#Y'all only see a fraction of the photos I take | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

uas-fics · 5 years ago

Text

Chapter 2 Of ‘The Pandering Country Western Star’

Chapter 1 - Epilogue

---

Kiwi snuggled down in Tweek's hair as Tweek tapped his finger on the table top. Craig's livestream would start any minute. Would Craig use the script Tweek edited for him? No, he probably scrapped it. It was too much. It didn't make his fans feel good about Craig keeping his personal life a secret from them.

The more Tweek thought about the whole situation, the angrier he got about it. Coming out is hard and terrifying. No one should be pushed to come out to the world like this — especially not at the hands of a bitter ex. Craig was right to break up with him! He dodged a bullet, as far as Tweek could tell.

Tweek's phone dinged and he picked it up, keeping one eye on the laptop in front of him.

The text message was from Craig.

"I'm going to start my livestream soon. Wish me luck? :)“

"Luck ;)" Tweek typed and chewed his lip.

This was too risky to send. He didn't even know how long ago Craig broke up with his ex. Was it a month? A year? Two weeks? Was he pushing too fast?

Besides, Craig probably didn't even see Tweek like that. He was a famous country star after all. There were men much more like him out there he could pursue. Men who were famous and used to Craig’s lifestyle.

With a sigh, Tweek went to delete the wink and replace it with a star or a smile, (he hadn't decided which one) when Kiwi took hold of a lock of Tweek's hair and pulled. Tweek yelped, his thumb going right down on the send button.

His heart froze in his chest as he stared down at his mistake. A scream rose up from his throat but died down the moment the livestream started a few seconds later.

Craig smiled at the camera, waving. He held up the black and white guinea pig from his wallet photo and moved his paw to wave as well.

"Howdy," He greeted, and Tweek realized just how much of an accent Craig put on for his fans. "There's quite a crowd here, huh, Astro? I think this is my biggest livestream yet."

Astro didn't look all that impressed. Craig set him down in his lap.

"I'm guessin' you're all here because I said I've got some really big news. I can tell from the chat, you all seem to think it's music related." Craig's smile strained. "It ain't."

Craig took a deep breath, scooting a little farther back. Best Tweek could tell the livestream took place in Craig's living room, which was nothing but Western aesthetic: decorations made with wood, barbwire, and rope covered the wall behind him along with a rustic painting of a pasture with some tiny black, white, and red dots (probably cows or horses, Tweek realized) on it.

"This isn't how I wanted to do this." Craig sighed. "I had other ideas. Plans much classier than this, when I was in a much happier place in my life, but circumstances changed. I want y'all to hear this from my mouth and not the front page of a magazine."

Craig shook once. His face twisted like he was going to vomit, but he swallowed any bile back down.

"I am gay," Craig stated simply, pulling Astro so he pressed against his stomach. "I have always been gay. Since I was still in my mama. That's just how it works. That's how God made it work."

Tweek tensed. Around this part was when he started to edit out the pandering. If Craig went on about God and how He has a purpose for him, then he threw out all Tweek did and went back to the first draft.

Craig's eyes flicked up, looking beyond the camera, then back. "This has been a hard decision for me and a shock for many of you, I'm sure. Or maybe it’s not. Maybe you could all tell and never bothered to let me in on the secret."

Tweek let out a breath he did not remember taking. He slumped forward so abruptly that Kiwi fell from his hair. Kiwi landed, somewhat gracefully, if a little wobbly, on the table.

"Sorry!" Tweek reached out to comfort Kiwi, but he turned and flew up to his perch in his cage.

Craig continued, "Like I said, this isn't how I wanted this to happen. I’d rather had y'all meet my husband after we got engaged or married, but that ain't gonna happen now, I guess."

Pain flashed across his face for a fraction of a second. "I'm sure y'all find out why when Country Western Living comes out since that's where my ex outs me. I think publishing it is downright dirty and shows a lack of journalistic integrity, but I'm not a rich ol' magazine editor." He shrugged. "What do I know — besides you don’t tell other folks secrets for money?"

Tweek couldn't help but smile. Craig was going to throw that magazine right under the bus for this, wasn't he?

"I can say, I spent years hiding myself from people, both family and friends, and from the world itself. It was hard, and I felt like a liar. I heard conversations about folks like me that made my stomach churn. Conversations that I'm sure wouldn't happen if the people in the room knew I was like the people they were talking about."

He cleared his throat. "Even if it's not a perfect coming out story, I think I'll be much happier now, and I know I can make music truer to my life and with more passion than ever before. I want this to be a good thing for all of us."

Astro pipped and began to roll out of Craig's lap. Craig smiled down at him then set him on the floor.

"Don't worry about Astro. I'm still keeping an eye on him. He's safe," Craig reassured. He settled himself back in his seat before continuing, "Now, I know some of you don't ‘agree' with people being gay, and, well, I can't change your mind, but if you don't, it isn't my problem."

Craig fixed the camera with a hard look, his accent falling for the last sentence.

That wasn't part of the first draft or the edited one. Craig was supposed to offer to answer questions from the livestream after he mentioned how coming out would make his life better.

Tweek leaned so close his nose nearly touched the laptop screen.

He was proud for Craig.

Even as he answered, somewhat invasive, questions about his sexuality, he seemed relaxed, as if a heavy weight hanging over him just dropped to the ground and missed him.

Well that's what it was, wasn't it? No more hiding. No more lies and fake girlfriend stories. No more feeling like a gay fly on the wall when people bash the community.

"Ok, um, Little.Shop.Of.Yaoi280, I don't know what a ‘uke' or a sea...seem...see-mee? Whatever are and I don't think I want to," Craig was saying as he read through the comments. "Yes, KittyKatLover, I have read the Old Testament. I also read all the verses that say God loves me and made me how I am. That's all I want to say about that."

Tweek finally fell back in his chair, running his hands through his hair, with a goofy smile on his face. Craig handled those kinds of questions a little better than Tweek did the first few times he got then online. Nowadays he deleted invasive or backhanded comments on sight. He used to argue, sometimes with sources, sometimes without, and it would keep him up at night with worry.

He'd have to advise Craig to copy his current method and not his old one.

"Ok, I think Astro wants to go nap with his brother and sister, so one more question," Craig muttered, more to himself than the stream. "Let's see...I like this one. PikachuKetchumAll151 asks me if I could have come out like I wanted with a husband at my side, what would I have said."

He hummed a moment. "I would have announced the man with me is the love of my life and I am blessed to introduce you all to him, but that isn't going to happen any time soon, unless," Craig smirked, "I get very lucky with dates in the near future." He winked.

Tweek fell out of his chair and to the floor, eyes wide. No. Craig didn't. He didn't just ask him on a date on a livestream like that, did he?

"Oh, jeez!" Tweek's mouth gaping open like a freshly caught trout as Craig finished up.

The screen was dark for only a few seconds before Tweek's phone began to ring. Shaking, Tweek answered it without looking at the number.

"Tweek?" Craig asked. His voice was nothing but excitement. "It's over. Did you watch it? All of it?"

"Did you ask me out on a livestream?"

"Hmmmm, no," Craig replied, almost coyly, and Tweek remembered how to breathe properly. "I wanted to ask if you'd like to hang out, actually. I'm not ready to date anyone else right now, but making friends who are also gay and have been out longer than me? I would like that."

Tweek forced his voice to stay steady as he replied, "Yeah, I'd like that too."

---

Red tapped her nails against the lacquered wood of her desk. Her stomach twisted with disgust. She might just vomit over all the negativity surrounding Craig.

She shook her head. No, it's a very vocal few. Most of the reaction towards Craig coming out as gay had been positive. He had plenty of congratulations and even some fanart for him with the Pride flag. Some celebrities even tweeted they were proud of him.

"About time. You'll be happier now, Craig! #LoveisLove" The frontman of Moop, Stan Marsh, tweeted. His partner, Red's old friend, Wendyl, as well as the rest of Moop, also sent Craig their support. Wendyl even went as far as to argue on Craig's behalf in the comments.

Not that Red planned on showing that to Craig. She couldn't risk him getting involved in an online shouting match and ruining his aloof country boy persona.

Her eyes drifted over the copy of the magazine on her desk. Craig and Thomas were on the cover, walking out in a park and holding hands. Craig’s focus was solely on Thomas and not the beautiful scenery. They must have assumed deep in an isolated park would be a safe place for a secret date. Clearly, they were wrong.

For what seemed like the hundredth time, Red skimmed the article. The picture Thomas claimed they would publish, one of him and Craig kissing, was nowhere to be found. Red didn’t believe Thomas lied about the photo. When he called, he was stammering nervously and the stress made his tic act up so badly he had to keep starting his sentence over and apologizing.

From Red’s best guess, the photo was probably on private property and the magazine couldn’t legally publish it, but this could use it against Thomas anyway. Not that it mattered in the end. Thomas already admitted he and Craig were dating in the article.

Red closed the magazine then tossed it aside. Even if Thomas had been tricked into talking, he still was the reason Craig had been strong armed into coming out before he was comfortable, and that pissed Red off.

Grumbling to herself, she turned back to scrolling through the comments on Craig’s latest post, a picture of Petunia in sunglasses and a tiny cowboy hat. It never ceased to amaze her how much he dotes on his pets and treats them like his own children.

Unfortunately, even on a post of a rodent dressed as a cowgirl, people were making hateful comments and asking invasive questions.

Kevin opened the door, steaming bowls in his hand.

"I have leftover chili or microwave ramen." He held up the bowls in turn. "Which do you want?"

Red didn't look up from her computer. "Ramen."

Chili was too heavy and spicy for her stomach to handle. Kevin watered down the romen every time, so she didn't have to worry about making herself sicker.

He slipped the bowl next to her then looked over her shoulder with a frown.

"You need to take a break from those," He told her before spooning chili into his mouth.

"I want to, but I can't." She slurped up noodles. "I'm going to report every bashing comment that might break Twitter's terms of service so Craig doesn't have to see it." Twitter probably wouldn't do anything, even if the comment did break their TOS, but it made her feel better anyway, since Craig decided deleting comments would only make things worse.

Kevin rubbed between her shoulder blades. His hand was warm from the bowls, relieving some of the tension.

"Craig's a big boy, Red. He can handle some hate comments. He's probably been preparing for it for most of his adult life." Kevin set his bowl down to walk behind her. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders then rested his chin on her head. Given how tall she was, when she sat was about the only time Kevin could do this.

"I know, but..." A noise of uncertainty left her throat.

He kissed the top of her head. "It'll be alright. Someone else will do something worse soon and everyone will forget about Craig being gay."

Red set a hand over one of Kevin's, smiling softly. He was such a good husband, so caring and sweet and understanding. She hoped Craig would find someone like that for himself one day.

"Hey, do you know who the guy Craig's been texting nonstop is? Some gay internet celeb, right? The one who helped him with the script?" Red asked abruptly.

"Tweek Tweak, I think is his name," Kevin replied. "I checked out his channel: he's got an alright voice and seems like a good guy. Craig really likes him. We should take bets if this is another case of Tuckers falling in love instantly."

Red rolled her eyes at the joke.

“Good thing I’m a Stoley now, huh? Or you would be worried."

Kevin laughed. “Good thing for both of us!”

Red hummed to herself a moment before pushing back her chair, nearly sending Kevin to the floor. She jumped to her feet and spun around.

"I'm done with this for tonight," Red announced, taking Kevin's hand. "You're right anyway. Craig is a big boy." She kissed his cheek. "So, com'on, let's go watch ‘Battlestar Galactica’."

---

The house was much less "Cozy Ranch, Sweet Tea with Lemon on the Table Next to a Fresh Rhubarb Pie" Charm than Tweek expected, Craig could tell just by the confused expression on his face as he looked around the living room. After the livestream, Craig put most of the western decoration back in the attic where it usually stated. If he had to stare at a ‘Live, Laugh, Ride Horses’ on the wall all the time, he’d vomit. Every time he had tried to ride a horse before, it either nearly threw him off or tried to eat his fingers. He could live and laugh just find without them

"Something wrong?"

"No. It's just...big. Wow. Way bigger than my apartment." Tweek spun around. "If I let Kiwi loose here, I'd never see him again."

"It's not that big," Craig defended, deciding not to mention that was the main reason he didn't like his own pets wandering outside their pen without him around. Once he and Stan and Kevin spent the better half of a day searching for Stripe when he escaped from the pen

"I think my parents' coffee shop could fit in here," Tweek muttered, bending down to get a closer look at a stone carving Craig got from a trip to Peru.

"You're parents own a coffee shop?" Craig put his hands in his pockets. "So you're from a business family?"

"It is why I have my degree in business management." Tweek reached his hand to touch the nose of the carving but flinched back. "Did you ever go to college? I mean, I think Stan said he met you in college, didn't he?"

Craig picked up the carving, making Tweek stumble back a few steps.

"I left to become a music star," He twisted the carving over, brushing his fingers along the maker's mark at the bottom, "but I was learning about the physics and chemistry required in the fuel propulsion of jets and rockets."

Tweek blinked at him. "So you left college to be a rocket scientist to sing about drinking beer and trucks."

"You know," Craig set the carving back on the table, "my parents had the same reaction."

"You could have gotten us to Mars." Tweek straightened up. "But, you know, I admire that you took the chance and left that path to follow your dream." He grinned. "Really. It's admirable. My parents would have flipped out if I dropped everything to tour."

He paused then quickly added, "Not that I want to. I like being able to record from my house. Little stage performances are enough for me."

Craig laughed. "No, I understand. It's pretty heart pounding to have a million eyes on you at once."

Tweek shuddered at the thought.

"Hey, come on, my kids are excited to meet you." Craig put his hands on his shoulders and steered Tweek out of the living room and down the hall.

"I've been telling them only good things these past weeks," Craig continued. "How talented you are and what nice handwriting you have." He paused at a door. "I let Petunia sniff your revision, and she loved it so much she nibbled on the paper."

Tweek snorted as Craig opened the door.

The pen took up a sizeable corner of the room and was surrounded by a knee height fence. Inside were several beds and many toys and hidey holes for his pets. Craig noticed one of the sipper bottles was getting low and made a note to refill it, along with their food dish which somebody (Probably Stripe) knocked over into the bedding again.

“Wow.” Tweek’s mouth gaped. “I thought guinea pigs were kept in cages like hamsters, not something like this.”

“I built it myself,” Craig proclaimed, “though, I went a little overboard in size. Three pigs don’t need this much room.”

His plan was to let Petunia have a litter and have himself an army of guinea pigs, but once recording and touring started up, Craig found it was hard enough providing enough care and affection for the ones he had, so he took all three to the vet to be neutered. According to the vet, they would live happier and healthier lives that way anyway.

One of the guinea pigs shuffled around in the hammock and poked a nose out. Petunia looked around before spotting Craig. She gave a squeak and scrambled out to hurried over, probably expecting treats. Her noisy journey from the hammock made the other two peek out from sleeping under a fake log.

Craig stooped down and picked up Petunia. He held her out for Tweek to hold.

"She doesn't bite," Craig mentioned when Tweek hesitated. "Promise."

Tweek took her and held her carefully to his chest. Stroking her long, brown fur, Tweek leaned over the small fencing to look at the others.

"She's soft and those two are really cute," he complimented with a nod to Astro and Stripe the Sixth.

"Thank you. I'm proud of my boys," He reached over and scratched Petunia between the ears, "and my baby girl."

Petunia moved her head against his palm with a happy noise.

Astro grew jealous at the attention Petunia was getting and began to get rowdy in the pen to steal some of it for himself. With a smile, Craig stepped into the pen and sat down. Instantly, Astro was in his lap with Stripe the Sixth settling down next to his leg.

Tweek wavered a moment before following after Craig and taking a seat in the pen.

He opened his mouth when his body went stiff.

"Ack!" He pulled his hand to his chest. "She licked me!"

A grin spread across Craig's face.

"That means she likes you." He scooted closer so they sat side by side, much to Stripe’s annoyance as he had just got comfortable.

"Like a dog?" Tweek stared down at Petunia in awe. Clearly, Tweek hadn’t had more interactions with rodents than average house mice.

"Yes, they are very affectionate critters." He pressed his leg against Tweek's, resting his palm on Tweek’s knee. Tweek tensed, but relaxed a moment later and didn't move away.

"Oh? They are? Well, you know, this," Tweek whistled softly, "is what birds do when they like you. They talk around you and sing."

"I didn't know that." Craig leaned a little closer. Their shoulders were touching now.

"Yeah. They sing and tweet all day if they're happy and safe."

Craig hummed a wordless tune, raising his finger to brush a lock of Tweek's hair back. Before his hand left, Tweek set his on top of it to keep it against his cheek.

"Do you want to know what guinea pigs do when they like someone?" Craig tilted his face towards him.

Tweek mimicked the action, twisting his body a little and disturbing Petunia. She made a whining squeak, alerting Tweek that his action displeased her, though he paid her little mind.

"What else?" He asked as his fingers gently squeezed Craig's hand.

"Something a little like..."

The gap between them grew steadily smaller and smaller until Craig pressed his lips against his.

"This." He pulled back, tapped the ends of their noses together, then pressed his luck to kiss Tweek again.

After a few blissful moments, the two parted completely.

This time when Petunia was disturbed she crawled out of Tweek's lap to trot to Craig's. She climbed over his crossed legs and snuggled down next to Astro.

"W... w... " Tweek stammered.

For a fleeting moment, Craig's chest gripped with worry that Tweek might be trying to say "Why did you do that?!" or "What made you think I wanted that?"

"’Wicked’..." Tweek finally breathed.

A snorting laugh escaped through Craig's nose. "I guess it was. Maybe even ‘radical’ or ‘tubular’?" He teased.

"No, I mean," Tweek chuckled, "'Wicked' like the musical. Jimmy gave me tickets to a performance he's helping with next month. Would you like to come? Like as a date?"

If he could grin any wider, his face would have split right down the middle.

"I'd like that, but you know what I'd like even more?"

Tweek's face dusted pink but he smiled too.

"What?"

"You let me take you out for a date tonight since I don't want to wait a month." Craig moved Stripe to his lap as well. The two already there made irritated squeaks but allowed their sibling to snuggle down between them.

Tweek nodded, pushing his hair back from his face.

"As long as there's no mechanical bull wherever you take me." He laughed. "My friend, Jason, rode one once and broke his arm when he fell off."

Craig's expression twisted into disgust before he could stop himself. Tweek furrowed his brow, nervously fiddling with the hem of his shirt.

"Tweek, I have a confession:" he took a breath, "I hate country music."

Tweek stared at him before bursting out into laughter.

"Oh, right, uh-huh." He elbowed him in the side. "That's a good one. If you want to go someplace with a bull, that's fine. Just don't expect me to ride it."

"I'm serious," Craig deadpanned. He leaned to allow his head to fall back. "I guess ‘hate’ is a strong word. I used to like it. I was raised on the stuff, after all."

Tweek lifted himself on his hands to turn to fully face him. His prompting look encouraged Craig to continue.

"When you said you thought it was admirable that I left school to pursue my passion, well, it was actually the opposite. Rocket science is my passion. Music is a job."

"What?" Tweek shook his head. "That doesn't make sense. That's not how it works."

"That's how it ended up." Craig shut his eyes. "Stan needed help taking all his Moop stuff to a venue, so I offered my car. The owner's daughter overheard me singing to myself and said she'd pay me to sing for her."

"Did you?"

"Thirty dollars for singing a cheesy country love song to a girl? Hell yeah, I did." Craig snickered at the memory. "After that, she told me she could get me on stage for a bit if I wanted. I didn't want a glamorous life of a music star, but I was a broke college student and performing there got me a free dinner and whatever tips I made."

He opened his eyes with a frown. "Then it all kind of snowballed from there. I got asked to come to sing there more and more and soon other places were asking for me, and Red offered to be my manager and before I knew it," he fell back, startling the guinea pigs, "I was famous."

Tweek stared at him, big blue eyes searching his face before he took a breath. "Why would you keep doing something that makes you unhappy?"

Craig shrugged. "Money. I sing what people want to hear from me and, until recently, pretended to be what they wanted completely. Just a good old Southern boy who sings songs that pander to other good old Southern boys."

"So, are all your songs just pandering? That can't be all you ever wrote." Tweek chewed his lip. His brow furrowed. Craig could only assume he was thinking about all the songs of Craig's he knew to check himself.

Craig pushed himself up onto his forearms. "I didn't write any of my songs, actually. When I was first starting, Red introduced me to a lyricist. He'd make the lyrics. I'd help with the instrumentals if he needed it."

"That...really?" Tweek moved to sit on his knees.

"Yeah, his name is Thomas." A pang hit his stomach, but he took a breath and went on, "Thomas actually did live a country life, a little. More to draw from than I have. He has Tourettes, and his mom sent him to a ranch camp for kids like him every summer from when he was eight to eighteen."

"Wow, so you’re really a fake," Tweek replied, unamused.

“I don’t auto tune myself or lip sing during concerts. Besides, I’m not the only one. An old member of Moop, Eric Cartman? He left to make a Christain Rock band called Faith+1. Fucker’s as far from a holy Christain man as you can get.” Craig snorted. “He’s even more in it for the money than I am. At least I care about my fans a little. That man would push them into the fires of Hell himself if he was offered a dime for it.”

“But you’re still faking! I mean,” Tweek ran a hand through his hair, “all of your songs can’t be pandering party songs, can they?”

"I do have one song that wasn't just a cash grab."

"Oh, yeah? Which one?"

"‘Hazel Eyes.'"

Tweek’s face twisted in thought as he tried to recall the song. Craig couldn't blame him if he didn't know it. ‘Hazel Eyes' barely broke the top forty for a week then faded into song obscurity. It was still his favorite, though for bittersweet reasons now.

Craig hummed the first two bars at the start of the chorus before he sang, "Black hair; Hazel eyes, looking at me with love long disguised. Hold my hand where dad and mom can't see. Let me with you and you with me. Please never look away from the future of we, my lovely hazel eyes."

Realization crossed Tweek's face.

"I remember that song. I really liked it, but didn't know the title."

Craig bobbed his head. "Thomas wrote that for me."

"Didn't he write everything for you?"

"No, I mean for me. Thomas...he was my boyfriend. I'm the ‘Hazel Eyes' the song talks about." Craig winced, realizing that bringing up a love song his ex wrote him with the man he just kissed was not his best plan.

"Oh..." Tweek chewed his lip "Wasn't Thomas the ex who..."

"Yeah, that Thomas," Craig confirmed. "I think that's another reason I don't like country much anymore. Everything I sing is by him. It's just salt in the wound."

A hand fell on his shoulder, so Craig lowered his gaze from the ceiling. Tweek smiled softly at him.

"Do you want to write a song with me? I'm not the best. I didn't go to college for it or anything, but maybe together we could make something good."

"So, what I told you isn't a deal breaker?" Craig asked.

Tweek shrugged. "No, I guess not. Maybe I can help you break into other genres, or if you want to leave professional music altogether and be a rocket scientist, I can help with that, too, if you want. I find people are much happier when they can be themselves and follow their passions."

Craig stared at him before chuckling. Tweek was such an amazing person.

---

The night wind was pleasant as Craig and Tweek walked side by side down the street. Craig readjusted his coat. For once, he didn't look like something a western store threw up on: A blue zip-up jacket over an old Moop shirt, black skinny jeans, and a chullo hat with a geometric pattern and yellow tassels.

Tweek mocked the skinny jeans when he first noticed them until Craig pointed out that's what he had on as well. At that point, Tweek blushingly hurried them into the theater to find their seats.

Craig raved excitedly about the play they'd watched. Tweek was so pleased that Craig liked it. He'd suggested it on a whim. It was the first idea his brain could provide him with that wasn't ‘kiss him again, you fool!' He hadn't expected Craig to actually agree, but he hadn't expected Craig to confess he’d grown disenchanted with singing country music, either.

"Alright, so were Elphaba and Glinda low key in love or something? Or am I just reading that subtext now that I'm allowing myself to?" Craig wanted to know, lightly swinging their combined hands while they passed under a streetlamp.

Tweek laughed. "I've never read the book, but in the musical, it's platonic, I think."

"You've never read the Wizard of Oz?" Craig stopped and fixed Tweek with a startled expression.

"What? Of course, I have!" Tweek scoffed. "‘Wicked' is based on a book that’s based on the ‘Wizard of Oz’. I've never read it, so I don't know if Elphaba and Glinda are lovers there or not."

Craig chuckled. "Well, I'm going to assume they fucked at Shiz at least once."

With a chuckle of his own, Tweek began to reply when a new voice cut him off.

"Hey! Hey! Craig, you—cocksucker!”

Tweek flinched, spinning around. Sooner or later, he knew some crazed fan would come to harass them. Why did it have to be tonight though? Even with the skinny jeans thing, the night was going so well!

As the man neared, Tweek’s heart pounded in his ears. They weren't too far from the theater, so there had to be more patrons nearby who could call the police if a fight broke out, right?

Scanning around, he saw only a huddle of people across the street, though they seemed to pay the couple and the yelling man no mind.

A disheveled man with short, messy hay-colored hair ran up to them and Craig stiffened. The man had bags under his eyes so deep that they rivaled the ones Tweek had when he was in the worst of his teenage anxieties.

"S-sorry!" He stammered, doubling over to pant. "I didn't mean to say--fuck!--that."

Tweek straighten. He wasn't much taller than the man, and nowhere near as tall as Craig, but he could be intimidating if he wanted to be.

"What do you want? We're busy right now," Tweek told him firmly. If they left quickly before this man started shouting at them, the night could still be salvaged.

Craig put his hand on Tweek's shoulder. He turned to him, and Craig shook his head.

With a deep breath first, Craig looked to the man. In an uninterested tone, he greeted, "Hello, Thomas."

Tweek stifled a gasp. Thomas? The Thomas? The one who forced Craig to out himself? That asshole?

Rage bubbled up in Tweek. He gritted his teeth and curled his hands into fists. If this jerk tried to cause trouble he would—

Craig wrapped his hand around his and squeezed without breaking eye contact with Thomas.

Thomas looked at their hands then looked away guiltily.

"Craig, I need to talk to--asshole! I need to talk to you." He chewed his lip. "Please."

"Why? So you can sell whatever I say to a magazine again?" Craig somehow remained coolly detached when he spoke. Thomas winced as if Craig just punched him in the gut.

"Craig, please, I didn't mean to. They had--they had a picture of us and--Balls shit!--we were kissing. How could I reply to that? Mother fucker! There was nothing I could have done! They would have run the picture anyway if I didn't answer. I--shit cock!-- I had to tell the truth!"

Thomas slumped forward, shrinking down like a dog about to be scolded for breaking a vase.

"I'm sorry. I did what I thought was best for you."

All at once, Craig’s aloof attitude broke. A low growl ripped from his throat as he stomped forward a step, getting into Thomas' personal space.

Jabbing a finger at his chest, he snarled, "‘Best for me'? If you wanted what was best for me you would have called me when it happened. Not Red. Me. You would have stood by me and helped me figure this out, but you wussed out on me and didn’t even answer my calls."

Thomas’ breath shook as he took it. He blinked hard, but under the streetlamp's light, he couldn't hide that his eyes were wet.

A pang of pity hit Tweek's stomach.

Thomas still loved Craig and probably did do what he thought was best. The cold indifference then a blast of sheering hot fury must have hurt more than Thomas let on.

Tweek reached out and grabbed a tassel of Craig's hat. Pulling it, he managed to make Craig step back.

"I'm sorry. I got scared, Craig! I'm not...Look at me! Who would want to come out dating someone like me?" He whimpered.

"I did — would! I never gave a fuck about your tics or how you looked." He squeezed Tweek's hand so hard, that Tweek bit back a yelp. Craig didn’t notice. "But that doesn't matter now, I guess. Goodbye, Thomas."

Craig pulled Tweek down the street. Tweek looked over his shoulder to see Thomas sigh heavily and slowly walk the way he came. The huddle of people instantly turned their attention to him when he neared. They started to console Thomas, but Craig took Tweek around a corner before he could see more.

"Craig..." Tweek started, "Um...that was—"

"Harsh?" Craig stopped, and Tweek bumped into his back. "Yeah, I know. It's the first time we've seen each other in months. He's been avoiding me. I guess it all came up at once."

Tweek twiddled his thumbs. It wasn't his place to say, but he couldn't hold his tongue on this. "I think he really was sorry."

"Yeah, I know," Craig repeated. "I know." He sighed. "Sorry. I just...I'll forgive him some time, but not right now. He threw my whole life out of sync and didn't even have the guts to help me set it back up. I think I'm entitled to making him squirm a little."

Tweek shrugged nervously. "Yeah, maybe, but you're not going to make him suffer too much, right?"

At least Thomas seemed to have friends to help him through Craig’s retribution, but Tweek still felt pity for him. Breaks up hurt, he knew that from experience, but all Tweek's breakups had been over issues much more trivial or minor than what Craig and Thomas went through.

"Another couple of weeks or a month, and I'll reach out," Craig muttered after a moment's thought, "but, Thomas and I are over. I couldn't ever trust him fully again." He flashed a smile at Tweek before taking his hands gently in his. "At least, I got one good thing out of this."

He bent down and kissed Tweek, slow and sweet. Tweek chuckled and rested his forehead against his.

"I wish I'd been able to meet you when I was younger. I think you would have made an awesome first boyfriend," Craig said with a lopsided smile.

"You know, I think I just thought of a great idea for a song if you'd like to head back to my place for the night and work on it," Tweek offered.

"I'd love that."

---

AN: Epilogue posted in a week

#south park #creek #Criag Tucker #Tweek Tweak #Revin #Sp Red #kevin stoley #Fanficiton #multi chapter #sp creek #Sp Thomas

36 notes · View notes

homiegeesus · 5 years ago

Text

The Year of Magical Thinking, Ch. 3

Summary: Francis Sinclair believed Arthur Morgan had not finished living. In a second chance at life, Arthur discovers what it means to love himself.

At the edge of a precipice and nowhere to run, Arthur concedes defeat. In an extraordinary turn of events, he is sent through the ether to another time where his path crosses with a group not too unlike his own family. After discovering the fate of those he loved before, he races to find a way back. But what if he realizes that there is something worth staying for in this new world? Can two people separated by nearly a hundred and twenty years of living find their happily ever after?

AO3 Link (edit: link fixed)

Author’s Note: So sorry for saying that I would post yesterday when I did not. We had some terrible weather 'round here, and it took me forever to get home last night. Long chapter is long, though. I know y'all are probably like "where is your OFC"? Well, she'll be introduced in the next chapter, I promise. I should have it posted in a couple of days. Shoutout to TheTiniestTortoise ( @shallow-gravy ) who has valiantly offered to beta this story (this chapter was not). Fair warning: I'm seriously going to take you up on this, so be prepared lmao. In the meantime, y'all need to go read "Blackbird's Song". It's a fantastic ArthurxOC take on the RDR2 plot, seriously drop everything and read it! Also, I created a "We Heart It" collection thing where I pin images that inspire me while writing. Just a warning, though: It might spoil some elements of the story. If you don't want any idea of where I'm taking the plot, do not click here.

Thank you to @tiesthatbind1899 (author of Memories of the West - another must read), for the idea. You're awesome.

Almost forgot, in this story, Blackwater is Dallas. I read in the wiki that Blackwater was likely modeled after early 20th century Dallas, so I'm running with it. Plus, it's where I live, and even though most authors can't agree on whether you should "write what you know", this is fanfiction, so hell yes I will write what I know...at least in the first few chapters lol. Hope y'all enjoy this chapter, and as always, constructive criticism welcomed and appreciated!

The Year of Magical Thinking

Chapter 3 - American Remains

Not knowing if the doctor wanted Arthur to follow, he stood for a moment and stared at the carving on the cave wall. After Steven exited the chamber, the cave was again silent allowing Arthur to observe and reflect. His fingers traced the broad lines of the design as he pondered just how the whole situation had come to pass. What an interesting sequence of events. One moment, Arthur was dying and the next he was not. Having been a hair’s breath away from death had changed him fundamentally. Suddenly being thrust into wellness had been jarring, to say the least. Itching to sketch the new carving, he reached to his side for his journal. Hand feeling empty air where his satchel would usually be, he closed his eyes and covered his face.

In a last act of brotherly affection, Arthur had given John his most important possessions: his father’s hat and his satchel along with everything in it. Suddenly, a deep homesickness fell on him like anvil. The realization that he would never see his family again caused a well of emotions to rise up and threaten to consume him whole. He didn’t belong in this place. If Arthur was a part of a dying breed back then, then how would one hundred and twenty years of so-called progress treat him? With no place to call home and not a penny to his name, how would he survive?

Feeling suddenly claustrophobic in this cool, damp place, Arthur turned and followed the path of Steven’s exit. As the natural light of the sun reached him, he felt a wave of humid heat hit his face, instantly causing tiny rivulets of sweat to breakout across his forehead. Finally exiting the cave, he stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. Even in the heat, Arthur delighted in clean, easy breathing. Tortured by diseased lungs in the past months, he had forgotten what it meant to be well.

Looking at his surroundings, he spotted Steven near a table off to the left of the clearing. Arthur began walking towards him, that is, until he spotted the younger man talking to himself. Rooted in place, he observed Steven holding what appeared to be a small black book while gesturing wildly with his arms.

Damn it, you old fool, Arthur inwardly chastised. He had driven the man to madness with his scarcely believable tale. He walked closer to make out the words coming from the young doctor. That’s when he heard the other voice bleeding from the air that surrounded them.

“Steven, my love, my future husband, my everything – if you do not make it to this dinner, I will leave you. And then, I’ll cancel you. You will be canceled!” The voice yelled, sounding as if it came from a phonograph. Arthur furrowed his brow and looked for the source.

“Nick,” Steven responded in voice that even Arthur could tell was full of condescension, “first of all, you know I love you, but you also know I hate these dinners. Secondly, I just told you that something came up at work.” He then cradled the little black book in both hands, thumbs moving wildly over the cover. “It’s incredibly important that –”

Nick interrupted, “It’s incredibly important that you be at this dinner. Steven, we’ve had this planned for two weeks. All of the partners are going to have their significant others with them. They’re expecting you there. They all fucking love you; always like ‘Steven is so charming’ or ‘God Nick, how did you bag a guy like Steven? He’s so funny and you are so – not.’”

Steven laughed, “They don’t say that.” He finally glanced up in Arthur’s direction, smile falling from his face.

“Ugh, yes they do. It’s annoying as shit. I mean, I can be funny,” the voice replied. Steven began looking from the book to Arthur and back again in quick succession.

“Babe, I gotta call you back –”

“Steven –”

“Nick,” Steven interrupted sternly, “I’ll call you right back, I promise.” Call? Arthur thought to himself. That little black book’s a telephone? Nah…

Nick sighed loud enough for both men to hear. “Just please show up tonight. It’s all I ask.”

Steven nodded as if he could be seen. Arthur thought maybe he could. They each said ‘I love you’ and Steven glanced up at him.

“Holy shit,” was all he said.

“What?” Arthur frowned.

Steven just shook his head and held out the little book, or whatever it was. From where Arthur was standing, he could barely discern what looked like a photograph. Steven glanced quickly between the object in his hand and Arthur’s face. He seemed to realize the older man’s cluelessness.

He dropped his arm halfway and grinned, “Oh sorry, you’re probably like ‘what the hell is this?” He gestured to the device and laughed. “Jesus, well, this is a phone. A telephone.” A flipped it in his hands, and then held it out to Arthur. “Go ahead. Check it out.”

Arthur stepped closer and cautiously took the gadget. Looking at it, what he saw would take him back some five years ago to a hunting trip he, John and Hosea had embarked upon in Tall Trees, a year before John had left to God knows where. The trip had been a fruitful one, as the trio had taken down a bear with size to rival the one they had caught in the Grizzlies. It was a good memory, set before his relationship with John had descended into spite and jealousy. He stared at the photograph, the sepia tone making it seem so unreal when his memories burst with color. Arthur, John and Hosea looking as serious as three feared outlaws could, each held rifles behind a large grizzly bear.

Arthur looked up to Steven, “Where’d ya get this?”

The corners of his mouth quirked as if he went to smile but then thought better of it. “That’s a, uh, long story. But I mean –,” Steven then smiled, “it’s you.” He laughed a little manically, “That’s you in that photo.”

Arthur, not realizing the significance of this moment, just replied with a shrug of his large shoulders, “Yeah.”

Steven briefly ran a finger over his lips as he continued to smile, “Dear God. How the hell did this happen?”

“Ain’t gotta clue,” the outlaw replied simply.

Steven just shrugged. “Well, in any case, we have to figure out what we’re gonna do with you. I mean,” he laughed, “you could come home with me, but my, uh – Nick would probably freak the hell out.” A considering look passed over his face. “Hey, you said you were sick before?”

Arthur nodded, “Yeah, but I ain’t coughin’ no more.”

“Tuberculosis?” Steven supplied. The other man’s eyes narrowed fractionally.

“How’d you know?” The doctor just gave a toothy grin.

“Mr. Morgan, you’re quite famous. Like Jesse James.” At Arthur’s perplexed face, he continued, “Didn’t you, like, have your own gang, or something? You know, like Jesse James did?”

Arthur laughed, “What? No.” He shook his head, “I was in one, but I weren’t the leader. That was Dutch.” Steven’s face lit in recognition.

“Oh yeah,” he then looked off to the side. “I haven’t seen any westerns since I was a kid, so I’m only vaguely familiar with the history.” He looked back to Arthur with a smile, “My friend Ada would know. She loves them.”

“Uh-huh. Western? Like a dime novel?” The outlaw asked, head tilted in question.

Steven shook his head. “No, movies. They’re like, uh –,” obviously wondering how to explain, “you know, moving pictures.”

“Oh yeah, I know ‘bout them. Used to go to the theater on special occasions an’ such,” Arthur recalled.

“Well, they’re a little different now,” the doctor laughed. “They’re in color and have sound, so –”

Arthur tracked his thumb across his stubbled chin. “Ain’t that somethin’,” he replied a bit in awe.

Steven smiled, “Yeah well, you’ve been portrayed a couple times, I think.”

Amazed, Arthur responded, “Yer kiddin’.” The younger man just shook his head.

“Nope. The only ones I know of came out a long time ago, like the ‘40s or ‘50s. Maybe earlier.” The outlaw lightly laughed.

He looked slyly to Steven. “Were they, uh – were they handsome?” The corner of Arthur’s mouth ticked slightly up.

Steven barked out a quick laugh. “Oh yeah. They were.” He shot the other man another toothy smile. “Though, I’m beginning to think that they didn’t do you justice!”

Unfamiliar with such bald-faced compliments, Arthur bowed his head in an attempt to hide the shy smile forming on his face. Damn it all, he didn’t have his hat. He just swatted his hand and said, “Nah.”

Steven was apparently having none of that. “Trust me, Arthur. Even covered in dirt, you’re a tall drink of water on a hot day.” He let out a loud guffaw at the sight of the blush that crept up on Arthur’s face. “I’m just messin’ with ya.”

Arthur just shrugged and tried to conjure up what little was left of his mean outlaw persona. “Yeah, well –”

“Alright,” laughing again, Steven stepped past Arthur, clapping him on his shoulder. “I’m gonna go turn off the generator and stuff, and then we’ll figure out what to do.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What in the hell was he going to do? Nick would kill him. No doubt about it. His future husband would whip out that Latin Fire and scorch him where he stood. Steven could see the inevitable conversation play out in his head. ‘Honey, I’ve brought home an outlaw from the 19th century. He’s going to be staying with us for a while. Oh, and he has a gun, and he could shoot us in our sleep and rob our corpses.’

“Jesus,” Steven said quietly to himself as he gathered the equipment around the worksite. His morbid train of thought was then interrupted by the shrill sound of his cellphone ringing. Grabbing the device from his back pocket, he looked at the screen.

Nick, the ID screamed at him. Steven stared at it a moment before answering.

“I swear I was just about to call you,” he started. He could hear the eye roll coming through the phone.

“Uh-huh. Why did you tell Jeremy to go home earlier?”

Shit. “Well, I uh –,” completely unsure with what to say and totally unfamiliar with lying to his partner, he explained the best he could. First though, “How did you know I sent Jeremy home?”

“You sounded weird when I spoke to you last, so I texted him. Stop trying to change the subject.”

Figures. He needed to teach the kid about worksite discretion. But right now, he had to get through this conversation. “Something did come up. Nick, there’s something I need to tell you.”

Nick responded in a concerned voice, “Steven, what is it? What happened?”

“Well – you see – I, uh, I’ve met someone else, and I’ve decided that we’re going to be together.” Steven paused a second, then added, “I’m leaving you.”

“Good lord, Steven. Be serious. I’m sitting here thinking you’re about to tell me you have cancer or something.”

“Oh, no. I’m healthy as a horse. I am leaving you, though.”

“Mi amor. Please. What’s going on?” Nick was sounding legitimately concerned now.

Steven sighed, “Look, I’ll tell you everything. This evening.” He added, “Just trust me. We’ll talk about it tonight after dinner, I promise.”

Giving a light chuckle, Nick reassured, “Okay, okay. I trust you. I wouldn’t be marrying you if I didn’t.”

“Thank you. I’ll see you tonight, okay?”

They said their goodbyes and hung up. Steven turned and looked at Arthur across the clearing. The outlaw was sitting at the picnic table, arms folded. Suddenly remembering a part of their conversation from earlier, he looked again to his phone. Selecting a contact, he dialed Lauren Linklater’s number. She answered on the third ring.

“Linklater.”

“Hey, it’s Steven. You gotta minute?”

He could hear a distinct crunching noise. “I’m at lunch. What’s up?” Always succinct and to the point. Steven appreciated that right now.

“Well, I have a question about something. Completely hypothetical,” he started.

“Okay.” She waited for him to elucidate.

“Okay, so again, completely hypothetical –”

“Steven.”

“Yeah?” He asked.

“I’ve got like ten minutes to eat before I have to go put my hands in some dude’s chest cavity –”

“Right. Yeah, sorry, so – say someone traveled through time from, I dunno, 1899 to our time. Would you be concerned about them getting deathly sick from something really simple, like a common cold? Would they be more susceptible?” Then he remembered, “Oh, and what if they had tuberculosis before they – you know, time-traveled?”

Steven figured she might be chewing her lunch, when it took a moment for her to answer.

“Is this a part of your weird cave art or something?” She asked.

“Rock carvings,” he corrected. “Well, kinda. I mean, yes. It is.” He explained, “I’m asking you because it’s a little bit outside my purview.”

“Okay, well, it’s a little bit outside of mine, too. This would be a great question for, I dunno, an epidemiologist or – heh, Doc Brown. I’m a general surgeon.”

Steve sighed, “Right. I just needed a quick opinion, so –”

“I just don’t want to give you incorrect information, especially for your job, ya know? If this is off the record, or whatever, I can try to resurrect some of the ole braincells from med school.”

He laughed, “Yes, if you could do that, I’d appreciate it.”

“Okay, so I probably wouldn’t be too concerned about this hypothetical person getting a modern day cold. Our immune systems are pretty badass, and it’s been that way for a long time. I’d be more concerned about a modern-day person going back, like, five hundred years, I guess. Still, I would maybe want to do a blood test and a cheek swab to make sure they’re not bringing small pox or something with ‘em. You say this hypothetical dude had TB?”

“Yeah, but afterwards, he didn’t have any signs of still being sick. And before, he was near death, like minutes or hours away.”

“Okay, well, they’d probably need to get checked out anyways. TB is highly treatable with antibiotics these days, so not much to worry about. If this dude wasn’t showing any signs of illness, chances are he didn’t bring it with him.” She then began to laugh.

“What?” Steven asked.

“Nothing, just – we’re talking about it like it exists. I dunno, just thought that was funny.”

“Yeah,” he breathed a laugh. He heard her begin chewing again.

“Steven.”

“What?”

He could hear the smile in her voice, “Did you find a diseased time-traveler?”

“Very funny,” Steven muttered sarcastically. “I’ll let you get back to your lunch, and your – chest cavity.”

Lauren laughed, “Okay, let me know how your project goes.”

“Will do.”

Hanging up, Steven sighed. Thinking about where in the hell he could stash a time-traveling cowboy, he walked back over to Arthur. The outlaw was hunched over the picnic table, staring intently at his hands. He looked up when Steven’s boots entered his field of vision.

“Well, we gotta head out pretty soon before traffic gets too bad.” He glanced in the direction of his car beyond the wall of pine trees.

Arthur frowned, “Traffic?”

Steven nodded, “Yup. You know, lots of vehicles, people.”

“Yeah, I know what traffic is. Jus’ wonderin’ if we’ll be goin’ through a city?” He clarified.

Motioning for Arthur to follow him, Steven elaborated, “Yeah, but not for a while. It’s pretty crazy, but it’s not just the cities that hold most people now. There are a shit ton of people in the boonies, too.” Judging by his expression, Arthur didn’t seem to like that little tidbit. Steven pointed to a couple of small crates, “Mind helping me carry these?”

Arthur moved to pick up one of the containers, “Naw, ‘course not.” Both men began walking along a path surrounded by trees leading out to the parking lot. Steven let out a loud laugh at Arthur’s face when they reached his silver Ford truck.

They sat down the crates as Arthur took a moment to absorb the vehicle in front of him.

Steven, thinking of the Bon Jovi song, tried his best to explain. “It’s like, uh, a steel horse. Ya know – “

Arthur just looked to him with a sardonic face, “I know whatta automobile is.”

Steven nodded, “Oh, right.”

“They’re just, ah – a li’l different than I remember ‘em.” Walking around the perimeter of Steven’s car, Arthur seemed to observe every little detail. Almost like an artist would a subject, he thought vaguely.

“Yeah, well.” Steven kicked a rock at his foot. “Wait ‘till you get inside.”

“Huh,” the cowboy huffed. Coming to stand beside Steven, he looked to the younger man. Placing his hands on his hips, Arthur pondered, “Just how would one go ‘bout doin’ that?”

Steven huffed out a laugh, “We’ll get to that, but first, we need to, uh – talk about your, uh, gun.”

“You ain’t takin’ my gun, Doc.”

“Steven, and it’s just –”, Steven took a step forward. Arthur’s hand went to his pistol grip, as if preparing to draw, and Steven shot his hands up in surrender. “Woah, I’m – I’m not going to take your gun, well – not for what you think. Can you just please take your hand off the gun? Please, don’t shoot me.”

Arthur acquiesced by removing his hand and briefly raising it palm forward in the air.

“Look, I’m not trying to take your gun, at least not for why you’re thinking. It’s just – times have changed. You can’t just walk around strapped like Jesse James.” Arthur quirked a dark brow. “I mean, this is Texas, but still. Cops can have itchy trigger fingers ‘round here.”

“Ain’t that all the more reason I should keep my gun?” Arthur’s deep voice drawled.

“No! Absolutely not!” Steven laughed incredulously. “I mean, that may seem logical to you, I guess, but trust me when I say you do not want to go shooting cops. ‘Law and order’ is – well, it’s just not the same as it used to be.”

Arthur looked pensive for a moment as he stared at Steven, as if to determine if the younger man was being truthful. Finally, his hands went to the buckle of his gun belt to loosen it. “You ain’t gonna make me regret this, are ya?”

Steven exhaled a nervous laugh, “What? No, no. I mean, you have more of a chance of being, I dunno, sucked up by a tornado than you have of being shot at between here and where we’re going.”

“Uh-huh, and jus’ where are we goin’?”

“Well, that’s TBD.” At Arthur’s confused expression, Steven quickly amended, “To be determined.”

“A’right,” the cowboy waved a hand in the air. “Let’s get a move on then.”

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

After placing the crates inside of the bed and Arthur’s gun belt under the backseat, the men climbed into the monstrosity of an automobile. Steven had shown Arthur how to open the door and put on a seatbelt, but it seemed easy enough. Sitting in the interior of this modern-day work horse, he luxuriated in the leather seat. He ran his fingers along the armrest, the treated leather feeling like smooth silk against his calloused hands. Looking up, his antiquated mind tried to conjure up why a person would need all these knobs and dials. What was their purpose? Steven settled into the seat beside him.

“You ready?”

“I gotta choice?”

Steven quirked a brow, “Not really.”

“Well then. There’s yer answer.”

And with that, the young doctor turned on the beast beneath them. Arthur did not expect the burst of noise that felt as if it hit him physically. Steven reached for the dials in front of them and quickly apologized.

“Oh god, sorry! I forgot I had the radio on, I’m so sorry,” he said quickly.

“Good god, man. How do you still have yer hearin’?” Arthur questioned, absolutely astonished.

“Yeah, that was loud. It keeps me going on a long drive.” He laughed, “I’m so sorry.”

Arthur just shook his head, “What in the hell was that?”

“Uh, music. Metallica, I think.”

The outlaw stared at Steven like he’d grown two heads, “Music? What the hell kinda music is that?” He shook his head. “Sounded like a thousand cats dyin’.”

Steven shrugged, “I think they’d like that comparison.”

The doctor tinkered with some levers and such around the wheel, and suddenly they were moving. Exiting the area, they pulled out onto the road. Despite the anxiety Arthur felt at the fast movement, he decided it wasn’t too terrible. That is until the speed caused his world to tilt.

Steven was chatting away about where they were going and what they would do when they got there, when Arthur began to feel utterly nauseated. Mesmerized by the white lines in the middle of the road as they moved past so quickly that they turned into one blur, his vision doubled, eyes nearly rolling back in his head. If Steven noticed, he didn’t say anything, so preoccupied as he was.

“I mean, we have a pullout couch. But our place is tiny. We’d be like sardines in a can. You had those in your time –”

“Doc.”

“– right? Of course, you did. Well, we’d be like sardines. It’d be uncomfortable. I’d ask –”

“Doc.”

“– Lauren, but she’s a doctor. She’s always working. It’s not like –”

“Pull over.”

“– I can leave you alone. Holy shit, I know who –”

Arthur finally raised his voice, “Steven!

Confused, Steven replied, “What?”

Looking at the other man, Arthur gritted lowly, “Stop this damn contraption ‘fore I vomit all o’er this nice leather.” Finally understanding, Steven pulled to the side of the road. As Arthur went to hop down from the vehicle, something jerked him back into place. Before the outlaw could grab his knife, Steven calmly reached over and unbuckled the belt. Murmuring a quick ‘thanks’, Arthur hauled himself out of the truck and into the field. A loud horn from another passing vehicle would have scared him out of his boots, if he hadn’t been so overcome with nausea.

Steven yelled a sarcastic, “Ok, thank you!” before saying to himself, “Asshole.”

Wiping his mouth, Arthur turned and walked back to the truck. Once they were both inside, Steven looked at him.

“You okay?” He asked, concerned. Arthur just nodded. Steven continued, “I didn’t even think about you getting motion sickness. Sorry ‘bout that.”

“S’alright,” Arthur said quietly.

The doctor handed him a bright pink pill of some sort and what looked like a clear canteen.

“It’ll help with the dizziness. Plus, it might even help you get some rest. We got a couple hours drive before we reach the city.” Arthur took it without question, washing it back with the warm water as Steven pulled the truck back onto the road.

He questioned, “City?”

“Yeah. Blackwater.”

Unable to help it, Arthur felt his blood run cold. Knowing that his bounty was long gone was not enough to keep his anxiety from spiking. Arthur did not say anything. This man knew his name, did he know his sins? Would he still be so generous and willing to take him in, knowing the blackness of the outlaw’s heart?

Steven briefly glanced his way. “I have an idea about where you can stay. I have to call her, but I know she’ll be okay with it.” He looked back at Arthur. “I think you’ll like her.”

Arthur just nodded, feeling the effect of the medicine begin to take hold. Eyelids turning heavy, he shifted until his head lulled forward. Exhaustion catching up with him, he surrendered to Morpheus in a dreamless sleep.

#Red dead redemption #red dead redemption 2 #Arthur Morgan x oc #Arthur x oc #the year of magical thinking #rdr2 #rdr2 fanfic #rdr2 fandom #rdr2 fic #arthur morgan

6 notes · View notes

probably-writing-x · 6 years ago

Text

High Society (Chapter 10)

~A Tom Holland AU Series~

Tags: @imarypayne @sunshine112 @sleepwalkingdragon @supernatural-girl97 @vibhati123 @butithasntkilledyouyet @faefictions @carisi-sonny @trap-house-homiecide @shamelessbookaddict @tommydaspidey @oneblckcoffee

Inspiration: Y'all know by now!!!

Warnings: Mentions of murder, language warning, mentions of gang crime and violence, mentions of teenage pregnancy

Notes: Thoughts, thoughts, thoughts??? The next chapter coming out is going to be the murderer reveal so be prepared guys!! I want to know all of your thoughts about who killed Imogen in the comments or my messages and asks are open too!!

~~~Friday 21st December 2018~~~

The end of term buzz around school was evidently pouring through the corridors, warming the smiles of every child here and brightening the teaching of every professor. You weren't surprised in the slightest that it wasn't mirrored in your own classroom. The hostile nature still hadn't left since the events of three weeks ago. Imogen's family were still investigating the robbery but were no closer to finding a suspect. Harrison had been forcing himself to act normal, slowly but surely distancing himself from the clutches of Imogen. Sam and Noah had still kept things private, only being seen together when you were at Tom's house and only together at all when they knew prying eyes weren't near. Lily had resulted to being a typical bitch, finding aquaintances with some people from the year below that were happy to follow her around like puppies and even managing to pick up a boyfriend at a local bar, a University student as you'd been told. Everyone was settling into this negative energy like it was nothing.

"Are you coming round tonight?" Tom asks, a question that had started to become a regular occurrence. You had managed to avoid the questions from your Dads by always telling them you were studying with Noah, or at gym, or trying out for the team, or sitting an out of hours test. There was always a reason and none of those reasons were ever true.

"I'd love to," You sigh, "But I need to go home before we leave for my grandparents. I brought your present to school though,"

"Then it's a good job I have yours too," He grins, patting the bulky shape of his rucksack.

It felt strange to be leaving for an entire month. You wouldn't be seeing the confines of these walls or the confines of this group for a full thirty days. How much would change by the time you returned?

"Who's excited for break mother fuckers?" Z grins as she walks into the room with more of a skip to her step than usual.

This was thankfully your last period of the day, one more hour and then you'd be leaving with certain cheers to signify the moment.

"Okay, folks," Mr Fitz calls order to the class, "It's time for your projects. Something about you, and something about someone else,"

"It's exposing time, boys," Harry laughs, flopping back in his chair.

"Well, Harry, would you like to begin?"

The first few are typical. Harry and Sam both say the same things about themselves and each other and have the same PowerPoint slides to back up their words. Noah and Zendaya speak about each other too, both exposing a definitely fake fact about the other. Harrison doesn't even have one completed - but he just claims it is down to special measures. Nobody questions it.

"Lily?" Mr Fitz calls and her heels click against the floor like the ticking down of a dreaded clock.

"Well, what don't you already know about me? I'm going to graduate at the top of this class, and I'm going to be more successful than all of you," Lily grins, shrugging her shoulders with oozing confidence, "Now, (Y/N), what don't they know about you?"

You see the way Tom clenches his jaw and the way fear courses through his veins for a lingering second.

"How about yours and Tom's pathetic relationship?" She cocks a brow, "Or what about this little gem,"

What she lifts out of her bag next makes you go weak.

"Why on earth would you have any use for a, pregnancy test, little miss perfect?" She chuckles, waving the empty box around, "Go on then, tell us the result,"

You see that Tom's eyes are on you and they're full of a mix of worry, panic and annoyance. Words fail you completely.

"That's enough now Lily, please sit down," Mr Fitz waves her off and she gladly takes her seat, "(Y/N), would you like to follow on from that?"

You look to Tom for a split second who is clearly hoping for a bit of an explanation but gets nothing as your chair scrapes against the cold tiles and you make the walk up to the front of the class. Everything had been prepared for yours. Down to the clicking of your presentation and the tone of your voice - it was when your perfectionism became too much.

"I guess I did have something planned but I can't really speak too much about that now," You begin, setting the papers down on the desk, "Lily, you're right. That was in my bag and I did take the test. If that's exposing something about myself then I'll take it. But, if I've learnt anything in the past months here, it's that all you care about is the face value. That's all this school runs off of. That test could be positive, negative or a completely false result. And it wouldn't change anything. You crave that single moment where you think you're better than me and the rest doesn't matter. So, Lily, what do you want me to say? I think you've already said enough,"

The silence settling over the group gives you an insentive to return to your seat, knowing your piece had been said already.

Tom doesn't even manage to say anything after that, but you know he wants you to feel his reassurance in in the way his hand squeezes yours under the table. Explanations could come later.

"Well, now that's over!" Imogen chirps, jumping up and spinning to face you all at the front of the room, "I don't really care for exposing myself but I do certainly have something I think you'd all be very excited to hear about,"

She clicks over the slide and shows a photo of Sam, laughing at his brother behind the camera.

"About six months ago, little Sammy here got himself into some trouble," She begins to explain, "What happened, kiddo?"

Sam is frozen in his spot. As are Tom and Harry.

"I'll proceed," She rolls her eyes, "You, mister, got yourself involved with a gang and..." The photo switches to one of a young boy, about your age with an innocence already echoing in his unknown features, "Wh-"

"You fucking bitch!" Tom yells, slamming his hand on the desk and standing up, "How is this any of your fucking business?"

"Mr Holland, please sit down," Mr Fitz begins and it is almost humorous that he thinks it is going to have any impact.

"I'm gonna fucking kill you!" Tom continues, "Keep your mouth shut and keep your ass out of our business!"

Imogen lets out a laugh and flicks her hair over her shoulder, everyone else stunned to a deathly silence.

Who was that boy?

"That's it, class dismissed," Mr Fitzgerald confirms, "Imogen, Sam and Tom, please stay behind,"

You all uncomfortably rise in the drastic turn of events and take your bags to leave. It takes more courage than necessary for you to glance back at Tom before you exit, whose eyes are still flaring with a built up anger you were fearful to see escape.

"(Y/N)," Harry starts when you walk away from the room, "It was Imogen who found that test. I saw her take it from your locker when you were in class. Before she gave it to Lily, I took out the actual test so they haven't seen the result," He takes it, wrapped in tissue, out of his bag, "I promise I didn't look,"

You can't help but release a fraction of the tension on your shoulders, "Thank you Harry,"

"And about that boy?" He begins, clearly questioning whether you wanted to know anymore, "Sam got himself involved in that same gang as Harrison. He tried using it as an escape when he felt really alone. And he became one of them,"

You stop in your tracks when you two reach the stairs, taking a seat on one of the lower ones.

"That boy was someone that that gang didn't like. They forced Sam into helping them finally give him 'justice'. And, one night, they jumped him when he was coming back from work," Harry continues, completely transparent with you now, "And they just attacked him, it was brutal and pure evil. Sam promises me he never laid a finger on him, but he's never forgiven himself for walking away,"

"How did Imogen know about that?" You frown, feeling a shudder cross your spine as you pictured that young face that had been on the screen.

"I don't know, that girl knows far too much than is good for her," Harry sighs, dragging a hand through his untamed curls, "I should go, they're just coming out,"

You glance up and notice Imogen, Tom and Sam all leaving the class. Tom has clearly relaxed but still doesn't look himself, Sam looks like a rabbit in headlights and Imogen shows no sign of remorse for what she'd just done. It made your blood boil.

"Is this seat taken?" Tom's voice is croaky and far from the warm tone you were falling in love with.

"It is now," You smile, watching as he sits down in the empty shadow where his brother had just been, "Are you-"

"Okay?" He smirks, "God no. But Sam's just thankful nobody heard anything more so that's good,"

"Harry told me what happened," You admit. Would he be annoyed for you getting involved in their business?

"It saves me the trouble. I was going to tell you, it's just not the best conversation to start having," He admits, dragging a hand over his face.

"I guess that's what it was like with the test," You mumble, your fingers brushing over the rough ply of the tissue that concealed it, "I didn't know when I could ever start to bring something like that up,"

"You know whatever it says, I'll be-"

"T," You stop him, placing your hand over his, "I didn't even take the test. I know I'm not pregnant. After we, you know, I started overthinking it all and so I bought a test. But I know I'm not pregnant,"

Tom visibly relaxes and lets out a slight laugh, "Well, that class was a complete disaster then,"

You chuckle with him, "What a way to end the term,"

"No," Tom stops you, "We don't even know if you're coming back next term, so I don't want that to be your last memory of this place."

He rummages in his bag and pulls out your present, you following suit and grabbing his too. Your hands found the clearly hand wrapped present and he did the same to the box you'd given him. Watching to see his reaction, you're thankful when you see him pull out the pair of boxing gloves with a beaming smile on his face.

"(y/n) these are amazing!" He exclaims, turning them round to see the artistic doodles that all had some small relation to him, "Where did you even get these?"

"Well, I designed them myself and then my Dad knew someone and they made them properly," You explain, a weight releasing as you see the excitement on his face, "Can I open mine now?"

Tom nods, less eager than before as he watches you with a bubbling anxiety, "If you don't like it I ca-"

You bring your hands up and hold up the glistening piece in the catching sunlight echoing in quiet corridors. In your view, dangles a petite silver chain, decorated by a small pendant of two boxing gloves wrapped around each other that swung gently in your released breath.

"T, this is-" You begin but the teats pooling in your eyes erase all focus from your words, "It's perfect, thank you,"

You see him visibly relax and he reaches out to clip it around your neck, his fingers grazing gently over your skin, "Since you're not going to see me for a month, I figured you'd need something to remember me by,"

"We're not dying Thomas," You laugh, easing the romantic tension, "I'm sure you could live without me for that long,"

"Are you kidding?" He chuckles, "You don't even know if you're coming back here after Christmas!"

You look down for a moment to your hands and focus on the wrapping paper that had fallen to Tom's feet.

"God, if Imogen wasn't here, everything would be a damn sight easier, right?" He shakes his head and you realise how much of an impact that girl had on him.

From his brother, to someone who might as well be his brother, to you; she'd affected you all. And, in turn, she'd left a deep set hatred for her in Tom's heart.

"Don't think about that, or her, or anything," You nudge him, finding comfort in the way his arm rises instinctively to wrap around you, "Let me just enjoy this school for another few minutes,"

He squeezes you towards him and the two of you stare out at the dead corridors, with their fallen air and settled distress.

And, for a moment, you forget all of the lies and deceit that they hold. Only for a moment.

~~~Wednesday 30th January 2019~~~

"You learnt a very important story during your time away at Christmas, Miss (y/l/n), what was that?" The woman asks and you were sure you'd been in this room for hours on end by now.

"My Dads always told me that, when I felt ready, they would tell me about my mum and the family I had before they adopted me," You begin, your hand instinctively reaching for the boxing glove pendant around your neck, fiddling with it across the cold metal chain, "So, when we were away for the holidays, I decided to finally ask them more about it. I wanted to know who my mum was,"

"And can you confirm what they told you?" She raises her brows and you know she's thankful for this twist in events.

"They told me that my mum was young when she had me. And, when I was born, her other daughter wasn't even a year old. In fact, we would've been in the same school year,"

"Even more important, you were in the same school year, weren't you (Y/N)?"

"When I asked about my half sister, they told me her name was Imogen. And she was the reason they wanted me out of that school," You confirm, the thought still forcing goose pimples onto your skin, "That's why I couldn't hate her. She was my fucking sister,"

You see the woman wince at your words, "Why are you so angry about that? She's family, no?"

"I was born into a life that I wasn't wanted in at all. I was a complete accident and my own mother dreaded the thought of having me," You snap, gripping onto your necklace with whitening knuckles, "Imogen grew up with a life that I was completely dismissed from. I didn't hate her, but I couldn't just accept that,"

"When did Imogen learn of this news? Did you contact her over the break?"

"I didn't speak to her," You shake your head, "Not until the night of the winter ball,"

"And by the night of the winter ball, you mean the night that Imogen, your own recently-discovered sister, was murdered?"

"Yes."

45 notes · View notes

stoopsbookstore · 7 years ago

Text

Greaser!Wonwoo Part 1

(A/N) SO... I decided to do this. I finally got the courage to do this. I was debating if I should do this for Wonwoo or Jaehyun, like I was writing this for Jaehyun, but I have a different idea for him now. I have a massive AU that I've had in my head for a good year now and there's most likely gonna be little hints to it in all of these 😐 Please keep in mind that I'm on mobile 99% of the time so some formatting may be weird. Another thing... I might have Sims based on these scenarios that I might make another blog for 🤔

Reader - Female

Greaser!Wonwoo... no one knows who he was until he started to hang out with the Diamond Gang, Pledis Prep's local criminals

He just kinda appeared out of nowhere with Mingyu

Rumors has it he's a narc, but that doesn't make sense... he's.... in the gang... like Seungcheol has straight up said that if Wonwoo was a narc, ain't no one would know he even existed

What had happened was Minghao and Mingyu were partners with Wonwoo for an assignment

Wonwoo has dragged to a race one day and was just kinda thrown in the car after Mingyu get his head smacked

You know that scene in Grease where Kenickie gets hit in the head before Thunder Road?

Yea, that's Mingyu and Wonwoo right now

Seungcheol told Wonwoo if he wins, he doesn't have to join the Diamond Gang, he can just leave with no consequences and live his life. If he loses, he's now the group's running bitch

Take a guess at what happens?

He actually wins, but Jeonghan convinced him to stay with promises of getting to know how to break into the local library after hours

You wanna know how Jeonghan knows this? He's not only lazy, he's also the librarian's son, he has a key duh

Y/N was the stereotypical good girl

Follows rules? Check. Straight A's? Check. Always home at curfew? Check.

Wonwoo hates being called a Greaser and he finds the Socs name stupid

Wonwoo thinks the labels are just pretentious bullshit

Seungcheol has told Wonwoo horror stories about the Socs

How they treats their girls, how they have the cops wrapped around their fingers, how Jeonghan was put out of comission for 3 months just for walking on Soc territory

Wonwoo tries not to believe the b.s., but it's really hard when it seems like all there is, is just a bunch of hatred between the groups

So, he walks around the town, Masonridge, to just clear his mind, when he sees the Soc gang, Neo, at the baseball park, beating up someone who looks to be protecting someone else?

Wonwoo looks around for something to wave in the air to make himself look scary, seeing as he doesn't have the Diamond Gang leather jacket yet.

Right now he's in his glasses, a light yellow sweater with the cutest little sweater paws

He sees a bat left behind by the Pledis baseball team and he goes up to Neo and confronts them

He sees Johnny, Taeil and Yuta turn around and he gets a closer view of the situation

It's Dino... protecting Y/N... after she said she wouldn't sleep with Johnny

At this point, Wonwoo sees red and he starts swinging

The 3 memebrs of Neo seeing this haul ass back to S.M. Academy, but not before Yuta warns Wonwoo that Y/N is just a troubled slut in a poodle skirt

Dino helps calm down Wonwoo and they both help Y/N

Y/N is kind enough to let both of them come to her house, seeing as her parents aren't home, for some tea and so she can wrap up Dino's wounds

Wonwoo texts Seungcheol to let him know what just went down and Seungcheol texts him to stay at Y/N's, let Dino rest and don't let Y/N out of his sight

Tbh this takes place in one of those future of the pasts, like it's 1950s styled... but it takes place in the present

Anywho, all three finally get home and Wonwoo and Y/N patch Dino up and after a little bit, he decides to take a nap because as we all know, getting the shit beaten out of you hurts a lot and may or may not take a lot of energy out of you.

Wonwoo starts to douse off and he doesn't even notice that Y/N left the room until his phone buzzed and he got a text from an unknown number saying Y/N looks really good standing on her balcony right now, with a photo attachment of Y/N looking like a goddess out to the fading skyline

Wonwoo immediately shoots up from the couch, calling for Y/N

He sees her chilling on the balcony, swaying with her cat, Mochi, to some Michael Buble

He's just hypnotized... like he's not one to fall in love at first sight, so he'll call this love in the first 4 hours of knowing you

He finally speaks up, making sure you're okay after what happened

Putting Mochi down, you say you're fine, just a little shaken up

Wonwoo and you are quiet for a little bit, until he finally asks why Yuta called you what he did

You tell him about him the story of your father and mother. Your mom was a Greaser and your dad was a Soc

Within the first year of your life, your mom left with your dad's best friend, who was also a Greaser

Using the excuse she needed more freedom and adventure and that's exactly your dad's friend could provide

When you turned 16, your dad was super protective of you, but you decided to act out like your mother

You got wrapped up in the wrong group, you hung out with Neo and your first love was Yuta, as you were his. You gave your virginity to him, he gave his to you

After that happened, he started to act distant and become more of the Danny Zuko type of Greaser, flirted with everyone, tried to get into everyone's pants, he literally didn't give a fuck anymore

Turns out, while he originally did love you, he just kinda stopped, but he still cared about you... so instead of just ending it, he just led you on and continued to let you believe that he was in love with you1a

After that night when you both lose your virginities, he started to ghost you and you saw him less and less and even thought it was never offical, it was unofficially offical.

So to cope with your heartbreak, you ended up throwing yourself into studying and this is when you met Dino

Yuta didn't like that you were talking with another guy even if it's someone like Dino who you saw as a brother.

Yuta was pissed so he started to spread a rumor about the reason y'all broke up was because you were sleeping with everyone at all of the schools around Masonridge

Yugyeom from JYP Prep, Hyuk from Jellyfish School of Music, and 4 of the other members of Neo were just a fraction of the names that were thrown around. All of them denied it except the Neo members of course

Your father was pissed and while you apologized about treating him the way you did, he didn't fault you because you realize what you were doing

Wonwoo, sensing your tears and against his better judgement, immediately hugged you and held you while you cried

While this was happening, your father came down and saw Dino on the couch, curled up like a cat, using his Diamond Gang jacket as a pillow and Mochi's favorite blanket to cover himself

Knowing Dino, he didn't question this , but still your father goes looking for you and finds you asleep on the bench, while Wonwoo is pacing, trying to stop himself from destroying Yuta

Your dad speaks up asking who he is

Wonwoo introduces himself as one of Dino's friends

Turns out your dad knows exactly who he is because you talked about the tall cute brooding guy who sits in the corner of the library and you're too scared to ask him to move so you could get a book you needed for class

Wonwoo blushes at the fact that you told your father you think he's cute

Your dad shakes you awake because he doesn't want you to fall asleep on the bench when it looks like a storm is coming oh if he only knew

Dino and Wonwoo are offered to stay for dinner and they won't turn down free food like ever

While your dad and Dino are setting up the table, you and Wonwoo are cutting the vegetables and doing the prep

Wonwoo keeps taking peeks at you wondering if you still thinks he's cute or if you don't even like guys anymore or has your shirt always been unbuttoned to the 3rd button and are you getting hot because he is and are yo-

In the middle of thinking, he slices his finger and Nurse Y/N is needed one again hmm... nurse Y/N with Patient!Member? 😏 but what kind of patient is the question

You bring him to the guest room because your dad is very queasy when it comes to blood it makes that time of the month SO MUCH FUN

Wonwoo is sitting on the guest bed while you're cleaning the wound and wrapping his index and middle finger together and Wonwoo just can't stop thinking about how cute you look so focused

You put the final touches on and before you get up to the first aid kit away, Wonwoo sees his chance and kisses you

At first you were confused but then you melted into it

He tasted like coffee and mint and your lips had a light tinge of strawberries

He didn't want to scare you or your dad or Dino. So, he just kept his hands down by his side

Much to his shock, you decided to straddle him and kiss him a bit harder

Wonwoo was in a state of pure bliss until Dino knocked on the door causing you to stand straight up and Wonwoo to fall back in disbelief

Dino, totally oblivious to what was happening beforehand, cheerfully told yall it was time for dinner

Cue the most awkward dinner for Wonwoo, sitting there thinking about the kiss and all of his feelings because he's been thrown for a tailspin in the past month between becoming a member of the Diamond Gang and falling in love after 4 hours with a Soc

Seungcheol finally comes to pick the two after dinner and he thanks you for helping, even shaking your father's hand

You asked your father why he was so chill with the Greasers in his house. Not only Greasers, the notorious Diamond Gang

He said that in his years of being a cop, he noticed that the Diamond Gang hasn't done anything wrong except for drag racing

Other than that, they're just a group of guys who found the real home in each other and anyone who hangs out with Dino is a good kid

And he already likes Wonwoo miles ahead of Yuta

The next day, Yuta confronts you about being with Wonwoo, saying what does Wonwoo have that he doesn't?

You started to list everything about Wonwoo, even the little things about him, that made Yuta furious because you never talked about him like that

Yuta challenged Wonwoo through you, you could say

Yuta tried to pull that whole if he's so good why won't he race me bullcrap and before he could say the last word, Wonwoo accepted

Yuta marched away and you looked at Wonwoo like what the hell

Wonwoo gets up all this courage and says that he knows that he can and will win if you're there with him, cheering alongside the Diamond Gang

You told Wonwoo that Yuta plays very dirty and he's not one to be taken lightly

You smack his arm but also tell him that you'll be there with Nayoung and Roa

The day comes and you couldn't be anymore nervous, you kept thinking what if Yuta does something drastic to hurt Wonwoo and holy shit you've felt this way about one other guy and that was Yuta and you don't like this feeling but you like Wonwoo and has Wonwoo always had that nice of a chest in a white t-shirt?

Nayoung shook you off of your thoughts as the guys got in their cars, Yuta shooting you a wink and Wonwoo blowing you a kiss you know that snarky kiss Xiumin did? with the two fingers? Yea it's like that just with more love instead of snark

Xiyeon stated the rules... there was no rules... and started the countdown

3.... Wonwoo looks at you, 2..... he mouths I love you, 1..... he hits the gas pedal

Both taking off like a rocket, Wonwoo was behind for a good chunk of the race

The turn was coming up and Yuta has going well over 70 while Wonwoo was going to drift

Yuta takes the corner....

But he takes it too wide and crashes

Wonwoo stops, just lead foot on the brake and he unbuckles and runs to Yuta's car

He's shouting and trying to get a response from Yuta, anything, a groan, shout of pain, something

#jeon wonwoo #wonwoo #seventeen headcanons #wonwoo headcanons #seventeen scenarios #wonwoo scenarios #seventeen #seventeen au #sleepy sloth #my writings

59 notes · View notes

commedias · 7 years ago

Text

hello, i'm finally poppin' back in here to post my first official headcanon/self-para/extensive blurb which i had a poll on a week ago to see which muses y'all wanted to be featured in. the results turned out to be oh hongbin, lee kyungri, and bae 'sunny' seunghee, aka the gang that went to dartmouth together and then went down their paths of life from there ! i recently hit three hundred followers and today was the TWO month milestone for my blog, so i wanted to do this in celebration instead of a traditional follow forever. thank you to everyone who voted and i'd love to make this a regular thing if people would be interested !

present day.

nimble fingers swift over the office desk to reveal a film of dust. since securing the election as governor of nevada, he's been whisked away to countless conferences with the press. his hectic schedule hadn't allowed a spare moment to perch up at his desk and pore over casework. he emits a faint sigh, the room cast in darkness as all the lights have been switched off. as part of his new position, he has to relocate to a more spacious office that will accommodate the increased workload. his staff has been dismissed for the day, hongbin once again pensively reflecting in his office. only one person remains: his newly hired secretary, bae seunghee, or 'sunny' as she asked to be called. he hears the click of her heels in the distance, their syncopated rhythm eerily reminiscent to the louboutins his former secretary, lee kyungri, sported on a daily basis.

both women had been part of his days back at dartmouth, the dim period of early adulthood that marked itself with a streak of sunrise. since then, he had known nothing but sunset, the orb sinking behind the sky, eluding him, as he kept chasing after it. it had started when his mother had a negative reaction to her prescribed medication for her schizophrenia, prompting him to leave university to tend to her. since then, the sunny brilliance of youth had been nothing more but a remote memory, hongbin only familiar with the darkness of his mother's spiraling condition and his own mental fortitude within politics.

even so, his own pure conviction remained intact. that hadn't changed from his college days. the same change he championed for back on the grassy campus of dartmouth still held a place in his heart as he rose to a status which could finally enact said change. now the fate was in hand, whether he could bring the sun back into full radiance with his agenda for goodwill or whether it would descend below to the horizon into an unspeakable place, only leaving the pitch-black sky that was the true nature of politics. with such a destiny on his shoulders, the burden proved almost unbearable, speculating whether the man he had been back in his time as a student had been a lunatic or not.

the steady movement of his secretary's heels jolt him back into focus. he smoothes his tie over and hovers over his desk in imitation of studying some important files. he doesn't even have the spirit to reprimand her, the secretary nowhere close in terms of talent as lee kyungri. she had dutifully served him for seven years up until the precipice of heartbreak, the woman harboring an unrequited love for him the entire time. her work had always been impeccable, continued to be until her very last day, but her eyes grew weary and hair mussed from sleepless nights since he procured a sugar baby. since then, him and the sugar baby had parted ways, but he had loved her with every ounce of his being — a love which kyungri coveted for herself to the point where she couldn't remain working for him.

seunghee enters without knocking per usual, her liberal character leading her to neglect such etiquette. a silk blouse hugs her voluptuous chest, neckline concaving to reveal a generous fraction of cleavage. he flits his gaze upwards, mimicking as if he had just finished reading over the fictional files, before blinking vacantly at the sight. he groans in exasperation knowing that she had donned the shirt intentionally to seduce him — a failed venture on his part. her coquettish nature hadn't changed since college apparently, recalling how starkly her and kyungri contrasted each other. his relations with both women had been brisk, perfectly innocent, but given the choice, he would take kyungri's reticence over seunghee's bold behavior any day. however, he keeps her around, kyungri adamant that she would be a suitable replacement for her position though seunghee had yet to demonstrate enough skill to confirm her friend's conviction.

❛ sir, i found something you might want to keep, ❜ cherry red lipstick paints the secretary's lips, in accord with her signature style, but the tone is more solemn than her usual lilt he tilts his head in inquiry, unsure of what would compel her to act so formally towards him. perhaps she's begun to shape up as a secretary, exhibiting the proper work etiquette as she should be. she inches closer, steps scored by the heel hitting the floor, to hand him a framed photo of the three of them together back at dartmouth. he knew the photo had been installed at his desk at one point, but must have wandered around the office due to prying staff wondering about his days back at dartmouth. the trio all have beaming visages, hongbin merrily stuck in the middle with arms slung around both girls. to his left, seunghee sports a low-cut black camisole, decolletage accentuated by the silver locket strung around her neck. to his right, kyungri's petite frame has been sheathed in an oversized sweatshirt, glasses threatening to slide down the slope of her nose. twenty-something oh hongbin dons a crisp-button up and khaki pants despite the occasion: their first party together.

seven years ago.

the pair bounce along unsuspectingly to their first party per request of kyungri's sorority sister, bae 'sunny' seunghee. both of them aren't in any position to deny, kyungri obligated to fulfill her duties as an honorary member of alpha phi and sunny stressing to hongbin that he would be DEAD if he dared let kyungri go without a date. despite his seniority over her, sunny's imposing nature had instilled a chord of fear even into him, the third-year revered on campus as the future steve jobs. besides, some mutual friends from a fraternity he socialized with (though never joined, too distracting for his studies) had egged him on, insisting that it was a crime against nature that a third-year had never attended a college party. his nose had been so buried in textbooks up until now that he didn't even consider a social life. kyungri, on the other hand, was eagerly attempting to form one, hence her inititiation into a sorority. growing up in the midwest as a minority, she always faced racial stigma that prevented her from befriending many. now the both of them would be thrust into a social setting where retreating to their books would be IMPOSSIBLE.

hongbin links arms with kyungri, not noticing the shade of coral which deepens in her cheeks from the gesture. most jaws would slacken at the sight, the first-year student bearing a strong hatred against any and all men. oh hongbin, however, was an exception to this. since rescuing her from some misogynistic students on campus and elaborating on his ambitions to promote the asian-american identity and mental health reform, she had become smitten with his nobility. little did she know in years to come that her infatuation would become the driving force for her career, the woman accompanying an up-and-coming politician right until the peak of his success. for now though, they were simply college kids dressed far too formally for the occasion and in for a surreal experience.

they thread their way past drunken guests, nearly spilling someone's cup in the process. kyungri's nose prunes at the foul stench of alcohol permeating the air. fortunately, hongbin has no intentions of offering her a drink, preferring to abstain himself. shielded by hongbin's guard over her and the sweatshirt which didn't do justice to her shapely figure, she had nothing to fear for. only in later years would men start to approach her, once the sweatshirts were swapped for designer clothes, the glasses traded for expensive accessories she bought with her earnings as oh hongbin's secretary. as for hongbin, plenty of greetings are issued his way, the man somewhat esteemed on campus. he's breezed through all of his courses effortlessly, teachers lauding him for his performance and making it known among fellow students. he's amicable, a part of his natural civility, allowing most people to procure a fondness for him.

kyungri hadn't experienced such luck. society constantly willed against her, at least it seemed so. raised in a small rural town, she was subjected subjected to the discrimination of her peers. countless slurs had been slung her way, the girl taunted for being a "chink." her academic accomplishments went without recognition due to the asian stereotype which preceded. those who did take notice mocked her, claiming a female couldn't amount to much, let alone ascend to the same status as a man. since then, she had subverted their beliefs through her participation in national science competitions. however, her heart was firmly rooted in law, determined to restore the world to its proper balance of justice. with such a reputation from her previous feats, she attracted a fair number of attention though not all positive. many upperclassmen ridiculed her just as she endured in high school. those who did approach her with more friendly intentions were met with a menacing glare and an awkward air, her social skills poorly developed.

the few pats on his back hongbin receives upon entering the party don't go without a raised eyebrow, dumbfounded on why he would attend the event with a first-year. women whom have admired him from afar cast envious glances at kyungri, sipping conspicuously on their mixed concoctions. in the center of it all, sunny stands on a couch, dancing heedlessly to the heavy trap music blaring in the speakers. in her hand, a near empty bottle of beer tips precariously, on the verge of dousing the carpet at any moment. she's perfectly sober, the beer unable to produce much of an effect. but she's drunk on the energy she's absorbed from the room, from her vivacious nature and the boys fawning over the attractive first-year. her lids flutter open, previously closed in a trace from the music, as the tempo shifts to settle upon hongbin and kyungri. she gracefully descends from her spot on the couch, lounging on the furniture as if it's positioned there for her use alone.

❛ i'm glad you two could make it, ❜ her voice comes out in hushed thunder, as if she's anticipating some swell of ardor to sweep her back into the music, the energy, the aura that fits her like a glove. she combs her fingers through long tresses (which in later years will be cropped short), twirling around a single thread before leaning forward to face kyungri. she plants a gentle peck on her cheek, leaving a trace of bright red lipstick on her skin. kyungri dampens her thumb with her tongue, fervently wiping away at the residue. in doing so, a blush floods her cheek just as deep a shade of red as the lipstick which has stained her. seunghee pulls away with a melodic laugh, surveying the both of them as the bottle of beer sways back and forth haphazardly. ❛though you two look like you're going to class instead of a party, ❜ a few men flock around her, one of them offering a brownie in light of the celebration. she intially declines before brows raise in revelation, plucking one of the treats and presenting it to the pair standing before her.

❛ i'm sure you two are HUNGRY, come and take a bite, ❜ kyungri's eyes widen in alarm. even in her short time as part of alpha phi, she's already fallen victim to making such a mistake. her lips part to warn hongbin, only to find that he's already shoveling the brownie into his mouth. ❛ mm, delicious, ❜ he murmurs, hand guarding his mouth in light of him speaking with his mouth full. he bows his head reverently, indicating his apology for the lack of manners, though that should be the least of his concerns. she grants seunghee a reproachful look, teeth slated as she doesn't want to start a confrontation. instead, she ushers hongbin to a secluded area of the room. the packed capacity of the place puts kyungri in discomfort. she's inadequate in terms of social skills, hence preferring the solitude of her dormitory over the space of the party. hongbin shares similar sentiments, already equipped with water bottles for the both of them in lieu of alcohol.

the two remain within their own circle, absorbed in their own chatter to where everyone else in the vicinity drowns out. she wishes it could continue like this, that the night would peacefully tide over with them talking and nothing more. but seunghee had to place the brownie into the situation, flourishing off the gesture with an encouraging wink as kyungri dashed off with hongbin before she could incite further trouble. they're lounging on the couch not even an hour after seunghee had offered him the brownie when the shift occurs, hongbin desperately downing more of the water they had nearby. ❛ my mouth is so dry, ❜ he comments, taking another gulp no sooner than he had finished the last. kyungri extends her hand supportively towards him, flinching once she realized what she had tone. she demures, face averting downwards. he only looks at her absently, mildly surprised by how prominent her touch feels. he's oblivious to his condition, only knowing that the sensation of her skin against him brought with it a profound depth.

he strokes his thumb over her hand, fascinated by how the texture of it felt. his eyes flit up towards her, tinted red from his influenced state. the sight elicits a laugh from the girl, lips curving in a simper. when he entreats her to tell him what's so funny, she only declines with an ambiguous smirk. the impulse comes over hongbin to remove her glasses, the bulky frames obscuring a full view of her face. he reaches forward without forethought, his action unveiling a pair of rich brown hues burning with suspicion from his sudden gesture.

❛ w-what are you doing ? ❜ she stammers, taken aback by the spontaneity of it all.

❛ i just wanted a closer look at you ❜

❛ there's not much to look at, ❜

❛ sure, there is, ❜

❛ like what ? ❜

❛ well, there's this, ❜ his hand grazes against the scar lining her cheek, so faded at this point that many mistook it for a beauty mark.

and that was the story she told upon question. most people wouldn't believe the alternative anyhow, that she had received it from a beating of a schoolyard bully back in middle school. it was only one of the many reminders of her isolated childhood in which she had no one to confide in. nothing like how it was now, with him, the man sitting across from her with eyelids drooping and a lazy smile written on his features. ❛ it's a beauty mark, hongbin. ❜

his hand doesn't falter, still gliding across the blemish on her skin. she doesn't have the courage to ask him to stop, nor the willpower. ❛ you're lying. ❜

❛ it's a secret, ❜ she offers instead, not willing to elaborate on its true origins.

❛ don't keep secrets from me, kyungri, ❜ his lips form a petulant pout, the cannabis inducing him to appear far more child-like in his mannerisms than he normally composed himself. his hand cups her jaw completely, suspended in a pleasant haze from the intensified sense of touch. she's about to counter, to change the subject, but hongbin's already being lulled into a drowsy state. he hadn't received much sleep the past few days, anxiously studying for a round of exams, to where it would have been in his best interest to forgo the party entirely. but he had went for her sake, accompanying her per sunny's request and his own concern for her. he nestles into the pillow created by the folds of her oversized sweater. she releases a shaky breath, not accustomed to the close proximity between them.

❛ i'm tired, let me lay here for a bit, ❜ he pleads. she obeys his request, legs folded cross-legged on the sofa with hongbin burrowed into her lap. in moments such as these, she found him boyish, as if sleep was his way of catching up on the childhood robbed of him from rigorous studies of law and regular visits to his mother at the psych ward. kyungri lets him rest, not wanting to disturb him from one of the rare chances he permitted himself to sleep. the man had plenty to awake to, more than enough to occupy him in the obscure hours of the night when he should be reprieving his body. from then on, she took it upon herself to not let him do it alone, able to sympathize with a childhood lost. yet both of them in adulthood had an endless amount to gain, a victory best experienced together.

#* ∘ ∙ —— jongdae screaming ; important posts.#* ∘ ∙ —— headcanons ; oh hongbin.#* ∘ ∙ —— assortments ; oh hongbin.#* ∘ ∙ —— headcanons ; lee kyungri.#* ∘ ∙ —— assortments ; lee kyungri.#* ∘ ∙ —— headcanons ; bae 'sunny' seunghee.#* ∘ ∙ —— assortments ; bae 'sunny' seunghee.#* ∘ ∙ —— headcanon 001.

5 notes · View notes

choisgirls · 8 years ago

Note

Can I request RFA + V and Saeran with MC who likes to keep things /meticulously/ clean and in order, please?

A/N: Well since youasked so nicely, of course you can ( ◞･౪･) ~Admin 404

(Also we answered a lot of inboxes yesterday and only posted once we’RE SORRY WE’RE WORKING ON WRITING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE I PROMISE)

*YOOSUNG:

-He cleans up after himself everynow and then

-But let’s be honest, it’s messyenough that he’s afraid of mold under his bed and has seen cockroaches runaround

-So when you show up, you almosthave a panic attack

-HoW DO YOU LET IT GET THIS BADYOOSUNG

-DO YOU EVEN VACUUM?!?!

-You immediately get to workcleaning up the house

-Deep clean the sheets, couch,floor, everything

-He’s so happy because!! He had nomotivation to clean up before but now he does- to keep you happy!

-ALSO SO GREATFUL BECAUSE NOW ALL OFHIS GAMES ARE IN ORDER! Not to mention, you’re so meticulous that you cleanedin between the keys on his keyboard and he’S SO IMPRESSED ON HOW MUCH EASIER ITIS TO PLAY LOLOL THANK YOU MC

-Has absolutely no problem with it,he loves it so much. He tries to clean up after himself so you don’t have toworry about it!

*ZEN:

-He keeps his place pretty cleananyway

-Likes to take care of his place aswell as he takes care of his body

-His body is a temple and so is hishouse

-So it wouldn’t bother him too much

-The only thing messy about him isthat he’ll leave papers everywhere

-Random little pieces of paper thathe wrote on, pages from scripts, sometimes just blank sheets

-You find every piece of paper andplace them in separate folders

-And he’s so grateful!!!!

-The page of the script he’s beenlooking for? In the folder. Needs to find that message he scribbled down whilehe was on the phone the other day? In the folder!

-Always very careful about placingeverything back where you had it, because he doesn’t want you to stress! Youworked so hard to organize it all, the least he can do is respect that

*JAEHEE:

-Love-hate relationship with it

-Loves that you like things soclean!!

-She loves a clean house, everythingwhere it belongs

-Yyeess MC, she’ll clean with you,organize all her DVD’s

-What she doesn’t like, though, isthat you organize EVERYTHING

-By everything, that means herdocuments, reports, anything work related

-She appreciates the gesture,but…. she has a method to her madness

-Never gets mad at you thoughbecause she knows you’re trying to help!!!!

-After a while, she learns to keepall her papers in order so they won’t bother you and she can find themwithout you helping

-She can put things back exactlywhere they were before, down to a fraction of an angle, she’s that much likeyou and it just makes life easier between the two of you

*JUMIN:

-Whatever MC wants to do, MC can do

-No more maid, because she doesn’tclean like MC does and moves things around

- jumin its okay you didnt needto fire the maid omg

-He feels a little bad that as soonas you deep clean something, Elizabeth gets hair on it

-But you tell him it’s okay! It’snot like she means to do it, she’s a cat!

-He thinks it’s so cute thateverything has to be a certain way?

-You might not expect it, but heloves messing with you

-The books you just organized? Heswitches two of them to see if you notice

-You do and he hides in his homeoffice from your wrath

- once tried to blame Elizabethfor moving a vase to a different table but that obviously didn’t work

*SAEYOUNG:

-The moment you walk into his houseyou scream at the top of your lungs

-Vanderwood used to clean his housebut!!!! It hasn’t been cleaned in a while

-You immediately start pickingthings up, and start organizing it all

-He decides to join in and help

- you won’t wear the maid costumeso he does

-Afterwards you vow to never let itget dirty again

-He throws his pant onto the floor?You throw them over his head

-Never gets the hint. Ever.

-Sometimes he likes to place HBC onthe floor just to see how you react

-You just organized and set thefurniture? He moves it two inches to the left and waits to see how long ittakes you to notice (it doesn’t take long)

*V:

-He’s used to having everything inorder

- dude was almost blind for thelongest time come on

- everything had to be clean andperfect so his ass didn’t run into anything or trip and fall

-So sharing a home wasn’t toodifficult

-Since everything was always soclean and stayed in place

-You did, however, have to help himorganize his pictures

-Unnamed pictures on his laptop,unmarked SD cards, lose photos strung about the house

-He sat back and let you organizethem however you wanted, whatever made you happy

-Y'all are so extra, you put printedlabels on things too

-There’s even tape around certainitems so you remember where to put it back saeyoung you see the tape outlineright there? Yeah? thAT MEANS ITS NOT IN THE RIGHT PLACE, PUT IT BACK

*SAERAN:

-He’s not as messy as his brotherbut, he does leave a few things lying around here and there

-Doesn’t understand why one paperout of order bothers you?

-He won’t switch things around tobother you

-He does, however, kind of act likea cat

-Meaning, he stares you straight inthe eyes and will knock something like a book off the table

- whY SAERAN

-He’s just trying to figure out whyit all bugs you so much

- mc we just vacuumed likeyesterday why do you need to do it again today

-He apologizes whenever he upsetsyou over it, and tries to remember to pick up his shirt off the floor

-Otherwise, when he wants yourattention, he leaves a trail of stuff out of order so you’ll come and talk tohim

463 notes · View notes

msbigredmachine · 8 years ago

Text

Into The Deep End - Chapter 27

Sasha has always tried to play it safe, to keep her life as simple and risk-free as possible. Things change, however, when she garners the interest of a handsome, charming, younger man from a completely different world than hers. As she starts to question her own rules, is she ready to take the biggest chance of them all? Will she let herself take that dive? Roman Reigns/OC

CHAPTER 26

In five days Sasha had travelled enough possibly for a lifetime. It was a non-stop cycle these wrestlers embarked on and it was on very little sleep too. Back at home she was usually up by seven a.m. at the latest following a night shift at the Grill, which gave her at least five more hours of sleep. Joe, Jon and Colby barely made it through three. Travelling was nowhere as glamorous as it was perceived to be. The likes of Cena, CM Punk and Orton had buses to ferry them around, and while the Shield were royalty on TV, behind the scenes they were treated as rookies and were relegated to fending for themselves and squeezing into tiny cars and vans. There was a lot of gym time, a lot of bland eating and protein shakes, a lot of heating pads and cold baths and bulletproof coffee, all while trying to find their way to the next city. It was an intense, tough program but they sucked it up.

Sasha did what she could to help the boys out. There were moments where she felt she was in the way and other times where she felt her help was appreciated. It was now impossible to ignore how tired Joe was becoming and how much he was hurting from the constant bumping and bruising. It wasn't a secret that he was the one being groomed to lead the company in the future, and Sasha was not sure he was coping with the pressure as well as he claimed. The painkillers were appearing more frequently. Each time she pressed the issue, he played it off. There was little she could do about his stubbornness but she played her part by getting him to rest as often as possible. Amidst the stress and the chaos – as well as Orton undressing Sasha with his eyes at every chance he got – Joe made time for his girlfriend. In Gainesville they had a nice dinner at a steak house, visited the Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach and went a private boat cruise in Tallahassee, getting away, if only for a few moments, from the craziness that was the WWE.

The agitation plaguing Sasha for the past few days had given way to downright terror. The day had finally arrived. She and Joe were heading to Pensacola to see his family. She wished she didn't feel so tense but she couldn't help herself. Meeting the partner's family was always a huge step for both parties and this was no different. To keep her mind occupied she glanced through the pictures on her new iPhone. There was quite a number of pictures she'd taken, different ones with Joe, Trinity and some of the other Divas, the twins and Jon and Colby. Colby had posted a photo of him and Sasha with a tweet that brought a smile to her face:

One of the coolest ladies I've ever met. Now to get her to join social media...hmm #MissionImpossible #NewBestie #FellowRocker

As interesting as it looked she doubted it would happen. Colby and Trinity had introduced her to all the trendy social media sites but she really didn't see the point of putting herself out there like that. If Jon, as popular as he was, could successfully stay away then it would be a piece of cake for her. Putting her phone away, she smoothed down her skirt and remembered how she'd agonized over what to wear. Her hair was down in soft waves and her make-up was minimal. She settled for an outfit that looked conservative enough.The last thing she wanted was to look inappropriate in front of his parents.

Her gaze fell upon her boyfriend, his own fixed on the road ahead. Wearing a fitting black shirt and jeans, he looked sexy as usual. His sunglasses shielded his eyes but his jaw was working, giving him away. He was quiet. He'd been quiet lately, ever since he spoke to his father the day before. He hadn't revealed details but it was no coincidence that his withdrawal began right after he'd hung up the phone. "You okay, baby?" she asked him, lightly massaging the nape of his neck. “You’ve been quiet.”

His dad had called to confirm that he and Sasha were still making the drive up to Pensacola. His mom, however, had hijacked the call to berate him for making his relationship with Sasha public when he hadn't even introduced her to his parents. It was a bit of a mess but he didn't want to burden Sasha with all of that. It was bad enough that she was already skeptical about being here. He wasn't sure what mood his mother was going to be in today but he hoped it was positive for Sasha's sake. "I'm good, nani. You?" He could sense she was nervous too.

"I feel I should have brought something else as a gift," she lamented, looking over her shoulder where the bottle of wine and the box of chocolates lay in the back seat.

"I told you, it's fine," Joe insisted. "My dad loves those chocolates. Besides, they wouldn't have minded if you didn't bring anything."

"What if they don't like me? They'll just see me as the cradle robber that's been corrupting their baby," said Sasha.

"No they won't. Besides, I'm the one that's been doing the corrupting, don't you think?" he answered, shooting a sly glance in her direction.

A wicked smile formed on her face. "You sure about that, Reigns?"

Joe felt her hand on his thigh and cast his eyes down to see it inching dangerously towards his crotch. "You wouldn't. Not when I'm driving," he growled.

Laughing, she pulled her hand away, instead resting it on top of his own on the steering wheel. "Of course not. Don't want you crashing this car with me in it. I'm precious cargo."

"Tease. I have no problem pulling this car over and taking you how I want," Joe grumbled, turning his right hand over so that her hand fell into his palm. He squeezed it gently, the softness of her slim fingers imbedded in his brain. "My family will adore you, Sash. There's nothing to worry about," he told her.

"You think so?" Sasha asked hopefully.

"I know so." He cast a quick glance at her and kissed the back of her hand. "You look beautiful, baby girl."

Smiling at his compliment, she held onto his hand for the rest of the journey. She could only hope he was right about his family.

If she thought Joe's home in Tampa was enormous it was nothing compared to his parents' residence. The house was preceded by a sprawling, manicured front lawn peppered with small palm trees. As they neared the front door, Sasha tightened her hold on Joe's hand and willed her stomach to stop flipping. It was just his parents and his siblings around but it didn't stop the nerves from flowing.

The door was opened by an imposing-looking man who looked just like Joe, only several pounds heavier. The moment he laid eyes on Joe he grinned widely. "Ayyy, look who's here!"

Joe stepped forwards and greeted him with a big man-hug. "What's up bro? It's been a while." Pulling away, he guided Sasha in front of him. "Matt, this is Sasha. Sasha, this is my big brother Matt."

Sasha started to extend her hand, and was shocked when the big man pulled her in for a hug. "So this is the lady my little bro is so crazy about," Matt remarked, causing Sasha to smile bashfully.

"Come on, man," Joe couldn't stop the grin that spread across his face.

"Am I lying? She's all you ever talk about on the phone, man," Matt retorted. "Come on in. Mom, dad and the girls are inside." Together they walked in, with the brothers talking about Matt's wife and children. Matt noted with a small smile how Joe held Sasha close to him even as they entered the house.

"Who's at the door, son?" A deep booming voice sounded, and a stocky, hulking figure wandered over.

"Hey Dad," said Joe.

"You made it," his father grinned, the two men hugging the same way the brothers had. Sasha stood meekly behind them, watching the scene unfold with a smile before Joe's father returned his attention to her. "You're more beautiful than my boy mentioned, Sasha," he said, gathering her in his arms.

"Thank you, Mr. Anoa'i." Sasha smiled graciously at the older man and presented the wine and box of chocolates. "And thank you for inviting me into your home."

"Call me Sika, sweetheart." He accepted the gifts with a big smile. "Wow. This is my absolute favorite candy. The wife won't be too thrilled but I'ma just tell her, YOLO, ya know?" He tried to make a cool face, along with hand gestures, and the hilarious visual made Sasha laugh.

Joe cringed. "Dad...no. Where is Mom by the way?"

"Kitchen. Go find her. She's been dying to see you both," Sika said, gently steering them in the direction of said place.

"We'll be back in a minute." Joe weaved his fingers through Sasha's as they walked away. "Your dad's so cute," Sasha giggled.

"He's got his moments," he acknowledged as they entered the kitchen where three women were gathered. The oldest woman turned around, a wide smile lighting up her face. "There's my baby! Come here, darling!" She all but rushed Joe in a big hug and an even bigger kiss on his cheek. Her eyes then fell upon the dark-skinned woman standing behind him, her smile waning by a fraction. "You must be Sasha. I'm Patricia."

"You're stunning, Mrs. Anoa'i." She had to say it. She had seen pictures but they did no justice to the woman standing in front of her. She was much more beautiful in person and Sasha saw where Joe got his movie star looks from.

"Well, she is Italian so that helps," the youngest woman said, approaching Sasha and engulfing her in a tight hug. "Hi Sasha! I'm Cassie. It's so nice to finally meet you!"

"Don't squeeze her to death, Cass," the third woman warned. "Forgive my sister, she's a mess around new people," she explained to Sasha, giving her a hug of her own as Joe looked on with a chuckle. "Now that you're done manhandling her, I'd like to formally introduce y'all," he stated. "Mom, Alma, Cassandra, this is Sasha. Sasha, this is my mom and my two loving sisters."

"Loving being the operative word," said Cassie, and Sasha tried not to laugh as Joe rolled his eyes and made a goofy face, wincing when Cassie smacked the back of his head. "Oww!"

Patricia shook her head and chuckled. "Lunch is ready. You must be starving after such a long trip. I made one of your favorites, Leati. Palusami. I know how much you love your palusami."

"You know I love anything you make, Ma," Joe replied as his mother pinched his cheek.

"Only the best for my baby," she cooed, all of her attention on her son. Whether it was deliberate, Sasha wasn't sure, but she could definitely sense Patricia was in full Mama Bear mode. Clearing her throat, she asked, "Do you need help with anything, ma'am?"

Alma answered for her mother. "Sure. You can help us take out the food into the dining room," she said, missing Patricia's subtle glare at her. "Leati, go hang out with Dad and Matt. We'll be out in a minute."

"Alright sis, I know when I'm not wanted," Joe joked, kissing Sasha's cheek before exiting the kitchen. Sasha only realized she was staring after him when Cassie nudged her and wiggled her eyebrows dramatically.

"You have a beautiful home, ma'am," Sasha observed, looking around the spacious kitchen.

"Thank you. And please call me Patricia." She locked scrutinizing grey eyes, so much like her son's, on the new woman.

"So Joe says this is your first time on the road with him," said Alma, handing Sasha a casserole dish. "How's it been for you?"

"It's been an eye opener, that's for sure," she replied, "This is my very first time outside Tampa so there was a lot to take in. I never realized how crazy the WWE's schedule was, I think we covered half of Florida in three days."

"I take it Joe paid for all your travel?" Patricia asked bluntly.

"Mom!" Alma hissed, surprised by the tactless question. Cassie glanced away awkwardly.

"What? I'm just asking," Patricia retorted, a little too innocently.

Her face burning, Sasha replied with a tense nod, "Yes."

"I see."

The silence that settled in the kitchen was suffocating. Quickly, Sasha followed Cassie out of the kitchen with her casserole dish, making conversation with the youngest daughter as they laid out the rest of the food at the dining table.

Seated beside Joe at lunch, Sasha was treated to Sika's stories. The old man was boisterous and loud, witty and engaging and had the same dry humor that his son had. Sasha could see how proud he was of Joe and his career and saw great things in his future. She noticed however, that Joe seemed a little too uncomfortable with his father's lavish praises, irritated even, and only relaxed when the conversation was diverted to Cassie, Matt and Alma's children and lives. Sasha held her own when it came to discussing wrestling with Sika and she could tell the old man was impressed by her knowledge, however little it was. All the while Patricia glared daggers at her.

"So Sasha. How long have you and Leati been together for?" Alma asked, smiling warmly.

Sasha had only known Joe's oldest sibling for half an hour but she was instantly comfortable with her. "A little over five months," she said, looking at Joe and grinning when he placed a quick kiss on her hand.

"Joe told us you work for Reggie?" asked Cassie.

"Yeah, I do. At the Grill. You should come visit the next time you're in Tampa."

Patricia raised an eyebrow. "So you're a waitress."

"Ma," warned Alma, disapproving of her mother's tone. But Sasha thought there was no need for Alma to do that. She could handle it. As a fellow mother, she knew how this went. "Yeah. I oversee the running of the Grill when Reggie is absent. It's not the biggest establishment, but we get by."

"I hear you have children," Patricia went on, to which Sasha nodded proudly. "I got two. Tyson is seventeen and Mia is eight."

"Where's their father?"

Sasha's gaze flickered to her plate. "Their fathers are not in their lives."

"Fathers. More than one," Patricia surmised. "If you don't mind my asking, how old are you? You're obviously older than Joe."

"Mama," Joe interjected, his eyes narrowed. Matt and Sika looked bewildered, while Cassie took a very, very long sip of her drink.

Sasha rubbed his arm underneath the table, silently calming him down. Her head tilted up defiantly as she addressed the matriarch. "I'm thirty-five."

"Hmm." Patricia didn't look impressed. "So do you plan on having a family with my son?"

"Ma, we haven't exactly talked about that," Joe spoke up, his tone clipped and annoyed.

"There's no need to rush," Sika cut in before his wife could say any more, "I'm sure Joe's busy schedule would be in the way of all that at the moment. Gotta get to that top spot first, right son?"

"Of course," Joe grumbled. Sasha could sense his temper rising and decided to change the subject. "Matt, Joe tells me you're an awesome dancer."

Grateful for the distraction, Joe squeezed Sasha's hand under the table, but the frown didn't leave his face. This was not going as well as he'd hoped.

"I'm sorry about Mom," Alma said to Sasha as they cleared up the table after lunch. "I don't know what's gotten into her. She's always been inquisitive but never rude about it."

"She's only looking out for Joe. I know how she feels. Sometimes I'm like that with my boy."

"Yeah well, she's being militant about it. She forgets he's a grown man sometimes. Look, don't worry about cleaning up. Cass and I will handle it."

"Are you sure?" asked Sasha.

"Yeah. Why don't you let Leati show you the rest of the house? We'll take care of clearing up. Where is the twerp anyway?" Wandering towards the living room, Alma found him with Sika and Matt in the living room. "Dad, can Leati show Sasha around?"

Joe seemed to jump at the offer, practically dashing away from his father. Taking Sasha by the hand, they walked about the large house, with Joe dutifully answering whatever questions Sasha had. The tour ended at his old childhood bedroom. Ushering her inside, he closed the door, locking it behind them as Sasha moved further inside.

"So this is your room," she commented, taking in the trophies, posters and framed photos on the walls. An oak study desk was in a corner beside the bed, and she envisioned fifteen-year-old Joe sat on the black office chair doing homework. She turned back and caught his sullen expression. "What is it?" she asked, moving closer to rest her hands on his midsection.

Joe met her eyes and sighed heavily. He ran a hand through his ponytail, messing it up, licking his lips before he answered. "Mom's pissing me off with the way she's acting. And Dad's driving me nuts with all the wrestling talk."

"She's looking out for her baby," said Sasha, leaning against the desk as Joe sat on the office chair. "It's up to me to convince her I'm not a cradle-snatching cougar witch. Maybe she'll let up a little then. And your dad's obviously very proud of you."

"It don't feel that way when he keeps comparing me with the other guys on the fucking roster," he complained, "Jon, Colby, even fucking Cena. I'm my own man, my own character. I don't know why he does that. Every damn time too."

She hadn't known that. No wonder he felt under so much pressure. "Just take it on the chin and keep doing you. You'll be fine."

"Yeah. I'm just tired of hearing it, ya know?" Joe leaned back in his chair, licking his lips as Sasha bent over to snoop through the drawers beside his desk, her butt hovering in his face. "Tryna tempt me, beautiful?"

"Uh uh," she warned, smacking his wandering hand away. "I'm not frolicking with you right under your parents' noses." She pulled open the bottom drawer. "Are these handcuffs?"

Joe winced as Sasha stood up straight, studying the cuffs, lined with black fur, dangling from her index finger. "Crap. Didn't know I still had 'em in there."

"We should bring them back with us. Maybe you could show me your kinkier side," she winked.

"Think you can handle it, baby?" Joe challenged, drawing her onto his lap and winding his arms around her waist.

Sasha smirked. "You keep underestimating me, Leati."

"Trust me, I never have," he said, caressing the top of her thigh. "Do you like being tied up and stuff like that? I know we've never done that before."

"I haven't done it before, but I won't mind doing it with you," she contemplated. "I think I'd rather be tied up than cuffed, but either way I know you won't hurt me."

"Ever been blindfolded?"

Sasha covered her face, her shoulders shaking with laughter. "Are we really discussing this at your parents' house?"

"We've already started so we might as well continue," said Joe.

"Never been blindfolded either but again I won't mind with you. No over the top Fifty Shades shit though. I like it rough as much as the next chick but nothing extreme."

"Ever been fucked upside down?"

Sasha's eyes widened. "Do I look like a yoga fanatic or something?"

"You're flexible enough," Joe pointed out. He'd experienced that fact firsthand and to his absolute pleasure.

"Not as much as I used to be. The Lusty Leg lift is one thing, but sex upside down? Not gonna happen. The blood rushing to the head thing cannot be sexy."

"What about threesomes? Or orgies?" He didn't see her as the swinging type but you never know.

"Hell no. No threesomes, no groups." She looked hard at him. "Are you into all that stuff?"

Joe shrugged. "They're fun. Made college interesting, that's for sure."

Sasha's eyebrows knitted together as she crossed her arms. "Fun, huh?"

His smile faded as he studied her hardened countenance. "Uh oh, what did I say wrong?"

Shaking her head, Sasha looked away. "Nothing."

"Hey, don't do that," Joe said firmly, directing her gaze back on him with a gentle twist of her chin. "Tell me what's wrong."

A small, nervous sigh left her lips. "I just don't want you to think I'm boring or I'm not letting you be yourself because I'm not into the daredevil stuff. I don't want to share you with anyone else. And I sure as hell don't want to share myself with anyone else." She knew firsthand how sexual a man he was, and this new piece of information only served to drive the fact home and made her feel somewhat inadequate.

He shifted her body so that she straddled him outright. "I never asked you to, baby. The orgy thing's in the past. Things are different now," he promised. "And trust me when I say I could never be bored with you. We always have great sex and your ass alone could keep me entertained for the rest of my life. Plus I got your soft lips and these gorgeous tits to contend with." He brought her face closer to his and gently kissed her, palming her breast to emphasize his point, and smiled as her giggle filled his ears. Her fingers raked the back of his hair, her giggles morphing into quiet moans as he gently rocked her back and forth over the bulge straining his pants. "Look, now you got me hard from all this sex talk," he murmured, his mouth sweeping over the crook of her neck. She smelled like her usual delicious Sweet Pea fragrance, the scent never failing to make him heady with desire for her.

Their lips locked again in a deeper, more passionate kiss. Sasha fidgeted as Joe pushed her skirt up, exposing her thighs. "Baby," she whispered.

"You're fuckin' beautiful, nani. I want you," he whispered back, "I wanna bend you over that desk and fuck the shit outta you, then drag you to the bed so you can ride my dick."

“I want it too baby. But you know we can't," she warned between kisses, squirming a little more as he gathered her ass in his large hands. "Once you start touching me we'll never leave this room."

He smiled against her mouth. "I'm good like that, huh?"

"You know you are," she admitted, drawing back and rolling her eyes at his arrogant expression. "Oh, wipe that smug-ass look off your face."

Laughing, he kissed her nose and stood them both up, with Sasha smoothing down her skirt while Joe adjusted himself in his pants. "Come on. Let's head back before they send out a search party." Hand in hand, they headed back downstairs and as they reached the bottom, he pulled her close again before she could get too far. "I can't wait to use those cuffs on you, baby girl," he purred in her ear, biting the lobe before smacking her butt and walking off casually. It took Sasha a couple of seconds to compose herself after that. She made her way towards the kitchen, deciphering Cassie, Patricia and Alma's voices. Great, they hadn't finished cleaning up and she'd been off making out with their boy. Way to get in his mother's good graces.

"So Ma, tell us how you really feel about Leati's new girlfriend."

At Cassie's question, Sasha slowed down, a plethora of emotions sweeping over her. She flattened her back against the wall by the kitchen entrance, keeping out of sight as she awaited Patricia's answer.

The matriarch scoffed. "That ain't no girl," she said. "She's a pretty little thing but she's about to hit forty. What the hell is he doing with a forty-year old? I thought he knew better."

"Mom, don't be mean," Sasha heard Alma say. "Look how happy Leati is with her. They obviously have strong feelings for each other and her age doesn't matter to him."

"It's a superhero complex or some sort of phase," Patricia said matter-of-factly, "It has to be. Nearly ten years older? Two children from two different men? That's way too much history if you ask me."

"Honestly Alma, I agree with the age part," said Cassie. "She's nice but she's a little old for him."

"I know women like her," Patricia went on, buoyed by the fact that she at least had one daughter on her side. "She's probably blackmailed him into getting with her like that other bitch. She says she's a manager but she's probably stripping behind Joe's back or something."

Sasha's blood started to boil, her hands clenching into fists.

"Ma, that's not fair," said Alma. "And lower your voice. She could hear you."

"Well, we'd be doing her a favor then. Frankly I don't see them lasting much longer," Patricia declared confidently. "He'll get rid of her soon."

Sasha had had enough. Caution was thrown to the wind as she marched into the kitchen, prompting the Anoa'i women to spin around and face her. Instantly they knew she'd heard everything. "Sasha," Cassie stuttered, her voice fading away at the look in the other woman's eyes.

The mother of two planted her hands on her hips, leveling Patricia with a glare. "There's a few things I been tryin' to teach my daughter ever since she was born," she began. "One of them is that she's a lady and should carry herself like one, with class and grace at all times. Another is to always stand up for herself no matter what. Third, if you have a problem with someone, you look them in the eye and tell them so." She narrowed her eyes at all three women. "You obviously have a problem with me and got things to say about me, so how about you say it to my face?"

Patricia cast the dish rag she was holding aside. "Okay, I'll do just that then. What are your real intentions with my son? Huh? Other than using him to take care of your children?"

"I take care of my children just fine on my own," Sasha countered, "I've never asked Joe for anything. I'm not using him or blackmailing him. He's with me because he wants to be with me and vice versa. You don't know me. He does."

"Really? Just how much do you two have in common? How much do you know about him? Do you know he wants children of his own? Are you even still capable of having any more?" Patricia sneered, "Or do you plan on doing the same thing the last triflin' bitch he brought here did to keep him committed?"

It was a Herculean task, reining in her emotions, but Sasha forced herself to do it, shutting her eyes as she did. Opening them again, she honed in on her boyfriend's mother. "Look, Patricia. I know Joe is your son and you want nothing more than to protect him. I understand that more than you realize. But you're not even giving me a chance."

Patricia advanced until she was right in Sasha's face. "I gave Andrea a chance and she screwed him over. Screwed all of us over. What makes you think you're any different from her? You're not. You're all the same. He doesn't see it now but he will eventually. I refuse to sit back and watch him make the same mistake with you!"

"That's enough, Ma."

Matt's deep voice startled them all. He and Joe walked further into the kitchen, the younger son looking like he was about to blow a gasket as he stared down his mother. "How dare you?" he snarled, "How dare you talk to her like that? You don't even know her."

"Baby, she's not right for you," said Patricia, "She could be using you just like Andrea was."

"There you go again, throwing Andrea in my face!" he shot back. "Goddamn it Ma, what the hell is your problem? How do you expect me to move on when all you do is bring her up?! For fuck's sake!"

Patricia was seething. "You will not talk to me like that!"

Sasha watched, stunned as Joe flew into a fit of rage. "If you stopped treating me like a fucking five year old I wouldn't!" he shouted. "You've been doing this for years now! Sasha is the first woman I've brought home since Andrea. She's here because I wanted y'all to see how much I care about her and all you did was shit all over her! How do you think that makes me feel, huh? Answer me, Ma!"

"Leati! You better apologize to your mother right now," Sika ordered, but Joe rounded on the older man so fast it made Sasha's neck hurt.

"No Dad, don't you dare try to defend her! She does this all the damn time and you know it. I'm sick of it! I'm sick of both of you!" Joe ranted, and for one horrifying second he looked very capable of actually attacking his father. "Shoving all this shit down my throat and for what? I don't need it okay? I don't need any of it!"

Breathing hard, he looked around, taking in the looks of absolute shock on everyone's faces and realizing he didn't give a damn what they thought. He was so angry, his heart was racing and his head spun. He needed air.

No. He needed more than that.

"I'm outta here," he muttered, brushing roughly past his mother.

"Where are you going?" Patricia demanded.

"I'm leaving." He was meant to stay in his room upstairs tonight but not anymore. Not after this. He glanced at Sasha with hard eyes. "You comin' or what?" he snapped.

Sasha had stood rooted to the ground the entire time, paralyzed with shock just like everyone else. Before she could respond, he was already out of the house. With what little strength she had left in her numb limbs, she followed him into the car. Without a word he kick-started the engine and drove off, putting as much distance between himself and his antagonistic family.

...Whoa.

Top to bottoms are absolutely necessary! I'm not above begging. Dying to know your thoughts.

CHAPTER 28

#roman reigns #roman reigns fanfic #roman reigns fanfiction #roman reigns smut #into the deep end #jasha

67 notes · View notes