#Miles didn’t choose to be bitten it just happened to him

[lady-tortilla-chip]

It’s so wild to me that in ATSV everything surrounding The Spot is considered a canon event EXCEPT Miles. It’s interesting because Miles’s universe isn’t hindered or destroyed by Miles becoming Spider-man, there is no black hole or people being swallowed into it. And yet Miles is considered the problem and as a result not even considered a true Spider-man. Which, what a fascinating parallel to The Spot that is? Someone who through half the movie was not only underestimated but considered not worth that much effort or time. Just like Miles who is treated as unworthy of his title and his placement in the multi-verse.

[hungermakesmonsters]

(Once Bitten) Twice Shy

Chapter Seventeen

Plot summary : Desperate to get away from your controlling family, you take a job in New York as a wealthy vampire's blood source. A million dollars awaits if you can make it through a year, but life with Billy Russo is not going to be as simple as you think.

Pairing : Billy Russo x Reader

Story Rating : R  Chapter Rating : PG

Warnings : [This is a fic for 18+ only, minors DNI] Nothing too warning worthy, just some really creepy vibes at the end. All chapters will contain mentions of blood. Please check the warnings on each chapter if you choose to follow this story. 

Word Count : 4.5k

A/N : happy fic-friday!

CHAPTER ONE | CHAPTER TWO | CHAPTER THREE | CHAPTER FOUR | CHAPTER FIVE | CHAPTER SIX | CHAPTER SEVEN | CHAPTER EIGHT | CHAPTER NINE | CHAPTER TEN | CHAPTER ELEVEN | CHAPTER TWELVE | CHAPTER THIRTEEN | CHAPTER FOURTEEN | CHAPTER FIFTEEN | CHAPTER SIXTEEN

MASTER LIST

Chapter Seventeen

You sat in silence, too paralysed by fear to think rationally. There were things you knew you should be doing, like looking out of the window and trying to figure out where you were and, perhaps more importantly, where you were going. But, really, what did it matter? You’d always known that it would come down to this, that you’d end up his prisoner and, now, you knew for certain that no one was going to save you.

Your eyes drifted to the rear window, not looking at him, not even acknowledging his existence. 

The streets of New York all looked the same at night; all bright lights and crowds of people. The only thing you could tell was that you didn’t seem to be leaving the city. Somehow that made things worse, knowing that you were still so close to Billy but you might as well have been a million miles away. 

And, suddenly, despite your situation, Billy was all you could think about. He was probably at Josie’s by now, he’d probably realised that you were gone and that he’d never see you again. He was probably so angry.

“You’ll soon get tired of giving me the silent treatment,” he stated with a confidence that made you sick to your stomach, “but I’m not going to rush you. I have patience and we have the rest of forever.”

Forcing a breath, you tried everything you could to keep a blank face and not give into the scared helplessness that was filling you. Your gaze remained focused on the window and the streets you’d been so excited to explore only a few weeks ago. 

A sense of claustrophobia took hold the moment the limo turned into an underground parking structure, darkness filling the car and making you feel more trapped than ever. Then the car stopped.

You didn’t move, didn’t even tear your eyes away from the window.

Until he reached for you.

His cold hand on yours caused you to flinch and pull away, only to find fingers tightly gripping your good wrist.

“You’re going to behave for me,” he told you, the slightest hint of annoyance seeping into his tone.

“Or what?”

You weren’t sure what came over you in that moment but you were just as surprised by your sudden snap as he was.

“Do I have to remind you what will happen to your family?” He asked, leaning closer, gripping tighter. “Or maybe I should remind you what I’m capable of...”

“You don’t scare me anymore, Mr Drake,” you answered back, his name spat from your mouth like venom despite knowing you were only making things worse. 

“Please, you should call me Justin since you’re going to be my wife,” he offered with a smile that made you feel ill. “And you should be scared of what could happen if you try to refuse me again.”

“Am I supposed to care what happens to my parents after they sold me to you?”

You didn’t expect the laugh that followed, a sound that caused the dread in your stomach to continue to build.

“And what about Irene? You still care about her, right?”

The sound of your sister’s name on his lips was almost enough to cause your heart to stop. It was a lie, it had to be. She’d been gone for years, no one knew where she was or how to find her.

“You’re lying.” You decided to call his bluff.

He let go of your arm to reach into his pocket and pull out his phone. A moment later you felt bile rise in the back of your throat at the picture he showed you. It had been years since you’d seen her, but there was no mistaking that it was your older sister. The sickening feeling only continued to increase as he started to swipe through pictures; pictures of a family, of two young children and a telltale bump on her belly.

“If you’d prefer I could take what’s owed me from her instead, along with your nephews and your unborn niece.” He put the phone away, no longer needing it to threaten you. He’d made his point.

“You’re a monster.”

He laughed again.

“Oh, darling, you have no idea.” He leaned to open the door and then gave a wave of his hand, indicating that he wanted you to move. “It’s up to you whether we do this the easy way or the hard way.”

For a few seconds you remained completely still, defiant.

Then you moved.

What choice did you have? You knew he could bend you to his will if he wanted to, you knew he could hurt you and those closest to you. More than that, you knew that you were completely alone. No one was going to look for you. No one was coming to your rescue.

“Good choice,” you heard him mutter as he followed you out of the limo.

You bristled at the touch of his hand against your lower back, guiding you towards the elevator but you moved regardless, knowing better than to think you could outrun a vampire in the gloomy parking lot.

The elevator doors slid shut, trapping you with him and his driver, watching as he swiped a key card for the penthouse floor. Your heart lurched along with the elevator and, despite wanting to remain steely and unphased by the situation, you found yourself pulling your arms across your chest.

It was only then that you realised your suitcase was nowhere to be seen. Try as you might, you couldn’t remember what had happened to it. It had been with you when you left Josie’s but then you’d walked into Krista and -

And after that, everything was hazy.

“Where are my things?” You asked. “I had a suitcase.”

“Gone. You don’t need it,” he answered.

Your chest tightened, squeezing out a breath. Your eyes fixed forward, unblinking, not wanting to show him how upset you were. You weren’t bothered about your things, about your purse or phone, but your heart was breaking over the stuffed beagle that meant so much to you, the last little piece of Billy that you had.

“I want it,” you demanded defiantly. 

“Why?” He asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

“Because it’s mine. If you want me to stay here and not cause problems, then you need to find it.” You glared at him as he spoke, as if there was really anything you could do to hurt him. 

He seemed disinterested but shrugged before giving his driver a glance. The man nodded, understanding his orders without a word even passing between them. Though, by now, you knew it was probably too late. You’d probably never see Bill the Beagle again.

As he led you into the penthouse suite, his driver disappeared back into the elevator, but you weren’t so naive as to think that you were alone with him. He’d have his goons somewhere near, in case he needed them. If you wanted to even think about trying to get away from him again, you were going to have to bide your time.

Your stomach dropped when you were led into a bedroom. You lingered in the doorway, leaving as much space between you and him as you could and, of course, he noticed.

“There’s no need to be shy,” he told you, barely holding back a smirk.

“I’m not being shy,” you answered back. 

His gaze darkened.

“I can’t say that I like this new attitude you seem to have developed. I can see now why William Russo had to resort to physical means to keep you in line,” he stated, gesturing at your broken arm.

“You don’t know anything about Billy,” you snapped through gritted teeth.

“Oh, Billy is it?” He asked, looking at you like he could look right through you, like he could tell every little thought in your head, and he didn’t like what he saw. “Got close to him, did you?”

You felt your cheeks start to burn while your hands clenched to fists at your side, and he noticed it all.

“More than that?” He asked, though he didn’t need to hear an answer. “You’re lucky I’m not a jealous man, otherwise I might have taken it out on poor dear Billy. But, then, why should I be jealous of a vampire who likes to play with his food?” 

“You know nothing about it or him.”

“Oh, I know plenty,” he answered back. “Enough to know that he’ll have a new girl in his employ, bleeding for him by the end of the week and probably in his bed just as quick, just like he replaced your friend Krista...”

You shook your head, insolent, even though some part of you wondered if he was right. Perhaps Lissa had already put out an advertisement for your replacement.

But you weren’t given time to linger on the thought. He closed the distance between you, his cold fingers grasping your chin, turning your head one way and then the other as he inspected your neck.

“Did he bite you?” He asked and you stayed silent, so he resorted to threats. “Do I have to strip you and check for myself?”

The threat was enough to break you. “No. He didn’t bite me.”

“Good. Now get changed out of those clothes, so we can have supper and discuss our future together.” A wave of his hand led your gaze to an outfit that had been set out for you on the bed.

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

“Why didn’t she tell me?” Billy asked as if he thought Karen might have some magic answer to explain everything that was going on.

She’d explained about Madani, about the questions the Homeland agent had about Billy, as well as the warning that she’d offered outside the hospital. But she only knew what you had shared with her and the little that Madani had been willing to say, and it wasn’t a lot. 

And it certainly wasn’t enough for Billy.

“I don’t know, I guess because she didn’t believe it, she didn’t think it was worth worrying you with it,” Karen offered, lifting her glass and taking a slow drink.

Billy and Frank had asked around, hoping someone had seen you while Karen called Madani, but the most they got was from a drunk who thought you might have gotten into a limousine with friends. By the time they sat to wait for the Homeland agent, Billy was crawling out of his skin.

“And you’re sure she didn’t believe it?” He asked, again trying to get an answer that he knew Karen couldn’t possibly know.

“Well, she saw Krista, didn’t she?” Frank offered. “Hard to think you killed someone who’s still walkin’ around.”

“But, what if -” he started and stopped as Karen dared to reach across the table, placing a hand on his arm.

“Billy, she didn’t leave because she thought you’d done something wrong,” she offered.

“No, she left because I’m like... this...”

Frank bristled at his side but didn’t say anything, though Karen could tell just how much effort it took for him to bite his tongue. She’d seen them have that argument before, and she’d been the one left to console Frank afterwards.

“We’ll find her, Billy,” Karen tried again, pulling back her hand.

“I just -” he started but stopped the moment he noticed a woman in a suit approaching them, eyeing him with very obvious suspicion.

Karen’s eyes followed Billy’s, and she quickly stood up.

“Agent Madani.”

“Ms Page,” she greeted Karen before uncomfortably eyeing Billy and Frank.

“Something’s happened and we need your help,” Karen tried to explain, waving a hand, trying to get Madani to sit. 

Between the three of them, they explained what had happened as far as they knew, up to the point where they found your suitcase on the sidewalk. An uncomfortable silence fell while Madani took it all in.

“How can you be sure she didn’t just abandon it?” Madani asked, glancing at the case.

“She wouldn’t do that,” Billy answered, his hand resting on the stuffed beagle. “Why would she leave her phone and purse?”

Madani looked at him for a few moments, saying nothing.

“And how do I know that any of this is true?” She finally asked. “How do I know that this isn’t some elaborate ruse? How do I know she isn’t dead somewhere and all of this is to stop me from asking questions later on?”

“I didn’t kill her. I haven’t killed anyone. I -” Billy started to snap.

“Bill,” Frank warned, silencing him.

“You’ve got a badge, right?” Karen asked. “The store across the street has got a security camera pointed at the street, you can take a look at the last hour and see if we’re telling the truth or not.”

Frank struggled to fight back a grin, nudging Karen with his elbow, impressed with her. Madani on the other hand, seemed a little less enthusiastic. 

“It’s not that simple, I’d need a warrant, and -”

“We don’t have time -” Karen started.

“Fuck this,” Billy muttered, getting to his feet.

Frank followed suit. “What’re you doin’, Bill?” 

“I’m going to get the security footage myself,” he answered.

“Hey, if you think I’m going to sit back while you commit a crime -” Madani was on her feet a second later.

“The more time we waste, the harder it’s going to be to find her,” Billy snapped. “And I’m not going to lose her. You can either help or you can stay out of my way, but I’m warning you, Agent Madani, I’m not someone you want as an enemy.”

Without another word, he started towards the door, Madani and Frank following after while Karen opted to hang back with your suitcase.

Billy made his way across the street, not caring if he was followed; he was determined to find out what happened, with or without help. With the way he was feeling, he’d tear the store owner apart if he even tried to get in his way. And Frank seemed to realise that. It was why he didn’t let Billy get more than a few feet ahead of him.

And Madani followed because she was almost hoping that he’d do something to prove her right about him.

“How we doin’ this then?” Frank asked just outside the little corner store, stopping Billy in his tracks. 

“That’s up to Agent Madani,” Billy answered, glaring at the Homeland agent.

For a few seconds she looked at the two vampires, hating that she was being put on the spot but realising that there was nothing that she could do to stop them from looking at the footage one way or another.

“Fine, wait here,” she answered, as she moved to step past Billy.

“What? If you think I’m -” Billy was silenced by Frank’s hand on his shoulder.

Madani waited for a beat before entering the store alone.

The bell over the door chimed, signalling her arrival to the young guy behind the counter who looked up from his phone for a split-second before dropping his gaze again. Madani strode towards the counter, reaching into her jacket for her badge and ID. For a few seconds she didn’t say anything, instead she listened to the faint sounds coming from the assistant's phone.

‘If vampire’s keep taking all the wealth and making it so honest, hard working humans can’t find a decent job that pays a decent wage -”

She cleared her throat, having heard all she needed to. Anti-vampire sentiment was still widespread and there were plenty of online commentators willing to try to make a quick buck from it, and in this situation, it was something she could use to her advantage.

“Agent Madani, Homeland Security,” she stated. The kid looked ready to shit himself at the sight of her badge. “I’m going to need to see the CCTV footage from the front of the store for the last couple of hours.”

“I -” for a moment he struggled to find the words, “- I think I’d need to ask my boss.”

“Is he here right now?”

“No, he lives in Jersey...”

Madani let out a sigh, letting the kid see her frustration.

“Listen, I’ll level with you, I’m tracking a dangerous vampire,” she told him and saw a flicker of anger on his face. “I think they’ve hurt a lot of people, a lot of young women about your age...”

“Fucking bloodsuckers,” he muttered.

“If I could see that footage, I might be able to catch him and, if I do...” she shrugged, “well, there’d be nothing to stop you from posting the whole thing online. I hear you can make a lot of money with stuff like this.”

Madani could practically see dollar signs lighting up behind his eyes. At any other time it might have bothered her just how easily influenced the kid was, but time was of the essence and she needed to know if Russo was lying to her. 

“Yeah, okay,” the kid relented, “it’s in the back here.” 

He gave a quick glance around the store, making sure it was still empty before showing her into the backroom. The set up was hardly state of the art, but it was easy enough to use - in fact, she’d used several similar systems in the past, so it didn’t take her long to scrub through the video and find the exact moment that you left Josie’s. The picture quality wasn’t brilliant and the poor lighting on the street didn’t help, but you were easy enough to spot with your suitcase.

Madani watched as someone deliberately stepped into your path before taking you by the arm and leading you towards a waiting limousine. She managed to get half of the licence plate of the limo and snapped a quick photo of the blurry figure with her phone while the kid’s back was turned, then she stood.

“Is it on there?” He asked.

“No,” she answered, forcing another sigh, “looks like the bastard managed to slip by just out of range of the camera.”

His disappointment was palpable.

“But that isn’t to say that he won’t come back,” Madani offered, “so it’d be best if you didn’t mention this to anyone, otherwise you might spook him and... well, I wouldn’t want to see you charged with obstruction after you’ve been so helpful.” 

He nodded and she didn’t waste any time in making her excuses to get out of there.

Billy was pacing by the time she stepped back outside, both men seemed to be engaged in a heated debate about something, and it looked as though Russo was on the losing end of it.

“All I’m sayin’ is -”

“What did you find out?” Billy asked, ignoring Frank and quickly refocusing all of his attention on Madani.

“I’m not sure,” Madani stated, pulling out her phone, “she left the bar and someone met her outside before leading her to a limousine. There wasn’t a struggle but... something didn’t seem right...”

“You think someone was compellin’ her?” Frank asked.

“Maybe. I can’t be sure. I got a partial plate and I’m going to call in some favours to run it, see if I can figure out who owns the limo and where it went,” Madani explained before holding up her phone to the men, showing the blurry image she’d captured. “But, while we wait, we should try to figure out who this is.”

“Fuck,” Billy grit out almost instantly.

“Goddamnit,” Frank let out a second later.

“Well, that was quicker than expected. Care to fill me in?” Madani asked.

“I knew I should’ve killed her,” Billy muttered, forcing an uneven breath, struggling to stay in control of himself.

“It’s Krista Dumont, alive and well, and still pissin’ everyone off,” Frank answered, though his gaze stayed on Billy. “You went lookin’ for her, right, Bill? Know where she might be now?”

“Yeah, I know where she lives,” Billy answered, his attention quickly turning to Madani. “You wanted to know what happened to my previous employees, right? Well, you’re about to find out.”

Without another word, he started moving back towards where he’d left his car. Frank and Madani quickly followed after, the latter on her phone calling in those favours to try and track down the limo.

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

You were finally left alone to change, though you spent at least five minutes searching the room, looking for anything that might help you escape. As much as you’d felt resigned to this eventuality, just being around him again had panic and dread gnawing at your insides. You had to get away.

The first thing you did was check the windows, despite already knowing that you were too high up to even consider it an option. In fact, the penthouse suite was so high up that the people on the street below seemed like ants.

Next thing you checked was the room’s phone by lifting it to your ear. No dial tone. No cord connecting it to the wall. If you could get a cord from one of the other phones in the suite, you might be able to call for help. You filled away the thought for later. 

Then you checked the drawers and the wardrobe, feeling sick to your stomach when you found several outfits that were obviously for you. They looked like the sort of clothes your mother would have picked for you and not at all like the outfits you’d enjoyed wearing over the last six months. Even the dress he’d laid out on the bed for you felt uncomfortably conservative - though you supposed you should be glad he wanted you to dress that way.

Shaking your head you tried to force the thought away and concentrate on finding things that might be helpful. 

Wooden hangers could perhaps be turned into weapons but... well, that was a line you didn’t want to think about crossing until you really had to.

“Dinner is here,” you heard his voice from behind the door. “Unless you want me to come in there and dress you myself, I suggest you hurry up.” 

As much as you wanted to be stubborn, as much as you wanted to cause him as much trouble as possible, the sorry fact of the matter was that you were scared. And you had every reason to be scared. So, you gave up your search and quickly changed into the clothes that he had left for you and stepped out into the suite.

The main room was lit by lamps, creating a romantic glow that made you feel sick.

Instead of looking at him and the table, you glanced around the room, taking note of where the phone was and how close the door was. But your host seemed to realise what you were doing.

“Sit,” he ordered, pulling out a chair at the table.

You made a point of walking around him and taking a different seat.

“You’re starting to test my patience,” he remarked, taking his own seat. 

“Already?” You remarked off-handedly, reminding him of the comment he’d made not two hours ago in the limo.

“Did Billy Russo let you talk back like this?”

“He never gave me a reason to,” you answered without hesitation, despite knowing it wasn’t strictly true.

He gave a grunt of irritation before uncovering your food. You looked down at the plate, your lips curling at the sight; tuna steak and salad. While he started to eat, you simply stared down at the plate. Even though you knew you’d never see him again, let alone bleed for him, the thought of eating anything from his list of prohibited foods. It took Justin Drake  a minute to realise that you weren’t eating, and then came the frustrated sigh.

“Are you going to fight me on everything?” He asked.

“I don’t eat tuna.”

“Since when?”

“Since I decided I don’t like it.”

“Then eat the salad,” he snapped.

You took small consolation in the fact that you were already getting to him, showing him that you were going to be far more trouble than you were worth but, again, you knew better than to push too far too soon. He could hurt you. He would hurt you if he felt like it. 

Reluctantly, you began to pick at the salad with your fork, silently wondering if you’d be able to sneak any of the cutlery away from the table.

You ate in silence, neither speaking until you were both done. He’d poured you a glass of wine, but it had been left mostly untouched and, thankfully, he hadn’t thought to order dessert.

“Tomorrow we’ll be travelling home,” he informed you. “The wedding is being arranged as we speak and, by this time next week, you’ll be my wife, so you should rid yourself of any childish notions of escaping or denying me.”

“I won’t marry you.”

“Yes you will.”

“Why? Why any of this? Why me?” You asked, anger quickly starting to bubble over. “I’ll never stop fighting you, I’ll never be yours. How is any of this worth it to you?”

He just laughed at that, sitting back in his chair and lifting his wine glass to his lips, taking a slow drink before even thinking to answer you.

“Because it’s fate.”

“What?” Had you heard him correctly? Had he called it fate?

“It was never about the money - that was just to keep your parents in line - it’s always been about you, my sweet girl.” He continued to smile as your skin started to crawl. “I knew I had to have you the first time I set eyes on you.”

Your stomach continued to churn and tie itself in knots as you thought how long ago that must have been.

“Why?” You dared to ask even though you were terrified of how he might answer.

“You look just like your great-great-great-grandmother.” He paused as if he was expecting you to say something but the shock had rendered you silent. “She was like you, she refused me what should have been mine, and she paid the price.”

It felt like your blood had turned to ice in your veins, not sure exactly what he was telling you, but not wanting to ask for clarification either. You remained silent, wondering how long he’d been tormenting your family like this and if you were the first to find yourself in this situation with him. 

“I always regretted it, once she was gone I mean. I should have handled things differently, but I was young back then, barely past my first century...” he sounded almost wistful, like he was recounting a fond memory. “But then I found you. And I won’t make the same mistake twice. You will bend to my will. You will be my wife in every sense of the word and, when you’ve finally accepted your place at my side, I will give you the greatest gift imaginable.”

You didn’t have to ask to know what he was implying.

“No,” your head shook. “I don’t want to be a vampire.”

“My sweet girl, what makes you think you have a choice?”

End Note : ... I'm not even sorry about ending it like that, I'm having too much fun getting things ready for the final confrontation. I think that there's probably only two more chapters left of this one now (depending on how carried away I get with the next part), so I hope you all enjoy what I've got planned. Also I'm sorry I picked that name for the bad guy...

As ever, thank you so much for reading/liking/reblogging/screaming at me in the comments! Have a great weekend!!

Let me know if you'd like to be tagged in future chapters! If tagging doesn't work for some reason (aka Tumblr being dumb) I post most Fridays around 7:30 gmt.

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[tsrookie]

Always In My Heart

Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Dr. Alyssa Brooks)

A/N: On today’s episode of ‘I have no idea wtf I’m doing’, we have something that I cooked up because I had terrible WiFi and no other app but Google docs would open up.

Trope: Fluff, but a tiny bit of angst?

Rating: General

Word Count: 2.3K

Warning(s): Mentions of character death

Summary: Their son has a very important question to ask.

——————————

The delicious aroma of chicken and rice wafted through the Brooks-Ramsey household. The couple worked side by side in the kitchen as they had all those years ago, the only difference being that it was now a dinner for five and not just two.

Allison Dolores Brooks-Ramsey came into their lives nine years ago, and while it was earlier than they would have wanted, they didn’t regret a second of their lives ever since they first heard her voice.

The twins on the other hand, were planned, but nothing had prepared them for the chaos that Nathan and Natalie would bring. A new broken object every week, a dozen fights for the TV every day, and yet were nothing short of tiny tornadoes when they joined forces.

It couldn’t be more perfect.

“What time did Jackie and Emilia say that they would bring the girls back?”

“6:30, I think.”

“Ah. So we have time till 7:00.” They shared a knowing smile. Two aunts taking their nine and six year old nieces to the mall meant a complete raid of the toy store, and a new guitar.

“You need to stop letting everyone spoil the girls just because you have a soft spot for them, Ethan. Ally’s grown old enough to understand that she has her daddy wrapped around her finger, and we don’t need Nat coming to that realisation as well.”

“I don’t- I can’t believe you would accuse me of not loving all my children equally!”, he exclaimed in mock offense.

“Mhmm. So why did I have to come up with an explanation to tell Nathan why his dad wasn’t on board with ordering dessert when he asked for it, but relented once his sisters kept bugging him for another five minutes?”

He opened his mouth in protest, but decided against saying anything for his own good. “Well what can I say? They’ve inherited their mother’s persuasiveness. And I can’t really say no to you, can I?”

Alyssa’s lips curved upwards at that. The playful look in her husband’s eyes caused her to finally break into a grin. “At least you’re self-aware.” Stuffing the rice into the bird she added, “But I can’t exactly tell our son that his dad is too in-love with his mom that he sees her in his daughters and hence can’t say no to them. He’d gag in disgust.”

He chuckled and wrapped his arms around her, resting his head in the crook of her neck. “That he would. Alright I’ll try a little harder to resist their charms. Wouldn’t want my only son to end up hating me.” He said it without a hint of worry over it becoming true someday. Over the years, he’d learned to put aside his fears of not being a good father, and with the help of some therapy, and Alyssa’s unwavering love and support, he’d locked up his insecurities in a box and let it sink to the bottom of the ocean.

They took the stuffed chicken and put it in the oven, washed their hands and plopped down on the couch for some rare downtime.

“Crap.”

“Everything okay?”

“Fred’s mom got called in, so she’s dropping Nate off on her way to work.”

Ethan sighed. “There goes the hour I planned to spend with my wife, who I barely get to spend enough time with these days.”

“I swear, you were never this busy when you were chief. I have no idea why my workload’s ten times bigger.”

“I do.” Ethan smiled with pride. “One usually does have a lot of work when they’re at the front lines of the battle for making free healthcare accessible for every single person in the country. My brilliant wife, though she could choose to leave most of the work to her very competent team, opts to take it all upon herself. So that’s probably the cause behind all the extra workload she complains about.”

She smirked and perched herself onto his lap. “Well your very brilliant wife also knows that you called my team very competent just to avoid hurting my feelings, and that you and I both know that they’ll be running around like headless chickens without me taking care of things.”

“I know, love. But you can still make them do a little more instead of working yourself to the bone while still making sure that you have at least one meal with the kids every day.”

She sighed. “Yeah, to make sure that they don’t forget what I look like.” She leaned in closer. “Besides, are we really going to spend our last few minutes of peace talking about work?”

Just as she uttered the words, the door burst open, and Nathan kicked off his shoes and jumped onto the couch as Alyssa slid down from Ethan’s lap. She shot him a look that very clearly meant What did I just say?

Ethan gave her an apologetic look and ruffled his son’s hair. “Hey buddy. How was your day at Fred’s? I know you wanted to spend more time with him.”

“I did, and we were just about to open his new LEGO set when Mrs. Watson told us that she had to run up to her office for some emergency meeting.”, he pouted. “But it was a nice day. We watched Thor: Ragnarok and Luca, and we would’ve watched another movie if his dad didn’t tell us that two movies were enough for a day.”

Alyssa shot him a mildly stern look. “Well he was right. You’re too young to have movie marathons just yet. Two are more than enough, unless you want to have a headache.”

“But mom, I’m not too young! I’m a big boy! I can swing along the monkey bars at the park faster than Natalie, and soon I’ll swing across buildings just like Spider-Man!”

“Well Spider-Man got bitten by a yucky spider before he swung across buildings. Do you want to be bitten by a gross and poisonous spider?”

“Mommy, not all spiders are gross and poisonous. Dad told me that when I was four and got scared of them at the zoo.”

She rolled her eyes. Leave it to her husband to convince her kids that insects were anything short of creepy and disgusting. In reality, they were, but as someone who ran a mile away at the sight of a butterfly, she wasn’t going to accept that.

“That’s right, Nate. Some of them are certainly very poisonous and dangerous, but that doesn’t mean that you should be scared of them. If you maintain your distance and admire them from afar, there should be no problem at all.”, he said with a pointed look at Alyssa, who just huffed in annoyance.

Nathan giggled, his brown eyes lighting up with amusement. He loved watching his parents playfully bicker. It was way better than seeing them- ugh, kiss.

“We were pretending to be superheroes and Fred used his full name for his pretend name cause it sounded cool, and it is. Fredrick Anthony Watson sounds like something from that show you and mom watch with the guys in the stuffy suits.”

“When did you see us watching the show with the guys in the stuffy suits?”, asked Ethan with a slight hint of concern. Whatever he and Alyssa watched on their free nights was definitely not kid-friendly.

“I don’t remember. Maybe a few months ago.”

Their year old puppy, Ivy, woke up from her nap and bounced into the living room to jump onto her favourite person. Nathan squealed with joy as the fluffy hair of the dog tickled his nose.

Ethan and Alyssa smiled at each other. Getting another dog after Jenner was a decision that took a lot of convincing, but their kids were responsible enough and it was impossible to say no after two years of constant pestering.

“Fred told me that he was named after his great-grandfather William, and that he was this really cool guy who saved a bunch of guys from getting mugged in a dark, dark alley.” He turned to look at his parents as Ivy snuggled into his lap. “Who was I named after mom?”

The question caught her off guard, and she glanced at Ethan for backup.

When they knew that they were having a boy, they immediately knew what to name him. They hadn't, however, anticipated Nathan Daniel Brooks-Ramsey to ask such a question this soon.

Seeing his wife at a loss for words, Ethan spoke up. “C’mere Nate.” He pulled him closer and pressed a kiss atop his head. “We once had a friend named Daniel. He worked at the hospital as a nurse, and he was close to your mom and Aunt Sienna when they were interns.”

Having found her voice, Alyssa joined in. “He was an amazing friend. He was the only nurse in the hospital who helped me out when things got messy, and cheered up Aunt Sienna when no one else could. He’d join us for picnics and movie nights, and you could always count on him if you needed something at the hospital.” She took a deep breath, and Ethan nodded. “Things were going well, but then in my second year, something really bad happened.”

“Oh no.”

“There was this bad guy, who wanted his revenge on another bad guy, and he was ready to risk his own life, and the lives of everyone around him to do so.”

“That’s horrible! Who would want to do something like that?”

Ethan smiled wistfully. “A lot of people in this world actually do. You’re a good person, so you know that it’s wrong. But some people aren’t, and they don’t care about other people getting hurt because of their actions. That night at the hospital, Danny tried to tell the bad guy that it was wrong, and to think things through. But he didn’t listen, and did something that hurt both himself, Danny, Uncle Raf, another friend of ours, and your mom.”

His little eyebrows creased with worry, Nathan asked, “What happened then?”

“He… he died. Along with our other friend, Bobby. Do you remember what we once told you about an autopsy?” Nathan nodded his head. “Well Danny asked for his body to be autopsied, and thanks to him, we were able to find out what was wrong with mom and Uncle Raf.”

He fell silent for a moment, remembering the horrors of the day, and how eternally grateful he was to Danny for being the reason he didn’t lose everything. He couldn’t imagine a life without the love of his life and his children, and he wouldn’t have either if not for the sacrifices that were made.

He looked up at Alyssa, and she squeezed his hand in support. “We’ll tell you more when you’re older, but to make it short, you’re named after a hero too. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have you, your sisters, or mom here with me.”

Nathan wriggled out of his dad’s arms, and set Ivy down so he could hug his mom as tightly as he could.

“Well… if you can hear me Mr. Daniel, I just wanna thank you. Thanks for saving my mom. I love her so much and I’m so thankful that I got to meet her because of what you did. I wish I could’ve met you, you sound like a really cool person, and I’m sure you were. So yeah, thanks. A lot.”

Alyssa’s eyes glimmered with unshed tears, and she held her son as she expressed her silent thanks along with Ethan.

What they had was precious.

Fifteen years had passed since they first met, and yet each day they fell in love a little more like they did when they held hands for the first time in the dim light of the NICU watching over little Ethan, or when she finally got to see the real him the first time she visited his place; the first time in years he let someone know a little of the worries residing deep in his heart.

With all the odds against them, it was a miracle that they survived, even more so that they managed to raise three perfect children who had more love to share than they could ever comprehend.

And they’d never forget all the reasons that made it possible for them to survive.

Ding!

The timer on the oven went off, and they got to their feet to get the chicken.

“Was he a good cook dad?”

“I… don’t really know, Nate. Your mom knew him better than I did.”

“Well there was this one time where he helped Aunt Sienna bake an amazing cake, so I guess he knew his way around the kitchen.”, Alyssa recollected fondly. It was for Jackie’s birthday, one of the few nights where the competition was completely forgotten about.

Nathan’s face melted into a glowing smile. “I love cake. So I guess I really would’ve loved him.”

She mirrored his radiant expression. “You definitely would’ve.”

“Why don’t you go play with Ivy while mom and I get the food ready? You can help us with the dessert later.”

“We’re having dessert?!”

Ethan grinned at his son’s excitement. “You bet we are.”

“Yay!” They watched as Nathan ran off to go play fetch with Ivy in their enormous backyard.

Ethan pulled Alyssa in for a sweet, lingering kiss as soon as he was out of sight.

“You’ve been wanting to do that for a while now hmm?”

“Something like that.”, he murmured as they broke apart.

She could see the ever-increasing strands of silver in his brown hair, and the faint wrinkles along the sides of his forehead, but his clear blue eyes were just as loving and devoted as she remembered from over a decade ago.

“We have a pretty good life, don’t we?”

Ethan kissed her again. “No, we have the perfect life.”

——————————

A/N 2: Aaaand I’m going MIA again. Honestly though, to everyone who’s read so far, thank you so much for sticking around. Means the world💙

P.S: I finally chose Chyler Leigh as my face claim!

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[thatshithurted8]

Overboard

Summary: In which the outcome of a traumatic event the Pogues go through leaves JJ feeling numb and hopeless.

Request: Something a lil different - I was wondering if you could do an imagine where the reader is JJ’s girlfriend and one day when they were out surfing with the pogues, the reader gets bitten by a shark? Happy or sad ending you choose 😁 lmao I just watched soul surfer heheheh @spideybitey18 

Trigger Warnings: Severe injury (amputation, blood loss, shark attack, etc), mention of bipolar and depression. If you get triggered easily by any of these things I highly suggest you skip this read!

Word Count: 1.9k

-

JJ will never forget the sound of you screaming in pain. 

It all happened so fast that none of the Pogues had a chance to evaluate the situation. One moment you and JJ were dancing and kissing then the next you were swimming away from the boat after falling overboard. 

The Pogues were used to your impulsive behavior and weren’t that surprised when you remained in the water. However, there was something they didn’t know, even your beloved boy friend, JJ. You were just diagnosed as bipolar. 

Despite not letting your boyfriend or best friends know you have been recently diagnosed as bipolar, they were used to your behavior and actions. You were even more impulsive than JJ at times and then all of a sudden you would be swarmed by feelings of emptiness and numbness, that left you lying in bed for weeks at a time. None of the Pogues nor JJ even connected the dots and assumed that you were bipolar. After all the school system barely talked about mental health and illnesses how were they supposed to know the signs and symptoms?

 You were diagnosed when your mom brought you to the doctors after you continued to add wood to a bonfire you were having with your younger brother. The fire was so big and out of control that it almost caught onto your house, but yet you continued to add wood. That was your moms last straw, she was tired of you acting so carelessly and then proceed to randomly become depressed. 

Even though your parents and the rest of your family are supportive of your diagnosis you didn’t want to believe it. Being bipolar would mean people would think you were crazy and most people would see the illness before they see you as a person. With your parents wanting the best for you they pushed for you to take medicine and eventually go to therapy, but you didn’t want any of that. You liked you the way you were. So you found yourself sneaking out of your house after getting into an argument with your mom for not taking your meds. If only you knew that just a few hours later you would be fighting for your life. 

Of course your friends and boyfriend were concerned and worried when you first fell over board after hitting a rough patch of water, causing the boat to rock back and forth. They were worried that you hit your head off of the side of the boat, but luckily you resurfaced quickly, letting out a carefree laugh. A laugh that JJ loved so much. 

JJ had to admit at first he thought it was amusing that you were swimming away from the boat, but then he suddenly saw a fin poking through the deep water, causing him to freeze. He seemingly forgot that basically everyone in the Outer Banks was out on the water after hearing the news that around fifteen great white sharks were spotted not too far off of the shore. The only difference though was that the Pogues were the farthest out in the water, you claiming that it would be impossible to spot a shark when the waters were heavily crowded with Kooks, Pogues and Tourons alike. JJ wanting to appease you, who he loved so much decided to drive the boat further out into the water while you and your best friends danced and drank. 

Seeing the shark fin put all of the Pogues in a frenzy except for you. Instead of swimming back to the boat or grabbing a hold of the life preserver that John B threw to you, you swim in the direction of the shark. The four Pogues on board screamed and watched with horrified expressions while you laugh before dipping under the water. 

A few seconds go by before you resurface and when you do you let out a scream, claiming that the shark bit you. This only causes your friends to freak out even more. Kie throws in another life preserver towards you, John B scrambles to find JJ’s gun to shoot the shark, Pope screams at you to remain calm and JJ throws his hat off and gets ready to jump into the water to grab you. 

However, everyone stops panicking when you start to laugh while splashing around in the water, making a big commotion. JJ remembers yelling at you for pulling something like that while Kiara simply hugs Pope so she could stop shaking. 

JJ never yelled at you, but you were irritated that they didn’t find it funny. Couldn’t they tell that you were having fun? Why did they have to ruin your fun? 

In the midst of you laughing, JJ telling you to get back on the boat in an authoritative tone and the rest of the Pogues calming down no one noticed where the great white went.  And soon enough everyone found out. 

Despite everyone being annoyed or upset with you, you continued to swim and splash around in the deep water. You felt so carefree and happy, it was euphoric. However, this all came to an end when you let out a gut wrenching shriek, making the hairs on the back of JJ’s neck stand up. 

This time wasn’t a joke and you actually got bitten by the shark you weren’t afraid of just mere seconds ago. At first your best friends thought you were just playing again, but from the sound of your scream JJ knew you weren’t. 

Almost instantly JJ sprung into action to save his girlfriend. Without thinking he jumped into the water. Adrenaline rushed through his veins as he swam through the water and grabbed you, the water around you two becoming red. He quickly wraps his arm around your waist and uses his other hand to grab one of the life preservers all the while trying to look out for where the aquatic predator went. 

John B and Pope instantaneously grab a hold of the rope connected to the life preserver to pull you guys back on board while Kie pulls up the anchor from underneath the water. The boys hearts race faster as the seconds go by, especially when they see the shark fin cut through the water once again. 

Once you and JJ are beside the boat JJ lifts you up and Pope and John B grab you. However, their eyes pop out of their sockets when they see the damage to your body. The shark bit off your right hand and forearm. It was like a scene from soul surfer, minus the surfing part. 

Kie comes running over after putting the anchor back inside the boat. She helps John B lay you down on the floor gently while Pope helps JJ get back on. JJ remembers his heart race increasing rapidly in that moment. He didn’t realize how bad it was. 

Instantly JJ falls to his knees and goes to your side. Without communicating with each other John B runs and starts the boat, slipping on some of your blood on the way there. Pope stood frozen in one spot watching with wide eyes while JJ grabbed your other hand. 

None of them expected that the day would end up like this. The sound of JJ’s voice screaming for someone to call 911 would replay in the Pogues heads over and over again like a broken record, that will haunt them forever. Desperation and worry leaked from the blondes voice as he continued to yell at his friends. 

Kiara grabs your phone and calls 911. Within seconds she was on the line with a dispatcher and explaining to them what happened. JJ tried his best to remain calm while talking to you, expressing how much he loved you and how you were going to make it. Shock still washed over Pope and he started to pace while John B started to drive the boat back to shore. 

However, since you wanted to go out farther into the water than everyone at the beach that day you guys were miles away from shore. It also didn’t help that the water was already crowded with boats to begin with. 

Despite being so focused on you JJ somehow hears Kie yell at him to apply pressure to your wound. He does as follows and presses down where the shark bit, soaking his hands in blood. Kiara covers her ear to hear the operator properly before barking out her next orders to JJ. 

He had to apply more pressure than what he was giving. Pope finally breaks out of his trance and runs over to help JJ, with that he tells the blonde to un-do his belt, which he immediately does. It wasn’t like you guys were planning on going swimming so JJ simply wore his normal cargo shorts, boots and muscle shirt. 

Pope wraps the belt around your severed arm, just above the elbow as Kie tells John B to stop because they were sending a helicopter. The two boys tighten the belt, but it slips off of your arm every few seconds because of your arm being covered in your slick blood. 

JJ looks down at you and moves your hair out of your face, blood transferring from his hands to your forehead. For some reason you were extremely calm it was like your body went into shock. You were aware of what happened, but you felt paralyzed. 

The Maybank boy continues to whisper sweet nothings to you as Pope struggles to keep the belt wrapped tightly around your arm. Despite it feeling like decades before the helicopter got there it actually got there quite quick. 

The red emergency helicopter flew above the boat and dangled a paramedic and air stretcher down. Much like the attack, you getting strapped into the stretcher before being taken up into the helicopter happened extremely fast. 

Little did JJ or the Pogues know that was going to be the last time they saw you alive. As JJ told you how much he loved you one more time the sight of your glazed over eyes will be forever imprinted into his memory. 

Although the Pogues hoped and prayed for the best while speeding back to shore, coated in your blood their wishes wouldn’t come true. On the way to the hospital you passed away due to blood loss. 

This would ultimately make JJ and the rest of the Pogues feel guilty for the rest of their lives. If only they acted quicker. 

Every night since that fateful day JJ would stay up laying on the pull out couch in John B’s living room. He was emotionally numb and tired. He desperately wanted to cry after all the love of his life just passed away and he couldn’t help, but think it was his fault. If only he didn’t drive the boat further out into the water or if only he jumped into the water and grabbed you before the attack. Despite wanting and needing to let his emotions out he continued to bottle them up. He was too numb to cry anyways. 

JJ was so upset that he almost missed your funeral entirely. He couldn’t bring himself to get out of bed and face your family. After all wasn’t it his fault that he allowed you to feed into your impulsive antics? 

Even though JJ was staying at John B’s he hadn’t said barely a word to any of his grieving friends. He was too heartbroken and wrapped up in his depressing thoughts. If only he knew it wasn't his fault nor yours and who was at fault was the chemistry in your brain. 

So as he stood beside your family and the Pogues at your funeral a tear finally breaks free and falls down his face as your casket lowers into the ground. 

- 

A/N: I love this request, but i decided to take a different route while writing this as I didn’t want it to be too similar to my other fic Daredevil. Nonetheless I hope you like it and thank you for sending in a request! Love you and thank you for supporting me

[bonjour-rainycity]

The Long Way Around ~ Chapter 9

Link to previous part: https://bonjour-rainycity.tumblr.com/post/623575983503638528/the-long-way-around-chapter-8-link-to-previous

Pairing: Jasper x Reader 

Word count: 2990

Warnings: None

Y/n’s POV

On the way to the waterfall, I’d done some thinking and come to the unfortunate conclusion that my feelings for Jasper are much more than I originally realized. Previously, any and all feelings I had towards him I interpreted as those I would feel towards a best friend. But I’ve never felt like this towards my best friends before.

Once I’d come to this conclusion, my outing with Jasper became a struggle. I’d had crushes before as a human, but nothing as intense as this and nothing even close to the risk involved when your crush can literally feel your feelings. I had to work so hard to keep myself in check. Jasper didn’t do much to help. He couldn’t have picked a more romantic location, for one. Seeing him doused in water, sparkling in the moonlight and the rising sun didn’t do anything to make me reconsider his beauty. I’d taken special care not to look at his body, knowing the attraction I, and then he, would feel. I’d slipped up once or twice, and I desperately hope he didn’t notice.

And the necklace. Gosh, if he even knew how perfect it is….I’ve never owned anything like it, and the fact that he remembered all those little things from so long ago…well, it makes me feel things.

But I need to keep those feelings under control.

Yes, he’s my best friend and yes, he’s incredibly good to me, but Jasper is way out of my league. Any interest he has in me will be fleeting, especially given how he must view me. I’m wild, barely controlled, a danger to society and monsters alike. Just the differences in our eye color show how incompatible we are. Mine are red, vicious, deadly. His are golden, like melting honey or a dazzling sunset. He doesn’t suddenly become deranged at the thought of human blood. He doesn’t try to hurt the people he owes everything to the minute he smells a human. He’s not weak.

From my side, Jasper eyes me but doesn’t say anything. I swallow the venom in my mouth and try to force my bitterness down with it. As if I needed such a tangible reminder of our incongruity.

Thankfully, it’s only a few minutes before we smell the herd of deer. From the corner of my eye, I watch as he swiftly takes down a doe. He’s so graceful. My own kills are sloppy, desperate. I could never measure up.

Jasper approaches, careful not to startle me in my hunting state. “Are you okay?”

I nod, quickly trying to think of something to say that could explain my sudden moroseness. “I’m just frustrated that my eyes are still so red. I want them to be like yours—the whole family’s,” I correct quickly.

Jasper smiles knowingly. “It takes about a year for all the human blood to leave your system. Only six months to go. But I think,” he takes a step closer to me and peers into my eyes with exaggerated movements, “that I see a tiny bit of gold in them.”

My heart warms, and I do feel better, even if he’s obviously lying for my benefit. “I’m sure you do.”

He gives me a lopsided grin, and I find myself hoping to see more of those in the future.

Quickly, we wrap up our hunting and continue the journey home. About half a mile away from the house, Jasper skids to a stop, his arms flying out to grip me around the waist to cause me to stop, too.

“Something’s wrong.” His voice is calm, totally in contrast to the rod of fear that shoots through me. “It’s okay,” he assures, giving me a gentle squeeze. “Just stay by me.”

Not that I would need any encouragement. If I wasn’t so terrified, I might be able to enjoy the feeling of his hands on my waist, holding me close. But now is not the time, so I push those thoughts away. Instead, I focus on what I can hear, see, and sense around me. Nothing out of the ordinary. But I trust Jasper and his ability, so I stick close to him.

We approach the house slowly for vampires, carefully taking note of our surroundings. When we get to the back deck, Bella meets us outside, looking somber. Before we can ask, she waves us in, and we see Esme sitting in a kitchen chair, eyes screwed shut. She lets out a soft cry, signaling her pain.

“Esme,” I gasp, running to her.

She smiles stiffly, obviously not wanting anyone to worry about her. “It’s alight, it’s just a few little bites. The pain will go away soon.”

Hating seeing this kind, wonderful woman in pain but at a loss for what to do, I go to stand behind her and hug around her neck, letting my head rest on top of hers.

“What happened?” Jasper’s voice is tight, dangerous. I’ve never heard him sound like that before, and, if I didn’t know him so well, I would be scared of him.

Bella’s voice is quiet when she responds, so much so that I almost have to strain to hear her. “Esme went about thirty miles south for a quick hunt. She says another vampire, a female, came out of nowhere and attacked her.”

Just then, the front door bursts open. I jump, spooked.

But it’s just Carlisle, looking like he’s been torn apart. “My love, what happened?” He kneels in front of Esme, taking her hands in his. I pull back just a little to give them their space, though I don’t release my hands from Esme’s shoulders.

In a strained voice, Esme recounts what Bella had told us so far, and then continues. “The vampire came out of nowhere, Carlisle. I don’t know what I did to provoke her, but she seemed intent on finishing the fight. She only stopped when she heard Alice and Arthur coming to help me.” The pain in Esme’s voice is palpable. I can practically feel it in my own bones. I squirm, uncomfortable.

Carlisle doesn’t look any better off. He touches his forehead to Esme’s hands, breathing deeply. “I should’ve been there. You never should have had to go by yourself, I’m so sorry-”

“Carlisle, don’t be ridiculous. I should have known better than to hunt alone, really I-”

Jasper interrupts their pointless efforts to take blame. “Are Alice and Arthur still in pursuit?”

Bella nods. “And Edward, Emmett, and Rosalie. Hopefully they’ll pick up a trail.”

Jasper shakes his head, his mind quickly working through the situation. “It doesn’t make sense for someone to attack out of the blue. Do we have any clue as to her motivation?”

Now Esme shakes her head, looking dismayed. “Maybe I unknowingly entered someone else’s territory? Honestly, I thought we were the only coven for miles.”

Carlisle hushes her and strokes her hair gently. “It’s alright, darling, you just rest.”

But Esme smiles, placing a kiss on Carlisle’s head. “The pain is fading, my love. Don’t fret.”

Carlisle isn’t satisfied. “Would you like to go lie down? I can try to suck the venom out, maybe it hasn’t begun circulating yet.”

“I promise, the pain is barely there now. The vampire must not have bitten me very deeply.” Esme’s gaze softens and she takes Carlisle’s head in her hands. “But I would like to go lie down with you.”

Still seeming very concerned, Carlisle helps Esme up and begins to lead her out of the room.

It jolts us all when Esme lets out a yelp of pain and stumbles. Carlisle immediately swoops her up into his arms, looking absolutely gutted. “I would prefer to try and get the venom out.”

Teeth gritted, Esme nods. “Yes, I agree.” Quickly, Carlisle ascends the stairs, leaving just Jasper, Bella, and I in the kitchen.

Once Esme is out of the room, my discomfort fades, much to my guilt.

Bella’s phone rings, and she quickly takes the call, speaking lowly. When she’s done, she speaks loud enough so Carlisle and Esme can hear her from upstairs.

“That was Edward. They lost the trail of the vampire about a hundred miles south of where Esme was attacked. They’ll be back soon.”

I nod, still feeling terribly down. Poor Esme. Seeing the pain so plainly expressed by her made me feel terrible for the similar bites I’d inflicted on Edward and Jasper. Almost instantly, my guilt disappears, and I turn my head to Jasper, who’s looking at me with concern and curiosity. I don’t offer an explanation though, not quite ready to be so vulnerable in front of Bella, especially as it had been her husband who was one of my victims.

Thankfully, she doesn’t seem to notice my mood. Instead, she leans over, getting a better look at the necklace peeking out over my shirt.

“That’s gorgeous. When did you get it?”

Unable to stop the smile or the feeling of warmth that arises, I let it flow freely. He has a right to know how happy his gift made me. “Jasper gave it to me, actually. Isn’t it just perfect?” I carefully pull the necklace forward, allowing her to see it more fully.

Jasper looks uncomfortable with the attention, but pleased overall.

The three of us spend the next forty minutes idly chatting and doing our best to give Esme privacy to recuperate. Not too much later, the five other members of the family get back to the house. Carlisle and Esme come down then. Thankfully, Carlisle had been able to get some of the venom out, so she seems much more comfortable now. At Carlisle’s direction, we file into the dining room and take our places at the large, imposing table.

Alice begins, recounting how she had a vision of an unknown vampire choosing to attack Esme, reason also unknown, and she and Arthur rushed to help. Edward takes over, explaining that, once he and Emmett and Rosalie had gotten home from the library and Bella told them what had happened, they joined the pursuit. Only six out of the ten of us know the vampire’s scent, leaving Carlisle, Bella, Jasper, and I at a disadvantage.

“I say we continue our usual patterns but increase our precautions. The four of us who don’t know the scent shouldn’t be without someone who does. Also, stay in groups of at least three. We don’t want to risk being outnumbered.”

We all nod solemnly.

“Y/n, Jasper,” Carlisle continues, startling me with singling us out. “You were hunting north, how far did you go? Did you notice anything out of the ordinary?”

I shift in my seat, knowing we’re about to be exposed for our lie. Thankfully, Jasper does the talking.

“We went about a hundred miles north, and we didn’t notice anything unusual. Although, we didn’t spend a lot of time covering ground hunting, so we really wouldn’t know much.” Is it my imagination, or does he look embarrassed? Ouch.

Emmett immediately expresses his intrigue. “Really? What could’ve been occupying your time then? A hundred miles north…alone?” There’s a teasing glint in his eye, but what’s even scarier is the real curiosity behind it.

Edward rolls his eyes. “Now is not the time, Emmett.”

“No, he’s got a point.” Rosalie holds up a hand, staring us down. “What were you two doing?”

I decide to give Jasper a break from always having to explain. “There’s a waterfall we wanted to see.”

Esme smiles, a strange look in her eye, but she doesn’t say anything.

“Just a waterfall?” Rosalie doesn’t seem convinced.

“And a pool,” I supply, defensive now.

Bella chimes in, seeming shy. “She got a very pretty necklace, too.”

Emmett claps his hands down on the table, staring at us like we’ve just given him a gift. “Now that’s interesting.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Carlisle comes to our aid, but even he wears a soft smile. “Remember the new rules and exercise good judgement. We need to be on our guard until we know more.”

With that dismissal, the family begins to leave the room. Emmett makes a beeline for me, likely to engage in more investigation and teasing, but I hurry to flag down Carlisle. There’s something I want to discuss with him.

“Do you have a minute,” I ask, feeling ridiculously nervous and insecure. I can feel Jasper’s gaze pricking at my back, but I don’t turn. I’m not sure if I could go through with my request if Jasper was sitting next to me, refined as he is. What I am about to ask is going to make me feel very, very, inferior.

“Of course,” Carlisle smiles, gesturing a hand forward. “Let’s go to my study.”

I follow him down the hall and take a seat across from his desk. Carlisle sits, folds his hands, then gazes at me kindly. “What can I do for you?”

I fidget. Carlisle gives me the time I need to breathe and work up the courage. Bless him.

Finally, I just spit the words out. “I was wondering if you would help me get better with my self-control.”

His politeness never falters. “I think you are doing very well already, Y/n, rest assured.”

I sigh. “Thank you, but I want to do better. I want to be able to leave the house and-and go to the library or at the very least, think about human blood without-” Like clockwork, the venom pools in my mouth. I wave a hand, knowing Carlisle is aware of it.

He nods slowly, contemplating. “You have a point, we can’t keep you locked up here forever.” He throws me a kind smile. “I could bring some blood home from the hospital. It has been frozen and stored, so it won’t be anywhere near as potent as it would be inside a living being. That might be a good place to start. Once you get used to that, perhaps we can go near popular hiking areas or the edge of town so you can slowly ease yourself into interacting with humans.”

I smile, endlessly grateful to Carlisle for taking my request seriously and being willing to help me. “Thank you.” I hesitate, not sure if it’s rude to ask what I want to know. Then again, Carlisle probably wouldn’t deny me any information. So I ask. “How long did it take everyone else to be okay around humans?”

Carlisle smiles, thankfully not offended by my question. “It varies greatly from person to person. Everyone is ‘born’, if you’ll excuse my terminology, with varying dispositions to certain aspects of this new life, just as humans are born and grow to find certain areas of life easier for them than others. For me, self-control was never a question of if, but when. It took me nearly two centuries, but now I can be around human blood flowing freely and barely feel a thing. Edward was fairly quick to gain control, and I suspect hearing the thoughts of those he wished to kill aided in his success. I wager it’s hard to kill someone if you’re so starkly aware of their humanity. Esme and Emmett both struggled, and will be the first to admit they slipped up many times. But they put in the work and have gotten much better in the last forty years. The true stars of us all are Rosalie and Bella. Only mere weeks after her transformation, Rose was able to be around bleeding humans and resist the temptation. Bella once began chasing after a human, and then stopped. Both of them are remarkable.” I can hear the respect in his voice, and wonder just how hard it was for him in his early years. He continues. “Alice, Arthur, and Jasper came to us later in their lives, so we weren’t with them to experience the newborn stage. Both Alice and Arthur were vegetarians from the start, with moderate success, and they’ve gotten much better since. Of all of us, Jasper struggles the most.” This surprises me. I never would’ve guessed. To me, Jasper seems so controlled, so refined, so advanced.

I’m unable to curb my curiosity. “What do you mean?”

“Am I correct in assuming you know about Jasper’s past?” I nod, remembering easily the horror stories from Jasper’s younger years. Carlisle continues. “Then you will know that, for over seventy years, Jasper survived solely on human blood, the longest of any of us.” I nod again. I’d known this, too. “When Jasper found us and learned of our lifestyle, he was very curious and committed to changing. But, seventy years of living one way is impactful. It’s nearly a human’s entire lifetime. Jasper became very accustomed to the taste, temptation, and satisfaction of human blood. For the longest time, the memory and temptation of it tortured him. He slipped up a few times, but at each and every point made a choice to come back to our lifestyle. Much like Edward, it’s hard for him to know the feelings of the people he kills. It was destroying him. The animals, while less instinctively satisfying, provide a much more peaceful life for him.”

I let that information settle. Poor Jasper…My heart aches for him. The pain of experiencing death after death through the feelings of your victim…the torture of being surrounded by humans after a lifetime of feeding on them….I don’t know how he bears it.

Carlisle’s soft voice interrupts my thoughts. “All this to say, I honestly have no idea how long it will take you to be confident around humans. But please know that as long as you desire our help, we offer it freely.”

I smile, endlessly grateful for the benevolent vampire sitting across from me. “Thank you, Carlisle.” But my mind creeps back to Jasper, and I know that my next conversation must be with him.

A/n Hi again! I hope you’re doing well and taking care of yourself. Let me know what you thought of this chapter and if you would like to be added to the tag list!

xx, 

Bjr

Link to next part: https://bonjour-rainycity.tumblr.com/post/624011835356626944/the-long-way-around-chapter-10

Tag list: @puer-de-infinitate @charliestuff @hindustani-diaspora @one-thread-can-save-a-life @salsameter @enchantedcruelsummer @meashy-moo @sana-li @femflorals @80strashbag

[twilitty]

Waiting pt.3

Waiting

@twilitty​

part 3/?

word count: 2.2k

warnings: none

read this first! Edward explores what is causing his wife to act so detached.

Edward was paralyzed with fear. It was a similar feeling to when he watched himself nearly drain Bella of her blood after James had bitten her. The feeling when Jasper nearly attacked and killed her. It was the feeling of a broken man who has now broken another person. He was a porcelain doll with cracks along his figure, and the beautiful, fragile doll next to him gets knocked over by some force that he’s caused. 

Bella has been acting differently, more than should be expected after beginning her new life. She’s been unusually distant, taking her vehicle to Port Angeles and not telling him why. She chooses to hunt on her own in the mornings, but Edward knows that she is not only hunting. He can smell her trail when he goes out later in the afternoon, she takes a long route and ends up by the stream bed. No blood along the trail at any point, no scent of an animal she’s killed. 

When Nessie is asleep she hands her off to Edward or Rose. When Nessie wakes up she’ll play momentarily before claiming to have forgotten to do something. It’s as if she shows no interest in her daughter, and why? She had chosen to have this child, chosen the child's life over her own. And now she seems disinterested in every aspect of her life.

This burning, paralyzing fear is what pulled Edward out of his home that evening. Entrusting his daughter to her more than willing aunt and uncle, he went to the treaty line. 

Standing at the edge now his thoughts run circles around his feelings, taunting him and scaring him. Telling him he’s an awful father and husband, that he made a mistake when he chose to pursue a future with Bella. But what about my daughter? Regardless of his feelings towards his wife, he has to agree that his daughter was the best possible outcome. 

All he had wanted was a future with his love, a future where him and Bella could live in peace. And they were given a beautiful daughter, warm brown eyes and red unruly hair. If he had to choose to go back in time and remain away, could he? I can’t imagine a life without her, he thinks mourningly. His daughter is his whole life, he spends every moment he can with her, he enjoys nothing more than being a part of her life. 

When she smiles at something he’s done it’s as though his heart will simply burst. He cannot abandon his daughter, there is no reality where he can imagine ever doing so. His wife may be unhappy now, she may be secretive and reclusive, but that is a worthy price for bringing him his beautiful daughter. 

“What do you want, old man?” It’s Jacob Black, standing on the other side of the treaty line. He’s in what likely used to be jeans but are now sliced along the thighs unevenly creating an unflattering pair of shorts. His chest is bare, as it always seems to be, and his hair is braided in two strips that fall over his shoulders. He had gotten Edwards' text.

After the birth of Nessie, Bella had appointed Jacob as the godfather, which very few found endearing. This sentiment had brought Jacob closer to the Cullens, often he would be found running perimeter around the family home or bringing new toys and clothing to the little girl. He wears a necklace around his neck that she had assisted in making for him.

It’s a pink shoelace with orange, yellow, and red beads laced through it. It was part of an arts and crafts project Jacob had brought over. He wears it constantly. It’s long and hangs down over his stomach so that when he shifts he can still wear it as a wolf. 

Now, Jacob plays with it absently as Edward regards him with pressed lips. “Alright, bloodsucker, let’s spit out your words,” Jacob thinks with little sympathy. It’s a major blow to the vampire's pride to even broach the topic with this man, and knowing that the entire pack will soon hear about it does little to ease his conflicting emotions. 

“I would like to discuss Bella with you,” Edward says formally. Jacobs eyes trail over him lazily, as if looking to pick out his flaws and toss them back in his face. “She better not be pregnant again.” Edward chooses not to respond to this. Of course she isn’t, it isn’t possible.

Finally Jacob responds out loud, “You already married her, what more do you want?” A smirk spreads over his lips, “If you’re looking for a second wife I’ll happily offer up Leah.” 

“I don’t want anything-”

“Right, right, you’re so selfless and holy and better-than-thou,” Jacob snorts which only adds to Edwards mounting anger. “Let’s get this over with, colonizer.” Edwards eyes roll back in his head, arms crossing over his chest. 

“Please, try and take what I am telling you seriously,” he says a little too forcefully. He doesn’t want to argue with Jacob right now, he’s trying to have a civil discussion and instead Jacob is taunting him. Can this boy not take anything seriously? 

“Fine.”

Edward gives him a curt nod, “Thank you.” With an awkward glance around the forest, Edward begins his speech. “I was not present when Bella was going through her troubling… phase,” he says the last word gingerly as if not wanting to awaken it from it’s sleep.

“Depression,” Jacob corrects mentally. Edward cringes at the word but continues as if nothing was thought.

“But I have seen its worst parts through the minds of others. I am worried she may not be as happy as she once was. I’m concerned.” The statement doesn’t phase Jacob physically or mentally, instead his thoughts remain strangely silent and he merely shifts his weight to the other foot. “I’m not sure what to do, she is away today and I thought about following her-”

“Are you an idiot? Did you spend the last three hundred years working towards your doctorate in the school of dumbasses?” Jacobs' tone is cruel, his facts incorrect, and his demeanor more than a little concerning. He’s on the defence, as if something Edwards said has offended him. “Sometimes I wish kicking your ass wouldn’t force your daughter into therapy.” 

If anything his poor daughter will need therapy from the infinite amount of insults her godfather trades with her father.

“So I’m going to assume you don’t think following her to an unknown location is not a good idea?” It’s a rhetorical question and the century old vampire quickly continues on, “Need I remind you that the second she thought her mother was in trouble she offered herself up on a silver platter?” 

What was supposed to be a civil conversation has instead turned into a nasty argument, and Edward isn’t sure what caused the change. “Need I remind you that if there weren’t any vampires that wouldn’t be a problem?” Jacob’s words hit too close to home and he notices this when Edward winces at the statement. “What? You feel guilty now?”

“Yes, yes, I feel guilty because she very clearly is not happy!” Now Edward is yelling, matching Jacobs energy and escalating the situation even more than need be. “Do you not think I wish I could intervene? I have been trying to discuss this with her, bring up speaking to psychologist-”

“She doesn’t need a psychologist, she needs a friend.” Edward wasn’t meant to hear the thought and quickly Jacobs' mind focuses on the necklace between his fingers, trying to avoid that line of thought. “This wood is so smooth…” 

“She has Rose,” Edward sputters uselessly, pale hands coming up as if to grasp his wife’s mentally well-being out of the air. “She has Alice, she has Esme. Her and Emmett get along quite well-”

“And she has me,” Jacob says aloud. His tone is quiet, stating a fact and nothing more. He isn’t looking to antagonize Edward and is no longer defensive. “And I’m the only one her age. The only one who isn’t a vampire. The only one who isn’t part of the family she married into.” It’s like running into a brick wall, the reality of the situation hits Edward in the face and it’s all he can do to not falter backwards a step to try and right himself. 

His fingers begin to twitch at his sides, eyes eerily still as his brain processes the plausibility of what Jacob Black just told him. “She’s lonely?” He says at last, the word breaking as it escapes his lips and crashing to the floor like a porcelain doll. His wife, the woman who told him she wanted to be a vampire, wanted to spend eternity with him, is lonely?

“She’s-” Jacobs cut off as a howl rings through the forest. The noise echoes off the trees around them, Edward reads it through the other man's mind. It’s his turn to run perimeter around the reservation. “I’ve gotta go.” He turns around and sprints off into the shadows of the forest. His steps quicken and then are replaced by the heavy thudding of four paws. The sound of the wolf running quickly escapes Edwards hearing distance and the forest remains silent.

The vampire stands alone in the forest, the canopy of trees above him cutting off the filtered sunlight of the dreary day. How could his wife be lonely? Didn’t she choose this life? 

He feels some piece of information stuck in the back of his mind, just out of reach and he growls in frustration. This was his family, his life, his wife. And of course he didn’t have a clue on how to fix any of it. 

How could he have allowed this to happen?

It’s a split second decision that sends him through the woods, angling towards the nearest city. He’s the fastest of his family, matching miles in seconds and never needing to slow down or catch his breath. He doesn’t even need to breathe. It’s a wondrous escape from the bindings of human life, being able to exercise his supernatural body to the full extent of its abilities. His strides quicken as he pushes them to go faster, his muscles pull and release in perfect harmony and work upon their own accord. 

Bella had experienced this as a human, clutching onto his shoulders as he tore through the forest with her on his back. It was everything he had wanted. Showing the girl he loved most the side of him that no other human got to see. And she had loved him back. Had. Where are her feelings now?

He slows as he reaches the edge of the highway, it’s lanes converging into slower moving traffic as the city opens before him. Brick buildings stand at attention along main street, the exteriors primed for maximum tourist appeal. Old signs hang from stoops over the doorways, restaurants and gift shops alike. Edward already knows the exact route he had taken when Bella had come here as a human, when she was trapped in that alleyway- “But where would she be now?” He asks himself aloud. 

She had driven here, not run as he had. He supposes he could look for her vehicle and then trace her scent to her current whereabouts, but then what? He finds her and approaches her, tells her that he’s been searching her down to confirm that she does in fact still love him? No, he can’t do that, he knows that. Jacob had told him specifically not to do what he is currently doing. Not to follow Bella, don’t act like an idiot.

Yet, here he is. Acting against his and Jacobs better judgement.

He had purposely not spoken to his wife about her trips to Port Angeles because he didn’t want her to feel like she had to ask permission to leave. He wanted her to develop a sense of self as a vampire, not rely on him to sustain her only. He had wanted her to explore her new senses and abilities. He thought everything was going so well. Perhaps Rosalie was right, Bella was better off as a human. 

He steps out of the forest, grateful for the dim sky which clouded his skin. He walked aimlessly towards the main street, allowing his senses to take in all that is around him. He smells the fresh bread of the bakery across the road, the sickly sweet scent of melted ice cream sitting somewhere in a trashcan. He smells everything, but comes up without his wife. He hears the cars and the chattering of people as they go about their mindless, petty tasks, but his wife is not anywhere on this street. 

He eventually finds her vehicle, a black suv with tinted windows. She had parked at the opposite end of the city, under the shade of a large pine and beside a public park. He sniffs the air experimentally, her scent is travelling in every direction, but the north trail into the park is more potent. She’s been here recently. He looks through her passenger side window, a box of tissues sits on the seat alongside an open glasses case. None of them wear glasses, and this discovery startles him a little. 

He follows the trail north.

- let me know if you want to be tagged when i upload!-

@edwardsmate4ever​

[angelfishofthelord]

sea of blue or aztec gold

(a fic for 12x16 where Claire got bitten by a werewolf except for Cas is there)

+

The three of them stand in the left corner of the motel room like some kind of conclave of the grown-ups. Claire picks at the chipped gray polish on her fingernails and stares at them between the sweaty strands of hair falling into her eyes. The British guy--was his name Miles or something--keeps twisting his feet around like he wants to leave. Sam and Dean’s voices rise and fall and she strains an ear to hear a few snatches.  

“--maybe Cas--heal her--” comes from Sam and Claire shakes her head. No one sees it, of course, because nobody's even asking her. At twenty years old she’s seen more dead bodies than the average middle-aged adult but sometimes--like right now--she still feels like a kid. Like some wayward youngster who ruined the cake at a party and now everyone is trying to figure out how to fix it without causing a scene.

“--in the area--looking for Kelly--call him--” Dean rejoins.

She bites back a sigh. It looks like a decision has been made already, without the options ever reaching her. Closing her eyes she leans her head down into the crook of her arm and tries not to think about that blessed half second before the werewolf’s fangs sank into her skin. The split moment before her life disappeared and was replaced by the kind of nightmare she’s killed without a second thought

“Hey.” Sam puts his hand on her shoulder and she forces herself to look up. “How are you doing?”

“Fine,” she shrugs. “You didn’t call Jody yet,” she adds, more as a hope than a question.

“Not yet. Cas is gonna come by and see if he can heal you. He should be here in under an hour.”

Her nose wrinkles and she hikes up the blanket around her shoulders, sliding deeper into the armchair. Castiel isn’t her parent, but he’s going to fuss over her and make that same face where the brow gets all twisted up in concern. Except for he has an additional look of a million or so years of sadness in his eyes, and she doesn’t really have the energy to pretend not to care about him right now.  

“Let him know I said hi,” she murmurs, shutting her eyes again. Pretending to fall asleep is still the surest way to get grown-ups to back off.

She knows when Castiel arrives even before he speaks. His heavy, deliberate footsteps come echoing from across the room. They pause a few paces away and Castiel exchanges hushed words with Sam and Dean before moving closer and putting a hand on the armrest of the chair.

“Claire,” he says and for half a second she swears he sounds just like her dad. Not that she really remembers what her dad sounds like anymore; those memories have been too saturated with blood and confusion, too deeply buried to ever retain the clarity they once had. But there's so much gentle worry coiled around the sound of her name that she almost wants to launch herself into his arms and have him tell her a story that’ll make the bad dream disappear.

Instead she opens one eye and grunts wordlessly at him.

“May I?” he asks and waits until she nods before pressing two fingers to her forehead.

The buzz of grace streaking through her feels like downing a shot of migraine. When she flinches away he immediately pulls back. “I’m sorry,” he says, first to her and then to Sam and Dean who are standing next to him expectantly. “I can’t…the cells are already mutating. It’s beyond my power to-”

“Okay,” Dean cuts him off, tersely. Terrified. “So what now?”

What happens next is a Russian roulette of options. Dean tries to sell her on his plan of being a vegetarian werewolf who eats rabbit heart salads on the daily. Sam explains the details of a risky cure where the sole test subject died. The British guy sputters objections for both ideas, all the while looking more and more unnerved by the whole situation.

Castiel is the only one who says nothing. He sits there on the edge of the bed across from her, hands on his knees as he listens to everything being discussed. “It’s up to Claire,” he says tepidly when Dean presses him for an opinion. She wonders if he’s afraid to interfere in her life again. He still doesn’t say anything when she finally chooses to try the cure. The look on his face, on the other hand, is absolutely rife with sorrow.

In fact all four of them are staring at her with such piteous expressions that it makes her feel nauseous.

She blocks them out by pulling the blanket up and over her head as they discuss who’s going to go get blood from the werewolf who attacked her and who’s going to stay with her. Dean suggests him and Castiel for the hunting team, but Castiel disagrees.

“She could already be changing, we have no idea how fast this will happen. If something…” his voice drops, making the words even sharper to her ears, “…I should be here. I can heal.”

Claire decides that this is the point where she needs to muster up enough strength to protest. But the second she tries to stand up fireworks of pain go off through her body. She clamps down on her tongue to keep from crying out and works slowly, putting one foot down on the linoleum floor and then the other. The blanket drags behind her as she finally staggers to her full height, only to see there’s no one left in the room except for the British guy--Mick-- and Castiel. They’re standing an awkward distance apart, staring each other down with equal parts suspicion and contempt.

“Well,” Mick begins tentatively. “Someone should make sure the rooms beside us stay vacant so we are undisturbed during the…process. Perhaps we should also have some words with the manager, to keep her from being alarmed by anything she might hear.”

“Yes,” Castiel answers and then moves to position himself in front of Claire. The message is clear: he doesn’t trust Mick to be left alone in the room with her.

“I’ll do it,” Mick says hurriedly before turning and leaving the room.

Claire pokes Castiel in the shoulder after the door closes. “Scary,” she teases him.

Castiel turns around, the coldness in his eyes instantly replaced by soft strokes of concern. He reaches out to give her a hand as she sways in place. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah.” She latches onto his arm because her joints are on fire right now and it’s less humiliating to need support than collapsing and him having to carry her. “Just peachy.” The bed suddenly seems very far away. She concentrates on the ugly checkered bed sheet ahead of her like it’s the only thing in existence and pushes her body forward one half step at a time.

Finally her fingertips brush against fabric and she heaves her body over the bed with a groan. Every pore of her skin feels like a miniature furnace. She doesn’t have the strength to scream. She wishes she could, wishes she had a set of lungs that could strip the glass from the windows with a long, curling howl.

Cool petals of water brush against her forehead and she realizes that Castiel has put a wet towel on her forehead. It doesn’t do much to actually dim the fire raging through her veins, but the familiarity of the action is comforting.

“I’m sorry,” he says. The mattress creaks from the corner where he’s taken a seat. “I know how hard this is. You are an incredibly brave young woman.”

“Doubt that angel can get turned into werewolves,” she mutters.

“No, but--” he stops, prompting her to peer up at him from the corner of the towel.

“What?”

He’s sitting there with his hands in his lap again. “Well, I have been poisoned or infected by...things before. It may not be the same but... I know how hard it is to stay in control of both body and mind. What you’re doing, even now, is a testament to your great strength of will.”

“Wait.” Claire tries to push herself up on one elbow but only manages to lift her head a few inches. “When were you infected with what?”

“You should get some rest,” is his response as he leans over and fits a pillow under her head, then moves around to tuck the blanket around her chin. His fingers graze the side of her cheek; they feel like a bouquet of icicles. She leans into the touch desperately and his eyes cloud with sympathy.  

“Your cells are in chaos right now. Your body, your immune system is trying to fight off the mutation,” he explains. “Is there anything else I can do for you? Do you want to call--”

“No,” she says, loudly and quickly. If she allows herself to think about calling Jody--and hearing her voice--she’s going to dissolve on the spot. “Just--talk to me. Tell me about what happened when you were infected. What, was it like an angelic version of the zombie virus?”

Castiel sits down on the bed, still half on the edge like he’s unsure of how much space he’s been invited to take up. “No, there were several different--the first time was years ago.” He stalls, eyes growing distance even as they fixate on the floor below him. “I was full of souls from Purgatory. I…needed them to defeat Raphael. But then the power of those souls changed me. I thought I was God,” he finishes in an embarrassed mumble.

There's a lot to absorb from those few lines but above all the idea of this mild, awkward angel pretending to be the Almighty is what stands out to her. “You?” she laughs faintly. “What did Sam and Dean think of that?”

continue reading on ao3

[ericsonclan]

An Unusual Walker

Summary: Ericson is truly starting to feel like home to Prisha when suddenly she spots an unusual walker within Ericson's gates.

Word Count: 2548

Read on AO3:

Prisha strolled forward towards the courtyard, the newest spears for the fishing shack tucked safely under her arm. She had to make sure to place them by the gate for the next group that was set to go fishing. A small, happy tune from an old musical that she had seen countless times before the world had ended left her lips. The soft, repetitive tune filled the air around her as she walked on by Aasim who was busy restringing the bows with Willy at one of the picnic tables.

Willy glanced up, a happy smile immediately pulling on the corners of his lips when he noticed Prisha. He quickly gave a wave towards her which she returned. The wave was a bit clunky and awkward due to the spear tucked under her arm but it was clear that Willy had appreciated it as he bounced happily in his spot. Aasim glanced up to see what had drawn Willy’s attention from the task at hand. As soon as he saw it to be Prisha, a warm smile appeared on his face. “Hey, Prisha, are you going fishing?”

Aasim’s question made Prisha stop for a moment. “No, I was simply transporting them over towards the gate so that when Clem and AJ go out fishing in a little bit they’ll have sharp spears and hopefully catch more with them.”

“Thanks for doing that. By the way, I was wondering if I could meet with you about the reading program sometime today,”

“I can make time for it after dinner if that works,” Prisha offered and Aasim gave a short nod.

“It does,”

“Alright, I’ll see you then - same spot as always,” Prisha gave a small smile then continued forward. Her eyes soon turned to the sky and caught sight of a few stray clouds. After a moment her gaze returned to the courtyard and noticed that Clementine was having a meeting with Omar and Ruby about their food supplies and tactics to help make them last for as long and as best they could. Meanwhile AJ was looking out with the binoculars being ever vigilant for any potential threats to Ericson.

Prisha looked at her friends for a moment and felt a calming warmth fill her heart. It was crazy to think about but Ericson was truly starting to feel like home. To think that it wasn’t that many months ago that she had been found washed up and half dead a few miles from here. But luckily two people had found her, two people that had become dear to her heart. Prisha’s eyes wandered over and she noticed that Violet and Louis were by the target practice where Louis was struggling to make any progress from the last spurt of improvement he’d had a while ago.

“Face it, Lou. Some people just aren’t meant to be archers,” Violet mumbled as she kicked up a little bit of dirt with her feet.

“Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence,” Louis muttered. He winced slightly as he felt the tension build between them. “Sorry, I just want to get better. Figured I could help out some more then,”

“I know,” Violet was quiet for a moment. “Should’ve worded myself better,”

“It's okay,” Louis smiled over at his friend then strode forward to get the arrows. “Hey, listen, I know you’re a teeny tiny bit blind but maybe you still have some pointers-” Louis stopped for a moment when he noticed that Violet’s eyes were on Prisha. A small, soft smile stayed on the blonde’s lips as Prisha gave a small wave over, nearly causing herself to drop all the spears she had. With another smile Prisha recentered the spears under her arm then continued onwards. Louis watched Prisha for a moment then glanced over at Violet. It only took her a second to feel his eyes on her.

“Louis,”

“Anything you wanna confess, Vi?” Louis leaned on the couch and smiled at his friend. “Like how you’re secretly dating the newest member of Ericson.”

Violet didn’t react in any sort of way that Louis had hoped which made him question whether he was reading too much into things for a second. No, he could’ve sworn he saw them kiss when he was on stealth mode last week. So he decided to push the matter. “Come on, I know you keep choosing Prisha to be your reading partner and it's not for the books,” Louis flashed a playful smile Violet’s way. “So, wanna tell me what’s really going on?”

“Depends. Are you going to tell me what was really happening when Prisha and I found you and Clem on the ground with those binoculars?” Violet couldn’t catch every detail on Louis’ face but she knew it well enough to know that she had caught him off guard and he’d become embarrassed. Without a word Violet began to stroll away.

“Vi! Wait!” Louis chased after his friend. “You have to tell me the truth!”

Prisha soon got to the gate and placed down the spears. Taking a deep breath, she turned on her heel and went to grab her notebook. There was some spare time before any chores or personal matters were set to happen which meant she had time to brainstorm. Once more Prisha found herself singing the small tune as she disappeared into the dorms and soon reemerged with her notebook. She was nearly halfway to the picnic tables, her mind caught up in the last project she had suggested to Willy to work on together, when she spotted something that made her heart drop.

There, walking over towards the furthest set of picnic tables, was a walker. A walker which looked to have a triple chin and walked in a peculiar way; it seemed almost human-like in nature. Without thinking twice, Prisha dropped her notebook and unclipped her ice axe. She had to eliminate this threat then make sure there wasn’t a breach anywhere. She’d make sure she found where this walker had slipped in through in order to make sure that no others could enter and threaten her home and those who lived here. Gritting her teeth, Prisha dashed forward and swung her ice axe down with a heavy grunt.

The sound drew the walker’s attention who dodged the attack with relative ease. That fact alarmed Prisha but her attention was soon forced onto her weapon which was now embedded in the picnic table. Prisha pulled on the ice axe again and again, desperately trying to get it out before she got bitten. Her foot slammed onto the picnic bench and she pulled and pulled but it was no use. She wouldn’t make it in time.

She was about to let go and take her chance with a makeshift weapon when suddenly she heard the familiar laughter of AJ and Willy. Prisha felt her heart tighten at that moment. “No! AJ, Willy, retreat! Someone, come and grab the children!” Prisha yelled out, causing the two youngest residents of Ericson to pause in their jokes and glance her way.

Willy’s eyes grew large and he ran forward. Was he coming to help her? If so, he’d put his life at risk.

“Willy! No! Don’t risk your life for-” Prisha’s words were cut short as she watched Willy stop in front of the walker and high five it. The sight baffled Prisha and her grip on her weapon slipped. What on earth was happening?

“James! Are you staying here for a while?” Willy bounced excitedly on the balls of his feet.

Prisha stood dumbfounded. He had named a walker?

“For a few days,” The walker glanced over at the embedded ice axe.

“James,” Clementine’s voice appeared by the admin building and she quickly made her way over, a smile on her face. “I didn’t think I’d see you for a week or so,”

“Plans changed,”

Clementine nodded then looked over at Prisha. “Sorry, this must be really confusing. James, take off your mask, it will make this easier,”

Soon the mask was pulled off, revealing a human underneath it.

Prisha’s eyes widened as she stood in shock. “I-” She didn’t have the words to speak.

“I’ll explain everything. James, take a seat,” Clementine offered, motioning to one of the picnic tables that didn’t have an ice axe stuck in it. After a short walk Clementine sat beside Prisha while James sat across the way. Willy happily sat down next to James, kicking his legs casually. Clementine cleared her throat. “Alright, so first off I want to say sorry. It totally slipped my mind to tell you about James earlier. He’s a good friend who occasionally drops by to stay with us,”

“And he has great campfire stories!” Willy added with a grin before noticing a look from Clementine, letting him know that now wasn’t the time.

Prisha stared at James who was incredibly anxious due to meeting a new person. His eyes were focused on his walker gloves which he fiddled with in silence. “And he wears walker skin for what reason exactly?” Prisha hoped it wasn’t for aesthetic purposes.

“He used to belong to a group that herded walkers.” Clementine explained in a calm voice, her eyes assessing how Prisha was handling the news.

“I’m not anymore,” James quickly added. “But I still herd walkers.”

“He helps make sure no big groups of them come knocking on Ericson’s door.” Clementine smiled over at James then looked at Prisha.

“That still doesn't explain why he wears their skin,” Prisha noted and studied James quietly.

“I wear it so I can walk among them. It ensures I can stay somewhat safe when herding them,” James moved his hands animatedly then held out his mask as a show of trust.

Prisha stared at the walker mask; her nose stung slightly from the sharp smell of death on it. It was clearly an old mask. She gave a short nod. “Okay, I think I understand. My apologies. If I had known you were a friend of Ericson, I would never have tried to impale you with my ice axe,” Prisha awkwardly kicked the dirt under the table.

“I figured as much,” James gave a shy smile then focused back on his gloves.

“Don’t worry, Prisha! I thought James was a walker too when I first met him and almost shot him with an arrow!” Willy had a carefree smile on his face at the memory.

“It's true, so I don’t take accidental attempts harshly,” James’ eyes meet Prisha’s for a moment.

“Alright. Still, I feel bad for the damage I caused.” Prisha glanced over to see that AJ was trying his best to pull out the ice axe from the boards of the picnic table with little to no luck. His small war cries and grunts of strength seemed to grant no added benefits to his attempts. AJ decided to give it one more attempt and promptly fell on his butt.

Louis jogged over, giving a small thumbs up to Clementine, reassuring her that he had it, then proceeded to lift AJ back up on his feet. After a few inspiring and praiseworthy words Louis gave AJ’s hair a small ruffle and turned to the weapon. Grasping it tightly, Louis was able to successfully pull it out after a few attempts.

“Don’t worry about it.” Clementine’s voice drew Prisha’s attention back. “ I should’ve told you about James sooner. I know that when I first met James I was fucking terrified, espeically since I thought a walker was following my every move even when I tried to get out of its line of sight.” Clementine smiled over at James who was busy scratching the back of his head with a shy smile.

“My first meetings with people tend to go about as well as yours,” James looked over at Prisha who gave another small nod. Her mind was still processing all that had happened and the information she’d learned.

“Anyways, I should be heading out with AJ now while the fishing is good. You’re okay, right, Prisha?” Clementine placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder.

“Yes, I should be alright,” Prisha gave a smile and watched as her friend walked off, happily talking with AJ who started to tell her about how he nearly got the ice axe out.

Prisha sat around awkwardly for a moment before remembering her notebook. “Well, it was.. An experience meeting you,” She rose from her spot.

“Same,” James looked up at Prisha then over at Willy who had started to pull on his shirt. Prisha watched them for a moment then strolled over towards her notebook. It would be nice to have some quiet brainstorming time. Besides, even with how odd Prisha thought James was upon first meeting him she was glad to see Willy happily chatting with his friend. With that thought in mind Prisha picked up her notebook and wandered off, hoping to find a peaceful spot to work.

The rest of the day went by quickly and before she knew it dinner time had arrived. After getting her serving of stew Prisha made her way over and sat beside Violet. Violet gave a faint, warm smile towards Prisha then resumed her eating. Louis watched them closely, seeming keen on spotting any sort of sign of a relationship between his best friend and Prisha.

Prisha found it amusing that he had yet to find any sort of solid evidence that he could use to support his theory. A theory that had been correct for nearly three weeks now ever since that memorable card game. Still, Prisha knew that sooner or later her relationship with Violet would come out into the light and she had no issue with that. But she would be lying if she said she didn’t find the act of secret dating fun in its own way.

Prisha soon turned her attention to her food and listened thoughtfully to the different stories that got passed around the table. Like with all mealtimes it went by quickly, filled with laughter and plenty of talking until Louis, Willy and AJ walked off to do the dishes. Louis immediately suggested turning the chore into a fun game which the two youngest members of Ericson instantly latched onto.

Prisha observed them for a couple seconds while the others all left the table save for James. Prisha picked up on this fact quickly and rather than letting the awkwardness remain she decided to show the kindness she had so gratefully experienced at Ericson. “James,”

Prisha’s voice made James glance up.

“Care to join Aasim and I in the music room? We’re sorting out some books in there for our reading program. I’m not sure if you are one who cares that much about reading, but I figured it would be a nice way to spend some of the evening,”

James’ eyes slightly widened before softening, a happy smile pulling on the corners of his lips. “I’d really like that,”

“Wonderful,” Prisha got up from her spot and waited for James to do the same then started to lead the way to the admin building. The two walked side by side, having a more casual conversation as they made their way to what they both hoped was a pleasant evening.

[paipayaseeds]

this is it, this is how i die

she was too shocked to stop herself from moving, and she reached her arms outward when she felt herself roll off. to her surprise, though, something caught her, sending them both to the floor. she laid there, thinking that she had actually died. but... why did she hear people murmuring? why did she feel arms around her? why were— why were her lips on shuichi’s?!

her eye shot wide open, pulling herself up immediately. it only took her a few seconds to become completely aware of their position, and jump back and off his lap. then, she jumped back next to him with a gasp when she felt rantaro’s cold, dead arm on her body. her face was as red as can be, and she still wore the same shocked expression she did when she first opened her eyes. why’d it have to be now, and like this?! she asked the universe, not noticing that she didn’t have a problem with the fact that she technically just kissed shuichi.

she was burning from embarrassment, he probably hated her now. and, if she was feeling dizzy before, oh boy is she feeling dizzy now. she took both of her hands and rubbed her face, trying to wash away the thoughts and the blush. looking anywhere but the detective, she made eye contact with kiibo who had been standing above her.

“i....i-i,” she cleared her throat, “i g-guess you were right, heh... hehehhhhhhhhhhh— um. it does. it does lead to the library.”

fumiko, there is a dead body on the floor! get it together! with a shaky sigh, she picked herself up and off the floor. “w-where to next...?” her focus was dead set on the robot an almost creepy smile she forced, eye still wide. then she remembered that she had just tackled shuichi to the hard floor, what if he was hurt?!

trying her very best (but ultimately failing) to push her embarrassment aside, she ran over to the boy, who hadn’t even left the floor yet. she opened her mouth to say something, but only an awkward squeak came out, which made her even more embarrassed. as soon as she touched him, her heart starting beating out of her chest (as if it weren’t already). she squeezed her eyes shut as she felt around his head for any blood or bruises, figuring he would make a sound if she pressed on one. she wished he could get a close up view of her face under different circumstances.

and a small part of her that she was choosing to ignore wished they’d kissed under different circumstances as well

(i couldn’t help myself i had to i love that cliché)

Shuichi tried lowering his head as to not show the shameful flush on his face.

"O- oh..." Shuichi silently muttered to himself, calm and strangely composed.

Calm before the storm, right?

Realization dawned over him, and the fuzziness from the feeling of Fumiko's lips on his, cleared, revealing the terrible, but not-so-terrible truth. With his face erupting into a dark shade of red, Shuichi blinked once, before blinking twice, before closing his eyes tight, as the shame stared him right in the face — despite nothing being in front of him.

"Oh- Oh no—" There goes their friendship and possible relationship! Congratulations Shuichi, you really fucked up this time.

With his eyes shooting back open, he realized he had to stop Fumiko from leaving; first things first, he needed to apologize. Secondly, he would also have to address the very confusing and unknown thing that had happened. Why did she fall off the library shelf? And how!?!?

Thirdly, they would probably have to talk about their relationship. Now, you see, this was 'Responsible Shuichi's' priority, but 'Responsible Shuichi' was murdered as soon as Fumiko accidentally kissed him. He'd revive someday, but definitely not any time soon. Logical thoughts go out the door when he's with her.

"F- Fumi-" Before he could stand up, he was met with the surprise of Fumiko dashing back towards him. For a second he had genuinely been afraid that she was going to attack him, or worse, bite him in vengeance. (I'm not letting that go)

He scrambled to apologize, not wanting to get bitten, "I- I'm so sorry- I didn't mean to make you land on my face, I sw- swear! I was just- K1B0, and- arms up, and then you- Why were you on the-? Y- you could've gotten hurt...!" As he kept talking, the further he kept on lowering his head, lower, lower, lower — until he had essentially, been kissing the floor.

Kissing the floor. What an embarrassing reminder.

He groaned softly, "I'm so sorry."

His face burned like hell, and his heart beating a million miles an hour didn't help either. Was he even truly sorry for the kiss? From the way his body was reacting(get your mind out of the gutter), he wasn't so sure anymore. Well, the kiss wasn't... bad, per se. No, probably the complete opposite of bad; it just hadn't been what he had imagined — not that he imagined kissing her! Haha, no...

After an uneasy breath, his mind seemed to return to his calm, but the still very flustered state. He spoke up again, though still found no confidence to look up. He... was probably going to stay like that for a while. "Are- are you okay? W- why were you even up there in the first place? You could've gotten seriously hurt...!-" The moment only lasted so long before someone decided to speak up.

"Shuichi Saihara! Get off Fumiko this instant, or I will discharge robotic oil at you!" With K1B0's voice seeping no-nonsense — despite how nonsensical it was — Shuichi scrambled to stand up from the intimidation he felt, flushing as he tried to ignore the people staring right at him, and lending a hand to Fumiko.

Honest to god, the intense stares people kept on him urged him to want to just disintegrate on the spot; he had been so alert of the judging stares, that he hadn't seemed to realize that he hadn't let go of her hand yet.

Oh, but K1B0 realized, K1B0 realized reaaaal good.

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

Once Bitten Twice Stupid 148

148

   Lance didn’t get a chance to “teach him”. They were using condensed milk, cheating according to Lance, getting out something called a “pressure cooker”. Keith had only ever seen memes, he didn’t know they owned one, not that it wound up being needed. One moment Lance was sipping on his blood bag, talking about pastry as he did, the next he was throwing up simply taking the cans of milk out the bag. Wisely, Keith put them away in the cupboard. If looking at the cans made Lance vomit, he didn’t want to know what opening them would do.

  Rubbing Lance’s belly until he relaxed against him, Lance sighed in frustration, Keith heading off the upset by distracting him with a glass of cool water. Rinsing and spitting, Lance sighed again, before resting the glass against his forehead

“No caramel”

Understandable. Keith wanted to protest and delay their trip out, but Lance had been so happy at the thought of it that he had to force down his protectiveness

“We could pick something up, if you’re still up for going out”

They gave Lance the choice. Keith knowing what Lance would choose as he asked

“Yeah. I want to go... Sorry. Picking something up will probably work out better. Ugh. I can’t believe caramel’s been taken away from me”

“I don’t remember you eating it that much before”

“Ahhh, but I had the option before. I like having the option”

“A bit like having the option of having coffee”

  Lance tilted his head back, glaring at him

“Do you want me to throw up again? Because this is how you get me throwing up again?”

He might be in trouble, but Lance’s glare didn’t hold enough bite to tell him he was really in trouble. Possibly belly rubs was soothing the beast? Or Lance had no idea how cute he was and that Keith was whipped... which was highly unlikely seeing he’d told his boyfriend enough times he was

“Alright. Alright. Finish your water, then sip on your blood. We’ll go as soon as you’re feeling better”

    Somehow Lance throwing up ended up being the most normal part of the day. Buying two bouquets for Mami, they arrived in time to see Marco leaving. Lance not calling out to his brother, instead sinking lower in the passenger seat of Shiro’s sedan until his brother was out of sight. Keith couldn’t blame him. Lance had to do what he had to do to keep moving forward, and explaining his pregnancy to his brother would only cause a fight that Keith couldn’t guarantee wouldn’t end with him punching Marco.

  Leading him through the neat rows of graves, his boyfriend was quiet. Lance catching him staring

“I only came here once. My family didn’t want me at the funeral, let alone when Mami was placed to rest. Coran decided I’d stressed myself enough at the funeral, so I couldn’t be here when she was lowered down. Papi’s in with her now”

Oh. What did a normal boyfriend say to that? Squeezing Lance’s hand, his boyfriend gave him a wobbly smile. Aiming at that fake smile of his and missing by a mile

“They blamed me that they weren’t there for her final days. Mami called them a lot. I’m sure she used my phone to call Coran too. It felt like the only people I couldn’t tell were the only people I wanted to know where I was”

How the fuck could Lance be held responsible in any kind of way?

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there”

“It’s not your fault you weren’t. They were lashing out. I can’t believe it’s been a month... it feels like so much longer”

  Lance didn’t mean to make him feel worse, yet Keith did. It’d been too long. The fucking Blades should have let him know... though Zarkon and Honerva would probably still be alive if they had. All of them would have come straight home to be with Lance. Lance loved them all so much, it was only natural they’d want to be by his side

“I’m sorry”

Lance was firm with him, firm yet gentle, as if he could see how much Keith hated not being there

“It’s not your fault. You... you help me remember she was surrounded by love and those who loved her. She loved you. That you’re home safe and in one piece is what she would have wanted”

Tugging Lance close to him, Keith kissed his cheek

“I should be the one comforting you”

“You are. And you’re entitled to feel what you’re feeling. She was your mum too. She just happened to be my mum longer. That doesn’t mean she loved you any less. She was fiercely proud of both of us”

  Keith might have gotten used to feeling better about himself when Lance was around, but Lance hadn’t been around. It’d been so easy to fall into the traps of bad thoughts and negativity. That Mami was proud of him was mystifying

“I don’t know what to say”

“Then accept it”

“I don’t know how she accepted me”

“Easily. Mami knew we didn’t get along to begin with. That you didn’t rush to have feelings or accept what I was. That you went into loving me with your eyes open. You saw more good in me than I know how accept. It weighed so heavily on me to lie to Pidge and Hunk repeatedly, but with you, I could finally see them again. I mean, sure, Kolivan knocked them out, but I probably would have run before we had the chance to repair things”

  Falling in love with a vampire. A vampire he’d supposed to kill. Mami was a strange one, not fearing for Lance was kind of Keith’s sworn enemy. As for Pidge and Hunk, Lance could exist without them, but a huge chunk of his soul faded without them around him

“You guys would have worked things out”

“Maybe. I don’t know. I haven’t been there for them lately...”

  Pidge and Hunk understood. They’d noticed how Lance was withdrawing into himself, Pidge talking louder and louder, trying to stop him from excluding himself. A loud Pidge couldn’t be ignored

“They love you. Is Mami far from here?”

Lance shook his head

“Not really. I don’t love cemeteries. There’s shadows everywhere... it’s cold and it feels lonely, but when you look at the flower and how nice things are kept, you can see the love if you look for it”

Keith wasn’t sure he did see “the love”, but he supposed he’d been slightly desensitised from the death he’d seen

“Do you want my jacket?”

“I’m alright”

Sure, Lance might claim that now, but Keith undid his jacket anyway.

   Mami’s grave was a mound of dirt covered in flowers. Her name and birthday on a small copper plaque attached to a wooden cross. Keith didn’t know what he expected but this wasn’t it. All this dirt, surrounded by lush green lawns... and headstones of people they’d never known

“Pidge and Hunk have been here”

“How can you tell?”

Lance used his bouquet of roses to point to two other bouquets. Keith was no flower expert but he’d felt like he’d seen them before

“I grew the Candy Stripes for Mami. The Abracadabra for papi. They’re both from my garden”

Ah. That was right. Lance took ridiculous care of his garden and his lawn

“It’s nice that they visited”

“Yeah. Mami would have been happy. Hey, Mami. Guess who’s back”

  Keith laid the bouquet of yellow daisies down on mami’s grave. Keith felt daisies were cheap, Lance assured him Mami would have loved them because of their bold yellow colour

“I’m sorry I’m late, but I’m back... Uh... Rome pardoned Lance, and I went to Cuba. It was nice”

Lance chuckled at him, placing down the lilies he’d bought. Keith could see why he hadn’t brought roses with him. Almost all the flowers on Mami’s grave were roses

“Babe, I know this isn’t your thing. If you’re not comfortable saying it out loud, it’s okay to think it. It’s more about the feelings at the grave than having the right words”

  Oh. He’d felt like he had to say something because Lance had said something. He supposed what he really wanted to tell Mami was that he was sorry he was so late. That he’d take care of Lance. That they’d all take care of Lance and show him the love he showed them. That the twins had gotten so big, and Lance had gotten rounder. They were still in there, and Lance was probably telling all about him buying them onesies. That Rome had been crap, but he’d been so sure he’d be coming home to her and Lance. He didn’t want to tell her that the threat had been eliminated by killing, he didn’t want Mami to know that. Not on the back of turning her son into a killer.

  He supposed he could tell Mami how Rieva’s adoptive parents had rallied wolf packs against Zarkon and Honerva. That’d happened. It wasn’t a huge Hollywood battle, and a lot of hunters had been mad at the influx of wolves that didn’t want to show their human faces, but they’d come. They all wanted this over. Lance had shown a lot of bravery, and Matt talked up his “brother from another mother”. Lance would say Matt was “cool for a mangy mutt”, Matt would say “he’s alright for a dead thing”. Yeah. He’d taken it the wrong way a few times, stressed over Lance’s life on the chopping block, but as Lance was pardoned his sense of humour started coming back.

  “Krolia’s been here too”

Keith wrinkled his brow. He got how Lance could tell Pidge and Hunk had been there, but Krolia? Sure, she and Mami were tight. Did his mother ever see his father’s grave? Did she know where it was?

“How do you know?”

“Look at the wreath near the base of the cross. The purple one”

Lance would have known the name of the flowers, his boyfriend dumbing it down for him. Shuffling around the side of Mami’s grave, he squatted down to read the small tag on it

“Miriam, forever my partner in crime. Krolia”

  No one ever said Krolia was good with words, Keith groaning loudly at his mother. She could have put anything at all on the tag and this was what she went for

“I’m sorry. She should be gagged”

“Babe. We both know Mami would have laughed”

“That’s true. I hope I have her sense of humour when I reach her age”

Lance lowered his arse, moving from squatting to sitting. How come other graves for benches? Did you buy a bench? Or did people just borrow them?

“I already scold you enough. Seriously... Mami would have loved pulling one last prank. She was the “Mistress of Trouble”.”

   Lance grew teary, Keith moving to sit himself down beside his boyfriend, careful of his feet. He didn’t want to step on Mami

“She was great”

Ugh! What was he saying? She was more than great. She taught him not all mothers were cruel and dismissing

“She was. I miss our phone calls... I hated that she preferred a home, but she had friends there. I never thought she was a burden. Never...”

Keith wrapped his arm around Lance’s shoulder

“She knew. You’re pretty vocal when it comes to things you don’t like”

“I try not to be”

“I know. You try to be what everyone thinks you are. It’s okay to avoid the things that scare you. And it’s okay to ask me to be there when you want to face them. I guess I mean you didn’t shy away from being honest with Mami. I didn’t know how to let her in”

“You didn’t have great memories of Krolia... I hope they’re at least a bit better now”

“They are. Mami helped. You know, I was doing absolutely horrifically when you were kidnapped. She smuggled in vodka and told me all these stories about when you were a kid”

Lance shot up, before groaning and covering his face

“She did what? What did she tell you?”

“Ah, that’s our secret. I suppose I can let you know that I know you didn’t take learning to drive well”

   Lance let out a soul felt groan, flopping back against him

“Nooo. I can’t believe she told you that. You lift a car by the end once and they never let you forget”

What now? Hold up. Mami didn’t tell him that. And what did Lance mean that he was lifting cars?!?

“She told me it was all your fault”

Using a direct approach would tell Lance right away that this wasn’t the story he was talking about

“It wasn’t my fault! I put the car into reverse and she went and put it into first!”

“That’s not how she told it”

Okay. He felt bad for misleading Lance, but this was gold!

“She told me to slowly reverse. I was expecting to go backwards! Then she made me lift the front of the car to lift it off the tow ball!”

   Keith covered his mouth as he started laughing. Lance drawing his brow as he leaned away from him again

“It’s not funny!”

“It is a bit...”

“I was traumatised! Who put the car into first?! It was my first time driving that car too... I can’t believe she left out the whole story! Stop laughing!”

“I can’t help it. I’m sorry. That’s not the story she told me but that’s hilarious!”

Lance punched him in the shower, Keith’s laughter cut off. Lance meant it playfully, and it hit painfully

“You dick!”

“I’m sorry. Honestly. Mami told me about you crashing into sign despite going way too slow”

   Groaning, Lance buried his face in his hands

“Nooooo! Why?! Do I have any stories left secrets?”

“I heard about when you were trying to cook, and Veronica said if you took your clothes off and peed in the bowl...”

“I’m not listening!”

Yelling, Lance moved his hands to cover his ears. Mami had told him how Lance didn’t want to put his clothes back on, running around the house covered in flour with his willy in his hand. And about the first time they baked cookies when he has a crush on girl at the same Bible study group. Lance wanted to leave the eggshells in for more flavour. Rachel had sabotaged things anyway. She poured in enough food colouring that everything coming out was green for days afterwards. She’d also told him about Lance’s first crush as a teenager, though Lance firmly denied it. It was on some girl called Jennifer that Keith instantly hated.

  Mami had so many stories. She took such pride in her children... Maybe because he’d met Marco and Luis, she didn’t say much about them, other than she wished they were as close to Lance as they’d been as kids. He hoped their twins never drifted apart. That they accepted who their daddy was and that though he was technically a vampire, he was good and kind.

   As they were leaving the cemetery, Lance hid again. Luis with two people Keith didn’t know climbing out the car, he man’s upper lip raised as he caught sight of him. Keith didn’t want to talk to Luis, but Luis seemed to have something to say as he stormed his way over

“What are you doing here?!”

“I came to pay my respects to Miriam”

Simply looking at Luis made him want to slap him, and that was the friendly version of what he wanted to do

“You. You... get!”

Keith arched an eyebrow. Luis making shooing motions with his hands

“I’m sorry?”

“Get. Shoo. Leave”

  “Papi?”

“It’s fine, Nadia! You and Sylvio go ahead!”

“Do you know this man?”

The woman with Luis started towards them

“No. No. It’s okay. I thought he might have car trouble. Nothing to worrying about, princess”

Oh... So he was a secret. Keith was itching to blow Nadia’s mind and let her know that her uncle was right there... hidden behind Shiro’s car

“Okay, Papi. Don’t take too long. Mami wants us back before dark”

“Yes, darling!”

  Nadia and Sylvio hovered, Luis staying long enough to hiss through his teeth

“She might have accepted you, but I will never accept you and that thief thing of yours. Tell It we’ll be in touch”

“Thing” and “It” rubbed Keith the wrong way. Keith clenching his fists

“You get one free pass for losing your mother. Describe Lance like that again, and I will hunt you down”

“You’re a hunter, you don’t touch humans”

“That’s news to me. I go after evil things and there’s nothing more evil than a man who turns his back on his own little brother. Now go. Go. Shoo”

  Keith made shooing motions of his own. Luis gaping at him. He hadn’t struck Luis, yet Luis was livid

“Well, aren’t you going to go see Mami? You’d best go before I have to tell Nadia and Sylvio that I’m dating their vampire uncle that Mami was proud of. Go on. Shoo”

Luis turned, stalking away to his children. Sylvio casting his a glare that Keith kept from chuckling at. He wasn’t afraid of Luis. Nor was he afraid for Lance. Luis could have ignored him, yet went out of his way to come over. What a weirdo. He could have completely ignored him. He could have been there visiting anyone. Why Luis went out of his way was plain weird. Humans were weird.

[danetobelieve]

Escape Doom || Layla and Winston

When: 28/09/2020 Who: @laylacooke & @danetobelieve Where: Escape Doom Summary: Winston and Layla try to have some fun. They don’t succeed. Warnings: gore content warning

It had been a good two months since she had spent time with Winston, and for that, Layla felt bad. But today was their day. She was going to catch up and find out what had been going on in their life and maybe get the scoop on them and Rio. And what better way to bond than at an escape room aptly named Escape Doom. It was one adventure she had yet to experience and as she waited outside for Winston to arrive, she couldn’t help but google the place on her phone to see what it was all about. The reviews online had been mixed, but mostly on the good side, and it was an escape room. It’s not like they would be trapped forever, and the carnival had left town several nights ago, so she knew for a fact, it had nothing to do with that creepy place. Picking up on their scent, the teenage werewolf put her phone away and waited for them to arrive.

Winston was feeling cautiously optimistic, they weren’t sure if things were really going to keep running this smoothly. This was White Crest after all. To be perfectly honest it was pretty rare that anything really ran smoothly for more then a week here. But Winston was not one to complain about a good thing. As they arrived at Escape Doom, Winston had to admit that they weren’t sure if this place was the right thing for them, but they were all about trying new things and hopefully Layla would enjoy it too. Waving, they smiled as they strode over. “This place looks … great,” they raised their eyebrows wondering why they had suggested this place and not somewhere that was slightly less ominous. “Are you doing okay?” Winston asked as they made their way into the building. 

Layla waved as she saw Winston get closer. Escape rooms had been something she had wanted to try before, but had never got the chance. White Crest probably hadn’t been the ideal spot to try such an intense game, but then again, she couldn’t keep living her life in fear or regret. Giving the building a once over at Winston’s comment, she laughed, “It’s got character. I’ll give it that much. And nothing could be as bad as that nightmarish carnival that was just here, right?” She followed them inside, “I’m doing, okay.” She didn’t feel like mentioning she had been arrested. Of course this was a small town, so there was a good chance Winston already knew. “What about you? How are things with Rio?” She looked back to them with a smile.

Working in the WCPD didn’t mean that Winston knew everything or even anything about who had been arrested or not, so far they hadn’t heard of any run ins that Layla had had with the law. “Of course not, the fact that this is a staple part of White Crest isn’t terrifying either, nor is the fact that this place quite literally has Doom in the title.” Winston was doing their best to be glib, whether or not that was really the most sensible thing for them to be doing wasn’t something that they were particularly considering. “Rio?” Winston shrugged and smiled, “They’re good, we’re taking things real slow, but it’s good.” There was no rush. Winston stepped inside of the building and ordered them two tickets. “What sort of game do you want to play today?” the guy behind the counter asked curiously. “Shit, I hadn’t thought, you got a preference Layla?” 

Despite the fact that they were probably walking into another one of White Crest’s traps, Layla was going to try and be optimistic about the whole situation, “Slow is good. I’m glad to hear things are going well for the both of you. I suggested to Rio a while back about the possibility of a double date with you, him, Frankie, and me. I mean if you’re up for it.” She smiled. Moving to the counter, she stopped just behind Winston and looked up at the listed games on the wall. There were quite a few to choose from, “Uh, maybe 30’s Detective or Zombie Apocalypse? What level of difficulty were you thinking?” She had never done this before, so it was any guess as to how this day was going to go. She was just glad Winston would be by her side.

“Yeah, that would be really cute.” Winston and Frankie had talked a few times and it had always been fun, they would love to get to know all of them better and a double date wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. “We’ll have to try and arrange something.” Winston wasn’t sure what they could do, but there was always time in White Crest. Sometimes you really had to face the music and sometimes you just had to do something to calm down and chill out. “Uh,” honestly Winston hadn’t considered difficulty, “I say lets do Zombie Apocalypse but lets do like a medium, because I really don’t know if I have the brain power to do anything above that.” Winston slipped the guy behind the booth some notes and he ushered them down a corridor and towards the escape room, giving a clearly well practiced speech. “Zombie Apocalypse escape rooms are … inventive,” Winston whispered to Layla. 

A smile came over Layla’s face at the idea of them all getting together. Double dates weren’t much, but it was a semblance that she was really starting to settle down and call White Crest home. “Perfect, because I don’t know if I have the actual brain cells to figure this out.” She leaned in towards Winston, “That they are. And this place surely has an exit door, if it gets to be too hard right?” There had to be a way out. The teenager wasn’t about to admit that she may or may not have been nervous, but as long as they could leave if they wanted to, she would be good, “So do you know anything about these places? I know you have to find clues to unlock doors and things right? But we both know this is one messed up town and nothing is ever as simple as it seems.” Would there, in fact, be real zombies lurking in the rooms? They were about to find out.

“Hopefully the two of us will be able to get enough brain cells to rub together, I’m not super super hopeful but I think we’ve got this.” Winston was of course joking. Layla was many things but stupid was not chief among them. “I feel like if anything goes wrong then we will be able to find a way out.” It might require them to blow some stuff up but Winston wasn’t really sure that they cared anymore. “They’re basically just meant to be a giant riddle I think?” Winston replied, “Like isn’t the point that there are a load of themed puzzles and stuff that you have to work through so that you can get to the end and escape the room?” Winston stepped inside of the room, which had bars across the room so that they could only get a third of the way across the room. There was a couple of boxes that looked like they should hold ammo and Winston was suddenly concerned that there might be something zombie like in here. “Although I’m starting to wish that we’d picked the 30s detective thing instead of the zombies, now that you make that point.” 

“You know, I think we just might. But I can’t guarantee that claws won’t come out if something scares me. I’m still learning how to control that part of myself.” Was this really a good idea, now that she had thought about it? Layla was thinking as a human, when she committed to joining Winston, not as a werewolf. Evil!Layla, if you wanted to call her that, had given her normal counterpart a little more control over her abilities, but the teenager could still be skittish. After all, look at all the bullshit that had happened within the few months she had been there, “Sounds about right, yeah. I know they had them back in Nashville, but not as intense. I’m making an assumption, by the way. I never actually made it inside one.” She stuck closely to Winston as they entered the room together, “My spidey senses may or may not be tingling right now. Is it too late to choose that 30s detective thing?” She looked to Winston with an uneasy smile. What were they getting themselves into?

“Hey, if you need to go a little bit … wolfy because something’s freaked you out then I won’t stop you.” Winston hadn’t told Layla everything about themselves yet. It wasn’t that they didn’t trust her or anything it was more that with Miriam involved they didn’t want her finding out about them being a magician and so keeping it from as many people as possible was the safest way to do that. “I mean, like I said this is my first time too, but it would make sense that there would be something fucked up if it was White Crest.” The usual anxious pit in Winston’s stomach was beginning to settle in and Winston wasn’t sure that they were all that keen to see where this really went. But they were already here and they were pretty sure that they had just heard the door lock behind them. “I think it might be too late yeah…” Winston looked at her and then at the room. There were doors on either side that looked remarkably flimsy. The sound of a bell rang through the room. “So does that mean that the game’s beg-” Winston’s sentence was cut off as a fist punched through one of the doors and a mottled zombie-fied hand reached through, “start looking for a way through these prison door things.” Winston scrambled over to one of the boxes and pried the lid off, looking for a key or anything. 

Wolfy. Considering going wolfy seemed to be on the fritz, Layla wasn’t too sure that either one of them should rely on her innate animal. But the circumstances with Miles had been different. He was a werewolf trying to attack her to bring out her inner wolf; a plan that hadn’t settled too well considering it took her back to the night she was bitten. But this was different. As long as werewolves didn’t pop out somewhere and yell ‘boo!’ she would hopefully be good to at least swat at a few things with her claws, if they were to make an appearance, “Wolfy. Got it.” With hesitation growing inside of her, she was just about to turn around and walk out, when she heard the click of the door. Even Winston couldn’t get out their sentence in time, which instantly filled Layla’s stomach with dread. But it was the fist coming through the door that solidified her regret, and with Winston’s instruction, she immediately began scanning the room for anything that would help them move on, as more fists and hands seemed to start coming through the door. “Winston, I think this was a bad idea.” No reason to worry yet. No reason to let Miss Wolfy out. Nope. Just stay calm, Layla. Stay calm.

“I’m not saying that you should or even that you have to, just do you.” Winston didn’t think that they were really the person who should be coaching anyone on their newly found or developed supernatural abilities. They were barely in control of their magic at the best of times and although they were getting more and more confident with it as time went on there was still a lot for them to learn. “You think this was a bad idea?” Winston wished that sarcasm wasn’t such an innate defense mechanism at times like this, “Of course it was a bad idea, there appear to be literal zombies punching through the door in an attempt to eat us and presumably our brains.” Winston wanted to tell the people who had made Escape Doom that this wasn’t fun and it also wasn’t accurate, but somehow writing a strongly worded yelp review at a time like this wasn’t something that Winston thought was particularly a priority. Scrambling over to the boxes of ammo, Winston began pulling them open. Unfortunately they weren’t filled with anything really. There was air but that was about it really. Swallowing, Winston looked around before pushing over a chair in their hurry to find literally anyway out of this, they spotted a key and grabbed it, throwing it to Layla who was by the door to the next part of the room as the door splintered open. “Try that!”

Layla side-eyed Winston as the sarcasm came off strong, but continued to hunt for anything that could free them from a room that would soon be full of zombies, “First, sarcasm isn’t going to get us out of here, and second, what the hell do you mean literal zombies?!” Were zombies actually a real thing here? She hadn’t seen one. At least she didn’t think she had. No one looked like the hands that were grabbing at her from the otherside of the door. But thank the moon, Winston had found some sort of key! Catching it, she pushed it into the lock and twisted, hearing the door unlock, and just in time too, as she felt the brush of zombie fleshing against her body, “It works!!!! Come on!!!!” Pushing the door open, she ran inside the next room, “Winston hurry!!!!!”

“It’s a defense mechanism, like humour in awkward situations, except when it’s a life threatening situation I get sarcastic and make very bad jokes.” Winston was already dashing towards the door as ‘zombies’ burst through into the escape room. “Zombies are real, yes, but they’re not zombies like in the walking dead, it’s complicated.” Suddenly the establishment's name of Escape Doom had a brand new meaning to it and Winston found themselves determined not to get caught between a proverbial rock and a hard place. Scarpering into the next room, Winston pushed against the jail door as zombies poured into the room. “Layla, can you help … me…. With this.” They grunted with exertion as they struggled to get the door to close with the veritable tidal wave of zombies pushing against them. 

She was halfway paying attention to them carrying on, just more so concerned with their well being of making it past the room filled with zombies. Layla did, however, catch the bit about zombies being real, but different? She would ask for an explanation later, but right now her attention was pulled to Winston’s request of getting the door closed. With her wolf strength, she forced back the horde with the heavy door and managed to get it secured just in time before they were the ones greeting guests when they entered one of Escape Doom’s many fucked up scenarios, “What do you mean real and not like the Walking Dead?” She was bent over trying to catch her breath, but she had let her head twist just enough in their direction to listen to the explanation that she was hoping they would give.

Winston was far from sure as to how they were going to really explain this to Layla. They were really starting to resent having to explain supernatural shit to everyone. It wasn’t exactly their job and they were pretty much as new to this as everyone else was. But somehow, Layla managed to shut the door and Winston was left panting for breath on the floor. Gulping down air, they wiped sweat from their brow. The hordes of zombies that had filled the room that they’d been previously held in were swarming the bars and grabbing at Layla and Winston. Their heart fluttered with fear and anxiety crept into their stomach as they tried to work out a way out of here, but so far they had nothing. “I mean, like, you know in the walking dead they look like shambling corpses that grind and gnash their teeth and try and eat your brains, well in real life they don’t look like that, they do eat brains but not just human brains I don’t think? I don’t really know, I’m not an expert but these … they’re something else.” Winston wasn’t sure what, and they weren’t sure that they wanted to know either. “We need to try and find a way out before they find a way through.”

Layla listened as Winston explained everything. This town really was something else, and now, the redhead had wondered if she had ever come across any of these so-called zombies. That’d be a mystery left for another day. Right now, they had the hordes of these scary fuckers to worry about. Straightening back up, she looked around the new room. The sounds of grunting and growling and hands grabbing and reaching forced Layla to take a few steps further into the room. The name of the game was escape, and she was already scanning the area, “You know, I would say maybe these are actors, but I don’t think that’s a very accurate description, so I’m just going to start looking for the next way out.” As she walked around the room, she noticed there wasn’t a door, except the one they had come through already, “I don’t want to panic you, Winston, but, um...there’s not a door. At least not one that I can see. Except that one.” She pointed back to the door they had both just successfully shut.

Winston heard something plop against the floor and saw a section of skin peeled off of one of the things on the other side of the bars and dripped onto the floor. “I don’t think that they’re actors, unless that is some of the most convincing stage makeup that I have ever seen.” Winston was sure that it wasn’t one of the most convincing pieces of stage makeup that they had ever seen. In White Crest -- so much of the time -- the most convincing answer was so often the most supernatural. Looking around the room, Winston’s brain ticked slowly, it was almost as if they could feel the cogs in their brain churning as they tried to work out the answer. “Ok, there’s no door but this is definitely an escape room. I know that it would be pretty White Crest to make something that there is literally no escape from but that doesn’t feel like this place's MO. If there is no traditional door then there has to be a different way out.” Looking up and around them, Winston chewed on their lip before spotting a small vent in the ceiling. “You see that? Do you think that could be our way out?” 

The young werewolf searched the area, but her eyes caught the same thing she was pretty sure Winston was seeing; skin falling off and landing with a splat on the floor. Layla almost wanted to gag, but was able to refrain. “You’re right, I don’t think they’re actors either, now that you mention it.” She quickly turned around, the smell of decaying flesh starting to get to her wolf senses now that she was actually letting it in. Her eyes scanned the area, until Winston told her to direct her attention towards the ceiling. Great. So not only did they have real life zombies trying to eat them, now they would have to play mission impossible and climb through a ceiling vent, “I don’t think it is. I know it is.” She glanced back to the creatures that seemed to be multiplying and pressing harder on the bars, “Need a boost?” She turned her sights back to Winston.

Gulping, Winston had to admit that they weren’t thrilled at the prospect of having to go through a terrifying vent but then again when wasn’t Winston terrified nowadays? They were sure that the ‘zombies’ were going to break through and eat them at any moment and if they did then Winston wouldn’t be able to do anything other then die. “Yes, I definitely need a boost.” Winston was ready to do whatever it took to get out of here alive and somehow they thought that might well be the point of this whole thing. As Layla boosted them up towards the vent they clawed the grate off of it and hauled themselves up awkwardly. Thank God Layla had given them a hand  with this because they did not have the upper body strength to do it on their own. Turning awkwardly in the cramped space, they dangled their hands for Layla. “Come on,” they said as they spotted the zombies clawing through the bars and starting to make their way through.

What had the two of them gotten into? Layla had just wanted to spend a fun day out with her friend and here they were facing zombies?! With all of her strength, she pushed Winston up into the vent. But not at the expense of having the walking dead on her heels. Her heart had been racing the entire time, but this had been the first time she had genuinely felt like she could get hurt, and as she jumped up and reached for Winston’s hands, the teenager felt one of the creatures grab onto her leg, “Winston!!!” Kicking with all her might while trying to pull herself up, she could feel the shift of the werewolf starting to come on. Tears flooded her eyes as her teeth began to change into fangs, “Hurry!!! I’m starting to shift!!!” If her claws came out, it was over. She would surely lose their grip and be a McZombie Meal minus the fries and drink. 

Winston was panicking. Of course this shit was happening. It only ever happened whenever they just wanted to have a nice day out. Hauling her up with all of their strength, Winston knew that this was life or death and honestly in the last month or so they had lost more then enough to not have to keep dealing with this bullshit. Roland had died and they weren’t going to let Layla be a victim too. “Ughhhghhh” they grunted a relatively unintelligible noise and pulled with all their might, managing to haul Layla up into the vent and panting from the effort. “Fuck this shit man,” Winston panted as they lay on their back gasping for air and wiping sweat from their brow, “why does this always happen? I swear to god I’m giving these motherfuckers like a 0 on yelp or something. This is the worst.” 

Trying to assist them all she could, Layla used what strength her body would allow to get up into the air vent. Today wasn’t going to be the day she died at the hands of some ugly ass zombies trying to make her lunch. And when she was laying right next to Winston, panting and trying to calm her racing heart, she knew she was officially ready to go home. Looking over at them, she winced as her teeth shifted back to normal, “I don’t know, but can we go? I don’t like this place. Anything that scares me enough to shift is bad news.” She remained on her back. The sounds and smells of the animated corpses below left her cringing, “There’s gotta be an emergency exit somewhere.” Layla slowly pushed herself up to a seated position, “And I’ll join you on that 0. This place fucking sucks.”

Nodding, Winston sighed. “Of course we can get going, I don’t think that I want to spend anymore time in here then I have to.” It was weird. Winston had seen a million and one movies where the protagonist climbs and clambers through a vent but actually doing it in real time was not what they had expected and by the time that Winston was out they were covered in sweat. There was an envelope waiting for them from Escape Doom as they pulled themselves out into the dirt outside the back of the Escape Doom building, it said something about congratulations on finishing your first escape room. Which did not make Winston feel better. “I need to shower and probably like drink a bottle of something that will make me forget this.” 

Layla followed Winston out and to the end of the air vent, where she also laid eyes on the envelope. Her reaction to the message? A strong eye roll. She had always wanted to try an escape room, but had never expected anything like this, “I would ask if I could join you, but I’m only 19, so…” She dusted herself off and looked back towards where they had just come. She could still hear groaning coming from the hollow vent, “Hey, uh, you don’t think they’ll get out do you?” Her concern from the community was great, considering they had just escaped death themselves. But her fears were calmed when she heard the groaning fade out and eventually disappear completely. She wasn’t sure how it had been done, but the living dead were gone. Looking to Winston, she sighed with relief, “They’re gone.” Moving forward, she looked towards her friend, “Next time, maybe we should just go see a movie.”

[letsbenditlikebennett]

I’ll Make a Wolf Out of You || Ariana & Sammy

TIMING: Late Tonight PARTIES: @letsbenditlikebennett & @inspirationdivine SUMMARY: This time, Ariana and Ace (Sammy) meet up as planned so she can turn him into a werewolf.  CONTENT: Abuse mentions and some medical blood

Sammy was calm. He was completely calm. His knee wasn’t bouncing as he worked by the lathe, there wasn’t a large stack of coffee cups by his side, his eyes weren’t dark from staying up so much last night. Everything was chill, as the house got quiet and he crept through the house. She wasn’t going to catch him again. He shut each door behind him so quietly, it didn’t even click. He held his shoes in his hands as he ran on socks along the hall, and gently cracked the basement door open. Nearly there. Nearly there (and no, no way was Sammy even considering how this sneaking about worked with the being devoted to Lydia), as he bolted down the stairs, not quite remembering to shut the door fully behind him. He slipped on his shoes, moved the hidden basement tunnel hatch, and crept through the passage. He almost ran the whole way to their meetup place, careful not to trip over anything in the dark. Tonight was the night. He bounced from foot to foot, pulling his hoody a little closer around him. There was some clay on the sleeve. He picked at it as he waited, so Sammy, being totally calm, jumped a mile in the air when Ariana approached him. “He-Hey!”

All day, Ariana had been thinking about what tonight would entail. She’d never done anything like this before and she was feeling a bit nervous. To prepare, she’d been sure to eat a heart, meat-packed dinner to ensure hunger wouldn’t make her lose control. Today was the day she was turning Ace into a wolf like her and it left her feeling antsy. Last time he hadn’t shown up, but he still seemed eager to do this. She was as well. The sooner she could take him under her wing, the sooner he’d be away from Lydia. The sooner he’d stop the whole slowly dying from being her meal. It left her both excited and nervous in the same breath. She waited at their spot, her bag filled with first aid supplies so she could quickly patch Ace up after she bit him. When she arrived, she was relieve to see Ace was already there. She quickly wrapped him in a hug and mumbled, “Hey, Ace.” She couldn’t decide if it was better or worse to get this over with right away. “I brought everything we’ll need to patch you up after the bite. Are you feeling okay with everything?” 

Sammy wrapped her arms tight around her, giving her a squeeze to chill his jitters about tonight. He looked up through the tree canopy at the the half moon. In one week, he’d feel it calling him for the first time. Which started…. Tonight. Tonight! “Uhhhhh what?” He asked, realising she’d been asking him a question. “Right, right! Yeah, I’m so ready. I can’t believe this is happening. I mean, it is still happening, right? You still want to bite me?” He had so many questions. Were there special rules about where he got bitten? Did he get to choose? Could she do it like this or would she wolf up? What did she look like as a wolf? What if- Sammy had to slam a brake on his thoughts right there, just looking at her. “I missed you.”

Although she had been looking forward to this, to finally knowing he’d be safe with her, Ariana had to make a conscious effort to keep herself calm. She remembered her deep breaths Celeste always had her do as she hugged him. This was real. After tonight, he’d be like her and Lydia wouldn’t want to keep him as dinner anymore. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself though it didn’t entirely relieve the pit forming in her stomach. She looked up to him and nodded quickly, “Yeah, of course… I mean it only sounds a little weird when you put it like that, but that’s what’s happening so, yes I still want to bite you.” What was she even saying? Her cheeks flushed pink and she realized she was sounding about as composed as he was. Tighten up, Bennett. With another long inhale, she reminded herself this was going to make things better. “So,” she began more coolly this time, “Where should I-- I figure you probably don’t want it to be anywhere too noticeable because it will scar, but I also don’t want to like… chomp into a vital organ or something.” She should have asked Kaden’s girlfriend about anatomy or something. She was always turning things into long science words. That thought seemed to melt away when he said he’d missed her. She looked back up to him and her face softened. “I missed you, too, Ace.” 

Were there places that it would be weird to ask to be bit? Sammy took a long moment to think it over, looking himself up and down. Not his arms - the clay room got so hot at times he only wore a vest/ Not his neck, or his shoulders - well, that was vampires, wasn’t it? No vital organs, she’d said, and truth be told Sammy wasn’t too clear on where his non vital organs were. He’d learned from his family that you could be hurt in a lot places in a way tat could quickly turn fatal, but that wouldn’t happen here, right? Sammy looked his freckled arms up and down. “What about, like, above my knee? Does that make sense?” He wrapped his arms around her again, and he was sure with those ears she could hear just how fast his heart was racing, and just how sweaty he was. “One more week, yeah? We’ve got this. Totally.”

At least he seemed to be thinking over where she’d bite him though she could hear the way his heart pounded in his chest, reverberating and beating in her ears. Ariana reached out to him and placed a hand on his arm. “It’s going to be okay,” she said surely, “I can do above the knee. Just do your best to stay still, I know I’ll probably look scary as a wolf.” Had he ever even seen a werewolf up close? Sure, she was small relative to other wolves, but she was still powerful and larger in wolf form. Despite his obvious nerves, he still hugged her and she leaned into him. Only a week until freedom. No more late nights spent up worrying about him and lightly stalking Lydia. She doubted they’d entirely abandoned nights spent in the woods, but she could almost picture what he would look like smiling under a sunny sky. The thought made her let out a soft breath and look up to him. “One more week. We do have this, I’m ready when you are. I will have to change into a wolf first.” 

Sammy rolled up his shorts until his upper thigh was completely exposed.Goosebumps raised along his skin, it was really too cold to be wearing just shorts at night. But in the daytime it had been hot, and it hadn’t occurred for him to change before coming here. Which, uh, was a good choice, because otherwise he would have had to take off his jeans entirely for her to bite him. The idea made him red around the ears. “Cool, cool. Ready as I’ll ever be to, uh, literally change species. Wow. That’s yeah - uh, I’m ready!” He looked at her, and suddenly remembered the twilight movies his cousins had watched. His face flushed as red as tomato. “Should I, uh, turn around? While you do your thing?” He gestured vaguely at all of her.

This was it. Ariana knew where she was going to bite him all that was left was to just do it. She took in a deep breath and mentally prepared herself for what she was about to do. Ace was ready to go. “Alright then, here we go,” she said more confidently this time to make sure he was at ease. Before she could begin to tug at her shirt his question registered in her mind and she noticed how flushed he was. “Oh, right,” she said with a small laugh, “If that makes you more comfortable, that’s fine. I wake up at least three mornings a month naked in the woods. Kinda desensitized to the whole nudity thing.” Though if she really thought about it, she could acknowledge this felt a little different somehow. Either way, they’d both see each other like this regularly once he was a wolf, too. She shook that thought away as she began to nearly remove her clothes and set them down on her pack. With another slow breath in and out, she focused on shifting her features into the more wolflike version of herself. Her bones moved with ease as tufts of gray and white fur came in all over her body. There was always something so liberating about being in this state. She felt more in tune with everything around her and as her paws hit the ground, she became acutely aware of Ace’s heartbeat thumping away. Twigs cracked under her paws as she took a few slow steps toward Ace. Her connection to her objective pushed her forward, but reminded her to be gentle. He wasn’t like her, not yet. She gazed at him for a few moments, wolf eyes catching the light of the moon, and cautiously waited for his approval to move forward. 

Sammy flushed bright red, turning away from her slightly. Any thoughts of this being the norm in just one week had completely missed him by. Sammy waited, breathing fast as he heard her take off her clothes. Her breathing changed, growing lower and deeper, and when her paws padded on the forest floor Sammy finally looked back, staring back at a wolf. A wolf! “Holy shit, holy shit!” Were his first, highly intelligent words. Sammy tried again.“You’re like a wolf wolf! Which I knew, I know, but the wolf knowing and the seeing of wolfage-” Sammy stammered, realising he was slowly backing away. No, nope, this was what he wanted. But, seeing her teeth in the moonlight, it was suddenly occurring to Sammy, very, very quickly, that this was going to hurt. There were a lot of teeth, glistening white, and they’d be sinking into his leg. “Okay, okay, wow, holy shit. Just, just give me a sec. Do you still understand me? Uh-” He looked around, before carefully lowering himself down to sitting - standing while being bitten on the leg was probably not a good idea. He swallowed, adjusting his collar as he looked at her. “Okay. Ready!”

The wolf remained still and let Ace work out his anxiety. His words sounded odd to Ariana when she was in this form, but she could vaguely connect his body language and tone of voice to mean he needed a moment. So she stood still, keeping her breaths quiet and form small to appear less intimidating. The pounding of his heart rang in her ears, but his scent still had the same soothing quality. Once he sat down and he indicated he was ready, she took slow and deliberate steps toward him. Instincts screamed to charge, but she could maintain balance like this. The moon was far enough away and she was in full form which made it much easier. Her affection for Ace far outweighed her hunting drive. A few more steps and she was close enough to bite. She let out a warm huff of breath on his leg and looked up to him. Now it was. Carefully, she widened her jaw and sunk her teeth into his leg. The taste of blood on her tongue wasn’t unfamiliar. She backed away slowly, not wanting to hurt him. Staying close for too long with the taste of blood on her lips was a dangerous game to play. She could see the grimace of pain on his face and let it be her grounding point. With slow even breaths, she focused on shifting back into the form Ace was more familiar with. 

As soon as he’d said the word and Ariana began to approach, Sammy was not sure he was ready. Sitting down like this, not to make too fine of a point of it, but his neck was maw height. This was fine, it was the right choice, Sammy chanted to himself over and over again, inside his head. He dug his fingers into the ground, bracing himself against the tree roots. Her hot breath rolled over his thigh, raising goosebumps along his skin. He watched her, as if preparing for it would help it hurt less. He was wrong. His muscle jolted as she bit down, until his skin gave way and blood welled around his teeth. He was transfixed, unable to move, this couple second bite stretching into a minute in his mind. As she let go, and stepped back, he bit down on this inside of his cheeks, groaning deeply. Blood ran down his leg and into this forest floor. The groan turned into a yell, and a barely withheld scream as he clutched his thigh. The scream was over as quickly as the bite, but fuck, it hurt. He looked back up at Ari, and forgot to be bashful about the nudity thing. “Is- Is that it? Am I- Can you tell?”

As she shifted back into her more human form, she winced slightly at the sound of his scream. Ariana knew it would hurt, but she had done her best to be gentle, not that it was 100% possible. As much was evident by the blood still on her chin. She used the back of her forearm to wipe it off and quickly rushed over to Ace. “I’m sorry, fuck, I know that had to hurt. Are you okay,” she asked as she fumbled to remove the first aid stuff from her backpack forgetting in that moment that she was still nude. When she remembered, her cheeks slightly flushed pink and she quickly grabbed her hoodie to throw on. Once it was on and she was mostly covered for the moment, she quickly pressed gauze against the wound and applied some pressure. “That’s it,” she answered though she hadn’t actually done this before, “I’ll need to meet you before sunset for the next full moon. We’re going to want to go pretty deeply out in the wounds.” She grabbed one of the sanitizing wipes and warned, “This is going to sting, I’m sorry.” She wiped away some of the blood and dirt to prevent infection though his immune system would likely be stronger now. 

Sammy smiled at her weakly, looking at the small amount of his blood still smeared on her face even though she’d tried to wipe most of it off. “Yeah. Yeah. I kinda… forgot? It would hurt? Nnng-” He groaned through gritted teeth. He looked away as she pulled her hoody on, and winced as she started treating him. “Okay. Okay. Yeah, a few hours before sunset. I’ll work out how to get out earlier, give us enough time to-you know, find some deer to kill.” He braced against the tree again, and yelled as the sanitising wiped burned his skin. “Ow! Yep, yep, the stinging, that’s happening. I- wow. Mmm, that really hurts.” He shifted uneasily, but didn’t look away from her. “I don’t, uh, feel any different. Minus the dozen extra holes, obviously.”

Ariana worked carefully and did her best to be gentle with him. She’d already caused him enough pain and as much made her stomach turn. “I’m sorry,” she said softly as she gave him a moment to steady himself. Even while in pain, he somehow still managed to hold on to his sense of humor. She let out a small laugh and agreed, “Yeah, something like that. I want to make sure we’re far away from people and hunters before we change. It’s kind of nice to watch the sunset before, too.” A big part of her was nervous. Taking him under her metaphorical was no small feat and she was determined to do right by her. This would save him and he wouldn’t end up hating her for it. She’d been so sure before, but somehow Alcher’s warning rang in her mind now. The last thing she wanted was Ace to hate her, but she’d rather he’d hate her and be alive than the alternative. She frowned a bit as he cried out in pain. “I’m almost done,” she assured before finally wrapping it in a bandage. “You won’t feel different until the full moon, but you’re pretty much a guaranteed wolf now.” She pulled an apple out of her bag and handed it to him. “Here, eat this,” she instructed, “You’ve lost a bit of blood.” 

“Watching the sunset sounds amazing. We can hang out and see each other properly, and stuff.” As she pulled out the bandage, Sammy lifted his leg up so she could wrap him up more easily. “You know, you looked so badass as a wolf.” He told her earnestly, with a bit of a silly smile now that the terror was mostly gone. Sammy took a deep shaky breath as she let go, and he carefully lowered his leg back down onto the forest floor. “Which is in a week, right? September 30th? Wow, it’s really not that long anymore.” He’d be freer than he’d been in years. Taking the apple, Sammy smiled widely. “Yes ma’am,” he replied with a teasing wink. He took the apple and bit into it, trying to feel around in himself. He tried to crush the apple in his hand, but no luck. It didn’t even squish, so no super strength yet. “Hey, Ari? Come sit with me?”

“That does sound pretty great,” Ariana agreed as she kept her eyes on him and tried to gauge how he was feeling physically. She hated that she caused him any pain, but she truly believed this was going to make things better for him. Ace still seemed a bit shaky though she noticed his heartbeat wasn’t nearly as rapid as before which meant he was relaxing a bit. As much brought her a sense of relief. She smiled a bit at him calling her badass. “Thanks, I’m sure you’ll look pretty badass as a wolf, too,” she commented. The full moon would be upon them before they knew it and he’d be truly free. As much sent a surge of excitement through her, but she did her best to contain. “Yep,” she answered, “September 30th. It’ll be here quickly. It’ll take awhile before you’re able to remember what happened during it, but I’ll be looking out for you, I promise.” She meant as much and gave him a meaningful look as he asked her to join him. “Of course,” she answered as she lowered herself on the ground next to him. She studied him carefully and noticed that even under the pale light of the half moon, he looked paler somehow. Probably from the blood loss, but still, this was the most at ease she’d felt in a while. She placed her hand on his arm and asked, “How are you feeling?” 

“Oh, nah, I’m going to be the scruffy, gangly looking one with hair growing in all the wrong directions,” Sammy replied with a laugh, trying to imagine it. In a week, they wouldn’t have to. She would know, and be able to tell it. He looked at the bandage, and what he knew was under there.”I trust you. No matter what I remember, I know you will keep me safe.” Although, the idea of not remembering any of it? Fairly freak some.  “How am I feeling?” Sammy looked down at his leg, trying to work all that out for himself. It felt like there were spiders crawling under his skin. He wanted to jump up and do things, but he also felt… breakable? Like thin clay in the kiln, ready to crack under the slightest pressure. “Well, my leg hurts. I think it’s going to be worse tomorrow. I feel…. I’ve got all this… adrenaline, you know? We’ve been talking about this so long, and then I couldn’t last month, and now it’s happening. Like total point of no return. I dunno, I feel excited, and scared, with a whole lot of happy sprinkled on top.” He smiled at her, munching on his apple. “This feels right. Like we were meant to meet, and keep finding each other, or something.”

Ariana shook her head and laughed, “Somehow I doubt that, but even if you do end up being a gangly werewolf, I’ll still think you’re cool.” It was hard to imagine what he’d look like though she was curious. Layla sort of matched her hair color, she wondered if Ace would be the same. She knew her wolf coat was more gray and white which didn’t match her everyday hair color, but she tended to blend in well with her surroundings which made sneaking up on her prey easier. Werewolf genetics were a mystery to her. She swallowed back the lump forming in her throat as he expressed how much he trusted her. She hoped like hell this was the right call. All things considered, she was terrified of making a choice that could get him hurt or cost him his life. She did know she’d fight for him every step of the way. “I will, I’ll always be looking out for you, Ace.” She gave his hand a squeeze before she studied him as he looked at his leg. She could pick up on the extra energy, but it was best for him to rest. All that energy would get to come out on the full moon. “Yeah, it’ll probably be sore tomorrow. You should probably take it easy until the full moon though, let yourself heal,” she explained. She wished there was a less painful way to go about this though the last part brought a smile to her face. “I’m glad you’re happy. The other stuff is all normal. But I agree,” she looked up at him with her lips pulled upward in a grin as she spoke, “I think we were meant to find each other. Even if you’ve never been able to tell me much about yourself, I’ve always felt like it’s easy to connect with you.” She gave his hand another squeeze. It felt important that he knew all of this, knew she really did have his back through everything that was to come. 

“It’s sore right now! But you’re right. I'll do my best to look after it.” But there was a hard limit in that. He couldn’t let anyone know he was hurt, so he had to act as if he wasn’t hurt at all. He could start some bigger project on the wheel and spend more time sitting like that, but still… oh well!   Sammy grinned at her through the dark, his cheeks flushing a little at the compliment. “You’re like, one of the best friends I’ve ever had. Growing up, I kinda grew up in on between two worlds.  Like, not enough of one thing or another, so it wasn’t easy. Even in… uh, well. What I’m saying is. Thank you? For being my friend. I can’t wait to be… less batman like, with you. Or like, fine out how being a werewolf changes me. I always kinda think of them as being charismatic, maybe some of that will rub off on me, you know?” He teased, ribbing her slightly. Sammy finished his apple, sticking the apple sticker on her arm before throwing the apple core deep into the forest. 

“Good, gotta have my favorite guy in tip top shape,” Ariana joked now that she was feeling a bit lighter and playfully nudged his arm. This was a big change, but she could do this. Ace placed his trust in her and she wasn’t going to let him down. As he spoke, she felt a small smile creep up on her face. It meant the world to her that he considered her one of his best friends and she definitely felt the same. While their secret meetings in the middle of the night were far from ideal, she’d grown to look forward to them. “You’re one of mine, too. I don’t know exactly what you mean, but I think I get it. I was a werewolf raised by a hunter, so very in between two worlds that I’m still trying to figure out how to bring together. You don’t have to thank me, you’ve been here when I needed you, too. That’s what friends are for. I will say I look forward to learning more about you though,” she gave him a meaningful gaze as she spoke, “I’m not sure we’re all charismatic, but I think some of my charm will wear off on you.” She laughed as he stuck the apple sticker on her arm and added, “Even if it doesn’t, I like you just the way you are.”

[rocket-remmy]

Slayer, Interrupted||Alain and Remmy

TIMING: Last Night PARTIES: @carbrakes-and-stakes and @whatsin-yourhead SUMMARY: A chance meeting in a cemetery.  CONTENT: Depression, Blood, Violence

This was yet another night he spent at the cemetery instead of spending it with Evelyn, or in his own bed. He couldn't sleep anymore. Everytime he closed his eyes, he had this surge of fear that came, instantly, to remind him of all the things he saw now every time he dared to get a nap, just 30 minutes of sleep. 

Of course Alain had always needed less sleep than the rest of mankind, and he suffered from the lack of sleep less than a normal person would. Still, this new pattern was not one he could adjust to forever, and tonight, the hunter was having a hard time pushing off those spawns coming at him : earlier one had slashed his arm from his shoulder to his elbow and right now, he struggled to get another off his back. Things were looking too bright. The hunter, disoriented could hear the voice of his father, once again belittling him, the voice of Audrey and of all these people who hated the person he was… Out of breath, the hunter kicked a spawn away from him once again. Another came at him, making him drop his sword to the ground. PUTAIN.

Remmington slunk along the path with ever drooping shoulders. They were tired, they were beat up, and they just wanted to go home. There was a short cut through the cemetery to get back to Lydia’s, and nothing in it usually posed Remmy any threat-- vampires could smell the rotten death on them a mile away, so they usually left them be. But this time, as they hopped the fence and flopped down, something caught their attention. An altercation, a ways down, between a few different figures. As they creeped closure, their eyes widened. It was Alain. They hadn’t seen him since he’d tried to cut their head off, and they still felt that rush of fear, remembered that look in his eye when he’d answered the door. The words he’d told them after, though over text, still resounded in their head. Forever is a long time. 

They should run, they should definitely run, they didn’t want him to see them. They’d bitten someone, broke the rule, and he would certainly kill them, now, in their weakened state. They turned to run-- but then something stopped them. He was getting swarmed. Overwhelmed, his body buckling under his own weight. And the sword fell from his hands. And Remmy was running towards them already, picking up the dropped weapon and swinging. The blade sliced right through one of the spawn’s heads and before they could even scream, they were dust. Remmy swung again at the next one, catching it confused and off guard. The th last one, realizing what was happening, bared its teeth and lunged. But Remmy turned the sword just in time to catch it straight in the chest, pinning it down with the blade into the ground. Their arms shook with great effort as they backed away. Now they should run, right? 

Remmy looked at the hunter on the ground. And held their hand out to him. “A-are you alright?”

His hand had found the ground, searching for the sword, still, in his current state of tiredness, he had not managed to dodge that spawn as he would have wanted to, and the pain from the bite got the hunter screaming in the dead of night.

He saw a pair of feet and a hand picking up his sword. Fuck. If this was a higher vampire, he was a dead man. 

He had been fresher. Just a month ago, none of this would have been a problem. But now, the hunter had started to get dark circles under his eyes, to see things in broad daylight and to question what was real and what wasn’t. Clearly, this right here, was exactly the kind of things he could question. Alain, looking disoriented as ever, held out his hand to grab theirs, just to see if they were real. He was dreaming, right? No : he could feel the cold hand against his warm hand. They were really here, Remmy was here, and they were holding his sword.

Once he got up, Alain took a step back, choosing to be careful. Slowly, his 6th sense dimmed. The spawns had gone away, for now at least. They had just saved his life, he realized. “Bordel,” his head spun and he had to shut his eyes for a short moment. “I’m fine,” he snapped. Being irritated wasn’t probably the right answer to being saved, now was it? He had to thank them, right? “...” A blank expression on his face, the man felt like he had a heavy ball on his chest, stopping him from uttering those words at all, and when he finally said these two words to them “Thank you” , while he was truly sincere, he sounded like he was rushing to get it off his chest.

Remmy wasn’t expecting a thank you. They stared, bewildered for a moment, realizing the tired look on his face wasn’t just from one sleepless night out in a cemetery. “You’re bleeding,” they finally said, pointing to his multiple wounds. They held the sword out, backing away. “I just-- we should probably get out of here. Get somewhere you can, um-- clean up.” Did they want a thank you? Did they deserve one? Had they not just done what anyone would do? The rushed sound of his words made it seem as if he was questioning the statement as well. But the weariness in his face, in his stance, told them that there was more to what was going on. “I can...I’ll walk with you, if you want? In case more come back.” Because they didn’t want him to die, did they? He didn’t deserve that. Even after everything he had said to them and everything they knew he thought about them, he didn’t deserve this. No one did. “C’mon…”

“Huh,” his eyes moved from Remmy to his arms, legs, slowly, as if his mind was lost in a haze. Clearly skipping nap and deciding to come here to stay awake and alert had been one of his shittiest ideas so far. “That’s not too bad,” it was kinda bad, and the fact that he took the time to sit down on the cemetery’s floor, to tie a handkerchief around his arm to slow the bleeding, was proof enough of that. 

“That would be home,” Alain rubbed at his eyes, picked himself off the ground and looked at them, looking slightly confused about what was happening right now. He had tried to murder them, and never tried to hide this to them. This was how confident he was that they were a monster, an abomination, something to get rid of without question. But now, he was not sure anymore. The only reason he didn’t end up as dessert for spawns was them. How easy would it have been for them to get rid of the one person who could cause them harm ? “I think I’d like that,” he agreed. They were leaving the cemetery when something caught his eye, something that brought back memories from decades ago. “What’s that thing around your neck?” 

Though this was strange and awkward, perhaps even dangerous for Remmy, they pushed the thoughts aside and continued to walk alongside Alain. Their discomfort was less important than someone’s safety, even if that someone had been cruel and unfair to them. And despite it they couldn’t help but keep a short distance between them, enough that they could easily get out of the way if he suddenly decided to swing his sword at them. “Sure, yeah,” they nodded, following the path up out of the cemetery. Lydia’s house was in the other direction, but they could stand to take a small detour. This was fine. They froze up a little when he asked about the collar. “I...it’s just uh, a necklace...thing…” they muttered, shrugging their shoulders as if that could help hide it. “Trying something...new, I guess.”

Alain stopped in his tracks. It would have been rich of him to blame them for lying about this, when most of the time, he prefered to pretend he had never worked there. The Ring was such a violent place, a place of death and suffering, and more importantly, a place where creatures were treated as disposable animals, even the human looking ones. He was surprised to learn that they accepted to participate in this butchery. “Remmy, I worked there, for years,” there was no need to lie. Besides, he was truly curious to find out what brought them to work there, as they seemed like the sort of people to never hurt a fly. “I know what happens there,” he started walking again. The one good thing about this, was that it piqued his interest, and while he was still tired, this would probably help him stay alert even if just for a little while. “I don’t get it. I thought you hated violence?”

Remmy stopped a few feet away from him, eyes glued to the ground for a moment. They didn’t wanna look at him, or look at anyone, really. He would see the shame. He would try to do something. Maybe he would even just end them for it. “I do,” they said quietly, backing away slightly, “I hate it. It’s not-- it’s not what you think. I know that place is bad, okay? I-I know.” They looked up again, glancing around them. There were plenty of places to run, to hide, if they needed, and they hated that they had had to scout that out. Eye fell back on Alain, and they swallowed. “Just...can we just not talk about it? Can we just-- get you home and pretend none of this happened? That’s what you want, right? To pretend this didn’t happen?”

“And so you just decided to do something you hate?” His brows furrowed and he yawned once more. Closing his eyes shut for a second, Alain rubbed at them and looked around. What was he doing, chatting with a zombie in the dead of night? Sure, they had just saved his life, but… Dear lord, he was tired. Not just physically, but emotionally too. “Really? You earned yourself some points here,” they did. They could have left him to die, he knew that. This meant one thing : this was altruism, and not something they had done to get him off of their back. “Why? You think I’m embarrassed or something?” This would have meant that he had some sense of pride to begin with. Sure he was proud of some things he had achieved, but everytime, he seemed to downplay them. “I will remember that,” he replied. He fell silent, for a moment, glancing at Remmy’s back : “It’s a money thing, isn’t it?”

“I don’t owe you an explanation,” Remmy said firmly. He didn’t need to know why they started going there or who showed them or what they ended up doing. They understood why they’d done it, they understood what compelled them to go there. But they didn’t owe it to him, someone who would look down on them for it, to explain why. “I didn’t do it to earn points. I did it because it was the right thing to do, because I’m a good person, despite what you think,” they nearly huffed, but they were too exhausted to be angry or upset. They were just...tired. And perhaps, so was he. “Does it matter?” they asked, beginning to walk again. Even if he didn’t care about getting this over with, they did. They just wanted to go home and see Lydia.

“Of course, because then you would have to start questioning yourself,” considering the whole speech he had gotten by them and their friends on how they were such a good person who couldn’t harm a bug, yeah, he was really concerned. Good people didn’t beat up beasts 

for a couple of bucks. Alain was not one to comment, of course, but that certainly never stopped him. “A good person who fights against creatures who didn’t ask to be used for entertainment,” and the entertainment of people they would probably really dislike too. “Are you sure you’re still a good person? You bit someone for selfish reasons, you fight monsters for … reasons,” he sighed heavily. The only reason he was so chatty was that he couldn’t afford to be left alone with his thoughts.  “Does it?” he replied. “I don’t know. I guess it’s better than doing for free like myself,” rolling his eyes, the hunter glanced down and fell silent. Soon enough, he started thinking about all the things that haunted him lately.

Remmy felt their jaw clench. They thought they were past the anger, but there was something about Alain that always seemed to bring it back up. Maybe it was because he’d turned so suddenly on them once he’d found out they were a zombie, after talking to them and considering them a friend. They still didn’t understand it. “Maybe I didn’t ask for it, either,” they muttered, stuffing their hands in their pockets and slinking out of the gate, waiting for him to follow. He was healing pretty fast, but he still look worn and tired and defeated. Closed the gate when he went through, hoping it’d stop anything from coming out, or at least slow them down. “What’d you do there, anyway?”

His mouth turned to a thin line. This was not something he had quite thought of. All of the prejudice, the ideas he had about zombies prevented him from having an objective opinion of Remmy, and to realize that, right after they had saved his life, made him feel more inhuman than them at this very instant. Alain did not dare to look them in the eyes and remained silent. What was he supposed to say ? That he was sorry for talking to them this way? Would they even believe him? “Ah,” was all he said. It was just enough for anyone to realize that he knew just how much he fucked up right here. Following them out of the gate, he did not react immediately to their question, still lost in his thoughts and nightmares. “Mmh?” The hunter’s face might have been blank, you could tell that he did not know where to begin explaining this. Obviously this was not just about cleaning up the cemetery. “I was trying to clear my head, get myself busy,” he highly doubted they’d go around repeating this, and quite frankly he could use someone who was not a hunter to speak to. “Didn’t quite work as I expected.”

“Guess life never really does,” Remmy mumbled, picking up the pace again as they walked along the path back towards town. “Or death.” They certainly hadn’t expected to die so suddenly, but they also expected to live that long. The sad truth was Remmy hadn’t ever thought much about the future because they’d never seen one for themself. As suddenly as their death came, it had not been a surprise. No, the waking up part was the surprise. The being alone. The dealing with everything alone, now that was the surprise. That was the hard part. Shoulders slumped, they cast a sideways glance at him, hands still dug deep in pockets, as if the further in they went, the more Remmy could disappear from this moment. “At least you didn’t die tonight.”

“What a relief,” he scoffed. They meant well, of course, but Alain was just angry at himself about what had happened there. Of course he was grateful they had saved his life, but how reckless could he be ? He knew he was tired before he got there. Was his cause one worth dying for anyway ? “What do you think of what I’m doing? ” Asking a zombie for their opinion was something new for him, and he was not sure why he was doing that. They couldn’t be more objective than hunters were, could they ? Sighing heavily, he stuck his hands in his pockets and glanced back at them. “Sometimes I wonder if it even makes a difference,” after 30 years doing nearly the same thing, you really had to wonder if you had to stop being so stubborn and move on.

Remmy gave a slight pause. What did they think of him killing people based solely on their species? They hated it. And they wanted to hate him for it, too, but they just couldn’t. Despite all their rage and anger and sorrow, they still couldn’t hate him. “I don’t think my opinion matters to you,” they said truthfully, shrugging, “not until you see me as a real person instead of just...a zombie.” They’d made it to the end of the street now, and as much as Remmy wanted to make sure he got all the way home, safe, they couldn’t bring themself to go a step further. And they weren’t sure if that was good or bad. They backed away a little. “But as soon as you do wanna talk, like, for real, lemme know. I’ll always listen,” then, with a nod, they turned and headed off, surely with a heart hammering in their chest had it been alive and beating.

[evengayerpanic]

Beyond the Hollows [Week 5]

Read Another Part: [One]    [Two]    [Three]    [Four]    [Five]

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It isn’t quite a surprise that Rica acts first, flying out of the room at the scream with Sae close behind her. Sae is so overwhelmed at this point that she can’t handle being the first one into action. Not again.

They move nearly as one though, the raven-haired woman just a few steps in front of Sae as they take the staircase, the handrail practically being used as a vault to jump around the last few steps as they touch down on the landing and step into chaos.

Sae isn’t sure what she expected least. 

The zombie; an older man, dragging the bottom half of his body along the ground towards Cari, his hand wrapped tightly around the little girl’s ankle as she screams and frantically tries to kick him off of her. 

Or... Rica freezing in place the moment she sees who it is, unable to move any further, Sae running into her as she becomes the barrier between Sae and Cari.

With the adrenaline of the days events, Sae propels herself forward, passing the stunned Rica as the blonde flings herself towards Cari, grabbing a hold of her arms and trying to haul her backwards away from the monster who’s using her leg to pull forward.

It doesn’t work.

The man has too solid of a grip on her, and as Sae hauls Cari backwards, he comes with them, his mouth opening to try and take a bite out of Cari.

Cari screams once more, Sae panics and her own foot comes out to swing at him, kicking him in the jaw as hard as she can before he can take his intended bite.

“Help!” Sae shrieks at Rica, her plea falling on deaf ears as the woman seems like she’s in shock. “Cari, keep kicking!” She turns instead to the child who despite being in a frenzy, is able to follow directions.

The little girl uses her foot to keep trying to kick the man off of her, but he’s relentless and won’t let go. Even with the force of Sae’s own kick having knocked a few of his teeth out, his grip stands tight on her.

Sae goes to kick him again, aiming for the arm that’s holding onto Cari, but as she hits him, Cari lets out a scream of pain as he rips her leg closer to him, the impact of the kick making him recoil but not let go.

“Hold on!” Sae yells again, getting back to her feet and running for the kitchen. She can hear Cari scream for her not to leave, but she knows she’s got to do something, and fast if Cari is going to stand a chance.

She spots a knife block, the first knife she goes for happens to be a large chef’s knife. It’s perfect. 

Wielding it like the weapon it absolutely is, she rushes back into the hall, where Cari is still kicking the man off of her, he’s closer to her than before, and Sae knows she has to act quickly or risk it all.

With a primal and animalistic scream of rage, Sae races at the man, knife outstretched at the ready.

It’s over so quickly that Sae’s heart is racing ten miles an hour, blood pumping so hard she can hear it.

She reaches the man, grabbing him by the back of the neck and lifting his head up and away from Cari. 

With her other hand she plunges the chef knife into the top of his head, straight down the middle. He gurgles, then goes limp. The upper half of his body hits the floor and his hand drops it’s hold on Cari’s leg.

It isn’t quite over yet, Sae immediately turns to Cari and barks at her, voice unintentionally loud and harsh. “Are you hurt? Did you get bit?!” She demands, pushing away from the man and immediately checking Cari’s legs for bites or scratches as the child shakes her head wildly. “Are you bit?!” She yells.

“N-no!” The little girl cries out, bursting into tears.

Sae takes a shaky breath of relief, before she turns from Cari and violently upends the contents of her stomach, horror overtaking her as she takes in the reality of what just happened to them.

She heaves, choking on her own spit and shudders in the realization. “I just... killed someone.” She shakes.

Sae curls up into a ball, scooting backwards away from the body and her own bile until she’s in the living room, and then she breaks down.

The events of the day finally hit her, and Sae begins to sob. Only pausing as Cari piles into her arms, and she wraps herself around the little girl, and starts sobbing again. The adrenaline leaves her and exhaust takes over, as the events swarm her mind.

Kate. Luka. Curtis. Martin... Taking a life.

It’s all real. This new horrifying life isn’t a nightmare. It’s all real, and Sae... Sae wants out of it now.

She stills, body wrapped tightly around the little girl. Sae holds the trembling child close to her, trying to reassure both herself and Cari that the latter is fine, she’s okay, she’s not been hurt. She won’t change.

Glancing at the body on the floor, blood pooling from his wound, Sae looks at Rica still frozen. “Was that...?” She asks, but she already knows the answer.

“Harold.” Rica confirms softly, breaking her stupor. 

As the older woman looks to the girls and finally seems to recognize what has happened, she rushes into the living room, snatching a blanket off of the couch and turns back to drape it over the dead man.

“I don’t understand.” Rica’s words fall on deaf ears, Sae instead focused at the pictures adorning the walls. 

Harold and his wife on a vacation.

Harold and his wife in their backyard.

Harold holding what looks to be a grandchild.

Sae killed a man; a father, a husband, a grandfather... She killed someone. Instead of just running away like before, finding other ways around. Sae killed a man.

Sure he was a zombie... But, he wasn’t always.

“I should have looked harder for him, I shouldn’t have left... He had to have been still alive, otherwise how would he have found his way home...” Rica is rambling, but Sae honestly only catches parts of it, instead her mind wanders to the what if’s.

What if she had been too late?

What if she hadn’t been able to kill him?

What if Cari had been bitten?

“I’ll check the storm cellar, that has to be where he got in.” That’s the part Sae picks up on and she nods her head silently as Rica rushes down the basement steps that the man had emerged from.

She continues to hold Cari, to comfort the both of them that the worst didn’t just happen, that the little girl is okay and safe. It’s weird to Sae that in just a few short hours, her priorities have changed so wildly.

_________________

Rica secures the storm cellar, locking the doors to the outside and throwing some furniture in front of them just to be extra cautious of their situation.

She locks the door between the basement and the main level as well, locking away the storm cellar on the off chance that anything can break through. It provides little comfort considering what they’ve already gone through in just a few hours.

The three girls decide to hunker down for the night. 

By the time all the dramatics are over with, it isn’t late into the day, maybe two or three in the afternoon. Though it has felt so much longer than that... They could leave, there is still hours of daylight left, but at the risk of not finding somewhere else safe before night fall, it’s just easier, and safer, to stay put.

Sae and Rica go around securing the doors and windows. Being snuck up on is not a mistake they are willing to make twice, especially not with how disastrous the last time could have been. With that in mind, they barricade the weak spots and choose emergency exits where they keep the bulk of their supplies should they leave at a moments notice.

(They add a fanny pack of first aid supplies to their stockpile, beside Cari’s small backpack of snacks, and even manage to find a dusty set of golf clubs as Rica secured the basement. It’s not much, but it’s a weapon a lot heavier than a chair leg and more versatile than a kitchen knife.)

The two older women work as a team, trading off jobs until the house is as secure as it could possibly be. Cari doesn’t leave their side often, straying only a few feet to grab something should they ask, or to move out of the way as they’re lifting the heavier pieces of furniture to place in front of doors and first-floor windows that can be reached from the ground.

It’s silent for the longest time. The three girls are so focused on their task to even think let alone speak.

Eventually though, the oldest of the three breaks the silence. “I’m sorry that I froze back there.” She whispers, just loud enough for Sae to hear as they’re sliding an oak cabinet in front of the back door.

“It’s okay.” Sae lies to the both of them, like she didn’t only just stop trembling barely half an hour ago.

“No, it’s not.” Rica corrects her, knowing a little too much. “You both could have died back there... I just, I never expected I would see Harold like that... I’ve been his PSW for the past four years and... and-”

“I get it.” Sae interrupts, looking at Rica, this time not lying. “When I saw Kate like that? I froze too.”

The girls go silent again, reality settling in for both of them and keeping them alarmingly quiet until a soft grumble breaks through the quiet.

“You guys haven’t eaten today, have you?” It’s more of a statement than a question, but still Sae feels the need to answer it regardless.

“We had some snacks on the road...” She realizes how ridiculous that sounds and clarifies. “While we were walking here from the resort, we had some kids school snacks out of Cari’s bag.”

“Well, we should probably eat.” Rica shrugs.

And so they do, Rica making something out of the food in the cupboards of Harold and Margaret’s kitchen. It’s only a basic meal, but it fills Sae and Cari, and loosens their tongue a little after the incident.

_________________

It isn’t until much later though, that Sae feels comfortable enough to speak freely once more.

The rest of the night is awkward and uncomfortable, they can’t risk putting the television on (flashing lights are an indication someone is home), and the radio seems to be nothing but static. There are books, but nothing meant for a child, and so they spend their evening trying to tell Cari stories or jokes, anything to distract her from what’s going on.

When it’s just past nine they decide that tomorrow is a new day, and they can retire for the night to try and shake off some of the horror of the day’s events.

They lock themselves in an upstairs bedroom, not the master suite but instead they settle in the guest one (where Rica had slept the night prior). 

They have their bags packed at the window just to be on the safe side, their makeshift weapons leaning on the wall just beside. Cari has just been put down, the child passing out the moment her head hit the pillow.

Sae is sat on the bed as well, just beside Cari, stroking the young girl’s hair as she looks at Rica with a solemn look. They’ve decided to take the night in shifts, one person always up to ensure they won’t be snuck up on, even with plenty of noisy traps downstairs.

Sae isn’t tired though, not yet, and so she chooses instead to stare at Rica, and be stared back at.

“I don’t know if I can do this.” Sae breaks the silence first, looking down at the sleeping child and then back at Rica. “I didn’t think this could happen.”

Rica laughs bitterly. “None of us did.”

The blonde closes her eyes, blinking back tears for what seems like the millionth time that day. “I just wanted a nice vacation to come out to my sister... The worst thing I thought would happen is that she’d be upset.... But this? This is much worse.”

Rica shakes her head. “I don’t know.” She can’t hide the smallest smirk. “The way my Mother reacted when I told her *I* liked girls was pretty apocalyptic.”

Sae glances back at her, cracking an eye open and narrowing it at the older woman. “That isn’t funny.” 

A beat passes.

“Okay.” Sae can’t hold back her own small smirk. “You’ve got to tell me now, how did she react?”

Rica lets out a quiet laugh, not wanting to wake Cari up. “Fire and brimstone.” She explains, the memory nothing more than a footnote in her history as an adult. “You would have thought I was taking candy from orphans and kicking puppies.”

Sae smiles to herself at the ridiculousness that she’s picturing. “Just how long ago was this?”

“Ten years.”

“And she’s good with it now?”

Rica stills, then shakes her head. “Haven’t spoke to her since. She kicked me out of the house, and I had to live with my girlfriend at the time’s parents until I was done highschool.”

Sae goes quiet again, smile gone. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, she made her choice and so did I. It’s done.”

“Maybe we deserved this? Maybe it’s god’s way of telling humanity that we’re really the monsters?” 

Sae wants to take the words back immediately. 

Kate was not a monster - she was good and kindhearted and sweet. Cari’s father didn’t appear to be a monster either, just a man full of love for his only child. Neither one of them deserved what had happened to them. She can’t imagine that Harold or his wife, who seemingly treated Rica like one of their own family, had deserved this either.

She can’t find the words to explain what she meant though, and Rica seems to understand that, so the dark-haired girl just gives her a look, shakes her head and says softly. “You should sleep for now, your shift is in only a couple of hours.”

And that’s what Sae does. Shifting a little so that she’s cradling Cari in her arms, the young blonde lays her head against the pillow and tries to fall into an uneasy sleep.

_________________

It’s ten to two when Sae jolts awake, the room is dark and she’s about to call out for Rica when a whisper in her ear stops her before she can open her mouth.

“Shhh, be quiet.” She wants to be scared, but she recognizes the voice, it is Rica.

“What’s going on?” She asks, before the sound reaches her ears. It’s a siren, shrill and blaring, just outside of the window of the room they are in.

It rings for about thirty seconds, then stops for another thirty, only to continue ringing in that on and off pattern. Sae immediately knows what woke her.

“Where is that coming from?” Sae hisses, looking down at Cari who’s stirring just slightly over the noise.

“One of the neighbours, come.” Rica helps Sae out of bed, making sure that they don’t disturb Cari and the two make their way to the window.

Sae sees it, a car from the house across the street, she knows its that car because of the way that the lights will flash as it blares, only to turn off in the thirty seconds that it stalls, and then it flashes again.

“How did that turn on?” Sae asks, concern filling her.

“I have no idea.” Rica looks around the dark street below, heart racing as she tries to make out what the situation is. “Something must have bumped it, that’s not important though...”

Sae looks at her quizzically.

“What’s important is that we get it to stop.”

This time the confusion turns into bewilderment at the older woman. “Just how are we going to do that?”

Rica weighs the options in her head for a moment, seemingly working something out before opening her mouth for a plan that Sae immediately gets a gut feeling is nowhere near a good one.

“I’m going to go across the street and turn it off.”

[angelsandacceptance]

Wishful Thinking

“It just doesn't make any sense, Dean. I mean, why would Uriel tell me you remembered Hell if you didn't?” Sam asks for what seems like the thousandth time.

The girls roll their eyes in synch at the boys’ antics. They all sit at a table in a bar, drinking various things, as well as picking apart a plate of fries. 

Dean downs another shot. “Maybe because he's a dick. Might have something to do with it.”

“Maybe, but he’s still an angel.”

“Yeah, an angel who was ready to level a whole town. Look, I don’t know what-” “Radical,” The waiter says, coming up to their table right at that moment. “What else can I get for you?”

“Uh, I think we’re good,” Sam says. 

“Speak for yourself,” Chase says. “I’d like whatever dessert you’d recommend, unless pie is an option. Pie is life. And I’ll take another few rounds of these,” she finishes, pushing a couple of now empty shot glasses towards him. 

“A few more meaning?”

“Six.”

The waiter, looking slightly startled, walks away. 

“Sam, honestly, I have no idea why Uriel told you what he did, okay?” Dean says, finishing what he was trying to say earlier. 

“Right,” Sam says, unconvinced. 

“What?” Dean asks. 

“You gotta see it from our point of view, Dean,” Chase says. “You’re not sounding very believable. Right, Harley?”

“I think if Dean isn’t ready to talk about it we shouldn’t pry.” Harley answers.

“I’m fine talking,” Dean says gruffly. “I just don’t remember anything.”

“Okay. Fine. Then look me in the eye and tell me you don't remember a thing from your time down under,” Sam says, continuing to grill him despite Harley’s efforts.

“I don't remember a thing from my time down under. I don't remember, Sam!”

“Look, Dean, we just want to help.”

“You guys know everything I do, okay? That’s all there is.”

“Outstanding!” The waiter exclaims, coming back over with a tray. “Here’s your dessert and drinks, and is there anything else I can get for you?”

“Dude,” Dean says, looking at the waiter.

“Look, bros, you’ve got to try our ice cream extreme. It’s extreme.”

“Uh, no, no extremities please. Just the-”

“Check? Awesome, alright!”

Sam huffs, causing Chase to smile. He’s always hated getting interrupted. “Thanks.”

“Alright, so where do we go from here?” Harley asks once the waiter has disappeared. 

“I'm not sure. Uh, looks like it's been pretty quiet lately. No signs of demon activity, no omens or portents I can see,” Sam says.

“Hey, some good news for once!” Chase says, throwing back the second shot already.

“Yeah, just the typical smattering of crank UFO sightings and one possible vengeful spirit. Here, check this out. Uh... Up in Concrete, Washington, eyewitness reports of a ghost that's been haunting the showers of a women's health facility.” Dean chokes on his drink. “The victim claims that the ghost threw her down a flight of stairs. I can see you're very interested.”

“Women, showers,” Dean says. “We got to save these people.”

“Really, Dean?” Chase asks in disgust. “At least be better at pretending you want to actually just help.”

“What?” Dean asks in feign innocence. “We gotta help ‘em.”

***

“I'm not surprised the spirit world chose to make contact with me. I'm something of a... natural sensitive.” Candace, the victim, says.

“I can sense that about you, Candace, that whole... sensitive thing.” Sam responds.

“So, what did you say you're calling your book?”

“Oh, well, um... Well, the working title is... ‘Supernatural.’ Yeah, We've been crossing the country, gathering stories like yours. But, anyways, you were telling us about your encounter.”

“Yes. Well…” Candace sighs, “Once I saw the apparition, that's when I started to run.”

Sam and Chase notice a peculiar couple making out across the divider. Peculiar in the sense that the woman was way out of the man’s league. Sam keeps staring confused while Chase quickly adverts her gaze and scrunches her nose, a habit of hers whenever she’s uncomfortable. Chase elbows Sam because despite being weird, there isn’t anything paranormal about the couple.

“So the ghost chased you?” Chase asks.

“Not just that. It knew my name. It kept yelling, "Mrs. Armstrong! Mrs. Armstrong!" And that's when I hit the stairs and fell.” Candace responded.

“You fell?” Sam asks. “It didn’t push you?.”

“Oh, I don't – I don't know. I mean, I think it did. Maybe?”

Chase rolls her eyes. ‘Great.’

“Did you feel like it meant to hurt you, like it was violent, or anything like that?” Chases questions.

               “It was a ghost. I'm lucky to be alive. Anyway, I was at the bottom of the stairs, and that's when it got weird. It helped me up.” Candace says slightly chuckling.

               “Say again?” Sam asks.

               “Yeah. It helped me up. And it kept saying over and over, ‘Please, don't tell my mom.’”

Chase snorts at this, earning a look from Candace. “Sorry, that’s just an odd thing for it to say.”

“It is weird,” she agrees. 

“Yeah,” Sam says. “Weird.”

***

“You take the stairwell and I’ll take the showers.” Harley says, getting out of the Impala.

“Come on, why can’t I take the showers?” Dean asks, getting out as well.

“Um… I don’t know because you’re you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He asks, slightly offended.

“Look Dean. It’s not happening, period.”

“You know you’re hot when you know what you want,” Dean says, sneaking up and hugging her from behind.

“No amount of flattery or affection is going to get you into those showers.”

“Can’t blame a guy for trying,” Dean relents, letting go of Harley, pouting.

***

Harley and Dean sat on the steps of the fitness center waiting for Sam and Chase. Dean had found a newspaper and was looking through it. The headline said that a local man had won the lottery.

“Well, you pick up anything?” Sam asks them.

“Nada,” Harley sighs.

“Yeah. I'm not surprised. I kind of got the feeling back there that crazy pushed Mrs. Armstrong down the stairs.” 

“I got to tell you, I'm pretty disappointed.” Dean adds.

“Of course you are,” Chase says rolling her eyes.

Dean and Harley got up and the four began making their way back to their respective cars. A kid ran by followed by three others.

“Come on, guys, get him!” One of the presumably bullies says.

“I got him! I got him!” Another yells.

Dean being Dean has to make a reference and calls after the kid running from the others, “Run, Forrest, run!”

“I don't think anything's going on around here,” Chase says. “Maybe for once we get a break?”

“When do we ever get breaks?” Harley asks.

“Never,” Chase sighs dramatically.

The hunters overhear a man arguing with a cop on the pier, “How the hell was I supposed to get a look at it? It grabbed me from behind and threw me into a tree!”

“Something's going on,” Dean comments.

“Yeah, okay, Gus. I understand you got shook up. Anyone would be. But don't you think it – Don't you think it had to be a bear?” The cop asks.

“I know a damn bear track when I see one! This thing didn't leave bear tracks! Its feet were huge!” Gus answers.

“Now, Gus…”

“It was Bigfoot, Hal – The Bigfoot!”

At this the group started walking towards Gus and Hal.

“Gus, you're not talking sense here.”

“There's a Bigfoot out there, damn it, and he's a son of a bitch!”

“Excuse us, FBI,” Sam says, breaking the ice as they all pull out their badges.

“What?” Hal, the cop, responds.

“We’re here about Bigfoot,” Harley states matter-of-factly.

“About Bigfoot?”

“Yes.” Harley promptly turns towards Gus. “Can you tell me exactly where this happened?”

“Why, yes, I can,” Gus says, shooting a victorious look to the cop

***

“What the hell's going on in this town? First there's a ghost that's not real, and now a Bigfoot sighting?” Dean asks. 

The four hunters wander through the forest, near where Gus said he’d spotted Bigfoot. Mosquitos swarm around them, trees densely surrounding the few miles around. Chase, already sick of being in the woods, was already bitten several times by the annoying bugs. 

“Well, every hunter who’s worth their salt knows Bigfoot’s a hoax,” Sam says.

“Chase, didn’t you used to actually believe in Bigfoot?” Dean asks.

“Only because you told me he did!” Chase retorts. “Everything else is real, so I’m sorry if my seven-year-old self decided to believe her older brother.”

“In all fairness, he could just be really good at staying under the radar. I mean we didn’t think angels were real. Now we’ve met Cas and that asshole brother of his.” Harley adds.

“Well, maybe someone’s pumping LSD into the town water supply,” Dean jokes. 

“Then what made those?” Chase asks, stopping suddenly, pointing at large tracks, which couldn’t possibly have been made by a bear.

“That, uh... is a big foot.” Sam says hesitantly.

“Well, okay then,” Chase says. 

“Bigfoot isn’t looking so crazy all of the sudden,” Harley states.

The hunters begin following the tracks to a liquor store. Upon entering they notice that no one else is there and that the place is ransacked.

“So, what – Bigfoot breaks into a liquor store, jonesing for some hooch?” Dean says, before leaning down to inspect a few broken bottles, “Amaretto and Irish cream. He's a girl-drink drunk.”

Harley rolls her eyes at the comment.

“Dean, as a female, you should be and definitely are fully aware that I can match you in alcohol consumption. And Harley could probably outdrink all of us if she actually drank.”

“Yeah, but you’re different.”

Chase raises an eyebrow. “Choose your next words very, very carefully, Dean.”

Dean’s eyes widen and he simply turns around to keep investigating. “Seriously? He took the whole porno rack? I will repeat myself. What is going on in this town?”

After one final sweep of the place, they found some fur and decided to sit outside, pondering what this all meant.

“I got nothing,” Dean says, breaking the silence that had fallen over them.

“It’s got to be a joke, right?” Sam asks. 

“Yeah,” Chase agrees. “Maybe a big-ass motherfucker in a gorilla suit?”

“Probably,” Harley agrees.

“Or it's a Bigfoot. You know, and he's some kind of a alcoholo-porno addict. Kind of like a deep-woods Duchovny.” Dean adds.

“I thought you didn’t believe in Bigfoot,” Harley teases.

Dean gives her a pointed look. “Yeah, well, it seems everything’s getting weirder by the day, so what else am I supposed to believe?” He frowns, looking past Harley, to see a little girl on a bike, riding past. A porno magazine falls out of the basket attached to her bike, causing all four of the hunters to pause. “A little young for Busty Asian Beauties.”

“I don’t think she’s our Bigfoot, but she might know him. I say we follow her.”

***

“What's this, like a ‘Harry and the Hendersons’ deal?” Dean asks when they arrive at the little girl’s house.

They knock on the door and the little girl answers, “Hello?”

“Hello! Um, could we... You know what? Are your parents home?” Sam asks.

“Nope.”

“No,” Chase repeats in dejection. 

“Look, we just want to know if you’ve seen anyone really furry with big feet?” Harley says, probably a little too sharply. She’s never been particularly great with kids.

“Is he in trouble?” The little girl asks worriedly.

“No, of course not,” Chase says, kneeling down to the girl’s height. “We just want to make sure he’s okay.”

“Exactly!” Dean says.

“He’s my teddy bear,” she says. “I think he’s sick.”

“That’s perfect!” Chase says enthusiastically. “Because, we are… teddy bear doctors!” She bluffs, shooting a look back to have the others cover her ass.

“That’s us, teddy bear doctors, so if we could see your teddy bear we might be able to make him better,” Harley quickly says.

“Really?” The little girl asks.

“Really,” Chase says.

***

“He's in my bedroom. He's pretty grumpy,” Audrey says, knocking on the door. “Teddy? There's some nice doctors here to see you.” She opens the door to show a giant stuffed bear turn to them. 

“Close the fucking door!” the bear explains, causing Chase’s eyes to widen. She glances quickly at Audrey, hoping she wasn’t taking note of the language being used. Audrey quickly closes the door and turns back to the hunters with a shrug.

“See what I mean?” she asks. 

The four hunters, disguised as teddy bear doctors, turn to each other skeptically. They follow Audrey into the living room, allowing them to sit and talk to her. 

“All I ever wanted was a teddy which was big, real, and talked. But now he's sad all the time – not "ouch" sad, but ouch-in-the-head sad – says weird stuff, and smells like the bus,” Audrey explains to the four, who all watch her carefully. 

Chase snorts, “I understand that feeling.”

“Little girl,” Dean starts.

“Audrey!” Audrey exclaims, chastising Dean again for not using her name. 

“Audrey,” Dean corrects, “How exactly did your teddy bear become real?”

“I wished for it,” she says simply, as though it would be obvious.

“You wished for it?” Harley asks hesitantly.

“At the wishing well,” Audrey says, further explaining. 

They stand awkwardly outside the bedroom door, looking to each other nervously. Dean opens the door slightly, allowing all four to peer in. A large teddy bear sits on the bed, facing a loud tv, displaying the news. 

“Look at this,” the bear says, gesturing to the propaganda being spewed to the viewers. “You believe this crap?”

Dean raises his brows, pursing his lips slightly. “Not really.”

“It is a terrible world,” the bear continues to moan. “Why am I here?”

“For tea parties!” Audrey exclaims expectantly and excitedly. 

“Tea parties? Is that all there is?” he demands, gunfire on the tv momentarily distracting him enough for Dean to close the door and turn to Audrey. 

“Audrey,” Sam asks. “Can you give us a minute?”

“Okay,” she says, skipping off to the other room. 

“Okay,” Sam repeats, turning back to others. “Should-should we kill this bear?”

“I think it might kill itself,” Harley says, grimacing.

“I hate to agree, but I agree,” Chase sighs. 

“So what? We leave it alone?” Dean asks.

“I mean I don’t know,” Harley says.

“What would we even do? Shoot it? Burn it?” Chase asks sarcastically. 

“How do we even know that's gonna work? I don't want some giant, flaming, pissed-off teddy on our hands,” Dean says. 

“Yeah. Besides, I get the feeling that the bear isn't really the, you know, core problem here,” Sam sighs. They quickly make their way to Audrey. “Audrey. Where are your parents?”

She pauses a moment. “My mom wished they were in Bali, so I think they're in Bali.”

Chase’s eyes widen. “I wish I could do that.”

“Okay, well... I'm really sorry to have to break this to you, but... your bear is sick. Yeah, he's – he's got…” Sam pauses, shooting a look to all the other

“Depre-” Harley starts. Chase smacks a palm over her best friend’s mouth, her eyes cursing at her, as she has to improvise. 

“Lollipop...disease,” Chase forces out, thinking of the most innocent seeming idea. 

“Yeah!” Sam says, jumping on board. “Lollipop disease.”

“It's not uncommon for a bear his size. But, see, it's – it’s really contagious,” Dean explains. 

“Yeah, so, is there – is there someone, maybe a grown-up, that you can stay with while we treat him?” Sam asks. 

“Mrs. Hurley lives down the street,” Audrey says. 

Chase shoots Harley a disgusted  look, only now tearing her hand away, because Harley licked it. Chase wipes it on Harley’s shoulder, earning an eye roll from the boys as Harley tries to contain her laughter. 

“Perfect,” Dean says. 

“Good, yeah, good. Uh, we'd like you to stay there for a few days, okay?” Sam requests. 

Audrey shrugs, nonplussed. “Okay.”

“Oh, and, Audrey? Where is this wishing well?” Chase asks. 

***

The four hunters stare up at the sign, reading Lucky Chin's Chinese Restaurant, wordlessly sending each other furtive glances, not wishing to go inside. Eventually, the girls wander over to the door and pull it open, allowing the boys to step in, just as a child exits. 

“I know what I’m wishing for,” Harley says as soon as they step in making a beeline to the fountain.

“What are you going to wish for?” Sam asks as the other three follow Harley.

“I can’t tell you until after I make my wish.” She rolls her eyes and throws a coin in.

They wait a minute.

“Did it work?” Dean asks.

“Dunno? I don’t really feel any different.” Harley says, “I guess it did?”

“What did you wish for?” Sam asks.

“To be human.”

The three  Winchesters stare at her in shock. 

“Are you sure that was smart? All these wishes seem to be going awry, and you don’t know the kind of repercussions that could result from you wanting that-” Chase rambles in worry, concern filling her brown eyes as she stares at her best friend. Harley interrupts her, holding a hand up. “Sorry.”

“Well, my turn then,” Dean says, stepping forward. 

“What’re you wishing for?” Sam asks, curious. 

“Shh,” Dean holds up a hand. “Not supposed to tell.”

He tosses a coin in and not even a second later, a man walks in, “Somebody order a footlong Italian with jalapeño?”

Dean grins at the others, before holding his hand up slightly. “That’d be me.”

“Why don’t you wish for something?” Harley asks Chase. 

Chase shrugs. “I dunno what to wish for.”

“How about like, a book, or cat ears, or something.”

“Sure, let me just ask for a headband,” Chase laughs, fishing a coin out of her pocket.

Pulling out a quarter, she approaches the wishing well. Tossing in the coin silently, she waits with bated breath, a hand outstretched, awaiting her cat ears. She frowns, turning around. 

“I guess they don’t all work,” she shrugs. 

Harley snickers, pointing at her head. “They’re right there.”

Chase reaches up, and pulls off a headband, cat ears that match her hair -dark brown with red streaks. She smiles before resituating them on her head. “Okay, cool, so what do we do about this?”

“I don’t know. Stopping people’s wishes from coming true sounds like a dick move.”

The four went to sit in a booth and talk things over.

“I’m guessing this is also a result,” Chase says, gesturing to the headlines in the newspaper.

“And that,” Sam agrees, pointing to a couple over at a different table. 

“Unless he’s got a really great personality or he’s rich, definitely,” Harley adds.

“Yeah, ‘personality’,” Dean says.

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

Dean winks at Harley from across the booth. Chase snorts. Dean turns his look to Chase, a frown settling across his face as he glares at her playfully. Chase shrugs in defense, reaching a hand up to readjust her cat ears. 

Dean takes a bite of his sandwich, moaning slightly. He points to it with a full mouth and a wide grin. “Thish ish good.”

“Ew,” Chase says. “Close your mouth, swallow, and then say something. God, Dean.”

Dean just grins at her wider. 

Sam rolls his eyes and interrupts. “So, you’re right, it seems like a dick move, but come on, man. When has something like this ever come without a price tag? And usually a deadly one.”

“Sam’s got a point,” Harley says.

“I don't know. It's a damn good sandwich. All right. Fine. We'll put a hold on the wishing till we figure out what's going on,” Dean sighs. 

“Uh, sir, sir, I’m sorry,” a worker comes over to their table. “We don’t allow people to eat outside food here.”

“Well, I am certainly not gonna eat the inside food here. Health department. You, my friend, have a rat infestation. We're gonna have to shut this place down under emergency hazard code 56C.”

Chase raises a brow, but then nods solemnly, trying to play along. 

“Rats?” The man exclaims in shock. 

***

The four hunters stand side by side, looking into the now-drained fountain. The buddha is plaster, paint peeling from its old, wearied edges, the smile thoroughly creeping out Chase. She looks away from it, scanning the bottom of the fountain, but nothing seems out of place. 

“Typical fountain, plaster Buddha. Nothing I can see,” Dean says.

“Yes,” the chinese worker says, agreeing enthusiastically. “Nothing. We keep a clean place here.”

“Sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave during the preliminary investigation, okay? Thank you,” Sam says. The man leaves, though a sour look adorns his face. 

“Oh, come on. Aren't you a little bit tempted?” Dean asks, flipping a coin to Sam. 

Sam chuckles lightly, handing the coin back to Dean. “No. Wouldn’t be real. I wouldn’t trust it.”

“I don’t know, that bear seemed pretty real,” Chase says. 

“Wasn’t the bear a depressed drunk?” Harley asks. 

Chase waves her off. “No matter.”

“Come on, if you could wish yourself back, you know, before it all started... Think about it. You'd be some big yuppie lawyer with a nice car and a white picket fence,” Dean says, ignoring the girls’ deliberation. 

“Not what I’d wish for,” Sam says. 

“Seriously?” Dean looks at Sam, surprised. 

“It's too late to go back to our old lives, Dean. I'm not that guy anymore,” Sam deadpans. 

“All right, well, what, then? Hmm? What would little, baby Sammy wish for?” Chase asks, teasing her younger brother.

He looks at her, a serious expression on his face. It causes Chase to pause. “Lilith’s head on a plate. Bloody.”

Harley attempts to whistle lowly, forgetting she can’t whistle at all. “Shit, I’d like that too.”

“Also,” Sam says, lightening up slightly, “You’re by far, much smaller than me.”

Chase rolls her eyes, pouting slightly. “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

“What’s that?” Dean asks, pointing to an old coin at the bottom of the fountain. 

The three others turn to look at it closely, unsure of what it is. 

“Some kind of old coin. I don't recognize the markings,” Sam says. 

“Neither do I,” Harley adds. 

Dean bends over and goes to grab it, but can’t seem to pull it off the fountain floor. “Damn,” he grunts, unable to move it at all.

“Lift with your legs,” Sam jokes. 

“That little fucker really is welded on there,” Dean says. 

“Let me try,” Harley says, attempting to pick up the coin. It didn’t even budge. “Noted, I’m not freakishly strong anymore. Guess I really am human.”

The boys left to grab a crowbar and a mallet. The worker attempted to stop them once he saw the tools, but the boys brushed past him.

“Let me see that. I got an idea,” Dean says referring to the mallet, he already had the crowbar. He wedged the end of the crowbar between the coin and the fountain, and hit the mallet against the crowbar. The head of the mallet flew off almost hitting Harley in the face.

“That was close. Too close,” Harley says once the mallet head lands.

“Coin's magical,” Sam says.

“I’d say,” Chase agrees.

“I think it’s hoodoo that keeps it protected,” Dean adds. “We can’t destroy it.”

Sam apparently keeps a pencil and paper on him and takes a frottage of the coin handing it to Dean as he was closest to Sam.

“All right, here. Y’all got to look into this.” Sam adds.

“Where you going?” Dean asks.

“Something just occurred to me.”

***

Chase sits, leaning against the wall of her and Harley’s motel room as she waits for her best friend. For some reason, Harley is sick. She’s sitting on the bathroom floor, waiting until she gets sick again, her head resting against the cabinet door, next to the toilet. 

Chase herself didn’t feel the greatest. Her head pounded and her ears were ringing. A click lets her know that Harley is exiting the bathroom and Chase sits up straighter, trying to ignore how sensitive to the light her eyes are. 

“Feeling any better?”

Harley shakes her head. “Not really.”

“Any idea what it could be?”

Harley shakes her head again, sighing deeply. “It could be something bloodborne. Something I picked up from a bad blood bag?”

“Yep, no superhuman strength, no immunities, and you’re probably not going to get any better soon.”

Harley looks up, a retort on her lips, but it dies upon her eyes landing on Chase. She stares, eyes wide, at her best friend. “Chase, you-your ears.”

Chase frowns. “What about them?” She asks, reaching up to readjust them. However, when she feels her fingertips meet them, she freezes. Her ears twitch, and a strangled cry escapes her lips as she bolts up, running into the bathroom. She stares at her reflection with wide, horrified eyes.

“I have cat ears!”

“Well, that is what you wished for,” Harley says, obviously trying to keep herself from laughing.

“No wonder my head hurts! These ears are just super sensitive to everything.”

Chase exits the bathroom, and upon Harley meeting her gaze, eyes flicking up to her ears, before meeting her eyes once more, Harley can no longer contain herself. 

Harley bursts into laughter, wincing as her sides begin to ache, abdominal pain starting up, causing her to clutch her sides.

“You okay?” Chase asks.

“No, but I’ll manage.” Harley says, pulling out her phone and dialing Dean’s number, “I found something on the coin though, before I puked my guts out.”

“The wishes turn bad,” Dean says as soon as he picks up.

“Trust me. We know,” Harley sighs, putting Dean on speakerphone.

“What happened to you two?”

“Chase is a neko, and we think I have some bloodborne illness. You?’

“That sandwich made me sick.”

“Anyway the reason I called you is because I found out the coin is Babylonian. It’s of the goddess Tiamat.”

“At least we have a starting point now,” Chase says.

***

The four hunters arrived at Wesley Mondale’s house. Sam had figured out he was the first to make a wish last night. Harley rang the doorbell and Hope, Wesley’s fiancée, opened the door. 

“Hi! Hope right? We’re the florists.” Harley says flashing her best fake smile and pepping up her attitude.

“Of course! Come in!” Hope says ushering the group inside, “Wes! You didn't tell me that you called the florists for the wedding.” 

“Huh?” Wesley says looking as if he just woke up.

“You're the best! Mmm! Ah! I'm gonna go get my folders.” Hope says rushing off.

“Uh? Okay.”

“Wesley, how's it going?” Dean asks.

“It’s ‘Wes’ Aren't you the guys from the health department?”

“Yeah. And florists on the side,” Sam says.

“Plus FBI,” Dean adds.

“And on Thursdays, we're teddy bear doctors,” Chase says.

“And sometimes I’m a vampire. We’re kind of Jacks of all trades,” Harley finishes.

“Huh? Why does she have cat ears?” Wesley asks, pointing at Chase.

Chase frowns, feigning offense. “It’s a medical condition.”

Wesley turns slightly pink, but looks confused still. “Sorry,” he mumbles, keeping his eyes glued to anything except Chase’s “condition”. 

“Look, Wes, it doesn’t matter who we are. It matters what we know about you,” Harley says pointedly.

“So, coin collector, huh, Wes?” Sam asks.

“Oh. Yeah. My... grandfather gave them to me,” Wes says.

“Did you happen to lose one of those coins lately? And by ‘lose,’ I mean drop into a wishing well at Lucky Chin's and make a wish on it?” Dean asks.

“No, I – I don't know what you're, uh, talking about.”

Hope comes back with folders overflowing with papers.

“Okay, now. I have a lot of ideas, but, you know, we don't have all the money in the world. Wes is between jobs right now. Means more time for me. You know, I'm thinking a Japanese-y ikebana kind of thing,” Hope says, pulling a picture out of one of the folders.

“Yeah. I can see it,” Dean says trying to get rid of her.

“Yeah. So, Hope, uh, tell us how you two lovebirds met,” Chase suggests.

“Oh, best day of my life,” Hope says.

“I bet,” Harley says, trying her best to refrain from rolling her eyes.

“Yeah! It's the funniest thing. We both grew up here, but I never really knew who he was. Not by name anyway. Until one day last month, it was like I just I just saw him for the first time. He was just... glowing. Oh, just glowing.”

“Uh, babe, can you – can you get us some coffee?” Wes asks.

“Yes. Yeah.”

“Oh. Okay. Okay. Mm-Hmm. Okay. Oh, okay. Oh. Mm-mmm, okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay,” Wes says amidst the many many kisses Hope is giving him. Chase looks away, slightly disgusted and feeling awkward.

“Yeah.”

“Wes, we know. So tell us the truth,” Harley says. 

“My – my grandfather found the coin in north Africa, you know, World War II. And, uh, he brought it back. He, um, he said it was a real wish-granting coin, but that nobody should ever use it. Um... It was all I had, and when he died, I thought, "Well, you know what? Why not give the coin a shot?” Wesley explains.

“Yeah, well, now you're gonna wish it back,” Sam demands.

“Oh,” he laughs, “Oh. Ha ha, no, I'm not.”

“If you don’t do something about it, something bad’s gonna happen,” Dean says.

“Something like us,” Chase adds, crossing her arms. 

“We really wish you'd come with us,” Dean says, pulling out his gun, then putting it away again.

***

“I don’t get how anyone could wish for love,” Harley says, starting the flow of conversation.

Chase pauses, momentarily thinking of her answer. “To be honest, I don’t either. I don’t believe in love really, outside of family, so I’m not quite sure it’s something I’d ever think of. I’d probably wish for books.”

“Didn’t you already have a wish?”

“Oh. Right. Man, really wasted that opportunity.”

“Any specific books?”

“All of them?” Chase suggests jokingly. “I don’t think I’d be able to choose. Watch, the bad thing that happens is I get all the books, but I get a panic attack because I know I could never read them all so I die. Or they fall on top of me and crush me. That would be bad too.”

“I mean that’s one way to go. Suck that these wishes go bad though. It would’ve been nice to just have one good one.”

“I understand what you mean,” Chase replies, her ears twitching at the sound of another passing car. 

Harley laughs at the twitching ears, but soon regrets it as her stomach flares up again, “Ow! Okay being human kind of sucks.”

“Wow,” Chase says sarcastically. “Because I’ve never told you that before or anything. Because I’ve never expressed dissatisfaction with being human ever.”

“Okay fair, but like all I’ve ever wanted was to be human.”

“That’s also fair, but in the words of my favorite jamaican crustacean, ‘the seaweed is always greener in somebody else’s lake’,” Chase half-sings the quote.

“I was in a production of The Little Mermaid once. I was the little seahorse that follows Triton around.”

“That’s adorable!” Chase exclaims. “How have you never told me that before? We’ve talked about our theatre experiences so many times.”

“I guess I forgot about it amidst the nightmare that was Theatre Arts.”

Chase fake shudders, “Tech week, am I right?”

“I never had a tech week. Sounds exhausting though.”

Chase’s eyes widen as she turns slightly to peer at Harley. “How in the world have you not had tech week, but you’ve been in theatre? Tech week is the bane of my entire existence. It’s the last week of practice right before the show, where you’ve got costumes, lights, sounds, and all the makeup. You run through every scene like fifty times each night, and oh my God, don’t get me started on the backstage stress because your director, no matter how chill normally, is absolutely insane.”

“Well, I didn’t know it was called tech week. And those were my favourite practices.”

Chase shoots Harley a look of concern. “You really aren’t human, man.”

“Well, I am now. So deal with it.”

Chase smiles slightly. “Oh, right.”

The car jerks to the left suddenly as Chase hits something. “What the fuck?” She cries out, looking around wildly to see what she’d hit. “What the hell was that?”

“I don’t know.”

“I didn’t see anything,” Chase mumbles, turning back around in her seat. “Did you?”

“Nah,” Harley shakes her head. “It was probably nothing. Just a speedbump.”

***

Chase and Harley come to a stop in front of Lucky Chin’s. They step out of the vehicle, heading inside to see Wesley and Sam getting out of the Impala, but no Dean.

“Sammy, where’s Dean?”

“Dealing with a runaway child with super strength.”

Chase raises a brow. “Are you… being… facetious?”

Sam shakes his head. “Sadly, no. Anyway, let’s get this over with.”

“Why can’t we get what we want?” Wes practically whines.

“Because life sucks?” Harley answers unsure.

“Yeah, Wes, this is life. And we don’t all get what we want,” Chase says, scratching her ears. 

Suddenly a bolt of lightning shoots down from the sky, splintering into three, hitting Sam, Harley, and Chase, knocking them flat on their backs. Their bodies lay still, dead.

***

Sam, Harley, and Chase woke up on the pavement outside of Lucky Chin’s restaurant. Hope walks out as the three are getting up, looking back with a confused glance before continuing on her way. Wes comes out shortly after. He hands Sam the coin, dejected, before walking away.

“Well, I don’t feel like puking anymore,” Harley says.

Chase frantically reaches her hands up into her hair, sighing in relief as she feels no evidence of ears. 

“I am never making a wish again,” Harley shudders.

***

The three Winchesters and the one now-no-longer-human, Harley, are all sitting on a bench, squished in next to each other. It barely seems like Sam or Chase are actually sitting on the bench, so much as leaning against the edges as Dean and Harley take up most of the room in the middle. Audrey walks past, normal sized teddy bear in hand; a bandaid had been placed over a bullet sized hole in its head. 

Chase waves to Audrey, who waves back, skipping alongside who must be her parents, extremely sunburnt and confused.

“So, uh,” Sam starts, glancing awkwardly around the town. “The coin’s melted down now, so it shouldn’t cause any more problems.”

“Audrey's parents are back from Bali,” Chase points out, nodding her head towards the retreating family. “Looks like all the wishes are gone.”

“And so are we,” Dean says, folding up a newspaper, whose headline reads, ‘Winning Lottery Ticket A Fake’.

The group gets up, each pair heading back to their cars. Dean suddenly stops, causing the girls to look back at him and Sam, who stand next to Baby. 

“You guys were right,” he says. 

Chase and Harley share a confused look. “About?” Harley asks.

“I shouldn't have lied to you. I do remember everything that happened to me in the Pit. Everything.”

“So talk to us about it,” Sam suggests. 

“No,” Dean deadpans. 

“Dean, bu-” Chase starts. Harley puts a hand on her arm as Dean holds up a hand, cutting her off. Harley gives her a look, telling her to drop it.

“I won’t lie anymore, but I’m not going to talk about it.”

“Dean, look, you can't just shoulder this thing alone. You got to let us help,” Sam says.

“He’ll talk when he’s ready to talk. No point forcing it.” Harley sighs.

“The things that I saw... there aren't words. There is no forgetting. There's no making it better. Because it is right here,” Dean taps his head, “forever. You guys wouldn't understand. And I could never make you understand. So I am sorry,” Dean says. 

Chase gives Dean a smile, small and bittersweet. “It’s okay, Dean. Just know we’re here for you when you need us.”

Dean returns the look, opening the driver’s side car door, about to get in. “I know.”

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Hey! Will go on a 10-day trip soon and I was thinking i would like to save some fics just in case i don t have data over there. Share some longer stories? (also really loving your blog, million heart emojis from me)

Hi Nonny!

Oh gosh, that’s exciting!! I love long trips! And lucky for you I LOVE long fics, because they’re perfect for a long trip! (that and I have SO MANY FICS for 20 to 25 and 25 to 50 that I had to choose one or the other for you, LOL). 

Lucky for you I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to share that very list!! BUT if you prefer some longer fics, check out these past lists I made:

Top 20 Fave 40K+ w. Fics (April 2017)

Novel Length Fics: 50 to 100K (Nov. 2018) 

Novel Length Fics: 100K+ w. (May 2019)

Smut-Free Fics Over 50K (Aug. 2019)

Otherwise, I think these fics will be perfect for your trip! And as always, I sort them by length so if you want longer fics, check out the bottom of the list and work your way up, or just want something that will last you a plane ride or a day of relaxation, check out the top to bottom!

—–

NOVELLA-LENGTH FICS: 25 to 50K w. (Aug 2019)

Among the Secret Things by Kate_Lear for coloredink (E, 26,073 w., 14 Ch. || Angst, Drama, Amnesia) – Sherlock would be the last person to describe himself as given to flights of fancy, but at the look on Lestrade’s face he could swear that something inside him curls up and dies. Part 1 of Among the Secret Things

Dropping the Act by jadztone (T, 27,258 w., 10 Ch. || Parentlock, Fake Relationship, Mary’s Family, Post-S4, Cuddling & Snuggling, Bed Sharing, Pining, Christmas) – Sherlock and John are quite happy living together with Rosie in Baker St. They might be even happier if they didn’t act towards each other like their love is only platonic. Mycroft brings troubling news in the form of Mary’s parents wanting to know just what their grandchild’s home life is like. The boys decide to spend Christmas pretending like they are in love in order to seem more like a "normal" family. It's easy enough to pretend when all you're doing is dropping the act.

And A Doctor by StillWaters1 (T, 27,393 w., 6 Ch. || Friendship, Doctor John, Whump, Soldier / Doctor Dichotomy, Five and One) – It was only when people actually saw John working as a physician that they began to understand: that it wasn't just about bullets and IEDs and trauma care under fire. That "doctor" actually covered a pretty wide field. And that John was bloody good at covering ground. 5 times Dr. Watson treated others and 1 time he treated himself.

Don't Leave Anything Out by lookupkate (E, 27,422 w., 24 Ch. || Letters / Epistolary, Misunderstandings, Angst, Happy Ending, Alternate Meeting, Sherlock in Love, Pining Sherlock) – The first letter John writes home from Afghanistan is meant to go to a woman he went on only one date with. How it ends up in Sherlock's hands is completely innocent. What happens next is not. What do you do when you find out the person you're in love with has been lying about something as monumental as who they are? What do you do when you're the one who lied?How on earth do you put the pieces back together?

Vena Cava by SilentAuror (E, 27,452, 1 Ch. || H/C, Infidelity, Angst, HLV Fix-It, Romance) – Sherlock has been shot in the chest; John has been shot in the heart. Though everything is broken, they do their best to heal the wounds that Mary left on them both.

Trust Me, Trust Nobody by BlueMoonOnTheRise (T, 27,751 w., 10 Ch. || Kidnapping, Friendship / No Slash, Adventure, Trust Issues) – Whatever he told Mycroft, John trusted Sherlock almost instantly. When a new case shows up - smattered with the usual thrill of danger, death and cool logic - such trust ends up pushed to its very limits...

26 Pieces by Lanning (E, 28,236 w., 1 Ch. || H/C, Torture, First Time, Happy Ending, Schmoop) – Mycroft gives Sherlock the apparently simple task of solving a puzzle box containing a stolen microchip. It isn't simple.

Silhouettes by allonsys_girl (E, 28,585 w., 7 Ch. || Canon Compliant, POV John, Heavy Drinking, Sad/Depressed John, Grief/Mourning, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Reunion, Foot Jobs, Blow Jobs, Infidelity, Cheating, Drug Use/Abuse, Anal, Switchlock, Rimming, Parentlock) – Sherlock and John find comfort in each other's arms, but as ever with these two, it's not your typical relationship. It's fluffy at the beginning, gets deeply angsty in the middle, gets porny at the end.

Hellfire by testosterone_tea (E, 28,596 w., 9 Ch. || Fantasy / Magic / Mages / Elementals AU || Mage Sherlock, Elemental John, Developing Relationship, Torture, Powerful / BAMF John, POV Alternating, Dark / Blood Magic, UST, First Kiss) – Sherlock is a Mage that gets involved with a case involving Dark Summoning rituals, leading him to John Watson, a man with Berserker blood. The only thing is, Berserkers have been extinct for centuries. And of course, nothing involving Mycroft and his interfering ways is ever simple. This time, even Sherlock may have bitten off more than he can chew.

An Experiment in Apathy Series by belovedmuerto (G to E, 28,701 w. across 13 stories || Empath John, Empath-by-Proxy Sherlock, Epic Bromance Becomes Romance, Angst, Nightmares, Experiments, Trauma, Dreams) – "No man is an island, John. You less so than most." A sequel to the EiE Series, wherein John and Sherlock explore their relationship.

To be Loved by You by TwisterMelody (M, 28,775 w., 1 Ch. || Angst, H/C, Friends to Lovers, Post-HLV, Infidelity, Character Death) – Too many times they had confessed themselves in the darkness, leaving it there, never to speak of it again.  But this is different.  This love deserves the light of day.

To Mend Icarus by AlessNox (T, 29,186 w., 14 Ch. || Post-TRF, Friendship, Drama, BAMF!John, Emotional Turmoil, Introspection, Harry is in this Fic, Angry John, Happy Ending, Queerplatonic Relationship) – After a case lands John Watson in court, he tells Sherlock that he is leaving. Not understanding why, Sherlock decides that the only way to learn the truth is to investigate his flatmate, Dr. John Watson. A revision of the story Mending Icarus.

The Wisteria Tree by SilentAuror (E, 29,773 w., 1 Ch. || Post-S3, Emotional Love Making, Amnesia/Memory Loss, Sherlock Loves John So Much, Sherlock POV, Romance, Angst with Happy Ending, First Times, Hurt/Comfort, Est. Rel., Retirement) – Sherlock wakes up from a month-long coma only to discover that he has no memory of the previous six years to his own shock as well as John's...

M Is For Moriarty by ElvendorkInfinity (T, 29,882 w., 12 Ch. || Suspense, Mystery, Case Fic, Worried Sherlock, No Slash, Whump) – A figure at the end of the hospital bed; a needle in the dark...Moriarty has John, and Sherlock must follow the paper trail through London to find him before time runs out. Sequel to BANG.

"finally kiss the bloody idiot" by Salambo06 (E, 29,812 w., 13 Ch. || Mutual Pining, Declarations of Love, First Kiss / Time, Angst, Misunderstandings, Fantasies POV John) – Inspired by a fic idea on tumblr : "John and Sherlock know the Yard has a pool going for when they’re finally going to get together. It’s been running forever, and it’s worth thousands of pounds. It’s all fun and games, hahaha, until they find out Lestrade is in dire financial straits (dog needs emergency surgery, he’s putting his kid through gymnastics training, I don’t know, something), and they decide to fake a relationship to win the pool for him. Sherlock figures out the day and way that Lestrade thinks it’s going to happen, and they act it out. It’s all for a good cause, fake relationship style, until it’s not." Part 1 of The Pool

Another Auld Lang Syne by DiscordantWords (M, 30,234 w., 31 Ch. || Post S4, Mutual Pining, Alternating POV, Introspection, Parentlock, Christmas, New Year’s, First Kiss, Past Drug Use, Angst with Happy Ending, Drinking, Sherlock Whump) – There had been years of missed chances.

Hitting the Water at Sixty Miles an Hour by what_alchemy (E, 30,568 w., 5 Ch. || Fake Rel., Roadtrips, Slow Burn) – “You love your mother, Sherlock?” John watched the muscles in Sherlock’s jaw jump. He nodded in one sharp jerk.“Then we’re going to her party and making her happy.” John let out a resigned sigh. “As a ruddy couple, you bastard.”

The Kissing Disease by cottonballz_of_death (E, 30,856 w., 15 Ch. || Sick Fic, Angst with Happy Ending, Case Fic, Self-Harm, Slow Burn, Jealous Sherlock, Body Image Issues, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional H/C, POV Sherlock, Oral / Anal, Thong, Frottage) – John brings home a boyfriend, shocking Sherlock, who long ago gave up hope that his straight flatmate would ever take a romantic interest in him. In a bid to reconnect with John, he tries to infect himself with a "harmless" virus. Neither of them is prepared for the emotional fallout that results.

An Acquired Taste by kinklock (E, 31,059 w., 4 Ch. || Vampires AU || Vampire Sherlock, Misunderstandings, Bat!Sherlock, Pining Sherlock, Humour, Magical Realism, Fluff and Angst, Blood Drinking, Holmes Family, Slow Burn) – At Montague Street when Sherlock was forced to sate his body’s needs, he was at least able to wander about the flat as much as he pleased. At Baker Street, it was mini-bags in a mini-fridge and bedroom confinement.

Shallow Grave by SilentAuror (E, 31,672 w., 1 Ch. || Romance, Angst, HLV Fix It, Infidelity, Pining Sherlock, First Person POV Sherlock) – Starts as Sherlock's plane is taking off at the end of His Last Vow. When he finds out that Moriarty is alive and that he's being recalled from his mission, Sherlock decides that he should have told John how he felt before he left. So he walks off the plane and kisses him.

Love or What You Will by miss_frankenstein (T, 31,987 w., 11 Ch. || College/Uni AU || Professor John, Ph.D Student Sherlock, Pining John, Poetry, Falling in Love / Slow Burn, Light Angst, Happy Ending) – John is an English professor who specializes in War and Post-War Literature and Sherlock is the brilliant yet impossible Ph.D. student assigned to be his TA because no one in the Chemistry Department is willing to put up with him. And - somewhere between Waugh and Plath, e-mails and takeaway, novels and villanelles - they fall in love.

Here Comes The Sun by JennLynn77 (E, 32,126 w., 15 Ch. || Post S4/TFP, John Whump, Caring Sherlock, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Friends to Lovers, Emotional Sex, First Time, Virgin Sherlock, Switchlock, Cuddling/Snuggling, Surgery/Injury Recovery, Endearments, Anal, Hand Jobs, Porn with Feels) – John suffers an injury and needs surgery. Sherlock, and those around him, help John recover. Along the way, John and Sherlock realise what they mean to each other, and what they've had together all this time.

The Midas Touch by flawedamythyst (E, 32,231 w., 1 Ch. || Magical Realism, John has a Magical Cock, Dub Con, Healer John) – John Watson has a medical condition that means everyone he sleeps with is instantly healed of all illness and injury. This causes complications when Sherlock breaks his arm, and even more complications when Sherlock falls in love with him. Yes, this is a story where John has a literal magic healing cock. It's a lot less cracky than you're probably imagining. Warning: Contains complex issues of sexual consent, although not between Sherlock and John.

Five Times They Kissed for a Case, and One Time They Kissed for Real by fleetwood_mouse (M, 32,406 w., 6 Ch. || 5+1, Slow Burn, Fluff / Angst, Mutual Pining, Friends to Lovers) – A stolen ring! An artful blogger! And many more adventures for your enjoyment.

A Study In Auto-Signatures, Sniper Dolphins, and Sex Holidays by cwb (E, 32,690 w., 8 Ch. || Case Fic, Post S3, Evil Mary, Dev. Rel., Honeymoon, Epistolary, Bottomlock, First Kiss / Time, Fluff, Secret Agents, BAMF!John) – John and Mary go on their sex holiday, and Sherlock is grumpy and pining about it. Part 1 of HOT DOLPHIN SEX

a good old-fashioned happy ending by darcylindbergh (E, 32,731 w., 26 Ch. || Christmas, Frottage, Comfort, Est. Rel., Fluff, Insecure Sherlock) – For Christmas this year, Sherlock wants to get John something special: something every fairytale deserves. Part 2 of things fairy tales are made of

Our Enthusiasms Which Cannot Always Be Explained by withoutawish (M, 32,961 w., 1 Ch. || Christmas, Fluff and Angst, H/C, Post-TRF, Case Fic, Mild Gore, Sherlock Whump) – The list that is tacked haphazardly on the refrigerator of 221B reads, ‘Kidney(s), and/or a full cadaver (preferably male, late 30s, under six feet tall), bag of fresh toes, sixteen cow’s eyes (corneas retained), dual exhaust hand –held flame thrower, an unopened first edition copy of Joseph Conrad’s 'Heart of Darkness', and no less than ten abhorrently gruesome murders in the upcoming month.” The one neatly hanging next to it simply reads, “Sex.” One of these lists is not John Watson’s. If John Watson were to put what he really wanted in list form, to live in a land somewhere beyond ‘almosts' now that Sherlock Holmes has indeed returned to him, he would never be able to look his flatmate in the eye ever again.

Chaperones by MissDavis (T, 34,114 w., 7 Ch. || 11 Years Post-S4, Fake Relationship, Parentlock, Disney World, Bed / Room Sharing, Friends to Lovers, Fluff, First Kiss, Obsessive Sherlock, Insecure John) – Right. Of course. Everyone assumed they were a couple and no one would question it. John put his elbows up on the table so he could rest his head in his hands. "You want to pretend to be a couple so we can chaperone a trip to Disney World with Rosie's class and you won't have to share a room with a stranger?" "Exactly." Sherlock beamed at him. "Don't worry about the cost. The Birmingham case last month paid more than enough to cover expenses for all three of us."

Pater Noster by SilentAuror (E, 34,256 w., 2 Ch. || Case Fic, HLV+, Family Trauma, Sherlock POV, Villain Mary) – During the autumn that John is staying at Baker Street again after Sherlock was shot, he ruminates over the similarity between Sherlock's shot and the one that killed his father when he was fifteen. Cold case meets series 3 fix-it. Part I takes place entirely within His Last Vow, Part II takes place starting at the end of HLV and continues after.

Bedtime Stories by Liketheriver (M, 34,388 w., 1 Ch. || Emotional H/C, Romance, Angst & Humour, Bed Sharing, John First Person, TRF, John Whump) – John's POV during Season 2 and beyond when Sherlock takes up semi-permanent residence in his bed. A collection of codas and missing scenes wrapped up into one long fic and topped with a bow that takes the story beyond Reichenbach and into happy territory once more. Part 1 of Bedtime Universe

carrying up his morning tea by darcylindbergh (E, 34,504 w., 5 Ch. || Post S3, Minor Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Wakes/Funerals, Estranged John, Pining Sherlock, Depression/Insecurity, Slow Burn, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Chronic Pain/Injury, Reconciliation, Awkwardness, Loneliness, Scars, Heavy Angst With Happy Ending) – His fingers tremble as he dials and he can’t force them steady. Familiar number, even though he hasn’t used it in two years. He isn’t even sure he should be calling it now, but she’d asked. She’d made him promise.

Inexplicable by emmagrant01 (E, 34,664 w., 6 Ch. || Body Swap, TSo3, Magical Realism / Artifacts, Infidelity, Angst) – So what was in that matchbox, anyway? John and Sherlock find out, the hard way.

Where Else Would I Be? by cwb (E, 34,910 w., 10 Ch. || Retirementlock, Domestic Fluff, Falling in Love, Parentlock, Fluff and Smut, Reminiscing) – John and Sherlock's five-year-old granddaughter spends the weekend with them in Sussex. Sherlock happily indulges her whims, and John takes care of them while quietly revisiting the past thirty years of their lives together.

The Yellow Poppies by SilentAuror (E, 34,952 w., 1 Ch. || H/C, Nightmares, HLV Fix-It, PTSD, Trauma, POV Sherlock, Doctor John) – Sherlock is threatened and assaulted in the hospital immediately after having been shot in the heart, first by Mary, then by Magnussen. As he recovers at Baker Street with John and plans the attack on Appledore with Mycroft, he fights to work through the trauma caused by these two visits. Set during His Last Vow.

LHR-HNL by scullyseviltwin (E, 35,066 w., 7 Ch. || Hawaiian Vacation, Post-TRF, Friends To Lovers, Slow Burn, Just Talk Already, Drinking, Mutual Pining) – In need of an endangered flora sample, Sherlock and John must make a trip to an unexpected destination.

That Partitioning of the Things of Youth by wearitcounts (E, 35,353 w., 7 Ch. || Humour and Angst, Post-TRF, Fake Relationship, UST / RST, Friends to Lovers, Jealous John) – Victor Trevor is in town, and nobody's happy.

The Wrong Wagon by DancingGrimm (E, 35,663 w., 20 Ch. || Alternating POV, Molly x John [Molly pines for John], Public Sex, Casual Sex, Obliviousness, BAMF!John, Awkwardness, Angst & Humour, First Time, Virgin Sherlock, Jealous Sherlock) – Molly sees John in a new light and realises that she may have hitched her horse to the wrong wagon...or something like that. John pines for Sherlock and worries what he will think if he ever finds out. And Sherlock doesn't know what Molly's up to...but he knows he doesn't like it.

Classified(s) by blueink3 (E, 36,153 w., 4 Ch. || Wedding Date AU || Fake Relationship, Jealous, PIning, H/C, Idiots in Love, Happy Ending, Mary is not Nice) – Clara's American father is the ambassador to some such territory that Great Britain probably used to own, but she (and Harry’s undying love for her) is the reason John is getting on a flight at 12:30pm, flying across the second largest ocean in the world, and pretending to be in a perfectly happy, healthy relationship with an undoubtedly perfectly coiffed stranger. See, Clara is not only American (and wealthy to boot), she's also best friends with John’s ex-fiancée. Whom she's placed in the wedding party. As Maid of Honor. And John just happens to be Best Man. Bloody brilliant.

The Boy Who Drank Stars by kinklock (E, 36,157 w., 4 Ch. || Howl’s Moving Castle AU || Witches and Wizards, Slow Burn, Magic, Jealous John, Happy Ending, Bed Sharing) – “I’m looking for a castle,” John informed the scarecrow. “A moving one.”Except that, as it turned out, it was not a moving one at all.

we have never seen a greater day than this by Lediona (T, 36,420 w., 7 Ch. || A Royal Night Out AU || WWII / VE Day, Prince Sherlock, Soldier John, Alternating POV, First Kiss, Bittersweet Ending, Homophobia, Dancing) – Peace. At long last. It’s VE Day and Prince William desires to join the celebrations. It is a night of excitement, danger and the first flutters of romance.

Malediction by MapleleafCameo (M, 36,680 w., 11 Ch. || Ladyhawke AU || Magical Realism, Romance, Curses, Eventual Happy Ending) – Cursed to a half-life, John and Sherlock must fight the forces of evil to be reunited once again.

Nothing to Make a Song About by emmagrant01 (E, 36,833 w., 10 Ch. || Post-TRF, First Time, Reunion, Jealous John, Pining Sherlock, Romance, Angst with Happy Ending) – When Sherlock returned from his faked death, John could not forgive him for the deception and broke off their friendship. Ten years later, John returns to London in search of yet another new beginning. Sherlock, not surprisingly, is waiting.

A Promise Made to Be Broken by PlantsAreNeat (E, 37,018 w., 7 Ch. || Fake Relationship, Pining, Slow Burn, RST, Eventual Relationship, POV Sherlock) – A young John makes an ‘if we’re still single at 40, we’ll get together’ pledge to a woman who ends up all wrong for him. She keeps reminding him of the promise, and won't let go of it. John asks Sherlock to pose as his boyfriend at a family wedding, so as to dash her hopes permanently. Sherlock, who has at last acknowledged his feelings for John, reluctantly agrees despite knowing how painful it will be to ‘have’ John, but not keep him.

The Unfinished Letters by SilentAuror (E, 37,391 w. , 1 Ch.|| Post S3 / S3 / HLV Fix it, Angst with Happy Ending, Romance, Infidelity, Depression, Case Fic, POV Third Person Sherlock, Love Confessions, Pining Sherlock, Letters) – A fire at Baker Street leads John to read something he was never intended to see: a notebook of half-written, unfinished letters Sherlock wrote during his time away...

Turn Left at the Park by Glenmore (NR (E), 37,409 w., 28 Ch. || Alternate First Meeting / ASiP Divergence, Case Fic, Depression, Suicidal Ideation, Loneliness, No Mary, Possessive Sherlock, Fluff & Angst, Nightmares/PTSD, Sherlock Saves John, Sherlock Whump-ish, Doctor John) – So what would have happened if John hadn't walked through the park and met Stamford?What if, instead, he walked around the park and just went home?

Goodness Gives Extras by mydwynter (E, 39,629 w., 6 Ch. || Fluff & Angst, Case Fic, Oral / Anal, Humour, First Time, Miscommunication, Snark, Christmas) – Christmas time. 'Tis the season to settle down with a drink, some food and a present or two, and to enjoy the quiet relaxation of the holiday. Instead, there's a case that drags them all over, missing presents, disappointed kids, angry parents, and a freak snowfall. On top of that John has to deal with Sherlock, who is being even more of a prat than usual. He really shouldn't have expected anything different.

Act IV by SilentAuror (E, 39,707 w., 1 Ch. || First Person POV Sherlock, HLV Fix-It, Indifelity, Angst, Drama) – After Sherlock is shot, John moves back into Baker Street. They spend the autumn together as John tries to make sense of his life and make some important decisions about both Mary and Sherlock. Canon-compliant, excerpts from His Last Vow.

A Week is Just Seven Days Isn't It? by scifigrl47 (T, 39,906 w., 4 Ch. || Humour, Friendship/Bromance, Stroppy/Bored Sherlock, Undercover/Army John, Texting, Pining-ish Sherlock, John Whump) – When John heads overseas for a week, Sherlock's forced to fend for himself. It goes about as well as anyone could have anticipated. Which is to say, very, very poorly. Don't worry, things'll be fine in just seven days.

(Never) Turn Your Back to the Sea by DiscordantWords (M, 39,968 w., 7 Ch. || Post S4 Fix It || Grief / Mourning, Victor Trevor, Friendship, Sherlock is Not Okay, Nightmares/Flashbacks/Panic Attacks, Parentlock, Pining Sherlock, Angst with Happy Ending, John Comes Home) – Baker Street is very much the same. Only different. And Sherlock is just trying not to drown.

Only To Be With You by SinceWhenDoYouCallMe_John (M, 40,768 w., 4 Ch. || Black Mirror / Future AU || Character Death, Future Technology, Sickness/Cancer/Illness, Heavy Angst with Happy Ending, First Person POV John, Pining John, Heart-Wrenching Angst) – I tell myself that next time I’ll come near this same place again. Wait around for the mysterious stranger in his coat to dash past me, hot on the heels of a new criminal in black. I think this all the way back to my Exit, planning where I’ll wait and what I’ll say when I see him. Scheming on how to get his name. It’s only once I reach the Exit Point door that I realize two hours and forty-five minutes have passed, and I realize that this won’t be the last time I Visit. It won’t be the last time at all.

The Curious Adventure of the Drs. Watson by ShinySherlock (M, 40,883 w., 14 Ch. || BBC & ACD Fusion || Victorianlock, Time Travel / Magical Realism, Friends to Lovers, Love and Kissing, Romance, Body Swap) – What if ACD Watson and BBC Watson switched places...  “Imposter!” Hands clenching the lapels of John’s coat, Holmes shoved him anew. “Yes!” John agreed, nodding, and then grimacing. “Sort of!”

There's Someone On Your Shoulder by halloa_what_is_this (NR, 41,215 w., 6 Ch. || Pining Sherlock, Introspection, Daydreams, Sherlock Loves John So Much it Hurts) – Sherlock trips and falls head over heels in love, makes a lot of lists and stares, stares, stares.

The Semantics of Crop Circle Formation: a case study by Sherlock Holmes [unpublished] bycanolacrush (M, 41,710 w., 9 Ch. || Sherlock POV, Aliens, Wordplay, Casefic) – “Look at these photographs,” I said, gesturing to the wall of crop circles. “What do you observe?”“Crop circles,” John replied.“Obvious. What else?”“Are…are those intestines surrounding them?” “Yes. The majority are bovine and ovine in origin. The farmers who have acquired these crop circles in their fields have also had a tenth of their livestock murdered and arranged thus.” “Why?” John said, presumably in a rhetorical fashion. I detest rhetorical questions. “That is what I must find out, John.”

Resistivity and Relative Charge by liriodendron (E, 41,770 w., 8 Ch. || Synesthesia, Angst, Case Fic, Romance, Est. Rel., Homophobia, Religious Content, Victor Trevor, Mild Jealous John, Mild John Whump) – In which Sherlock Holmes meets an old acquaintance, John Watson doesn't enjoy a trip to the country quite as much as he thought he would, and the past absolutely refuses to stay where it belongs. Part 3 of Conductivity

Right Hand Man by SilentAuror (E, 42,031 w., 4 Ch. ||  H/C, Injury, Slow Burn, Infidelity, Mary is Not Nice) – When John's left arm becomes paralysed after a car accident, Mary asks Sherlock to take him back to Baker Street to recuperate, as she's about to give birth. Despite the fact that the search for Moriarty is ongoing, Sherlock takes John in and takes responsibility for overseeing his rehabilitation as he adjusts to the loss of his arm.

In the Still of the Night by SilentAuror (E, 42,234 w., 1 Ch. || S4 Fix It / Post-S4, Sherlock POV, Angst, Drama, Romance, Virgin Sherlock, Awkwardness, Misunderstandings / Miscommunications, Case Fic, Travelling, Pining) – As locals on the Northeastern coast begin to report UFO sightings, life at Baker Street becomes significantly awkward as John brings up his desire for more than friendship and Sherlock refuses him. They embark on the investigation from the confines of the tiny cottage Mycroft has rented for them, attempting to navigate both the clues of the case as well as their own inability to communicate...

Guidelines by WithLoweredVoices (M, 43,018 w., 15 Ch. || Winglock || Angels, Fantasy, Angst, BAMF! John, War, Jealous Sherlock, Possessive Sherlock, Jealous John, Falling in Various Ways, Needy Sherlock) – The Good Soldier, one of the oldest and strongest of the fallen, is offered a bargain: to live as John Watson and to Guide a fledgling archangel so that he will stay on the path of good. Of course, Sherlock Holmes has different ideas about his destiny. Fantasy AU. Warnings for violence, occasional gore, and a whole load of hurt and angst.

Bloody But Unbowed by BeautifulFiction (E, 43,211 w., 8 Ch. || Abduction, John Whump, Mild Torture, Background Case Fic, Friends to Lovers, Post-TRF / S3 Rewrite, Hurt/Comfort) – When a familiar argument threatens to destroy the last remnants of John and Sherlock's failing friendship, both men are left questioning their worth to one another. Before either of them has the chance to make amends, circumstance intervenes. John is left at the mercy of his abductors, and this time, he's not sure Sherlock will bother coming to his rescue.

The Soul Remembers by i_ship_an_armada (E, 43,636 w., 10 Ch. || Oblivion AU || Post-Apocalypse, Movie Fusion, Science Fiction, Action/Adventure, Angst, Dreams, Bittersweet Ending) – John Watson is the lone security repairman stationed on a desolate, nearly-ruined future Earth. His dreams are plagued by a tall, dark-haired man, and when his dreams meet reality, he will be forced to question everything he believes is the truth about his life.

The Case of the Vanishing Pants by SwissMiss (E, 44,025 w., 6 Ch. || Post-TRF, Case Fic, UST, Homophobia, Friends to Lovers) – Five times John and Sherlock lost their pants in the course of a case.

Sentenced by SarahKnight (T, 44,777 w., 30 Ch. || Dev. Rel., Alternate S4 Canon, Drama, Angst, Pining, Feelings are Hard) – Virtual series 4 opener. Sherlock's in prison being targeted by a murderer, John's married to a pregnant assassin and Moriarty's back.

Left by lifeonmars (M, 45,153 w., 9 Ch. || Magical Realism) – John Watson is left-handed. He’s tried not to let it affect his life, but as any Lefty knows, that’s almost impossible.

The Real Great Perfumers by shelleysprometheus (E, 45,355 w., 68 Ch. || Case Fic, Alternating POV, Gay Sherlock / Bi John, Canon Compliant with Divergence at TRF, Friends to Lovers, Oral / Anal, Pining, First Kiss / Time, Dev. Rel., Drugging, Body Worship, Bathing, Love Confessions, Travelling, Bottomlock, Cranky Sherlock, BJ’s, Alternating POV, Jealous John) – The case, this case. This extraordinary, fascinating, scintillating case. A house. Designed entirely by its eccentric owner, built by no less than five hundred expert tradesmen in the heart of Marrakesh. A house that had, seemingly not only driven its owner out, but also to his quite unpleasant death. And a perfumer, a chemist no less, the very thought of the secrets that house could reveal, would reveal was irresistible. Sherlock had to have this case ... and it seems, he also had to have John! Part 1 of the Forethought and Fire series

Corpus Hominis by mycapeisplaid (E, 47,709 w., 12 Ch. || Casefic, Fluff, Romance, Frottage) - John knows the human body intimately. He’s had plenty of opportunity for study as a doctor, soldier, and lover. There’s one particular body, however, he knows very little about. When Sherlock launches himself head-first into a new obsession and they get sent on a case in an unlikely location, the pair discovers each other’s bodies with confusing yet delightful (and sometimes hilarious) results.

The Norwood Love Builders by flawedamythyst (T, 47,798 w., 9 Ch. || Fake Relationship, Slow Burn, Post TRF Angst) – Sherlock and John go undercover to solve the murder of Joanna Oldacre, but things are complicated by the many feelings John has been repressing in the wake of Sherlock's faked death and return.

The Pieces That Fall to Earth by Itsallfine (M, 49,513 w., 84 Ch. || S4 Fix-It, Epistolary, Love Confessions, Slow Burn, Parentlock, Past Abuse, Coming Out, Questioning Sexuality, Mental Health Issues / Therapy, Angst, Happy Ending) – John and Sherlock have hit rock bottom, but with all their armor stripped away, they can finally speak honestly, seek healing, and find the truths that matter most.An epistolary post-s4 fix-it fic. Now complete.(This fic is rated T except for one very clearly marked and easily skippable chapter, which is rated M.) Part 1 of The Pieces that Fall to Earth

Holmes is where the heart is by Rose de Sharon (T, 49,636 w., 13 Ch. || Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Post-TRF, Reunion Fic, Bromance, Empty House Inspired, Adventure) – Three years after the Reichenbach Fall. On the anniversary of Sherlock's death, John pays a visit at 221 B Baker Street… and he gets the shock of his life.

Bedroom Tales by Junejuly15 (M, 49,950 w., 22 Ch. || Friends to Lovers, Through the Years, H/C, Military Kink, First Kiss / Time, Romance, Insecure Sherlock, Voyeurism, Post-TRF, Ficlets, Fluff and Angst, Fix-It Fics) – Bedroom Tales is a collection of John and Sherlock ficlets. They are set at various stages of their relationship and are in no particular order. Some are fluffy, some sexy, some angsty, there is hurt and comfort, romance and love. What unites them is that they all play in a bedroom, but not necessarily the one in 221B.

A Love with No Name Series by aceofhearts61 (M, 49,955 w. across 20 fics || Ace!Sherlock / Straight!John, Queerplatonic Relationship, Cuddling/Snuggling, Soulmates, Caretaking, Platonic Romance) – In which Asexual!Sherlock and Straight!John are platonically in love life partners.