#aaron: kate you don't underSTAND

[bisexualchaosdemon]

His Brother's Real Laugh

(A look at Andrew and Aaron pre 'It runs in the family')

A little over three years after graduating from PSU, Andrew gets a call from Aaron. It isn't one of the scheduled times they usually have calls, but Aaron is calling to see if Andrew can visit soon. Andrew is in the car before he has even hung up, never mind that his twin lives two states away.

Unsure of how to react to Andrew appearing his doorstep mere hours after Aaron asked him to come, Aaron points out that he is meant to be at practice with his fancy Pros Exy team. Andrew flipped him off and didn't bother with a proper greeting either, "What's wrong?"

"What?" Aaron frowned, confused. "Nothing is wrong."

"Something must but up if you couldn't tell me on our normal brotherly bonding call." Andrew insisted.

"It wanted to speak to you in person, but nothing's wrong," Aaron sighed. "Just come in, I'll make coffee."

"If you try to give me decaf again, I'm going to kill myself on your wife's nice white rug." Andrew warned.

Aaron laughed as he led the way to his small kitchen. "I made sure we had regular coffee when you said you were coming and hung up,"

Andrew nods and watches Aaron make their coffee. Katelyn doesn't appear to be home, but it's not unusual for their schedules to shift out of sync with their medical school graduation now less than a year away. And Aaron didn't look upset or hurt at all; just a little nervous.

Andrew allowed his brother a moment to collect himself, just until they sat down with their drinks. "What's going on, Aaron?" He asked again.

"Kate's pregnant," Aaron answered at last.

Oh. Andrew had not been expecting that. He didn't react outwardly, unsure what reaction was appropriate here.

"Is this good news?" He asked.

"I think so?" Aaron shrugged. "I've spent the last week freaking out, in all honesty. We are meant to finally be starting our careers now so the timing isn't ideal, and after everything with Tilda... But, I think it's good, yeah. I think I can do this, if it's Kate I'm doing it with."

"If anyone can pull off becoming a doctor and a mother in the same year, it's Katelyn." Andrew acknowledged. As much as he had hated Katelyn at first, he had come to understand why Aaron loved her over the years. They weren't besties, but Andrew had been Aaron's best man when they got married.

"She is a force of nature," Aaron smiled into his coffee. The twins have never, and would never, admit that they shared a love of fiery redheads.

"And you are more capable than you give yourself credit for," Andrew said. "I know you can do this, irrespective of timing or what happened in the past."

"I–" Aaron blinked at Andrew in surprise. It was a minute before he was able to answer, "Thank you."

Katelyn came home later on while they were chatting, and Andrew extended her that same congratulations. She thanked his brightly as she came to join them, plopping down next to her husband and putting her feet in his lap. Aaron started rubbing them without even pausing their conversation.

"You don't need to thank me for the truth." Andrew gave him a small, rare smile. "Congratulations, Aaron."

Aaron insisted that Andrew at least stay the night once they were done talking. Andrew agreed after texting his own husband to assure the silly rabbit that he was actually alive, if in a different state than when they last spoke. And that he hated him, after Neil had responded with something sappy in Russian.

It was the next morning that Andrew had suggested Aaron and Katelyn move to be in the same city after graduation. He could see the surprise and hesitation on their faces and held up a hand to stop them responding. They had nine months to figure it out, but he wanted to help if he could and he missed living in the same state as his brother. He just wanted them to consider it for now.

They put a pin in the topic there. They talked about other things over the coming weeks instead. Any high or low, Andrew listened to anything Aaron wanted to talk about. He even ordered food to be delivered to Katelyn a couple of times when Aaron was worried she wasn't taking enough breaks from studying but didn't know how to help.

So when Aaron's name popped up on his phone the same afternoon he knew Katelyn's first ultrasound was due to take place, Andrew was on high alert immediately. "Is something wrong?"

"What?" Aaron was just as confused as he had been last time Andrew greeted him in that manner.

"Katelyn had her scan today and you are calling," Andrew explained. "Is something wrong?"

"No," Aaron breathed out the slightest chuckle. "No, not wrong."

"But there is a reason you called," Andrew prompted, not quite a question.

"Yeah, uh," Aaron sounded dazed. "We're having twins."

Things so rarely went well for the Minyard twins, it was a startling relief that Aaron wasn't calling with bad news. He was just calling to freak out about the shock of finding out he was having twins when he only just stopped panicking about having one kid.

"Maybe it runs in the family," Andrew remarked. He thought Aaron having twins was objectively hilarious.

"Maybe the universe is just fucking with us," Aaron suggested with a playful groan.

And Andrew laughed. A real, genuinely happy laugh. Aaron had never heard his brother laugh like that before. "Us? No, this one is all you, brother mine. I've never been so happy to be the gay twin."

And then Aaron was laughing too. "You're the asshole twin, is what you are."

[xchronicles]

Okay… real talk now, just between us girlies.

Aaron, if you’re reading this, you’re one of us and you’re always welcome in.

We joke, argue, and moan a lot about the J/C stuff - especially now with Prodigy being the latest new canon story. We all know, at the end of the day, they’re not real. However, what they represent and the impact they have on the audience is very real.

I watched Voyager back in the day when I was in primary school. My emotionally undeveloped self quickly picked up on the J/C stuff, and soon I found myself watching the show more and more, hoping that today’s episode would be about them or at least feature a lot of scenes with them together. I vividly remember the heartbreak after watching "Endgame" and being so confused on what I had just witnessed. I remember expecting the next episode, which never came, and feeling so confused. I felt betrayed by the show and didn’t want anything to do with it anymore. I was just a kid - exactly the target audience that Prodigy aims to reach.

Now, as an adult, that kid in me still feels that betrayal. I’ve always leaned on imaginary characters as a coping mechanism. As a girl who never quite fit into traditional gender roles and was often criticized for not being "girly" enough or not aligning with societal expectations, I found solace in the reversed gender norms between Janeway and Chakotay. At the time, I didn’t realize that this was what appealed to me so much.

What I’m trying to say is that making Janeway and Chakotay canon, no questions hanging, healthy relationship and all, is an incredible narrative tool to show that women can be in the position of power, having a career while also being in a loving, supportive relationship. It would teach younger audiences, especially girls, that they don’t have to choose between career and relationship and, more importantly, that they don’t have to strip down parts of who they really are to fit into a gender role box to be accepted as a proper woman.

I get frustrated watching interviews with Kate because whenever she asks why fans want the J/C relationship to become romantic, she never gets a good answer. I understand her pushback to some extent because I don’t think a man could ever give her an answer that truly resonated with her. Men don’t think about the constant criticism that women face about not being "womanly" enough. Kate gets told that fans want the relationship because she deserves it and that is the problem. It’s not about what she deserves - it's about the women who have been constantly told from a young age what is “appropriate” for them and that if they don't change they'll end up alone cause no man will want them. They’re the ones who truly deserve to see that they can have both, represented in a strong character like Janeway, whom they’ve admired be it for a year or over 20 years

Men do face their own set of pressures though, like being told they aren’t “man enough,” which can contribute to toxic masculinity. However, Prodigy has addressed this issue beautifully through Chakotay. He’s a wonderful example of strong, non-toxic masculinity, embodying the true essence of what it means to be a man. Season 2 did a fantastic job showcasing this with both Dal and Chakotay. I just wish we could see that same level of depth and growth for Janeway, particularly for young girls who look up to her. Right now, the message feels as if you have to choose between pursuing a career or pursuing a relationship.

Truth be told, I think a big part of the issue is that Kate views Janeway as Prodigy’s lead character, which might make her feel that maintaining the “will they or won’t they” tension is necessary to keep the audience engaged. That perspective might be true if the show were solely focused on Janeway like Voyager was, but Prodigy is so much more than that. The core of Prodigy is really about the young crew and their journey. In fact, younger viewers are likely more interested in the relationship between Gwyn and Dal. I truly believe that making J/C canon wouldn’t hurt the show - instead, it could provide a positive example for the young crew and their audience to look up to. Find solace in them just as I have when I was their age, minus the horrible heartbreak thanks to Endgame lol

[crazycurly-77]

Hey, Ms. Secret Service! - Chapter 13

You sighed deeply. It was done and you were both still alive, but totally exhausted from all the tension of the last few days and especially of this day. 

Then you exited the cockpit and Santiago was dragged out of the plane and handcuffed. Aaron and you hugged in pure joy and relief. It was finally over and you had made it. You felt like walking on clouds. 

The FBI thanked you for your help, congratulated you for the good job and left to interrogate the criminals. 

You and Aaron were driven home to shower and get some sleep. 

This was definitely the best shower and the best sleep you had in a long time. The next morning, you made yourself a cup of coffee, sat down, took a sip and thought “my goodness, this tastes sooo good! Never tasted such good coffee.” And you enjoyed every sip of it. 

But all too soon you thought about your team and how they possibly will react, when they see you again. You really dreaded your return. 

“What will they say? How will they react? 

How will HE react after what happened in the elevator? Surely that was just in the heat of the moment and I mean nothing to him. He had Kate, after all. So why should he need me?” you thought. 

You decided to hold on to the friendship with Jackson, no matter what will be with Jethro. It will be hard to see them together, but his father’s friendship was important to you. At least he understood what it meant to fly like a bird and to be grounded. 

And when you see Jethro once more, you should maybe call him “Gibbs” again. 

Then you took the keys for your car and drove to the office, where Jenny was waiting for you at the car park. 

“How did she know when you would arrive?” you asked yourself. But really, it didn't matter. She simply had her ways of knowing. 

You parked and exited the car and there she stood grinning and hugged you tightly. 

"Thank God you made it and came back safe and sound. Jethro was beside himself with worry and the rest of us weren't much better off. But he took it the hardest” she exclaimed. 

“Why?” you wondered and your eyes were getting big because of astonishment. 

Seeing your surprise she grinned widely “Well, if you don't know…”

For the life of you, you didn't understand what she meant “no, I don't. But where is he anyway?”

Jenny nodded knowingly “in the surveillance room, I'll take you there.

And Y/N? It's great that you're back with us.”

When you arrived at the room Gibbs was in, she smiled encouragingly at you and pushed you into the room, closing the door behind you. 

He stood with his back to you, totally lost in his thoughts. 

Now there you were, fidgeting with your hands nervously. Not knowing what to say or do to make him realize that you were there. 

After taking a deep breath you whispered “Gibbs?” 

His head shot up and slowly he turned around to look at you “my goodness, Y/N! You came back!!!” he whispered, but seemed not to believe it. 

He walked over to you, looked at you intensely as if he wasn't sure if he was dreaming. Then he cautiously looked for any injuries, but luckily he didn't find any. Then, full of relief, he hugged you tightly and pulled you flush against him. For you it felt marvelous to be in his arms again and to him, it felt wonderful to have you in his arms once more. 

He breathed you in and sighed “promise me and our future children that you will never go on missions like that again.”

“What is he talking about?” you thought irritated and asked him “Which children?!” 

To that he only laughed, kissed you deeply and said “I’ll explain it to you this evening over dinner. And as I said: please call me Jethro.”

He was kissing you again, then took your hand, walked to the door and uttered “let's go and meet the team. They will be overjoyed too, that you are back alive.”

He led you directly to the others, not letting go of you and smiling like a madman, as you noticed. What was he planning to do?

(To be continued...in the next and last chapter!)

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Here you will find the other chapters of this story and the other stories I've written to date.

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Tags: @ilovemark1951, @hobby27

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[racefortheironthrone]

Totally agree with everything.

You might have already said this or someone else about The DPS should be an Endgame event (which I agree with). I think Jean should become the Phoenix in movie 5 so you already have that investment of that Scott/Jean relationship and how the power of the phoenix affects it. Then do DOFP in movie 6 or 7. Introduce the Sentinels at the end of move 1 or 2 (Ahab, Trask, Shaw ect) for an better throughline into DOFP. Maybe Kitty and the white queen in movie 2 or 3 (for the hellfire plot in the DPS). Or it could be the first movie with Charlie and Emma fighting (not physical) of Kitty.

With DOFP, you can do Rachel in an Kitty flashback (a way to introduce Franklin Richards as well since Marvel is doling the FF). Or, this is my controversial part, do DOFP in two movies w/6 all in Earth-811 and 7/in Earth 616. Have Rachel as an Hound as Ahab’s favorite only at to befriend Kitty (as Kate) and place Kitty in the past at the end. That might be too dark for Marvel and Disney, but DOFP is dark, and I feel like it has to feel like an real timeline (hence its only Earth-881 b/c of Kitty's intervention) not just an plot point (I understand the sensitivity of what I’m taking about and I no way asking to be grim dark).

Then the next time we see Rachel is ringing the doorbell in end credit scene at the end of movie 10 (or something).

Change anything you like. Disagree. Just have fun.  Thank you for reading.

BTW, looked up Rhea Ripley, hell yeah, she should be Rachel.

I agree about DPS being an Endgame-like event, because as I've said before, it's properly understood as the second half of a diptych with the Phoenix Saga. So if DPS is movie #5, that's fine - as long as the Phoenix Saga is movie #4. The key thing is that audiences have to experience Jean Grey as an unambiguous hero in the first film before they see her become a villain in the second film.

Likewise, it's important that audiences experience the Phoenix itself as a positive force in the first film so they don't get the wrong idea about what it is - looking at you, Avengers vs. X-Men and Jason Aaron more generally. The Phoenix is not evil or destructive by nature, nor is it destined to go out of control (see Rachel Summers) - it is Tiferet (or as Claremont spells it, Tiphareth), the synthesis of compassion and judgement. It only goes out of control when the psychic blocks that Jean, not Xavier, created to keep the power of the Phoenix within limits that a mortal could control are dismantled by Jason Wyndgarde as part of the Hellfire Club's machinations.

As for DOFP, I think you have to have present-616 and future-811 in the same movie, both for structure reasons (there are careful parallelisms between what's happening in one timeline and the next) and because otherwise 811 is too unrelentingly bleak: it's important to soften the blow of seeing the X-Men killed by Sentinels by showing them succeed in thwarting the Brotherhood. As for Rachel, I think you show her as an X-hound using her chrono-skimming to send Kitty back at the beginning of the movie, and then show her in the post-credits transporting between dimensions as a hope spot to counter-balance the downbeat of Senator Kelly getting the Sentinel program restarted.

I would leave the Hound stuff for traumatic flashbacks in the next film, so that DOFP is really Kitty's story and the next movie is Rachel's story.

[shadowanndeath]

My sister Heidi Steiger (406-490-0896), my cousins Robert Bruner (406-595-3931) and John Bruner (406-498-6681), Whitehall, my ex Josh Dax Lossy (719-210-2563), Idaho, Sam Gunningham (406-994-5358), Anna Schenfisch (https://www.facebook.com/share/bgJmq1dmLaTPy5GT/?mibextid=qi2Omg), Rex Wu (312-806-6825), Charley of Doom (603-995-6639), Blair Davey (406-994-3123), Addie (406-850-9302), CJ Smith (406-404-4856), Bozeman, Aaron Walley (406-927-9100), Rachel Trinder (406-230-0565), Emily Lasha (406-579-6844), Kate Künst (406-600-1075) my coworkers, Lexi Ray (406-899-8994), Texas, Emily Sam McCrossins partner (303-618-2314), are the children who are stalking me just because they don't want me to win my equality argument. They are apparently really jealous that I think they make bad life choices and didn't listen to them about what I "should be doing" because it sounded like just let them abuse me. Which is what they are currently doing much worse now. Apparently, that made them really unhappy. So they decided to put cameras in my house so they could beet me better, because they don't think I deserved to win this debate of pleasure just stop stalking me and leave me alone, because they think I only care about being pretty "for attention," they apparently consider me to be considerably more attractive than them, so they are forcing me to perform for their "attention." They just finished up their new masterpiece; they put brand new cameras in my brand new room, which is now finally ready for me after over a month since I moved in. I need this conspiracy of Spiders and Snakes to be devolved. I want none of them looking at me "that way" anymore. Sawyer Payne Son of Allen Payne is their ring leader (406-443-2211) (https://doneylaw.com/team/r-allan-payne/) I want them all to just go away.

My coworkers have been following along with harassing and taunting me constantly at work too just so they can all preserve the right to keep causing me pain and calling me stupid for running away from away from them, the monsters, because they didn't understand that I was doing it because they were making me freaky uncomfortable. Do not be listing to any of these people about me. They have never been my friends and they only know really superficial things about me

None of you are in love with me

You don't deserve to be here

Beth Pland it all (406) 994-3604

#OnlyinBozeman

[casspurrjoybell-26]

💖Sweet Revenge💖 - Chapter 15

*Warning Adult Content*

Aaron Keene

I leave Blake in the diner and walk back to my apartment.

The way he'd looked at me as I told him my story had hurt.

It wasn't pity I'd seen in his eyes though.

It was exactly what I'd wanted to see... pain, remorse, understanding and... if I dare be honest... maybe love.

I was in a lot of danger of feeling something similar.

Blake in high school had stomped on my heart.

Now it seemed like he was throwing his own at my feet.

I don't want that kind of power and it scares me a little to realize I have it over him.

So instead of think about it like an adult, I throw myself into my work, heart and soul and do my best to ignore the fact that every time I gave them a chance, my thoughts turn straight to Blake.

When he smiles and waves from across the street, my heart beats a little faster and I have to turn away quickly to keep my feet from carrying me right to him.

When I hear his voice from the front of the shop, chatting with Kate, I picture his crooked smile and hazel eyes and my batch of brittle burns and at night, when I lay in my narrow bed, all I have to do is imagine that it's his hand on me and I'm done.

Three days before Valentine's Day and my shop is stocked to the brim, my entry for the tri-state chocolate competition is finished 'a dark chocolate truffle with candied orange peel and a bourbon flavored center' and I'm exhausted.

She has a point.

Fortunately, she looks good enough for both of us.

She's taken to wearing outfits that look like they're inspired by someone's dirty dreams of Japanese schoolgirls and I think about half the male clientele are repeat customers because of it.

"It's cosplay, Aaron," she tells me when I complain that blue hair extensions and tiny skirts are not appropriate work attire.

"Haven't you heard of Sailor Moon? People love this shit. Lighten up and take a God-damn break, will you?"

I try but there's a Blake-sized weight on my heart and the only thing that takes my mind off it is more work.

Finally, the day before Valentine's Day, I've had enough.

Ignoring my feelings isn't working and I decide that the only thing that's fair to both myself and Blake is to tell him the truth.

After all these years, after everything that happened and all that I've been through since, some things haven't changed... even when I'd hated him the most, he was still the boy who saved me that day on the field, still my gold-skinned crush, still my high school hero and I still want him.

The very idea of admitting as much makes my hands tingle with anxiety, even though I think that this time he wants me just as much.

~♡~

Mid-afternoon is one of the quietest times for business during the workweek.

People are still at their jobs or picking kids up from school, so both Sweet Revenge and Ardent Cycles are almost empty.

I leave Kate in charge of the shop and cross the street to Blake's store.

He's busy on his cell-phone when I enter but he looks up and I wave before turning and pretending to examine the bikes.

"Yes... yes, I'm sure," Blake says.

"Is there a problem?" he sounds a little strained and I wonder if maybe I've come at a bad time. I decide to wait around anyway.

It would be weird to have come over and then leave without even saying hello.

"Why now? The business is doing well. It's off to a great start. I don't understand," Blake is saying into his phone.

He's looking down, leaning against the counter and scowling at the ground.

"Listen, can't we discuss this in person?"

There's a pause and I notice that Blake's whole body looks tense.

"Fine. I'll be there in an hour. No. There's no need for that. Yes. Thank you."

Blake ends the call and then swears, slamming his phone down on the counter hard enough I think he's probably lucky it's in one of those heavy-duty cases.

"Is everything okay?" I ask, coming over.

He heaves a breath and runs his hand through his streaky blond hair.

"No. Not really. What can I do for you?"

"Um..." baring your heart when the other person looks stressed to the point of breaking is usually a bad idea, so I stall.

"I was wondering if we could talk... that is, if you have time."

"Actually, I don't," he says shortly.

"I have more important things to deal with right now than your hang-ups from the past, Aaron... like my fucking future."

"Oh," I swallow and take a step back.

"Okay then."

I start to leave and he calls out and comes around the counter.

"Aaron, wait... I didn't mean that... I'm sorry."

"No," I say.

"It's okay. I can tell you're upset about something. I'll come back... some other time."

He pauses and then laughs... it's a sound with a bitter edge.

"Well don't take too long this time. I might not be here when you finally make up your damn mind."

I stare at him.

This is not at all how I pictured this conversation going.

Once again, it feels like Blake is taking what I have to offer and dropping it on the floor.

A look of pain crosses his face that seems to mirror what I'm feeling but that I know my own face doesn't show.

He runs his hands through his hair.

"I'm sorry. I have to go."

"Yeah. Me too," I say and make my exit.

Blake hasn't hired any help yet, so he has to close the store.

I watch from my side of the street as he puts a sign in the window, locks up and drives off in his newly repaired truck.

When or if, we speak again, he has some explaining to do.

The rest of the day passes in a sort of blue haze and by evening, my mind is so tired from over-thinking everything from my latest recipe to Blake's unhappy expression, that it's caught on a loop like a broken record.

I don't like to but I decide to take one of the pills my doctor gave me the last time I complained of insomnia.

One way or another, Kate is right.

I need a rest and a good night's sleep... chemically assisted or not... seems like the best way to get one.

[sequinsmile-x]

bestieeeeee, i would walk 500 miles for you!! and 500 more!! if you could only please write me a lil fic of the below prompts! 500 bonus points if you make them in a secret relationship ☺️

hand-holding 16 - only linking the pinkies together, not ready to let go completely

kisses 33 - hushed conversation in-between kisses

you are worth at least 1000 miles of walking. minimum!

haha thank you so much bestie <3

This is another one that got away from me and I hope you enjoy it! And it also got a little sadder than I intended...but I don't think that will surprise anyone haha

-x-

The Hook of Your Splendour

The moment they arrived at the New York field office she felt the initial pull in her belly. Something she’d refused to call jealousy at first, even though she knew that's what it was from the start.

Words: 2.6k

Warnings: canon typical injury

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

Emily goes to the hospital the moment the cordons are lifted. 

She knows Aaron is ok. Derek had told them as much, his reassurance directed towards her specifically all she needed to know to understand her and Aaron’s secret was out. That her poorly concealed reaction to finding out it was Aaron who’d been caught up in the explosion had been enough to expose what they’d kept between themselves for months. 

In a strange way, she hates him for it. Hates that he can make her feel so flayed open. That he could undo a lifetime of being able to keep her cards close to her chest, her emotions locked into small boxes in her head that her mother had built for her, with nothing more than a smile and the knowledge of how it felt to be with him. To be loved by him.

Even though neither of them had said it yet. 

She knew he loved her, and he knew she loved him. They didn’t need the words, their actions and the way they cared for each other always enough, but as she watched the footage of the explosion, as she watched him get thrown backwards like he weighed nothing, she wished she’d said them. 

The others don’t say anything when she leaves the field office and she’s grateful for it. She knows they have questions and that she and Aaron owe them answers, but they understand that this isn’t the time. JJ even offers to go with her, to keep her company on the drive, but she turns her friend down. She needed the time alone, time to gather herself. To stitch herself back together after the way the last several hours had threatened to pull her apart, cracks appearing in her foundations that she knew only seeing Aaron would fix. 

She’s grateful that her badge gets her past the nurse’s desk with little fanfare, well aware that if there had been an argument she’d have done something her boyfriend would likely have to reprimand her for as her boss. She’s just about to turn the corner when she hears him. 

“Where are my clothes, please?” 

Her heart aches at the distress in his voice, something he usually wouldn’t allow other people to hear. She walks faster and interrupts him arguing with the doctor about how he was doing. 

“Aaron,’ She says, cutting him off from arguing about his need to be in the hospital again. He and the doctor stop talking and look at her, she makes eye contact with the doctor and nods at him, grateful when he takes it as a silent request to let her take over and leaves them to it. She moves to step towards him, “Aaron-”

“I’m fine, Emily,” he says, stopping her from saying anything else, “I need to get changed, I need-”

“I have your go-bag,” she assures him, looking him up and down, trying to catalogue his injuries. She wants to tell him to get back into bed, to make sure he’s ok, but she understands. She knows she’d be the same, that she wouldn’t stay in the hospital when everything was still going on.

“Where’s Kate?” 

She hates herself for the jealousy that rolls through her at the way he says the other woman’s name. 

The moment they arrived at the New York field office she felt the initial pull in her belly. Something she’d refused to call jealousy at first, even though she knew that's what it was from the start. The clear history between her boyfriend and a woman who looks exactly like his ex-wife enough to set her on edge, to make insecurity she wasn’t used to feeling thrum under her skin. She was able to push it down, her insides burning with it as she watches them interact with each other, the case taking precedence over everything else. The feeling rears its ugly head, and she feels worse than ever given the circumstances, but she can’t help it. Every doubt that she knows Aaron doesn’t deserve rising up in her chest. 

She clears her throat, “She’s in surgery,” she sees it flash across his face, the thing she knows is guilt, and she sighs, “They said it’s touch and go…you did everything you could.”

He nods, but he clearly doesn’t agree with her, “You said you have my bag?” 

She steps toward him to hand it to him not missing how he winces as he lifts his arm. “Are you sure you’re ok? The nurse said you have acoustic trauma to your ear, and said something about shrapnel in your leg.” 

“Em-”

“Aaron, please.”

Any fleeting irritation he feels disappears as quickly as it had appeared, the look on her face enough to put out the flame. He reaches out for her instead of his go-bag, his hand wrapping around hers as he links their fingers together. 

“I’m ok, I promise.” 

She flashes a quick smile at him, still not quite believing him but knowing it would have to do for now. They were still in the middle of a crisis and still had unsubs to catch. She squeezes his hand, a silent promise they’d talk more later, and then she drops it. 

“I’ll go update the others.” 

She walks away, her heart even heavier than it had been when she arrived. ___

By the time they make it back to the hotel, it feels like a lifetime has passed. 

She’d found him sat with Kate’s body in the hospital. She’d sat with him for a little while before she convinced him to leave, to head back to the hotel with her and the others. 

She’s not sure if it’s because of the look she throws Dave when he looks at their joint hands, or because the team understand enough to know this wasn’t the time, but they yet again don’t say anything when they both exit the hotel on the floor where Aaron’s room is. Her room is the floor above, although she hadn’t slept there since they’d arrived. 

She helps him shower, her eyes lingering on his injuries, on the faint sight of the blood that was still staining his skin. She changes the bandage on his leg and makes him take medication for the pain, grateful when he doesn’t argue with her. When they get into bed she initially puts some space between them, not wanting to hurt him, but he pulls her towards him, clearly needing her as much as she needed him. 

She rests her head on his shoulder, carefully laying her arm over his chest as she curls up into his side, purposely making sure she isn’t putting any extra pressure on his injuries. He holds her closer, pulling her tightly into his embrace as he kisses the top of her head. She breathes him in, allows herself to be washed over his presence, caught in a wave of affection she knows she could have easily lost today. The footage from the explosion was on a loop in her head, a private showreel she saw whenever she closed her eyes, and she’s all too aware of the fact if he’d even been a couple of steps closer to the SUV he could have died. 

“I’m sorry about Kate,” she says quietly, her words loud in the otherwise silent room. His hand, which had been trailing patterns up and down her back falters slightly before continuing, a tiny reaction that says more than words ever could. 

She knows he views his inability to save Kate as a failure on his part. One of the many things he took on the blame for. Viewing failure as a posion, a side effect of a childhood he’d trusted her with the secrets of, despite it being so very human.

“You know we never liaised, right?” He says out of nowhere, drawing her out of her thoughts, and it’s her turn to falter, her hand that had been drawing patterns on his t-shirt covered chest coming to a stop. She pulls back to look at him, uncharacteristically lost for words as he smiles softly at her, a sparkle in his eyes that she’d never noticed before they got together. Something she knew he kept for her and Jack. “Kate and I? We never slept together. Even when she was at Scotland Yard.” 

“How…” she drifts off, the words stuck in her throat, and he chuckles lightly at her. She shifts, moving so both of their heads are on his pillow, and he leans forward and kisses her, cutting her off from saying anything else. 

“You’re not as quiet as you think you are, sweetheart,” he replies, running his knuckles down the soft skin of her cheek, “Nor are you particularly subtle.” She groans, embarrassment flooding her system as she tilts her head forward to try and hide her face from him, but he stops her, his fingers grabbing her chin as he holds her in place, his smile sad, but there. “Kate asked me how long we’ve been together.”

Her eyes go wide for a moment, something he’d never tell her he found adorable, and she groans again, scrunching her nose up at the revelation.

“Shit, I’m sorry, honey,” she says, cursing herself internally, “I didn’t mean to…I didn’t…” she swallows thickly, the guilt she’d felt all evening tasting bitter on her tongue, “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” he assures her, leaning in to kiss her again, something she gratefully returns, her hand raising to cup his cheek. He rests his forehead against hers and she holds him in place, “You also have nothing to be jealous of, Em. Nothing at all.” 

She scoffs, the noise escaping her before she can take it back, and he raises an eyebrow at her as he pulls away to look at her properly. She sighs, her tongue sticking out to wet her lip. 

“Kate is…was your type.” 

It feels absurd as she says it, even more so right now than it had even a day ago. She hates that he can make her feel like this, that she cares about him, about their relationship so much, that it makes her feel like she’s a teenager again. 

“My type?” He asks, the crease between his brows that she loves making an appearance. She rolls her eyes at him, brief annoyance flashing in her gut. 

“Kate and Haley are almost identical, Aaron. Even you can't claim not to have noticed that. And I look nothing like either of them.” 

She realises she’s revealed more than she meant to as he furrows his brows. The mention of his ex-wife enough to let him know that this was more than the misplaced jealousy she felt over his interactions with Kate since they arrived in New York. The ink had barely been dry on his divorce papers, a thin band of paler skin on his left hand where his ring had been, when he and Emily had their first kiss. Something that had taken them both by surprise. 

He knows its not an insecurity about her looks. Emily was confident, quietly aware of her own beauty and the power she held over him, and it was something that made him all the more in love with her. She knew she could undo him with nothing more than a wink and a smirk. He’d always thought she was beautiful, but now he had intimate knowledge of her, of how she looked under her tailored suits and FBI persona, her beauty was enhanced. 

She’d worried about being a rebound, and had told him she refused to play that role in his life, her fingers wrapped around his biceps as she tried to put some space between them on their first date. His attention torn between her clear concern and the way it felt to have her in his lap. He’d assured her that wasn’t the case, that he wanted to see where things between them could go. 

The look on her face tells him he hadn’t done an overly good job at reminding her of that. 

He knows he can’t refute what she’s said, so he simply leans forward and presses his lips to hers again.

“You’re my type, Em,” he says against her lips, kissing her again, “I love you. Not anyone else.” 

It takes a moment for his words to wash over them both. The words they had both held back for months now out in the open, lingering in the air. Fresh and sweet, and full of the feeling of a new beginning like the first signs of spring after the longest winter. 

She clears her throat, a ball of emotion she refuses to let out blocking it, and she smiles at him. 

“I love you too,” she replies, kissing him softly, “I love you so much.” He pulls her closer, deepening the kiss as love for her overwhelms him, and he winces, the tug inside his chest making him groan against her lips. She chuckles, kissing him softly once more before pulling back, “I think it’s going to be a little while before you can have your way with me.” 

He shakes his head at her stamping his lips against hers once more before they settle back down.

“We should probably get some sleep anyway,” he says, “The jet is leaving first thing.” 

There’s a pause, a beat of silence that is somehow louder than her response.

“I spoke to your doctor, honey. If you think you’re flying back tomorrow I’m taking you back to him to check you again for a concussion.” 

___

The following morning, any understanding from the team has melted away. They get bombarded with, mostly, good natured questions about how long they’ve been together, how serious they are. The only thing that placates Emily is the feeling of Aaron’s palm on her thigh under the table, a comforting weight to it she can’t imagine her life without.

She makes a point of not letting him out of reach as they say goodbye to the rest of the team as they leave to get on the road. Her finger linked through his, partially to dare the others to say something, partially because she didn’t want to to let go of him. The explosion that could have torn him from her for good the main theme of her dreams throughout the night. 

When they make it to the car he reaches for the keys and she raises her eyebrow at him, opening the drivers side door and climbing in silently. 

“Em, come on. The doctor said nothing about driving,” he says, standing next to the still open door with his hands on his hips as she does up her seatbelt. 

“No he didn’t,” she replies, putting the key in the ignition and starting the engine, “But I did,” she smiles at him, “Come on, honey. If you’re good, I’ll let you play whatever music you want. Even the Beatles.” 

He rolls his eyes at her but closes the door with no further comment, rounding the car before he climbs in the passenger side. 

“Good boy,” she says, winking at him as she waits for him to do up his seatbelt before she starts to drive. 

“You going to buy me a Happy Meal too if I behave?” He asks, the tone of his voice letting her know he wasn’t really mad. 

“Oh,” she says, sighing as she acts like she’s thinking about it, sighing as if it’s a tough decision, “We’ll have to see how much of a back seat driver you are.” 

He shakes his head at her, unable to hide his smile, “You’re lucky I love you.” 

She flashes her gaze to him, both of their smiles blooming as their eyes meet. 

“I really am.”  

-x-

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[hotchfiles]

u're so right (hotch bau dating thoughts) but also i don't think he'd be happy, even if he transferred. yes, he loves you, but this job is and was his life for a while. until he retires he cannot step away.. he needs normalcy in his partner but he also needs them to understand the stress and schedule and be able to handle it — he's been burnt so badly by haley i think it'd take him a while to feel comfortable that they won't leave him or tire of his dedication to work

oh that’s exactly it, he would be unhappy if you transferred, and if he transferred. it just wouldn’t work.

it couldn’t start in the bau to work because the ending would be resentment if someone was “forced out” for it to “work”

which is why i think his little thing with kate worked (until—it didn’t) she knew exactly what she was getting herself into. she’s also an agent, also busy, also has other priorities. but he doesn’t watch her getting in the line of danger every single day. (i will not give up on my kate x aaron headcanon)

[octoberland]

I've been digesting the Loki season 2 finale and have a lot of conflicting thoughts. I'm hesitant to post here because I feel like I always end up upsetting people when I share my candid thoughts. But where else is my autistic ass gonna brain fart this shit? I feel an overwhelming need to share my love of fandom with people but it's not something I can often indulge in in real life. So here goes, in no particular order.

I ended up having to mute a particular tag here. I firmly believe that everyone has a right to ship what they want. But it was difficult for me to find posts that were just about the show or character. It seemed like every post was about that particular ship. FWIW, I don't have a particular canon ship regarding Loki. I'm ecstatic that he's bisexual but other than that he is not a character that I feel needs romance. In my fanfic I do ship him with Darcy. I'm sad they never got to meet onscreen. But not because I think they would fall in love. I just think they'd be really funny together.

Anyway, that finale. I am a fan and reader of the comics though if you quizzed me I don't know how well I would score. So my thoughts are mostly around the MCU plus a bit about Norse mythology.

I liked season 1 better than season 2. Season 1 had a very cohesive narrative both visually and with the story. For me, there was not a disappointing episode in season 1. I think that was in large part due to Kate Herron's passion for Loki and the amount of thought and research and hands on work she did for that season.

As much as I love Justin Benson and Aaron Moorehead, I think their chaotic style - combined with changes in the writers' room- led to a disjointed season 2. Some episodes were great. Others felt like they dragged.

Here are some of my chief complaints/disappointments overall of the finale and season:

Season 1 built up this romance between Loki and Sylvie as though it were a key focal point and then it pretty much got dropped in the second season. I don't ship them but I would have appreciated at least one realistic conversation between them about how he felt. Or even a conversation with someone else about how he felt. It just seemed like the whole thing was sort of abandoned? I know he looked for her and cried a bit but it was all very vague.

The crying. He seemed to cry a lot this season? And of course we do need to see more men crying onscreen but it felt like a little too much. Kind of out of character. The opposite of rage isn't crying. So if they were trying to show growth by having him cry a lot it just didn't hit that way for me.

It honestly felt like it ended on a low note. I don't just mean for Loki. Everyone seemed kind of sad and unhappy. And I know it's not a show about happiness but I guess for me there's just so much bad in the real world right now that I needed to see a message of hope. I needed Mobius on a jet ski. I needed Sylvie doing something nice for herself. I needed the people at the TVA to do whatever would be fulfilling for them.

And honestly? I needed to see Thor and Loki together even if it was just quickly. Loki had the power to go anywhere and any when and not once in all of that did he go see his brother to say a proper goodbye? Or even to his mother for that matter? I understand he loved his friends at the TVA and that's a good thing but it felt like everyone else in his life was forgotten. He never even made mention of them.

All that being said, I LOVED seeing Loki come into his power. Though it's interesting that both he and Thor only truly came into their powers after losing everything. Which leads us back to the sadness of the ending. I'm glad they didn't kill Loki. And I'm glad they didn't kill Sylvie. But I'm sad that Loki is stuck doing the one thing he came to fear most: living life alone. He has not had one single moment of happiness in this arc and I hate that.

In a way, his ending is reflective of the Norse mythos. True, he's not bound by a snake and being tortured by venom. But he is essentially trapped. And were he to let go then all the worlds would end.

So what does the future hold? I'm not sure. I think we've seen the completion of Hiddleston's arc as Loki. He might pop up here and there again but doubtful as the main Loki. I'm guessing we'll see either kid Loki or Young Avengers Loki. Personally, I'd love to see Agent of Asgard Loki. Whoever it is, they will have some big shoes to fill.

So these are just some of my thoughts. Not gospel. Just one person's feelings about the show. I will say, ironically, I do feel inspired to write which is something I haven't done in a while. Ironic because of him becoming the God of Stories. Though I gotta admit, the way he kind of sneered at Ouroboros for being a writer stung!

[ladysolitaire]

I'm rewatching the LOST S4 finale because I'm writing something. And I've noticed a few new things.

The scene at the beginning of 4x12 where Kate pointed out Jack's tell when he's lying made me think of this scene in 3x15:

KATE: Did he say that to you? JULIET: Sorry? KATE: That I broke his heart. JULIET: He didn't have to. KATE: You don't know anything about him. JULIET: I know where he was born. I know what his parents did for a living. I know that he was married. And who he was married to. I know why he got a divorce. I know how his father died. I know his height, his weight, his birthday, and his blood type. What do you know about him, Kate? KATE: [Pauses] Let's go.

Source: Lostpedia

I need a full series rewatch but, from what I remember, most of what Kate knows about Jack are things she's observed or things he told her as opposed to Juliet knowing the above about him from his file. So much has happened between 3x15 and 4x12 and Jack has probably told Juliet things about himself that Kate doesn't know or Juliet has probably observed more things about him by this point. But it makes my shipper heart happy that Kate knows him so well and that she could point out that he's lying and he'd just laugh it off. Because he was so obviously lying his ass off here.

2. When the Oceanic Six arrived in Honolulu and they were welcomed by their families, Kate and Aaron were standing by themselves as Diane was likely too sick to travel to Honolulu (and would likely question if Aaron was really her son). I like to think that Jack introduced Kate and Aaron to his mom offscreen. Also, Hurley would have also introduced her to his parents, like he did with Sayid, because that's how he is. I don't like the idea that Kate and Aaron were completely alone and she didn't talk to anyone until the press conference.

3. When Carole talked to Jack after Christian's memorial service, Jack must have been so discombobulated and guilty. Not only did he get definitive proof that his father cheated on his mother, he found out that Claire was his half-sister. On the Island, when Sawyer told them that Claire had disappeared, Jack was visibly distressed and concerned, but he didn't have the bandwidth to look for her because of the larger and more immediate threat to the survivors. But I like to think that he's felt guilty that he didn't look for her (among other stuff he feels guilty about) since then and, in the back of his mind, wonders if he should've done more to find her. Then he finds out that she's his half-sister? I believe his guilt increased tenfold, which is why he couldn't see Aaron.

4. In 4x13, when the A-Team reunited at the helicopter, both Jack and Sawyer were happy to see Kate. Despite some mild flirting though, Kate went to Jack to check his bleeding wound. (I always notice this when I rewatch this episode and I'm always happy to point this out.)

5. The Disney+ version now has closed captions for the last part of what Sawyer whispered to Kate before he kissed her and jumped off the chopper:

I want you to find her, tell her I'm sorry.

(The trivia section of the episode on Lostpedia has the full version.)

Anyhoo, the look on Jack's face as he watched them hurts every time I watch this episode.

6. Sayid's longer hair in 4x14 is hot as hell.

7. Yunjin Kim's performance on the chopper when the freighter blew up should've earned her all the nominations and awards.

8. After Ben moved the Island (including Hydra Island) and Lapidus told them to put their life jackets on, Jack helped Kate put on her life jacket first. He didn't even get to put his on before the chopper landed in the ocean.

9. I love that Jack's tell is 100% relevant to the Oceanic Six narrative.

10. The Penmond reunion is still one of the best things this show gave us.

11. That little Jate moment after they were "rescued" always warms my heart.

12. I'll never understand why Jack owns such an ugly car. He could've bought a nicer car with his settlement money from Oceanic Airlines.

Anyhoo, I'm off to finish the fic. I have to polish it and post it by the end of the week!

[rye-views]

Bachelor in Paradise. Season 8. 7.4/10

I wouldn't recommend this season to my friends. I wouldn't rewatch this season.

Still attractive: Serene, Teddi, Sierra, Michael, and Brandon. My surprise when I saw them on the season: Michael A., Rodney, and anyone returning to the episode after leaving.

I'm dead at the fake cat Jill brought. I was not expecting Kira to say she could've been a pornstar. I cannot believe Michael A. is here. He also really is so ripped. Omg at Sierra not having a pinky and people not realizing. Omg at all of us listening to Wells's story about Clare Crawley being the other woman for Jared. Genevieve and Shanae starting a friendship is revolutionary.

I love the dance battle at the Sadie Hawkins dance.

It's so crazy polar this season. Sierra is so amazing of a person. Her breakup with Michael is heartbreaking. Why is she so understanding? What kind of man ever takes rejection in that way? Brandon and Serene are amazing together in the perfect way. Aaron says random funny things. I love how much everyone likes Michael A. Michael and Casey having a commentary on the people is like the muppets grandpas--Statler and Waldorf. Victoria Fuller is like the most stable to me here. Like no expectations, no problems. Brittany is a homie, and she can be my homie anyday. She confronts people for their shittiness. Why was Jacob eating the pineapple like that? Eliza's happy reaction to having both Rodney and Justin pursue her is gold. If it were anyone else, would I still think so positively about them? idk, but she was so cute and real and you go girl. Love Aaron and Genevieve talking through miscommunication and insecurities stemming from Justin. Love Victoria and Johnny talking about their fears within their relationship. All good communication. I though Genevieve was overreacting about being scared of a spider, but that mofo was huge. LMaoo at Victoria and Eliza reacting to Aaron and Genevieve fighting and making up. We love the support too, especially girls who support girls.

Romeo making bad decisions and crying so severely because of it is pathetic to me. I know people who don't realize their bad decision making while living the consequences, and while it does suck, you left behind hurt people on the way. Him leaving with Kira. He's such a loser to me. Like, find something authentic instead of being desperate. I don't like Kate. On a separate note, she talks in random sayings. I do hate how Shanae is being treated based on her past behavior, but I also do understand what it's like to feel some typa way about a bully. Same thing with peoples' treatment of Lace. I honestly feel like the men on the beach reacting to Lace coming back for Rodney is disrespectful. Peter is a horrible being. How can your view of yourself make you so delusional about the world? How can you so easily diss and stamp down others to keep yourself high? The Ashley peeing in the ocean thing is weird. Justin is not cute to me or great in personality or humor. He is not a hot commodity and is also a gaslighter. Same with Logan. I don't like how the men relate women's anger with natural disasters. It's so disrespectful. I feel like making the ladies leave and replacing them with new ladies..is just awarding men. We don't like that. People's reaction to Casey's fainting is kinda not great. They're just like aw that's horrible. Lace doesn't feel grown up to me. Kira taking Salley's vibrator is so weird to me. I also don't like how everyone opened her stuff. I would've preferred if Michael A. made more sense in his rejection of Sierra. I don't feel it was truly honest. Ency dealing with Andrew is so toxic. She's like someone who either has always gotten what they want in life (which I don't believe) or they're just soo not ready for a healthy relationship. Editors did do Ency wrong by making her so pathetic. I did not like how Brittany and Victoria seemed so over their breakup in the finale. Like, hearts were broken and ya'll are like I've moved on, and what's the problem? Love was on the line.

Memorable Quotes: "Hey, yo, I brought us tacos. What's going on?" "Ew, heartbreaks are the worst." "Paradise is built different." "I called the police. They're on their way actually cuz I've reported a murder of the vibe." "You never come in peace." "I'm going to need so much therapy after this, it's not even funny."

[chefediaboiv]

This is what Devante Diaz, Aaron, Tyron, unfortunately Chase Smith and a few other think should be on my page. The line pinned to the top I came up with, after a get together with a couple of these homeless new Haven community members. Gadget who I call Gidget, looks like a 50 something skating ninja turtle with dreads. (Bald Men still have to take care of there hair😴) Anyways I asked him about Aaron McGruder, after hearing a young voice bring his name up. I know first hand about the comic clipping that ran in the New Haven Register.

These are images of some of my work. I've already produced. Now the reason my other Twitter account is not up is because of the aforementioned disruptive involvement. Shizu is a young woman, I was flirting with that works at the library in New Haven, Connecticut. Liberty Safe Haven has a partnership with them also as well as 22@66 state. Where I hit William Wayne Hutton/Braymond in the face with coffee a year ago, after an interview with Amazon. For certain purposes I'm not using her real name. After flirting with her, I got banned from the NEW HAVEN FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY. Yes chase I was indeed already calling you shitty. Remember those sore loser's. I would like to add that I did ask her age.

I've been smart not to even try to continue my story of Samael, considering it's a project I've had in mind for a while. Told Kate, who used to volunteer at the sunrise kitchen. Also another Liberty Partner, who has partnership with the Parking Authority as well. Free all day parking included in the Non profit salary. 🧐

They didn't like being out done with little effort is the only reason they don't like me.

The Bandicoot Variant or the Triple H's

Hell used to be right next to the catwalk in New Haven, CT. People that transport both are triple H. The fourth H however can lead you to the door, but has a permanent no entry to Hell. The triple H's are powerless to the fourth H's special abilities. They work in alignment.

Those triple H's. The Bandicoot variants. Be careful hooking fish, cause the banned H is usually the Money Shot.(MS) unless it's the Real Ruby Red Bandicoot. This variants come once in a blue moon, if at all. He plays the Enders Game.

Most women that want to be kept women interested in the authentic Ruby Red bandicoot, know and understand the issues.

There is Monogamy, Polygamy, Polyamory.

One of my logo Designs before being banned from the library. The iii is for the three formats of relationship. The forth ii!i is about that money shot. Mythical big brother. Either you need the bank or the offset. The center is about duality. And you can see how they all work in tandem.

Usually ladies I don't brag but I'll be damned if I don't.

[smiletimeisrunningout]

last but not least some random Lost headcanons that, again, don't involve the muse you play even if they are mentioned, because if you play them then it's tabula rasa and we rewrite everything.

-Emma loses her absolute s.hit when Claire is lost, seeing a bit of herself in her and bonding big sister style. Either she goes home (but meant to go back to the island) and when John shows up to convince her to go back she's like 'yeah, call me when it's ready', so he and Ben don't bother her anymore because why risk it (and isn't going to try to convince anyone else to do it), OR if she stays on the island and travels in time with the others, and she'd try to look for Claire everywhere in the past too and fall apart, with the rest of the group saving her from it but barely. By the end she'd do anything to make sure Claire and Kate go back to raise Aaron together.

-she lives and rescues whoever her love interest is, I don't make the rules, it's just how it goes for Emma. she can't spend the rest of her life miserable and heartbroken, she's a swan, she doesn't recover

-if she's not captured with Jack, Sawyer and Kate there is no way she doesn't try to reach them and kills a few Others in the process. She fails at reaching them, obviously, but begrudgingly goes to rescue Jack when he's left behind.

-Ben has surveillance footage of her coming out of a serial killer's liar covered in blood, with no hint that there is a serial killer in the first place (besides her, that is). Has footage of her fighting people in the streets/buildings, shooting (alone or in a group), can trace her back to several crime scenes, has actual proof she has beaten some people within an inch of their life too. There is NO reason to think she's not some sort of monster who then goes on to pretend she's perfectly fine, as a monster often does, and works in charities looking for next victims. -Juliet researches her background too and finds that the ones they have PROOF that Emma has nearly killed were abusers who never got arrested for one reason or another, criminals who didn't pay etc and that the gruesome murders can't be proved to have been committed by Emma (she was after the serial killer, it wasn't even her original goal or she'd have called the police to do this one), and she suspects Ben is wrong but says NOTHING.

-Despite their initial distrust, there for good reasons, Emma and Juliet bond the second Emma learns more about Juliet.

-Emma retrieves TWO of her suitcases, one from the beach and one from Sawyer's stash. This is how she gets back her gun, beach dresses, underwear she cannot really wear there, a couple of 'vigilanting' clothes, hidden shivs, protection of every kind because she's a careful woman, a photo of her and her parents being cute, one bottle of migraine meds that is almost empty. The other bottle is gone forever with the rest of her luggage.

-at some point she risks banishment because when she's nice to you it's all good, but to people she doesn't like she's an a.ss and she's sketchy, so if the main group isn't there they aren't too happy she's not gone too. One of them though, Craig, gets closer to her (flirting happens too). In the end the one time people see Emma cry, if they notice it, is when Craig manages to learn enough to scare Claire away from her for a bit, because romantically rejected by Emma and salty.

-the one time she tells Jack she's sorry about something/he's right about something everyone there understandably internally freaks out, and Jack immediately guesses she's in need of medical help.

[grooviestguru]

thinking about how aaron realizes, to his horror, that fucking josten is going to attend his WEDDING just because aaron’s patched up his relationship with his stupid twin who is still dating FUCKING JOSTEN and now aaron’s going to have to pay for him to eat dinner and he swears if neil and andrew don’t get him and katelyn an excellent wedding gift there’ll be absolute hell to pay.

[canirove]

Red & Blue | Chapter 1

Summary: She wears red, he wears blue. She plays for Arsenal, he plays for Chelsea. They both are considered the present and future of English football. And according to her friends, Leah Williamson and Aaron Ramsdale, he also is the perfect man for her. But are they right? Is Mason Mount the man of her dreams?

Author’s note: Another story based on one of my dreams 😅 Mason wasn’t my main character, but it was easier to write it with him, I had more ideas. Besides happening in present day (though on a different universe), on some chapters I’ve also added text messages edits to make it a bit different. Hope you like it, and thank you for reading! 💜

Next chapter

Masterlist

"I can't believe you left your phone on your locker. You basically live glued to it!" I say, looking for a spot where we can turn around.

"I know, I know. I was just thinking about other things" Leah says.

"Yeah, other things. The tall brunette from the other day, perhaps?

"Perhaps..." she says. "Can I borrow your phone to text Kate? Let her know we are running late for dinner?"

"Sure" I say.

"Uh, Mr. Benjamin White just liked your photo."

"Leah, I let you borrow my phone to text Kate, not to go on my Instagram account and gossip."

"And what am I supposed to do while you drive? Look out of the window as if we were on a car ad?"

"It's an option."

"Nah. This is more interesting. Look, Aaron also liked your photo. I'm sure they are together."

"It's very likely" I say, finally finding a good place to manoeuvre.

"What is this account that just tagged you on a photo? Ramsd... Is this his last name mixed with yours?"

"It's a fan account of both Aaron and I."

"People are shipping you?"

"They are just fans of both of us, not shippers."

"If you say so... But this person looks like a shipper. And I don't blame them. Since Aaron signed for us, you've basically been behaving like a married couple."

"We are friends since we were kids and are excited to play for the same club. Just that."

"But you could do it without constantly posting about each other."

"Jealous?" I say, arching a brow.

"Of him? Please. He may be taller and have a very pleasing smile, but I have better hair."

"He would agree on that" I laugh.

"Oh, look. Your other Benjamin just posted a selfie. Should I give it a like?" she says, showing me the phone now that we have stopped at a red light.

"Nah. Not his best photo."

"Is the Chilwell charm disappearing?"

"The Chilwell charm" I chuckle. "It's just a bad photo. I'm not blinded by love or whatever it is you are thinking."

"I'm thinking you wouldn't mind sleeping with him despite my disapproval. Bad photo and all."

"True."

"I know things haven't worked out with random guys, he-who-must-not-be-named is the best example. And I know I've told you that maybe with someone who understands your career and what you go through it will work. But Chilly?"

"It's just a crush, Leah. I'm not planning on marrying him and have five kids."

"You better not" she says, back to scrolling on my phone.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━  

"What about Rice?" Leah asks once we've retrieved her phone and finally are on our way back to our friend Kate's house.

"What about him?" I ask.

"You follow each other, he likes your photos, and he seems to be proper boyfriend material. Looks included. Whoever convinced him to let his hair grow, deserves the world."

"He has a girlfriend."

"All the good ones always do" she sighs, going back to her research. And still on my phone.

"Mount?"

"Uh?" I ask.

"Mason Mount. He just liked your photo."

"What about him?"

"Is he single?"

"And mingling according to what I've seen."

"Have you been stalking him?"

"What? No!" I say, definitely blushing. "But since I started following him, his fan accounts keep popping up on my explore page. His and Grealish's for some reason."

"Yikes" Leah says. " Mason seems to be a great guy, tho. I met him during the last international break, and my alarm didn't start ringing."

"Your alarm?"

"Yeah. It's like a sixth sense. It tells me if a guy is a good or bad match for you, and so far it hasn't been wrong."

"And why am I just hearing about it?"

"I don't know" she shrugs. "But I think you should give Mason a chance. You would look really hot together. And they also call him the future of English football. Though I don't know how he will deal with the fact that you are a better player than he is, and have also won more things than him."

"I haven't. He has a Champions League, and I don't."

"But when it comes to individual awards... I mean, you were third on the Ballon d'Or last year. He was..."

"19."

"And you tell me you haven't been stalking him?"

"I just know it because it's his number."

"You also know his number? Girl..."

"I don't like him, Leah. Not the way you are thinking" I say, starting to get annoyed.

"Keep telling yourself that. But the more I see of him, the more I think you'll be perfect for each other. He also likes kids, though this kid looks like they want to run away from him."

"That's his niece, Summer."

"See? Stalker."

"Whatever" I say, rolling my eyes.

"He has nice arms too. Imagine those arms around you, one to each side, while he f..."

"Leah!"

"What? Can't I write my own spicy fanfic with my ship?"

"Your ship?"

"Yup. I've decided to ship you with Mount. He's the perfect man for you."

"Perfect men haven't worked out for me before. And you know it."

"I said perfect for you, not that he was perfect. When you get to meet him during the next international break, you'll see how right I am."

"Looking forward to it" I sigh.

I missed the last one because of an injury, and I still haven’t experienced how things work now. They’ve decided that both the men and women’s World Cup will happen at the same time, mixing the games so people will always have something to watch and hopefully pay more attention to both, and the FA has decided to make us train at the same time at St. George’s Park. Which means that we share all the common areas during our free time, from the canteen to the games room.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━  

“Leah has decided to ship me with Mount” I say to Aaron while we have lunch.

“Where?”

“What?” I ask.

“Where is she shipping you?”

“Aaron… you don’t know what shipping means? As in shipping two people?”

He just shrugs, focused on his food.

“Shipping two people means wanting them to be romantically involved, wanting them to be a couple. Many people do it with characters from tv shows or books.”

“Wait, like Jon and Daenerys?”

“You couldn’t find a better example?”

Again, another shrug as an answer.

“But yes, it’s like that” I say.

“Wait, wait, wait… Are you telling me that Leah also thinks that you and Mason would make a good couple? Just like I told you during and after the last camp?”

“Yeah” I say with a big sigh. “You should see the audios and long ass texts she sends me with all the scenarios she is imagining us in. Our first meeting, our first kiss, our first argument… Even our first time!”

“She’s writing fanfic about you and Mason?” Aaron laughs.

“You know what fanfic is, but not shipping? Do I want to ask?”

“The internet is dark and full of terrors.”

“Did you just quote Melisandre?”

“Who?” he asks.

“Nevermind” I say.

“But you know” he says after a few minutes of silence. “I think you should listen to Leah and I. We only agree on important things, and if we both agree about you and Mason…”

[casspurrjoybell-26]

💖Sweet Revenge💖 - Chapter 9

*Warning Adult Content*

Aaron Keene

Upstairs, I strip out of my caramel-spattered apron and work clothes, put burn cream and a band-aid on the spot where a drop of boiling sugar landed on my hand and throw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

Then I catch my reflection in the mirror and frown.

My hair's a mess, and besides the blue shadows under my eyes, there's almost no color in my face.

I've been working non-stop the past week, getting my stock up for Valentine's Day and preparing for the annual state chocolate competition.

I've placed in the top three for as many years in a row but I haven't won because the judges favor tradition over innovation.

This year I'm determined to win but I'm also not willing to compromise my craft.

Instead, I have to make something so brilliant, so perfect, that they won't care if it's different and unexpected and maybe even a little strange.

At least, that's the dream.

If I wasn't so stubborn I could just make a milk-chocolate truffle and the prize would be mine but that's not the point.

My grandma used to tell me that candy-making is an art and that like any artist, a little bit of yourself goes into every creation.

If that's true, then I want my candy to be delicious because I created something worthwhile, not because I changed myself to suit someone else's tastes.

On the other hand, if I keep pouring myself into my work like this, there won't be much of me left for anything else.

Like dates with ridiculously hot guys.

Blake looks positively edible tonight and it's making me doubt the wisdom of agreeing to have dinner with him.

My willpower is always weak when I'm tired.

Kate's already locked up and left by the time I re-join him downstairs.

I find him leaning over the display case, studying the contents like it's the ring assortment at Tiffany's.

I cough lightly and he looks up and gives me a big grin like I just made his day by walking into the room.

I dredge up a passable imitation of a smile in return.

I guess forgery's not my thing because he detects the falseness in it right away and his own expression dims.

"You look kinda worn out," he says.

"We don't have to do this tonight if you don't want to."

For some reason, his concern pisses me off more than if he'd shown none at all.

"I'm fine," I say, a little snappishly.

"Where are we going?"

"Oh. I thought you wanted to pick."

Damn... that's right... I was being a difficult bitch and insisted on choosing.

"Right. You like pizza?"

If he says no I'll have a legitimate reason never to see him again.

"I love it," he grins.

"Great. I know a place."

Outside, I look across the street and realize his truck is still missing.

He sees the direction of my look and he shrugs apologetically.

"It's still in the shop."

Nice... so not only am I choosing the place but apparently I'm driving too.

I start towards my car and Blake takes a few jogging steps to catch up.

"Sorry," he apologizes, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I guess they didn't have the parts they needed on hand and they won't arrive until next week."

"No, it's okay."

I give him a genuine, if small, smile.

"Don't mind me. I've had a long week is all."

As he gets in and shuts the door he pauses again and there's something in his eyes that I don't like.

It's a look of worry and concern that I haven't had to endure since I left for college.

"Hey, Aaron," he says gently.

"You don't have to go out with me if you don't want to. I'd . . . I'd understand if you didn't."

Oh, so that's it.

"You remember?" I ask.

If he was sitting on hot coals, I don't think he would have looked more uncomfortable.

"Some," he admits.

For a few seconds, my emotions are in as much confusion and turmoil as a Martian sandstorm.

Then things settle into a sort of glacial calm, which isn't any more healthy but at least it's quiet.

I keep my eyes forward on the road as I speak.

"Blake, don't ever think I'd do anything with you.... or anyone else for that matter... that I didn't want to. The past is the past. Let's leave it there and go get some fucking pizza, okay?"

Easier said than done.

As the dark streets flash by, the movie reel of memory starts to play in my mind and like that guy in 'A Clockwork Orange'.

I can't shut my eyes against the images playing in my brain.

~♡~

I'd been up most of the night before making the fudge.

It took three batches before I felt I had one good enough to give as a gift.

Now I'm hiding outside the locker room, perched precariously on a trash can so I can peek through the high, narrow window.

If anyone sees me they'll think I'm some kind of perv for sure.

I watch as Blake finds the box of fudge and at first, his face lights up like it's Christmas morning and Santa left him his heart's desire.

Then the other guys come over to see and things go to shit faster than you can say 'closet case.'

It's clear to me that Blake is scared and I guess I sympathize with him to some degree but that doesn't make me hate him any less.

He's a coward and he crushes my heart into the ground right along with the box of fudge.

I hold it together while I climb off the trash can, pick up my pack and walk off campus towards the park.

At least school is out for the day.

If I had to sit through a class I don't think I'd be able to hide my heartbreak and that would be just too pathetic.

It feels like it's right on my face for the world to see, which is true in a way because by the time I reach the park I've started to cry.

Not sob or sniffle or anything like that.

It's just that tears keep leaking from my eyes and running down my face and I can't stop them.

February is cold in Ashville.

There's no snow or anything fun like that, though.

Just a damp, pervasive chill that rises from the rain-soaked ground with the smell of leaf litter and wet asphalt.

So the park is empty and I make my way over to the playset and sit on a swing.

I let myself drift in my misery, doing my best to replace what I actually saw with what I wished I'd seen... the track team passing around the candy, enjoying something I'd worked hard to make and most of all Blake, saying that chocolate was his favorite treat.

I'm still daydreaming when they find me.

It's Chad and Brad and another guy whose name I don't know.

Suddenly they're in front of me and I can tell right away they mean trouble.

"Well, well, well... it's candy-ass himself, cryin' his heart out," Chad says, sneering gleefully.

"I guess that means he knows we got his little present and that means he was watchin' us somehow. Ain't that right, you little homo?"

I get to my feet and start to walk away.

"Leave me alone, fucktards," I say, which might not have been the wisest choice of words.

Brad grabs at me and wrenches me around by the arms and Chad grabs my face and squeezes so hard I'm worried he's going to break my jaw.

"I don't think so. We're gonna teach you to keep your faggy eyes to yourself."

"I was just at the window, I say, desperate for him to stop hurting me.

"I didn't see anything... just the lockers."

"Right where we change, you mean. You sick little fuck."

He punches me in the gut and all the air goes out of me and doesn't come back.

Brad lets me drop to the ground, where I retch and gag as my lungs struggle to do their job.

Chad and the other guy laugh.

"Hey," Chad says.

"Maybe we should give him what he wants. I hear..."

Things probably would have gotten worse from there but Mr. Jennings from A.P. English has a border collie that can't sit still and he happens to choose that moment to come and play Frisbee with it in the park.

"Hey. What's going on here?" Mr. Jennings yells and starts towards us at a run.

Brad 'n' Chad and the other guy swear and take off.

Mr. Jennings is too far away to have seen their faces clearly.

He helps me to my feet and tries to get me to tell him what was going on and why but I maintain my ignorance.

'Just some guys. I don't know them. I don't know why.'

If I'd known that Chad & Co. weren't done with me yet, I might not have clung to my tattered dignity quite so hard.