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whump-and-other-misfortunes · 1 year ago

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No Place Feels Like Home

a version of this from whumpee's perspective, with ocs cuz i'm planning on turning this into a series <3

cw age gap, intimate whumper, power dynamic

The freezing air outside was a stark contrast to the inside of the house. The heat of so many bodies pressed together in the basement had left Thomas sweaty and flushed in his wool sweater, but now, standing on the porch, he wished he’d worn more layers. Winters in Jersey were unforgiving. He took another drag from his cigarette in hopes of keeping warm—it didn’t quite do the trick, but the burning in his chest was a distraction, at least.

“Isn’t it past your bedtime?”

Thomas looked up in surprise at the guy walking toward him, leather jacket over a Refused shirt. Dark hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat, and he was wearing the kind of smirk that Thomas knew would get him into trouble if he wasn’t careful. He'd always been a sucker for bad boys.

He held the other man’s gaze, raising the cigarette to his lips again. Thomas blew out a cloud of smoke before replying, “What makes you think I have a bedtime?” Surely, he didn’t look that young.

The guy leaned one shoulder against the wall next to him, leaving just enough distance to be casual. “I don’t mind,” he said, not answering the question. “I mean, we do all ages shows for a reason. I think it’s great for kids to see live music.”

What a jerk—this guy had to be fucking with him. Thomas gave him as scathing a glare as he could manage. “I’m eighteen, actually. But thanks for your concern.”

“Sorry, you just look young is all.” He was still smiling teasingly. “Didn’t mean to offend you—maybe we could start over? I’m Mateo Ruiz. But everyone calls me Matty.”

“I know, I came to see your band,” Thomas said, taking another drag on his cigarette.

He shivered when Mateo looked him up and down. “Yeah? Didn’t realize you were a fan.”

“Why’s that?”

Mateo hummed, eyes shining with amusement. “Just don’t look like you’re in the scene. Where’s your sweater from, pretty boy—The Gap?”

It was, actually, which made Thomas fume even more. “My friend Liz put me onto you guys. She’s really into hardcore stuff, she played me your CD.”

“You’re gonna love it, I promise,” she’d insisted, grinning as they sat cross-legged on her bed. “These guys are gonna be big someday.”

Thomas rolled his eyes. “That’s what you said about The Unholy Pizza Parlor Apocalypse. And they’ve already broken up.”

Liz smacked him on the arm. “Okay, but I mean it this time. The melodic hardcore stuff is totally taking off. Aaaaannd the guys are wicked cute.”

“You’re sick,” Thomas said when she wiggled her eyebrows at him.

“Oh shit, Liz?” Mateo’s eyes lit up with recognition. “Like, Liz that does the Soundboard zine?”

Thomas nodded, stubbing out his cigarette on the wall behind him before flicking it over the porch railing. “Yeah, she's here somewhere. Probably chatting up your bandmate—she has a thing for bassists.”

Mateo nodded, pushing off the wall and closing the distance between them. “And how ‘bout you?” he teased, looking down at Thomas with big, dark eyes he could get lost in. “You look like the type who’d be into singers.”

“I don’t know...singers are too cocky,” he shot back. “And they’re not as good with their fingers.”

Mateo laughed at that, flashing him a devilish smirk. “You’re funny, kid... Never told me your name, by the way.”

“Thomas.” The chill that ran down his spine had more to do with the hungry way Mateo was looking at him than the February air. His heart pounded in his ears.

“Thomas,” Mateo repeated, the name dripping from his tongue like honey. “Suits you.”

His hands fidgeted with the bottom of his sweater, and he wondered if he should light another cigarette to keep them busy.

Mateo reached out and brushed Thomas’s hair behind his ear, not paying any mind to the people milling around outside. “Well, I’ll tell you a secret, Tommy,” he said, lowering his voice. “I kind of have a thing for preppy boys who shop at The Gap.”

“It’s just Thomas,” he whispered, throat dry.

“Listen.” Fingers trailed down his jaw, and then Mateo’s hand was cupping his cheek. “I haven’t seen you at any shows before, but you seem cool. There’s an afterparty at my place if you wanna come.”

Thomas hesitated. “I don’t know...I have class in the morning.”

“Your call. But I'd really like it if you were there.”

Mateo’s eyes drifted down to his lips for a moment, making the unspoken implication in his statement clear. Despite Thomas’s nervousness, he made no move to back away. “Yeah?” he breathed.

“Yeah—come party with the rockstars.” He leaned in, breath hot against Thomas’s ear when he spoke. “I promise you’ll have a good time, honey.”

“Okay. I’ll come,” Thomas agreed. He felt a sick thrill run through him as he wondered if Mateo was as passionate in...other ways...as he was when he performed.

The singer grinned, fingers ghosting down Thomas’s neck. “Awesome. Let me pack up my equipment and then we’ll get going.”

taglist: @morning-star-whump

#okayyy i have some ideas where this is going #but we'll see #tw age gap #intimate whumper #power dynamics #whump #whump writing #whumpblr #writing #band au #whumpee's pov #young whumpee #snippet

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thisbuildinghasfeelings · 1 month ago

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Heard the call for discussion of theories!

Definitely think TK will quit and he and Carlos will get to adopt Jonah. With Owen I think because of the scene of him scrolling through his contacts he’s going to be staying in Austin but I don’t think he’ll stay as a captain. It was just an interesting scene to add without it going anywhere. I don’t think Tommy will die? (Not confident lol) I’m wondering if someone finds her though and rushes her to a hospital and that’s how she lives or maybe she just had a stress induced hallucination and will be fine per your theories. Judd would definitely be a good option as Captain! Paul might be offered the position but he might not feel ready for it after the struggle he had adjusting to lieutenant. Mateo I think they’re doing a NDE. I think all characters except him and Nancy have had a NDE so it would make a lot of sense to have the one time he gets hurt be super close to death. (Also bc he’s my favorite and I don’t want him to die) I do think they’ll do the marriage route (which does suck for changing Nancy) only because they randomly brought it up. I very much like the “wave away the deportation because he helped save the city” route. Her being in a long term relationship with Mateo and being captain in the future would be my favorite line. I’d be devastated if I had to watch her mourn Mateo. I wonder if for Paul they’ll bring back Asha and do kind of a glimpse into future but I do think he’ll be taking Jax under his wing officially, maybe it kind of jolts them into realizing life is short don’t waste it trying to prove yourself to people and don’t get yourself killed early on. I agree with the Marjan statement! Her story in episode 10 was huge and probably is leading to not much else from the finale. Sorry for the entire essay lol 😅

No need to apologize WHATSOEVER! I always love a good theory discussion!

I agree about Owen and the scene of him scrolling through his phone. That scene was actually included in the call sheet that leaked back in June and the description of the scene was "Owen has no one to call." I take that to mean that Owen is realizing that everyone he loves is right there at the firehouse. That, combined with the wistful look on his face as he watched the rest of the 126 have fun and the fact that they're about to go through a really intense experience and save the city together, it definitely feels like they're setting him up to change his mind.

As for Tommy, the fact that we have BTS of her in turnouts and the same head wrap she has on in episode 11 really makes me think that she's going to get back into uniform and help out post-asteroid that very same day! In that case, I have to imagine she's not actively dying or in need of the hospital but was simply dreaming of Charles. I wonder if maybe she'll wake up and feel comforted and at peace with what she assumes is her fate after having a dream discussion with her dead husband. Then maybe she'll decide that, as long as she's dying anyway, she might as well get out there and help save the city!

I really would love it if they brought back Asha, but since they haven't yet, I don't have a ton of hope for it. But maybe they'll have her there for a little ending montage or potentially she'll be attending whatever event they're all in dress uniform for!

#lone star asks

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beautifulhigh · 2 years ago

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Tenderness and rot share a border (AO3 link) -- Chapter 3/5 -- 5k -- rated M

When Carlos was a rookie cop he played a part in bringing down a major crime syndicate. Attention to detail, finding the connections others miss? He helped make the case which had roots all the way through the system.

Newlyweds Carlos and TK are returning from their honeymoon, looking forward to starting their married lives together. Any ideas they had for what that would look like disappear when they are met at airport arrivals by their fathers, APD, and Texas Rangers.

Carlos' past is crashing into his present and now the whole future they had planned is under threat.

Anyway, when I was developing this fic idea the first scene of this part was one I had so clearly in my head, and it amused me so much that I had to write it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

"Now I'm gonna say this one time and one time only," Judd announced clearly as the lights in the bunk room were being dimmed or turned off. "This ain't no college dorm situation, and there's not even a door for a sock to be hung on. I don't wanna hear anything because I won't think twice about pulling your asses into the shower and coolin' you off."

Nancy barked a laugh which she then tried to stifle.

"You have nothing to worry about, Judd," TK huffed, pulling himself in close to Carlos' body. The bunk wasn't designed for two people but it wasn't impossible to fit them both in there either. "Family friendly, we promise."

"I don't mind sleeping—" Carlos whispered but TK clamped his hand down over his mouth to stop him from continuing that thought.

"So you all object to me and Nance bunking up, but we're cool with them?" Mateo asked. "How's that fair."

"Tell you what, you get a literal hitman taking shots at you and then you can share a bed with your girlfriend in a room with five other people," TK said.

"I'm just saying."

"We talked about this, we all agreed," Paul's voice of reason came through. "Whole point of this is to make sure there are as many people as possible between Chris and Carlos. Only moral this guy seems to have is that he doesn't want to hurt anyone else, so we make sure it's impossible for him to get Carlos alone."

"I get that," Mateo protested, "but if something happens I'll want to protect my girl too."

"Your girl?" Marjan repeated as she walked into the room, fixing her hijab into place. "Not your team, your family?"

"You saying I can't take care of myself?" Nancy asked, sitting up in the soft darkness to stare across at him.

"Of course you can," Mateo said, "but it's my job to try. Help me out, TK, you get it. You protect the people you love."

"Which is why we're all doing this," Paul said. "Got nothing to do with who you bunk up with."

"Trust me, this is not the sexy sleepover you think it is," TK said as a few more lights went out.

"Yeah, because we should be gettin' some actual sleep," Judd said.

After that the conversation was firmly over, and the bunk room settled into the usual sounds TK knew and often found reassuring. Paul's occasional turn of a page in his book, the occasional note or beat escaping from Mateo's single earbud (he'd pretty much conditioned himself to only be able to sleep with music playing, that's how bad Owen's "One Night Strand" phase had been).

"Hey," TK whispered softly.

"Hey," Carlos replied.

"I know this is weirder than being at Dad's—"

"It's fine," Carlos said. "Really. I… actually enjoyed today. There were times, hanging out with everyone, that I felt like I didn't need to be watching over my shoulder. Like I didn't have to constantly be on guard."

"I'm glad."

"I'm glad you got to go back to work too," he continued. "TK, you need to be out there. I'll be fine here, there's plenty of people around. Being at work, we both know it'll be good for you."

"I know, and I know that everything is in place here, it's just… I still worry."

"I'm not saying you need to stop worrying, I know better than to ask that. I'm just saying that you being out there, doing your job, having some normality going on that isn't this? It's what you need."

"I need you to be OK," TK said.

"And I need you both to shut up," Judd complained.

Keep reading

#tenderness and rot share a border #tarlos fic #tarlos #tk strand #carlos reyes #911 lone star #911ls #otp: hey baby #writing jen is writing

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lieutenant-amuel · 2 years ago

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Inspired by our convo but are there any Crazy EXGF songs that remind you of Avatar: Last Airbender characters? Or if its tough cuz those songs are so hilariously inappropriate and atla is more serious, how do you think the Avatar characters would interact with Eoa characters and maybe your ocs?

Yayyy, thank you for the ask! I’ll try to answer both of these questions.

CEG Songs and ATLA Characters:

I’m The Villain In My Own Story - Katara, because it’s me with blood bending again, yeah

After Everything I’ve Done For You (That You Didn’t Ask For) - Azula, I don’t know it just reminds me of that last scene between her and Ozai XD

You Go First - Katara and Toph in the Runaway XD

Get Your Ass Out Of My House - Ozai to Zuko

I Hate Everything But You - Zuko to Mai

Man Nap - Aang sort of? When the guys tried to put him to sleep before the battle with the Fire Nation

Face Your Fears - Iroh to Zuko

What’ll It Be - Zuko

You Stupid Bitch - also Zuko, I think?

Dream Ghost - the previous avatars to Aang XD

Friendtopia - the Gaang? (oh, or Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee)

Remember That We Suffered - Hama to Katara

This Session Is Gonna Be Different - Iroh to Zuko, specifically in season 2 when Iroh opened the tea shop (not “session” obviously but I think it fits them in the sense that Iroh hopes Zuko will finally find the right way)

And I’m A Good Person, of course, for redeemed Azula as you said XD

Those are the only ones I can think about now, but I’d love to hear your ideas if you have any 👀

The ATLA & EoA Characters:

Alright, this question is harder actually XD

The first thing I’ll say is that Gabe and Sokka are 100% besties, I want my boys to be friends. To be more serious, though, they do have some things in common, so I think they’d actually get along, not because I’m biased :’) They’re both warriors who want to protect their loved ones and prove their worth, so they’ll find the common ground for sure.

I think Mateo and Aang would have an interesting dynamic, too, given the fact all wizards have been banished from Avalor during Shuriki’s reign and Mateo was basically the only wizard in his kingdom, plus he’s self-taught, whereas Aang is the last airbender (just imagine Mateo going to the astral to communicate with the Maruvian wizards like Aang can communicate with the avatars (well, Mateo can summon spirit guides from the spirit world, but okay, this is not really the same thing))

Zuko and Esteban are quite similar, but I don’t think they’d get along very well, rather be annoyed with each other, because they’ve both got a temper XD But Francisco and Iroh would definitely become friends, I tell you.

I still haven’t said anything about Elena, but I think she’d have a nice relationship with Katara, given how caring and people-oriented they both are. Plus, Katara is a self-taught waterbender, whereas Elena gets a hang of using her scepter (mostly in season 1, but yeah) and they both have forgiveness issues akjsndkfk

The ATLA Characters & My OCs :3 (thank you for putting them in your ask <3)

I can write the whole novel about Valerio now XD At first, Valerio would get along with Iroh. Both are wise, understanding, supportive and Valerio loves tea. But once he meets his nephew, he realizes that he sees himself in Zuko in many ways and wants to guide him in the right direction, which also helps him to look at his own path from a different perspective.

Valerio is interesting (pfffffft) because on the surface he does seem like a grounded person (in the sense he seems to have everything under control and not really have any personal life problems), but he’s damaged deep inside and has many unresolved issues that gnaw at him and don’t let him live the life the way he’d like to, so I think he would make a good company for Iroh and Zuko.

As for my other characters, Frida would get along with Katara for sure and Ángel with Sokka and surprisingly Ty Lee (after “redemption”) because they’re actually quite similar.

Matías also needs a friend but I can’t think of anyone aljsndkfk

I’ll stop here, but if I get more ideas, I’ll share them with you! And again, I’m really excited to know whether you got anything 👀

Thank you again!

#Ask me anything #My OCs

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no-goodbyes-no-regrets · 8 months ago

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Fanfic Emoji Ask

🤗 🤡

Ooh thank you for asking anon! i kinda forgot about it again lol

🤗 What advice would you give to new fanfic writers that are just getting started? That idea you have? Write it. Go for it. if you think you suck, just remember 50 shades of grey got PUBLISHED and that's basically twilight fanfiction - and bad fanfiction at that. Seriously though, there are always going to be people who don't like what you write, but no matter how short or how obscure/rare the pairing you write for, there are also always people who DO like it. people whose day is made when they see your fic for their favourite pairing. Focus on that. And if you're nervous about putting yourself out there, AO3 has the anon option. That way you can share your thing without ever revealing yourself (unless you decide you want to).

🤡 What's a line, scene, or exchange you've written that made you laugh? I like to put humour in my stories (real life is dramatic and depressing enough!) so there's a few The exchange between Carlos and TK in the hallway outside their loft in The washing machine chronicles

“Really? Do you think you can live without seeing your lizard baby that long?” Carlos teased and TK rolled his eyes. “Dad and Mateo can look after him. And we can facetime.” He replied. “And he’s our lizard baby. Don’t think you can get out of your parental duties, officer Reyes.” He poked Carlos’ chest for emphasis. “Wouldn’t dream of it. I promise to uphold my duties as a lizard parent.” Carlos said as if he was swearing on a bible in court. “Just as long as you don’t have to touch or feed him, right?” “I fed him last week!” “You dropped a cricket in front of his little cave and told him to deal.” “Well he did, didn’t he? It’s good to teach kids independence. You baby him.”

and Carlos being DONE™ with TK in Love and Lou

“This is still not a horse, paramedic Strand.” he said, opening the trunk and unpacking his gear. “If you’re unfamiliar with horses, my two year old niece can probably lend you a book to explain what horsies look like.”

And this little bit from my Tarlos and Owen & Gabriel at pride fic that I'm hoping to finish SOON (I'd say today but every time I do, shit happens and i end up having dinner at 11PM, let alone actually doing some writing)

"What colour are we thinking for the shirts?" Owen asked "I was thinking pink, to fit the theme.” “Wait what theme? When did we agree on a theme?” TK asked, distracted. “The pride theme. Pink for pride.” “Shouldn’t it be rainbow themed then?” Carlos asked, sounding somewhat more composed. “I’m not sure I’d look good in rainbow colours.” Owen mused. “Yellow isn’t really my colour. It washes me out.” “Dad, just wear whatever you normally wear.” TK said, sounding like he’d resigned himself to the fact he wasn’t getting out of going along with his dad’s idea. “We don’t need a theme. Carlos and I have our outfits planned out already.” “No we don’t.” Carlos protested. “I told you, I’m not wearing that in public.” TK sighed. “We’re still discussing our outfits.” He corrected himself. “So just wear whatever. Nobody is going to pay attention to what you’re wearing… unless you’re in drag or wearing ass-less chaps.” He paused. “Please don’t wear those.” “I don’t think the cowboy look is really for me.” Owen mused. “But I do still have my motorcycle outfit…” “If you wear that I’m not walking anywhere near you. And that’s a promise.” TK swore and Owen laughed. “I guess my outfit is still a work in progress too. Gabriel and I will brainstorm and we’ll let you know what’s what.” “Sure. But no leather and if anyone calls you daddy, I’m out of there.” TK warned him before ending the call.

Fanfic Writer Emoji Ask

#Anonymous #ask game #tarlos

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unimpressivegayarrow · 2 years ago

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just before I rewatch ep2 I wanted to just get my thoughts out.

[this is kinda long so the rest is below]

so with the whole plot line of iris going missing, I'm guessing it's because she was going to do a welfare check on the women she mentioned at the shelter when tk was there. otherwise idk why it would've been highlighted.

Carlos is going to think this is tk's fault because maybe he didn't know that tk went to chat with her? but even then it seems a bit off.

also with the divorce papers being signed, she thinks they should get an annulment(?) so either that's a plot hole or a really odd thing for a kidnapper to make someone do?

unless you have to divorce because you can annul a marriage? I literally have no clue whatsoever, I took gcse history and that's the only reason I know what an annulment is, my knowledge stops there.

either way it seems weird? maybe that's what sparks an argument between tk and Carlos. when he comes back and explains, maybe tk's like wot? or maybe they really do have to divorce before they can annul? because at the moment this seems to be the only reason. I guess tho this won't impact the wedding timeline much at all. because theyve still got 8 weeks seeing as only 1 day has passed since ep1.

so then it leads me to believe that Carlos getting hurt will impact the timeline, because for some reason I really don't think they'll get married in 8 weeks because otherwise they'll have to condense the whole story down into one episode= one day.

I know their timelines aren't strong on lone star but come on with the whole Tommy and her pastor thing. it's gonna suck if u get it day by day its not a realistic time frame for development.

because its going to happen after episode 8, it also makes me think that there will be a time skip by at least normal standards of one episode= 1 week.

does any of this make sense?

I'm pretty interested in this storyline at the moment too, it allows for so much character development with Carlos because we actually get him on screen for like more than 2 minutes. and we get actual tarlos content too. other than 7000 edited out scenes that will never see the light of day.

moving on from tarlos, I'm just like okay why is Owen with the nazis? but at least it's not another love interest. couldn't they just let him be like s1 Owen when he was a more attentive dad. he did have that video call with tk where he said they need to work on their relationship last season so I'm hoping that will be built up all through this season and not just in 1 scene in episode 8.

I like how they're putting Owen with the crew more, getting him with judd and Tommy is probably a good idea. and I also think that the police sergeant guy will be a double agent because its predictable and they're not going to kill Owen off. I'd like him to get some friends and be a more relatable character instead of a meh one. tho I will admit I did really like his episode last season when you find out his back story.

so yeah alot to think about after ep2, I'm hyped for Tommy's storyline!

and I literally cannot wait for Paul's arc this season!!!!!!!

and I'd like some more time with the ryders too and wyatt. it was nice last season seeing them being a family and I'd love for that to continue. and some grace solo plots too!! I know it's alot to ask but it is an ensemble cast and I love to see all the characters have their own arcs and not just focus on Owen all the time.

like marjan hasn't really had a solo plot since s2 that didn't involve Owen or really any of her own character growth. I'd love to find out more about her. in her two central eps this season!!

and mateo too he's getting a solo episode for himself and I can't wait either, he's such a good character and I think away from Owen he could also have some growth.

#911 lone star #911 ls s4 #911ls spoilers #911ls #tarlos #paul strickland #tk strand #carlos reyes #marjan marwani #mateo chavez #lettsssssgooooo #im excited #i am screaming #the firefam will be back

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weewoobrainrot · 3 years ago

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what i want from season 4 of 911 lone star:

*note this is before 3×17 aired*

- carlos angst/whump: basically carlos in the near death situation rather than tk for once: gimme a good old fashioned carlos gets shot while on duty and tk is beside himself scene PLEASE

- detective carlos: or at least more of carlos being a character rather than tk's cop boyfriend (we're starting to see this at the end of season 3, but i hope they keep it up)

- mateo/nancy development: i mean these guys are adorable??? mateo being a short king and nancy being a badass queen, honestly power couple

- more plots involving the 126 characters personal lives: like gimme more paul-centric episodes. gimme a mateo backstory rn. give marjan more screen time. GIVE MATEO A BACKSTORY!!!!

- less overdramatic owen plots: look maybe it's just me, but i'm not a huge owen fan, and this season didn't do him much favours for me. his plot with catherine had so much potential and then he just....ruined it 😭😭 idk man he's been annoying me so much i can't explain it

- more andrea reyes: i don't need to explain this, she's a queen, she's an icon and she is the moment

- also just more of carlos's family in general: like this ties into giving carlos a life outside of tk and being a cop. introduce tía lucy and more family, especially if tk and carlos get engaged

- husband's tk and carlos, but while they're still engaged: basically calling each other husband while still being engaged, and just doing married couple things

- reyes-strand family: maybe end out the season with tk and carlos talking about kids??? adopting and what not :))))

- wyatt being a big brother: look, i actually really like wyatt and i'm really glad he didn't cause any real issues with grace and judd's marriage because he's so sweet. but imagine him as a big bro??? idk i think it'd be cute. plus we get the ryder family being adorable, and that's always welcome

- another 126/118 crossover: idk how they'll do it. maybe they won't have a disaster that brings them to la/texas. like maybe eddie is going to texas with chris and buck tags along because why not and they decide to stop by and say hello to the 126 when disaster strikes??? who knows but whatever it is i need a full on crossover

- and, finally, a good old fashioned natural disaster: look, they're running out of them at this stage, but also a solar storm happened in the first season so anything is possible

#these are all a need #but i'm honestly just hoping for at least one of these #if any of these happen #i'll cry #omfg #anyway #911 lone star #tk strand #carlos reyes #owen strand #judd ryder #grace ryder #tommy vega #nancy gillian #paul strickland #marjan marwani #mateo chavez #the 126 #126 firefam

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wikiangela · 2 years ago

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911 lone star 4x02

spoilers ahead

aw I missed Grace so much 😍

loving Marjan getting a moment, I hope we'll see more of her this season, maybe she'll get an actual storyline 🤞

also, lmao this is so funny, why is this woman so difficult 😂 istg ls is a drama only sometimes, mostly it's a fucking comedy 😂

unpopular opinion but: I actually enjoyed Owen in s3, and I'm still enjoying him haha, tbh he was only really insufferable in s2, now I kinda like him, and his scenes are hilarious, and I'm kinda interested in his storyline this season 😂 (more interesting than tarlos that's for sure, and that's still so weird to even think lmao)

Grace and Tommy have the best friendship in this show 💯 lmao I love them

"just my wife" lmao okay that was funny - it's still not the best plot ngl, it's just so... low stakes, so low basically nonexistent - I already said that in a post before, but like, so what if they can't get married in a few weeks? 😂 like, this is just such a dumb reason jfc, we know they're gonna stay together, this is just drama for the sake of drama - I'm still gonna try to enjoy it tho, maybe they'll make it fun 💁🏻‍♀️😂

I was about to say this convo is annoying, but them recalling TK's accidents and the "how many comas have you been in" 😂 😂 lmao this is so funny

oh wow... she didn't sign the papers, who could've seen it coming..... just about everyone but okay 🙄 it's just such a boring storyline I'm sorry but like, it might've been a funny convo, but the overall plotline is just so boring, and making Iris just annoying tbh

OH MY GOD WHO CARES ABOUT THE VENUE 🙄🙄🙄 like, seriously, I can't express how boring I find this, they can literally find another place or wait a little longer

why is tarlos' storyline the most boring this season, please can this be over and can they get something more interesting?

Tommy being awkward with the pastor oh my god I love her so much, but someone shut her up pls 😂😂😂

okay, that leather jacket and hair kinda ruffled by the helmet - it's working for me, why is Rob Lowe so hot, I wasn't prepared to be (this) attracted to Owen this season 😭

thank god that was just Tommy's dream, because the dialogue was really making me cringe lol

I'm loving Tommy and Owen's friendship too 😂

I'm sorry, I guess I'm happy they're getting an annulment, and we're adding some drama now, but like.... I really don't fucking care, what is happening, tarlos were my fave part of this show and now I just wait for their scenes to be over, what have you done writers 🙄

okay, that tarlos scene was adorable and I love them - im still already over that whole marriage and Iris thing tho

oh, now Iris disappeared? okay, now it's getting interesting

that was a good episode, it flew by so fast tbh haha

loved Tommy and I'm lowkey here for the pastor storyline, but it seems to be going well, and we're only on episode 2, so I wonder what's gonna get fucked up

pls tell me Grace and Judd will get some story of their own because so far they're kinda to the side

same with Mateo, Marjan and Paul and Nancy - like, please give them something, they each had like an episode about them (aside from Nancy I think) and we're in s4, give them some longer storylines pls

(also, can we get begins episodes for them? that'd be so cool pls)

I kinda like Owen's story, it's interesting, and it's taking surprisingly little screen time for Owen 😂 (also, Rob Lowe has always been hot, but this season it's like, really standing out, almost as much as the beginning of s3 with the beard 🥵 wtf)

and finally, tarlos.... I was kinda over their whole story, but Iris disappearing makes it interesting tbh, so far it's been boring - hope it'll get even better!

so, tbh I liked this one more than 4x01 and I hope that now it'll get better and better haha

(tho was there literally like only one emergency this episode?)

#911 lone star #911 lone star spoilers #911 ls #911 ls spoilers #911 ls season 4 #911 ls 4x02 #thoughts while watching #tarlos

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morganaspendragonss · 4 years ago

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holly's august extravaganza day 17: you and me (moving through this world as a two-man team)

for both my incredible birthday twin jenny (@laelipoo) and a little bit for myself! i hope you are having a wonderful, wonderful day and i wish you all the love in the world. i'm so glad we became friends and i cannot tell you how glad i am for our conversations 🥰🥰🥰

many, many, many thanks to jenny as well for helping me out with the plot!

ao3 | 3.1k | firefighter carlos, hurt/comfort, pining, developing relationship, major character injury (two of them 😌)

TK does not have a crush on the 126's latest hire.

Carlos Reyes: an Austin local, an incredible firefighter, and—objectively speaking—the most beautiful man TK has ever laid eyes on. Which is, in fact, the entire point; TK has eyes and, yes, he will use them to sneak a look or two when he’s suddenly sharing space with a man who looks like a Greek god.

That does not mean he has a crush, Paul.

(and, sure, maybe he does sometimes dream about how soft Carlos’s lips look and the soft blush he gets when he laughs and those little flecks of gold in his eyes, but he’s only human)

(how TK knows about the gold in Carlos’s eyes is none of anybody’s business)

The thing about Carlos Reyes is that he isn’t only stupidly hot; he’s also just plain nice. TK can’t even make up a flimsy excuse to keep his distance. Carlos is, quite literally, perfect.

He shares recipes and book recommendations with Paul, he spars with Marjan, he discusses superheroes with Mateo, and Judd has had nothing but good things to say since before Carlos even joined them. Apparently they’d worked together a lot before the explosion, when Carlos was with the 116, and he’s ‘one of the best damn firefighters’ Judd has ever seen.

He even makes time to hang with the paramedics, which...isn’t a new development, exactly. But it is recent, and TK is willing to bet they’d still be pretty divided if Tim hadn’t suddenly transferred back to Maryland and he hadn’t taken the leap to be a full paramedic.

Even after that… His friends were hardly going to abandon him after he switched, but Nancy had still only been semi-included at best. She’d called him out about it during their first week working together, but fixing it had been a slow process.

Until Carlos came along, that is. Excluding Judd, they all regularly hang out at his place now, and Nancy’s inclusion had never even been a question. Safe to say, Carlos has charmed everyone in the firehouse, including both captains, and the worst part is, he doesn’t seem to realise he’s doing it.

He’s perfect, from his freakishly toned body to his infuriatingly sweet personality to his incredible skills in the field, and TK does not have a crush, goddammit!

One morning about three weeks after Carlos’s arrival, TK is greeted in the firehouse by the sound of a long, beautiful laugh coming from the kitchen. Three weeks is an embarrassingly short amount of time to admit that he’s memorised everything about him, but he instantly recognises the noise as coming from Carlos, even if he can’t see him yet.

He saunters into the kitchen, where Carlos is standing with Paul, and leans up against the counter. “Hey.”

“Hey.” Carlos turns with a winning smile and holds out a steaming mug of coffee, clearly freshly made even though TK only got in two minutes ago.

He blinks. “How—” Then, taking in the slight pinkness to Carlos’s cheeks, “Are you seriously offering me your own coffee, Reyes?”

Carlos shrugs, forcing the mug into TK’s hands. “I only just made it so technically it belongs to anyone, and I can always make another,” he says. “Besides, you look like you could use it more than me.”

His grin has TK narrowing his eyes and stubbornly refusing to drink even though Carlos is right—he really, really needs it.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that was an insult.”

“Who says you do know better?”

TK splutters, momentarily left speechless in the face of Carlos’s smile and the twinkle in those goddamn eyes. He turns to Paul for help, but Paul...has disappeared. Huh. TK honestly hadn't noticed him go.

He shakes his head and looks back to Carlos, only to be stunned silent again by the way his smile has softened into something else, something more.

TK’s heart skips a beat or two and he swallows, staring down into Carlos’s coffee. “Whatever, Reyes,” he mutters.

It was too late for a witty comeback anyway.

Carlos’s laugh follows him out of the kitchen, and TK wonders when, exactly, he let himself fall this far.

“Earth to TK? Hello?”

TK is rudely snapped back to reality by one Nancy Gillian’s hand waving violently in his face. He scowls at her, to which she responds with an eye roll.

“Stop drooling over your man and come help me with inventory.”

“I’m not drooling,” TK argues, following her over to the rig. “And he’s not my man.”

“Right,” Nancy drawls, folding her arms over her chest as she leans against the ambulance. “So you’re just going to deny that weird energy around you two that makes the rest of us feel like we’re creeping on something?”

“Exactly.” TK nods emphatically, then frowns. “Wait, what?”

Nancy casts her eyes heavenward. “You know,” she says, “you’re a lot of things, Strand, but I hadn’t pegged you for oblivious.”

TK’s next words are reflexive, said without thought for the consequences—the story of his life, really.

“I’m not oblivious!”

The grin spreading over Nancy’s face rams home just how much he’s fucked up with those three words. TK drops his head in his hands and groans, unable and unwilling to look Nancy in the eye.

“Not a word,” he warns, which Nancy appears to respect, for now. TK is well aware that there will be words—several of them—later, whether he wants them or not.

The thing is, he really isn’t oblivious. He knows perfectly well what Nancy is talking about and he has often fantasised about all the things he’d do to Carlos given half a chance. TK likes Carlos, way more than just in the physical sense, and he’s pretty sure that Carlos likes him right back. It would be so easy to start something between them and, god, TK wants to. He just… He can’t.

One year—that’s what he promised himself back in New York. One year on his own to sort his head out and figure out how he fits back into the world after the overdose. Granted, his sobriety anniversary is only a couple of months away now, but he refuses to give up on his promise, especially when he’s so close.

Maybe in a couple months, if Carlos hasn’t gotten bored of something that’s clearly going nowhere.

But not now.

“He did not ask me out!”

“He totally did, dude, and you know it. You want to say yes, I can tell.”

“No, I don’t. I—”

“Children,” Tommy interrupts from the back of the ambulance. They’re heading to a callout, and Nancy has not let up the entire way about something TK is certain never actually happened. “Either of you want to enlighten me on what the argument is about this time?”

“TK’s too chicken to go out with Carlos,” Nancy jumps in, before TK can stop her.

“I am not!” he protests. “Plus, he wasn’t asking me out, he said we should go over to his place for dinner sometime, which Carlos does all the time. So there.”

“Strand, you are not this dense,” Nancy snarks, probably rolling her eyes. “His exact words were, ‘You should come over sometime’.”

“We were all there! It was obviously the plural you.”

“Oh my god—”

“Alright!” Tommy sighs wearily. “Nancy, can we keep from provoking TK until we’re back at the firehouse and he’s no longer driving?”

“Ha!” TK exclaims, but Tommy’s not done.

“TK, if I weren’t your captain, I’d be telling you that Nancy is right and you should pull your head out of your ass before it’s too late, understand?”

Now it’s Nancy’s turn to be triumphant as TK struggles to form a coherent response. Thankfully, he’s saved from further torment by them finally pulling up at the scene—a warehouse where one of the workers had become trapped after parts of the upper level walkway had broken and fallen. Apparently, the falling metal had caused some of the machinery to malfunction, turning the call from simple to beyond complicated in a matter of minutes.

“TK, grab your turnout gear and your bag; I’m sending you in with them,” Tommy informs him as soon as they’re out of the rig. “Normally, we’d just talk the firefighters through it over radio, but given your training it’ll be quicker and safer for you to deal with our patient.”

TK grins; he’s missed the adrenaline rush of running into emergencies more than he can say. “Got it, Cap.”

“Maybe try and look a little less happy about a serious injury, too.”

“Copy that.”

The noise when they enter the warehouse is deafening, an ugly screeching cutting right through TK’s skull.

“Shouldn’t they have shut the machines off?” he shouts, fighting to be heard.

“Apparently they can’t,” Judd calls back. “Something wrong with the control panel, I don’t know exactly what.”

TK groans—just what they need. The sound is lost in the din, but Carlos still looks over and gives him a sympathetic grin, shrugging in a ‘what can you do’ motion. TK can’t help but grin back, the mere sight of Carlos easing the annoyance he feels and the headache already beginning to build behind his eyes.

Their patient, when they reach him, is pinned under a large, heavy-looking sheet of metal. He’s bleeding from a gash on his temple and his skin is worryingly pale, to the extent that TK can tell even from a distance. He jogs to the patient’s side and kneels down, pressing his fingers against his neck.

“Cap, I have a pulse,” he reports into his radio after a few seconds. “But he’s unconscious with a head wound, and I think there are probably injuries I can’t see yet. Possible spinal damage, but I can’t tell until we’ve got this metal off him.”

“Copy that,” Captain Vega says. “Get ready to run a line; he’s gonna need it as soon as he’s free.”

TK nods and moves to secure a c-collar around his neck. “We need to cut this thing off of him,” he says, addressing the team. “Quickly, but carefully.”

Judd steps forward, brandishing the saw. He hands TK a couple of spare turnouts and kneels on the patient’s other side. “Couple of you need to cover him, and yourselves.”

TK doesn’t even have to ask before Carlos appears next to him, taking one of the turnouts from him. He smiles gratefully before arranging himself to provide maximum protection to all three of them as Judd starts working on the metal. The vibrations from the saw are unpleasant, and TK dreads to think what effect it’s having on the already unstable machinery, but it’s the only option they have to get their patient free.

Fortunately, everything seems to go off without a hitch, and soon the team are able to remove the metal. TK immediately gets to work, feeling for any damage. As he suspected, there’s a pretty large gash on the man’s leg which is bleeding badly, though thankfully it seems to have missed any arteries. He also seems to have a broken wrist, but he should heal.

TK quickly wraps his leg, then gets Carlos and Judd to help move him onto the spine board. It feels like, for once, the call has gone as smoothly as possible, and TK allows himself a breath of relief as they prep to get the guy outside to the ambulance.

Naturally, that’s when everything goes to hell.

The machine closest to them lets out a threatening groan and shudders before there’s a loud roar and it explodes. On instinct, TK folds himself over the patient as shrapnel rains down on them, and he sees Carlos doing the same in his periphery.

The downpour seems to last forever, but eventually it slows and comes to a stop. TK cautiously lifts his head, his heart pounding, and sags in relief as it seems that the worst is over.

They need to get out of here, now.

He stands, a brief stab of pain running through his back—probably because of his awkward position over the patient—and turns to Carlos, reaching to offer him a hand up.

Only to see Carlos’s face tight with agony, and then the cause—a jagged piece of shrapnel running right through his hand.

“Carlos,” TK breathes, horrified. Carlos looks up at him, his breathing carefully measured and his eyes wide, and TK drops back to his knees, reaching out for him. “It’s okay, I’ve got you, don’t worry.”

Carlos swallows and nods, his eyes squeezing tight. TK’s heart rate skyrockets, and he’s barely able to keep his cool as he signals to the others to get their first patient out of the warehouse.

“Cap, the team are bringing him out, but we have a problem.”

“Talk to me, Strand, what’s going on?”

“It—It’s Carlos.” TK breathes out shakily and takes a moment to steady himself before continuing, “It’s not serious, but some of the machinery broke apart and some shrapnel impaled his hand. I’ve got to stabilise the shard before we come out to you.”

“Alright, but hurry. I don’t want you guys in there for longer than necessary.”

“Copy.”

Stabilising the shrapnel with rolls of gauze and wrapping Carlos’s hand should be a matter of course—it’s an easy process that TK could probably do in his sleep. But this is Carlos, so his damn hands won’t stop shaking and he almost fumbles and drops his supplies.

He manages though, and soon he’s helping Carlos up, instructing him to hold his injured hand above his heart. Carlos sends him a wobbly smile, which ends up turning out to be more of a grimace, but it’s a comfort nonetheless. Things could have gone so much worse today; TK could have even lost him, and he would have never been able to—

But that’s not important. Carlos is okay, or he will be, and they still have plenty of time to figure out whatever this is between them.

Everything will be okay.

TK’s back and side twinge again as they make their way out, but he brushes it off, too focused on getting Carlos to the hospital as fast as possible. Tommy shakes her head as they make their way over, her eyebrows raised despite the concern clearly in her expression.

“Never a peaceful moment with you, Strand, is it?” she asks dryly, hissing as she inspects Carlos’s wound.

“In my defence, Cap,” he says, more at ease now that they’re safe, “it’s not me who’s injured this time.”

Tommy hums, then directs Carlos into the back of the rig, jumping in after him. “Get back here, TK. Nancy’s driving.”

She has a teasing look in her eyes that instantly makes TK suspicious, but he moves to comply, shrugging off his turnout coat as he does. The movement hurts, which is weird, but he thinks nothing of it.

At least, until Tommy’s eyes go wide and she stands from her seat, holding her hands out towards him. “TK, do not move,” she instructs, her eyes firmly fixed on his right side.

TK frowns, then follows her gaze down, and— Oh.

His grey undershirt is stained with blood, and it’s difficult to miss the large piece of metal sticking out of his side. He has no idea how he missed it, but now that he knows, the pain slams into him full force, causing him to stagger.

“Oh,” he gasps, eloquently.

Then, his legs buckle and the world goes black.

TK wakes up to a steady beeping sound, which only exacerbates his pounding headache. He groans, scrunching his face up, before slowly peeling his eyes open, almost slamming them shut again after getting an eyeful of obnoxiously bright fluorescents.

“You’re awake,” a voice says, sounding surprised, then the lights suddenly dim, the room lit by the gentle glow of a lamp. TK sighs in relief and shifts to look at his saviour.

It’s Carlos.

“You… You’re here,” TK states, confused. His gaze drifts down Carlos’s body and lands on the white bandages around his hand, the memories of the warehouse suddenly hitting him all at once. “Shit, you— How are you?”

Carlos shakes his head and comes to sit in the chair by TK’s bed. “I can’t believe you’re the one asking me that.”

“I’m a paramedic, it’s my job.”

“Not when you’re the one in the hospital bed,” Carlos counters, sighing. “If you must know, I’m fine. They gave me some pretty good drugs, so…” He shrugs, and TK can’t help but laugh, which proves to be a very bad idea.

His side lights up, an unnecessary reminder that TK is very much not on the good drugs, and he moans softly, slowly settling back in the bed. “I hate you,” he mumbles, eyes closed.

“You love me,” Carlos says, and TK’s heart seizes in his chest.

The silence after his words is deafening, so TK forces himself to crack his eyes open enough to look at him. Carlos is frozen in his chair, biting his lip hard, and he looks like he either wants to bolt or be swallowed by the earth.

TK thinks he should probably be feeling the same. They’ve been dancing around this issue for weeks now, and he’d thought he had it under control. That he could last that little bit longer until his one year was up; that he could ignore these feelings that have been steadily growing since he first laid eyes on Carlos.

It was a hopeless endeavour; he recognises that now. TK remembers the fear he felt when Carlos was injured back at the warehouse, the desperation for him to be better, and now with his own injury…

He could have lost this chance before he ever got it, and TK isn’t about to let it slip through his fingers now. He reaches out and takes Carlos’s good hand, startling him into meeting TK’s eyes.

“Yeah,” TK whispers, just loud enough for Carlos to hear him. “I think I do.”

The smile Carlos gives him lights up the room, and he doesn’t waste any time in leaning down to kiss TK. And it’s… It’s everything TK had hoped and imagined it would be and more. It’s soft and sweet and gentle and perfect, and he never wants it to end.

But end it does, though Carlos doesn’t go far. TK smiles at him, squeezing his hand with all the strength he can muster.

“That’s a yes, by the way,” he says.

Carlos frowns. “What?”

TK’s smile widens and he flicks his eyebrows at Carlos. “To dinner. Or were you not asking me out after all?”

Carlos huffs a laugh, and the look in his eyes when they lock back onto TK’s melts his heart and makes his entire chest ache. “Does Friday work for you?”

He nods, tugging Carlos down for another kiss. “It’s a date.”

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marjansmarwani · 4 years ago

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beyond the terror of the nightfall

4.5k || ao3

After everything, there is much healing to be done. But comfort can always be found in the ones you love. --- A (very late) 2x13 coda

Did this take me forever? Yes. But I got it done before the new episode and that's what matters. Shoutout to @justaswampdemon for helping me make sense of my own timeline, you’re the best!

(And am I insane posting this 6 minutes before the 911 episode airs? Probably.)

----------

Things looked brighter in the morning.

Not only because they had fallen into bed without drawing the curtains when they had finally gotten to a bed in the early hours of the morning, but because of the man laying beside Carlos; face still peaceful in sleep. He couldn’t help but stare; taking in the miracle that was TK’s rhythmic breathing. It was irrefutable proof that he was still there, that Carlos had not lost him in the chaos and fear of the night before.

He lay on his pillow, silently observing and resisting the urge to reach out and touch him for that extra layer of proof. He wanted to feel the warmth of his familiar skin beneath his fingers but he did not want to pull him from this blissful state where maybe he could forget everything that had happened, for a little while. He turned away to avoid the temptation and look around the room, taking in the details that had escaped him the night before.

Owen Strand’s guest room was sparsely but tastefully decorated and the warm browns of the room were as comforting as any place could be. The bright sunlight streaming in told Carlos that it was well past the time he usually woke up and for a brief frantic moment he thought he must be late for work. But then he remembered that at some point during the seemingly never-ending night one of his coworkers on scene informed him that their captain had ordered Carlos to take at least a few days off and that more leave would be ready for him should he need it.

He let his head fall back against the pillow with a sigh, closing his eyes as he tried not to think about all of the things that needed to be done. He and TK had nothing now: no home, no clothes, no wallets. Every bit of their life, no matter how important or trivial had been reduced to ash right along with their home. Carlos knew they were lucky to have even escaped with their lives; the very real fact that they almost hadn’t had haunted him since the moment the flames erupted. But now, after, he was able to see around that and consider their way forward; and he knew it wouldn’t be easy.

The sound of TK stirring beside him pulled Carlos from his thoughts and he rolled over to see his boyfriend slowly blinking open his eyes. He tried for a smile when those eyes landed on him and received an equally unsteady one in return.

“Good morning,” TK said softly, his voice almost a whisper as if he didn’t want the world to know they were awake yet.

“Good morning,” Carlos replied, matching the other man’s volume even as he moved closer and pressed a light kiss onto his lips. TK smiled into it, but once they pulled apart and he took a look around at their surroundings his smile faded.

“I remember it happening,” he said after a moment, his eyes on the sparse furnishings of his dad’s house, “I was just hoping that maybe it was a dream.”

Carlos hummed his agreement but he slid his hand across the bed to find TK’s. He squeezed it as soon as he found it and TK wound their fingers together in response before he pulled his mind back to the present and turned so he was facing Carlos again. They lay in silence, simply soaking in the presence of each other for a long time before Carlos finally sighed and ran a weary hand over his face.

“We have so much to take care of,” he lamented, “I don’t even know where to start.”

“Me neither,” TK agreed, “but we can divide and conquer, I suppose. You’re not alone in this Carlos,” he reminded him earnestly, “We are in this together, 100%.”

Carlos smiled at him as warmth spread through his chest. Their home might be gone but he can’t help but feel lucky that they didn’t lose this, that he didn’t lose him. The tasks before them were daunting and he was already dreading the hours spent on the phone with the insurance company, but knowing that he has TK at his side makes it all just that much more bearable.

“We do make a good team,” he agreed, watching as TK’s smile grew.

They lay there for a few more minutes, soaking in the calm silence of the late morning sun and the soothing presence of each other. It’s eventually TK that moves, a groan coming from his lips as he pulls himself up.

“I suppose we need to actually face this,” he said wryly, “but I’m going to take a shower first. Care to join me?”

Carlos laughed at his suggestive eyebrows but shook his head, “As tempting as it is,” he told TK, “I don’t think I could knowing that your dad and Mateo are right down the hall.”

TK gave a light chuckle and leaned down to give him a lingering kiss. When he pulled away he took Carlos’s air with him as he stood from the bed.

“Your loss,” he told him as he disappeared out the bedroom door with one last suggestive grin.

Carlos watched him go, still trying to find his breath. Sometimes he was just struck by how much he loved the other man. It was a thought he had often, and a thought he had had last night as the flames had raged around them.

As he pulled himself out of the familiar bed and began to get ready for the first day in their uncertain future he knew without a doubt that no matter what came and no matter how difficult, it would be worth it. Because he still had TK and they still had each other and after that, nothing else really mattered.

-----

It doesn’t hit him until he is in the shower, of all places.

He and Carlos had both spent an extremely long time under the running water the night before, plying the soot and smell of smoke off of their skin with Owen’s myriad soaps and skincare products but somehow now this regular, everyday act of showering before he got ready was his undoing.

It was inevitable, he supposed. He hadn’t really processed it after all. There had just always been another thing to focus on: getting them out safely, answering questions about what had happened, supporting Carlos. TK had been a firefighter for the majority of his adult life; fire was nothing new to him. The sights and smells and sensation of being trapped among the hungry flames hadn’t affected him like it had the other man, for which TK was grateful. Carlos was the consummate pillar; always there to lend his support, always ready for TK to lean on and he was happy to be able to return the favor.

But eventually, he ran out the timer he didn’t even know was running.

It’s the smallest thing that acts as the catalyst. He’s just reaching for a shampoo when an idle thought drifts through his mind: he can’t remember the name of the shampoo Carlos used.

It had been a bit of a running joke between them that Carlos had been struggling to find a shampoo that worked with his curls. He finally had settled on one just last week, but TK couldn’t remember what it was. He needed to replace it for him, he needed to make sure Carlos had everything he needed but he couldn’t remember the name of his shampoo.

And it’s that thought that somehow brings the reality into focus. Everything they had is gone. They needed to move forward and they needed to do it completely from scratch. Everything they had built together was gone, and there was no bringing it back. The past month of living with Carlos and building a home together had all been erased; all proof of its existence reduced to ashes.

All their memories seeped into every square inch of the house were gone and there was no getting them back.

It’s just one tear at first, but the rest quickly follow. Before he knew it he was sliding down the wall of the shower; chest heaving and shoulders shaking with the force of his sobs. He landed on the shower floor as the tears kept coming, mixing with the warm water falling around him as he put his face in his hands.

He hadn’t let himself feel this because Carlos had needed him but now, in the privacy of the shower with the sound of the water concealing his sobs, he let it come. He cried until he didn’t have anything left in him, until all the fear and pain was gone and he only felt numb.

Then he stood up, shut off the water, and stepped out of the shower; drying himself off and getting ready to face a new day.

----------

Carlos stepped into the kitchen to find Owen, fully dressed and bent over the counter writing something on a notepad. He cleared his throat awkwardly as he stepped into the kitchen, not wanting to startle the older man.

“Carlos!” he greeted cheerfully, Good morning! I was just leaving a note for you boys, I have to head out for an appointment in a bit. How’d you sleep?”

“The room was very comfortable,” he replied, carefully skirting around all mentions of sleep and dreams. The look Owen gave him told Carlos that he wasn’t fooled, but he didn’t press.

“I expected you both to sleep longer,” he said instead. “It was a late night and lord knows TK’s never really been a morning person. Is he up too?”

“He’s in the shower,” Carlos answered, taking a seat on one of the stools at the counter. “We both figured we have a lot to get done so it would be best to get moving.”

“That actually brings up something I wanted to talk to you about - well, a few things actually,” Owen amended. “The first is simple.”

He followed his words by picking up something resting on the counter beside the paper he had been writing on. It was his credit card and when Carlos went to protest he shook his head, “Don’t even think about it. Unless one of you went to bed with your wallet last night and failed to mention that, neither of you has access to any of your accounts at the moment. We’ll get that all sorted out in time but for now I’m sure you’d appreciate having some clothes that actually fit. And don’t even think about trying to pay me back,” he added as he slid the card across to Carlos, “I can cover it, and it’s the least I can do.”

Carlos carefully picked up the card in front of him and looked from it back to his boyfriend’s father, “Thank you, Owen.”

Owen waved off his thanks. “It truly is the least I could do, given everything. But I’m not the only one who wants to help you two.”

Carlos opened his mouth, ready to assure him that the 126 didn’t need to do anything, that simply being there was enough (though knowing them he was sure his assurances wouldn’t stop them) but what Owen said next was not what Carlos had been expecting.

“I know TK talked to his mother last night and told her it was fine that she couldn’t fly down here, but if I know her she is kicking herself for that. Now, this is all up to you and TK. It’s your house and your insurance and it’s up to you how you want to handle it but don’t forget that you have a powerhouse of a Manhattan lawyer on speed dial,” Owen reminded Carlos, “don’t be afraid to call Gwyn if you think it’ll help.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to…” Carlos began but Owen shook his head.

“None of that,” he told him firmly before his expression softened. “She hates that she can’t be here for you two and if you would like to pass on some of the legal and insurance stuff to her I know she would be happy to do it. She would probably feel better about it, knowing that she was able to help you both even if it’s just a little.”

Carlos nodded, feeling the smallest amount of weight lift off his shoulders. There was still plenty left behind, but the knowledge that someone with a better understanding of the system could help them made it just that much easier to breathe in the face of it all.

“Thank you, Owen. I will.”

“Good,” Owen said with a nod. “It’ll mean a lot to her and I’m sure you won’t mind a few fewer things to deal with.”

Carlos nodded emphatically at that and Owen grinned. His expression shifted though as he caught sight of the clock about the stove.

“I need to go,” he said hurriedly, “I have an appointment at the hospital. Will you tell TK...I don’t want to leave before he comes down but…”

Carlos shook his head, “It’s fine, I’ll tell him. We’ll see you later.”

Owen gave him a grateful smile, “Count on it. If you need anything while I’m gone just call me, and don’t worry about buying whatever you need because I’m not letting either of you pay me back, I mean it.”

Then he was gone, out the door with a wave before Carlos could even open his mouth to argue. He picked up the card idly and was tapping it against the counter while his mind wandered when he heard footsteps behind him. He looked around and felt a smile spread across his face at the sight of TK entering the kitchen. It abruptly faded though when his boyfriend grew closer and he could see the telltale signs of recent tears all over his face. They were well concealed, but Carlos knew TK’s face better than his own. TK had been crying, there was no doubt.

“Babe?” he asked gently, rising from his seat at the counter.

“I’m fine,” TK assured him in a hearty voice that did not have Carlos fooled for a second.

“TK you are not fine,” he retorted adamantly, “talk to me.”

“I am Carlos, really,” TK repeated firmly and Carlos went to argue again but TK kept talking. “It just all finally hit me, I think,” he told him, “that’s all.”

Carlos could feel the panic that had sprung up at the sight of TK’s upset start to fade in the absence of any immediate threat or injury. “I’m not surprised,” he admitted softly, stepping forward to wrap his arms around the other man. “You’ve been a rock the entire time and while I appreciate it - really, I do - it was your home too.”

TK heaved a weary sigh and wrapped his own arms around Carlos, returning the embrace. “I know that,” he said softly into Carlos’s shoulder, “but I’m okay, I swear.”

Carlos pulled away enough to study TK’s face, to look for any sign that he was lying. When he didn’t see any he relaxed and took a breath. He knew that it would take some time for them to both move past this and that they were each going to deal with this in their own way. He also knew that this would be far from the last time they talked about this, or the last time one of them struggled. But if TK said he was fine, he was fine and Carlos would let it go - for now.

“Your dad just left,” he said instead, stepping away from his boyfriend so he could enter the kitchen. “He had an appointment but he said he would see us later.”

TK nodded as he crossed to the counter and pulled out two mugs before filling them both with coffee and handing one to Carlos. Carlos took it with a grateful smile and continued, “He also left his credit card and told us to buy whatever we need and was very clear that we were not paying him back. He mentioned that part twice.”

TK shook his head fondly and Carlos grinned before he moved onto the next part of their conversation. “He also suggested we call your mom to see if she can help us with any of the insurance stuff.”

TK looked up, surprised for a moment before his expression evened. “That makes sense,” he admitted. “If anyone knows their way around the system, it’s her.”

Carlos grinned at that, allowing himself a quick moment of enjoyment at the thought of an unsuspecting insurance agent trying to pull one over on Gwyneth Morgan. “I think we should,” he said a beat later, “I think it could make a difference because frankly, I have no idea where to even start with all of this.”

TK chuckled and shook his head, “Honesty, me either. I’ll call her in a little bit, see what she says.”

Carlos nodded but secretly he was sure the answer would be yes. He was fairly certain that Owen was right, that she would do anything that felt like she could help them, especially in a way that only she could.

“We should make some time to go out for a bit,” he says instead, “get some clothes to get us through the week, get you a new phone.”

TK grimaced at the reminder. “You’re lucky you still had yours in your pocket,” he told Carlos. “It feels so weird not having it. I feel so out of the loop.”

Carlos chuckled and reached across the table to place his hand on top of TK’s, “That’s okay,” he assured him sweetly, “I’ll make sure you stay in the loop.”

“My hero,” TK deadpanned, but he was grinning.

Any further conversation was halted by the dinging of the phone in question and Carlos fished it out of his pocket, swiping it open to reveal a new message in the group chat. He put the phone down on the counter so he could see the message from Paul: Status update: everyone make it through the night?

TK rolled his eyes fondly as messages from the others appeared, all confirming their continued existence. Carlos grinned at him before he pulled the phone closer to type out a message informing them all that yes, he and TK had in fact survived the night. The conversation quickly shifted from there and, TK reading over his shoulder as he sipped his coffee, slowly a plan began to form.

Paul reminded them all that they had scheduled a game night for tonight and that if there was ever a time they all needed it, it was now. Marjan was quick to agree and Mateo to wonder where they were going to meet. It was Nancy who suggested the 126, reminding them that it would be abandoned for the foreseeable future and that the building had been deemed structurally sound. It was at this point Carlos felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to meet TK’s concerned eyes.

“Would you be okay with that?” he asked softly.

“Yeah,” Carlos responded, baffled at the other man’s concern, “why wouldn’t I be?”

“Because we barely escaped from a burning building with our lives last night.” TK reminded him gently, “I’m just making sure you’d be fine hanging out in another one.”

Carlos considered, looking back down at his phone. The messages had paused and it seemed as if everyone was waiting on him. The idea of being surrounded by the work of the arsonist who had taken their home did seem daunting, but doing it with their friends and TK at his side made it seem far less so.

So he smiled at TK and gave him a nod before he typed his agreement into the chat. The others were clear in their enthusiasm and despite everything that lay behind them and what was still waiting, Carlos found another smile.

He had a feeling they’d be okay after all.

-----

Walking into his destroyed firehouse is like walking into a grave, again.

When he first started out as a firefighter he never thought he would be forced to stand in the ruins of the place that had come to be a second home (or even a first home, at times) and contemplate the loss and tragedy of the sight before him. But he had, twice. The first time it had been silence: the emptiness of the formerly bustling kitchen, the hastily made beds in the bunk room. The knowledge that the rooms would never be filled again.

This time it was charred walls and shattered windows; physical destruction scattered with the debris and clutter of their day-to-day lives. They were still there - still standing - but there was an illusion of safety that had been washed away, never to be fully regained again. A safe place had been violated and for that Owen was sure he would never forgive himself for being the cause.

His flashlight caught a glint of something in the debris of his office and he reached down to pull out the lump of melted steel. He turned it over in his hand as he sank into his chair, his mind fractured between a time nearly 20 years ago and this moment. He had once walked out of hell alone; filled with the grief of losing his brothers and the knowledge that nothing would ever be the same again. But he had moved on and he had built new families and he had vowed to look out for them so he would never have to feel that loss ever again. In the minutes between his frantic call to Judd and the call confirming they were all safe he had nearly been toppled by the fear of that thought. He had thought that he might lose a family again, and that this time it would be his fault.

But he hadn’t; his luck had held again. It had even carried on late into the night, saving him from losing the one thing that meant most to him in the entire world. The pure, unrestrained fear he had felt upon making the connection between Raymond’s threat and the fact that TK and Carlos - the two people both he and Gabriel Reyes cared for most - lived together, making them a perfect target, was unlike anything else he had ever felt in his life. The helplessness had almost overwhelmed him as he and Billy had raced to the scene, the guilt still did even now.

But his luck had held once more and while he was beyond grateful - the thought of losing either of the boys was too awful for him to even comprehend - he was left now to once again wonder why. What had he ever done to make him deserve a happy outcome when Tommy didn’t get one. What made him better, more worthy of a long life, than Charles Vega? He may not have known the man for long, but he had come to know him well and he knew without a doubt that Charles had been a better man than him. Not just a better man: a better person, a better friend, a better husband, a better father. Charles Vega was better than Owen in every single aspect of life that mattered.

Yet for some reason fate had decided that Charles’s time in this life was over; that Tommy needed to face life without her partner, their girls without their father.

And Owen was still here, left standing once again in the ruins; wondering how to move on.

He turned the lump of steel - a reminder and a relic - over again in his hand. There were so many skeletons in his past and sometimes he was afraid that his present was trying to match that. It was a fear that he lived with day in and day out, it was one of the things that kept him up at night and kept him turning to the tequila. He didn’t know how to shake this feeling of dread that had become his constant companion and sometimes he was afraid it would drown him.

Sometimes he wished it would.

There was a list of people in his head; people he couldn’t save, people who should have lived instead. He was running through the list of names (Pullman, Rollins, Rosewater, Santiago…) when the sound of loud music erupted through the silent shell of a firehouse. He frowned, glancing around as if the source would reveal itself before standing and heading down to the first floor.

The sound of voices soon mingled with the sound of the music as he followed it to its source. He turned the corner from what had formerly been the kitchen into the skeletal remains of the lounge to see a small crowd. It was his team, and Carlos. He watched in awe as they took it in stride, as they made the most of it. He lingered off the side, beer in hand and more than content to watch and observe as they bantered and argued about foosball teams. They had all been deeply affected by everything that had happened; he had seen it in them in the immediate aftermath. He knew it had affected them each deeply in their own personal way.

But somehow, they keep moving forwards.

He wonders vaguely when he lost that ability as he stands off to the side, watching them jostle and tease each other by the foosball table as Carlos and TK watch fondly from the sidelines, quietly seeking comfort in each other. He is amazed at their fortitude, at their propensity for healing. They have all faced so much and yet they keep coming out on the other side just as good, just as strong. Just as whole.

He felt a smile find its way to his face as he saw TK gently rub at Carlos’s back; an almost unconscious act of comfort and support. They were fine because they had each other and as long as that was true he knew they’d be okay.

His new team had become a family somewhere along the way and he knew that together, they could make it through anything. It’s in that moment that he decides two things: first, that the news of Charles Vega’s death could wait. These people deserved one night unmarred by tragedy and he had the power to give it to them so he would.

The second, he decided as he watched them laughing with abandon and leaning into each others’ space - finding happiness in the literal midst of destruction - was that the best thing he could do for them is to make sure that they always had each other. And he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he would do anything and everything in his power to make sure that stayed true, for as long as he possibly could.

#911 lone star #911 lone star fic #my writing #userkimmy #userjilly #userac #usermaximus #userbones #tuserjamie #tuserpaige #reyesstrand #reyeslonestartag #jazzyjess #hierophvnts #buckybarnesalways #laelipoo #maizsnex

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after-nine-at-the-oasis · 3 years ago

Text

Tried to figure out voice to text for a while but couldn't so I may as well have just written the post at this point BUUUUUT whatever

Anyway! On with the review :)

REVIEW

Okay, so, I LOVED this episode. A lot less boring than the other two (not that I didn't like them, but come on, Owen was actually likable, imo, even if he was a hero again - but I mean, so was Marjan, so at least we got that)

I am a little disappointed we didn't see TK much but he's not doing much so it makes sense; that's just because I love him xD. Although I don't think ANY of us expected that his mom was a dream before the sneak peek 🤔🤔🧐🧐🤔

Anyway, YES Grace, YES Marjan, YES Tommy but also Tommy get help 😭😭😭😭 I promise you it wasn't your fault and he won't, would never, blame you for it <3 <3 <3 <3

Anyway, hi Nancy, too bad we didn't see you much :/ Same for Judd, Mateo, and Paul, but that scene WAS hilarious lol. And I suppose we saw enough of them last episode :/. Still, though. Again, though, really glad to see Grace so much :)).

Okay SO I did not pick up on the fact that the dad will probably pay to help open back up the firehouse, but I saw another post mention it (I'll credit it in a minute if I can find it again real quick), and it does seem very likely.

Anyway!!! My Tarlos heart hurts hurts hurts HURTS so much but xdd we'll live.

Hopefully.

Nah we will we've seen pictures from later in the season lol-

probably

ಠ_ಠ

then again we thought we saw pictures of his mom too

UH OH

Nah but seriously though I think we'll be okay/alright (maybe even alright I guess lol)

Anyway!! Also, glad that lady, Elena it was yeah, got to see her sons :'). So heartwarming 🥰🥰🥰😍😍🥰. Shame about what's probably going to happen to them though (ugh ope nearly lol xdd) :(((. And the RACISM of that guy, ugh. Ik he was and all but still xd. Yeah though, it's just a shame, it sucks :/. Hopefully they'll be okay. Idk maybe it'll work out somehow :( ( >:(( at the system though) :/.

OVERALL

Loved the episode, I thought it was great :)). And I know that everything will, but it's good storytelling and writing that I'm worried about it, so that shows; I hope everything works out 🤞🤞🤞🤞:D :))).

Anyway!

That was. . .

9-1-1: Lone Star, Season 3, Episode 3: Shock and Thaw

Next week. . .

9-1-1: Lone Star, Season 3, Episode 4: Push

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ayesukkhapisit · 3 years ago

Note

So what do you think is going on with Nancy and Mateo? I mean, obviously we'll find out eventually, but what vibes are you getting from them? Because I'm kinda getting the feeling something maybe already happened?

so i wanted to rewatch "studs" and "child care" to kind of again get a more of a feel as to how mateo looks at dating. which, in "texas proud" we do actually see him dancing with a girl at the bar....i'm not sure if we see it anywhere else. however, he does mention in "studs" that from his experience people tend to want seconds of good looking firefighters. so i'm going to go with mateo is actually pretty good at charming a girl. and honestly that doesn't surprise me, i think a lot of people count him out as a romantic option because of his goofy nature but mateo has more than proven himself as being someone worth taking interest in. which, i think the crumb for their start possibility was actually laid in 2x14 because nancy seems pretty impressed over how he told off the 129. and a lot happened after that with the group as we can gather. the paramedic team moved to the private sector and mateo was on his own and given how nancy had always sort of felt on the outs not just at the station but it seems she might also have some trauma from her teenagerhood, i could see her sort of bonding with him. especially, after carlos and tk broke up since i would gather out of everyone he'd be the person she would have saw at least saw some of since he lived with tk. and from 3x08 we can see she really cares about tk and his emotional well-being, she's not afraid to bring it up so i would think it pretty plausible for her to reach out to mateo. put the rest under the cut because this got longer than i intended. sorry nonnie, but i am a stream-of-consciousness talker/typer.✌️

now to actually answer your question skjfklsdjf. i do think something has happened. like the look in 3x01 isn't that 'oh we are still friends' look. also, i will still say she blew him a bit of a kiss, it was brief but her lips pucker and she's not talking when it happens so....take it for what you will. now for 3x08 nancy almost looks freaked out when he first grabs her hand in as if she's afraid someone will see then the way mateo pulls away, it's not an embarrassed more like he knows he can't keep holding her hand and even her look is kind of 'you have to let go'. of course, i could be totally wrong...though i don't feel like i am. the show did have me questioning my own sanity though because i kept rewatching any scene with them in it together to see if they were dropping anymore hints but like when the station reopens, the only real scene they’re in where they're interacting is with paul, lindsay, & marjan and it didn't seem like anything was going on there. i mean they exchange a lot of looks but they're mostly just playful nothing overly flirty. in 3x07 when nancy is going up to bat, he does call her 'baby' but i don't take it to mean much of anything given that i feel like it doesn't sound out of norm for him to use a term like that when cheering someone on if that makes any sense? though he does seem to follow behind her as she walks out the dugout....like almost concerned and then continues to pace in the small space while everyone else is kind of stationary...am i reaching? maybe. speaking of reaching while she's batting maybe instead of looking back at owen she is in fact looking back at mateo who is standing right behind owen. another reaching point is how he looks her up and down after handing her the trophy. could that just be mateo being mateo? maybe. but i'm sure we will find out...now that they've actually laid out this crumb i'm hoping they'll address it in the next few episodes. i do think if something has happened than it's still happening....like it'd be weird for them to have broken things off and he still sits next to her on the couch when he could have stood with marjan. unless of course she broke things off.... who knows. i'm excited to find out though because i do think a tall queen and a short king is a cute dynamic.

#i will be honest nancy and mateo weren't something i was thinking but that's because i was holding strong to my lesbian!nancy hc #but i'm excited to see how this plays out #like if something's going on why are they hiding it?#i could understand NOW why since they work in the same building but like before....#nancy x mateo #911 lone star spoilers #anon #asks

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justcourttee · 5 years ago

Note

If you take request how about Class, Bustier, Lila, Adrien salt! Lila had a cousin back in Italy who is a master in manipulations but contrary to Lila with her lies, he use his manipulation skills to help others and he REALLY despite Lila. Back when Marinette was in high school junior she got a pen pal from Italy and this pen pal is Lila's cousin, through their letters the two become friends and even stay in contact for years and Lila's cousin got a crush for Marinette. (part 1)

One day Lila's cousin goes to Paris to finally meet Marinette who is very happy to finally meet her pen pal. Later he learn that Lila is in the same class than her(he know that Lila goes to a school in France but didn't know it was the same school than Mari's)and is worried since he know Lila's antics. And when he learn about the bullying Mari is victim at school because of Lila's lies and he is like "OH HECK NO!". (Part 2)

He use his manipulation skills to protect Marinette and to take down Lila. Not even Adrien or Bustier's BS can stop him. Him and Mari become closer day by day and become a couple. After Lila is exposed for everything, even for being Hawkmoth's minion, and is arrested, the class try to confront Lila's cousin and to talk to Mari but Lila's cousin shut them down and give them a good big "the reason why you suck speech". BONUS: Lila's cousin join the miraculous team. (Part 3)

(I couldn’t figure out how to combine the three asks so I copy and paste them)

Ooo, I love a good salt fic. I hope this is kind of what you had in mind :) @sayuricorner

The PenPal

Marinette knew two things when the day started.

1, She was beyond ecstatic to finally meet her PenPal, Mateo, face to face 2, She was beyond worried that somehow, someway Lila Rossi would mess it up

Mateo had been assigned as her PenPal from Italy as a part of their foreign language class to help improve her Italian and his french. They only had to write back and forth until the semester ended, but as it came and went, she found herself intrigued by the Italian boy. Today was their three-year friendaversary and to mark the special occasion, Mateo was coming to Paris.

Marinette bounced on the balls of her feet outside her parent's bakery, her eyes darting up and down the street, trying to find anyone that could be heading in her direction. Pulling out her phone, she checked the time.

3:00p.m.

His plane landed at 2:15p.m. He said he was leaving the airport at 2:50p.m. The airport was approximately ten minutes from her parent's bakery. Any minute now he should be here.

“Marinette!” Sabine poked her head out of the bakery, her eyes landing on her daughter, a knowing smile plastered across her face.

“Marinette, I know your boyfriend will be here any minute, but you still need to get ready for your school dance tonight. It starts at 6 and you still haven’t decided if you want me to do your hair or not.”

“Maman,” she couldn’t help the whine that entered her voice. Her parents were literally the worst when it came to boys. “He’s not my boyfriend, he’s-”

“Just a friend. Yes, I’m well aware of the drill. Well, I’m just letting you know, if he’s not here in the next ten minutes, maybe you should come inside and let me get started.”

Marinette nodded before returning to her search of the streets.

“Did you lose someone signora?”

“Oh no, monsieur. I’m just looking for my Italian friend. He’s supposed to be coming in today, hey wait a moment-”

Her eyes widened slightly as she whipped her head around to come face to face with him.

“Mateo?”

“Pleased to finally meet you Marinette.”

Marinette’s face broke into a grin as she flung her arms around his neck. Pulling back, she brushed a few stray hairs out of her face, completely oblivious to the shade of red the boy’s face had turned.

“I can’t believe you’re actually here! Did you remember to pack a suit? I mean I had your dimensions and made you one just in case but I just can’t believe you’re here. How was your flight? How’d you get here? Taxi? Uber?”

Marinette bit her lip trying to stop the word vomit that was falling out of her mouth.

“I’m sorry. I’m just so excited to finally meet you.”

“It’s fine, really. I’m overwhelmed as well. I mean I knew you were beautiful, but seeing you in person?” Mateo reached down to pick up her hand, bringing it to his lips softly.

“Marinette? Oh! Well, hello.”

Mateo dropped her hand quickly, both of their faces flushed red. Sabine leaned against the doorframe, that same knowing look from before creeping onto her face much to Marinette’s distress.

“Maman, this is Mateo. Mateo this is my Maman.” Her voice was strained as she tried to beg Sabine not to embarrass her.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you signora.” Mateo smoothly lifted Sabine’s hand to his lips, placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles.

“Oh, Italian! Well, young man, the pleasure is all mine. Now let’s get you kids inside, we have so much to do in such little time.”

Without thinking twice, Marinette grabbed Mateo’s hand, dragging the blushing boy behind her. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

“Don’t forget to call me when it’s over! I don’t want you kids walking home in the dark!”

Marinette waved as she pulled away, her eyes rolling at her mother’s invasive tactics.

“She does know we’re 17 right?”

Marinette shook her head before threading her arm through his.

“Don’t mind her, she can be overbearing and invasive, but it’s all with love. Especially with Papa away at the moment visiting his mother.”

“Oh I don’t mind, it’s best to get on your future in law's good side now. It’ll make things so much smoother in the future.”

He sent a wink in her direction earning him an elbow in the side and the most precious laughter he had ever heard.

“You’re such a flirt! C’mon, let’s get inside before you-know-who shows up.”

Mateo did in fact know who. Some girl that moved here while Marinette was 14 and had been making her life a living hell since. He couldn’t imagine what kind of person could hate a kind-hearted person like his friend, but he was determined to put an end to it tonight.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, Marinette was swept away by two intense-looking girls, both cutting him a glare in the process. Mateo soon found himself by the punch table, taking in the sights of the dance. He was just about to step away to look for Marinette when a loud crash caught his attention.

“How DARE you ruin Lila’s dress?”

Lila? No, God, it couldn’t be.

As Mateo stepped forward, his eyes landed on a small girl with dark hair and glasses, an empty cup in her hand, and much to his horror, his cousin Lila Rossi standing behind her, crocodile tears pouring down her face.

“Marinette would never! She doesn’t even know where Lila got that utterly ridiculous dress from.”

The intimidating blonde from before stood in between the girl with the glasses and his poor friend, now soaked from the punch poured on her head.

Just as Mateo took a step forward to intervene, a blonde boy and an older woman stepped in between the girls, pulling them apart before anything further ensured.

“Marinette, you have to be the bigger person here. I can’t have you starting fights with your classmates. You know Lila has a lying disease, you can’t get angry with what she might spread.”

The teacher placed a fake supportive arm over Marinette’s shoulder, handing her napkins to help soak up some of the punch.

“Yeah, Marinette. We know how she is, we just have to take the higher road.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry girl. I just get so angry sometimes cause I can never tell when you’re just acting out of jealousy or if it’s her disease flaring up.”

Mateo felt his anger rising as he watched the scene unfold in front of him. Lila had no disease, she was just a good liar. He watched as the two girls escorted Marinette toward what he assumed were the bathrooms, leaving Lila to fake cry in the arms of the blonde boy.

It was one thing to take down her bully while he was here for the week, but Lila Rossi was a different story. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mateo sat up near the DJ, eyeing his first target. A small blonde girl and her goth friend. They looked easy enough to sway, not quite swarming Lila like the rest of the class, but not exactly rushing to Marinette’s defense either. Placing his phone against his ear, he walked toward them, a smirk plastered across his face.

“-I’m sorry Prince Ali. I know Lila promised to help you with your rounds at the Children’s Hospital tonight but she’s just too busy at this school dance. I understand your disappointment, I too am disappointed. Well, what can I say except that call me next time. I’ll be there friend.”

He slipped his phone into his back pocket letting out a long sigh. He turned to face the blonde, her interest piqued as her eyebrows furrowed.

“Were you just on the phone with Prince Ali? Talking about Lila Rossi? How do you know them?” “Me?” Mateo dramatically looked behind him before leaning into where the blonde stood, her hand intertwined with the girl beside her. “Can I trust you with a secret?”

She nodded carefully, her eyes darting left and right as if someone was watching her.

Mateo slipped his phone out again pretending to search for a particular picture before turning it in Rose’s direction. On the screen stood an edited picture of him with his arm thrown around Prince Ali’s shoulders in front of a hospital, both wearing grand smiles. He swiped to the right showing a less ecstatic picture of him and Lila posing together as children.

“I’m Lila’s cousin, Mateo Rossi. Prince Ali is my best friend and has been for the past three years. I introduced him to Lila last year and she made a whole bunch of empty promises to him, you know, with her disease and all. It’s really tearing him up because he knows with her star power, she could really help the poor children, but alas, she never shows.”

The blonde seemed to doubt him for a moment, but as she scrolled through a couple more carefully edited pictures, her face dropped into one of sadness and anger.

“I can’t believe Lila lied to me about helping Prince Ali! She only met him two years ago?”

Mateo nodded sadly as if he couldn’t believe it either.

“Didn’t Lila say she knew him when she first got here? That was like three years ago.” The goth girl had spoken for the first time. It was quiet and difficult to make out, but the blonde understood and it only seemed to fuel her rage.

“I can’t believe I fell for it!”

“Hey, it’s okay. We’ve all been there before, sometimes you just have to take the higher road.”

Mateo smirked as he walked away, leaving the words Marinette’s classmates told her all these years to sink in with the girls as he looked for his next target. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The rest of the night continued on in the same manner. Mateo would listen in on group conversations, figure out what Lila had promised them, and moments later crush their dreams with a few carefully placed lies.

Pretty soon, all that was left was the girl with the glasses, the blonde boy, and Lila herself. Straightening his collar, Mateo shoved his hands in his pockets walking as calmly as he could to the group, his ever-present smirk widening at the sight of Lila’s panicked eyes.

As loudly as he could, Mateo shouted “Cousin!”, gaining the attention of everyone on the dance floor.

Lila seemed to pale quickly as she completed the embrace, her lips close to his ears as her panicked voice trembled.

“What are you doing Mateo?”

“Watch and learn.”

He pulled back, offering his hand to the girl with glasses who hesitantly reached out to shake it.

“Mateo Rossi, how are you doing tonight?”

“I’m fine.” The girl pulled back, her hesitancy and curiosity mixing.

“And you sir?” He reached his hand toward the blonde boy who gladly accepted it.

“Pretty great! I’m Adrien and this is Alya!”

Adrien and Alya. He should’ve guessed from Marinette’s letters that these two were the ones constantly egging on Lila, letting her get away with bullying his friend. His smirk faltered for a moment, but not a second later it was back in a more sinister way.

“Now Lila, I’ve heard you’ve been promising some people things you can’t deliver.”

“That’s- That’s not true. I always deliver.”

A murmur of doubt waved through the crowd behind him, building his confidence in his plan.

“Lila, please. I know your disease is worsening, but you’re really hurting some people here! You’ve got to stop.”

He placed his hand on her shoulder, a fake sincerity monopolizing his face. Her panicked eyes darted between him and the growing crowd behind him. She seemed like a caged animal, ready to pounce when there was an opening with no idea if it would help or hurt it.

“Mateo,” Adrien frowned as he placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to gently pull his arm from Lila’s. “You shouldn’t tear people down for their errors, it won’t put them on the right path.”

Mateo simply shrugged his hand off, not bothering to even glance at the boy.

“Neither will indulging their lying when it’s not only hurting your friend's feelings but their futures as well. What would’ve happened when she lied about getting Nathaniel in to meet a huge Magna artist to publish his comic doesn’t come true? Well, he already turned down other amazing opportunities so oh well, guess he’s never getting published.”

Another wave of agreement and anger washed over the crowd. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the only person who mattered, still in between the overprotective girls, all three smiling brightly in his direction.

“You can’t dO THIS!”

Lila pushed him as hard as he could, causing him to stumble backward. She was honestly making it too easy to play the concerned cousin card, it was making it hard for him not to burst out laughing.

“Lila, please. Your reign has to come to an end. I mean, you threatened your little designer friend that if she outed your lies, you would destroy her life!”

Alya’s mouth gaped as her eyes turned in horror to stare at Lila.

“You did what to Marinette?”

“No! You’re misunderstanding!” Lila’s panic seeped into her voice as she searched for a way out of the growing crowd.

“Mateo watch out!” Before he could turn to look, Marinette tackled him to the floor as a purple butterfly swooped over his head.

Screams echoed through the room as everyone backed up, trying to avoid the butterfly who made a straight beeline for Lila.

“About time Hawkmoth!” Lila jumped, her outstretched arm reaching for the flying butterfly. Just as her fingertips almost made contact, Adrien tackled her to the floor while the teacher from before trapped the butterfly in a small glass container.

The room was silent as everyone stared in horror at Lila.

“She just attempted to purposely be akumatized. She just called Hawkmoth by name, praising him for showing up!”

Alya zoomed in on her phone, her eyes tearing up as she ended the video, posting it straight to her blog.

“Alright kids, let’s just calm down,” the teacher tried to stop the panic from spreading but she didn’t even sound sure herself as she stared in a mixture of fear and pain at her student.

“I already called my dad, he’ll be on his way soon to arrest you, Lila!”

Cheers erupted from the room as they tried to rush forward, all apologizing in various different ways to Marinette. The two girls beside her did their best to hold them back but it was proving too much.

“Everybody back off!”

Surprisingly, everyone moved to the side, allowing a clear path for Mateo to make his way toward his friend.

“You all don’t deserve her forgiveness, not now, not ever.”

He reached back, intertwining his fingers with Marinette's as the crowd burst into anger. Alya and Adrien pushed their ways to the front, both of their eyes zeroing in on their hands.

“You don’t even know Marinette Mateo. She’s my best friend!”

Alya attempted a step forward but was stopped abruptly by what Mateo deemed as Marinette’s bodyguards.

“You haven’t been her best friend in years Alya, get over yourself. In fact, I’ve heard her gush on about this Italian kid more than I’ve heard her mention your name in the past three years.”

Marinette’s face flushed as she felt Mateo’s eyes searching her face for any denial.

“But-”

“But nothing. The Marinette I have grown to care for over the years wrote to me about you people. She tried to say you were redeemable, that you were under some fantasy spell and that one day you would wake up and come back to her, but you never did. If i hadn’t stepped in tonight, you all would have continued treating her like garbage.”

Marinette tightened her grip on his hand giving him the strength to continue.

“Marinette is kind, intelligent, courageous, and extremely talented. She has this bright personality that you just can’t help being drawn to. She did so much for you and your class, but you all overlooked it the instant something shiner came in. Alya, right? You do realize that Marinette got you your first interview with Ladybug? If she said that Lila didn’t know Ladybug, what other proof did you need?”

Alya stood there, her mouth gaping like a fish out of water.

“And you Adrien. Marinette took the fall with your father for the book you stole from him knowing that it could risk her chance in the fashion empire by pissing off Gabriel Agreste. She made sure that you could come back to school to be with all your so-called friends.”

Adrien’s face mimicked Alya’s as they tried to come up with a counter-argument, failing to do so. Mateo turned to face Marinette, his free hand rising up to cup her cheek.

“Do you want to leave this dance Marinette? You, your two bodyguards here and I could go grab some coffee if you’d like.”

Marinette nodded as if lost in a trance, seeing her penpal in a completely new light. The blonde raised two middle fingers to the class as the four of them headed toward the exit.

“Marinette wait!”

The group paused as Alya ran over, her face contorted in distress.

“Who is this guy Marinette?”

Mateo looked down, his eyes meeting hers as if silently coming to an agreement. They both broke into smiles as he brought their intertwined hands up to his lips.

“My boyfriend, Mateo Rossi.”

And without another word, the four left, basking in the victory that one night brought.

#marinette dupain cheng #miraculous ladybug #miraculous salt

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oabf45 · 4 years ago

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Ok so I finally watched the new 9-1-1 and 9-1-1 Lone Star episodes and here is what I think overall for the seasons so far, the characters, and part 2 of the seasons. Badically my opinions no one asked for 😁

9-1-1

- Let's rip the band aid off. I'm sorry but we're never getting Buddie. I'm a huge Buddie shipper myself, but I honestly have reached the point where I just don't see it happening. For one their friendship alone just isn't what it's been the past two seasons. Idk if its just me feeling this, but their scenes together, though sweet, just haven't been what they've been in the past. I mean this last episode is the most connection I feel from their characters than i have this whole season. I'm still not over Eddie's lack of reaction to Buck being trapped when Buck was ready to dig through the earth to find Eddie. Though I think there is still a chance Buck could be BI I just no longer have hope that Buddie is going to be a thing. I mean, they've at least hinted that Buck could ride that way, but Eddie has given zero signs of being into men at all. But honestly if they at least explore a BI Buck then I'll be happy, even if he's not with Eddie. It also doesn't help that there's a HUGE possibility that Oliver and Ryan don't get along anymore. They stopped following each other on social media and they post pictures with all the rest of the cast except each other. Its just looking extremely unlikely.

- I don't think Ana deserves as much hate as she's getting. I wasn't so fond of the Eddie/Ana pairing either, mostly because I was so into Buddie. But Ana does seem genuinely a great person and its a plus that Christopher loves her. I just wish that if they were going to persue this they would have built it up more and showed us more of her character. I mean we know close to nothing about her which is what makes it hard to like her or like her with Eddie.

- I'm glad that even if Buck doesn't end up with Eddie he still is obviously going to be someone very close to Christopher. Their relationship is so absolutely darling and even if its not Buddie, Buck is very obviously like a second dad.

- At first I was not at all happy with them bringing back Taylor. I found her character so freaking annoying in the past. But honestly her character seems to have mellowed out and I actually liked her. But I am PRAYING that if she sticks around its just as a friend and not a girlfriend. Buck and Taylor are just a huge NOPE in my book.

- I need more of Athena, Bobby, and Michael ASAP! I miss seeing them more on my screen!

- I'm super excited for baby Chimney/Maddie. And I'm so happy Chimney felt safe enough in his relationship to express his feelings about an at home birth. Their relationship is so sweet and healthy and it makes my heart so warm

- I swear on everything I love if they take that little baby away from Hen and Karen I will RIOT! I also hope to see more of Hen's mom and can't wait to see her pass her exam.

- Albert was wrong for dating Buck's bad date, but he's a good guy and overall a good friend. Buck needs more friends outside of Eddie. I hope they give him more of a storyline in part 2.

- Overall loved the first half of 9-1-1 season 4. I hope they do another crossover in part 2 so that Buck can meet Carlos.

9-1-1 Lone Star

- Yes I have hated the baby trope this first half, yes Gwyn has been annoying af and I'm ready for her to go, and YES Owen has been annoying this season too. But I still love Owen and no I don't believe he's a bad person or a bad father. I hope they do right by his character in the second part and bring the old Owen back now that his life is going to go back to what it was. But I also know this is going to leave room for another romantic interest which you just know they're going to bring in. Maybe they'll bring Michelle back 🤷🏽‍♀️

- The amount of screen time Carlos got is *chefs kiss*. I'm so glad we got to see more into his family dynamic. And how great he is as a cop?! Like make that man a detective already! Also Rafael's acting is superb. He has the most expressive eyes I've ever seen! His face with Owen compliments him on his caring heart and how that makes him a great cop? He BEAMED and it was like no one had ever told him that before. I wanted to hug him so badly.

- I'm so happy they're showing a healthy gay relationship. Sure they've had their ups and downs, but they show TK and Carlos working it out perfectly with good communication which is what we need to see represented more with LGBTQ+ couples on TV. I have no doubt they'll last because they're literally the reason most people tune in and the showrunners know that. And that reuniting hug? Ronen and Raf's real life friendship makes their on screen relationship feel so real and I hope that never changes.

- I need more Mateo. The only thing we know is that he's dyslexic and has a cousin in LA. He's such a great character I wish they'd give him more screen time.

- I know that most y'all see them as just a brother/sister pair, but I love the idea of Mateo/Marjan as a couple. I feel like she could help him grow up a little while he could help her have more fun. But either way I love their relationship and want to see more.

-PLEASE give Paul a GREAT love interest. Someone who loves and accepts him for everything he is. He deserves so much love.

- Tommy Vega is THAT BITCH! She deadass basically said "shoot me. You won't". LOVE seeing a strong black woman on the screen. And I hope they give more screen time to Nancy. I feel like she could be a really interesting character.

- Am I the only one that kind of wants to see them bring back Billy Tyson? I know thats so random, but I think he needs redemption. Idk 🤷🏽‍♀️

- Last but not least......thank GOD I read spoilers before watching the episode because if I hadn't prepared myself and they ended the show with that bridge scene......all I gotta say is JUDD AND GRACE BETTER BE FUCKING OK! OR I'M FIGHTING EVERY DAMN BODY! But honestly I think they will be. These two make the show, for one. Judd is deadass the glue that holds that firehouse together and is overall a great character. No way they're killing him off. And Grace is a fucking saint and also a great character. And she's one of the only two black women on the show. Showrunners, y'all really wanna try that? They're such a great, healthy relationship who are literally so unstoppable together. I think they'll have some trauma but survive. And possibly a Ryder baby? Yes please, and please let it be a baby boy. Judd needs a little mixed cowboy 🤠

- Overall the season has been good, but too Owen/Gwyn central. Hoping the next part has more spotlight on the others. Maybe some "Character Begins" episodes? I think a "Judd Begins" Episode would be perfect to start off with to tie into the whole "omg is he alive" aspect we're bound to get.

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