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jynxes · 4 years ago

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Leather n’ Red - Reggie Peters

Summary: Much like the deceased boys of Sunset Curve, Duchess died right before the gig that could’ve been her band’s big break. Thing is, she left the dark room a little earlier than they did, made a couple friends and learned a few tricks. What will happen when she and the boys can be seen when singing with Julie, the only alive person that can see them all?

Paring: Reggie Peters x Duchess Himura (OC)

Word count: 2.3k

A/N: This is my first JATP fic so I’m sorry if some parts seem ooc. Also this book can be found on Wattpad if you prefer to read it there.

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Prologue // The Ballerina Necklace

June 25, 2005, The Orpheum

"Come on! One, two, three!" Marisa yells, hitting her drumsticks together before we begin the soundcheck.

Danielle begins strumming her guitar and we start singing.

"Can't count the years on one hand that we've been together I need the other one to hold you Make you feel, make you feel better It's not a walk in the park to love each other But when our fingers interlock, can't deny, can't deny, you're the worth it

Some things just, some things just make sense And one of those is you and I Some things just, some things just make sense And even after all this time

I'm into you Baby not a day goes by that I'm not into you

I should be over all the butterflies but I'm into you, I'm into you And even baby our worst nights I'm into you, I'm into you Let 'em wonder how we got this far, 'Cause I don't really need to wonder at all Yeah after all this time I'm still into you I'm still into you I'm still into you."

We finish and Danielle runs over to my mic, "We're Moonrise Edge!"

"Tell your friends!" I chime in with a smile and pick up my keytar from the song before Still Into You. We're all smiling and can't wait for tonight, tonight we're the opening act in the Orpheum, I KNOW, how amazing is that?!

"We KILLED that sound check! It was amazing!" Marisa says after giving me a quick kiss.

"Yeah, too bad it was only a soundcheck. Tonight is gonna be amazing though, it's gonna be PACKED with people and we're definitely gonna get signed by a label if we perform like that," Dani brags.

"For sure! Then we're gonna sell a bunch of albums and get a tour!" I begin adding onto the fantasy we're gonna live after we perform tonight.

"Wow, you guys were great," a voice says, and we turn, who is it but rock god TREVOR WILSON.

While I'm too busy freaking out internally Marisa is completely calm, "Thanks dude, we can't wait to open for you tonight."

"It is gonna be awesome," Dani grins.

"Oh! We didn't introduce ourselves, I'm Marisa, this is Danielle, or Dani," she says pointing to the dark-skinned girl, "And finally this is Duchess or Doll," the Hispanic girl points to me.

"Well I think you're definitely gonna go far," Trevor compliments, "What got you guys into music?"

"Thanks," I finally find my voice, "We were always kinda into music but then we heard of this old band that was kinda big like, I don't know, ten years ago? It was called Sunset Curve, some of them died from like food poisoning or something. Anyway, we heard their demo and loved it so much that we wanted to become a band."

"Yeah, that's why we chose the name 'Moonrise Edge' because of 'Sunset Curve' it was supposed to be a bit like a joke but then we started getting gig so it kinda stuck," Marisa adds on.

"Oh, okay, well I gotta go do my soundcheck," Trevor says hurriedly, seeming to get really nervous.

"Okay, see you later," Dani yells after him.

"That was weird," Marisa says.

"Yeah, it was. I wonder what it was all about," I say before putting my hand in the pocket of my leather jacket, feeling around.

"He's famous, famous people are always weird and doing weird stuff," Dani rationalizes, when I feel nothing in my pockets, I begin patting down my red flannel skirt.

"Whatever, let's just get back to our dressing room," Marisa suggests, then she turns to me, "What is with you? What are you looking for?"

"I can't find my necklace," I say, fumbling in my bag, "Where is it?"

"Why do you even need your necklace?" Dani says, "I know it's your lucky charm, but we just played that soundcheck and crushed it, meaning you don't need it to play well."

"I know, I know, it's just that I've had the necklace for each of our gigs and we always crushed it. Soundchecks don't matter, the gigs do, so it's the same with the necklace," I explain, I've had the necklace with me for each milestone of the band. When we heard Sunset Curve's demo, when we formed Moonrise Edge, when we got our first gig and finally when we were asked to play the Orpheum.

"Look, it might be in the dressing room, let's check, yeah?" Marisa says helpfully.

"Okay, yeah, let's check," I say, and we enter the dressing room. We search and we search, and we search, and the necklace is nowhere to be found.

"Wait, I think I remember where it is!" Dani yells suddenly.

"Where? Where?" I ask worriedly.

"Do you remember when we were at Mari's and we were getting changed?"

"Yeah," I say, "Get to the point!"

"It fell off in Mari's room. I told you when we were leaving, and I thought you got it because you were the last to leave. You mustn't have heard me," Dani sighs.

"Oh damn!" I facepalm, "What time is it?"

"Right now it is 6:17pm," Marisa looks at the clock.

"Okay, it's a ten-minute drive each way, just drive to mine and you'll be back with plenty of time to perform," Marisa says calmly, trying to soothe my nerves.

"Okay, okay, I'll go get it, Dani do you mind if I take your car?" I ask, while grabbing my bag.

"Sure, think fast," she says, throwing me her keys.

I catch them and begin running out the door, "I'll be right back!"

"See you, I love you, Doll," Marisa shouts.

"I love you too Mari!"

I get into Dani's car and turn the key, I reverse out of the parking spot and get out onto the road. I take the right turn and stop at the red light. I go ahead when the light turns green but suddenly, I'm going sideways, I feel a pain in my side then all I can see is black.

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July 15, 2020

I've been in this dark room for like forty-five minutes now. It's pretty boring. Basically what happened was that when I began driving again after the light turned green some asshole decided not to stop for HIS red light and he hit into me. The car turned sideways and smashed into a building, I was dead before the car stopped moving. Then I floated out of the car, I knew I was dead, and I was transported to this weird dark room. And here I am.

I start to hear music, then I realize it's Still Into You from the Moonrise Edge demo, then the music is distorted, and the ground of the dark room seems to dissolve.

I scream a little as I fall on my back. I then stand up and look around, I'm in someone's room. Then I hear the voice of a little boy.

"Who are you?" I turn around and see a Latino boy about ten or eleven with his jaw dropped.

"I- uh, I'm Duchess, who are you?" I stutter out.

"I'm Carlos, what are you doing in my room?"

"I actually have no idea," I tell him, "Last thing I remember is dying and then being in this dark room with nothing in it."

"You're dead?!" he exclaims.

"Yeah, wait, you're not? Where even am I?" I'm getting really confused now.

"You're in my room," he repeats from before, "In Los Feliz. How did you die?"

"I- Los Feliz? Wait, that where Mari lives," I realize, trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

"Who's Mari?" Carlos asks.

"Mari's my girlfriend, the drummer in my band," I overexplain to him for some reason.

"You're in a band? Cool! What's it called?"

"Moonrise Edge, we were supposed to play the Orpheum last night," I say, running my hand through my dark hair, "Wait, I wonder what they did, since I died and everything. Do you know what they did?"

"No, but I can look it up if you want," he says.

"Sure," I say.

"I'll be right back," he says before leaving the room. I walk around the room, looking at a baseball bat in the corner and a jersey lying on the bed with the number 7 on it.

Then Carlos comes rushing back into the room with some kind of device in his hand, "Okay, I've got my iPad, now what was the band called again?"

"Uh, Moonrise Edge," I say, suspicious of this 'iPad' device.

"Wow, you were in a band, and you did die, but not last night," he says, after typing on the device.

"What do you mean not last night?" I say, super confused at this point.

"You died in 2005, right?"

"Yes..."

"Well it's not 2005 anymore," he says carefully.

"What do you mean it's not 2005 anymore? I was only in that dark room for like forty-five minutes!"

"It's now 2020, you died fifteen years ago," he explains.

"WHAT!? IT'S BEEN FIFTEEN YEARS! I SPENT FIFTEEN YEARS IN SOLITUDE!?" I exclaim.

"Okay, uh, calm down, it's okay. It's okay, look, you're not alone anymore, you've got me. I'll help you with anything you need," Carlos tries to comfort me.

"But-but it wasn't that long, how has it been fifteen years?" I question.

"That, I don't know. All I know is that I'm here to keep you company, if you want. I can help you find out what happened to your bandmates, you parents or whatever and I'll get you up to speed on what you missed."

"You'd do that for me? Why?"

"Because, ghosts are pretty cool," he says simply.

"Okay aha, can we start with what happened to my bandmates?" I ask him.

"Yeah sure," he sits on his bed and ushers me to sit next to him.

"This," he points to the device in his hand, "is an iPad, it's like a computer but it's just the screen and it has a touchscreen, you use it like this," he explains, swiping his finger along the surface.

He then explains to me how to search things on it and looks up what happened to Dani and Marisa. Apparently, they went on and played the Orpheum gig without me, which I'm not mad about I mean they worked as hard as I did to get there, they deserved to play the gig. After playing they split up the band after that, believed to have done it out of respect for me, and became solo acts. Mari got signed to a label and was asked to join a band named 4 Orchids they've done a few tours and now she's living somewhere in New York. Dani went on to become a solo act and was also signed onto a label, she's done tours and collaborations and now she's living in San Francisco.

Carlos told me that if I wanted to stay in the garage behind his house. He told me that it was his mom's studio but ever since she sadly passed away last year no one's went into it. I thanked him and told him I was gonna stick around.

Then I decided to go and explore the streets of Los Angeles, see how things have changed since I died. I got to meet some cool celebrities that are dead, but I didn't make any friends today. I got to see Marilyn Monroe, gotta say, she's as hot in person as she was on film.

Before I go back to Carlos's house, I go to the house that Mari used to live in, which turns out to be next door to Carlos's. She doesn't live there anymore, but her parents do.

I walk in the hall and see the photos of Mari growing up, a couple pictures of her now and a picture of Mari, Dani and I before our first gig when we were 15. Then when I go into the living room where I see Mari's parents, Lydia and Victor, are watching something on TV. I see more picture of Mari with her parents, some with Mari and me, one of our unofficial pictures from prom, some with Mari and Dani and some with Mari and her cousins.

I go up the stairs and see Mari's bed is more or less the same as it was when I was still alive. When I go to her desk, I see my necklace lying there with a sticky note, 'Doll's necklace' is what's written. I lift my necklace and inspect the charm, the ballerina dangling from the chain. I take it and clasp it around my neck before leaving to go to Carlos's garage.

I explore Carlos's mom's studio and it's kinda cool. Up in the loft there are drums and a couple guitars, and also a bag of clothes, I don't know who owns the clothes so I'm not gonna take them. I check out the couch and it seems pretty comfortable, I lay down on it and try to go to sleep. After a few hours I realize that I don't actually need sleep, but it's an easy way to pass time.

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#jatp fanfic #jatp fanfiction #julie and the phantoms fanfic #julie and the phantoms fanfiction #jatp #julie and the phantoms #reggie peters #reggie peters fanfic #reggie peters fanfiction #reginald peters fanfic #reginald peters fanfiction #reginald peters #reggie x oc #reggie peters x oc #reginald peters x oc #nyxie writes

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sourcherrybomb · 4 years ago

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The SoKai Denny’s AU:

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Grand Slam

Synopsis: After a long and arduous day at work, Sora brings Kairi to the local Denny's to unwind and have a pleasant meal. But of course, things go to shit.

Sneak Peek: “Kairi… You’re not thinking straight…” I said as I slowly raised my hands towards my girlfriend. “Please, I just want to talk. Just put down the-”

But my words landed on deaf ears as she quickly rushed at me, a syrup-drenched butter knife in hand.

Tags: Romance, Denny's, F/M, Food

Words: 2.5k+

Fanart / Graphic by: @blissfulnightrain @the-secret-place

[OCTOBER 31, 2020 - 9:09PM]

Please just give us the details on the incident right before we arrived.

“Kairi… You’re not thinking straight…” I said as I slowly raised my hands towards my girlfriend. “Please, I just want to talk. Just put down the-”

But my words landed on deaf ears as she quickly rushed at me, a syrup-drenched butter knife in hand. Before I could even process which way she swung her weapon, I jumped backwards. Grabbing the butter knife that Kairi had previously knocked out of my hand from the ground, I blocked her attack.

In Kairi’s eyes, I saw the rage of a thousand beasts. Wild, untamed, and out for blood.

Around the two of us, as the cool autumn winds blew past us, an onlooking crowd gasped. Whether it be in fear or amazement, I’ll never know. However, what I did understand is the confusion that they all share and the one question everyone asked:

Why the H-E-Double Hockey Sticks are these two people having a knife fight in a Denny’s parking lot?

[OCTOBER 31, 2020 - 6:27PM]

Care to explain to details as to how she broke into this rage?

Of course.

Kairi headed out to her job at the cafe hours ago, being called into work due to the Halloween rush. She was hesitant at first since it was her day off, but she reluctantly left anyways because she knew the extra pay would help out with rent later in the month.

As for me, I didn’t have work today, so I was home for most of the day doing my usual routine. This is usually made up of playing video games, doing housework, and bothering my friend, Riku. But today I had decided to surprise Kairi by cooking dinner for her when she got home!

Great plan, yeah? I thought so too, right up until I realized I had ruined the spaghetti I made by burning the sauce... and somehow also the pasta? Like I didn’t even know that was possible, but somehow I did it?

I swear, the smell was bad enough to make a rat gag.

By the time I realized I had messed up, I knew it’d be too late. In the middle of my mad scramble to clean up the kitchen and get rid of any evidence, Kairi walked into our apartment.

Now I may be an idiot, but I’m not stupid. I took one look at Kairi and could tell that she was not having any of it. Her work uniform was disheveled and covered in various stains and crumbs. Kairi’s thumbs were fidgeting with the hem of her work shirt. When I looked into her tired, glazed over eyes, I saw a seething flame within them.

It was like a ticking time bomb in the shape of my girlfriend.

“Sora…” Kairi said tiredly. “Were you trying to cook? Again?”

I laughed nervously, shamefully resting a sauce pan into the sink. “I knew you’d be tired from work, so I wanted to make sure you could at least eat something when you got home!” I dried my hands and signaled Kairi towards me. Following suit, she practically kicked the shoes off her feet as she walked towards me.

“Dude, I love you,” she said this as she slumped into my arms. “But please stop burning things in our kitchen.”

“Sorry…” Slumping further into my arms, it was like she was melting. I had to sort of prop her against our kitchen counter in order for me to keep on carrying her. “Listen, let me at least make it up to you.”

“How?” Kairi looked up at me, the fire in her tired eyes dying down a bit.

“I was thinking of bringing you out somewhere to eat while we let the apartment air out…”

“It does smell like a burnt down Pizza Hut in here.” Kairi sighs as she traded her flats for sneakers. “Where were you thinking of taking us?”

I opened up my phone and pulled up my bank account.

Available Balance: $365.13

“Let’s just say I’m looking for a place that’s budget-friendly”

“Oh thank god,” Kairi said. “I can wear sweatpants and not give a crap.”

“Exactly!” I let go of Kairi and started to dump the burnt mass of pasta into our trash bin. “You take a load off and dress into more comfy clothes while I get rid of… this.”

[OCTOBER 31, 2020 - 7:16PM]

You know, bad days at work don’t usually cause people to attempt a stabbing.

Trust me… If it was just the bad shift, I’d agree.

Normally when I bring my girlfriend to the local Denny’s, it’s surprisingly not a bad time. Our friend Olette works as the hostess there, so we can usually get our seats pretty quickly. I usually get a Grand Slam to get my fix on pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausage. It’s a combo that always hits the spot when it’s 3AM, I’m hyper-aware of the world around me, and Riku is trying to find someone to take home on Sparklr. Kairi usually gets a Hammy & Cheese Omelette, mainly because she prefers the pancakes at IHOP. I always like to joke about giving her a Grand Slam once we get home.

Tonight was not the night to make those kinds of jokes. It was like the gods themselves had it out for my girl tonight.

7:45PM: Kairi and I arrived at Denny's and were told that Olette took the night off due to a cold. We were told that the wait would be close to half an hour.

8:02PM: Kairi’s left earbud died as the toddler next to us started bawling as she sang the ‘Baby Shark’ song. Mother of the child in question was too busy flirting with a busboy 20 years her junior to quiet her child.

8:07PM: Kairi dropped 27,000 Jewels in JHUX gacha trying to get a SN++ Illus. JH III Zola. All the medals obtained were ones that had been out of the meta for months.

8:17PM: Kairi and I were finally seated. Our table had sticky spots from syrup and crumbs on the seats. We asked our waitress, Asheleigh, if someone could come clean this up. The two of us were met with an unenthusiastic “Uhhh, sure?” as she called over a clearly stoned janitor. He sprayed the table once, wiped it once, and knocked the crumbs off the seats. Asheleigh took our orders with a sigh.

When I looked over at Kairi, I could tell the last half hour had done a number to her. An hour ago her anger was already near its boiling point, but now… It was like the seething fire within her eyes had evolved into a star about to burst into a supernova.

A beautiful sight indeed, but also one of pure destruction on a cosmic level.

“So Kai…” I nervously said. “Looking forward to the weekend?”

Her hands folded on the table, Kairi’s dead but fiery eyes staring out the window.

“...yes.”

C’mon man, think! I thought to myself. Anything to take her mind off this fustercluck of a situation!

“So I don’t know if you heard about this at work, but looks like JH: Master of Melodies is gonna have a preorder bonus!”

Silence.

“Y-Yeah, turns out if we get it over at Game Central Station, you get a couple bonus songs that would have been DLC! Isn’t that great?”

“...preorder exclusivity bonuses force game developers to split content amongst greedy retailers, alienating groups of consumers from experiencing the game at its 100% value.” Kairi says in a deadpan.

Crap, she’s being critical about video games... I thought to myself. Now I know I’m never gonna get through to her… Why can’t this food come any—

“Soooo I have your food.” Our waitress said, as she hastily put our plates on the table. “A Grand Slam for the spiky haired dude and a Hammy & Whatsits Omelette for his lady. Enjoy, or whatever.”

“Thank you…” I awkwardly said as I thanked whatever deity heard my prayers. “Well Kai, time to dig in!”

Silently, Kairi cut into her omelette and brought a piece over to her mouth. As if it were on cue, the food fell from the fork and onto her pants. She nonchalantly picked it off her pants and shoved it into her mouth, the look in her eyes somehow becoming even more dead.

I let out a deep exhale and started to stuff my pancakes in my face. I didn’t even notice that I held my breath in. I was honestly just quite relieved that Kairi didn’t explode then and there. We could finally just sit down, eat our food, and take a load off.

[OCTOBER 31, 2020 - 9:01PM]

Man, she really went through the ringer.

Honestly, I’m surprised she didn’t go feral sooner.

Luckily for the both of us, the incident with the fallen food was the only thing that got in the way of our meal. I was able to finish my Grand Slam and Kairi was able to scarf down her Hammy and Cheese Omelette. Looking at her face, I saw that some of the restrained rage in her eyes had been replaced with a much more tired aura.

“Hey Kai…” I softly put my hand on hers. “How ya doing?”

Sighing, she gently put my hand to her cheek. “I… I just want to get home, lie down, and forget today happened.”

After giving her a small peck on the cheek, I smiled. “That can be arranged! Now c’mon, let’s just hand this bill over and head out of here.”

But things are never simple as they seem to be.

Just as Kairi and I got out of our chairs, an ear-piercing “Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo,” came rushing down the aisle. Out of nowhere, Baby Shark Toddler bumped into Kairi, spilling the milkshake in her tiny hands all over Kairi’s legs.

“Oh sonova- Hey you!” Just steps away from the child, her mother called to us. She talked and walked with the cadence of a woman ready to chew out a teen part-timer at their first job. “Just what do you think you’re going to do about this?”

“Excuse me?” I asked in obvious confusion. “I’m pretty sure your daughter was the one who bumped into my-”

“Wasn’t talking to you, Spiky!” she snapped. “Listen up, Red, I want some recompense for my kid’s spilled drink! You think that cheap manager is gonna give me another one for free?”

“Hey now, names are uncalled for!” I retorted. “And not like it’s our fault your daughter ran into my- Kairi?”

A quiet but powerful groan escaped Kairi’s mouth, cutting me off. Her formerly clenched hands had started to crookedly flex open and contort. The tiredness in her eyes died away, being left with the energy of the ticking time bomb.

One that was seconds away from levelling a building.

“A…pologize,” Kairi said in a shaky voice. “Riiiiight. Now.”

“Apologize?” The woman mockingly laughed in her face. “Why woul-”

Before I or any of the onlookers realized, Kairi had the mother pinned down to the ground, a butter knife held to her throat. “APOLOGIZE! APOLOGIZE YOU-”

“KAIRI HOLY MOTHER OF-” As soon as my brain caught up with my eyes, I ripped Kairi off the mother and made space between them. When I turned around, I saw the woman crawling away in a frenzy, trying to escape like a dog walking with its tail between their legs.

“AaAAAaaaaaRrhrrhhgg…” A nearly inhuman growl came out of Kairi’s mouth, the grip on her butter knife tightening. When I looked into her eyes, I understood.

In removing the rude mother from the equation, I had become the focus of Kairi’s blinding rage.

“Kairi…” I slowly raised my hands towards her. “I know you’ve been through a lot today. The car is right outside. I can take you back right now, all you need to do is calm-”

“AAAAaAAaAAaaa!” Lunging at me like a mad dog, Kairi let out a guttural yell.

This is because I told her to calm down, isn’t it? I asked myself mid-dodge. Before a second thought could even pop into mind, Kairi spun into another attack from her lunge. I rolled backwards to dodge the attack, and picked up a butter knife off the table to defend myself with. After all, it was the best I could do right now. With how fast and unpredictably Kairi was moving, my only options were to dodge fast enough, or block if I was too slow.

It was like I was defending myself against a dancing blender with a knife.

Before I knew it, Kairi’s vicious attacks and my continuous defense brought us back to the entrance of the Denny’s.

And into the parking lot.

[OCTOBER 31, 2020 - 9:32PM]

“And right before your girlfriend was able to stab you with the butter knife, we arrived-”

“And tased her, yes.” I respond. “Officer Lockheart, I understand you were doing it for my safety, but I’m honestly still super concerned for Kairi.”

“And that is completely understandable,” she responds. “I can assure you that the officer that took her in exercised the most caution as effectively possible when using the taser.”

“Thank you. Is it possible to see her now?”

“The shock seemed to bring her back to her senses, so her questioning seemed to go by smoothly.” Officer Lockheart taps a pen on her chin. “I suppose it would be fine.”

After signalling one of the other officers to open the door, the two of us walked out of the interview room. Down the hall, I see Kairi wrapped in a blanket, drinking from a cup of coffee. As soon as she notices me, she puts down the mug and rushes into a hug.

“Sora, oh my god I’m so sorry!” Kairi says as she nuzzles into my chest. “I-I just really lost myself and-”

“It’s fine, it’s fine!” I chuckle. “Honestly you’d give Riku a run for his money in a sparring match if you fought against him one-on-one!”

“I’ll let you two comfort each other for a bit,” Officer Lockheart tells us. “For now just stay here, I’ll see what the higher ups have to say about the situation.”

“Thanks, ma’am!” Kairi says back. Smiling and nodding, Officer Lockheart walks away.

For a while, the two of us sort of just sit in quiet. People who enter the room pay us no attention, but occasionally an officer would come up to us and ask if we needed anything. Other than that, it was just the two of us enjoying each other’s comfort.

“God, I really needed this,” Kairi tells me.

“Cuddling in a police station?” I question. “Or getting arrested for attacking people in a Denny’s”

“Jerk.” Kairi giggles as she flicks my forehead. “Nah, I mean just this! Me and you wrapped in a blanket.”

“Honestly I wish we could have done it back at the apartment. Luckily, by the time we get out of here, it should stop smelling like a I blew up a pizzeria.”

“That would have been nice in the moment, but when we get home I think I’d want something else.”

“Oh? What would that be?”

“Weeelll…” Kairi checks her surroundings, then leans towards my ear. “You never did make that Grand Slam joke of yours back at the Denny’s. Does that mean I won’t get one once we get back home?”

The whisper of her voice is enough to send a shiver down my back. I look into her eyes and instead of the rage or tiredness I saw before, I saw something much more… Carnal.

I give Kairi a peck on the lips and flash a mischievous smile.

Destiny Island Denny’s, we might never be allowed on your establishment ever again, which I understand.

But thank you for possibly the best Grand Slam of my life.

#sokai #kingdom hearts #kingdom hearts fanfiction #fanfiction #sora #kairi #oneshot #f/m #romance #tw: food #sourcherrybomb #denny's

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lilmissbeanie · 4 years ago

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Navigation Haikyuu Masterlist

Tetsuro Kuroo x F!Reader. Fluffy Word Count ~ 4.3k Happy very late birthday to a dear friend of mine, I hope you had a great day girl!

KozumeKenma is going live!

The girl grinned at the notification that flashed up at the top of the screen of her phone. Her favourite streamer who she had been watching since he started streaming, she had just randomly found him playing some Minecraft years ago and decided to watch, she had been a loyal follower since that day, his streams always made her laugh and she loved how relaxed he was, she would often pop up in the chat, commenting on the game. Kenma had recognised her as one of his top fans, she had VIP status on his streams and he always said hi to her. Y/n had noticed that he was looking a little more run down recently, so she would often pop up telling him to hydrate or go get some food. She often used buying a treat for Kenma through streamer treats and he would often scold her for another pizza or ice cream Sundae, but Y/n knew he didn't mean it especially when it was her favorite pizza, she had been sending water with them too as the boy seemed to live on soft drinks.

Opening her laptop she turned it waiting for it to load up, it usually took a little while now, she needed to get a new one, this one had to be about seven years old now so it was starting to get a little slow now but it still did the job for now anyway. While she waited, her fingers tapped against keyboard on her slightly cracked screen of her phone,

Snowy Bluewolf: Happy wednesday! How are you?

She heard Kenma chuckle, of course she was the first to message the chat. “Hey there, as always you are straight in the chat Wolfie.” Kenma gave a smile seeing her username, Snowy Bluewolf. “I’m good thank you, how is your lock down wednesday going?”

Snowy Bluewolf:: Ah you know the usual, I got out of bed, moved to the couch to play on the ps4 and haven’t moved since unless to get food or another drink.

“Ah, what have you been playing today?”

Snowy Bluewolf: Just some bloodborne, still terrible at the game

He chuckled, “It is a hard game wolfie, the offer still stands, anytime.” She smiled, she had told him she had started playing bloodborne over the lockdown and that she was finding the game incredibly difficult and he had offered to help her out if need be.

Snowy Bluewolf:: I heard orphan is a bitch to beat so I will give that one a few tries and then I may take you up on the offer! Thanks, Kenma!

“Okay, the rest of you, stop being jealous, you all know Wolfie has been here since day one and she is super loyal follower so of course I’m going to talk to her!” Kenma rolled his eyes playfully at the jealous messages in chat, Kenma looked dead in the camera with a playful look in his golden eyes as he teased the rest of his followers “She is also one of my mods so watch it.”

The girl laughed, she had never abused her power as a mod in his discord or in the twitch chat she only kicked those who didn’t obey the rules. She also was friends with Kenma. On discord they were quite good online friends now and they do play games together in private and they do have quite a laugh together.

“Right let’s get on with the stream!” Kenma said getting straight into the game.

Y/n had gotten her laptop all set up and ready now, she lounged out on the sofa, getting comfy for the Animal Crossing New Horizons stream. She would lurk in the chat making sure that everyone was behaving, she rarely had to time out anyone, but she liked to keep an eye making sure everyone is behaving, over the eight years she has been a part of Kenma’s streams and been a mod she had only have to ban about a couple hundred people though she had timed out a lot more than that, she reckons she has hit over the thousands or more.

She smiled as she watched Kenma update his island, trying to make it five stars, he had built his orchard, a zen garden and a flower garden, it was looking quite stunning so far. Had been streaming about an hour and half when she noticed he had yet to have a drink.

Snowy Bluewolf: Oi, Kenma! Hydrate would you, have some H2O smh

“Ergh, Wolfie you are starting to sound like my friend Kuroo.” He sighed, grabbing his water bottle, and having a drink. “Always telling me to drink something...” He tightens the cap on the bottle.

Nekomasbestcaptain: I heard my name? What shit are you saying about me now?

Y/n giggled at the fact his best friend had been lurking in Kenma’s stream this whole time, Y/n knew of Kuroo his best friend but had never spoken to him even as a mod all these years. “Nothing Kuroo, just saying Wolfie is as bad as you, reminding me to hydrate.”

Nekomasbestcaptain: Wolfie? Oh, you mentioned her before. One of your mods, right?

Kenma glanced at the chat quickly, before replying, “Yep.”

Snowy Bluewolf: @Nekomasbestcaptain hi! I am the one making sure he stay’s hydrated and that he eats

Nekomasbestcaptain: @Snowybluewolf haha thanks he does forget like all the time.

For the rest of the stream Kuroo and Y/n chatted and flirted back and forth, Kenma rolling his eyes at his two best friends.

To: Kenma From: Kuroo Sent: 04:14pm Dude, how can I talk to wolfie other than through your streams?

To: Kuroo From: Kenma Sent: 08:17pm Discord.

Kuroo had never downloaded an app so quick in his life, he created his account, got Kenma’s discord tag added to him then begged him to allow him to join his discord server before tracking down Y/n and private messaging her.

The months of lockdown flew past, Y/n and Kuroo bonding over the course of three months, they had gotten to the point they would video call in bed usually with Y/n falling asleep while they chatted which he found super cute.

Nekomasbestcaptain: Hey, Y/n seeing as lockdown is finally over, did you, maybe fancy going for dinner?

Kuroo sat at his desk in his home office as he chewed on his lip as watched her name pop up at the bottom of the chat bar in discord, before disappearing and reappearing again.

Snowy Bluewolf: Sure (*ﾉ▽ﾉ) I would love too. Rather than going out for now, maybe we could have a stay at home dinner, like we each cook a course and share one?

The grin was spread across both their lips as they stared at their phones, the crushes they had developed over the past few months had come clear and they had slyly admitted it to one another and Kenma hated how they were with each other yet loved it cause they both deserved to be happy. Kuroo’s eyes sparkled as he read the message.

Nekomasbestcaptain: Sure, who’s place shall we do it at? I don’t mind travelling to yours.

Snowy Bluewolf: We can do it at my place and I’ll pop out and buy the food for the mains if you don’t me doing that course.

Nekomasbestcaptain: Sounds like a plan. I'll make the starter and we could have a cheese board for dessert?

Snowy Bluewolf: You are talking my language rooster boi! So, friday?

Nekomasbestcaptain: Friday is perfect, 6?

Snowybluewolf: 6 is perfect, I’ll send you my address on friday

Y/n couldn’t help but squeal she had a date with this beautiful man, it may be a home date, but she had a date. Kuroo flopped back in his desk chair, he had done it he had finally asked her out.

Friday rolled around in a flash both arguing over who was buying the cheese, in the end Y/n won to buy the cheese and crackers but Kuroo said he would be buying the wine. Y/n decided to make a sushi from scratch, Y/n wasn’t going to admit it, but she did want to show off a little. She had all the equipment she needs to make sushi at home she had just never used the sushi kit she had brought.

Kuroo had spent days trying to work out what he would make for the starter, he finally decided on tempura. He wanted to make a mix of vegetables and fish. He knocked on her door, with a few bags in hand.

The door opened shortly after, he was met by a h/c haired girl, her e/c eyes peering up at him, with a shy smile on her face, “Hey rooster boy.”

“Hello Chibi-chan,” Since he discovered she was the same height as Kenma he had begun to call her Chibi-chan, he loved how a light blush covered her cheek bones. He smiled at her leaning down pecking her forehead, not chancing more yet seeing as this was the first date. Biting her lip, she stepped back gesturing for him enter, trying not let the blush erupt over her cheeks from the feeling of his lips against her forehead. It was a small innocent gesture that caused goosebumps erupted over her skin as she knew the small peck had a deeper meaning behind it. The pair had become comepletely and utterly smitten with one another.

Showing him into the open plan kitchen sitting room “Can I get you anything to drink?” She asked leaning on the counter, “I brought some wine with me” Kuroo grinned pulling a bottle of wine out of one of the bags. Y/n smiled in return, opening the cupboard by the fridge pulling out to large crystal-clear wine glasses, while opened the bottle with the corkscrew. “What have you planned for starters?”

Tetsu gray orbs met hers as he poured them a glass each, “I was thinking of making Tempura. What are you doing for mains?”

The girl took a sip of the wine and sighed, her eyes widening at the smooth taste coating her tongue and the velvety texture running down her throat, “Well I was goinf to make sushi but I’m thinking screw the starter and mains and let’s just have a cheese and wine night, Tetsu this wine is delicious what is it?”

“Cabinet Sauvignon by a California vineyard called dark horse,” Kuroo swirled the wine in his glass before smirking “and I won’t say no to a cheese night.”

Y/n emptied out the carrier bags taking everything that needed to go in the fridge and placing it there, before giving him a playful look with raised eyebrows at the 3 other bottles of wine she removed from the bags. “Tetsurou are you planning to get me drunk this evening?”

“What?” Elongating the word, “No! Whatever gave you that idea?!” He gasped, placing a hand over his chest struggling to keep the fake offended look on his face, before they both cracked up laughing, the pair relaxing in each other presence for the first time that evening.

“So, cheese and wine night?” The nod of Kuroo’s head joined with the twinkle in his eye was all Y/n need to grab one of her wooden chopping boards, the crackers from the cupboard before she pulled the fridge door open and snatching the selection of cheese, she had brought earlier that day from the fromagerie, the strong-smelling shop contained a wide variety delicious French cheese.

Y/n wasn’t sure what kind of cheese Kuroo would like she got some milder ones as well as some strong ones, the milder ones being those like brie, camembert and cantal, a cheddar like cheese, the stronger ones like Roquefort and stilton. She had gotten quite a mix of hard and soft cheese too. Taking all the cheese out of their respective wrappings before placing them on the wooden board.

Kuroo watched each of her movements carefully from his seat at the breakfast bar, she did everything so gracefully and he was awestruck by how beautiful she was, he already thought she was when they video chatted but seeing her in person was a whole other ball game. He watched as she stood on her tiptoes, reaching into the cupboard to get down two small side plates, her flowing red blouse riding up slight allowing him to catch a glimpse of her smooth looking s/c skin of her waist. The way she bent over as she rummaged through the fridge looking for something, gave him perfect view of her arse in her skin-tight dark blue Levi's over the rim of his wine glass as he took another sip. He glanced away as she straightened up, turning around with some chutneys in hand, making it seem like he was admiring the apartment rather than the owner of it.

“Did up want to sit here or move to the sofa?” She asked gesturing towards the dark blue loveseat with a pair of matching armchairs that was placed opposite a flat screen TV on that was mounted to the wall with a light oak sideboard under it, he could see through the glass of the doors that it contained a PlayStation four, Nintendo switch and a range of games and DVDs, separating the two was a coffee table that matched the sideboard, light oak with a glass top. “Sure, the sofa sounds good.”

Kuroo grabbed the two glasses wine and made his way after y/n to the sofa as she made her way over to the coffee table with the wooden board with the cheese on before they both when to grab the condiments and utensils.

“Hey, google, shuffle wake up and smell the coffee.” Y/n called out to her google home which sat on the side board under the TV.

“Okay, I’ll shuffle the Spotify playlist wake up and smell the coffee.”

The gentle strumming of the guitar of Comethru by Jeremy Zucker played threw the Google home. The pair got comfy on the loveseat, letting the music flow through the apartment, they both snacked on the cheese and biscuits chatting and talking about their days at work. “It’s nice to not having to go into the office that often yet I do procrastinate while I’m at home.”

“Oh god I am just the same and Kenma is not helping when he streams when I am trying to work.” The girl laughed as she sipped at her wine enjoying the smooth texture.

“I have Kenma’s streams playing as background noise these days myself.” Kuroo added with his own deep chuckle as he watched the girl drink her wine and the way the tip of her tongue darted out over red full lips, temptated to kiss them to discover how soft they are , “This one is nice.” Kuroo said grabbing another cracker with some brie with the fig chutney, Y/n hummed agreeingly in response as she had her own mouthful of blue cheese and cracker, taking a sip of her wine before responding, “The fig chutney does go well with brie, try the blue cheese with a sip of wine.”

He did as she suggested and his eyes widened at the mixture of mouth-watering tastes, “damn that’s good.” He grabbed another chunk of the blue cheese, placing it on his plate and grabbed another cracker. The cheese board didn’t last long between them even with the six different cheeses they keep eating until there wasn’t even a crumb left.

“Whoa, I’m stuffed.” Kuroo sighed as he flopped back on the cushions of the sofa, they had finished a bottle of wine and began the next. Copying his movement, Y/n made herself comfy on sofa, the music still softly playing in the background, 1994 by Alec Benjamine harmony filled the room. “God, I love cheese nights.”

“I have decided, this,” He gestured to the empty plates, board and the bottles wine “Shall become our first tradition. We will have regular cheese nights.” Kuroo said, nodding in agreement with his own decision with a proud smile. A gentle smile crossed her rosy lips again, the look in her jewel-like eyes holding a matching look, nodding in agreement with his idea. Their first tradition, Y/n was filled with giddiness and tried not to squeal at the fact he wanted to start making traditions with her, “I’d like that.”

His grey eyes watching as she curled her legs up under herself, her left elbow resting on the back of the couch, her chin resting on her on the palm of that hand and in her right hand held the wine glass which rested on her knee. The small ball jumping up on the sofa between them broke him out of his trance of checking her out. His eyes landed on the black kitten whose large blue eyes were briming with curiosity. “Oh, there you are Luddy.” Sitting up slightly, the h/c leaned forward enough to gently pet the kitten, the second Y/n fingers met the top of his head, Luddy began to purr, his blue eyes closing in contentment.

“Did you have a nice sleep baby?” Y/n cooed to the bundle of fur starching behind his ear making him lean into his touch, Kuroo was in awe as he watched her coo over the small creature. “Do you want some dreamies?” The kittens eyes seem to fly open at the word dreamies as if he understood what his own had said, he looked at her and gave her a small meow. Y/n giggled placing her glass down on the coaster before standing up.

“Okay you make friends with Tetsu while I grab the dreamies.” Starching the back of Luddy’s head, Y/n gathered up the plates and knifes an placed them on the wooden board along with the chutneys and taking them to the kitchen, leaving Kuroo and a kitten staring at one another, molten grey eyes staring into inquisitive sapphire blue ones. In the background you could hear dishwasher being loaded and the opening and closing of cupboards as Kuroo gently reached a handout allowing the small cat to sniff his calloused fingers, from all those years playing volleyball, before Luddy rubbing up against the man's large hands purring, he stood up walking over to Kuroo sitting down on his lap, allowing Kuroo to continue to pet him, purring happily at the affection. Y/n watched the interaction from the kitchen smiling, before shaking the bag of dreamies, causing Luddy’s ears to prick up and turn to look where the sound came from, he jumped over the back of the sofa trotting his way towards the sound of the treats. Kuroo watched as Y/n opened a ball with a few holes in it, pouring the treats in, shutting it and placing it on the floor for Luddy who ran up to it and batted the ball across the room causing the treats to fall out of the holes. Y/n walked back over to the sofa, grabbed her glass of wine off the table, taking a seat next to Kuroo, whose arm was resting across the back of the sofa, where she was sat it looked like it was placed around her shoulders. Trying his luck, he placed it around her shoulder and tugged her into his side, “Come ‘ere.” To which she responded to his tug by curling into his side, head resting on his chest while he drew gentle circles on her shoulder happily relaxing into the sofa with her curled up to him.

It was peaceful as the pair led there on the sofa curled into one another, the only sound in the room was Luddy’s ball rolling around and the music still quietly playing, “This is nice Tetsu,” Humming in agreement, he kissed the top of her head allowing his lips to linger inhaling in her soft scented shampoo. He could get used to this, ruining the perfect scene was a loud ringtone going off.

"Is Kenma really streaming at this time?” The girl sighed untangling herself from Kuroo to get her phone from the kitchen counter where she had left at the start of the evening. “Ya know, he only lives around the corner,” Y/n turned to look at Kuroo confusingly as her eyes met with his that held a mischievous glint, “and I have a key.”

Y/n confusion turned into a smirk as she caught onto what Tetsuro was planning, her eyes brighten up and nodded in excitement, this would be the first time she was meeting her favourite streamer and she would gate crashing his apartment with his best friend. “Can we stop and buy food and drinks for him? I bet he hasn’t eaten.”

Kuroo couldn’t help but be just as enthusiastic as her, seeing her excited was contagious and made him just as excited. “Of course, we can” He smiled pulling on his shoes and jacket as Y/n did the same. “Luddy be good while we’re gone. Mummy loves you baby.” She blew a kiss towards the kitten who was sat on the sofa looking at the pair with a bored look in his eyes as they stepped out of Y/n apartment door. They made their way to local convenience store fingers entwined together as they searched for Kenma’s favourite soft drink and a few bottles of water before going to the pizza takeaway and order the largest pizza they could with Kenma’s favourite toppings. Y/n couldn’t believe how close they lived together, Kenma live barely 2 streets over, they had the same local takeaways and supermarkets she was surprised they had never bumped into one another before.

Kuroo entered the code to Kenma’s apartment building, saying hi to the kind looking receptionist who knew him very well with how often he visits his best friend, Y/n sent a wave to the lady behind the desk who returned it with a smile. “Back to see Kenma I see Kuroo, and who is this?”

“Hi, yep!” He popped the p “This is Y/n she is my girlfriend and actually I met her through Kenma streams she’s one of his mods and he decided to stream during out first date so we thought we would come and crash his stream” The lady giggled and nodded, noticing the blush that exploded over h/c girls cheeks as she heard Kuroo tell the receptionist that she was his girlfriend. “Pleasure to meet you Y/n have fun crashing his stream.”

“pleasure to meet you too. And thank you we shall.” The girl replied with a smile as Kuroo tugged on their entwined hands towards the elevator, he hit the button for the eighth floor and watching the doors close as the pair made their way up to his floor, Kuroo fished his set of keys out of his pocket, “So we’re going to sneak in and sneak to his stream room and throw the door open and yell at him to hydrate right?”

“That’s the plan.” The girl nodded bouncing on the balls of her feet. She was so excited to do this. The bell ding in the elevator signalling they had arrived at the eighth floor, stepping out the made in along to apartment 803, Y/n took the carrier bag from Kuroo’s hand as he slipped the key into the lock carefully turning it to unlock the door quietly, they slipped inside stylish modern apartment, they both took there shoes and jackets off, placing the bottles of water and one of his soft drink bottles on the counter, before sneaking there way towards Kenma’s stream room.

Showing three fingers Y/n began the silent countdown, She knew the whole stream would see this as Kenma had recently moved his stream room around so his back was now facing the door.

3...

2...

1...

Kuroo threw the door open “YO KENMA! HYDRATE!” The pair yelled at the same time, they watched as the streamer jumped five foot in air out of fright and the stream chat was moving at a mile a second asking what was going on. Kenma pulled his cat ear headphones off his head placing them down on his desk slowly turning around in his desk chair to find Kuroo leaning against the door frame one arm around his date and in his other hand was his Kenma’s drink while Y/n was snuggled into his side with the pizza box in hand. Both of their face held large cheeky grins.

“Kuroo? Wolfie?” He questioned, Kuroo was the first to speak between the couple, “This what you get for crashing our date with your stream”

“Oh, so now I have to plan my streams around your dates?” Kenma sassed them. The h/c cocked an eyebrow before replying, “Yep, you do.”

Kenma laughed at her response, watching as the pair stepped into the room, Y/n thrust the pizza box into his hands “bet you haven’t eaten yet tonight so here it’s your favourite.” Before she pushed his chair with him in it out of the way and crouching down to be eye level with the webcam seeing herself in the video, of the stream managers on Kenma’s second monitor, “Hey chat! It’s me, Wolfie! You best be all behaving while I am not there to mod you” She winked into the camera, noticing Kuroo making his way over to her kneeling down behind her, he was still taller than her, he placed his chin on his head, reading what the chat was saying.

It was exploding with laughter over how they made an entrance, to how pretty Wolfie is and how handsome Kuroo was. “He is handsome isn’t he but hands off he’s mine.” Y/n replied sticking her tongue out at the chat.

“This gorgeous girl is mine so back off lads I can see yall eyeing her up.” Kuroo growled out playfully.

Kenma just sat in his chair chopping happily on his pizza while shaking his head at his two best friends who had just stolen all the limelight of his stream, which had gone from a Bloodborne stream to just chatting in a matter of seconds, with a gentle smile on his face glad they were happy together.

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etherealwaifgoddess · 5 years ago

Text

More Time - Chpt.8

Summary: Faced with an entire day to himself while Bucky is off at work, Steve finds himself struggling to fill his time. After a long afternoon at home he talks himself into going back the bar to see a certain redheaded bartender. Master list is HERE.

Warnings/ Content: Brief mention of Steve having poor body image.

Word Count: 2.2k

Author’s Note: Hello lovelies! I am so in love with the 70 degree weather right now that I can’t even think of anything clever to say about this chapter. Please know that as soon as this is posted I will be retreating back outdoors to my super awesome lawn chair to bask in the warm sun until I absolutely positively have to go in to feed my kids. Hope it’s nice where you are too and that you got to enjoy some sun today. XOXO - Ash

Chapter Eight

Steve felt oddly out of place the following Monday when Bucky was off to work and he wasn’t due back to the VA until the next day. He had his appointment with Bruce and Helen in the morning but that went quickly and he was still as healthy as he would ever be. He wandered around a few museums Bucky had gifted him with memberships to but that only filled a few hours of his morning. Steve was avoiding texting Bucky, not wanting to feel like a desperate little housewife, but he was running out of things to occupy himself with. He settled for watching a movie with General while he ate lunch. He heated up some leftover chicken and ended up sharing it with the cat who sat politely next to Steve waiting patiently for any scraps he was willing to share. After the movie, Steve holed himself up in his studio letting his art carry him away for the rest of the afternoon; he figured he could at least be productive that way.

It was past dinner time when Steve’s phone lit up with a ping of an incoming message.

Jerkface [6:42:17PM]: hey bb how r u?

Stevie G [6:42:26PM: I’m good. How did things go today?

Jerkface [6:43:48PM]: long tiring ready 2 b home

Stevie G [6:44:03PM]: What time are you guys getting in?

Jerkface [6:44:36PM]: leaving @ 1930 3hr flight

Stevie G [6:44:57PM]: Okay, I’ll probably still be up when you get back. Miss you.

Jerkface [6:45:04PM]: miss u 2 give general a pet 4 me

Steve sighed, he didn’t expect a day on his own to feel so long. He wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of sharing another lonely meal with the cat but his stomach rumbled and he knew he needed to figure out dinner sooner rather than later. Steve wondered what the odds were that Emma, the bartender from Friday, would be working again if he stopped in for dinner. He did want to apologize for his behavior despite Bucky insisting he hadn’t been as terrible as he feared. Steve slowly talked himself into going as he packed away his paints. The food there was decent and he had liked the cozy feel of the place, it would be nice to get out for a bit since Bucky wouldn’t be home until late.

General Meow looked up from his spot on the bed and watched with bored disinterest as Steve searched through the closet. He wasn’t dressing up, he told himself, he just couldn't go out in paint splattered clothes. He had been meaning to try out some of the soft, heavy dress pants he’d bought for the winter anyway. And if he was wearing dress pants, well then he couldn’t just put on a tee shirt. Steve adjusted the collar of his blue checkered shirt, tugged at the hem of the navy blue sweater he’d put on over top of it, standing back to assess himself in the full length mirror. He looked kind of nice, he mused. He tried to focus on the things he did like about himself as his therapist had taught him to do but it was difficult when all he saw was what was wrong. He tried reframing his negative thoughts and found that equally exhausting.

Logically he knew his thick glasses made his eyes stand out, and he had always liked his eyes. Just like he knew the layer of softness across his middle meant he was healthy and no longer underweight. But staring at himself in the mirror, he wished he’d given the contact lenses another try and was thankful that the heavy sweater covered him well enough that he could pretend he still had a toned body underneath it.

Steve shook his head at himself, when did he get so vain? He turned to the cat who had gone back to napping, “I’ll be back in a little bit, General.” He told him. The cat opened an eye to acknowledge he had been spoken to but went right back to napping. Steve bundled on his winter coat and gloves, grabbing Bucky’s scarf too at the last minute because it was cold outside and not because it smelled like Bucky and Steve missed him.

It was a short but bitter cold walk down the block to Matty’s Bar and Steve’s lungs were protesting fiercely by the time he got inside. He fumbled with his inhaler and his gloves, finally getting two good puffs in to loosen up the tightness in his chest the icy winter air had caused. Sighing a heavy breath of relief Steve started unzipping his coat and finally looked down the bar to see if Emma was working. He jumped, almost knocking over the stool next to him, when he realized Emma was standing directly across from him; watching with an amused expression.

“Hey Steve.” Emma said, giving him that same sympathetic smile she’d given on Friday when he’d let the bourbon go to his head. Emma had watched him race inside from the cold and struggle to get his breathing under control. She wanted to ask him if he was okay but he’d finally gotten his inhaler out and she waited while he got himself back under control.

“Hey.” Steve replied trying to pretend he hadn’t just jumped like an idiot, “Emma, right?”

��Yeah. It’s good to see you again. You want a Makers Mark?”

“No!” Steve said a little too loudly. Real smooth, Rogers, he chided himself. “No, just a coke please. Friday was… a special night out.”

Emma giggled lightly at his outburst and nodded in understanding while she poured him a coke from the soda gun. “Bucky said you guys were celebrating. So what brings you back again so soon?” There were no other patrons at the bar and Emma took advantage of the lull to lean on the glossy wood top and enjoy herself watching Steve flounder for words. It was endearing the way even the tips of his ears burned bright when he blushed.

“Well, I wanted to apologize for… um… for getting a little drunk on Friday. Your job is tough enough as it is, let alone adding a drunk guy to the mix. I appreciate how kind you were even when I couldn't hold my liquor.”

Emma wanted to hug him, he was so earnest but so misguided. Steve had been a delight compared to other guys who couldn't hold their alcohol, and even most who could. “You did not come all the way down here in the cold just to apologize to me.”

Steve nodded, his head bowed in embarrassment.

“Can I let you in on a little secret?” Emma whispered conspiratorially, leaning closer to Steve on his good side after noticing the tiny hearing aid in his other ear.

Steve nodded again, eyebrows quirked up in interest.

Emma was so close to Steve he could smell the soft lavender of her perfume when she whispered. “Seeing Captain America tipsy and giggling was the best part of my entire night.”

Steve leaned back, a little heartbroken at her words despite their good intent.

Emma frowned, picking up on his reaction to something she said. Maybe she had overstepped? She knew she came across as too flirty at times and, while it was great for tips as a bartender, sometimes it had some unintended consequences. Steve was so handsome though, moreso now than in any picture she’d seen of him in books and documentaries. Emma prayed she hadn’t offended him somehow. She pathetically hoped that he would keep coming in so she could pine quietly from afar over him, and Bucky too if she was being honest with herself.

Steve tried to keep the bitterness out of his tone when he explained, “Well, sorry to disappoint, but it’s just Steve Rogers now. Not an ounce of super anything left in me.”

Emma cringed, realizing her misstep. “Oh, no. I just meant… because you always seem so…” she waved her hands trying in vain to explain herself, “So… stern? Maybe that’s not it, but every picture I’ve ever seen of you seemed so stiff and dutiful. I always wondered if you ever got the chance to just be a normal guy.”

Steve was stunned at her explanation. “No, things were pretty much go-go-go after I got the serum.”

“I’m really sorry. That sounds pretty shitty.” Emma reached out and surprised both of them when she covered his hand with hers, clasping it tightly for a moment.

“I was just trying to do my part.” Steve told her with a shrug.

“So I’ve read. But you’re still a person at the end of the day.”

“You ever been told you have a very unique perspective on things?”

Emma laughed, “Yeah, a couple of times. I’m glad you’re taking it easy now though. You deserve it. And you Bucky seem really happy together. Is he your…?”

Steve nodded quickly, delighted he could share this so openly in public. “He’s my partner, yeah.”

“Good for you guys. Gives us painfully single people hope.”

Steve wanted to ask how someone so lovely could be single but he kept his inner Casanova to himself; that was Bucky’s forte, not his. Instead, he gave her a half smile and navigated the conversation to dinner, letting her talk him into a breakfast burger which sounded ridiculous but she insisted was worth trying.

Steve was thankful it was a Monday night and the icy weather had kept everyone else at home. He loved every minute Emma spent leaning on the bar chatting with him while he ate his meal. She even caved in after a bit and took the fries he kept pushing towards her. It was surprisingly easy to talk to her and Steve found himself opening up more than he meant to at times. She wasn’t hung up on his former mantel of Captain America, her questions all centered around Steve himself and her interest seemed genuine. Steve ended up hanging out for a while after his meal was done just to spend time talking and she didn’t seem to mind at all. He was stunned when his phone pinged with a new message from Bucky letting him know he’d be home in twenty.

“I’m so sorry, I took up your whole night! I gotta get back, Bucky is on his way home from work.” Steve told her while he pulled out his wallet to pay.

Emma tried to hold back her disappointment that Steve was leaving. She had enjoyed his company so much on what would have otherwise been a boring Monday night. Emma hated the way reality came crashing back in. Steve, though charming and sweet and so quietly handsome, was not hers. He had a man he loved to get back home to and she would be heading home to her quiet apartment to read a book and water the little family of succulents who lived in her living room windowsill. Emma realized she had been quiet too long and startled herself back to the present. “It’s okay, Steve. You were good company tonight. I’ll get your check.”

Steve smiled at her fondly and she stamped down the ache in her heart. Emma bid him goodnight, asking him to tell Bucky hello for her and to come back anytime he needed company. She watched him hurry out the door into the cold and sighed heavily, resigning herself to her quiet solitary existence.

Bucky was surprised to find Steve in the kitchen when he arrived home a little before ten. His hands were frigid when he hugged him and the tips of his nose and ears were tinged pink and also icy cold. “Did you just get home?” Bucky asked in disbelief.

Steve looked almost guilty, “I went out for a burger, it was too quiet around here and General isn’t a great conversationalist.”

“Where did you go?”

“Just down to Matty’s Bar. Emma was working again tonight. She says hello by the way.”

Bucky stared at Steve for a long minute. There he was, dressed all nice and having spent what must have been a few hours with the gorgeous girl they had both been mooning over a little. “You’re lucky I’m so secure with myself and our relationship. Otherwise I’d be wondering why you’re dressed like you’re meetin’ my mother and spending a night in the company of a beautiful woman.”

Steve was too easily rattled and fell for the ribbing. “Buck, you know I love you. I learned my lesson; God did I ever. You’re it for me. You have to know that.”

Bucky hugged Steve tightly, pressing firm kisses on the top of his fluffy golden hair. “I was just teasin’ ya. Besides, it’s not like we never brought a girl back for some fun before. Emma’s a real looker.”

“She’s gorgeous, isn’t she? And she’s so sweet. She spent the whole night keeping me company, asking questions about me and not about my time with the shield.”

“Feeling a little smitten there, huh?”

“Just a little. She’s too good for us though, Buck.”

“No one’s too good for you. But maybe I’ll go try a burger from Matty’s on my night off.” Bucky said it in jest but after it was out he considered it wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

Tag list lovelies: @godofplumsandthunder @remilupin22 @supraveng @hiddles-rose

If anyone wants added or removed please lmk!

#more time #stucky #stucky fanfic #stucky fanfiction #stucky x original character #stucky x original female character #stucky x ofc #steve rogers #preserum steve rogers #post winter soldier bucky barnes #shrinkyclinks #marvel #marvel fanfic #marvel fanfiction #post marvel endgame #post endgame #endgame fix it #endgame fixit

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jeserai · 6 years ago

Text

burnt sugar (2/8)

“Sorry I’m late,” Catra says, and she knows she doesn’t sound sorry, and she probably doesn’t look it either. She slowly, slowly takes all of Adora in, from her messy ponytail to her varsity jacket, the unbuttoned plaid flannel with the plain shirt under, her shorts and thighs littered with small scrapes and bruises. She’s—kind of really cute. And she’s eyeing Catra up and down too.

A few heads turn as Catra’s phone buzzes once and then again, and Catra stares them down with one brow raised in a silent challenge. While they look on, faces showing their obvious disgust, Catra flips her phone over to check it. Hordak continues speaking as if there had been no interruption, but the look he gives Catra is absolutely murderous, just like always.

[unknown number] (6:55pm): Hi, I saw the post about needing a date for a family dinner? Is that...legit?

[unknown number] (6:55pm): I’m Adora by the way

Catra (6:56pm): Hey, Adora

Catra (6:56pm): And yes, it’s legit

[unknown number] (7:01pm): cool :)

Catra hides her scoff behind a palm pressed to her mouth, now only half listening as one of the shareholders raises yet another complaint. She knows she’s going to get an earful later on about how disrespectful she’s being, but this Adora girl is already endearing enough to make it worth it.

Catra (7:02pm): Hey. Find out whatever you can about an Adora and get back to me asap

Entrapta (7:03pm): when you say Whatever….

Catra (7:04pm): Just. Make sure she’s not a serial killer or something. A last name and a picture would be nice too.

Entrapta (7:04pm): :(((((( but thats so boooring

Catra (7:05pm): I mean it, E. That’s all i need

Entrapta (7:05pm): fine, boss :(((((

With that, Catra slips her phone into her pocket, and begins to doodle on the corner of board meeting program. One hour down, one to go.

When the meeting is finally adjourned, Catra breezes passed everyone else, ignoring Hordak’s half-hearted call of her name in favor of pulling out her earbuds and phone. There’s an email from Entrapta—likely whatever information she’s found out about Adora—and a text from Adora herself that Catra finds herself opening immediately.

[unknown number] (7:29pm): so i was just wondering if we could meet up sometime first?

Catra (8:02pm): What, do you think I’m some kind of serial killer?

[unknown number] (8:05pm): what??? No!! I never saidi that!

[unknown number] (8:05pm): whats ur name btw?

Catra (8:06pm): My name is Catra, but you can call me whatever you like

[unknown number] (8:07pm): sdjfhkkfdgdf>????

Catra finds a grin curving up the corners of her lips; Adora is so easy to rile up. She doesn’t know anything about the girl yet, but this is promising. It also doesn’t seem like Adora knows who she is—another godsend. People always tend to treat her differently once they find out she’s rich, once they know who her family is. Catra’s lip curls at the thought of them: it’s not her fault that they picked to adopt her.

But it is what it is, and being Hordak’s daughter does have its advantages, Catra thinks. She jams the down button for the elevator with one hand, and with the other, opens Entrapta’s email. It’s brief, the subject message a simple sad face, but it’s what she’d asked for. Adora’s full name—Adora Sideris—and a college ID picture of her, smiling awkwardly into the camera. God, she looks dumb, especially with the little hair poof thing going on. Entrapta’s email also says that she’s in college, that she’s only a few months older than Catra, and that she’s the captain of her school’s fencing team.

That makes Catra pause. Looking at the picture, she would’ve guessed prep, or nerd—definitely not fencing team captain. But then, she reminds herself, appearances don’t mean shit. A few of the businessmen from the board meeting around the corner as she steps into the elevator, and Catra takes extreme pleasure in watching the elevator doors close in their faces as they flag her to keep it open. Dumbasses.

Catra (8:16pm): Lol

Catra (8:16pm): You’re cute, Adora

Catra (8:17pm): Anyway, can you meet tomorrow? You pick the place

[unknown number] (8:20pm): i have fencing practice until about noon, so anytime after then. And do you know Bright Moon? It’s a little cafe by the high school

And Catra doesn’t know, but she looks it up and as the elevator doors open, she texts Adora back one last time.

Catra (8:22pm): bright moon, tomorrow at 3:30pm. Give you some time to get cleaned up, princess

Adora (8:22pm): :) okay!

“Lonnie!” Catra calls out as she pockets her phone again. Her driver startles and glances up, expression souring as she sees Catra waiting at the edge of the sidewalk. Catra feels just the same.

“What do you want now?”

“Um, for you to do your job? Wouldn’t want you to get fired, now would we? Now come on, I’m hungry. We’re getting pizza.”

Lonnie heaves a sigh, but she nods and opens the back door, slamming it with more force than necessary once Catra is inside. As the car peels away from Horde Industries’ Corporate Headquarters, Catra busies herself with her phone, drowning out the rest of the world with loud, angry music.

Just like always.

The first person she sees when she gets back to the house is Daemon, sitting on the living room floor with a coloring book in front of him. He blinks up at her when she approaches, and gives her a toothy grin. With the canines that have just come in, his smile looks decidedly fanged, and Catra hates it.

“Hey, imp.” she mutters as she passes. Daemon clumsily parrots her words back, but quickly returns his attention to his crayons, and Catra rolls her eyes at him when he’s not looking. She fucking hates kids, especially this one. But now, all she has to do is manage to sneak upstairs and safely make it to her room before—

“ Catra. ”

Catra freezes, one foot on the stairs, and for a moment, she debates running. But as quickly as the thought comes, she dismisses it and pivots around, pasting her best unimpressed look on her face. “What?”

Her adoptive mother stands in the doorway between the living room and the dining room, distaste on her face as she stares Catra down. “And why did you come home so late? The deal was straight home after your board meetings, wasn’t it?”

Anger rises up like a tidal wave and Catra only barely manages to quash it with a deep breath in and out. “I was hungry. I got food. Get off my back.”

“Now, Catra, you know that both your father and I only want the best for you. Ever since we rescued you from that dreadful orphanage, we’ve only been preparing you for the business you’re going to inherit.”

In the background, Daemon giggles, as if even he knows what a joke that is. For once, Catra has to agree with him. “Okay, well, I’m here now.”

“Then act like it, insolent child.” And with that, Weaver soundlessly sweeps away, leaving behind only her words and the cloying scent of her perfume.

As Catra starts up the stairs, Daemon laughs again and parrots, “Insolent child.” Catra whips around and hisses at him, and reluctantly lets the sound of his laughter follow her upstairs.

Catra (9:02pm): What are you doing

Entrapta (9:15pm): working on a project

Entrapta (9:15pm): Do you need more infomration about Adora??

Entrapta (9:15pm): thats a lot more interesting !!!

Catra (9:16pm): No. And because I know I can’t stop you, just don’t tell me whatever you find out

Entrapta (9:17pm): :))))))))

Entrapta (9:20pm): anyway, did you need someting?

Catra (9:21pm): Not really. The hag was just on my ass again

Entrapta (9:22pm): u know what wuld make ufeel better :)))))

Catra (9:22pm): No to whatever you’re going to suggest, unless it involves me getting out of here

Entrapta (9:23pm): well. No

Entrapta (9:23pm): i was going to say i could tell u about adora !!

Catra (9:24pm): No! I’m meeting her tomorrow, I don’t need to meet her and be thinking about her ugly baby pictures or whatever it is that you manage to dig up

Entrapta (9:24pm): :(((( her baby pictures werent ugly they were actually really cute

Catra (9:25pm): Oh my god.

Entrapta (9:25pm): [image sent]

Catra (9:26pm): I am not opening those.

Entrapta (9:26pm): :(((((

Catra (9:27pm): It is an invasion of her privacy???

Entrapta (9:28pm): they shouldnt have been put online then. ANyone can find them!

Catra (9:28pm): Still. I’m not looking

(Not ten minutes later, Catra ends up looking. And she hates to admit it, but Entrapta is right. Adora’s baby pictures are actually kind of cute.)

Catra shows up at Bright Moon at just after four, slamming the car door shut much harder than necessary before Lonnie can get a chance to throw out some scathing remark in lieu of a farewell. If any of the people around her notice, they don’t show it, and Catra takes a moment to focus on the café, trying to get a sense of what Adora is like before she goes in. Already, she can see that she hates it—too much pink, too much light. Catra knows how well she stands out but she doesn’t care, ignoring the curious looks she gets as she storms into the café.

The inside is just as bad as the outside , and—objectively, it’s nice. It’s definitely Instagram worthy, and there are more than just a few groups of teenagers taking pictures of each other, of their food, of the room around them, but Christ. Catra feels disgusted on a molecular level.

But as much as she hates it, she’s here for a reason, that reason being the blonde ponytail of a girl sitting alone in a booth all the way in the back. She’s looking down at her phone, idly scrolling through something, and as Catra watches, she looks up and around, smiling crookedly at a boy and a girl sitting at a table nearby. She—Adora—doesn’t notice Catra, and neither do her friends, so Catra waits for them to look away from each other before making her way over to Adora’s booth.

“Hey, Adora,” she says, leaning against the booth, and when Adora looks up, eyes wide and startled, “how’s it hanging?”

“You’re— you’re Catra?” her voice comes out a little weak, and Catra can’t help the grin that twitches up the corners of her lips. Adora quickly stands and holds out her hand, still looking just a little bit embarrassed, just a little bit dumbstruck.

“Sorry I’m late,” Catra says, and she knows she doesn’t sound sorry, and she probably doesn’t look it either. She slowly, slowly takes all of Adora in, from her messy ponytail to her varsity jacket , the unbuttoned plaid flannel with the plain shirt under, her shorts and thighs littered with small scrapes and bruises. She’s—kind of really cute. And she’s eyeing Catra up and down too.

“Were we supposed to dress up?” Adora suddenly asks, and Catra looks down at herself and what she’s wearing , and oh.

“No, I was just at a meeting.” Which isn’t a total lie. Lonnie drove her to the meeting and waited to leave until she went inside—and as soon as she pulled away, Catra walked right back out and headed to Entrapta’s.

“Oh, well—you’re here now! Did you want to order anything first?”

Catra shrugs. “You order whatever, I’ll pay for it.”

Seemingly without thinking, Adora reaches out, taking Catra’s hand in hers to tug her up to the front of the shop. She drops her hand as soon as she realizes, cheeks turning a pretty shade of pink as she splutters out an excuse, “Sorry—my roommates, they’re my best friends, and I’m just used to doing that—I’m so sorry!”

And surprisingly, Catra—who hates touching, who hates being touched, who hates any form of intimacy, really—can’t bring herself to mind.

Ten minutes later finds them back in the booth, Adora with an iced blueberry black tea and Catra with a triple mocha frappe. Adora is tracing her finger along the rim of her cup, collecting condensation as she stares down at the table, and Catra knows she should be talking, maybe explaining why Adora is here in the first place, maybe getting to know her, but she’s content to just watch Adora, to take in the beauty of her silence.

Until Adora looks up, of course. She tilts her head a little in obvious confusion when she sees Catra already looking, but she seems content in waiting for Catra to speak. There is a kind of shuttered kindness on her face and in her eyes; from just her face alone, Catra can tell what kind of person Adora is. She sees stubbornness in the rigidity of her posture, kindness in the hint of a smile on her lips, strength in the calluses of her hands. She is soft, but she is strong too, and Catra likes that.

“So, you’ve had the night to think things over, do you have any questions?”

At that, Adora nods. “I guess—” she tugs out a lock of hair from her ponytail and twirls it around her finger before shoving it back behind her ear in what is clearly a nervous gesture, “I just wanted to know what this involves exactly? I know it’s a dinner, but I need time to prepare—if this is going to be a thing —and I just—”

“It’s really just a stupid family dinner. We go in, play nice, dance, eat, play nice some more and leave. You’d get paid after, I don’t care how much.”

“Dance? Like—”

“Fancy dances and shit,” Catra waves away Adora’s concern with a dismissive hand, “I’d teach you.”

“So what, this is like a ball?”

Catra shrugs. “If you want to call it that, sure. It’s nothing to stress out over though, and besides, it’s not for another month or so. Plus, you can always say no, I can find someone else.”

“That’s…” Adora twirls that same lock of hair around her finger, tugging on it hard before asking quietly, “how much would it be?”

“How much do you want? It’s not my money, I don’t care.”

Adora snorts out a startled laugh, tucking her hair back again as she rolls her eyes. “You can’t be serious. See, this is why I thought this was fake—”

“I’m being serious. How much do you want? I’ll write the check now.”

The sudden ringing of Adora’s phone interrupts them, and Catra waits patiently as Adora fumbles for it, checks to see who is calling, rolls her eyes as she answers, and hisses out, “Guys, really? ” before hanging up.

“Everything okay?” Catra asks mildly. Adora twists around and sticks her middle finger up at the boy and girl from before, then turns back, cheeks going pink.

“Yeah, it’s just my friends. They wanted to make sure that—well...”

“That I wasn’t some kind of serial killer?” And before Adora can begin to protest—because Catra can already see it on her face—she says, “It’s okay, I don’t mind. It’s good that they care that much about you.”

Because god knows her friends wouldn’t do the same.

“Anyway, I should get going before Lonnie comes to drag me back to the hellhole. You’ve got my number, if you change your mind, let me know before the end of the week.” Catra says as she stands to go; Adora reaches out as she passes, catching at her wrist and standing hurriedly as well.

“I want to do it.” There is a familiar look of determination in Adora’s steel-blue eyes; Catra grins at the sight of it and nods.

“Then I’ll text you later. Bye, Adora.”

Catra (4:53pm): Does Adora have Venmo?

Entrapta (5:11pm): im guessing it went well then?

Catra (5:12pm): Well enough. I’m coming over.

Entrapta (5:15pm): yoou got it boss

Entrapta (5:15pm): What about adoras venmo?

Catra (5:16pm): Send her a couple hundred bucks from the hag’s card

Entrapta (5:20pm): :)))))

Catra (5:20pm): What.

Entrapta (5:20pm): im glad u found someone nice :))))

Entrapta (5:21pm): :)))

Catra (5:22pm): Don’t push it

Entrapta (5:23pm): :))))

(last | next)

#she ra #catradora #shera #my writing #burnt sugar

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parkerspicedlatte · 6 years ago

Text

Disconnected-Chapter Three (Luke Hemmings)

Summary: In an alternate universe where everyone has a soulmate, Luke and his soulmate share the rarest of them all. Some people have matching tattoos, others feel each others pain/emotions, but mental connections are the least common. The connection that Luke and Lynn share is that they can hear whatever song the other is singing. When they are close together they will be able to hear each others voices but for the meantime, they can only hear the recorded versions.

Pairings: Luke Hemmings x Lynn Corby (OC)

Warnings: A few swears. Naked Luke, nothing to worry about seriously....

Content: little bit of angst, nothing bad. Let’s share some love!

Featured Songs: Hey There Delilah (Plain White T’s), Your Body is a Wonderland (John Mayor), The Next Episode (Dr, Dre), Patience (Guns ‘N’ Roses), Dirty Little Secret (All American Rejects), Swing-Swing(All American Rejects), Gives You Hell (All American Rejects), Meet Me in the Hallway (Harry Styles), Sign of the Times (Harry Styles), Carolina (Harry Styles), Two Ghosts (Harry Styles) aaaaaand an unrecorded song.......

“Two days. He’s been like this for two days. At what point do we step in?” asked Calum as he walked into Ashton’s room handing the older boy a cold beer, fresh from the refrigerator.

“I have no idea.” Ashton sighed taking the beer from Calum. “Is he still locked up in his room?”

“Door’s shut so I’m assuming, yeah.”

“I think we should call Liz.” said Ashton with a grin on his face. “She could get him to snap out of it.”

“You’re not wrong,” Calum chuckled, “but I don’t think he would talk to her right now.”

They both sat in silence for a few minutes, each sipping away at their own beers. In the kitchen, a squeaky toy could be heard and occasionally a bark from Duke or Petunia. After a while Duke came trotting into the bedroom proudly, dropping the toy at Calum’s feet and letting out a little yip to show off his possession.

“Did you take Petunia’s toy you little monster?” Calum asked picking up the small dog. Seconds later Petunia sluggishly walked in after Duke.

“Has Luke even fed Petunia today?” Ashton asked looking down at the dog with a concerned frown.

“Nope, I did when I fed Duke. She ate so fast that I’m wondering if she even had any food last night.”

“Poor Piggy.” Ashton said sympathetically, reaching over to pat her head. Petunia pushed against Ashton’s large hand, her way of asking for more attention. Ashton complied by setting his beer and phone on the nightstand to sit down on the floor with her. Immediately she crawled into his lap and tried to lick his face.

“That’s it.” Calum huffed in annoyance while setting Duke down on the floor. “He can’t just neglect his dog.” Calum fumed as he walked out of Ashton’s room and towards Luke’s. “The little shit better have a good explanation for this.” He muttered to himself.

As he neared Luke’s bedroom, Calum heard the bathroom door down the hall click shut and the shower turn on. Calum pushed the bedroom door open and once he was sure that it was Luke in the shower, and not Michael coming home early, he started his search.

The bed wasn’t made and there were some clothes hanging out of the laundry hamper. The closet door wasn’t shut but other than that, the room looked like it hadn’t been touched in days.

“Strange.” muttered Calum.

There was a laptop and an open notebook lying on the unmade bed. Going against his better judgement, Calum picked up the notebook and began reading the open page.

Hey There Delilah-Plain White T’s 5:46pm

Your Body is a Wonderland-John Mayer 5:50pm

Patience-Guns N’ Roses 5:54pm

The Next Episode-Dr Dre 6:01pm

***

Dirty Little Secret-All American Rejects 11:01pm

Gives You Hell-All American Rejects 11:04pm

Swing, Swing-All American Rejects 11:07pm

Meet Me in the Hallway-Harry Styles 2:13pm

Sign of the Times-HS 2:17pm

Carolina-HS 2:23pm

Two Ghost-HS 2:26pm

“Find anything interesting?” Calum jumped at the voice coming from the doorway of Luke’s bedroom. He hadn’t even heard anybody walking in.

“Nothing except a notebook with songs and the time beside them, it’s weird,” Calum said to Ashton who, by then, had walked into the bedroom and sat himself at the edge of the bed. Petunia followed and settled herself at his feet with a small grunt. “The last time written in here is from a few minutes ago. I don’t know what it’s supposed to mean though.”

“Check the laptop,” said Ashton bluntly, “it’ll still be open and we won’t need a password.”

“Little invasive don’t you think?” Calum muttered while handing Ashton the notebook to reach for the laptop anyways. As soon as his fingers traced the mouse-pad, the screen illuminated with the last web search Luke had entered.

I swear to god the silence is breaking me

Both Calum and Ashton’s faces scrunched up in confusion as they read the sentence and then scanned over the search results.

“I actually have no idea what this is supposed to be.”

“Me neither.” said Calum to Ashton who peered over his shoulder.

“Check the other tabs.” Ashton said pointing to the top of the web page.

“Don’t put your finger on the screen!” Calum whispered harshly, smacking Ashton’s hand away. Using the sleeve of his sweater, he wiped the smudge from the glass. “Luke’s gonna notice because he can’t stand dirty screens. Then he’ll know we snooped.”

“Whatever.” Ashton rolled his eyes then reached over Calum’s shoulder to move the cursor to the next tabs. The tab opened to a YouTube search. The search bar read:

Music>Singer/Songwriter>”Nothing”

“I think that’s just him listening to music. Next tab.”

“Wait!” Calum smacked Ashton’s hand away again before he could change anything, earning a small yelp from his friend. “Luke didn’t open any of the videos, see? No red line.”

“Sooo?”

“I don’t know, yet. But don’t you think it’s weird?”

“Sure Calum. Come on next tab! Luke’ll be out of the shower soon!” Ashton half-whined impatiently.

Calum’s eyes narrowed at the screen as his brain tried to chase a thought before it got away unanswered. How did they connect? A notebook of songs, a YouTube search for a song with no artist and a search with…

“Are those lyrics?”

“What?” asked Ashton.

“The first tab, the weird search; do you think those were lyrics he had been searching for?”

“Uh maybe,” Ashton scrunched his nose while thinking. “Yeah actually. That would, that would make sense, I guess. Maybe it was a song he heard on the radio or something that he wanted to find, I don’t know.”

“Mmm close, but whatever this is has something to do with why he’s been locked in here for two days. It’s gotta be bigger than some song on the radio.” Calum thought aloud, more for his own benefit than for Ashton’s.

Both Calum and Ashton were silent for a few minutes as they tried to connect the dots in their heads. The silence was broken by Ashton muttering something that, in a way, sounded more like a question.

“What?” it was Calum’s turn to ask.

“The next tab, the last one, it looks like it says soulmate. Maybe this could have something to do with his soulmate. It would make sense because of the whole song connection thing right?”

Calum froze. His fingers that he’d been subconsciously drumming on the laptop froze in mid air.

Holy crap Ashton’s right! Calum mentally slapped himself for not thinking of it earlier. It’s not like he didn’t know about the ‘soulmate consultant’ business card that Michael had found.

Before Calum could continue his train of thought, it was interrupted by the sound of shampoo bottles falling to the bottom of the shower and the shower curtain being ripped open aggressively three rooms over. Within seconds, a soaking wet Luke ran into the room with a panicked look in his eyes. Luke scanned the room frantically, not seeming to realize, or care, that Calum and Ashton were there. Luke had bigger things on his mind.

Clad in only a towel, the tallest blond started throwing the blankets and sheets of his bed around, looking between the layers for something. He grabbed the pillows and chucked them across the room, still not finding what he was looking for. Calum and Ashton stared on in bewilderment, not saying a word.

Finally Luke, Calum and Ashton’s eyes all landed on what Luke was looking for at the exact same moment; the notebook on Ashton’s lap.

Luke dived across the bed but before he’d even gotten close to Ashton, Ashton was on his feet and holding the notebook behind his back.

“Ashton, hand me that notebook!”

“No.” Ashton told him firmly.

“Ashton, hand me that notebook, please.” Luke tried again growing more and more annoyed with Ashton by the second.

“Not until you tell Calum and I what the hell is going on.”

“Give me the notebook Ashton!” Luke said more aggressively this time. Each syllable sounding harsh on his tongue.

“Not until you-”

“No! You don’t get it! I don’t have much time! Give me the notebook before she’s gone!”

“Before who’s gone, Luke?”

“For fucks sake, give me the god damn book I don’t have time for this!” Luke lunged at Ashton again but finding it difficult to do so and hold up his towel at the same time. Calum still hadn’t moved from his spot on the bed. He was debating on whether or not he should be helping Ashton or letting Luke go at him. Ashton, at this point, was holding the notebook up and over his head away from Luke.

“Ashton you can’t do that I’m taller than you!” Luke stated, grabbing for the book yet still failing despite his height advantage.

Nobody had noticed that Michael had come home until he was at the bedroom door not seeming to care about the scene in front of him, the scene that involved a naked, wet Luke using one hand to hold up a towel that was unraveling from his waist and his other hand to knock something out of Ashton’s hand. In addition to the scene, off to the side Calum was watching the entire thing from the mangled bed.

“Hey guys are we out of-”

Luke pounced on Michael in less than a second, nearly knocking the wind from Michael’s lungs when they landed.

“Michael, take your shirt off!” Luke demanded attempting to roll Michael onto his stomach.

“What? No! Why?” Michael sputtered, his voice muffled from the carpet that his face was pressed into. The sheer force of Luke’s desperation was enough to roll him over quite easily. Luke sat on Michael’s backside as he pushed up the fabric of Michael’s faded denim jacket and t-shirt, reaching for a sharpie on the dresser at the same time.

“Luke! Why are you sitting on me while you’re wet and naked! That’s weird, even for you!” Michael yelled while squirming from under him. “Hey, that tickles!” he giggled at the feel of the fat, felt tipped marker on his skin. “My soulmate is going to wonder how the hell I managed to write on my back you know.”

“Hold still!” Luke said clenching the cap of the marker between his teeth as he continued to write on Michael’s back while holding him down.

“Luke, get off of Michael!” Ashton told him as if he were talking to a dog, instead of one of his best friends and band mates.

“Ashton,” Calum finally spoke up from the bed, “just let him write down what he needs to write. I’m pretty sure you’re making this worse.”

Instead of doing anything, Ashton and Calum stood there watching Luke and Michael. Michael had realized by then that Luke was not getting off of him no matter how hard he squirmed. He realized that if Luke was only writing on him, that he could live with it. Michael had stopped fighting and had brought his hands up to his face and rested them under his chin while looking up at Calum and Ashton.

“His stupid wet ass is making mine wet.” he huffed in annoyance, rolling his eyes at Luke’s behavior. This was a new kind of weird for Luke, but they’d all learned to adapt to each other’s weirdness by then. Michael just hoped that this wouldn’t become a reoccurring thing, he was sure his face and Luke’s knees wouldn’t leave without a bit of rug burn.

Luke’s hand eventually stopped tracing patterns into Michael’s back with the marker. The cap went back on with a snap. He silently got off of Michael and sat against the wooden dresser bringing his knees up to his chest. All three boys watched as he did so and tried desperately not to accidentally look up the towel. They were brothers but they didn’t need to be perverts, sometimes there was a line.

“Luke what was that?” Calum asked, his voice soft in comparison to Ashton’s and Michael’s a few moments ago.

“I’m sorry.” Luke whispered quietly, resting his head on his knees and wrapping his arms around them, doing everything except crawl into the fetal position and rock himself back and forth.

“What was that?” Calum asked again.

A few minutes went by. The clock on the side table read 2:32, then 2:33 and then finally 2:34 before Luke responded to the question.

“It was her.”

“Your soulmate?” asked Michael, not moving himself from his spot on the carpet he’d been previously pinned to.

Luke could only nod his head, tears at the brim of his red eyes warned them of his strong emotions. Luke tried to blink back the tears but they ended up falling anyways, leaving a shinny, wet trail down each of his checks.

“I’m sorry.” he said finally, “I’m sorry I’ve been a douche for the last few days and I’m sorry for just now. I just, I really need to find her.” His voice cracked at the last three words making the tension in the room instantly melt away with his sincerity.

Ashton dropped down to the floor and sat beside Luke, handing him the notebook.

“I’m sorry; I should’ve given it to you when you asked.”

Luke swallowed the lump in his throat only for it to bob back up again, as if to remind him that has was nearly crying in front of his best friends, again.

“Hey Luke, it’s alright. We’ll find her okay.” said Ashton reassuring “Tell you what? From now on I’m going to do everything I can to help you find her. This comes first okay?”

“Me too.” Calum said nodding along to what Ashton had said.

“Me too, but only if someone tells me what this nut job wrote on my back.” Michael stated as he sat up and crawled the last few feet over to Luke and Ashton with a goofy grin on his face making everyone laugh.

“Well I’d like to know what Luke Hemming’s soulmate is writing songs about so come on then, off with the shirt Michael.” said Calum, earning another low chuckle from the group.

“I get to keep the rest of my clothes on right?” Michael asked, making a point to gesture at Luke who was still not dressed in the most indiscreet way possible.

“Yeah yeah just take it off so I can copy it into the book ya wanker.” Luke told him.

As the shirt came off, Calum and Ashton crowded around Michael’s back to read the writing leaving Luke to stand up and search for a pair of pants.

I’m sitting in a white room these bright lights are blinding me.

I guess that’s what happens when you wear your heart out on your sleeve.

The clock on the wall says it’s half past three and I swear to god the silence is breaking me.

Luke smiled softly at the words as if he felt and understood them perfectly. In a way, he did.

Series Masterlist

Regular Ol’ Masterlist

A/N: Poor Michael. Soooo what did you think? Too cheesy? Too weird? TELL ME! jk jk but seriously, I would like to know how you felt about this chapter. Next chapter I promise we’ll get more Lynn in there. Thank you for reading

-xx Reetz ;)

Taglist: @madformichael @h0tsos @fiesty5sos @misskarynie @negative-love@captivatingcal @beautifulplacesforhappines@felonystevefoundthe1975 @mellany1997 @caswinchester2000 @babylonduke@castielanddeanthedog @katsen13 @abby-landolf @aulxna let me know if i missed anybody! :)

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tysonrunningfox · 6 years ago

Text

Ripped: Part 15

This took me forever because life was kicking my ass but it’s Here and there are things I’m really stoked about in it. Many things.

Ao3

Astrid was assigned a single roommate freshman year, but she really ended up with two. Tuffnut was just always around. At first he was just a nuisance and unexpected ally in her newly acquired role of getting Ruffnut to class, but that task practically battle hardened their friendship.

Astrid (6:15pm): hey Tuff, another murder happened, your sister is freaking out, we’re at the police station Astrid (6:16pm): call me Astrid (6:17pm): come on tuff pick up your phone Astrid (6:18pm): pick up pick up pick up

“Goddammit,” Astrid nearly throws her phone across the police station lobby when Tuffnut’s phone goes to voicemail for what must be the twentieth time. If she hears ‘you’ve reached Tuffnut, the boy twin, and unless you’re my mom just text me’ one more time, she’s going to scream.

“I wonder if his phone is ringing in some back room or police van,” Ruffnut hugs her knees on one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs, her eyes fixed on the wall in a vacant, thousand-yard stare.

“It really looked like Gruffnut,” Hiccup says gently, hand hovering over her shoulder like he’s scared to touch her. Snotlout seems to have made the same assessment, leaning on his desk a few yards away instead of lurking in the lobby like the rest of them.

“You don’t know my brother,” Ruffnut shakes her head, “they look—people look different when they’re dead, anyway, but it could be…I saw…”

“Hey, I’m calling him, ok?” Astrid tries to sound gentle even as the panicked bubble in her throat expands. Tuffnut. Tuffnut who drove two hours out of his way to pick her up from that disastrous last Thanksgiving at her uncle’s.

Tuffnut’s eyes half lidded and empty, skin ashy on an alley floor, demolished in a way no one ever should be.

“If he doesn’t pick up soon, I’ll get someone to do a home check,” Snotlout offers, arms crossed and foot tapping, irritated at being on this side of the action. Astrid remembers him offering to check her apartment for murderers after Hiccup’s tour…ended prematurely and she doesn’t doubt that if he didn’t have to give his own statement, he’d be tracking Tuffnut down. She doesn’t quite have room to appreciate that right now, but she thinks she will later.

“I swear, I bet his phone is just ringing and ringing and ringing—”

“You know what? No, I’ll go check evidence,” Snotlout kicks off of the side of his desk, “I’ll be right back.”

“You’re not in uniform,” Hiccup calls the reminder after him but gets no response. “Really, Ruffnut, it was Gruff—”

“You don’t know my brother!” Ruffnut snaps and Eretson gives Astrid a worried look through the window next to his office door before waving to her.

“What’s going on out there?” He asks quietly when she has the door cracked an inch and Astrid sighs, glancing at Ruffnut before slipping entirely into the office.

“The victim looks a lot like her brother,” she swallows back the tremor in her own voice, “and he’s not picking up his phone.”

“We’re working as fast as we can on ID,” Eretson rubs his temple. The fact that speedy identification will lead into looking for connections with other victims remains unspoken and Astrid has to bite her tongue to stop from blurting out that she’s seen the note.

She’s used to looking through closed cases and seeing strings that could have been tied up sooner. She’s not used to being the string. Being a loose end fits her about as well as inaction.

“Can I step outside to keep calling him?” Even just mentioning outside makes the police station air feel oppressive and heavy, like it doesn’t get all the way into her lungs before she’s forced to gulp down another unsatisfying breath. “I won’t go anywhere, I just—”

“Fine,” Eretson waves her off with the kind of pitying dismissal that means he clearly doesn’t think she knows anything. If she weren’t so preoccupied, she might tell him otherwise, but as is she’s glad for something more pertinent to do.

Back in the lobby, Snotlout is kneeling in front of Ruffnut’s chair, one gloved hand holding a wallet open.

“See? Gruffnut Thorston, with a G, it’s not your brother. Look at the picture, clearly Gruffnut,” he points at it with his other hand and Ruffnut goes paler.

“That won’t work,” Astrid hopes she sounds more assuring than she feels, “they’ve switched ID’s before.”

“Fine, what else can I get from evidence to convince her?” Snotlout stands back up and his gloved hand gains new significance.

“Wait, you actually went and grabbed that from evidence?” She looks at Hiccup for confirmation and he shrugs, washing his hands of the problem.

“Duh.”

“Go put it back,” she snaps, the air heavy like guilt trying to cement itself in her chest.

“As the police officer of the friendgroup—“

“Friendgroup?” Hiccup snorts, arms crossed, right heel tapping. The shoulder he has turned towards her is awkward and cold and she scowls.

“Yes, as the only officer out here, I think I know what I’m allowed to get from evidence.”

Eretson’s door cracks open and he peeks his head out, “you got something from evidence?”

“N—“

“Put it back.” The detective looks purposefully at Astrid and she heads towards the door with a nod.

“I’m going to keep trying Tuff outside.”

The breeze helps until she gets Tuffnut’s voicemail again. And again. Every time the recording mentions his mom, she thinks of Mrs. Thorston and her collection of ceramic figurines padlocked in a safe whenever her kids are home. Mrs. Thorston with her tired smile, always offering Astrid a place over the holidays.

She’s halfway through another text, this one openly threatening what exactly what she’ll do to him if he doesn’t get off his ass and answer his fucking phone, when a familiar creaky car pulls into the parking lot and stops between two out of service cruisers. When Tuffnut climbs out of the driver’s seat, concerned and wearing the band tee-shirt he doesn’t even let Ruffnut borrow, Astrid launches herself at him.

“Why the hell weren’t you answering?” She shoves his shoulders and he stumbles back, hands raised.

“Whoa, Astrid—”

“I must have heard your stupid voicemail message a thousand times by now, why didn’t you pick up? Or answer any of my texts?” She pushes him again but with less gusto, voice shaking like her hands.

“I got in the car as soon as you said my sister was freaking out at the police station,” his hands are still up and it makes her want to shove him again, just to make sure he’s real. “And as you know, it’s not safe to be on the phone while operating a motor vehicle—”

She hugs him hard enough that it’s practically a shove, and he yelps.

“Oh god, Astrid attack! Where does it hurt? Am I hurt?” He flails until his hands land very gently on her shoulders, “oh. Wait. It’s affection.” He hugs her back, resting his cheek on her head as she hides sudden tears in his shoulder, “I like it.”

“Idiot,” she sniffs, trying to calm her fluttering pulse.

“Quick question, As, is that snot or tears on my neck right now?”

“A bit of both,” she sighs, pulling back and wiping her face on her sleeve. “Sorry.”

“No problem-o,” he awkwardly pats her shoulders before rubbing his hands together, “so, my sister is freaking out? And considering you just cried all over me like a girl, I’m getting that the threshold for a so-called freak-out is different than usual.”

“Um, just…before we go in,” Astrid winces, “the murder, this time, it’s…well, now I’m pretty sure it’s Gruffnut.”

“What?” He blanches, “Gruffnut can’t die. I know he can’t, he told me when I was nine that he’s immortal, it has to be someone else—”

“Tuff,” she cuts him off, “trust me, it was either Gruffnut or well…you, and Ruffnut thinks it’s you right now.”

“Fuck,” he sighs, “I cry when I see deer at the side of the road because they remind me of my sister. Those long legs…” he sniffs, “where is she?”

“Inside,” Astrid nods at Eretson on the way into the waiting room then joins Hiccup where he’s migrated to lean against Snotlout’s desk.

“Oh my god,” Hiccup wrinkles his nose, mouth gaping open slightly as he watches Tuffnut kneel in front of Ruffnut and grab her face, “that’s…Gruff.”

“Shh,” she glares at him as much as she can through eyes she’s pretending aren’t teary, “it’s definitely Tuff.”

“How can you be sure?” Hiccup whispers, “you said they looked alike but…”

“It’s Tuff,” she nods, exhaling deep breath that seems to take some of her shakiness with it.

“When is our birthday?” Ruffnut asks carefully, staring her brother deep in the eyes like she’s trying to root out a rat.

“Bold of you to assume I was born.”

“Definitely Tuff,” Astrid’s laugh is brittle, and Hiccup reaches halfway towards her face but then decides against it. “What?”

“You have a little, umm,” he scratches the back of his neck and points to his cheek, “on your—”

“Oh,” she wipes her face and comes away with a streak of snot. Great. “I—he’s a friend, I was worried too. I was trying to keep it together for Ruff, but seeing him—”

“No, it’s—that makes sense, it’s an emotional…situation,” he nods, and she’s shocked by how comfortable she is under the weight of his concern. Her assurance that she’s absolutely fine and there’s no reason for him to worry dies in her throat and she nods quietly.

He gets it. He gets it more than anyone else she can think of.

“Yeah.” She tucks her hair behind her ear and hugs her middle, letting herself lean a little sideways against his shoulder as she watches the twins.

“What color was your cast in second grade when you broke your wrist?” Ruffnut continues her interrogation, holding Tuffnut’s hand as he gets off of the floor to sit in the chair next to her.

“Green like the tree I fell out of, until you colored it brown when all the leaves fell off, then I had to wear a gross green cast covered in brown sharpie that no one could even sign for like a month.”

“Holy shit,” Snotlout walks out from the hallway and freezes, looking between Tuffnut and Hiccup. “That’s—”

“It’s not Gruff,” Astrid doesn’t let him finish.

“And I thought you were stupid for loaning money to the wrong dude,” Snotlout shakes his head, looking Tuffnut up and down.

“We were stupid,” Ruffnut sighs, color coming back to her face even as her knuckles stay white and gripped tight around her brother’s hand, “that’s a thousand dollars I’m never getting back now.”

“Maybe Gruffnut willed us the treasure,” Tuffnut shrugs, “you know, the one he buried in our backyard as kids? The one we could never find?”

“There’s no treasure, Tuff,” Ruffnut sniffs, her voice cloudy with reluctant, happy tears, “idiot.”

“Forensics is an hour out on another case,” Eretson stops short in his office door, blinking at Tuffnut with a flicker of something other than his usual boredom. Not quite fascination, but leaning in that direction, “that’s my victim.” He looks at Astrid for corroboration and she shrugs.

“No it’s not, Eretson, use your eyes, this guy is clearly alive, while the victim is clearly dead,” Snotlout goes on tip toes against the wall, “do you need me to do the rest of your job for you?”

“Ruffnut’s brother is the victim’s cousin.” Astrid glares at Snotlout, trying to remind him that it’s probably not the time to harass the detective investigating the body they just happened to find. “Presumably, I know you don’t have ID yet but the family resemblance is—”

“Significant,” Eretson agrees, nodding slowly.

“Yes, Mr. Officer, sir,” Tuffnut cups his hand to his mouth like he’s telling the whole room except Ruffnut a secret, “are you sure that my cousin is dead? I have reason to believe that’s not actually possible—”

“Super dead, dude,” Snotlout answers and Eretson glares at him, “what? I’m an officer too, I can’t answer the question?”

“I’ll take your statement first, Jorgenson,” Eretson points at his office, “that way you can get out of here and enjoy your day off.”

“I was going to ask my actual boss if he needs me to come in—”

“He does not,” a hair-raising, accented voice chimes from the mouth of the hallway and Mr. Grisly walks into the room, footfalls crisp and measured, like an actor walking to a specific marker on a stage.

“Like I said, I’m going to ask my actual boss, who is neither of you—”

“Your boss takes my recommendations and I can assure you that I’ll recommend the absolute truth, which is that we are not in need of your…” Grisly looks Snotlout up and down cold eyes lingering on his tip toes, “help.”

“Statement, Jorgenson,” Eretson gestures back at his office, his posture stiff and faced wholly towards Mr. Grisly, the line of his shoulders an impromptu fortification against an oncoming threat, “now.”

“Fine,” Snotlout growls, shouldering Eretson on his way into the office and grumbling under his breath when the other man doesn’t appear to notice. Eretson stares at Grisly for another second before reluctantly retreating and as soon as the door is shut, Grisly laughs. There’s nothing amused about the sound. It’s brittle, like dead leaves in drafty corners, musty like breeze from a basement that should have been forgotten.

“A matched set,” he gestures at Tuffnut with a long, waxy hand.

“There might be something sexy in the coffee at this police station, but twin stuff is creepy, pal,” Ruffnut holds her brother’s hand tighter and Grisly chuckles.

“I meant that your brother looks like the victim on the slab in back,” Grisly shrugs, hands folded behind his back, “parts of the resemblance are up to my imagination to fill in, of course…”

Ruffnut blanches, obviously remembering the scene in the alley and Hiccup bristles, his sudden protectiveness more inspiring than insulting.

“Good to know that your imagination has such involvement in this case,” he stands up from Snotlout’s desk, back rigid, and Astrid can see how he felt like a safe harbor in an alley three murders ago. Or two, she guesses the first had technically already happened at that point. “Gives me real faith in the system.”

“And you two,” Mr. Grisly ignores Hiccup’s words like someone ignoring movie theater chatter at a long-awaited midnight premier, “together again. Together always, really, I can’t be the only one who notices.”

“And they still aren’t boning,” Ruffnut bemoans, resting her head on Tuff’s shoulder. “It’s pathetic.”

“Ruff!” Astrid hisses, lacking her usual enthusiasm for it but feeling beholden to at least try and lecture her friend.

“Trauma,” she shrugs, “did a real number on my filter, I guess.”

“You don’t have a filter,” Astrid grits her teeth, turning back to Mr. Grisly and wishing she’d never looked away. Feeling his eyes on hers is like finding predator footprints in snow that was unbroken before she blinked. She should apologize to stay on authority’s good side, like she did to Snotlout or Eretson, but something instinctive in the back of her brain assures her that she might as well roll over and bare her throat.

“Is an actual officer going to be taking our statements?” Hiccup sounds nothing like the guy who bought her a pizza or hung curtains to diffuse a situation. He sounds like he half hopes this one catches on fire.

“Everything you do or say goes through me eventually,” Grisly’s smile is tepid, teasing, and Hiccup’s jaw twitches.

“Well I’ve never been a fan of efficiency,” he shoves forced casual hands into his pockets, stiff arms moving like they’re pivoting on rusty hinges, “makes things too easy.”

“Too easy,” Grisly shakes his head, “where’s the fun in that?” He doesn’t wait for an answer, humming under his breath as he disappears back down the hallway and through a door to the right. Astrid wishes she hadn’t caught the tiniest glimpse of the corner of a steel table as she stares back at her feet.

“I guess that was a rhetorical question,” Hiccup stares down the hallway after him, gears picking up speed behind his expression.

Eretson takes their statements one by one. Ruffnut goes in after Snotlout, then Astrid, then Hiccup. The twins have an uncharacteristically quiet conversation with each other and Snotlout disappears into a different room down the hallway and Astrid finds herself flicking through Facebook, anything to distract herself. She’s scrolling past high school friends trying to make a glamorous living from the comfort of their own homes when she sees a picture of a shiny ring on an almost familiar finger and pauses.

Her cousin is engaged, apparently. Maybe it’s because her cousin is a year younger than her, but it’s not the usual, sick and envious feeling of being left behind that floods her chest. Right now, someone she grew up with, someone she caught fireflies with while Uncle Finn started the bonfire, is wearing a ring and planning a whole life around it. Meanwhile, Astrid has been privy to the murder of three people and the discovery of two mutilated bodies and seen the inside of a police station more than she ever dreamed.

She’s always believed that where someone starts out has something to do with where they end up, but that doesn’t feel particularly true at the moment.

It better not be, she thinks fiercely all at once, given that Ruff and Tuff started out next to Gruff.

“Alright then,” Eretson opens the door and Hiccup walks out of his office, taking up easy space next to Astrid and looking more casual than anyone has a right to look right after an interrogation. “I’ll be in touch with all of you, it’d be best if you didn’t—”

“Leave town, I get it,” Hiccup rolls his eyes, “I know the drill by now.”

“But we can go?” Tuffnut asks, “because we’ve been sitting here so long that my ass isn’t even asleep anymore, it’s technically crossed the line into coma.”

“You could have left at any time, dude,” Snotlout reappears from the back, obviously not pleased with whatever news he got.

“Given the…situation,” Eretson gestures almost awkwardly at Tuffnut, stern expression masklike for a second, “it would be best for you to be available too.”

“In case Gruffnut contacts me because of our deep and abiding bond?” Tuffnut nods to himself and Ruffnut smacks him on the chest.

“He’s dead, idiot, let’s go home.”

Snotlout walks the twins to their car, protective in a way that feels like a weight off of Astrid’s shoulders, and Hiccup rolls his shoulders like the concept of freedom makes him want to take up more space.

“Do I sound like a sociopath if I say I’m almost getting used to this?” He snorts, pulling out his phone and typing, “you know, I only used to cancel tours because of weather.”

“At least you know they’ll be more crowded than ever when you start back up,” Astrid doesn’t quite joke, because it’s not funny, and Hiccup doesn’t quite laugh. It’s more of a wheeze, an exhausted search for a laugh that falls flat in a way that resonates.

It’s been a long day.

“There’ll be so many more questions to dodge,” he shakes his head, “lucky me.”

Before Astrid can offer to help him dodge those questions, as seems to be her bizarre impulse, Snotlout reappears at Hiccup’s side and elbows him hard enough that he stumbles sideways.

“Why are you lucky? Is it because you got to find another creepy body, because that’s gross dude. Like you didn’t look guilty enough.”

“Right, thanks for reminding me that it’s frowned upon in the eyes of the law to discover three mutilated murder victims. I forgot.”

“That’s why I’m here,” Snotlout glares at the police station’s front door, “and probably why my boss doesn’t want me to come in and work this one.”

“They said that?” Astrid lowers her voice, almost sure that Mr. Grisly could be listening through the brick wall.

“I’m ‘too close’ to this one, apparently, as if I wouldn’t arrest you for way less than killing people.” Snotlout shakes his head.

“Right, just because you let me get away with some light trespassing doesn’t mean you aren’t itching to lock me up for something real,” Hiccup snorts, “after all, what are cousins for?”

“Exactly,” Snotlout looks between them, “so, what are we doing?”

“We?” Hiccup raises an eyebrow and Snotlout nods.

“Yeah, I get why Ruff ditched, but we could go get a drink or something.”

“We, as in you’re inviting yourself along?” Hiccup shoots Astrid a questioning look.

“You still want to go get frozen yogurt?” She scoffs, “now? After…”

After they found Gruffnut’s body, torn apart in an alley as part of a likely Viggo Grimborn emulating copy cat killer’s mysterious agenda.

“I could go for fro-yo,” Snotlout nods.

“How could you eat right now?” Hiccup shakes his head, incredulous.

“You’re the one who brought up frozen yogurt.”

“Yeah, I’m not going to eat it,” Hiccup gestures at himself with a broad hand, “I haven’t actually descended to the level of self-loathing that would lead me to torture myself on purpose with imposter ice-cream.”

“Fine, I’ll eat yours too.”

“Snotlout,” his hissing tone is familiar and Astrid reminds herself to text Ruffnut and make sure she got home ok, “I was going to go with Astrid. Alone.”

“Oh,” Snotlout grins, “you’re actually taking my excellent advice for once.”

“I’m really not,” Hiccup’s blush stretches to the tips of his ears, half hidden in floppy chestnut hair.

“Say no more, I’ll borrow your fancy headphones as soon as I get home,” Snotlout waves as he walks away and Hiccup calls after him.

“Don’t touch my headphones.” He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, “we don’t have to go now, if you don’t want—”

“No, I want to. As long as you don’t expect me to eat,” she laughs, counting the freckles across the bridge of Hiccup’s nose to avoid remembering why she’s not hungry.

“Great,” he nods, leading her across the street.

The walk is quiet, not awkward but tired, but Hiccup can’t restrain himself from pointing out a couple of landmarks along the way. They’re not all Grimborn, he points out the spot where Snotlout allegedly arrested a mob boss with an eye roll, but most are. Or at least Grimborn era. Something about walking with Hiccup makes the city feel older and more alive, like the buildings trust him enough to tell a bit of what they’ve seen.

Today they’re mourning.

The frozen yogurt shop is as soulless as the alleys aren’t, a bouncy pop song playing entirely at odds with Astrid’s mood as she half fills the smallest size with something orange she doesn’t intend to eat. The toppings are mildly more interesting and she gets enough chocolate chips to cover the sad heap of already melting frozen yogurt at the bottom of her cup.

“We don’t do gift cards,” the girl at the counter hands the card back to Hiccup.

“The person who gave me this swore they bought it here,” Hiccup insists, “there’s ten bucks on it. I’ve never touched it.”

“We aren’t Yogurt Palace anymore, the place got bought last year,” the girl shrugs and he reaches into his pocket for his wallet. It’s thick with folded bills, mostly tens and twenties, and he drops a couple of dollars into the tip jar on the counter when he gets his change, proving his chivalry even though she said he didn’t have to. They sit at the table furthest from the door and Astrid watches the yogurt spin in the dispensers.

The black cherry sorbet looks like blood.

“So, what was Snotlout’s advice?” She looks back at Hiccup, idly stirring chocolate chips into her yogurt soup. It’s the right thing to say, because he blushes again, the rise in color highlighting the stubble along his jaw.

“You caught that, huh?” He laughs, “what he didn’t mention is that he gave me the advice while letting his self-tanner set, so he rendered it null and void in the instant.”

“If it’s void, there can’t be any harm in telling me.”

“Trust me, there’s usually harm in repeating anything Snotlout says in front of girls I want to like me.” He’s almost smug under the layer of embarrassment that she still wants to peel back, “or in your case, continue to like me. I guess.”

She takes a chocolate chip out of her cup and flicks it at him. It bounces off of his cheek and leaves a little smudge of yogurt behind.

“Did you just use me for target practice?” His quiet laugh fills the space and makes it feel smaller, more private. It’s an extension of his ability to make alleys feel safe and Astrid has never felt compelled to get closer to someone who shifts her perception away from reality before. “And waste chocolate?”

“I like you, we confirmed that.” She tries to think about kissing him without thinking about where it last happened and how it’s connected to the rest of her day. It doesn’t work. She can’t untangle Hiccup from Grimborn and she doesn’t want to, as convenient as it might seem.

And she can’t untangle Grimborn from what they saw in the alley.

“What’s up?” He puts his hand on hers, frowning and leaning closer across the small table. “Was this a bad idea?”

“Wasn’t that the point? You wanted to go on a bad date to do something you don’t like,” she snorts, “if anything starting at the police station rounds out the experience.”

“Finding the murder first does seem to lessen the chances of being interrupted by murder,” he idly traces between freckles on her wrist with a light fingertip, “you know, just, statistically.”

“Plus, they seem to be happening a couple weeks apart.” She bites her lip and lets the dam break open. “I’m trying not to jump to conclusions here, but I keep looping back to the fact that the next one is going to be at my place.”

“I wouldn’t call that a jump.” Hiccup worries about her like she’s capable, like he wants to help but won’t try and fix the problem for her. He’s soundproof curtains she can close when she wants, not a bricked in window to eliminate the possibility of a problem. “More of a dainty little step. A shuffle, even.”

“And the fact that they aren’t letting Snotlout work on the case…maybe you’re right about the Ryker finger parallel,” she leans in and lowers her voice, “it can’t be coincidence that you keep…you know, that you’re involved.”

“I think it’s a ‘we’re involved’ at this point, alibi,” he squeezes her hand and it’s definitely a term of endearment this time.

Her laugh startles her, too loud, and Hiccup raises an eyebrow.

“Sorry, I just—while you were being interrogated due to the third murder victim you’ve stumbled across, I checked Facebook—”

“As you do while waiting to make your witness statement about the second mutilated body you’ve discovered, of course.”

“Exactly, it’s—apparently my cousin is engaged, she’s a year younger than me and she’s wedding planning right now while I’m…and that’s a really awkward thing to bring up on a first date,” she shakes her head and laughs again, glad when Hiccup laughs with her.

“I’ll tell you what, if I’m not in jail for murders I didn’t commit, I’ll go to the wedding with you.” It’s too much and not enough all at once and Astrid hates that she doesn’t even have room to wonder if she wants that. She can’t decide if she wants Hiccup in a suit in a hotel ballroom taking advantage of an open bar with her a year from now because her head is full of Grimborn and worrying about the locks on her front door. She can’t even think about her parents making Hiccup sleep on the pullout couch in the den because they aren’t married because she’s sure there’s some answer in that creepy note.

“I’m on a date that’s been postponed due to anonymously mailed body parts and you called me alibi like a pet name and a serial killer is probably targeting my apartment and she’s looking at dresses that probably cost more than my rent and we’re the same age, essentially. It’s…”

“No, I get it, I think being in your mid-twenties is like that for everyone to some degree. Some of my high school friends are married with children and some of them are still posting pictures of them smoking weed on the internet,” Hiccup laughs, “none of them are being framed for murder though. Hey, that would have been a good yearbook superlative, Most Likely to be Suspected of Murder.”

Astrid doesn’t like to hear him say it. Like everything he says, he makes it more real. More immediate.

“I would not have won, for the record.” He goes back to tracing freckles on her arm and she ducks down to meet his eyeline.

“Do you think you’re really a suspect?”

“I think I don’t look good,” he shrugs, “I don’t think Eretson thinks I did it but…it seems like there’s pressure to investigate me further.”

“From Grisly?” Astrid guesses and Hiccup’s lips twitch.

“You know, I have no concrete evidence of that, but he’s just so creepy that I really think so.” He reaches into her bowl for a chocolate chip and eats it, wrinkling his nose, “what flavor is that, spoiled milk?”

“I didn’t even look,” she tries a piece of chocolate and comes to a similar conclusion, “but isn’t all yogurt technically spoiled milk?”

“What person decided eating spoiled milk was a good idea?” He picks up his spoon, putting on a silly voice, “this food definitely smells different than yesterday and also sour, guess I’ll just dig in even though grandma died from eating old chicken last week.”

“I bet it was morbid curiosity,” she looks down at her bowl.

“Well, I wouldn’t know anything about that.” Hiccup is the only person Astrid has ever met who is so self-assured about being weird. Maybe Ruffnut, except it’s different, Ruffnut just doesn’t care what people think of her. Hiccup does care. She can see it in his eyes every time he tries to make her laugh.

“Of course not,” she meshes her fingers with his and he grins.

“You know, while I was being interrogated for the fourth time about finding murder victims or parts of them—”

“As you do.”

“Yes, I don’t even know why I even count anymore, I should get an app or something to do that for me, but I kept thinking about what you said in the bar about the note being a clue or something, and I think you’re right.” He’s happy that she overthought again and her stomach flutters. “Not just about the whole ‘all right’ versus ‘alright’ thing describing Dave. But I think there was a clue there, the whole ‘rudderless grime’ thing.”

“You know, now that you mention it, I think I could have described Gruffnut as ‘rudderless grime’.” Astrid was raised not to speak ill of the dead, but it’s what Gruff would have wanted. If there’s an afterlife, he’s probably thrilled to know that she is in fact still pissed about the fifty bucks and that anger is the best monument she can give him.

“And his bar is coated in layers of grime,” Hiccup nods, “and it wasn’t going anywhere, he was still affording rent even though other places are struggling because this neighborhood has it’s whole new direction thing.” He looks suspiciously around the frozen yogurt shop, “and a seedy bar doesn’t fit in with micro-distilleries and the thirteen yoga shops that sprung up on that block overnight. And Gruff had no intention of changing direction, hence rudderless--”

“I think that’s a leap,” Astrid shakes her head, “to say that someone wrote a threatening note on a foot they sent to Snotlout planning to kill Gruffnut because his shitty bar was miraculously succeeding is…that’s a whole basket of leaps.”

“I know,” he bites his lip, puffing his cheeks out and sighing, “I need more proof.”

“That’s usually not how it works. Usually you make the theory around the evidence, not the other way around.”

“I know that, or well, I don’t, because everyone goes the wrong way all the time. Or at least Heather does which…” He pauses to breathe then continues in a whisper, his eyes deadly serious, “the thing is if I’m right, and that’s a big if, I know that, but…if I’m right…I think it leads back to Mr. Grisly.”

#ripped #hiccstrid #httyd fic #hiccstrid fic #modern au #serial killer tour guide au #tuffstrid is best friends fight me

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