#and i feel bryce is so excited he wants everyone to meet right away

[aurorangen]

Bryce I'm so nervous, our families are meeting for the first time!

[bloodskipper]

Patrick Bateman x female reader | Power Struggle | Pt. 3

WARNINGS: mentions of sex, cigarette smoking

Bryce led you into your new office and pulled the seat at your desk out for you. The faint smell of the last secretary's perfume lingered.

Your cheeks flushed as you bit your lip in a smile. The new job was obviously your priority, but you couldn't help how the flattery made you feel...

...nothing wrong a bit of office flirtation, you thought, already buzzed off of compliments. In a slow motion sequence, you sat in the cushioned office chair, hugged your satchel to your chest and inhaled deeply with closed eyes. Your hard work had officially been recognized and you felt you were where you meant to be.

"Can I get you anything?" Bryce asked, almost out of a dream.

You snapped back to reality with a sharp swallow: "No, thank you, sir."

Your superior apparently got a kick out of being referred to as "sir," as he shifted in position and traced his tongue quickly along his teeth.

"You know what you're doing, right?" he asked as his eyeline trailed from the coiled telephone cord to the top of your chest peeking out from under your outfit.

Well aware of the attention placed upon you, you motioned him away with a few light flicks of your wrist.

"I'll be okay."

Bryce noticed the swagger of your demeanor and was out of the room with a nod and a pat to your desk; you knew he was under your spell and couldn't deny what you wanted at this point.

Several minutes passed as you drank in your surroundings. The dark mahogany under your fingertips, the cushiony sweetness under your ass felt so surreal as you reflected back on your battle through school. All those sleepless nights of studying, blowing off parties and collegiate fun had finally paid off - you had finally found where you'd needed to be.

As you came to your senses, you exhaled and pulled a cigarette inbetween your lips. Your lighter flicked on only to spit out a few lame sparks and you grit your teeth in one sharp but fleeting motion; you needed a light.

Clearing your throat, holding the smoke between your lips, you stood and smoothed your lap to take a few rapid steps to open your office door. Little did you expect a flame waiting for you at cigarette's height.

"I couldn't help but notice," an unfamiliar faced solicited, gold-plated lighter in hand.

Assuming you may appear rude, you reached up to remove the cigarette from your lips to officially introduce yourself.

"Please, let me," they insisted while producing a flame. "Paul Allen, investment banker."

"My pleasure, Mr. Allen," you replied, smile dazzling and smoke escaping with each word.

"The pleasure's all mine." Allen shook your hand and held it for an extended period, not unlike Bryce earlier. The two of you shared a lengthy glance and you laughed shyly.

"Everyone here has been so accommodating," you remarked with another pull of your cigarette, regaining your innocent charm, "I'm so happy to be a part of it all."

"We're more than happy to have you," he replied. "I have to run and take a call. We should get coffee sometime, okay?" Allen grinned at you before turning to walk hastily down the hall.

Another burst of excitement shot through you as you strode back into your office to extinguish your smoke. Your hand gleefully found a place covering your thrilled smile, and you remembered the reason you went to college in the first place: to continue to practice business in an established corporation...

... and maybe get to know some of my coworkers... you thought, closing your office door. Cartoonishly shaking the idea from your mind, you sat at your desk and opened your planner, complete with your favorite pen in the spiraled spine.

Time to get to work, you mumbled to yourself, full attention on the landline phone to your left. Despite not receiving a full job description, you were more than equipped to field phone calls, schedule meetings, set lunch dates.

The first hour was excruciatingly long as you stared at the phone, itching to actually start your career. You picked at your cuticles and tapped your pen against the desk, and your mind once again drifted toward Patrick Bateman. The mystery behind the way he carried himself left you wondering; the other coworkers you'd met had been easily readable, hardly veiling the excitement you brought them.

Something about Patrick drew you to him and you had to find out more.

---

Much to your dismay, the work day dragged on. By 5pm, you had received 6 phone calls that generally consisted of rich people asking about the state of their finances. Your planner was full of mindless doodles that served as a distraction from the immediate onset monotony.

Bryce poked his head in before leaving for the day, dressed for the brisk weather: "Feeling ok about today, Y/N?"

His sudden question startled you: "Oh! Yeah, everything is great." You stood and walked to him with your hand extended. "Thank you so much for your help."

"Thank you," he said with a firm shake and a quick nod. "My number." Bryce handed you a Post-It inscribed with his personal phone number. He fastened the top button on his jacket and left the office.

You were appreciative of the small window of human interaction the job offered, but you weren't fully finished taking in your surroundings. Now that the workday pandemonium had died down, you decided to take a look around. You made one step beyond the doorway before you recognized the sound of keys entering a lock.

"Patrick -- Mr. Bateman," you stuttered, expecting to find the space empty. He too was dressed in outerwear and you noticed his black leather gloves.

"Ah, Y/N," he said, smile sparkling, "I'm incredibly sorry for the fact that my schedule didn't allow more time for us to get to know each other a little better."

You blinked a few times, relaxing your shoulders. You didn't realize he wanted to talk to you; you just figured he was playing the extra-welcome-welcome wagon...

... like those other guys who already want to fuck me... drifted through your mind.

"Please," you said holding your palms to him, "not at all. I'm j-just thrilled to be here." For as much confidence you had claimed earlier, Patrick instantly vexed you. He seemed charmed by your naive demeanor and took a few steps closer.

"I'd love to take you out sometime - to lunch, if your schedule allows," he added, fastening the top button on his jacket.

"Of course!" you blurted. "Should I - do you want my number? I've got a pen right here." You snatched the ballpoint off your desk and tore a piece of paper, scribbling your digits and thrust the scrap into his hand.

He chuckled lightly and looked from the note to you.

"You know?... you're cute." Placing the note in his pocket, he walked past you and through the exit.

You turned and watched the door for a few seconds, already trying to remember everything he had just said, hoping you didn't look foolish in his company. After scanning the empty room, you packed your things to head home.

As you twisted your door handle shut, a distant but agonizing scream broke the silence. Your attention snapped to the direction it sounded from: the stairwell.

-

Hell yeah my fuckin motherfuckers

[elainsshadows]

I want to talk about Elain today and her role in future books. I will also be talking about other ships at the end of this including: Lucien x Vassa, Lucien x Elain, and Azriel x Gwyn. These are merely my opinions and thoughts, this is not me trying to bash anyone else's opinions. I am open to having discussions as long as you are kind and respectful.

This is going to be long as a warning. Let's begin.

Quiet Strength

My friend recently start reading ACOTAR and she came to me one day and said that she had found a quote that she really liked. That quote was:

"She had looked at that cottage with hope; I had looked at it with nothing but hatred. And I knew which one of us had been stronger" ~ ACOTAR, pg. 259

I know that a lot of antis like to bring up the fact that Elain didn't do anything but plant flowers and such while Feyre was out risking her life to put food on the table. Why hadn't Elain planted food instead? As someone who tried to garden vegetables with her dad one year I can tell you it's not as easy as flowers.

Maybe Elain was trying to bring some color into their drab little existence like Feyre had done with the paints. Maybe she wanted one thing to make her happy.

When Feyre comes to see them in ACOMAF, to ask for their help, it was Elain who said that they should help.

"If... if we do not help Feyre, there won't be a wedding." ~ ACOMAF pg. 247

"Feyre gave and gave - for years. Let us help her. Help... others." ~ ACOMAF pg. 248

Elain was risking a lot by saying they should now help their Fae sister. She was going to be married to someone who's family hated the Fae. If they found out what Elain and Nesta were doing it would probably be the end of her engagement to Graysen. They would become Fae sympathizers and like the Children of the Blessed we see mentioned throughout the books.

Would a coward risk all of this? Not to me they wouldn't.

When Rhys, Az, and Cassian arrive once Elain had cleared out the servants. Elain, while scared, still tries to be a good host to the four of them. I want to come back to this scene when I discuss Elriel because this was the moment that I first started thinking that they would make a good pair.

But while Nesta and Feyre are more bold with their actions like wielding swords, bow and arrows, knives, etc., Elain doesn't necessarily back down from a challenge. When given Truth-Teller she simply states that she doesn't know how to use it. She does not shove it back at Azriel and refuse it, she simply informs him she doesn't know how to use it.

Also when they had been captured by Hybern and all that mess was going down. Tamlin had been gunning for Feyre and it was Elain who did this:

"But Elain's cry - a warning. A warning to- To my right, now exposed, Tamlin ran for me. To grab me at last." ACOMAF pg. 602

Elain, despite being scared in this highly stressful situation, saw her sister in danger and tried her hardest to warn her. If it had not been for Elain, Tamlin might have been able to grab Feyre at that moment in all the confusion and chaos. Despite being in her nightgown and terrified she still tried to protect her younger sister.

Once again when people are in danger once the Wall had been taken down it was Elain who spoke up. She knew that Graysen's family's estate could help protect those closest to the Wall and from any Fae that may come to do them harm.

"Glamour me," Elain said - to Rhys. "Make me look human. Just long enough to convince him to open his gates to those seeking sanctuary." ~ ACOWAR pg. 471

"It's already ended badly. Now it's just a matter of deciding how we meet the consequences." ~ ACOWAR pg. 471

She's Fae now. If Graysen or any of his family or those working for them knew this (which we see that they did) then they might kill her on sight. She risked her life to make sure defenseless humans remained as safe as they could with the oncoming war.

When Azriel and Feyre go to Hybern's camp to save Elain they also save another human. They are being pursued and clearly, the human girl is terrified of them, but it is Elain that says this:

"Grab onto him!" Elain ordered to the wide-eyed human girl as Azriel thundered toward her. *skipped ahead* "Elain screamed at her, "If you want to live, do it now!" ~ ACOWAR pg. 577

She also does this when the King of Hybern's beasts are upon them:

"Elain moved. As Azriel battled to keep them airborne, keep his grip on them, my sister sent a fierce kick into the beast's face. Its eye. *Skipped ahead* "Elain slammed her bare, muddy foot into its face again. The blow struck home." ACOWAR pg. 577

Knowing that their lives are in danger and that if this beast does anything to Azriel's wings they are all going to die. She does not hesitate and does not back down as she goes after the beast with her barefoot.

She slays the King of Hybern as well:

"Elain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed Truth-Teller to the hilt through the back of the King's neck as she snarled in his ear, "Don't you touch my sister." ~ ACOWAR pg. 652

She has a protective streak in her and she will go down swinging if she has to.

And this I just found interesting. Everyone seems to shy away from Amren, but in ACOFAS this happens when they're all eating together:

"Elain, to my surprise, held Amren's gaze." ~ ACOFAS pg. 108

I just like that she held Amren's gaze.

Being Feminine Isn't Boring

I see a lot of people saying that Elain being feminine is boring, that she isn't an exciting heroine. Yes, Elain isn't one of SJM's typical heroines, but I think that makes her all the more interesting. We've never seen someone who isn't like Aelin, Bryce, Feyre, and Nesta from SJM.

"Elain stood between Nuala and Cerridwen at the long worktable. All three of them covered in flour." ~ ACOWAR pg. 386

"Elain was in the kitchen, helping Nuala and Cerridwen prepare the evening meal." ~ ACOFAS pg. 101

"She'd been toiling in the estate gardens since dawn." ~ ACOSF pg. 28

"Elain had already departed with Feyre, claiming she had to be up with the dawn to tend to an elderly faerie's garden." ~ ACOSF pg. 311

Do I think Elain's entire book will be based on her baking and taking care of gardens? No, I don't. I think she is capable of more than that and that is going to lead into my next point.

Elain Archeron, 007

This is not a new theory and it isn't even one that I came up with. Many lovely Elriels have pointed out comparisons to Azriel and Elain and how he may even teach her how to be a spy. I think it is a perfectly lovely idea. Let me show you some quotes from the book that make me think that this could be a possibility.

"Elain spoke from the doorway, having appeared so silently that they all twisted toward her, "Using me." ~ ACOSF pg. 230

They were talking about looking for the Dread Trove here and scrying. They were debating who should do it when Elain stepped up. She has done this before and with her seer abilities she is a perfect choice for the job. Obviously several characters aren't thrilled with the idea (Nesta and Azriel being two of the ones that don't like the idea).

"Azriel stiffened, an outright sign of temper from him as he said quietly, "There is an innate darkness to the Drea Trove that Elain should not be exposed to." ~ ACOSF pg. 311

"Elain saw every single thing Nesta had done, and understood why." ~ ACOSF pg. 470

"You came," Elain said behind her, and Nesta started, not having heard her sister approach. *skipped ahead* "Wondering if she'd been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends." ~ ACOSF pg. 595

We see that even Nesta is questioning whether or not Elain has been having lessons. She very well could have or this could be a hidden talent that Nesta has never gotten to see or never cared to see because she viewed Elain as someone who is innocent and needing protection.

Nesta mothers Elain throughout the series, we constantly see her coming to Elain's defense, stepping in front of her, talking for her. And while Elain used to let that slide we can see now that she is coming into her own and not letting Nesta walk all over her.

"Elain said, "You can't have it both ways. You cannot resent my decision to lead a small, quiet life while also refusing to let me do anything greater." ~ ACOSF pg. 232

I think Elain has been denied many things in her life because she has been seen as the most beautiful. Her own mother seeing her as nothing more than a pretty face that would be easy to marry off once she was of age. What will she do now that she has more freedom than she did before? Now that she will not become some lord's wife?

I do not see Elain as a warrior who is ready for battle, but I see her being ready for a different kind of battle.

"It took hours for Elain to work her charm on the staff to swiftly pack their bags and leave, each with a purse of money to hasten the process." ~ ACOMAF pg. 250

You know who else is charming? James Bond.

Being another pretty face has something going for Elain. No one would look at her and think "Yeah she's totally a spy." She can charm people, make them feel more at ease, and get them to open up. Maybe even enough that they think nothing of divulging things in front of her that otherwise shouldn't be overheard.

Maybe she can learn to glamour herself so that she is not recognizable to others. Who knows but I'm sure we'll find out when her book happens.

Welcome To Spring

One of my least favorite theories I've seen is that Elain will leave the Night Court and her family to go to Spring. Even going as far as saying that she will wind up with Tamlin. I don't think Feyre would let her sister wind up with her abuser plain and simple. Nor do I think Elain would fall for her sister's abuser just because he lives in a land of eternal spring and has flowers.

In ACOSF Nesta has this thought:

"Elain would love this place. So many flowers, all in bloom, so much green, *skipped ahead* But Elain... The Spring Court had been made for someone like her." ~ ACOSF pg. 454

While I do believe that Elain would love the Spring Court I do not think she would ever leave her family or friends behind.

"Two half-wraiths she called friends." ~ ACOSF pg. 595

"Cassian kissing Elain's cheek in greeting. *skipped ahead* Amren came next, giving my sister a nod. *skipped ahead* The Mor, with a smacking kiss for either cheek." ~ ACOFAS pg. 105

We also know that the sisters tend to consider one of the brothers friends. Feyre with Cassian, Nesta with Azriel, and I believe Rhys and Elain will also be friends. He seems to like Elain (certainly more than he likes Nesta).

Plus now there is Nyx in the mixture and why would she leave and miss out on her nephew growing up? What about if Nesta becomes pregnant and has a child? So no I do not believe that Elain will leave the Night Court.

Shipping Time

Here is where opinions and feelings may vary and people might not like what I have to say. Just know that these are merely my feelings on a ship. Ship what you want to ship, I am not here to gatekeep. These are merely my feelings on the matter. I'm going to start with the two ships I like: Elain x Azriel and Lucien x Vassa.

Elain Archeron x Azriel

I mentioned this earlier but I've been shipping them since ACOMAF. I saw the potential for them from the moment they began to interact.

"Elain rasped, "Nice to meet you," before hustling after her, the silk skirts of her cobalt dress whispering over the parquet floor." ~ ACOMAF pg. 253

I like the symbolism in this line. Cobalt = Azriel's siphons. Whispering = Azriel's shadows. While it might not be that deep as a writer I like the small things like this in my works. Things that later when you come back to them after something important happens that is a callback to something like this you can go "ooooh that makes sense now, yeah." We also do see other mentions of Elain wearing blue, but this post is long enough and it's only a few more times so I don't think it's worth noting. This part just sticks out to me because it's the first time they're meeting and like I said I love symbolism.

"Elain said to Azriel, perhaps the only two civilized ones here, "Can you truly fly?" ~ ACOMAF pg. 256

Elain who has been taught to fear the Fae is talking to him, also probably leaning around Cassian - who she is seated next to and also has wings - and asking if he can fly.

Azriel responds on the same page saying, "We're born hearing the song of the wind." And her response of, "That's very beautiful." This is the same male who famously said he wouldn't need poetry to woo a woman. Maybe he's not trying to woo her here, but he's trying to impress her.

"Elain, noticing Azriel's ease as proof that things weren't indeed about to go badly offered one (a smile) of her own as well." ~ ACOMAF pg. 258

She seems mighty comfortable with a Fae she just met. Which leads my into my two mate theory that I've had for some time now.

We know the tweet where SJM says that someone can have two mates. This was during a time when one of the TOG novels was about to come out and was probably referencing something in there, but I think it would be interesting to see play out in this situation as well.

We've seen several times people questioning Elain and Lucien's mating bond. Feyre and Azriel both do it. Feyre during ACOWAR and Azriel in his bonus chapter from ACOSF.

We also know that not all mates are happy pairings ie. Rhysand's parents and Tamlin's parents. We also know that sometimes it's based on who would have the strongest offspring. We can see this reflected in both Rhysand and Feyre's mating (he's considered the most powerful High Lord and she has abilities from all seven HLs).

But what if Elain and Lucien aren't true mates? True mates to me is a happily mated pair like Feyre and Rhys as well as Nesta and Cassian. Azriel questions why his brothers were mated to two sisters while the third was mated to another. (Pardon me for not using quotes here, I do not have the bonus chapter so I am going from memory.)

Why indeed? And I think it was because he was on the floor dying at the time. We know that the Cauldron loves Elain, so if her true mate was on the floor dying and there was no guarantee for survival it would make sense for the Cauldron to gift Elain another mating bond.

I will talk more about this in the section where I discuss them as a ship, but I wanted to briefly mention it here.

We also know the scene where Azriel hands over Truth-Teller to her, something that shocks all of them. I think of Truth-Teller like Azriel's security blanket. Something that brings him comfort and he never ever wants to part with it. But he gives it to Elain.

After she was taken by the Cauldron and held captive at Hybern's camp. After she says this:

"She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it. "You came for me." The shadowsinger only inclined his head." ~ ACOWAR pg. 573

Why did she look only to Azriel? Why did she seem so surprised that he would come for her? Kind of like how a princess might not believe that her prince has come for her. (Love me some Disney princess movies)

To me these two just fit together. And to me they are more like Hades and Persephone than Feyre and Rhysand are. And hear me out: Elain as Persephone, goddess of spring. Azriel as Hades, god of death. (Feyre once calls him Death when thinking of a painting of him and Elain. Death and the lovely fawn she called it). Some might see Azriel and Elain falling in love as stealing her away from her mother (or mate in this case).

Also if you want another mythology reference. Paris (Azriel), Helen (Elain), Menelaus (Lucien). Helen was considered the most beautiful and was stolen away from her husband Menelaus (though I think she went with Paris willingly so there's that.)

I see so many parallels and signs that point toward an Elriel endgame. We know Elain's book is in the works and I'm pretty sure it's next since Sarah has talked about doing research for her book. We also know that Sarah is excited to work with Azriel as well.

Moving on.

Lucien Vanserra x Vassa

I've been shipping them since ACOWAR. So not as long as Elriel, but since a bit. I think this was the line that did it for me:

"Indeed, Vassa still remained inside, chatting with Lucien animatedly. *skipped ahead* Lucien, surprisingly, was chuckling, his shoulders loose and his head angled while he listened." ~ ACOWAR pg. 690

Unlike with Elain, he seems comfortable around Vassa.

"Even with Elain here, he's become close with Jurian and Vassa. He's voluntarily living with them these days, and not just as an emissary. As their friend." ~ ACOSF pg. 57

I'm a sucker for the friends to lovers trope (it only falls after the enemies to lovers trope). And while we do not have a lot on them I can see the two of them being happy. I can see Lucien trying to find a way to make her immortal if that's what she wants. And I just want the two of them finding their HEA together in the final book.

My theory is that Vassa will be the MC of the last book and will deliver the killing blow to Koschei (as she should). I would love to see their journey together and their time together in the mortal lands especially since the mating bond would be severed at this point if Elriel is the book before this one. I want Lucien to be happy and I think that he could be happy with Vassa.

Elain Archeron x Lucien Vanserra

We know that Elain and Lucien are mates. He announced this on page 608 a little bit after Elain had come out of the Cauldron. But these two do not seem to fit together in my opinion. Now please note I have nothing against Elucien, I even like some of the fanart and the theories I have read are wonderful. I'm just personally not a fan of these two because of how they were thrust together.

When comparing Jesiminda and Elain, Lucien says this:

"Elain had been... thrown at him." ACOWAR pg. 249

I know Lucien wants to be happy and I know mates are special, but I don't necessarily think that Elain will be his happiness. I think that the way they met ruined that for them.

"But Elain blinked slowly, "You were in Hybern." *Skipped ahead* "You betrayed us." ACOWAR pg. 250 - 251

Lucien, however willing or unwillingly, did play some part in Elain being turned Fae. He was one of the reasons she could no longer go home or marry Graysen. I don't know if that's something that could be overcome especially since Elain is still dealing with the events of that day.

We also know that Elain tends to avoid him, shrinking in on herself when he's around. Another reason why I can't ship this is because I've been in a similar situation where people were pressuring me to be with someone I had no interest in. I know what it's like to hear "you two are perfect for each other", "you should give him a chance", "just try".

Their relationship is not evolving naturally like Feyre and Rhys's did or Cassian and Nesta's. I don't think Lucien would ever push the mating bond onto Elain, but I do think since it's something special to Fae he may cling to it more than she will.

Another thing about their bond that doesn't sit with me is how it is described.

"It felt... strange," Elain breathed. "Like you pulled on a thread tied to a rib." ACOWAR pg. 301

"There's a bond - it's a real thread," he said, more to himself than us." ACOWAR pg. 301

Other bonds have been described as "so much golden thread" or an "unbreakable chain". But Elain and Lucien's is described as a singular thread that feels as though it were attached to a rib. To me mating bonds are like soulmates, why would that bond be attached to a rib and not the heart or her being?

I believe that once again either the Cauldron created this bond between them or maybe they are not what's considered a "perfect match" like Elain's sisters with their mates are.

I will say this: If Elain and Lucien do wind up together I won't be mad. Sure they are not my preferred ship, but they both deserve happiness and can find it together then good for them. We will just have to wait and see where SJM takes them.

Azriel x Gwyn Berdara

I've lowkey been dreading talking about them because of how toxic this fanwar between Elriels and Gwynriels gets. Once again this is just my opinion and my theories. No hate or shade to any of the shippers. I will not be bashing theories. If you don't want to read my thoughts then please just leave now and pretend you never saw this.

I do not like Azriel and Gwyn as a ship for one very big reason: power imbalance. Azriel saved Gwyn from a highly traumatic experience. Now before I go any further let me say that I brought this up to my mom who also reads the series but isn't a shipper, she just reads them to enjoy them. I asked her what she thought of Az x Gwyn as a pairing and if she would like to see that and she said no that she also felt there would be a power imbalance.

Gwyn is a strong character, but I do not think I could get behind her and Az as a couple because of how they met.

I also do not believe that Gwyn will be the MC of any of the last books there are. We still have Elain's book, possibly a Mor book, or even Vassa. There are too many people from the original trilogy that we need to see books for. While I will not rule out a book in the future I don't see her getting one now.

I know the necklace is a hot button issue, but I also don't believe that Clotho gave it to her. We never hear it mentioned in the main portion of the book and I think Clotho knew how troubled Azriel was and thought that she should hold onto it just in case.

"You're the new ribbon, Az," ~ ACOSF pg. 623

Gwyn is a competitive person, to me this line that Nesta says is here merely telling Az that Gwyn's next challenge would be to prove him wrong about the training course. Nesta knows of Azriel's feelings for her sister by this point, so I don't see this line as her teasing Az about Gwyn possibly having a crush on him.

But again these are just how I interpret things between them.

These are all my thoughts at the moment that I'm going to share. If you would like to have a discussion my ask box is open. Hate will not be tolerated though.

[woniepop]

TYPES OF DATES ENHYPEN WOULD TAKE YOU ON!

Pairings: Enhypen x Gender Neutral! Reader

Warnings: cursing and mentions of alcohol if you squint

Word Count: about 300 - 400 per member

a/n: this is my first enhypen work if it sucks pls tell me LOL I ALSO LEFT HEESUNGS ON A SAD NOTE OOPS. Also I wrote some of this at 2 am and it is raining so hard. I live in SoCal and I feel like I can’t function when it rains so I had to blast music in my headphones but it’s okay Iz*one’s Fiesta is top tier. I did not mean for it to turn out this long lol.

༑ ࿐ྂ。Lee Heesung

- Karaoke

Sitting on the couch of the private karaoke room, exhausted having just sung and danced all of I Can’t Stop Me, Heesung reaches out to take some of the kimbap you had made together before karaoke happened, kind of like two dates in one day. Since he was always busy, he wanted to spend the most amount of time he could with you this weekend, in case he couldn’t meet you the next. Heesung always did a great job of making you feel loved and appreciated, and today he especially wanted to give all his love and attention to you.

“We should rap all of Canceled in one breathe” Heesung suggests, knowing it was a whole three minute song. Although you know you’d die, you nod excitedly, ready to shout at the top of your lungs “THIS YOU?” because Tana definitely gets canceled every 5-7 business days. He starts off the song, both screaming at the top of your lungs, starting off with Bryce Hall 😼. The song goes very swimmingly actually, definitely taking more than one or two breathes.

Taking a call from your phone, you step outside so as to not disturb the caller with Shake it Off. Your mother wanted you home soon, but you desperately wanted to spend more time with Heesung. Stepping back into the room, you decide one more song is short enough to catch the last train home, you grab the remote and pick your last song, Perfect. It was definitely slower paced than the songs you had sang before but you wanted to have at least one moment of romance before it’s completely dead. Taking your hands, he wraps them around his neck and places his hands on your hips and sways side to side as he sings every word beautifully. Even if you could sing as good as him, he was always so hypnotizing when he sang to you. Ending the song with a kiss, you guys both pull away, very sad at the fact that the night has come to an end.

THE REST ARE UNDER THE CUT!!

༑ ࿐ྂ。Jay Park

- Aquarium

- Aquarium

Walking through the hallways hand in hand, you enjoy each other’s presence while admiring all the children excited about the stingray that just swam by. Watching Jay’s face light up when he had finally found the sea otters, you giggle at how cute it was. “Look at all the baby sea otters, Y/n, they’re so cute ahhhh'' He says eagerly. Pulling out your phone to take a picture of him, he grabs your hand and takes your phone. “No, Y/n, we have to take this picture togetherrrr.” he whines. Sighing, you agree and wait for him to find someone to help take the picture for him, obviously right next to the sea otters. 

Continuing down the aquarium building, you find the automatic sliding door leading to the outside. Knowing exactly what lies beyond those doors, you pull Jay’s hand and rush out. As a kid, you loved coming to the aquarium to spend time at the petting tank, and now you got to experience it with Jay. Finding a spot at the tank, you dip your hand in and touch the bamboo sharks. You sigh in relief at the nostalgia of it, and turn your head to Jay. “Don’t you want to touch them too?” You ask innocently. Faced flushed, he frantically shakes his head, giving you a blatant no.

Laying your head on his shoulder, you bask in his presence, exhausted by the exciting day you had. Turning on his phone to check the time, you notice he’d set his lockscreen to you. “Did you take that while I was petting the sharks?” Embarrassed, he turns away and avoids the question. “HEY, I could take a picture of you alone for my wallpaper but you could??? Why is this so unfair???” you ask. 

“Because…” He says with a sheepish smile on his face. You quickly take out your phone and snap a picture. After a moment of playful fighting and begging to delete the photo on Jay’s end, he ultimately gave up and let you save it as your lock screen as well.

༑ ࿐ྂ。Jake Sim

- Laser tag

Having Jake as a partner, he’d always taken you on more high energy, adrenaline rushing dates, and today was no different. This date, however, he decided to take you to play laser tag, something you had never done before. Entering the lobby, you both decide to be on the same team for the first round, which helped you feel a bit of relief. Choosing a vest to put on, you get very very tangled in it, which causes Jake to laugh a bit but he eventually helps you out.

During your first round, Jake helps you out, staying by your side the entire time and even holding your hand to lead you through the room. It felt really nice, seeing him so protective of you in the moment, but you knew better than to like the thought of it too much, because the next round was going to be a lot different. Unexpectedly, your team lost, which made Jake feel even more competitive and pumped up for the next round.

The next round starts, and surprise!!!!! You and Jake are on opposing teams. It starts off very well actually :D. As soon as you enter the room, your heart starts beating out of your chest and you’re so nervous to be alone. Cautiously maneuvering through the hallways, you scan the premises thoroughly, knowing if Jake ever sees you throughout the game you’d be screwed. Surprisingly enough, you go a bit of time before you hear your vest’s alarm go off, signalling to you that someone has gotten you. You look all around you taking some time before finding Jake crouching on the other side of the wall. You run to the other side of the same wall, and decide to scare him before he could shoot you again. It works out very well, because the next time you see him, he screams and drops to the floor in shock. Taking this chance, you shoot his vest and run away, leaving him no time to get you back.

༑ ࿐ྂ。Park Sunghoon

- Birthday Party

Laying on the floor of your living room with Sunghoon, you lie on your back, trying to cool your body down as much as possible. The hot and humid Korean summers were definitely always fun, but not when you were craving cuddles. Thinking of activities the both of you could do without overheating, you think back to how refreshing all the ice cream was at your friend’s recent birthday party. Although it wasn’t even close to your guys’ birthdays, it gave you a great idea. You shoot up and rush to get dressed, leaving Sunghoon very confused. 

Finished, you come back to the living room. “Sunghoon, get dressed. We’re going to the market.” Without question, he does as you ask and you both head to the market in no time. 

Walking hand in hand down the ice cream aisle, you grab all the flavors you enjoy, filling your whole basket with different ice creams, toppings, fruit, drinks, and even a cake. “You’re quite hungry, aren’t you?” Sunghoon teases, earning him a slap to the arm.

As soon as you get home, you send Sunghoon alone to the bedroom, telling him you need time to prepare everything. You had pulled all the stops, whipping out the cheap snoopy shaved ice maker, birthday party hats, streamers, balloons, and banners. It was no one’s birthday in particular, but the fake birthday party put you in a festive and refreshing mood. You had set up a giant ice cream sundae bar, and had even made lemonade. 

Calling Sunghoon to come out of the bedroom, he was not surprised but very appreciative. He knew you’d pull sh!t like this Wanting to make it even more fun, he suggests to make sundaes for one another, which you happily agree to. The day was so fun, you had forgotten all about the time you had a few hours earlier, suffering in the heat of your apartment. 

Sunghoon on the other hand, was so happy that you planned something like this. He was never one to do anything cute for you unless you asked, begged so this time he wanted to show you how grateful he was to you by giving you one FREE boop on the nose. Scooping some ice cream with his fingertip, he lightly taps your nose, leaving the melted strawberry ice cream to drip off your nose.

༑ ࿐ྂ。Kim Sunoo

- Brunch

Being a foodie yourself, you and Sunoo would always go cafe hopping to try out different desserts and drinks. This Saturday morning in particular, you both decided it was time for a change. This change for the greater good would include brunching for hours like stuck up rich moms and judging everyone in the facility, as you do when you are a brunching mother. Dressing in your finest brunching attire and of course, sunglasses, your waiter leads you to the table and you strut down that walkway like you know the difference between regular and Belgian waffles.

Crossing your legs at the same time and sipping your orange juice, wishing you could have added some champagne. Your orders finally arrive, having ordered the classic avocado toast and eggs benedict. Starting with the avocado toast, as per tradition, you and Sunoo construct the perfect first bite, shove it into your mouths, make eye contact and a disgusted face, even though it was very obvious that you guys thought it was delicious.

“I feel they nailed the seasoning because avocado, egg, and bread are known to be very bland flavors. The poached egg was perfectly runny in the middle, which was so satisfying to me, especially knowing that the chef can actually cook an egg right.” You start off, pretending you were some high status food critic, above Gordon Ramsey almost.

Sunoo takes his spoon and splits apart the poached egg on the eggs benedict. The egg just so happened to be a tad bit overcooked and the yolk didn’t rush out as smoothly as the other one did. You make eye contact with Sunoo, the most disgusted look plastered on your faces. A couple seconds pass by and you burst out laughing, forgetting about the egg yolk and shoving a huge bite straight into your face.

༑ ࿐ྂ。Yang Jungwon

- Zoo

When you first suggested going to the zoo with Jungwon he looked at you with a confused face. He loved spending time with you, but why the zoo? It’s stinky and there are too many children everywhere. Nevertheless, after much convincing, he gave in and went with you. The screams of all the tiny children were giving him a headache, but he kept reminding himself he was here for you. Seeing the alligators first, it was definitely acting up and snapping its mouth very angrily and hissing. Just because he wanted to be nice by coming to the zoo with you, didn’t mean he was going to hold back on his snide remarks. 

“That’s you that one time I accidentally ate your pastry.” He comments. Rolling your eyes and smacking him in the arm, you continue on the path looking at all the animals in awe. The whole time you walked around you bickered back and forth, many “That’s you when/cause”s being thrown around mercilessly. 

The comment that took the cake and left both of you speechless was one made by you. Walking towards the flamingos, everyone knows them for being notoriously stinky. Pinching your nose to go with the comment you were about to say, you chuckle. “It smells like that one time you accidentally farted in your VLive.” you manage to get out with a straight face. I made that up lol

Jungwon stops in his tracks, looking at you like you had just betrayed him. .He stomps his feet on the floor and whines in the middle of the walkway. “Y/nnnnnn you know I’m sensitive about thatttt.” The time you spend with him after you get home consists of him clinging to you, demanding your undivided attention, cuddles and kissies, and for you to blow dry his hair after he showers. 

༑ ࿐ྂ。Nishimura Riki

- eating competition

Watching mukbangs all day and cuddling with Niki definitely got both of you hungry pretty quickly. With Niki being a bit homesick and you wanting to improve your cooking, a great idea pops into your heads. You wanted to cook Japanese food for Niki, hoping to aid his homesickness, and Niki wanted to see how much food he could shove down his face until he explodes. And with that, your whole date had become a food eating competition. 

Setting all the food down on the table, you had done a very good job. Working your ass off to make not only omurice with curry, but also yakisoba and fried chicken, you were very ready to start your whole competition. Portioning it out evenly with a scale beforehand, you and Niki countdown together and start scarfing down food like you’ve never eaten before. With a mouth full of rice, Niki manages to get out a “It’s really good.” Knowing he liked your food made you feel so proud even though you had just shoved a whole piece of fried chicken in your mouth. 

Several minutes, three enhypen members walking past you judgmentally, and 10 napkins later, you and Niki were too stuffed you even have food this close to you. Queue the rest of the enhypen members, they oh so generously gave you their service and finished the food for you guys. Concluding that you and Niki could not in fact eat two family sized meals in one sitting, you lie on the couch about to pass out. 

“That was so fun. We should do that again.” Niki says while groaning from stomach pain. “And thank you for thinking about my homesickness and making me Japanese food. I love you so much.” He adds. Ending the day with complaining about being too full, planning the next competition, and even inviting the other members, you both pass out an hour after you had eaten and were punished with the dishes in the morning for being cringely in love out in the open like that. 

[justauthoring]

worth the trouble.

Request: could u write a Zach Dempsey x reader about helping him throughout his season 4 struggles?

Pairing: Zach Dempsey x Reader Word Count: 1,770 Please don’t plagiarize my work!

A/N: it STILL baffles my mind that no one gave a DAMN about Zach this season. my boy deserved more respect.

After everything, everything the two of you have been through, he refused to accept your help.

It hurt in ways you hadn’t even known were possible. Every time he pushed you away, spat off about how it didn’t matter anymore and that was just living life fun, your heart ached. Because he wasn’t just trying to have fun, he was trying to kill himself. And you were afraid he was going to succeed.

You couldn’t seem to feel that excited about prom, despite the fact that Jessica had managed to convince Bolan not to cancel it. You couldn’t seem to just forget about everything like the rest of your friends and have fun. Prom didn’t seem as exciting or worth it if you weren’t going with the boy you’ve always wanted to go with. But after your last fight, the two of haven’t spoke, and you weren’t even sure he was going to show up.

You weren’t going to yourself, until Jessica and Ani practically dragged you out of bed and forced you to get ready. They spouted off about them going together, and asked if you wanted to come. When you declined, they were all but appalled that you’d declined their invitation and thus, forced you to come. So, realistically, you didn’t have much of a choice in the matter.

And regrettably, you looked beautiful. But for no one, and you’d wanted to be beautiful for Zach on prom. But he wasn’t even here. 

Still, it was fun. As fun as it could be. Ani and Jessica managed to coax you off your feet and on the dance floor, and dancing with your friends was something you felt you hadn’t experienced in a while and you found yourself letting loose. Ani was more fun then you thought she could be, and Jessica was reminding you of when times were simpler. You even surprised yourself by dancing your hearts content out.

You were having fun. You were smiling and laughing and everything was going great. Until he walked in.

“Uh oh.”

Ani’s mumble catches your attention almost instantly. Your first fear is that it has something to do with Bryce and Monty, because this entire year none of you have managed to catch a single break. But when you glance at her, she’s staring at something past your shoulder and your first instinct is to glance back as well, but Jessica grabs your arm and halts you before you can. You flicker your gaze over to her, brows furrowed in confusion.

“What?” You mumble, slowing to a stop on your feet. “Guys, what is it?”

You move to look again, but Jessica holds fast.

“We can’t let you look.”

You blink, “what, Jessica-- what are you--?”

Ani steps forward, setting her hand on your arm gently. “Let’s just go back to dancing, yeah? Come on, let’s--”

You brush her off, wiggling out of Jessica’s grip enough to glance in the direction of whatever had seemingly caught their attention. Your shoulders fall when you realize just what they had been looking at. Or rather who; because it seemed Zach did decide to show up to prom tonight, and with another date it looks like if him and a random girl stumbling out of the bathroom are anything to go by. You feel your heart basically shatter as the two laugh, a bright smile on Zach’s lips as he holds fast to the girls waist.

She leans forward, whispering something in his ear, before turning back in the bathroom. Zach stands there for a moment, staring, before he turns, taking a last swig of whatever alcohol he’d managed to smuggle in, walking off in the direction of his table.

“Y/N--”

With watery eyes, you brush Jessica’s hand off of your shoulder, pushing your way through the crowd without another work. Both her and Ani call after you but you ignore them, determined to make your way over to Zach. But you almost wish you hadn’t as you reach the table, managing to catch word of what Clay says.

“--You brought a hooker to prom, Zach?”

A hooker?

“She’s an escort,” Zach corrects, dazed in the eyes. None of them are aware you’re stood right behind them, “She’s escorting me.”

“What about Y/N?’ Alex asks, shaking his head. 

You watch as Zach pauses. And almost for moment he seems regretful but the expression is passing and it feels as if your heart breaks even more, which you hadn’t known was possible, as he simple shrugs, waving Alex off. “Y/N didn’t want to go with a drunk like me.”

You scoff, stepping forward to make your presence known. “I’m pretty sure that’s not what I said.”

All eyes snap to you, and you do your best to compose yourself, biting back your tears as you ignore everyone else’s gaze but Zach. He looks guilty, but you barely pay mind to that. You’re far to angry to really care if he feels guilty or not. You assume he probably thought that without him, you wouldn’t show up tonight. Which possibly makes the heartbreak even more painful.

“I didn’t want to go to prom if all you were going to be is drunk.” You correct, sniffling. “I wanted to go with the Zach I fell in love with.”

No one says anything. Zach lips part to speak, but he’s stunned for words.

“And it’s funny,” you add, wiping at your cheeks. “Someone had asked me, but I declined. Because I didn’t want to go with any other guy but you.” Glancing back in the direction of the bathroom, you let out a scoff. “Clearly you didn’t feel the same way.”

Stepping forward, you glare down at Zach. “And a fucking hooker?” You exclaim, raising your hand and sharply slapping Zach across the cheek. There’s an echo of gasps and then silence as Zach’s head snaps to the left, before slowly glancing back over to you. “You’re a fucking jerk, Zach.”

You turn without another word, storming out of the venue with a single glance back.

You search for a bathroom or a room you can hide yourself in, at least until you’ve calmed down. And it only takes you a moment before you do, slipping in quickly and slamming the door shut behind you. You’re thankful Jessica and Ani, nor anyone else, come running after you as you curl into yourself, the tears finally falling freely down your cheeks. You press a hand against your lips to soften your sobs, gripping your phone tightly in hand, debating whether you should just call your mom and head home.

Before you can however, the door slides open. Your eyes snap to the right, fearing it’s staff or something and that you’re in trouble. But your heart falls with further disappointment at the sight of Zach.

Curling back into yourself, you shake your head. “I don’t want to talk to you, Zach.” You mumble, vision blurry as you stare at the patterned carpet. “So, just... leave.”

He doesn’t. And he doesn’t say anything either as he crosses the distance between the two of you and takes a seat next to you. There’s a respectful distance he keeps which you’re thankful for, and he simply just sits, silent for a long while as all the noise that echoes is the sound of you sniffling and trying not to cry.

Then, eventually, he talks. “I’m sorry.”

Scoffing, you shake your head. “You’re sorry a lot.”

“But,” he pauses, turning to look at you. “I am.”

You turn to look at him, swallowing thickly when you notice the sincere look in his eyes. “I just don’t understand, Zach. Any of this. You push away me every time I try to help you when I just want the best for you.” Pausing a moment, you lick your lips slowly. “I care about you so much. I love you so much. I don’t want to see you throw your life away like this.”

Inhaling sharply, Zach glances down at his hands.

“And after everything,” you add, “you bring a hooker to prom when I’ve been waiting for you to ask me.”

For a while, it’s silent. Zach clearly doesn’t know what to say and you’ve said all you can. You were tired of trying. You’ve been trying all year, the only one not to give up on him. But there was only so much you could take, endure. This was like the cherry on top, bringing some other girl, not even another student but an actual hooker, to prom, rather then you.

You just didn’t know if you could fight for him anymore.

But then Zach shifts, and it catches your attention. For a moment, you actually think he’s just going to leave. Just leave you there like this. He doesn’t, though. Instead, he moves in front of you, kneeling, and never tears his gaze away from you. He gently takes your hands in his own and you don’t pull away, too confused to really, as he swallows thickly.

“Y/N, I know I don’t deserve it,” he starts, “especially after everything. You’ve been there for me more than anyone, more than my own mother. You’re the only one whose never given up on me. I don’t know what I was thinking when I brought that girl to prom today. Half of the time, I don’t really even understand what I am doing.” You frown at that, sighing. “But I do know I love you. That’s the one thing I do know. Even if it doesn’t always seem like it.

“So, even if I don’t deserve it, even if you deserve better... Y/N/N, will you go to prom with me?”

Letting out a light chuckle, shaking your head, you sniffle as you free one hand to wipe at your tears. Zach watches you carefully, and then, meeting his eyes, you lean forward, pressing your forehead against his own. “Yes,” you whisper, voice choked. “Yes, i’ll go to prom with you.”

Zach’s eyes widen in disbelief; “really?”

“It’s you, Zach,” you smile, “it’s always been you.”

He smiles, nodding.

“Just promise me one thing?”

Anything.”

Squeezing his hands, you say firmly; “you have to get better. You have to let me help you get better.”

Frowning, Zach glances down at your entwined hands. You quickly nudge his gaze back up on your own, eyes never wandering from his. “I’ll be there the entire way,” you promise sincerely, “I won’t let you do it alone. I promise.” Then, you pause, desperate. “So, do you promise me?”

And he only pauses a moment longer before nodding.

“I promise.”

-

Let me know what you thought?

[eleanorbloom]

Sienna convinces Aurora to go on a date with a dreamy pediatrician. Aurora is not sure about it but she can't think of a good reason not to go. She asks MC to help her pick an outfit. One thing leads to another and MC realizes that she has feelings for Aurora. I'm not sure if you are okay with that idea

Until I Met You

Disclaimer: The characters of this story, except Rosalía, belong to Pixelberry.

Book: Open Heart Pairing: Aurora Emery x f! MC (Rosalía Muñoz)

Warnings: Slight angst and some cussing words Rated: T

Word Count: 5.1k

Prompts: @choicesficwriterscreations​ Silly Love Stories Day 1: Friends to Lovers.

Author’s Note: Hello! I'd been wanting to write an Aurora fic for months, but I never really made the time for it, until now. Thank you anon for this amazing idea!! I enjoyed so much writing it and I must confess I squealed more times than I thought I would. Now I love Aurora even more!

I have another fic in the making, but it'll probably see the light in a few weeks, however I'll definitely keep writing about this precious softie 🥺❤️

If you have any more ideas to write about Aurora please let me know!

I hope you enjoy this and happy February for those who love this month 😊

Taglist: @romereadingshop @mercury84choices @starrystarrytrouble @curiousconch @penda-bear @queenelianar @openheartfanfics

__________________

No one could stop talking about him since day one. He was dreamy: kind, smart, attractive, incredibly sweet, and as if none of the above were enough, he was doing his residency in pediatrics. Almost every person that felt attracted to him would swoon every time they had to interact with him.

The gang used to tease Bryce that James Woods was his most strong contender in Edenbrook Hospital. The surgical resident would snort right away and say it was impossible that the personification of Prince Charming could compare to him when he was the whole damn Disney package with a triple dose of hotness.

Rosalía didn’t give a damn about him, honestly. It wasn’t her type, and that was surprising considering she had had a little crush (and a fling) on Rafael in the past. She was one of the few that wouldn’t sigh every time she had a glimpse of him. Aurora was among that selected group.

That's why it was extremely strange when Rosalía found her talking to James at the cafeteria one morning. It didn't look like it was a work-related thing, a consultation or anything, it was more personal, as Aurora couldn't stop smiling at whatever James was saying.

Something itched inside her, but she couldn't quite tell what it was. Maybe it was her protective instinct because she didn't want to see her get hurt? Or it was just jealousy because she was making new friends? Both options were completely irrational and overreacting, so she tried to shake the feeling off by buying the damn coffee and keeping with her morning as usual.

Later that week, Rosalia approached the boot at Donahue's where her friends had gathered after work and found Sienna and Aurora in an apparent little discussion.

“But why not?” Sienna asked in her usual cheery convincing tone.

“I don’t know, Si, it’s just I’m not sure if something good can come out of this.”

“What if it does? You'll never know if you don't try!"

“It’s just… I haven’t gone on a date for… years," Aurora confessed, looking down at her jar of beer. "After most of the people only wanted to date me for my Aunt, and people outside Med School simply didn’t click with me, I just stopped.”

“This is your chance! You don’t think he’s inviting you for you Aunt, right?”

“No, I don’t think so, he had never mentioned her.”

“What are you girls up to?” Rosalia asked, after witnessing the exchange in silence, knowing perfectly well what was that about.

“Rosie! Please, I need some back up here.”

“What’s the deal?”

“Woods from Pediatrics invited Aurora out,” Sienna said, leaning towards Rosie in an almost confidential tone. More like a gossipy one.

“Woods… James Woods?”

“Yeah, she invited her to try this new Chinese restaurant in Bay Village.”

That strange and uncomfortable itch resurged again. But why? It was just a date. A friend going on a date.

"How did this happen? I didn't know you were close to him,” she lied, feigning she hadn't seen Aurora a few days ago in the cafeteria with him.

“We are. I mean, not close close,” she rectified, with an almost unnoticeable shake in her voice. “We just chat sometimes, usually at the cafeteria, and every time we bump into each other at the hospital he just… talks to me, so today when he saw me he made this invitation.”

"Aurora, he totally likes you! Come on, say yes!" Sienna squealed, hitting the table repeatedly with her hand in excitement.  

“When is it?”

“This Friday. "

“You should totally go, Aurora, " Rosalía said finally, but the words tasted like metal, "he seems fine, I mean, everyone is always talking wonders about him, you should feel pretty lucky he has his eyes on you. ”

“Well, I guess so,” she mumbled timidly, her cheeks profusely blushing at the implication.

"Come on, text him before you have second thoughts!" Sienna ordered, sliding Aurora's phone in front of her.

The resident in front of her simply chuckled and took her phone to type her response.

The following days were inexplicably difficult for Rosalía, between remembering the date and hearing Sienna talking about it, asking if James had done more advancement. And Rosalia couldn’t understand why it bothered her so much.

That Friday evening, Rosalía was having some rest after a strenuous shift, when a knock on the door startled.

“Rosie? Are you awake?”

"Yeah," she responded as she got up from the bed to open the door, and found Aurora on the other side with a blue dress on and a fuchsia blouse in her hand.

“I can’t decide what to wear, would you… help me, please?”

She felt as if someone had punched her in the stomach.

“Sure.”

Rosalía followed her to her bedroom down the hall, and once there, Aurora modeled the blue dress she had on, "I like this, but it's not too comfy, and I feel like it's too formal for a date."

"I agree, it's cute but totally not for Chinese dinner," Rosalía conceded, sitting on the bed, where there were a couple more clothes scattered over the mattress.

Then Aurora approached the bed and took the dress off without worrying she was sitting a few inches from her. It was actually no big deal, they probably had seen each other in underwear at least a hundred times since they started their residency, but her eyes couldn't help but glance at her, at the beautiful white laced underwear she had on, at the curves on her hips and her toned thighs. It was for a brief second, but it was enough. Just that single second made her mouth dry. She wasn't seeing her friend in that white lace underwear, she was seeing…

“How’s this?”

Rosalía looked up at her and observed her new outfit, a pair of white pants and an elegant but chic fuchsia blouse.

She was left speechless for five fine seconds.

“I think it’s too flashy, don’t you think?” she asked, with a bit of self-consciousness in her posture and gestures.

“You look beautiful, Aurora, ” she breathed, completely intoxicated with the view. She didn’t even realize what she said. The words simply went out of her mouth.

“You think so?” Aurora questioned, looking at the mirror and then giving a twirl to see how she looked from behind.

A part of her wanted to say that actually no, she didn’t look that good, because that part of her didn’t want that James Wood could see her this beautiful. But the other part wanted to tell the truth and not be selfish. She deserved to know how astonishing she looked.

Not completely aware of what she was doing, Rosalía got up from the bed and sauntered towards her and stood mere inches behind her, looking at her reflection in the mirror. She was so stunning, she had to fight with all her might to not rest her chin over Aurora's shoulder and wrap her arms around her waist. The only thing she had on her mind was the desire to feel the silkiness of her hair in her cheek, smell the floral notes of her perfume mixed with the warmth of her body, and just feel her body against hers, as simple as it sounded.

Curious about her sudden silence, Aurora turned to her to reiterate her question, but a pair of amber eyes stopped her in her tracks, as they instantly started diving deeply into her chocolate ones, without receding.

For a brief second, Aurora's gaze wandered down, right where it was her mouth, and where her lips parted as a reflex. Rosalía gulped, unable to move, to make a single move. Something inside her was pushing her towards the taller woman, but the confusion for not knowing what was happening was stronger. She stood still in place.

“This is it," Rosalía whispered, her eyes roaming her lips for a millisecond. She had to say something before she could do something she'd regret later. "It’s not flashy, it’s… perfect. It matches amazingly with your skin and your eyes look shinier."

“Thank you," Aurora murmured, not parting her eyes from Rosalia’s, until finally the latter stepped back, feeling her legs wobbling at the feeling of Aurora standing so close to her.

“What time do you meet?” Rosalía asked after clearing her throat.

“He’ll come in twenty, I’ll do my makeup now. ”

“Great.”

“Thanks again, Rosie.”

“Anytime. Good luck tonight.”

Aurora smiled at her before she came back to her room, her chest pounding fast, her mind numb, her hands shaking. What was that? What was she feeling? She couldn't understand it because she’d never felt this for… for a girl before. But how? How could this happen?

She tried to have a logical explanation to what was feeling, that maybe she was experimenting with an aspect of friendship that she had never lived before,  or maybe she was just confusing this with another feeling that was not love.

But the more she tried to pull from the truth, the clearer it became.

This wasn't new, it's just now that she was able to put a name on it. Since the beginning, she'd felt some kind of attraction for her. When Aurora was harsh and ignored her, something pushed her towards her to try to get to know her, to be liked by her. She thought it was just a trait of her personality because she hated that someone didn't like her, at least not without motives, but now Rosalía was realizing it was more than that.

She was always trying to impress her, however she could, because she was brilliant. Every time she had the chance, she wanted to spend time with her, no matter what that could involve, whether it was walking four blocks to have a coffee or lunch, or just getting up earlier than usual so she could go to work in Aurora's car. The excuse she always gave to herself was that it was always good to start the day early, but actually, she just wanted to have alone time with her, just see her first thing in the morning without people around, without the busy routine.

Then that’s what it was? Love? Or was it just infatuation? Maybe nothing of the sort. Maybe she was just confused.

Rosalía couldn't sleep that night. The idea of Aurora having dinner with James, laughing, smiling, and seeing something interesting in him that made her accept a second date, and then maybe have something with him, was too much, even if she was in kind of denial with the whole situation. She didn't want to accept she had feelings for her friend, but at the same time, she hated the idea of her having dinner with James.

She tried to relax by reading a book, but the words before her were like Russian, she didn’t understand a bit.

Hours later,  another knock interrupted her internal fight.

“Rosie, can I come in?”

It was Aurora.

“Yes, come in.”

Aurora opened the door and entered with her purse and jacket in one hand, and a white paper bag in the other.

“Hey,”

“Hey,  how was your date?”

“It was… Good. He’s cute,” she replied as she walked toward her bed and handed her the paper bag,  “I brought you this.”

Rosialía took the bag in her hands, surprised. As she opened it, she found half a dozen spring rolls with soja sauce on a small plastic recipient inside.

“I know you like them.”

Her mind numbed again. Her core felt that buzzing and warm sensation that was pushing her to kiss her, but she was fighting it again.

Why she was being so damn cute?

Yeah, she really liked her. There wasn’t another explanation for this.

“You didn’t need to…”

“It’s a thank you gift for your help today.”

Rosalia smiled sadly at her. The nice gesture had quickly turned into a bittersweet one. It was a thank you for helping her with something she didn't want her to do.

What was she supposed to do? She probably didn’t feel the same. She had a date with someone. Hell, maybe she didn’t even like girls. Well, she herself didn’t know she liked girls until it happened, but there’s no way Aurora would be in the same situation. She’ll just have to learn to live with it. Probably with time she’d stop feeling things for her.

"Wanna join me for a bit while I try this?" Rosalía proposed as Aurora kept standing in front of her.

“Sure, why not?“ Aurora beamed at the invitation and sat in the space Rosalía made in her bed beside her, before taking a bite of a spring roll.

“Yuummm, this is amazing, Aurora! One of the best I’ve had.”

“Yeah, the food is pretty great, actually.”

“And the company? I want details!”

If Rosalía wanted to move on, the first thing she had to do was acting normal, like a friend, as if nothing was happening inside her heart. Also, probably she’d have to get used to the idea of Aurora dating James.

“It was great, we talked about a lot of things. James is a dog lover, likes to go hiking, and tries to go to concerts as much as he can, he's really interesting.”

“Oh, dog lover, that’s all we needed! Her fans will faint when they find out!”

Aurora chuckled, “Yeah, I think they might.”

“And he likes hiking, eh? Just like you.”

"Yeah, actually we agreed to go hiking sometime."

“Oooooh, you already planned a second date!” Rosalía hated herself, as she felt her excitement was excessive and maybe overacted.

Aurora blushed, “No! I mean, we didn’t set a date to do it, but...”

“Well, if the night went that well, he definitely is going to ask you out again," she assured, as she felt a pang on her stomach at the last words. She didn’t know how she managed to tease and smile at Aurora while she was dying of jealousy and pain inside.

*

Rosalía was confident that she could deal with the situation just like that night. That she could pretend everything was fine, show interest in her date, and tease her about it, but she was wrong. Completely wrong.

Ever since she found out she liked Aurora, the days turned into nightmares. Seeing Aurora under a different light, a light of love, complicated everything. She would feel nervous around her, to the point of making her blush sometimes, and frequently she would avoid group chattings to not risk the possibility of having to hear the gang teasing Aurora with James. All those feelings forced her to start spending less and less time with her friend, and the rest of the group as well.

Aurora noticed the change, of course. They were extremely close and above all, she was smart. She noticed Rosalía wasn't joining her early in the morning to go to work together, to which she would respond that she overslept or that she was too tired and preferred sleeping half an hour more. At the question of why she wasn't joining her at lunch, she would argue she had a lot of paperwork to do with the Diagnostics Team. She had a handful of excuses for her sudden change of behavior.

One afternoon she was leaving for her night shift when she found a couple in sportswear outside the building, kissing. When the man leaned his forehead against the woman's, Rosalía realized, to her misfortune, that the couple was no other than Aurora and James.

“This was great, we definitely should do it some other time," he muttered, gently pulling away from her, "maybe Lola can join us if you like. ”

“Yeah, that would be fun,” Aurora replied, smiling shyly.

Rosalía stood motionless at the portal. She was ready for anything except that. Well, no, she wasn't ready for anything that involved Aurora and James actually.

“Rosie!” Aurora exclaimed, embarrassment on her features, as she realized she was looking at them.

“H-Hey! Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“Nonsense. Come on!” she reprimanded, gesturing her to approach them with her hand, “let me introduce you to James. I can’t believe I haven’t had the chance in all these weeks! James, she’s Rosie, Rosalía Muñoz.”

Rosalía sauntered down the stairs, her legs feeling like two heavy pillars of concrete crashing against the staircase, “Hi James, nice to meet you,” she said, her throat constricted.

“Rosie, nice to meet you too! Em has said amazing things about you!”

Em? He already had a nickname for her? A pet name?

“She has?”

“Oh yeah, every time she does it she leaves me with the feeling I want to be your friend too, so I hope this is just the first step to that.”

Fuck. She couldn’t even hate him, he was too nice.

"I've heard plenty of good things about you too, James," she responded, forcing a smile and fighting the tears that were forming in her eyes. "Well, I'm not gonna keep interrupting you, besides I'm on my way to work, so, see you later!" she said, waving her hand as she started walking toward the T-station.

She hadn’t had a train ride that shitty in months. Maybe when she found out Teresa Martinez had died, or maybe when she was suspended from her duties after the Preliminary Hearing about Teresa's death. Either way, it was horrific between trying to fight the tears back and forcing herself to think about anything else but that stupid kiss and the way she was smiling at him. But in the end, the tears were stronger.

The image in her head was too much. Things were getting better than she thought. If they were kissing, it meant that Aurora really liked him; she really was interested in pursuing a relationship with him, and that meant there was absolutely no chance for her. Well, who she was trying to kid, she never had a chance, but it's inevitable to build ideas and prospects in the head. Daydream about it. Clearly, she couldn't do it anymore.

The following days just got worse. She kept finding them everywhere, and one day James even joined them at Donahue's. She considered asking a round of tequila to shut her mind down with alcohol, but then she rejected the idea as she feared she would make a scene drunk. Rosalía didn't want her to know by any means, so instead, she waited fifteen minutes, and then she made up an excuse and went home, alone.

Even if she tried to be subtle, soon her friends started to notice she was distant. Sienna asked her if she was okay, if something had happened with Aurora because she had shown her some concerns about it. She alleged again it was just work. No one kept insisting on the topic.

It was the morning of her free day. All of her friends were at work so she sauntered relaxed toward the kitchen to have breakfast, happy with the palpable solitude.

A  few minutes after she sat up to eat her pancakes, Aurora appeared in the hall to make her own breakfast, “Hey Rosie.”

Her name in her mouth made her shiver. She raised her head, startled, her cheeks flushing instantly, "Good morning," she said and kept eating her breakfast in silence as if she wasn't completely crushed that she was there at that moment.

Aurora served a mug of coffee and made a bowl of fruits, oatmeal, and yogurt and then sat across Rosalía, who had her nose practically buried in her pancakes, unable to look at her. "How much time are you gonna be ignoring me?" she asked after staring at her for a few seconds.

Rosalía’s eyes widened but didn’t look up at her, “What are you talking about?”

“Come on, Rosie. You’re better than that. Are you gonna tell me what has you so… frustrated or distant with me?”

“You’re imagining things.”

The woman sighed with a stern expression on her face, "Rosalía, you've spent the last month ignoring me. We're friends, I know something is bothering you."

A month. Just a month. It felt like an eternity. How much time will it take her to extract Aurora out of her mind? Of her heart?

“Nothing to worry about, it will pass soon,” she said, still looking at her plate.

“Is this for the Benitez case?”

Completely confused with the question, Rosalía raised her head and a pair of worried chocolate eyes met hers, “Benitez case? What Benitez case?”

“The Lyme syndrome case Dr. Banerji made us compete to assist a conference in New York.”

Rosalía tried to remember that case until she found the image of Naveen talking to a group of second-year residents about this competition. Between what was happening with Aurora and the work on the Diagnostic Team, she didn't have the time to fight for it, which was unusual. In better times, Aurora and Jackie would've spent the entire day running to find a solution and throwing dirty looks at each other every time they were in their sights.

“Oh, that. No, no, you deserved it, it’s completely fine.”

“Then what is your problem? Are you really not gonna tell me?”

Rosalía sighed.

Aurora wasn't this pushy. Maybe she was truly concerned, and she couldn't blame her. She had been extremely strange the past months, to the point of making Aurora ask her other friends to find out what was happening, but Rosalía kept telling her everything was fine.

Her heart started racing fast, her cheeks flushed. She couldn't do it. She could not tell her. She prohibited herself to do it.

“I can’t tell you,” she whispered before standing up from her chair and sprint towards her room, but she couldn’t go very far, as Aurora stopped her just a few feet from the table.

“Rosie, please tell me what’s happening,” she said in a soft voice. Rosalia melted. Her eyes fluttered shut at the mention of her name in her mouth, once again. “I’m worried about you.”

"I…" she closed her eyes.  She shouldn't, but all her body was begging for her to tell Aurora the truth. She tried to look for another excuse but stopped instantly and resolutely. She didn't deserve to be lied to that way.

Maybe she will understand, she thought. She’s an adult, maybe it will be awkward at first, but they would eventually move on, and maybe that was the best,  to tell her than keep ignoring her and hiding this from her.

Rosalía opened her eyes again, and Aurora was staring at her, waiting.

“Aurora I….” she sighed, her breath was shaking. “I like you. More than a friend.”

Aurora’s eyes widened in shock for a brief second until she forced herself to school her features, probably to not break her heart more than already was, “But Rosie you…”

“Yes, I’ve always liked guys, until I liked you,” she confessed.

Aurora remained silent for a moment, “I’m sorry I… I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. You wanted to know why I was like this with you, there you have. But don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. I just hope things don’t get weird between us,” she said before running away, successfully this time, from the kitchen. Once she reached her cove, she slammed the door shut and locked herself for the day.

Rosalía didn't see Aurora again until the next day at the hospital. They said hi awkwardly to one another and then kept with their routines more or less normally. By the end of the day, nervousness invaded her as she realized she'd have to see her for dinner, but lucky for her, Aurora wasn't at home when dinner was ready, so everyone assumed she had a last-minute date with James. Despite feeling internally relieved that she wouldn't face her again that night, the idea of Aurora with James kept itching just as the day of their first date.

She had finally managed to fall asleep when a knock on her door woke her up. Sleepy, she walked to open the door, only to find Aurora in the dark hall.

“Can we talk?” she said, a hand curling around her middle finger.

She looked so nervous and kind of worried, that didn’t give Rosalía a chance to get nervous too for being in front of her after what had happened, “Sure, come in.”

As she turned the lights of her bedroom on, she realized Aurora was blushing and her posture was noticeably stiff, “Aurora, are you okay? Something happened?” she asked, gently stroking her arms, inspecting her carefully.

Aurora’s body trembled at her touch so she parted her hands instantaneously, “I’m sorry…” she muttered, taking a step away.

“No,” she mumbled, grabbing her by the wrist, and gently pulling her to her body.

Now it was Rosalía’s turn to shudder, the coldness of her skin against hers causing tingles in every inch of her body.  

She looked up at her, seeking for any clue that could indicate what was she doing there, if was something was happening to her, but there was nothing more than a pair of chocolate eyes staring at her in a way she'd never seen before, and even if she couldn't tell what it was, it made her stomach flutter.

It was soft but at times it was interrupted by furrowings that denoted fear and maybe some desperation, as if for moments something inside her was pushing her to do something she wasn't ready to do, and then would find the strength, to finally waver again.

Hoping she wasn't reading all the situation wrong, Rosalía tempted fate by getting closer to Aurora until their bodies were now mere inches away from the other, the coolness of one body mixing with the warmth of the other.

At the advancement, Aurora looked at her as if something snapped inside her, all fears and doubts gone, just determination. Determination and… tenderness.

Rosalía felt her breath get caught in her throat as Aurora released her wrist to cup both hands on her cheeks, stroking her so gently, as though she was scared of breaking her. It was dazzling the way Aurora was looking at her, with unrestrained sweetness and warmth. All seemed too good to be true. Most of all, because it was in a way she had been wanting for weeks, and maybe, unknowingly, for months.

It didn’t take her long to mirror her, eyes sparkling at the sight of that precious creature of the universe so close to her, her chocolate eyes exposed to discover the hues and stripes drawn in her irises, her hot breath caressing her lips.

Then, as if something was pulling them, both rested their eyes on their lips and started to shorten the distance.

And for the first time, Rosalía didn’t resist. She let herself go and obeyed the most honest desire of her heart.

Kissing Aurora for the first time felt like floating.

No, it was it was even more mighty than flying. It was freeing and lulling, healing and exciting, and more than that, awakening.

The simple act of kissing her had awakened feelings and desires that she didn't know her heart could harbor. Pure and intense, sincere and encouraging.

Driven by all these sentiments, Rosalía wrapped her arms around her neck as both parted their lips to explore more of one another, and that was the beginning of an addiction that would've lasted hours if it wasn't because they had to catch some breath.

They stared at each other in silence until it was inevitably to giggle as if both were incredulous of what had just happened.

“Rosie I…” she shook her head, blinded by the beautiful smile Rosalía was giving her, “Damn, I like you too. So much. I’ve liked you for a long time.”

Rosalía opened her eyes wide, completely off-guarded by her confession, “You what? Are you serious?”

Aurora closed her eyes as she took a deep breath, and when she opened her eyes again, she looked at her amusingly, "I've liked you for, I don't know, several months now, since we started speaking in civil terms to one another. At that time I told you I was mean to you because I didn't want to trust anybody, and you were a threat to my career, but after a while, I realized part of why I tried to hate you so much was because I liked you."

Rosalía chuckled, blown away by how alike their stories were.

"It was hard for me to acknowledge that because I had never… I had never felt that for a girl. But I tried to ignore it, thinking you probably would never feel the same. Then I met James and I thought it was a sign, that maybe he would help me be over you… and I really liked him, you know? He's nice, he's treated me like anyone did before... but then you told me you liked me and… I couldn't believe it, that's why I reacted that way yesterday. I couldn't believe you felt that for me too. I swear I could've never imagined you were.... jealous. Not for a single moment, I linked your behavior to James and me."

Both shared a sad smile until Rosalía broke the silence, "First, I also thought I hadn't had a chance with you because you had only liked men, and second… If it wasn't for James, I don't know when I'd realized I liked you, but the idea of you dating somebody just… ignited something inside me, and the night of your date I finally could tell what it was."

“Oh my god, Rosie,” she laughed, also blown away by her story.

“What about James?”

“I spoke with him. I told him it wouldn’t work out between us because there was someone else.”

“Oh. So that means I have you all by myself now?”

Aurora gave her a mischievous smile as she tucked a strand of her wavy brown hair behind her ear, “Well, if that’s what you want."

Before that moment, Rosalía thought it would be hard for her to respond to that question, as it was something she had never experienced. Being with a girl. But now that she was in the situation, the answer became so easy because what was happening wasn’t anything unknown or terrifying. It was love, and love was simple. Simple and encouraging, so there was nothing to be afraid of.

Rosalía leaned to kiss her deeply before sweetly whispering:

“It is.”

[utterlyinevitable]

Hey hi! Can you do a hc about what happened in the time jump for the li routes to fix this mess? Make the lack of progression make sense! please and thank you

I shall try!

Though I’m only going to do Ethan, Bryce and Rafael (TBC in another post). I have never played Jackie’s route and don’t feel comfortable speculating. 

Ethan x MC During the Time Jump 

After the gala, things seemed to be going well. Ethan dismantled the Diagnostics Team and wasn’t MC’s direct superior anymore. 

They thought everything would be fine. 

But no, Ethan was still an attending and MC a resident in the same department. 

And that kiss looked too familiar to be the first time anything happened between them. 

So people started to talk. 

Rumors started to fly about MC sleeping her way onto the best cases and Ramsey giving her preferential treatment.  “Have you seen the way he looks at Dr. Lao? Actual hearts in his eyes.” “She’s the only person he wouldn’t fire for talking back to him.”   “I saw them leave Donahue’s together once last year. You think it’s been going on since then?” 

Ethan and MC did their best to ignore the incessant gossip, they were much too busy helping as many patients as possible to pay attention. 

Two weeks after the gala the gang celebrated Thanksgiving. 

Ethan was invited and joined without pushback. 

He sat at the island talking with Sienna and Rafael as they waited for MC to arrive from her errand that was taking longer than expected. 

It wasn’t as awkward as he would have thought, getting to know MC’s group was rather enjoyable. 

Well, that was until Keiki and Bryce arrived. 

Keiki was very standoffish with Ethan, giving him the full inquisition. 

He took it in stride, brushing off every time Bryce apologized for his sister’s behavior. 

MC and Ethan spent Christmas with Alan at Ethan’s place after a long shift. They hadn’t explicitly confirmed their coupling with his father, using the cover of “having nowhere else to go” to explain why they’re spending the day together. 

Ethan had only spoken about MC and barely even touched on the depth of his feelings for her in the odd conversation with Alan about his personal life.  

Alan knew better. He sees the way his son looks at MC and how attentive he is to her needs; whether it be a new napkin or a top up without batting an eye. No to mention, this wasn’t the first time he caught them cozying up in Ethan’s kitchen. 

Word still spread around the hospital, even quicker now that Ethan and MC were confirmed to have spent the holiday together. So much, to the point that they could not ignore it any longer. 

Ethan and MC and her friends tried to squash as many rumors as possible. Telling everyone that they’ve only started dating. It was part of the truth.  “They hooked up the moment she was cleared of the toxin. One of the nurses heard them. MC is loud!”  “That’s ridiculous. MC went right to sleep the second I wheeled her out of there,” Bryce informed. “And seriously, the kiss at the gala was the first time they got frisky.” 

They were able to buy some more time. The amount of patients coming through Edenbrook’s doors tripling and keeping everyone busy. 

MC spent New Years with her friends while Ethan worked. 

He made it to her apartment just in time to kiss her at midnight. 

Eventually the most salacious of rumors made their way to the board. 

Edenbrook still had ~7 months of life left and accusations like this could not be brushed under the rug. 

Ethan was called into a meeting to assess the claims not long after. 

He blew a gasket - face and ears red with rage at the laundry list of claims brought against them.

The board threw around the notion of a sexual harassment case. 

Ethan assured them that would not be necessary. Their current relationship was more than consensual. 

The board would have loved to believe them but in the current climate they could not afford another lawsuit and are proceeding with extreme caution. 

Ethan was advised to keep distant from MC until the investigation was concluded. 

MC was called in a few days later. 

She said the same as Ethan. 

Things were awkward that entire week they had to stay away from one another to prove their point of not interfering with their professional relationship. 

The case was cleared quicker than both thought possible. Luckily, all their friends and close colleagues vouched for them. 

Ethan and MC received the email of no wrongdoing just before their shifts ended one night.

The night they got the news wasn’t the happy reunion they were expecting. 

She met Ethan at his place - ready with a set of lingerie she was saving for February. 

MC was so excited. But that all ended over takeaway when Ethan spoke of the thoughts that had plaguing him since his meeting with the board. 

Needless to say, Ethan never got to see the outfit. 

The evening ended in them arguing about where she should apply to residency and how he doesn’t want to hinder her career. 

MC stormed out and gave him the cold shoulder for a while. 

Their fight lasted well past Valentine’s Day. 

MC did send him a text to thank him for the flowers and food basket he sent. Other than that it was professional business as usual between them. 

Both Ethan and MC threw themselves into their work, letting the days turn into weeks and neither of them acknowledging their issues. 

They let the fight simmer down and let themselves down along with it. 

They didn’t fight for their relationship, they didn’t talk anymore about what it all means for them. 

MC loves Ethan and would choose him and staying in Boston for him over a better opportunity elsewhere. But after everything, she’s dejected. She’s put so much effort into their relationship over the last two years that there’s no point to fight for something he’s not willing to meet halfway on.

Ethan knows MC leads with their heart. 

That’s why he wouldn’t tell her. That’s why he couldn’t tell her he’s madly in love with her. 

He doesn’t want to ruin her career anymore than he has already, doesn’t want the rumors festering within Edenbrook to follow her wherever she ends up. Doesn’t want her to give up a very promising career for whatever this is. 

He’s also not going to admit he’s a little scared of what it means if she did stay. It’s easier for him to push her away in the name of her career than admit he’s absolutely hopeless without her. 

MC’s night on the town with her friends ended up at the helipad on top of Edenbrook. Ethan heard the commotion of their dancing and loud music and went to investigate. 

The gang invited him to join and he looked at MC for permission. 

She smiled and shrugged, the fight forgotten and the nostalgia washing over her tipsy state. 

He grabbed and beer and sat next to her. He lamented on the view and when MC told him she was glad he was here Ethan grabbed her hand. They relished the feeling of their skin on each others after what’s felt like years. 

They welcomed the silence and just being in each others company. 

Slowly the group trickled out, leaving Ethan and MC alone.  “What did you get up to tonight? Besides trespassing.”  “We did some applications then said ‘fuck it’ and went out”  He didn’t comment on application although he was itching to know where she hopes to end up. So, Ethan changed the subject, “You look beautiful. That dress really suits you.”  “Thank you.” 

They sat still in unsettled silence. The nightly breeze picking up and Ethan mindlessly rubbing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. 

They went to speak at the same time, MC letting Ethan continue: 

“Will you come home with me?”  “Is that a good idea?”  “I’d like to make the most of the time we have left.” 

MC looked at him, their eyes locking. 

She knew it wasn’t a good idea - she’d fallen into him one too many times. Every time she was scorned.  

But maybe tonight she’s diluted her inhibitions enough to indulge in one last goodbye. 

They went back to his place and they didn’t talk at all. 

Very few words were exchanged in the seconds their lips parted. 

Small pleasantries were exchanged in the morning along with light kisses everywhere but on the mouth. 

Ethan drove her back to her place the next morning to keep prying eyes from catching them coming to work together. 

MC wished she regretted sleeping with him again. 

The moment she got out of bed she missed his heat and the way he wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled into her neck as they slept. 

It was heaven. And MC didn’t ever want to come back down. 

MC was still applying to programs all over the country, hoping she’ll find a new match somewhere. Ethan’s recommendation letter could only carry so far. 

Ever since that last evening Ethan and MC refused to acknowledge the fault staring them in the face. 

Instead, they took things one day at a time. 

They kept their friendship alive after months of ignoring one another. 

They’ve texted, they’ve almost sexted. They’ve gone out for coffee. 

But they never had another sleepover. 

Whenever they got close, their internal siren would wail “they’re leaving they’re leaving they’re leaving” and immediately someone would make an excuse to stop much to both their disappointment. 

It was for the best. They knew that. They convinced themselves to be true. 

Edenbrook’s last day came and Ethan was understandably shaken. His career he had devoted his entire life to ended. This creature of habit has to rebuild and it’s terrifying. 

He had a number of hospitals and research centers send him offers but none of them felt right. None of them were Edenbrook and none of them were the team he and his mentor built, and none of them had his favorite person. 

So Ethan was set to take a few months sabbatical; spend more time with his dad and at the opera and just enjoying the life he has been too distracted to live. 

Later that day while waiting for labs for the Bloom Case, he wanted to strangle his father for inviting MC on the quick trip to Providence. 

He also never expected her to agree. 

Ethan had never taken a woman home - and they weren’t really in that close of a place for her to nosey around his guarded past. 

It was disconcerting and strangely familiar to have MC by his side in his childhood home. His past and present meshing beautifully. 

And that scared Ethan. 

Standing in his childhood home watching Alan and MC coo over baby photos, Ethan never wanted a domestic life more. He wanted to show her everything and have her do the same. He wanted to do all this in twenty years with his own family. 

He was coveting things he had thrown away. 

And then she kissed him and for a split second no hope was lost. 

When the lights of Edenbrook finally went off that fateful day, MC grabbed his hand. 

It felt like the only thing to do. 

He was the most important part of Edenbrook - for MC Ethan was Edenbrook. 

Their romantic past aside, they became friends here. He was the reason she was here in the first place - at Edenbrook and practicing medicine. It was only fitting that he’d be at her side when this chapter closed. 

“I’m going to miss you,” she said so sincerely his heart didn’t know whether to shatter or swell.   “For what it’s worth, I feel exactly the same way about you.” 

The silence hung for a while as they watched the last of the lights switch off. 

She broke it with the most visceral question: “So. This is really it.”  “For some things.”  “And what about... other things? Am I going to see you again now that we don’t work together?” 

It was the question they’d been volleying and avoiding for months. The time came to finally put a decision to it. 

MC was still unsure where she was going. Ethan will be spending more time with his family. Things were still so complicated. 

“It’s impossible to say what the future will bring...” Ethan opted for one last life lesson to close their mentor/mentee relationship. 

Her features, mood and hopes simultaneously fell. This was really the end. 

A part of her hoped they could compromise. They only had one another a few times, there was so much more to explore between them. 

She kept her eyes glued down at their shoes, “Oh...”  “But I can see as far as tomorrow. I’ll see you then?” 

He had the ghost of a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. 

After what felt like ages, their eyes locked. Both clear as could be. 

“I’d like that.” 

MC left to meet her friends while Ethan stayed to say the emotional goodbye to his home of the last 11 years, to the place that made him who he is. 

Ethan and MC went their separate ways with a promise of tomorrow.     

[sincerelyella]

The Royal Treatment Chapter 1 - One In A Million

Books: The Royal Romance and Open Heart (AU)

Pairings: Liam x MC (Ella); Bryce x F!OC (Aera)

Series Summary: Upon finishing their medical degrees at Stanford University, Ella, Aera, and Bryce take on an international medical residency training program in Cordonia, landing them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will put them to test in the name of romance, friendship, and career.

A/N: Thank you @ofpixelsandscribbles​ for being patient with me and editing the crap out of this!

Please note that our story is not to be stolen or reposted on any other site. Reblogs are welcome and much appreciated.

Warnings: not much really, maybe adult language?

Words: 2112

Bryce, Aera, and Ella were already two weeks into their residency programs. Bryce in the surgical department, Aera in anesthesia, and Ella in the new pediatric cardiology unit.

Since Bryce and Aera’s specialties worked together closely, the pair of them spent more time together during the day. Every night, however, Ella has to hear about how Bryce stole Aera’s lunch or how Aera was so irritated with Bryce’s antics. All Ella could do is suggest that they confess their feelings.

“El, you know I can’t do that,” Aera sighed as the best friends sat and watched How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days in Ella’s room, while wearing yogurt-scented Korean facial sheet masks as part of their night skin regimen care.

“Why not?” Ella pointed the remote at the TV and paused the movie. “Just tell him how you feel. Who knows, maybe he’ll feel the same!”

“That’s just it, he doesn’t feel the same,” Aera carefully adjusted her mask to the center of her face, making sure that her eyes and nose were fitted perfectly on their designated holes.

Ella bit her lip, hard. Keeping this secret from her friend was killing her, but she made a promise … to her other friend. “You don’t know that, A.”

“Can we just … forget this conversation?” Aera dropped her hands on the pillow on her lap and sniffled. “Please? I just want to enjoy this movie with you and pass out with my hand in the popcorn bowl, like I usually do.”

“Fine,” Ella unpaused the movie and the pair sat in silence for a few moments. After what seemed like 20 minutes, the girls removed the sheet masks off their faces, letting the cold serum linger on their faces for a bit.

“Are you ready for your interview tomorrow? You have that one patient right?” Aera asked as she gently tapped two fingers over her moist face for better absorption of the serum.

“Yeah, I’m ready. The little guy had heart surgery and he’s doing amazing,” While mirroring Aera’s facial care technique, Ella smiled widely as she remembered how her patient, a little five year old boy named Thomas, wrapped his arms around her neck in gratitude.

**

The next day

Dr. Katherine Richey was Ella’s attending and she was an older woman who was, according to Ella, a badass. Dr. Richey was world renowned, but chose Cordonia because this was the country of her birth.

“Okay, Dr. Brooks, when we go in there, we’ll go over the history, the procedure Thomas had done, and your plan.”

Ella nodded. “Yes ma’am.”

“You’ll be great, Ella,” Katherine squeezed the younger woman’s shoulder. “Nervous?”

“A little bit, but it’s just you, me, Ana de Luca and his parents, so I’ll be fine.”

“Oh,” Katherine’s brows furrowed. “I’m sorry, I forgot to tell you, Ella.”

“Tell me what?”

“Prince Liam moved to start this cardiology unit since he had heart surgery himself as a newborn,” Katherine smiled brightly. “He will be visiting us today and meeting all the patients and their parents.”

“He … Prince … what?!” Ella’s heart began to flutter in her chest. All she could picture was the beautiful blue eyes staring back at her on that magazine. “I …”

“Ella, he’s here, let’s go!”

Oh fuck.

In a daze, Ella followed Dr. Richey to the  nurse’s station where a small group had already gathered.

Ana De Luca turned towards Ella and Katherine with a large smile. “Ah, Dr. Richey, how lovely to see you again.”

“Ana, how are you?”

Katherine and Ana shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

“This is my new cardiology resident, Dr. Ella Brooks.”

“A pleasure,” Ella shook Ana’s hand.

“Dr. Brooks, are you new to Cordonia?”

“I am, yes,” Ella squeaked, and gulped when she saw the same man that she ogled on the cover of Trend magazine walk up behind Ana.

“Prince Liam! This is Dr. Richey and Dr. Brooks.”

Dr. Richey and Ana curtsied while Ella stood frozen,  still shocked.

Katherine nudged Ella with her elbow.

“Ow!” Ella rubbed her side in annoyance, then realized everyone was staring at her. Shit. “Oh, I mean, how nice to meet you, Your Highness,” she dipped into a small curtsy and saw that the prince had a huge, shit-eating grin on his face.

“Nice to meet you, Dr. Brooks,” Liam couldn’t stop smiling at this beautiful woman who looked like she wanted to crawl into a hole and die of embarrassment. Her cheeks were flushed and she kept her hands clasped together in a tight fist in front of her.

No matter how much Ella wanted to stare at the ground in pure awkwardness, she kept her light brown eyes connected to his baby blue ones.

“Alright,” Dr. Richey announced, interrupting the awkward silence. “Let’s go, we’ll be in room 342.”

Ana nodded and gestured behind her. “Isaac is my cameraman and photographer, he’s just going to get some candid photos for the magazine and news broadcast for tonight.”

The group walked towards the patient’s room, Ella and Katherine led the way. A soft knock on the door by Ella was met with an excited squeal from inside.

The room was filled with balloons, a stuffed lion at the foot of a bed, a large stuffed bear that sat in the corner of the room and it was almost as tall as the ceiling. Thomas’ bed had Star Wars sheets and he had a stuffed Wookie sitting next to him. “Dr. Brooks!”

“Hi, Thomas,” all the nervousness Ella felt earlier dissipated as soon as this sweet boy shrieked her name. “I have a couple friends I’d like you to meet.”

“Hi everybody!” Thomas waved both his hands at his visitors. “I have new sheets! Mom got them for me. Feel how soft they are!”

Liam chuckled and leaned forward to feel the little boy’s bed spread. “That is really soft, Thomas. I’m-”

Thomas’ eyes widened. “You’re the prince!” He grabbed his stuffed lion and held it up towards Liam. “Look! My dad got me this stuffed lion like yours!”

As the two talked about lions and Star Wars, Ella and Katherine spoke with Ana, Thomas’ mom Elizabeth, and his dad Richard.

“We signed all the forms earlier,” Richard explained to Ana. “Our boy is a miracle and his story should be told.”

“Tell me, how did you find out about his condition?” Ana asked as she wrote some notes in her notebook.

“He was almost five years old,” Elizabeth began as she wrung her hands together. “He started complaining of pain in his chest when he would run and play at school. He told his teacher he was having problems breathing-” her breath hitched as she remembered what happened to her only son.

Richard squeezed his wife’s shoulder and continued on with the story. “We took him to an adult emergency room and they just said he was short of breath because he has asthma. They sent us home with medication and that was it.”

“I knew it was something more than asthma,” Elizabeth added. “Chest pain, feeling tired all the time and problems breathing weren’t just symptoms of asthma.”

“Once we found out this unit opened up we called to see if we could have Thomas looked at,” Richard turned to Ella with unshed tears in his eyes. “We are so grateful you answered the phone that day.”

“Dr. Brooks got you in here?” Ana asked as she looked up from her notebook.

“Yes, she fought to have us here, for her to follow Thomas through his surgery,” Elizabeth’s tears streamed down her face. “Thank you for saving my baby.”

As Liam watched, Ella gave Thomas’ parents a hug and wiped away her own tears. His heart skipped a beat as Thomas jumped off the bed and lept into Ella’s arms.  He wasn’t sure what it was about her, he just met her not even 30 minutes ago, but he had never felt the need to watch a woman. He had a lot of women throw themselves at him, he was a prince after all;  but he had never wanted to watch them or find out everything about them.  Liam chewed on his bottom lip as Ella threw her head back in laughter, Thomas still holding her in his small arms. The sound of her laugh made Liam want to be the cause of that for the rest of her life.

“Prince Liam?” Ana called out, breaking the smitten, blue-eyed prince out of his trance.

“Erm, yes?” Liam felt his neck and face flush in embarrassment at being caught staring.

“Shall we make our way to the foyer for your announcement?”

“Ah, yes,” Liam stole a glance at Ella, who was giving him a curious look. “Let’s go.”

The group said their goodbyes to Thomas and family and made their way to the front of the hospital.

“What is going on?” Ella whispered to Katherine.

“You’ll see.”

In the foyer, Ella was surprised to see most of the hospital as well as Bryce and Aera already there waiting.

Bryce wrapped his arm around his friend. “El! Where’ve you been?”

“I was getting interviewed by Ana de Luca, and the prince was there!”

“Whoa!” Aera squealed. “You saw the hot prince?!”

“Everyone, let’s quiet down please.” Dr. Cynthia Moore, the chief resident of the surgical department, clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “For those that don’t know who I am, my name is Dr. Moore and I am in charge of the surgical residents.”

Katherine stood at the top of the stairs, found Ella in the crowd with her eyes and smiled. “I’m Dr. Richey and I run the pediatric cardiology department.”

A petite woman stepped forward from behind Katherine. “Hi all, I’m Dr. Martinez and I look after the anesthesia residents.”

A tall man with a white coat cleared his throat. “My name is Ethan Ramsey, I am the Chief of Medicine here at Cordonia Memorial Hospital. I have His Royal Highness, Prince Liam here to make an announcement.”

Liam patted his friend on the shoulder. “Thank you, Dr. Ramsey. I met a lot of you today,” he locked eyes with Ella and smiled. “It was an honor to speak with you, seeing everyone excited to be here is what makes this hospital world class. I’m here to announce a competition, so to speak.”

The residents began to whisper among themselves.

“My father, King Constantine, wanted to start this residency program and open it to not only Cordonians but to foreigners as well. Dr. Ramsey, for example, was offered to stay in Cordonia as your Chief of Medicine after saving my father’s life in America,” Liam cleared his throat. “This competition will allow the winner to become an intern for my family’s medical team. Meaning, should any of my family become ill, you will be the first person we call to come to the palace.”

A hand shot up in the crowd.

“Yes?”

“Prince Liam,” a blond haired, blue-eyed woman next to Ella spoke. “How do we win?”

“Very good question. What is your name?”

The woman blushed. “I’m Madison, Your Highness, Dr. Madison Herrera.”

Liam smiled at Madison and Ella felt her stomach churn. “Well, Dr. Herrera, in order to win, your Chief Resident will be observing you closely. They will be rounding on your patients, speaking to them, looking over your charting, going through your diagnosis, treatment and plans.”

Ethan’s voice boomed throughout the foyer. “If you diagnose wrong, give your patient the wrong medication or fuck up in any way, you will automatically lose.”

Liam’s eyes widened at Ethan’s words. “Well, yes, unfortunately if you diagnose wrong, you will be out. Your Chief Residents will list you from highest to lowest, if you are the top resident for more than four weeks in a row, you win.”

“Do surgical and anesthesia residents compete also?” Bryce hollered.

“Dr. Lahela!” Dr Moore hissed from her place on the stairs.

“It’s okay,” Liam chuckled. “I apologize, Dr. Lahela, only medical residents for this competition.”

“Any other questions?” Ethan asked impatiently. When no one said a word, he waved everyone away. “Fine, go back to your departments.”

Ella let out a long breath and made her way to the cafeteria. She flashed her badge at the woman manning the register whose name was Flora. “Hi Ate, I’m just here for coffee.”

Flora waved her through. “Go ahead, Anak, it’s on the house.”

“Salamat po,” Ella squeezed the older woman’s shoulder and walked towards the drinks. As she picked a size and what flavor coffee she wanted, she felt someone standing behind her.

“Fancy seeing you here.”

[dangerousconnoisseurdonut]

Choice #7; Cowboy/Steampunk Fusion

Right, here we go with lucky #7; So, a Gotham that is still kind of young and a bit like the Old West like Back to the Future Part 3. The Wayne's are throwing a party with their 8-year-old daughter, Bryce in attendance.

Everything is going swimmingly until a youngish Theo Galavan and his Maniax show up, including 14-year-old Jerome and Jeremiah, as well as 'Matches' Malone intent on robbing the place.

Anyway, Jerome and Jeremiah think Bryce is cute but are a little messed up in the head so they think branding her with their mark is like a promise ring as they promise they are going to be big time Outlaws and treat her like a queen, and the brand is meant to scare other hoodlums off.

Thomas naturally goes to protect his daughter but Theo, who was looking for an excuse, shoots him, then Martha. He hits Bryce and sets fire to the home, figuring he's killed the last of the Wayne's, so now there's nothing stopping him from taking over Gotham.

Too bad he didn't see Matches go back inside to save poor little Bryce. Remember how Matches said he doesn't kill babies? Well, I expanded that to kids as well. Now, Matches feels bad for his part in Bryce becoming an orphan so he takes her and moves away from Gotham to help make her strong and train her to be a bounty hunter. Along the way, she meets and is trained by old west heroes like Bat Lash, El Diablo (Lazarus Lane), and of course Jonah Hex.

Matches also teaches her the most important thing she'll need to know to get close to Theo Galavan; how to act and sound like a man. To be a perfect duality; female vigilante and male Bounty Hunter. As she reaches her 18th year, he knows he's dying, so he kills himself after explaining everything she'll need to know, and makes it look like she killed him, so 'The Bat' will have her first Bounty, and she goes one step further; as she was branded, so too will she brand her victims with the insignia of a bat. For her male persona, she takes the name, Matthew Malone.

It takes her a year to make it back to Gotham as Matches took her to Mexico or something to keep her safe, and along the way she meets Lucius Fox who worked for her father, and Lee Thompkins, a doctor who was run out of Gotham by Galavan's partner, Sofia Falcone.

She helps Lee sneak back into Gotham, disguised as Thomas Leslie (if you have a better suggestion, I'm open to it). Gotham has changed a fair bit in the eleven years she’s been gone as there are now fairly tall skyscrapers, but people still get around by horse and buggy, though these horses are robots, hence the steampunk element. By an amazing coincidence, the saloon Matthew stops in at to get a cold beer, is patroned by the Valeska brothers, who still work for Galavan but now have their own crew; who else, but the Horribles. Everyone else clears out when the Horribles announce their impending arrival, but 'Matthew' wants to finish his beer, then he'll leave. Jerome tries to hassle him, but Matthew ignores him until Jerome goes for Matthew's gun (yes, he has a gun, I will explain later), only to find Matthew has a dummy gun that is coated with a mild form of Tetrodotoxin; not enough to kill him, but his arm and mouth go numb. Others would be offended at this; Jerome, his brother, and the others all find it hilarious; even Victor laughs at it. Matthew then pulls out $100 bill and pays for the first round of drinks for the Horribles as apology for the gun.

Matthew goes to leave but the Horribles invite him to have a drink with them; anyone who can shut Jerome up deserves a drink. They ask him if he's a Bounty Hunter with the kind of money he has, and he answers yes. They ask him about his family, and he‘reveals' he's the‘son' of Matches Malone, who Jerome and Jeremiah vaguely remember. When Matthew reveals his father was killed by The Bat, the others are intrigued and ask if he actually saw The Bat as no one is certain if she's real or just a legend. Matthew then rolls up his sleeve and reveals a 'Bat Brand', which she gave him when he tried to protect his father.

Before more can be said, Selina Kyle, protege of Tabitha Galavan and Bryce's childhood friend comes in with some news she just got from the telegraph office; The Bat was sighted not too far from Gotham, and may be on her way to their city. The Horribles are all excited to test their skills against The Bat, but Matthew warns them that she is lightning quick with her whip and daggers and is good at using the shadows to disappear, and that's without taking into account her horse; a large black stallion named Daredevil (if you think it should be Ace, tell me, but Daredevil sounded more ‘Old West’), a far cry from the steampunk horses everyone in Gotham uses. He then rises to leave, saying he's hoping to find lodgings and work in Gotham for maybe a month as his last Bounty managed to get him pretty good, and he could do with some steady work for a bit. Selina offers a room at the 'House of Instant Happiness' she owns; normally $50 a night, but she'll knock it down to $40 if he helps keep the rowdier customers under control the nights he's there. He agrees, and they shake on it; Selina notes in passing that, even for gloved, powerful hands, they seem a little small for a man, but brushes it off.

That night, someone from the Narrows is dragged out into the streets as he can't afford his ‘protection' this week, so Sophia is determined to make an example of him; as her enforcer goes to pull the trigger, however, a large piece of metal, later determined to be in the shape of a bat, comes whistling through the night and hits the guy right in the hand, taking it off; The Bat has come to Gotham. She swings down and informs Sofia that ‘she has never liked bullies'. Sofia responds that she doesn't like rodents that get in her way. The Bat responds that Sofia's face may be a little pinched, but there's no need to call herself a rodent.

A fight breaks out, and the worst injury The Bat gets is a black-eye while she takes down three of Sofia's best men and Daredevil takes out one of Galavan's men. The next day, Matthew is again at the Saloon when the Horribles arrive and they ask him if he's still looking for work. He responds yes he is, so they take him to see Mayor Galavan who is more than happy to take on the son of an ‘old friend'; it helps that Matthew can fight like nobodies business and is as good a shot as his father. While there, Matthew meets the Galavan's butler, and her heart clenches painfully in her chest; it's Alfred, and he just looks so downtrodden, not at all the man she remembers playing with her as a little girl. A week goes by with the days as Matthew and nights as The Bat, and Lee worries that Bryce will burn herself out before she gets her revenge, but Bryce is determined, more so ever since she saw Alfred. Matthew manages to move up a little when he manages to hold off the Bat long enough (maybe Lee in her costume? I haven't figured that out yet). What's surprising is how friendly Matthew gets with the Legion of Horribles as well as Deputy Mayor Oswald Cobblepot, his assistant Edward Nygma, and even his bodyguard, Victor Zsasz, all of whom are treated like dirt by Galavan and Sofia.

Bryce finally gets her chance; Galavan is holding a party at his house with his lieutenants, and Matthew is invited for protection. The setting is too perfect to pass up and she lays a bomb, ready to die herself if it means she'll take down Galavan as well. Problem is, Tabitha is there as well, which means Selina is there, along with the Horribles, Oswald, and poor Alfred is slaving away in the kitchen. She doesn't care about her own life, but she can't risk theirs; yes, Jerome and Jeremiah were there when her parents were killed and branded her, but she’s honestly come to like the two psychos. She manages to sneak a note to Selina, hoping she'll get the Horribles and Alfred out in time, signed by The Bat.

Selina manages to get the Horribles together and get them to Alfred, who was always rather nice to ‘The Freaks’ as Sofia and Galavan call them so they don’t want to see him get hurt either. When she shows Alfred the note, he just about has a heart attack; it may be more mature than when he last saw it, but he'd know that handwriting anywhere; it's *Bryce's* handwriting. He reveals a mark hidden on the paper near the signature; a heart with thorns wrapped around it;Bryce and Selina’s ‘secret symbol’ that they always signed their notes with to appear more ‘cool’. Selina can hardly believe her childhood friend is alive and well (if a little nuts to dress like some kind of Zorro/Bat hybrid and fight Outlaws) and Alfred, knowing his beloved little Mistress is alive, realizes why Matthew Malone looked so familiar. Matthew is really Bryce, which kick starts the reasoning in the twins minds; Matt, as Bryce, was the cute little girl they promised themselves to all those years ago. They manage to locate the bomb and disarm it.

Later, after the party, and Bryce mourns the lost chance of getting her revenge by warning Selina who must have found the bomb and disabled it out of loyalty to Tabitha, she meets up with Lucius at a cave just outside Gotham, unaware that the Horribles and Selina have followed her. They watch as Bryce, Lucius, and Lee all argue about just how far Bryce is willing to go in her revenge. Yeah, Lee wants to put Sofia in the ground, but she wants to be alive to enjoy it. Bryce responds that she has spent the last eleven years of her life training for this chance; learning sword and pistol, becoming ambidextrous so no one would even think to link left-handed Bat with right-handed Malone, learning to deepen her voice and more masculine habits so no one would suspect a thing. She hasn't gone through all that just to see Galavan get away with his crimes; she's going to kill him (remember, Bryce was raised by Matches, El Diablo, and Jonah Hex, not Alfred; she doesn’t quite have the same problem with killing as she normally would). Selina, Bridgit, Ivy, and Ecco all manage to get back to the city before Bryce and lay a trap in her room. When Matthew arrives, he and Selina talk for a few minutes before she deliberately calls him Bryce, and asks how she could not tell her that she was alive. Bryce goes for one of her smoke bombs to get out fast, but the others manage to ambush her, tie her up, and manage to knock her out before giving her to Jerome, Jeremiah, Jervis, Jonathan, and Victor so they can... interrogate her. ;)

They take her back to their private place where Jeremiah examines her arm and, sure enough, there's their old brand right where they left it when Thomas Wayne tried to stop them. He and the others, who are in a relationship, talk to her and find out her plan to kill Galavan, which they wouldn't mind as Galavan is a chicken-heart, no lip, slimy worm, but they also like Bryce so they don't want her to enact her suicide mission. To keep her from escaping, they tire her out with sex (cheesy, I know, but she is an escape artist and a very determined woman; they have to keep her energy low while they come up with a plan that doesn’t involve her dying). Bryce has had sex before, both as a woman and as a man (she has a strap-on, OK?), but it was always painful as her partners cared more for their pleasure than hers, which didn’t bother her as sex was just a tool to get close or a means of getting information. But the guys are all tender with her and make sure she enjoys it and she doesn’t know how to block this out like she does pain. Particularly with Jonathan as the little sweetie has never been with a woman before so the others guide him on what feels good for a woman; she’s embarrassed when he actually makes her squirt. But when she hears word that Galavan and Sofia have captured Lee and Lucius, she knocks them out with one of Jonathan's gas bombs, and goes to turn herself in. Galavan tortures her and Sofia goes to kill Lee, only for the Horribles, Oswald, Ed, Zsasz, and undercover lackey Joe Chill, who in reality is Marshal James Gordon to come charging in to save the day. During a scuffle, a lamp is knocked over, Sofia is killed by Barbara who wants Lee to be in a threesome with her and Tabitha (Lee: Hey, I’ll try anything once), and Galavan's house is set on fire. Bryce takes after Galavan, determined to see this end as it began. Victor can't follow because of all the flames and Jonathan's suit is hardly fireproof, so it's up to the other three. They see Galavan and Bryce fighting, but Galavan is about to get the upper hand and kill her when he's shot from behind; it's Alfred with a shotgun.

Alfred: Consider that my resignation from your service... Bloody Bastard.

It's not easy but they all manage to get out and Bryce will be laid up for a while, but she's done what she set out to do. Too bad she doesn't know what to do now that's gotten her revenge.

Bryce is in a room owned by the Sirens, surrounded by her friends just after the fire: Well, I should be up and around in about a week or two, then I’ll find a new city to go to and-

Ivy: Wait, you’re leaving?!

Male Horribles who have been waiting outside the room for the OK to come in but have been listening at the door: LEAVING?!

Bridgit sighs as she stands, rolls her eyes, walks to the door, opens it, and the male Horribles, excluding Victor as he naturally has more sense, all come tumbling into the room: Behold, Bryce; you’re idiots.

[anotherbeingsworld]

Once Upon A Miracle

To: Dani // @lovealexhunt​ as I was your gifter for the choices potluck hosted by @homeformyheart​ 💖

Pairing: Bryce Lahela x F!MC (Olivia Hadley)

Warning: None, just... fluff!

A/N: Hii, I am back with a new fic and this is a fluff! I know, I haven’t been writing a while and I am soo sorry; things been rough and I hope this is good enough. I have a few to post hopefully before the year ends! But, this one is for my good friend Dani, she is a fighter and she will fight too! Ily and happy holidays Dani!! I hope I did Olivia justice! 💙💙💙💙 Happy holidays everyone , I hope all of you have an amazing one ! - Alya! 

MY MASTERLIST 

Holidays. Every year was a surprise for her, as the holidays were filled with miracles and it’s a mark for a new beginning. A new beginning to start over, yet… the hospital was filled with patients instead.  She was a believer on miracles, and there is going to be a miracle happening at the hospital today. 

She stood by the nurse station along with some nurses, as a 9-year-old boy displayed a sad expression on his face upon the presence of all the machines surrounding him. Olivia walked his way with his chart in her hand.

‘Hi Chris, how are you today?’ Her voice soft as the boy’s fears slowly rolled down.

‘I’m… scared. Do you know where my mommy is?’ His voice is still shaky despite the nerves has been controlled.

She smiled at him, an encouraging smile; the one where it could make your worries fly away in a certain amount of time.

As she was about to reply, a couple was spotted speeding into the room with a worried expression on their faces, which transitioned into a relief seeing their son in good condition.

Olivia took a few steps back giving the family their space, as the hugs were exchanged giving her a mental note to call her parents as it was one of the times where she didn’t celebrate the holidays with her family.

After a while, the father breaks away from the hug making his way to Olivia.

“Hi, Mr. Wheeler. My name is Dr. Olivia Hadley and I have your son’s result…” Her voice is soft, as the mother pulls the boy into a hug earning a smile from herself.

“Nice to meet you, Dr. Hadley, do you know what is wrong with Chris? We got a call from the hospital from his daycare and we hope it won’t be serious…”. Olivia knows that tone of voice all too well, as he was trying to disguise the fear with a calming demeanor.

“His results states that Chris has a fever along with the flu which is not serious at all. We will get his prescriptions ready but…we have to monitor Chris for the night to make sure nothing is serious for now.” She states earning a relief looked once again followed by a wide smile from Mr. Wheeler who looks much calmer than before.

“Is our boy going to be okay Dr. Hadley? It’s almost the holidays and it’s one of his favorite time of the year and we hope we could bring him home soon to his brothers and sisters at home…’ Her voice is soft, a glimmer of hope can be seen in her eyes hoping this nightmare would be over soon.

“I can’t promise anything Mr.s Wheeler, but I know we will do everything we can to get Chris better.”

…

…

…

She nods to the family while leaving the room to let the family reunite. The charts were placed at the nurses station , as she bumps into Bryce who somehow has a huge smile on his face upon her presence.

“Bryce, what a wonderful surprise.” She smiled at the sudden appearance who happens to be her boyfriend which is rare to see on the pediatrics floor.

“Well, I wanna see my girlfriend after a long 24-hour shift.” He placed a kiss on her cheek, as they walked together on the halls as their pages are silent for now.

They stopped in front of a familiar place which somehow their favorite place besides the on-call room. The NICU is  on the peds ward. Both of them stood behind the glass, as they observed the nurses handling the babies inside with care. There were small coos can be heard, as there were a few babies are asleep, and there are some who are wide awake.

“I see a new-comer!…” Liv exclaimed excitedly as Bryce’s eyes fall onto the view in front of them.

“Isaac Rivers.” He states after reading the chart from behind the glass.

Olivia’s eyes widen at an idea, as she pulled Bryce with her leading them both into the NICU which was met by one of Olivia’s closest colleagues, Miranda.

“Olivia hi! How can I help ya today?”

She gestures to the babies, with a wide smile along with her puppy-eyes to Miranda which she instantly understands the look on her face.

“Alright Liv, since the staff was short today; we need some extra hands today.” A smile appeared on her face, as both Bryce and Olivia went inside to help.

They get themselves sanitized before they handled the babies. The NICU was one of her favorite places in the hospital, it’s the start of growth where a human was brought into the world. And, she doesn’t want a kid to be alone especially during the holidays.

They shuffled places, as Olivia observes the little girl inside one of the cribs. She took a look on her chart, as a small smile appeared at the name that was written on the chart.

Olivia Renelle Johnson. 24th December 2020.

She took a seat, as she observed little Olivia who is cooing in her crib. Small coos can be heard somehow made her mesmerized by her little existence. So many moments have passed, as she found herself hooked to Olivia once again, after checking the other babies around her.

She was entranced at the moment that she didn’t realize a figure was standing behind her.

“Now I understand why you are hooked with her...” Bryce lets out a small laugh as he places his arms on her shoulders.

“She is an Olivia as well.” Her words came out as soft as silk, as the baby coos softly once more with a small smile appeared on her face.

“Well, all of the Olivia’s I known has left a mark in my life and I think this one did the same to you Liv.” His eyes fall onto baby Olivia as he scoots forward to take a closer look, as his thumb was captured by baby Olivia herself in the crib.

…

…

…

Liv excuses herself to meet with Miranda who is smiling at them both.

“What’s with the look Miranda?” She eyes her earning a nudge from her friend.

“The three of you looked like a family, and it’s such a calming sight. You are a natural Liv.” She states as both of their gazes fall onto Bryce who was still playing with baby Olivia.

“He is such a natural too, I honestly never expected that.” A smile was formed on her lips, everyday she learned something new about Bryce and, it has been an enjoyable process.

“So, when is your shift will end Liv?”

“Our shifts are done actually, we wanted to check in these cuties before going back… plus, with the holidays; I knew you might need some extra hands.”

Miranda shook her head while a smile lingers on her face,

“You know you deserve a break from this hospital once in a while right?”

“I know, I guess this is some part of me that can’t be erased know and I am happy with it.”

“Whatever you say Liv.”

Both of them stood in silence before she decided to bring up the question.

“Have the parents taken baby Olivia back yet since it’s almost been 24 hours since her birth?” Olivia asked earning a sad look from Miranda who shook her head sadly.

“Baby Olivia unfortunately were found pre-mature, as the mother has to go through an early c-section because of it.”

She felt her heart breaking slowly,

“Do you think she’ll make it?” Her voice filled with uncertainty which is replied with Miranda’s encouraging smile.

“She is a fighter, just like you Liv. We will monitor her for the night and who knows; maybe a miracle will happen. It’s the holidays after all.” She winks at her, making her calm down a little but can’t help by the pang of sadness inside her.

…

…

A sad expression falls onto Olivia’s features, somehow a part of her was already been flooded by sadness. It hurts her to see this sight, a child with no parents.

She makes her way back to Bryce, as she took a seat beside him. He notices the sadness on her face and asked.

“Hey, what’s wrong? Is Olivia okay?” He gestures to the baby Olivia who is sleeping soundly in her crib.

Liv nodded but a part of her feels down, somehow sadness has washed into her system.  

“There was complications during her birth. Miranda told me, they have to keep an eye on baby Olivia for the night.” The words felt heavy, as it escapes her lips earning as his smile falters a bit, his eyes fall onto baby Olivia who is sound asleep with a pang of sadness can be seen in his eyes.

Bryce nods, understanding as he pulled Liv into a hug and placed a kiss on top of her head. As they continue their task of accompanying baby Olivia for the night, with the addition of instrumental Christmas music playing in the background.

…

…

…

It was midnight and its officially Christmas as they sat in the NICU with one another with permission from Miranda; they are allowed to accompany baby Olivia and the other babies who haven’t been returned to their parents yet.

The room was dimmed as the occupying babies were sleeping softly with Olivia and Bryce to make their first Christmas less lonely.

After a while, Bryce brought back two cups of hot cocoa from the nearby office in an attempt to keep them both awake.

“So, what do you think about the holidays in the hospital?” Bryce asked as he has his arm around her after setting down the cup of hot cocoa down.

Olivia starts to think, as somehow it was a new tradition for her to celebrate the holidays anywhere other than her home.

“It’s been exciting and very very new.”

“But…?”

“But, the company is very much enjoyable.” She smiles at him, earning a wide smile from the man himself.

“Good answer.” He placed a kiss on her forehead, followed by small movement from baby Olivia herself.

…

…

…

As it hit the 24 hour mark, both Olivia and Bryce had wide smiles upon their faces as baby Olivia survives the night.

“She did it Bryce, she survives!” Olivia exclaimed quietly as they hugged once more, it was a long night but… it is worth it.

“It’s the season of miracles, and baby Olivia here is one of them.” His voice is slow, as his gaze falls upon the crib.

Olivia nods, a smile is not leaving her face as they stood there. Miracles indeed could happen during this time of the year, and it was indeed the best Christmas ever.

THE END.

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[alwaysmychoices]

for the prompt request, would you consider 20. things you said that i wasn’t meant to hear for Rafael x MC?

“Unpacking All of That”

Synopsis: After helping Raf move into his new apartment, he and Darcy end up at a bar where Rafael overhears her say they’re “just friends.” But do either of them really want to be just friends? 

Pairing: Rafael Aveiro x MC (Darcy)

Words: 3.4k

Rating: T (language)

Note: I hope you liked it! I didn’t do a great editing job, so if you find errors, I’m sorry. Also, I made a new MC for Raf x MC fics. Meet ~Darcy~

Rafael couldn’t have moved into his apartment without Darcy’s help.

That was what he kept telling her, at least.

She didn’t quite believe him. She was just one of many friends who rallied behind Rafael to help him move. She thought his childhood friends deserved far more credit for carrying all those boxes to his 5th-floor walkup – and for calming Rafael’s grandmother, who threatened to burst into tears the entire time she helped Rafael unpack his kitchen.

But, even if Darcy didn’t carry the most boxes, Rafael knew he couldn’t have done it without her.

He wouldn’t even have this apartment if she hadn’t stood beside him while he emailed the listing agent.

And though neither of them ever addressed it, there was a quiet understanding that Darcy moved heaven and earth to be here today. She was technically assigned to work at Edenbrook that afternoon, and she cashed in at least a dozen favors to take the day off for Rafael. One of those favors included working the night shift, depriving her of any and all sleep, but she still showed up on Rafael’s doorstep with an excited smile and a cup of coffee. When everyone else called it a day and wished Rafael good luck, Darcy stayed.

He knew she was exhausted. He even commented on it a few times, begging her to go home and take a nap, but she always waved him off and drank a cup of coffee instead.

She deserved all the appreciation he could muster.

No, she deserves more, Rafael reasoned.  

When they ordered food, he ordered whatever she wanted. She objected, of course. It was his first night in his new apartment, after all, but Rafael promised it was his first choice, too. In a way, it was. His top priority was to make her happy, and if lo mein and fortune cookies accomplished that goal, he was satisfied.

Later, when the majority of the boxes were unpacked and they were too exhausted to touch any more, he offered to make popcorn and watch a movie to relax.

Rafael really wanted Darcy to say yes.

Darcy had never regretted making other plans more in her life.

With obvious disappointment, she explained that she had already agreed to meet people for drinks at 9 pm. With equally obvious disappointment, Rafael said he understood. Darcy didn’t want to leave him, though.

That’s how Rafael and Darcy ended up crowded into a downtown bar’s booth at 11 pm.

It was nice, it really was, but… it wasn’t quite the same as just relaxing alone.

There were a few new faces in the group tonight, so Rafael and Darcy spent most of the night getting to know strangers instead of spending time with each other. Darcy was seated next to a surgical intern Bryce brought along, and Rafael often found himself looking at them.

Someone told Rafael that his name was Jack. He had only met Bryce a week prior, but a few tough surgeries bonded the pair so much that Jack was now invited to morning workouts. He was brilliant, self-assured, and outgoing. Jack spent the whole night talking to Darcy, but there was this look he had that bothered Rafael, like he knew he would have the pleasure of talking to Darcy again and again.

It took less than thirty minutes for Rafael to decide that Jack was flirting with Darcy, and it took him even less time to decide that he despised Jack.

Darcy, however, didn’t seem to share Rafael’s sentiments.

She didn’t seem at all bothered to spend her night by Jack’s side. Once or twice, Rafael even thought she might be flirting back.

Finally, Rafael couldn’t handle it. He excused himself from the booth, saying he was going to the bar for another beer. He honestly didn’t care for another beer, nor did he want to wait by the bar. He just wanted to be as far away from Jack as he could get.

Rafael knew it wasn’t fair to begrudge Darcy a handsome young suitor. Darcy was an amazing woman. Of course, someone wanted to spend time with her. Rafael knew better than anyone what it was like to want to be near her, no matter the cost.

This time last year, he was lovesick and began every day hoping just to see Darcy. They went on adventures all over Boston, even dancing and sharing a kiss in the moonlight.

But then…

Then, Rafael changed his mind and lost his opportunity.

Right when Darcy started to look at Rafael as someone she could love, Sora came back. Back then, Rafael thought that a shared past and community trumped tentative adoration and fireworks every time they touched. He reasoned that Darcy was just a crush and that Sora was his destiny.

It didn’t feel right, though, not even for a moment. He looked at Sora and caught himself wishing he was sitting next to Darcy instead. He stayed because he was determined to make it work, and he couldn’t fathom breaking Sora’s heart. That wasn’t fair to Sora, either. He knew that now.

When Sora rightfully ended their relationship, Rafael had to rebuild something with Darcy that had never even been official. Their relationship was a patchwork of nervous smiles, late-night kisses, and a handful of nights. Then, their relationship was nothing – just friends who felt too awkward to actually spend time with each other. Now, what was it?

More importantly, what did they want it to be?

Rafael’s head swam. Four beers and existential thoughts didn’t mix well after a day of physical labor. He just wanted to go home, but he also refused to leave until he saw Darcy and Jack part ways. He couldn’t risk Darcy falling in love with someone else right when Rafael had a chance again.

Once he had his fifth beer in hand, Rafael decided that he was just going to get in there and stop it himself. He would join the conversation as casually as he could. Then, even if Jack behaved like an asshole and continued to flirt with Darcy, Rafael could serve as a buffer. It was foolproof.

Before he could change his mind, Rafael set off in the direction of their booth. Instead of rounding the corner to return to his old position, he headed straight for Darcy.

He was close enough to overhear them now. Part of him thought it was wrong to listen, but the other part felt like he had to know what they were talking about. What if they were making elopement plans right now?

“So, who is that guy you walked in with?” Jack asked Darcy, taking a nonchalant sip of his vodka tonic.

“Oh, that’s Raf!” Darcy answered, feeling almost like she had to yell over the music to make sure Jack heard her.

“Raf?” Jack repeated with a devilish smirk on his lips.

Darcy wasn’t sure how to read Jack. All night, she had oscillated between thinking he was just friendly and that he was desperately hoping to get her naked by the end of the night. Even his expression evaded understanding. His eyes were purposeful, like every word was an important piece to a magnificent puzzle, but the rest of his body exuded detachment and casual engagement.

She wondered if she was just trying too hard to read his behavior. Did any of it even matter? He was just the man she drank next to tonight. She didn’t need to evaluate his every action.

“So, is he your boyfriend?” Jack prodded, leaning closer to Darcy as he asked. She could feel his breath on her neck and could smell the vodka on his tongue.

“Oh, no, he’s just a friend!” Darcy insisted – very unconvincingly, if you asked her.

He’s just a friend.

Raf had only caught a few words of her conversation, but that he heard.

Just a friend.

Rafael was just a friend.

It stung.

It burned.

And it… it hurt.

Rafael felt frozen in place, like he needed to feel each individual dream and hope for his relationship with Darcy shatter. His heart ached. Everything felt blurry and rough around the edges now. Even the beer in his hand felt too icy and heavy. He just wanted to go home.  

He imagined sitting back in his seat and watching them for the rest of the night.

No… he really imagined watching Darcy – seeing her have fun and knowing she wanted nothing more than friendship.

There was a part of Rafael that wanted to blame Darcy. It insisted that she was responsible for this heartbreak, that she had fooled him with mixed signals. Who looks at their friend the way she looks at him?

But Rafael knew it was his fault.

He was the one who left Darcy. He picked someone else.

She deserved to do the same.

Rafael just wasn’t strong enough to sit there and watch.

When he approached Darcy, she gave him that smile – like she was so incredibly happy to see him and could only look in his direction. It was frustrating to see it now, knowing that he had spent weeks interpreting that as romantic interest when it was just another smile.

“Hey, Darcy, I’m heading out. Thanks for all your help today,” Rafael said quickly, only leaning close so she could hear him clearly as he put his practically full beer on the table in front of her.

“What? You’re leaving already?” Darcy asked, looking practically deflated with disappointment. This time, Rafael decided not to read into her. Clearly, he hadn’t done a good job in the past.

Instead, he just shrugged, “It’s late. I’ll see you around, though.”

They had talked about getting breakfast in the morning…

I guess he doesn’t want to do that now, Darcy thought to herself, swallowing hard and trying her best to smile.

“Oh,” Darcy sighed. She was surprised by how much it hurt. It wasn’t the first time Rafael had done this – left early with a dismissive shrug. She recognized the way his eyes avoided her, like he felt guilty right before he planned on pulling away.

He had done it so many times that she used to wonder if she would ever find Raf – the real Raf – again.

But that was before the attack, the near-death experience, and the breakup.

Darcy thought things were different now. She even got her hopes up that maybe they could get it right this time. She started using words like “fate” and “love” in her head.

Well… now she saw Rafael wasn’t doing the same.

Rafael didn’t say anything else. Instead, with a huff, he glanced in Jack’s direction and left without even saying goodbye to their other friends. It stung. Even when Jack started talking to her again, all she could think of was Rafael’s outline in the doorway, leaving her again.

He seemed upset, didn’t he?

Maybe something was wrong.

Or maybe she let herself get too close today. Maybe he realized all she had to do to be there with him today. Maybe she looked at him too much or smiled too much. Maybe he figured out she was in love with him and pulled away to save her future rejection.

Darcy wanted to finish her drink and Raf’s beer and just forget about his mixed signals. She spent all day moving furniture. She deserved a fun night, even if Rafael wasn’t here. There was Jack, after all. Really, all she would have to do was look at him the right way. If she wanted him, he was hers.

But she didn’t want Jack.

She wanted Raf.

She couldn’t stop thinking about him. She couldn’t pay attention to anything else.

It had only been a few minutes, but it felt like hours.

She had to see if he was okay.

“I’ll be right back,” Darcy mumbled to Jack. She slid out of the booth before Jack could even ask where she was going.

Once Darcy was outside the bar, she realized how foolish her plan was. She had no idea where Raf even was. By now, he could be in a cab on the way to his apartment. She should just go back inside and talk to Raf tomorrow.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she started aimlessly walking down the sidewalk, looking in every passing stranger for a familiar face.

It was a ridiculous effort, but she got lucky.

Rafael, after less than 2 blocks, gave up on walking himself home and parked himself on the curb trying to hail a taxi. He hadn’t yet been successful.

Instinctively, Darcy rushed towards him. She had no idea what to say or how to explain why she came after him. She just wanted to see him…

“Raf?” Darcy asked tentatively once she was close enough to be heard by him.

Rafael hesitated to look in her direction. It couldn’t be Darcy. He had to be imagining it.

But… she was there.

Without his permission, his heart swelled with something warm and bright and reserved solely for Darcy. Despite his promise that he would stop trying to interpret grand meanings from her actions, he impulsively decided that this was a grand gesture. She ran into the night for him. That meant something, didn’t it?

Just friends, he reminded himself.

Still, even with the reminder, a sliver of hope survived.

“Darcy, what are you doing?” Rafael asked, trying very hard not to look at her for too long. He didn’t trust himself to look at her and not sweep her into his arms, and he knew that’s not what she wanted.

“I just…” she stammered, “You seemed upset when you left, so I wanted to see if you were okay.”

“Oh… I’m fine.”

“Right,” Darcy crossed her arms nervously.

She had her answer. She should leave.

She didn’t leave though.

“Are you sure?”

“What?”

“Just… are you sure? If you are upset, you can tell me.”

“No, I can’t,” Rafael scoffed against his better judgment.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Darcy took a step back.

“Nothing.”

“No, it clearly means something,” Darcy insisted, growing frustrated, “What is it?”

“Seriously, it’s nothing,” Rafael rolled his eyes.

How dare he!

She fumed as she barked, “Bullshit.”

Rafael raised an eyebrow.

“Alright, fine, you want to know what it is?” Rafael crossed his arms as he turned to face her.

“Yes, that’s what I’ve been saying, you asshole.”

“Fine. Back there, you told that guy I was just your friend!”

She didn’t react like Rafael thought she would, not that he even quite knew what to expect.

She didn’t look angry or shocked. She looked… confused. Maybe even frustrated.

“Are you serious?” Darcy asked incredulously.

“Why would I not be serious?” Rafael insisted quite proudly.

“I don’t know,” Darcy rolled her eyes, “Maybe because you did the exact same thing to me six hours ago!”

Rafael paused and then weakly asked, “What?”

“Before dinner, when your friend Alex left, he asked you who I was. You told him that I was a friend,” Darcy reminded. She was looking at Raf like he was an idiot. Frankly, he felt like one.

He remembered telling Alex that, though he didn’t know Darcy heard him. But it still wasn’t the same.

“Calling you a ‘friend’ is not the same as you calling me ‘just a friend,’” Rafael argued, “It’s totally different!”

“It’s exactly the same.”

“You can be a friend and still be more than a friend!” Rafael asserted, “It’s the just part!”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“No, it isn’t. They are two very different things.”

Darcy looked close to wringing Rafael’s neck. He wasn’t sure he blamed her.

“Fine,” Darcy threw her arms up in defeat, “Let’s say it’s a different thing. I’m your friend, and maybe that could mean more. But does it? Does it mean more for us?”

Rafael was overwhelmed.

Did it mean more?

He wanted it to, but… did she? Or was she just fighting for the point of it?

“I… I don’t know,” Rafael fumbled.

“You don’t know?” Darcy repeated. He instantly knew it was the wrong answer.

“Well, I don’t. I mean, tonight, I offered a night of just us, and then you took me to a bar where you flirted with some other guy,” Rafael explained, “I don’t know what to think.”

“What about you? You told your grandmother I was an angel, and then twenty minutes later, you told your friend that I was a friend who was just helping you move in!” Darcy felt increasingly uncomfortable. Even without attracting the attention of passersby, they were wading into dangerous territory.

She had never spoken this openly with Raf about their unusual relationship.

She worried where it would end.

But at the same time, she didn’t want to stop it. It had been over a year. If they were ever going to be together, someone had to say something.

“Well… what do you want it to mean?” Rafael asked.

Oh.

She hadn’t expected him to be that direct.

She didn’t have an answer – or maybe she did and was too afraid to tell him.

“Um…” Darcy stammered, “I like being your friend.”

“Oh,” Rafael frowned.

“But, well… I might also like, um, more. Maybe.”

“More?” Rafael repeated. He swallowed the hope building in his chest. He was too vulnerable to let himself hope right now.

“Yeah. Only if you want to, though,” Darcy quickly clarified.

“I do,” Rafael coughed nervously, “So, I guess… we agree then?”

“Yeah, I guess we do,” Darcy seemed unsure when she said it.

Was this… were they agreeing to be more than friends right now?

It was all happening so quickly – and with such nervousness from both sides – that she wasn’t sure.

“We could try a date,” Rafael ventured cautiously.

“A date?’

“A date,” Rafael confirmed. He didn’t like how long she took to answer. Every second felt like an incredible risk, and he prepared himself for heartbreak.

“Um… yeah, I would like a date.”

“You would?” Rafael’s jaw practically dropped.

“I would love a date,” Darcy awkwardly jammed her hands in her pockets just so she didn’t have to think about what to do with them.

“We could go now, if you wanted,” Rafael was so excited that he couldn’t stop himself from asking. He was so afraid she could change her mind.

“We could, but…” Darcy frowned.

Shit.

“But what?” Rafael asked apprehensively.

“It’s just that I haven’t showered, and I spent all day moving and then sitting in a crowded bar,” Darcy explained anxiously. It’s not like she wanted to remind him that she was sweaty and gross when he was finally asking her on a date after all this time.

Oh.

Rafael breathed out a sigh of relief. That was a normal reason. She wasn’t changing her mind.

“But I’m not working on Friday,” Darcy added eagerly.

“Friday?” Rafael mulled it over. He liked the sound of that. He already had a dozen places he wanted to take her, and he would have nearly a week to plan it… With a bright, handsome smile, Rafael nodded, “Friday it is.”

Darcy’s face split into the prettiest smile Rafael had ever seen.

She was so incredibly wonderful, and she wanted to go on a date with him. He pinched himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.

“I guess I’ll see you then,” Darcy bit her lower lip in an attempt to quell her excitement and come off cool and casual. It didn’t work. She still looked positively ecstatic.

“I guess you will,” Rafael confirmed.

He wasn’t tired anymore. He didn’t even know what tired was. He was walking on cloud nine as far as he was concerned.

Darcy awkwardly fidgeted for a moment, unsure what she was supposed to do. Finally, she just nodded her goodbyes and started walking to the bar. For a moment, Rafael watched her go, silently repeating, “she’s really going on a date with me,” over and over again.

Then, with a surge of courage and happiness, Rafael ignored the oncoming taxi coming for him, and he ran down the sidewalk to catch up with Darcy. She stopped when he called her name and just stared at him, terrified he was running up just to cancel.

But he didn’t.

Instead, Rafael walked right up to her, and after thinking about it for so many months, Rafael finally kissed Darcy.

And the kiss wasn’t even the best part.

The best part was that they had a date on Friday… and they weren’t just friends.

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[that1girloverthere]

Burning Sunflowers

Chapter 5 

His steel grey eyes stare into mine and I feel breathless.

"Listen up!" He calls, his voice deep and commanding, and only as he moves to step off the ledge he was so precariously standing on does he look away from me.

Air finally renters my lungs and I vaguely here someone beside me speak but I pay them no mind as I push myself further forward in the group of initiates. My skirt gets stepped on once or twice and I only stop to fix it when I am nearly at the front.

"My name is Eric and I'm one of the leaders here at Dauntless. We commend you on your bravery thus far, but the real work has yet to begin. To join us you first have to jump."

A hand grips my elbow slightly and I face my Dauntless-born friend, "I'm starting to think they made this process just for you." I smile, thinking about how he may be correct, fantasizing about the feeling of the wind surrounding me again.

"Is there water at the bottom or something?" An Erudite asks from my left, his hair is a brassy red sporting a few small pieces of rock stuck in it from his landing.

Eric merely shrugs, his toned shoulders raising slightly with the movement. "Jump and find out."

This seems to send a collective chill down everyone's spine, creating a stunned silence throughout the group.

"Well?" The leader questions forcefully, "Who's first?"

Again, he's met with silence and I'm made to question my sanity as I raise my hand, speaking up.

"Me. I'll go."

He raises his eyebrows in both confusion and what seems like a taunt. Whispers break out in the group as they come to find me as I step away from the crowd. My red and yellow clothing making me stand out strangely.

"An Amity?" Eric asks, knowing full well that's what I am. Or at least what I was.

I nod, finally making it to the edge of the building, looking over with my hands pressed to the brick. A black void meets me, making my palms become slick.

"Are you scared, Sunshine?" A candor from the far back of the group calls out causing a few people to laugh. It makes my blood boil and forces my body to climb onto the ledge despite my fear, not wanting them to see me falter.

"Today, initiate." Eric says, and I can't tell what lays beneath his stare but it's anything but the boredom he seems to portray in his tone.

I put my back to the hole and fully face the group before me.

"Hey, Candor?" I speak, watching as the boy takes a few steps towards me in answer, his face becoming clear as he stands at the far front of the group. A smirk drags at my lips.

As we make eye contact I begin searching for something in the fabric of my skirt.

"Can you hold this for me?" I ask, the meek girl they assume I am.

He chuckles but even his laugh seems laced with anger and disgust. "Sure thing, Sunshine."

Eric growls to my left and I can tell he's quickly getting tired of both of us.

"Oh, here it is." I call out, my tone too cheerful for my liking. I lift my hand from the red fabric of my skirt and pull up my hand, my middle finger raised.

I manage to see his initial look of outrage and can't help but laugh as I let myself fall.

Air rushes around me and I again feel at peace, my laugh falling with me, only it's cut short when I land on something, making me bounce back up slightly. A net. I smile and stare up at the small square of light above, showing me just how far I fell. Hands reach out and grab me, lifting me as if I weigh nothing, setting me on my feet gently.

"What, did you get lost?" A tanned, handsome man says to me. I grit my teeth as I answer.

"No."

He lets out a breath, a smirk playing in his lips. "What's your name?"

"Violet."

This time he gives me a true smile, his eyes crinkling a bit at the sides.

"First jumper, Violet!" He screams and the people around me I had yet to see applaud so loud I feel the vibrations in my chest. As I move to step down from the concrete slab I was placed on he leans into me and speaks in a hushed voice, "Welcome to Dauntless."

+ + +

I'm left to watch the rest of my fellow initiates jump off by myself. A small group of Candor had formed on the ground quickly after me, not caring to make conversation, most likely still pissed at my display with their friend. It's only when a streak of blue lands in the net, a yelp coming with them, do I gain company.

She comes racing up to me and for a moment I wonder if she plans to hurt me.

"That was amazing!" She calls out, a broad smile on her face.

"It was a pretty nice fall." I offer up, watching as she struggles to fix her wind blown blonde hair that falls to her collarbone.

"What?" She questions, tilting her head slightly. "Oh!" She laughs a bit and from her perky attitude I start to wonder if she might have been better off in Amity.

"No, not the fall. What you did with Bryce. That was hilarious!"

Bryce must be the poor Candor boy that seems to still be on the roof.

"Yeah," I grin, proud of my actions. "I don't really take well to being called Sunshine."

"I can already tell we're going to be good friends," she laughs, "I'm Clare." She extends a hand out to me in greeting and for a moment I pause, having seen the gesture before but never actually participated in it. Amity normal hugged in greeting.

"Violet." I grip her hand in what I hope isn't too harsh of a grasp and shake it once, then twice, before letting go.

Just then a scream tears through the room as a body falls into the net. Only it didn't seem to be from fear but rather rejoice.

My black clad friend from the trip here climbs from the net on his own and only gives the man next to it a look before his name is called out.

"15th Jumper, Kai!"

He makes his way to me and I can't help but smile at the sheer excitement in his eyes. "There you are my little Amity."

"Ah ah ah, I'm Dauntless now." I say to him, giving him a playful glare.

He raises his hands in mock surrender, "Then what shall I call you, my lady." He bows before me.

Both Clare and I laugh loudly, earning us some stares from the other initiates.

"Violet will do just fine."

He raises from his kneel and smiles up at us.

"And you?" He nods towards the Erudite by my side and I can tell she's flustered by the attention.

"Clare," she responds, pink tinting her cheeks.

"Nice to meet-" Kai is about to finish his sentence when the man who helped me from the net claps his hands loudly, silencing everyone.

"Alright gather around!" We all scramble into place, no one daring to disobey him, leaving Kai to join the Dauntless borns with only a wink as a goodbye.

"My name is Four, I'll be your instructor for the extent of your initiation. When I'm not training, I normally work in the control room."

The group of us stays silent, watching him intently as he paces back and forth before us. Even just the way he walks seems intimidating. His body is lean but in no way weak, prominent muscles define his arms beneath the shirt he wears.

"Transfers will also be trained by Eric, the man who you just met on the roof, so expect to be seeing our faces often. Dauntless born, you're with Lauren." He stops his pacing and pauses.

"Transfers, follow me."

As he leads the way through dark hallways illuminated in faint blue light, I stare at his back. Lines of a tattoo peak over his collar. As if sensing my stare he stops abruptly and turns to face us, now walking backwards slowly. A light meets us as we reach an edge. The room is like nothing I've ever seen before.

A massive cavern, as if carved from rock, is filled with people, their voices loud and their actions free.

"This is the Pit, you'll eat and shop here. Nearly anything you could want can be found in this area."

We keep walking but I hear people within my group whispering.

"This is amazing," Clare mutters.

We're lead through more hallways before we reach a set of thick metal doors.

"This is where you'll be sleeping," Four says and pushes the doors open, the muscles on his back contracting with the effort.

It's an open room, well lit, with small trunks sitting at the foot of each small bed. In the center of the room is a table that seems haphazardly propped up, suggesting that they set it up only today. Atop it lays mountains of black clothing and underneath it a pile of boots.

"Boys or girls?" Someone asks.

"Both." He says with a smirk that says he enjoys our surprise.

"Pick a bed and some clothing for the week and head down to dinner." With that he leaves, banging the doors shut, making a few people jump.

"Shower anyone?" Someone jokes but even the comment seems half hearted.

I manage to grab a bed in a corner of the room furthest from the open bathroom, not wanting to be stuck next to people while they showered or worse. Clare joined me to my right.

"I can't believe they want us to live like this. All out in the open." She stresses, walking with me to grab our new clothing.

I nod my head but can't say I'm as repulsed as she is. "Amity was like this in certain places," I comment, digging through a pile of black long sleeve shirts to find my size. "No one really cared about being seen in vulnerable moments since the body is thought of as natural."

"That sounds..." Clare shivered next to me, coming away with a stack of now folded shirts and pants. We both bent over in unison to grab a pair of the thick combat boots available. "Terrible."

"It wasn't all too bad. Granted it wasn't something I'd like to continue experiencing," I felt a pang of guilt and sadness at the loss of that lifestyle but pushed on. "But it's not as terrible as you think, especially when everyone is raised to think that way."

We walk back to our cots, her taking to carefully placing the excess outfits in the trunk, me tossing the clothes in a heap on the mattress.

I grab a long sleeve shirt and a tight pair of black jeans and before I can consider an alternative I begin undressing. I start with my skirt, the fabric having bothered me since I put it on in the morning.

As I'm slipping my leg into the pants I hear wolf whistles over my shoulder and a few shouts of appreciation.

"At least the Amity's good for something!" A person yells.

I pull up my jeans, trying to pay no mind. My cheeks heat slightly, no matter the fact that I'm comfortable in myself it doesn't feel good to be targeted.

"Why don't you fuck off." A male calls from near me and I turn to look at him, appreciative of his support.

He has kind eyes and still has his grey shirt in hand. Makes sense. It'd only be an Abnegation who would step in, even Amity are too scared of confrontation typically to help in a situation like this.

"Thank you," I nod in his direction before hastily removing my shirt and replacing it with a new black one. My arms already warming from the thick fabric.

"No problem, I swear it's like they're animals."

I laugh and can't help but agree.

"Violet," I say, outstretching my hand.

"Owen," he says, shaking it with a tight grip before letting go.  

"Sorry to interrupt," Clare says from over my shoulder, "But I could use some help." She'd taken the sheet off of her bed and holds it in her hands.

Moving into action, both me and Owen grip the sheet to cover her while she changes. When she finishes she makes it a point to remake her bed perfectly before we can leave. When me and Owen both give her a look she just shrugs.

"Bad habit."

"It's okay, Abnegation was like that too." Owen says, a soft smile on his lips.

Clare smiles back and puts a hand on her stomach. "If we don't eat now I think I might die."

We all laugh and, wearing our new faction's colors, make our way to the Pit.

[ourmixedrealities]

Mixed Signals (Part One)

~WARNING~ Alcohol / Swearing

Kai Parker and (Y/F/N) some would call us troublemakers while others would say I was the one who tamed the monster.

Kai and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. My first introduction to Kai was on the schools playground, I was seven years old minding my own business while I played in the sand box, I was quickly joined by Bryce and Devin, If you looked at them quick enough you’d easily assume they were twins.

 “I like your hair.” Snickered Devin as he ran his fingers through my hair, I shrugged him away quickly. “Yeah, Wouldn't it suck if someone put sand in it?” Bryce mocked as he scooped up a handful of sand. Before a single grain of sand could fall onto my head another little boy ran over shoving Bryce head first into the sandcastle I was building. Bryce gasped causing sand to fill his mouth. The new kid chuckled as he climbed off Bryce’s back. Devin took off running as he cried out for our teacher, Bryce quickly scampered after Devin as he spat wet sand onto the pavement, His eyes growing red as the particles irritated his eyes. “The names Kai. I’m sorry for destroying your castle.” He smiled as he began rebuilding it. “I’m (Y/N)” I replied shyly. “I won’t let anyone bother you anymore.” He vowed, Little did we know this would be a promise he would never break.

“Mr. Parker!” Mrs. Fieldsman scorned. I watched as Kai’s eyes grew wide and I specifically noticed how his smile never left his face. “Sorry! I gotta go!” Kai laughed as he jumped back up onto his feet and began running away from our teacher. I couldn’t help but smile for the rest of the school day, A strange sense of safety wrapped around me.

After that not a single day would go by without us seeing each other, Even if one of us were sick we would hangout through the window that divided us. My parent’s loved having Kai over since that was the only time he was ever truly well behaved. As time passed I realized he was spending more and more time over my house and I was rarely ever invited over to his, I began to think his parents didn’t like me. I was wrong...

As the years passed Kai became more troubled, He would get into a fight at least every other day. It got to the point where our school threatened to expel him. Of course the school didn't care to know the cause of each fight, They just cared that Kai was always involved in them. Somehow I was able to convince Kai to behave himself long enough for us to graduate high school. I quickly learned that things at home weren't great, His parents were constantly belittling him and claiming that he wouldn't amount to anything. Since Kai was so troubled his family decided that they couldn't handle him any longer, They figured since he was 18 he was old enough to go off on his own. My family acknowledged how mature I was and allowed me to move out at 18 too, Sure it took a little begging and bribing but it worked. Kai and I  decided to get an apartment together near the college I was going to attend. It worked out perfectly, We each had somewhere to live and I didn't have to live with a stranger.

Now here I am 21 single and still living with Kai who is very much not single, As a matter of fact he has a beautiful girlfriend who I also happen to be very good friends with! Her name is Harley and she’s absolutely perfect for him. She’s extremely adventurous, Patient, and overall a great person to be with if you needed to let off steam, Nothing scares her. An added bonus to Harley is she is extremely welcoming of Kai and I’s friendship, There’s zero jealousy or distrust. We can all hangout as a group or one on one, It’s great. As a matter of fact I’m the reason they even met, Harley and I needed a place to study for an upcoming test and of course I offered my home as a safe spot. Kai came home early and the rest is history, Truth be told he didn’t let us study much but we did end up passing the test.

(Present Day)

“Guess what!? Guess what!?” I squealed as I ran up to Kai who was in the process of making a sandwich. “What what!?” He replied as he jokingly tried to match my excitement. “James Buckland asked me out!! You remember him right!?” I gleamed. “Buckland? Yeah, I remember him.” Kai’s enthusiasm quickly diminished. “We are going out this weekend!” Kai took a big bite out of his sandwich, While he chewed he repeated “Buckland!? Why Buckland?” My excitement began to dwindle. “Why not? What’s wrong with James?” I asked cautiously. Kai shook his head after taking another large bite. “Nothing... He’s just not your type... I mean it’s Buckland!” Kai became extremely expressive as he spoke. I crossed my arms over my chest as I asked. “Oh? And who exactly is my type?” Kai paused, Clearly attempting to choose his next words wisely. “Well... For starters your type is a guy who needs to be intelligent which yes Buckland has that going for him, But he’s not exactly brave and he’s rather boring... You need a guy who can keep you on your toes, A guy who can keep your attention. Someone who can make you roll your eyes and then burst out into a fit of laughter, And that’s just not Buckland... You wouldn’t have any fun with him, He’s to safe.” Kai shrugged knowing he was right, But I was feeling even more confused. “Shouldn't I be with someone safe?” I commented back. “Well yeah of course... But no... See, Buckland is to safe meaning he wouldn't be able to protect you... Sure he wouldn't get into a bar fight or hurt you which is perfect but you need a man who can make sure you're taken care of. Safe.” I couldn't deny the fact that Kai had made valid points but I still refused to let him believe that he won, Either way James is a good guy and he deserved a chance, And I haven't seen him in years so I’m sure time has changed him.

After much anticipation Friday finally rolled around which meant it was the day of my date with James. I will admit that our texting conversation wasn't exactly what I was expecting but I was still excited nonetheless. We decided to meet at a fancy restaurant and he said it was his treat, I was becoming more excited by the moment. I showed up in my favorite dress, I was honestly feeling like a million bucks when I heard, “(Y/N)? Is that really you?” The voice sounded vaguely familiar. I glanced around the room until my eyes were met with a man whose glasses were much to large for his face. “Wow! (Y/N) it’s me... James!” He exclaimed. “Oh! Hi! Of course. It’s so nice to see you.” I smiled noticing how his tux was even to tight for his slender frame. “I suppose you thought this was a casual restaurant.” James mentioned as his eyes scanned up and down my body. I attempted to laugh it off but his face told me he was serious. The night continued to decline rapidly after. The whole night James would brag and use words that I don't even think he knew the real meaning of. I suppose he could of been insecure and thought all he did have was his intellect, I would of disagreed, I could of told him he had kind eyes but at this point even that would of been a lie. For hours James attempted to make himself look better than everyone else here, He even tried to make me feel like I should of been honored to be invited here. Kai was wrong about one thing, James sure did know how to make my eyes roll. “Pardon me” I excused myself mid sentence, I have no idea what James was going on about but I couldn't take it any longer, I grabbed my possessions and strut into the restroom. “You’ve got to help me!” I exclaimed feeling relived when Kai answered the phone. “It’s going that great huh?” I could hear Kai attempt to hide his chuckle. “Shut up, Do not tell me ‘I told you so’ I don’t want to hear it... I just need to to call me in five minutes with some excuse as to why I need to leave. Ok?” I pleaded. “Give me ten minutes and I can do even better, Which restaurant are you at?” He asked calmly. “The Moonshine Rose, Why?” I questioned less calmly. “See you soon!” Kai cooed before he immediately hung up the phone. 

I wasted an extra two minutes before making my walk of shame back to the table. It was like I didn’t even leave the table, James began rambling on and on about his oh so perfect life. I sat there picking holes into my bread while muttering the occasional “Ah... Yeah... Is that so? Nice.” This was not at all the James I remembered... If anything he was the exact opposite, He was loud and rude, He was overly confident and seemed to lack true ambition. I had never walked out on a date before so I was thoroughly glad that I would be leaving before we ordered anything.

“What are you doing here?” A voice said from behind me, I whipped my head around to see Kai standing there with his arms crossed. “I’m on a date... What are you doing here?” I answered back unsure of how to react.  He paused to walk next to our table where I stood up. “You look beautiful...” He added without thinking. “I...You have to go home, It’s important..” Kai’s act quickly changed leaving me more confused but I nodded. “Sorry James, I’ll message you sometime.” I left a twenty for our poor waitress who sadly had to deal with James for the entirety of our date and even more so now that I left.

Once the fresh air hit my skin I turned to Kai and said. “That was your big master plan?” I laughed as I nudged his shoulder. He let out a forced chuckle. “Honestly? No, But I really don’t wanna talk about it...” His voice grew more serious as he began walking to my car. I gave him a puzzled look but followed close behind. “May I ask what your plan was?” I questioned apprehensively. Kai shook his head. “I just wanna get out of here.” He mentioned. “Then why are you walking to my car? Shouldn't you go to yours?” I joked. Kai didn’t seem to think I was very funny as he replied. “No man should ever allow a woman to walk to her car alone. I have to make sure you’re safe, Remember?” I nodded again understanding where he was coming from. “Are you okay though?” I asked as I opened my car door. “Yeah, I’m fine... I just have plans with some friends... So I’ll be home later...” He mentioned as he walked further away from me. “Oh... Shit, Harley is supposed to come over tonight... Would you mind keeping her company?” He added sounding less excited than usual. I however was very excited, I could use the girls night. 

Harley and I decided to stay home for the night while Kai had his boy’s night out. Since Harley’s initial plan was to hangout with Kai we decided to just stay at Kai and I’s apartment that way as soon as he came back they could easily be together. Our plan was to have a horror movie marathon, Freak ourselves out and then to eventually pass out after watching the sun rise. Unfortunately for me Harley had a busy day and was able to fall asleep easily while I remained awake and scared. Even my phone ringing was enough to make me jump out of my skin, Granted it didn't help that it was two in the morning. “Hello? Is this (Y/N)?” A man vocalized, I could hear loud music and people cheering in the background. “This is she, Whose this?” I questioned back. “My name’s Dallas, I’m the bartender at Burgers and Beers Bar and Lounge. I’ve got your boyfriend here, He’s pretty far gone and has been begging random people to call you.” He chuckled obviously amused by my drunken friend. “Oh, No... That’s not my boyfriend, If he wants his girlfriend I can wake her up and have her come get him” I stated as I looked over at Harley's sleeping body. “I don’t know what to tell you, He was very adamant about calling you.” Dallas assured. “Oh, Well... Okay I guess, I’ll be there soon.” I stated feeling uncertain. Once off the phone I attempted to wake Harley up, But once I realized there was no use I got dressed, Wrote Harley a quick note in case she did wake up and set off on my adventure to pick up a blacked out Kai. 

Thankfully for me the bar was only a fifteen minute drive away, I was also able to find a parking spot right in front of the entrance, At this point I was feeling pretty lucky. Once inside of the bar I grew slightly nervous since it was packed but once I linked eyes with the bartender I was quickly able to spot Kai. I squeezed past the drunken crowd and finally next to my best friend. “You look radiant!” Kai gasped as he finished the liquid that remained in his glass. “Who let you drink more?” I questioned sternly. Kai pointed at the bartender who was smirking to himself. I rolled my eyes. “Okay, Let’s get you back home and in something that doesn't reek of whisky.” My face warped as the smell filled my nose. “Oh come on... Stay awhile. I’ll buy you something.” Kai offered. I shook my head. “I’d rather get you home where Harley can deal with you.” I admitted. Kai groaned as he placed a hundred dollar bill onto the bar. “Fine, Let’s go.” His demeanor went from happy to seemingly numb. I mouthed a quick ‘sorry and thank you’ to the bartender for dealing with Kai. Dallas smiled sweetly letting me know that Kai wasn't any trouble.

As we walked towards the exit of the bar a man smacked my ass and proceeded to say crude things. I tried to grab Kai but I wasn't fast enough, He was already on top of the man. “Kai! It’s fine, Let’s just go home.”  I called out. Kai looked in my direction. “No, And you know I would never just let this go.” Kai glared back at the man. “He’s not worth it though!” I exclaimed. “Maybe not but at this point I sincerely don’t care.” No one in the bar moved a muscle. “Kai... Please, I just wanna go home.” I answered back calmly. Kai released the man and slowly walked back towards me. “That’s right, Go back to your little whore.” The man scowled as he picked his drink back up before he could take a sip Kai was back on him, After one swift punch to the face he lifted the glass and bashed it onto the mans nose causing blood to spray everywhere, “Now we can leave.” Kai voiced, Quickly wrapping his arm around me. 

“Won’t you get into trouble for doing that?” I asked once we were by my car. “Nah, The bartender said that guy had been harassing woman all night, I just finally did something about it.” Kai shrugged as if it was nothing. I sat down in the drivers seat and turned to Kai. “You know, You scare me sometimes.” I stated with a smirk. Kai’s face instantly became serious.. “Wait, Really?” He began to sit up straight “No goofy, It’s an expression, You don’t actually scare me. Honestly I should be thanking you..” I voiced. Kai shook his head. “You never have to thank me, You know I will always do whatever I want.” He admitted. “This I know.” I laughed. “I’m just scared that one day you’ll get into serious trouble, I mean, You’re old enough to go to jail...” My body trembled at the idea of Kai in prison. Kai took my hand. “I promise, I will always do less than what will cause me legal issues.” He smirked. I forced a smile back. Kai’s phone began ringing wildly, As he took it out of his pocket I could see Harley’s photo. “We should get home.” I announced. “Yeah.” Was all Kai would say before he slid his phone back into his pocket. That’s when my phone began to ring, Before I could pull it out Kai stated “Please ignore it.” and I did. The rest of the car ride was quiet, Which is odd when it comes to Kai.

Once home Harley was waiting by the front door, Kai went straight into his room. “When you called I was driving and Kai passed out in the car.” I lied in hopes of not hurting her feelings. She smiled believing every word I spoke. “No worries, I’m just glad you both got home safe. She stated happily. I nodded as a rush of guilt washed over my body. I hated lying to my friends and I didn't even really understand why I lied, We weren't doing anything wrong. “Yeah, See you tomorrow.” I vocalized. I shrugged off my negative feelings as I assumed that was just from being tired. Harley left me after voicing a quick “Yeah... Ill see you tomorrow.”

Harley walked into Kai’s room feeling her heart grow heavier by the second. “Kai... can we talk?” She began knowing there was no going back after this. “I don’t know Harley.. It’s been a long night and I would really rather go to bed... Can it wait until the morning?” Kai asked trying to be compassionate. “Honestly? No... It can’t wait.” She admitted. “Alright, What’s this about?” Kai patted the spot next to him. Harley ignored his gesture. “It’s about (Y/N)...” She began. “What about her? Is she ok?” Kai scrunched his face completely unaware of where this conversation was about to go. “She’s fine, But you do realize that you’re in love with her, Right?” Harley stated. Kai froze. “I’m not mad.” Harley added calmly. “I... What..? Is this some weird joke?” Kai mumbled. “That’s why I’m breaking up with you. I love you both way to much to get in between you two, And I know that you’ll never be able to love me the way you love her. This is far from some joke.” She forced a smile. “No, Where is this coming from? I do love you.” Kai pleaded. Harley shook her head. “No you don’t Kai,  You love the fact that I can distract you from loving her, But we... We  both know it’s just a short term distraction.” Her voice began to break as she spoke. “I’ve seen the way you look at her, the way you look at her when she’s not even paying attention to you... You constantly compliment her which don’t get me wrong, I LOVE that, She deserves to feel beautiful... But that’s love and ill never have that with you. I will never regret our relationship, But I wouldn't be able to forgive myself for keeping you from her...” She admitted, Unable to make eye contact with him. A tear finally broke free as she realized how right she was. “You wanna know how I know you love her?” She questioned. Kai shrugged, Unable to find the right words to say. “Because you haven't denied it...” She spoke under her breath in fear that speaking up would cause her tears to escape further. “I do love you though!” Kai grew louder as if he was trying to convince himself that it was true. “I don’t doubt it, But stop fighting me on this. We both know you would be way happier with (Y/N)... So let’s stop pretending that you and I have a future Ok?” She paused. “Maybe sometime in the future we can be friends again, But Kai?” She added. “Yeah? What?” Kai was now staring at his feet. “Don’t come after me, I’ll be fine.” She added quickly before taking off. Kai remained silent as he watched her walk out of his life, He knew deep down that she was right...

[valentinesdiaries]

Dancing with the devil  (Ethan x F!MC)

Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Dr. Casey Valentine) x Dr. Tobias Carrick 

Word count: 5,000+ 

Warning: Some adult language. Angst.

Premise: When Casey has a conversation with Ethan about their relationship, things don't end well. A date at the bar with Tobias Carrick can make things worse or warm things up. (This is after chapter 8 of Open Heart 2).

Author’s Note: This is my first Open Heart fanfic and English is not my native language. Sorry for any grammatical errors and let me know in the comments what you think.

Tags: @ohramsey​ - @schnitzelbutterfingers​ - @binny1985​ - @openheart12​

The air was starting to cool a little in Boston again. Casey Valentine ordered a hot chocolate at  Edenbrook’s cafeteria that morning, hoping to warm her body.

Her hands were more frozen than usual. As she walked down the halls, she found Ethan Ramsey, standing at the door to the diagnostic room, seeing something on his phone.

- Hey. -  She whispered as she opened the door, and Ethan, distracted, followed behind.

- I think you and I have a few things to discuss. -  said Casey, after she sat down at the table and took a sip of her drink.

- Yes, and I need to be direct - said Ramsey in a different tone. He was a little more irritated than usual, with his intense blue eyes trying to avoid contact with Casey. - I'm sorry about yesterday. I was in very mixed emotions because of the game and after the thing with my dad, you helped me ... I shouldn't have kissed you. It feels like I'm using you and trying to take advantage of you when I do not...

- When you're not ready to commit. I get it. I'm not a 17-year-old girl being deceived. But I really thought that this time Ethan, this time you would learn something, that you could see me more than that. More than a resident. More than a friend. 

Ethan sighed, pulling his hair back and finally looking into the doctor's captivating green eyes in front of him.

Before he said anything, Baz and June came into the room with the patient's chart and complained about the broken CT scan machine. He gave a heavy sigh and walked away from Valentine, who stared at the table, lost in thought.

 - So, Valentine, do a blood test before we can take the patient to a CT scan, okay? - Ramsey says, seeing her eyes get lost in the moment.

 - Yes Doctor Ramsey - Casey left the room with a chest so heavy that she felt like she was collapsing. How could he be such an idiot, such a insensible man? After everything she did for him? She wondered in the hall before bumping into Jackie Varna, who didn't look good and was holding a form from Pancea Lab.

- Hey, you look like crap -  Jackie said, playing with Casey's hair

- You too. Is that pharmaceutical bitch bothering you again?

- Not for so long. Do you want to drink later? My shift ends 9. I really need to drink.

- Sure, mine ends at 8, but I wait for you in Donahue's. I need to drink until I forget that men exist - Casey said

- Jesus, ask Reggie for some free shots. You need this. Jackie joked. Casey laughed and went into the patient's room to run the tests.

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

The clock hit 8:35 when Casey was sitting at the Donahue's counter. She was wearing a little red dress that made her dark brown hair and green eyes brighter.

- Alone tonight, doctor? - Reggie said, putting two drops of bourbon on the rocks for Casey.

- Not for so long. My friend will come soon - She said and saw Reggie attending to other people.

- Is this place occupied? - A male voice asked and Casey recognized that voice. It was him. What was he doing here?

- No -  She answered and took a sip of her drink. - What makes you drive across town? Did you come to get more of my patients, Dr. Carrick?

Tobias Carrick smiles provocatively. His blue eyes were intense, but not as sweet as Ethan. His tanned skin made his smile look a little brighter than normal

- I was passing through the area and I want to visit the famous  Edenbrook  bar. Your shift is over and mine too. I thought I could buy you a drink, but I see you already drinking whiskey. Ethan's favorite.

- Sure, because Ramsey is the only person who can drink whiskey. If you want to become useful here, buy me a few shots of tequila and leave me alone.

She looks at Tobias with a flaming look, while he asks Reggie for the six shots with a smile on his face. She felt her purse vibrating. A message from Jackie.

"Sorry V.

My patient got worse. I need to stay here. See you at home later.

Jackie “

- Great -  She murmured to herself as she felt the tequila liquid running down her throat. - My friend just dumped me.

- I know I'm not your favorite person, but I'm really nice if you know me - Tobias talks while drinking one of the doses - Or at least drink with me.

- You are the devil - Casey said - Tell me, Carrick, why are you really here? It's not like you're going to get me drunk and talk about my team or Ethan's bullshit and your drama history. I'm out, I don't want to play that game.

- Is it the only thought he speaks or thinks right? Medicine? Patients? The hospital? - Carrick said - I know Ethan. This is his life, but it is exhausting for everyone who tries to be a part of it. Even if it's a friend or a girl, he puts his medical ethics, thoughts and desires above everything else.

- You think you’re different? - Casey asked.

- I know I am. I was different at college that time and I am now. See, this is my job, but this is not my life. I like to travel and sailing, play soccer with my mates and flirts with pretty girls. That's why Ethan is a better doctor than me, but I got the good parts - Carrick said, looking at her. She shivered down her spine, and shook her hair out of spot. 

- If you're going out with him, I'll stop, I don't want to make you uncomfortable.

- We have nothing. We are nothing. But that doesn't mean you can show your cute face and tell me that I'm pretty like something is going to happen. It is not. You, me, enemies, understand?

- Ah, so you think I'm cute? This is a good thing - She rolled her eyes listening - But yes, I understand, I am the Devil, Lucifer, Doctor Evil. Let's see how long the little angel doesn’t commit any sin - He said, looking across the bar - Your friends are here.

She saw Elijah Greene and Bryce Lahela in the beer garden, where they played on the pool table. Casey got up from the counter, took one last look at Carrick and crossed to the other side of the bar, where her friends were.

- If this guy is pissing you off, I can fix it -  Lahela said, seeing Casey approach.

- No, I got tequila for free, nothing more. She said while watching the boys playing pool. Tobias was watching her every move.

A song from The Weeknd was playing in the background. Valentine drank too much. The guys were sitting and talking about a stupid video game and her mind was on the movement that Tobias' eyes were making to meet hers. The way he smiled, as if he knew what would happen next.

Her mind was confused and she spoke to the boys that she were going to the bathroom. She paced back and forth, close to where Tobias was sitting. Their eyes met, he followed her red dress to the bathroom with his eyes, devouring it.

 He waited a little and followed her behind. Casey was looking at herself in the mirror. Her brown hair was a little messy and her lipstick was long gone.

Without warning, Carrick opened the door.

They said nothing. They keep looking at each other in that small place, with their bodies touching, until she made a move and pressed her lips against his with urgency and violence.

The kiss was different, but it was hot. It was intense. Tobias did not move away from her and explored her body under the dress with his hands.

Casey let out a small moan when he pressed a finger on her panties, feeling the wet fabric. - I could rip your panties off and fuck you right here in this dirty bathroom bar, Valentine.

Her mind woke up and realized what she is about to do. She broke the kiss, not fast or furious, but conscious. Tobias received the signal and stopped his hand, pulling it and trying to calm his excitement. Casey looks him in the eye very seriously.

 - It never happened.

She came out of the bathroom, waved to her friends and asked for an Uber to  go home.

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

The next morning, Casey woke up with a hangover and regret. What happened to Carrick was hot

But it was Tobias, the Tobias, who stole her patient. The doctor who is Ethan's ex-friend / current enemy.

 She showered and went straight to the hospital. She should have been the first to arrive at the diagnostic team's office, but everyone was already there, including Ethan, and June was holding a bouquet of red roses.

It looks like someone has an admirer, how romantic -  said June Hirati ironic, looking at Ethan.

Oh shit.

He wrote a card.

"Valentine,

I hoped you enjoyed your dance with the devil last night.

You are a beautiful corrupted little angel.

T. "

Her mind was going crazy. Ethan read? Did June recognize Tobias' handwriting?

 - So who's the lucky one? - Baz joked, breaking the mood of the room. Ramsey stopped looking and started making coffee.

- A guy from my hometown. He knows I work here and is trying to get in touch again - She lied. Ethan laughed a little.

- Anyway, we lost valuable time, while Dr. Valentine keeps talking about her love life, which, like the last time I checked, will not help save the lives of patients. So, please, can we focus on work?

Ethan said, upset about everything. As Casey moved into the room, he pressed his hand on her arm.

- Ah, and Valentine, this is a workplace. I know you may be having trouble understanding this, but every guy who slept with you can't send a gift or any shit to my office. Am I clear?

She wanted to shout at him how ignorant and rude he was being with her.

- Clear as water, Dr. Ramsey. I know this is a workplace. After all, I learned from the most ethical doctor.

[lucas-koh]

Stitches - Bryce Lahela x MC III

Please go and read Parts 1-2 if you haven’t already! It’s all uploaded on my Ao3 margotmuses too

Doesn’t exactly follow canon, but elements of canon. FWB.

Song: Magnets - Disclosure, Lorde

Rating: M

Words: 3603

Taglist: @lahellacute @lahamseiroshoe @anotherbeingsworld @fuseboxmusebox @choicesficwriterscreations @bubblelaureno

Chapter Three: It Clicks Into Place

Soon enough, difficult day after difficult day, the group’s housewarming party rolled around. They all had work during the day, so had set up some of the stuff the night before, such as drinks on the table and making sure the apartment looked ok.

Work was long, arduous, but just as rewarding as ever. The group went round last minute inviting as they saw people throughout the day, even though they’d already invited a bunch of people. Elijah was starting to get worried about the apartment being overrun, but Sienna was confident it would be controlled. Famous last words? Positively for Suki, the party planning had meant the group had gotten closer, which she was very glad about. Elijah gave her an occasional look she couldn’t decipher, but they became fewer and further between as the days went on.

After Suki got home, she showered off the day and changed into a lacy black top and some blue denim mom jeans. The classic jeans and a nice top never failed. After a once over in the mirror she stepped out of her room, being sure to lock it before going to the main room. God forbid someone mistake her bedroom for the bathroom.

For that moment, it was just the residents of the apartment, and they were able to squeeze in a nice bonding chat and a couple of drinks before the hordes arrived. Jackie laughed about their landlord Farley’s reaction if a lot of people were to turn up, earning a nervous chuckle from Elijah. Suki and Sienna made a bet that if the apartment ended up overrun, they’d pour each other a mystery shot.

The guests started arriving in waves as soon as the start time came around. There were nurses, doctors, lots of people Suki didn’t even recognise. Maybe they’d gone a little overboard with the invites. After only a small while there was a sea of heads waving through the apartment.

They all played host, mingling round the various groups, chatting politely, making small talk about the hospital, getting drinks.

And then through the door, over the sea of heads, swaggered someone Suki wasn’t expecting to see.

Oh god. It was Bryce. Gold streaked hair and deep beige skin instantly recognisable. Wearing black jeans and a blue Henley, rolled up to the sleeves, Bryce looked very different from the scrubs she’d gotten used to. But it certainly wasn’t a bad different. He was with a couple of the surgical interns Suki recognised, laughing at something one of them said and scanning his eyes around the party. She watched to wait and see if his eyes crinkled up the way they had when he was with her before. Almost instantly her stomach flipped and she could feel his hands on her body: where his large, rough hands had held her neck, her leg, grazed over her waist and backside. In that moment she considered just going over and kissing him again, just for another taste of his lips. To wipe that stupid smile off his face. Or to flatten the crinkles at the corners of his eyes as he laughed. But she didn’t. She manoeuvred herself into a group to hide herself, but she could still see him.

She distinctly remembered not inviting him, she hadn’t even spoken to him since the supply closet. Unless you count him coming to take her patient into surgery, the patient calling him ‘Ken Doll’, and Bryce winking at her before leaving. There had been a pretty clear reason. She’d been far too embarrassed, and honestly, she wasn’t sure how he’d react to her inviting him to the party either. Some people might take that kind of invitation as a date, and that definitely wasn’t what she wanted him to think. It was just a hookup. A one-time hookup which had been very, very nice, but that was all. But he was here anyway. And here she was again, hot in the face. After all, all her housemates had met him at Donohue’s, so one of them must’ve invited him. Suki needed a drink.

She grabbed herself a vodka soda and wedged herself pretty deliberately into a conversation with a group of nurses. It wasn’t the most riveting conversation, but Suki took it to sip rather substantially at her drink. They were discussing an episode of a TV show Suki didn’t watch, so she nodded and laughed. After about five minutes, she politely excused herself to go and find Sienna. She’d promised her shots, after all – the flat was well and truly packed.

She spotted Sienna leaning on the kitchen counter talking to a handsome nurse, her sweet features plastered in a warm smile. Suki decided it was maybe best not to interrupt her, but she needed a top up anyway, so headed that way regardless. As she squeezed through people toward the drinks, she spotted Bryce talking to a couple of girls not so far away from her destination. Hm, no big surprise there. It would save her a lot of anguish to sneak past without him noticing her, at least until she had a few more drinks in her system.

Just as Suki tried to sneak past, eyes staring at the spot she was going to, an intern to her right stepped back with a laugh. Since she wasn’t looking, or expecting that, Suki was knocked from her feet and shoved to her left.

Right into Bryce.

He broke her fall, thankfully, but she wished to whoever might be listening that she might be able to go one week without being embarrassed around this man. Had she pissed off some seriously influential people in a past life? His reflexes were quick, but not quick enough to have been able to catch her when he’d had his back to her. Which meant he must’ve noticed her before. Her paper cup laid trodden in on the ground beneath them.

“We have to stop meeting like this,” Bryce said behind her in a low, quiet voice as he gripped Suki’s shoulders to steady her.

“Trust me, if it was by choice we wouldn’t be meeting at all,” she bit back. She wasn’t entirely sure where the venom in her voice came from, and it definitely wasn’t true. She at least liked to look at the guy, eye candy wasn’t something to complain about. Perhaps it was a defence to get ahead of herself.

“Oof,” he mocked a face of pain, hands still warm on Suki’s upper arms. “Don’t tell me you’re ignoring me now.”

“How can I be ignoring you when this is the first I’ve seen you in a while.”

He moved his arms downward to Suki’s forearms and leaned in closer to her face, ghosting above her. One move and he could kiss her.

“You mean since my lips blew your mind.”

She scoffed. “I think you’re overestimating.”

He chuckled, a smug grin spreading across his face. “That definitely wasn’t the impression I was getting.”

“Hm,” Suki wasn’t sure how to respond, and took to looking around at the partygoers nearby.

“I was probably the best damn kiss you’ve ever had,” he whispered, just loud enough for her to hear. She felt one of his hands lose the grip on her arm, one of his fingers curling under her chin to turn her face to his. He seemed slightly buzzed, his natural confidence elevated.

“You’re practically a stranger.”

He lifted the finger up her face, and dragged it seductively down the side of Suki’s face. She tried to hide her shocked intake of breath. All signs of the gentle, comforting surgeon when he’d first stumbled into the supply closet were gone. Only the cocky, flirtatious airs floated around their interaction, an aroma of tequila wafting warmly over her face.

“I just know you’ve kissed strangers before. And I can tell I was the best.” There was a hypnotising glint of mischief in his eyes.

He was right, of course. About both of those facts. It had been a while before Bryce but she could still remember never having kissed someone quite like that. Except maybe that one time in college when she’d been drunk at a frat party. But certainly not sober. She had never had time for serious relationships, so she rarely got with the same person twice. She chuckled, stepping back from him and with it letting a rush of cool air wash over her in replacement of his body heat.

Her head seemed to clear a little.

“You can make all the assumptions you like, you’re not getting anything out of me.” She teased.

He clicked his tongue playfully at this and said: “a couple more drinks and I reckon you’re a bit of a blabbermouth drunk.”

“Isn’t everyone?”

“Touché.”

Just then, a hand landed on Suki’s shoulder.

“Is this scalpel jockey bothering you?” Jackie grinned.

“Always,” Suki laughed, shooting a grin at Bryce to let him know she wasn’t serious. He chuckled and greeted Jackie.

After a while longer, a large group of them were chatting: Suki, Bryce, Jackie, Elijah, and one of Bryce’s surgical intern friends called Fred. Sienna was still talking with the cute nurse, and Aurora was nowhere to be seen.

“So when I was at Harvard,” Fred began, he’d been driving the conversation for a while now, and it was pretty obvious that everyone was getting a bit bored of it. “We had absolute ragers, you know, proper parties.”

Jackie sneered at him. “If you’re not enjoying yourself you can leave.”

Fred laughed, but it seemed a little uneasy.

“No, I was just trying to share my college stories.”

College stories. Suki had a few of those. Jackie crinkled her nose at Fred but supplied her own story anyway.

“Well, thank god I never knew you at Harvard,” Jackie said to Fred, playfulness in her voice however. He laughed and they started their own little conversation about their college days. The other three stood a little awkwardly, now cut from the discussion.

“Time for me to get a drink I think. As we know my UChicago days weren’t all that exciting,” Elijah looked a bit flustered, and wheeled away with a wave to Bryce and Suki.

Bryce turned to face her, both of them considerably drunker than before. His eyes sparkled in the blur Suki was seeing him through.

“They called me Party God in college,” he bragged, smirking cockily.

And there it was. At his words it all came flooding back to her in cascades. Oh my god.

“I’ve figured it out. Where I know you from!”

He raised an eyebrow. “Do tell.” The red cup in his hand looked incredibly at home, fitting into his large rough hands.

She scoffed and shook her head. How could she forget? How on earth had it taken her so long? She supposed he did look quite different, but still.

“Stanford. You went to Stanford.”

He mocks a gasp. “I did?”

Bryce Lahela had been the life of the party without ever actually having to get involved with things. He’d managed to be everyone’s favourite frat boy despite not being part of a fraternity. Everyone there had known him by name.

His hair was lighter and shorter now, and he seemed to have gotten even more handsome, and certainly more muscular. But it was definitely him. God. She was so stupid to not have worked it out yet, to never have gotten his last name.

And oh god. Oh fucking hell. She watched him in horror as the memory of essentially their only interaction from college dawned on her.

They’d made out once. At a stupid frat party.

That’s why kissing him had felt so familiar!

—-

Suki was drunk. She was finally letting herself loose for once, taking a moment away from her studies. It wasn’t like she was a robot or anything, she was just incredibly determined. No complaining about a party – but a frat party? Maybe slight complaining. But her roommate had insisted she come, and she couldn’t say no. Kiana had this thing going on with a frat boy, so she just *had* to go.

So Suki put on a nice floral dress and a bit of makeup, hoping it would be enough to let her in. She didn’t even want to get into the ridiculousness of Frats’ looks based systems. The whole Greek system was fucked. No mind though, Suki was only there to get her degree to go to med school, and eventually become a qualified doctor. And sometimes get a little too drunk and take home a stranger. She had to blow off steam somehow. So she and Kiana pre-drank a little before heading down to the venue.

Kiana grabbed her hand as they walked up to the huge frat house. There were stragglers outside, and the house was lit up by lights systems and pounding music. They were let in and the inside was foaming with beer and drunk college kids. Suki was already stumbling, no way she was planning to attend a frat party even remotely sober.

Abandoned for Kiana’s frat boy, Suki aimlessly wandered the large, teeming house, until she found some drinks. A group of guys nearby were playing beer pong.

“Hey, you! We need one more for the team, you in?” One of the guys noticed her watching and called out to her.

“Why the fuck not,” she slurred, throwing her hands out to the side of her.

She wasn’t very good at the game, and the guy she was up against was very good. This lead to many more beers downed by Suki.

“Oops,” the boy grinned as he sunk another ping pong ball into one of Suki’s cups. “Sorry, I’m kind of good at everything.”

She was taken aback by his confidence, and was even more determined to land her shot. And… score!

He winced playfully as he watched her take her perfect shot, and the wide, heavy lidded grin which spread across her face as a result.

“Alright, alright. I like a good challenge.” He was playful, smooth, no slips in his demeanour despite the intoxicated buzz emanating from him. Or, perhaps, it was more a buzz of Suki’s slow intoxication from his manner.

He sunk the ball and once again Suki was throwing back the wheaty liquid. Then, the next two players took the table and Suki was thinking she should maybe take a momentary break at least from the drinking. She should at least check Kiana was okay.

“Hey, you okay? You sunk quite a few cups back there.” Her beer pong opponent stepped out from behind the table to where she moved toward the door to another room.

“No thanks to you,” she teased, leaning against the nearby wall to balance herself. He mirrored her.

A leather jacket hugged his slim frame. Suki scanned her eyes down his white shirt, blue jeans, and black Dr Marten boots. Now he was closer, she could see his sculpted features clearer, and she’d seen those before.

“You! You’re in my anatomy class,” she slurred, pointing a curved finger between his eyes. He momentarily crossed them as he looked at her finger, giving a moment for Suki to drunkenly admire the warm deep brown of them.

“I’m very good at anatomy,” he swiped a lock of long hair behind an ear and shot Suki a cheeky grin.

“I know, you’re veeeerrryy smart,” she slurred. He chuckled, the double entendre of his words going straight over her head.

“Not as smart as you.” He leaned against the wall, sipping from his red cup. She knew this guy was popular, and she could see why. He was confident, attractive, and damn smart. He always had a gaggle of girls and guys surrounding him before lectures, the only reason she even knew who he was was because everyone did. Even if you’d never met him, if you were the 2014 graduating class of Stanford – you knew the name Bryce Lahela.

She couldn’t help herself stutter at his compliment; she knew it was flirty bullshit, and that he probably had no idea who she was, but it was delightful to hear. And he was looking at her with those deep brown eyes from under his eyelashes, plump lips tugged up in a mischievous grin, ghosting gentle dimples on his cheeks. And the room might’ve been spinning, and he may have been a blur, but she knew what she wanted to do.

One of his hands reached out to brush across her jawline, eyes trained on hers and lips still teasing her with that smile.

And then she was kissing him. Her fingers threaded through his long brunette locks, and he held her waist tightly. He responded assumingly; he had known this interaction would end this way.

—-

“Yeah, I did,” he repeated, more sincerely this time. He gave her a shit eating grin. He must’ve known this whole time, he must’ve remembered her. The way his eyes flitted down to Suki’s parted – from the shock - lips told her all she needed to know.

“I told you I knew you.”

“Well, college was a long time ago now, and you know how many people attend one University. I don’t remember everyone who went there,” he shrugged, eyes sparkling teasingly. Okay. So he was going to play it like that?

“Uh-Huh. Well I wasn’t much at college but you certainly made a name for yourself.”

He shrugged, “I can’t help that everyone loves me.”

She looked around the apartment dramatically, craning her head over Bryce’s tall shoulders and behind herself.

“I don’t see people lining up to talk to you…” she sucked air through her teeth mockingly.

He chuckled.

“Yeah, alright alright. You just wait a minute.”

There was an electric moment where they both simply stared at each other, light grins playing on their faces.

The night went on, Suki and Bryce breaking off to chat with different people, and do a little bit of dancing. There was an awkward moment when Suki was having a conversation with Ines and Zaid walked up. He eyed Suki with judgement, and watched Bryce where he was over by the bar chatting with a group.

Now that Suki knew what she’d been trying to grasp for a while now, it was like a whole buffet was laid in front of her. She had all these possibilities of what she could do with this information, how she could act about it. And as she got drunker, and drunker, she figured out exactly what it was she wanted to do.

The apartment was clearing out by that point, so as to keep their landlord off their backs, and because many of the attendees had shifts coming up or simply needed time to recuperate.

When the apartment was pretty much fully empty, the group started clearing up. Much to Suki’s surprise, Bryce was filling bin bags with red cups and empty beer cans.

“Woah, thanks for helping clear up.”

“No sweat,” he shrugged like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“I’m going to bed,” Jackie groaned across the room. “No one wake me.”

“Me too,” chimed in Sienna, giving the surface one last swipe with the antibacterial spray.

“Me three,” said Elijah. The apartment looked almost the same as it had pre-party.

“Did anyone see Aurora all night? I texted and she read it…”

But Suki’s question fell on deaf ears, everyone had already retreated to their bedrooms. She sighed. Bryce stood in front of her, tying the top of the bin-bag, gorgeous features furrowed with focus.

“Hey, you can head home. The help is very appreciated.”

“Okay, I guess I’ll see you ‘round the hospital?” He stepped away from the bin-bag and towards where Suki was stood.

She nodded, not quite in control of her legs which were stepping toward him.

“Yeah, I’ll see you then.”

“At work. No where else. Definitely not hiding in supply closets…” Bryce was practically whispering now, voice low with desire. His eyes switched between hers, and down to her lips for a split second. Suki was drumming her fingers against her thigh in a sort of nervous rap, but the alcohol meant she could keep her eyes trained on Bryce’s god-like face. The movement also pulled Bryce’s eyes down to her thigh for a moment, and he swallowed hard.

“Nope. I don’t want anyone finding me in there again…”

By now their faces were so close they could feel the other breathing.

“Although, there are a few things that could be started in a supply closet and not so much finished…”

“Yeah? What’s that?” She lifted a corner of her mouth up.

And the next second Bryce’s lips were on hers. Rough, desperate, fervent as they had been the last time. He no longer tasted like fresh mint, this time of tequila and secret moments.

His hands found her waist quickly, tracing up from the spot she’d been tapping at a minute ago, her own hands cupping his neck. She could feel the muscles in his neck move each time he kissed her.

They walked backwards towards the hall, stumbling and feeling for objects because they didn’t want to break apart.

A fairly loud bang rang out across the apartment as Bryce pushed Suki up against her bedroom door.

“Shhhh,” she giggled into his mouth, causing him to quietly laugh as well. It felt like they were teenagers doing something forbidden at their parents’ house. Their lips connected again, hungry, needing.

Suki felt around beside her, and found the doorknob to her bedroom.

[utterlyinevitable]

The Messy Route

Dom’s OH playthrough where we use Ethan to get the diagnostics job, are FWB with Bryce and trying to romance Raf. MC is Dr. Love Lao. 

Ch. 1

Book 1, Ch 2

OH SHIT ANNIE IS CODING AND LIL LOVE LAO AINT PREPARED FOR THIS

ALMIGHTY HEROES BLESS U FOR SENDING JACKIE TO HER IN HER TIME OF EXTREME NEED. 

SHIT

So much for the plan. 

Sienna Trinh. Goddess of all things good in the world. We’re friends now. She doesn’t have a choice - Love nor Sienna. These girls are ride or die!!!

Asshat’s words get under Love’s skin and she is REELING. Being a doctor is all she’s ever wanted and on her first case she almost killed someone. Maybe everything she thought was wrong?? (Can you hear an identity crisis in the distance because I sure can)

Loves not a quitter. Never has been, never will be. Could the angry words of the one renowned attending she idolized change her?

Definitely not.

Girl just needs a mental break. Oh look there’s a supply closet!

Breathing in and out and trying to wrangle in the crushing feel of failure, she doesn’t get two minutes alone before the door swings open.

It’s the annoyingly attractive surgeon with the now-faltering smile and warm glow.

“Get in or get out Bryce. Just shut the door” ouchhhh she snapped at him and his smile completely disappeared

He joined her in the cramped space.

All signature cockiness left when he asked in his delicate and concerned honey-like cadence “what’s wrong”. She told him and he was a pretty good listener, all things considered. 

(She says that now but little does she know that is EXACTLY what she about to do the next two years 🎉)

Honestly it’s a shock that this dude has a heart and a pretty decent outlook on life. He’s oddly good at pep talks. Judging by his physique he wasn’t on cheer squad but dayummm

His hugs were soft and warm and peaceful as he pulled her against his toned chest. His arms strong and safe. Love could certainly do this again. Minus the whole closet breakdown thing.

She really wants to not like the guy. But

There’s just something about Bryce Lahela 🤔

And she wondered what his other talents include 😏

As he’s looking down at her with that sweet lopsided smile asking if this is all a ploy to get him alone she has a strong urge to stand on her toes and kiss his pretty lips.

But she pushes the urge aside with a chuckle. Time and place babes. This ain’t it. Also he’s a colleague. And they just met. And they’re in a supply closet. Not really a good first impression for all parties 👀

She gets a bit of flush on her pale cheeks when he departs with a wink. Leaving her alone to collect herself from her mini breakdown.

((I hc that with all Mrs Martinez’s free time and boredom she’s just doing squats in her room and has a very toned ass for an old person and just wants to show off. If she can’t lay naked in Cannes she’ll get the thrill of the breeze through her gown and the satisfaction of knowing she pulled someone out of their comfort zone for a minute or two))

Asking the nurses to page dr grumpmunch to meet her in Annie’s room was the most satisfying and gratifying feeling. Eat shit mothafuckerrr

He doesn’t have the common decency to come into the room? Or talk to the patient? Just lean against the doorframe like a limp ass tree ??? Absolutely ridiculous and callous behavior for a grown ass man. 

She’s SO pleased with herself as she follows Ethan out of the room.

Which lasts about 2 seconds until asshat checks his watch and hands her a prescription.

Love FLIPS. She does not need his charity or opportunity and just wants her patients treated with the best care. Having Annie wait another hour was precious time wasted. Wtf was he thinking???

Ugh 

Dr. Ramsey made a good point about growth and crap. But she’s too riled up to apologize or even listen. She just scowls and goes to walk away

BUT THEN she stops when Aurora finally turns up all pissy.

And Ethan’s kinda hot when his anger isn’t directed at her. Woah nelly, reign in the heart eyes he’s a total prick.

Though power is an aphrodisiac 👀

(Why am I just now noticing he calls himself a badger???)

(gosh she’s so pretty. And yet she’s going to let Mitch get away with treating her like garbage??? Oh pb and their inconsistencies 😔)

The surgeon looks good shirtless. His arms look amazing in his scrubs and the green really compliments his complexion. In his everyday clothes he looks... like and Ivy League douche. But those bracelets accompanying his watch are doing things to her.

Everything about Bryce Lahela is off putting and exciting.

So she joins him and his surgical buddies for a game of darts, wagering a kiss. They’re not at work no’mo might as well see if he lives up to all the talk 😏

He doesn’t play fair. His hot breath tickling the shell of her ear. Taunting that “medical interns can’t handle the heat”. 

Oh she can handle the heat alright. But maybe there’s more value in losing this bet? 

Love’s counting on it 

But she’s also not gotta let him off that easily. She does the same but lets her lips graze his ear. And, well... 

That stupid victory dance was a reward in itself. 

She licks her lips and grabs his outstretched hand. 

For a second time that day she’s pressed up against him with his strong arms wrapped around her. He tastes like malt and mint and sugar... Did he snag some cookies somewhere?? 

And then his lips trail away from hers and down her jaw and up to her ear and she’s molded into him and holding onto his biceps tightly in a state of pure bliss at this point. It’s going to be a good year. 

The surgeons call rounds for another game and Love taps out on that. She observed her friends all around the bar and found one pair of eyes swiftly averting from her. 

So she makes her way over to him. 

She eyed the empty glass in front of him and scoffed to herself. Scotch. It was her drink of choice in undergrad - she thought it would give her an enigmatic edge over her peers, instead of drinking beers like everyone and their older brother.

For the first time in the 15 hours she’s known asshat he shoots her a small smile of approval. Bingo. 

She scoffs audibly this time when he thinks she’s bribing him. He’s not completely wrong but she won’t give him the satisfaction. 

So she gives him a wry smile and says some garbage about a thank you for making her better.

He orders two specials and up this close she notices how devastatingly handsome Dr. Ramsey. Devastating because those looks are wasted on his garbage personality.   

Of course the drink he orders is delicious and she refuses to admit it. Dr. Ramsey sees right through her bluff and Love kinda appreciates it. She’s learning she can’t trick him and that’s valuable insight to file away for later. 

She’ll be blowing you, Ramsbo, darling.

(I’ve also never paid attention to Landry before... but now I’m starting to think he has a crush on MC and oh my god this route just got a lot more fun) ((but then again asking mc to teach ramsey his name is throwing me off)) 

________________________________________

A/N: Thanks for making it this far! I’m adding my taglist. Let me know if you’d like to be tagged in this mess or not ✌🏻❤

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