#but no i’m not seriously injured and i don’t want some doctor to poke and prod me and give me injecting and take scans

[leemarkies]

everyone telling me to sue the dude who rear ended me like . no. it’s really not that easy

[myopinionhi]

A Will Solace Character Analysis: the Underappreciated Soft Side

I've noticed many fanfictions have Will Solace OOC. So I’ve been thinking about aspects of Will’s personality fans seem to either gloss over or exaggerate. Here, this post is me doing an in-depth analysis explaining Will Solace’s canon personality in the books, and how it can sometimes differ from fanfictions. Sprinkled in this analysis are tips to fanfiction writers on how they write Will as more in-character.

There is one major aspect of Will that people seem to ignore or underemphasize. Nico best explains it when describing Will in this quote

Jason was a fighter. You could tell from the intensity of his stare, his constant alertness, the coiled-up energy in his frame. Will Solace was more like a lanky cat stretched out in sunshine. His movements were relaxed and nonthreatening, his gaze soft and far away. In his faded SURF BARBADOS T-shirt, his cutoff shorts and flip-flops, he looked about as aggressive as a demigod could get, but Nico knew he was brave under fire. During the Battle of Manhattan, Nico had seen him in action - the camp's best combat medic, risking his life to save wounded campers.

To sum it up, Will Solace is a very chill and calm character. A lot of writers make Will more irrational, impulsive, overbearing, and emotional than he actually is. Will is not the type of character to create drama unless he's, as Nico puts it, "under fire." In other words, the intense side of his personality doesn't come out unless the situation is urgent or dire.

Fans remember during the Second Giant War how he gets angry and argues with Nico over Nico's health and shadow-traveling, so many assume Will is going to be this fiery over a lot of other things regarding their relationship. For example, fanfic writers may make Will controlling or overly sensitive with Nico. However, keep in mind, Will gets heated with Nico during the Second Giant War because Nico's shadow-traveling is killing him. This is how Will describes Nico's dire state.

"Coach Hedge told me all about your shadow-travel. You can’t try that again."

"I just did try it again, Solace. I’m fine."

"No, you’re not. I’m a healer. I could feel the darkness in your hand as soon as I touched it. Even if you made it to that tent, you’d be in no shape to fight. But you wouldn’t make it. One more slip, and you won’t come back. You are not shadow-travelling. Doctor’s orders."

Will is a healer. When he touches Nico's hand, he can sense how little sleep and food Nico has been getting and how Nico's being taken over by darkness. Nico is on the verge of death and hasn't cared about his health for a long time. Nico is also stubborn about it, so Will has to be aggressive in order to save Nico's life. This aggressive behavior is not the norm for Will, but it can sometimes come out when he has to assert control in a life-or-death situation.

Will is a calming prescence. He's a diplomat. He stops violence on multiple occassions.

He's one of the few people who's able to calm Clarisse's violent rage, and he does so in a gentle manner.

Clarisse pointed her dagger at Rachel. "What about their allies, huh? Did you see that tribe of two-headed men that arrived yesterday? Or the glowing red dog-headed guys with the big poleaxes? They look pretty barbaric to me. It would’ve been nice if you’d foreseen any of that, if your Oracle power didn’t break down when we needed it most!"

Rachel’s face turned as red as her hair. "That’s hardly my fault. Something is wrong with Apollo’s gifts of prophecy. If I knew how to fix it ��"

"She’s right." Will Solace, head counsellor for the Apollo cabin, put his hand gently on Clarisse’s wrist. Not many campers could’ve done that without getting stabbed, but Will had a way of defusing people’s anger. He got her to lower her dagger. "Everyone in our cabin has been affected. It’s not just Rachel."

One of the most underrated Will Solace moments is when he stops a bloody battle from happening between Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter.  

But he knew it wouldn’t do any good. After weeks of waiting, agonizing and steaming, the Greeks and Romans wanted blood. Trying to stop the battle now would be like trying to push back a flood after the dam broke.

Will Solace saved the day.

He put his fingers in his mouth and did a taxicab whistle even more horrible than the last. Several Greeks dropped their swords. A ripple went through the Roman line like the entire First Cohort was shuddering.

"DON’T BE STUPID!" Will yelled. "LOOK!"

People are so used to seeing demigods, especially male demigods, being aggressive fighters that they can't wrap their heads around a brave and strong demigod who actively tries to avoid unnecessary conflict and destruction as much as he can.

And that's Will Solace's strength: he has the ability to prevent as much harm as possible.

Will is a difficult character to write. There's a lot of dueling factors with his personality. He's calm and pacifying while also being brave and assertive. He's fun and lighthearted while also being intelligent, logical, and grounded. He's laidback while also being responsible and hardworking. He's insecure but not melodramatic. He's very caring and protective but not pushy.

Will's personality confuses Nico sometimes too.

He’d always thought of Will as easygoing and laid back. Apparently he could also be stubborn and aggravating.

The trick to writing Will is to keep in mind his default personality is a soft and lighthearted character. Writers tend to overemphasize the hard side of his personality when his default personality is actually the soft side.

Think of the relaxing, lanky cat metaphor Nico uses for him. He and Nico bicker often, and it works for Will because he rolls with everything and doesn't take things too seriously. He's able to alleviate Nico's moodiness with humor, wittiness, groundedness, and patience. Nico affectionately calls Will a "dork" because Will usually keeps things light. Interestingly enough, he's able to be lighthearted without coming across as insensitive or an airheaded goofball, the latter of which is something Nico dislikes about Percy's personality. On a related sidenote, another way writers make Will OOC is they make him too dumb or too immature. I know I mentioned to focus on Will's soft side, but be careful to avoid that too. He's a SENSIBLE, lanky cat.

The way Will keeps his composure during a stressful situation by using laughter while still being mature is expressed well in this exchange with Apollo. (Yes, Will has a lot to manage.)

It was difficult to think of this young man as my son. He was so poised, so unassuming, so free of acne. He also didn’t appear to be awestruck in my presence. In fact, the corner of his mouth had started twitching.

“Are—are you amused?” I demanded.

Will shrugged. “Well, it’s either find this funny or freak out. My dad, the god Apollo, is a fifteen-year-old—”

“Sixteen,” I corrected. “Let’s go with sixteen.”

“A sixteen-year-old mortal, lying in a cot in my cabin, and with all my healing arts—which I got from you—I still can’t figure out how to fix you.”

“There is no fixing this,” I said miserably. “I am cast out of Olympus. My fate is tied to a girl named Meg. It could not be worse!”

Will laughed, which I thought took a great deal of gall. “Meg seems cool. She’s already poked Connor Stoll in the eyes and kicked Sherman Yang in the crotch.”

The fiercer side of Will's personality comes out only when the situation calls for it; this happens sometimes when he has to be a caring family member, a responsible healer, or a warrior in a dire situation. Even when he gets more forceful, he doesn't get more forceful than he has to.

Since Will has such a balanced and lighthearted personality, what are his flaws? What are the dark sides of his personality? There are four main things that stick out.

1. He's insecure about his self-perceived lack of abilities.

"I agree," Will said. "I wish I was a better archer … I wouldn’t mind shooting my Roman relative off his high horse. Actually, I wish I could use any of my father’s gifts to stop this war." He looked down at his own hands with distaste. "Unfortunately, I’m just a healer."

2. He sometimes struggles to endure the heavy responsibilities he has as a healer and as a protector to his family.

“I got it reattached,” Will told me, his voice shaky with exhaustion. His scrubs were speckled with blood. “I need somebody to keep him stable.”

I pointed to the woods. “But—”

“I know!” Will snapped. “Don’t you think I want to be out there searching too? We’re shorthanded for healers. There’s some salve and nectar in that pack. Go!”

I was stunned by his tone. I realized he was just as concerned about Kayla and Austin as I was. The only difference: Will knew his duty. He had to heal the injured first. And he needed my help.

3. He forces himself to bottle his emotions to keep his composure.

Will laughed under his breath. “I’m terrified. But one thing you learn as head counselor: you have to keep it together for everyone else. Let’s get you on your feet."

Here's a second example.

I rested my hand on Will’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. We’ll be back by dawn.”

His mouth trembled ever so slightly. “How can you be sure?”

4. He constantly worries about his loved ones.

Nico rested his hand on Will’s shoulder. “Apollo, we were worried. Will was especially.”

In conclusion, Will Solace's personality is difficult to get correct. But don't worry, if you write Will as a laidback, witty cat in your fanfics, I guarantee he'll be more in-character than many other fanfics with Will Solace.

(Note: I am only human. If you believe I'm misinterpreting some aspects of Will's personality, feel free to express it. What I say isn't 100 percent the right interpretation.)

[thenamesseven]

Pairing: Jongho x reader

Genre: Romance, angst, jail au!

Warnings: Mentions of blood, not too descriptive but yeah, there’s some home made surgery in this chapter 🤣

Word count: 5.9k, this one is loooong

A/N: Another new chapter that brings us closer to the end! Hope you guys enjoy it!

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Standing in front of the stove, you couldn’t help but smile, staring down at the perfect yet fluffy pancakes you had been cooking for a few minutes now. Your tongue was poking out of your lips, a sign of concentration while teeth bit down on it gently right before one of your hands moved, slowly flipping an almost cooked pancake, leaving it on the pan for a little longer. 

You should have heard the ruffling of the bed sheets, the quiet steps around the room as he searched for something to wear, at least a shirt, since he didn’t like to walk around in just his underwear. You should have heard the door creak when he opened it or the way he usually yawned when he woke up, so loud, that instead of a husband it felt like you had a lion in your house. You just were so focused on the food you were preparing that none of those sounds told you he was awake.

In fact, it wasn’t until he walked in the kitchen and wrapped his arms around your waist from behind that you knew he was out of dreamland and back into the perfect reality the two of you had.  You welcomed the feeling of his warmth surrounding you, his natural scent drowning your senses and the feeling of a subtle bear brush against your neck when he went to nuzzle it. 

“(Y/N)” Jongho’s voice called your name but instead of a smile, the sound only brought a frown to your face. There was something in his tone that didn't make it as pleasant as always, he sounded scared…Urgent "(Y/N)!" He repeated, volume getting slightly louder, however, when you were about to turn around and face him to see what was wrong, his grip tightened, not allowing you to look at him "(Y/N)!" Jongho actually shouted. You started panicking, there was something obviously wrong in this situation but since he wouldn’t let you move, there was nothing you could do either. “(Y/N)!” Jongho’s voice turned slightly distorted, a sound that you’ve only heard in nightmares, the more you listened to his voice, the less it sounded like him. 

“(Y/N)!” You closed your eyes when he slightly shook you, your mouth opening to say anything that would get him to stop, that would get his attention but no words came out. “(Y/N)! (Y/N)! (Y/N)” You took in a deep breath, getting ready to try your best and shout, hoping that would work while he kept calling your name.

"(Y/N)!"

Right as you had been ready to scream your lungs out, you were brought back to consciousness when your name was called once again. Instead of shouting, your body desperately gasped for air loudly, as if you had been drowning. Wooyoung's persistent tries had ripped you away from your dream successfully, he had pulled you out of that nightmare.

Incredibly confused and still feeling too weak to mutter a word, you only glanced around, observing your new surroundings and trying to see where you were at the moment. Your vision was not completely clear but you could guess you were inside of a car, probably a vehicle that was carrying more people than the law allowed but that was probably the least of the guys’ worries after everything that had happened. 

"Oh thank God she's awake!" Wooyoung exclaimed with triumph when he looked down into your open eyes, keeping your head on his shoulder, holding you tightly against his body. Whoever was driving was doing it recklessly and he didn't want to take the risk of letting you fall down with that bullet still inside of you.

"(Y/N)! How are you holding up?" It was San's voice the one that asked the question but when you slightly lifted your head to look at his direction, you did not only see him but Mingi as well. 

A weak frown appeared between your eyebrows, too tired to freak out or make all the questions you wanted to ask "Apparently not too well, I'm seeing Mingi right there" You mumbled, your voice weak but clear enough for all of them to hear you. 

Someone laughed from the front seats, it took you a couple of minutes to figure out it had been Hongjoong "That's because he is sitting right there!" Yunho exclaimed amused. 

Mingi, as if sensing your extreme confusion, tilted his head so he could meet your eyes without San's head getting in the way. There was a small apologetic smile on his lips when you looked at him again with a bigger frown, one of his hands moving up to wave at you "Hi (Y/N), we have a lot to catch up on" 

You were about to open your mouth and reply to his statement, not even knowing what you could say in this kind of situation but the pain in your side was quick to shut your mouth just as quickly as you had opened it, only allowing you to groan in pain. Wooyoung tightened his hold around you, noticing how you tensed up in his arms while he reached out to brush his fingers through your hair, getting some of the strands away from your sweaty forehead. 

"(Y/N)" Hongjoong looked at you briefly through the rearview mirror, hands gripping the steering wheel as he tried to multitask, keeping half of his attention on you and half on the road ahead of him "Remember what happened back there?"

You nodded softly, trying to move as little as possible "Someone shot us, Wooyoung is also injured" You muttered glancing up at him, Wooyoung only shook his head, silently letting you know he was not in such a bad state.

"You want the bad news or the really bad news first?" Hongjoong asked with a small smile, trying to brush off some of the tension that was slowly filling up the car, making everyone’s chests heavy with pressure and fear. 

"No good news?" You asked frowning, either San or Mingi had the audacity to chuckle at your question. 

"Unfortunately no" Hongjoong replied seriously not even wasting a second to think about the possibility of sugar coating the entire situation for you "We suspect the bullet went straight through Wooyoung and landed in you" He said, deciding to deliver the news anyways, there was no point in delaying it more "We have to get it out of you" 

"Excuse me, what?" You asked, alarmed and tensing up again, which made another groan escape your lips. 

“We all have zero medical knowledge, you’ll have to stay conscious and help us get that bullet out of your body” Hongjoong explained again, not even talking slower since your brain would end up processing the words he was saying sooner or later.

“Don’t you have like, a secret doctor or someone that could help us out?” You asked as the entire car seemed to be spinning around, making your head hurt since you kept trying to focus your vision “Who cured Mingi’s stabbing?” 

“I did” San said “And I was hoping the entire time what I was doing was working because I had little to no idea of how to treat stab wounds that were so deep” He confessed, reaching up to scratch the back part of his neck as if he was an embarrassed child.

“It’s basically a miracle that I’m alive” Mingi joked, earning a slap on his chest from his friend that would have made everyone laugh if you and Wooyoung weren’t about to lose consciousness because of all the blood you were losing.

“You guys need a doctor…” You attempted to say but the words started coming out slurred, vision turning even more blurry. You were seconds away from passing out and by the way Wooyoung’s grip on you was turning slightly weaker, he was at his very limit as well.

“You watch too many gangster movies (Y/N)” Yunho joked from his seat.

You wanted to laugh at that, the comment had been kind of funny but only a smile brushed past your lips before your eyes closed and everything turned black for the second time.

By the look on Seonghwa’s face, Jaehyun could tell something in their plan had gone absolutely wrong. Sitting in one of those comfortable little leather seats he had in the corner of his office, nearby the shelves full of books he probably never read, the inmate watched his business' partner carefully, reading his body language. 

An amateur would have gone with the first impression and said Seongwha still had everything under control by the way he kept his feet crossed on top of the table, his body slouched back against the seat but someone as experienced as Jaehyun focused on the small details, the things someone would easily miss and he knew everything had taken an unexpected turn.

And not for the good.

It was the way his fingers tapped the desk in front of him at an unknown yet irregular beat, the way his breath seemed to slow down whenever the other person on the line talked, how he kept his eyes down while his mind was trying to calculate all the mistakes he would have to fix. This could be the first time Jaehyun would probably watch him lose his cool, he had thought that was totally impossible but you and your little games were managing to do that.

“Alright” He said, voice flat and lacking any kind of emotion “Call me if you find anything new, something that could tell us where they’re hiding” Jaehyun’s head popped up at the sound of that, finally confirming you and Wooyoung had managed to survive their trap somehow, which was incredibly surprising if he was completely honest.

Keeping his eyes on him, Jaehyun watched as Seonghwa hung up on the call, stayed quiet as he looked down at his phone for a few seconds and then placed it back down on the table. The inmate thought he would throw it against the wall but to his surprise, he controlled himself and didn’t break it.

“Two corpses, both males and none of them is Wooyoung” He said, keeping his eyes down on his hands as he kept them on his lap, nervously fidgeting with the clothes he was wearing, straining his mind for any kind of solutions “We’re fucked up”

“What are they? Cockroaches? How could they survive that?” Jaehyun scoffed, standing up from his seat since he didn’t feel that comfortable anymore. Even when he knew what the phone call was about, hearing Seonghwa actually say it out loud made it even more nerve-wracking. “Any places they could be hiding in?” 

“They vanished, gone, like they never existed” Seongwha pinched the bridge of his nose, not knowing if the situation was frustrating him or it was Jaehyun’s abundant questions what was making him get in such a bad mood.

“Then we’ll just have to make them come out” Jaehyun said, as he plopped back down on his seat, crossing one leg over the other comfortably. The solution had been there in front of them the entire time but the stress and tension weren’t letting them think properly.

“Well done Sherlock” Seonghwa scoffed, not one bit of amusement present in his sarcasm “How do we do that?” 

“You have the thing they want the most” Jaehyun replied smiling, staring straight into his friends eyes “It’s been here with us all this time and you’ll be able to get rid of all of them as soon as they come for it, as soon as they try to rescue their friend”

“Jongho” Seongwha whispered, as if it had been the biggest secret in the entire universe.

Little did they knew that no matter how low they talked, they could have never defeated the experienced ears listening from the outside. Yoongi had only been walking by on his way to his cell right after dinner, the guard accompanying him had been easily distracted, too quick to give his trust to him since after all, he wasn’t an inmate that usually caused trouble around. 

A sigh escaped his lips before he kept walking, not wanting to tempt his luck and get caught in the middle of something he wouldn’t be able to explain. Yoongi was definitely not one that got into other businesses, he just wanted to redeem himself and get out of this hell hole as quick as he could but, helping his cellmate wouldn’t hurt, right?

Someone needed to warn Jongho and that someone would have to be him.

It was the extremely bright light what brought you back to consciousness once again. At first, you had thought you were seeing the light at the end of the tunnel every book and movie talked about when it came to death although you were forced to open your eyes when you realized you couldn’t move away or closer to it. The first thing you saw was someone extremely tall, towering over you, holding the source of the bright light, making you flinch and close your eyes once again, too uncomfortable with so much brightness. 

“Mingi you’re going to burn their eyes with that!” Someone exclaimed, making the male flinch and move the light away from you without turning it off. It got better but it was still a bit too overwhelming for you.

“Well, that’s why they’re sleeping during surgeries! What the hell am I supposed to do!?” He replied, sounding frustrated.

“Turn that off! We have enough with the normal light” San said from somewhere, your vision was still too blurry to try and locate the guys.

“Mingi” Wooyoung groaned, his voice came from beside you, in fact, you only had to slightly stretch out your arm to be able to touch him. The male was surprised for a second, not having expected you to be so close and yet, when he turned his head and saw you were still conscious, he couldn’t help but slightly smile in relief. This was not over the both of you were still alive “Turn that off”

“Sorry, sorry”

As soon as the blinding light was turned off, the both of you could sigh in absolute relief, feeling slightly better as you waited for your eyes to adjust to the new illumination which was way lower but still bright, you felt way better if you kept your eyes closed.

“(Y/N)” Recognizing Yunho’s voice, you could only hum in response, letting him know you were listening to him. A cold, wet piece of clothing landed on your forehead, soothing some of the burning sensation running through your veins and cleaning the drops of sweat that had started to appear on your skin “Ready?” They were not wasting any time, which told you the situation wasn’t as good as you hoped it would be. 

“We need instructions” Hongjoong said serious, voice sounding like business. You couldn’t see his face right now but you would bet all your money on him being incredibly serious.

“Wooyoung first” You muttered, hearing him complaining beside you, probably saying something about how they should take care of your wounds first but he had saved your life or at least, risked his own to save yours so you weren’t going to put yourself before him “You guys need lots of towels, sterilized needles, thread and...Bandages….Yeah, bandages….” You whispered, voice quiet and low as you tried to keep yourself conscious and focused on the task. Although it was harder that it seemed to be, specially with the strong pain you kept feeling in your side.

“So we just sew the wound and that’s it for him?” San asked, walking around the table to approach him, Yunho moved the towel on your forehead, flipping it so the colder side would land on your heating face.

“Did the bullet go through him or did it just scratch him badly?” You asked back, head hurting, breathing turning heavier than it should be.

You heard some movement by your side and a painful groan escaping Wooyoung’s lips, you didn’t need to turn your head to guess San had probably tried to turn him around in order to check the wounds and damages the bullet had made.

“Scratch” He replied dryly, eyes still scanning his back and stomach to make sure, not seeing anything that could hint the bullet had actually gone through him “It’s not too big”

“Good, that means you won’t have to search for the remaining bullet pieces inside of him” You explained, quietly groaning when a wave of pain surprised you.

“Dammit Wooyoung, I wanted to play doctor and patient with you” San joked, scoffing as the ruffling that echoed in the room signified he was already starting to work on your instructions “Always wanted to be a surgeon but you know, had to be too smart and study way more than I wanted to, thank you for letting my dreams come true”

Wooyoung laughed at your side or at least tried to but ended up coughing and whining in pain, resulting in San moving faster so he could help him sooner “Fuck off San, we all know you’ve always wanted to kill a cop” Wooyoung joked in return, the guys chuckled around you, you tried to smile.

“That too but then Jongho and Miss Choi would kick my ass and that’s a fate worse than death” He replied, pausing for a moment before he spoke again “(Y/N), we don’t have time to boil water and sterilize the needles, is there anything else we can do to avoid infection?” 

“Pour whatever kind of alcohol you have around on the needles, the stronger, the better” You said quietly right before San ran away.

“Right, while San is helping Wooyoung out, tell us how we can help you” Hongjoong instructed once again, noticing you were already struggling with keeping yourself conscious and knowing that if you didn’t help them out during this, they would surely lose right there on their dining table “Yunho, get some more cold water”

“On it” You whined when the cloth left your face but understood Yunho had to move in order to bring it back refreshed and colder for you.

“I’m going to be a little trickier than Wooyoung” You warned with a small smile

“Girls are always more complicated, we all knew that already (Y/N)” Wooyoung replied from beside you, making the guys smile, it was amazing how they tried to keep themselves so cool and calm when they had two bullet wounded people laying on their dining table, one of them closer to death than life.

“I could sew his mouth as well, what do you think (Y/N)?” San asked, the smile on your face was enough of a reply, he knew you shouldn’t waste energy on jokes and save them to guide the rest of the group through this homemade surgery.

“Did someone see my wounds?” You asked quietly, looking at the two guys in front of you, assuming the taller one was Mingi and the one besides him, the one that looked smaller, Hongjoong.

“The bullet came through the side of your stomach, there is no wound on your back which probably means the bullet is still inside” Hongjoong replied, serious since he understood how complicated the situation was. If the bullet had hit anything important, there was nothing nobody could do, you were doomed. Yunho returned soon, placing the wet cloth on your forehead once again, keeping your eyes uncovered in case you wanted to open them “We tried to move you as less as possible, the blood loss slowed down a while ago but you’ve still lost a bunch of it” 

“Alright” You took in a deep breath, knowing what was coming, this was going to be a nightmare to go through but you would get out of it alive, you had to “You guys will need a knife, one that can cut meat well, something as similar as possible to a scalpel...Some tweezers, towels, needles and thread”

“I do not like how this sounds” Yunho muttered, making you smile a little.

“Do you think I do? It’s time to put our big kids’ pants on, it’s either this or letting me die” You explained quietly, noticing Mingi and Hongjoong were gone, probably getting everything ready..

“You’re not going to die” Yunho whispered as Hongjoong came back, carrying everything on his hands “We got this” 

“We got this” You whispered, taking in a deep breath and getting ready to narrate all the things they would have to do to get the bullet out.

Once dinner was finished, both inmates, Yoongi and Jongho were brought back to their cells, inevitably getting locked up again between the four walls they’ve been sharing for more than a couple of years now. 

Jongho knew something was wrong. 

Yoongi seemed fidgety and specially avoided eye contact with him, normally the male wouldn’t have this kind of behaviour since he was not one to be easily intimidated or since he barely got himself involved in anyone’s business. Although, anyone that wouldn’t know Yoongi would just assume he was awkward, one of those weirdo introverts that only kept to themselves but Jongho knew him better than that and he knew he had some information that could be severely important for him.

“Spit it already Yoongi” Jongho said with a small smile, not wanting to come off as rude or impatient to him, the older male looked tense enough, pressure was surely not welcome “You’re giving me the creeps man, what’s wrong? Do you need help with anything? Is Jaehyun bothering you?” 

If there was something that Yoongi admired of Jongho was how he always cared about the people around him no matter what his current situation was, for him, it was absolutely unbelievable how, despite everything he was going through right now, he wasted the time of his day observing and noticing there was something wrong with him.

“Jaehyun” Yoongi said his name quietly, praying nobody would listen to him if he didn’t want to be the next punching bag they’ve turned Jongho into “He’s planning to-”

“Jongho!” Jaehyun’s loud voice startled both males, making Yoongi shut up immediately, fear making him back track on his actions. He wanted to help Jongho, the poor guy didn’t deserve to go through all of this, even more now that he believed in those rumours that claimed he was completely innocent, that the charges he had been locked for were all a lie “Come out, we have to talk” 

Jongho stayed sitting on his bed, eyes moving from Yoongi to Jaehyun and Yeosang awaiting for him outside of the cell, the door slightly opened for him to get out “I don’t think we have anything to discuss” He said seriously, without any hints of movement from his part.

“Unfortunately, we do have stuff to discuss” Yeosang walked into the cell, taking his gun out and pointing it at Jongho “So stand up and do what we say, you really don’t want to get on our nerves tonight Jongho” The inmate looked at Yoongi, his cellmate for any hint, anything that could make him guess what he was going to say before Jaehyun arrived. But Yoongi only glanced down, avoiding eye contact between them once again, hearing how the guard gently pushed the younger male out of the cell against his will.

“Good boy” Jaehyun mocked as Jongho walked past him with Yeosang behind him. 

Before walking away though, Jaehyun turned around to look at Yoongi, closing the cell door to keep him locked in and avoiding any more surprises than the ones they’ve already had tonight. Yoongi met eyes with him, hands fidgeting with the thin blanket he had, his eyes carefully watching as Jaehyun lifted his hand, moving it closer to his lips and motioned as if he was closing an imaginary zipper that he had on his mouth. 

Yoongi felt a shiver run down his spine as the three of them walked away, steps echoing down the deathly hall.

The possibilities of Jongho never coming back were high enough for Yoongi to believe he was never seeing his cellmate ever again and he couldn’t do anything to avoid it.

“Bite harder” Yunho adviced and you simply did as you were told, muffling the sound of your painful screams as Hongjoong used the knife on your wound to make the gap wider in order to fit the tweezers and get the bullet out of your body. Your throat hurt from how much you were screaming, your body begged to be free as Mingi held your legs and Yunho your arms down, you knew you had to let them do this but it was involuntarily to want to make the pain stop, there was nothing you could do about it. Biting into the towel, you screamed once again as Hongjoong caressed your skin with the knife hard enough to make the wound bigger, sweat rolling down your neck in waves at this point.

“Almost there (Y/N), now I just have to look for the bullet” 

Hongjoong himself was starting to feel as if the entire world was spinning around him, despite being in a gang, he and the guys had never gotten themselves so badly injured and this was his first time operating somebody. Maybe you were right after all and they needed to invest some money in looking for a doctor that would take care of these situations. 

“There” San said, looking over his leader’s shoulder, seeing something silver and black in the middle of so much blood and things that looked like they belonged into the decorations of a horror movie. He couldn’t believe he was seeing the inside of your body, it was like he was definitely dreaming. “Isn’t that it?” 

“It is” Mingi said, looking as well before he looked away seconds after. He was not too strong when it came to this situations and he was sure he would end up passing out if he kept looking.

“Alright (Y/N), I’m going to take it out” Hongjoong instructed, you could only nod, feeling the energy in your body vanishing with each second that passed, consciousness and unconsciousness fighting to see which one kept you.

“Hurry” You whispered, alarming them.

“Uh, guys? I'm no doctor but I think she is losing too much blood” Yunho said alarmed, voice hurried as his eyes kept scanning your body full of red stains and wounds that would take so much time to heal.

“(Y/N)” Wooyoung, who had been quietly holding your hand this entire time, still too weak to move from beside you, called out your name, willing to catch your attention “(Y/N), open your eyes baby, look at me” 

Not knowing what else to do to keep yourself awake, you turned your head and looked at him, opening your eyes. Your vision wasn’t clear yet but you could obviously see how he was trying his best to hide his worry from your eyes, concern evident and fear shining in his expression.

“You need to stay awake, alright?” He asked, you simply nodded, too tired to argue with him at this point “For us, for Jongho” The mention of his name brought tears to your eyes, what if you died in here tonight? What if you were never able to see him again? 

“You need to tell him that-”

“You’re telling him yourself” He insisted, not letting you finish your sentence, knowing you would simply give up and try to get some rest if you passed the words full of love that you wanted to tell your now fiancee “I’m not telling him anything, not after he stole you away” His tone was playful,  Wooyoung wasn’t mad but he wasn’t lying either. You knew his feelings for you, he had always made sure you knew about how much he appreciated you but your heart had been long stolen by Jongho, even after he was locked in prison for a crime you committed ”By the way, now that we’re on topic, what did you see in that mess of a guy? Because man, other than the cool car he had back in high school I think I’ve been way better than him” 

You smiled at his words, knowing exactly what he was doing but wanting to play along for you, for them and for Jongho “He did have a cool car, I loved it” You said quietly, seeing his blurry smile, not noticing the tears that had started falling down your cheeks as you spoke “To be completely honest with you Wooyoung” You winced when you felt the cold tweezers brushing against your wound, the stinging alcohol making you hiss through your words “I don’t know how or when it happened, I don’t even know what it was exactly” You replied softly, holding onto Wooyoung’s hand tight, closing your eyes when the pain made you groan and tense up again. Yunho let go of one of your hands to clean the sweat on your face, soothingly running his fingers through your tangled hair “Our love just appeared out of nowhere, it was not surprising, it was not something I ever worried about like you see in those romance movies” You said quietly “We are a living bad boy-good girl cliche” A chuckle escaped his lips, his thumb tracing circles in your hand, the sounds around you becoming a little confusing, not clear “But I knew he would always have my back, we knew we were together without saying it outloud” The boys were saying something but you couldn’t hear it, your eyes were starting to close “It’s something there are not words to describe….I would just say he turned into the home I never had….He described himself as broken...As damaged….But Wooyoung….I can tell you without any doubt that he is the most caring and sweet human being I have ever met”

“(Y/N)?” Wooyoung’s voice echoed in the room when your eyes closed, a pain of wave surfing through his entire body when he tried to move “Guys?” 

“Sew her wound, come on” Mingi hurried Hongjoong, eyes glancing worriedly at your face.

“And I love him…” You whispered, not even realizing you were passing out on them “I love him more than life itself….More than anybody could imagine”

With a smile on your lips your body relaxed and too tired to keep fighting you just gave in, letting unconsciousness take away all the pain and dread you were feeling.

No one knew if you would wake up again.

Hours later, right when the sun was starting to come up, Wooyoung walked into the room where Mingi had been watching you over for most of the night. Sure had dozed off a couple of times but he had been paying attention to every single movement or thing you had done during the entire night. You still hadn’t woken up yet, your eyes had been closed since they had successfully taken the bullet out of your body but you were still breathing and mumbling some incoherent stuff during your sleep.

You were still alive and that’s what counts.

“Feeling better?” Mingi asked Wooyoung, eyes on you as the other male dragged a chair close to your bed, sitting down with the two of you, hiding the small hint of pain that gave away he was still not completely recovered .

“I’m alive, that’s what counts” Wooyoung replied with a smile, reaching out to gently brush some strands of your hair out of your face.

“I guess we’re even now” Mingi said with a quiet chuckle glancing at him “I still hadn’t had the chance to thank you properly for what you did that day” The taller male mumbled quietly, you could even say he was feeling kind of shy about it “You risked everything to get a stranger out of jail, not everybody would have done that”

“Not completely a stranger, I’ve known Hongjoong since Jongho got in jail” Wooyoung confessed, actually surprising Mingi since he didn’t know this piece of information “Nobody knew this, Hongjoong said the least people knew about this, the smaller the possibility of information getting leaked was so we kept it that way” Wooyoung explained looking at him “Even though Jongho and I didn’t get along too well in high school, he always took care of somebody really special for me, he even went to jail for her and I just had to help him somehow….It’s ridiculous but I felt like I owed him something for saving her that night when I couldn’t” Flashes of what happened the night your father was shot popped in his mind as he spoke with Mingi, the male clearing his throat to snap himself out of whatever trance he had put himself into. “I just saw the opportunity when it showed up, you could have died but if I hadn’t helped you get out of there, I think we both know you would have been dead by now” 

“Probably” Mingi said quietly “To be honest I consider a miracle that Jongho is still breathing, Jaehyun is really determined to follow Seongwha’s orders no matter the cost” 

“You guys will get him out of there soon, Hongjoong just have to make some calls to get ready and if God is on our side….Tomorrow morning we will all be safe and sound, away from this hell hole” Wooyoung said with a small smile

“Are you scared?” Mingi asked him, not to make fun of him but because he felt kind of scared as well.

“Of course I am” Wooyoung said gently, without hesitation, fingers playing with strands of your hair “But if we don’t do it, (Y/N) will get him out of there herself and I prefer taking all the risks than letting her do it” 

Mingi smiled softly, looking down at you before glancing at Wooyoung “You really love her, don’t you?” 

“Haven’t I been clear enough?” Wooyoung replied with a scoff, a small smile on his lips as he looked at the male “I would go through hell and back to keep her safe….Damn, I took a bullet for her” 

“You tried” Mingi said laughing, making Wooyoung laugh too. “To be honest, I think she loves you back, it’s just not the same crazy love she feels for Jongho….You’re actually quite important for her as well Wooyoung”

“I know” The male replied with a small smile, looking down at you as the back of his hand caressed your cheek “That’s why being in her life is enough, there’s nothing else I could ask for” 

“Mingi?” San poked his head into the room, interrupting their conversation “We gotta get moving, there are still a couple of things we need to do before tonight” 

Without hesitation Mingi stood up, patting Wooyoung’s shoulder on his way to the door “Tell her to forgive me for vanishing again when she wakes up” He said to Wooyoung, not knowing if this would be the last time they would see each other.

But Wooyoung shook his head as he looked down at his knees, not accepting the male’s proposition “You tell her yourself later tonight, you know I’m not one to pass on messages” 

Mingi could only smile and roll his eyes, nodding even though he knew there was a possibility of things going wrong and them not seeing each other again. His eyes looked at you one last time and he walked out of the room knowing hell was about to break loose and not even God himself would be able to get them out of the mess they were going to make.

Taglist: @guess--monster @cometoceantrenches @miatsubaki23 @lovelyvitamin @heroesfan101 @daintysan @t-tbinnie @shyshybabyy @little-precious-baby​ @bebetiny @mirror-juliet @btrombley13 @yukine-smx @wavetease @naphthalene-ball​

[imaginesga1ore]

Loves Harsh Reality

Summary: Life is a bitch.

Pairing(s): Bucky Barnes x Reader, Avengers x Reader (all platonic)

Warnings: swearing, mention of past/current abuse

Prompt: “You want what everyone wants. You want a love that consumes you. You want passion, and adventure, and maybe even a little danger.”

Word Count: 1780

Do not copy, translate, or post any of my stories anywhere you write stories, whether that’s here, Wattpad, or Ao3.

-----------------------------

Life never treated you well. Not even when you were just an innocent child, trying to navigate your way in this terrible world. You were forced into a cold and unloving organization that was run by people who don’t really give a shit that you were only 2 when they stole you. They never treated you like a human, more like a laboratory experiment, which kind of went haywire. When you were brought in, the sleaze running this entire operation stripped you of everything you had so far, which was only a name you had just barely begun to learn, and they assigned you a number, much like a court case; experiment 973. And that’s what you went by for the next 23 years of your life.

The day you were rescued from that deranged and psychotic place was...hectic to say the least. It began like any other day while you were their little pet; get woken up at the ass crack of you don’t know when, test out your powers until you physically passed out and then get ungracefully woken again only to be forced to use your powers. This continues for hours on end before these assholes make you go fight actual people in hopes that you aren’t lacking in physical strength. You fight until bodies start piling up and when your sadistic handlers are satisfied with your progress, as if you haven’t they haven’t been training you to take down monsters bigger than Goliath himself. But something wasn’t right and you could feel it in the enclosed space of your cell.

While you normally had a rough awakening by someone poking, prodding, and eventually yanking you out of bed, nobody was there. In fact, there wasn’t even a peep from the cells neighboring yours. That was until you heard multiple gunshots and multiple bodies slumping against the floor. See, the thing about HYDRA is that they’ve trained you for this exact moment but every single ounce of training they’ve ingrained in your body and mind left the building completely as you hunkered down against the wall furthest from the thick, metal door barricading you from the outside world.

Suddenly, the door you were just measly standing behind came crashing down, dust from the unwashed floor rising. After the dust settled, you looked up to see the poster boy of HYDRA himself, the Winter Soldier. “Steve, I’ve got a live one here. Female, looks to be in her mid-20s,” he whispered into his ear piece. He slowly moved closer, putting his weapon away as he noticed your frail body shaking from fear. “У тебя все нормально? Я ведь не бил тебя дверью?*” Shaking your head, the soldier stopped in front of you, kneeling next to you. “Мен�� зовут Баки. Что у тебя?” Shrugging your shoulders, you made an attempt to look over at him. “That’s ok. How long have you been here?”

“двадцать три года*,” you said, a bit of hesitation in your voice, finding it hard to speak after decades of being punished if you spoke out of turn. As you finished speaking, you heard another voice, one which you assumed belonged to this Steve person.

“Хорошо. Стив дал мне добро, чтобы мы могли убираться отсюда,” Bucky said, standing back up on his feet. But you weren’t too sure about this. Along with your training, your handlers had pushed on you the notion that the Avengers, and anyone associated with them, were out to harm you, always, and that’s why you needed to be able to defend yourself.

“Ты ведь не сделаешь мне больно, верно? О-или убить меня,” you asked, clear hesitation towards the soldier who was about to grant you freedom from this hellhole.

Bucky looked at you with sympathy drawn over his features. Shaking his head, he gently grabbed your hands, a shiver traveling up your spine at the coolness from the vibranium arm. “Конечно, нет. Я вытащу тебя отсюда.”

-TIME SKIP-

It had been a few months since the Avengers had rescued you from HYDRA and you were beyond grateful that Bucky had stumbled upon you that day. But the fear that HYDRA had instilled in you about being near the Avengers was still running rampant in your system. Whenever someone knocked on your door, or came up behind you, your fight or flight instincts kicked in like that of an animal in the wild. You thought it’d be better by now, considering you have been going to therapy since coming to the compound. But today, all your frustrations came to a head.

You probably should’ve been in bed considering it was 4 in the morning but you needed to burn off some steam. What you failed to realize was that a certain super soldier was sitting in one of the boxes above the training center, watching your every move. But, him being a super soldier meant that he could pick up on more than you realized. Bucky had noticed that blood dripping onto the floor, which came from your terribly wrapped hands.

He knew you were on edge, but not like you were when he first got you out. By the time that you realized Bucky was in your presence, it was a bit too late. You felt a hand on your shoulder; two seconds later you had the body attached to the arm on the floor, your other arm extending towards their throat, keeping them pinned to the floor.

Once the haze cleared, you could tell who it was that you had down on the ground. “Buck? Oh my god.” Quickly pushing yourself off of him, you started pacing the gym floor. “Fucking shit. I am so sorry Bucky. I-I didn’t mean to do it. Are you ok? I didn’t hurt you, did I?” You kept rambling and pacing until Bucky stopped you, stepping in front of you to stop you from wearing a hole in the floor.

“I am fine, кукла. Are you ok? Your hands are bleeding.” Looking down, you saw the streaks of red coming out from under the tape on your hands. “Let’s go get you fixed up, ok?” Nodding, you followed Bucky out of the gym and towards the medical center. “So, what’s got you going at 4 in the morning anyway?”

“I couldn’t sleep. No matter what I tried. I even tried that tea Wanda suggested. By the way, don’t drink it. It tastes like dirt.” Bucky chuckled as you sat on a gurney, grabbing supplies from the cabinets. “What are you doing? Shouldn’t we wait for, you know, a doctor, or an actual medical professional to come in and do this,” you immediately questioned him.

“Do you seriously doubt my suturing skills? I did serve in World War II, so I’m pretty confident that I know my way around a needle and thread,” he said, carefully unraveling the useless tape from around your knuckles, taking a look at the damage. “Yeah, this’ll probably take a little bit, but don’t you worry, Dr. Barnes is always here to help.” Bucky smiled at you, calming your nerves the tiniest bit.

After prepping and numbing you properly, Bucky began stitching your open wounds shut. “So, do you wanna talk about why you couldn’t fall asleep? Talking might help, at least it usually does for me,” Bucky asked, not taking his eyes off his work in progress.

“I, uh, I keep having nightmares. They went away for a bit, when I could actually sleep for the night, but for some reason, they’ve come back,” you admitted quietly, almost like it was a dirty little secret.

“Well, you’ve only been here a few months so I wouldn’t expect your nightmares to just instantly go away. It took me a few years to actually get a good night's sleep with them waking me or anybody else up. So I know exactly how you feel,” he said, finishing up before wrapping your hands in sterile dressings. “And you are all set. Now, no excessive force, which includes going to the gym at 4 in the morning and working out like you are about to fight the Hulk.” You laughed lightly, shoulders loosening up.

“Why are you being so nice to me? I mean, you just stitched up my hands cause I got too into my own brain after I almost choked you when you could’ve just dropped me here and gone back to bed.” Tears filled your eyes once more, a thickening feeling surrounding your concerns.

Bucky sighed, gingerly sitting next to you on the gurney. “When I found you at the base, I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy ride for you. Or for anyone here really. Adding another member to the team can sometimes jostle things around. And I knew for a fact that you would feel like an outcast amongst some of the biggest heroes the world has ever seen...so far,” he said as you laid your head against his arm, wiping away the tears that had made their way down your face. “And I thought maybe, just maybe, if we became friends or even just acquaintances, that you wouldn’t feel so alone here. Cause I know exactly how that feels. And ever since coming here, I can see what I looked like when I was found; lost, felt like I didn’t deserve anything good or even deserving of love. But even though you hide it with a sort of tough exterior and you’re used to being trapped away, I can tell you something about yourself that you probably don’t even know,” Bucky said in a matter-of-fact voice.

“Oh yeah? What would that be,” you asked, quite curious as to what he may have found out.

“You want what everyone wants. You want a love that consumes you. You want passion, and adventure, and maybe even a little danger. Cause that’s exactly how I feel right now.” At some point, of which you weren’t sure, Bucky had hooked his fingers under your chin, turning your face up to meet his. Your eyes finally met his, capturing the look of a pure and innocent love in his icy stare. He slowly leaned down, but stopping right before your lips collided. “Is this ok?” Quickly nodding, Bucky pressed his lips to your own, cupping your face as your injured hands made their way to his sides.

Pulling back, Bucky rested his forehead against yours. “Never thought that this is how we would have our first kiss, doll,” he said, making you laugh which in turn caused him to chuckle. “But, I’m not at all opposed to it.”

“I’m glad. Now let’s get out of here. I’m tired.”

-----------------------------

1. У тебя все нормально? Я ведь не бил тебя дверью - Are you ok? I didn’t hit you with the door, did I?

2. Меня зовут Баки. Что у тебя? - My name is Bucky. What’s yours?

3. Это хорошо. Как давно ты здесь? - That’s ok. How long have you been here?

4. двадцать три года - 23 years.

5. Хорошо. Стив дал мне добро, чтобы мы могли убираться отсюда. - Ok. Steve gave me the go ahead so we can get out of here.

6. Ты ведь не сделаешь мне больно, верно? О-или убить меня? - You aren’t going to hurt me right? O-or kill me?

7. Конечно, нет. Я вытащу тебя отсюда. - Of course not. I’m going to get you out of here.

8. Кукла - Doll

If you see this on another blog, @multifandomwhre , that is my first blog where I submitted it to @sweeterthanthis “Quote Me” challenge. 

[sergeantsporks]

Do You Want the Knife You Left in My Back, or Can I Keep It?

Rating: Teen and up, Gen

An injured Hunter wanders into Hexside. What was Luz supposed to do, just let him bleed out on the floor?

Ch 3/5: Fevered Dreams

Ch 1, Ch 2

Ao3

Eda stalked through the living room, glancing at her unwanted guest as she passed the couch. He’d fallen asleep on his stomach, his face turned to the side. She had to admit, he was pretty cute when he wasn’t being an annoying brat. He looked so… vulnerable. And small, wow, he was small. He inhaled and exhaled in little puffs, his brow furrowed like he was busy chasing down wild witches in his dreams.

Eda shook herself. “Whoa, there, owl lady,” she told herself, “He’s Belos’ stooge. You are absolutely not allowed to like him in the slightest. Nope. That’s Luz’s little pity project. He’d arrest you in a second.”

She caught King as he attempted to make a flying leap onto Hunter’s back. “Nu-uh, what do you think you’re doing?”

“He called me a rat. Therefore, he is now my personal heated beanbag. Lemme go.”

“King, you can’t jump on top of him, you’ll hurt him.”

“Yeah? Why do you care all of a sudden, Miss I’m-going-to-tackle-him-to-the-ground?”

Eda set King on the ground. “The sooner he heals, the sooner he’s out of here. Besides, I think the kid’s been through enough. Leave him be.”

“I think you’re going soft.”

“I am not! Shoo! Go find someone else to bother!”

King scrambled off, and Eda shook her head, glancing down at Hunter. He’d started to shiver, and she shook her head, tracking down a blanket and draping it over him. King was right. She was going soft.

Xxx

Luz made shushing noises at Gus and Willow as they approached the owl house. “You gotta be quiet, Viney said he needs to rest!”

“You have the Golden Guard in your house!” Willow yelped, “I am not going to be quiet!”

Luz pushed the door open. “Okay, okay.”

Gus and Willow stampeded in. “Awwww, he’s asleep!” Willow murmured.

“’Bout time,” Luz grumbled, “I was starting to wonder if he even ever slept without getting knocked out.”

Gus poked Hunter’s face. “Whoa. I still can’t believe you’ve got the golden guard sleeping on your couch.”

“Hey, don’t poke him, you might wake him up!” Luz looked down at Hunter. Something… wasn’t right, here. His breaths were coming in short pants, and his face was flushed, despite the fact that he was shivering under a blanket. She felt his forehead, and winced. “EEEEEEDAAAAAAA!” she called, pounding up the stairs. She should have known that something was off by the fact that he hadn’t woken up—he didn’t exactly seem like the type who’d be a sound sleeper.

“He’s your pet, you clean up his messes,” Eda responded from where she was rearranging the bedding in her nest, “You promised he’d be your responsibility.”

Luz grabbed her arm. “I know, I know, I know I promised, but he’s sick, Eda!”

“Sick? What do you mean, like a mold?”

“I don’t know, he’s got a really bad fever, and he didn’t wake up when Gus poked him—” Luz felt tears spring to her eyes. “Did I do something wrong? Does he have medicine he’s supposed to take or he gets sick?”

Eda sighed and clambered out of her nest. “Alright, alright, I’ll go check on your pet project. Don’t panic.”

They traipsed down the stairs, and Eda glanced down at Hunter. “Boy, he really does never relax, huh? Even when he’s asleep. Alright, what do we have here?” Fever, not waking up—I think he’s just sick, Luz, everyone gets sick. Just keep him warm, keep him hydrated, there’s not much else you can do but wait it out.”

“But Eda, he got stabbed!”

“Hmmm, you’re right, could be an infection. You should probably call up your healer friend to check, then.”

Luz raced towards the door. “Going! Gus, Willow, you coming?”

They nodded and followed her, but when Luz opened the door… something was wrong with Hooty. He was looking off into the distance, eyes glazed over, and he didn’t even notice them.

“Hooty? Hooty!”

Kikimora stepped out. “Hand over the Golden Guard, and no one needs to get hurt.”

Luz whipped out a set of glyphs. “I’m never going to give him to you. Put Hooty back to normal!”

“Well, as normal as he gets,” Willow amended.

“I won’t ask again. The Golden Guard belongs at his coven. And you are keeping him prisoner. Emperor Belos will not let you go twice, especially not after you kidnapped one of his own. Release him to me.”

“I’m not keeping him prisoner, I’m keeping him safe! From you!”

“What could he have to fear from me? I’m his coven-member.”

“Fat chance. I know you tried to kill him, twice.” Luz slammed an ice glyph down on the ground, and a spike shot out, stopping just inches from Kikimora’s face. “Leave. Now.”

Kikimora glanced at the spike, unflinching. “I will be back. And I can get past your house demon, remember that. It’s only a matter of time before the Golden Guard is mine.”

“I said, leave!”

“Very well. Tell me one thing, though; is the guard well?”

Luz froze. She knew, didn’t she? Hunter had said he’d seen a projection of her—maybe she should have taken him a little bit more seriously.

Kikimora snickered and turned to go. “I’ll be waiting out here for you and your friends, human. Never forget that.”

She disappeared into the trees, and Luz whirled around, storming back inside and slamming the door shut. “She won’t let us get help,” she growled, “She’s going to stand out there, and if she doesn’t get Hunter, the fever will!”

Eda shook her head. “You don’t know that. It’s just a fever, Luz.”

“But he’s hurt, and he’s lost a lot of blood, and I know fevers usually aren’t a big deal, but what if this one is?!”

“Okay, so what are you going to do about it?”

Luz sat down next to Hunter with a whump. “I…” Lil Rascal hopped up on her lap, chirping anxiously. She scratched the palisman’s head. “We need a healer. We just don’t know enough about what’s going on.”

“Yeah, but Kikimora’s out there,” Willow reminded her, “She’s not going to just let us go get one.”

Luz looked down at Hunter. He was still shivering, still sweating, and the heat radiating off of him was strong enough that she could feel it even without touching him. He needed a doctor, or medicine. Now. “Gus, Willow, I know it’s a lot to ask. You don’t know Hunter, and… I can’t expect you to drop everything to help him. And if you say no—”

“We say yes,” Gus interrupted her.

“Even if we don’t know Hunter, you’re still our friend, Luz,” Willow agreed, “We’ll help.”

“Okay. I’m going to go confront Kikimora. I’ll distract her, keep her busy, so you two can go get Viney, or another healer.” Luz turned to Eda. “I’ll be careful, I promise. No unnecessary risks, I won’t lose control, no matter what she says or does. I know I said I’d take care of him by myself, and I know you don’t like him. But… can you please keep an eye on him?”

Eda sighed. “Yeah, okay. I’ll take care of him.”

Luz set Lil Rascal on her shoulder. “Okay, you guys ready?”

“Ready.”

Luz threw open the door. “That demon is going down.”

Xxx

Eda sat next to Hunter, gently shaking his shoulder. “C’mon, wake up, kid, we need to get you somewhere more defendable than the couch. There’s a crazy demon out there screaming for your head.

His eyes opened just a bit, bright from the fever. “…Lilith? What’re you…”

Eda snorted. “You mistake me for my sister again and I leave you out for Kikimora. C’mon, we’re gonna get you upstairs.” His eyes slid shut again, and she shook him again, ignoring his whine of pain. “Hey, stick with me, here, I don’t know if I can carry you.”

“Dddddon’t wanna,” he mumbled, snuggling further into the couch.

Eda sighed. Oh, she was going to hate herself for this. “Golden Guard,” she snapped, doing her best impression of her sister, “the emperor requires your presence. Now.”

If he’d been a little more coherent, it probably wouldn’t have worked. But as it was, he blearily opened his eyes, grabbing her arm with a hot little hand. “Wait… ’m… coming…”

Eda helped him off of the couch, one of his arms around her shoulder. “Alright. That’s it, here we go.”

“Hnnnnghh…” Hunter whimpered as she half-carried him up the stairs, shivering, his little body burning hot against her.

“Okay, almost there.”

He collapsed with a whine when they got to the top. “Don’t… tell him… I can… I can do it… Just… a…”

Oh, okay. Ouch. That hurt. Eda scooped him up, trying her best to avoid putting pressure on his wound. “Emperor changed his mind, he said you can take a break.”

He clutched her shoulder, huffing. “No, I can—I can—don’t switch me, I can—”

“Hey—whoa, calm down. You’re not getting replaced, Belos just decided that mission actually needed to be done next week, not today, so… you’re good!”

He relaxed. “Wanna… go… bed…”

“Yeah, okay. Okay, kid.” Eda carried him into Luz’s room, setting him down gently on her sleeping roll. He whined again and yelped.

“Ah, right—” Eda turned him over so he wasn’t on his back anymore and draped blankets on top of him. “Sorry, kid.” She peered out the window. She didn’t see any disturbance—hopefully that just meant Luz hadn’t found Kikimora yet, not that Kikimora had already won. “What’s everyone putting up such a fuss about? You’re just some kid, what did you do that made Kikimora so determined to kill you?

He predictably didn’t answer, and Eda sighed, sitting back down next to him. “Belos really did a number on you, didn’t he?”

Hunter squeezed his eyes shut tighter, turning onto his side and curling up into a ball, still panting like a dog.

“Ooo, that can’t be good for your back.” Eda stood up. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”

She went back down the stairs towards the kitchen. “Ahh, look at me. Being all… motherly. And to the enemy. Luz really did a number on me, huh?”

Xxx

“Golden guaaaaard. Golden guard, wake up.”

Hunter didn’t want to open his eyes. His head felt like it had been wrapped in cotton, and breathing was hard, and he was just going to lie here forever. Yes. That sounded good.

“Lazy brat.”

Hunter cracked his eyes open just a bit at that. “Hngh?”

A Kikimora illusion appeared in front of him, Luz behind her, wrapped in glowing magical bonds. “I caught your little human friend. Come on out before I burn the owl house down to get to you.”

Hunter struggled to get up, but a wave of dizziness swept over him, and he fell back down. “Hnk—I—”

“Pathetic. Truly. If the emperor could see you right now, I wouldn’t have to worry about him favoring you again. Come find me, or I’ll kill the human and then come for you.”

The image fizzled out, and Hunter’s head thumped back down to the pillow, spinning. He needed to get out of here���Kikimora would kill Luz whether he came or not, but if he could just get the drop on her… yes. This would work. He was a sitting duck here, but if he could get to Kikimora first… He struggled up to his feet, and made it, inch by painful inch, to the window.

“’m coming,” he mumbled, “Jusssst… hang on…”

Xxx

Eda swirled the content of her potion around in its bottle. Painkiller, if she’d done it right. She might not know how exactly to help Hunter, but she could do this, at least. She pushed open the door to Luz’s room, kneeling next to the pile of blankets.

“Hey, Hun—” as she nudged the pile of blankets, she realized that they were too flat. She whirled around to see the open window. “Oh, no. No, no, no!” she checked under the blankets just in case, but her fears were correct.

Hunter was gone.

Xxx

Luz stepped back on the path to the owl house, shaking her head. Willow and Gus had made it safely out, and she hadn’t seen a single sign of Kikimora. Maybe that should make her suspicious, but mostly she was relieved that Gus and Willow would be able to find Viney.

That relief immediately vanished when Eda came swooping down from the sky towards her. “Luuuuuz!”

“Eda?! I thought you were staying at the house with Hunter!”

Eda landed and folded her wings with a whoosh. “I was, but Luz, I left him alone for, like, ten minutes to make a painkiller potion, and when I got back, he was gone!”

Panic swept over Luz. “Gone?! How?! He couldn’t even move when I left!”

“Yeah, I know, and he was pretty solidly out of it when I left him, but when I came back up, the window was open, and I didn’t see him anywhere!”

“He climbed out of a window?!” Luz ran a hand through her hair. “But why would he do that, there’s no…oh. Oh, no!”

“What? What is it?!”

“Hunter had been seeing Kikimora—I never saw her, but she might have been using illusion magic to communicate with him!”

“What could she have possibly said that would get that boy up?! He’s a mess, he couldn’t even make it up the stairs!”

“I don’t know, but we have to find him!”

“Luz, I hate to say it, but you don’t think that he… left to go with her? Back to the coven?”

“No WAY, Eda, he definitely wouldn’t go back with Kikimora—they hate each other. Wherever he is, she’s looking for him, too. We have to find him before she does.”

Ch. 4

[whockeywhore]

Skip Over It 11

I jumped at a knock on my door and slid down in my chair as it creaked open. “Chlo?” 

“Laura?”

“Where are you?” 

I popped out from under my desk and took my seat back, motioning for her to close the door as she slipped into my office. She furrowed her brow but obliged before dropping into the chair across from me. 

“Who are you hiding from and why?” 

“Dougie. I think he’s mad at me because I scheduled an x-ray for his rib. I think he may have broken it.” 

“And he’s mad because?” 

“I... he snapped at me last night when I even brought it up.” I took a long sip of my coffee and sighed. “I’m doing the right thing, right?” 

“Of course!” 

“Okay. What’s going on today?” She started to catch me up on the morning meetings I had missed and slid her phone out of her pocket when it rang, answering a call from our director and putting it on speaker. I zoned out as he spoke and started planning my escape route for the end of the day, shaking my head as she snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Hmm?” 

“Any comments?” 

“Nope. I think I’m good.” 

We said our goodbyes and she reached out to swat at me. “You didn’t hear a single word, did you?” 

“I heard... some stuff.” 

“Like what?” 

“’Goodbye’.” 

“What are you freaking out about? You’re just doing your job. If it’s nothing, then it’s nothing. If it’s an injury, he takes some time off. Better safe than sorry, right?” 

“He doesn’t feel that way. I think he feels responsible for last season, he was injured when the Canes got knocked out of playoffs.” 

“But that’s not his fault.” 

“I know. I’ve told him that a hundred times but he doesn’t believe me. If the team wins, they win as a group, but if he’s benched and the team loses, it’s his fault.” 

“That makes absolutely no sense.” I nodded in agreement and grabbed a fistful of chocolate candies before asking Laura what I’d missed in the call. “Just safety precautions. He said the flu was bad this season so we should schedule our shots as soon as possible. You want me to make you an appointment?” 

“Nah, I’ll take care of it.” I started to reach for some more candy when someone knocked on the door. We both froze and Laura cleared her throat. 

“Who is it?” 

“Danny. I have scans for you to look over.” 

“Slide them under the door.” We heard him sigh heavily and Laura stifled a laugh as the corner of a manila folder slipped into the room. She grabbed it and passed it over, watching me as I studied it. “Who’s is this?” 

“The x-ray you ordered this morning.” 

“How did it go?” I popped it onto the illuminator and leaned in. “Was he mad?” 

“Um... I don’t know.” 

I stepped back and motioned for Laura to come look, grinning wide as she deemed it clear. “There’s no break.” 

“Nope.” 

“He’s clear to play. Danny. You can send him back out.” 

We heard footsteps retreating and Laura unlocked her phone, crossing to my side of the desk and showing a delivery app. “What do you want for lunch?” 

“Pizza?” 

“Had it last night.” 

“What about-” The door swung open and Dougie poked his head in, his mouth set in a hard line as he looked at me. 

“Can I talk to you?” 

“Sure.” 

He shifted his gaze to Laura and then back to me. “Alone?” 

I nodded and she slipped out of the room, shooting me a look before she left. He shut the door behind her and took a few steps in. I nodded to the open chair and he crossed his arms over his chest as he shook his head. 

“Is there a reason why I got pulled off the ice by med today?” 

“Are you injured?” 

“Don’t be cute Chloe. You said you’d let it go.” 

“Yeah, last night.” 

“You’re not gonna get out of this on a technicality-” 

“I’m not trying to, Dougie. I told you I’d take the night off from being your doctor but we’re at work and I’m doing my job.” 

“You’re screwing me over, Chloe. Do you know how bad this could’ve been? We’re tied for first in the division. What if I got benched?” 

“First of all, I don’t see how looking out for you and trying to keep you healthy is screwing you over. Secondly, the team would’ve been fine without you for a few games. What if you had been seriously hurt? Do you know the damage you could do by not rehabilitating an injury?” 

“It’s not a fucking injury, it’s a bruise. And I told you what happened in confidence.”

“There is no confidentiality when it comes to you getting hurt. I’m a doctor, Dougie-” 

“But I didn’t tell you as a doctor! You wouldn’t even have known if I didn’t come over last night.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and fell back against the wall. “Is this how it’s gonna be? I just can’t trust you with anything?” 

“Excuse me?” His implication stung like a slap and I stood, anger balling into a knot in my stomach. “You can’t trust me?” 

“Apparently not.” 

“Well then maybe we call it quits. If me doing my job keeps us from whatever this was... then so be it.” I grabbed my bag and started to leave, stopping with my hand on the knob. “Think about the position you put me in and what you asked me to do.” 

“It’s not about that.” 

“It absolutely fucking is. I’m sorry you missed playoffs last year Dougie, and I’m even sorrier that you take responsibility for the loss but I’m not gonna let your feelings stand in the way of doing what I’m here to do. And if that’s a deal-breaker...” 

I didn’t finish. I couldn’t. The idea of what he had collapsing because of something so stupid stung like a slap to the face. 

“You have nothing to say?” 

“I could ask you the same thing.” 

I wrenched the door open and stepped into the hall, nearly bumping into Laura with her ear pressed to my door. 

“I wasn’t-” 

“I’m taking the day off.” I pushed past her and started down the hall, hoping more and more with every step that he’d come after me. The fear of losing my job had been replaced with the fear of losing him and all of this hurt so much more. Laura was close behind and she reached past me to press the down button on the elevator. I counted the seconds until the doors slid open and took a shaky breath as I stepped on. “Call me if you need me.” 

She nodded at the empty gesture and offered a warm smile. “You okay?” 

I didn’t answer her, just fell against the back wall and sagged under the weight of everything. She let me go and I swallowed back tears as I got to the garage, keeping my eyes on my car until I reached it. I tossed my med bag into the trunk and slid into the front seat as the floodgates broke, my head spinning with what just happened. 

[abbysfrenchbraid]

Little Harbor - Beach Day Part 2

Thank you all for the lovely feedback on my writing so far, it means so much to me. I’ve decided that the Beach Day Imagine needed a Part 2 and spent last night manically writing 6.6k words of fluff, angst and semi smut.

In this part, Abby and the reader finally make their trip to Little Harbor and spend the night at the cabin there. The reader finds out they don’t know everything about Abby and there are some things in her past that still weigh heavily on her mind. 

TW for death/loss (Seattle plot for the Salt Lake Squad), light nudity, language and mention of suicide and mention of blood

This ist the playlist I curated for this fic. Make sure you disable shuffle and listen to the songs in order for them to fit! (It’s called Little Harbor on Spotify and has a picture of Abby in the thumbnail)

Little Harbor

The last few days had been a blur of happiness and secrecy. Stolen kisses in empty hallways, sitting next to each other in the cafeteria with your knees touching, sunsets in the watchtower staircase, and sweaty hugs whenever you picked up Abby after her morning training. It was clear to you by now that there was no going back and no stopping this. You were absolutely, hopelessly falling for the tall blonde soldier and she actually seemed to feel the same, which was still unbelievable to you.

Abby had taken up work with some of the combat and strategy trainers, educating them on the different groups she had encountered on her journey and on their territory, tactics, and relationships with each other. Lev had come in to explain more about the Seraphites, their whistle language, and their infrastructure. Even though it was unlikely that the Seraphites or WLF would come knocking at the Fireflies’ door, they still wanted to know as much as possible about the current state of the world.

The Rattlers were a different story altogether. Lev refused to speak about them and even though Abby had told the Firefly leaders about them as soon as she was conscious after her emergency surgeries, there was still much to talk about. She tried as hard as she could to remember every little detail and she got incredibly frustrated with herself when she found gaps in her memory even though that wasn’t her fault. The torture and mistreatment at the hands of these bastards had been so immensely traumatizing that her mind refused to let her remember the worst parts.

While the past few days with her had been all fun and exciting, the evenings had been more difficult and it had taken a lot of strength from both of you to get through this together. Abby was just learning to confide in you and talk about her feelings while you struggled with being there for her the right way, having never experienced anything close to the terror she must have felt. After the first day in the strategy room, Abby had knocked on your door just as you were about to go to bed and practically fallen apart in your arms. The Fireflies had decided to send a few teams back to Santa Barbara to see if there were any survivors and capture or help the people they found, depending on their previous alliance. They had offered Abby to go back with them, which she declined, and made it clear that she had to try to identify every single person they brought back.

You just hoped that the only people left there were the other prisoners who had freed themselves. It would be horrifying to know that some of the torturers could soon be sitting somewhere in this very building, practically at arm’s reach from Abby and Lev.

Although the others had advised her not to, Abby had told Lev about all the plans and tasks to come and he had agreed to help identifying people but remained silent about his thoughts on all this.

Trying your best to make Abby’s first week as an official Firefly less hard on her, you had organized a mission for you both to go to Little Harbor. You were supposed to check up on the little cabin there, throw out anything that wasn’t necessary and stock it with a few supplies in case someone in the area needed them in the future. The best thing about Little Harbor was the beautiful beach that stretched in a perfect arc and had the most beautiful sunsets you had ever seen.

You had just talked to your friend in admin and gotten the confirmation for the mission. For a second, you debated telling Abby at lunch in an hour but you simply couldn’t wait. Rolling up the note with the assignment on it and shoving it in your back pocket, you rushed toward the east wing of the base, practically jumping with every step.

As you came closer to the strategy room, you heard muffled voices. There seemed to be a heated discussion. You really didn’t want to eavesdrop, but you were already at the door and didn’t feel like you should knock and interrupt them in the middle of their conversation.

“Oh come on, Abby, what are you not telling us? You have to know more about her than that!”

“I’m telling you, I don’t know where they lived and I don’t know where she is now! I met them the first time at the WLF outpost in the middle of nowhere around Seattle and the last time I saw her she was in Santa Barbara. She’s probably dead, anyway, she was injured and all alone.”

She? Who were they talking about? Abby had never told you about a woman in Santa Barbara. Maybe another prisoner?

Someone slammed a hand on the table.

“Jesus Christ, I can’t believe we lost her again after all this time. At least we know Joel paid for what he did at Salt Lake.”

This sparked your attention. You knew Abby had grown up at the Salt Lake outpost before the massacre. Was Joel the guy who killed all the Fireflies there, including the doctors?

“What do you want with her anyway?” That was Abby again. She sounded bitter. “It’s not like we have the means to make a vaccine, Joel made sure of that. You’ll see what she did with the rattlers when you get there. Maybe you’ll find her body, too, and I can finally have some fucking peace.”

There was silence for a brief moment. Then a woman said: “Alright, let’s take a break. The teams are driving out to Santa Barbara tomorrow, then we’ll see what we find. Abby, thank you for everything you’ve told us. Take some time for yourself, I’ll call for you when the reports are in and hopefully a few survivors, too. I’ll see the rest of you after lunch.”

You could hear feet shuffling and chairs being pushed around. Quickly, you tiptoed away from the door and halfway through the corridor, then you turned around just as the door opened. Abby came out first, frowning and with her hands balled into firsts. When she saw you, her face lit up and she relaxed, taking a few big steps towards you and awkwardly coming to a halt in front of you, just a little bit too close.

“Perfect timing, huh?” She smiled at you before nodding to a few others that passed you.

You forced yourself to focus and smiled back.

“Yeah, I came to tell you that our mission is approved. We can leave as soon as possible.”

“Oh, that’s great! Martha just said I could have the day off and probably need to report back in tomorrow night earliest. Should we just pack now and get going after lunch?”

“Good idea. Say we meet in the cafeteria in 15?” you suggested.

Abby nodded. “See you there.”

-

As you packed your backpack, you tried to process what you had just heard. Abby knew the man who had run amok at the Firefly Hospital and apparently he was dead now. There had been another woman in Santa Barbara, and she had something to do with a possible vaccine? You knew the Fireflies had been extremely invested in the search for a vaccine after the outbreak, but they had given up on it a long time ago. Now they just tried to build safe zones without any infected in order to build communities of Fireflies, other survivors, and anyone else who wanted to join you.

Why were the others so keen on finding the other woman? What did Abby have to do with Joel and the massacre at the hospital? And why was this whole thing still affecting her so badly after all those years?

You wanted to try to talk to Abby later and find out what had gone down in Santa Barbara and at Salt Lake, but you also knew she had been waiting for this day to finally come so she could get out of here and distract herself for a while. Who were you to ruin this by forcing her to relive her trauma all over again?

Closing the zipper on your backpack and throwing it over your shoulder, you decided to just take it a step at a time. First, you had to get some food into your stomach.

-

Abby was excited about the trip and spent almost the whole meal asking you questions about the bay and the cabin. She told you she had spent some time in cabins up in Washington with her old WLF crew, but it had been snowing back then and the summer here was just an entirely different experience.

Lev was a bit sad he couldn’t go with you, but you promised him a beach bonfire in the next two weeks. He was way too happy about his new friends and tasks to sulk about your little duo mission. The boy was a fantastic archer and was now tasked with teaching his craft to younger trainees and older soldiers. He was delighted at being taken so seriously by adults for the first time in his life. His lessons at school were going well apparently, he enjoyed history and biology a lot.

Abby was attentively listening to him talking about crop diversification and the produce grown here during the different seasons as a group of fully-equipped soldiers came into the cafeteria. They seemed excited about their mission and were making a ton of noise, jeering and shoving each other around as they picked up their rations for the next two days from the serving counter. Abby and Lev both went quiet, poking around in their food and seeming to be holding their breaths until the squad had left.

Lev suddenly looked up at Abby with tears in his eyes.

“Do you think any of the Rattlers survived?” His voice was high pitched and he sounded like he was about to choke.

“Oh, Lev.” The blonde put her arm around his shoulder, her hands looking huge on his small frame. “I have no idea, I’m so sorry. I’m pretty sure the other prisoners were freed and got their revenge. She also freed some of the walkers in the area. It must have been bad. We’ll just have to wait and see, but I promise they’ll never lay a hand on you ever again.”

There she was again, the mysterious woman. Now you’d at least have a valid reason to bring it up. The boy sighed, then he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and straightened up. He waved over to a few other kids waiting at the exit.

“I need to go. Math class.” He grimaced and you and Abby both had to laugh. No one enjoyed math, but a certain basic knowledge was necessary for everyone here.

“See you tomorrow, Lev. I’ll bring her back safely,” you promised him and Abby rolled her eyes at you, but he gave you a genuinely thankful nod before tapping her shoulder as a goodbye and running over to his friends.

Abby smiled at you, her eyes lighting up as she remembered your plans for the day.

“You ready to go?” she asked, standing up and grabbing her backpack.

“Let’s get out of here.” You put on your backpack as well, took your plates and placed them in a plastic tub next to the counter.

In the empty corridor leading to the garage, Abby snuck her fingers between yours, sending sparks over your skin and making butterflies dance in your stomach. She pulled you toward her and after a quick glance left and right, she gave you a soft peck on the lips. You reacted instantly, burying your fingers in her hair and pulling her in for a second kiss, this time less innocent. Abby chuckled and grabbed your shoulder to push you away just a few inches and look you in the eyes.

You felt yourself blush and rubbed a hand over your eyes.

“Ugh, sorry, I just missed you all morning. Let’s just go.”

Grabbing her hand and pulling her with you, you entered the garage and quickly said hello to your coworkers before checking out the keys and leading Abby to your truck. Your colleagues didn’t lose a single word about the hand-holding and you were thankful for their discretion. They were your closest friends at the base and they knew you’d tell them more as soon as you were ready.

The drive out to the cabin took about an hour, one which you spent in blissful silence. You had rolled the windows down again and just like the last time, the summer air was whirling through the cabin and playing with your hair. Abby let an arm hang out of her window and took in the view of the different hills and forest patches, the beaches, and the beautiful meadows. She looked serene, completely at peace with herself and the world.

When you arrived at the cabin, it was better than you had remembered. The little wooden cottage was still in good shape, firewood was stacked up at the back and there was a small front porch with a perfect view of the bay in front of you. Two wooden chairs and a table stood on the porch, completely grown over with moss.

You fumbled with the keys for a second, then you were inside. All the curtains were drawn, bathing the dusty room in heavy yellow light before you opened them and looked around. Abby was still standing at the doorstep, uncertain of what to do.

The room was perfectly equipped with a little kitchen unit, a table with four chairs, a worn-out striped couch, and a decently sized bed, luckily covered with a big sheet to stop it from getting unbearably dusty. A narrow door in the corner seemed to lead to a bathroom. You put your hands on your hips and turned to Abby.

“Well, what do you think? Too dusty for your liking?”

The blonde snapped out of her astonishment.

“Are you kidding me? Y/N, it’s great! It looks so cozy, I think I’m gonna sleep better than I have for months.” She took a few steps toward you and wrapped her hands around your waist. “Especially when I’m sleeping next to you.”

“Oh, I thought you were gonna take the couch,” you said dryly. Abby’s eyes widened and you could tell she seriously thought she had overstepped until you wrapped your arms around her neck and snorted, immediately receiving a playful push backward that you put up with by holding on to her for dear life.

“You’re an asshole,” she laughed, “I got scared there for a second!” She planted a kiss on your lips and picked you up by your waist, making you squeal.

“I’m sorry, Abby, ahh! Please let me down!” you begged but you had to admit this was fun. The taller woman gently put you back on your feet, then she said: “Come on, let’s get settled here.”

She opened the windows while you tried the tap unsuccessfully before pulling the cover off the bed and revealing buttercup yellow sheets. Sweet. Abby used a towel to wipe the dust off the table before setting her bag on it and offering to take yours as well. She put all the supplies in the kitchen cabinet before announcing that she was going to find you some water.

“When you go outside, there should be a pump on the left side of the house. Make sure to pump for a while until you touch the water, it’s got to be disgusting,” you said as you started sweeping the floor with a broom.

“Yeah, I know how a cistern works, thanks.” She rolled her eyes at you. A minute later, you could hear the squeaking of the old metal pump and the gurgle of water seeing daylight for the first time in years. You put the broom in the corner and wiped your hands on your jeans. The bed looked inviting, but the beach called to you even louder. You could feel that this night would have a lasting impact on your life and your relationship with Abby.

After checking on the roof and the cistern, you made your way down to the beach and spent the afternoon swimming, reading, and chasing each other around. One time Abby actually tackled you too hard and you got sand everywhere - your mouth, your nose, your eyes, even under your bathing suit. Abby couldn’t stop apologizing and telling you how sorry she was and how she underestimated her own strength but you swore vengeance for later and laughed it off. In order to get rid of all the sand underneath your suit, you went into the water and took it off before whirling it around over your head and getting Abby all flustered.

You secretly wanted her to join you, but she seemed to be too timid to go that fast so you put your bathing suit back on and let yourself flop down next to her, purposely splashing water on her and making her squeal as the cold drops hit her hot skin. Following an impulse, you rolled over and on top of her, pressing your cold, wet body on her soft, warm back. This time, she forced herself to stay still and not throw you around again, instead resorting to cursing you and calling you an atrocious little eel, only making you laugh harder.

After a while, she gave up on fighting you and you rested your cheek on her warm shoulder, humming in satisfaction. This was nice. It would be even better when you’d lie next to her in bed.

The afternoon seemed to go on forever, time standing still as you two forgot all your worries and enjoyed living in this little bubble of sun, sea and happiness. Then, finally, the sun hung low over the sea, drenching the world in golden light and painting the water orange and the clouds pink. It was an explosion of light and color, the pure beauty you could only find in nature. Or in the person you loved most.

Looking over at Abby, you saw she was also watching the waves and the clouds, the soft light illuminating the tiny hairs on her face and arms and making the dried salt crystals that stuck to her skin glint like little diamonds. Her dark blonde hair was swaying in the slight breeze and her cheeks had a faint red tinge from the sun. She was mesmerizing.

You moved closer to her and drew your nose along her jawline, breathing on her neck and placing tiny kisses behind her ear and on her temple until she was humming and leaning into your touch. She slowly turned her head and grazed your open mouth with hers before running the tip of her tongue over your upper lip. She opened her eyes.

“This really is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. Nothing has ever made me feel like this,” she mumbled without drawing back.

“I’m glad you like it. I’ve been wanting to show it to you for a while.”

“I wish you would have shown me sooner. But I’m really happy you’re doing it now.” She turned her torso towards you and brushed her fingers over your thigh, leaving goosebumps in their wake. You could see the specks of gold in her iris, reflecting the last rays of sunlight and making her look ethereal and otherworldly. Oh god, how in the world had you found her? How had she found you? This was too good to be true, but you wanted to believe that it was, to believe that this moment could last forever.

In a desperate attempt to tell her all this, the beautiful chaos in your heart and your head that started spinning when you were with her, you leaned forward and kissed her. Hard, like you were scared this wasn’t real or it could be your last, then softer when you felt Abby tense up in surprise. She opened her mouth for you and you dragged your tongue against hers, tasting hints of salt and the fruit you had had earlier. You became more confident and placed your hand on her inner thigh which she took in with a gasp before grabbing the back of your neck and pulling you closer, her tongue now more forceful and demanding.

You couldn’t take the space between you any longer and crawled on top of her, straddling her hips as you looked down at her face, her green eyes half-closed and her mouth hanging open. The sun had said its farewells and vanished behind the horizon and the atmosphere created by the dusk suddenly hit you full force. Abby’s face was still softly lit by the pink clouds behind you while the sky behind her was a dark, heavy blue fading to black in the distance. She looked like a fucking painting.

“I’m so glad I found you,“ you whispered, running your fingers through her hair.

Abby answered by wrapping her arms around you and pulling you in. She kissed you with a burning passion, gentle but daring, sweet but hot, encasing you with her body and her mouth and pressing you so close that there wasn’t an inch left between you.

As she moved her hands down your body, pulling your hips closer and caressing your legs, she noticed the goosebumps all over your body and halted for a second.

“Are you cold, baby?”

You wanted to say no, but you had to admit you were starting to shiver under your still slightly damp swimming suit and wet hair, the evening breeze dancing around you and mocking you for getting so lost in the moment that you forgot everything around you.

“I really am,” you sighed, “maybe we could get some blankets and food and start a fire?”

Abby nodded and you struggled to your feet, feeling very naked and small all of a sudden. The blonde noticed your change of behavior and immediately got up next to you. She grabbed your books and towels and wrapped her dry one around your shoulders, rubbing up and down your arms a few times to warm you up before pulling you in for a tight hug.

“Come on, let’s get you inside and warmed up.”

Inside the cabin, Abby managed to light an oil lamp and fill the room with a wonderfully soft, yellow light. She slowly walked toward you and came to a halt right in front of you. Gently, she placed her hands on your shoulders and took the towel, placing it on a chair beside you. Then she hooked a finger under the strap of your swimsuit and slowly pulled it over your shoulder and down your arm, never breaking eye contact. Both of you were breathing heavily, the air between you felt like sirup and the world seemed to stop turning.

You laid a hand on top of Abby’s and moved with her, dragging the strap down your arm to expose a slight tan line and a hard nipple standing out into the cold air. Abby still hadn’t moved her eyes from yours, helping you pull your arm out of the strap and slowly pulling down the other one until your entire chest was bare. You could feel another rush of goosebumps chasing over your entire body while hot blood shot into your face and painted your cheeks in a deep red.

You both took a deep breath simultaneously, then you nodded at the tall woman in front of you. She lowered her eyes to your breasts and let out a shaky breath, then she raised a hand and drew her fingertips over your collarbone, down your ribs, and up between your breasts before brushing over your sensitive nipples and finally using both hands to cup your breasts. She stepped closer and bent her head to kiss you. You melted into her, her hands now all over your body, her hot skin on your cold flesh, and her mouth on yours before attacking your throat, making you throw your head back and let out an ecstatic moan.

Suddenly, Abby’s hands were on your ass and she picked you up effortlessly. You wrapped your legs around her waist and held on to her shoulders as she carried you towards the bed, sitting down on it with you in her lap. You buried your fingers in her hair and pulled on it as you ground your hips forward and kissed along her jaw.

In this moment, you felt something shift inside her. She tensed up, but not in a way that felt right in this situation. You let go of her immediately and leaned back to look at her, scared you had done something wrong or she didn’t want this after all.

“Abby, is everything okay?” you asked, your voice sounding strangely loud and panicky in the silent room.

She kept one hand on the small of your back while rubbing the back of her head with the other.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. It’s just - fuck…” You could see tears welling up in her eyes as she furrowed her brows and tried to keep it together. “You just reminded me of someone. It’s not your fault, you didn’t know. It’s just… you don’t know everything about me yet. Maybe it’s time you did so you can decide if you still want me.”

She averted her eyes and let her hands fall to your thighs. For the second time in minutes, you felt strangely exposed and out of place. You nodded, then you stood up and turned away. It felt like your heart was slowly tearing at the seams and pouring blood into your stomach. Why couldn’t this be easy? What was the secret Abby had kept from you? You couldn’t imagine not wanting her anymore. She was everything you had ever dreamed of, the only person that had ever made you truly happy and it was impossible for you to see a future without her. The thought alone felt like a knife to your stomach.

You quickly pulled a big hooded sweatshirt from your backpack and put it on before taking off the swimsuit and slipping into fresh underwear and linen pants. Out of the corner of your eye, you could see Abby getting dressed as well.

“I’m gonna get some wood from the back and start a fire on the beach,” you declared into the silence and rushed out the door without daring to look at Abby.

You piled up the wood on the sand, added some dried grass and small sticks in the middle and lit them with a match. The breeze had died down and the fire started at the first try. Abby came down from the cabin with two plaid blankets, a water bottle, and a small loaf of bread from your provisions. She spread one of the blankets on the ground and motioned for you to sit down, putting the second one around your shoulders when you had settled.

She sat down next to you and took a few gulps of water before handing the bottle to you. You were thankful for the cool liquid soothing your dry throat after the day in the sun and saltwater.

Abby took a deep breath, then she began.

She told you about her life at Salt Lake, growing up among the Fireflies, about her father, the surgeon, and the search for a vaccine. They had heard there was a girl who was immune and on her way to them, but only a few people believed it, her dad among them. When the day finally came, she had been out training with her boyfriend Owen and upon her arrival at the base, everyone was talking about the girl and the surgery her father was about to perform on her in order to try to develop a vaccine. There was an actual chance of salvation; everyone was enthusiastic.

Then the shooting had happened. Joel, the man who had brought the girl had suddenly changed his mind and abducted the girl straight from the operating table. He had shot everyone in his way. When Abby ran to find her father, it had been too late. Joel had killed him and with him the last chance of making a vaccine. Abby’s world had been destroyed in a matter of minutes.

That day, she had sworn vengeance. She had started training even harder than before and followed every tip she got to find Joel. The Fireflies had crumbled and she and a small group of friends had joined the WLF. Abby had broken up with Owen and everyone but her had given up on vengeance, but one day she had found Joel and his brother Tommy. She had brought them to the cabin where she was staying with her crew and she had killed Joel. An eye for an eye.

What she hadn’t expected was the young woman turning up at the last second to inevitably watch Joel die. They had left her and Tommy there and seen the matter as dealt with.

Then, suddenly, Abby’s friends had been killed one by one. This was at the same time she had met Lev and helped him flee from the Seraphites. In Seattle, she had come face to face with Ellie, the immune girl from way back and the woman who had watched Joel, her father figure, die at the hands of Abby. She had been the one to kill Abby’s crew trying to find her. Abby however had defeated her and Tommy once more and warned them not to come after her again.

Months after, just as they had made first contact with the Catalina Fireflies, Abby and Lev had been captured by the Rattlers and were tortured for weeks. One day, Ellie had turned up there and helped them escape before challenging Abby to one last fight to the death, threatening to kill Lev if Abby wouldn’t do it. They had fought a gruesome battle, both sustaining terrible wounds before Ellie had given up and let Abby and Lev go.

Abby didn’t know where she was now and if she had survived, and she didn’t care. She knew why Ellie had pursued her and she knew Ellie understood her reasons, too. Still, the loss they had suffered at the hands of the other was unbearable. Abby had lost everyone she had ever trusted or shared good memories with to horrific deaths and there would never be justice. She would never get them back and she would never understand why all this had to happen.

By the end of her story, Abby was sobbing. You had wrapped your blanket around the both of you and your hand lay on her thigh, but you didn’t dare to make closer contact. You didn’t know what to think of all this. What a waste. What a terrible, devastating tragedy. How horrible to suffer this much and have no one to blame, nothing to do with all the pain and grief.

Abby wiped her eyes with the corner of the blanket.

“I think, if I hadn’t found Lev, I wouldn’t have made it. I would have let her kill me. What was there to live for after everything that had happened?”

The thought of Abby dying was the final pull that ripped your heart to shreds. You pressed both of your hands to your chest to assure yourself you were okay, panting heavily as you tried to find something to say. There was nothing you could offer that would make this hell better for her. The realization was crushing.

You both sat in silence for a few minutes while Abby tried to calm her breathing and you tried to calm your thoughts. Finally, you broke the silence.

“I’ve loved Lev from the minute I met him and I’m so thankful he’s here.”

What you wanted to say, wanted to scream into the flames, was that you had loved Abby since the second you saw her, that she had your heart, that this was fucking confusing but didn’t change your feelings for her and that you would never give up on trying to be with her.

“That little boy has the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. He’s been through so much and he had to grow up in the span of a few months, but when I see him smile or hear him laugh or talk about fucking sustainable agriculture” - she had to laugh through a veil of tears - “I know it was all worth it. Every fight, every day in that godforsaken cell, every bullet. He’s my reason.”

Fuck it. It was better to tell her right now than to suffer the uncertainty any longer.

“Abby, I honestly don’t know what to say. I can’t even begin to perceive the horrors you’ve been through and I’m not going to act like I even remotely understand how you feel. What I do know is this: there is no one to blame in this whole terrible web of tragedy. What matters is that it’s over and that you now have the chance to live a life without constant danger and death and disaster. And I’m going to be at your side every day, no matter how long it takes for you to accept safety and peace and maybe even happiness into your life, even if it takes you forever. I have never felt the way I feel with you, I didn’t even know it was possible to love someone this deeply. I understand that you’re far away sometimes and I know there is still a lot of distance between us and you don’t have to reciprocate any of this, but I just want you to know . Know you are loved, know you have a place here, and know I will do everything in my power to help you through this.”

Abby’s eyes had gone wide at your monologue and she seemed completely blindsided by your confession. How had she not seen this coming? Did she seriously think she was just some fling to you? A little summer fun? What was she thinking?

The blonde stared into the fire, contemplating and kneading her fingers.

“Today was the first time I didn’t think of them for several hours. Ever since we arrived, I just tucked it all away in a corner of my mind and decided I could be sad tomorrow because today, with you, I would be happy.”

You held your breath and waited for her to continue, not daring to move or say a word.

“And I really was. Happy, you know? And you’re different, too. Owen was there for me so I was there for him. It just turned out I didn’t care for him as much as he did for me. And that really, really fucking sucks to know now that he’s gone. But I can’t change it. All I know is that I’ve never cared for anyone as much as I care for you. You’re constantly on my mind and I get irritated and impatient when I haven’t seen you for too long, usually meaning only a couple hours, which is a little pathetic if I gotta be honest.”

She looked at you and it felt like she was staring right into your soul. You were frozen, in disbelief at what she was telling you. She held out her hand and you took it, your fingers naturally slipping between hers and closing around her palm. How could two bodies fit each other that perfectly? Abby took a deep breath and turned her gaze to the fire again.

“I still have a long way to go with all this and the next few days are going to absolutely fucking horrible. I have no idea how I’m going to survive that. But with you by my side, I want to try. For you, for Lev, and for all the people I’ve lost. I owe it to them to make the best of the life I still have.”

She lifted your hands to her face and kissed the back of your hand.

“You, Y/N, have stirred something inside me I haven’t felt in years. It feels warm and hopeful and eager to see what the next day brings. And because I know tomorrow will bring a lot of pain, at the moment I just want to see what the next hour brings.”

You let your head fall on her shoulder and she put an arm around you. It had gone completely dark and the fire was slowly dying down, but you were warm and comfortable. The night was singing a bittersweet song for those gone too soon, the trees humming their wonderful tenor as the waves joined in with a whisper, the bats over your heads drumming their fleeting rhythm, and an owl completing the symphony with her wailing cries.

Abby started talking again and telling you stories about her time with the Fireflies while ripping off little pieces of bread for you both. One day, her and Owen had helped her dad free a zebra that had gotten caught in some wire. Her first kiss had been Nora, her closest friend and a brilliant doctor. Leah and Jordan had been the power couple at the WLF, brilliant together but also extremely annoying whenever they started wildly making out at parties or fucking in the bathroom thinking the others wouldn’t hear. Then there was Mel, part of the group but in a difficult triangle with Abby and Owen. She had been pregnant with Owen’s child when Ellie killed her. And Yara, what a wonderful young woman. Lev’s sister had stood by him and defended him when he had gotten in trouble with the Seraphites and she had done everything she could to protect him until the day she died. From that day on, Abby had taken that responsibility.

She also told you about her fear of heights and the trip through the sky with Lev, now laughing as she admitted how bizarre it all seemed looking back. It was nice to hear her laugh again and to finally really get to know her.

When the fire was nothing more than a few smoldering coals, Abby suggested going back to the cabin. You packed up your things and carried them back inside. Abby lit the lamp again while you folded the sandy blankets and put them to the side. Then you locked the door.

As you turned around, you could see Abby standing next to the bed, looking at you. Her features were only lit from the side, golden light flickering over her cheekbones and jaw. Her head was slightly cocked and her hands were restless again, searching for something to hold on to and finding only each other.

“Come here,” she said in a low voice. You felt yourself drawn to her by an invisible string, moving faster with every step until you clashed into her, hands and arms entangling, hot mouths pressed together. She let herself fall back onto the bed and pulled you down with her.

You couldn’t tell if the rushing in your ears was the sea or your own blood, but it didn’t matter. Abby’s calloused hands were exploring your back under the sweatshirt, her thigh was pressed between yours and her heavy breathing joined the harmony in your head.

You paused for a minute, staring down at the beautiful face beneath you, her eyes promising that she was all yours.

“You're so fucking beautiful,” you whispered, then you kissed her again and dragged her down with you into an ocean of pleasure.

-

Author’s note: After receiving amazing feedback from you guys and a demand for more, I’m currently in the process of writing a Part 3 for this! Thank you for your patience 💌 if you’d like, you can support me by buying me a coffee 💛

[lbigreyhound13]

I’m Sorry, Draw My...What?

By @lbigreyhound13 for @spooderboyandtincan

Rating: K+

Relationships: Peter Parker & Tony Stark, Tony Stark & May Parker, Peter Parker & May Parker & Tony Stark, May Parker & Peter Parker

Characters: Peter, Tony, May, and Helen Cho

Summary: While Peter is on his way home from patrol, May and Tony talk about Peter's health and wonder if it's possible for him to get sick. There seems to be one option: take him to Dr. Cho and get a blood test. Only one problem...Peter is a bit squeamish.

AO3 LINK HERE

Prompt: Blood Draw

I’m Sorry, Draw My…What?

“Hi Mr. Stark, hi, May, on my way back from patrol! Bit of a graze on my shoulder from robbers…but I’m okay!”

“Okay, kid, thanks for giving your aunt and me a heart attack. Hurry back so we can stitch you up! If it’s bad, we’ll bring you to the tower.”

“Sounds good, Mr. Stark! See you in a bit!”

“I swear to God, he is going to give me a heart attack one of these days,” Tony said as he turned to look at May on the couch.

May couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, at least, he was honest,” she said with a smile. “You think we’ll have to bring him to the Tower?”

“Well, he’s not asking me to come get him,” Tony said thoughtfully, “so it’s probably just a simple stitch.”

After Tony had Peter stay over for the weekend before Thanksgiving a few months ago, Tony made it mandatory that anytime Peter got injured in the field, he was to call for back-up or to come to him and May immediately. Tonight was easier because May had invited Tony to come over for dinner, so he could come back to the apartment where both Tony and May could stitch him up. May was a nurse, so it was easy to talk about stitching up Peter’s wounds if for some reason Tony wasn’t around.

“So, listen, I wanted to ask you something,” May said as she angled herself on the couch so that she was facing Tony.

“What’s up?” Tony said as he took one last look at his phone to make sure Peter was in fact on his way back from patrol.

May couldn’t help but smile at that. When Peter had first started interning for Tony…way before she found out he was actually Spider-Man…and that the billionaire knew the whole time, she thought that Tony was overworking Peter…putting so much pressure on him as he quit most of his clubs, especially the Decathlon Team, and at first, she wasn’t a huge fun. Now, however, seeing how much Tony actually liked having her nephew around…how they were becoming very close, she could see that it was the best thing for both of them. Tony was able to help Peter in ways she couldn’t…he was the male figure Peter needed, especially when he no longer had his father or her husband, and Peter seemed to brighten things up for Tony after what he went through during the debacle with the Accords…what the media called “the Civil War” with the Avengers.

“Well, given Peter’s spider powers…and his enhanced…I guess…senses and metabolism,” May began, “I was wondering if…there was a chance of him…getting sick.”

Tony furrowed his eyebrows together as he realized that he hadn’t thought of that before. A spider bit Peter about 6 months before they had met for the first time, and he had not seen the kid show any signs of getting sick. Injured, yes, but not sick, which begged May’s question. Could Peter get sick even with his abilities, especially with the fast healing?

“He hasn’t gotten sick after the spider bite?” Tony asked.

“Not since the day it happened,” May replied. “I don’t know if he’s ever told you, but…the day he was bitten, he came home and was extremely sick. He had a high fever, and he threw up—it was awful. Ben and I couldn’t get him a doctor’s appointment until the next day, but when we went in to get him the next morning, he was perfectly fine…almost as if he hadn’t been sick at all.”

“That could’ve been his body reacting to the bite…trying to adjust to…the changes,” Tony replied as he let May’s words sink in. “And he hasn’t been sick since then?”

“No, but I don’t know, I can’t help but wonder with it being flu season,” May said, “and…the school has been asking me for Peter’s updated immunization records. I…don’t want to risk anyone finding out about his secret, Tony.”

“Say no more, May,” Tony said quickly. “Dr. Helen Cho is our doctor, and she’s met Peter a few times. I have her and her team at the Compound. She can be Peter’s physician.”

“Really?” May asked eagerly. “Does she…does she know?”

“She does,” Tony said quickly, “and I can get her and the team to sign NDAs. They are completely trustworthy.”

“Okay,” May said, “well, I trust you to keep my baby safe, so, let’s do it. Umm…there’s actually something else that I wanted to ask you.”

“And that would be…”

“Since Peter…has these abilities,” May said, “I’ve…kind of noticed that he didn’t respond to medication well…like Tylenol or Advil. He would take the regular amount, but…it doesn’t seem to work on him as it would on you and me.”

“Well, that’s beauty of working with Dr. Cho,” Tony said. “She could take a sample of Peter’s blood and his DNA to come up with some medication for him and maybe even vaccines so that we can be prepared if he ever gets sick.”

“Thank you so much, Tony,” May said gripping Tony’s shoulder.

“Anytime, May,” Tony replied. “I can talk to Cho this week, and take Peter up to the Compound this Friday.”

“Well, if that’s what you want, then I’d better come.”

“Not that I don’t want you to, but…why?”

“Peter…gets a little nervous about blood tests and needles…”

“Oh…”

(line break)

“Do we really have to do this?” Peter asked with his face in his hands.  

Needless to say, when Tony and May told Peter what the plan was after he came home from patrol a few nights ago, he was…not that excited. He wasn’t angry. He knew he needed medication and vaccines that would meet his enhanced powers and abilities, especially if he were to ever get sick. Plus, going to a regular doctor would be impossible to do so without blowing his secret. This was the best option, and he knew it. He trusted Tony and May with his life, and they had the best intentions. However, that didn’t mean he wanted to go through with it. It was bad enough having to fast for the blood test when he had an enhanced metabolism, but the thought of Dr. Cho sticking a needle in his arm to draw blood made him squirm.

“For the millionth time, kid, yes, we do,” Tony said with a light chuckle as he patted Peter on the back. “Come on, you’ve met with Dr. Cho before. You like her.”

“Yeah, when she’s not sticking a needle in my veins…” Peter retorted as he lifted his face from his hands to look at Tony.

“Honey, I know you’re nervous,” May added gently from where she sat in the corner, “but we need to do this. You don’t react to medications the same way anymore, and we need to make sure we have something in case you get sick.”

“And for your vaccines and all that,” Tony added as he sat next to Peter on the table.

“I know, I know,” Peter groaned, “but I hate needles…and blood tests. Just the sight of…” Peter shuddered.

“I know, bud, I get it,” Tony said wrapping an arm around his intern holding him close to his side. “Remember the one time I tried to insert the sensors into my arm to call the suit to me…after New York…that was not easy. I still get squeamish sometimes.”

Peter couldn’t help but chuckle. “You know I was really hoping that being bitten by that spider would be the end of doctor visits unless I was seriously injured.”

Tony and May couldn’t help but laugh at Peter’s comment.

“I hate to break it to you, tough guy,” May said leaning forward in her chair, “but you’re enhanced…not God…or a god…in Thor’s case.”

“Technically, a demigod,” Tony added quickly, “but valid all the same.”

Peter looked at his mentor and then at his aunt before finally sighing as he rested his head on Tony’s shoulder. “I’m really not getting out of this, am I?” he asked aloud.

“Nope,” Tony and May said in unison.

(line break)

“Okay, are we ready?” Dr. Cho asked as she wrapped the tourniquet around Peter’s arm and searched the crease of his arm for a vein.

“Not really,” Peter said nervously eying the tourniquet on his arm like it was about to eat him alive.

“Don’t worry, Peter,” Dr. Cho said with a small smile on her face. “It will just be a pinch, and it’ll be over before you know it.”

“Easy for you to say,” Peter muttered to himself as Dr. Cho poked and prodded his arm to find the vein. He could see the needle on the stand next to her, and it was all he could focus on. He mentally kicked himself for acting like this. He was Spider-Man, and he went up against the Vulture and Captain America. Why was he so nervous whenever it came to needles and blood drawing? He could handle scary movies with Ned, so why was he being so difficult now?

“Kid, it’s okay to be a little nervous of needles,” Tony said to him somehow reading his thoughts. “No one enjoys this. It’s practically a requirement of being a human being.”

“Then why do we do it?” Peter asked as he watched Dr. Cho like a hawk as she finally found a vein under his skin and pressed her thumb before wiping the area on his skin with rubbing alcohol.

“Why don’t we talk about something else?” May quickly asked looking toward Tony.

“Yes, why don’t we talk about something else?” Tony said quickly agreeing with May. This was a part of their back-up plan if Peter still showed that that he was nervous. “How was school today? You didn’t really answer me when I picked you and May up.”

“Oh?” Peter said looking at Tony remembering that his mentor was right. He was so preoccupied with the impending blood test that he didn’t answer when Tony asked him about school. “You’re right, I’m sorry. It…was good! Ned spent most of the day talking to me about this new Star Wars Lego set that he hopes to buy with his birthday money, but—I don’t know—I was thinking about getting it for him instead. I think that would be an amazing gift, but I have to think about it. Oh, and my History teacher is going to have us do a project soon. I think it’s some kind of research project on—I think it’s going to be on more World History, and I mean, it’s fine. I’m just more into U.S. history, but that could be just me. Anyway, chemistry went well, too! I started thinking of some more ideas for my webshooters, and I thought maybe we can look at them at our next lab time.”

“Sure, we can do that, Peter,” Tony said as he listened to Peter’s monologue trying to take in every single word the kid was telling him with a smile on his face. He never got tired of taking or listening to Peter whenever he started rambling. It broke up the silence and lightened things up, as Peter always tended to do whenever he was around Tony, but it seems that now it was Tony’s turn to do just that. He looked down and noticed Dr. Cho pulling out the tube after the blood flowed through, and looked at Peter, who clearly didn’t notice. “Hey, Pete, guess what.”

“What?” the teenager asked.

“Dr. Cho is done,” the billionaire simply said.

“Huh?” Peter asked furrowing his eyebrows together in confusion. He looked and saw the doctor putting a cotton swab on his arm clearly to stop the bleeding.

“All finished,” Dr. Cho said with a smile as she gestured to the small tube on the table next to her.

“What?” Peter asked. “Are you sure? I didn’t feel a thing.”

“Exactly,” May said with a smirk. “Tony distracted you by getting you to talk.”

“And you forgot all about it, right?” Tony added. “Kid, we know you too well. Once you start talking, you tend to have tunnel vision, and I mean that in the nicest way possible.”

Peter ducked his head and blushed a shade of pink on his cheeks. He knew May knew about his nervousness around needles, but the fact that his mentor just learned about it and still tried to keep him from getting nervous just as his aunt did was amazing. It seemed like every day was just another reminder as to how lucky he was.

He smiled and looked at Tony. “Thanks, Mr. Stark,” he said.

“You’re welcome, kid,” Tony said with a smile of his own.

[multifandomwhre]

Loves Harsh Reality

Summary: Life is a bitch. 

Pairing(s): Bucky Barnes x Reader, Avengers x Reader (all platonic)

Warnings: swearing, mention of past/current abuse

Prompt: “You want what everyone wants. You want a love that consumes you. You want passion, and adventure, and maybe even a little danger.” 

Word Count: 1780

Do not copy, translate, or post any of my stories anywhere you write stories, whether that’s here, Wattpad, or Ao3. 

-----------------------------

Life never treated you well. Not even when you were just an innocent child, trying to navigate your way in this terrible world. You were forced into a cold and unloving organization that was run by people who don’t really give a shit that you were only 2 when they stole you. They never treated you like a human, more like a laboratory experiment, which kind of went haywire. When you were brought in, the sleaze running this entire operation stripped you of everything you had so far, which was only a name you had just barely begun to learn, and they assigned you a number, much like a court case; experiment 973. And that’s what you went by for the next 23 years of your life.

The day you were rescued from that deranged and psychotic place was...hectic to say the least. It began like any other day while you were their little pet; get woken up at the ass crack of you don’t know when, test out your powers until you physically passed out and then get ungracefully woken again only to be forced to use your powers. This continues for hours on end before these assholes make you go fight actual people in hopes that you aren’t lacking in physical strength. You fight until bodies start piling up and when your sadistic handlers are satisfied with your progress, as if you haven’t they haven’t been training you to take down monsters bigger than Goliath himself. But something wasn’t right and you could feel it in the enclosed space of your cell. 

While you normally had a rough awakening by someone poking, prodding, and eventually yanking you out of bed, nobody was there. In fact, there wasn’t even a peep from the cells neighboring yours. That was until you heard multiple gunshots and multiple bodies slumping against the floor. See, the thing about HYDRA is that they’ve trained you for this exact moment but every single ounce of training they’ve ingrained in your body and mind left the building completely as you hunkered down against the wall furthest from the thick, metal door barricading you from the outside world. 

Suddenly, the door you were just measly standing behind came crashing down, dust from the unwashed floor rising. After the dust settled, you looked up to see the poster boy of HYDRA himself, the Winter Soldier. “Steve, I’ve got a live one here. Female, looks to be in her mid-20s,” he whispered into his ear piece. He slowly moved closer, putting his weapon away as he noticed your frail body shaking from fear. “У тебя все нормально? Я ведь не бил тебя дверью?*” Shaking your head, the soldier stopped in front of you, kneeling next to you. “Меня зовут Баки. Что у тебя?” Shrugging your shoulders, you made an attempt to look over at him. “That’s ok. How long have you been here?”

“двадцать три года*,” you said, a bit of hesitation in your voice, finding it hard to speak after decades of being punished if you spoke out of turn. As you finished speaking, you heard another voice, one which you assumed belonged to this Steve person. 

“Хорошо. Стив дал мне добро, чтобы мы могли убираться отсюда,” Bucky said, standing back up on his feet. But you weren’t too sure about this. Along with your training, your handlers had pushed on you the notion that the Avengers, and anyone associated with them, were out to harm you, always, and that’s why you needed to be able to defend yourself. 

“Ты ведь не сделаешь мне больно, верно? О-или убить меня,” you asked, clear hesitation towards the soldier who was about to grant you freedom from this hellhole. 

Bucky looked at you with sympathy drawn over his features. Shaking his head, he gently grabbed your hands, a shiver traveling up your spine at the coolness from the vibranium arm. “Конечно, нет. Я вытащу тебя отсюда.”

-TIME SKIP-

It had been a few months since the Avengers had rescued you from HYDRA and you were beyond grateful that Bucky had stumbled upon you that day. But the fear that HYDRA had instilled in you about being near the Avengers was still running rampant in your system. Whenever someone knocked on your door, or came up behind you, your fight or flight instincts kicked in like that of an animal in the wild. You thought it’d be better by now, considering you have been going to therapy since coming to the compound. But today, all your frustrations came to a head.

You probably should’ve been in bed considering it was 4 in the morning but you needed to burn off some steam. What you failed to realize was that a certain super soldier was sitting in one of the boxes above the training center, watching your every move. But, him being a super soldier meant that he could pick up on more than you realized. Bucky had noticed that blood dripping onto the floor, which came from your terribly wrapped hands. 

He knew you were on edge, but not like you were when he first got you out. By the time that you realized Bucky was in your presence, it was a bit too late. You felt a hand on your shoulder; two seconds later you had the body attached to the arm on the floor, your other arm extending towards their throat, keeping them pinned to the floor. 

Once the haze cleared, you could tell who it was that you had down on the ground. “Buck? Oh my god.” Quickly pushing yourself off of him, you started pacing the gym floor. “Fucking shit. I am so sorry Bucky. I-I didn’t mean to do it. Are you ok? I didn’t hurt you, did I?” You kept rambling and pacing until Bucky stopped you, stepping in front of you to stop you from wearing a hole in the floor. 

“I am fine, кукла. Are you ok? Your hands are bleeding.” Looking down, you saw the streaks of red coming out from under the tape on your hands. “Let’s go get you fixed up, ok?” Nodding, you followed Bucky out of the gym and towards the medical center. “So, what’s got you going at 4 in the morning anyway?”

“I couldn’t sleep. No matter what I tried. I even tried that tea Wanda suggested. By the way, don’t drink it. It tastes like dirt.” Bucky chuckled as you sat on a gurney, grabbing supplies from the cabinets. “What are you doing? Shouldn’t we wait for, you know, a doctor, or an actual medical professional to come in and do this,” you immediately questioned him.

“Do you seriously doubt my suturing skills? I did serve in World War II, so I’m pretty confident that I know my way around a needle and thread,” he said, carefully unraveling the useless tape from around your knuckles, taking a look at the damage. “Yeah, this’ll probably take a little bit, but don’t you worry, Dr. Barnes is always here to help.” Bucky smiled at you, calming your nerves the tiniest bit. 

After prepping and numbing you properly, Bucky began stitching your open wounds shut. “So, do you wanna talk about why you couldn’t fall asleep? Talking might help, at least it usually does for me,” Bucky asked, not taking his eyes off his work in progress.

“I, uh, I keep having nightmares. They went away for a bit, when I could actually sleep for the night, but for some reason, they’ve come back,” you admitted quietly, almost like it was a dirty little secret. 

“Well, you’ve only been here a few months so I wouldn’t expect your nightmares to just instantly go away. It took me a few years to actually get a good night's sleep with them waking me or anybody else up. So I know exactly how you feel,” he said, finishing up before wrapping your hands in sterile dressings. “And you are all set. Now, no excessive force, which includes going to the gym at 4 in the morning and working out like you are about to fight the Hulk.” You laughed lightly, shoulders loosening up.

“Why are you being so nice to me? I mean, you just stitched up my hands cause I got too into my own brain after I almost choked you when you could’ve just dropped me here and gone back to bed.” Tears filled your eyes once more, a thickening feeling surrounding your concerns. 

Bucky sighed, gingerly sitting next to you on the gurney. “When I found you at the base, I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy ride for you. Or for anyone here really. Adding another member to the team can sometimes jostle things around. And I knew for a fact that you would feel like an outcast amongst some of the biggest heroes the world has ever seen...so far,” he said as you laid your head against his arm, wiping away the tears that had made their way down your face. “And I thought maybe, just maybe, if we became friends or even just acquaintances, that you wouldn’t feel so alone here. Cause I know exactly how that feels. And ever since coming here, I can see what I looked like when I was found; lost, felt like I didn’t deserve anything good or even deserving of love. But even though you hide it with a sort of tough exterior and you’re used to being trapped away, I can tell you something about yourself that you probably don’t even know,” Bucky said in a matter-of-fact voice.

“Oh yeah? What would that be,” you asked, quite curious as to what he may have found out.

“You want what everyone wants. You want a love that consumes you. You want passion, and adventure, and maybe even a little danger. Cause that’s exactly how I feel right now.” At some point, of which you weren’t sure, Bucky had hooked his fingers under your chin, turning your face up to meet his. Your eyes finally met his, capturing the look of a pure and innocent love in his icy stare. He slowly leaned down, but stopping right before your lips collided. “Is this ok?” Quickly nodding, Bucky pressed his lips to your own, cupping your face as your injured hands made their way to his sides. 

Pulling back, Bucky rested his forehead against yours. “Never thought that this is how we would have our first kiss, doll,” he said, making you laugh which in turn caused him to chuckle. “But, I’m not at all opposed to it.”

“I’m glad. Now let’s get out of here. I’m tired.” 

-----------------------------

1. У тебя все нормально? Я ведь не бил тебя дверью - Are you ok? I didn’t hit you with the door, did I?

2. Меня зовут Баки. Что у тебя? - My name is Bucky. What’s yours?

3. Это хорошо. Как давно ты здесь? - That’s ok. How long have you been here?

4. двадцать три года - 23 years. 

5. Хорошо. Стив дал мне добро, чтобы мы могли убираться отсюда. - Ok. Steve gave me the go ahead so we can get out of here. 

6. Ты ведь не сделаешь мне больно, верно? О-или убить меня? - You aren’t going to hurt me right? O-or kill me?

7. Конечно, нет. Я вытащу тебя отсюда. - Of course not. I’m going to get you out of here.

8. Кукла - Doll

I will also be posting this on my other blog, @imaginesmcu. This is a very, very late submission to @sweeterthanthis ‘s “Quote Me” challenge. 

[fallingstarnovel]

Chapter Five

The rest of the day just kept going and going. Someone called the paramedics for the cut on his leg, and he had to be taken to hospital to get stitches. The nice woman who ran over to him took his student ID and went over to the exam room to explain that he couldn’t make it. He had no idea if the university would let him re-sit the exam later. He sure hoped so.

"I have to sit my exam," he said anxiously as he waited for the paramedics to arrive. "I can't fail my module. My grade average is already ruined."

The lady shook her head. "You're just going to bleed all over the carpets, and the shock will hit you soon, and then you'll fail anyway. Now give me your ID."

He meekly gave her the ID.

The police questioned him, and he tried to explain what happened, but it sounded weird and muddy to his own ears. How could he explain what happened when he didn’t even know if it was all a hallucination or not?

After all, stress made people do and see weird things. He hadn’t seen Ruth again after that first time. And there was no way he could say to the police that he was rescued by an angel who called himself Ruth.

Maybe he hit his head. Maybe he was hallucinating.

He asked the doctor at the hospital to check his head for injuries, but she said he was incredibly lucky and was completely unharmed. Even the cut on his leg wasn’t too deep.

One taxi ride home, and he was sitting in his living room. Alone.

There wasn't really anyone he could talk to about this. He didn't want to bother Aliya, because she thought he was the fun, good vibes friend, and he didn't want her to think he was a bother. Obviously he didn't have anyone at home he could call. His housemates had all abandoned him. Not intentionally, but still.

Evan sat by himself in his quiet living room in his empty house and kept his hands to himself, and wondered.

There was only one person left, right?

> hey ruth so um...

> weird question. did today happen

Which part? <

> the part where i almost got flattened by a truck?

Oh. Yes. <

Are you feeling alright? <

> yeah um a bit shaky and just weird uhh

> you know when you just Feel Weird

> i'm feeling it

Make sure you eat something sugary and wrap up warm. Do you want to call? <

Ruth was always so nice. The familiar guilt was building at the back of Evan's brain, reminding him that he needed to stop being such a burden on other people, but technically this wasn't him looking for support.

He just wanted to confirm that this guy was actually an angel, not a hallucination. That was all.

He did see those glowing white wings and that sunny halo lighting him from behind like some kind of Renaissance painting, but that could just have been random neurons firing in his brain. Right? He needed to check.

> that would be nice

> call me whenever

A minute later, his phone started vibrating. He answered quickly.

"... Ruth?"

"Evan. Are you sure you're okay?"

Evan looked down at his injured leg, which was bobbing up and down rapidly. It hurt, but he couldn't stop it from happening even if he tried. He felt cold. "Hmm. Still a little weird."

"Go get some food. I'll still be here," Ruth said gently, and Evan obediently got up and went to the kitchen to make himself a jam sandwich.

"Ruth..." he said hesitantly, putting his phone on speaker. "Now. Correct me if what I'm saying sounds insane. But did you..."

"Did I...?"

Evan shut his mouth. It sounded too insane to say "hey, bro, did you grow a pair of wings today?". "Nothing. I just wanted to thank you for saving me again. This is like, the third time, right?"

"I'm not keeping count," Ruth replied earnestly. "I'm just glad you're safe."

So, so nice. Evan felt even more guilty. He didn't know what he had done to deserve this kind of kindness. "Well, anyway, I was really lucky that you were around."

"Maybe. I don't really believe in luck."

That was definitely something an angel would say, right? Angels flew around doing good deeds with big white flappy wings, didn't they?

"What do you believe in?" Evan asked without thinking, before catching himself. "Wait, I'm sorry, that was weird. You don't have to answer."

"No, it's alright," Ruth replied. He laughed, and his voice was low and melodic, pealing like church bells on a Sunday morning. "I believe... I believe that we hold a lot more control over things like luck and fate and coincidence than we believe. I would go so far as to say that we make our own luck."

Could angels make luck? Maybe they had a lucky energy field around them. That would make sense. They were supposed to be good. Evan hummed thoughtfully.

"What happened today... do you think that maybe... it was because of the bad luck curse mark?"

"It's very possible," Ruth said.

"Shit. Really? But it almost killed me! That was more than bad luck! If you hadn't saved me, I would have died!" Evan heard his own voice getting a little hysterical. He was allowed to be hysterical. He almost got turned into meat paste. "What if it happens again? What next? What if I'm walking along and a piano drops out of the sky and kills me? What if I choke on a peanut?"

"Don't eat any peanuts," Ruth said, which made Evan burst into incredulous laughter.

"Seriously?"

"No. But if you're scared... I can come with you next time you go out. To keep you safe. From falling pianos."

Was Evan scared? He wasn't sure. But for some reason, hearing Ruth say that eased some of the tense feeling boiling in his stomach.

There was a comfortable silence. He felt like he had a little more space to breathe now, somehow.

"Thanks, Ruth. I feel a lot better now after talking to someone. And eating this sandwich."

"Are you going to be okay by yourself?"

Evan snorted. He had to be okay by himself. It wasn't like there was anyone here to take care of him. "Yeah, I think I'll manage to tuck myself into bed with a hot drink and a blanket."

"No, really," Ruth said, "if you need someone. Any time, anywhere. You have my number. Just give me a call, and I'll answer."

"... Sure. Thanks."

"It's alright."

Evan sighed. "I'll be okay. For real. You don't need to worry about me."

"I will anyway. Good night."

"Good night."

After they hung up, Evan once again wondered what happened that night when Ruth brought him home. It was mortifying to imagine what he might have said and done when he was black out drunk, but clearly it wasn't a deal-breaker for Ruth, because he was still around. Being nice.

Being angelic, even.

Evan cleaned himself up for the night. He did his usual check of the house, making sure the windows in the empty bedrooms were closed and all the doors were locked, before settling into his bed.

He switched off his light. On the ceiling, a galaxy of glow-in-the-dark stars lit up with a soft green glow.

There was so much he had to worry about. There were exams to rearrange. He got blood on his lucky socks. He had to book an appointment with the neurologist to check for damage. He still had a bunch of group projects he needed to work on.

When he closed his eyes to sleep, all he could see was the side of the truck tipping sideways, hundreds of pounds of steel that would have smashed him into tiny little chunks of meat.

He opened his eyes again.

He was fine. He wasn't mincemeat. He wasn't in the hospital morgue. He was in his own bed, safe and sound, with only a slight scratch on his leg to show for it.

Evan rolled over and tried to sleep, but the accident played in his mind again.

That black cat had shown up at two accidents now. He couldn't remember if seeing a black cat was meant to be good luck or bad luck – he had heard both from different people. Was it trying to warn him about the accidents coming up? Or was it a terrible omen of death?

It was probably just a cat.

But then again, he thought Ruth was just a normal guy until recently.

When Evan went to sleep, he dreamed he was saving endless black cats from being run over by runaway trucks on a busy highway. Eventually, he dreamed of soft whispers and someone carrying him high, high up in the sky, tucked against someone's chest as the stars passed overhead one by one.

Over the weekend, Evan usually did chores. Today he needed to go food shopping, so he picked up his bags and left the house.

It was a long walk. He didn't realise how sore his leg was until now. It hurt every time the fabric of his trousers rubbed over the bandages on the cut on his leg. But he needed food, and nobody was going to buy it for him, so off he went.

He passed by the burned out church on the way there. He didn't know how it burned down, but it obviously happened a decade or so ago. The windows were empty and the church was completely hollow inside. In between the rubble, weeds and long grass were poking up. It was surrounded by tall buildings on all sides, hemming it into a claustrophobic box.

Evan wondered why it hadn't been knocked down and turned into flats yet.

After he finished getting all the food he needed, Evan had just left the shop when he recognised a familiar face across the car park. It was his lecturer, the one who always rambled for ten minutes at the start of class about different things he was interested in. He was an older man with grey hair and a goatee, like some kind of mad scientist. Evan supposed that when you were clever enough to teach atsrophysics at university, you were allowed to look however you wanted.

The lecturer spotted Evan. His eyes widened, and he walked over.

"It's you," he said as he got closer. "The student that almost got hit by a car."

"A truck," Evan corrected him politely. "Hello, Professor Bridgers."

Professor Bridgers' eyes widened even more. "Ye gods. A truck? How the hell are you still standing here?"

"It missed, sir."

"It missed! You're lucky!" The professor shuffled his shopping bag to his other hand and gave Evan an appraising look as if searching for hidden injuries. "Not a scratch?"

"Well, the storm grate scratched my leg when I was pulled out..."

"Storm grate? Pulled out? Your leg is hurt and you're walking on it?" The professor held out an imperious hand. "It's bad enough you had to miss your exam. Let me carry this home for you. You shouldn't be walking on an injury, or you'll end up missing my lectures, and I cannot abide a student skipping class because he was stupid enough to walk on an injured leg."

No matter how much Evan protested, the professor insisted. He ended up handing over his shopping bags, and together, they started walking back to Evan's house.

As they walked, he took a surreptitious glance at his lecturer. When he taught his classes, the professor dressed up in formal shirts and ties with extravagant waistcoats. Well, Evan thought he dressed up, but apparently that was just how the man dressed normally too.

Today his waistcoat was bright pink and covered in embroidered rainbow sheep. Evan rather liked it.

"Suppose they're sorting out your resits and whatnot in the administrator's office," the professor said suddenly. Evan nodded.

"They said they were going to arrange it for next month instead of the summer due to exceptional circumstances."

"Generous of them. They're probably used to lazy students making up hangoveritis symptoms – not used to boys being run over on their front door step."

Evan laughed. They lapsed into silence as they passed by the burned out church again. Feeling a little awkward about walking in silence with his teacher, Evan decided to make some conversation.

"Do you know how that church burned down?"

"What, you don't know?" the professor barked. Evan shook his head. "Really? Was the most interesting fire of the century. It was taken out by a meteor."

Evan stood stock still. He stared at the professor in shock. "What?"

"How old are you? You look about twelve. Were you old enough when the meteor fell over the city? Small thing or we wouldn't be here today. Was the luckiest set of coincidences in the world. Broke up as it hit the atmosphere, most of it burned up, but one teeny tiny little fragment landed right smack bang in the middle of the church. The heat of the explosion caused a raging fire." The professor looked thoughtful. "Lucky it was in the middle of the night and not a Sunday morning. Wouldn't have left a single survivor in there."

"This meteor..." Evan said slowly. "Was it about twelve years ago? And it made a huge noise... you could see it for miles..."

"So you do remember it," Professor Bridgers commented approvingly. "That's the one. Just before I started teaching. I was on the team that had to report to HQ that there was a non-zero chance the huge ball of rock rapidly approaching our atmosphere would wipe out half of Europe. Took us all by surprise. We tend to track all the asteroids that pass by in case they orbit around again and fall into our field of gravity. Plenty of near misses in the last few years. But that one came out of nowhere. Turned my hair grey overnight."

"Near misses?"

"Oh, plenty. Well, I say near, but that's still thousands or even millions of miles away from us. But near compared to... everything else."

Evan stared at the church for a long time, until the professor got impatient and started walking away, and he had to jog to catch up. He kept looking behind himself at the blackened walls and the empty windows.

"Professor, what do you think would happen if a bigger one hit us and it didn't break up in the atmosphere?"

The professor was silent for a moment. After a while, he said, "well, you better pray you're one of the lucky buggers standing under the blast site of where it hits."

"What? Why?"

"Bigger asteroids do more than destroy churches, my boy. You should already know this. Think about the dinosaurs."

Evan thought about the dinosaurs, and pressed his lips together. He felt stupid for forgetting. "Oh. I see."

When they got to Evan's house, Ruth was standing outside the front door, patiently waiting. He raised his eyebrows when he spotted Evan and his professor walking side by side, shopping bags piled into the old man's arms.

"Ruth? What are you doing here?" Evan asked, dumbfounded.

"I was worried about you," Ruth replied, as easy as breathing. It made Evan's face turn pink. "You shouldn't be walking on that leg."

"Finally, someone sensible," the professor said, handing the shopping bags over to Ruth.

Evan turned and thanked him over and over. The professor waved it away and walked off, but not before making a joke that if Evan got a bad mark on his resit exam, he knew where he lived.

Ruth stared after him as he walked away. "I told you you could call me if I needed help."

"I just ran into him and he wouldn't leave me alone," Evan said jokingly. "Look, I'm fine. Thanks for checking in on me."

Ruth turned to stare at him then. His eyes were unreadable, until he finally spoke up.

"I'm going to cook you dinner tonight."

"What? I can cook! My arms still work!"

"You should be resting. You had a terrible shock. Now let me inside."

Laughing and rolling his eyes, Evan decided to let Ruth inside, if only because he didn't have anything else planned for the evening.

Evan sat to the side as Ruth bustled around the kitchen. He pulled random things out of the drawers and started digging through Evan’s shopping bags, pulling out different vegetables and ingredients he had bought.

Evan watched him, feeling strange. Ruth had waited outside for him to come back. He didn’t even know where Ruth lived, and yet here he was, surprising him because he was worried, and now making a meal for him like it was nothing.

He couldn’t help but feel disconcerted. It wasn’t normal to be this nice. Nobody cared this much about a person they only just met. Evan rarely trusted people who were too nice to him - he didn’t understand why they would go out of their way to treat him well.

After all, he wasn’t anything special. He was a failing student and a lazy kid. He wasn’t especially interesting. In fact, Evan would describe himself as distressingly pedestrian.

There had to be some other motive at play here. Maybe Ruth was casing him out as a potential robbery victim. Maybe coming to his house and making friends with him was a long con, designed to lower his guard until - boom - Ruth whipped out a gun and demanded all his money in the bag, right now.

Well, maybe not.

Maybe Ruth was just lonely too. Maybe they were both two lonely guys who wanted an excuse to hang out together.

He just wanted to know what Ruth wanted from him.

“You know...” he began hesitantly. “You said that you liked helping people. I was just wondering... is that really why you keep hanging out with me? I just don’t want you to feel obligated to follow me around or anything...”

Ruth looked up from where he was chopping carrots into rough chunks. He gave Evan a winning smile, his dimples popping and giving him a very cute expression. “I don’t feel obligated. I like it. As long as you don’t mind me following you around sometimes, then it... it makes me happy."

"Following me around makes you happy?" Evan laughed in disbelief. "You must be the only person on Earth who can stand the sight of me. Give it a few weeks and see how you feel."

That cute dimpled smile froze. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing," Evan said, immediately feeling awkward. "Just kidding. Um, are you sure you don't want help cooking?"

Ruth had begun to chop potatoes. The trouble was that he was cutting them into lumpy, uneven shapes, unpeeled, and he had left all the little eyes and marks in the skin.

It was an unconventional way to chop potatoes.

"No," Ruth said eventually. He kept throwing glances sideways at Evan. "Why did you say that? Before, I mean."

"Just forget it, really. I was just joking around."

Ruth put a large pot on the stove top and lit the heat. Evan noted with some consternation that he didn't actually add any oil or water to the pot.

"Um, Ruth... what are you making...?"

"It's a surprise." Ruth shuffled in front of the pot to hide the contents. "Don't worry about it."

It didn't take long before the smell of burning carrot filled the kitchen. Evan opened a window before the smoke could set the fire alarm off. Just as he turned back, he saw Ruth pour a whole packet of pasta into the pot.

Speechless, he pretended he didn't see anything. It was incredibly difficult to remain silent. Ruth still wasn't adding any water. What kind of experimental god tier cooking technique was this?

"Stop peeking," Ruth said quickly. His face had turned pink and there was sweat starting to bead on his forehead.

Perhaps this wasn't a god tier cooking technique after all. In fact, Evan was beginning to suspect that Ruth had no idea what he was doing.

No, he had to have more faith! This would turn out great!

He forced himself to look away from the cooking process. "Alright, I won't peek, I won't peek. Just let me know if you need any help...?"

Ruth shook his head, making his curly hair bounce wildly around his face. "It's all under control."

The smoke alarm went off.

Extra:

[ruth voice] you let this man carry groceries for you??? you IGNORE ruth and solicit weird old men for help with your household tasks?? oh, pasta for evan! pasta for ten thousand years!

Previous Chapter | Contents | Next Chapter

[dinoyoongi]

Confirm or Deny (5)

SYNOPSIS: You’re a member of the rising group FRNZEE. You’ve been dating Namjoon for years when Dispatch releases an article exposing your relationship. Your company confirms the relationship. Big Hit denies it.

PARTS: ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX

PAIRING: Namjoon x Reader

GENRE: Romance, Angst

WARNINGS: Strong language

WORD COUNT: 3503

AUTHORS NOTE: A bit shorter than the others but I felt this was a good spot to end the chapter on. There will only be one more part to this before it’s over! I want to thank everybody for your patience - I’m definitely not as quick a writer as some others on here and when I do sit down to work on this, writer’s block hits me like a garbage truck every time. This chapter is kind of rushed and Namjoon-less but it I hope you’ll all like it just the same! Thanks for all the love. ❤️

___________________________________

BREAKING: Y/N officially departs FRNZEE & terminates contract with Hot Star Entertainment!

After two months of speculation of whether Y/N would return to FRNZEE after being attacked outside the KBS building, it's been confirmed by Hot Star Entertainment that Y/N has officially terminated her contract with the company. Y/N was recently involved in controversy after her company confirmed dating rumors between Y/N and BTS' leader RM that the latter denied. She had been removed from the group's comeback and was on hiatus from all activities when she was attacked by BTS fans outside the KBS building during a taping of Music Bank that she had attended with her manager out of support for her members. Despite official statements being released by both Big Hit Entertainment and RM – who uploaded a handwritten plea on Weverse begging for his fans to stop the bullying – Hot Star Entertainment felt that Y/N's mental health was being compromised and released her from contract.

“Like they give a shit about my mental health,” you snicker sarcastically, dropping your phone a little too forcefully onto the kitchen counter. From your peripheral, you can see your mother's lips turn downwards in disapproval at your foul language but she fortunately chooses not to scold you, recognizing the delicate situation. It's not as if this is a blindside. Nobody was pulling the wool over your eyes right now. You had been aware that they were permanently removing you from the group and from the company only one day after you returned home to Daejeon.

You're only surprised that they waited this long to announce it. You imagine it wouldn't look too good for them if they kicked you out of the group right after you were assaulted – no surprise there. Their image is all they care about.

“Has anyone tried reaching out to you?” your mother asks from the stove, stirring a steaming pot languidly.

Your eyes fall down to your still-lit phone, catching the small red balloon icon that signifies missed notifications. Calls, texts, voicemail, emails; you don't need to open them to see who they're from – you've spent the past week dodging any incoming forms of communication from everyone including your members, your former manager, the CEO of Hot Star, numbers that you don't recognize that you assume to be reporters and even all seven members of BTS.

Out of all the names that showed up on the screen on your phone, Namjoon's appeared the most.

His unread messages and unopened voicemails feel like an anchor on your chest. Is he reaching out to pity you for what happened with his fans? Is he reaching out to get back together with you? Is he reaching out to cuss at you because you dragged his name into your articles again? Is he reaching out to hammer that final nail in the coffin and be done with you for good?

All of these scenarios are equally terrifying so you pretend that the messages don't exist. However, there are times when you miss him so much that your chest physically aches and the thought of loading up your phone's inbox to listen to his voice is so devastatingly tempting. Playing his albums or watching him on YouTube isn't the same. You don't miss RM – you miss Namjoon. Your Namjoon.

You're not completely depriving yourself of him, though. Two months ago, the day of your attack, he posted a message messily scrawled onto a napkin to his Weverse account. Despite his username displaying as RM, your heart can tell just by his words that it's Namjoon. You've stared at the message so many times over the past few weeks that you have the words ingrained into your head.

ARMY,

Today, somebody I care about was seriously injured. I want to deny that our lovely ARMY would do anything to cause harm to other people. That's not Bangtan. That's not what we teach, what we stand for. But that was our logo on their phone cases. That was our lightstick in the pocket of their bags. That was our faces on keychains that hung from their straps. At the risk of upsetting some, I speak on behalf of the rest of the group to say to those who harm other people in the name of Bangtan – both physically and verbally – you are not ARMY. ARMY is better than this. ARMY is too good for this.

Please ARMY, let's always be better.

It's a simple message but one that you know was difficult for him to write. Having known the boys for the majority of their career growth, you know that the admiration they have for their fans is one-hundred percent not an act. Knowing that some of them assaulted you in such a humiliating manner had to have felt like a knife in the gut.

“Nobody,” you lie to your mom who quirks her brows, waiting for your response. “Nobody has tried contacting me at all.”

“When are you going back to Seoul?”

You sigh, dropping your eyes onto the kitchen counter. “Mom, why would I go back to Seoul? There's nothing there for me anymore.”

“What are you going to do then?” your mother asks softly. You hear the spoon she was stirring with drop the table, followed by a heavy sigh. “Is that it? You're done with your music career?”

“It isn't as if my contract just expired and I can shop around for new agencies. I was the center of a very huge scandal. I was the butt of jokes and online bullying for so long. I don't think there's an agency out there that would poke me with a ten foot pole at this point.”

“But you trained for so long. You didn't go to university. Y/N, what -”

Your body slides from the stool, your feet slapping against the linoleum so hard that your mother flinches from the sound. “I'm suddenly feeling kind of sleepy. I'll just go take a nap before dinner.”

She calls your name as you lug yourself upstairs towards your bedroom but you pretend not to hear. You're not angry with her – absolutely not. If you're angry at anything, it's your life. It's this situation. It's the world. It's a fact that most idols audition and join agencies for two things and two things only – money and fame. And while those two things can be really great at times, that's not why you decided to be an idol. You decided to become an idol because, well … there was really nothing else you could do.

Throughout your life, whenever anybody asked you “what do you want to be when you grow up?” you never gave the usual answers that your classmates did – police officers, veterinarians, doctors, lawyers, judges, the president. Your answer from the first time you were asked until the last remained unchanged: an idol. Music was everything to you. There was nothing that you could study for, nothing you could major in that would give you a sense of happiness and fulfillment like music did. Like music still does. It was the upbeat songs, the quirky choreography, the super cute but super outrageous outfits, the camaraderie and bonds formed between group members and the thrill of satisfaction when all of that came together for a comeback. That is what you've always wanted. There was nothing that came even close.

And now that you've had it, now that it's slipped right through your fingers … what do you do? What are you supposed to do with your life?

Heaving yourself onto your bed, you groan in frustration. Your phone chirps from the pocket of your hooded sweatshirt, alerting you to a text message. Waving the device in front of your face, you sigh when you see Ji-na's name.

Ji-na: please be strong. keep your head up. don't skip meals. i love you and i'm sorry.

Your chest throbs are you reread the words again. And then for a third time. If you were being honest with yourself, you stopped being angry with Ji-na and the rest of the group the moment you arrived home. If you were to put yourself in their shoes – would you have reacted the same way? An idol's career is already typically short; seven or eight years if you're lucky. Would you be willing to risk that for another person? The knee-jerk response might come easy to some but only those who have been in your shoes, trained as long and hard as you and your members did, can answer that question. But despite not holding onto any anger, you can't erase the betrayal from your heart. Ji-na was more than just a member of your group. Ji-na was your best friend. Ji-na was the hand that you reached for when FRNZEE was getting mobbed at airports. Ji-na is your first dibs sleeping buddy when you had to pair up in hotel rooms. There was very little that you couldn't and wouldn't tell Namjoon but if there was – Ji-na was the one you confided in. Ji-na was everything.

And going through this without her and Namjoon seems incredibly impossible.

Your eyes leave the phone, slipping over to the corner of the room where your suitcase and bags are haphazardly strewn about as you were too lazy to commit to unpacking. The one thing propped neatly against the wall is a sparkly, medium-sized gift bag, intricately tied with rainbow ribbons. Ji-na's birthday is coming up in week but you've had her present ready for months. Instead of leaving it at the dorms, you brought it home with you. At the time, you were so caught up in your anger and woes and self-misery that you had every intention of sending it back to the store once you settled in but now?

It seems you have a present to hand deliver.

_______________________________________

- TWO WEEKS LATER -

You've only been gone for two months but it seems like Seoul has already changed so much. The first big difference? There's now a doorman stationed in the lobby of the dorm apartments. You can tell that he recognizes you immediately by the way his cheeks flush red but he still refuses to let you go any farther, keeping you a safe distance away from the elevator. You get it, you really do. He was probably hired to keep out nosy reporters and fansites and journalists but knowing Hot Star the way that you do now, you have no doubt that he was also explicitly warned not to let you in. Sighing, you pull your phone from your bag, typing a few quick words to Ji-na before hitting send.

It only takes three minutes for the elevator to open with a loud ding and a flash of pale skin is hurtling itself at you. Ji-na wraps her arms around your neck so tightly that you cough from the pressure until she loosens her grip. You try to ignore the moisture that you see building in her eyes when she pulls away.

Grabbing her hand, she tugs you toward the elevator. “Come on. We have some talking to do.”

“Ah -” the doorman interjects, nervously stepping in front of you. “I'm sorry, Ji-na. She's on the no clearance list. She can't go up.”

Ji-na scoffs. “Even with my permission? Even though I'm bringing her up with me?”

He grimaces. “I'm sorry. It's my job.”

“It's okay, Ji-na. I just wanted to drop this off anyway,” you say, thrusting the bag in her direction. She stares at it for a few hard seconds before hesitantly accepting it. “Happy Birthday. If you're ever near Daejeon, let me know, okay?”

You turn on your heel to leave but a painful grip on your hand stops you. Ji-na twirls you around to face her, like a scene straight out of a cheesy drama. She's toe to toe with the doorman, facial features locked in what you know is supposed to be intimidation but on Ji-na it just looks like an angry kitten.

“If you won't let her upstairs, let's compromise. Your office?” she quirks an eyebrow, head jutting toward the door behind his podium. He contemplates this offer for a moment before relenting with a sigh, dropping a pair of keys into her hand.

“Don't tell your management about this, okay? She's not even supposed to be in the building at all.”

Ji-na throws him an obnoxious salute before yanking you into the room.

_______________________________________

Your heart-to-heart is long and full of anger, accusation, revelations, tears, laughter, giggling and so much more. While you're not ready to completely forgive her for leaving you behind that day, you've accepted the reality that Ji-na is one of the only friends that you have and you're not ready to let her go. She understands your continuing edginess with the situation and promises to do everything in her power to regain your trust and make it up to you.

You expected to leave with a heavier heart than you came with. Instead, most of the weight has lifted.

You only exit the doorman's office after Ji-na receives a text from one of her managers about a project meeting the group has soon. Her arm is around your side as she walks you to the front door, squeezing you tightly. “Please come visit a lot more. We have some off time coming up – would you mind terribly if I came to stay with you in Daejeon?”

You roll your eyes but your smile stays wide. “No, I wouldn't mind terribly. Just give me a heads up so I can stock up on soju and shrimp chips.”

She throws her head back to laugh loudly, bumping her hip to yours as the two of you take a few more steps toward the front door. “Yes! You know me so well! And you also have to make sure that you have tons of-”

“Y/N.”

The voice is jarring but immediately recognizable. Lifting your head, you meet the eyes of your previous manager. The last time you had seen him, he was loading your belongings into the back of a car that would send you right home. He gapes at you, gaze wide and shocked. Behind you, the doorman audibly groans.

“Um, he has nothing to do with this,” you hurriedly declare, throwing your thumb behind you in the groaning man's direction. “He was in the process of kicking me out, I swear. He's very good at his job. You guys should give him a raise. Okay, bye.”

You squeeze Ji-na's hand one final time before moving to scurry out of the building. For the second time today, fingers wrap around your wrist and pull you backward. You sigh as you yank your hand away. “A simple 'wait! stop!' would suffice. Why is everyone so grabby today? Look, I was just dropping off a birthday present for Ji-na. I promise that the doorman didn't let me go upstairs.”

“Y/N, I don't care about the doorman. I have something for you,” he says quickly before reaching into the tote bag that hangs around his shoulder. He rummages somewhat frantically for a few seconds before producing a business card, raising it into the air with pride and beaming as if it was the cure to a zombie outbreak. “You remember me telling you about one of my old co-managers for a different group who quit Hot Star and started working for P NATION?”

Your eyebrows furrow in confusion. This was not the greeting that you expected out of your former manager.

“Um … I think so. He's one of Hyuna's managers now, you said.”

“Yes!” he screeches, his chest heaving as if he has just finished running a marathon. You exchange a glance with Ji-na who looks equally perplexed. “Yes, he works with Hyuna. And he called me last week and said that Hyuna heard about everything that happened to you in the news. And so she started looking you up on YouTube and she thinks you're really talented and wants your contact information.”

It takes a few seconds for your brain to register everything that he has just said considering how quick, breathless and jumbled his words are. Ji-na is elbowing you excitedly in the ribs.

“I've tried asking Hot Star for your address but they wouldn't tell me anything. I was literally coming here to ask Ji-na to try to reach out to you so I could pass the information along but here you are! It's like fate!”

Ji-na throws her elbow much deeper this time, accompanying the jab with a sharp screech. You can see that there's something exciting happening but your brain isn't putting it all together yet.

“Um, why does Hyuna want my contact information? You said she heard about my situation in the news so she must know that I'm not with FRNZEE anymore, right? Or any company, for that matter. We can't collab or anything like that.”

Manager and Ji-na groan in unison, so in sync that it seems rehearsed.

“Y/N, please, are you really this dense? Do I need to dumb this down for you?”

You grimace but bat your eyelashes hopefully. “Would you?”

She sighs, slapping her hands down hard onto your shoulders. “Hyuna was kicked out of Cube for a dating scandal. Psy – who founded P NATION – signed her right after. You were kicked out of Hot Star for a dating scandal. And now Hyuna is contacting you. I mean, I'm just speculating here but there's no way this is a coincidence.”

Wait.

If she's saying what you think she's saying then …

Hyuna wants to contact you … to sign you … to P NATION?

All you were here to do was to drop off Ji-na's birthday present. After this, you were going to stop into a few cosmetic stores to stock up on some harder-to-find products and then treat yourself to a well-deserved oreo bingsu before heading home. Talking to Hyuna – arguably one of the most popular and influential females in the k-pop industry ever – about possibly signing with Psy's new agency was not in the forecast.

Realizing your stunned state, Manager smirks smugly, lifting your hand to drop the business card into before wrapping your fingers around it and letting it fall.

The card feels like fire in your palm.

“Y/N,” Ji-na's voice breaks through your haze. You glance up at her silently, her warm smile only heightening your nervousness. “Go home and call her. Listen to what she has to say or what she has to … offer. Okay? And then call me and tell me every little detail.”

“You guys, that can't be right. Hyuna and Dawn's scandal was different – they both admitted to being in the relationship. Nobody bullied or laughed at them. I … I'm a joke. Why would P NATION want to sign me? Do you think they're just going around plucking up poor little k-pop idols who are mistreated by their labels? No, they're smarter than that. They-”

A hand – belonging to either Manager or Ji-na, you're not sure which one – whacks you upside the head. The strength of the blow is painful but it has its desired affect – it shuts you right up.

“Stop it, Y/N,” Manager scolds. “What happened to you wasn't fair and we all know it. You worked so hard for FRNZEE and maybe this is your good karma. Maybe this is ...”

“Fate!” Ji-na squeals hysterically.

___________________________________

An hour later, you're sitting in the corner of the cafe by yourself, a heaping bowl of bingsu untouched in front of you. Instead, your eyes focus on the card that you've set down onto the table. You wonder if this is a prank; if someone from Hot Star is getting one last act of cruel revenge on you before parting ways completely.

But what if it's not?

What if this is what was always supposed to happen? Everything that has happened to you, everything that you've been through, everything that you've lost … was it for this? Half of you jitters in happiness at the prospect of being signed to a label that houses some of the greats – Psy, Hyuna, Jessi. But the other half of you mourns what you had to give up for this.

Namjoon.

Was this opportunity supposed to make you grateful for losing him? Are you supposed to feel like your breakup served some kind of purpose now?

It didn't. Most of the happiest moments you can remember are either with Namjoon or because of Namjoon. If the choice was your idol career or Namjoon then …

Why do you have to make a choice? Why can't you have both? Why is that wrong?

For the first time, you shift your eyes away from the P NATION logo and onto the phone number scrawled messily onto the bottom of the card.

Lifting your phone, you dial with trembling fingers.

< -- PREVIOUS CHAPTER || NEXT CHAPTER -- >

[shakespeareanwannabe]

Play by Play

Santiago ‘Pope’ Garcia x F!OC/Santiago Garcia x Rebecca Cooke

Summary:  Santi gets in way too deep with this woman that he barely knows, but finds that sometimes a leap of faith can be worth it.

Warnings: References to parental issues, age gap in a relationship (both participants are well over the age of consent), child abuse/child trauma, misogyny, swearing, PTSD, low self-esteem

A/N: Hi everyone! So, I started writing this story way out of order. Started with Protective Instincts, jumped to Best Laid Plans, went backwards to Strange Comforts, then came all the way back to the beginning with New Beginnings. But that’s because I was just writing them as they came to me (or, if I’m being honest, as @darksideofclarke provided me with golden headcanons that I just expanded on). But now, I’ve sat down and written a general plan for this multichapter story that is turning out to be so astoundingly different from everything else I’ve ever written. 

So, I’ll be posting in chronological order now, and I’ll make an announcement here in the A/N about where Protective Instincts, Strange Comforts, and Best Laid Plans fit into the whole scheme of things.

Anyway, here’s chapter 2!

                                                 **********

“Hey Jackie,” Santi greeted as he strolled through the front door of the clinic.

“Evening, Santiago. How’re you?” the red headed receptionist replied with a smile, looking up briefly before resuming her typing.

“Same old, same old,” he replied, eyes scanning the clinic. “How’re John and the kids?”

She smiled brightly at him. “Lorelai got accepted to Clemson with a scholarship!”

“That’s amazing, you must be so proud,” he replied, turning his attention back to her when he didn’t find who he was looking for.

“Why is Jackie proud?”

He smiled and felt his face heat up as he turned to face Rebecca, who was just slightly limping through the front door. She was dressed in her usual artfully professional work attire and toting a gym bag that was undoubtedly stuffed with her workout clothes.

“Hey Bex,” he greeted as he slid over to her. “Want some help with that?”

“Ugh, please,” she whined. “I spent the day running after three kindergarten classes, and my hip and back are aching.”

Santi relieved her of the bag and offered her his elbow, a slight tremor running up his spine as she leaned into him.

Three months. That’s how long he’d been going to physiotherapy with Steve. It also happened to be exactly how long he’d been working up the courage to ask Rebecca out.

That first day they met, he’d assumed it was the same kind of visceral reaction he’d had with other women in the past. She was stunningly beautiful, sarcastic, and witty. In other words, just his type. But he wasn’t looking for anything at that moment. He’d just gotten out of a year of trying the domestic thing with Yovanna, and it had crashed and burned spectacularly. He had a new home; he had his friends surrounding him once more. He was good. He was solid. He decided then and there not to do anything to screw up the upward trajectory he was on. That, plus he didn’t want to make things awkward for Charlie, who had a business to run.

So, he’d ignored it. Pushed down the desire to engage and romance, and focused instead on trying to get his knees back under him. But then, their appointment times had lined up and they spent their entire sessions chatting with each other and sassing Charlie. Then it happened again. And again. And, before long, Santi found himself listening in on Rebecca when she booked her appointment times with Charlie so he could book the same slots with Steve.

Three times a week for three months, he spent two hours talking and laughing with this resilient, funny, and kind woman.

That first week had been the introductory stuff.

                                                **********

“So, what are you in for?” she asked, a sly grin on her face.

He grimaced. “Does a lifetime of poor choices count?”

She snorted, burying her face in her arms in an attempt to hide her embarrassment at the unladylike sound. “I’m pretty sure that’s why most of us are here.”

He nodded slowly in acquiescence. “Even you?”

She sighed as she settled further into her table, the heat from the heating pad soothing her sore muscles. “I got into a bad car wreck seven months ago. Idiot driver T-boned me when I was on my way back to work from an in-school art class. Fractured my hip, got a nasty concussion, and a wicked case of whiplash. I got lucky when the concussion symptoms stopped after a few weeks, but I had to come here to get my butt kicked to fix my hip and neck.”

“Jesus, I’m sorry.” He didn’t know what else to say. Being military, it was sometimes easy to forget that the civilians they were trying so desperately to protect could also be taken down by something as simple as crossing the street or taking a drive.

Rebecca leaned herself up on her elbows to fix him with a thoughtful look. “You know what? You’re the first person to say that to me.”

“Seriously?”

She nodded slowly as she relaxed back into the pillow beneath her. “My mom took the ‘Woe is me, my poor baby is hurt’ route and the doctors were more concerned with making sure I was physically okay than checking in on my emotional state. So, thank you for that.”

He shrugged as easily as he could lying down. “My buddy Will always says that sometimes the best thing you can offer someone are words, so they know you’re there.”

“Will sounds like a smart guy. How’d you two meet?”

“We were put into the same squad in the military. Worked together for years.”

“Ah, I shoulda guessed you were military,” she groaned as she shifted slightly, moving quickly to catch the heating pad before it slipped. “You’ve got that kinda look.”

“You mean the beat to shit look?” he sighed, turning his head away from her to stare at the ceiling fan rotating slowly above him.

A poke in the arm startled his attention back to her. She had strained herself across the gap between the tables, barely able to poke his arm with her middle finger without sliding off.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she replied gently. “I just meant that you look like the kind of guy who has seen too much bad in this world. Which isn’t fair. Nobody should have to carry that kind of burden.” Santi struggled to swallow; his emotions all caught up in his throat and his skin tingling from the slight brush of her finger against his arm. “I’m not gonna say ‘thank you for your service’, because I feel like that’s just an empty platitude at this point. But I will say that I hope you find a way to make that burden just a little lighter.”

He looked over at her again and smiled. “Thank you.”

                                              **********

Okay, so the introductory stuff got heavier than Santi anticipated. Parental problems, traumatic events, talk of his service. He was in heavy with this girl and he didn’t even know her last name.

That came in week two.

                                              **********

“Basketball or baseball?”

“Baseball. Same question.”

“Baseball. Hockey or football?”

“Football. Same question.”

“Hockey. Cats or dogs?” Rebecca grunted as she kicked her leg out, struggling against the sliding weights attached to her injured leg by a cuff and a cord.

“Dogs. Same question to you,” Santi replied, voice distorted as he squatted on the FitVibe.

“Dogs. You know, you can’t just say ‘same question’ every time it’s your turn. It kind of defeats the purpose of the game,” she gasped as she finished her first set, twisting around to grab her water bottle from the chair behind her.

Santi shrugged as the machine stopped vibrating, giving him 90 seconds to rest before his next set started.

“Did you have a dog growing up?” he questioned as he sipped from his own bottle.

She nodded as she gulped down her icy water, Santi trying and failing to keep his eyes off her delicate neck and chest, which were gleaming with a sheen of sweat. “A St. Bernard. Cookie. I loved that dog, but I hated his name. I mean, really? Cookie Cooke? What were my parents thinking?”

Santi chuckled as his machine began counting down to start the next set. “Probably that it was cute? Who knows? Your turn…” He grunted as he carefully squatted as the pad began to shake again. He closed his eyes against the twinge of pain and missed Rebecca blatantly staring at his ass before beginning her next set.

“Star Wars or Star Trek?”

“Star Wars. Books or movies?”

“Both. Goonies or Stand by Me?”

“Can’t go wrong with Goonies.”

“Ugh, and here I was just thinking that you had good taste! Who in their right mind picks Goonies over Stand by Me?” she teased.

He shot her a glance out of the corner of his eye. Even blurry from the vibrations coursing through his body, she was the prettiest girl he’d seen in a long time.

“Never said I was in my right mind, sweetheart,” he winked and that giggle that he was so enchanted by escaped her lips again.

                                              **********

Week three was when he really tried to pump the breaks on his rapidly developing feelings for her. Not only had Yovanna sent him a box of his stuff via airmail, but he became privy to some information that assured him that this thing between them would never work.

                                              **********

“Don’t tell me you’re done already!” he called from the Kin-Com as Rebecca practically skipped over to the table closest to him. She had her good days and her bad days with her injured leg, and Santi liked chatting with her the past nine days, but he loved chatting with her on her good days. There was this spark, this energy she radiated when she was feeling good that he just wanted to bathe in.

“This is what you get for showing up late, Santi! You’re strapped into the death machine and I get a massage to wrap things up.” She shot him a bright smile before lying down on the table, just out of his range of sight thanks to the half partition wall that separated the machine from the rest of the clinic.

“Don’t tease the old man, Rebecca,” Charlie cautioned in a faux-mocking tone.

“Hey, if I’m an old man, what does that make you? Frankie is two months older than me!” he pointed out, pressing against the mechanical arm that was slowly manipulating his leg.

“Apparently the term is ‘panther’,” she replied, straight-faced. “Learned that one at ladies’ night after one of my friends had a few too many and found out Frankie’s 10 years older than me. Me, I call it lucky.”

“Yeah, you better,” he warned as the machine stopped moving. A quick look at the computer screen told him he had finished his set for the day, and he quickly unstrapped himself and hopped down, walking slightly creakily to the table next to where Charlie was carefully massaging and manipulating Rebecca’s hip.

“Your fiancé’s ten years older than you, Chuck?” Rebecca asked, her eyes closed as she tried to relax her aching joints.

Charlie shot Santi an unamused glare as he lowered himself onto the table and laid back, Steve approaching with the cryo-cuffs and ice machine.

“Yeah, Frankie’s 40 and I’m 30. Why?” she asked, an accusation hiding deep in her voice as her body tensed up.

Inwardly, Santi was nodding approvingly. Frankie sometimes got too in his own head about his age, especially in relation to his fiancée’s, and Santi knew how much Frankie doubted himself when it came to their relationship. Charlie was a successful business owner and college graduate. Frankie was a retired soldier who almost lost his pilot’s license because he’d been desperate for money when his girlfriend got pregnant and knew just how lucrative drug running could be. It wasn’t difficult to see why Frankie felt so insecure about the relationship, but Charlie was so good at getting him out of that headspace, and even better about shutting down anyone who had anything negative to say about her man.

“Nothing!” Rebecca was quick to reply. “I was just curious. Age is just a number, right? Besides, I saw you two together when he came to pick you up that one time, remember? You two are cute as hell. He just doesn’t look 40.” Rebecca rolled her head to look at Santi, and he felt his own hackles raise a little, suddenly self-conscious of his greying hair and his weak knees. Then, she smiled softly at him and, if he wasn’t fooling himself, a warm affection infused her gaze. “Neither do you.”

He felt all the blood rush to his face and once again had to bat down the idea of asking her out. A box full of old mail and knickknacks had just arrived on his porch that morning from Australia. Domesticity didn’t work for him, and even casually seeing someone felt like too much of an effort. Still, there was something about that look in her eyes, the easy repartee they had going on, the support they gave each other during their workouts, that told him that, if he was going to try again, she was the one to try with.

“Hey Becky!” a loud voice boomed across the clinic. “Where you at?”

Rebecca smiled apologetically at him and Charlie before raising her voice just a little to call back, “I’m over here!” She turned her attention back to them, looking almost sadly at Santi as she said, “Sorry guys, that’s my date for tonight.”

A tall guy sauntered over from the reception desk and Santi felt himself reacting instinctively.

He was tall, well over 6 foot, and wearing a fancy, well-fitted navy suit with a white button down underneath, no tie and the first two buttons undone.

“Ah, there’s my girl!” he leaned down and gave her a claiming kiss, almost like he knew that Santi was watching.

“Uh, hi Derek. I thought you were going to wait outside?” she asked, looking away from them all as she raised a hand to her cheek.

“I was, doll, but I’ve been out there for twenty minutes. Our reservation is set for 7:30, and it takes ten minutes to drive out there, so go get yourself cute and let’s go.”

“Uh…” Rebecca looked between Santi and Charlie while worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.

Santi had never wanted so badly to punch someone he hadn’t even officially met. He wanted to speak up, tell Derek that Rebecca was already cute in her leggings and off-the-shoulder t-shirt. Tell him that he can’t just barge in and interrupt an appointment in a place of business.

Charlie leaned into his line of sight and subtly shook her head and, deep down, he knew she was right. If he punched him, or called him out, he would be just as bad. Plus, what right did he have? He’d spent a few hours with this woman and had zero claim on her time or her attention.

“It’s okay, Rebecca. We’re done for today anyway. You can use the staff bathroom to wash up if you’d like,” Charlie assured, helping Rebecca off the table.

“Okay, thanks Charlie. Santi?” He slowly slid his eyes up to meet hers and read the apology there clear as day. “I’ll see you next week, okay?”

He cleared his throat. “Sure thing. See you then.”

Rebecca smiled, a hint of relief overtaking her features as she sighed. “Good. Have a good weekend everybody!”

She headed towards the staff bathroom with her gym bag in tow and ‘Derek’ left, presumably to go and wait in the car like he was supposed to.

“Frat boy lookin’ douche,” Santi grumbled under his breath.

“Yeah, and the bag it came in,” Charlie muttered as she wiped down Rebecca’s table.

“Isn’t he a little young for her?” Santi asked rhetorically. “He looks like he just stepped off the stage at college graduation.”

“Dude, she’s like, 25. They’re probably the same age.” Charlie flung the white towel she had been using over her shoulder. “Don’t tell anyone I told you that. Patient confidentiality and all that.”

Santi felt his heart sink but told himself it was for the best. Now he had a good reason for not asking her out. What 25-year-old would want to date a broken-down old man anyway?

                                              **********

Week four didn’t happen, and it was the one time Santiago Garcia considered himself a coward.

He’d promised. He’d explicitly told her that he would see her the following week, but he’d called at the last second and rescheduled with Steve for times when he knew she would be at work.

He just didn’t know how to face her. Yes, he had no claim to her time or attention. Yes, he’d spent a grand total of 18 hours in her presence. No, he had never explicitly asked if she was seeing anyone. And, yes, he had sworn off dating for a while, so he had no right to get his back up about her having a date.

And yet, the thought of seeing her, all smiley and happy after her date with ‘Derek’ made him sick to his stomach.

Week five he tried to reschedule again. He picked a time slot that aligned with the closing of the museum she worked at, knowing she often stayed a little longer after closing to chat with coworkers and stare at the art. He should have known, however, that things rarely ever turned out the way he wanted them to.

                                              **********

“Have you been avoiding me?”

The soft voice made him trip over his feet, his left foot tangling in the rungs of the rope ladder he was currently working with.

He looked up and met Rebecca’s soft eyes, tinged with sadness. He sighed and walked around her, stooping to pick up his water bottle before perching himself on a padded wooden block.

“No. Why?”

“Because I haven’t seen you in a week and Charlie wouldn’t tell me why,” she huffed, wrapping her arms around her chest as she moved to lean against the wall across from him.

“I was busy.”

“Really? Huh,” she chuckled sarcastically. “So, this has nothing to do with Derek coming in here?”

He shrugged, not meeting her eyes. “Nope.”

She rolled her eyes and scoffed. “Okay, Santiago. Whatever…” She turned and began to walk away, out of the back room where he was working out and back into the main gym area.

It was then that he noticed her clothing. A really pretty black blouse with a purple and red floral pattern and a black pencil skirt that pulled his eyes straight to her ass, and no red gym bag hanging from her arm.

“You not staying to work out?”

She turned back to him and laughed humorlessly. “No. I called reception and asked if you were coming in today. Gwen wasn’t going to say, but then Jackie got on the phone and told me you were here. Apparently, she’s got a soft spot for you. So, I left work early because I couldn’t stand not knowing if you were mad at me.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” he mumbled looking down at the silky fabric of his gym shorts, guilt beginning to gnaw at his core.

“Oh, I’m getting that message loud and clear,” she snapped, marching back over to him and getting right up in his face. “But I did. Because I was worried that I had offended you with my age comment, or that I made you uncomfortable by saying that you didn’t look your age, or that I somehow upset you by not telling you that I was, unfortunately, going on a date that night.”

He stood up, standing nose to nose with her. “Don’t worry, sweetheart, we both know you don’t owe me anything. I hope you and Derek had a wonderful time together.”

“Screw you,” she seethed.

Santi scoffed and shook his head, turning away from her to escape into the bathroom.

Once he had the door locked behind him, he sighed heavily and splashed cold water on his face.

This. This was why he didn’t want to seriously date anyone. He inevitably would screw things up. Or, worse, he’d ruin things before he even had the chance to really start with someone.

Fuck, Yovanna had been right. He somehow always managed to dim whatever light there was around him. Rebecca’s warmth and energy were so bright, so addicting, that he had thought it possible to bask in them without hurting her. She was like the Sun, drawing him in even when he wanted to stay away. Nobody could hurt the Sun. It was so warm and so bright and so uplifting that it couldn’t be damaged. Yet, there he was.

Santi sighed and stared at himself in the mirror, resolving to fix things next week. He’d switch back to his regular time and pray to a god he wasn’t sure he believed in that she would be willing to hear him out. That was his long-term plan. His immediate plan was to get through the day’s session and go home to drink that bottle of whisky he’d been saving.

Opening the door, he took two steps onto the rubber flooring of the back room and froze.

Soft sobs echoed in the airy space, and he felt his heart sink down to his toes as he followed the sound back to that padded block, finding Rebecca hunched over on it, a hand pressed delicately to her mouth as she tried to muffle the sound.

He grimaced to himself, knowing he was the cause of her distress. Hesitantly, he reached out and tried to place a gentle hand on her shoulder, but Rebecca caught sight of his shoes first and jerked back in surprise, looking up at him with tears gleaming like diamonds in her eyes under the harsh florescent lights.

He slowly crouched down in front of her, balancing on the balls of his feet.

“I’m an idiot,” he started, and felt his heart lift slightly as she choked on a laugh. “And I’m so sorry.”

She shook her head at him, desperately swiping at her tears. “No, you were right. We barely know each other, so we don’t owe each other anything. I had no right to get mad at you. For all I know, you had a family emergency that made you switch your appointment times.”

Santi was already shaking his head. “Your instincts were good, sweetheart. I did change times to avoid you, but not because I was mad at you.”

“The age comments—”

“Were sweet,” he finished for her, meeting her gaze for the first time since he had lowered himself down. “If you had said anything bad about Frankie, I wouldn’t have had time to argue with you before Charlie jumped down your throat.” She laughed again and his heart lifted just a tad higher. “And I appreciate you saying I don’t look my age. I always think the grey gives me away,” he added wryly.

“It suits you,” she rebutted quickly. “Not many people look good with the salt and pepper, grey thing. All I can think of are Idris Elba, George Clooney and you.”

Santi laughed loudly. “Well, I will take that compliment.”

“Good,” she nodded decisively. “Now get off your knees before Steve comes and yells at you.”

She shifted over on the block and he laboriously heaved himself to his feet, coming to sit next to her, a few inches of space between their bodies. They sat in a cloud of quiet calm, both knowing that there was more to resolve but unwilling to break the silence.

“Maybe it’s not my place, but I just think you can do a lot better than Douchebag Derek,” Santi finally said. “No offense,” he added quickly, silently berating himself for the slip.

She giggled at the nickname. “No offense taken. It was actually my first time ever meeting him,” she admitted quietly.

Pope’s mind rapidly went over the brief interaction and he felt his blood begin to boil. “But…”

She nodded sadly. “I know. He’s the son of the museum curator, so I felt like I couldn’t turn him down without affecting my job. And you know how much I love my job.”

He did know. She was the educational liaison for the local art museum. She led field trips that came through the museum, explaining different art pieces and their historical and artistic significance, while also leading the students through art lessons on how to either imitate an artist’s style or create their own styles. Occasionally, she would also make trips to low-income schools in the area through an outreach program, going into classrooms to teach art lessons and give the teachers a break. It was on her way back from one of those in school visits that she got into her car accident, but it hadn’t diminished her enthusiasm for her work. In fact, it had made her desperate to get back into the museum and back into the classroom.

“But he kissed you. And he called you Becky,” Santi commented, confused.

Rebecca allowed her head to fall into her palm. “I know…apparently his mom really talked me up and made me seem really desperate and really into him. Plus, he seems to think he’s God’s gift to women, so it was the perfect storm of misogynistic crap.”

Santi was shaking his head. “Next time, tell me. I don’t care if you have to do it in front of the guy, just let me know and I’ll get him out of your hair in ten seconds, tops.”

She sighed and shuffled closer to him. “Thanks Santi. It’s nice to know that someone has my back.” She ended up pressed right against his side and gently lowered her head to his shoulder.

Oh.

Oh fuck.

                                              **********

That day marked the end of Santi sticking to his guns about not dating. After that, it became an increasingly difficult game that he was playing with himself.

Get closer to her, get to know her more, be that shoulder for her to lean on when she needed it, but don’t cross that line. Just because she said he didn’t look his age; it didn’t mean she wanted to be with someone his age. It didn’t reduce the 15-year age gap between them. She said it was nice to have someone have her back, so that’s who he became. Her constant cheerleader, her confidant, her friend. It was the first female friend Santi had had since Charlie. Before Charlie, never.

They exchanged numbers that day, and soon his days became filled with texting her different stories about his day, like how he ended up at the hospital with Benny because the idiot accidentally put a nail through his finger when he was helping nail down Santi’s new kitchen floor, or how he couldn’t move after a session where Steve had him in the therapy pool for 45 minutes. She’d send him funny quotes she heard her ‘kids’ say on field trips or in the classroom, or photos of paintings in the museum with ridiculous captions.

After she laid her head on his shoulder, he knew he loved her. After she sent him a photo of Queen Elizabeth the First’s portrait with the caption “wanna thank your mother for a butt like that”, he knew he was in love with her. And after she showed him a picture of her childhood dog Cookie and her at age 6, he knew he was drowning in her and that his only salvation would be asking her out.

Still, he kept drowning for months.

“Santi?” He turned his attention to Rebecca, still leaning gently on his arm as they stood outside the change room. “You okay? I lost you there for a second.”

“Yeah, Bex, I’m fine,” he smiled warmly at her and felt a silent thrill go through him when she got a little flustered. “Uh, Jackie was excited because Lorelai got accepted at Clemson.”

“Wow, good for her.” They both paused, a slight awkwardness hanging over them. “I’ll, uh, I’ll see you out there?”

“Oh…uh, yeah.”

The door closed with a quiet click and Santi wanted to kick himself. They had spent weeks dancing around this thing, and it was pissing him off to no end.

He had never been like this. Not since he asked out Libby Stiles in the fourth grade. Why was this one girl sending his head spinning? Okay, he knew why, but it wasn’t fair. He could ask out any girl he ran into, except the one he wanted.

“Hey!” Santi turned around at the hissed greeting and found Charlie pumping up an exercise ball behind him. “If you don’t ask her out, I am going to ask her out for you!” she whispered.

Santi took a cautionary glance back at the door before stepping over to her. “What are you talking about?”

“Cut the shit, Santi!” she huffed quietly. “You think I haven’t noticed that all of your appointment times line up with hers? Or that you spend more time talking to her than you do actually doing your stretches? Or that you get this sad sap look in your eyes when you look at her?”

“And what the fuck do you know about it, Charlie?” he snarled under his breath.

“Because it’s the same way I look at Frankie, you dork!” she smirked. “It’s the same way Frankie looks at me, it’s the way Benny looks at every fucking Ring Girl who walks by. Oh, and it’s the same way she looks at you when you’re not paying attention. Now, get this ridiculous sexual tension out of my clinic and ask her out!”

“How?” he exhaled. “And what do we do? Where do I take her?”

“Jesus, Santi…” she breathed, straightening herself and running her arm over her sweaty forehead. “Who are you and what did you do with Santiago Garcia?”

He rolled his eyes and stomped over to the stationary bike. A minute later, Charlie rejoined him after adding the exercise ball to the ball bin.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she murmured softly, one hand on his back.

“I know,” he apologized, grinning at her and nudging her with his elbow.

“It’s just clear as fucking day, Santi. What’s holding you up?” Charlie crossed her arms and leaned against the handlebars of the bike he was riding. “And don’t say it’s the age gap. Not to me.”

He rolled his eyes. “Is 15 years not a good enough reason, Chuck?”

She shrugged, leaning down to rest her chin on her arms. “Not to me it isn’t. Besides, Santi, that girl is into you.”

“Right, yeah. These looks she’s been giving me. Okay.”

“Jesus…” Charlie swore under her breath, Santi chuckling as he recognized a few Spanish curses mixed in with the English. Charlie really was Frankie’s lady. “Okay, you didn’t hear this from me, right?” Santi nodded, leaning in as far as the bike would allow him. “Those first few weeks, before you started stalking her schedule to get the same time slots? She would call in and ask Jackie what times you were coming so she could book the same times as you. That’s why Jackie told her you were in here that day you made her fucking cry in my back room. Jackie’s a hopeless romantic and has wanted you two idiots to get together from the start.”

Santi sat back, feeling like the wind had just been knocked out of him. “S-seriously?”

Charlie nodded, a smirk on her face. “Yep. And if you ask her out this week, I win the jackpot.”

“You guys have been betting on us?” he hissed, leaning forward again.

“Oh, please. Like you and the Millers weren’t taking bets on when Frankie would finally pop the question, and I know for a fact you pulled the strings on that one to turn things in your favor, Mr. Best Man,” she rolled her eyes. “Look, ask her out today and I’ll use the winnings to cover your tab at the Beer Garden tonight. Deal?”

Santi fixed her with a suspicious look. “Is this you wanting to win or is this you actually having my best interest at heart?”

Charlie gave him a light smack on the back of the head as she moved away to her desk, conveniently located between the main gym and the back room, with the therapy pool behind her.

“You know me better than that, Santiago. Now get your girl, please.”

                                              **********

Charlie was right. She was always right. It was one of the things that drove Santiago up the fucking wall. Frankie and Charlie were the perfect pair because, between the two of them, they were right one hundred percent of the time. Ben needed advice for his next fight? Forget Will, he was going to Frankie and Frankie’s future wife. Will revamped his speech and needed someone to read it over? Send it to Mr. and Future Mrs. Morales. Santi needed to pick paint colours? He just handed the paint chips to the couple of let them go wild. When they argued, it drove Frankie nuts because his lady had a knack for being right about almost everything. (The one time she was wrong in all their years of dating was when she claimed that Mateo would be a little girl, and Frankie wasn’t going to let her live that down as long as they lived.)

This time, she was right about Santi having to ask Rebecca out, and Santi was sure that ‘Fish would have the same advice if he were to call him up. This hurry up and wait bullshit was driving him crazy, so he needed to do it now, for his own peace of mind.

“Hey, man,” Steve hustled up to him, worry etched across his face.

“Hey Steve, you okay?”

He was already shaking his head. “My brother just called. Our mom took a nasty spill down the stairs. I’m really sorry, but I’m gonna have to cut this short. You’re basically done anyway; I was just gonna do some laser work with you but we can do that on Monday. I talked to Charlie; she can set you up with the cryo cuffs.”

“Yeah, man. No worries. Hope your mom is okay.”

“Thanks, man.”

Santi watched Steve leave for a minute before getting off the glider and heading into the back room, where he knew Charlie and Rebecca were.

“Hey Santi,” Charlie called from the goalpost set up in the corner. “Did Steve talk to you?”

“Yeah. Shame about his mom.”

Charlie nodded emphatically. “She’s a sweet lady. I’ve got my fingers crossed for her.”

“Me too…” Santi watched as Charlie bent to attach a weight to Bex’s foot. “You want me to go grab a table, Chuck? No rush.”

“Sure, if you want,” she replied distractedly. “Or…I was just gonna have Rebecca kick some soccer balls to work on her range of motion. Maybe you could goal keep for her?” she shot him a sly smile.

“I’d love that,” Rebecca piped up, a touch of embarrassment washing over her at her too-enthusiastic tone. “I mean, if you’re free.”

“Sure. Yeah, I can do that,” he agreed awkwardly, moving across the room to stand in the net.

“Alright then. Rebecca, you’re in good hands. Have fun you two.” Charlie turned and sauntered away, turning back once to mouth “Ask her out, dumbass” at him.

“You ever play soccer, Bex?” he asked, adjusting his stance so he stood in the middle of the goalpost.

“Ha, no,” she replied, kicking the soccer ball over to him. “My physical exercise is limited to yoga and swimming. Anything involving a ball or a racquet or running? That would be a no from me.” Santi kicked the ball back to her as it reached his feet. “You?”

“I played some when we would go visit my cousins in Colombia, and I played for my fifth-grade team in school, but that was about it. Sometimes we would play with some of the village kids when we were in Afghanistan. Give ‘em a taste of normal for a few minutes.”

She smiled sweetly as she returned the ball to him, leg moving a little steadier this time. “That’s really great of you.”

“Not really,” he shrugged, sliding over a step to stop the ball before kicking it back to her. “We were the ones fucking up their country. It was the very least we could do. But, god, Tom hated when we did that.”

She scoffed. “Well, that’s not fair of him. Those kids deserve something at least a little fun after all the crap they have to deal with.”

Santi grunted in agreement. “You don’t know the half of it.”

Bex laughed once, low and devoid of joy. “Oh but I do.” Santi stopped the ball and meandered over to her, looking at her questioningly. “Santi, most of my job revolves around kids. You’d be surprised how many of them tell me that their daddies hit them or their mommies throw things at them or that their grandparents intentionally starve them for being bad.” Tears welled up in her eyes and Santi quenched the urge to wrap her in his arms. “I’ve made more CPS calls than I can count and, the worst part is, I never know if that kid is safe after I make the call. Santi, there’s a reason my trunk is full of kid sized snack packs, granola bars, juice boxes. The museum doesn’t cover any of it, but at least I know that, when I walk into a classroom or those kids walk into my museum, they’ll feel safe and loved, and they won’t have to worry about food for at least a day.”

“Jesus, Bex,” he sighed, a small, sad smile on his face. “And they call us the heroes.”

She let out a tear-filled laugh and wiped at the single tear that had managed to escape. “We all do our part, Santi. You play soccer with kids in war torn countries. I feed the ones who get left behind at home.”

Rebecca turned away from him, heading for the main gym when he reached out and grabbed her elbow gently, giving it a squeeze as he turned her towards him and doing his best to ignore the electricity that ran up and down his arm at her touch.

He sighed and released her, his hand coming up to rub at the curls on the back of his head.

“Look, stop me if this is way off base, but if I don’t say this I’m gonna go crazy. I…I really like you, and I’ve wanted to ask you out for a while but, uh…” he smiled wryly and chuckled, hating how she made him feel like an inexperienced teenage boy.

“Santi?” Rebecca stepped closer and entwined her fingers with his remaining hand, giving it a tight squeeze.

“Do you want to go to the Beer Garden with me tonight?” he burst, the words falling out of his mouth. “A, uh, a bunch of us are going tonight. My old squad, Charlie and Frankie. Would you like to come with us? I mean,” he felt his cheeks heat up. “Would you like to come with me? As my date?”

A sweet, giddy giggle surged past her lips. “I’d love to.”

“Really?”

She squeezed his hand, more laughter bubbling up from her lips. “Yeah. I…I’ve been trying to build up the nerve to ask you out for coffee for the last, like, month.”

“Maybe if tonight goes well we could go for coffee next week?” he asked hopefully.

She sighed and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “Yeah, I’d really like that.”

“Awesome,” he breathed. “I’ll pick you up at 8?”

“That sounds perfect.”

                                              **********

Tags list (open): @darksideofclarke, @writefightandflightclub, @eternallyvenus, @rae-rae-patcha, @himbopoes, @sophoclese, @phoenixhalliwell, @buckstaposition

[roseliaviolet]

(English translation of the official story)

This is the story of the time before you met Nox and Rubel. A light moonlight shines on the dense forest.

Ruber: "....."

Nox: "Hey you, are you okay?"

Nox pokes the unconscious Ruber at the bottom of the cliff, lightly on the shoulder with the hilt of his scythe.

Ruber only grunts slightly in response.

Nox: "Ah, that's a relief. You are awake."

Ruber: "Who are you? No, more importantly, where are we?"

Nox: "Where, you say? Perhaps the impact of the cliffs returning to their original position has confused you."

Nox gave a troubled smile to Ruber, who looked hazy and mumbled to himself.

Nox: "Well, as far as I've seen... First of all, you fought back the robbers who attacked you."

Nox: "Afterwards you fought a pack of beasts that jumped out at you, provoked by the commotion."

Nox: "And it seemed like you slipped off of the cliff when you fought against number of beasts."

Ruber: "I remember now, you are right..."

Ruber: "But wait... Doesn't that mean you've been watching me all this time?"

Nox: "Yes, I don't want to get involved so I'm just watching from afar."

Ruber: "....."

Nox: "I mean, you looked like you could handle it on your own. I'd have been the one to slow you down."

Ruber:" Is that so? That big scythe is just a decoration then."

With a sarcastic remark, Ruber stood up.

Nox: "Well that's harsh."

Nox: "By the way, I'd like to ask you something."

Nox rested his back against the base of a nearby tree, the edge of his lips lifted provocatively.

Nox: "Why did you defend the burglars from the beast in the first place?

Ruber: "....."

Nox: "Didn't you draw attention of the beast to yourself so that the burglars wouldn't get attacked by the beast?"

Nox: "It seems that they were able to escape safely."

Nox: "Are you really the kind of person who would help people who tried to hurt you?"

Ruber: "...even though it was our first time meeting, you've got a lot of nerve in your speech."

Ruber squinted his eyes and exhaled briefly then he points to the stethoscope hanging around the neck with his fingertips.

Ruber: "I am a doctor."

Ruber: "It's against my belief to increase the number of injured people, even a burglar. That's why I protected them."

Nox: "Hmm... Is it okay to hurt yourself in the process though?"

Ruber: "I can treat myself, you know."

Nox: "I don't think that's the case. You are a very strange person."

Ruber: "You are more suspicious."

Nox: "Me?"

Ruber: "I don't want to get too personal but in this place late at night, what on earth were you doing?"

Ruber: "If you don't want to get involved, why did you come all the way here to talk to me?

Nox: "My, why is that, I don't know myself."

Nox: "I am Nox."

Ruber: "Hah?"

Nox: "My name. I am called Nox."

Nox: "I want to know your name too. Tell me."

Nox's eyes, with a mysterious smile, twinkled like a glass ball of curiosity.

And for a while, times goes by...

Nox: "Hey, Ruber. We meet again."

Nox: "Going home from a house visit? You're still working hard."

As he traveled around the world treating patients, Nox showed up everywhere he went.

Ruber: "I feel like you are stalking me, and I don't feel comfortable."

Nox: "I don't understand what people are saying. I'm traveling too though?"

Ruber: "Travel...? What's the purpose of that then?"

Nox: "I'm looking for something very dear to me."

Nox: "I don't know if I can find it or not, but I don't want to give up..."

Ruber cast a slightly concerned look at the evasive nox.

Ruber: "------ Is there anything I can do to help you find this thing you're looking for?"

Nox: "Eh?"

Ruber: "What? What's with that stupid face?"

Nox: "Because----- you said things like you're my friend."

Ruber: "If it was too much for you, then forget about it."

Nox: "No, no. I am happy."

Nox: "But I am sorry, I can't let you help me with that."

Nox: "This is between me and my country."

Between the two of them standing a little apart, the cold wind blew through...

Afterwards, Nox often visited Rubel.

One day, a few years after their first meeting...

Nox showed up at the village clinic where Ruber was staying for the night.

Nox: "Hey, Ruber. What do you use this tool for?"

Ruber: "Have you ever heard of scalpels? It's a surgical tool."

Nox: "Well, that's an interesting shape. I wonder if my scythe cuts well too."

Ruber: "I've been wondering for a long time, what the hell is that useless big scythe for?"

Nox: "Ah, do you want to know? The scythe has a long story to tell."

Ruber: "-------That's enough. I know you're not going to take this seriously."

Letting out a deep sigh, Ruber takes care of his work tools with a familiar gesture.

Nox: "I know it's a little late to say but it's amazing as to what a doctor can do. You save people's lives and keep them together."

Ruber: "Not all lives can be saved."

Nox: "Even so, I think it's amazing."

Nox: "You're the complete opposite of me."

Nox murmured in a voice so low that even Ruber couldn't reach it, at that time also...

Someone knocked on the door of the clinic in a reserved manner.

Ruber: "What? Is it emergency?"

Village Mayor: "No, I didn't bring a patient with me today."

Village Mayor: "As a matter of fact, I've heard some bad things about that gray-haired guy you often hang out with."

Ruber: "Grey-haired man? You mean Nox?"

Village Mayor: "Yes. They say every time that guy shows up, natural disasters, man-made disasters, and other bad things happen."

Village Mayor: "And with the way he looked, some people wondered if he was the Grim Reaper."

Village Mayor: "Everyone is scared. The god of death and you who are with the god of death..."

Ruber: "If you want me to leave, then I will do so tomorrow."

Village Mayor: "I am glad you responded quickly."

Village Mayor: "I am sorry, you've done a lot of things for us and yet..."

With a distressed bow, the mayor left from the clinic.

Ruber: "Grim reaper? That's silly."

Ruber frowned in frustration as he returned to the clinic.

There was no sign of Nox, who should have been in the room just a few moments ago, nor was there a shadow of him.

Meanwhile...

Nox was walking alone on a narrow street on the outskirts of the village.

Nox: "The Grim Reaper------- I'm used to being called that."

With a self-mocking smile, Nox drops his gaze to his hand.

There was the scalpel, which he had taken out of the bag just earlier.

Nox: "I'm the one who guards the souls of the dead and you who fight for the living."

Nox: "Wanting to be your friends... It was such a presumptuous wish."

Nox quickens his pace as he shakes off the sound of Rubel searching for him from behind.

With only a lonely shadow in tow, Nox disappeared into the depths of the forest...

[cami-chats]

The New Assistant

Fandom: Marvel, Jurassic World

Pairing: Claire Dearing/Tony Stark

Warnings: Mentions of kidnapping and attempted murder in keeping with Iron Man 1

Written for @periwinklepromise. Also on AO3

"This is Claire," Pepper said.

"What did you do, clone yourself?" Tony asked, looking at Claire. From the straightened and perfectly cut red hair, down to her low heels and pristine dress suit, she looked very similar to Pepper. Not to mention the no-nonsense look on her face. "Seriously Pep, she could be your sister. Wait, is she your sister? Please say yes; it would make me very happy."

Instead of asking why it would make him happy-- because Pepper was a spoilsport-- she said, "She's your new assistant. She has excellent management skills, and god knows she'll need it do deal with you." Pepper turned to Claire and handed her a tablet with a window already pulled up. "This is Tony's schedule for the day. I'll be in my office looking over paperwork, so I'll be available if you need me."

Claire dipped her head in acknowledgement, taking the tablet from her. Her eyes flitted over the screen as Pepper walked away, and a moment later, she looked up at Tony with a polite smile. "You have a meeting with Mr. Kenjiro Fujikawa in thirty minutes. Where would you like to be briefed for your meeting?"

So she wasn't fucking around. Tony's assistants before Pepper had always thought they were being serious, but there had been no getting around the fact that he was their boss, and as a personal assistant, they were supposed to do things the way he wanted. He should've known to expect more from a person that Pepper had hand-picked, but everyone made mistakes-- even Pepper. "Here's fine," he said, because they were already in his office, and there was no point in picking a fight with Claire now, when he did need to prepare for that meeting. He'd had a lot of assistants that didn't even know he had to prepare for big meetings, and it had always been a pain in the ass.

By the time Claire's first day of work was done, Tony was suitably impressed. He hadn't gone out of his way to make things difficult, but he also wasn't a kid anymore. It was more important for him to get his shit done than it was to see if she could handle him on his worst day; it's not like he'd been at his worst in quite a while, so hopefully she would never be put to the test. Claire had been able to keep up, and she was able to adjust to the way Tony wanted things.

"So," Pepper said, first thing when Tony answered his phone, "what do you think?"

"I'm keeping her."

Pepper's voice was expectedly smug as she replied, "Good to hear. Does that mean I don't have to check in on you tomorrow to make sure your entire schedule hasn't collapsed?"

"Don't go crazy, now," Tony said. "There's always the chance for things to collapse around here."

"Still, I think I'll take my chances. This is what you get for promoting me."

"Yes, and I'm sure I'll constantly regret it."

"Claire really is good at what she does," Pepper said.

"And what exactly is it that she does? I took a peek at her resume, and there was nothing about being an assistant on there."

"If you read her resume, surely you could figure it out."

"I skimmed it," Tony said. Mostly, he'd been looking to see who else she'd been an assistant for, and he'd found no one. He hadn't looked further than that.

"She used to do administrative work," Pepper said, since she knew that Tony was more likely to pester her for an answer than he was to go back to her resume and look for himself.

"Then what's she doing here?"

"The last charity she helped turned out to be less than kosher. She wants a break."

"Ah." Tony could understand that. He'd taken some time off from the company when he felt like everything he'd done had been a colossal failure. Granted it hadn't been what SI needed at the time, but he understood needing a break all the same. That being said, he hoped she stayed longer than just a 'break'. Good assistants were hard to come by. "I'm still not convinced you didn't clone her so you could be in two places at once."

"If I could clone myself, one of me would be resting at all times," Pepper said, which was a good point, but Tony couldn't relate. If he had two of himself, he'd be able to get so much more work done.

*

"Mister Stark, there’s a flight you have to be on in half an hour."

"It's my plane, isn't it? Can't it just leave whenever I show up?"

"Would you like to personally explain to flight control why your schedule is more important than the hundred other planes in the area?" Claire asked, reaching for her phone.

Tony knew that she wasn't bluffing. He'd thought she was bluffing the first half dozen times they'd done this, but he'd finally learned his lesson. "No, no, that's fine," he said, hurriedly saving the document that was up and tossing tools back in the closest box-- DUM-E would fix it if it was the wrong one. "Look at me, I'm closing everything down. I'm practically out the door."

Claire put her phone back in her pocket. "Your bag is already packed and on the plane," she said, pulling her tablet up and tapping at it. "Would you like to continue expanding your modern art collection?"

"The Pollock, right?"

"Yes."

"What do you think?"

"It's overpriced, and you already have some of his work. I think your collection would be perfectly fine without it."

Tony was tempted to say that he wanted it anyways. "Eh, pass on it, then."

"When you get back, you have a presentation you need to work on, and you're supposed to do a walkthrough of the R&D labs in Manhattan."

"Ugh, can't we do one miserable job at a time?"

"You like the walkthroughs," Claire said, her voice devoid of any frustration, but he knew her well enough by now to see the spark in her eyes.

"I meant the presentation, but sure, we can talk about the walkthroughs," Tony said with a shrug. He walked to the door, and Claire followed. "There's nothing good about New York. The weather's horrible; I think it's effected all of their brains. Seriously, you should see some of the designs they've come up with lately."

"I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a good design and a bad one," she reminded him.

"I think you'd be able to tell the difference anyways," he muttered.

Claire didn't let him take a seperate car the way he wanted to, and he understood why when she continued briefing him on the upcoming weapon's demonstration and what he'd be doing when he got back.

When they stopped, she gave a friendly wave to Jim and told Tony, "Try to come back on time. I have a feeling we'll both be annoyed if I have to rework it if you miss your flight."

*

Funnily enough, it was one of the things Tony thought about when he woke up in the cave. Not the first time. The first time, he was in pain and trying to figure out where the hell he was and what the fuck had happened. The second or third day though, before he knew what he was going to do, he thought about Claire saying that, and he laughed.

Yinsen looked at him and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Something my assistant said before I left," he said, shaking his head.

*

When he got back to the States, Pepper and Claire were both waiting as he walked down the ramp. Pepper, he had expected. He was surprised to see Claire, though. He'd thought that she would've moved on to a different job, since being his assistant had been a temporary position for her.

He exchanged a few words with Pepper that amounted to 'I care about you and that scared me out of my wits'. Then he turned to Claire. Her eyes were similarly red-rimmed, as Pepper's had been, and she'd pulled her hair back instead of straightening it like she usually did.

"So, is my schedule in complete disarray?" he asked.

"You have no idea. I did um, clear any personal appearances for the next six months."

"I'm not that injured."

"There's a lot to catch up on after you're back to work. Personal appearances are not a priority."

Tony would be lying if he said he wasn't excited to get out of personal appearances-- they were easily his least favorite part of what he did for the company.

"I agree," Pepper said, coming back with Happy by her side. "The most important thing right now is to make sure you're okay. Happy's going to take us to the hospital."

"No."

"What?" Claire said, frowning at him-- and she wasn't the only one.

"Tony, you have to go to the hospital. Jim passed along your medical report from the military doctors, and he made it clear that you need another visit."

"Medical files are confidential, so you're both guessing that I need another visit," Tony said, even though he knew that Rhodey had looked at the details. He didn't want anyone poking around the arc reactor in his chest, and that included doctors.

Claire's frown deepened, like she knew he was hiding something.

Pepper and Happy started in on him about how he had to go to the hospital, and if he tried to refuse, they were going to drag him there. Tony knew that it was an empty threat, but he also knew that they would do their level best to force him. If it got bad enough, they'd probably hire someone to come to his house, which he was even less a fan of.

Claire being exactly who she was, put it in Tony's schedule, along with a visit to a therapist. It was someone who usually only worked with actors and musicians, but it meant that they were trustworthy to not spill any secrets.

Tony negotiated yes to the doctor, and no to the therapist. Claire nodded, and then scheduled a different therapist for two weeks later. When Tony got upset with her, she glared at him. Claire had never glared at him before, and then she said, "What part of 'kidnapped' has gone over your head? It's a little thing we like to call 'trauma'. Even if you go once and he says you're fine, you need to go."

"If I agree to go to that appointment, will you go with me to the benefit tomorrow?"

"Deal."

"Deal," Tony echoed with a grin. Pepper had said she'd go to the benefit on his behalf, but since she'd gotten her own invitation, he didn't think that would work. She wouldn't be there on his behalf; she'd just be there.

*

Claire dealt with the discovery of the armor pretty well-- a lot better than Pepper did, when she ended up finding out-- which surprised Tony. He'd thought that she'd freak out. What surprised Tony more was when she hauled off and punched Stane in the face. The man was in a massive metal suit, and Claire punched him. It didn't solve the situation and Tony still had to go repulsor to repulsor with him so that he was incapacitated when Shield got there to arrest him, but it was beautiful to behold.

"I can't believe you punched him," Tony said, trying to ignore all the feelings that wanted to send him into hiding. He'd known Stane his entire life, and... god, he didn't know what he was going to do. Claire had talked about investigations and lost inventory, and Tony was just trying to hold himself together.

"It didn't do much good," Claire said. She shifted the ice pack on her knuckles to a more comfortable position.

"Still, it was nice to see." Tony loved Pepper, but she didn't really do violence. Claire, on the other hand, hadn't hesitated. Tony had one hundred percent not expecting it. Claire had squared up like she was always ready for an eventuality like this. "You know, we never had that drink."

"I considered the attack on terrorists that night to be a good replacement for talking over drinks," she said, slanting a smile at him.

"You've got a weird idea about dates."

"Is that what you getting me a drink was supposed to be? A date?"

"Well technically, you going to the benefit with me was a date. The drink was to make it better."

"And since we left the drinks behind so you could give the armor a test drive, I think it counts as a continuation of the date," Claire said.

*

"You realize I have to quit now, right?" Claire said.

"What? No, absolutely not."

She rolled her eyes at him, but the fact that she was spending a lazy morning after in his bed took off the sting. "I am not going to be in a relationship with my boss."

"Aw, c'mon, you went on a date with your boss, and we both know that this isn't a matter of sexual favors and preferential treatment. What does it matter if you keep working for me?"

"I'm either going to date you or be your assistant. I'm not doing both."

"But you're so good at being my assistant," Tony whined.

Claire snorted. "In between your Iron Man duties and the company, you need two assistants. I'm not qualified to be two people. Besides, I found a charity I'm willing to work with, and I have an interview next week."

"When were you going to tell me that you were quitting?" Tony asked, failing to not sound offended.

"Last night. You distracted me."

"I think you have to give two weeks notice for this sort of thing." Having never been employed by someone other than his own company, he wasn't sure, but he'd heard about it enough times that he thought it was true.

"I told both Pepper and Human Resources, and they are looking for a new assistant fo you as we speak. Well, HR is. Pepper's probably busy with her own work, since it's not her job to find you an assistant."

Tony frowned. "She found you."

"We're friends, and I told her when I quit my last job. She didn't act as a head hunter and seek me out."

"Huh." He hadn't known about that, and he felt like he should have. "You're friends?"

"From college." She pushed herself up and stretched her arms.

Tony tugged her back down, grinning at the exasperated look she gave him. "Since I'm still your boss, I can say that our work day hasn't started yet."

"My day always starts before yours, otherwise you-" she tapped his chest pointedly "-wouldn't be anywhere on time."

"Fine, I won't get up until noon. That gives you until eleven or something, right? Right. So we can stay in bed until then, and-"

"You are ridiculous," Claire said, then she kissed him. "And I'm getting up, work or no work."

"I can't believe I signed up for this," Tony groaned. 

[feeling-uncomfy]

Heyyy its chp two baby!!

Once again there are triggering things covered in this chp. If you cant handle it dont read it! For your own mental health :)

To be specific, the triggers are:

Mentions of abuse

Cussing

Hope you enjoy!!

Aziawa walked into class the next morning. He looked at the chaos that was his class. He noted the few uncertain glanced towards Tokoyami's empty chair.

Aziawa sighed, recalling the phone call he received around eleven o'clock that night. He'd been grading papers waiting for his bird headed student to come back. Mainly so he could yell at his student for breaking curfew, also to congratulate him on taking down those villains.

He wasn't expecting the number two hero to call him from the hospital and tell him someone attacked his kid while he was on his way home. Aziawa immediately left the class in Hizashi's semi capable hands and rushed to the hospital, informing Nezu and All Might.

Because of the tone of Hawks's voice, he expected his student to be bloody and injured severely, not a mini version of his student. The kid was freaking out, apparently not liking doctors very much.

It took a lot to calm down the kid, but eventually they got him calm enough to sleep. Aziawa noted that the signature red collar was gone, though there were scars and scrapes covering his neck, and arms. This made both he and Hawks worry.

He'll ask later.

Now, he stood in front of the class, calling for attention. Kaminari's hand shot up and he spoke. "Mr. Aziawa, where's Tokoyami? Mr. Mic said you went to meet him with Hawks." The class mumbled agreements, all staring at Aziawa with mild concerned expressions.

Aziawa sighed. These kids were ridiculous, though the fact that they were worried was nice. "Yes, about that..." he stared at the class, "Tokoyami was attacked on his way home, he's been in the hospital since around half ten last night." There wasn't any point in sugarcoating this, Aziawa knew, but the was the class went from mild concern to full panic made the teacher wince.

Questions were shot at him. "Was it a villain??" One asked

"Was it the league?"

"Is he okay?"

"When's he coming home?"

Aziawa rolled his eyes and told the class to let him finish. "He's fine. It was a de-ageing quirk, nothing to worry about." The class sighed in relief.

"However." Aziawa said quickly, might as well get this over with. "There have been some...new developments..." he said this slowly.

The class looked lost. "As in Tokoyami might be a little jumpy." Aziawa clarified. "There a lot we don't know, but from what we've seen..." he trailed off, not wanting to say everything. "Just be careful around him, okay?" He finished, and the class seemed tense.

Iida spoke up first. "What do you mean by–?" He was cut off by a knock on the door. Aziawa walked towards the door. "Speak of the devil, now remember, be careful." He reminds as he opens the door.

Hawks strides in, a grin on his face, and a bundle of hoodie in his arms. "Hiya. Sorry I'm late." The class tried to look at the bundle closer. Aziawa scoffed. "No your not. Anyways, how is he?"

Hawks laughed easily, and poked the bundle gently. "Come on Toko, we're here." He said gently. The bundle moved slightly.

The class watched in silence as a bird head slowly popped out of the top, staring at the class with obvious hesitance. He was so small in the number two heroes arms, it was adorable. The class was silent for a hot minute, until Mina hopped up. "Awww Toko, you're adorable!!" She practically screamed.

Tokoyami wasted no time in hiding, his beak buried under the hoodie again. The class told Mina off as Hawks chuckled nervously.

It took a little longer to convince Tokoyami to come out this time, but they managed. He did keep a constant grip on the hoodie, however.

Kirishima took a much more gentle approach, standing up and slowly moving forward. "Hiya Toko. How's it going?" His voice was soft, and Tokoyami shrugged. "M'okay." His voice has quiet, as if he wasnt allowed to speak at all.

Hawks moved to put Tokoyami on the ground. "Okay bud, you gotta stay here for a while, okay?" Tokoyami gripped Hawks's pant leg as of his life depended on it and stared up at him.

Hawks frowned. Tokoyami was clearly uncomfortable, but he wasnt voicing it. Eventually, Aziawa stepped in. "You'll be with heros. We'll keep you safe, okay?" Tokoyami turned to the class. "Mom was a hero too..." the statement was more for himself, but Kirishima crouched to his level.

"Really? That's awesome! What kind of hero is she?" Tokoyami looked down slightly and didnt answer. Kirishima was confused, but didnt press.

Hawks said his goodbyes and Tokoyami was left alone with the class. Aziawa suggested they don't crowd him but introduce themselves. They went around and let Tokoyami ask questions.

Bakugo called the introductions 'stupid and unnecessary' and Tokoyami flinched at the volume. Aziawa told them to let the kid adjust to the class.

Tokoyami approached Kirishima, who was with Bakugo. "Hey again." Kirishima squatted down next to him and Bakugo scoffed.

Tokoyami turned to Bakugo. "You're loud." He said quietly. "Like dad." Bakugo glared at him. "That a problem?" It came out as a snarl. Tokoyami took a step back and Kirishima told Bakugo to lay off.

The rest of the day went by just fine. When they got back to the dorms though, things got messy.

"Where'd he go?!" Kaminari screeched as he searched the common room for the third time. A mini group searched with him. "Seriously, Denki how did you lose him? You had one job!" Kirishima was frantically searching the kitchen.

"Mr. Aziawa is going to kill us!" Sero groaned. Mina flopped down on the couch. "He couldn't have gotten that far, right?" her question was left unanswered.

Bakugo came storming in. "What the fuck are you yelling about?" He asked, heading for the kitchen.

Kirishima explained briefly what happened. "Really?" Bakugo scoffed. "The kid spilled the drink, and dipped?" Kirishima nodded. "We cant find him anywhere!" Kaminari added unhelpfully.

Just then, Shouji came in. "Shouji!!" The group exclaimed. Shouji cocked his head to the side, obviously confused. "Could you help us..?" Mina asked, explaining once again what happened.

If Shouji was angry, he hid it well. "You lost Toko? After ten minutes?" The group nodded. Shouji sighed. He searched using his dupliarms. "Found him. I'll go get him." He disappeared down the hall.

Coming to the supply closet, Shouji could hear small sniffs coming from within. "Tokoyami...?" He knocked on the door. He heard a sharp inhale and then silence. The door creaked open slowly, revealing Tokoyami.

Shouji saw he was shaking, and knelt down. "What's wrong?" There were so many questions. Why was he in the closet? Was this normal? He hoped it wasnt.

Tokoyami tilted his head. "Dad always puts me in the closet after I do something bad." He said hesitantly. "I didnt want the loud one to get angry." He whispered, looking down the corridor. "He's like dad."

Shouji was confused. "Does your dad di this stuff often?" It felt like a stupid question. Tokoyami shrugged. "Only sometimes." The next question was out before Shouji could stop himself.

"Has he hurt you?"

Silence.

Shouji doesn't like how quiet Tokoyami is. "Toko—" he starts, only to find Tokoyami has disappeared. Again.

"The fuck was that about?" Ahh. That explains it. Shouji turns to Bakugo. "Its a thing his dad does." He explains quietly. Bakugo buffers for a second, then slams his hands on the closet door. Theres an audible chirp of distress.

"Oi, pipsqueak. Open up." Its not a request.

Shouji winces. "Bakugo, you shouldn't–" Bakugo does it again, and there's sobbing from the other side if the door. Shouji snaps at Bakugo. He scoffs and turns away again, stalking down the hall and out of site.

Shouji sighs. "He's gone. You can come out now." The door opens slowly again. Tokoyami doesn't look ready to go out into the common room. "You wanna stay here and tell me what happened?" There's a nod and Shouji sits down in front of the door, Tokoyami at his side.

And that's a wrap!! Jeeze that one was longer. Hope you enjoyed this one!!

[jenonctcity]

Chances - Part 3

[10:00am]

Ex-Husband!Jaemin / Husband!Renjun Part 3

Part 1   Part 2

Warnings: Angst, Hospitals, Cheating.

Word Count: 2.1k

 Your day had started normal. Peaceful and serene even. You woke up at 7am to the gentle whining of your year-old baby boy calling for you over his baby monitor. Renjun had you wrapped up in his arms, your cheek pressed against his bare chest and his soft snores blowing against the top of your head. Recently when Bolin had been waking up, he had taken to calling for his ‘muma’ or his ‘dada’ instead of screaming at the top of his lungs to get your attention.

You left Renjun asleep to fetch your son, taking him back to the bed to join in on the cuddles and hopefully to get him to sleep some more. That was wishful thinking as he hurried to wake his dad up, wanting all the attention on him. You bathed and clothed him not long after, the three of you sitting at the table eating your breakfast. Jaemin would be dropping off Mihyun at midday, so you had the whole morning to give your son all your attention. 

“Dada!” Bolin held up a strawberry towards Renjun, a cheeky grin on his face as he tried to shove it more towards his dad’s face. Renjun chuckled, leaning down and taking the strawberry into his mouth, very gently biting the tiny boys’ fingers on purpose and making growling noises. “Dada no!” He squealed a high-pitched laugh, snatching his fingers away.

“Is daddy being silly?” You smiled at Bolin, running your hand through his thick black hair and brushing it back. He crooned at your attention, leaning his head towards you and offering you a strawberry. “You eat it baby.” You lead his hand to his own mouth and he quickly munched on the strawberry, the juice running down his chin. The loud ringing of your phone made you flinch in surprise, hurrying to answer the phone to stop the noise from irritating the toddler sat beside you. Jaemin’s name on the caller ID made you furrow your eyebrows in confusion. You couldn’t think of why he would be calling you two hours before he’s meant to drop off your daughter.

“Hey Jaemin, what’s up?” You held the phone against your ear, Renjun watching you with an eyebrow raised.

“(Y/N)..” Jaemin’s voice wavered as he said your name, a sob bursting from his lips as he tried to compose himself to speak. “T-there’s been an accident.” Your heart plunged through the floor at his words, it knocking the breath from your lungs as you jumped up from the table. “Mihyun’s been hit by a car, you ha-have to come to the hospital now.” Your jaw fell open, shock taking over your body and making you paralysed to the floor. You released the breath you didn’t know you were holding in, suddenly coming to your senses as Renjun stood up from the table, his hand resting on your shoulder when he saw you in distress.

“Is she okay? Jaemin tell me she’s okay!!!” The tone in your voice was desperate. Desperate for him to tell you that you hadn’t lost half your heart in a freak accident.

“She’s in critical condition, you need to be here!” He continued to sob down the line but managed to tell you where in the hospital you had to go to before hanging up.

“Renjun I-I have to go. Mihyun’s been hit by a car.” You flew around the kitchen, clumsily picking up your bag and keys, slipping on your shoes without even checking to see if they were a matching pair. You dropped your keys as your hands shook, rushing to the door only to be stopped by your husband.

“Let me drive you, I’ll get Bolin in the car and we’ll all go. You can’t drive like this.” His hands gripped your shoulders tightly, giving you a gentle shake and a look of pity. Tears fogged your vision as you stared up at him, your head shaking in disagreement.

“I haven’t got time to wait!”

“You have. Stay here.” He rushed off down the hall, snatching your son out of the highchair. Bolin fussed at being removed from his plate of fruit, whining and gripping at his father’s shoulder in discontentment. “Not now buddy we have to go.” He whisked around the apartment, putting on his sons’ shoes and coat for him before doing the same for his own. He hadn’t noticed your absence, or the sound of the front door slamming shut until he made his way back to the hall where he’d left you to find it empty. “Shit…”

You’d left the apartment as soon as Renjun had been out of sight, sprinting down the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator, and jumping in the car as soon as you’d unlocked it. You wasted no time in getting to the hospital. You took all the shortcuts you knew and went over the speed limit a couple of times, but the law was the last thing on your mind. You paced through the hospital, making it to where Jaemin had instructed you to be.

Jaemin’s face was stained with tears, his hair a mess from where he’d been gripping it in distress, and he was leaning against the wall with his eyes shut when you rounded the corner.

“Jaemin!” His attention turned to you immediately, a short sigh leaving his lips as he rushed over to you. You threw your arms around his neck, pulling him against you tightly as fresh tears cascaded from his bloodshot eyes. He automatically wound his arms around your waist and held you firmly, lifting you slightly to his height and burying his face in your neck. “Jaemin where is she? How did this happen?! Is she going to be okay? Please tell me she’s going to be fine!!” Your questions came out so rapidly he struggled to understand your words as you cried alongside him.

“S-she’s in the operating room, they’ve done some scans to make sure her brain isn’t damaged, but she’s cracked her head open.” He closed his eyes as you held him in your embrace. He hadn’t held you for so long that the thought of letting you go anytime soon was hurting his heart. He nuzzled his nose into crook of your neck and made himself comfortable.

“How did she get hit by a car?” Your voice was weak and unstable, and you felt your knees go wobbly after hearing that she’s cracked her head open.

“She was playing outside with some of the other kids that live on our street, I was keeping an eye on her but then I turned my back for a minute and the next thing I know I hear screaming.” He gulped, his eyebrows furrowing, visibly angry and upset at the memory. “I ran outside, and she was just on the floor, she looked so broken and small.” Another sob ripped from him, his hold on you tightening. You didn’t reply to him, instead opting to rub his back to calm him down. You thanked your lucky stars you didn’t have to see your baby in that state, knowing it would haunt you forever had you seen it.

The two of you eventually sat down in the waiting room after a nurse had given you an update to say she was hanging in there and that it wouldn’t take much longer. You had your head resting on his shoulder and his arm was wrapped securely around you as you both lounged on the sofa. Your eyes felt tired from how much crying you’d put them through, and you felt nothing but anxiety bubbling in the pit of your stomach. Jaemin’s fingers played with your hair, it soothing the both of you subconsciously as you sat quietly, sniffling every now and then.

“I’m sorry this happened.” Jaemin’s soft and quiet voice broke the silence, turning his head towards you. You looked into his eyes and found yourself getting lost in the dark pools of his pupils. “I shouldn’t have let her play outside yet, she’s still too young.” You shook your head in disagreement.

“We can’t wrap her in cotton wool, she needs to experience things. This was an accident Jaemin, please don’t blame yourself.” He sighed at your words, looking away briefly before attaching his eye contact back with yours. He flicked his gaze down to your lips, leaning down and kissing them softly with his own. You subconsciously closed your eyes and let him kiss you, his hand coming to cup your cheek lightly, his skin barely touching your own. You breathed in sharply when you came to your senses, noticing the difference between his and Renjun’s lips. You shot up from the sofa fast, touching your lips with your fingertips in disbelief you’d just let your ex-husband kiss you. Guilt flooded your system, backing away from Jaemin and shaking your head in disapproval.

“(Y/N)…” He stood up, immediately reaching for you to stop you from leaving. “I’m so-”

“Don’t.” You snapped, your face contorting to a scowl as your blood started to boil. “Our daughter is seriously injured, and you pull shit like that?!” Your voice stayed quiet, not wanting to attract attention to the situation, but your tone was enough to tell him you were livid. “What the hell were you th-”

“Mr and Mrs Na?” An uncertain and uncomfortable nurse interrupted you, her head poking in through the waiting rooms door. She could tell the two of you were having a disagreement of some kind, but she didn’t hear anything you’d said. Everything you’d just experienced flew from you mind at the sight of her, instantly paying all your attention to you.

“Is she okay?” You asked quickly, folding your arms in front of your chest as you turned your back on Jaemin. He came up behind you and placed a hesitant hand on your shoulder.  You ignored it and stared at the nurse, waiting for her to speak.

“She’s out of surgery, the doctor would like to speak to you before you see her.” She bowed her head to you both and guided you to outside a room that had the door shut and the blinds pulled over the window for privacy. An elderly looking man greeted you, shaking both of your hands with a warm smile on his face.

“Mr and Mrs Na, I’m doctor Lee, I was the surgeon who worked on your daughter.” You didn’t bother to correct him with your last name, that being the least of your worries. Jaemin must have thought the same thing as he didn’t bother to inject either. “She suffered a major head trauma; we’ve ran enough scans to conclude that she won’t suffer any brain damage. She’s broken her right arm, and multiple ribs but they will heal on their own without any further surgery. She’s stable and we’re confident she’ll stay that way.” You burst into tears after the doctor had finished speaking, your hand coming up and covering your mouth to conceal your sobs. Jaemin pulled you into a hug as he held in his own emotions. You cried into Jaemin’s chest, the kiss at the back of your mind as you soaked up the comfort he provided. Jaemin thanked the doctor for you both, your mind too busy with thoughts of relief.

Jaemin took your hand in his own, untangling you from his body and pulling you inside the hospital room after getting permission from the doctor. You gasped at the sight of your tiny daughter. Her head wrapped in a white bandage; tubes and wires attached to her body in multiple places and an intubation tube down her throat to keep her airway open and providing her with oxygen.

“My poor baby.” You sat at her bedside, holding her fragile hand inside both of you own before placing a soft kiss on her cold cheek. Jaemin sat opposite you, holding her other hand in his own.

“She looks so…delicate. I’m so sorry pumpkin.” He brushed a kiss against her little fingers, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket. You both sat in an uncomfortable silence for an hour. Neither of you wanting to leave her in case anything happened.

“I need to phone Renjun, he’s probably worried sick…” You broke the silence, putting a crack in the tension. You stood up and pulled your phone out of your pocket, making your way to the door with a horrible feeling sitting in your stomach.

“Are you gonna tell him we kissed?” Jaemin didn’t look at you as he spoke, instead opting to look at his daughter’s hand encased in his own.

“Yes.”