#Monty well maybe this is a hot take but monty trusts himself and not much else he is a charmer and confident in his feelings for Edwin he i

[reeama-the-mage]

The difference between the tragedy of Edwin's and Charles' lives and deaths and what makes Charles' much more compelling to me is that Edwin never had anyone he could trust: he grew up with distant parents who i imagine he saw rarely and could not confide in, then he went to school and was immediately recognized as other in a way he had not fully realized of himself yet and was killed for it, and then comes hell and well who can u trust in hell? Certainly not the things that chase you until your legs ache, and even if your compatriots in the whole ordeal are as innocent as you, trapped in the same technicality, what is the good of trusting them, when they are just as helpless as you?

But Charles? Everyone Charles was supposed to trust betrayed him. His parents were close to him, atleast somewhat, atleast his father was around enough to get sick of hearing owner of a lonely heart, and his mother was around enough to watch his father beat him and be silently horrified and ultimately not do anything about it, maybe she stepped in once and we just never saw it, but I wouldn't bet on it, Charles' mom is 'quiet' that's her defining feature to Charles not protective or gentle just 'quiet', then Charles gets to school and he is popular he has friends! He has people who care for him (or should maybe, as long as he's good at sports like he's needed to be) and then he stands up for one person, because he has always wanted to be good and maybe he trusts himself to do it just this once and his friends kill him and his own actions signed the death warrant and he cannot even trust himself to do the right thing properly (it never got better and then you died)

And maybe, maybe Edwin does it too, with less intention to hurt, and with less knowledge but Charles and Edwin trust eachother maybe more than anything (maybe Charles would sooner slip away from earth's gravity than stop putting his trust in Edwin who he thinks is good and smart and brills and aces) and maybe Edwin still looks at Charles trying to protect him after Charles has had maybe the worst week of his existence and says "that was a bit...... extreme" and Edwin still promises Charles can tell him anything while hiding himself in a way that makes Charles feel untrustworthy

So yeah I'll never stop thinking about the tragedy of Charles Rowland actually 👍 think about him with me

[slasherhaven]

Hello! I adore your blog so much! Just a quick question, are you planning on doing part2 of 'Disruptive', Thomas x reader hc? Maybe reader finds out what happend to Ian and Cecilia (those were the names, right?)

Thomas Hewitt X Reader

Part 1 HERE

Disruptive Part 2:

Luda May had tried to shield you from the fate of your friends but you knew what was happening as soon as you heard Hoyt's gun go off. She held you as you cried, both from the feelings of betrayal and from the violence taking place outside.

She had continued to comfort you during the days following their deaths, shushing you and reassuring you. She had tried to get Thomas to see you, to take her role in comforting you, but he had refused each time. He was sure that you wouldn't ever want to look at him again, never mind be comforted by him. So, he took to avoiding you, assuming Luda May would bring you more comfort than anything else could.

Everything had happened so fast but you had managed to wrap your head around the main points and come to terms with them. Ian and Cecilia were dead, the family that you were now living with had killed them.

It was scary at first but the family never seemed to wish you any harm, Luda May always assured you of that. Even Hoyt refrained from threatening you or scaring you, apparently he hadn't been fond of your friends but had no real problem with you since you had been the polite one. Still, neither he or Monty went out of their way to make you feel particularly welcome.

In the end, you couldn't say you mourned your ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend all that much, considering the betrayal they had committed. More than anything, you had been afraid about what your time in the house would mean for you. But...it had never meant you any harm, and you believed they would continue to welcome you in their home.

Luda May had apologised for your loss, apologised for what the family did but assured you that you were safe here. She had also asked you not to blame Tommy.

Some time passed and the family trusted you to move freely around the residence. You were still polite and undeservingly kind to the family, helping with chores and assimilating with the family relatively easily. You were a welcomed addition in everyone's eyes.

Still, Thomas was avoiding you and you had become highly aware of it. Now that everything had calmed down, you could notice the lack of the large man in every room you walked into. At first you thought it was a coincidence, now you were certain he was avoiding you on purpose.

Despite wishing that Thomas wouldn't keep avoiding you, you hadn't had much chance to confront him about it. At least, until today.

The house was pretty quiet and you were in the kitchen, having just finished some chores when you glanced out of the window. From your position at the window, you could see Thomas outside by the collection of cars. Hoyt must have asked him to strip down the newest car, the car you had arrived in.

You smiled to yourself, determined to take the chance to speak with him. Grabbing a chilled glass from the tray, you hurried outside and skipped down the steps.

It reminded you of a graveyard, cars in various states of distress lined up in the field. Some stripped down to their frames, others barely touched but parts rusting away.

"Thomas" you spoke as you approached him, getting his attention since his back was to you. You bit back a small laugh when he jumped and turned to face you, clearly surprised by your presence.

"It's hot, I thought you would like a drink" you offered as you held out the glass of freshly made iced lemonade.

He looked a little suspicious of your offer at first but his face soon softened before he took the glass from you.

He tensed some more when he realised what he had been doing as you approached. He glanced back at the before, looking nervously at you before hanging his head.

Even though he didn't say anything, it was like you could read his mind. He was worried that you would be upset about him stripping your car for parts.

"Don't worry. It was Ian's car, you can do whatever you want with it" you assured him with a small shrug, lazily kicking the flat tyre as if to further your point.

Thomas nodded, relaxing slightly, before drinking from the glass that you had so generously provided him.

You rocked back and forth on your feet for a moment as it fell silence, feeling a little awkward and sensing the tension in the air.

"Have you been avoiding me?" you finally asked, deciding there was no point dancing around the subject.

Thomas just shifted his weight, unsure of how to answer. He could be honest and say 'yes', but he knew that would sound rude, and surely you wanted him to avoid you. Or he could lie and say 'no', but he didn't want to lie to you and he knew you already knew the truth.

"It's alright if you have, I get it" you reassured him, not wanting him to feel guilty for it. "Just stop, okay?...I'm not mad at you and...and I miss you" you confessed, noticing how his eyes widened slightly at your words.

How could you miss him? You had only known him for a day before he started avoiding you. He supposed the only real company you had now was Luda May, so maybe...that was why you 'missed' him. He couldn't wrap his head around you having forgiven him and wanting to have him around.

"I have to get back before Luda May finds me gone but stop avoiding me, okay?" you spoke again when he didn't really respond.

This time, Thomas nodded, making you smile before running back towards the house. Thomas smiled to himself as he watched you run back into the house, hoping that you really had meant it and he wouldn't have to avoid you any more.

Thomas was true to his word and stopped avoiding you. Conversations should have been a little awkward but you found any silences comfortable and you kept the conversation flowing. He didn't talk, you had learnt that for sure now, but he listened intently and always responded in what ways he could.

Now, you spent more time with him that any other Hewitt. Now, he did the opposite of avoiding you. He was always around, seeking you out just for your friendly company.

You were thankful for those developments but a new concern was worming its way into your mind. Even when he wasn't around, you were thinking about him, you couldn't wait until you saw him again. Whenever he was around, you would smile, practically giddy to be around him again.

Could you be developing feelings for Thomas?

From the first day you met him, defending him behind the gas station, you had thought he was sweet. You had also found him attractive, tall with broad shoulders and strong arms. God, you wondered what those arms would feel like wrapped around you.

You could never make out all of his facial features because of his mask but you could see his eyes. Oh, how you adored his eyes. They were expressive and beautiful. You wanted to tell him that whenever you could see him doubting himself.

You wondered if he would ever take his mask off around you, if he would ever let you see his face. You had heard from Luda May that he had some sort of skin condition and that was what he was hiding, but you didn't care. You just wanted to see him...maybe he would even let you k-

"I'm so glad you and Thomas are talking again" Luda May's voice brought you out of your thoughts, reminding you of where you were. You were in the kitchen, helping cook supper, but had completely zoned out with thoughts of Thomas.

"He's a good boy and he likes you, he's just a little shy" she smiled to herself. She obviously loved Thomas and it did make you smile, it was sweet.

You sighed and you collected yourself, practically deflating as you pushed away the thoughts about Thomas. Yes, you could be honest with yourself, you had developed a crush on Thomas but it surely didn't matter. You doubted he returned your feelings, even despite how highly Luda May claimed he thought of you.

"It's alright, he was just worried about everything that happened..." you cleared your throat, hoping she hadn't seen the change in expression on your face. You didn't feel like being questioned about it right now. "Do you want me to come to the gas station with you tomorrow?" you asked, changing the subject. You didn't like the idea of her walking down there on her own.

"No, that's alright, dear. Hoyt is going to drive me up" Luda May assured you and you nodded. "I'll ask Tommy to help you out with some chores tomorrow, I'm sure he won't mind helping" she offered.

"Oh, I'm sure I can handle it" you shook your head, able to handle some clean up on your own.

"Trust me, dear, Tommy will be happy to help" she insisted, giving you a knowing look.

You were sure she knew something you didn't, but you couldn't question her about it because Thomas had walked into the room, making you both look back at him.

"Hey Tommy, we're almost done with supper" you told him with a smile.

"Would you help Y/n clean up after breakfast tomorrow?" Luda May asked and Thomas nodded without hesitation.

"Thank you, Tommy" you smiled at him. You tried to hide it but Luda caught the light blush on your cheeks as you turned back to the task at hand.

The next morning, Thomas kept his promise. Hoyt was taking Luda May to the gas station, Monty was passed out in front of the television, and Thomas had come to help you clean up in the kitchen. Well, he was supposed to be helping but he was basically doing it all, not letting you help when you tried.

He had been working in a comfortable silence for a while, as your mind ran while. You watched him work, watching the muscles of his back moving under his shirt, smiling at him whenever he glanced over his shoulder at you.

Sometimes you thought he might return some of your feelings but then your newfound insecurities would show their ugly faces. You used to be so confident in yourself, able to take rejection with understanding, it wouldn't shake you. But now you doubted yourself, now you couldn't stand the idea of Thomas not thinking you were enough.

You sat on the kitchen table, where Thomas had placed you and silently ordered you to stay making you laugh, and anxiously picked at the wood with your nails.

"Thomas?" you finally spoke, making him look at you. "Do I talk too much?" you asked. Ian had believed you were too much, too chatty at times, too eager, just too much and yet not enough all at the same time.

Thomas instantly shook his head. He honestly liked how much you talked, that you even wanted to talk to him in the first place. Your face would light up as you rambled about something that had happened that day, and it made his chest feel warm. He couldn't help it but smile whenever you talked so happily, even about the most mundane things.

You almost smiled but not quite. He seemed to be being honest, you didn't talk too much. He didn't think like Ian had...but that didn't help much.

"...do you think I'm attractive?" you asked quietly after a short moment of silence. You never thought you were the most attractive person in the world but you had been comfortable in your own skin, at least until you found out your boyfriend had been fucking your best friend for months. There had to be a reason for Ian to betray you like that, you must have done something wrong.

Thomas paused at your question, his eyes widening.

Surely this was a trick question, how was he supposed to answer that? Of course he did! Of course he thought you were attractive, but would you think it was weird if he said that?

Thomas had thought you were attractive from the first moment he saw you. He thought you were the kindest and bravest person he had met since you took that punch for him, and still smiled up at him like he was worth it. Ever since your first encounter with each other, he was smitten with you. And those feelings had only grown as he spent more time with you. He absolutely adored you. God, he wished he could tell you all of that...

You took his silence as a negative response. He didn't answer because he didn't want to hurt you...

"Sorry, you don't have to answer that..." you hung your head, looking down at your lap. You shouldn't have put him in that position, you shouldn't have asked.

Thomas panicked a little, the last thing he wanted to do was make you feel bad. He just hadn't wanted to make you uncomfortable. He took a breath, trying to build up his confidence, before walking over to you.

You looked down at where your hand lay on the table when you felt Thomas' much larger one rest over yours. You teared your gaze away and looked up at him. He just nodded once you were finally looking at him again.

"Thanks, Tommy" you smiled. "I think you're attractive too" you confessed.

He pulled his hand away then, looking down at his feet. You were just being kind, saying what you were meant to say, or just straight up making fun of him.

"Hey" you frowned, quickly catching his hands in both of yours. "I mean it" you promised him as he met your gaze again, still looking unsure. "You doubt yourself too much, think too lowly of yourself" he tensed when you released on of his hands, bringing your hand up to his mask. "I don't know exactly why you wear this but I promise, whenever you feel like you can take it off around me, I will still think you're attractive" you promised, tugging on his hand to pull him closer.

Thomas let you pull him closer, swallowing the lump in his throat as he came to stand between your legs, hand still in yours. He had to do something, he had to savour the moment. Could you really be being honest with him?

He lifted his free hand and gently tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, making you smile softly up at him. He still didn't talk but you knew what he was saying. You too. You shouldn't doubt yourself, you were everything he could ever want, and he did want you.

Since you didn't pull away, Thomas' confidence began to grow. The hand he had hovering around your face gently cupped your cheek and he swore his heart skipped a beat when you nuzzled your face into his large palm.

Thomas wasn't Ian. Thomas clearly cared deeply about you, he wouldn't betray you, he wouldn't hurt you like Ian had.

You placed your hand over the only he held against your cheek, turning your head to press a kiss to his palm. Thomas just looked at you in complete awe.

It made him think back to the man you had arrived with, your boyfriend, Ian. How could Ian ever betray you like he did. Thomas had met your friend, Cecilia, and sure she was pretty but nothing when compared to you. And she wasn't even half as kind. Thomas would never hurt you like that, he couldn't even fathom it.

Here you were, tenderly kissing his palm and looking at him...lovingly, if he didn't know any better.

The sound of the front door slamming closed made you both jump, Thomas' hand falling from your face and landing instinctively on you thigh as you both turned towards the door of the kitchen.

"What the fu-" Hoyt began but cut himself off with a sigh and a shake of his head. "Y'know what, I don't wanna know. Just not in the fucking kitchen" he snarled before grabbing a beer from the fridge and leaving the room.

Both you and Thomas blushed at the implications of what Hoyt had thought you'd been doing, Thomas stepping away from you with an almost apologetic look.

"It's alright, Tommy" you smiled as you hopped down from the table. "Let finish up cleaning, okay?" you asked and he just nodded, assuming you were about to just ignore whatever the moment was that you both shared.

You smiled up at him again, taking your hand in his and lacing your fingers through his, before guiding him back across the kitchen.

[dinosaurtsukki]

haikyuu!! + dorm ‘meals’

the ‘meals’ has a quotation mark because ‘meals’ is a social construct and anything from a single m&m to a thanksgiving dinner can be considered a ‘meal’ especially if you’re a broke-ass college student trying to cook in a dorm

Hinata: there’s no way he compromises with food and eats rice three times a day. at midnight he’ll go out to buy pork buns

Kageyama: milk powder and rice mixed in a cereal bowl and eaten with The Only Utensil he has which is a single chopstick

Tsukishima: frosted. strawberry. poptarts. he knows it’s not good for him but he doesn’t care. makes this thing called a ‘poptart sandwich’ which is exactly what the name suggests (there’s extra jam in between the poptarts)

Yamaguchi: loves making smoothies and shakes and posting pictures of them on instagram. he did kind of get too far when he started blending asparagus 

Ennoshita: tries to eat as healthy as possible while still being on a budget so he eats salsa with everything and now he has five million salsa jars in his dorm 

Tanaka: you were scared of him at first because he kept his cigarettes in a jar until you found out those weren’t real cigarettes after watching him take one and just bite into it (they’re made of candy)

Nishinoya: makes his own tuna-mayonnaise onigiris that are 60% mayo, 20% tuna, and 20% rice. yeah, you don’t eat in your room too much

Daichi: has those instant-oats-and-cereal-mix drinks that you add hot water to. except one time he added cold water instead of hot and he stared at his mug for five minutes before drinking it nonetheless

Sugawara: he loves eating gummy bears except he lines them up on the table, eats each of their heads first, and then the rest of the bodies. you’re genuinely scared

Asahi: he really, really loves string cheese for some reason? when he first moved in you watched him open a box and pull out packet after packet of string cheese

Oikawa: he’s a trader joe’s/healthy options bitch because he’s one of their ‘influencers’. except he just takes pictures of the food and makes you eat them because they taste like cardboard

Iwaizumi: tried to go one of those ‘cleanse’ things because he heard its good for you and ended up punching a wall out of pure hunger on his third day

Matsukawa: canned tuna and crackers except he plates it real nice, even adding ‘artful smears of ketchup’ on the side of his plate

Hanamaki: microwaveable mac and cheese. every time he stirs his cup he just goes ‘this is what good pussy sounds like’ 

Ushijima: you don’t know exactly how but this guy somehow manages to make full course meals like vegetable stir-fry and fried rice despite the fact that there’s only a microwave in your dorm

Shirabu: vodka. sometimes with orange juice

Tendou: deadass brought an entire CHEESE FONDUE machine with him to his dorm room and turns it on every night. he’ll eat anything with it: marshmallows, nacho chips, other solid forms of cheese

Semi: spicy fire chicken noodles (you know, those samyang korean noodles) but he also adds extra hot sauce to it because it still isn’t spicy enough for him

Goshiki: eats normal, healthy food but you find it cute that he has his name written on his utensils, as well as a number to contact in case he lost them

Kuroo: oreo cookies !! but when he has a pack, he eats all of the fillings first, crushes all the cookies, and then eats the crushed cookie with a spoon

Kenma: snorts crushed doritos like its cocaine

Lev: this guy fricking eats caviar by the can like it’s nothing ???? just casually opens a can, maybe he’ll top it on some crackers and rice as if it’s canned tuna or something

Yaku: barely spends money on food because he’s addicted to bubble tea. one time you asked how he functions on just bubble tea and he just straight-up looks at you and says ‘my organs are dying’

Bokuto: he regularly buys a twenty-piece box of chicken nuggets and two orders of large fries. at first you thought he was going to share but he didn’t

Akaashi: to him, coffee is already food. his organs scream for water but he goes for iced coffee. he really tried quitting for a week and ended up sobbing halfway through

Atsumu:  the only thing he brought to his dorm for eating was a mug and he’s dead set on using that single mug to cook and eat his meals while he’s in the dorm. it’s fun watching him make instant ramen

Osamu: he tried to roast an entire chicken by cramming it into the microwave during the holidays. needless to say, it didn’t work and your room looked like a crime scene

Suna: he only eats instant noodles, no matter what day or occasion. but one time, he accidentally drained the broth after adding the seasoning packets in and just sat on the edge of his bed with cooked, plain noodles 

Kita: any fruit that he cuts and peels himself. when he notices you’re stressed he’ll literally peel tangerines for you and leave them on your desk

Sakusa: he doesn’t trust himself to use the microwave, nor does he want to eat shitty food so he’s always ordering salad because he’s a Healthy Bitch

***********************************************

taglist (still open to anyone who wants in!): @montys-chaos​ @miyumtwins​ @strawberriimilkshake​ @pocubo​ @sugawara-sweetheart @akaashisbabydoll @laure-chan​ @therainroguefanfiction​ @atetiffdoesart @stephdaninja @oikaw-ugh​ @charliefredb​ @dramaqueenweeb1469 @tremblinghearts @applepienation @doodleniella @haikyuu-my-love @tpwkatsumu @waitforitillwritemywayout

[startanewdream]

Hello Mah, forgive me for coming to ask for another prompt, I should control myself more, but I was reading ''Fate'' when I came across with this part ''Harry will have a full plate with these two someday.''

And I thought that if you haven't written that, make Harry complain to James and Sirius or Lily, idk, over the Easter break, about how Hermione and Ron are fighting, and maybe, just if you want, there is no Voldemort? Just to see the Golden Trio even more as teenagers, as they should be. But if you want to put Voldemort to give that dramatic touch of yours, it's okay too, you decide :)

and if you don't want to write that, that's fine too <3

Hiiiiii, Sweet! <3 please send all the asks you want!

I loved this prompt so much that I couldn’t help myself. So please enjoy this family moment between Harry, his parents and Sirius as they discuss Ron and Hermione’s possible relationship, during the Easter Break of Harry’s Fourth Year (for curiosity, in this universe, Ron and Hermione begin dating the start of their Fifth Year - and one day I’ll finish a WIP about Hinny’s relationship in the same universe) 

Oh, and I know you asked for the Golden Trio being teenagers, but, really, here the parents are the teenagers:

Harry looks at the letter Errol just dropped with a heavy sigh that’s muffled by the sound of the owl hitting the glass of the window instead of flying away.

‘Rest before you go back’, Harry says, picking up the owl carefully (Errol blinks in thanks) and taking it downstairs to the tree next to the window of the kitchen that stands as their owlery. His parents are there, with Sirius, finishing their breakfast.

‘Morning’, Harry says distractedly, helping to place Errol in a branch of the tree, next to a sleepy Hedwig.

‘Come take your breakfast, Harry’, his mother tells him. Harry sits, yawning.

‘What’s with the grumpy face?’, Sirius asks, watching him.

‘I woke up early. Hermione sent me a letter - and when I was almost sleeping again, Errol came with another’.

‘Ron and Hermione are already writing?’, James asks, sounding amused. ‘You have been apart for only one day, you know that, right?’

Lily giggles. ‘Look who's talking. When was the last time you spent a day without seeing Sirius?’

‘Hey!’, James complains, while Harry laughs too. ‘If I don’t see him, how will I know he’s been feeding himself?’

‘Maybe trust he is a functional thirty-five-year-old guy?’

‘Hey, I am right here’, Sirius remembers.

‘Yeah, and you are eating breakfast in our place, which just proves my point’, James notes, smirking. He turns to Harry. ‘What’s so important they had to write to you on the first day of the holidays?’

‘Privacy, James?’, Lily says, amused. ‘Or you used to share the contents of your Marauder letters with your parents?’

‘I hope not’, Sirius intervenes. ‘He used to talk a lot about you in those letters - I am not sure Monty and Mia would have enjoyed reading so much about your very nice pair of -’

‘Hey, hey!’, Harry interrupts, raising his hands. ‘Kid alert here!’

‘Very nice pair of eyes, Harry’, Sirius says calmly. ‘Why did you think I would say?’

‘Oh, shut it’, Harry rolls his eyes, ignoring the redness around his neck. ‘And if you want to know, it’s no big deal, they don’t stop talking about it anyway. It’s about Viktor Bloody Krum’.

‘Harry -’

‘Sorry, Mom’, Harry adds hurriedly. ‘It’s just I don’t wanna ever hear about him again, really’.

‘What happened to all that admiration?’, James asks, surprised. ‘I thought you were cheering more for him than for the Hogwarts Champion’.

‘That was because…’, Harry’s voice drifts off, embarrassed. He doesn’t really want to talk about why Cedric Diggory annoys him lately. ‘Well, I don’t have any problem with Krum, but don’t say his name out loud near Ron and Hermione unless you want to hear them bickering’.

‘Oh, they are still in that phase?’, asks Lily, a grin playing on her lips that Harry doesn’t understand.

‘They always bicker, it’s just… I don’t get it, I thought Ron would actually be glad Hermione is friends with Krum, but all he does is complain’.

‘They are friends? Krum and Hermione’, his father asks, raising his eyebrows. Harry supposes that’s really an unlikely pair.

‘Well, friends, I don’t know - wait, I didn’t tell you? Hermione went with Krum to the Yule Ball’.

James and Sirius make a chorus of ‘ohhhh’, raising their eyebrows at the same time, and pull their chairs so they get closer to Harry.

‘You didn’t tell us!’, his father complains.

‘I didn’t think it was important’.

‘You really need to sort out your priorities, Harry’, Sirius says, somber. ‘That’s big news’.

‘Hermione and Krum?’, Harry asks doubtfully, then he grins. ‘Oh, wait until you hear everything then’.

And he tells them how Ron got upset with Hermione’s choice of date, accusing her of fraternizing with the enemy.

‘Wow’.

‘Nice phrasing’, Sirius agrees.

‘I should have used it when I found you snogging Anthony Travers’.

‘He was hot’.

‘He was a Slytherin!’

Lily rolls her eyes. ‘Grow up’, she mumbles, but they don’t seem to hear.

‘And at the end of the Yule Ball’, Harry adds, expecting for their reactions, ‘she told Ron that next time there was a ball, he should ask her before someone else does, and not as a last resort!’.

Sirius and James don’t disappoint him. ‘OOOOOOH’.

‘One point to Hermione!’

‘She definitely hit a nerve there’.

‘And then what happened?’, Sirius asks curiously. ‘The next day? What did they do?’

Harry shrugs. ‘Nothing, actually, they just pretended nothing happened’.

‘I will need to talk to Ron’, James says gravely; he looks at Lily. ‘If you told me something like that, I would be asking you out the very next minute’.

She gives him a loopsided grin that Harry is sure she learned with his father. ‘As if you would ever not ask me for any ball first’.

James grins, raising to kneel in front of her. ‘My dearest Lily, would you give me the pleasure of your company for all balls for the rest of your life?’

‘Oh, get a room you two’, Sirius says, rolling his eyes. ‘I am waiting to hear the rest of the story. Come on, Harry’.

But Harry is looking wistfully at his parents. ‘It must be so nice to ask someone out when you know she is going to accept it’.

James laughs. ‘Well, now it seems easy, but when I asked your mom, trust me, I was nothing but a nerve-wracking mess’.

‘He fainted’, Lily agrees, looking fondly at her husband.

‘It was not a faint! I just closed my eyes for a while -’

‘Harry’, Sirius interrupts out loud. ‘So if everything was ok, why are you receiving letters now?’

‘Oh’, Harry grins. ‘It’s because of the Second Task. The champions had to rescue the things they would miss the most - and for Krum, that was Hermione’.

‘That is so -’

‘Unexpected?’, Lily suggests. ‘Unbelievable exaggerated for someone you just went to a ball together?’

‘Romantic’, Sirius finishes, frowning at her. ‘What did James see in you, Evans?’

‘Potter’, she notes, smirking. ‘And from what you said, he was very fond of my pair of… eyes’.

‘Oh, stop you two’, James says, waving his hand as if they are two misbehaved kids. He glances at Harry. ‘I take Ron didn’t like it very much’.

‘No, he hated it. I mean, he was very worried with Hermione while she was underwater, though I told him Dumbledore wouldn’t really anything happen with any of the hostages… and then when she was safe, he got angry with her!’

‘Of course he did’, James agrees, eyes sparkling with laugh. Harry doesn’t see much humour in this story.

‘Well, now they keep arguing about Krum, about house-elves, about whoever Ron is talking to, about everything, and I am in the middle of it. Letters and all now’.

James exchanges a look with Lily. ‘We were never like that’.

‘No, we went from arguing to bantering and then snogging’.

‘It wasn’t arguing, I was just an arse and you didn’t take it quietly’, James says unabashed. ‘But I meant we never took pleasure in arguing just for the sake of it’.

‘I wish you had’, Sirius notes. ‘At least then I could shut you up with a spell’.

‘We were not that bad’, James says fairly. Sirius gives one of his barking laughs.

‘You two keep looking at each other when you thought the other wasn’t looking, both convinced the other didn’t like you back, while you both sighed all over the place, finding some stupid excuses to be near each other - I mean, come on, how many meetings could you have in our final year?’

‘I was Head Boy!’, James remembers.

‘See? The worst excuse ever to get near a girl’.

Harry blinks. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘Your parents’, Sirius says joyfully. ‘And comparing them with Ron and Hermione’.

‘What they have to do in common?’

‘Oh, Harry’, Sirius looks at him almost pityingly. ‘You see, when a boy likes a girl - or another boy, or when a girl likes a boy or a girl -’

‘You are just complicating everything, Padfoot’, Lily tells him brightly. ‘What he means is that there is something going on between Ron and Hermione’.

‘Yeah’, Harry agrees, his brows furrowed. ‘They are fighting’.

The other three laugh. Harry crosses his arms, annoyed.

‘But why are they fighting, Harry?’, his mother asks gently.

‘Because they are two stubborn people?’

‘But why now, why about Krum?’ When Harry shrugs, without answering, Lily shakes her head. ‘Oh, dear, you are as oblivious as your father’.

‘Hey!’

Lily places a soft kiss on James’ face before turning to Harry.

‘Ron is jealous of Hermione’, she explains patiently. ‘And Hermione wished Ron had asked her to the ball before. You see now?’

‘So Ron and Hermione… will become Ron and Hermione?’

‘I don’t know that’, Lily says. ‘Not every crush turns into something’. 

‘Ours did’, James whispers, smugly.

‘And not every school romance lasts after school either’.

‘Seventeen years together’, James sings. Lily throws him a fond look.

‘And counting’, she agrees, offering her hand for him to take it.

Sirius rolls his eyes.

‘You see what I had to endure with these two? That will be you with Ron and Hermione’.

‘They like each other?’, Harry repeats, thinking, but now that they’ve said it, he supposes he couldn’t really be surprised.

All that bickering had to mean something - and beyond that, they were always close, always gravitating around each other. He supposes he should be glad they would move on that bickering phase, but if they did...

‘But - what if they get together? I will be a third wheel! Worse, what if they get together and then split up? We won’t be friends -’

‘You are overworrying, son’, James assures him. ‘You won’t stop being their friends no matter what happens’.

‘Yeah’, Lily mumbles. ‘Look at Sirius’.

‘What about me?’

‘James dating me and marrying me didn’t affect the relationship between Prongs and Padfoot’, she notes, ignoring Sirius’ wink at her. ‘So you will be fine with them’.

Sirius nods gravely. ‘There is only one rule you need to follow when your best friends are dating, Harry. Remember that and your life will be easier’.

‘What is that?’

Sirius grins. ‘Always knock on their doors before you enter any room they are in or else you will see them in positions you didn’t even know it was possible’.

‘Sirius!’

[slashersins]

What would Thomas Hewitt (and maybe Bubba too if you're up for it!) and his s.o argue about the most? How would he react to conflicts? What are the absolute NOT to do when arguing with him? What would making up to each other look like? 😳 Sorry for a long request! You can cut them short if you want to!

Love your writings!❤

oooooh . this is gonna be fun and maybe a little painful 

What would Thomas Hewitt (and maybe Bubba too if you're up for it!) and his s.o argue about the most? How would he react to conflicts? What are the absolute NOT to do when arguing with him? What would making up to each other look like? 😳 Sorry for a long request! You can cut them short if you want to!

Love your writings!❤

thomas 

conflict : your attempts in helping catch or handle the meat . and getting hurt . 

you want to be useful . you want to help . typically you do mundane tasks . laundry , dishes , house cleaning , helping luda cook . the family , thomas especially , doesn’t want you interacting with or having anything to do with the meat . 

but that doesn’t stop you from trying to make the meat feel comfortable before they’re brought to the basement . trying to lure them into the house if thomas is down in the basement , luda is at the store , and hoyt is out on the roads . maybe they came from the opposite direction , not yet on hoyt’s radar . they stop for some help , or just a break . and you let them in . should you do it ? no . did you do it ? yes . you saw your chance and you took it .

it didn’t end well . thomas came upstairs as you were pouring the meat some tea and idly chatting . he was startled , caught of guard , scared for you , and then furious . the sight of thomas in grime and sweat and filth from being in the basement working on the previous catch didn’t exactly sit well with the guests . panic ensued and now it was only you and thomas against three boys and two girls who were freaking out . then . . . then hoyt showed up . and he was none too pleased . 

the resulting situation ended in blood and gore and injuries for most . hoyt was steaming , furious and yelling at both you and tommy . and tommy . . . that gentle giant of a man was shaking in his fury . 

he glares at you , the harshest he’s ever looked , anger radiating off him in waves . what where you thinking ? why couldn’t you have just left them alone ? why didn’t you get him as soon as you heard their car ? why did you do something so reckless ? 

thomas might try to ignore you . might shove past you , hands balled into white knuckled fists . he wants to shake you , to show you how worried you made him , but he can’t . he’s at his limit . hurt in more ways than one . 

the do nots : don’t try to grab at him and argue when he’s in this mood . 

you want to talk to him . but you’re frustrated . tugging harshly on his arm and demanding him to look at you , getting in his face while he’s in this state is no good . he’s already on edge , already seeing red , don’t give him a reason to push you away harshly and possibly hurt you , even if accidental . he’s too worked up . 

don’t try say that you wanted to help . don’t try to talk sense into him . he won’t listen . he needs time to cool off . let tommy have some peace . give tommy time . you both need it . 

the make up : thomas will come to see you when he’s ready .

it’ll be hard . hoyt will be pissed off for a while . luda worried about you and tommy . monty is monty . but thomas . . . he’s spent a day or two alone , not even coming up for dinner as he works and let’s off steam in the basement . but once he calms down , once the fear of losing you , the anger at your well guided but misjudged decision finally eases from a boil to a simmer to nothing at all , he is coming to check on you . 

he stands in the door way , half bent to not hit his head . and he’s watching you . looking over you with worry and concern . he’s scared to come in more than he already is . scared you’ll push him away . he knows how he looks and acts when he’s angry . he knows he can be terrifying . 

but when you look up and see him there , see the ache in his eyes and the longing . the heartbreak and worry . you’re rushing him , hugging him and holding him impossibly tight as you apologize . you’d just wanted to help . you wanted to be useful . you didn’t mean for this kind of thing to happen . for anyone to get hurt . you’re sorry you made thomas so angry . you missed him . you missed him so much . 

thomas holds you back . his hugs and shaking hands as he looks and checks over you is enough to tell you that it’s forgiven . the way he looks at you begs you not to do something like that again . please , y/n . rely on him . rely on hoyt . don’t put yourself in danger . he can’t lose you . 

now that tommy is calm it’s easier to talk and explain yourself . it’s more of a conversation and less of an argument now . and despite knowing where you’re coming from , thomas isn’t going to agree to let you help with the meat . he’s much happier when you do your part by keeping out of the way . 

bubba 

conflict : going on long walks without really telling anyone . 

stuck in a house with bubba , nubbins , chop top , and drayton can be fine and dandy when everyone is in a good mood . but it’s a lot of energy . it takes so much to put up with such wild personalities . it can get too much . and you need a break . you can’t keep having your personal space invaded and you just need some fresh air . to get out for just a little bit . just to be alone with your thoughts . 

so you go out . you’ve spent time walking outside with bubba or running around with nubbins and chop top , so you know your way around . and the hot texas sun and somewhat cool breeze is calming . the smell of nature and rich colors that surround you gives you exactly what you need . but you lose track of time .

maybe you decide to sit under a tree and take a nap . maybe you walk a little too far and now it takes a while to come back . either way , it’s dark when you get back . and you’re greeted by panic in the sawyer house hold . bubba is beside himself . angry and sobbing and scared . the rest of the brother’s aren’t fairing well either . with bubba like this nothing can get done . 

you’ve never seen bubba like this . you’ve seen him sad plenty of times . but when he sees you there’s a slight anger . no relief or joy that usually lights up those pretty dark eyes . no . he thought you left him . you did leave him . why ? why did you leave him ? he thought you were gone forever . 

the do nots : don’t fight him , shove him off , or tell him to leave you alone . 

you were gone for the entire day . he searched and raced to find you , only to not find a trace . he spent all day worrying and sobbing . so upset when he found you were missing . he needs to cling to you , to hold you a little too tight . he might drag you to your shared room , or even your basement . he might even take out the rope and try to tie you to the bed or whatever surface he can . you can’t leave him again . he doesn’t want to do this like he used to , but he can’t risk you leaving again .

it’s frustrating , you’re bound to get angry at this , at bubba’s lack of trust . but please try to calm down , try to rationalize . bubba is a simple man with simple needs and many many insecurities . his fear is ruling him right now . so let him do what he needs . let him work through his panic and smother you with attention for the moment . 

the make up : talk to him . hold him . reassure him .

bubba does feel bad for tying you back up . he really does . he knows you hate it , and he hates seeing you like it . it’s this reason that when he’s calm and not crying that you can talk to him . he’ll hesitantly take off whatever cuff he put on you . whining over the reddened skin as he tied it too tightly . just pet his hair . tell him your sorry . tell him you forgiven him for his rash actions . 

explain to him why you left . that you just needed space . bubba will understand . a little bit . he needs to know you weren’t trying to leave him . he needs to know that you still love him . show this man that you’re sorry for scaring him like this .

bubba might keep a closer eye on you , shuffling nervously as he sees you put on shoes to go outside . just give bubba a kiss on his cheek , tell him you need some time alone , tell him where you’re gonna be walking . he’ll feel better knowing you won’t be gone forever . 

[slashersins-abandoned]

anonymous asked : 

What would Thomas Hewitt (and maybe Bubba too if you're up for it!) and his s.o argue about the most? How would he react to conflicts? What are the absolute NOT to do when arguing with him? What would making up to each other look like? 😳 Sorry for a long request! You can cut them short if you want to!

Love your writings! ❤

thomas

conflict : your attempts in helping catch or handle the meat . and getting hurt .

you want to be useful . you want to help . typically you do mundane tasks . laundry , dishes , house cleaning , helping luda cook . the family , thomas especially , doesn’t want you interacting with or having anything to do with the meat .

but that doesn’t stop you from trying to make the meat feel comfortable before they’re brought to the basement . trying to lure them into the house if thomas is down in the basement , luda is at the store , and hoyt is out on the roads . maybe they came from the opposite direction , not yet on hoyt’s radar . they stop for some help , or just a break . and you let them in . should you do it ? no . did you do it ? yes . you saw your chance and you took it .

it didn’t end well . thomas came upstairs as you were pouring the meat some tea and idly chatting . he was startled , caught of guard , scared for you , and then furious . the sight of thomas in grime and sweat and filth from being in the basement working on the previous catch didn’t exactly sit well with the guests . panic ensued and now it was only you and thomas against three boys and two girls who were freaking out . then … then hoyt showed up . and he was none too pleased .

the resulting situation ended in blood and gore and injuries for most . hoyt was steaming , furious and yelling at both you and tommy . and tommy … that gentle giant of a man was shaking in his fury .

he glares at you , the harshest he’s ever looked , anger radiating off him in waves . what where you thinking ? why couldn’t you have just left them alone ? why didn’t you get him as soon as you heard their car ? why did you do something so reckless ?

thomas might try to ignore you . might shove past you , hands balled into white knuckled fists . he wants to shake you , to show you how worried you made him , but he can’t . he’s at his limit . hurt in more ways than one .

the do nots : don’t try to grab at him and argue when he’s in this mood .

you want to talk to him . but you’re frustrated . tugging harshly on his arm and demanding him to look at you , getting in his face while he’s in this state is no good . he’s already on edge , already seeing red , don’t give him a reason to push you away harshly and possibly hurt you , even if accidental . he’s too worked up .

don’t try say that you wanted to help . don’t try to talk sense into him . he won’t listen . he needs time to cool off . let tommy have some peace . give tommy time . you both need it .

the make up : thomas will come to see you when he’s ready .

it’ll be hard . hoyt will be pissed off for a while . luda worried about you and tommy . monty is monty . but thomas … he’s spent a day or two alone , not even coming up for dinner as he works and let’s off steam in the basement . but once he calms down , once the fear of losing you , the anger at your well guided but misjudged decision finally eases from a boil to a simmer to nothing at all , he is coming to check on you .

he stands in the door way , half bent to not hit his head . and he’s watching you . looking over you with worry and concern . he’s scared to come in more than he already is . scared you’ll push him away . he knows how he looks and acts when he’s angry . he knows he can be terrifying .

but when you look up and see him there , see the ache in his eyes and the longing . the heartbreak and worry . you’re rushing him , hugging him and holding him impossibly tight as you apologize . you’d just wanted to help . you wanted to be useful . you didn’t mean for this kind of thing to happen . for anyone to get hurt . you’re sorry you made thomas so angry . you missed him . you missed him so much .

thomas holds you back . his hugs and shaking hands as he looks and checks over you is enough to tell you that it’s forgiven . the way he looks at you begs you not to do something like that again . please , y/n . rely on him . rely on hoyt . don’t put yourself in danger . he can’t lose you .

now that tommy is calm it’s easier to talk and explain yourself . it’s more of a conversation and less of an argument now . and despite knowing where you’re coming from , thomas isn’t going to agree to let you help with the meat . he’s much happier when you do your part by keeping out of the way .

bubba

conflict : going on long walks without really telling anyone .

stuck in a house with bubba , nubbins , chop top , and drayton can be fine and dandy when everyone is in a good mood . but it’s a lot of energy . it takes so much to put up with such wild personalities . it can get too much . and you need a break . you can’t keep having your personal space invaded and you just need some fresh air . to get out for just a little bit . just to be alone with your thoughts .

so you go out . you’ve spent time walking outside with bubba or running around with nubbins and chop top , so you know your way around . and the hot texas sun and somewhat cool breeze is calming . the smell of nature and rich colors that surround you gives you exactly what you need . but you lose track of time .

maybe you decide to sit under a tree and take a nap . maybe you walk a little too far and now it takes a while to come back . either way , it’s dark when you get back . and you’re greeted by panic in the sawyer house hold . bubba is beside himself . angry and sobbing and scared . the rest of the brother’s aren’t fairing well either . with bubba like this nothing can get done .

you’ve never seen bubba like this . you’ve seen him sad plenty of times . but when he sees you there’s a slight anger . no relief or joy that usually lights up those pretty dark eyes . no . he thought you left him . you did leave him . why ? why did you leave him ? he thought you were gone forever .

the do nots : don’t fight him , shove him off , or tell him to leave you alone .

you were gone for the entire day . he searched and raced to find you , only to not find a trace . he spent all day worrying and sobbing . so upset when he found you were missing . he needs to cling to you , to hold you a little too tight . he might drag you to your shared room , or even your basement . he might even take out the rope and try to tie you to the bed or whatever surface he can . you can’t leave him again . he doesn’t want to do this like he used to , but he can’t risk you leaving again .

it’s frustrating , you’re bound to get angry at this , at bubba’s lack of trust . but please try to calm down , try to rationalize . bubba is a simple man with simple needs and many many insecurities . his fear is ruling him right now . so let him do what he needs . let him work through his panic and smother you with attention for the moment .

the make up : talk to him . hold him . reassure him .

bubba does feel bad for tying you back up . he really does . he knows you hate it , and he hates seeing you like it . it’s this reason that when he’s calm and not crying that you can talk to him . he’ll hesitantly take off whatever cuff he put on you . whining over the reddened skin as he tied it too tightly . just pet his hair . tell him your sorry . tell him you forgiven him for his rash actions .

explain to him why you left . that you just needed space . bubba will understand . a little bit . he needs to know you weren’t trying to leave him . he needs to know that you still love him . show this man that you’re sorry for scaring him like this .

bubba might keep a closer eye on you , shuffling nervously as he sees you put on shoes to go outside . just give bubba a kiss on his cheek , tell him you need some time alone , tell him where you’re gonna be walking . he’ll feel better knowing you won’t be gone forever .

[aswallowssong]

Second Child, Restless Child

Chapter 6 - Restless Child

@valkyrie-5583​

Read on AO3

I promise I’m working on chapter 7 my work life exploded but we’re chillin now! We’ll be fine! 

Kit and Hotch have a conversation and Kit's first health meeting doesn't go exactly the way she planned. When Morgan catches her at the track the next morning, she really doesn't want to talk. (But ends up talking a whole lot.)

Tapping. Kit was tapping on her thigh, fighting with the anxiety trying to pull her down. They were slated to have their first health meeting, finally, after having to push it due to traveling and cases. She was supposed to give it in January, but as she stared mid-February in the face, she knew she had to push to make it happen.

She wanted to tug at the bottoms of her crimson braids. It was the one thing that grounded her immediately. Morgan was sitting right across from her and she knew he could feel her nervous energy, though he hadn’t said anything yet. She thought of him as almost a friend, of sorts, and the last thing she wanted was for him to think she was some kind of anxious freak on top of the dark cloud Gideon was casting over her head. Their morning workouts had helped, but she’d avoided him that morning at the track too, and he hadn’t said anything then either.

It was like she was untouchable. They’d left her behind when they went on a case that Monday, and now as she looked around the exhausted members of the BAU, she wondered if Gideon had said anything about her.

Of course he did. He probably does every day you aren’t there. That’s probably why JJ has been avoiding you, and why Elle and Spencer don’t try to talk to you in the bullpen anymore. Even Morgan has been on edge around you the last few weeks, after you let Hill die.

Hill’s death had hit her harder than she let herself realize. Kit never liked losing patients, but Hill had never even been her patient. He was an Avenger. Someone that poisoned a lot of people. Some of them had died.

But it didn’t matter. Hill had died on the floor right in front of her, and she’d been helpless to save him as the botulism choked the breath from his body. Then she’d argued with Gideon, and then she’d yelled at Reid on the metro platform, and she still hadn’t had a conversation with either of them about it.

She figured she should apologize to Gideon, no matter how she felt about who’s fault their terseness was, but she couldn’t bring herself to walk up to his office with her tail between her legs. Every time she considered it she felt hot rage tug at her gut, burning new all over again. Everyone else allowed her to exist. They didn’t make comments or express their distaste for her out loud. Why did he have to?

“Colghain,” came Hotch’s voice, the man himself standing at the railing overlooking the bullpen. She looked up at him, and he gestured to his office.

“Oooh,” Morgan teased quietly. “Someone’s in trouble before the meeting even begins.”

She tried to give him a lighthearted chuckle, but it sounded forced in her ears. He was teasing her, and she appreciated it, but she didn’t feel like the conversation she was about to have with Hotch was going to be a particularly lighthearted one. He’d given off too much tightness into the air for that.

Maybe she was being fired. While it would definitely come as a blow, she wouldn’t have to deal with Gideon’s skeptical and judging eyes on her every time she took a breath.

That wouldn’t be that bad, actually. I’d get to be back in the clinic and get my old life back.

But you like this job.

There was Monty’s voice echoing at her, always the voice of reason in her head, even though she never was in their triplet triad.

And as always, the Monty in her head was right. Regardless of the way Gideon made her feel like an idiot, and Reid’s sniffling drove her crazy, and Hill’s final breaths haunted her every dream, she really did like her split position.

She liked the way Penelope Garcia came to see her in the bullpen when the team was gone. They’d drink tea together and Kit would listen as she gushed about Morgan. Their friendship was one of a kind, and Kit longed to have any connection on the team like that.

She enjoyed her conversations with JJ and Elle before they’d started to become fewer and farther between. Both women were younger, especially JJ, and they’d had at least one really good conversation about music between the three of them in the six weeks leading up to that day.

Okay Kody, it would be bad. You don’t really want to be in the clinic every day. You like looking at the medical information. You like giving your input. Even if Gideon doesn’t seem to think your opinion is worth a damn, Hotch does. Hotch always has.

Hopefully he’s not firing you.

When she stepped into Hotch’s office, he gestured to the seat across from his desk.

“Close the door, too, if you would,” he said evenly, the air in the room cold and stern and as stoic as their leader tended to always be. She felt a little better when she noticed that his eyes were still kind, though she had no idea how he managed it.

She did as he asked, shutting the door behind her and sitting down across from him. There was an attempt to pull his calm energy in and use it to replace the anxiety now swirling around her, but no matter how hard she wanted it to work, she still felt exactly like she was back in her high school principal’s office.

Again.

She didn’t say anything, waiting for him to tell her why she was sitting in his office, full of anxiety, instead of sitting at her desk and finishing her prep for their meeting.

If you get fired, there won’t be a meeting.

“Are you ready for the health meeting today?” Hotch finally asked. His tone was lighter than she expected, and it took her a moment to respond.

Not being fired. Okay.

“Yes, sir,” she said slowly, “I have my notes prepared.”

“Good.” Hotch nodded, waiting another second before he said, “And, that’ll be in the conference room. Do you have any visuals or need access to the screen?”

She shook her head, skeptical now. Hotch’s body language told her he wanted to ask about something else, but was holding back. How he kept himself so calm and didn’t give anything away impressed her to no end.

“I don’t. I’m trying to keep it short. I know it’s supposed to be forty-five minutes, but I’m sure I can get through it in thirty.” She ended her sentence with a nod, letting a hand drift up to play at the end of her braid. She didn’t tug, mindful of that, but she was the most comfortable with Hotch by a long shot.

He nodded along with her, taking a breath before saying, “I wanted to talk to you about Agent Gideon.”

There it is.

“Agent Gideon, sir?” She kept her tone light despite the frustration she felt at the mention of his name.

“Yes. I think it goes without saying that the sort of outburst you shared in New Jersey is unacceptable. The reason I haven’t brought it up until now is because no one was around to see it but me.” He waited a moment before saying, “I don’t blame you for being aggravated. I haven’t missed the way that Agent Gideon approaches you, and in the room with Hill, he was out of line. You are the lead on medical during cases, the position information was very clear, and I understand where your frustration came from. I’ve spoken to him about it.”

Kit’s cheeks warmed at the thought of Hotch having to speak to Gideon about her. To have to come to her rescue like she was some child with hurt feelings. She knew she had been out of line, but knowing she wasn’t the only one being reprimanded for it helped.

“Yes, sir,” she said quietly.

“The reason I am bringing it up now is because one of your responsibilities is assisting JJ to maintain good rapport with local law. You’re trained to manage people and their feelings in the clinic, and that’s needed, as some of the members on this team, well,” He thought for a moment before deciding to say, “are lacking in that area.”

“You’re talking about Gideon and Reid,” she supplied, and his lips pressed into a firm line.

“I didn’t say that.”

“But that’s what you meant,” she said, her head tipping to the side. “I wouldn’t say anything to them. I watch the way they interact with others.”

“Then you know that your job is to be the balance.” His posture shifted to sit taller. More authoritative. “And you know that outburst like the one you had in New Jersey will not be tolerated. If something like that happened in front of local law, or in a precinct with officers around and watching, we could misrepresent the bureau.”

Shame washed over her, cold and sharp. She’d expected that, but it didn’t make it any less embarrassing. Any less shameful. She could control herself when the nurses in the clinic made mistakes. When they were idiots, or when they questioned her. Why did she have such an adverse reaction when it was Gideon?

Because those girls know you. They’ve worked with you and they respect you. Gideon couldn’t give a shit about you or what you think.

Kit found herself nodding. She didn’t want to disappoint Hotch. She didn’t want to make him question his decision or his trust in her. Her eyes drifted to her hands, now playing at the hem of her shirt. “I understand, sir. I’m sorry I allowed my emotions to get the better of me. I won't let it happen again.”

“Colghain,” Hotch said. His voice was softer than before. “Both cases you’ve worked with us have been a success with your help. You add value to this team.”

“Then why doesn’t Gideon respect me?” Her eyes were hard when they flicked up to meet his. “Why does he act like I’m intruding every time I try to do my job?”

Hotch took a second before shrugging, just slightly. If she wasn’t watching him as closely as she was, she would have missed it. “Gideon doesn’t like change. JJ, then Elle, now you. Give it time.” He glanced down at his watch. “Speaking of time, it’s almost noon. The meeting is at one?”

Kit was well aware of the fact that he knew when the meeting was. He was letting her be in charge of it. Letting her do her job.

“Yes, sir,” she said, standing from her seat. They were done. “Thank you for speaking with me.”

She meant it, hands still for a moment and eyes sincere as they continued to hold his. He nodded, standing as well and coming from behind his desk as he said, “I appreciate you listening. Leave the door open, please.”

Kit nodded once more before making her way to the door, opening it, and walking through. Morgan raised an eyebrow at her as she caught his gaze, and she couldn’t help but roll her eyes as she moved towards the stairs.  

She couldn’t catch a break.

-----

At one o’clock they filed in. No one looked excited, and Kit couldn’t blame them. Having a compulsory health meeting once or twice a year was bad enough. She gave them, and she couldn’t stand them. Being subjected to one every other week? It was work for her, and thirty minutes of their lives they’d never get back.

Gideon was the only one that didn’t sit, opting instead to stand with his hands braced on the back of his chair. Kit didn’t mind, not letting it phase her in the slightest. If he wanted to stand while she talked about the importance of sleep, she quite frankly couldn’t give a shit. She honestly didn’t mind if they all tuned her out for the next half hour. All she needed was for Hotch to write in his post-meeting report that she’d led an informational meeting, about a desired topic,  up to standards. They were already behind by quite a number of weeks, and that alone should have placated any worries or annoyances.

Plus, who actually cares right? This has to be the least important part of this job. And it’s a new job, so maybe they'll take away the requirement, and this is the only one I’ll have to do.

“Okay,” she started once they all sat down. She wore the same smile and used the same tone she always did in the clinic, and when she’d given health meetings in the past to varying departments. The only ones that smiled back at her were Penelope and JJ, which helped. Some of the tense energy she felt earlier ebbed away, and she started into her lesson.

“So technically this should be forty five minutes, but I think I can zip it in thirty.”

“Zip it?” Gideon mumbled, his eyebrows pulling together at the phrase.

She ignored him. “More people voted for ‘Sleep Habits’ than ‘Diet and Nutrition,’ which didn’t surprise me.” She paused, genuinely smiling. “And honestly, now that I’ve traveled on a case that took more than one day, I understand. Sleep is important, especially if you want to stay healthy.”

The room visibly dropped in energy, Elle leaning her face on her hand and Morgan leaning back in his chair.

It was going to be a long thirty minutes, and they’d barely started. She had to think of something.

It took exactly nineteen minutes for Gideon to say something. That was more than she’d given him credit for in her head, but she was actually almost done, and even Reid had help on without interrupting her once. He’d been more quiet after their interaction at the metro station, and hadn’t engaged with her as much. Which, she didn’t care about. He was Gideon’s chosen one, and she was trouble.

What she did care about was Gideon arguing with her over sleep debt when they were almost done and people wanted it to be done.

“That isn’t true,” he’d said, and the world had stopped spinning. There was visible tension in both Hotch and Reid, both sitting just a bit straighter than before.

Morgan and Elle wore twin expressions of surprise, and JJ and Garcia had a combination of stress and expectancy.

What flooded the room, however, was a feeling that Kit had only ever been able to describe as “Oh No Feeling.” It took a moment for her to get her bearings and swallow down the remark she wanted - shut the hell up, Gideon - and bury the "Oh No Feeling" before she simply nodded

"It is true," she said, voice staying even. She'd argued with plenty of people in the hospital she and her siblings had started in, and plenty of parents or loved ones when major injuries happened in the academy.

She was in charge. Hotch told her she was the lead on medical. This was her job. Hotch had her back. Didn't he?

"No, it isn't. One hour of sleep less than is expected isn't going to kill anyone."

"It matters," Kit said, not bothering to acknowledge the fact that he had stood straight and crossed his arms. "Because long term sleep debt can lead to insulin resistance and heart disease. Most adults in America have some level of sleep debt, and I understand why this would be the case for those in a job like this one."

"So you sleep in on the weekends," Gideon argued back, though in his normal flippant way. As if he was correcting a naive child. "You get two good nights and you're good to go."

Kit shook her head, the Oh No Feeling pulling at her gut more firmly as time went on. One hand floated towards her thigh, fingers drumming lightly.

“Actually, no,” she said, her voice a little more firm, though tone even. She’d delt with worse than Gideon challenging her medically because she was young and they underestimated her. Didn’t respect her. Hotch had her back. Didn’t Hotch have her back?

Does he have your back? He’s letting Gideon walk all over you right now.

“If you lose two hours a night during the week, that’s ten hours of debt. Sleeping an extra three on the weekend still leaves you seven hours short of working at full mental capacity.”

“Which means what? You yawn a few times?”

"Gideon," Hotch warned, but the older man continued.

"Why are we having this meeting in the first place? We're all adults, we don't need to be told for half an hour that sleep is good for you. We know that."

Kit could feel her hands clenched into fists at her side before she could stop them. His words weren’t really aggressive in tone as much as they were disrespectful.

Hotch talked to him. He said he did. So why is he still doing this?

“The meeting is mandated as part of Colghain’s position-” Hotch started before Gideon interjected, voice casual. “Which is unnecessary in the first place.”

“And,” Hotch said, never braking face or stride, “the information we’re receiving is valuable.”

Gideon moved back from his spot, just a step away from the table. “What’s valuable is the time of the victims we’re letting be hunted or murdered while a nurse tells us we need to sleep. What about those people, huh? Are they worried about sleep debt?”

“You know what?” Kit said, releasing the grip on her hands and picking up a manila folder off the table with far more force than necessary. Her tone was even and cold, eyes aimed at Gideon alone and she took forms from the folder. “We’re done. I hope-” She slammed a form in front of Elle, who was the closest on her left.

“You all-” She slammed one in front of JJ. She continued to place a form in front of each member of the team, not breaking stride for a second. “Found this,” Slam. “To be,” Slam. “Incredibly,” Slam. “Useful,” Slam.

She looked into Hotch’s eyes, the last form in her hand, and she felt her anger and frustration dissolve.

He was supposed to have her back.

She dropped the form in front of him, shaking her head slightly and scoffing before turning and moving towards the door. Before she could cross the threshold she allowed herself one moment to take a breath. The room was tense. The Oh No Feeling had escalated to full blown surprise and discomfort. She turned and faced them, looking around at them in turn before saying, “I hope this was a valuable use of your time. Please give your feedback, I can’t wait to hear all of your incredibly honest opinions. Really.”

She thought for one moment that someone would dare to say something, but she turned and walked away before they could have the chance.

I cannot stand this place.

-----

Five, four, three, two, one. Breathe. Breathe. Arms. Stride.

Kit took the turn wider than she wanted, pushing faster as she neared the end of her sixth lap. She needed to break back under twelve minutes or she was doomed. The frustration of the day before was hanging over her, pushing her to be faster, to be better, and at one point the night before, to march into Unit Chief Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner’s office and give him a piece of her mind.

Ari had talked her most of the way down, and by the time he was leaving she’d assured him she wouldn’t do something to get herself fired.

Not yet, anyway.

She was almost across the lap mark when she heard her name being yelled. Not Colghain, though, and not Kit. Not even Dakota or Kody.

“Lep!”

Morgan.

She hadn’t spoken to him the day before after her swift departure from her own health meeting. She’d sat at her desk with her headphones on, tearing manically through form after form and leaving the second the clock struck five without so much as a word to anyone, including Hotch.

She should have figured someone would try to talk to her, but when she and Ari had hashed it out the night before, she’d settled on the idea that she’d be approached by Hotch first. Not by Derek Morgan when her guard was down. Selfishly and stupidly she’d completely forgotten that of course she’d run into Morgan. She wasn’t the only one at the track. She’d started going to the track half an hour earlier in the mornings because she could run or do strength training with someone else. That was the whole basis of their half formed friendship.

One she’d surely destroyed when she’d slammed the post-meeting form in front of him the day before without so much as a glance.

Kit nearly tripped over her own feet as she turned to look at him, slowing several paces before she darted over the lap line later than she would have wanted. She slowed to a stop before pulling the stopwatch from her jacket pocket, one hand raising it to where she could see while the other crossed to lay over the top of her head.

12:17

“I dtigh diabhail,” she swore, breath coming out harder than she thought it should. The stopwatch flew into the grass as she rounded on Morgan. “What?”

He stood there with his bag on his shoulder, one eyebrow raised at her. Confusion. “Is that one of your secret swear words Reid was talking about?”

Her ears burned, air harder to bring back into her lungs when she was embarrassed. They did talk about her behind her back, and Morgan had just outed them.

“It’s not a secret, it’s Gaelic,” she managed between huffs, diverting the focus she had from her embarrassment to evening her breathing.

“Well what does it mean?”

“Damn it,” she said, moving her hands to her hips.

Morgan put his hands up in surrender. He was skirting around her.

Great.

“You don’t have to tell me.”

She shook her head. “No, it means damn it. Or the Irish version of it, anyway.” She shifted her eyes to the stopwatch she’d tossed, her water bottle sideways in the grass. With three steps she snatched it up, standing straight again before asking simply, “So? What do you want?”

Morgan dropped his bag down in the grass near the stopwatch. He was sweating, just like she was, which meant he’d been there a while. He had waited until she was nearly done with her run, though, to get her attention, which told her that he wasn’t looking for a work out partner.

He was looking to talk.

“I wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said, gesturing toward her with his right hand. “You were really upset when you left.”

Kit shifted where she stood, taking a sip before dropping her water bottle back onto the ground. Her arms moved up to cross over her chest, though it wasn’t going to help with the last of her breath evening out.

She knew it was defensive to stand that way, but she was being defensive. She didn’t want to talk about it with Morgan. She didn’t want to talk about it with anyone at all. She wanted, really, to go to her shift in the clinic and pretend the day before hadn’t happened at all. To bury it all down inside like she always did, like she always had, and deal with the repercussions from Hotch when they would come. If he decided to send her back to the clinic full time, would Ari or Monty be offered her job?

Probably not. She’d probably ruined it for all of them.

“I don’t question anyone’s profiling,” she found herself saying, though she had no intention of divulging any of her inner thoughts to Morgan.

He looked at her for a moment, and when she risked moving her eyes from the grass to his face, he tilted his head at her, nodding. “And you don’t like that you feel questioned about your stuff.”

“I don’t feel questioned,” she said, shaking her head, “I am questioned. Every move I make. Everything I say. Even input I’m asked for is taken with more than an entire shaker of salt.”

“This is about Gideon,” He said. It wasn’t a question. “Gideon is just…” Morgan looked like he had no idea what he was trying to put into words. “That’s just how he is, Lep. It’s not about you. Don’t take it personally, you know?”

She shook her head, arms tightening in their crossed position. “How could I not take it personally? I... it’s, I-” She groaned, fingers pulling at her sleeves. “It is personal, Derek. By nature.”

“By nature?”

She nodded quickly, arms loosening as she started to gesture to nothing in particular, voice a bit tighter as she tried to convey her meaning as clearly as possible. “By nature. If you were being told, directly or indirectly, that you weren’t good enough to do a job you were chosen to do, wouldn’t that feel personal?”

Morgan stared at her for a moment, mouth working over words he didn’t quite say. He’d quickly shifted from casual to guilty, and Kit could see the tension working across his face.

He thought this would be easy. That I’d fold.

“I didn’t think about it like that,” he finally said, “but that would piss me off.”

Kit nodded quickly, shrugging as she felt the dynamic shifting. She could tell he was thinking about it now. “It does,” she said simply.

She let the air sit for a moment before she sighed, dropping into the grass gently and crossing her legs.

“I know he talks about me,” she said, watching her fingers as they twisted at a blade of grass in front of her. “When I’m not around. I can tell the difference when you guys travel without me. When you come back, and everyone's a little quieter. A little more distant.”

Morgan stared at her for a moment before he ran a hand down his face, dropping into the grass next to her.

She was surprised, to say the least. She hadn’t expected him to sit with her. She’d actually expected him to do quite the opposite. To deny what she was saying and say he was going to start his cardio. That she’d see him the next day, and maybe things would shift a little. He’d know she was upset, and he’d know why.

As he sat next to her, he looked around. “He’s just… Gideon. I don’t know how to say it any other way. I don’t always agree with him.”

“He thinks I’m trouble,” She said. “My reputation in the bureau has never been anything but positive. I’m literally in a position of authority over an entire shift of nurses, most of which are older than I am.”

“Maybe he just thinks it’s a bad choice by the bureau,” Morgan said, catching her eyes, “Not you, but your job. Like we’re being steamrolled or something.”

“What?” she asked, “Like you’re being watched or something?”

“Yeah.” He gestured towards her. “It’s a weird time for them to add another person to the team. We didn’t get Elle very long ago. I’ll be honest, that was something that ran through my mind when you showed up, too.”

“Well, I’m not doing that. You can all read my list of duties” She said. “I’m around for a very specific purpose. Ask anyone. Ask Hotch. Ask Ramos. The director himself, I don’t care.”

There was heat crawling across her face, and her grip on the grass was getting tighter as a weight started to settle in her gut.

“Oh, I asked around,” Morgan said, “I know some people in the clinic. And in the field training sector.”

Kit let out a humorless laugh. Gideon was the loudest, but they all really were checking into her. “So, none of you trust me?”

“Hotch does,” Morgan said immediately. “And I do. And JJ, for sure. She was telling me that she was impressed with you after we were in New Jersey.”

She shook her head slowly, finding that she’d scoffed out loud. “New Jersey. I yelled at Gideon. When Hill was dying, I was trying to direct Hotch and handle it and he was just-” She cut herself off with a quiet growl. “He was in the way. He kept trying to, I don’t know. Take over. As if I don’t know how to do my job.”

They were quiet before she said, “Did you know that I worked in an ER? Before we joined the academy?”

Morgan shook his head. “No.”

“I did. Monty and I worked the same twelve, and Ari worked nights. He’s always worked nights.” She looked off towards the locker room, knowing she needed to go soon, but finding herself continuing. “We were nineteen. Graduated high school early so we could get out of Vermont, and there was a program at our high school that got us a direct line to nursing school. All three of us. Worked in college to finish as quickly as possible and move on with our lives.”

She shifted, tucking her legs underneath her. “And then we worked in an ER here in the district. Ginny and Wash live here, too. Or at least they did. We slept on the floor at Ginny’s for months, and then at Wash’s when he was deployed.” She turned, looking Morgan directly in the eye. “And we worked our asses off. And Monty and I did school at night so we could get our masters, and Ari did it during the day. We got promoted. And it was hard. But we did it together.”

Morgan nodded after a moment, Kit having stopped to give space and try to right herself.

"And then what? You joined the academy together?"

She nodded. "It was our supervisor's idea. At the hospital. We were young, really young, but since we were already here in DC it was streamlined. Our supervisor used to be a field medic for the bureau, so his recommendation meant everything."

She shrugged with finality. "I'm good at my job. I've always been good at my job, and I've proven it again and again. I don't need to prove it to Gideon, too."

"You should tell him that," Morgan offered, and Kit had to stop herself from laughing in his face.

"Right."

"You just told me, so tell him."

He was being genuine. There was no sense of sarcasm, no sense of mocking or joking.

"You really think I should?"

"Couldn't hurt, right?"

She sighed before nodding, working it over in her head.

Couldn't hurt, right?

Unless Gideon says he doesn't care, and that I'm an idiot. That it doesn't matter how hard I've worked. How good at my job I am.

"Couldn't hurt," she heard herself say. She sighed, grabbing her stopwatch and water bottle and stuffing them in her bag. "I need to go."

"Sure. You're in the clinic today right?"

He knew the answer, but it was nice of him to ask.

"Yeah, back upstairs tomorrow."

"Well, see you then, Lep."

Lep.

She stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder and rocking her weight.

"Hey, Derek?"

He raised an eyebrow at her, but there was a small smile on her face. She never called him Derek. "Yeah?"

Don't ask him. Don't do it, Kody.

"We're… friends, right?"

Kill me where I stand.

He chuckled before nodding up at her. "Yeah, Lep. We're friends."

The weight that had settled inside her gut seemed to lift, and she found a genuine smile creep across her face. He'd listened, really listened, and it seemed that he'd understood.

"Cool… great. See you tomorrow."

She turned and moved away from him quickly, the smile on her face never fading. She had one friend, and Morgan had said Hotch trusted her. And apparently so did JJ.

That was nearly the team, and she knew Garcia didn't mind her. They hadn't worked together, per say, as their fields crossed so infrequently, but she liked talking to the brightly dressed woman, and she'd never gotten a bad feeling from her.

She could talk to Gideon. Morgan would have her back, and while she was frustrated with Hotch, he had spoken up in the meeting. She'd talk to him, in his office, on Friday. She could do that.

-----

Confident was how she'd always felt in the clinic, and after her talk with Morgan and a full day working her shift, she felt a million times better than she had leaving the BAU the day before.

"If the emotional backlash is going to be this bad, is it worth it?" Monty asked her. They were both in the breakroom, Kit grabbing her backpack and Monty leaning against the counter, civilian clothes on. Normally she would be depositing her bag into the locker as Kit emptied it. They'd always shared a locker, and the combination had been an easy choice: Carolina's birthday.

"I had a good talk with Morgan-"

"Oh! Antibiotics guy!"

"Stop! We talked this morning, at the track. It was good, I think."

Monty rolled her eyes quickly, identical irises meeting. "You think. That's reassuring, isn't it."

"Oh, múchadh, Montana."

"I won't!"

Kit felt like the tables had been turned. Monty was the one that got frustrated and loud, just like she did in the BAU. Here in the clinic, her words were as even as Morgan's had been. Atmosphere had always mattered in their behavior, and as they stood in their shared space, there was no exception.

"He affirmed me, Mont, why would that be bad? Why would that not help?"

She played with the hem of her scrubs, her eyebrows pulling together as she searched her twin's feelings. Monty was good at masking, and Kit hated it.

"It's not bad." Monty had slipped into Gaelic now, eyes darting for others around them, even though the room was otherwise unoccupied. "But I think you need to be careful. If you go and talk to that idiot-"

"Monty -"

"You should do it with Agent Hotchner in the room. Don't give him a chance to belittle you."

Kit sighed, moving a hand to tug at the end of her braid. It was fraying, and she'd have to take it out soon. "I don't need backup, Mont. I'm a big girl. I stood up for myself, remember?"

Monty laughed, running a hand through her loose hair. "Yeah, and then last night Ari had to talk you down over it."

Kit rolled her eyes, starting to undo her braids. "Well," she said, "that's because I thought I might be fired. Or, that I might do something drastic, like quit."

She finished combing the braids out with her fingers, looking at Monty and laughing quietly. "I wouldn't, would I?"

Monty shook her head, pulling a drawstring bag from behind her and passing it over.

"Never. You like the stiffs. You're one of them now."

"Never. " Kit assured, taking the bag and opening it to find her civilian clothes. She scoffed at what she saw, raising an eyebrow and looking up as if looking in a mirror. "Why these?"

"Lighter set. Leave your hair."

"Lighter set?"

"Ari made the list. We haven't had time to learn anything new with your fancy job, Special Agent Colghain. "

Kit smacked at Monty, both sisters giving into peals of harmonizing laughter.

“You know,” Kit said, tugging at her left shirtsleeve, “We haven’t played in a while.” She gauged Monty’s reaction, knowing she was the reason in the first place.

Monty simply smiled, squeezing Kit’s shoulder gently. “Sure, but Leeland said that we can have our spot back, now that you’ve settled a bit.” She turned Kit around, pushing her towards the bathroom in the corner of the breakroom. “Now go, sound check is at seven, and I want to eat.”

Kit stumbled a bit as she was pushed, but nodded and moved towards the bathroom with quick strides. Once she shut the door she looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled. She was still an even tempered nurse. Monty had her back. Morgan had her back. She could talk to Gideon, and she would. On Friday.

And as she looked down at the bag of clothes in her hand, she realized that she was still her, too. Thursday nights could still be theirs, and clinic shifts could still end with her and Monty, laughing in the breakroom.

[inyourwildestdreamslove]

Upside Down Chapter 12

Pairing: Sweet Pea x Reader

Summary: You don’t know much about Sweet Pea, except for what you hear in the hallways around school. You pass him on your way to and from classes and you’ve perhaps brushed his arm a hand full of times. You don’t know him and he doesn’t know you.

That is until you save his baby sister from the Ghoulies all while simultaneously getting involved in a world you want nothing to do with and events you would rather stay out of.

Too bad the Ghoulies have other ideas…

Get caught up with the Masterlist!

Girl Meets Tranquility 

It is a well known fact that the Serpents were more family than they were gang for the most part. However, the unrest that Monty had caused the members would not be forgotten especially when word got around the higher ups about what had happened. No one was really sure what the aftermath of an all out Serpent brawl looked like, but many had their own ideas and opinions.

You heaved a sigh as you watched Sweet Pea from where you were sitting at the Whyte Wyrm. Tall Boy had challenged the younger Serpent to a game and Sweet Pea had been unable to resist. You had spent the last few days at the Wyrm since you were suspended from school, so had Sweet Pea and Monty and the duo had visible tension. Your other friends were at school, even though Fangs had played hooky one day to keep you company, most of the past few days had been spent in Sweet Pea’s company. Not that you were complaining, things had fallen back into place like nothing had ever happened.

“Hey Babydoll!” you glanced up at Sweet Pea, noticing that his eyes were on you.

“Yeah, Pea?”

“You okay?”

You just nod with a smile sending him a thumbs up. He gave you one of his intense looks, before nodding and going back to his game.

“As attentive as ever I see.”

You glance over your shoulder at the voice, which belongs to Monty. You feel the silence in the room before you hear the heavy footfalls of Sweet Pea. With a snarl he is standing in front of you and you place a hand on his bicep to hold him back. He glances down at you to gauge your reaction, before fixing Monty with a hard stare.

“Why are you talking to her Monty?”

“The lady can speak for herself.”

“Oh? So now I’m a lady?” you snap as you step from behind Sweet Pea, your anger getting the better of you.

Monty at least has enough grace to look ashamed.

“Look… I just wanted to say I’m sorry about the things I said. I really do like you okay?”

“Okay… thank you for your apology, but what you did wasn’t okay. You lied to me, lied to Sweet Pea, spread rumors about me and hurt me and the people I care about for your agenda. Please leave me alone.”

You watched as his lips tightened before he nodded stiffly and turned away. You feel Sweet Pea relax next to you before he turned an picked up his jacket and threw a $20 on the table.

“You win Tall Boy, I’m out of here.”

“A Serpent never quits a game boy!” Tall Boy yells behind you as Sweet Pea puts his arm over your shoulder and steers you towards the door. You could feel him vibrating even if he seemed calm on the outside.

“Pea, you okay?” you ask softly as you turn away from his bike.

“Yeah Babydoll...I’m fine.”

“No you aren’t…”

“I just can’t stand him talking to you! He doesn't have a right! Not after what he did!”

You wrap your arms around him and pull him towards you, tucking your head under his chin. His arms wrap themselves around you and you feel him tighten his grip. You love being surrounded by him. It feels safe. He feels safe. You inhale his familiar scent of cologne, smoke and that heady musky scent that is entirely him and just relax in his arms. You don’t think about the rest of the world for just a moment.

“You know you don’t have anything to worry about, right? He isn’t you.”

You feel him relax in your arms.

“Damn straight he isn’t...”

You laugh as you pull away and up into his eyes.

“Good to see you haven’t lost your ego… I was beginning to wonder where it had gone,” you said with a Cheshire like smile.

“Fuck off…” he murmurs with a laugh before he climbs onto the bike with you following quickly behind him.

You laugh as you settle behind him and wrap your arms around his waist, “You would like that wouldn’t you?”

You feel a slight shiver go down his spine and you giggle as you hug him tighter to you.

He rolls his shoulders and starts his bike. You tighten your grip so you don’t fall off as you take off down the street.

You don’t really care where he’s taking you, you trust him and are honestly just along for the ride at this point. When you start to head out of town you know where the two of you are going. The familiar path to the Quarry gives you time to relax and you find yourself resting your head on Sweet Pea’s back. You watch as the trees go by and feel completely content.

When you get there the two of you head towards the water and sink into the cool grass. He is laying on his back with his knees up. Your head is resting on his bicep as you gaze up at the sky. The rushing water of the river the only sound between the two of you.

You lay like that for several minutes before he breaks the silence.

“So there is this awesome band playing in Greendale this weekend… you want to go?”

Your head rolls toward him to face him and you give him a soft smile.

“Sure,” you say simply before rolling your head back towards the sky.

You miss his smile and the look of contentment that overtakes his face.

You spend the rest of the afternoon laying by the river talking about nothing and everything. Should you be more worried about what was going on in school or in town? Probably. However, things with you and Sweet Pea were the best they had been in weeks and neither of you intend to destroy the peace between the two of you. In fact, you both noticed that the things seemed much better than it ever had before. You and he were closer now.

It’s hours later as the sun begins to set over the horizon and the chill of evening hangs in the air, that he pulls you closer to him. You rest your head on his chest and the steady beat of his heart is the only thing breaking the silence of the world around you.

“You hungry Babydoll?” he questions softly has you feel him glance down at you.

You just nod, still sleepy from your lazy afternoon, before you sit up with him following behind you. The two of you glance at one another before you share a smile and stretch before you stand up. You turn around hold out a hand to pull him to his feet with a little bit of effort. He pulls you towards him and brings his arm around you, making you stumble before you fall into step beside him.

You make your way back up the bank and towards where the two of you left his bike...only it’s not there anymore.

“What the actual fuck,” is the only thing you hear from Sweet Pea before he loses it.

“WHO TOOK MY BIKE?! It was RIGHT here!!” He groans and throws his hands up and they tangle into his hair.

You look around hoping against hope that the two of you just got the place wrong.

“Who would steal your bike?!” you exclaim as you look around.

“You want the short list or the long list?” he practically snarls at you as he turns to look at you.

“Hey! Don’t take this out on me! I’m in the same boat as you!” you scold him.

“Sorry… You’re right…Damnit!”

“I’ll call Toni… hopefully her and Fangs can come to get us…” you murmur with a groan as you pull your phone from your pocket. Looking down you notice that your phone is dead.

“Shit! It’s dead!

“How is it dead?” he ask exasperated as he pulls his own phone from his jacket pocket.

“I don’t know! It must be roaming out here and that always drains the battery… Sweet Pea?”

You glance up at the unusually quiet Serpent and notice the way his brow is furrowed.

“Sweets?” you ask.

“My phone is dead too…” he grumbles quietly, almost in shock.

“What?”

“Fuck!” he yells before looking around frantically, almost like he too thought that maybe, just maybe the two of you had the wrong place.

You watch as Sweet Pea very visible takes a deep breath to calm himself down.

With his eyes still closed he murmurs just so you can hear, “There is a convenience store down the road, we can walk there and use their phone to call someone.”

You nod and the two of you start off down the deserted road, the earlier peace of the afternoon shattered by the events of the evening. The stars start to poke out from the sky and the temperature drops. You can feel the wind picking up and notice the hunched over form of Sweet Pea with his hands in his pockets, and his furrowed brows.

“Pea?” you ask quietly, almost like you are afraid of destroying silence.

“Yeah Babydoll?”

“It’s cold…” you murmur softly as you cross your arms a little tighter.

You feel him step closer to you and pull your towards him. His arms go around you and you feel his large hands rub up and down your arms to generate heat.

“It’s not too much farther, then we can call the gang and have someone come get us.”

You just nod, “Do you think there will be something hot to drink?”

He gives a soft smirk as he turns to look down at you, “I’m sure there will.”

You just nod in acceptance as the two of you keep going, his arm firmly around you. You didn’t want to admit how scared and unsure you were.

“You okay?” he asks suddenly.

You glance up at him and notice the concern in his eyes, you give him a shaky smile and a nod, “Yeah Pea… I’m okay, just ready to be home.”

“Me too Babydoll…”

It takes about 45 minutes of walking for the two of you to see glowing lights in the distance. You both perk up at seeing the little store and speed up to get to it sooner. Once inside Sweet Pea goes up to the counter and asks to use the phone. The guy behind the counter looks behind Sweet Pea at you, and you duck your head to avoid his gaze. You just want to be home and warm.

You are vaguely aware of Sweet Pea talking to someone on the other end of the phone. His tone is tense and you can tell he’s pissed. Neither of you know who took his bike, but you know Pea is going to rain hellfire down on whoever did. He turns back toward you and says that Fangs and Toni are on their way.

You just nod and notice the man still seems to be looking at you. Sweet Pea noticing your stare turns around looks at the guy who just smiles at him.

“So yer one of those Serpents?” he questions.

“Yeah…” Pea answers with a hard tone, “What of it?”

“Nothin… Just seen another one of ya in here a few hours ago.”

Sweet Pea narrows his eyes, “What did he look like?”

The guy, who was probably in his mid twenties, smiles a creepy yellow smile, “That information is gonna cost ya…”

“Cost me what?” Sweet Pea’s tone is hard and his voice is rough with suppressed anger and annoyance. Even the store clerk can see this is the not the day to test the Serpent in front of him.

You feel the guys gaze before you even know it’s on you.

“Look at her again…” Sweet Pea’s voice has dropped to a deep growl, “and you’re going to regret it.”

The guy straightens up and clears his throat before mumbling something about a guy with longer black hair that is tall and lanky.

“Monty,” Pea hisses, rage engulfing his features.

Thankfully the headlights of a truck shine through the window and you are saved by the figures of Toni and Fangs as they both walk into the convenience store.

“You guys okay?” Toni is the first one in the door and rushing over to you.

“Yeah we’re fine…” you mutter softly.

“You’re sure?”

“She says she’s fine Topaz,” Grunts Sweet Pea from behind you.

“I was just asking Pea, no need to get your panties in a bunch,” Toni snips back.

Sweet Pea rolls his eyes before he pushes past everyone out of the convenience store. Both Fangs and Toni look at you with confusion.

“He’s… dealing with himself right now…”

“The bike?” questions Fangs.

“The bike,” you confirm.

“Well this is going to be a fun ride home…” grumbles Toni as she leads you out the door and towards the truck.

Everyone could feel the anger radiating off of Sweet Pea and the silence in the truck is deafening. At least it is until you pull his arm around your shoulders and snuggle into him. He looks down at you and you just smile up at him. He gives you a half smile of his own and finally relaxes against you. It isn’t long until you both drift off to sleep.

So it is finally out! I’m sorry this took so long! I’m finally in a good place to write again! I had some healing to do mentally and emotionally! I’m back though! I’m super excited for this! Remember no taglist anymore! But I still love you all! You can also find this on Archive of our Own! Here is the link!  Upside Down

[rezares]

But He’s My Mistake To Make All Night || War & Peace

@spindlesandrosethorns

Reading order of posted threads:

Spill The Tea (August 22, 2019)

Bullshit Cover Story (November 10, 2019)

Bullshit Detective (November 10, 2019)

Wildcard (November 10, 2019)

Father (November 10, 2019)

Mother (November 19th, 2019)

Word Count: 14,300

Date: November 24th, 2019

tl;dr: Reza’s put down the monster he created, then Reza and Rory have sex they shouldn’t have had

REZA

Reza’s breathing came labored as he stood dripping dry in the shower, skin still burning from the too hot water running over it until he was sure any evidence of the night’s sin was washed away. It wasn’t his first sin, nor his first of that nature, but it was the first time he watched someone he loved draw their last breath because he killed them.

Allah knows there was no other choice. It was kill Mekki and avenge his victims and prevent him from killing more innocents, or let Mekki stain Reza’s hands with more blood. Mekki Masmoudi only became so powerful because of Reza’s guidance anyway.

If killing him was the lesser sin than letting him live, why did he feel so heavy?

Heaving a sigh, he stepped out of the shower, wrapped the towel around his waist, and headed back to his bedroom to go to bed. Maybe he’d wake up feeling somewhat human.

AURORA

Aurora was at an impasse. 

The whole reason she had come on this trip was for this moment. For the moment Reza came back, quiet and withdrawn and heavy, so she could be there. So he wouldn’t get caught in his head, so he wouldn’t be alone. So there was someone there to remind him he was still loved and respected, someone who had no familial obligation to.

But now that the moment was here… she didn’t know what to do.

The shower seemed to run for hours as Aurora paced the floor of her guest room, twisting her fingers nervously in the chain of her necklace as she tried to plan her next move. Should she go and wait for him in his room? No, no, that wouldn’t work. She didn’t want to force her company on him (okay, so she kinda did, but not so obviously). Would just… waiting and knocking work? Ask to be let in and hope she hadn’t ruined their friendship so much the door stayed closed.

Aurora groaned lowly in the back of her throat, rubbing her hands across her eyes. She was making this too complicated, she knew she was. But wasn’t it a complicated situation? He had just killed a man. And she couldn’t even say she didn’t think it was the right thing to do.

Her thoughts caught and tripped as she heard a door open across the hall, and without thinking, Aurora quickly went to her own door and rushed outside. She should try to catch him before he laid down, yeah!

Except no, bad idea, because Reza hadn’t taken his pajamas into the bathroom with him and now they’re standing in the hallway, staring at each other with Aurora in her jammies and Reza in a towel and nothing else.

Well. Fuck you too, universe.

“Sorry,” Aurora said, quickly looking away. “I just- I needed- um, water?”

REZA

Well. Fuck you too, cruel, cruel world.

This was just the cherry on top of the bullshit pile, wasn’t it? Rory seeing him all but completely ass-naked after he murdered a man and washed his blood out of his hair was the last thing he needed. Fuck, god. He just wanted the earth to swallow him whole.

“Kitchen’s the other direction.” Reza said quietly, but without any playful tone to suggest he knew he caught her in a lie.

AURORA

So this was already going so well.

His tone was all off, and Aurora instinctively knew that she needed to step away for a moment, give him a chance to gather himself before she tried anything.

“Thanks,” she said quietly. Still not looking directly at him (though part of her mind was thinking about the morning after the Titanic and wondered if she could see some of his tattoos now). “Do you want some water, too?” she asked.

At this, she finally looked at him, meeting his eyes head on. Not flustered or blooming, no reagents to give her away. Just an honest, open expression, asking silently ‘Do you need me to be with you, too?’

REZA

She didn’t need to see him like this; and he didn’t want her to see him like this. Why didn’t she just stay at home when he told her to? Though, he supposed she wouldn’t be the Aurora Briar he knew if she had listened to him. 

If nothing else, he was determined to bring her home from Tunisia untouched, unscathed, and on one piece. 

“I…fuck.” He hissed, clutching his shoulder as he was reminded how a flying piece of concrete had gotten him real good. “...could use a glass, yeah. Um. I’m going to put pants on.”

Or try his best with one working arm.

AURORA

She had been doing a wonderful job Not Looking At Him until he had cursed, then her eyes had automatically drifted to his shoulder. His incredibly fucked up shoulder.

Aurora gasped, covering her mouth before she immediately stepped into his space, everything out of her mind except for the bruising and lacerations along his shoulder and collarbone. "Reza!" she said almost like she was chastising him. Her fingers moved carefully along his skin, barely touching him at all. "Lead with the fact that you got hurt, god!"

Now she was definitely forcing him to let her in (although she did note that he had said yes to the water, to her coming back).

"Go put on some pants, I'll get the water and first aid kit," she said, taking off for the kitchen before he could respond, pink curls flying behind her in the dark.

REZA

“It’s not even that bad.” Reza grumbled, hardly making it into his room before he let out a string of swears in his native tongue. 

He just barely managed to pull a pair of boxers on in time to hear Rory give the courtesy knock on his door. 

AURORA

Aurora was only so quick because she had packed her own first aid kit, sending it through with her checked luggage. So it was only a moment for her to drain her own glass of water, refill it and Reza's glass, then get the kit. She approached Reza's door carefully, knocking softly before stepping in once he had given her the okay.

"Here we go," she said, keeping her voice quiet as she set everything down. Once her hands were free, she turned back towards Reza and gestured to the bed. "Have a seat so I can take a look, please?" Aurora asked softly, pulling on curl of hair nervously. Hopefully nothing was worse than needing basic first aid- there was absolutely no way she was getting him to a hospital. 

REZA

“I’m fine.” Reza grumbled, except, in the same breath he swore as the attempt to talk with his hands irritated the injured shoulder. “Just a flesh wound.”

Or twenty. But who’s counting?

“Not like my arm’s off.” Monty Python, anybody? 

But he obeyed and sat down on the edge of the bed, motioning for her to sit next to him or behind him and do her thing.

AURORA

"And let's try to keep it attached, aye?" she responded, very barely resisting the urge to roll her eyes at his stubbornness. Thankfully, he did sit, and Aurora easily grabbed his water and the kit before she went to stand in front of him. "Here," she said, passing him the water before getting on her knees. Pushing her hair out of her eyes, Aurora carefully leaned in so she could get a better look, wincing at how his shoulder was already starting to discolor with a bruise.

"It doesn't look dislocated, which is good," Aurora said as she dug through the small kit, putting out a few antiseptic wipes and bandages. Carefully, she began to dab at the various cuts scattered across his shoulder and then across his chest, staying quiet the whole time. She didn't want to pry or poke, or force him to talk to her when he didn't want to.

Instead she just balanced herself with a hand on his knee, watching herself work as she just focused on filling space and making sure he saw nothing but her trust and care for him in both the reagents curling around her and the way she didn't hesitate around him.

REZA

Reza didn’t laugh at Aurora’s, admittedly, very funny joke. Managed a soft smile though, which he hoped she saw. She always could manage to cheer him up just the slightest bit.

He didn’t say anything. Maybe he couldn’t. Maybe he was afraid of what he would say if he tried. 

It was a long moment before he did say another word. “I killed somebody not two hours ago.” Reza deadpanned. “I didn’t even hesitate when I saw my opportunity, I just.” Reza mimed wrapping something around his neck with his good arm. “Garrotted the fucker the second I got the chance.”

“Probably would’ve bled out anyway if I hadn’t.” He said, laughing mirthlessly and not looking at Aurora. “But I’d lost my stabbing knife between using it and then.”

AURORA

She had noticed his small smile, her own lips ticking up in return as warmth washed through her. It was that smile that convinced her that she was doing the right thing, that coming here with him was the right choice.

The slight smile had faded while she worked, and she was finishing bandaging most of the bigger cuts on Reza when he started talking (Thankfully it really had looked worse than it was). Her eyes immediately swung up to his, listening to him silently.

Should she be horrified? Knowing that Reza had killed a man? Killed someone who, at some point, had been in her position. An apprentice. Maybe a friend.

There was no horror though, just… sadness. For him. For Mekki. For everyone. Aurora was silent as she smoothed the last bandage in her hand over a wound against his rib, only hesitating for a moment before rising up higher onto her knees. She reached up, wrapping her hands carefully around his neck before pulling him down just enough so that their foreheads could touch. She didn't look away from his eyes. 

"You did the right thing," she whispered. "Not the easy one, but the right one." The government wouldn't have shown the mercy of a quick death. Reza had. And then he had made it back home (to her).

REZA

“Why are you saying that, Aurora?” Reza asked, horrified that she would say such a thing. Him? Do the right thing in strangling his former student to death? Right.

He closed his eyes and gave a labored breath that sounded more like a choked sob than anything. Reza was a dangerous man with more blood on his hands than Mekki Masmoudi’s. The kind of man who should be kept far, far away from women like Aurora.

“I should have stuck to my empty threat of ditching you at the airport.” He said, just before opening his eyes to see her still looking at him, like he wasn’t some kind of monster.

She shouldn’t be doing that. “Rory, stop touching me.” Reza said flatly, without conviction. “You’re getting your hands dirty.”

AURORA

"What were your other options?" she asked quietly, not really expecting him to answer. "Leave it be so he could hurt more people, or turn him in to a government that wouldn't have shown him the mercy of ending his life quickly? He can't hurt anyone anymore, not even himself."

Aurora gently rubbed her thumb against the skin of his neck as he breathed heavily, each one strained with all the weight he seemed determined to carry on his own. Well, too bad, Atlas. You were getting help.

She allowed herself a small, wry smile at his dramatic statement, moving her fingers gently up into his hair by the base of his neck instead of letting go. "You're not dirty," she murmured. "You're just a man. I'm not letting go until you remember that."

REZA

If Reza were a wise man he would have pushed Aurora away. Nobody ever accused Reza of being a sage. 

“Not an hour ago, right where your hands are, I had the dried blood of a man I’d known since he was Sabiha’s age. I didn’t even flinch.” He said. “I didn’t— god I feel like my skin is nothing but layers of his blood.”

“Like I cannot get it off no matter how hard I try.”

AURORA

Aurora didn't hesitate to rise onto her feet, pulling Reza into a proper hug as her arms wrapped around his shoulders and she pressed her cheek to his. What were you even supposed to say to something like that? How could she possibly make this better?

"Mekki was dangerous," she said softly. "To the people you both know and to himself. Reza you tried to help him, and when he couldn't be helped, you took the responsibility for him. Not a lot of people can do that." She pulled back just enough so she could cup his jaw in her hands gently.

"That doesn't make you a monster. It makes you a man, trying his best for the people he loves, even if the best he has is a horrible, difficult choice." She leaned down, pressing her forehead to the top of his head, lips barely brushing against his hairline. "No one expects you to be okay with what you had to do right away, but don't let it consume you, Reza," Aurora murmured. "There are too many people who love you and are waiting for you to come home."

REZA

“Please stop trying to justify it. That’s for me to do, not — not you. It’s not the first time anyway. Hardly the first body I had on my hands to handle. Just the first one I have a damn about.” Reza squirmed out of Aurora’s touch and reached for a pack of cigarettes on the nightstand. 

“Fuck, Rory. This is exactly why the last thing I wanted was for you to come with me.” He grumbled, lighting a cigarette and taking a drag as he flopped onto his back, wincing a little as he landed on his bad shoulder. “You don’t need to see what it’s like for people like us here, or need to understand what that means we’re willing to do.”

He let his outstretched arms flop down onto the bed, all of his many scars and tattoos clearly visible, except the 36.4073° N, 10.6225° E (Hammamet’s coordinates) that showed up whenever he brought the cigarette to his mouth for another drag. What a masochistic act, loving a country dearly that didn’t love you back. 

“I thought that if I even brought you to my country, it’d be to learn something really useful, and I’d show you what’s good about it. Not make you a co-conspirator in my vigilante homicide.”

AURORA

'Well, there was the line' she thought sadly as he moved away from her, her hands cold when they weren't pressed against his skin. If he thought snapping and cursing at her would get her to leave, however, he was mistaken. Having her heart already broken by this man had finally started to toughen her skin, and now she just huffed as she crawled onto the bed and sat with her legs folded beneath her; close enough he could see her face, far enough they weren't touching. She reached out for the cigarette, plucking it from his hands and snuffing it out on the nearby windowsill as she gave him a look that said 'Your dad said no smoking in the house and you know it.'

"I volunteered for co-conspirator duty, Reza, that's why I came," she told him honestly. "Because I didn't want you to be alone in your head right now, so-" she shrugged " -suffer."

She curled her legs up to her chest, fiddling with the lace on her shorts with one hand as the other wrapped around her knees. "I still want to see more of Tunisia, and learn more and all that good stuff, but right now I'm here for you. Let me be."

REZA

“Merde.” He hissed when Rory took his cigarette.

“I’m not suffering.” Reza replied, shaking his head in disbelief she’d even say that. “I mean I am. Generally. Not because of you, though.”

He turned over on his side, laying on his good shoulder, to better talk to Aurora. If this were a year ago he’d reach out and affectionately play with her hair. But he knew about her feelings now. Stoking the flames even if touching her like that would comfort him wasn’t something friends did. 

“Yeah I...suppose I should buy return flight tickets. Didn’t want to waste money in case…”

AURORA

Flopping down on her back next to Reza, she turned so she could look at him with a faint, wry smile. She had long accepted her status as the annoying friend who pushed too much, and maybe she would have joked about it any other night. But this wasn't about her fumbling to find her footing in a world where her feelings had been firmly rejected. This was about Reza.

"We can figure that all out tomorrow," she told him, resisting the urge to pet his hair back out of his eyes. "There's no rush. Tonight, just tell me what I can do to help," she said softly. "At least with the non-Me related suffering."

REZA

“I don’t know Rory.” Reza groaned, closing his eyes and willing his racing heartbeat to settle so he could feel like his entire world wasn’t spinning like a coin on a tabletop. “I don’t know.”

As his breathing felt normal again he opened his eyes and shrugged his injured shoulder. “I just. Don’t. I don’t feel like a person anymore. The other times I had to kill someone, they came at me with the intent to kill first. But I — I hunted Mekki Masmoudi down for years. Even from my hospital bed in Austria I was gathering intel on his movements.”

AURORA

Aurora still wasn't convinced what he did was entirely wrong, what with morality being more of a grey scale than black and white, but it was kind of odd hearing him talk about how premeditated it all had been.

Not weird enough to make her move. But just enough to make her sad. It was a lot for one person to shoulder.

"When I'm dissociating," she started quietly, "I like to find something to ground me. Remind me who and where I am, and that I take up space in the world. Sometimes it's knitting, sometimes it's a friend." Aurora held out her hand to him, not pushing, never pushing; just a quiet, earnest offer.

REZA

“Oh. Is that what I’m doing?” Reza said slowly, ending with a sad little laugh. “Add that to the kinds of fucked up I am I suppose.”

He took her hand and squeezed gently. 

AURORA

"It's the closest thing I can think of," Aurora said with a small shrug, twining her fingers between his and rubbing her thumb against his hand in slow, steady movements.

"It's not a new kind of fucked up, it just happens." Thinking of her mother, Aurora turned on her side so they were facing each other and took his free hand in hers before pressing it to his chest over one of his many tattoos. She could faintly feel his heart pounding away under his skin. "Breathe in for five beats, out for five," she instructed, demonstrating with a slow in and out as she tapped out his heartbeats against his hand.

REZA

“Okay.” He muttered, thankful for Aurora’s steady presence. 

Reza still wished she would have stayed in England, and always would, but he was glad she was here. He periodically closed his eyes as he synced his breathing with counting to five until he thought he could look right at Rory without devolving again. 

“I. How can you just...be here?” With him. Alone. And not be afraid of him now?

AURORA

She watched over him carefully as his breathing went even, not moving closer no matter how much she wanted to press against his side and tuck herself against him. He didn't ask for cuddles? She wouldn't cuddle him. She would only give the comfort he asked for.

His question made her blink owlishly at him for a moment, before she smiled at him softly. "Because I know you," she said gently, raising their joint hands so she could press her cheek against the back of his hand. "Because I trust you." 

'Because I love you,' she didn't say, praying that her magic wouldn't give her away. He got nervous around her love, clammed up and awkward like he thought she expected more from him. She never had, and tonight certainly wasn't an exception. Thankfully no flowers bloomed between her curls.

"I want to be here," Aurora reassured him.

REZA

“I’m...glad you do.” Reza said slowly, squeezing her hand tighter before coaxing her slightly closer to him. He didn’t dare slip his arms around her to cuddle her properly, but just. Just short of that.

That was all he could say. He only laid there, staring at either her or the ceiling, for a long while.

“Aurora, aren’t you disgusted, though?” He asked quietly.

AURORA

Aurora let herself be tugged ever so slightly closer, looking up at him with wide, lilac eyes as her heart raced out of her chest. He didn't say anything else for a long while, and she let herself relax; curling closer to him until they were just shy of touching.

Her eyes had slipped closed when he had finally asked his question, and she opened them slowly to look at him. She wore the same, soft smile as she wiggled closer, tucking herself under his chin carefully. "Not even a little," she promised him softly, clasped hands still caught between them.

REZA

Reza let out a tiny, pained noise as her insisting it was fine. Everything was fine. They were fine. He was fine. When it wasn’t, he wasn’t. God, he could still smell Mekki Masmoudi’s blood, as if his bleeding body was in this room.

“The sickest part? I felt accomplished when the deed was done. It was a comfort. What kind of person -” Reza let out a shaky breath and idly played with Aurora’s hair. “You should run far away from anything to do with me, Aurora. My hands are bloodier than they’ve ever been now.”

AURORA

His hand in her hair was almost enough to distract her, almost enough to keep her curled up close to him. But she knew that edge to his tone, knew the reagents that curled around him like chains. She knew where his mind was at, and soft cuddles wouldn't snap him out of it.

Aurora pushed herself up on to her elbow, frowning at Reza as she twisted so she was kneeling on the bed instead; leaning over him and dominating his field of vision. "Hey," she said, voice gentle and firm as she took his hands in her own. "I told you, what you did was the right thing to do." She pressed his hands to her cheeks, leaning fearlessly into the hands that not three hours ago had ended a man's life. Her eyes caught his, steady and determined.

"Nothing you can do will scare me away," she told him. "I won't run from you. Besides, we both know I don't take directions well," she said with a small grin.

REZA

Reza’s breath hitched as Rory leaned over him, her hair falling in his face and keeping him from being able to look at anything else but her. Gasped as she made him touch her face without moving to shy away from him at all. 

How she still saw a person instead of a bloodlust driven murderer inhabiting his skin was beyond him. 

“That much is true.” Reza acknowledged with a nervous laugh as his eyes remained unable to look away from hers. “That’s…”

He trailed off as he suddenly became hyper aware of her breathing, and of her hair just touching his skin, and of his hands on her skin. There she was, all trusting, and pure, and good. She was so close to him and yet, too far away. 

“Rory?”

He didn’t give her time to answer before he pulled her down on top of him and kissed her like it was the only way to feel real again. And, really? It probably was. 

AURORA

She had noticed when something in his eyes had changed; something had darkened and risen to the surface that made her toes curl a little. It wasn't a look she was used to from her master, and it may have taken her breath a little. Her cheeks flushed under his hands, but she still didn't shy away. She met this side of him too, straight on and without a trace of fear.

For a moment they just stared at each other, tension seeming to curl in the air between them, and then he was calling her name and pulling her down and-

And-

Aurora melted into his chest as he kissed her, not hesitating to kiss him back as her eyes fluttered closed. It was embarrassing how many times she had imagined this, imagined his lips on hers and what it might feel like, but this was more than she had ever expected. He was broad and warm and she could feel his heart racing under her hand and it just made her kiss him harder, heat flushing down her spine and making her whole body tremble.

It took a shamefully long time for her to remember exactly where they were and why they were here, but it was enough to make her break the kiss. It wasn't enough to get her to move away from him, however, and she could feel their chests pressed together and their lips brushing as she struggled to catch her breath. "Reza?" she asked softly, voice wrecked with longing.

REZA

If he hadn’t downed the last few shots worth of his father’s boukha in the shower, he probably would have pushed Aurora away from him and frantically apologized for crossing that line. Except, even if his inhibitions weren’t lowered, Reza wouldn’t have wanted to apologize. It was just the right thing to do. He only ever wanted to do right by her. 

If Reza were smart, he would get out of this situation before it went too far to walk back. 

“Shh,” he whispered against her mouth, stretching up to kiss her again with even more fervor. 

God, she was beautiful, and he hated how he noticed that about her, and had for months. It made his guilt over not wanting her back ten times worse. Except he did. He did want her, but not exactly in the same way. And that was what made him keep her at arm’s length when he wanted the opposite. 

He wanted her sexually, wanted her to talk his ear off about knitting and cross-stitch even though it was all so lost on him, wanted to share his country and his culture with her, learned to like Scottish accents because of her, and wanted to know that she was doing well every day. But she loved him. It was unfair of him to welcome Aurora’s affections when his affection for her didn’t quite evenly match up. He didn’t want to give her what he could only for her to be hurt at what he wasn’t sure he could give. 

If Reza was smart, he’d stop this right now. 

His hands drifted to her pajama top, and slipped under it, her skin warm under his hands. “Please?” Reza asked against her mouth as they teased upwards towards her breasts. 

Reza never claimed to be smart. 

AURORA

She was going to burst into flames.

Aurora could only sigh as he kissed her again, trembling against him as he stole her breath. Oh, this was such a bad idea. Why couldn't she have just stayed cuddled against him nice and platonically!? Why did she have to move and set off… whatever in Reza that made him arch up to her!?

Why, when she knew how fragile they both were, wasn't she stopping this?

She kissed him back easily, matching his passion with her own as her fingers dove into his curls and held him close. She should leave the bed- hell, she should leave the room! But that would mean being on her own again, and tonight… she just couldn't do it tonight.

Not when she had spent hours sitting in the living room, watching the sky grow dark as she waited. Not when she had sat alone, occasionally joined by Abdelmajid, and tried not to think about how likely it was that Reza wasn't coming home.

She could have lost him tonight.

His hands met the skin of her waist and she gasped, pressing closer with a mewl as heat diffused against her skin at his touch. Her side was starting to cramp from how she was awkwardly positioned - her legs tucked under her and to one side while her torso was draped on top of him - and she didn't hesitate to swing one leg over so she was straddling his stomach, pressed completely against him.

She could taste the cigarette and a hint of alcohol on his lips, but God help her, it just made her press closer.

"Yes," she breathed, moving to kiss the corner of his mouth before dotting slow, wet kisses along his jaw; his pulse beating against her lips. "Please," Aurora whimpered, clutching him tighter. "Reza, please."

REZA

If Reza was smart, he would take his hands off of her and hold them above his head, and apologize profusely. As established, however, Reza wasn’t smart. He let instinct and need take over when Aurora gave him the okay to go further.

He was pulling her shirt up to grope her breasts before she’d even finished the second ‘please.’ “My god, Rory.” Reza gasped as he kneaded them and slid the pads of his thumbs over her nipples. “Amazing. Fitting of the rest of you.”

By that he really, truly did mean she was beautiful. The words just didn’t come yet. Got a bit distracted, see. He was always a tits man.

Reza tugged her tank top off once he’d felt her up enough and only mouthed ‘wow’ as he looked up at her straddling him in her full topless glory. He slipped a hand inside her pajama shorts, letting out a pleasantly surprised hum when he was greeted with her wetness instead of underwear. He flicked a finger in there a few times to find her clit, then withdrew his hand to taste her.

“I’m going to need more, habibi. Can I please make you come first? Please, I want - I want to taste you.” 

AURORA

Aurora gasped when Reza lifted her tank top and bralette up enough to grab hold of her breasts in his large hands, her back immediately arching into his hold as her eyes slammed shut. Oh, fuck, it had been forever since anyone had touched her. Longer still since it was someone she cared about. She was writhing on him within seconds, biting her lip to keep in her gasps as her fingers curled and tugged helplessly on his hair.

Forget the emotional trauma that was sure to follow, she should stop this just because he was going to make her dumb and needy with those hands of his.

He tugged on her top again and Aurora shakily sat up, helping him get her tops off and throwing them carelessly to the floor. Her eyes didn't leave him even as she tossed her hair back and out of the way, hands splayed across his chest as she panted. She hummed as his hands moved across her skin, fingers and toes curling as his fingertips danced below the waistband of her shorts. They soon dipped lower, and Aurora could feel her whole face and chest flushing darker when she realized how wet just a few kisses and some heavy petting had made her. She gasped, rocking her hips against his hand, and barely bit back a whine when he removed his fingers.

Of course, his question made all complaints flee her head, and Aurora leaned back down so she could run her fingers back through his hair. Her lower lip got caught between her teeth as she nodded, pressing herself closer to him. "Yeah, I- I don't think I'd mind that," she attempted to joke, but she was too breathless and needy to make it a good attempt. Instead she kissed his chin, bringing her hands down his neck and across his shoulders slowly. Needing to feel every part of him. Needing to feel his heartbeat under her palm.

REZA

Reza damn near clapped his hands in excitement when she said yes. One of his favorite parts about sex was seeing how many orgasms he could give a woman before he was even inside her. With how malleable Rory was under his touch, it must have been a while since she’d been with somebody whose first priority was pleasuring her into an absolute incoherent puddle.

He flipped her over onto her back and leaned over her, kissing her and biting at her lip as he made to kiss down to her waistline. He bit at her skin just above the waistband of her silky shorts as he began to tug them down. 

“Fuck,” he gasped after pressing a kiss to where he’d just bit at her. “I can’t get you undressed fast enough.”

The green black lace trimmed shorts were only barely discarded before he dove right in between her legs and gave a satisfied little laugh as he pressed the first teasing kiss to her inner thigh. “Rory,” he practically simpered, massaging her thigh as he kissed and nipped at her skin. “You’re so beautiful, Rory. And I feel - I feel real again.” He punctuated that with a kiss.

“I feel human.” He repeated, dragging a finger slowly up her thigh. “Right here-” his finger moved to her clit. “-being allowed-” he flicked her clit as he continued talking. “-to worship you like this. Like you goddamn deserve.”

“So gorgeous.” Reza whispered, before turning his head to get a better angle, and before he could properly inhale once more, his tongue was on her. He moved in circles, up and down, changing what he did every so often so she couldn’t get too used to one pattern. The whole time, humming with satisfaction against her as he tasted her and felt her writhe with pleasure.

He reached up to grope one of her breasts while he stuck his tongue inside of her for the first time. God, Rory’s body was his new favorite place to worship. Reza continued like this for a while, alternating between licking inside her, sucking on her clit, and lapping up every drop of her wetness that he could. 

“Okay,” he gasped against her folds. “This isn’t enough. Rory, I want you to sit on my face. I want you to come on my face. Twice. You’re going to come twice. That’s not optional.”

AURORA

Aurora clung to his shoulders as he flipped them over, letting out a huff of surprise as she settled into the mattress and tugged him down to her. The mood in the room had completely shifted from the gloom from before, and even though a voice at the back of her head kept whispering ‘You shouldn’t do this, you almost lost him, he killed a man’, she decided to hold onto the feeling of euphoria that came from having her master’s full attention on her.

Thank god she had shaved earlier.

It was almost embarrassing how quickly he had gotten her naked, and Aurora would have a long, introspective conversation with herself about self-control later. Right now she was clinging onto the pillow under her head with both hands, watching Reza with wide eyes as her blush got deeper and deeper. He looked so fucking gorgeous with her legs over his shoulders, and Aurora whimpered as she writhed under him; toes stretching and curling as she tried to keep from trembling like a leaf.

Somehow, she had never imagined he would be so conversational, and it caught her off guard in the best way. Even if he wasn’t currently kissing across her thigh, hearing him call her beautiful in that pretty voice of his would have been enough to get her off on its own. As it stood, she could only pant and whine, arching up towards him desperately. Her own words had long fled her, leaving her mute and vulnerable.

Until his tongue stroking up her slit shocked a “Fuck” out of her, her hips rocking towards his face as her nails threatened to rip into his pillowcase. Her head fell back, eyes squeezed tightly shut as the feelings of his mouth on her overwhelmed her senses entirely. She actually hiccuped the first time his tongue speared into her, clutching her hand over his on her breast desperately as she pressed her heels into his shoulders.

She finally looked back down at him when he began to speak, lilac eyes blown wide, and she could only nod frantically. She held her hand out to him, letting him pull her up and collapse against his chest. Her hands went to his waist as she kissed her way from his collarbones to his neck, scraping blunt teeth against his dark skin as she pulled and pushed him until he was laying back down with his head resting on the pillows. If she didn’t have something to hold onto, she was just going to die.

“Lie down,” she murmured, pressing another kiss to his jaw before she rose up over him onto her shaking knees. For a moment, she looked confused as she tried to figure out exactly how to get into position - it wasn’t like any of her previous partners had asked her to sit on them before - but eventually she just put a knee by his ear and swung the other leg over him. She sat on his chest shyly - careful not to put weight on his bad shoulder -, running her fingers through his hair. “I don’t-” she started, rocking incrementally closer. “Show me?”

REZA

“Relax and let me guide you where I need you, sokar.” Reza said, gently pulling one of Aurora’s knees next to his head on the bed. “Put your weight on your knees on either side of the bed, and you’ll want to hold onto the wall. Don’t be afraid to pull my hair and drive me further into you if I’m not doing good enough.”

Once he was confident she was in position, he didn’t give her one spare second before he gripped her ass to guide her to his mouth and went for it. He reached up to grope one of her breasts and roll the nipple between his thumb and index finger as he closed his eyes and dove all the way in between her legs.

As his tongue darted inside of her again, he took his hand from her breast and rubbed circles over her ass before pulling his hand back and bringing it down sharply. God, she had a great ass. Maybe sometime he’d spank her properly, really get to know it well.

From under her, he finally opened his eyes to meet hers and watch her tits sway as she writhed at his ministrations, now focusing on her clit again.

AURORA

Aurora followed his directions, bracing herself against the wall with a heavy blush. Everything about the situation seemed surreal, from his head between her legs to her own nudity, and Aurora wondered if she was simply having a very vivid dream while she waited for Reza to come home.

And then his mouth was on her again, and all thoughts about dreaming the moment up fled her mind.

Her back arched above him and away from the wall as she gasped. Her hands pressed against the wall and she tried to get her breathing under control. His hand came up to her breast and that attempt was quickly abandoned in favor of gripping his hand tighter to her. "Reza," she moaned softly, hips shifting ever so slightly forward against his mouth.

She whined when his hand was removed, only to yelp in surprise when it came down hard on her ass. Her hips tried to lift up from the shock, but his broad hands held her in place and Aurora could only press her forehead to her arms and try not to get lost in the sensation.

It seemed purely by accident that their eyes met past her breasts and messy curls of hair, and Aurora flushed shyly as she gave him a weak smile. Only for her mouth to drop open when his tongue moved against her in a way that seemed to send pleasure through her whole body. She moaned wordlessly, eyes scrunched closed again as one hand went down to grab onto his hair and press him closer; silently begging for that same feeling again.

After that, it didn't take much longer before Aurora's head was thrown back with a soundless cry as her first orgasm cracked through her. It hadn't taken long at all, embarrassingly, but in her defense, it had been four years since someone else had given her an orgasm at all (probably longer, actually). She slumped against the wall, gently tugging Reza's mouth away from her body once the aftershocks had passed. "S-sorry," she stammered. "Just… let me breathe, for a second."

REZA

Reza pouted, literally goddamn pouted when Aurora pulled his mouth away, but was happy to lick the taste of her from around his mouth while she slumped against the wall. He coaxed her into leaning back to rest on his chest and reached up to twirl a lock of her hair around his finger.

“Take all the time you need.” He said, gathering his own breath as he just watched her. “We can do something else too. Just tell me what you need, Rory.”

He ached to be inside of her, but he could also spend hours between her legs like this and just watching her fall apart. It was beautiful - she was beautiful, and he was stupid to take two years to see that much.

AURORA

There was sweat dripping down along Aurora’s spine as she panted, her hands still pressed against the wall. She opened her eyes when she felt Reza begin to play with her hair, and she let out a breathless laugh at his pout. “Sorry, it’s just… been a while. It’s a lot,” she said, smiling softly as she reached down to pet through his hair. “In a good way,” she reassured.

Her hands slid down to cup his jaw in her hands, her thumb brushing against his lower lip. “What about you?” she asked. “What do you need?” 

REZA

“Oh? That’s a shame.” Reza said, running his hands over her body. “It’s damn near criminal.”

Who let her go so long without somebody making her come that she acted like she’d never been touched before under his hands? 

And then she went and made this softer than it had any right to be. Asked him what he needed. It’d only disappoint her if he said something that a straight white boy would say — ‘to fuck you.’ So he didn’t say anything and just pulled her down into a kiss to keep her from saying anything else so soft. 

This wasn’t a love story. 

“I need you. Tonight, that’s all. I just need to —” to be inside of her and feel her claw at his back to know he’s alive, and to hear her cry out from his touch so he can remember his hands don’t have to mean death. “— see you forget how to speak.”

AURORA

It took a bit of awkward shuffling in order to kiss Reza when he pulled her closer, but soon she was situated lower on his stomach and reveling in the feeling of their skin pressed together. His heart beating fast against her own, occasionally falling into time with each other. She clung to his shoulders and hoped it would be enough to keep him in that moment with her.

Aurora let out a brief snort at his reply, folding her arms over his chest so she could look down at him with a grin. "Oh, I see. This is just an elaborate plan to get me to shut up for once," she joked, kissing his lips briefly before running her hands down his chest until they bumped into her own legs. Her thumbs brushed briefly against his nipples and then her fingers danced across his collarbones and below, trailing the scars and fresher wounds on his dark skin.

As her own hands explored him, she began to kiss down his throat again. Her lips followed his pulse until her teeth could scrape carefully against his shoulder. Despite his beliefs, there was no metallic tang of blood or dirt or whatever, just skin. Just him and her, pressed together like it was all that was keeping them grounded.

She began to move slowly down his body, leaving kisses and faint scratch marks wherever she went, until her hips were pressed against his. Namely against the hard length under his sweatpants. Aurora hummed softly, lilac eyes looking up at him through her messy hair as she kissed the spot right against his solar plexus, rolling her hips slowly down against his as her fingertips dug against his stomach.

REZA

“Well it’s working, isn’t it?” Reza shot back as she shifted to kiss her way down his body. He tangled his fingers in her hair when it was within his reach, tugging slightly as she kissed over his multiple scars.

Don’t do that, a part of him silently scolded her. You don’t need to be reminded of what kind of person I really am, or of what kinds of things I’ve done and what messes I’ve gotten myself into.

She was touching the body of a war ravaged man who let living in conflict turn him into a murderer on more than one occasion. He would’ve been wise to push her away rather than keep giving in to her touch, but all he wanted was to be inside of her and not be able to tell where he ended and she began.

Part of him - the same part that took a small bit of pleasure in killing Mekki Masmoudi - wanted to see what she’d look like if he took her and just messed her up. He wondered how pretty her face would look with his handprint on it as she rode his cock; and imagined what sounds she might make with his fist inside of her while her wrists were bound to the bedframe so she couldn’t even claw at him. 

That was him after all, wasn’t it? 

“F-fuck,” he gasped out, half at her movements and half at his own graphic fantasies about his student he hadn’t had before now.

AURORA

Aurora grinned at his curse, grinding down against him harder. "Mmm, not quite speechless yet," she teased, tossing her hair back over her shoulder in a cascade of pink and gold curls. Now that she was straddling his hips, a position she was much more familiar - and comfortable - with, she felt some of her confidence returning as well. Seeing how Reza looked at her and hearing him curse because of her only helped.

(She knew, in the most honest part of her heart, that he was using her. That his desire for her was at least in part just desire to be distracted from what had happened. What he had done. But as long as she remembered that, as long as she repeated to herself 'He can't love you', Aurora found she didn't mind. She wanted to forget too. Forget the terror of not knowing whether she'd ever see him again. For the night, they could just use each other.)

Aurora smiled at Reza as her fingers traced over one of his many tattoos, slowly working her way down. "Though, to your credit," she started, her voice low and curling around each word, "it's not a bad plan." Peering at him through her lashes, Aurora tugged on the hem of his sweatpants. "I can certainly think of a few things I'd rather be doing with my mouth rather than talking."

It was half tease, half question; the young woman waiting patiently for confirmation that she could move them along. Or, at least, that she could get them to equal levels of undress.

REZA

Hardly fair, was it? That he’d gotten right to seeing what kinds of things he could do to her with his mouth and she was teasing him like this. Except that was part of the fun. It was pretty hot, her watching him intently through her lashes for his permission.

Hot. Not exactly useful.

“Go on then. Show me what those things are.”

AURORA

As much as she wanted to play at sultry temptress, when Reza gave her the go ahead, she had to bite down on her giddy smile before rising onto her knees so she could lean further up and kiss him quickly on the mouth again. Their height difference had never been so pronounced, and it was really doing something to her. Of course, she had always loved how he towered over her, but now that she was the one on top of him, it just made her feel hot all over.

“Impatient,” she accused playfully, eyes sparkling. Aurora kept one hand over his heart as she made her way down his chest, kissing and tonguing at his skin with just the lightest bit of pressure. It wasn’t long until she was at his hipbones, and she finally brought her hand down so she could trace her fingers across them. God, he was handsome. Aurora couldn’t resist the urge to scrape her teeth lightly across his skin as her hands smoothed down to his thighs. She could feel the muscle there, even under his pajamas.

That wasn’t the only thing she could feel.

The tent in his sweatpants was pressed against her collarbone as she mouthed at his skin, and that alone made her knees shake with anticipation. She had gained a bit of a sense of him when she had grinded on him earlier, still twitching and sensitive from the first orgasm, but now? She was getting a much better sense of what exactly she was getting into. Her ass swayed a bit in the air as her hands moved back up along the inside of his thighs, her tongue tracing up the line of his abdomen until she could press a kiss to his stomach right as her hand brushed over his length and gave it a brief, soft squeeze.

REZA

Reza’s eyes followed Aurora all the way down his body, occasionally whispering a ‘fuck’ or a comparable swear in Arabic. 

“That’s it, good girl.” He purred, tugging at her hair just a little. 

He watched the dawning realization of what she was about to be contending with hit her, and he couldn’t stifle the low chuckle in his throat. 

“Come on,” he practically whined. “Damn tease.”

AURORA

Aurora flicked his hip when he whined. “I’m setting the mood,” she replied, sticking her tongue out at him briefly before shifting her position. Instead of kneeling over his legs, she was between them now, and she wasted no time in beginning to carefully tug his sweatpants down. She got them most of the way down his hips before she couldn’t tug them down any further, but by then, she had other things to worry about.

It had been a really long time since Aurora’d had sex. Even longer since having sex with a man. But apparently a giving a blowjob was like riding a bicycle; you couldn’t easily forget how to do it. She wrapped her hand around Reza’s cock, stroking it gently as she pulled all her hair to one side. He was larger than her ex had been - or really, any of her previous partners had been - and for a moment their difference in height wasn’t attractive so much as a little worrying. But Aurora didn’t back down, didn’t shy away. She’d faced him head on for this entire trip; she wasn’t going to start now.

Her eyes caught his and silently dared him to look away as she leaned down and ran her tongue up from base to tip. 

REZA

Reza had honestly never thought he was particularly impressive or daunting, not at first. But as he’d gotten to his mid-twenties and starting having sex with people who’d had more than just one or two (or no) sexual partners before him, he eventually learned ‘oh no, you’re packing.’

Which. Was sometimes less than a good thing. But if Aurora was committed, she probably wouldn’t have a problem. 

He watched intently as she stroked his cock and got a feel for him before involuntarily throwing his head back and gasping as she licked him base to tip. Fuck, oh god, he’d almost forgotten how good it felt to be in bed with someone. How long had it been? Since before the election?

Not as criminally long as her, but still offensively so. 

AURORA

His head was thrown back as she licked his cock, and Aurora nearly pouted against his skin. She wanted him to look at her, wanted to see his eyes as she pleasured him. 

Pumping him slowly in her hand, Aurora reached up and grabbed his chin gently, tugging at him until their eyes met again. "Don't look away from me," she said, her voice soft and low. Moving back down his body, Aurora made sure she held his eyes this time as she wrapped her lips around the head of his cock, sucking on it carefully as her tongue ran up the small slit. She then went deeper, moving her mouth in time with her hand as she began to suck him off in earnest.

Still never breaking eye contact.

REZA

Reza’s tongue darted out to lick his lower lip as he watched Aurora take him in her mouth bit by bit, letting out a low groan as she began to properly blow him with her eyes not breaking from his. 

God, this was hot— she was hot. 

AURORA

God, his voice did things to her. Even just his groans made liquid heat drip down her spine, and her mouth went just a little further down his cock until she could feel him at the back of her throat. She pulled back to the head quickly, worried that her gag reflex might kick in at the worst possible moment (it had been almost four years), but just as quickly she went back down again.

Whatever didn’t fit in her mouth was being stroked by her hand, and her other hand began to move steadily up along his thigh. Her nails dug into his skin as he made another sound of pleasure, and Aurora could feel her thighs growing slicker as her pulse beat through her whole body. It was a good thing she was already on her knees because otherwise they would have dropped her to the floor.

She pulled her head back just enough so she could open her now-swollen lips and show Reza how well his cock fit cradled on her tongue. And as she descended again on him, her other hand gently cupped his balls and began to gently roll them in her hand.

REZA

Aurora got bolder and took him further into her mouth and he gasped out a swear in Arabic. God, she was good. It took all of his self control to not just thrust his cock into the back of her throat. 

“F-fuck, Rory. You look so gorgeous right now. I never knew you’d look so pretty with a cock in your mouth.” Reza purred, pulling at her hair a little. “Your mouth was made for sucking cock, wasn’t it?”

He gave her cheek a light snack with three of his fingers to make his point. “I’ll have to use this pretty mouth more often. What do you think?”

He was about to say something else, but she opened her mouth wider to show how nicely his cock fit in her mouth, and cupped his balls and he let out a groan again. Fuck, this was hot. 

AURORA

You know, it wasn’t until this moment that Aurora realized how quiet all her past partners had been. Her ex had barely spoken at all, just grunts and occasional directions. And her brief trysts were quiet as well. All of this to say that the universe had picked a poor moment to allow her the realization that she might have a bit of a praise kink. 

She hummed low in her throat as he pulled her hair, eyelashes fluttering at the combination of the pressure and his voice roughened by sex and telling her how pretty she looked with her mouth on him. Her hand squeezed his shaft just a little tighter in reply.

And then he threw off her rhythm just a bit when he implied that this could happen again.

Aurora managed to make it seem intentional, but in her mind her thoughts were spinning. Wait, he… was he just saying that? This was just a one night thing, wasn’t it? Just a way for the two of them to celebrate surviving another night together when they hadn’t been sure if they would come back or not (because if Mekki had killed Reza, Aurora would have found a way to return the favor). But if this happened again, would it-

No.

Shut that down.

This was physical, nothing more. He can’t love you, remember, Rory? They were just two attractive consenting adults having a bit of a fling. 

But that traitorous part of her heart that wasn’t entirely able to let go whispered that she should try and make him want to come back again, if nothing else. That if she couldn’t have him the way she hoped for, they could have this. And with that thought Aurora took him even deeper in her mouth until his head kissed the back of her throat, careful not to go too fast, and began to work him in even longer strokes.  

REZA

At the praise, Aurora seemed emboldened, like she wasn’t satisfied anymore, just showing him she could suck him off, but was determined to prove she could take all of him. He threw his head back as his cock hit the back of Aurora’s throat, absolutely surprised she could take him almost to the base. 

He inhaled sharply as Rory held his cock at the back of her throat for a moment to meet his eyes before going back to working him, spit and precum dripping down her chin. 

AURORA

Aurora managed that deeper motion for a while before she had to pull up for breath, gasping softly as she began to work him with her hand instead. Her tongue swept out along her bottom lip and she flushed darker when she realized how messy she had gotten. Instead of putting his cock back in her mouth, she began to kiss up the side; sucking gently and soothing each place her lips touched with her tongue.

“Look at me,” she said, voice soft with desire. The hand that wasn’t currently wrapped around the base of him ran up his thigh before her nails dragged gently back down. “Please?” Aurora asked as she kissed right under the head of his cock, flicking her tongue out to run around it.  

REZA

“You’re going to be the death of me,” Reza managed breathlessly, instinctively leaning his head back before he remembered the only thing she’d asked of him. To watch her.

God, and she did look so pretty with his cock in her mouth, didn’t she?

“Yes, princess, whatever you want.” He said gently, brushing her hair out of her face.

AURORA

Aurora knew that she was probably glowing with pride at being able to break Reza down like this, to make him all breathless and desperate. She also knew that she was definitely blushing as he brushed her hair back and spoke to her softly and called her ‘princess’.

Yeeeeah, she definitely had a praise kink. You learn something new every day.

She ran her tongue all the way up the length of him, following the thick vein that ran from base to tip and tried not to think too hard about how much she wanted him inside of her. How much she wanted to feel him moving in her, beautiful and alive and everything she wanted and trusted.

She didn’t say all of that, for obvious reasons, but she did hum low in her throat as she stroked him in her hand as she met his eyes. “Whatever I want?” she asked, her voice soft and wrecked and sweet as she arched her back further, ass in the air like an offering and breasts pressed against his thighs. 

REZA

God, what was he to do when he was between wanting to treat her like a princess and wanting to fuck her so she’d remember it? Between wanting to be gentle and good to her and wanting to leave bruises she’ll see for days?

Let her decide how she wants him to fuck her, of course. 

“Whatever you want,” he repeated softly, holding her chin in his hand, brushing his thumb along the underside. “So tell me what you want, before I just do whatever I want with you.”

AURORA

She didn't hesitate to lean her face into his hand, kissing the pad of his thumb before gently scraping her teeth against the rough skin. She looked up at him with nothing but trust in her wide eyes, and she reached up to move his hand down to her throat.

"You," she said quietly, moving his hand lower and arching into it as his skin sent sparks across her whole body. "I don't care how. Please, just-" she moaned softly, her other hand running up his thigh to his hip. She pushed herself up so she was kneeling, legs spread in offering and his hand pressed between her breasts.

"Fuck me," Aurora begged softly. Her hands reached out to him. "Kiss me. Use me. Please. I want this. I want you."

Even if just for one night. Even if this was the only way she could have him. As long as she could carry the proof that he was alive on her skin, that would be enough.

REZA

Reza moved his hand to grope one of her breasts, kneading it and rubbing circles over the nipple with the pad of his thumb. He ached to do as she asked, to fuck her, use her until he was satisfied, but he wasn’t done dragging this out yet. 

He wanted her to fucking beg for it, like it was as necessary as water. 

“You’re such a pretty girl, you know that, right?” Reza purred, taking his hand from her breast. “Right?” He punctuated this by smacking the breast he’d been kneading. 

“You want me to mess up a pretty thing, ‘Rora? Want me to really make good use of you?” He tangled his hand in her hair and roughly forced her to look up at him. “Will you offer me your entire body, until you scream your throat sore? Are you mine to play with, princess?”

Reza’s other hand reached between her legs to find her clit, and circled it with his thumb. “Well?” He pulled at her hair. “Are you? Will you be a good little plaything for me? Or were you just being a lying tease when you said that?”

He pulled her forward by her hair to kiss him and let go of her hair when they kissed. Rough, and needy. 

“Tell me you want me inside you, Aurora. Earn it.”

AURORA

She was going to die in this bed, simple as that. Her heart was going to burst open from beating too fast for too long and she was going to die.

Not how she thought she'd go out, but a hell of a thing to put on her headstone.

Aurora melted into his touch, shivering from overload as she gripped his thighs to keep herself steady. She gasped in surprise when he smacked her, blushing deeply at the way the dull sting throbbed in time with the pulse between her legs. His hand in her hair pulled a moan from her throat and she could do nothing but look up at him desperately, lilac eyes wide.

In all of her wildest, most shameful dreams, she had never thought he would be like this. She had always known Reza was passionate, it was why she had harassed him to join the Board, but she had never had that passion turned on her. Not like this. She wanted to soak it under her skin, wanted to feel it in her bones.

Aurora may not have had the best history with sex, but she knew that Reza was going to blow every previous experience out of the water.

Arching into his hand as his thumb circled her clit, Aurora nodded as much as she could with his hand in her hair, whimpering at the onslaught of her senses. When he kissed her, she clung to him in response; fingers tight in his hair as she pressed herself against him, meeting his passion with her own.

"Fuck me," she said again, breathless and wrecked as her lips brushed his cheek with each word. "God, Reza, I want you inside me so bad, more than anyone ever before." She arched into his hand again, gasping. "Please, please," she begged, her cunt clenching over nothing. She pressed harder against him, her thigh caught between his legs. "I'm so ready to have you in me," she said, flushing at her own words. God, she was bad at dirty talk. Instead she kissed him again, arching into him with a moan.

REZA

The gravely chuckle in Reza’s throat was something between charmed and straight up sadistic. It was hot how bad at dirty talk she was, really. Made him feel like a bit of a cradle robber right now if he was being honest. 

She was much too pure, too good to be in bed with him, especially after what he’d done not three hours ago.

It was too late for him to listen to the better half of his brain cells though. His cock ached to be inside of her, and she was begging for it, after all. It would be more cruel of him to not guide his cock inside her than it would be to fuck her like she asked him to.

“Okay, angel.” He said quietly, cupping her face too gently for what he said next. “Just remember when you can’t walk straight, you asked for it.” 

Reza guided himself inside of her and waited patiently for her to sink down onto him, groaning as he savored the feeling of being inside the only beautiful thing in the world to him. He rocked his hips and groped her ass to encourage her to start riding him.

“Fuck, Rory.” He purred, ducking down to lick and bite at her breast. “Is this what you wanted?”

AURORA

Aurora smacked his shoulder lightly when he laughed at her, flush with embarrassment and desire. Well he didn't have to be an ass about it! No one had talked to her during sex before!

Her ire was quickly forgotten when his hands rose to cradle her face. She leaned into his touch, smiling shyly and scrunching her nose at him. She would almost certainly regret this in the morning, but not for the reasons he thought. Whatever he did to her body would be nothing compared to what she was currently doing to her heart.

At his direction, Aurora straddled his hips and clung tightly to his shoulders as he positioned his cock against her entrance. She took a deep breath before rocking her hips forward that first inch, and that same breath got caught on the exhale. She could already feel him stretching her to her limits and it made her tremble in the best way. She was more than wet enough to slide over him easily, so she took her time working herself over his cock with steady rocks of her hips.

Her fingernails dug into his shoulders and pulled at his hair as she took him into her body, inch by inch. She was trembling, sweat dripping down her spine from the effort of holding herself on her knees. The occasional sound slipped from her lips, a low moan or squeak caught in the back of her throat.

It took a minute or so, and in the end she couldn't take him to the base. Instead she felt the head of his cock nudge against something inside her that made her back arch and her breath catch. It was as good as she was going to manage - and it was very good, don't misunderstand - and Aurora turned her attention to moving in his lap without his cock slipping out. She tugged hard on his hair, panting in his ear as she began a slow grind of her hips into his. She could only nod in reply to his question, easily overwhelmed.

REZA

At her inability to speak, Reza was given pause. He worried just for a moment, that maybe they should stop and never speak of this again, that this was too much for her. A good man would have thought about the ugly, garish heartbreak ever-present on her chest for most of the year. A smart man would have remembered that they were only just starting to actually talk again.

Reza was neither a good man nor a smart man. He was not a particularly bad or stupid man either, he was just average. An average man with the same need and hunger as any man with eyes would have right about now.

So he didn’t stop.

He murmured encouragement against Rory’s ear as she moved in his lap, like he was challenging her almost. “Yes, that’s it. Theeere you go, sokar. You’re so fucking gorgeous right now, you know that?”

“But-” he purred, putting on sounding disappointed. “-you’re being so quiet.”

AURORA

It has been mentioned that it has been a Long Fucking Time since Aurora had sex.

She hadn’t realized exactly what that meant for Future Aurora. But now the future was here and she was struggling. Every nerve in her body was screaming at her, slamming on the ‘pleasure’ button until all of her brain waves were filled with the cacophony. What brain cells she did have left were focused on trying to move her hips to the too-quick metronome of her heart; trying to find a rhythm as she went from achingly empty to Full.

It didn’t leave a lot of energy left for talking.

Aurora’s nails dug into Reza’s back as his breath pressed against her ear, whimpering softly at the heat on her skin and in his voice. At his admonishment, Aurora leaned back a bit and hiccuped as his cock rubbed her deeper.

“I-I’m,” she stammered, gasping as she slid a little further down onto his cock. “It’s a lot,” she finally managed. “It’s so good- you feel- Ah~.” Aurora rolled her hips and whined softly when he filled her to the brim once again. “I can’t. Words.”

She leaned in to kiss his jaw, clinging to his shoulders as her hips rocked shallowly in his hips and his body moved inside her. “I- please!” she gasped. “I can’t-” Aurora tugged on his hair, pulling him closer as she leaned further back in his lap. She wanted him loom over her, to rock the very foundations of her being. She wanted to focus on how good her felt inside her, not on how bad and inexperienced she must look trying to ride him. Pulling him flush with her chest, Aurora blinked up at him with hazy, lilac eyes. 

“Fuck me,” she moaned softly.

REZA

Truthfully, Reza wasn’t the biggest fan of missionary. Bo-ring. But was he going to bitch about that now? Abso-fucking-lutely not.

At her directive, he pushed her off of him and onto her back and climbed on top of her. He paused the whole having sex thing long enough to adjust the pillow he’d pushed her onto so it wouldn’t put her neck at a painful angle as he fucked her in a second. Confident he’d secured her comfort, he got right back to it and guided his cock back inside of her, watching her carefully to make sure this was still okay.

When he was met with only moans and gasps, he nodded once to give himself the go ahead to begin moving his hips. “Like this, Rory?” He asked, as if he didn’t know the answer.

AURORA

Aurora let herself be manhandled, whimpering softly when Reza’s cock slid out of her and she suddenly felt empty. If possible, she flushed even darker at the sound; embarrassed by how needy she felt. 

She sunk into the bed, wiggling around to get comfortable before wrapping her arms tight around Reza’s waist. Feeling him sliding into her again made Aurora’s back arch clean off the bed as she gasped. Her nails dug into his skin as she tried to anchor herself to anything. It was so much. Sex had never felt like this before, had never overwhelmed her to the point where she was barely aware of anything not immediately under her hands. Her breathing shuddered and jerked with each thrust, and she nodded frantically at his question. “H-harder,” she asked, reaching down to grab his hips and tug him closer. “A-ah, Reza,” she moaned, head thrown back.

REZA

Reza chuckled low in his throat as she clawed at his back, taking it as a sign he was doing something right. And, you know, he was pretty cocky in the bedroom, confident he knew how to please a partner, but confirmation was always nice. Especially when they were so vocal, even if it was largely incoherent.

“Harder?” He challenged, slowing his pace. “You’re sure?”

He didn’t wait for an answer before he picked up his pace, and fucked her harder than before. 

“You sound so pretty, Rory.” He purred in her ear, before ducking his head kiss and lightly bite at her neck.

AURORA

Aurora’s toes curled so hard she could hardly feel them anymore as Reza began to fuck her in earnest. She clung tighter to his hips, gasping each time he bottomed out inside of her and barely having a chance to let that breath out before she was gasping again. Her eyes were closed, head thrown back, and her shoulders and torso writhed against the sheets as she felt something long neglected inside of her coil tighter and tighter and tighter.

His voice in her ear made Aurora sigh and his breath on her neck made her whimper. She twisted her head away so he had more access to her neck, letting go of his hip so she could curl one hand into the pillow next to her face. One particular thrust rubbed against something inside of her that made Aurora cry out, belatedly trying to smother the sound as she arched up and pressed herself closer to him. 

“Please. Pleasepleasepleaseplease,” she gasped, catching her bottom lip in her teeth.

REZA

He really did wonder if this was too much for her. God, she acted like she’d never been with a man before, even though he knew from previous banter that wasn’t true. He liked to think he was just That Good, but there was a fine line between confidence and ego.

Though, the way Aurora was crying out and devolving into just pleading with him to keep fucking her was making it very hard to not feel pretty damn good about himself. He just hoped she felt as good as it sounded like she did.

“I want you to come, Rory, can you come for me just from fucking like this?” He purred. “Though that’s not very fair, is it?”

Reza reached down with one hand, using his other to support himself, and found her clit to circle it with the pad of his thumb. “That better for you?”

AURORA

The moment he touched her clit she knew she was a goner. Which was more than a little embarrassing; did it really take so little to make her orgasm? Jeeze, she knew she had been out of the game for a while, but this was a little ridiculous.

Her whole torso writhed and rocked against him as she felt that coil wind to the point of breaking, and she hurriedly grabbed his neck and pulled him to her face. Aurora kissed him hard, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes as everything in her tightened to an unbearable point before shattering to pieces. Her mouth opened against his in a silent gasp as her fingers hung onto his curls for dear life. She could feel her orgasm down to her toes, and every further thrust made her whole body shake.

She could feel him start to pull away and reached down with one hand to grab his ass and slam him back into her, keeping him within her rippling body.

REZA

Reza had started to pull out - look it was just bad manners to come in a woman without express permission - but when he did, Rory silently but firmly told him that was simply not allowed. Before he could even ask ‘are you sure?’ to that, he reached his own orgasm with a muttered Arabic swear.

“God, I-” he gripped the headboard to keep from letting his sweaty body just fall on top of hers, and used it to push off of her and onto his back.

He caught Rory’s face in both of his hands and pulled her into a kiss, before breaking it quickly to meet her eye. “Fuck, Rory. You’re amazing. Are you feeling okay? Do you need anything after that?” 

Water, a knife to stab him for forgetting a condom?

AURORA

Aurora was breathing like she had just finished a marathon, her body still trembling with the aftershocks and a pleased, tired smile on her lips. She giggled as Reza rolled over, shuddering as she suddenly felt terribly alone without his body joined so closely with her own. That feeling didn’t last long, and Aurora hummed softly as he kissed her. She giggled again, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

“I’m great,” she said breathlessly, running her fingers through his hair. “Um, water would be nice. And the will to get up and get cleaned. How about you?” she asked. Her hands came down so she could cup his jaw gently between them, keeping his eyes on her. “Feeling okay?”

REZA

“I’m good, I’m really, really good.” He said, grinning at her. God, she was pretty.

Water? He could get her some water. “Stay, get comfortable,” he insisted, rolling out of bed and throwing on his boxers. “I’ll be back with some water. If you need something to sleep in, just grab something out of the closet.”

AURORA

Aurora’s hand trailed after him, a part of her panicked at the thought of being alone after what they had just done. But no, he was coming back. He had basically implied she was going to sleep there. He was coming back.

So instead she smiled at him and nodded, watching him leave before rolling out of bed herself and immediately having to catch herself when her shaking legs gave out. Thank god he wasn’t around to see that, his ego didn’t need the boost.

Once she had cleaned up in the bathroom and stole one of his tshirts from the closet, Aurora kicked off the dirty sheet and blanket and climbed into bed with a new one she had found while looking for the shirt. 

REZA

The weight of the stupid decision to have sex with Aurora finally hit him as he was walking back to his bedroom, glass of water for her in hand. He abruptly stopped halfway down the hall to damn near shove his entire fist in his mouth and bite down on it. Stupid, stupid!

Like, don’t get him wrong. It was great. It was great sex, and Aurora was beautiful, and wonderful, and...in love with him. And that last bit was the problem. 

He wasn’t sure if he was capable of having those feelings for anybody; he’d never had them before. Never wanted to before. He wasn’t sure he’d recognize them if he developed them either. It wasn’t fair to Rory to do what they’d just done.

Or was it? In a way, didn’t that confirm was willing to...try? Maybe?

They’d talk about it later. Not now.

“Hydration is important, water is life.” Reza said, offering her the water the second he entered the room.

AURORA

Aurora was curled up on the bed attempting to twist her hair up into a bun when Reza walked back in, and she let her curls drop back around her shoulders as she smiled at him. “Thank you,” she said with a small laugh, taking the glass and a drink before scooting over so there was room for him as well.

Once he was on the bed, Aurora fidgeted for a moment before laying down with her head on his shoulder. She wanted to curl up closer, but she didn’t know if he’d be comfortable with that or not. Not everyone was a cuddler after sex, but Aurora certainly was.

REZA

Reza did not need to cuddle.

He wasn’t against it either. But he didn’t have a need for it, or any further intimacy. Again, he was okay with it, and in fact welcomed it, but he never needed it. He was used to leaving the apartment after a one-night stand, or a hookup with a friend, and going about his night. Sex was never an emotional experience for him, it was just sex.

That’s not to say he didn’t care for the emotional needs of a partner, should they have them. He did. He just didn’t have them himself.

“You can lay all over me.” He said simply, inviting her to with a smile. “We’ve had sex, you don’t have to be shy about touching me now.”

AURORA

Cheeks flushed red, Aurora pouted up at Reza although a smile was breaking through. "Excuse me for not knowing the protocol," she sniffed even as she set the water on the side table and cuddled in closer. She hooked her ankle over his, her head tucked close to his chin and her eyes closing contently.

"God, I'm tired," she murmured. "Don't get mad if I pass out without warning, okay?" Her hand pressed against his side, fingers drifting over an old scar there.

She should not be allowing herself this. She should be trying to find where they had abandoned their boundaries and plant herself firmly within them. But she'd missed him. All these months where everything was strained. Tonight, when she hadn't known if he was still alive or dead.

She'd give herself one night to forget boundaries and they'd figure out what this meant together tomorrow..

REZA

“Well I might take that back if you keep using such unsexy words as protocol.” Reza teased, but playing with her hair as he did. 

He hummed in response to her warning about passing out, while shaking his head. They’d known each other long enough, he expected as much. It was part of why he didn’t suggest they sleep in separate rooms (along with the fact that he didn’t want to.) Sometimes, narcolepsy made her forget what was real and what wasn’t when she first woke up. It would be easier for her if they just slept in the same bed tonight.

“Go ahead, I’m surprised you’re still awake ‘til now.” 

AURORA

Aurora just hummed coyly, still feeling sated and flirty. "It's only unsexy if the context is wrong," she murmured. "Get creative, Reza."

She pressed closer to him, letting out a long breath through her nose. Sleep was already tugging at her, her eyelids heavy with it, but there was one more thing she needed before she let dreams claim her. Reaching up, Aurora gently tilted his chin down until their eyes met.

"Be here when I wake up, okay?" she asked softly, hoping he caught the layers in the request. Not just here in bed, but mentally. 'Don't get lost in your own head when I can't pull you back' she begged with her eyes. Mekki didn't get to take one more piece of him, not while she was around.

REZA

“Mm.” He hummed in response, afraid to open his mouth and give an affirmative too loudly. Worried his conscience would suddenly return to him and he’d apologize for what he just did, that he’d make this weirder than it already was by default.

She didn’t deserve that. 

“Yeah,” he said quietly, trusting himself that much. “You got it.”

[vfdbaudelairefile13]

Misery Loves Company- A Violet Snicket AU

Meet Lemony Snicket.

Lemony Snicket was a prominent VFD agent in his youth. Alongside his then fiance, Beatrice Baudelaire, he and a few other members of his organization made decisions that would forever rip their secret organization in two. At the time, Lemony hadn't thought a simple sugar bowl and box of poison darts would cause so much chaos. But it had.

The schism was a big reason as to why Beatrice and their daughter, Violet, were separated. Lemony, who had to go on the run for a list of different reasons, was asked by Beatrice; someone who had yet to leave VFD and at the time, it seemed she would never leave, to watch their infant daughter. But since he was on the run, he had to leave where he lived almost immediately after Beatrice leaving Violet with him. He tried looking for her but ultimately gave up deciding to raise the young girl himself.

He spent the next thirteen years keeping himself and Violet safe from old enemies and VFD itself. But after hearing about the death of Beatrice and her husband, Lemony rejoins VFD in an attempt to help Beatrice's other children, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire, defeat a wicked Count Olaf. This act unfortunately leads to his untimely end but not before leaving Violet with a head full of mysteries and unanswered questions.

《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》《》

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." That's all that went through Lemony's mind as he raced from the lumbermill to his home. This is bad. This was entirely bad.

His most recent attempt to help Beatrice's two other children had failed disastrously. Well, not entirely. They were safe, most likely being sent off to a new guardian right now but his identity had been compromised. Olaf had saw him. Olaf now knew he was alive.

Still being in the middle of the Baudelaire fire investigation, Lemony wasnt sure if Olaf, himself, had started that fire...but he did know Olaf had no issues with committing a murder...or two. He quickly thought of Violet and how much danger he has put her in...again. Hot tears started falling from his face.

He didnt mean to put her in danger. He was only trying to do good. He was only trying to help Beatrice's kids. A small part of him believes he should have just left them alone...they were resourceful children, they wouldve figured it out. He should have put VIOLET first. But a bigger part of him, knew that that was just his fear and guilt talking. This wasnt Klaus or Sunny's fault. This wasnt even Beatrice's fault. This was HIS. It wasnt because he had decided to help the Baudelaire children, no it was his fault when he convinced Beatrice to help him steal a damn sugar bowl. It was his fault when he went along with Beatrice and Bertrand's plan to...to...

"God dammit!" He yelled punching the steering wheel. He was racing home. He couldnt think of such unpleasantness right now. He had to get Violet out of danger. If Olaf now knows he's alive...he needed to take his daughter and run. He felt bad for Klaus and Sunny, but he had to put his daughter first. Part of him wishes he had grabbed them and taken them along. Maybe after explaining things, Klaus wouldnt fight as much. They did have that nice heart to heart on Lake Lachrymose. He thought of turning around and heading back towards the mill, but ultimately decided against it.

Violet had to be his main priority. HIS child. He will worry about the other two kids later. Right now, he knew Olaf would come after him.

Maybe he could call someone to come take Violet until he can fake his death again. But who? Everyone in the organization thought he was dead.

His mind began to race. Kit? No...she thinks I'm dead. Jacques? Fuck. He thinks I'm dead too. Monty and Josephine are both dead themselves. Larry and Jacquelyn would indict Violet into VFD which is the last thing he and Beatrice wanted for their daughter. Maybe the Quagmires could help him, he hadn't heard from them in awhile but maybe they'd like to help an old friend. Maybe he could ask one of his friends from Staind-by-the-Sea. They were all so close back in his apprentice days but he didnt know how to get in contact with most of them. Lemony felt utterly alone. His cruel mind flashed to Beatrice, she would have been the only person he 100% trusted his daughter with...but she was dead too. Her death had marked this whole new chapter in his life and there was no going back. He played his cards...now he had to sit there and wait for the game to be over.

Lemony has seen how determined Olaf was to destroy two children, he can only imagine the time and energy Olaf would spend on destroying HIM now that he knew Lemony was alive.

Lemony was alone on this one. He only had his daughter. She couldn't help him because he had to protect her. He had to protect her even if it meant sacrificing himself. He was crying big time now.

If he died what would happen to Violet? He knows Mr. Poe is useless but that's who takes charge of the orphans' affairs. He knew he was a better option than Mrs. Squalor. He was so glad that none of his enemies knew he had a daughter but he feared that would change if he died. Lemony wasnt afraid of death per say, he knew that one day it was to happen. He would take his last breath, he would see his daughter one last time. He had hoped to live a long life full, but as he raced him in his yellow taxi he could feel his stomach churn as if he knew what was to come next.

I got to get Violet out of danger. He told himself. When he gets home, he will send her ahead of him. She will go to the storekeeper's shop. They might be VFD but it was the only shop he knew to be open at this hour. Yes, he will send her ahead. He will stay and pack the essentials simply meet her. She wont like this plan, but she'll listen reluctantly. I will explain everything to her. His tears didnt stop for the entire drive home. He felt guilty that hed been lying to Violet, her whole life but more so these past couple of months. Once they are safe in a new motel, he will tell her EVERYTHING. What he does. Why he does it. Who those kids are. What he did to help make the schism a thing. He was going to tell her everything she wanted to hear and more. No more secrets. Maybe after he saves himself and his daughter, he and Violet can search for the two Baudelaire orphans. Lemony could adopt them illegally. Hed explain everything to Klaus and Sunny, too after what theyd been through they deserved it.

"Everything is going to end happily." He told himself in the midst of his tears.

Now I don't have to tell you, the reader, why Lemony was dead wrong. The Baudelaire case and sadly the Snicket case do not end happily, some would say the cases, even to this day, havent ended. People just cant find the three orphans and some nights I lay awake in my associate's small but cozy studio apartment thinking that maybe it's better that no one can find them. If they havent been found no one can hurt them anymore. Because although I would love to end this tale here with the false hope of a happy ending, the tragic tale of the lives of the two Baudelaire children and the Snicket girl has only just begun and is only a third of the way through.

I would love to say that Lemony Snicket makes true to his word that he tells his daughter everything she wants to know and more and that he successfully fakes his death in a very unreliable newspaper and finds the Baudelaire orphans and illegally adopts them keeping all three plucky youngsters away from Count Olaf and VFD but, alas, that's not how the story goes.

And for that reason, I will ask of you, one more time before the story takes a turn for the worst, to look away. Look away from this tragic tale before it is too late. Before you, too, get too invested in the lives of these orphans that you spend your life trying to find them.

[mare-sanguis]

Winston/Monty pt. 11 part 1 out of 2 because its loooong

Scott cleaned the dishes while Winston took his medicine.

"You should visit his grave. You know... I dont think you failed him. He's not disappointed in you- but proud of thta you tried."

"Maybe."

"He really trusted you to do that. Did he told you that?"

Scott nooded.

"Then you already know that he wont be disappointed in you."

"You really think so... right?"

"Yes. He's your friend."

Scott sighed and looked down in the sink.

"Jeff was really a nice guy- he had a huge heart and supported so many. The funeral was the absolute worst. So many people crying, disturbed. He died to young."

"You really liked him."

"Well of course I do."

Winston smiled.

"No."

"'No' What?"

"I didnt mean it like that. Not as your best friend."

Scott didnt responds to that directly.

"He was just a friend. I told you."

"Would you say the same if you'd look at me? Almost everytime you talk about him you won't look at me. You're hiding something."

"Theres nothing to hide."

Winston sighed and stood up.

"Maybe you'll tell me later. I wont pressure you into something you dont want to say. I'll go to sleep now. You can chose one of the quest rooms. One is near mine, the other ones are on the 3rd floor. Good night."

Winston left and leaves Scott alone in the kitchen.

"Fuck it. I wasnt in love with him." He whispered to himself.

"He was my best friend, not my first male crush:"

Why would he even think about that if he wasnt?

He stood there for some seconds more until he decided to go to one of the guest rooms.

He choosed the one near Winstons.

They didnt saw each other until the next day.

Scott checked on Winston- He'ss still asleep- all the stress and probably the medicine knocked him out pretty hard.

He took a shower and got dressed- after that he decided to drive hom to grab some stuff. He left Winston a note in case he would wake up while he was gone.

He took Winstons car to drive home where he packed up some clothes and put on new ones.

Scott looked at he clock. Must be lunchtime at Liberty now. There was still some unfinished business in this school for him. And since he was in town now anyway he could visit this hellhole.

He get back into the car and drove to the school. He went there long enough but after 8 month and the second visit... it still felt weird.

He was the one the school chose to give Montys stuff to since his parents didnt care enough for it.

After he arrived at school he parked his car in a parking lot near by the school, then he stepped out and took a deep breath.

No one was around so he felt at least a bit more comfortable. All that changed after he entered the school building. The halls were filled with students. People he know and some he dont.

But no one seemed to notice him. Luckily. At least he thought so.

Without any further thinking he walked straight towards the principals office- but stopped after someone grabbed his arm and some other called his name.

"Scott!"

He got dragged away by the one who grabbed his arm.

"Long time no hypocrite. Didnt expect to see you around here anymore after you buggered off after the whole Bryce "rape" thing."

Scott tried to stay calm.

"What do you want?"

"We just wonder why you're here and that you still have the courage for it."

"Why? Should I feel afraid of you?"

"Maybe."

"I dont. Let me go, I have somethng to take care of."

"What is it?"

"Non of your business."

"You know whats our business?"

"What?"

"Why are you walking around with a fucking faggot?"

"I dont understand."

"We saw you with hime- the last days. The one guy with pale skin and black hair. The faggot."

He just looked at them.

"The faggot? Yeah?" taking this word in his mouth made him feel disgusted.

"Dont you think its time to stop using thie word? How old are you? 10?"

"Why are you defending him? Are you one of them now too?"

The other guys laughed.

"I mean look at him- hes probably going back to him. Thats why hes wearing his bes clothes."

The guys continued to laugh.

"And even if I am- it not your problem anymore. I'm not your friend anymore. So I can do what ever the fuck I want."

"So youre fucking him. Disgusting. Monty would have beat the shit outta you. Sadly he died because someone rat about what he did."

Scott laughed this time.

"I bet he would have. Totally. Except I was a trued friend of him and he never judged me."

He turned around and pushed past between the other students- he still could hear them shit talking.

Scott didnt glanced over his shoulder and turned left around he almost ran Alex over.

"Scott."

"Alex."

"What are you doing here?"

"Taking care of Montys stuff."

"Hm. Jeard you talk with these guys over there. Are you staying with Winston."

"Maybe."

"How does it feel to be around someone whos fighting against us?"

"I dont care. You did something wrong and have to pay for it. Why are you even so angry about it? At me? You can stop that now. Its getting annoying."

Scott walked down the hall and Alex followed him, he entered an empty room.

"I am because I want to."

Zach appeared behind Alex, out of knowhere. As well as Clay, Justin and the rest of the group.

"So childish. You know I didnt sell out Montys trust so the next moment you could pin the murder of Bryce on him. I'm not your friend- The only one I actually just cared about in thsi whole group was Clay. And because I dont owe you anything I can do what I want. Step up for what you did wrong. You cant serve justice while cobering up a murder."

Alex blood boiled with every word he siad.

"Why do you even care? I mean Monty was a criminal. Murder or not."

"Because- surprise- he was my friend."

"Why are you helping Winston?"

"Because he thinks the same:"

"Yeah? Really?"

Zach grabbed Alex arm ad whispered a silent "Lets go". But Alex didnt want to stop.

"You're just helping him because you think hes hot."

Scott blinked in confusion.

"And I think you just killed Bryce because he wanted to fuck up Zachs life. The person you love so much but wont admit it because you're a coward. Wont even notice hiw much he liked you back."

Alex got furious and shoved Zach away from him, angrily.

"How dare you?"

Scott laughed.

"Thank me later."

Zach looked back and forth between them and started to blush.

"Wha... not true!" and he rushed away.

Alex looked afte him.

"You're gonna pay for this" and then he followed him.

Clay stared at Scott for some seconds.

"What? Do you want to complain too? Because I really dont eanna end up in a fight with you."

"No I .... who told you to look after me?"

Scott rolled his eyes.

"Should be pretty obvious. Dont it? It was Jeff."

"Oh... really...?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"I dont know. Maybe bevause he knew you neeede help or something."

"But he was around most of the time."

"He was but it was for the time he couldnt be around."

Clay nooded to that.

"So... do you really think Winston is hot?"

Justin started to laugh.

"Dude dont ask that."

"But..."

"What the fuck Clay?" Scott said in confusion.

"I'm sorry."

"You know..." Scott started. "Everyone finds Winston hot- even the most hetero guys alive."

Clay laughed at this and pat him on the shoulder.

"Good joke man. You looked so serious saying that."

"Thats beause I was being serious.

He shook his head slightly and then walked away. Grabbing Montys stuff from the office.

After that he took the emergrency exit and rushed to the car- with it, he drove home.

He entered the house and went straight to the kitchen- the box with Montys stuff still in his hands. He placed it on the counter.

Scott made some coffee and was about to open up the fridge as he heard steps that stopped right in the doorframe.

Winston stood there- with a bit of a shocked look on his face.

It made him worrying.

"Somethings up?"

Winston just hsook his head, still kinda tired because oth the meds.

"I just..." he rubbed his eyes."

"Its just the... look on you. The clothes. Monty used to ear the m all the time."

"Oh...yeah... I can change it for something else if you want me to. If its more comfortable for you."

"No." Winston shook his head. "Its fine. Really."

He noticed the box on the counter.

"Whats that?"

"Montys last belongings. I thought you might wanna have them. Its not much but enough for you I hope..."

Winston took a seat and grabbed the box.

"You were in school right? How was it?"

"Seems like everyone of my former so called "friends" hate me now. But I dont really care. Met Alex and his friend again to. Had a little fight. But wasnt that bad. Still feels weird going back there..."

"I can imagine that."

"Anyway Winston... how are you feeling?"

"Good. Better than yesterday."

They had breakfast together as Scott received a message.

Sheri. She wanted to meet them.

"Hey Winston?"

"Hm?"

"Gotta problem coming with me to visit Jeffs grave?"

"You really think I should come with you? Why do you even want to visit him now?"

"Sheri just wrote me - she wants to go there. And she invited you."

"Oh really? If she wants me to come I'll say yes."

He wrote her back, that they would meet at 2pm.

Sheri: "It really didnt sound like you want to visit him yesterday.

Scott: "That was yesterday. Now is today and my mood is better too."

 

Scott took the bag with his clothes out of the car after they finished eating and headed upstairs as Winston stopped him.

"Already feeling like home here dont you?" he siad, pointing at the bag.

"Oh- I just thought that I should stay for some days more. Just in case."

"Right. I know that." Winston smiled.

 

He carried his bag up the stairs and placed it on the bed, he sat down next to it. He choosed some dark clothes for that occasion even though he knew that Jeff probably wouldnt like that.

Winston watched him from the door frame silently. Scott ddint notice him because he was stcuck in a daydream.

"Are you ready?" Winston said finally and Scott almost jumped.

"I am - I think."

They got into Winstons car and drove the long way to the graveyard.

There he parked the car in an empty spot and togther they walked up the way- Sheri was already waiting for them there.

"Finally here- I think I was to early." She laughed and looked at Winston.

"Nice to see you again- now we'll introcude you to our best friend." she whispered quietly, not to disturb the other visitors.

Together they walked to Jeffs grave - which was decorated with many flowers.

"Looking good." Scott said, after seeing all these flowers.

"Obviously it must be. Jeff was such a sweetie."

Sheri claimed, Scott secretly agreed to it.

"So why'd you chose to come? Yesterday you sounded a bit stressed."

He looked at Winston for some seconds.

"Well... Winston helped me to understand that I shouldnt feel resposible for Montys death."

Sheri tilted her head slightly.

"What does that has to do with Jeff?"

"I...." he looked at Winston again. "I guess... I ahve to tell you something."

And he told her. About everything. About what Jeff told him- what he ased him for. About Monty. About Clay. That Scott flt like the burdern was all on him.

He strayed calm through all of it.

"He had to much hopes in me- Monty and the others dragged me deep into their darkness. That non of theri fault. If only, thene mine. Because I knew what would happen."

"Oh damn... But... he should've never left it all on you. Ther was no chance of you to handle it all alone."

"I did it anyway- I wanted to."

Sheri and Winston both waited for a clear answer.

"I wanted to make him proud. Ther are still things I will always deny. For the fact that its now to late and never was about any relevance."

Sheri laughed.

[travllingbunny]

The 100 rewatch: 2x15 Blood Must Have Blood, Part One

I’m a bit behind with these write-ups and slightly with my rewatch. Real life and real work is getting in the way. I’ve rewatched 3x01 and 3x02, but I’ll have to start watching more episodes per day to have enough time to finish this before the season 6 premiere. These write-ups are going to be shorter starting from season 3 (which is also great because it’s season 3 and I really have no wish to go into most of it in detail), I’ll try to just do bullet points. But first I have to cover something much, much better - the season 2 finale. Though actually this episode is just an intro, the next one is the real deal.

Blood Must Have Blood, Part One is an episode that seems just like what we would imagine a season finale to be: tactics, preparations for a big battle, ensemble episode where we see pretty much every character, all of them in various places. Clarke’s plan is great, and it seems like we would get the perfect ending we wanted, with the Arkers and the Grounders working together – saving everyone, punishing the guilty regime of Mount Weather, saving the innocent people from Mount Weather - children and the rebels. We are made to feel afraid whether this or that part of the plan would work. And then there’s the big twist – and I have an unpopular opinion about that. 

But  Part One is just the setup for Part Two, the greatest episode of the show.

Rating: 9/10

My favorite, and most emotional parts of this episode, are the scenes with the Mount Weather residents who are helping the Delinquents and hiding them, and then get brutally killed by Mount Weather guards as “traitors”. Especially the scene where Jasper naïvely reveals himself to the guard to save the couple who were hiding him and Maya, when the guard threatened to kill them – and then he goes to kill them anyway – because of course he does.

These are just some of the many things in this finale that give strong vibes of Mount Weather as the closest thing that The 100 has to Third Reich. Although the Mountain Men at least had a legitimate motivation and weren’t just racist idiots. The 100 is often terrible when it tries to make any political parallels (see: season 3), but this was one of the few times it worked: Mountain Men worked really well as villains – as a society, they were close to pure evil, as technological version of vampires and stand-in for anything from imperialism, colonialism (yes, you bozos in the fandom who call the refugees/exiles in this story “colonizers”, you had evil colonials there all the time and you somehow didn’t notice) to, yes, Nazis.

I love the fact that Dante always knew who was the real driving force behind the alliance and who could destroy Mount Weather (Cage: “I underestimated the Commander.”  - Dante: “It’s not the Commander, it’s Clarke.”

Why didn’t we ever learn more about the Reaper that Indra recognized? He was obviously someone important to her. She had probably thought he was dead. Maybe it was her husband/Gaia’s father? The scenes were so literally dark that it was impossible to make out any features, they may have even planned to introduce him at some point? Octavia said: “Abby will help him”. So what happened to the Reapers after Lexa’s betrayal? Why didn’t we ever find out? This is the dropped plot that has always bugged me the most.

Indra says to Octavia that Lincoln has always questioned their ways. This made me think about what an odd couple Lincoln and Octavia are. He always questioned the Grounder customs and philosophy of war and violence, but Octavia loves war and violence and adores the Grounder ways even though she’s not one of them. It makes me wonder how their relationship would have developed if he had lived. After all, she fell in love with him when she knew him just as a hot Grounder, he was the first to teach her Grounder fighting and language (but that was before she found Indra as her mentor), and in season 3, she was disappointed when he was integrating into Arkadia and wearing the Arker uniform.

Watching Maya escape death by the guards when you know she’s going to die anyway is painful. One of the sad ironic moments is when  Jasper told her “We won’t let anything happen to you” while Bellamy was there.

It’s so weird to see all the screentime that the Raven/Wick romance got, since it eventually get dropped for BTS reasons (as they should).

Speaking of romance – Lexa said she made her decision to betray Clarke with her head rather than her heart… but I’m not fully convinced. The last episode, they kissed, the chemistry was there, but Clarke said she wasn’t ready for a relationship. Lexa was asking Clarke what she wanted after the battle, and Clarke said “Nothing… My people back. I can’t think past today” and was evasive in a nice way when Lexa made a not-so-subtle overture by asking her to come to Polis with her. When Lexa later explained her betrayal by saying she did what Clarke would do, it kind of seemed like she was calling back to what Clarke said earlier and that she wasn’t happy about it. But, Clarke, why do you love them more than meeee?

The idea that Clarke would have done the same is BS (but a convenient way for Lexa to justify her actions) – Clarke wanted to defeat Mount Weather and save everyone. She first decided they were evil when she saw what they were doing to the Grounders.

But let’s talk a bit more about Lexa’s deal with the Mountain Men, the supposedly wise “head” decision. Smart idea on Dante’s part. Not a smart decision on Lexa’s part. 

And that’s my unpopular opinion. I think it’s one of the worst decisions any leader has made on the show. Of course, it had to happen for the plot to work. Lexa was a supporting guest star whose role was to push the protagonists in a certain direction. But the show only presents her decision as bad from the moral point of view (at most) and she only finally (kind of) apologized for it to Clarke 3 seasons later when she was long dead and a part of the flame, but that was all in terms of a personal betrayal of someone you love. I guess I’m supposed to think that it’s a wise strategic decision…and the writers tried their best to justify that decision in their interviews, but I found their arguments ridiculous.

Isn’t Lexa supposed to be a strong, ruthless commander? So why does she walk away from a crucial battle and unique chance to defeat an old, powerful, mortal enemy that has been doing horrible things to her people for decades? It’s not like she’s unable to deal with the fact that people die in battle or that she cares for each of her people personally  - on the contrary, she’s all about the big picture, ready to sacrifice a few hundred of her people to win the war. She let a bomb drop on them, so it’s not like she can’t deal with the fact that warriors die in battle. Did she think they wouldn’t win? That’s a risk you always take in war, and as it turns out, in the end it took three people (and Monty’s technological know-how) to destroy the Mountain Men. So, she got it very wrong. When someone is offering you a deal, especially someone powerful and arrogant, it’s a sure sign they’re desperate and in a weak position, which they were. It means you can finish them off. Lexa is talked about as this great leader, but she hasn’t actually won any battles or wars on screen, other than her duel with Roan. She may have beaten other Grounder clans in wars we didn’t see. But she attacked the Delinquents, thinking them a weak enemy, and lost. She walked away instead of fighting the Mountain Men, and they were defeated by Clarke, Bellamy and Monty.  

The argument that it was a good decision because the Mountain Men let her people go, is based on short-term thinking, without any thought to long-term consequences: 1) the Mountain Men were not going to suddenly become nice and stop oppressing others just because they didn’t need their blood anymore, anyone who thinks otherwise is incredibly naïve – they were used to being overlords and felt incredibly entitled and superior; 2) by foregoing the chance to defeat them, letting them regroup and allowing them to be able to also go to the surface, you’re letting them become even more powerful, 3) there’s no way that the Grounders weren’t going to want revenge against the Mountain Men.* That was never going to end well.  Grounders should feel lucky and grateful that “Wanheda” killed them. Otherwise they’d be in trouble. (The funniest argument by the writers is that Lexa decided to make a deal because she could destroy the Mountain Men later. LOL what? The Mountain Men had been doing whatever they wanted to the Grounders for decades. If she had been able to destroy them, she would have long time ago.) But as it turns out that the Arkers won… well, that also had consequences: the Arkers didn’t exactly trust the Grounders and Lexa specifically in season 3, and it’s not hard to see why – lack of trust tends to be the consequence of previous betrayal.

*Unless they don’t, inexplicably, because the plot requires it. And this is one other reason why I’m not crazy about this plot point – it’s the first sign of the kind of bad writing that happens a lot in season 3, where Grounders especially act in contradictory ways all the time. Here they are extremely obedient to their Commander and immediately all leave. In season 3, after a couple of episodes, they develop amnesia about the Mountain Men and don’t seem care about any revenge even when they capture Emerson, but at the same time they’re super into revenge against the Arkers… Just like they were really into revenge earlier in season 2 with Finn. And suddenly they become very rebellious and willing to go against the Commander over not taking revenge on the Arkers.  But what happened to “Blood must have blood” when it comes to Mountain Men? Lincoln said in 2x08 that Lexa would be killed by her own people If she spared Finn. But they’re OK with not getting any revenge against Mount Weather, in season 2 and in season 3 when it’s very easy to get it on the captive Emerson. There’s no explanation other than “plot-induced behavior”.

But I guess this twist had to exist so we would get Part Two.

Body count:

A number of Grounders and Mount Weather guards killed in fighting at the dam and the ridge, one of the latter was killed by Wick (apparently his first kill).

 Several of the Mount Weather people who were helping the Deliquents. Including the c couple who were hiding Jasper and Maya, Mr. and Ms. Peters, murdered by a Mount Weather guard, Paul Tiling)

Paul Tiling, who apparently was some sort of a friend or at least acquaintance of Vincent Vie but was going to kill him to take Maya – but was killed by Bellamy; another guard, who was killed by Miller. 

Vincent Vie, killed off-screen by the Mount Weather guards. He got saved earlier in the episode just so his daughter could later find his dead body.

Another “traitor” killed by the guards: Ms Ryan, who was hiding Monty,

Several Arkers and a lower number of Mount Weather guards died In the fighting when Emerson with a group of guards captured a group of Arkers who were planning a rescue mission. I’m not sure if this counts, since it happened during the timeline of Part One, but we only learned about the (unspecified number of) casualties in Part Two.

[kiruuuuu]

More Montagne/Bandit in which Monty discovers he actually enjoys being Bandit’s rope bunny. (Rating E, nothing but explicit sex, ~6k words) - written for @kapcan because I love you 💖 and also for Bandit himself seeing as it’s his birthday today!

The other parts can be found in my Masterpost! (Mobile version here)

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“We can start light”, Bandit suggests, out of breath, in between toe-curling kisses. They’re more intense than usual because it’s the first time they’re alone since Montagne came back and so he treasures every little touch, commits each detail to memory. After welcoming him with entirely too few kisses and hugs at the airport and refusing to let go of his hand while he was greeted warmly by teammates and colleagues alike, both of them sighed happily once they finally arrived back in Montagne’s room, alone and undisturbed. A short glance later, Bandit jumped into his arms, Montagne stumbled to the bed with him, fell on top of it – and making out is pretty much all they’ve done since then, Montagne covering Bandit with his large body and pressing him into the mattress but neither of them is complaining.

“What does that mean?”, Montagne murmurs against his lips. They’re like teenagers who finally confessed to each other, frantically snogging and yet hesitating to go a step further. No clothes have been discarded so far, they’re dry humping and pawing at each other but apart from that it’s surprisingly chaste. Hands card through hair, lips find their counterpart again and again and tongues wrestle now and then, leaving behind an almost electrical feeling in Bandit’s limbs.

“I can just start out by -” He trails off when teeth pull on his earlobe. It’s getting harder and harder to think, especially because he’s been waiting so long to finally hold this man in his arms that all the things he wanted to do to him are wiped off his brain. A moan escapes him upon Montagne sucking a bruise onto his skin right above his collarbone and he loses his train of thought completely, wonders why he’d ever suggest anything other than just letting this happen, having Montagne wash over him and carry him away to mind-numbing pleasure, writhe on his cock and groan into his mouth.

“Yes?”

The request for him to keep talking is decidedly mischievous and he can feel the smirk against his own mouth. Montagne is getting cheeky and with how much power he holds over Bandit he’ll probably end up allowing him anything. Still, he scrapes together the last of his countenance and picks up again: “I can just tie part of your arms.” He’s interrupted by another scorching kiss and chases soft lips when they withdraw to allow him to keep talking. “And if you like it, we can keep going. If not, we’ll stop. Start easy. No commitment.”

His lover considers it a while, pushing one of his hands into Bandit’s clothes, strokes over his chest and hipbones and finally nods. “Alright. We can try.” And though he seems hesitant, he adds a sincere: “I trust you.”

Bandit is smitten. When they discussed the topic, Montagne mentioned not being comfortable handing over that much control so Bandit had largely given up hope, and yet he now apparently feels safe enough with him of all people to give it a shot nonetheless. For a few seconds, he just blinks and stares up at the source of all these emotions inside him, devotedly and like an idiot, until the quiet resolve in Montagne’s face gives way to amusement.

“I don’t have any rope here”, he states and no, of course he doesn’t. But the hand splayed over his ribs is weighing Bandit down, leaving his only option to not move a muscle and continue gazing lovingly into blue eyes. Montagne chuckles and rearranges their bodies, seemingly satisfied with how pliant Bandit is, before he rises, lifting the other man with him. Bandit ends up pressed against the door by a large body around which his limbs are wrapped, snogged breathless and thinking we should try this position sometime. “How about you go and get some?”

As usual, his mouth is faster than his brain: “I’ve been trying to get some this entire time.” To his relief, Montagne just laughs good-naturedly and puts him down, which is a solid move as Bandit probably would’ve clung to him forever if allowed. “Okay, I’ll be right back.” Despite his words, he lingers, eyes locked with Montagne’s, and a few seconds later his tongue is down his lover’s throat once more and hands are kneading his ass while his own stray to the front of Montagne’s trousers. He’s so primed he fears he could come literally just from blowing him and thinking about it certainly doesn’t help, holy hell, his desire is like static in his head, all-encompassing and drowning out everything else.

Without even noticing, he’s undressed Montagne to the point where he can easily pull his erection out – so of course he does. His eyes are closed in bliss, preventing him from marvelling at the sight, but the heavy weight of it in his palm is enough to make his head spin already. “If you’re too impatient, we can postpone it”, Montagne suggests softly and looks like he wants to add something but his breath hitches when fingers encircle his shaft. He’s unusually receptive to Bandit’s touches as well, courtesy of the prolonged absence, and therefore reacts with small thrusts into the tight fist, each robbing Bandit further of his sanity. His only option is to break the kiss yet even this doesn’t save him as Montagne latches onto his neck immediately and reciprocates the touch, rubs over the bulge in Bandit’s jeans. Now they’re both straining towards the delicious friction, desperate moans clawing their way out of Bandit’s throat as he basically humps Montagne’s hand and dear God he won’t be table to take this much longer.

“Stop, stop”, he whispers, panicked, “no, stop, I’m gonna come, I’m -” A whimper escapes him when the stimulation ceases and he loosens his grip around the hot flesh before he actually ends up hurting Montagne. He’s panting and shuddering, his abdomen tensing up with the spikes of pleasure threatening to push him over the edge entirely too quickly. His lover gives a last nip to his jaw and straightens up with a curious, inquisitive expression. “Remember the time we – you know, on the phone?” He feels the need to explain himself because even the embarrassing first time Montagne got him off, he didn’t have a hair-trigger quite like this. A nod. “I didn’t – I haven’t jerked off since then.”

Montagne’s eyebrows rise, visibly intrigued. Experimentally, he pushes the heel of his hand against the head of Bandit’s extremely sensitive erection, making him mewl, hold his wrist in place and grind against him before any of his actions have even registered in his mind. “Are you sure I can’t just… take my time a little?”

“No. I’ll literally die”, Bandit protests breathlessly and sways unsteadily as soon as the hand disappears again. “Fuck. I’ll go get the rope. You can undress already if you want.”

“Why don’t you help me with it instead?”

Fucking cheeky. Bandit throws him a dark look and escapes out into the hallway, where it’s safe and where there are no ridiculously attractive Frenchmen who make him question his entire existence. He probably looks as dishevelled as he feels, his hair sticking up in all directions, clothes rumpled and askew, not to mention the tent in his jeans.

Which is probably why Blitz is studying him with a shit eating grin on his face. Why does he have to be creeping around here right now? “Forgot something?”, he asks innocently.

Under normal circumstances, Bandit would reply with something along the lines of yeah, the reason why I shouldn’t beat you up, but all his muddled brain can muster up is: “Fuck off.”

Blitz just laughs and keeps walking without further comment which probably also stems from his wish to not hear anything more about Bandit’s love life. He should use this in the future, maybe disclose a few details and watch him squirm in discomfort. Still – right now, he’d rather watch someone else squirm, and so he quickly dashes to his room, thankfully not meeting anyone else on the way, and hurries back as soon as he got what he came for. Hastily, he slips back into Montagne’s room, shuts out the rest of the world once more and stops in his tracks as soon as he throws a glance at the bed.

Because the sight is delectable. Montagne did, in fact, rid himself of all his clothes, and is now stretched out on the mattress, perfectly on display: the one hand behind his head shows off his muscles, the other is lazily toying with his dick, and the knowing smile on his face is merely the cherry on top. He looks magnificent. Bandit swoons and wonders when this happened, when Montagne became this confident in his own appearance around him where he was almost skittish in the beginning, clearly worrying about the physical aspect of their relationship – whereas Bandit admired him straightaway, worshipped his body whenever possible, dipped his hand into every valley, splayed it over each ridge and wondered how he’d come to deserve touching this man at all.

“That’s a lot of rope”, Montagne states and yes, it is, in his enthusiasm Bandit basically just grabbed his entire stash, in his head preparing a long list of excuses should he have run into another colleague on the way. I’ll have to go discipline a bunny was the first thing coming to mind and he’s extremely glad he didn’t meet anyone else.

“Well yeah. You’re -”, his eyes glide further down, attracted by the slow movement centred on Montagne’s lower half, “… big.”

“Come here, Dom.” As asked, he walks over, drops the various restraints next to the enticing naked body and straddles his lover, humming into another deep kiss as he’s greeted by Montagne sitting up and embracing him. His arousal which had calmed a little returns full force – Montagne’s warm skin is just as addicting as his clever tongue and by the time they finally take a break to pull his t-shirt off, his heart is desperately trying to beat its way out of his ribcage. Montagne is just so fucking captivating. “So how does this work?”, the Frenchman wants to know and quite unfairly doesn’t look like the act of not drooling all over his partner required any effort from him. As opposed to Bandit.

“Huh?” He’s too busy covering the side of Montagne’s neck with impressively dark lovebites to even pay any attention to the repeated clarification but once his brain catches up, he remembers he’s meant to be doing something else entirely. “Oh. Oh. Yes. I’ll explain, but you need to stop – stop it. Don’t touch me. No -” And the next thing coming from his lips is a whine as the tip of a tongue swirls around one of his nipples, wiping his brain once again. For a time span which is decidedly too long, Montagne just sucks and laps at it, guiding the aimless movements of Bandit’s hips with his hands so he finds no friction and smiles at the frustrated noises Bandit produces endlessly.

Eventually, Bandit is fed up with the teasing and pries Montagne off of him with herculean effort while his weeping erection mourns the lost contact. “Okay. If you -” He takes a deep breath and swats his lover’s hands away decisively. “No. If you feel uneasy or start hurting, let me know and I’ll untie you immediately. If you want to stop, tell me. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

Montagne’s smile is unwavering and shines at him with the light of a thousand suns. “I never am around you”, he says and if Bandit wasn’t so amazingly horny, his heart would melt. It still does, but his cock twitches as well and since when are compliments a turn-on for him?

Wait. Are they?

“Really?”, he prompts just to test his theory – he doesn’t like fishing for compliments normally but in this case, it’s necessary.

“Yes. You’re either very attentive or extremely responsive when we have sex. It’s lovely. I’m not used to it to this extent.”

A convincingly large part of Bandit simply wants him to curl up on Montagne’s chest, purr and let him shower him with praise whereas another part – just as big – demands for him to roll over, have Montagne dick him down and keep whispering compliments into his ear as he moans and holds on for dear life. It’s just… neither of those options are part of the plan, a plan which apparently includes him discovering he has a praise kink. “I’m – I’m just going to tie your wrists now”, he mumbles and reaches for a short, soft cotton rope without much give. He stretches Montagne’s arms out above his head and has to lean over him to reach his wrists, meaning Montagne gets the chance to leave butterfly kisses all over his neck and shoulder. Absence certainly made both their hearts grow fonder seeing as how desperate both of them are for any kind of caress. They’re aware of it, too, smiling into the exaggerated gestures of affection but neither of them is complaining.

Once he’s done, Bandit sits back up and lets his fingertips trail over his lover’s chest distractedly while asking: “How is it?”

Montagne tests the restraints curiously before a strange look flits over his face. He fights the rope once more, wiggles the rest of his body a bit and then fixes Bandit with a determined gaze. “Do more.”

He feels his eyebrows rise in disbelief. “D-do – are you sure?” Montagne just nods but he seems serious, so Bandit doesn’t question him. “Alright. Just your ankles?” He senses hesitation and forces his voice to stay even: “Or do you want me to go all the way?”

They look at each other, Montagne thoughtful and Bandit holding his breath in anticipation. He’s always been partial to rope, likes the feel of it gliding through his fingers, learned as many different types of knots as he could and amassed a collection not currently with him but well cared for regardless – whether it’s him or someone else getting tied up normally doesn’t matter to him too much though he did develop a strong preference to being in control over the past few years. With Montagne, however, he’d gladly let him string him up, suspend him, anything.

Still, getting the chance to do all this to the large man below him instead is more than enticing. So when he eventually nods, Bandit feels a rush of desire sweep him up and carry him away. Wordlessly, he chooses a relatively elastic cord, slides off of Montagne’s lap and motions for him to sit up. Once he’s done so, shaking hands begin to deftly wrap the pristine white material around his broad chest, forming a pattern and looping through the wrist restraints, forcing Montagne to bend his arms backwards and keep his immobile hands behind the back of his neck. No more rope is added to his arms but plenty makes its way down his ribs and even below his navel, which is when Bandit gently pushes him back into a flat position.

He works quickly and practised, his nervousness vanishing after a while due to the familiarity and because Montagne is quietly accepting all he’s doing. He’s watching raptly, eyes focused on Bandit’s fingers and threatening to undo his confidence despite him being in the zone now, solely concentrating on keeping the rope tight enough so it doesn’t slip but loose enough as to not restrict breathing or cut into skin.

But now he’s stopped. And instead of continuing, he’s staring at Montagne’s cock, thick and hard, leaking impressively and jumping under his gaze. It’s unbelievably inviting and Bandit can feel his mouth watering, fingers twitching towards it and the urge to do something, anything to it is overwhelming for a second. What he told Montagne was the truth, he didn’t wank himself to completion for a week but that doesn’t mean he didn’t touch himself at all – and right now he’s regretting all of it fiercely since it comes crashing down at once, all the times he stopped just before, all the times he used his fingers without laying a single one on his dick, all of it makes him want viciously.

Normally – especially if it’s the first time tying someone up – he goes slow, maybe just brings his partner off after teasing them a little; normally, he’d take his time with Montagne, test whether he’s ticklish anywhere, let him get used to the feeling of being completely at his mercy and reassure him a bit. But right now, all he wants is this magnificent huge cock to be inside him.

Impatiently, he finishes his task, ties Montagne’s ankles to the respective thigh so his legs are bent as much as possible and then parts his knees, pushes them out of the way until his lover is spread-eagled before him. It’s a view for the Gods, oddly tasteful and yet so enthralling and sinful that Bandit’s head is starting to feel encased in honey again. Almost elegant. Definitely more than fucking hot though. For a brief moment, the vision of taking his lover in this position, making him writhe crosses his mind and punches all the air out of his lungs.

He catches Montagne staring at him with wide, excited eyes and registers something he’s noticed yet not fully understood before: he’s enjoying this. Immensely so, if his rock hard erection and blissful expression are anything to go by and the realisation of what it means hits him out of nowhere. They’ll probably do this again.

“I have to blindfold you”, his mouth informs Montagne before his brain is even aware of this necessity but it’s as if all his inner workings are being openly displayed on his face and he’s not used to feeling this vulnerable when he’s the one who can still move freely.

“But I like looking at you.” He’s pouting a little, utilising the only weapon he has left, and Bandit can’t bring himself to explain that it’s exactly why he has to make eye contact impossible. He’s so weak for this man and thus it pains him to dig up one of his ties and wrap it around his head, hide his piercing gaze. Now he’s free to ogle him, in all his glory, powerless, at Bandit’s mercy. It’s titillating.

“Fuck”, he breathes and grabs yet another rope, unceremoniously wrapping it around the base of Montagne’s cock as well as his scrotum, careful not to trap any of the loose skin, before tying a simple knot. “Is this okay? Can you breathe? Does anything hurt?” Despite his words being directed at Montagne himself, he’s transfixed by the hard erection jutting towards the sky, jumping at every tiny touch, the head wet and even thicker than usual.

“No, it’s all good”, Montagne replies huskily and groans when Bandit experimentally runs his fingers along his shaft. “It’s – it feels strange. But not bad. I’d still prefer being able to see you.”

Bandit ignores the last comment and fetches the lube, all his patience worn thin by now. He wants him and he wants him now, and if he won’t be able to sit the next few days, then so be it. Without any further ado, he pours a large amount directly onto Montagne’s dick, making him wince from the cold, and slicks it up with a few strokes. With the blood trapped inside, it’s definitely bigger than normal. He’ll have to go slow.

However, as soon as he starts climbing on top of the other man, he’s met with protest: “Wait, Dom, what are you doing? You’re not -”

“I’m so fucking ready”, Bandit growls in response and gets comfortable straddling him before sinking down so the tip of Montagne’s cock lines up with his hole. With one hand, he steadies the shaft and uses the other to pre-emptively silence his lover by putting it over his mouth, stopping him from objecting further. Yes, he’s done this before, thank you, and he knows exactly just how much he can take. When the head touches his ring of muscle, he pauses, consciously relaxes and tentatively grinds against it, spreading the lube and turning possible friction into a smooth, promising slide.

He’s been waiting for this forever – or that’s what it feels like because two weeks might as well have been forever – so he’s impatient, rocks into the dick and feels his mouth fall open the moment it enters him. Montagne’s legs twitch and he struggles against the hand over his lips but Bandit is adamant about this, he’s going to take him without preparation and without being told off for it. Sinking lower agonisingly slowly, he notices a faint burn which only serves to heighten his pleasure, sharpens the sensations to an edge cutting into his mind. He really is here right now and so is Montagne who allowed him to string him up and is moaning into his palm with every centimetre Bandit lowers himself further.

It’s not like he hasn’t done this before though admittedly, most of his previous partners weren’t quite as large as Montagne, and so he takes his time, pauses now and then to make a feeble attempt at catching his breath but mostly focuses on the hot flesh inside him on which he’s impaling himself. The ropes dig into his own skin, especially the ones wrapped around Montagne’s thighs, very close to his crotch, and the feel of them is merely a welcome addition to all the desire pooling low in Bandit’s belly. The slide goes on endlessly, there’s still more cock to take in even though he feels so full already, so he stops for the moment, panting and suppressing the urge to just start bouncing because as enticing as the idea is, it’s also very bad. Like this, he gets to appreciate Montagne fully though, and the sensation is brilliant and elating, the flesh inside him burning hot and what he can see of Montagne’s face is twisted in pleasure.

He takes away his hand to steady himself on Montagne’s chest and smiles a bit at the big gulps of air he immediately takes. The Frenchman looks oddly lost like this, unable to see but acutely aware of what’s happening regardless, unable to move but instead able to feel keenly. “Am I hurting you?”, he gasps.

“No”, Bandit lies – he doesn’t think he could explain that the vague pain is a more than welcome addition to the pulsing pleasure inside him. “You feel great.” His own member is protesting, demanding attention but he ignores it for now, reaches back and strokes over Montagne’s balls, massages them gently and moans when the large dick inside him throbs in return. In making it twitch, he ensures it hits all the right spots which further transform the residual discomfort into white hot desire, so he brushes the fingers of his other hand over a nipple peeking out from between white strings and feels his abs flutter when the pure need in him intensifies once more.

“Does that feel good?”, Montagne wants to know and receives his answer in the form of a throaty moan after a particularly vicious twitch which undoubtedly incentivises him to do it on purpose. Because that’s what he starts doing. Bandit is seeing stars by now, eager to outlast him by pinching the nipple between his digits and beginning with tentative movements spanning no more than a few centimetres but which feel monumental nonetheless. He fails spectacularly, ending up sprawled on top of Montagne, mewing helplessly into his ear and grinding into him. The head keeps rubbing right over his prostate and pushes against it with each throb and Bandit is fucking gone, hasn’t been this braindead and utterly controlled by physical sensations in a long while and feels like he could come any second now.

Oh. Wait. He can, actually. He’s done it before, suffered profusely at Montagne’s mercy several times in which he tried to cause a hands free climax and was successful in some of them. And not only does it feel bloody amazing, Montagne gets this smug little grin afterwards which Bandit so loves.

With effort, he forces himself to sit back up and move his hips which is easier said than done, especially when he feels as high as he does now, but he manages a steady rhythm after a few initial problems of having to adjust their position, not hitting the right angle and simply being too paralysed by roaring desire. Sliding up and down Montagne’s cock is addicting by itself already, but when he switches to lifting his entire body and not just rolling his hips against him, a high-pitched whine escapes him. Oh, this is it. This is perfect.

His fingers claw at the ropes criss-crossing over Montagne’s upper body and eventually hold on to them, using them as support while he fucks himself on the thick shaft, and the way his lover’s breath hitches and his ribcage rises and falls under his palms reminds him of the latent power sleeping in the warm body below him; a power currently contained yet tangible nonetheless. He’s beautiful, sweat on his brow, upper arms tensing now and then, legs trembling the faster Bandit moves – his position probably stopped being comfortable a while ago and still he carries Bandit without complaint, remains tied up for his pleasure and allows quiet groans to leave his parted lips.

The pleasure inside is building steadily and Bandit is now slamming his hips down against Montagne’s, desperate to reach a much needed orgasm but loath to touch himself. A litany of half-curses and helpless whimpering accompanies the slap of skin on skin, of skin on rope, and he can feel it coming, approaching at a snail’s pace but approaching nonetheless, he just needs to keep going, keep up this mind-numbing rhythm as he pulls on Montagne’s restraints – and that’s when he notices the other man tensing up. And thinks oh no you won’t.

“Don’t come”, he hisses, “oh my God, don’t you dare, don’t fucking come!” The noise erupting from Montagne speaks of desperation and powerlessness and pushes Bandit even further towards the edge because he can tell his lover is also close, so incredibly close but holding back now for his sake. He grits his teeth and switches to a slower speed and deeper thrusts, allows Montagne’s cock to bottom out fully and rises until he feels the ridge of the head stretching him. Bandit is thorough, relishes the long slide and gasps whenever the tip brushes his sweet spot. At this point, he’s been at it for entirely too long, his muscles are protesting, he knows his hands are going to be numb afterwards and he might regret this the next day but he’s right there, and that’s all that counts.

Montagne is biting his lip and baring his throat, muscles flexing prettily as he forces himself away from the edge with visible exertion, he looks so fucking good and it’s all just for him. All of this is just for Bandit.

He comes with a helpless cry, the air in his lungs knocked out by the force of it. His orgasm is violent, starts as an extreme spike of pleasure in his midsection and explodes into a full body experience, curling his toes and his fingers, making him bury Montagne deep inside him just to feel him in his entirety. Bandit shudders with every small movement, riding it out gingerly because everything else would probably make him pass out and each tiny motion of his hips has him gush out semen onto Montagne’s chest, even reaching up to his collar bone. His neglected cock jumps with every spurt and is accompanied by a disbelieving moan. Warmth spreads through his body, sating the deafening need and turning it into calming relief, appeasing the desire demanding for so much.

When he’s done ejaculating, his abdomen is still contracting, still sending pleasure signals to his brain and so he sinks down onto his lover, mouths at his ear and purrs contentedly every time either of their cocks twitch. He’d love to ride Montagne to completion as well but he’s wholly and utterly spent, not to mention boneless. Besides, he should really take the ropes off now. Catching his breath is a difficult task and it takes several attempts until he finally manages – by then, Montagne is moving restlessly below him, obviously wanting to either finish or be relieved of Bandit’s weight, so he lifts his hips until Montagne’s unwaveringly hard dick slips out and climbs off with a series of decidedly unsexy groans.

“This fucking kills me”, he slurs, tongue heavy and, like the rest of his body, not really obeying him anymore. “Fuck. That was perfect. You look stunning, holy shit. Let me die.” He stretches out next to Montagne, grimacing at the way his legs feel more like pudding, and reaches out to undo the knot by his lover’s wrists. As soon as the rope is loose enough, the Frenchman pushes it off, discards the blindfold and moves to rid himself of the rest of the restraints while Bandit simply watches him, entranced by smooth movements and graceful limbs. “I love you”, he mumbles, exhausted, and returns the adoring smile directed at him.

“I love you too”, Montagne replies and presses the long line of his body against Bandit’s, kissing him sweetly. “And I suppose we can do this again. It was… interesting.”

Bandit grins and barely manages to raise his arm to wipe some of his come off Montagne’s pecs, only to lick and suck it off his fingers. The scandalised yet intrigued expression makes it more than worth it. “We’re not done, stud.”

The pet name makes Montagne’s lips curl both in embarrassment and amusement. “You can’t even move anymore.”

“But you can.” He rolls over onto his stomach and wiggles his backside invitingly. “Hop on.” His lover remains unconvinced though his gaze lingers on his ass for longer than he’d probably admit. “It won’t hurt and I want you to come like this. Come on.”

As he hoped, Montagne does give in but not without hesitation and not without adding more lube either. He kneels over Bandit, breathing heavily, and guides his cock to where it’s been mere minutes ago, inserting it cautiously and this is when Bandit realises he might’ve made a mistake. Because his hole not only took a beating already, it’s also overly sensitive and this new stimulation makes his toes twitch and eyelashes flutter; it’s intense and probably more than he bargained for. His orgasm left him loose and relaxed yet when Montagne is all the way in once more, he can feel himself tensing up again, a certain fire inside being rekindled.

It has, without a doubt, also something to do with the fact that Montagne is now spread out over him, grunting at every of Bandit’s involuntary movements and contractions around him and nibbling at his neck, biting at his shoulder. One of his arms is keeping him steady and pressing into the mattress next to Bandit’s shoulder and so he takes hold of the wrist, feels the quickening pulse in his palm and prepares for the worst. “It’s okay”, he whispers and raises his ass a little for better access, “go ahead.”

And Montagne does. He starts slow but speeds up, drives into Bandit relentlessly and shows no pity. He nails his prostate with each thrust, moans into the nape of his neck and pets him almost compulsively, creates a crass counterpoint to the hard thrusts with his gentle strokes over Bandit’s back and Bandit is so overstimulated he feels tears forming in the corners of his eyes. It’s too much and not enough simultaneously, he can’t see straight and sobs in pleasure, must sound pathetic because Montagne keeps checking in on him, asking whether he should stop, whether it’s alright, whether Bandit is hurting, and the answer to all of these questions is no.

It’s staggering. He can’t get enough of it.

There’s no doubt about it, he will regret this tomorrow but right now he’s in fucking heaven, moaning and shuddering uncontrollably while a tongue endeavours to take him apart at the seams, running over his outer ear and forcing inhuman noises out of his throat. He bites into his own arm to stop himself from screaming when Montagne reaches his climax with a sharp gasp and the sudden pain distracts him from both the frustration as well as the tremendous pleasure of feeling this thick cock unload inside him. Every single throb is distinct and he moves his hips against it, prolongs his lover’s orgasm as much as possible while he basks in the feeling of being desired to this extent, of being claimed and marked and filled.

But he’s not done. Even after Montagne has peppered his spine with kisses and withdrawn, he’s not done, turns back around and tugs on the other man’s arm, moves it to his crotch while pleading, asking for something he doesn’t know what and feels a deep seated want calming as soon as fingers enter him, push the sperm back inside and massage this special spot which makes his mind turn blank. His tender ring of muscle is sore already but he doesn’t care, he wants this, he needs this, and so he sinks into the odd mixture of aching pleasure like into a bath which is too hot. He rolls his hips against Montagne’s hand, head swimming and heart pounding, and tries to concentrate on the feeling despite the overwhelming dizziness.

When he climaxes again, a fist is encasing his dick, having taken pity on him, while the other hand is mercilessly stroking over his prostate, and his orgasm is almost dry and hurts but it hurts so good he’s moaning regardless. He’s lost in his desire, displays it openly and unashamedly, thrusts up into the slick grip and only comes down extremely slowly.

Several minutes pass during which he’s vaguely aware of being moved and cleaned, feels a warm washcloth on his skin as well as soothing touches and when he comes to himself fully, he’s wrapped in a thick blanket and sitting sideways on Montagne’s lap, him having moved them both to the sofa. He’s petting Bandit’s hair while holding him close and the motion is so reassuring he decides not to move for a bit and maybe pretend like he’s sleeping.

“Have some water”, a voice rumbles against him and well, so much for that. He untangles one of his arms from the blanket and accepts the proffered glass, empties it and notices a change for the better instantly. “We overdid it a little, hm?”

Bandit is about to protest but notices the stripes on Montagne’s chest where the rope cut into him – the rope on which Bandit pulled without fully realising. “Did I hurt you? Are you alright?”, he murmurs concernedly and looks up, only to be met with amusement dancing in deep blue eyes.

“You didn’t and yes, I am. Don’t worry.”

“In that case it was the hottest fucking thing that’s ever happened to me and we should do it again as soon as possible.”

Montagne laughs and squeezes him in appreciation, stealing a kiss and putting their foreheads together. “I really did miss you. And that reminds me, do you think we…” His tone of voice is serious and so Bandit waits patiently, gives him the time to sort his thoughts or build up courage. He can’t fault him for wanting to do so, in the past he’s had to struggle to convince Bandit of some things which ultimately benefited them both. “Ah, let’s talk about it tomorrow. You look very tired.”

Part of him wants to question him further, extract whatever is on Montagne’s mind, but a significantly larger part is entirely too exhausted to even shake his head. “Yeah. Alright.” He stuffs his arm back into the safety of the blanket before it gets cold and snuggles closer to his lover. “Do you think you can carry me back to the bed and talk some more about your mission while we cuddle?”

“Of course”, Montagne responds and kisses his temple, “I would love to.”

[orionares]

Drabble, Part 7

At a week, Kensi is finally being discharged from the hospital.

Sitting in a hospital-issued wheelchair, donning a pair of sweats bought from a nearby pharmacy, Kensi is surrounded by her mother, Deeks’ mother and a young dark-haired doctor who’s in the middle of explaining a laundry list of instructions that the agent hasn’t heard a word of. Instead she sits quietly, fighting against her mind drifting back to memories of Mexico and nightmares of losing her partner.

So, she focuses on a memory. A happy one.

“You’ve got to give me something- I can’t plan this wedding by myself,” Kensi pleads, plopping down on the couch next to Deeks. She smiles as Monty’s ears perk up at the movement before darting off the couch and trotting happily into the kitchen. Deeks’ eyes widen momentarily and then slowly lowers the remote in hand onto the arm of the couch.

“Mm..okay…” his tone quickly changes from cautionary to contentment. “What can I do?”

“Help me pick between these two halls,” Kensi replies. She holds out two photos of a banquet hall from a hotel in Venice and another in Marina del Rey. “Which one?”

“For what?”

Kensi narrows her eyes at her fiancée. “For the reception?”

Deeks turns to face Kensi, confusion clear on his face. “I thought we were going to get married on the beach?”

“That’s for the wedding ceremony. This would be for the reception. Did you expect us to host burgers and beer for one hundred fifty people on the beach?”

“Are we still going with one hundred fifty people? Sweetheart, I was hoping that was an overestimate.”

“Sweetheart,” Kensi repeats in a similar tone, “It wasn’t. Think of it like seventy-five people each.”

“No.” Deeks suddenly stands up and glances around the room anxiously as if he’s trying to dig up something to change the subject. “It’s more like me, my mom, the team and Monty. And you.”

“There’s got to be some old friends or co-workers from LAPD- “

The uneasiness on Deeks’ face is clear. “Nope. That’s all I’ve got and all I’ll ever need.”

“Well,” Kensi leans forward and rubs her hands on his thighs. “I love you. So, here’s an idea- we relax on the reception as I already have many friends of my dad and old friends when I was an agent afloat all excited to come, but…. the ceremony will be you, me, our moms and the team. Minus Mosley.”

A sparkle twinkles in Deeks’ eyes. “That, Fern, is perfect.”

“Kensi Marie, are you listening?”

Her mother’s voice draws Kensi’s mind back to the present. Kensi can’t help but scowl as she draws her eyes from the floor and up to her mother.

“Like I was saying,” her doctor continues, focusing on the small Samsung tablet in hand, “Bedrest for at least a week and I’ll be giving you a prescription to take back home with you for any aches and pain you’ll have with your ribs…”

Kensi doesn’t notice the slight shake of Roberta’s head before she cuts the doctor off, her voice with a tint of humor, “She’s not hearing you, doc. You do realize that, right?”

Julia scoffs. “Roberta- “

“Don’t Roberta me. It’s true, isn’t it?” Roberta’s gaze travels from the doctor towards the directions of Deeks’ room. “Her mind’s with my boy. Doc, you might as well give her mother and I the instructions and we’ll make sure she’ll follow it.”

“Look, I can’t break our hospital policy right now. I’m nearly done.” The doctor gently tosses the tablet onto the pile of blankets in the center of the bed. “Look, I’ll make it simple- take it easy, take your meds and don’t overexert yourself when you go home, Miss Blye.”

“I’m not going home,” Kensi tells the doctor as bluntly as possible. She reaches over to the small plastic bag with her only belongings on her when rescued- her tattered pants and scraps of her blue long-sleeved and the smashed remains of her cellphone. A ping of guilt hits her heart when she remembers the photos Deeks and her had taken of a possible beach location- I never told him that it was my favorite.

“Sweetheart, it’s time to go,” Julia calls out. When Kensi doesn’t react, Julia grips the wheelchair handles before leaning next to Kensi and stating, “Let’s go for a walk.” 

 Ten minutes later, Kensi winces under the bright sun in the hospital’s outdoor sitting area. The bright sun and humid, thick air is a definite shock to the system and leaves her hoping desperately for whatever conversation her mother has planned is quick.  

“I need to get back up there,” Kensi protests. She’s already counted the row of hospital windows twice leading to Deeks’ floor twice. “It’s hot, Mom, and…. I really need to get up there.”

“No, we need to have a mother- daughter talk,” Julia explains. “You have the look in your eye that I don’t particularly enjoy seeing in my daughter.”

“I’m fine- “

“No. You are kicking yourself and doubting everything about whether you’re strong enough to deal with what comes next.”

The junior agent shudders at her mother’s words. She despises everything that comes with doubt- it had nearly eaten her alive after Jack had left and something she had kept at bay in the early years of her relationship with Deeks. Doubt’s slowly crept back into her life with Deeks’ sudden push to leave their jobs and as she stares at her mother, Kensi realizes that doubt has fueled every nightmare and anxious breath she’s taken during the last week. “Mom- “

“Marty had the same look when you were in that coma, sweetheart. He came with it daily, completely unsure of his ability to take care of you. Even after you woke up, that look was still there, although a little different,” Julia continues. She sadly smiles at the tears forming in Kensi’s eyes. “Not only was it a continuous fear of being able to take care of you, but also like he was unsure if he’d be strong enough for you.”

“Damn it- damn it!” Kensi cries out. She slams her hand twice against the left arm of the chair. She points back to the hospital and states, “I tried asking him how he had coped with and he always said he was fine! I should have pushed him on it- “

“No more what ifs or I should have out of you, darling. Trust me, I’ve done that with your father for years and it doesn’t help.” Julia slides forward on the bench and takes her daughter’s hands into hers. You told us the other day that you worked so hard for your job and that you didn’t want to give it up. Why does that scare you? I’m sure Marty knows that you aren’t a housewife.”

“He never asked me to be a housewife, Mom- “

“So, what scares you?”

A whimper leaves Kensi’s lips and she drops her head to hide the tears now streaming down her cheeks. An answer sits clear in a mind, one that she’s never told anyone. “I was going to leave my job after marrying Jack,” Kensi confesses. “Not right away- maybe a year after, you know? I’d figured that I could work in an office and plus, I was relatively new to this field, so it would have been easy. But then Jack left…. this job is a part of who I am and…the last time that I even remotely thought about leaving and letting go of this world, Jack left me. I know it’s stupid- “

“Kensi Marie Blye, do you love this man?”

Kensi’s heart flutters at the question. “More than anything,” she answers.

“Then understand this- Love isn’t perfect and it sure isn’t easy. Neither your father and I nor any other couple that I’ve ever met had all their problems solved before getting married. There are going to be challenges that you two will face and you will work through them as partners. You both come to that understanding and you can do anything.”

Kensi nods and manages a weak, heartbroken smile. Thanks, Mom.

Finally, with a reprieve from her mother and Deeks’ mother, Kensi returns to Deeks’ room to find him still unconscious and thankfully, still breathing.

“I was discharged this morning, baby, and it feels good,” Kensi says. “I mean, I still feel like crap but being able to not be confined for the bed for weeks is amazing. Sam had another procedure late last night for his leg and we won’t know for a few weeks the impact of it. Callen checked out this morning and you can tell that’s he’s blaming himself for this.”

Her fiancée’s hand twitches slightly, the timing almost like a response. It isn’t the first involuntary response he’s given her in the days after being intubated and yet it still causes Kensi’s heart to skip. At least he isn’t wheezing or seizing.

Kensi sits on edge of the bed and continues, “Still haven’t heard from Hetty, but I’m not overly surprised by this. Mosley came and I’m too tired and too angry to think about how I feel about her. Also, my mom gave me good advice about marriage and it sounds much easier than it is. So much easier. And Hidoko-“

Something in the corner of her eye, something she can’t quite explain, suddenly catches Kensi’s attention. Deeks’ hand has twitched again, this time enough to leave an indent in the blanket. An anxious breath leaves Kensi’s lips before she watches her fiancé’s fingers slowly close into a fist.

He’s- no, he’s waking up? Kensi’s mind and heart begins to race as she calls out, “Deeks? Baby?”

Kensi kisses his forehead and forces herself to take calm, even breaths. The last time Deeks had showed signs of waking up is still so clear in her mind, especially the moments where he couldn’t breathe. “If you can hear me, squeeze my hand. I know it’s hard, but you need to push through and come back to me.”

“Mmm....”

Kensi gaps and covers her mouth with one hand, exclaiming happily, “Yeah! That’s it! It’s okay, it’s ok!”

Deeks lets out what sounds like a whimper and scrunches his face in pain and confusion. For a moment, Kensi feels her heart begin to race uncontrollably as she focuses on the heart monitor, praying that it continues.  “Stay with me, baby. Come back to me.”.

Deeks’ eyes flutter open briefly before his eyes close and he settles back into the bed. Kensi drops her head in defeat and shakes her head disappointedly. When she decides to return her gaze back to her fiancé after a few minutes of deafening silence, she expects to see her find him still unconscious. Instead, Kensi finally sees the most beautiful thing she’s seen in a long time.

Marty Deeks- her fiancé, her partner and best friend- finally conscious.

[dungeonsanddragonsfifthedition]

tazchat: so is this why magnus is the divination guy or

MAGNUS: Okay boys, quick recap. I’m a mannequin now. I used to be an alien. I also maybe used to be evil? Who knows!

i’m going fucking wild listening to this previously on

i genuinely remember exactly where i was and what i was doing when i first listened to this episode. it was right after an ap world test and i was in tech and i was just losing my mind from exhaustion and confusion

barry just makes two HUGE animated statues like... those turned you to stone sir

FUCK THAT BOSS MUSIC

play wonderland round 3 at my funeral and i will rise from the dead

lydia can heal... what is her class

Personality Traits: Is a mannequin. Ideals: To be a mannequin. Bonds: Very few, because is mannequin. Flaws: Splinters.

“he’s a strongboy”

it’s almost like you’re a mannequin

MERLE IS UNCONSCIOUS. what the fuck is this fight even.

“you’re gonna break my game.” “i’m not gonna break your game. i’m gonna cast animate obje-“ “NO!” “—cts on the mannequins.”

“MY WOODEN BRETHREN.”

“there has to be a competent woman somewhere!”

Barry Does Physics Tricks

MAGNUS Does Physics Tricks

oh wow i forgot that magnus literally has raven themed armor

“it’s of no use to me if it’s not looking cool on my back.”

“I KNOW WHAT HE DOOOOOES”

“magnus, edward is going to make a strength check to try and rip off one of your fucking arms.”

buppy!!! part two: alien buppy

the sky is this unnatural light purple, and as you stop to think, “well, that’s weird,” you realize that there are two suns in the sky. you think, “oh, that’s weird,” but then you remember, oh, it’s not weird at all, cuz that’s how it is, here in your home.

this is not where you’re from.

i really just yelled “bitch!” at the Magnus Is An Alien Reveal a year and a half after this fucking episode dropped

“dad, we have a three monty python joke limit, and then you’re off the podcast.”

“man this is about to become the taako show starring taako, huh”

crimson wonder

merle is back up! thanks cam!

RING OF THE GRAMMARIAN

divine wood — you pop the most RIGHTEOUS boner

taako goes unconscious and magnus stabs himself in the fucking back

lup over here “you hurt my real brother to the point of trauma, possessed my adopted brother and made him into a mannequin, and you’re just a dick so now i’m going to eat you SO VIOLENTLY.”

like y’all edward’s death is SO FUCKED UP i love lup

and then lydia’s!!! shit the wonderland liches are such dope villains

Wait they just announced in the ads what i think was the high school au episode... the Softest Episode

THE TV SHOW LAUNCHED THE SAME DAY AS THIS good GOD

seeso and the implication of take my wife... rip

“i hope you trust me!”

THREE TWO ONE LET’S GO!!!!

DON’T LAUGH SO HARD, YOU’RE ZEPPO

another magnus-taako healing potion scene aw

“how would you like to live forever?” / “i’d hate it shut the fuck up.” / “oh! ok!”

antonia just knocks down a fucking building thank u queen

Magnus Hits Barry With His Own Fuckin Arm

FullMannequin Alchemist

static, until it isn’t.

you came here to hide something? you made something, and you’re terrified of it. and you rip off your uniform jacket, and you see a man, and a small girl—and they are KIND.

you’re gonna hide your creation with them, because they’re gonna keep this cup safe.

Hell Yeah Goin Rogue Fuck Yeah Goin Off The Grid Been Waitin On This The Whole Time I Take Out My Credit Cards And Shred Em I Move To Portland Fuck Yeah

“well, tomorrow’s gonna be fateful.”

disguising magnus (which barry PROPOSES) would be SO MUCH EASIER than the actual course of options these boys take like. you don’t have to scare the fuck outta your friends dude!

magnus dreams: standing on the deck of a silver ship, with other red robed figures, flying away from a world consumed. the voidfish, eating a book bound with blue leather and silver trim.

“i don’t recognize the book?” / “...no.” / but you know color motifs bitch!!!

IT’S TIME

griff invokes the name minutes before the reveal

[american vandal voice] this is barry. he’s really into string.

a circular patch, twelve multicolored circles, unreadable text. magnus: an acronym, and it says I P R E let’s mcfreakin lose it get outta your mind

“we’re gonna get the truth that we deserve.”

“merle, would you be a bud?”

YOU’RE STRUCK WITH ONE MORE VISION: axe drawn, sky is pitch black, columns of tar. in the distance, that ship, weaving, flying away. relief. a man. same uniform as you. a black spite shoots into his chest, and he turns, and he smiles, and he says, “well, we’ll get em next time.”

a pair of pants. sturdy. denim. and blue.

i’m clint clapping.

GOD it’s TIME i’m READY!!!! hot dog!!!!

[evellyynn7]

All Eyes On Me

*BEEP BEEP BEEP* I woke up to my annoying alarm clock and started getting out of bed. I was sooo tired from last night since Monty had a little surprise for me and left me sore all over but I had to push through it and get ready for the day so I go and do my daily routine but then see that there were 10 messages from Monty and 3 missed calls! I quickly picked up my phone and gave him a call

"Hey babe what happened??" "Why didn't you answer? I called like 50 times!" "Ya ik I'm sorry I was getting ready but I'm here now so talk to me!" "Well I have some bad news that idk how to tell you exactly... I just need your help with something, meet me outside in 10" "Yeah okay babe " "I love you" "I love you too" I hung up and went downstairs to check on my family "Hey, Mom made pancakes and fruit so you have to eat with us before going to school" my 14 year old brother Liam said and walked away with his friend that he invited for breakfast. I ate quickly and headed out the door to find Monty waiting outside for me in his black Jeep, I hopped in and he looked so nervous "Hey what's wrong?" "I did something bad but I can't tell you, I just need your help to hide it and if anyone asks you anything just say you were with me last night" "But I was with you, what happened Monty!!" "Babe I can't tell you right now just trust me... please" "What do want me to do" "Just follow me once we get to school"

I sat quiet in the passenger seat of his car obviously very nervous but I didn't realize how nervous I was till Monty put his hand on my thigh, apparently my thigh was shaking a bit. His strong hands felt good on my weak spot so I let out a small gasp which he smirked at. Maybe it was the thrill that made him feel good when he surprised me or made me feel some type of way, I don't mind though cause everything about him made me weak. The whole car ride to school was a short but sweet kinda ride, it was cloudy and a little cold and the windows were down with chill music playing and his scent was wispy and masculine. I soon forgot about everything that worried me and enjoyed him being with me but that was soon gone when a group of his friends came whistling and hollering at our direction and with that, I felt the anxiety again especially since they were banging on the car and making inappropriate gestures

"De la Cruz! Are you going for round 2??" Bryce said "Aye I mean you can check doing it at school off the list" Zach said laughing "Hey come on guys stop and just leave us alone okay?" "Damn okay bro but don't act like you don't like it" Justin winked at us and the rest of the guys left We got off the car and walked the halls of liberty high, you felt his hand on your waist and his fingers lowering to you ass

He grabbed my ass hard and whispered in my ear of how hot I looked today and to meet him in his car for lunch "Babe i don't know if we should do this here" I said giggling "Baby don't worry I will make it lowkey and you will feel amazing, the boys just got me thinking and I want to mark doing it at school off our list" Just then I saw Mr. Winchester walk beside us and gave me a questionable look "What are you guys talking about so secretively? If it's not appropriate then save it for another time but school isn't the time to be doing that, your here to learn not fulfill 'needs'" my 4th period teacher said almost like he was mad but for the wrong reason or like he was jealous. Monty caught that and wanted Mr Winchester to feel even more uncomfortable and jealous so he said "sure thing sir" then winked and pulled me in for a hot makeout session while grabbing my ass even harder and pulling me close then he started lowering to my neck and I saw him wink at my teacher as he did that and continued back to my neck. I was so shook but just went with it cause the sensation was amazing and left me with a little mark (hickey).

Mr Winchester was beyond pissed and grunted but then caught himself and fixed himself with little coughs or clearing of the throats and walked away angry. "What was that about?" I said pushing Monty off of me. "I don't know what's up with him but don't worry your pretty little head about it, cmon let's go and I'll explain everything that happened last night at lunch okay?" He kissed my forehead and was about to leave but i pulled him back in for a long kiss while tugging on his shirt. He smirked during the kiss but left to class after we broke the kiss. I rushed to open my locker but as I opened it I saw a really handsome police officer walk the halls with his co workers and they were looking around for something in particular but i wasn't sure what and that's when we made eye contact and I could feel that we both new something felt strange but in a good way, it seemed like we were staring at each other for hours but then his co worker so he was staring at me and he gave him a little shake to wake him up and focus but that startled him and made him jump a bit so that made me laugh quietly.

I carried on and got my stuff and headed to my boring math class.When I walked in the room I could feel the vibe was dead so I prepared myself for the first boring class of the day. Classes were like that until 4th period. I went to my history class with Mr. Winchester and took my front row seat where he assigned me and some other people. "I'm glad you all came today cause i have a very special project I'd like you guys to pair up for!" "Please find one partner and meet me up here and pick up an outline then I'll tell everyone what we're doing" "Great I know nobody in this class" I mumbled and rolled my eyes Everyone quickly found partners and some kids asked me to be in their group but they were the weird kids so since I didn't know what the project was about, I didn't trust what I had to do with them. I was soon the only person without a partner so my teacher saw and approached me. "Where's your partner?" "I didn't get one, the class isn't even" "Oh dang I didn't notice... well I guess I can help with that if your okay with getting an A" he said in a witty manner and chuckled a bit. "I'm definitely okay with that, what's the assignment?" "I'll explain right now" he gave me a quick wink and headed to the podium to explain. "Alright everyone, so we will be doing a trust exercise with a twist and an educational purpose!" He said and continued explaining "So with your partners we will be doing a few exercises that resent the Cold War and how the troops had to trust each other in order to win, so your exercises will help you achieve daily tasks learning more about one another yet trusting their decisions, refer to the exercises on your rubric and afterwards write a compare and contrast essay and what you learned and how that relates to events in the Cold War"

The bell rang and everyone left quickly in a buzz about how excited they were, I was still packing up and remembered I had to meet Monty at his car right now but was suddenly stopped. "Hey.. I was wondering if you would wanna get a heads start on the assignment right now?" "Oh sorry I can't right now Mr Winchester, I have to meet my boyfriend" And with that very word he seemed ticked and his body language became harder to read as he sat back down on his chair, he looked tired from the day but damn, it looked like hotttt mess on him! "How about tomorrow at lunch?" I suggested so he would feel better "That's perfectly fine, see you then" he shook my hand as I left but he was holding it for a while and watched as I left.

When I opened the door I noticed a familiar face... it was the police officer I saw earlier! I could tell he was on his break talking with his coworkers and his eyes stuck on me the whole time until I left the building. I saw Monty in his car waiting for me (GIF) he seemed anxious and I already knew what he was gonna talk to me about.. "Hey babe!" I said happily as I kissed him and got into the car. "Hi my love" he said after we broke our kiss and he automatically put his hand on my thigh as he drove out of the school lot "So where are we going?" He looked at me through his sunglasses and gave a small smile "you'll find out babe" We drove in silence for what felt like forever but then suddenly came to a road ledge (clif) and he parked on the grass area it was sunny but the bunches of trees gave us so much shade. He parked the car and got off to sit/lean on the hood of his car, I then followed him and he placed his hand on my hip so I could face him. "So this isn't easy to talk about babe but I'm just stressing about last night and I need you to help me with the stress after we talk about it... is that ok with you?" He said nervously but anxious to kiss me or have me cause his eyes were filled with lust and he seemed eager. "Yes of course babe" I kissed him passionately so he knew I'd do what he wanted after we talked. "Ok so please don't be upset but... after we did it I went to go home - my dad was drunk and angry at my mom so I saw him beat the shit out of her and I couldn't just watch and let him hurt her so I ran to them and knocked my dad out but afterwards he got pissed and told me to pack up my stuff and get out so I did and I'm staying with Bryce right now... I tried to call you but you wouldn't answer so I thought of the second best option" he said this with so much emotion that I could tell he was about to cry. I went in to hug him and he started crying so I lifted his face in my hands and started to kiss him passionately and that led to a hot make out session on the hood of his car.

He grabbed my waist and slid his hand up my shirt to un clip my bra but he was doing it under my shirt, he then got it off with one hand and he started rubbing my boobs softly and he started to give me a hickey on my neck which led me to moan a little in his ear which I could tell turned him on cause he started to grow really hard down there so I decided to take him into the car without breaking the kiss or ruining the mood. We got in and I straddled him on the front seat "Mmm babe I wanna be in you right now" he said panting and antsy. "Be patient love let me make you a little more happy" I said winking at him I grinding myself on his hardness and that made him moan and he grabbed my ass hard and bit my lip slightly, he could feel the heat beneath me and he started moving in his seat ready to tear off my clothes and slide himself in me but he didn't, I took off my shirt to reveal my breast and he immediately started licking and sucking them which made me moan. I took off his shirt and unbuckled his pants revealing his harness thru his boxers, I slid them down and started licking him down and sucked and he ran his hand thru my hair helping me go faster then he finished so he pulled down my underwear and he slowly slid himself in me since I'm wearing a skirt, it's easy access but then he went harder and thrusted with more frustration then the last thrust. Soon after we were out of breath and he thanked me and complimented me on how good I was then we drove back to school since lunch was about to end. Once we got into school I saw the police officer from before and he watched me and Monty get out of the car and he seemed suspicious of us but we shrugged it off and went inside to finish off the day