! I'm not dead yet!" He growled lowly and held your face tighter in his hand, wiping the rest of the blood off of any currently visible skin. He took another wipe and used it to wipe off any tape or dirt residue off of you. "What gives with the mini bath?"

"You'll see," He pushed your head down, bending you so that your chest was pressed tightly against your thighs. He threw what you assumed to be the wipes into the back before letting you sit up again. He picked up the bag from off of the pavement and handed it to you. "Change," he closed the truck door. He must've gotten you clothes so you wouldnt be covered in blood constantly. You pull out a pair of jeans and a shirt, followed by an extremely oversized hoodie. You quirk a brow but peek out the window. The man was scrolling on his phone, back pressed against the car door. You deemed it safe to change and stripped down, pulling the new, clean clothes on. You rummaged through the bag some more and came across a hair brush, dry shampoo, and deodorant. Questionable items, but you put them to use. You felt like a human again. A soft knock on the window startled you. There he was. You blink dumbly at him. He points down. You look down. You had locked the door. With a sigh, you unlocked the door and he opened it.

"You didn't stare at me while I was changing, did you?" you narrow your eyes in suspicion.

"I've got no reason to," he took the hoodie out of the bag and threw it at you. "Wear it if you want," he threw the bag in the backseat. You huff and pull the sweater over your head. He closed the door and moved to the drivers side. He strapped in and started the truck.

"Why'd you make me freshen up and stuff?"

"You need food. I don't know what you want," He made the short drive to a gas station that was only about five minutes up the road. He unstrapped and went to your side, opening the door. "Out," You unstrapped and slipped out of the truck, a little wobbly from not standing for so long. The heels didn't help.

"You're coming in with me?"

"I'm the one with money,"

"There's another reason, isn't there,"

"That one is obvious. Now listen. You go in there, grab anything you need, and if anyone asks, I'm your boyfriend," he briefed.

"Why do I have to say you're my boyfriend?"

"You won't have to if you don't act suspicious, now lets go, I've spoken to much,"

"You got a word limit or something?"

"Mentally," he ushered you inside.

"You gonna act all boyfriendy?"

"Boyfriendy?"

"Are you gonna act like my boyfriend?"

"Yes, and you'll have to deal,"

"Ew, but why,"

"There won't be any kissing," he rolled his eyes.

"What if you need to?"

"I won't" he guided you to the hot foods area. "Now get your food," He stayed close as you grabbed two slices of pizza and a hot dog, putting them in mini bags. "Its a long drive, go get yourself some snacks," you nod and sort of hand him your hot food, which he holds with no complaint. His eyes hold a glimmer of warning, telling you not to do anything stupid.

You're examining the chips on the different shelves when some girl about your age comes up to you.

"Did you hear?" She leans in close.

"Hear what?" you tilt your head.

"About the murder at that hotel. Apparently the murderer took a hostage with them, one of the staff," you pretend to be shocked and that the hostage was 100% not you.

"Really?" top tier lying this was. You just hoped it was believable. She nodded.

"By the way that guy has kind of been staring you down this entire time," she whispered. "Hey, creep! Why don't you go bother some other chick-!"

"Wait! It's ok," you subtly gulp and turn to your kidnapper, acting as natural as possible. "Babe, are you gonna keep standing there like a stalker?" He shook his head.

"S-sorry," he chuckled awkwardly, moving to stand next to you. He somehow managed to look bashful, blush and all. His posture was slouched to look more weak and not as standoffish. He probably took an acting class at some point.

"Oh, you're dating," she seemed relieved. You nod. "Can I have proof?"

"Why- why do you need proof that we're dating?"

"With the whole hostage thing I just wanna make sure he isn't the murderer, or you aren't, you never know,"

"It does make a bit of sense," your abductor agreed, somehow flying through this whole interaction look weak and pathetic, and making it look like he was completely off the list of possible suspects. She raised her eyebrows, waiting. He looks down at you and you look up at him, seeming to have the same idea. He lean down and you meet him halfway in a short kiss. The taste of iron and blood you expected never showed up. When you two pulled away from each other, the woman visibly relaxed.

"Alright, sorry for being weird. Have a nice day!" she waved. You waved along with the man. He grabs your hand.

"She made a scene, we gotta keep up the appearance," he whispered as he leaned down, followed by a kiss on the cheek to cover it up. You notice some people were definitely staring.

"Got it," you whisper back. Pulling your hand away from his you grab a bag of chips. "Do we wanna get chips or something else for the trip?"

"You'll be eating them more than me,"

"Yeah but I don't want you to think I'm greedy for eating them all,"

"I won't think you're greedy,"

"Yes you will," you put the chips back.

"You can get the chips, babe," You whine.

"But-!"

"You're fine," he took the chips off of the shelf and placed them in your hands. He mouthed something to you. 'Jack'. You assumed that was his name.

"You sure, Jackie? You're 100% sure?"

"Yes," You shrug and grab the collar of his hoodie and yank him down, planting a kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you," you coo. He hums and pecks your lips. The line is fairly short as you two go to pay. Jack pays and before you leave the guy manning the register bids you farewell.

"Be safe, you two lovebirds,"

"We will, have a nice day!" The moment you're both in the car you place the bag down and go to fetch the wet wipes to wipe your mouth off. They wer to far back and you sighed. "You're a really good actor," you comment. "Your affection felt real," he hums.

"Likewise," he seemed greatly uncomfortable, and it made you wonder what he meant by metal word limit. Either that or he just really did not like pretending to be dating his hostage. You shrug. Best to ask once you've eaten. You unwrap your hotdog and take a bite.

[raindrop-on-a-spiderweb]

Dear God

I have GREAT NEWS! I have internet (granted, crappy satellite internet) and I've been working on the next chapter of Ragnatela! It should be done within the next few days.

I had this young!Patience chapter on the back burner and didn't want to leave the AU unfinished 😰 sorry if it feels a little rushed. I'm not too happy with it.

***

Patience's legs knocked into each other as she backed up, reaching out to grip the side.

The tall, imposing figure of her adopted father loomed over her quietly, his eyes serenely dark in his face.

"Salvatore Mallozzi," he said slowly, as if tasting venom on his tongue. "And what reason could you have to be speaking with my enemy?"

Her mouth was dry. He gripped her chin and forced her to face him. "I started to trust you," he said, his voice dead quiet. "A year of living with me, and I started to trust you. Clearly that was the wrong decision."

She began to cry, and he shifted his thumb to wipe her tears away. It reminded her of the first time he had looked into her eyes, his thumb soft on her cheek.

His hand went to her shoulder, then lower, to cup her breasts through her uniform, and then to slide down her hips, teasingly stopping just above the waistband of her skirt.

"Your body is becoming more mature," he said softly. "Your hips, your breasts, your face. I can see you growing older. Everything except your womb, apparently. When will you give me a child? Are you... doing anything to prevent it?"

She was crying unashamedly now, as his hand tightened on her hip hard enough to bruise. "I'm not. Please, papa. I'm not, I swear. I don't know what's going on--"

At the sound of papa, his grip relaxed. She heard him sigh. "Do you not like living with me? Is that why you tried to call someone?"

She wanted to say I hate you, I hate living with you, I wish you were dead, but she knew she stood on a precarious thread, so she sobbed, "I do--I do like living here. I just--sometimes I feel like getting away from you. I can't help it."

He paused, and something in his face settled, his eyes taking a faraway cast. His face slackened. "I understand," he said simply.

He ruffled her hair. "Dinner will be ready soon. Afterwards, go upstairs and I'll brush your hair." She knew what the veiled meaning behind I'll brush your hair was, and it carried with it a resigned sense of doom.

***

Patience threw the baseball at the stone wall, and it made a thud as it hit. It bounced right back into her hands.

Mindless activities like this kept her mind off the realities of her life. She could do it for hours, repeating and repeating, her brain a dull buzz, until Leonardo would call for her. 

A hand caught her ball. "Shouldn't you be doing something more useful?"

She went to glare at the dark-haired, glasses-wearing visage of her second least favorite person in the world. "Give the ball back, Stefano."

"My daughter knew how to wash windows by the time she was half your age. The outer windows are filthy, why don't you get off your lazy bottom and make yourself useful to your father?"

"Give me the ball back!"

He threw it back, and she caught it to her chest. "I don't know why he bothers keeping you around. If I were him I would have dumped you off at an orphanage the first time you showed me lip."

Her eyes stung with tears. I'm not useless. I have a scholarship. She heard Leonardo call for her distantly, and turned to Stefano just as the sound of Leonardo's footsteps started to approach.

She kicked the older man hard in the shin. He squawked in surprised pain and clutched his leg, then recovered just in time to lunge at her just as Leonardo arrived past the grove of trees.

"What are you doing, Stefano?" Leonardo's sharp voice made Stefano let her go. "She-"

"Stefano said I needed to be taught a lesson about obeying you," said Patience loudly. 

"I'll be the judge of that, Stefano," said Leonardo, his voice soft yet icy. "It would be best if you took your leave."

Stefano's mouth was gaping like a fish, but he snapped it shut and glared at her before leaving. When Leonardo wasn't looking Patience stuck her tongue out at his back.

He led her inside where the staunch, tall figure of Giuseppe Benevento was standing with one hand in his pocket, the other carrying a carpet bag.

"Are you staying for dinner, Joe?" Asked Patience, using his English name. She liked Giuseppe. Well, she didn't really like him, but compared to Leonardo, Stefano, and the rest of Leonardo's "friends" he was much more tolerable. He would drive her to school sometimes when Leonardo or the chauffeur couldn't.

"I suppose I can. I'll be talking to your father late into the night."

Leonardo smiled. "Well, that's excellent. I know you love my spaghetti bolognese."

In the dining room, Patience sat fiddling with her napkin while Giuseppe smoked a cigarette, occasionally stubbing it out on a star-shaped marble ashtray.

"Your school is going well?" He broke the silence with one of his canned questions.

"I got a scholarship to New York University," she said listlessly.

"Congratulations. When will you be graduating?"

"Next year," she said. I'm never going to use this scholarship. I'm never going to go to New York University. I'm never going to leave here.

The polished wood walls seemed to be caging her in. Something inside her young brain told her she would live and die here, and that made her want to scream and cry.

She tilted her head to look at Giuseppe. He was large and gruff, and said little. He was Leonardo's deputy, his "underboss" and he did his job well. Very well. 

Maybe, she thought, maybe he has cracks in his exterior. Cracks I can worm myself into. He's a man, after all. 

"Are you married, Joe?" She said, pushing her chair back and crossing her legs under her short skirt. She subtlely shifted her skirt up her thighs. Leonardo liked it when she did that.

"Yes," he said shortly. "Seventeen years."

"That's a long time. You must be getting bored of her. Do you still sleep in the same bed?"

He looked over at her, and his forehead crinkled. "We--that's none of your business." his voice was flat. "Why do you ask?"

"Well," she said throatily, trying to sound like the lounge singers she saw on TV, "I make you... less lonely."

His frown deepened as he eyed her. 

She shifted her chair closer and touched his knee, sliding her hand over the rough cloth. "I can do things for you your wife never dreamed of. I know all about pleasing men."

He was frozen, eyes flickering to the closed door.

"With my mouth or--with any part of my body. I can be your Lolita." She thought back to the book she had read on Leonardo's bookshelf. She had to put it back when she was halfway done because of how much it disturbed and reminded her of herself. "All you have to do is take me out of here." She boldly gripped between his legs, squeezing and rubbing him gently.

"No," he said firmly, getting up and moving a seat away. She watched in him despair, her way of escaping firmly rejecting her. "You are my daughter's age. You are Leonardo's daughter. This is inappropriate. I--" for a moment something like regret and sympathy passed his face, but then it was gone to be replaced by his steely, gruff exterior.

"I'm sorry you feel this way. But I will not and can not reciprocate. Please don't make this hard for both of us."

A wave of shame washed over her. She stared at the tablecloth, tears in her eyes as she waited for Leonardo to arrive with the dishes.

***

"Christmas Party?"

Patience looked up from where she was chopping tomatoes. Her father wiped his hands on his apron and dumped the pork snippings into the the pot. "Yes. I've held it every year. You missed it last year because you weren't home with me, but this year I promise you'll be the belle of the ball. I'll tailor you the most beautiful, expensive dress. It will be so grand and opulent, you'll love it."

You missed it last year because you weren't home with me. Not, you missed it last year because you weren't living here. As if she had living there all along. Leonardo inexorably considered her role and home to be here, under his thumb, nowhere else.

"Okay," she said. Her mind had hardened during the year, become more calculating. This could be her way out of here. She couldn't give up, and it was becoming more important day by day while her womb was still empty. If she got pregnant, it was over for her. She was living on borrowed time.

***

The dress was mint-green and ruffled at the bottom, and square at the bosom. It definitely wasn't made to take advantage of her womanly curves (or what little she had of them). He had tailored it for her over several agonizing weeks, forcing her to stand as still as a ballerina as he slid needles inches away from her skin.

"Gorgeous," he said. "Matches your eyes." He slid his hands down her dress, cupping her bare shoulders. 

"I look like a little girl."

"You are a little girl. My little girl." He kissed her ear and made her shudder. "Are you ready?"

She nodded, still staring at herself in the mirror.

He led her out into a wave of noise, bright lights and chatter. For a moment she instinctively clutched his arm as a dozen eyes turned on her. "Oh, this must be your daughter!" Said a man with a lumpy nose, a dark-haired woman at his side. "I don't think I've met her yet."

"She's been focusing on school. She's a good girl." He rubbed her shoulders. 

The man beamed. "You're a sweet little thing, aren'tcha?"

Patience looked away. "Thank you."

"What a sweet girl. I can't believe she's your daughter," said a man in a fedora, cradling his cheek with a crafty smile on his face. She gritted her jaw. Adopted daughter. "Thanks."

"Oh, be more social, Patience," said Leonardo.

"Can I please get something to eat?" She asked, hating all the eyes on her.

"You may. But be gracious and kind and have nice manners."

"Yes, papa."

She scampered away, acutely aware of her role as the only girl in the ballroom. A cadre of portly mafia wives set upon her and pinched her cheeks, oblivious to her cries of "I'm sixteen! I'm sixteen!" 

With much difficulty, she made her way to the food table, where she plopped herself down to think.

A silver-haired figure, serving himself casserole, looked down at her. "Why the long face, Patience?" She recognized him with a scowl. Charles Sawyer was always skulking around their house. She hated how condescending he was, and avoided him as much as possible. "None of your business."

"Perhaps you should lie down." He had such a wheedling way about him, like he was talking to a little girl instead of a teenager. "Put some color in those cheeks"

Her cheeks, already red from being pinched, flushed harder. "Mind your own business!"

Sawyer clucked his tongue and moved on, and she resumed watching the crowd. She tried to name all the men she saw, but other than the ones who came around the house and who she saw Leonardo with, she recognized none of them.

She had distantly gleaned a sort of shadowy awareness of the structure of the mafia--there were sects, and they didn't always get along with each other.

Leonardo kept her isolated and protected, never answering any of her questions and leading her to occasionally learn what she could from eavesdropped conversations with his men. A certain family called Di Scarpetta always seemed to be causing them trouble.

She saw a flash of black hair, and froze.

Her head throbbed. No way. He can't be here. He can't--

The brown-haired girl jumped off the seat and ran into the crowd, heart thumping, eyes watering, pushing desperately, until the figure resurfaced in her sight. He was dressed in an elegant suit, talking to another man. The high collar of his suit wasn't enough to hide the livid scar on his throat. With his coal-black eyes and slicked-back hair, he cut an imposing figure, but Patience had never been so glad to see him. She hit him head-on. "Salvatore!"

He stumbled and stiffened, but when he saw her, his face went slack in disbelief. "Patience? What are you doing here?"

She was crying. "Oh my god. Oh my god!"

"Ciao," he said to the other man swiftly, then turned back to her. "Tell me, what are you doing here?"

"Leonardo Borghese is forcing me to live with him," she said, clutching his sleeves. "He does--oh, he does such awful things to me! Please, Salvatore, you must get me out of here!"

"Are you--are you that long-lost daughter he found?" Realization was dawning across his face.

"I'm not his damn daughter! I'm not related to him! He forced me into this, and you have to get me out of here, he wants me to do more for him, vile things--"

"Pazienza," said a liquid voice. "Are you making friends with Salvatore? How charming.

***

Salvatore hooked an arm around her shoulders, pulling her protectively towards him. "Leo Angelino. You son of a bitch. Stronzo! What the hell have you been doing to her?" His face was a mask of rage

Leonardo's face was placid, but he was standing entirely too close Salvatore. He said "Let's not make a scene here. All the families are here, a confrontation would--aggravate the atmosphere."

"Sick fucking pedophile," he hissed. "I should shoot you." His fists clenched.

"There are my men all around you, Salvatore," he said quietly. "Think twice."

Salvatore's eyes flicked around, and somewhere in his brutish subconscious something sparked. His grip on her slackened. "I'll be taking my leave early."

"Please don't go," she begged, clinging onto him. He unwillingly detached himself--not before giving her a comforting squeeze--and made for the door. She watched him go with tears in her eyes.

She smelled cologne as Leonardo shifted beside her. "Perhaps you'd like to go upstairs and rest, dolcezza." His voice was gentle, but had enough of a veiled threat that she obeyed immediately.

***

Alone in his (their) room, she shivered for hours until his soft footsteps echoed up the polished stairs.

He emerged from the door, dressed in his tuxedo, and when he saw her, he smiled. "Your hair is so messy. Let me comb it."

She shivered as he combed the tangles out of her hair, damp with sweat. His proximity made her mind rebel, want to run screaming. "You've been very naughty, dolcezza. Talking with Salvatore Mallozzi. Just what is your relationship, I wonder?"

She said nothing.

"Not going to talk?"

She squeezed her eyes shut.

"I have ways of making you talk, dolcezza." His arm curled around her neck, porcelain fingertips lightly brushing her skin. She shivered, but said nothing.

"Keep your secrets, then. I will find out about them in due time."

He stood up and loosened his cummerbund. His pants were loose, buckle undone.

"Sweet thing, let's celebrate Christmas together. We'll make a baby, a Christmas baby. We can name it Noelle."

Patience began to loosen her dress, acutely aware of him undressing behind her. It would be another night full of pain, a night that lasted far too long and left her crying and sleepless half the night.

The next few days were fraught with tension. 

Leonardo kept silent about her and Salvatore, never speaking of it. She detected an underlying tension in the house, but Leonardo kept cheerful, dropping her off at school, helping with her homework, and making dinner. 

For a moment, she almost relaxed. 

And one night, when her homework was done and she was watching a late-night program, Leonardo called out to her in his lyrical voice.

"Patience. Come here. I want to show you something."

Frustrated, she turned the TV off. She grudgingly tramped into the next room, and then the cigar room. It was richly furnished, with a glass liquor cabinet and velvet-upholstered furniture--she was very familiar with it.

In the middle was a man, being forced into the ground. For a moment her heart thrilled and she thought it was Salvatore--before he lifted his head up and he saw the wanness and softness of his face.

"Gabe?" She said, breathless with disbelief.

He looked at her, eyes not registering realization until it flashed in his eyes. 

Leonardo leaned back against the sofa, glass of liquor in his hand. A small smile teased his face. "Do you see what happens when you disobey your father, Pazienza? You should never contacted Salvatore. And now an innocent is paying for your mistake."

To her horror, Giuseppe, who was standing next to him, procured a knife and slid it around his throat. Patience tried to catch his eye, begging him for mercy, but he averted his gaze, something akin to shame in them.

"Give him a little cut, Giuseppe."

The silver knife sliced down, gouging a thin wound in the side of his cheek.

"Please not him! He didn't do anything! He has a family--don't--"

The knife bit further into his face, and he opened his mouth to wail. "Patience! Please help me! My Barbara--my Gina--I don't want to die!"

"Stop! Stop! Papa!"

"Papa, papa. I do love it when you call me that. But-" he leaned closer until his lips were right beside her ear. "We're going to be married parents before too long. How about you start calling me a pet name, one a wife has for her husband. "My mother used to call me Leonello, little lion,"

He was staring at her with a fixed, raw gaze.

"I'll do anything," she whispered. "Just don't hurt him."

"Leave us," instructed Leonardo to Gabe and his soldiers.

When they were gone, he turned to her with a wild gaze. "Leonello," she whispered.

A ghost of a smile flitted across his face. His eyes were lidded. "Good girl."

"Leonello. Leonello. I love you so much."

He was breathing rapidly now, the expression on his face one that she had never seen before. He gripped her waist and began to shove her down on the sofa.

There was a wine bottle on the table. As he pushed her down, she slowly reached for it, anticipating the crack of his skull. And even if he were dead, she would truly be free. 

As he settled between her thighs, her fingers closed around it. As he began to press kisses on her bosom, murmuring, "Mama," in a raw, childish voice, her hand closed around it, feeling the heaviness between her fingers.

A commotion sounded outside the door. As Leonardo lifted his head, she took the wine bottle and brought it down.

She was small, and her grip was clumsy, but it gave him a bash on the head nevertheless. He was knocked backwards, to the side of the sofa, and she scrambled up just a familiar figure burst in.

He was wielding a gun, hair in disarray and eyes wild.

"Patience," he barked. "You're coming with me."

She was so glad she began to weep. It was all over. Everything. Her nightmare was gone. "Oh, Salvatore."

"Get in the black car with my brother. We're holding them off, but I don't know for how much longer." He gripped her arm and pulled her forward.

As she left through the snow-covered yard, she heard the distant blasts of gunshots and shouting. A bullet whizzed by her ear. 

She jumped in a black car parked outside the gate. In the back seat, Gabe was white-faced and holding a bandage to his cheek. He turned his terrified gaze on her but still had the fatherly conscience to ask, "Are you okay?"

"I... I wish I was."

Salvatore jumped in the driver's seat and gunned the engine. "Let's get the fuck out of here!"

Patience cried silently as they left through the cobblestone road, her eternal nightmare behind her as they left the walled fortress behind her, the shouts and gunfire fading into the distance. Every mile they traveled, they came closer and closer to heaven.

She was free. She was with people who would protect her.

Patience caught Gabe's gaze, and he had the presence of mind to squeeze her hand. "It's all okay, honey."

She began to weep harder then, tears of happiness.

She was leaving the house behind. The torture, the fear, the pain, the misery, all of it was disappearing into the rearview mirror.

Patience Winslow was safe. And it was the strangest, most alien, loveliest feeling she'd ever felt.

She let her head fall sideways onto Gabe's shoulder, and tears of exhaustion began to leak out of her closed eyelids.

***

It wasn't until she woke up in Barbara's house a week later, nausea bubbling up in her stomach, that she felt something was wrong. 

When her small nipples began to get tender, the horrified suspicion mounted. 

And when she finally missed her period, she knew, inexorably, that her nightmare had come true.