#and then i’ll have said my piece. they’ll know how i feel. maybe they’ll feel bad even. | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

pixlokita · 1 year ago

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Painful wing fanart incoming but you already knew about it and colored it so like -w- hiding it for the gore and blood tho >>

I feel like it was less gory in black and white but honestly 👀✨ aight don’t mind me I’m going to the tag now

BEHOLD!!! AN ART TRADE!!! @pixlokita it is time!

Caution, do not click read more if you do not intend to read. This is 12,192 words. And no, I'm not kidding. This is so much longer than most of the stuff I write. That being said, enjoy!!!

Evan said Michael was sick, which worried Jeremy. Being sick should not mean Michael would try so hard to avoid Jeremy, especially since he knew it would make Jeremy worry about him more.

But the main part Jeremy was worried about was the way Evan’s new wings kept fluffing up. Was Michael mad at him?

Don’t worry about it, Jeremy, he told himself. If Michael’s mad, he’ll tell you eventually.

It just stung. Evan and Gregory were wandering around the house, trying to see if their wings would allow them to do various things. Evan’s were too small to do much, and Gregory still hadn’t gotten used to them yet, but at least they had something to do while Mr. Emily tried to figure out what could possibly cause this.

“Ugh!” Gregory exclaimed, plopping down on the sofa next to Jeremy. He took the soda from Jeremy’s hand and took a giant sip. “These things suck.”

“What do you mean?” Jeremy asked, unsuccessfully trying to retrieve his Coke.

“I mean,” Gregory scowled, taking another sip, “that wings are stupid. They don’t even bend the way I want them to.”

“Well…” Jeremy said thoughtfully. “They are just extra limbs, right? With bones and joints and stuff?”

“I guess so.” Gregory finally gave Jeremy his soda back. “But they don’t move how I want-“

“You couldn’t do much when you were a baby right? Learning to crawl?” Jeremy chugged the rest of his Coke before putting the empty can down. “It’s an accomplishment when babies get their heads off the floor on their own, you know. And rolling and stuff.”

“Oh.” Gregory clearly hadn’t thought about it that way. “But Evan’s got excellent control already.”

“He’s had them longer.” Jeremy shrugged. “Maybe he’s just a quick learner. Or maybe, there’s less wing to work with. Could be a bunch of things.”

“But…” Gregory sighed. He inched closer to Jeremy on the couch, his wings refusing to bend in a natural way.

Jeremy awkwardly looped a comforting arm around Gregory. “You’ll get there eventually.”

“They just hurt. All the time.”

“I can’t help with that,” Jeremy chuckled.

“Sure you can! Mike did this thing once, where he…” Gregory chewed his lip. “Well, I’m not exactly sure what he did.”

“You want me to pet you?” Jeremy said in disbelief. “Nuh uh. Go ask Evan. That’s not… No.”

“Why’d you make it weird?” Gregory shook his head. “It was like…”

“Like a shoulder massage,” Evan interjected helpfully. His wings flexed, expanding fully as he explained. They barely went past his shoulders, but the point got across.

Jeremy admired the confidence with which he showed them. He’d personally be too worried about people calling him a freak. Which, thinking about it, was not likely to happen in this house. Everyone was too nice here.

“Mikey went like this,” Evan said, pulling Jeremy’s arm back to get to Gregory’s wings.

Gently, Evan messaged the inner edge of Gregory’s wings, right where they extended from his back. Gregory’s wings convulsed, the claw on one nearly hitting Jeremy in the face. “I think they get itchy,” Evan mused. “We might have to just do this more often.”

“No kidding,” Gregory said with a sigh, his eyes closing and his shoulders relaxing. “But Mike’s still better at it.”

“Wonder where he got his practice,” Jeremy replied. He didn’t mean to sound bitter, but it still came across that way.

Evan winched, but he didn’t comment on it. Instead, he kept focused on his task. Gregory sighed absently. “Wings are a lot of work.”

“Seems that way,” Jeremy replied.

Gregory folded and unfolded his hands while Evan worked. “I just…”

Jeremy spared him a glance as he went to get another can of Coke. “Something on your mind?”

“His girlfriend,” Evan said absently.

“Cassie’s not my girlfriend!” Gregory said, straightening. His wings fluffed up as he said it.

“Oh.” Jeremy had no idea what to make of that. “What happened to her?”

“I don’t know!” Gregory replied. He ran a hand through his hair to try to make it lay flat. “She was at Evan’s party, and she looked really bad. I think Mike took care of it, but he didn’t really say anything about it afterwards.”

“She’s probably at the hospital, Gregory,” Evan replied, trying to be soothing. “We can visit her once we figure out what to do about this first.”

“Stupid wings,” Gregory grumbled. “Making everything harder.”

Jeremy didn’t know how to reply to that. He cracked the can open and took a sip. “Have you asked Mike?”

“He’s sick,” Evan answered for Gregory. His wings fluffed up again.

“Maybe we should check on him then. He’s been resting all week right?” Jeremy asked, trying to be casual about it. Evan had been very guarded about his older brother this whole time.

Jeremy came over every day, and every day, Evan said the same thing. “Mike’s sick. He can’t see anyone right now.”

It had been happening since the day Gregory’s wings had burst through his skin. Jeremy was more than a little concerned. Sure, he hadn’t reacted well to the wings at first, but none of them had. He’d been more supportive when Evan’s had burst through later that same day.

But Michael’s expression became very guarded for the rest of the day, and the next day, he was “sick” and couldn’t see Jeremy. And Evan was very good at shooing Jeremy away when he tried too hard to see him.

“Shouldn’t he eat something?” Jeremy asked.

Evan frowned. “Mikey told me that there’s not much he can stomach right now.”

“Crackers always work,” Jeremy mumbled to himself. Shaking his head, he tried again. “What about water? Maybe he’ll start feeling better with some fluids.”

“I… guess…” Evan seemed less sure. Conflicted, he looked at Gregory and then glanced at the closed door to his cousin’s room.

“I can get it. You keep helping Gregory,” Jeremy said quickly. He didn’t want Evan to change his mind.

Evan relented, nodding slightly. “Okay. Make sure to get him a big glass. And don’t be loud. And-“

“I know how it works when someone’s sick, thank you.” Jeremy set his Coke down and rushed back to the kitchen to grab a glass.

Evan had not been exaggerating. When Jeremy crept into the room with the glass of water, Michael was curled into a tight ball on the bed.

“Mike?” Jeremy whispered into the quiet room.

Michael groaned in response. He rolled over to face Jeremy, exposing the hair plastered to his face with sweat.

“I um.” Jeremy swallowed. He felt a little foolish now. Michael was just literally sick. He wasn’t mad at Jeremy or anything like that. “I brought you some water.”

Michael opened his eyes, feebly reaching for the glass.

“Are you strong enough to hold it on your own?” Jeremy asked.

Michael had to consider that for a moment. Then he shook his head.

“Here-“ Jeremy sat next to Michael on the bed, helping pull him into an upright position so he could drink the water.

Michael leaned heavily against Jeremy, eagerly drinking the water. Jeremy had to brace himself against the wall to support the extra weight. Then abruptly, Michael pulled away.

“J… Jeremy,” Michael whispered weakly. He gripped at Jeremy’s jacket, burying his face in Jeremy’s shirt. “I…”

“It’s okay, Mike-“

Michael seized in Jeremy’s arms, sobbing heavily. His hold got tighter and tighter as his body shuddered with pain. Jeremy tried to set the glass on the bedside table, but he barely had it on the edge and water soaked into the carpet as he pulled Michael the rest of the way into his lap. “I got you,” Jeremy said into Michael’s hair.

“It hurts,” Michael cried, still shaking.

“You’ll get through this,” Jeremy mumbled.

A tearing noise broke through the sound of Michael’s sobs, even as they intensified. “JEREMY!!!” Michael wailed.

“I have you, Mike. It’s okay. You’ll be okay.”

Dimly, Jeremy registered the large wings erupting from Michael’s back. Oh. Oh. This was happening now. Bloody feathers spread out, wrapping around Jeremy to return his comforting gesture.

Gradually, Michael’s crying ceased, and Jeremy was left holding an exhausted teenager with bloody wings. “I am sorry,” Michael whispered, pulling his hands back, the wings retracting slightly. “I did not mean to, uh…”

“It’s okay, Michael.” Jeremy tried to smile at him. He was determined not to squirm in discomfort from all the blood currently soaking into his jacket.

“I… should go shower,” Michael said awkwardly.

“Yeah…” Jeremy wriggled uncomfortably in his jacket.

“Sorry,” Michael said. “I can wash that if you want.”

“It’s not the biggest deal,” Jeremy said.

“It is if you go home wearing a jacket covered in blood,” Michael replied. “It’s only fair that I clean it, since that’s my blood.”

That wasn’t how Jeremy saw it, but he figured he wasn’t getting out of this. “Okay.”

Michael shifted carefully, putting his feet on the carpet. Almost instantly after taking his weight off the bed, he completely lost his balance. His wings flew out, trying to redistribute the weight, but Jeremy didn’t realize that as he caught Michael by the waist. Both of them tumbled off the bed, Jeremy hitting the carpet with a soft ‘oomph.’

“I am sorry. This was not my intent,” Michael said from above Jeremy.

“They take some getting used to, huh?” Jeremy replied, trying to ignore the heat rising to his face.

It hadn’t been much on the bed with Michael clinging to him like a lifeline. But on the floor with Michael on top of him, pinning him to the ground, Jeremy was suddenly aware of how close Michael was to him.

Michael smiled ruefully. “I don’t think I’m strong enough to walk on my own right now. I don’t know how I’m going to wash all this blood off by myself.”

“Maybe your uncle could help?”

“He’s probably back at the library again,” Michael mused as he crawled off Jeremy.

Evan wouldn’t be able to handle it, Jeremy knew that much. And he couldn’t ask for Gregory’s help without alerting Evan to the amount of blood that coated them both.

“Do you want me to help?” Jeremy asked, feeling the heat more intensely in his face. Please say no. He didn’t think he’d be able to handle it.

“Really?” Michael chewed his lip, considering it. “I would not want to be a bother… But if you are offering…”

Jeremy’s heart quickened at the prospect. “R-right.”

“Help me up?” Michael asked.

Jeremy pulled Michael to his feet, unprepared for the wings to wrap around him again. “Um.”

“Sorry. I don’t have much control over them yet,” Michael replied sheepishly.

“Do they want me to carry you?” Jeremy gauged the idea of carrying Michael to the bathroom. It wasn’t the worst idea he’d ever come up with.

“It’d probably be less awkward than walking there like this,” Michael agreed.

“So I’m just going to…” Jeremy twisted around in the space the wings allowed him. Michael hissed out a pained breath, but soon he was behind Jeremy. “How well can you jump?”

Pretty well, apparently. Jeremy barely needed to adjust for the weight of Michael on his own back, hands linked beneath Michael’s knees. “Okay. Let’s get you taken care of.”

“I am not a child, Jer,” Michael said wearily. Still, he pressed the side of his face into Jeremy’s hair. “I am sorry to be such a burden.”

“You’re not a burden, Mike. You’re my friend. I’m absolutely willing to help you out when you’re in need.”

“Mmmmm,” Michael sounded almost mournful. But he didn’t argue.

“Okay,” Jeremy said. “So, I’m thinking they might need a decent soaking, right? Birds like to be fully submerged when they clean their wings right?”

Michael blinked at him from where he sat on the toilet lid. “What are you even saying?”

“The blood.”

“It is not dried yet. Not completely anyway.”

“So what? You were planning to just wing this whole thing, weren’t you?” Jeremy shrugged off his jacket.

Michael snorted. “I was planning to shower, Jeremy. But I guess I was planning to wing it, considering how I have wings now.” His wings stretched as he spoke, emphasizing his point. “I just don’t have the strength to stand there long enough to wash them off.”

“I-“ Jeremy sputtered. Clearing his throat, he tried to skip over the accidental pun he’d made. “Just going to let the water do the work?”

“That’s the goal.” Michael frowned. “There’s just a few problems.”

“Such as?”

“My shirt isn’t going to come off the same way it went on this morning.”

“Are you particularly attached to that shirt?” Jeremy asked.

“Not really. Could try to just-“ Michael pulled at the collar of his shirt.

“I’ll go grab a pair of scissors,” Jeremy said as Michael pulled experimentally at his shirt again.

He had to be careful walking by the couch, noticing Evan curled up for a nap. Gregory was nowhere in sight.

Returning with the scissors, Jeremy nearly dropped them upon seeing Michael. “What happened? I was gone for two minutes!”

Michael’s shirt was hanging off his body in shreds. When Jeremy looked closer, he could see sharp claws on Michael’s hands. “I…” Michael shrugged sheepishly. “I thought I could tear the fabric and take it off myself.”

Jeremy’s mouth twitched, but he didn’t let himself laugh. “Okay. I don’t think you did a very good job of it though.”

“It seems as though I failed…”

“Here, let me just…” Jeremy carefully reached around Michael’s head, one knee resting between his legs. It felt strange to be cutting through Michael’s shirt, but as the fabric gave way, Michael seemed to relax a little more.

Jeremy recalled Gregory and Evan both sitting on the couch as Michael measured the shape they needed cut from their shirts for the wings. Perhaps Michael needed a few of those done as well. Something to keep in mind for later.

“Hey, why is there blood all over-“ Gregory’s eyes widened as he peered into the bathroom.

Michael straightened quickly. Jeremy pulled back, hiding the scissors. “Hello.” Michael waved awkwardly, his wings stiff and very clearly exposed.

“You… you have them too?” Gregory’s voice seemed so small.

“Yes, it appears as though we will match.”

Gregory swallowed harshly. “I can help. I know how to get blood stains out of fabric.”

“I would really appreciate it. Thank you, Superstar.” Michael beamed at Gregory, who flushed a deep red.

“It’s no big deal…”

“Not to you,” Jeremy said softly. “But it helps more than you realize. Thank you.”

Gregory opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. He scratched his neck as his wings fluffed up, finally saying, “I’ll be quick. It probably won’t be good if Evan finds out.”

“It would be best if he did not know how messy the process is,” Michael agreed.

Gregory nodded, smoothing his hair down before hurrying out of the room.

Michael wadded the scraps of his shirt into a ball and tossed it to the floor. “Now that that’s sorted…”

Jeremy determinedly kept his eyes from wandering as he helped Michael stand. His friend leaned heavily against him for support as he attempted to undo his pants.

Jeremy belatedly realized that the only way this whole thing would work was if the shower ran over both of them. I’m going to be drenched, he thought sorrowfully as Michael muttered to himself in frustration.

“You could probably just sit while I wash the blood off,” Jeremy said when Michael finally stood there in his boxers. “Since it would be less exhausting for you.”

Michael blinked. “I suppose you are correct. I should have thought this through more.”

“It’s no big deal, man. You’re probably dealing with blood loss or whatever.”

“Still…”

“Hey, it’s fine. You spend all this time taking care of everybody. Maybe it’s time someone took care of you, right?”

Michael chewed his lip. “I suppose.”

“Okay. We’ll get you cleaned up in no time, Mike.” Jeremy said, smiling supportively. Michael tentatively smiled back.

As it turned out, it was a lot harder to clean up Michael than Jeremy initially thought. He kept twitching away, hissing out noises of pain at Jeremy’s touch.

Michael clenched his fists in his lap. “Okay. Clearly this is not the proper solution.”

“I can’t do this when it’s clearly hurting you, Mike. I just…” Jeremy leaned forward to rest his head against the back of Michael’s.

“This is nothing. I have endured much worse before.”

“That’s not as reassuring as you think it is.”

“Jeremy.” Michael said calmly, wringing water out of the washcloth. “I am sure it has become clear to you that things are not how they should be. The wings are only one part of it.”

“Yeah? What I’m hearing is that your father is abusive.” Jeremy wearily took the washcloth back, dabbing it gently against the space between Michael’s wings. At least like that it didn’t seem to hurt him.

“Well, not in the way you would think. Actually, I was thinking more of the comparison between growing limbs and losing organs. I think losing organs is still a more painful experience than this.”

“So you want me to just ignore your pain?” Jeremy asked, trying to decipher Michael’s meaning.

“I am saying I can handle it. I can be a man about this.”

No one is doubting that, Jeremy thought grimly to himself. “Maybe I can’t.” He tentatively rubbed at a clump of blood in the inner edge of Michael’s wing.

Immediately, it swung at him, throwing him against the sink. Pain flared throughout Jeremy’s entire body as he hit the floor. Faintly he registered that his face was bleeding.

“Jeremy?” Michael asked, twisting around. “Are you alright?”

“Nnnnngh,” Jeremy groaned. “I don’t think I broke anything.”

“I am so sorry. It appears that the wings are more sensitive than I thought.”

“No kidding.” Jeremy pressed his fingers to his cheek. He was lucky. The clawed joint of Michael’s wing had hit him just below the eye. Any higher, and he might’ve lost it completely. “Now what?”

“I suppose I should just sit under the water and hope for the best.”

“I think Gregory and Evan mentioned messages working out the soreness. Maybe I could at the very least-“

“I think we should avoid that for now,” Michael replied, his voice sounding stiff. “You have already been hurt once today.”

“Michael.” Jeremy tried to make his voice sound stern. “I knew the risks when I offered to help. So let me help.”

“Fine. Just do not do anything that will put you in danger again.”

“Don’t lie about how much it hurts next time,” Jeremy shot back. “Still gotta get all that blood out of your wings, you know.”

Michael clenched his jaw, but he only stared down into his hands. He couldn’t face Jeremy with the nasty cut on his face any longer.

Jeremy was lighter after that. He knew that even pressing a little too hard would make the wings spaz, and over the course of the next few hours, he succeeded with minimal interruptions.

Gregory popped in near the end to check on the progress. “Henry’s back. Do you want me to tell him about this?” He gestured at the entirety of the bathroom.

“I believe he should be informed. Please ensure that my brother does not come to investigate before we are done here.”

“And maybe grab him a dry set of clothes while you’re at it,” Jeremy said. As an afterthought, he looked at himself. “Maybe grab me something too, if you would.”

Gregory rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. How much does it hurt?”

“I suspect that I should be in more pain than I am,” Michael said, considering the question. “But Jeremy has done an excellent job of making sure the process is less than agonizing.”

“Uh, okay?” Gregory shot Jeremy a look.

“I can’t hardly touch him without the wings reacting,” Jeremy explained. “Nearly lost an eye the first time I did that.”

“So it’s bad.”

“It’s bad,” Jeremy agreed.

Gregory shot Michael a look loaded with concern, but he gave Jeremy a thumbs up. “I’ll ask Henry if he can get you guys some dry clothes. Maybe I’ll just imply that something else is going on in here if Evan asks.” He wiggled his eyebrows in a way that made Jeremy’s face burn.

“Gregory-“

But Gregory had already ducked out of the room, laughing quietly to himself. Jeremy sighed, preparing himself for the inevitable glares he’d get from Evan.

Michael sighed softly once Jeremy finally went to smooth out the wings. “That feels really nice.”

“Glad to hear it,” Jeremy said softly. “I think we got all the blood out.”

“Is it time to turn the water off then?” Michael asked, his eyes closing.

“I’d say so.” Thank goodness, Jeremy thought as he turned the dials back and pressed the tab down. “Now you need to dry off a bit.”

“Mmmmm….” Michael hummed to himself as Jeremy stepped into the tub with a towel and started rubbing Michael’s head with it.

Michael’s eyes fluttered open, and he smiled at Jeremy. “You really do like taking care of me, don’t you?”

Jeremy huffed out a sigh. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t, would I?”

“I thought you just stuck around to steal our Coca Cola.”

“That too. But I do enjoy your company, Mike.”

The smile broke into a full grin as Michael tugged the towel out of Jeremy’s hands. “That is wonderful news, Jeremy.”

Did he really not know? Jeremy wondered.

Before he had a chance to answer, Henry peered into the bathroom, assessing the pool of water on the floor. He raised a tired eyebrow as he observed the two boys in the bathtub. “I wasn’t inclined to believe Gregory before, but seeing it for myself…”

Jeremy’s face ignited with heat. “I was just helping clean blood from his wings. Nothing else happened, I swear.”

“I was referring to the fact that Michael grew wings. What did you think I meant?” Henry’s eyebrows scrunched, and Michael gave Jeremy a funny look.

“I thought Gregory might’ve said something else,” Jeremy replied, shaking his head. “Forget it.”

“Are you alright, Jeremy? You look a bit feverish…” A frown tugged at the corner of Michael’s mouth.

“I’m going to go grab some more towels. And you two will be wanting a dry set of clothes, won’t you?”

“Yeah.” Jeremy nodded quickly.

Henry hummed at them before walking back out of the room.

“I am grateful for both you and Gregory,” Michael said, using the towel to dry the rest of his body. He slowly rose to his feet, finally able to stand on his own.

Jeremy determinedly did not stare. Instead, he wrung water from his hair.

“I would offer you the towel, but I believe it is too wet to be any real help. Seeing as your clothes are also drenched, the best course of action is to wait for Henry to return.”

Jeremy smiled weakly. “Yeah, that’s true.”

Michael stepped out of the tub, hanging the towel back on the rack after he went. Jeremy could admit that the wings looked pretty good on Mike. He’d been weary of it when he’d first seen the wings on Gregory, and he knew that Gregory was defensive about it now. But maybe seeing him help Michael would help.

“Do you need a bandage for your face?” Michael asked, making eye contact with Jeremy through the mirror above the sink.

“Oh, I uh.” Jeremy blinked at him. “It doesn’t… It’s fine.”

“Are you sure?” Michael’s mouth twitched. “I understand that me being like this must be unpleasant for you, but that does not mean you do not need assistance with that cut.”

Being like this? Was Michael phrasing things like that on purpose? Was he talking about the fact that he was in his boxers or the fact that he had wings? Jeremy crossed his arms before remembering that his shirt was soaked. He uncrossed them and simply said, “There is no problem. I just don’t need a Band-Aid.”

Michael walked back over, and Jeremy tried to take a step back before remembering he was standing in a bathtub. Trapped, Jeremy stood stiffly as Michael ran a thumb over his scratch. Don’t flinch, he told himself, but it still stung. The cut was pretty deep.

“You likely do need a bandage, despite your claim otherwise,” Michael replied. “I can help, if you need assistance.”

Michael gently wiped blood from Jeremy’s face and went in search of medical supplies. It stung when he cleaned the wound, but Jeremy found himself too fascinated by Michael’s cautious care to really notice. The tiniest furrow in Michael’s eyebrows appeared when he put the bandage on Jeremy’s face, and his hands lingered on Jeremy’s jaw for just a moment too long.

He almost seemed sad when he stepped back from Jeremy. “All better. See?” Michael smiled so quickly Jeremy wondered if he’d imagined the pain in Michael’s eyes.

“Y… yeah. Um. Thanks.” Jeremy touched the bandage, surprised by how big it was. “I didn’t realize the scratch was that big.”

“I still feel terrible for doing that to you. Is there any way I can make it up to you?” Michael asked.

Unable to come up with anything to say other than a request for Michael to kiss him, Jeremy shook his head and turned his attention to Michael’s wings. “Do they still hurt?”

“Not as much as they did,” Michael flexed them experimentally. Jeremy smiled faintly, recalling that Gregory was having immense difficulty controlling his own wings. Perhaps the size made it easier.

Michael made a face. “It appears that moving them still hurts, however.”

“Evan mentioned something about messaging the muscles earlier. He was doing it for Gregory.”

Michael brightened. “I suppose I shall have to ask for Evan’s help with that endeavor then. Thank you for the reminder.”

I could do it for you, Jeremy thought desperately. He didn’t want to just have to leave after everything. This was the most time he’d spent with Michael before, and the guy was just so chill about everything. But being in the same space as him, watching him interact with his brother and Gregory made him want to stay so much longer. Michael Afton was the most compassionate person Jeremy had ever met, and he wanted to be able to help the man who tried so hard to help everyone else.

It didn’t help that Jeremy was also hopelessly in love with him.

As Jeremy opened his mouth to speak, Henry returned with the changes of clothes. Michael turned his attention away from Jeremy to thank Henry and apologize for the water all over the floor, and Jeremy was left to awkwardly collect the pile of bloody clothes on the floor to offer them to Henry.

Henry stared at the rags for a moment, his face paling significantly. “These were Michael’s clothes?”

“Yes.” Michael was separating the clothes to split between himself and Jeremy, and he was hardly focused on Henry. “I could not find a way to safely remove my shirt without causing more pain, so Jeremy helped me cut it off. I am afraid blood does not come out of denim very easily, so my jeans are also a lost cause.”

Brightening, Michael put a bundle of clothing into Jeremy’s arms. “You can change in Charlie’s old room.”

“Why can’t you both change in here?” Henry asked, sounding confused.

Pressure built in Jeremy’s throat as he tried to answer that question. It wasn’t that he was ashamed of himself. Not by any measure at all. He just knew it was dangerous, what he was. People didn’t exactly approve of people like him, after all. Especially not here.

Michael gave Henry a scathing look as tears built up behind Jeremy’s eyes. “Maybe we don’t want to change in the same room.”

Henry blinked in surprise, but he glanced between the two boys for a moment before making his exit. Michael patted Jeremy’s shoulder. “I can go to Charlie’s room instead, if you would prefer to change in here.”

Jeremy still couldn’t speak, so he just nodded. The gentle way Michael nodded back at him filled his body with a strange warmth. A few moments later, Michael was gone, and Jeremy could finally change out of the sopping wet layers he’d been in this whole time.

Half-way through changing, Jeremy noticed that most of the clothes were baggy and easy to layer over each other. There were almost too many options. A jolt ran through him when he considered that Michael had sorted through the clothes. Either Michael was very particular, or he knew.

Hurriedly, Jeremy finished changing and practically ran to the bedroom where Michael said he’d be changing. He basically flung the door open to a startled Mike, who had jeans on but no shirt. “Is something wrong?” Michael asked.

His wings and hair fluffed up, like he’d been expecting a threat, but his expression was one of concern. Jeremy knew he was shaking, knew he wouldn’t be able to speak for a moment, but he stood there and just stared. Why did Michael have to be adorable in everything he did? The way his mouth curled into a frown made half of his mouth seem to vanish, like he was biting on it constantly distracted Jeremy from what he wanted to say.

He let his eyes wander over Michael’s bare torso as he tried to find the words to speak. The worst of his secrets was surely out already, and if Michael figured out his feelings, it would be less painful than him knowing the other secret.

Fascination over the jagged scar across Michael’s chest sprouted in his heart. Jeremy had seen it before, of course. He’d seen it in the bathroom, but he’d been trying not to stare before.

“Jeremy?” Michael looked worried now. “Are you alright?”

Maybe Michael didn’t know. Maybe he just hadn’t grabbed a shirt at all, since they had to be cut specifically for the wings anyway. Jeremy was probably just overreacting. And even if he wasn’t, it seemed that Michael wasn’t going to bring it up. “Uhmm. I just… wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Michael relaxed. “I’m quite alright, Jeremy. I’m not as weak as I was before. The shower certainly helped.”

“You’re um. You’re very fluffy right now.”

“Am I?” Michael ran a hand through his hair, feeling where it stuck up all over the place. “Oh.”

“Yeah.” Jeremy cleared his throat awkwardly. “Thanks for talking to Henry back there.”

“It was nothing.” Michael blinked at him, wings twitching. “Gregory did a good job cleaning up.” He gestured at the carpet and the bed.

The bed was made very neatly, corners tucked so much better than Jeremy could do on a good day. There were only faint hints that someone had been bleeding there, and they were only visible because Jeremy was looking for them. “Yeah. He certainly did.”

A fond smile crossed Michael’s face at that. “He’s so sweet.”

Jeremy didn’t really believe that, but he nodded anyway. He didn’t want Michael to stop smiling for anything. It was so much better than his frown in every possible way.

“We should… I um. I think we should probably head back to the living room,” Jeremy said awkwardly.

“Right, yes. I suppose it is almost time for you to head home too.” Michael blinked, like he was shaking himself out of a daydream. “Or maybe you could stay for supper?”

Jeremy smiled. “I would love that.”

Evan was awestruck when he saw his brother’s wings. “They’re so big!”

“Soft too,” Jeremy said, trying to encourage Evan’s excitement.

Gregory made a noise in the back of his throat before saying, “You would know, wouldn’t you?”

Jeremy stared at him, mouth opening and closing without words coming out.

“No softer than yours, I’m sure,” Michael said, trying to keep the peace. There wasn’t even a hint of a blush on his face at Gregory’s words. Were the jokes just going over his head? Maybe Jeremy was reading too much into it.

Shaking his head, Jeremy plopped down on the couch beside Gregory. “What happened to your face?” Gregory asked quietly.

“I wasn’t careful enough,” Jeremy answered, glancing at the two brothers as they talked about Michael’s new wings. “And Mike’s wings pack quite the punch.”

“Oh.” Gregory’s eyes widened with understanding. “That could’ve been bad.”

“You’re telling me, kid.” Jeremy shook his head, taking a sip from his can of Coke. “What were you and Evan up to today?”

“Videogames mostly,” Gregory replied. “Although everything here is so old.”

“Old?” Jeremy wrinkled his nose. “Nah, my parents are worse. You’re probably just picky. A bunch of this stuff is newer than anything my family could afford.”

“Your motorcycle is cool though.”

Jeremy smiled. “It is pretty cool.”

“Can you take me on it sometime?”

The smile faltered slightly. “Uh, I don’t know.”

“C’mon, please? All the stuff here is pretty boring, and I know Evan tries to be fun, but you can only play the same game for so long before it’s lame. And I don’t want to have to tell him it’s lame. It’s awful when he cries.”

Jeremy didn’t know what to make of that. “Maybe we could play a board game or something.”

“I wanna go on your bike sometime.” Gregory stuck out his chin stubbornly. “Or I’m going to tell Mike you have the biggest crush on him and-“

“Okay, okay! I get it. But you’ll have to wear a helmet,” Jeremy said, looking away and tugging at his shirt. “And long pants. Just in case.”

“Okay, Dad.” Gregory rolled his eyes.

“Well, you’re the one who said it’s awful when Evan cries,” Jeremy shot back. “And I’ve already seen how Mike cries, and I don’t want to see that again. No thanks.”

Gregory flinched at that. “I…”

“Not to frighten you, but it can be dangerous.” Jeremy sighed. “There’s only so much you can be safe. Not to quote my mom, but ‘I’d rather you be late than dead.’ It’s just that kind of thing.”

Seeing Gregory’s expression, he softened. “I’m a firm believer in the fact that both of us are going to get lectured by Michael when he finds out. So, when he tries, we’re going to tell him that I already told you all the risks and you still wanted to do it. Unless I’ve changed your mind.”

“No, haven’t changed my mind.” Gregory scooted closer to Jeremy. “I bet I’d survive a crash better than you.”

“No way,” Jeremy laughed. “With the way you’re built? No offense, but you’d be a splatter on the cement.”

“Rude.” Gregory scoffed. Not subtly at all, he tried to steal Jeremy’s Coke from his hand.

Amused, Jeremy let him. Gregory immediately started downing what was left in the can. At that moment, Michael glanced over and gasped. “Gregory! Is that Coke? Are you encouraging this, Jeremy?”

“He took the can out of my hand. I didn’t do anything,” Jeremy smiled cheekily. “Not my fault he’s so fast.”

“Mmmmm,” Gregory squinted skeptically at the can. “This is Coke?”

“Yeah?” Jeremy looked confused. “Why? Does it taste weird to you or something?”

“It’s better than I remember.”

Michael sighed, removing the can from Gregory’s hands. “That is because Coca-Cola has different flavoring in it than you remember.”

“Are you talking about the whole cocaine in Coke thing? Because I thought that was a myth.”

Michael shot Jeremy an exasperated look. “That is not what I am talking about. Anyway, Gregory does not need caffeine in his system at this time of day. He won’t get any sleep at this rate.”

“Whoops?” Jeremy held his hands up in surrender. “Look I-“

“It does not matter.” Michael shot Gregory a meaningful look. “So long as he doesn’t keep Evan up with his extra energy, it should be fine.”

Evan peered at them all from behind the sofa. “How did he even take it from you? I thought you kept a tight grip on those at all times.”

“Caught me by surprise?” Jeremy shifted his weight as Michael gave him a skeptical look. “He’s faster than he looks, I swear.”

Evan snorted, climbing over the back of the sofa, much to Michael’s despair as he said, “Well, that gives him a one-up in physical games I guess.”

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean? I totally crush at Fazblock!” Gregory crossed his arms. “I had more blocks than you did.”

“Gregory, you’re supposed to get rid of the blocks, not keep them on the screen.” Evan shook his head despairingly. “I would’ve explained the rules if you’d asked-“

“It was different than what I’m used to, okay?” Gregory rolled his eyes. “I could totally beat you at Fazzy Kart.”

“I don’t even know what that is,” Evan replied. “I still think you made it up.”

“Did not.”

“Did too.”

“Did not.”

“Did too!”

“Okay, that is enough.” Michael shook his head, smiling faintly. “Gregory did not make it up. Fazzy Kart just has not come out yet.” He ruffled Evan’s hair before walking away with the empty Coke can. “And I have something for you two to do when I get back!”

“A task?” Gregory asked.

“A task.” Evan snorted. “Ah yes, my brother typically assigns me tasks. No, Gregory. He’s sending us to do chores or something. Usually he’s more mean about it though.”

“No one understands my jokes.” Gregory’s wing twitched irritably.

“Doesn’t matter,” Jeremy replied. “He still laughed, even if he didn’t get it. Be nonsensical! Nobody cares as long as you’re funny.”

“That’s a terrible line of logic. I refuse to believe that people willingly follow your example,” Michael said, returning with a sheet of paper. “Evan, Gregory, I am trusting you two to find everything on this list and bring it back here.”

“We don’t have money,” Gregory said, but he still took the list from Michael’s hands. “And aren’t we supposed to stay inside until we figure out what to do about our wings? And wait, is it safe to-“

“You worry too much, Gregory. We can just ask Uncle Henry for help.” Evan peered at the grocery list. “What are you making, Mikey? This looks like spaghetti sauce, but you don’t use half this stuff normally.”

“Wait and see,” Michael said cryptically. His own wings twitched as he spoke, even seeming a tiny bit ruffled.

“With the overabundance of clothes Henry seems to have, maybe he has jackets you can just throw on over the wings or something,” Jeremy said, slowly rising from the couch as Gregory and Evan stood to examine the list closer.

“We can handle this,” Evan said with full confidence. “And we’ll try to be fast so you can get started sooner.”

“Thank you, Evan.” There was a deeper tone of relief in Michael’s voice at that. “My heroes.”

Jeremy smiled wearily at them all. “I should probably get going.” It felt like intruding to stay this long. Sure, they all tried to include him, but Michael probably had other things he planned to do while Evan and Gregory were gone. Perhaps he needed to talk to his uncle more or something. Regardless, Jeremy had overstayed his welcome.

“I thought you said you could stay for supper.” Michael sounded wounded. “Are you feeling alright? Do you need to lie down?”

He pressed his hand against Jeremy’s forehead. “You don’t seem to have a fever.”

“I’m fine, Michael. I just don’t want to overstay my welcome, you know?” Jeremy ducked away from Michael’s hand and kept his gaze on the carpet. “Especially if you’re all going to be busy.”

“I won’t be busy until they get back,” Michael replied as Gregory tugged on Evan’s shirt to lead him away. “And even then, I won’t be too busy to talk. You can sit with me in the kitchen while I cook.”

“Yeah but…” Jeremy hesitated, combing a hand through his hair. “Look, I just don’t want to be in the way.”

“You won’t be,” Michael insisted. He sat down on the sofa where Gregory had been sitting before. Patting the cushion next to him, he waited for Jeremy to sit back down.

When Jeremy sat down, Michael gestured for him to scoot closer. “What are you doing?” Jeremy asked nervously.

“Your hair is a mess,” Michael replied. “I’m going to fix it for you.”

“What do you mean?” Jeremy frowned, patting his hair self-consciously.

“It’s all tangled. That’s going to be a nightmare to brush out tomorrow if you don’t take care of it tonight.”

“Oh.” Jeremy looked away. “It shouldn’t be your responsibility-“

“My wings shouldn’t have been yours,” Michael countered. “Let me do a nice thing for you. Please.”

“I helped with your wings because I wanted to spend time with you. Not because it was a burden, Mike.”

“This isn’t a burden to me either. Let me help. Maybe I want to spend more time with you too.”

Jeremy didn’t have a counter to that, so he reluctantly sighed. “Just… be gentle on it, okay?”

“Of course.” He blinked, seemingly surprised that Jeremy gave in so easily. “I do need to go grab a brush and a comb.”

“Naturally.” Jeremy shifted uncomfortably on the sofa as Michael got up.

What was he even supposed to say to Michael? He hadn’t expected to get this far, and now faced with the opportunity to have a casual conversation with him, Jeremy panicked.

When Michael got back, the hair brush he carried had long strands of dark brown hair in it, and both the brush and the comb were shining with water. “I hope you don’t mind,” Michael said awkwardly. “But I know that hair gets really, really tangled, so I just wanted to make sure I could get the tangles out without hurting you.”

Oh. That was… surprisingly considerate. “And the water is supposed to fix tangles?”

“Better than a dry brush.”

Jeremy just stared. The most he’d been able to do with his hair was to throw it into the world’s worst ponytail when he needed it out of his face. All this talk of the more effective way to brush through his hair without making it hurt stirred something in his chest. There was nothing Michael would do that could possibly hurt more than the way he was currently doing his hair.

Michael sat back down and got to work. It was strange. Jeremy hadn’t had anyone brush his hair in a long time. His mother had been too busy with work to even notice that he needed help with his hair. Or anything really.

“You have really thick hair,” Michael mused softly.

“Yeah. Makes it a real pain sometimes,” Jeremy replied.

Michael was so gentle with it, apologizing softly when the brush scraped his ear or a snag was too rough. Eventually, though, he set the brush aside and started dividing his hair.

“What are you doing?”

“Helping you with your hair,” Michael replied as he started braiding it. “I assume you don’t have a hair brush for yourself, or maybe you just don’t have much time to do your hair every day. But at the very least, braiding it back at night prevents most tangles from getting worse.”

“How do you know so much about this stuff, dude?” Jeremy wondered. “Like, you know more about this than I do.”

“I…” Michael hesitated. “Evan’s not my only sibling. I had a sister. Elizabeth. Her hair was more of a nightmare than this.”

“Oh.” Jeremy fidgeted. He didn’t know what to do with that information.

“And, there!” Michael twisted a ponytail into the end of Jeremy’s hair. “Less problems for later, see?”

“Yeah.” Jeremy touched a hand to the braid, smiling softly. “Thanks, man.”

“It’s nothing.”

“But I say it is something. Come here, Mike.”

Michael’s wings fluffed up ever so slightly, but he did as Jeremy asked, unprepared for the tackle-hug Jeremy gave him. He gasped in alarm as they ended up on the floor, but when he looked up at Jeremy, it was with what Jeremy could only describe as adoration. Then he was suddenly pressed completely up against Michael as his wings wrapped around them both.

Of course, that was also the moment Evan and Gregory came back from their shopping trip with the supplies Michael had asked for. Letting Jeremy up, Michael immediately accepted the groceries from Evan and went straight to the kitchen. Gregory and Evan were left staring at Jeremy, who was sitting with a ridiculous grin on his face.

“Might need some help preparing this!” Michael called.

Before any of them could move toward the door, however, Henry walked by to go help Michael. Which left Jeremy to get teased by the two younger boys.

“What was that about?” Evan asked, picking a long blue feather out of Jeremy’s hair.

“What were you doing on the floor?” Gregory asked.

“Mike did my hair,” Jeremy replied, gesturing at the hairbrush that now had long strands of gold intertwined with the brown.

Evan looked thoughtful as he fiddled with the feather. “I didn’t know Mikey knew how to do hair.”

“Didn’t you tell me you had a sister?” Gregory asked, picking a smaller, brown feather from Jeremy’s shirt. “He could’ve done her hair once or twice.”

“Maybe…” Evan didn’t sound very sure. “Mikey wasn’t… I don’t know. Maybe he did. I never knew, though.”

“He did mention it when I asked…” Jeremy said, suddenly embarrassed to know more than Evan.

Evan fiddled with the feather more. “He seems to like you a lot.”

“Mike?” Jeremy asked, even more embarrassed now.

“Yeah. He smiles when he talks to you.”

“Except that one day,” Gregory interrupted. “He came inside and cried.”

“That was something else, I think,” Evan responded. “I think the Nightmares finally got to him.”

“So I take it Mike doesn’t usually talk about his issues then?”

“Not usually.” Evan squirmed, his wings puffing up. “Can we talk about something else?”

“Yeah sure,” Jeremy shook his head and finally got off the floor. “Do you want to try playing Kings in the Corner again?”

“Ugh, that’s so boring,” Gregory replied, but Evan was already rushing off to get the cards.

“I need a second. I’ll be right back,” Jeremy said, slipping into the kitchen to grab another can of Coke.

Michael glanced over from where he was cutting an onion and just sighed. “Jeremy-“

“I know, I know. It’s bad for me or whatever. But I need it, okay?” Jeremy took a long swig from the can. “Better than some habits.”

“Still…”

“It’s fine dude. Cut your onion or whatever.”

Henry said something that Jeremy didn’t catch as he rushed back to the living room. “Okay, are we ready to start?”

“This game is stupid,” Gregory grumbled. He was holding his seven cards, and Evan had already laid out the board.

“I dealt, so Gregory goes first,” Evan replied, ignoring Gregory’s comment.

“Lucky,” Jeremy said, eyeing the board.

“I don’t even know how to play,” Gregory complained. “This game is for old people.”

“I guess we’re old then.” Jeremy’s eyes twinkled. “You have to play a card from your hand onto one of those four cards.” He pointed at the two of diamonds, the king of spades, the four of diamonds, and the seven of diamonds respectively. “You want it to be a lower rank, or less points than the card on the stack. And it’s gotta be the opposite color.”

“Oh.” Gregory stared at his hand for a moment.

“You gotta tell him about the kings, Jeremy.” Evan shook his head. “If there’s a king, you can move it into the spaces between the four other cards, and put a new foundation card down.”

“Huh.” Gregory frowned. “This is too confusing.”

“It really isn’t,” Jeremy laughed, taking another sip from his Coke. “If you really want, you can add your cards back to the foundation pile and watch me and Evan play a game.”

“I’m just going to do that.” Gregory stuck his cards back in the bigger stack.

“Suits don’t matter,” Evan said helpfully. “Only color does.”

Jeremy set off to move the king, and the game begun. Evan went out on his first turn.

“Okay, that was a bad example,” Evan said with a grin.

“You didn’t shuffle very well,” Jeremy said accusingly. “That was- arghhh. We’re playing another game so Gregory can actually see how the game works.”

“Are we doing points?” Evan said innocently.

“We will once Gregory joins in,” Jeremy replied, collecting the cards from the board. “These are warm-up rounds.”

“Riiiiight,” Gregory replied with an amused snort. “You just got destroyed.”

“Thank you for the obvious and accurate commentary, Gregory.” Jeremy rolled his eyes.

When he flipped the four cards over, three of them were kings. Jeremy let out an indignant noise as Gregory burst out laughing and Evan grinned at the board. Just like that, he was down to one card. Jeremy scowled at his own cards as it became his turn.

“All four kings on the board in the first turn,” he grumbled.

“Now who’s bad at shuffling?” Evan replied, watching Jeremy’s hand drop to three cards.

“Oh, shut up.”

Evan snickered as it became his turn. “I almost wonder if you were trying to let me win.” He took the ace of diamonds and placed it on the two of clubs that Jeremy had missed during his turn. “Do you have the hang of it yet, Gregory? We may need a third player or this are going to be some very quick games.”

“Ha ha.” Jeremy said as Evan gathered up the cards again. “I’m just used to people who aren’t paying attention nearly as much as you do.”

“I’m just playing the game,” Evan said with a cheeky grin. “You had a six of spades in your hand? You could’ve played that on the seven-“

“I don’t want to hear it!” Jeremy sighed, exaggerating his grief as he drank from his can. “You have eyes like a hawk.”

Evan just hummed at that, his eyes twinkling as he shuffled the cards again. “What do you say, Gregory? Want to try and give it another shot?”

“Sure. Can’t be any worse than Jeremy, right?”

“Alright, I get it.” Jeremy shook his head. “I guess this game isn’t as awful as you want to claim it is, huh?”

“We’ll see.”

Evan pulled out a baggy filled with little red chips and shook it for a moment. “I didn’t have a chance to grab paper, so we can just play with chips, right?”

“Let’s give Gregory one trial run first,” Jeremy said as Gregory stared blankly at the chip bag. “Let him get a feel for the game.”

Gregory’s first round went okay. He managed to play half his cards in the first go, but he failed to notice that he could’ve moved the king to the corner right away, and Jeremy took advantage of that. Humming to himself, Jeremy quickly went through his turn and waited for Evan.

“That is absurd,” Gregory said, watching Evan put down cards and move piles around rapidly. “There’s no way you’re not cheating.”

“It’s all natural, Gregory,” Evan said cheerfully. “You’re just mad because I’m better at games than you are.”

“Grrrrrr….” Gregory scowled as Evan tapped his own card against the table. He put down his one card and waited for Jeremy to go.

Adding another person really did slow down the game a lot, Jeremy thought to himself. This was the first round someone had actually had to draw a card. Evan hummed, but he also needed to draw a card. Unlike Jeremy, however, Evan couldn’t play his. Finally, the game was even again.

Gregory scowled at his cards. “What do I do if I can’t play?”

“Draw,” Jeremy said. “We’ve both done it.”

Grumbling, Gregory drew a card. He brightened as he realized he could play it, and then it was Jeremy’s turn. Jeremy sighed in relief as he was able to play a card on Gregory’s queen, and then move a ten on top of that. Moment of truth, he thought to himself as Evan studied his hand. Michael’s brother shook his head and drew another card. And promptly played it.

Gregory and Jeremy both groaned at that. “See, but now things get interesting,” Evan said cheerfully. “We’ve all been drawing cards and actually have to pay attention to the board.”

“Don’t you always have to pay attention to the board?” Gregory asked as he drew another card. “Ugh.”

“Depends on how close,” Jeremy said smugly, laying down his one card. “I win this round.”

Evan sighed wearily, but he said nothing as Jeremy collected the cards to shove them at Gregory. “Your turn to shuffle.”

Gregory pushed the cards back at Jeremy. “I don’t know how.”

“I guess I can do it for you. But you’re still dealing, alright? Seven cards to each of us.”

Gregory nodded as Jeremy shuffled, and Evan quickly explained how chips worked. Everyone put one chip in at the beginning. Then, when you drew a card, you’d put another chip in. Each card at the end of the game still in your hand was another chip, except for kings. Kings were ten chips.

They all put one chip in the middle as Gregory passed out cards.

“Ready for your first real round, Gregory?” Jeremy asked, looking over his cards.

Gregory huffed, but he nodded anyway. “This is still dumb.”

“What if we made it a bit more fun?” Evan asked. “I’ll put in this feather.” He held up the blue feather he’d picked out of Jeremy’s hair.

“We’re playing for feathers?” Gregory asked. “But we both have feathers.”

“Not just any feathers. Michael’s feathers. I know him better than you do, trust me. He wouldn’t just give those away.”

Gregory considered it for a moment as Jeremy bit his lip. It seemed plenty easy to get feathers in his opinion. Michael shed two of them while Jeremy hugged him before. “Deal. I’ll put in this one.”

Gregory set the brown feather on top of the three chips. Evan did the same with the blue feather. Both of them glanced at Jeremy expectantly.

“I don’t have any. You both took those from me in the first place.” Jeremy rolled his eyes. The feathers were cool, though.

He kind of wished he had some of his own, maybe to braid through his hair or something. But that required winning this game. And since Evan was really good at Kings in the Corner, and also used all the chips in the box, it was really unlikely that he’d win them at the end.

“How about…” Jeremy put twenty more chips in the pot. “I know it doesn’t balance out at all, but you two seem to really want those feathers.”

Evan grinned, and so, the game began.

Gregory surprised them all by nearly going out in his first turn, but Evan still won the first game. They played in relative silence, too busy concentrating to hold a proper conversation. Evan crushed them in the first few rounds, but Gregory eventually got a win when Evan had 6 cards in his hand, resulting in a somewhat decent counter-balance.

It did nothing for Jeremy though. He looked nervously at his dwindling pile of chips every time the game ended and knew it was very unlikely that he’d win. It wasn’t impossible, sure, but it was incredibly unlikely.

“This is eight, Gregory,” Evan said absently, after Jeremy had already played his first turn. “We can play it, but you should pay better attention.”

Jeremy bit his lip at that. He was losing really bad. He really needed a win, and he needed one where the other two were struggling. Accidentally starting a round on eight cards was not a great way to start that.

“How did you even notice that?” Gregory asked.

“Eight feels thicker than seven.”

“How much do you play cards? Jeez,” Jeremy asked as it became Gregory’s turn.

“Enough,” Evan said with an amused smile. “I usually play alone.”

“This doesn’t feel like a game you can play alone,” Gregory muttered.

“You can. It’s just not as fun. But I don’t play this,” Evan said as Jeremy had to draw yet again. “I play Solitare.”

“Right, silly me.” Gregory shook his head. “Dude, how are you losing the game you suggested?”

“It takes a lot of luck, Gregory.” Jeremy sighed, having emptied his can of Coke long ago. “I’ve already accepted my fate. Now it’s just a matter of wondering who wins overall.”

They all fell quiet again as they settled back into their concentration. A few tense rounds went by as they all drew cards. When Evan finally played a card, Jeremy breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe he’d last another round.

Or… maybe not. It was a close thing, that balance between drawing and playing. “Are we going to go through the whole deck?” Gregory eventually wondered.

“Maybe,” Jeremy replied wearily.

The pot was massive at this point. Evan’s brow was continuously furrowed, and even his wings were stiff with concentration. There’s no strategy that trumps the good cards being at the bottom of the deck, Jeremy thought to himself with grim amusement.

“Ha!” Gregory shouted his delight as he finally laid his last card.

Jeremy sighed sorrowfully as he glanced at his four chips. He would only have two left for another game after this. If only it had been Jeremy who’d drawn the card to end the game.

“I don’t even remember who shuffled that one,” Jeremy said as Gregory gathered the pot.

“It was Gregory. He started us with eight cards,” Evan replied. “You shuffle next.”

“I’m not going to make it through this game,” Jeremy muttered.

“Then we’ll just play it out, and you can be done after,” Evan shrugged. “Who knows, maybe you’ll win?”

“For every draw you have that you can’t play, I’ll put in a chip,” Gregory offered as Jeremy put his last chip in the pot. “It’ll keep things fair.”

“I’m sure,” Jeremy muttered.

“Awww, you are a grumpy old man. Evan look! He’s so grumpy.”

Jeremy rolled his eyes. “Thanks.”

Evan put his last card down, and Jeremy shook his head. “I’m out. Good luck, Gregory.”

He wondered what Michael and Henry were up to in the kitchen. It had been two hours of this, after all. Surely preparing a meal wouldn’t take that long, especially since Evan implied Michael was making spaghetti.

“Okay, I gotta know. What spaghetti takes three hours to make?” Jeremy said, sitting down at the kitchen table with Henry.

“It’s not the spaghetti that takes so long,” Michael replied from the stove. “It’s the sauce.”

“But why?”

“The flavor has to soak in from the leaves.” Michael shrugged, moving to sit down with them. “What were you playing in there?”

“Cards.” Jeremy shrugged. “Gregory said it was for old people.”

“Then he must have never played cards before,” Henry commented.

“Maybe it’s his age,” Michael suggested.

“Nah. Your brother got really into it. He’s been beating both of us.”

“THAT’S SO STUPID!!!” Gregory shouted from the other room.

Evan laughed and said something in response, as they all glanced toward the hallway.

“No way,” Gregory said, his voice still projecting from the other room. “That’s so stupid!”

“I think the sauce is about done,” Michael said, rising from his seat again. “I should probably begin on the actual spaghetti.”

“I appreciate you deciding to cook for us, Michael,” Henry said. “And not that I’m complaining about your food, but this seems more complicated than some of the other stuff you’ve made.”

Michael just blinked at him, filling a pot with water. “It’s just spaghetti.”

Gregory and Evan walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. “It smells great in here,” Evan said.

Michael glanced at his brother and at Gregory for a moment. “Who won?”

“Evan,” Gregory grumbled crossing his arms. “But he cheats.”

“I do not! Withholding cards on my turn is within the rules of the game. Just because it means you have to draw more doesn’t mean it’s cheating!” Evan argued.

“He’s right, Gregory. If he’s withholding cards, it’s still a risk to him since you can easily draw a card at any moment and win the game yourself. There’s a reason it’s ten chips if you’re holding a king at the end of the game.”

“Hmph,” Gregory scowled.

“Jeremy, do you need a new bandage for your face?” Henry asked as Gregory and Evan glared at each other from across the table.

“What? Oh, I’m sure it’s fine.” Jeremy hadn’t realized that the edge of his bandage was peeling off.

“We’ll get that taken care of later,” Henry said. “Were you planning on staying over tonight?”

“I…” Jeremy glanced around the room. “I don’t know.”

“If you decide to stay, let me know so I can tell your parents,” Henry replied, seemingly satisfied. “And would you like another can of Coca-Cola?”

“Yes please.”

“Don’t encourage his addiction, Henry.” Michael crossed his arms as he leaned against the counter.

Jeremy responded by sticking his tongue out at Michael. Michael shook his head and rolled his eyes, but Jeremy saw a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Can I have one too?” Gregory asked.

“Absolutely not,” Michael replied. His wings twitched slightly. “You’re done with caffeine for the rest of the night. If you’re this loud after half a can, I shudder to think of what would happen if you got a full can of Coke.”

“You’re not my mom,” Gregory grumbled.

Jeremy’s mouth twitched. “He tries to act like it though, doesn’t he?”

Michael made an indignant noise as Gregory burst out laughing. Evan giggled too, adding, “Mama bird Mike.”

All three of them broke into bad laughing fits at that one. Henry and Michael just exchanged an exasperated look as Michael stirred the spaghetti. “I can act like it if you really want me to,” Michael eventually said. “But I don’t think you’d like the response, seeing as you two are baby birds in this analogy.”

“What do you mean?” Gregory asked, bewildered.

“I think what he’s getting at,” Jeremy said, amusement glinting in his eye, “is that mother birds regurgitate food into their chicks mouths.”

“Ewwwww,” Gregory gagged.

Evan snorted. “Mikey wouldn’t do that.”

“Wouldn’t I?” Michael raised an eyebrow. “I’ve certainly done worse.”

Evan froze at that. He seemed to be considering Michael’s point. “He totally would…” Evan sounded horrified.

“And with that terrible mental image, it seems that the spaghetti is done!” Henry said, putting a can of Coke in front of Jeremy before going to fetch everyone plates.

“I just need to strain the noodles, and we’re all set,” Michael said. “Could you grab the strainer please?”

Henry nodded and retrieved the strainer. Evan hummed to himself as he fiddled with the two feathers he’d won in the card game. Gregory said nothing, but Jeremy could tell it he was still bitter from his loss. Surely Michael wouldn’t be unwilling to give up feathers if they asked, Jeremy thought to himself. Maybe he’d be uncomfortable with the idea, but if Gregory said how much he really wanted them, Jeremy was sure Michael would give in eventually.

“It’s going to be hot.” Michael warned, carrying the pot of spaghetti to the table.

Henry quickly placed a potholder beneath it, and Michael went back to retrieve the sauce for the spaghetti. “Do you want to get cups out, Evan?”

Evan nodded and got up from his spot. “Gregory, you can get the plates.”

The whole group cycled around the kitchen like a little family, and Jeremy felt a little self-conscious about his place in everything, so he went and grabbed forks for everyone. It was the least he could do.

Michael dished out the food, putting just enough sauce on their spaghetti that they could avoid it if they wanted to. All of them were a little skeptical of the meal, but they all trusted that Michael knew what he was doing. Gregory and Evan both seemed startled by the taste, but Henry simply raised an eyebrow as he took a bite. Michael didn’t seem particularly concerned about their reaction, though.

He was too busy observing Jeremy when he tried it.

It was… spicier than he expected. Jeremy glanced at Michael, suddenly suspicious of him. Michael blinked at him, casually taking a bite of his own spaghetti. Jeremy glanced at him again before moving his plate to the saucepan full of spaghetti sauce and adding more to his plate.

Michael’s slow smile made Jeremy feel even more confident about his decision. Somehow, Michael had figured him out yet again, almost without effort. Jeremy stuck another forkful in his mouth and smiled back at him.

“Gregory, slow down. You’re going to make yourself sick,” Evan said.

“It’f, fine.” Gregory swallowed hard.

“Careful you don’t choke,” Henry said warningly.

Gregory set his fork down quietly, his eyes watering. He coughed a little bit, causing Michael to turn to him with concern. “Gregory? Are you alright?”

Gregory fanned himself, and Jeremy immediately figured out what was going on. “Too spicy for you? You barely had any!” He shook his head and poured Gregory a glass of milk. “Drink this. It’ll help.”

Gregory eagerly took the glass, draining it in less than a minute. “Mmmmm.”

The rest of the meal went in relative silence, with Evan and Henry occasionally teasing Gregory for eating too fast and being unable to handle spicy food. Michael seemed oblivious to the main conversation, smiling softly to himself.

Jeremy knew he was staring, but he figured it wouldn’t be the biggest deal. Plenty of people stared at their friends, right? At the way they twisted spaghetti noodles onto their forks and brought their forks to their mouths. At the way their eyes glowed with joy at making something new successfully.

Michael caught his eye, and the smile widened. Jeremy felt himself smiling back easily. He’d already finished his food, and Evan and Gregory had finished half the spaghetti by themselves. There wouldn’t be many leftovers anyway.

Henry was the first to move from the table. He collected plates from everyone to take to the sink. When Michael moved to help, Henry waved him off, insisting that since Michael made the meal, he shouldn’t have to clean it up, with a meaningful look toward Evan and Gregory. He stopped Jeremy when he tried to get up too, insisting that guests shouldn’t need to help.

“But I thought we were guests,” Gregory grumbled when Evan tapped his arm to help him get up.

“Jeremy, that bandage really does need to be changed before you go,” Henry said quietly, gathering the leftovers into different containers.

“I can help him with it,” Michael said.

“Michael, you’ve done enough today. Especially with how you were feeling this morning-“

“I can help,” Michael interjected stubbornly.

Jeremy raised a confused eyebrow at the way Michael’s wings and hair ruffled.

“You need rest,” Henry said in a tone that brokered no argument.

Still, Michael persisted, the feathers now completely refusing to lay flat. Jeremy wondered how this could possibly be something he’d need to be so defensive about. “Hey, maybe Henry’s right. You have done a lot today.”

Michael scowled at that, and he grabbed Jeremy’s arm and practically dragged him out of his chair.

“What- Hey!” Jeremy stumbled into Micheal, expecting him to apologize or something.

“There’s the old Mike,” Evan mumbled quietly.

Michael’s face was right in front of Jeremy’s as he spoke. “I know my limits.”

“Do you?” Gregory challenged. He didn’t seem frightened in the slightest, which was very different from the atmosphere surrounding Michael at that moment. “To me it seems like you keep going until you drop. Maybe you should just get rid of that chip on your shoulder and let someone else handle it for once!”

“Like you did?” Michael snapped, and at that, Gregory actually flinched. “Sometimes, you can’t trust that help will come, Gregory. You should know that better than anyone.”

Gregory’s grip on the plate in his hands tightened. “Yeah, well, I didn’t have a family who took care of me like you do! So just suck it up.” Jeremy heard tears behind those words, and Evan mumbled something gently to him and tried to get him to turn his back on Michael.

That seemed to break something in Michael’s resilience. His wings twitched, and he let go of Jeremy’s shirt. “Right. Sorry.” He sounded just as torn as Gregory. “I…”

Jeremy figured nothing would be helped by Michael sticking around in the kitchen, so he tentatively put a hand to Michael’s shoulder. “Hey, you can help with my bandage. Maybe just tell me how to put it on so I do it right tomorrow morning, yeah?”

“So you aren’t staying then?” Henry asked, looking worriedly between the four boys.

Michael’s ashen expression was not particularly reassuring. “No, I mean. If it’s okay for me to stay, I plan to. I just… Maybe it should be my responsibility to fix that?” Jeremy gestured at the scratch on his face. “Seems like all I’m doing here is making more messes anyway. Might as well try to clean one up myself, right?”

Henry frowned but he said nothing.

Jeremy leaned close to Michael’s ear. “Come on then.”

“I didn’t mean to… I hurt his feelings,” Michael mumbled as he mechanically peeled the rest of the bandage away from Jeremy’s face to wipe at the scratch with a wet cloth.

“Energy was running high. Maybe you are a bit more overwhelmed then you thought? Frayed nerves break way for anger sometimes. Or so I’ve heard.”

“I still shouldn’t have done that.” Michael couldn’t even look Jeremy in the eye. He was too distraught.

“Why did you get so defensive, if you don’t mind me asking? And I’m not just talking about Gregory. You were adamant about helping me with my bandage.”

“I just…” Michael hesitated. “I haven’t had a chance to see you in days, and I wanted to get every moment I could?”

“An afternoon together wasn’t enough?” Jeremy teased, even though he knew exactly how Michael was feeling. “Look, that’s okay, Mike. But you gotta take care of yourself too.”

“Yeah, but-“

“What do you want? I know you think you have to help everybody all the time, but you’ve gotta have desires too, right?”

“Maybe I don’t deserve to have my desires realized,” Michael replied. He still wasn’t looking at Jeremy. “Maybe I’m just a rotten person who doesn’t deserve joy or anything that doesn’t directly benefit anybody else.”

“Michael Afton.” Jeremy said, trying to sound stern. “You are a human being just like everyone else. We all make mistakes. And you sound like you’re trying to atone for yours. I don’t know about you, but someone who tries to learn from their mistakes sounds like someone who deserves to have what they want every now and again.”

Michael completely froze at that. When he met Jeremy’s eyes, he looked utterly shattered. “I…” He swallowed. “I can’t do this anymore.”

“That’s okay, Mike. No one is asking you to do everything-“

“No, you don’t understand.” His voice was hardly a whisper. “I’ve… That scolding… You’ve said that to me before.”

“I have?”

Michael nodded mutely. “It was right before…” His wings stretched their full length as Michael squeezed his eyes shut. “I can’t.”

“What can’t you do, Michael?” Jeremy asked softly.

A pained noise rumbled in Michael’s throat, and he dropped the cloth, yanking Jeremy forward by his shirt. Their mouths crashed together, and all Jeremy could think was finally. His own hands went behind Michael’s shoulders, and he gently guided the wings back into a folded position before stroking them gently.

He didn’t want to stop kissing Michael. It was freeing and exhilarating at the same time. Michael tasted like bubble gum and smelled like clean laundry. He was the weirdest man Jeremy had ever met, but maybe that was what made him so alluring. Or maybe it was something else. Something about all this just seemed so… right.

When Michael broke away, Jeremy tried to follow. Michael looked at him fondly and laughed. “I thought you said I needed to take care of myself.”

“I can’t be that addicting,” Jeremy said impulsively.

Michael snorted. “I need air, Jeremy. We were both going to pass out if we kept that up.”

“Can we do it again?” Jeremy didn’t care about air. He just wanted to be close to Michael, wanted to make him smile, wanted to make him laugh.

Michael laughed again, a brilliant sound, before Jeremy pressed their lips back together. It was completely perfect.

#cloud #fnaf #mild body horror #winged Gregory AU #first of all tumblr broke when i read thru this which was hilarious xD #AND YEAH I COUKDNT SLEEP WITHOUT READING IT AT LEAST ONCE #this honestly made my week go by so fast :v in a good way >> every time you sent the little pieces of it =w=#it’s so dang good ✨✨✨✨💖 there’s so much to love about it and hopefully tumblr let’s me go apeshit crazy in the tags pls pls pls #so first of all idk why but the moment you described the hairbrush having both Jeremy’s and mike’s hair mixed together it was ? idk why tha #just was so sweet like… idk man ? idk what that means it just feels deep and meaningful and I love it #uhhh Jeremy’s cocacola addiction xD and Gregory taking advantage of it gghghhh #Evan being good at games is also the best let him win always and forever please #the pasta also sounded so good =w= can’t even blame Gregory sometimes spice can’t stop you even when your body is screaming and on fire if #the food is too dang good >> may he rest in pieces 😔#ah dude now I see what you meant for that whole confrontation thing Michael really hurt him :c #he didn’t mean to imply that and he probably forgot about his situation but come onnnnn #he better go back and apologize or I’ll kick his ass personally >> I’ll kick it anyway how DARE you make your one and only son cry >:v #-w- he got his kiss but god at what cost #HGHGHGH #that’s fine it’s fine it’s fine it’s fine y’know what they’ll all have a sleep over they’ll get to talk and they will work thru this and ge #0 sleep because they’ll play more card games right after until 5 am … 6 am .#actually also loved that you hinted at Jeremy’s insecurities without having to explain too much about it the poor guy is having a hard time #specially in the 80’s hhh but it’s ok Jeremy you get cocacola and happy times 🥺 and awkward little kids interactions xD children are scary #Henry needs a break AGAHVSHS I JUST REALIZED WILLIAM JUST PROBABLY NOPED OUT OR DOESNT RVEN KNOW WHATS HAPPENING LMAOOOOO he’s too busy ig #doing his evil peepaw things and okay yeah fair just don’t be surprised when everyone in your fam is suddenly like supernatural #wing massage sounds kinda stressful I would be terrified to break a bone by accident then again?? how strong are these ones ?#maybe they’re not built like bird wings :0c well they are dangerous apparently >> which :> heck yeah 🫶#actually scratch what I said earlier they stay up all night because Michael can’t sleep with the wings twilight sparkle style 💀 no control #ughghgh still feeling sad for the little gremlin boy being hurt like that #oh woops reached the dang tag limit … take me to jail boys 😔 I loved this sm 💖

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ofstoriesandstardust · 6 months ago

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can't take the home out of oklahoma - i. (k.c.)

a/n: eeee! a fever dream later, i've finally cobbled together the first part of my top gun: maverick and twisters crossover fic! it's going to be lengthy so we are in for quite the ride! it's way heavier on twisters, so any non-top gun fans should have no problem reading this. future parts will deal with darker content that's only referenced right now, so that'll all be tagged and marked accordingly. for now, it's just my standard cup of angst. reblog and comments are always appreciated!!

summary: After a twisted stroke of luck, you leave behind your whole life in San Diego, California and find yourself in Oklahoma with Tyler Owens and his Tornado Wranglers.

warnings: swearing, weather inaccuracies, flashbacks, reference to past trauma, alcohol

word count: 5.7k

Your finger rubs gently over the crinkled piece of paper Jake had torn off for you, the phone number and the name Tyler Owens written in the neat penmanship the blonde prided himself on.

If you ever find yourself down South and need something, Jake had said, a bit out of breath as he’d run out of the house after you. If you need anything, call that number. They’ll help you.

The cursor blinks back up at you on the call pad, your cracked screen making a mockery of you. The chaos of the San Diego airport whirls around you, pressing in on you the longer you sit here.

You take a deep breath and press call.

His phone starts vibrating on the table and he frowns, eyebrows furrowing as the team, crowded around the table in the RV, goes quiet.

He answers, despite it being an unknown number. “Tyler Owens.”

“Hi. Uh,” A shaky breath comes from the other end of the receiver before introducing themselves to him. “Uh, Jake Seresin gave me your number. Told me to call if I needed anything.”

His gut drops at the name, a clench in his heart. “What can I do for ya?”

“Look, I’ve- I’ve had a rough week and I’m, I’m sort of finding my life upside down. And uh, I guess I’m just grasping at straws here. Jake said, he said you could help me.”

“That so? Well, I’m afraid you’re gonna have to be more specific. How can I help you? What can I do for you?”

“A- a purpose, maybe? I need a purpose, something to do. Um, I’m in San Diego right now but I need to get out of here.”

Tyler frowns, eyes flicking around at his team. They’re all curious as to what’s unfolding, and he scrubs at his forehead, knowing they’ll be upset with him for pulling the trigger on this without talking it through with them first.

But damn it, this girl sounded scared and Jake had sent her to him. Had told her he’d help her, and he would see to it that he did.

He wasn’t going to leave her behind.

“Tell you what, get yourself on a plane to Oklahoma. I’ll come get you. You can come work with me and my team.”

“You- your team?” Though she sounds hesitant, she almost sounds relieved at having some sort of direction now.

“Storm chasers. Ish. We’re doing some field research out here in Tornado Alley, but I’ve got a team, the Tornado Wranglers. And honestly, we need another set of hands out of here managing the backend of things.”

The word managing was the wrong choice as it immediately sends his team into protest. Boone stands up abruptly, Javi and Kate whispering protests to him, as Lilly starts making a face. He waves a hand, wanting them to be quiet.

The last thing he needed was for this girl to hear, to hang up, to not follow through.

“Okay.” You say, and he thinks he hears you stand up. “Okay, I’ll find the soonest flight out. Um, what kind of things do you need help with? My background- it’s not in science.”

“Don’t worry about it, I’m sure we could find something around here you can help with. Research grant editing or something.”

“I’ve actually got experience with that.” You say with a choked laugh, and Tyler can feel the relief bleed through the phone. He smiles a bit, pressure easing as he does.

“Then we’ll make sure we put you to work.” There’s a beat as he hears the intercom in the airport go off in the background. “Listen, text me when your flights supposed to land. I’ll make sure I’m there to get you. We’re out in the field right now, so it may be a bit of trek out here, but I’ll make sure you get here.”

You confirm and he hangs up and his team starts yelling before the phone is even back on the table.

“We don’t need another team member man-“

“A manager? What kind of business do you take this for?”

“Are you serious? Kate and I, we’ve got the grant stuff covered-“

“This really tells us how you feel about us, Owens.”

He glances at Kate, who’s looking at him with a guarded expression he hasn’t seen since he first met her. She doesn’t excuse herself, simply pushing her way out, climbing around the back of Javi and Boone.

It would be hard to miss Tyler, the way he’s signing an autograph, cowboy hat atop his head as he leans against the truck branded with the Tornado Wranglers logo.

You stop dead, a cold feeling washing over you at the eerie reminder of the person you’d just left behind.

This Tyler Owens might be Jake Seresin’s doppelgänger, and based on what you’d seen during the flight you were beginning to suspect the only difference between them is the way they chased the adrenaline high.

During the flight, you’d bought in-flight WiFi for the first time in your life, just to learn who these people were, who you’d be spending time with. Trying to understand what you’d gotten yourself into.

Tyler perks up at the sight of you, a smile growing on his face. He holds out his hand and you take it, noting the genuine smile. You shake his hand, swallowing around the burning desire to ask the question.

“Welcome to good ol’ Oklahoma.” He welcomes. “You ready to hit the road? The team is a bit of a ways out.”

You nod as Tyler grabs your small duffel bag, throwing it in the back of the truck before you can even ask.

You climb in the front, taking note of all the gadgets the truck is equipped with. “What’s all this?” You ask, as he turns the key, pulling away from the curb. “Storm chasing stuff?”

“You could say that. The trucks decked out with all kinds of stuff.”

The radio is soft in the background as Tyler talks to you about the team, about what you’ll be doing.

As Tyler talks, as you talk, as you both think of things for you to do, you begin to lose interest in the conversation as the Oklahoma skyline begins to paint itself into a deep orange.

“Can we stop?” You ask, voice full of wonder as you peer out windshield, watching the sky transform itself.

You feel Tyler look over at you, before turning on his blinker despite the lack of cars around. The truck rolls to a stop as you dig around, pulling the disposable camera you’d bought from the bottom of your backpack. Tyler hasn’t even parked before you’re slipping out of the truck, walking around the front to take a picture of the sunset.

“I haven’t seen a sunset like this since I was a kid.” You breathe, the camera clicking as you do.

“I hear California has pretty good sunsets.” Tyler says, sticking his hands in his pockets as he stands next to you.

You shrug. “They do, but if you’re in the inner city, a lot of times the good ones are hard to catch. They’re easier to see at the beach but the marine layer blocks a lot of the good ones.” You say, turning to Tyler. “At least in my opinion. We can get back on the road now.”

He nods, eyes steadily watching you as you turn on your heel, climbing back in the truck. Tyler’s a few beats behind you, still standing in the same spot as you buckle your seatbelt.

The rest of the drive is quiet, the flow of quiet country music coming through the radio as the Oklahoma skies turns from dusk to night.

By the time you roll up to camp, it’s clear that Tyler’s team has gone to bed, save for one.

An older man perks up at the sight of you, climbing to his feet from his chair. “Ah, Tyler. Was just about to call and see where you were. This our new teammate?”

Tyler nods, introducing you to this man. You step forward taking his outstretched hand.

“Dexter.” He says, a smile on his face. “You must’ve had a long day. We’ve got some leftovers, can I get you anything? We’ve also got our extra tent set up, it’s where you’ll be sleeping.”

You glance at Tyler, although you’re not sure for what. Reassurance maybe. “I’d love some food. And a water maybe? I don’t have a water bottle with me anymore.”

It’s almost a natural instinct to wince at the thought of the loss of your emotional support water bottle that was probably laying in some crevice in the wreckage in Texas.

Dexter sets to work as Tyler settles himself in front of the fire, a beer in hand. “We’re meant to head to town tomorrow anyways. We’ll stop, get you stuff to help out with the team. Maybe some new camping gear and whatever.” He takes a sip of his beer, cringing as he does. “Just realizing you’ll probably have to sleep on the dirt; I don’t think we’ve got any extra protectors after we visited the last wreckage. We should probably get more stuff tomorrow anyway.”

“It’s no worries.” You say with a wave of your hand. “I was a Girl Scout for like, eight years, so it’s not a big deal. Won’t phase me.”

A head pops out from a tent nearby. Tyler perks up at the sight of him, as the man sticks his hands in the pockets of the zip-up he’s wearing. “You want a jacket?”

You glance down, realizing you’re shivering. “Uh, yeah, that’d be nice.”

He gives you a cautious smile before looking to Tyler. “Hey Ty, man, I’ve got an extra pullover in the back of the van, can you grab it?”

Tyler nods as the man reaches a hand out. “I’m Javi.”

You shake it, introducing yourself.

“You from around here? You don’t sound it.”

You shake your head. “San Diego, actually.”

Tyler comes back the same time Dexter comes back with your food and Dexter waits patiently as you scramble, pulling the soft material over your head.

It smells strongly of rain in a way you can’t explain. In a way, the smell brings you a sliver of comfort.

You take the food from Dexter as you do, thanking him.

“Dexter, this is incredible.” You say around the bite.

“It’s an old family recipe from down in the bayou. I’ve tweaked it so we can make it out here on the road, but it’s a crowd pleaser when I do.”

“You from New Orleans?” You ask and he nods. “My boyf- my ex boyfriend now I guess-“ You say, taking another bite in hopes to hide the awkward way you swallow around those words. “He’s from out there too.”

Dexter sighs. “I miss that place, I do. But it wasn’t easy to stay after Katrina. I lost my whole family.”

Your heart pangs, at his words, and it aches, at the thought of the person you’d left behind.

“I’m very sorry to hear that.” You say softly.

Javi clears his throat. “You need anything else?” You shake your head and he stands up again. “I really oughta get to sleep, but we’ll chat more tomorrow, yeah?”

You nod and Javi gives you another cautious smile. In your heart, you want to believe there’s maybe a little hope hidden in it too.

Dexter also bids you and Tyler goodnight, and the two of you sit there, the crackling fire filling the silence as you eat.

“Thank you Tyler.” You say softly, staring at the burning embers after you’ve finished eating.

You know you should explain to him how it all happened, how you got here, but Tyler doesn’t ask and you can’t forget the vision in your head of Steven’s cold eyes, unseeing.

“You’re giving me a second chance here, and I really do appreciate it.” You settle on instead.

He nods. “Whatever I can do to help.”

You excuse yourself, bidding the man goodnight, only to find yourself tossing and turning on the hard ground.

You thought sleep would come to you easier, with how emotional the last week has been, but everytime you close your eyes and a breeze rolls through, it all comes flooding back, the haze of freezing rain, of a rusty storm grate, a heavy body, and so much blood-

The sound of a door shutting (from the RV if you had to guess,) causes you to open your eyes, sitting up on the makeshift bed.

“I don’t want her here Tyler.” A female voice says, and you frown.

There’s a beat.

“Too bad Sapulpa, she’s staying.” Tyler responds.

“Stay here and do what?” The girl asks incredulously. “We don’t need her help. And I didn’t know you’re suddenly in the business of helping out random strangers who call you in the middle of the day-“

“This is our whole business, Kate.” He says firmly. “We help people. Strangers. That’s what we’re here to do, remember?”

“And how are you helping her?”

Tyler’s quiet for a minute again. “We’re giving her a second chance.”

“A second chance? Are you serious?” The girl, Kate, huffs.

“It wasn’t that long ago it was you who needed a second chance. We gave that to you, remember?”

Another zipper being yanked cuts off Kate’s response.

“Yo!” It’s Javi. “Can y’all argue about this tomorrow?”

You don’t hear the sound of Kate’s footsteps but you hear the slam of the RV door loud and clear.

Tyler goes through the motions, getting the camp cleaned up, before putting the fire out. And then you hear him slip into the RV and for the first time in days, in the quiet of the Oklahoma night, it feels like you can breathe.

You awake with a gasp, clawing at the blankets as if it was Jake’s flannel, holding on for dear life through the storm.

You swallow back the bile threatening to spill over and blindly climb from the nest of blankets, pulling the zipper down, and stumbling into the sun.

You swallow as someone’s head turns. It’s a girl, sat at the table the crew has set up outside. You pull yourself from the tent, unable to shake your nerves as you take in the soft baby pink hues above her in the sky.

You introduce yourself softly and she gives you a tight smile in between bites of yogurt. “Kate.”

Your heart clenches, realizing this must be the girl you’d heard last night.

It’s an awkward silence the two of you sit in, the baby pink fading from the sky as Tyler pulls himself from the RV. When she sees Tyler, she quietly excuses herself and brushes past him, floating back into the RV.

“You oughta get that screen fixed.” Tyler comments, sitting down next to you.

“Haven’t had time.” You say with a shrug as you glance at the screen on your phone. It was more shattered than it was cracked, a hazard really, but what could you do?

“I’ll take you to a place in town today that’ll replace it for cheap.” Tyler says around a bite. “Can I get you anything to eat?”

Tyler’s team appears over the next hour, and he introduces them as they do. Dexter appears from the RV first and then Dani and Lilly from the back of the van. Boone gets dragged out from the van by Lilly twenty minutes later, and Boone pulls Javi from his tent because “if I have to be awake so do you Miami.”

Kate doesn’t leave the RV for the rest of the morning.

“They don’t like me.” You say quietly, drumming your fingers on the car door as Tyler drives to the motel that evening.

“They barely know you-“

“Cut the shit Tyler, I heard Kate last night.” You say sharply, sending him a cold glare. “They don’t want me here.” You roll out your shoulders, looking back out the window. “If you want me to go back, it’s okay.”

“And send you back to god knows what?”

“I’d be fine.”

“Kid, you sounded so damn terrified on that phone — I’m not inclined to turn around and give you back to that fear.”

You swallow around a sigh, feeling Tyler watch you as he drives.

“Give me a week. Give me a week to make it work. And if you still feel like you need to go back, hell, I’ll pay for your flight.”

You look at Tyler, noting the serious look in his eyes.

“Okay. One week.”

The next week feels simultaneously long and short in the worst ways.

Short, in that it feels like your time is running out.

Long, in that there are no storms to chase, dissipating before the team ever has a chance.

Long, in that you sit around most days, doing your own research on grants and sponsors and the backgrounds of potential investors and articles on social media growth.

Long, in that you don’t really talk to any of them, except for the one time you look over at Javi’s computer, just to tell him that his sentence didn’t make any sense.

Long in that, Kate refuses to be anywhere near you and Boone ignores you and Lilly shuts you out of conversation and Javi sort of looks at you like you’re some sort of alien placed down next to them.

It’s only on the sixth day, when you’re collecting everything you’ve worked on all week to give to Tyler in the morning before he takes you back, that something happens.

The storm is too far away for them to chase it, to get any research done, but Tyler and Lilly agree that the team should head in, to be there to help out and hand out food in the aftermath.

Because, apparently, that’s what this team is known for.

You feel awkward here, watching the team spring into action. You feel out of place, not knowing what you were supposed to say or do as these people dug through the rubble of their lives.

You were supposed to help people. Tyler had said you could help people here.

The team is distracted just enough, that it’s you who catches it, not them.

The sounds of a cry, somebody softly shushing them. You round a corner, heart breaking at the sight.

There, a small little boy, maybe around the age of 8, is holding who seems to be his little sister as she cries.

The poor girl can’t be any older than 3 or 4.

“I want Mom.” She blubbers out and the boy shushes her.

“I know, sissy, we just gotta-“ The boy looks around helplessly.

“Hey.” You call out, stepping around the rubble. “Hey, do you need help?”

The boy nods. “Mom said not to move but-“

You hold your hands out. “Stay where you are, okay? I’ll come get you and your sister alright?”

The boy nods, clinging to his sister’s hand. You make your way through the rubble, kicking things out of the way to make a path back before finally reaching the two kids. You kneel down best as you can, leveling yourself to them as you introduce yourself.

“I’m here to help. Can you tell me your name?”

“I’m Jack.” The boy says. “This is Bella. She’s bleeding and I can’t find my Mom-“

“Hey, hey.” You soothe. “We’ll get you guys some help and get you out of here, okay? We’ll find your Mom.” You look at Bella. “Bella? Are you okay if I carry you? I’m going to help you find someone to patch that cut up, okay?” Bella nods and Jack lets her go as you scoop her up. You hold out your hand for Jack as the two of you navigate your way out.

As you weave your way through people, you ask Jack soft questions about himself, where he goes to school, if he likes dinosaurs or trucks, distracting him as he talks to you. Once you get the two kids to the EMTs, you duck around the side, in search of someone from your team.

“Kate.” You call, as she’s sifting through rubble, calling for a dog. She glances over at you. “Hey, I’ve got two little kids here who can’t find their Mom. I’m gonna stay with them but can you let the team know? Just in case anyone sees her.”

The face Kate makes is difficult to read as she nods. You sigh, making your way back around the truck.

Bella’s all patched up and Jack is studying the logo on your shirt, lighting up when he recognizes it.

“Mom lets me watch their YouTube channel sometimes!”

You scoop Bella back up in your arms, holding a hand out for Jack to jump down as you do.

“Oh well then I’m guessing you don’t want to come see the tornado-proof truck?”

It’s late in the day when Bella and Jack’s Mom comes running down the street, hysterical. Tyler and Kate aren’t far behind her.

Her arm is in a sling and there’s a few bumps and bruises on her, but otherwise she’s fine. Both of the kids light up at the sight of their Mom, and she’s tearful, thanking you over and over for helping them, for watching over her babies.

You wave her off, citing babysitting as just another thing you’re used to, a big family and all that.

It’s as they’re walking away, Dexter asking if you want any food, Jack shouts out.

They turn back, Bella running back to you with the stuffed animal she’d been holding in hand. You kneel down as she holds it out for you to take, heart aching as you look at the stuffed pig.

Bella had seen it atop your stuff when you’d taken them in the RV and had been holding it ever since.

It was one of the few things you had of your life left behind but you know when it’s time to let something go.

“You keep it okay?” You say softly. “You take care of yourself little Bella?” She wraps her arms around your neck, the stuffie clutched between her little fingers. You return the hug, exhaling as you do. Bella lets you go, returning to her Mom and her brother and you stand back up, wiping at your eyes with the back of your hand.

“Do you want some food? You’ve been with those kids all day.” Dani says softly, holding the box.

“How’d you find Mom?” You ask quietly, crossing your arms.

Tyler sighs. “Was sitting with her the whole afternoon when Kate came down the street, hearing her talk about her missing kids. Kate connected the dots.”

Your arms wrap around yourself tighter. “Kate, I told you I was with those kids. I told you to tell the team in case anybody found Mom.”

Kate opens her mouth but no words come out as Lilly’s eyes slide between the two of you.

“Here.” Lilly says gently as she holds the box out, taking it from Dani. “You should eat. Been a long day.”

“I’m not hungry.” You say. “I’m gonna get in the truck, let me know when we’re leaving.”

You sling your backpack over your shoulder, the truck door shutting behind you as you walk up the motel steps.

The backpack, downsized from your duffel bag as Tyler had gone through the Oklahoma necessities with you, which was hardly anything you owned, feels heavy as you do.

“Hey.” Kate’s voice calls out. “That was a really nice thing you did for that little girl.”

Tears sting at your eyes as you push the key into the lock, pressing against the door with your body weight to get the door to unstick.

You think Tyler says something as you shut the door but under the hot water of the shower rushing down you, you can’t hear anything else.

You clear your throat, announcing your presence as you do. Tyler and Kate pause in their conversation as they look over to you.

You set the folder down in front of Tyler, Javi’s pullover in front of Kate.

“Just wanted to give these to you. Tyler, do you want me to just wait in the truck?”

Tyler peeks at the folder as Kate asks “Wait for what?”

“What is all of this?” Tyler asks, flipping through the pages.

“Research on potential investors and their backgrounds. Just so you guys don’t get into another StormPar situation. There’s some stuff about grants, donors in there. Other stuff I tracked down about how you could grow your social media, ideas I had. There might be a couple of pages about laws on people donating, not sure. It’s everything I’ve done this week. Y’all don’t have to use it but I just thought it might be helpful as lead points.”

“This is- this is really great stuff.” Tyler remarks. “It’s gonna be a real loss to not have your brain on our team.”

“Wait - are you leaving?” Kate asks, eyes flying between you and Tyler.

“I’ll meet you at the truck.” You say, turning to leave. You think you hear Kate repeat the question to Tyler, but you shut the door to the RV before you can hear their conversation further. Across the parking lot, Javi calls out, but you wave him off as you climb into the passenger seat of Tyler’s truck.

Your heart feels heavy as you look at your own Javy’s contact.

It would be so easy to pick up the phone, to tell him you made a mistake, to beg him to let you come home.

He would too, and he would pick you up from the airport, and he’d wash the Oklahoma from your skin, and he’d hold you through the loss.

But then you remember Jake’s defeated look as the two of you had assessed the damage, the way he’d asked you to lie.

You remember the blood-

A startled gasp leaves you as someone knocks on the window.

It’s Kate.

You roll down the window.

“You’re leaving?”

You eye her, unsure why she appears to be almost nervous, fingernails digging into the soft flesh of her arms.

“Yeah?”

“Why?”

You shrug, surveying the team in the parking lot. “It just didn’t work out. I didn’t fit here.”

“But-“ She worries her bottom lip. “Where will you go?”

“I’ll figure it out.” You say simply.

You’d have to because you knew the alternative would be devastating to everyone you’d ever known.

She sighs, eyes flickering to Tyler, who’s moving closer. “Well, we’re headed to my Mom’s tonight. You should stay one more night. You’ve never even had real Oklahoma barbecue.”

A dry laugh escapes you without your permission. “Kate, what are you playing at here?”

She seems shocked, not expecting your question. “What do you mean?”

You roll your eyes, huffing. “Kate, c’mon, you told Tyler you didn’t want me here.”

Her face drops as her arms fall by her sides. “You heard that?” She says quietly.

“Yeah.”

She licks her lips. “Look, I ain’t good with new people. I’m- It’s a me thing.” She looks down, scuffing her boot on the ground. “It’s my problem and I misjudged you. I’m sorry. Give me another night to show you how it could be.”

“Why the hell would I stay to see how it could be when I know at this moment I’m not wanted here?”

“I do.” She says softly. “Want you here. I was wrong and I’m sorry.”

You let out breath through your nose, meeting Tyler’s eyes through the windshield.

You think of Dexter’s food, Javi’s pullover, Dani and Lilly’s gentle insistence you feed yourself last night.

You think of the Louisiana area code sitting open on your phone right now.

“One night, Kate.”

“I sure am sorry you’ll have to sleep on the floor. I just wasn’t expecting an extra person from the crew but we can make sure you have somewhere to sleep tomorrow night-“

You cut her off, holding your hands out for the dishes from dinner. “That’s very kind of you Ms. Cooper, but I’m just fine sleeping on the floor.”

“Please, I keep telling you to just call me Cathy and, well, you could stay in Kate’s bed?” Cathy offers as you take the plates from her.

“Think you’d find my throat slit tomorrow.” You mutter and Tyler barks out a laugh.

“You deserved that one Kate.”

Cathy turns to her daughter, a look on her face. “What did you do?”

Kate pulls a face, holding her hands out. “What- Nothing, Mom!”

Cathy hums, eyebrows furrowing but you cut them off. “The floor is just fine, Ms. Cooper. Um, do you mind pointing me in the direction of the bathroom so I could change?”

“Do Tyler and Kate have a thing?” You ask, taking a sip of the hot chocolate Lilly had made as Javi chuckles next to you.

You’re watching the group fight over Uno, you and Javi sat in front of a puzzle.

“They did at one point. When they first met, but they burned out pretty fast. Figured out they were better off as friends.” You hum and Javi’s grin grows. “Why, you thinking you want to start something up with Owens?”

You blanch and shake your head. “No, I think I’ve more than had my fill on macho thrill seekers for this lifetime.”

Javi lets out a laugh, a real one, for the first time all week. You smile, thinking of how Tyler would fit in with those pilots like he’d always belonged there.

You were all set on those types.

Kate though…

If Kate hadn’t been so cold to you, Kate would’ve been the type of girl you could see yourself falling for.

Witty, bright, a soft smile always worn on her face. She’s at ease here and it makes your heart hurt to see. You want to someday be as at ease as she looks, wedged in between Boone and Dexter, the brightest smile you’ve seen from her on her face.

“So how the hell does a city girl like you find herself in Oklahoma?”

You slide a puzzle piece into place. “I don’t, I don’t really want to talk about it, if that’s okay.”

Javi sighs, quiet for a minute. “Look, I’m sorry we were so off-putting when you first got here. We’re a tight knit group and we’ve been through a lot together. And-“

“Javi.” You cut him off with a tight smile. “You don’t have to explain. I get it, okay? You guys aren't the first group to not want me around and you won’t be the last, alright?”

He heaves a breath, an unreadable look on his face. “Just- if anyone might understand the things you’re running from, it would be us.”

“Who says I’m running?”

Javi raises an eyebrow and you sigh, setting the pieces you’re sorting through down.

“Look, I’m not running. I’m just- I’m just trying to leave something behind.”

Javi studies you for a few minutes as you set back to work on the puzzle.

“Shame you and Kate can’t get along. You two are more alike than you think.”

You awake with a start, fingers clenching in unfamiliar fabric.

“Are you okay?” Someone asks softly and you blink, Kate coming into focus.

Right, you had- you had slept next to her last night after she’d worn you down. You couldn’t deny how nice it had sounded to sleep in a real bed.

“Fine.” You breathe, willing yourself to forget the shouts of a friend left behind.

She frowns as she pulls her pants on. “I’m, uh, sorry for waking you up. Gotta help Mom with the cows.”

You wave a hand, pulling yourself to sit up in the bed. “Want a hand?”

“Mom would kill me if I let a guest help. Why don’t you get some more sleep, okay?”

You lay back down as she quietly ducks out of the room, but you know sleep won’t come.

You’re restless so you pull yourself from the bed, padding down the staircase and sitting in one of the chairs on the porch. Tyler appears a minute later, an extra coffee mug in hand. You take it from him with a quiet thank you before the two of you start to watch Kate.

“So California, are we gonna talk about it?” Tyler asks.

You sigh as Tyler kicks his feet out. “Well, you’re gonna ask me questions I don’t want to answer and I’m gonna ask you ones you don’t want to answer, so unless you want to start copping to some things…”

Tyler shakes his head. “Won’t talk about it then, California.”

You eye him. “I’d prefer it if you didn’t call me that. Sort of hard to leave that life behind when you keep calling me that.”

“You gonna stay?” Tyler asks, looking over at you.

You shrug, finger running over the rim of the mug. “I don’t know that I should.”

“I know it’s been a rough start with them.” Tyler sighs, shoulders hiked up. “But they’re good people.”

“I don’t doubt that.”

“You’re good people too.”

“Doesn’t make me a good fit here.”

Tyler sighs. “It’s my fault, I should’ve approached it a different way. But if you leave, we’d really be missing out. You’ve got those fancy degrees and you’re smart and you’re one fucking selfless girl. We could use someone like you around.”

Kate and her Mom appear, Kate’s bright smile appearing as she pulls herself onto the railing of the porch.

“You guys hungry? I’m gonna go get started on breakfast.”

“Starved.”

“Wanna come see the barn?” Kate asks you as her Mom opens the screen door.

“Now hang on, California ain’t said if she’s staying. No reason to show her the barn if she’s gonna be leaving.”

You sigh, look down at the mug you can feel going cold. You rub your thumb over the Oklahoma written into the side as you think of Kate’s smile, of Tyler’s kindness, of Dexter’s food, of Javi’s pullover that had somehow ended back up in your bag after giving it back to Tyler and Kate yesterday.

You blink, looking back up at them. “Okay. Yeah, okay, I’ll stay."

ii.

#twisters #kate cooper #kate cooper x reader #kate cooper x female reader #top gun: maverick #twisters fic #can’t take the home out of oklahoma

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shadowshuman · 1 month ago

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His new home. (SONIC 3 SPOILERS AHEAD)

“Wait where are you going to stay?” You wondered to Shadow as everyone began to leave the restaurant together, Maddie heard you ask Shadow the question and happily answered. “He can stay with us if he wants to.” Making Shadow look at Maddie in surprise but he nodded either way, but he couldn’t help wonder where you lived. “Where do you stay?” He asked turning back to you while the others talked amongst themselves. “Uh, kinda with my parents… I wanna move out someday, I mean I know I have to but they’re just not the most encouraging people in the world.” You replied feeling a bit embarrassed. “Maybe… maybe I could help you save up money and if you’ll have me we could get a place together?” Shadow suggested, he knew bits and pieces about your experiences with your family and it wasn’t great. “Really? I’d love that…” You replied softly smiling at the black and red mobian as Tom opened his car up for everyone to get inside of, which Maddie instantly took as her chance to tease him over still being recovering so he couldn’t drive. “Can… can you stay with me tonight? It’s okay if you don’t want to, I just… ever since I woke up you’re all I have known,” Shadow asked getting a bit embarrassed himself. “Of course, if the Wachowski’s will let me…” You say a bit louder hoping they’ll all hear you. “Oh yeah! Of course you can stay over for the night, you did help us a lot after all,” Tom replied as you all got buckled in and Maddie drove you to your house first to pick up some stuff and then back to their house.

Once everyone got back home Sonic quickly suggested a movie night with the leftovers he took with him from the restaurant but Shadow didn’t want to join, he just wanted to rest, not sleep though… he always found it difficult to let himself fall asleep. You both walked up the stairs, after saying good night to the Wachowski’s with your bag in hand as Tom told you where the guest bedroom was. Opening the door and switching the light on, shadow couldn’t help but let his hand hold onto a part of your coat sneakily so you weren’t aware. “Alright, looks pretty good right Shadow?” You asked him, turning around making him drop his hand and look down. “Yeah, it’s okay.” He replied as you smiled at him and walked further into shadow’s new room. “I’ll go get ready for bed, I also brought you a brand new toothbrush… you’re gonna need it once you start eating our food here,” You said as you sat your bag on his bed and got your bathroom supplies out. You pulled out two toothbrushes, toothpaste, and mouthwash along with some skincare products and cute headbands with bows on them and Shadow followed you to the bathroom. He could feel his eyes begging him to just go to sleep, but he didn’t want to. He watched you as you put the headband on yourself, then tried to put one on him which he let you with a small laugh and huff as he looked at himself in the bathroom mirror, he saw how ridiculous he looked.

After brushing your teeth together and washing your faces as well as moisturising them all you had left to do was to change into your pjyamas. Putting the bathroom supplies away apart from Shadow’s toothbrush you pulled out an overiszed hoodie and some shorts to wear underneath. “I gotta go back to the bathroom to change alright?” You asked shadow which startled him wide awake from his eyes dropping. “N-No! Wait! I… I can turn around okay? Don’t leave me in here in my own…” He said anxiously knowing he would fall asleep then if you left him in the room. “Hey… I’m not going anywhere if you don’t want me to…” You tried to say soothingly as you dropped your clothes on the bed and held shadow’s face in your hands, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked down. “I don’t wanna sleep… and if you leave me here on my own I know I will,” He admitted. “We’ll do what you suggested then yeah? Hopefully one day, sleep won’t scare you so much,” You replied softly to him, as you let go of his face. Shadow quickly turned around so he was facing the corner of a room while you smiled at him and began changing your clothes. Shadow stayed in that position with his eyes taking in the grey wallpaper, black carpet beneath his shoes. “I’m doneee,” You said making Shadow slowly turn around, he thought you looked pretty cute. “Nice outfit,” He complimented as you giggled at him. “Why thank you Shad… come on,” You replied as you motioned towards the bed, turning the lights off as your backs hit the mattress, Shadow instantly moved closer till he was leaning with his head on your shoulder. “Is it because of how you were asleep for 50 years that makes you scared to sleep?” You wondered, back when he first arrived you assumed he didn’t like sleeping because he was restless to get his revenge, but he obviously still has it even when he doesn’t want revenge anymore. “Kind of… it’s that and well last time I went to sleep I lost Maria so I just associate them together.” Shadow replied sighing in frustration. “I think it just might take you some time to realise sleeping is never that long and nothing bad has to happen to make you sleep,” You replied as your hand reached up to stroke his back, making him subconsciously nuzzle into your shoulder as his eyes kept fluttering open and close. After a few moments of silence you started to hum a song quietly as you continued to stroke his back gently. “Well it’s alright… doing the best you can… well it’s alright… as long as you lend a hand…” Shadow had no clue how you knew that song, but he let a few tears fall as he felt himself slowly drift off to your voice, memories with Maria, the memories of you comforting him despite everything. He had a favourite one, that he couldn’t stop replaying.

#shadow the hedgehog #shadow the hedgehog x reader #shadow the ultimate lifeform

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tinkerbelle05 · 1 year ago

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I’m Just Worried About You

Characters: Jaime Reyes x Pregnant!reader

Genre: Fluff, Slight Angsty

Summary: Jaime being a worrywart while your in your 3rd trimester. Most days you think it’s cute and quite funny, but now your fed up.

Warnings: Pregnancy

“Oh, I got that for you!” Jaime said and reached above to grab the bowl you were trying to reach. “What cereal do you want?” He asked while looking at you.

You smiled, “Thank you for the bowl, Jaime. But I was gonna get some fruit actually.”

Before you could grab the bowl from Jaime, he walked over to fruit bowl. “What fruit do you want?”

You stared at him, “Jaime, I believe I’m fully capable of picking my own fruit from a bowl.”

Jaime cleared his throat, “Well yea but I wanna help you out, I don’t want you on your feet too much. Just tell me what fruit you want and you can rest on the couch.”

You sighed, this is what Jaime have been like your whole pregnancy, a curse and a blessing. Don’t get you wrong, you extremely appreciated Jaime’s willingness to help you out. Especially when you were dealing with morning sickness, fatigue, and headaches.

But did he have to do everything for you? At all times? It was like he saw you as a piece of glass, one fall and you’d shatter into several broken pieces beyond repair.

But, as annoying his overprotectiveness is, you understood it. You two were first time parents so everything was new, exciting, and downright terrifying.

Neither of you knew what anything meant. If you were tired in the mornings, was that a sign of something serious? If you were back began to ache or if you had a sore feet, that just a pregnancy symptom or something more.

And if you went to google, they’ll tell you the absolute worst of what you could have.

So you understood. Really, you did.

That being said though, you really didn’t need help when walking to the bathroom or getting a snack at night. Which was something Jaime frequently did, holding your arm and back as he guided you to your destination.

You sighed and gave him a stare, “Jaime.”

He looked up at you, “Yes?”

“I think I can manage getting on my own fruit,” you told him and attempted to grab the bowl from him.

His lips twitched in an all too familiar manner. He’s annoyed but he knew you was right so he so he didn’t how to proceed with it.

“Just let me do it,” he pleaded.

You narrowed your eyes are him, “Why?”

You watched as he fidgeted under your gaze. He was clearly hiding something but won’t tell you. Maybe it was embarrassing to talk about or he just didn’t understood his feelings to be able to voice them properly.

Either way, if this is how he’s gonna for the rest of your pregnancy, you at least would like to know why. And maybe you could work from there to get him back off a bit.

You walked closer to him and placed your hand on his arm for support, “Jaime?”

He looked up the ceiling for a second and exhaled through his nose. “I’m….I’m just worried about you, okay? I just…i don't want anything bad to happen so I thought that if I do things for you that would, I don't know, lower the risk maybe?” He covered his eyes with his hands, “I don't know it sounds stupid when I say it out loud.”

You shook your head, “No, no Jaime, it’s not stupid. Just…well…”

“Annoying?” he offered and cracked a smile.

You laughed softly as you nodded your head, “Yea, you can call it that. But I get it, yea? It’s scary and new. But I can do things on my own. It might take a bit longer and be a bit more difficult but I can do it.”

Jaime nodded his head and leaned into your touch, “I understand, I’ll try to be less overbearing. But please, if you do need help, ask. Okay?”

You nodded your head and smiled.

It was nice to come to an understanding.

Tags: @scryarchives, @asvterias, @renaimel, @allthingsvicf, @666kpopfan, @wintersdeadd, @dcnerd98, @alexa-33, @losingmywayyyy, @bluecray0nn, @sodacatz, @louiesdaydream, @nightwingandhissquad, @shslsimpette, @herrescasper, @fhhahaha12, @starii-light, @niluuuuu, @itsyagrillkat, @conicoroahre, @fullsiinner, @zerosinterweb, @marmar-c, @xiaryye

Taglist & Masterlist & Anonlist & Request Info

#blue beetle x reader #blue beetle fic #blue beetle fanfiction #blue beetle fanfic #blue beetle x you #blue beetle x y/n #blue beetle imagine #blue beetle imagines #jaime reyes fanfic #jaime reyes fic #jaime reyes fanfiction #jaime reyes #jaime reyes x reader #jaime reyes x you #jaime reyes x y/n

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thepromptswhisperer · 1 year ago

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Reunion Prompts

“I’m—“, you start, and they shake their head and walk away, “… sorry.”

Panic and (try to) hide behind something/someone.

“I’m afraid I’ll wake up and realize this was just a dream.”

“I missed you.”

Long hug that expresses everything you can’t say out loud.

“Are you a hologram? A ghost maybe?”

“Please don’t leave me again.”

Barricade yourself in the bathroom/etc.

“I don’t want to see you.”

You can’t tear your eyes away from them.

“I’m happier now.”

“Didn’t expect to see you again.”

Withdraw your hand/etc. quickly after a(n accidental) touch.

“I told you I’d find my way back to you.” / “I promised you I would come back.”

“Don’t act like nothing happened.”

Make your peace and then say goodbye forever.

“Could we pretend that nothing ever happened/we never separated/etc.? Just for tonight?”

“Of course this is when/how I see you again.”

“You look…”

“I’m only doing this/here for B.”

Count down the minutes/etc. until you’re home/etc. and can finally let out all your emotions.

“Good to see you again.”

“You have no right to get jealous! Not after all this time. Not after you left me/etc.”

“Look what the cat dragged in.”

Having dreamt of this opportunity, you know exactly what you want to tell them. (Or, well, you knew.)

“I feel like we/I traveled through time. Any second now, a time portal will open, suck us/me in and spit us/me out into reality.”

“You’re seeing A too, right? This is not just…?”

“I’ve missed your hugs/smell/sarcasm/etc.”

Pretend to not care about them being here. Yet, it is all you can think about and focus on.

“Don’t think I forgot that you still owe me that dinner/etc. you promised me three years ago/etc.”

“We can’t go back to how we were.”

Don’t feel anything upon seeing them again.

“Why did you come?”

Afraid to your close eyes. Afraid that they’ll slip away in that very second and leave your life forever.

You are rooted to the spot.

“Leave (me alone).”

“I thought about you a lot.”

“Do you ever think about what could have been?”

Notice that they are still wearing a piece of jewelry/etc. you gifted them back then.

“You hurt me.”

“If I would have wanted to see them/you again, I would have found a way.”

“Why did you do that? (Why did you break up with me?)”

“Did you really mean what you said back then?”

“Someone pinch me. I think I’m dreaming.”

Hear them say your name again after all this time.

“I’m sorry. I know you said you didn’t want to see them/me again, but…”

Pretend to be happy about where you are in life.

“I don’t even recognize you anymore.”

“I’m sorry. (I was an idiot back then for letting you go.)”

The reunion doesn’t go as you thought/hoped it would.

“I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

Leaves/Slams door shut upon seeing you.

“I want to believe so badly that I can trust you. But I can’t. Not after…”

“Oh my god. I had forgotten about that.”

They have replaced you, and all you can do is watch.

“Did you know they/I were/was going to be here?”

“It’s too late. You’re too late.”

Search for similarities to the person you once knew.

“Did your voice always sound like that?”

Edge your way closer to them without realizing.

“You chose this. You wanted this.”

“I’m still in love with you.”

#writing prompts #writing inspiration #reunion prompts #angst prompts #fluffy prompts #dialogue prompts #writing ideas #prompt list

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yourlocalmerchgirl · 8 months ago

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Congrats on 100 followers 🥳 Could i please request Rafael Barba with enemies to lovers/smut? Maybe reader is a detective and they’re constantly butting heads over cases and they’re forced to work together on his office on a case to sort it out and things progress from there 😏

Anon! Thank you so much for this task! It was so nice to write someone thing for Barba again 🫶 I’m so sorry that it took me awhile to get this to you! I started one but didn’t like how it was coming out so I started over and came up with this. It’s a little different than you asked for it’s more lovers-enemies-lovers with smut and a healthy does of everyone’s favorite bestie Carisi! I really hope your enjoying it. If not I can try to write something else for you!

Warning: MDNI 18+ NSFW

Fighting, mentions of alcohol. Undefined age gap. Mentions of therapy. Reconnecting. Strong language. Unprotected P in v. Pet names

You were getting ready to go out, so excited to see your old friends. One of your best friends bands was touring and they were playing in the city tonight. You hadn’t seen any of them since the last time they came through and they called to ask if you’d come out and run their merch table for the night. Rafael wasn’t super happy about you going. With the types of cases he dealt with every day he always worried about you when you went out without him. You didn’t go out often like this unless you had friends coming through to visit.

“What’s the plan again?” he said for piece of mind.

“I’m walking to the venue now while it’s light out to meet up with everyone for a pre show dinner. Then Carisi is going to pick me up after since it’s right near the station and bring me home. If he doesn’t the band will bring me home or I’ll just walk to the station”

“You know I can come pick you up?”

“I know, I asked Carisi because I know you’ve been working so late and are stressed with work, so I’m just trying to let you rest”

“I’m not going to get any rest worrying about you”

“Rafa, I’m going to be fine. This isn’t my first time on earth” you giggled

“I’ve gotta get going to dinner, I love you!” You said as you stopped to give him a big hug and a kiss.

—————-time lapse————

The show had just started and you were all set up at the merch table.

9:30 Carisi: Hey, it’s been a quiet night so I’m out now. You want some company or I can come back later for you.

9:31 (Y/N): yea! Come check out the show, I think you’ll like it. You can help me sell merch!

9:32 (Y/N): I put your name on the guest list. So just give the door guy your name and they’ll let you in.

About 15 minutes later Sonny shows up, a couple drinks in hand. “This is awesome! Are these your friends?” He said excitedly. “I got you a drink if you’d like one”

“Sure, Thank you! My friends are up next”

You didn’t drink much but you, Rafael and Sonny went out for drinks sometimes so he knew what you drank.

Your friends band takes the stage and you guys are having a blast. After they played Carisi bought a round of drinks for the band and the two of you. You were so excited to see him having such a good time and you were excited to have people from both of your worlds together.

You guys were all hanging out around the merch table with the band and this guy comes up and starts talking to you.

“Are you here with anyone? Can I buy you a drink?”

With out thinking you reach for Carisi’s hand, who’s standing behind you. When you do he turns around and puts his arm around you while your still holding his other hand.

“Sorry I’m here with my boyfriend” you said

Carisi pips up with a “beat it pal she’s taken.”

The guy apologizes and walks away. Your thanking Carisi for going along with it when your hear someone yell “what the fuck is going on here” You turn around to see Rafael. “Why is your arm around her?!” He yelled.

“Rafael it’s not what you think, please don’t yell.” You said. You could feel your face turning beat red. Everyone was staring at what was going on.

“Well it certainly looks like you two have something going on behind my back”

“W-what? Rafa do you hear….”

“Get your stuff we’re leaving” he said cutting you off.

The car ride home was silent, neither of you said a word. You just sat there looking out the window not even looking at him. He barely put the car in park before you got out and headed inside to the elevator. He caught up to you while you were waiting for the elevator.

“So your not just not going to say anything?”

“I’m not doing this right now. I’m not going to get into a screaming match with you in the common areas of our building. It’s late, I’m not going to ruin anyone else’s night with this.”

Once inside our apartment he started in again. “So how long have you and Sonny had this thing going on?”

“There’s nothing going on with Sonny”

“Your really going to stand here and tell me that holding hands all cozy with my best friend is nothing?”

“It’s late and I’ve been drinking. I don’t really want to get into a screaming match with you over nothing right now. This guy was bothering me so I told him Sonny was my boyfriend. That’s literally all it is.”

“You expect me to believe that” he sneered

“Jesus Christ Rafa! I’m not fucking Sonny and Sonny is not fucking me! I was just trying to keep myself safe from someone who was bothering me, if you refuse to stop and think about things rationally and listen to me then that’s not my fucking problem.”

“If that’s true, then why the fuck was he there already? I though he was just giving you a ride home” he shouted with so much anger in his voice. The tone of his voice made your eyes well up with tears.

“He texted me part way threw and said it was a slow night, he was out early so he came to the show.

He just stared at you, like he didn’t believe you.

“I don’t know what you want me to fucking say Rafael if you don’t believe me ask Liv. We all know you love talking to her anyways.” You regretted it as soon as it left your lips. You didn’t mean for it to come out that way.

“Don’t ever fucking say that again he shouted before smashing the glass of scotch he had in his hand against the wall.

Compete shock rushed over your face. He had never done anything like that before.

He looked over at you to see you start trembling. You could feel your chest start to feel tight as a rush of dizziness followed right behind it. You knew you were having a panic attack.

“C-Cariño are you ok? I…I don’t know what came over me” his voice cracked.

You couldn’t get any words out, you just sat there trembling with you head in your hands trying to breath normal.

“Are you having a panic attack, let me help you Cariño”

Your head sprang up fast when you heard his foot steps getting closer to you.

“Don’t fucking come near me Rafa” you said putting your hand out to stop him.

He stopped dead in his tracks his eyes filled with tears and regret.

“I need to lay down, this is all to much for me right now, I need to relax so I can get this panic attack to subside.”

“Let’s go to bed” he said reaching out his hand for you.

“I…I’m more comfortable staying out here”

You curled up on the couch and stayed there until he finally shut off the lights and went to bed. You knew he would never be physical with you but the whole situation really shook you up. His wanting to protect you from the world was turning into jealously and it was escalating.

1:10am (Y/n): I’m really sorry about the situation tonight. I didn’t want any of that to happen. I was just trying to be safe.

1:11am Carisi: I’m very sorry too. I’ve never seen him like that before. Are you ok?

1:12 (Y/N): I’m really shook up, we got into a really bad argument once we got home. I really don’t think I can stay here right now. Do you think your brother in law would let you borrow his truck?

1:13 (Y/N): I don’t know where I’m going to go but Rafa and I need sometime apart.

1:15 Carisi: Stay here, you’ll have our own space and all the time you need to figure things out. I insist, I want you to be safe and feel safe. Can I ask did something happen? Did he hurt you? I’ll come there now.

1:15 (Y/N) I can’t do that to you, he already doesn’t believe that nothing was going on he might never speak to you again if I move in there. I don’t want to do that to you. No he didn’t hurt me.

1:16 Carisi: I’m not just his friend. Your my best friend as well. Your like my little sister and to me this is part of the promise I made him a long time ago that if he wasn’t around for any reason I’d do everything in my power to keep you safe.

As you wake up to a knocking on the door, you realize you must of finally let your body fall sleep. As you walk towards the door you hoped it wasn’t one of the neighbors that heard the fight last night. You didn’t even notice what time it was. You were still wearing last night clothes. You must of fallen a sleep in them. You catch your reflection in the mirror in the hallway. Your eyes were puffy and red from crying. You don’t bother checking the peep hole to see who it was. You open the door slowly to see Carisi standing there. “Shit shit shit is it already that time” you though to yourself. You hadn’t gotten any of your stuff ready. Looking down at your feet “I’m really sorry I have nothing ready yet, I woke up to you knocking on the door. I must of finally fallen asleep and not woken up when Rafael was getting ready for work.”

“It ok, I brought some boxes for you, I thought you might need some I don’t mind helping you”

You go into the bedroom and start packing up your clothes and personal items out of the bathroom while Carisi packed up your stuff from the rest of the house. Most stuff was Rafael’s or your stuff together so you didn’t have a ton of just your own stuff. The two of you finished packing and got the truck loaded up. “Go ahead down and I’ll be down in a minute, I want to leave a note for Rafa.”

Rafael,

I think it’s best for us to take a break and for me to not live here right now. I’m truly sorry for what was said on my part to upset you. You are my world but I need to figure out what’s best for me.

♥️ Cariño

The car ride to Carisi’s place was quiet. You were just so mentally and physically exhausted, your heart hurt and you really just didn’t know what to say.

You guys got everything all moved into the your new room, it would just take time to get settled. Carisi had gone out before he picked you up and bought you a bed so that would have one.

You were eating dinner in your room with the door shut. Not because you didn’t want to eat with Sonny but because you were trying to decompress from the last couple of days and just zone out without having to talk. You also didn’t want Sonny to see that you weren’t very hungry because you didn’t want him to worry.

You start To doze off when you hear Rafael’s voice talking to Sonny.

“Do you know where (Y/N) is? She moved her stuff out but I don’t know where she went.”

“She…she is here, but I’m not really sure if she wants to talk to you right now”

“What do you mean?”

“I should of known she was here, where is she? Is she in your bedroom?”

You here foot steps start to move around.

You open your door and step into the doorway.

“It’s ok Sonny I’ll talk to him….as you can see I’m here in my own room. Not in Sonny’s room because once again we’re not together.” You say with complete exhaustion in your voice.

Sonny goes into is room shutting the door to give you privacy but knowing he would come right out if things got heated.

“I got the note you left” he said talking it out of the pocket of his dress pants.

“If your not messing around with Carisi then why did you move in here?”

“Because I needed somewhere safe to live while I figure out what to do.”

Cutting him off as he started to speak.

“And before you start. I’m not saying it’s not safe at home. I’m saying we need some time apart to work on ourselves before we think about getting back together.”

“I-I just don’t get it. I don’t understand why you needed to move out and move in here if nothings going on. We can work things out.”

“If you don’t understand why you smashing a glass against the wall in our kitchen wouldn’t absolutely terrify for me, then I just don’t know what else to say to you. I shouldn’t of made the comment I did about Olivia. I admit that and I’m sorry that I said it, I regretted it the second that I did. But the anger in you voice and in your eyes that night when you threw that glass was scary. I’ve never seen that in you before. You got so heated about a situation you wouldn’t even let me explain to you. So I felt it was best to leave for a while. I love you so much Rafa, but the way our relationship has been functioning for a while now isn’t healthy for either one of us. We both need to work on ourselves if this is going to work. You need to work on not treating everyone in your life like there a victim from one of your cases. You need to trust people more and not work yourself to death constantly. That night I did something I’ve been doing since I first started going out to concerts with my friends, which was tell any guy that was being creepy or making me nervous that I was dating which ever guy friend I was there with so that they would back off or leave me alone. It’s simply something I’ve done to keep myself safe over the years.” By this point tears are streaming down your face. Sonny must hear you crying because he comes out of his room.

“It’s ok (Y/N) go into your room I’ll check on you when he leaves” he says softly before turning to Rafael.

“Think you should go Barba, the last few days have been a lot for the both of you.”

“I-I fucked up so bad Carisi”

“If she needs time and space then give her time and space. It’s apparent to anyone who sees you guys that you two are madly in love. You just need some time apart to work on yourselves and if meant to be, you guys will find yourselves back to each other. Until then I will keep my promise to you and keep her safe anyway I can and make sure she has what she needs.”

t felt good to be back home in Manhattan, you had been back and getting settled in for a week. You had been in (state or country) helping Casey after the birth of her baby and loss of her husband for the last nine months. But you came back when her mom was able to move out there with her. It’s was a nice cool fall day, your birthday was in a couple of days so you decided to go to your favorite coffee shop, grab a drink and wonder around. When you walked in your favorite baristas we’re excited to see you. “(Y/N) your back! Would you like your usual?!” One shouted. You pay and move to the pick up counter to wait for your order.

“Here’s your order (Y/N)” “Thank you, I can’t believe you guys remember my order” you say smiling from ear to ear.

As your putting your straw in your drink you hear a voice from behind you.

“Cariño is that you?”

You don’t even have to turn around to know who it is.

“Rafa!” You exclaim as you turn around with a smile, and without thinking you put arms open to give a hug.

He squeezes you tighter than he ever had before. The biggest smile across his face.

“I’m surprised to see you here” you say.

He blushes a little “ well I started coming here after you left to work on cases…it reminded me of you. I-I didn’t know you were back”

“ I’ve only been back for a week” you reply.

“Would you want to take our coffees and go for a walk around Central Park? I hear the trees are beautiful right now.” He asks nervously rubbing the back of his neck, something he always did when he was nervous.

You grab your stuff turn back around and reply “I would love that” unable to control your smile.

You underestimated how happy you would be to see him, to hear his voice.

“Ok, I’ll grab my stuff and we can go!”the smile never leaving his face.

“Shall we” he says holding his out hand to motion leaving.

“We shall”

He held the door open for you as you guys made your way to the park.

You two wonder around the park chatting. You start fawning over the colors of all the leaves.

He lets out a chuckle with a warm smile.

“What?” You reply chuckling yourself.

“You’re so cute when you get excited about something that you love. It always makes me happy seeing you so happy and filled with excitement about something.”

You blush not really sure what to say. You manage to softly say “Thank you” as you try to stop from completely turning red.

“I always loved our fall trips upstate to go to all the farm stands around your birthday, so we could get all the fall treats”

Him saying fall treats remind you that you have a apple hand pie still from the coffee shop in you purse.

“Well speaking of fall treats” you say pulling the hand pie out of your purse. You both bust out laughing about it.

“Want half?” You say as you break it is half.

“Your so damn funny” he says as he takes the half.

“What can I say I like to make people laugh.” You say teasing.

“Want to go sit by the water and watch the ducks?” You suggest

“Sure, I’d love too” he reply’s

You two find a bench to sit at away from everyone else.

“We’re you back home staying with family when you were away?”

“Oh Sonny didn’t tell you? I thought for sure he was telling everyone”

“No I didn’t ask him anything other than how you were, I didn’t want him to feel any pressure”

“No I was in (state or country) staying with Casey”

“I was out there helping her out with her new baby”

“Did her husband recover from his accident?”

“I can’t believe you remembered about his accident”

“No…no he didn’t….he passed a couple weeks after I-I…after I moved out” you said looking down at ground. It made you sad thinking about both events. Not wanting to be reminded of either. Tears started to slowly fall from your cheeks. You try to turn away so that he doesn’t see you, but he does. He reached his hand over gently whipping the tears from your face. You lean into his hand a little, you missed everything about him. He slides closer to you on the bench putting his hand on your thigh, hoping you meant to lean into his hand. You leaned your head down onto his shoulder. You both let out a comforting sigh at the same time. You lift

you head up to look at him.

“Cariño I am so sorry for everything that happened. I regret the the moment I ever started treating you like that. But most of all I regret the night I smashed that glass and scared you. I’ve thought about that moment and the look in your eyes since the day you left. I fucked up, I know I did, I’ll never forgive myself for that. But I’ve been working on myself to change for the better. After the way we left things with our final conversation, it made me realize how jaded work and all the cases were making me. I realized I truly was treating everyone in my life like victims in my cases. I was running myself ragged, not taking care of myself properly which made me on edge and angry all the time. I’ve started going to therapy every other week, a couple days a week I don’t work as late and if I am going to work late I’ve been trying to bring it home with me more or go the coffee shop instead of just going to the bar and doing it. Which in turn has made me cut back on drinking. I’ve missed you terribly (Y/n)”

“Oh Rafa I’ve missed you terribly too” you say reaching up to cup his face in your hand, caressing his cheek with your thumb.

“I’ve been really hard to work on myself too. I also started going therapy while I was out there. I found a therapist from here that would do virtual session so that when I came back I could still go. I’ve been focusing on trying not to hold things in until I snap and everything comes out wrong. It’s a work in progress but I’m trying hard. Some of the things I’ve said to you or the way I acted wasn’t fair and for that I’ll always feel guilty for.”

He puts his arm around you and pulls you close to him squeezing you tightly.

He puts his head in the crook of your neck, you could feel his warm breath lightly on your neck. You two stay like that for a few minutes melting into each others arms.

Your phone rings and you step aside to answer it. He hears you say, “I’ll be home for dinner, why are you being so weird” before saying bye see you soon as you hang up.

You walk back over to the bench and sit down.

“Your boyfriend?” He asks nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

You turn to him quickly while scrunching your face up at him.

“No you loser, it was just Carisi.” You say teasing. Followed by “I haven’t been seeing anyone” in a softer tone.”

The look of relief washed over his face.

“Me either” he said softly.

“Did you get invited to dinner at Sonny’s tonight by chance?”

“I did…” a puzzled look on his face.

“He’s up to something he’s been weird all week since I got back…I think he’s planning something for my birthday”

“ Yea I was under the impression that we were video chatting with you for you birthday”

“Who’s we?” You ask inquisitively.

He shrugs knowing he probably said to much but he was also equally confused.

4:15 Carisi: When you get here will you come in and get her to wait a a few minutes and then have her come in? It throws the plan all off you guys seeing each other lol. Everyone else doesn’t know she will be here and she doesn’t know everyone will be here it’s a surprise for her but there’s also a surprise for everyone.

4:25 Barba: she knows somethings up but sure I’ll get her to do that. Sorry, weren’t expecting to run into each other. But I have to say it’s so nice to see her.

He stands up from the bench, and holds out his hand. “Shall we? I’ll walk with you” he says, not wanting to be apart from you. He wanted to hold on to the feeling of being in your company again for the first time all over again.

You look up at him with a smile, the sun lit his face up perfectly. “I’d love that.” You say as you take his hand and stand to meet him. He quickly laces his fingers with yours causing you two to hold hands. You didn’t even flinch, it just felt right. You guys just strolling through the city holding hands making your way back to Carisi’s apartment. It felt as though time stopped and you two were the only people on the planet.

“Ok so Carisi wants me to go in, have you wait 10 minutes and then you come in. Don’t ask me why.”

“Hahaha ok”

So he goes inside, you hang out in the lobby of the building for 10 minutes then head up to the apartment.

You unlock the door and slowly open it to a dark apartment. You turn around shut the door and take your shoes off. As you turn back around all the lights flick on and everyone jumps out and shouts “Happy Birthday (Y/N)!!” Even though you knew something was going on, your completely surprised by the party. “Amanda, Liv, Finn, Rafa I can’t believe your all here!” You say starting to cry from pure joy, it had been so long since you had seen your friends. “Dodds and some of the rookies took over for the night so we could all come, we wouldn’t miss it for the world, we’ve all missed you.” Liv said but everyone echoed the same sentiment. Your excitedly catching up with everyone when there’s a knock at the door.

“(Y/N) you should answer the door.” Carisi says a smirk on his face.

“I swear to god Sonny, if this is going to embarrass be in front of everyone I’m gonna kill you!”

You open the door cautiously, knowing it could be one of those famous Sonny pranks. You’re completely shocked when you open the door.

“Oh my god, Nick!” You shout In excitement.

You hear everyone behind you “What?! Amaro’s here?”

Carisi shouts “Surprise everyone!”

“I can’t believe your here!” you say before he gives you the biggest hug.

“Well Carisi said you could use some cheering up, so I thought it was about time I made a visit back to visit everyone” he said happy to see all his old friends again.

You were as close to Nick as you are with Sonny, after all he’s the reason you have all these amazing people in your life. He’s the reason you met Rafael and ended up with him. You met Nick through a friend you made when you first moved to New York, she was dating one of his friends at the time and the 4 of you guys would get together sometimes. You and him hit it off quick and became fast friends. Nicks wife was in the army and overseas for a couple years and you were new to the city and didn’t really have many other friends, so you guys would hang out often on his days off to offset each other’s loneliness. One night when your best friend from home was in town visiting you, you ran into Nick out with the squad celebrating the end to a case with a drink. That was the night I met Rafael for the first time.

After taking a trip down memory lane in your mind you snap back to reality. You motion everyone to come in for a big group hug, you start tearing up as everyone is hugging each other. Amanda noticing your crying. “(Y/N) is everything alright?

“I’m fine, all of you guys are all the most amazing friends a girl to ask for. I’m so lucky to have all of you guys in myself. This is truly the best birthday ever. “

Everyone gathered around the table for a incredible Italian feast. Sonny cooked all your favorite Italian dishes. You had a couple drinks and just sat there taking in how good it felt to be surrounded by your friends again. Dinner wrapped up and everyone had cake and sang happy birthday. Liv and Amanda said there goodbyes as they had to go in and take over for Dodds. Sonny, Finn, Rafael and Nick set up to play a few games of cards.

You hang out with the guys for a little while while they were playing poker.

You stretch and yawn. “Well enjoy your poker and beers boys, I’m gonna go lay down and watch tv”

“You really outdid yourself Sonny, thank you so much for making this happen.” You say as you thank everyone for coming and say your good nights.

You put on your comfy shorts and top and curling up in bed, putting on one of your favorite comfort shows. You’re dozing off when you hear a knock at your bedroom door, you tilt you head up and sleepily say “come in.”

You watch the door open and see that it’s Rafael.

“I’m sorry, did I wake you up?” he says rubbing the back of his neck.

“No it’s ok, I was just comfortable” you say shyly.

You pull the blankets back a little.

“Rafa, Will you lay with me and watch a movie?”

His face lights up. “Id love too Cariño”

Fin, Nick and Sonny watch him go into your room and shut the door.

“Saying goodbye my ass, those two are defiantly getting back together” Fin jokes.

“Is it ok if I get more comfortable and just wear my undershirt and my suite pants?”

“Of course it it is” you say moving over in the bed to make room for.

He climbs in the bed, gets comfortable and then puts his arm around you rubbing your back with his hand.

You slide down laying on your side and nestle you head on his chest with your arm around his stomach.

You tilt your head “is this ok? I can move if it’s not” You ask with nervousness in your voice.

“No this is ok, I-I missed this” he says kissing your forehead and pulling you in tighter.

You hand the remote to him “you want to pick the movie?”

He puts on one of your favorite movies you two like to watch together.

In this moment your so relaxed, the feeling of him softly rubbing his hand up and down your back and the smell of his cologne put you at ease. You missed everything about him. You dozed off for a couple minutes but you were awoken by him playing with your hair. You tilted your head back to look at him, giving him a cute sleepy smile.

“Your getting tired Cariño, should I go?”

“No it’s ok, don’t go” you barely got the words out of your mouth before he leaned down and kissed you passionately. You sat up, putting your hand behind his head kissing him back. He licked your bottom lip for entrance, which you granted him. Your tongues dance together, your whole body burned. His touch sent shivers down your spine, making you instantly wetter than you’ve been. He moved to kissing down your neck and along your collar bone. You let out a breathy moan in his ear, as you do he pulls you on top of him. You sit up straddling him, you can feel his rock hard cock underneath you. As you take your top off he runs his hands all over your body, exploring every inch of it. He sits up too, kissing down your neck and the top of your breasts as he reaches around you to unhook your bra. He slids it off your shoulders and down your arms before throwing it on the floor. He kisses all over your breasts before making his way to you nipples, licking, bitting and sucking on them. Your body is on fire and your panties are completely soaked, you needed his body.

You step down off the bed onto the floor. You motion for him to stand too, getting down on your knees when he does. You undo his pants and pull them down, taking out his rock hard cock. You tease him at first running your tongue all around his tip. He lets out a deep breathy “fuck” as you take the the rest of him in your mouth, he runs his hands through your hair, leaving his hand on the back of your head. Your sucking gets stronger as as your motion gets quicker, occasionally pulling back to just the tip to tease him.

You stand up and turn your back to him, bending over in front of him. Pulling down your shorts and panties giving him a show.

“You’re so fucking sexy” he says in a deep voice as he comes up behind you spanking you hard and grabbing a hand full of your ass.

You stand up and when you do he wraps his arms around you from behind pulling you up against him, his hard cock pressed against your ass. He starts rubbing your clit, you throw your head back moaning as he starts kissing your neck at the same time. “Fuck me Rafa, I can’t take it any longer” you moan out already ready to climax, your body burning from head to toe. He bends you over the side of the bed. Running his hands down your back and spanking you hard when he gets to your ass. You moan out in a long breathy moan, enjoying every second of it.

“Spread your legs for me” he says in his deep voice as he’s rubbing your ass. He teases you, rubbing the tip of his cock against your clit, before sliding inside of you. He grabs your hips as he pulls in and out of you, pushing deeper with every thrust.

“Mmm Rafa, I’m so close” you moan out.

“cum for me baby” he reply’s as he spanks your ass. His thrusts get faster as he reaches around you and starts rubbing you’re clit as he’s thrusting fast.

You push your self up with your arms arching your back. You start to feel your self release as you start to climax.

“Fuck Rafa, don’t stop I’m so close.” You scream as you moan out. As your muscles tighten and you climax all over his cock.

He moans thrusting all the way in before he pulls out, cumming all over your ass. It was something he liked to do, but he also did it because he didn’t know where you two stood and he didn’t know if you would want him to cum inside you. You slowly stand up trying to catch youre breath. He hugs you from behind kissing your shoulder and whispering, “I’ve really missed you.”

“I’ve really missed you too” you whisper back before you both climb back into bed.

“Come home, Cariño”

#rafael barba x reader #rafael barba #law and order svu #raul esparza #sonny carisi #anon ask #fanfic #fanfic wip

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dr-spencer-reids-queen · 9 months ago

Text

Worst Fears Come Alive

Pairing: Jennifer Jareau x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~2.9k

Warnings: angst, stalking, kidnapping, fluff at the end

Summary: After JJ is kidnapped, you and her team work endlessly to figure out what Mark wants and what his plans are. KNwoing he wants your company, you come up with a plan thatt might be crazy enough to work.

There's Beauty in Tragedy Masterlist

Square Filled: duct tape for @badthingshappenbingo

Author’s Note: any and all comments are appreciated <3

He’s been sitting in front of JJ since he brought her back to his studio. Well, studio is a relative term. If studio means a boarded up old house that belonged to his dad, then sure, studio. This isn’t the first time he’s used this house for nefarious reasons and it’s not going to be the last. JJ isn’t the first woman he’s brought back here, and if everything goes his way, she won’t be the last.

JJ’s head rolls to the side and her eyes flutter open. She tries to move her arms and legs but realizes they’ve been tied down to the chair she’s sitting on. She doesn't have duct tape over her mouth because he wants to hear her pleas. He wants to hear her beg for him to release her. She looks around and panics but not as much as he’d like her to. Her eyes find him and she swallows thickly.

“You don’t know Y/N, do you?”

“I know her quite well. I just lied about how I knew her, that’s all.”

“What are you going to do with me?”

“If you’re lucky and things go my way, nothing.”

“What if things don’t go your way?”

He unsheathes a long blade from his jacket and JJ’s eyes widens in fear.

“Then they’ll have a hard time finding your body when I cut it up into pieces.”

It’s been two hours since JJ said she’d be at your work for the flowers and note. She always takes your safety seriously so you thought she’d be here within twenty minutes. With a shake of your head, you pick up the phone and call the BAU. Come on, JJ. Pick up the phone. Tell me you’re running late. It’s not JJ who picks up the phone, it’s Spencer.

“Hey, Spencer, it’s Y/N.”

“What’s up?”

“Is JJ there?”

“No, she left for your office.”

“She never got here.”

That makes Spencer a bit suspicious but he tries to think of a rational explanation.

“Maybe there was traffic.”

“For two hours? I think something happened to her. You know what? I’m coming down to you. I’ll be right there.”

You hang up and gather your things without the note and flowers. You’ll deal with that later once you know JJ is safe. When you get to the BAU, everyone is gathered in the briefing room. Spencer brought his concerns to everyone else and now they are trying to locate her. She’s not answering her phone and no one knows where she is.

“I would have asked my security team to look at where she might have went but I think you’re faster,” you say to Penelope.

“You’d be right.”

She hacks into the cameras outside of the BAU to track where JJ went. She tracks her all the way to your office building. Instead of going inside your office, a man stops her outside. You’re not sure what they’re talking about and the man is at an angle where you can’t see his face so you’re left to wonder who this is. JJ follows the man to the alleyway next to your office and out of view of the camera. Penelope frantically searches for another camera but there isn’t one pointing to the alleyway. You’ll have to hire someone to put one there now. Minutes later, a black van pulls out of the alleyway and you have a sinking feeling JJ is in there against her will.

“Can you see where the car went?” Derek asks.

“Let me see.” Penelope tries to follow the van, and she can for a few streets until it pulls onto a back road that doesn’t have any cameras. “I can’t follow him in there.”

Your heart starts racing. Your eyes water with tears. Your hands shake. Your entire body feels hot. Panic overcomes your senses. JJ was kidnapped. JJ is in danger.

“Y/N? Are you okay?”

You barely hear whoever said that but you do feel hands on your shoulders pushing you to sit in a chair. A hand flat on your back pushes you down so that your bent at the waist. Your head rests between your knees as you will your fears to go away.

“Okay, what do we know?”

“Can you play that video again?” you ask and sit up straight. You walk behind Penelope and watch the video again, this time paying attention to the man. When he pulls out of the alley, he looks right into the camera. “Stop it right there.” She does. “No fucking way. Sorry for my language.”

“What is it?” Derek asks.

“I know him. That’s Mark Temple. He was in my graduating class in business school.” You tell them the history you have with him. How he’s a manipulator, a thief, and a coward. “He’s been trying to buy out my company for a while now. I refuse to give him the light of day.”

“In most hostage situations, the person will likely demand what they want in exchange for who or what they’ve taken hostage--this case it being JJ,” Spencer explains.

“He wants my company. He wants my wealth, my fame, my designs, everything. I never thought he’d go this far. He was very good at manipulating with words so he never needed to resort to violence.”

Penelope works quickly to look up Mark in her system.

“Here we go. Mark Temple graduated from Harvard with a 4.2 GPA. After college, he bought Silver Linings for a million dollars from one of his classmates before running it to the ground when he couldn’t keep up with it. After that, he bought out Starship Interprises then Tech Mougles then Royalty Jewels. All of them he ended up running them to the ground before selling them and buying out the next.”

“He wans to do the same with mine,” you say bitterly.

“Wait a second. He has a record. He’s never been arrested but there are countless charges of assult and battery, domestic violence, and witness statements from women who he abused. They’re all allegations, though, but the police department kept everything on file.”

“What? He did that to those women?” you gasp at the news.

“Where does he live?” Hotch asks.

“He doesn’t have one. He only has a PO Box he visits regularly.”

You get tears at the thought of what JJmight be going through.

“What is he going to do with her?”

“Hopefully nothing,” Derek answers, “until he makes his first demands.”

“When will that be?”

“Whenever he decides to make the call.”

It as if he’s listening because your phone rings from an unknown number.

“It’s him.”

“Don’t answer it yet. Garcia?” Hotch asks.

“Already on it.”

Penelope works to tap into your phone so she can trace the call. When she’s ready, she nods for you to answer it. It’s so silent that you can hear a pin drop. You answer the call but place it on speakerphone so everyone else can hear. You plan to go into this with a calm head and voice but as soon as the call is connected, you blurt out the first thing that pops into your head.

“I swear to God if you touch one hair on her head…”

“Y/N, baby, let’s not get violent,” Mark says. You can hear the smirk on his face.

“What do you want?”

“You know what I want.”

“Is this what you did to those women and men in college? You’d hurt them and steal their designs and money?”

“What I did back then has no relevance to what I’m doing now,” he says angrily. “I have made it clear what I want.”

“You want my money? Twenty million is yours. Not enough? Fine. Sixty. A hundred! Just let JJ go.”

Mark starts laughihng and you want nothing more than to slap that smile off his fat smug face.

“See, I used to be after the money. Then I realized I can get so much more with their companies. Hand over your company to me and I’ll let her go. No harm will come to her if you comply.”

“Don’t do it!” JJ yells from the background.

Your bottom lip wobbles emotionally. She doesn’t sound hurt but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t touched her.

“Shut up before I make you,” Mark snaps at her.

“You must know by now that she is FBI. Even if you do get my company, you won’t get away with it.”

“You let me worry about that. I’ll give you twenty-four hours to make a decision or I’ll start cutting her up and leaving her on your front porch.”

As soon as he hangs up, you start crying. All your hard work will go down the drain. None of that matters if JJ’s life is threatened.

“Did you get a hit?” Derek asks.

“No. I got a very vague location but nothing to pinpoint where he is.”

You stand up and dial someone very important. There is no question or doubt in your mind on what you have to do.

“Who are you calling?” Spencer asks.

“My lawyer. I have to draw up a contract.”

“Maybe you don’t,” Derek says.

“If I don’t, she gets hurt. I love her, Derek. I can’t let her get hurt because of me.”

“He gave you twenty-four hours. Use them. He couldn’t have taken her far. He took her two hours ago. Where could he have gone in two hours?”

“I will work my magic and try to track that car,” Penelope says and leaves the briefing room.

You sit back down and put your head in your hands as you cry. You can’t imagine losing the one women you’ve loved this much in a long time. Derek walks over to you and places a comforting hand on your back.

“I know you love her but we do, too. We don’t give up here. Get your lawyer to make the contract if you want, but we’re going to use these twenty-two hours to come up with a plan. If it doesn’t work, we’ll do it your way.”

“Okay,” you nod and sniffle.

Your lawyer was pissed when he heard about what happened but was super understanding. He agreed to draft one up along with some other things but you were too emotional to listen to him. You’re still too emotional because all you can think about is what Mark might have done to those women and what he’ll do it JJ.

You’re not FBI. You’re not a profiler. You don’t know what they’re doing but you know you trust this team. JJ trusts this team to do the right thing.Four hours go by without a word from Penelope but by the fifth hour, she walks into the briefing room with her laptop.

“It took five cameras and a few zooming features but I got the license plate of the van. It’s not registered in Mark’s name. It’s registered for Joseph Manning.”

“That’s his real father’s name. He was adopted at an early age.” A lightbulb goes off in your head. “What if he’s staying at a place registered in Joseph’s name?”

“You might be onto something, Miss,” Penelope grins and sits down at the table. You look at the clock and realize you only have seventeen hours left. It’s a lot of time but you can’t help but think you only have minutes to spare. “There is one property in the middle of town that belongs to Joseph. It’s been under construction for years.”

“That’s why he needs a PO box. His mail has to go somewhere,” Derek says.

“We know where he is. Now we need a plan to get in there.”

“He wants me,” you say. “My lawyer came up with a contract that he needs to sign physically if he wants my company. Use me to get her out.”

“We still have seventeen hours to come up with a different--”

“Derek, I have a contract. I know what you’re thinking. Can you find it in yourself to trust me? I know what I’m doing.”

“Okay,” he nods after a moment.

You take out your phone and dial Mark back using the same unknown number he used to call you the first time. You place him on speakerphone so everyone can hear him.

“Am I going to have to get violent in seventeen hours? Maybe I’ll make it two and cut your time short.”

“You want my company? Fine. I have a contract stating it’s all yours. All you have to do is come here and sign it.”

“No, I’ll have someone pick it up and bring it to me.”

“Mark, this is my company that’s worth billions. Lawyers have to be present.”

You hear him curse but he covered the speaker because it’s muffled.

“Where do you want to meet?”

“My office. I’ll have everything ready. I’ll make sure we’re alone. Just us, the lawyers, and JJ.”

“Do I sound stupid to you? Like I’m going to bring her with me and have you skip out on your end of the deal,” he scoffs.

“You did the one thing that would ensure I follow this through. Bring her or no deal.”

“Fine,” he snaps and hangs up.

“He’ll come. We’ll be ready.”

You take this opportunity to tell them your plan. There is no way in hell you’re giving up everything you’ve worked so hard for when you know there is a way to get JJ back and keep what you have. Once the plan is set in motion, you and your lawyer wait for Mark and JJ in your personal conference room. You’re really nervous because what if he knows? What if this doesn’t work? What if he has already hurt JJ? What if--

“They’re here,” your assistant says over the small speaker by the desk phone.

“Let them in,” you respond.

The conference door opens and Mark walks in with JJ in front of him. It’s not surprising that she has duct tape over her mouth. What’s surprising is that he has a gun to her head. Remain calm. He might shoot her if you freak out. JJ is terrified but you have to remain calm if you’re going to come out on top.

“Where is it?” Mark asks.

You point to the thick contract on the table. “Right here.”

“How do I know this isn’t a trap?”

“Did you not hear me over the phone earlier? I love her and I will do anything for her, including this.”

“Back up.”

Mark walks JJ over to the table while you and your lawyer back away from the table. He looks at the contract and flips through the first few pages before shoving JJ over to you. She stumbles but you catch her in your arms.

“You’re safe. You’re okay,” you whisper and smooth back her hair.

Mark does the one thing you are counting on him to not do: reading it. He flips to the tabs and immediately signs it without so much as a thought. If he had read it, he’d know this isn’t a real contract. He keeps the gun on you as he finishes with the last signature. He lowers the gun but keeps it locked and loaded.

“Pleasure doing business with you,” he grins.

He grabs the door handle and pulls the door open but he’s stopped by Rossi, Derek, and Hotch all with guns trained on him.

“Mark Temple, you’re under the arrest for kidnapping, breaking and entering, harassment, and attempted murder.”

“With what proof?”

“You just signed a confession statement,” you say. He turns to you with fire in his eyes. “Everything you did, you attest to.”

“You bitch,” he growls.

He raises his gun to fire at you but Derek is quicker than him. He slams his body into Mark’s and pushes him down onto the table. The gun is knocked from his hands and you pull JJ into you to protect her. Mark struggles against Derek’s body but Derek is much larger than Mark. He doesn’t have a chance. Rossi hands him handcuffs and Derek slaps them onto his wrists. You turn to JJ and gently remove the duct tape.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me.”

“I need a medic up here,” Hotch says as Derek takes a struggling Mark away.

“Hotch, I’m fine--”

“You’re getting looked at. I’m not arguing with you,” you say. She nods and relief immeiately floord through your body. “This time, it’s you who needed saving.”

“As long as you’re the one who is saving me.”

You pull her in cose and kiss her with so much love but also relief that she is okay. The paramedics come and check JJ out, deeming her physically okay. You’re sitting with her on the back of the ambulance with one arm wrapped around her body.

“I don’t care whose house we move into. I need you with me. I want to live with you.”

JJ smiles and kisses your cheek.

“I’d love nothing more than that but I want you to do that not because you fear for my safety but because you want to without any stipulations behind it.”

“Using my own words against me, I see,” you chuckle.

“I’m joking. I’d love to move in with you. I’ll be honest, I quite like your house.”

“My house it is,” you grin and kiss her again.

You’re ready to put this behind you and start the next chapter of your and JJ’s life together.

Follow my library blog @aqueenslibrary where I reblog all my stories, so you can put notifications on there without the extra stuff :)

#jennifer jareau #jennifer jareau x reader #jennifer jareau fic #jennifer jareau fanfiction #jennifer jareau fanfic #jennifer jareau angst #jennifer jareau fiction #jennifer jareau fan fiction #jennifer jareau fan fic #criminal minds #criminal minds fic #criminal minds fanfiction #criminal minds fanfic #criminal minds angst #cm

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mikashisus · 2 months ago

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sole salvation of a fallen nation

SYNOPSIS: in order to return back to your home planet, you’ve had to make multiple sacrifices. and one of those was to leave behind the last piece of home you had.

CHARACTERS: sunday (kind of), blade

TAGLIST ! @wystiix @milksnake-tea @snobwhimsicality

warnings: none

word count: 1.1k

notes: this is a short excerpt from a scrapped sunday fic i had planned, which was titled “carnage.” i had to scrap it due to just overall frustration + multiple crash outs LOL. im officially handing the entire idea over to my good friend illu. if they decide to do anything with it, then i know they’ll do it justice - especially since it’s a sunday fic. anyw enjoy this small excerpt!

The bar was quiet, empty. All the patrons had left for the night, and now it was you and the bartender all alone in the establishment.

A puff of smoke left your lips and you dabbed your cigarette into the nearby ashtray. The smell of cleaner entered your nostrils as the bartender, a good friend of yours, wiped down the counter and the tables.

He took one glance at the unconscious body on the floor and sighed. “How long will he be out?”

“A few hours, give or take,” you said nonchalantly, “enough time for me to get him to headquarters before he wakes.”

The man in front of you hummed. He tossed Sunday a disgusted look. “Rotten to the core, that one. Be careful.”

“I’ll be fine, Mari.” You sent him a warm smile, one filled with reassurance. “You should be more worried about him.”

Mari shook his head. “Maybe you’re right.”

You chuckled. “When am I not?”

The embers from your cigarette fizzled out in the ashtray as the door to the bar swung open, the bell above the doorway jingling with the sudden movement.

Mari’s head whipped up, a retort ready on his lips for whoever was entering, when he spotted the familiar face of your coworker. His shoulders relaxed and he tossed the tall figure a curt nod of respect.

Upon seeing the never changing, stoic face of the undead man you’ve come to know all too well these past years, a smirk curled onto your lips.

“Well if it isn’t my favorite—“

“Mind your tongue, mutt.” He spat before you could finish.

He didn’t hate you… but he didn’t necessarily like working with you. You were a bit of a pain in his ass. You were too reckless, too willing to throw your life away. It was the one thing he didn’t like about you. You’d tell him the same— that he was too reckless and arrogant, though all that’d leave his mouth was a dissatisfied grunt.

Then he’d say “you’re not immortal” and the conversation would end there. Not because you gave in, but because you didn’t feel like arguing with him further.

“It’s time to leave,” he told you, “enough playing with your prey.”

You let out a sigh and slinked away from the bar. Pulling out your phone, you sent a quick payment to Mari for the drinks. The fairly disheveled man was staring at you. You couldn’t quite place the look in his eyes, but you knew it had to be urgent.

Telling Blade to wait outside for a few moments, you leaned your elbows on the counter. You heard the man grumble behind you in annoyance, though he made no move to object.

A slight thump was heard as he hauled the former Oak Family Head over his shoulder like a ragdoll and walked out of the bar.

As soon as the door slammed shut, you climbed onto the bar counter— much to Mari’s chagrin (he just wiped down that counter) —and hummed as you ran your fingers through the man’s hair. He subconsciously leaned into your touch, letting out a heavy sigh.

“Do you have to leave?”

You were quiet for a moment. “Yes. Per Elio’s script, I must.”

The expression on his face was one you were all too familiar with. Although others couldn’t see past his deadpan facade, you could.

(It was a perk of knowing him for several Amber Eras).

Worry and longing laid beneath the stoic lines of his visage, though his lips were pulled into that same tight-lipped frown he always wore.

Mindlessly, you pressed a finger between his creased brows and gently smoothed them out. His striking gray eyes fluttered closed.

The outside world faded away as the two of you sat there, suspended in time for what felt like eons as you hummed a soft tune. It was a tune from your homeland— a homeland that was now forgotten in another star system.

Mari’s memories from back then were a hazy blur in his mind. He remembered next to nothing about the planet you once called home. In a way, it was a sort of freedom. To be able to forget those harsh times was just a pipe dream to you, while he now lived blissfully unaware— except for the looming, invisible shackles that tied him to an unknown being.

There were invisible chains on your limbs too. They weren’t visible to the naked eye, nor did you physically feel them, but you were well aware of their existence.

Their grip was strong, like a wolf’s jaws locking around the neck of its prey.

“I have to go now.” You muttered.

His striking gray eyes trailed your form as you slid off the counter, memorizing every single detail as if this was the last time you’d see him. And it would be… for a while, at least.

The next time you’d see him, you hoped he’d take up a new hobby besides people watching and mixology.

“Be careful.” He gave you a warning look, the smallest bit of concern lying beneath his glare.

You sent him a rare, genuine smile. “I’ll try.”

With a final deep breath, you pressed your forehead against his and gently placed your hands on either side of his head. A small, almost invisible smile twitched at his lips.

The ancient language of a lost civilization left your mouth, the sound garbled and distorted and heavy on your tongue.

With those final words, you left the unconscious man alone in the bar and didn’t stop to look back. If you did, you’d surely run back in there. And per your contract, you couldn’t do that. You weren’t allowed to.

It had been many Amber Eras since you stopped knowing what it felt like to cry and what it felt like to feel a deep, impenetrable sadness. But every time you left your dear friend, both of those feelings came flooding back.

Looking up at the false sky above Penacony, you had the sudden urge to scream until your vocal chords tore. But you didn’t— you couldn’t. The false sky above you felt way too familiar, and the more you stared at it, the more you wanted to rush back into that bar.

“Are you done with your goodbyes?” Blade’s low and monotone voice questioned, snapping you out of your stupor.

Sending him an exhausted glance, you nodded slowly. You held a hand over your chest to convey the pain you were currently experiencing. There were no words needed between you and Blade.

He hummed thoughtfully at your gesture. “The burden you carry is massive. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed.”

Silently agreeing, you opened your mouth again. “I hate it… All these thoughts.” They swirled around, lingering in the back of your mind like ghostly whispers.

“You’re tired,” he noted, “just a little longer.”

You stood up straight and regained your composure, your stoic demeanor returning. “Just until that day finally comes.”

Blade pushed off from the wall he was leaning against. “Until then, you follow the script.”

#—stellaronhvnters.#honkai: star rail #honkai star rail x reader #hsr x reader #hsr x you #honkai star rail #hsr #honkai star rail x you #hsr blade #blade #sunday hsr #hsr sunday #sunday #hsr x y/n #—mikashisus works .ᐟ

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misspelledwordswizard · 4 months ago

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Chapter 7 - I'll find a way to get into your lives, by hook or by crook!

Previous chapter / Next chapter

Night fell and I couldn’t sleep anymore, my sleep was more irregular than my life. The events of the last few days passed through my head like a movie on repeat, an emptiness filled me and I didn’t understand why. It was all so strange, it all happened so fast. One day I was living peacefully in my cabin, the next I was traveling with nine men who had na unknown objective for me. It must be even stranger for them, because they have no idea who I am, I already knew them beforehand at least. But they still haven’t revealed anything to me, how can they plan to take me with them when they don’t even tell me what’s going on. It all seems like a puzzle with many missing pieces.

I left the inn alone, at night everything seemed calmer in the village. Tomorrow I would have to buy things like more clothes, a sleeping bag or anything else that is necessary for a trip or adventure. I think I would have to get used to long walks and camping sleeping under the stars.

I need some time alone, I feel like I won’t have that luxury from now on. I walked through Kakariko feeling the gentle breeze comfortingly envelop me, it was good, it relieved the heat of the day. Not knowing where to go, I just walked randomly until I found somewhere where I could be out of everyone’s sight.

The sighting of fireflies caught my attention as I passed over a small bridge; it was beautiful to see them glow in the darkness of the night. I felt a peace come over my heart, something that hadn’t happened in a while, allowing me to forget about my problems for a moment, focusing on the present and no longer on what the future holds for me. My mind still had difficulty forgetting about it, even for a minute, but the anguish in my heart begged for a truce.

I tried to think of the heroes with a more relaxed outlook, as they are, and not as the heroes of Hyrule. If I have to be with them from now on, I would like to know the person they are, and not the hero they show to others, and I feel that this would be good for them too. Even if I try, I still don’t know them well enough, I know their heroic face, I know their adventures only from na observer’s perspective, I don’t know who they really are, and I was foolish to think that I knew them before they knew me.

I’m na open book, they’ll know me completely before they’ve been with me for a week, but I won’t know them in a month, I have no doubt about that. Maybe they don’t want me to get close, to open up to me, I know they don’t, but it would be torturous to live with people who don’t even trust me, so I’ll have to make na effort to be worthy of their trust.

Or, maybe I’m thinking too much about it all when it’s so much simpler, and it’s making my heart ache when I just said I wouldn’t do it. The truth is, I’m scared. Scared that I’ll be a nuisance, scared that my heroes will despise me, or rather, I’m scared of being alone.

I’ve been alone my whole life, always saying it was better this way, getting attached to people only served to make me suffer badly in the end. But man, how I miss affection and love, I miss a big, loving family, friends, siblings, even annoying people in my life who make me appreciate the good people I have with me even more. And now that this spark of opportunity for that has come back to life, I’m afraid of making a mistake and losing everything I have.

I was pulled out of my sad reverie by a deep voice nearby.

— Do you feel tired? – When I saw the owner of the voice, I came across the hero of time, who seemed as emotionally tired as I was. He sat next to me under the tree I had chosen as a refuge, which I didn’t even remember arriving at

— I feel lost. – I found myself contemplating things again, there was something about this wise man that made me comfortable enough to speak.

— I know how that feeling is. Not pleasant, definitely. – The old man seemed as contemplative as I was. – Maybe you already know this, but I think it would be good if you could connect with them. We’ve all lost a lot in life, and most of them aren’t willing to let anyone else in, but I know very well that this is the worst thing they can do to themselves. I don’t want that responsibility to fall on you, but if you at least try to bring them into your life, it might be good for you too.

Silence reigned as I replayed his words in my mind. I had been thinking about how I wanted to get closer to them, how this could be my salvation, but I hadn’t stopped to think that I could mean the same to them. Not necessarily me, but maybe they were just waiting for someone brave enough to step into their complicated lives, and maybe it was too much ambition on my part, I wanted to try to be that person for him, for everyone.

— I think age certainly makes us wiser. – My tongue let out before I could stop it, but Time just laughed. Nothing else was said, it wasn’t necessary.

◇

No one was sleepy. Everyone was more than rested, and being in the middle of the night with not much to do, everyone was bored. It seems that Wild and Twilight went out to hunt, anything that could be used as food tomorrow. Sky went somewhere quiet where he wouldn’t disturb the inhabitants who were trying to sleep with his music. Hyrule went to visit the great fairy a few hours ago, it seems that he gets along well with fairies for some reason – Wild said he’s very lucky, because fairies always run away from him. Time stayed in the place where we met a short time ago, I think the poor guy needs some time of peace and solitude every now and then.

Wind, who I thought would be the most energetic at the moment, was quietly on the couch at the inn, absentmindedly fiddling with his and his brothers’ things. It seems he got tired of running around the village and catching the Cuccos. Four, Warriors and Legend had completely disappeared. I thought they had gone after Rulie, but none of them had returned so far. The others assured me that I shouldn’t worry. I didn’t know what to do. There was nothing productive for me to do, no stores were open to browse their wares, no one to talk to.

I then decided to take another shower. I didn’t need another one, but boredom and the idea that in a few days I wouldn’t be able to have that luxury even if I needed it led me to this moment. Man, if I were a great genius of science and modern technology in my past life, I could try to create everything again here. That way, I could have showers, microwaves, cars, planes and anything else to make life easier. It would be like in Dr. Stone. It’s a shame I don’t have Senkuu’s intelligence. I didn’t stay in the shower for long, I didn’t need to wash my hair, and I quickly started to feel bored again. I put on the same clothes I bought today, and now I understand that it would really be good to have at least one spare outfit. I went down to the inn’s living room, only to find Wind sleeping on the couch.

Well, I couldn’t leave him like that, but I also thought it was unnecessary to wake him up, he was sleeping so peacefully. Okay, I’ll take him to his room myself! He was in the room across from mine, sharing it with Sky, if I’m not mistaken. I approached the blond boy silently, putting my arms behind his back and legs to lift him up. I was lucky that he was small and thin, but it was still a big struggle, I urgently need to work out.

The owner of the inn saw me as I walked very disheveled towards the stairs, I just asked for silence so as not to wake the child in my arms. I started to climb the stairs and automatically regretted my decision when I realized how difficult it would be. Suddenly, the few steps became the longest staircase of my life.

I started climbing, very slowly, while I struggled not to fall backwards because of the weight I was carrying. With each step, my arms and legs seemed less willing to follow my commands, but with great effort I managed to climb the tem steps that had been haunting me. I celebrated silently and turned to the right in the hallway, only to accidentally hit the boy’s head on the wall. I stopped, startled by the loud noise he made, feeling guilty, I looked to see if he was still breathing calmly. Everything was fine, he’s alive, it was nothing. I walked back down the hallway, being careful with his head this time, and when I finally got to the door of his room, I had to use my elbow to open the door – and ended up lightly hitting his head on the wood a few times.

Finally inside the previously empty room, I went to the bed closest to the door, which I hoped was his, and laid him down there, covering him with the blanket and saying goodbye with a goodnight kiss on his forehead. As I was about to leave the room, I heard a voice behind me.

— It was very kind of you to bring me here, and even put me to sleep. – The sailor’s voice caught my attention, making me turn to look at him.

— You were awake?

— From the beginning!

— Come on, you little gremlin! – He laughed at the situation while I held back a laugh and pretended to be irritated.

— You did very well, just watch my head next time.

— Next time? Dream on. – I joked with him, as I headed for the door. – Good night, Link. I closed the door behind me, sighing. That boy made me climb those damn stairs while he was awake. It was worth it.

I went back down the stairs, looking for something to do, I saw a bookshelf near na armchair, a book area. Oh, the gods are kind, I can read! I approached the bookshelf and started looking for a book that caught my attention. Most of them were Hyrulian classics, they weren’t my favorites, but there were a few that had been of interest to me for some time. I chose one and sat down in the armchair, it was about the legend of a princess who fell asleep for a thousand years in the past.

Of course I know it wasn’t just a legend, but it was also what gave the name to the entire game franchise about the heroes of Hyrule. I knew the story, but I would still love to see how it held up. After all, in Breath of the Wild so much time had passed that it wasn’t even possible to link it to one of the timelines. And to think that many genuinely believe that the stories of the ancient heroes were just legends, when they were somehow all right there.

Time passed without me even noticing. It had been a long time since I had immersed myself so deeply in a book. Na entire army could have passed by me in that time and I probably wouldn’t have noticed. The feeling of forgetting that I was just reading words, and feeling like I was watching a movie in my mind, or even that I was experiencing it all, was magical, and I missed it.

I only came back to reality when I finished reading. I’m not sure how much time had passed, but if before everything was quiet, now it was the height of silence. It seemed like there wasn’t a single living soul awake besides me. The city lights were almost all out, I could see them through the window, and the lights from the break seemed minimal. Soon sleep began to overtake me. I wasn’t really tired, but all that atmosphere was enveloping me and telling me to try to sleep, so that I could spend the next day feeling full until nightfall.

Well, I think it’s the right time to obey that instinct. I got up from the armchair, putting the book back on the shelf, and went upstairs silently, with the wooden floorboards creaking occasionally. I opened the door to my room, trying not to make any noise, and did the same to close it behind me. My bed was made, I had done it after I got out of my second shower of the day, but I was ready to mess it up again by throwing myself on it, covering myself with the blanket and burying my face in the soft pillow. I felt even more inclined to fall asleep, the calm overtaking me, I couldn’t think of any worries at the moment, I was at peace. I slept, it didn’t take long for me to lose consciousness, and this time I didn’t dream, I had nothing to dream about.

◇

I woke up early, the sun was still rising on the horizon and entering my bedroom window, I got out of bed, stretching to wake up better. I used the clean water that I still had in the bathroom to wash my face, then I fixed my hair that was completely disheveled. Okay, that's fine. Pleased that I no longer looked like a newly woken zombie, I left the inn, being greeted by the warm rays of the sun on my skin, the Kakariko village was much more lively now, the residents were waking up, the shops were opening, everything was taking its rightful place. I missed the heroes when I didn’t see any around, but I decided to just walk around to stretch my legs.

Last night, Time had previously left me a lot of rupees so that I could buy everything I needed, but first of all I needed something to eat. Not wanting to spend money on food, I just settled for a few – three – apples, eating them as I walked around the shops. At the general store I found a good sleeping bag. Thanks to some kind of spell, the bags on my belt are able to store everything. Apparently, this is a hero’s secret, but it’s very useful, since I didn’t have to carry everything I bought by hand.

Still at the general store, I got some basic things that I thought might be useful: ropes, a pocketknife, arrows, and candy. Well, no one ever told me what to take on na adventure. I refrained from buying more, wanting to save money for something that would be a little more expensive, the extra clothes I would have to buy. At least my old clothes, now that they were clean, could be used as pajamas occasionally, but it would still be better to have some extra practical clothes, maybe even warmer ones.

I headed towards the store I had visited previously. I was very well received, and this time there was no insistence on expensive and complex clothes. I was shown clothes in the style I was looking for. I chose one in shades of red and black, a little warmer and with some dark details. It was pretty, comfortable, and practical. It was a bit more expensive than the one I was using, but it was worth it.

With this, I guess I wouldn’t have to worry about anything else, it’s not like I need weapons or shields, since I don’t know how to use them. And I still had a lot of rupees left, I’ll give them back to the Team later. Now, what should I do? I haven’t seen any of the boys so far, and I have nothing else to do. Who would have thought that life without working all day would be so boring.

— Good morning! It’s good to see you awake so early. – Wild’s voice came from beside me, he was alone, but what caught my attention was the small cut on his right cheek.

— Good morning, what happened to you? – I said, pointing to my own cheek, signaling what I was talking about.

— Oh, this? I tried to surf on the shield while hunting with Twilight yesterday and ended up falling face down on the ground when it broke. – He spoke naturally, as if it happened all the time.

— I see... do you know where the others are? – He signaled that he didn’t.

— I just woke up, I slept too much. Have you eaten yet? I’m starving!

— I ate some apples, I’m fine. – He seemed to wilt a little at that, maybe he was expecting company, I felt bad. – But I wouldn’t mind joining you for breakfast, I’m super bored anyway. – He smiled like a child and pulled me by the hand.

— Great, you can try my omelet, it’s very good! – I laughed as he pulled me to the nearby cooking pot, I guess I would have to eat some more.

◇

— So, what did you think?

— Delicious, but I shouldn’t have eaten so much, I think I’ll skip lunch today. – The hero laughed at my situation.

— I think we should look for the others now, none of them have shown up yet. – Wild seemed more curious than worried, but I agreed. We went out to walk around the village, alert for any sign of blond heads around.

Everything seemed very calm, it was hard to worry too much with the peaceful atmosphere of the village, but I hadn’t even seen the boys returning to the inn yesterday. But maybe Wild did.

— Do you know what time they returned to the inn last night?

— Hm, no, Twilight and I arrived very late, I didn’t see anyone else arriving, didn’t they arrive before?

— Not that I saw, and I went to bed late too.

— Strange, they were gone for a long time.

Concern began to set in, we went to the fountain of the great fairy, where Hyrule had theoretically gone yesterday afternoon. Cotera confirmed that she had seen the “little one” but that he left a few hours later, before nightfall, when his brothers came to call him to do something. We continued searching around, still in the upper area of the village, passing by a bridge. I remember this place well because of that damned Yiga mission, I was caught several times, I guess description is not my strong point. Passing by the bridge we came across the sight of four exhausted Links spread across the grass, a mess, with burnt and frozen grass and some broken rocks too.

— By the goddess, what happened here? – I found myself saying, trying to understand the situation.

— Ah, just who I wanted to see! – I heard Four say happily, getting up from where he was, with something in his hands that he promptly hid behind his back until he reached me. – It took a few hours, but I finally finished it. This is for you!

– He revealed a sword, it had a perfect metal finish, with flower designs engraved along the blade, it was delicate and beautiful. Its handle was ornamental, made of wood, beautiful but still in a shape that fit well in the hands, it was short and light, perfect for a beginner.

— Four, this is beautiful! You... did this? – I looked at him in admiration, he just smiled shyly.

— WE did this! – Legend’s voice ran through the room, I finally turned my attention to the three men behind the shortest one, Hyrule, Warriors and the owner of the voice seemed proud and exhausted.

— This is incredible, it’s beautiful, I don’t deserve this, I don’t even know how to wield a sword!

– That’s why we’re going to teach you. – The Captain said, convinced. – Don’t worry, you’ll have time to learn, and you don’t need to be a great swordsman, just know the basics to defend yourself when necessary.

— I don’t even know how to thank you, I... – I interrupted myself, giving the blacksmith in front of me a tight hug as a thank you. I moved away from Four and then jumped on the three men behind him, in a group hug. Legend seemed irritated by this, but he returned the hug, as did the other two who laughed happily.

— So this is where you were since yesterday? – Wild said as I moved away from the hug.

— Well, it was a long job. – Four shrugged, handing me the sword. I admired it up close, it was perfect, I loved it.

— Every good sword needs a name, so I think I’ll call it Camellia! – I heard Legend laugh at my somewhat childish idea, and instinctively I looked at him with a sullen face that made him stop. I turned my attention back to my floral sword. – Four, you really are a rare talent as a blacksmith, Hephaestus would be proud!

— Who? – The Blond looked at me confused. Oh, right, Greek gods don’t exist here.

— No one, forget it.

I laughed a little as I put the sword back in its sheath and hung it on my back. I started walking excitedly back to the bridge I had passed.

— Come on, I want to show the others my gift! This was met with laughter as I heard their footsteps approaching to catch up with me, as we walked back to the village.

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