#It's never too late to change teams before they do the same to you pierre | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

lightsovermonaco · 4 years ago

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His Good Sweater: Chapter 10

Masterlist

Shoutout to my bestie @acollectionofficsandshit for all the drunk comments she made while betaing this one... Wish you guys could see them lol

Word Count: 4.8k

Recommended song: “Amnesia" by 5SOS

Pierre paces in his dinky trailer at the Circuit of the Americas and desperately tries to forget you exist. He had already taken down the pictures on the wall but the images were burned into his brain. He had shoved your shirt under his bed, having absolutely no idea how it had made its way halfway around the world to taunt him.

He was slowly unraveling like a spool of thread on a loom as you wove him irrevocably into the tapestry of your life.

The race in Austin started in less than two hours and you hadn't texted him. Not once in the handful of years he'd known you had you neglected to wish him luck before a race, even if it was 2 am your time or you had exams, you always took thirty seconds to warn him to be safe and finish well.

He was beginning to think you hated him for how he'd acted at the gala last weekend, jealous and possessive from afar. Talking to you would have been the better choice. But seeing you laugh and dance the night away had hurt too much. He’d slipped out early after Victoria assured him she could find a ride and sped home to fall apart.

He had only barely managed to piece himself together in time for the race.

Pierre checks his phone for the third time in as many minutes and swears under his breath. He didn't know why he expected it to ring and for your face to pop up at this point. Even if you called to tear into him, he'd still fall to his knees at the sound of your voice. He just wanted to hear you speak, didn't care what was said, only that he could latch onto your words and lose himself in them.

Hope sparks when his phone chimes but he nearly throws it across the trailer when he sees Charles' name.

Heard from her yet?

No. At this point I'm beginning to think I never will again.

Maybe she fell asleep early?

It's 5 pm in London. I'll bet you she's eating a bowl of takeout from the Chinese place down the street, not sleeping.

Its still possible. Don't dwell on it. This isn't the headspace you wanna be in before a race. Block it out. I don't wanna see my best friend wind up hurt today.

Pierre didn't reply, if only because Charles was right. Worrying would get him nowhere. After his shitty qualifying yesterday, he started thirteenth on the grid so he had his work cut out for him. Austin offered plenty of opportunity for overtakes; he could get the job done if his team made the right calls.

And if he made it to the podium, you would have to text him.

The thin mattress groans when he sits to unlace his hastily tied race boots. He folds his legs to sit criss cross and places his palms on his knees. The familiar pose already has some of the tension leaving his shoulders as his eyes slide shut. He breathes in for ten seconds, reflecting on what ails him. He holds the breath for five seconds before releasing it slowly.

He repeats the process until he comes to terms with the fact that you won't be wishing him luck. That was your choice; there was nothing he could do about it and therefore no sense reading into it. He had done all he could to convince you to trust him. The ball was in your court; he had to be patient and wait for you to take a shot.

“Focus,” he murmurs to himself, forcing any erroneous thoughts from his head. “Walk through the track.”

The circuit at Austin was challenging, consisting of a mix of 20 sweeping corners and scattered hairpins. He was almost lucky in a way to be starting so far back on the grid because turn one was only a few hundred meters from pole and their tires would be slightly colder and less grippy upon arrival than his would be. The few extra seconds afforded to him by starting thirteenth could mean the opportunity to leap frog past his rivals in the first corner.

The counterclockwise circuit meant he would have to keep an eye on his front left tire too, as it would wear faster than the others. He'd change gears an average of 66 times per lap, higher than similar length tracks like Monaco. Pit stops cost an average of nineteen seconds, meaning he would need to build a significant gap to the driver chasing him in order to avoid the threat of any undercuts.

There were too many variables occupying space in his mind to afford you a sliver of it.

Some time later he decides that his four leaf clover tucked safely in the worn leather of his wallet will provide all the luck he needs and switches on his pre race playlist after popping in his ear buds.

"Sights on the podium," he murmurs to himself, hand on the doorknob. "Let's race."

The bass flows through him as his feet carry him to the Alpha Tauri garage on autopilot, through the back entrance and to his plain white driver room. The familiar beats are a numbing salve spread on his frayed nerves, his anticipation rising like a crimson wave in his veins. He leaves his clothes in a haphazard heap in the corner and changes into the white fireproofs hanging nearby, thoughts momentarily veering to you knocking on the door and stripping them right back off.

Shaking his head to clear his mind, he runs through his usual stretch sets until Pyry arrives to walk him through reflex exercises.

"How's your head?" Pyry asks, running him through more cool down stretches. "Do we need to take a minute and do some meditation?"

"Beat you to it," Pierre grunts out, pushing back against the hand on his head to work his neck. "I'm good."

"You sound better than you have all week, I'll give you that. Keep that focus, use it to propel yourself forward."

"Run me through the lineup again," Pierre requests, "I need something else to think about."

Because if he let his mind follow the path it wanted to, it would inevitably lead to you and undo the work he had done to avoid that. He needed to be empty of anything that wasn't racing, anything else was an unnecessary distraction that had the potential to end in disaster.

Pyry rattles off the grid in order of who Pierre needs to overtake, pausing between each name to give him time to recall their driving styles and potential chinks in their armor to exploit. He knew from tapes of previous years that Stroll often ran wide into turn one, giving Pierre the option to brake late and sweep up the inside. Vettel was half convinced the track was cursed, so his mind would work against him enough that Pierre could exploit it and get past at some point. He continued until he got to Hamilton and Max locking out the front row, where he would need a bit of luck to overtake.

"You got it?" Pyry asks, stepping back.

Pierre rolls his shoulders and nods.

"Get shit done mate," Pyry says and bumps fists with his driver. He slips out to allow Pierre a moment to center himself before slipping into his race suit, leaving it half unzipped and tying it around his waist before following his trainer.

Pyry leads the way to where the matte navy and white car waits, mechanics swarming it like studious worker bees tending to their queen. No one talks to him save his engineer because words from anyone else threaten to break his carefully constructed race mentality. If they wanted him to bring home points, they knew to leave him alone once he was suited up.

His mind is blank of anything but statistics as he twists his ear buds in and pulls on his balaclava and helmet. As his vision narrows to the sliver of track he can see through his visor, so does his focus. With forty minutes to lights out, he's directed out onto the track. He rips the wheel to the right as he exits the garage, getting a decent powerslide for his efforts.

There was no doubt in his mind that he would land on the podium, if only to see the look on your face when he did.

**********

It took an unfathomable amount of restraint to keep yourself from calling Pierre to wish him luck.

You texted Max instead, wishing him a safe and comfortable podium a half hour before lights out. He hadn't responded, likely already in the garage with his trainer going through his pre race routine.

The pace Max had set the day before had awarded him pole position and the margin between him and Hamilton had been enough that you were confident in his ability to hold off the Mercedes for all fifty six laps.

If you were honest with yourself, you were disappointed that the Alpha Tauri you so desperately tried to ignore would be starting in thirteenth. You try not to think about it, instead queueing up SkySports and opening your laptop for pre race coverage. You avoid the interviews in favor of listening to the commentators analyze the grid.

"It should be an easy win for Max as long as he fends off Hamilton until the first round of pit stops. The undercut works well here, as Red Bull proved last year, and I'm sure they plan on doing the same thing this year."

You hum in agreement, gingerly sipping your steaming tea. You really ought to consider a career as a sportscaster at this point based on how often you came to the same conclusions they did.

"I think one of the biggest shakeups is Russell starting all the way up in eleventh after his amazing qualifying for Williams yesterday. Think he can hold onto that position?"

"He's got some fierce competition not far behind in the form of Alpha Tauri. Gasly starts thirteenth- surprisingly far back on the grid given the otherwise flawless performance he's shown this year. But it seems likely that he should be able to overtake-"

You flick the tv on mute, unable to stomach listening to them sing his praises. You numb your mind with social media until the Formula 1 theme plays on your laptop, alerting you that there's a few minutes until race start. Tire blankets are peeled off and the drivers weave their way through the formation lap with the exception of Kimi who takes his traditional straight line approach to warm up his supersoft tires.

Most of the front runners are on ultrasofts, indicating a two stop strategy. It was Pirelli's recommended approach, and you were glad that Horner heeded their advice for once and let Max use the ultras in Q2. It would give Max the upper hand over Hamilton who starts on the yellow sidewall tire and thus slightly slower lap times.

Crofty and Brundle break down the notable turns as the cars line up on the grid, pointing out the sharp hairpin only a few hundred meters from pole position. If Max got away clean, he would be ahead of the cramped pack and have an even better edge over the silver arrows who would be forced to queue behind him.

The traditional "lights out and away we go" kicks off the grand prix, engines roaring into the first turn. Max does manage to get away clean and is awarded with an immediate advantage. Turn one proves tragic for the Alfa Romeo of Raikonnen and the Asthon Martin of Stroll who collide and cause Kimi to spin. They rejoin at the back of the pack, your eyes snagging on the navy and white of an Alpha Tauri as it streams past.

Your heart spins in a similar fashion when the GAS driver tag leaps up two places in the timing table, suddenly in eleventh due to the incident. Your gaze snaps to the laptop humming on your legs before you remember its Max's driver cam you queued up. The Dutchman is silent as his engineer relays information about the incident and informs him of the widening gap between those chasing him.

“Confirm received,” Gianpiero says calmly. No matter the situation or how heated Max got, he always kept his head. It was what made the duo such a good match and had likely kept Max from going off the rails on more than one occasion.

“Yeah,” Max says shortly, clearly pissed about how quickly Hamilton was approaching. “Let me know when I’ve got enough charge to get out of range.”

“Yep, will do. Just keep this pace and you’ll hold him at bay.”

Live coverage replays the incident between Stroll and Raikonnen from the view of onboard with Pierre. The instant the 10 on the halo appears in the center of your screen you suck in a breath. He yanks the wheel to avoid colliding with Ocon, who had to do the same to keep from hitting his teammate as they navigate through the carnage.

You chew on your lip and try to refocus on the battle between the front runners. Not much is happening in the midfield for the next thirty or so laps and Max just barely manages to build a solid enough gap between himself and Hamilton to dive into the pits comfortably without losing places.

Your phone rings and you answer it without checking who it was as the only person you wouldn't answer was currently occupied.

"Hello?"

"Why the fuck didn't they pit Daniel?!"

You grin, noting the blistering beginning on his front left tire as SkySports switches to his onboard camera. "Because he's about to pass Charles," you tell Dan's girlfriend. She didn't call you often during races. It was likely that she knew you were nearing your wits end and this was her way of offering support.

"He won't be able to with those tires- oh." She breaks off when Daniel passes a DRS detection zone and his rear wing opens, allowing him to pass the Monegasque with ease.

"Told you," you say with a touch of reprimand. "You're always too nervous about those things. Daniel knows how to drive, just trust him to get the job done and he'll bring home another trophy for your apartment."

"I don't live here," she points out and you roll your eyes. She had lived in London as long as you had known her, but she was almost always at Daniel's apartment whether he was in town or not. Daniel digs in as the camera follows him for a lap, highlighting the widening gap between the McLaren and the Ferrari.

"You basically do. At this point, you're paying rent for a dusty one bedroom apartment on the east side that you set foot in maybe once a month." She scoffs but you push on, "a waste of sterling if you ask me, when you're at Daniel's every time I ask you to do anything."

"You act like I never- there goes Pierre!"

His name sparks dread in your gut as your attention flicks back to the screen in time to see him overtake Bottas on the inside of turn one. He'd managed to claw up to fifth with the move, somehow gaining places while you weren't looking.

"Good for him," you croak, trying your best to be genuinely happy for him. He was pushing the car to the limit and you'd be amazed if he didn't wind up on the podium along with Dan and Max. Charles and Hamilton were the only ones in his way, and something told you Charles wouldn’t put up much of a fight when his mate reached his gearbox. Hamilton would prove a challenge but he had been making tiny mistakes all day. Nothing significant, though enough to add up to him barely holding onto second while Daniel rode his gearbox.

"He's got ten laps to get past those two," she murmurs as if momentarily forgetting you were on the phone.

"Can we talk about literally anything else please?" You whisper, half tempted to shut off the race completely.

"Babe, you have to face the music at some point. Either you never want to see him again or you love him, which is it?"

She never failed to be anything but brutally honest. You appreciate it because everyone else let you brush off your problems, but she called you on your bullshit. She would needle you about it until you folded.

"I think it's better for both of us if I pretend we never met, don't you?"

"Easier for you, yes," she agrees. "But it'll kill Pierre. You don't think you could keep in touch with him, just as friends?"

"I don't know if I can handle that. I can barely look at him without wanting to bawl my eyes out."

She sighs, pausing to contemplate what to say. Voice soft, she continues, "Why don't you just take him back? Clearly it's ruining both of you. Are you really gonna let the press wreck the best you ever had? I know its hard but-"

"I'm not like you," you cut in. "I can't just ignore the articles and the comments and pretend there aren't people out there that hate me for being with him. They came to my house, disrupted my family. Hell, Ben can't even go to school without being mobbed by his classmates demanding answers. If my suffering is what allows my family to go about their lives then so be it."

"If that's what you wanna believe."

You sigh, tangling your fingers in the hem of your shirt. "It is."

"Alright," she says, voice teetering on a knife's edge. "I know better than to try to change your mind when you're like this. He's on the podium by the way. Oh, and watch what you say to Max- Pierre will read into it."

She hangs up without a goodbye, leaving you to deal with the realization that the podium is indeed VER RIC GAS on your own. Your eyes are glued to the Red Bull and McLaren drivers, blatantly ignoring the one in the white suit as the anthems play and the champagne is sprayed, turning away to busy yourself with making coffee when Daniel hands his liquid filled race boot to third place.

You weren't quite sure how you were supposed to watch what you said to Max- there was no reason to in your mind. Max was your next closest friend on the grid and you had every right to congratulate him if you wanted to.

Resolute in your decision, you text Max and Daniel a quick congratulations before shutting off the TV and closing your laptop.

Max's insane custom ringtone he'd selected for himself nearly makes you jump out of your skin when it blares from your phone.

"Hey great race-"

"Did you see it? I wasn't sure if you'd watch it- did you see my move on Hamilton when he tried to get past me?" He was talking a mile a minute like he was still out on track. "I was like- and then Dan tried to overtake me on the final lap and I was like no way! And then-"

"Max," you chime in, dragging out the 'a' with a sing-song voice. "You're rambling."

"Oh right. Yeah but I made it! Led every lap and finished with another win."

"That's great." You force as much enthusiasm in the words as possible, trying to match his chaotic energy. "You did great. I know it probably doesn't mean much, but I'm proud to be your friend. You beat a world champ!"

"It means a lot-"

"Who's that?"

You stiffen at the familiar cadence. You had assumed Max was back in the garage when he called, but he must have still been in the podium room. You could picture him in his race suit, smudges of grease and dirt staining the pristine white. Beads of sweat probably ran down his neck, begging to be brushed away by your tongue.

"Uh, no one," Max says in a lame attempt to cover up his digression. "I gotta go," he whispers to you.

"Let me talk-"

"Wait don't," you start, but the call ends abruptly and you blink. You stare down at your phone, completely dumbfounded. Of course his instinct would be to talk to you, to share the euphoria of a podium with you. It was the first victory in three years he wouldn't have you to celebrate with.

It was only a matter of time until his resolve popped like the cork on his champagne.

**********

Pierre's phone is in his hand as soon as Max hangs up. He hefts his trophy in the other, a wild grin on his sweaty face as he snaps a picture. He makes sure he's the only one in the frame, shamelessly wanting himself to be the center of your attention.

"Mate," Daniel pipes up, catching his eye, "you think that's a good idea?"

Pierre sighs, cutting the Australian a glare. "I'm just trying to fill her in."

"Wasn't your plan to give her space?"

"It's been a week, isn't that long enough?"

"Take it from me, sometimes it takes months for someone to figure things out. Hell, you know how long it took me to sort through my feelings for-"

"I know," Pierre cuts in. "I know. I just- a snap can't hurt can it? C'mon, I just got a podium! If it goes bad I can blame it on the post race jitters."

Daniel holds up his hands and shrugs. "You're a grown man. Do what you want."

Pierre studies the photo, scrutinizing the way his hair was plastered to his head and the awkward way he'd posed to keep anyone but himself out of the frame. It's his genuine smile that he knows will do you in, and ultimately the reason he sends it.

His phone is a lead weight clutched in his grip as he winds through the paddock, constantly stopped by vips and team members congratulating him. None of what anyone says registers, he just tries his best to match their mood and sputter praises about his team's contributions to his podium.

The snap you finally send back is only from the eyes up, but it's enough. He's surrounded by people in his driver room, but for ten seconds it might as well have just been him staring at a sliver of your face on a screen.

The tiny lines at the corners of your shining eyes tell him you're smiling, which is a step in the right direction even if you won't let him see your entire face. It's enough to reignite the hope that slumbered in his chest while waiting for you to pull the trigger and make a move.

He sends back a video of the people in the room, who cheer when they realize they're being filmed. 'Wish you were here,' is what he captions it and sends it without giving himself a chance to overthink.

Ten minutes pass with no reply.

The beer he’s already consumed have given him a pleasant buzz as well as an excuse to make a bad decision or two. He takes another video of the room to post to his Instagram story, 'Missing you' written in the lower left corner.

Fuck, he hopes you'll see it and regret leaving him on read. Instead all he gets is a text from Charles chastising him for stirring up drama.

Really Pierre?

Blame it on the alcohol, he texts back.

I know you aren’t drunk. You can’t form a coherent sentence when you are.

Guess i gotta drink more then

Pierre doesn’t turn anyone bearing alcohol away. He's two celebratory shots deep when Daniel finds him sulking in a corner. "You've got my girl texting me freaking out over your story. I've seen it and I gotta agree with her. Was that really necessary?"

"She left me on read," Pierre says like that was enough explanation. His head was spinning and it was getting hard to keep the room upright. "And it's the truth. I miss her like hell. I want her here. She was supposed to come, you know? I was gonna have her fly in with me on the jet. She doesn't start class again until June. I had this whole week planned out. I was gonna show her Texas- she’s from New York and..."

He trails off when he notes Dan’s pitying smile. Daniel sighs and runs a hand through his curls. "I know. I get it, okay? I know it's hard but you can't force it. You've gotta let her come back on her own, all you're doing now is pushing her away."

He was fucking clueless when it came to these things. He'd had you for a few precious moments and now that he'd lost you he didn't know how to act. His mind was running on hazy autopilot; he barely knew which way was up, let alone did he trust himself to make any sort of important decision.

He stares down at the shot he'd been handed at some point before throwing it back. The cheap whiskey burns his throat but he barely registers the sting. "Should I take it down?"

"She already saw it," Daniel says gently, as if he anticipates how bad the fuck up will hurt. And it does. It hits him like a tire wall at two hundred kph, knowing that you were probably ranting or crying on the phone with Daniel’s girlfriend. "But yeah, that's probably best. People are already wondering what happened between you two, no need to throw fuel on the fire."

"You're probably right-" Pierre cuts off when Charles arrives with a grimace on his face. He shakes his head and gives his friend’s shoulder a squeeze.

"For once I'm not the dumb one."

"You're a dick, you know that right?" Daniel says, allowing Pierre to delete the post. It takes him a few tries before he gets it down, but undeniably rumors will be circulating in the morning if they weren’t already.

"Honestly what were you thinking?" Charles demands, edging towards full blown yelling. "I told you to leave her be. The gossip stemming from this isn’t gonna help.”

The last thing he needed was someone else telling him how stupid his decision had been. At least Daniel had the decency to show sympathy.

"Honestly?" Pierre responds with the same intensity, his anger flaring. "Honestly, Charles, I was thinking that she was happy for me but was too afraid to take the leap. She haunts me. Every second I’m awake I have to force myself away from her. Even when I’m asleep I can’t get away from her. So I don’t know, maybe I wanted to haunt her too."

“This isn’t the way you win her back and you know it.”

“I know!” Pierre throws up his hands. “But what else am I supposed to do? She won’t talk to me. She has no problem talking to Max or Daniel but apparently she draws the line at me.”

“You know it’s not-” Daniel's eyes flick to his phone and he fights back a grin. All it does is remind Pierre that he lost the person that could bring that sort of smile to his own face. "Fellas I wish I could stay and help but I gotta get going. Charles, I think Pierre needs another drink." He slaps five American dollars in the Monegasque's hand. "First one is on me."

Pierre is too deep in a spiral to care when his friend drags him from the party to a bar just south of the circuit. Somehow it was within walking distance; the floor was sticky and the lighting was for shit but he didn't care.

Pierre's focus was on downing shot after shot, erasing the broken image of you his mind had conjured up. He never should have posted the story. It only served to feed into what the media had been speculating for the past week and dredged up more tension between you.

Pierre stops checking his phone two shots later. The liquor provides a wet blanket over his senses, dousing him in cold water and scrambling his brain. He could barely remember his own name, but yours still lived in the corner of his mind.

Even drunk, he refused to forget you.

Two hours and who knows how much alcohol later, Charles helps Pierre back to his hotel room.

Pierre falls asleep as soon as he hits the mattress, head too blurry to dredge up memories of you.

#are you feeling the angst yet #pierre gasly #pierre gasly X reader #formula 1 #f1 #formula 1 imagine #f1 imagine #formula 1 fanfiction #formula 1 fantasy #f1 fanfic #f1 fanfiction #f1 fic #f1 fantasy #formula 1 fanfic #formula 1 fic #formula 1 rpf #f1 rpf #pierre gasly imagine #pierre gasly fanfiction

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ipuckwithhockey · 4 years ago

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Always In Your Corner- Part 4

a/n: Originally this chapter was going to be a little longer, but I’m not satisfied with the second half so I decided to go ahead and post. Sorry about the long wait! Please ignore my grammar mistakes. I hope y’all enjoy! Let me know what you think!

Summary: You were happily engaged to your perfect boyfriend when everything came tumbling down on you. The person you turned to just so happened to be your long time friend, Boone Jenner. The ever loyal Boone is there to help you get back on your feet. Little did you know, Boone had been pining after you for all these years, he’s just not sure if you’ll ever feel the same way about him.

Warnings: mentions of cheating, swearing, drinking

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Almost a year later…

The season wasn’t quite under way yet, but everyone was back in Columbus for camp and preseason. The summer without Boone was a long one, but it was good for you to be independent after relying on him for so long. You still talked everyday and he came back to Ohio a couple of times to visit. Since he got back you’ve been spending more and more time together. Boone would be lying if he said that one of his trips back to Columbus was just for a voluntary charity event. He would have used any excuse to be back in the city with you.

You had grown a lot since you walked out on Craig. Living on your own was a hard transition but you got the hang of it. You were starting to find the head strong and excited girl you used to know. You also felt like you had finally started becoming your own person, independent from a man. For the first time you did what you wanted, when you wanted, and you loved that part. There were always days that were harder than others, but you had come along way, and you were proud of yourself.

The first time you ran into Craig was definitely one of the hard days.

It was nearly six months after you had walked out, and shortly after Columbus had been knocked out of the playoffs. You were walking out of a coffee shop one morning when you saw Craig, hand in hand with Chelsea. They looked happy and if you hadn’t known them you would have thought they made a cute couple, but you did know them. You knew that she was the girl who your fiancé had slept with. You also knew, that the blame couldn’t just be put on her. Craig made the choice just as consciously as she had.

You thought that if you looked down and didn’t say anything they may not even notice you, but just as you passed them you heard Craig’s voice, “Y/N? Is that you?”

“Oh hey! I didn’t even see you guys!” You probably seemed too eager, but they were both being overtly nice too.

“Wow, I didn’t even recognize you at first.” Craig was probably referencing the hard work you had been putting in at the gym over the last few months, in an attempt to help yourself get back on track.

“Your hair is a lot longer, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it styled like that.” Chelsea was now referencing your grown out hair that you recently added some highlights to. You knew she was trying hard to make polite conversation. You hadn’t been dying to do go full on break up bangs, but you figured some fresh color couldn’t hurt.

“It looks really good,” Craig was looking at you, and you knew he was looking at you in a way a taken man shouldn’t be looking at a single girl. You knew that look, proving that you still knew parts of him like the back of your hand. But the thing was, he was never a huge fan of your hair when it was long. Once he even said that he thought you should keep you hair short like some celebrity he had seen on tv. You always thought it was kind of sweet that he cared about little things like how your hair was, but now you saw how controlling he was.

You wanted to be the bigger person, you wanted to just let it go, but you couldn’t, “That’s funny, you never liked my hair when it was long,” You let out a laugh as a weak attempt at keeping it light. You could tell Chelsea was uncomfortable and Craig was searching for the right thing to say. “Well, it was good seeing you guys, but I’ve really got to run!” You gave a fake smile and made your way back down the street to where you had parked your car.

Finally, you got to the car and you slammed your door shut behind you. In the silence of your car, your strong facade was stripped away, and you felt tears pierce the corners of your eyes. Feelings of sadness, embarrassment, and anger filled you to the brim. For months you had been working on recovering from your downfall, and in this moment you couldn’t help but feel like it was all for nothing.

It’s like Boone knows when you need him, and you felt your phone vibrate in the pocket of your jacket. When you looked down and saw that it was him you automatically answered it, “Hey B, what’s up? Miss me already?” You tried to hide your uneven breathing caused by your sobs from a few seconds ago, but it did little to deter from the fact that you had been crying.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen? I’ll get on the next flight to Columb-“

“Boone, I’m fine. Really. I just ran into Craig and Chelsea, and I know it’s stupid, but it just sucked seeing them together and now I’m just crying in my car, and I’m pretty sure I freaked out some little kid when he walked by because I look scary when I ugly cry.” You stumbled your way through the rest of the story and Boone did his best to understand you through your crying and hiccups. When you first went to stay with Boone, you had been reluctant to share things with him, not wanting to overshare or burden him with too much. Now, you were more comfortable talking with him, even if he did have to pry a little at first.

“I’m not sure if I got all of that, but fuck him. He’s a loser and so is that Chelsea bitch. I wouldn’t care what you did with your hair. Your hair is great, don’t get me wrong, but it isn’t the only reason you’re beautiful. You’re a good person, and you’re probably the smartest person I know. You’re funny, even though I hate to admit it.n Plus, you’ve got killer friends, like me. I meant it when I said I would come back. If you need me, I’m there. You know that.”

You of course hadn’t asked him to come back, but take note that his protective manner towards you has definitely grown over the last few months. After reassuring him that you were going to be fine, you decided that you weren’t going to wallow in this. It was in the past, and you knew then more than ever, that you had made the correct decision in leaving Craig.

Tonight, Alexander’s girlfriend Felicia, was throwing a party for his birthday. As always you were invited, and Janelle had insisted that you come. This was their last big hurrah before the season started, and most the mom’s in the group had made sure to get babysitters for the special occasion.

The “small party” you were invited to didn’t seem that small when you arrived. The house party was full of people you didn’t recognize and it wasn’t until you made it to the kitchen that you found some familiar faces.

“HEYY! Y/N! YOU CAME!!” Pierre and some of the other guys cheered and pulled you into hugs as you entered the kitchen.

“I don’t think Janelle really gave me a choice.” You’re laughing but everyone standing around knows that it’s true. She can be very persuasive.

Pierre starts making you a drink when you feel an arm come around your side. You don’t even have to look beside you to know that it’s Boone. You take in his scent and the safety of his arms settle you in this crazy party setting.

“Hey, there you are.” He greets you.

“Hey,” The way Boone looks down at you makes your heart rate rise. Lately, you’ve been feeling differently around Boone, and it’s taking everything in you to suppress those feelings, especially with Boone’s arm hanging around your body. You wonder if he’s noticed that your hugs have been a little longer and that you keep to his side more often. You try to tell yourself that it’s because you have become closer friends, and not because you might have feelings for him.

“So, who’s going to claim me for their beer pong team?” You ask the room, and all the guys jump at the offer. You were known as a pretty big competitor on the Jacket’s beer pong circuit. Usually Josh would rope you into being his partner, but tonight Boone seemed eager to draft you for his team.

An hour later, you and Boone have basically defeated all of your worthy opponents, and you part ways to get a new drink. Josh and Seth wave down Boone to come join their conversation.

“So what’s going on man?” Seth asks.

“What do you mean? I just kicked your ass in beer pong!” Boone chirps back at Seth knowing that’s not what he’s talking about. The guys, and even some of the girls have asked him about the status of your relationship. The thing is, nothing has actually changed.

When Boone got back to Columbus a couple weeks ago you started to hang out almost everyday. Whenever either of you had time free, you were together. The ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ hugs seemed to linger longer, as did the accidental touches, and cuddling on the couch.

“Dude, what’s going on with you and Y/N? You guys both look at each other with heart eyes. It’s disgusting, but it would be better if you just made a fucking move. At least just fuck already! I think everybody in here can feel the awkward sexual tension!” Josh is chiming in now, and the alcohol he has consumed is making him a little more liberal with his words.

“Fuck off man. We’ve barely even seen each other in the past four months. I’m not sure if she’s ready to date at all, let alone wants to date me.” Boone chooses to ignore the “fucking” suggestion.

“Booner, I say this with the utmost respect, but you’re a fucking idiot.” Seth just pats him on the back and leaves the two other guys to talk.

While Boone goes to hang with the boys, some of the WAGs pull you into their conversations. Eventually Felicia pops the same question, “So, what’s going on with you and Boone?” Everyone is quick to turn to you with big eyes, waiting for a big reveal that isn’t going to come. “Nothing, we’re just friends.” You shrug and hope that they will leave it alone. You had been feeling differently about Boone lately, but you couldn’t let yourself think about it that way. He was your friend, and he helped you get back on your feet when the world’s biggest asshole cheated on you. You probably just thought you liked him because he was so nice to you. He would do anything for you because he’s your friend, not because he has feelings for you.

“Ok, you can keep living in denial, but all of us will be over here waiting for you guys to get your shit together and just confess your love to one another!” Janelle has been on you about this since they got back to Columbus, saying that you needed to get back out there, and that Boone was perfect for you. She insisted that he had feelings for you too, but you knew she was just determined to get you back into the dating scene.

Boone watches you from across the party and wonders what you are talking about. He thinks about how well you fit into his life here in Columbus. Natalie Atkinson must have said something funny, causing you to laugh. He loved watching you throw your head back when you laughed. For a long time after Craig he wasn’t sure when the next time he would see that would be.

He didn’t want to seem too clingy, especially with the guys already on his back about the two of you, so he tried to keep a safe distance for most of the night. He made sure to keep an eye on you for two reasons: one being he wanted to make sure you were safe and the second being the fact that he quite literally couldn’t help himself from watching you.

Throughout most of the night you talk with the other girls, but somehow Pierre and Tex pulled you into doing shots. It was nice to let your hair down a bit, but your alcohol tolerance wasn’t anywhere close to that of the hockey players you were trying to keep up with. It’s not until almost 2am that Boone finds his way back to your side. Somehow Boone had been pulled into a deep debate over whether or not a hotdog was a sandwich, and had missed you getting pulled into doing shots. When he glanced around the room to find you he didn’t see you, so he went to see if you were in the kitchen. That’s where he found you, multiple shots in, with Pierre and Tex.

“Hey, where have you been?” Your words are definitely slurring, and you can’t stop yourself from wrapping your arms around his neck. He looks so good tonight and your inhibitions have been clouded with alcohol.

“I’ve been here the whole time, but it looks like these guys have gotten you into some trouble.” Pierre and Tex are trying to play coy and leave the two of you in the kitchen before they get scolded anymore. You’re just trying to focus on Boone and not on the fact that his hands are balancing you on your hips.

“Well I missed you,” not able to control your tongue, some honest thoughts escape your mouth.

“I missed you too, but we should probably get you home.” He laughs.

Boone, ever the responsible adult, stopped drinking a while ago and was planning on driving home. The two of you say your goodbyes as you continue to hang onto his sturdy arm.

“Do you need help getting in the car?”

“No. I can do it!” The false sense of confidence that was induced from alcohol gave way when you tried to lift your leg to the car step. You about fell on your ass. Boone was of course there to catch you, and help you into the car. He makes sure you’re all buckled in before he hops in the driver’s seat, and pulls out of the drive.

“Hey Boone?” You move your head to face him and you admire the way his beard is perfectly trimmed to emphasize the outline of his strong jaw. He’s just so goddamn handsome under the lights that line the streets of downtown Columbus.

“Yes?”

“Can we go back to your place? Cus, it’s just that, your bed is so much comfier than mine, like it’s just so warm and cozy. And it smells so good.”

He can’t help but laugh at how cute and small you sound, “Sure, but you know you have the same mattress at your house, right?” He glances over to see you staring up at him.

“Yeah, I know. But it’s not the same….”

“…Hey B, you’re pretty handsome, you know that? Like you’re kind of a total man rocket.” He can’t help but laugh, but your confession lingers in his mind. Maybe you did feel something for him…

You can’t really stop yourself now, words are falling out of your mouth without warning. “You’re like way hotter than Craig ever was. AAND you’re so nice. Like what’s with guys being selfish assholes all the time? But you’re not like that. You’re one of the good ones. Some girl is gonna be really really lucky one day.”

Once your rant is over neither of you say much else until you pull into Boone’s apartment. You’ve dozed off, and Boone is careful not to wake you as he picks you up out of the passenger seat. When he makes it into the apartment he brings you to his room and sets you gently on the bed. He works to take your shoes off and moves around quietly, getting ready for bed.

“Hey B?”

Your whisper startles Boone at first, but he moves over to check on you, sitting on the edge of the bed, “Yeah? What’s up?”

“You’re not gonna leave are you?” The look in your glazed over eyes could have broken his heart. He wasn’t ever going to leave you.

“Not if you don’t want me too.” You give him a soft smile back as he moves to turn the light off. When he gets into bed, you roll over to snuggle into his side, and his natural reaction is to wrap his arms around you. The way your bodies fold into each other feels so right, and even though you’re halfway passed out, you can’t help but feel a sense of serenity wash over you.

Just as you’re about to fall back to sleep you ask again, “Hey B?”

“mhmm?”

“I love you.”

#boone jenner #columbus blue jackets #boone jenner fic #hockey fic #nhl fic #hockey imagine #always in your corner fic

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caitlesshea · 4 years ago

Text

die for you in secret

“James? Is that you?”

Sébastien calls as he looks up from his garden and sees the lights in the house turn on.

The garden was his therapists idea after he had expressed an interest during a session. James had readily agreed and now their backyard is filled with flowers and trees.

It’s where Sébastien spends most of his time when James is working. Or when he’s on a job with Sébastien’s family, the one that Sébastien hasn’t seen in almost a decade.

Exile.

He started out alone, and then about six months in he showed up on James’ doorstep, drunk and soaked from the rain looking like a drowned rat.

That was ten years ago.

He puts down his gardening shears and takes off his gloves, eager to see James after three weeks away.

“James?” He calls again as he steps into the house from the back door. The kitchen lights are on and he can hear someone walking around. “You better not be trying to cook.”

Sébastien rounds the corner into the kitchen and he’s met, not with the sight of his husband, but with the barrel of a gun.

“What?”

“Who are you? Why are you in my house?” James asks in an eerily calm voice Sébastien’s only heard a couple of times, and never directed at him.

“James. Put that down!”

“Who are you? Why are you in my house?”

“It’s me, Sébastien.”

“I don’t know anyone named Sébastien.” James growls as he moves closer with the gun.

And okay. Not great.

“James, lower the gun.”

“No.”

Sébastien puts his hands up in an I’m not a threat gesture but James doesn’t lower his weapon.

“James, chéri. I live here. C’mon, put the gun away and we can talk about what’s wrong.”

“Don’t call me that! You don’t live here. Where’s Natasha? What have you done with her?”

The blood drains from Sébastien’s face. Something is very wrong.

“Natasha?” Sébastien croaks out.

“My wife!” James snaps and then shakes his head. “Where is she?”

“She’s...shit.” Sébastien moves a little closer to see if James will lower the gun.

He doesn’t want to have this conversation, but how do you tell your husband that doesn’t seem to remember you that the woman he does remember is gone.

“Tell me!”

Sébastien has just a moment to register that James is pulling the trigger when he staggers back, hand automatically going to his shoulder where blood is pouring out of the wound. He winces through the healing and James stands frozen like he can’t believe he just shot someone.

Sébastien reaches for the gun they keep under the cabinet and aims without thinking about the fact that he’s shooting at his husband.

He manages with great aim to knock the gun out of James hand, just barely grazing his fingers that have already started to heal.

Another perk of the last ten years. James has been immortal for nine of them, something they’ve hidden from the team, along with them being married for the last eight.

“You shot me.” James says a little bewildered and Sébastien gestures at himself.

“Look. You were just in Istanbul right?” At James’ nod of confirmation, Sébastien continues. “You remember Andy and Nile?”

James nods again and Sébastien breathes out a sigh of relief.

“Okay. So, I know you have no reason to trust me, but something must’ve happened. I want to help you figure it out but please, can you stop trying to shoot me?”

James nods again and Sébastien stands, wincing a little at the barely there twinge in his shoulder.

“It’s been a long day. Why don’t you get showered and I’ll make lunch and we can figure this out.”

Sébastien ushers James into the bathroom and grabs comfy clothes for him to wear, hoping to keep James out of their bedroom for now.

When the shower turns on Sébastien runs around their house finding every gun, knife, and weapon they have hidden and shoves them into the safe in the office and then changes the combination to his late son Jean-Pierre’s birthday for good measure.

Sébastien picks up James’ duffle by the front door and brings it back into their room to sort through the laundry.

He’s barely unzipped the bag when he sees a bookmark from Istanbul on the top. He chokes down the sob that threatens to escape at the familiar gift they buy each other.

At least James remembered who he was at some point on this trip.

Sébastien sits down on their bed and looks at James’ nightstand, the one that used to have a photo of Natasha. The same photo that now lives in the living room next to a picture of Sébastien’s late family.

In its place is a jewelry stand that keeps James’ wedding ring, a modern gold band that he’s worn for eight years, but doesn’t wear on missions. It also holds a necklace, the chain matching the one Sébastien wears. Only James’ necklace holds Sébastien’s original three band wedding ring from the eighteen hundreds. On Sébastien’s chain is James’ slimmer gold wedding band from his marriage to Natasha.

Sébastien wears a black tungsten band now, having liked the look of it when they went shopping. He grips the chain under his shirt and can’t help the sob that escapes.

If James thinks he’s still married to Natasha he’ll want his wedding band.

Sébastien takes off the chain but before he can unclasp the ring the shower shuts off.

He’s hoping James goes into the kitchen but no such luck.

“You’re in my room?”

Sébastien jumps and turns to face James as he stands.

“Sorry, I was putting your laundry away.” He gestures to the duffle bag and James nods.

“The guest room doesn’t look lived in.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“You said you live here. The guest room doesn’t look lived in.”

“Oh, uh.”

“What’s this?” James crosses the room and grabs the necklace with Sébastien’s first wedding ring on it. His heart clenches as James rubs his fingers over the ring almost reverently.

“It’s yours.” Sébastien whispers. It was something they gave to each other when they got married, weird as it may seem, but to them it symbolizes that they have each other’s whole heart and the memories from their mortal lives live within each other.

“And this?” James picks up his wedding ring and Sébastien has to put the palms of his hands to his eyes to stop the tears.

“It’s your wedding ring.”

“But I thought?”

Sébastien holds up the necklace with James’ first wedding ring on it and James takes it from him. It’s the first time Sébastien’s been without it in almost eight years.

James turns it over in his hand and then hands it back to Sébastien as he grabs the gold band from his nightstand and puts it on instead.

“You don’t want?” Sébastien can barely get the words out, afraid of what James might say.

“I think I want to wear this one.”

“Okay.” Sébastien whispers. “Lemme get this laundry in the wash and I’ll make lunch.” He grabs the clothes, eager to get out of their room and into the bigger open space of the house.

He puts the clothes in the wash and gets started on lunch, watching as James walks through their living room, taking in the changes from whatever time period James thinks it is.

He’s just finishing the quick sandwiches when he decides to bite the bullet and call Andy for the first time in ten years.

He passes James his food while he waits for Andy to answer.

“Thanks.” James nods as he looks at the blood on the floor and grimaces.

“I’ll clean it after you eat.” James looks like he’s going to protest but Sébastien turns away from him. “C’mon, pick up. Pick up.”

“Booker?” Andy answers hesitantly and Sébastien nearly sobs.

“Andy.”

“Is something wrong?”

Oh, nothing much. Just my hundred year exile. Just my husband having no clue who I am. Just my husband thinking his late wife is still alive. Just my husband being immortal so this shouldn't be happening. Oh yeah, and he shot me. What isn’t wrong?

“It’s Copley.” The name tastes weird in his mouth after James took Le Livre as his last name when they got married.

“What about him?”

“Something’s wrong.”

“What are you talking about? You’re in contact with him?”

“Look, I can explain everything but I just need to know if something happened in Istanbul?”

Andy sucks in a breath. “How did you?”

“Andy! Please, he doesn’t…” Sébastien swallows the sob. “He thinks Natasha is alive.” Sébastien whispers the last part.

“Who?”

“His wife.”

Andy sucks in a breath. “Where are you?”

“We’re in Surrey.”

“We’ll be there tonight.”

“Andy, please just tell me if something happened?”

“I don’t know, Book. He seemed fine when we parted ways at the airport.”

“Okay. I’ll see you later.”

“Bye.”

Sébastien puts the phone down and looks over at James who’s staring intently at him.

“Natasha’s gone isn’t she?”

Sébastien sucks in a breath. “Yeah.”

James nods and gestures for Sébastien to join him at the counter.

Sébastien grabs James’ hand and squeezes, letting the buzzing that he’s felt since James has been home settle with contact. James' breath catches and Sébastien can tell James can feel it, too.

“I’m sorry.” Sébastien whispers.

“You’ve lost people, too?” James gestures to the living room where the photos of their mortal families are.

“We both have.”

James nods and Sébastien grabs his tablet to pull up his mission notes.

“I want to figure out what happened from you leaving Istanbul to now.”

“You think something happened?”

“Well, you don’t remember me and you think it’s at least twelve years ago.”

“No, I know it’s twenty thirty one.” James rubs his hands over his face. “I know why I was in Istanbul with Andy, Nile, Joe, and Nicky. I just don’t know why I can’t remember you or why I forgot Natasha’s gone.”

“I…”

“It’s like you’ve been swapped in my mind.”

Sébastien sucks in a breath and can’t quite stop the tears from falling.

“Shit. I’m sorry…” James looks apologetic and then he winces. “I’m sorry, what is your name again?”

“It’s Sébastien Le Livre, my family calls me Booker.”

“But I don’t?” At Sébastien’s confused face James continues. “What do I call you?”

“Oh. Sébastien or Bastien.”

“And you live here?”

“I do.”

“Huh.”

“Look, I’m sure you’re tired. And if the team is coming here tonight you might as well rest.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll be fine.” Sébastien shrugs as he starts clearing the plates from their lunch away.

James eventually nods and shuffles toward their bedroom and Sébastien sits down heavily on one of the bar stools.

He pulls up James’ mission notes, thankful he’s as thorough as he is. Everything looks to be in order, even his notes from the airport look normal. James even made a note to stop at the store to pick up Sébastien’s favorite bread for the chili Sébastien was planning on making.

Sébastien watches the tears fall onto the tablet as he leans his head down on the table.

At least he knows something happened on the plane which is a good place to start.

He spends the next several hours on the computer looking up passenger manifests, passenger accounts, cell phone photos, and videos. He’s barely made a dent when James knocks on the office door.

“Have you been in here this whole time?”

Sébastien looks at the clock and winces. It’s been four hours since he started and if his old team is going to be here soon he needs to start dinner.

“Yeah. Sorry. Let me start dinner and we can go over what I found.”

“I can - ”

Sébastien chuckles. “No. You really can’t.”

James huffs a laugh. “Well, I guess that memory is correct.”

“Mmm.”

Sébastien starts on dinner, a quick stir fry the team and James both love, as James grabs the tablet.

“I was supposed to go to the store?”

“Hmm? Oh, uh yeah. No worries though. Stir fry instead, if that’s okay?”

“Yeah, as long as there’s - ”

“Cashews, yeah.” Sébastien points to the jar on the counter and James smiles.

“How long?” James clears his throat. “How long have we known each other?”

Sébastien pauses his chopping and leans against the counter to look at James. There’s bags under his eyes that weren’t there when he got home and his normal house clothes, loose jeans, a shirt, and cardigan, are rumpled, like he didn’t actually sleep during those four hours.

It hurts his heart to think that James is just as affected by this amnesia as Sébastien is.

“Almost twenty years.”

“So you knew?”

Sébastien’s heart clenches. “I met her once, briefly.”

“Why do I look the same?”

“Oh.” Sébastien laughs quietly. “We’re immortal.”

“Like Nile, Joe, and Nicky?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s why we both healed from the gunshots?��

“Yeah. Sorry about that.” Sébastien twists his wedding ring, trying to block out the memory of being shot by his husband and shooting his husband.

“Me, too.”

“And your wife?” Sébastien looks up sharply at that. “Did I ever meet her?”

“No.” Sébastien swallows back the sob that wants to escape. “She passed long before you were born.”

“And your boys?”

Sébastien really can’t help the tears that fall this time.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Sébastien waves him off. “It was a long time ago.”

“How long?”

Sébastien kinda hates these invasive questions. They’re all things that James knows, but they were whispered to each other at night while cuddled together. James kissing the tears off of Sébastien’s cheeks. This is different.

“I was born in seventeen seventy so they all passed in the eighteen hundreds.”

“Damn.”

That startles a laugh out of Sébastien. “Yeah.”

“Did you find anything?” James holds up the tablet and Sébastien nods.

“Nothing concrete, but two other passengers have been admitted to the hospital since arriving home.”

“You think we were drugged?”

“It’s possible. Do you remember eating or drinking anything?”

“No. I usually don’t.”

Sébastien nods, they’re all paranoid about pretty much everything.

“I’m wondering if whatever is wrong with those other two is also wrong with you, but your body is healing quicker than there’s.”

“Have the doctors found anything?”

“Not yet. And it’s not exactly easy to hack into medical files.” Sébastien raises an eyebrow and James smirks back at him and for a moment Sébastien forgets that his husband doesn’t remember him.

“Something I taught you?”

“Yeah.” Sébastien whispers as he starts cooking the veggies and chicken since Andy texted saying they were thirty minutes out.

James must realize that the mood has changed as he starts setting the table, the familiarity of them moving effortlessly around the kitchen makes Sébastien’s heart clench.

“They said they’re about thirty minutes out.”

James nods as he starts getting out drinks for everyone.

“No alcohol?” James asks as he heads over to the fridge and bar area they have.

“No. Uhh, I’ve been sober for almost ten years. We have some wine we use to cook, if you want.”

“No. That’s fine. That’s, well, it’s wonderful Sébastien.”

Sébastien blushes at the familiar praise, James being the biggest supporter of his sobriety, even if he doesn’t remember.

James ends up choosing water for everyone and as he passes Sébastien in the kitchen Sébastien wants to reach out and kiss him, the move as ingrained in him as fighting, but much more pleasant. He stops himself at the last moment and lets his hand fall.

Sébastien finishes cooking and has just placed the last of the food on the table when there’s a knock at the door. He exhales loudly, his fingers tapping anxiously against his thigh. James notices.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Sébastien shakes his head.

“Sébastien.” The worrying lilt to James’ voice makes Sébastien’s heart break.

“I uh...I haven’t seen them in ten years.”

“Why?”

Sébastien looks at James and sees he’s genuinely curious but he doesn’t have it in him to explain to James all that happened ten years ago.

“Just needed some time apart. Go let them in.” Sébastien waves him away and James looks like he’s going to argue but thankfully he doesn’t.

James opens the door and Sébastien hears them all first. Andy’s low voice, Nile’s cheerful one, Nicky and Joe’s perfectly timed hey.

Then he sees them. For the first time in ten years.

He knows Andy got her immortality back, but it’s still shocking to see her looking the same as she did that day by the Thames. Her hair is a little shorter, less in her eyes, but she’s still Andy.

Nile looks just as young as she did that first night in France and Sébastien smiles when he realizes she is clearly the most fashionable besides Joe.

Joe. His brother. Who looks good in his leather jacket and black jeans. His hair is a little shorter but his beard is the same.

Then there’s Nicky. Looking like he just stepped out of a magazine. His hair is longer, he has a beard, and Sébastien can see he’s wearing earrings and rings. It suits him. Just as jeans and t-shirts do.

Sébastien’s still tapping his fingers against his thighs as he stands and accepts Nile’s hug.

“Hey, Book.”

“Hey, kid.”

She scrunches her nose and he laughs as he goes to hug Andy.

“Andromache.”

“None of that Book. Tell us what’s going on.” She grabs the back of his neck as she steps away and he gestures to the table.

“I made stir fry.” Sébastien says a little helplessly as everyone sits around the table.

They all sit in the same seats that they’ve sat in previously, when Sébastien had made them dinner and then made himself scarce, much to James’ annoyance.

The seat next to James is empty, like it normally is when his family’s here for dinner and they had all assumed it was for his late wife but Sébastien sits in his normal chair when it’s just the two of them and everyone stares at him.

“What?”

“Didn’t Copley make this?” Nile says around a mouthful.

Sébastien can’t help it, he laughs, loudly. So loud there are tears in his eyes. James is trying not to laugh as well, hiding his face behind a napkin. Sébastien wants to reach out and squeeze James’ hand, but he resists.

“Uh, no. James can’t even boil water.”

“We’ve had this before.” Nicky says as he eats and hums a little with each bite, a sure sign that he likes the meal.

“You have.”

“Care to share?” Joe asks as he takes a bite and smiles approvingly.

“Not really?” Sébastien knows he’s going to have to start talking. He knows he’s going to have to start sharing about what the last ten years have looked like for him, for them, but he’s not ready.

“Let me guess.” Nile starts. “You always cooked and then made yourself scarce so we wouldn’t see you?”

“Pretty much yeah.” Sébastien whispers and James looks over at him like he’s trying to work something out but can’t yet.

“Why?” Nicky asks as he looks around at what he can see of their house.

“Umm. I was exiled.” Sébastien shrugs and then turns to look at James when he gasps.

James’ fingers are twitching, a sure sign he’s either anxious or annoyed and Sébastien would put money on it being both.

“It’s fine.” Sébastien says quietly just for James and it’s enough to calm the twitching fingers.

“And how long have you been doing that?” Nicky asks, looking between James and Sébastien like he’s trying to figure something out.

“Pretty much since the beginning.” Sébastien taps his fingers against the table this time.

Sébastien tunes out the questions that everyone seems to have for James after that, trying to figure out what happened to him. Thankfully they let Sébastien’s comments slide, although that reprieve is short lived.

“I do remember my wedding.” Sébastien looks over at James and thinks that he’s going to start waxing poetic about his wedding to Natasha, at a grand cathedral that her parents paid for when James was just starting at the Agency.

What he doesn’t expect is for James to start talking about their wedding. What he also doesn’t expect is for James to think it was also with Natasha.

“Well, second wedding, I suppose.” James continues and Sébastien’s heart breaks. “It was here in our backyard, the garden was just beginning to bloom, there were café lights everywhere. It was small, with just some of my family. But it was perfect.”

Sébastien makes a high pitched wounded sound and everyone looks over at him with questions in their eyes.

“Were you there?” James asks him and Sébastien’s pretty sure he dies and revives a moment later. “You said you met her.”

Sébastien clears his throat and it feels like he’s choking on glass. “I was there.”

Sébastien can’t help it, he turns his wedding ring around on his finger, a nervous habit that everyone at the table has zeroed in on.

“Well, it was beautiful right? Natasha, even though I can’t remember, I’m sure looked beautiful.”

“She wasn’t there.” Sébastien whispers brokenly.

“What?”

“She wasn’t there.” Sébastien scrubs his hands over his face and he finally lifts his left hand enough for everyone to notice the different wedding band.

“She wasn’t there because it’s our wedding you’re remembering. Eight years ago, last month. Your parents, brother and sister in law, and nieces were there. And I was there. Because I’m your husband. And I’ve lived here for ten years, been sober for most of it, about as long as you’ve been immortal.”

Sébastien doesn’t wait for anyone to respond, takes one look at James’ face, gets up from the table, and practically runs outside.

He can vaguely hear Andy’s what the fuck? But he doesn’t care.

He gets outside to his garden and breathes in as deep as he can as he bends over, hands on his knees, and then sinks to the ground.

He vaguely hears the door open and then familiar footsteps as Joe steps into his line of vision.

Sébastien looks up into the face of his oldest friend, his brother, someone he has missed desperately these last ten years, and cries.

Joe lowers himself to the ground and pulls Sébastien into this chest. Sébastien puts his hands around Joe’s middle, shoulders shaking with sobs he can’t control.

Joe lets him cry, lets him get snot and tears all over his shirt before Sébastien calms himself enough to sit back on his heels.

Joe lets him go, although he looks like he doesn’t want to.

“I’m sorry.” Sébastien croaks out.

“No, Sébastien.” Joe tsks at him. “We’re sorry.”

“For what?”

“For not being here for you, for not knowing where you were, or that you’re sober, or that Copley’s immortal, or that you got married.”

Sébastien waves him away. “I still have ninety years of my exile left. You would’ve found out eventually.”

“That’s.” Joe shakes his head like he wants to say more, but stops himself. “We’ll revisit this, once we figure out what’s wrong with Copley.”

“Le Livre.” Sébastien murmurs because he can’t help himself.

“What?”

“James. He uhh...took my last name, so Le Livre.”

Joe smirks at him and Sébastien smiles ruefully.

“We didn’t dream him.”

“We actually think you did. I mean, he did, but when none of you called we assumed you all just thought it was a normal dream.”

“And he died?”

Sébastien sucks in a breath as he remembers getting a call from emergency services of an accident shortly after James had listed Sébastien as his emergency contact.

Before Sébastien even made it to the hospital he got a splitting headache and then images of James in the hospital bed, fighting with nurses that he was okay.

“Yeah, car accident. He was alive by the time I got to the hospital.”

Joe sucks in a breath. “He was arguing with nurses?”

“Yeah.” Sébastien chuckles.

“We did dream about him.”

Sébastien shrugs and gets up to sit down on one of the benches he built for the garden. Joe sits down next to him and bumps Sébastien’s shoulder with his own.

“It’s beautiful out here.”

“Merci.”

“So, you got married out here?”

“Oui. Over there, in the gazebo.” Sébastien smiles at the fond memories.

“I’m sorry we weren’t here.”

“I know why you weren’t.” Sébastien pushes himself closer to Joe, soaking up his warmth before they all leave again. “There’s photos.”

“Really?”

“Yes, his brother in law insisted.”

“I’d love to see them.”

Sébastien pulls out his phone and shows Joe his lock screen photo. It’s James and Sébastien during their first kiss, huge smiles on their faces as confetti rains down around them.

Joe discreetly wipes at his eyes and Sébastien chuckles.

“Beautiful.” Joe grips his hand. “We’ll figure out what’s wrong with James.”

“Honestly, I think whatever drug the other passengers were given he also got, but his immortality is fighting it, so he now has amnesia, and not a hospitalization.”

“I think you’re probably right.”

“I also don’t think it was connected to the job in Turkey. I think he just got caught in something else.”

The back door opens again and Sébastien sees James’ head pop out. Joe stands and grabs Sébastien��s shoulder as James makes his way over.

“We’ll keep looking at everything to make sure. But I think he’ll be fine.” Joe whispers. “It’s all set up in the office?”

Sébastien nods as James sits down next to him and Joe goes back inside.

“I’m sorry.” James whispers as he looks out at the garden.

“What?” Sébastien looks at James incredulously. “Why are you sorry?”

“For forgetting. For not remembering you, our life.”

“You have amnesia. I’m not mad. You don’t need to be sorry.”

“I’m hurting you.”

“You aren’t.”

“Okay, then I did.”

“You didn’t do anything James. It was just… overwhelming.” Sébastien settles on instead of saying things like soul crushing or devastating.

James raises an eyebrow at him and the move is so familiar that Sébastien chuckles wetly.

“Good to know I still got it.” James quips and Sébastien snorts.

“You’ve still got it, old man.”

“You can’t just steal my nickname, Sébastien.”

Sébastien’s breath catches. “What did you say?”

“I...I call you old man.”

“You remember?”

“It’s...I’m not sure, everything’s foggy.”

“Hey, it’s okay chéri. We’ll figure this out.” Sébastien grabs James’ hand without thinking and notices a slight blush high on James’ cheeks.

“James?” Sébastien’s trying to figure out what happened to cause James to blush and then he let’s go of James’ hand. “Sorry.”

“No, I...I remember the first time you called me that.”

“Called you what?”

“Chéri.”

“Oh.” Sébastien grabs the back of his neck as he remembers the first time he called James sweetheart.

They were in bed and it was late, James had woken up from a nightmare, Natasha’s name on his lips, when Sébastien had wrapped his large arms around him, whispered sweet nothings in his ear as he kissed his head. James had settled almost immediately and then told Sébastien he loved him for the first time.

“I don’t remember anything, but I can hear your voice saying it in the dark.”

“It was dark.”

“You’re not telling me something.”

“I think we should let the memories rest until we figure out what happened to you.”

“Nile’s on the computer and Nicky helped me clean up dinner.”

“Sorry I just walked out.”

This time James waves him away and Sébastien gives him a wry smile.

“C’mon. Let’s keep looking at the passengers. Somebody drugged people on your plane, we need to figure out why.”

When Sébastien walks inside he stops short at the absolute hurricane his family has turned the office into.

“Uh?

“We figured it out!” Nile shouts and waves some papers in the air.

The breath leaves Sébastien at once and he puts his hands on his knees.

“Tell me.”

“Okay, so it looks like all of the men on the plane were drugged. Some kind of memory erasing serum, only they messed up the dosage. So some people got extremely sick, like the passengers Booker found, some didn’t get sick at all, and some are experiencing temporary amnesia. We think Copley’s immortality is fighting the effects of a larger dose.”

“So it’s temporary?”

“Looks that way. Interpol has the assholes in custody, someone squealed.”

“So we just what? Wait it out?” Sébastien looks over at James, who’s looking at the papers Nile printed.

There’s a look of concentration on James’ face that Sébastien knows means nothing good.

“We think so. Some of the hospitalized passengers are already showing improvement.”

Sébastien nods.

“Hey.” He slowly grabs James’ hands and pulls the papers from them. James looks at him and Sébastien’s heart breaks at the look in his eyes.

“How did they drug us?” James asks after squeezing Sébastien’s hands and stepping closer to Nile.

“Needles in the seats, would’ve happened when you sat down.”

“Merde.”

“Yeah, I fucking hate this century.” Andy snorts from her spot on the couch and everyone around the room except Nile and James nod their heads.

“Interpol called, I told them Mr. Le Livre had a migraine and was resting and we’d let them know if anything changed.” Nicky smirks. “I had to pretend to be Booker, got to dust off my French accent.”

Sébastien laughs at Nicky but turns toward James who’s looking at him oddly.

“James?”

“Le Livre?”

“Uh.” Sébastien looks around the room and he really doesn’t want to have this conversation in front of everyone but he takes a deep breath and tells James. “It’s our last name.”

James looks surprised but must sense Sébastien’s hesitation because he just nods once.

All of a sudden Sébastien’s exhausted. It’s barely been twelve hours since James came home but it feels like they’ve been dealing with this for days.

“I think we’ve done all we can for now.” Sébastien whispers. “Joe and Nicky, you can have the guest room. Nile and Andy, if you don’t mind the couch in here pulls out.”

“That’s fine.” Andy nods.

Sébastien looks at the clock and winces at the late or early morning hour depending on how you look at it.

“I’m going to bed. The guest bath has extras of anything you forgot.”

At that he turns and heads toward their bedroom, grabs pajamas out of their dresser and his pillow before seeing James standing in the doorway.

“Where are you going?”

“The couch.” Sébastien grabs another blanket from the closet before he feels James touch his arm.

“Do you usually sleep on the couch?”

“Only when I’ve been bad.” Sébastien quips without thinking about it.

James huffs a laugh and Sébastien smiles.

“Sleep in here.”

“James.”

“Please. I...I would feel more comfortable if you were close.”

Sébastien looks at James and sees the truth in his eyes. He nods once and sets the pillows and blankets back on the bed and crawls into it to get comfortable.

James chuckles and scoots in next to him. Sébastien wants to roll into James’ side and tuck his face into James’ neck like he usually does but instead he stays on his back.

James turns the light off. “Goodnight Sébastien.”

“Night.” Sébastien whispers, knowing sleep will be a long time coming.

~~~

Sébastien wakes up to James poking him. He swats at James’ hands.

“Stop it.” Sébastien grumbles in a sleep rough voice. He snuggles closer into James’ neck, content when he finally gets comfortable.

He can feel and hear James’ chuckle in response.

“Is this any way to greet me after being away for three weeks, mon amour?”

At the French endearment Sébastien shoots up and stares at James.

“James?” Sébastien croaks and James nods his head and pulls Sébastien against him.

“It’s me. I’m here.”

“You’re here.” Sébastien winds his arms around his husband and cries when James kisses him on his forehead.

“I’m so sorry, darling.”

Sébastien just squeezes James tighter and puts his face into James’ neck.

“I thought I lost you.” Sébastien whispers after a moment, calm enough now to move back and look into James’ eyes.

The recognition in them makes him cry again.

“Never. You’ll never lose me.”

“You can’t promise that.”

“No. But I’ll always be here.” James puts his hand over Sébastien’s heart.

“I love you.” Sébastien leans forward and kisses James for the first time in three weeks.

It feels like home.

“Je t'aime.”

#the old guard #booker x copley #bopley #temporary amnesia #canon typical mentions of violence and injuries

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beebleboosuwu · 4 years ago

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Alright.

There are a lot of conflicting emotions about having The Music Man kicking out Beetlejuice from the Winter Garden. Although I am bitter that one of my favourite musicals is being replaced in favour of money and two big names is just.. not sitting right, but I am open to everything and trying to look at everything with open eyes and an unbiased opinion.

Did Will Blum’s influence this a little? Yes.

Was the post a little unsound and unprofessional? I think so but it brought up some great points.

Yes, I agree. The fact that you are selling a name instead of a GREAT show is disrespect to the source material. Hugh Jackman is an awesome guy and his tenure as the Boy From Oz is forever embedded into Broadway his(her)story as being a stepping stone for Hugh’s career. Also you have Broadway star, Sutton Foster, another big name who, if you are a theatre lover, can’t help but fawn and scream in excitement.

We all know and love Hugh Jackman as the Wolverine/James Howlett/ Logan, that’s what people associate him as such. Fun fact he played that role from 2000-2018. Wolverine is known to be big, all muscle and raw strength, but in the theatre world we know him as a musical theatre actor. Jackman first claim to international's fame was in 1999 when he played the leading man, Curly McLain, in the film adaptation of Oklahoma! He played the titular character Peter Allen in Boy from Oz in 2004 which he won a Tony for and Jean Valjean in the film adaptation of Les Miserables in 2012 while that wasn't the best adaptation of that musical, they did include Broadway and West End actors which was awesome! And lastly the most recent entry musical/film role was P.T Barnum in The Greatest Showman, Jackman went on tour last year singing songs from The Greatest Showman and some other songs from other musicals he previously worked in. He is an amazing vocalist, actor and dancer. His performance in Boy From Oz says as such in a review by Charles Isherwood: praising Jackman but panned the show: "Jackman is giving a vital and engaging performance in this pitifully flimsy musical almost in spite of the material he’s been handed. It’s a sad waste of an exciting talent." I’m pumped.

Sutton Foster is a Broadway actress that is well known for her two-time Tony award winning performance as Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie. She has also roles from other shows such as: Chess, Funny Girl, Les Miserables, Anything Goes, Grease and MANY more. I knew her best as Reno Sweeney from Anything Goes, her vocals are nothing but extraordinary and her acting is nothing to sleep on, she is an excellent dancer and I cannot help to try and recreate in my bedroom when I’m alone. You can say all you want about her, but she is one of the Broadway actresses I know from the top of my head, alongside Patti LuPone, Sierra Boggess and Liza Minelli. She is also the younger sister of Hunter Foster of Little Shop of Horrors and Urinetown fame. Foster is going to be amazing as Jackman's partner in the upcoming production and honestly as a fan, I am so excited!

They are both triple threats but.. no one knows a lot about the Music Man. It is a classic and has been around since the late 50′s.

Broadway, coming into the new decade of 2020, is becoming more MODERN. All these new musicals that have come out during this past decade might not have made it to Broadway but they are more aligned with the changing times and modern settings. Though there are musicals based on films from the 80′s that reach out to that generation and reintroduce them into that mind space they were in back in the day.

American Idiot, great musical, angsty music but has that throwback niche to that rebellious stage some, or not most, of us went through in the 2000′s.

Elf, that also starred Will Blum at one point, is fan service to those who love the holiday season and those who loved the film that came out in 2003. I haven't listened to it yet BUT I WILL EVENTUALLY.

Heathers, we all love the Heathers. Also Winona Ryder, who played Lydia Deetz in the 1988 Beetlejuice film, starred as Veronica Sawyer. Like Elf, IT BRINGS INTEREST TO THAT GENERATION SO THEY COULD BUY TICKETS TO THIS SHOW THAT WAS BASED ON A FILM THEY WATCHED AS TEENS. Also can we just forget about the horrible rendition of Candy Store done by the cast of Riverdale? That never happened. NEVER. HAPPENED.

Beetlejuice, Come From Away, Ghost, Once, Book of Mormon, Finding Neverland, Newsies, Kinky Boots, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Big Fish, 21 Chump Street, Amélie, Be More Chill, Hamilton, Head Over Heels, Lazarus, School of Rock, Something Rotten!, Tuck Everlasting, Waitress, Anastasia, Hadestown, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Prom, Ain’t Too Proud, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Frozen, Mean Girls, Six, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, The Lightning Thief, Jagged Little Pill, Moulin Rouge!, The Cher Show, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, & Juliet, Mrs. Doubtfire.

These are SOME of the MANY shows that came out this decade!

Some musicals are entirely satirical so that was a niche for audiences who love the weird and messed up humour, some musicals are named after the films or shows they were based off of. So old audiences can take interest into coming to Broadway, okay I get that because again, nostalgia, some are entirely original or had little to no source material! Some are based around history, some about civil rights issues and some of them are jukebox musicals that appeal to people who like those artists.

Broadway has always been conservative and prefers to play it safe when it comes to opening a new productions and the dominant audiences have been older and more traditional. So that stereotypical Broadway show people think of is just that, the lead character getting their “want song” in, a lot of dancing, internal or external conflict that ultimately gets resolved with cheerful songs and set pieces. Although newer audiences want those boundary pushing shows so CAN get introduced to musicals like the Music Man, it means nothing if they were never introduced to the strange and unusual first. Everyone wants to advance to find that next big thing but they can’t do that when it is all safe but we did get some of them with Cats, Beetlejuice, Carrie, Matilda The Addams Family and more.

I totally get the interest of bringing back a musical that hasn’t been on Broadway for 20 years (last performance was in 2000) and it is a great way to reintroduce an old piece back into the world again, but it was at the expense of new artists making their Broadway dream a reality. The decision to evict, not close, evict Beetlejuice from the Winter Garden was a big mistake by the Schubert Organization. The Schubert Organization is one of the biggest landlord of theatres in New York, they at least own 17 Broadway theatres. Here’s the reason why they’re so successful:

They don’t keep shows that don't bring the cold hard cash. It’s show business, it has always been about the business and never about the show. As much as we could scream and shout to keep Beetlejuice in the Winter Garden all we want, it is unfortunately their decision to keep them or boot them out. We all know that productions have to be approved by a theatre organization so that production can be leant one of their many theatres, they show also had to keep up a total of sales from tickets above that number per week. As all of you know, that’s what happened with Beetlejuice. Ticket sales dried up and fell way below the amount. There was talk around the theatre community that a production of the Music Man was in the works with Hugh Jackman as the lead. So... they saw Beetlejuice as dead weight and sought out to cash in on Hugh Jackman’s name and fame.

There was a lot of problems from the show but most of their problems came from the critics. Mixed reviews was all the show got but the biggest blows came from the New York Times and Ben Brantley saying that the show never came to that same conclusion of home and belonging like other Broadway shows. This killed their ticket sales cause everyone goes through those reviews before they see a show. However that’s the thing, Beetlejuice never wanted that. The entire creative team and the cast knew that what they had was entirely unconventional, like it was their way sticking of the middle finger at the word conventional.

There's no doubt that the Music Man, Hugh Jackman, Sutton Foster and the cast and creative team will be amazing at the Winter Garden and it is highly unfortunate that the eviction of Beetlejuice was done for the sake of financial greed. I’m glad they were only evicted and not closed, the show IS still on and the public demand for the show is high. I know a lot of us hate the decision but what could you do? It’s all about the business aspect of Broadway and never the show.

Even though Beetlejuice had its problems with its opening following the Harvey Weinstein controversy, having the Music Man revival during this time of political conflict is a little awkward. Let’s trade a sexual, murderous demon for a eulogized conman.. that seems right.

I’m sure the show will be fantastic but the circumstances leading up to the opening is shady and not shining a good light for the Schubert Organization but lets not hate the actors and the creative team of the Music Man, they didn't do anything wrong. Instead, point that dislike to corporate greed, but is okay. The show is not closed and is only evicted from the theatre. Eventually they will find a new theatre on or off Broadway for everyone’s enjoyment again! Also that National Tour is coming up in Fall 2021 I believe, I personally can’t just fly to New York but I will be watching the National Tour if it does roll by where I live.

Keep safe my friends 💚🤍🖤

#savebeetlejuice #beetlejuice the musical #beetlejuice broadway #Beetlejuice musical #Beetlejuice bway #opinions #music man 2020 #im sad #really sad #like #the marquee #is so ugly #why #uhhhh #I am being bitter

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skywardsoul · 4 years ago

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Stories From the Sidelines: Chapter 2

Yeah believe it or not, I actually uploaded a second chapter to my Little Witch Academia fic that focuses on the background characters. Sure it’s almost been two years since chapter 1, better late than never right! Chapter 2 stars Sarah’s teammate Chloé and her one sided rivalry with Diana.

Read it on AO3: Here

Read it on FF.Net: Here

Unknown to most of its student body, there was a war raging in the halls of Luna Nova. A war being fought for honor, integrity, and the truth. The young witches that blissfully walked the campus may have been unaware of its importance, but for Chloé LeBlanc, it was her reality. The day would come when she would conquer this fight, when she would finally show her peers the truth! The day when she would prove to everyone, student and teacher alike, that she was a better witch than Diana Cavendish.

For the life of her Chloé could never understand just what everyone saw in Diana. She swore that she couldn’t go ten minutes without one of her brainwashed peers throwing out a “Wow Diana!,” or a “You’re so talented Diana!” So what she was good at a couple of spells? It’s not like she could pull off anything their teachers couldn’t! So what she was from a fancy noble family! As far as Chloé could tell there were several girls in her year with noble blood. Hell Chloé herself was from a long and historic magical lineage. The difference was she didn’t feel the need to flaunt it around like Diana did.

Every other word outta that snobbish brit’s mouth was about her dumb family. “The Cavendish family honor,” this and “My duty as a Cavendish,” that. And yet no one but her seemed to care. All the other girls, especially Barbra Parker and Hannah England, ate up that crap like it was a freaking ice cream sundae. They just loved to hear all about Diana’s dumb family history and her dumb realtives, and her dumb ancestorial connection to one of the olde nine witches. And Woodward knows that Diana was all too eager to tell them about it.

The LeBlanc family was just as storied and important as the Cavendish lineage, yet no one seemed to be chomping at the bit to ask Chloé about her history. For generations, witches of the LeBlanc name were crucial parts of the magical community. Her great great grandmother Belle was one of the founding members of the great mages library. Her great uncle Auguste revolutionized the magical culinary arts with his cooking. Even as recently as 16 years ago, her cousin Jean-Pierre helped to stop a dangerous drug trading coven. There was no shortage of excellent LeBlanc witches! Okay, yeah sure, her older sister Sherry might have gotten a bit too obsessed with that crazy motorcycle card game of hers, but that's hardly enough to erase the decades of impressive LeBlanc achievement. Didn’t seem to matter though, as these noble deeds meant nothing to the masses compared to Diana’s rambling.

The only other people who seemed to be immune to Diana’s annoying drivel was her teammate Sarah Bernhardt, and Sucy Manbavaran and Akko Kagari of the red team. Sarah was too much of a realist to get caught up in pointless hero worship, Chloé was pretty sure Sucy didn’t really care about anything, and Akko, poor, sweet, troublesome Akko, had convinced herself that Diana was her destined rival. A rivalry that the Japanese witch stood absolutely no chance in, but one that Chloé admired. Sure, She and Akko didn’t talk much, but Chloé saw her as a companion of sorts. The only other girl who was dying to see Diana get knocked down a peg.

And finally, after all this time, Chloé had found a way to make just that happen. A full proof plan that would once and for all prove herself to be a witch of equal, no, greater calibur than Diana Cavendish. Chloé grinned wickedly at the envelope she clutched to her chest. With her master piece in mind and her secret weapon in hand, Chloé proudly strode towards the peach team dorm. The last classes had just let out for the day, and the French girl was certain that both her teammates would already be back in their dorm. Not that she was eager to brag about her master plan or anything, Chloé just felt like talking to her friends was all. As she approached the door, Chloé’s suspicions were confirmed as she heard Sarah and Elfriede’s voices from within the room. With a confident smile on her face, Chloé threw open the door, just knowing her fellow peach team witches would be eager to listen to her magnum opus.

“I’m telling you El, that’s absolute nonsense,” Sarah said as she lay on her bed, looking up at the ceiling.

An annoyed grumble came from Elfriede who was sitting across the room on the bottom bunk of the bed she shared with Chloé.

“Oh what would you know about true love? Always looking at matters of the heart in black and white,” Elfriede retorted. The German witch had a book open on her lap. While Chloé couldn’t see the title from where she stood, she was certain it was probably another one of Elfriede’s trashy monster romance novels.

It was a sight that Chloé had gotten rather used to in her time at Luna Nova, as her teammates seemed to argue constantly like this. Elfriede would dream up some cheesy idealistic scene of love and confession and drama in her head, only to adamantly defend it when Sarah would ruthlessly point out how absurd it was. The arguments would never get mean spirited and they hardly ended in the two peach team members being genuinely upset with one another, but they did more often than not go on for a long time. Neither Elfriede nor Sarah was the backing down type, and as a result were more willing to waste an afternoon then admit they were being silly.

The fact that the two were in the midst of one such argument did not bode well for Chloé as neither had noticed her come in the door, and even worse, neither would be willing to hear about her awesome plan.

“All I’m saying is that true love is an unproven concept,” Sarah said, turning on her side to face Elfriede. “But you know what is a proven one?”

“What’s that?”

“Hunger. As soon as that lamia gets hungry, it doesn’t matter how ‘perfect for each other,’ they are. Goodbye lover boy or girl, you’re fucking dinner!” Sarah said, throwing up her hands for emphasis.

“Sarah!” Elfriede said with a huff. “You’re so morbid!”

“What? It’s the truth!”

“Ehem,” Chloé said with a cough, figuring now was as good a time as any to make her presence known.

Sarah and Elfriede both fell silent as they turned to look at Chloé.

“Oh hey Chloé,” Sarah said. “Didn’t see you come in. How long have you been standing there?”

Chloé walked forward and sat down at the desk the three shared.

“Long enough to know that you should cease this pointless argument before it becomes a whole ‘thing’,” She said with an air of authority. “And long enough to know that a certain team leader owe’s a coin to the swear jar.”

Sarah rolled her eyes and with a groan flopped onto her back.

“Seriously? I Didn’t even mean to! It just kinda slipped out.”

“Yes seriously,” Chloé said, grabbing the jar from its place on the desk and thrusting it towards Sarah.

The redhead grumbled under her breath as she sat up and dug for a coin in her pocket. Once the necessary penance was paid, Chloé put the jar down and turned to her roommates with a smile. It was time. Time for them to hear her plan.

“Girls, there’s something I would like to discuss with you.”

Chloé had only just said her first sentence when Sarah already let out another groan.

“What?” Chloé asked, somewhat put off.

“I know that face is what. It’s the ‘I’m gonna destroy Diana’ face.” Sarah said.

“I don’t have a ‘I’m gonna destroy Diana’ face!” Chloé retorted.

“Then what you have to tell us has nothing to do with Cavendish?”

“Well...not exactly…”

“See? I knew it,” Sarah said victoriously.

“You don’t understand Sarah!” Chloé said, excitedly shooting up from her chair. “This time it’s going to work! This time I’m going to show Diana what for!”

“That’s what you said about the swimsuit incident and we both know how that went,” Sarah said with a sigh.

Chloé’s response died in her throat as she felt her face heat up in embarrassment. Ah yes, the swimsuit incident. Not the LeBlanc family’s finest hour.

“This is different!” Chloé managed to say, blocking the embarrassing memory from her mind.

From behind her Elfriede joined Sarah in letting out a tired sigh.

“Do you really have to do all these schemes Chloé? Can’t you just try and get along with Diana?” the German girl questioned.

“Spoken like a true Cavendish apologist,” Chloé said with a ‘hmph’, crossing her arms.

“I’m not a ’Cavendish apologist,’ Chloé. That’s not even a thing. All I did was ask her for some help on the linguistics homework.”

“And that’s just how she lures you in!” Chloe said. “If you are truly loyal to the peach team and are not a Diana brain slave in the making, you’ll at least hear what I have to say.”

“Fine,” Elfriede said, resignation heavy in her voice. “Go ahead.”

“Sarah?” Chloé asked, whipping around to face her redheaded teammate.

Sarah gave her a frown, but relented all the same.

“Yeah go ahead. Regale us with your oh so clever plan.”

Chloé felt her heart race with excitement as her teammates gave her the all clear. They were clearly apprehensive at the moment but they’d surely change their tune once they heard her brilliance. Clearing her throat with a good cough, Chloé began her speech.

“Now, as you both know Diana Cavendish has garnered a rather annoying reputation as our grade’s, and perhaps the whole school’s, top witch. But do you know why that is?”

“Because she has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things magic?” Sarah said.

“No,” Chloé responded flatly.

“Is it because she’s dependable and is always there when her peers need her?” Elfriede asked innocently.

“No, wrong again,” Chloé said with a grumble.

“Oh, I know! It’s because she-”

“It’s because she supposedly gets top marks in all her classes!” Chloé said, cutting the German girl off.

“Well yeah,” Sarah said dryly. “She does get top marks in all her classes.”

Chloé couldn’t help but chuckle darkly at that. Oh how naive her team leader was.

“That’s where you’re wrong, my dear Sarah,” Chloé said with an evil grin. “For that is but an illusion, a lie that Diana has led the entire student body into believing. I, however, have seen the truth.”

“Which is…?” Elfriede asked tentatively.

“That Diana Cavendish has not, in fact received the best possible grades in all her classes, but has merely received them in most of her classes!” Chloé exclaimed.

A silent pause fell over the room. Sarah and Elfriede shared a look across the room before letting out a joint “huh?”

“Allow me to explain,” Chloé eagerly said, ignoring a groan from Sarah. “You see, last tuesday in potions class, while I was packing up our cauldron I noticed a certain British snob looking over the tests Professor Lukić had handed back to us.”

Chloé began to pace across the dorm room as she continued her story.

“Usually when Diana gets a test back, she simply nods her head before putting it away in her bag. Yet this time, this time was different,” Chloé said, ignoring Sarah’s interruption asking her how she knew exactly what Diana did with her tests.

“For whatever reason, Diana did not nod in confirmation when viewing this test, no she practically scoured at it. For on the top of that paper sat not the expected A+, no. The grade she had received was in fact...a B!” Chloé shouted.

Chloé whipped around to see her roommates' reaction. Neither had moved. They must have been reeling in shock at her revelation.

“A...B? That’s it?” Sarah asked

“Nay! It goes deeper!” Chloé responded. “You see I had to make sure I wasn’t mistaken, that I hadn’t been seeing things. Surely the oh so incredible Diana Cavendish hadn’t scored a grade not one, but three whole steps below an A+? But she had! And I have the proof!”

Chloé strode back to the desk and picked up the envelope she had been carrying earlier. It was time to deploy her secret weapon.

“Behold!” She said, opening the envelope and pulling out the paper within. “The record of Diana’s potions grades!”

“How on earth did you get that? Sarah asked somewhat worridley.

“I have my sources,” Chloé responded smugly.

“That sounds like an invasion of privacy Chloé,” Elfriede said.

“And kinda illegal,” Sarah added.

“Don’t get caught up in the details,” Chloé said, waving off her friend’s concerns. “Pay attention instead, to the truth!”

Chloé turned the grade sheet so that Sarah and Elfriede could see. Despite their misgivings, both girls leaned forward to read it.

“This page, this mere piece of paper is the key to toppling Diana! For it proves that not only did she indeed get a B on our last test, but that her class average is only a B+!! That’s right, not an A+, not a basic A, not even an A-, a humble B+.”

Chloé laughed wickedly as she threw the paper up in triumph. There! She had exposed the truth! Now both of her roommates were enlightened!

“Is...that it?” Sarah questioned.

Chloé stopped mid evil laugh to whip her attention back towards Sarah. This lukewarm reception was not the response she had been expecting.

“What do you mean is that it!? How is your mind not blown right now??” Chloé questioned angrily.

“Well, It’s just that, I don’t see how that’s a big deal?” Sarah said. Elfriede nodded in agreement.

“This seems pretty...normal?”

Impossible! Chloé could understand how a grounded person like Sarah could fail to see the bigger picture here but not Elfriede too!

“It’s not! Diana is supposed to be perfect! But here she is clearly achieving below perfect scores!”

“Everyone has something they aren’t good at Chloé,” Elfriede said. “It makes sense Diana would have a subject she struggles in too.”

“If you can even call a B+ average struggling,” Sarah added.

Chloé took a step back, wind knocked out of her sails. Clearly her teammates just couldn’t appreciate the gravity of her discovery.

“Hpmh. The two of you may not understand the opportunity at hand here, but that doesn’t mean I don’t.”

“And that opportunity is what exactly? Are you gonna go around the school screaming that Diana has a B in one subject?” Sarah asked.

“No! I’m not,” Chloé said. “If you must know, I will simply out perform her in potions class! When the school hears about how I, Chloé LeBlanc received a higher grade than Diana, they’ll realize that she’s just another witch. Just another girl in school, susceptible to normal grades just like the rest of us!”

Chloé crossed her arms and closed her eyes, a smug, satisfied smile on her face. A silence once again fell over the room until a nervous sound from Elfriede broke it.

“Uh, Chloé? Isn’t there something...wrong with your plan?” the German girl asked.

Chloé’s eyes flew open, and she turned to face Elfriede with a frown.

“Like what?” She asked.

“Like the fact that your shit at potions? Almost as shit as me?” Sarah said deadpan.

“Language!” Chloé retorted angrily, shoving the swear jar back in Sarah’s face.

Sarah starred her down with a frown as she dropped another coin into the jar.

“I am aware of my...lack of skills, when it comes to brewing potions. I know that I can’t beat Diana with luck alone,” Chloé explained. “But I have that covered! You see, I’m going to get a tutor, and under their tutelage, am going to work nonstop until I’m confident that I will achieve the A+ that Diana cannot!”

“That’s your big plan? To study?” Sarah asked incredulously. “That’s what you should be doing anyway for a class you suck at!!”

“You’re failing to see the bigger picture Sarah.”

“Oh yeah? Who are you gonna get to tutor you anyway? It’ll take a godd- er, gosh-darn genius to polish your skills.”

Chloé chuckled to herself smugly. “Oh don’t you worry about that Sarah. I’ve got my eyes on the best potion master in our grade!”

“Sucy Manbavaran?”

“The best approachable potion master in our grade!”

“Barsa McVinegar?” Elfriede asked.

“The very same!” Chloé responded.

“How exactly are you gonna get her to agree to tutor you?” Sarah asked drly.

“Oh please, Sarah, that’ll be easy. You may not know it, but me and Barsa are great friends. She loves me.”

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“Um, I don’t think that’s a good idea Chloé. I’m pretty busy after class these days, and I kinda...don’t like you?” Barsa said to a rather flabbergasted Chloé.

The day after having revealed her master plan to her teammates, Chloé had gone to talk to Barsa as soon as she could. She often frequented the potions lab after school and that was exactly where Chloé found her. The French witch wasted no time in asking Barsa for her help in being her potion tutor...only to be immediately shot down. Okay, so it was a possibility that she had exaggerated how close she and Barsa were to Sarah and Elfriede. In reality, they had barely interacted before Chloé had started this whole scheme of hers. Still, she couldn’t take no for an answer, not now! Not after coming so far! A LeBlanc wouldn’t give up so easily!

“Please Barsa! You have no idea what this means to me!” Chloé said, throwing herself down onto her knees. “I’m begging you! Just a few lessons after class. At least until our next test!”

Barsa shifted uncomfortably at Chloé’s sudden begging. Chloé took this as a sign that her pleading was starting to work. She had no qualms about keeping this up until Barsa cracked.

“I-I don’t know Chloé,” Barsa said, shifting her gaze to look anywhere besides the fairly pathetic witch in front of her. “I already made a mistake in helping you get that grade sheet outta Professor Lukić’s office. If she found out it was missing, I’d lose my job as her TA for sure! Hell, I could have gotten expelled.”

“Yes, I understand that was a big risk for you. Which is why I brought it back, as promised, unscathed!,” Chloé said, jumping back to her feet and handing the envelope containing said document back to Barsa eagerly.

Barsa hesitantly took the envelope, giving Chloé a sideways glance before checking the contents inside. Determining that the grade sheet was in fact unmarred and in one piece, Barsa let out a relieved sigh.

“See? Good as new!” Chloé said confidently. “Now you can slip it back in place of the decoy and no one will ever know it was missing. You see, I gave my word and a LeBlanc never breaks a deal.”

“Deal!? What ‘Deal,’? You blackmailed me into stealing it for you,” Barsa said angrily.

“Well blackmail is a bit of a harsh word, isn’t it?” Chloé said with a nervous laugh.

“You threatened to release pictures of me dressing up as Professor Lukić to the school paper. I’d say blackmail describes that perfectly.”

“Okay so I might have used some underhanded tactics, and for that I’m sorry. Truly I am,” Chloé said clasping her hands together. But that was then, and this was now. Surely you can overlook the past just this once? Isn’t our friendship strong enough for that?” Chloé said hopefully.

“Not really,” Barsa deadpanned in response. “and I’m pretty sure I don’t want to be your friend.”

Chloé gasped, somewhat scandalized. How could a girl with such a cute sounding voice speak such harsh words!?

Seeing Chloé’s shock as a chance to escape, Barsa quickly gathered her things, picked up her cauldron, and made for the door.

“Anyway, Bye Chloé. Good luck with...whatever it is you were doing, I guess.”

Chloé shook herself out of her surprise at these words. Barsa was trying to leave! Leave without agreeing to tutor her! Her window was closing, her plan was practically falling apart before her eyes. It was now or never! Gathering her courage, Chloé leapt at the fleeing form of the other girl, successfully clasping onto her leg. Barsa yelped at the sudden contact, and went totally red in face as she took in the scene Chloé had caused.

“Please Barsa! You’ve got to be my potions tutor!” The French girl begged.

“Just, a-ask another student!” Barsa said through her embarrassment as she continued to try and walk to the door, dragging Chloé with her.

“I can’t! My potion skills are dirt! If I try and learn from anyone but the best, my grade won’t improve enough,” Chloé retorted.

“If you want the best, then go ask Sucy. She’s even better at potion brewing than I am!”

“Ask Sucy Manbavaran for a favor? Do I look suicidal to you!?”

“Alright fine!” Barasa finally relented. “I’ll be your stupid tutor, just let go of me already! And stand up please! It’s embarrassing to see you clinging to me so pathetically like that!”

Completely missing the insult she had just received, Chloé could only hear an angelic choir as Barsa agreed to teach her. It worked! Diana’s destruction was one step closer! Oh she could see it now, the Diana Cavendish and all her brain dead worshipers standing dumbfounded as she, Chloé LeBlanc towered over her stupid ‘B’ with a perfect score!

Releasing Barsa from her grip, Chloé once again rose to her feet, composing herself with a polite cough.

“Thank you for agreeing to assist me Barsa, it’s much appreciated.”

“Yeah, yeah, sure whatever,” Barsa said flatly.

“Then I’ll meet you here after class, for let’s say, two hours or so? Starting tomorrow?” Chloé said, holding out her hand for Barsa to take.

“Ah ah ah, not so fast,” Barsa said, crossing her arms. “If I tutor you, what’s in it for me?”

What? In it for her? Chloé hadn’t expected for Barsa to ask for recompense. She hadn’t prepared a reward. In hindsight, that was probably a pretty big oversight on her part. Something was telling her that Barsa wouldn’t exactly take “the satisfaction of seeing Diana being beaten down,” as a fitting payment.

“Um, I’ll...do anything you ask?” Chloé offered with uncertainty.

“Anything, I ask?”

“Well, within a certain reason-”

“Okay bye Chloé,” Barsa said, turning for the door.

“Wait! Fine! Don’t go!” Chloé said, grabbing Barsa’s arm. “I promise, I’ll do anything that the might of the LeBlanc family name and fortune can achieve!”

For the first time since they started this conversation, Barsa seemed somewhat pleased.

“Okay Chloé, you’ve got yourself a deal,” Barsa said, turning back around to shake Chloé’s hand proper. “Meet me here everyday starting tomorrow as soon as class lets out, and don’t be late. I don’t want to spend more time doing this than I have to.

“Not to worry, Mrs. McVinegar! A LeBlanc is nothing if not punctual!”

“I’m not gonna be an easy teacher either. I can get a bit crazy when it comes to potions. You sure you still want me to teach you?”

Chloé felt her enthusiasm falter a bit at that. Well, it’s not like she expected this to be easy, right? Getting her potion skills up to snuff was always gonna be a bit of an ordeal. Besides, the harder fought the battle, the sweeter her inevitable victory over Diana would be, right? And no matter how ‘crazy,’ Barsa was about potions, she couldn’t be worse than trying to learn from someone like Sucy, right? There was no turning back now! She’d come too far.

“Yes, i’m sure!” Chloé answered confidently. “I’ll be the best student you’ll ever have!

“Sure, great,” Barsa said tiredly, finally leaving the potions lab.

Chloé watched her leave with a satisfied smirk on her face. Phase two of her master plan was complete, and she only had to beg a little! Diana’s demise was practically at hand and Chloé couldn’t be in higher spirits. Sure, Barsa had said that their tutoring sessions would be hard, but honestly, compared to the pain of living in Diana’s shadow, how bad could they be?

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

Turns out, lessons with Barsa could be hell. No, actually Chloé was pretty sure Satan himself would want nothing to do with the punishment that Chloé had been enduring everyday after class for the last week and a half. Barsa had not been kidding when she said that she got crazy when it came to potions. It was like the normally passive girl morphed into a completely different person, one fueled solely by rage, and insulting others. Barsa had little to no patience for Chloé’s lack of skills, so rather than starting by reinforcing the basics of brewing, like Chloé had suggested, Barsa had decided to go with a more trial by fire kind of approach. This of course meant that she made a lot of mistakes, mistakes that Barsa didn’t take kindly to. It was like the orange haired girl took each and every fumble as some kind of personal affront to the art of potion brewing.

“And what exactly is that supposed to be?” Barsa had asked harshly, looking at Chloé’s attempt at making a panacea.

“Um, it’s a pa-”

“Because I know that you aren’t stupid enough to try and tell me that that pathetic excuse for sludge sitting in your cauldron is supposed to be a panacea,” Barsa said, slamming her hands on the table and leaning towards Chloé. “You aren’t stupid enough to do that, are you Chloé?”

Chloé could practically feel the venom dripping off of Barsa’s words.

“No! I’m not, Mrs. Barsa, uh sir!”

“Good. Then throw that trash down the drain and start again. From scratch.”

Seeing Chloé’s hesitance, Barsa slammed her hands down once again. “Well, what are you waiting for? An invitation!? Get brewing!”

“Yes ma’am!” Chloé said snapping to action.

And that was basically how all of Chloé’s tutoring sessions went, with her scared out of her skull as demon mode Barsa berated her. Still, as much as she didn’t want to admit it Barsa’s tutoring certainly seemed to produce results. It wasn’t long before potion mixtures and techniques were coming easier to Chloé. Now all that was left to do was see if the training paid off, which is exactly what Chloé currently found herself doing. As she sat there in potions class Friday afternoon Chloé found herself fighting to stay awake for what was probably the fifth time today. She may have been just a tad bit excited about destroying Diana’s perfect girl image and had been unable to fall asleep the night before. Nevertheless, she had pressed on throughout the day as any good LeBlanc would. She would not falter here! Not when she was so close to tasting victory!

After sitting through a class period that felt like it had lasted ages, Professor Lukić finally finished her lecture.

“That’s all we have time for today girls,” the old witch cronned. “I will see you next week.”

There was a general commotion as the witches in the room all began to stand and gather their things, clearly eager to leave the potions room and start their weekend. Chloé was not one of them, as she was starting to feel something that was probably akin to panic, just magnified times a hundred. What about the tests? They were supposed to get back their tests! Did Professor Lukić forget to grade them? Or worse, were they destroyed in some horrible unforeseen accident? Was all her hard work doomed to-

A hand shot up out of the corner of Chloé’s eye. She didn’t need to turn and look to know it was Diana’s. Chloé had long since memorized where her rival sat. Which was a totally normal thing to do, regardless of what Sarah thought. Professor Lukić took notice of Diana’s raised hand.

“Yes, miss Cavendish. What is it dear?”

Diana stood up from her seat.

“Forgive me Professor, but I believe you have forgotten to hand us back our previous test scores.”

A flash of recognition went across the old witches face before she turned back to her desk.

“Ah, right you are Diana. I know I have them here somewhere…”

A collective groan spread across the room as Diana sat back down in her seat. Obviously most of the class was not looking forward to getting their results. It was an open secret that potions was far from the most popular subject. A subpar grade in it being handed back to you was hardly the way any witch at Luna Nova wanted to start their weekend. Chloé couldn’t help but scoff. It was just like Diana to bring something like that up. Chloé bet she was the kind of kid in grade school that reminded the teacher to give homework. It baffled her to no end how Diana maintained all her fans when she pulled stunts like this. Of course, Chloé herself had also been eagerly awaiting her test results but that was neither here nor there.

Having seemingly found the graded tests, Professor Lukić turned back to the class. With a wave of her wand, the papers all began to float towards the seat of the respective students that owned them.

“Overall, you all did quite well. Even I have to admit that I’m impressed with some of the improvement I’ve seen since the last test.” Professor Lukić said. “With scores like these we might finally be able to get into some more dangerous and difficult brews.”

The professor cackled darkly as another wave of groans swept across the classroom. All of it however, was mere background noise to Chloé. The world around her practically fell away as she stared at the test in front of her...and the large A+ written on top in red ink. She’d done it! Actually really done it! She had sacrificed her pride and crawled through the trenches of potion brewing hell to get here, but she had reached her goal! The coveted A+ that even Diana Cavendish struggled to achieve! She had won! For the first time in the history in the halls of Luna Nova The LeBlanc name had reigned sup-

“Woah Diana! You did it!”

Suddenly Chloé felt herself being dragged harshly back to reality. With a speed that almost certainly wasn’t healthy for her neck Chloé turned to face Diana. The British girl had a small smile on her face, her test held in her hands, a large, red A+ adorned atop it. Chloé felt her jaw go slack. She blinked slowly in disbelief. How? How could Diana have gotten an A+ too? How!? Wasn’t this supposed to be her weak subject!? Chloé knew that the proud Cavendish could have never asked for help in her studies!

“See? I knew you’d get that A+”

Chloé hadn’t realized it before, but it was Akko who had spoken earlier, and who was now praising Diana. Wait a minute, since when in the hell was Akko friends with Diana!? It couldn’t be! Not only did she lose her chance at Diana’s destruction but had she also lost a (self-proclaimed) comrade in the battle against the Cavendish tyranny!? The Japanese girl was sitting awfully close to Diana, hell they were practically shoulder to shoulder. When Diana turned to address Akko, the smile on her face grew.

“Yes well Akko, It would appear you were right. Perhaps I was selling myself a little short,” Diana said. “Still, I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Wait a second that didn’t make sense. Akko was awful at potions. How could she have helped Diana-

“Thank you Sucy. Without your lessons my grade never would have gone up.”

The witch in question scoffed in response as she stood up from her seat and walked to the door. “Yeah yeah, whatever. Akko was never gonna stop bugging me if I didn’t help you. Not like you were a difficult person to teach anyways...”

“Don’t mind her Diana,” Akko said through a laugh as her fellow red teammate left the classroom. “I bet she’s just embarrassed with how sincere you were.”

“Oh, my bad. I didn’t mean to embarrass her. Should I not have thanked her so publicly?”

“Nah don’t worry about it. It’ll take more than that to rattle Sucy. Like one time, she…”

The sounds of Diana and Akko’s conversation faded as they too left the room. Chloé remained glued to her seat, her mouth still very much hanging open and her mind still very much blown. She didn’t know what to think anymore. Diana Cavendish and Atsuko Kagari, were friends. Not only that but the notoriously stubborn and prideful Diana had actually asked someone else to help her study. A someone that just so happened to be Sucy Manbavaran. The most unapproachable witch in the entirety of the school. Slowly, Chloé closed her mouth, and turned back to face forward in her seat. She glanced down at the A+ that sat on her paper. What had filled her with near elation only minutes ago now seemed like nothing more than a cheap consolation prize.

With all the force of the disappointment that now weighed on her shoulders, Chloé slammed her head onto her desk. What she had once thought as truths, were broken and what had once been hope, was now despair. She had no idea how this day could get any worse.

“Hey Chloé.” Barsa said as she walked up to the sulking witch.

Chloé didn’t give a response, but more of an acknowledging groan.

“I see you got the grade you wanted. Good for you, I guess.”

Chloé let out another groan. “Good for me? Yeah right. This is nothing now. Nothing but the promise of what could have been.”

Unfortunately Chloé’s words were muffled by the fact that her face was currently flat up against her desk. Barsa considered asking the French witch to repeat what she had said, but just shrugged in indifference instead.

“Yeah cool so you remember our deal right? I help you, you do whatever I ask.”

Chloé raised her head to look at the ginger witch.

“And what would that be?”

“There's gonna be a potion’s expo in town this weekend, but I can’t make it because I’m visiting my family,” Barsa explained. “I was planning on stocking up on some rare ingredients, ones that I won’t get another chance to get my hands on for a while. So you’re gonna go in my place.”

“Okay. So uh when is it?” Chloé asked tentatively.

Sure, Chloé wasn’t looking forward to this at all, but hey with the leadway she gave Barsa, the ginger witch could have asked for a lot worse. What’s one day out of her weekend?

“It starts tomorrow at 9 a.m and goes until Sunday night at 11:30 p.m. The lines can get pretty long, especially for the stuff I’m after, so you’re gonna have to get there early. Six in the morning should do it,” Barsa said.

She turned to take an envelope out of her pocket and handed it to a bewildered Chloé.

“Here. That’s your ticket. Be sure not to lose it. I’ve also got a list of the stuff I need written down in there too. Make sure you get them all, especially the petrified dragon vomit. That’s really important.”

Barsa patted Chloé on the shoulder and made her way towards the door.

“Okay have fun!”

And with that, she was gone. And so was Chloé’s weekend. Finally Chloé managed to find her way to her feet. She slowly gathered up her things and made to walk for the door. As she was contemplating whether throwing herself off of the new moon tower or drowning out by the cafeteria vestibule would be a more fitting end, Professor Lukić emerged from the ingredients store room at the front of the class.

“Oh, miss LeBlanc. You’re still here. Was there something you needed child?”

“No Professor. I was just leaving,” Chloé said dejectedly.

Professor Lukić raised an eyebrow at her student’s clearly downtrodden mood.

“What’s gotten into you girl? Why are you so mopey?” The professor asked.

Chloé cringed at the question. She didn’t exactly feel like explaining her entire ordeal to the old witch.

“It’s nothing professor, really. I’m fine,” she said, hoping her professor wouldn’t press further.

Lukić let out a huff. “If you say so. Still, try and smile a bit child. You did very well on your test. You’ve far exceeded what I thought you were capable of. I’m almost proud of you.”

Chloé blinked in surprise at that. It was practically as close as possible as one could get to receiving a compliment from the old potion master. Despite everything that had gone wrong today, Chloé couldn’t help but smile.

“Thank you professor. I’ll be sure to keep trying my best.”

And with that Chloé finally made her way out of the potions room. It might not have brought Diana to her knees, but suddenly her A+ didn’t feel so worthless.

#little witch academia #sarah bernhardt #Chloé #Elfriede #lwa #alec writes #hope you enjoy!#Bonus points to anyone who can figure out where I got Chloé's last name from

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minah-delacroix · 4 years ago

Text

At any price (Part III)

Universe: Dynasty AU

Characters: Minah, Sungjae, Tyler

Word count: 2,3 k

The closet

Minah had lost count of how many drinks she had by the time she found herself in Tyler’s room. It took her probably 30 minutes on the dance floor before she decided to throw her judgement out of the window and get black-out drunk. She blamed Tara and Jane who were supposed to look after her and act as her conscience and impulse control respectively, but those traitors disappeared as soon as Jaehyun Jung and Mark Yang joined them on the dance floor.

“Come here” Tyler held a very protective hold on Minah, arm wrapped around her waist as he guided her to the walking closet. Drunk Minah was all laughs, no questioningly frowns and dangerously easy to convince; just in general, the exact opposite of sober Minah, so she didn’t protest or questioned his intentions. She allowed him to lead the way without protesting and she only laughed when Tyler pulled down the zipper of her dress, claiming she needed to get changed to sleep.

“You think you’re slick” A giggle passed Minah’s lips as she jokingly hit Tyler’s arm, which only caused him to throw a very serious look before tightening his hold on her, helping Minah regain the balance. She threw her head backwards, holding Tyler by his forearms “Where did you get these muscles?” Minah smirked “I mean, bulges”

Tyler couldn’t help but laughing, his hands moving to hold her sides gently. Just like that Minah made a decision, though her thoughts were too muddled up to even recognize what the decision was. She grasped Tyler by the collar of his shirt and pulled him down for a kiss.

Tyler didn’t react to it, rigid with shock although for a second Minah felt him relax in her arms.

“No, Minah. This is not right” Tyler pushed her kindly, looking into her eyes with something that Minah would’ve recognized as longing if she had not been so drunk. But she didn’t, so a pout immediately replaced the smile on her face.

“Ok, fine” she shrugged dramatically “Fine, just leave me like everybody else. Just walk away like my parents, my stupid grandfather, like Sungjae”

“Whatever happened to Minah “I-only-care-about-me” Delacroix?” Tyler let out a deep breath, his expression solemn.

Minah gulped, reality suddenly felt like a foreign notion “Is that what everybody thinks about me?” she pushed Tyler and flopped onto the nearest ottoman chair, arms falling languid at each side of hers. “Am I really that unlovable?” She questioned.

“Of course not” Tyler sat next to her, his fingers running through her hair in an attempt to untangle the knots Minah had wrestled her hair into.

“Then why is it everybody abandons me?” Minah whined, kicking her shoes off, wondering how she looked in Tyler’s eyes at that very moment.

“I’m still here” Tyler whispered before his lips darted to her neck. “I’ve always been here”

The juice

Minah woke up feeling like someone had glued her eyelids shut. When she finally managed to pull her eyes open and turned over to look around the room she realized it was almost midday. She groaned when the sunlight filtering through the window assaulted her eyes. All she could remember was feeling dreadful. Miserable. She could also remember Sungjae’s dark eyes looking at her with contempt and Tyler's lips peppering wet kisses along her jawline.

She winced when she thought about Tara, Jane and whatever they had to say about her behavior, but there was not enough time to dwell on those negative thoughts because someone pushed the doors of the room open.

“I brought you a little something to help speed your recovery” Tyler’s voice singsang, a grin curling his mouth when Minah covered her face with a pillow.

“Are you trying to smother yourself to death?” he laughed, pulling the pillow away from her face and humming pleased when his eyes met hers.

“You seem pretty chipper today,” Minah frowned. Tyler only laughed, making Minah wince as though his happiness caused her pain. “I mean…” She trailed off “Did we?”

Tyler gasped amused, eyes widening a bit at the realization of what she meant “Oh no,” He shook his head “If we had, believe me, you’d remember” He offered a smug smirk and sat on the edge of the bed, handing her a glass of green juice that Minah accepted reluctantly. Why did Tyler have to be such an annoying health freak? She could’ve used a greasy burger or something that didn’t look so disgustingly green.

“Well, I was pretty wasted” she shrugged “The last thing I remember is talking to the douche-nerds” she lied. Tyler didn’t need to know she remembered making out with him in his closet. “Alcohol just wouldn’t let me stop” She groaned, “I won’t blame you if you’re mad at me for ruining the business with the geeks”

“Are you kidding?” Tyler’s expression was a cross between disbelief and amusement. “Those two love you” he chuckled “Henry was ready to propose and Harry to fight him if he did”

“Wait” Minah sat up, looking completely disconcerted “What?” She grabbed at the sides of her head trying to remember details of the previous night “I thought I called them two geeky John Galliano”

“Raf Simons” Tyler corrected. “But they loved the advice you gave them about making their brand go couture and thought it would add value to their company” Minah’s mouth dropped “They actually wanna license their textile tech to us for under market value. You brought it home” Tyler stated proudly.

“No, they only accepted to come to the party because they saw your name on the invitation” Minah took a gulp from the glass shrugging. She wasn’t trying to stroke Tyler’s ego or anything. It was a fact. “Your reputation is saving this company” She added with conviction

“It’s our reputation” Tyler emphasized “I mean, you are pretty lovable” There was no explanation for the embarrassment washing over Minah upon listening to those words, but she pretended not to care, sipping the disgusting juice as though it was the most delicious drink she’d ever had. “And like you said, we’re family now” Tyler stood up “I’m not gonna leave you anytime soon” Minah didn’t dare to look at him, but she was sure he was smiling “Or at least not until I get my investment back”

“By then, you’ll love me too much to let me go” Minah replied smartly, a triumphant smile spreading on her face.

“By the way…” Tyler looked down, focusing his attention on the carpeted floor “I don’t know if you even remember, but yesterday you said you don’t want to go back to your grandparents’ home. If that’s true, you are welcome to stay here as long as you need to figure out your situation” Minah mentally facepalmed herself for even thinking that sharing her problems with Tyler was a good idea, but she still nodded, thankful when he went on “It’s not the Ritz, but this place is so big we can be in opposite wings and never see each other” He laughed at the way Minah frowned, looking immediately insulted “Unless we want to, of course”

The football game

The Delacroix Foundation charity football match was a yearly tradition and yet another excuse for the Delacroix family to reunite la crème de la crème of European high society under the same roof. Minah considered skipping the event. After all, her grandparents were still offended she moved out of the manor to go live with Tyler Lee. According to them, It reflected poorly on the family and their irreproachable reputation. Of course, they forgot that their COO had been jailed not long ago and they spent a few thousands paying for his bail. They also omitted the fact Gabriel had already done enough to get the family name dragged through the mud with the numerous scandals that broke out the previous weeks.

Nevertheless, Minah showed up, clad in a skintight vintage Alaia bodysuit, low rise boyfriend jeans, and sunglasses so big she almost didn’t notice it when she bumped into Sungjae. As per usual, he had been dragged —or coaxed— into partaking her family's grand events and traditions so he wore the Delacroix football uniform and a sports headband, a weakness of hers that would usually have them sneaking into his house and disappearing mysteriously, but that now only made Minah gulp as she looked away.

“I come in peace, you don’t need to worry” Minah spoke before Sungjae had the chance to say anything. Given the circumstances of their last encounter Minah was sure Sungjae would accuse her of stalking him “I’m only here for my brother” She explained, pointing at the football field behind where Suho and his teammates moved around, warming up before the game.

“You really think you can just show up everywhere?” Sungjae asked, his jaw clenching.

“I came to see my brother win” She ignored how angry Sungjae looked and how his gaze darkened even more upon registering her words.

“My team wins every year” He reminded Minah with his eyebrows up, as though she were purposely forgetting that little detail “And that crap you put up at Tyler’s, it took me all night to make up with Ashleigh, so don’t expect me to pretend nothing happened.”

Minah rolled eyes unamused “All night, huh?”

“Do your grandparents even know you’re here?” Sungjae briefly glanced at the seating section where Minah distinguished the unmistakable figures of her aunts.

“Unlike you, my grandparents can’t hold a grudge” That was a blatant lie and Tyler Lee existed to prove her wrong, but Minah couldn’t ignore that Sungjae suggested her own family wouldn’t be happy to see her.

“I’m glad you’re here, for some reason today grandad has forgotten he hates me for playing foot” Suho hugged Minah as soon as she invaded the field to greet his friends, who were scattered around, exchanging polite handshakes with her grandfather and Gabriel and taking pictures with the heiresses of the Veuve-Ponsardin family.

“I’m sorry I am late” she wrapped an arm around her brother’s shoulders and they walked toward the rest of the family.

“I wasn’t expecting you at all” Louis Pierre Delacroix said when Minah stood in front of him. Although the mask of forced politeness on his face didn’t budge as much as an inch, Minah didn’t need to be a genius to know he was boiling inside.

“You know I’d never miss this” Minah gave her grandfather a saccharine-sweet smile and then turned to hi-five James Wu, Suho’s teammate and a very good “friend” she hadn't seen in years.

Minah had vague recollections of sneaking into locker rooms and fucking James in his limo with the partition half rolled up. He was one of her firsts and the first to contribute to her kink awakening and for that Minah kept fond memories of him. Minah didn’t hesitate one second when she noticed him holding his arms wide open for her to jump into. “James Wu, I haven’t seen you in what seems to be forever” she smiled charmingly at him, eyes playful as she wrapped her arms around his waist. He lifted her in the air before giving her a soft peck on the lips.

Minah had not even gotten properly on her feet when a pair of strong and very defined arms wrapped around her from behind.

“It’s been a while, mademoiselle” Jean François Bernard said, his lopsided smug smile held the same hint of danger from three summers ago when Minah and he ended up stuck in a private island and explored that famous book of Vatsyayana to kill the boredom. Minah’s body involuntarily reacted, shivering in something akin anticipation at the remembrance.

“Jean Francois!” Minah beamed, spinning around and hugging him tightly. A giggle escaped from her lips when he kissed her neck softly, reminding Minah why she had been so smitten with the French guy for months after they returned from their Caribbean escapade.

“I can’t believe it’s been nearly four years and you still haven’t put any of these losers in place” The voice Minah had been dying to hear since the moment she set foot in the manor, finally spoke. She turned on her heel to find Minho Choi, Suho’s best friend, and her eternal crush. A dimple appeared at the side of his mouth as he assessed Minah from head to toe. “You’re not gonna say hello?”

Minah jumped his arms and Minho twirled her all the way around before returning her to her feet. Still holding her hands, his eyes roamed her body. “Wow, you look-“

After looking around and making sure Sungjae was watching, Minah tiptoed and crushed her lips against Minho’s. As he kissed her back, whispers from the seating section became audible.

“Too damn hot” Minho completed the sentence Minah had interrupted once she broke the kiss, smiling mischievously at him.

“Good luck in the game, champion” She winked “Now you’re obligated to win”

“Do I get a good luck kiss from you too?” Jason Donovan, FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year, joined the group and gave an enthusiastic hug to Minah although it was the very first time they met face to face.

“Wow, the whole team” Gabriel spoke for the first time, making his presence known and causing all eyes to turn to him. Of course he looked ready to do some damage control, dressed offensively sportive to join Sungjae’s team.

“And yet not one sex tape” Minah retorted with a self-sufficient smile and that peculiar tone of hers that was not supposed to admit a reply.

However, Minah’s grandfather didn’t seem pleased with the comment. He forced a smile and wrapped an arm around Minah’s shoulders, leading her outside the field “Alright, that was enough.” He said through gritted teeth “If you can’t respect this family and I mean everyone in this family, then you can as well go spend your time with another one” He concluded.

It technically was an invitation to leave, but Minah took her grandfather’s advice literally.

...

#oc #dynasty au #minah #sungjae #tyler #story

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ellnaturae · 6 years ago

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Strength is Compulsory

Who: Kitty Wilde ( @wildevvitch ), Tina Cohen-Chang ( @cohentoplaywithmagic ), Blaine ( @happilyeveranders ) Anderson and Elliott Gilbert. Location: Undique Stadium. Time: 24th May 2019. Summary: Kittina vs Blelliott. Triggers/Notes: violence, stabbing, homophobia, slurs.

Blaine usually doesn't come to Undique Stadium with a furrowed brow, one manufactured from anger. Its usual place are doubt, self-pity, and disappointment from how one-sided he's been in active duels, from how pointless his presence even feels. The last fight alongside Kurt only shows how different their caliber. Blaine feels alienated from his own body, his own magic, and try as he might to say things will change for the better, and he'll progress, he has an abject reminder he's stagnating. From the result of the battles, all he has received is hundreds of notes on his fellow students and how great they are with their magic and how Blaine just... isn't. But he can't allow himself to get inside his head when he's facing off with one of the most challenging people he's ever dealt with. Kitty Wilde. Blaine paces in the training room, wondering if Elliott's on his way or if Blaine should use their pendant, and he lets go of that cool piece of metal affixed around his neck when he thinks he hears someone approaching. Elliott enters the room, his expression matches his friend's frown but he hasn't seen him yet. He usually fights Kitty only verbally, partially because he told himself fighting her solved nothing, but mostly because he has to admit to himself she is a little... scary. Holy magic, potentially knowing the kneeling spell, it would be that crazy fight he told Santana to stop him from doing, but here he was, ready to fight her with all he got, influenced by the limit of his patience and anger. However, even in times like these, when an uncomfortable knot is starting to form on his stomatch wondering if this would end up anything but well, when he sees Blaine waiting there a small smile appears on his face and he feels a little better. Last time they fought it didn't go great at all, but his trust on Blaine was unwavering, and he believed firmly on them as a team. They could do this, right? "Hey, partner" he winks at Blaine as he stand next to him. Kitty was scowling when she entered the stadium and saw the brat Anderson and his Shedim. 'What an eyesore. Doesn't matter. God will give me His favor and I will WIN.' Kitty thought and raised her cross necklace to irritate Blaine and Elliott. "You two are going to witness God's love today. Repent now or I'll show you God's hatred." She threatened them. She stuck her nose up at the offending sights. Kitty was slightly nervous about Alena but she'd come when Kitty was fighting a demon. She had to. Tina was speeding her way to the stadium not wanting to leave Blainey Days, Elliott-Senpai and Wilde all in the same room together without her to defuse the tension or Kitty being Kitty. Rushing in, she grimaces as everyone was already there. Hopefully, bitter words had not been traded but as she walks in she was too late with Wilde threatening her best friends. "Don't underestimate them, Wilde," Tina calls out,"Pretty sure that these two can show you the most love than any god could." Blaine can't hide his dislike of Kitty Wilde when she strolls in. She's literally threatening us, Blaine thinks and stands closer to Elliott for support -- his or Ell's, that's debatable -- and fires back, "You'd be surprised today." Blaine gives Elliott a look, an encouraging one, when Tina enters in and doesn't know how to add to it. His relationship with Tina feels tenuous too, and Blaine's mind softly nudges him to remember what transpired with Rachel not long ago too. Does he know what Tina's thinking about too? What's going on with Tina and Kitty to make Tina stay with a legitimately vile person? Elliott looks at Kitty showing her cross and he touches his ear where he is wearing his inverted cross earring as a response. He gives a little squeeze to Blaine's shoulder and then places himself a couple of steps before him. He then takes a look at Tina wondering why she isn't on their side of this fight "Let's just start this" he says annoyed as Ziggy appears around his arm surrounded by smoke. He has never wanted to get into a fight more than he wanted today. Kitty rolled her eyes at the garish earring. "Queers just love ruining everything." She muttered. She doesn't listen to Tina because she doesn't need to. However, Kitty was eyeing the three of them to see what would happen. 'Who knows, this could be a trap. People aren't as loyal as they say they are.' Kitty was looking straight at Tina and ignored the anger brimming inside her. 'Those stupid anonymous messages from that raccoon bitch. Who's the liar here? Trashy? Or her?' Kitty tossed her pretty ponytail behind her and threw the salt across the ground to scare Elliott. She walked past them with a mean smirk. "Whatevvs, Trashy. Get on the stage and let's get this done. I have an appointment for nails later." She ordered Tina to stand in front of her. Tina was starting to become slightly anxious for this fight as her hands felt clammy taking out her phone in preparation. Everything on the room felt on the edge, as she takes a look at Blaine who steps closer to Elliott who seems rather annoyed and boomed. Tina thinks back to the first time she physical met Kitty along with the brutal battle with Blaine. Even though it was training she didn't want that to happen again. Looking at the two boys, Tina never wants to find herself face to face like this with them. This was her doing what she thought was best. She takes her place in front of Kitty, not because she was taking orders, it has just always been apart of their strategy to be like this. Standing with Kitty behind her and her best friends in front of her, the unease flurries more. If Kitty does hold back at least Tina would be in front to try and defuse it all. "Wilde," she barks back at the order, facing Bee and Ell to ask them,"Same rules that we had at the SP torment sound good?" Blaine pulled a face at the slur Kitty threw at them and also at Tina's passiveness. "Not as much as hypocritical homophobes love to blame gay people for every instance." He said evenly but it was clear he was not humoring Kitty Wilde or even Tina when she looked at him as they took their places on stage. Unlike other duels, Blaine was seething when he bowed out of politeness of dueling courtesy. Blaine couldn't believe Tina taking her place like this. What exactly was happening at Zephyrus? "Ell, let me know if you need any backup." Blaine whispered. "Who attacks first?" He asked the two women in a polite if tight tone. Elliott frowns "Fuck you, fascists like you ruin people's lives" he looks at Kitty then back at Tina when she is a few steps away from him "Sure" he looks at her confused, he really didn't want to fight Tina, but he was starting to wonder if she did want to fight them. He never had doubted Tina before, but her behavior lately... He sighs and before he gets more serious and on position he turns to Blaine "let me know as well, you can count on Ziggy too" when he faces Tina again his face turns more serious. Kitty smiled at Blaine and Elliott's comments and laughed them off. clicked her tongue at Tina's suggestion and smiled behind her at the two weaklings in front of her. "Yeah, let's show them. This time we won't have St. Pierre or Boulder holding me back." Kitty boasted and pointed at the two of them with prejudice. "With God as my witness, I'll make you two see the light." Kitty couldn't see Tina's face and wondered if the three of them were plotting something against her. 'I can't trust anyone.' Kitty thought. 'I always get betrayed. The club. My parents. That bitch Alena. I need to strike first instead of being hurt first!' Kitty decided to take the initiative.

Kitty pressed her palms together to pray. "Heavenly Father, I’m but your humble servant, lend me your power. Fill your holy vessel with your magnificence! Soul Armament!" Kitty pulled something out of thin air. It was her glaive but it still had a cracked end. When Kitty grabbed it, she didn't feel any body there behind the weapon. 'Still being such a brat!' Kitty grimaced at Alena's absence. When that fish came back, Kitty was going to give her a talking to. "Heavenly Father! I’m but your humble servant, lend me your power. Fill your holy vessel with your magnificence! Shield your Chosen One!" Instead of protecting Tina, Kitty shielded herself. Kitty: (1d7 + 1d10)*2 Shield Kitty = ((5) + (10))*2 = 30 Over her shoulder, Tina with gritted teeth,"You are not going to be like that with them. Don't you even dare." All of this was already hard enough standing on the in between, Tina swears that it was getting hotter here the more anxious she was becoming. Kitty was in no mood to hold back evident from not even to wait to hear how she wanted to battle as she attempts to summon her Soul Armament but something, something was off about it, she tries to work out what it was but she only bared witness to her Soul Arment a handful of times. Something pauses as the Bloodline Witch protects herself first, not Tina. "What the..." Tina is thrown off muttering under her breath. This was not how they did things. What was going on in Kitty's head? Tina snaps out of it as she looks at her best friends, both sporting a more serious look. A flat line upon her face as she summons one of her queens to the right of her.🔮⚔👑 ⚔️ 🔮 taking full form, in all its data glory.

Tina: 1d7+2+1-1: 1d7 Queen HP = (1) = 1 Blaine tries as he might to understand Tina's logic, he cannot. "Why are you over there?" He asks from behind his position, trying to get Tina's attention. "Why are you fighting us? Does Kitty have something on you? I just... I don't get you, Tina!" Blaine finally lets that last bit out. It's a bitter truth and Blaine's been skirting around it but now it's out there. Blaine sees another data creature summoned next to her and Blaine bites behind his lip and sees that he needs to take down the enemies.

Blaine: 2d6kl1 Attack Queen = (2+2) = 2 Blaine fans both hands out and casts, Esteemed one of wind, please help me clear my path! Blaine doesn't have a lot of emotional control and his mind is teeming with questions. The loss of focus makes his spell waver but it's enough to slice toward Tina's digital creature.

Tina: 2d7kl1-1 Queen Counter Blaine = (4+3)-1 = 2

Elliott hears what Blaine asks Tina, maybe what he was also wanting to ask but hadn't been brave to all this time either "I'm interested to know to..." he says as Blaine attacks. He takes that moment to concentrate if Blaine goes for the Queen, he will go for Kitty. He shakes his arm a little as if telling Ziggy, this is your turn. The snake slowly moves to his hand and starts disappearing into smoke, when the smoke disperses a rusted chain appears around the place where the snake used to be. He lets one of the ends of the chains hang and he starts swinging it in the air.

Elliott: 1d6 + 1d5 + 2= (6) + (4) + 2 = 12

Elliott he throws the chain against Kitty's shield.

Kitty whispered back to Tina with a bitchy glare. "I'm going to be whatever I want with anyone, you're not my boss. You're supposed to be my battle partner. So battle. Or I'll fight by myself. That's what you want, isn't it, for me to be alone!" Kitty wouldn't let that happen. She wouldn't lose. Everyone would hate her if she did. She shook her glaive to throw one more attack when the light inside fizzled out. "Cheese and rice, what in Big Daddy God's holy name?" Kitty swore. The glaive didn't feel powerful. It felt like there was no magic inside. "Alena? Hello? Is this you?" Kitty yelled at her weapon. She wasn't paying attention to the chain thrown at her. It clanged loud against her shield and Kitty looked up to see that heathen demon had a Soul Armament too. 'That can't be right. God would never give...' Kitty was frightened.

Tina watches as her Queen is obliterated by Blaine's wind fading away into binary ones and zeros. Remnants of his cause her hair to flicker behind as she stun by his words. Despite being behind Elliott, his words were loud and clear. "You, don't get me?" Tina repeats in disbelief. "You seriously don't get me?" She repeats out loud trying to understand what her distant best friend was asking of her. "It was meant to be just us but then, then Kitty came in and I don't want you fight just her. I don't want to have Kitty fighting alone," she looks back at her Socium Partner. "That's all this is Bee! You too Senpai. This is all that it is." Rather clearly, it wasn't there was something more than just fighting face value. Not attacking, she sticks with her plan to just to keep on summoning, this time to her left 🔮 ⚡ 🐉️⚡️ 🔮 her magic circle glows as she digitally constructs her usual partner.

Tina: 1d7 Dragon HP = (4) = 4

Blaine 's face gets hot from the disarming tone Tina takes up with him. What is he missing here? That's what he is asking from Tina, to fill him in. "Why? You could have told her no! I said no! But she's threatening people, and are we kidding ourselves when I say no one seems to respond to that? That we all think if we ignore that she'll go away? Why are you fighting with her, then? If you're so against her beliefs?! Why don't you want to have her fighting alone? She's the only one who thinks I should go to conversion therapy, and that Elliott deserved to be a slave! That's not all this is! This is more than just a simple duel, this is our lives here! How are we supposed to feel when you're on her side, and then say 'this is all that it is' without understanding why we'd be upset?!" Blaine moves forward. "If you don't want to fight me, that's fine! But don't stop me from fighting Kitty."

Elliott chain swings in his hands for a moment he stands there listening to Blaine, he has Tina right in front of him and he looks directly at her "Is that all that it is?" he asks echoing Blaine's sentiment "I feel like you are the one not getting it..." he sighs "You always say you are on our side, that you support what we believe in, and your words are beautiful and touching... I want to believe in you, because it's you, but... what are we left to feel when we see you standing in front of her?" he pauses " your words mean nothing if they are not backed up by your actions" he says bitterly and swings the chain up in the air ready to attack again.

Elliott: 1d6 + 1d5 +2 = (2) + (2) +2 = 6

Elliott sents the chain Kitty's way again.

Kitty: 1d6 + 1d10 = (2) + (3) = 5

Kitty didn't understand why Tina wouldn't just zap the two of them like she had done with Kitty in the past. What was her partner thinking. Was this a trap for Kitty? "Come on, move your digital summons! Hit them with your tech magic! You were so strong with them!" Kitty said to Tina hotly. She wasn't even listening to Blaine and Elliott talking. 'Who cares to listen to their dumb heroic speeches.' But she caught onto a part the Shedim had said and fired back, "Why are you guys acting like I'm not even here! Freaking notice me! I'm here!" She was getting angry. "Is this the secret plan with the three of you, to pretend I'm not here? Fine. I'll make sure you guys notice me. Get the hell out of my way, Trashy." She didn't want Tina to get caught under the beam even if Tina was thinking of betraying her. Kitty smashed the end of her glaive into the ground and it sparked with a little life. The glaive cracked more. Heavenly Father! I’m but your humble servant, lend me your power. Fill your holy vessel with your magnificence, let my spirit be yours, my body nothing, let it bear all wounds, all pain, all death, for my place is with you in Heaven, shed me of this mortal sin… Kitty's body was sparkling with light.

Here is were the strain and voices tug in Tina's heart and in her mind. All the things that she had gone on ignoring blinded by her feelings, deniable feelings towards the toxic Bloodline. This is were all the lines seem to blur between feelings and the way that they rippled out, hurting, ruining and restricting lives. She runs her palms pushing her away from her face to try speak without a crack in her voice,"Because I didn't wanna tell her no, I didn't want her fighting you one on one, either of you. Kitty is powerful and I think we know that." Tina looks between Blaine and Elliott,"Just because I'm fighting along side her does not mean that I believe the same thing as her. Please don't think that, that is nothing I ever want you to think of me. I'm not on her side when it comes to how she thinks we should live. But then...." she struggles and stammers,"One thing, one thing that no one else see's no one else see's is the reason why we have all be partnered up in the first place. After...after what happened that night with mom and dad..." Tina looks directly at them,"Kitty makes me feel safe. She strong, she can fight, she can heal she can protect. It's a feeling I'm trying to ignore and say that I don't need, I can't help it if that is the way that she makes me feel. Call me selfish for it but it's true." So lost in her own battling thoughts and emotions she vaguely hears Kitty until her voice is fuelled with anger and a bright light leaves from Kitty. That fear that trembles comes over her knowing the spell all too well. "Kitty, no!!!" Tina screams taking a step closer to Kitty's left.

Blaine replied, "Why didn't you want to? What's wrong with telling Kitty 'no'?! Who cares if she's powerful if she's evil. I don't care if she's strong, I'll fight her regardless because she's wrong!" Blaine saw Tina's face screw up and wished he could feel sad, but he couldn't. He couldn't when the sadness and pity and sympathy he was feeling for Tina dissipated when she moved away from Kitty, revealing what was behind her. Tina revealed she didn't feel secure with Blaine or Elliott. Only Kitty. Even if Kitty was the one threatening their lives. Blaine's blood ran cold at seeing the prone girl on the floor, glowing. He remembered the spell Kitty was doing. He remembered a year from ago. Kitty was facing Elliott. She was going to hurt Elliott and not even that -- Kitty's holy magic could kill Elliott. "No!" Blaine moved in front of Elliott, right in the line of Kitty's aim.

Elliott can't even react, everything is happening so fast. Tina runs aside, Blaine gets on the way, Kitty is... shinning? He acts by instint realizing Blaine is getting on the way to protect him, but he doesn't want his friend to get hurt either so he tries to move him aside.

Elliott: 1d6 to push blaine = (4) = 4

Blaine: 1d6 = (3) = 3

Kitty: 1d50*4 = (36)*4 = 144

Kitty didn't see anyone acknowledging her in their talk. Including her socius pactum. They were speaking around her like Kitty wasn't in the room. She couldn't respond due to the spell but she wanted to scream at them. She wanted to scream at Tina. Tina liked her because she was strong. So what about when Kitty was weak? Was she worthless? When Kitty was weak, didn't they all take advantage of it? Sister Quinn finally replied when Kitty told her about Alena's disappearance. Tina told Santana Lopez, the trickster, all about Kitty's moment of weakness in the desert. But they all pretended they didn't hurt Kitty. They pretended Kitty was the only one who hurt them. 'Nobody asks me if I feel safe. Only God protects me but sometimes I don't feel secure.' Kitty felt the power rise up in her though. She had to let it explode. And let my body burn up in your light of Justice, oh Heavenly Father!! She sent the blast in front of her. Whoever it was, they would taste Kitty's pain.

Tina was in a blind furry to by Kitty's side as she did the spell in a means to stop her with no knowledge how too. In her moment of desperation, she was not even thinking of the consequences to the people that were in front of her, Blaine and Elliott. Everything happened way too fast for her process it as Kitty unleashed her holy beam onto Elliott. Rationality hit in as her idiotic heart and foolish actions were leading to something that would be unforgettable and unforgiveable.

Blaine's readying himself, he doesn't want Elliott to feel the searing pain of holy magic, however something solid grabs him by the scruff of his neck, wraps a strong around around his shoulder and drags him to the side, near pushing him a good three feet away. Blaine lands in the ground in an uncoordinated heap as he hasn't been expecting it and the worst thing imaginable flashes in front of his eyes as the bright light overtakes everything, engulfing Elliott. Blaine shouts but he can't hear himself scream out Elliott's name. When the light is gone, Blaine scrambles up on his feet and runs to his partner's side. He skids on his knees and holds Elliott. "Elliott. Oh my--aether, no, no..." Blaine tucks his head in and can't help but tear up.

Elliott sees the strong light out of Kitty's body. Spreading. There isn't anything he can imagine, how this would feel, what would happen to him. And he is terrified but he is glad he did have time to move Blaine out of the way. This couldn't be good. His eyes are almost blinded and there isn't really time to react, the holy magic hits him. If he could think that time he felt intense physical pain when he was stabbed, it wasn't even comprable to what this was. There weren't words to describe it, it was like burning through inside out, as if his body could practically break in thousand pieces. And it drains him. There isn't strength in him, and he lets out a scream that makes his whole body tremble as he falls to the floor unconcious.

Her light was dazzling and blinding but how was it deadly and destructive. Tina watches in utter horror paralysed by Elliott's deafening scream, a scream that makes her blood turn cold. The scream echoes within her as flashes of other deadly screams play back fast: Blaine's from the number times she bares witness to him hurt, her own scream as she stands and watching as the moments unfurl. Her mother's own heart wrenching scream watching as her father falls hurt from the Pagan. Each times the moment plays the same: a scream, the one she cares about hurt and Tina Cohen-Chang only every standing there. Right now, the moment plays the same, all she does it stand there doing nothing, the only thing that tears this moment apart, Tina had made a choice. But her head becomes a furry between the logical, rationality and reason against complex emotions that dwell in her heart. How could the tech witch dare say she chose her heart when the sight of her the people she cares for most in the world, the two she would call her heart, she had broken and turn against? How could she say she thought with her heart? Elliott falls. Blaine to his side. Kitty is faint. And Tina does nothing. A choice was made with consequences that will last, unforgivable: making ties she once considered to be unbreakable cut and undone. There would be no coming back from this one.

#c: Strength is Compulsory #wildevvitch #cohentoplaywithmagic #happilyeveranders #cw: violence #cw: homophobia #cw: slurs #cw: stabbing

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hockeyfun · 7 years ago

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Auston Matthews #4

Requested by @verywell-fandango : One where x is a female hockey player and she goes on a date with auston to an ice rink and they play together if you can of course

Warnings: pain, cussing, and sexual tension

Word count: 3194

Author’s note: It’s a pretty long one Idk there is just something about Auston Matthews that brings out the most creative in me. I love writing stories about the main character playing hockey. Thank you so much for the awesome request.

You finally made your move to Toronto. You had just been traded from the the Calgary Inferno of the CWHL (Canadian Women Hockey League) to the Markham Thunder. It was a blessing and although all trades suck, you weren’t too mad about it. Your boyfriend was Auston Matthews, the star player of the Toronto Maple Leafs. You were finally going to be close to him again.

You had a very similar upbringing as Auston. You had grown up in Arizona, and you were 3 years old when you went to your first hockey game. It was an LA Kings game and you fell in love with the sport. When you were about 12 years old, it was obvious that you were excelling in this sport. Because the hockey culture in Phoenix on the the woman’s side was a bit underdeveloped, and to ensure that you kept growing in the sport, your parents made the transition to have you play in the boys league. That’s where you met Auston. You had played with him and his team for almost 4 years. At the beginning the two of you just clicked on the ice. It was obvious who the best on the team was. Like on most hockey teams, you became best friends with your line mates, but more specifically Auston. When Auston was drafted into the Juniors at 16, it was finally time for you two to separate paths in the hockey world. It was then that you made him promise that when he got to the NHL draft that he had to bring you.

You finished high school early at 17 and got recruited to go to school and play at an NCAA college, while also playing for the Woman USA national teams. Although Auston and you went separate ways, you still kept in touch and cheered for each other no matter where you were. While Auston was in Zurich you were finishing up at the University of Minnesota. You were young compared to everyone else, but it was all apart of the plan. You were a fast paced person and wanted to reach your goals as fast as possible hence why the graduating early. After your team won the National Championship, you were ready to move on. Taking summer school and playing your heart out for your school led you to be recognized in the women’s hockey world. Auston was proud of you, and when he realized that he was going to be picked in the first round of the NHL draft, he invited you, keeping his promise.

You accepted the moment he called you. You flew into Buffalo from Calgary on the day of. It was the first time you and Auston had seen each other in person since your younger days. You booked a hotel room in the same hotel as him and waited in the lobby after settling into your room. You were wearing jean shorts, a loose white tank top, and a light sweater over it. You weren’t wearing any makeup but mascara and your hair was naturally wavy. Auston remembers this moment vividly. You had definitely grown up. You filled out beautifully from your awkward athletic body as a 16 year old. He saw you first which let him take you in. Your glowing personally was radiating off of you as you talked to the random person next to you. He was with his mom when this happened, she saw it on his face right then. She knew her son had fallen in love. Finally you turned from the random person and saw Auston. You weren’t ready for the rush of emotions that caused you to physically launch yourself into his arms. “Auston,” you yelled. He caught you effortlessly and enjoyed having you close to him. You had pulled yourself apart from him but still held on. He had gotten bigger and stronger. He looked the same but completely different at the same time. You grasped his biceps taking him in. “Oh my gosh, Auston. You’ve gotten huge,” you commented. You looked up at his face, he let out a small laugh at your comment. Auston smelled good. It was a mixture of a warm vanilla and musk smell. It fit his latino background. After saying hello to his mom and later the rest of his family you departed from them to get ready for the draft. Auston was nervous for the night. Although he was certain he’d be going to the Toronto Maple Leafs, this moment was still nerve racking for him. It didn’t help that when he saw you in your dress with your hair and makeup done he was overtaken with even more emotions. You too were overtaken with pride when seeing Auston in his suit. There was another emotion lingering in the background that you only knew now as love. You could tell he was super nervous because he didn’t smile a lot at your quirky jokes. You wished you were able to sit next to him for this and help him calm down but you knew his family deserved it more and you were content just being there. You remember the emotions of hearing Auston’s name being called by the Maple Leafs. His entire entourage, including you, were crying. He hugged you last and in the quick second you told him how proud you were of him. Eventually after the first round you were able to go backstage to see him. You and his family saw him talking to some Maple Leafs personal. What you couldn’t hear was that they were telling him they wanted to do a bit of a tribute to his drafting, and they want to know who you were. The marketing woman fell in love with your friendship story. Two big stars in their hockey worlds having a path that crossed multiple times. As he was talking to them you wondered around. You wanted to see everything from this event, an event that every hockey player dreams of but one you’ll never experience because of being a woman. You met a few of the other draftees, like Pierre-Luc Dubois and Patrick Laine, eventually you returned to his family. Auston came over to you all and took in this incredible moment. His family wanted to celebrate by going out to eat. You politely declined to go with them. You knew they needed to celebrate without you. You decided to get something to eat at the hotel. You were in the lobby hanging out when Pierre-Luc Dubois, the third pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets, and his family came back from them celebrating. He saw you and remembered you so he felt comfortable coming to talk to you. He was obviously enraptured by you after getting to know who you were. He was in awe by your accomplishments as a woman’s hockey player. You didn’t realize how late you were talking to him till Auston and his family came back. They were obviously still on a natural high from the night as the came in a bit loudly. Your heart grew in happiness to see them like this. “Auston,” you yelled. He turned and his smile was evident until he saw you talking to PL. He motioned to his family to keep going. He came over to you and the vibe was obviously different for him. He saw the competition in PL’s eyes as the more he got protective over you. You noticed it but honestly you tried ignoring it but eventually it was too much. To diffuse the situation you told PL that you were getting tired and it was time for you and Auston to leave. You thanked him for a wonderful evening and congratulated him on his draft. He was taken aback a little but said his goodbye. Auston was silent most of the way up to your room. You finally asked him what was up when you reached your room. That’s when it all came out and he kissed you passionately for the first time.

Your relationship with Auston was history after that. It was hard as you both played professionally in other cities, but you guys did it. Now you were going to be living in Toronto with him. You two will be going back to Arizona for a few weeks since it was summer but you needed to feel a little more settled in Toronto before you left. You had only been there for a few days when Auston asked you if you wanted to train with him and the boys. You agreed. When you got into the Maple Leafs training room, you left Auston and company behind. They had a different regime for their workout. By the end of the two hours all of you were sweating your asses off, but you weren’t done. It was time to get on the ice. You had luckily brought your gear and went to a different locker room to change. It was your first time being back on the ice with Auston since playing with him as a kid. Both of your games had changed so much you were a bit nervous to have him see you play. After a few drills the workout got lazy. You all went to the bench to get some water, “Man, I’d really like to see you play,” Mitch spoke to you. “dude, she’s incredible,” Auston spoke proudly of you making your heart flutter. “We could play right now?” Morgan Rielly offered. Mitch grew excited by this idea, “Yes we should. We could play two on two.” You looked at Auston your boyfriend to see what he wanted to do. He shrugged at you as if to say ‘why not’. You nodded your head in agreement to his shrug. “I hate when you guys do that,” Mitch shook his head. You looked at him confused. “Do what?” “The communicating without talking thing,” he motioned between you two. You never really noticed that you and Auston did that but it was a bit funny now that he pointed it out. “Well get ready because me and my girl do it even better on the ice,” Auston joked back. He wrapped his arm over your shoulder. It reeked like most hockey gear does, “Ugh,” you shrugged it off, “you smell terrible.”

You skated to the middle of the ice with Auston. You were a bit nervous to play against all of them but even more nervous about playing with Auston. You hadn’t played with Auston since you were younger and although you had a more intimate relationship with the man, you were worried you wouldn’t click with him like you used to. You breathed in and let your instincts take over. You didn’t have to think. Hockey was fast and your brain just did what you needed it do.Mitch and Mo weren’t ready for your ability. They were quick to recover. Playing with Auston was as easy as you remembered. The man was incredible and the two of you complimented each other well. The two of you found each other on the ice with ease. It seemed like you were always one step ahead of Mo and Mitch, but neither teams could score. You all were too evenly matched. Mitch had the puck and tried to fake a pass to Mo but instead slap shotted it towards the net. You were quick to get your body to block the shot. It hit you in calf of your leg causing a deep ripple of pain to break through your body. You didn’t scream but you let out a very intense cuss word. Your muscle began to spasm. The boys rushed over to you. Embarrassment coursed through your body because of their concern. Auston ripped of his helmet and gloves. “Are you okay?” he spoke frantically already untying your skate and getting ready to tear of your gear. “Stop,” you pushed his hands away, “I’m fine,” you lied. You weren’t sure if you were alright or not but the adrenaline helped you not feel the pulsing pain. “Just help me up,” you asked. “I’m so sorry,” Mitch spoke worryingly. You rolled your eyes at him trying to show him you were okay, “Mitch, I’m fine. I’m a hockey player this isn’t the first time i’ve been hit by a puck,” you reassured him. Auston glared at Mitch, to diffuse the situation you looked up at your boyfriend and held up your hand, “Matthews, I need help getting up and making sure I’m okay.” He turned to you full of concern. Mo ran off the ice to grab an ice pack. You stood up and felt the huge knot the puck had created in your calf but it was doable. The pain was bad but it wasn’t your worse. You played the national championship in Minnesota with a fractured ankle. Auston, Mitch, and the now returned Mo’s faces were filled with concern that made you angry. “I’m fine let's keep playing,” you commanded. “No, it’s too much. You need to see the trainer,” Auston spoke to you. You glared at him. Once again unspoken communication rippled through you both. He wanted you to see the trainer. You wanted to ignore it all. He understood your point though. You wanted to keep playing. You were angry and wanted to win the friendly completion game. You understood his argument too. He didn’t want you to get even more hurt. this game was irrelevant. You also fought that argument, you were having so much fun playing with Auston again. You didn’t want that to end either. Eventually you won the argument. “Okay, fine. next goal wins,” he rolled his eyes. “Yes,” you cheered. Mitch and Mo’s faces were still laced with concern. You could tell they didn’t want to keep playing. “I’m fine,” you spoke and skated around to show them you were. Your calf screamed in pain but you ignored it. They eventually accepted the only way to get you off the ice was for the competition to end. You were back to game mode. You played with a new intensity which caused the boys to also play with it. You had the puck and rushed it down the ice. You saw Auston in the corner matched up against Mitch. You tried to fake Mo out by a shot but it didn’t phase him. Eventually you saw an opening for Auston as he skated around the net. You passed it to him. He shot the puck but Mitch blocked it with his skate. It bounced off his skate near you. You pushed off the ice in pursuit to the puck. Mo wasn’t ready for your burst of speed and was a second too late as you shot the puck into the back of the net. You rose your hands in victory and heard Auston’s loud cheering come closer to you. He crashed into you while wrapping his arms around you and picking you up. He spun you around and once you were back on the ground he put his helmet close to yours. “That's my girl,” he whispered. You smiled at him. Pain still pulsing from your leg. “Okay, okay love birds. You wore me out,” Mo spoke. He was breathing loudly. Your adrenaline was finally settling down. “Help me off the ice,” you asked Auston. He nodded his head understandingly. He wrapped his arm around your waist and skated you both to the bench. “Next time, I want her on my team,” Mitch told you all. “No, I get her,” Mo fought back. Your heart swelled at the fact they wanted there to be a next time. “Sorry, guys she was my liney first,” Auston spoke over his shoulder. He never let you go as he practically carried you to the locker room you were using. He sat you down. It was just you two. Austin began unlacing your skates. And took them off for you. You two didn’t speak at all. You both worked in harmony to get both of your gears off each other. It was like you two were dancing. Finally you stood there in just shorts and a sports bra. Auston was also standing with just his shorts on. Your body close to touching his. Every hill and valley created by his muscles glistened with sweat. You were breathing heavy because of the dense tension in the room. Auston placed both of his large hands on your shoulders and gently pushed you to sit down on the locker room bench. He kept his hands on your shoulder. In this position he looked bigger and stronger than ever. “We still play well together,” you said through heavy breaths. “It’s not the only thing we do well together,” he suggestively replied. Your heart quickened at his words. He bent down. His lips just close enough for you to kiss but instead of stopping he kept going till he was kneeling on the ground in front of you. He took your hurt leg and placed the ankle on his shoulder. You took in a sharp breath. He turned to face where your leg was bruised. It was already an ugly deep color. It reflected the fact that it was definitely a bone bruise. Auston lightly touched near the bruise. You yelped in pain yet some of it was also in pleasure. Auston looked up at you. His big brown eyes sparkled under his eyelashes. He turned back toward your bruise and gave it a light kiss. Then slowly he continued kissing up your leg. You leaned your head back in bliss. This man was trying to kill you. He was taking his time upward. Chills ran through your body. His lips tickled and burned your inner thigh. He was just a few kisses away from where you wanted him to be when you heard a knock on the door and both your and Auston’s names being called. “Are you both in there?” Mitch asked. Auston was slow to move from his position but when he did you felt the lack of heat. “Yes, I’m just helping her get to her feet and get her to the trainer,” he responded a bit huskily. You didn’t hear a response from Mitch which made you assume he had left. Auston looked back down at you, “I really do need to get you to the trainer,” he sighed sadly. He began packing up your things. You tried to stand up to help him but you crippled from the pain in your leg. Auston was quick to drop everything and hold onto you. “I was not expecting it to hurt that much,” you whispered. “I’m fine,” you spoke and tried again. This time you were able to walk. You limped around. Each step you became more acquainted with the pain in your leg. Auston stared at you with so much concern and love. “You are one hell of a girl,” he spoke with pride, “now lets get you to the trainer and then home.” You nodded your head in agreement, “so we can finish what we started,” you responded.

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hamiltontrashaccount · 7 years ago

Text

Promise Me: Part 5 (Anthony Ramos x Reader)

Hey everyone! I know its taken me a while to get to this update and I’m sorry! But I’ve been pretty good with my writing lately, so the updates will come out a little more often (at least until school starts, which is why I’m rushing to write everything now lol). But yes, I hope you all enjoy :))

Pairing: Anthony Ramos x Reader, Platonic Phillipa Soo x Reader

Word Count: 4468

Warnings: Cursing (like always, Idk how to not curse), some NSFW, underage drinking

MASTERLIST

“What?”

“The elevator hasn’t moved.”

“Oh no.” You said, looking around the small space as if you could find the answer on the floor.

“Holy shit, is the elevator stuck?” Anthony shouted. “The elevator can’t be stuck!”

“I don’t know! This has never happened before.” You shouted just as loud.

Anthony walked over to the doors and started trying to pry them open. You started jumping up, trying (unsuccessfully) to reach the hatch at the top.

“Stop jumping. You’re going to make the cords snap!” Anthony said after he gave up with the doors.

“I don’t even weigh 145, and you’re worried that the cords will snap under my weight?”

“Well we already have bad luck being trapped in this elevator. What makes you think we won’t get more bad luck?”

“Anthony Ramos Martinez, I’m pretty sure my small ass isn’t going to break the fucking elevator.”

“You never know!”

“I do know!” You screamed, stomping your foot on the floor, earning a warning glance from Anthony.

Anthony shook his head. “I can’t believe we’re stuck in here.”

“We’ll be okay. We just have to call the authorities.” You said calmly, taking out your phone.

No bars.

“Well, we’re fucked. No bars.” You showed Ant your phone. “Now we have to wait until someone comes.”

“Fuck that.” Anthony said before he started shouting, his voice cracking. “Help! We’re stuck! Help us!”

Suddenly the elevator doors opened.

“What are you screaming about?” Phillipa asked when the doors were completely open.

“Oh my god, Pippa. I’ve never been happier to see you.” Anthony said, trampling Phillipa with a hug.

“Oh okay.” Phillipa laughed before hugging him back.

“The elevator wasn’t stuck. We just didn’t push the button.” You realized.

Anthony pulled back from his hug with your sister.

“We didn’t? I could have sworn we did.”

“No, you started whining about the cold and none of us pushed the button.”

Suddenly you and Anthony just started laughing. Phillipa laughed too, although not as hard as you and Anthony.

When your laughters started dying down (almost 10 minutes later), you both looked up to see tears in each other’s eyes.

“Are you crying?” You asked through your giggles.

“I was scared.” He defended. You shook your head and let out a couple of more giggles before stopping.

“Are you both sane now? Can I go upstairs and sleep?” Phillipa asked.

Anthony nodded his head. “Yeah, sorry Pippa.”

“It’s fine. Thanks for walking Y/N home.” She said, opening her arms out for a goodbye hug from him. He hugged her, gave you a pat on your shoulder and left.

“Did you both seriously think you were trapped in there?” Phillipa asked while stepping into the elevator.

“It didn’t move! What were we supposed to think?”

Phillipa only laughed and put her arm around you.

Since it was late, you and Phillipa decided to just watch a couple episodes of Gilmore Girls, then went to bed.

The next morning, you woke up to a bunch of texts in yours and the boy’s group chat.

Daveed and Oak were making fun of you and Anthony for the night before.

“How in the hell did you guys find out anyway?” you asked in the group chat.

“Pippa told everyone right as she got in.” Anthony explained.

“What a fake.” you said, referring to your sister.

“Y/N you should come visit us at the theater. And bring food b4 you come” Daveed texted.

“Only if you guys pay for it.”

Daveed, Oak and Ant all sent “Deal”, and you stood up to get ready.

You ordered Chinese food for you and the boys.

When you stepped into the theater, you could see everyone’s head turned. They could smell the food, you guessed.

Daveed suddenly came bouncing towards you.

“Thank you for this, you can leave now.” He said, grabbing the food then shooing you away.

You just stared at him until he smiled and put an arm over your shoulder. Because you were much shorter than him, he had to bend pretty far in order to properly wrap his arm around you.

“We’re all in our dressing room.” Daveed said, guiding you to the room.

Once you stepped foot in there, Ant and Oak both cheered.

“The food is here!” Ant shouted.

“Yes she is.” You mumbled than you shook your head. “Wait, no. That’s not what I- No! I swear that came out wrong I- Daveed stop taking a video of me! I didn’t mean to say that!”

Daveed put his phone down and, while still laughing, asked, “What did you mean to say then?”

“I-I- ugh! I don’t know, but shut up and pretend like that didn’t happen.”

“That was hilarious, Y/N.” Oak said, patting you on the shoulder before sitting back down on the floor and grabbing his food from the bag.

You sat next to Ant, who was also sitting on the floor (opposite of Oak), and crossed your legs.

“I- I didn’t mean what I said.” You explained to Ant. His face was red as he nodded his head, telling you that it was okay.

You didn’t see Daveed give Anthony a wink, making him blush even harder (if that were possible).

Whatever conversation the boys were having before you got there continued. You laughed, not giving your own commentary to the topic, but laughing at the ones the boys gave while eating your rice.

“Woah is that a tattoo?” Anthony asked, pointing at your thigh. His fingers gently touched your skin, and you immediately got goosebumps.

“Yeah, I got it before I went to Europe.” You lifted up your shirt, revealing the elephant that was on your inner thigh.

“Why an elephant?” Daveed asked, an egg roll stuffed in his mouth.

“Phill and I loved elephants when we were younger. So I got one so that she would always be with me.” You blushed. “God that’s cheesy.”

The boys laughed. “It’s cute.” Anthony said. “Do you have anymore?”

“Yeah, I have one on my foot, another two on my back, one right here,” You pointed underneath your breast. “And one on my stomach.”

“Ooooh, let’s see them.” Oak said, shoving a wonton in his mouth.

You put down your own food and lifted up your shirt then angled yourself to reveal the ones on your back. The names Eliza and Natasha were written below your shoulder blade.

“Eliza for Eliza Hamilton, and Natasha for Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet?” Daveed asked.

You nodded your head, then turned back around to show the one on your stomach. It read In the Heights in bold letters.

Daveed gave you a face saying “Really?”

You giggled and shrugged your shoulder. You dropped your shirt so that you could show the one on your ankle. All you had to do was lift down your sock. The tattoo read Libertyville.

“Gotta remember where you came from.” Oak commented. You nodded your head while smiling, then grabbed your food to start eating again.

“What does the other one say?” Anthony asked, eating some noodles.

“It says mine and Phillipa’s name.”

“Nice.” Anthony said.

The boys had another hour before showtime, so you all decided to play a game: Uno.

You and Oak decided to be on the same team, while Daveed and Anthony were on the other.

You stood up to swtich to your team’s side then the game began.

Daveed was getting annoyed with you and Anthony. If he had to watch you two give each other more flirty looks again, he was going to shoot himself. If he had to hear you tw giggle at each other’s mistakes one more time, he was going to shoot you both.

“20 minutes till showtime!” somebody called from outside the room.

“Oh thank God.” Daveed groaned, standing up from his seat on the couch.

“If I had to hear you guys giggle at each other one more time I was gonna kill myself.” Oak added. Daveed was glad he wasn’t the only one annoyed by the two.

“We’ll leave the room, so you guys can do whatever to let this shit out of your system.” Daveed said, walking out of the room, grabbing the remnants of his costume from the seat in the corner.

Oak did the same, and soon you and Anthony were alone in the room.

“We weren’t doing anything right-”

“Yeah, no we weren’t!”

“They’re just being assholes-”

“That’s exactly what they’re doing.” You said, ending the back and forth between you and Anthony. You both sat in silence before Anthony decided to speak.

“Maybe I should finish getting dressed.”

“Yeah. You do that and I’ll leave.”

“No, you can stay. If you want.”

“And watch you get undressed?”

“I only have to change my shirt.” Anthony shrugged.

“As appealing as that is, if Phillipa wonders where I am, she can’t find out I was in here watching you take off your shirt.”

Anthony nodded his head. “You’re right. I don’t want her to kick my ass.”

You laughed and walked out of the room, closing the door as you left.

You stood backstage, keeping whoever wasn’t on stage occupied. By Act 2, Anthony was pretty much the only one you were consistently with. At one point, you guys were too busy laughing for Anthony to notice that it was his time to go on stage.

As you watched Ant die on stage, you started crying. That entire scene never failed to make you shed tears. As the scene ended, Anthony bounced to where you stood, off to the side of the stage.

“Are you crying?” he asked, a teasing lilt in his voice.

“No,” You wiped your tears from your face. “I’m sweating. It’s hot as fuck back here.”

Anthony laughed and he stood beside you, watching Lin and Phillipa mourn over Anthony in It’s Quiet Uptown.

“I think Phillip is my favorite character to play.”

You turned to look at him. “Why?”

“I don’t know. He’s just so innocent and trustworthy. The way he just assumed Eacker would be respectable and not shoot him. It’s just… Really commendable, you know?”

Your eyes starting tearing again, thinking about how poor Phillip only deserved the world and all he got was shot in his stomach. “I know.” You said, nodding your head.

“Oh jeez, are you crying again?” He laughed.

“No. Like I said, it’s hot.”

“Yeah sure it is.” Anthony said sarcastically.

The both of you watched the show in almost complete silence, only sharing commentary at the most interesting moments.

When the show was over and everyone was out of their costumes and ready to head home, Daveed invited you out with his a couple of his friends, Oak, Ant and Renee among the group.

As you were about to accept, Phillipa butted in. “It’s really late, so we should be heading home.”

“Sorry Phill, my bed time isn’t until, like, midnight. And it’s about 10 now, so...”

Phillipa didn’t respond, just gave you a look from the side of her eye, telling you that you should decline the offer.

“I’ll take a raincheck on this one, Diggs.”

Daveed nodded, said his goodbyes then left.

Once he was gone, you turned to Phillipa. “Why did you do that?”

She looked shocked. “Do what? It’s late, we should go to sleep. Tomorrow’s a busy day.” She hiked up her bag higher on her shoulder and started walking.

“What are we doing tomorrow then?”

“Steven and I are going out tomorrow.”

“Are you seriously inviting me to your date? With your fiance?”

“You like Steven.” Phillipa defended.

“That doesn’t mean I want to go on a date with you guys!”

“You know he wouldn’t mind.”

“I’m not going on a date with you tomorrow Phill.”

“You’re not- ugh, fine. What are gonna do tomorrow then?”

“Stay home, sleep, eat food, sleep.”

“You see that’s not productive.”

“Oh and being a third wheel is?”

“You’re not going to be a thi-”

“You of all people should know that being the third wheel isn’t fun.” You said as a taxi finally stopped to let you and your sister on.

“I- wha- That was once! I was only 15! And I didn’t even know I was being a third wheel!”

“Doesn’t erase the fact that you were one.” You said, raising up your hands in surrender.

“God! Okay fine, you don’t have to come. You win, happy?”

“Very.”

Back home, you and Phillipa got ready for bed and went to sleep. You stayed up a little longer, scrolling through instagram before you finally felt tired enough to fall asleep.

The next morning you woke up pretty early. Phillipa already left, her and Steven obviously wanting their date to last the whole day.

Since it was only 10 in the morning, you decided to just laze around, doing small chores. You collected up your dirty clothes from that week so you could walk to the laundromat across the street. When you grabbed your phone, you noticed a text from Anthony.

“Wanna hang out today?” he asked.

You typed out a yes and asked when and where.

“Anywhere you want you sexy thang ;)”

“Wow” you sent, with a crying laughing emoji behind it

“Ha I know, you're probably drooling rn”

“im really not though but we could meet up at Mulligan’s?” Mulligan’s was a bar that was a couple blocks away from the theater where Phillipa worked.

“Sounds great. See ya in 10?”

“make that 15, I dont have appropriate clothes on”

“Alright, see ya”

You quickly got dressed in jeans and a tank top that you had bought months ago but never got a chance to wear. You only put on mascara then walked outside your apartment building to hail a cab, completely forgetting about you laundry.

I could do it later after we hang out. You thought to yourself.

Only five minutes late, you step into the bar and look around for Anthony. You found him sitting at one of the few tables in the bar and walked to the table to sit across from him.

Anthony smiled wide when he saw you.

“Hey!” He said. He stood up and took out your seat for you. When you were sitting is when he finally sat back down in his own seat.

You smiled at him. “What’s up?”

He shrugged. “I don’t have anything else to do today so I called you up.”

“Umm, okay so I see I’m second rate. I’ll just leave then.” You joked.

Anthony shook his head and laughed. “Chill. Anyway, I thought you’d be pretty cool to hang with.”

“‘Pretty cool’.” You mocked. “So I am second rate?”

“Always.”

“Asshole.” You laughed.

The waitress came by and put a cheeseburger down on Anthony’s side. She looked to you, her eyes unfriendly.

“Do you want anything?” She asked in a bored voice. She rolled her eyes when you took a second too long to answer.

“No, I thought I was just gonna sit here and stare at my boyfriend eat.” You answered, earning a baffled look from Ant. He opened and closed his mouth before deciding to keep quiet. You didn’t notice the light tint of pink on his cheeks, or the smile that was spreading across his face. He liked you saying the word boyfriend.

“He’s your boyfriend?” The waitress said. “You managed to snatch him up?”

“Yup. Are you jealous?”

She rolled her eyes. “Please. If I wanted to, I could take him from you.”

Anthony snorted. She looked at him before looking back at you.

“Not with those shit stains on your shirt.”

Her eyes darkened with anger. “It’s food.” She walked away, mumbling under her breath.

“Boyfriend?” Anthony said.

You looked up. “She liked you, and when she thought I was moving in on you she got pissed at me. I had to mess with her.”

Anthony laughed. He grabbed the knife beside his plate and cut the burger in half. He handed you one half.

“What if I didn’t want a burger?” You asked, taking a bite out of it.

“You, not eat a burger?” Anthony said. He snorted. “Not likely.”

“Fuck you.” You mumbled with food in your mouth.

“Besides, she’s not coming back over here. Ever again. And I also wanted to go restaurant hopping. I’ve never done it.”

“Oh that’s so fun!” You said. “We did it all the time in London, there are so many restaurants over there. But I can’t.”

“Why?” Anthony said after swallowing whatever food he had in his mouth.

“I have chores to do.”

He shrugged. “I’ll help you with them, what do we have to do?”

“First laundry. Then after that I was gonna go shopping cause none of my clothes really fit me anymore.”

Anthony was nodding his head. “Alright, alright. What else?”

“Umm… I was also gonna check out the NYU campus.“

That made Anthony turn his head. “Why?”

“I kinda want to go back to school. Or at least take some classes so I’m not behind when I decide to go back full time.”

He nodded his head. “Alright, that’ll be fun.”

You both finished your meal quickly and stood up. You started taking out some cash before Anthony stopped you and took out his own cash. He paid for the meal (a guesstimate, since the bitchy waitress never gave you guys your bill), leaving no tip for the waitress and put his hand on the small of your back, guiding you to the door.

“Ant, I can pay for my own meal, you know?”

“It’s cool.” He said, shrugging one shoulder.

“Stop being nice to me, oh my god.”

He smiled and put his arm around your shoulder. You were glad he did, because the air was colder than when you first went out.

“Where to first?”

“My apartment so I can grab my clothes.”

After grabbing your laundry, you and Ant walked to the laundromat. Directly in front of the laundromat was a hotdog stand and Anthony bought one, for you and him.

“This counts as restaurant hopping right?” He asked.

“Yeah, definitely.”

Your laundry didn’t take long, since you didn’t have too much clothing. After dropping off your clothes, Ant led you the opposite direction of where you wanted to go.

“Uhh, Ant? The mall is that way.” You said, pointing behind you.

“There’s a clothing shop a couple blocks from here. You’ll like it.”

The walk was short, as he’d promised, and you soon stood in front of a store called, “European Fashion.”

“Nice.” You said. “Is this just because I went there?”

He nodded. “Pretty much, yeah.”

Inside, the store was normal. Nothing special, just regular clothes that you would’ve found at the mall.

You tried on a few outfits. You stepped out to ask Ant his opinion on one of them only to find him gone.

“Anthony?” You called out.

The lady who owned the store stepped from around a rack of jeans. “Your friend stepped out.”

“Oh, okay.” You said. “Thanks.”

You stepped back inside the dressing room and changed back into your own clothes.

You weren’t worried, cause you knew Anthony would never leave you. But you did wonder where he went.

By the time you had all your clothes picked out, Anthony stepped back into the store.

“Your girlfriend was looking for you.” The owner of the shop said again.

“Thanks.” He said, smiling. He came up to you and you noticed he had two small cups in his hands.

“What are those?” You asked, placing your items on the counter. The owner started ringing everything up.

“Italian ice.” He said, handing you one and making a spoon appear from his back pocket.

You thanked him and started eating it. It was almost $100.

“Do you have enough?” Anthony asked, staring at the total like it was gonna form into a human and attack him.

“Yeah.” You said, unsure if you actually did. Miraculously, you had 4 20’s, 3 10’s and 2 5’s in your wallet. You paid the owner and soon you and Anthony were walking back out.

Taking another quick trip to your apartment, you and Anthony then decided to go to another restaurant.

“After this, we’ll go to NYU.” He said.

“Nah, I think we can do that next time. I really just want to eat food right now.”

Anthony gave you a look.

“What? Don’t look at me like that. I like food.”

Anthony rolled his eyes.

“Okay, but next time we’re seriously going to go check out, alright?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, Mom.” Anthony rolled his eyes again, but let the subject go.

The rest of the afternoon was spent restaurant hopping. Everyone continuously confused you and Ant as boyfriend and girlfriend but neither of you corrected them. With the way you two were acting, it was no wonder anybody thought you were together.

Any time the other would do something, you both would giggle and laugh until people gave you weird looks. Any time you could, you snuggled up close to him and tucked your head underneath his chin.

And the thing that made everyone believe you two were together was something neither of you noticed the other doing. Every time you smiled, Anthony stared at you as if you were sent from heaven above. And every time Anthony would start talking, you would stare at him and only him, a smile playing at your lips.

When you and Ant were at your fourth restaurant, someone walked up to your table. It was an old friend from high school.

“Oh my god! Y/N! How have you been?” he asked.

“Hey, Andrew! I’ve been great, you?”

“Good too, college sucks, you know?”

You laughed. “Can’t relate.”

“Lucky.” He said. “Hey, my frat is having a party tonight at 8. You should come over, bring your boyfriend too.”

“Oh… He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Oh really?” Andrew said, now giving Anthony a flirty look.

“Sorry, man. Don’t bat for the other team.” Anthony said chuckling and putting his arms up in surrender.

“Ah, I’m just messing with ya. I have a girlfriend anyway. But yeah, you both should come.”

“Yeah, definitely.” Anthony answered. You looked at him. He only shrugged one shoulder.

“Yeah, I guess we’ll go. Where is it at?”

Andrew gave you the address. “Knock twice on the door and that’s how they’ll know not to charge you guys.”

“Alright cool. See ya man.” You said. Andrew hugged you, gave Ant a fist bump then left.

You looked at the time on your phone. It was currently 7:30.

“Well, I guess we could start walking there. By the time we get there the party will have started.”

You nodded your head. For the fifth time that day, Anthony paid for both your meals.

“Ant!”

“I can pay it. Just relax.” He said. Once outside, Anthony took out his phone and typed in the address.

“Its this way.” he said, pointing to the left. The moment you both started walking, Anthony put his arm around you and you responded by snuggling closer to him.

Halfway to the party, you and Ant decided to take a cab the rest of the way. When you finally got there, at 8:27, Anthony paid for the cab. You gave him a dirty look and he just took your hand. You both walked to the door and you knocked twice.

The guy at the front let you both in, free, and you stood by the doorway.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’ve never been to a frat party.” You said.

“It’ll be fine.” Anthony said. He gripped your hand tighter and you walked deeper into the house.

The music was pretty loud and the entire house was dark too. Eventually you and Anthony reached the kitchen, where you saw Andrew talking to a girl.

“Hey, it’s Y/N and her boyfriend!”

Andrew’s girlfriend came up to you and hugged you. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Same to you.” You said. She hugged Anthony next. When she pulled away, she took a good look at Ant.

“You’re right, babe. He is hot.”

“Told you.” Andrew laughed, putting an arm around her. “Beer is in the fridge, and there might be some vodka bottles floating around somewhere. Have fun, and if you guys need anything, let me know.” He gave you a wink before walking away.

You walked to the fridge and grabbed a beer for both you and Anthony.

“Well, this’ll be fun.” He said, opening his beer and taking a sip.

Fun it was.

About two hours later, you were completely wasted. An hour after you, Anthony himself got wasted.

There was, in fact, lots of vodka bottles floating around the frat house, and you and Ant drank your fair share of it.

With now no inhibitions, you and Ant flirted freely.

“Blue looks so fucking amazing on you.” Anthony said, grabbing your hips and pulling your dancing body closer to him.

“Everything looks amazing on you.” You giggled. Another guys walked up to you both, asking you to dance with him.

Anthony gave him a dirty look and said, “If you touch her, I’ll break your fucking hand.”

The guy walked away, finding another girl to dance with almost immediately after.

Even though he couldn’t, Anthony kept trying to bring you closer to him. You were practically humping on his leg, but you were so drunk you didn’t even notice.

A new song started playing, and it was much slower and sensual than the last few songs. The few people on the dance floor who didn’t have a partner left.

You and Anthony stayed dancing, slowing down your rhythms until your grinding matched the song.

Anthony’s mouth trailed slowly up your jaw before his mouth reached your ear.

“It's 2 o'clock... I'm driving home.” Ant sang into your ear. “Texting you... tryna wrap your legs around my face.” His hand started trailing up and down your arm. His other hand moved from your waist, lower and lower until it was grabbing your ass, pulling you down more onto his leg, until the only thing that you were grinding on was his leg.

“But have no fear… Cuz' what we did… Scratches on my back… That good love.” Anthony continued to rasp into your ear. He bit your ear, making you inhale quickly at the sharp pain. Anthony’s lips started moving lower, kissing your neck then kissing whatever other skin he could find.

“You tweet but you ain't calling… And now I'm feeling horny… I got no patience.” He said, before moving his face up. Your noses were touching, your breaths mingling. Anthony’s lips moved closer to yours, until they were barely touching.

“I got no patience.” Anthony sang once more before his lips covered yours.

#anthony ramos #anthony ramos x reader #anthony x reader #phillipa soo #phillip hamilton #pippa soo #platonic phillipa soo x reader #hamilton #hamiltrash #hamilton fic #hamilcast #daveed diggs #oak onaodowan #okieriete onaodowan #the mighty oak #hamilton: an american musical

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thisdaynews · 5 years ago

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Jolyon Palmer column: Fortune favours the cautious in Germany classic

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/jolyon-palmer-column-fortune-favours-the-cautious-in-germany-classic/

Jolyon Palmer column: Fortune favours the cautious in Germany classic

Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer, who left Renault during the 2017 season, is part of the BBC team and offers insight and analysis from the point of view of the competitors

The German Grand Prix was a race for the ages, one of the most exciting Formula 1 events there has been, and it was all because of the treacherous and constantly changing conditions.

A wet-dry race is usually that bit more exciting and can often throw up surprising results. At Hockenheim on Sunday, this proved to be the case in the extreme.

Races like this are so challenging because they make enormous demands on every member of the team.

Chief among them are the drivers. They have the most difficult task of keeping the car on track in constantly changing conditions, while pushing to the limit for corner after corner, despite never being absolutely sure where that limit is going to be.

The strategists, meanwhile, have to try to call the pit stops and choose the correct tyres at the right time. This is an incredibly tough task, particularly with varying levels of rain falling throughout the race.

Finally, the mechanics have their work cut out because they are up and down like a yo-yo making pit stops: Max Verstappen stopped five times on his way to victory in the Red Bull; his team-mate Pierre Gasly made four as well.

You have to go back to the famous European Grand Prix at Donington Park in 1993, when Williams driver Alain Prost made a record seven pit stops on his way to second place behind McLaren’s Ayrton Senna – who made four – to find similar numbers to these.

Hamilton’s worst performance for years edges him closer to the title

Verstappen wins thrilling wet-dry German GP

Listen: ‘Hamilton crashes & Leclerc has thrown it all away!’

Who could have predicted this podium combination before lights out?

Limiting mistakes was paramount

Because making a mistake is so easy in conditions where so much can go wrong, it is as crucial to limit the errors as it is to push to the limits in every area. Ultimately, that’s how this race was won.

Verstappen’s race wasn’t mind blowing, and neither was Sebastian Vettel’s to second place. Yet they ended with the biggest smiles at the end of the grand prix, along with Daniil Kvyat, who made a shock return to the podium.

Verstappen had a poor start and suffered a spin when Red Bull made a strategy error in pitting him for medium tyres instead of softs, which would have warmed up sooner in the slippery conditions.

Other than that, though, taking into account all the aspects of the team, Verstappen and Red Bull outperformed the competition.

The Dutchman’s pace early on was enough to keep an eye on the leading Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, who were running one-two.

But as the major contenders for the win started dropping like flies, Verstappen just stayed there, putting in laps good enough to never be challenged, and not making any further mistakes.

The team judged everything right after the medium-tyre call halfway through, and Verstappen ultimately had an easy enough drive to the win.

Hard Drive: What happened to the woman who beat Hamilton in go-karts?

Why fancy dress, soap suds and a baby made F1 brilliant again

Appearances can be deceptive

Vettel’s drive to second was nothing spectacular either.

If you just looked at the statistics, it would appear to be one of the best drives in history, coming from 20th – and last – on the grid to second place by the chequered flag.

In truth, though, Vettel lacked pace for much of the grand prix and was languishing in around eighth place from lap six to lap 56, with a high of sixth place at the latter point as Bottas hit the wall ahead.

Kimi Raikkonen in the Alfa Romeo seemed quicker than him in the wetter part of the race. But what Vettel did was produce a mature drive, keeping his mistakes to a minimum.

While many others, including Raikkonen at one point, slithered off the road, particularly at the perilous Turn 16, Vettel just kept plodding away until he reached a point where he was happy and comfortable in the car. Then, in the last part of the race, on soft, dry-weather ‘slick’ tyres, Vettel came alive.

From there, he exploited the Ferrari’s pace advantage over slower midfield rivals – his only competition left bar Verstappen out front – and breezed through for an unlikely second place.

It was the equivalent of a cricket team starting an innings slowly, just hanging in there against the more dangerous bowlers and waiting for the part-time bowlers to come on, and then smacking them around the ground.

Vettel’s maturity shone in this race rather than any supreme driving talent and it earned him a standout and much-deserved result, after a lot of bad luck recently.

Leclerc pays the price for aggression

So what happened to the usual major players?

Charles Leclerc, Vettel’s team-mate, was the first serious player to find the barriers, just after switching to slicks on lap 27.

His was a race in complete contrast to Vettel’s. Like the German, he also had a problem in qualifying, and had to start from 10th on the grid. But he roared up to fourth place in the opening handful of laps, and then had the pace to be challenging for a win, even before other drivers hit trouble.

By the time he switched to slicks, Leclerc was in a genuine second place, behind early leader Hamilton, but his aggressive mentality was ultimately not what this race was about.

Leclerc had already nearly come unstuck a couple of times at Turn 16, which was slippery and critically had the equivalent of an ice rink as its run-off area, because of the oils and rubber deposited on the drag strip that is there.

Finally, through all the bravado of his race, Leclerc pushed one step too far and found the barriers. He accepted the blame for the incident, and called the run-off area unacceptable as well.

In reality, though, this was a moment that highlighted his inexperience once more.

Leclerc is undoubtedly super-talented and will surely win a race before long. But sometimes in his youthful exuberance he can be found guilty of overdriving.

His crash in Baku qualifying was an example, taking too many risks in overtaking when trying to make up ground after Ferrari had messed up his qualifying in Monaco was another. This race is the latest one.

But the 21-year-old is nonetheless on a superb trajectory, and his pain will be softened in the fact that, unlike Vettel when he crashed out of the lead in Germany last year, he was by no means the only driver to find the wall, particularly at that part of the circuit.

“I don’t really care where everyone else finished,” Hamilton said. “I was in the lead and I finished pretty much last.”

An unusually chaotic day at Mercedes

Mercedes looked set for a win, particularly in the hands of Hamilton, but he too proved just how slippery Turn 16 was – and how easy it was to make a mistake like Leclerc’s – as he slithered off on the same tyres a lap later, under safety-car conditions.

This was the beginning of the end for Hamilton. He hit the wall at a time when he shouldn’t have been pushing at all, then was forced into pitting in a manner against the rules, which earned him a five-second penalty.

To compound matters, this time it was the Mercedes pit wall and mechanics who were all at sea in a race.

No doubt they were surprised at Hamilton’s swift decision to pit, and they didn’t know the extent of the damage either, but it was chaos in the Mercedes garage, a team who are usually serenely calm and methodical.

A pit stop nearly a minute long followed and Hamilton tumbled down the order. But his difficult race was compounded by further Mercedes strategy errors.

Hamilton could have somehow still been in contention to win, but Mercedes failed to pit him and Bottas under a late safety car. They then waited too long to pit Hamilton when slicks were the obvious choice shortly after that, and he then fell out of the points positions.

As a driver in this situation, with the laps ticking down, it is easy to overdrive, and Hamilton became the latest man to do so, in a race in which survival was key.

He lost it at Turn One and ruled himself out of any further contention, but at least got back to the pits, unlike Bottas.

Bottas was desperate to pass Lance Stroll’s Racing Point and earn a podium, which would have helped him reduce his championship deficit to Hamilton.

But as the Finn was getting frustrated stuck behind the slower midfield car, he dropped a wheel onto the wet part of the track at Turn One and hit the wall, putting him out on the spot.

The balance of risk and reward

It was the sort of race F1 has not put on for a long time, with so many incidents, safety cars and changing weather conditions.

Anyone who completed this race without issue scored points in the end but it’s never easy to judge this from the outset.

It’s easy to say in hindsight, but it’s just so hard for the drivers to judge how hard to push and how much risk to take when they are lining up at the start of the race.

For the midfielders, though, the strategy gamble is always a bigger lure, because the risk-reward equation is weighed in their favour. And with so many front-runners dropping out, it was Kvyat and Stroll who made the most of it, to finish third and fourth.

Ironically, these two who looked sublime at the end actually ended up in this position because they were further back and had nothing to lose with 20 laps to go.

Stroll was right at the back, ahead of only Robert Kubica’s Williams when he pitted for slicks, and behind George Russell in the other Williams. Kvyat was ninth, five places behind Toro Rosso team-mate Alexander Albon, who also had a tremendous drive.

Inevitably, the drivers further up the order didn’t risk fitting slicks as early as those further back, and Stroll’s mediocre first two-thirds of the race ultimately gave him the lead for a moment.

Credit to both drivers, though. They got themselves into strong positions and didn’t make any substantial mistakes thereafter.

All in all this is the sort of race people love. There was uncertainty right up to the last lap, and it even ended with the feel-good factor of three delighted drivers on an unlikely podium. It was a classic.

#cautious #Germany

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toldnews-blog · 6 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://toldnews.com/world/f1-hamilton-wins-after-leclerc-failure/

F1: Hamilton wins after Leclerc failure

Lewis Hamilton inherited victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix after an engine problem hit runaway leader Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari late in the race.

Leclerc had dominated after retaking the lead following a poor start and was on course for a maiden victory when his hybrid system failed.

Hamilton closed an eight-second deficit within three laps and swept by for his first win of 2019 with nine laps to go.

Leclerc would have slipped down to fourth behind Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen but was saved by a late race safety car.

When you’ve beaten your illustrious team-mate, steamed off into the lead… And the engine’s gone. Yeah, that

As victory slipped from his fingers, the despair in Leclerc’s voice was clear as he asked the team what had happened, and was told he had suffered a failure of the MGU-H, the part of the hybrid system that recovers energy from the turbo.

It cost him 40km/h on the straights and left him helpless as first Hamilton and then Bottas closed in at five seconds a lap.

“Oh my God,” he said, as he saw a fairytale victory slip from his grasp on a weekend on which he had destroyed his four-time world champion team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel, meanwhile, made yet another high-profile error, spinning his car while being passed by Hamilton for what at the time was second place with 20 laps to go.

Vettel already needed a pit stop for fresh tyres, but he also suffered a front wing failure as he toured around to the pits, and the German finished fifth, two places behind his team-mate.

“That was extremely unfortunate for Charles,” Hamilton said over the radio on his slowing down lap. “We have work to do to keep these guys on our tails.”

Following Vettel’s spin his Ferrari suffered a huge vibration before the front wing shattered and forced the car up into the air

A new force emerges

It was a bitter blow for Leclerc, who thoroughly deserved the win, but the Monegasque had already done enough to announce himself as a major title contender.

He had started from pole position, but a poor start meant he dropped behind Vettel and Bottas on the first lap.

But he passed Bottas at the start of the second lap and then Vettel on lap four, around the outside of Turn Four, and proceeded to underline his superiority over Vettel by cruising off into a comfortable lead.

Until the Ferrari hit trouble in the closing laps, the race was all behind Leclerc, as Vettel and Hamilton swapped positions behind him.

Hamilton must have thought he had blown it

Hamilton jumped Vettel at the first pit stops, but Mercedes’s choice of soft tyres, while the Ferraris fitted mediums, left him struggling.

Vettel closed him down and passed for second on lap 24.

Hamilton felt he was in dire trouble, but he managed to keep Vettel in sight, so when both pitted for a final stint on mediums Hamilton was able to close on Vettel.

The world champion passed Vettel around the outside of Turn Four with 20 laps to go, and the German spun on the exit of the corner.

“Aargh,” he said. “New tyres. Box.”

It was another mistake that raised questions about Vettel’s ability to race in high-pressure situations after a series of errors last year dashed his title hopes long before they should have died.

Vettel said he believed his front wing had failed because of the vibrations from his damaged tyres. Regardless, the dynamics within the Ferrari are now fascinating.

Vettel had started the season as their leader but Leclerc has now staked his claim and proved he will be a major force this season.

On, Renault!

Behind the big three teams, with Verstappen fourth and Vettel fifth, Renault lost a finish in fifth and sixth places when both their cars failed on the same lap with three to go.

It was this retirement that brought out the late safety car that saved Leclerc’s podium position and it gave sixth to Lando Norris, who drove a strong race for McLaren.

He beat Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen, Red Bull’s Pierre Gasly and Toro Rosso’s Alexander Albon, the Anglo-Thai scoring points in only his second grand prix.

Carlos Sainz suffered damage as a result of getting too close to Max Verstappen. He’s not the first…

Driver of the Day

Who else? Leclerc was outstanding and should have taken a maiden victory that marks him out as a major star. But it’s clear there will be another chance after a performance as impressive as this

What happens next?

The Chinese Grand Prix in two weeks’ time – F1’s 1,000th race. After the huge changes in form between Mercedes and Ferrari in the first two grands prix, it is hard to predict.

However, if Ferrari can improve their reliability and continue to show the performance they had in Bahrain, they will start as favourites.

What they said

Leclerc: “It happens. Unfortunately, today was not our day. But I am extremely confident. The team have done amazing job. We have been lucky on an unlucky day with the safety car. Very hard to take but we will come back stronger.”

Bottas: “As a team we got lucky today we kept it together. The hard work at the factory is paying off I had a difficult race as the balance of the car was everywhere and I made a few mistakes.

“I never will give space, the first lap was good I had a lock-up in turn one.”

Hamilton: “Today was a really, really hard job and the team were incredible. It was a devastating race for Charles.

“We were lucky today. I gave it everything in the race. [Leclerc] has a lot of race wins coming in the future.”

Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time F1 world champion Michael, made his Formula 2 debut in Bahrain this weekend – he tests for Alfa Romeo and Ferrari on Tuesday

Stars are out for a night race

Send it like Beckham: David Beckham arrives in the paddock ahead of the race

Film star Catherine Zeta-Jones was seen on the grid

Don’t you need a fireproof bra? What not to ask a W series driver

Of all the night races on the calendar (Bahrain, Singapore & Abu Dhabi), Hamilton has won the most, with 11. Source: Forix

Valtteri Bottas leads the drivers’ championship after he also picked up a bonus point in Australia for securing the fastest lap

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lostinamazon · 8 years ago

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I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)

Original work on Ao3! •

She’s falling.

The sky is dark, her heart is racing, her hands try to find something, someone to grab onto so she can save herself, but there’s nothing.

So she closes her eyes.

She opens her eyes.

Lena suddenly sits up, breathing heavily and gasping for air, throwing the sheets away from her body as she moves to sit on the edge of the bed until her feet are touching the cool hardwood floor.

She swallows, realizing her throat is dry at the same time she pushes her hair away from her face, noticing she’s also covered in sweat.

Lena sighs, running her hands over her face before glancing at the digital clock on her nightstand.

03:47.

“Fuck.“ She mumbles under her breath, standing up and walking slowly towards the bathroom, turning on the faucet and splashing some cool water on her face, before giving herself a good look in the mirror.

Lena thinks she looks like a ghost, even without make up she’s paler than usual, her crystal green eyes almost white.

She should’ve stayed in the office. She should’ve throw herself into work instead of coming home. If Lena could even call home this huge penthouse with a fucking pool by the living room, always empty save from herself and the cleaning staff that would usually come every couple of days to take care of her minimum mess.

Lena should’ve known the nightmares would come back to haunt her during her sleep.

She sighed once again and walked out of the bathroom, looking out of the glass windows to the city lights outside.

Lena felt so trapped inside her own head.

Then she cried.

•

If there’s one thing Kara will never get tired of on Earth, it’s the amazing powerful feeling after taking off into the sky.

Flying.

She feels free flying through the clouds in the morning, going up and up until she’s seeing the blue planet she now calls her home.

And after the sundown, Kara just hovers over the city, every little light down there a life, someone at least a little bit relieved for having Supergirl protecting National City.

Kara feels needed.

She takes a deep breath, small smile on her lips as she descends towards the city for her last nightly patrol. After accepting Guardian’s help, Kara has a slightly less pressure on her shoulders, even if she still worries about her friend. But she knows now she can’t be in control of everything. James is his own person, and she trusts him to make the right decisions for himself.

So tonight, Guardian’s patrolling the streets as she flies over National City. A team work, really.

It’s nearly eleven when she takes a quick turn to go home when Kara flies over the tall L-Corp building. She can’t help but use her x-ray vision to check if everything’s alright in there, especially after those last murder attempts towards the CEO. What the blonde didn’t expect was to see Lena still in her office, a wine glass in hand as she stood by the large glass windows, gaze fixed nowhere in particular, paperwork spread all over her desk.

Kara approached the building slowly, giving Lena a better look, and only then did she notice Lena had been crying. For some reason she didn’t want to interrupt the young CEO as Supergirl, not when Lena looked so vulnerable.

But what if Lillian had tried to contact her again?

Kara touched her icom softly, waiting for Winn to answer.

“Kara! I thought you were home already. Something wrong?” Winn asked quickly.

“Oh, no. I just… can you make a call for me? I left my phone home. I’m flying.” She explained, eyes still on Lena through the building’s concrete ceiling.

“Sure!” Winn said.

“It’s Lena.” Kara said, softly, as if Lena could hear her.

“Okay… done! As soon as I’m off you’ll have your call. Goodnight!”

He was off before Kara even had the time to thank him – for making the call and not asking any questions – when she saw Lena looking over her shoulder to the smartphone on her desk, reading Kara’s name with a frown. It looked as if Lena was wondering if it was a good idea to take the call or not, but after only a second she took the phone and swiperd her thumb over the green button on the screen.

“Kara?” Lena asked, clearly confused as to why the blonde would be calling her so late at night.

Kara took a deep breath and tried to make her best surprised impression. “L-Lena? Oh, my… I’m sorry. I was supposed to call my… my m-mom! Yes, I was calling my mom and of course my clumsy self pressed the wrong name and called you instead!” Kara laughed nervously.

Damn her lack of sneakyness.

But Lena only chuckled and nodded to herself, clearly buying Kara would be silly enough to call the wrong person. Kara felt relieved to see the tension leave Lena’s body, even if slightly.

“It happens.” The CEO said.

Kara smiled, biting her lip as she saw Lena moving to sit on the couch, phone still pressed against her ear.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.” Kara continued.

“I’m still at the office, actually.” Lena played with the hem of her shirt. “You probably want to talk to your mother…”

“Oh, no!” Kara said too quickly. “I mean, since I called you instead I may as well ask you how you’re doing? And what are you still doing at your office so late?”

Lena rubbed her face with her free hand, and Kara noticed how the muscles in her jaw were clenched. It looked as if she was in pain, but after a quick check up, the blonde didn’t notice anything wrong in Lena’s body.

“I had some work to do.” Lena said quietly, and it didn’t take superhearing or x-ray vision to notice she was lying.

“Right.” Kara said back just as quietly.

“Maybe we could have dinner tomorrow? Are you free?”

“Yes, I’m free for you.”

Kara tried her best to ignore the warm feeling in the pit of her stomach after Lena’s words. Biting her bottom lip, Kara nodded dumbly before realizing Lena couldn’t see her.

“Right! Of course. I’ll see you tomorrow then!” She said, smiling despite herself.

“Tomorrow.”

That night when she went to sleep, Kara still had Lena’s sad face in her mind, and she was determined to find out what was wrong with the CEO.

•

So Kara knew something was wrong with Lena. She just couldn’t not notice it, after quick furtive glances towards the Luthor.

How Lena looked around at the mass of people in the streets as they walked quickly to where her driver was waiting for them. She seemed on alert, her heart racing inside her chest, hand clenched around her purse.

Kara noticed the way Lena tightned her jaw when they walked inside the elevator earlier, and how she breathed in relief when the metal doors opened. She had asked then which restaurant they were going to, and Lena apologized and said it would be better if they just settled for her penthouse, where she already had a chef working on something for the two.

Kara had never been to Lena’s penthouse before, so she said yes, obviously. And because she realized Lena just wanted to go home because that’s where she felt safe.

“Are you okay?” Kara asked softly as the driver started moving the car.

Lena gave her a tight lipped smile, nodding.

“Sure. Just hungry, I guess.”

Kara knew Lena was lying, and she knew Lena knew, but the blonde only nodded back and kept silent for the rest of the way to Lena’s condo.

After passing through a very complicated hightech security sistem and two steel reinforced doors, they finally stepped inside Lena’s home. To say Kara was surprised would be an understatement. Lena’s penthouse wasn’t like anything she had ever imagined.

It was so big, surrounded by glass windows and high ceilings and a pool by the living room. The furniture was mostly white with touches of wooden colour, warm lighting and very expensive looking art pieces, she was really scared of breaking anything.

“Wow, Lena… your house is… is…” Kara choked, trying to come up with something to say as the blue of the water in the pool reflected in her glasses.

“It’s so big it makes you feel claustrophobic?” Lena tried to help, sad smile back on her lips.

Kara shook her head, turning to look at Lena who was watching her carefully, maybe afraid Kara changed her mind and decided she wanted to leave and go home. And again she was left wondering what happened with the confidence Lena used to exhale off of her body.

Maybe no one noticed the small changes in Lena Luthor but Kara always would.

“Considering my whole apartment probably would fit inside your pool, I was going to say it’s awesome!” Kara laughed lightly, approaching Lena as she said that.

The young CEO smiled back a little more relaxed and motioned for somewhere behind her. “We should probably see if dinner is ready. I’m sure you’re hungry.”

“I always am, you know that.” Kara wondered she should probably feel ashamed Lena knew that, but it actually made them feel that much closer, strange as it is.

Lena lead her through a large hallway with white walls and colourful paintings, pointing a few every now and then until they reached the also large kitchen, where a bearded man in a chef’s coat was already setting up the table.

Kara felt Lena stop abruptly by her side at the sight of the red headed man. She heard Lena’s heart start to pound erratically inside her chest as she stepped in front of Kara’s body, hands closed in fists by her side.

Before she could ask what was wrong, Lena spoke in na nervous whisper, “Where’s Pierre?”

Kara looked from Lena to the man, noticing that despite his huge frame, he too felt suddenly nervous under Lena glare.

“I-I… I’m Greg, ma’am…” he stuttered, looking everywhere but directly at Lena’s piercing green eyes, droplets of sweat starting to form on his temples.

“What… are you… doing here?” Lena asked again between her clenched teeth.

“Lena…” Kara tried to calm Lena down by placing a hand around her wrist, while Greg tried to keep explaining.

“Pierre’s daughter was sick, ma’am, so he asked me to cover for him.” Greg said still looking down.

“You’re a liar… You’re a complete liar and I want you to get out of my house right now before I call the police!” Lena started in another whisper but by the end of it she was already screaming angrily towards a now very small Greg, her entire body shaking in adrenaline as she prepared herself to jump on top of the poor man.

Kara quickly wrapped her arms around Lena, preventing her for doing something stupid.

“Lena calm down! He’s telling the truth!”

Lena was breathing heavily as she looked from Greg do Kara, then back at him. Her body was still shaking and she too started to sweat, and only then did Kara realized Lena was having a panic attack.

“Lena..” she whispered against the Luthor’s ear, arms hugging her tightly close to her body. She turned to Greg with na apologetic look. “I’m sorry, but can you please go?”

Kara didn’t have to ask him twice before Greg quickly ran out of the room towards the service entrance. She then looked back at Lena, who seemed paler now, still shaking and eyes tightly closed.

Kara rubbed her hand in soothingly circles at the small of Lena’s back, bringing her impossibly closer to her body.

“Breath, Lena… in and out… slowly.” She whispered against her friend’s ear. “I’ve got you.”

Kara stood there with Lena in her arms for almost half an hour, whispering encouraging words to the other woman in hopes to calm her down, still trying to understand what had just happened.

After some time Lena slowly pulled away from Kara, wiping her wet cheeks from tears she didn’t even realize had fallen. She turned her back to Kara, looking through the glass window of the kitchen, arms wrapped around herself.

Kara didn’t know what to say or what to do, so she waited.

“You can go too, if you want.” She heard Lena whisper, voice void of emotions.

“I’m not leaving. I don’t want to.” She said back, approaching Lena carefully.

“I’m sorry for ruining our night, Kara. I can’t tell you how… ashamed I am.” Her voice was trembling again, just like her chin as she tried to hold back new tears. Kara a lower herself to touch Lena’s arm gently, because for some reason, she didn’t feel letting her go.

“You don’t have to feel ashamed of anything.” Kara said, before deciding to wrap na arm around Lena’s shoulder. “Maybe talking would be good, though.”

Lena laughed without humor, shaking her head. “Talk? About what? About how I’m turning to be just as weak as my mother always told me I was going to be?”

Of course this would have to do with Lillian and her horrible parenting ways. Kara didn’t like the idea of hate, but she really started to hate Lillian Luthor a little bit, and everything she did to turn Lena into this mess of fear.

“You’re not weak.”

“I spent… so much time… tying to be like her.” Lena clenched her jaw. “She said… that I look like my birth mother. But it doesn’t mean anything. I look like her, I walk like her, I dress like her, I’m feared like she is. I hate myself when I look in a mirror and see what I’ve becom: Lillian’s ghost.”

Kara saw Lena take a deep breath, before she continued vomiting words that have been kept silent for too long.

“People think she used to treated me badly, that she locked me in closets and all those mean things evil stepmothers do. She didn’t. She gave me nothing, she ignored me, and that was the worst thing she could ever do. I had everything money could buy, except her love, and that’s what I craved the most. And suddenly she’s back saying she loves me, only to use me and leave there to die.” Lena turned her bright green eyes to the blonde’s blue ones, crying freely now. “She left me, Kara. My mother left me!”

Kara felt her own heart breaking for the CEO as she hugged her tightly, her own tears falling down her cheeks as she held Lena close.

She could definitely learn how hate Lillian Luthor.

“You’re nothing like that woman. You’re brave, and strong, and smart, and so beautiful!” Kara cupped Lena’s cheeks with her hands, thumbs caressing her high cheekbones affectionately, “You’re beautiful inside and out. I feel so lucky to have you in my life, Lena.”

Lena only shook her head, and Kara decided it would be best if she tried to take her friend’s mind off of those bad thoughts. She helped Lena sit down at the table that was already set, and they ate mostly in silence after a few weak protests from Lena, but

Kara insisted she had to eat before going to bed.

Kara went home that night after helping Lena get under the covers in bed and making her promise she would call if she needed anything no matter the time.

Kara was determined to put Lena’s broken pieces back together, especially after walking inside her office the next day only to find it overflowing with flowers again, a small note with a simple Thank You between some gardenias.

•

Lena couldn’t believe she let Kara convince herself to host a traditional Game Night at her penthouse.

But Lena also would be lying if she said she didn’t absolutely love having Kara running around her house all day, making sure everything would be perfect for the first time Lena would officially meet her friends.

In fact, she had a lot more of Kara around her for the past few weeks. The blonde would show up in her office to get her out for lunch, walks in the park near L-Corp when they weren’t too busy, or movie nights at Lena place.

Lena loved how much of a home Kara made her feel in her own apartment, a place she used mostly to sleep, but didn’t get rid of because Lex had given it to her in her 18th birthday. Kara would walk barefoot around her kitchen, putting away the groceries they made together in unused cabinets and fridge. She loved sliding in socks over the marble floor in the living room, and Lena’s TV room because it was even better then going to an actual movie theater, because it recognized their faces and presented a list of movies and shows they could watch together based on their joined preferences.

And Kara was always by her side when she started to see a therapist twice a week. The blonde waited at the reception and she would be there na hour later, ready to intertwine her fingers with Lena’s and walk home.

She never asked any questions.

So if Kara convinced her to talk to a therapist, of course Kara would convince her to host Game Night.

Lena could already feel the palms of her hands sweating as they waited for the ‘whole gang’ as Kara said. She wasn’t good at this anymore. Meeting new people used to be easy, until she started to think everyone wanted to kill her by her mother’s request.

“Hey, you’re alright?” Kara asked, sliding next to her on the couch.

Lena too deep breath and counted to five, focusing on Kara’s beautiful blue eyes, just like her therapist suggested – maybe not the looking into Kara’s eyes, but that helped too.

“Yes. A little nervous.” She confessed with a shrug.

Kara got even closer, caressing the CEO’s cheek with the back of her hand, “You don’t have to be nervous. But we could cancel, if you want.”

“No! I don’t want to. I want to meet your friends.” Lena said with a blush.

Kara chuckled and looked down, biting her bottom lip nervously. It was clear something was bothering her.

“Look, about my friends… My sister and her girlfriend might freak out a little when they see a game lounge you never used, and they also might make stupid bets over stupid things. And Winn, well, he’ll totally freak out when he’ll realize that not only you have a pool in the living room, but that the penthouse it’s a high tech playground!” Kara pointed to Lena’s tablet, through where the brunette controlled almost anything in her apartment, including the coffeemaker.

“I like to test new things I’m working on here. And smart homes are the future! ” Lena said, giving Kara a smug smile.

The blonde chuckled and leaned in to press a not so quick kiss against Lena’s cheek right before they heard the doorbell ring.

Lena took deep breath as Kara moved to open the front door for her friends. She saw Alex and Maggie first, then Winn and probably his alien girlfriend, Lyra, James Olsen and Lucy Lane being the last ones.

They all looked around with widen eyes and mouths opened.

“Is that… is that a pool in the living room?” Winn said immediately, making Kara groan in embarrassment and his girlfriend elbow him in the ribs. "But she has a pool inside her apartment!”

“We learn to ignore him with time.” Kara’s sister said, offering her a small smile, and Lena felt some of the tension leave her shoulders.

“But it’s definitely not bad, Luthor.” Maggie smirked at her.

“Thanks…” Lena scratched her cheek to hide her blush, still feeling somewhat uncomfortable around the detective after Maggie showed up at her office to say how sorry for was for arresting her, especially after Kara threatened her to do it.

“Let’s focus in Game Night, guys!” Kara said, leading the way to the game lounge Lena never used, and of course her friends also gasped as they stepped inside the room.

Even though Lena felt on edge a few times, with Kara’s help she was able to truly understand why Kara loved these get togethers so much. After playing on Lena’s pool table, they all moved to Pictionary, before ending the night with poker.

“Kara, it was obvious you were bluffing, you’re such a bad liar.” Lucy Lane said, sniffing the wine Lena just offered them, before taking a sip. “God, this tastes so good! I bet your cellar its pure gold, Lena.”

“I’m not!”

“You are.” Everyone said, before laughing at Kara’s cute pout.

Lena touched her shoulder softly and kissed the top of the reporter’s head with a mumbled apology, still smiling with everyone, “Sorry, but you are… Winn!” When he looked her way, Lena smiled, raising her left eyebrow and pointing to the pool with her chin. “You wanna test the living room pool?"

Winn immediatelly perked up like an excited puppy, eyes shining with joy, since he’s been staring longingly at the blue water snce they moved to the living room for drinks.

"Really?”

“Wait, really?” James asked, he too excited now, and probably a little bit drunk like everybody else, except for Lena and Kara.

“I have another pool outside, but I never used this one. I think it’s time.” Lena said with a shrug.

“They don’t have bathing suits.” Kara chuckled.

“So what? I have plenty of towels.”

Before they could discuss it any further, Winn was already pulling Lyra with him so they could jump together in the pool, and Kara was glad Lena had a glass wall between the pool and the living room at least, or else she would have to buy new white couches, but she doubted Lena would be mad if she did, since the CEO was now laughing as Maggie pulled Alex in the water before jumping right after James and Lucy. They all looked like children, and Kara wasn’t even ashamed to call them her friends.

“Wanna try?” She asked Lena, offering her hand, to which Lena quickly took to intertwine their fingers.

“Why not?”

Later, after Lena’s driver took them all home in a limo, Kara offered to stay to help clean the mess, and Lena mentioned that the cleaning staff would probably take care of everything by the time she would wake up the next morning.

“You should sleep over.” Lena said quickly, before loosing the courage.

Kara looked at her with surprise in her eyes, “Really?”

Lena nodded, “It’s late.”

They didn’t talk much as they moved to sleep on Lena’s queen sized bed, and neither of them mentioned anything about the five extra guest bedrooms Lena had in the penthouse, but they both found out that night that it was much easier to fall asleep in each other’s arms.

•

Kara didn’t mean for things to go that bad with the rogue aliens that escaped the DEO’s maximum security prison located in a deserted forest somewhere in Asia.

Clark had been there, and so she thought it would be even easier to capture the aliens. But it wasn’t. There were too many against only the two of them, and when she saw Superman tripping over his own feet before falling on his knees, she was only confused for a second before she too felt suddenly nauseous, and then a searing pain in her ribs, before passing out.

Kara woke up on the familiar bed of the DEO’s headquarters in National City, the yellow sun reflectors still working around her, only in her underwear, a wide bandage wrapped around her middle.

The blonde still felt pain as she tried to look around the room, but before she could register anything, a door busted open and Kara felt strong arms wrap around her.

Oh. She could recognize that amazing expensive vanilla scent anywhere.

“Lena…” she managed to whisper, voice still kinda hoarse.

Lena pulled back, the tip of her nose red and she cried silently, “You’re finally awake!”

Kara frowned, the past events coming back slowly to her mind. The mission, the aliens, Kal on his knees, the pain…

“They had kriptonite."

Lena nodded, gently touching Kara’s stomach over the bandage. And so she had been seriously hurt, unconscious for Rao knows how long, barely awake for a few minutes, but of course her mind would only focus on how good it felt to have Lena’s hand on her almost naked body.

Kara felt her cheeks burning in embarrassment as she looked down to her body, confirming that she still was in a pair of white panties and bra.

"This is so embarrassing.” Kara mumbled, closing her eyes, but she heard Lena chuckle.

“You’re seriously worried about your underwear rather than being unconscious for almost three weeks?”

“Three weeks!?” Kara sat up quickly, wincing in pain as the bandage moved slightly.

“Kara, be careful!” Lena’s hands were now on her thighs to prevent her from standing up.

“Wait… so… you know now that I’m… you know…"

"You didn’t answer my calls or my texts. Alex said you were traveling, but she’s just a bad liar as you are.” Lena’s eyes shined with new tears. “I was so afraid you had left me. And when Maggie and Alex brought me here… you just wouldn’t wake up. I thought you were dead.”

Kara wrapped her arms around Lena, holding her tightly. “I’ll never let you go. Not without a fight, at least.” She pulled back slightly to cup Lena’s cheeks with her hands. “A-And… I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about me. I don’t want you to think I didn’t trust you… you just had so much going on. But I do trust you with my life, Lena.”

Lena sniffled, smiling brightly at Kara. “Then I’ll have to be better equipped with one of these solar beds at the penthouse, I guess."

•

Even though she knew Lena would be asleep by now, Kara just couldn’t help but fly straight to the CEO’s apartment, where they both felt strangely safe.

And not because of the security system, reinforced doors, bulletproof windows and lock down mode.

But because somehow, they made it their home without even saying anything.

Kara barely stepped in her apartment for the past couple of weeks, save for when she needed a new pack of clothes in Lena’s huge closet, and maybe to water her plants. Her laptop now used to be on Lena’s coffee table, all of her favorite junk foods now filled the brunette’s cabinets and fridge, sometimes their socks got mixed up and Lena would walk around in bright neon green ones as Kara had to work with boring gray ones.

She was glad to see the old Lena coming back to life after almost six months of therapy. Lena didn’t felt claustrophobic inside elevators that reminded her of orion cells, she didn’t recoil in fear after meeting bulky men, and her confident business self was almost back in full mode, if the new L-Corp subsidiary in China was any indication.

Maybe the self defense classes in group with Maggie, Alex, J'onn, James and Kara had helped too - of course Kara wouldn’t admit that creating the group to increase Lena’s confidence was her idea, but she was very glad Maggie was the one to put the plan in motion.

Which didn’t mean Kara had completed forgiven her sister’s girlfriend for constantly teasing her over being such a love sick puppy towards Lena.

Which she totally was.

In love with Lena, that is.

And she was almost certain Lena loved her back.

They just hadn’t had the guts to tell each other yet, even if they were practically living together for the past couple of months.

Kara exhaled a tired sigh, landing on Lena’s balcony outside her bedroom and placing her thumb over the small scanner that unlocked the door.

Once the door slid open, Kara took off her cape and red boots, before sliding next to Lena, who was already sleeping over the mess of covers she used to kick off in the middle of the night. She was wearing a simple black nightdress that showed off her amazing creamy legs, and Kara resisted the urge to run her hands over Lena’s soft skin as she laid down still in her uniform behind the CEO, wrapping her right arm around Lena’s waist and placing a soft kiss on the back of her neck.

Lena stirred half awake when she felt Kara’s presence, turning her head slightly to look at tired blue eyes, reaching a wandering hand behind to quickly caress Kara’s hair, before relaxing in the strong and warm pair of arms.

Who needed a blanket when they had a Super to keep them warm?

"Rough day?” She mumbled.

Kara hummed, “Alien hunting sucks, but we got them.” She said, lips ghosting against the skin of Lena’s neck, making her giggle.

“That tickles…”

“Yeah?” Kara smirked, fingers moving to Lena’s ribs.

“Kara, no!” She grabbed Kara’s hand in hers, before turning around to face the blonde, smile still on her lips.

Kara took the advantage of their knew position to spread her fingers over Lena’s back, hand running up and down the brunette’s soft skin. She felt Lena wrap her left leg over her hip, and Kara couldn’t resist the urge to move her hand to Lena’s thigh, but she didn’t seem to mind.

“Why don’t you just kiss me?” Lena asked quietly.

The sudden question took Kara off guard as she looked back into green eyes.

“I-I… we… what?”

“I won’t break if you do. It’s quite the opposite, actually. You might completely heal me if you do.”

Kara sighed, “I didn’t want to you to feel like I was taking advantage of you.”

Lena frowned.

“I would never think that. You helped me… you made me feel whole again.”

Kara brushed their noses together, closing her eyes as she did.

“You made me feel whole, too. I feel home with you here.” Kara pressed her lips lightly against Lena’s. “You're my home, Lena.”

Then they kissed hungrily, desperately trying to melt into each others arms.

When she woke up again the next morning, her naked body pressed against Kara’s, Lena kept thinking about the feeling of falling, and how she beautifully landed in the safety of Kara’s arms so they could start a new life together.

#supercorp #supercorp fic rec #supercorp fic

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foslad · 8 years ago

Text

Almost Too Good (A Chris Evans Story) Part 13

A/N:WHEN THE LAPTOP YOU HAD FIXED EXPLODES ENTIRELY AFTER A GREEN TEA SPILLAGE SITUATION AND YOU’RE TOO DIRT POOR IN THE LEAD UP TO CHRISTMAS SO YOU CAN’T BUY A NEW ONE BUT THEN ONE JANUARY DAY YOUR BROTHER LEAVES HIS LAPTOP AT YOURS OVERNIGHT SO YOU SWOOP IN THERE. IF ANYONE IS STILL HERE OR EVEN CARES, THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU AND YOUR PATIENCE. Trust me, I HATE it when people disappear without updates JUST as much as you! The self-loathing is real, am I right Adrian?

Anyway, here’s a super duper long Part 13.

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

‘Eh voila! Fits like a glove.’ Jean-Pierre gushed as he followed me out of the bathroom and back into the hotel room.

‘Oh it’s perfect Jean, exactly what we were hoping for.’ Carol gushed as she picked up the pair of glasses that she had dangling around her neck to take a closer look.

‘Works wit zee whole theme parfactly.’ Dana gushed from his seat in the corner.

I felt as though if I heard anymore gushing, I was going to be sick.

Sick all over the most beautiful gown that I should’ve been gushing over myself because it truly was the most stunning piece I’d ever seen.

Although in reality, the sickness couldn’t be blamed on them or the dress. It had been following me around all week. Sick with nerves. Sick with regret. Sick with anxiety. Just… sick.

Two weeks had passed at a snail’s pace but finally the launch party would be upon us the next evening and my custom dress was to die for.

A beautiful metallic wrap top dress that tied behind my neck with a flowing, intricately beaded, chiffon skirt that shimmered in the light. I was cinched into it within an inch of my life and whilst admittedly my waist looked tiny from every angle, it naturally meant that my lung capacity was reduced to a minimum.

When I had informed Jean of its slightly... tight nature, I was met with,

‘There’s no room for breathing in the world of fashion. It takes up too much time.’ I nodded and faked a laugh, knowing deep down that he wasn’t joking and that I wouldn’t be breathing anytime soon.

After a few more twirls, everyone seemed content with the final product and, like always, ran away in their own languages to discuss the rest of the details for tomorrow.

I carefully picked up the bottom of the dress and turned myself around, making my way back into the makeshift changing room/bathroom/clothes bomb zone.

As I unchanged, I left the door open at a small crack and tried to make out any indication as to what they were saying. I swear, sometimes I think Fashion is a language in itself. It’s somewhere between Italian, French, German and Eminem Rap God level of speed, with a dash of organised mayhem for luck.

I threw back on the loose cami dress and sweater that had served me well all day and with one look in the mirror, pushed my hair up into a bun and sighed.

How was I even going to get through tomorrow?

------

The day I got back from Chris’, Amy made me call Amanda and explain my actions.

‘What, the actual, fuck, Adrian… You do realise you come off as a total asshole if you go through with this?’

‘Thank you Amanda. The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind.’

‘Adrian, as your friend I have to be honest, you need a break. See your folks or something. Clearly you’re losing your mind.’

‘Amanda!’

‘What!? You’re the one dumping the one guy that’s made you happy in forever even though he’s literally done nothing wrong.’

‘Look, I know what I’m doing. Sometimes female friends see things that others don’t…’

I sighed and reflected back on a time I tried not to think of that often. One of Alex’s ex-best friends was a girl and she had been the one to come to me and tell me that my boyfriend of 6 years had been seeing his co-star behind my back. But me being the girlfriend and her being close to him, I, of course, thought she was lying and was jealous. Turns out, as I discovered when I flew home early from filming and caught him in our bed with his co-star, she wasn’t lying at all.

‘Adrian, you know what needs to happen don’t you?’

‘Amanda I’m not going to-‘

‘You need to talk to him. Communicate. He’s not an 18 year old fuck boy. He’s a grown man and if you’re honest with him then I’m sure he’ll be honest back. You just tell him you’re a relationship girl who has been fucked over before and if all he wants is to fool around then you wish him luck but he’s wasting his time because he’s not going to get that from you. That’s it, that’s all you needed to do.’

I left the line silent for a second as I let her words sink in. I knew that she was right. Why was I having such a hard time just talking to him? Why wasn’t it that easy?

As I sat in thought, Amy decided to give her two cents.

‘Amanda I have known you as long as I’ve known Adrian and that may well be the best piece of advice I’ve ever heard you give. Good for you. I didn’t know you had that in you.’ Half sarcasm, half genuine impression.

----

As I stood there staring at my reflection, I realized I was beginning to confuse even myself. I had never come across this form of self-destruction before. Even I knew I made no sense.

‘Ve’re off, ve’ll see you tomara Adrian!’ Dana called suddenly from the other side of the door, causing me to jump in fright.

‘Okay, sure! See you then!’

----

As I rode the elevator down to the venue and the flashes of the paparazzi beckoned, I no longer felt the tightness of the dress or the sick feeling. I felt so consumed by it all, I had somehow come out of the other side.

My day had been spent mostly in hair and make-up and, save for when someone from the Gucci team cropped open a window to puff their cigarette smoke out, I hadn’t been outside or smelt the fresh air at all since 7am.

The launch was being held in a function room at the St Regis Hotel and Gucci had offered to put me and a plus one up in the hotel and then my hair and make-up team in one around the corner for the night. Likewise, I imagine they’d done the same for Chris.

Not that I would know for sure.

Aside from a questioning message about if I had gotten back to New York okay and some other texts on his part (that I couldn’t bring myself to respond to), it had practically been radio silence between us these past two weeks. And as much as it was my fault and as much as I pretended to Amy that I didn’t care and that it was for the best. I hated it.

Since meeting, we had never gone this long without speaking to each other and I could feel the gap it had left in my everyday routine. No late night phone calls about our days, no simple texts of asking the other about what they were up to as an excuse to talk. No ‘I miss you’’s.

That one got me the most.

Because I did miss him.

------

There was a makeshift red carpet set out beside the entrance and I could see a model I recognized from a different Gucci advertisement that was displayed about a block away from my apartment working the cameras.

As soon as I had stepped out of the elevator, the buzzing atmosphere hit me.

A woman with a headset placed her hand on the small of my back and guided me towards the press.

I gave smiling interview after interview about how, ‘It’s a wonderfully light fragrance. It really gives off a sense of confidence without being overpowering. I think it’s an incredibly feminine mystique scent.’

All the questions had steered more or less along the same direction and I could feel myself talking as though I were on auto-pilot.

After over an hour of spewing the same gobbledegook about the perfume, I sent Amy a glance of relief as we approached a woman in red. The last interview was in sight and I was desperate to get inside, it was starting to get cold next to this entrance.

‘So tell me, what was it like working with Chris Evans?’

Just the sound of someone strange asking me about Chris threw me for a loop.

I had half expected it but it was still surprising to me.

‘Oh, it was..’ My mind was blanking. It was as though I had been flat out asked if we were dating or something. I had to somehow maintain my enthusiasm without giving anything away.

‘.. a great experience. He’s a very talented guy. I really enjoyed...’ Not too much Adrian, not too much. ‘…it all. Yeah. A great project to have been a part of, I feel very lucky.’

She smiled wide at me and seemed to accept my answer and, thankfully, proceeded on with her questioning.

If I could’ve, I would’ve jogged away from that press ring in delight at the prospect of sweet freedom. The press was one of the main obligations of the night and the rest was just to be spent schmoozing and dilly dallying with the fashion elite who had turned up.

The actual function room itself was the most beautiful and rich looking room I’d ever seen; if it could even be narrowed down as a room. There were huge crystal chandeliers that reminded me of the ones from Beauty and the Beast and marble columns that went right up to the ceiling with gigantic arched windows that were draped in lavish velvet curtains. Flowers were everywhere and waiters and waitresses there to cater to everyone’s needs. The entrance placed you with three ways to go, left to a marble staircase that led down to the main ballroom part where most people were stood mingling with drinks, straight ahead towards an inside open top balcony that looked down upon the ballroom or right, where I didn’t pay much attention to but it seemed as though it held more party related things.

I couldn’t deny that as soon as I had stepped foot inside the party, my eyes searched for one person and one person only and as I made my way over to the balcony and looked out over the ballroom, it didn’t take long to spot my target amidst the sea of others.

There was nothing I could do to stop my breathing from hitching slightly as I eyed him up as he stood talking to a group of men I didn’t recognize.

I could practically smell his freshness from here. He looked so good. An all-black suit adorned his body, a black shirt that was undone by a couple of buttons, black shoes, groomed hair and a glorious smile that made me swoon without trying.

I hadn’t realized Amy had appeared at my side until she followed my line of sight and spoke up.

‘Aren’t you going to go over?’

I continued to watch him smile and laugh lightly with those around him and I realized that I didn’t deserve to go over there and ruin it just yet.

‘He uh, he seems busy. I’ll just catch him, later.’ I mumbled, blinking for the first time in a while and reluctantly turning my back to him to face Amy. She was holding two champagne glasses and I accepted one, taking an immediate gulp as a means of distracting myself from her piercing glare.

‘You didn’t talk to him like we told you to, did you.’ It wasn’t a question. It was a statement.

A true statement.

I closed my eyes and prepared my defense case but I knew myself I didn’t have much to go on.

‘I was going to.. I j-‘

‘You are unbelievable sometimes. You know that?’ Her tone was a little sharp and fed up and I could feel my body jolt in surprise.

‘You know what, maybe you shouldn’t go over there because if I was him, I’d be pissed too.’

Part of me felt I should be offended and the other part of me wanted to be offended. But how can I stand here and be offended by… the truth?

We didn’t dwell in our sourness for long, as two gents from the Gucci board joined us and began asking me about my filming experience.

They talked to me for quite some time and every so often I could feel my eyes draw behind them to see if I could spot Chris but my position wasn’t ideal for sight-seeing. The last time I was able to properly see, he had still been in the same position, only a couple more people appeared to have joined their conversation; a middle-aged gent and the model from the carpet earlier.

When I was finally released from the grips of conversation, having excused myself to the restroom, I breathed a sigh of composure at the intensity of talking about fashion for so long. I loved it, truly, but my brain wasn’t in the right frame of mind for it right now.

As I made my way past people and towards the crowded stair case, I couldn’t help myself from glancing down and reviewing the familiar spot.

He was still there. Laughing and talking. Only everyone had gone. Except for model girl.

I called her ‘girl’ because she looked all of about 18 and was as skinny as could be.

But she was pretty…

And her eyes seemed to light up anytime Chris payed her the slightest bit of attention by laughing at something she said or in turn flinging her head back as she laughed at him.

Although somewhat reassuringly, I could see in Chris’ facial expressions that he was just humoring her. He seemed somewhat distracted and every now and then, when he had her caught up in laughter, would glance around his surroundings and I knew deep down that he was probably looking for me.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d stood there before the inevitable happened and his eyes looked away from her again and around to my area. It was like Déjà vu from his LA party…

Slowly his eyes traced the area around me, eventually settling on the weirdo on the stairs who wasn’t even bothering to hide her staring.

And it was there that the comparisons to the party stopped.

He didn’t break out into a huge smile. He didn’t immediately excuse himself from the company he was in. He didn’t run over and hug me.

Instead, he appeared to blink a few times, to make sure it was me, before turning back to model girl and allowing her to finish whatever she was talking about. Ouch.

I’d have been lying if I said his rejection didn’t feel like someone had just walked up to me and nonchalantly stabbed me in the stomach as they climbed the stairs.

The wind had been knocked out of me and there was nobody to blame but myself.

‘If I was him, I’d be pissed too.’

Amy’s words echoed in my head and I could see now that she was right. Had I really expected him to just waltz up to me and act like I hadn’t just cut contact with him with no explanation or forewarning?

Yes.

I lifted one leg up, ready to turn around and admit defeat when I caught a glimpse of the upstairs and behind where I had been stood with my back turned with Amy.

Huge twelve feet tall posters of Chris and I were everywhere. Close up shots of us in compromising positions from the shoot were being looked at and admired by the hundreds of strangers around me. Ones of us looking at each other, ones of him looking at me…

As I gazed at them, my mind was instantly transported back to the shoot. How professional the pictures looked and yet, I remembered fondly how we couldn’t contain our laughter that day. Chris had made fun of the fact that when I was ‘forced’ to smile, I looked as though I’d ‘just been introduced to my new stepmother who was years younger than me and I was trying to be polite but feeling beyond pained’. I had tried to act offended but anytime he caught me faking a smile his face would crease up in the most beautiful way and he’d laugh so heartily, I couldn’t help but join in.

I looked at them now and it was as though I was being mocked. Look at what you could’ve had if you hadn’t gone and messed it up idiot.

As remorseful as I felt, the pictures had ignited something in me and for the first time in probably our entire friendship, I decided I was going to take Amanda’s advice. I had to talk to him.

I pivoted on the spot and apologized to people as I lightly knocked into them on my way down the stairs.

On my way down I didn’t bother to actually make a note of where he was specifically and as soon as I was on the ground floor, I realized that there was far too many people to actually see him.

Undeterred, I began to slowly make my way in the general direction of where I remembered seeing him and sure enough, after a few polite ‘hello’s’ and ‘thank you so much’s’ to people complimenting me on the campaign on my way, the back of a familiar head came into view.

I hadn’t noticed that any nerves I’d felt had been turned into adrenaline. Adrenaline that had carried me all the way over here and now that I was here, had suddenly dispersed.

The model girl spotted me first and smiled as though she couldn’t believe her luck that both actor stars of the new campaign wanted to talk to her.

‘Oh my God, I love your dress!’ She preached. ‘Is it custom? It must be!’ She reached forward and grasped part of the beaded detailing on the skirt and ran her fingers over it.

Despite the fact she had very little personal space boundaries, I deduced that she was harmless and took this opportunity to look at Chris properly.

He didn’t seem shocked by sudden appearance and had been watching her touch my dress too. He looked up from the girl and met my gaze as we both soaked each other in. I wasn’t sure about him, but I could almost feel myself sinking with the weight of everything I wanted to say to him right now.

But this was neither the time nor the place.

As model girl dropped my dress, she must’ve noticed the way Chris and I were looking at each other, clearly needing to talk, and quietly excused herself. Not that we noticed.

Instead we continued to look at each other, our eyes willing the other to go first.

Chris broke first. He shook his head, skipped the pleasantries and just got right into it.

‘What happened to you Adrian? I don’t understand. Why’d you flake out on me?’ His voice wasn’t accusing. In fact, it was quiet and hurt almost.

His tone shocked me and I felt like I didn’t have the comeback it deserved. So I reluctantly continued to fester in my lie.

‘I-I didn’t, I had a meeting...’

‘I’m not an idiot Adrian.’ Now he was being firm. Quiet but firm. ‘I could tell something was up in the bedroom that night at my Mom’s. It was like you didn’t want me anywhere near you. And then you just, what… disappeared from the face of the earth? Was that because of a ‘meeting’ too?’

I looked at him for a second, not knowing what to say yet having everything I needed to say.

I could see over his shoulder and the fact that Dana had spotted us and was now fast approaching. There wasn’t much point in trying to get into an explanation, no matter how badly I wanted to.

He appeared from behind and slightly startled Chris as he put a hand on his shoulder in greeting.

‘Adrian, Chris, come, ve must take a pickture!’ Dana cheered. ‘Reunited.’

Like magic, a photographer for the event appeared out of nowhere and placed the camera in front of his face. Despite feeling slightly startled and still feeling very sick, I placed my arm around Dana and felt Chris’ do the same from the other side.

‘Ve didn’t chat properly yesterday Adrian. Vat have you both been up to? Anything nice?’ He asked, glancing between us as he ushered the photographer away and began to sip on his drink, completely oblivious to everything that had happened between Chris and I. Chris hadn’t made eye contact with me since Dana had arrived and I was beginning to feel like I didn’t belong in this nice fancy dress and was better suited to being a dirt spot on someone’s shoe.

When neither of us were quick enough to speak up, Dana moved on to a topic he actually cared to talk about. Leaning in, he beckoned our ears closer as though he was about to tell us a secret.

‘You didn’t hear it from me, but zee head team lave it, I think ve vill get another couple of deals from zis.’ He practically beamed and I couldn’t help but feel elated at the news as well. I returned his smile and let out a ‘That’s great news!’

We both turned to Chris expectantly and I could feel my elation drop as he put on the ‘forced’ smile he’d shown me as a means of making me feel better about my own at the shoot, and let out a collected ‘… cool’. I could tell it was more for Dana’s benefit than my own.

It was then that Dana began to eye us suspiciously but despite being a fabulous director, he clearly wasn’t great at multi-tasking as he appeared to recognize someone behind us and immediately forgot about the tension that had befallen his two leading stars and instead began clicking his fingers in greeting as he made his way over to them.

‘Ciao for now dah-lings!’ He called back.

I couldn’t continue on like this. As soon as he was gone, I leapt into action.

‘Can we go somewhere and talk, please?’

‘Oh so now you wanna talk? The past two weeks not been a good time?’ He commented before walking past me, leaving me glued to the spot, stunned.

I think he’s showing you that it’s not a nice feeling being ignored.

I watched as he walked about ten meters away before halting, heaving his shoulders in a sigh and turning around to make his way back over to me.

‘A’rite’ He sighed, giving in. ‘What’s your room number?’

I could feel my eyes light up at his sudden change of heart. ‘48A.’

‘I’ll meet you there in ten.’ He whispered before actually walking past me this time.

----

I thanked God that I had somehow crept up to the floor without running into anyone. Considering how many people were at this function, it was a borderline miracle.

As I got to my door, I thought about what I was about to do and for the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t nervous or scared. I wanted it to happen. I wanted us to talk.

The longer I waited the more I could feel the nerves begin to creep up but I knew it was mostly anticipation.

As soon as a light knock resonated in the room I practically flew across to it.

‘Did I disturb you?’

‘No, no, come on in.’ I moved aside and allowed him room to enter.

I centered my mind and tried to remember how grateful he’d been when I was honest about the pictures of him and Grace. If I owed him anything, I owed him that honesty.

I closed the door and shuffled straight towards the window located on the other side and stared at the view in a bid to gather my thoughts.

Just turn around and speak your mind coherently. Okay?

‘What do you want?’ Or it could just tumble out…

‘Eh?’ He called back from his position beside the door.

‘From this.’ I pointed back and forth between us; which didn’t have much of an effect of unity seeing as though we were on opposite ends of the room.

He shot me a confused look as he stuck his hands in his pockets, waiting for me to clarify what I meant.

Shaking my head, I decided to start over.

‘Okay, I’ll talk and you just…’ I walked over and placed my hands on his arms and guided him to sit down on the bed. ‘… listen, for a sec.’

‘Adrian, what are you doing?’

‘No talking! Just listening.’

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

‘I feel like… I don’t know what you want.’ I repeated, to which he raised an eyebrow in response.

‘Look, I get it, you wanted this to be something casual and I can appreciate that.’ I continued. ‘But I don’t do casual. I never have and I probably never will. So if it’s casual you want then I wish you luck because you’re not going to get that from me.’ All of my pent up anxiety about this conversation had caused my voice to sound breathy, like I’d run a marathon or something.

He stared up at me as he processed what I was saying.

Even the couple of seconds of silence was killing me. I couldn’t handle it. I needed him to say something. So I continued on.

‘I thought it best to just, get that out in the open before this went any further. I know, I know, I should’ve said it at the start but at least this way we can… stay friends?’

This caused him to stare at me as though I had three heads.

‘Adrian, what the heck!?’ He asked incredulously as, to my delight, a smile crept onto his face. ‘Where did this come from?’

‘My brain.’ I confessed meekly.

‘I think you’re… overthinking this slightly. I’m pretty sure everyone dates “casually” (he gestured his hands in air quotes) in the beginning…’ He stood up so that I now had to look up at him. ‘It’s the things that happen after that make it more serious.’ He picked up a curl off of my shoulder and began to twirl it around his finger.

This time it was my turn to stay quiet and have him lead.

‘I may have said casual but I didn’t mean caaasual as in, let’s go and see other people, I meant casual as in, you know, no pressure. Long distance is tough enough as it is without one complaining about when they are going to see the other. It’s always better to just keep it light in those situations. That’s all I was saying.’

A small smile crept across my face.

‘You sure? You’re not gonna dump me for a Barbie doll in a months’ time who lives closer and puts out easily?’

This time he really did laugh. ‘What are you even talking about now!? Why would I do that?’

When he noticed I wasn’t laughing with him and that I clearly wasn’t joking, his mind seemed to click.

‘Adrian, what are you not telling me?’

I didn’t want to start drama. I HATED drama. These people were his friends and I didn’t want to be the one to cause a rift between them.

‘Nothing.’

‘Adrian, come on now.’ He let go of my hair and placed his hands on either side of my arms and looked me directly in the eye. ‘We have to be able to talk to each other about these things. It’s not good to pent things up. Otherwise you’re going to end up in a hotel room being told things you had no idea were a problem in the first place.’ He relayed, shedding light on his current situation. ‘Cause I’ll be honest, I’m standing here racking my brains thinking about what I could’ve possibly done to put these thoughts in your head and I’m coming up short.’

It wasn’t you. You haven’t done anything.

I pulled away and sat down on the bed with my hands twisted together in my lap. I suddenly felt ashamed that I had let someone else’s words taint his.

‘I may have overheard a conversation that I wish I hadn’t…’ I started, as I looked at the floor and bit the inner corner of my cheek as I thought back on it.

He quickly sat beside me and mimicked my body posture. ‘Go on…’

‘I think a direct quote was “an up and coming nobody who we all know is just a bit of fun for him”.’

His face was stony as he asked who had said that. ‘Someone who knows you better than I do.’

‘Adrian, this business we’re in. It’s all bullshit. People don’t like to see happiness. They like to see what they want to see.’ He unattached his fingers and reached over to take my hand and bring it back to his lap to be encased by the other one on top. ‘So of course they’re going to want to write articles about ex’s and of course they’re going to want to spread lies or dig up the past. That’s fine, let them be hateful. The key is to not listen to them.’

‘I know. You’re right.’ I conceded. ‘But I didn’t hear that in a magazine…’

His eyes traced mine and I could tell he was confused. ‘Then where did you hear it?’

I closed my eyes and bit my lip, already feeling regretful of what I was about to say.

‘Poppy.’

‘What?’

‘I heard it from Poppy.’

He didn’t say anything, instead he just chose to stare at me as though I must’ve been mistaken.

‘The night they came around to your Mom’s, when I was there, I was on my way back out to the rest of you when I heard her talking to Shauna in the kitchen about how all you do is date “bimbos” and she didn’t care to get to know me because I was going to be “gone in a couple of months” and that, like I said, I was “an up and coming nobody who is just a bit of fun for you”.’

It felt hurtful all over again and I felt embarrassed regaling it to Chris, who had decided to remain silent about it.

I didn’t try to fill the silence, instead deciding to let him process it at his own speed.

Eventually, he furrowed his brows and spoke up.

‘Why didn’t you tell me at the time?’

‘Because… these people are your friends and I didn’t know what to do. I felt humiliated.’ I confessed.

‘Is this why you’ve been ignoring me?’

I shrugged my shoulders before giving a pathetic nod.

He nodded himself as he once again retreated to his mind to process things. He pulled away and stood up as he thought about it.

The silence was killing me.

‘Please don’t hate me.’

He immediately looked down at me before re-taking his spot next to me on the bed.

‘I don’t hate you Adrian. That’s crazy talk. I just… wish you’d told me before taking their word for it.’ I could hear it in his voice again. He was hurt.

‘I know, I know. I just managed to convince myself that they knew you better than me and I just-‘ I paused, debating on whether or not to finish my sentence. ‘-didn’t want to get hurt again.’

His facial expression told me that he’d picked up on the ‘again’ part but he didn’t push it. Instead, he sighed.

‘Look, Adrian. From where I’m stood, you can either listen to Poppy, a jealous hater who will tell you I’m a womanizer who is incapable of settling down or you can listen to me…’ He leaned his face in close to mine. ‘… who will tell you that that is the biggest pile of crap I’ve ever heard.’

I looked at him as I took his words in before my face began to rise and I allowed myself to let out a little laugh as Chris raised a little smile himself.

‘You know, now that I think about it, Shauna did look pretty guilty when I went back out to them without you after I’d gone to check up on you.’

‘Shauna’s great! I really liked her.’ I assured, clamping my hands on his arm for emphasis. The feel of his hard bicep was enough to melt away any problems we had in my books.

‘What will you do about it?’ I asked hesitantly, hoping he would just let the whole thing go.

‘About Poppy?’ I nodded. ‘Eh, I’ll figure something out. She’s never really been my favorite.’

‘Then why are you friends with her?’

‘Honestly? She was a buddy of mine’s girlfriend, Owen. We went to high school together and everything, real close and he uh, he passed a couple of years ago in an accident and we always felt bad for her and felt as though he wouldn’t want us to just… give up on her. So we let her hang around.’

‘That’s really sweet of you.’ He was so perfect. Why had I listened to them!?

‘Yeah, well… not for much longer.’ He mused with a laugh.

‘Oh God.’ I groaned as I ran my hand down my face, feeling bad to have come between him and friends.

‘Don’t feel bad. You’re doing me a favor. It’s all good.’

I let my hand fall to my lap off of my face and watched him as he calculated something in his head.

I leant forward and placed my chin on his shoulder and whispered in his ear.

‘Thank you for talking to me.’ I spoke sincerely. I felt so much better and I knew I owed Amy and Amanda an apology for having ignored their advice for so long.

He turned his head in my direction to his shoulder before reaching down and picking up my hand and giving it a quick but sweet kiss.

‘We better head back down before they fire us both for playing hooky at our own party.’

‘No you go first, I’ll be down in a second, I just have to check my makeup.’

‘Alright, I’ll see you down there.’ He said and got up to give me one last lingering look before fixing his hair and jacket in the mirror and exiting the room.

I didn’t want to bother Talia, my regular makeup girl, who was probably downstairs enjoying herself so I made my way over to my own bag to see what I could use to top up my lips with.

----

As I gazed at the plethora of finger food they had on spread I frowned. This dress was so tight I could barely breathe, never mind intake a single calorie. I noticed Amy didn’t eat anything either because, in her words, ‘I don’t eat anything I can’t pronounce’ and there was plenty of foreign food on display.

After I had gotten back downstairs, I couldn’t spot Chris nor had I seen him since, but I was well aware that our absence meant that we had a lot of schmoozing to make up for.

As bougie and as lovely as the opulence of this party had been, by 9:30 I had resigned myself to death by starvation and lack of oxygen intake. My powwow with Chris had taken a lot of emotion out of me and so I could feel myself start to zone out in a tired and deprived state.

Never the less, with Amy by my side, I persevered on for the grand total of another half an hour before letting officials know that I would be calling it a night. They all told me what a fabulous job I’d done and how stunning I looked tonight and I thanked them one more time for choosing me for this campaign.

Back in the room, Amy instantly kicked off her heels and I followed suit, wanting nothing more than to get this beautiful death trap off of me.

We’d only been back in the room for five minutes before a knock befell the room.

‘Will you get that?’ I asked Amy as I attempted to unzip the dress from my position in the bathroom. I had undone the buttons at the back that restricted my midriff so airflow was back in business for me.

‘Sure.’

Not two seconds later did she call back in a sing song voice that it was for me. Abandoning my post at the sink, I walked around corner and could feel myself light up as I saw Chris and his assistant Jake on the other side.

‘You guys wanna grab some real food?’

I smiled at them and looked back at Amy, biting my entire lip in anticipation.

‘Food?’ I asked.

Before I could even finish, she had grabbed her bag and key card and was out the door. ‘FOOD.’ She called.

I decided not to bother changing otherwise I would have held everyone up so I just threw on a jumper Amy had with her over the top to hide the unbuttoned hooks at the back and slipped on the pair of tennis shoes I wore earlier to the hotel. Sure I stood out like a sore thumb, but this is New York after all.

Forty minutes later, having rounded up a couple more hungry troops, Amy, Talia, a couple of people from Chris’ team I didn’t know, Jake, Chris and I all sat around a rustic Italian restaurant that stayed open late and indulged.

Whilst Chris and I sat next to each other, we weren’t being overtly romantic. In fact, we weren’t being romantic at all. To those at the table who didn’t now, we looked as though we had simply become good friends over our time filming in Italy.

It was nice being in a group of people that were used to this. It wasn’t like at Chris’ where I was a complete alien to his friends, these people were aware we worked together and were obviously used to being around co-stars of their clients etc. My people included.

As we ate, Jake and Chris told differentiating stories about their initial work relationship and how awkward it was in the beginning.

‘He used to be so serious. I’m not even kidding. Like, don’t even try to deny it!’ Jake joked.

I watched as Chris laughed along, trying to hold up his hands in innocence. ‘What!? Oh, come on! Me? Serious??’

Jake gave him one look, so much as to say ‘Oh please!’ before Chris conceded. ‘A’rite, a’rite. In my defense though, having an assistant was pretty alien to me so I didn’t really know where the line was.’

‘Sure, sure.’ Jake teased.

‘You’re like the opposite of Adrian.’ Amy chimed in to my surprise. ‘Literally, in the beginning I had trouble getting her to take me seriously at all. I would tell her we needed to be somewhere or that she had to do something and my response was either a laugh in my face or a “Orrrr we could do this instead” and I’d be like “Adrian, no! That’s not how this works!”’ Everyone began to laugh, myself included, albeit with a light blush now.

When the waiter came over with the bill it wasn’t two seconds before Chris sat forward and dug his wallet and card out of his back pocket and gave it to him, letting out a nonchalant yet somehow humble ‘I got it.’ He really was so sweet and thoughtful.

I recognized that the restaurant really wasn’t that far from my apartment so, much to their delight, I decided to let Amy and Talia have the rooms that Gucci had reserved for me at the St Regis and sleep in my own bed tonight. Amy immediately insisted that she go with me when I mentioned that I was going to walk home. I could feel little butterflies creep in when Chris piped up and offered an ‘It’s alright, I can walk you.’ I gave him an appreciative smile before turning back and watching Amy as she conceded, probably more than aware that we’d want to talk some more.

On our way out, we thanked the staff for their excellent service and filed out, ready to part ways with one another. The cold night hit me like a wall of knives, the thin material of the dress doing little to protect me from the New York air.

Amy shot me one last look as she tied her coat up fully.

‘I’ll be fine.’ I smiled reassuringly but her scepticism seemed deep rooted. ‘You’re entirely sure you don’t want me to walk you?’ She whispered. ‘I know you talked and all but he seems kind of quiet tonight.’

I shook my head and brushed off her worries. Sure he seemed quiet, but we’d all had a long day.

I continued to smile at her and pulled her in for a hug. ‘Go! Have a good night and make sure you have one for me in the bar.’

She begrudgingly hugged me back and whispered ‘good luck’ before releasing me and heading off with the others.

I watched them walk off into the distance before biting my lip and turning around to see Chris still talking to Jake. I couldn’t quite hear what they were saying but it seemed important.

Rather than stand there awkwardly and seem as though I was eavesdropping, I pulled my phone out as a means of distraction and checked the time. 12:03am. I looked around and my focus fell down at the main street, marveling at how it never ceased. Cars whizzed by and people roamed as though it were three in the day.

As I watched, I made a note to myself to take the quieter route back. It would take a little longer but it would mean running into less people.

As another sweep of cold air hit me, I finally decided to look back at the men and saw they were putting their phones away and wrapping it up. They hugged and I could faintly make out Chris mention to him that ‘I’ll see you in a few weeks buddy, take care.’ A few weeks? I wondered where Jake was off to…

Jake’s eyes moved to land on me and he shot me a nod and a wave as a means of a parting and I immediately reciprocated, calling over how nice it was to see him again.

Finally Chris himself turned around and stuck his hand in his pocket as he made his way over to me sheepishly.

‘Sorry about that.’

‘No, no, it’s fine.’ I smiled and turned around as we began our walk back to my place.

A silence fell over us as we walked along, which made the question in my mind burn louder and I figured it wouldn’t be too invasive if I asked, right?

‘Is Jake taking some time off?’ I inquired as I once again tried to wrap the sweater around me as tightly as possible. It really wasn’t that bad, I’d definitely experienced worse chills, it was just that this dress was so damn thin I may as well have been naked under the sweater.

‘Uh no,’ he started before pausing. ‘Well, technically yes but it’s uh, it’s me who’s taking the time off.’ He explained. I could feel my ears prick up at this and glanced over at him briefly, quirking an eyebrow in the process. ‘Oh?’

‘Yeah. That was a pretty hectic few months as far as they go. I thought I better find some down time before I go stir crazy..’ He made an attempt at a laugh and it suddenly hit me that he was acting awkward. I realized that he hadn’t looked at me once since we’d started our little walk and his tone seemed different; distant almost.

I pressed on, trying to ignore this slight bubbling feeling in my stomach.

‘So what are your plans?’

My teeth chattered as I spoke and it seemed as though that was enough for him to finally look my way.

With a frown he declared, ‘Ah jeez, you’re freezing!’ and stopped for a second to hastily pull his jacket off and lightly place it on my shoulders. He rubbed my arms up and down over the thick fabric and I smiled at him in appreciation, adoring to feel his touch after so long.

I thought he might perhaps sling his arm around me as we walked but instead I received a thin smile before he pulled away fully and placed his hands back into his pockets as we began to walk again. The bubbling feeling in my stomach seemed to declare itself as unsettlement and a blanket of awkwardness once again descended upon us.

I shook my head of these fears, not allowing them to take over, things were fine, and instead I softly repeated my question from before.

‘So? Your plans?’

‘Oh, yeah, right, my plans!’ He seemed to think about it for a second and I couldn’t tell if he was genuinely thinking about what his plans were or debating about whether or not he was going to tell them to me…

Thankfully, it seemed to be the former.

‘I have this cabin in a woodland area that me, my Dad and Scott built about 30 minutes from where my Dad lives. It’s near a reserve so there’s nobody around for miles except for a couple other summer cabin owners. It’s kinda like my little retreat I go to get away sometimes.’

‘That sounds nice. A cabin in the woods sounds very you.’ I teased, praying to uplift this awkward wall between us and to my relief, he gave a sweet smile and a nod.

‘Yeah, it’s far enough out from the city that you can see all the stars at night and I can sit there for hours, just, embracing it for all it’s worth.’ He mused and I watched as his face lit up at even the thought of it. It was like he was showing a glimpse of the little boy inside of him.

‘Will you do that the whole time?’

‘Nah, I told my Mom I’d help her out with a couple of things that need fixing around the house. Scott’s no good at that kind of thing..’ He explained before trailing off.

I smiled even though I could feel my heart sinking. Definitely not rushing to make plans with you then Adrian…

For politeness purposes I’m sure, he asked if I had much coming up work-wise.

‘I actually have the rest of the week off.’ I had asked Amy ages ago to set it up that way so that I’d have time to spend with Chris…

‘That’s cool. Any plans?’ My heart was truly drowning now.

I shook my head and gave a low ‘nothing’, resigned now to the fact despite our talk earlier, I had completely screwed this up.

Our small talk only got smaller as we eventually reached my building.

As I made my way up the steps towards the entrance door, I noticed that I could only hear one set of footsteps and turned to see that Chris wasn’t beside me. I turned fully and saw that he’d stopped.

‘You’re not coming in?’ I inquired, hesitantly.

‘Uh no, if it’s alright with you I’m gonna head off, it’s.. kinda late.’

He scratched his head as I stood there staring at him. I could feel my throat closing up and I tried as best I could to swallow any warnings of the bile that threatened to rise.

You haven’t screwed this up Adrian, you’ve fucked it. Well and truly fucked it.

Not wanting to cause a scene or draw any attention to us, I cleared my throat and stepped back down towards him. We were both silent as I gently and, ashamedly, quite sadly peeled his coat off of my shoulders and handed it back to him. I felt like I couldn’t look at him for fear of making an idiot of myself, so I simply stared at the pavement as he accepted it from me. He gave me a ‘thank you’, to which I quietly thanked him back for letting me borrow it.

As I stood there, cold again, the severity of my actions dawned on me and as the silence continued to build, so did my self-loathing.

‘I really like you, Adrian.’

My head shot up and I found myself making eye contact with a pair of remorseful baby blues.

‘All I’ve done these past two weeks is think about you and what I’d done to screw this up.’ He was being so gentle. It was killing me. ‘I felt like I was being punished for something I didn’t do…’

I closed my eyes, well aware of what he was talking about. I slowly began to nod my head and gave a meek ‘… I know.’ I then peeled my eyes back open and looked at him with a sincerely apologetic face. ‘I know. I’m sorry. It’s me, I’m stupid like that sometimes, I-’

‘You’re not stupid.’ He interjected firmly.

‘No, I am. I don’t think sometimes…’

He watched me carefully and somewhat sympathetically as I rambled on about how I shouldn’t have done what I did before interrupting me.

‘Can I be honest with you?’

I nodded my head, although I was terrified of what he might say.

‘I have zero clue as to what has gone on in your life before me Adrian. But… part of me thinks you have these trust issues.’ Oh God. ‘Which is fine! We all have those.’ He clarified. ‘But maybe now isn’t a good time. If you feel like you can’t trust me, then what hope do we have? You know?’

Fucked it. Explosively fucked it all up.

I was speechless. It was what everyone had been telling me this whole time but it seemed that hearing it from Chris’ mouth was what I really needed to make it hit home.

‘Maybe you were right earlier. Maybe… we’re better off being friends right now.’

It was like punch after punch.

I couldn’t even bring myself to say anything. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

Noting my extended silence, Chris took a deep breath and looked around him before bending down and giving me a final kiss on the cheek, an ‘I’m sorry’ and reluctantly walking away, leaving me standing there in the cold.

--------

The end.

No I’m kidding, can you imagine? Hahaha.

Adrian’s going to have to think outside of the box if she wants to fix this pickle!

I haven’t been on here in so long I feel so rambley, but seriously, thank you so much for all the love, it’s so appreciated and i’m so happy people have enjoyed this story and it kills me that updates have taken so long but i’m hoping to be up on the laptop game at some point next week. But who knows, while my brother’s one is here, I might even see if I can get some writing done tonight and tomorrow <3

#chris evans fanfiction #chris evans fic #chris evans imagine #chris evans #chris fic

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