#IZ A ONE SHOT THAT I WANNA DO OF THEM

[chibigo-ma]

I had fun making this

The 🌱 version DEFINITELY WASN'T on my mind 24/7 for months.....

And this isn't my hyperfixation..... I deffo didn't edit a cute wallpaper about them......

FUCK

[aydann-runs]

Alex was about to take his shot when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He stepped away from the table and pulled it out to check the caller ID. Eduardo. With a sigh, he passed his pool cue off to Michael and accepted the call.

“Hello?” he said, drifting away from the table. Michael took the shot he’d planned, sinking the ball easily and moving on to the next one.

“Alex? Can you come in tonight?” Eduardo asked, sounding somewhat less reserved than usual. Anyone else would probably sound outright frantic.

“Uh, maybe. If I can find someone to drive me. I’ve had a few drinks. What’s going on?”

Whatever Eduardo said in response was drowned out by the sudden blaring of an alarm in the background.

“Never mind, I’ll figure it out and get there as soon as I can,” Alex said, hoping that Eduardo could hear his reply. He’d text him as soon as he hung up the call.

Alex pocketed his phone and returned to where Michael was standing, leaning on his pool cue. He’d missed a shot somewhere along the way, and Kyle was taking his turn.

“Everything okay?” Michael asked, brow furrowed with concern.

“I don't know. That was Ramos, asking me to head in. Do you think Isobel would give me a lift? I've had a couple more beers than I'm comfortable driving with.”

Michael was already pulling out his phone, presumably to call his sister. “Iz, can you do me a favor?” he asked, without even saying hello. There's a brief pause, and then, “If it makes a difference, the favor’s actually for Alex.”

“I'll owe you one, Isobel,” Alex chimed in, hopefully loudly enough to be heard.

“The Wild Pony, as soon as you can,” Michael said a second later. “Thanks Iz.”

Kyle joined them at that moment, hovering just far enough back to give them the illusion of privacy. As soon as Michael hung up the call, he turned to Valenti. “Do you have to go into Deep Sky, too? Or can I keep beating you at pool?”

Kyle looked at Alex, eyebrows raised. “That was Eduardo? Did he say why he was calling you in?”

Alex shook his head. “He tried. I couldn't hear him over the alarm. Isobel is going to pick me up in a few,” Alex said, looking to Michael for confirmation. “I'll keep trying from the car. I'll text you when I know what's up.”

“Maybe I should go too,” Kyle said. “I don't know why he didn't call me.”

“You stay here, finish the game with Michael. Apparently it's my skill set he needs tonight, not yours,” Alex responded. “If there's anything I think you can do to help, I'll call. I promise.”

Kyle didn't look convinced, but he also didn't press the point any further. Alex felt his phone vibrate again and was unsurprised to see it was Isobel letting him know she was two minutes out.

“I've gotta go. I'll call you when I know more. Both of you,” Alex promised. He leaned in to press a quick kiss to Michael's lips, clapped Kyle on the back, and made his way towards the exit. He’d only made it a few steps when he heard Michael ask, “Wanna make this interesting and wager a few bucks on the game?”

Alex smiled as he pushed through the door to the parking lot. For all his complaints, Michael really did like Kyle, and he was doing his best to keep Kyle from worrying.

The honking of a car horn drew his attention and he looked up to see Isobel pulling up beside him. With one final look over his shoulder, he climbed in beside Isobel and settled in for the ride to Deep Sky.

[readingslover]

Chapter 8

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As Amory walked into the kitchen in the morning, she stopped in her tracks, noticing sugar, chocolate and flour all over the countertops.

“Whoa, the bomb that wen toff here was a cake?” The short blonde asked, her eyes widened.

“8 hours, 16 ounces of chocolate and 32 cupcakes, and they still don’t taste right. Do you want to try one, maybe you could tell met what’s missing.” The tall blonde offered her friend.

“Sorry, Iz. I’ll have on later, gonna stick with toast and coffie, than you.” She moved to make herself some coffie and put some bread in the toaster.

“These are goor. MArtha Stewart would be pround.” George complimented the baker.

“Yeah, well, look where it got her… There’s something missing, some specific ingrdient.” She scratched her head, as her short friend put some butter on her now toatsed bread. “Why can’t I remember?”

“Look, just call her. Call you mother and ask.” The boy suggested.

“I don’t wanna call my mother.” She answered, seemingly moody. The other two shared a look before shrugging. The small blonde now sat beside him, eating her usual breakfast.

“Good Morning!” Derek came into the kitchen, accompanied by Meredith, adn George offered them a cupcake.

“You know, I like it here. Hey, you said so yourself, you liked having your things around, sleeping in your own bed…” The man pointed out, reaching for the meusli, as the group sat at the table.

“You are like a health nut, aren’t you?” George asked, everyone giving him quizzical looks. “You eat meusli every morning.”

“So what, I also eat the same thing everyday. Let him eat, George.” The young intern complained.

“I don’t” He defended himself.

“Okay, the meusli thing… you do.” The taller blonde pointed out, Amory and George nodding along. “At least, the last seven days.”

“Oh, come one!” The attending approached his girlfirend, meusli and milk in hand. “I haven’t been her for a wholle week… have I?”

“You have.” The short blonde said in a teasing manner.

“See, even they think it’s weird.” Meredith pointed out.

~~~~~~

Cristina, Meredith and Amory now talked to a psychiatrist, trying to find out who a patient belonged to.

“This guy belongs in psych. What are you doing dumping him here?” Cristina complained.

“He’s my gift to you. Had a seizure two days ago, his family thinks he’s dangerous and they had him committed.” The short blonde points our.

“Right, he’s psych, not neuro.” The dirty blonde said, plainly.

“Didn’t you go to med school?” Cristina scoffed.

“Yes, and unlike the correspondence school you three attended…” The psychiatrist insulted

“Oh, that’s to be Stanford, Dartmouth and Yale, right?” The Asian shot back.

“Sorry, ladies. We can’t take him back until he’s cleared.” The man informed.

“So you’re just dumping him on us?” The young intern sassed.

“He thinks his seizures are visions.” He said and left.

“Hello?!” The patient called from his room. “They’re not seizures, i’m psychic.”

“Of course you are, and I’m a chicken.” Cristina retorted, as they entered the room.

“Okay, Mr. Duff, we’re gonna start our work up now.” Meredith smiled at him.

“Work me up, work me down, I’m telling you, it’s a waste of time.” He said right back.

“I need you to grip my fingers, please.” Amory smiled down at him. Just then, the man seemed to zone out. “Hey, Mer, Cristina.” She called out.

The girls looked at the mand and immediatly realised why the girl called them. “Mr. Duff?” The Asian called out.

“Mr. Duff, are you okay?” The short blonde shook his shoulder lightly and he looked right back at her.

“Someone…” He started. “Someone is gonna check out.” At that, Cristina rolled her ayes, the small girl besides her furrowing her brows. “Bye bye.”

“Man, he’s nuts.” The curly-haires woman let out, as the young intern her het lightly.

“I’m dizzy, not deaf, lady. And I’m telling you someone in the fourth floor is gonna die.”

“That’d actually be Dr. Yang, Mr. Duff, not lady.” The young blonde defended her friend with the sickly sweet smile on her face that signalled that she was getting annoyed.

Just then, a voice was heard through the hospital’s speakers. “Code blue, fourth floor. Code blue, fourth floor.” The man raised hus hand as if to say goodbye, in a teasing manner. Meredith and Amory looked at each other with a mix of confusion and shock, Cristina remaining impassive.

~~~~~~

“Botox would do wonders on those frown lines.” The self-proclaimed psychic told Cristina, as she and Amory examined him.

“Okay, shut up.”

“Are allowed to talk to me like that? Is she?” He asked the smaller girl.

“No, but if I pretend I didn’t hear it there is nothing to prove it except your word.” She smiled, slightly annoyed now. Cristina answered him with a hiss.

“God, you’re hot… in a Mrs. Livingstone kind of way.” he smirked, Amory looking at him with a stern look.

“See these spikes on your temporal lobe? It mean you have epilepsy. Not visions, epileptic seizures.” The asain woman pointed out, showing him the paper.

“You think I’m epileptic? That’s so not right.” He answered.

“We don’t think anything, the graphs don’t lie, Mr. Duff.” The younger intern explained. “We’re going to get you an MRI now, to get a closer look at your brain, okay?”

“Yeah, there’s no way…” The patient started, right before entering his trance-like-state once more.

“Mr. Duff? Can you see me? Can you hear me?” The taller woman examined his pupils with a flashlight. “Stay with me.”

“Wouldn’t have picked you for the mommy track, Nurse Betty. Unless, of course, you choose what your friend did.”

Cristina backed away from the patient, shock in her face and Helena’s eyes widened and her soft smile left her face. The smaller girl turned around and left the room, without so much as a goodbye, leaning against the hallway door. She could feel a small anxiety attack rising, feeling vulnerable and expose by the revelation, and she closed her eyes, trying to keep it at bay.

When she saw her friend leave the room, she followed her to the closest on-call room. “Crisitna!” She called, as the woman entered the room.

When she got inside, she saw her sitting on a bunk bed. “What?” She answered, somewhat bluntly.

“I was just checking in on you. Is it… true? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but I assure you I won’t tell anyone.” The young intern sat by her, the ever fimilair tightness in her chest rising and losing sensation on her hands. At the sight, her friend’s face softened.

“Thanks, Amory. Was yours true?” She leaned back on the bad.

Amory nodded slightly, tears filling her eyes. “I was nineteen, I thought I would be able to hande it, but it still hurts so much. It’s only been two years…” It was becoming harder to breathe by the second and her hands were now shaking. Cristina looked at her, compassion in her face and her expression soft, as the girl started to breathe more deeply. “I…” The young girl tried to take a deep breath.” I’m sorry, give m-me a minute.”

The young girl moved to another bed, eyes closed and focused on getting her breathing to even out. She held her hands to each other, trying to get feeling back to them. She focused on her sense, tried to rationalize her thoughts and put her head between her legs to keep the dizziness away. Her friend watched, a mixture of compassion and admiration in her eyes. A couple of minutes later, Amory opened her eyes, wiping the tears she’d let fall and sitting back by Crisinia once more, with newfound resolve on her face.

“When I was nineteen, I was r-raped. I got pregnant, and I had a hard time comiing to terms with the decision the end it, but I stand by it. I don’t tell this to anyone, unless it’s needed for a situation, or with my shrink.” She said, her voice now back to it’s usual conviction. “I’m sorry about that…” She waved her hands towards where she’s sat moments earlier, “Just, my anxiety gets worse when I feel to exposed.”

“You don’t have to apology, Amy. Besides, the way you pulled yourself together was pretty amazing.” The older intern said, her shoulder serving as a head rest for her friend.

“I meant to help you out… not the other way around. I just wanted to let you know that I’m here for you, whether you decide to keep it or not. I’m here.” The younger girl told her friend.

“You know, sometimes even the strongest people need to let others care for them, Amy.” Cristina told the girl, looking down at her. “I have an appointment for the sixteenth, I’m aborting.”

“Do you mind if I ask…” The young girl was unsure of how to pose her question. “I’m assuming it’s Burke’s. Does… does he know?”

“I’m not planning on telling him.”

“Okay, then… I won’t say anything either.” The friends say like that in silence for a whil, finding comfort in each other.

~~~~~~

After Cristina got of the case, Amory and Izzie get their patient in the CT machine.

“You’re into me, I can tell.” He tells Izzie, making Amory slightly roll her eyes. “Doctor small-and-angry was a hot appetiser, but you both are a smorgasbord of lust.”

The small doctor is clearly trying her best to ignore the mas, as the older intern warns him. “Mr. Duff, you’re pressing your luck.”

“Would you press it for me?” He asks with a smirk, Amory finally shooting him one of her famous reprimanding glares.

“God, that look is just like the one my mother used to give me.” He shiver slightly.

“Yeah, it’s her specialty.” The tall blonde chuckled.

“I hope you’re not claustrophobic.” Amory said with a sickly sweet smile, as he stared at her friend.

“You’re staring at me, stop.”

“I’m staring at you sweetheart, but it’s the strangest thing, I’m hungry for a chocolate cupcake.” Amory’s eyes widened once again at the affirmation.

“What did you just say?” The tall intern questioned him.

“A chocolate cupcake. Maybe one of those with the white squiggle on the frosting. Could you oblige?”

“What, do I still have some chocolate in my face or in my hear or something? I know the drill, so keep it up. Next, you’ll be reading mu cards, telling me my dead uncle is in the room.” The tall blonde rose her brows and the small girl’s eyes looked around her discreetly.

“Is he?” The man questioned.

“I don’t have a dead uncle.”

“Now, Mr. Duff, time to get in the machine.” The small girl patted it slightly and send him in.

~~~~~~

Cristina and Amory now sat at a desk, the former playing around with her food and the second eating her chicken sandwich while reading through another article she printed earlier in the week.

“If that’s turkey, can I have some?” George arrives, asking for their friend’s untouched food.

“It’s soggy.”

“Maybe it’ll kill you and solve everything.” Alex deadpanned, as he followed George to sit down.

“Hey!” Amory hit his arm. “Why do you always wish death upon others? George’s not dying.”

“I could have gottan that intubation. I’m good at intubations.” The short man complained.

“Why does everything in the hospital smell like a hospital?” Meredith asked them out of the belu, leaving right after, as Izzie joined the group.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, George. Everybody makes mistaked.” The tall blonde recommends.

“Just don’t make the same mistake twice. That way it won’t have been for nothing.” Amory share once again a piece of her advise.

“You know, I’m good at a lot of things.” George squeaks, as his short friend pats his shoulder.

“We know you are, George.” The small blonde reassured him.

“You know what? I’m gonna tell you something. Hey, George, you need to get laid.” Cristina begins. “See that nurse over there? She’s single, she’s got red ahir, go ask her out.”

“Oh, Olivia? She’s cute, you should try it.” The younger intern encouraged, still in denial about her feelings towards the boy.

“In case you forgot, I intubated an esophagus!”

“Dudde, you’re tweaking. Maybe you should go see that psychic…” Alex teased.

“Mr. Duff is not a psychic.” Izzie yelled, annoyed.

“I am trying to help you!” The Asain woman told George. “Go buy her a latte and freshen up your gonads please!”

“If you want I could ask her for you!” Amory smiled at the boy.

As Izzie looked at her phone, she noticed her friend’s looks. “Shut up!”

“It’s not too late to call her, you know. I’m sure you have good reasons not to, but you can still change your mind.” The short blonde advised her friend.

“Yeah, moms like that, surprises on their birthdays. You know, it’s very hallmark.” George encouraged the tall blonde, earning himself a slight smile. At the lach of an answer both the boy and the shorter girl left.

~~~~~~

“Izzie, he’s already said no, why do you keep insisting?” Amory asked her friend, who dragged her to their patient’s room.

“Maybe if you tell him the same thing he’ll listen? I don’t know, okay, but please try?” The taller one pleaded.

The short blonde went silent for a moment thinking through her options. “Okay, fine, I’ll talk to him.”

“Yay, okay, thank you.” The tall blonde gave her a quick hug and they both entered the room.

“Mr. Duff? We’re here with te consent forms again.” The young intern started off.

“You really need to sign them. Your surgeon scheduled the OR.” As they noticed the man looking straight ahead, the girls looked at each other. “Mr. Duff, are you alright? Are you having another seizure?”

They approached him, looking at his monitor. “Yeah, I think maybe I am.” He answered.

“What is it?” The smaller girl aksed, resistant to hear the answer.

“It’s me…” Tears filled the man’s eyes. “I think it’s about to be over.”

“Mr. Duff, you saw the angio result. We’re doing the AVM just in time. No need to worry, we know what we’re doing.” The short girl tranquilizes their patient, kindness in her voice.

“You don’t need to be nervous, you’re not going to die. Promise.” Izzie assured him, Amory shooting her a glare. She knew that the girl shouldn’t be promising life, even if the odds were favourable.

“I’m not talking about dying.” He went silent for a moment. “My whole life has been about what I see, about believing in myself, whatever people think. You’re telling me there’s a very good chance that will go away.”

“Look, you’re a healthy guy. You’re gonna live a long, full life.” The tall blonde said.

“And, think of it like this, if your visions truly are real, then you have to believe you’ll still have them after the surgery. If you don’t, then you’ll have the rest of your life ahead of you, to discover this new version of yourself.” Amory looked at him, trying to give the best advice she could.

Izzie gave the patient the paperwork and he signed it. The man looked away, clearly scared for his future but, as the surgeons left the room he called out for Amory. “Dr. Madden?”

“Yes?” The small girl turned around, her friend already left the room.

“I know you try to ignore it, so I’m giving you a push; you like him, don’t let him slip away.” The blonde blushed, knowing exactly who he meant.

~~~~~~

As the interns sat in the tunnels, Amory laid in a bed, her legs over Meredith’s, while she finished her article she started earlier that day.

“I tirend to talk Shepherd out of that clot surgery. what is wrong with me?” Meredith let out.

“Basically, you tried to kill the guy.” Alex teased.

“Basically, you’re an ass.” Cristina shot back, Amory letting out a little laugh at the altercation.

“You know you want it…” Alex joked, before being cut off.

“Mer, you couldn’t have known. It’s another thing that makes us interns and Shepherd is an attending. We don’t have the experience to know better.” The small girl reassured their friend.

George then came in, pointing to his ID picture. “This is George. George has… a hot date.”

Amory’s head shot up in denial. Thinking she’ll now never get the chance.

“Who? Olivia?” The boy nodded at his closest friend’s question. “Yes, I told you she was nice.” The girl squealed, excited, covering the sadness taking over he features.

“Aw, that’s great, George.” Meredith told him.

“Left pocket of my lab coat. No glove, no love.” Alex stood up and George reached for his pocket, Amory watching with slight discomfort.

“I mean, sure, if Alex has to be a manwhore at least he does it with protection.” Amory giggled and the boy in question faked an offended look.

George sat in a wheelchair next to the group as Alex left an Izzie sighed. “Our psychic had his surgery.” The girl informed.

“Yeah?”

“I wonder what happened with his… gift.” The tall blonde finished.

“Come one, we all know he’s crazy.” Cristina commented, Amory looking at her knowingly.

“I thought you said you didn’t believe in that stuff.” Meredith told the tall model.

“I grew up in a trailer park, I waited tables, which was supposed to put me through college, but my mother was always calling these… psychics. All the time. And the bills started piling up so I had to use my money to pay them. when I turned eighteen I left, never went back.” The woman explained. “This guy has been saying things to me, things he couldn’t possibly know anything about, so I just… wonder.”

“Well, I don’t know if I believe that stuff, but he did say some things that he shouldn’t have known…” Amory revealed. The group fell in silence, changing the topic shortly after.

~~~~~~

As Amory lay on her bed, at the end of the long day, she shuffled through her article, but couldn’t bring herself to pay any attention to it. It has been a hard day, filled with anxiety and past events coming up.  So she decided to do the one thing that could always get her mind off something like this. She put on some of her favorite music and danced it out. Unknown about the boy that was standing outside her room.

[starrykitty013]

heyy i was wondering if u could do more avenger and Peter interactions. I would love more Steve and Peter but any thing is fine

Okay so idk if you wanted a drawing or a writing scrap but I made both. Tbh I made the animatic like fresh but the lil story I will attach to this ask is a little scrap from JGLEH that never got in and honestly is pretty bad but whatever here it is, it mostly has Fury but there avengers at the end and I didn’t wanna write a full one shot cuz it��s finals week and I’m already hanging by a thread.

Thank you so much for this ask tho, I hope you have a good day.

So here is the story:

So the kid was an official idiot.

Like now.

At 2:54am.

Parker: i srsly dont need 2 b here

Fury: I didn’t think kids texted like this anymore

Parker: we dont but like i was trying to dull down my gen z around you

Fury: how considerate

Parker: np

Fury got all of 3 minutes of peace before his phone buzzed again and he groaned.

Parker: let me outta this torture!!

Fury didn’t plan on responding as Peter proceeded to send him large paragraph texts about everything that was going on. Apparently he was roomed with Stark

Parker: jokes on them imma patrol

Fury: in Minnasota?

Parker: no in Canada

Fury: you are a little shit. Stop texting me.

Parker: *picture of a random graph chart with no lables*

Fury: what does that even mean?

Parker: find loss

Fury:...

Parker: iz ded meme

Parker: u shod no

Fury: I feel like your language skills are depletling with this conversation.

Parker: english is stupid

Fury sighed and the next text was sort of unexpected.

Parker: are you coming?

It was surprising because A.) Parker never used punctuation and B.) he never asked Fury to come to anything.

Fury: why?

Parker: cant deal with birdbrains rn

Fury was slightly taken aback. Peter often complained about the Avengers, but he never asked anyone to deal with them for him. He was headstrong and stubborn and a general pain in the ass to anyone who had ever known him - as far as Fury was concerned.

But Fury was curious as to what they could possibly do to annoy Peter enough to ask Fury to come up.

Fury:why?

Parker: Im puking

That threw Fury in for a loop. He immediatly pressed buttons on his phone as the call was ringing. Only after Fury did the action that he relized how ‘caring’ it must make him seem. The tone changed to a muffled russling in the background that was obviously Peter.

“Hey.” his voice was hoarse and Fury jumped forward to respond.

“What happened?” Fury asked immediatly earning a soft laugh out of Peter.

“Aww, you do care.”

“I’m asking what happened on the mission Parker. Not about your health issue right now.” Fury said. It was an excuse to make sure Peter was actually okay. There was no way in hell that the Avengers would take care of him and even if Peter could take care of himself, Fury wanted to make sure he wasn’t dying (the kid had a nasty habit of hiding fatal injuries or illlnesses) so he could be assured that Peter would come back to New York to actually take care of himself. “Status report.” he barked.

“I’m not a soldier” Peter reminded and Fury could picture his scrunched nose.

“I don’t give a shit. What’s going on?” Fury said in a stern cold tone.

“Uhm, well as you know it’s currently 3am, everyone is sleeping.” And Fury sighed and face palmed.

“Then how are they being ‘insufferable’?” Fury said in an annoyed tone.

“They were being insufferable.” Peter defended weakly.

“Is the mission going well?” Fury asked.

“Yes.”

“Then, please, tell me why you were texting me at three in the fucking morning Parker.” Fury gritted in the phone.

“... I might be a little...sick.” Peter mumbled and Fury could tell he was embarassed.

“And that’s my problem how?” Fury asked.

“It’s not… I just… didn’t feel good.” Peter said and a meek tone.

“This is the stupidest reason to call me.” Fury said to the boy, he didn’t yell at him though.

“I know.” Peter responded dejectedly.

“I can’t do anything from here. Not without the Avengers knowing and you know that too.”

“I just can’t sleep… and I may have ate too much.” Peter said. “It’s not serious.”

“Then why are we still talking about it?”

“I dunno… This conversation is kinda choppy.” Peter said. “But do you have anything else for me to do. I can’t sleep.” he said again.

“What happened to patrolling Minnasota?” Fury asked and Peter groaned.

“Minnasota is boring! I can’t hear any muggings or assults within a ten block radius!”

“Then play hockey or something.” Fury said and went to his computer to find the mission files. “How much of the mission have you gotten done?”

“About like 76 percent of it. We just gotta bust a werehouse and do a sweep for anybody who might’ve gotten away.” Peter responded. “Cap and Wilson could’ve handled it, you didn’t even need Barton.” suddenly there was a muffled knocking at the presumably bathroom door and it opening as Peter presumably looked up.

“What are you doin’ up?” Barton’s sleep-ridden voice snapped at Peter. Peter had been reletivly quiet but Barton was a spy.

“I’ll call you back.”

And the call hung up.

OoOoO

Peter looked up at Captian America, Falcon and Hawkeye as they had sat him on the bed in the hotel room.

After Clint had found him talking on the phone at 3 in the morning, he felt it nessary to call the rest of the team that was assigned on this useless mission to action.

“You said Fury was on the phone. What did he want?” Steve asked, they were all reasonably still grumpy from getting up at this time of night.

“Oh you know, mission reports and stuff.” Peter said casually. There was no way to admit it was because he had gotten sick and kind of asked to be picked up. It wasn’t even that bad, he’d just eaten too much at dinner. He was mildly nauseous, but nothing to write (or his case text) home about. He didn’t even know why he had texted Fury or told him that he was sick. The man didn’t care, he guessed it was because Fury wouldn’t give him sympathy. “He wanted to know when we’d be done.”

“We just got here.” Steve narrowed his eyes.

“That’s what I said.” Peter then leaped out a window to avoid further questioning

[amuseoffyre]

Don’t Tell Mama - #452

After a long and lovely soak in the hot tub, where Ed had filled him in on everything that had happened with his auntie, they had both agreed that a quiet evening on the balcony was definitely in order. The only thing left to do was go out and get some food.

Stede had left Ed playing some kind of join-the-gems game on his phone and headed out into town to find something portable to eat.

When he came back, nearly an hour later, he was surprised to hear Ed’s voice talking to someone when he opened the door.

“Yeah, no, we need to add at least one more.”

“I’ll run through your list.” That sounded suspiciously like Izzy Hands. “See if anyone’s still free.”

Stede stooped to unlace his shoes, stepping out of them, and trotted across the room to peer out onto the balcony. Ed was sitting at the table, a scatter of scrap paper around him, scribbling down notes, his phone lying on the tabletop beside him.

“Evening, love,” he said. “What are we doing?”

“Working,” Izzy replied succinctly from speakerphone.

Ed looked up with an apologetic grin. “We were catching up and I realised I forgot to sort out a line-up officially for our big re-opening.”

“Oh! Shit!” Stede pulled up the other chair. “We did! Is it too late? Are we fucked?”

Izzy snorted. “We’ve got a solid crew. Even without impressive guests we can pull together a fucking epic opener.”

We, Stede thought happily. “Well, that’s good. We left matters in very capable hands, didn’t we, Ed? Wonderful work, Israel.”

Ed shot him a crooked grin when Izzy sputtered and swore. “I’ll let you go, man,” he said. “We’ve got dinner.”

“I’ll let you know how I get on,” Izzy said and hung up without so much as a farewell.

“He really doesn’t grasp the concept of manners, does he?” Stede said, lifting the bags of takeaway up onto the table.

“He can when he wants to,” Ed replied, gathering up the pile of scrappy notes into a heap to make space for the boxes. He gratefully grabbed one of the boxes, peeling off the lid and making a delighted noise at the pile of steaming pasta.

“And you caught him up on today?” Stede guessed, opening his own chicken and rice box. “It’s awful early for him to be up.”

“Mm.” Scooping up forkfuls of pasta, Ed nodded, mouth full. “Told me I could phone him.”

They both munched in silence for a bit and Stede kept a thoughtful eye on him. Izzy was a rough and abrasive kind of person, but there was no doubt that he cared for Ed in his own particular way. For example, inviting Ed to call him at 5am in the morning when they all knew Izzy was grumpy as standard but before 10am, he could be downright murderous. And that Ed could lean on him in ways Stede didn’t quite understand.

“Did Izzy know your mum well?” he asked after a while. “If she was at the opening of the Queen Anne?”

That made Ed slow down his impression of a vacuum with his spaghetti. “Yeah.” He prodded the fork around in the box, collecting up some more of the pasta and sauce. “We had a flat together for a bit, when she wasn’t well. All of us. Somewhere a bit bigger. Couldn’t afford it on my own, but with Iz…” He stirred the fork in a circle and glanced up at Stede. “He didn’t know everything that happened, but he knew enough. Knew I’d be all fucked up over it.”

Stede considered this from every angle, all the little pieces of the Izzy Hands puzzle, and especially why he and Ed were so steadfastly loyal to each other.

“So, what you’re telling me is that he is in fact a big soft grumpy Gus.”

Ed, who had made the mistake of putting some food in his mouth, very nearly sprayed it all over the table, choking on a laugh. “I wanna tell him you said that,” he said between coughs, thumping his chest. “Get it on a t-shirt.”

“Well, I’m right,” Stede pointed out. “He might stamp and huff all the time, but he does the best he can for the people he cares about.”

“Yeah,” Ed said with a small but warm smile. He looked tired, still so tired, but much calmer than he had. Perhaps talking to Izzy, talking to someone who knew some of the details but from a safe distance, had helped too. “You’re stuck with him too now.”

Stede started to demur, but then Izzy had been the one to have Lucius check on him. He had been his usual prickly self about it, but he had made the contact happen.

He smiled down at his dinner. “Well,” he said, “it’s been quite a week for ever expanding families, hasn’t it?”

Ed offered his free hand. “Yeah.”

He took Ed’s hand at once. “And we’re going to be okay?” He didn’t know why it was a question, but it really was a lot of epiphanies and revelations to be having in a very short space of time.

“We’re going to be fucking incredible,” Ed promised, squeezing his fingers.

Previous / Next

[iznsfw]

Can you write a smut on where Hyewon accidentally injures a stranger?

First Aid

IZ*ONE's Kang Hyewon x Male Reader Smut

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"You fucking shot me, Hyewon! Or was it Hyeju? It isn't something that could be solved with a 'sorry'!"

"For the hundredth time, it was an accident!"

"An accident that could get me—fuck!—killed." You screech in pain when Hyewon shoves her knee down on your abdomen. You gasp and try to tug free from the pressure created by her knee. "What the hell? Are you actually trying to kill me?"

"No, you idiot," says Hyewon, rolling her eyes. Her knee leans further into your stomach. "I'm trying to prevent you from having an infection before the doctors come here!"

You screech even more. As the pressure increases and so does the volume of your screams, you begin to see more reason why you should not have put that damn apple on your shoulder for her shooting practice. And for a stranger too!

But thank God you aren't on the dirty grass anymore; it is replaced with a bed with white fitted sheets, soft pillows beneath your head and neck. The comfort from them contrasts the roughness of the anxious Hyewon straddling you with her hands trying to stop the bleeding.

The bleeding has partially stopped thanks to Hyewon's years of practice in first aid. However, her distinct skills don't distract you from the fact that she shot you.

You swear to God, what were you thinking playing a target just for a pretty stranger at camp?

"You should g-give me something," you manage to stammer out, a smirk playing on your lips despite the severity of the situation. "For all this trouble you put me through."

"Fuck you."

"You guessed it."

"Don't get too brave now." Hyewon digs her knee deeper in your abdomen threateningly. "I could just leave you bleeding here and tell them I killed you in self-defense. They'd believe it too, with me naked and you blubbering on the bed right now."

"Very funny. You think the bleeding would stop if the blood goes to my dick anyway?"

"Fuck you to the highest degree."

"Do it," you say. You narrow your eyes at her. "I dare you."

Seriously, maybe a good fuck would help. You have decided that when this gorgeous stranger stripped herself of the blue blouse and tied it around your stomach. You cannot believe how loose clothing could hide tits like those so well; deception is really amazing.

You drink in Hyewon's large innocent-looking eyes, the tied-up messy brown hair, and her voluptuous body whose large bosom is only supported by a white bra.

Lick your lips in anticipation. Yeah, maybe this could help.

Hyewon catches you staring at her. Red fills her cheeks. The color in them quickly disappears, or maybe they do because of the slap she delivered across your face that renders you dizzy.

"I would slap you again," she says tentatively. Her focus switches to your bulge. "But I wanna see how this dick would fuck me up."

"That's right. It's a win-win situation. You ride my dick"—you swallow roughly when she discards of her jeans on the floor, leaving her in panties that match the color of her bra—"and the blood will go to it and the bleeding will stop."

It's a stupid statement, but who's to say it didn't work?

Hyewon's eager hands unbuckle your belt and jeans then tugs them down to your knees. Her thighs shift on your skin as she carefully places herself on your bulge and grinds on it slowly.

Heat begins to form in your center. Swears spilling from your mouth, your hips involuntarily jerk up into Hyewon's core, the wetness dripping from her folds dampening her panties and erecting your dick. Her hands find their way to the sides of the bed as she raises her shapely hips to dry hump you.

Holy shit. This is heaven. Because of how she leans down, you are provided a spectacular view of her deep cleavage. The mounds curve down to hard brown nipples that create buttons on her bra. You couldn't hold yourself back from squeezing one of her breasts in your hand, evoking a low moan from Hyewon.

"S-See?" you say weakly as she pulls down your underwear. Your painfully stiff erection prods against the center of her panties. "This isn't so bad, is it?"

Hyewon's breath hitches in your throat when your hand slips under the cup of her bra to knead her chest. "I guess you're right. Fuck."

Her voice is lower than usual, something that just makes her even more attractive. The fabric of her panties slide against the underside of your cock. Her agonizingly slow grinding finally ends in the head of your cock inserting itself underneath the panties and brushing against her folds that keep your tip moist with her juices.

The first contact with it makes you shudder. You wonder if it's because of the wound or just plain arousal; most likely the latter. Hyewon whimpers needily as she slides her folds back and forth against your dick, her hands splayed on your chest. Every once in a while heaven goes down on earth in the form of a heavenly brush of your swollen head against her throbbing clit.

She smiles. "Maybe we're going to stop the bleeding after all."

It goes on like that: foreplaying grinding of her core on your dick that steadily stimulates her clit, sending sparks of heat rushing into her veins. Her juices drip freely on your skin and make sticky mess. You could not believe how wet she is.

After another soft stuttered "Fuck", Hyewon finally sinks onto your length.

Just the expression on her face can make you combust. Though you could not see it very well since her head is thrown back in pleasure you could tell she is moaning, jaw dropped as your dick stretches her out deliciously, and her eyes closed in ecstasy. The feeling of her grippy cunt clenching like there's no tomorrow on your dick makes you thrust up into it.

"You're so big…" she whimpers.

Her hips roll dizzying circles before she takes it your cock till the base. A moan leaves your lips when you feel her completely take in your dick.

She begins to ride you. Your breaths are ragged as her tits heave up and down. Her bra begins to slip away from them. Your dick rubs on her walls and creates an imprint in her tight stomach, prodding against the skin. Your balls get the privilege of meeting with her firm ass after every bounce she does.

As Hyewon moans and writhes, you make the conclusion that if all does not end well today, you will die happily. A beautiful stranger with big tits and a tight pussy riding you while you lie back and watch? Maybe it is all worth it, just for Hyewon.

Hyewon whose last name you haven't the slightest idea of. Hyewon whose unsteady shooting got you in this clinic bed in the first place. Hyewon whom you've only met today.

All those are red flags already. So why are you risking death for a girl you do not even know?

Because that Hyewon is also the Hyewon who is riding you at a pace as unsteady as her shooting, but this time it is to your benefit. Her riding switches from quick and careless to slow but forceful, then a repeated cycle. The veins that stand out in your dick rub deliciously against her sensitive spots and have her moan huskily. Her sounds of pleasure are pleasant music to your ears and more blood to your cock.

"Fuck!"

The one that has you cumming along with her is her high-pitched girlish gasp when she finally climaxes. You rut inside Hyewon and paint her silken walls white. They flutter around your dick as Hyewon rides you desperately, quick reckless sounds of her ass slapping against your thighs and wet sounds adding up to her gasps.

Both of your hips buck and spasm against each other's crotch. You cannot hold back your loud groans anymore, so they blend in with Hyewon's while cream drips out of her pussy and onto the bedsheets.

Hyewon's limp frame slumps on top of you. Her breasts press against your abdomen. Your hands take the opportunity of groping her ass and touching every inch of her perfect body. Your deft fingers curl and unhook her bra from behind her back.

As the bra slips down from her torso and she begins to ride you again, you realize that her hands trailing up her chest to knead her tits have distracted you from the paramedic at the doorway of the clinic whose obvious erection fights against the fabric of his jeans.

Huh. That's one way to go out.

[duffs-shot-glass]

𝙋𝘼𝙍𝙏𝙉𝙀𝙍𝙎- 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐇𝐮𝐝𝐬𝐨𝐧 {𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬}

(𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐘/𝐍. 𝐇𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞. 𝐀 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫? (𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐘/𝐍 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡'𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥) (𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫) *𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝*)

~part one~

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕿𝖜𝖔

I tried talking to Slash after class, but he just ignored me. This is already a pain in the ass. As much as I tried to pay attention to the rest of my classes I couldn’t get Slash out of my mind. I have to work with him for the next two weeks. Finally, I decided that I would talk to him at lunch. He usually sits with me and the boys so I should be able to talk to him about it. Just as I thought, he sat with us at lunch. “So um Slash?” All of the boys looked at me partially surprised, partially confused. As I said I never talk to Slash. He liked it that way. Sadly. He rolled his eyes and sighed, “Yes?” The annoyance in his voice was very apparent. “When do you wanna um work on the science project?” Slash looked up at me, smiled, and started laughing evily. I felt stupid. Why is he laughing at me? “You really think I’m working on that thing with you? I’d rather die.” Then Duff slapped him in the back of the head. “What the fuck?” He whisper-yelled. Slash turned his gaze back to me. “Listen Y/N, you’re doing this. Alone. Without me.” I looked down and started messing with the hem of my shirt. I was embarrassed to say the least. “Yeah uh..alright.” That’s when Slash stood up and walked to another table. I felt like crying for some reason. He would rather die than spend time with me. Wow. I looked up to see a very annoyed Axl staring at me. “Why did you do that?” My eyes must have gone wide at his comment. “Me? What did I do? You heard what he sa-” Axl cut me off, “You can’t just let him boss you around like that. Are you doing anything after school?” I looked down, “No.” “Okay. Meet me outside by the big tree at door 5.” I nodded my head in approval, and that’s when the bell rang. The rest of the day didn’t go that great. I went to the bathroom for half an hour in one class, just to cry. Why am I crying? What kind of person sits in a bathroom stall and cries for half an hour? The only logical reason I could come up with was Slash and what he said. I liked Slash from the first day I met him, but he didn’t feel the same. The only person that knew about it was Axl. Axl was the person I could go to in the middle of the night when I was feeling bad about something. I couldn’t lie, it was usually Saul I was crying about. I would complain that I didn’t understand why he hated me or that I just wish he liked me more. Axl always calmed me down and told me everything would be okay. He was an amazing friend. I did as Axl said after school and met him at the tree by door 5. He was sitting there waiting for me. When I made my way over to the tree Axl stood up and walked towards me. “So you’re partners with Slash huh?” That was fast. “Uh yeah.” He nodded his head slowly. We began walking together even though I didn’t know where we were going. “Listen Ax if you’re trying to help me then that’s very nice of you, but you heard him. He would rather die than work with me.” I felt the sudden gut wrenching feeling of sadness once again. “You really believe that?! Listen Y/N, I know you don’t believe this, but Slash really likes you.” “Yeah yeah whatever Axl.” We stopped walking and sat on a park bench that was nearby. “ Listen I have a plan and trust me, Slash is gonna want to be partners with you after this.” The devious look in his eye was no comfort to me at all. “What the hell are you talking about Ax?” Axl laughed quietly at my curiosity. “There is a party tomorrow night at Duff’s house.” I furrowed my brows, “Duff’s house? What about his parents?” He nodded his head no as he spoke, “They’re gonna be out of the house all week.” My lips formed an ‘oh’ and I nodded my head. “Basically this is what’s gonna happen. You are gonna come to the party,” I put my hand up in an effort to stop him from speaking. “No Axl. You know that I don’t go to parties! My parents would kill me. Plus how am I even supposed to get out of the house? My parents would never let me go.” Axl laughed once again. “Sneak out.” He shrugged his shoulders. He said the words as if it was no big deal. Well it’s probably not a big deal to him. “Well ok but why would I even go?”

Axl smiled at me. “Ok so this is the plan. You come to the party looking like a complete badass. I’m gonna have one of the guys talk to Slash about you. Like tell him all this shit-” I cut Axl off again. “What do you mean by ‘All this shit’?” Axl rolled his eyes, “I don’t know Y/N. Just like saying you look good and shit. Anyways, hopefully Slash will see you and want to talk to you. Then if I know Slash, which I think I do, he will try to go out with you. That’s when you have to be a bitch.” “Excuse me?!” We both began laughing. “No, basically you just play hard to get. Tell him the only way you’re gonna go on a date with him is if he helps you with the project.” I felt weird about the entire thing. “Axl I don’t know. Look at us right now. I mean we are acting like we are fucking ten years old! You can’t just make a stupid plan like that and expect everything to go as planned.” Axl smiled at me, “You have a better idea sweetheart?” I looked at the ground. “No” “Good. Now let’s go see which one of the guys wants to talk about you at the party.” I gasped and lightly punched Axl on the arm, “What the hell Axl?!” He, on the other hand, thought it was hilarious.

[...]

“None of the guys are gonna do it.” I said as we walked into Izzy’s house. “They will.” Axl opened the door to Izzy’s room and we both walked inside. Duff, Izzy, and Steven were all sitting on the floor, conversating about something. I sat next to Duff and watched as Axl began speaking. “Alright guys, which one of you is gonna talk to Slash about how sexy Y/N looks?” All three men looked at Axl blankly before laughing. “What the hell are you talking about?” Izzy was first to speak. “Remember that plan I told y’all about?” My head shot up and I looked at Axl. “You told them the whole plan?!” Axl didn’t answer the question, instead he kept talking. “Well which one of you is gonna talk to Slash? Ya know brag about her?” Duff looked at Axl and smiled. “Why can’t you do it?” Axl glared at Duff. “Cuz I made the plan smart ass.” Izzy and Duff looked at each other at the same time. In unison they both said, “Not me.” Axl looked over at Steven. “Alright Steven you have to tell Slash about how hot Y/N is.” I threw my hands in the air, “Will you stop saying that?” Axl laughed slightly and turned his gaze back to Steven. “I don’t know Axl.” Steven looked at me then back at Axl. My shoulders dropped slightly, “It’s alright Stevie. I don’t need someone to talk good about me to get a guy’s attention.” All the boys looked at me with a surprised look on their faces. “You mean you’re gonna-” I cut Izzy off, “Yes Iz. I’m gonna be a tease” Izzy smiled, “Not what I was gonna say but alright.” I smiled at the boys then turned to Axl. “What time is the party?”

[carewyncromwell]

24 for Jules and Desiree?

"I don't wanna lose you"

(featuring Jules Aquila @kathrynalicemc)

x~x~x~x

The tomb in the infamous Dolorous Guard proved more challenging than any of the crew of the Empyrean had expected. Guarding the tomb of the fallen knight Sir Lancelot had been an entire army of boggarts -- and after Desiree and Jules had returned, the captain of the flying ship had been very quiet. He'd even removed himself from the rest of the crew, retreating up to the crow's next to be by himself. Desiree had taken charge and insisted that everyone help pack up what they'd collected, so as to give Jules space.

Once the stars had come out, though, Desiree took the first watch as an opportunity to check on the captain. Once she'd confirmed that no one would be close enough to hear, she climbed up into the rigging and up into the crow's nest.

Jules was looking out onto the endless horizon of clouds, but his focus was barely on them. Sometimes his eyes faced them, while other times they rested on the little blue and violet occamy currently curled up around his wrist and squeezing it, but in both cases, he didn't really see them -- the vagueness of his eyes clearly communicated he was thinking hard.

The little occamy, upon seeing Desiree, gave a little sad chirrup and slithered through the air, around Jules's wrist once and then up and over Desiree's shoulders. She extended a hand and lightly stroked his feathered head with the back of her hand as he swelled up to the proper size that he could drape around her neck and shoulders like a stole.

Jules's black eyes followed the occamy until they'd reached Desiree.

"Zephyr iz worried about you," the French witch said softly.

Jules attempted a smile, but it came out rather weak. "He's been squeezing my wrist off and on for the last hour. I kind of felt like I had one of those Muggle cuffs on that tests blood pressure..."

Desiree's face, however, remained rather serious.

"...Monsieur Aquila -- "

"Jules."

"Not right now, Captain, please." Desiree wasn't in the mood for their usual banter. "...What happened inside Lancelot's tomb..."

Jules looked away, clearly uncomfortable, but Desiree pressed on.

"If you're upset about me seeing you like zat, you shouldn't be," she said very firmly. "Your reaction wasn't anyzhing to be ashamed of, Monsieur Aquila."

"I don't recall seeing you as a sobbing wreck on the floor," Jules said quietly.

"You were surrounded by about ten boggarts!" Desiree said fiercely. "All of which you didn't know were boggarts and transformed to look like your entire crew walking away or disappearing and your ship being blasted apart! Anyone would be a bit distraught by zat."

Jules didn't respond. Desiree considered him for a long moment, her hand absently combing Zephyr's feathery, scaly back as the occamy pressed its beak sadly against the bottom of her chin. After a moment, she brought a hand up to rest on Jules's shoulder.

"You know zat your crew would never abandon you, don't you?"

"Yes, of course I know that," Jules shot back a little too harshly. "Logically, of course I do...this isn't a logical thing, Desi..."

He went very quiet again, avoiding her eyes as his focus turned up onto the night sky. Desiree watched him silently, patiently waiting until he'd finally gathered his thoughts enough to speak again.

"You've never been completely alone before, have you? I mean, sure, your family's mierda, but you weren't alone. You didn't have to be alone with your thoughts, day after day -- watching all the other kids play their own games, leaving you off to the side...having no one there to listen, to talk to...to get a good reality check from, now and again..."

His eyes grew a little smaller.

"Well, I have. My whole childhood was like that. And at school, well, even with Quidditch...most of my classmates just didn't see the world as I did. Didn't really get me, you know? So when I wasn't flying...I ended up alone again. It wasn't that bad all the time -- I loved studying magic and reading books, still...but..."

Something darker passed over his expression.

"...When I was in that tomb...watching everyone walk away, one by one...watching the Empyrean being blown up...watching you trying to get to me, only to disappear, little by little, into this pit I couldn't save you from, no matter what I tried..."

His hands were shaking. Desiree immediately grabbed hold of the closer one.

"Captain -- "

"I felt like I was right back there again," Jules burst out, cutting her off. "Like I'd lost everything I'd ever wanted -- my ship, my home, the people I care about most in the world...like I'd become that lonely boy all over again...that boy whose only friends were the ones he read about in stories."

He looked at her, his gaze faintly uncomfortably and his posture still oddly evasive.

"I know that's not true, and I know there's no logic to me feeling that way. I just..."

He swallowed. He couldn't keep eye contact with Desiree long -- his gaze had fallen down to her lips.

"...I don't wanna lose you."

Desiree's face was very solemn, but her black eyes softened noticeably. She was quiet for a moment, before she very slowly and gently brought her hand on her shoulder up to rest under his chin, tilting it up to try to prompt him to look at her. She succeeded -- Jules looked up, startled by her touch.

"Well, you're not going to, Julio Aquila," she said very firmly. "I'm staying right here -- and I'm not going anywhere."

Her hand trailed almost affectionately along his stubbly jawline. Jules's face flushed slightly.

"Desi..."

The once-Cursebreaker offered him a brave, oddly gentle smile.

"Je promis, Monsieur Aquila," she said in French, before seemlessly shifting into Spanish, "Eso es une promesa."

Jules felt his heart give a light flutter. His eyes were welling up with some moisture, and yet his lips were being spread into a smile. Turning fully around to face her, he threw his arms open wide and encircled her in them, pulling her closer so that he could bury his face into her shoulder.

"...Desi...gracias."

Zephyr the occamy ended up swelling up to a size that enabled him to wrap around both of their shoulders, almost lashing them together so that they couldn't break the embrace. Fortunately, neither of them really wanted to.

[harvestleaves]

When you breathe, I wanna be the air for you

Summary: Alex has a cold and it’s making his childhood asthma act up, his friends are worried about him, but he’s used to handling things on his own.

A/N: This fic takes place around season 3.  The song title is from the Bon Jovi song I’ll Be There For You.  There might be a second chapter or a sequel if enough people are interested.  @honeybee-babe​ enjoy!  You can also read this on Ao3 here.

Rating: G

Word Count: 1,423

He couldn’t breathe through his nose, and his head was throbbing.

That was the first thing Alex noticed when he woke up on a rainy Friday morning in early November on Meredith’s couch. He had a 48-hour shift ahead of him, though, and he didn’t have time to deal with it.

Pushing himself to his feet, Alex made his way to the bathroom with the duffle bag he brought, closing the door in Izzie’s face with a sly smirk as the blonde huffed at him.

“Come on, Alex! You’re gonna take forever in there!” she called through the door, causing Alex to roll his eyes in annoyance.

“Calm down, Iz, I’m just gonna take a quick shower and brush my teeth,” Alex yelled back hoarsely before he turned to the medicine cabinet, opening to search for some type of pain reliever or cold medicine.

Spotting some Tylenol, he quickly checked the expiration date, noting how it was almost outdated.  Shrugging, he shook two into his hand and swallowed the pills dry before he turned the water on in the shower to hot.

He stripped quickly as steam filled the room, hoping that the warm air would help clear his inflamed sinuses.

Alex made quick work of his shower and teeth brushing.  Finishing in the bathroom in under ten minutes before he went back into the hallway, a few coughs slipping past his lips when the cool air entered his lungs. A harsh contrast to the steam he was just in.

“That cough sounds bad. Are you okay?” Izzie asked as she reached out for his arm, frowning when Alex immediately moved away from her hand and passed her down the hallway.

“I’m fine. Just a throat tickle,” Alex explained, voice tight to keep from letting out another wheeze as he quickly made his way down the hall and back down to the kitchen for some coffee.  He wrinkled his nose, however, at the sight of Meredith and Derek kissing.

“It is way too early to see you two sucking face.”

“You don’t live here. Therefore, you can’t comment on it,” Meredith shot back with a grin as she pulled back from Derek. Her grin quickly disappeared when she took note of how pale Alex’s face was and how his shoulders seemed to heave with every breath he took.

“You look like shit. Are you hungover from last night?”

Meredith made her way over to where Alex was pouring a mug of coffee and reached out to press the back of her hand to his forehead.

“You’re a little warm. You’re also wheezing, and you sound congested. Are you sick?” she asked, scrunching her brows together in concern.

“I’m not hungover, and I’m not sick. It’s probably just my asthma from the weather change,” Alex lied easily as he tried pushing her hand off of his forehead with a glare.

“That’s still not good. I didn’t know you have asthma. Do you have an inhaler in your bag?” Meredith asked, glancing between Alex and the worn duffle bag on the counter, reaching for it carefully.

“Nope, it’s in my locker. It’s not a big deal though, I can breathe fine. It’s just a little wheeze, I’m still moving air, and this wheeze should go away once I get some coffee in me. The caffeine will be enough until I can take the meds,” Alex rolled his eyes as he looked at Meredith, giving Derek a pointed look to back him up.

Looking between his girlfriend and Alex, Derek sighed before his face softened as he looked over Alex.

“I’ve got to agree with Mer on this one. You sound awful,” Derek admitted.  Grabbing Meredith’s spare stethoscope from the kitchen table, Derek slid the tips into his ears and pressed the base to Alex’s back after warming it up.  “Take some deep breaths,” he stated firmly, leaving no room for argument from the younger male.

“This is ridiculous,” Alex rolled his eyes before he started to cough again, gripping the counter tightly. His chest was heaving when the fit was over as he tried to take a few deep breaths, Derek’s firm hand steadying him in place as the other listened to his lungs.

“Yeah, I don’t think your inhaler is really going to help at this point. I’m off this morning. I can go with Alex to the ER for a breathing treatment if you want to let Bailey know he won’t be on shift today.”

“D-don’t you think I should have a say in this?” Alex grumbled breathlessly as George and Izzie made their way into the kitchen for breakfast.

“What’s wrong with him?” George asked curiously as he glanced from Derek to Alex to Meredith, eyeing the stethoscope that Derek had looped back around his neck with a raised eyebrow.

“He’s sick. He was flushed and wheezing when I saw him after his shower in the hallway,” Izzie stated as she crossed her arms over her chest.  Not even feeling the slightest bit bad for ratting out her friend.

“And his asthma’s acting up on top of it all. Whatever he caught has clearly settled itself into his lungs. He needs a nebulizer and probably some IV steroids for the tightness in his chest,” Derek stated as he handed Alex over to Meredith so she could lead him to one of the chairs at the kitchen table before he finished preparing the mug of coffee for Alex.

“Sip on this until we’re all ready to go. It’s not as good as your inhaler, but it should hold you over for a little longer. Did you take anything for your fever?” Meredith asked as she took the mug from Derek and handed it to Alex.

“Why didn’t you say that you weren’t feeling well?” George frowned in concern as he brought his own mug up to his mouth, having thought that the four of them, plus Cristina, had become closer since their internship had started.

Alex simply shrugged as he stared at his coffee, no longer interested in the beverage as the other four seemed to all be staring at him.

“I took two Tylenol, but they expire next month, so they might not be very effective.  I didn’t want you all to worry, though. You all seem to like to coddle each other too much. I didn’t want or need to have you mother me,” Alex finally wheezed out as he ran a hand over his face in exhaustion, wincing when he tried to take a deep breath.

“Alex, you’re our friend. We’re always going to worry about you.  Whether you like it or not,” Izzie sighed softly as she placed her hands on his shoulders to try and work out the knots she was positive were there from his strained breathing.  “Now go put your shoes on so we can get you treated.”

Groaning, Alex shuffled to the living room to slip on his sneakers, sitting down on the couch when the tight feeling in his chest in his chest caused a wave of dizziness to fall over him.

Dropping his head to focus on catching his breath, Alex let out a shaky wheeze before he brought a hand up to his chest to rub at his sternum.

It was definitely getting harder for him to breathe, and though he’d never admit it to anyone.  He was scared.  He could deal with the bloodiest of surgeries at work, but asthma attacks always seemed to shake him to his core.  It was that childhood fear that still lingered within him that one day he’d have an attack by himself, with his inhaler unable to help and he would suffocate.  Alone.  How he had lived most of his life.

“Ready to go?”

Alex lifted his head to look up at Meredith as she crouched in front of him, her hand resting gently on his heaving shoulder as a sign of support.  I’m here for you.  Meredith was always great under pressure, though he could see a softness in her eyes that was typically only reserved for Derek, Cristina, and her patients.  In that order.  And even though he resented her for pitying him, for caring about him when he’d been nothing but an ass to them all.  There was just a small part of him that was thankful for having friends that seemed to genuinely care about his well-being.

“Y-yeah, I’m ready.”

And he was.  For whatever life threw at him, because his friends were always going to be there for him.

[adiwriting]

@litwitlady​ requested more Isobel, so here you go.

As always, prompts for this verse are open. Drop them in my inbox or message me. (gif by @darlingnotso​ <3 ) 

PSA: I’ve been struggling all week with how to continue writing Malex given my current emotions about the TB situation. And I realized that not creating anymore isn’t going to help anyone. What WILL help is putting money towards relief for Native Americans. So from this point forward, every time I post a fic, I am going to be donating $$ to the Navajo Nation COVID-19 Relief Fund and if you are willing and able, I invite you to do the same. 

Week 14: 

Michael is laying in bed with Alex, both of them just starting to wake up after a late night. Alex had performed at open mic night and then Maria had offered up a round of shots. One round of shots quickly became several and after an Uber home, they’d continued drinking over a very competitive game of strip poker, that Alex had lost spectacularly at. So when the puppies start barking incessantly from the other room, Michael can only groan. 

A moment later, the doorbell rings. 

“No,” he grumbles and Alex whines. Neither of them make a move to leave the bed when the doorbell rings again. 

Michael looks over at Alex expectantly, and Alex’s only response is to wave at his leg, helplessly. 

Michael snorts. “Interesting how you are so ready to pull the disability card when it comes to things like this, but when you’ve been on your feet for hours and I’m offering you a chair, it’s all, ‘I can do anything anyone else can do, twice. Three times on Saturday.” 

Alex continues to smile at him until Michael rolls his eyes and gets out of bed. The moment he vacates his spot, Bell jumps into bed and cuddles up next to Alex. 

“Traitor,” Michael tells her, with no real malice behind it. He’s glad to see that she’s getting more comfortable with them both every week that she’s here. 

He slips into last night's jeans, zipping them up but ignoring the button. Whoever is at the door can deal with it. He’s not planning on being in his clothes for long. 

“Bring me a coffee on your way back,” Alex tells him with the most adorable smile that he doesn’t even flip him off playfully like he normally would at such a request. Instead he kneels on the bed and leans over Bell to give him a kiss. 

The doorbell rings a third time and the puppies go crazy. 

“Alright, I hear you,” he says, standing back up and heading out the door. 

He rubs his eyes and he makes his way through the house. He peeks into the kitchen. The moment the puppies see him, they start jumping over each other, trying to hop the baby gate to get out, barking to get his attention. 

“Give me a minute,” he tells them as he reaches the door. 

The doorbell rings again and Michael curses as he opens it, annoyed to see Isobel on the other side. 

“You couldn’t just use your powers to unlock the door yourself?” he grumbles, confused at the grocery bags in her hand. He’s 100% sure he didn’t agree to her coming over today.

“Your neighbor’s watching and being super creepy. I got nervous,” she says. 

Michael looks over her shoulder and rolls his eyes when he realizes who she is talking about. 

“Asshole,” he explains before raising his hand with a fake smile. 

“Good morning, Mrs. Register!” Through his teeth, he adds, for Isobel’s enjoyment, “not a single one of her flowers are gonna bloom this year. She reported us to the HOA last week.” 

“Why?” Isobel asks, perfect mix of annoyed and confused. “Your guys house could be the cover of Better Homes and Gardens.”

Mrs. Register glares at him before heading back into her house, at which point he flips her off. 

“She claims our fence is too tall,” he says, stepping out of the way so she can come inside. 

“Was it?” she asks, heading for the kitchen. The dogs go crazy when they enter. Isobel greets them all, pulling treats out of her pocket for them. Determined as ever to buy their affections. 

“No,” he says offended. “You think I would install a fence that wasn’t the proper height? I told her I’d cut it down if she wanted to see all the queer sex we have in the backyard. She’s a homophobic bitch who’s pissed off that I moved in.”

“So you moved in!” she asks, squealing in delight so loudly that he rolls his eyes. 

“No,” he answers quickly to cover up his slip. He’s certainly been calling Alex’s place home for weeks now, but he doesn’t live here. Not yet. Not until Alex brings it up. It was his space first and Michael doesn’t want to intrude or push too hard or too fast. “You know what I mean,” he says, hoping she’ll drop it. 

Thankfully she does. She starts unpacking her bags and he leans against the counter to watch. Trying to figure out what it is that she thinks she’s doing. He’s well past the days where he needed Isobel to stock his fridge for him. 

“So you did your little weed-o-magic curse on her?” she asks. 

“Trust me, the woman deserves far worse, but it’s all Alex will let me do,” he complains, taking the eggs from her and putting them in the fridge. 

“Well luckily, my orgasms don’t depend on being in Alex’s good graces.” Michael makes a face. He doesn’t want to hear about his sister’s orgasms. “I’ll let the air out of her tires on the way out.” 

He smiles at that. After some of the hateful things the lady has said to Alex and him, it’s what she deserves. “You’re my favorite sibling,” he says. 

“I know.” She smiles at him, patting his cheek lovingly. 

He hears the creak of the bedroom door open down the hall and sighs. If Alex is up, his hopes of crawling back into bed are slowly fading. 

“Are you going to explain why you’re waking us up on a Sunday?” he asks as Alex appears at the baby gate, puppies yelping to get out. Alex opens the gate and moves to the back door to let the dogs outside. 

“Everyone else is gonna be here in an hour. I figured I’d help you get the house ready,” she says. 

“Ready for what exactly?” Alex asks, returning to the kitchen. He leans against the counter and Michael shuffles over so that he can lean against him. 

“We’re having family brunch here,” she says, like it’s no big deal. 

“What?” he asks, as if he misheard her. He heard her just fine, but he doesn’t accept. He did not agree to this. 

“Our Sunday family brunch,” she says, like that somehow constitutes an explanation. 

He looks over at Alex who mutters, “I better go find pants.” 

“Oh I don’t know Captain Manes, I think you look delicious,” she says batting her eyelashes in a way that Michael knows is teasing but he still steps in front of Alex to shield him from her view. 

“Stop flirting with my boyfriend and get your own,” Michael tells her. Alex’s hands find their way around his waist and Micheal leans into the touch. 

“You’re no fun,” she says, turning back to put the rest of the groceries away. 

“Iz, explain,” Michael tells her. 

“We’re having brunch.” She smiles at him without an ounce of remorse even though Michael knows that she knows exactly what she’s doing. 

Alex snorts. 

“Okay, now explain it like we are 5,” Michael says, fighting back an amused smile. He is not going to be happy about this, no matter how hilariously persistent she is. She’s a brat and he isn’t going to encourage her. She’s ruining his Sunday. 

“You said that, under no circumstances, were you leaving this house today,” she tells him, crossing her arms, daring him to challenge her on her interpretation of his words. 

He shakes his head as Alex whispers, “I told you to not to leave her a loophole to climb through.” 

Michael looks over his shoulder at Alex, who is fighting back a smile, clearly having already settled on amused instead of annoyed. 

“I hate you,” he says, rubbing his face in defeat. 

“I love you, too,” she says with a laugh. “Now button up your pants and go find a shirt that isn’t covered in last night’s sexual activities. 

“It happened one time,” Alex grumbles into his ear and Michael laughs. 

“You’re doing all of the cooking and the cleanup,” Michael tells her. 

Isobel shrugs. “Done.” 

“We’re going to go get ready,” Michael says, taking Alex’s hand and walking out of the kitchen. 

On the way out, Alex turns to her and says, “We aren’t making a habit of this.” 

Isobel raises her hand in a salute and says, “Whatever you say, Captain.” 

The challenge in both Alex and Isobel’s eyes has Michael groaning. Michael lets the puppies back in and then heads back to the bedroom with Alex. 

“You shouldn’t goad her,” Michael complains. “If you give her a challenge, she won’t back down. She doesn’t know how to lose.” 

“Babe, I’ve been to actual war. I think I can handle your sister,” he says. 

Michael shakes his head. No matter what Alex may have seen in Iraq, he’s never really had to combat Isobel in full on event planning mode. 

“I’ll be sure to say nice things at your funeral,” Michael jokes. 

Bell whimpers at them as they start pulling clothes out of the closet. 

“Sorry girl,” Michael tells her. “We won’t be spending the day with you.” 

Bell turns her head to look at Alex, expression hopeful, if that’s even possible for a dog. 

Alex shakes his head. Bell puts her head back on the pillow and shimmies until the blanket is covering all of her. 

“She’s got the right idea,” Michael says with a laugh, trading out his old jeans for a clean pair. 

“It’s not so bad.” Alex sits on the bed to get his prosthetic on. 

“Isobel’s brunches from hell aren’t so bad?” Michael says, eyes going wide in comedic shock. “Did Alex Manes just admit that he likes a party?” 

“It’s not a party, it’s a family brunch,” he argues. “It’s kind of nice. You know?” 

Michael does know. It’s the kind of thing neither of them had growing up. 

“I still get to be mad about the lack of morning sex though, right?” 

Alex laughs. “Always.” 

Tagged: @callieramics​, @redstalkingdeath​ @alexmaanes

(wanna be tagged? hit me up)

[saipng]

me? write a frenrey one shot fanfic with them drunkenly playing truth or dare? it’s more likely than you think

-

Nights like these made it all worth it.

The lulling whir of the air conditioner kissed his flushed cheeks as the sound of dying laughter dissipated through the air. The noise of the streets outside the window and the quiet chatter of the TV filled the room instead, and the smell of home cooked food mixed with old cologne and alcohol seemed to cling to his very clothes. His eyes traced the long shadows cast in red, pink, and blue, painting the familiar scene in technicolors.

It was nights like these, Gordon thought, that made it all worth it.

Joshua was long asleep in his room, snuggled next to his favorite plush toy of a head crab that Bubby (lovingly) stitched together out of old scraps of clothing. Tommy arrived first, as was usual, tagging Sunkist along and letting her carry a bottle of wine between her teeth. Dr Coomer and Bubby came later, always together, always the same chorus of ‘Hello, Gordon!’s, always a big bright smile and a warm tingle in his heart. Darnold arrived late, later than he usually would if he were to come at all, but this time he brought his ‘strongest potions’ and Gordon was equal parts terrified and excited to try them out.

Benrey was already there by the time Gordon remembered him. He always simply appeared, but even that became routine at this point.

Gordon never invited any of them.

It was enough, he thought, that they would come over like this, with food and alcohol and maybe a DVD or a board game, and they would spend their time in peace and (relative) quiet. Having the company was enough.

Gordon smiled, sudden warmth spreading through his belly.

“Hey-Hey guys,”- He stuttered, trying to get up on his already slightly shaky feet, the attention of the room shifting towards him from the TV as The Science Team all turned their heads in unison.

“Woah- Um, okay. Creepy. Guys, do you wanna like- Hey guys, do you wanna play Truth or Dare?”

It wasn’t the first time they would be playing it, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. Bubby, particularly competitive in, well, everything, immediately perked up.

“What, you itching to lose just like last time, you little bitch boy?”

“Okay, just because I refused to drink an entire glass of bleach doesnt mea-“

“Bitch boy!”

“Um, I would like to go first, Mr Freeman!”- Tommy piped up, having a surprising competitive streak in him too.

Truth or Dare, for most people, was a game of fun and embarrassment and messing around. For The Science Team, it was more like a battle for dominance and glory.

Most of their games were, actually. Gordon already lost 6 packs of Uno cards to fire, and Jenga is completely forbidden in his apartment for the foreseeable future. And god forbid he ever saw anyone with a box of Monopoly ever again.

Gordon took an uncertain step, steadying his feet as he raised his glass and nodded, -“Sure, Tommy. Truth or Dare?”

“Oh, and why do you get to ask,”- Bubby piped up, crossing his arms.

“Because I offered the game, alright? Now-“

“Truth or Dare, Tommy?”- Dr Coomer took over, and Tommy immediately replied with a resolute “Dare”.

“Fantastic choice, my young friend!”- The older man smiled, and then his face immediately turned to stone. Gordon swallowed, on the edge of his seat (still standing) at what might come next.

Dr Coomer was known for going to the extremes. His dares were either along the lines of “Do a chicken dance” or “Drink this glass of bleach” (which was exactly where Gordon drew the line last time). One time he dared Bubby to eat a pack of ramen raw, and the maniac actually did it.

Once Dr Coomer opened his mouth again, Gordon’s heart sank to his feet.

“I dare you to drink-“

“No! No more bleach drinking! That is banned forever, okay, it’s-“

“-An entire glass of Dr Darnold’s strongest potion!”

Gordon paused in his tracks. Suddenly, the bleach idea didn’t seem to be as bad.

He threw a quick glance at the man in question, who seemed to be perfectly beaming at the suggestion.

“Why, I do think my potions are way too strong for you, Tommy! The side effects can be unpredictable!”- He exclaimed, already reaching over the precariously shaped vial, -“Now, I will need you to have a bucket by your side and a pack of ice and maybe a pair of tweezers-“

“I will be fiiiiine,”- Tommy slurred, more determined than ever. He was not one to pass up a dare, no matter how insane it sounded. Gordon began to wonder whether he had any tweezers lying around, just in case.

In the next second, with an agility unbecoming of a man as drunk as he already was, Tommy threw back the glass and Gordon watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed at every resounding gulp. He couldn’t help his jaw clenching as the fiery burn resonated in his own throat at the sight, a shiver running down his spine, The feeling was something akin to watching a car crash, the horrifying fascination making his stomach turn when Tommy thumped the vial back on the table and wiped at his mouth with his sleeve.

He had to sit back down for this.

“go, tommyyyyyy!”- Benrey shouted from somewhere behind the couch, and for once, Gordon agreed wholeheartedly. At this point, he was pretty certain that Tommy was the most badass person he knew.

“Hoo! Yeah! Woo- Aw-Awright, z-zat- Eazy! Eazier zan... zan.....!”- Tommy blinked hard, his eyes clouded over as he tilted further and further to his right, and yeah, maybe he was going to have the worst night/morning of his life, but damn if the street cred he earned in that moment wasn’t worth it.

“Cake!- Darnold helpfully supplied, and Tommy forcefully threw himself at the man to give him a huge hug.

“Iz cake!”- He slurred from Darnold’s shoulder, waving an arm around way too close to Bubby’s face, -“Whoza next!?”

“Gordon!”- The latter smirked, slapping away Tommy’s hand and leaning further back into Coomer.

Gordon turned his head so fast his neck cracked, a slight headache immediately forming from the whiplash.

“No!? What!? No, I didn’t agree to that. Why me!?”- He began pouring himself another drink. Suddenly he was really craving some of that strongest potion.

“Because you offered the game, right?”- Bubby grinned, and Dr Coomer nodded in agreement.

“You did offer the game, Gordon.”

“I know I offered the damn- Hey, why don’t we have someone else go, huh!? Why not- Why not Benrey?”- At the mention of his name, said being popped his head up and stared directly back at Gordon, -“He, like, never participates! What’s up with that!”

And he wasn’t lying, either. For someone who consistently talked about gaming, Benrey almost never took part in their late night competitions. Gordon could never tell why – he could never, ever tell why anything with this guy – but to him this felt almost deliberate. Of course, everything Benrey did felt deliberate – that is, he was always deliberately trying to get on Gordon’s nerves.

And this time was no exception.

“huh?”- Came the simple response, and the burn in Gordon’s stomach turned to a burn in his chest.

“Yeah, you never do anything! Here we are, running around like headless chickens, doing whatever stupid shit we want each other to do, and you just sit there!”

“whu-?”

“What, you think this is like, some kinda free show for you? Some kinda performance piece!? No, nope, that won’t do, buddy. You’re gonna participate or you’re gonna get the hell out of here, alright? Truth or Dare?”

“dare”

The reply came so fast, Gordon nearly lost his footing while sitting. He blinked down at the glass in his hand, brows furrowing in concentration.

Alright, sure, cool. Maybe he didn’t expect Benrey to actually answer. And maybe he definitely didn’t expect him to choose dare. This was fine. It was fine.

Gordon poured himself another drink.

“daaaaare,”- Benrey whined at the same time as Bubby said “The man has chosen dare, Gordon, now will you please give it to him!”

“Alright, alright; don’t shout at me, I’m thinking!”

“Well, think faster!”

“It is rude to make other people wait, Gordon,”- Dr Coomer pursed his lips as Tommy may or may not have said something in agreement. He was now more than half lying on Darnold, who didn’t seem to care in the least, and his hand was absentmindedly stroking Sunkist’s back.

Knowing him, though, he most definitely was on Benrey’s side here. They all always were.

“Would you like some ideas, Dr Freeman?”- Darnold offered, and Gordon reached his boiling point.

“No! No, alright, I got it! I dare you to, uh,”- Gordon looked Benrey over, his stupid acidic gamer slogan hoodie making his retinas hurt, watched as the same hooded eyes not blink as they stared back, dull, unseeing, bored, overcast in a shadow that seemed to be permanently encasing his sharp face. And then Gordon scrunched up his nose as he said with the most vitriol possible, -“I dare you to take off you stupid beanie.”

It was but a beat of silence before Benrey, understandably this time, went, - “huh???”

“You heard me,”- Gordon doubled down this time, fully recognizing how stupid and inconsequential his dare seemed in comparison to Coomer’s, but damn if he wasn’t going to insist on it now, -“Come on. Show us what’s under there. Show us what- Show us what you’re hiding.”

Benrey blinked once. Then twice.

And then he was suddenly making his way towards the front of the room, crawling on all fours like an animal, and his gaze pointedly fixed on Gordon as he said “ohhhhh does feetman wanna- does feetman wanna see my secret parts. does feetman wanna take a glance at my uhhhh my special place”

Gordon nearly choked on his drink, a renegade laugh escaping this throat as he desperately tried not to have vodka pour out of his nose.

“What the FUCK, man, don’t call it that!?”

“what next, you gonna ask me to take my shoes off. maybe my socks? i’m gonna need to see a signed permission for that first”

“Shut up, shut up, shut up!”- Gordon slammed the table as he keeled over, and he could almost physically feel Bubby rolling his eyes.

“You gonna do it or what!?”- He nudged Benrey with his foot so that the other nearly toppled over.

“what, that it”

“Wh-What?”- Gordon managed in between taking deep breaths, feeling the room sway slightly from side to side. He hated how everything the guard said made him lose his shit. He especially hated it right then, when he was staring right at him with that self-confident smirk that still somehow managed to look bored. He hated it so much.

“is that all? weak”

“What, you wanna take off your shirt too? Be my guest, man, fucking- Strip down to your pants. Do it. You won’t.”

Benrey stared at him.

Gordon regretted every decision he ever made that led him up to this point.

Benrey smiled.

And then in one confident motion he ripped off his hoodie, his beanie coming along with it.

He threw them to the side, the pile of clothes landing on Sunkist, who didn’t seem to mind in the least, and this was exactly the point where Gordon realized that this was a bad, bad, horrifically bad idea.

He didn’t know what he expected to see when Benrey took off his hat (or helmet or whatever other stupid thing he was wearing at the time), didn’t really think about it (or tried not to) but damn if it wasn’t this. It was just - just hair. Completely normal hair, almost insultingly so, jet black and cropped short to his skull. But it wasn’t even the hair that was the biggest offender - no, it was the now completely open, completely normal and completely handsome face that was staring back at him. Completely human, completely right, and so disgustingly unobscured that it made Gordon’s stomach do back flips that would have scored tens all around at the Olympics.

When Benrey’s fingers twitched to remove the undershirt that he had underneath, he knew he couldn’t take it anymore.

“Okay, okay, fuck! We- We get it! You did the dare, alright, enough! That’s just indecent exposure at this point! Chill out, man!”

Benrey didn’t reply, but didn’t move to strip down any more. Gordon allowed himself to breathe again.

He was way too drunk for this.

He poured another drink.

After an uncomfortable stretch of terrible silence where Gordon could acutely feel the burn in his face and shoulders, Dr Coomer finally spoke up with an “That was a shitty dare, Gordon!”

“Yeah, it was horribly underwhelming. Not even writhing snakes underneath that thing,”- Bubby immediately joined, and at that Tommy perked up only to mumble “badgers” and then fall back down onto Darnold, knocking them both over to the floor.

Gordon couldn’t keep in the laughter that bubbled up from his stomach, and he had to look for support if only to stay upright. At this point, he was certain that if he were to fall down, he would not get back up again.

Of course, it just so happened that this time his closest support structure was Benrey, and by the time he realized that he was grabbing onto the other’s shoulder, it was way too late. Benrey was already staring at him, a smirk stretching over his lips that, without the ever-present shadow painting over his eyes, now looked almost... Nice. Sweet.

Gordon shifted in his seat, slowly removing his hand and clearing his throat.

That’s right. Play it cool. Play it cool.

Easier said than done, though, especially considering Benrey’s skin was practically burning next to him.  

Gordon pulled at his hair tie, freeing his curls if only to have something covering his face. Dammit, Freeman, play it cool!

“Alright, which of you lightweights is going to go next?”- Bubby sighed, clearly resigning to being an observer this round, rather than a participant.

“gordon,”- Came a voice directly from Gordon’s right, and he immediately opened his mouth in protest.

Only to be shut up by Bubby before saying a single word, -“If you even so much as make a single sound besides “Truth” or “Dare”, I swear to fuck I will set your curtains on fire.”

Gordon was really tempted to say “Fuck off, not again”.

Instead, he resigned to whispering, “...Truth.”

“huh? what was that? truth? does little baby want truth? does little baby want his truth bottle?”

“Shut the fuck up, asshole, that doesn’t even make sense. The game isn’t called Dare or Dare, I can choose what I want.”

“stupid shitty baby can’t even handle this truth.”

Gordon snorted, fists curling up at his sides as he inhaled sharply, turning to face the permanent annoyance of his life that was Benrey.

“Okay. Okay. You know what? Okay! You wanna dance Benrey, huh? You wanna dance? Then let’s fucking dance. It’s dare. I choose dare. Hit me.”

Benrey’s smile only widened as Gordon’s heart sank deeper and his ears tingled with a warmth that was unwelcome, but not unfamiliar. And before either one of them could make a move, there was the distinct sound of clothes shuffling, the noise of something breaking, and then Tommy was kneeling on the floor, swaying from side to side like a piece of grass in a gentle breeze, finger pointed up, eyelids half closed as he barely managed out an, “I d-daaare- I dare Miste-ww Freeemann and B-Ben- Rey- To danz!”

Having finished his incredible statement, Tommy fell onto his other side, head landing right on Sunkist, and Darnold gently patted him on the shoulder mumbling “There, there.”

Gordon could only side eye the other scientists. He would be laughing right now, really, if he wasn’t so perfectly outraged by the proposition.

“Uh, how about no? You know I love you Tommy, but if you think that even for a second-“

“chicken man.”

“...What?”

“gordon freeman more like. more like gordon fowlman.”

“Hah, that was a clever one, Benrey! Keep it up!”- Dr Coomer encouraged, and Gordon really didn’t need that in his life right now.

“I’m not afraid to dance with you, I-“

“chickon fowlman”

“Fucking stop, alright! We’re both drunk as shit, and I doubt any one of us is a good dancer, we’re probably gonna break some-“

“what, no. i’m a great dancer. i’m the best- the bestest at dance. moves. number one in just dance 2003 on the playstation 2- got an award. a diploma. what do you got. stupid chicken legs. cluck cluck cluck, i’m idiot baby, i can’t dance-“

Gordon was on his feet in seconds, the room spinning around like a freaking kaleidoscope, but he’d be damned if he let this pretty- this cute- this shitty garbage sack believe that he was better than him. Even if it was true.

At this point, he was more than drunk, he was pissed, he was warm, and he wanted to wipe that stupid smile off of Benrey’s face if it was the last goddamn thing he did. If that meant he needed to dance, then he was going to fucking dance.

“Fine, okay, sure! Let’s go, let’s fucking go, go, go! Dr Coomer, hit us with a beat!”

If it was a dance battle Benrey wanted, it was a battle he was going to g-

The soft sound of a gentle piano was definitely not what Gordon expected to come out of the- Of Dr Coomer...? He honestly wasn’t sure where Dr Coomer was producing the sound from, but that mattered less at the moment than the particular sound being produced - which certainly wasn’t what he had in mind.

“What the fuck!? What is this shit?”

“Gordon, this track is As Time Goes By by the Claude Williamson Trio-“

“No, no, I don’t give- Who cares about the name of the track!? We’re not fucking slow dancing! Give us something with a beat!”

“But Gordon, I enjoy this song.“

This was yet another moment where Tommy decided to speak up, suddenly raising his hand with one finger pointing at the ceiling, his voice muffled by the perfect dog’s fur as he muttered “I- I dare Mr Freeman- and- and Benrey to- to Slow. Dance. For fiiiiiiiiiiive miiiiiinuuuuuutesssssssss.”

His hand fell back to the floor with an audible thump.

“No! Hey, no, that’s not- That’s not in the rules! You can’t just change the original dare like-“

“Oh my god, silently! Quietly! Without words! Slow dance for five fucking minutes with your mouths shut tight, okay! That’s your fucking dare!”- Bubby threw his arms up, and the reflection in his glasses told Gordon that his curtains are very much in immediate danger.

This was dumb. This was more than dumb, this was shitty, stupid, against all rules, and really, he should just kick them all out and be done with it all.

So, like any rational and sound-minded person, Gordon swallowed down the horrible tightness in his throat, and opened up his arms in an invitation.

He didn’t mean to bite his lip when Benrey approached him, really, he didn’t, but his chest refused to stop pounding, his arms felt sticky and gross, and his vision was only ever so slightly blurry when he reached out his hand and grabbed Benrey’s.

“I’ll lead,”- He barely whispered, maybe more like mouthed so that didn’t count, and Benrey did not protest for once, his other hand finding his way over to Gordon’s shoulder. Gordon hesitated only a second before lightly guiding his fingers to the other’s waist.

There was a moment of certain panic, blood freezing over as an electric current ran through his spine, sudden realization that he couldn’t remember the last time he danced with anyone flooding his senses, before being replaced with a gentle, coaxing burn when he felt Benrey pull at him and take a step backwards. Gordon swallowed hard again, allowing his drunkenness to overtake for a moment, letting himself sway ever so gently as he tried his best to guide the other around the room. This wasn’t exactly a waltz, not even close, but at least he was conscious enough not to step on any feet or trip over his own.

This was... excruciating.

He didn’t know where to look, eyes darting around the room like he was desperately looking for an escape, and his hands and hair felt altogether way too sweaty for any of this. He didn’t want to hear Benrey’s slightly exalted breathing, the firm press of his hand in Gordon’s own, the feeling of those dark, dark, immensely dark eyes staring right into his very being. Five minutes, Gordon learned by the first 30 seconds, was an outrageously long time.

It was only around the second minute mark, when Gordon was certain he was going to pass out before finishing the dance, that his vision darkened for a split second, and it wasn’t before long that a feeling of complete and utter surrender washed over him. Shoulders dropping down, muscles releasing with an almost audible click, he felt his anxiety dissipate in the air along with that unbearable, pulsating heat. The only thing left was his heavy eyelids defiantly staying open and the soft sound of the piano keys running through the air. He willed his head to turn to Benrey then, finally allowing himself to make eye contact for the first time, and the sea of gently glowing blue orbs around them nearly overwhelmed his vision.

“calm down,”- Benrey mouthed, and Gordon gladly obeyed, nodding his head ever so slightly.

His arms felt like cotton, like melting butter, so he allowed both his hands to travel to Benrey’s lower back, not able to keep them up anymore. Benrey, in turn, gently wrapped his own arms around Gordon’s neck, and Gordon couldn’t find it in him to protest.

He could find it in him to be delighted, though.

He didn’t know what it was, exactly - the alcohol, the forced silence, or the gentle blue light that filled his very soul, but he suddenly felt braver, braver than he had ever been before. But more importantly, he felt curious - and so he tugged Benrey a little closer, just that much. He knew it was but a gentle pull - no, he was certain of it. The rest of the way between their bodies Benrey closed on his own.

Gordon’s stomach ignited in fireworks, his ribs prickling with the sensation of the other flush against him, the touch of his skin intoxicating in ways he didn’t remember were possible.

And all the while, his eyes were glued to Benrey’s, almost morbidly mesmerized by the two dark caverns that refused to reflect light and seemed to only take, take, and take.

Benrey’s fingers tangled in his hair, and Gordon couldn’t help the genuine smile that easily found its home on his face, couldn’t help the breath that got stolen when he saw that same smile reflected on Benrey’s own.

His fists balled in the other’s thin shirt, and he couldn’t remember the last time he felt so secure.

Serene. Right.

It’s nights like these, Gordon thought, that make everything worth it.

The last note played, the orbs burned out, and the only thing left standing in the middle of it all were the two of them, still clinging one to another, breathing hard as though they have just finished an intense exercise routine, and for a brief moment, time stood still.

And Gordon felt as though something unspoken has passed between them in that one moment.

And in the next, raucous applause followed, mostly provided by Dr Coomer, with Darnold gently joining in. Bubby let out a few claps as well, and they almost didn’t sound sarcastic.

“Bravo, Gordon! What a beautiful display of emotion!”- Dr Coomer kept on clapping, wiping a tear away from one eye as he cheered, -“For 2 Play Coins, I can replay the same song again!”

“N-No- Uhm-“- Gordon began, feeling his throat as dry as a summer in a dessert, having to cough violently as he practically peeled himself from Benrey. The immediate cold and overall shittiness that followed almost weren’t worth it, -“Ahem. That’s- That’s quite alright.”

“Ah shit, there he goes on talking again,”- Bubby rolled his eyes, and the atmosphere seemed to return to normal.

Benrey went to sit next to Tommy’s most probably unconscious form, and Gordon, after hesitating for way too long, sat down on the opposite side of the room.

A decision he came to regret immediately, if the brief look Benrey gave him was anything to go by.

How that permanently bored, expressionless face could carry so much emotion, Gordon would never know.

What he did know was that he needed another goddamn drink.

And from that point on, it was a huge blur. There were more dares, of course. He was pretty sure Darnold had to do a keg stand and Coomer and Bubby had to exchange clothes.

It was all stupid.

It was all ridiculously fun.

Gordon didn’t feel right throughout any of it.

His mind only came back online closer to morning, when the only thing keeping him awake was the constant noise of conversation and sheer willpower.

“truth,”- Benrey said, crude drawings of Sunkist now decorating both his arms. Gordon wasn’t sure if this was part of a dare or if he just did that for no reason.

“You want to mix it up a little, eh? Think this will be easy, don’t you?”- Bubby’s smile was sharp, all teeth and evil intent, and Gordon suddenly was really happy he wasn’t at the receiving end of that. Bubby was the most entertaining when he was being mean to someone else.

“hit me.”

“Okay. So. Who, out of this group, do you have a crush on?”

Oh. So Gordon was on the receiving end of that after all, huh.

He didn’t know why was it, exactly, that that question hit him like a pile of bricks. But it did. And now he was anxiously staring at Benrey, heart beating so fast it threatened to break through his rib cage.

Benrey, on the other hand, didn’t look nearly as panicked. He just... kept on staring at the floor. And he kept on staring. And he kept on staring until he finally blurted out an. “bbbb.... d.... coomer.”

“I am flattered, Benrey, but I am quite happily married,”- Dr Coomer replied hugging Bubby close, who only rolled his eyes and snorted.

“Bullshit! It’s called Truth, now say the goddamn truth!”

It was at this moment that Benrey’s eye met Gordon’s.

It was at this moment that Gordon knew precisely what to do.

In a move that probably required him to be way more sober, he kicked the table so hard that half the glasses and bottles on top of it tumbled over, some rolling to the floor and breaking with a resounding crash.

“Fuck! What the fuck!”- Bubby exclaimed, throwing his feet up on the couch, and even Tommy came back to life for a second to look around, before passing back out on Sunkist again.

“Careful, Dr Freeman! These babies can melt through concrete!”- Darnold immediately busying himself with picking up his vials, and Gordon took this moment to stand up, exaggerating his slur and wobbliness (though not by much) when he said, -“Woo... Huh... Sorry- Sorry, guys, I must have- Man, I’m dying, I think I- I need sleep, guys, I-“

“Yes, yes, we get the message,”- Bubby sighed, as Dr Coomer immediately laid straight down on the couch, forcibly pulling him down as well, -“Goodnight, Gordon.”

“Good night, Gordon!”- Coomer echoed, closing his eyes and passing out within seconds.

“Take care, Dr Freeman,”- Darnold nodded, before snuggling up next to Sunkist and Tommy.

Well, that was easy. If there was one thing about The Science Team that Gordon appreciated most of all, it was how they didn’t bother asking questions. It was better that way, really.

He should be a better host and at the very least get them blankets, Gordon thought, carefully avoiding the broken glass as he made his way across the room.

This was a problem for tomorrow’s Gordon.

Now, however, he had more pressing matters to attend to.

Benrey stood up as Gordon approached him, staring silently, before turning around and abruptly making his way to the entrance.

“Wa- Wait- Benrey, wait!”- This time it wasn’t an exaggeration when Gordon nearly tripped over his own feet. His head was throbbing with a headache unlike any other, but he shut that part up for a brief second. More important matters, -“Where the hell are you going!?”

“away?”- Benrey replied as though that was the most obvious thing in the world.

“But- Wait- I mean. Why? You can stay here? I’m not kicking you out?”

He stared. And then he stared some more.

It was true that Benrey usually disappeared before morning came, like some sort of vampire that could only come out at night. Gordon never questioned it, never bothered to ask him why he left – it didn’t matter that his apartment always felt a little emptier.

It didn’t matter before, but it mattered now.

“I mean- I know there’s not a lot of room, and the guys are all over the living room, but, y’know, my bed is a double, so if you wanna, you can-“

“i don’t sleep”

Gordon blinked down, the ramble in his head and his words interrupted by this simple poignant statement. He tilted his head, desperately trying to keep standing upright.

“What? Like, at all? That’s bullshit man, that’s complete- and I- I saw you, okay, I saw you sleeping in-“

“kind of gay of you. watching me sleep. wanna see my hair then. then taking my shirt off then. then dancing with me like-“

“Shhh- Shut up, shut up!”- Gordon hissed, taking Benrey by the hand and quietly leading him back to the bedroom. There was no way he would be able to handle this conversation standing up, -“This isn’t- It’s not like that, okay, it’s-“

“It’s not?”

It wasn’t often that Gordon was able to tell what Benrey was thinking or feeling at any given moment. In this instance, however, the disappointment in his voice was so palpable that he could almost taste it on his tongue.

“N-No! Wait, I mean- Yes? I mean- I- I don’t fucking knoooow, man,”- He sighed, dropping down on the bed, head immediately spinning like the propellers of a helicopter, heart drumming, jaw aching, -“I just- I’m too drunk, Benrey. I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t- I just know I don’t want you to leave.”

He didn’t know if that was enough. It didn’t sound enough to him.

But to Benrey, apparently, it was.

In a moment the space besides Gordon felt the bed beside him dip, that already familiar heat seeping through his skin like nuclear radiation, overwhelming him whole.

He felt himself magnetized, moving closer to it almost unconsciously, keeping his eyes closed to prevent the room from spinning crazy. His hand worked of their own volition, desperately searching for anything to hold, and when he felt a set of fingers interlace with his own, he allowed himself to exhale all the tension in his shoulders.

“Thanks,”- He whispered, snuggling in closer, inhaling a scent that was near acidic, but not unpleasant. He didn’t know how he would justify this to himself tomorrow, didn’t want to think about that just yet, and he heard a stream of sweet voice being spread around the room.

He opened his eyes just for a second, just a brief moment to register the vibrant pink floating around his bedroom, the gentle glow that outlined Benrey’s hooded eyes, and for once he thought he could recognize something in them.

Gordon exhaled softly, holding on for dear life.

“Goodnight,”- He said, or maybe thought, or maybe imagined, his consciousness finally fading into sweet darkness.

“gordon,”- Benrey replied then, quiet, soft, and with the certain conviction of a man giving the right answer to a demanding question.

[spaceskam]

Inspired by @aewriting's fic because oh my goddddd

ao3

Michael knew a lot of things. He was smart and aware and was sufficiently sure that his species better than the entirety of the human race so there was no point in giving a shit.

Yet, for the life of him, he couldn't stop grinning as he looked at the assigned rooming system for their class trip.

 Michael," Max hissed as he leaned over, his own copy of the syllabus and rooming system in his hand, "We need to request to room together instead."

"What, why?" Michael said, struggling to tear his eyes off the 4D - Michael Guerin, Alex Manes written on his paper. The idea of watching him get ready in the morning and seeing how long it took him to put on his makeup had Michael squirming for some reason.

"Because," Max said, eyes wide like he should've pieces it together, "What if something happens?"

Michael frowned. "Are you still having issues?"

"Yes!" Max insisted, "So we need to both request room changes."

"Well, what the hell am I supposed to say for why I want a room change?" Michael scoffed. He didn't say that he really, really didn't want a room change. Alex was easily the most interesting human being he'd ever seen. If Michael was going to have a human friend, he'd be it. This felt like a good excuse to get to know him.

Max scanned the page to see who Michael was rooming with.

"Easy, it's Alex. Say you're not comfortable rooming with someone who's, you know," Max said, shrugging to fill in the blank. Michael's eyebrows raised.

"Oh, fuck off, I'm not pretending to be a homophobe so you can get off in the shower to the idea of Liz Ortecho's shampoo without worrying someone might see a power outage," Michael told him, shaking his head, "You can go a weekend controlling yourself. And, if not, Iz can work her magic."

"You're a terrible brother."

"Love you too."

-

By the time they were loading onto the bus, Michael's excitement had bled into nerves.

Sure, he was better than humans, but humans were also notorious for thinking they were hot shit. Would Alex be a shitty roommate? It was only a couple days, but that was still hours where they'd be alone in the same room together. Would they bond? Would he piss Alex off? Would they get in a fight?

They'd both been in a lot of fights.

While everyone else packed towards the back of the bus, Alex sat up from behind the teachers. He'd already put his headphones on from what Michael sound see, ignoring every glare Mr. Rowe gave him for it as he tried to give them a big, preparatory speech. Subsequently, Michael didn't hear much of it either.

Most of the ride was like that, actually. It was a long 3 hours, but his eyes kept drifting to the only boy who sat alone with his eyes closed. He was bold and didn't give a shit which Michael was envious of. As much as he tried, he always cared a little bit, at the very least what Isobel and Max thought of him. But Alex didn't. And, to make matters more distracting, the sun seemed to hit his face in just the perfect way that it seemed he was torn out of a goddamn magazine. Another thing to be envious of.

"Will you stop staring at him?" Isobel scolded from beside him, "People are already going to be asking you if you're sleeping with him after you're alone with him every night, are you really trying to make the rumors worse?"

"Would it mean I get to punch someone in the face?" Michael asked. Max scoffed from where he was leaning over the seat behind them to join the conversation.

"If you do that, you're going to be in a lot of trouble."

"I'm already always in a lot of trouble, might as well have a good reason," Michael suggested, shrugging his shoulders. He smiled as his siblings shook their heads.

He let his eyes drift back to the godlike, Michelangelo-sculpture-esque man that was Alex Manes.

-

Mr. Rowe passed out each the key cards to everyone, giving a speech about being responsible. No parties, no drinking, no leaving past curfew, no this, no that.

Michael’s eyes followed the way Alex’s slender fingers grabbed the key card before slipping it into the back pocket of his tight jeans. He didn’t smile, he didn’t speak, and he simply embodied the vibes of every dull bad boy that popped up in shitty YA books. Except he wasn’t dull. That’s what made him interesting.

Alex must’ve felt him staring though because he looked over and Michael looked away so fast he almost hurt himself.

“You’re going to piss him off if you keep staring at him,” Isobel scolded, pinching his arm. He glared at her, rubbing the skin she’d attacked. “The last thing we need is you getting in a fight.”

“I’m not going to fight Alex,” he insisted, sneaking another look over at the boy he’d be spending the entire weekend with, “I promise.”

“Well, make sure you keep your phone on you so you can text me if things get weird,” Isobel said. Michael rolled his eyes.

“Okay, Mom.”

“Everyone has their keys? Okay, then we should be set for the night. Go find your rooms, get settled, and we’ll head down for dinner at 6:30, alright? Then back to your rooms for the night. Make sure you’re taking showers, we’re going to the Grand Canyon tomorrow and the last thing I need is anyone smelling like they haven’t bathed and they’re baking under direct sun,” Mr. Rowe preached, inciting a few whispered laughs and accusations about who he was talking about. Michael knew it probably wasn’t directly at him, but he shifted uncomfortably anyway. “Again, have your alarms set. I’ll knock on doors in the morning, but we’re all meeting down here at 7 in the morning and if I have to go hunt you down, we’ll have problems. Understood?”

“Yes, Sir.” 

Eventually, they all started making their way towards their rooms. Isobel, Max, and Michael all opted for the stairs along with a few other students while the rest waited for the elevator. They made it to Michael’s room first and both Isobel and Max gave him wary looks.

“Jesus, you both seem to forget I have more control than you,” he said. They shared a look.

“Yeah, but only in one way. I just don’t want you to get in trouble,” Max said. Michael rolled his eyes.

“Stop parenting me.”

“Okay, fine,” Isobel said, holding up her hands in defense and subsequently becoming more parental. Michael rolled his eyes and turned to the door.

“I’ll see you at dinner,” he said, pushing into the room and closing it behind him.

He didn’t mean to slam it as loud as he did and he definitely didn’t mean to startle the boy who was already in the room. Alex had seemed to jump out of his skin and looked at Michael like he’d lost it. Michael gave an apologetic smile and tried not to think about the fact that this was the first time they’d ever been alone. Hell, this would be the first real conversation they’d had. 

Actually, he couldn’t remember a time Alex Manes had ever spoke outside of throwing insults at jocks or when they were forced to debate designer babies in 10th grade. Alex had been the only one who was anti that didn’t play the God card. He’d gone on a long spiel about how it wasn’t a guarantee, about how parents paid all that money to have a child exactly how they wanted, but what happened if it didn’t work that way? Nature vs. nuture, he’d said. A baby could look the part, but if it didn’t act the part, they had parents accusing them of losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. That was the moment Michael knew he was more than a YA bad boy.

For a moment, he wondered if Alex thought he was the YA bad boy. They both fit different sides of the same profile. Alex was punk and hardened, Michael was thrown through the system and had a stint in juvie the summer before, and both of them had been in more fights than necessary. Oh, God, what if Alex thought he was bland?

“I felt each bed, I took the one that makes less noise,” Alex said simply, voice deeper than Michael remembered. Was it hot in here?

“Why? Don’t wanna wake me when you sneak out?” Michael asked, trying to act normal. He wasn’t well versed in making friends, but he knew staring at them like a deer in headlights was not the way to go about it.

“More like don’t wanna wake you when I stay up all night,” Alex responded, not offering a smile as he focused back on the bed. He had a duffel bag and he pulled out a long wire, kneeling on the bed and reaching over to plug it in the wall. His shirt slid up as he did so, revealing a small patch of tanned skin on his back that Michael found inexplicably interesting.

“Well, good news, I don’t really sleep either.”

“Seems like that’s why we got roomed together,” Alex said, dropping onto the bed after he plugged it into the wall and then plugged the other end into his phone, “Same answers on the questionnaire.”

“Seems like it,” Michael agreed. Alex paused for a moment, looking over at him with dark, curious eyes.

“And you don’t have a problem with this?”

“Are you gonna kill me in my sleep?”

“You just said you don’t sleep,” Alex said. Michael raised his eyebrow at the lack of an answer. It earned a small smile from Alex that made Michael’s heart skip a beat. “No, I’m not gonna kill you.”

“Then we’re all good.”

“And the rumors don’t bother you?” Alex prodded. Michael dropped his bag beside the other bed and laid down, grinning mindlessly as it groaned under his wait.

“The rumors about me don’t bother you?” Michael shot back. Alex eyed him for a moment. Michael fully expected him to elaborate on the rumors about himself to get his question across. It wasn’t uncommon for people to think Michael just didn’t get it. It didn’t matter how smart he was: you look homeless, people treat you like you’re helpless. But Alex didn’t fill in any blanks.

“As long as you don’t kill me in my sleep,” Alex said with a shrug, falling against the pillows and putting his attention onto his phone. Michael watched him for a few extra seconds before he shook his head, pulling out a book to pass the time.

He was definitely going to get a friend out of this. Who knew?

-

Michael was dead weight on the bed.

They’d had a full buffet for the students and Michael had eaten more than he’d eaten in a long time. As good as it was, he also felt like he was about to succumb to a food coma. So much for staying up all night.

He ended up waking up bright and early anyway, though. The birds started chirping before the sun rose and he rolled over in irritation. Alex was laying on the bed, curled up and asleep with his phone screen still on and shining towards the ceiling. Michael laid there for awhile, fading in and out of sleep until Alex’s alarm went off at 6.

Alex woke up with a pout and a sigh, stretching his limbs out and arching his back. Michael watched him mindlessly, watching his legs shake at the tense muscles before he slowly dragged himself up and Michael pretended to be asleep. The first step to making friends was decidedly not watching them while they slept.

Michael stayed in bed as Alex quietly grabbed his makeup bag and disappeared into the bathroom. Was it weird that Michael was a little sad he closed the door? Yes. Yes it was weird. What the fuck.

Around the time one of the teachers knocked on the door to tell them they should be awake, Alex reappeared all dolled up. His makeup was in full force, his hair done in a skillful way, and sporting black jeans and a black t-shirt. His cheeks seemed extra sparkly, though, and Michael nodded in approval.

“Nice face,” he said simply, grabbing a pair of jeans. Alex blew air from his nose in response.

“Okay.”

“Mhm.”

They both went down for breakfast and to gather to load the buses and head to the Grand Canyon. Alex, despite his friends, sat at the front of the bus by himself again. Liz and Maria sat towards the back and behind Kyle, leaving him alone. Michael felt bad.

“While you aren’t required to be on a strict buddy system with your roommate, I definitely suggest staying close by them because you will be needing to do check-ins together. We’re not trying to have anyone run off, alright? Understand?” Mr. Rowe announced.

“Yes, sir,” they all agreed and it seemed good enough for him, signalling for the bus driver to go ahead.

“So, did you cause a power outage in front of your roommate?” Michael asked Max.

“How would he have done that?” Isobel asked. Michael offered and filthy grin and moved his hand in an obscene gesture, his tongue poking in his cheek. She looked slightly horrified at the mental image and slapped his arm, instantly making him laugh. Max just sunk into the seat behind them with an embarrassed groan.

“Guess not,” Michael snorted. 

“Well, what about you and Alex Manes? How’d that go? No fights? No gay awakening?” Isobel prodded. Michael rolled his eyes, his mood tampering at just how dull the night had been.

“Sorry to disappoint. I took a shower as soon as we got back from dinner and he took one after and I was asleep by the time he got out, so nothing special,” Michael said with a shrug. He was admittedly disappointed. What was the point of putting two troublemakers in the same room if they didn’t raise a little hell? Instead, he ate too much and fell asleep like an old man.

“Okay, well, do something because it’s only been one night and I’m already over Carly’s long discussion over Kyle Vlaneti’s cheekbones. Like, I get it, he’s hot, but there are much more important things to talk about,” she scoffed. Michael huffed a laugh.

“Sorry, I’ll do my best to do something more interesting.”

He wasn’t quite sure what that interesting thing would be, but he could definitely try.

-

That interesting thing happened when he and Alex were walking back after their routine check-in.

“This is so fucking lame,” Michael said, gesturing the canyon that failed to impress him no matter how many signs he read, “It’s a big hole in the ground.”

“I don’t know, I think it’s kind of nice,” Alex responded. Michael raised an eyebrow at him and they both came to a stop.

“Nice?” Michael repeated, “What’s nice about it?”

“Look, come see,” Alex ushered, grabbing his arm freely and pulling him to an area that was pretty empty. They were far away from the rest of the group by the time Alex let go of him and he honestly got a little worried as Alex stepped so close to the edge that his toes were hanging off. 

“Dude, what the fuck are you doing?”

“Don’t you feel small?” he asked. Michael watched as he closed his eyes and tilted his head back. The sun seemed to find him and he was glowing. “Like nothing matters. Years of horrible things that built this country never stopped the natural flow of things enough to take this. No matter who we are, what we do, there’s always something… else.”

Michael licked his lips. Like what, he thought, aliens?

Alex breathed in deep.

“I could do anything. I could jump or I could kill someone or I could commit every atrocity, and the world would keep turning,” Alex whispered, “And some people do that. Because it doesn’t matter so they don’t care. But if we’re all horrible, every last one, who will notice the small things? Like… this. Us. I am nothing, but doesn’t that make us everything?”

“You lost me.”

Alex laughed softly and opened his eyes, turning towards Michael. Then he gestured for him to come closer. And, like all idiots with superiority complexes, Michael obeyed and let his toes hang off the edge without a thought.

“The only kind thing left is Mother Nature.”

“Mother Nature kills,” Michael pointed out. Alex rolled his eyes.

“Don’t be cynical, think about it. There’s nothing selfish in nature, not really. You take what you need.”

“Some species would disagree.”

“Just humans,” Alex sighed, “Fuck humans.”

Michael huffed a laugh and couldn’t help but admire him and agree. For a guy who wore all black and had punched a few jocks hard enough to raise talk of expulsion, he was apparently a lot more positive and logical than everyone else. 

“Fuck humans,” Michael agreed, turning his face towards the canyon. He thought it looked a little better now. “Fuck humans!”

“Yes,” Alex laughed cupping his hands around his mouth to amiplify his voice, “Fuck humans!”

“Fuck humans!” 

“Alright, boys,” Mr. Rowe sighed from somewhere behind them. Alex jumped at the sudden new voice and, on instinct, Michael grabbed his shirt and pulled him away from the edge just as he lost his footing. 

They ended up a few steps away from the edge, Michael still holding onto him while he caught his breath from the short moment of fear. But through it all, Alex was smiling at him. Not just the normal, irritated smile, but a big one that rivaled the sun that shined just for him. And that smile was targeted at Michael specifically. Wasn’t that breathtaking? 

“Alex, are you alright?” Mr. Rowe said, voice actually concerned as he jogged closer, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Um, yeah,” Alex said, slowly taking a step out of Michael’s hold and that cold demeanor started to slip back up as he remembered they weren’t alone, “I’m good. Just made me jump.”

Mr. Rowe looked between them and nodded. “Right. Just be careful, we don’t need you falling off the side no matter how angsty you feel.”

Michael laughed, “Sure thing, we’ll be careful.”

“Yeah,” Mr. Rowe said, looking between them a couple more times, “And you two are good with sharing a room together?”

“Doesn’t bother me,” Michael said, looking over to Alex. His smile was fully gone now, the hardened face back in place, and he shrugged.

“Haven’t killed him yet.”

“Comforting, Mr. Manes, thank you,” Mr. Rowe sighed. He gave Michael a pat on the shoulder before turning and walking back to the group. 

“Yet?” Michael asked once their teacher was out of ear shot. A secretive little smile slipped back onto his face.

“Never say never.”

-

“What are you doing?”

“Sitting with my class trip buddy.”

Michael grinned shameless as he got settled in the bus seat beside Alex in the far front. They were heading back to the hotel and Michael, still high on the moment he’d had with Alex on the cliff’s edge, wanted to be close to him again.

“Okay,” Alex agreed, eyeing him skeptically. Michael just gave that smile that he knew was charming. It was his specialty. Alex rolled his eyes and sat back into his seat, but the tiny smile tugging at his lips didn’t go unnoticed.

“So, whatcha listening to?” Michael prodded, leaning into his personal space to see what was on his phone. Alex elbowed him away gently, but he picked up the spare earbud to hand to Michael. He accepted it. “What is this?”

“Ska punk.”

“Huh?”

“Ska,” Alex said, grinning at Michael’s lack of understanding, “Like, No Doubt? Sublime?”

“You’re just trying to confuse me today, aren’t you?” he said. Alex rolled his eyes but turned up the music.

“It’s a mix between classic alt and ska which is basically, like, reggae influence,” Alex explained, “In my superior opinion, it’s the best genre.”

“Why?” Michael wondered. Alex raised an eyebrow and turned up the music a little more as if that would explain it. 

“Because it’s a perfect mix between chill and ‘fuck the man’ music. Like, when I take over the world, I’m gonna do it with ska punk blaring all the time,” Alex explained. Michael sputtered a laugh, unable to find him uninteresting in the slightest. 

“You plan to take over the world, huh?”

“So, here’s the plan, right,” Alex said, turning in his seat. He looked around as if someone might actually overhear and leaned a bit closer. Michael followed his lead, listening with pure interest. “I’m gonna write a musical, right, and it’s gonna take the world by storm. People are gonna love me and I’ll get the unbridled support by the world of theatre when I run for president at 30.”

“Oh, we’re jumping straight to president?”

“Hell yeah, I don’t waste time,” Alex said, waving a hand and looking deadly serious the entire time, “Anyway, I’ll be technically too young, but the overwhelming support will get me my win. Then, then, I’ll spend about two years in office learning all the government secrets and then I’m gonna whistleblow all of it before I go into hiding.”

Michael nodded, on board with every word.

“Liz and Maria are gonna stay in America to lead the true revolution while I go hide from American officials in Russia for a few years,” he explained.

“How are you gonna hide in Russia?”

“I figure I’ll seduce someone in power,” Alex said like it was easy. And, honestly, Michael believed him. “Anyway, then I’ll go to the Vatican‒wash, rinse, repeat, whistleblow that bitch. Then the Pope will probably try to have me assassinated on live TV, but it’s fine because I’ll survive.”

“Oh yeah?” Michael laughed. Alex eyed him, judging him until he feigned seriousness to match Alex’s. Still, he found it ungodly amusing that the guy who had just been saying how small and meaningless everyone was also had a plan to overthrow the government.

“Yeah, I’ll come back to America and I’ll be the face of the revolution. Enter ska punk to the masses. The chill vibes will give them no choice by to agree with my political ideology and feats,” Alex said, shrugging a shoulder and raising an eyebrow, “Easy.”

“Easy,” Michael agreed, not even caring that they were incredibly close at this point.

“Save the good people, destroy the bad. Eat the rich,” Alex said simply. Michael agreed without hesitation.

Sadly, before he could enjoy anymore of Alex’s existence, the bus came to a stop and Alex took his music back.

“See, I got you on board with just a little bit of No Doubt,” Alex said, sliding past Michael without a second thought and being the first one off the bus.

Michael knew for a fact that Alex was better than everyone.

-

The day was long and Michael could still feel a layer of sweat on his skin as he sat on the floor beside the hotel bed. Alex was taking a shower and he was recounting the day’s events. Screaming into a canyon with Alex, walking through a national park with Alex a few feet in front of him, deciding to sit beside Alex on the bus ride back and sharing his music, and rolling his eyes at all the questions Isobel was sending him to ask why he sat with Alex. 

Michael: I’m making friends fuck off

Isobel: well are you abandoning me at dinner too???

Michael: no i’ll sit with you and max 

Michael: maybe alex liz and maria can sit with us too

Isobel: two trios don’t make a happy family, Michael

Michael: fuuuuuck off

Isobel: 😘

Michael dropped his phone and tilted his head back, grinning to himself as he thought about how good it felt to scream with Alex. Maybe, if anyone was on par with his species, it was him. That would make sense, right? Alex seemed to get it. 

The bathroom door opened and Alex Manes walked out in a cloud of steam and Michael’s brain stopped working. Things slowed down and Alex walked out in slow motion, shirtless with a pair of sweats low on his hips. He was pulling on a shirt as he did so and the glory of his bare chest was gone too soon, but it didn’t stop Michael from staring slack-jawed and stupid.

“What?” Alex asked, snapping him out of his haze. He was eyeing him like he was being really fucking weird. Which, he was being really fucking weird. But he couldn’t help it. Alex was... was...

“Sorry,” Michael said, scrambling out of bed so he could take his own shower. Alex nodded slowly, heading over to his side of the room. Michael couldn’t help but watch him as he put his dirty clothes in the duffel bag and then stretched. His skin was red-tinted from the hot water and Michael wanted to touch and see if he could feel the heat.

What the fuck was wrong with him?

It wasn’t until he was in his own shower, this one much colder than the one Alex apparently took, and seeking the scent of the other boy’s body wash that it dawned on him what might be wrong. He froze for a solid five minutes, staring blankly at the wall as he thought about things and Alex and the fact that he was seconds away from doing exactly what he’d mocked Max for. 

Michael took a steadying breath and licked his lips. Out of morbid curiosity, he closed his eyes and took himself in his hand, picturing Alex Manes and the millisecond long glimpse of his bare chest and the way the sun hit his face and the way he smiled and the way he screamed and the way he lit up when he described his plans for world domination and the way his long fingers looked curled around his phone. He ended up biting down on his lip so hard that he drew blood, out of breath and more confused than ever.

Maybe that was a fluke or Alex was a weird exception. He was undeniably pretty and relatively feminine and clearly more interesting than the rest of the human race, so maybe that had something to do with it. Or maybe it was his own unconfirmed but also not denied sexuality that had Michael’s curiosity sparked. It was normal for teenagers to get a little confused, right? He’d always assumed his species was above that, but maybe he wasn’t. Maybe he was just confused. He knew he liked women, that was undeniable and he knew he wasn’t faking it.

But the more he thought that he was just a little confused by Alex in particular, the more he realized that maybe it wasn’t normal to let his eyes linger in the locker room. Maybe it wasn’t normal to work so hard at keeping his eyes straight in juvie. Maybe it wasn’t normal to not be grossed out when he found himself focusing on the guy in porn.

Or maybe it was normal. Maybe it was okay.

He left the shower feeling ungodly drained and overwhelmed by his own thoughts. He’d expected a lot of things from this trip, but jacking off to his class trip roommate wasn’t exactly on the syllabus. The biggest discovery this weekend was supposed to be the visual of the Grand Canyon. 

He swallowed hard as he tried to remember how to act normal, but Alex looked over at him and raised an eyebrow. He couldn’t help but feel the urge to test his budding theory on his own sexuality. Would Alex welcome it if he tried? Would that fight everyone seemed to expect happen?

“Dude, what did you do to your face?” Alex scoffed, sitting up and taking a step too close. Every hair on Michael’s body stood up at his close proximity, stupid teenage hormones not knowing when enough was enough. “That’s gonna scab.”

“Sorry,” Michael said. Alex furrowed his eyebrows and then huffed a laugh.

“Why are you apologizing to me? It’s your mouth,” Alex said. But his eyes lingered on Michael’s cracked and swelling bottom lip and that seemed to confirm all of Michael’s brand new theories all on it’s own.

They stared for a moment, too close and too aware. Michael could see confusion sift through Alex’s eyes like he was trying to gauge if he was reading things correctly. Perhaps his own face betrayed that he absolutely was. 

“We should probably go down for dinner,” Alex said softly, mechanically. Michael nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, let’s do that,” he said. 

Twenty-four hours in and he was already questioning his entire self.

-

“Anything interesting yet?”

Michael snorted, eyes flicking over to Alex and the way he elongated his body in his chair. He was smiling fondly at Liz and Maria as they laughed about something over dinner. It was easy to see that he loved them and Michael’s stomach twisted with something he couldn’t quite pinpoint. He supposed it had to do with the only people who ever gave him any semblance of love were Isobel and Max. Maybe he was jealous Alex could give it so freely to his friends who weren’t his intergalactic buddies.

“Yeah, actually,” Max said, clearing his throat. Isobel and Michael both raised intrigued eyebrows, giving him their attention as they leaned forward. “I think I’m gonna ask out Liz.”

Isobel and Michael both groaned and fell back into their chairs. Max just laughed.

“I’m serious this time! I’m gonna do it!” Max insisted.

“C’mon, man, what’s the point? We’ve got a couple months left of the school year and then the summer and then she’s going off to get a fancy degree or seven,” Michael said. Isobel shoved his shoulder, but he didn’t waver. Max shook his head.

“Nah, you don’t get it. We,” he paused, sighing happily, “We had a moment.”

“A moment?” Isobel asked.

“Yeah, like… one of those moments that are totally worth risking it all for, you know what I mean?” Max clarified.

Unwillingly, Michael’s eyes drifted over to where Alex was already looking his way. He could feel the tips of his ears turning red as Alex didn’t look away like most people did when they got caught staring. Instead, Alex raised his hand to his face and ran his thumb over his bottom lip. Michael involuntarily copied and discovered he was bleeding again. Alex gave a cool smile and mouthed ‘fuck humans’ before turning back to Liz and Maria.

Chills covered his skin as he looked back to his own dinner companions.

“Yeah,” Michael agreed, “I know those moments.”

-

Night two alone with Alex Manes proved much more difficult than night one.

Tonight, Michael was aware of a deep seeded desire to touch him and listen to him speak. Tonight, he struggled to keep his eyes to himself as Alex traded his jeans for sweats in the middle of the room instead of going into the bathroom like the night before. Tonight, had to sit on his hands to keep from requesting permission to do something he shouldn’t‒like seeing if he was as good at getting another guy off as he was at getting himself off. It felt like the question for the ages. And to think he’d bothered questioning his alien origins when he could’ve been questioning what Alex’s mouth could do. How foolish of him to ignore that.

More importantly, how had he ever ignored Alex? He was smart and funny and gorgeous. How had he missed the attraction before? Maybe it had to do with Alex being smart and gorgeous. He was going to get out of here and do good shit. Michael still, even with that scholarship waiting for him, taunted him and reminded him he wasn’t going to do much. 

“Are you okay? Did you get sun poisoned? You’ve been zoning out since we were on the bus,” Alex asked, “Got worse after your shower.”

Michael looked up at him from where he was seated on his bed and Alex was standing between the two. He was so fucking hot. Without thinking, Michael patted the bed beside him. Alex furrowed his eyebrows and didn’t move for a few seconds but slowly, slowly came to sit beside him.

“Jokes aside,” Michael started, mind still thinking of Max’s lack of hesitation when it came to Liz’s plans, “What do you actually want to do in the future?”

“Um,” Alex said, shifting slightly, “Getting the fuck out of Roswell is my only real goal. I hate it there.”

“Same,” Michael agreed.

“Yeah…” Alex said, “Guess that makes sense. We’re the two people with the most amount of fights in Roswell High history.”

Michael snorted, “You’re lucky. Your dad definitely used that fancy little title he’s got to keep you from being sent to juvie after you shattered Mason Glenn’s face.”

“Lucky,” Alex repeated, shaking his head, “I’m not lucky. Not with my dad.”

“Well, if it helps, I’m not lucky either,” Michael sighed, thinking about his shitty track record, “That fight I got into last year, almost deafened the guy in his left ear. Got me a couple months in juvie. Which, you know, maybe I am lucky. Most kids like me don’t get out that easy.”

“So the rumors are true then?” Alex asked. Michael huffed a laugh.

“Why are you so set on the rumors?” he wondered, turning to face him, “‘Cause it depends on which ones you’re talking about. I’m not sleeping with Iz if that’s the one you’re asking about.”

Despite his attempt at lightening the mood, Alex didn’t let him. His intense gaze wandered over Michael’s features and Michael clutched the sheets in his hand.

“The one where you live in your truck,” Alex stated bluntly.

“Okay, then is the one about you true?” Michael shot back, tilting his head, “Are you gay? Is that why you think about taking over the world? Is that why you like feeling small?”

Alex didn’t react in any type of physical way, but Michael wouldn’t have been surprised if Alex had started a fight then. Most of Alex’s fights started with someone calling him gay. Granted, it was usually yelling slurs at him to do so and not asking, but still.

“Is that why you wanna get out of Roswell?” Alex asked, ignoring his accusation, “Because here everyone turns a blind eye to a homeless teenager? Because it’s easier to say you live in a truck than to say you’re homeless?”

“Is that why you want to get out of Roswell? Because here everyone turns a blind eye to bullying? Because it’s easier to say you’re just other than to admit they’re in the wrong?”

Alex stared at him and Michael stared right back, both of them unwavering and serious. It was totally different from on the bus or on the cliff or standing close after a shower. This felt real. This felt… more. If those were moments, what was this? Because whatever it was, it was suffocating.

Then Alex was leaning forward.

Despite Michael’s prior thoughts and interest and despite how badly he wanted to, he jumped off the bed before Alex could do anything. It didn’t make that intense gaze feel any less all encompassing.

“I-I’m gonna go brush my teeth,” Michael said, heading to the bathroom and locking the door behind him. He stared at himself in the mirror, eyes wide and cheeks flushed. He was going to be kissed and he fled. That was definitely a first.

Then again, he’d never been faced with a boy trying to kiss him. Not just a boy, but a hot boy who seemed just as aware of the fucked up reality as he was. Which, again, made no goddamn sense. How the hell was Alex so aware and still able to smile and make jokes? For Michael, he knew there was more. He knew he was better. But Alex… Alex didn’t know that. He just thought humans were as good as it got. And he was still calling Michael out, still trying to force him to say something. He wasn’t turning a blind eye.

Michael gulped and stared at his reflection. He really would’ve liked to go back to the fun revelations.

By the time he exited the bathroom, the light was out and Alex was curled up in bed with his back towards Michael.

-

“Uh oh.”

“What?” Michael asked. Isobel was eyeing him with that knowing gaze as he sat beside her at breakfast. Alex had already been in the bathroom when Michael woke up and, when he came out, he made no mention of the night before. He’d given his good morning and then left the room. He didn’t seem angry. So why did Michael feel so guilty?

“I know that face,” she said, “What happened?”

“Nothing happened,” Michael sighed, “I just think I pissed Alex off.”

“Why? What’d you do?” she wondered. Michael sighed, looking to where Alex was notably not looking at him. He couldn’t tell her Alex went in to kiss him and he chickened out.

“Nothing, we just… talked, I guess, I don’t know,” Michael said, shrugging his shoulders. Isobel looked at him oddly.

“You’re 17, Michael, why are you acting like an old man?” she asked. He scoffed, ready to argue, but even he couldn’t deny that it was particularly weird that they had a conversation like that. But, then again, it just brought him back to the conclusion that there was something about him. He wasn’t like the rest of the human race and he wasn’t like the limited knowledge he had of his own species. He was… other. In a good way.

His eyes drifted back to Alex for a moment. Could he be a teenager with him? Was he worthy of sloppy kisses and self-discovery with him? Could they be kids and not have every conversation be laced with the underlying truths of their reality?  

“You ever wanna take over the world and bring all the alien-destroys-New-York movies to life?” Michael asked her instead. Isobel sighed and rolled her eyes.

“Anyway,” Isobel said, leaning closer, “Apparently, Kyle Valenti stole a few bottles of alcohol from the kitchen. We’re gonna have a party tonight in his room after curfew since it’s the last night away from home. You should come, everyone else is.”

“Wasn’t one of the rules no parties?” Michael asked, “And no drinking?”

“Again, old man, when did you become against breaking rules?”

Michael licked his lips and looked over at Alex again. True. Since when did he have shit holding him back from doing what he wanted?

“Okay,” he said, “I’ll break rules.”

-

Just like the day before, it was hard to find anything interesting in where they were.

In theory, he could appreciate a national park and a museum, but Michael didn’t really give a shit. He would’ve been much more interested if they went to the Houston Space Station like was originally debated. But that was too expensive and going to national parks just wasn’t. 

Unlike the day before, though, everyone was buzzing when they got on the bus to go back to the hotel. Everyone was texting and whispering about this party they were planning. Michael was considering going if things went badly with Alex, but that’s it. Only if things went bad with Alex.

This was the last night they were here, this was his last real shot at getting him alone. He wanted to try. 

Besides, if Max made a move on Liz before he made a move on Alex, well, then they were all fucked.

He watched him throughout dinner, trying to think of what exactly he wanted to say. Maybe he could just tell him he thought he was hot, keep it simple. Or he could explain that, thinking about it, he’d actually liked him for a lot longer than he realized because it suddenly made a lot of sense why he’d been watching him for two years. Maybe Alex would take his confusion about his sexuality as a good enough answer and they could make out to help solidify that this wasn’t a weird boy crush. Not that he thought it was. He was confused about what this meant, but there was no confusion about the way Alex made him feel like his skin was being lit on fucking fire and like his mind was melting.

When they got back to the room, Michael quickly went into the bathroom to brush his teeth and make sure he didn’t smell. Everyone was getting ready for Valenti’s party. Time to prepare for his own.

“Hey, Alex, can we talk?” Michael asked as he stepped out of the bathroom. Alex looked up from where his phone and eyed him, nodding slightly.

Michael stepped closer, trying to find at least one of the starters to the plethora of conversations he’d had in his mind. He should say he liked him. He should say he didn’t mean to pull away. He should say that he accidentally had a second sexual awakening to seeing him shirtless. He should say so, so many things.

And instead he said none. Instead, he lunged forward and kissed him.

It was a short, chaste kiss, but it was enough for pieces to fall into place. That was definitely how that was supposed to feel. It probably had to do with Alex being superior. Where was a pedestal when you needed one?

“Um,” Alex said, taking a shaky breath as the kiss ended. Michael blinked a few times and pulled away a little more. Had he misread something? Alex licked his lips, looking at him like he didn’t get it. “Are-are… Is this a set up?”

“Huh?” Michael asked, furrowing his eyebrows. How the hell did he come to that conclusion?

“Is this one of those things where you kiss me and then ask me out and then I agree and then you stand me up and make fun of me with your friends?” he asked, hesitant rather than angry. Michael’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head.

“What? No, oh my god, who did that?” Michael asked, voice soft. Alex shook his head dismissively, still eying him like he didn’t get it.

“You just kissed me.”

“Yeah,” Michael agreed, “I really wanna keep doing it too if you do.”

“There’s a party.”

“I’d rather we have our own.”

“You barely know me.”

“I know enough.”

“So you know I’m into guys and you’re questioning?”

“No,” Michael said, shrugging his shoulders, “I know you’re smart and beautiful and funny.”

Alex looked him up and down and that hesitance in his eyes slowly but surely bled into something else. His eyes darkened just a little and Michael’s stomach twisted. Alex slowly stepped back into his space, idle fingertips touching his elbows and slowly sliding up his arms and over his shoulders and over his neck and into his hair. He hadn’t even gotten another kiss and Michael felt like his brain had melted.

Alex cradled his head as he pulled him in for another kiss, this one packing much more of a purpose. He parted his lips and welcomed Alex’s tongue against his own. His hands reached for Alex’s hips, pulling him closer as he tilted his head to kiss him a little deeper. His tongue deliberately slid over his sore bottom lip, letting him know he was being careful not to kiss him too hard. Which would’ve been fine, but he didn’t actually care.

Michael pressed in harder and Alex smiled, tugging on his hair gently. Add that to the list of things to make his mind run wild.

They kissed for a while just standing there, both of them too hesitant to move in case they pushed a button that wasn’t willing to be pressed. But the kisses got more sloppy and the touches got more desperate, both of them swaying as they tried so hard to push in closer. Michael couldn’t remember a time he’d been so desperate to touch someone. Suddenly, there was no confusion at all about anything. It was just this, just them.

As Alex’s hands slid beneath his shirt, it reminded Michael of his little Grand Canyon speech. You take what you need, he’d said. Did this count? It felt like it counted. The more he kissed him, the more he realized he’d wanted to do this for a long time. He just… hadn’t let himself think that.

Michael pulled away to remove his shirt, diving back in for another kiss. Alex breathed a hot breath against his mouth as his hands raked over his bare chest, taking in every inch. No one had ever touched him like that. He wanted more.

“Wait,” Michael breathed. Alex snatched his hands away quickly, still breathing heavy as he pulled away to see what was wrong. Michael gave a reassuring smile. “Do you, uh, like, do you… know how to… like…”

Alex smiled at him in a way that could’ve been condescending, but distinctly wasn’t because it was him. He placed his hands on Michael’s chest again.

“Yeah,” he said, “Do you?”

Michael licked his lips and looked down between them. Alex was still fully clothed, but he really, really didn’t want him to be.

“Not, uh, not with a guy,” he admitted, swallowing as he met Alex’s eyes again. There was no judgement. “Kinda lost on how exactly that works.”

“Well, I can explain it to you,” Alex said, “If you want.”

Michael involuntarily moved forward, kissing him hotly. “I want.”

“Okay,” Alex breathed, smiling as he moved his hands up to fiddle with his hair. Michael felt like putty in his hands and he enjoyed every second of it. “But we don’t even have to go, like, that far. I don’t really have any… Like, I didn’t bring lube or anything, didn’t really anticipate this, so maybe we should just stick to the basics.”

“Basics?” Michael repeated. Alex nodded and gave him another kiss.

“If you want to,” Alex told him, “With me.”

“God, Alex,” Michael laughed, shaking his head, “I literally have never wanted anything more than you in my entire life. I feel like my heart is going to explode in my chest. I have never liked someone as much as I like you and it’s really made this weekend impossible to enjoy anything that wasn’t you.”

Alex stared at him for a moment before he softly nodded and pulled him back into a kiss, but this one was a little different. This one was slow and held every goddamn secret in the universe. Yes, they were small, but yes, they were everything.

“C’mon,” Alex said, grabbing his hands and tugging him towards the bed.

Michael followed him with a lifetime of anticipation.

-

A knock sounded on the door to signify that they should be awake.

Michael groaned and went to reach for his phone, but paused when he realized he had the weight of another body on his back. Every moment of the night before all rushed into his mind and he smiled to himself, both excited that he’d been bold enough and disappointed that they probably wouldn’t get the chance to do anything like that again any time soon.

But, then again, he had a truck waiting for him.

“Alex,” Michael said, carefully turning so as not to crush him or throw him off, “We gotta get up. Bus loads in like an hour.”

Alex sighed and lifted his head, looking up at him. Even in his sleep-hazed state, he grinned.

“You’ve got sex hair,” he said. Michael snorted and ran in hands through Alex’s hair.

“Haha, I wonder why.”

“Yeah, me too,” Alex teased, pushing himself up to kiss him again. That one led to another and another and they only broke when more persistent knocking came.

“Michael!” Isobel said, “Open up! I need you or I’m gonna die!”

Michael sighed at her dramatics and looked to Alex with a pout.

“Get dressed, we’ll pretend nothing happened,” Alex said and Michael nodded easily. They both got up and Michael had to brace himself against the wall, feeling a little off-kilter. Alex gave him a filthy grin. “Sore?” he asked innocently, waving two fingers at him. Michael huffed and held up his middle finger.

Eventually, they pulled themselves together and answered Isobel who didn’t seem to notice anything as she headed straight for Michael’s bed.

“She’s the most annoying person I’ve ever met,” Isobel groaned, “I can’t wait to get home.”

Michael spared a glance at Alex who went into the bathroom to pack all of his shit.

“I don’t know, I think I could entertain this trip for another night or two.”

“Yeah, well your roommate isn’t annoying,” Isobel scoffed. Michael grinned to himself.

“Yeah, you got that right.”

The ride back to Roswell was more than agonizing. Alex sat at the front and Michael sat with Isobel, the only contact they had being over text. It wasn’t enough. They still hadn’t really talked about what happens next. God, he wanted to know. He wanted everything.

He could imagine it easily: the two biggest troublemakers at Roswell High hooking up. They’d be an unstoppable team. The idea made him grin.

When they got back to the school after the multiple hours of trip they endured, Michael went to his truck and waited. Everyone else had their parents pick them up or drove their own cars back home. Things would just go back to normal. It was just a normal class trip. 

Except Alex Manes didn’t have anyone pick him up and he didn’t have a ride. Instead, he just walked up to Michael's truck once most everyone was gone and took a deep breath.

“We should talk,” he said. Michael licked his lips and nodded towards his truck.

“Wanna go for a ride?” he asked. Alex grinned easily.

“Hell yeah I do.”

They definitely did a little more than talking.

Who knew the Grand Canyon could be so great?

[jule1122]

Malex Fic - Only Love Can Leave Such a Mark

Based on the beautiful words prompt:

Naz (Urdu)

- assurance/pride in knowing that the other’s love is unconditional and unshakable.

I can’t find the original request, but I think @britrnm asked for this one.  Please let me know if I am wrong.  Also, this is way fluffier than the beginning will lead you to believe.

Title from U2′s “Magnifient”

Only Love Can Leave Such a Mark on AO3

This isn’t how Michael imagined it, straddling Alex’s lap in the back of Isobel’s car while he keeps pressure on the gunshot wound in Alex’s shoulder, and she speeds them toward the hospital.

Isobel swerves hard to the left, and Michael catches the way Alex winces.  “You wanna be a little more careful up there,” he yells to her.

“Just trying to make sure your boyfriend doesn’t bleed out in my car.  Thank God I went for leather seats,” Isobel responds with forced levity.

“The bullet went straight through, it’s basically just a flesh wound,” Alex reminds them for what Michael thinks has to be the fifth time.  “Kyle will have it taken care of in a few minutes.”

Despite Alex’s words, Michael sees the way he grits his teeth, and his rage spikes.  Three years of playing cat and mouse with Mr. Jones, and they finally thought they had him.  Then the bastard shot Alex as a distratration.  The worst part is it worked, Michael released the hold he’d been trying to establish the minute he saw Alex go down.

“The next we catch up with Mr. Jones, I’m going to melt his fucking brain,” Michael growls.

“Hey,” Alex reaches over with his right hand and tilts Michael’s face up so he’s looking at him instead of his shoulder.  “I’m okay.”

Michael watches the way Alex smiles as he tucks one of Michael’s curls behind his ear.  God, he loves him so fucking much.  And he’s so tired of seeing Alex in pain.  There’s nothing he can do about Alex’s leg, he knows that, but this alien bullshit wasn’t supposed to touch Alex again.  He should have been able to protect him.

Alex shakes his head as if he senses the direction Michael’s thoughts have taken.  He takes a deep breath and leans into Alex’s hand, turning so he can kiss his palm.  The way Alex smiles at him dulls the rest of his anger.  He wishes he could do the same for Alex, find the right gesture, right thing to say, and take his pain away.   

Michael notices the hand he has pressed against Alex’s wound feels warm. He looks down, concerned Alex is bleeding again, but instead sees his palm is glowing.  When he focuses on the warmth, he can feel Alex healing, can feel the pain fading as the wound closes.  He can’t see it happening, but he still knows when to pull his hand away.

“Hey Iz,” he calls out, “can you throw me a bottle of acetone and slow the fuck down.”

“Really, Michael? I’m sure Alex appreciates my haste.”  Michael can hear the concern underlying her irritation. 

He catches the bottle she tosses back at him then holds his hand up so she can see the glow fading from his palm in the rearview mirror.  “You can just take us home.  Alex is fine.”

The car slows as Isobel looks back over her shoulder quickly.  “I didn’t think you could do that.”

Michael shrugs, as surprised as she is since his previous attempts to learn healing had been failures.  “Guess I just needed the right motivation.”

He catches Alex’s eye as he says it, wanting to make sure he’s alright.  Alex is flexing his shoulder, pulling his shirt away to examine the now smooth skin.

“You did that,” he looks at Michael in amazement.

“Yeah,” Michael gives him a quick kiss before sliding off his lap and taking a long drink of acetone to counteract the dizziness he’s starting to feel.

“My hero,” he hears Alex tease before he closes his eyes.

Michael wakes the next morning to an empty bed and a sense of wonder mixed with something almost like pride.  “Alex?” he calls as he sits up and rubs his eyes.

“In here,” he hears from the bathroom.

When Michael reaches the open door of the bathroom, he sees Alex standing in front of the mirror staring at the iridescent handprint on his left shoulder.  He leans against the door frame and stares along with him.  He did that, left a mark as proof he was able to heal Alex, his handprint glowing on Alex’s unmarked skin.  Michael doesn’t think he’s ever been more grateful for his powers.  

Alex meets his eyes in the mirror, “It’s beautiful.”

You’re beautiful, is what Michael thinks although he doesn’t say it aloud.  He looks at Alex, hair sticking up, wearing nothing but threadbare boxers and feels the heady mix of desire and love he’s always associated with Alex.  It had taken time for Alex to be completely comfortable with Michael seeing him like this, no prosthetic, scars not only from his leg but a lifetime of injuries visible, and it still felt like a gift.  He’s eyes are drawn again to the handprint, and he’s so relieved there is one less scar on Alex’s body.

He steps forward, intending to wrap his arms around Alex and hold him until he’s convinced he’s unharmed and safe before dragging him back to bed.

Alex turns before he reaches him, eyes wide, “Is that how you feel? About me?”

“All the time,” Michael answers without even needing to think about it.  He can’t believe he didn’t realize earlier that the wonder and pride he felt was from Alex, that the handprint would allow them to share feelings.  Now that he concentrates, he can separate the steady thrum of love he feels coming from Alex from his own feelings.  It’s such a beautiful thing, like a physical manifestation of the look in Alex’s eyes just before they kiss and the way his voice softens when he says Michael’s name.

Michael hasn’t doubted Alex’s love for him in a long time, but experiencing it like this, feeling the strength of it, almost overwhelms him.  He shifts his focus to his own feelings, wanting to let Alex feel how much he is loved in return, how loving Alex is the foundation of his soul.

Alex’s face lights up, and Michael feels a thread of joy weave it’s way into the love Alex has for him.  

“Michael,” Alex breathes.

It’s enough to break the spell, to let Michael move again.  He reaches Alex and presses his hand against the mark he left before sliding it over Alex’s heart.  “All the time,” he says again.  “Every day, this is how I feel about you.”

Alex places his hand over Michael’s, intertwining their fingers.  “I love you.  Every minute, always, I love you.”

“I know.”  And he does.  He’s known for years, and when the handprint fades, he’ll still know.  As wonderful as it is to be able to share their feelings like this, he’s learned the importance of saying the words.  “I love you too.”

He feels how his words affect Alex, and he flushes from the beauty, the intimacy of experiencing it along with him.  He doesn’t know how long the handprint will last, but he wants them to enjoy it.  Michael leans forward and presses a kiss to the center of the handprint, smiling when he hears Alex gasp.  “I love you, Alex.  Come back to bed and let me show you.”

[maggyoutthere]

Quick listing of other stuff I used to work on and that I NEED to get back to working on otherwise I'll be drawing sth stuff only until the year ends

Think you saw someone else post these on Amino? Well yeah that was me. I was in the IZ and AHIT Aminos for a while but ended up not lasting long there XD

(This will be a longer post than what I usually do but it will have some art and au concepts for multiple fandoms so eh take a shot if u want

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👏DRAW👏MORE👏HOLLOW KNIGHT👏STUFF

I really wanna draw more Hollow Knight stuff. I absolutely fell in love with literally everything about the game. The art style is so gloomy but enchanting at the same time, the soundtrack is just phenomenal, fluid animations and a intricate story.

I've only drawn sealed vessel yet because they are my daddy issues and trauma and I get to project them onto what character I want and I legit just like his design a lot.

Invader Zim au I never properly fleshed out ❤💙💛

I remember having this IZ au where for shit's and giggles but also aesthetic reasons, our normal Dib, Pilot!Dib and Zib were triplets while still having Gaz as a younger sister. Again it was more for the aesthetic of it than anything else XD I did have a plan to said au but I left it back on the IZ Amino and I'd have to download the app just to go get it hhhhhh-

I did make some art for it. It's a bit old by now but it still holds up a bit XD

Another au I have for A Hat In Time but ehh? 💜💙💛

I've been kinda falling out of the AHIT fandom. I think the whole reason I was there was a 5 month hyperfixation on Snatcher XD still I was on that Amino as well and made an au as well. I always go for aus whenever I enter a fandom; I'm not comfortable enough to make an oc yet so I start of by doing that first.

The au was about how after Hat Kid finishes the level in Vanessa's Manor, the queen actually chases after her all the way back to Subcon Forest. Snatcher tries to fight off Vanessa, but she actually proves to be much stronger than him. In a moment of panic and desperation that he can't simply get her out of there, guy's sass completely falls apart and he just angrily vents out at her. However, this time, Vanessa actually listens to him. It's been so long since she had last seen her prince, might as well try.

They somewhat patch things up, reuniting the kingdom under the condition that Snatcher will be the one in control now and Vanessa will just stand on the sidelines. She agrees cuz she's just happy to have her prince back. The au kicked off with this premise, a few years after Hat Kid leaves the planet when she mysteriously crashes right back on Subcon Forest.

This one actually had like two small stories to it I had fully written, which is unusual because I don't usually write that much. I might finish it just for the heck of it but that'll be it.

Ocs & Other fandoms cuz wow🤍🖤

I would just love to have the chance to develop ocs here, but tumblr is a little bitch to original stuff. The "algorithm" because idfk what else to call it favors fanart above anything else, so getting other stuff out there is kinda hard. Maybe I'll start doing that as well just hhh remember that not a lot of people might see it XD

I'm also missing out on a bunch of other fandoms I don't really pay much attention to anymore XD I'm a casual fan of a lot of stuff, so eh expect some random things here once in a while

JUST WRITE SOMETHING DAMMIT

Hi again I do really really love writing. Reignited that passion a while ago when I started to rp again (thanks @cyro-starfire XD) so I wanna get back to actually writing stuff. Problem is: idk what to write about. I did pick up a book my mom told me I might like so I'm trying to do that now-

Idk this is a vague one but it's just to remind myself that yeah I mainly draw but I also like to do other stuff XD

Get back to FNAF and BATIM cuz new games are coming out this year 💜🖤

I cannot STRESS enough how much of a BATIM fan I was back in the day XD I left the Amino due to some drama but I'm still planning on returning if the new game catches my attention. Also keeping an eye out for FNAF cuz I'll definitely come back to that due to the game and movie that are in the works.

I'm not exactly planning to return to the Amino itself but just start posting about said games. I don't really like that place anymore -0-'

•┈┈┈┈┈┈୨♡୧┈┈┈┈┈•

Oof I think that was it. Tagging this will be a pain in the ass XD

[izzielizzie]

Hey Iz, could you do a one shot about Natewyn growing up, based on It's Nice to Have a Friend?

Yes! I feel like we talked about this a long time ago and then I never wrote it. Here it is Jane. 

I realize that it doesn’t snow in San Diego, but let’s pretend shall we? Lyrics in italics. Definitely go listen to INTHAF by Taylor Swift, it’s one of my favorites. Enjoy!

(sorry for any typos, I wrote this really late at night)

School bell rings, walk me home

“Hey!” Bronwyn turned, and she saw a familiar looking boy waving at her. He had black hair and deep blue eyes. Bronwyn paused and smiled as he caught up to her. His black jacket was open to reveal his untucked shirt. Even at the age of nine, dress code violations annoyed Bronwyn. But there was something about this boy that interested her. He was funny, but he was kind too. Just last week, when someone was picking on a boy named Chad, Nathaniel Macauley had stepped up to defend him. 

“Hello Nathaniel,” Bronwyn answered. 

“It’s Nate, okay?”

“Okay. What’s up?”

Nate paused and looked at the ground. “Can I walk you home?”

Bronwyn hesitated. It was only earlier that year that her parents had decided it was safe for Bronwyn to walk the seven blocks to her house, and she was rather proud of the responsibility. But, company, she had to admit, was welcome. Especially when she had to cross the intersection with the grumpy crossing guard. After careful deliberation, during which Nate watched her patiently, Bronwyn came to a conclusion: “sure.”

Nate smiled at her, and he followed her onto the sidewalk. 

Sidewalk chalk, covered in snow

The flurries were light, but strong for Bronwyn, who had never seen snow before, and they were concerning. “Will they block the hop-scotch board?” Bronwyn asked Nate fretfully. Every day at recess, Bronwyn religiously drew the sloppy board in chalk with her best friend Olivia. Hop-scotch was one of Bronwyn’s great joys.  

“You do know they melt right?” Nate asked, looking askance at the girl he had, up until this point, considered to be the smartest person in the world.

“Of course I do,” Bronwyn snapped.

Nate’s smirk softened. “Sorry. That was mean.” 

Bronwyn smiled at him as they turned the corner. They both looked up at the sky, and, without thinking, stuck their tongues out to catch the thinning flurries. They laughed and jostled against each other as they walked down the street, side by side. Bronwyn marveled at how easy it was to be around Nate. She didn’t have to be perfect. If she had stuck her tongue out around Olivia, Olivia would have been scandalized. And Maeve, well, Bronwyn wasn’t quite sure what Maeve would have thought about her older sister sticking her tongue out like that. Bronwyn realized with a pang that her little sister wouldn’t be well enough to leave her hospital bed and look out the window to see the snow. She considered telling this to Nate, but she learned from talking to Olivia that other people didn’t want to hear about those types of things. Bronwyn didn’t tell Nate, but she thought that maybe one day she might be able to. 

Lost my gloves, you give me one

A few feet after the intersection with the guard who growled at people when they took too long, Bronwyn noticed Nate was shivering. “Are you scared of the guard?” Bronwyn asked him. Nate shook his head. His teeth chattered. 

“I’m cold. I lost my gloves, and my hat doesn’t fit me anymore.”

Bronwyn looked at Nate. His coat was still open, and his head and hands were bare. Bronwyn looked down at her own small gloves, with the fur inside. She pulled off the left one and handed it to him. “It might be small.”

Nate looked as if he was going to argue, but Bronwyn grabbed his hand and placed the glove in it. “You’re gonna get pneumonia.”

“I don’t know what that is,” Nate said.

Bronwyn didn’t answer, seeing as she didn’t know what it was either. She did know that it was bad though, and that people got it when they were cold. Instead, she pointed at his coat with her gloved hand. “You need to zipper that.”

“It’s stuck. I can’t get it closed.”

Bronwyn looked at the zipper for a few moments before tugging him towards her. She wiggled it to the left so it was straight, and pulled it up to his chin. “There.”

Nate smiled at her. They walked to Bronwyn’s house in silence after that, and they hovered at her door for a moment.

Wanna hang out?

Bronwyn bounced on the balls of her feet anxiously. She was waiting for Nate to say no. She was waiting for him to leave her. She was waiting for her life to go back to silent, too-large houses, anxious parents, and constant fear. 

Yeah, sounds like fun

Nate didn’t want to trek back to his house yet. Being with Bronwyn was a new type of comfort he had never experienced before. 

Video games, you pass me a note

“You really don’t have any video games?”

“Nope.”

They had tugged off their wet things and were curled up in front of the fireplace. Bronwyn watched as Nate looked around the living room, which was filled with books and board games and pictures. No video games in sight. 

“Fine. Do you have Battleship?”

“Of course.”

The next day, a note was dropped on Bronwyn’s desk. She picked it up and read five simple words: “Video games at my house”. For the first time in her life, Bronwyn couldn’t wait for school to end.

Sleeping in tents

It had taken a lot of conversations between their parents, but Nate and Bronwyn were finally going on a camping trip. Of course, they were only going to the end of Bronwyn’s yard, but she couldn’t wait. They spent the entire evening telling stories, laughing, and eating more marshmallows than generally acceptable. When it came time to sleep though, Bronwyn started to panic. She had never slept anywhere other than her white metal bed with the lavender quilt. She was about to admit defeat and head into her house when she felt a hand slip into hers. Nate squeezed her hand, and that was enough to calm her down. 

It’s nice to have a friend

It took Bronwyn five months after the night in the tent to tell Nate about her little sister’s cancer. He didn’t judge her, or pity her. He just pulled her into a hug and told her he was there for her. He didn’t tell her it was going to be okay, which she appreciated. Because sometimes it wasn’t.

It’s nice to have a friend

Nate spent a year calling Bronwyn his best friend before he told the clever, grey eyed girl that sometimes his parents’ yelling scared him. Without knowing how it happened, Nate spent every Friday with the Rojas in their house, where, for the first time in a long time, he felt safe.

Light pink sky, up on the roof

“Should we be up here?” Bronwyn asked fretfully. They were seventeen now. Half child, half adult. Some things, like Bronwyn’s cautious nature, hadn’t changed yet. When Maeve had made an offhand comment about how it was possible to get to the roof from her bedroom window the previous Friday, Nate was insistent he wanted to try it. Since it was as much his house as Bronwyn’s at this point, he did just that. Bronwyn went with him of course, since she was the one who made sure he stayed out of trouble.

Nate ignored her. 

Sun sinks down, no curfew

“I don’t have to be anywhere,” Nate assured her. When she still questioned the validity of their current location, Nate waved a hand at the sunset in front of them. “It’s so pretty Brownie. Stop worrying.”

Bronwyn blushed at the silly nickname. She wasn’t sure when her crush on Nate developed, but it was still lingering in her subconscious, no matter how many times she tried to suppress it. 

Twenty questions, we tell the truth

“Let’s play a game,” Bronwyn said, to get her mind off how far they were from the ground.

“Twenty questions,” Nate responded promptly. They always played that game.

You’ve been stressed out lately? Yeah me too

“I’m sorry Bronwyn.”

Bronwyn shook her head. “It’s fine. I just, Maeve hasn’t been feeling well and I don’t know if I’ll get into Yale, and I’m just so scared of messing up my future Nate.”

Something gave you the nerve to touch my hand

Without thinking, Nate reached over and placed his hand over Bronwyn’s. He was transported, suddenly, to the day she gave him her glove as they walked home. It was at that moment he knew he loved that bright, kind girl he watched from afar. He never knew that he would become as much a part of her life as she was in his. Nate vowed, at that moment on the roof, that he would do everything in his power to take the pain of her life. 

Without thinking, he leaned forward, and pressed his lips against hers. He was surprised to find that she was kissing him back. He was enveloped in the smell of green apple shampoo, and Nate could have sworn that he was in heaven.

It’s nice to have a friend

“Girlfriend?” He asked as they broke apart.

It’s nice to have a friend

Bronwyn held up their hands, their fingers intertwined. “Boyfriend,” she confirmed. Their grins spoke every word they couldn’t say out loud.

Church bells ring, you carry me home

Bronwyn was laughing as she watched her sister lean in to Luis. She had just caught Bronwyn’s bouquet, and Bronwyn knew her superstitious sister would take that as an omen. She shrieked however, when Nate picked her up at the bottom of the church stairs, bridal style, which, Bronwyn supposed, was incredibly accurate.

Rice on the ground, looks like snow

“The rice looked like snow,” Bronwyn said as they drove towards their apartment. They wanted to spend their honeymoon at home. 

“Like the day we became friends,” Nate agreed.

“The best day of my life.”

“Better than today?” Nate asked with a cheeky grin. Bronwyn poked his shoulder.

“Maybe.”

The car behind them honked for what felt like an eternity before they pulled away from their kiss. They spent the rest of the drive laughing. 

Call my bluff, call you babe

“I hate this dress,” Bronwyn grumbled as she nearly tripped over it as Nate set her down.

“No you don’t. You’ve been gushing over it all day.”

Bronwyn swatted Nate’s arm. “Whatever you say, babe.”

Feels like home, stay in bed

“I love this place.”

“Me too.”

“Should we finish putting up the pictures?”

“You, Mrs. Macaulay, are staying in bed with me. We can do that tomorrow.”

“Hmph.”

The whole weekend

“Nate, it’s Monday.”

“No it is not.”

“Yes, it is.”

“It’s too cozy to get up.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

It’s nice to have a friend

“I love you Bronwyn.”

It’s nice to have a friend

“I love you more Nate.”

It’s nice to have a friend

“You were the best friend that ever happened to me.”

“Agreed.”

[carnationcreation]

So the cute idea I had was that reader(a lifer) is close to Julie and Flynn. She also kinda has crush on Reggie and while she's reading, he falls asleep on her lap. The boys (and Julie of course haha) tease her about it and she just denies it. Maybe Reggie visits her?

TITLE: Books and Movie nights (JATP Reggie x reader)

✌🏻Masterlist Taglist, Requests, and Works in progress!

Prompt/summary:  Reggie falls asleep on the readers lap during band practice, teasing and shenanigans ensues

Word Count: 1,093

Authors note: This is assuming the reader/Julie can touch Reggie and the other phantoms. Maybe takes place after season one??

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

The band always joked that they never saw me without a book.

And that was true. I never went anywhere without one. Even in the loudest of concert halls and quietest of libraries I was always found to be immersed in the stories and words people had published. Teachers would get annoyed but they loved me because I stayed quiet and did my work on time. Who could complain about that? There are so many good books out there, and I wanted to read as many as I could before I died. 

Band practices could get noisy. Even reading in there was hard for me to do, but maybe that was because I wanted to watch them practice their new songs and solos for their next performance in LA. 

“Woah guys look, (Y/n) isn’t reading!” Luke laughed.

“It’s a miracle, welcome back to the real world,” Flynn said. I shoved her shoulder playfully before tucking my book into my bag. Julie brought the band’s attention back to practice and they started on the next song. 

I clapped as they hit the last chord of the song. Reggie flipped his hair back and smiled. I tried my hardest not to stare at him as the beating of my heart increased suddenly.

“Alright guys, let’s take a break. I’m starving,” Julie said.

They all sat down in the chairs around the garage. I pulled my book out of my bag and went back to reading the story. Reggie stumbled over and plopped down on the couch beside me, he then leaned over and put his head in my lap.

“Whatcha reading?” he smiled.

I looked down, amused at his actions, “To Kill a Mockingbird. My English teacher said she’d give me extra credit if I could read it by tomorrow and take a pop quiz on it.”

“So you just started it today?”

“Yeah,” I shrugged, “I’m only halfway through it.”

“I wish I could read like you do,” Reggie said, he reached up to smooth his hair back and I swear my heart stopped for a second.

“You just haven’t found the right books to read.”

Reggie shrugged and nodded. I went back to reading. I didn’t realize how much time had passed so I was kinda shocked when I looked down to see Reggie asleep on my lap. His hair had fallen in his face. 

I looked around to make sure no one was looking, only Flynn was in the garage now and she was playing on her phone. I bit my lip, reaching down and brushing his hair back. He mumbled something in his sleep.

We were interrupted by Julie, Luke, and Alex coming back into the garage with boxes of pizza. 

“Aw look at the love birds,” Luke said, Julie laughed as she saw Reggie fast asleep in my lap. 

“Shhh! You’re gonna wake him up,” I said.

They giggled and sat the food down. When they weren’t looking I played with Reggie’s hair some more. Eventually, he started to stir.

“Pizza?” he grumbled.

I laughed, “Yes Reggie, there’s pizza over there.”

He stood up and grabbed two plates, filling them with pizza before handing one to me.

“Thank you, sir,” I said. He sat back down beside me and we dug in.

Julie locked eyes with me and started making kissy faces. I stuck my tongue out at her.

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

After practice, I decided to go back home so I could finish my book in peace. 

Which that peace didn’t last for long, because after a few minutes Reggie poofed into my room scaring me so bad the book fell out of my hand.

“Reggie! Now I lost my place,” I pouted.

“Aw, I’m sorry (Y/n),” he frowned, “I just wanted to ask you if you wanted to have a movie night.” 

(Y/n) sighed, “Reggie, I really have to finish this.”

“(Y/nnnnnn) come on! You got all day tomorrow to finish it, English is your last class,” Reggie groaned. He laid down and spread out on the bed on top of her. 

I rolled my eyes, but he was right. I reached over and placed the book on the nightstand. Reggie grabbed my hand and placed it on his head.

Laughing I started to scratch his head lightly and play with his hair, “What do you wanna watch?”

“I don’t know, I love Star Wars.”

“Have you watched The Mandalorian yet?” I asked.

Reggie looked at me confused, “No?”

I clicked onto Disney+on my laptop and searched for The Mandalorian. I put it on and put the remote back on the bed. Reggie sat up to wrap his arm around me and pulling me close to him. I tried to push my hair into my face to hide the blush that was quickly forming.

“Is... this okay?” he asked slowly.

I squeaked out, “Yeah.”

His attention was turned back to the show as Mando shot someone who attacked him. Slowly I felt myself get tired as we watched episode after episode. I can’t even remember when I fell asleep but all I remember is that Reggie leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

“I love you (Y/n),” he whispered.

I paused, debating on if I wanted to say something back. I had nothing to lose, so I looked up at him and said, “I love you too.”

Reggie jumped at the sound of my voice but he smiled soon after. I tucked my head back into his chest and fell asleep in his embrace.

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

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