#and as for Nick/Jay I thought he was hot and cold towards him when I first read it

[sadrockandwaltzes]

Spoilers for the whole book ahead in case you haven't finished! So don't read it if you haven't.

Ok so I finished The Great Gatsby and. Why do so many people think it's gay?? This isn't me being argumentative, I just genuinely don't get it. I've seen some people bring up his frequent descriptions of Gatsby as evidence but also. He describes Daisy's voice arguably as much. I'd love anyone to explain their queer reading to me because I'd love to know if I'm missing anything!

[themultifandomgal]

I LOVE your stories. Thank you so much. I'm currently obsessed with One Chicago (with fics of course, because I don't watch it anymore.)Now I saw that also Nick is leaving the Med series =( and I really need some Will angsty fluffy comfort with him in full doctor mode. So I thought I send you my idea. Maybe it's something you would like to work with. I try to keep my request as short as possible. Love ya 🤗💞

Will is in a bad mood, his ex left him for another guy and he found out she cheated on him for weeks. Now month after their downfall he's still moody and grumpy. Reader is new in town, after a bad relationship ahe just wants to start over and Chicago is her new home. One stormy and rainy evening she's on her way home, deep in thought crossing the street. Will is also on his way home from med, brooding over the end of his relationship even if it's month ago. Because of the dark and the heavy rain he has no chance of seeing the pedestrian crossing the street and ends up hitting her with his car. He jumps out of the car and runs to the young woman lying on the cold and wet street. He brings her to Med and after she regains consciousness after hours he's still there. She tells him she's new in town. When the morning is coming she can be discharged but only when she has someone who can take care of her because of her injuries. She's all alone in Chicago so she thinks she has to stay.... Will decides he has to help her, cause it's his fault she's in the hospital with injuries and in great pain, so he takes her to his apartment nursing her back to health. Of course the two growing tight and even gain some feelings. It's a bit like two lost souls helping each other. With Will in full blown doctor mode (how hot he is when he's concerned and all medical, wow who doesn't need a private doc as Will🥵)

Will Halstead- 2 Lost Souls Pt1

After leaving an abusive and toxic relationship, YN finally takes the plunge and moved to a whole new town, Chicago. She managed to score a good deal on a rather large apartment and she can't wait to start her new job at PD in the next couple of days.

Will and Natalie had broken up a month ago, she moved away after cheating on him leaving Will lonely, moody and grumpy.

On YNs second night in Chicago she decided to have a walk around after he ex tried to get back in touch with her, but stupidly didn't check the weather so now she was walking home in the dark and the heavy rain. Deep in thought YN starts to cross the street not far from her apartment complex. Not seeing the car heading towards her.

Will is on his way home from a long shift at Med, still upset over his failed relationship knowing he is now going home to an empty apartment. Due to the rain he doesn't see the woman stepping out onto the road before it's to late. Jumping out of the car he runs around to the front where he sees a woman lying on the cold wet ground. He checks for her heartbeat and breathing. Sighing in relief when he knows she's alive. He gently picks her up and places her in the back of his car, driving her quickly (but carefully) to Med.

"Maggie, April I need help" Will shouts entering with the young woman in his arms

"What the hell happened? She's soaked!" April runs over. This is when all of Wills emotions start to come out

"I was driving and she just appeared. I didn't see her, oh shit this is all my fault" he cries placing her down on the gurney that Maggie has brought over

"Page Dr Rhodes tell him trauma room 2" Maggie asks April who nods and runs off

"Fuck this is all my fault"

"Go take a seat and calm down" Maggie says

"I need to ring Jay" Will says walking out of Med and to his car where his phone is.

YN regains consciousness after a few hours. Groaning she turns her head to the side to see a man she has never seen before. Now she realise she in a room and bed she's never been in before

"Who are you?"

"Oh thank god your awake. Your ok" Will sighs in relief not answering YNs question "I'm so sorry. You've got a broken leg, broken arm and concussion but your ok"

"You didn't answer my question"

"Sorry. I'm Will. I kinda hit you with my car last night in the rain" Will nervously scratches the back of his head

"Last night?" YNs eyes widen "I was supposed to start my new job today"

"Yeah erm I believe my brother is your partner in PD"

"This cannot be happening" the room falls silent "wait have you been here all night?"

"Erm yeah. I wanted to make sure that you were ok" before YN can say anything Dr Rhodes walks in telling her that she is ok and free to go tomorrow as long as she stays with someone to help her. Will notices YN slump further into the bed and Connor walks out of the room

"What's wrong?"

"I moved here a week ago on my own. I have no friends or family here so guess I'm staying in this uncomfortable bed" YN sighs

"Or you could stay at mine?"

"What? Are you crazy I barley know you. I just know you hit me with your car" YN chuckles

"You know my name"

"Will. That's all I know"

"Well ok then. I'm Will Halstead, I'm a doctor here and I am not used to having a quiet apartment so I think you should stay with me while you get better"

"I don't know.... how do I know your not going to murder me?"

"My brother is your PD partner"

"I guess" YN laughs but then groans in pain

"I really am sorry, the rain was so heavy and I barley could see. It was so dark as well"

"Hey, I'm ok. Just a few broken bones"

"I could have killed you"

"But you didn't. So if it makes you feel better then fine you can help me out while I'm in these casts"

"Really?" Wills face lights up

"Yes"

This was when a new friendship and relationship was born.

[crystalgirl259]

The Flame and the Dragon Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Cold Concern

Cole's eyes widened as his mind trying to wrap around what he was just told. After he had taken a shivering Kai back to his room, Neuro had examined the brunette, but the news had been grim, to say the least. His skin is still freezing, and his fever wouldn't go down and they couldn't give him anything because he was unconscious and it was too dangerous. Even if they did give him something to bring down the fever, it would only make the hypothermia worse.

It was very dangerous to treat hypothermia using medication.

Too much heat was just a dangerous as too much cold when it came to treating hypothermia. They needed to get the brunette's core temperature back up to a safe level. Unfortunately, that was impossible at this point because they couldn't do it anymore. It required something none of them were able to properly do long enough to bring up his core temperature. They needed body heat. Jay and the others tried to help, but Neuro dismissed them.

Their spirit forms didn't give off any body heat and their creature forms didn't provide enough.

That was when Cole said he would do it. He was the only one of them that was purely physical, and he was a dragon. His body's naturally warmer than a human's. Neuro advised against this, however, saying that Kai's cold body could have serious consequences against the prince's own body heat. Cole ran his claws through his hair, barely nicking his fin-like ears until he heard another haggard cough. His eyes shot to Kai, who was coughing again, barely able to move.

The boys held him down trying to keep him steady.

Cole made up his mind. He walked past Neuro, removed his clothes, and worked off his boots.

"Neuro, take the boys outside and tell everyone what's going on and check on Kai's vitals every so often until he wakes up; take shifts if you must."

"What? No!" Neuro cried. "I mean, it's possible, but what if it doesn't work? Cole's heat might get Kai's core temperature back up, but if he doesn't cool down in time, he could-"

"Would it give Kai a chance?" Cole asked, sitting on the edge of the bed, and gently scooped the protesting fox, bear cub, troll, and naga into his arms. Neuron's jaw dropped.

"Well, yes, but-"

"That's all I need to know," Cole decided, placing Jay and Nelson in Neuro's arms and Ronin and Tox in Echo's.

"This isn't fair, Master! Let us stay too!" Nelson pleaded, squirming to escape his prison.

"No!" Echo chided, gently. "Listen you four, I know you want to help, but the best thing we can do right now is waiting, trust your master." He told them and all four of them opened their mouth to protest, but Echo's smile silences them.

"You better know what you're doing, Cole!" Jay glared, but his worry was visible in his eyes.

"I do, leave us." He told them, undoing his belt. Neuro's eyes narrowed, but he obeyed and followed Echo outside.

"Don't bother with his arms or legs, that'll only work the cold back towards his heart and lungs, focus on his head, his torso, and his groin, and if he doesn't warm up by morning come find us immediately." He warned just before closing the door behind him. When the door shut, Cole stripped the rest of his clothes and slid under the thick cocoon of blankets. He carefully pulled Kai into his warm chest and pressed their torsos together. He hissed when Kai's icy skin touched his.

He bit his lip and pressed Kai's forehead against his collar.

He wrapped a wing around Kai's head and hair, the other around his back and hips. He tucked the covers into every crevice around him, making sure no cold seeped through.

"Kai, I'm sorry." He whispered, hoping his flame could still hear him. He rubbed the young man's back when he started shivering again. He hugged Kai closer. "I'm so sorry I didn't protect you, I never thought... I didn't think that bastard would go this far! I know I should've seen it, but..." His voice broke on the last part, and he had to stop to keep himself from breaking down. He lay his precious flame down again, smiling when Kai stopped shivering, but his skin was still cold, and his fever still high.

He gently kissed the boy's forehead and pulled him closer, wrapping him in his warmth and letting the coolness of Kai's flesh wash over him.

He hadn't realized just how hot he'd been until now. Already he could feel drowsiness overcome him.

"I promise," Cole whispered in Kai's ear. "I promise when you wake up, I'll protect you and I don't care what he throws at me; I'll never let that...that... monster anywhere near you, again! I won't!" Cole hissed as he clenched the blankets at his side, before settling down against the mattress, then the warmth of the cocoon the staff created for Kai and the soothing coolness of Kai's skin, lulling the Dragon Lord to sleep.

"Please... come back to me, Kai." He whimpered as a small tear rolled down his cheek, gently damping the teen's forehead. "I can't lose you too, Kai, I can't..." He said at last before the stress, anxiety, and terror finally took their toll on him and he collapsed into darkness. "I'm not strong enough too."...

****************

Zane sighed as he slid his back against the door to the room his younger brother shared with the three other servants. After a flurry of questions and concerns, panic attacks, and hours of reassurance from Neuro, he had finally got the three boys to settle into an uneasy sleep. He had been annoyed when Echo clamped onto Jay the entire time before finally falling asleep in the fox's arms. But he didn't have the heart to comment on it. There was too much unrest already.

"How are they?" Someone suddenly asked and Zane looked up to see Ronin standing in the hallway.

"They'll be fine, they're just worried like we all are," Zane explained and slouched against the door, anxiety taking its toll on him as well.

"I'm not surprised, who knows what those kids saw," Ronin sighed as he took off his hat and ran a hand through his dark hair, and closed his eyes. Just then Griffin sped in, having listening into their conversation, but Zane and Ronin didn't seem to care.

"Speaking of that, what exactly happened today?" He asked gravely.

"This was more than just a simple ice break wasn't it?" Zane also asked the troll. Ronin's eyes scanned the hallway, double-checking to make sure no one was there and gestured Griffin and Zane to come closer.

"I didn't want to say anything in front of everyone but something doesn't add up," He whispered. "I checked that ice meself and I swear on my life it was at least six inches thick and I think we can all agree there's no way Kai's heavy enough to crack it, let alone fall through, and something else was there, in the lake."

"What?"

"There was this little creepy-looking bird there, it let out this sound that scared Kai's horse and made it break the ice." He explained and Griffin's eyes widened in horror. He turned to the Stewart whose eyes were hard and unreadable.

"Zane?" He gulped but Zane said nothing. Then he closed his eyes and sighed.

"Double the guard, no one is to leave the castle without an escort and at least one of the guards, myself, you two, or the Master." He ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Until winter is over, everyone is confined to the immediate grounds until further notice; if our fears are correct, then we're not taking any chances."...

[earthspirit10]

Ninjago Angst Week: Day Three - Bleeding

@ninjago-angst-week Again, really late. (I’m sorry!) But it’s finally here!

Trigger Warnings: Gore, blood (of course), and slight mention of abandonment issues

---

“Watch out!”

Kai whirled around just in time to block the oncoming sword with his own. The harsh clang of metal was nearly deafening, making him wince. With a flick of his wrist, his katana sliced through the air, nicking his opponent neatly on the arm. The guy facing him hissed. Whether it was in pain or anger, Kai couldn’t tell.

The entire ninja team was in the middle of a battle against a couple of daring thugs, trying to mug a poor woman late in the evening. Jay had found them and called the team for backup, and as it turned out, the stupid criminals had been trying to lure the ninja here. For what, Kai didn’t know.

Whatever the reason, the ninja were here to take them out. And sure, the thugs were pretty impressive fighters, and there were a lot more than even Zane had accounted for, but they had faced way worse odds than this and still pulled through with minimum injuries. So, Kai was confident that they would easily win this.

Still, the thought of any one of his family getting hurt was too much to bear.

Using the butt of his sword to knock his current opponent unconscious, Kai twisted around to survey the scene. The others seemed to be doing just fine on their own, so he shouldn’t need to worry much. Not yet, anyway.

There was a sudden whistle of air, and Kai dodged out of the throwing knife’s way as it sped past him and embedded itself into the arm of one of the bad guys. He winced slightly. That really had to hurt, though Kai was forced to quickly turn his gaze away as the one who threw the knife came at him again with another knife.

Kai waited at the last second before stepping to the side and sticking his leg out, causing the thug to trip and fall flat on his face, the knife slipping out of his grip. He knocked that one out before turning again, his katana up in the air and already slamming onto another guy’s head.

A flash of metal caught the corner of his eye, and Kai raised his sword to block it, only to find that it wasn’t aimed at him.

One of the criminals was charging toward Lloyd, who was currently occupied with two people at once and wouldn’t be able to see his attacker from behind.

Kai didn’t think. He just acted, slamming his body into Lloyd, the breath knocked out of him as he felt something— something foreign rip through him, something that really shouldn’t be there, and then pain, sharp and cold and white-hot all at once, erupted in his stomach.

He blinked once, slowly, staring down at the blood (his blood), at his stomach, at the sword which was still embedded in him, not entirely sure if he was dreaming or not. The pain had kind of dulled, which was really strange, because last he checked, getting stabbed was supposed to hurt like hell.

Suddenly, the sword was pulled out of his stomach, drawing a gasp from him.

He crumpled. Oddly enough, the ground was wet and sticky. And warm. Really warm. Was that normal? He didn’t know.

“Kai!” Lloyd’s panicked voice swam into his consciousness, and Kai felt something—or rather, someone—press a hand to his stomach. He groaned, trying to desperately block out the pain. Vaguely, he could still hear sounds of battle near him, but it sounded far away, as if he’d been immersed in water.

Maybe he could . . . just . . . close his eyes for a bit. . . .

“Kai, no, don’t— you gotta stay awake—” Kai felt someone shake him. “Hey, stay with me, please!”

Blearily, he blinked his eyes open. Everything looked hazy, and there was a green blob above him, and then there was a face—Lloyd’s face—looking worried and panicked, and there were tears in his normally bright green eyes.

“Don’t cry,” Kai croaked, lifting a bloodied—bloodied—hand to touch his brother’s cheek.

Sirens wailed in the background, and he was suddenly aware of the burning sensation in his stomach as he felt himself being carried, and then there was someone screaming, which really hurt his ears. Oh, yeah, his stomach hurt too. Probably should mention that, except his mouth hurt too and his head was swimming, black spots dotting his vision.

“I know it hurts, Kai, I know it does.” Another voice—this one sounded feminine—reached his ears. He wasn’t sure who it was, but it sounded soothing. Kai focused on it. “Just— hang on, okay? I—” The voice paused as another scream ripped through the air, and Kai realized that it was him screaming. “The ambulance is here. You’re— you’re gonna be okay.” Whoever was speaking seemed to choke a bit, as if holding back sobs. “You gotta be okay, you idiot, or— or else—”

Kai couldn’t hear what happened after that, because his vision was suddenly swept in black, and then he was falling, falling, falling. . . .

⸺

Everything hurt. His head hurt, his whole body hurt, and his eyes hurt especially when he finally and painstakingly pried them open, only to be met with blinding white light.

Kai groaned, instantly squeezing his eyes shut. He heard someone gasp near him, some startled shuffling, and then the door opening and closing. Soon, there was nothing except for the beeping of a machine and the antiseptic smell of . . . a hospital?

Slowly, Kai opened his eyes, blinking multiple times to adjust to the light. He was met with the white walls of (definitely) a hospital, which he wasn’t sure how he got into. His arm was in an IV, which was dripping blood into him through a needle. It was then that he realized that his abdomen were wrapped in bandages, and then everything came rushing back to him—the fight, pushing Lloyd, getting stabbed—

Lloyd!

Kai sat up abruptly, which he instantly regretted. Pain flared in his stomach, and he couldn’t help the hiss that escaped his lips.

At that moment, the door opened, revealing a kind-looking doctor with a clipboard in hand. Kai watched curiously as he started doing some . . . doctor stuff, occasionally jotting some things down on the clipboard. After a while, he glanced up, opening his mouth, and Kai, knowing very well how hospitals worked (due to a few . . . unfortunate visits before), braced himself for a series of health questions.

And the questions came. Kai could barely keep up, he was tired already, and he just wanted to see his family before sleeping for eternity, but the doctor seemed to understand because soon, the questions stopped and he left with a, “I’ll leave you to rest.”

Kai sighed, resting his head back on his pillow. His eyelids fluttered shut, and he struggled to keep them open because he needed to see the others, to make sure his brothers and sister were okay, to make sure Lloyd was okay because all of this couldn’t have been good for the kid—

The door opened as Lloyd peeked through, his face showing a mix of emotions, all of them not good. Kai managed a smile before he was instantly tackled as Lloyd buried his head into the red ninja’s neck.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Kai said quietly, rubbing his little brother’s back. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”

“But you weren’t okay!” Lloyd protested, pulling back a little so he could look at Kai. “You— you were stabbed, and you were bleeding, and you couldn’t— I couldn’t even do anything—” He choked, raising his arm to wipe at his eyes. Kai reached out a hand to comfort him. “I didn’t— I thought you were dead, I thought you were going to die, and I can’t— you can’t do that to me, Kai, you can’t do that to— to us.”

Kai’s heart hurt seeing his baby brother hurt like this, but he clenched his jaw, remembering how he had shoved Lloyd out of the way because some stupid guy tried to stab him.

“You were about to get stabbed,” Kai said firmly. “I wasn’t going to just stand there and watch you fall at the hands of some stupid guy, knowing there was something I could’ve done.”

Lloyd took a shuddering breath, looking away.

“I don’t regret what I did,” Kai continued, his eyes squeezing shut, trying to block out the image of Lloyd, instead of him, having a sword ripped through his stomach. “I know that I’d do it again in a heartbeat. You’re my baby brother, and it’s my job to protect you, to keep you safe. I’m not going to apologize for that, for getting stabbed and keeping you safe in the process.”

“You shouldn’t have to take the hits for me,” Lloyd hissed, his eyes flashing a brighter green. “You’re— you’re not some expendable tool, you’re my brother, and I can’t— I can’t watch you die because of me, I can’t watch someone else leave me because of me—”

Oh. Kai’s chest tightened. This wasn’t about protecting the green ninja, nor was it really about Kai getting stabbed. It was about another person abandoning Lloyd, even if they didn’t mean it, because Kai sure as hell would never leave Lloyd like that, unless—

Unless he died.

“Lloyd—”

“Why does someone have to take the hits anyway?” Lloyd continued, tears flowing freely down his face now, showing no sign of hearing Kai. “Why can’t we all just— dodge them or something? Why didn’t you warn me?” He rubbed his arm over his eyes again uselessly. “Why can’t we all just get out fine, for once in our lives?”

Silence filled the air after that outburst, unpleasant and stifling. Kai stared at Lloyd, who looked away as if embarrassed.

Kai exhaled heavily, before scooting over to the side, even if it did make him wince slightly in pain. He patted the extra space. “Come ’ere.”

Lloyd blinked confusedly at the bed for a moment, before realization dawned on his face. He shook his head furiously. “No, you’re the patient here. It’s your bed, that wouldn’t be comfortable for you—”

“Oh, for FSM’s sake, Lloyd,” Kai said, exasperated. “Just get on the bed, will ya?”

Clamping his mouth shut, Lloyd tentatively sat down next to his brother, laying himself down and resting his head on Kai’s chest. He seemed careful to not jar the stomach wound, which Kai was secretly grateful for.

“I’ll— we’ll try,” Kai said softly, stroking Lloyd’s head. “We’ll try to get out fine. All of us.”

He could feel Lloyd swallow and nod. A moment later, his breathing slowed and deepened, his body relaxing as he fell asleep. It wasn’t long before Kai’s eyes fluttered shut and he fell asleep with him.

[leesacrakon]

Great Gatsby Alternative Ending

I wrote this for an English project, hope you all like it. 

Fandom(s): The Great Gatsby

Warnings: Guns and gunshots, blood, descriptions of violence, hospitals, and major character death. 

Ship(s): Natsby, can be read as romantic or platonic

In a moment of rare spontaneity that only the likes of Gatsby could create, I decided against leaving my friend for the boring, monotonous rhythm of a bonds salesman and remained with him to talk in his expansive garden. As we waded through the daffodils and roses we spoke of many things; Daisy, the car accident, and, surprisingly, me. It so happened that Gatsby had caught me scrawling in my notepad one day while I sat out on my porch. I told him of my dreams to become a novelist, and to my shock, Daisy did not become a topic of conversation for the rest of the day. It may be sad to admit, but despite the fact that I had grown closer to Gatsby in these passing months my mind had convinced me that he’d only kept me around as a way to connect with Daisy. I suppose that was unfair of me, as he had done things to show he cared about me, and now I knew for certain that I wasn’t just the less desirable cousin.

After some convincing, Gatsby persuaded me to borrow one of his swimming suits and accompany him to his pool. His clothes were big on me, but he insisted that I looked swell. He brought out an inflatable mattress that had entertained the guests at his parties during the earlier days of the summer and offered it to me, but I declined, sitting at the side of the pool and letting my legs sway gently in the water. Gatsby dove into the waters and sprang back up quickly, the splash showering me with water. I laughed and blocked the splash from my face, holding my arms out in front of me.

“What was that for?” I exclaimed. Gatsby replied by smirking and grabbing me by the legs, yanking me into the water. I let out a yelp before I was enveloped by a shock of cold, staring up into the dancing blue sunlight of the pool. I surfaced and gasped for air, glaring at Jay.

“You didn’t expect me to let you sit out, did you old sport?” Gatsby replied cheekily before diving back down into the water. I followed, the hesitation gone from me at my friend’s playful approach. We swam for what seemed like hours, but I’m sure now, looking back, that it wasn’t as long as it felt. It was nice to just relax for a while and not have to worry about anything. I have been told many times by many different people that I can be a great worrier. When Gatsby and I had finished with our fun, his butler came out with towels and a change of clothes for each of us. Gatsby hauled himself out of the pool first, water cascading from his body and dripping onto the marble sides of the pool. He took the towel from his butler gratefully, drying off his hair.

“Do you have any other plans for today, sir?” the butler questioned as Gatsby handed back his towel. My host nodded and sent the man on the way, requesting for drinks to me made for the two of us in his piano room and that all his connections for the day be told that he was busy.

“What plans do you have, Gatsby? Will you need me to leave?” I asked him as I made my way to the pool’s ladder. I assumed that he wanted to invite Daisy over again, even though she’d failed to call him that morning like she’d promised. Gatsby turned to me with a look of astonishment, as if I had missed something incredibly obvious.

“Why, of course not, old sport! My plans are with you!” he replied, taking me by surprise to the point I almost lost my grip on the pool ladder. I suppose I should have been used to surprises by now being friends with someone like the great Jay Gatsby, but he never ceased to catch me off guard. I was going to reply to him when a loud shot rang out and I was knocked back into the pool, pain exploding like red hot heat in my chest. I heard Jay cry out my name and saw a figure behind him rush off into his woods just as my body went crashing back into the pool. Instinctively, I gasped for breath and water rushed into my lungs. I choked and coughed and tried to surface but the pain in my chest made me immobile. The coughing only made my lungs fill faster and I could see the corners of my vision turned black. Hands wrapped around my wrist and dragged me to the surface, pulling me over the edge of the pool and lay me flat on the ground. Jay hovered above me with panicked eyes as he gathered me up into his arms and rushed towards the house. I stared blankly up into the expansive sky, the canopy of yellow leaves being the last thing I saw before my vision faded to black.

When I woke up, everything was white. My clothes, the walls, and the curtains that fluttered lightly in the breeze against the windows. At first, I thought I’d died, but then the stifling stench of blood, death, and sickness cascaded over me like an ocean wave of harsh reality. I was in bed. My chest had been wrapped in gauze, which was now bloody. Jay had taken me to a hospital. As I looked around through the haze of nurses and overcrowded hospitals beds for Gatsby, I realized that losing blood was a lot like being drunk. Except it hurt. And my blurred vision was a sign of being close to death rather than intoxication. A thin sheen of sweat covered my body, turning cold against my skin as time passed. I could only move my head; doing much else was painful and I had no desire to slip back into unconsciousness until I saw Jay. I inquired a nurse about Gatsby’s whereabouts, and she informed me that he was using the telephone to call on ‘a certain Mrs. Buchanan’. My thoughts became bitter for a moment, but I quickly scolded myself. Even though Gatsby was borderline obsessed with my dear cousin, he wouldn’t call her to profess his love in the middle of a rotten place like this. No, I knew he was calling to tell her of my plight.

“When do you suppose he’ll return?” I asked the nurse. All she could give me was a shake of her head and a sympathetic smile, and a promise that she would inform him that I had awoken. Neither of us had to wait too long, however, as the familiar face emerged from the crowded hall, skin ashen and his lips pursed tightly. The nurse helped me adjust myself and sit up against the headboard of the hospital bed. Gatsby seemed to relax slightly as he saw me alive and well, and the smallest smile graced his lips.

“How are you holding up, old sport?” Gatsby asked as he sat on the edge of my bed, his voice laced with ill-concealed exhaustion and concern.

“I feel fine. Dizzy, but that’s all,” I lied. My vision became more and more blurred by the minute. I could barely see the outline of Gatsby’s form at this point. “I heard that you were calling Daisy.” Gatsby inhaled sharply and it appeared that I had struck a nerve. When I was greeted by silence my already rapidly beating heart seemed to quicken, and breathing became harder. I blinked rapidly to try and regain some of my vision, to no avail. I could faintly hear Gatsby speaking to me, but I wasn’t jerked back to reality until I felt him grip my hand tightly.

“Nick, old sport, you need to stay awake,” Gatsby said firmly before shouting for a nurse. I looked down to see that the blood on my bandages had spread rapidly. Must’ve been from improper dressings. Blearily, I tried to sit up more but Jay gently grabbed me by the shoulders and pushed me back down. “Stay still.”

“What did Daisy say?” I mumbled, breathless, my vision doubling and becoming a blurred mess. Jay’s grip on my hand tightened.

“I asked her to come to see you, old sport. But she said she can’t get away. I’m-” Gatsby was cut off as a nurse pushed him aside, pulling something along with her. I looked up blankly, my strength slowly fading as the ceiling above melted away into a speckled haze. I could feel the hands of the nurse trying to pull me up straight as if she were trying to pull me off of the bed, but my body was limp in her grip. Jay rushed to my other side and grabbed my shoulder, his eyes blown wide with panic as I saw my name on his lips. Everything around me was silent. I heard nothing. It was as if someone had taken a wad of cotton and stuffed my ears with it. I grabbed onto Gatsby’s wrist, my knuckles white as my skin grew cold and clammy with sweat. As Gatsby’s face went in and out of focus and I felt myself being held in his arms, I knew that I was going to die.

“Nick, Nick, you need to listen to me, alright?” Gatsby said harshly, his voice shaking as he shifted me in his arms so I was looking up at him. He looked scared. I had only seen him look afraid one other time in the few months I‘d known him when Daisy ran away while we were all at the Plaza Hotel. It was funny to me that my death was scary to him. I wasn’t even very afraid, but I suppose that comes with being a little light headed.

“It’s alright Jay,” I mumbled, holding onto his arm weakly to keep myself from falling. “I’m fine. Just a little dizzy.” I repeated the same lie from before as if repeating it would make it come true.

“That’s bullshit and you know it,” Jay snapped, but the anger in his voice was diminished by the way his hands were starting to shake. I let out a gentle sigh as I heard my heartbeat in my ears, the thumping slowing down in a sluggish, random rhythm. I didn’t have the energy to speak anymore. There wasn’t enough left in me to say goodbye. So I simply closed my eyes and allowed myself to drift away. I was greeted by a blinding white light, and at first, I thought that I was alone until a hand reached out from the light. I stepped forward, curious, and took the hand, allowing it to pull me through the light. Then, there was simply nothing. No pain, sadness, no emotions of any kind, just light, and the figure of my deceased father leading me on through the never-ending light.

Gatsby tag list:  @emikochauhan@threepercentlemonjuice@sebastianfuckingmorgenstern  @fall-chemically-atthedisco  @bumble-bitch-sanders @winnie-the-patton@lovesupportandcookies @miluki-izzy @halla-hunts-the-wolf@lucky-clover-cannot-hear-you @dramaticbisexualdisaster@fancyitwasred @aricka-and-her-fictional-others @logical-princey

[ellana-ravenwood]

Cig’ Break - Jason Todd x Reader

I think I’m going to write a story about this. That’s what I think. So here we go, a little love for Jay, because he deserves it. Also, remember kids, smoking is bad, also stay in school and...stuffs. Hope you’ll like it :

You can find my masterlist here : @ella-ravenwood-archives

__________________________________________________

Forty nine. 

That was the number of time Jason Todd’s family tried to convince him to quit smoking. Forty nine times. It always made him feel better, to keep track of their attempts, because it made him feel like they cared about him...Even if, sometimes, their way of showing it would be to grunt at him to stop smoking, because it’ll be the death of him. 

 As a child, Jason was bruised and abused, forgot, abandoned and left to fend for himself, by the very people who were suppose to take care of him...His parents. He had to fight for his life for so long, and met all the wrong people. 

All the wrong people ? 

Not quite. One day, in this dark hazy world he was living in, in one of Gotham City’s poorest neighborhood, he decided that it would be a good idea to steal the famed Batman’s tires and...The rest is history. 

Sure, his life didn’t suddenly become full of rainbows and happiness. Oh no, he really went through Hell and back, he had some extremely tough times but...He gained something he never had before. 

A family. 

A family that cared enough about him to try and convince him to stop smoking almost fifty times. A family that, though he went back to some very dark places never fully gave up on him (though it took Jason a long time to realize that). 

A true family, not bound by blood but by an unbreakable bond forged over the years. A family, like no other, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

So sure, things weren’t always pretty, and sure, he fought a lot with them and such...but at the end of the day, deep down, he knew now that they would always be here for him. Always. It took him a while to understand and realize that, years even. 

For the longest time he thought they didn’t care. He thought he was just a replacement for the Batman, to replace the golden son, Dick. He thought he wasn’t really their brothers. He thought...But he was all wrong. Dying and coming back to life, though at first it made everything worst (oh god so much worst), put things into perspective.

He finally understood the man he came to call “dad” (though it took him some times), Bruce Wayne. Understood why he didn’t kill the Joker, understood why sometimes he was so harsh with him...

Yes. It took years to Jason Todd to understand that he mattered. That he was valid and loved. That without him, the family wouldn’t be the same...It took him years, and it all came down to that moment he decided to start smoking. 

“What ?” You might wonder, but it all makes sense. 

You see, when Jason died and was brought back to life by Ras Al’Ghul, he was angry. He hated his family, and even more his “father” who had abandoned him, left him to die at the hand of that heinous clown. So everything this man he used to adore told me not to...he did. 

He killed, he hurt others, he stole, he emptied his heart of any warm feelings and...he started to smoke. Because once, when he was ten, Bruce had told him that smoking was a terrible habit, after he scolded a man for smoking near him and Dick at a gala. Because that man he used to trust told him not to...he started to smoke. 

And though over the years after his resurrection he finally understood and forgave his father, hell started to call him “dad” again and came back to the live at the mansion, though he accepted to see a therapist and to talk about his feelings, to heal himself of all the pain, though he stopped killing and opened up his heart more...He never stopped smoking. 

Because he kinda liked it. He knew it was a bad habit. He knew it wasn’t healthy. But...he couldn’t quite do everything his dad was telling him to do right ? He had to stay a little bit rebel. So if he had to say a lot of swear words, and to smoke just to piss him off, then he will. 

He couldn’t be the perfect son (hell, none of his brothers were either, his reputation would be RUINED if he was the goody two shoes one right ?). And so, he smoke...besides, after all he’ve been through, listening to his dad, to his brothers, or to Alfred trying to convince him to stop smoking made him feel good. Reassured him that they cared. 

Bruce would always grunt at him whenever he’d light a cigaret. He’d try to snap it out of his hand, though Jason, knowing that, would always end up out of reach before he could. He’d then talk about all the risks that tobacco has, all the single sickness you can get from it, and end with a barely audible : “and I care too much about you to let you do that to yourself so quit it please”. Sometimes, if he was in a good mood (which happened rarely really), he would say those last words louder, from the bottom of his heart, and finish it with a “I love you, son”. 

Dick always joked about his bad smoking habit, but there and there, would put in some comment about how he should stop. But it would always end up with Jason feeling uncomfortable because, if there was one in the “Batfamily” who wasn’t afraid to talk about what he had on his heart, it was Dick, and oh he loved making his little brother feel uncomfortable whenever he started to talk about how it would be impossible to live without him, how awful it was when he was actually dead, how he never wanted to go through that again, how he was suppose to die first because he was the oldest...Yes. His heartfelt revelations would always make Jason feel weird (but also, good), and somehow, they always made him not want to smoke. At least, not around Dick. 

Tim was, just like his father, very pragmatic. He always told Jason how it was. If he kept smoking, then he would die. If he died...then it would break this family, again. The balance of their family was fragile, and losing one of the counter weight would be dramatic. Without Jay, life wouldn’t be the same, and the family couldn’t recover. Always very pragmatic...he almost made Jason cried, once, by telling him how much the family depended on him, and how much it would be such a sad and dark world without him.

Damian was the worst. He wouldn’t really say anything, just take the cigaret out of Jason’s mouth and throw it away, ignoring his protest. It would rarely happen though, because Jason tried to never smoke around the kid...But on those rare few occasions, he wouldn’t even be able to anyway because Damian wouldn’t let him. He would also hide his cig packs, even though he always denied it. For Damian, it was impossible to admit that he wanted to protect his older brother, that this idiot meant so much to him that he had to do something...But Jason knew. Jason knew and, whenever he realized one of his packs of cigaret would be missing, he’d always go spend some times with the brat, annoying him affectionately, ruffling his hair and...Yes. They both knew what they meant for each others, but god forbid they’d ever admit it. 

Jason was never smoking around Alfred, because the butler, whom he came to think about as his grandfather, was too damn convincing. Jason knew that if he listened too much to Aflred, he would quit smoking for good, and he didn’t want to...maybe, one day, when he’ll realize that being a rebel is “stupid”. In the meantime, Alfred would always leave little snarky and full of wits comments whenever he smelled the gross scent of cold cigaret on Jason. Sometimes, he would even make him flinch, by telling him things like : “If you ever die from cancer before me my boy, my heart will be broken” and such. 

Yup. His family always tried to make him quit but...he wouldn’t. Not now at least. Besides, if he had listened to them, then he would never have met you..

************

That night, you were restless. You just couldn’t sleep, it was too fucking hot ! 

The problem in Gotham City, is that when it’s cold, it’s really goddamn cold, and when it’s hot ? Burns as if you were living in Hell (and maybe, somehow, you were, though you loved your hometown). 

Your AC was broken and you couldn’t really open your windows...this was Gotham after all, one open window could lead to a lot of trouble. And so you decided to climb on your building’s rooftop, with a blanket and a pillow. 

The rooftop was always empty, why would anyone go up there ? It was where you went when you wanted to be alone. To look around the city, without being seen. Besides, a few time, you saw one of those night vigilante jumping around ! It was just a really cool place. 

And on really hot nights ? The best. It was the best. A fresh breeze would always be up there, and you managed to sleep comfortably more than once. You had made a little nest up there, with an old mattress you stopped using a while ago, and fairy lights. 

It felt safe too, because...again, why would anyone go up on the rooftop ? Especially in the middle of the night. 

And here you were, climbing up the ladders to get there, with a blanket and a pillow...and that’s when you met him. 

He was sitting on your old mattress, back to you.

At first, you froze. The Hell ? Who was that ? What was he doing there ? No one ever got up there but you ! You quickly realized thought that he was...one of them. And his mask was off. 

Or rather, his helmet. It was sitting next to him...Red Hood. 

Yup. That was Red Hood, the most violent one (and that was saying a lot). But you weren’t afraid, because wasn't he just violent toward criminals ? 

You lived your entire life in Gotham, and you never even nicked a candy bar ! And so you slowly walked toward him, wondering what you were going to say to him...What ? “Hum excuse me, but you’re in my bed ?”...

He scared you when he turned around, ready to fight and...Oh my god. It was Jason Todd Wayne ! One of Bruce Wayne’s adopted son ! ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS MAN IN GOTHAM !

And it suddenly hit you. Of course. It would make sense. Bruce Wayne had a motives to become the bat, and the money. And all the little Robins around him...of course. They were his kids. Well damn. What a discovery. 

-Wow. You’re one of the Wayne boys. 

Was all you were able to say on the moment. The stranger tried to put his helmet back on fast, but he knew it was too late. Fuck ! 

You walk up to him, and he stares at you. You notice the cigaret in his hands and you say : 

-Can I have a drag ? 

He looks at you, surprised. He’s almost a hundred percent sure you recognized him so..why don’t you react much ? 

Truth is, you don’t want to react. I mean, you don’t want anyone else but you to know their secrets, because it would ruin them ! And Gotham needed the “Batfamily” (it’s how gothamites came to call all of them). 

Unsure, Jason gives you the cigaret and you take a drag, coughing because you’re not use to actually smoke. You turn to him, and he slowly takes his helmet off again. What’s the point in hiding, you knew who he was.

He looks at you curiously, as you smoke on his cigaret and look in front of you, at the view of Gotham you have. Why don’t you say anything ? 

The truth is, you don’t really wanna talk. You’re tired. And you just made a really cool discovery that you’ll forever keep secret because that’s the right thing to do. So you don’t want to talk. You just want to sit there, in peace. 

He doesn’t really seem to mind so, you know. Besides, he’s sitting on your bed. If anyone was to leave, it would be him ! But he doesn’t. 

Oh no. No, Jason is captivated by how little you seem to care that he’s  the famous Red Hood (famous for doing some awful things, not just for saving the city). He can't get over the way you just discovered that he was Jason Todd Wayne, that he saw the shock on your face and yet...a small smile replaced your shocked face rapidly, and you just casually went to sit next to him, asking to take a fucking drag off of his fucking cigaret ! 

Who were you ? What was your name ? Why weren’t you running away ? Or yelling everywhere that you knew who the Red Hood was ? 

Later. You’d tell him later. In fact, you’d answer all his questions another day. Because today, he wouldn’t ask you anything else. And you wouldn’t speak, just look upon Gotham. 

He takes the cigaret out of your hands and smokes a bit too, before giving it back to you. 

You spend the night there, in comfortable silence, with an almost total stranger (you only knew things you saw on TV about him). You barely recall falling asleep at some point...when you wake up you’re alone, but you have the intimate conviction you’ll see him again. 

************

It becomes a habit. Every night, you go up on your roof, and he’s there. Sometimes he doesn’t stay much, just the time to smoke a cigaret with you, and then he leaves. Probably to fight crime. 

Sometimes he stays hours...and that’s when you start to talk. 

(Y/N) (Y/L/N). Your name rolls so perfectly on his tongue. 

You explain to him why you won’t tell anyone who he really is, or who his entire family really is. You explain why you’re grateful for him to exist, because you always lived in Gotham and you know without them it wouldn’t be the same. You tell him so many things, and oh, he talks back. 

He finds himself talking to you more than he ever talked to anyone else. Whenever it’s your turn to take drags on the cigaret, he would tell you about himself. What he liked and disliked. 

Eventually, he talks about the dark part in himself. Why it’s there. What happened. That time he first speaks about it...is the first time you actually touch him. It’s not just a small brush of your hand on his as you take his cigaret from his hands. No. You lay your head on his shoulder. You close the gap that was there since day one between you, and lay your head on his shoulder, wrapping an arm around his waist. 

His breath hitches slightly, before he wraps his own arm around your shoulder, and you stay like that. For a long time. Just snuggling against each others. 

************

The nights he can’t stay long are the one you hate the most. Those nights, you usually just share a cigaret in silence. You sometimes listen to music, discovering each other’s taste in that...realizing that all your favorite bands are the same. Most of the time, you’re in each other’s arms. 

Nothing else happen. No. You just...hug, give each other warmth. 

************

The calm nights, when he can say...Those are the best. You talk for hours, about everything and nothing at the same time. 

He quickly becomes your best friend. 

And always, you share a cigaret, your touches lingering each time longer whenever you pass the cig to each others.

************

He tastes...like ash. Of course he does. He smokes too much. 

You taste like that too, like cigaret. But there’s also a hint of raspberry that he loves...and, lime ? 

The first time he kisses you, it’s on one of those nights he has time to say. One of those nights he’s not called to go fight crime. 

It’s well into Autumn by the time, and the nights aren’t as hot anymore. You’re wrapped in a blanket when he arrives and...he’s hurt. He bleeds slightly from his brow. 

You go down in your apartment to fetch some stuffs, but he doesn’t follow. It would be too dangerous. What if someone sees him going in your apartment ? 

So he stays up, and it’s so damn cold. 

Oh Gotham. Only two settings. Freezing cold, or hot as hell. Or rainy. Like, “Noah, I hope you build a kick ass ark because man that’s a lot of water” rainy. 

You’re back in an instant, and clean his wound rapidly. And...you don’t really know how it happens. It just sort of...does. 

Your hand lingers on his wound, and he reaches up to catch it. 

Your breath lets out small clouds and he realizes that you must be freezing...He feels guilty because he’s the reason your up there, so he wraps you better in your blanket and brings you close to him. Only, instead of laying your head on his chest, as you often do, you keep your eyes up. 

You stare at him. At his cut. And he can’t help himself. 

His lips are on yours all of a sudden. And they’re so oh so soft, even if a little chapped. You respond to his kiss instantly, and it only feels natural when you open your mouth to let his tongue go in. 

He taste like ash. And you do too...but you have a little taste of raspberry and lime as well. He loves it. 

************

Sometimes, you fight. 

But it’s never too bad. It’s always about somethings stupid. And it would usually result in you guys kissing...

************

It’s funny, how the fact that you kissed doesn’t change anything. You guys still meet up every night, as if nothing. Sometimes, you kiss again. Sometimes, you don’t. And always, you talk and embrace. Always. 

************

But one day, it’s not enough. Your cigaret breaks are amazing but...it’s time that Jason Todd and (Y/N) (Y/L/N) becomes a thing out there as well. 

It’s weird, the first time you see your face on a newspaper with the title : “Sorry Ladies, the second Wayne boys, Jason, is not single anymore !”, with a picture of you and him walking in the streets, hand in hand.

But it’s ok. It’s fine. Because...He’s your best friend. He’s...Because...you love...Because. 

************

-I love you, (Y/N). 

He tells you, while it’s your turn to take a drag off of the cigaret you share that night. You almost swallow the cigaret out of shock. It’s the first time he tells you that, it’s a big deal. And yet...and yet it’s not. 

-I...I love you too. 

He nods. Brings you closer, and takes the cigaret. His turn to take a drag. And so it’s done. But of course. You love each others, as simple as that. 

************

There’s only one night that you guys didn’t meet on the roof. You were sick that day, and knew you couldn’t go up there...

You were utterly surprised when you heard a knock on the door and there he was. Even more surprised when he explained that his father gave him a day off of patrol to take care of you...

And though you were sick, that night...That night is the first time you and him made love. And oh it was so delicious and warm to wake up in his arms come down morning. 

************

This went on for years. It was your little ritual. 

Of course, nowadays you’d live together, in a nice apartment Bruce found for you two, in Gotham Central. 

And of course, he would now have days off given to him by his father, to be with you. Oh Bruce. He absolutely adored you. He said he noticed a change in Jason after he first met you. A nice change. A noticeable one. He stopped smoking since with you...of course, you didn’t talk about that one cigaret you always shared, every nights. This was your thing, with you and Jason. 

Yes. Jason’s father adored you. And the positivity you had on his entire family, because oh you were such a ray of sunshine. And there was nothing better than to witness you and your recklessness put someone in their place at a gala...he loved how you always spoke your mind ! (He’ll never forget that day you told him to fuck off after he was a bit of a dick to his sons...it was so refreshing to have someone stand up against him and put him back in his place when he was being a douche, so beneficial). 

Really, his entire family came to love you. His brothers like a sister, Alfred like a granddaughter etc etc. How could they not love you ? You saved Jason from himself, after all. And he quit smoking for you ! 

Oh but if they knew about your little nightly ritual...

Your little ritual, of going ont he rooftop to smoke a cigaret was happening almost every night. It was great. It was calm moments, and though sometimes they were short because Jason still had to save the city...They were always great. 

Up until one day...

************

It’s another one of those extremely hot summer night in Gotham. You and Jason met almost ten years ago, and have been together for nearly eight. 

You’re waiting for him. Right now, he must have left the bat cave and will be there soon. You’re waiting for him, looking upon Gotham as you did all those years ago.

And finally, finally he’s here. 

He kisses you, and smiles. He always smiles when around you. 

He takes his cigaret pack off and...you stop him. 

-Not today Jason. 

He looks at you curiously. Uh ? What...What’s the matter ? What is wrong ? ...Are you going to leave him ?! 

The thought terrifies him and he finds himself petrified, not able to utter a single word. You instantly see how he stiffens, how he freezes and you understand. So you reassure him : 

-I’m not going anywhere honey, I just...I’m...I can’t smoke tonight. It wouldn’t be safe. 

He’s confused. What ? 

And then it hits him. The way you look at him, and the hand you have on your stomach. His breath hitches, and, voice shaking a bit, he asks : 

-...Really ? And...Mine ? 

You roll your eyes at that, but you nod. Yes. Really. His. 

And it’s like all the hardship he went through vanished, all his worries, his pain...everything disappear. He feels a surge of happiness growing inside him, as he lunges towards you and takes you in his arms. 

Finally, just in case, you confirm : 

-Yes Jay. Really. And it’s yours. You’re going to be a father Jay, you’re going to be a father...

The pack of cigaret he had in his hand falls to the floor and...it’s the last time he ever touched one. Because this is it. This is the time. 

The time when he realizes that being a rebel and annoying his father...it’s over (well, the rebel part at least, he could never stop driving his dad crazy). 

The time he realizes it’s time to grow up. To be more responsible. To...To change truly. 

Because he’s going to have a child. And there’s no way he’ll ever let this kid be in danger, threatened or anything...ever...especially not by him. 

And so on that day, Jason Peter Todd took a decision. 

And you did too. 

There would be no more cigaret in the Todd-(Y/L/N) household ever again (well, at least until your child will decide it’s time to enter a rebel phase as well, and will sneak on the rooftop to smoke...just like you used to). 

The End.

_______________________

As usual, I drifted away from the initial idea again...Sorry ‘bout that, I can just never control my writing, I never know what I’ll end up writing based on a prompt I receive so...yeah, hope you still like it :/. Also guys, let’s be honest, is this too descriptive ? I realize there’s almost NO dialogues in there...is it bad ? Should have I made them talk more, instead of describing scenes ? You tell me...I just felt like this would be a “not much talk” kind of stories but I might be totally wrong eh

[whoisntgayforgatsby]

You Are So Beautifully Unaware, Darling

Nick goes to visit Gatsby, using the excuse of a forgotten umbrella. To his dismay, Gatsby is feeling ill so, Nick stays with him to make him feel better since Gatsby doesn't quite know what being sick is like. He never intended on confronting his feelings.

Its nearly half past ten when I crack the large knocker on Gatsby's front door. One of his servants opens the door with a flat expression.

"Morning, Christian." I nod at him and he lets out a huff.

"What would you like, Mr. Carroway?" He asks me and I bite the tip of my tongue lightly.

"Well, I'm just returning this to Gatsby," I present the umbrella that I'd been using as a cane as I'd stood there. "He left it at my house yesterday when the rain stopped." I explain as he looks me over.

"Mr. Gatsby has not risen yet, I will inform him you came." That was an odd statement as Gatsby was always, always up far before myself. Maybe those late nights finally caught up to him.

"I also brought some tea that he liked. I could make him some to rise to?" Real subtle, Nick.

The butler sighs at me, knowing that I wouldn't be leaving until I was allowed to see Gatsby. He steps aside slightly.

"Alright, we'll we will have the maid make the tea. You can bring it to him."

I relent and hand the tea to one of the scrawny, blonde girls in tight clothing and she bounds off with her fake breasts towards the kitchen.

I see Gatsby has a type other than Daisy and it surely isn't me. I may be hopelessly queer but, I'm not blind. The girls are stunning. Not as much as Gatsby, of course but, you get the point.

I give the room a once over. I've been into this place at least a thousand-and-sixteen times and I still don't know more than about three or four of the rooms in the building.

“Sir, the tea is ready.” A dark-haired, olive-skinned maid says, carrying a tray my way. She was extremely beautiful and I smile at her.

“Thank you.” I give her a nod and take the serving tray from her.

“Would you like me to show you where his room is?” She asks me kindly.

“No, that’s fine, I’ve been there before. Thank you again.” I smile for a second time at her.

“Okay.” She bows lightly before hurrying back towards the kitchen.

I wander my way through at least five rooms, the dining room, the ballroom, a sunroom, another ballroom and the library, before I stumble upon his bedroom. It should’ve been much easier to find as it says ‘Gatsby’ in big, bold, golden script across the door.

I tap against the wooden door. “Gatsby?” I speak slightly louder than usual. The door is open a crack and I push it gently. It swings open slowly with a creak. There’s a mound of pillows and blankets overflowing off of Gatsby’s bed. It sends a light panic through me as I place the tray down on a table near the door. “Jay…?” I ask, my voice smooth but loud throughout the house-sized room.

The mound stirs and there’s the sound of muffled coughing and choking before all of them burst upright, flying everywhere and a confused and agitated looking Gatsby is sat upright in the middle of it all. His hair is mussed and he has a faint stubble on his cheeks.

He groans and lets out a feeble cough before tipping forward. I panic and scurry to him. “Jay! Are you alright?” I croak as I reach him. Gatsby tips onto his side, lying like a toddler that decided to sleep exactly where they were. He looks up at me with his big blue eyes, shining sickly.

Gatsby grabs me by the collar of my shirt. “Nick! I-... I think I may be dying! I-... My chest feels like it’s caving in on me and I-I… I can’t breathe and my nose is stuffed and I keep choking… Nick, my head, it-”

I start to laugh, I can’t help it.

“Nick! What are you laughing at me? I am dying! ” He gasps dramatically.

“Jay, calm down,” I chuckle and my finger press to his forehead. “You’ve just a fever.” I shake my head.

“I-... What?” He sits up a bit, getting closer to my face as he was still gripping my collar desperately.

“Just got a cold, you’re fine.” I pat his hair down a little. He collapses back to his bed and yanks me with him, I land flat over his chest.

I scramble to my feet and Gatsby lets go. I’m pretty sure that he didn’t notice my franticness and my distressed state.

I clear my throat and brush my hands over my coat before shakily making my way back to where I’d placed the tea, taking my suit jacket off and placing it over my arm. “Where are you going?” Gatsby sits and sways dizzily. “Don’t tell me your leaving.” He sounded more like a scared child than a disappointed adult.

“I-... I brought you tea. I thought it may help you wake,” I show him the tray as I walk it across the room and place it on the table closest to his bed. “If your throat is sore then this may help that as well.” I hold a cup out to him, he stares for a moment before taking in shaking hands.

“Thank you, old sport,” He’s suddenly shy as he sips at the still hot tea. “You-...” He hesitates for only a second before sliding over on his massive bed. “You can sit, Nick.”

I think for a moment and sit on the edge. He waits a bit before moving closer to me and leaning to place the cup down. He coughs feebly into his arm and pulls the covers around him like a small child would. Everything about him is so innocently reminiscent of a small kid, unsure of most things even when he usually doesn’t show it, it’s still there.

“Thank you for coming over, old sport,” He brushes his arm to mine. “You’re a good, honest man, Nick… I admire you.”

“I’m not great, I just act the way that people should act, you know?” I mumble and he gives me a confused glance. “They’re a rotten crowd,” I say, referring to our awful friend group. “You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.” That was the only compliment I have ever paid Gatsby and it makes his cheeks burn.

“I-... Thank you, Nick…” He mumbles to himself. “I like you a fair amount more than the others myself.”

Gatsby yawns and rubs his eyes. “I should let you sleep.” I go to stand but he grabs my shirt with both his hand.

“No!” He flushes, wide-eyed at his outburst. “I-... I just meant, well… Please stay, old sport.”

I’m not quite sure what to say. I’m so flustered by Gatsby’s touch that I can barely breathe let alone think or speak. Gatsby has also never been one to stutter or stammer or trip over his words, he spoke so slowly and calmly with no hesitation. Suddenly, he’s spewing words and thoughts and things that healthy Gatsby would avoid. Sick Gatsby however, trips over himself in a flustered haze.

“Of course, Jay.” My voice is weak.

“Okay…” He breathes.

“Jay?” I ask and he hums to show he’s listening. “Have you never been sick before?”

“Well, I obviously was as a child but not since long before I left home.” He admits. I touch his forearm lightly and shy away like a spooked deer.

“I understand now.” I nod and he gives me a wary look.

“What?” He croaks and coughs against my shoulder.

“Why you panicked like you did. You don’t know what being sick is like,” I answer, glancing at him and he nods, falling asleep as he was and his head falls to my shoulder. “Jay.” I croak and shrug.

He sits up and looks at me, confused. “Oh, sorry.” He yawns again and I turn more to him.

“Jay, I can-” He falls to my chest this time and I freeze. I honestly can’t move with the way his head fell so intimately on me. I swallow and try to force some kind of human sound from my mouth but, all that comes is a broken squeak.

His arms fall around me as he gets comfortable, making me fall over. He doesn’t so much as stur at the feeling. I surrender, accepting my fate. Being gay and trapped under the most wonderful man on the earth truly is torture.

I bring my hand up and pull it away before I touch him, hesitating for far too long before pressing my fingers into his hair, stroking it like a cat. I swear he’s purring like one but, he is sick and probably just stuffed up, causing him to snore. I get to stare at him now too. He’s flawless.

I run my hand down to his cheek, cupping it and getting a little too brave as I rub my thumb over his stubbly jaw. His skin is so damn soft and my heart is pounding. I’m shocked that it hadn’t woken him yet.

“Yes, old sport.” He rasps in his sleep, pressing his face more to me and gripping at the shirt at my sides, making a suspender clip pop from my pants.

I wonder what he dreams about. Who that ‘old sport’ is directed at? What had they said for him to agree to it? I wanted to ask him about it but, that would be a bit much.

“Darling, yes…” His voice is slurred. “I like that, Darling .” He releases my right side and fumbles around until his hand clasps my wrist and thumb with his in my palm.

I tense and feel his fingers twitch when I slide my hand up into his hair. He hums contently and a smile ticks at his lips, broken by a single cough that shakes him. I believe he’s about to awake as he sturs and I flinch, clenching my eyelids shut forcefully.

He doesn’t though and he laces a leg around one of mine, his foot peeking from the covers at the edge of the bed. He whines and his forehead crunches. “Love?” He croaks out as a question. “No… Actually, maybe… Yes, yes I do.” His head nods a bit.

Daisy.

He was probably talking to me about loving Daisy, or it could be Tom. His words aren’t harsh or laced with venom like they usually are when he’s speaking with Tom. I just assume it’s me because of how gentle his words are, he only speaks to a small few with that tone.

I continue twirling his hair over my fingers and massaging his scalp subconsciously. I can feel his heart beating and it’s so nice. I could, for just this one moment in time, pretend that Jay Gatsby wasn’t in love with my cousin or that he was impossibly heterosexual. Just for now, I could pretend we were safely in love and that I wasn’t hopelessly and madly falling for such a far away man.

“Gatsby.” I whisper to myself as I push his hair away from his face.

“Nick.” He answers groggily and clings tighter to me. Another feeble cough rumbles in his chest.

I pull his blanket around him as I can see a small part of his exposed stomach and it was driving me insane. He was driving me insane. How could he not? He was beautiful with his short, blond hair and his long, black eyelashes. His blue eyes that shone brighter than the stars on a crystal clear evening, that were deeper than the ocean and bluer than the perfect pool in his yard.

That smile. Don’t get me started on it.

Lord, that was one hell of a smile. It purified me and was a sin all at once.

His lips were so pink and so plump and smooth looking, so kissable.

I don’t even realize I’m falling asleep until I’m far too gone.

⚣

I wake and find Gatsby still in place and my fingers still wrapped in his hair. He’d drooled all on my shirt and curled more into me. I smile because, somehow, when he felt like absolute rubbish and was having weird fever dreams and drooling all over me, he still looked as perfect as always.

He coughs a bit and lets out a soft whimper, hiccuping. It’s beyond cute. And, his eyes suddenly scrunch hard and he sneezes so hard that I’m afraid he broke a rib.

His eyes flash open but, he doesn’t move one bit, other than his eyes. I detangle my fingers as discreetly as possible and his head flies upward. Our eyes meet and we both burn crimson.

Gatsby sits up and prys our limbs apart, fumbling to the other side of the bed from me. “I’m so sorry, Nick.” He chokes out as he pulls the blankets more around himself to hide his face.

“It’s fine, Jay.” I assure and he peers out at me.

“Lord! I drooled all over you! I am so sorry, Nick! Let me get you-”

“Gatsby, calm down. It’s fine. You’re ill, sick people do weird stuff that means nothing. We’re fine.” I insist calmly, touching his wrist. His movement seizes and he sits like an agitated dog.

“I still feel bad, old sport,” He frowns. “Your shirt is gross now.”

I sigh. “If it will make you feel better, I’ll go find myself a new shirt, okay?” I offer and he relents.

“You can take anything. Keep anything.” He tells me and I roll my eyes. I’ll only keep it until it no longer smells of his wonderful scent.

I find a silky, pink shirt and wander back to where Gatsby was on the bed. I pull my suspenders free and begin to undo my shirt buttons, leaving the shirt on the bed.

“What are-... You-... You’re changing?... Here ?” He asks with a slight crack in his voice, like it pains him.

“Oh-...” I stop popping the buttons. “Sorry, I can-”

“It’s fine, I just-... You don’t seem like the type that would… Well… Undress in front of strangers.” He coughs and his body shakes.

“Oh, so we’re strangers, huh?” I tease. “Didn’t know strangers slept on other strangers.” He blushes furiously.

“I meant like-like…. People! In general, Nick!” He breaks into a hysterical coughing fit that brings me to sit and rub his back until it calms. He pants and reaches his arm out for his tea. I hand it to him and he sips the ice-cold flavored water.

“I was teasing you, it’s alright, Jay.” I chuckle lightly, sanding and finishing off my shirt before sliding it off.

Gatsby reaches out and retreats so fast that I almost believe that it was my imagination. “Okay?” I ask him and he coughs.

“I-... Fine. I just was-... I was going to-...” His eyes flicker for an excuse before pointing to my leg. “Your pocket.”

I notice it’s untucked and I press my fist into it to fix it. “Thanks.” I nod and reach to the shirt without paying attention and brus my hand with his. We both jump a bit and quickly recover as he thrusts the shirt my way. I slide it on and button it up.

“You-... Nick, you missed a button, Darling,” He breathes and his eyes get wide as he looks up to see if I’d heard. I had. “Sorry, I-... Old sport.” Is the only explanation he gives me before pulling me to the bed to fix my buttoning error. He redoes them all except for the top three or four.

I reach for them an he pushes my hands back. “What?” I ask.

“That’s how you-...” He turns away for a second, processing his next words. “How you get all the ladies.” He nods and I touch the exposed skin.

“Do you like it better this way?” I blurt without a single thought. Gatsby looks taken aback and that is surly a new look that I haven’t seen ever before.

“I-... I’m not a girl, old sport. It doesn’t matter.” He shakes his head, almost like he’s ridding himself of any other thought.

“It does matter.” I answer and he continues shaking his head.

“You’re looking for a woman so, you have to wear your clothes the right way to get them.”

“What about guys , Jay? What would they like?” I press and he still doesn’t seem to get the hint, like he’s shaking it away.

“What does it matter, Nick? You’re trying to woo Jordan Baker.” He dismisses me.

“What if I’m not, though?” I’m on my knees, close to Gatsby. He reaches out and touches my bare skin.

“You are.”

“Not.” I finish for him.

“Then, who ?” He asks and I sigh, slumping back.

“Nobody,” I mumble. “If it’s not apparent then it’s not worth it, Jay. Just get some sleep.” I shake my head and Jay places a hand on my thigh.

“Nick… Tell me,” He says and something in his eyes says he knows already. “ Say it .”

“What do you want me to say?”

“Who are you trying to impress, old sport?”

“You.”

And, Gatsby kisses me. He presses me back to the bed and kisses me so hard I can’t remember our names. He kisses me until his lungs burn and he chokes.

“Thank, God, I was right.” He pants so soft it’s hard to make out what he was saying.

“How could you not be?” I say just as soft.

“I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to get my hopes up. I was awake most of the time you played with my hair and-... And, I couldn’t tell.” He laughs to himself as my cheeks get red.

“Just kiss me and shut up… Maybe then you’ll feel better.”

"I already do."

And, we kiss and kiss and kiss.

[jaybeartodd]

Colleagues Pt 13/17 -- Jason Todd x fem. reader

Warnings: cursing, violence, so much angst good grief

Word Count: 2138

Tags: @sarcasmismyfirstlove @tsctd @multi-fandom-dumpster @wordsmusicandchocolate @cattwomannn

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17

“It is very nice to finally meet you Y/N,” Black Mask steps out from the shadows. You clench your teeth as the fear settles in. He paces in front of you with his hands clasped behind his back. “Never have we had someone so valuable in our presence.”

“Shocking, considering the warm welcome,” you say sarcastically and he turns his metallic face towards you. Your head jerks back at the coldness of his gaze. He smiles, amused at your reaction, and walks towards you.

“I see why he likes you,” he grabs your chin. You jerk against his icy touch but he squeezes tight enough to leave a bruise. With a sigh, he shoves your faces away and steps back.

“You see, your brother is even more terrible at making decisions than you are. Hence,” he throws his arms out, “why your family is in this situation in the first place.”

He pulls out a knife and points it tauntingly at you. “Why can’t your family follow simple instructions?”

“Why do you have such a tendency to hold on to grudges?” you ask and he laughs hauntingly making you shudder.

“Because my dear, without justice there is no order,” he places the knife under your chin making you stare into his lifeless eyes, “That’s what your beloved vigilantes say anyways.”

“Then get it over with. Just kill me!” You shout. “I am the one who disobeyed so punish me!” 

He continues to smile at you and removes the knife from your throat.

“No dear it isn’t that simple,” he makes a gesture and two men walk out holding a shivering Trey. He looks at you with terrified watery eyes. You jerk against the ropes in fury.

“Let him go you bastards!” you scream and you feel Nick struggling against his own ropes behind you.

“Since this whole ordeal began with your brother’s terrible decision making, I thought it would be a clean ending to our story together with him making one final decision.“ he cuts the bonds from your hands and two of his goons grab you roughly. They drag you next to Trey while Mask turns Nick’s chair around so he is facing the entire situation. 

“It’s going to be okay,” you say to Trey but his lip only trembles in response. Nick is looking at the two of you with absolute insanity in his eyes. 

“Now Nick, who do you love more? Your sister,” Mask points at you and then Trey, “Or your son?”

Nick struggles against the bonds, “No, let them go!” His voice cracks in desperation.

You watch completely helpless as your brother crumples before you.

“Come on, Nick. We don’t have all day. And my friend is very curious.” At this Scarecrow emerges next to you holding a syringe. You turn away from him in horror. 

Gathering your courage you speak up with a surprisingly steady voice, “It’s okay Nicky. Choose Trey,” you hold back the tears so Nick will know how serious you are. The tears instead stream down his face and he shakes his head.

“No help from the audience!” Mask yells and pulls a gun from one of his goons. You let out a yelp of pain when the bullet pierces your shoulder. 

“Choose Nick! Or you all go down.” Mask turns the gun so that it is resting on Nick’s forehead. You give a shaky smile and nod your head.

“5, 4, 3, 2,” Mask looks at Nick but he remains tight-lipped in fear, “1.”

You let out a bloodcurdling scream as  a shot vibrates through the room.

“Damn it, Y/N. Pick up the friggin’ phone,” Jason grumbles punching the hang up button. He pockets the phone and turns on his earpiece in his helmet.

“I am going to check up on Y/N,” he says and revs the engine on his motorcycle.

“Let us know if you need anything,” Tim’s voice comes through.

“Will do Timbers.” He cuts through the winding streets towards your apartment growing more anxious by the second.

“It is probably fine, she might be in the shower or maybe she fell asleep.” a voice inside his head tries to calm his nerves. But he has been in this way too long to not assume his worst fears.

He pulls up to your building and relaxes slightly that it remains intact and not blown up or on fire etc. etc. Deciding not to scare the shit out of your neighbors by walking in his full get-up into the building, he opts to climb in through the fire escape. Yes, much less creepy Jason. He gets to your apartment and peers in but his vision is obscured by curtains. He knocks on the window but receives no answer.

“Alright Y/N, this is what you get for having a paranoid boyfriend,: he whispers before gently nudging the window open. He looks at it confused. “Note to self: make Y/N lock her damn windows. We literally live in the freaking crime capital of the world.”

He imagines that conversation with you turning it on him for breaking into your apartment. Followed with a quick remark about him being the one who runs around at night fighting criminals. You are the one always knocking him from any high horse he tries to mount. Damn, he is really falling for you.

At first glance there is no reason to think anything is out of the ordinary. Considering his current attire he decides to do silent recon to prevent outing himself to Nick. 

His attention is brought to the front door where the pizza box from your dinner together lies. Seems like an odd place to put it. And he did not think you would waste the pizza you had obsessively talked about and then devoured in under 30 seconds. He bends down to pick it up when the notices a splatter in the corner of his eye. He walks towards it for a closer inspection and confirms his fears; a blood splatter. 

“Shit, no, no, no,” he frantically walks to the bedroom door and flings it open to find it empty as well as the bathroom.

“She’s gone,” he says between gritted teeth into the earpiece as he strides towards the window.

“Wait, what? What is going on?” Dick asks being the ever-so-calm-and-caring of the batfamily. Which Jason usually has little tolerance for but that little bit was erased in this scenario.

“Y/N! She is fucking gone! They got her and Nick!” he yells frustrated and punches the wall. He should have stayed. He should have called earlier. He should have done SOMETHING.

“Listen, Red. You have got to stay calm and leave the walls alone that I am sure you are destroying. Is there anyway we can track them?’ He lifts his head as something occurs to him.

“Her phone. I-I gave her a phone she could use to call me,” he says with a bit of hope, “I am sending you the info now, Tim. Can you get me a location?”

“Yes, give me five minutes,” he says and Jason races to his bike. 

“We will find her,” Bruce’s voice comes through the earpiece. Jason almost laughs at the irony.

“That’s what I said to her about Black Mask,” he mumbles.

“Got it,” Tim says lifting Jason’s spirits the slightest bit. With his heart racing, he pushes back the horrifying images of you in Black Mask‘s hands and guns it all the way there. Cutting the engine, he starts running towards the entrance when a  hand smacks against his chest.

“Cool it, Red. We need to do some recon first so we aren’t just flying in there blind,” Dick whispers and Jason turns fiery eyes towards him.

“Cool it? Y/N and Nick are in there with Black Mask and whoever else decided to join the fucking Evil Gang of the Week, “Jason hisses. His guns burn hot in his holsters as his fingers itch to use them to eliminate any threat.

“Nightwing is right, We have to-” Batman is cut of fby a piercing scream coming from inside. Any inhibitions Jason had before completely disappear as his vision turns red with fury.

“Jason, no!” a voice faintly interjects but Jason pushes on and charges into the building. He kicks down the door and has his guns poised for the kill shot. When the dust clears, however, there are no goons in sight. But the source of the screaming is revealed and Jason stumbles towards your shaking body lying on the floor.

“Y/N? Can you hear me?” a panicked voice yells grabbing your face between his hands.

“Jason! Th-they’re dead, Jay. They’re gone. He took them in front of me and there was nothing I-” you break as tears fall in heavy currents down your cheeks and sobs beat at your throat. The image remains vivid and unrelenting in your mind. Your brother and nephew taken from you.

“And now me too, Y/N,” Jason’s voice changes and you look up at him confused.

“W-what are you talking about Jay?” you ask shakily. He gives your favorite smirk causing you to let your guard down in the slightest bit. All of a sudden a gun appears behind him.

“Jason! NO!” but your scream is drowned out by the noise of a fatal shot completing the genocide of your loved ones in one fatal battle.

“No, no, no, no,” you repeat scratching at your head in agony. Your body begins to succumb to the fear and your vision darkens around the edges.

“Y/N? Can you hear me?” Jason yells holding down your arms as you begin attacking your own face.

“She was injected with the fear toxin,“ a distraught Nick says from behind. He is currently holding a weeping Trey in his arms and staring horrified at your shaking and bleeding form. Jason’s blood runs cold knowing the effects of the fear toxin firsthand.

Jason’s eyes trail down to the blood soaking through your shirt on your right shoulder. He swallows back the emotion rising.

“I need a little help over here,” he yells hoarsely.

Dick slides in next to Jason and grabs your arms to hold you down. Jason rips off a piece of your shirt and ties it around your wound to staunch the bleeding. 

“Robin and Red Robin, get Nick and Trey out of here,” Batman’s commanding voice booms through the turmoil, “Nightwing, you and I are going to follow Mask. Red Hood, you need to get Y/N to the cave for the antidote. Take the Batmobile and hurry.”

Jason frantically nods and your struggling turns into trembling as your strength exits your body. He swings you into his arms and takes you to the batmobile. Gently setting you in, he kisses your sweaty cheek. 

“Y/N, come on Doll. You are one of the strongest people I have ever met,” he races over to the driver’s seat and takes one more look at your pale face stained with tears, “You can fight this.” His voice wavers with emotion and he steps down hard onto the gas.

“Haven’t I lost enough?!” he wants to scream at God but remains concentrated on the road towards the Batcave. 

Jay jumps out of the car and grabs your now unconscious body while Alfred joins you two with a syringe.

“I have the antidote ready, Master Todd. Set her on this table,” Alfred says. He lies you down and strokes the strand from your face softly whispering your name to keep him from going mad. Alfred injects the serum and Jason holds his breath waiting for yours to follow. When the effects don’t immediately take effect and your breathing remains halted, he assumes the worst and feels the soul crushing weight of lost pizza dates or pointless banter or pride in himself for once for having such an amazing woman be a part of his life. Then your chest begins moving in sync with normal breathing pace and Jason exhales the breath in relief. He lets out a relieved laugh and places his head on your chest relishing in the sweet sound of a steady heartbeat.

Alfred then beings to pull out the materials to stitch your bullet wound and starts patching it up. Thankfully, the shot was clean with a clear exit and only needs stitches. Jay pulls up a chair and sits next you with your small hand in his.

“This time I really do promise, we will get him. And this,” he stares sadly at your sleeping face before falling into anger at what you had been through, “Will never ever happen again.” He kisses your hand and holds it to his forehead.

Alfred leaves the two of you like that with a feeling of melancholy and being all to aware that you are both way too young to have such familiarity with death.