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write-orflight · 4 years ago

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Settle Down: Chapter 3

**Gif Not Mine**

Prev - Next

Pairings: SpencerXReader (kinda enemies to lovers)

Rating: M

Words: 2K

Warnings: None, suggestive language

Request: OPEN/CLOSED

Summary: Y/N and Spencer don’t get along but turn to each other for the one thing you need someone else for… A baby. You can plantonically start a family, right?

AN: Unedited and ending might change as I wrote this half asleep. Comment on this chapter or inbox to be on taglist. thanks! much love, Cia.

Chapter 3: You’re really going to waste a Good Witch on this?

You still felt pretty normal. You knew not to expect or feel anything at least for another couple of weeks but that didn’t make you any less nervous about it. So now you were playing the waiting game. You and Spencer were doing good. For some reason it wasn’t awkward that morning after the sex at all. The two of you just woke up and got coffee before heading into work like nothing happened. It was fine until Spencer had suggested that night maybe having sex again would increase your chances of getting pregnant since you were also ovulating the second day. You agreed of course but you couldn’t figure out if it had been for the reasons you were supposed to. The sex had been great, as good if not better than the first time yet you still felt slimy, like you were tricking Spencer even though he suggested it and was probably right. Spencer gave no indication that it bothered him though so you figured you were in the clear.

You almost had been caught by Penelope when you went to work the following day. The second time around, let's just say Spencer was a lot less shy, a lot more ambitious and left a giant bruise on the side of your neck where he had been kissing practically the whole night. You couldn’t be that mad about it when you left your fair share of bruises on him.

“Whoa!” Penny said when you walked into the small work space the two of you shared. You knew what she was talking about instantly. You desperately tried to cover it up and he apologized profusely for it. You told him it was no big deal. It wasn't like you were making big moves to stop him at the time. “Someone had a fun night. Come on, spill!” She says, turning to face you.

“I burned myself on a curling iron. Not nearly as fun a night as you think.” You lie, shrugging the whole inquisition off so you wouldn’t suspect you lying to her. It seems to work because she groans.

“Ugh, nothing interesting ever happens here!” She groans. “What about you and Spencer?”

You look nervous for a second. “What about me and Spencer?”

“I mean, anything new in babyville?” She gestures.

“Oh! Nothing yet. We’re just playing the waiting game right now.”

“That was fast. So you might be pregnant right now?” You shrug. “I can’t believe you and Spencer are having a kid.”

“Yea, it’s kinda strange but we’ll manage.” You say as the phone rings. The team was out on a case, it wasn’t uncommon for them to call you guys for technological aid.

“All seeing, all knowing.” You greet them on the phone. You adapted Garcia’s jovial speech the more you worked with her.

“Hey, Y/N…” You hear Spencer’s voice say back to you.

“Oh, hey Spencer. I’ll patch you to Penny.” You say, hand on the button to do that. You’ve grown accustomed to transferring him to Penelope over the years since he preferred to talk to her.

“No! No, I’m actually calling for you…” He says.

“You never call for me.” You say. “You always ask for Garcia.”

“I know, I know. I just— how are you feeling?”

“I’m fine, Spencer.” You say. “It’s only been a couple days.”

“I know, I know. I just wanted to see how you were doing.” Spencer says nervously into the phone.

“I’ll tell you if anything changes, but right now I’m fine, ok?”

“Ok.” He says back.

“Now did you have a question pertaining to my actual job?”

“Could you run financial records for Wilard Yannis for me?”

—————————————

It was a week later and the team was officially back from the case. It was a paperwork day which you and Garcia always used to review potential cases. You were doing just that when a knock came to your door. Spencer walked in brandishing two coffees and a pastry bag which he places in front of Garcia.

“What’s this?” Garcia asks, excitedly opening the pastry bag. “It’s a crossiant and it’s still warm. Oh, you love me and I love you.” She says, patting his cheek. You don’t turn from your screen but you smile at Penelope’s antics. You don’t look up until you see a cup being placed in front of you.

“What is this?” You ask.

“Coffee.” He says like it’s obvious.

“Why?”

“You’re welcome, Y/N.” He rolls his eyes before walking out. You sip the coffee tentatively.

Ok, how the fuck does he know your coffee order?

You wait until he’s heading to the file room later to corner him. You follow in behind him and lock the door.

“Ok, you need to knock it off.” You say, crossing your arms.

“Knock what off, Y/N?” He asks.

“You know what!” You exclaim. “Do I need to remind you what your job is? What our coworkers jobs are? We work with Profilers for God's sake! Now, I was able to avoid suspicion even though you left a Texas size bruise on my neck. But you’ve got to knock it off and stop acting weird around me.”

“How am I acting weird?”

“For one, stop calling me for cases. You have always called Garcia and now you’re suddenly calling for me?”

“So I can’t call and ask you to do your job? That’s rich.”

“No asshole, you can’t ask me now. You’ve always asked for Garcia and while it was insulting that you would still do it even though I’ve been doing this for years, I’ve gotten used to it because that’s how you are, Spencer!” You exclaim throwing your hands in the air. “Spencer Reid doesn’t bring me coffee and he certainly doesn’t call to check up on me. Knock it off.”

Spencer’s silent for a second, thinking. “I’m sorry, Y/N. I never thought of it like that. And I certainly never meant to insult you.” He says looking you in the eye. “But we don’t need to worry about me.”

“What do you mean? You’re the only one who’s acting differently.” You say, confused. Spencer just laughs which only makes you look more confused.

“I’m the only one acting different?” He says, taking a step towards you, crowding into your space. You back up slowly until your back hits the wall next to the door. His eyes drift up and down your body and you shiver under the scrutiny. “You’ve been staring at me all morning and the past couple of days we’ve been back. Specifically my hands and mouth. And whenever you do, your hand drifts to that ‘curling iron burn’ you have. Like you’re trying to remember what it felt like.” He’s mere inches away from you now and when you look up you can see the smug smirk on his face. “If I can notice it then so can they. So we don’t need to worry about me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” You say, stubbornly.

Spencer chuckles darkly. “Yea ok, answer me this then.” He says, his face moving so he’s impossibly close to you. You tilt your chin up to look in the eye and show him you’re not cowering away from him. But for some reason, despite only having sex the two times, his smell takes you out of focus and you’re almost at the point of drooling like a Pavlov dog. He notices this because he always does and smirks and leans down close to you, your eyes drift shut thinking he was about to kiss you. You hate how ready you were for it. “If you were truly worried about me drawing attention to us…. Why did you lock yourself in a room with me?”

With that, he’s reaching behind you and unlocking the file room door, moving around you to go through it. “We’ll talk later.” He adds before leaving you alone, confused and surrounded by cabinets.

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

You stop in the ladies room to collect your thoughts for a second before heading back into your shared workspace. When you do get back, Penny turns her chair towards you, hands folded manically. You look at her confused.

“You know, I knew something was up. I’m not a profiler or anything but I have a good intuition. So I knew by the way you flushed when I asked about your neck that it wasn’t an iron burn. But I let it go figuring if you wanted to tell me you’d tell me when you wanted. And then, when Derek told me he shared a hotel room with Spencer and saw some very interesting claw marks on his back when he was changing, I also didn’t say anything figuring you’d tell me if there was something to tell and I thought maybe, just maybe, it was a coincidence and the two didn’t correlate at all. But now, imagine my surprise when I was on my way back from the coffee machine that I saw both of you leaving a file room?” Penny smirks at you and you try to keep a straight face but your heart was beating so fast, you’d been had.

“I have no idea what you’re on about. I was just having a conversation with Spencer.”

“Something happened and you’re going to tell me.” She says. “Good Witch.”

Good Witch was a phrase from way back in your hacker days to indicate a I scratch yours, you scratch mine deal between two parties. Since then, you and Garcia coined the term to mean no matter how big the ask the other had to say yes when it was called. Though it was typically used for moving or picking up the other from a bad date, it was never used like this.

“You’re really going to waste a Good Witch on this?” you ask and she nods profusely.

“Fine.” You throw your hands up before sitting across from her. “But my Good Witch is that this stays between us, no one else, including Spencer, can know. She nods and complies you sigh. “We went to the clinic and the Insemination cost was way too high. So we decided we’d you know…. Try the old fashion way.”

Garcia looks at you wide eyed. “You guys didn’t.”

You nod, awkwardly. “It was nothing. Just two times while I was ovulating and if I’m pregnant now, never again.”

Garcia hums. “And you’re sure you don’t just like each other?”

“Garcia, Spencer hates me. We’d never work.”

“You said, Spencer hates me. Not we hate each other like you usually do.” She points at you. “You’re starting to like him.”

“No, I’m not! Just a slip up on my words.” You exclaim, but Garcia gives you a look that screams she doesn’t believe you. “Anyway, you used your Good Witch to ask a question I already answered so I don’t need to tell you anything else.”

“Can you at least tell me this?” She asks. “Was it… good?”

You groan into your hands. “That’s the problem! It was good! Too good! Earth-shattering, mind blowing good that I can’t focus or think of anything that’s not it. And Spencer knows that and he’s being a dick about it.” You sigh. Garcia pats your back, looking sympathetically.

“Well, it’s just like you said, it was just to have the baby, right? So at least you know if you’re pregnant now, you never have to deal with it again.” She smiles before turning back to her screen. She was right, Spencer wouldn’t play games with your emotions like back in the File room if you were actually pregnant now so you could go back to less stress-inducing, Spencer-free mornings, at least until the baby was here.

That was what you wanted.

Right?

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writer-k-pop · 4 years ago

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The Artist (x.m.h.) - Waning Crescent Hotel

Please read this (W.C.Hotel) if you this is the first post of this series that you see. Warnings: Swearing, Mentions of death Genre: Angst, Hotel Del Luna AU, Choose your own adventure, SVT x Fem! Reader Staff: Yong (Spirit General Manager) / Jiwoo (Human General Manager) / Soon Bok (Room Manager) / Mun Hee (Front Desk Receptionist) / Shin (Grim Reaper assigned to Waning Crescent) Word Count: Ending A - 3.3k / Ending B - 3.4k

W.C.Hotel | Seventeen Masterlist | Masterlists

"I can't believe you dated him!" Mun Hee says excitedly as we stroll through the hotel.

"You don't even know the man I loved." I tell him like he's lost his mind.

Mun Hee shakes his head, "I looked at his palm. He had 16 lives!" He exclaims, throwing his hands up in amazement. "That's one of the biggest amounts I've ever seen!"

I fight the smile that forces its way onto my face. Mun Hee's constant amazement whenever someone comes in with more than the average amount of lives amuses me. "I once heard of a woman with over 30 lives." I tell him.

"They go up that high?" Mun Hee's eyes grow to the size of tea cups.

"Apparently." I say, "How did he look?" I ask, crossing my arms.

Mun Hee shrugs, "Fine. I don't know how long it's been since he passed but his clothes were pretty wrinkled and he looked a bit thin."

I purse my lips in concern but remind myself that he'll change into the Minghao I remember. The first life Minghao.

"Vroom! Vroom!" A child vocalizes and accidentally barrels into my legs.

Instinctively, I reach down to steady him.

"Seok Jin!" A woman comes walking up to me with an apologetic look on her face, "I am so sorry."

I look from the child to the mother then to the father who walks up behind them. A family. In my hotel. With a child.

I force a smile to cover the nausea spinning in my stomach. What if the child is only one its first life? How could the Gods send such a child to me?

"I told you not to run in the lobby." The mother kneels in front of her son and scolds him, "Apologize right now, Seok Jin."

The child twists his hands together, knowing he's done something wrong. "I'm sorry." He says quietly.

I squat down to be level with him and meet his eyes. "That's okay. I forgive you." I tell him and pick up the toy car he dropped when he hit me, "Just don't do it again and be very careful where you walk." I remind him and hand over the toy.

The boy takes the toy and holds it close to his chest while nodding.

Satisfied, I stand back up and continue walking with Mun Hee.

"How many?" I ask when we're far enough away.

"The parents both had three." Mun Hee tells me, "The boy had 12."

I nod, "He'll leave with the parents?" I ask.

Mun Hee nods.

It happens rarely but if a child under the age of 13 arrives at our hotel, the hotel's life replay doesn't occur for them because they are too young to understand it. If the child arrives alone, we usually arrange a transfer for them right away. But if they arrive with parents or siblings, we send them away at the same time as their parents or siblings.

Knowing that the boy had lived 12 lives quiets the nausea I had felt earlier. For a second, I had worried that it was his first life and felt sick that the Gods were pulling him away.

"Room?" I ask Mun Hee as we turn down another passage.

"711." Mun Hee answers.

"You said 16 days?" I question.

Mun Hee nods, "16 days."

I breath out, "Let the waiting begin."

~The Sixteenth Day~

"What's that?" Mun Hee asks from behind me, scaring me half to death, and nearly making me drop the precious painting in my hands.

"Do not sneak up on me." I warn him then turn to show him the artwork. "It's a piece of Minghao's."

"You kept it?" He gingerly takes it from my hands and gazes over it.

"It was a gift. Of course I kept it." I tell him, "I just kept it hidden."

"Why?" Mun Hee asks like that was the dumbest decision I have ever made, "I mean look at the colors! And the emotions. You can really tell he put his whole heart into this."

"Exactly." I sigh. Taking the painting back from him, I place it back in its hiding spot. "He put his entire heart into it."

"Ah." Mun Hee realizes and then moves his hands to shake the thoughts away. "Anyway, he's there already. He had asked to get there earlier."

I abruptly turn to him, "What do you mean he wanted to get there 'early'?"

Mun Hee shrugs, "I'm guessing he wanted to do some art in your garden cause he also asked for paper and a pencil."

I scrunch my face up, wondering why he would want to draw anything in that dead garden. Wanting to see for myself, I turn and walk out of my office with Mun Hee shutting the doors behind me.

"Did you know that he was a professional swimmer in 14th life?" Mun Hee questions with excitement. When I stay silent, he continues, "Yeah, a couple days ago, he spent the entire day in the pool, just swimming laps."

I nod, silently, not exactly caring about any of his lives besides the first.

"And, and in his fifth life, he ran an orphanage with his wife and, oh my goodness, the stories he told were just heartbreaking." Mun Hee continues.

I roll my eyes and wonder when he will shut up.

"Did he like wine when he lived his first live?" Mun Hee asks me.

I give him a confused look as we exit the elevator.

"He drank at least like a bottle a day." He informs me. "And apparently, in one of his lives, he told me which, I just can't remember which one, but he was a wine maker person. Really fascinating."

"Mun Hee." I stop and turn towards him.

"Yes?" Mun Hee asks with innocence.

"Don't you have a front desk to watch over?" I question, hinting that he should leave.

He doesn't understand the hint but does realize he left the front desk unattended so he quickly rushes off and I am finally left to my own thoughts.

Thankful that I wore flats today, I quietly approach the garden with the sound of pencil graphite sliding against paper guiding me.

Instead of sitting on the bench, Minghao sits at the little table off to the side. A bottle of champagne sits between two tall glasses, one of which has been filled. Minghao has his back to me and he is constantly looking between the paper in his hand and the bare tree that sits in the middle of the garden.

I move closer but my shadow elongates and crosses Minghao's line of vision.

"You weren't thinking of sneaking up on me, were you, (y/n)?" He asks, glancing back at me with a lazy smile.

"I'm just naturally quiet." I say and slide into the unoccupied chair next to him. Leaning over, I peek at the drawing he's working on. He's captured only the tree and none of the chrysanthemums.

"What do you think?" Minghao asks, tilting the paper to give me a better view.

"You gave it way more life than it actually has." I tell him my honest opinion.

"But the real tree isn't dead which means it has some life left." Minghao counters, setting the paper on the table. He picks up his filled glass and inspects the liquid.

"I'm pretty sure it's been dead since the beginning of time." I mutter.

"You never told me you liked champagne so much." Minhao comments, ignoring my mumbling.

I grab the bottle and pour myself a glass, "I do, but you were a wine lover and I liked the wines you picked. So I had no complaints." I explain and take a sip.

"And you hid the best stuff from me." Minghao places a hand over his heart before sipping from his glass.

"You know, Mun Hee's probably going to remember you for a long time." I comment, taking in his features. His long hair, his gentle eyes, his round cheeks, and his sharp lips.

"The attendant?" Minghao wonders and I nod. "He was entertaining. Had a lot of questions. Reminded me of an old friend in one of my lives. You know the kind that is like a little kid, constantly wondering why and laughing at everything you say?"

I nod, agreeing with his perfect description of Mun Hee. "He has his moments."

Minghao leans back and looks up at the glass ceiling. "So, this is where you've been hiding."

"It is." I answer his statement question. "Surprised?"

He frowns and shakes his head, "Not at all. It actually makes a lot of sense now." He looks at me, "How you said you grew poor, made it rich, but actually hated all the riches you had obtained. It all makes sense."

I rest my chin in my hand and just gaze at Minghao. Just taking in his presence and the calm that he always gave me.

"Remember the one painting we did together?" Minghao asks.

My back straightens remembering the piece very well. "The one we danced on?" I want to clarify incase I'm remembering the wrong one.

But Minghao nods, confirming my thoughts. "It never sold." He smirks. "But I had always secretly hoped it wouldn't so it was a win for me."

"It was a really big piece." I chuckle, "Did anyone have room for that?"

He giggles, "It was kind ambitious but it was my favorite."

"You were always a sucker for the abstracts." I tell him with a smile.

"Remember how we did it?" He quizzes me, rising to his feet, and holding out a hand.

I tilt my head at him curiously. Minghao bounces his hand at me, telling me to take it. Cautiously, I place my hand in his and within two seconds, I'm pulled to my feet and away from the table. Minghao effortlessly twirls me so I'm facing him with one hand on my waist and the other outstretched with mine still in his grasp.

"Remember?" He repeats his question and begins to move back.

Without having to think much, my body follows his as we dance before the tree that keeps me tied here. I smile as the memory returns with the feeling of the cold, wet paint squishing between my toes still attached. With a song playing only in our minds, we move together like no time has passed between us. Even though it has been so long, my eyes don't linger on my feet. Instead they stay locked on Minghao's eyes which are locked onto mine. A lifetime of unspoken stories swim just under the surface and with every physical step I take, I take one more step into that sea.

With one last twirl, our movements cease but we stay locked together. Our foot prints created a map of our dance in the dirt around us. A map that will soon be gone.

"(y/n), you do remember." Minghao says happily, releasing me.

I quickly grab his hand again, "Who said you could let go?" I question.

He chuckles, "I'm not going to run away. " Minghao nods towards the table, "Plus I want to finish drawing your dead-yet-still-alive tree."

"It's dead." I correct him quietly.

"Says the one who is alive but also not alive." He smirks and leads me back to the table. Sitting back down, he picks up the paper and pencil while I scoot my chair closer and rest my chin on his shoulder to watch his process.

"Did you ever marry?" I wonder and his pencil falters against the paper.

"Do you really want to know?" He responds with a question.

I nod, "I do. I didn't stick around to find out what kind of life you had and I want to know."

Minghao sighs, "I did marry in that life." He answers.

"Did you love her?" I side glance at him.

His eyes lift from the paper and land on the chrysanthemums at the base of the tree. "I did. And I loved the three children we raised together."

My lips form a small smile in content. "Three children is less than what you had always hoped for." I point out, thinking back to our late night conversations. The ones where we'd be tangled in the sheets and in each other and just talking about our future dreams.

"I lowered the number after you left." He tells me, resuming his drawing.

"Why?" I ask, pulling away and resting my head on my fist.

"Because I was so sure that we'd have a family together. So when you left, it was like one of those desired children also left with you and I couldn't see myself happy if I had the four with another woman." Minghao explains, "It just didn't seem right."

"Did your wife want four?" I wonder, hoping I didn't take away another woman's dream.

Minghao shakes his head, "No, she always wanted just three so it worked out."

"What were their names?" I ask, curious about his life.

"Maria was our first born. Then we had Jackson. And our youngest was Renjun." Minghao recites their names as I sip from one of the champagne glasses, not caring who's it is.

"Thank you." I say, relieved when I don't hear my name among his children.

"For what?" Minghao looks at me.

"For not naming any of your children after someone like me, someone cursed." I explain.

Minghao nods in understanding, "I thought about it." He says, returning to his drawing, "But that name was saved for the fourth child."

"Even then, I wouldn't have let you name a child after me." I tell him. "My name is one that should disappear when I do. It doesn't need to be around any longer."

"Finished." Minghao holds up the drawing after placing the pencil behind his ear.

The tree that sits on the paper is a good replica of the one we're sat in front of. Leaning in closer, I let my eyes travel up and down the drawn tree.

"You even copied its cracks." I notice the shadowed divots in the trunk.

"Every little piece counts." Minghao simply states.

"I still think it has too much life in it." I sit back in my chair.

Minghao turns in his chair to fully face me, "Even after all these years, you still don't think it's alive?"

I sigh and let my eyes wander over to the tree. "That tree isn't alive. It just stands there. Day in and day out." I meet his gaze again, "If it were removed from this garden, it wouldn't exist."

He picks up his glass then does a double take. "Did you drink from my glass again?" He asks with a raised eyebrow.

I laugh at his reference to me always, purposefully or accidentally, drinking from his glass. "Maybe. I wasn't paying attention."

Minghao smiles and finishes off his glass.

For the following hours, and through another bottle of champagne, Minghao tells me about his life. The places he got to travel to because his art was being featured. How Maria followed him and studied the arts. How Jackson was always getting into trouble. How Renjun was so quiet and such a daddy's boy that his wife began to joke that he definitely wasn't hers. The stories of the grandchildren he got to see.

When the stories and champagne subsided, Minghao gazed out the window with a pensive look on his face. I hold onto his hand and give it a reassuring squeeze.

"Can I ask for one last favor?" He says, looking down at our hands.

"What is it?" I ask, worried I might have to turn him down. Some things I can do, but most are out of my control.

Minghao raises his head and meets my gaze. "Dance with me one more time?" He asks.

I smile, "Of course." I tell him and we both rise our feet.

As we dance, I get lost in him. Lost in the way his body feels against mine. Lost in the way we breath together. Lost in the way everything disappears when we step in time together. I don't know how long we dance for. But it is long enough for the orange glow to dim and for a cool breeze to remind me of what comes next.

"Do I leave from here?" Minghao asks, leaning his forehead against mine.

"No." I whisper, "There's a car waiting for you out back."

"And you can't come with me cause I wasn't the first?" He wonders.

I shake my head, "I can't go with you." I repeat.

Minghao wraps his arms around my back and pulls me in close, "Whoever the guy is, he's one damn lucky man."

I smile, thinking of the first who is still to come. "We should get going before Shin sends his minions searching for you."

"He doesn't really have minions, does he?" Minghao asks, resting an arm around my shoulders.

"I don't really know. He's always threatening me with them but I've never actually seen them." I answer as we walk away from the garden, the two champagne bottles and two glasses sitting next to the abandoned drawing.

"What will you do while you wait?" Minghao asks, matching his pace with mine.

I shrug, "Probably the same thing I do everyday."

"Run a hotel and drink?" Minghao guesses with a laugh.

"Something like that." I agree knowing he's hit the nail on the head.

"You should start packing up your things, shouldn't you?" Minghao worries.

I shake my head, "I don't need to take anything with me when I leave. Much like you. I'll just go as I am."

"I guess that makes things a little easier." He declares, not having thought of that fact.

As we exit the back doors, Minghao takes in a large breath. We walk towards the idling car while Shin stands and simply watches us approach.

"Is he always that serious?" Minghao leans down and whispers to me.

"Unfortunately." I whisper back.

A few feet from the car, Minghao stops and faces me. I copy his movements, wondering why the sudden movement.

"Do you still have it?" He asks. "The painting I gave you for your birthday?"

I nod, "I have it stored away." I tell him.

"Hang it up." Minghao instructs me.

"Why?" I ask, scrunching my eyebrows together.

"I'm leaving this world for good." Minghao explains, "And I want you to proudly show off the painting to everyone."

"But it'll make me miss you." I counter with a frown.

Minghao smiles, "Missing me is okay cause it means you'll remember me."

My face settles into sadness when I realize what he's saying.

"I know I won't remember you when I cross over so you have to remember me? Alright?" He asks, cupping my cheek and strokes his thumb against my skin.

I nod, "I'll hang it up." I tell him though I'm unsure of where I would hang it. "I love you."

"I love you, too." He says then leans down and places a light kiss to my lips. Even though it's light, it's heavy with emotions. When he pulls away, my eyes shed a few tears while his stay dry. Though he was never a big crier.

"I'll tell the Gods to hurry up with the others so you don't wait too long." Minghao tells me before walking towards the car where Shin has opened the door for him.

I watch in silence as Minghao gives me a last wave before sliding into the car. Once the door is shut, the car begins to drive away.

I sniffle and hold back a flood of tears as the car disappears into the fog. But even through my attempts, a couple tears manage to escape and make trails down my cheeks much like the ones our feet made in the paint. Long after the car has disappeared, I pull back my heavy shoulders and turn back towards the hotel to wait for the others.

In the garden, a single chrysanthemum has withered away and only two glasses and two champagne bottles remain on the table. The drawing having disappeared along with Minghao.

Return to the Navigation Page (Waning Crescent Hotel) to choose the next guest.

"Now it's your turn." Minghao states with a smile while I lock my hands together behind his neck.

"Finally, I've waited long enough." I joke.

"Well, your waiting is over." He says before giving me a kiss.

"Let's go before Shin comes hunting for me." I mumble against his lips.

Minghao chuckles but pulls away. As we leave the garden, Minghao confidently grabs my hand and swings it back and forth.

We walk hand in hand to the lobby where Yong, Mun Hee, Soon Bok, and Jiwoo stand solemnly.

"So this is it?" Mun Hee asks with tears in his eyes. "This is the day you leave us?"

I wrap him up in a hug, only a tiny bit annoyed that he's being so sappy. "Maybe I'll get punished again and be back here by the end of the year." I try to joke but Mun Hee abruptly pushes back from me.

"Don't you dare say that. You better not return here." He says angrily through his tears.

I chuckle, "I won't come back. I promise." Then I remember the painting of Minghao's that he admired. "Mun Hee, that painting in my office?"

He nods.

"It's yours now. Take it and hang it up wherever you like." I tell him and surprise widens his eyes.

"Seriously?" He asks me before looking behind me at Minghao, "Seriously?"

Minghao smiles, "It's hers to give away."

Mun Hee wraps me in a hug, "Thank you!"

"You're welcome." I tell him.

Turning to Soon Bok, I thank her for her service and her amazing work. Something I never did and should've done more.

Next onto Jiwoo. I also thank him for his and his entire family's service then I unclip the bracelet that has held him to this place.

"When you leave today, you won't be able to find this place again." I inform him, "I hope that you'll be able to go and live your life happily."

Jiwoo nods, "Thank you for letting me work with you. I won't ever forget you."

I smile sadly, "You will. But thank you."

Finally I reach Yong who is sniffling and trying so very hard not cry.

"You'd think after all these years of waiting that I'd be prepared for this day." She says through sniffles.

"Thank you, Yong." I rests my hands on her shoulders, "For everything. Thank you."

With lips pursed together, she leans forward and wraps me in an unexpected hug. But I soon wrap my arms around her and squeeze her tightly.

We pull apart after a couple seconds and I wipe the few tears that have escaped from her eyes.

"Keep this hotel running beautifully." I tell her before Minghao grabs my hand again.

With final waves of goodbye, Minghao and I walk out to the foggy forest that will take us to our resting place.

At the edge of the forest, Shin stands next to an idling car, a somber look on his face.

"(y/n)." He says when we reach him, "It has been an honor working with you. I wish you both a peaceful rest." Shin bows his head and I pat his arm.

"The honor was mine." I tell him with a smile. Now the tears start to line my eyes as the realization fully sets in.

I'm free. I served my years of punishment and now I'm free to let my soul rest.

I turn back towards the hotel and look up to the top where the rooftop patio is outlined with bright string lights. Then to the mid floors where random room lights are turned on, some guests staying in while others opted to experience the hotel's many services. Then to grand base where guests would be milling around, waiting their turns to leave this world.

"(y/n)?" Minghao softly asks pulling my attention to where he sits just inside the car, "Are you ready?"

I take one last quick look at the hotel before turning away from it. "Yeah, I'm ready. Let's go."

I lower myself into the car and Shin securely closes the door after I am completely inside. As the car begins to drive forward, Minghao securely grabs my hand and I let his warmth guide me towards our final destination.

In the garden, the final chrysanthemum withers and dies so that no more stand at the base of the bare tree.

#kpop imagine #seventeen #seventeen imagine #seventeen the8 #seventeen the8 imagine #the8 imagine #the9 #seventeen minghao #seventeen minghao imagine #minghao imagine #xu minghao #xu minghao imagine #minghao #waning crescent hotel #writer-k-pop

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fernwehbookworm · 5 years ago

Text

Woke The F*ck Up- Chapter 29

August 15th, 2018

Three concerts down in her current world tour and Lena is crashing down from the high of it fast as she paces the new hotel room. Lena had released an album so shortly after her last that when it was announced that she was stepping back from music for a while, every venue sold out within the hour of tickets going up for sale. Right now though, she’s half-dressed in a new blue suit. The black pumps are waiting by the couch, and the jacket hangs by the door. She hates that she had to fly back to National City for this, but she has to see this through. Lena turns on her heel and paces the other direction while rehearsing in her head what she has to say.

“Lee,” Kara says softly from the couch.

Lena startles, forgetting her girlfriend is there. She turns to face Kara who has been watching her spiral into a near panic, pulling her out just in time. Lena smiles softly at her savior and goes to sit next to Kara. Kara immediately grabs both her hands, warm on Lena’s cold, nervous ones.

“Babe, you are going to be fine. I know it will be hard, but you can do this. We are all with you.”

“I know. I know. I got through Lex’s trial. I can get through Lillian’s. It’s just so personal this time. She kidnapped me, hospitalized you. It’s so much more emotional this time.”

“And you are even stronger.” Kara presses her forehead to Lena’s, and Lena closes her eyes and just absorbs Kara’s supportive presence.

A soft knock at the door and Lena’s assistant, Eve, calls that the car is waiting for them. Kara calls back that they will be right there, but she continues to sit with Lena for a few moments more. It’s going to be a long day. With a deep breath, Lena stands and Kara quickly follows. Kara holds Lena’s hand as she slips on her shoes and helps Lena into her blazer.

“In your own words, can you explain how you saw the events of the past year and a half?” the prosecutor asks Lena.

Lena’s pointer finger digs into the side of her thumbnail as she tries hard not to fidget. She has been briefed on this part and has practiced it over and over to try and be as calm and unbiased as possible.

She takes a deep breath. “It is no secret that I was estranged from my family. I took a path that was seen as unacceptable. My father did, however, leave money and a small percentage of the LuthorCorp stock in a trust fund before he committed his crimes that lead to his death. Before my brother was arrested, he legally transferred his shares to me as well. That left me with the majority and appointed me as the CEO of LexCorp, which my brother had changed the name to. I, however, have never had an interest in the corporate world. But as the new CEO, I had a very specific life insurance policy that essentially paid out large amounts of money to any kidnappers for my safe return.”

“And the defendant was aware of this policy?”

“I am sure she was. My father and brother had the same policy.”

“Did the defendant try to contact you before the alleged kidnapping?”

Lena tightens her hand into a fist at the word. There was nothing ‘alleged’ about it. “Yes. Several times. But after my brother’s arrest, I wanted nothing to do with my family. I already had an acting CEO managing the company as I decided what to do. My mother called and left messages that I ignored. She had made offhand comments about immigrants and the state of America before. I believe it alienated me even more. She was also not happy with my sexuality and people who were like me."

Jane Ramos paces in front of Lena as she pauses for the next question.

"How sure are you it was Lillian Luthor that kidnapped you?"

"One hundred percent. She was in my rental car when I was leaving National City Airport. She sprayed this aerosol spray in my face, and the next thing I knew I was waking up blindfolded and tied to a chair. She then proceeded to lay out her plan that either she would get the money from my insurance policy or would get to kill Power Girl when she came to save me. Or both. She was really hoping to Kill Power Girl and get the money. Cadmus had run out of funds since my brother's arrest."

"But you never saw her face after losing consciousness?"

"No. But that voice. I would recognize it anywhere. It has haunted me all my life."

"Why was your captor so sure the Power Girl would save you?" Jane asks.

"Power Girl was on a mission to end Cadmus. I'm sure she had made the connections. I'm also sure it could have been anyone that Cadmus took, and she would have been there."

"So Power Girl obviously rescued you. How?"

Lena knew this was coming. But she couldn't exactly put on record a secret government agency was working with the vigilante, who she was dating and whose sister was in that agency.

"I don't know. I was blindfolded the entire time. I remember hearing explosions and gunfire. A lot of shouting. Then something was tied around my waist, and I was hoisted upwards. Suddenly, I was on the roof with Guardian, and he was telling me to stay put while he went down and helped Power Girl get out. She took me on this zip line then and drove me to the police station. That was the last time I saw my mother before today."

Lena glances at the woman then. Lillian sits at the table next to her lawyer as stoney-faced as ever. She is careful not to show any emotion, but Lena almost cowls under the heat of fury in Lillian’s eyes. The lost little girl still trapped deep inside Lena wants to run away. Lena takes a deep breath.

“My mother is a very greedy person. She married for money and not love. She seized power wherever she could. Through connections or money or blackmail. The price of that greed has cost her more than she could ever imagine. Her husband is dead, her son is jailed, and her daughter never wants to see her again. In the end, she was the poison that tore our family apart and drove me away. I just hope our justice system doesn’t fail because my mother should not be a free woman.”

Murmuring ripples through the crowd in the courtroom following Lena’s statement, but Lillian does not make the same mistakes her son did. She stays quiet and allows her lawyer to cross-examine Lena. He tries to make it seem that since Lena never saw Lillian after losing consciousness that it could possibly have not have been Lillian afterall. After about twenty more minutes of questions, Lena is released from the stand and back to her waiting girlfriend and friends. Sam and Ruby sit in the row behind with Alex as Lena squeezes between Kara and Jess. Winn sits in the third row with Eve.

The rest of the day drags on as more witnesses are called and questions are asked. Jane warned Lena that this trial could go on for several days due to the sheer mass of crimes and how money was funneled in and out of the country. Honestly, Lena has planned to just come for this first day and then for the sentencing day. Kara squeezes Lena’s hand every once and awhile. After the lunch recess, the Arias women and Alex don’t return to the courtroom because of an increasingly bored eleven-year-old. Ruby has grown fidgety and her phone is no longer entertaining. Lena can’t blame the girl. She is going a little stir crazy also. Eventually, the judge calls a recess until the next day. It is so much like Lex’s trial but all so different. Cameras still camp out front, but this time, Lena leaves with Kara instead of Kara disappearing ahead of time. Jess, Eve, and Winn trail behind them. It touches Lena that she has more than Kara for her support. She actually has a support system with multiple friends. With a family that chooses her for everything she is.

In the end, Lillian is also sentenced to spend the rest of her life in prison, and Lena feels like a giant weight has been lifted off her chest. She returns to her tour feeling lighter and happier, going along even better with the brighter sound of her new album.

September 1st, 2018

“What do you mean you have to go? This was your night off! We haven't had any time together in weeks. Ruby starts back to school Monday, and who knows when we will be free again?” Sam stands in the living room on the opposite side of the couch from Alex as she slips on her jacket and pulls her gun from the wall safe behind a picture of Sam and Ruby. Alex had installed it when she started spending more and more time at their house.

“I’m sorry. But this is a high value target that they are bringing in. He’s been at the top of our list for awhile, and the task force finally nailed him.”

“But why do you have to be there? The whole point of this was so you would have more regular hours. All they are going to do is throw the man in a cell and fill out paperwork.”

“Because it’s my team! How can I expect them to look to me if I don’t show up?” Alex slides her gun to its holster with a bit more force than necessary. Alex reaches for the door knob and pauses. “I’ll be back in two hours. We can talk then.”

“Don’t fucking bother! Stay at work. It’s obviously more important.”

Alex tenses, ready to bite back with something that she knows she would regret. Instead, she bites the inside of her cheek and twists the door knob. Alex heads off into the night fuming and leaves her girlfriend near tears in the living room.

It only takes Alex about fifteen minutes to realize how big of a mistake she made. Another twenty minutes to get to the closest store that sells flowers and buy the biggest bouquet possible. Alex is back on Sam’s doorstep before the hour is over. She has called and let the Agent in charge of third shift know that she isn’t going to be in.

Sam answers the door, wrapped in a blanket and red eyed. “What?” she snaps.

“I was wrong. And an absolute idiot. You were right. I don’t have to be there for everything. I have to learn how to balance work and personal things. But you were wrong, work is not more important. You are. And Ruby. I’m sorry I lost sight of that.”

Sam stares at her, long and hard. She looks from Alex, to the flowers, and back up. Sam considers Alex’s words. “You are an idiot. But You are my idiot, and I love you.”

“You love me?”

“Yes, you big idiot”

“I love you too. Does this mean we are done fighting?”

“Take me to bed, Director Danvers.”

“Oh, gladly.”

December 20th, 2018

Lena’s bag feels heavy on her shoulder as she gets off the plane. A whole nine days off, but she is scared out of her mind because she’s spending them in Midville. To meet Kara’s mother. Lena takes a deep breath and walks through the airport to find her beautiful girlfriend. This is going to be a long break.

“Lee!” Kara’s voice rings out among the din of the busy airport.

Lena turns in a circle until she spots Kara. Kara hurries to her and sweeps her up in a tight hug before kissing Lena deeply. It’s been three weeks since they had last seen each other. Lena takes a deep breath of Kara because she’s missed her so much.

“It's not too late. We can get on the next flight out of here and run away.”

“Don’t tempt me. No, I should actually meet your mother. Even if she probably hates me.” Lena pulls away and fits her fingers between Kara’s to walk towards the exit. It’s a small airport about an hour from Midvale and amazingly peaceful with no cameras in sight. Kara walks Lena to the car she’s borrowed from Eliza.

“Eliza doesn't hate you. She’s really glad you are coming.”

“Glad to tell me off for breaking her daughter’s heart?” Lena slouches in her seat and crosses her arms.

“No, Lee. She’s glad to meet the woman that makes her daughter happy.”

“You’re probably right. Still, I’m worried.”

“Come on, time to cheer you up with some tunes. Alex and the Arias women will be here in three days. I need you in the Christmas spirit by then.” “Aren’t you Jewish?”

“Yeah, but the Danvers’ aren’t, so I was introduced to the joys of it. I still follow some of the bigger traditions like lighting the menorah and making latkes. Even though I don’t really follow it for the rest of the year, it’s a way to connect to my parents over the holidays. But it’s already over this year. It was at the beginning of December.”

Lena reaches over and takes one of Kara’s hands. “That’s very sweet.”

Kara glances at her with a small smile before looking back to the road, after a moment she says, “I have a whole Christmas movie lineup that starts tonight. Be ready.”

“For you, I’ll do anything.” Lena kisses the back of Kara’s hand and settles back into the seat for the rest of the ride while Kara sings to the radio.

It’s a beautiful landscape that leads to the seaside home, and Lena squeezes Kara’s hand tighter as they get closer. By the time Kara can shake her hand free from Lena’s grip to put the car in park, she can feel the blood rush back into her fingers as a thousand pricking needles. Kara unbuckles and turns to face her girlfriend. Lena bites her lip nervously and stares at the door.

“Just be yourself.”

“Myself is the problem.”

“Was. But now, we have been through a lot and are different people than we were.”

Lena takes a deep breath. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

Kara grins and kisses Lena’s cheek before popping the trunk to get her bags. Lena opens the door and gets out. She takes a deep breath of the salty, fresh air and instantly starts to feel better. It definitely feels like a place to raise kids and call home. It feels safe. The door opens, and a blonde woman appears with a smile.

“I thought I heard a car door. Glad you made it back, Kara. Lena, it's nice to finally meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Mrs. Danvers.” Lena holds out a hand as she closes the door.

Eliza pushes it to the side and wraps Lena up in a hug. “Oh, please. Call me Eliza.”

Lena hesitates before wrapping her arms around the woman. She squeezes her eyes shut and let’s Kara’s mom hug her in a way that she hasn’t felt in a long time. Lena is fighting tears by the time Eliza releases her, but she doesn't say a word about Lena’s shining eyes. Eliza just cups Lena’s cheek briefly before turning to her daughter.

“All right, Kara, take those up to your room. I put the air mattress in there. Alex and Sam will be in the guest room, and I have the pull out in the den ready for Ruby”

Kara blushes scarlet. “Eliza—”

“Kara, I’m old. Not senial. Nor do I have any delusions about my daughters. I was your age once. At least I don’t have to worry about an unplanned pregnancy.” Eliza laughs and heads inside.

“See, she loves you already.” Kara says from behind Lena as they watch after the woman.

“Fine. You were right. But I’m still waiting for some sort of talk.”

Kara sighs and leads Lena inside.

Lena watches quietly from the doorway as Kara sifts through boxes of ornaments to decorate the tree Eliza has already purchased. Kara had been incredulous when she found out Lena had never decorated a tree before. The Luthor's home was always professionally done, and she didn't celebrate Christmas on her own. She never felt the need to. Kara has insisted that Lena help while they put on Christmas music and drink hot chocolate.

"Lena, dear. Would you mind carrying that tray for me."

Lena moves back into the kitchen to take the tray Eliza gestured too. It is laden with chocolate chips, marshmallows, marshmallow whip, candycanes, and whipped cream. "What is all this for?"

"The hot chocolate, of course. Kara loves adding so many things to hers that it becomes a meal."

Lena laughs because that is so much like Kara. She glances back through the doorway to the woman in question when a warm hand covers hers on the countertop.

"Listen, Kara didn't tell me everything that happened between you two. But she did say you both made mistakes. Whatever those were, I'm glad you two are working things out. She's happier than I've ever seen her. All she's talked about for the past two days is you," Eliza says softly, clearly not wanting to alert Kara to their conversation.

Lena takes a deep breath and smiles back at the older woman. "I'm glad too. Even if we had never worked things out, Kara made me a better person. Made me want to be one. She showed me that I deserved love. And I would never have stopped loving her for that."

Eliza squeezes Lena's hand as Kara shouts for them to hurry up, and Jingle Bell Rock starts playing from the speakers. It isn't the harsh talking to she’s been expecting from the mother of the girl's whose heart she broke. It’s… nice. Lena isn't sure what to do with that or the warmth she still feels on her hand even though Eliza has left the room with the tray containing the cups of hot cocoa.

The evening blurs into a flurry of sparkling lights and shiny tinsel and holiday music. By the time they finish, Eliza pops some popcorn on the stovetop and Kara has picked out a holiday movie, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Kara insists Lena has to watch all the classic claymation movies. Kara and Lena cuddle together on the couch while Eliza takes a comfy recliner. She disappears about halfway through, and Lena is thankful for her giving the two of them some alone time. Lena burrows deeper into Kara’s side, and Kara tightens her grip on Lena’s thigh, basically in between Lena’s legs. Kara just chuckles at something in the movie and reaches for another handful of popcorn. Lena watches Kara watch the television in the soft glow of multicolored lights.

Lena could write a whole album about this woman. Well, she technically already did, but Lena could write another one. And another one. She could write a thousand more and still not feel like she’s captured the beauty of this moment. Lena admits defeat and decides instead to just rest her head on Kara’s shoulder. Soon Lena drifts off to sleep. She eventually is vaguely aware of Kara helping her to her feet and pulling her upstairs.

December 23rd, 2018

The kitchen is covered in about a dozen different types of cookies and holiday sweets. Lena sprinkles more powdered sugar on the marble slab to roll out the sugar cookie dough while Kara selects another shape to cut out. A finger darts out in front of Lena and swipes up some sugar.

“Hey!” Lena exclaims as she turns to face the culprit.

Kara wipes the sugar on Lena’s nose with a laugh. “You’ve got a little something right there.”

“Huh, wonder how that happened.” Lena reaches for a hand towel to wipe it off when Kara’s hand stops hers.

“No worries, I’ll get it,” Kara says as she leans in and kisses Lena’s nose.

Lena scrunches her nose up with a smile. “Did I get any anywhere else?”

“Hmm… Yup. There is some right here,” Kara kisses one cheek. “And right here,” she kisses Lena’s other cheek. “And… right… here.” Kara kisses Lena’s lips.

Lena deepens the kiss and pulls Kara closer. Kara’s hands cup Lena’s cheeks while Lena’s hands cup Kara’s ass. Kara’s tongue darts out between her lips to brush against Lena’s and Kara chuckles. Lena smiles back and gives a couple more soft pecks.

“I know you’re sweet usually, but the sugar is just an added bonus to kissing you.” Kara teases.

“Oh, come on!”

The exclamation breaks them apart. Kara looks over her shoulder to see Alex and Sam laden with baggage and standing in the doorway. Sam turns and laughs into Alex’s neck as Alex fumes and blocks Ruby’s view of the kitchen shenanigans. Lena lets go of Kara and goes to hug Sam and Ruby. Kara hangs her head before turning to her sister. Alex is holding back laughter by the time Kara gets to her.

“What’s so funny?”

“You have sugar handprints on your ass,” Alex tries to say low enough that Ruby can’t hear.

Lena does cover Ruby’s ears. “That’s because she has a sweet ass.”

“Not in front of my daughter,” Sam exclaims.

“Relax, I covered her ears.”

“Not well.” Ruby laughs.

Sam shoots Lena a glare, and Lena just laughs and kisses the top of Ruby’s head. It’s getting harder and harder to do with each passing week as the girl becomes just as willowy as her mother.

“I heard voices, are the girls here?” Eliza calls from the den that doubles as her office.

“Yeah, Mom!” Alex calls.

Eliza emerges from the other room and hugs her daughter before being introduced to her girlfriend and girlfriend’s daughter. Eliza shows Ruby where the den is while Alex and Sam take their bags up stairs.

“Well, that was embarrassing.”

“Please, no worse than when you were fucking me on the pool table. Or when I walked in on them topless in the living room.”

“You what?”

“Oh, yeah. They planned a date night, sent Ruby to a sleepover, but forgot to tell me. I had spent thirty-six hours in the studio and went home to shower and sleep. Unfortunately, it was after dinner and wine but luckily before the pants had come off.”

Kara laughs and goes back to cutting out cookies. “At east for us we were in my apartment behind a locked door.”

“Very true. Come on, let’s get these cookies in the oven so that we can all decorate.”

December 24th, 2018

Christmas Eve brought about a party in the Midvale town square. Lights were strung up and local lenders had booths. A mix of barrel drums and outdoor electric heaters kept the temperature bearable for folks to laugh and play carnival games. Hot drinks flow freely with shots of alcohol available for purchase for the adults. Lena questions the fact that no one seemed to be ID’ing anyone, but Kara just explains that the town was so small that if you’re underage and wanted alcohol, you have to go at least two towns away to use a fake.

Ruby excitedly jumps from game to game, flitting back once in awhile to get cash from her mother for food or to introduce a new friend. Eliza is busy running a booth so it leaves the four women on a double date, sitting at a picnic table sharing stories and snacks.

“Yup, and then she left me with this poor clingy girl who just wanted to dance with her favorite star.” Sam laughs.

“Okay, but she was insane. You left out the part that she followed us to three different clubs, jumped a VIP rope, was tackled and thrown out of the first, dumped a drink on another girl for asking for my autograph, and told me she would lick my feet. That girl was off her rocker.”

“And you climbed out a bathroom window and only texted me twenty mintes later once you were safely home.”

Alex and Kara laugh at Sam’s eye roll as they continue to exchange story about one another. They also take turns getting drinks to warm themselves, alcohol spreading through their bloodstreams. Eventually, Alex and Sam drift off to join the festivities, and Kara sits sideways to wrap her arms around Lena.

“Hey,” Kara whispers close to Lena’s ear.

“Yeah?”

“So since we are all here…”

“Yes…”

“That means no one is at the house.”

“I like where this is going…”

“Have you ever done it on an air mattress?”

“I’ll try anything once. Come on.” Lena excitedly grabs Kara’s hand and pulls her to her feet.

They try not to run back to the house, but Lena is way too excited. It’s been weeks since she and Kara had been intimate. With Eliza just down the hall, Lena hasn’t been willing to risk it. They manage to make it all the way to Kara’s room before removing clothing and tumbling onto the air mattress wedged between the twin beds. The alcohol makes everything blurry and warm, and before Lena knows it, she is riding three of Kara’s fingers as Kara lays under her. The orgasm that takes her is slow and sure, but then a wave hits her and Lena sits down hard and chokes back a moan. Lena faintly registers a soft pop and a hiss.

“Oh, shit.”

“What?” Lena asks lazily.

“Ah… I think we popped the mattress.”

Lena realizes then that Kara’s hips are sinking as Kara’s head gets closer to Lena’s. Lena rolls off of Kara with a laugh, and the hiss seems to get louder as she lays down beside Kara on a rapidly deflating bed. Kara starts laughing with Lena, and they stop suddenly when they hear the front door and muffled voices from downstairs.

“Come on, we can sleep on the twin beds.” Kara whispers.

“Beds?” Lena whispers back.

“Or we can squeeze onto mine.”

“That sounds better. Plus then I can fuck you in your childhood bed.”

“Later, babe. We have a full house again.”

Lena pouts while Kara struggles to get out of the bed and throw Lena a shirt and shorts. It takes a few minutes, but they finally settle in the narrow bed with Kara spooning Lena tightly. Kara glances at the digital alarm clock that used to wake her up every morning. 12:01.

"Merry Christmas, Lee."

"Merry Christmas, Kar."

December 25th, 2018

Kara is woken by a ball of cloth thrown in her face. “What the— Alex!”

“You two snuck off last night. Here’s your pajamas.” Alex stands in front of the bed with her Arms crossed. “And now I know why. How did the mattress get deflated?” Alex raises an eyebrow, pointedly.

“Oh, sweet. Eliza went with elf pajamas this year. Did she get Ms. Claus for herself?” Kara accuses her sister’s accusatory looks.

Alex rolls her eyes. “Just be glad that I came up and not Mom. Be downstairs in five, or we are starting without you.” She turns on her heel a little dramatically and exits.

“I’m sorry, what did I miss here?” Lena wipes the sleep from her eyes and Kara kisses her lips before climbing out of bed over top of her girlfriend.

Kara strips off her sleeping shirt and pulls on a long sleeve button-up that looks very elf like. “Every year, Eliza and Jerimiah would give us pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve. Eliza still keeps up the tradition. I just assumed she wasn’t doing this year with all and the Arias’.” Kara pulls up the long pants that are red and green to match the shirt. “Here, there is a pair for you too. I wondered why she asked for your clothes size.”

Lena sits up much slower, glancing at the clock which reveals that it is still before eight. Lena wipes at her eyes again before standing and taking the clothing from her much too peppy girlfriend.

“You are lucky I love you,” Lena grumbles as she begins to pull off her shirt and put on the Christmas colored clothing.

“I count my blessings every day.”

“You are too cheesy sometimes.”

“You want me to stop?”

“Never.”

They make it downstairs before the five minute deadline and settle onto the couch with hot cocoa, despite Alex’s glare and Sam’s suppressed laughter. True to Kara’s word, all the women are wearing elf pajamas, and Eliza is wearing a set in red with a white apron printed on the front, very Mrs. Claus. Eliza hands Ruby her first present, despite Sam’s protests that it isn’t necessary, and then Ruby takes turns handing out gifts from youngest to oldest.

Colorful wrapping paper soon litters the floor as gift after gift is opened. Most are from Eliza to Ruby. The other women brought gifts for each other too, adding to the paper carnage.

“Alright, my turn.” Lena says and gets up. Instead of grabbing one from under the tree, Lena goes to the front door. “What are you doing babe?” Kara asks.

“I was warned you are a notorious present peeker.” Lena says, as if that explains everything.

“Am Not!”

“Are too!” Alex yells back.

“Am Not!”

“Are too!”

“Not!”

“Too!”

“Not!”

“Not!” Alex repeats.

“Too!” Kara exclaims, before groaning and slapping a hand to her forehead.

“Hah!” Alex sticks out her tongue at her sister.

“If we are done, your present should be here right about…” a knocking on the door, “Now.” Lena opens it to a warmly dressed personal currier with a large box. She balances it awkwardly as it seems to shift, and Lena pulls out a wad cash to generously tip the man working on Christmas. Lena walks awkwardly back towards the couch and carefully sets it down.

“What—” Kara begins to ask as the box shifts. Kara notices the holes in the said of the gift wrapped box and looks at Lena excitedly.

“Go on. Open it,” Lena urges.

Kara rips into the paper and hurriedly unfolds the top. A soft excited yip accompanies a shaking of the large box. Kara squeals and reaches inside, pulling out a white, wiggling, little fur ball. Everyone gasps and begins cooing about how pretty he is. Kara turns him to face the room revealing the black patch of fur stretching over one brown eye. The other was a bright blue that matched his new owner’s.

“What’s his name?” Kara asks.

“Hold on, I have the paperwork in my purse.” Lena grabs the envelope and hands it over the Kara who tries to open it and hold on to the squirming fluff ball at the same time.

When she manages to get the papers out, Kara scans them quickly. “It says Krypto.”

“Actually I think it’s supposed to be Klepto. The shelter said he kept stealing all the toys and treats and hiding them under his bed. It was an issue in the home his litter was born in, and because of his splotch no one wanted to buy him. So the shelter named him Klepto.”

Kara gasps and covers the puppies ears. “How could they do such a thing to such a beautiful creature.”

“Well, people buying purebred American White Shepherds usually do it for a show dog. The discolored fur wouldn’t look good. It’s technically a genetic mutation.”

“What a terrible thing. But don’t worry, you will be loved. And no more of this Klepto business. It’s Krypto now. Like the dog in the comics.”

“Whatever you want, babe. He’s yours now.”

Kara squeals again and lets the dog lick her face. Lena just watches her girlfriend for a few minutes before Ruby whispers in her ear. Kara gasps and hands Ruby the puppy as she sprints towards the back of the house.

“Where is she going?” Lena asks.

“To get your present.” Ruby says matter of factly.

“What do you mean? She already gave me the leather bound notebook and fountain pen.”

“You’ll see.” Ruby returns to playing with the puppy.

“Merry Christmas, Lee. I guess great minds think alike.” Kara arrives in the room room holding her own fur ball, this time black. Two little ears peek up above the Christmas bow tied to its neck. The kitten turns to the room and opens it’s green eyes, the pitch black fur only interrupted by a white streak over one eye. “One of the women in town had a litter and was going to give them all to the shelter if no one would take them, and you said you needed at least one cat.”

It’s Lena’s turn to get excited and she hops up to take the kitten. “What’s its name?” Lena lifts the cat above her head to check it’s rear end.

“I was Thinking Harry, like Harry Potter. You know, because of the ‘scar’ above his eye.”

“Hate to break it to you, but this little guy is a girl.” Lena cuddles the kitten back to her chest after being sure.

“Harriet Potter?” Kara tries again.

“Ah, no.” Lena sits back on the couch and scratches behind the kittens ears to begin the purring.

“I’ve been calling her Streaky.” Ruby chimes in, while trying to contain the squirming pup.

“You have?” Sam asks.

“Yeah, they kept her in the den with me, and Eliza made me promise not to tell. I had to call her something. She has a white streak on her head. Plus, she’s very fast, and ‘blur’ didn’t have the same ring to it.”

“She’s really that fast?” Kara asks and takes the puppy from Ruby to try and let the puppy sniff the kitten.

The kitten stiffens in Lena’s arms as the sniffing nose gets closer. Then, before Lena can blink, the kitten is gone from her arms, and Krypto is scrambling to chase her. Lena and Kara look at each other before scrambling after the animals, Kara basically vaulting over the coffee table. Laughter erupts behind the couple as they chase the animals into the hallway and then into the kitchen. Lena worries about the chemistry of the two and hopes this won’t end poorly.

By the time they get to the kitchen, Krypto is pinned on his back while Streaky bite s playfully at his ear. Krypto’s growl is less than impressive as he tries to escape while also trying to bite Streaky’s tail.

“Look, they are friends already.” Kara grins.

“And adorable. Look at them, complete opposites. Black and white, dog and cat. He and she. Yin and Yang. So adorable.” Lena tries to catch her breath while still laughing. They leave the animals to continue their play.

Back in the living room, clean up is happening before they finish cooking brunch together. Ruby has disappeared to set up her new Nintendo Switch in the den. Kara puts A Christmas Story on the television in the living room. It’s an all day marathon, Lena has learned, and Kara intends to watch it at least twice.

Lena just goes along with all the Danvers family traditions, including making these fried dough things rolled in cinnamon and sugar. Kara informs Lena that they dubbed them Elephant balls as Lena takes a big bite. Lena almost chokes as a laugh escapes.

“They are what?”

“Well, they taste like the elephant ears you get at the fair. But in ball form. Hence elephant balls.”

“Well despite the name, they are delicious.” Lena grabs a second one.

After a brunch to rival all brunches, Kara pulls out a winter themed puzzle that they work on while the movie plays in the background. When that’s finished, Alex pulls out Clue. Then Sam drags Ruby and her new gaming system back into the living room to share and play some of her new games.

It’s the best Christmas Lena has ever had. It was the best holiday Lena has ever had. They didn’t do anything but spend time with each other. For dinner, they order Chinese food from the only Chinese restaurant in Midvale. Lena does coax Kara into actual clothes to take a cute picture sitting in front of the tree. Each of them hold their gifted animals and face Alex who is taking the picture. Then, while the animals face forward, the couple kisses. Alex is a fantastic photographer, and Lena tells her so when she gets her phone back to judge the image. Lena sends it to Kara so they can post it on their respective Instagram accounts.

Sometimes, your opposite can make you whole. Lena types out. Kara kisses her when she sees it.

Not as good with words as my girlfriend so… ditto.

Lena laughs and kisses Kara back. Then they both turn off their phones to rejoin their family for the rest of the evening. Later that night, Lena convinces Kara to let Lena return the favor. Kara cumming quietly while biting her own forearm and Lena’s tongue moving between her legs.

“Best. Christmas. Ever,” Kara whispers as Lena lays on top of her.

“Ditto,” Lena sighs out.

December 30th, 2018

Kara follows Lena from Midvale to Metropolis to support her as she sings for the Glenmorgan Square New Years Eve Party. It is blistering cold and windy as Kara drinks spiked, hot apple cider to try and stay warm. Even the VIP section is crowded as Kara waits for her girlfriend to be introduced. The VIP section is to the side of the stage on a raised platform so Kara will be able to see the performance and the crowd. Alex steps up and joustles her from one side, Sam shouldering in on the other as they try to share body heat. They have left Ruby with Eliza and the new animal family members and made the drive into the city. Lena has rented a suite of rooms in a nearby hotel for the four of them to stay in.

Lena’s nervous. She’s seen Kara a couple of times on tour, but this is the first time she’ll be singing in front of her. She’s told Kara as much, and Kara has kissed her deeply enough to make her blush in front of the stage hands. Now Kara is waiting as the minutes tick closer to midnight. Lena has a three song set that goes straight into the ten second countdown for the final stretch of the ball drop.

A hiss sounds softly over the crowd as smoke fills the stage. “Ladies and gentlemen, I give you… Lena Luthor!” An announcer yells over the crowd before the opening notes play.

Take your clothes and rip 'em, rip 'em off

Call these hoes and tip 'em, tip 'em off

Lena rises up from below the center stage to the cheers of thousands. She’s in full on Lena Luthor mode, and Kara is enraptured.

You can tell them you are mine

I'm sick of, sick of games

No more time, you lit the, lit the flame, yeah

We live in an age where everything is staged

Where all we do is fake our feelings

I've been scared to put myself so out there

Time is running out, yeah

Need to let you know that

Last night I woke the fuck up

I realized I need you here, as desperate as that sounds, yeah-eh

Last night I woke the fuck up

I realized I need you here, as desperate as that sounds, yeah-eh

Take these walls and rip 'em, rip 'em down

Take my (uh) and snip 'em, snip 'em now

I will tell them I am yours and very, very proud

I am forced to give in, give in now cause

Kara watches and sips her drink as her sister and Sam flirt with each other and share a night free of responsibilities. Kara has heard all of Lena’s music at this point, but watching her perform has made her more and more sure that they are heading down the right path this time. Kara is rubbing shoulders, literally, with famous people, but all she has eyes for is Lena as she begins her second song.

I was just an only child of the universe

And then I found you

You are the sun and I am just the planets

Spinning around you

You were too good to be true

Gold plated

But what's inside you

I know this whole damn city thinks it needs you

But not as much as I do

As much as I do, yeah

'Cause you're the last of a dying breed

Write our names in the wet concrete

I wonder if your therapist knows everything about me

I'm here in search of your glory

There's been a million before me

That ultra-kind of love

You never walk away from

You're just the last of the real ones

Kara laughs to herself. Lena told her this song was about Power Girl. It was Lena accepting that Power Girl was a part of Kara, but also sharing how much she needed Kara even though the city needed her too. It was sweet, and heart breaking. But Lena told Kara it was a good song. One that helped her process her feelings.

I'm here at the beginning of the end

Oh, the end of infinity with you

I'm here at the beginning of the end

Oh, the end of infinity with you

I'm done with having dreams

The thing that I believe

Oh, you drain all the fear from me

I'm done with having dreams

The thing that I believe

You drain the fear from me

Almost everyone around Kara is now fully focused on the performance. The crowd below is singing along, and it’s amazing. Just over four minutes are left until the new year as Lena begins her final song.

Out of the seven billion people in this world, there's only you.

Almost a million words that I could say, but none of them will do.

So many years that I have lived, but it feels like I've just begun.

Out of the seven billion people, baby, you're the only one.

I've been too many places. I've seen too many faces.

I wrote too many pages; never found a love like you. (Love like you)

I don't know how to say it. It's been more than amazing.

My whole life, I've been waiting; never found a love like you. (Love like you)

Sleep, dream, you, repeat. Live, die next to me.

Sleep, dream, you, repeat. Sleep, dream.

Out of the seven billion people in this world, there's only you.

Almost a million words that I could say, but none of them will do.

So many years that I have lived, but it feels like I've just begun.

Out of the seven billion people, baby, you're the only one.

You were unexpected, when our lips connected.

I was resurrected; never found a love like you. (love like you)

Don't care where I'm headed when the world is ending.

'cause you are my heaven; never found a love like you. (Love like you)

Sleep, dream, you, repeat. Live, die next to me.

Sleep, dream, you, repeat. Sleep, dream.

Out of the seven billion people in this world, there's only you.

Almost a million words that I could say, but none of them will do.

So many years that I have lived, but it feels like I've just begun.

Out of the seven billion people, baby, you're the only one.

Surrounded by numbers.

(Numbers, numbers, numbers)

You're the only one.

(Numbers, numbers, numbers, numbers)

You're the only one

You brought me back to life.

You did the unthinkable.

Yeah, you are my miracle.

Out of the seven billion people in this world, there's only you.

Almost a million words that I could say, but none of them will do.

So many years that I have lived, but it feels like I've just begun.

Out of the seven billion people, baby, you're the only one.

Surrounded by numbers.

(Numbers, numbers, numbers)

You're the only one.

(Numbers, numbers, numbers, numbers)

You're the only one.

Surrounded by numbers.

(Numbers, numbers, numbers)

You're the only one.

(Numbers, numbers, numbers, numbers)

You're the only one.

On one of the big screens behind Lena, just under the Giant Ball slowly dropping it’s way to the new year. Just a few inches are left as the number ten flashes on the screen and switches to a nine. Lena calls out the numbers as the crowd joins.

“Here, hold my drink.” Kara calls to her sister, not waiting for a response before shoving it in her hand.

Alex sputters a protest as Kara grips the railing and vaults over it. “Hey!” her sister calls after her, but Kara sticks the landing eight feet down and strides across the stage.

“Three, Two, One!” Lena calls into the microphone.

Kara sweeps Lena into her arms as the confetti cannons explode and dips her into a kiss. The confetti swirls around them and leaves them in their own little world. Kara pulls Lena back up and kisses her again. Lena pulls confetti from her girlfriend’s hair, even though it’s pointless.

“Did you just jump onto stage to kiss me?”

“I had to kiss my girlfriend at midnight.”

“Just had to, huh?”

“I had to start the year off right. I have a feeling that it’s going to be a good one. “

“Me too.”

They kiss again before the calls of Sam and Alex pull them apart. “Ready to party?” Lena asks.

“Ready to babysit our friends? Because I’m pretty sure Alex is already drunk.”

Alex is. Lena and Kara spend the rest of the night dancing at a party while keeping one eye on Sam and Alex. Around three, they decide to lead the two back to the hotel. Alex and Sam have been slumped together in a booth saying some not so PG things to each other. Not that either are in a state to follow through on those things. Once both are laying on their hotel bed, Lena goes to get some water for both of them in the morning along with some aspirin to leave on the bedside tables.

Kara manages to take off their shoes and outer layers before Alex throws her arms around Sam and completely passing out. Sam has already beaten her to it. Lena comes back in to set the glasses and aspirin down.

“One more drink before bed?” Kara asks.

“No. No I don’t think so.”

“Do you want something else?”

“Yeah. I think I do. Kara, I want kids.”

Kara gasps, not expecting that revelation. “Really?”

“Yeah, really.”

Kara kisses Lena then, and Lena begins to push Kara back out the door towards their own room. They start tearing off clothing and tripping to get there faster. Kara chuckles a couple of times.

“Sorry, did you mean you want kids right now? If so, it’s about to be pretty disappointing. Also, I think I should maybe teach you about the human reproductive system.”

Lena laughs too. “No, not right now. Later you can give me a refresher course, but right now, how about we get some practice in?”

“I like practice.”

“Then shut up and fuck me.”

“My pleasure. And yours.” Kara adds cheekily before pulling Lena into the room and shutting the door.

#supergirl #supercorp #kara danvers #lena luthor #Singer #Vigilante #Au #fanfiction #WTFU

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inyournightmares97 · 6 years ago

Text

If I Drink This...

In which Park Jinyoung turns out to have more flaws than you originally imagined.

Word Count: .3.4k+

Warnings: Nothing much. Maybe language, a little bit of drunkenness. Sort of office!au. I tried a different style of writing/experimental format with this so tell me what you guys think, please!

Every woman meets a Park Jinyoung at least once in her lifetime.

The Park Jinyoungs of the world are undeniably and classically handsome. They’re usually rich and successful; mostly because of their own hard work and intelligence and capabilities. Park Jinyoungs are also quiet and mysterious. They never reveal too much about themselves but they also have soft, kind smiles that can make your heart skip a beat. They’re gentlemen who are extremely well-mannered, yet know how to stand up for themselves and the weak when the time comes. They’ll open doors for you and offer to carry your files and greet you every morning. They look handsome in glasses and gorgeous in suits.

Park Jinyoungs have no flaws, you see. That’s what makes them a Park Jinyoung.

They are also utterly, miserably and painfully out of your league.

Most Park Jinyoungs you meet will only be passing clouds in your life because while they treat women well and never say a hurtful word to them (even to the evil ones), there’s no reason for them to stop and stay with you. You can never make a Park Jinyoung yours. Park Jinyoungs are perfect and they settle for nothing less than perfection.

Are you perfect?

I didn’t think so.

So don’t even bother. A Park Jinyoung will linger in your dreams forever, but he will never stay in your life for long.

You met the Park Jinyoung of Park Jinyoungs on a cold, winter morning.

You had just made it to work (almost late because of a near-disaster where you’d skidded on some ice that had formed on the driveway in front of your apartment and that had luckily left you with nothing more than a sore butt) when you got a call from the CFO asking you to come to his office immediately. You hurriedly smoothed down your clothing and prayed that you weren’t in trouble.

Park Jinyoung was sitting in a chair across from the CFO’s desk and he stood up as soon as you entered the room. You knew he was a Park Jinyoung from his startlingly handsome face and the soft yet reserved smile on his lips. He had dark eyes that seemed trustworthy and kind. All Park Jinyoungs were like that. They came off as perfect human beings and made women like you weak in the knees.

Women like you.

Not you.

You knew how to deal with Park Jinyoungs and the first and most important step was to never let yourself fall for them. This applied to most men, sure, but this rule was particularly important when it came to Park Jinyoungs. Once you fall for them, it’s impossible to hate them because of how perfect they are. But they will never return your feelings. So you will be left in a limbo unable to love him because he doesn’t care for you in return, yet unable to hate him because he’s so perfect that hating him makes you a bad person.

So just don’t fall, okay?

“Ah, you’re here!” the CFO greeted you brightly. “Remember how Mr. Lee retired last month? Well, we’ve finally found him a wonderful replacement. Meet Mr. Park Jinyoung, we’ve had him transferred here from the Jinhae-gu branch as our new Financial Operations Manager.”

Park Jinyoung politely offered his hand for you to shake. You obliged, trying not to think about how warm his fingers were or how firm yet gentle his grasp was. Jinyoung was looking you straight in the eyes with a smile and you forced yourself to meet his gaze.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Park,” you greeted politely. “I manage the Marketing team downstairs.”

The CFO smiled. “I thought I’d introduce you both to each other since you’re going to be working together over the next couple of weeks. The corporate office has decided that we need to devise some more new marketing schemes for some of our slow-moving products. Hopefully Mr. Park Jinyoung will be able to help us find the money to get some of these marketing schemes off the ground, eh?”

Jinyoung bowed and nodded politely. “I’ll do my best, sir.”

Of course he would. He was a Park Jinyoung.

You had to admit that Jinyoung was a delight to work with. He was amazing at what he did and while his predecessor, Mr. Lee, had always been extremely slow to approve your budget requests and liked to repeat like a parrot that the company simply didn’t have enough money for your “useless” marketing schemes, Jinyoung was extremely understanding. He often invited you to have lunch with him and to discuss the various projects that your team was hoping to get into.

“Do you think this is financially feasible?” you’d ask him nervously after you explained your new marketing strategy to him. Jinyoung was brutally honest but somehow also extremely optimistic. He never told you to completely scrap a plan or that it was over budget. He merely asked if he could take some time to go over the numbers, and the next day you’d have an email in your inbox with a list of things that you should consider cutting in order to make the plan viable.

Sometimes, he gave you a soft smile and shrugged. “If we don’t have the money then we’ll find the money,” Jinyoung would say with a chuckle. “I’m not going to be responsible for making you scrap such a well-thought out marketing plan. Your team has done your job and now we should do ours.”

Park Jinyoung is a smooth talker. They all are.

A couple of the receptionists liked to gossip that Jinyoung didn’t have a girlfriend and that maybe, just maybe he was gay. Why else would such a handsome and well-behaved man not have a woman in his life? But you knew better. The problem wasn’t which sex Jinyoung was attracted to. Park Jinyoungs are attracted to perfection and that’s almost impossible to find. It was what you reminded yourself every time your heart skipped a beat at the sight of Jinyoung or when you found yourself staring at his gorgeous lips. His gentle chuckle and the soft twinkle in his eyes was attractive but such attractive men come with a price.

No. The Park Jinyoungs of the world are scary, scary people.

Nothing terrifies you more than perfection.

How can a man have no flaws?

It’s unnatural.

No, you would have to settle for the ordinary and mortal beings of the world.

“It’s uh, it’s compulsory to bring a date. Remember?” Jackson pointed out when you told him that you planned to go to the college reunion party by yourself. You were just grabbing your morning coffee when you ran into him grabbing his own caffeine dosages. The Jackson Wangs of the world were the opposite of the Park Jinyoungs. They were loud and outgoing, wore their hearts on their sleeves and were just a little bit too nosy at times. “Didn’t you look at the invitation? It says that everyone has to come with a date.”

You frowned. “That’s absurd. I thought they were just saying you can bring a date-“

“No, you have to,” Jackson insisted as he took a huge gulp of his coffee and started to stir sugar into his second cup. He let out a small belch and you winced. Jackson Wangs often got a little too comfortable around their friends. “Because each invitation admits two people to the reunion and all food and drinks once inside are free. If you don’t bring a date then that means you’re wasting the organizational team’s funds. The hotel is going to charge us for two people per invitation anyway so you might as well bring somebody to come and have fun,” Jackson pointed out.

“I can’t think of anyone to invite. You have your own invitation already.”

Jackson brightened up. “You should invite Jinyoung!”

“Park Jinyoung? From Finance?”

“Yeah! Come on, he’s only lived here for three months and I’m sure he doesn’t have a lot of friends in this city. And he’s the head of his department so it’s not as if he can go chill and hang out with his subordinates. You’re one of the few people he knows in this office who doesn’t work under him so you should help him settle in and have some fun!”

You sighed. “Just as a friend, though.”

“Yeah, yeah. Just as a friend.”

You had to admit that the thought was a little exciting. You would never actually ask a Park Jinyoung out on a date because that was doomed to failure and eventual heartbreak, but you still liked the idea of hanging out with him outside of work. You dropped by Jinyoung’s office during lunch and asked him if he wanted to join you at the reunion party that evening since you had an extra invite. Jinyoung looked calm but his eyes brightened and he nodded.

“That sounds fun!” Jinyoung told you, and you had to stop your heart from exploding at the sudden charming smile he gave you. Dammit, why does he have to be so handsome? “It’s really nice of you to think of me. I’d love to come. Should I bring anything?”

You shook your head. “Nope. Just yourself.”

And your adorable butt would be nice.

“Okay. I’ll see you there!”

Nothing draws people’s attention like having a Park Jinyoung on your arm at a party.

He was the center of attention and you weren’t surprised. Jinyoung cleaned up well. He had chosen to wear a pair of jeans that made his already adorable butt look all the more delicious, and a light blue button-down shirt. He had rolled up the sleeves to expose his forearms and you had never realized that you could be so turned on by a man’s forearms before. They had always seemed like a rather mundane body part but Jinyoung’s were considerably attractive.

Park Jinyoungs always look classy. You should have known.

“Oh wow! Is this your boyfriend?” were the most common words that you heard that night. To your surprise, Jinyoung always looked a little bashful whenever someone approached the two of you to ask that question. You calmly explained to everyone who asked that no, he was not your boyfriend he was just a colleague and they all looked a little happier for it. You weren’t the only one who thought that Park Jinyoung was out of your league. It was a universally acknowledged fact.

Besides, your college classmates were all aware that you almost never dated. You were known for being hopelessly single.

Jinyoung was quiet but he had a small smile on his face and he seemed to be enjoying himself. A lot of drinks were passed around at the reunion and he politely accepted everything that was offered to him including a tequila shot that Jackson egged him into doing. Jinyoung’s cheeks flushed pink but he exhibited no signs that he was drunk. It was only when he suddenly, in a slightly unexpected gesture of affection, wrapped his arm around your shoulder that you wondered if he was all right.

“Are you doing okay, Jinyoung?” you asked while patting him on the shoulder.

Jinyoung gave you a small smile. “I’m fine!” he insisted. Then his lips turned down into a slight frown as he leaned closer to look into your eyes. “Are you fine? Do you want to leave? You should tell me if you want to leave.”

“I don’t mind staying for a little while longer,” you admitted. “I have a few friends that I haven’t caught up with yet.”

“Okay! You should do that! You should go and catch up with them!” he told you eagerly. “I’ll go find Jackson, I’m fine…”

You smiled at his bright eyes and flushed cheeks. The Park Jinyoungs of the world are also somehow extremely well-behaved when they’re drunk. You had to admire his capacity for alcohol and he seemed to be all right despite the large number of drinks he’d had so you left him in the care of Jackson and went to go find a couple of your friends. Most of them gushed over how handsome and charming Jinyoung was. Where did you find him? they all wanted to know. Why aren’t you dating him? How can you work beside such a handsome and perfect man and not want to jump him?

If only they knew.

You were interrupted by a loud cheering noise coming from a group nearby. You turned to see what was happening and noticed that Jinyoung was standing at the head of the group, his entire face having turned pink as people called out his name. You hurried over and pushed your way to the table where Jackson was mixing a drink. He added vodka, soju and tequila to the glass while everyone watched and then offered it to Jinyoung as a bunch of other men cheered him on.

“Wait, hold on!” you cried over the chants of ‘Jinyoung! Jinyoung!’ “What’s wrong with you guys? Don’t make him drink that, doesn’t he look drunk enough already? What the hell did you even put in that anyway?”

Jackson beamed at you. “A little bit of everything.”

Jinyoung was still holding the offensive glass with the dubious mixture and staring at it. His eyes were a little unfocused and you were positive that nothing good would come out of him drinking a cocktail made by Jackson Wang. But before you could protest further, Jinyoung suddenly looked up and his dark eyes met yours. He stared at you for a long time. You could only look back at the handsome man in silence while he took a deep breath and then held up the glass in your direction.

“If I drink this in one shot,” Jinyoung announced suddenly. “Then I want you to date me.”

There was no doubt that he was addressing you. The crowd of guys went silent and all eyes turned to you. Your entire face burned red in embarrassment and humiliation. Did he really just say that? Does he think he’s in some kind of drama? What the hell is wrong with him? A couple of guys began to wolf-whistle and you wanted to die. But before you could even think of a reply Jinyoung had lifted the glass to his lips and tipped the entire thing into his mouth. His eyes squeezed shut and his lips puckered from the tang of the alcohol but all the people surrounding had already erupted into cheers.

Somebody grabbed your arm and pushed you closer to Jinyoung.

“Whoooo! Now kiss!” one of the guys cheered.

You were snapped back to reality. What? You were not about to kiss a drunk Jinyoung in public in front of all your college classmates. Jinyoung had finally recovered from the terrible drink and was looking at you with his dark gaze but you only felt irritated. Did he really think it was a good idea to embarrass you in front of so many people like this? Even if he did like you then what kind of a shitty and cheap way was this to confess?

You pushed everyone away and stormed out of the hotel.

To your surprise, Jinyoung came running after you. He was a little unsteady on his feet and his dark hair that had been neatly parted earlier in the evening was now flopping into his eyes. But he looked worried and upset as he tried to keep up with your long, angry strides.He finally caught up to you in the deserted parking lot. “Wait! Are you angry? I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you, honestly-“

“Oh? Then exactly what were you planning with that stupid stunt?” you demanded, fuming. “Are you trying to make fun of me? Because I’m one of the only girls there who doesn’t have a boyfriend and because you pity me? Well you know what Park Jinyoung? I don’t need your pity. I’m not single because I can’t get myself guy, I’m single because no guy is good enough to tempt me or worth me spending my time and energy on. Is that understood?”

Jinyoung looked at you for a long moment, his head bowed. “I know,” he mumbled.

“What do you know?” you asked.

“I know you’re out of my league, okay? I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to humiliate you. I just thought… you were standing there and I was drunk and you just looked so beautiful and I like you so much and the mood was so good that the words just slipped out of my mouth. I feel like a complete idiot.”

You stared at him in disbelief. “What did you just say?”

Jinyoung cleared his throat and looked down at you nervously. You stared up at the handsome man as he nervously ran his fingers through his dark hair. “I, uh, I said that I feel like a complete idiot-“

“No, I understood that. But did you just say that I was out of your league?”

Jinyoung blinked at you for a long moment before he sighed. He bit his gorgeous lips. You could feel your heartbeat thudding loudly in your chest. Jinyoung’s dark eyes stared into yours as he cleared his throat and spoke a little more clearly.

“Girls like you are completely out of my league. You’re beautiful and you’re intelligent and you’re so capable and independent. You’re the sort of girl who believes that she doesn’t need a man in her life and so it takes a really perfect man to change your mind about that. I should have known that I was headed for heartbreak. Girls like you don’t go for a guy like me.”

You stared at him. “You’re wrong.”

“Am I? Then why have you never showed any interest in me?”

“That’s because…” because I thought you were too perfect, you told yourself but you realized that he wasn’t. Park Jinyoung wasn’t perfect. He had just gotten extremely drunk and confessed to you in what was literally the cockiest manner possible in front of a group of people. He wasn’t perfect in the slightest. “That’s because I thought you were out of my league,” you admitted softly.

Jinyoung raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Really.”

There was a long, awkward silence as the two of you stared at each other. Jinyoung took a deep breath and then suddenly stepped forward to take both of your hands in his. You were shocked by how close he was and how he lifted a hand to gently cup your cheek. “I’m so sorry. I should have known better than to make a scene in public like that. Can you tell me how you would want me to confess so that I can do it the right way? I don’t… I don’t want this to be the end of this.”

You bit your lip and smiled up at him. “Well… I think a confession should be intimate.”

Jinyoung nodded. “Hmm.”

“And by that, I mean that there shouldn’t be anybody else around. It should just be the two of them. And… preferably at night. In a not-so-well-lit place. It should be genuine and sincere but not too cheesy. I don’t like beating around the bush. And most importantly… it should come from a guy who genuinely cares about you.”

Jinyoung squeezed your hands lightly. “We’re alone now. There’s nobody else in this parking lot.”

You smiled. “True.”

“And… it’s night. The only light around here is the streetlight over there.”

“Yeah.”

Jinyoung took a deep breath and stepped closer to you. “I’ve been crazy about you ever since I first met you. I like everything about you. I’ve always told myself never to fall for girls like you because you’re so perfect and it’s so hard to live up to the standards that you want and deserve but with you, I really want to try. So will you…”

Your heart skipped a beat as you beamed up at him. “Yes?”

Jinyoung’s smile dropped from his face and he suddenly dropped your hands and lifted them to his own mouth. “Will you move? I think I’m going to puke.”

You stepped aside just in time to allow Jinyoung to run over to a nearby bush and regurgitate the night’s alcohol. He was bent over with his hands on his knees, jeans tight over his adorable ass while he threw up loudly and you couldn’t help but sigh and run your hand over your face.

You had discovered a number of Park Jinyoung’s flaws tonight. As you walked over to the retching man and patted his back comfortingly and handed him some water to drink, a small smile crossed your face.

Perhaps Park Jinyoung wasn’t just a Park Jinyoung after all. He was much more than that.

He was your Park Jinyoung.

All the other women would just have to find their own.

#got7 #got7 scenarios #got7 scenario #got7 fanfiction #got7 drabble #got7 imagines #got7 fanfic #park jinyoung #got7 jinyoung #jinyoung scenarios #jinyoung scenario #got7 fluff #jinyoung fluff #got7 office!au

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believerindaydreams · 6 years ago

Text

iv. saccharin

New Orleans, early 70s

tagged for suicidal idealisation. Tuco’s not doing too well on his own. Or too good, perhaps...

Blondie's not here. Tuco's just about sober enough to know that much.

He hasn't seen his partner for a year, or heard a word from him in months, but that doesn't stop him needing the only person who'd understand what's wrong with him tonight. Instinctively he reaches for the Duluth, before remembering it's not here. It's parked in a storage locker halfway across town, part of this whole attempt to pass. It should have worked.

It is working; he has somewhere to sleep at night, he's fed, nobody wants to arrest him for anything. He'd even picked up a girlfriend along the way, a waitress at the hotel where he washes dishes. Katie's tall, too tall for him, and redheads aren't his preferred flavour but she's a better class of woman than he's ever dared for before. Any man would count himself lucky to have her.

He's shaking. The prosecco's left a sour aftertaste in his mouth, and he wonders vaguely about pouring himself a glass of water, but moving off this bed seems more effort than he's able to muster. It takes as much as he can handle, just to dig a pen out of the bedside table drawer and start rummaging for a paper to write on. Something to do right this minute, that he can transfer to a post card when he's sobered up a little.

"Dear Blondie," Tuco says aloud. It's taken him several moments to remember that's how you start these things, and he doesn't want to forget before he starts writing it down.

The drawer's neat, organised, not like he lives here at all (he doesn't, it's just somewhere he's been renting). Bible. Keepsake earring, Katie had laughingly let him have that after losing the other one on a sight-seeing expedition into the bayou. Several little pink packets, the saccharin she's always coaxing him to eat- healthier, she says. And you can't taste the difference.

In his addled state, the notion of writing on those makes as much sense as anything; he rips one open, lets the small grains trickle down onto his tongue. Doesn't make any difference, if he can't be cheered up by straight sugar he's more broken than he thought-

all that's coming out of this pen are ink smears. Tuco throws it across the room, reaches for another one, realises he doesn't have any others.

Duluth. Passing.

That's it. He's done. Forget hanging on until Blondie has a chance to reach him, forget staring at the Golfo de México until the soothing lap of the water and the stink of dead fish had driven him back to life- he just hurts so much and doesn't know what could even bring him pleasure anymore-

(it's not even the pain, it's the flat-edged quality of the despair- jesus, he's only been like this once but there was reason for it that time, not like now which is inexplicable, but must be his fault-)

it's a bad sign that his body is letting him move now, to sit up and pull a shirt on and take his keys. Because he knows where he wants to go now, what he wants to do- it's taken him four days and far too much wine to dull his instincts enough, but he's managed it now. No more piddling around with water. He owns a gun and he knows where to find it.

When Tuco reaches for the doorknob, the door suddenly springs to life and smacks him, knocking him ass-flat on the neatly patterned carpet. He yelps; that'd hurt. A lot, actually-

and maybe it's gone straight to his head and broken something there, because he'd swear that's Blondie. Standing over him with that indefinable mystique, compassion in there but it's half something else-

pure smugness, part of his mind supplies. The part that resents being saved.

"Came as soon as I could," Blondie says. "Pablo didn't wait to forward your postcard this time, he looked up the address and called me straight. You feel like getting up?"

"No."

"Okay." His partner sits down next to him, with casual indolence- that's something he'd taught Blondie, years back. Not too many white boys who know how to sit on a floor without looking nervous about it, they make such a meal of squatting down.

If he put out his hand, he'd be close enough to touch that smooth blue expanse of leg. His choice. Blondie won't touch him first.

"He knew it was that gonna be that bad, huh? That's more than I did- I guess my brother knows me pretty well."

Father Paul, though, what does his brother care about being taken for something he isn't; and his whole body cringes.

Blondie ignores him, in favour of removing a cigarette from a pack and lighting it. Not a cigarillo. The smoke drifts over him as Blondie breathes out; his body craves it suddenly, urgently, but he fights down that urge the same way he's managed to do for the last two months. If he takes it maybe that will mean the same as coming back to life, a signal he's unwilling to give...the pain's wearing off. It'd reminded him what real hurt feels like, but he's forgetting just as quickly.

"He wasn't sure," Blondie says at length. "I was sure. That's why I'm here."

"You want to help, you could get me a gun." It might be superstitious, to doubt if he'd be able to hold to his intent after feeling the familiar weight of that pack on his shoulders again, but he'd rather not take the chance. "Just let me have it. I'll do the rest."

"If you want to die so bad as that," Blondie says, in his quiet drawl, "might be better all around, if I just took care of it for you."

And Tuco jolts backwards, away- hating Blondie for this, that his partner knows him inside and out and exactly what buttons to press to make him live-

"You try, Blondie. You just try-"

and he lets loose then in a torrent of Spanish and English curses mixed, their sharp and heavy mouthfeel such a contrast to the politeness he's been living with. Every insult and invocation and scatalogical comment doing its part, drawing him in, until he's run out of words and rests exhausted, with his head on his partner's lap.

He weeps for a while, after that. Gets spit and tears and snot all over Blondie's jeans, knows it doesn't matter. It's okay.

"Feel better now?"

"Yeah."

After that they're quiet for a while. There's always this to be said for Blondie, a silence with him will never be uncomfortable.

(Not like Katie, who liked to blab bad as a hustler herself, as if pauses scared her.)

"So she broke up with you?"

"I broke up with her," Tuco says. "After I said- after I said it-"

calling ciao, because he didn't grow up in the neighbourhood for nothing-

and Katie had turned, waved, called back to him. "My gorgeous Italian lover!"

then he'd just fallen to pieces

"She didn't mind, even, she told me that. I'm crazy. I told her, go fall in love with a spaghetti-eater and never talk to me ever again. I quit my job- Blondie, I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Think of her as a mark," Blondie says, the picture of calm. "You took her in with a hustle, and she fell for it. That makes her stupid. You don't want to go with a girl who's stupid."

That's not a fair way of putting it, Tuco knows that (she's smarter than he is, working on a college degree by correspondence course)- but it's a version of events that fits with who he is, and gives him back some dignity. A story he can live with.

"I want to fuck you. But later, not now."

"We'll do that." Blondie stubs out the cigarette on the carpet, where it'll leave a burn. Lights another one, takes a drag, places it between Tuco's lips.

It's good. It's very good. He finds himself sucking up the smoke with eager pleasure.

"Where's your pack?"

"Bus station locker. I was trying to go straight, prove to myself I didn't need it anymore."

Blondie snorts. "You still want to do that?"

"No." He misses it; and besides, when Blondie's around he always needs to be ready for a crisis. "We can go pick it up tomorrow before we hit the road. I don't want to see this city again in my life."

"That suits." Blondie stands up with graceful ease, looks around the place with that quick, assessing glance- such a sexy way he has of doing it, maybe later on he'll mention that. "You should eat something, you look like you need it- what the hell's this?"

This being one of the pink packets, which Blondie holds between thumb and forefinger like it's some sort of poison; and the contrast between the delicate package and his furious demeanor is so ridiculous that Tuco nearly falls over laughing. Too much, probably. But he hasn't laughed at anything in four days, he's catching up.

Blondie waits for him to stop, with tired patience.

"Something she left," Tuco says, when he's recovered. No need to explain which she. "She said it was healthy. Better for you than sugar."

"Well, that's all nonsense-" (Tuco's always enjoyed this, his partner getting hot and bothered about something that is in no way either of their faults.) "This is just chemical sludge. It's useless. Tastes sweet but that's all it does, it won't feed you."

"She said-" Tuco says, and then stops, his mind working out the implications faster than he wants. Suppose he'd gone out on the road again, without knowing that. Hungry and anxious and not knowing why the coffee isn't doing anything for him, thinking it was all in his head- he expects lies when people have something to gain or something to lose, but this? This is something else again, and he doesn't understand it at all.

"You see," Blondie says. "She was hustling you, too."

Not the way it happened; but between them, that'll be good enough. Giddiness rolls over him in waves. Too much shock today, too many changes, his body feeling ill-used and cheated. "I'm hungry."

"I thought you might be. Come on, you get cleaned up and we'll go out somewhere. I've got money to burn right now."

"As long as it's not spaghetti. Or a goddamn pizza. Or-"

he has a wide and extensive knowledge of Italian dishes and starts methodically cursing out every last one he can remember, while Blondie chuckles and lounges on the bed. It's a good thing, to have his partner back like this.

(The whole night, it never once occurs to him to ask what Blondie's been up to.)

#70s au #the good the bad and the ugly #blonco #whump #sorry for doing this to Tuco #he's my fave and I am rough on him

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welllpthisishappening · 7 years ago

Note

Hi, Laura. I have a question for you, how did Liam and Elsa started dating in Blue Line?

In an effort to avoid thinking about Ryan McDonagh and JT Miller playing the Rangers for the first time since the trade deadline, I wrote this instead. It’s not real long, but it’s been a week in a way that deserved a few more italics and maybe a few underlines and I’ve been thinking about this ask non-stop for, like, the last twenty-four hours.

Some more under the cut because I am me.

“He absolutely does not know.”

“You don’t know that.”

Liam stared at her, head tilted slightly with something that felt like a mix of fondness and disbelief rolling off him. “I do know that,” he said, letting his forehead rest on hers. “He’s way too preoccupied with whatever stories they’re going to publish in the next two days.”

“He’s got to relax about that,” Elsa muttered, rolling her eyes when Liam scoffed in response. “He’s not even twenty years old and he’s going to give himself an aneurysm.”

“You want to tell him that?”

“I mean…no.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Liam laughed.

Elsa huffed and she couldn’t actually cross her arms, pushed against the door in the hallway of the hotel she, technically, wasn’t supposed to be in.

It was making her anxious.

The whole goddamn weekend was making her anxious – and only seventy-two percent of that anxiety was hockey based. At least ten percent of it was focused on Killian and his ability to be the single most dramatic human being on the planet because he also wanted to be the single best hockey player on the planet and, well, maybe her original percentages were a little off.

She, at least, was not one-hundred percent worried about hockey. She was, at least, five percent worried about what anyone at that national championship hockey game would do if they figured out that she and Liam were dating.

And had been. For the last five years. Well, kind of.

They’d grown up together, of course, living down the hallway from each other and people used to say stupid things about them all the time.

Oh, you must think of each other like live-in cousins. Oh, isn’t it great to have an older brother like that? Oh, you must be incredibly close.

She hated it. She hated the questions and the assumptions and, yeah, Liam lived down the hallway, but it wasn’t like he was actually her brother and it was…kind of stupid.

She liked him.

Elsa blamed the wine coolers. She’d just turned seventeen and Killian had gotten them somewhere and snuck them into the basement and air hockey was a lot more fun when she was pleasantly buzzed and she hadn’t realized she was alone in the basement with Liam until he coughed softly under his breath. And then it just kind of happened.

They just kind of happened.

She absolutely kissed him first.

“You’re thinking so loudly, you’re transferring your stress to me,” Liam said, brushing the words into Elsa’s jaw and that kind of helps. “Killian knows nothing. He knows less than nothing.”

“Anna knows.”

“Yeah, well that’s Anna.”

“You want to tell her that?” Elsa asked. She, somehow, managed to get an arm in between them, tugging on the front of the jersey he had to wear for pre-game interviews and the fabric of the ‘C’ on his shoulder was rough against her fingertips.

Liam shook his head, hair far too long and curls almost dangerously close to his eyebrows. It made her heart speed up. “Nah,” he grinned. “That’s ok. But thanks for the offer.”

“At least your manners are intact.”

“Good upbringing.”

Elsa could feel herself freeze, eyes going wide before she could stop herself and Liam blinked, by her count, fourteen times. She heard his lips part before she saw them, eyes practically boring a hole into the ground, and she’s now, at least, two percent worried she’s going to sprain a muscle in her cheek from twisting her mouth so much.

“The thoughts, Magi,” he whispered, letting his fingers card through the ends of her hair and her heart might have actually exploded at the quiet nickname.

He’d come up with after when she was fifteen and managed to figure out two different hockey schedules and four different school schedules and he had exams and she had projects and everything got done. He told her it was magic and that might have been the exact moment Elsa stopped thinking of Liam as the vaguely attractive guy with a different last name who lived down the hall from her.

He never once called her that around anyone else.

“That’s cheating,” Elsa mumbled. She pressed up on her toes anyway, arms looping around Liam’s neck and his jersey got twisted in between them when he ducked his head.

They were still in the hallway, still playing with fire, which seemed problematic a few hours removed from a national championship hockey game, but she didn’t want to leave and he kept promising Killian didn’t know anything and maybe she didn’t have to worry. Maybe things would just be ok. Maybe no one would freak out. Maybe it wasn’t as weird as she was worried, terrified, it might have been.

“And that’s still not an answer,” Liam pointed out.

“God, I don’t know who’s more stubborn. You or KJ.”

“It’s definitely Killian, but if you could maybe not talk about Killian while I’m trying to make out with you, that would be great.”

Elsa laughed, burying her head into the curve of his shoulder and her lungs felt a bit more like a functioning part of her body when she felt his lips press against the top of her hair. “I’ll take that into account in the future,” she said. “You really don’t think this is weird?”

“What’s weird?”

“This. Us. All of it?”

She felt him tense under her, the fingers that had been tracing out nonsensical patterns on her back stilling immediately. Elsa squeezed her eyes closed, gritting her teeth and counting seconds like that would make any of this better or less weird. She’d made it so weird.

Liam leaned back, staring at her incredulously. And, maybe, with just a bit of anxiety on the edge for good measure. “Do you think it’s weird?” he asked, doing his best to make sure his voice didn’t shake and coming up decidedly short of the mark. “Have you always thought it’s weird?”

“For the last five years?” Elsa countered skeptically. He widened his eyes. She wished she had wine coolers to blame all of this on. “No, no, I don’t, but…we’re here and there are all these cameras and Mom and Dad and, like I said, Anna totally knows and has known forever and wants details—“

“—Details?”

“She’s Anna.” Liam hummed, the ends of his mouth twitching and maybe Elsa was worrying for nothing. It would probably be fine. “But, yeah, details and I’m not really sure we’ve ever been that great at sneaking around and what happens if you win?”

“Now you sound like Killian.”

Elsa scowled, but Liam was definitely smiling at her – enough to make her wonder if confidence was a thing she should be working a bit more on. “I’m serious,” she said. “We’re just supposed to pretend like we’re…what? Totally platonic brother and sister and I’m super psyched that you won a national title?”

“I don’t think you have to use the phrase super psyched, technically.”

“None of these are actual answers, you know.”

“I know Magi,” Liam grinned, brushing his lips over hers again. “But that’s mostly because I don’t have one. And I know that’s going to stress you out. So better to just ignore, right?”

“I’m not sure that’s going to help.”

He chuckled lightly, nosing at her cheek and he really did need a hair cut. Her parents wouldn’t appreciate if he had curls in his eyes when he inevitably posed for pictures post championship. They were absolutely going to win.

And Elsa had no idea when she started thinking of it as some kind of collective pronoun.

“I really do not think of you as my sister,” Liam said. “I have never thought of you as my sister. Best friend, definitely, but never sister.”

“You’re trying to be charming.”

“Is it working?”

“Decidedly.”

He kissed her before she could say anything else – or, maybe, the other way around, but it absolutely, positively did not matter because she needed to get back to a different hotel and avoid her actual sister like several different plagues and she nearly jumped a foot in the air when she hears footsteps rounding the corner.

Killian stopped a few feet away, blinking at both of them with a tie hanging loosely around neck and something that looked a bit like the visual definition of incredulity on his face. “Hey, El,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Elsa stammered. She tried to take a step back, but there was a door in her way and the tips of Liam’s ears might stay red for the rest of their lives. “I was just, ummm….”

“Ummm….”

“Ok, don’t be an ass, KJ.”

He widened his eyes, hand still stuck in his hair and she briefly considered checking him into the closest wall – if only to get that vaguely suspicious look off his face. “I’m not being anything, El,” Killian said. “It’s almost eleven, though, which is almost curfew and you guys are standing out in the hallway like Mrs. V just found out we went on the uptown-3 at rush hour.”

“That definitely falls into the category of being an ass,” Liam muttered. “And Elsa just wanted to double check on the plan for tomorrow post-game. You know Mr. and Mrs. V want to do something if we win.”

“When,” Elsa corrected, but it was pointless and both Jones brothers mumbled no jinx under their breath. She rolled her eyes, retreating back another few steps until she was closer to Killian than Liam and the whole goddamn thing was a disaster. “Well,” she continued. “I’m, uh…going to go now. Because we’ve got a plan and an idea and a plan.”

“You said that already, El,” Killian said.

“That’s true. I did. Well done on the listening portion of the exam, KJ. You absolutely pass.” She pressed her lips together when he kept staring at her, eyeing her like he was trying to read her mind and he was usually better at that. “I probably won’t see you guys before tomorrow though,” Elsa added, not entirely sure why she was keeping the conversation going, but she’d made it weird and then weirder and she could still feel the anxiety churning in the pit of her stomach. She was going to fix this. Kind of. “So. Good luck. And score a ton and we’ll follow the plan after, right?”

Killian gaped at her, mouth hanging open in something that felt a lot like suspicion, but Elsa’s eyes darted to Liam. He smiled. And nodded.

And she was only, like, sixteen percent anxious about anything after that.

“Yeah,” Liam said. “We’ll absolutely follow the plan later.”

The plan, obviously, went to complete shit as soon as the final whistle went off.

She spent most of the third period trying not to cry and trying even harder to ignore Anna’s not-so-quiet quips about how clear the tears in her eyes were, but that might have been the best pass Liam ever made and she’d never seen Killian’s smile that wide or that honest and they won.

They won.

They open up the zamboni doors after – a small army of maroon and gold jerseys passing around one pair of ceremonial scissors to cut up the net and it took, approximately, forty-seven seconds for Liam’s eyes to land on hers. He handed Killian the scissors. And if the game-winning set up in front of the net had been the best pass Liam Jones had ever made, then the few feet between him and Elsa was the best he’d ever skated and she didn’t think before moving, lunging forward and slinging her arms around his neck as soon as his hands landed on her waist.

He still had one glove on when he kissed her. Or she kissed him. She probably kissed him.

That was kind of their thing.

Anna shrieked and Killian might have gasped, but her parents looked frozen and just a bit stunned and maybe they’d been better at sneaking around than Elsa assumed.

“So much for all of that, huh?” Liam asked, voice shaking with his laughter and there were still tears on her cheeks. “Magi, are you crying?”

“No,” Elsa hissed. He lifted his eyebrows when he leaned back to look at her and her feet had left the ice at some point. “It was a really good pass.”

“I was totally trying to impress you, how’d it go?”

“Pretty ok, honestly.”

“All part of the plan.”

She didn’t really stop crying for the rest of the night or a few days later when Liam and Killian sat in front of a backdrop with cartoon gophers on it and announced they were turning pro or, a few years later, when the world seemed to crash down around her and Liam had looked so young when they carted him off the ice. Killian kept pacing in the hallway of the hospital, shoulders sagging under the weight of the guilt he’d carry with him for years, and Elsa couldn’t stop crying, didn’t know what to do next until someone told her she could go in now and she practically ran through the doorway.

He smiled at her from the hospital bed.

“Hey Magi,” Liam mumbled, voice gruff and scratchy and she wasn’t sure what sound she made in response, but it might not have been human. “It’s going to be ok. It’s just…we may need to come up with a new plan now.”

They did.

They figured it out and she cried a few more times and moved across the goddamn country and she was still anxious about hockey for, at least, forty-three percent of the year, but it was a good plan and they were even better at executing it. And Elsa knew there were more tears on her cheeks, standing behind a different zamboni door in an arena she’d always just assumed both Liam and Killian would rule together, but it all worked and he nearly tripped over his own skates when he spotted them – the goddamn Stanley Cup lifted above his head.

“Go skate, little brother,” Liam said and Killian visibly exhaled, that guilt disappearing as quickly as it arrived. Elsa might have sobbed.

Liam slung an arm around her shoulder when they were allowed onto the rink, confident steps as soon as their shoes land on ice. There was music playing and Roland was screaming somewhere and Scarlet refused to relinquish the Cup to anyone, but Elsa barely saw any of them – instead her eyes landed on Emma and her barely-certain movements, skidding towards Killian with a smile on her face and something vaguely familiar lingering in the air around her.

She kissed him. Or he kissed her.

The specifics weren’t important.

“The more things change, huh?” Liam muttered, dragging his fingers over the tiny bundle of blankets masquerading as a baby in the crook of Elsa’s arm.

She nodded, grinning as wide as she could and as certain as she’d ever been and it wasn’t easy to kiss him, but they made that work too and it wasn’t ever really weird. “I love you,” she whispered, barely letting him repeat the words back to her before she heard both Robin and Scarlet shouting and Killian laughing and Liam smiled when he kissed her again.

#onceuponaprincessworld #cs ff #frozen jewel #frozen jewel ff #i don't know how to tag this #it's weird writing in not emma and killian's pov #blue line one shots #HERE HAVE SOME MORE EMOTIONALLY CHARGED NICKNAMES BECAUSE I AM NICKNAME TRASH

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totallyrhettro · 7 years ago

Text

Another Me, Chapter 16

Word Count: 2240 Rating: PG-13 Warnings: none Summary: This time, Rhett was really going to do it. He had tried maybe a thousand times over the past thirty-odd years to tell Link how he really felt, but this time he was finally going to actually succeed. At least, that was the plan, but when another version of the six-foot seven bearded internetainer appears out of nowhere during their weekend getaway, Rhett’s carefully laid plans are quickly pushed aside. Notes: AU, Present day, Rhett and Link aren’t married

Also available on ao3!

First Chapter Previous Chapter

Link and Nick spent much of the night talking about what had happened over the past few days, Link catching Nick up on the doings of their mutual friend and Nick telling him about the manhunt happening on this site. Link also told him of his plans to speak with his alternate self and was happy that Nick was fully on-board. They took the first plane out of England back to the US the next morning; there was no time to waste.

‘I can’t believe I’m doing this,’ Link thought to himself, over and over again. He grew less and less certain that this had been a good idea, but there was no going back now. He was committed and there was no way he wasn’t going to follow through.

On the plane Nick tried to keep Link's mind off whatever was clearly bothering him by asking about the other universe. Link did his best to talk about the three years that were different on his side, but every time he spoke about Rhett and their time together, he felt a growing lump in his throat.

‘This has gotta work,’ he reminded himself. ‘For Rhett’s sake.’

~ ~ ~

“We can’t just wait around for Link to come back,” Rhett was arguing. Ever since he saw his beloved friend vanish before his eyes, he couldn’t stop thinking about where he had ended up, if he was safe. It had been a foolish and rash choice to touch the stone instead of the other Rhett, and now there was no telling if he was going to ever make it back.

“There’s not much else we can do,” his copy countered. “Whatever gateway, or portal, or whatever carries us from one universe to the other, is closed for now. Chances are it’s not gonna open until tomorrow evening.”

“But what if Link didn’t go to your universe?” Rhett pushed, his fear spilling out into his voice. “What if he went to a different one, or ended up on another planet? Or-”

“There would still be nothing we could do about it.” The fact was cold and harsh, but undeniably true. They barely knew how this whole transfer even worked, there was no way they’d be able to use it to their advantage. Until 9:31 pm rolled around once more, or Link popped back into this universe on his own, the two Rhett’s couldn’t do anything but wait, and it was driving them both crazy.

“Goddammit, Link,” Rhett cursed, balling his fist in his hair. He hated the not knowing, the feeling of being absolutely powerless to help the man he loved. The man he was seriously furious with right now. “Why did you have to go and be an idiot?”

“Because he’s Link,” his alternate answered, receiving a sharp look for his comment. “You know what I mean,” he continued with a kind smile. “He’s Link. He does things without thinking. He’s rash and impulsive. But he’s also kind and smart. I’m sure he thought he was doing the right thing.”

“He’s not always right,” Rhett murmured, sitting back on the hotel bed. It was the only place the two Rhett could be alone together, and talk about this stuff, without fans listening in or finding them both together. “He’s clumsy and thick-headed. Stubborn and foolish.”

“And you love him,” the alternate reminded him. Rhett sighed, dropping his face into his hands.

“More than anything.” It was true and always would be. His heart couldn’t stop loving Link if he tried. “Why did he do this? What could he possibly be thinking?” His copy sat down beside him, and from this distance Rhett finally saw the bags under his eyes, the dried tears down his cheeks. He was as distraught as Rhett, but that made sense. They were both Rhett. They both loved Link, either Link. Rhett was Rhett and Link was Link and in any iteration, Rhett would love Link. There was no other way for the universe to unfold, it seemed.

“I don’t know,” the alternate admitted. “Nick has to still be in England. He must be racking his brain trying to figure out where I went. He probably called the police, he’d have to after all this time.”

“But what good would come out of Link going over there? What is there to find?” The questions seemed endless, and all of them without answers. Of course, one of the biggest questions Rhett had he left unsaid, but continued to think it all the same.

‘Why would he leave me?’

~ ~ ~

Link had been working for Belcon for a few years now and while he found it to be somewhat satisfying work, there were days when he dearly missed working back in California, if not because he missed Rhett but because he missed being able to use his more creative side. Those days, when he found himself daydreaming of filming Good Mythical Morning, or any of their other numerous projects, seemed to happen more and more often as time went on. Yet every time he thought about doing the one thing he felt might change his life back to what it was, calling Rhett, he found he was too scared to even pick up the phone. He couldn’t face him, not now, and every day he didn’t it got harder and harder to even try.

So he trudged along, burying himself in his work, hoping to shut out the pain of the past, the thoughts that plagued him in the early hours of the morning, and forget that he ever knew a man named Rhett. Link hoped that by forgetting Rhett he could soothe his soul, move on with what was left of his life. Most days he could convince himself that he had succeeded. Most days.

When he moved back to North Carolina, giving up his nearly decade-long YouTube career, his parents were nothing but supportive, though neither could truly understand. His mother was the most worried, trying to figure out who had broken her baby’s heart, but Link refused to say. How could he? How could he tell anyone that he had run away from a dream job, a dream life, because a man kissed him? No. He resolved to let them believe that he had just grown tired of the show, that he just wanted a simple life again. A simple, old-fashioned southern life. That’s what he tried to portray, at any rate.

He lost track of everyone from California -the crew, his friends out west- but it had been his choice. He knew that many of them would want him to patch things up with Rhett, to not give up on the show, to come back, but he wasn’t willing, ready, or able to do any of those things. He just wanted to shut out anything and anyone from that life, not to be cruel but to protect himself from having to deal with the turmoil he felt inside. He missed all of them, all of the work, the show, the people, all of it, but he couldn’t go back now. There was no going back. There was only his new life in Fuquay, and his desire to make it work, no matter how dull and mind-numbing it got.

In the evenings he would go home, have a plain supper of one cereal or another, then go right to bed. In sleep he could turn off all his thoughts for a few hours until the morning back once again. In dreams he could escape the reality of his existence and not worry about anything. Of course, sometimes even his dreams were against him, sending him visions of the man who had turned his life upside down, more than once. They reminded him of the life he had before and the mistakes that led to this new one. They reminded him of what he had lost, what he had inevitably given up.

Still he trudged on, day by day, week by week, year by year. He had dulled himself to the world and he had caged his heart from emotions, lest it shatter from their weight, and in the end the routine of going to work and little else was somewhat comforting. In the end he relied on routine, on the boring repetitive life he had built for himself and so, when one evening he pulled into his driveway and saw his friend Nick getting out of a car, he didn’t know what to do. He froze, hands clenched on the steering wheel, afraid of what other parts of his old life were soon to return.

Finally, knowing he couldn’t hide in his truck forever, he took a deep breath and stepped out, hoping he was ready to tell Nick that whatever his friend wanted, he wasn’t interested. It wasn’t going to be easy, but he had to, for his own sake.

“Hey, Link,” Nick greeted. His tone was soft and low, like one might use on someone that had lost a family member recently. “How, how are you?” He offered a hand and Link took it, politely but with little enthusiasm.

“Workin’,” he replied, honestly. Neither ‘fine’ or ‘okay’ seemed to fit, as he wasn’t either. Then he cut to the chase. “What are you doing here? You fly all the way across the country to ask me how I am?”

“Not exactly,” Nick shrugged, glancing at his car. Link followed his gaze; there was someone else in the car. Link’s heart stopped, his blood turned to ice. It couldn’t be.

‘Please, no,’ he prayed, while simultaneously praying ‘please, yes.’

“I have someone here who wants to talk to you,” Nick continued, looking more nervous by the second. “And I guarantee, it’s not who you think it is.”

“Nick,” Link managed, his throat threatening to close at any moment. “I don’t want to talk to anyone, right now.” Or ever, really. The passenger side car door opened and Link flinched. His heart began to race now. His mind, too; hundreds of guesses as to whom it might be flooding through like a torrent, and all of them washed aside by the one person he most wanted, the one person he most dreaded.

“Please, Link,” Nick pressed, as the other man got out, facing away from them both. “I think he’s the one person you need to listen to.” The stranger had dark hair, going grey, but Link didn’t recognize the hair cut. Then he turned around.

“Hey, Link,” the stranger greeted. “I’ve come a long walk to talk to ya.” Link didn’t know what to say; his jaw hung loose on his face. Nick almost wanted to laugh from the site of Link seeing another version of himself standing before him, but he understood the gravity of the situation. Besides, it had been an excruciatingly long flight and he was dearly looking forward to a real chair.

“Let’s go inside,” he suggested, motioning towards Link’s house. “It’s a bit of a long story.”

“Wha, but-” Link stumbled, trying to remember how to form words again. “Who? What? Who is that?” The stranger -the other Link- smiled in understanding. He felt strange, being the outsider in this universe. Now he was the alternate version between the two of them.

“I promise,” he began, gently. “I’ll explain everything. Mind if we come in and sit? You might want to sit, too,” he suggested, seeing his other self looking a bit weak in the knees. He definitely could have fainted at any moment from the shock of seeing someone who looked nearly identical to himself.

“But… who are you?” He didn’t have a twin, as far as he knew, and the voice was too similar to be a double. What other explanation could there be?

“It’s a long story but I… I’m Link.” The words didn’t settle, didn’t make sense. Link shook his head in disbelief.

“No. No, I’m Link. I’m Link Neal and you-”

“I’m also Link Neal,” the other Link insisted, trying to make his duplicate stop and listen. “I came here to talk to you about Rhett.” That stuck and the Link from this universe stared at him again.

“Rhett?” His heart stopped. “What about Rhett?”

Next Chapter

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#rhett #link #rhink #fic #fanfic #fanfiction #another me #who is the alternate now?

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honestgrins · 8 years ago

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Have Mercy || Klaroline

There's a wedding to plan, and Caroline's a little too preoccupied to enjoy her wifely duties - and Klaus is not impressed. This is a gift for Angie (@thetourguidebarbie) and inspired in part by this popular photoset and by @paigemarie007. Smut warning for the Klaroline Arbor Day Smutfest event!

Snuggling deeper into Enzo's shoulder, Caroline had to fight hard to keep her concentration on the television.

"You're thinking too loud, gorgeous," he teased, pinching her elbow. "I'm surprised they don't hear you from the Chopped kitchen - don't distract them lest they forget to add the jalapeno candy."

She nudged him hard. "Shut up, it's your fault," she accused.

Enzo sighed and pulled her closer. "I said I was sorry for springing it on you, but you would have been angrier if I waited even a day after receiving the assignment." Hardly his first deployment with the Air Force, he knew it spiked his best friend's stress level every time. At least this one would only be for a year. "We still have a week before I have to be on base."

"Pretty sure Kol has dibs once he gets back," she muttered. Thinking of how hard Kol took his last deployment, though, Caroline softened. "How'd he take the news?"

"The same as he always does." Enzo gave a sad smile. "He promised to bring home plenty of work samples to get his year's worth now."

Considering Kol was a pharmaceutical rep with a certain blue pill as his top seller, Caroline could fill in the blanks. Allergic to feelings, Kol was one to drown actual emotion with more superficial fun and sex. Hell, it was how he and Enzo started their torrid love affair back in college; the whole 'friends with benefits' concept was super convenient for their freshman year as roommates.

After almost ten years together, though, Caroline knew Kol loved Enzo more than anything. His nonchalant attitude would dissipate as soon as Enzo left. "Well," she sighed heavily, "have fun, then. But I'm planning your going away party, and nudity will not be allowed."

"About that, gorgeous-"

"Nope!" Caroline threw up a stern finger. "Kol is still on probation for those assless chaps at your birthday."

"That was three years ago."

"Exactly."

Chuckling, Enzo reached for her hands before they could get to her phone and her lists. "Aside from that totally unfair position on clothing policies," he joked, "Kol and I actually had a different party in mind."

Caroline blinked as Enzo patiently waited for the realization to set in. "Oh my god," she gasped. "Oh my god!" Wrapping him in a hug, she gave an excited squeal until a horrifying thought struck.

"Kol can NOT wear assless chaps at your wedding."

With the grooms-to-be placing their complete trust in her party planning expertise, Caroline was left to organize the perfect Vegas wedding while Kol and Enzo enjoyed their own private bachelor party.

Having watched Caroline plan their own wedding five years earlier, Klaus thought he knew every variation of his whirlwind bride agonizing over the smallest details. Apparently, the stress of their year-long engagement held nothing on coordinating a blowout from across the country in mere days.

She was pacing the length of their living room while on the phone with the hotel; Klaus tried to focus on the football match, but he kept one eye on the blonde wildly gesticulating her anger.

"I understand that the suite from the Hangover movie is in high demand," she seethed as politely as she could. "My clients are more than willing to pay a fair fee for bumping your previous reservation, and I would hate to have to move their wedding festivities to another hotel altogether because of your reluctance. That would mean canceling their luxury poolside cabana, their spa packages, and their plans to gamble away thousands in your casino. I suppose I could move onto the Palms inste- Oh, really? That would be wonderful, thank you."

With a triumphant smile, Caroline leaned down to plant a kiss on his cheek. "They're transferring me to the booking sales manager."

Pulling her down into his lap, he idly stroked her legs as she haggled out a deal with the poor chap on the other end of the line. Caroline gave a cheerful sigh, hanging up and throwing her phone on the coffee table. "And that's how you plan a wedding."

"Starting a war with half the service industry?" Klaus teased. "You're a hellion."

"You love me," she shrugged, unconcerned.

He kissed her gently, urging her to lean into him. "I do." His hands wandered up her back and grew more insistent as the kiss deepened. "Now that you've conquered the hotel," he muttered against her lips, "I suppose you're done for the night."

Smiling, Caroline dragged her lips to nibble at his earlobe. "Why?" she asked innocently. "Did you have something better in mind?"

Klaus took the invitation for what it was, and his mouth latched onto the sensitive skin where her neck curved into her shoulder. Slipping down the strap of her tank top, he smirked at the small shudder Caroline didn't bother to hide. "There's nothing better than this," he murmured against her. "I could spend years just worshipping your body."

Whimpering at his declaration, Caroline squirmed in his lap; but like a light had been switched on, she gasped and pulled away to frantically reach for her phone. "The chapel is still open, and I'm waiting for them to email me concept pages for the ceremony," she remembered, already tapping away at her to-do list.

"Sweetheart," he groaned.

She shook her head at his unsubtle pout. "Sorry, not sorry, babe. I have been waiting for Enzo to put a ring on it for years, and I'll be damned if the day isn't perfect."

"And it will be," Klaus assured her. He knew that Enzo's deployments were harder on Caroline than she dared to admit, and she was likely using the wedding planner excuse to distract herself. Still, he would have liked an opportunity to distract her himself. "But you've been on the phone all day, and I was hoping for some quality time with my wife."

Her eyes raked longingly down the length of his necklaces, teasingly tucked into the collar of his shirt. "I know," she sighed. "My brain is on fire, though. Lists are adding up, and there are things I could be checking off right now if I just…"

Sliding off his lap, she dialed the chapel and brought the phone to her ear. "Yes, hello, this is Caroline Forbes again," she chirped in that falsely happily voice that Klaus knew spelled utter ruin for those who disappointed her. "I have yet to receive the package options, let alone the pricing for the plans we've already discussed. Is that a mistake, or are you still compiling the information for me?"

Klaus just watched her pace again, his eyes drifting to the match playing behind her. It appeared the quality time he had been hoping for would be off the table until after the plans were finished.

"I'm forgetting something." Caroline chewed on her lip, glancing around their bedroom with a furrowed brow. The open suitcase in front of her was neatly filled with labeled packing cubes. "Shoes, underwear, travel back clothes, garment bag with my bridesmaid dress is hanging on the door…"

"Emergency outfit, extra purse, any number of phallic accoutrements you've packed away for the dinner you've claimed as last-minute bachelor party," Klaus added. "Though, I do believe those are in my suitcase for some reason."

She glared at him, carefully noting his amused smirk as he tied his running shoes. "They're in your suitcase because I knew there wouldn't be room in mine, hence my problem." Frowning, she gestured to the empty slot still left in her suitcase. "There's obviously something I'm missing."

Sliding his hand under the lid, Klaus pulled out the final packing cube she was looking for. He stood, leaning into her space to kiss her hair. "Jewelry," he murmured.

With a grateful smile, Caroline shimmied in her excitement. "I love you," she crowed as she dropped the cube into its proper place. "I was so smart to marry you."

"Yes," he answered sardonically. "I remember the checklist that clinched the decision: well-groomed, impeccable manners whilst dining, and willingness to give up valuable luggage space." He cracked a smile at her giggle, though, and squeezed her hip affectionately. "Now, there's nothing else for you to do until our flight tonight. Rather than leaving you here to panic about the next crisis, how about you join me for a run?"

"Feeling the tension, are you?" Caroline teased, only to soften. "I know it's been a little crazy this week, and it feels like forever since we've had sex."

Klaus shrugged easily. "Just a few days."

Eyes wide, Caroline stared at him. "Forever," she announced. "You've gone running every day, which isn't like you. Yesterday, you ran twice!"

"A stress release, more than anything," he explained, pressing another kiss to her forehead to make the wrinkling frown disappear. "And it seems you're similarly stressed today, so come with me, love."

"Come with you," she said with her head cocked and a naughty smile, "or come with you?"

Dropping his lips to hers for a far less chaste kiss, Klaus barely pulled back with a smirk of his own. "I'm open to suggestions."

His hand landed with a smack against her ass when she turned to the dresser for her running shorts. "I'll meet you downstairs, love. You may want to stretch first."

Not twenty minutes later, he had her pressed against a tree just off the path they used to cut through the dense woods surrounding their house. A hand slid inside her sports bra, and Caroline gasped as he tweaked a nipple. "I figured you were promising shower sex afterward," she admitted, arching into his touch.

Klaus shook his head, his lips tasting the sweat-soaked skin of her neck. "Fresh air makes everything better," he moaned. Bracing his other hand on the tree, he lifted one of her legs around his hip. "Tell me, love, does it turn you on knowing someone might find us out here?"

"You turn me on." She pulled his mouth up to hers again, her hips grinding up into his as best she was able. "Take off your pants."

Setting her back on both feet, Klaus turned her to face the tree. His hands purposefully placed her hands on the bark, making sure she had a firm hold. "Be careful, I'd hate for you to hurt yourself," he warned as he pulled the lycra shorts down her thighs. "Kol and Enzo would never let us live down any obvious marks in their wedding photos."

Though he said it with a teasing smirk, her very unhelpful brain automatically fled from their romp in the woods to the vague photography package the hotel promised her. Even as Klaus's talented fingers traced along her slit, she tried to remember the other photographers she found and organize her impressions of their varied portfolios. By the time he had eased himself inside her, Caroline was debating - yet again - whether or not she should double-book photographers just in case.

"Sweetheart," Klaus whispered, clenching his hands around her hips as he thrust, "you seem distracted."

She hummed without really hearing him, only letting out a quiet moan when he hit a particularly sensitive spot. She tried to focus, really; it felt good, just not as satisfying as when she could feel her impending release. Pushing back against him, Caroline bit her lip, searching for that extra ounce of sensation that would usually throw her over the edge.

Klaus reached around to rub at her clit, and she gave a grateful sigh - it just wasn't enough with her brain buzzing for attention on other matters. With his tense motions, though, she could tell he was close. She arched her back, moaning more than necessary. "Yes," she gasped. "Right there, babe!"

He felt her walls clamp down on him, triggering his own climax. It was only when he pressed his forehead against her shoulder, catching his breath, that he realized the contraction was more mechanical than sensual. "Did you-"

"Hmmm," she murmured, her face turning to kiss him slowly. "That was fun."

Frowning, Klaus pulled out and tucked himself back into his shorts; his head cocked as he watched her wiggle back into hers. "You didn't come."

Unsure what to say - and not wanting to risk throwing Klaus an orgasm challenge he couldn't refuse - Caroline forced a lighthearted giggle. "Race you back to the house," she goaded, already jogging toward the path. If she hurried, she could probably get quotes on a second photographer within the hour.

Dressed and ready for the ceremony, Klaus idly flipped through the TV channels as he waited for Caroline to even finish her shower. Their little wedding party, just his siblings plus Enzo and Caroline, had spent the morning by the pool; Kol still proudly sported the glitter tattoo in the shape of a penis on his lower back from Caroline's bachelor dinner the night before. She had ushered them all to their rooms at noon, though, unwilling to let anyone delay the vows with the excessive primping Mikaelsons were prone to demand.

Married into the family or not, Caroline fell right into the stereotype as she walked out of the bathroom wearing only her underwear and an elaborate hairdo. Still grumpy, he tried not to ogle her ass as she bent over the desk to examine her eyebrows in the mirror above. "You're not dressed yet?" he asked in a mild voice, stubbornly focused on the television.

Glancing over her shoulder, she winked. "The better to seduce you, my dear." When he refused to look at her, though, she pouted. "What?"

"Nothing," he muttered - too quickly, if the arch of her perfected eyebrow told him anything. Before he could shrug it off, however, Caroline suddenly walked toward him and dropped to her knees. "What are you- Sweetheart!"

She pawed at his belt, carefully untucking his shirt from the suit pants that fit him perfectly. "This passive aggressive, dutiful husband thing so does not work for you," she said while unzipping his pants. "I know I've been preoccupied with plans, and you're crazy if you don't think I've missed our incredibly hot sex, too." Pulling his boxer briefs down over his cock, she dragged her lips down the length of him. "I want this. Can I?"

Choking back a groan as her lips gave sucking nips along the vein, Klaus's hand moved to her head - only for Caroline to pull back sharply. "Don't touch the hair," she warned, though the bite of her voice was softened as she gave a long stroke of his cock with a tight fist. "You can help me take it down later. After the wedding."

She waited for him to nod in agreement, then dipped her head to suck him fully into her mouth. Humming in delight, she bobbed up and down a few times, her hand quickly pumping what her lips couldn't reach. Her tongue swirled viciously with each motion, her teeth scraping the sensitive skin just enough to make him shudder.

Eyes raising to the tiled ceiling, Klaus could feel his muscles tightening in his impending release. "Love," he gritted out.

Caroline hollowed her cheeks as she sucked harder; her other hand slid from his thigh to massage his balls, a finger gently teasing the skin just behind as his whole body tensed. She smiled around him as the first spurt of his orgasm hit her tongue, eagerly swallowing every drop to prevent any landing in her hair.

Enzo and Kol would never let her live that down.

With a few lingering pulls, Caroline carefully tucked his cock back into his briefs and kissed the skin above the waistband. "Think that will tide you over?" she asked coyly, standing just enough to kiss his cheek before heading back to the mirror.

Klaus's mouth fell open as she proceeded to apply her makeup flawlessly, lining her lips like they hadn't just been wrapped around him. "It wasn't my satisfaction I've been missing," he pointed out, his hands moving to refasten his pants and belt. "I want yours."

"And you'll get it," Caroline shrugged, running the mascara wand over her eyelashes. "Tonight. Just a little more patience, babe. I still have to run down the Elvis doing the ceremony, make sure everything is exactly the way I want it. Sex can wait."

He stood, walking toward her slowly, his eyes burning as he stopped right against her back. "I would have you right here on this desk until you begged for mercy twice."

Caroline scoffed, swiping her finger over her lipstick. "I've never begged for mercy in my life."

Leaning in dangerously, Klaus bit at the nape of her neck. "Twice," he hissed as his hand slid around her front to cover her core. She glanced up to meet his eyes in the mirror. Her lips parted unconsciously at the heat in his gaze, and all of her lower muscles clenched with need. She gasped as his fingers rubbed her clit once, twice, then -

Klaus laid a final kiss on her bare shoulder, smirking as he brought those fingers to his mouth. He licked them clean from her damp panties before straightening his tie. "I'll go check on the chapel, make sure Elvis is ready to preside," he promised, gliding out of the suite without another word.

Glaring, Caroline watched him leave, her chest heaving with frustrated arousal. He had made damn well sure of one thing - she wasn't going to be the one begging for mercy that night.

#klarolinearborday #klaroline #fandom love #klaroline drabbles #elsewhere #my writing #thetourguidebarbie #hope you like it Angie!#i figured you'd be okay with THIS wedding #Kol totally wore assless chaps to the club afterward FYI #because Kol

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brywrites · 8 years ago

Text

Tell Me

Requested: Rather than JJ being the one to tell the team Emily has died, it’s the Reader. It’s her house that Reid goes to ten weeks in a row, crying. And when he finds out the truth, she’s the one he’s angry with.

By the time she receives the call from JJ, she knows that the plan is in motion. Emily is transferred to another hospital, JJ is with her. And as the new communications liason, it’s time to do her job.

Y/N had filled in for JJ on her maternity leave, and upon her transfer to the Pentagon, had taken over the role full-time. Having already formed close friendships with many members of the team, she naturally fit in. Now, she needs to exploit that relationship in order to keep Emily safe – and in order to keep the team safe.

She lingers in the hallway a few moments longer, breathing deeply. You have to believe it, she tells herself. If you believe it, they will too. She’s dead. Emily is dead. She may as well be, for Y/N knows she’ll never be able to contact her friend. Emily is out of her life, and she can’t do anything about it. When tears spring to her eyes, she pushes open the doors to the waiting room, and six pairs of eyes turn to look at her. What flickers of hope they harbor are extinguished when they notice the somber appearance she wears.

Garcia looks as though her whole world has given way. “No,” she whispers.

Oh, this is going to be so much harder than she thought. “She – she never made it off the table,” Y/N says. Rossi and Morgan close their eyes, fists clenched. Penelope begins to sob. Only two people aren’t crying, Ashley – who hardly knows Emily – and Hotch. Spencer stands up and starts to brush past her, but Y/N grabs his arm.

“Spencer, wait.”

His lip quivers. “I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye.” And the next thing she knows, he’s sobbing into her shoulder, his arms tight around her as she gently reaches up to embrace him.

For weeks after the event, he turns up at her apartment. Always hurting, always in tears. For weeks after, she welcomes him in. It always begins with Emily. With time, he divulges more. It will start with Emily, then turn to his fear of being left behind. Emily, then his mother’s illness and his father’s absence. Emily, then Tobias Hankel and Dilaudid. He sits and cries on her couch and she holds him, and the night will often end with his head in her lap, her fingers softly stroking his hair while she comforts him with the kindest words she has to offer. More than once, they’ve fallen asleep in that position.

It’s one of the easiest – and hardest – things to do. Easy because there is arguably no other person on the team is closer to. Spencer is her best friend, and her heart harbors feelings for him that are a little more than friendly. Which is what makes it so difficult. It’s not even worth keeping track of how many times she has opened her mouth to tell him the truth, and had to remind herself that doing so would put all of them at risk. Would it? Experience tells her that no one would keep the secret better than him, but Hotch was very specific. The less people who knew the truth, the better for Emily. So she continues to open her door to him, open her arms and her heart. It goes on for nearly three months, and one night, when she’s feeling particularly brave, she bends down and kisses his cheek as he lies with her.

And she thinks to herself, all will be well as long as they have each other.

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Because JJ returns and Seaver leaves, they find Doyle and Declan vanishes. And Hotch doesn’t know what else to do. Emily comes back, and while they’re all thrilled to see her alive and okay, Y/N knows is the back of her mind that the team is going to be hurt that they lied. They’ll react in different ways, and they’ll take it out on different people, but the fact doesn’t change. She and Hotch and JJ knew, and they said nothing.

She would make a lousy profiler, because she never would have expected Spencer to throw all that hurt and anger at her. For some reason, she thought he would understand, but he makes it very clear he doesn’t. Not only does he stop showing up, he stops answering her calls or texts, cancels all their plans, and refuses to talk to her or speak to her unless absolutely necessary.

In Oklahoma, Hotch pairs them up together, and she hopes that finally he’ll listen to her. See her. Believe that she meant him no harm. In their closeness, she’s forgotten how passive-aggressive he can be. Their time together is nothing but snark and anger, with Spencer hurling thinly-veiled insults at her. When they get back to the hotel that night, she decides enough is enough, and this time she shows up at his door.

It’s clear by the look on his face he wasn’t expecting her to be on the other side, but when he tries to slam it in her face, she manages to throw her hand against it just in time.

“We need to talk about this,” she says.

He glares at her. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

“I know you’re upset about what happened with Emily.”

“I’m actually busy right now, I have work to do with the profile.” Attempting to push the door closed on her, he leans his weight against it, but she continues to resist.

“No you’re not, you’re just avoiding me! You can’t go on ignoring me forever. Sooner or later you’re going to have to tell me-”

“Tell you how I’m feeling? Like you told me the truth about Emily? I trusted you, Y/N, and you lied to me. For ten weeks I came to your house crying and you never once told me the truth,” he says, his voice wavering. No longer passive-aggressive, this is plain aggressive.

“I wanted to, believe me. You have no idea how much I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t,” she pleads. Surely he knows that, doesn’t he? If she had any choice, she would have told him the truth.

“I don’t know what to believe anymore! Was anything you said during that time real? When you kissed me, was that just part of a lie? You know, I used to think you were my friend, but it turns out you’re lying, two-faced… bitch!”

The word is like a slap to the face, and she recoils from him. “The only lie I told you was that Emily had died, but I didn’t have a choice in the matter,” she says, dangerously close to tears.

“You did! You could have told me! Who the hell would I have told? I don’t have anyone to share that secret with, you know that! You let me come to your apartment, and you let me pour my heart out to you, and you were lying to me! What if I started the Dilaudid again? Would you have let me do that?”

“What? But y-you didn’t taken any. Did you?”

“I thought about it. And if I had, it would’ve been your fault.” At this point, he’s practically shouting at her, and she can’t take it. The thought of him relapsing makes her throat constrict, and she forces her lungs to breathe, breathe.

“Spencer, I’m sorry,” she cries.

“It’s too late for that.” This time, when he pushes against the door, she’s too tired, too upset to fight back. It shuts with a slam that rattles the wall, and she’s left in the hallway, unable to stop the tears rolling down her cheeks, and unable to fix the worst mistake she’s made. Spencer feels betrayed, and she fears that she’s lost everything they once had.

The door behind her opens, and Emily sticks her head out. “I thought I heard Reid yelling.” Then, upon noticing her tears, “Oh. Oh, no. What happened?”

Y/N throws her hands up, only to let them fall back down to her sides, exasperated. Part of her wants to laugh at the situation, but nothing feels funny about it. “He hates me,” she says. “I lied to him, and he’s never going to forgive me.”

Emily steps out from her room to lay a hand on Y/N’s shoulder. “I’m sure that’s not true. He just needs time, that’s all.”

“I messed up, Em. He – he came to my apartment for three months, and he opened up to me. And I held him, and he fell asleep with me, and I kissed his cheek. I love him, and he hates me.”

For the rest of their time in Oklahoma, he continues to give her the cold shoulder, pretending he can’t even hear her when she’s around. It breaks her heart. On the plane, she watches as Emily goes to speak with him, but Spencer is facing away from her so she can’t tell what he’s saying. All she can do is hope that Emily’s getting through to him. The only part of their conversation she hears is when Emily asks him to come to Rossi’s party, and he gives her a vague response.

Every other member of the team shows up to the mansion, and after thirty minutes, she decides there’s no chance that he’ll come. Not only does he hate her, but her presence is forcing him away from the rest of the team. This is her fault. All her fault. Rossi is giving them instructions on how to properly cook the spaghetti, but all she wants to do is sit down with her glass of red wine and drink until her chest doesn’t ache with guilt anymore.

By some miracle, the doorbell rings. Garcia and Emily both turn to her, but Morgan rushes off to get it first. Y/N holds her breath, staring down at the wineglass and praying that Spencer hasn’t come to yell at her again. There’s only so much her heart can take. Does he even know how she feels about him? Not that it matters anymore, seeing as though he’s cast away even their friendship.

“Sorry I’m late.” There is no bitterness or barb in his voice this time, but she’s too afraid to let herself hope.

Rossi gives him a pointed look. “Yeah, and this, is why I cook alone. Now, if we can continue…”

“Actually, I – uh, I need to talk to Y/N.” Spencer pauses, and she finally looks at him. He’s smiling, not glaring, and looking rather nervous. “If that’s alright.”

Feeling six sets of eyes on her once more, she nods, and follows him just around the corner, braced for the impact of his inevitable explosion. It takes her by surprise when he says, “I need to apologize.”

“Apologize?” she asks, stunned.

He nods. “I said some awful things to you, and I treated you terribly. I forgot that you lost a friend, too. And you were only following orders.”

“It doesn’t change the fact that I hurt you.”

“You also helped me. I’ve never been able to open up to anyone like that before, and you listened to me. You accepted me. I understand that now.” It’s a slow, measured gesture when he reaches out to take her hand, and a look of relief crosses his face when she doesn’t pull away. His hand is warm, a little sweaty, and completely envelops hers.

“Why me?” she inquires. “Why did you come to me, and not to JJ or Morgan?” The questions has always puzzled her, for while Spencer has been her closest friend, there are people on the team who have been his friends for much longer, who likely already knew all that he shared with her.

“For the same reason you let me in every night,” he says simply. Spencer searches her eyes for a moment, then leans in and kisses her cheek. “I care about you, very much. I hope you can forgive me.”

“Of course.” She stands on her toes to kiss not his cheek this time, but his lips, as she has longed to do so many times before. His hand goes to her cheek, and when she wraps her arms around his neck, it’s not to soothe him of his sorrows. It’s to hold him close and tell him how she loves him.

Rossi’s voice comes from the kitchen. “Are you two lovebirds finished, or are we going to have to wait all night to eat?”

“Shh!” Penelope hisses. “I’ve been waiting for this to happen for months!”

They pull apart, and rejoin the group, both blushing like mad. Spencer still holding her hand.

“Can we drink the wine now?” Emily asks. Though she sounds peeved, she wears a smile.

“Now seems like a very good time,” Rossi answers. He raises his glass. “To family.”

“And a little more than that,” Morgan throws in, as they clink glasses. Y/N laughs, and leans her head against Spencer’s shoulder as his arm finds its way around her waist. They have a lot to talk about, but now isn’t the time. Looking around the room, she marvels at the people who, in the last year, have become her whole world. This is a night for friends and for family, and, most importantly, for forgiveness.

#reid x reader #spencer reid x reader #brywrites #requested #fanfiction #imagine

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lonelypond · 8 years ago

Text

WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR’S EVE

I present the final chunk of my Hallmark Movie NicoMaki AU. To summarize this chapter: Nico goes Full Idol, Eli gets some legal aid and Maki says just the wrong thing, maybe three times ; )

Love Live, main pairing NicoMaki, about 10K words.

Ao3

Original Tumblr post

CHECKING IT TWICE

It had been a long day. Hanayo had not been angry about Maki’s tardiness, just disappointed. But Maki’s grudging admission that yes, Nico was planning to come to the party had completely changed the tone of all their conversations for the forseeable future to things like “What does Nico like to eat?” “What is Nico’s favorite kind of music” “Does she drink beer or wine?” Maki was forced to realize she didn’t actually know the answers to those questions.

This had led to a thoughtful drive home. Maki wanted to know more about what Nico thought, but Nico would always divert questions or distract Maki. The Idol was far too good at distracting Maki, and Nico seemed to relish those moments, leaving Maki with thought fled and sensation lingering.

Pulling into her driveway, once again, Maki noticed Tsubasa’s Mercedes in Nico’s driveway. Why? Video shot, Nico had shown her the rough footage; if an audio needed to be rerecorded, they’d have to find a recording studio. Plus, Nico was on a three-day swing through two states so not home. Yes, Maki admitted to maybe a little jealousy, but at this point, the feeling was mostly puzzlement over the strangeness. Why be at Nico’s house if Nico wasn’t there?

“It’s bugging you too, isn’t it?” Eli’s voice barked in Maki’s ear, and Maki realized she was leaning on the roof of her own car, staring at the Mercedes, her blonde neighbor at her side.

“It’s just weird.” Maki decided that was a fairly safe comment. “Nico’s not even in town tonight.”

“Celebrities,” Eli huffed. “Next there’ll be wild parties, naked strangers sprinting across our yards.”

Maki turned to stare at Eli. “You need to get out of the office more, Nozomi says. And the only person who has had a party recently is you.”

Eli thumped the roof of Maki’s car. “Yazawa’s got no respect. I want her out.”

“It’s a SANTA, Eli, and it’s Christmas.” Maki sighed. “And Nico mostly seems to want to spend time with her siblings.”

“Then why is she never home?”

Maki stared at the glaring, grim-faced Eli and wondered when her neighbor had last had her blood pressure checked. “She works, Eli.”

“If you call it work.”

Eli had obviously snapped and was caught in some kind of “hate Nico” loop. This was not a Maki problem, this was a problem for Nozomi, who had married into it, presumably voluntarily. Maki looked Eli over. Aesthetically speaking, Eli was fairly pleasant to look at. Maybe that got Nozomi through the occasional bouts of crazy.

“What?” Eli snapped.

“I was just thinking about the stories Nozomi tells about you, about when you first met…”

Eli shook her head, but there was a small smile. “Ah, the ‘Eli was hot and blonde and I would never see straight again’ line.”

Maki nodded.

Eli chuckled. “She’s too fond of that joke.”

“Go home, Eli. See your wife.” Maki pushed her friend. Eli allowed herself to be directed toward her house, and Maki sighed with relief. Now she could go inside and figure out what leftovers Nico had brought over earlier.

ALL THIS YEAR’S BEEN A BUSY BLUR

Since she’d bought the house and moved in, everything had been such a rush for Nico. Meeting Maki, dealing with Cocoro, Cocoa and Cotaro daily, sharing a house with Umi and Kotori, the video shoot, the arrest, the constant harassment by Ayase, all the concerts and travel, keeping her social media updated. She’d barely had time to think about any of it, much had happened on automatic. But not Maki, that Nico’d had to think about. The doctor was smart, sexy and so so easy to come home to … but at the same time, Nico had realized that Maki wasn’t wired like Nico. What seemed normal emotional responses to Nico were sometimes stages Maki just skipped. But Maki was kind and thoughtful, unless she was oblivious. Oblivious happened a lot, along with odd bouts of shyness and quick bursts of embarrassment and anger. It was a strange jumble poured into a sexy sportscar of a redhead who could hit 120 mph in no time at all. Nico was fascinated but uncertain how Maki felt. Nico was not interested in short term, but the doctor had never had a serious relationship before … and seemingly never missed it. Nico wondered what Maki’s parents were like. And if Maki was at all interested in more than short term.

As she stretched out on her hotel room bed with some nonsensical romance playing out on the TV, Nico debated the call or text question. It was after midnight, but Maki kept late hours. Although she had woken up early for Nico that morning. Text it was:

N: I’ll miss you at breakfast <3 Hope you’re getting the sleep you missed; I have plans for you when I get back ; )

WON’T YOU SHIMMY DOWN MY CHIMNEY

Maki was leaning back against the headboard of Nico’s bed, in Nico’s very very pink bedroom, watching the Idol get ready for Hanayo and Rin’s party. Nico was wearing sheer black stockings and a cream slip, trimmed with lace. It was a low-key, everyday sexy Maki thought would be wonderful to get used to.

Nico sensed that Maki’s attention was wandering and whistled. “So should I glam up for your friend? The full Nico Nico Ni treatment?”

Maki blinked and patted the bed next to her. “Wear that and stay here.”

“Cocoro’s having a slumber party. Umi’ll be bringing them back from dinner right about when things might start to get interesting.”

Maki hugged a pillow with a pout; Nico laughed and decided to crawl over the bed until she got in range of Maki’s lips. “I can take everything off slowly, after…”

Maki looked away, blushing, just as Nico, realizing that would be Maki’s go to move, pecked a kiss on her cheek.

“You should just wear the stuff you wear around your family, jeans and flannel,” Maki suggested.

“The great Nico Ni dress down for a fan? Sacrilege.” Nico shook her head.

Maki shrugged. “Hanayo’s my friend. She needs to get used to everyday you, not out-on-tour you.”

Nico sat on the bench she had in front of her makeup station. “I’ll have you know out on tour Nico is always ultra sexy in the sports bra and leggings she rehearses in.”

Maki frowned. “Please tell me you at least wear a robe off stage.”

“No time for modesty.” Nico tilted her head, shrugged and twirled to face the makeup mirror.

“I’ll lend you a holiday sweatshirt, it’ll be oversized, you’ll be cute.” Maki glanced at her phone. “And we could be less than an hour late.”

Nico bounced up and entered her walk-in closet. She’d forbidden Maki from peeking into the closet when they’d first entered the bedroom, so Maki took a moment to text Rin that they’d be on their way soon.

Nico came out, dressed in full Idol regalia, heels, bold makeup, some kind of black lace wisp in her hair, little black dress with crystals cascading along curves. Sharp enough to cut? Maki found herself wondering and reached out a curious hand but Nico slapped it away. “Right now, you’re my driver.”

Maki grinned and pulled Nico close anyway. “Is that because I refuse to change my outfit?” Maki had gone with dressed-down casual, holiday sweater, corduroys and boots.

“Maybe,” Nico’s hand settled briefly on Maki’s shoulder before twirling the red strands of hair between her fingers. “This is fun to do.”

Maki kissed Nico. “Last chance to not meet your crazy, stalker fan.”

“You don’t get a vote.” Nico whirled, tugging on the hair slightly. “We’re late. Let’s go.”

Maki held open the door to Nico’s bedroom. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll go warm up the car while you say goodnight to your siblings.”

EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT THE … NICO

Rin was exhausted. Hanayo hadn’t slept for two days, living in a state of perpetual adrenaline rush, buzzing about the party and Nico. Now while Rin was very happy to see her fiancée so excited, it had also been taking a toll. With the wedding planning and the bustle of the practice, Hanayo had fallen out of Idol fan mode, and Rin had forgotten how intensely fascinated by them Hanayo could be. It had been one thing when they were in middle and high school, but now that Rin had accepted Hanayo’s marriage proposal, she was taking all the attention Hanayo was lavishing on Nico personally.

They had a small apartment, warm and now full of holiday decorations and friends. Hanayo was happily talking to a nurse in the kitchen, probably about Nico, but Rin was willing to just enjoy the glow her fiancée was giving off.

And then it happened. The door swung open, Rin swore an intro played and Nico arrived, swirling in, black dress sparkling with reflected light, grin brighter than a spotlight.

“Nico Nico Ni and Happy Holidays to everyone.” Nico danced into the center of the party, all eyes watching, although Rin managed to spy Maki lurking in the hallway, reluctant to enter. And then Hanayo SCREAMED, raising the hairs on the back of Rin’s neck. She watched Hanayo sprint across the room, barely stopping before she ran straight into Nico. Then Hanayo stood there, vibrating, hyperventilating, hand reaching out to almost touch Nico’s breast. Rin frowned, but Maki stepped between the two women, forcing Hanayo back a little. Moving faster than Maki could react, Hanayo skipped around her, right back to Nico. Hanayo grabbed Nico’s arm, and Rin noticed a slight flinch on Nico’s part, quickly masked with a smile. Maki whirled, looking angry. Rin decided to intervene. Then Nico leaned forward to kiss Hanayo on the cheek, and as her love fainted in Maki’s arms, Rin realized it was too late for her and gloom settled over her formerly happy life.

Maki transferred Hanayo to Rin and pulled Nico aside. “You could tone it down a little. Did you see the look on Rin’s face?”

“Did you see the look on Hanayo’s? And I’m here as Nico Ni. Didn’t your friend want to meet the Idol she’d always idolized?”

Maki muttered. Nico turned to giggle at someone’s joke, ignoring her mood. So Maki went in search of punch and someone to talk to about something that wasn’t Nico. One of the nurses was always willing to chat about the latest office gossip, so Maki figured this was a good time to catch up. Nico wouldn’t miss her.

And thus began one of the longest nights of Maki’s life. Nico giggled, laughed, flirted, air kissed, listened to super long, super boring stories and responded earnestly to randos while only keeping an eye on Maki out of her peripheral vision.

After what had actually only been about an hour, Nico approached Maki with a grin. Maki glared, “This is ridiculous.”

“It’s what the fans want.” Nico smiled and winked at someone else.

“Gross.”

Suddenly Maki had Nico’s full attention and a rare frown crossed the Idol’s face. “Your friend will remember having a very happy night. Isn’t that important?”

Maki kicked at the floor. “I don’t care.”

NIco looked sad. “I do.”

Maki shrugged and returned to the kitchen, where Rin was sitting at the table, silent and still. Being the opposite of Rin. Hanayo had started sidling in Nico’s direction again. This was ridiculous. Rin must be tired of this too.

After her initial faint into Maki’s arms, Hanayo had been wandering around the party, silly, as if drunk, finding any excuse to hang on the Idol’s arm or take Nico off into corners. Maki wondered what her friend had planned for Nico this round … wait, Hanayo was glancing around and had grabbed Nico, now she was looking furtive, now she was dragging Nico down the hall to her ...

“Rin,” Maki knocked her friend on the head. Rin was staring morosely where Hanayo was pulling Nico. “Your fiancée is dragging my … date into your bedroom.”

Rin’s reply was automatic, her tone dead. “Yeah. Kayochin has a closet full of Nico Ni stuff and a body pillow she wants Nico to sign. It’s on the bed.”

Maki pushed her friend. “RIN! That’s not normal.”

Nico had glanced back and caught Maki’s eye with a look bordering on desperate. Maki pushed Rin and hurried to intercept Hanayo.

Hanayo stopped just before she thudded into Maki. Nico took that opportunity to detach Hanayo’s hand from her arm and duck behind Rin, who still looked lost.

Hanayo’s eyes had a strange glow. “Nico’s wonderful, Maki. If you don’t marry her, I will.”

“M … marry?” Maki could feel her jaw clench and the blood drain from her face. She glanced to Nico, who seemed ready to make a joke but then noticed what was probably panic on Maki’s face. Nico froze, a professional smile on her face and worried eyes that wouldn’t unlock from Maki’s, until she heard a whimper from Rin.

“Right.” Nico said very firmly, crimson eyes flashing. “That’s enough.” She turned Rin. “Rin, you are coming with me.” And without another word, Nico pulled Rin through the rest of the partygoers, toward the door. Hanayo just gaped after them.

“Nico’s leaving.” Hanayo sounded glum.

“More importantly,” And honestly, Maki felt like slapping her friend, “SHE TOOK RIN.”

“Took Rin?” Hanayo’s eyes focused on her red-headed friend, reason leaking back in past fanatic insanity.

“Yes, my … date, “ Maki chided herself for the hesitation, “took the woman who once agreed to marry you somewhere. Away from you. Because you are crazy. So crazy.” And I have to run, Maki thought, before Nico drives away.

Nico had obviously gotten Rin to hand over her keys and a pair of sneakers and was shoehorning the ginger-haired woman into the passenger seat of Rin’s SUV.

“NICO!”

Nico paused.

“I didn’t mean I didn’t want to … I just … I can’t believe ...”

Nico’s smile was gentle. “It’s okay, Maki. I’m not upset. Just tired. Your friends are nice, but Rin deserved a lot better than tonight. You should explain that to Hanayo. And then stop by when you get home.”

Nico closed Rin’s door and then went around to the driver side. She didn’t pause for a kiss. There would probably be talking. Maki hated talking. And now she had to go have a talk with Hanayo.

MANGLED UP IN TANGLED UP KNOTS

Maki had left a sobbing Hanayo and driven herself home. Rin’s SUV was parked in Nico’s driveway, as was Tsubasa’s Mercedes. Nico had sent an “Are you home yet?” text, but Maki hadn’t responded. Her phone went off again. Not Nico, Eli. Maki shut her eyes, gritted her teeth and reminded herself 1 a.m. was not the time to scream. She closed the garage door, looked back at Nico’s house, felt less guilty at the sight of the Mercedes and walked to Eli’s house as requested.

Eli was still dressed, her laptop open on the kitchen table. Every other light was off.

“Want coffee?” Eli asked.

“It’s 1 a.m.”

“Want coffee?”

“Yes.”

Eli poured a mug. “There’s another car. And her kids were all over my yard again.”

Maki didn’t really feel like trying to be the only reasonable adult in a three-county radius but habit kicked in. “The car is my friend’s and Cotaro, Cocoa and Cocoro are her siblings.”

“Too many people.”

“Get some sleep, Eli.” Maki sipped the coffee.

Eli sighed and seemed more worried than angry for the first time since Nico moved in. “I can’t. I just lie in bed and …”

Nozomi’s voice poured out from behind Maki. “I could help with that if you ever actually came upstairs.” Maki now regretted not just driving to the practice and sleeping on her office couch. She’d been in the middle of couples all evening, Rin and Hanayo, Nico in Nico Ni Idol mode being half a couple with anyone she happened to be talking to at the moment, now Eli and Nozomi. Maki slammed the mug down as her brain decided to review in detail Nico’s every gesture at the party, every cheek kissed, every hand touched. Not helpful, brain. Soon, she was going to be in Eli’s state, up all night, obsessed in the wrong way about Nico’s Idol tendencies.

Nozomi came up behind Eli, wrapping her arms around her wife’s neck and nibbling on her neck. “Did you hear what I said, Elichi?”

“Nozomi! Maki’s here.”

“She could join us.” Nozomi winked at Maki. Maki just shook her head, being used to Nozomi’s goofy flirting. Eli still wasn’t though; Maki hadn’t figured that out.

“NOZOMI!”

“What?” Nozomi dropped herself into Eli’s lap, closing the laptop with a practiced hand. “I thought you wanted to steal her back from Nico.”

Eli went as red as Maki’s hair.

“Yep. That’s the line. It’s been crossed.” Maki put her mug down. “I’ll let myself out. Goodnight, you two.”

No one replied, so Maki didn’t look back. She’d learned that lesson soon after meeting Nozomi and realizing the effect she had on Eli. Which led to wondering what effect Maki had on Nico, but she was too tired to speculate or deal with the aftermath of tonight’s awful. So Maki walked home, sent a “Too tired, too late” text, and curled into a ball on her couch, phone turned off. Awful. A nightful. Three different varieties of.

MAKING THE SEASON BRIGHT

Tsubasa and Honoka had just finished another round of Just Dance and Tsubasa was still in awe of how much raw vitality Honaka vibrated with. Her technique wasn’t flawless, but her enthusiasm dwarfed anybody else Tsubasa had ever met. And those blue eyes sparkled with an enthusiasm that bordered on magical.

They both fell back into Nico’s couch at the same moment, a rare example of them being in perfect sync. Nico wandered in from the kitchen, where she’d been baking something to distract herself from Maki not texting. Rin had been settled into Cocoa’s room while Cocoa was sharing the room for the night with her brother, Cocoro and her friends had all been jammed into her room. Nico leaned against the couch for a moment. “I’m heading upstairs. Goodnight, you two.”

She waved, but there was no smile. Tsubasa watched her go, concerned about her friend. She turned to Honoka, putting her arm around the human battery. “So did you ever tell Maki we were dating? And that that’s why my car is at Nico’s all the time?”

Honoka shook her head. “No. She’s been busy. She probably didn’t notice your car.”

Tsubasa remembered catching a glare from those lavender eyes. “You should mention it.”

“Okay.” Honoka shrugged. “Next time I see her.”

“Just text her.” Tsubasa picked up Honoka’s phone from the coffee table, leaning in. “And then we can get back to other things.”

BABY, PLEASE COME HOME

The office was too quiet. Maki had gone in at dawn, tired of her mind switching between conversations with Nico and conversations with Eli. And if she managed to clear them out, she’d start remembering Hanayo pulling everything out of a closet too full of Nico images. Hanayo. She’d scheduled today off last week to recover from the party, but had she talked to Rin yet? Maki pulled her phone out to see if there were any messages. Dark. Oh right, she’d turned it off last night.

Text from Honoka, nothing from her business partner.

H: Tsubasa said to tell you her car’s been at Nico’s cause she’s secretly dating me ; )

Of course. And Nico was travelling to the Carolinas today while Maki would have to continue to be an idiot right here in Tennessee. Maybe she and Hanayo could go into therapy together to discuss why they couldn’t pay the right amount of attention to their future wives … Maki shook her head when that thought invaded it, was Nico really … no evading it really, she knew it was truth, how right they were, how constant and necessary a presence Nico was. Maki felt the truth every time she thought about being near Nico. And she’d messed up with Nico badly last night. Which made her insecurity about Nico’s feelings worse. Just call Nico, now, she told herself. That was the only option.

Nico picked up immediately. “Nico Nico Ni!”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Everything … me, Hanayo, not knowing what to say, not stopping by last night, getting upset over nothing, my stupid next-door neighbor, panicking, everything, I just ...” Words kept coming out faster and faster, Maki couldn’t stop them.

Nico interrupted her. “It’s okay, Maki. Don’t have a meltdown.”

“No, it’s not okay. I feel like an idiot.”

There was silence. And then Nico chuckled. “You just found out Tsubasa’s dating Honoka, didn’t you?”

“W … Why do you think …”

“Were you really worried about that, Maki?” Nico’s voice was edged.

“No.” Maki’s reply was instantaneous. And the truth. “It was just strange, seeing her car there when you weren’t. I don’t like puzzles.”

Nico’s voice dropped. “You don’t like Nico Ni either.”

Maki knew delay here was death. “That’s not true, Nico. You looked smashing and sexy in that suit for your video, you work harder than I do, and I’ve started humming your songs around the office, now that I know them. Hanayo sings al-…” Maki stopped that sentence, not wanting to introduce another problem into this conversation.

“But you hate the fans. I watched you during the party. All you did was frown and glare.”

“No, I don’t hate your fans.” Maki was insistent. “I’m just not used to it. I’m not used to us. I’m not used to …” Maki took a deep breath, “caring so much.”

Nico’s response was a whispered promise. “I’ll be home tomorrow.”

And Maki’s was the invitation Nico longed to hear. “Come over. Please. I w … want to see you.”

YOU’RE A MEAN ONE, MS. AYASE

Eli was pleased with herself. It only took two favors to get the court deed she had clasped in her hand. It was postdated and potent. Yazawa would have no choice but to comply with her Neighborhood Association Guidelines and take down the oversized decorations. Or the Idol could move. Either way, Eli would be rid of something that triggered rage on sight.

She knew the singer left for her trips early, so Eli had woken up early and was watching out her side window for the arrival of the car and driver. Then she would go have a chat and be done with this before anyone else woke up. Pre-breakfast victory.

Car. Eli headed for the front door. Yazawa was leaving her house and Eli walked up with a smirk. Nico rolled her eyes. “What do you want, Ayase?”

“The Santa gone. And full compliance with the Neighborhood Association Guidelines.”

“It’s not illegal, you petty, pinch-faced tyrant. Even your daughter loves it.”

“Don’t bring up my daughter,” Eli growled.

“Don’t ruin my siblings’ Christmas,” Nico countered. Pleading was not in the Yazawa DNA, and Nico knew she was in the right. Backing down was not an option.

Eli snapped the papers in her hand under Nico’s nose. “This is a court citation for public nuisance. It’s triggered in three days unless you take everything off your damn house and comply with my guidelines. Or you could move back to wherever you came from.”

Nico’s eyes were lasers, angry angry lasers. She took the papers from Eli, read them through quickly, glanced back to see a triumphant gleam in Eli’s eyes, and then dropped the pile to the ground and drove the heel of her shoe through them.

“I’d rather that were you, Ayase.”

“Three days, Yazawa.”

“Bite me, Ayase. I can’t believe this. What is wrong with you?”

Eli shrugged. “I don’t care what you think. Do what I say.”

”Get off my property. And tell your wife, sister and daughter to stay off too. And explain why.” Nico shook her head. “I have to go. And you’re an ass.”

Eli walked away lighter than she’d felt since November. Nico slammed the car door after she got in, then sat, arms crossed over her chest. She’d have to text Umi later. Waking up Umi out of a sound sleep was never a good idea. Although Umi using Ayase for target practice with her bow appealed strongly to Nico in her current mood. But right now, Nico would take a very private non-Idol moment for frustrated crying that no one else would ever see.

CHARMING AS AN EEL

Nozomi woke up to an empty bed and a quiet child. Either Mischa or Eli generally woke her up with activity, but today, the upstairs was still. Which made Nozomi suspicious. Eli had been in a good mood last night, which Nozomi had taken as much advantage of as she had the energy to, but now, Nozomi found herself wondering why.

Eli and Mischa were sitting at the table. Eli had cooked a huge stack of blini, and they were spreading sour cream on each other’s, Mischa switching to messy spoonfuls of blueberry jam every minute or so. Nozomi hadn’t heard Eli laugh this gladly in far too long. It was unfortunate that she suspected someone else was not as happy because of Eli.

“Good morning, Elichi. You’re in a good mood.” Nozomi kissed the top of her wife’s blonde head and went to get coffee.

“Yep,” Eli bounded after her. “You married a closer.”

“Did you hear about the partnership?”

“No.” Eli grabbed Nozomi for a thorough kiss that made their daughter giggle and Nozomi blush. “Don’t worry about it. Just have some breakfast.”

Now all of Nozomi’s alarms went off. “Elichi?”

Eli ducked her head. “Yazawa will be taking down her Sa …” Eli peeked over her shoulder at her daughter, “silly decorations.”

Nozomi frowned. “How did you get her to agree?”

“Like I said, you married a closer.”

“Eli, you know I will find out.”

Eli blinked. “Time for blini for your Momma, right, little bear?”

“Momma!”

Nozomi sighed. Maybe Maki would know. Or Eli’s paralegal was always good for intel.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS RIN

Hanayo pulled up outside Maki’s house. Rin’s car was still parked in Nico’s driveway. Hanayo marched up to Nico’s door, stuffed cat, flowers and ramen in hand. Maki had suggested expensive jewelry, but Hanayo knew Rin better. She rang Nico’s doorbell. She hadn’t texted Rin. For once, she didn’t know or care whether Nico was travelling or not. It had been the first night since college Rin hadn’t come home or called. Hanayo hadn’t realized an apartment could be that empty.

A dark-haired woman opened the door, frowning at Hanayo.

“I’m Dr. Koizumi; I’m here to see Rin.”

“Ah, she’s in the backyard, I think, teaching Cocoa some stretches. Nice to meet you, I’m Umi Sonada. You can just go around the house. Send Cocoa inside.”

Hanayo nodded. After Umi closed the door, Hanayo decided to leave everything on the doorstep. She wanted the first thing she did to be hugging Rin. So she ran around the side of the house with a speed that could rival her fiancée’s and surprised Rin in the middle of the Warrior Pose with a hug that nearly knocked her over.

“Kayochin?” Rin sputtered, swaying.

Hanayo pulled her tighter, kissing every inch of her face. Then she pulled back and stared into Rin’s green eyes. “Come with me. Now. I'm going to show you how much I missed you.”

“KAYOCHIN?!?”

Cocoa ran for the house. Her sister would be interested in this. Kotori intercepted her and made her sit down for breakfast instead of leading her siblings to the window.

“You’re coming home with me now.” Hanayo pulled Rin to her car.

“But don’t you have to work?”

“I took today off, remember?”

“But …”

YOU CAN COUNT ON UMI

Maki entered Cherry Blossom Heights. Tomorrow, Nico would be home. Tonight, they could actually talk once Nico’s concert was done, and then Maki could finally sleep, soundly, head to work the next morning and come home to Nico in the evening. Coming home to Nico. There was really nothing better Maki could think of at the moment.

She pulled into her driveway. Nico’s siblings were helping Umi pull down the Christmas lights. The Santa had already disappeared. Kotori seemed to be making Cotaro drink something warm out of a Thermos.

Maki stopped the car. Was Nico leaving? Did something happen to her? Were the Yazawas moving again? Where would they go?

Maki sprinted across her yard. “What happened?”

Umi removed the last of the second-floor lights, climbed down the ladder, handed them to Cocoro and said, “Take your brother and sister inside. Maki will help me finish.”

Cocoro nodded. “Can Maki have dinner with us?”

Umi turned to Maki. “You are very welcome. It would make Nico happy, I think.”

And what Maki picked up from the downcast tone of Umi’s voice was that there was cheering up needed. Why? But she would wait to ask Umi until the children were inside, so she smiled at Cocoro.

“Sounds like fun. Let me go home and get changed and I’ll be over in a half hour.”

“Yeah!” Cocoro ran to her siblings.

Umi and Maki watched Kotori herd three Yazawas into the house.

“Your friend won,” Umi said flatly.

“If she did anything to Nico, she’s not my friend.” Maki’s hands settled on her hips, and she turned to glare at Eli and Nozomi’s house, but not before she caught a nod of approval from Umi. “My lawyers said the guidelines weren’t enforceable.” Maki frowned. “I don’t know if I remembered to tell Nico.”

“Doesn’t matter. Ayase threatened Nico with a citation for public nuisance.”

“What?”

Umi glared in the same direction Maki had been staring. “Nico said it mentioned the video shoot and the number of unrelated persons staying in the house.”

“But you and Kotori are married.”

“She meant Tsubasa.”

“Really, Eli,” Maki muttered to herself. Nico was probably … Maki pulled on Umi’s arm. “How is Nico?”

Umi shook her head, “Quiet. Very quiet.”

Maki knew it would be too late to get a flight, and South Carolina was too far to drive to tonight. Nico’s concert was starting in an hour so she’d be in the middle of hair and makeup. Nico should have called her. When it happened. If Maki had just talked to Nico last night she wouldn’t have gone in so early and been home when Eli … ElI.

Maki started toward Eli’s house, anger driving her. She felt Umi pull her back.

“You have three dinner dates. Come inside,” Umi advised.

“But …”

Umi shook her head. “Yelling at Ayase in front of her wife and daughter won’t help Nico.”

A HOUSE THAT’S NOT A HOME

Someone else was taking care of yelling at Eli Ayase. Her wife.

Eli had come home a little earlier than usual. Nozomi was in the kitchen, prepping dinner.

“Who did you call in the favor from?” Nozomi’s question was sharp.

“A judge I know. And the district justice.” Eli didn’t bother asking Nozomi how she found out about the situation. Nozomi seemed to know things almost before they happened.

“You cited her for being a public nuisance, Eli?”

Eli shrugged, while Nozomi glared. “I don’t make the zoning laws. There are at least one too many people living in that house, and there’s no way she got a permit for the video mess. I got the citation post dated; it hasn’t been filed yet.”

“Did she even need a permit?” Nozomi asked.

Eli clenched a fist. “I am concerned about the neighborhood, random strangers, and my daughter.”

“If you were actually concerned about your daughter,” Nozomi’s voice was a whip, “You would spend time at home.”

“We are not having this conversation now,” Eli decided.

“We will not be having any conversation until you start resembling the Eli I married and not some legal robot.” Nozomi hurried up the stairs, Eli knew she was crying. But Eli had no idea what to do.

GROWNUPS CRUNCHING...HAPPILY?

Three people were now breakfasting in Maki Nishikino’s kitchen. None of them had cooked. Through gritted teeth and for love of Nico and friendship of Honoka, Maki had invited Tsubasa Kira to stay at her house. One less lever for Eli. And now, Tsubasa was at Maki’s table, eating Maki’s favorite cereal while Honoka stared at the singer like she was Honoka’s favorite cereal. Maki felt nauseated so she took her bowl of slightly healthier cereal into the living room to watch a cartoon or something.

Nico had been barely verbal last night. And Maki was still too new at Nico to know how to break the gloom. So she did what she could, telling Nico funny stories about her day and med school, getting a few chuckles and a promise that Nico would come over when she got home. Then Maki had sat down with a pen and paper and strategized. Two things needed to happen: Nico needed to be cheered up, and Eli needed to be shut down. Eli was mostly Nozomi’s difficulty, but the extra person in Nico’s house needed solving. Nico had been quite firm about not telling Tsubasa about Eli’s threat. Nico said it was even tougher for Tsubasa to get any privacy than her because of all the speculation about why A-RIse had split. So Maki had decided that Tsubasa was an issue she needed to fix and went back over to Nico’s house with a proposal that the singer stay with her. Honoka had nearly knocked the redhead down with a grateful hug as Tsubasa had been making plans to leave, Umi having told her the truth.

So Maki had a roommate. For only the second time ever. She and Hanayo had roomed together during college, but Maki liked Hanayo, who was quiet and polite and thoughtful. Tsubasa was underdressed and too fond of winking and … Maki crunched her cereal loudly and resentfully. Honoka flopped over the back of the couch.

“Maki!! I made three loaves of bread. Take ‘em to the office.”

Maki nodded. Then Tsubasa flopped over the couch on Maki’s other side. “What are we having for dinner, darling?” She winked at Maki.

“Nico,” Maki started …

“Really?” Tsubasa raised an eyebrow. Maki wanted to rip it off.

“I am having a late dinner with Nico. You can do whatever you want.”

“You don’t have any food that’s not bread.”

Maki snarled, “Find a grocery store.” She slammed her bowl onto the coffee table and stood, “I’m going to work.”

Honoka had slid next to Tsubasa, their arms intertwined in what seemed like a blink. “See you later, Boss.”

Maki nodded. She didn’t blame Honoka. Well, not for everything.

DECK THE WALLS

Maki had had her office manager find out which store had the best selection of outdoor Christmas decorations remaining. Then she stopped and bought them out of inflatable Santas, lights and anything else she thought would fit on her house. Then she ordered four pizzas to be delivered a half hour after Nico was scheduled to arrive home. Then she drove to her house, changed into jeans, green turtleneck, down vest and bobble hat and started unpacking her car. Hanayo had promised to bring Rin over as soon as she finished at the office. Maki decided the biggest Santa should probably go on the roof, but did she even have a ladder?

She heard the window next door open and turned to see Nozomi’s head poke out. “Do ya have a spare Santa for me, Maki?”

“You can pick your favorite,” Maki shouted back.

Maki had started sorting decorations into piles when she heard the Yazawa door open and a chorus of voices start.

“Maki’s decorating!” “Can we help?” “Santa!”

Maki smiled and waved the younger Yazawas over. Then she hit play on her phone, and Nico and Tsubasa’s voices started singing “This Christmas” from the speaker she’d set up on her steps.

Next step was the arrival of Nozomi and Mischa, Nozomi grinning broadly. “I was surprised you didn’t come over last night and yell at Eli.”

Maki looked to where Umi was thankfully carrying a ladder out of Nico’s garage. “I decide to listen to a cooler head.”

“Eli’s too cool these days,” Nozomi shook her head. “Unless it involves your girlfriend.”

“Momma! Look, a twinklestar,” Mischa had found a star the size of her head. Cocoa laughed and tried to help her make it into a hat.

“We just won’t plug in that star quite yet, little bear” Nozomi winked at Maki as she sorted through the boxes of inflatable Santas.

Umi placed the ladder carefully and prevented Cotaro from climbing it, sending him to ask Maki what she wanted on the roof. Maki handed him the biggest Santa. “Do we need a pump?”

“Kotori.” Cotaro pointed as the fawn-haired woman came out of the garage with a tool kit and a pump.

Umi came up to Maki, looking the redhead up and down. “Would you like me to hang the decorations that require a ladder?”

“Please. I’ll do the ones around the door.”

Umi nodded.

Nico’s flight had been late. Just another cheery Christmas surprise. Fortunately, she always figured a delay into the arrival time she would tell her family -- and now Maki, so they wouldn’t be worried or disappointed. Driver was quiet; Nico had left off the radio. After her confrontation with Eli, she was not in the mood to listen to Christmas music and then come home to a house stripped bare of decorations. Sure, she could decorate as “suggested” by Ayase’s stupid guidelines, but that would be giving the evil blonde Grinch a win, and while Nico understood that she could lose, she certainly wasn’t going to kowtow to stupid rules and stupider rulemakers. The move to Tennessee had been a good plan, a plan for calm time with her siblings, better schools, simple family things that she never got while she was travelling. And then there was the bonus girl next door. Not girl. Nico pictured Maki. Smart, strong, sexy woman. Wow. Sometimes Nico would just sit on the couch after she woke up, staring at Maki’s house, and think “Wow.” Maki was an even rarer bit of fortune than Nico’s Idol career. Not exactly like a fairy tale, but at least like an after midnight cheesy romantic movie. And Cocoro, Cocoa and Cotaro loved her, which was another bit of amazing. And Maki … Nico glanced up, the car was pulling into her driveway, and Maki’s yard was a buzzing hive of Yazawa activity, lights and decorations everywhere, a Santa half again the size of Nico’s bobbing on the roof, and the doctor herself … where was Maki? Movement caught Nico’s attention, and she watched as Maki tried to hop down the front stairs, entwined in a string of lights, Rin only getting in the way as she tried to help her friend.

Maki had no idea how she managed to get herself entangled in two strings of lights. Rin had given up helping and was rolling in the snow laughing at her feet when Nico stepped out of the car. Nico had bundled up in a black parka three quarters her size, oversized sunglasses covering most of her face. She just stared at Maki for a moment before taking out her phone and snapping pictures. Then she swept the sunglasses off and hurried over to help Rin up.

“Rin! You haven’t been here since I left, have you?” Nico sounded worried.

“Nah. Kayochin apologized about a million times, threw your stuff out and put up all my trophies instead.” Rin’s grin was infectious. “It’s been pretty awesome.”

Nico smiled.

“I’d better go warn her you’re here. She’ll probably be embarrassed. But Maki’ll take care of you.” And Rin helpfully pushed an already off-balance Maki in Nico’s direction. Maki stumbled and manage to only collide with Nico, not knock her over.

Nico wrapped her arms around the doctor. “You’re not nearly prickly enough for a Christmas tree, but I’ll swap you out for the one in my living room.”

Maki got one arm free and pulled Nico close enough to kiss. Emphatically. Several times. And then she heard Cocoa and Nozomi cheering and pushed back, ending up on the ground. Nico started laughing so hard there were tears. “If you keep this up, I might just marry you.”

“Okay.” Maki blushed but did not look away from Nico.

Nico stopped laughing, her eyes opening even wider, crimson sparking with more emotions than Maki could register. Then Cocoro ran up, hugging Nico. “We missed you.”

Nico winked at Maki, and mouthed “Later,” then pulled her sister in close. “I missed you, too.”

Maki shivered a little, snow seeping in from her contact with the ground, and suddenly feeling exposed in the middle of the crowd of people. Nozomi offered her a hand up. “You seem to be doing okay.”

Maki inhaled, brushing snow off her pants, ignoring Nozomi’s teasing.

“Thank you for the Santa. We have to go in for dinner.”

“I ordered enough pizza for a dozen people. You could join us.” Maki took back the star Mischa offered her.

Umi had finished with the second-floor lights and joined the conversation. “I could install the Santa for you, if you like, Nozomi. The ladder’s already out.”

Nozomi looked speculatively at Umi, standing in jeans, a form-fitting white thermal long-sleeve shirt and an open denim vest, seemingly impervious to the cold. “Tempting. But I’m going to ask my wife. I think Mischa would like to help her mommy make Santa feel welcome.”

“Good luck with that.” Nico’s tone was joking, for Mischa’s benefit, but her face was mirthless.

Nozomi shrugged. “Eli will come around. She might surprise you.”

“She’d have to,” Nico muttered.

“Have a good night.” Maki waved goodbye to Nozomi, then wrapped her arms around Nico’s waist and pulled her in for a hug. “The pizza should be here soon.”

“Are you sure you’re not a teenager?” Nico laughed.

Maki picked Nico up and twirled her around. “No.”

VISIT WITH A SEASICK CROCODILE

Roger had just said goodnight and have a happy holiday to Eli on his way out the door. Roger never went home. He’d gotten a divorce 18 months ago and just moved into his office. Eli was now the last one in the office. Roger had gone home. With a grin. Maybe he had a date. Or was going to see his son. Eli had kissed a sleeping Mischa before she left this morning, but there had been no family breakfast, no waking up with Nozomi in her arms, no call to remind her to eat lunch or text with a picture of Mischa’s cute hat decision for the day.

Eli stared at the picture on her desk. Nozomi, gleaming, holding their daughter and Eli with her arm around her wife, all her attention on her family. Where was that Eli? She shoved a pile of papers aside and stared at her laptop, considering which partner’s busywork to finish next. Maybe by the New Year’s Eve Party she’d have some news on her career prospects.

Phone buzzed; Alisa.

“Alisa?”

“Unlock the front door,” Alisa snapped.

What was Alisa doing downtown? Eli hurried, protective instincts kicking in. Alisa was bundled up against the cold, but Eli could see anger burning in blue eyes so similar to hers.

“What happened?” Eli was worried.

“What happened to you?”

“Nothing. I’m busy. Working.”

Alisa looked around. “Are we alone?”

Eli nodded.

Alisa drew herself up, her voice ringing with accusation. “Your wife is busy CRYING, you dummy. I called to talk to you and Nozomi tried to pretend she wasn’t upset but … What did you do?”

Eli shrugged. Alisa kept glaring. “I threatened Yazawa with a public nuisance citation.”

Alisa looked confused. “Why?”

“So she’d take the damn Santa down.” Eli knew tears were starting. “So she’d listen to me.”

“Eli.”

“I know, I know, it’s stupid and silly, but I wanted … I just wanted to …” Eli sank into the reception couch, hands over her eyes, feeling the tears flow.

Alisa sat next to her. “Go home to Nozomi, Eli. I’ll drive you.”

“But she doesn’t want to talk to me. And I have to …”

“What you have to do is see your wife. And take the weekend off. And then bring your wife and daughter to Mom and Pop’s house for Christmas dinner. We all miss you.” Alisa hugged her sister, feeling the older woman relax into her shoulder, sniffling.

“I’m sorry.”

“Tell that to Nozomi and Nico.”

Eli nodded into Alisa’s shoulder, grateful for her sister’s caring warmth.

THERE'S A FEELING OF CHRISTMAS

Maki was exhausted. Wrestling lights and decorations after a full day of work definitely qualified as a workout. They’d adjourned to the Yazawa HQ for dessert, so Maki was currently monopolizing Nico’s couch, half asleep, stretched out to her full height while everyone else bustled around the kitchen and the tree, deciding on cake, cookies or pie. Maki had maxed out on pizza and so had no real urges for something sweet, although she would occasionally glance over her shoulder to see what Nico was up to. Being the center of attention. Of course. But here, in Nico’s house, with her siblings around her clamoring for the black-haired woman’s attention, Maki could only smile and think how homey and cute the whole scene was. Umi had switched on Christmas music, and Kotori, changed out of snow clothes and into a long, hooded soft green sweatshirt dress, stood in front of Maki, offering her a mug.

“Nico says you mostly drink coffee. She didn’t think you’d want decaf,” Kotori winked.

“Thanks.” Maki continued her lean. “Did you want to sit?”

“Uh uh,” Kotori shook her head. “You look comfy. I’m going to help Umi get them herded into bed anyway.”

Maki nodded. Cocoro came up behind the couch, with a sugar cookie. “Want one, Maki?”

“Sure.” Maki decided to dip it in the coffee. Sweet had never really been her thing.

Umi stood next to Kotori. “Did you finish your presentation?”

“Tomorrow,” Cocoro stated matter of factly. “It’s on my schedule. Just like you showed us.”

Umi nodded her approval. Kotori giggled. “Don’t you think Umi will make a wonderful parent, Maki.”

Maki wasn’t sure what to say. And then Cocoro said what, from the look on Umi’s face, was the wrong thing. “OOOOO, Umi and Kotori are having a family.”

Maki heard a crash and Nico yelling ‘What?” Umi had paled and turned to Kotori. “Kotori?” Nico came tearing over the sofa. “What happened, Kotori. Did you finally convince her?”

Umi looked from Kotori to Nico to Cocoro to Kotori, starting to tremble as the blush rose and she rushed out the back door.

“Meh,” Kotori muttered.

Cocoro touched Nico’s shoulder. “Did I …”

Nico shook her head. “It’s okay. I’ll go talk to her.”

Maki decided to join the conversation. “She does know that having a family is a complicated process, right?” Maki glanced at Kotori. “Especially in your situation.”

Nico sighed. “No, I don’t think she does. She’s probably never actually thought about it.”

Kotori nodded in support of Nico’s comment.

Maki sat up and put on her doctor hat. “Do you want me to talk with her? About the options?”

Kotori made a distressed noise; Nico kissed Maki on the forehead. “Just get comfortable again, Doctor Maki. This is a friend for ten years thing.”

Umi had not climbed a tree or taken out her bow. She was perched on the fence at the back of Nico’s yard, kicking her feet. Nico had wrapped up in her parka but forgotten a hat or gloves, so she stuck her hands under her armpits to keep them warm.

“Umi?”

Umi wouldn’t meet Nico’s eye. “How long has Kotori been talking about a family?”

Nico hopped up on the fence. “Couple years.”

“Why didn’t she tell me?”

“She was scared. And worried you’d be scared.”

“I love Kotori,” Umi looked straight at Nico. “All I want is her happiness.”

“I know. She knows. Go talk to her. I’ll put the rest of them to bed.”

Umi hopped down and took a deep breath.

“If Maki offers to explain anything, just say no.”

Umi was puzzled. Nico just shook her head and said. “Trust me.”

Umi nodded. Nico stayed on the fence, kicking her feet and thinking about happiness, families and other people, other people being one particular person, Maki. Who suddenly appeared, with Nico’s hat. “You must be cold.”

“A little.”

“Umi looked calmer. Cocoro decided to shoo Cocoa and Cotaro upstairs.”

“Good.”

Maki leaned against the fence. “I like your siblings. They take care of each other. Your mom must be proud.”

“Do you want a family?”

Maki’s lavender eyes were bright, moonlight reflecting in them. “If it would be anything like yours, yes.”

“How’d you get so perfect?”

“Practice. And healthy cereal this morning,” Maki pouted. “Since Tsubasa stole my Cinnamon Krunchies.”

Nico snorted. “And how is the new roommate situation going?”

Maki groaned. “She steals my cereal, doesn’t wear a robe over her ‘pajamas’ and spends too much time in my living room.” Maki took Nico’s hand. “Can’t I have you for a roommate instead?”

Echoes of something not said filled an instantly very silent night. But before Maki could think too much about it, Nico leaned into her and when Maki turned, put both hands on the redhead’s cheeks and kissed Maki, hard and sudden. Then she jumped down. “You can fall asleep on my couch tonight, anyway.”

ALL I EVER WANT UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Nico stared at Maki, sprawled on her couch, debating one last time whether to wake her up for a quick goodbye. Why not let the Doctor sleep, Nico thought, it’s what a good roommate would do. Maki was nice and smart and hot but so used to holding herself back she didn’t even realize it was happening. And Nico didn’t want to be just a sprint in the shallow end of the dating pool. So Nico went into the morning with a sigh when she heard her car and driver pull up. And then more good news, she spotted the blonde hair of another neighborhood thrill.

“Yazawa.”

“Ass.”

Eli coughed and kicked the snow a little. “Do you have a minute?”

Nico stared at Eli, pointed at her car and said. “No.”

Eli continued, ignoring Nico’s response and going through her rehearsed speech as if Nico weren’t there. “I apologize. I completely overstepped any authority I might have had.”

“Yes, you did.” Nico opened the car door. “You upset my family with your complete jerkiness and Santa Killer killer moves. And I’m pretty sure threatening me with a postdated citation would qualify as harassment in a fair court.”

Eli shoved her hands in her pockets. “I am sorry for upsetting your family. That was low. I am also sorry for the things I assumed about you and harassing Maki for dating you.”

Nico stepped away from the door, confronting Eli. “You did what?”

Eli shrugged. “I just tried to make her aware of some of the cons of dating a celebrity.”

“I can’t believe you,” Nico snorted. “Just go away, Ayase. And stay away. I’ve had enough of all of you.”

And Nico slammed the car door, disappearing. And Eli wondered if maybe an apology had been the way to rid herself of the Idol all along. Then she worked on her contrite look before returning to her wife.

Maki woke up, cold. Quiet house and hard cold sunlight outside Nico’s open curtain, wool blanket on the floor. She shivered and grabbed her phone. 8 a.m. A mug stood on the coffee table, weighting down a note.

Morning Maki!

Couldn’t wait, didn’t want to wake you. Have a good Christmas at your parents; see you sometime after the holiday.

<3 Nico

P.S. Hotpot full of coffee in the kitchen if you need it.

Maki yawned and wondered at the tone of the note. Maybe Nico had woken up late and been in a rush. She’d text her later to make sure the interview in Nashville had gone well. But now, time to sneak out and get ready for the drive to her parents. She was heading there a day earlier than usual, with Nico out of town and no desire to talk to Eli.

LOVE YOU MADLY

It had been a calm afternoon. Maki had spent some time playing the piano, taken a nap and was ready for the rigors of a family dinner. She’d been too busy since Thanksgiving to drive up, and she’d been ignoring her mother’s calls. So there would be questions. What she didn’t realize -- and should have from past experience -- was that her mother had other sources of information.

Seated at the dining room table, her mother waited until Maki took her first bite of halibut before starting the interrogation. “So Hanayo tells me you have a new neighbor, a singer.”

Maki didn’t choke. But she did draw out the swallowing process. She nodded in her mother’s direction. “Nico Yazawa. She’s very busy. Lots of concerts this time of year.”

“Hanayo said she met her,” Maki’s mother’s tone judged her who-to-introduce-the-new-neighbor-to choices harshly.

“Nico went to their holiday party. As …” Maki hesitated, “a favor. Hanayo’s been a fan since high school.”

“That was nice of her.” Maki’s mother smiled.

Maki nodded and started eating her food as quickly as possible. If … or when she and Nico got married, she’d have to be sure to tell Nico not to take her mother’s calls. Maki froze. Married. Wife, not roommate. Maki knew there was sometimes a question in Nico’s eyes, a doubt …

“Oh.” Maki put her fork down, Nico’s change of tone making complete sense now.

“What’s wrong?” Maki’s father joined the conversation.

Maki stood. “Nothing. I have to go …” She wondered if there were jewelry stores open this time of night. It was only 7 and two days before Christmas. Surely there were other idiots in a panic.

“Maki!” Her mother’s voice snapped.

Maki looked directly at her mother. “Yes, you will have to meet Nico. Soon. And see her often, I hope. But now I have to go.” Or none of that would happen. Maki had never been good at not taking situations to their worst case, disaster scenario, apocalyptic ends.

UP ON A ROOFTOP -- AGAIN -- MAYBE

Umi had reluctantly agreed to leave the ladder out for Maki, probably prodded by Kotori, who had been kind enough to find out Nico’s ring size. And Maki’s parents had stopped asking questions once they decided they would just drive down tomorrow, Christmas Eve, for dinner at Maki’s, with the Yazawas. So Maki was headed back to Cherry Blossom Heights, plan in mind, ring in coat pocket, along with a small piece of holiday decoration she’d lifted from her parents’ foyer.

Umi had left the ladder, with detailed instructions on how to open and climb it taped to the top step. Maki shook her head. She knew how to use a ladder. Anybody knew how to use a ladder. There was supposed to be snow later in the evening, after midnight. Maybe if there were enough, her parents would be snowed in at Lexington. Maki had dragged over lights and two inflatable Santas. She should have about two hours before Nico was supposed to be home. The interview had gone well, Nico had texted.

Maki tried to remember what Umi had done with the Santa. Inflated it and then put it on the roof or put it on the roof and then inflated it. Umi was probably still up, but Maki was certainly not going to ask. If she needed them, there would surely be instructions somewhere. She remembered Eli strangling the Santa and decided to inflate first. Plug pump into Santa, plug in pump, wish regretfully that you’d brought noise-blocking headphones with you: Santa on the roof, the Maki plan.

Santa was nearly fully inflated when Maki got down to detangle the pump and figure out where to put the ties. And then she heard her,

“Trepassing, Nishikino. I could probably get you for breaking and entering when you fall through my roof in ten minutes or so,” Nico’s voice cut through the air, serious. “Local jail cells aren’t bad, though.”

Maki whirled, but managed to get caught in something Santa related, which just caused the jolly old vagrant to appear to be climbing up her back. “You’re not supposed to be home for two hours.”

“You might have a broken leg by then.” Nico sighed and tried to untangle the Santa. “I always add extra travel time, and after Umi texted me, we started speeding.”

“Oh.”

“What are you doing?”

“Cheering you up.”

“By endangering your life?”

“No.” Maki grabbed the Santa and headed to the ladder, embarrassed.

Nico grabbed Maki’s wrist. “My siblings aren’t this difficult. And they listen me. Aren’t you supposed to be at your parents?”

Nico had Maki’s wrist, but the Santa was bobbing back and forth between them, Maki not being able to keep a grip on it.

“Maki.”

“I’m putting the Santa on the roof.”

Nico stared, then suddenly ripped the Santa out of Maki’s arms and started climbing the ladder, with the inflatable three times her size making it nearly impossible. Maki would have laughed, but she was too far gone into stubborn and grabbed the Santa.

Before she could adjust, Maki was lying in the snow, Nico was on top of her and the Santa was off to the side, leering at her incompetence.

“AAARRRGHHH.” Maki reverse punched the ground.

Nico sat up, brushing snow off her black fisherman’s sweater, “Nice.”

Maki sat up, frustrated, shoved her hands in her vest pocket and felt the ring box. Ring box. Now she knew what the look on the Santa’s face was: “Idiot.” She tightened her hand around the box, pulled it out of her pocket, turned Nico’s hand over and placed the box very carefully atop Nico’s mittened palm. Crimson eyes went wide, and Maki forced herself not to look away, “I don’t want a roommate, you can do anything you want to my kitchen, I’m putting up the Santa next year, you and your siblings have to meet my parents tomorrow and …” Maki swallowed, “I love you, Nico. Marry me, soon.”

Nico kept staring. Maki leaned in even closer, praying for some small gift of dexterity, and managed to open the box while still focusing on Nico. She took the ring in her hands and slid off Nico’s left mitten.

Nico pulled back. Maki stopped breathing.

“I had a plan,” The redhead said sadly. “I even got mistletoe.”

Nico’s laugh suddenly echoed everywhere. “You also pout more than my siblings, Neighbor Maki.”

“Don’t call me that.” Maki’s voice didn’t have any fight in it. And the ring was cutting into her palm inside her clenched fist.

Nico’s voice was crisp. “Nobody is allowed to do anything to your kitchen.”

Hope and breath returned and Maki’s heart rate accelerated. Nico stood and pulled Maki off the ground. “Try again.”

Maki nodded, lavender eyes wide, took Nico’s hand and slid the platinum and ruby ring on it. “Marry me?”

Nico’s kiss was better than any words, deep and full and playful. Maki knew she would always remember this feeling, the acceptance, the warmth and the weight of Nico’s passion forcing away the cold, breaking the solitude, meeting Maki’s desire with a steadiness that held so much promise and affection. It was a forever moment, and Maki pressed as far into it as she could, lips and arms locked on Nico, Nico’s arms pulling her even closer. Then suddenly Nico started shivering, and Maki swept her up into a bridal hold.

“Maki!?!”

Maki’s grin was devilish. “We need to get inside and hang the mistletoe so I can properly warm you up.”

“Now you remember.”

Maki kissed Nico. “I love you.”

“I love you.”

“Good.”

POSTSCRIPT

There had been a New Year’s Day snowfall, and Eli would have to drag out the snowblower again. But she didn’t care. What she had just seen while grabbing the mail would lift her mood for the rest of winter.

Nozomi was putting breakfast on the table when Eli came into the house, whistling cheerily.

“You know, Nozomi, I’m starting to like the Santa on the roof. It’s so cheerful. We can put one up again next year.”

Nozomi smiled. Eli had been spending more time at home and had actually almost been relaxed recently. And it seemed like Eli had had some good news.

“Something in the mail, Elichi?” Nozomi put half a muffin on Mischa’s plate.

“Just the usual.” Eli pulled Nozomi into a hug. “But there is a moving van at the Yazawas. Not that I wasn’t getting used to them, but I have to admit I’ll be a little relieved when they’ve moved out of the neighborhood.”

Nozomi bit back a giggle. Eli was in such a good mood, she was reluctant to explain to Eli that now that Maki and Nico were married and Nico’s mother was back overseas after her holiday week, all the Yazawas were moving into Maki’s house and Kotori was redecorating. Actually, Nozomi couldn’t remember if she’d even told Eli about the couple’s day-after-Christmas wedding.

Smiling, Eli sat down at the table and opened the front page of the paper, taking a sip of her coffee. It was her Saturday morning ritual, and Nozomi laughed as their daughter pulled down the newspaper with a spoon to blow a kiss at her mother. Maybe the neighbor’s news could wait for another morning.

#love live #nicomaki #nozoeli #rinpana #kotoumi #tsubohono #fanfic #Yazawa Nico #Nishikino Maki #Christmas

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