#and buddy i am fucking toning it down for the internet let me assure you

[chekovsphaser]

I didnt accomplish much today but I did do two tasks I'd marked as urgent and then put off for two weeks (empty bathroom trash change smelly sheets). Have hope I will continue to make small improvements to my living conditions throughout the week to the point where my apartment is in acceptable enough condition that I can finally get the plumber to come look at my shower.

[riverdalepoet]

ALL I EVER WANTED (part 3)

PAIRINGS: Sweet Pea and OC (Emma Carter Wilson); Toni and Cheryl, Fangs and Kevin; Betty and Jughead

WORD COUNT: 1937

A/N: Sweets and Emma panic when something is wrong with their little guy.   Please reblog, like, and enjoy! I own nothing.

Part 1       Part 2 

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I felt the stiffness in my neck before I even opened my eyes.  While the events of last night had me feeling as giddy as a teenager, this morning reminded me that I was not.  The piercing cry from the baby monitor that jolted Pea straight to his feet confirmed it.  I stretched, wincing, as the parts of my body that were angry with my decision to forgo the comfort of my memory foam mattress, got their revenge. “Not it,” I muttered before grabbing my blanket and making a beeline for the bedroom.

               Sweets groaned and stumbled drowsily into Carter’s room.  “You said that last time.”  That was probably true.

The damage, however, was done. I tried to lay every which way, but nothing brought relief to my aching muscles.  I sighed as Sweet Pea walked into the room with a freshly changed baby.  Sitting up in the bed, I reached for Carter, knowing that he would be hungry.  He latched on immediately and I winced at first, stroking his fuzzy little head.  Sweet Pea slung off his sweats and t-shirt and fell beside me.  As he threw his arm over his eyes and rested his other hand on my thigh, I made a mental note to ask him just how much he and Jughead drank last night.

After a few minutes, Carter was full and nearly passed out.  I lifted him up to plant kisses on his olive cheeks and laid him on my chest while patting his little butt.  Lazily I started to hum and used my free hand to run my fingers through my husband’s thick, black hair.  The corner of his mouth tugged upward in his sleep and I followed his example, drifting off myself.

               Our moment of peace didn’t last very long.  Sweet Pea’s phone rang incessantly on the nightstand, waking up Carter and pissing me off in the process.  He lurched towards the intrusion and answered with a gruff, “What?”

               After a few minutes, he ended the call.  “Whatever, man.  I’ll see you in ten.”  He turned back to me with a sheepish look, and I knew immediately he wouldn’t be making it to Carter’s checkup with me.

“Noooooooo.  He’s getting his shots today, damnit! I can’t do that by myself.  I’ll end up slapping a nurse or something.” Being a Serpent made me a fighter.  Being a mother made me protective.  Being both made me damn near dangerous.

               “I know, baby, I’m still going to try and make it back in time.  Jones said it would be quick.”  Pea was sitting on his knees, now, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.  These were the moments, however rare they were, that I wished we could leave the Serpents behind for good.

               “Fine,” I whined.  “But tell Jones he owes me.  It better be good.”  Pea kissed my pouted lips and within five minutes he was out the door.  Since the appointment wasn’t until later, I put my little guy down to play on his mat and headed for the kitchen to whip up something for breakfast.

               Carter and I waited around as long as we could, hoping that our favorite man would come bustling in to save the day.  Unfortunately, the time came for us to go…without Sweet Pea. Like always, I made too much food for myself, so I stuffed the excess in a bin to take to Fangs on our way.  God knows he wouldn’t eat if it wasn’t for me.

               I strapped my sleeping son carefully in his seat and headed towards Sunnyside.  Fangs’ trailer was right at the entrance of the park.  His driveway was full of all the motorcycles and vehicles he was trying to revive, so I pulled my SUV on the side of the road, as close to his house as I could get.

               Just as I turned my car off, I saw the door of the trailer swing open.  Fangs stepped out first to look around, clearly oblivious to my vehicle.  My mouth dropped open when, of all people, Kevin Keller followed close behind him.  I gasped audibly and ducked as low as I could behind my steering wheel.  Fangs walked with Kevin to his bike and handed him a helmet.  Kevin kissed him briefly and climbed onto the back.  Just like that, they took off, leaving through the back exit.

               I stayed parked, still in shock for a few minutes.  “Ooo Carter, Uncle Fangs, and Uncle Kevin have some explaining to do.”  In response, Carter gave a pitiful cry that I hadn’t heard him make before. Right then, I hopped out of my seat and opened the door to check on him.  I rested my hand on his forehead to find it hot to the touch.  “Oh buddy, you’re not feeling too good, are you?”  The look on his face was so sad, I unbuckled his harness to hold him.  Just as I was lifting him up, it happened… he puked all over me.

               Fighting every urge I had to get sick myself, I quickly cleaned us off and put him back in his set.  I was so grateful the doctor was already expecting us, so I could get Carter checked out and feeling better. When I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to get a car seat that would allow me to remove the lining so I could wash it when needed.  Sweet Pea argued with me for months that it wasn’t necessary.  Days like today is why I’m glad I stood my ground.              

Right as I was pulling back onto the highway, Sweet Pea calls.  I picked up on the first ring with, “Guess who I just caught slipping out of Fangs’ trailer? I’ll tell you: Kevin.”

               “Shut up,” he chuckled, just as entertained by the gossip as I was.

               “I’m serious.  I caught them red-handed.  I’m going to confront them both! I’m so excited. OH, and your son just threw up all over me.”

               “Like spit up or throw up?”

               “Throw up throw up. The real deal.”

               Sweet Pea’s tone changed drastically.  “What’s wrong with him?”

               “I don’t know, but he has a fever, too.”

               “Oh shit! Something could be seriously wrong.  We need to take him to the hospital.” He was worried, and the panic that hardly ever took him over was setting in.

               “Babe, I think he’s just a little under the weather.  I’ll just get Dr. Rhodes to look at him at the check-up.”

               “Emma, he is little!  Something small could turn deadly for him.  I’ve seen stories like this all over the internet!  Our son could be dying! Get him to the hospital right the hell now, I’ll meet you there!”

               I chuckled, hoping to calm him own.  “I’m sorry, am I talking to the right person?  I’m looking for my husband: nine hundred and forty feet tall, thrown more punches than pick up lines, gang member, scared of nothing?  Do you know him?”

               “You can quit being a smart ass, anytime now, I’m really worried over here,” he growled.

               “I know you are.  Just trust me, Sweets.  I’ll let you know what the doctor says okay?” He sighs and I know he’s either doing one of two things- pinching the bridge of his nose and pacing, or tugging on the curl that falls in his eyes and tapping his leg nervously.

               “Fuck that,” he finally replies. Glasses clinking and the hum of voices in the background let me know that whatever job they were called out for has been dealt with. “I’m leaving the Wyrm now.  I want to talk to this doctor myself.”

               “Yes, sir.” Any argument would’ve fallen on deaf ears.  I didn’t care to fight that losing battle any longer. I set the phone in the cup holder and glanced at my son with the mirror we put in the back seat, sighing, ”Daddy’s gonna end up cussing somebody out today, little man.”

We were checked in and waiting quietly when Sweet Pea came busting through the door.  Wild eyes scanned the room before they landed on Carter and me.  He made it to us two fluid steps before kneeling in front of me to inspect his boy.  Carter was sleeping, finally, in my arms.   His cheeks were rosy and little whimpers tumbled out of his pouted lips.

Although I wasn’t quite as shook up by this as my husband was, I was getting a little panicked.  My heart broke to think of my child being in any bit of pain, and I wanted nothing more than to take it away from him.  Sweet Pea took Carter’s chubby hand in his own.  Steely brown eyes looked up at me, and I saw what he must have seen in mine: worry.

I didn’t realize I was crying until Sweets gathered our baby up and put his arm around me to steady me.  I leaned into his side, grateful that he was here with us.  This was the part of motherhood I wasn’t prepared for.  I loved this beautiful boy with everything I had, and I knew without a doubt that I would do anything to prevent him from suffering. I had my taste of loyalty and responsibility from being in the Serpents, but this went beyond that.  Part of me will always be attached to the little human that once grew in my belly… and that scared the living shit out of me.

It didn’t take long for the nurse to call us to the back.  We told her immediately what was going on, and she assured us that the doctor would be right in to take care of our little man.  When the doctor came in, he examined Carter thoroughly.  After a few minutes of deliberating, he told us that Carter simply had a little cold, and prescribed us a few things to knock it out.  When we left his office, we were both breathing a little easier, and clutching our baby a little tighter.

Once the medicine kicked in, Carter started to act like he felt better, much to my relief.  Sweet Pea refused to let him get out of his sight and insisted on riding home with us. “I’ll just get somebody to bring me my truck later.  I’m not leaving the two of you ever again.”

“Are you sure about that? Cause that’s going to get annoying fast.” Sweet Pea was stubborn, so I knew that while he meant that as a joke, there was some truth to it.  He would be stuck to us like glue for a little while.

“You say the nicest things to me, Emma.”  He reached for the keys dangling on my finger and hit the clicker a few times.

“What was so important you had to get involved this morning?” I finally got around to ask.

He hesitated for a few minutes, but shrugged it off, “Would it be alright if we tabled that for right now? I’m still pissed about the whole thing.”

“Consider it tabled,” I grunted while battling my worst enemy- the damn car seat. No matter how desperately I tried wouldn’t lock in for me, but as soon as I called Sweet Pea over, it clicked right in place in two easy moves. He shot me a teasing smile and wink and ducked quickly out of the line of fire.  Before I had the chance, Sweets was climbing in the driver’s side. “I didn’t say you could drive my car,” I mumbled.

“I didn’t ask.” He immediately started changing the radio and pressing buttons, annoying me as much as he could.  “Hey, I could get Fangs to bring me my truck, then we could talk to him about what you saw this morning.”

I visibly perked up at that thought.  “Hell yes! You can call him right now!”

[jui-imouto-chan]

MHAU Part 16

Main Menu: Level Select

Connor is led down a hallway, Amanda’s appraising gaze boring into him.

“Would you like to see Cole’s progress?”

Connor nods, uncomfortably shifting his weight as she takes him to what is supposed to mimic a bedroom. 

Cole’s room is almost bare, with absolutely no personality. There’s two of everything, from beds to desks to even the sets of clothes in the closet. 

Of course, little differences rest in each item, with one bed made pristinely and the other slightly more haphazardly, and only one desk occupied by medals and trophies, as well as half of the clothing being made of slightly better material than the other. 

One side screams ‘superiority’, and it’s disheartening to imagine who’d--

Oh.

Of course, he’d nearly forgotten. After seeing how Conan and Collin interacted with Hank, it seems almost unnatural to picture them outside of their current living situation.

Cole cuts through his thoughts easily, “Hello, RK800. Or, Connor. I apologize, I am unfamiliar with addressing other androids with names aside from their general models. Shall I be chastised?”

“No, no, of course not,” Connor assures him, waving his hands in the air. 

“I do hope you two enjoy your session. Please do hurry to complete Cole; Lieutenant Anderson must be lonely without a third child to complete his set.” A bit of bitterness swirls into Amanda’s tone, her lips pursed, expression sour.

Connor nods, quickly turning away from her to address Cole, waiting until the door has slid shut with a soft puff of air to speak. “How have you been, recently?”

“I have been well. And how are you?” Cole blinks blankly, his eyes large but unable to portray the childlike innocence Cyberlife was intending for him to have, the slight glow and lack of emotive depth making him more eerie than cute, at times.

Connor answers with a symmetrical ghost of a grin. “I’ve been well.”

The two of them remain silent for enough time that Connor readjusts, feeling awkward. Cole seems entirely unperturbed, but what’s new?

“So, this room...” 

Cole takes this as his cue to rattle off information, “Conan and Collin Stern once occupied this room, but, seeing as Lieutenant Hank Anderson--or, Dad, I should say--had taken custody of them away from Mrs. Stern, leading to her allowing me to occupy it.”

“Ah, I see.” Once more, they lapse into silence.

Connor’s eyes flit about, but out of his crystal-clear peripherals, he spots Cole’s blue pierce his vision. Cole does not say anything, does not give any hint of wanting to say anything, observing Connor, analyzing him and dissecting him from the inside out.

And yet, he’s the one to break their quiet. “What are the two of them like, by this current point in time?”

“The twins?” Cole nods, so Connor considers his answer with a hand at his chin and an LED spinning amber. “Collin is, as Hank would claim, ‘a big dork’, though excluding the many expletives he’d insert into the statement. He quite enjoys the internet culture and humor of Hank’s era, particularly videos from the late-website, ‘Vine’. He hates puns, I have found, though Conan has a particular penchant for them.” 

Cole is listening with rapt attention, his eyes widening, a small bit of light leaking into his optical units to nearly shine. Connor keeps himself from arching his brow, though his smile softens a tad, a bit of his usual sunniness leaking in. “And Conan? What about him?”

“He’s very big, both in height and muscular bulk. Not to say Collin isn’t, but Collin is very slightly leaner than his twin. Conan enjoys teasing Collin, though you wouldn’t guess how mischievous he is from his looks. He tends to be quite stoic, but he’s also quite a softie. Surprisingly, he loves romance movies, especially ones typically categorized as ‘Chick Flicks’.”

By this point, Cole’s face is far from the impassive countenance he’d had previous, intrigued beyond measure. 

“Would you like to watch some?” Connor’s grin is nearly audible.

“May we?” 

“Of course. Let’s go inform Amanda of our decision.”

Cole’s smile is almost real. “Okay!”

When he takes Connor’s hand, Connor can’t help but swing their locked hands. 

Unwittingly, he interfaces with Cole, white exposed from under the skin fizzling away.

Cole’s gaze goes unnoticed as they exit the bedroom.

----

----

“Hey, Dad?”

Hank sounds...tired, when he responds. “Yeah? What’s up, kiddo?”

“You’re not drinking again, are you?”

“Nope,” Hank lies.

Collin knows he’s lying, despite not being there in person. Hank even takes a big gulp after denying it. Collin, through his conflicted thoughts, almost lets him get away with it, but Conan is not so lenient.

“Dad, put that bottle away.” His tone brokers no argument.

But that doesn’t mean Hank won’t try. “What bottle?”

“Dad.” The two of them had never been ‘in sync’ like most would suspect of twins. Even Simon and Daniel have their moments of synchronization, yet Conan and Collin rarely think alike enough for it to happen.

Hank lets out a worn sigh, the hollow thunk letting them know that he’d emptied the bottle before setting it down.

“I know that you’re worried about Connor—“

“Yeah, no shit.” Sumo’s soft whimper is audible past the line, “Hey, buddy, it’s okay.—You bet I’m worried. Amanda isn’t known for her mental stability, ya know. I mean, of course you know, you, uh, you lived with her, but—fuck it, I don’t know what she’s going to do with Connor. She said that she’s going to reimburse me or some shit, but I don’t think we’re gonna get him back without some kinda fight. Legal or otherwise.”

The twins glance at each other, uneasy.

“I don’t know how Mother got to this point. If Mama was still around, she’d—“

“Shut up, Collin.”

Hank cuts in, “Hey, hey, don’t be rude to your brother. Anyways, uh, I gotta get ready for work, soon. I’ll see you guys this weekend and we can talk.”

“Okay, see you, Dad.”

“Goodbye, Dad.”

“Bye, boys.”

Call Ended.

Hank stares after the screen with a mix of emotions whirling into his expression.

Glancing around, his shoulders sag. The house feels so empty without Connor around.

“Come home soon, son.”

Next Level: TBD

X | Continue to Next Level

O | Save Progress and Quit to Main Menu

———————————- •

Do I have any idea what I’m doing?? Nope!