#and they'll just exist on my tablet forever

[slimylittlemaggot]

So my campus may or may not have a museum full of taxidermy animals.

I also may or may not have gone in.

I also may or may not have discovered a bunch of really cool animals.

I also may or may not have made a list of all the animals to draw later as ROTTMNT mutant OC and make them all one big happy family.

It might've happened, might've not.

I'll never tell.

[hawkbucks]

Love Is So Nice

Pairing: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark Universe: College/University!AU (as if there isn't enough of that on this blog already) Rating: PG-13 I guess? There's some innuendo, but nothing super explicit. Summary: Steve's happy whenever he's with Tony. Word Count: 736 A/N: Based off of Jonghyun's song of the same name. Also, this is super short, sorry. It's 3 AM as I do this and I'm my own beta, so I apologize for any errors, whether in spelling, grammar, me straight up omitting An Entire Word from a sentence, etc. etc.

It's dark in Steve's room. That's how he prefers it these days. Well, it's how his boyfriend (god, that feels weird to say; he's had a crush on Tony for so long that actually having him as his boyfriend feels like some dream) prefers it, and anything that Tony likes, Steve likes. The only lights come from the tablets Tony has scattered over the bed and Steve's own phone as he scrolls through his social media feed, a Marvin Gaye song that Sam recommended to him a few days back softly playing. He lies on his stomach.

"You sure you don't want to be out with your friends or something?" Tony says from his spot sitting next to Steve's head, back up against the wall with his legs stretched out. "S'gonna be a while until I'm done." As if to drive home his point, he puts down the tablet in his hands and picks up another one, tapping away on the screen.

Steve's 82% sure that there isn't anything important on that tablet. In fact, he's pretty sure Tony is just keeping it around for the extra light it gives, "Do you want me out that badly?" he asks, rolling over onto his back. He exaggerates his frowning.

Tony rolls his eyes but his mouth smiles. "I'd just feel bad if I was the reason you missed out on something exciting."

"I'm with you--" Steve breaks out into a grin-- "which is already pretty exciting."

"Sap."

"Yes." Steve's grin grows bigger when Tony leans down to give him a kiss.

Nothing. That's what they're doing, really. Steve's room is dark again. They're lying on their backs, staring up at the ceiling, another one of Sam's song recommendations drifting throughout the room.

Steve's body is buzzing with how close Tony's body is. They've been together for months, but it feels like just yesterday he asked Tony out. His body buzzes with the close proximity, and he finds himself laughing.

"What's so funny?" Tony asks, turning his head to look at Steve. "This isn't about what happened last week, is it?"

"N--no," Steve responds. "Although now that you mention it--"

"Don't."

"I won't." Steve steals a glance at Tony from the corner of his eye. "I'm just... happy."

Tony adjusts himself, bed springs creaking, so that he's lying on his side, his head propped up by a hand. His free hand goes to run its fingers through Steve's hair. "Me too."

Steve gently grabs that hand by the wrist and presses a kiss to the palm.

"Unclench your jaw. Relax your shoulders. You're so tense." Tony punctuates this by placing his hands on Steve's shoulders and starting to massage. "Walker up your ass again?"

Steve groans.

"I'm gonna take that as a yes." Tony sniffs. "You spell like turpentine."

"I'll shower later," Steve grunts, eyes fluttering closed. Tony's always been good with his hands. They're strong, firm, and exactly what Steve needs after hours of dealing with his hard-ass painting professor. Doesn't that fool understand that art is subjective? He's not going to mince words when it comes to evaluations.

"Is that an open invitation?"

Steve snorts, shaking his head. "You always hog the stream."

"It's not my fault you manage to get the water at the perfect temperature. I have to take advantage of it, you know."

Steve looks over his shoulder at Tony. "Is that all you're dating me for? My perfect water temperature?"

Tony meets his eyes. He doesn't mean to sound cliché, but he instantly feels like all of his worries are washed away. Tony is here. He's fine. They'll be fine. Professor Walker is a footnote in the book that is his life and all that. "I date you for other things too, you know," Tony says, snapping Steve out of his own thoughts.

"Like?"

"You make very good spaghetti."

"...I guess."

Growing up, Steve didn't believe in love lasting forever. His own parents divorced. He watched Bucky go through a rough break up with the person he said was "the one" back in high school. He's read the articles of celebrities breaking up and people proclaiming that love isn't real and has never existed. There are movies upon books upon poems upon art centered around love and the loss of it.

Love isn't forever. That's impossible.

As he lies with Tony in his arms, however, he thinks he could make it possible.

[rjcollinsauthor]

Chapter 19:

I don't know how long I stayed in my room in Henry's house. Time didn't seem to exist anymore. Teddy made sure I showered, ate, and even braided my hair. I felt so drained mentally and physically.

A knock came on my door and Henry walked in.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

He was wearing a suit and sat on my bed.

"Like hell."

"I'm sorry."

"What? No, 'I told you so'? You were right, Henry. You were so right."

The tears that I thought had dried out fell down my cheeks. Henry held me and never complained about me ruining his more than a thousand-dollar suit.

"Never. You're young, Lena. I trained you the best way I could, but you are only twenty-one. If it makes you feel  any better, Blue Rose is panicking about where all their club money went. Billions of dollars are now spread out in different accounts across the world. All gone with a little computer virus. You did it, kid. You're done."

I let go of him. "I'm nowhere near done."

"Yes, you are. I'm not having you go back to that campus. What I wanted you to achieve is done. I can handle the rest."

"Hell no. I'm going back to Casewell to finish this."

"Lena-"

"No!" I screamed. "They were going to have me trafficked. I was going to end up in some shitty place, doped up, and being raped every day. They don't get to get away with that shit."

"They won't. I'll take care of it."

"No, you can't. Edward and his father are waiting for my call. And I will give it to them when I'm ready."

Despite Henry's protest, I was back at the campus the next day. What felt like months in that room had only been two weeks. I came back expecting a pile high with homework, but being with the Blue Rose meant all that disappeared. I was back like I had never left.

I got to my dorm room and got inside, finding Riley and Jessica on my bed kissing. They both startled and broke apart when I came in. I stood in the doorway in shock.

"Lena!" Riley rushed up first with swollen lips and hugged me. "Are you okay?"

"No."

"Right, sorry. Dumb question."

Jessica got up and hugged me too.

"How long have the two of you been together?"

"We aren't together. We just fooled around a bit." Riley answered, always the romantic.

Jessica looked at her in disbelief.

"You fooled around in my bed?"

"Of course not. The kiss was out of nowhere. We were watching Lost Girl, and Bo just does something to me." Riley said.

"Uh-huh."

"Noah has been coming here every day to see if you're back. I've never seen someone so distraught."

"Well, he's a good actor. He and the boys decided to try and have me sex trafficked. I can't exactly be mad, considering this is the fight I've been waiting for."

"Are you sure Noah was involved?" Jessica asked.

"Of course he was. He called the car to come to pick me up."

"I'm going to gut him like a fish." Riley declared.

"Get in line," I said and looked over at Jessica. "How is the Blue Rose doing?"

She smiled. "Mad as fuck. I think literal smoke came out of the entire High Court."

I smiled despite feeling nothing but pain. I grabbed my purse and noticed a bag on the floor. I opened it to find the clothes I had on before those men took them off. I shivered as I pulled out the clothes. I reached into my pants pocket and found the paper that I found in the Blue Rose's house. I had stuffed it in my back pocket. I opened the letter and read it:

I hope you find this, William. I hope you can bare coming back here. I know I wouldn't have the strength. I doubt they'll ever fill this room; too much shame clouds this house. I want you to know that I'm carrying our baby inside of me, and I will ensure they get the happy, safe life they deserve away from all of this. Even if that means it's away from us. I love you more than life itself.

Your love forever, E.D

I folded the letter up and racked my brain for the list of names that I knew that were in the Blue Rose.

I couldn't think of anyone with those initials. I got up and went to my closet, where I kept my revenge tablet and unlocked it, and went to the list of Blue Rose.

"What's that?" Jessica asked.

"Some letter I found inside the Blue Rose house." I passed it to them, and I felt one of them take it.

There was something about this that didn't seem right. I looked at the names and couldn't find anyone with those initials. A fifth family that I've never heard of? That had completely vanished from existence. I was going to find out who they were and hope I could somehow get them on Henry and I's side. Taking Blue Rose money was a big step, but it wasn't the final one. No, I had much more planned.

Jessica and Riley left to do whatever, and I stayed staring at my tablet, looking for any names that could possibly be. I looked through the history that Henry somehow got his hands on and couldn't find a thing. I closed the tablet in frustration and threw myself back on my bed. The only way I would find out about this unknown family was from one of the Blue Rose families, but I refused to even be in the same space as Noah and his boys.

A knock sounded on my door as I was getting some homework done. I went to open it and closed it when I saw Noah standing there. He put his foot in the door and pushed his way in. I ran to my dresser and brung the stun gun I had stolen from Henry.

"Get the fuck out, or I'll use it." I threatened.

Noah stood there with his hair all over the place and dark circles under his eyes. He looked like he hadn't slept in a few days.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"Don't try that bullshit with me. I knew I should have never trusted you. You haven't changed. I was an idiot for thinking you did." he started to step toward me, and I aimed the stun gun at his dick. "I'm not playing with you, Noah. I will shoot you."

He held up his hands and took a step back. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you setting me up to be kidnapped and trafficked."

"What!" he shouted in such disbelief and anger I almost fell for it.

"You can save whatever bullshit is about to come out of your mouth and stick it up your ass."

"Lena, please. I didn't do anything. Randall, Avery, and Scott must have-"

"Save it. How could they have known I was going to the salon?"

"We all use the same driver service. It would have been easy for them to switch drivers."

"How did they know I was going then?"

"They must have overheard me making the appointment. Please, Lena. I can clear this all up; just talk to me."

"No. I don't believe you. We should have stayed away from each other." I tried my hardest not to cry, but the tears fell. "You think you've seen what I can do, but I haven't shown you my rage yet. Not really. But don't worry, you will. Now get the fuck out."

Noah stared at me for a bit, and for the rest time, he actually was showing his emotions. He looked like he was in pain. Like he was in gut-wrenching pain. Now he knew how I felt every time he hurt me. Noah left, and I marched to the dorm's office. I banged on the door, and a girl who was probably a senior opened it looking bored.

"What?" she said.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Should I?"

"I'm Lena Warren's daughter and a member of the Blue Rose."

Her eyes widened, and she stood at attention.

"If you ever let Noah Grant inside this dormitory, I will make your life a living hell. You understand me?"

She nodded quickly. I left satisfied and wished I had done that months ago. I went to bed, and for some reason, the only thing I could think of was one of that night back in high school when Noah was my savior.