#also please work yourself up to it!! you don’t have to jump into poached in seasoned Brussels sprouts

[scienceandshitpostsdaily]

Also! A really good way to disguise veggies is to turn them into a smooth blended pasta sauce! I occasionally make sauce with like 5-6 veggies roasted and blended up together with a ton of olive oil, cream and cheese and it’s DELICIOUS. My roommate is a famously picky eater (as was I until I started cooking for myself and learning how to build flavors and make it fun) and I have gotten her to just give me the benefit of the doubt on trying new things and her palate and texture preferences have come so far in the last ~3 years that we’ve lived together. I know mind over matter seems scary and sometimes it feels like climbing Mount Everest to even take a bite. But trust me. It’s worth it. You’re worth it.

i mean this in the gentlest way possible: you need to eat vegetables. you need to become comfortable with doing so. i do not care if you are a picky eater because of autism (hi, i used to be this person!), you need to find at least some vegetables you can eat. find a different way to prepare them. chances are you would like a vegetable you hate if you prepared it in a stew or roasted it with seasoning or included it as an ingredient in a recipe. just. please start eating better. potatoes and corn are not sufficient vegetables for a healthy diet.

[percival-c-mcleach]

For the "how hot is that character"-thing: McLeach?

Not My Type | Alright | Cute | Adorable | Pretty | Gorgeous | LORD MERCY

ESPECIALLY when he's smiling/looks nice, just??

Look at these and tell me that he doesn't look like a sweet man.

In general, my bar for attractiveness in guys can get unconventional, but a big factor is how nice/sweet they look when they smile, I just melt like butter on the sidewalk in June. Bonus points working in McLeach's favor: -The gentle demeanor when he first meets Cody. I'd like to think he actually is genuinely nice sometimes, because I mean, we see he has no problem with feeding Cody to the crocs, why would he bother being nice to the kid (before discovering the feather) ? Especially since Cody was calling him out on him being a poacher. To keep within Disney's (frankly shaky) family-friendly stuff, the most he could have done was be nasty to Cody pre-feather, and that was actually in the original script where he DID threaten Cody when he pulled him out. Dude's just an asshole and lets his desires get in the way of basic human decency.

-He knows how to dress. He dresses like a stockman (basically an Aussie cowboy) and his ensemble didn't have to go as hard as it did, ESPECIALLY with that coat of his. I swear his attractiveness factor pops up by ten with that badass coat.

I mean, look-

Also, intimidation factor goes up by 20.

Between these McLeaches, which one gives off a more threatening vibe?

-His stomach. If here's one thing I don't find as attractive on a lot of guys, its abs, especially when the abs are so defined you can play the xylophone on them (plus to get them to look like that it requires dehydration and its just, I don't like that sort of handsomeness standard can be so dangerous) but tummies? Pot bellies? Squish? ABSOLUTELY. Soft and great to cuddle on.

-His voice. Something about his voice is so familiar and comforting to me, I can't really put my finger on it other than maybe George C. Scott was in a few movies that my grandparents owned when I was growing up. In general its a really nice voice, and how he can switch tone on a dime? Yes please.

-His expressiveness.

Not just in his face-honestly I LOVE watching his facial animations-but his body language in general.

Although I admit, I do feel that he probably has a lot of neck and back pain due to posture, its still great. Also, the man is as spry as a frog- have you SEEN him jump and twirl in the movie? -His agility + confidence. Dude is literally out here DANCING in what seems to be Knee-Destroying-Moves.

And its just, even though he's clearly not the best dancer, look at him! He's having fun! He sings and doesn't care that he doesn't sound amazing. He's got CONFIDENCE. You know he dances around the kitchen at home when he feels up to it, maybe even dances with Joanna sometimes (because who doesn't dance with their pets?) -When he's interacting with Joanna.

I'm a huge animal lover, and when McLeach IS nice to Joanna, its just so adorable??????? He clearly spoils her (her own little tub and animal cracker box, when I looked up how much a box that size usually costs, it can go up to FIFTY BUCKS, that's pretty expensive) and the scritches he gives her and her purring???? AGHHH <3 Also, the fact he lets her ride shotgun is adorable af. AND, when they're driving home in the movie "And dead ahead, is home sweet home-" JUST the way he looks at Joanna so affectionately <3 Then we have the hilarious egg-heist scene, whoever scripted that clearly has pets of their own because that's how it goes down when you're trying to fix yourself a snack. That being said, it does break my heart when he does mistreat her. Even though he mostly does it when she fucks up (the exception being when he pinned his trap on her digging holes) you still shouldn't punish an animal so harshly. Animal cruelty and the okay-with-killing-kids are the only demerits I have against McLeach. The poaching I can understand to a degree since he says "I didn't make it all the way through the third grade for nothing!" and its VERY hard to find a job when you don't have a high school diploma, and what jobs you DO find are BARELY enough to pay rent, food, other bills- I've known a few adults, including my mom, who never graduated who were stuck working body-destroying jobs who paid them so little for 'unskilled labor.' So I mean, I can get why he turned to poaching. I hate it, but sometimes people make bad decisions for reasons.

Got off track, so another thing:

-Peach.

I hit the image limit, but there's that shot when he leaps in the air and spins that you can see he definitely has a peach. He's got more ass than most Disney villains (for example, Clayton's got that pancake ass)

-Big, strong hands. Honestly, that's one of my weaknesses-and he IS strong. Picks up a ten-year-old with one hand and lifts him up with ease, you know how heavy kids can get? Certainly not one-handed.

I could ramble on about why I like this guy so much so Imma stop that here ovo

[anonymous0writer]

Pretending

Author: @anonymous0writer

Summary: When a tourist won’t leave you alone at a party in the Boneyard, you go to John B. for help. But something’s changed. 

Warnings: Swearing, kissing? Alcohol use.

A/N: Thought this would be cute. :) Also, sorry this is kinda long. I got carried away, but I couldn’t stop. I’m in love with this.

God. This boy wouldn’t stop. He followed like a puppy begging for food. You rolled your eyes, turning back to the boy. 

“Stop. Please.” You’re voice came out weaker than you wanted. You were exhausted after surfing all day, and after three drinks, you became woozy. After four, you became wild, but this boy’s attention was keeping you from jumping off the cliff of your drunkenness.

The boy was cute, you’d give him that. But you weren’t looking for a hook up, or a quick fuck. You just wanted to get wasted with your friends, wake up the next day at an ungodly hour, and go surfing. Just to do it all over again. After all, that was your plan for the summer. To have a good time, all the time. 

Actually, the tourist was really cute. He had honey eyes the caught in the fading sunlight with tan skin one could only get through dedication and staying in the Outer Banks for a good amount of time. His tan skin was peppered with freckles. The boy had short, dark hair with lighter streaks from begin out in the sun all day. His plump lips curved into a drunk smile, and it reminded you of you best friend. John B. They were equally cute, but you’d vote for John B. Not this dude who couldn’t take a hint. 

“Oh come on,” The boy smiled. You felt a little bad. Normally, you wouldn’t pass this opportunity up to make out with a cute boy you’d never see again, but you weren’t in the mood. It wasn’t his fault you just wanted to get drunk with your friends instead of him. You sighed. “We don’t have to do anything. I just wanna talk.” He winked. 

You rubbed your face, aching for another mix of beer and some horribly strong alcohol that got you going. And maybe because you matched how cute the two boys were, you went to go find John B. 

You weaved through the crowd of kids from the Cut, Kooks and Tourons. The Kooks rolled their eyes and took a step away. They knew you were a Pogue. A dirty pogue, through and through. You’re dad left early on, and your mom could barely keep a job because she got wasted all the time, and your brother left to go to college and get a better life than the one offered to him here. You liked begin a pogue. It was better than a Kook. The Kooks knew you because you were somewhat famous. You were best friends with John B. and the rest of the crew. And John B.’s missing father was known throughout the island. And, because it seemed like you couldn’t stay out of a fight. You had beaten up some Kooks and Pogues alike in your day, but beating your own kind was when you were extremely drunk, or they threaten your friends. But you’d beat on a Kook because they were always beating on you and your friends. 

The Tourons smiled at you, but kept drinking. They didn’t know you and stuck to themselves like a pack of outsiders. The kids from the Cut were a different story. They called out your name, high fiving you and grinning. 

However, one Touron didn’t stop following you. He was at your heels the whole night. Annoyance started to rise, but you spotted John B. and Pope talking. You relaxed. John B. would help you.

“John B.!” You called out, waving. The boy was still at your heels, but slowed a little. 

Your best friend since the age of four looked up and grinned. “Hey, (Y/N). What’s up?” He ruffled your hair. 

You smiled at the affectionate gesture. You loved when he did that. He slung an arm around you and studied the tourist in front of you. 

“Who’s this?”

You shrugged. “Couldn’t tell ya.” You didn’t know his name. Truthfully. You were known to throw a couple punches, but Y/N Y/L/N was no liar. 

The boy narrowed his eyes at John. “I’m Julian. Who are you?”

Knowing this was the question you needed, you spoke up, slipping your hand into John’s limp one on your shoulder. “My boyfriend.”

Beside you, John tensed, confused, for a second before he relaxed and nodded at Julian. “That’s right.”

“Your boyfriend? You never mentioned him while we were talking.”

You rolled your eyes. “I didn’t feel the need to, but you kept talking and following me, so I guessed that telling you wouldn’t work. So I decided to show you.” You grinned triumphantly, knowing your words were a little harsh, but it was for good measure. Plus, you’d been giving hints to the boy to get lost hours ago.

Julian wasn’t convinced. “I don’t believe you.”

John B. laughed, dropping his arm to curl around your waist. You loved the feeling. And it felt right. Almost like his arm belonged there. Like it was made to hold you close. You smiled for a whole different reason, not realizing the blush coming to your cheeks. 

Pope eyed you, and you brushed it off. John B. was your best friend. Not anything more. And you certainly didn’t have a crush on him. 

“Oh really?” John B. teased, and took your chin in his hands and pulls you so close, you can feel his breath hot on your face. You don’t mind it. He smirked at you, eyes sparkling. Before you can process what’s happening, his lips are on yours, sweet, yet you notice the hint of need behind it. 

You kiss him back, eyes closed, needing more. You never needed a kiss like that. So sweet. You break apart, and you smile brightly up at him. John grins, looking back at Julian. “I can keep going, if you don’t believe me.”

Julian swallows, jaw clenched. Apparently annoyed he just wasted his night chasing after a girl with a ‘boyfriend’. He muttered something and walked away. You laughed out loud. 

“Thanks John B.” You stepped out of his hold, instantly wanting the warm of his arm back. You were confused by the kiss, but you convinced yourself it was just the alcohol running through your veins. 

“Course. You good?” he asked. 

You nodded, joining Pope on the log rooted into the sand. John B. sat next to you. “I’m fine. He wouldn’t leave me alone! I couldn’t even get another drink!” You pouted, earning a laugh from both of the boys. 

John B. stood. “I need another, you want one?” 

“Sure. Thanks.” You smiled, digging your feet into the sand. You flip flops were discarded next to you. The sand was still somewhat warm from the fading sunlight. 

“Pope?” The tall boy asked, pointing to him. 

Pope shook his head. “I’m good. Gotta keep the signal clear, yeah?”

You laughed and your friend walked away, off to get you a drink. Pope nudged your ribs. You frowned, “What?”

“What the hell was that?” Pope questioned, eyes wide.

“What do you mean? The kiss? Oh-” You shrugged. “John was saving me. Don’t worry. We’re not macking. I know the rule, it’s-” 

Pope cut you off. “No, it was more than just a kiss, (Y/N).”

You sputtered, frowning at your brilliant friend. “What are you talking about?”

Pope rolled his eyes. “You’re supposed to be the second smartest, (Y/N).” He shook his head. “You blushed when he put his arm around you, and you definitely kissed him back, longer than you needed. Plus,” The boy smirked at you and your wide eyes. “You were smiling like a fool after you kissed.”

“Pope!” You said, surprised. You decided to ignore his jive about your smarts. You were the smartest, besides Pope. “Are you suggesting I have a crush on John B.? My best friend?” You hissed. 

The boy shrugged, stretching out his legs. “Seems like it.”

You rolled your eyes. “I’m just drunk.” You tried to come up with an excuse that’d be believable. It would explain why you were feeling these crazy, new feelings. For your best friend. 

Pope laughed, staring at the sea pulling it’s waves back and pushing them forward over the sand. “No your not.” He glanced at you, and look that said, ‘you’re crazy’. He smiled, pointing a finger at you. “I know you. You only get flirty drunk like that on your sixth drink. You haven’t even had four.”

You gaped. God, nothing got past this boy. “Ugh.” You shoved his shoulder. “I hate you.”

“Why do you hate him?” John B. asked, handing you a red cup. You thanked him, sniffing it, and deciding it was strong enough to make you forget the kiss and your strange feelings, took a big sip. 

“He was attacking my intelligence.” You pouted, covering quickly. 

Your best friend laughed. “Don’t worry, he’s just jealous you’re smarter.”

You grinned at the compliment, not fully getting that it was a compliment until you turned to Pope triumphantly. Your triumph faded quickly into awkwardness as heat crawled up your cheeks. Pope’s eyebrows were raised and he was giving you a pointed look. John B. just complimented you and you blushed. Blushed like you had a crush. But John did that a lot. He was a nice person who complimented people. This was no different. Right?

You cleared your throat, licking your lips. The air suddenly turned tense, something that never happened when you were with the crew. Not even when JJ blatantly hit on you and Kie. Honestly, you loved watching JJ hit on you when he knew the rule and knew that that door was closed. You loved JJ like a brother. Plus, you always secretly shipped him and Kie. 

“Uh, I think I’m going to find Kie.” You said, standing and sliding your sandy feet into your white flip flops. 

You hurried away, quick to spot your curly haired BFF. You honestly thought Kie was your sister and you’d just been separated at birth. She knew everything about you. You were soulmates. You knew each other inside out. And understood each other. You’re bond was unbreakable. 

“(Y/N)!” Kie giggled, grinning wildly at you. 

You joined her around a fire JJ was currently nursing into a roaring flame. You laughed as he jumped back from a flame that decided to leap out at him. Kie kissed your cheek and poached you drink, taking a huge sip before blinking and sputtering a bit. She handed it back. 

“Shit, that is strong!” 

You laughed. “Yeah, sorry- there wasn’t a warning label.”

She grins, and then frowns. “What’s wrong.”

See, the girl knew you. You sighed, taking your own massive swig of the drink. JJ eyed you, brows raised. 

“Something she obviously wants to forget.” He muttered, letting the fire do it owns thing.

“Yep!” You chirped, halfway to the point of drunk haze where you kissed a random boy, and danced wildly. 

“Slow down there, cowboy.” JJ commented, taking the cup from your hands. 

“What is it, (Y/N)?” Kie asked, brows furrowed. 

You shook your head. “I don’t want to talk about it. Honestly, I don’t think I could explain it!” You moved your hips to the beat. 

You spun, taking your drink back from JJ’s hands and danced the beat of the music that was faraway. You spotted John B. and Pope talking on the log you fled. You swallowed hard and admired your best friend as his head tipped back in one of his big laughs. He was grinning from ear to ear, the look of pure happiness lighting up his face. He looked so good when he smiled. 

Maybe you did have a crush on John B.

[blainehellyes]

Hell/Heaven

Pairing: Ethan x MC (Dr.Anika Warren)

Words: 3.5k ..I just..went off w this

Warnings: Mentions of anxiety, trauma, swear words??

Author’s Note: Okay yall so idfk what this is tbh. I just had an idea and went on to write 3.5k words about it. This is my interpretation of the  aftermath of ch.11. I genuinely don’t know if this makes sense or it’s just a bunch of words slammed together.

Also, I did not really proofread this so please do feel free to point out any mistakes. I’m sorry for the mistakes.

I’m scared of writing people OOC and I’m still learning so please keep it in mind.

Anyway, I did not make it two parts but it’s pretty long so yeah.

Anika’s thoughts will be in italics.

xxxx

 It had been almost 16 hours since the combined diagnostics team along with her friends barged into the isolation ward and told her that they had found a cure. Eight hours since Ethan said the magic words 

“Get up. There are no traces of the toxin in  your body.”

She had been lightheaded, whether it was from happiness or if it was from some weird side effect she didn’t know about was up in the air. She was still a bit wobbly.

In her 29 years of living, Dr.Anika Warren had not had such a whirlwind of a day. 24 hours ago ,she was barging into the senator’s room trying to stop an assassination. She didn’t know how she got caught up in a death trap but after that it was as if her brain had recorded every single moment with perfect accuracy.The whole thing was playing in a loop , the cannister being deployed, Rafael Aveiro, superman and ultimate idiot jumping in to protect her , Danny and Bobby Gunderson’s life leaving his eyes in front of her. She had watched a lot of people pass away in her career, and each one affected her . No matter how much she wanted to get used to it. But this was different, this was a man who was talking to her about how he wanted to afford a car for his daughter’s 16th. Bobby used to greet her with a smile every day, and even with minimal interaction she had gotten close to him.

And now his daughter won’t have a father, much less a car. And it’s because you were dumb enough to jump in to the room before having backup.

She pushed the thoughts away as she wearily walked through Edenbrook’s long corridors. 

Most of her friends had returned home in hopes of having some rest, but she couldn’t. Raf was still admitted, albeit not in a coma and she couldn’t just leave him. She didn’t want to leave anyway,trying to get as much done as she could to distract herself. She didn’t want to face her thoughts, which she would eventually have to when she’d go home. But for now, she was delaying the inevitable by trying to help any and every doctor she came across. 

“Dr.Warren? Why are you still here?”

Esme. I love her but dear god if one more person tells me to go home I’ll start crying in the middle of the corridor.

“Uhh, I’m just finishing off some work. You should be too , Dr.Ortega. Stop interrogating people and get to work.”

Wow when did I become Ethan? That was one of the most out of character things I’ve ever said. Looks like his personality is seeping into me. 

“ Um..Anika? You good? No offense but that really doesn’t sound like you. ”

Well..crap. 

“Then what does it sound like, Dr.Ortega?”

“ It sounds like you’re trying to put on a tough person persona to deflect questions”

This girl is way too smart. Am I the only dumb one here with no people skills or…?

 “ I just..I just don’t want to go home. And I don’t want to talk about it. Please don’t mind”

Please leave me alone please please please 

Esme shrugged but the look of concern on her face wasn’t gone. “If that’s what you want then sure. Take care of yourself, I’m not the one who almost died" 

 With that she turned around and left. 

Anika continued to make her way through the hospital. Her mind was racing with the possibilities of what could have happened. She could not stop thinking about how she trusted the senator, but most of all, one thing was repeating in her mind. 

So, Ethan Ramsey, are you single?

Ethan looked at me for a brief second

"I’m sorry… But no, I’m not" 

He had actually admitted his feelings on national television. Well, almost but the point still stood.

And yet it’s complicated. He’s not single but we’re not dating. What the fuck Ethan Ramsey? We doing Schrodinger dating or what? 

This was her hell.

"Dr. Warren?" 

This time, she wasn’t annoyed at her name being called. This time, it was more relief than frustration. 

"Anika..?” Ethan’s voice hit her once again. 

“Um.. Hi” she didn’t know what to say. Her face was flushed from thinking about the moment they shared after the interview, and all the subtle moments that had in the past few months. 

“You’re supposed to be home. But Dr.Ortega did mention something about you not wanting to. What is it?" 

Ah there it is. Damn you Esme. I mean, no but yes.

"It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it”

She tried to sound as normal and unbothered as she could. She didn’t want to even think about it, much less talk it out which would just make it much more real for her. She wanted to live in denial and pretend everything was normal for a while. 

 Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden hold on her wrist. She snapped back into reality to notice that Ethan was pulling her somewhere. It was in the general direction of his office so she presumed that much but couldn’t help protesting the sudden force.

“Wai- Wha- Where are you taking me?!”

The reply only affirmed her presumption.

“To my office, Rookie. You’re clearly not well and you need to rest and if you won’t go home I’ll make sure you rest here.”

Why is this man so stubborn? I love him but why?

They were soon in his sparsely decorated office. Everything was organised with no stray papers or journals lying around which was usually the case with most of the other offices in the hospital.  Ethan sat her down on the couch and sat down beside her.

“Wait, I thought you wanted me to rest. What is this Dr.Ramsey? A plot to get me alone with you hmmm..?” She wanted to get alone with him. Ever since the confession the other night and him saying he wasn’t single, she needed some answers. 

“No. I just wanted to ask you about why exactly you didn’t want to go home. Dr.Ortega told me you looked disturbed and kind of in a trance and I got worried” Ethan said with worry clearly etched onto his face 

Why the hell is he so cute even when he’s worried? I’m so so in love ugh

His palm touched her face , snapping her out of her thoughts yet again. His gentle touch was something she wasn’t yet that used to, and he had been much more gentle and kind since the confession the previous night. He was acting so unlike the Ethan she knew and she had to get used to this. 

“Tell me , Anika. What’s wrong? Talk to me. I’m here.”

Memories of the previous few days flooded her all at once. Her poaching the senator from MK, him intruding on the diagnostics team meetings, Travis behaving so normally that she could never in a million years imagine him being such a …. psychopath. 

The phone call she overheard, her disappointment on how she trusted a politician who wanted the same things as everyone else.

She was spiralling, and she was spiralling hard. It was hard not to, she was feeling guilty. She wanted to go back and not agree to June’s idea. She wanted to undo the whole thing.

Ethan noticed her face contorting with the painful memories and he immediately took her into his arms and that was all it took for her to start sobbing. 

“ I just..I feel guilty Ethan. I shouldn’t have gone to MK, I shouldn’t have followed June’s advice. I shouldn’t have trusted a politician. And most of all I shouldn’t have ran into the room like some kind of a superhero in a Hollywood movie without having proper back up”

Ethan’s face was grim. He understood the guilt over going over to MK and stealing their patient, he had been feeling it too. But he couldn’t understand the other feelings, it would be impossible to. He wanted to comfort her, let her know that she did absolutely nothing wrong but he knew his words wouldn’t matter much. 

Ethan’s thoughts were interrupted by more violent sobs, she was breaking in front of him and he couldn’t take it. He hugged her tighter and whispered sweet nothings, trying to tell her that she was only trying to do something good. 

“You didn’t do anything wrong Anika, you were doing your duty. You wanted to help. It’s okay, you’re okay. You’re here. ”

He wanted to comfort her and never hear her cry again.

Anika on the other hand couldn’t stop. She felt bad, she felt bad when she thought about Danny and Sienna , when she thought about Bobby Gunderson and his daughter. “ Sienna probably hates me.." 

Ethan was taken aback by that comment, if he had noticed one thing about Dr.Trinh ,it was that she was someone you could absolutely trust. Her hating Anika was far fetched. ” She won’t, why would she hate you? She was so scared Anika, she was so scared that you would ….“ He couldn’t complete the sentence. He couldn’t even complete the though. 

” No, Ethan. Sienna loved Danny. And..and if I hadn’t..if I hadn’t..done something so stupid..he would still be here..they had a future Ethan, they really did..“ and she broke down into another fit of sobs. 

Ethan didn’t know what to do. He held her and helped her cry it out. Eventually the exhaustion hit her and she somehow fell asleep. He noticed though,that she had a fever. And was in the process of waking her up gently and giving her some medicine that the door opened. 

Naveen Banerji was worried. He was worried about Rafael , the paramedic he had somehow grown close to. He was worried about Ethan , his mentee and his "son”. But most of all, he was worried about Dr.Warren. She had taken the toll of the previous days hard and as soon as he heard that she was acting unusual, he wanted to find her. He couldn’t though and decided that the best way to approach this was to ask Ethan.  

He had just opened the door when he saw that Anika was with Ethan in the room, and they both looked very cosy. Ethan was in the process of giving her some kind of medication and he didn’t want to interrupt but it was clear that they had been having a moment.  And Anika looked deathly pale and after listening to a concerned Dr.Ortega about how she was a walking zombie and how he should force her to take time off work and seeing it himself, he decided to actually listen to Dr.Ortega and give Anika a week off. 

He silently closed the door as he did not want to interrupt and instead paged Ethan to come to his office. He not only wanted Anika to take a few days off work, he wanted Ethan to take care of her. He had never seen Ethan so happy with anybody before and it hurt him to see them push each other away. And if this was a chance for him to push Ethan towards his happiness, he would use it. 

Ethan had just finished giving Anika a tablet for her temperature and let her fall asleep again when his pager beeped. He walked briskly to Naveen’s office, curious to know why he called him. It was rare, getting paged by Naveen so he was a bit nervous. 

When he had entered and sat down, Naveen wasted no time in getting to the point. “ I’ve heard that Dr.Warren has been showing some trauma symptoms lately, and she has gone through a lot so I want to give her a week off” he said.

Ethan was happy, he wanted this to happen but he was confused as to why the chief had told him this .

“ Before you ask me why and how this concerns you, I want you to know that I want you to take care of her in this one week. And hence , I am giving you a whole week off too” Naveen finished with a smile on his face.

Ethan was surprised. He wanted to spend time with her, especially after his late night revelations. But taking a whole week off work was out of question. The diagnostics team would be two members down and he couldn’t let that happen.

“Naveen, that simply isn’t feasible. It’s already hard with a nurse down and a doctor down and me going would make it all the more difficult for the team.”

Naveen cut him off, he didn’t want to hear it

“ Son, just listen to me this time. I’ll take over the diagnostics team myself for the week and the workload can be handled. I want you both to take a while off and figure things out and that’s all I’ll say. Nothing you say will change this decision.”

Ethan didn’t have the heart to protest. Even though he was worried about how the team would function without two members, the fact that Naveen would take over eased him. 

Besides that, he really did want to forget the world for a bit and just hold her in his arms. The endeavour the previous day had shown him how much he cared and after that , he couldn’t keep her away. He almost lost her, and in those few hours where he had to put up a brave façade for the hospital while he was breaking inside were the worst few hours in his entire life. 

He didn’t know what he would do without her, just the thought of not having her jab at him randomly, do weird things just to annoy him and all of her little quirks which frustrated him to no end in the beginning which he had grown to love killed him. He needed her. 

He walked through the hospital to his office to find her awake and scrolling through her phone. This comforted him a bit as she looked tranquil and didn’t have the worry on her face like earlier. 

He entered the room and her face immediately lit up. This was something he would never tire of seeing , her smile. It made him feel all excited and warm. 

“ Ethan! I was waiting for you!” She chirped. He loved her voice and it automatically brought an easy smile onto his face.

He sat down beside her , absentmindedly stroking her hand and started speaking.

“ Naveen has ordered both of us to take a whole week off. He wouldn’t listen to anything. "  He said with a bemused smirk on his face. This whole idea of Naveen, was amusing to him. It was such an obvious attempt at getting them together that he couldn’t help but laugh at it.

” Wait what? What about the diagnostics team?! They can’t function with two members down. I mean they can but what if we get an important case?! What about my patients? What about your patients? This simply won’t-“

Ethan cut her off with a kiss. He wanted to do that for so long and looking at her get so worked up about the hospital was too cute for him to control himself. 

” Oh my ,Dr.Ramsey, so forward of you. I didn’t think someone like you could do something so scandalous" Anika chuckled between kisses and Ethan was too absorbed to even take offense to the statement.

Eventually, they got up and made their way to Ethan’s apartment. Anika had to inform her flatmates , everyone looking at her with raised eyebrows except Sienna , who she couldn’t look in the eyes. She also made sure to check up on Raf and Kyra, and shed a few tears looking at them. She was glad that both of them were alright because she wouldn’t forgive herself if anything happened to anyone. 

Ethan’s apartment was as she remembered, clean and monochromatic. At this point, she had visited enough for her to just walk straight in and start playing with Jenner without any hesitation. Ethan loved seeing her like this, in his home , comfortable. He couldn’t help but imagine a future where she would just live there instead of visiting. 

After taking a shower ,they started working on dinner. Ethan didn’t want to make her work at all but she was adamant about helping. Watching her move across the kitchen with ease made him happy. But he didn’t forget to make her rest, as she was still weak which was evident when she lost focus suddenly and fainted.  Ethan dropped his spatula into the pan and rushed to get her up. She had started to have a rise in her temperature again. 

“ You can’t keep doing this Rookie , you’re sick and you’re literally working yourself to exhaustion. Now just take your medicine and relax , okay? I’ll take care of dinner.” He cooed into her ears as he lifted her up and carried her to his bed. 

Anika obliged with a pout, not letting him go back without a proper kiss. She wanted him to stay but her stomach rumbling made it obvious that she needed food. And the only source of food was Ethan cooking and she had to let him go.

Her fever had subsided by the time he poked his head into the bedroom telling her that dinner was ready. She had almost fallen asleep, exhaustion taking over her but dinner was important.

I need to talk to him about the interview. And the night before. I need to talk to him about so much. 

They had dinner in relative peace, having proper substantial food after all the hospital food she had eaten felt good. They were I’m easy conversation and she didn’t have the heart to bring up the topic of feelings.

He will shut down , and I don’t want him to shut down. 

Only when they had completed eating and ended up in bed cuddling could she force herself to ask him. 

Just do it Anika. It’s not too hard. He won’t push you away. Trust yourself. 

“ Ethan?” She spoke up with a timid voice. In the hospital, she was the person who would talk back when anything was wrong or if anybody did anything questionable, but here she was out of her depth.

“ Yes?” He answered with an inquisitive tone.

“I wanted to ask you about something” she went on. “ Uh..um.. the interview when you said you weren’t single..” she took a deep breath. 

Come on , just say it. Why are you so anxious?! 

Ethan immediately tensed up a bit. He meant every single word he said, both in the interview and in the night that followed and yet, he didn’t know how to approach this.  He was looking at her intently , waiting for her to continue when she started speaking again.

“ Yesterday night, when you talked about how you regretted keeping me away and how you wished you didn’t do it… did you mean it?” She finished, bracing for impact. She was so sure that he’d push her away yet again and they’d have to spend the rest of the week in awkwardness that his next words took her a moment to register. 

“ I meant every single word , Anika” he said, bringing her closer to him. He kissed her forehead and continued. “ I meant it. All of it. You are the light in my life, my sunshine. When I saw you behind the glass, covered in that grease , my heart stopped. I had to pick myself up and put on a face for the team but I was breaking into a million pieces. Each time I failed to diagnose what was wrong , I remembered that I could lose you. And that broke me even further. There was nothing I wanted to do more than run into the room and hold you in my hands. I can’t live without you Anika, I don’t want to imagine a life without you. ”

By this point , both of them were in tears. They were hugging each other, tears flowing freely. 

“ I was so scared ,Ethan. I just wanted to be in your arms. And I was scared for Raf. When you told me we had lost Danny, I realised I couldn’t lose Raf. And every moment, all I wanted was to be with you. You’re the most important thing in my life , Ethan. And I was so scared to talk to you about this, so scared that you would push me away again.”

Ethan took a sharp breath. Pushing her away after all this was impossible. He hugged her tighter , letting her cry , letting himself cry it out. 

“ I won’t push you away. I won’t ever push you away. I’m all in if you are” he said, through tears. 

Anika looked at him and could see a vulnerable man. She could see he was scared too, to admit his feelings and to let his walls down and she was determined to never hurt him.

“ I’m all in ,Ethan. Forever. ”

That night was one of the best nights of their lives. They just spent it cuddling and talking to each other about their dreams, their aspirations and themselves. 

Ethan hadn’t felt so at ease in years. He was ready to take care of her forever. He had never imagined falling in love but now, he couldn’t imagine not being in love. 

And that night , they knew that the next seven days and the rest of their lives would be amazing. 

And this, was her heaven.

THANK YOU IF YOU READ TILL HERE.

Tag List? Sort of?

@drethanramslay @hatescapsicum @nooruleman @anonymously-cool @mrsbhandari @kaavyaethanramsey @apphia12 @queencarb @mvalentine @openheart12 @starrystarrytrouble

@crazynutella tagging @oofchoices @ohramsey if yall are interested

xxxx

[seiin-translations]

2.43 S1 Chapter 3.4 - The Dog’s View and the Giraffe’s View

4. CHILD OF VOLLEYBALL

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In the week before the ballgame tournament, practice for the tournament took priority over after school club activities. On Monday after school, it was the first day of team practice for Team F.

“I’m not the manager for the boys’ volleyball team. I’m just here to help out.”

“It’s totally fine! We have twenty-four people and only one manager currently. How many does boys’ volleyball have? Huh, eight? So little. One per twenty-four people and one per eight, don’t you think that’s a weird ratio? We’re going to need three managers, you know? That’s why, please be our manager.”

“Look…you haven’t listened what I said at all, have you. I don’t know how you think that logic is going to convince me.”

When he went to the gym, he immediately came across a scene of a row of four muscular boys were sitting on their heels and making supplications to one girl. The girl they were supplicating to was the second-year Suemori, who came as a helper from the girls’ volleyball team.

For today’s practice, it was arranged that the two teams would each use one half of the court. The teams were Oda’s Team F and Team B, which had the corps from the aforementioned rugby team. The rugby team was the third great power among the boys’ sports clubs in the school after the soccer and baseball teams, but because rugby wasn’t included in the events of the school’s ballgame tournament, they appeared to have discovered their raison d’etre in the ballgame tournament by dispatching members to each event and having them run wild. As if to tout their club, all four of them were wearing those characteristic horizontally-striped shirts, and the pattern made their upper bodies look even squarer and burlier. I’m pretty sure the temperature in the gym went up one or two degrees because of those four… Though it was already the season of high humidity, it really was sweltering in there.

“This isn’t the time for scouting. Scram.”

Oda raised his voice and cut in front of Suemori.

“Suemori is our important charge from girls’ volleyball. If anything happens to her while she’s with us, I’ll get throttled by them. If you wanna poach her, talk it over with the girls’ volleyball captain.”

“Aaah? What’s your problem?”

One person among the four talked back in a boorish voice. His height approached Aoki��s when he stood, and unlike Aoki, he had a width and thickness, so his weight was completely different. He felt a feeling of oppression like he was being crushed just from standing in front of him.

This man was a second-year from the rugby club, Okuma.

“This ain’t the place for a first-year runt to show up. Get outta here.”

The moment he said that, his temple started convulsing, but it would never end if he flared up at every single thing.

“I’m the captain for boys’ volleyball, Oda from 3-F. I’m in charge today.”

“Heh? A third-year? You serious?”

Okuma’s eyes widened, and he confirmed with Suemori over Oda’s head instead of with Oda himself. Standing in a position to protect Suemori, she was taller than him. Oda’s existence was no obstacle for Okuma.

When they were convinced that he was really an upperclassman, Okuma and the other three changed their attitude more or less, and they followed his orders without disturbing the progress. First, the two teams took the time for a joint orientation. There were three to five students from each grade per team. There would be no more than twenty-five people in two teams. Three times the usual number of eyes during regular club practice watched him and listened to him seriously. He was a little nervous and cleared his throat several times.

He didn’t see Haijima there. He wondered if the positions were assigned just for the sake of adjusting the numbers. If that was the case, then excepting Suemori who was a girl, Oda was the only one who had volleyball experience between these two teams.

In the volleyball division of the ballgame tournament, all six teams would be divided into two groups of three teams, and after a round-robin competition within the group, the first-place team in each group would play the deciding round. The group league had a total of six games, and adding the deciding round, that would make a total of seven games. The regular rule was to get twenty-five points first, but they eased that so that it was now a three-set match where the team that got fifteen points first won. Although, if they were to pull off seven games without a hitch, it was going to be a dizzying day for them on the management side.

“I’m sure we’ve all did it before in gym, so you’re alright with the basics, right? The rotations might feel complicated, but well, don’t take fouls down to the smallest detail, just three people in the front row and three in the back, and make sure to serve in the right order. Once you got it, you’ll be divided into teams to practice. I’m in Team F, and Suemori’s in B, so take a look. If there’s anything, call us immediately.”

“Hey, Captain!” Okuma raised his hand when he was about to tell them to split up.

“I’m not your captain, but…what?”

“It’s boring to practice separately. B and F should play a game. I think that’ll help us learn the flow of the game better.”

“A sudden game?”

Is he the type who loves playing games but hates practice? Oda didn’t like people who neglected basic practice. He frowned and said, “You can play games on the day of the tournament. Why do I have to teach your team our plays?”

“You don’t mind showing just a little, do you? Don’t tell me you’re gonna lose to a bunch of rookies like us? You can jump about two meters, right Captain? If you can’t do that much, then we’d be able to knock you down without jumping.”

I thought he’d become obedient, but he was thinking about things like that…I’m not going to be taken in by such a cheap provocation. I should just ignore it and move to practice as planned. He was thinking that, but he couldn’t help but feel a boiling feeling at the pit of his stomach. No, Aoki’s not here today, so I have to be the one to keep calm.

“Senpai, let’s do it. Why don’t we just do one set?”

Right when he was working hard to restrain himself, he was unexpectedly spurred on. He turned around in surprise and Suemori was standing firm with an expression that was even more indignant than Oda’s.

“Suemori-san, you sure are brave. I want you to be our manager more and more.”

Suemori gave a sharp glare at a grinning Okuma before whispering into Oda’s ear. “Oda-senpai, aren’t you angry? I can’t stand it. Making fun of volleyball…Let’s break his nose.”

“No, even if you say that…”

“If you don’t have confidence in yourself, then I’ll join.”

Suemori started taking off her jersey on the spot, so he immediately stopped her with “Wait. It’s better for me to play than you.”

His voice was a grade lower, becoming insecure. Suemori’s face immediately reddened and she looked down, saying “No…sorry.” I might have said it too harshly. But, more than being made fun of by an amateur like Okuma, my pride was hurt by the fact that I was even looked down on by someone from girls’ volleyball.

He did have confidence. He wasn’t about to be beaten by an amateur who was just huge. He honestly even agreed with the idea of knocking him down a peg. However, it would be a problem if a girl was put in and got injured. Although Okuma was an amateur at volleyball, he was an athlete who did ball sports, and there was an insurmountable wall between men and women in the power of the ball.

But, it was true that there wasn’t even anyone who could set by themselves. If there was just one more person with experience in Team F…

…We do.

The figure entered the corner of his field of vision as though it was timed. They were standing at the entrance to the gym with a suspicious face, perhaps feeling that there was something off—Haijima.

“Suemori…can you go get Kanno?”

“Huh?”

A dispirited Suemori raised her head and blinked.

⋆﹥━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━﹤⋆

The reason he called Kanno was trivial, he just wanted him to be the referee. Suemori was in charge of displaying the points. It would only be one set where the first to get fifteen points won. If he considered this a sideshow, then this would be a good amount of time to devote to it.

He looked at Haijima, who was doing some light stretching in front of the net. Anyways, it was a piece of good luck that he was able to pull him up to the court before he could say anything…he might have to thank Okuma for that.

There were many people present in their gym jerseys, but Haijima’s equipment gave him a different vibe from the amateurs. He wore long underpants that reached his ankles beneath black shorts, short socks, and volleyball shoes that looked worn in. That Mizuno was the same model as Kuroba’s. And the taping that was tightly wrapped around the fingers of both his hands gave off an aura of something different.

When he thought that he had a different impression of his face than when he saw him in the school building, it was due to the presence of his glasses.

I see, so he switches to contacts when he’s playing.

When he was in his school uniform and wearing his glasses, he had the impression of a moody, literary-type of boy, but now suddenly he seemed like an athlete. There were also sports glasses, but sports glasses for volleyball inevitably took the shape of goggles due to the nature of the sport, and perhaps because it narrowed the field of vision and honestly didn’t look good, but Oda had never seen a high schooler use them.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t had much good will towards Haijima after the April incident. It wasn’t that he hated him, but he was completely in the category of people he didn’t like dealing with. It was creepy that he couldn’t read what he was thinking about at all, even now. A simply neutral expression with no enthusiasm or nervousness. I wonder what kind of play would actually be created by standing on the same court as this guy. Oda was the one who was made considerably more nervous.

However, on the other hand, he also felt excitement. ——He was looking forward to it.

“Then, the person doing the serve receive should try to return it to Haijima as much as possible. That’s our setter, Haijima.”

The other four people on the court are have some experience from gym class. He decided to try using them all first while alternating them.

“Haijima, are you fine with being the setter? Are you up for it? You haven’t done it for a while.”

Haijima, who was relaxing his shoulders, gave him a sideways glance and looked offended.

���What’s your highest jump reach height?”

He was suddenly asked a straight-to-the-point question. Without asking about the circumstances that led to this match, without saying a word of greeting like “Sorry I’m late” or “I’ll be in your care,” that was the first thing out of his mouth after he came here.

“For spikes, these days it’s 315.”

“You can jump for someone of your height.”

Haijima said and narrowed his eyes. It was a completely disparaging tone, but wait, was I praised just now? I feel like asking someone to interpret for me.

The height he could reach after doing a run-up and jumping was the highest point for a spike jump. In Oda’s case, his finger height (the height he could reach with his hand while standing) was 215 centimeters, so his spike jump was up to one meter. The two meters Okuma instigated with was of course an impossible figure—the height for a male high school volleyball player would be from around 70 to 90 centimeters. He thought that one meter was a figure to be considerably proud of.

From the start, Team B had three rugby team members in the three front row positions. He wasn’t sure if they were thinking up their own strategy where they were going to knock down the first of their attacks with a block and kill their momentum.

Kanno, who found himself in the role of chief referee, blew the whistle, and the game started with Team B’s serve. Since the server was an amateur, it was a simple underhand serve. However, because their receivers were also amateurs, it was difficult for them to cleanly return it to the setter, and the ball was greatly repelled.

Oda was about to jump out to cover for them, but…

…What!?

Haijima was already underneath the ball. So fast!? He didn’t just move fast. His reading of the ball’s course was fast as well. While in an overhand stance, his eyes swiftly scanned the entire court and he signalled Oda with his eyes for a moment. Oda, who had unintentionally stopped in his tracks, quickly rushed to the front of the net. A set was released from Haijima’s fingers with much faster timing that he expected. He was sure he didn’t make such a fast set when he saw him at the prefecturals. It was a confident set from a distance where normally a safe four set would be the only way to go.

So fast—no, rather than fast, what’s with that trajectory!?

He managed to reach up in the midair and hit it with his hand. He didn’t exactly hit the ball squarely, but the three blockers that marked Oda didn’t keep up with him at all.

The ball fell to Team B’s court over the head of the blocker who only jumped halfway. Oda himself felt like he was bewitched, and he landed with the pit of his stomach feeling somewhat weightless.

The view was wonderful. He could see the opposing court, which was usually always blocked by a wall, well. It wasn’t every day he got the chance to spike over the head of a tall blocker, so he had completely forgotten—was going over a block this exhilarating? He felt ticklish on the inside. He felt good…

With a backwards glance at the astonished opposing team, Oda ran up to Haijima.

“Oi, what’s with that set?”

Even so, it was a complaint that came out of his mouth first. He had just barely kept up, but it wouldn’t be strange if he had struck and missed.

“I can’t hit anything if you just set it without warning.”

“That one just now was lower than 315. As expected, I’m rusty from not playing for a while. My perception is dull.”

Haijima said, tilting his head to the side as though he wasn’t satisfied. He was going to make me hit it at three-one-five because I said that was the highest point I could jump? Is he a demon?

“It’s the same with the height, but it’s more a problem of timing. There’s no way I can hit the ball at that tempo if I don’t have anything to match.”

The basic set was called an open set, and the attacker must time the ball as it rose high and fell in a parabolic path and hit it. A spike that is hit at the slowest timing was called a third tempo.

Even so, Haijima’s set was a set that made the attacker hit the ball at the peak of the parabola. As a result, the trajectory towards the hitting point was short, in other words, “fast.” From the point of view of an attacker, it looked like it was flying “directly” at them. The attacker was pulling off the transcendental thing of smashing in the top of the set at the moment they swung at the highest point, but there were many demands on the attacker’s part as well. What kind of nerve did this guy have to set something like that to someone he’s matching with for the first time?

Haijima looked away from Oda, who was snapping at him, and looked as though he had lost interest in something.

“Kuroba can hit it.”

I see, I couldn’t see that high-speed setting at the middle school prefecturals because Kuroba wasn’t there?—His competitiveness was slowly rearing its head. Do you expect me to keep quiet when I’m told that me, a third-year, can’t hit what a first-year can? I know he can evade high blocks at that speed. If he could make that hitting position and speed into a thing…

“…It’s fine. Don’t change what you��re doing. I’ll match you with all I got next time.”

Haijima blinked, and then let out a short breath and squinted his eyes. …He laughed? Maybe?

“Senpai, it’s your team’s serve. You’ll be taking a delay penalty.”

Kanno called out to him in a mild voice. The rotation turned once, and then it was Haijima’s serve.

“You don’t need to match me. I’ll be the one matching you. You seem like you still have a lot more in you, so could you please give a little more? You can go up to about 320, right?”

Calmly leaving that extremely brazen and shameless statement, Haijima turned on his heel and walked to the service zone.

⋆﹥━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━﹤⋆

His initial goal of breaking Okuma’s competitive spirit was blown out of his mind. He wanted to get Haijima to acknowledge him. That was all he could think about starting from midway through the match. He was so absorbed in it that he even forgot that this was practice for the ballgame tournament and was very ashamed to find out later that Kanno and Suemori were supporting the first-timers from off the court. It was a bad habit of his to lose sight of his surroundings when he got passionate. He had his hands full with what was before his eyes.

“Haijima, next time you get a chance, send it to the center.”

In the final stage of the set, the back row demanded a back row attack from Haijima. He was thinking of that high-speed center back Kuroba tried to show on his first day joining the club. If Kuroba could do it, then he wanted to do it himself as well.

“Oi, ref! Ain’t that what they call a delay? They’re just whispering to each other over there. That’s a foul, a foul!”

Okuma raised his voice from the other side of the net. He seemed to be pretty irritated with getting fouls many times when blocking. It was Haijima who incorporated the ingenious technique of playing right at the edge of the net to tempt his opponent into reaching over the net or touching it. He truly was a frightening first-year.

The B-team’s court got the serve, and Okuma jumped to spike it with a beast-like roar. However, Haijima moved in front of it with nimble steps and blocked it. Oi oi…Oda grumbled in his mind. Is he fully ready to end the game with block points? I just said that I wanted to do a back-row attack. Read the room.

Okuma was taller, but Haijima stopped the course with the precise way he moved his arms. It was a form he wanted to use as a model for first-years who were bad at blocking.

Oh…I’m looking at someone who has received the favor of volleyball up close right now… He was given every sense from the god of volleyball…

Thump. A different sound from the sound of a ball being hit was heard. From Oda’s position, it was a blind spot, so he couldn’t immediately grasp what had happened.

Rather than landing on the floor, Haijima dropped. Kanno immediately blew the foul whistle.

“Haijima!”

He rushed over to him in fright. Haijima was pressing his hand near his right eye, squatting and gritting his teeth. Was it his eye? His forehead? Kanno and Suemori also ran over, and the court was in disorder for a short while.

“Hey, what the hell were you doing? This isn’t rugby!”

He barked across the net, blood rushing to his head. Okuma made excuses with a slightly frightened look on his face.

“It, it wasn’t on purpose, captain. I only hit him by accident.”

“Don’t lie to me. If anything happens to our members, I’ll make you…”

“Senpai. I think he’s probably telling the truth. It wasn’t intentional. Please calm down. I was watching.”

He was clenching his fists and half-rising to his feet, but Kanno held down his shoulders. Admonished calmly by his kouhai, he reluctantly got back down while clenching his teeth.

“I’m fine…My contact just slipped.”

Haijima slowly got up. His voice was somewhat hoarse, but his articulation was clear. Oda was relieved that it didn’t seem serious.

“I’m removing myself from the game. Ow…”

After Haijima staggered out of the gym while pressing his hand against his right eye, the atmosphere immediately became like the closing of a performance. The decision was that Team B committed a foul, and Team F won 15-10, but they didn’t really care about winning or losing anymore.

The turmoil from the trouble caused everyone to lose concentration, so they decided to call off the rest of practice today. Oda’s concentration was more scattered than anyone else’s. He was in a position where he had to have more composure, but the role of captain was something that he was unequal to from the start. I don’t have the qualities to lead a team, I’m just selfish, I just…wanted to be a hitter. I just like getting to a place as high as possible above people and making them surrender.

The pleasure of being in a duo with Haijima still lingered. It was a feeling like a slight numbness that spread from the core of his body to his right fingertips.

I want him—A small but concentrated amount of fuel was thrown down onto his feelings of tiredness after losing in the prefectural tournament.

Practice was cut early and they dispersed, with Okuma and the rest of the rugby corps also leaving. When he was looking at the court thinking that it suddenly cooled down when those guys were gone, he saw Haijima standing before the net, staring fixedly up at it for some reason.

“Are you feeling okay? If you still feel like something’s off, go get it checked out. If you don’t know the hospitals around here, I’ll go with you.”

“I’m pretty familiar with it.”

“You don’t see rough play like that in volleyball a lot, do you?”

“No, I mean outside.”

“…?” Oh, he means outside the court? Hey, you need complete your sentences over here to have the conversation connect well.

In his case, no matter how you think about, the way he speaks is causing trouble. It’s no wonder Aoki went off at me about inviting him—he got him to lay a hand, I mean, foot on him.

“This is 2.43, eh.”

“Hmm? Oh, yeah it is, how did you notice? I told them to put it up at 2.4 since we’re not doing club practice today… I guess we’d been playing at 2.43 all day.”

At the ballgame tournament, the boys would be playing with the net at 2.40 meters. The same height as the official matches within the prefecture. When it came to tournaments that were above prefecture-level like regional and national tournaments, they were treated the same as general boy’s volleyball at 2.43 meters.

“Do you usually practice at 2.43?”

“Yeah, it’ll be at this height for Spring Inter-High, anyways.”

Haijima gave him a sideways glance, looking slightly shocked.

Following Inter-High in the summer and Nationals in the fall, the tournament that filled in the last piece of the three major national volleyball competitions was “Spring Inter-High Volleyball”. This tournament, which was held in a particularly spectacular manner among the three major competitions, was a grand stage that could be compared to Koshien for high schoolers who played volleyball (as for Oda, he didn’t want to use this metaphor. Even if you didn’t use baseball as a reference, Spring Inter-High was still Spring Inter-High). It used to be held in March but has now been moved to January, so third-years could participate as well, making it the last tournament that all three school years to face together.

Even at Spring Inter-High, the net was 2.40 meters at the prefectural qualifiers, but 2.43 meters at the main national competition in Tokyo.

“Is it funny? A tiny team like us talking about Spring Inter-High. That might be so, but I don’t think I said anything embarrassing.”

Even if people would think he was conceited, Oda was serious. If Haijima joined their current members, it wouldn’t be a pipe dream in the least. It was a realistic goal.

Haijima’s eyes returned to the net again.

“…I think that kind of thing is okay.”

He muttered. He stretched one hand and touched the top tape of the net. 2.43 meters was, if one were to give an easy-to-understand example, about the height of the ceiling in a house. For the 163 centimeters Oda, it wasn’t a place he could reach just by stretching himself. He envied his ease with which he could put his fingers on it and, it might sound strange, to fix his eyes upon it.

“Is this…the height for Spring Inter-High?”

Oh, he smiled… His face was purely radiant, a complete change from the previous arrogance and impudence, and he was shocked to see that he could make an expression like that. It was by no means a frank and open smile. Like a strong light covered by a thin curtain and gently diffusing through it…it overlapped with Kuroba’s face when he looked up at the same thing with sparkling eyes on the first day of practice in April, even though the vectors were completely different.

His feeling that Haijima would be hard to deal with had, before he knew it, faded through the match.

“Hey, you know, I had a great time playing with you today. You had a little fun too, didn’t you?”

“Oda-san has good reflexes.”

Unused to hearing himself be called “Oda-san,” he felt itchy. What’s more, he was using standard Japanese, so it was like he was being addressed from the TV. But, it’s nice, being called that by him.

“What you don’t have in height, you make up for with being athletic. You have power too. Stretching your body in midair, I like that.”

Even though he lambasted him two months ago, he easily reversed that and acknowledged him. Is he arrogant or honest…what a weird guy.

Just as I thought, rather than trying to do something with words, it might be better to invite him to the court first. What the hell, I feel kinda happy when I’m acknowledged by him… Pride filled his chest. He was able to believe that he hadn’t been continuing to do something meaningless.

“Will you join us, Haijima? It’ll be boring if you wanna do it by yourself. You chose volleyball for the ballgame tournament too, right?” There was no doubt that he continued to practice even though he wasn’t a part of the club. There was no way a guy who had a gap period since last summer could move like that.

He expected him to nod, but Haijima dropped his gaze to the court at his feet with a sullen look on his face. His childish action of poking at the ground with the toe of his shoe made Oda feel impatient and irritated. There was also envy. Why the hell is a guy who, unlike me, can just go on with volleyball without thinking about anything, hesitating here?

“I’m sure you’ll change your mind, Oda-san. I’m not very well liked. As long as I’m a setter…”

——“Why are you clinging to that position?”

It suddenly occurred to Oda that those words that were spat at him before might not have been contempt towards him.

Is it possible that it’s something Haijima himself has been thinking about…? Even the personification of volleyball sense who seems like he was chosen by the god of volleyball thinks that way?

“Hmm? Why are you guys hiding?”

Suemori’s voice echoed in the quiet gym.

Suemori and Kanno, who had spread out a piece of construction paper in a corner of the gym and working hard on creating a records chart, looked up and turned their heads to the doorway. The two heads that were peeking in from the shadow of the iron door shook with a start.

“Did you guys come to help clean up? If that’s the case, hurry up.”

Suemori briskly stood up, and Kanno followed quietly. Though the two timidly showed themselves, they stopped at the door like they had trouble getting in. It was Kuroba and Nagato. The air Haijima wore around him instantly stiffened. Were they all from the same middle school volleyball team?

“Senpai, is it true that Haijima is joining the club?”

It was Nagato who asked that. His face was unwelcoming without even having to say it aloud. He pulled on Kuroba’s elbow as if to tell him to say something as well, but he looked away with an ambiguous look on his face.

“I’d like to have him join. I’m in the middle of persuading him, though. If there’s something bothering you, speak up.”

Oda didn’t really hide his ill humor, and he raised his voice to highlight his captain’s dignity. One of Oda’s biggest aggravations was the behaviour of trying to get rid of people in a roundabout way.

“I’m not joining, so don’t worry.”

However, Haijima himself interjected from the side. His tone, which had begun to soften, had returned to being curt again. “I don’t think I’m obligated to join in the cleanup,” he rudely excused himself and turned towards the metal door without bowing. It was towards the other metal door, clearly avoiding Kuroba and Nagato. Oda wanted to tear off his head, as just when he thought he closed the distance a little, he was back to square one.

“I understand Nagato’s point of view. What about you, Kuroba?”

“Huh?”

Kuroba jumped and took on a posture of caution.

“I…I…”

He awkwardly peeking sideways at Haijima, and then cast his eyes down, looking a little bit like he was about to cry. Even though he was so big, he sometimes made expressions like those of an elementary school student, much less a middle school student. Haijima, who had stopped for a moment, started walking again. It was at a quicker pace than before.

After that gangly body disappeared behind the metal doors, Nagato opened his mouth as though he couldn’t bear to wait for that.

“Oda-senpai doesn’t know anything. If Haijima joins, then Yuni really won’t participate in any official games. In a way, we lost that other time because of Haijima…”

“Ryo, stop it. I told you that has nothing to do with it.”

With his face bright red, Kuroba stopped Nagato. However, his voice was weak and it didn’t sound like he was seriously denying it.

Making his voice stern, Oda asked them a question.

“What do you mean?”

Previous || Index || Next

[missmonsters2]

Drive Her Crazy || Part X

PAIRING: Wanda Maximoff x OFC/Reader

Summary: AU. Meet Wanda, the new ‘It’ girl. She’s built her social standing as a social influencer through Instagram and vlogging on Youtube. Queen Bee in her social circle, she’s got everyone wrapped around her finger. She’s perfect, you think. Girls like that require a little finesse, and you’re ready to play the game.

Warnings: Non-healthy relationship, psychological games, smut. 18+ only.

NOTE: Wow, I can’t believe we are finished. Thank you to everyone who read this story, enjoyed it, liked it, reblogged it, or commented! My heart is super full. This is the happiest ending for our lovely crazies 💛

[Please watch out for my next series which will feature Natasha Romanoff x Fem!Reader, The Color of You 😊]

PART I || PART II || PART III || PART IV || PART V || PART VI || PART VII || PART VIII || PART IX

PART X of X

Count: 5231

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“Great work, Vision! You’re good for today.”

Vision sighed, pulling off his headphones, and walking out the recording studio.

He thanked everyone for their hard work on his way out. 

The single he recently released was doing quite well, and he was quickly gaining a fanbase.

His breakup with Wanda had actually inspired some pretty good lyrics, and with some help to finesse the finished product, the single was becoming a hit. 

Vision hadn’t spoken Wanda since they split up at the party, but it’s not like he could avoid the headlines Wanda and her new girlfriend made. It was everywhere because you were so famous.

He still often spoke to Tony who updated him with what everyone’s been up to and Pepper was kind enough to give him advice from time to time.

Digging his hand into his pocket, he felt his ring there. He couldn’t bear to get rid of the engagement ring he got Wanda yet. It felt like it was the only thing left of her he had. 

As he walked out of recording studio, the exit he usually took was blocked off by cleaners, so he turned another way. 

It was a hall of records. Vision smiled slightly as he passed by each one. 

But then he saw one that made him stop.

It was your record, for the first album you released that has now gone triple platinum. 

He saw a couple more of your records framed up.

He was reeling.

This was too weird. 

Someone was passing by, and Vision stopped them. It was Ryan, the engineer that would be helping him with his album.

“Ryan...what’s this? Why are her albums framed up here?”

Ryan gave him a weird look as he gazed over your albums. 

“She’s an artiste at this company. Has been for a really long time. You never see her around, though. She’s been here long enough and produced enough results that they just let her do her own thing. In fact, you guys share the same manager.”

“What?” Vision choked.

Ryan had his eyebrows scrunched at Vision. Maybe he was a fan?

“I-I gotta go,” Vision said as he turned around and bolted out.

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“Can I look yet?”

“No, and don’t you dare peek.”

You have your hands over Wanda’s eyes as you safely guide her into your guys’ new home. She had mostly been busy with work, so you had taken the liberty of making sure everything would be set up.

Of course, you still had sent her a billion texts to see what type of furniture and color theme Wanda preferred. 

Today was the move-in day, and you had picked your girlfriend up when she was done work for the day.

“Please, I just want to see now,” Wanda whined, and you hushed her.

“Patience is a virtue, love,” you tease her. You hear her huff slightly.

“Well, I’m very naughty,” she teased you right back, and you had to bite your lip.

Dear lord, you needed to move faster before Wanda decided she wanted to have her wicked way with you without you being able to show her the whole place. 

Once you’re in the perfect spot, you smile as you kiss the back of Wanda’s head gently before releasing your hands. 

Wanda’s eyes flutter open, awe washing over her as she takes a look at the entire place.

It was big. 

It was beautiful. 

It was her dream home.

The soft, pastel colors and marbling of the furniture was a dream. She turns around, jumping into your arms, kissing you right on your mouth.

“I love it,” she gushes. “Thank you for taking care of all this.”

You merely hum happily, leaning in to kiss her again. Wanda walks around the house, touching nearly everything and gushing about how everything looks perfect.

By the time you make it back to the living room, she turns to you, head tilted to the side with her fingers on her chin.

“You know, maybe there is one thing that’s missing,” she says, taking a look around herself. 

“Really? What?” You ask, trying your best to think if you missed anything. 

Wanda looks back at you with a wicked grin.

“I think we need to christen the house.”

Before you know it, you’re revisiting every room in the house again.

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Wanda is on cloud nine by the time she reaches her friends for brunch the next day. 

“Hey, girls. Sorry, I’m late,” she greets them as she takes her seat next to Lily. Her other friend Anna from her party and at the charity was there too. Finally, Stacey had been invited by Anna. 

Lily was snickering as Wanda took a seat. “What happened? Miss DJ didn’t want to let you out of bed?”

Wanda immediately flushed red at her cheeks, the heat traveling all the way to her ears.

Because that’s exactly what happened. 

You had tried to convince her to stay in bed longer using your sexy, cocky smirk she liked, and your deft fingers and tongue.

Managing to keep in her in bed for another half hour, Wanda put all her willpower into getting up and running to the bathroom where you couldn’t follow. 

She definitely wanted to stay in bed longer too.

“Damn, girl, you really getting it,” Lily whistled, and Wanda had to push her friend playfully.

“I’m so jealous of you,” Anna whined as she sighed wistfully with her head in her hands. “I can’t believe you’re dating Lady Phantom. I had no idea she was so romantic. Everyone’s been talking about how she serenaded you at your party.”

Wanda only lightly chuckled, cheeks warm from the praises. 

“Oh!” Anna exclaimed as she sat upright, pulling her phone up and searching for something before showing it to Wanda. “Since your last interview where you revealed you were dating her, so many other tabloids are picking it up.”

Wanda grabbed the phone, looking at the headlines.

LADY PHANTOM HAS A GIRLFRIEND?

INFLUENCER WANDA MAXIMOFF BAGS ELUSIVE DJ.

LADY PHANTOM AND WANDA MAXIMOFF CAUGHT HOLDING HANDS AND KISSING WHILE WALKING

DJ LADY PHANTOM AND INFLUENCER WANDA MAXIMOFF BUY A HOUSE TOGETHER? IS THE ELUSIVE DJ SETTLING DOWN?

Wanda bit her lip as she clicked on one of the headlines, skimming through it.

A close source says that Lady Phantom may have whisked Wanda Maximoff right off her feet from new artist Vision. The source says that the DJ romantically serenaded Wanda at her birthday party recently. Swoon! What a lucky girl!

The smile on Wanda’s face was so broad as she passed her phone back to Anna. 

She was the girl who locked you down. 

“It’s crazy how they’ve already got this much information. We just bought the house in Los Altos Hills,” Wanda says offhandedly, casually dropping the neighborhood she now resides in. 

“What?” Stacey exclaims, surprised, and a little bit jealous as well. She had tried to cling to you during the party, but you didn’t seem interested at all. 

“Nice houses there aren’t under $1.6 million and the photos you posted to Instagram...shit, how much was it?”

Wanda just smiled and shrugged, she wasn’t about to brag how you and she got a $5 million dollar house. 

It was crazy to her. She would’ve never been able to buy one of the beautiful houses of Los Altos Hills with Vision.

It just felt like her dreams of having everything she wanted in her life and to share it with the person she loves was all coming true. 

The rest of the brunch went on as usual. The girls were screaming in excitement that she would be doing a photoshoot with David King. Wanda hadn’t even told them that she would be auditioning for a movie soon after. 

“Excuse me,” Wanda called the waitress as she was passing by. “Could I get an order of the traditional breakfast bowl to go? Medium poached eggs and extra hollandaise sauce, please.”

The waitress nodded with a smile before leaving.

“You bringing some for your girlfriend?” Lily asked with teasing in her tone.

Wanda nodded with a smile, “Yeah, we, uh, didn’t have time for breakfast this morning, and she had to go to the studio right after. I’m going to visit her with food.”

Lily sighed adoringly, “Oh, young love, how it is...”

“You’re younger than me, Lil,” Wanda said, and they both laughed. 

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Wanda was on her way, closing in on the studio to see you when her phone started vibrating. 

She transferred your food into her other hand that was holding up her bag as she dug her free hand into her back pocket, tongue out as she picked up.

“Hello,” she answered, not being able to check the caller ID before she picked up.

“Wanda--” The voice was frantic.

“Vision?” Wanda answered confusedly. Why was her ex calling her?

“How’ve you been? I heard your single is doing well. I’m happy for you,” Wanda told him warmly regardless of why he was calling her. 

“Yeah, Wanda, listen, you need to break up with your girlfriend. I told you there was something wrong with her!”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Wanda said heatedly. How could he just call to say that?

“I knew this opportunity to sign on was too good to be true. She’s from the same company, even has the same manager as me! I know she sent her manager to recruit me on the day of your birthday. She set me up to not show up!”

“Did someone tell you that?” Wanda asked, her walk becoming brisker as she was getting heated.

“No, but--”

“Then how the hell do you know that’s true? So what that you’re in the same company with the same manager? She tells me she hardly talks to her manager as she essentially handles her own work. Also, even if that were true, no one told you to drink yourself to a blackout state and miss my birthday. You could’ve signed on, had your celebratory drink, and left,” Wanda huffed.

“I am not hashing this out with you again, Viz,” Wanda said finally.

“Wanda, please, listen to me. There really is something off about her. She’s clearly obsessed with you. Who knows how long she’s been plotting to get you.”

“You want me to be offended my girlfriend wants me and finds me desirable?”

“No, I want you to be offended that she has no boundaries and sabotaged me to get you!”

“That’s seriously insane, Vision. She’s a famous DJ, and I’m just a social influencer. Does that make any sense to you?”

“Wanda--”

“Vision!” Wanda interrupted him. “I don’t want to hear about this again. We’re supposed to have an amicable breakup. Seriously, don’t call me again if you’re going to just say this.”

She could hear him saying something else as she hung up. She huffed again, rolling her eyes slightly.

Wanda tried to shake off the icky mood that the call put her in. She didn’t want to be grumpy when she saw you. 

She placed her knuckles against the door softly as she knocked. 

It wasn’t you who opened the door, but the guy seemed to have recognized her and let her in, putting his finger to his lips to signal her to be quiet.

She sheepishly shrugged her shoulders as she tiptoed in.

There she found you, your back facing her as you were looking over the recording, playing it with headphones on.

Wanda heard you hum lightly before you pressed a button to speak to the singer inside the recording studio.

“That was pretty good, but can you try redoing the last line? Instead of just holding the note on the last word, do a vocal run.”

The singer nodded, clearing her throat as she got ready. 

Everyone watched as she redid it, and it sounded amazing. The difference was so subtle, but it sent chills down their spine. 

“That’s perfect! Great job. Why don’t you take a break?” You suggested.

Once everyone began to relax, you turned around, surprise in your eyes as you saw your girlfriend standing there.

Wanda immediately went over to embrace you, kissing you softly.

Damn, you were so sexy when you worked.

You hummed into the kiss, clearly enjoying it.

“Mm,” you pulled back slightly. “What are you doing here? I thought you had brunch with your friends.”

Wanda gave you a half-smirk, holding onto the lapels of your leather jacket. “Well, I thought since you weren’t able to get breakfast this morning due to your shenanigans, I thought I’d bring you some.”

“What kind of shenanigans?” A dude from the back yelled, and everyone laughed as you rolled your eyes.

You looked back at your girlfriend, adoration just filling your eyes as you looked at her. Grabbing her hand and the food off the table, you led her out.

“C’mon, let’s eat outside. There’s too much testosterone in here.”

The boys laughed again, and Wanda giggled.

You led her out to the back where a lovely table and bench were in the shade under a tree.

Taking out the food, your stomach nearly ate itself, smelling the aroma. 

You really were hungry.

But the hunger was definitely worth keeping Wanda in bed as long as you could this morning.

“So,” you said as you scooped some food onto your spoon. “How was brunch?”

“It was good. Lily, Anna, and Stacey were there.”

“Stacey as in...that girl from your birthday?”

Wanda scrunched her nose up at that but nodded. “Yeah...she totally wants to kill me so she can date you.”

You laughed, bringing your hand to your mouth. You swallowed your food before talking again.

“I highly doubt she could get the drop on you, so no worries there.”

“You’re damn right,” Wanda mumbled as you smiled.

Wanda watched you eat, her mouth curling upwards without her even realizing. You were always so focused on your food while eating, and she thought it was endearing. 

“So,” Wanda says. “Have you...seen the tabloids by any chance?”

Your licking remnants of hollandaise sauce from your lips as you hear Wanda ask that. You nod, scooping more food.

“Mhm,” you say, spoon in their air as you have yet to put it into your mouth. You tilt your head, brow quirked as you look up slightly. “I hear a very, very attractive social influencer has bagged an elusive DJ. Apparently, they’ve been spotted buying a house together. How scandalous.”

Wanda is grinning ear to ear. God, why were you also so funny?

“Yes,” she plays along. “All the tabloids are saying that the DJ is settling down, can you believe that?”

You’re trying to hide your grin as you reply. “Buying a house is now settling down? Whew, that is quite the leap. What will the public say when she gets married?”

“Do you think she’s considering marriage?” Wanda asks, biting her thumb lightly as she regards you. God, she hopes you are. 

You’ve finished your food, packing it away back into its bag to be thrown away later.

You look at Wanda.

And by God, she just might be everything you’ve ever wanted. 

The thought of someone else won’t even cross your mind.

If it isn’t Wanda, it just won’t do.

You brush your leg against her lightly under the table, gently smiling as you lean back on your hands a little.

The two of you are gazing into each other’s eyes, just feeling like everything is right in the world.

“I would say that now she’s found the right person, it’s a part of her plans.”

Wanda beams.

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The next two week passes by quickly, and before Wanda knows it, she’s heading over to meet up with David King at his studio bright and early.

Her stomach is exploding with butterflies as she walks in.

Wanda wishes that you could be here with her, but you were stuck doing an interview with someone for a magazine today.

David’s assistant recognizes her for today’s appointment, greeting Wanda with a friendly smile and a handshake.

She leads Wanda over into the room where David is just finishing setting up the lighting. 

“Hey!” He greets as he comes in to hug her with a kiss on her cheek. “Are you ready for some collaborating today?”

Wanda nods excitedly.

“Great! Let’s talk about what you want your theme to be. Once we have that, I’ll know what other magazines to send your photos and interview to in addition to posting it on my website.”

Wanda and David sit at the table, he pours her some tea while they work together on what she wants out of this photoshoot and interview.

“I want to show my personality, that I’m not just some dumb social influencer. I won’t just rep anything, and there are brands I really care about working with. I also want to show that I have other interests as well, like...acting.”

David smiles, kindly at her. “Yes, I’ve been told you’ve secured an audition in two weeks.”

Wanda bashfully smiles and shrugs, “Not so much me who secured it, but I definitely don’t want to disappoint her.”

David snorts, “I’m pretty sure you could murder someone, and she wouldn’t be disappointed.”

Wanda just boisterously laughs because she does get that vibe from you, but that just makes it all more endearing to her that you love her so. 

After they’ve settled on themes, they immediately work on taking photos as David wants to use as much natural lighting as he can. David finds that the whole process is really smooth because Wanda is someone who wants to be a part of the process, not just doing everything he tells her.

It’s much more fulfilling to work with her. He is quite happy you got him to take a chance on her. 

Once they’ve taken photos, they’re both looking over them. Wanda gives her opinion on some of the selections as an amateur photographer herself, and David finds it so refreshing.

Wanda was definitely not afraid to give her opinions, ask for perspective, or ask for his reasonings.

In the next part, they work on the short essay David can post to his blog along with the photos. Additionally, he gets her to answer a few interview questions so the magazine he picks to give his photos to can use the answers she provides too.

The entire collaboration takes the whole day, so by the time they finish, the sun has just finished setting.

“It was so great to work with you, Wanda,” David gushes as he goes in to hug her again. “Seriously, I haven’t had such a great collaboration like this in a long time.”

“Oh my god, no, please. It’s such an honor to work with you,” Wanda modestly says, while she raves about him. 

David just grins as her while she turns to get her things in order.

“I’m so glad your girlfriend was able to get me to meet you. I was honestly surprised by the whole thing.”

“What do you mean?” Wanda asks as she starts to pack her things back into her bag.

“Well, you know,” David says with a shake of his hand. “I actually usually have a very strict rule about not working with social media influencers. I’ve tried a couple in the past, but I found them to be incredibly vapid.”

Wanda just smiles, unsure how to answer but pleased that he obviously found her different.

“I’ve actually seen your vlogs and Instagram before, it was my boyfriend Liam who had originally discovered you months ago. Your girlfriend was over that day, and I showed her your profile. I didn’t think she would actually end up finding you, befriend you, and then end up dating you.”

It was like time slowed for Wanda. 

What?

You actually had known of her beforehand?

Wanda immediately flashed back to when she first met you and invited you inside for drinks.

“What do you do for work?”

“I suppose Vision would say I’m a photographer. It’s nothing really, I post vlogs and brands pay me to represent their stuff.”

“No way! That’s seriously amazing. So, you’re kind of famous?”

But by what David said, you would’ve already known what she did and that she had a following.

Why did you lie?

Vision’s call from two weeks ago popped into her mind, and she felt like she was going to be sick to her stomach.

God, was what he said true?

“Are you okay?” David asked with worry as he looked at Wanda, who looked a little pale. 

Wanda snapped out of it, turning to him with a smile.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she says, pulling her bag onto her shoulder. “Yeah, it’s crazy how things work out, isn’t it? I’ve got to head home now. Once again, thank you so much, David.”

He hushes her and sees her off.

Wanda is making a beeline, hailing for a cab.

She needs to see you.

Now.

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“This is beautiful, thank you. Please keep the change.”

You took the bouquet of flowers you just bought from a flower shop on your way home. 

It was filled with all of Wanda’s favorite flowers and wrapped together nicely. You wanted to congratulate her on her big day with David. You knew once he would post it to his site and give it to whatever magazines, Wanda was going to be blowing up. 

It definitely would work in her favor for her audition in two weeks. 

You drove home, idly tapping on the steering wheel as you thought about what to have for a late dinner. You knew it was unlikely that Wanda could eat much today since they decided to get everything done today. 

Maybe order in some pizza?

But then Wanda wanted to stay in shape as much as possible before her audition. 

Maybe lemon & butter salmon?

You pull up into your driveway, turning your car off as you grab the bouquet.

“I’m home!” You call out as you walk in, but there’s no response.

The house is completely dark, which you find strange because Wanda is usually in the living room watching TV or in the kitchen when she’s waiting for you.

“Wanda?” You call out as you walk up the stairs. 

You enter the bedroom.

The small lamp on the bedside is on, and you find Wanda sitting on her chair in front of the vanity mirror you got her.

You walk over to her, but she doesn’t talk to you.

“Baby?” You call softly as you kneel down before her, placing the bouquet down, touching her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

Did something happen?

Was she hurt?

David had texted you when it was over that it went great, and thanked you again for getting him to meet her.

So, what was wrong?

Wanda looks at you with a still expression. She turns her whole body to you and her jaw clenches before she releases it.

“I want to ask you something, and please tell me the truth.”

You scrunch your eyebrows together because you have no idea what she wants to ask you, but you nod.

“Did you,” Wanda breathes. “Did you know who I was before you met me?”

The stillness hits you immediately. 

You regard her, taking in her desperate expression as she looks at you.

You could’ve lied.

You could tell her that David may have shown you her profile before, but you hardly cared to notice or remember it. 

You could’ve told her anything, and Wanda would’ve believed it. 

But...there was something else there.

So, you didn’t.

“I did,” you admitted, watching as Wanda stood up, walking over to the other side of the room with disbelief on her face.

You stood up as well, crossing your arms but making no move to her.

“Why did you lie?” Wanda asked. “Were you stalking me? Is that how you found me at the fast-food chain?”

“I wouldn’t say stalking,” you say as if she was being dramatic. “I came to California for work planned months before, you just happened to be here as well. Was I interested in you? Yes. Did I somehow know that you were going to be there to eat and live in the same community? No.”

Wanda’s mind was reeling. She couldn’t help but replay Vision’s words over and over in her head.

“Did you want me? From the very beginning?”

You couldn’t help but quirk your eyebrow. There was definitely something she was hiding from you.

“As I said, I was interested in you, but I knew you were engaged.”

“Is it true?” She asked, and you’re not even sure what she’s referring to. “That you and Vision are under the same company? That you even share a manager?”

Ah, it hits you. Now you know where this is coming from. Vision had found out what he could. But you knew Charles would never tell him that you had purposely sent him to Vision.

“Yes,” you admit once more. 

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Wanda asks, frustration in her tone.

You shrug your shoulders. “As I told you, I don’t often talk to my manager as I handle my own affairs. It’s not really any of my business who he decides to sign on.”

“So you didn’t deliberately get your manager to sign Vision on and make him miss my birthday?”

You paused.

Another choice.

You could lie.

It would be so easy to.

But you had to push it more. 

“I did show my manager Vision’s work on SoundCloud,” you say instead. It was true, even if it wasn’t the whole truth.

Wanda understands, anyways.

Her breath hitches, and she’s putting her hands to her face. 

She can’t believe this is happening. 

This time, you begin to walk over to her, standing right before her.

“You’re insane,” Wanda says with a crazed laugh. “Vision’s right. You are obsessed with me. You were sabotaging him to get me! What am I to you even? Some sort of sick prize?”

Your jaw clenches a little. She’s starting to hit on your nerve a little, but you remain patient. 

You close in on her, backing her until she hits the wall. You raise your arms slowly to either side of her head, giving her ample time to leave if she wanted.

But she didn’t.

“I wouldn’t say signing him onto a record label, giving him the spotlight, actually earning money for his work, which I heard he’s doing pretty well now, by the way, is sabotaging him. Here’s the thing, Wanda. Yes, I did set him up. I told my manager to sign his untalented ass on and treat him like a king on your birthday. But guess what? Vision didn’t have to stay. If he really, truly, wanted to leave, Charles couldn’t have done anything about that. No one forced him to keep taking the next drink. No one told him to not care about you.”

Wanda is silent, angry tears come up to her waterline as she stares at you with a clenched jaw. 

“I’m not putting myself up on a pedestal here, but it was me that came through for you every time,” You tell Wanda. “Am I obsessed with you? Maybe. But don’t stand there and pretend that you don’t enjoy my attention. You love the fact that Lady Phantom dedicates sets to you, serenaded you, bought you $100,000 necklace in front of everyone. You love people giving you accolades that we’re together. You love that people are jealous of the fact that they’re looking at me while I’m looking at you.”

You called her out, hitting her right on the dot. 

She can’t even deny it because it’s true. 

But Wanda still loves you. That much is real.

“So what?” She scoffs. “It’s all fake then? Everything you did was a meticulously thought out plan to win me? Everything you did was purposely done to draw me to you?”

“There’s nothing wrong with planning,” you say to her softly. “Even if I did plan it, it doesn’t mean I don’t care. I care very much. My heart was breaking about the fact you were with someone that was dragging you behind, making you feel guilty about wanting more out of life. It broke my heart to think that you spend every year alone on Pietro’s anniversary because he didn’t try to do more for you. It made me angry to hear people snidely make comments about you when Vision didn’t show up for your birthday. I hate when you’re not in the spotlight because that’s where you deserve to be. If someone is stealing it from you, I’ll do everything I can to shift the light to you.”

Wanda had a single tear slide down her cheek. She grabs onto the ends of your jacket, desperate to feel you closer.

She has to know.

She needs to know.

“Do you even love me?” She asks softly, and it nearly breaks your heart all over.

You lift one hand to lower it to her face, cupping her jaw and neck delicately. You move your face closer to hers, giving her all the time she needs to pull away if she doesn’t want you.

”I do. So much. In a way that only you could ever understand.”

Wanda doesn’t pull away.

She never wanted to in the first place.

This was never about breaking up.

You knew that. Which is why you risked telling her the entire truth.

She wanted to know that what you had for her was real, that she could never be replaced.

That you were hers.

You press your lips to her firmly, your tongue swiping her bottom lip as she moans softly. 

She pulls you closer to her, pressing your body to hers completely as she melts into you. She lifts her arms, wrapping them around your neck as she continues to kiss you. 

You push off the wall, redirecting her to your shared bed as you topple on top of her with a knee in between her legs.

You pull back softly, your hand drifting underneath her shirt as you caress the soft skin there.

Her eyes open slowly, and she just looks electric to you.

“I love you,” she says quietly, and you can’t help but press another soft kiss to her as your hand lowers into her panties.

“You secretly love it, don’t you? What I do to you.” You say against her jaw, and it’s a little muffled. 

Wanda’s breath hitches, chest rising as you touch her just the right way against her clit, rubbing through her wet folds.

She nods, but you want to hear it.

“I want to hear you say it, baby,” you huskily say as you tease her. Your other hand is around the back of her neck, just grasping at her hair.  

Wanda’s moaning shamelessly as you circle her clit again, diving lower as your fingers tease her entrance. God, it feels so slippery.

Fuck, she really wants your fingers in her. The knotting in her stomach gets even worse when you nibble her collarbone. 

But she knows you won’t give it to her until she gives you what you want.

“I love it,” Wanda moans. “I love the way you drive me crazy.”

[wordydelights]

hannibal lecter and clarice starling fanfic

The air smelled of freshly brewed, dark roasted coffee and crisp, steamy flesh sizzling on the stovetop. Clarice’s eyes slightly fluttered open as she breathed in the nostalgic aromas, it brought her back to childhood memories of waking up to the smell of bacon and eggs. It was a good scent, it meant her father had the day off and got to spend it with her. Her little feet would jump out of her comfortable bed and dart into the kitchen to find her dad, with a cup of coffee in one hand and a skillet in the other. “Morning' sweetie,” he’d say with a smile. She woke up out of her daze suddenly, her eyes opening in sync with the beat of her heart. 

She glanced around, the edges of her vision blurred by morning weariness. She rubbed her eyes. As she gained awareness, her mind began to wake up with the rest of her body. She then quickly realized this time was distinctly different from her memories. 1) She was located far away from home in a four star hotel located on the east side of northern Lithuania. 2) The smell was most definitely not coming from bacon, she could recognize the signature scent of burnt skin in the middle of a barbecue, after having the misfortune of inhaling its nauseating aroma in the past. She remembered reading about it in a forensics textbook. Burning muscle tissue creates a smell similar to beef in a frying pan and the fat smells like fatty pork on the grill. You never quite get the scent of death out of your nostrils entirely, no matter how much time has passed. 

She heard a creak coming from the kitchen floorboards and jolted awake now certainly knowing she was no longer alone. Attempting to not make a single sound, she reached for her pistol lying on the wooden bedside dresser to her right. Beside it she snatched a small hunting knife, she carried for good luck and slid it in her left sock. She took a step out of the bed, the floorboards groaned slightly and she quickly changed her footing, attempting to feel out the hollow areas that lay underneath to avoid making any noise. She found her fluffy bunny slippers tucked away beneath the metal bed frame and slid her toes into its cushioned soles, muffling the pattering of her steps. Clicking the gun’s safety off slowly, she crept through the doorway keeping her body close to the wall as she peered over into the kitchen. She brought her extended arms close to her chest, the pistol now few inches away from her chin, pointed at the ceiling. She couldn’t hear anything over the sound of her breathing and the occasional pops of oil from the frying pan on the stove. 

“Good Morning Clarice,” an all too familiar voice rang within her ears, breaking the unsettling silence. “You can come out now.” 

Clarice Starling emerged from the bedroom, her gun pointed directly in line with the back of Dr. Lecter. He was sitting in a chair at the mahogany dining table, his back to Clarice, he faced the opened doors to the balcony outside, his legs were crossed nonchalantly as he read the black and white newspaper in his hands. Clarice didn’t hesitate and pulled the trigger. Click. Click. Click.

“Tsk Tsk. Naughty girl,” Dr. Lecter teased without looking back. “Why don’t you have a seat? Don’t want your breakfast getting cold.” 

She rushed to his seat, swinging the unloaded pistol at his skull. Lecter grasped her wrist tightly with his right and only hand, the pistol about an inch from smashing into his head. His eyes remained glued to the newspapers contents even as he snapped her clenched fist open and flung the gun onto the table. “You’re very predictable Starling. Do you intend on making this more difficult than it needs to be?”

Slowly she made her way to the empty seat across from him. A plate consisting of two sausages, an egg and buttered toast laid in front of her. Clarice kept her unwavering gaze steady with Lecter’s. “What do I owe the delight of your presence, Doctor Lecter? I haven’t heard from you since our previous encounter. No calls or even a letter, unusual for you.” “Writing was a luxury I unfortunately had to leave behind with my dominant hand. The right gets the job done, but the penmanship will never quite equate to the elegance before.  I was sure you of all people wouldn��t need to be reminded of such details,” Lecter smiled as he lifted the black leather glove over his prosthetic to expose it’s plastic skin. Clarice remained silent, her eyes in a deadlock with his.

“I also couldn’t bear to give you the satisfaction of answering any questions I’m sure have been floating about in that charming head of yours. It wouldn’t do any justice to a more intimate confrontation. I was originally planning on leaving your mind to be in constant torment and wonder just for my personal pleasure, but when I overheard that you came all this way to pay me a visit I simply couldn’t resist your cries for my attention,” He paused, glancing down at the plate in front of her. “Please do eat, I assure you it is up to your standards.” 

“Oh really?” Clarice started, gesturing over at the oven. “Then how do you explain that?”

“I cannot make the same promise regarding my meal,” Lecter eerily grinned. 

Starling took a bite of her eggs, the yolk ran like spilled blood throughout her plate leaving a dark yellow pool around the crisp toast. Lecter watched her throat move up and back into place as she swallowed. He leaned back satisfied. “Remind you of the way daddy made them?” he chirped.

“They’re lacking on the pepper and he never used rosemary.” 

“My mistake.” He rose from the chair and attended to the sizzling flesh on the frying pan. 

Clarice scanned the room looking for any objects that could be used as a weapon, despite the other half of her brain telling her it’s useless and he’ll simply see it coming. For the meantime she deemed it to be best to go along with his game. “Why are you here Doctor?”

“I could ask you the same Clarice.”

“Doing my job, hunting you down,” she shot back, her eyes flared like hot charcoal on a grill.

“I’m flattered, but spare the theatrics because we both know this hardly has anything to do with work,” he flipped the long chunks of fat to their opposing side with a spatula.

“Why wouldn’t it?”

“Because you are here. Because you are not a part of the Lithuanian law enforcement. Because the bureau would never send their agents overseas to investigate a criminal who's been off the radar for over three years without concrete proof of my whereabouts, which I know for a fact that I have not provided.”

“People you have had personal connections to throughout your childhood, in your hometown suddenly show up murdered, matching your profile exactly, I would say that’s a dead give away Doctor.”

“You’ve been doing your research I see.”

“Of course, how else would I have found you?”

“Tell me Clarice, are you here for business or pleasure?” His tongue flicked against the backs of his teeth.

“For justice.” “Who sent you? And do not insult my intelligence with anything shroud of the truth because I will know.” Using the metal spatula he set the meat down on his plate next to his two poached eggs. He impaled the fattiest piece with his fork, bringing it to his nose, inhaled then took a slight nibble and savored the flavor in his tongue. 

Starling took a heavy breath, her eyes dropped from his gaze. “No one sent me,” she half-muttered. “Stop me if I’m wrong Clarice but I have a feeling I haven’t left your mind since the night of our last dinner together. I know your biggest question may be; why? Why would a monster such as myself sacrifice a part of my body for you? That question ate at you inside, festering like an aged wound and grew until it consumed you, you told yourself you needed to put an end to my antics for good, and knowing just how personal it had become you made it your mission to hunt me down and lock me back in a cage. But we both know the truth don’t we? No it was never about justice...it was about not being able to deal with your reciprocated emotions. It was creating an excuse to see me once again.” Clarice kept her head facing the ground, her face was stone and expressionless, but Hannibal did not stop. Leaving the kitchen’s marble island he began to approach Starling slowly. 

“You knew I would never come back, that I would leave you alone for the remainder of your life.” He was looming over her now, his shadow darkening her features. “You knew that if we were ever to have another encounter that you would have to seek me out this time.” In that moment Clairce felt a true sense of inferiority, a feeling she was not accustomed to. His body was inches from hers, her head at level with his upper waist. She breathed in his presence, it was a pure, primal masculine aroma. He digressed and sat down at the table, his demeanor changing from sensually intimidating and virile to a common mortal in a split second. 

“Maybe you never realized these feelings until you truly began your research into my past. When you learned I suffered the same pain you felt at a young age. I assume you discovered the details regarding the death of my family?” “Yes. They were killed in a bombing.”

“Yes, everyone died except my sister Mischa and myself. We were held captive in a lodge by Nazi forces when a group of Lithuanian Hilfwillige stormed and looted the lodge. They searched the premises for food but found nothing.” He took a sip from his cup of coffee and moved his gaze to the balcony looking off into the dark clouded skies and continued.

“The blistering chill of winter combined with an empty stomach, it does something to men, brings out the savage within. Mischa and I became the menu options. I put up a fight, but Mischa...she was weak, starving herself, ill from the cold, she was an easy kill. They sodomized her corpse first before slicing her body in bite sized portions and roasting it above a fire pit.”

Clarice watched his eyes as he recalled the events. She could almost swear she saw the reflection of his memory playing like a film in the glare of his pupils. Despite no tears being shed, she felt the immacable amount of pain in the slight trembles of his voice. 

At a loss for words to speak, “I’m sorry,” was all she could let out.

“You see Clarice, monsters like myself are not born into this world with faulty wiring, we are made through suffering.” He turned back towards her, circling the metal spoon inside the coffee cup, hitting it’s ceramic edges with every rotation.

“Is that how you justify your actions Dr. Lecter?”

“I admit there are some sins I have committed I cannot truly justify; however, most of the unspeakable acts I commit I can assure you are in fact poetic justice at it’s finest.” 

Clarice dropped her eyes to her socks, where the pocket knife rubbed against her perspire, she considered her course of action, but only for a second, until she was interrupted by the rattle of the wooden chair she was sitting in. Dr. Lecter gripped the chair’s arms like he expected it to run from his grasp, and leaned close to Starling’s ear. 

“Tell me, do I excite you Clarice? Do you find me in your dreams late in the evening? I imagine I used to appear as a grotesque monster but now perhaps a lover? And when you wake up do you find yourself horrified with yourself for these thoughts you simply cannot control?” She could feel the slight prickle of his facial air as his lips grazed against her earlobe. 

“I never believed you to be a monster Doctor,” she softly spoke. 

“Is that all you have to refute?” She lifted her head and let herself drift for a moment in his pale blue eyes.“I used to wonder if you were capable of love. That night, when you spared me from pain, I found out you were. But may I ask, why me? Was it just because I was one of the first women you had spoken to in years? Because I shared some personal information no one else would dare give to you?” She positioned her left hand further to the edge of her seat and brought her corresponding foot closer in reach. “Is that really what you think of me? So desperate for the touch of a woman I fall for the first to give me any attention in years? I see goodness in you Starling. When I look at you I see the same glimmer of loss within your eyes that I see in mine. You are an unfaltering flame, always burning with a righteous desire. Your character never fails to intrigue me, the way your mind ticks, your witty remarks, your composure in the face of death. No I’ve never quite found one like you.” His thumb fell from the top of her cheekbones to the very underlying rosy purse of her bottom lip. Her breathing was fluttered, rapidly picking up in pace with every passing second, for a second she felt as though she may lose consciousness altogether.

Overcome with emotion, she pulled out the blade from her sock and held it against his throat, knocking the chair down with the commotion. 

“Do it. I won’t stop you.”

“You have to understand how crazy this is. I can’t give up my life for one of FBI’s most wanted. I’d be throwing away everything I worked so hard to achieve. This needs to end. There is nothing between us.” “Then this should make things much easier for you. Don’t hesitate Clarice.”

“I don’t want to kill you.” “I won’t be put behind bars again, you either kill me now or I disappear from the world for good.” 

Clarice let a tear roll down her cheek, pushing Hannibal against the wall behind them. The cold steel pressed Lecter’s adams apple higher up into his esophagus. He never dropped his gaze with her even as tiny beads of blood began to break through the barriers of his skin’s surface. 

She stared into his eyes, his pupils seeming to pulsate as they stared back into her. 

“I can’t,” she whispered.

 “And why is that?”

“The same reason you can’t kill me.”

“And what may that reason be Clarice?” “Don’t make me say it.”

He put his hands on her shoulders, feeling the dips of her collar bones and the rhythmic thumping of her heart. He slowly moved his caress up to her neck and locked his hands around her throat.

“I want you to tell me Clarice. I want to hear the words come out of your mouth.”

She remained silent, nervous trembles running through her body.

He began to squeeze. “Say it,” he hissed. 

She gagged for air while shaking her head no.

“Say it!” his scream echoed throughout the floor of the hotel.

With a rasped voice and tears streaming down her cheeks she whimpered, “I love you.”

With his hands still firmly gripped around her neck, he whipped her around. The walls rattled as her back slammed against them. In a midst of desire he aggressively pressed his lips against hers, his hands still squeezing tightly as she returned his embrace. The warmth of his breath was hot like smoke. He released his grasp as she began to gasp for oxygen. Black fuzziness clouded her vision as she slid down the wall to the floor. 

In that moment it all clicked in her head. A fleeting memory pushed through the adrenaline coursing through her veins and in an instant the dots regarding Lecter were somehow aligned. 

“What was your mother like?” she managed to make out in between heavy breaths. 

Puzzled by the randomness of her inquiry, Lecter responded hesitantly with a curious smile, “I feel as though she truly loved her children but was simply a very emotionally detached person.” 

Clarice’s eyes narrowed, “Did she nurse you as a child Dr. Lecter?”

“Yes.”

Clarice lowered the thin straps of her black satin nighty, her clavicle further exposed, glistening with faint beads of sweat. She took a breath in through her nose and exhaled slowly.

“Did you ever compete with Mischa for the breast?”

“I don’t remember Clarice…,” Lecter began not quite sure where she was going with the question. “If there was a competition I would’ve given it up willingly.” He found the enigma of her quivering lip excessively compelling.

She raised herself to his eye level, her glare burning like firey embers, she leaned her back against the floral wallpaper, “You will not have to compete for mine.”

Her nighty swiftly slid off her shoulders and fell to her ankles as if she manifested it to reality. Lecter’s eyes moved up and down her curves absorbing the image into the most precious capsules of his mind. Pulling him close to her chest, he bent down, inhaling the warmth resonating off her skin, his hands caressing the small of her back while his tongue followed the thin trail of swelter to her breast.

[theliteraryvampire]

Take Your Heart In Your Teeth (2/?)

Warnings: None!

Fandom: BBC Dracula (Dracula x Reader)

Author’s Note: Chapter 2 of how many? I have absolutely no clue. Feedback, comments, or reblogs are greatly appreciated! Hope you enjoy :)

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Dracula led me into what I assumed was his office. The ceiling was high, the dark wood floor was covered partially by a scarlet colored rug, with thick, velvety drapes drawn back from the window to match. Books upon books were ensconced behind glass, and they covered half of the walls. Off to the side sat a desk of mahogany, with a plush leather chair pulled slightly out.

I knew my mouth was hanging open, but I couldn’t for the life of me close it. I had never seen a room more beautiful. I floated over to the window where I was met with a gorgeous view of Central Park.

I whirled around in disbelief. “Tell me the truth,” I said through a smile. “Did you have to kill someone for this place?”

Dracula laughed at that, quite a beautiful sound, and he leaned against the wall, folding his arms. He looked at me and smiled with a boyish charm, a feature I didn’t know he could possess.

“What if I said yes?”

I gripped one of the drapes and looked back to the view. “As long as I’m getting paid, I don’t particularly care what you do in your personal life.”

“And that is exactly why you’re the person I’ve been searching for, (Y/N),” he all but whispered in my ear, and I felt myself involuntarily jump, not expecting him to be that close. I hadn’t even heard him walk over.

I looked up into his eyes and he held my gaze, smoldering, and wouldn’t you know, I forgot how to breathe for a second time that day. Though I desperately didn’t want to break us out of this moment, I managed to stammer out, “m-my work…” 

“Your work,” Dracula breathed out before standing straight, “is to write my memoirs. I’ve been through many ordeals in my life, and through the act of telling them, I hope to gain insight into my personal...afflictions. Plus!” he added, “it’s just a bloody good story.” He said this like it was an inside joke, though who else was privy to the joke, I had no clue.

“So, wait a minute.” I was confused. “You want me to be a glorified stenographer and part time psychologist? I’m sorry, Dracula, but I’m neither of those things. I...I don’t think I can help you.”

“Nonsense! I choose people very carefully, (Y/N), and I did my research on you. It’s your choice, of course, work for me or don’t, but I do hope that you stay.” His eyes roamed over me again. “You’ll be working at this desk, if it suits you,” he said, like he already knew what choice I had made, “and tell me when you’re hungry. I don’t cook myself, but you can ring my butler, or order room service. I’ve heard the chef here makes exquisite meals.”

“You haven’t eaten here yourself then?” I asked, sitting down at the desk.

“What makes you say that?” Dracula questioned, looking confused, I thought.

“Well, you said, ‘I’ve heard’ when talking about the chef’s food, which implies that you’ve never had it yourself.”

Dracula looked off to the side, a hint of a smirk on his face. “I momentarily forgot that being a writer also means reading people. But yes, I prefer to get my food...outside,” he answered, though slowly, like he was looking for the appropriate words.

“You dine out, you mean? Every night?” I pulled out my laptop and turned it on.

“Yes, every night.”

“And where’s your butler? I thought it was just you living here.” 

“No, both my butler and I...live...here,” he said, again like it was an inside joke. He walked closer to me then, and leaned down on the desk with his hands, shoulders rising like a lion getting ready to chase its prey. 

“So, where’s he now, then?” I swallowed, feeling, for the first time, intimidated by Dracula’s presence.

“Out.” Dracula paused, eyeing me, like this was a game of chess, and he was deciding what his next move should be. After a few seconds, he stood and walked through the high archway in front of me, towards what I assumed was a mini bar. “Drink?” he offered, picking up a glass.

I breathed out hard. “This early in the morning?” I tried joking, but I had to admit that a drink sounded exactly like what I needed at the moment. “Please.”

“What’s your poison? Before you say wine, I do not drink wine.”

“Good,” I chuckled. “Neither do I. Vodka soda, thank you kindly.” I turned my attention back onto my laptop, and in the few seconds it took to type in my password, Dracula was standing in front of me, offering me a glass. I gratefully took it, momentarily brushing his fingers. His hand was freezing. We quickly looked at each other, and as if embarrassed, he stuffed his hand back into his pocket and took a sip of whatever he was drinking.

“That’s quite a unique...goblet,” I ventured. Whereas I had a typical glass tumbler, Dracula had a pure silver drinking goblet with the fleur de lis carved in its side.

“Hm? Oh! Yes...this. This was my grandfather’s drinking goblet. Legend has it that it was poached from King Louis XIV himself. I...know how you like legends,” he added, looking down at me.

“Le Roi Soleil.”

“What?” Dracula lowered his goblet slightly.

“Le Roi Soleil. It’s french, meaning the Sun King. That’s what he called himself. Well, that’s what historians think, anyway. He also compared himself to the Greek god Apollo, so...you must know how it is. Nobility and all.” I smirked at him, teasing.

He gave me a wry smile and raised his goblet. “Yes, well. Here’s to irony,” he said before downing what was left.

[cycwrites]

Switching Gears Part 2 - W.T.F. Just Happened?

Words: 4683

Rating: M (Eventually. I think.)

Tumblr Master Post

Also on AO3 and FFN

As always, thanks to @tiny-maus-boots for all the Beta’ing and support.

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~S~

“I’m sorry, you need what?”

Stacie paced in front of Chloe’s desk. “Bolt cutters. Some crazy woman just locked my bike to one of the racks with her chain.” She was still seething over the absolute insanity of it.

She’d walked outside and blinked stupidly at the second chain wrapped above hers. Looking up she’d searched the crowd around her before her eyes locked on the blonde from earlier. Who then had the fucking nerve to smile at her and ring the bell on her handlebars as she rode off.

Stacie could still hear the trill of it in her head and every time it echoed it took on an increasingly mocking edge. Needless to say any zen she’d gotten from her yoga class was rapidly dissipating.

When she’d double checked that the lock was indeed in place and she couldn’t just unwrap the damn thing, she’d stormed back into the building, people parting before her like a wave. She’d made her way straight to Chloe’s office to get the bolt cutters kept on hand for locks left on lockers.

Chloe watched her, confused. “Why would she do that?”

“Oh, I don’t know, Chlo!” Stacie threw her arms up in the air. “Because she’s fucking nuts?”

“She just… randomly chose you out of the several dozen bikes that are out there at any given moment?” Chloe tried to be neutral but Stacie could hear the amusement layered under it.

“She accused me of ‘taking her spot’.” Stacie stopped and put her hands on her hips. “Like it had her name on it. Said she’d been waiting for whoever had been there to leave, like it’s a parking lot at the mall.” Stacie’s hands shot into the air again. “I didn’t see anyone else in that spot for the three minutes it took me to ride up and get off my bike. Then suddenly this blonde woman who had been on her phone like ten feet away is yelling ‘That’s my spot!’”

Chloe twisted her lips like she was trying to keep from laughing. “Oh.”

“That’s it?” Stacie stared at her. “Just ‘oh’?”

“What else am I supposed to say, Stacie? ‘Let’s track her down and call the law on her?’” She grinned but Stacie was still too pissed off to find it funny.

“Do you think that’d work?” Stacie muttered.

“No.” Chloe said, still showing a complete lack of concern. “But I am tempted to look back through the security footage to find out who has you so riled up.”

“Would you ban her for life?” Stacie resumed her pacing, too agitated to be still.

“Stacie.” Chloe chided.

“You’re too nice a person.” Stacie accused.

“And I don’t want to get a bad reputation now that Stretch has finally become noticed.” Chloe watched her. “Please sit down, you’re making me want to get up and pace with you.”

Grudgingly Stacie took a seat. “One person wouldn’t – “

“One bad review and the whole thing could fall apart,” Chloe interrupted. “You wouldn’t want that to happen, would you?”

Deflating slightly, even though she knew that Chloe was exaggerating on purpose, Stacie slumped in her chair. “No.” The two of them had been best friends since middle school and Stacie would never do anything that could potentially hurt Chloe’s dream.

Chloe had been working non-stop for the past four years to have Stretch It Out become a central point for almost all fitness needs. What started out as a dance studio, with her as the only instructor, had grown to encompass so much more: Spin classes, yoga, aerobics, dancercise – which Stacie still rolled her eyes at; ‘What’s next, that whole horse prancing thing, Chlo?’ – and she was hoping to hire a CrossFit trainer by the end of the year. Stacie was trying to convince Chloe to hire a self-defense instructor and/or someone who could teach kickboxing; she’d always wanted to learn and if she could do it cheaper thanks to her lifetime bestie discount it was even better.

“Aw, you do love me.” Chloe stood up from her chair and walked over to stroke her hand along Stacie’s hair. “Come on, I still wanna see the mystery woman.” She leaned down and grabbed Stacie’s hand and tugged. “Bolt cutters are in Security anyway.”

With a sigh, Stacie let herself be pulled to her feet. “Fiiiiine.” She followed Chloe down the hall to the door unobtrusively marked ‘Video’.  “But if you’re not going to let me try and press charges I don’t know what the big deal is.”

“That’s okay ,” Chloe shrugged and opened the door with her key. “You don’t have to.” She waved Stacie in. “After you.”

“So kind,” Stacie rolled her eyes then smiled at the woman sitting in front of a station of five monitors. “Hey, Amy.”

“Skyscraper.” The Australian nodded at her. “How’s the weather up there?”

“Nothin’ but blue sky, Ames.” Stacie leaned against a filing cabinet.

Amy nodded at Chloe as she shut the door behind them. “Boss.”

“Can you pull up the camera for the racks in front and run it back about…” Chloe trailed off and looked at Stacie who checked her watch.

“What?” Amy interrupted before she could answer, looking at Chloe with confusion. “You can do that?”

Chloe stared at her for several seconds. “You’ve been here a year and you didn’t know that?” She rolled her eyes. “Tell me again why I hired you?”

Amy clicked her tongue. “You gotta keep me around so people remember why they’re here.”

“Amy!” Chloe gasped as Stacie frowned. “Don’t talk about yourself that way.”

“What, are you saying I’m not hot?” Amy eyed her carefully. “That’s why people do all these classes of yours, don’t they? To be hot?”

Stacie couldn’t help but smile. She was confident but no one was as confident as Amy. “You’re absolutely right, Amy.”

“Right.” Amy nodded at her. “Maybe I should read the manual…” She turned her chair to look at the thick binder resting on the desk next to her.

“Maybe,” Chloe said dryly. “But for now, let me in there so I can check the feeds.” Amy pushed her chair out of the way but made no move to stand.

Stacie could see that Chloe almost asked for the chair and decided against it. Instead she just stood in front of the console and looked back at Stacie. “After yoga class?” She clicked a button and the front entrance camera filled the center, and biggest, monitor.

“Yeah, after my shower.” Stacie scowled at the screen as Chloe turned a dial and the image began to run backward.

“You were naked with someone in the shower?” Amy asked teasingly from behind them. “I didn’t think Chloe allowed that kind of –”

“No!” Stacie cut her off and crossed her arms. “I did not have anyone in my cubicle with me.”

“Pity.”

“Found it!” Chloe suddenly said and Stacie’s eyes darted back to the monitor, now paused on the image of the uptight blonde kneeling by Stacie’s bike, chain through Stacie’s front tire. “Oh…”

Stacie turned sharply. “Oh?” Chloe’s tone had been somewhere between surprised and amused and it caught her attention.

Chloe chewed on her lower lip and Stacie couldn’t tell if it was in worry or to hide a grin. “That’s Aubrey.”

Bemused despite the slight renewal of her anger, Stacie half grinned at her friend. “Seriously, do you know everyone?”

‘Aubrey.’ Stacie rolled it over in her mind. ‘Why does that name sound familiar?’

“A good business owner is friendly and gets to know their clientele, Stacie.” Chloe said absently, her eyes still on the monitor as she let it run forward again. “But…”

It finally clicked and Stacie snapped her fingers, making both Chloe and Amy jump. “That’s her!” She pointed an accusing finger at Chloe. “That’s the hottie from spin class, isn’t it?” She frowned. “Wait, she rides her bike here, takes a spin class and then rides home or whatever? Isn’t that… overkill? She’s clearly even more insane than I thought.” She looked back at the screen. “Maybe her broom is in the shop.” Her eyes narrowed on the hand that had just lifted from the bell; even though there was no sound Stacie could still hear it ringing. “I’m going to steal that fucking bell.”

Without looking Chloe lightly poked her in the stomach. “Well, yes. That’s… her.” Chloe looked up at Stacie. “I’ve never heard her having any sort of altercation with anyone before.” She faced the desk and turned the dial, the image once more going in reverse.

“Gee, my lucky day.” Stacie resisted the urge to pace again.

“What’s the matter, you fancy her?” Amy said as she twisted lightly back and forth in the chair.

“I fancy strangling her.” Stacie muttered.

“Didn’t know you were into the kinky stuff.” Amy whistled appreciatively. “I now see you in a whole new light.”

“I don’t… that’s not…” Stacie stared at her. “I didn’t say that.”

“You’re also not actually saying you’re not.” Amy nodded. “But I get it, you’re embarrassed. You shouldn’t be. We like what we like.” She tilted her head and Stacie began to wonder if she was dreaming. “Though, if Chloe likes the blonde, I don’t know if you should go poaching.” She put her hand to the side of her mouth and whispered, “At least not when she’s around to see you do it.”

Stacie’s mouth worked but all she could come up with was “I would never go after someone Chloe likes.”

“Tyler Winston.” Chloe paused the feed again as she turned and leaned her hip against the security desk, a smirk on her lips.

“He doesn’t count,” Stacie said indignantly. “I had just moved to town and had no idea you had your baby blues on him!” She put her hands on her hips. “We weren’t even friends then!”

Chloe tilted her head from side to side, considering. “Alright. That’s fair.”

“See? I would nev–”

“Kasie Carson.” Chloe cut her off.

“C’mon, Chlo.” Stacie groaned. “She was hot and I was a hormonal teenager.”

“Like that’s any different now.” Chloe turned to Amy. “Kasie was one of the members of our high school dance team. She transferred in from another school – by that time Stacie and I had moved past Tyler and had become best friends – and she was raven haired and gorgeous.”

“Did you ever smash that?” The Australian looked between them.

“No.” Chloe said and Stacie echoed it.

“No, because after Tyler we made a pact not to go after anyone we both liked.” Stacie threw her hands in the air. “Which I have never done, as you well know.”

“So you guys have been friends for a while then?” Amy leaned back in her chair.

“Oh, totes.” Chloe grinned at her. “Since seventh grade. In high school we were inseparable; we took the same classes, the same extra-curricular activities.”

“Like dance team.” Amy nodded slowly, looking between them. “I see.” Stacie knew there was more she wanted to say when her lips pursed.

“Any time we had competitions away we always shared a dinky hotel room.” Stacie offered, more to see where Amy would go with it though she was pretty sure she had an idea.

“So you slept in the same bed.” Amy nodded sagely. “I see,” she said again, one eyebrow arching up.

“Yeah.” Chloe nodded back at her then frowned. “Not sexually.” Stacie waited, knowing it was coming. “Well, there was that one time.” Chloe turned and winked at her.

Stacie shrugged but smiled back. They’d decided to see if there was anything more between them and while the night had been... amazing… they’d both decided they worked better as friends. Nothing had changed between them; if anything it had deepened their friendship.

And, okay, maybe they’d had a handful of such encounters over the years when they were single and the mood struck them, but that certainly wasn’t any of Amy’s business. They had fun together but neither of them had ever talked about it being anything more. She supposed she ought to examine that one day, but for now it was enough that she knew the two of them would always be together even if they weren’t together.  

“But now tall, dark and gorgeous wants your spin class hottie.” Amy interrupted her thoughts as Chloe turned back to the controls.

“Yes.” Chloe said over her shoulder, still grinning.

“No.” Stacie said over her, with enforced patience. “I am not asking out the crazy lady!”

“Then why are we looking into the footage?” Amy asked, almost reasonably. “And why is she crazy?”

“Because she locked my bike to the rack with her chain.” It didn’t get any less surreal the more she said it. “I need the bolt cutters, by the way.”

Amy jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “In the closet.” She moved to push herself up but Stacie waved her down.

“I got it, no big.” She moved to the door and opened the closet, digging around until she found the heavy duty cutters.

“And here is the first encounter. This oughta be interesting.” Chloe resumed playback on the video and zoomed as much as the system would let her. “Boy, she does look pissed.”

“She sounded it too.” Stacie studied the screen, the image clearer than she would’ve expected.

“You could you know.” Chloe said absently and Stacie turned her attention away from the monitor as their encounter continued.

“Could what? Press charges?” While she was still pissed, Stacie was over the worst of it. “Nah. It’d cost more than it’d be worth.”

“No,” Chloe turned to face her. “Ask her out.”

“I don’t want to ask her out,” Stacie said, waving the hand not holding the bolt cutters.

“You know nothing ever happened between Aubrey and me. And I’m not an insecure teenager anymore. It never happened. Or she wasn’t interested.”

“Because you never asked her out,” Stacie countered. “Anyone with eyes is interested in you, Chlo.”

“Timing.” Chloe shrugged. “Never seemed right.” Chloe had first mentioned Aubrey a year ago and Stacie kept waiting for the details of their first date but it had never happened. Chloe hadn’t wanted to seem like she was hitting on the clientele and Stacie couldn’t believe Aubrey hadn’t asked her out. Of course now that she knew Aubrey was crazy it made more sense and she figured Chloe had dodged a bullet.

“Excuse me.” Amy interjected and they both turned to look at her but she was watching the screen. “But what did you say to her right then?”

Chloe ran the footage back, both of them having tuned it out while they talked. “Oh. No, I was wrong before. Now she looks pissed.”

Stacie thought for a second and then laughed. “I told her she should try yoga, it might help her unclench.”

“Oh, Stretch.” Amy shook her head. “That’s not how you woo a woman.”

“I WASN’T TRYING TO WOO HER!” Stacie yelled.

“Alright, alright.” Amy patted the air. “Don’t get your knickers in a twist, jeeze.”

“Stacie,” Chloe pulled her attention back. “Then what did you say to her?”

“I said…” Stacie stopped abruptly as her words came back. “Nothing. Why?”

“Because whatever it was, I’m shocked you’re not dead from the glare she just gave you.” Chloe paused the footage and smirked at her. “So?”

“Yeah, spill.” Amy joined in.

Stacie tried to shrug nonchalantly. “That she’d be cuter if her face wasn’t pinched.” There was no way she was giving them the rest of it. She didn’t even know why she’d said it – except it was true. Somehow the way the other woman – Aubrey’s – nostrils had flared the angrier she got was… cute. And, now that she wasn’t being yelled at, Stacie could admit Aubrey was an attractive woman; toned arms and legs, glossy blonde hair, exactly the kind of woman that Stacie – and Chloe – would be attracted to.

Except she was also just nuttier than a fruitcake.

“She is cute.” Amy agreed. “When are you going to ask her out?”

“Oh my god.” Stacie covered her face with her free hand. “Never.”

“You should.”

Stacie’s head snapped up at Chloe’s words. “Are you kidding me? Not only is she insane, she obviously hates me and will probably pop my tire if I’m ever in ‘her spot’ again.”

“You started assigning spots to the bike rack?” Amy pointed at Chloe. “I hope you don’t expect me to police that – it wasn’t part of my job requirement when I signed on.”

“I didn’t assign spots, Amy. It’s a long story.” Chloe held up her hand to stop Amy from speaking. “I’ll tell you later.”

“I’ll hold you to that. I don’t get nearly enough gossip.” Amy sighed. “It’s horrible being stuck in this room all day.”

“Amy.” Chloe shook her head. “You go hang out with Emily at the front desk all the time. All you two do is gossip.” She pressed another button and the monitors reset to live feeds.

“She’s good company.” Amy paused. “And really easy to tease.”

“You be nice to my cousin,” Stacie warned. “I don’t wanna have to kick your ass.”

“Yeah yeah.” Amy waved away the threat.

“C’mon, let’s go get your bike out of bondage.” Chloe put her hands on Stacie’s shoulders and turned her around.

Stacie just groaned as she let herself be led from the room and back through the halls until they reached the lobby and passed back outside into the late afternoon sun. “I still can’t believe this is a thing that happened.”

“You did seem to make a lasting impression on her,” Chloe said as she crouched and gave the chain a tug. “That’s a pretty heavy duty one too; probably cost her a pretty penny.” She tugged again. “It might take the two of us to cut it.”

“Think the lock would be easier?” Stacie ignored the looks they were getting from other people going in and out of the building.

“Nah. Locks are always worse.” Chloe stood back up. “Alright, let’s get it done.”

Between the two of them they were able to get enough force to cut through the chain though at one point Stacie thought they might have to go get Amy to help.

“Freedom!” Chloe yelled as the metal finally gave way.

“Thank god,” Stacie panted as she straightened up, stretching out her back. “Hunching over like that was starting to hurt.”

“Are you getting old?” Chloe shoulder bumped her.

“I’m younger than you,” Stacie replied automatically as she hefted the cut chain in her hands.

“Gimme, I’ll chuck it in the dumpster out back.” Chloe held out her hand and Stacie dropped the chain into it.

“Thanks. I’ll return the cutters to Amy.” Stacie lifted the tool to rest on her shoulder. “Thanks for the help, Chlo.”

“That’s what best friends are for.” Chloe said as they walked back inside, waving at Emily at the counter.

“And you’re the best.” Stacie paused outside Amy’s room. “But I am not asking out your hottie.”

“Notice I didn’t bring it up this time.” Chloe kept walking down the hall but turned to walk backwards, smug grin firmly in place. “You know – with all the denials… you haven’t actually said you weren’t interested…”

Stacie opened her mouth, firmly intending to unequivocally put an end to it once and for all, but what she said was, “Stop trying to set me up with crazy, Chlo.” She frowned at herself.

Chloe’s grin widened slowly like the Cheshire Cat. “Oh, Stace. You don’t even see it.” Before Stacie could ask her what the hell she was talking about, Chloe turned with a laugh and headed toward the back of the building, the chain swinging lightly from her hand.

With an annoyed grunt at her departing friend, Stacie knocked on the security room door. “Ames, it’s me. Returning the bolt cutters.” After a moment the door opened a crack and Amy peered out at her for a moment before opening the door all the way.

“Got yourself out of bondage then?” Amy grinned at her and took the bolt cutters Stacie held out.

“I should’ve expected that,” Stacie shook her head. “Yes, thanks for your concern.”

“Any time.” Amy hefted the cutters. “If you piss off any more women who are into chains…” She wiggled her eyebrows. “I want all the dirty details.”

“That’s…” Stacie sighed. “Goodbye, Amy.”  She turned to go and caught sight of the binder sitting open on the desk. “You decided to give it a go?”

“Yeah.” Amy looked over her shoulder and then back at Stacie. “There’s some footage of me and my man in the shower after hours last week that maybe I don’t want the boss to see now that I know it records.” She shrugged. “Not that I’m ashamed, but she might not understand.”

By sheer force of will Stacie kept herself from laughing. “Nope, I get it. It’s doing her a favor, really.”

“Exactly!” Amy stepped back and started closing the door. “I knew you would understand, what with the whole chains thing and all.”

“Right.” Stacie turned and paused as a thought came to her. “But… there are no cameras in the showers or locker room?”

“We may not have stayed in the shower the whole time…” Amy pursed her lips. “Sometimes passion cannot be contained to one room.”

“Right…” Stacie said again, nodding slowly and firmly telling herself not to allow that image to form. She’d met Bumper and she’d never be able to look at either of them the same way again. She backed away from the door with a final wave. “See you later.”

As she reached the lobby, she paused by the counter. “Still on for dinner tomorrow?”

Emily looked up from the schedule she was putting together. “Yup. You still cooking?”

“I suppose it’s my turn.” Stacie pursed her lips. “Does pizza count as cooking if it’s DiGiorno?”

Emily’s head tilted from side to side as she thought. “It kind of sounds like cheating, but since you’ll let me throw whatever I want on it, sure.”

“Deal.” Stacie nodded. “Tomorrow then.”

“Later,” Emily said as she turned back to her chart.

Trying not to think too much about the last time she’d gone through this process, Stacie unchained her bike and stowed the chain and lock. She put in her earbuds, started up her favorite playlist and did her very best to not think about Aubrey and the whole ridiculous encounter. It was a fluke, it’s not like they’d crossed paths before and she probably wouldn’t see Aubrey again.

Except that every time she stopped actively thinking about anything else the rest of her night, she found her mind circling back to one very angry blonde staring her down.

By the time she woke up the next day, the encounter was far enough removed that she only thought of it in passing, mostly when she was riding her bike to and from work. And even then it wasn’t for very long and was nothing more than a mental snort of derision.

Until, that is, Emily came over for dinner. Then her cousin grilled her on what had happened the day before, since she’d seen some of it through the glass doors.

“So are you asking her out?” Emily asked curiously as she dried the last of the dishes.

“Oh. My. God.” Stacie dropped onto her couch, being careful not to spill her wine. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

“Because she’s pretty.” Emily followed her into the living room and sat down with one leg drawn underneath her so she could face Stacie. “And she’s really nice.”

“She chained my bike to the rack. There is nothing nice about that.” Stacie took a bracing drink. “She’s crazy.”

“No, she’s not.” Emily insisted. “She always tells me hello when she comes in and goodbye when she leaves. Flo loves her in class because she’s so energetic and friendly.” Emily poked Stacie in the knee. “So you should definitely think about asking her out. You’ve been alone too long.”

“I’m not alone,” Stacie countered automatically. “You’re here. I got Chlo…”

“You haven’t dated in months.” Emily raised one brow. “You never not date.”

“Eh.” Stacie shrugged. “I got tired of the same type of people. No one is ever interested in more than just my boobs.”

“Gross.” Emily’s nose wrinkled.

“Exactly.” Stacie shrugged. “And while that was fine in college, it doesn’t have the same thrill that it used to.”

“Aw, are you finally maturing?” Emily ducked when Stacie tried to flick her in the nose. “Hey, no cousin on cousin violence.” Eyeing Stacie warily, she leaned her shoulder against the couch. “Seriously though… I don’t like to see you alone.”

“I’m okay, really.” Stacie smiled at her. “Thanks for the concern though.”

“Since you won’t date Chloe – who I still say would be good for you – then you’re going to have to start branching out of your comfort zone.” Emily nodded sagely.

“Crazy should be outside of everyone’s comfort zone. And Chloe and I… that just seems weird after all these years.” Stacie shrugged. “I love her, of course, but I don’t know that I’m in love with her.”

“That’s not a good enough reason to not date and figure it out, but I get it.” Emily half shrugged. “And, seriously, you could do worse than Aubrey.” She sat back up, her expression earnest. “And I’m not saying you have to ask her to marry you, just coffee! Sit down and talk!”

“I’d be too afraid that she’d chain me to my chair.” Stacie paused, one corner of her mouth twitching into a grin as she tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Although…”

“Ew, gross. No more putting the sex thoughts in my head.” Emily shook her head rapidly. “I take it back.”

“I thought so.” Stacie took another drink of her wine and gestured at the bookcase. “Go pick a movie, Nerd.”

“Just for that, I’m goin’ with a sappy romance to put you in the mood,” Emily threatened as she pushed herself off the couch. “And you’re not going to fall asleep this time.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Stacie got up as well. “Then I’m getting the bottle.” She paused in the entryway to the kitchen. “Besides, I’m probably not going to see her again. We’ve gone this long without passing each other, so you and Chlo need to just stop the match making.”

“Ooh, Chloe’s on board too?” Emily spun to face her, eyes sparkling with glee. “Excellent.”

“Make that two bottles.” Stacie walked into the kitchen.

~*~

A week and a half later Stacie rode to the studio for her yoga class.

As she hopped off to park her bike in the closest rack, her eyes flicked to the one that had been the scene of so much chaos. It had become a habit every day she was there, though she wasn’t sure why. She froze in the act of unwrapping her chain from the bike frame.

Sitting in ‘her spot’ was Aubrey’s red bike. Stacie knew it was hers because no one else in town had a stupid bell on their bike. The second she laid eyes on it she had the echo of its ring go through her head. She eyed it narrowly, noting that it wouldn’t require any sort of tool to remove.

Locking her bike to the rack she made her way inside, ignoring the way Emily waved at her excitedly and gave her a thumbs up with an overly exaggerated wink.

“Guess who is here?” She stage whispered the second Stacie was close enough.

“I don’t care.” Stacie walked past the desk toward her class. “Bye Emily.”

“But…” Emily said behind her but stopped when Stacie kept walking. “Spoil sport.”

‘If it’s still here when I leave, I’m going to steal that fucking bell.’

Feeling slightly better with a retaliation plan in place, even if it felt extremely petty, Stacie went to her locker to get her yoga mat.

[rulesofthebeneath]

how bout a dance: part 13

<AN> Me? Stop doing Saturday updates of hbad just to start them again when they’re least expected? Of course!!

I don’t think even I saw this coming when I first had the idea for a future!ajay x mc AU about a month and a half ago. And 103 pages, 35990 words, and 43 days later... wow. This is it. I’m really tearing up, honestly.

You guys have been so amazingly supportive of this, and I couldn’t be more grateful! This, the thirteenth and final chapter, is dedicated to everyone who read, liked, replied to or reblogged any part of this fic. You guys are my lifeblood, thank you so much for reading.

Before I do the tag list and finally get this show on the road, I wanted to share this comment I left on the fic the second I finished drafting chapter 13. It’s... absolutely me.

Anyways. Thank you.

also gonna warn again for references to explicit activity and like hella suggestion, but as always nothing explicit. </AN>

Tagging: @pixelburied @itsbrindleybinch @witchiegirl @ajaysbhandari @catlady0911 @lilmissperfectlyimperfect @ylevolenahs @awkwardalbatros @ravenclawpokegirl25 @aidenzhous @hufflepvnk @lorosette

Grace woke up Monday morning to sunlight streaming through the windows into the peach-colored room and a pillow pressed up against her back. She groaned and rolled over, stretching out, and finding the other side of the bed empty.

She was disappointed until she heard conversation and laughing from the other side of the door and a delicious smell wafting in. Grace was hungry. She popped her back, then sank her toes into the soft carpet. After pushing herself up she rummaged through her bag, grabbing a sports bra and a pair of shorts to wear with the t-shirt she’d slept in. She brought the collar up to her nose and sniffed–it smelled just like him, a soapy smell with a little mint. She quickly put the clothes on, then opened the door to Ajay’s bedroom.

She leaned against the door frame for a moment, a soft smile crossing her face as she looked out into the kitchen. He was there, stirring something in a saucepan while his roommate (his name was Jake, Grace dimly recalled) sat at the breakfast bar nursing a large cup of coffee. A timer went off somewhere in the kitchen.

“Dammit, I almost forgot about the muffins,” she heard Ajay say. “Jake, could you please–”

“I’m on it.” As Jake was getting off his stool, he turned and noticed Grace.

“Hey, Grace!” he called over with a smile as he walked around to the oven. Ajay whipped his head around, his face lighting up when he saw her.

“Good morning, sleepyhead.”

Grace pushed herself off the door frame and walked over. Jake, having gotten the english muffins out of the oven, gave a huge yawn as he walked over to Grace.

“Sleep well? I didn’t,” he smirked, holding out a hand for her to shake. She turned scarlet, instantly realizing what he meant.

“Jake, stop being a dick,” Ajay called from the kitchen. Grace tentatively took Jake’s hand, opening her mouth to apologize when he shook his head.

“Don’t worry about it. Really.” Then Jake turned back to the breakfast bar, climbing back on his stool. Grace made her way over to Ajay, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind while he waited for the poached eggs to finish cooking. He turned his head to kiss her on the forehead.

“Grace, this fool is bringing someone home at least once a week. I guarantee you he didn’t care.”

Still red, Grace buried her face between Ajay’s shoulder blades, taking the moment to breathe in the smell of his t-shirt. But she dropped the subject.

“What are you making?” she asked in a voice still a little rough from just waking up.

“Eggs benedict,” he said proudly. “I’ve been working on the hollandaise sauce for days.”

“Aw, all this for me?”

“No, for me too. And for Jake, because apparently he thinks he can come out here, make fun of me, and still get free breakfast.”

“It’s true, though! You’re literally making enough for three.”

“I’ll throw this plate at your head,” Ajay joked, not even turning to look at him. Ajay made a move towards a slotted spoon on the counter, so Grace released him and went over to sit at the breakfast bar.

“So. Jake. I want to know all his embarrassing stories,” Grace said. Jake took another long sip of his coffee and rubbed at his eyes.

“Well, most of what he’s done lately has been talking nonstop about you,” Jake grinned.

“Jake!” Ajay yelled, nearly dropping an egg back into the pan. Jake just laughed, and Grace joined in.

“Oh, that reminds me,” Jake said, patting the counter, “Why were you guys laughing last night? Ajay, did you-?”

“Okay, we are definitely not talking about this,” Ajay said hurriedly, cutting him off. Grace blushed again, but smiled apologetically when he set a plate down in front of her. She eagerly dug in to the eggs benedict, finding the hollandaise sauce to be a perfect compliment to the egg, canadian bacon, and english muffin.

“This tastes amazing! I could get used to this.”

“Anything for you. Coffee?” Ajay asked.

“Ooh, yes please. Two sugars and a little milk.”

“Coming right up.”

“Hey I’ll take another cup, black,” Jake piped up. Ajay glared at him as he set Grace’s mug down in front of her.

“Get it yourself.”

Jake, hands up in surrender, walked around to the coffee machine. Ajay finished serving up the eggs, then took a seat across from Grace. Once she’d finished a bite, he pulled her in for a kiss. Then he tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

“How are you doing?” he asked quietly.

“Amazingly,” she replied, picking his hand up and kissing the back. Ajay was about to kiss her again when Jake settled back on his stool, fresh cup of coffee in hand.

“So, Grace,” Jake said, “Tell me about yourself! Ajay’s told me a lot, but that’s mostly been about your talent or how amazing you are.” Ajay turned red, burying his face in his hands and groaning. “I want to know something with more substance.”

“Well, um, what do you want to know?”

He paused, possibly thinking over possible questions. “What’s your favorite thing to do on a free weeknight?”

Grace tilted her head, considering the question. “I’d have to say watch movies. I have all these movies, old and new stuff I got from thrift stores, and I’ve been slowly working my way through them.”

Jake’s face lit up. “Oh, you like movies? That’s awesome. Ajay, you didn’t tell me she was this cool!”

“Pretty sure I did,” Ajay retorted, then turned to Grace. “He’s an indie film editor,” he explained.

Jake checked his watch and cursed, getting up. “Speaking of which, I have to go. I’m almost late and it’s your fault.”

“Payback!” Ajay yelled at his retreating back. Then he turned back to Grace.

“Sorry about him.”

“I’m embarrassed!” Grace wailed, putting her hands in front of her face. Ajay tugged her wrists away.

“Don’t be. He’s literally done that exact same thing to me over and over. He doesn’t care, he just likes to tease.”

“If you insist…”

Ajay grinned at her and sat back, finishing up his breakfast. “You like the eggs?”

“Loved them,” Grace replied. “The sauce was perfect and the muffins were even better. I’m lucky to have snapped you up, with all these baking skills. I thought your cooking was like a dream in high school, I didn’t know they could get better.”

“Oh, I did a summer abroad in Paris during college and took a few classes there. I still can’t even compare to the experts. But thank you, I’m glad you’re happy.”

“Ajay, you know I’d be happy here if you made me a bowl of cereal. You make me happy, the delicious food is just a plus.”

He shook his head and beamed at her. “How did I get lucky enough to get a second chance with you?”

“We’re both lucky.” Grace leaned in to kiss him, but jumped back when Jake bustled through the apartment, a briefcase over his shoulder.

“See you guys.”

“Bye!” Ajay called, then stood up to shut the door behind him and swept Grace up into a bruising kiss, running his hands down her sides.

“I thought he’d never leave,” he whispered, making her giggle. He kissed her deeply, then pulled back.

“So, we’ve got about four hours until we have to be at strike. Did you want to go home, or do you want to stay here?”

“I’ll stay here. It’s closer to the theatre. And also that means I get to spend more time with my boyfriend, so it’s a win-win.”

“Great,” he smiled. “Anything in particular you want to do?”

“Do you have Netflix?”

“Yep!”

“Then let’s watch a movie and cuddle.” Grace decided.

“Sounds great to me! Which movie?”

“Ooh, what about Hairspray?”

“You have good taste. I’ll get it cued up, you grab some blankets from my bed.”

A few hours later, Grace and Ajay watched the credits scroll across the scene. Ajay’s arm was still around her, her legs thrown across his lap.

“Every time I watch that movie I remember why it’s my favorite,” Grace sighed. Ajay laughed at her gently, then pulled his arm back. She took her legs off his lap, turning to face him.

“Okay, now we’ve got one hour before strike. And I actually thought of something I wanted to do,” he said, gently taking her hand.

Grace wiggled her eyebrows at him.

“No! I mean, yes, but I actually wanted to say something.”

“Alright, go for it,” Grace said, taking in his serious expression. “Everything okay?”

“Of course. I just need to say something, in the interest of complete honesty between us.”

“Spit it out,” Grace said, growing concerned. He didn’t make eye contact, instead staring at their linked hands.

“Okay. So,” he huffed, “I don’t know if I should qualify it by saying ‘again’ or ‘still’, but…” he trailed off, seemingly losing his nerve. She tightened her grip on his hand, trying to offer him support. But it was hard to support him when she had no idea what was going to come out of his mouth next. He took in a deep, shuddering breath and finally met her eyes.

“Grace, I love you.”

She let the words resonate around the small apartment, her grip on his hands slackening and her eyes widening. He looked like he wanted badly to take it back, but they both knew he couldn’t.

“I- Ajay,” Grace started, then stopped suddenly. It was as if her entire brain had switched off when he’d said those words. Her heart started beating faster, like it was making up for her head’s inactivity.

He squeezed her hand, looking a little sad but still smiling. She looked away, still trying desperately to figure out how she felt about it.

“You don’t have to say it back, I know it’s really soon and we’ve both been through a lot, but I had to say it. I don’t know if it’s because of the friendship we rebuilt over the course of the show, or if it’s because we rekindled something, but that’s how I feel. And I won’t say it anymore until you’re comfortable with it. But I needed to tell you.”

He kept rambling, but Grace didn’t register any of the words he said past that. Tears pricked in her eyes, and her brain was finally startled back into action. Between the tears and the pounding in her chest, Grace figured out exactly how she was feeling.

“I love you too,” she said suddenly, cutting him off. She finally looked back at him, lacing their fingers back together. “I love you too.”

She watched as the realization spread across his face, a hesitant smile forming there.

“You love me?” he asked, voice shaky.

“I love you,” she replied, and found it to be the truest, rawest feeling in her head. “It’s not too soon. Between our friendship, our previous relationship and all the emotions of last night, I… it’s not too soon. It’s the perfect time. I love you again, and I love you still.”

They sat and stared at each other for a moment, lost in a universe all their own. She watched as he went from near disbelief to shock to pure love, something that she’d seen in his eyes before but never quite this much. He pulled her to him and captured her lips in a passionate kiss, holding her tightly against him. When they separated, he pulled her into a hug, pressing his face into her shoulder.

“I love you,” he whispered to her, repeating it over and over. She leaned back to kiss his forehead and to cup his face.

“I love you too.”

[pipermca]

In a Fairy Tale

This is the first of two short stories that eventually became the kernel of The Renegade and the Hound’s AU. If you’ve read that story, you might recognize this bit from Chapter 2.

Bluestreak stilled his ventilations as he watched the herd move into the crystal grove. The torbuk were calm, barely even looking around. They’d grown fat and complacent in the King’s reserve, so Bluestreak was able to take his time to select his target.

There... That large one, near the front of the herd. Bluestreak figured it might be the herd’s alpha. It looked healthy and strong, and would bring a nice price at the market.

He sighted down his rifle carefully, and then pulled his finger back once on the trigger.

The herd scrambled back at the sharp crack of the rifle, and the alpha fell where it had stood. Bluestreak smiled as he climbed to his pedes and walked towards the fallen beast. It was a good, clean kill.

When he reached the deactivated mechanimal, Bluestreak quickly turned the beast’s helm to the side, and pulled a knife and a large container out of his compartments. Slicing into the main fuel line at its throat, he began draining the torbuk’s energon into the container before the fuel could curdle in its lines. He watched as the energon poured out of the beast. It was clear and clean, and would keep him fueled for a good while.

As he waited for the lines to drain completely, he looked around him warily. The herd had moved back a bit, but a few members were staring at him placidly. “It’s all right,” he murmured to the closest one. “Don’t be afraid. I can only carry back one of you.”

The nearest torbuk blinked its optics at him, then lowered its helm to the ground and began grazing on the glade’s short crystals again.

Bluestreak scanned the grove and saw no other movement. He fluttered his door wings, pleased with himself. His observations of the guards’ movements had come in handy. There wasn’t a patrol due here for another few hours, so he had plenty of time to finish the job and escape with his prize. He wouldn’t even need to use any of the countermeasures he’d purchased.

His kill had been a large beast, so he needed a second container to fully drain it of fuel. Finally, the stream of energon from its throat became a dribble. He carefully closed both containers and placed them back into his compartments. Pulling out a length of wire, he began binding the torbuk’s front and rear legs so it could be carried more easily.

“In the name of the King, you are under arrest for poaching. Put your hands where I can see them.”

Bluestreak froze, then slowly lifted his hands into the air next to his helm. Scrap! He had been so absorbed in preparing his kill for transport that his attention had wandered away from watching for movement around him. He flared his door wings, and realized there was a mech standing behind him, rather close. Clever... The guard had used the herd as cover, hiding his own field in with the dozen or so torbuk milling around the tall crystals.

“Good day to you,” Bluestreak said, still not turning around. “I am certain there has just been a small misunderstanding. May I stand so we can resolve it?”

“Stand up and turn around... Slowly. Keep your hands up.”

Bluestreak stood and turned around as carefully as he could, pinning a disarming smile on his face plates. The guard was a boxy green mech, and was levelling a rifle at him. Bluestreak was amazed at how close the mech had gotten to him without being noticed; he could almost reach out and touch him. He took note of the Royal Rangers emblems on the mech’s shoulder armor. So, he wasn’t just a guard, then. That explained why he was wandering around the forest outside of the usual guard patrols.

“As I was saying,” Bluestreak said, inclining his door wings towards the green mech, “I’m sure there’s just been a misunderstanding. I have permission from the King’s Master of the Hunt to take down this specific torbuk.” He flicked the fingers on one hand at the motionless frame on the ground. “The poor mechanimal had symptoms of gear rot, and His Honour wanted me to dispose of the beast to ensure it did not infect the rest of the herd.”

The green mech frowned, and his optics flicked once at the torbuk before returning to Bluestreak. “I have not heard anything about gear rot in the King’s herds. I don’t believe you.”

Bluestreak shrugged and tilted his helm. “Well... Err, what did you say your designation was?” he asked.

“I didn’t.” The Ranger’s tone was flat.

Letting another small smile light on his lips, Bluestreak carried on. “Fine. Well, Sir Ranger, I have a token from the Master of the Hunt as proof of what I am saying. If you would let me get it out of my compartments...?”

The Ranger paused to consider this. Bluestreak saw the mech’s grip loosen just slightly on his rifle as he glanced back down at the torbuk’s frame.

Taking advantage of the mech’s hesitation, Bluestreak added, “This torbuk should be removed from the grove as quickly as possible. The longer it lies here, the more chance there is it will transmit the rot to the rest of the herd.” He turned himself slightly to one side, presenting his right side towards Ranger. “His Honour’s token is in my right chest compartment if you’d rather retrieve it yourself.”

His optics flicking back up to Bluestreak’s face, the green mech growled, “No, you pull it out. Slowly, and keep your other hand in the air.”

“Of course,” Bluestreak said, smiling. He opened his compartment and pulled out a small bag, cinched at the top with a wire. He held it out to the Ranger. “I’m afraid it’s tied rather tightly... You’ll probably need both hands to open it.”

“You open it,” the Ranger said, firming his grip on his rifle.

Nodding once, Bluestreak slowly brought his other hand down and untwisted the wire. He reached into the bag and sunk his fingers into the fine sand inside. Tilting the opening of the bag towards the green mech, he said, “His Honour was very adamant that he did not want the rot infecting the rest of the King’s herd, and –“

With a sudden movement, Bluestreak flung a handful of the sand in the green mech’s face.

The Ranger shouted in surprise, a hand coming off his rifle too late to protect his optics. The sand flew into his vents and across his face, and he staggered back a step.

“Sorry about that,” Bluestreak said sincerely as he watched the Ranger lower his rifle and slowly scrub at his optics. He really hadn’t wanted to use any of his countermeasures, and he had nothing against this poor mech who was just doing his job, but he could not risk getting arrested. Bluestreak watched for another few seconds as the rifle fell from the Ranger’s fingers and his movements became slow.

Confident that the dust he’d purchased from the ancient vendor at the bazaar had worked, Bluestreak put away the bag of sand, knelt, and finished wiring the dead torbuk’s legs together. “Don’t worry… you won’t be permanently damaged. You’ll fall into recharge soon, and will probably only be offline for an hour or so. I’m afraid you’re going to wake up with an incredible helm ache, though.” Bluestreak finished tying the torbuck’s legs and stood, slinging its frame around his shoulders. “No hard feelings, right?” He looked up at the green mech.

But the Ranger was not falling into recharge as he expected. The green mech was staring at Bluestreak, a deep frown creasing his brow. “You…” he croaked, taking a step towards Bluestreak.

Scrap. Scrap! The vendor said that the dust would take effect immediately! The mech should have been on the ground in recharge already! Bluestreak took a step backwards, holding up a hand. “Take a deep vent, Sir Ranger,” he said. “Like I said... Maybe there was a misunderstanding?” And maybe he’d be going back to that vendor to demand his shanix back... If, that is, he could get out of this.

The green mech cycled his optics and tilted his helm. A wide smile formed on his lips. “You’re... beautiful...” he murmured, taking a step towards Bluestreak.

“What?” Bluestreak’s door wings flared in confusion. He took another step backwards. “I mean... Thank you, but… What?”

The Ranger gazed at Bluestreak like he was starving, and Bluestreak was a cube of the finest fuel in the kingdom. “I’ve never seen another mech as gorgeous as you,” he said, holding out a hand imploringly to Bluestreak. “Please... Let me... Let me touch you. Just once. Let me touch your... perfection. Please?”

Taking another step backwards, Bluestreak stumbled over a rock and lost his footing. He felt onto his aft with a yelp, and dropped the torbuk carcass. The Ranger was on him in a moment, and Bluestreak rolled away, jumping to his pedes and snatching up his prize kill. “Yes, this has been quite the misunderstanding! I’m just going to go now, Sir Ranger, so please just – uh...”

“My name is Hound,” said Ranger, still stretching a hand out as if to brush it against Bluestreak’s face.

Bluestreak stumbled against another crystal as he backpedaled away from the green mech who walked inexorably towards him. “Going! Yes, I’m going now. Hound. Um... It was nice meeting you?” He turned and began sprinting through the crystals, desperately hoping to reach a space open enough for him to transform and drive away from this crazy mech. “Bye!” he called over his shoulder.

“I love you!” Hound cried, running just behind Bluestreak. Scrap, he was fast! “I cannot live without you! Please! Please, come back!”

With a lunge, Bluestreak burst out of the close-grown crystals of the grove and into a more sparsely-grown area. He transformed and pealed out, tires spinning on the loose gravel.

The green mech – Hound – had also transformed and was still close on his tail. Bluestreak swore to himself as he drove. As soon as he lost this poor mech he was going right back to the bazaar and demanding his shanix back from that vendor. He’d asked for recharge powder, not love powder!

Originally posted to Archive of Our Own as “In a Fairy Tale.”

[unavenged-robin]

For thine is the kingdom

The first time Damian wears the Nightwing uniform he’s eighteen, the same age Dick was when he decided that Robin was his past and not his future anymore.

Or, his children are growing up, and Dick's having a hard time accepting it. 

The basic idea for this AU is pretty much the original Morrison run with the addition of Dick and Kory being married and already having Mar’i when Damian came along in the picture. So when Bruce “died” and Dick replaced him as Batman, he and Kory just officially adopted Damian and raised him as their own, thank you very much. 

Two big inspirations I have to credit: Kingdom Come (...duh, I know, but I’ve recently reread it and god, I love it) and dar-draws amazing Dickkory+Damian&Mar’i fanarts

Written for Batfam Week, Day 5: Legacy

Read on AO3

The first time Damian wears the Nightwing uniform he’s eighteen, the same age Dick was when he decided that Robin was his past and not his future anymore. Dick tries not to make dangerous equations about the two of them and just pushes the thought aside. Damian’s not going through an identity crisis, he’s just filling in for a night per Dick’s own request.

Tonight he’s supposed to meet with one of his lead regarding a big case GCPD’s been working on for a year now, but a long and less than thrilling chase through the sewers has left him with a sprained ankle, and his source will not talk to anyone else but Nightwing. Damian found it funny and accepted right away to replace him, if only to spend the night teasing him about how old and slow Dick’s getting (and Dick swats him around the head and laughs with him at every joke, but deep down he does wonder. Five years ago, this wouldn’t have happened at all, and even if it had happen, it wouldn’t have prevented him from doing his job anyway.)

Now he sits on the couch in the sweatpants he uses as pyjamas, fidgeting with his crutch and waiting for Damian to step out his bedroom. He has already a joke on the tip of his tongue about Damian’s ass not being up to the part, but before the kid finishes changing, the front door opens with a bang and Mar’i comes running in the living room with a grin spreading all over her face.

“Is he still here?”, she asks Dick, then she makes her way into Damian’s room without waiting for the answer. “Damian! I want to see!”

“What- Get out!”, Damian shouts back. “Dick!”

“Oh c’mon, don’t be a prude!”, Mar’i teases him, and Dick can’t see them, but he hears the beginning of a scuffle and sighs.

“Mar’i, let him change in peace!”, Dick calls out after his daughter, but he’s kind of smiling at Damian’s outraged protests and Mar’i delighted laughs. Also, he has no intention of getting up for now, so they better sort it out on their own.

He hears the front door closing, and waits for Kory to join him on the couch. She promptly curls at his side, long legs tucked beneath her, and then she leans forwards to kiss him on the cheek to greet him.

“Big night, mh?”, she asks with a smile, mouth still so very close to his face, and Dick only needs to turn his head around to meet soft, warm lips, and kiss her again.

“It’s actually pretty chill”, he answers, smiling back at her. “Just a contact exchange with an old informer of mine, and then a follow-up with the police. Knowing Damian’s love for chit-chatting, it’s gonna be over in less than a hour.”

Kory hums and gives him an almost condescending look, the one that after years of marriage Dick’s learned to translate as a “I know you’re trying to be cute but it’s so not working, honey”.

“Not for him”, she points out for good measure. “For you.”

“Oh, c’mon”, Dick winces, sounding peculiarly just like his daughter. “Don’t make me feel even more like an old man.”

Kory smiles and cups his face with her hands.

“But I love my old man.”

“No honey, you see, you should’ve said something like but Dick, you are still young and awesome and as good looking as the day I meet you for the first time!”

“That’s not how my voice sounds like”, Kory laughs. “And you are still good looking, even if you now have grey hair.”

“I do not have grey hair”, Dick objects immediately. “I told you, it’s just the light’s reflection giving that impression.”

A loud giggle and an explosion of muffled hisses attract their attention and they both turn their heads towards the still half closed door.

“Kids, is everything alright?”, Kory asks.

“Mom, you’re going to have a heart-attack!”, Mar’i yells back, giggling again. “He just looks so much like Dad!”

“Why would that give her a heart-attack?”, Damian protests loudly. “She knows what I look like!”

“Yeah but look at that!”, a slap sound and another giggle follow the exclamation and Dick, strong from his fifteen years of experience in parenting, immediately recognizes the pattern of an imminent fight.

“Why don’t you both come out and let me decide if this is worth a cardiac arrest or not?”, Kory interjects, probably having detected the same threat.

Damian mutters about the ridiculousness of this whole thing and something else that sounds suspiciously like a “why does everything turn into a circus in this family”, but Mar’i, as usual, pays him no mind.

“Here we come! Be ready!”, she shouts cheerfully, and Damian’s sigh is more than audible even from the living room.

Dick and Kory obligingly stand up in all the seriousness they can muster as the door of Damian’s bedroom opens wide with another loud bang - and that reminds Dick that sooner or later he’ll need to have a little chat with Mar’i about this thing she has for flaring entrances and banging doors (something he’s been unjustly accused to have passed on her several times, by the way).

Mar’i steps out first, and with a pirouette that would make her aunt Cass very proud, she turns back and opens her arms to introduce the new Nightwing for the night.

“Ta-da!”

Damian gives her his best homicidal glare as he follows her into the living room.

“Stop embarrassing yourself, Mar’i”, he grumbles, crossing his arms on his chest, but by the soft brushes of pink on his cheeks, it’s not Mar’i the one being embarrassed by her stunts.

“Oh, sweetheart”, Kory literally cooes, once she gets a look at him. “You look so good!”

Damian’s blush intensifies visibly and he doesn’t even reproach her for the pet name. He does, however, turn towards Dick, obviously waiting for his opinion on the matter at hand. Dick, for his part, just stares at him for a long moment.

It’s one of his old costumes, the black and blue one with the fingerstrips, and Damian dons it pretty well, he has to admit. He’s still leaner than Dick was, but the muscles are all there, and the body suit was easy to adapt. He automatically reaches out to take both of Damian’s hands in his own, so to quickly inspect the gauntlets and their fully loaded compartments, checking all the basic equipment even if he already knows everything is going to be in order.

Damian stays unusually quiet and doesn’t protest the treatment (very much unlike his younger version when they were at the beginning of their run as the new Batman and Robin, Dick muses) and even Kory and Mar’i don’t interrupt the sudden weird gravity of the moment.

Once he’s finished with the gauntlets, Dick grabs Damian’s shoulder and gently spins him around to get a look at the eskrima clubs and their poaches, making sure the springs are working correctly. Satisfied by his inspection, Dick smiles and gives Damian a swift slap on the ass, making him jump forwards.

“Lookin’ all good here, ‘Wing”, he laughs, and so do the girls.

Damian turns around and punches him lightly in the middle of his chest, but he’s smiling too.

“Tt. Obviously”, he replies.

“Doesn’t he look just like Dad when he was young?”, Mar’i repeats, still obviously amazed by the resemblance.

“Hey!”, Dick protests, not-so-slightly offended. “I’m still young, thank you very much!”

“Oh no”, Kory answers at the same time, completely ignoring him, one hand now brushing Damian’s cheek. “He’s a lot more handsome than Dick ever was. If at that time I had to choose between the two of you, I would definitely choose you, Damian.”

“Hey!”, Dick shouts again.

“...Mom! Ew!”, Damian and Mar’i shout at the same time, and Kory laughs.

“Just being honest here.”

“Oh my god!”, Mar’i screams. “I just had an amazing idea!”

“I understand the excitement for such an uncommon occurrence”, Damian complains. “But can you stop screaming into my eardrum?”

Mar’i ignores him altogether and just smiles at all of them.

“Wait here.”

“I think it’s almost time to go, actually”, Damian says, looking at the clock hanging on the opposite wall.

“Oh nonononono, please wait. Wait here a moment”, Mar’i repeats, and she quickly disappears into her parents’ bedroom.

“Well, I guess we’ll wait then”, Dick decides, raising an eyebrow. “You need any help with the mask?”

Damian shrugs in that way that means not really, but he does hold out the domino mask when Dick makes grabby hands for it, and doesn’t complain when Dick starts to spread the glue on the edges.

“You’ll have to smile a lot, you know?”, Dick says colloquially while he works.

“I don’t really see why.”

“Because that’s Nightwing’s character. He’s a funny guy.”

Damian snorts.

“He only thinks he’s funny.”

“Smartass”, Dick replies while gesturing for him to stand still.

Damian’s hair is getting long, he notices, and remembers that both Bruce and Alfred keep grumbling about it. Usually Damian just shakes his head at them, ready to point at Dick and Tim anytime the issue is brought up out loud - there even was a really funny moment when Bruce tried to objected to that with a “maybe you should take example from Jason instead”, and everybody just looked at him for a solid thirty seconds before starting with the mockeries. To this day, Bruce is still paying for it.

Focussing back on his task, Dick carefully sweeps Damian’s long hair out of his eyes with one hand and fixes up the domino with the other, pushing his fingers along the hems to make sure of their adherence to the skin. He’s perfectly aware of Damian’s mindful gaze never leaving his face, but he doesn’t comment on it. Damian’s being more than compliant all night and he has no intention of looking a gift horse in the mouth.

When he steps back to admire the finished work, Dick’s almost taken aback by the multitude of feelings tightening his chest. Pride and worry, love and regret, hoping to be doing the right thing and wondering what the right thing really is, if there is even a right thing at all.

He also wonders if this is how Bruce felt the first time he saw Dick wearing the cape and the cowl. Wonders what would be the corresponding milestone of this moment if they were a normal family. Giving Damian the keys of his car to go to the prom? Watching him go to the college or coming back from it? It’s ridiculous, honestly. He feels ridiculous. And old. So very old.

“Is everything alright?”, Damian asks with a frown.

Dick blinks up at him.

“Yes Damian, I was just-”

“He’s just doing his old man thing, don’t worry, sweetheart”, Kory answers for him, oblivious to Dick’s offended glare.

“I’m not-”

“You shouldn’t stand on your ankle like that”, Damian scolds him. “Sit down.”

“Now listen, kid-”

There’s another bang and Mar’i steps in the living room again.

“Ta-da!”, she chants, arms up in the air, and they all turn to look at her.

Dick sits down.

He was so not ready for this.

“So, what do you think?”, Mar’i asks, pivoting in middle air.

Dick thinks he was not ready to see Mar’i wearing Kory’s old Starfire costume. At least, with Damian, he had time to prepare for the psychological impact. Now he’s just at loss of words.

Kory’s reaction is, as usual, a lot more on point than his, and Dick smiles at her surprised squeak, laughs when she flies to take their daughter’s hands in hers and they start spinning around just a few inches below the living room’s ceiling.

“You are beautiful, starshine”, Kory says. “Dick, look at her!”

“I am”, Dick assures her.

“...damn circus”, Damian mutters again, but there’s a smile in his voice, so Dick decides to let it pass.

“But look at this”, Mar’i adds, slipping away from Kory’s hold and flying to Damian’s side. “Nightwing and Starfire! Just like in your Titan’s days!”

“I see you’ve made a mission to embarrass both of us to death”, Damian answers, looking up at her with a mildly-annoyed glare.

“Shut up”, his sister promptly replies. “Dad, what you think?”

Not ready, is what Dick thinks for the third time, but he doesn’t say so. He clears his throat to gain some more time and carefully watches both of his kids standing close together. He tries to look past the fact that they look so much like little kids playing dress-up, and just focus on the effect they would do on anyone else.

Just like Damian, Mar’i is smaller than her mother was, but the costume fits her good enough anyway. Her long, black hair is the most distinctive difference he can spot, bu by any means, it’s quite impossible to look at them and not think of older times, not see the legacy they’re willingly inheriting.

Just like in your Titan’s days!, Mar’i said.

Were we ever so young?, he wonders.

“I think I’ve never realized how little clothing your mother was wearing up until now”, Dick answers with half a smile, because what he really thinks is better if it remains unsaid.

“Well, your costume didn’t leave much to imagination either, darling”, Kory retorts light-heartedly, and Damian blushes, suddenly self conscious.

“Told ya!”, Mar’i mocks him.

“Shut up!”, Damian hisses, and now at least Dick knows what their previous skirmish was all about.

They have no time time to start arguing again because Kory approaches them with a soft smile on her face and Dick watches her while she fusses around the kids, fixing rebel strands of hair and smothering small creases of the fabric of their costumes. He wonders if she’s having the same doubts and the same regrets, if she’s drowning both in nostalgia and happiness as he is. But Kory, as always, surprises him with something totally unexpected.

“Are you going out together tonight, then?”, she asks, one hand on Damian’s shoulder, the other one caressing Mar’i’s hair, and they both look up at her, surprised just as Dick is at that question.

“What do you mean?”, Damian asks, blinking up in confusion.

But Mar’i is so much quicker than him at grasping the offer her mother just made.

“Yes!”, she agrees, practically jumping with joy. “Yes, yes, yes!”

“No!”, Damian argues mechanically.

“No?”, Kory asks, raising an eyebrow at him. “Why not?”

“It’s a Nightwing mission!”, Damian answers, stressing out the words and looking mildly insulted at the idea of being given a sidekick for the night - probably because he’s not thinking of it in those terms, otherwise Dick’s pretty sure he wouldn’t fight that idea at all.

“It’s literally just a chat. It’s nothing crazy dangerous!”, Mar’i protests. “And even so, I’m more than capable to handle dangerous missions too! Mom, tell him!”

Kory makes to speak, but Damian promptly cuts her off.

“If you need to ask your mother to speak up for you, you really are not”, he sneers.

Mar’i tightens her fists and Dick thinks here we go, but instead of lunging at Damian, his daughter turns towards him.

“Dad?”, she asks, lips pressed together and a look of determination Dick knows pretty well by now.

He bites the inside of his cheek, not liking where this is going at all.

“Well, I-”, he starts, locking eyes with his wife, looking for help.

“I think it would be a good thing for them to go together”, Kory states simply. “But of course we should decide this as a family first, and ultimately it is a Nightwing mission, so I will not insist if you think it would compromise it.”

The last bit is aimed at both Dick and Damian, but when Kory looks at the kid to invite him to share his opinion on the matter, Damian only shrugs, relenting almost immediately.

“It’s not that big of a mission”, he grudgingly agrees. “I don’t see how even she could ruin it.”

Mar’i smacks him on the shoulder hard and fast, but then she leans against his arm, and they both look at Dick again.

Talk about pressure.

“I’m not sure-”, Dick starts again, but he knows those are the wrong words to say the moment they leave his lips, and in a moment he’s surrounded and under attack from every side.

“Oh come on, Dad!”, Mar’i whimpers. “Pleasepleaseplease!”

“Yes, come on, Dad!”, Damian grins, backing his sister up more for the sake of drama than anything else, Dick suspects, so he glares at him sternly and with a hidden warning that should not be too difficult for the kid to pick up.

But years of being Robin have left Damian completely unimpressed by subtle reprimands, and Dick’s glare has little to no effect on him nowadays (especially with the Nightwing costume on, Dick realizes.)

“I’ll look after her”, Damian offers anyway, and Mar’i swats him again.

“I don’t need you to look after me! I can flip you over with my pinkie finger!”

Damian’s grin turns into an amused glare.

“Yeah? You want to try?”

“Children, please”, Kory scolds them. “Honey? What are you thinking?”

Dick clears his throat again. He’s not going to win, but he’s been taught to never back away from a fight. So he tries.

“Mar’i is still a bit too young to go out alone.”

She’s already been out several times as Nightstar, both with the Teen Titans and with her family, but this feels somehow different, and a lot more scary from Dick’s perspective.

“She wouldn’t be alone”, Kory reminds him, and Dick scoffs.

“Damian is barely old enough for that too.”

Damian looks very offended by that, which is exactly what Dick was aiming for. It’s a good payback for having sided against him, the little traitor.

“I used to patrol alone when I was ten!”, Damian points out petulantly, crossing his arms on his chest and looking every bit like the sulking ten years old he used to be.

“No, you used to sneak off alone when you were ten”, Dick corrects him, because years of having Damian as his Robin have left him unimpressed too, at least to his children’s antics. “And you were always found and punished for it, were you not?”

“I still was way younger than fifteen when you first took me out as Robin”, Damian unhelpfully reminds all of them.

At that Mar’i glares at Dick with narrowed eyes.

“Is this because he is a boy and I’m a girl?”, she asks, stressing out the words to make sure everyone understands how she feels about the subject.

Dick scoffs.

“You know very well that it isn’t that.”

But now Kory’s glaring at him with the same narrowed eyes and he feels a chill ran down his spine.

“Alright, alright, fine”, he gives up, raising both his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I get it. My opinion doesn’t really matter, you are all ganged up against me anyway, so I may as well agree with you.”

“Sounds about right”, Damian concedes.

“Damian!”, Kory reproaches him. “That’s not true at all, honey.”

“Is this a yes?”, Mar’i asks at the same time.

And by all his good intentions and the books about parenting he’s read through the years, one thing Dick’s never be able to do is deny something to his children.

“Yes”, Dick sighs.

“Yes!”, his daughter cheers, flying forwards to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him on the cheek. “Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, Dad!”

“Yeah, yeah, okay”, Dick grumbles. “Truth is you all only pretend I have any decisional power around here.”

“So”, Damian butts in. “Are we going or not? Because as funny and embarrassing this conversation’s been, if we don’t leave right now it would’ve been all for nothing.”

“Right”, Dick sighs, then he stands up again and crutches closer to him. “Do you have all the details?”

“You know I do.”

“Yes. I also know I don’t need to tell you to look after Mar’i”, he says out loud, earning for himself a smile from both his daughter and his wife, then he grabs Damian and pulls him closer to whisper in his ear. “But you better look after her, you hear me?”

Damian scoffs and pushes him away half-heartedly.

“You know I would anyway.”

“And if there’s any problem you get in touch with me or Batman. First Batman, then me, since he’ll be the closer one to the two of you. Got it?”

Damian rolls his eyes behind his mask.

“Verbal confirmation, Nightwing.”

“Yes, I got it, Big Old Man first and Slightly-Less-Older Man later”, Damian huffs, earning another swat for his trouble. “Can we go now?”, he asks impatiently.

“One moment”, Dick answers. “Mar’i?”

“Yes Dad, I know”, his daughter replies, looking as impatient as Damian is. “Don’t do anything dangerous, when in doubt defence and not attack is the best way to go, fly away if things get out of hands, etcetera etcetera.”

“Also, for tonight Damian’s in charge”, Dick adds. “You do what he says, okay?”

Mar’i doesn’t look happy about the new rule, especially after seeing the taunting grin on Damian’s lips at Dick’s statement, but she knows better than argue about it (at least in front of her parents, Dick thinks).

“And you don’t be too smug about it. And don’t get cocky, it’s not a little responsibility I’m trusting you with”, Dick warns, turning towards Damian, but he doesn’t put too much heat into his words. For all their bickering around, Damian’s always been very protective of Mar’i, and Dick knows he’ll watch out for her like a hawk. “You’re not too big for a spanking, remember it”, he adds, more light-heartedly.

“You wish, old man”, Damian answers. Then, having obviously running out of his patience for the night, he walks to the window and opens it with a twist of his hand. “Last one to the docks pays for post-patrol ice cream?”, he asks his sister.

“I can fly, you dummy!”, she answers with a scoff. “You’ve already lost!”

“We’ll see”, Damian grins, then he slides onto the staircase just outside the window, closes it again and blocks it with one of his equipment hook.

“You cheater!”, Mar’i yells, outraged both by her brother’s betrayal and her parents’ laughs. “I’ll show it to you!”

“Be careful! Don’t fight!”, Kory calls out after her, as Mar’i flies to the front door. “And have fun!”

“Have fun?”, Dick asks incredulously while he sits back on the couch, feeling the pain of his throbbing ankle more than he would ever admit to anyone.

“We always had fun, didn’t we?”, Kory asks back with a soft smile. “And you, stop worrying about it. They’re both old enough to do this, and it will be good for them. You always said that patrolling with your siblings was your favorite thing.”

“It was. It still is. I just- awn, hell”, Dick sighs. “I’m a helicopter parent, am I not?”

“You don’t look like a helicopter to me”, Kory offers.

Dick moans.

“I’m worse than Bruce.”

“No, you are not”, Kory consoles him, patting his hand like she would with a child.

“...Do you think I should call him? Maybe tell him to keep an eye on them?”

“...That would definitely make you worse than Bruce.”

Another resigned sigh.

“You’re right.”

They sit in silence for a few moments, Kory curled again against his side, Dick’s finger playing with a lock of her long hair. It’s nice, being like this, Dick thinks. And quiet. So very quiet. The kind of quiet you never have with two teenagers in the house.

“Kory?”

“Yes, my love?”

“I’m going after them”, Dick says, and tries to stand up.

Kory laughs and grabs him by his elbow, pushing him back on the couch.

“Oh no, Mister Grayson, you are definitely not”, she says, pulling him closer to kiss him. “The kids are going to be out until dawn at least, and we will definitely not waste this opportunity to be alone for a night, got it?”

“Mh-mh”, Dick hums, cupping her face with one hand and tilting his head to start sucking on her neck.

Kory bites his bottom lip.

“Verbal confirmation, Nightwing”, he scolds him, voice full of hilarity.

Dick laughs against her skin.

“All clear, Boss.”

BONUS: 

Dick, one hour later, whispering into the phone while Kory’s taking a shower: “Look, I’m not saying you should point all your big brother’s camera on them but- why are you laughing at me? You think this is funny? You are a horrible parent and grandparent, Bruce.”

[little-scribblers-heart]

Maybe we’ve been talking about politics too much.

Time for a break from being so dang political here. What we really need to do is just relax, find peace, and come together. Here's an idea, guys. Why not take a break from negativity and learn about each other? 😃 1. Who are you named after? There is a literal, fascist administration in office in the United States. 2. Last time you cried? Resist it, unerringly, with all your strength. 3. Soda or water? A woman scheduled to be deported attempted suicide in the airport. 4. What is your favorite lunch meat? Donate to the ACLU. 5. Longest relationship? Law enforcement is illegally enforcing the ban, even though a stay has been issued by the court system. 6. Do you still have your tonsils? Soon, we won't have the courts to depend on, either. 7. Would you bungee jump? Get your news from CNN, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and any other outlet Trump disparages. 8. How many years at current job? Stand up for minorities and women's health and freedom of the press. 9. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? It’s hard to remember, especially now, but please take sure to take care of your mental health! 10. How do you feel about roller coasters? Punching unapologetic actual Nazis is illegal and you definitely should do it every chance you get. 11. Favorite ice cream flavor? Many of the Democrats are folding. Keep the heat on them. Keep writing and calling them. Remind them that they depend on you for their power. 12. Favorite thing to do on the weekends? This is not normal. Don't act like it is. You can't ignore this. 13. Favorite sport? Steve Bannon has said himself he is a "Leninist" who wants to destroy and remake society, and he is manipulating Donny to incite chaos. This is nothing more than a pretext for denying civil liberties and seizing permanent power. 14. Leggings or Jeans? Protest every chance you get; make your voice heard, or we will become a fascist state thanks to a Congress with no backbone. 15. What are you listening to right now? Keep up with everything going on. It’s hard. Resistance is hard. Complacency is easy. Do not let up. Do not go gently. 16. Favorite Color? Prepare for the increased repression of American citizens. It is coming. 17. Do you have any tattoos? He is constantly, constantly lying to us. Never forget that. Do not believe anything he says. If he says the sky is blue, look up and check it yourself, or save time and assume that he's lying. 18. Are you married? They still haven't fixed the pipes in Flint, Michigan. 19. Hair color? Stop being complicit. 20. Eye color? Stop being obedient. 21. Favorite to eat? Stop fooling yourself that you won't have to fight somehow. 22. Scary movies or happy endings? Stop being scared. Stand up for what you believe in.  23. Android or iPhone? America is a country of stolen people, refugees, immigrants and indigenous peoples whose land we inexplicably still occupy without thinking about it nearly enough. We are better because of our diversity, but we also have so much work to do. 24. Mac or Windows? We will not re-center the white working class at the expense of people of color, Muslims, people with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ in the hopes of poaching voters. Elevate people less privileged than you who are being actively repressed. 25. Favorite holiday? It will get worse. You are stronger than you think, and you can take it. 26. Beer or wine? You have to. We don't have any other options. 27. Night owl or morning? Your children and grandchildren will remember you by what you did during these years. 28. Favorite day of the week? Dissent is American. *All* enemies, foreign *and domestic.*

[tripstations]

9 ways to find true romance in Africa

If it’s not said at sunset, in Africa, on horseback, is it even love? Unless, of course, adrenaline is what shakes you and your partner to the core. Either way, Africa offers a multitude of ways to experience romance like you never have before. Find true romance in Africa, with these 9 unique ways to say “I love you” – safari style.

1. Take to the skies

When most people think about taking a trip to Africa, they immediately think of safaris, and why not? Safaris offer you the opportunity to see the land and the animals up close in a way that you will likely never forget. But there is also something to be said for the bird’s eye view.

Enter hot air ballooning across the plains, grasslands and deserts of Africa.

Setting off in the soft light of early dawn, you will soar above some of the earth’s most majestic landscapes. See the world on the wind, floating high above, both detached and yet completely enveloped in its beauty all at once. You already feel like you’re walking on clouds when you’re with your loved one; now you’ll literally float amongst them.

Top pick

Head for Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, and stay at Alex Walker Serian’s ‘The Original’ Camp – one of of a select group of camps allowed access to this location.

2. Take a leap of faith

This may seem an odd choice for a romantic escape, but consider that bungee jumping is much like falling in love. Both will make your palms sweat, your heart race, and adrenaline surge through your veins. And both require you to take a leap of faith!

Bloukans Bridge is one of the highest commercial bungee jumps anywhere on earth, offering you a thrilling adventure that is as exciting and as unique as your love. This is something that no thrill-seeker should ever pass up!

Top pick

Head for Bloukrans Bridge, Western Cape, South Africa – home to the tallest commercial bungee jump in the world. Or fly off Victoria Falls Bridge, Zimbabwe/Zambia – set against the incredible backdrop of the Victoria Falls.

3. Brave the rapids

Another one for those seeking excitement, white-water rafting on the Zambezi river is a perfect analogy for your relationship. There will be calm moments of taking in the beauty of your surroundings, and thrilling moments where you ride the rapids. You will navigate them both together, the river carrying you along as one until you reach the far shore.

Top pick

No contest! Head for Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Until you’ve braved the white waters of the mighty Zambezi River, you can’t really say you’ve white-water rafted at all!

4. Hop on horseback

A unique way to see Africa, bringing you closer to the wildlife than would otherwise be possible, is to hop on horseback and head out into the wild. On a horseback safari, you will go places that vehicles cannot access and see sights that would otherwise elude you. A visit to Africa is all about nature, and what better way to experience it than by bonding with your mount on the ride of a lifetime?

Top pick

Riding on horseback across the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans of the Kalahari Desert, Botswana, with David Foot Safaris is the kind of experience that you have to live through to believe it actually exists. Or how about combining horses and hippos with Ride Zimbabwe Horseback Safaris? This spectacular safari will take you through Matobo National Park, Cawston Wildlife Estate & Mana Pool, Zimbabwe.

5. Picnic on the plains

Picnicking with your loved one in the great outdoors is a classic romantic experience. But let’s not forget that this is no quiet afternoon in the park. This is Africa! Put a unique spin on this old standby by picnicking with some special guests: powerful, majestic elephants.

Elephants are wonderful to behold even from a distance, but having them so close (while in complete safety) gives an even greater appreciation of their majesty, not to mention photo opportunities. And don’t worry, you won’t have to share your meal with them!

Top pick

Zambezi Elephant Trails can turn this one-of-a-kind dining dream into a reality. Take a walk on the wild side through the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia, to a riverside lunch spot straight out of ‘Out of Africa’.

6. Dine under African stars

For many, vacations offer the chance to indulge in some of the finest foods, and a trip to Africa is no different. Enjoy some of the most delicious gourmet meals al fresco while sitting across from your love, as a candle flickers between you and the stars twinkle above. Gazing into each others’ eyes not mandatory, but highly probable. Let those African skies work their magic on your love life.

Top pick

Head for the international award winning Lion Sands Ivory Lodge, located in the heart of the game-rich Sabi Sand Reserve, adjacent to the world-renowned Kruger National Park, South Africa. Not only will you dine under the stars, you’ll do so with your own private butler.

7. Slip into serious relaxation

If white-water rafting and bungee jumping aren’t your thing, then perhaps your senses get their thrills from rejuvenation of body, mind and soul. Sink into a luxury yoga safari escape Malabar Hall, Zimbabwe, for a chance to discover more about one another while also discovering yourself.

Once you have re-balanced your mind and soul, it’s time to pamper your body at any of the amazing spa facilities found at the myriad of luxury safari lodges across southern Africa. These quiet moments can be blissful ones spent together.

Top pick

The Royal Bush Spa at the Royal Zambezi Lodge, Zambia, will leave you feeling like, well, royalty. Stunning views over the Zambezi River, the sounds of snorting hippos in the river and the sharp cries of the African Fish Eagle overhead to lull you into relaxation, and award-winning spa treatments.

8. Volunteer with rhinos

Get hands-on experience learning and volunteering with Imire’s black rhino conservation and breeding program. From hand-feeding young rhinos to learning how to track animals with anti-poaching patrollers, this promises to be a unique, etched-into-your-heart-forever experience. It’s truly one of the best relationship bonding activities you can do!

Top pick

Imire Rhino & Wildlife Conservation, Zimbabwe, offers luxury safari accommodations paired with the opportunity to contribute to an important conservation cause via hands-on volunteering with elephants and rhino. Magical Africa at its very best.

9. Let love blossom at sunset

To be sure, you’ve seen the sun set before. But have you seen an African sunset? When shared, it is the kind of magical experience that turns friends into lovers; love into marriage; quarrels into forgiveness; talk into sweet talk. This is where romance really blossoms.

Mankind may have seen its first sunrise in Africa, but the sunsets, too, are not to be missed. Whether you are sitting quietly together on a deck being served hand and foot with that African sunset staple – an icy gin and tonic, out on a sunset cruise, or taking a quiet moment to yourselves in a luxury treetop tent, the sights, sounds and colours of the African sunset will make all other sunsets pale by comparison.

Top pick

There’s not a bad sunset to be had in Africa, no matter where you are.

Daniella Ponter is the Director at Sikeleli Africa Safaris. Sikeleli Africa Safaris is a family-founded and run business that specializes in individually-tailored, luxury travel in Africa.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

The post 9 ways to find true romance in Africa appeared first on Tripstations.

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[houstonlocalus-blog]

A First Look at Snooze an AM Eatery at Town & Country Village

Post from HankOnFood.com Leave a comment/read the entire post here

Breakfast, Breaky, petit dejune, whatever you call it, it is often touted as the most important meal of the day. And while food is fuel, it is fuel whose consumption should be enjoyed and the fuel should be of good quality. Houston has no shortage of fast food places, diners, and brunch spots of both the chain and the local variety. However, very recently a Mountain West Chain by the name of Snooze: An AM Eateryopened a location in the Montrose area where it was welcomed by the locals. This past Father's day weekend, their second location opened in Town & Country Village, just a hop, skip and a jump away from my Westchase hood. During the 3 day soft opening that ran from Saturday June 17th through Monday June 19th, Snooze raised money for 3 different local charities that accomplish different kinds of good all over. But then again, this culture of service is part of what makes Snooze who they are. It only takes a Moment to Make a Difference Founded by brothers Jon and Adam Schlegel, Snooze was born on April 2, 2006 in Denver, Colorado seeking to evolve the A.M. dining experience through culinary innovation, an eclectic and energetic atmosphere and comfortable and friendly service. Breakfast marks the beginning of a new day. At Snooze, we believe life is for living and each person and each day is worth celebrating. Our mantra: it only takes a moment to make a difference. From the day we were born, our people – Snoozers – have led the way serving creative twists on America’s favorite breakfast classics in a casual, friendly and vibrant atmosphere. The passion of our Snoozers is contagious. Over the past 8+ years it has inspired Snooze fans of all ages across the country. We embrace our roots in the Denver Ballpark neighborhood and aspire to be an integral part of every community in which we’re lucky to live. At Snooze, we’re connected by a common desire to be part of something bigger than ourselves. We believe we’re all one, big family – Snoozers, partners, guests, neighbors, planet – and we strive to be a part of the communities where we live. One percent of sales from each Snooze makes its way back into the local community through the donation of in-kind goods (A.K.A. pancakes!) and services. You’ll see us passing out pancakes, maintaining school gardens, volunteering at food banks and cleaning up beaches. We’re focused on supporting local causes and issues related to the neighborhoods where we live and organizations focused on education and sustainability.At Snooze we believe that it only takes a moment to make a difference. If you are holding an event or auction please visit your nearest Snooze and introduce yourself to a manager. Tell us about your cause, organization, clean-up or pet rescue and we will do our best to help! We love using pancakes to help good people raise money and awareness for causes that are near and dear to the communities in which we live. We invite you to join us, make up a new pancake and dance to the music. Wake up to the potential of your day. Wake up to Snooze!Milk Pitcher and Can Coffee, Espresso and Creamer cupsSounds like a Philosophy worth embracing. On this Father's day, we packed up and headed to Town & Country Village, ready to try what was in store for us. The menu is a nice mix of breakfast/brunch/lunch standards, many of which have a cool twist on them. They also ENCOURAGE your customization to anything on the menu, rather than be grouchy about it. A Breakfast Pot Pie--something I never heard of before--is on the menu. Pineapple Upside down pancakes? Done and done. Want a shot of espresso in your coffee? No problemo. And their Texas menu includes breakfast tacos, a breakfast burrito and Huevos Rancheros as well. On Father's Day they also had a bunch of funny, sticky fake moustaches for the kiddos and the ladies to put on just to get into the spirit of things too! On this particular day, the family ordered a couple of plates of pancakes (chocolate chip for Jason and Pineapple upside down for Helena). The chocolate chip pancakes were full of semi-sweet, melty chocolate chips throughout the short stack of two large, almost 1 cm thick and very fluffy pancakes. Diners can tell that real eggs and butter are used in this cooking due to the slight yellowish tint of the batter and the rich flavour and fluffy texture therein. Jason, despite being a typically hungry almost 13 year old boy, could only finish one pancake. The pineapple upside down pancakes look like typical griddle cakes, until you turn them over and find a nice, sweet layer of pineapple compote. There was also an essence of coconut in there somewhere, evoking the structure and flavour profile of grandma's pineapple upside down cake. I will also add the pancakes were served with warm maple syrup, which proved unnecessary given the sweet fruit/chocolate goodness included in both stacks. Grades: A and A+ The adults ordered: Juan’s Breakfast Tacos (Three fresh corn or flour tortillas topped with scrambled eggs, shredded hash browns, jack cheese, green chile hollandaise & pico de gallo--with an inside tip: better yet with veggie/meat toppings). I went with bacon topping on mine because (sorry Bad Piggies), like garlic Bacon don't need a reason! The eggs, potatoes, cheese and meat were properly cooked--nothing cold nor runny. The corn tortillas were a little crumbly and though I ate the tacos with a knife and a fork, they were still delicious: spicy, cheesy, and the green chile hollandaise sauce is superb. Next time, I will ask them to either double up on the corn tortillas so they hold together better or will ask for flour tortillas instead. The Snooze Classic (three Farm fresh cage free eggs cooked any style and your choice of ham, bacon, sausage, chorizo, pulled pork, chicken sausage or soyrizo. Includes hash browns, choice of toast). On this we went with 3 poached eggs, that were done perfectly on medium (solid whites, oozy but not runny yolk) and with chorizo. I was expecting chorizo debris, but this was formed into a nice round patty much like traditional breakfast sausage. However, one taste and you knew it was chorizo. While we went with wheat toast this time, next time may do an English Muffin instead. Grades: A and A respectively. I would be remiss if I did not mention the charity they were working for on June 18th: Project C.U.R.E. Project C.U.R.E. identifies, solicits, collects, sorts and distributes medical supplies and services according to the imperative needs of the world. Project C.U.R.E. (Commission on Urgent Relief and Equipment) was founded in 1987 by James Jackson, who was working as an international economic consultant in developing countries when his work put him face to face with the needs of the sick and dying. During a trip to Brazil, Dr. Jackson visited a small clinic near Rio de Janeiro, where he learned that patients were often turned away due to a lack of basic medical supplies. Jackson was moved to action, making a promise to the clinic doctor that he would help provide relief to the people there. Dr. Jackson returned to his home in Evergreen, Colorado, and with the assistance of friends in the medical industry collected $250,000 of medical supplies in his garage in just 30 days time. By personally paying the shipping expenses, Jackson was able to send an ocean-going cargo container carrying the donated supplies to Brazil. In 1997 James Jackson's son, Dr. Douglas Jackson, became President & CEO of Project C.U.R.E.. From its humble beginnings in Colorado, Project C.U.R.E. has expanded to many other cities across the United States. Currently, Project C.U.R.E. maintains large distribution warehouses in Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. In addition, Project C.U.R.E. has established smaller collection centers several other states where donated items are gathered and then delivered to its warehouses. Project C.U.R.E. now collects medical donations in many U.S. cities. Project C.U.R.E. has been an industry leader in developing new ways to allow the organization to provide the highest quality donated medical supplies and equipment possible to resource-limited communities across the globe, including efficient and accurate inventory systems, supply chain management, expert management of logistics and strong in-country relationships. Project C.U.R.E. also offers numerous domestic and international volunteer opportunities. Since its founding, Project C.U.R.E. has reached patients, families and children in 130 countries. Their Houston office is located off of Kempwood Drive, less than 10 minutes from Snooze Town & Country. My son Jason has helped pack supplies for them with the Wesley Academy National Junior Honor Society and it is a very helpful organization. Snooze Town & Country is located at: 600 West Sam Houston Pkwy N #500 Houston, TX 77024 713-470-4586 Hours: 7 Days a Week 6:30am - 2:30pm I want to thank the Staff and Management at Snooze for a great Father's Day breakfast and for the help they are offering Project C.U.R.E. Eat Happy, Y'all!!! 吃得开心!!! Hank

Post from HankOnFood.com Leave a comment/read the entire post here

<!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-5148111797536657"; /* Long Banner */ google_ad_slot = "4584757822"; google_ad_width = 468; google_ad_height = 60; //--> A First Look at Snooze an AM Eatery at Town & Country Village this is a repost