#but the boxes were probably supposed to be thrown away so shes not stealing those

[sugaroto]

My mom keeps stealing duct tape from her work so I can pack lol👍

[thr-333]

Just Another Class Trip :)  Part 2

Marinette sacrifices Adrien and then steals his alter ego.

First<>Next

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

With the help of the staff Marinette is directed to the room she will be sharing with Chloe and Kagami. It was meant to be two to a room, but yada yada Lila yada yada medical condition yada yada tears= Lila gets her own room.

“Marinette,” Kagami spots her first, rising from the couch.

“Mari!” Chloe vaults over the couch and hug tackles her, Marinette barely moves an inch, “You should have heard all the shit Lila was saying on the way here, you’d think it be enough she got the class to leave you behind!”

“Perhaps it’s best if you do not,” Kagami pulls Chloe off her, “You didn’t answer your phone,”

“Flat,”

“Bags?”

“Stolen,”

“Lila?”

“Probably,”

“Well lucky for you housekeeping dropped this by earlier,” Chloe hands her a box, inside filled with essential items, tooth brush, hair brush, even a pair of pyjamas, along with a note

‘Courtesy of the Waynes, for Miss Marinette Dupain-Cheng’

“Must be a generic package,” She had shrugged off the bellhops earlier saying her bags were lost.

“Well since you don’t have to unpack, help me with this,” Chloe leads her over to their kitchen that might actually be bigger than her houses.

On the counter beauty products are lined up along with random ingredients.

“We’re making face masks!”

“Correction, Chloe is making face masks,” Kagami scolds, “I argued that sleep would be more effective,”

“And yet you didn’t go to sleep,” Chloe teases, mashing up avocado.

“Well not without you,” Kagami smirks, making Chloe blush, but it’s not like her to back down.

“Awe, you’d wait for me~” Chloe relishes in the blush dusting Kagami's cheeks.

Marinette dry heaves, wondering how long they were going to keep pretending to flirt like this, each too stubborn to back down. They have been doing this more and more recently, great that they were more comfortable around each other but…

“How about we go to bed,” Marinette disturbs their challenging stares.

“Not without Kagami,”

“I already used that one,”

“I never said we’d use the bed for sleeping~”

“Hey!” Her exclamation doesn't get them to drop their staring contest, “Do either of you know what room Adrien is in?”

“End of the hall,” They both answer, not looking at her.

“Great,” Marinette hastily grabs her bag and the box, she could get ready in Adrien's room, away from the weirdness.

She practically runs down the hall, ignoring her Kwami’s snickering.

“Mari!” Adrien throws the door open for her, “Did everything go ok, you didn’t answer your phone, you look upset,”

“Sorted everything out with security no problems, Phones dead, Bag stolen,” She plops down on the couch next to Nino, “Chlo and Kags are driving me crazy,”

“How long have you been back?” She looks down at her watch.

“Three minutes,”

“Are they doing that thing again?” Adrien, Kwami bless him hands her a mug of coffee.

“Yep,” She takes a sip from the mug, she retracts that blessing “Betrayal! This isn’t coffee!”

“It’s hot chocolate,” Adrien is in the kitchen fixing another mug, “You need to go to bed, and coffee will keep you up,”

No she needed to go on patrol, and a coffee is vital to her surviving it.

“What’s up with Chloe and Kagami?” Nino takes off his headphones.

“They started teasing each other by jokingly flirting but their both too stubborn to back down," Marinette sighs, downing half the mug of hot chocolate so she can get herself a damn coffee, "So they get uncomfortable then we get uncomfortable and its overall very uncomfortable,”

“I think it’s kind of funny,” Adrien sits down next to her, mug in hand.

“It would be if they both weren’t horrible at flirting,” She steals the mug away from him taking a sip.

That is not coffee, that is sugar disguised as a liquid

“That’s the funny part,” Adrien smiles as she hands back the mug,

“Touche Agreste, Touche,”

“If you wanted you could sleep in my room,” Nino offers, oh so innocently.

“Thank’s Nino, but I would rather Alya not kill me,”

“Nah dude, I was going to stay with Alya anyway Madame Bustier wont mind,” Yeah their teacher really should learn not to trust teenagers, "So you can have my room,”

“Nino you are a godsent,”

Nino cleans up his few thrown about items and bids them adieu. Marinette was glad they could still talk, maybe they were even still friends. When you have the devil in one ear and her loyal sidekick in the other it is actually kind of impressive they still have a friendly relationship.

“So how’s your day been?” Marinette gathers up the strength to start a conversation after making her own coffee, and her mouth was only very burnt from chugging a hot drink.

“Good, Chloe took us to a supermarket, I brought a bunch of american snacks!”

Indeed he had, Marinette watches in mild horror as he plops bags full of junk food in front of her.

“I didn’t realise we were feeding an army,” Adrien starts rooting through the bags, “If a super villain comes after you because you brought all their favourite snacks in Gotham I’m not protecting you,”

“I’d just share with them,” Adrien hums, chomping down on a chocolate bar.

“... Yeah that could work,” Dear Kwami I have to protect this sunshine child,  “Maybe,”

“Oi, don’t eat too much, I don't want to have to re tailor your outfit for the runway,” She teases, regretting it immediately as Adrien's shoulders sag.

“Sorry,”

“Adri I’m kidding,”  She places a hand on his shoulder smiling gently, “I already made the measurements a bit bigger so you’re good.

“Have I ever told you you’re the best?”

“Not enough you haven't,” Marinette huffs in mock offence, “Now eat,”

She shoves the chocolate bag in his face, getting it all over his cheek. They both start laughing as Adrien tries to get his revenge. They end up falling off the couch, Marinette on top of him. Adrien is blushing a bright red, Marinette just grins and shoves the chocolate in his face before getting up.

She could almost laugh at how her younger self would react to that. It wasn't as if she didn’t like Adrien, well maybe not in that way anymore, she honestly hadn't put that much thought into it lately. Things just got busy she supposed, Akumas got harder, then she became the guardian, she started her fashion career. Actually her fashion career might be at fault.

Gabriel had started lending Adrien to model for her more and more. The man stepping further and further back from the fashion world, or the world in general, over the years for whatever the reason. At first she had been a blushing mess around Adrien, not directing him properly and making her work suffer for it. Overtime she had learnt how to handle it, getting less flustered every time they worked together. Now that she thought about it, when she had revealed her identity as MDC Adrien didn’t seem surprised; maybe her work attitude had bled into her regular life well before then.

Marinette is washing the chocolate off when a knock sounds at the door. Neither feel like walking to it so shout out ‘come in’. That turned out to be a mistake as Lila bursts into the room. How were they supposed to know Lila would actually knock?!

“Marinette you slut!” Lila all but screeches.

“Lila, you don’t have an audience and neither of us believe you,” Marinette comes out of the bathroom, already bored of the conversation she really needed to go, Lila and Marinette both.

“Well just wait, tomorrow the whole class is going to know what you did,” Lila gets up in her face, so close she can smell her perfume.

No not Lila's perfume her perfume.

“Right, sorry to say but there’s worse rumours than sleeping with a supermodel,” Marinette tries to edge her way around Lila, good excuse as any to dip out for patrol.

“Not if I say you forced him,” Lila looks way to self satisfied for what she is implying

I think the fuck not

“Nah,” Adrien shrugs, getting Lila’s ire turned on him, a noble sacrifice indeed.

“Nah?” Lila looks livid, “What do you mean Nah !”

“I’d just say I wanted to,” Adrien stays calm with Lila's face inches from him, Marinette gives him the thumbs up as she edges closer to the door, Adrien nods back.

She loved this version of the high road

“After all Marinette's super pretty and talented,” Adrien gushes, Marinette grins at the face Lila must be making, “Honestly your lie is so unbelievable, why would she ever go for someone like me?”

Marinette closes the door on Lila’s cursing response, saying a quick word of praise for Adrien's bravery and sacrifice.

At least he gets to see Lila’s reaction when she realises I’m gone

Marinette uses a back door of the hotel to get to the street, not wanting the staff to stop her and warn about the dangers. She skips along looking for a good place to change. The city was actually kind of beautiful at night, she feels drawn to it in a strange way.

“Marinette!” Tikki looks out from her scarf, “You forgot the Miracle box,”

“Shoot!” She looks back to the hotel, a few blocks away from it by now, “It’ll be fine Tikki I leave it at home all the time,”

“You’re not at home right now,” Tikki looks worried, those are her friends after all, “It’s a guardians duty-”

Marinette tries not to groan, she really does.

“I know Tikki, I know,” She looks over the buildings surrounding her, feeling a deep itch to see Gotham from the rooftops “But can’t I just be myself for once, not the guardian?”

“You are the guardian,” Tikki insists, before sighing, “Which means you can make your own decisions regarding the miracle box,”

“Thank you Tikki,” She hugs the little Kwami, “I promise to be back super quick, I just have to stop one bad guy, an eye witness account of Starling so I don’t just appear randomly, I won’t even need to go on patrol again after this,”

“Alright Marinette, I trust you,” Tikki nuzzles her cheek, easing Marinette's conscience.

With that she ducks out of sight to get changed. Her costume is pretty simple really. All she had to do was pull her infinity scarf up, discrete holes allowing her to see. She turns her skirt inside out to a black side, with white, purple, and blue detailing to stick to her Starling namesake. The skirt pulls over her shoulders, a zip down the middle allowing her more movement, and a zip to form a secret hood.

Ready to go she climbs up to the roof, super strength and speed making roof hopping easier. She supposed if someone looked too hard they would be able to piece together pieces of her costume but her ‘cape’ hides the detailing of her shirt. Besides if she has her way she won’t have to use this identity ever again, but she rarely has her way.

About ten minutes into her search through Gotham she spots a broken window. Not notable except that the lights are on. She lowers herself onto the fire escape and sure enough someone is being held at gunpoint.

“Excuse me,” Both people jump, spinning to look at Starling casual sitting on the broken glass on the window sill, “You seem to have a very rude house guest on your hands,”

“Who the hell are you!?” The burglar turns their gun on her.

“Just a stray passing through,” She gives a bright smile, and a very Chat like bow, “Starling at your service… milady,”

If I’m going Chat I might as go full Chat Noir, hope he doesn't file a lawsuit against me

“Ummm,” The woman looks very confused, but not as confused as the burglar.

“Would you like me to remove him from your home?”

“Ah… yes?”

With another smile Starling makes her move. In the split second it takes the burglar to register her offer she's standing in front of him. The gun moves a second too late as she ceases his arm, her strength being as good as handcuffs. She hits a pressure point her Aunt taught her to make him drop the gun, kicking it away. Pinning the man's arm behind his back she spins him around, zip tying his hands.

“What the fuck!!”

“That’s no kind of language,” Starling reprimands, pushing him towards the window, “Now apologise,”

“What?! No way fuck you!” Starling grins, hooking a bungee cord to his shirt.

“Alright then, bye!” She pushes him out the window.

His screaming doesn't stop even when she watches as he bounces back up, dangling out the window. She grins.

Ladybug would never get away with that

Tying the other end of the cord to a post, she double checks to make sure everything is secure before turning back to the victim.

“So sorry about the rude intrusion milady,” She bows again, in jest, “Have you contacted the police?”

“Yeah… what are you?”

“A Starling bird,” Starling spins, showing off her cape, the patterning placed to resemble wings, “I though the name would be a dead give away,”

“Yeah, but what are you? A Bat? Vigilante?”

“Vigilante yes, Bat not so much,” Starling can see as she looks more cautious after that, “Just happened to be passing through Gotham when I saw you in need of assistance,”

“Right... ok then...” She sits down, letting herself slump over the couch, “Ugh, this has been a terrible day,”

“How so?” Starling eyes up the kitchen, “Besides from mister bungee jump out there,”

“I was almost out of work this afternoon when a new rumour about the Wayne's blew up,” Starling nods along, turning the oven on and picking out ingredients.

“I work in the PR department at Wayne tower, do you have any idea how hard that is?!” Starling shakes her head finding a bowl but no measuring cups, she could just estimate.

“They have new bruises everyday,” Starling does look up to that, very concerned, “Don’t worry it’s not abuse or anything, they really are just dumbasses,”

Starling snickers a little bit at that, pouring in ingredients like second nature.

“I once asked mister Drake why he had a giant bruise on his forehead, he told me he passed out at his desk and just slammed into it!” Starling does laugh at that one, “Like?! How am I supposed to tell people that without sullying the Wayne name?”

“I think its funny,” She did clearly not agree, Starling changes the subject as she starts mixing “What was the problem today?”

“Nothin much really someone took pictures of mister Drake talking and giving a ride to some girl with black hair and blue eyes, and now everyone thinks she’s a Wayne,”

“That’s all it takes?” She starts placing the cookie dough on the baking tray, “Maybe I should apply?”

“Nah, you’d sooner be Batman's kid than Bruce Wayne's,” She cracks the first smile Starling has seen so far, “He’s got the same amount of kids, if not more,”

“Maybe they should share custody?” Starling puts the cookies in the oven, “Double the number each,”

“Yeah, how about no?” She smiles more, which is good, “I can’t imagine having to explain away the bruises the Bat kids get,”

Starling smiles, the sound of sirens now drawing close.

“I guess that's my cue to leave Milady,” Starling jumps up onto the window sill, the burglar still shouting below, “Take the cookies out in fifteen minutes,”

“Hey,” Starling looks back, “Thank you,”

“No problem,” Starling sends a dazzling smile, “Good night, Milady,”

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

Taglist (guess I’m doing these now, please let me know if theres any issues):

@smolplantmum @flufflepuffle296 @dawnwave16  @caffeinetheory   @g-arya   @Maribat-2k20   @ladybug-182    @Actual-disaster-human    @fusser90   @messrs-weasley   @soap-lady  @paintedhope7   @zeneralla    @mochegato     @random-nerd-3 @clumsy-owl-4178  @throneoffirebreathingbitchqueen   @too0bsessedformyowngood @certifiedbidisaster  @Purplegeekypanda

[extremelyblackandwhite]

innocence - 24

PAIRING: bodyguard!bucky barnes x innocent actress!reader

WARNINGS: none

A/N: i took three weeks to post, i am very sorry but i’ll now be posting the holiday chapters i was supposed to but i got lost in eating mince pies. hope you enjoy xx

NEXT CHAPTER

   - Bucky, what are you doing? - Y/N smirked as she returned from set, still dressed in a scandalous dress covered by a beige rain coat. Small droplets of water covered the beige waterproof fabric which rolled onto the ground as she made her way further into the small flat. 

Bucky was sat in bed, looking at a pile of clothing thrown next to an open old military green rucksack by his feet. A few worn out brown leathered tags we attached to one of the handles and had she been wearing her glasses, she could’ve probably guessed what it was written on them. The brown haired man rose his head at the mention of his name, eyes widening at what she was wearing. He was used to seeing her in tight, revealing dresses but this dress was something else and he wondered how she could walk with such a skin tight garment. 

    - I’m just deciding what to pack. - he shrugged, trying to forget about the dress his girlfriend was wearing. 

   - Just pack warm. - she sat next to him, leaning her head against his shoulder, an immediate smile extending in her limps. - Mum said it might snow. Can you imagine, a white Christmas?

   - Did they give you a bad time on set?

A bad time? A bad time was an understatement. She had gotten an earful from everyone who passed by her that day from her manager to her personal assistant to even Mr. Hayworth who just screamed about how stupid she was. Even half the cast was upset, not enjoying the publicity it would bring to the movie and while she would normally end up crying in her trailer, Chuck ensured to follow her around to make sure she was alright. Yet, none of it matter. It was the last day of shooting before she got to go home to her parents and forget about the mess she had willingly created. It was only a day before she could spend the holidays with someone who chose her and kept choosing her for the first time. It really didn’t matter if she had a bad time, things were starting to look up for her. 

    - Other than the stripper dress? Not as bad. - she giggled. Bucky looked at her, trying to peak through the coat. - I was thinking ... maybe we should have a nice long bath together? I’ll light some candles, get some nice wine from the shop down the street.

    - You little vixen, I still have to go see my sister. If I take a bath with you I will end up staying much more time than I should. - Bucky kissed the side of her face. - Did you wear that dress just to tempt me?

    - I would never. It is not my fault you cannot control yourself. 

    - That dress is staying until I come back, though.

    - I want to come. - she got up from the bed, pulling the dress from her body and grabbing her white jumper and pair of jeans from the wardrobe. - You’re meeting my family, it’s only fair I meet yours.

    - I’ve told you already, princess. We don’t wanna poke the media, they’ll bite us back with no mercy. I don’t want people hurting you because of me.

    - You can’t sneak me into a care home? My, my, Mr. Barnes, I thought you could get anyone into anywhere. Your CV said so.

   - Are you doubting my abilities, princess? - he grabbed her by the waist, pulling her closing to him before starting to tickle her sides. - It’ll be boring to you, my princess. Just stay here, put back that tight little dress and I’ll make it worth your time.

   - No way. I’m meeting your sister. 

   - No baby pictures, Y/N. 

   - I would never. - she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a hard felt yet soft kiss. - Only childhood stories. 

Bucky rolled his eyes, handing her the jacket and hat as they made their way onto a taxi. Bucky visited his sister a lot but he’d never mentioned Y/N. Not that he didn’t want to, of course he did. In all honesty, he could speak about his girl for as long as someone allowed him. However, Y/N was still a public personality and he wouldn’t want to let something out that she wasn’t comfortable with people knowing. Besides, he knew how much his sister still adored to gossip and he wouldn’t want to possibly hurt Y/N or be the cause. 

She, on the other hand, was excited. She knew Steve and Steve was the oldest of Bucky’s friends but she never thought she would get to meet someone from his family or that he’d even want to introduce her to someone from his family. After all, he was a war hero and Y/N was an actress from a small town in London who everyone seemed to despise at the moment.

The man drove them up to small complex building of what seemed to be newly built flats. Bucky was the first one off the taxi, running up to her side so he could open the door. It always left her feeling like a school girl; the pageantry, it is. She never believed she would find someone and the fact someone rushed to go and open the door for her and held his hand out.

    - Anything you’d like to confess before I ask your sister? - Y/N teased, hugging him side eyes as he led her to the entrance.

    - Do not believe what she says, I did not date too many girls.

    - Steve disagrees with that.

    - How would you know what Steve agrees or disagrees with? 

    - I called him to wish him happy holidays.

    - I didn’t know you and Steve were friendly.

    - Don’t be jealous, love. I’m not stealing your best friend. - Y/N pinched his cheek playfully as the two of them stopped in front of a wooden door with the number 35 in gold numbers pinned to it.

Bucky knocked on the door, announcing himself before holding Y/N once again close to him. He went through his mind, wondering if there was anything Rebecca could tell which would upset her. Sure, he used to be a bit of a womaniser in his youth but Y/N knew that. He hadn’t gotten anyone pregnant, he hadn’t proposed and ran off, he was off the hook. Still, he didn’t like the idea of Becca telling Y/N about his past quests.

Y/N waited patiently until someone held the door. The first thing she noticed were her eyes, the same as Bucky’s and she could recognise them anywhere. The woman had perfectly styled grey hair and a smile on her lips as she recognised her brother.

    - Who is this lovely girl, Buck? You didn’t tell me you’d bring company, I would’ve gotten some biscuits. 

   - This is Y/N, she’s my girlfriend. 

   - Steve told me you were seeing someone, I just didn’t think she’d be this pretty. Come in, come in. - Becca grabbed Y/N away from Bucky leading her to the living room. - What you wanted is in the bedroom, Buck.

   - Behave. - Bucky told his sister before he went into the bedroom to look for what he had come in from. 

   - I have some photos I think you’d love to see, darlin’. - she pointed the couch for Y/N to sit in before waddling to the big mahogany bookcase. She had a huge collection of books from old classics to new contemporary masterpieces which Y/N would love to read someday. The house itself was cozy, way more comfortable than other care homes she’d seen but she guessed Bucky would’ve only allowed for the best for his little sister. - It’s been ages since I’ve seen one of Bucky’s girlfriends. Not that he used to bring them home, but I used to sneak in and take a peak. You’re definitely the prettiest of all of them. 

   - Thank you. - Y/N couldn’t help but feel her cheeks heat up.

   - Ah, there it is. - she dropped a photo album on Y/N’s lap. - My father gave my mother a photo camera and she went crazy with it. Too many photos. However, when Bucky was born, it was a special occasion. Dad used to say she wanted a professional photo taken with her Jamie. 

She pointed at a photo of an woman probably in her early 20s holding a baby wrapped in several blankets, accompanied by a man who Bucky resembled very much. Her fingers traced the face of the baby, a little smile forming on her lips. It was nice to see him like that, normal. No mentions of the Winter Soldier, no pain, none of her constant drama due to her profession.

   - He was the eldest of four and despite what my mother would say, he was always the favourite. The only boy. He got away with whatever he wanted.

   - Bucky has three siblings?

   - Three sisters. Some of them didn’t survive. It was war. - her voice softened with sadness as she turned the page for a photo that Y/N wasn’t expecting to see. The same woman from before, his mother, was hugging a shirtless Bucky who had some boxing gloves on. Her face contorted into curiosity as Bucky exited the room and leaned against the couch, standing next to the two women.

  - What are you two ladies looking at? - Bucky kissed Y/N’s head, putting his hand on her shoulder. 

  - I think Y/N is very curious about your welterweight boxing past.

  - You did boxing?

  - Princess, I was a three-time YMCA Welterweight boxing champion. - Bucky closed the album before any of the photos of him with some of the ladies he used to hang around with showed up. - Becca, we should get going. We have an early flight tomorrow. 

  - You need to bring her more often. - Rebecca got up from the couch to accompany them to the door. - Did you find what you were looking for?

  - Yes, Beccs. Thank you so much for keeping it all these years.

  - Pretty sure mum would come back to haunt me if I hadn’t. Have fun meeting the parents. - she kissed Bucky’s cheek allowing for the two of them to leave. Bucky immediately wrapped his chunky knitted scarf, something his grandma had knitted for him ages ago, around Y/N’s neck, pulling her to his side.

He couldn’t truly remember a time where he was this happy, so full of need to continue living. She really brought him to this sort of weird normality where his past didn’t seem to affect him or at least not as strongly as it usually did. The two walked into grey skies, it was probably going to rain but none of them cared, walking side by side like those couples on Christmas songs. 

   - A boxing champion? 

   - Knock it off, princess. - Bucky helped her into the taxi, telling the driver his address before fastening his seat belt. - It was a long time ago.

   - Do you miss her? - she questioned, leaning her head against his shoulder, watching the horizons run through in blurs. - Your mother. Rebecca said you were the favourite.

   - Rebecca is always saying that. - he scoffed. - I do miss her. She was a swell lady, always caring about us, not complaining whenever she had to travel around because of my father. She was the best mother someone could’ve asked for. She would’ve liked you.

   - You think so?

   - I know so. Dad would’ve liked you too so would aunt Ida. Of course there’s still my nephews and nieces and their kids, but they don’t really want to speak with me ... - she didn’t need to ask why, she could see it in his eyes why and it made her sad. It made her sad to think of his family not wanting to be with him, specially during the holidays. - But I’ve had Rebecca and Steve for all these years. They’re my family and now I have you.

    - Well, I can’t promise my family will like you but they’ll definitely found the fact I have a boyfriend amusing. 

   - You mean to tell me I don’t have any ex boyfriends I’ll have to fight once we get to London?

   - That’s just unfair, Bucky. You’re a three-time boxing champion. 

   - You’ll never let that one go will you?

   - Nope. Dating a three-time boxing champion is a new identity I can get used to. 

taglist: @disasterbii @lookiamtrying @buckysteveloki-me @americasass81 @jamesbarnesappreciationclub @lostinthebeans @mariahthelioness29 @buckyandsebastian @peaches-roses-sins @theadorasabditory @sipsteacasually @saiyanprincessswanie @booktease21 @noiralei @learisa @everythingisoverratedbutgreat @uglipotata72829 @naturalthrone22 @husherstan @mandiiblanche @vicmc624 @newyorkgoddess @itsallyscorner @chipilerendi @emzd34 @writerwrites @bluevxnus @that-girl-named-alex @captnrogers @nsfwsebbie @sarge-barnes-sir​

[stae-yong]

a dream in a bottle [j.jh]

genre: fluff, romance, fantasy word count: 11.4k

Year 2059.

Everyone has lost their minds finding solace in a world full of chaos. Dreams in a bottle are now being used like a drug in order to fulfill their wildest fantasies. Have you ever dreamt so good, you never wanted to wake up?

“You’re the dream I go to, every time I close my eyes.”

a/n: this is my first jaehyun fic, and the first fic i’ve written :> please understand if i’ve made any errors. i wanted to write this since i started stanning nct and i hope you guys enjoy!! oh and listen to this, it inspired me to write this story. hopefully it could set the mood as well.

“Happy birthday to me,” y/n said dully as she blew her candle. The smoke from her two and three candles went to her eyes which made her squint. For the past week, all she ever did was cry herself to sleep thinking how miserable she would spend her birthday this week ever since her boyfriend left her for ‘his future’ which she snorted at as she remembered how his arms were wrapped around her waist as he kissed this new girl and who just enrolled in his arts class.

She then started to arrange her gifts which mostly consisted of plain old birthday cards which her so called friends just gave to her at the last minute since her existence was forgotten due to the busy days of work. As she went through her gifts, she noticed another postcard from her parents that are probably touring around Europe. She scrunched her nose in disappointment, “What a good way to start my 23rd year of living on this planet,” she muttered. Y/N stood up pushing around all the teared pieces of gift wrap as she tried to navigate herself around the living room. As she moved, she accidentally kicked a box tas was buried under piles of garbage.

A white box with pink hearts decorated around it. On the side of a box, a sticky note was attached with a letter with handwriting that was too familiar.

Dear y/n

Happy Birthday! I’m sorry we can’t spend it together this year, you know how hard life is. But I do hope you enjoy the following days with my gift. I gave this to you to spice up your birthday. It’s definitely one of a kind, I hope you could forget your dickhead of a boyfriend with this. Call me once you try it ;)

Love,

Mei.

“If this is a box of lingerie or condoms, Mei can rot in hell,” Y/N grumbled. This definitely should be worth it. She peeled the sticky note, as a remembrance of the gift as she carefully opened the box. Inside were three small bottles of iridescent liquid that seemed like it had been mixed by a 10 year old playing with glitters and water. A small card was placed above the bottles with a note saying “The best dreams happen when you are wide awake,” with several instructions to only drink one bottle every night for good results. Y/N contemplated if she should drink from it now considering that its nearly 10pm. She spent her whole day moping around her room munching on junk food while thinking about how lonely and boring her life was. Maybe this potion is worth the try, and maybe, like what Mei said, it could spice up her life.

She took the bottle in her hands shaking it a bit as she watched the small pieces of glitter swirl around as if it was luring her to drink it. At first she tasted like vanilla, smooth and milky then suddenly it turned to taste like strawberry mixed with different other fruits. Soon after, Y/N fell on her bed as she drifted off.

————

Y/N felt as if she was thrown into a whirlpool as her head continued to spin. Bright light hit her face making her squint as she tried to slowly adjust to what she was seeing. Suddenly, people started to bump her as they made their way around the city. Y/N tried to make sense of where she was, it was a city that looked like it existed way back in the 1900s with the way people dressed. Women and men of all ages walked around the street as they clung unto their loved ones. Women were dressed in puffed blouses and below the knee skirts as they topped it with a trench coat to warm them from the cold. Men, on the other hand, were wearing top hand sand white button up with suspenders that were too old-fashioned for her liking as they paired it with trousers. As Y/N continued to make sense of what was happening, she passed by a shop where she saw her reflection, she was wearing the same thing everyone was wearing.

Great, how on Earth am I supposed to figure out what to do in this dream.

As she walked around, she noticed a long queue that led to a movie theater. Everyone seemed excited to watch this new ‘musical’ that only happens once every year and that is during the 23rd of Christmas, ‘The Impossible Dream’ was its title. She noticed that every poster posted on the streets had the same title written in cursive with a time, date, and location set. As she adjusted her coat that was wrapped around her, she noticed a ticket on her right pocket.  “The Impossible Dream, 6pm,” she muttered. “I drink a stupid bottle of dream and now I have to watch a boring musical,” she added as she pouted remembering to message Mei that she won’t be drinking anymore of her gift. Her eyes wandered from the people around her to the buildings, she knew no one in this dream and the faces she see are not even close to familiar. The place itself looks like a 90s movie setting with all the broadway and lampposts hanging around.

“Excuse me, this is the end of the line, right?” Y/N turned to look around at a man around her age with caramel brown hair and smiling as his dimples poked out. She stared at him longer as she admired his features, okay, this is definitely a dream because no one else in the real world would look as good as this fine man standing behind her. “U-um, yeah,” she cleared her throat as she gave tight smile embarrassed as she was caught staring.

“Come on, you gonna pretend like you don’t know me now?” He said as he pouted. Y/N looked at him confused, never in her life did she encounter him, maybe this is a preset of the dream but she decided to play dumb instead. “Hmmm, I don’t think I remember,” she said as she tried to think of a name that matches his face.

“It’s Jaehyun,” he said as he poked her cheek with his index finger as he shook his head disappointingly. “Are you my boyfriend?” Y/N blurted out as she felt her cheeks heat up at her sudden question. Jaehyun felt flustered as his ears turned red. “Um, well, I don’t know,” he said nervously chuckling. Y/N nodded as she turned to the front once again, boyfriend or not it doesn’t matter but for sure the handsome guy standing behind her played an important role in her dream. She tried to remember if she knew any Jaehyun in the real world but no one came close. Heck, no one even looks like him. Was she really that desperate on moving on, she literally dreamed of having a boyfriend way better than her ex? Okay, maybe.

The line started moving as people made their way towards the entrance of the theater. “I didn’t know you were interested in watching musicals,” Jaehyun said as he stood beside her as they both made their way in.

“Well, maybe you don’t know a lot about me then,” she shrugged as she gave him a teasing smile. “We’ve known each other for four years and you forget my name?” He teased back as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder to move her from the people that were constantly passing by to get to their seats. Y/N felt her heartbeat speed up at the intimacy feeling his chest pressed against her shoulder as she muttered apologies to those passing by.

“Watch where you’re going,” he muttered under his breath as he looked at her. Y/N blushed as she looked up to him. The lighting in the room giving his visuals more justice as it surrounded her head making him look like he has a built in halo.

As she made her way to her seat, Jaehyun followed closely behind as they both sat together. The play started as the lights dim but Y/N couldn’t care less about what was happening in the play as she felt bothered by Jaehyun’s presence. How did he have this effect on her when he doesn’t even exist? It was also their first time meeting. She slowly shifted on her seat to face Jaehyun in a discreet way as she tried to steal a glance at him. Jaehyun noticed her shifting taking it as a sign of uncomfortableness, placing a hand gently on the area above her knee squeezing it lightly and giving her a look of concern.

Y/N froze in her seat as she looked back at Jaehyun who was staring at her worriedly, eyebrows furrowed. She looked away quickly as she cleared her throat, nudging Jaehyun’s hand away by accident as she shifted to face forward. Jaehyun chuckled as he continued to watch the musical smiling to himself. “What’s so funny?” Y/N said as she crossed her arms trying to concentrate on the show but finding it difficult with Jaehyun seated right beside her. “You should take a picture, it would last longer,” he whispered in her ear as she felt his warm breath brush against her cheeks making it heat up. Thankfully, the lights were dim and Jaehyun wouldn’t be able to see how red her cheeks were from the constant display of affection he was showing to her. She wasn’t staring, she was just trying to capture his face on her mind so that when she wakes up from this dream she could finally move on from her ex.

“I still haven’t forgiven you for what you’ve done,” Jaehyun whispers again, Y/N looks at him in confusion to see him leaning slightly to her side with eyes still focused on the show. “What have I done?” She said raising a brow. She has only been inside her dream for 20min, she barely got to do anything except stare at the piece of art seated right beside her.

Jaehyun looked at her in disbelief as he flicked her forehead earning a smack on the shoulder. “You left me in the rain, I told you to call me but you didn’t,” he said as he looked at her again. Y/N frowned, not really knowing what to say. “Sorry, I was busy,” At this point, making up stories would only be the solution to questions as it was only a dream that she may forget when she wakes up. Jaehyun continues to stare at her with an unreadable expression. He nods anyway and she gives him a small smile.

“Are you really watching this?” Y/N asks bored out of her mind as the main lead in the musical continues to cry as she longs for her love one who she only meets inside her dream.

“No, I’m just here because I like sitting beside you,” Jaehyun replies shooting her a smile, his dimples making an appearance as they always seem present when she looks at him. She scrunched her nose in disapproval, definitely too good to be true. Prince Charming likes her in her dream, her love life must definitely be fucked up for her to be dreaming about these things.

“We can get out of here if you’re bored,” Jaehyun shrugs as he took her hand gently. He jutted his chin toward the exit raising a brow, “Okay fine, but I’m not spending any money,” she muttered making Jaehyun laugh as he pulled her from her seat. She didn’t even know how she would able to live in this dream.

As they walked around the streets, Y/N tried to ask more about herself so that she wouldn’t have to lie all the time she entered this dream. Never in her life did she experience a dream so realistic, lately, she had troubles sleeping and if she ever got to dream, it would be long forgotten the moment she woke up. A warm hand wrapped around her cold one pulling her out of her thoughts, her gaze shifted from the street to Jaehyun who was grinning at her.

“Do you remember how we met?” She asked as he swayed their hands playfully while walking. “Of course, it was definitely my favorite day,” he chuckled as he recalled how they first met. It was the first day of university and Jaehyun was late. It definitely wasn’t a good first impression to his professors considering how he got into the university because of a basketball scholarship, he used to be a star player back in high school which led him to many offers from big schools that wanted him as the ‘face’ of their team. Although, Jaehyun chose the one closest to his home as he didn’t want to stray farther away from his family, at the same time, his friends attended the same university as him. He tried to discreetly make his way inside the classroom as his professor continued to scribble on the board. Sitting down on the farthest seat as possible, he tried to catch up on the lesson they were having

“Excuse me, is this seat taken?” He heard a small voice say as he shifted his gaze. There she stood in front of him, wearing a yellow dress with her brown hair softly framing her small face accentuating her brown eyes that seem to hold the stars. Jaehyun gulped nervously as he shifted on his seat.

“No, you can sit here whenever you want,” he said a bit too excitedly as he continued to stare at her. The girl gave him a small smile as she sat slid on the seat beside him taking out her notebook and pen.

“I’m Y/N, by the way,” she whispered extending her arm which Jaehyun stared at a bit for too long, “Not that it matte-“ before she could put down her hand Jaehyun grabbed her hand firmly with a smile. “Jaehyun,” he said smiling which made her flustered. “Care to share why you’re late?” He whispered as he tried to start a conversation without getting caught by the professor. He didn’t even understand what was being taught anymore as all his attention was occupied by the girl seated beside him. “The traffic was too bad, why are you late?” She shrugged as she leaned closer to him with a teasing smile. Jaehyun snorted as he slightly bumped his shoulder with hers. They were close already despite the small amount of time they knew each other, “You’re watching me?” He teased as he raised an amused brow at her. Her nose scrunched as she bopped his nose with her pen. “No, I saw you make your way through the door earlier and decided to seat beside you,” she chirped making Jaehyun’s heart flutter. “If I knew better, I would say you stalk me,” he replied trying to brush off the tremble in his voice caused by the amount of flips his heart was making. “Just interested,” she beamed and diverted her attention back to the board. Jaehyun took a glance at her shaking his head at their exchange, silently taking note that he should definitely get her number after this class.

Y/N looked at Jaehyun with an unamused expression as he shrugged, “It’s true though! You tried to hit on me on the first day,” he said earning a punch on the shoulder. “I don’t think that’s how it went though!” She retorted blushing as she didn’t even know if Jaehyun made everything up. It was her first time meeting him, yet in this dream it seems that she’s been in it for years already. She did, however, like how straight forward she was based on Jaehyun’s story, maybe she did like herself better in this dream.

“You asked for my number, so basically, you hit on me,” she stucked her tongue out as she harshly tugged Jaehyun in what she feels like the direction of her house is. Jaehyun pulled her back as they stopped under a lamp post with the light illuminating his face in all the right angles. He leaned close until they were eye-contact level as Y/N tried to keep a blank expression even if her heart was basically going to burst from how close Jaehyun’s face was from hers as she tried to remember all the small details of his face. “You said you were interested first, so I guess I win this argument,” he said smiling at her. Y/N brushed it off as he pushed his face away with her index finger. Jaehyun then wrapped his arms around her waist as he pulled her closer making her grab his forearms for support at the sudden action. “What are you doing?” She said nervously as he started to sway from side to side as he looked at her making her blush at the sudden attention he was giving her. There was no way he couldn’t see how red she was right now. “Dancing, we used to do this all the time,” he said as he continued to sway to some tune he was humming. “I don’t know how to dance,” she muttered as she looked down trying her hardest not to step on his feet. “It’s fine, I can lead,” he said confidently as he continued to stare down at her making her stare at his chest as she couldn’t meet his eyes.

“Hey Y/N,” he mentions when he noticed how quiet she has gone. “Hmmm?” She replies looking up to him as she stared at the area between his brows, his eyes too much for her to take, afraid that if she looks at him she might as well just kiss him there. “I really like dancing here with you but do you mind?” He says as he looked down. Y/N followed his gaze and saw her shoe lace untied itself probably because she kept stepping on them as they danced.

“Oh, let me-“ as she tried to bend down to tie it, Jaehyun pulled her up lightly by the arm as he kneeled before her making her flustered she looked around for people as he basically looked like he was proposing to her. “I can’t have you fall for anyone else,” he grinned as he tried to stifle a laugh. Y/N huffed as she nudged him strong enough for him to fall backwards catching himself with his arms as he tried to stand up.

She walked quickly as she tried to go to what seemed like her house, with Jaehyun following closely behind her as he jogged trying to keep up with her speed. “You’re welcome,” he winked making her flustered once again as she crossed her arms. “I’m home now, aren’t you going?” She said though she really didn’t want him to go yet. She didn’t even know if that was her house but it seemed like it, somehow it just felt right to be there at that moment. Jaehyun chuckled as he took a step back putting his hands in his pockets.

“I hope you had fun today,” he smiled as he ruffled her hair. Y/N nodded as she entered her ‘house’. “Stay safe, Jaehyun,” she said softly as she took one last look at him. Before she could close the door, she felt Jaehyun stop it.

“Wait, before you go,” he held the door with one hand and the other finding the back of her head as his lips lightly touched her forehead. Y/N felt her heartbeat speed up as she closed her eyes at the feeling of his soft lips on her forehead.

“Meet me in your dreams,” he said as he smiled at her before finally closing the door.

——

Y/N jolted awake as she heaved heavy breaths. She felt as if she ran a marathon with how fast her heart was beating. She was back in her bedroom as she looked around. Nothing seemed to change, except the small box that was on top of her bedside table with now only two bottles of dreams. She sighed as she checked the time, she was out for about twelve hours already, although, in her dream only a small amount of time has passed. As she made her way out her apartment, she received a call from Mei.

“So how was it?” Mei asked enthusiastically as y/n could feel her interest on the other end of the line. Sighing she continued to walk down the streets in boredom, wasting time on finding something that would catch her eye.

“I didn’t know a dream could be realistic,” she muttered back. “And there’s this guy,” she added as she thought of this is really a great time to mention a character from her dream, especially to Mei, she woulld probably think she’s gone crazy. “What guy? Are you seeing someone?” The other responded, desperate to know if her friend has finally moved on. “What? No, I mean yes,” Y/N defended.

“It’s not about my ex, actually, there was someone in my dream.” She said. “I don’t really know if I met him before, but his features are very new to me. And you know what they say, that our minds can’t make up images, and everyone in our dream is someone we have met or saw before,” she added. There was no way she saw Jaehyun, if she did then she would probably remember him judging by how good looking he was. “Really? Well, you probably saw him in streets before,” Mei reasoned as y/n could only nod in response even if Mei couldn’t see her. “Anyway, you should really make that worth it. I heard the manufacturer of the shop closed down,” she mentioned as you made your way into a small coffee shop you saw across the street which seemed quite popular judging by the amount of female customers in there.

“Well, I only have two bottles left. I’ll call you when I finish it. Thanks for the gift by the way,” y/n replied as she ended the call

The cafe she entered was small, yet had a homely feeling to it. There was an amount of middle schoolers who look like they just finished school lining up as they perked their heads towards the counter. Y/N squinted as she saw the cute cashier and barista taking their orders. The cashier with white hair that for some reason seemed to match his big intimidating eyes and sharp nose and jawline. He wasn’t as big as the barista, but his body complimented his features as he smiled towards the group of girls who tried to catch his attention. The barista, on the other hand, was tall and had broad shoulders. His hair was dyed black, but he seemed really friendly despite his strong aura.

When it was her turn to order, she now understood why a lot of women in this city practically visited this shop everyday. From afar, she noticed how good-looking the staff were in the cafe, but now looking at them up close made her throat dry.

“I would like one iced latte,” she said shyly as the cashier smiled at her. She squinted her eyes at his name tag, Taeyong. Cute. “Are you new here?” Taeyong said as he pressed numbers on his screen for her order.

“Umm, I live around here. But it’s my first time in this cafe,” she mentioned as she looked around trying to distract herself from meeting his eyes.

“Cool, may I have your name?” He chirped as he smiled again towards her raising his brow. Y/N furrowed her brows as she stared back at him, “A-are you trying to ask me out?” She stuttered bewildered at the sudden question. Taeyong laughed as the barista behind him accidentally knocked a cup off as he turned around to look at her stifling a laugh as well. “What? Um, you’re cute but I need it for the cup,” he gestured raising a cup in his hand making y/n embarrassed as she heard the girls from behind whisper about how assuming she was.

“Oh, sorry,” she said lowly as she muttered her name quickly and paying as she moved to get her order.

——

Y/N sat on her bed holding the box of two bottles. Taking one, she shook it again as she saw the swirl of iridescent liquid calling her in. The whole time she mentally prepared herself for what was to come. To say she was excited to meet Jaehyun again was an understatement, she wanted to take the bottle again as soon as she stepped home but she remembered that there was only two left.

She took one bottle out deeply breathing in and out as she downed it all feeling the familiar taste touch her lips as she entered her dream once again.

When she woke up again she was in a garden, sitting up right as she felt something on her lap shift. Looking around, she noticed she was still in the same setting as before only, it was day and everything seemed bright as people continued to walk around minding their own business.

“You look beautiful from this angle down here, but I would appreciate it if you would look at me too,” a voice says as she looked down only to see Jaehyun lying down on her lap staring up at her with a small smile on his face. She blushed once again when she saw him, last night she thought he was breathtaking under the lamp post but under the sun he looked so much better with freckles scattered on his cheeks his eyes a lighter shade of brown and his dimples, ever so present, poking out.

“You were saying?” She says as Jaehyun stood up from her lap. “I’m starting to think you don’t pay attention to anything I say,” he complained as he dusted himself. Y/N stared right at him, wondering what they would do next.

“I need you to accompany me. I have this project going on and Johnny’s too busy to go with me,” he said as he took her hand. She wasn’t sure who Johnny was but she assumed he was his friend. Though she didn’t mind what his character would mean in her dream as he hasn’t showed up yet. She noted to herself that later on she would figure out who Johnny was and probably make the most of the second bottle she took. As they neared a building that look somewhat like a huge library, Jaehyun pulled her in a hurry as they made their way through old books.

Y/N groaned as she watched Jaehyun scan through the book once again trying to find the right thing. It was her dream, why is nothing interesting happening. “Jaehyun, what am I to you?” She asked as Jaehyun’s attention quickly went to her. His ears reddened as he rubbed the back of his neck shyly, “You said you weren’t my boyfriend. And you kissed me on my forehead, so who are you?” She asked as she hesitated mentioning that kiss as she felt herself become shy as she remembered how she woke up right after. Jaehyun nervously chuckled, to be honest, he himself did not know what their stand was. All he knew was that he wanted to protect her, and that he wanted to be with her always. It was all he ever knew since he met her, it was as if it was a role given to him by the gods to stand by her side no matter what.

“I’m not sure y/n, what do you want us to be?” He asks unsurely afraid of the rejection he might receive. Silently praying she won’t say ‘friends’. Y/N was taken aback as the question was thrown back at her. She didn’t know what they were supposed to be, nor did she know Jaehyun as much as he claims to know her.

Seeing the hesitation on her face, Jaehyun felt disappointed but decided to brush off the thought. “It’s okay, you don’t have to think about it.” He said as he gave her a pained smile which wasn’t unnoticed by y/n. “I can wait,” he said under his breath as he looked at her. Y/N looked at him in surprise, it was her dream. She could say whatever she wants, “I like you,” she blurted out as she waited for his reaction. Jaehyun’s ears, if possible, became more red as he heard her confession. He tried to stop the smile forming on his lips as he put back the book on the shelf.

“Well, that’s great because,” he said taking a step near her as he held both of her hands in his. “I am absolutely smitten by you,” he added ash he wrapped his arms around her shoulders pulling her into a hug. Y/N smiled as her cheeks hurt. She hugged him back, now this is definitely one of her best dreams ever. “Does that mean we can go on dates now?” She said as she pulled back. If she could live in a dream, then she would want to live in this dream forever.

Jaehyun grinned, “Lucky for you I booked us a date,” he said as he winked.

“Okay, maybe I don’t like you anymore,” y/n said as she made her way out of the library with Jaehyun laughing a bit too loud behind her.

————

As they made their way out of the library, Y/N found her hand once again wrapped around Jaehyun as he intertwined their fingers together. She smiled at Jaehyun’s affection. It was as if his hand automatically finds hers wherever they go.

As you both walked hand in hand, Jaehyun led you to a planetarium. “Have you ever been?” Jaehyun asks as he navigates his way through the streets. Constantly pulling you aside as you try to avoid people walking the opposite direction.

“I’ve never been to one actually,” you say wondering if you’ve ever been to one with your ex. To think of it, you really didn’t have enough time in the real world to explore the city during your past relationship. You were either curled up in your apartment or burrying your head in books. The dates you had previously were just last minute decisions as if he was just forced to take you out because you were together. But this time, with Jaehyun, it seems as if you actually got what you deserve. It may seem cheesy, but your heart fluttered when Jaehyun mentioned that he actually planned this date. It could be a preset in the dream, but that didn’t matter to y/n, all that mattered was that someone took the time to care for her and remind her how special she is. Even if that someone doesn’t really exist, she chose to ignore the thought. If there was a person who would break your heart again, you would be honored to have your heart broken by Jaehyun. And even with a broken heart, you would choose to love Jaehyun with all those little pieces.

“You should see the stars, they shine as bright as you,” Jaehyun added as they made their way through the planetarium. There wasn’t much people walking through, and everyone was speaking in hushed voices. As they walked through the planetarium, they entered a dark room with only the ceiling illuminated by galaxies and small celestial beings. Jaehyun looked at you with a small smile playing on his lips. He was fascinated by the way your eyes seem to shine even in the dark, like your eyes held the most beautiful stars as you admired the projected ceiling of light. Y/N then looked at Jaehyun who was still staring at her in awe. “You should take a picture, it would last longer,” she beamed as he scoffed lightly.

“So you steal lines now?” he said with an amused brow lightly applauding her sarcastically as you shoved him on his shoulder. “What else do I steal?” she said as they made their way around the room. “Probably my heart,” Jaehyun shrugged as he felt his ears turn red. He quickly looked up inspecting the ceiling as Y/N shot him a look of disapproval.

“If I wish on that star,” Y/N said pointing to a projected shooting star, “will my wish count?” you asked as you stared at Jaehyun whose eyes are still trained towards the ceiling as he looked at the constellations.

Jaehyun laughed as he put his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “Maybe,” he said as he looked up. Y/N closed her eyes as she clasped her hands together. She knew it was pathetic, to be making a wish in this dream. But her pleas and prayers didn’t seem enough to calm her desperate heart.

I wish I could live in this dream a little longer.

They both sat down in the middle as they continued to enjoy each other’s presence. No one was around anymore as it seemed like the whole planetarium closed. Y/N already lost track of time, she didn’t know what has already happened to her in the real world, but for sure she was sleeping for the whole day already. Jaehyun, on the other hand, was still deep in thought as he slowly laid down on the floor with an arm tucked behind his head as a pillow, the other resting on his stomach.

“Do you ever feel like somewhere out there, there’s another version of us doing the exact same thing we are doing now?” he mentions as he continues to stare into space. Y/N glances at him and copies his position as she adjusted herself to be laying down beside him. Not really knowing what to say, Jaehyun took it as a sign to continue.

“I feel like I’ve been living in a cycle. It sucks really cause everyone I know either forget me, or they space out. Or it was as if I never really know them to begin with,” he says, frustration clear in his voice. His eyebrows furrowed as he continued to stare into the black space displayed on the ceiling. “You know, the other day, Johnny acted as if he didn’t really know me. I don’t even know if he was playing with me but it was like it was his first time seeing me,” he added as he turned to meet your eyes that were just focused on him. “It’s like how we saw each other back in the theater, you both acted the same way,” he pushed himself up as he supported himself with his arms.

“It’s the same every fucking time. I meet someone knew, we get to know each other, then all of a sudden they forget who I am,”

“I feel like I’m a character in someone’s dream,” Y/N gulped nervously as she slowly sat up. Jaehyun still confused as he blankly stared at his lap. Y/N didn’t know what to say, she didn’t know how to tell him that he was right and he was just a figment of her imagination and that all of this was from a stupid bottle her friend gave her for her birthday. You were scared to say something, afraid that revealing the truth would mean that you would wake up and that meant that you only had one bottle left to be with Jaehyun. Y/N grabbed his hand and gave it a light squeeze with a smile, hopefully, assuring him that everything will be alright.

“Promise me one thing,” he says as he faced her seriously. You nodded in response as you waited. “Don’t forget me,” he says carefully watching her reaction. Y/N chuckled as she shook her head, “That’s easy to do, Jae,” she laughed as she shaked their intertwined hands playfully. “Promise me you’ll also stay,” he added seriously. Y/N froze when she heard his words. To forget him was hard, she could remember him everyday when she woke up. But to stay was another thing, how could she stay when she only had one bottle left? How could she stay when he was just a character in her dream? How could she stay with someone who only exists in her memory?

She looked back at him, and the moment she did, she quickly regretted her actions. He was looking at her with so much hope in his eyes. Noticing her silence, the hope in his eyes turned into grim acceptance as he felt her hesitation. Y/N squeezed his hand making him look back at her. She had no idea what came in her, but she decided if its for Jaehyun, she would try.

“I promise,” she said firmly, eyes burning with determination. After all, a broken promise is better than none at all.

——

Y/N felt dizzy as she tried to get up from her bed as she leaned towards the bed stand to get her phone. Her mouth fell dry, remembering the promise she made Jaehyun as she dialed Mei’s number. “Help, I need to do something,” she said as soon as the line was answered.

“What is it this time? Did you finish the bottles already?” Mei asked groaning in response as you called too early for her liking. “No, tell me where you bought the bottles,” she said as she tried to balance her phone between her shoulder and ear as she wore pants. “I need to find who made those bottles,” she added disappointed at the lack of response from the latter. “I’ll send them to you, but I don’t think they’re open,” Mei replied, y/n sighed. She didn’t know why she made that promise, or how she would fulfill it. Back in her dream, everything seemed possible but now, all that was left was empty words that she regrets saying. She didn’t even know why she had a need to keep the promise to Jaehyun, he didn’t even exist to her disappointment.

After she received Mei’s message, she quickly headed out to go to the said shop. Her heart pounded nervously as she drove to the address. It was in a secluded part of town, there was no residential area near it and it seemed like a place that no one frequented to judging by the lack of public transportation that went to the area. She had to take a cab, and the look the driver gave her meant that it wasn’t a place to be in in the first place. As she stared at the shop in front of her, she suddenly felt so alone as the cab quickly left blowing a gust of wind. The small bells tingled when she walked in. The store was small and cramped with only a small counter near the end as she tried her best not to step on any of the antique items that were for display. Ringing the small bell on the table, she tried to inspect the place a bit more.

Her eyes squinted as she spotted a familiar poster hanging on the wall between two large dream catchers. ‘The Impossible Dream’ it read as small details were printed around. Her eyes widened in shock. It was the same poster from her dream, could it be that the musical actually existed? Would that mean Jaehyun existed? Before she tried to move further to get a closer look a stern voice spoke from behind the counter.

“What brings you here? We are closed,” her head whipped to the direction of the voice. There stood an old woman who was smaller than her with her white hair tied neatly up in a bun, eyes narrowing towards Y/N.

“That poster, where did you get it?” You said pointing in the direction of it as you tried your best not to falter in front of her gaze that seemed too strong for you to handle.

“That poster was made years ago by my ancestors, does it look familiar to you?” The old lady replied. Y/N nodded in response still debating whether the possibility of Jaehyun existing was real or not. “You took the bottles, didn’t you?” The old lady pressed on as Y/N muttered a small yes. “That was a mistake, you should have never taken it in the first place. I suggest you go home and continue on with your life, dark magic is not to be played with,” she said as she made her way towards the door behind the counter.

“No! Wait, I have some questions,” Y/N protested as she tried to block the old lady from disappearing.

“Forget about it now, what you experienced is not real,” the old lady said as she tried to make her way around you. Y/N continued to block her way which made the old lady sigh. You really didn’t want to give her a hard time considering her age, but you didn’t want to leave without unanswered questions.

“You say the dream I had wasn’t real, but why does that poster exist?” Y/N said as she moved to grab the poster that was hanging on the wall. It was designed exactly like what she saw on her dream. “What is this? What is in those bottles?” She gestured desperately waiting for an answer. The old lady sighed, grabbing a small stool and sitting down. “Those are bottles of dreams, my grandmother and my mother used to make it when I was still a child, telling me that one day it would change the world and that people would go crazy to get a sip of what was in it,”

“These bottles allow people to live in their deepest desires, everything you see in your dream is just a figment of your imagination. The potion lets you have what you want,” she added as she gestured towards the poster. “Luckily for you, what you desire isn’t that bad. But for others, it became too much. I stopped selling the bottles because things could get out of hand,” she said sadly. Y/N felt like the weight of her promise was crashing down on her. There was too much information for her to handle, the fact that Jaehyun did not exist made her sick. “I know you’re sad, everyone does once they find out they can’t have what they desire. But if it makes you feel any better, I can tell you one secret,” the old lady says hesitating as she finds the hope in your eyes glint at her words. “This poster, I am guessing you have seen it before in one of your dreams?” She questions as she holds it up in the light. Y/N nodded, “I want to know if the person I see in my dreams is true, or perhaps, I am holding on to this impossibility that he is true,” she mutters as she remembers Jaehyun. She only had one bottle left, meaning it would be the last time she would see him.

“This poster appeared here two days ago, I don’t know how it got here but I assume it is something from a dream. Just like everything in this shop,” the old lady said gesturing towards the other antique items. Everything was so random, as if it was just dumped with whatever things people could find.

“I am not sure if your dreams are real, and if the people do exist. But judging from how everything keeps appearing in random, they might be somewhere out there,” she added. Y/N breathed deeply, there was no assurance of Jaehyun existing in this world, but the existence of the poster means that he would probably appear in this shop if he were to be created. The poster alone ignited her desire to find him. If he did exist, where was he?

“Thank you, if you see anyone appear here around my age. Tall, white, handsome, basically looks like a prince, please let me know,” Y/N says as she leaves her phone number. The old lady chuckled, “Isn’t that too childish for a woman like you?” She says amused at your desperation to find this boy. “He’s a dream come true, can’t let anyone get to him,” y/n replies as she made her way out.

When Y/N returned home, she felt exhausted. She didn’t want to take her last bottle just yet. It could be her last chance of seeing Jaehyun, if what the old lady said was false. But seeing how the poster showed up, as well as other things that were in the shop, it gave her hope that Jaehyun existed somewhere out there. Another thing that bothered her was the fact that if he was out there, where was he? She didn’t even know where to start finding him. She hoped that he lived in the same country for her, she didn’t have enough money to find him if he were abroad. Nor did she think she was willing to find a man who basically existed based on her imagination. Even if he did live under the same skies, it was still to difficult task to do.

What’s the most you would be willing to do for the person you love?

Y/N took the last bottle of dreams, determined to keep her promise to Jaehyun. Adjusting once again to the bright light, when she woke up, she was seated on a chair in what seems like her room in her dream. She was wearing a white maxi dress that hugged her figure in all the right places, long enough to pool on the floor while she sat down. Her hair flowed down her back with curls toward the ends as her face was dolled with light make up.

Taking a good look of herself, she was satisfied with how she looked. If this was the last thing Jaehyun would see, then she was happy that he would see her at her best. When the doorbell rang, she made her way towards the door with a heavy heart as she reminded herself that this was her last bottle. When she opened the door, she smiled as she took in the sight of Jaehyun infront of her. His hair was gelled back with a fringe curled infront of his forehead. He was wearing a plain black suit and tie with a white dress shirt under. He held up a bouquet of fresh daisies as his cheeks were lightly pink from the cold (he tried to convince himself). “For you,” he shyly said, dimples making an appearance once again, he handed over the daisies as he stared down on his feet shuffling as he felt flustered by your presence.

Y/N pouted, he was the man of her dreams. Literally. She hoped she only drank half of the bottle now, because she definitely wanted to see Jaehyun dressed up like this for the rest of her life.

“What’s the matter?” Jaehyun said worried as he saw your lack of response. Taking your hand lightly, he rubbed small circles in the back of your hand as his other took your chin beneath his thumb and point finger. “Stop frowning, you look beautiful in that dress,” he complimented.

“You’re too good looking, I don’t think I can go with you anymore,” you reply trying to play off the somber mood as you give him a reassuring smile. Jaehyun chuckled, “You should see yourself,”

Both entered the venue, to say that it was extravagant was an understatement. It looked like a greek god threw a party, out of a sudden, Y/N felt out of place with all the people passing by looking like they were raised with a golden spoon. Feeling Jaehyun’s arm snake around her waist pulling her closer towards him, she glance at him sending him a small smile as she tries to gain confidence. “It’s fine, we can leave once you feel uncomfortable,” he says as he guides her towards the entrance. “Who has the money to throw this party? It looks ethereal,” Y/N loudly whispers shooting a fake smile to the guards who welcome both of you. “Moon Taeil, he’s a friend of mine,” Jaehyun replies as he inspects the place. Y/N looks around as she admires the gold chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and tall white pillars around the place with gold vines wrapped around it.

“By the way, you look ethereal,” Jaehyun whispers close to her ear, his lips brushing against her earlobe making her flush. He leads her to their table and leaves to get the drinks which makes y/n snap back to her plan. Honestly, she really did not have a plan. She didn’t know how she should spend her last bottle, but for sure she had to act quickly. She thought of hugging Jaehyun or at least holding his hand tight enough for her to bring him to reality, but everything seems pathetic at this point. Looking around, she decided to go to the restroom to at least settle with a final plan. As she made her way through the hallways, she looks at the pictures hanging on the wall. It all looked like some portrait of a royal family, but one picture has caught her eye. Narrowing her gaze, she inspects a picture of a woman probably around her 20s with eyes set forward as if it was staring at her back.

“Where did I see this before?” Y/N mutters under her breath as she stared longer at the woman. Shit, it was the same woman from the shop, only a younger version. Her eyes widened, as she tried to find more pictures of the woman. Y/N slowly tried to reach for the frame, carefully touching it as she tried to find a trace of anything that could help her to bring Jaehyun to reality. Biting on her lip, she continues down the hall in desperation to find hints. As she neared the end, she felt a gust of wind blow towards her.

Turning around, she finds herself in the middle of the street. It was the same street where she met Jaehyun, the first time she appeared in her dream. She looks around and notices the same poster hanging around. Breathing deeply she turns around once again, “What the fuck is going on?” She asks herself.

“Excuse me, where am I?” She asked as she grabbed an arm of a woman who was walking down the street. The girl ignored her like a ghost as she shook her arm of and continued to walk as if nothing happened. Y/N tried asking different people but they all pretended as if they couldn’t hear her. She continued to walk down the streets, noticing a familiar building. The shop she visited, the one with the old lady.  Y/N tried opening the door, continuously pounding on it with her fists. “Hello! I need some help, I’m the girl from awhile ago!,” she pleaded as she continued to pound the door with her fists. “Please help me,” she cried out as she shook the door handle. After numerous attempts of trying to open the door, she decided to go back.

“Jaehyun, where are you,” she said feeling her eyes water as she ran around trying to find him in the crowd. Closing her eyes, she tried to control her dream. “I am in the party, I am with Jaehyun,” she chanted, eyes tightly shut as she clenched her fists. Her cheeks wet with streaks of tears that have escaped her eye.

Opening her eyes again, she finds herself in a bathroom. Heaving deep breaths, she looks around her cautiously, afraid that she would lose herself in her dream. After wiping her tears, she made her way towards the party. She finds Jaehyun in the corner talking to a woman around her age her hair long and straight. She looked smaller next to his bigger frame and her eyes were sparkling, y/n was not sure if it was from the light or was it just really her. The woman laughed lightly at what Jaehyun says as she gives him a charming smile. She matched the princess in fairy tales looking as regal as Jaehyun could be. This made y/n sad, it was her dream all along, but if she couldn’t bring Jaehyun to reality then he might as well just live his happily ever after with this woman.

But she might be able to bring him with her, and she wasn’t going to back down without a fight. Y/N clenched her fists, I was gone for a while and this idiot didn’t even try to find me, feeling the green monster in her heart rise she huffed out loud stomping over to the both of them.

“What happened to drinks?” She said making Jaehyun jolt at her sudden presence. “I was just about to get it,” Jaehyun answers as he glances at Y/N. “This is Naeun, a friend of mine, and this is Y/N,” he says gesturing to the both of you. Naeun gives her a small smile raising a hand, while Y/N continued to stare at her blankly.

“His girlfriend,” you scoff as you glared at Jaehyun. “I didn’t know it could take you fifteen minutes to get a drink,” she mocked as Jaehyun looked at her with an amused smile. “I just got here, what are you talking about?” He replied. Y/N raised her brow, “I went to the bathroom,” she argued back. Naeun looked at the two, excusing herself as she didn’t want to get caught up between them. “I just sat you down though,” Jaehyun pouted at her response not liking that she was upset with him. Y/N was confused, didn’t she just get lost in her dream? Or did time just stop and everything continued to flow for her? She decided to drop the topic, sitting down on the stool next to him.

“Doesn’t matter, who is she?” She questioned jutting her chin towards Naeun’s direction as she took a sip from the Andy Player Jaehyun ordered from her directing her attention towards the front avoiding his teasing eyes. “Just a friend from high school,” he said taking a seat as well as he took a sip of his drink, his smiling growing wider at her reaction. Y/N rolled her eyes as she played with the liquid in her glass, “Sure, you seem happy to be reunited,” she mocked, jealousy coating her words. “Hmmm, are you jealous?” Jaehyun asked as he leaned one arm on the counter looking at her with a teasing smile she would like to wipe off his face because not only did he irritatingly looked too good to be true, the veins in his arms were also distracting. Fuck Jaehyun and his rolled up sleeves, Y/N found it unfair, he looked like God’s favorite.

“No, why would I be jealous?” She said defensively taking another sip of her drink. “I don’t care who you mingle with,” she dragged on with a tone as she stuck her tongue out. Jaehyun laughed, “Really?  Cause I don’t remember asking me to be your boyfriend,” he added. Y/N chocked on her spit at his statement as she glared at him, “Forget I said that,” though she secretly liked how he seemed to be fine with that title. “To be honest, I really don’t want to,” he retorted. Y/N flushed as she felt herself shrink on her seat.

“I want to dance with my girlfriend, may I?” Jaehyun stated as he offered her a hand, smiling as he raised his brows making Y/N scoff. She really wanted him to stop, it wasn’t good for her heart that probably did a thousand of flips at every word he says.

She took his hand as they made their way towards the dance floor, Jaehyun’s arms wrapped around her waist as he pulled her closer, his other arm guarding each of her hand to wrap around his neck as they found themselves back to her waist. Y/N felt bittersweet, remembering the first time they saw each other and how they were in the exact same position just in a different setting. Jaehyun hummed with the slow song that was playing, lightly mumbling the lyrics with his baritone voice, as his smile never left his face, “This feels familiar,” he says lightly chuckling as he guided her once again through their dance. Y/N this time, only looked at him, no longer looking at her feet. “I think I could get used to this,” she replies making Jaehyun’s smile grow wider, his ears turning red.

“I may have not told you this earlier, but you look beautiful tonight,” he said face serious as they continued to sway to the music. “I mean, you look beautiful everyday, but you look extra pretty now,” he added. Y/N’s face scrunched up in disapproval, never fond of compliments but ever so receiving when it comes to Jaehyun.

“You look handsome as always, Jae,” she said sincerely, lips quirking up slightly at the new nickname she gave him.

Y/N glanced at Jaehyun once more as he continued to guide her carefully through the dance, her heart heavy as it seems that the thought of him not existing in reality would not leave her alone. Hesitating, she looks one more at the smile he has on his face, she really doesn’t want to hurt him. I don’t think I have it in me to hurt you, ever.

“I lo-“

“Jaehyun, I have to tell you something,” she says cutting him off as he was about to say something. Jaehyun looked at her surprise but smiled understandingly, this can wait, I can wait, l just a little bit more, he thought.

They went to the garden, there were still people walking around but less compared to those inside. Y/N’s heart was beating too loud she could hear it in her dream, she has to risk it. She needed to tell him, she had to tell him. “Just let me speak, and I’ll answer all your questions later,” she says as he looked at her curiously. Jaehyun nodded in response, encouraging her to continue as he grabbed both her hands to help her calm down.

“You don’t exist, you’re a part of my dream,” she said as she looked at Jaehyun whose eyebrows just furrowed, pursing his lips as to stop him from asking questions.

“It was my 23rd birthday two days ago, my friend gave me a gift of bottles that contained dreams. I thought it was bullshit at first, but the moment I drank the first bottle, I met you. And I don’t know how to tell you this, but you’re just a part of my imagination. It pains me to say it, but I don’t think I could hide the truth from you anymore. The next time I met you, it was when we were at the park, I remember you asking me how I spaced out and how I seem not to pay attention. It was because I wasn’t mentally present when you were speaking to me. All those times I met you, I fell in love with you because you were all I ever wanted, and it hurts me to think that I can’t even have you in my life,”

  Y/N’s tears continued to roll down her face as she sobbed trying to gather her thoughts as Jaehyun looked at her with a mix of confusion and frustration. “This night, I drank my last bottle,” she says voice shaking as she felt Jaehyun’s hands stiffen under her hold.

“Remember when we made our wishes? I wished to live longer in this dream,” she says as he hugged her. Her tears drenching his suit, but that didn’t matter. This maybe her last moments with him, and her heart was hurting too much for her to take.

“Jaehyun, I love you,” she sobbed. She said it, without hesitation as she looked at Jaehyun with teary eyes. Jaehyun bit his lip, he didn’t even know where to start asking. He hugged her tightly as he felt his tears touch his lips, the taste salty as it continued to flow down his face. “I won’t tell you mine, because it won’t come true if I do,” he says as he puts a hand on his shoulder his face bending down to meet her eyes. His other hand brushed the stray strands against her face as she continued to cry.

“I shouldn’t be crying like this, we shouldn’t be doing this,” she said as she wiped her tears away trying to think of happy thoughts.

“Y/N, look at me,” Jaehyun said seriously. His hands with a firm grip on his shoulder. Y/N tried to hold back her tears as she saw the pain on his eyes, long gone the smiles he gave her earlier.

“Promise me, you’ll try,”  Y/N nodded as she grabbed his face and pressed a firm kiss on his lips.

“Don’t leave me, please,”

“I won’t, I swear,”

—————

Y/N woke up, her cheeks still wet as she felt tears stream down her face. Everything felt so real, the kiss, the confession, the promises. Jaehyun’s words still echoing in her mind as if she could hear his deep voice whispering beside her.

The moment she got up she tried contacting the old woman, and going back to the shop only to find that it was closed already and was going to be demolished soon. It has been a week since she last saw Jaehyun, a week since she has drank her last dream in a bottle. However, the heartache she went through was still as fresh as it was when she woke up. She tried her best to find him. She visited different libraries, reading on books about what happened to her and if there was a way to reverse it. She even tried going to a planetarium in hopes of finding Jaehyun there, but all found nothing. Some people thought she was crazy, and that she was hallucinating everything, but they didn’t know her story.

She even found the same venue where they had the ball, but to her disappointment, she never found anything that could lead her to Jaehyun or vice versa. It was if he was just a memory she was to forget. But that was the problem, she couldn’t forget him. She promised him she would try, and she didn’t want to let him down. Sometimes, she wondered what he was doing. Was he also trying to escape her mind? Was he with Naeun now that she was gone? Does she get those cheesy pickup lines he tells her? What was he doing now? Did he love her?

There were times when she tried to dream of him, but it wasn’t real. All she got was an image of him, but it didn’t feel like how she dreamt of him when she had the bottle. She tried to widen her imagination, and picture him with her. But it was too tiring for her, after all, she only had three nights of dreams.

As she made her way down the busy streets, she walked quickly as she navigated her way towards the central park as she continued to avoid the people bumping her while they were walking the opposite direction. She stopped in front of the cafe, heaving deep breaths. As she made her way in she walked towards the table in the corner, her lips forming into a smile as she saw the familiar face.

“It’s been a while,” she said hugging Mei. Mei grinned back at her and gestured her to sit down.

“So, how’s life so far?” Mei asked enthusiastically as she sipped on her tea, crossing her legs as she leaned forward. Y/N shrugged as she took a bite of her banana cake, “Nothing much, it’s been boring lately,” she said as she stabbed the banana cake and stuffing another piece into her mouth. “You know you never called me after the second bottle,” Mei huffed.

“Nothing happened, I tried to find the manufacturer because I needed more but the building was demolished,” she replied bitterly. “Ohh yeah, but the dreams were good right?” Mei responded.

“Yeah, too good to be true,” Y/N replied dejectedly. “Do you ever like, want your dreams to come true?” She asked Mei curiously as she bit her fork. “Of course, why the sudden question?” Mei retorted. “I dreamt about this guy, and he’s wonderful. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted, and I just wished he was true,” she replies sighing remembering Jaehyun once again which made her feel bittersweet. It was like she was the only one who knew him inside out, he literally was the man of her dreams.

“I don’t know what you dreamt about but whatever it is, I guess those bottles really work then,” Mei shrugged. “Besides, attachment is the root of suffering,” she adds taking a bite of the banana cake and wiggling her brows.

As she navigated her way home, Y/N sighs once again. Was it really that hard to forget Jaehyun? He didn’t even exist yet here she is feeling broken hearted as if she was cheated on once again by her ex boyfriend. Moving towards a crowd she felt people bump against her making her scrunch up her nose in irritation, “Damn, can’t people watch where they’re going?” She muttered under her breath as she made hurried strides towards her apartment.

Before she could take a turn, she felt a body bump against her as she fell on her butt looking up squinting. Pair of hands helped her stand up as she dusted herself, flustered that she caused a scene in public.

“Thank you,” she muttered quietly to the stranger who didn’t seem to budge as she tried to make her way.

“You should really watch where you’re going,” a deep voice said. Looking up, her jaw slacked. There he stood in front of her, with a light smile in his face his hair still swept back as he was dressed in a plain white tee with denim jeans and white sneakers. Jaehyun. If he looked ethereal in her dream, then she didn’t even know how to describe how he looked as he stood in front of her as she continued to stare at him in awe.

“I didn’t know you were this clumsy, I think you need to get used to me guiding you everywhere,” he added shaking his head as he took her hand in his as his smile radiated. He chuckled at her noticing her lack of response. He placed a small kiss on her forehead as his arm wrapped around her shoulder as he pulled her towards the direction of her apartment.

“How did you find me? How are you here? Are you real?” Y/N asked hurriedly as she stared at him in shock. Everyone was looking at Jaehyun, who wouldn’t really? The girls around continued to stare at him with heart eyes but they didn’t matter to him as his arm tightly wrapped around your shoulder. They didn’t matter cause they weren’t you. Y/N was too bewildered to even glare at those girls as her mind started thinking of all the possibilities on how he appeared.

“My wish came true,” Jaehyun stated as he faced her grinning at her amazed state. “What did you wish for?” Y/N asked curiously as she looked at Jaehyun who was still smiling at her softly.

“I wished I could spend the rest of my life loving you,”

Y/N stopped walking as Jaehyun grabbed her shoulders and faced her towards him. “Why did you say that? Now it won’t come true,” she scolded him as she pouted. Jaehyun laughed at her response. “I’m not going anywhere though, you got me, you got me good,” he winked making her blush just like in her dream.

“Oh and Y/N,” he added as he bent down meeting her eyes as she looked at him with flushed cheeks and bright eyes.

“I love you too,”  

[winter-fox-queen]

The Open Road is Full of Hope

Summary:  Marcus Pike goes on a road trip.  He meets you at Monument Valley.

This is for @autumnleaves1991-blog ‘s wonderful Writer Wednesday.  

Warnings:  Partly gender neutral, but the “you” is a woman and Marcus refers to her as such.  Just a story -- a little angst, a little introspection, a little silliness.  No smut.

He couldn’t believe how quiet it was.  He had found a place to camp overlooking Monument Valley, and the sun was setting over the Mittens...the two famous rock formations he felt like he’d seen in every western his father had made him watch as a kid.

He’d been binge watching tv a lot, since moving to DC, keeping his mind off…things.  He’d been watching Westworld, and falling in love with the scenery.  It’s been a bit, since Teresa has left him, but he wasn’t ready to do anything.  See people.  He didn’t feel like himself, but more like a broken doll thrown in a corner.

So, the idea of taking some time, renting a car, doing the Great American Road Trip started to appeal.  He’d always hoped to do it with someone — travel was always so much better when you had someone else to share it with.  But instead, he played a lot of music, let the miles pass.  Let himself just be.  Maybe he’d heal.  Maybe he’d be able to look in the mirror and understand the man he saw there, again.  It was helping.  Mostly.  

“Like something out of a movie, isn’t it?” A voice asked softly.  Marcus looked over, and saw the woman who had pulled into the campsite next to his a few hours earlier.  She had a van, and she had the back doors open, sitting on the bed.  The van back was aimed just slightly towards him, and he could see you clearly.

“It is.”  He said, and smiled back.  

You were pretty.  This was the first time he had really allowed himself to look at you.  He couldn’t think of any questions that wouldn’t be creepy...you didn’t ask a woman traveling alone where she was going or why she was here...so he said, “I’m going to start a fire soon.  If you like you are always welcome to join.”  The night was promising to become chilly.  He was already thinking about pulling on a jacket.

“I might,” you said, so he stacked the wood and tinder the way he’d been taught as a boy, and since the wood he’d bought at the camp store was good and dry, it started easy.  Soon he was sitting on the ground next to the fire, beer on the ground next to him, staring at the fire.  

You shut the doors on the back, and he thought, that’s probably for the best.  I am probably not the best company.

He heard the far side door slide open, and after a bit you came around the van with a box.  “So, I’ve never had s’mores—you have a fire, I have s’more making stuff...want to trade the use of your fire for food?”

“You’ve never had s’mores?  Ever?”  He laughed at your solemn nod.  “Next you’ll tell me you’ve never been trick or treating..”

“Nope, never.  I lived down a dark road and no one ever wanted to go near us, and my father wasn’t much into the idea of it.”  You sit next to him, the box of supplies between you, and hand him a paper plate, followed by a hot dog fork.

He raised an eye brow.  “For the marsh mellows.  They came in a two pack.”  You mutter, and he smiles.  

“Oh!  I forgot…”  You say, and introduce yourself, holding out your hand.  Marcus balances the paper plate on his knee so he can take it.  “Marcus.”

You look at him like he’s a co-conspirator.  “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“Well, if you allow me?”  He broke up the graham crackers in about the right size, put a square of chocolate on each, then put a marshmallow on a fork. You did the same, roasting a marshmallow over the fire.  

Marcus found himself studying you out of the corner of his eye.  He liked how calm you were.  Outside of being beautiful, you had something that kept making him look, really look at you.

He held up the sides of the cracker for you to slide the marshmallow between.  “Now hold it until the chocolate melts,” he says as he does the same for himself.  

“Ooh, excellent.”  You say.  “When do you think it’ll be ready?”

“About now, probably.”  The simple happiness in your eyes as you take a bite calls to something inside of him.  He feels a little lighter.

You chew.  Wince a little.  

“Well?”  He says, before taking a  bite of his own.

“I’m not sure how I feel about it. Is this how its supposed to taste?”

He nods.  It’s sweet, it’s chocolaty, and pretty perfect.  You take another experimental taste.  “Is this, like an acquired taste?  Like beer?”

Marcus finds himself laughing. “Well, if you don’t like it…”  He holds out his hand for the rest and you shake your head.

“No, no, I’ll finish it, at least I can mark it off my bucket list.”

“You have one of those?”  He busies himself making another.  

“Yes.  See Monument Valley.  Eat Smores.  Introduce myself to a handsome stranger…”  You grin at him.  

“Ah.  Are you settling for strange rather than handsome?”

You glare at him and grab some chocolate.  “You are definitely handsome.  Strange, well.  That would be all the better.  Normal is boring, and strange is awesome…unless it’s serial killer strange.  Are you a serial killer?”

“Not unless you count cockroaches.”

“Ah, that’s a relief.  But you should know I sleep with bear spray.”

“You’re safe, with or without it,” he says gently.  

“That’s because I fed you,” You say sagely.

You both let the silence settle. Marcus skips the smores making and just roasts marshmallows.  You steal them because he’s better at roasting them than you are.  

You like that he doesn’t mind, that he smiles, though the smile does not always reach his eyes.  

“What’s on your list?”

Marcus fiddles with the hot dog fork.  “I don’t have one.”  You tilt your head at him and he shrugs.  “My bucket list was always based on the person I was with.  What I thought they wanted.  I always wanted to be a good man.  A good boyfriend.  A good husband.  So I tried to find out what they wanted and make it happen.”

“And you lost yourself.”

Marcus nodded, staring at the fire as if it held all the answers.  He was letting it die down, now, it was more coals than anything else.  “I did.”

You nod.  “I’ve done that.  But here we are.  In the middle of nowhere.”

He looks up, lets his eyes adjust. “I was going to make a comment about the stars, but there’s not a one in sight.”

“Ah, well.  Maybe tomorrow.”  You talk for a little while longer.  Marcus thinks about asking for your number, but he’s not sure if he’s ready.  His heart feels like a rotten piece of fruit, bruised and pulpy.  It doesn’t feel like much of anything to offer.

You gather up your stuff.  “Goodnight, Marcus.  See you down the road.”

“Night,” he says softly, and the moment is gone.  He regrets it, as he douses the fire and takes his folding toothbrush and tooth paste to the restroom, where he gets ready for the night.  When he comes back out, the wind has picked up a bit.  He checks the firepit one more time, then crawls into his tent.  His last thought, as he falls asleep, is if you like pancakes.  There’s a nice place to eat not far away…

He wakes up to thunder, the wind rocking his tent.  He listens to the rain pelt the nylon, the wind and the rain combined are hard enough that when the wind is right, he can feel sprinkles of rain come up under the rain fly and through the webbing. He crawls deeper into the sleeping bag, grateful that, because the tent is so small he keeps most of his hear in the car, including his clothes.

Marcus contemplates going and sitting in the car, trying to sleep.  The backseat, even the passenger seat are loaded because the rental place had given him the world’s smallest car, so he wasn’t looking forward to that…

And then he heard s snap.  He got a face full of tent , and then a face full of rain water as the rain fly flew off, waving in the air like a white flag.

“Fuck!”  He fought his way around, trying to find the keys.  He knew where he’d put them, but when he found the wall pocket, it was empty.  The tent was now completely on top of him, rain pouring in.  He found the zipper and pulled it down.

“Marcus?”  Your feet, sloshing through the puddles.  

Marcus took your hand and allowed himself to be pulled from the wreckage of the tent.  He zipped it shot again, for what good it would do him.

“Take this cooler and use it to weigh down your tent.”  You’d been dragging a cooler behind her. It was heavy, with a heavy lock.  

“I gotta find my keys…do you have a light?”

“Honey, just come back to the van. We’ll find the keys when the storm is over.  We need to get you dry and warm.”

He runs after you to the van, jumps up in and shits the door as quickly as he can to keep the monsoon outside. You shed your rain coat and hang it up. Grin at him.  “What an adventure, heh?”

He takes a moment to look around the van.  It’s nice. Small, but neat.  

“Let me get you something to wear…”  You point to some bins over head.  “There’s some towels in there, could you get them out?”

You pull out a pair of sweatpants and a tee shirt.  “You’re a little broad shouldered…but I like my tee shirts large, so…and these were left by a friend, they might fit.”

You turn around, start stripping. Marcus does the same, facing the windshield.  The storm was still raging, he was able to strip, dry himself, and dress again by lighting light.  The light show on the horizon was truly impressive, and he was grateful to be inside a vehicle, even if the van sometimes rocked and shifted a little in the wind.  He’s starting to shiver, despite being dried off. He was grateful he wasn’t trying to do this in the car.

“OK, it’s safe to look,” you tell him.  “Go ahead and drape your stuff over the passenger seat…it’s not real leather.  I’m going to turn up the heater, you look like you can use it.”

“Thanks for letting me in…I would have gone for the car…”

“And froze to death.”  You say.  “I’d rather you in here.  Do you need anything?  Tea?”

Marcus shakes his head.  “You’ve done enough.  You are my angel.”

“You’ll be even more grateful when you realize I have an electric blanket on my bed...yay for solar batteries!” You use a step stool to gt up onto the platform bed that dominates the back of the van.

“I…I can sleep in the driver’s seat.”

“I only have these blankets, and your blankets are soaking wet…can you be a gentleman?”

He sighs.  “Yeah.  Of course I can.  I just…”

“I’m a practical woman.” You say.  “Though, I do have a request.  You don’t have to.  But if you’d like…”  

He got up on the platform. The mattress was surprisingly comfortable.  He looks at you.  “Sure, anything.”

“If it’s a beautiful day tomorrow, and the sunrise is bright and lovely, that you don’t just leave without saying goodbye.  Kiss me. Kiss me in the sunrise before you go.” He reached out and cupped your face gently.  “I promise,” he said.  “Was that on your bucket list?”

You lean into his hand a moment. “No.”  You smile, and turn so you can lay down facing the back doors.

Marcus had looked up what time the sun was set to rise when he’d checked the weather that morning.  He set his watch to wake him up, before slipping his feet into the pre-warmed bed.

It’s a classic story, he thinks, as he allows how comfortable and peaceful he feels laying next to you to sweep him into sleep.

A man goes, finds himself in the desert, but more importantly, he finds you along the way.

[heartslogos]

no star in isolation [1]

i'm in genshin impact hell send help. also. as you know i'm live on slice of life genfic. so. *hands*

Diluc meets Aether’s gaze head on, unwilling to bend or cave to this. Not even with Paimon pouting and stomping her feet mid-air right next to him.

“And how old are you?” He asks.

“Old enough to drink!”

“And that number is?”

The Traveler hesitates and Diluc takes that opportunity to slide the cup of juice across the bar counter again.

“Until you know that number and say it in a way I can believe, it’s juice.” He says. “Angel’s Share is a reputable establishment. We don’t serve alcohol to minors. I don’t need more knights coming in here.”

“I’m not a minor,” Aether insists. “And didn’t you give some bottles to Diona?”

Diluc can't help raising his eyebrows, leaning back on his heels and crossing his arms.

“Diona,” he replies slowly, “That’s your counter argument? Diona? Did you see her drinking from any of those bottles? That was a delivery. She may work for a rival establishment, but they still have to carry Dawn winery’s vintages to some degree. Drink your juice.”

“Diluc is so stingy!” Paimon cries out. “Come on, Diluc. Aren’t you Paimon and Aether’s friend? Just one glass?”

Diluc pulls another glass out from underneath the bar and pointedly fills it with juice.

“Sure,” he says. “One glass. Enjoy.”

He turns his back on Paimon’s protests as he goes to take another order from one of the customers who had been patiently waiting while watching the exchange.

Out of the corner of his eye he sees Aether quickly push up on the counter, lean forward and reach under the counter to rummage around and pull out one of the bottles he’s seen Diluc put there before.

Diluc gives credit where credit is due. Aether moves fast and quietly. And, for once, Paimon is appropriately subtle.

If Diluc hadn’t been expecting it, he might not have seen it. But Diluc’s had plenty of patrons think they can swindle him at his own bar right under his nose, before. And Aether is far from the first brat to think they’re smooth enough to sneak a drink from Angel’s Share and brag about it later.

Still. Honorary Knight, blessed by Barbatos himself, or not, no one gets away with that kind of thing on Diluc’s watch.

He’s about to turn to Aether to take the bottle back and maybe give him some kind of lecture about responsible business dealings and how Aether should know at least a little about it since he’s spent several weeks in Liyue, when blue catches his eye.

Far against the back wall Kaeya rests his chin on his hand and raises an eyebrow at him. Diluc’s teeth momentarily grind as Kaeya flips that stupid coin of his up in the air. Diluc recognizes that look.

There’s a faint twist to the corner of Kaeya’s mouth that turns the ever present half-smirk into something a little more genuine.

Kaeya would argue that all of his smirks and smiles are genuine. Diluc would argue that Kaeya’s sincerity operates on a sliding scale, capable of sliding straight off a cliff into complete falsehood.

But this one is sincere.

Against his will, Diluc is taken back. He’s taken back into the shadowed and unused hallways and corridors of his memory.

He’s young, younger than Aether looks to be now, and so is Kaeya. The exact number doesn’t matter because this is a memory that repeats. This is a moment that’s happened so often it’s become a template for memories identical to this one except for maybe one or two minor details.

It’s him and Kaeya, when they were brothers in both name and daylight. Kaeya, barely able to suppress his giggles and Diluc no better. Kaeya is flushed rosy with laughter, and Diluc is sure he’s no better. Probably worse off. He’s always been terrible at controlling his expressions. Or at the very least, worse than Kaeya.

Both of them are high on success because they’ve snagged a bottle of wine from the kitchens while everyone is distracted preparing for the big feast father is hosting for some visiting friends of his.

In the commotion of preparing for the event — the guests, the table settings, making sure the guest wing is adequately prepared, ensuring that the road up to the house is cleared and secured — no one was paying attention to two little boys.

Two little boys and a stolen bottle, giggling and hiding away in one of the little used rooms of the manor. They never even finished any of those bottles. Between the laughter and the fact that they were both so young — unable to really appreciate the taste or the feeling that comes with it — they always ended up having to figure out a way to sneak the bottle back. Usually they’d add a bit of water to make it look full and slip it back into the store room, or they’d swap it with one in their father’s study.

In retrospect, Diluc thinks that their father knew about the fate of those missing bottles, but never said anything about it. He’ll never know, now.

But in the present, Diluc knows that Kaeya knows. They’re both thinking of the same thing. Remembering the same laughter.

And when Diluc meets Kaeya’s eye he knows that he can’t turn around and face Aether and take that bottle back. If he tries to Kaeya is definitely going to comment on Diluc’s hypocrisy. Though he shouldn’t. But to tease Diluc he would definitely bend the laws and duties of being a knight of Mondstat. For a moment, at least.

Enough to make Diluc want to throw both him and the Traveler out of Angel’s Share for the night. Enough to make Diluc have to fight down a flush of embarrassment or anger — a fight Diluc knows he’d probably lose. As he does in most fights against his own feelings.

He feels his shoulders almost slump, but he pulls himself together to focus on making the next drink order.

He can’t hear Kaeya from here, but he can imagine his soft snicker as Diluc ignores the Traveler behind him.

Diluc supposes that there’s some humor to allowing the situation to unfold. After all. Diluc is going to turn around at some point. And Aether has to make that bottle go somewhere.

And knowing Aether, he’s going to want to figure out how to pay for his stolen bottle, which would require him to admit to stealing the bottle. It’s short sighted on the Traveler’s part, but maybe this will teach him a lesson.

Both Paimon and the Traveler catch onto this flaw in their little plan soon after Diluc does.

Diluc works on mixing a few more drinks and directing a few more orders of food to the back kitchen staff. But in the peripheral of his vision he can see Paimon start to flutter around. Her attempts at whispering are admirable, considering how poorly she normally does at subtlety and being discrete. They’re panicking, now.

He’s tempted to take pity on them and admit he already saw them. Maybe he’s growing soft.

Something flies towards his face and Diluc reacts on instinct to catch it.

He glares as Kaeya leans on the bar, squeezing Kaeya’s thrown coin in the palm of his hand.

“What.”

“I’m paying,” Kaeya replies, “As you do in a business establishment. For the drinks and the food.”

There was no food. Tonight Kaeya had been in the sort of mood where he wanted to sit in a corner with his cups and observe. Not unusual for him.

Kaeya pointedly flicks his eye towards Aether and Paimon before meeting Diluc’s gaze again.

Diluc sighs and slips the coin into the lock box underneath the counter.

“Fine. If you’re done get out.” Diluc jerks his head towards the two panicking thieves. Kaeya nods his understanding, smile flickering against towards familiar and sincere.

“Soft heart,” Kaeya mutters, eye crinkling a little at the corners, before rapping the the polished wood of the bar with his knuckles and straightening up and calling out to the pair.

“Oy, isn’t it bedtime for you two yet? I know we’re a city of free spirits but surely there’s some kind of curfew for the little ones, some sort of responsible bed time hour,” Kaeya says, looping an arm around Aether’s shoulders and bodily pulling him towards the door. “Come on. Time for all the good little kids of Mondstat to go to bed. You know if you stay up all night in the Angel’s Share the rest of us adults won’t be able to let loose without a guilty conscience. That’s terrible business for a bar.”

Diluc watches Aether quickly attempt to hide the bottle as he turns to watch them leave. Aether and Paimon both shoot wide eyed looks at Kaeya and Diluc, clearly distressed by their current predicament. It really doesn’t help their case in trying to convince people, Diluc, that they’re not a kid.

Kaeya calls out over his shoulder. “Put their bill on my tab, Master Diluc. It’s the least I can do for our great and noble honorary knight.”

“You don’t have a tab,” Diluc yells back as Kaeya whisks the two out the door and into the night, where they’re someone else’s problem.

[nekoannie-chan]

No reasons

Pairing: Steve Rogers X Reader.

Word count: 1693 words.

Summary: Steve had made you several promises, but he made a mistake, will you forgive him?

Warnings: None.

A/N: This is my entry to the @thefanficfaerie​ ‘s Heather’s life in song with the song prompt #11:

“Don’t speak” by No Doubt.

Song lyrics are in italics and bold.

Flashbacks are in italics.

My native language is Spanish so I wanna improve my writing skills in English if you notice any mistake please let me know and I will correct it.

I don’t give any kind of permission that my fics be posted in other platforms or languages (I translate myself my work) or the use of my graphics (my dividers are included in this), I did them exclusively for my fics, please respect my work and don’t steal it. There are some people here who make dividers that anyone can use, mine is not this type, please look for the other’s people. The only exception is the ones I gifted ‘cuz now belong to someone else. If you find any of my works on a different platform and is not one of my accounts, please let me know. Reblogs and comments are always welcome.

DISCLAIMER: I don’t own Marvel’s characters (unfortunately), except for the original characters and the story.

My other media where I publish: Wattpad, Ao3, ffnet.

If you like it please vote, comment, and give me feedback to improve my skills and reblog. 

 You and me, we used to be together Every day together, always I really feel that I'm losin' my best friend I can't believe this could be the end It looks as though you're lettin' go And if it's real, well, I don't want to know

 The tears didn’t stop running down your cheeks, you still refused to believe what was happening, all those promises now unfulfilled, all those dreams and plans were going to waste now.

If he had told the truth earlier, you would have understood and put your feelings aside, many things would have been avoided.

You didn't want to hear from Steve again in your life, you weren't the only one who thought the same thing, A simple selfish act had ruined many lives.

He had left not only you but also his best friend, what kind of person would do that?

Abandon his wife and his best friend without giving them any explanation, without caring about what they had lived together, or everything he had promised them.

"I'm with you to the end of the line" was nothing more than the vile lie with which he had deceived you, which you had long believed.

 Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin' So please stop explainin' Don't tell me 'cause it hurts Don't speak, I know what you're thinkin' I don't need your reasons Don't tell me 'cause it hurts

 "Y/N, please understand I must go," said Steve exasperated.

“Why you? Anyone else can do it, there are more team members besides you.

"It must be me," he insisted.

“Why? You haven't given me any good reason,” you claimed.

"I am the team leader."

“Which team? Steve, we don't have a team, you know that for the last seven years everything has been a disaster”.

You knew that something strange had happened in the time travel, you didn’t go with him, you went to Vormir.

After that fight, while Steve was bathing, you took his compass and opened it, when you discovered the contents you felt as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown at you, you had finally understood everything.

 Our memories, well, they can be inviting But some are altogether mighty frightening As we die, both you and I With my head in my hands, I sit and cry

 You saw the wedding photo, that day you thought was the happiest day of your life, currently, it was a memory that made you sad.

Now you understood Steve's insistence on not having children yet, he had always told you that you wanted you to enjoy your marriage a little more without those kinds of responsibilities.

“Y/N? “ Wanda knocked from the other side of the door

You wiped your tears away and looked up at the door quickly, every time you heard a noise nearby you couldn't help but maybe it was Steve.

"One moment," your voice trembled.

You got up and went to open the door to see what Wanda wanted.

"What happens?" You asked.

You hadn’t left your room in several days, Wanda was the one in charge of bringing you food, you didn’t speak to anyone and you were devastated.

"They need you in the boardroom," she said as soon as you opened the door.

You went to the place when entering as she had indicated, when entering, the rage invaded you.

"Y/N ..." Steve said when he saw you.

"I'm not going to be in the same place as him," you sentenced.

You turned around and almost collided with Bucky.

"Please, I need to talk to you," Steve asked.

"I have nothing to hear from you, unless it's to tell me you've already signed the divorce."

As soon as he told you what he was going to do you asked for the papers, you had suspicions, which were confirmed at the time he left, so you signed them.

 Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin' So please stop explainin' Don't tell me 'cause it hurts, no, no, no

You had met Steve on the first mission you had with the STRIKE team, it had been fun to see Steve and Rumlow fight because they couldn't agree”

Eventually, you and Steve became best friends, you spent a lot of time together and in all missions, they were a good team, one of the best that S.H.I.E.L.D. had.

You were afraid to confess your feelings to him and you thought that if you did Steve would walk away from you because he probably wouldn't reciprocate.

 Don't speak, I know what you're thinkin' And I don't need your reasons Don't tell me 'cause it hurts

It's all ending We gotta stop pretending Who we are

 "Are you going to deny the truth that you left for?"

"No, but I just went to the dance I promised her and came back."

Y/N and Bucky looked at each other, they knew Steve was lying, it had been much more than a dance.

"How many years were you there?” you asked.

"It was just the dance," he said, but his voice didn't sound confident.

“Do you really think you can fool us? We know you very well,” Bucky said.

"Ten years, but I couldn't stop thinking about you" he excused himself.

"You made a big mistake."

"You would have thought long before, Rogers, I don't want to crossword with you again if it's not for you to give me the signed document," you sentenced before leaving the place.

 You and me I can see us dyin' Aren't we?

 You had been sent on a mission at first it seemed disastrous, but in the end, you achieved the goal

They were in the facility that had indicated that it is fine as a shelter when finished before the extraction

“You’re ok? Did they hurt you? He asked worriedly.

"I'm fine, just a little tired and dirty," you replied.

"I think the shower works well."

“Are you suggesting we bathe together?

"N-no, it’s not what I meant, no...”

He was completely blushing, you had fun teasing him. You took a shower to clarify your ideas, it was the first time you felt nervous, and you had decided to confess your feelings.

"Hey, do you want dinner? I cook something," he said when he saw you.

You sat down to eat but it was difficult, your nerves increased.

"I like you," you finally confessed.

Steve saw you without saying anything, for a moment you thought that he would reject you or that he would leave, he got up, went to you and kissed you. 

"I like you, too," he said when you parted from the kiss.

 Don't speak, I know just what you're sayin' So please stop explainin' Don't tell me 'cause it hurts

"But Y/N I love you," said Steve.

"No, you never loved me, you just didn't want to be alone in this time, and all those words were lies."

“But you love me…”

You pressed your lips tightly, you had been holding back not to slap him or be close enough to him to convince you with his charms.

"I still love you, but I also hate you. None of this is easy, but I must worry about myself," you thought.

"Before all this yes, but now no more, you hurt me too much, you broke my heart, there is nothing that can remedy all this," you replied.

 No, no, don't speak, I know what you're thinkin' And I don't need your reasons Don't tell me 'cause it hurts

 Steve don’t waste telling you how much he loved you.

You knew that he sometimes visits Peggy, but you always thought it was out of nostalgia.

You always supported him, you didn't have much to lose so you stood by him in the Accords.

Bucky seemed a little suspicious, at first, he believed that you wanted to steal his best friend, but the three managed to form a great team.

He had even helped Steve with planning to propose to you.

 Don't tell me 'cause it hurts I know what you're sayin' So please stop explainin' Don't speak, don't speak

 1948

 Peggy threw herself into Steve's arms when she saw him at the door.

“How?”

“It is a long story”.

That night they danced for hours.

"I want you to stop being Captain America," Peggy demanded.

“What? I cannot”.

"If you love me, you will."

 Don't speak, no I know what you're thinkin' And I don't need your reasons I know you're good, I know you're good I know you're real good, oh

 1958

Steve was nervous, he would ask Peggy to marry, he had to admit that he missed his previous life, but it was something that she had asked him, he could not deny her anything.

He opened the door of the house, seemed to hear something, went to the room, the scene he saw left him frozen.

“Peggy!”

Peggy separated from the man she was in bed with.

“What are you doing here? You were supposed to be at work.

The woman covered her nakedness to go after Steve, who said nothing.

"It's not what it seems, Steve.”

“Do not? Are you going to deny that you were having sex with him?

She was trying to come up with some excuse.

"You know, I made a mistake I should never have come back, I should have stayed with my family," said Steve with deep sadness.

He left the house, he needed to go to the particles where he had stored them, he took out the box and found a separator that you had given him, a heart that you yourself made for him, you had scarred yourself by burning yourself when you emptied the material into the mold, in the center it had the inscription "I LOVE YOU" and on the another side of the date of that anniversary.

He would go back to you and Bucky and do whatever it took to forgive him, raise a family with you, and forget everything that had happened on that last trip, which had perhaps been the biggest mistake of his life.

 La, la, la, la La, la, la, la Don't, don't, ooh, ooh Hush, hush, darling Hush, hush, darling Hush, hush

 “He's going to see her, isn't he?” You asked Bucky.

After seeing the compass you had left the room in silence, in the courtyard you had met James.

"I don't know," he replied.

"Bucky is your best friend, please, I need to know that," you asked.

"Yes, he will, did he tell you?"

"He didn't want to give me any explanation, but all the signs seem to indicate it."

"What do you think about it?" Bucky questioned you.

“I would have preferred that we never would have gone out if I continued loving her, she always said that you and I were the most important thing, but this shows us that it is not true”.

The day he left you weren't there, you stayed in the room, erasing all the photos they had together, you wished it was so easy to erase all the memories and experiences they shared.

 Don't tell me 'cause it hurts Hush, hush, darling Hush, hush, darling Hush, hush

 2023

"Are you okay?" You asked Bucky.

"I'm not, but I will be, will you forgive him?"

"I can't, it's just difficult, we had made a promise but I think he didn't care in the end," you replied. "What will you do?"

"I still have to redeem myself for what I did."

"It wasn't your fault, you were under HYDRA's control," you said.

“Do you have any plans?”

"All my life I've been in this job, I guess I'll stay, but I don't plan to work with him, the less contact I have, and the better for me," you replied.

Steve had made a big mistake and he will do anything to fix it.

[suffering-and-happy-about-it]

Mount Everest Ain't Got Shit On Us (Fezco x fem!reader, Part 1.)

Description: You were always told that your life will be as you wish it to be if you'll study enough. That it will pay off if you work hard. And some people were given you like the scary example of what will happen when you don't obey. But sometimes it feels good to disobey.

A/N: Man, Fez is just my main bitch from Euphoria. I just adore him the most. His breakfast is consistent with Respecting Women Juice™️ and Keeping His Shit Together Juice™️. He might not be the brightest man around, but I think he's gentle and caring. Like hell.

A/N: The reader is around 17 to 18 years old, not further explained, attending high school. Rue and the gang are around the same age and since Fezco's age was never actually clarified, let's go with 23.

A/N: This takes place in a universe where Jules was away for a while, but after a few months she came back to Rue.

Warnings: Talking about drugs, drug addiction, smoking, drinking alcohol. You know. Basically the normal lives of today's kids.

Word count: 3 K +/-

Masterlist and declaration: H E R E

Ever since you were a kid, the adults always told you that you can be whatever you would like to be. When you were five, they lied to you - they told you that you can be a pirate or a princess, or an astronaut or a zoo animal keeper for that matter. 

When you were ten, they usually started to be critical to you just as you started as well. You slowly realized that being a plumber or a social worker is maybe the place you were supposed to be, you started to base your imaginations off the reality. 

When you were fifteen, it all came together - you knew what should you do, what is off your limits and what stays in your boundaries. You could still be something even if you weren't the smartest or the funniest in your class, or the best of bureaucracy. 

And when you go to college you most likely know what you'll do with your life - that you would be a nurse, a teacher, a biologist or you know that you will not go to college at all. Sometimes the young people didn't even continue to college. Sometimes it just doesn't work out. It simply happens.

But they were the other ones - the people who weren't destined to have a normal life. Those who dropped out of high school and just started to live by their own rules and who tried their best to go through life without some bigger problems. 

Your mums usually told you not to be dumb, not to hang out around these people, stay out of their presence and ignoring them as well as you could. But some of them weren't that bad, they weren't the garbage of the society as your mums told you. 

Every one of them had a reason to be as they were - usually it was a reality-based reason, something that made a perfect sense when explained, a serious social issue. You just had to ask them - some of them became gang members to help their family financially, others had committed prostitution, some of them were part of the black market with guns. Most of their fates circled around money. Money, the thing you need to survive in this cruel, cruel world. 

Love meant a lot to those who wanted it. But money mattered way more. You needed money to survive - it was to survive or to be killed. No other options were remaining. 

You lived in a small town since you were born. Everyone knew everything about everyone. It was just as simple as that. It took you by surprise when your parents told you that you'll be moving out of your birth town in the next few weeks to some strange suburb on the other side of America. 

You heard that it actually snows there during winter which was a pleasant change from the hotness of Arizona. Also, it was nearer to the bigger cities of the United States - and you were pumped to visit them with your mum and siblings or cousins. To shop, to see something new, to actually get some experience.

“It isn't that bad. I like this place.” - Your little brother Cal called out as he stepped out of the truck. You carefully took the box out, almost tripped because of you untied old Converse shoes you still wore even after they tore apart near the base. You had an old, rainbow t-shirt on, it basically hung on your body because of how oversized it was, it covered your Adidas shorts completely. 

“New boys. New girls. Fresh start. No history. I love it,” - Francis, your older sister, said out loud. She came out of the closet four years ago and since then, she has dated numerous girls and boys. She was going to attend local college but you were sure that sooner or later, she will introduce you to another love of her life. - “And what about you, my little bean? You feel comfortable out here?” - She hung an arm around your shoulder and you gave her a nod. 

You weren't exactly the happiest about moving out of the town you have known your whole life so well, but both of your siblings were right. The neighborhood seemed to be quiet, safe, clean and nice, just an ideal place to base a family life in. Bikes were thrown around, the kid's screams of amusement could be heard just as the birds sang and the wind around you felt wet and yet warm in a nice way.

“Come on, you golden trio. You are unpacking your things for what seems like a whole eternity! We brought some pizza and Thai if you want some!” - Your mom shouted out of the front door with a huge smile, holding the plastic bag as proof for you. 

“Go.” - Your sis patted your shoulder and got into the truck to shut the back door completely, preventing stealing. You did not wait for her, you looked at your legs, how the fresh green grass breaks under your feet and the soles of your shoes, being careful about not fall down. 

Your mum always told you to tie your shoelaces but you never really listened since you were a small kid. It resulted in a lot of falling down, bruises, abrasion and you crying loud. But you learned how to walk with your shoelaces undone. It was your own choice, after all, you chose not to tie them - and they told you all along that your life depends on what you want and what you don't want. 

Your parent always told you how easy it actually is to live in your generation - that you can use cellphones, that you can use the internet, that they are taking care of everything you could probably need. 

You thought about it a lot - and you came to an opinion. It was not easy at all. To live in your age. It felt more like surviving than living for real. The drugs were easily accessible for the younglings - even your big sis was a serious stoner back in your hometown and you knew that it will not take long her to find the local dealer and become friends with him. The cyberbullying was a serious issue that made a lot of people's life worse, the bullies could easily find your personal information, your old photos, they could make fun or a living nightmare of you and your life. And when your nudes leaked out? Holy shit, you were fucked like hell.

Yeah. You were a high-schooler. But let's face it - almost everyone who tried to make a move with someone or who was in a relationship had sent a nude at some point in their life. It was some kind of a norm for the children your age. 

You were constantly in danger thanks to the great internet and that was a fact. The adults tried to teach you how to behave on the internet... But truly, did any of you actually give a crap? Every one of us took it as bullshit, not taking them too seriously. Who was actually safe around you? Drugs, alcohol, sex, porn, cigarettes, money everywhere around you. 

It was so easy to become corrupted. Just like everyone around you. 

You were not that innocent at all as well - your big sis was really popular back in your hometown - she was truly smart, she was funny, she used drugs and smoked, drank regularly. She was invited basically to every party in the town. Some of them were wild, some of them were pretty muted thanks to weed and ecstasy which was always distributed there. 

You smoked at the parties and did some shots - that wasn't so bad. Kids your age did a way worse thing at those parties. 

Your mum and dad knew that you and your sis attended some parties but they didn't know that there were drugs and alcohol present. You were the Sunday church raised children after all (which didn't mean that your parents discriminated or turn their backs to their oldest child when she said she's into girls a lot), they trusted you.

They often laughed that they have done it too. Sure, you smiled usually, but did you see a girl who is dozed off after Lexauryne, have you felt the actual fear about her life? Have you ever seen what shit Valium or heroin does to someone? Have your friend almost jumped off the roof when they took too much LSD? But you never said anything out loud. 

You have seen things. But everyone did. It wasn't easy to be a teenager in your age. 

Every one of your friends slowly became one of those types your parents always warned you about - at least a part of them was just like the people they talked about to scare you off. Maybe you were one of those people as well. What could you know?

You had your dinner with the typical witty sense of humor of your parents and the usual bickering between you, your little bro and older sis. You felt safe at those moments, away from reality, just chilling with your fam. 

The next morning was your first actual day of school after a weekend of moving in. Your dad went to his new workplace for the first time and your sis and your mum stayed home to continue with unpacking.

"You should get up or you seriously will not go to school on time." - Your mum peeked into your room and you just mumbled something in response when Fran took your bed with her monster attack as you called, tickling you, kissing you into your hair and laughing along with you.

"Get your lazy ass off the bed, ma's right. I'll ride you to school." - She laughed and laid next to you, looking you in the face. You smiled at her, smoothed your hair and yawned. - "Ah shit, you thought about that again, didn't you? You'll be just fine. This is a good neighborhood, ma and pa told us yesterday. Nobody will shove a knife on your neck and threaten you to do drugs or take your money. Nobody will take your pics while you pee. I swear. You'll be alright, baby girl." - She kissed your forehead tenderly.

Fran always said that you worry about too many things. And she often said that you're way more adult than she'll ever be. But she didn't forget to mention that it's harming you a lot in a way.

"So that's how you make girls fall for you. I see it now." - You teased her. She took a pillow and smacked your head with it. But she laughed. Then Fran stood up and stopped at your door to take a last good look at her baby sister. - "Get your lazy ass up and have some good breakfast. We have something about forty-five minutes before you, I and the last shithead would have to go. Go get 'em, tiger!" - She yelled and clapped her hands, letting you alone.

You got the smallest room - Fran demanded the one on the second floor, saying it was for her study purposes. She lied. It was the only room with a balcony and she needed to smoke weed somewhere. Your brother had the second room because he could be a little brat and a pain in the ass sometimes. So you and your parents had the room on the first floor.

But you liked it. It was easier to make it comfortable and you could open a big window to look out on the street. And you had a big bed nonetheless so you were just fine about your new room.

You better did what Fran said - took some of your other shorts from your wardrobe, then you took out your favorite Lion King oversized t-shirt with Rafiki printed on it and you completed with a big ass hoodie which reaches up to the middle of your thighs. You put on some high socks on because you loved the look of them rolled down to your Converse shoes.

You cleaned your face and brushed your teeth and hair, putting it into a bun which was all over the place as always, then you tried to make your face more appealing with some eyeliner and mascara but in your eyes, you looked like a mess. You put your old, torn apart but trustworthy backpack over your shoulder and took off to the kitchen. Everyone was already eating, dad reading the news on his phone as he always used to.

"I don't want bacon!" - Cal yelled almost frantically and that almost freaked the living hell out of you. He loved bacon. What was his deal?

"What is it, young man?" - Mum asked and looked at him. Thanks to Fran's shit-eating grin you knew that she's the one responsible.

“I must declare that I am a proud vegetarian from now on.” - Cal said with a serious face and you just burst out of laughing. Cal was always like that. Smart pants. But he never was socially awkward. He just used some words that were too complicated for a boy his age.

“Oh really?” - You mum asked with a surprised face, watching all of you with her witty jokes prepared face. - “And why is that? Y/N will love to have some more bacon.” - And so it was. Another three slices to your empty, hungry stomach. Maybe Cal's sudden vegetarianism had some plusses to it. 

“Fran told me that it will make me more appealing in front of the girls. And I am a ladies man.” - Cal told with a serious face and that was the moment Fran’s grinning face bursted out of laughter as well. 

“You're also only thirteen years old, pal. No girls until you're at least sixteen. But you do you.” - Your dad said all of a sudden. You loved them so much it sometimes took you by a surprise. 

Then, when the breakfast was over, you went out to your sister’s car. Your dad had one and Fran was given your mum’s car. Your ma said shell take the bus to work so it's ok for Fran to have her own car to do her business with. 

“Okay, shithead one and shithead two. Are you ready for your first venture to the big, scary world?” - Fran joked and waves to ma when you were doing your seatbelt on the co-driver’s side.

“Bring it.” - You said, turning the radio on. It was a station you didn't know, some new hip hop songs. But it was enjoyable, so you just let it play, rolling the window down, leaning your crossed elbows into it. You were aware that your hair will be even messier after that, but you wanted to feel the actual atmosphere and energy of your new hometown.

You felt free from your burdens once again - the hip hop was almost screaming out of your car, the air felt cold between your hair and the sun shined on your skin gently. You were watching the new, strange people who lived there, walking in schools direction, groups of friends, some alone kids, some kids were riding bikes. 

It seemed to be like your old home yet it didn't feel like it. Something was just out of its place and weren’t sure if you can put that thing back. 

The car slowly drove next to some gas station or a small shop, you couldn't tell. But something caught your eye - a boy standing with his back turned to the car, in a long sky blue shirt with some clouds painted on it, jeans and a seriously short hair which color you couldn't figure out. You stuck your head out of the window, inhaling that view until you could. 

Something drawn your eyes in his direction, something told you that you should watch him. He was smoking, that was for sure, and moving his hands, probably talking with someone. 

The boy slowly disappeared because of some other building but you would swear that he turned in your direction as well. The air you were holding in slowly came out of your lungs as you slowly leaned to your seat. Francis was watching you but remained silent, just smoked her cigarette with her right wrist out of her window.

When the car stopped, Cal was almost immediately out of it, saying goodbye to you and Fran, but you remained there, leaning more and more down, trying to be invisible for the others.

“Chop chop, out of the car. You will have a great first day at your new school and you will find some friends.” - Fran told with a smile, smoothing your naked knee with her palm. 

“How can you know?” - Your gaze fell on the big hall leading to the main entrance, to all of those strange people there. That didn't feel right. You were scared for your life - new surroundings, new people, new feelings. How many of them tried some drugs? Will you even find someone to be friends with? The feeling inside you felt like exploding, the unsureness, the unknown, the fear. 

“Because I know your little bratty ass since the fucking day youve been born, dumbass.” - She laughed and undid your seatbelt, opening the door for you. - “Show those bastards who you are and that you are not afraid.” 

And with that, you got up and watched as Fran waved you and took off in her car. And you felt lost.

[writethehousedown]

When the Sun Sets on Us: Chapter 1 (Scyvie) — Phryne

A/N: Hey y'all! So I came up with this idea a couple days ago, and being my dumb self, decided I was going to write it as a whole, multi-chaptered fic for a wthd challenge. So here’s the first chapter of When the Sun Sets on Us, a summer romance featuring romantic cynic Scarlet, and cynical about romance Yvie, absolutely enamored with each other upon first sight and trying to figure out where to go from there — or if there even is something worthwhile beyond immediate infatuation. Enjoy!

Chapter 1

Summer opened and spun around Scarlet like a ballerina in a porcelain music box — timely, rigid, delicate, something she constantly found herself swept up in — before it closed again, only to open once more when the sands were hot, the ocean tender, the boardwalk crowded with families and tipsy college students, and she was once again zipping between packed tables.

She pulled a couple of ones out from under a sweaty Miller Lite bottle, trying not to look displeased at a two-dollar tip on a thirty-six-dollar bill. Especially considering the family she’d been serving had been less than pleasant: the spoiled child, the disinterested mother, and the father who’d been staring at her tits every time she’d visited the table. She crumpled the ones and stuffed them in her apron before gathering cups and flatware.

Across the way, a group of girls crowded around a table, stealing chairs from nearby tables to fit everyone under the sun-faded yellow umbrella. They’d caught her eye, pulling Scarlet away from brushing Coca Cola soaked french fries into a bin, mainly with all the chairs scraping against the concrete and one of them swearing as she finally situated herself at the table, only for her phone to fall through the table slats. Mainly, that noise caught her attention. That was, of course, before the woman next to her, all glistening and bright in a stark white bikini top, let out such a course, raucous laugh, holding Scarlet’s attention like she wished that woman would hold her hand. Firmly, unequivocally, like it was only hers.

And then she looked over at Scarlet, met her gaze, and Scarlet swore she smiled at her before looking back down at her hands, fiddling, fidgeting, before her blonde friend threw a menu at her from across the table.

She could have sworn it was a smile. That was, of course, unless Scarlet was deluding herself, which she apparently had a tendency to do. There was something about summer here — the whirling breeze, the ocean air thick in her lungs — that made her feel like every pretty girl was some sun-struck romance waiting to unfurl.

She also could have sworn she’d already wiped up the ketchup smiley face that little brat had left for her on the table, which his parents didn’t feel was their job to wipe up. But feeling her elbow dip into the ketchup, she realized she was wrong before and could be wrong again. She grabbed a napkin to wipe off her elbow, watching as A’keria delivered fruity mixed drinks and a round of shots to that table, losing track of how much time she’d spent cleaning herself off.

As A’keria folded her tray under her arm and walked off, the noise and shared laughter from that table swelling, Scarlet got an idea. She stole one more glance over at the woman, who threw a wicked smile toward the girl next to her before raising her glass to toast.

“To the end of the semester, not failing shit, and finally getting some damn sleep!”

“And cheers to getting that security deposit back,” the girl next to her added, raising her cocktail. “That landlord scum ain’t getting any more of our money.”  

Another girl chimed in, “I ain’t cuttin’ no checks, Mary.”

The woman, who, with every word, Scarlet felt herself becoming hopelessly enamored with, added with a laugh, “To the end of capitalism!”

“To the end of capitalism!” They all clinked glasses before throwing back the shots, eyes wide from the burning liquor.

Feeling a small smile pull across her lips, Scarlet cleared the table quickly, swiping the baskets and beer bottles into her bin haphazardly. She wiped down the table before heading to the back, where she hoped A’keria would still be.

And she was, throwing her tray down on the bar haphazardly before asking for another soda to fill her styrofoam cup. Scarlet came up behind her, gently resting her hand on her arm, trying not to startle A’keria, but her bubbly demeanor gave her away.

“Scarlet,” A’keria drew out, banging her straw against the bar top until it opened. She retrieved the straw from the paper with her teeth.

“So… whatcha drinkin’?” Scarlet began nonchalantly, reaching over to pick up A’keria’s tray and a cloth to wipe it off.

A’keria turned and observed for a moment, nodding as though she were confirming her findings.

“I smell a scheme, Scarlet.”

“What?” Scarlet pushed A’keria’s tray back toward her. “Why would I be scheming? That’s crazy. I never scheme.”

A’keria looked her up and down in disbelief, surely noticing the quirk of a smile spread across Scarlet’s lips, the pleading eyes. She supposed she never was too good at hiding feelings.

“I smell it.” A’keria punctuated every word, poking Scarlet’s arm.

“Oh, that’s just ketchup. It’s like, all over me.” She laughed faintly, weakly.

A’keria tilted her head.

Damnit, she was good.

“Okay, so there’s a girl I really like over at your table—”

“No,” A’keria replied flatly, stirring her soda. Scarlet felt herself fizzle.

“I just really want to talk to her,” Scarlet pleaded. “Please, please, please just give me table four. I’ll make it up to you.”

A’keria paused to sip her soda, though still making time to roll her eyes at Scarlet. “So you’re telling me you want my table of nice girls, who are drunk enough to give me their full, Christian names upon meeting me, who are definitely gonna order three mixed drinks each, probably another round of shots, some food to share, and then leave me a thirty-three percent tip because that’s what nice drunk girls do?” She stared into Scarlet. “You think I’m gonna give you that table?”

Scarlet swallowed. “Did the one in the white bikini top, with the braids in a bun give you her name?”

“You’re getting off topic, Scarlet. And no. We got Silky, Nina, Brooke Lynn, and something so slurred I couldn’t make it out, but your girl wasn’t talking, she was just staring off somewhere, like a deer in the headlights or something.”

Your girl. It had a gilded ring to it.

Scarlet nodded, wondering if it was conceited to imagine she hadn’t given her name because she was still stuck on the look they exchanged. Scarlet warmed at the thought.  

“But I really like her, A’keria.”

“You always do.” A’keria sighed, placing her soda behind the bar. “Come on, we gotta get back to the floor.”

“Wait.” Scarlet grabbed her arm loosely, forcing A’keria to meet her gaze. “I’ll switch a table with you. I’ll give you my table of trust fund Chads. Please, Ki, please,” Scarlet pleaded.

A’keria softened, considering this for a moment.

“They already ordered a pitcher each and just put in food, and they’re definitely gonna drink more. And they talk like they’re rich.”

A’keria let out a chuckle. “How does someone talk like they’re rich?”

“They talk like they hate me and want to fuck me at the same time,” Scarlet deadpanned.  

A full laugh this time. “You’re too much. Also, gross.” A’keria rounded the end of the bar.

“Half the tips from those girls!” Scarlet called after her, causing A’keria to stop in her tracks. “The table of Chads and half my tips.”

A’keria quirked a brow. “Really?”

“I just want to talk to her.”

She nodded before continuing to walk out to the outdoor seating, Scarlet’s heart weighted, sinking through her stomach and legs, straight through the waxed floor. She followed A’keria out.

But A’keria turned, wordlessly heading toward Scarlet’s section, collecting an empty beer pitcher from her table, turning to bring it back to the bar. She came up to Scarlet, who stood still in disbelief.

“You’re welcome,” A’keria said with a cutting sincerity.

Scarlet pulled her into a hug, holding her close as she tried to squirm out, holding the beer pitcher out with a straight arm. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“If you don’t get her, it ain’t on me.”

Scarlet nodded, releasing A’keria and accepting her blessing. “You’re the best.”

“Correct.”

Scarlet surveyed the table, the emptied drinks and shot glasses, the menus folded neatly, the rowdy din that she could still hear feet away, though now the pounding of her heart felt far louder.

She smoothed down her apron. She wished she didn’t smell like ketchup. She steeled herself and walked toward the table.

“How are we doing everybody? I’m Scarlet and I’ll be filling in for A’keria from now on.” She glanced around the table, trying to catch the gaze of the girl without seeming too suspicious. “Y’all are on vacation? Who all do we got here?”

Not suspicious of course, Scarlet reasoned. Simply trying to reason that it was good customer service to get to know them. And also, she wanted to know that girl’s name. For good customer service and also romantic reasons.

The small Latina girl to her right answered, taking Scarlet aback with her gruff voice and hand gestures thrown about. “I’m Vanjie, and that’s Brooke Lynn,” she pointed at the blonde next to her, who had her arm lazily hanging over the back of her chair, fingers draped over Vanjie’s shoulder. “Then we got Nina, and Silk, and then Yvie.”

Yvie. Scarlet let it settle in her mind, burrow deeply, let the name root itself there. Yvie. Even in Vanjie’s rough tone it sounded gentle, the sounds spun together like lace trim. Decadent. Exquisite. Yvie.

She snapped herself out of her pondering, hoping she hadn’t drawn any stares while she twirled Yvie around in her mind.

“Awesome! Well I’m Scarlet—”

“Yep, we got that,” Brooke Lynn added, Yvie joining in with a twinkling little chuckle.

God she was so stupid, forgetting something she’d just said moments ago, sure she was going to analyze and reanalyze Yvie’s chuckle at her. She’d analyze for at least twenty minutes, maybe more.

“So, uh,” Scarlet stumbled, fishing around for her pen. “Are we ready to put in some food? Or maybe some more drinks?”

“Another round of Patron!”

“Silk, no,” Nina warned

Brooke nodded. “I’m not going to drink that.”

Silky folded her arms playfully. “Fine then just me, Vanj, and Yvie, since y’all clearly aren’t looking to have fun.”

“I’m personally looking to have a very un-fun time so…” Yvie smirked, her words potently sarcastic. “No, I’m not having another either.”

Scarlet nodded, deciding to play along with the group’s dynamic, trying to recover herself from forgetting she already said her own damn name. “So, what I’m hearing is two shots, two party poopers, and one… well I don’t know what to do with you,” Scarlet trailed off, tinging the end with a light laugh directed toward Yvie.

“More like two idiots and three people who care about, like, not melting our livers with that battery acid.” Nina laughed, stirring the melting ice in her drink.

“Yeah, imagine like a gross liquified organ where your liver should be like it’s just sloshing toxic soup inside you,” Yvie continued, pointing at Silky. “That’s what your tequila does to people. It gives you the soup liver.”

Scarlet tried to hold back a laugh as the rest of the girls grimaced. “Ugh, imagine it’s broccoli cheddar, but inside a bread bowl, but inside of you.” She lowered her voice once she saw no one else react. “But yeah no soup liver, uh, Yvie.”

She said it thoughtlessly, but tentatively, as though she didn’t have permission to say her name. But it did feel wonderful to say out loud; it felt wonderfully spoken from her mouth. And it was wonderful to feel Yvie’s eyes on her once more.

“So, any other drinks or food?”

Scarlet jotted down some mixed drinks and a couple plates of appetizers, just as A’keria predicted — though she wouldn’t tell her; A’keria already knew she was always right — and headed to the back to put the order in, hearing Vanjie begin a rant about why the fuck seaweed exists and who allowed it to touch her foot. Prickling, red warmth spread through Scarlet’s chest as she heard that same laugh from Yvie. She’d like to hear that laugh as many times as possible, for sure.

When she came back with their next round of drinks, she noticed the table quieted as she approached, and remained silent as she placed the plastic cups down silently. And Yvie, she sat with her hands folded, chewing her lip, looking up at Scarlet, then looking down again, then stealing another look, like she wasn’t supposed to be looking, like it was really something she had to steal.

She laid out four straws on the table before realizing her miscount, handing one to Yvie directly, holding her gaze for only a second too long before Vanjie cleared her throat, causing Scarlet to release the straw. The straw fell through the slats and onto the ground. She scrambled to pull another out of her apron.

“Here, here’s a new one.” She placed it firmly on the table.

“So, Miss Scarlet,” Vanjie began. “What do you do around here?”

“Well…” Scarlet pondered, crouching down to pick up the straw, using the opportunity to ponder what exactly she did around here before coming back up. “I just, you know, work here and serve you food and stuff. And I like the beach, of course, so…” She shrugged, finding herself on uneven footing trying to answer that question. Really, she didn’t know what she did around here.

“Like, when you’re not doing this,” Silky elaborated, pointing her glass at Scarlet.

She could talk about school, Scarlet reasoned, shifting her weight onto her hip. That was some way for her to approach the subject of what she does when she’s not at work, getting yelled at by frat bros or being underpaid.

“I go to school for advertising design, and I’m in my last year, so that’s really fun, and also, like, terrifying, because like, what am I gonna do next, you know? I don’t know how I’m gonna turn making flyers for Wednesday Wing Explosion Night into a career, but a girl’s gotta try.” Scarlet feigned a laugh, knowing she was doing a poor job at poking fun at the sheer horror of adult life with an adult job, or really, figuring out adult life and having an adult job.

Yvie perked up, setting her drink back on the table, a smile spreading across her lips. “That’s really awesome. What do you use to make them?”

“Oh, just like, Illustrator, Photoshop. And I have to photograph the wings with our shitty point-and-shoot camera from like, 2004.” Scarlet fiddled with her hair. “So, it’s like a whole process just to get one picture of the wings looking edible.”

“Oh, I had to use that shit for my digital class.” Yvie rolled her eyes. “Photoshop is a little bitch.”

“That’s not true!” Scarlet acted as though she were scandalized. “You just have to treat her nice and she’ll work for you, I promise.”

“Yvie’s just pressed because she almost failed that class.” Brooke pointed out.

Vanjie nodded and took a long sip of her drink. “So pressed, like a panini.”

Yvie opened her mouth to respond but ended up just shaking her head. “It’s just hard.”

“For you,” Scarlet teased back, earning some light laughter from the table.

“So, Scarlet, you got a boyfriend?” Vanjie shifted her gaze to Yvie. “Or a girlfriend?”

“Vanj,” Brooke warned.

“No, no it’s totally fine.” She stole a glance at Yvie. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

Of course, Scarlet wished she did, if for nothing but a little bit of joy in her day, someone to enjoy, who enjoyed her, or even someone to indulge in the intoxicating mix of saltwater breeze, sweat-struck kisses, and being in love. She pushed it aside, as she knew she should.

“I’m going to go check on your food,” Scarlet said abruptly, walking away from the table, sure she heard her name tossed around as she left. Or maybe she only hoped she did. She couldn’t trust her senses, especially when she had the image of Yvie looking up at her with those gorgeous wide eyes and flush lips clouding her thoughts.

She delivered their food quickly, normally, trying not to seem as distracted as she knew she was. And then she picked up the empty plates and cups, carefully balancing them on her tray. And then Nina had asked for the check, so Scarlet tried to seem like she wasn’t disappointed when she brought it out and collected the check presenter.

She studied the receipt as she rang them up. There was a hefty tip, written in tight, neat numbers, which she promised she’d share with A’keria. She took her time swiping the card, drawing out the transaction as long as possible, pulling the customer copy of the receipt out slowly. She clicked her pen a few times.

Fuck it.

She scribbled her phone number and a little smiley face at the bottom, placed the receipt and the credit card in the check presenter and folded it quickly, like she couldn’t bear to look at the receipt any longer.

The regret mounted as she placed it in front of Yvie, wishing them all a wonderful time here before scurrying off to the back of house. She couldn’t bear to see them open it and read her receipt, read her number, react to her including it, react to her imposing herself. And even worse, she couldn’t bear to see it laying on the table, rejected.

Her phone vibrated in her back pocket. She pulled it out, letting it sit in her hands, face down.

It was probably nothing of course. Maybe just a Twitter notification. Maybe her roommate asking another question about where the bag of bags was kept. She let out a shaking breath and looked at her screen.

An unknown number.

A text.

Hi Scarlet xx

***

Tags:  rpdr fanfiction, scyvie, scarlet envy, yvie oddly, vanessa vanjie mateo, brooke lynn hytes, silky nutmeg ganache, nina west, phryne, beach au, when the sun sets on us, lesbian au, concrit welcome, summer lovin 2020, day 1: bathing suit, submission

[thelittlestcheshire]

Self Para 005: The Reminders Pull the Floor From Your Feet

Note: For starters, this takes place on Saturday. This involves the Leo plot, and for the most part it’s...  lots of Ches’s thought process leading up to her visiting Leo. Any interactions with people are lead up / not really... the majority. So please, tread carefully. I was careful to avoid going too deep into her more... brutal thought processes in hopes of ensuring it’s not too triggering but given the context I do feel a need to mention it. I do discuss her finding her brother after his attempt a little bit too, so, please pay heed to the tws and if you think it may be an issue, I strongly urge you skip this self para. I love you guys, and your safety is the biggest priority always <3

TWs: Suicide / Suicide Attempts, Decapitation / Murder (mentioned in a comment about how displeased Leo will be to see her), Hanging, Amputation, Ches’s thought process while shopping does include her making considerations about what she can buy Leo can’t hurt himself with so I don’t know how to tag that but I am aware it could be triggering.

For once, Ches didn’t know how she was expected to react, but she was sure it didn’t align with how she currently felt as she tore through her wardrobe to try to find something to wear. What even was appropriate to wear today? Colors were too cheery, white too saintly, black was a staple in her wardrobe and entirely off the table. Everything in her closet was practically getting thrown without care as she desperately tried to find anything. Even as her front door opens, she doesn’t glance to see who was coming in until she hears Balo squeak as she tries to avoid yet another thrown object.

“Sorry! I just was wondering if I could maybe borrow a pair of shorts?” The blonde squeals and the redhead pauses her frantic search for something appropriate to wear. Was Balo really trying to carry on like normal when her friend was in the hospital after trying to kill himself? Sure, people were saying it was an accident, but that didn’t mean it was.

Emmett had told everyone it was an accident after his attempt, a prank gone wrong, that she had to cut him down from the ceiling after. And at this point, she simply didn’t believe in accidents.

“Of course, they’re in the dresser. Let me know if there’s something worth wearing to the hospital in there while you’re at it.” She glances away from what she was doing to wave her friend toward where the dresser was. She would have to rearrange the room to the way she liked it eventually, but she hadn’t exactly been happy about much of anything since they arrived in New Zealand. 

“Is going to see Leo a good idea?”

Balo’s question throws her off, as it was one she had been asking herself over and over again. She still didn’t know the answer herself, and she just turns away from her friend to go back through her closet, tossing yet more things in the direction of her bed as she fails to find something worth wearing. “This is my fault. I have to go.” She finally speaks as she tosses the last item of clothing in the closet onto the floor. “If I had done more....”

“It was an accident, remember? Just breathe, okay? You dress like you usually would. Maybe ask if I’m allowed to visit if you think he’s up to it?” She shakes her head, grabbing the shorts she came for from the drawer before she tosses a pair of ripped jeans and a tank top her way. Ches catches it, grateful for the answer so she could move onto the next method to tear herself apart with. “Just promise me you’ll be gentle with him. He’s going through a lot.”

“I’m not going to be mean. I figured he might like some comfy clothes and stuff. If someone else already thought of it, great, but...” She glances at her shoe rack as she talks. Maybe she should wear sneakers instead of heels for once, it’d make her look shorter and left her feeling more vulnerable, but perhaps it’d ease his fears of her just showing up. She doubted she was the first person he wanted to see; in fact, she was likely the very last, perhaps Balo was right, and this was a horrible idea.

But she needed to do this. How else was she going to live with the guilt?

“Well, if you need to talk later, come find me. I’ve gotta go, but I love you.”

“I love you too.” And with those words, Ches was alone with her thoughts again. She takes a deep breath as she walks over to her dresser to set the clothes she was going to wear down. Stepping over multiple piles of discarded clothes carefully as she realizes just how much money she’d just carelessly thrown to the floor as if it didn’t matter. Perhaps, in the long run, it didn’t. Still, she kneels down and starts to sort through the discarded clothes on the floor, slowly beginning to put everything back onto hangers. How was she supposed to make intentions clear from the moment he saw her? 

Maybe the gifts would help, but she was just going to have to accept that whatever she did, Leo was likely to be hostile. Emmett was after his attempt, and he liked her. Ches was entirely unwelcome, and she knew that, but she supposed that was well deserved. If the roles were reversed, she would have made Leo’s visit a living hell for daring to breathe near her after a failed attempt. He had every right to do the same to her now. She carefully puts the last dress back where it belongs, going through the motions of getting dressed and making herself presentable, throwing her hair up in a ponytail, grabbing her bag, and just leaving the dorms. 

She would have to go to the store and try to find things Leo would be allowed to have. She was already starting a shopping list of things in her head, things he’d need, things he’d like. 

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

Could she trust Leo with colored pencils, or was she going to have to stick with crayons? As Ches looks over the shelf of Crayola products, she ponders it for a few moments before she grabs both the washable crayons and the twistable colored pencils, glancing around before she tosses the bath crayons in too. She always got her worst thoughts in the shower. Maybe giving him a creative outlet he could take with him would be beneficial. On second thought, she tosses a box in for herself too. Her roommate was simply going to have to fucking deal with it.

The notebook had to have no wires, nothing he could pull off of it and cause harm. Any bags needed to be paper so he’d be allowed to have them. The slippers had to be sturdy yet stringless. She’d broken into his room in an attempt to figure out sizes, so she was hoping she was doing well on the clothing. She didn’t want to bring anything of his, not only because it’d require her to be honest that she had broken into his bedroom, but because she already knew how easily things got lost. The last thing she needed was to grab something that mattered and something happening to it. That was a problem she had no intention of being blamed for.

What else could be needed? Pre-paid call cards just in case what she’d read was wrong, and he wasn’t allowed to have his cell phone. If he did, she supposed it never hurt to have prepaid international calling cards either way. 

He liked pen and ink, not paint, right?

For a moment, she tries to remember the art of his she had seen, none of it had been paintings, but maybe that was just simply because he couldn’t carry it around. She could ask, offer to make a second trip. She tosses comfy clothes into the cart as she goes, trying to find the most comfortable stringless things she could find, socks and underwear, because people probably weren’t thinking of it when they grabbed stuff. Toothbrush, he definitely needed a toothbrush. And inpatient units were usually cold, so a massive plush blanket probably help. He probably would be allowed to have zippers. Shit, what was his jeans size? Maybe Elizabeth would know, although was it a good idea to bother her at work with how busy she was. She glances at the racks for a minute, considering it for a moment.

Stuffed animals were usually taken in her experience, but if she could prove he wouldn’t hurt himself with it, maybe getting him something he was allowed to punch would be nice. After all, he did seem to enjoy his fights. Was Winnie the Pooh punchable? Balo was onto something when she said Leo looked like Christopher Robin. And he was a baby toy, so if Leo got him apart and found a way to hurt himself with it, it would be a feat. Still, she considers it a moment longer and puts an elephant in the cart instead.

She could always come back for it later if he’d appreciate the joke. What else would he like? Would the ward he was on allow her to drop by and grab him fast food? She probably could find a McDonalds’.

She takes a deep breath, already trying to find the number to find out. Hopefully, they’d allow outside food and drink. After all, what made someone’s day brighter than cheap junk food? 

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

[To Momma Everett 😍😍:] I’m dropping by to see Leo, so I’m gonna put my phone on vibrate to avoid him ripping my head off, but I love you so so so so so much, and please don’t hesitate to call if you need anything. I’ve got everything handled here, I promise. I’m going to tell the front desk I’m your daughter, so that should get me in long enough to drop him off clothes and stuff. Hopefully, he won’t correct them? 🤞

Ches puts her phone into her purse after she’s done, tossing the bag over her shoulder before she goes around to the trunk of her rental to grab the stuff. It felt like it wasn’t enough, but it wasn’t as if she could bring him nearly as much as she wanted to, just essentials and a few small things in hopes of making him smile. She goes to the hospital’s front desk, explaining why she was here and that she had no idea where she was supposed to be going. As they led her in the direction of where he was, she tries to take deep breaths. Leo was going to kill her for this, wasn’t he? Maybe she should have dropped by to steal a kiss from Elliot before she left before he literally ripped her skull from her body.

Of course, nothing could have prepared her for what was to come after she got on the unit. She hands over the stuff to the nurse’s station for them to check over, insisting it’d be better if she waited to go in to see him until she had it back, and for a brief moment, she sees Leo, and everything comes crashing down. Where had his arm gone? Why hadn’t anyone told her?

“Your brother didn’t tell you.” The nurse guesses, and she glances over to the man and the art supplies she’d brought. Was it a dick move? Perhaps, but she wasn’t going to let anyone even dare suggest he couldn’t do art. It was only a matter of adjusting how he approached it, and suddenly she didn’t care if she had to import a physical therapist willing to try to help him. If anyone tried to tell Leo he wasn’t doing something, they would have to fight her. 

“No, but that’s okay. He can still whomp me for bringing him children’s bath crayons after he gets home. He’ll be fine.”

If the nurse says anything else, she doesn’t listen. She just quietly waits for him to sticker the stuff and hand it back to her before she enters to see Leo, trying to keep her hands from shaking as she hopes that for once, maybe she wouldn’t say the wrong thing to him. 

[wafflewarriors]

Of Daydreams and Realities

Chapter 2: Black Mark

The dreams persisted, and you hadn't had a decent amount of sleep in months. You would wake to find yourself in a cold sweat and a cocoon of blankets. The dreams became more aggressive. At the end of the day, you found yourself drained, but unwilling to fall asleep just to wake up again to another nightmare. Most of all, you'd been having trouble differentiating between reality and your dreams.

While your anxiety usually was tolerable, the past several days had been nothing but misery. Anxiety levels had been dialed up to full blast, making you fidgety and over-emotional. You were constantly on edge. You ran away at the thought of anything remotely threatening. Coward.

The dreams revolved around one thing, the glabella. Over and over, the word glabella had burrowed its name into your dreams. You didn't understand.

So hopefully doctors would.

Your feet tapped as you waited in the infuriatingly comfortable chair in the waiting area. You needed to know the results. You couldn't breathe—

When the doctor did come back, he was happy to reveal you did not have a tumor, and if any further issues came up, to contact him. The only downside was the bill for wasting their time. However, it was a small—well, metaphorically small—price to pay to lift the weight off your shoulders. 

You were so silly. Thinking that dreams could tell you the future. Stupid.

You made your way out of the building, and suddenly you could breathe again, and—

A hand snagged your collar. And… a gun. A gun was pressed up against your forehead. No— glabella. The barrel of gun was pressed against your glabella.

Glabella.

"Where's your wallet?!" He demands.

And you're too shocked to speak.

You didn't hear the bang.

///

You jolted into a tree.

You could feel your heartbeat in your teeth and your heart gallop. And… for crying out loud, you fell asleep against a tree. You don't remember coming to the park, but you're sure it would come back to you. You were so sick of dreaming.

You lazily watched the city buzz by, yet something caught your eyes just across the street. You squinted. Standing, you marched your way over, minding streetlights and careless drivers.

It couldn't be.

A life-size TARDIS stood tall in the middle of the city. People looked at you strangely as you watched the blue box. Oddly enough, it's low hum seemed to draw your anxiety away like a drain to an overflowing bathtub. Feeling slightly hollow, you pulled at the door, but it remained firmly shut. Raising your hand ever so slowly, you snapped your fingers.

The door yawned.

You stepped inside, eyes like saucers. Bigger on the inside. There was no way. You had… you had just… it was bigger on the inside.

Your anxiety returned as you watched a pseudo David Tennant flip another lever and the TARDIS lurch under your feet. Did that mean you'd left Earth? Crap crap crap… he's turning, he's turning, he's going to see you…

Being the coward that you were, you moved with his backside. It would be comical if your heart wasn't drumming against your chest like an over-ecstatic percussionist on drugs.

He mumbled something and then said, "Why are you doing this to me, girl? Come on. This is not Barcelona. This is Earth." 

The walls of the TARDIS hummed.

Startled, you backed into the wall, and your hand touched a door handle, which had not been there a minute ago. The TARDIS was encouraging you to hide from The Doctor.

...why?

You were terribly afraid it will creak, but the handle was smooth when you turned it and so were the hinges of the door. No pull or thud. Now, if you could just—

The door shut into the jamb with a not-very-quiet 'clrk'.

You heard a muffled "hey!" and it was enough to send you tearing down the hallway. And boy, you ran. You ran down the corridor like the floor was crumbling at your heels. Another door, keep going. Keep it random, keep it—

Dead end.

You look for things to barricade the door. Anything to avoid confrontation. You hate yelling and you really really hate explaining. You're terrible at words and communicating. Hate hate hate hate it all.

The door is thrown open by The Doctor, who stares at you like you stole his car. Or, maybe you did. The TARDIS wasn't a car, though… and you didn't really steal her.

You realize you were clutching a broom to your chest. Why there was a broom in the TARDIS... you weren't quite sure. Wasn't she self-cleaning? Or... was the broom about her allowing you to feel more secure?

As this thought dawned upon you, it seemed to also dawn upon The Doctor.

Some part of you wished you could be mysterious or daring, but you were about as daring as a tater tot. So, breathily, you squeaked out, "Hi."

'Hi'. You just said 'hi' to The Doctor. Your first word was 'hi'. You saw an alien from planet Gallifrey who regularly travels through time and space, and you said 'hi'.

You looked at each other for a very long time, with heavy breathing to fill the silence, before he squinted at your forehead.

You raised the broom. "Do not touch me."

He watched you quizzically. "Wasn't going to. The scar on your face is rather worrisome, though. Might want to get that checked out."

You swiveled to face the mirror that the TARDIS had provided, and you stared.

You just stared at the mark the bullet had left.

You backed away from the mirror and, consequently, your back met The Doctor's chest. His two hearts murmured behind his shirt.

Flustered, you stumbled away.

"Might I ask how you obtained such a mark?"

"A bullet," you replied.

His eyebrows flew to his hairline. "And… how are you alive?"

You didn't know. "I thought it was just a dream." The scar was an ugly red. Barely healed.

He snatched your sleeve, tugging you through the winding hallways. He opened the last door—that betrayer—and herded you over to a chair that, also, was not present before. He sat you down, fumbled with his pocket, and finally brought out his iconic sonic screwdriver. Looking to you again, he scanned the mark. "Repaired less than fifteen minutes ago. Wow, it's… actually fading. You will have a scar, unfortunately. The tissue is swimming with... grace, it says. Grace?"

"Hm," was all you said. Did that mean… angels..?

He moved to touch it, but then hesitated, silently asking for permission. You nodded to confirm. He prodded it, frowning. "I don't like it."

Alarmed, you shot him a look.

I don't like it.

"Not the scar," he said simply. Yet, he looked at the mark as if it was his archenemy. "Well, yes, the scar, but the ambiguity here is what is worrying me. No offense, but why would someone heal you? What was their motive? That question is rhetorical, of course. I'm sure you don't really know." He angrily stared down your forehead, and you squirmed.

"I can leave," you said, uncomfortable.

"What? No." He fervently shook his head, rambling, "You just got here! Besides, that would be rather unwise. You do know you're in an alternate universe, yes? That could drastically impact time, if it hasn't already. Probably has, considering you ran into me of all people. Well, I suppose I'm not people, but—"

"A what now?" You knew what was, but you still couldn't believe—

"An alternative dimension—"

You tuned him out, walking timidly to the door of the TARDIS.

"—what, what are you—"

You opened the doors.

A galaxy swam before your eyes, an array of brilliant stars and colors. The Doctor barely caught your shirt collar before you went sailing out of the TARDIS from the shock of it.

"Culture shock?" He suggested.

"More like 'wow, I'm dead' shock."

His eyebrows curl together. "You seem very alive to me. And I can bring you back to your dimension, you know."

"But I'm…" You struggled to find the right words. "But I'm dead. The real me, in my universe, is dead. I was shot in the face."

"I suppose." His eyes flashed elsewhere, as if he was searching the TARDIS walls for answers. His mouth was set in a grim line. He looked to you again, offering a smile. "I do need a companion…"

“Oh, right. Rose…" you murmured in understanding. He must have just lost her.

"How," he said, deadly calm, "do you know that name." You could hear the underlying passion: his fear, his grief, and most of all, his anger.

"Oh…" is all you can say. "She's your friend? Er… lover? You love her. Oh, sh… you probably just lost her and I'm just making this worse… sorry, that is…  this is… I don't know how to…" Your mouth was pressed thin, and with comically wide eyes, you analyzed his reaction.

He thought for a moment, before carefully saying—as if the words had to be exactly right, "Are you… from my future, then?"

"Uh… yeah. Next regeneration, your future, and all that…" You laugh forcefully. "Yeah, I mean, you talk about Rose all the time. Constantly—" You stop talking when you realize he's turned away.

"Constantly?" His voice is so small.

"Uh. Okay, not constantly, but—"

"You said constantly. Typically the first word said is the truth. You're changing it to pacify me."

"Pacify? No, no, no—"

"Unless, of course, you've been lying the entire time."

"What? I'm not—"

He whips around. "You are." He glared, and then you realized he was baiting you to backtrack on a lie. "You're lying. Now tell me, who are you?"

At those words, you were frozen. 

Who are you?

At those words, your heart picked up. The dream, which is all it had been, had burned it's terror into the forefront of your mind. Not this again, anything but this again—

Who are you?!

With a pained gasp, you dove for the door. Anything but this.

The Doctor snatched your arms up in a vice-like grip. "Who are—"

"I know the question!" You screeched, straining your trapped arms against his hands. You were riding on the paper-thin edge of your sanity. The way your lungs whistled and your hands shook, you just knew you were mere moments from having a panic attack. Harsh breaths turned into ragged ones. With wild eyes and your heart in your throat, you shivered beneath The Doctor with your arms still in his grip.

You briefly considered trying to escape, but it would be like trying to break free of iron cuffs—you weren't going anywhere. He hauled you to your feet and sat you down on the chair, he let go of your arms, which fell to your lap like wet noodles. He tapped your face as you began to pass out. He was also saying something, but you couldn't hear him over your breathing.

Your vision was steadily growing darker, with static-like dots weaving in and out. A broken television screen—was that all that you were now?

[sky-scribbles]

I had a request for soft Steelstep and it... got out of hand. So have ~1700 words of ‘we both know I’m the villain’ angst with some softness mixed in. Retribution spoilers, m!Sidestep x Chen. Tw: mentions of animal injury/harm (very non-detailed and none happens in the fic), discussion of suicidal ideation. 

This was not part of the plan. Walking Spoon together was not supposed to end up with you in Sidestep’s apartment.

You correct yourself. Jalal’s apartment. Calling him Sidestep was defence, a way of keeping distance between you, and there’s no point in defences anymore. Not when you essentially accused him of being Eidolon, and he essentially confessed to it, and you more than essentially kissed him.

I can’t stop, he said. You can’t understand. And yet you haven’t removed the label from his shelf in fridge. You still let him near your dog. You still look at him and feel your insides heat and twist. Jalal being the scourge of Los Diablos should be a deal-breaker, and yet it isn’t. What will be?

No. You don’t want an answer to that.

So you’re here, in his home, with Spoon at your side. And for a second you’re not sure whether you’ve entered an apartment or a rainforest. The hallway ahead of you is lined with pot plants: ivy, succulents, flowers in white and purple and yellow. Hanging baskets dangling from the ceiling, window boxes in rows on the walls. Jalal stands among the greenery, watching you with a nervous smile - and suddenly, you know why he brought you here.

Telepathy, he once told you, is usually no more intrusive than seeing someone’s apartment. But he’s always had that window into your character, and you’ve had nothing in return. So he invited you here. He’s baring his home to you, baring himself, putting you on equal footing. He can’t give you an explanation for being Eidolon, but he’s giving you this.

So you file this information away – he likes to see things grow – and grab Spoon by the collar. Because he seems very interested in sniffing a cactus. ‘You grow all these, then?’

‘No,’ Jalal says. ‘They just, um, sprout from the walls.’

He’s joking. That’s new. Your smile is probably a touch bemused, but Jalal returns it, and beckons you down the corridor. ‘Before I let Spoon into the garden, how is he with other animals?’

You duck under a dangling spider plant and follow. ‘He was trained to chase. If you have a cat –’

‘Not a cat, no. Have I never told you about Maisy?’

You shake your head. He smiles again, wider time, and leads you into the living room – just as plant-bedecked, the gaps between greenery covered in posters from movies and TV shows. The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and there’s a cartoon you don’t recognise, kids using some sort of elemental magic. And a few more gaps filled, oddly, with stuffed animals. A heavily patched elephant on the bookcase, a bear that’s lost an eye and had it replaced with a button.

‘I find them in charity stores,’ Jalal explains, moving to unlock the door to the garden. ‘Or the trash, sometimes. I like fixing them up.’

Another piece of information: he mends things. Which you already knew, from all the times he helped you fix your mods back when he was Sidestep. The memories bob to the surface of your mind – his deft, freckled hands, so close to your skin – and something jolts through you, like a pulse of electricity.

Your eyes scan the room for a distraction, and settle on the toys. ‘Ortega has a bear on her desk with patches like that.’

Jalal nods. ‘Yeah, I… I gave her that. I’m surprised she held onto him for so long.’

‘Of course she did. She never stopped holding onto you.’

You wonder if he’ll protest; insist that she doesn’t care that much, or that she should have forgotten him long ago. Instead, his gaze flicks away, and his hands return to the door. Unsurprising. You’ve rarely seen him argue when giving up is the easier option.

Did he become Eidolon because he was tired of staying quiet and being stepped on? Or is it a new way of giving in? To greed, or to rage, or to despair?

You set the questions aside for now. You can learn that he likes plants and Tolkien and sewing from his apartment. You’re much less likely to learn what turned the man who fixed your mods into the man who put your friends in hospital. That will take work, and time.

So you pull Spoon away before he can drool on anything, and follow Jalal into the garden. It’s a real one, since he’s on the ground floor: more flowers, herb bushes, a wooden bench. And a pond, containing one small white duck – which launches itself from the water and waddles over to Jalal at an impressively fast pace.

‘This is Maisy,’ he explains, kneeling to pick her up. ‘I found her in a park, about… two years ago, I think. Her wing was broken, so I took her home and looked after her. I hoped she’d start flying again, but she never did, and she didn’t want to leave, so…’

‘Aren’t there wildlife shelters for that?’

He turns to you, looking a little like Herald does whenever you admonish him. ‘Well… yeah. I know you shouldn’t just take animals, but if they decided she was too hurt to heal...’ He pulls Maisy a little closer to his chest. ‘This city isn’t kind to broken things. I thought they’d do what everyone here does to things that are too wounded to fix.’

Ah.

You look at him. Scars weaving up his neck and crisscrossing his hands. Eyes shadowed and weary.  The constant hesitation in his speech, his wordless backing-away from arguments: the habits of a man used to being ignored. Scared of being thrown away.

‘You wanted to protect her,’ you say, and your mind finishes what your lips don’t – because no one did the same for you, when you were broken. So why her? Why nurture her, care for her, and not for yourself?

Behind his glasses, Jalal’s eyes turn away again, and you know he heard your thoughts. His pretence at having lost his telepathy is feeble.

And he must know that. Because the next thing he does is answer your question.

‘When I found her,’ he says, running a gentle hand across Maisy’s back and not looking up at you, ‘she was all huddled up on the ground. She had her eyes shut, like it would hurt too much to open them. She’d given up. She didn’t think she could be helped.’ He swallows. Bends down to kiss the feathered head. ‘She was wrong, but I think I understand why she gave up. When you’re hurt like that, giving up’s easier. I mean, there’s not really a point to fighting when you’re already falling, is there?’

There’s a faint flush under his freckles; he knows he’s too obviously not talking about the duck anymore. ‘If she’d tried to fly again, it would have come to the same thing, right? She’d have crashed, and the only difference would have been that she got more hurt for trying. If she thought it was going to end… I can understand her wanting to let it happen. Without that pain.’

You close your eyes. Just for a moment, long enough to process this. Here’s your answer, then, his reason why.

He never stopped falling from that tower. He believes that even trying to rise back up is a lost and painful cause. So instead, he became Eidolon: a way of cutting his parachute strings so he could hit the ground faster.

Is he really willing to drag you all down with him?

Ortega and Herald, beaten into hospital. Argent, possessed and controlled. And you? What will he do to you? You don’t believe he would kill you, you don’t believe he would kill anyone – but you do believe he will steal and wreak chaos until he forces your hand. You believe he’d break your heart to put his own heartbreak to rest.

And yet.

He brought you here. He put the best parts of himself – the fixer, the nurturer – on display. Then he confessed the worst, offered you an explanation. You can’t understand, he said, in those first few breathless moments after he kissed you. But you’re here, and – while you’re less than impressed with everything he’s done –  you do understand.

Because he gave you a chance to understand. And that’s not self-destruction. That’s taking a step forward, and he took it on his own.

You nod, so that he knows you’ve understood. Then you reach out and run a careful finger along Maisy’s head. ‘Shall we see how she gets along with Spoon?’

It’s a strange starting point, introducing your dog to his duck. But it’s a new connection. A new relationship. Perhaps this can soften the pain for him, so that it doesn’t hurt so much when finally reaches out to stop his fall. You can’t just pick him up and save him, like he did to Maisy. But you can hold onto Spoon while he sniffs Maisy’s head, then licks her, then slumps down and lets her nestle against his side.

‘She likes him,’ Jalal says, smiling. And then, fiddling with the hem of his sweater, ‘This might turn out all right.’

And it might. It might yet.

‘You’re right. Los Diablos isn’t gentle to broken things.’ You look at him, and remember the care with which he always fixed your mods, the way he ran soft fingertips over your scars after he kissed you. ‘I think you are, though.’

He holds your gaze only for a moment, of course, before looking away again. Bitter defeat in his eyes. Unconvinced. He’s out of the habit of being gentle to himself, but habits can be relearned. Like your replacement arm, it’ll be stiff and awkward at first, but constant practice will make it smoother, until it becomes a reflex.

That’s something to work on, then. For both of you. Together.

[gabriel-agreste-has-no-rights]

Rating:  T

Chapter Summary:   Luka doesn’t miss XY.  That would be stupid.  For @luxyweek prompt “Eye Contact” (with a little bit of style swap peppered in)

Word Count: 2404 | 3/4

XXX

Luka stared deep into XY’s eyes.  Well, the photograph’s eyes, from the back of the CD he held in his hands.  Of course he couldn’t escape the pop star here, in the middle of his favorite music store.  But he hadn’t needed to go directly to the end of the aisle and pick up the Number One album.

Ironic.  He said he couldn’t escape him, yet XY hadn’t crashed the Liberty in a week.  Since the sleepover at Nino’s house.  Had he just gotten his inspiration and left?

He’d kept Luka’s hoodie.  Luka had forgotten to demand it back when XY had woken up and rushed out of the apartment, yelping something about his dad.

“You owe me,” Luka said to the album.  XY’s melody had been beating under Luka’s skin for the last seven days.  “You can’t just take my favorite hoodie and disappear.”

Luka didn’t even have his phone number.  It was a stupid oversight, but he wasn’t used to having his own friends.  If he needed a number, he usually asked Juleka.

Nino said he hadn’t come back, which was strange.  XY always wanted attention; Luka had figured that if he wasn’t trying to leap onto the Liberty, he’d be at the other boy’s apartment.  What had happened to his original song?  Had he given up on it?

Had he actually stolen Nino’s music instead, like Luka had feared?  Was the guilt keeping him away?  Or did he just decide he had better things to do?  

Maybe he’d even left Paris by now.  He’d never mentioned how long he’d be staying.

Luka shook his head.  He didn’t know, and staring at XY’s Number One album wasn’t going to give him any answers.

His eyes glanced down to the price tag.  Not too expensive, but he still wouldn’t pay for it.  XY had probably stolen all those songs.  It would be wrong to give him and Bob Roth money for it.

So when he got home, he cracked open his laptop and pirated the album.

A few of the songs he recognized, probably from supermarket speakers or TV commercials.  Most were unfamiliar though, except in how they mimicked each other.  It was like XY only had one setting: repetitive pop beats.  His tracks barely even had lyrics to differentiate them from each other.  Along the Beach with You had the addition of waves and seagull calls.  Urban Night was so autotuned he could barely make out the words.  Was that even XY’s voice?  It didn’t sound nasally enough.

Luka was just about to give up listening to the album when I Miss You started.  Soft, not as energetic as the other tracks.  He strained to hear the words.

I’m going crazy for you

I’m lost, where can I find you?

You’ve got my heart torn in two

Please, I just miss you

Nothing unique.  Lazy, even; he used “you” in three of the four rhymes.  

Luka hated that it sparked something in him, something that his guitar still hadn’t been able to untangle.

His own music wasn’t helping.  XY’s music wasn’t helping.  Staring at his face wasn’t helping.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he sighed as he strapped his guitar across his back.

Then he crept above deck, rolled out his bike, and pedaled off towards the Grand Paris Hotel.

XXX

XY paced across his hotel room as the song was exporting, the loading bar slowly, slowly filling up.  Why did it take so long?  Making the song had already taken way more time than he expected.  He hadn’t gotten to see Lu in days.  What if Lu forgot all about him?  A few times he’d thought about going back to that dumpster boat, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to resist bragging about his new song, and it needed to be a surprise.

He told Lu he was gonna make the most cash money music he’d ever heard.  He hoped this track would be good enough.  It probably wasn’t Lu’s style, but Marmalade hadn’t looked like she was his style either, and he liked her.  He’d thrown a couple of her sewing machine noises into the track for good measure.

“Come on, stupid computer,” he muttered.

The door burst open just as he was thumping the monitor.  His arms pinwheeled before he caught himself on the desk.

“Oh, uh, hey Dad.”  He grinned too wide.  “What brings you here?”

“What?  I can’t see what my own son is up to?”  He laughed loudly, making XY cringe.  “I thought you were out with Andre’s girl again.  You’re too young to be holed up in here.”

XY tried not to groan at the mention of Cole.  She’d already tried to break into his room three times today.  He’d pulled up Lu’s hood and hidden under the legs of his synth each time.  Luckily he’d taken it off while pacing, not wanting to sweat too much in it, or else Dad might’ve asked why he was wearing something so ratty looking.

“I’m just trying to catch up on my music, Dad.”  He rolled his eyes.  

“Ha!  Searching for new tracks to steal?  Proactive of you, I like it.  You’re starting to think like a real star.”

XY’s stomach turned as his dad slung an arm around his shoulder.  He shrugged him off.

He almost told him what he was really doing, but the words dried up in his mouth.  Maybe Lu could spout whatever hippie crap came into his head, but XY couldn’t afford to.

“Yeah, whatever,” he muttered instead.

“Looks like whatever you were downloading finished.  Let’s hear it.”  Dad plopped down into the cushy chair in front of his synth, leaving XY to stand.

“Uh—I dunno, Dad.  It’s not—it’s nothing great, y’know?”

He snorted.  “Look, if you’re gonna steal, you gotta go big or go home.”

“Yeah, but—”

“Let’s just hear it.  I’ll tell you what’s worth ripping off.”  He folded his hands on the desk and waited.

XY didn’t let his nervousness show.  He was a star.  He didn’t get stage fright—okay, usually he wasn’t even on the stage, but still.  

Lu wasn’t scared of standing up to Bob Roth.  The least XY could do was play his own music.

He opened the exported audio file and hit play.

Smooth electronic beats came from the speakers.  Bubbly, upbeat, with an undercurrent of bass.  So far it didn’t sound much different from XY’s old music, the kind he’d made before Dad convinced him to steal instead.

Dad’s eyes narrowed, as if he realized this, but he didn’t say anything yet.  Didn’t say anything for the entire song, even when he heard XY’s lyrics.

Please ignore the lyrics please ignore the lyrics—

His face looked like he'd eaten something nasty.  Like pasta.  “You’ve gotta stop stealing songs from girls, son.  The pronouns are all wrong.”

“Uh, oops.  Forgot to change it.”  His heart fell.  Dad knew why his lyrics were like that, but he wouldn’t even say it out loud.  He’d been stupid to let him hear the song, not that he’d had a choice.  He would’ve finished it at Nino’s if the boy didn’t have to do dumb stuff like “go to school” and “do homework.”

“It’ll never be at the top of the charts, but you can use it to fill up space on your next album, I guess.  You always need a few songs no one will actually listen to.”

XY bit his tongue.  “Pshaw, yeah.  That’s exactly what I stole it for.”

“Keep working, but pick a more mainstream beat next time.  And on second thought, just scrap those lyrics.  They’re clearly ameteur work.  Who puts pigeons in a love song?”

Dad clapped him on the shoulder one last time before turning away, leaving XY numb.

You always need a few songs no one will actually listen to.

Just scrap those lyrics.

Clearly ameteur work...

The extraordinary XY did not cry.  But he might have sniffled a little.

“What are you doing here?  Scram!  I told you, we were just kidding about the record deal!”

XY jolted up, dashing for the door.  He peeked past his dad’s looming figure to see— 

“Lu!”  He grinned before he could help himself.

Lu was standing there, holding a flat cardboard box.  His muscles showed beneath the short sleeves of his Jagged Stone t-shirt.  The best part of stealing his hoodie was that XY got to see his arms.  If only it didn’t also show off his number one rival’s merch.

“What?  Xavier-Yves, did you invite this punk—”

“He ordered a pizza.”  Lu wiggled the box. 

XY frowned.  “Huh?  I didn’t—”

Lu’s eyes narrowed.

“Ohhhh, that pizza!  Pshaw, right.”

Dad still glared down at Lu.  “You better not try any funny business.  Or I’ll have my lawyers on you faster than that pizza grease sticks to your hair.”

Lu smiled pleasantly, a dangerous (and sexy) gleam in his eyes.  “Of course not.  I’m just trying to do my job, sir.”

Dang, he was smart.  And brave.  And hot.

XY tried very hard not to swoon.

“I’ve got to—uh—money!  Cash money.  I owe you.  For the pizza.”

“Well go grab it so this little snake can get out of here,” Dad said with a dismissive wave.

“Lu—uh, he can come in for a minute, right?  It would be pretty unsexy of us to leave him out in the cold.”

“We’re in a hotel, and he’s not some street orphan.”  Dad scrunched his nose.  “Even if he smells like one.”

XY thought Luka smelled amazing, but he wouldn’t admit it in front of Dad.  “Huh?  I can’t hear you, I’m busy thinking about how I’m gonna cheat him out of a tip.”

That made Dad laugh.  “Classic Xavier.  Ruthless instincts, but not that bright.”

With that, he whistled his way out of the room, leaving XY alone with Lu.  

His heart sped up.  Lu was in his room.  Even if he was just there because XY had ordered a pizza.

Wait.  He hadn’t ordered a pizza.

“Did your dad just—did he really just say that?  That was just… wrong.”  Lu glared at the space where Dad had been standing.

“Awww, you care?”  XY asked, leaning into his space.  He smelled like wood and water, probably from spending so much time on that garbage boat.  Or maybe it was just his cologne, but the first option sounded more romantic.

“No,” he snapped.  Huh, he looked a lot more tense now than he’d been even with Dad.

“What’s up, bro?  Marmalade break your heart again?”  he asked hopefully.  

Lu blinked.  He had gorgeous eyes, but he could really use some mascara.  Or at least eyeliner.  XY thought rockers were supposed to be into that kind of stuff.

“Also no.  I just… shut up and give me your phone.”

“Huh?”  His head tilted, but he dug his phone out of his pocket.

Lu grabbed it out of his palm before realizing it was locked.  He sighed.  “Will you open it?  Please?”

“Sure, ’cause you asked nicely.”  XY grinned and swiped his thumb in the “XY” pattern, then tossed it back.  Where this was going?  Was Lu going to take a selfie and set it as his home screen?  That would save XY the trouble of sneaking a photo himself.

Lu set the phone on top of the pizza box, typed furiously for a few seconds, and handed it back.  

XY blinked down at the screen.  Ohhhh, this was even better!  

“You know if you wanted my number, all you had to do was ask.”  XY pursed his lips, but resisted kissing Lu’s cheek again.

“I had no idea what happened to you.  You might’ve left Paris, or… something.”  He crossed his arms.

“So you did miss me.”  His heart raced, though he kept his cool.  He was XY, and Lu was just… the cutest boy he’d ever met.  Who’d missed him.

“I just wanted to make sure you didn’t take Nino’s music and run after all.”

“Pshaw, like I need his beats.  I told you I was gonna make cash money music by myself this time.”  XY rolled his eyes.  He thought Lu believed in him.  

Not that he should.  His music wasn’t good.  Dad didn’t think so, anyway.

“Did you finish it?”  Lu’s eyes widened.  “The song you were making at Nino’s?”

His eyes darted towards his synth and computer.  “Uh… nah, man.  I’ve just been… y’know, kickin’ back.  I can’t stay in your unsexy garbage heap all the time.”

“Just… kickin’ back.”

“Yeah, that’s what I said.”

Lying to Lu felt wrong.  Not like lying to his dad, or even to the paparazzi.  But he wasn’t about to admit that his song had crashed and burned.

And he’d really thought he understood perspiration this time, too.

“I guess I just thought you liked kickin’ back with me,” Lu murmured.

XY’s gut twisted, like he’d eaten a bad plate of mac ’n’ cheese.  “Pshaw, as if.  I was just getting away from Cole, remember?  You were the one who dragged me everywhere.  I didn’t even need your dumb inspiration.  I’m the extraordinary XY.”

He flashed his trademarked hand sign, but really he wanted to slap himself.  Even if it felt wrong, he was good at lying.  Too good.

Hurt flashed across Lu’s face for just a moment.  Then it was gone, and he was shoving the pizza box into XY’s hands.

“Thanks for getting us on the same page.”

Crap, crap, crap.  He wasn’t supposed to make Luka mad.  

“Wait, bruh,” XY called out as Luka stepped out of the room.  “I still didn’t pay you for the pizza!”

Luka rolled his eyes.  “What, you’re not going to cheat me out of that, too?”

XY chewed his lip and looked down at his feet.  He’d never been so embarrassed about cheating before.

“Forget it.  I don’t need money you made by ripping people off, anyway.”

And then Luka was gone, leaving XY with a warm pizza in his arms.  He opened the box, but the smell of fresh cheese just made him nauseous.  The last time he’d eaten a cheese pizza was with him.

Luka was the first person to believe in him, and he’d let him down.  He guessed he shouldn’t be surprised.  It was Luka’s own fault for expecting something more.

He left the pizza by his synth, where it slowly grew cold.

[youcantundothepast]

Anastasia  Newsbians AU part 1/?

Hi! I’m posting this to kind of gauge an audience to see if I want pursue this AU or if I want to continue it in this format. Let me know your thoughts! Anastasia is one of my three favorite musicals (I saw the OBC and it was the first ever show Zach Adkins was on as Dmitry’s udnerstudy) so I’m pretty for continuing this AU

*tw: minor character death, gun violence, symptoms of PTSD, communism also just a teeny bit of a Delancey redemption (Morris is Gleb idek if you could call that a redemption)

Also, we all know what communism did to Russia, but also please remember that the czars were not great for Russia either. There’s a reason the people revolted. I’m changing it up some and making the Jacobs a better ruling family (implying, really), but please remember the inspiration behind this piece/the movie&musical and that the Romanov’s probably were not great people either 

- It’s the night of a great ball thrown by the Jacobs family, the ruling family of Russia. Esther and Mayer proceed to tuck their 7 children into bed, Sarah being the oldest, then Davey, and the youngest being Les, before going to join their guests in the festivities. When the door closes, most of the children stay in their bed, but Davey and Les walk to their sisters bed because the next morning, their sister will be traveling to Paris to attend boarding school and to meet potential suitors. She’s not looking forward to it exactly, but she loves the city of Paris and often told her two favorite brothers many stories of the other times she’s visited France with Esther or for other reasons. 

- They’re so sad to see their sister leave, but they know she’ll have a great time in Paris. As a parting gift, she gives Davey a music box their mother gave to her. She said it was a great piece of art representing their country, so it should stay in their country. The three of them listen to it together (it plays the beginning notes of Seize the Day that Davey sings) and eventually fall asleep in a little huddle. 

- Instead of being woken up by morning, they’re woken up by a loud bang of a gun. While their other siblings are crying, Davey and Les just look to Sarah who shushes them quietly so they worry in silence. Sarah also tries to silence her other brothers and sisters, but they’re too preoccupied with wanting Esther or Mayer or one of the staff to come and tell them that everything’s all right than to listen to their sister. It breaks her heart terribly, but she takes her two brothers and they flee from their room (leaving the music box) to navigate through one of the hidden corridors in the wall the children often use to escape into the kitchen at night to steal bites of food. 

- Sarah makes sure the kitchen is clear of any danger before ushering her brothers out of the tunnel, and she tries to lead them to a exit. She makes sure to tell them to keep their eyes forward to try and keep them from seeing anything that they wouldn’t want to see. Unfortunately, she get glimpses of what’s going on in the main areas of the palace including fires, gunshots, blood, and the echo of screams. All she can do, though, is try to get her brothers to somewhere safe and pray for the rest of her family. She doesn’t even know if her parents are alive, much less where they could be. 

- With luck and stealth, which is hard because Les is only 5 at this point, they make it out of the palace without being seen. Sarah hopes that they’re home free, but some villagers were apparently also revolutionists and they chase the children to the train station. Sarah knows her train was supposed to leave at dawn, and luckily, the sun is inches away from rising, so she goes directly to the train yard with her brothers in tow. The danger of the situation gives her enough adrenaline to push forward and drag her brothers behind her with all the strength she has. Luckily, the train is full with passengers by the time they see it, but the villagers are not far behind. 

- “Grab your brother,” she orders to Davey who does as told. He slows down from having to run for dear life and having to hold his baby brother up, but as they approach the back of the train, Sarah moves so she’s now behind her two brothers. Luckily, some of the train passengers are sympathetic to the children, and they reach down to help Davey and Les up onto the train. Sarah pushes Davey into the arms of the strangers as he screams in protest because he doesn’t want to leave his sister. 

- Right when his feet hit the train platform, he reaches behind him to get Sarah up onto the train, but she’s a hair too far as the train starts moving. She tries to reach for them, but it’s no use. She stumbles right as a gunshot goes off. Davey screams, thinking the shot was what made her fall to the ground, but she hits her head on the train track and passes out as the train rolls into the sun. 

- 10 years later-

- Kath is walking the streets of St. Petersburg, sorry, Leningrad, as people try to peddle so called artifacts from the Jacobs family which they pillaged from the palace after the siege 10 years ago. She knows that if the plan is to work out, she needs an artifact from the palace, but, also, a pair of pajamas, an obscure painting, even some random thing initialed with an A would not cut it. It had to be something authentic looking, something extravagant and royal looking. Something... “How much for that music box?” Kath asks one of the vendors advertising a bejeweled music box. It was fancy looking enough to possibly be authentic. “It’s genuine Jacobs! I could never part with it!” the vendor exclaims, feigning attachment, but in post revolution Russia, everything had a price. 

- “Two cans of beans, comrade?” 

- “Done.” Kath catches the music box and tries to open it, but it proves to be pretty tough. She can’t it which makes her want to try and get her two cans of beans back, but the conman had vanished. Jack, her “business” partner walks up to her and she tries to get him to open it, but it won’t budge for him either. They keep it anyhow. 

- Not far off, a truck makes a loud “boom” sound causing the street sweeper next to fall to the ground, shouting and covering her head. One of the generals, Morris Delancey, is walking by and observes the woman for a moment. “It was just a truck backfiring, comrade. That’s all it was. Those days are over, neighbor against neighbor. There’s nothing to be afraid of,” he reassures her, but the woman is shaking. He is suddenly concerned, strangely. “There’s a tea shop just down the way, just let me-” he tries to offer to buy the woman a cup, but she sharply, yet politely, declines. “Thank you, but I can’t lose this job,” she explains. “They’re not easy to come by. Again, thank you.” And she’s gone. 

[cieloxcnco]

yo te haré mía (cnco) - ch9

Chapter 9

Words: 3,200+

Warnings: first scene has light implications of smut. second scene you’re fine. third gets a little raunchy but not down and dirty.

A/N: all necessary things to lead up to Ch 10 when the real shit starts going down. sorry you waited so long for something so meh, but it gets better. swear. chapter 8 is here if you want to catch up.

Zabdiel slid his heavy steel rings off his fingers into a jewelry dish on the nightstand as he sat on the edge of his side of the bed, heaving out a sigh. “He's finally asleep.” Isabella muttered in assent, brushing her hair out over her shoulder before sliding beneath the bedsheets. “I feel horrible,” he grumbled, rubbing his palms over his cropped hair. “I do miss spending time with him. I feel like this whole album has taken over everything.” He rolled his shoulders with an audible huff, shedding his t-shirt and making short work of sliding his jeans to the ground. Grouping the laundry together in a ball he tossed it into the hamper, a small grin at the victory. “It should all be better once the new album is done.” Isa rolled to the inside of the bed, facing toward him for a change. “And after the album is promotional things and interviews, after promo is a tour, and after a tour is another album. There’s no slowing down or stopping, Zabdiel.” He collapsed into the pillow beside her, his arm thrown haphazardly over his eyes, almost in defeat. She tucked her hands under her head. “The cycle of your career won’t stop. And the difficulty with your family won’t stop until you show some effort.” He lifted his arm off his face and lowered his gaze to meet hers. “We're not only talking about Joaquin anymore, are we?” Isa looked down toward the lump in the sheets where her toes were hiding. “You have to understand,” she began slowly, “how alone all of this has made me feel.” He huffed, throwing his arm down on the mattress beside him. “How am I supposed to know how you feel if you don’t tell me?” She still couldn’t look to his face. “How am I supposed to tell you how to parent, how to be a husband? Your sole focus right now is being a musician. It’s frustrating when the people on the outside of it have to cope without you, but it’s been so long we’ve gotten used to the situation. It just doesn’t make it easier to stomach.” Zabdiel stared up at the ceiling, clearly ingesting her words and now deep in thought. He was silent for a few minutes, no sound but their slow breathing. She knew that she had probably been harsher with him than was necessary, but clearly it had made an impact. She was just sure it would change nothing. “I promised you,” he started slowly, turning his body towards hers and trailing his hand down her arm until it clasped hers, “that I would be faithful, loyal, and loving, and I haven’t been that to you in a long time. I’ve taken you for granted and I’m sorry.” The shock set in and her mouth was too dry for her to speak. He squeezed her hand affectionately. “Maybe a little island getaway for the two of us before the baby comes?” She was a lot more hesitant about it than her immediate response let on. “I know that you need new inspiration for your love song. Being so tranquil and relaxed on vacation will make you a better songwriter.” “Amor, no.” Her gaze still focused away from him, he leaned down so his lips could meet hers. Surprised by the kiss, she looked up and met his eyes. “I want to be a better man for my family, a better father, a better husband for you.” She shook her head against the pillow, tracing her fingertips over his that were tightly clutching the pillow from underneath. “You can’t do that and put your music on the sidelines.” He shook his head in agreement. “No, es cierto, pero I can take small steps to show you all you mean to me. Saying it is only one part. You deserve to be shown it.” He sat up on his knees to be able to reach into the drawer in the table of the nearby nightstand. “I had this to give to you when we were going to go out tonight, but we didn’t really get that chance.” Retrieving a small jewelry box, he presented it in his hand that lay in his lap. She sat up beside him, hesitantly examining the box with her eyes, unsure if she should reach for it. “Izzy,” he chuckled, “I promise it won’t bite you.” Lifting the lid, she revealed inside a small silver oval locket. Engraved across the front were the the words “te recibo a ti” and in flipping to the back to find the opening there was the continuation “y me entrego a ti”,  a line of the vows they’d made at their wedding. A button sat below the hook of where the locket connected to the thin chain and pressing the button lightly opened the hinge of the locket. On the left panel was a thin layer of glass covering a backdrop of diamonds, a miniature blue orchid like that of her wedding bouquet pressed between. The right panel held a small photograph of the two from their wedding, staring into each other’s eyes with unmistakably genuine smiles. He lowered his head to be able to press his lips against her forehead. “Te lo prometí, mi amor, and I’m sorry I haven’t been acting like it. Pero te amo, y siempre te amaré.” The genuine thought and effort to create something so meaningful struck a chord in her heart. For so long, she had believed him incapable of any sort of effort involving her. Perhaps she had lost the will to put forth effort when she thought he had also given up. But he clearly hadn’t. The tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes were stopped as she shut them to pull him close and kiss him deeply. He shuffled the box back to the nightstand as he lost himself in her lips. And as his body fit to hers and they physically reconnected, she had to think that this was the connection that they had both been missing. And as they laid tangled in each other afterwards and he fell into peaceful sleep at her side, she couldn't help but stay awake wondering if now that they were trying to mend things if her secrets with Christopher would be too much to overcome.

-

Chris was never early to anything. Ever. But the lack of sleep he’d had the night before had him awake anyway, so he figured he might as well head to the dance studio for choreography rehearsal. It might have even given him time to relax and take his mind off of his best friend’s wife. If his best friend hadn’t been the only other person in the room. “Hey, man, ¿como estas?” Zabdiel was always so energetic even before caffeine and it was almost frightening. “Exhausted pero estoy aquí," he mumbled, rubbing his palms over his face. “¿Quieres café?” Zabdiel offered, reaching for his wallet and ready to run down the block to the Starbucks. “Nah, esta bien,” he murmured. “I already had a cup when I left.” He didn't want to admit that it was to shake how drunk he still had been from the night before. Knowing that Zabdiel was spending a romantic night with the woman that should have been in bed with him had been too much to mentally handle while sober. “You’ve been pulling late nights with Krista for a while though, hermano,” Zabdiel mused. “¿Que esta pasando?” “She’s stressing me out, bro,” he groaned, the still tipsy mind revealing the true thoughts he usually kept under wraps. “I get that everyone is talking about us and the new music. It’s bringing publicity like it was supposed to. I just can’t stand being around her anymore and she tries to make it real. I don’t want it.” Zabdiel studied his friend’s expression and how the stress didn’t leave his face when the alleged cause had been spoken. “That’s not all.” Chris tugged on the brim of his fitted cap and pulled it slightly over his eyes as he sat down against the mirrored wall. The only time Zabdiel had seen his bandmate engaged and excited lately was when he had been in the studio texting that girl, then writing that passionate ballad. “¿Crees que no estas feliz con ella porque estas pensando en otra?” Zabdiel chuckled. With the silence that followed, he quickly realized that it was less of a joke than it was hitting the nail on the head. “Si no estas feliz y quieres otra mujer,” he said softly, “¿por que no puedes acabar lo que tienes con Krista para empezar algo con la otra?” “It’s not that simple,” Chris muttered. “Why not?” Zabdiel asked, ending his bicep stretch and shrugging his shoulders to loosen them. “La otra esta casada,” Chris confessed. Zabdiel chuckled again before the uncomfortable realization sank in again that he again was not joking. “¿En serio?” “I know, man. It’s fucked up.” Christopher tossed his cap to the floor between his feet. “I knew her before she was married. And she’s told me she’s in love with me too. She just… She won’t leave him. And I don’t know what more I can do. I don’t want to break up a home but… Estoy tan enamorado. I… can’t live without her.” Zabdiel anxiously gnawed on the top of his water bottle. He couldn’t dare tell Chris of his secret that he had not taken those sacred religious vows as sincerely as he ought to have. But he understood the pull of love in the positive and the negative directions, and he refused to allow his friend to suffer with no love at all. “Pues, if you both are in love, it will work itself out. It’s complicated but you should hold on to something if it’s that undeniable type of love.” Christopher fiddled with the sideswept tendrils of his angled bang, letting out a nervous exhale. “How can a man who has a wife tell me to steal one?” “If she loved him enough,” he asserted, “then she never would have began anything with you at all.” Christopher exhaled heavily through his taut lips. "Tal vez.” “Sabes," Zabdiel reasoned, “If you feel love for her and her marido does not, then it’s time for it to be done and for the both of you to be together.” “How can you tell me that? You’re married. Imagínate-“ And Christopher stopped at once, realizing just what he was asking Zabdiel to envision. Zabdiel shook his head. “If her heart doesn’t belong to him, you’re not wrong.” Christopher scoffed. “Someone as pious as you- you don’t believe marriage is sacred? A commitment before God? How can you give me advice when you…” “Marriage is difficult. No one involved in one is ever perfect. I’m sure Izzy and I have not been perfect. But love is different than marriage. Love is something I understand, and I know how you must feel. You can’t let go of what you feel.” He sat across from Chris, still toying with the plastic spout on his water bottle. “It’s more complicated than that,” Chris whispered, regretting having allowed the subject to surface at all. Zabdiel continued, “Fear isn’t as strong as love. And I know the situation is scary, but you have to fight for her. You love her, right?” Chris kept his eyes pinned to the floor. “I’m in love with her. I can’t imagine my life without her. I look at my future and I see myself with her.” Zabdiel shrugged. “Well you have your answer.” Christopher toyed with his shoelaces, anxiously needing to busy his fingers. “It’s wrong. She has a husband and a life. I’m trying to let her go and let her be happy.” Zabdiel studied his friend’s nervous movements, trying to read what Christopher left unspoken. “You’re still having sex with her?” Again his silence was enough of an answer. “Then you’re not really trying to let her go.” Chris shook his head. “I want to do the right thing. I’m just in love with her, bro, and she loves me. She just won’t leave him.” Zabdiel leaned over and clapped his hand on Christopher’s shoulder. “It will work itself out. And you know I’m always here for you.” “Gracias, man,” Chris said, flipping his fitted cap on backwards and rocking his head back and forth to each shoulder as if it would shake the thoughts of her out of his mind. Zabdiel gave an acknowledging nod, trying to rid himself of his own advice. If they’d really been in love, one wouldn’t have strayed to start with. Maybe he didn’t… Maybe his indiscretions with Krista were telling him that it was over with Isabella and this trying to make it work was a futile effort. Richard, Joel, and Erick walked in with their coffee a moment later, joking and laughing from whatever they had spoken about on their trip. “¿Listos, chicos?” Richard asked, throwing down his cinch sack and taking a long chug of his iced macchiato. Clara pushed the doors open behind them and rushed ahead to stand in the center of them all. “Stop. Everything.” she panted. “We’re not rehearsing today.” “¿De que hablas?" Erick asked, tilting his head like a puppy who had just heard a foreign sound for the first time. “We’re going out and celebrating,” she started with her trademark beaming grin. “¿Estamos celebrando que?” Erick pushed. “You guys,” she squealed, “were just nominated for a Grammy for Album of the Year.”

-

The evening had spun out of control pretty quickly. The early afternoon was all the boys huddled in the dance studio, tweeting and posting to their instagram stories about the Grammy details. They eventually made their way back to SONY to go over specifics for promotion, did a Skype call with Ricky Martin from the conference room, and called in to three radio stations for interviews and congratulations. Only then did they get the opportunity to call everyone they knew, who already knew because of the social media posts. It was decided that the evening would be made into an impromptu party at Zabdiel’s house. Noemi was more than happy to take her grandchildren for an unplanned sleepover so her son could have the chance to properly celebrate with his friends. There was always enough liquor in the spread of their basement to take care of all friends, production, and family. And it had all night long. Isabella being so far along pregnant couldn’t drink so just tended to all of her husband’s guests. Most of the producers, DJs, and fellow artists in their circle had left after one in the morning. Clara caught an Uber back to her AirBNB with Kevin about two hours after. Joel had been playing billiards with Chris but disappeared about half an hour before in search of a snack and had yet to return. Yashua and Richard were aggressively playing basketball on the court right outside. Erick had been playing Xbox games alone but had stumbled up the stairs to find Joel for further competition and had been lost for ten minutes. Zabdiel, as was common in most situations, had sat on a corner of the couch and fallen asleep. Having consumed more than his fair share of alcohol, there would be no waking him now. Chris had thought this out almost strategically. His celebration would be best experienced sober when the rest had ended their night and he got the opportunity to be alone with her. He had a few drinks sporadically throughout the night, but to keep up appearances only, not to drink to excess. He placed his pool cue on the table and stepped quietly over as Isa covered her snoring husband with a blanket. "¿Necesitas ayuda?" "No, estoy bien, gracias,” she said softly, visibly stiffening. “Gracias por todo lo que has hecho esta noche, amorcita,” Chris breathed, skating his hands up her hips and breathing softly against her ear. “Christopher, what are you doing?” she hissed, knowing she should break away but falling further back into his embrace. “What I’ve wanted to do all night,” he murmured, kissing a path down from her temple to the base of her neck. “Are you insane? Zabdi is right here,” she seethed, wriggling in his arms. She stared at her husband’s sleeping body beside her and gasped, but felt electricity surge through her as Christopher’s hands stroked down to the apex of her thighs. “Y el no tiene que saber nada,” he groaned, pressing into her. “Todavía estoy enojada contigo,” she moaned quietly, winding her waist against his. “Obviously.” He nipped at the nape of her neck and slipped his hand into her jeans. “We need to stop taking shots at each other and just accept we’re in love and this isn’t over.” His fingertip touched her clit and she clutched his wrists for stability. “Amor,” she exclaimed, begging for nothing specific but she didn’t need to say it. “You want it,” he insisted, his growing desire pressing into her from behind. “I know it. You push me away but it’s because you’re scared by how much you need me.” “Christopher,” she gasped. Zabdiel stirred in his sleep and Isa jumped, jerking her body to the side which only made the friction of Chris’ hand send more sensation up her spine. “Ay, Dios mio.” “I shouldn’t have pushed about the baby,” he murmured, now pulling the collar of her top down so he could lay open mouthed kisses on her shoulder. He feared her moving away again but saw she was too lost in pleasure to react. “I’m sorry. I just love you. I want you. I want all of you.” “Fuck me, papi,” she pleaded, leaning forward to grip the back of the couch. Chris withdrew his hand and smirked, sarcastically repeating her warning. “Are you insane? Zabdi is right here.” “A mi no me importa,” she sighed, turning to face him and gripping the back of his neck to pull his head down to meet hers. She kissed him fiercely, threading her fingers through his hair and pulling him as close as her belly bump allowed them. It was an immediate spark that ignited a wildfire. It didn’t matter how wrong it was- something this intense could not be so easily extinguished. He roared into her mouth as he kissed her, his one hand sliding up her back and his other sliding to grab her ass. He took a brief breath between their parted lips just to say, “Lo siento. Te amo tanto,” before pouring himself back into their kiss. In the back of his mind he realized that he shouldn’t be debating about whether to set her down on all fours next to her unconscious husband or to bring her up to bed, but the thought was all that was running through his mind. He stopped again to ask how she wanted to continue, only to hear stammering from the staircase. “¿Q- Que hacen?” Isa and Chris both whipped their heads around to see Erick, mouth agape, staring at them from the doorway, surely having seen the entire thing.

- chapter 10 is now here

[myheartissetinmotion]

all my thoughts watching 1992 Newsies for the first time in 4 years

Buckle your seatbelts this is a lot longer than I intended

- this music still means so much to me

- YAAAAAS SLAY PATRICK’S MOM why wasn’t this in the stage musical

- Elmer is so frikkin adorable

- look at them goooooooo

- ugh I love these bois

- C R U T C H Y

- I just can’t get over the feather in Oscar’s hat

- ENTER THE JACOBSES WOOOOOOOOOOOO

- loving these instrumentals and harmonies

- LES WITH A TINY SWORD okay I love him

- I feel like I’ve seen Wiesel in something before

- “not like last time” “uh-huh” RACE WHAT AN ICON HAHAHA

- “must be from brooklyn” SPOKE TOO SOON ABOUT RACE BEING AN ABSOLUTE ICON

- Davey I love you

- LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES

- that look in Crutchy’s eyes when he says “ya learn from the best” is Priceless

- okay one glimpse of someone who may or may not look sorta like Katherine

- Where. Is. Hannah.

- “now, when I created the World-” *eye roll* haha love this guy

- *dramatic disney villain music*

- sTILL NO SIGN OF HANNAH

- 57 rounds of boxing oof

- is that Snyder? that’s probably Snyder

- yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyep

- JACK WHAT DID YOU DO oh wait nope false alarm he’s fine

- “WAIT TILL I GET YOU BACK TO THE REFUUUUUUGE” good to know Snyder hasn’t lost his flair for drama

- “well you have a way of improving the truth” okay I see what all you Javid people mean now

- THAT’S MEDDA?!?!?!?!

- Larkson? wonder why they changed it

- Les I love you

- “oh, you’re good” okay she’s okay

- MEDDA SWEETIE I KNOW IT’S THE ORIGINAL BUT WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU??!?!?!?!?!?!?!!!

- WHAT EVEN IS THIS SONG I’m very uncomfortable

- OH HIS PARENTS ARE OUT WEST IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW that’s really cool wonder why they cut that

- ooh we actually get to meet the whole Jacobs family!!!!!

- SARAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- those Knowing Looks TM between the Jacobs parents

- Les...sweetie...

- why is my head blaring “tonight” from west side story...the scenes looks so similar

- oh wow Santa Fe comes a lot earlier and THE FAMILY ASPECT UGH so good

- “ain’t you glad nobody’s waitin up for you” Jack sweetie aaaaaaaa!!!

- so this guy is totally cool with the fact that a random boy is singing on his wagon

- oh okay there’s a hat now?

- y e e t

- I’m not sure if we know enough about Jack to feel enough sympathy for him at this point, but it’s a short movie so

- so THIS is the dance break y’all have been talking about

- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

- P R I C E L E S S

- he just. steals a horse

- and it all comes back to the family aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!

- the instrumentals, lovely as usual

- that was a Ride

- still no Hannah.

- “dghdghdghdghdghdghdghdghdghdhgdgh” -the distinguished Joseph Pulitzer

- so they’re just giving Hannah’s lines to this guy. I like this guy but still bitter about The Severe Lack Of Hannah

- We Are All Love Mush

- “s w e l l” in case you didn’t know, I. LOVE. CRUTCHY.

- Les being the first one to agree with the strike and holding up his lil wooden sword- AAAAAAAAAAAAA

- oh boy here we go

- from what I’m seeing Boots is important WHERE IS HE BROADWAY I WANT ANSWERS

- this singing. wow. okay. cool.

- Davey just walking around them like “okay is this what we’re doing? musical numbers every day? right here in the street?”

- yas get those turns

- is this Denton? I feel like this might be Denton

- Jack honey that’s not how you pronounce it (I. Love. This. Movie.)

- okay Javids I can see where you’re coming from this is Really Something

- CALLED IT THAT’S DENTON

- “he has to!” *thrown out of door* That’s movies for ya

- okay lET LES HAVE THE LINE

- “so...is the newsie strike important? it all depends on you.” I like him. Give him a Watch What Happens come on disney I want a Denton song

- wow nice zoom-out this is so 90s I love it

- SPOT CONLON THERE HE IS WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

- @ disney on broadway: Where. Is. Boots.

- that slingshot tho

- WHY DID THEY CUT THIS SCEEEEEEEEEEEEENE

- Davey you’re doing amazing sweetie

- okay he’s wearing The Hat again

- OPE IT’S THE SEIZE THE DAY INTRO HERE WE GOOOOOOOO

- Davey getting into the Dramatics TM

- jumpy bois

- HE DID THE LEG THING

- okay we’ve still got a few backflips and jump splits

- RACE HAS A HARMONICA?!?!?!?! love that for him

- Denton just kind of taking notes about their revolutionary dance number

- ooh here come the scabs I’m so ready for the monologue-wait where’s the monologue

- WHERE’S THE MONOLOGUE

- ok so it just breaks into a fight? what happened to “we’re all in this together”?

- yas tip that wagon just like in actual history! rip those papers! woooooo!

- oh no here come the bulls

- I’M NOT READY

- CRUTCHY NO

- NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

- NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

- WHY ARE YOU STILL WEARING THE HAT

- HOW ARE YOU EMOTIONALLY STABLE THIS IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

- ominous musiiiiiiiiiic

- wow this is...quite a plan

- OMG WE ACTUALLY GET TO SEE THE REFUGE

- “Heya Dave, how ya doin?” I LOVE HIM.

- look at his faaaaaaaaaaaaaace

- he doesn’t want anyone carrying him? tell that to livesies Albert

- CRUTCHY SAVING THE DAY AGAIN

- well yeah of course they’re not going to “just go away”

- “done with once and for all” heh heh

- THOSE H A R M O N I E S I love a capella

- yas you go drum kid

- oh boy it’s dance break time

- *t w i r l*

- I love them

- oh boy it’s the scabs

- Davey...honey...you tried

- uh oh someone has chains this can’t be good

- OSCAR STILL HAS THE FEATHER

- IS THAT BROOKLYN

- LOOK AT THEM POPPING UP

- HAHAHAHAHA ICONIC SO ICONIC

- slingshots!!!!!!

- Spot you’re doing amazing sweetie

- y e e t

- Those fake punch sounds tho

- YES JACK TEAR THAT NEWSPAPER YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL

- I love the picture this is so ugh I just love it

- oooooh I can feel it coming, KONY is coming

- “you’re famous you get anything you want! that’s what’s so great about NY!” HAHA RACE I’ve said it before I’ll say it again WHAT AN ICON

- so Jack is here for KONY, this is new (well for me at least)

- DENTON APPRECIATION LET’S GO

- “and payin’ for lunch” R A C E

- the “dead or dreamin’” bit is still just so awesome

- TAP DANCING WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

- this is just so filled with joy I’m in love with this movie

- CEILING FAN TWIRL=ICONIC

- this guy just “okay kids lovely musical number please leave”

- CRUTCHY SWEETIE WHAT ARE YOU DOING

- “how was your supper” AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

- “hey, that’s Jack” Crutchy...sweetie...no....wait no wAIT NO WAIT NO

- SWEETHEART NO THAT VOICE CRACK ON “goodbye” I HAVE SO MANY EMOTIONS UGH

- Race steppin up to save the day

- what. an. icon.

- THE REACTION TO “is he dangerous” UGH I LOVE HIM

- ooh nice fire escape shot

- SARAH HAS RETURNED

- WE STAN A QUEEN

- okay romantic subplot time I can see where this is going

- the way he leans against the window awwww

- wow these are...very typical gender roles

- she’s so pretty I can’t

- “there’s nothing for me to stay for is there” She. Is. Standing. Right. There. Whatareyoudoing

- “I’m not sayin it should matter to you" are you though “I’m just sayin...does it? matter?” okay AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWW 

- this pulitzer isn’t half as dramatic, he’s not quite showing the Actual Scary Capitalist, he’s more Typical Disney Villain

- MEDDA WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU

- oh there’s the don’t come a knockin melody

- they’re all dressed the same like a little gang of evil capitalists

- Davey looks so done I love him

- “what are we supposed to do, kiss em?” RACE IS SUCH AN ICON UGH

- wow they really shuffled the plot around

- hERE’S the monologue!

- Medda what’s happening

- WHAT IS HAPPENING

- I love their fan freak-outs in the audience

- is Sarah the only person that doesn’t know the song

- wHERE DID THE SWING COME FROM

- so extra

- Denton are you planning something

- YES HE IS

- “as in SNIDE? smile, sir” Denton is the greatest

- RACE NO

- Medda come on you’re a dancer you’ve got to be stronger than that

- uh oh

- just y e e t up to the box seats

- STOP HURTING THEM

- that was the fakest of fake punches I’ve ever seen

- Dramatic Slo-Mo TM

-I’LL NEVER LET GO JACK

- “the grounds of Brooklyn” SPOT OH MY GOD I LOVE YOU

- HEY JUDGE YOU NEED TO STOP THEY WERE PEACEFULLY ASSEMBLING SO UH SHUT UP

- Denton to the rescue once again

- I actually don’t know how this is going to go

- wait his parents aren’t actually in Santa Fe????

- davey’s face aaaa

- this is heartbreaking

- “a useful and productive life” NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

- SNYDER YOU JERK

- LEMME AT HIM

- Denton why are you smiling what are you doing

- you don’t tell a huge group of kids that their story isn’t important you just don’t

- come on Denton we trusted you I mean I get it but still

- poor Davey

- omg he crumpled it up right in front of Denton? ooooof

- LES HONEY

- JACK?!?!?! WHAT’S HAPPENING

- is this where the bribe and everything comes in?

- that screen swipe tho

- so I’m guessing this is Pulitzer’s mansion or something?

- DAVEY YES

- Pulitzer what are you wearing

- the way the statue is positioned to be shooting at him-nice touch

- it’s villain monologue time

- okay uh he wasn’t talking that time

- he’s not actually looking Jack in the eye?

- yes Jack

- ooooooooooooooooh the suspense

- Dramatic Villain Look

- it’s not a disney movie without a banister slide

- so THIS is the alleyway scene

- OH WOW YEAH I GET IT

- even the music wow

- oh Sad Reprise time

- “you’re the only light that’s guidin me today” *crutchy appears* yeah that was intentional

- Crutchy’s face....

- this is Heartbreaking

- NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

- Wiesel’s face makes this 8000 times worse

- BLINK’S ANGER

- WIESEL YOU NEED TO STOP

- I CAN’T BEAR THIS

- oh no...dAVEY OH NO NO NO NO NO

- I CAN’T BEAR IT

- DAVEY’S SPEECH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

- I AM NOT OKAY

- JACK NO DON’T SAY THAT THEY GAVE YOU EVERYTHING

- YOU REALLY DON’T KNOW WHAT FAMILY IS DO YOU

- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

- “we don’t need you!” this is Real Pain

- “never!” DAVEY I LOVE YOU

- Les sweetie you’re so trusting and they’re still trying to protect your feelings ugh I love

- Jacobs Family Antics for the win

- so he just leaves

- I WISH WE HAD SEEN MORE OF HOW IT AFFECTED HIM IN THE MUSICAL

- WHICHEVER DELANCY THAT IS STOP NO STOP

- at least the other stopped him

- DELANCYS YOU NEED TO STOP NO STOP STOP STOP

- STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP

- yes Sarah punch him

- NO NO NO NO NO NO

- oh god here come the brass knuckles

- Jack finally coming to his senses

- it’s about freakin time

- “remember Crutchy?” *bash* ICONIC

- “no, smart.” Jack I love you but you really don’t see how important your newsie family is do you

- Denton spilling the tea

- he shushes Sarah but they’re gonna have a musical number soon yep makes total sense

- wait the whole song is in their heads? MUSICAL TELEKINESIS

- once and for all will always be a bop

- “just hope I get to thank him for it someday” LOVE

- YAS THROW THOSE PAPES

- Y      E       E      T

- yes boys hold that long note as you dramatically pan across a brick wall

- so this is Roosevelt

- so this is where Blush comes from

- it’s just. really good music

- LES HONEY I LOVE THE REPRISE

- RACE I LOVE YOU

- what’s up with these bike people

- everyone knows the words now apparently

- beautiful chord

- what an epic, triumphant feeling this must have been

- THERE’S SO MANY OF THEM

- “and such awful language” glad that’s in there

- but you didn’t break him now didja

- so THERE’S WHERE THE LAMP THING CAME FROM HAHAHAHAHAHA

- so you really think yelling “go home” is going to change everything

- shouting match ftw

- “we only use the best, Joe, so I just wanted to say: thanks again” AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA LOVE

- what’s he whispering to Les-wait AWWWWWWWWW

- WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

- WE WON YALL

- this is such a Disney movie I love it

- WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

- wait now what

- is this what I think it is

- “you don’t have to run. not anymore” I officially love Denton

- okay the “blessed children” melody playing while kids are freed is Poetic Cinema

- IT IS WHAT I THINK IT IS

- HE’S BACK YALL

- CRUTCHYYYYYYYYYYYYY

- still not used to that spelling btw

- “share what you got in common” CRUTCHY I LOVE YOU MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF

- almost makes you feel bad for snyder. key word: ALMOST. hahaha

- “wait who comes walkin in” OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HERE WE GO

- JACK’S FACE HAHA I LOVE IT

- “that’s roosevelt?” Race I love you

- “so, uh..could he...drop me at the trainyards?” Jack. Old buddy. Old pal. What

- his face shaking teddy’s hand and the music slkdfjlshgoeibnclfboeifvl

- what’s happening he’s just riding away?!?!?!

- THE JACOBSES

- THEIR FACES AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

- im heartbreak

- and jack smiling so big okay Big Sad

- LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES

- LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES

- love how they’re playing like it’s the end of the movie and by love I mean endless angst

- You know that part in the sound of music when they’re trying to sing but it’s just Not The Same without Maria? Yeah that’s this

- Davey’s lil smile ugh I love him

- the music is building Jack is coming back I can Feel It

- Les reacting! aaaa! this has become a Les Appreciation Post

- Denton’s reaction!

- “besides, I got family here” HIS FACE AND DAVEY’S FACE

- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

- okay Javids I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND

- Les just beaming up at him AAAAAAAAA

- THAT LITTLE SMILE. THAT ICONIC LINE. DAVEY YOU’RE DOING AMAZING SWEETIE

- THE SPITSHAKE

- CHARACTER. DEVELOPMENT.

- SARAH

- okay gotta admit this is REALLY FREAKIN CUTE

- LES HUGGING THEM

- of cOURSE SPOT IS IN THE CARRIAGE HAHA KING OF BROOKLYN INDEED

- look at them go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Y E E T

- I LOVE THEM

- did someone in the crowd just say “it’s crazy”

- YES ICONIC HEEL CLICK KID

- well, guys and gals and nonbinary pals, this was A Ride

- thank you for joining me on this journey