#Tensley

[myster78]

Tensley syrah cioppino

[wine-porn]

Colson Crimson

Been a while sine I had a Colson Canyon, and loyal readers know what a fan I am of this vineyard. Way out in the boondocks above Bien Nacido (more accurately: way up above Cambria and Byron Nelson) almost to HWY 166. I’ve driven up there at least once looking for it, but never found it. Technically outside SMV, or as I recall a section of it brushes SMV. Many people have made wines from this…

[absoluteloser64]

every man has his needs

I'm legitimately craving smut of this man I even went on fanfiction.net lmao (this is set after silent hill 2 ofc :p)

NOT PROOFREAD

sitting in his car, listening to the rain softly pitter patter against his windshield. his sunken eyes were set on the woman before him.

humming an idle tune from the radio, he watched her, shivering from the rain, on her corner of the street as she waited. for him, he hoped.

he noticed her months back, on a drive home from work, she was there everyday, at the same time. utterly above his level, stunning... yet here she was, waiting for the next paying customer.

he fiddles with the envelope in his pocket, trying to calm his nervous breathing as he wipes the sweat from his brow. and timidly puts his car into drive, trailing up towards her figure under the dim streetlights.

she smiled at him, as he got closer and closer. 'my saviour' her lips would say as she skipped happily to the passenger side door, opening it and sitting down with a squelching noise, ignoring the mass amounts of rubbish on the floor.

she looked at him expectantly, he gulped, unable to meet her gaze. and slowly passed her the package from his pocket. her eyes fluttered at the sight, brushing her hand against his when taking the money, causing a wistful sigh to leave his mouth.

clenching his hand in and out of a fist to be rid of that sweet tingling sensation, she asked what he could want for such a large amount of money..and even he didn't know.

shrugging his shoulders tensley, trying his hardest not to stare at her exposed cleavage. and after a beat of silence she gave him four simple instructions, straight, right, left, left. and in doing so, led them both into a dark, tight alleyway.

turning the cars engine off, and with it all the lights in the vehicle, plunged them into complete and utter darkness. all james could hear was his own heavy breathing, and then suddenly a surprisingly warm hand came to sweetly rest on his cheek.

slowly turning his face in her direction, he could vaguely make out the outline of her soaked body. gently brushing her fingers against his stubble, he melted completely into her touch, closing his eyes.

she chuckled, pressing her thumb against his chapped lips, circling them until james couldn't help but press a light kiss on it. wanting more.

but then she pulled away. causing a slight frown to lace itself on his lips..but then he felt her body weight on his lap. james was breathless, he didnt even hear her move.

with his eyes still closed, he felt her kiss the underside of his jaw, her kisses getting lower and lower, nipping at his neck.

grunting lowly, he tilted his head up so she had more room to bless with those sweet lips of hers.

her soft hands gripping his wrists to guide them to her hips, she fit so nicely in his hands..as she suddenly grinded downwards. causing an outrageously loud moan to leave his lips. feeling her warm cunt through his jeans, as his eyes snapped open. causing them both to go still.

she whispers in his ear if he's okay, worry incredibly evident in her voice. but all he could focus on was the sticky release dripping in his boxers. swallowing the saliva in his mouth, looking down at the floor, he shook his head no.

after a long moment of silence, with him staring in shame at anything but her. she unexpectedly, begins to pet him..stroking his hair, brushing it out of his face, admiring him? he thinks?

no that would be stupid. he's paying for a service..this is apart of that service.

but he just can't help himself, its been so long..too long. circling his arms together that were still sat on her waist, he brought her in close. face pushed up against her chest, inhaling the addictive scent on her skin.

as she proceeded to coo at him, calling him beautiful as she pressed kisses into his head, causing him to groan at the affection.

he could feel himself getting hard once more, as she began to carefully move her hips against him, pulling his hands off from around her body and squeezing them against her supple tits. inviting him for more.

his eyes open in shock, staring at the vague outline of his hands against her pretty tits, but when he begins to pull away from the overwhelming feeling of it all..she follows him. trapping his palms against her chest and his own.

'you can do anything you want to me..'

'..anything'

and that wrecked him.

he audibly whimpered, tighting his grip on her chest. tearing her unbuttoned blouse off with a snap, a gasp of shock leaving her lips.

pulling her in close, mouthing needily at her gorgeous boobs. his rough hand slips in between her quivering thighs, cupping her hot, drenched panties. a shiver of anticipation running through him.

his thumb, skillfully rubbing her clit through that lacy cover. and every single blissful moan that leaves her sugared lips sends a lightning bolt of pleasure tearing through him.

his touch becoming even more desperate. roughly shoving her underwear to the side, he slips one finger in, both of them moaning at the contact.

feral eyes focusing on the vague outline of her mouth, in a 'O' shape, her ecstasy giving him the confidence to shove two more fingers inside, feeling how eagerly her pussy eats them.

so hot and dewy, soft...ferociously finger fucking her whilst rubbing her clitoris. wanting to reach every single deep crevice inside of her. 'take it, take it, take it' he chants under his breath, obsessed with her warmth.

her nails dig deep into the back of his neck, leaving deep indents in their wake as she screams in delight. he can feel how close she is, her walls wrapping so tight around him. 'I need to feel you cum' he whispers greedily.

and with one final thrust, she obeys, back arching, coming undone on him while wailing in delight. his breath trembles as he feels her hot release trickle down his long fingers.

looking down at his soaked hand, in disbelief that he made her cum..she grasps it, like many times before, and pulls his fingers out of her, herself, shuddering while doing so.

looking up at her shadowy figure, as she slowly brings his own cum covered hand up towards him, pressing her musky release into his mouth. he moaned as that sweet necter engulfed his tongue, tasting as addictive as liquor once did...

idk idk idk idk 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Im not gonna lie I was tempted to set this a year before silent hill 2 and have Mary in the backseat but I thought that might've been too wild lmao

[whumpsoda]

I love villian whumper brainwashing whumpee and forcing them to fight friends!

ME! TOO! It has to be one of my favorite tropes! This reminded me finally write it :D (I’ll probably end up doing a second part if I have the motivation)

Taglist- @softvampirewhump

cw: blood, violence, mind control

———————————————————————

Hero followed the splurts of blood trickle from Villain’s palm, each drop pooling together in a mess of gore on the piece of rubble he stood over. Sidekick wriggled under the grip of his other hand, lifted by unrelenting fingers seizing her curls. 

“He- helplp, help, pl- please!” She wailed to him, blood oozing from her mouth.

Admittedly, Hero was fairly skeptical when he received the call that Villain was on a rampage through the city. Supervillain, sure, but Villain? There was simply no way.

The sly, harmless entertainment seeker who made a point to never put innocents in harms way? Who teamed up with the Heroes whenever his heart so desired? His schemes were annoying at best, and he was practically more friend than foe! Hero must have simply heard wrong.

Now, he felt like a fool.

Hero met Sidekick’s desperate gaze as he neared, one of her eyes purple and puffy, the other salty with tears. Smears of rich red covered her face, and her hooked nose was now sitting crooked and smashed. A bump of bone jutted out around the cap of her knee.

Each forward step Hero took was planned but unsteady, his boots gripping to shards of glass and freshly cracked rubble. His breaths were shaky and worn from rushing to get civilians to safety, and cut with every following movement. 

Villain stayed standing rigid, watching the city as it actively burned. Like he was waiting. 

“Ah-!” A swift gasp escaped Hero’s quivering lips as one unfortunate rock slipped, his leg buckling and jumping to another slab of concrete. He caught Villain twitch at the noise from the corner of his eye.

Villain swayed dramatically for a moment, before stiffly spinning back to face his foe. His spine stayed firm and straight as he swiveled, his movements brittle and wooden.

Hero swallowed, his throat bobbing. He was well acquainted with Villain’s body language, the way he liked to gracefully dance about, feeding into his theatrical villain persona. All of his charm and charisma was now practically drained from his motions, creating an unsettling sight.

As Villain jerked around, Sidekick dragged across the rough terrain. Her outfit snagged on the rock and tore, allowing little cuts to form across her skin. She whimpered with each pull of her body over jagged debris.

Hero shot his arms to the sky, as a signal of safety and innocence. “H- hey, Villain.” He stammered. The other man simply stared with hollow, foggy eyes, keeping a tight grip on the woman writhing in pain. “It’s me man, Hero. I’m not here to hurt you.” In response Villain’s head dipped to the side, mimicking the behavior of a curious dog.

The hero studied him tensley, careful not to make a single sudden movement. His vision trailed along Villain’s blood stained suit- it strangely wasn’t his usual outfit- up to his sweat tainted, ragged hair. What caught Hero’s attention the most though, would have to have been the blocky, silver shining collar that sat around Villain’s neck.

After a beat, Villain’s lips began to part, shaky and uncertain. Sidekick continued to pull herself from his grasp, and Hero could tell as it weakened. 

“H-he…” Villain spoke, voice cracking between each letter he struggled to say. “He- H- He…ro?” The sound was gurgled and rocky, unlike the butter smooth voice Hero was used too. Villain’s blank, empty expression softened, just a smidge.

“Y- yeah, man. It’s just me, ‘kay?” Hero nodded eagerly. “So why don’t you let go of Sidekick there, and we can figure the rest of this out?” He smiled, as soft and unthreatening as possible. 

Villain took a moment, his brows furrowing, as if thinking over the suggestion. Before he could speak again, a neon green light surged on the front of the collar. 

His upper half lurched forward, while his legs stayed straight and stuck in position. He roared a piercing, grating shriek, his face contorting in pain, as he carelessly let go of Sidekick, dropping her tattered body to the floor. The villain desperately grabbed at his hair with both hands, yanking on it as he let out strangled whines.

After a moment of shock washed over him, Hero took his chance, using all of his strength to start toward Sidekick. As Villain whimpered and pulled at his bloodied locks, Hero swiftly lifted his companion, holding her tightly in both arms. 

He made a quick exit down the mountain of debris, before setting Sidekick to her feet. She wobbled for a second, before he directed her to a still intact alleyway. “I’ll be back to help you out in just a minute. Let me just take care of Villain, first.” He reassured.

He watched Sidekick limp away for a moment, each of her breaths hitching with the sting of her leg. Before he could redirect his attention to the matter at hand, his knees gave out, and he was forced to the ground. 

Villain quickly made his way on top of the other man, instead now clutching at Hero’s hair. “He- Hero! Hero’s, Hero’s bad!” He screamed into Hero’s face, spittle landing on his supple cheeks. With every furious tug, he screeched another word. “Bad! Bad! Bad! Bad, bad, bad!” 

“Villain! Villain, s- stop! Villain!” Hero shoved and jabbed at Villain frantically, not wanting to hurt him, and yet he couldn't get the other man to let go. Villain howled hysterically like a crazed animal, foamy saliva collecting at the edges of his mouth. 

“Bad! Bad! Bad!” He repeated, and with each repetition the green glowed brighter around his neck. Every wrench of his arms Hero’s scalp burned harder, and distressed tears mixed with beads of sweat on his face. He hit and kicked wildly, his back arching in a mountain of pain. 

“Villain, Villain!” Villain’s expression contorted savagely, an intense rage Hero had never before witnessed. With another slap to the face he released Hero’s hair, opting instead to grip at the man’s thick neck.

He twisted Hero’s flesh with an iron grip, still babbling the same word until he’d lost all coherency. Gasping for air, Hero clawed at his determined fingers, scraping and scratching to no avail. “S- sto- stop!”

Villain picked him up by the throat, then bashed him into the rock below. Once, twice, then a third, Hero couldn’t tell if the back of his head had already been pounded to mush. For all he knew Sidekick’s shouting could’ve just been a trick of the imagination.

His brain spun madly, and his vision was so fuzzy he could only clearly make out the vibrant ray of green that reflected across his face.

Just as his body went limp, losing consciousness and oxygen, Villain’s hold finally released. Hero’s head hit the rubble with yet another thud, his ears ringing with intensity. With the last of his strength he loudly gasped for air, coughing and hacking wildly.

At the click of a button Villain’s muscles had fallen weak as well, his arms resting at his sides and his head lolling back. His lips clamped shut, completely silent, and any and all emotion drained from his expression.

Hero’s chest heaved with every twitchy breath as he faded to the back of his mind, his lids descending to a close. A distant purr of nearing, delighted laughter buzzed through one ear and out the other, and he could do nothing but watch as Supervillain’s perfectly polished, blood stained boot entered his muddled vision.

[browniefox]

“’ll do what I can, but I’ve made it clear there’s no guarantee. I’ll be doing more research into his problem tonight, and hopefully in the next day or so Fiddleford and I will have a plan of action” Ford explains tensley.

“Great. The second that you realize you can’t help him, you be honest with him, and we’ll be out of your hair,” Stan tells him and Ford can’t help but to blink in surprise. There’s a strange seriousness in Stan’s voice, the kind Ford can only recall hearing form his brother on rare occasions, and never this tense. That was always Stan’s problem his inability to be serious, to take things seriously, to grow up. It should make sense that ten years can force anyone to start to act their age, but the change is still surprising.

“Well, if his time machine is indeed broken beyond repair, it may be worth keeping him around-” Ford begins. That seems to only anger Stan.

“He’s not a science experiment, Ford, he’s a kid!”

“And it’s a good things he’s not, because you probably would’ve killed him by now if he was!”

[art-by-jas]

"Where's the showmanship? The pizazz?" AO3

Word Count: 8.4k

Summary: Current case is Tensley Evans, Going out for a drink with Barba and getting advice, going on a walk in the park with you, another case, meeting your co-workers, and grilled cheese with the promise of dinner at yours.

Sonny and Amanda stroll through the serene courtyard, the warm sun casting a tranquil glow over their surroundings. The picturesque, peaceful setting stood in stark contrast to the gravity of their case. Pausing briefly to admire the view, Sonny remarked, "Nice place," before refocusing his attention on the task at hand.

Amanda nods, her voice laced with weariness. "Let's just get this done and get out of here," she said. Sonny chuckles as they approach Dr. Durant and ask about Tensley Evans.

Sonny's dislike for Dr. Durant is evident in the subtle tightening of his jaw. The way Dr. Durant speaks about Tensley, shifting the blame onto her, didn't sit right with Sonny. As the conversation continued, Sonny's irritation grew - the doctor is full of himself and clearly trying to cover something up. Still, for now, Sonny lets Amanda take the lead in questioning.

Nick picks up Sonny on the way to the Millers' residence. The drive over is silent as Sonny's mind replays his conversation with Dr. Durant and the new lead on Tensley. He was about to break the silence when Amaro spoke first.

"Looks like we've got another lead to follow up on." He tells Sonny about the tip they received regarding a different incident involving Tensley Evans and a teenager at the center.

Sonny rubs his weary eyes, sighing. "Seems like this case keeps getting more complicated." He turns his gaze to Amaro, his expression a mixture of exhaustion and curiosity. 

"Rollins said, you seemed pretty annoyed back there with that director guy," Amaro comments, a smirk playing on his lips.

Sonny laughs, knowing he was caught. "Yeah, he's a real piece of work. The way he talks, you'd think he's holier than thou. The more he talked, the less I liked him."

Amaro chuckles, his tone half-amused, half-sympathetic. "Yeah, I get it. I've seen my fair share of guys like that. They've got their heads so far up their own asses they don't even realize how pompous they sound."

After arriving, it's not long before they start questioning Gregory and his dad. Sonny and Amaro sit across from Gregory and his dad, Tom Miller. Sonny's attention is focused and alert, his earlier exhaustion momentarily set aside. He starts the questioning with a professional composure.

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

Amaro, Carisi and Rollins go to Adam Brubeck's pool party to talk to him. Adam says that he never abused Tensley and calls her a "waste case." As the SVU squad looks Adam's other teen stars, they discover they either ended up in porn, in rehab or using drugs. They also learn that a 15-year-old girl named Amber Forbes drowned at one of Adam's parties, but her death was ruled accidental despite the fact that she had alcohol & ecstasy in her system.

After having a regroup meeting, Sonny was free to call it a day and head home.

Back in his apartment, Sonny is sprawled out on the couch, a tired sigh escaping him. The exhaustion of the day is catching up to him, and every bone in his body seems to ache. Despite his fatigue, his mind continues to churn with thoughts of the case, replaying the day's events over and over in his head.

He grabs the remote and turns on the TV, hoping that something mindless on TV will help him wind down. But even as he scrolls through the channels, he finds it hard to focus. His eyelids feel heavy, and his thoughts start to blend together into a tired haze.

After his brief nap, Sonny slowly stirs awake. The first thing he notices is that it's still light outside, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow through the windows. He pushes himself up from the couch, stretching his stiff muscles and rubbing his tired eyes. As Sonny glances at his phone, he sees a message from Barba inviting him to Forlini's for a drink. A smile pulls at the corner of his mouth, maybe he’s making friends after all. He really could use a stiff drink after the day he's had. He quickly types a reply, accepting the invitation and letting Barba know he'll meet him there. Standing up, he makes his way to the bedroom to freshen up and change into something more comfortable.

The familiar sound of the city greets him as he steps outside, the warm summer air greeting him like an old friend. Sonny takes a deep breath, the familiar scent of exhaust and summer street food filling his nostrils. He starts walking, his footsteps echoing against the sidewalk, the anticipation of a cold beer and good conversation with Barba pushing him forward. After a short walk, Sonny arrives at Forlini's, the dim glow of the bar creating a cozy atmosphere. He pushes open the door and steps inside, scanning the room for Barba.

As his eyes adjust to the dim interior, he spots Barba on a stool  at the bar, waving him over with a friendly smile. 

"Hey Barba," Sonny greets, slinging his lean frame onto the stool next to him. He already feels more relaxed just being here, the warmth of the bar and the familiarity of the place wrapping around him like a comforting blanket.

"Well, look at you," Barba teases, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "How's the SVU been treating you?"

Sonny rolls his eyes playfully, "Better than my last home,"

"I bet," Barba chuckles, the sound of his laughter a familiar and welcome one. 

While they sit at the bar, drinks in hand, Barba suddenly glances over at Sonny, an inquisitive look in his eyes.

"So how are those night classes at Fordham going? You keeping up with your studies amidst all the chaos of the SVU?"

Sonny takes a sip of his beer, the cool liquid refreshing against his throat. "It's a struggle, but I'm managing," he admits, a tired smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. "There's just never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything done."

Barba chuckles in understanding. "I remember those days. I barely slept during law school. But trust me, it'll all be worth it."

"Thanks, Barba," Sonny says, his tired eyes lighting up a bit at the compliment. "I hope so. I just really want to make a difference, you know?"

"I know," Barba nods. "But take it from me, you can't pour from an empty cup. Make sure you're taking care of yourself too. Don't burn yourself out, Carisi."

Sonny sighs deeply, the weariness in his shoulders evident. "Yeah, I know. Sometimes it's hard to remind myself of that, though. There's always so much that needs to be done, it feels like I can never catch a break."

"You gotta make time for yourself, Carisi," Barba says, his voice serious. "You need time to relax, unwind. All work and no play makes Carisi a boring boy."

A snort escapes Sonny as he laughs at Barba's comment. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. I promise, I'll try to squeeze in some R&R whenever I can." Despite the fatigue, a small smile tugs at the corner of his lips.

Barba grins, raising his glass in a mock toast. "That's the spirit. Take it from me, a little bit of self-care goes a long way."

Sonny lifts his glass, clinking it against Barba's in response. "I'll drink to that." He takes a long swig, the cold beer sending a shiver of relief through his exhausted body. They fall into a comfortable silence, both men sipping on their drinks, lost in their thoughts. The hustle and bustle of the bar blends into a soothing background noise, providing the perfect backdrop for the momentary escape from their respective stresses.

After a few quiet moments, Sonny breaks the silence, his voice thoughtful. "Hey, can I ask you something, Barba?"

Barba glances over, raising a curious eyebrow. "Of course, what's on your mind?"

Sonny takes a deep breath, a hint of uncertainty in his blue eyes. "How did you juggle it all when you were a prosecutor? The SVU cases, your love life, law school...how did you manage all of it without losing your mind?"

Barba leans back in his stool, contemplating Sonny's question. "It wasn't easy, I'll tell you that much," he admits. "There were times when I felt like I was drowning, like there was no way to keep up with it all. But ultimately, I just had to prioritize. Some days, it meant sacrificing sleep to finish a case. Other days, it meant pushing aside my personal life in order to keep up with schoolwork."

Barba pauses, swirling his drink thoughtfully. "But you know what helped me? Taking those occasional breaths, those moments to step back and re-center. A quick drink with a friend, a good meal, a night in bed with someone..." He laughs softly at himself, the memory evident in his eyes.

"Sounds like I could use some of those tonight," Sonny mutters, taking another swig of his beer. "I just feel like I'm running on empty, you know? I want to be there for my friends, my family, the people I care about, but I'm always so damn tired..."

Barba gives him a sympathetic nod. "I get it, Carisi, I do. But burnout won't help anyone, least of all yourself. You need to learn to balance, to find those moments that make it all worth it. Otherwise, you'll end up like me - grumpy and exhausted all the time." He grins wryly, giving Sonny a playful nudge. Sonny snorts out a laugh despite his tiredness. The corners of his mouth quirk into a tired smile.

"I guess you're right," Sonny admits, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. "I just need to learn to take a break sometimes without feeling guilty about it."\

"Exactly," Barba agrees. "And maybe, just maybe, you could even consider using that time to meet someone." He smirks as he teases Sonny, raising an eyebrow.

Sonny groans, rolling his eyes. "You're relentless, you know that?"

"You love me for it," Barba teases, his smirk widening. He takes a sip of his drink, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Debatable," Sonny mutters, but there's no heat behind his words. He cracks a small smile, the light banter with Barba managing to lift his spirits slightly.

"You know I'm right," Barba laughs, lightly patting Sonny on the back. "You could use a little romance in your life, Carisi. Maybe it's time to ditch the textbooks and pick up a date."

Sonny groans again, leaning his head back in exaggerated exhaustion. But there's a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Are you volunteering for the job, Barba? Because I didn't know you swung that way."

Barba laughs heartily at Sonny's joke. "Cute," he says, clearly amused. The banter continues for a few moments, the easy conversation and friendly teasing providing a nice distraction from the day's stress. As Barba orders another round, Sonny relaxes further, the weight of the day seeming to lift from his shoulders, even if just temporarily.

As they continue their conversation, Sonny suddenly remembers something. He turns to Barba, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Speaking of finding someone, there is a girl… She lives across the hall from me, we met doing laundry together one night and I found her again at a coffee shop she owns.”

Barba raises an intrigued eyebrow. "Oh, really? And why have you not asked her out yet?"

Sonny shrugs, taking a long pull of his beer. "I don't know, I've been so busy with work and law school… I guess it just slipped my mind," he admits, sounding slightly sheepish.

Barba laughs, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're a grown man, Carisi. You're a detective, and you're scared of asking someone out?"

Sonny sighs, running a hand through his hair again. "Yeah, I know. It's stupid. I just don't want to come on too strong, you know? Plus, I've been so busy with work and classes... I don't know if I have the time for a relationship right now."

"Excuses," Barba says with a dismissive wave of his hand. "You need to stop over-thinking it, Carisi. Just go for it. Ask her out, and see where it goes. You never know, it could be great. You're not getting any younger, you know."

"Thanks for the reminder, Barba," Sonny mutters, his tone sarcastic but lacking bite. He leans back in his stool, mulling over Barba's words. "You really think I should do it?"

"Absolutely," Barba says with conviction. "What do you have to lose? Worst case scenario, she says no, and you move on. But you'll never know unless you ask. Now tell me about her, what's she like?" Barba asks.

Sonny's eyes light up a bit as he thinks about you. "She's..." he pauses, searching for the right words. "She's witty, and sweet. She runs a coffee shop, and she makes the best coffee I've ever had. She's just...genuine. And she's got this smile that lights up her whole face, and these eyes that make you feel like the only person in the world..." He trails off, realizing he's gushing a bit.

Barba grins, clearly amused by Sonny's smitten expression. "You're crushing hard, Carisi. It's adorable."

Sonny rolls his eyes, a slight blush creeping up his neck. "Shut up," he mutters, but he can't hide the smile that tugs at the corner of his mouth.

"Don't be embarrassed," Barba says, still grinning. "It's nice to see you happy about something that isn't work-related."

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Sonny replies, taking a swig of his beer.

As the night goes on, the conversation becomes more loose, the alcohol helping to relax both men. Sonny has finished most of his beer, and he leans back in his stool, a lazy smile on his face. With the evening drawing to a close, Sonny and Barba decide to call it a night. As they stand outside the bar, sharing a last laugh, Sonny takes out his phone to call an Uber.

"I'll see you some other time, Barba," Sonny says, clapping his friend on the shoulder. "Thanks for the advice and the drinks."

Barba grins, looking like he’s about to make another jab at Sonny’s love life but thinking better of it. "Anytime, just remember what I said, alright?" 

Sonny laughs, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah, I got it." With that, he turns to catch his Uber, waving goodbye to Barba before climbing into the car. As the car pulls away, Sonny leans back in his seat, a contented smile on his lips. The buzz of the alcohol and the conversation with Barba have left him feeling lighter than he has in weeks. The ride passes quickly and soon, Sonny’s Uber pulls up in front of his building. As he steps out of the car, he glances up at the building, his eyes involuntarily moving to the window of your apartment. He won’t ask you about it now that he’s been drinking, but he’ll keep it in his mind to ask you later.

✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦

Sonny allows himself to sleep in on his day off, his head killing him for drinking a little too much yesterday. He rolls over in bed and slowly wakes as the sun peaks through the blinds. Yawning, he stretches his arms overhead before getting out of bed and heading to the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee. As the weekend vibes gradually set in, he realizes he hasn't been able to connect with you much in the past week, communicating mostly through text messages.

Seated at his kitchen table, he sips his coffee after taking an asprin and checks his phone. Once finished, he sets out to run errands - stocking up on groceries and picking up dry cleaning. Though the mundane tasks help occupy his mind, his thoughts constantly drift to you, wondering what you might be doing.

S: Hey, I've got the day off, Any chance you'd like to go for a walk in the park with me? Completely no pressure if you can't. He sets his phone aside as he settles onto the couch. He clicks on the television, idly flipping through channels while anticipating your response.

Y: Hell yeah, I'm down for a park walk. I'm free right now, actually, just got off my shift.

As soon as Sonny saw your response, his smile appeared.

S: Great, let's meet at the entrance to the City Hall park in 20 minutes.

Y: Alright see you soon. :)

Sonny arrived at the park gate 10 minutes early and found a spot to wait. Leaning against the fence, he takes in the sights and sounds of the park, the fallen orange and red leaves swept into piles, and the laughter and conversations of passersby. He can’t help but feel a twinge of nervousness as he waits for you to arrive. Suddenly, he hears footsteps approaching and sees a figure coming toward him. His heart skipped a beat as you came into view. You were wearing casual clothing, you looked nice.

With a gentle smile, he greets you, "Glad you could make it." He approaches the park entrance, offers his arm, and asks, "Shall we?"

With a warm smile, you accept his proffered arm and express your gratitude, saying, "Thank you for the invitation."

As the morning approached noon, you and Sonny continued down the path into the park, heading towards the large central fountain. The buildings encircling the park rose impressively around it. While there were people present, the crowds were moderate and not overwhelming. 

"So, uh..." he starts, clearing his throat. "How long have you worked at the coffee shop?"

"I've been running the coffee shop for about three years," you explain, a small smile playing on your lips. "The previous owner, an old friend of mine, passed it down to me. We go way back - we went to school together and have known each other forever. She wanted to travel more, so she asked if I'd be willing to take over the shop."

You glance up at Sonny. "Then, while in the UK, she met someone and decided to stay. I don’t mind at all - I really enjoy working there. It may not be the most glamorous job, but I like it." Sonny listens intently as you speak, his eyes never leaving your face. He can hear the passion in your voice as you describe the coffee shop, it’s clear you love what you do.

"That’s nice of your friend to let you have the place, I’m glad you enjoy it. Plus, being surrounded by coffee all day sounds pretty great to me," he jokes. "And, you get to meet lots of interesting customers, right?"

"Oh, yeah. Interesting is definitely one word for them," you reply with a laugh. "There's a whole range—from the regular early morning rush crowd who are practically zombies until they've had their caffeine fix, to the lunch bunch who come in for a quick pick-me-up. And then there's the college kids who practically live there."

"And which group am I part of?" he asks.

You eye him up and down, a mischievous smile grows on your face. "Hmmm... well," you drawl out, "you're a bit of a hybrid, I reckon. You frequent the morning rush hours and you've got that distinct 'I work too much' look in your eyes.”

He can’t help but smile at your observant assessment. "You've got me all sorted, huh?" he asks, feigning indignation. "So I'm a caffeine-needing workaholic? Is that what you're saying?"

"Pretty much." You laugh before adding, "But don't worry, you're a nice workaholic. You always remember your 'please's and 'thank you's, and you always look genuinely happy to see me. That earns you serious brownie points."

Sonny's heart skips a beat at your words. "Good to know I'm not just another grumpy customer," he teases. "And...for the record, I genuinely am happy to see you. Not just for the coffee." The words are out of his mouth before he can stop them. He hopes you don't read too much into them. He steals a glance at you and catches you smiling. It's small, but it's there, a barely-there upturn of the corner of your mouth that sends a thrill down his spine.

"What about you?" you ask, breaking him out of his thoughts. "What do you do? I mean, besides drink a lot of coffee." you tease.

He chortles at your light tease, "well, besides being a caffeine-needing workaholic, I'm also a detective for Special Victims," he replies with a small chuckle. "So yeah, I'd say I have decent reason to need a lot of coffee on a regular basis."

"Special Victims Unit?" you repeat, an eyebrow lifting in question. "Wow, that sounds pretty serious. So you deal with some pretty tough stuff, huh?"

He sighs, the weight of his job suddenly feeling heavy again. "Yeah, you could say that. I work with a team that deals with the worst kinds of cases you could imagine..." He trails off, not wanting to reveal too much, not wanting to scare you off with the dark realities of his work. "It's not all doom and gloom, though. I've seen some pretty horrific stuff... but I've also seen justice served, seen people helped, seen bad guys taken down. Makes the late nights and endless paperwork worth it.”

Your gaze softens at his words, a hint of respect in your expression. "Sounds like you really care about what you do," you remark, your voice softer than before. 

He rubs the back of his neck, a small hint of vulnerability in his actions. "Yeah, I do," he admits. "Sometimes I think I care too much. But I guess that's how it is with this job. It gets under your skin, you know?" You nod, understandingly.

As the two of you continue your walk, Sonny spots a food cart up ahead. The smell of pretzels wafts through the air, making his stomach rumble in response. Before he even knows what he's doing, he turns to you. "Hey, you hungry?"

“Oooh yes, that sounds delicious.” You grin.

He smiles, "good because I'm starving," he says, approaching the cart. He buys two pretzels, handing one to you before taking a large bite of his own. "Mmmm," he moans around a mouthful of pretzel, "nothing beats a good street pretzel." he chews, looking very much like a kid in a candy store.

He glances at you, seeing you take a bite out of your pretzel. He watches as you savor the taste, a satisfied smile on your lips. He takes another bite of his pretzel, watching as a small smear of salt sticks to your lip. He wants to reach out, to brush it off with his thumb, but he stops himself, holding back the urge. 

Instead, he opts for trying to make lighthearted conversation. "So, tell me something else about yourself. Something you're passionate about," he asks, taking another bite. He watches as you consider his question, the way your brow furrows slightly as you think. He can tell you're thinking deeply about his question and that small detail about you makes his heart flutter a little faster.

You bite your lip, "Hmm..." you hum in thought. "I'd have to say I'm pretty passionate about music. I love going to concerts, especially smaller local bands. It's something about live music that just... gets to me,"

He nods, a small smile on his lips. "Yeah, I know exactly what you mean," he agrees. "There's something about live music that's... magical. The energy in the room, the way the crowd gets caught up in the music... it's pretty special.“

"Exactly," you say, a twinkle in your eye. "And if it's a really good show, it feels like the whole world stops for a moment, and it's just you and the music. There's nothing else like it." He loves seeing you talk about something you're sincere about, the way your eyes light up, the way your voice gets a touch more animated.

"What about you?" you ask, turning the question back towards him. "What are you passionate about, besides caffeine, of course." you tease.

He laughs, a genuine sound that comes from deep within his chest. "You got me there," he concedes. "But I'm passionate about a lot of things. My family, my work, my friends... music, movies, good food... life, I guess." He scratches his jaw, a thoughtful look on his face. "I like experiencing new things, exploring new places, trying new foods..." He looks over at you, a flicker of something undefinable in his gaze. "New people."

He risks a glance at you, anticipating a perplexed or even alarmed look on your face, but instead, he's met with a small smirk playing on your lips. "New people, huh?" you say, your voice laced with amusement.

He swallows, suddenly feeling a little flustered. But there's something about the way you're looking at him that encourages him to continue. "Yeah, new people," he repeats, his voice a little huskier than before.

"And why is that?" you ask, your tone playful but your eyes holding a hint of something more.

He shrugs, feigning nonchalance. "I don't know," he says, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I guess there's just something... exciting about meeting someone new. The mystery, the unexpected." He meets your gaze, his eyes holding a hint of intrigue. He takes a step closer to you, the small distance between you suddenly feeling electric. "New people... they have stories to tell, experiences to share," he says, his voice dropping to a whisper. "They have quirks, habits, secrets... things that make them unique." He's acutely aware of how close he is to you now, the proximity making his heart race. He can feel the heat emanating from your body, the smell of you filling his senses. He swallows, trying to find his voice again. "I guess I like the challenge of getting to know someone new," he confesses, his eyes never leaving yours.

"The challenge, huh?" You repeat, a small smile still on your lips. "And do you think I'm a challenge, detective?"

He chuckles, the sound low and slightly breathless. "Maybe a bit," he admits. "But I like a good challenge," he adds.

"Well, I hope I'm worth the effort, then," you say, a hint of daring in your voice.

He steps even closer to you, the space between you almost negligible now. He looks down at you, his gaze intense. "You're definitely worth the effort," he murmurs, his voice quiet but filled with conviction.

Sonny jolts slightly at the sound of his phone, the sudden noise jarring him back to reality. He fumbles in his pocket, pulls out his phone, and glances at the screen. The smile that had been on his face moments before quickly falls, replaced by a look of concern.

He looks up at you, an apologetic look in his eyes. "I'm sorry," he says, the remorse evident in his voice. "It's work. I have to take this."

Rollins called to inform him that two young girls had gone missing and another had been found stabbed. She apologized for contacting him on his day off but requested his assistance, which would be greatly appreciated. Sonny listens to Amanda’s report, his heart sinking in his chest at the news. "On my way," he replies, his voice all business. He hangs up the phone, turning back to you with a look of regret.

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I need to go," he says, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "Sorry to cut things short, but I have to head into the station for a case."

"It's alright," you say, understanding in your eyes. "Work comes first, I get it. Go, do your thing, hero." A small, teasing smile dances on your lips at the teasing.

He can't help but chuckle at your playful comment. "Hero, huh?" he repeats, "I don't know about that. I'm just doing my job."

"Hey, don't sell yourself short," you chastise, your tone light. "Anyone who helps catch scumbags gets to be called a hero, in my book."

He smiles at your words, your faith in him making his chest puff out a little. "Well, I'll do my best to live up to the title, then," he replies, a hint of cockiness in his tone.

"I'm sure you will." You step closer to him, your hand coming to rest on his forearm. "Just be careful, okay?" Your touch is gentle but firm, your concern for him clear.

The feel of your hand on his arm warms him from the inside out. He covers your hand with his own, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Don't worry, I will," he assures you, his voice gruff but sincere.

"Text me when you finish, okay?" you request, your eyes locking with his. "So I know you're safe."

He nods, touched by your concern. "I will," he promises, the truth of his words reflected in his gaze. "I'll text you as soon as I can. Have a good day, okay?” He calls as he walks away from you.

જ⁀➴જ⁀➴જ⁀➴

When Sonny arrives at the crime scene in Inwood Hill Park, he finds Detective Rollins already canvassing the area. As Sonny approaches, he begins to pick up on the details Rollins is relaying.

"A birdwatcher found her? How young is the girl?" Amanda asks. The officer informed them that the victim was around 10, had no ID on her, and had suffered head trauma, and multiple stab wounds, and her clothes were torn.

Sonny's first thought was to check for any Amber alerts matching the girl's description, but the cop immediately confirmed there were none. 

Undeterred, Sonny planned to continue interviewing witnesses in case they had seen something that could help.

 Meanwhile, Amanda informs Sonny that she’ll ride in the ambulance to the hospital, so she’s there when the child regains consciousness. As he walks over to a witness he asks the cop if there are any homeless. The officer confirmed that there were a few known around the area. Sonny directs the officer to round them up and bring them in for questioning, hoping one of them might have seen something useful. He closes in on a middle-aged lady with red hair and a set of binoculars around her neck.

"Hi, Can you--can you tell me what you saw, ma'am?"

Trembling, the woman describes the man's hulking, vulture-like frame as he loomed over the girl's body. Gripping her binoculars, she managed to capture photos of the man.  Sonny gets the phones and distributes the pictures to the other detectives and local precincts, hoping someone might recognize the man. He tries not to bring in the Sergent from what he learned, today is her one day off out of the week as well, even though he’s working his, he needed the overtime so he couldn’t really complain, he just felt bad for leaving you.

Amaro texted the results from the doctor's examination: the victim had suffered head trauma and a stab wound just millimeters from the femoral artery, but there were no visible signs of sexual assault. They were currently awaiting the victim's consent to conduct a rape kit.

Sonny sighed, rubbing his eyes in frustration as he slid behind the wheel of his car. 

⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆

Perry Gilbert was the young girl who was found stabbed.

The identification of the two missing girls was also discovered

 Mia Harris  Perry Gilbert

   5’3                                        5’0’’

   12                                         13

Red Hair Dark Hair

Blue Eyes                                 Blue Eyes

Amanda informed Sonny after she regrouped with him, that Benson came in and joined her and Amaro at the hospital as they interviewed Zoe. Amanda told him that it was Perry and Mia's idea to head to the park since it was Halloween and they wanted to catch something scary on the cameras. But their excitement soon turned to fear when they spotted an ominous figure, That's when they were screaming for Zoe to run. According to Zoe, the mysterious "Glasgowman"  overpowered her and knocked her to the ground.

Sonny listens intently, a frown on his face as he absorbs the details. "Glasgowman?" he questions, raising an eyebrow. "who the hell is Glasgowman?" Amanda shrugged, equally as perplexed.

The cadets, auxiliary, scouts, and any officer who showed up, gathered for the debriefing and expanded the search, bringing in scent dogs. the blurry photos captured by the birdwatcher binoculars and police sketch were passed around the search team. After concluding with the meeting everyone fanned out and started from the north side of the woods.

Ultimately, it was Sonny who spotted something, prompting Amanda to rush over and pick it up - Zoe's child-sized backpack. The cadets notified the other detectives, believing they had found evidence near the Indian Caves. After handing the backpack to a younger detective telling them to get it to CSU, Amanda and Sonny hurried closer to the caves.

The cop has already drawn his weapon, despite not knowing if the person inside the cave was armed. Sonny rolls his eyes at the officer's carelessness. Amanda steps forward and tells the cop they want the man inside the cave to be taken alive. The cop then switched to a tazer. Amanda tried coaxing the man out of the cave, but the moment he exited, the cop tased him and did not stop, letting the man convulse. Sonny intervened, telling the cop to stop. Amanda then approached and handcuffed the man.

Glasgowman is discovered as a 36-year-old man named Charlie Dorsey, who is a mental patient and repeat offender off his medication.

She and Sonny bring him back to the precinct to ask him some questions.

✩₊˚.⋆���⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

A few days later, you were working your shift with your close friend and skilled barista, Alex. Together, you prepared delicious iced coffees and other specialty drinks. As the clock sluggishly ticked, the day appeared motionless. Customers came in waves - periods of slow activity would suddenly give way to a flurry of orders, filling the screens with coffee requests. In the lulls, you restocked the two under-counter fridges, checked codes and temps, and wiped down the surfaces, preparing for the next rush.

Alex glances up from the drink he was preparing, a playful smile on his face. "Hey, you seem a bit distracted today," he teases. "Anything on your mind?" His glasses accentuated his mischievous hazel eyes.

"Is it that obvious?" You joke.

Alex chuckles. "You've been restocking that fridge for quite a while now. Is there something on your mind you'd like to discuss?”

You laugh softly, realizing you have been restocking longer than needed. You turn to Alex. "It's not a big deal," you begin, "It's about a guy."

Alex's eyes widened with excitement. "Ooh, a guy? Do tell," he urges, resting his chin on his hand and looking at you expectantly.

You take a deep breath, feeling your cheeks heating up slightly. "Well, we met two months ago," you start, trying to keep your voice casual despite the butterflies in your stomach. "It's nothing serious right now, we haven't been able to hang out with his work and this place, but I think I might like him."

Alex grins widely. "Sounds like you've got yourself a crush," he teases, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Is he cute at least?"

A small, involuntary smile creeps onto your face. "Yeah, he is," you confess, your voice tinged with affection. "He's got these blue eyes that just... draw you in. And his smile..." You trail off, lost in the memory of the way his smile could light up a room.

Alex watches your face light up as you speak, recognizing the signs of someone head over heels. "Looks like you've got it bad," he comments with a smile. "What's his name?"

"Dominick, he's a detective," you explain, the words sounding surreal as they leave your mouth. "So his hours are all over the place. Some days he's working into the wee hours of the morning, others he'll get a call in the middle of dinner. And it's not just late nights, either. Sometimes he gets called in on his days off, too."

Alex's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "A detective? That's kinda sexy," he says with a coy smirk. "He's all serious and dedicated to his job, huh?"

You can’t help but laugh at Alex's comment. "He is," you agree, the image of him working late into the night popping into your mind. "Dedicated to a fault, sometimes. He'll work himself into the ground if someone doesn't force him to take a break."

Alex chuckles and nods in understanding. "It sounds like he's got that workaholic mentality," he observes. “Maybe he needs someone to remind him to stop and smell the coffee once in a while."

You laugh, feeling a pang in your chest as you think about how true that statement is. "Yeah," you agree, a hint of a bittersweet melancholy in your voice. "He's been through a lot in his line of work. The weight on his shoulders... It's a lot. But somehow, he always manages to carry it with this resilience that's admirable."

The bell over the door chimes, indicating more customers, you and Alex wash your hands before putting on your gloves as you wait for them to order.

The customers came in and started rattling off their complicated orders, some wanting nonfat milk foamed extra hot, others requesting decaf espresso, and the orders seemed to go on and on. You and Alex work diligently, keeping up with the demand and making sure each drink was made to perfection. After the long line of customers finally dwindled, you and Alex share a glance, both of you weary from the rush. 

"That was intense," you remark, removing your gloves and resting your hands on the counter.

"No kidding," Alex agreed, letting out a long sigh. "I swear, some people act like the fate of the world rests on the coffee we make them."

You laugh at his comment. "I think if they didn't have their caffeine fix, the world might actually end for some of them."

"Good point," Alex concedes, a cheeky grin on his face. "We’re saving the world, one espresso at a time."

Just as you were about to continue the banter, the bell over the door chimes again, signaling more customers. You and Alex share exasperated glances before plastering on polite smiles and preparing to serve the newcomers.

As you were in the middle of making a macchiato, you notice Sonny walking through the doors of the shop. A mixture of surprise and happiness filled your chest, your heart fluttering at the sight of him. You glance up to see that he is scanning the cafe, eyes searching for you. You try to focus on the task at hand, finishing off the foam on the drink before passing it to the customer with a smile. He looks tired, with dark shadows under his eyes and a weary frown etched onto his face. You wanted to rush over to him, wrap your arms around him, and ask what was wrong. But you were busy handling the line of customers, and you can’t leave Alex to face the caffeine-craving crowd alone.

So you settle for a small wave and a warm smile, hoping he’d understand that you are glad to see him, even though you can’t spare much attention right now. He nods and gives you a tired smile, clearly not wanting to distract you from work. Nevertheless, just seeing his face gave you a renewed energy, making the rest of the shift feel slightly more bearable. Whenever there was a rare moment without a customer, you stole glances at him, noticing the way he quietly leaned against a table, his eyes closing momentarily, and a sigh leaving his lips. He looked exhausted.

While working on finishing an Iced Chai, you lean over to Alex and nudge his shoulder. "There, the guy sitting by himself, that's him, that's Sonny."

Alex glances over your shoulder to where you were gesturing. "The exhausted-looking one over there?" he asks, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "That's the guy you've been pining over?"

You smack his arm playfully. "Hey, don't be rude. He's just tired, he's had a long few days of work," you defend, feeling a pang of protectiveness toward Sonny.

Alex chuckles and holds his hands up in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, I get it. He's your knight in shining armor." He gives you a sly smile. "But he also kinda looks like he might pass out any minute now."

You bite your lip, worry gnawing at you again. "I know," you sigh, taking a quick look at Sonny who is now rubbing his eyes. "I just wish I could go over there and make sure he's okay."

"Don't you get a break soon?" Alex asks, his tone a little softer now. "Maybe you can go over and talk to him then."

"Yeah, Vinny, is supposed to clock in about five minutes, then at six we get Martha," You inform Alex. 

He waves you off, "Go now, I can handle it, besides the crowd seemed to die down, I can handle five minutes alone."

"Are you sure?" You ask.

Alex shooed you with a grin. "Don't worry about me, I can handle a couple of coffee addicts by myself for a bit." He jokingly pats your head. "Go take care of your detective."

With Alex's reassurance, you take a glance at the mostly empty cafe before making your way over to Sonny. He hadn't moved from his spot, still looking worn out as he leaned against the wall with his eyes closed.

You approach him and place a hand gently on his shoulder, trying not to startle him. "Hey," you say quietly, your voice soft. "You look wiped out."

He looks up, surprise in his eyes for a moment before he recognizes you. "Hey," he replies, his voice rough with fatigue. He attempts a weak smile. "That obvious, huh?" Sonny blinks, bringing his attention to you, a weary smile appearing on his face as he looks at you. "Hey," he greets, his voice raspy from exhaustion. "Yeah, I'm exhausted. It's been a long week, to say the least."

You take a seat beside him, your concern deepening as you notice the shadows under his eyes and the fatigue etched on his face. "I can tell," you comment, studying his tired features. "Have you been getting any sleep at all?"

“Between these cases and the night classes twice a week at Fordham, not much…”

You frown at his confession, your worry only mounting. "Sonny, you can't keep pushing yourself like this," you say gently but firmly. "You need rest. You're going to burn yourself out at this rate."

He manages a weary chuckle, shaking his head slightly. "You sound like Rollins and my Lieutenant," he says with a hint of a laugh in his voice. "They've been on my case about taking care of myself too."

You nudge him softly, a small smile tugging at the corner of your lips. "Well, maybe Rollins and your Lieutenant are onto something," you retort, trying to lighten the mood. "You need someone to nag you, obviously."

He chuckles again, a tired but genuine smile forming on his face. "You volunteering for the job?" he teases, his eyes meeting yours.

You pretend to think for a moment before smiling mischievously at him. "Maybe. Someone’s gotta keep you on your toes, after all. When’s the last time you ate?"

He ponders for a moment, his tired brain struggling to recall. "I had breakfast this morning," he replies, running a hand through his messy hair. "I think... I can't really remember, to be honest."

"C'mon let me make you something, and no, no pastries. I mean actual food."

He looks at you, his eyes weary but filled with tenderness. "You don't have to, I don't want to add more work for you and your friends," he protests, looking up at Alex behind the counter and talking to Vinny. Sonny gives them both a small wave.

"Don't you dare start that 'I don't want to inconvenience you' speech," you say sternly, making eye contact to emphasize your point. "I'm making you something and that's final. How about a grilled cheese to hold you over until my shift ends in 20 minutes, Then we can have dinner at mine.”

Sonny's stomach grumbles, betraying his protest. He chuckles lightly, nodding in defeat. "Okay, doll, you win," he relents with a small smile. "A grilled cheese sounds pretty good right now."

You give him a victorious grin and get up from your spot, making your way behind the counter. You quickly whipped up two grilled cheese sandwiches, using fresh sourdough bread and slices of provolone cheese. The aroma of melted cheese fills the air as you cook the sandwich on the pan, the golden brown exterior crisping perfectly.

Alex and Vinny sneak up behind you, a duo of cheekiness and mischief. 

"Aww, look at you, playing waitress for your man," Alex teases, a grin on his face.

Vinny chimes in, a sly smirk forming on his lips. "Should we expect wedding invites soon, huh?"

You roll your eyes, amused and slightly embarrassed at their playful jibes. "Shut up, you two," you retort, trying to sound stern while fighting a smile. "It's just a grilled cheese, alright?" Alex and Vinny exchange a conspiratorial look, still smirking.

"Just a grilled cheese, huh?" Alex repeats, a playful lilt to his tone. "And I bet you're serving it on your finest china with a side of homemade soup."

Vinny snickers, joining in on the banter. "Yeah, and maybe some candlelight and some smooth jazz in the background?"

You laugh, shaking your head at their relentless joking. "You two are insufferable, you know that?" you respond, feigning annoyance, though your smile gives you away. "No, no candlelight or smooth jazz. Just a grilled cheese on a normal plate." They both feign disappointment, a dramatic sigh escaping both of their lips. 

“Aww, no romantic atmosphere? No fancy presentation?" Alex asks dramatically, hand over his heart.

Vinny joins in, pouting overdramatically, "Where's the showmanship? The pizazz?"

You laugh louder now, their antics lightening the mood. "Oh, sorry to disappoint, guys," you retort, handing the sandwich to the waiting Sonny. "Next time I'll go all out with the silver service, a string quartet, and maybe hire a couple of gondoliers to serenade us as well." They both nod appreciatively, pretending to be satisfied.

Alex grins, "Now that's more like it."

Vinny agrees, "Yeah, we'll hold you to that. We expect nothing less for your next date."

You roll your eyes once more, shaking your head. "Duly noted, gentlemen. I'll be sure to consult you both for all future romantic endeavors," you reply dryly, though you can't help but be amused by their relentless teasing.

You carry the tray of food over to where Sonny is sitting, placing it down on the table in front of him. A grin forms on his face as he sees the grilled cheese, a mixture of hunger and appreciation in his tired eyes.

"You're a lifesaver," he comments, reaching for his sandwich and taking a large bite. His expression lights up as he savors the taste.

You settle down beside him and start eating your sandwich, enjoying the peaceful moment. You notice the weariness starting to fade from Sonny's face as he eats.

"Feeling better?" you ask, looking at him with a soft smile.

Sonny nods, wiping his mouth with a napkin before replying. "Yeah, I am. This is exactly what I needed," he says, a content smile on his face. "Your grilled cheeses are magic, you know that?"

You giggle at the comment, feeling a warm sense of satisfaction. "I don't know about magic. Maybe it's just a secret ingredient called love," you tease, winking at him.

You hear the bell above the door go off and you see Martha, an older lady, who is basically the mom figure you all needed to keep you in check, arrive. You made sure to greet her and ask her how she was doing. You watched as she walked into the back, feeling watched your eyes moved to behind the counter to see Alex and Vinny staring at you and Sonny. They're whispering and giggling to each other, their glances between you and Sonny clearly directed. You roll your eyes, knowing full well what they were up to. You could practically hear the gears turning in their heads, concocting some new teasing material.

"Is she you're replacement?" Sonny asks, and you nod with a smile.

"Yeah, that's Martha," you confirm, turning back to Sonny. "She's the unofficial 'mom' around here. She keeps us in line and makes sure we're all staying sane and functioning."

Sonny looks over at Martha, watching as she hums to herself while organizing something behind the counter. "Looks like she takes her job seriously," he comments with a small, tired smile.

You nod in agreement. "She does," you reply, a fond expression on your face. "She's the glue that holds us all together. And she knows exactly how to handle these two," you add, gesturing to Alex and Vinny who were still peering at you from behind the counter. "She's all about making sure we eat, get enough sleep, and don't work ourselves too hard. Which means she's going to be all over your case soon," you add with a wink.

Sonny chuckles, though it's obvious that the sleep deprivation is getting to him. "Great, another person to nag me about getting some shut-eye," he quips, the playful edge in his voice slightly diminished by his fatigue.

"You ready to head home before you fall asleep in my shop?"

Sonny nods, a weary but grateful expression on his face. "Yeah," he says, the exhaustion evident in his voice. "Lead the way."

You gather your belongings and bid farewell to Alex and Vinny, who, of course, cannot help themselves and start making lovey-dovey faces and noises. You roll your eyes good-naturedly. Make sure to thank Martha for coming in and to call if she needs anything until closing.

After the goodbyes, you gather your belongings from the back and then lead Sonny out of the café. The cold air hits your face, a crisp autumn breeze sending a shiver down your spine.

"Cold?" Sonny asks, noticing your shiver. Before you can answer, he slips his suit jacket off and wraps it over your shoulders, pulling it to fit snugly around you.

"A little," you admit, the warmth of his jacket immediately enveloping you. You pull it tighter around yourself, breathing in the subtle scent of Sonny's aftershave that clung to the fabric. "Thanks."

The two of you walked back to the apartments. The walk back is relatively peaceful, the city noise a hushed background as the two of you walk together. 

Masterlist

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Whumptober 2023, Day 20: Blanket/Found family

fandom: criminal minds | characters: spencer reid, aaron hotchner | ship: none | trigger warnings: none | content: post 2x15 'revelations,' the tobias hankel case, dad!hotch, autistic spencer, non-verbal spencer, hotch & spencer friendship, team as a family | word count: 589.

When Spencer wraps his arms around Hotch and whispers, voice cracked and broken, “I knew you’d understand,” Hotch’s heart shatters. Spencer dissolves into tears into Hotch’s shoulder, and his knees buckle beneath him. Hotch holds him upright, murmuring softly into Spencer’s ear. 

“I’ve got you,” he says quietly. “I’ve got you, it’s okay.” Morgan moves forward and slings one of Spencer’s arms around his neck, and Hotch takes the other. Together, they half walk, half carry Spencer to the ambulance. By the time they get there, Spencer’s sobs have turned into silent tears that stream down his face, and they place him down gently on the bed in the back of the ambulance. Morgan jumps back out, shutting the doors behind him, leaving just Hotch, Spencer and the medic in a quieter space. 

Spencer is practically drooping with tiredness at this point, but when the medic smiles at him and says, “Hi, Dr Reid, let’s get you comfortable,” Spencer flinches away and curls in on himself. Hotch looks at the medic uneasily. 

“Were you briefed on what he’s been exposed to in the last few days?” Hotch says, trying to keep his voice low. His eyes flick back to Spencer whose knees are now drawn up to his chest, eyes squeezed shut as he hums softly. 

“Yes,” the medic says sympathetically. “I was. Look, you should ride with us to the hospital. The most important things right now are that we get him warm, feeling safe and get some water in him. The nurses at the hospital will take care of the rest.” She hands him a blanket, and Hotch approaches Spencer hesitantly. 

“Reid? Spencer? Can I put this blanket around you? You look cold.” 

Spencer’s eyes remain shut, but he nods once, short and sharp, to show Hotch it’s alright. With gentleness he usually reserves for Jack, Hotch takes a seat beside Spencer on the bed and wraps a blanket around his shoulders. To his surprise, Spencer leans into the touch, nestling into the blanket and closer to Hotch’s side. 

He opens his eyes briefly, and Hotch watches them flick around the space. When he catches sight of the medic standing in the corner, preparing a few things, he presses further into Hotch’s side, and Hotch can feel the young agent tense up. 

“It’s okay,” he assures Spencer. “She just wants to help. She’s not going to hurt you.” 

Spencer nods once again, but remains tensley pressed into Hotch’s side and shuts his eyes again. Hotch watches his youngest agent shiver against the cold and attempt to even out his breathing with a deep ache in his chest. He’s always been pleased by how much his team cares for one another, how day by day they become more like family than colleagues. But Hotch has always felt a fiery protectiveness over Spencer that he can’t explain, ever since he started at the BAU. It’s only been amplified in the days Spencer has been missing. 

Spencer opens his eyes again when the medic moves closer to them, preparing to hand him some water and take his vitals. Spencer cringes away. Hotch nudges him slightly, and Spencer looks over at his Unit Chief. 

“I know,” Hotch says, reading the fear in Spencer’s eyes at having another stranger so nearby when he’s been alone with one for the last few days. “It’s alright. I’ll stay. You won’t be alone again.” 

Spencer exhales some of his tensity and nods slightly. Hotch squeezes his shoulder kindly. 

He means what he says. Never again.

[andi-dromeda]

Long before he was Red Hood, a dead man walking or a Robin, Jason was Willis and Cathy's son. No matter how bleak things got, how many times he had to reevaluate who he was, he could always be sure of two things: the universe hated him but his parents loved him. Love isn't always perfect and pure. Love can't stave off the cold or put food on the table, but his parents' love was the one thing no one could ever take from him. Even after they died, he still knew his parents loved him.

They had a small apartment. Most of the furniture and cutlery were a patchwork of items collected in yard sales or discount bins which meant that there was a wide range of colours. Beggers can't be choosers and what not. But there was always slightly more red than any other colour. His favourite blanket was red, his dad's hoodie was red, the kettle was red and Cathy's hair was red. Red meant safety. Red meant warmth. Red meant home.

Then Jason woke up from a haze of darkness to searing gold. One moment he was in the lazarus pit and the next Talia was tossing him off a cliff. She picked him up after that and carefully tried to steer him away from vengeance. She distracted him with teachers and training but Jason's mind never left his end goal - confronting Bruce.

He came back to Gotham on a ferry. It cut through the polluted waters like a well made knife. And that's what this was wasn't it? Because even with all his planning, Bruce still slit his throat. Bruce still chose a madman over his the boy he failed. Bruce wanted a soldier not a son. Looking back he couldn't tell you when he realised Bruce wouldn't pick him. It was kind of like walking around in a horror game and realising it just saved. There was this slow, creeping sense of dread that he tried to ignore until he was clawing at his throat, trying to stop himself from bleeding out. It'd be foolish to keep living in optimistic ignorance. He wasnt Bruce. He could acknowledge reality.

His new undoubtable truths were:

• Cathy, Willis and Natalia loved him

• The universe hates him

• Bruce does too

So he adjusted to his new reality. He operated as Red Hood and had a strict no bats rule throughout all his territory. Red still meant home, just less like a cozy family and more like neighbours united by blood shed. Red became anger and danger too. Red was versatile, just like Jason. He'd been trained by the bat, the league of assasins and the All Caste - a special group of warriors who united to fight against magical evils.

This probably isn't shocking to anyone but Gotham's weird and messed up. Naturally, this means they have a lot of magical evils causing chaos and generally being a pain. Jason had been wielding the all blades and chasing some sort of rabbit, lion, duck hybrid through crime alley when a blast of fire hit it. It poofed and left only an odd amulet. A white haired woman picked it up and tensley glanced at him.

"I'm not a bat, I have nothing to do with drugs and I have no proper ties to any rogue. I'm not breaking any of your rules." She kept her eyes trained on his helmet and he noticed they were red. Danger? Home? Anger? Warmth? Versatile? Safety? There was too many possibilities to be in complete control of the situation and the last time Jason left something up to chance he'd gotten his throat slit. Replaying the events, it was obvious she had fire powers. Judging by her clothes, stature and build he could confidently guess she was University age. He knew the hybrid thing was magic so her powers were probably magical too. Regardless of if they were just meta abilities, she knew about about magic. Which meant she could be useful... or dangerous.

"I appreciate that." He nodded and shifted slightly to make himself look less hostile. The real reason no one ever figured out Clark Kent was Superman was the body language. Clark managed to look timid and small whilst being 6'3. Truly it was an art. Jason copied the technique and made the all blades vanish. "As I'm sure you know, I'm Red Hood. May I ask your name or would you prefer to give me an alias?"

"What's the point? You're a bat, you'll figure it out anyway and go reporting back to him." She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Olive Silverlock."

"I'm not a bat."

"The red one on your chest could've fooled me"

"I'm reclaiming bats. I'm turning the symbol into what it should've been. Batman is a hypocrital control freak who cares more about his own ego than actually helping people. I don't work for him."

At that she seemed to relax which ironically wasn't necessarily a good sign. Clearly she'd had a run in with Bruce and hated bats. If the only thing making her tense around a well known crime lord was him possibly reporting back to the bat, that meant she could handle herself. So she was strong, had magical knowledge, a grudge against Bruce and the most captivating red eyes he'd ever seen.

She could be dangerous. Certainly a formidable foe. But that meant she could also be a powerful ally. There weren't many vigalante friendly magicians in Gotham after all.

"Is that amulet dangerous?" He asked less interested in the answer and far more focused on learning more about her.

"Not in this form and I can promise you it won't be switching forms again any time soon."

"So you've stopped a threat from running around my territory?"

"I guess."

"Guess I owe you one then." Jason approached her slowly and gently grabbed her hand. She stared at up at him and for a second he forgot what he was doing, just enjoying the moment. Just enjoying the warmth that seemed to radiate off of her. Then he snapped back to reality and closed her hand.

"If you ever need a favour, just close your hand and say 'All Son I summon thee'."

Her palm started to glow red and he pulled away. After feeling her warmth, the night air seemed bitingly cold but he lived in crime alley during winter. He could handle it.

"Thanks." Her widened eyes slowly closed again and she gave the Red Hood a soft smile. "Its nice to meet another magically inclined batman hater."

"Very nice." He nodded unsure of what to do with his hands now that he wasn't holding hers. Usually he'd start fiding with his guns but he figured that might give the wrong impression. "Are you going to be alright getting home?"

"I can handle myself." She smirked like she'd just said a joke he wasn't in on. "But I'm not heading home. I've actually got to return a book before midnight and this whole amulet situation means I've got like-" She checked the clock on her watch and froze. "Twenty minutes!?"

"I could drive you." He instantly offered and Olive frowned.

"But I wanted to use that favour to mess with Batman." She sighed dissapointedly.

"I'm offering for free. I don't want anything."

"Really?"

"Of course. Library fees are no joke."

"Thanks. Where's your car?"

"About that-"

Red Hood handed her a helmet and just like that, they were zooming through Gotham on his bike. It was kind of exhilarating. Everything around them seemed to blur into dark blobs with tiny dots of light.

They arrived at Gotham library with seven minutes to spare. They leaped off the bike, sprinted up the steps and quickly but quietly walked through the doors. There weren't many people, just a bored librarian and a few tired students who did a double take at the feared crime lord casually showing up at the library. Olive dug through her bag and pulled out a copy of Hamlet. She placed it in the returns box and they walked back to the bike.

"Thanks Hood."

"Don't mention it." An odd silence hung between them for a moment. "So Hamlet huh?"

"Yeah, I'm getting a degree in theatre and had to a write character analysis of lady macbeth. It was fun. It reminded me of the time I was lady macbeth in high school, then clayface ruined the play by trying to kill my theatre teacher."

They chuckled and Olive moved to take the helmet off.

"Wait, do you want a ride home?"

"Nah, I'm good."

"Right but can I at least drop you off somewhere less public? I wouldn't want anyone recognising you and then trying to target you to get to me."

Olive considered it for a moment before nodding. They hopped back on the bike and Jason smiled at the chance to talk to her for longer. By the time he stopped in an alley near Gotham U, it had started to rain. Once her arms had left his waist, he felt cold again. He shrugged it off as the weather and watched Olive pull out an umbrella. The umbrella just so happened to be red. She looked back at him, smiled, waved and walked off into the night. He watched the dot of red disappear into the shadows of Gotham and rode off to his nearest safe house.

Danger? Home? Anger? Warmth? Versatile? Safety? Red. Whatever it meant, it was still his favourite color. Always had been. Just like Cathy, Willis and Natalia always loved him. Bruce hadn't always hated him but he did now. Olive hated Bruce which was... intriguing and kind of validating. But did the universe always hate him? Did the universe hate him at all? He wasn't so sure anymore.

He climbed up the side of his building and swung through the window. His helmet came off quickly, and the rest of his armour followed soon after. A cold breeze ran through his apartment so he decided to call it an early night. He dropped onto his bed and wrapped himself in a nostalgic, red blanket. He dozed off finally warm.

Olive quietly crept through her dorm and tried not to wake Pom. She put the amulet into a sealed jar on her nightstand, changed into her pajamas and collapsed on to her bed. The adrenaline had finally run out and she was exhausted. Unfortunately, her brain hated her and refused to let her sleep. Too tired to grab her phone, she decided to stare at her hand. It felt tingly but not in a pins and needles way. She started to wonder how she could use the favour to get back at Batman and drifted off dreaming of annoying Gotham's most annoying caped crusader. Red Hood seemed like a good ally to have. Even if he turned out to be terrible, at least he had good taste. Red was her favourite color after all.

[jamiemarsters]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by James Marsters News+ (@jamie_marsters)

Pic of the Day: That time James Marsters played a big, fluffy puppy* with bad teeth+...

aka James as Lord Tensley in @dudesanddragons 2014

*Not at all puppy like, nor fluffy, nor big; absolute douche

+But definitely bad teeth

@realjamesmarsters #JamesMarsters #DudesAndDragons #DragonWarriors #IneptVillanousDouchebag #WithBadTeeth #ButBoyWasHeFUN

[bishopsbelova]

So, did Carisi say this just trying to relate to Tensley or does he in fact have more than one niece and we're to assume that Teresa has a daughter besides Mia or does Gina actually have one? Cause this is before Bella's kid was born - so it's definitely not her

[artisticlegshake]

RADIX MINNEAPOLIS RESULTS 2023

JUNIOR SOLOS:

1st Kelsie Jacobson - LARKIN OTE!

2nd Brittany Johnson - THE DANCE COMPLEX OTE!

3rd Annabel Schoolmeesters - THE DANCE COMPLEX OTE!

4th Carrigan Paylor - SUMMIT OTE!

4th Greta Wagner - SUMMIT OTE!

4th Ingrid Wirtz - LARKIN OTE!

4th Leighton Curry - SUMMIT OTE!

5th Phoebie Noha - THE DANCE COMPLEX OTE!

5th Ava McCraine - LARKIN OTE!

5th Avery Maycunich - THE DIFFERENCE OTE!

5th Kate Monge - LARKIN OTE!

6th Tahari Conrad - LARKIN OTE!

6th Emirsyn Bain - THE DANCE COMPLEX OTE!

6th Lucy Mae Dunn - SUMMIT OTE!

6th Natalie Cerepak - THE DANCE COMPLEX OTE!

7th Sophia Rachel - THE DANCE COMPLEX OTE!

7th Emily Jungmann - WOODBURY OTE!

7th Sydney Smith - THE DANCE COMPLEX OTE!

7th Sarah St. Cyr - LARKIN OTE!

7th Roxie Keep - URBAN OTE!

7th Ashlyn Hoffstrom - THE DANCE COMPLEX OTE!

7th Giada Keets - THE DANCE COMPLEX OTE!

7th Shayla Casey - THE DIFFERENCE OTE!

7th Izzy Pemberton - THE DANCE COMPLEX OTE!

7th Margie Piant - VELOCITY OTE!

7th Eden Hardy - WOODBURY OTE!

8th Jade Stanaway - ELEVE

8th Nico Dahl - THE DANCE COMPLEX

8th Olivia Chiu - SUMMIT

8th Giselle Mourad - LARKIN

9th Scarlett Paguia - THE DIFFERENCE

9th Bryn Thompson - SUMMIT

9th Stella Kate Ziemke - THE DANCE COMPLEX

10th Ana Santos - SUMMIT

10th Ella Hooley - WOODBURY

10th Brooklyn Mohs - SUMMIT

10th Leah Huebner - WOODBURY

ROOKIE SOLOS:

1st Maddie Smith - THE DANCE COMPLEX OTE!

1st Tensley Morrill - THE DANCE COMPLEX

1st Natalie Dockender - THE DANCE COMPLEX OTE!

2nd Logan Thiele - STUDIO 4

2nd Brooklyn Peterson - SUMMIT

2nd Lakely Goodman - THE DANCE COMPLEX

3rd Sailor Stormoen - THE DANCE COMPLEX

4th Josie Sitzbergen - STUDIO 4

[raheltade]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Lilly Pulitzer Aura Pink Blooming Embroidery Tensley Sweater size Medium.

[mhkeiger]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Lilly Pulitzer Tensley Cotton Sweater Spearmint Blossom Jacquard.

[kornuc0pia]

All of us waiting for the new UA vid