#couging fire

[yume-tsuki]

Sketch requests from June 24 I feel better after my cold. I'm still coughing but it's not as bad as the whole week. @laladyloopsy PercyxNasiens <3 I hope you like it For Anon1 Gouging Fire, I hope you like it as well. i totally loved to draw it. For Anon2 Archaludon; I wanted to draw it more cool but it was to difficult @-@ sry I tryed it a few times~~ but I hope you like this idea of a giant walking bridge who walks through the ocean...maybe I try it in future again~~ I actual love to draw buildings, but it doesn't wanted to look good... all the others are from twitter and insta or my own ideas picture 1 Escanor TristanxLancelot Nerobasta Dalia xOC Galahad xCassiopeia Galahad is so sleepy that Constantine gives him a hug TiorehxOC picture2 Percival adult (training to draw his hair for 6 chara challenge) Lohengrin both together Nasiens and Percival <3 Liz Nasiens and Kardeis Zeldris and Gelda with Percy and Bedivere (When we went to airport I saw 2 brothers, around the same age as I drew them, with cloths on were little monsters were on it who totally looked like Albions. It was so cute <3 picture3 Belte Percy with Anne and Nasiens. Both with their children, Lohengrin on Percy's lap and Clover and Kardeis with their parent Nasiens. DonnyxAnne<3 Sixtus as fairyking

picture4 Couging Fire attacks in the wild Achaludon walks through the night (>.< one day I draw you again!!!!!)

[lukehughes43]

no time for goodbyes - luke hughes

word count: 4,282

a/n: so this is technically the first installment of the coug!read x luke seeing as I still haven't finished the other fic, or even started the fic that is the beginning of coug!luke. but I was in my feels last night, so please enjoy this heart wrenching fic🫶🏼

-

the night had started to wind down for everyone in the sophomore house the minute you had gotten back from student teaching. the boys being exhausted from a monday afternoon practice, and you being exhausted from chasing around six-year-olds for eight hours straight. when your five sophomore hockey players walked through the front door a little after four o’clock they found you passed out on the couch, still dressed in your blue and white checkered and a plain white tee. luke was in charge of carrying you up the stairs to your room so mark and eddy’s disaster of cooking dinner wouldn’t wake you from a much-needed rest.

you woke up an hour or so later by lightly shaking you awake. mumbling a soft, “marky and eddy made dinner for us, coug.” to which immediately woke you up based on the fact the last time mark and eddy tried making dinner you almost no longer had a house due a kitchen fire. you stumbled around the practically empty bedroom, minus the boxes stacked up in the corners, before groggily booking it down the stairs to make sure everyone was still alive.

when you ran into the kitchen and dining room area the other four were seated around the dining table in their unofficial seats, smiles on their faces waiting for you to finally join them in order to have one of the last meals together as a found family. after practice tomorrow they were departing to the airport right from yost in order to get on the plane to tampa. meaning that this was it. this was the last meal with all five of them together as once michigan was done so was luke. he was to board a plane straight from tampa to newark and the last two years at michigan would officially be in the books for the youngest hughes brother. leaving you in a house full of four other hockey boys until it was your turn to join luke in jersey after april 28th: graduation day.

“you guys made family dinner,” you smiled as the bittersweet words left your mouth. not yet wanting to believe that this was the end of the cherry on top of your time at michigan. “and you didn’t even burn the house down. i’m so proud of you.”

there was a chorus of laughter that filled your ears before luke pulled your seat out for you. once he pushed you in all the way he took his seat to the left of you, sitting so he was for the last time eating a meal between two of his favorite people - you and dylan. the conversation between bites of the steak, mashed potatoes, and caesar salad was almost nonexistent. everyone in an unspoken agreement to just sit there and soak it all in. of course small talk was eventually made as mackie made you a glass of wine, claiming that it was well deserved even though it was only monday. he knew how hard you were taking everything, you may not have told him directly, but he knew. all of the boys knew. while this was luke’s last week of college hockey, it was also the last week everything would be semi-normal regarding your relationship. the nhl and the demanding schedule an obvious looming fear to both of you.

the conversation died out after hearing how practice went and the six year olds who had crushes on you found out you would be leaving them soon. and soon one by one all of you dismissed yourself from the table. mark being first, trying to get out of dish duty. eddy followed second, taking everyone’s dishes as he went. dylan sprinted away afterwards as if filming a monday questions video. leaving mackie, youself, and luke. you were the next to fall, not wanting to be, but ultimately knowing you had too much to do in order to prepare for missing all of your classes thursday and friday in order to be in tampa. your left hand squeezed luke’s right, as your right hand ran over the discolored wooden table. “‘ve gotta head up, lukey,” you whispered over to him. a sad smile taking over your face while you stared at him as you tried to read the expression on his face. praying his blue eyes would give you a little insight into what he was thinking. he hummed before turning to look at you. “get out of my work clothes, shower,” you then explained. “go through your bags to make sure you have everything.”

the last part earned a laugh from mackie seeing as he had done the same for both mark and eddy. duker being too stubborn not allowing anyone to double check for him. “goodnight y/n/n, see you tomorrow?” mackie asked with a hopeful smile.

shaking your head you frowned, “i’ve got school.” instantly the rain cloud that had a hold over the room became even heavier at your words. “i won’t see you guys until thursday. i’m in the middle of teaching during the send-off, and since i’m already missing thursday and friday…” you trailed off at the end, not having the heart to speak anymore. too afraid that you would break down in the middle of the dining room if you did.

“i get it,” mackie answered with a sweet smile. “we’ll see you thursday, mom.”

nodding your head you turned your attention back to your boyfriend. “i’ll be up soon, cougy,” he mumbled, eyes meeting your for a split second before he looked back at the table. the use of ‘cougy’ instead of ‘coug’ was what tipped you off to what was going on inside of his head. he was reaching his emotional breaking point.

“okay, lu.” he leaned down and pressed a kiss against the top of his curls before turning to look back at mackie, “night macks. take care of everyone for me until thursday, yeah?” he gave you a final salute and that’s when you started your terk upstairs to the empty bedroom once more. it made your heart heavy to walk into a room that was normally so full of life, reflecting yours and luke’s personalities, packed away into boxes like it had been since the end of the big ten tournament. between preparing for regionals, classes, and student teaching luke and you were busy packing up your lives at the mere fact that his season could’ve ended two weeks ago meaning you had to be prepared in case that was to happen.

you let out a deep sigh and walked into the empty room, slowly closing the door behind you so nobody could hear as your walls came crashing down faster than you could piece them together. the shower was where you choose to break down for the night. already knowing that luke would leave you to yourself once he came into the room since he had showered at yost after practice, and knew you needed this time to decompress. so that’s exactly what you did. you sat under the scolding hot water letting the tears stream down your face as you silently sobbed over your college life that was coming to an end. over this being luke’s last week as a michigan wolverine. at how after his nhl debut you wouldn’t see him again until graduation, something you needed to bring up to him and talk about as the devils would be in the playoffs and there was no way you’d let him miss anything hockey related just to watch you walk across a stage.

when you finally got out of your depression shower, luke was already camped out in your bed. the comforter was pooled around his waist, his bare chest on full display for you. just waiting for you to climb in next to him. “how was your shower, coug?” his voice was tight as he asked the question, and you wondered if this was when it finally happened. if this was the moment luke finally allowed himself to come to terms with the whirlwind of emotions he was currently experiencing.

“it was nice,” you answered honestly. “helped me clear my mind.” right away you knew luke would understand what you were getting about. slightly hoping that he would take it as a subtle hint that he too could confess everything he was going through to you. instead, all you got back from him was a small hum of acknowledgment, eyes downcast on his phone screen. after changing into your pajamas which consisted of luke’s boxers and a worn-out ntdp t-shirt, you crawled into bed next to him. arms immediately wrapping around his torso, head falling against his chest. “i never got around to looking through your bag to make sure you have everything,” you said to break the silence of the room. “i’m not that worried though,” you added on, “i mean everything you needed was the only things you could pack. you just have to remember your chargers in the morning before you go to practice. i can text you in the morning to remind you if you want.”

when luke didn’t answer you thought maybe he had fallen asleep. it wouldn’t have been the first time the worn out hockey player fell asleep while in the middle of a conversation with you. only that wasn’t the case this time. you could feel from underneath its resting place as his heart rate began to increase. his breathing beginning to follow in it’s footsteps. “hey lukey, baby, we gotta sit up. can you sit up for me?” you asked, already knowing what was about to happen. luke was on the verge of a panic attack, everything hitting him all at once. the packed boxes. the final practice at yost is tomorrow. an elc in his future.

“‘m okay,” he choked out between ragged breaths. “just, just stay here. just lay here.” you knew he was referring to you staying situated on his chest, feeling the safest when he had you cuddled up on top of him.

shaking your head you propped yourself up instantly. throwing your legs on either side of his waist in order to straddle his lap. “no, no luke i need you to sit up for me. okay? can you do that for me, baby?” you asked while staring down at him. his eyes were screwed shut, knowing that if he had them open you would be able to see how red and puffy they were. his final moments of sitting at the kitchen table after family dinner ended causing everything to hit him like a freight truck. “luke, i’ve got you,” you whispered, hands cupping his cheeks, “but i need, you have to sit up for me. please.” you were disparately pulling him into a sitting position, letting his head fall against your chest. his arms wrapping around your waist in a bone-crushing hug. “i’ve got you. i have you, lukey. it’s okay. i’m right here. you’re safe. just, just get it out. deep breathes.” your words were muttered into the top of his curls, as you soothingly ran a hand up and down his back. the other laced in the curls at the nape of his neck. “i love you. i’m here. you’re okay. i’ve got you, lukey.”

“i- i, i start playing in the nhl as soon as saturday,” he finally spoke. voice cracking as he did so, his breathing slowly coming back to a normal rhythm. “tomorrow… tomorrow’s my last ever practice at yost. tonight was the last family dinner.” you could feel your own heart breaking all over again at his words. shattering even more so as you knew there was nothing you could say or do to make things better. “our fucking bedroom has been packed up to leave for two weeks!” his hold on you got tighter with each realization. your presence being enough to ground him in this instance for him to get all of his emotions out before it was too late. “cougy, this is it. it’s my final week of college hockey.” it took all the strength in his body to force his head up to look at you. his blue eyes as clear as glass due to the tears that were pouring down his cheeks. “my final week of seeing you every single day until i retire, which will be what? like ten-fifteen years from now?”

you squeezed your eyes shut in order to prevent the tears from slipping out. forehead dipping down to rest against his, “it’ll be okay, lukey. we’re going to make this work. you have to take the good and the bad. that’s what you’ve been telling me since january right?” just barely his forehead moved against yours in a nodding motion. “plus it’s me and you, honey. me and you no matter what.”

“you and me,” he whispered against your lips. you could taste the salt from his tears that were staining his cracked lips with every word he spoke. “but coug, i just. this is it. it’s over. and, and i don’t even get to say goodbye to you tomorrow. you’ll be gone before i wake up, and i won’t see you until thursday. and - and if we lose it’ll be for nothing.”

“it won’t be for nothing, luke warren,” you corrected with a pointed look. “everything you’ve done, everything i’ve chosen to do in order to watch you play this year has not been for nothing, luke. i do it because i love you. because there is nobody out there more proud of you than me,” you confessed with a small smile, “just don’t tell your parents i said that.” your little jab jim and ellen caused a small smile to grace luke’s face as well. “if you lose on thursday, which you’re not going too, then we get on a plane and we go to jersey. you get on the team plane and go to boston, and i’ll fly out with your parents. we’ll be there for you first ever fucking nhl game, and i’ll be there standing and waiting for you. tears streaming down my face just like after you scored your hat trick. you know why?”

he shook his head, “no. why?”

“becuase i love you,” you answered. “because the last three years of my life have been the best years of my life because i’ve spent them loving you. officially i mean. but what you’re feeling right now luke? it’s normal. it’s healthy. it means that we have met some incredible people who we are so lucky to have in our lives. people that are always going to be there for us, no matter what happens in the future.”

he let out a shaky breathe while he let his eyes meet yours once more. “you graduate college in twenty-five days. and then you’re mine. in jersey, and everything will be okay again. i’ll be there to watch you walk across the stage, and then we’re together, never apart again.”

your heart was in your throat at his words, knowing that there was no better time to bring this up than right now. “about graduation, lu, you’re going to be in the playoffs. as much as i want you there, you can’t be if you have something hockey related. especially if you have a game scheduled for it.” the way his arms loosened around your waist is how you knew you struck a nerve within the nineteen-year-old. “i just! having our parents there will be enough for me. and as soon as the ceremony ends we can have a devils watch party at your house! cheering on my favorite boy, and my best friend.”

luke’s face hardened with every passing second. not at all thrilled by what you had said. “i’m not missing your college graduation, y/n,” he grumbled, clearly frustrated by the fact you had suggested such an outrageous thing. “you realize you’re the only one of us whose’s going to graduate college and have a degree, right?” by that you knew he was referring to quinn, jack, himself and you. the four of you being thick as thieves since you grew up next to each other. you and jack have been best friends since your shared birthday, as well as the fact your mothers were best friends. “how could i miss that? miss the love of my life getting her degree that she’s worked her ass off for the past four years to get it? no, absolutely not. i’m coming to graduation on the twenty-eighth. game or no game. end of discussion.”

it was no secret to either of you that you had more to say on the topic, but you knew when luke was set on something he was going to do it so you dropped it. “okay, you’re coming to graduation. but as soon as it’s over we’re getting on the first flight newark, got it?”

“got it, coug,” he agreed with a smile growing on his face. his head dropped back to rest against your chest once more. his tears pooling into the already wet fabric. “do you think i - i mean, do you think we can do it this week. win the natty? push my rookie game back until the eleventh?”

“of course i think you can do it, moosey,” you answered with nothing but certainty. “there’s nothing you guys can’t do. you know that.”

he let out the breath that he was holding in. nuzzling his head further into the cotton fabric that smelled just like you. “i’m sorry i acted like the world was falling apart tonight. it’s just, i never thought we’d actually get to this point,” luke confided in you. “it always seemed so far away, like we’d never actually make it to this day. but now it’s here, and i feel like there’s still so much i haven’t done with the guys. so much i haven’t done with you, coug.”

you dropped your head to rest against his fluffy curls, taking a deep breath in to smell his shampoo and conditioner. “don’t apologize my sweet boy,” you cooed, kissing the top of his head. “i mean i just broke down in the shower before you got in here. it’s okay, i promise you. it’s a little scary, yes, but you have nothing to regret, lukey. you have left such an incredible impact on everyone here and mich, and you’re going to be so fucking missed. fuck, i’m going to miss you those two weeks before i get to see you at graduation.”

“don’t remind me about that,” he groaned, head diving forward so you were now laying on your back and he was on top of you. a squeal left your mouth from the action, cradling his head closer to your chest. “those two weeks are literally going to be hell, cougy. we’ve never been apart for that long before.” humming you ran your hands through his hair. trying to find the right words in order to try and calm his nerves about it. “are you going to be able to survive without me for that long, y/n/n?”

“god no, lukey. how am i supposed to fall asleep in an empty room with you not here to hold me?”

you could feel the frown form on his face through the t-shirt. “i’ll call you every single night. make sure that you get to sleep. no matter how much jack chirps me, i don’t care. and if, you know, the depression gets a little too much in those two weeks, just go climb into bed with duker. or make a bed in mackie’s room.”

a cold shiver ran through your body at the thought of you sleeping in the same bed as dylan. of course, it’s something you’d done before with him being your college best friend. sometimes it was because he needed to comfort of someone other than his boys, someone who would actually listen to what he was feeling and try and help him through it. other times it would be because luke was busy and you were on the verge of crumbling apart. it was in those times dylan would make it a mandate you slept in his room where he could keep an eye on you before luke got home. in fact, you’ve slept in every room of the sophomore house. taking turns making sure your college children weren’t sad or just being there in case they needed the gentle loving that only you could offer them. “ew absolutely not!” you laughed. luke’s head tilting up to look at you with a smile. “i don’t want to step foot in that room. we don’t know what goes on in there anymore. it’s definitely highly unsanitary.”

a chuckle fell past luke’s lips before he rested his head in the crook of your neck. his breath fanning against your skin, lips just barely grazing the skin there. “you could always have him sleep in here.”

you shrugged your shoulders. “i was thinking about just going home,” you mumbled, almost as if you were scared to admit that you wanted to spend the last two weeks of your college career in either yours or luke’s childhood bedroom. “i love the boys, and i love being here. but i just, i feel like it might be better for me to stay at home. i mean i’ll have your parents, my parents. being here just won’t be the same without you, lukey.”

the sudden confession you had just made was pulling on luke’s heartstrings. “would you drive to school and teaching?” you nodded your head ever so slightly, eyes growing heavy with each passing second. the physical and emotional exhaustion finally hitting you once more. “you could always take my car too if you wanted. just so you’re not constantly using your own.”

yawning you smiled, “i was already planning on it, lukey.” your eyes were closed when luke looked back up at you, and he could feel as your breathing began to even out from underneath him. “i love you, luke.”

multiple kisses were pressed against the skin of your neck and jaw, pulling a smile on the corners of your lips. “i love you too, y/n/n. get some sleep, okay, cougy? i’ll be here when you wake up tomorrow.” and with that you drifted off to sleep for the final time in a full sophomore house.

when you woke up in the morning to the sound of your alarm part of you was confused as to how your phone got in the room seeing you don’t remember ever grabbing it off the coffee table after your post-school nap. only to remember that luke thought of everything when it came to you and without a doubt brought it up when he came up from dinner. reluctantly you carefully slid yourself out from under the dead weight that was luke’s sleeping body in order to get ready. grabbing a throw blanket you carefully tucked him in, allowing him the chance to sleep in until his own alarm went off to start his day.

getting ready you were stuck in a whirlwind of emotions as you remembered you wouldn’t see any of the boys until thursday morning, having chosen to surprise them by flying out wednesday night rather than thursday morning like you originally told them all. once dressed and ready to make your way to the elementary school you were student teaching at you sat down at your desk, slipping on your cartier ring luke had gifted you along with the necklace that adorned his favorite nickname. your attention then turned to the post-it note stack, maize yellow of course. grabbing the navy blue pen you had resting beside it you scribbled out two final notes for your boyfriend and the boys you considered your children.

lukey, i love you so incredibly much i’ll see you on thursday. you’re going to do amazing this week, take it all in. text me when your boarding and when you land. i’ll meet you in tampa, moosey. me and you, sweet boy. - coug<3

after writing both notes you stuck luke’s against his phone he had plugged in on his bed side table. running back to press a kiss against his cheek. a smile pulling on his feature even though he was sleeping. “i love you, lukey,” you then whispered into his ear. kissing the top of his head one last time before you carefully slipped out of your bedroom. the next and final stop in the early morning hours of the house was the front door. you were frozen as you stood there waiting to walk out, knowing if you didn’t leave now you would be late to school after running to starbucks. so you forced yourself to put the final note up on the door.

to my hughes wedding bridal party, make sure you have absolutely everything- CHARGERS!!! now that thats out of the way, know that win or lose i’m always going to be proud of you guys. thank you for the past year, there’s nobody else i would want to life willingly with. i’ll see you in tampa! love you guys. - coug… aka mom<3

you stared at the note for a minute longer than what was necessary, tearing beginning to well in your eyes before you forced yourself to open the front door. taking a deep breath you pulled it closed behind you, as well as closing the door on the last four years of life.

[whumpdoyoumean]

Whumptober #13

xxx multiple whumpees

Jensen's lungs are burning. Muscles he didn't even know he had are aching, and he's pretty sure he's never sweat so much in his life. Every part of his body is begging for a break, just a few minutes of rest and then he can keep going. But he knows that if he stops, if he puts down Clay for even a second, there's no way he'll be able to continue. And then Clay will die out here. So he presses onward.

He has no idea how much time has passed, or how many miles. Somewhere along the way, he lost track of everything except placing one foot in front of the other. He's still so focused on maintaining his forward momentum that he doesn't even feel relief when base camp come into view, just keeps moving.

"Holy shit." A soldier sitting outside the nearest tent stands as Jensen approaches.

"He needs help," Jensen grunts. The soldier shouts for a medic, and a second later there's a flurry of activity as people swarm Jensen.

"You alright, soldier?" someone asks as they take Clay from off his back and get him onto a stretcher.

"I'm fine," Jensen says breathlessly. "Just take care of him."

He watches as they whisk Clay away. The exhaustion hits a second later, and he's on his ass in the dust before he even knows he's moving.

"Jensen!" Pooch bursts from one of the tents, Cougar on his heels. "Hey, you good?"

Jensen just nods.

"Drink," Cougar commands, pushing a canteen into Jensen's hands. Jensen takes it gratefully, gulping down water, not caring when some of it spills down his chin. He's pretty sure he's never tasted anything as wonderful as this in his whole life.

"We thought you guys were dead." Pooch's voice is shaky. "How'd you make it back?"

Jensen takes another drink of water before answering. "Walked."

Cougar lets out a low whistle as Pooch gawks.

"You carried the colonel all the way here?"

Jensen nods again. "How're you guys? Roque?"

"Cougs and I are good. Cougar got a few stitches. Roque's concussed, he's sleeping right now but he'll be fine...You should probably get checked out, too."

Jensen shakes his head. "Naw, I'm fine, Pooch." He holds his hands up, and even lifting his arms makes them ache. "Help me up."

Cougar and Pooch each take one of Jensen's arms and they pull him to his feet. Every muscle in his body screams in complaint, and he grits his teeth against the pain. The guys don't let go once Jensen is upright, which is nice because he's pretty sure that without their help he would just lay down and sleep right here.

"You sure you're good, J?" Pooch asks.

"Pooch, lay off. I just need some sleep."

Now that Clay is in the hands of the medics, it's harder to get his body to obey him and his footsteps are clumsy as they make their way to Jensen's bunk. When they get to his cot, he collapses onto it with a long sigh. The mattress is thin and the tent is hot and stuffy, but Jensen couldn't really give a shit.

"We'll let you know once there's an update on Clay," Pooch says.

Jensen is already asleep.

xxx

"Jensen?"

Somewhere in the hazy space between asleep and not, Jensen is distantly aware of someone touching him, of a hand gripping his shoulder and giving it a shake. He starts moving toward consciousness and regrets it almost immediately. He feels like he's on fire; he's too hot and every muscle in his body burns. A hand pushes his hair back, then lays flat against his forehead. The skin is blessedly cool and Jensen almost whines when it withdraws.

"Jensen, porfa. Open your eyes, parcero."

He does, because it's Cougar asking. The sniper is staring at him with wide eyes, his eyebrows pinched and his lips pursed with worry.

"Cougs," he says. The name scrapes against his throat. "What...what's goin' on?"

He closes his eyes again and a second later, he feels himself being lifted off the cot, slung over Cougar's shoulders, just like Jensen had done with Clay.

"I have you, Jensen," Cougar says. He sounds far-off again. Consciousness is slipping away from Jensen and he can't hold onto it. Cougar's voice is the last thing he hears before the black overtakes him.

"I have you."

xxx

Jensen wakes up in a room that's far too quiet and air conditioned to be a field hospital. If he was transferred here, that means he must've been in pretty bad shape. Which doesn't make sense, because he wasn't injured in the ambush. He feels like he was, a dull ache throbbing through his whole body.

"Hey, soldier."

Jensen turns, a little confused when he sees Clay sitting up in the bed next to him. There's a bandage wrapped around his head and his arm is in a sling, but he smiles when Jensen looks over at him.

"Colonel! You're okay?"

"A little banged up, but yeah, I'm okay."

Jensen shifts a little, then hisses as the movement tugs at an IV in the back of his hand. He frowns down at it, is about to poke it when Clay makes a disapproving noise.

"Leave it alone."

Jensen scowls, but does as he's told. He looks back over at Clay.

"Why am I here?" He vaguely remembers going to sleep after making it back to base, but everything after that is a blur.

"Cougar went to tell you that I was gonna be moved here, and you're damn lucky he did. You were in the early stages of kidney failure when he found you."

Jensen feels the blood drain from his face. "I – what?"

"Yeah, it was...what did the doctor call it? Rhabdo-something."

"Rhabdomyolysis?" Jensen's voice is a little strained when he said it; if there was any color still in his cheeks he's sure it's gone now.

"Yeah, that's it. How'd you know that?"

"My sister was in nursing school when I went into Basic. She wrote me at least three letters reminding me to stay hydrated because apparently she'd heard some statistic that people in boot camp are more likely to get it." He groans, leaning his head back against the pillows. "She's gonna kill me when she finds out."

"Yeah, that's if you survive Pooch and Cougar," Clay says, smirking a little.

Jensen winces. "I maybe should've listened to Pooch."

"Yeah, you think? You scared the hell out of 'em."

Jensen squirms a little as an image of a panicked-looking Cougar desperately saying his name flashes across his mind. He doesn't know if it's a memory, or if it's just his brain conjuring up images of what may have been. Either way, it makes a feeling of guilt settle in his gut.

"Sorry."

"It's not me you need to apologize to," Clay says. His expression softens a little. "You saved my ass out there, Jensen. Thank you."

Jensen shrugs. "Yeah, well. Someone had to do it."

xxx

[roamwithahungryheart]

Daisy Jones & The Six - An Honest Review

As an avid follower of Reese's Book Club, when Daisy Jones & The Six was announced as the March '19 pick, I was intrigued. I'm always down for a fictional band to follow and fall in love with. If you've seen it, you'll understand why That Thing You Do! holds a very special place in my heart. So when I read that Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest book was inspired by Fleetwood Mac, that was all I needed to be hooked in and ready to invite The Six into my groupie scrapbook.

After another read-through of the book, and diving into the series the moment it dropped, I have a few thoughts to share.

I noticed a few comments on the Hello Sunshine IG page about the format of the paperback being hard to engage with. So I bought the audiobook before the original print version.

I feel it works better as an audiobook - after all, it's an oral history of the band. And I have to give major credit to the voice acting - it was a fun listen, with Jennifer Beals giving Daisy (inevitably) a Stevie Nicks rasp. But Miss Nicks she is not.

Daisy Jones is a precocious, headstrong character whose groovy chick persona gets lost in being repeatedly defined by her red hair and 'stunning big blue eyes - dark, cobalt blue'. No wonder she wants to break out of the box everyone puts her in. In true rock 'n' roll style, she goes off the rails, spiraling into a destructively hedonistic lifestyle with the unstoppable force of a tornado. In the Amazon Prime adaptation, the foundations are laid, but it looks like they're building something entirely different.

A review of the series by Collider calls it 'serviceable as a decent binge for people who get off on reading about how much Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham hated each other[...]' and I have to agree.

From book to screen, the journey back to the 70s is loosely translated. Sure, there are a few references to the Whiskey and the Plaster Casters in TJR's book, giving us just enough of a glimpse into the groupie scene - but this isn't the inner circle. Daisy exists on the fringe of it all, desperate to be one of the It Girls. The first episode's cinematography and costume choices are clearly influenced by Pamela Des Barres' memoir and Almost Famous, with a little bit of Ali McGraw Love Story styling for Camila Morrone thrown in for good measure.

But it falls short in a few places. For starters, the talking heads feel a little disjointed. They're supposed to take place 20 years later, yet the clothes look a little too modern. They haven't aged enough. Although, I have to say Timothy Olyphant is serving some Cougs (John Cougar Mellencamp, for the uninitiated) realness in those later interviews.

When spliced in between the main body of the story, we see nothing of the individual recollections of the characters. It's one singular objective truth. Perhaps that's the nature of the adaptations that get churned out by streaming platforms - keep it simple. Because in terms of storytelling, simplicity equates to watchable, binge-worthy television.

The story of a rock band is always anything but simple.

Maybe we'll see a little more complexity in future episodes. The story so far unfolds slowly, with only a few memorable lines. Tightening the dialogue seems to have been a slight challenge for the writers - at times it feels a little contrived. When you're working with original material that's almost entirely comprised of dialogue, it should lend itself to the screen almost verbatim with relative ease. The changes to the plot seem to have been made in order to accommodate the 10 episode format. As a result, it dulls a little of its glam rock shine.

That being said, props to Hello Sunshine and Amazon for including TJR in the writing process. It gives me a little more faith in the show, just as it did with the production company's previous hits Big Little Lies (still waiting on that third season!) and Little Fires Everywhere.

Amazon's Daisy Jones & The Six may not be as engaging as the book, but I'm still along for the ride.

[boxy-boy]

Ooooh cute also

She’s a COUG

she was a French military general before she was fired going to retire then she join- *gets muted Becuase lore will be 20 books worth long*

HANK IS 6’2???!???!!???!!!!??

[bakuraryxu]

im fucking fried i cant make sense of this but is this ok??? is this acceptable

[wiypt-writes]

Too Loose And You’ll Lose It

Ch14: I Got A Crossbow

Co-written with @icanfeelastormbrewing​

Summary:  The Losers put the next part of their plan to catch Max into action, but it doesn’t go quite the way they planned.

Pairing: Jake Jensen x OFC Stella Stevenson

Warnings: Bad language, violence, (NSFW, 18+)

Word Count: 3.7K

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. We do not own any characters in this series bar Stella Stevenson and the other OCs. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.

Too Loose And You’ll Lose It Masterlist // Main Masterlist

Chapter 13

“That's the prize,” Clay nodded towards an armoured humvee which was across the busy Miami street from them, currently surrounded by armed guards. “That's where Max is.”

“Yeah, I sure hope he doesn't see us in this bright yellow banana Pinto.” Stella scoffed as she sat in the back seat. Roque, who was in the passenger one, laughed as Clay turned to look over his left shoulder at her.

“Trying to say that you're embarrassed to be seen in an American classic?”

“This is an American classic?” Stella wrinkled her nose in response. Clay chuckled a little and the three of them watched as the sirens on the car at the front of the convoy sounded and the vehicles set off.

“All right,” Roque opened the door and lined his gun up, peering through the laser sight, “here we go.”

“Let's see what you got.” Clay and Stella watched as Roque discharged a perfectly placed dart containing explosives, which stuck neatly into the side of one of the cars.

“Good shot.” Stella grinned as Roque dropped back in and shut the door. Clay fired up the engine, and as Stella leaned back in her seat, Roque hastily looked around the car.

“Clay, where are the seatbelts, bro?”

“We don't need seatbelts.” Clay said, a smirk on his face. “The G-forces will hold you in your seat.”

“G-forces…” Roque nodded as Stella deadpanned.

“We’re gonna die.”

“Jensen, are we wired?” Clay ignored them both as he spoke into their radios.

“Max is westbound.” Jensen replied, his voice sounding like he had a mouthful of food, and it became clear why when he spoke again. “And these hot dogs are delicious.”

“Alright…” Clay nodded, moving the stick. The gears squealed and crunched a little, and Roque looked at him again.

“This is not a sweet car, dog.”

“This is a classic.”

Stella laughed as the car jolted forward, “yeah, a classic piece of shit!”

They followed the traffic, maintaining a good distance from the convoy and then, suddenly, one of the wheels blew off one of the armoured vehicles, and all hell broke loose.

“Nice one, Cougs.” Clay nodded pulling the car to a stop as the traffic became stationary thanks to the chaos on the road. The hood then flew off the smaller hummer in a shower of sparks and Stella heard Jensen sigh into his radio.

“What a waste…”

“What is it with you and hummers?” Roque asked and Stella laughed.

“He’s always liked them, says they’re a great way to express masculinity whilst also looking like a total douchebag. Apparently, it confuses people.”

“She said it.”

“You confuse people, Jensen.” Roque rolled his eyes as they watched the chaos up in front. “Now put the walkie talkie down.”

As the soldiers and armed guards spilled from the convoy, all forming a perimeter around the vehicle the Losers were targeting, Clay and Roque opened the doors to the car and stepped out. Roque folded his seat forward and helped Stella out of the back and she stood on the sill as Clay pulled out another gun.

“This‘ll wake them up.” He grinned, casually shooting a gas grenade into the melee.

The three of them laughed as they watched the commanding officer, whoever it was, directing his team to put their masks on as they desperately looked around trying to figure out who was attacking them.

“I like this game.” Stella grinned as the sound of a chopper hit their ears. The three of looked up to see it round the corner and start to lower the huge magnetic grabber which would secure the vehicle with Max inside.

As predicted, the men on the ground opened fire and Stella pulled the small, metallic trigger box from her combats.

“All right, here we go.”

She pushed the button and a second later, the vehicle the remote fuse had been stuck to by Roque’s earlier dart blew up in a huge fire ball, catapulting twelve feet off the ground.

“Ooooh hooo hooo hooo!” Roque chuckled as he turned to hi-five her, before leaning over the roof of the car and doing the same with Clay. “Goddamn.”

****

Jensen grinned to himself as he stood by his hot dog stand watching the chaos. His eyes scanned the area, but he couldn’t see where Stella, Clay and Roque were, but that was the point he supposed. He watched as the magnet held by their chopper lowered down into place and as soon as it was locked, he reached under the cart.

“That's right, bitches. I got a crossbow.” He whipped it out, held it up and took aim. It fired perfectly, hitting the back door and he smiled as he reached for his radio. “Backdoor is sealed. Take him up.”

As the chopper pulled the humvee up into the air, Jensen hastily loaded a hot dog with onions, mustard and ketchup, and headed down the chaotic main road towards where he had been told Stella and the guys would be.

Sure enough, he found them. Stella sat cross legged on the roof of a yellow car, Roque and Clay leaning on the hood.

“Awww, you brought me a snack.” Stella grinned as he passed her the hotdog.

“Well, I know how blowing shit up makes you hungry, babe. And you didn’t eat this morning.”

“Never do before a mission,” she popped a shoulder before she bit into the dog, nodding. “You’re right, JJ, these are good!”

Clay pulled on his jacket as the four of them turned their attention back to what was going on. Guns were still firing at the chopper.

“What…he’s gonna crash.” Roque mumbled and sure enough, the humvee hanging in the air hit the side of a high-rise, smashing into an advert which depicted a huge, pink frosting covered donut.

Once the chopper was out of view, Jensen and Stella climbed into the back of the car. Clay soon had them on the other side of the road, heading away from the city.

“That was fun.” Jensen leaned back and Stella snorted.

“Yeah, I gotta admit…” Roque flashed a grin as he glanced back of them, “I like it when our plans work. Man, that t-shirt…”

Jake grinned as he smoothed down the red material with the suggestive cartoon of a woman eating a hot dog emblazoned in the middle. “Gotta get into character, Roque.”

“Pooch, what's your status?” Clay spoke into his radio.

“Completely irritated and possibly crashing, but fish is on the hook.” He replied and Roque grinned, tapping the dash of the car, “we got Max.”

“Outstanding,” Clay grinned, “see you back at base.”

****

They picked Cougar up at the end of the block and by the time they reached the warehouse, Aisha and Pooch were already back. But, as they climbed out of the car, Stella glad to be out of the crammed back seat, Pooch wasted no time in dropping a nasty, but not really unexpected bombshell on them.

“Wade was there.” He then looked at Stella, “so was Evan.” With a sigh he shook his head, “they made me Clay, no doubt about it.”

There was a moment of pause as everyone took a second to digest. For most of them, the biggest issue here was they’d been identified. That Wade and Evan would now know they were behind the hijack. But Stella had something slightly different that was now bothering her as she was forced to confront the finality that she had most likely been used by Evan from the start.

“So, this means they’re absolutely in with Max and the stunt they pulled at the safe house wasn’t just the CIA trying to clear up.”  She took a deep breath, shaking her head, “so they’re fucking bent too.”

Jensen looked at Stella, and when Roque opened his mouth no doubt to point out that this had been obvious, he shook his head. Whilst Jake had known from the off that Evan was not to be trusted, he understood why Stella had tried to convince herself that he’d merely been carrying out CIA orders; because the thought of her being so close to someone like that and not noticing he was playing her to use them all the way they had, would hurt.

“I’m sorry, Evan? Wade?” Aisha looked round.

“Evan works in intelligence,” Clay looked at her, “he’s also Stella’s ex.”

“You keep nice company,” Aisha turned to Stella smirking a little. Stella snarled as Pooch carried on the explanation

“As for Wade, well, he’s ex-army, we ran counter-guerrilla ops with him. Just say he's a bad man.”

“I thought you guys were bad men.”

“He's worse.” Cougar shrugged, not a shred of humour in his voice.

“All right,” Roque stepped forward, “but right now, we need to deal with the heavily armed evil genius inside this truck. Come on.”

Aisha hopped up onto the roof and took the pipe Clay handed which was hooked up to a portable gasoline pump. She flooded the back of the truck with the fuel, and they could hear the yells coming from inside. Once they were satisfied whoever was in the back would be suitably oiled, Clay walked forward and wrenched the electromagnetic device Jensen had used to seal it shut.

As he walked away, guards spilled from the back, yelling at them all to hit the ground and Clay laughed.

“Yeah, I don't think so.”

“First and final warning.”

“Hmmm, gasoline, muzzle flash,” Stella popped a shoulder lazily, as Clay began to flip open and close his Zippo lighter, “think about it.”

As the realisation sunk in, the lead guard who had been doing the shouting looked like his puppy had just died. The gasoline dripped from the muzzle of his assault rifle and with a sigh, he signalled with his hand to his soldiers. “Put them down.”

The guards dropped their guns and then spun as the rest of the Losers appeared, shooting all bar the head of the security team with tranquillisers. Cougar then hopped into the back of the now seemingly empty vehicle to check and Clay turned to the soldier, as Stella held her gun raised, trained on him

“Where is he?”

“Who?”

“Max.”

As the soldier replied, “who the hell is Max?” Stella noticed Aisha shift a little on the spot. Pooch darted the man and with a loud growl, Stella turned her gun on Aisha who held her hands up.

“I can explain.”

“Shut up.”

Cougar then appeared at the back of the truck with a silver box. As Aisha stood still, Roque grabbed the gun from her back pocket and Stella didn’t so much as blink as she trained her own pistol right at the woman’s head.

“Jensen, open it.” Clay instructed.

A few seconds later, the lid to the silver box swung back and Jensen reached in, holding up a small metal square. “It's a hard drive from Goliath, the multinational manufacturer of everything.”

Clay glared at Aisha, before he turned away, “secure her and let’s find out what the hell is on this thing and why she wanted it so dammed badly.”

“If you just let me-“

“Shut up.” Roque gripped her by the arm, dragging her across the warehouse.

****

“I'm completely locked out.” Jensen sighed, tapping a key on his laptop before he shrugged and pushed his glasses back up his nose. “Without a decryption key, you're looking at a really cool paperweight.”

Stella could hear the dejection on his tone and she felt it too. They all did. They’d been played and their dream, the hope of getting home to their families, was dying right in front of them.

Clay glanced over at Aisha, who was sat with her hands tied behind her back and he sighed, straightening up. “Shoot her.” He turned to walk off, “burn everything.”

“With pleasure,” Stella whipped out her gun.

“Don't you wanna find out what's on it?” Aisha walked as Clay passed her.

“No.”

“I can't find Max.” Aisha pressed as Cougar and Pooch began sloshing gasoline over all the documents and blueprints spread on the tables. “Nobody can. But I knew that he was moving something that was very valuable to him.”

Stella slotted the magazine into her pistol and walked up behind Aisha who continued to plead her case.

“Clay! Whatever it is, we can use it against him.”

Stella grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet, pushing her forward. “It's leverage!”

“The drive is proprietary technology built by Goliath.” Jensen spoke, his voice calm as he watched Clay, his eyes flicking to Stella then back again. “The algorithm's probably on the mainframe.”

There was a pause and Stella stopped, watching Clay as he was clearly pondering what Jensen had just said. “Come on. We're not considering that.” She scoffed.

“Yeah, tell me you aint-” Roque began, as Pooch cut him off with a gentle voice.

“Wait, wait, wait.”

Roque groaned. “Oh, no, come on, man. We're not the good guys anymore.”

“Twenty-five kids.” Clay looked at him. “Twenty-five innocent lives lost because of this guy. Remember?”

“We all do, Clay.” Stella sighed as Clay shook his head. “We were there.”

“Max is gonna pay.”

“Is this a guilt trip?” Roque scoffed as Stella groaned.

“No, I don't want him to pay. I want my life back. Okay? My life back.” She sniffed a little as Jake stepped towards her.

“Stelly…”

“No, enough…Enough of this revenge bullshit. I'm killing her right now.” Roque grabbed Aisha’s arm and Stella moved back to allow him to take her. She was done, beat, and so lost in her own devastation that she missed what happened next. Instead, she felt two hands gently wrap around her arms, moving her backwards as Jensen and Pooch placed themselves in between Clay and Roque. She turned and Cougar gave her a quick wink. She spun back in time to see Roque whip a knife from his belt.

“Shit…” she mumbled as both her and Cougar rushed forward to help.

“I'm gonna cut your head off, man.”

There was an ensuing scuffle, but they managed to separate the two men, and it was Pooch that spoke as he stood in front of Roque, his voice calm but stern.

“They know we're alive, Roque. Only thing we have to use against them right now is that drive.”

“Yeah, because she framed us!” Stella pointed at Aisha, “seriously, are you guys blind?”

“Like Arty said, she framed us!” Roque stepped towards Clay who looked at him, as he issued his order.

“We hit Goliath Worldwide headquarters in two days.” He then pointed at Roque’s chest, before he turned to Stella. “You want your life back? You're gonna have to steal it.”

He made to walk away and Roque began to follow him but was stopped by Pooch.  “You're wrong, you know that, right?” Roque yelled after him. “Again because of a woman!”

“Cut her loose.” Clay instructed. Roque refused and this time Pooch sighed.

“Cut her loose, Roque.”

“You cut her loose, bro.” Roque slammed the knife into the wooden crate behind him. With a final tick in her jaw, Stella whipped up the knife and held the blade to Aisha's neck.

“This is on you.” She snarled, pushing her round to roughly cut at the bonds, “and wipe that smirk of your face before I do it for you.”

“Yeah?” Aisha whipped back, looking down from her inch or so height advantage and Stella gave a laugh before she shoved the woman hard in the chest. As Jensen and Pooch hurried forward, Aisha stumbled backwards and hit the ground having been caught unawares.

“Don’t push me, bitch.” Stella spat, as Jensen gently gripped her arm, “or you’re gonna need to sleep with one eye open.”

******

An hour or so later, the mood was a little calmer in camp as they poured over Jensen’s laptop onto which he had pulled up a few schematics on the Goliath Building. Roque was nowhere to be seen; Stella assumed he had taken a walk to calm himself down.

“Clay, what about our families?” Pooch looked at him, “they know we’re alive! What if they take them to draw us out?”

“They won’t go after them,” Aisha shook her head, “it’s too risky. If they do that, they’ll be attracting unnecessary attention. They won’t want anyone to know you’re alive any more than you do.”

“You don’t know that.”

“No, but I know Evan.” Stella took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on a spot on the ground, “and he knows me. The bitch is right,” she raised her head, not bothering to look at Aisha, who let out a small snort

“How?” Jake pressed, his hand resting on her knee as she sat perched on the edge of the wooden desk his laptop was on.

“Because he knows that family is my world, and if he threatened my mom, sister, your family, any of ours for that matter,” she gestured round the room, “I wouldn’t hesitate to blow my cover and hand myself in.” The group fell silent as Stella ran her hands down her face before she carried on. “Yeah, we’d probably be in jail or whatever thanks to him framing us for the Bolivia job but we would be shouting loud and clear about Max. Whatever they’re up to is too important to them, and he won’t want to risk it, even if there’s practically no chance we’d be believed because we have fuck all evidence at this point in time.”

“Exactly. We need evidence,” Clay shrugged, “like I said, you want your life back, you’re gonna have to take it! There is method to my madness, Arty.” Stella licked her lips as she realised Clay as right, even if that was a bitter pill to swallow. “Now, you’re our undercover specialist… forty-eight hours, get us in.”

“Just like that?” She deadpanned, looking at him,

“Yeah, just like that…”

Her tongue clicked against the roof of her mouth as she pushed herself up off the desk and turned to go, glaring at both Clay and Aisha.

“Stella…”

“Don’t, Jake, just don’t.” She shook her head, leaving the same direction Roque had an hour or so ago.

“I’m going in as well.” Jake stated as soon as she was gone.

“No, it’s too risky. Just Arty. It’ll be smoother and safer.”

“I’m not letting her go into that rabbit hole alone, Clay.”

“For fucks sake, Jensen, she’s a well-trained black operations agent!”

“And she’s my well-trained black operations agent!”

“Jesus, you really have got it bad.” Aisha smirked.

“Sorry, was I speaking to you, no!” Jensen glared at her, before he turned back to Clay. “Look, it’s not just that, she’s gonna have to upload the search malware and fish through a fuck tonne of security and data to find that algorithm on the mainframe. It’ll be quicker and faster if I do it instead of trying to guide her through. Think about it.”

Clay sighed and clenched his jaw, glancing at Pooch who sighed.

“Hate to say it, but he’s right.”

“Okay, fine. Go talk to her, get a plan and then figure out what you need. But do it fast, we leave for Houston in two hours.”

Jake grinned and Clay rolled his eyes.

“The plan! Do the plan fast!”

Jake sprang to attention and saluted, “Yes, Sir!” And with that, he bounced after Stella.

*****

“We could just…”

“No,” Evan shook his head as they strode back down the steps of the large metal structure above the Puerto Rican rain forest. “It won’t work. I told you, I know Stella, and threatening her family won’t keep her in line, it’ll make her worse.” He took a deep breath and exhaled. “No, we gotta tell the boss.”

Wade grimaced a little as they reached the bottom of the steps, just in time to hear Max issue his instructions.

“What's pulsar?” Wade asked. Max gave a little smile.

“What do you know about deep space tachyons?”

“Nothing.”

“Base-particle string theory?”

“Nothing.” Wade shook his head.

“Singularity events?” Max moved to walk past them both.

“Not a ton.” Wade and Evan turned to follow.

“I think we should move on, then.” Max headed up the steps, the two men behind. They reached the top walkway and Max leaned on the metal barrier and looked at Evan. “I'm gonna give you forty-five seconds to explain what happened to my drive.”

Evan nodded to Wade who produced a leather file, and pulled a pile of photos taken the previous day in Miami.

“And who am I looking at here, Wade?” Max flicked through the photos, a tone of irritation to his actions and voice.

“Clay and his unit.”

“Clay and his unit? That sounds a porno, Wade.” Max thrust the photos back and as Wade took them back, Evan arched a brow.

“You had them killed four months ago.”

“I've done a lot in four months, Evan, I'm a very busy man.”

“The Bolivia situation?”

“Fadhil.” Max nodded and Evan continued.

“The Max intel Fadhil gathered...”

“Was incinerated along with everything else in the blast.” Max narrowed his eyes.

“Not quite.” Evan popped a shoulder. “These guys survived. And it also appears they escaped our attempt to mop up when we blew up a safe house with them in it.”

“And they have my drive.”

“Yeah.”

Max looked out into the distance, sighing. “Okay, so five dead men and a dead chick hijacked you both. Did you happen to find out who's behind them?”

“Not the CIA, NSA, special ops.” Wade shrugged and Max groaned.

“Yeah, I'm aware it's not us. Seems like the only thing we do know is who they're coming after.” Max jerked his thumbs at himself and gave a little whistle. He pondered for a moment before he looked at Wade. “Get me an eighteen-man fire team in twelve hours.”

“What's the plan?” The former soldier frowned as Max turned to walk away.

“What's the plan? The plan is get me an eighteen-man fire team in twelve hours.” Max didn’t even bother turning back round.

“Okay.”

“Are we clear on the plan?” Max stopped, his voice laced with sarcasm, “or we could do it a third time.”

“Clear.”

“Good.”

“Oh, Wade, you know what I was thinking?” Max stopped again, “I forgot earlier. Get me an eighteen -man fire team in twelve hours. Are we clear?”

“Crystal.” Evan answered for Wade as Max left.

“I’ll handle the men,” Wade looked at Evan who gave a nod.

“Okay, let me know if you-“ he stopped dead as his phone began to ring. “It’s the office…” he nodded to Wade as he answers, “Agent Christianson.”

“Evan, I got someone on the line for you, says it’s urgent.”

“Who?”

“Wouldn’t give his name, but he says he’s an old friend… and he saw you earlier today in Miami.”

Evan stopped dead, “okay…”

“The line isn’t great, but-“

“Patch him through.” Evan clicked his fingers and waved Wade back towards him. The line buzzed over and he cleared his throat. “This is Evan.”

“Long time no speak, fuckin’ asshole.”

“Lovely to hear from you too,” Evan grit his teeth at the familiar voice, “I suppose you wanna do business? Trade the intel on the hard drive for something? Maybe Max?”

The voice chuckled, “you would as well, wouldn’t you? You unscrupulous bastard.”

“Well, I’m loyal to the green paper, my friend.”

“I’m not your fucking friend, let’s get that straight. You tried to kill me. Twice.”

“Then what do you want?”

“To cut a deal. I’ll give you the rest of the team, you let me walk. No questions. I want my life back and enough money to start a fresh. No record, nothin’. And you leave our families alone. All of ‘em.”

Evan looked at Wade who nodded before he smirked, “I think we can do that.”

“We plan to hit Goliath the day after tomorrow for the decryption key for the hard drive. ”

Evan’s grin grew even further, and he chuckled, “well we can absolutely play that to our advantage.“

“Yeah, whatever. I’ll be in touch, but I get the slightest sniff you’re gonna stiff me again…”

“You have my word,”

“Your word,” there was a scoff, “right.”

The line went dead and Evan looked at the screen before he dumped it back into his pocket.

“Okay, you round up the eighteen-man firing squad, I’m gonna speak to the boss again, find out what’s on that hard drive. If I know what they’ll know, then we can use it to lure them where we want them.”

Wade nodded and headed off, leaving Evan to ponder for a few moments.

“Oh, Stella,” he sighed, shaking his head, “if only you’d been able to stay away from that spikey haired prick.”

With that, he tapped the railing with his hand and headed after Wade.

****

Ch 15

[goldenroutledge]

into you » pt. 2

pairing: drew starkey x reader

word count: 1.0k

warning(s): just fluff!

a/n: part 2 to a blurb i wrote earlier; you can find it here! hope u guys like it 💕

drew starkey masterlist

© goldenroutledge || do not plagiarize, repost, or translate my work in any way

Rudy whistled as he approached the cast, each of them either sitting and eating their breakfast or dishing it. “Well that was interesting.”

Madelyn’s head shot up at his words, knowing Rudy was coming back from your room since you were the last ones up. “What? What happened?”

“Oh, nothing.” He played it off, grabbing himself a plate. “Just Y/n and Drew being all cuddly. When I opened the door they froze. It was kinda awkward.”

“Hmm.” Chase hummed to himself.

“Well do you think something is going on?” Madison queried.

Rudy shrugged. “Maybe. I mean they’re always flirting, right?”

“Let’s not read into things too far, guys. We don’t know anything for sure yet.” JD reminded the group.

“Who knows. Maybe this trip will be our chance to find out.” Madelyn wiggled her eyebrows up and down, some giggling but then falling silent as footsteps were heard making their way to the kitchen.

Complete silence.

“Hey, guys. What’s goin’ on?” You asked, quirking an eyebrow at your awfully silent friends. “Why’s everyone so quiet?”

“No reason.” Madison muttered.

“Just enjoying our food.” Chase chimed in.

You and Drew gave them all weird glances, not believing them but shrugging it off anyway. When you both sat down to eat, Rudy was the only one to look up and say something. “So, I take it you guys slept well?”

“Rudy!” JD whisper-scolded his friend beside him, mostly everyone else shaking their heads too.

“What? Just trying to make conversation.”

“We slept great, Rudy. Until we were rudely awakened earlier.” You quipped, eyes darting in his direction.

-

The rest of the day seemed to go by fairly normally, everyone deciding to forget the events of the morning and have a fun day together. The boys insisted on heading back early to prepare dinner for everyone, though you were a bit frightened at what would come of them all working in the kitchen together. It would be a miracle if someone didn’t set anything on fire or overcook something. Walking back into the cabin, the delicious aroma of the food filled your senses.

“Smells good!” Madison called out to the guys in the kitchen. You all entered to find them with matching aprons on along with puffy, white chef’s hats.

You giggled at Drew’s, his height plus the tall hat nearly touching the ceiling. As they all turned to face you, your eyes widened at the print on their aprons; ‘Kiss the chef’ in bold lettering with a little red lipstick print near the bottom. The girls give their boyfriends a kiss, leaving you and Drew to stand there and laugh awkwardly.

Madelyn gave you a look, one that said to just go for it. After all, he must’ve known what he was doing when he put on the apron in the first place. Your eyes bore into his as he nodded in approval. You cupped Drew’s face with one hand, intending to give him a quick peck, before everyone’s attention averted to the oven as the timer beeped repeatedly.

“The rolls!” Chase announced, rushing over to remove them from the oven.

You backed away from Drew before anyone could notice, missing the sigh that passed his lips as both of you were disappointed that you didn’t get to have your kiss. Even if it would’ve been a short one.

Once you all sat down to eat dinner, the tension in the air definitely did not go unnoticed. You tapped Drew’s shoulder so he could pass the butter around the table, causing him to drop the fork in his other hand as yours grazed over his. “You ok, man?” JD questioned, everyone else’s eyes on him also.

Drew cleared his throat, setting the small dish on the table. “Yep. I’m great.”

“Really? Because I could cut the tension between you two with a knife.” JD gestured between you and Drew.

You choked on the water in your mouth a bit, quickly coughing a few times to avoid worry. “What tension? There’s no tension.” You stuttered out.

JD smirked. “Sure there isn’t.”

-

The sun set eventually and before you knew it, it was time to go to sleep again. Night two of sharing a bed with Drew. Except this time, a little more awkward because of the failed kiss just hours earlier. You made your way out of the bathroom, fresh from the shower to find Drew folding something mindlessly. “You ready to go to bed?” He asked, glancing up at you.

“Mhm.” You affirmed through a yawn. “It’s been a long day.”

“It has.” Drew agreed, nodding his head in thought for a moment. “Y’know.. I never got that kiss earlier.”

You chuckled. “Yeah. It probably wasn’t a good idea in front of everyone else anyway, since they’re always jumping to conclusions and all. Those rolls probably saved us from a lot of pestering.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Drew acknowledged with a hint of disappointment, walking towards the bathroom you had just exited.

“Drew?” You muttered, both of you turning to face one another. “Why’d you wear that apron anyway?”

“Why do you think?” He insinuated as if it was obvious.

With that, you remembered the way he gazed at you earlier. As well as the many other small advances, giving you the courage to take a stride towards him, and give him one small peck to be safe.

Just as you pulled away, he held you close to him, chasing your lips with his and catching them once more. Butterflies erupted in your body as your lips moved in sync. And as much as you didn’t want to pull away, you had to. You smiled against him, pulling back to be faced with a matching grin that made your heart skip a beat. Your cheeks and the tips of your ears felt much warmer than usual, resting your head on his chest.

“Maybe I’ll wear that apron more often.” He mumbled in contentment.

Soon enough, you both were turning off your bedside lamps and exchanging goodnights like the night before. Except tonight, you’d be holding each other a whole lot closer.

a/n: i wasn’t expecting to write a pt. 2 so idk if this is even good haha. i hope it was what u guys were hoping for ??

taglist: @ilovejjmaybank @missevi @nxsmss @cameronsrafe @msgorillagripcoochie @bibliophilewednesday @tovvaa @freddymaybank @annab-nana @babeyglo @sunsetholland @moniamaybank @outerbankspreferences @laneybobeczko-g @jjpouggues @j-j-may-bank @adorestarkey @maddyclines

drew taglist + some peeps who were interested in this pt. 2: @givetaylorherscarfbackjake @littlementalpolaroids @virgosparthenos

[what-is-your-plan-today]

Too Loose And You’ll Lose It

Ch 4- You Don’t Know What You’ve Got ‘Til It’s Gone Part 2

Co-written with @icanfeelastormbrewing​

Summary: Jake and Stella are both home for Christmas, and the annual New Year’s Party at the Jensen’s sees some unexpected guests in attendance…

 Warnings: Bad Language words.

Pairing: Jake Jensen x OFC Stella Stevenson.

TLAYLI Masterlist  // Main Masterlist 

“Knowing what you don't want can often be more valuable than knowing what you do want.” Melchor Lim

Please Read Part 1 first.

 Jake’s eyes were focussed on the film on the large, flat screen TV that his mom had bought his dad for Christmas. Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire was playing on the movie channel, one of his guilty pleasures. He and Stel had seen all the movies on opening night to date, the pair of them huge Potter Heads. At the other end of the couch, Britney was painting her nails a bright, glittery pink colour whilst Jensen was simply doing his best to ignore her although the fumes of the nail polish were getting right up his nostrils and making it almost impossible.

The door to the lounge clicked open and the family’s black Labrador trotted in, his tail wagging and thumping on the coffee table.

“Hey Sirius…” Jake muttered, reaching over to scratch his ear.

“Who’s serious?” Britney frowned and looked at him “What?”

At that point Gracie walked into the room and plopped down next to Jake.

“Are you being serious?” Jake looked at Britney “The dog, his name is Sirius, as in Sirius Black…from Harry Potter”

He was met with a blank look.

“The film is literally on the TV…” Jake pointed.

Another blank look.

Gracie glanced at Jake and he rolled his eyes.

“It’s a cool name. Stelly picked it.” She answered Britney.

“Stelly?”

“God, what is in that nail polish?” Jake grumbled to himself as once more he turned to look at Britney “Stella, you met her.”

“Oh the loser girl!”

“Stella isn’t a loser.” Gracie spoke again in an affronted tone just as Jane entered the lounge and crossed to sit in the armchair.

“Oh, I didn’t mean it like that honey.” Britney smiled. Grace looked at her, then to Jake who was doing his best not to meet his niece’s gaze as she was clearly disgusted that Britney had, in her eyes, insulted her favourite ever person.

“It was really supposed to be our dog.” Jake shrugged, trying to move her conversation on.

“Your dog?”

This time it was Jane’s turn to sigh at Britney’s dim-wittedness.

“Stella and I got him from a rescue.” Jake explained, his eyes not moving from the screen “But we couldn't take him with us when we signed up so he ended up staying here.”

“Speaking of Stel.” Jane looked at Jake “We bumped into her and Evan at the mall”

Okay, so that got his attention. His head whipped round and he frowned at his sister “Evan?”

“Yes, her boyfriend dur.” Gracie rolled her eyes.

“What’s he doing here?”

Jane smiled at Jake sympathetically “Apparently he showed up this morning, wanted to surprise her.”

“He’s coming tonight.” Gracie smiled “I invited him.”

“Great…that’s great.” Jake looked at Jane who popped her right shoulder, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Awww yeah, it'll be fun!” Britney grinned.

“You literally couldn’t remember who she was like 5 seconds ago.” Jake rolled his eyes.

“I know but then you reminded me, and when we met she seemed really nice.”

“She is,” Jane agreed “and so is Evan.”

“Yup” Grace nodded “He’s handsome and so cool. He bought me hot chocolate.”

“Handsome and cool...” Jake mocked, in a stupid, airey voice “I buy you hot chocolate all the time.”

“Yes, but not with all the toppings.” Gracie looked at him, sticking her tongue out.”

“He really is gorgeous.” Jane added and Jensen made an angry noise in his throat.

Fuck Agent Shit Name…

Gracie sniggered besides him and poked him in the ribs. “You’re jealous uncle J!”

“And you're 6. Like you know what that means.”

“I do too. It means when someone has something you want and you get upset or mad.”

Okay, so she does know what it means…

Britney laughed “Oh baby, I'm sure I can make you a hot chocolate if you really want one.”

There was a pause as everyone in the room looked at her. Jensen took off his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose as he screwed his eyes shut.

“He doesn’t want chocolate Britney, he wants Stel” Gracie replied.

“Oh, for f- Gracie!” Jensen glared at her as she shoved his glasses back on his face.

Terrific…this day just gets better and better

“What?” Britney frowned a little.

“Ok, Grace, come on...we need to check something.” Jane said, standing up.

“No we don’t.” Gracie frowned “You said I could watch TV when we got back to Nanny and Grandpa’s!”

“Do as your mom tells you.” Jake looked at her.

“You’re not the boss of me Uncle Jake.”

“Whatever Petunia.” Jake gently shoved her in the shoulder, pushing her up off the couch “Be gone”

“Petunia? I thought her name was Grace?” Britney looked at Jake who gave another heavy sigh.

“It is. The Petunias…you know what, forget it.”

Grace looked at Britney, as if she was trying to figure something out and then turned to Jane Mom? Why is Britney so-“ “Okay, come on…” Jane hastily cut her off “We said we’d help nanny before daddy gets here so…”

Gracie’s protests fell on deaf ears as Jane shooed her out of the room, shooting Jake another sympathetic and apologetic look.

“What did she mean you want Stella?” Britney asked.

Jake groaning, of course she hadn’t missed that bit “Who knows? Kids these days.”

“I love kids, can't wait to have my own” Britney smiled and Jake choked on air.

“Good luck with that.” He continued watching the film for another few minutes until he decided he needed another drink, and to escape the nail polish smell for a moment. “ I umm I’m gonna grab a beer, you want anything?”

“No, I’m good thanks.”

He stood up and wandered into the kitchen where his mom, Dad and Jane were all in a conversation and he had a feeling he knew what about, his suspicions confirmed when he caught what they were saying.

“You know what she told me yesterday when we met?” John arched his eyebrow “That it was funny Jake and I shared the same surname!” he shook his head “I just hope that cheesecake…” he pointed at the dish that Janet was covering in foil “…has more filling than her head because damned, you point a flashlight in her right ear it’s gonna shine right outta her left.”

At that point Jake’s mom caught sight of him and she nudged his father who looked up and round at Jake who met his eyes with a glare before he yanked open the fridge. “

“Everything alright son?”

“Ask your granddaughter.” He said simply as he popped the lid off his beer and turned back to the hall, taking a deep pull.

He let out a sigh, he had really gotten himself into a mess. He was stuck with Britney whilst he was gonna have to watch Evan and Stella all night. Terrific. Just…brilliant.  Clutching the bottle, he hovered in the door and glanced at Britney, taking a deep breath. Well, he might as well play the part he supposed, after all, she wasn’t a bad looking girl…not bad in the sheets either all things considered. Plus Pooch, Cougs and Clay were dropping in, all fancying a New Years out of their respective home towns of Springfield, Monterrey, with Clay coming from base, so there would be plenty of people to talk to.  

He knocked back another huge gulp of beer before he fixed a smile on his face and walked into the lounge. “So, Brit…” he asked, dropping on the sofa, turning to her, his trademark cheeky grin on his face “What you wearing for the party, and is it suitably tight?” ***** Pooch, Jolene, Cougar and Clay found themselves in the living room at the Jensen residency all clutching a drink and glancing at the various photos dotted around. Most of them were of more recent times, family shots but a one in particular caught Cougar’s attention and he whistled, nodding towards it. Clay smiled as he took in the shot of Jensen and Stella in their army fatigues, both at training camp. Faces dirty, rifles slung over their shoulders, huge grins on their faces.

“Oh, no, no this…this is the jackpot, right here!” Pooch grinned as he pointed to another photo next to it depicting the two the evening of their prom, taken in Stella’s back garden. "Look at Jensen in his penguin suit!"

He gave a little yell as Jolene slapped him “Don't be mean...” she looked at the photo. “Damned look at Stella's dress!”

“What about it?” Pooch looked at her.

“Nothing, it's just really nice.” She said. Cougar nodded, tipping his hat slightly in approval.

“You know, she hasn't changed a bit.” Clay smiled, looking at the photo fondly.

“Who hasn't changed a bit?” Jensen asked as he strode into the room, beer in his hand. Britney was close behind him, clutching a wine glass.

“Arty.” Clay said, nodding to the photo.

“Who’s Arty?” Britney frowned. Jensen turned to look at her, not quite sure if she was being serious or not. But, then again, knowing that her brain was basically a bag of cats, she probably was.

“Stella.” Cougar chuckled

“That’s Stella?” Britney’s eyes widened as she glanced at the picture “No wonder the girl in the photos all over your bedroom rang a bell.”

“You still have her all over your bedroom?” Pooch whispered to Jakey “And you’re sleeping with this one in there?”

“Shut the fuck up!” Jake hissed, glaring at Pooch who grinned, shrugging.

“I don’t understand?” Britney frowned “Why are there photos of her all over your room and here?”

The room fell silent and Jensen saw Pooch and Cougar exchanged a glance from the corner of their eye. Pooch looked like all his Christmases had come at once.

Fuck…

“You haven’t told her?” Clay arched an eyebrow and Jake’s attention turned to his Colonel, narrowing his eyes.

Why the fuck did I invite any of The Losers?

“Tell me what?” Britney pressed.

Or her for that matter, although technically, I didn’t…she invited herself.

Ignoring her, he took a sip of his beer trying to think of something to deflect the attention away from the impending shit storm. But Britney wasn’t for dropping it.

“Tell me what Jake?”

“Yeah, tell her what Jake?” Clay asked and Jensen growled.

“Son of a bitch…” he shook his head and turned to Britney. “Me and Stel, we used to ... date.”

“Exfil on way, strategic exit points through the front and rear doors…” Clay mumbled and both Pooch and Cougar sniggered as Britney blinked, processing the information Jake had just downloaded. As they watched, her heavily made up face set and her bright pink lips pressed together.

“Oh, I see. So that’s what Grace meant before…”

Clay, Cougar, Jolene and Pooch all looked at one another before Cougar held up his bottle of Corona.

“My beer is empty so…” he gestured to the lounge door.

“Mine too.” Clay said eagerly.

“And me.” Pooch agreed. He turned to Jolene who was glaring at him, a ‘don’t you dare leave me with them’ look on her face, so Pooch grabbed her hand and tugged her behind him, out into the hallway.  

“Just when I think he can't possibly get any dumber.” Pooch shook his head as Clay glanced back into the room where Britney and Jensen were now in quite a heated discussion.  

“Well, I think that one is on us.” He turned to the rest of the team. Cougar snorted and they all made their way into kitchen just in time to see Stella and her mom enter, followed by Evan who had been holding the door open for them. Julie beamed at Clay who gave a low chuckle and stepped forward.

“Hey Jules" he wrapped her in a warm hug “Long time no see. How you been?”

As her mom returned Clay’s greeting Stella, who wasn’t really listening as she had just seen Pooch and Cougar, grinned and pushed past. “Oh my God! You guys are here!” She gave each of the men a hug and then turned to Jolene “Oh, it’s so good to see you!”

“Hey man!” Pooch smiled as he shook Evan’s hand, the man then turning to Cougar and finally Clay who had returned to their gang.

“Good to see you all again!” Evan enthused, before he politely kissed Jolene on the cheek when Stella introduced them. She’d just turned back to the woman to ask how the wedding prep was going when she felt a tap on the shoulder. Turning, her face broke into a huge smiled as Jake’s dad beamed back at her “Hey John!"

John hugged her tightly, kissing her head. “My favourite girl, looking as gorgeous as always!”

“I heard that, Dad!” Jane scoffed as she appeared at the side of them “Fucking rude!”

“I mean my favourite non-daughter girl.” He shrugged, laughing as Jane shoved him out of the way to hug Stella and then Evan.

“Good to see you again Evan.”

“You too Jane.” He beamed, before he turned to John “You must be Mr Jensen.”

“Oh, call me John, son!” he shook his hand and Stella groaned.

“Oh my God, Ev, sorry…that was so rude...let me...where's Janet?” she began looking around and Evan chuckled, wrapping his arm round her shoulder, pulling her into him a little, her cheek pressing against his soft blue sweater.

“It’s fine, Pumpkin. Stop worrying.”

But she was worrying, well not worrying exactly, maybe flapping was a better word. She was flustered because she’d never had to really introduce her man to anyone before, as everyone knew Jake...and not to mention the party was taking place at Jake’s parents. It was a little awkward, but her and Jake were over and she wanted to remain on good terms with the family she’d basically grown up a part of. She looked around, searching for Jakes mom so she could introduce Evan and her eyes stopped on Jake and Britney as they walked into the kitchen. As Stella watched, Jake hissed something to the Blonde and Stella could tell he was pissed. She knew the look well.

As he finished saying whatever it was he was saying, he looked up and saw Stella watching. They locked eyes for a second from opposite sides of the kitchen and Stella gave him a small smile. He returned it, and then looked away as Evan slid an arm round her waist, kissing her temple. Stella grinned at Evan, then spotted Janet walking towards her.

“Oh Stella, it's so good to see you sweetheart!”

“Janet, it hasn’t been that long this time!” Stella laughed “We were at the spa like 3 days ago!”

“I know but, well, considering how much time you used to spend here it still feels strange.” Janet sighed and Stela gave her a sad smile in return.

“Well, I wouldn’t miss a Jensen New Years’ party for the world.”

Janet beamed and gently touched Stella’s cheek before she turned to Evan, smiling hugely at him. “You must be Stella’s boyfriend.” Stella groaned as Evan nodded and shook Janet’s hand politely before he kissed her cheek “God I'm so bad at this introduction crap. This is Janet, Jake’s mom.” “Yeah, I kinda figured that one out sweetheart” Evan teased and she nudged him with her elbow, causing him to laugh.

At that point Gracie skipped over, tugging at Janet’s top “Nanna, mum says that…oh!” The small girls eyes grew wide and she grinned “Evan!”

“Hey kiddo!” Evan smiled down at her as she hugged his waist. Stella glanced round to see Jake, who was stood with the rest of the losers watching with a sullen look on his face, clearly not intending on saying hi any time soon. She rolled her eyes and turned to Janet.

“Is it ok if we get a drink?”

“Stella, since when have you ever asked for anything at this house?” she admonished her “Help yourself.” She turned Evan “You too, make yourself at home.” “Thank you, Mrs Jensen. It was really kind of you to let me come”

“Oh, it’s a pleasure having you here dear. Stella is like part of this family”

Evan smiled “Yeah, she has that effect on people.”

Stella blushed a little as he dropped and arm round her shoulder, the pair of them moving to the fridge for a couple of beers before Stella suggested they go back to The Losers. Evan agreed, allowing her to lead the way, his hand dropping to the bottom of her back as they weaved through the room.

“Hi JJ.” Stella looked at Jake as they reached her teammates. “Were you planning on saying hi to us eventually?”

“Hi.” Came the curt response.

“Articulate.” Stella rolled her eyes and she turned to the blonde besides him. “Hi Britney, I don’t think you’ve met Evan have you?” she turned to Evan “Ev this is Britney, Jake’s girlfriend.” As she spoke the last word Stella’s eyes met Jake’s, a look of something that could almost pass as an apology crossed his face, but it was gone almost as soon as it had appeared.

Especially as at that point they both heard Rey’s voice across the room.

“Oh God.” Jake and Stella groaned in unison and Jake arched an eyebrow.

“Was wondering when they were gonna show up.”

“Well, they’re fashionably late. You know them!”

“Speaking of late, no sign of baby Dick yet?” Jensen asked.

“Nope. Bad PH, remember?” Stella smirked at Jensen and he grinned. There was a moment where they simply looked at one another and Stell swallowed.

“Suppose I best go… “ she jerked her head, then turned to Evan “You haven’t met Dick yet.”

“Dick?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Rey’s husband. Richard…Rick as she calls him, Rick the Dick to everyone else…well, me and Jake anyway.” She smiled at the Losers “Be right back.”

Jensen watched her go, his scanning her up and down as he noticed the back of her outfit for the first time. The tight grey sweater she was wearing had a scooped backline that dropped below her shoulder blades. Her dark, grey jeans clung to her, showing off her ass and her high heeled ankle boots accentuated her long legs. He felts a nudge to his ribs and he turned to look at Britney.

“Can I get another drink or…”

Jake took a deep breath, suddenly thinking to himself about how Stel just helped herself before he smiled. As much as she was irritating at times, Brit was sweet and he didn’t want to be cruel to her. “Sure, I’ll grab you one.” **** As with all these types of parties, the night passed in a whirl of laughter, drinks, chattering and reminiscing, although Jake made sure to avoid Stella and Evan as much as possible. Not because he wanted to but because he felt he needed to. Their exchange before had been friendly enough, and it wasn’t like they were on bad terms but he didn’t want anything to be awkward for her. Jake knew how much it meant for her to actually be in the country on New Year’s and he wasn’t going to take that away from her.

“Oh, oh…” his dad suddenly called out loudly, from where he was stood next to Jake, the entire Jensen family congregated by the fridge “We’re in the last minute guys!!” various cheers rang out across the room “Do we all have a drink? Let’s get ready!”

“Ready for what?” Britney asked. Jensen looked at her. Jesus Christ…

“For the reading of the constitution Sweetie!” John said, looking at Jake who rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.  

“It's the countdown, Brit. For New Year.”

“Oops, what am I like?” she snorted, grabbing Jake’s arm. “I guess I did it again. I’m so ditzy.”

Jensen blinked and his dad exchanged a look with Jane’s husband, Robert, the pair of them letting out huge howls of laughter.

“Oops I did it again… man…I can’t…” Robert snorted as Jane shot him a filthy look. Across from him, Janet gave John a slap round the back of the head and he let out a yell, before he turned to her and grinned.

“Oh, hit me baby, one more time” he smirked, pressing a kiss to her lips.

Robert’s howls of mirth drowned out Jensen groans, as his eyes scanned the room. Everyone was busy grabbing a glass of champagne from the side and he saw Jolene talking to Stella. As he watched Evan appeared at her side, passing her a flute of bubbles before giving her a gentle kiss. She smiled at him and then turned back to Jolene with that familiar red tinge to her cheeks that she always sported when she was flustered…or excited, Evan’s hand gently on the small of her back, hovering over the curve of her ass.  Jake felt a horrible twist in his gut at the sight of it. It wasn’t that he didn’t want Stella to be happy but, well, there was just something about Evan that he couldn’t quite figure out. Everyone seemed to love the bastard, hell even his own mom and sister had been waxing lyrical about him all evening, like he was perfect.

Too perfect maybe.

Once Stella, Jolene and Agent Shit Name had left the area he grabbed 2 full flutes and turned back, handing one to Britney with a forced smile, just as his dad gave another yell and the countdown started, voices chanting out across the room as Gracie started jumping and shouting

“10, 9, 8...”

Britney turned to Jake “Oh let’s make a wish!”

“It’s a New Year’s count-down.” Jake said with a sigh “You’re not blowing out candles on a birthday cake.”

“She could always blow something else and make a wish!” Robert said, winking at Jensen. Jake rolled his eyes, the dirty joke that would normally have at least raised a grin from him fell flat and Robert yelped as Jane reached up to slap him.

“7,6,5”

Across the room, Evan curled his arm round Stella’s waist and pulled her closer, bending down to whisper in her ear. “I’m so glad to be here with you tonight Pumpkin.”

Stella swallowed, his sultry voice and intoxicating cologne swamped her senses and made her head feel slightly fuzzy. Or was that the alcohol?

She turned to him, smiling “I’m glad you’re here too.”

“4.3,2,1”

Britney’s nails dug into Jake’s arm as she squealed as the countdown ended.

“HAPPY NEW YEAR!”

She threw herself into his arms and kissed him. It was totally over the top but Jensen went with it, and then opened his eyes to glance over her shoulder and immediately wished he hadn’t as he was confronted with the sight of Evan and Stella locked in a really gentle, sweet but deep kiss. Jake had never seen another guy or man kissing her and his guts clenched as he watched.

Here they were, in the same room at NYE for the first time in years and they weren’t together. And Jensen didn’t like it, in fact he hated it. It was all wrong.

“He doesn’t want hot chocolate Britney, he want’s Stel…” Grace’s words echoed around his mind, trust a 6 year old to point out the obvious. Fuck, he did want her. He wanted her back. Real bad.

He untangled himself from Britney with the excuse of wishing everyone a Happy New Year and moved around the room, grateful to escape for a moment. He hugged Rey, shook Dick’s hand, hugged and kissed Jules and then…

“Happy New Year JJ.” Stella smiled softly at him.

He swallows, “Yeah, erm, back at ya, Stel.”

There was a pause, and it was awkward, in a way it should never have been, especially between them but eventually Jake moved forward and hugged her, closing his eyes. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, holding her close, breathing in the familiar smell of her perfume that she hadn’t changed in years, and it was too much. He stepped back, releasing her before he turned to Agent Shit Name and shook his hand politely. With another deep breath he turned and made his way quickly out of the kitchen and into the den at the back of the house.

He needed something stronger than beer.

He poured himself a healthy measure of his dad’s scotch and stood there, studying a few of the photos on the sideboard simply enjoying the peace, having finally shaken off Britney. Yeah, he was gonna have to put an end to that tomorrow.

Great. What a way to start the New Year off…

He stood there, lost in his own thoughts, for god knows how long, until a voice broke through the fog in his brain.

“Your father is as clueless as I am as to why you’re acting like that.”

Jensen turned to see Clay watching him and he rolled his eyes “Acting like what?” he asked, although he knew full well what Clay was going to say.

“Like a headless chicken, running around making the dumbest decisions known to man.”

Jensen groaned “I don’t need this Clay.”

“I beg to differ. Someone needs to knock some sense in you, Jensen.”

Jake sighed heavily as he shook his head, before he knocked back the scotch in his hand and reached for the bottle.

“Don’t think you’ve drunk enough?” Clay asked as Jensen shook his head, pouring himself another healthy measure.

“No, I can still see straight.”

“Jensen…”

“I need to forget Clay.” Jensen said softly, picking up the glass, his eyes on the amber liquid.

“Forget what?”

“That I love her” with a sniff Jensen knocked back the drink in one, wincing slightly before he wiped his mouth with his spare hand.

“Good luck with that.” Clay scoffed “Because the only person who’s been dumb enough to even try and deny it is you. But I got one question Jensen… why they fuck did you do your best to throw her into that guy’s arms?”

“I thought I was doing the right thing Clay, cutting her loose.” Jensen shrugged “I mean, I tried it 5 years ago and then...we just…”

“That’s not an answer.” Clay said simply.

“Look, I saw it in her eyes, when I said I got my posting overseas and we were gonna be split up.”

“Saw what?” Clay’s voice was ladled with exhasperation and Jake’s head tipped back in equal frustration as his voice rose

“Fear, Clay.” Jensen looked at him “Fear. I mean she never said it but I could tell.”

“Fear?”

“Yes, fear about what was gonna happen. She’d already lost her father, how could I ever put her through the possibility of losing someone like that again?” Jensen hung his head a little, glancing at the empty glass in his hand. Now he’d said it out loud, it sounded even dumber than it did in his head.

“Admirable, and you know what? I kinda get it bud, I do, but only one problem.”

“I know, it didn’t work.” Jensen shrugged, grabbing the bottle of whisky once more.

“No, it didn’t.” Clay looked at him, “For fucks sake Jensen, did you really think dumping her would just turn off her feelings like that?”

“Well, no, but, at at least if we weren’t together she wouldn’t have had to play the grieving partner part for so long, she would have been able to move on without feeling guilty…”

Silence fell in the room, punctuated by the sloshing of liquor hitting the crystal tumbler as once more Jensen poured himself a few fingers worth before Clay spoke once more.

“God you’re a dumbass.”

“Yeah.” Jensen nodded. “No arguments here.”

“Question is, what you gonna do about it?”

“What can I do about it?” Jensen shrugged “Looks like she finally moved on. Guess I did her a favour, huh? Left the door right open for Agent Shit Name.”

“You know, what it’s worth, as nice a guy as Evan is, I don’t think she cares for him half as much as she does you.” Clay’s tone was soft “Maybe in time she might but, well, I guess that’s up to you.”

“Me?” Jensen frowned.

“Yeah, you. And the way I see it, you got 2 choices” Clay looked at him. “You either roll over and die. Or you fight for your girl.”

Jensen sighed “She’s not my girl anymore Clay.”

“Only because you told her she isn't”

Jensen looked at him, contemplating his words and he wanted to argue back, he really did, but he couldn’t. Instead he shook his head sadly, as Clay laid a hand on his shoulder, gave it a squeeze and left.

Jensen stayed where he was for a moment before he topped his glass up and headed back into the hallway, pausing in the doorway of the kitchen. His baby blue eyes glanced around the room and stopped their roving as he saw Evan with his arm round Stel as they stood talking to Pooch and Cougar.

Fuck, Clay was right-he did have two options, and he knew which one he was choosing.

It wasn’t gonna be easy, hell, he didn’t even know if it would be possible because everyone was right, Stella and Agent Shit name really did seem good together. But one thing he did know is he could fight all day long, what did he have to lose?

Nothing, because as it stood he’d already lost it.

[velvetafterdark]

Deleted Scene + Director’s cut: Ch 15

Chapter 15 was going to start out completely different. this was before I thought I’d take on the swin/dle arc, so ratt/rap was going to stay un-arrested.

This one is actually pretty worldbuilding heavy, and while I do prefer how I went with things, I do kinda wish I could’ve found way to make this work, especially since I love the character I introduce in this chapter, and would have loved to bring her into the story. Maybe I’ll revisit this theme eventually, but this scene in its unaltered form still warms my heart.

It’s hard to go wrong with a character using their girth to intimidate someone.

Starsc/ream was an enigma, but at bare minimum, it was easy to tell when something put him in a good mood. He was just that cantankerous when operating at baseline.

He’d already started getting laid regularly, so now, by process of elimination, Rattrap had to guess that Wheelj/ack said “yes” when asked to be his ami/ca.

It wasn’t hard to figure out; Sta/rscream waited up for him at the first stoplight, and simply told him to shut up when he teased. No crazy maneuvers or anything.

 They had a meeting at the park, which was unusual for their line of work, but Ratt/rap fought to be part of this project. Today would involve a project involving community comprehension of beas/tmodes vs mech/animals. They were meeting Ratt/rap’s contact to discuss an education program so people would learn about the key differences between Cybert/ronians with an animalistic form and wildlife that operated completely on instinct.

Teaching people the difference between beastf/ormers and Cybert/ronian wildlife was important, and it started with sparklings.

Rattr/ap liked kids; wanted some of his own someday, even. But most stand/ardformers were not well adjusted to understand that a bea/stformer was not just an animal that turned into a person. Centuries, even millennia of prejudice took just as long to unlearn, so it was easier to impart compassion and understanding onto bitlets than try to undo lifetimes of bigotry. 

His contact liked kids too, which surprised him; she was an ex-con that looked the part. He expected her to be no-nonsense, and she was, but she was surprisingly patient. He’d never met her in person; only through email and over comms.

She was a blue coug/araider, she had a gnarly scar across her muzzle. She’d been alt-mode “resolved”, meaning she turned into something that was only beneficial when used by a standa/rdformer, and she’d been an enforcer in the Decept/icon ranks. That’s all he knew.

 Rat/trap felt a little guilty using his root mode to order himself a soup-up when he knew that bots like her didn’t even have that option, but just getting through the day without someone saying something awful to him about his beast mode was all he could hope for.

Starsc/ream has elected to sit under a tree instead of on the bench (heh, fatty), but he looks up when he hears the concession’s clerk snapping at someone.

“Get lost, you mangy cat!”

“Buddy, I’m not a cyb/ercat. I’m a person, and I just want to buy some ene/rgon. I have money.”

“Root-mode only!”

“This is my root mode—”

 Ah, that must be her.

Before Ratt/rap can get up to intervene, Stars/cream heaves himself off the ground and walks over.

…Ohhhohoho! That poor bastard! The boss is going to give him pit.

 Starsc/ream remembers this clerk from the night Whe/eljack tried to punch him. It’s a wonder he’s not fired. No matter; he will be by the time Starsc/ream is done with him.

He sidesteps around the cassette and hefts his massive belly onto the counter.

“Is there a problem?” He asks, his voice sickly sweet.

The clerk pales. Looks like he recognizes Stars/cream in turn.

“N…no. Just…trying to keep animals at bay.”

“That’s not an animal; that’s a Reco/rdicon.” Starscr/eam snorts. “…Ah, you must be a refugee. That’s why you’re so sheltered! See, during the war, beast-type Cybertr/onians like this fem were outfitted with a cassette alt-mode. Helped them do their job better. I assure you she’s very much a person.”

The clerk shuts his mouth.

Starsc/ream leans in, smiling a little too coldly. The counter creaks under his weight, as if to remind this privileged little clerk who he’s messing with.

“You seem not to care much for anyone unlike you,” he threatens, well-versed in this exact tone for millions of years. “So perhaps I should…enable you to endure the same?”

“…Are…are you going to hurt me?” The clerk eyes the phone.

Wouldn’t that be a dream? But no; Starsc/ream knows how to dispose of people cleanly.

“Of course not. I’d simply let your boss know that you’ve gone and started another fight.”

Ah, that beautiful fear in his eyes. Stars/cream could eat it up.

“Tend this fem’s order. And next time, think before you open your mangy little mouth.”

 “You must be Ratt/rap,” The pantherbot states once she’s set down her dish beside the bench. “I’m How/lback, nice to meet you.” Her tail raises high as she laps up ener/gon.

Ratt/rap’s ears point forward, and he chatters his teeth. “Pleasure to make yous acquaintance, miss.”

Stars/cream comes over and seats himself under the tree once more.

“Starsc/ream,” Howlb/ack licks her chops before dragging her tongue over her paw. “fascinating how you’ve grown fat, yet you’re as hungry for conflict as always.”

“What can I say? I’m insatiable.”

“Wait, wait, you two know each otha’?”

“She was one of Soun/dwave’s.” Starsc/ream checks his nails. “Didn’t scratch me nearly as much as Rav/age.”

“Charming, isn’t he?” her lips curl into a snarl.

“I’ll say.” Rat/trap boggles. He likes her already.

“Hmph!”

[flamehairedwritings]

The Fiancé: Chapter Ten

Characters: Steve Rogers x Female Plus-Size Reader

Rating: The whole series will be E, 18+ ONLY

Summary: A lie about your best friend at a Christmas party spirals into world news, but a previously unknown threat leaves you having to now live the lie of Steve Rogers being your fiancé.

Originally based on the prompt ‘Character A’s ex will be at the Christmas Party A is attending. Character B poses as A’s fiancé,’ by @alloftheprompts.

A/N: The whole series will include swearing, alcohol, threat, injury, violence, apartment sharing, protected sex.

The Fiancé Masterlist

All Works Masterlist

Read on AO3

Please don’t copy or steal my work, and please don’t post it on any other sites; credit does not count.

—

The Truth

Steve grunts as he winces. 

Opening his eyes, he finds himself lying on the floor of the main foyer, staring up at what remains of the glass railing the force of the explosion had sent him through.

Rolling onto his front, he pushes himself up, shards of glass falling off of him and dropping to the floor. He can feel a few tiny cuts on his face and hands, and there’s definitely some bruising on his ribs, but he ignores the ache of them as he surveys the rubble.

He’d been looking at you, his heart pounding, despair and relief fighting within him with every word you said because yes, you shouldn’t be with him, because it’s not a normal life, and you deserve a safe, normal, threat-free life, and he knows he can’t provide that.

As you’d argued against your own words, though, after he’d made his statements, he just couldn’t help the ache of love in his chest. Was it selfish to want you? Selfish to wish you would be with him anyway? Despite everything? He’d told himself it was, and that just made his heart hurt even more.

He’d let you speak, gazing at you, fighting with himself, and he’d heard the elevator arrive, the doors opening. His eyes had lifted from you for a second, seeing who it was out of habit, before they’d returned to you.

And then he’d looked back.

It had been a man in tactical gear, nothing like SHIELD agents wore, and he’d been staring at him, his hand going into his pocket.

He’d had just enough time to shove you out of the way before the man had thrown something in his direction.

Coughing on the dust that swirls in the air, he calls your name out, staring up at the balcony, hoping, praying, he’d gotten you out of the way.

His earpiece crackles to life, and his heart lifts.

“Steve? Y/N? Are you okay?”

Nat.

He finds the gem on the bracelet and presses down. “Nat, where are you?”

“I’m on the tenth floor, they’re coming down from the roof, we’re blocking off the levels from here. The explosion was—”

“Right where we were.”

“What?”

He’s moving over the rubble and glass now, heading for the nearby stairwell.

“We were round the corner from the party, a guy was in the elevator and he threw something, a grenade, I think, not strong enough to kill me but strong enough.”

“Jesus, are you both okay?”

“I am, but I don’t have Y/N with me.”

Neither of them say it, but both of them are very much aware that you should be able to hear them, and they haven’t heard from you.

Steve opens the stairwell door, finding it dark, the light not coming on, and starts to move up the stairs, keeping his voice low so it doesn’t echo. “I’m heading back up there now, what’s going on?”

He can hear people crying and calling out in the background when she speaks.

“Well, they’ve killed the power but Stark obviously has a back-up generator in place, we’re just being careful about where we’re using it. We’re getting everyone out, it seems like it’s all clear out the front for now.”

“Well, they only want one hostage.”

“Yeah, and they’re not gonna get him.”

Reaching the floor you were both on, he opens the door and steps out, the corridor dark, the dust still trying to settle not helping matters. 

“Steve?” Nat prompts when he doesn’t answer.

“Yeah, sorry,” he murmurs, moving a little more cautiously. “I’m where the explosion was.”

“All right, Barnes is on his way down, keep me updated.”

“Okay.”

Silence falls and he steps out onto the balcony you’d led him to. The floor is scorched from where the explosion went off, part of the elevator on fire, and rubble, debris and glass cover the floor. Stepping carefully, he moves along, staring at the dust on the ground for any indications of where you might be. There’s some prints in it of shoes, leading away, back behind him, but that could have been from someone else because there’s two different ones, and, then... further down, a disturbance in it that suggests someone was on the floor and got up. 

It has to be you. 

Pausing, he returns his attention to the shoe marks, his gaze following them back to where he’d come from. 

Who the hell is with you?

—

You can hear Nat and Steve in your ear, but you try to tune them out. 

You want to press the gem on your bracelet so they can hear but you’re frozen, staring at the gun Joe has in his hand, wearing a cheap suit. There’s something else in his other hand, but you can’t make out what it is. He’s not aimed the gun at you, but when your eyes return to meet his, there’s a hardness to them that’s unfamiliar.

“What the hell are you doing here, Joe?”

“My job.”

He tosses what’s in his hand onto the table behind you and your eyes follow it. It’s some kind of a thin, floppy mask—

Oh, no.

Steve had told you about this kind of technology before.

Joe had used it to put Steve’s face on his own, but how the hell did he have access to this?

Your eyes quickly dart back to him. He’s still staring at you, unmoving, blocking the door.

“Your job?”

The gun twitches at his side slightly as a faint smile appears. “They recruited me. Head-hunted me, actually. Said I have what it takes, that I am valuable to the operation.”

Your heart thumps against your chest.

Oh my God.

You swallow hard. “The... the group that wants to kill Steve recruited you?”

He nods, an arrogant, satisfied smirk starting to pull at his lips. “Yeah. When they told me their plan, I thought it’d be a good way to make some quick money, easy, too. All I had to do was turn up, get you alone somehow when they created the distraction, and then wait for them to come and get you.”

He’s enjoying this.

“Come and get me? Why?”

He shrugs. “You’re Steve’s girl, right? He won’t want you in danger, will he?”

He’s right... Oh, fuck, he’s right.

Your throat is dry, your head is pounding, your heart is racing.

Get out of this. Get out somehow. Distract him, think, think, think.

And then it comes to you.

Maybe it shouldn’t delight you as much as it does that you know how to hurt him... but then again you want to really fucking hurt him.

Exhaling a breath, hoping he doesn’t hear how shaky it is, you tilt your head.

“Oh, Joe...” you sigh pityingly.

Faint confusion flashes across his features, his brow dipping. “... What?”

You give a small, patronising smile. “You don’t realise yet?”

He’s silent, and you can practically see the cogs working, trying to figure out what he’s missed.

You sigh again, a corner of your mouth lifting. “They want you to take the fall.”

His frown deepens. “What?”

“Oh, they’ve really played you for a fool.” You don’t know how you’re keeping your voice so steady, even as your shaking hands grip your bag. “Who better to take the fall if it all goes wrong than the ex-boyfriend?” You let out a small scoff, trying to bolster yourself as much as rattle him. “We’re in the Avengers Tower, Joe. Do you really think you’re going to get out of here?”

He looks at you, silent, hand twitching.

You hold his gaze, trying to look as sympathetic as possible, your earpiece silent.

And then he smiles.

“You’re underestimating us.”

Your heart stops. “No, I—”

He points at his chest. “You’re underestimating me. I’m not an idiot.”

You smile quickly. “I know, I know you’re not—”

“You never acted like it.” His sharp words cut you off, silencing you. His jaw moves as he huffs out a breath. “... I saw how you’d look at me sometimes, like you were, like you were cringing. Embarrassed of me. And you never invited me to hang out.”

You frown, swallowing. “What?”

He gestures at you. “With you and Steve. When I’d say why don’t we do something, and you said you already had plans to meet with Steve you never invited me. Why?”

Your mouth is moving as you desperately search for an answer that will appease him. “I—”

“Is it because you were ashamed of me?” He’s staring at you, eyebrows raised. “Think I wasn’t good enough to meet him, huh?”

You’re shaking your head, trying to smile. “No, no, not at all, he’s just, he’s just a private man—”

“How long have you been fucking him?”

A rush of breath leaves you as you pause, your lips parted. “What?”

His jaw moves, his features tight as he tilts his head. “Were you fucking him when we were together?”

“No.”

He scoffs, tapping the gun against his leg. “You sure about that? Sure you want to lie to me right now?”

Your breath is caught in your throat but you still manage to implore, “I’m telling you the truth, I didn’t cheat on you, I—”

Gunfire erupts from somewhere close outside the room.

Both of you jerk at the sound, you stiffening and staring at the door, Joe spinning and raising the gun.

“What’s that, what’s happening?” you demand and he stutters, his hand shaking, “I-I don’t, I don’t know, this wasn’t part of the plan—”

The door bursts open, making Joe stumble back as you do, a chair knocking against your lower back. Some kind of smoke pours into the room, making your eyes sting, and you cough on it as you quickly go to cover your mouth.

Joe splutters, too, bending slightly.

A voice bursts through on your earpiece, startling you again.

“Nat, Bucky and I have got a group of ‘em here, they’ve got a lot of firepower...”

Steve.

He’s close by, he’s so close—

A figure enters the room, a covering over their mouth and nose, and their arm lashes out, knocking something against Joe’s head and he cries out, falling to his knees.

Clutching his head, he groans and you stare at the figure as you cough, gunfire continuing outside. All you can make out is that they’re in black tactical gear, a handgun strapped to their thigh, and half of their face is covered.

“Come on!” the voice shouts, reaching out to you and they grip your arm, making you move.

Pulling you out of the room, you can’t stop to pause because they instantly start to move down the corridor. You try to look behind you, the gunfire rapid and unrelenting, but you can barely see what’s happening. The smoke starts to thin out as you reach the end of the corridor and the person pulls you around it before releasing you.

Your throat is prickling from the smoke and you swallow a couple of times as you catch your breath.

It has to be an agent who’s saved you, it—

You look up at the person as they pull the face covering, a bandanna, down and— 

Your heart stops.

Aaron looks at you, silent, his jaw tight.

“Oh my God...” You can’t take a deep enough breath as you stare at him, taking a step back. “... What the fuck are you doing here, Aaron?”

He presses his lips together, then grips your arm again, pulling you down the corridor.

Your mind racing, with the movement your bracelet shifts and you swiftly curl your fingers, catch it, and press them against the gem.

 Swallowing thickly, you trying to keep pace with him as he strides, staring at him. “You’re with them, aren’t you? Where are we going?”

“Somewhere safe.”

Steve’s voice, the frantic tone making your heart ache, sounds in your ear. “Y/N?!”

Nat’s voice sounds a split-second later. “What’s going on?!”

“Aaron’s got her.” You can hear the anger and despair in his voice, the regret.

“What?”

Get them information, keep him talking.

They go silent as you speak, wanting to get every detail they can.

“Why are you doing this?”

He’s leading you down corridors easily, like he knows exactly where he’s going, and he doesn’t say a word.

You lick your dry lips, staring at doors you pass, trying to find something you can use to identify where you are, but there’s nothing, no plaques, nothing that stands out.

“Aaron, please.”

When he remains silent, you start to try to pull away, digging your heels into the floor. He clenches his jaw and just uses his strength to keep you moving. It’s not until you start to thrash slightly, trying to wrench yourself out of his hold, gritting your teeth, that he stops abruptly and grips both of your arms, looking down at you.

“Hey, hey, stop it, stop.”

His hands tightening makes you pause, your jaw clenched as you stare at him, knowing the anger that’s blazing in your eyes.

His jaw moves and he relaxes his grip a little, though only a little. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what.”

He exhales a short breath, his fingers flexing slightly, and his throat moves as he swallows. “Look... I like you, Y/N, I really do, I hate that you got mixed up in this, but...” You stay silent as he pauses, and so does your earpiece. He licks his lips. “... I was stationed to keep an eye on you. They planned on using your relationship with Rogers against him. As I got to know you, though, I... I took some pictures, sent them to him to scare him. I thought he’d do the right thing and leave you alone but he didn’t and you weren’t meant to be involved, they told me you wouldn’t be, but... you can go now, I’ll get you out of here, I know it’s not real—”

“What the hell do you mean?” You just say the first thing that comes to mind, your heart aching and mind buzzing because Steve heard all of that, he heard his worst fears come to life; that your relationship has put you in danger.

Aaron shrugs slightly, keeping his gaze on yours. “We hacked your phone, Y/N,” he states, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “We were listening to your conversations. It was too easy, SHIELD really needs to do better.”

Despite his seriousness, there’s a faintly smug, arrogance to his tone. It makes your blood boil, and terrifies you.

“Aaron—”

He’s already pulling you into a walk again. “Come on, I can get you out of here, you shouldn’t be here for this—”

“For when they try to kill Steve, you mean.” You try to wrench your arm out of his grip but he pauses once more, his fingers tightening.

Exhaling a harsh breath, he checks the corridor behind you before turning his attention to you. “Look... I’m sorry that this is going to hurt you, but this has to be done.”

“No, it doesn’t—”

“Yes, it does.” He shakes you in his grip in his certainty. At your eyes widening, his features soften a little and his grip loosens, though again, only a little. “Rogers symbolises the evil of America. The America that starts wars where they don’t belong and takes what isn’t theirs.”

Your throat is dry but you speak anyway. “That’s not Steve’s fault, he doesn’t stand for that—”

“Doesn’t he?” Aaron’s brow dips. “He’s the emblem of America. I’m sorry, Y/N, but it has to be done if America is to be free of its poisoned patriotism. Let’s go.”

You’re moving again and you don’t know what else to say. You feel sick but not unsafe with him and it’s an awful blend that has your stomach turning.

In the silence, Steve is talking, his voice low and quiet, he must be taking cover somewhere. “Nat, didn’t you check him out?”

“I did,” comes the reply, then a burst of gunfire, then she continues, “He came up clean, absolutely nothing on him.”

Aaron pushes a door open, taking you down a winding flight of stairs. Looking at him, Nat words ring in your ears.

“Aaron isn’t your real name, is it?” you ask quietly, your fingers remaining on the gem.

He glances at you before looking ahead again, taking you further down into the depths of the building. “No. They created a new identity for me, pulled me out of the deepest depression, you can’t even imagine. Gave me a purpose.”

You suddenly hear gunshots from somewhere above, faint and echoing, but you continue talking. “What’s your real name?” 

He doesn’t say anything for a few moments.

“Evan.”

Your voice softens as you look at him. “Evan, please, who’s ‘they’?”

You could hear Nat in your earpiece, telling Steve she’s searching the database for Evan along with the scan of him she has logged from the sunglasses.

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Yes, you can. I can help you.”

“I don’t need help.”

“Yes, you do.” You lick your lips, swallowing as you try to think quickly. “This group, whoever they are, they don’t have your best interests at heart—”

“And you know all about my best interests, do you?”

He doesn’t say it with any anger or malice, his calmness so unsettling.

“I know what’s right and wrong, Evan—”

“So do I.” You stare at him, so sure of himself, so absolutely certain. “And America? This is all very wrong.”

“Please—”

“They said it was too easy to hack SHIELD.” You remain silent, letting him talk, letting Steve and Nat listen. “To keep who I am and they are concealed. Oh, that reminds me...” Stopping on a landing, with his free hand he removes your bracelet. All you can do is watch as he presses his thumb against the gem, holding your gaze as he speaks, knowing they can hear, “Suppose they got some information, huh? It won’t matter. They won’t find anything.” He tosses the bracelet aside, the clattering of it on the metal stairs echoing, and then he’s removing your earpiece, and the last thing you hear is Steve saying he’s coming, you’re going to be okay, you’re—

He drops the earpiece.

And then he’s leading you down the stairs again, and as you peer over the side there is an end in sight, only two more flights to go to wherever he’s taking you to. You lick your lips, trying to think of what to say, hoping, desperately, that if you keep talking Evan will reveal something, maybe more willing to speak now they can’t hear you.

“Evan, when we... when we talked, all those messages we sent each other... was that just you or was it them, too?”

He looks at you, and a light smile suddenly lifts his lips. “It was just me.”

You take a breath. “I know you’re a good person, then.”

He scoffs, almost laughing, leading you off the last step, on to concrete and to a metal door. “C’mon, Y/N, I know I am. You’re just not willing to open your mind and see the truth.”

Opening the heavy door, that, due to the power being off, now freely opens, he pulls you through as desperation and panic starts to claw its way back up within you.

You’re in a larger, darker corridor now, pipes running either side of you with a tank to your right. Three steps take you down into it, the door closing loudly, and you just start talking.

“Evan, you said you liked me, if you really did then you’d let me go, I want to be with—”

He sighs. “I’m trying to save your life, Y/N—”

“And I’m trying to save yours, do you—”

“I already have been saved.”

It’s no use, you know it is. You go for your last resort.

Pulling a face, you release a rush of breath as you slow as best as you can, Evan still pulling on your arm. “Evan, please, wait, I can’t walk anymore.”

He doesn’t look at you, nodding ahead. “We’re nearly there, we’re—”

You dig your heels in once more, pulling back. “Please can I just have a moment, my feet hurt, I think glass got through my shoes.”

Finally looking at you, he pauses and presses his lips together, but after a few moments he nods and releases you. Trying not to exhale too relieved a breath, you lean against the wall.

You grip your bag with both hands to try and hide that they’re shaking, when you feel it.

Your gaze darting up to him, you watch him fold his arms, looking along the corridor in the direction he was taking you, trying to keep control of his impatience.

Keeping your eyes on him, your hand slips into your bag, finding the gun, and as you withdraw it you take a couple of steps backwards, and aim it at him. He hears you moving and his head whips round, his mouth opening. He pauses when his gaze lands on the gun, then you. You don’t say anything as you take another step backwards.

He doesn’t move, his arms remaining folded. “You don’t know how to use that.”

“Yes, I do.”

“No, you—”

You both hear the ‘click’ of the safety as you press it off.

“Are you sure you want to try me.”

Evan lets his arms fall slowly to his sides, and your eyes dart down momentarily to where his hand is, inches from his gun.

“You’re not a killer,” he says gently.

Your jaw clenches. “Who said anything about killing.”

He inhales a breath and exhales it slowly, a note of disappointment to it. “Y/N, I can get you out of here, both of us out of here. We can both walk away.”

You almost want to laugh at that. “I don’t think you will.”

“I would for you.”

The words hang in the air. You hate that his features have softened, hate that he sounds genuine, hate that part of you believes him. Your fingers flex slightly, adjusting your grip on the gun.

“You’re lying.”

“No, I’m not.”

Your lips press together and for some reason you feel tears pricking at your eyes because you hate this, you hate that—

The door behind you crashes open suddenly.

Evan freezes and you spin with a sharp inhale.

Thor moves down the steps slowly, Mjolnir in his hand, swinging slightly by his side. Raising his eyebrows, the god smiles easily. “Hello. Is this one of the little party poopers? I was having such a nice time.”

“Thor,” you breathe with a smile, relief washing over you as your arm lowers.

His smile widens, but there’s a hardness to his eyes as he locks them on Evan. “Sam and Steve are on the way, and they’re both very angry. I really wouldn’t want to be you right now.”

There’s silence.

And then it happens in seconds.

One hand is on your arm, the other on your wrist, and you’re wrenched backwards, your back colliding with Evan’s chest, and then the gun is out of your hand and your bag is dropping to the floor and then—

The barrel of the gun is pressed against your temple.

Thor has stilled and you’re frozen, eyes wide, heart pounding, staring at him.

“You’re gonna let us go,” Evan says evenly, his other arm around your chest, high up on it, nearer to your throat.

The god raises his free hand slightly, his smile lingering, almost like he’s amused at the sheer audacity. “You think you’re a smart little man. You won’t get far, though.”

“Far enough,” comes the sharp answer. 

He’s already moving you backwards, keeping your body tight against his, and Thor’s gaze shifts to meet yours, a lighter smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. You assume it’s to reassure you, but you don’t feel in any way relieved or optimistic as a gun is held to your head and someone you had once trusted hauls you backwards to an unknown destination.

“Oh, you would for me, would you,” you echo his words from only moments before, your voice shaking.

“I’m not gonna hurt you,” he murmurs, and you latch on to it, your mind too frightened to think it through.

“Thor, he won’t hurt me! He—”

The gun suddenly disappears from your head. His arm darting out, Evan pulls the trigger and starts firing at Thor. You cry out as you flinch, bullets ricocheting off of pipes, denting them and making some burst, steam erupting. 

You hear Thor grunt as he’s suddenly obscured from your vision, white-hot steam filling the corridor and you have no time to call out to him as Evan continues to haul you down the corridor, his arm now practically around your neck.

“Let me go!” you shout, trying to push his arm away but he only tightens it.

“I won’t hurt you,” he repeats but you can hear how distracted he is, his head going from whipping back to check behind him is clear to looking ahead to see if Thor will emerge.

“You already are,” you hiss, your nails digging into his arm, but he ignores it, barely feeling them through the material of his shirt.

The gun suddenly moves out of your sight and you hear the sound of a heavy door opening and a rush of cold air. Pulling you through it, he releases you finally, but only to shove the door shut and then he’s gripping your bicep and forcing you to walk beside him, having to keep up with his strides.

You’re in an underground parking lot, another fucking underground parking lot, and it’s filled with cars, lights illuminating every step of the way. Your shoes echo across the concrete floor, the only sound that fills the area. Glancing at Evan, his eyes are looking ahead, knowing where’s he going.

He’s going to take me to a car and then he’s going to drive us away and—

The lights go out.

Evan stops abruptly, his fingers digging into your arm. You hiss slightly at the feel of it but it’s quickly forgotten, the darkness surrounding you making you swallow. A light behind you, by the door you’d exited through, is the only one still on, flickering, going out completely for a few seconds before resuming its flickering.

All you can hear is your own, short breathing and Evan’s, harsh, tense.

Then, there’s a loud, echoing sound not too far away, like something heavy denting metal.

You hear it again before what sounds like shoes landing on the concrete floor. Then there’s footsteps, drawing closer.

Evan tightens his grip on you, pressing the barrel of the gun against your arm, looking around. You feel him freeze suddenly, and as your eyes dart about and then you do the same, watching the figure emerge from the shadows.

The flickering light barely illuminates Steve but you can make out his hard features, eyes burning into Evan, his suit jacket gone, sleeves haphazardly rolled up, and his shield glinting on his left arm.

Your heart almost stops in relief.

You hear Evan take a breath, but it sounds steady; he’s not afraid.

“Rogers.”

Steve’s jaw moves minutely. “Evan.”

Neither of them move, but you’re not frightened anymore because there’s no way Evan can win against him, not on a normal day, and particularly not today when Steve Rogers looks like barely restrained rage personified.

Evan knows that, too.

The barrel of the gun returns to your temple, but you’re still not afraid.

“I’d let us pass if I were you, Rogers.”

Steve's gaze, which so far has been fixed solely on Evan, flicks to you. He gives no indication of a reaction as he gauges yours, assesses how calm you are, Evan’s words, then his eyes return to him.

“You aren’t going to hurt her.”

You try to keep your breathing even, try not to let Evan know how relieved and relaxed you are because he won’t. In his own twisted way, he likes you, really likes you, enough to risk all of this and take you away. 

“I wouldn’t be so sure. Desperate people do desperate things, like cling on to a former way of life.”

You see Steve’s shoulders drop slightly, like he’s just exhaled a breath... No, he sighed.

“If you’re trying to insinuate that’s me, then you’re even more stupid than you look.”

You freeze, and Evan pauses... and you realise that this isn’t what he’d been expecting. Of course, he’d probably never spoken to Steve properly before. He’d have been shown old reels of film, been told the stories that, over the years, had grown in detail, left in the good parts, omitted the bad, glorified Steve and everything he’d done. He knew the legend, not the man. He’d been expecting some kind of pontificating, to be talked down, an attempt at reasoning, and Evan expected to be able to counter every word. With this, with the man Steve Rogers actually is, weary, angry, and fiercely protective of those he loves, he can’t do that.

Steve continues as silence stretches. “I don’t know exactly what you’ve been told, some of it might be true, but your fight is with me, not her. She doesn’t need to be part of this. You’re getting her out of here? Let her go, then. She can leave and it can be just you and me.”

You’re almost holding your breath because his grip on your arm has relaxed a touch, and you desperately hope his ego or fear will get the better of him.

Instead, though, Evan smiles suddenly. “Very heroic words, but she won’t go. Will you?”

He tugs on your arm, making you look at him and it’s so sudden you can’t hide the panic in your eyes because it hits you; he doesn’t need to appeal to Steve.

He needs to appeal to you.

You’re the weak-link.

From Evan’s expression... Steve isn’t going to have to try to save you, you’re going to have to try to save him.

He shakes you lightly, suddenly, and you realise it’s not a rhetorical question, he’s waiting for an answer.

“I...” 

Smiling sympathetically, he then lowers his head and whispers in your ear so quietly, “They’re on the way, Y/N. You think they would’ve let him just slip away? They could be here right now, hiding, aiming at him, waiting for the right moment. Waiting to see if I’ll handle it. Maybe this is a test for me, huh? Maybe I planned this all along. Maybe I have an earpiece of my own, or a tracker on me.”

You don’t know, even with his hearing, if Steve will have heard but it doesn’t matter because Evan’s got what he wanted; you’re rattled, doubt in your mind.

And he knows you won’t risk anything when it comes to Steve.

“I don’t think we’ll be alone for long,” Evan almost croons, making you swallow because you don’t know if he’s bluffing or not. “I might not be table to take you on but me and six other guys...”

“You don’t know Steve, then,” you snap quietly.

You think you catch a corner of Steve’s mouth lifting slightly.

Evan just continues to smile, though. “And he doesn’t know us. So what’s gonna happen, Y/N? Are we staying or going?”

‘We’.

Whatever happens, he won’t be letting you do it alone.

And you don’t know what to do.

“Make a decision, Y/N.” The gun moves from your head, and he aims it at Steve as he keeps his eyes on you.

You look at Steve, your heart pounding. He’s watching you and you have no idea what he’s thinking, his features unreadable. You must look as panicked as you feel, though, because his expression softens a touch, and then his gaze falls for a split-second, and your eyes follow, dropping to his hand. His fingers are curled; he’s pressing down on the gem.

Nat has heard every word.

Hope starts to build within you.

Evan might have people coming, but so does Steve.

You lift your chin an inch. “Staying.”

Evan pauses, his eyebrows rising. “Are we?”

He’s still looking at you so he doesn’t catch Steve’s small nod.

A smile starts to pull at your lips. “Yes.”

“Calling my bluff, huh.” Evan exhales a breath.

He lowers the gun.

Two gunshots ring out.

You cry out, the sound echoing horribly, hands flying up to cover your mouth as a bullet buries into Steve’s chest and shoulder, making him grunt and lurch forward from the impact.

You watch in horror as three men in unrecognisable tactical gear suddenly appear from behind a column, moving forward, their guns raised.

Another shot fires, tearing through Steve’s leg, forcing him down onto one knee with a grunt.

“Steve!”

You try to lunge forward but Evan’s tightened his grip on your arm and is pulling you to an elevator nearby.

“No! Stop it! Stop!” you yell, hitting at his arm but he just carries on and all you can do is watch as the men near Steve, their weapons still trained on him.

You hear the elevator doors open behind you, keeping your eyes on Steve, watching as he grunts again as one man kicks the back of his knee, making him drop down onto his hands, the shield clanging against the concrete.

Evan drags you into the elevator and jabs a button on the panel.

The last thing you see as the doors slide shut is Steve pushing himself up, and just before they close there’s a burst of gunfire.

You stiffen, your breath catching in your throat.

Silence.

You can feel tears sliding down your cheeks as you stare at the doors and release a jagged sob, the only other sound the humming of the elevator as it moves.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no...

Despite the fact you have nowhere to go, Evan hasn’t released you. He exhales another breath as he glances at you. 

“You can save your tears.”

“You watch someone you love get shot then try and tell me how to feel,” you snap, your voice breaking.

He scoffs. “You love him? What a twisted case of Stockholm Syndrome—”

“Shut up. Shut your fucking mouth.”

He does but you can’t feel any relief because oh my God, Steve...

He’s stronger than the average person, he can recover more quickly, they won’t have hit anything vital, they won’t have, they won’t have, they won’t have killed him, they won’t have, they can’t have, the gunfire could have been agents, they could have come for him, he isn’t dead, he isn’t dead...

You don’t realise that you’re shaking and actually murmuring the words out loud, over and over again, Evan watching you with a faint frown.

He isn’t dead, he isn’t dead, he isn’t dead...

There’s several minutes of nothing but the humming and your muttering. Evan stays silent.

You don’t notice that he’s holding your arm tighter, though you’d never believe him if he told you it is because you are shaking so badly.

The elevator doors open once it reaches the floor he’d requested, you haven’t bothered to look which one, and he leads you out and down a corridor, again like he knows where he’s going.

You let him, having no strength or energy to resist, just chanting over and over in your mind as you stare, unseeing, ‘He isn’t dead, he isn’t dead, he isn’t dead...’.

You’re then in another elevator, chanting it over and over like a prayer and a wish while Evan opens the control panel and overrides it. Chanting it as the elevator ascends. Chanting it as he tugs you out and across a room. Chanting it as he—

The freezing night air hits you like a slap in the face, forcing a rush of breath out of you as you blink and return to your body. Taking in a gasping breath, the air almost burning your throat, you head whips round to take in where you are.

You’re on a balcony, a huge balcony, with a glass railing around it, some kind of a runway to your right and behind you there’s a huge room with sofas and a bar and it’s all so familiar—

Oh, no, you know where you are.

You’ve seen this balcony before thousands of times, on the news, in newspapers, in adverts and shows.

This is the fucking balcony where the Battle of New York ended.

Evan has pulled a radio from his pocket and holds it close to his mouth. “Delta Four to base, over...”

The answer is instantaneous.

“Delta Four, this is base, tell us what’s going on and why you’ve abandoned your post.”

The voice is masculine, American, stern and cold, but Evan is unfazed. “I’ll tell you when you’ve sent the helicopter round and I’m on it, I’m on the balcony, over.”

“I don’t think you’re in any position to be making demands, Delta Four.”

“Oh, you’ll want to come and get me. I’ve got her, over.”

You pause, staring at him. He glances at you briefly.

“So we heard.” There’s a short silence. “... The helicopter will be there in two minutes. Over.”

“All right, I’ll see you in two minutes, then, over and out.”

He shoves the radio back into his pocket, and meets your blank gaze.

“I thought I wasn’t meant to be involved.”

Your skin prickles at his light smile. “Have to get us out of here somehow.”

Denial is turning to anger now and the sudden way you wrench your arm back takes him by surprise, leaving you finally free of his grip.

“You don’t care about me,” you hiss, “You just want to save yourself.”

“Save us,” he’s pleading almost wearily, taking a step towards you as you take one back. “I’m doing this for us.”

“You’re either lying to yourself or to me!”

“No, I’m not, I just want—”

He breaks off, staring behind you and your brow dips as you turn after a moment. 

Relief and elation washes over you.

Sam hovers metres above the balcony, wings stretched wide, hands on his hips, incredibly pissed off.

“You know, man, I’m real tired of chasing you around and getting this rented suit messed up.”

A smile spreads across your features as he moves closer and you hear Evan take a few steps backwards.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking, Sam.”

Your head whips to the side at the voice, that voice, and you release a gasp of relief because Steve Rogers stands in the balcony doorway with his shield, alive. He’s resting his weight on his good leg and there’s blood staining his shirt where he was shot but he’s alive.

“Yeah, you’re not gonna be able to return that.”

You can hear the smile in Sam’s voice, your eyes remaining fixed on Steve, tears filling them again. He smiles softly and you can see his breathing is slightly laboured, but then his gaze shifts to Evan and the smile vanishes.

“There’s nowhere else to go, Evan. Don’t make this any more harder than it needs to be.”

You turn, watching Evan’s gaze dart between the two of them, weighing his options.

“I’ve got back-up coming.” The way he says it, so matter-of-fact, so arrogant, makes Steve chuckle, and the sound of it gives you the courage to take several steps back, finally putting some distance between you and Evan.

“Oh, yeah. Sam, you wanna go and take care of that?”

“Love to.”

You hear Sam surge higher into the sky and race off as the faint whirring of a helicopter draws nearer.

Evan stares at Steve and you can practically see his mind racing again, trying to figure out his next option, how he can win this.

He can’t.

He raises the gun, so swiftly, and aims it at Steve again. You freeze, closer to Steve but still some distance away. Steve raises his shield in front of his torso, his lips in a thin line. 

“Evan. Think about what you’re doing.”

You can’t read the other man, his features blank. He’s going to do something desperate, you know he is, he’s not going to just—

Evan lowers his arm and aims at Steve’s shield.

“Get down, Y/N!” Steve yells as he twists his arm so the shield is slanted away from you.

You drop to the floor just as Evan pulls the trigger. A bullet screams out and collides with the shield, shooting off in another direction and shattering part of the glass railing.

Lifting your head, you stare at Steve who’s darting forward, towards you.

What had been the point in Evan—

You feel a hand on your arm and the gun on the back of your head.

“Get up.”

Steve has come to an abrupt halt, one arm reached out, the other keeping his shield close to his body.

You stare up at him, his hand too far out of reach.

You flatten your hands and push yourself up slowly, obeying Evan’s order. He had said he wouldn’t hurt you, but at this point...

The gun remains at your head as you get to your feet and straighten, Evan’s grip on you tight, and he starts moving you backwards, using you as his own shield. Steve follows, moving slowly, one step at a time, his arm remaining outstretched.

“Evan, c’mon... It’s over.”

Evan is silent behind you and you have no idea where he’s taking you or what he’s even planning on doing. You can no longer hear the helicopter, he’s completely alone, he’s completely out of options.

He stops suddenly and Steve does, too, opening his mouth to try and reason with him again.

But nothing comes out as you watch realisation flood Steve’s features.

“No, Evan, don’t!”

“I’m so sorry, Y/N,” Evan murmurs sincerely.

Before you can speak, before you can breathe, the gun is gone and he shoves you to the side, through the gap in the broken railing.

And you’re falling.

You hear Steve yell as you scream and you’re falling and you’re going to die and — 

A hand grabs your forearm.

Your body slams against the building with the momentum, and you’re dangling, crying out as your arm screams in protest at the sudden pull on it. Your head snaps up to find Steve gripping you, nearly his entire torso leaning out, on the broken glass. He hisses out breaths as his wounds pull and the shards bite into his skin through the shirt. His other hand, shield gone, presses against the flat of the intact glass to his left. 

“I’ve got you, Y/N, don’t worry, I’ve got you, look at me...”

You’re sobbing, your heart pounding as you hold his gaze, and you can feel him shaking just slightly from how tense his body is.

 “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God...” you breathe raggedly, shaking yourself, your body dangling.

“It’s okay, it’s all right—”

An explosion erupts somewhere close-by in the building, making it tremble, and you shriek as you feel like you’re falling again but Steve has tightened his grip, keeping you in place.

“It’s all right, sweetheart, you’re okay, I’ve got you!”

Frozen in terror, all you can do is stare up at him, his teeth gritted... and then you see the glass around his hand starting to crack slowly.

“I’m gonna pull you up, all right? It might hurt a little with all the glass here but I’ve got you, okay?”

You nod several times, unable to speak because wind is making your dress whip about you, making you very aware there’s absolutely nothing between you and the ground.

“Hold onto my arm with your other hand, all right?”

You nod again and raise your arm quickly, gripping his arm, your nails digging in but he doesn’t react.

“Ready?”

When you nod once more, he grits his teeth and starts to haul you up. He has to twist his body as he does so, more glass piercing him, but he manages to turn so he can press his shoes against the intact but still cracking glass and use it as leverage to push against.

Even though he moves quickly, it feels like a life-time and you can’t quite catch your breath as you sob, glass starting to prick at you now as he lifts you higher, pulling you over the edge of the building.

And then finally, finally, finally, you’re over it and in his arms, gripping at him, your face pressed into the crook of his neck as you tremble and cry.

You hear his heavy exhale of relief, his arms wrapping tight around you as he holds you, rocking you slightly, and you flinch as the glass his shoes rest against finally shatters.

“You’re all right, you’re okay, it’s okay...” he murmurs, his cheek resting on the top of your head.

You lift your eyes suddenly, looking behind him because oh my God, Evan...

Your gaze darts about frantically but you can’t see him anywhere.

“He got away...” you manage to say through your tears.

“I know, it’s okay,” he hushes you gently, continuing to rock you.

“He got a-away, what if he...” You can’t finish the sentence, can’t contemplate any more pain or hurt.

He presses a lingering, tender kiss to the top of your head, murmuring, “It’s okay, you’re safe.”

Those words have fresh tears sliding down your cheeks and you can’t speak anymore so you just close your eyes and cry into his shoulders, trembling, tightening your arms around him and holding onto him because he’s alive and you’re alive and you can’t believe it, you just can’t believe it.

“Steve! Y/N!” Sam’s voice startles you, your eyes snapping open, and a moment later he lands on the balcony. “What happened? Is everything okay?”

“We’re okay, it’s okay,” Steve answers, and you realise then, from the flatness of his voice and the slight break in it, that he must be crying, too.

“Nat’s on her way up, all right? I’ll get ‘em to send a medic up, just hold on...” 

He’s turning away and talking into his earpiece, but you just close your eyes again and cry, gripping onto the man you love as he holds you tightly, wind howling around you.

—

“... Breaking news! We interrupt this programme to inform you of more information we’ve received of tonight’s dramatic events...”

“... the as yet unnamed group still have members at large and, according to SHIELD, operate a recruiting system online, preying on the disillusioned...”

“... engagement was actually part of the operation to catch the group...”

“... the two explosions have caused significant damage to several floors of the building and an elevator shaft...”

“... ex-boyfriend has been arrested and associated with the group, though he’s denying any knowledge of...”

“.... just been announced that the three men who went to attack Captain Rogers on the carpet were actually decoys so the group could enter the building...”

“... the group infiltrated the system and organised the release of a Marise Daniels...”

News vans line the street outside the Tower, but, mercifully, you haven’t glimpsed any of them.

Nat, a group of agents and five medics had arrived minutes after Sam had. You’d been forced to separate from Steve, though it had taken some convincing from Nat for either of you to even move. He’d needed a little more attention than you so he’d been swiftly whisked away to one of the many medic-bays the Tower had, some of them still intact. You’d stared after him, watching him limp away, wincing every few moments and pressing a hand against one of his wounds.

“I won’t be long,” he’d whispered in your ear before kissing your cheek softly, but that had been three hours ago.

You’d been taken away, too, but to a different bay, and as you’d been patched up and made to change out of your beautiful dress, the garment torn and blood-stained, into sweatpants and a sweater, you’d had to give statement after statement, to the medics, to Nat, to various SHIELD agents, repeating every single little thing that had happened until your brain felt numb.

Sam had sensed your weariness, so tired tears were coming to your eyes, and had gently ended the questioning. He’d then asked you what you wanted to do.

You knew seeing Steve wasn’t an option, if you could he’d be here by now, so you’d said you wanted fresh air.

Sam had taken you outside, to the high-fenced, guarded, immaculate gardens towards the back of the Tower and asked if you wanted him to stay.

Knowing he was needed elsewhere, though he would stay if you asked, you’d said no with a small smile, and he’d hugged you as tightly as he could given your injuries, exhaling a breath.

“Thank you for everything, Sam.”

“Any time. Any time at all.”

After he’d left, giving you his phone in case you needed anything, you’d wandered a little further in, gazing at the gorgeously bright flowers, and then, realising just how damn tired you were, sat down heavily on a bench, stretching your legs out.

You’d stared at his phone in your hand, then unlocked it with the code he’d told you, went to his contacts and scrolled down until you’d found the name.

“Sam?!”

“It’s me, Bridge’.”

“Y/N?! Oh my God, oh my God, are you okay? Doll’, she’s okay!”

You’d burst into tears all over again as you heard them crying, too, and then Dolly’s frantic voice, hearing her sobbing as well.

“I’m so sorry, you two, I’m so sorry I couldn’t tell you about everything—”

“Oh my God, stop it, don’t you dare apologise, we’re just so fucking glad you’re okay and we’re so fucking proud of you! You’re the fucking best, are you okay?!”

You'd told them what you could, given how tired you are and how fresh tears seemed to come every few minutes. They’d listened quietly, sniffling and sobbing at various intervals at what you’d had to go through.

When you’d finally said goodbye, your voice almost hoarse, they’d promised to visit you tomorrow if they could, telling you how much they love you over and over. You’d hung up after your goodbyes and wiped your face, even more exhausted.

You’ve sat there for you don’t know how long now, your arm in a sling, the force with which Steve had grabbed your arm having strained muscles and tendons in your arm and shoulder, a bandage around your head from when it had hit the floor after the first explosion, the little cuts from the glass on your arms and hands cleaned, a few bandaged.

You don’t even really think about anything, just staring at the flowers.

I wonder if I could just fall asleep here.

“Hey.”

Lifting your head, Nat approaches, smiling lightly.

You return it. “Hey.”

She folds her arms as she stops before you. “How you holding up?”

You wrinkle your nose, your lips twitching a little. “Uhm...”

She laughs lightly, raising her eyebrows. “Yeah, thought so. If it’s any consolation, you did fucking great.”

Tomorrow you know it’ll blow your mind that Natasha Romanoff has just said that to you, but for now you just smile wearily, nodding. “Thanks.”

Her smile widens a little more briefly, before she takes a breath. “I thought you’d like to know we got Evan.”

You freeze. “What?”

“Yeah, Sam got him about an hour ago. Found him just sitting in a park, on a bench.”

You exhale a long breath. “That was easy.”

“Yeah, it was.” She seems... off, for the briefest of moments, before she smiles again. “For now, though, I say we both get the rest of the weekend off, what remains of it.”

You laugh softly, your eyebrows rising. “Oh, I fucking think so.”

She drops her arms, her smile lingering. “Great. I’ll call you tomorrow, all right?”

“Okay. Oh,” you say just as she’s about to turn, “Will you thank Thor for me? And everyone else?”

Her lips twitch, though it’s almost in endearment this time instead of hinting at a smirk. "Of course. I’ll see you later, make sure you rest.” 

“I’m absolutely planning on doing nothing but.”

“Good. See you later.”

As she turns and heads back into the building, you hear her announce, “Right, all of you can fuck off now, I can finally sleep.”

It brings a smile to your lips as you watch her walk away, and then you see Bucky pass her, heading out to you.

“Hey, kid,” he greets you with a wide smile, wearing the most complicated tactical gear you’ve ever seen.

You find yourself standing and hugging him as best as you can before he can say another word, and if he’s surprised he doesn’t show it, his arms going around you instantly, hands patting your back.

You feel like you want to cry all over again.

“Thank you,” you murmur, and he squeezes you gently.

"Don’t mention it.”

Pulling back, his features have softened and he pats your shoulder. “I’ve got some things to deal with but I just wanted to see how you were. You okay?”

You nod, swallowing the lump in your throat. “Yeah. Be better after some sleep I think.”

“I think so, too. I’ll see if I can get ‘em to bring a car around for you, all right?”

You nod again, relieved, and his smile widens. “All right, wait here.”

As he heads back into the Tower you close your eyes, just letting yourself feel the relief because they’ll have to have enough agents to take you back to the hotel so you can sleep, or you wouldn’t even care if you were taken up to a room in the Tower, you just want—

You hear someone clear their throat.

“I really do have competition, huh.”

Your teeth sink into your lower lip as you try to stop a wide smile, swallowing again because tears are pricking at your eyes again. Opening them, you find Steve stood a few feet away, his own arm in a sling, a few bruises on his cheeks and jaw, and smiling softly. 

You sniff and shrug, saying as nonchalantly as possible, “What can I say, I’m a complete catch. A literal one actually, I was literally caught—”

He’s suddenly in front of you, the smile still there but he swallows, shaking his head slightly. “Oh, I’m not ready to joke about that yet.”

You manage a smile. “Neither am I, actually.”

Then his arm is around you and your cheek is against his chest and your eyes are closed and he just holds you, his lips against the top of your head. You don’t know how long you stand like that, holding each other, grounding each other, but it’s you who finally lifts your head, needing to see him.

“Hey,” you murmur.

“Hey,” he says just as quietly.

For a few moments you just look at each other, and then he closes the short distance between you and kisses you so tenderly it almost breaks your heart.

“Hey, now that we’re no longer engaged...” he murmurs after he draws his head back, gazing at you. “... would you like to go on a date with me?”

You laugh, and the sound warms his soul. “I’d like that very much.”

“Oh, good.”

He kisses you again, lingeringly, softly, and it feels like home.

So you say it.

Breaking the kiss, you exhale a breath and smile. “I love you, Steve Rogers.”

His eyebrows lift a little, one corner of his mouth lifting higher than the other as he swallows. “I love you, too.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Good.”

It was the easiest thing in the world, to say it, and the most beautiful thing in the world to hear it.

Taking his hand, you blow out a breath and sniff as you both start to wander back towards the Tower.

“I want to go on holiday.”

“Yeah?”

His thumb strokes against your skin, and if you were to look up at him, you’d find pure love and adoration shining in his eyes.

“Yeah. Maybe to that island that was on that programme.”

“It did look nice.”

“And it’s far away.”

“Oh, perfect.”

“Hey, lovebirds!” Bucky calls from inside, grinning. “Your carriage awaits!”

“Oh, thank God.”

As you enter the Tower, not knowing what the future holds and, right now, not really caring, you just hold the hand of the man you love and who loves you back, with all of his heart.

You’re safe, you’re loved... and you’re so close to finally getting some damn sleep.

The End

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

I just want to quickly say a huge thank you to you all for reading this story and coming on this journey with me! I wrote the first chapter nearly two years ago as just a little drabble, and then just over a month ago it came back to me and I couldn’t get this idea out of my mind. I set a challenge for myself to write this week-by-week and even though it was v v v stressful at times this has been so fun and rewarding. 

A bigger thank you goes to those who have reblogged and commented; your support has meant the absolute world to me, I really cannot thank you enough, you kept me going.

I hope you’ve all enjoyed the story, and who knows, maybe there’ll be more in the future... x

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Comments and reblogs make my day in a way I can’t describe.

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[racingtoaredlight]

THE DEGENERATE’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL TV WATCH ‘EM UPS 2021: WEEK TWO, A MUDDLED AND MAUDLIN WEEK OF MAYHEM IN HONOR OF THOSE WE LOST

RTARL would like to extend our warmest holiday wishes to those who celebrate and, even if you don’t, happy 9/11. Now who’s ready for some FOOTBALL!!!!?!?!

So after two weeks of games that combine to count as only one official week even though some teams have already played twice we have only one real question answered: is Alabama still good? Yes, they are. Everything else is still liquefying vapor.

I am assuming everybody is waiting with baited breath for an RTARLsman but I don’t have anything yet. I guess the not-Master Teague RBs on Ohio State are the frontrunners for now. Or that one guy from that one team who was good. You know who I mean.

Saturday, September 11

Matchup    Time (ET)     TV/Mobile

Illinois at Virginia   11:00am   ACCN

Jeff George won Citrus Bowl MVP for the Illini against the Hoos in his last game as a student athlete before becoming the #1 overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft. Based on this history it is safe to presume that whoever the QB is for Illinois today will be the #1 pick in 2022.

VMI at Kent State   11:30am   ESPN3

I’m not sure on this but maybe this game is cancelled.

WKU at Army    11:30am   CBSSN

Army is favored by 6. I bet this game is boring.

Norfolk State at Wake Forest    12:00pm   ACCNX

I don’t see a line listed but whatever it is bet against Wake covering.

Indiana State at Northwestern     12:00pm    BTN

This game is an act of terrorism.

Alabama State at 25 Auburn     12:00pm    SECN

Real body bag season starts today, huh?

Youngstown State at Michigan State  12:00pm   BTN

The Michigan State running back is the guy I was trying to think of earlier! He’s pretty good. Not good enough to make me watch this but I will check on his stats every so often.

Tulsa at Oklahoma State   12:00pm   FS1

I bet Mike Gundy has some really salient thoughts on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and I can’t wait to hear them.

South Carolina at East Carolina   12:00pm      ESPN2

South Carolina is a two point favorite against an East Carolina team that is, per my understanding, not exactly good. So I can only extrapolate that South Carolina is likewise not good.

Pitt at Tennessee  12:00pm   ESPN

Look, I’m not going to pretend this is good television but if Pitt rocks their classic yellow helmets and Tennessee wears non-alternates the colors on the screen will at least be pleasing. The thought of the actual football involved hurts my brain but it’s interesting that the points have gone from a consensus pick ‘em to Pitt -3 over the course of the week. Does Tennessee have any players that are good enough that by missing the game they could impact the gambling that much? Or are people just squaring themselves with the fact the the Vols are really and truly a ruined burnt out hole of a football program? Pound the latter.

12 Oregon at 3 Ohio State  12:00pm   FOX

Losing Kayvon Thibideaux certainly isn’t going to help Oregon but he’s not usually on the field as a run stopper anyway and if Ohio State learned anything last week it’s that they can just run until they feel like throwing a pass. Oregon actually has some legit talent on the d-line besides Thibideaux but the Ducks are gonna be hard-pressed to keep things within two scores here.

Miami (Ohio) at Minnesota   12:00pm   ESPN

If Oregon can’t make a game of it in Columbus look out because this time block is an absolute wasteland. There is scant reason to turn the TV on for the early schedule other than gambling purposes.

Kennesaw State at Georgia Tech   12:00pm    RSN/ESPN3

Georgia Tech probably should have closed up shop after Paul Johnson retired. Either that or just absolutely slathered the football program in dollars. The Yellow Jackets being unable to land any big time recruits while playing in Atlanta is a real mindfuck. They aren’t a AA program playing dress up in a “power” conference they’ve got actual history. I don’t mean to give the impression I want them to be good but I don’t understand how they can be such fodder for so long.

13 Florida at USF    1:00pm    ABC

Remember that year when USF was the best program in the state? Wild stuff. Weird, wild stuff. I know the deal with UF is that they don’t go out of state for contract games but it’s actually kind of surprising they even bothered to keep this trip to Tampa on the schedule. Like the area recruits would probably be happier to go see a game at The Swamp than to kick around their hometown for a pile of shit like this.

Wyoming at NIU    1:30pm   ESPN+

I’m not gonna open the ESPN app for this but if it was on ESPN2 I’d probably check in on it during commercials. Aesthetically pleasing trash with an upside for actual entertainment.

Middle Tennessee at 19 Virginia Tech    2:00pm   ACCNX

Virginia Tech’s home crowd scene was the normie story of last week’s games. People that don’t watch college football were either aghast or frantically waving their blue lives matter flags in response. Us in this space just ate the shame and forgot it happened by the time Saturday’s games kicked off. My theory is that VPI is not actually any good but UNC’s 2020 season was a well-timed fluke and the last hurrah of Mack Brown’s storied coaching career. The Hokies are at home, though, and MTSU is almost certainly not on the same athletic level as the Turkey Gobblers so I’d probably take the home team -20 if I were so inclined to wager on this particular game that is being broadcast on the ACC’s new pornography channel.

Rutgers at Syracuse    2:00pm    ACCN

Holy fuck does this game suck. Reuniting former Big East, uh, rivals (??? does Rutgers have any natural enemies?) in a cross-conference classic betwixt the B1G and the ACC.

Duquesne at Ohio   2:00pm   ESPN3

I don’t think I need to explain to you all the national title implications riding on this game.

Toledo at 8 Notre Dame    2:30pm     Peacock

Just remember that if you subscribe to Peacock you are at the very least tacitly supporting Notre Dame. If for some reason you’re watching this please report back on how many of those defensive pick plays Notre Dame runs. They were doing that shit constantly against Florida State last week and it drove me nuts. I think the idea is that you are so flagrantly illegal so often that the refs grow numb to it and just don’t call it at all.

Robert Morris at Central Michigan     3:00pm    ESPN3

Not to be outdone by the early games, the 3 o’clock set is equally terrible.

Purdue at UConn    3:00pm    CBSSN

I bet Edsall still gets bonuses for stupid shit even now that he’s retired or whatever the official designation was for him no longer coaching.

Boston College at UMass    3:30pm    FloFootball/NESN+

I don’t know what FloFootball is but I know it isn’t anything to do with the state of Florida.

Ball State at 11 Penn State    3:30pm    FS1

It surprises me to see Penn State as only -22.5 favorites. That seems very kind to Ball State. Hopefully I’m wrong and the Ball State Lettermans take it to the Sanduskys.

Murray State at 7 Cincinnati    3:30pm    ESPN+

Practice week continues.

Temple at Akron    3:30pm    ESPN+

Pound the under.

Georgia Southern at Florida Atlantic   3:30pm   Stadium

There is really nothing going on this week.

Air Force at Navy   3:30pm   CBS

Middies vs. Fly Boys in the first leg of the Commander’s Cup on the twentieth anniversary of 9/11. I can’t imagine the amount of emotional manipulation that’s going to make its way onto this broadcast. Normally I watch these games but I don’t think I can do it this year.

UAB at 2 Georgia    3:30pm    ESPN2

Georgia may well be absurdly talented on the defensive side of the ball but I’d be surprised to see them make it through the regular season with fewer than two losses.

5 Texas A&M at Colorado     3:30pm     FOX

This is only interesting if the Aggies spring a leak.

California at TCU    3:30pm    ESPNU

Things most certainly are not looking up.

Buffalo at Nebraska    3:30pm    BTN

Nebraska is in an interesting position because if they buck the odds and end up being good after we’ve all been so ready to see a National Championship-winning coach get fired that would be funny but if they end up being really bad it’s even funnier. Go Bulls!

Mercer at 1 Alabama    4:00pm   SECN

I’ll cry a little if Saban pulls the starters in the first half and the Tide beats Mercer by less than they beat Miami.

South Alabama at Bowling Green   4:00pm    ESPN+

10 Iowa at 9 Iowa State    4:30pmABC

This is not the kind of top 10 matchup I can just sit idly by and let it happen. Your silence is complicity in this monstrous display of modernity.

SC State at 6 Clemson    5:00pm      ACCN

Clemson dropped all the way to #6 and they’ll hang around the top of the polls because they don’t have the toughest conference schedule in the world but my confidence in them is not high right now. I think the new QB is just a guy. He’s talented as hell but I don’t see him being great.

Illinois State at Western Michigan     5:00pm   ESPN3

This is either MACtion or MACtion adjacent and I have only one word for this midwestern trash: abhorrent.

LIU at West Virginia   5:00pm    ESPN+

LIU plays football?

Lamar at UTSA      6:00pm    ESPN3

Downside: You’re watching one of the least important games of the year. Upside: You’re really not missing anything.

Portland State at Washington State    6:00pm    P12N

Washington State was a perfect spot for the stupid pirate fuckhead and his leaving has ruined the program and, eventually, his reputation. Not relevant to this game necessarily but this game isn’t relevant to anything else, either.

Gardner-Webb at Charlotte   6:00pm    ESPN3

Oh, yeah, feel the excitement.

Bethune-Cookman at UCF   6:30pm   ESPN+

Go Cats.

NC Central at Marshall    6:30pm    ESPN+

The hits keep coming.

Houston at Rice   6:30pm    CBSSN

I’ve always had a soft spot for Holgo and for Houston football but somehow I really don’t like seeing him coach the Cougs. This is SWC magic but with no magic. UNLESS! Houston can put up 100. I don’t think they even have the guys to do it but this is Rice we’re talking about here.

Nicholls at Louisiana    7:00pm    ESPN3

Keep the energy up.

North Texas at SMU   7:00pm   ESPN+

I bet is MS621 were still alive he’d be at this game giving Spencer’s boys hell. Sadly he died doing what he loved, curing his COVID by eating ivermectin paste out of a horse’s butt. R.I.P., friend. Neigh to you wherever you are.

Southeastern La. at Louisiana Tech   7:00pm    ESPN3

Even the low tier stuff is geared up for annihilation. This is a bodybag week for all time.

Memphis at Arkansas State    7:00pm    ESPN+

Memphis getting less than a touchdown against Arkansas State seems like easy money but I have no real concept of either of these teams just yet. Maybe the end is nigh for the Tigers glory years? I sure hope not but it’s possible.

NC State at Mississippi State    7:00pm     ESPN2

This game should be as fun as a parents funeral.

Southern Illinois at Kansas State   7:00pm      ESPN+

Over the past week I experienced derision for referring the the guys in purple and silver as “Kansas State” instead of “K State” and that stung because it always surprises me that anybody cares about them enough to have a strong opinion about them.

Stephen F. Austin at Texas Tech    7:00pm    ESPN+

Shrugs

15 Texas at Arkansas    7:00pm   ESPN

Let’s see if Texas is ready to run with the big boys of the SEC! Arkansas is given a decent shot to win this game and that makes the “15″ next to Texas appear extremely suspect in my eyes.

Texas Southern at Baylor    7:00pm   ESPN+

This week Texas Southern is the people’s champion.

Texas State at FIU   7:00pm    ESPN+

Oh, Butch, why have you done this to yourself?

Western Carolina at 4 Oklahoma      7:00pm     PPV

All the Westen Carolina fans are buying this PPV to see their guys score 40.

New Mexico State at New Mexico    7:00pm     Stadium

I looked up the historic rivalry last year to figure out why it was played early in the season instead of at the end but I’ve forgotten and don’t feel the need to look it up again. I figured out how to watch Stadium on my TV but I also forgot that and don’t feel the need to look it up again.

Appalachian State at 22 Miami (FL)  7:00pm   ESPNU

My gut tells me Miami is probably legitimately about the 14th best team in the country but I still would never advise you to bet actual money on the Hurricanes. Are they 9 points better than App State? Easily. They should win by 20+. Are they liable to fuck around and lose or scrape out a win in the final seconds? Absolutely. Let’s fuckin’ go.

Morgan State at Tulane    7:00pm    ESPN+

A lot of people learned to love the Green Wave last week but it’s hard to keep that going with their schedule. Don’t forget them later in the year when the CBSSN glow is really shining.

Liberty at Troy   7:00pm   ESPN+

Liberty -4 is maybe my surest advice of the week. If Malik Willis is as good as his press the fake school should have this game on ice early.

Eastern Michigan at 18 Wisconsin   7:00pm    FS1

I find Wisconsin’s losing effort against Penn State last week to be a personal affront against me and all of nature.

Eastern Kentucky at Louisville    7:00pm   ACCNX

I think this game being broadcast at night on ACCNX means they’re playing naked.

Grambling State at Southern Miss    7:00pm    ESPN3

This is the kind of game that belongs on an app.

Hampton at Old Dominion    7:00pm    ESPN3

This is the kind of game that belongs on a well-worn high school football field.

Austin Peay at 20 Mississippi   7:30pm     ESPN+/SECN+

This is a pretty big OOC game for an SEC team.

Georgia State at 24 North Carolina    7:30pm    RSN/ESPN3

One of several GSUs, I think this is the one I most hope emerges victorious this week.

Idaho at Indiana   7:30pm    BTN

Wait, wasn’t Indiana like #10 last week? What the hell happened to them? No, don’t tell me. Seriously, don’t.

Missouri at Kentucky     7:30pm    SECN

When the SEC hits 24 teams the “S!E!C!” chants are gonna seem really stupid.

Howard at Maryland    7:30pm    BTN

There’s no official line for this game but I hope the Bison can pull off the upset in this classic local rivalry game.

Jacksonville State at Florida State    8:00pm   ACCN

Still shaking my head at FSU icing their own kicker. Jesus, Norvell. Get your shit together.

McNeese at LSU     8:00pm      ESPN+/SECN+

LOLSU was my lock of the week last week if you’re considering taking gambling advice from me.

Washington at Michigan    8:00pm    ABC

UDub lost to a 1-AA team last week and now they have to go on the road and beat Michigan. Which seems inevitable, to be honest.

Cal Poly at Fresno State    10:00pm    CW59

The murder rate will continue to increase as the day progresses. I always kind of like it when a local broadcast shows up on the sheet. So pretty much none of us have legal access to this game. It makes it more special.

San Diego State at Arizona    10:00pm    P12N

Pac-12 Network is similar to CW59 in that almost nobody in the country has legal access to their broadcasts. If you’ve read enough of these posts you are aware that SDSU is my weird very deep backup team. I don’t have a reason to align myself with the school or program, I just tend to enjoy watching their games.

Vanderbilt at Colorado State     10:00pm    CBSSN

This is an abomination.

21 Utah at BYU     10:15pm    ESPN

This is a lowkey fun rivalry. I’m pretty sure I write the same thing every year but it’s still true. Go Utes.

Stanford at 14 USC     10:30pm    FOX

I think USC could win a national championship and I’d still be baffled that Clay Helton is their coach. Of course, they won’t win a national championship as long as Clay Helton is their coach but they apparently won’t ever get embarrassing enough to fire him, either.

Idaho State at Nevada    10:30pm    Stadium

This is the lowpoint of the week’s schedule and you have to stay up late to watch it on a network that only exists as an app or as part of a hidden unlockable download-only level of cable subscription. This is the beauty of the college game.

UNLV at 23 Arizona State    10:30pm   ESPN2

Herm Edwards figured out the trick to looking good in the Pac-12 without having a particularly great team and I can’t make up my mind if I’m rooting for him to keep sliding on that rail or to fall off it. I think I’ve come around to rooting for him but it’s a very dynamic and fluid situation.

Hawaii at Oregon State   11:00pm    FS1

Hawaii gets to play at their normal time for a game against the bottom of the barrel of the Pac-12 but they’re an 11-point underdog. If you’re ever going to take Hawaii, this is the stars lining up for you to do it. It’s still a big “if” but I’m saying there’s a chance.

[whumpdoyoumean]

Whumptober #23

xxx hold him down

Clay can’t help but enjoy his surroundings as he gets a fire started. They’d completed their assignment early, and now it’s just a matter of waiting. Ordinarily, waiting is one of the worst things to be doing in this line of work. But as far as exfil points go, he really can’t complain. The tiny island in the middle of the South Pacific is lush and green, surrounded by crystal blue water and, best of all, it’s uninhabited. They’d found a small clearing a little ways into the trees to set up camp, and now it’s just thirty-eight hours of peace and quiet. After the week they’ve had, he thinks the team has earned it. 

The fire is just beginning to crackle to life when he hears a commotion from the beach. He doesn’t think anything of it at first; the guys had gone down to the water to wash off the grime, and he wouldn’t be surprised if they’d descended into rough housing. As the noise moves closer, though, it’s obvious that it’s not the fun kind of ruckus, and Clay stands. 

Pooch is the first to stumble into the clearing, eyes wide. “Jensen’s hurt. Cougar says we need to get hot water.”

“What the hell happened?” Clay asks, already moving toward their bags to pull out the mess kit while Pooch gathers their hydration packs.

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

That’s when the other three break through the trees, Cougar and Roque supporting Jensen between them. The young man’s not putting any weight on his right leg. From the way Pooch was acting, Clay was half expecting to see Jensen with a limb dangling, or a chunk out of him from a shark bite. He can’t stop a small relieved smile from creeping onto his face. 

“What, you twist an ankle soldier?”

“I wish.” Jensen’s voice is low and tight, and there’s no trace of his usual sarcasm or humor. Now that they’re closer, Clay can see how pinched his expression is, the sweat beading his brow. 

And then he looks over at Cougar, and his blood runs cold. The sniper’s face is deadly serious. 

“Stonefish,” he says. 

Clay doesn’t know much about marine wildlife, but he knows about those. “Oh, shit.” Suddenly the hot water makes sense. And the urgency.

“Where are we with that hot water?” he calls over to Pooch as Roque and Cougar lower Jensen to the ground.

“I’ve got a pot on the fire,” Pooch responds, while Cougar grabs his pack from the pile.

Jensen lets out a low groan, and Roque sits on the ground next to him. “How we doin’, J?”

“Hurts,” Jensen grinds out.

Clay sees Cougar’s shoulders stiffen slightly and he moves quicker, pulling out his IFAK. Clay moves to his side, keeping an eye on Jensen. 

“What can I do?” he asks. 

Cougar pulls three more items from his pack--his multitool, canteen, and a knife, and then stands, looking Clay in the eye. “Your flask.”

Clay nods, pulling his flask out of the front pocket of his pack before following the sniper over to where Roque and Jensen are. Both look up at Cougar’s approach, Jensen’s eyes widening as they land on the knife in Cougar’s left hand. 

“What-what’s that for?”

“I have to remove the spine.”

Jensen’s face goes pale. “You sure?”

Cougar busies himself opening his IFAK, and Clay can tell he’s deliberately ignoring the question. He and Jensen are close, and Clay knows this isn’t easy for him. Cougar pulls out his pill pack and tears it open, putting several in Jensen’s hand. Jensen swallows them without question.

“Lay him down.” Roque helps Jensen into a lying position while Cougar opens his flask and pours alcohol over his knife blade. He doesn’t look up when he says, “Keep his foot still.”

Roque positions himself near Jensen’s leg, putting weight on his hip and thigh. Clay props Jensen’s foot in his lap, then puts one hand on his heels and one one his toes, holding him firmly. Cougar uncaps his canteen and pours water over Jensen’s foot. The man hisses in pain. 

“Cougs--” he begins, but Cougar is already moving, putting his knife point in the middle of Jensen’s foot. Jensen jerks with a cry, and Clay does his best to keep his foot steady. 

“Easy, Jensen,” Roque says. “Try not to move.”

Clay looks at Cougar. “We got him.”

Cougar nods, then continues his work, making an inch-long incision in the bottom of Jensen’s foot. Jensen is staring straight up, his jaw clenched, breath coming in short bursts through flared nostrils, and Clay can feel him trembling, but he manages to stay still. Cougar sets the knife to the side and pulls out his multi-tool, opening it up and grabbing the flask again. Clay’s stomach turns as he watches Cougar pour alcohol over the needle-nose pliers.

“Now the hard part,” Cougar says. Clay tightens his grip and sees Roque do the same as Jensen lets out a thin, desperate, “What?”

Jensen only screams once before he faints from the pain, and that buys Cougar enough time to get the spine out of his foot. It amazes Clay how much agony can come from such a tiny thing. Now that Cougar’s finished, Roque shifts so he’s sitting behind Jensen, then pulls the man up into a sitting position in front of him. Jensen groans, his head moving against Roque’s chest, and his eyes flutter open. He grimaces immediately but doesn’t say anything, clearly exhausted. Clay turns to Cougar.

“What now?”

Cougar nods toward where Pooch is sitting, heating the water over the fire. 

“How’s that water looking, soldier?” Clay asks.

Pooch dips a finger into the pot and pulls it out quickly. “Hot.”

“Good.” He grabs a shirt from the pile of clothes the men had made before thundering down to the beach and uses it to grab the hot edge of the pot (glorified pan, really) and carries it over to Jensen and Cougar, setting it down next to Jensen.

“What’s that for?” Roque asks. 

“Hot water helps weaken the venom,” Clay answers. Roque looks at him questioningly, one eyebrow quirked up. “What? I did an op with some Australians once.” He turns his attention to Jensen’s foot, noting with concern how rapidly it’s begun to swell, and lifts it carefully into the hot water. 

Jensen’s leg twitches and he makes a sound in the back of his throat. “Fuuuck.”

“Sorry,” Clay says sincerely. “Hang in there.” He straightens and turns to Cougar, who’s staring at the ground, his jaw working. “Hey, Cougs.”

The sniper startles slightly and looks up. Clay nods toward the edge of the clearing, then walks that direction Cougar following him. 

“You okay?” he asks quietly once they’re a little ways away from the group. Cougar doesn’t look at him, just nods once. Without his usual cowboy hat, his damp, wavy hair falls down over his face, hiding his eyes. Clay turns his head to the side, leaning forward a little. “Hey, look at me.”

Cougar raises his head reluctantly and Clay locks eyes with him. 

“Are you okay?” he repeats. 

Cougar nods again. “Si.”

“Good. Because you and I both know that he’s in for a long couple of days. It’s gonna be rough. If at any point the answer to that question changes, you step away and you take five, understood, soldier?”

Cougar stares at him for a second, just breathing, and then he says, “Si, boss.”

Clay holds his gaze for one more second before giving him a clap on the shoulder. “Good.”

Just then, Jensen lets out a loud cry. Cougar is running before Clay can react, and then he’s running, too. 

“Hey! Hey, easy, J!” Roque is saying, and Pooch is standing to one side, hands on the back of his head as he watches, helpless, as Jensen writhes in pain. 

“We’ll need more hot water, Pooch,” Clay says, and then kneels in front of Jensen, putting a hand on his good leg. “What’s happening? Talk to me, Jensen.”

“It’s--it’s bad, boss. Really bad.”

His whole right leg from the knee down is swollen, now, and he’s sweating bullets, his face ashen, eyes glassy.

“I can feel him shaking,” Roque says. There’s a fear in his eyes that Clay rarely sees. “And he’s clammy.”

“Caffeine,” Cougar says suddenly. 

“Caffeine.” Clay is already moving to his pack. “Okay.” He doesn’t know why caffeine, but he trusts Cougar. It takes him a second, but he finds his small packet of caffeine pills, and he jogs them over to the others, handing them to Cougar. 

“Wha-will that help with pain?” Roque asks. 

Cougar shakes his head. “Blood pressure.”

He pours the two pills out of the packet and grabs his canteen, then kneels in front of Jensen, murmuring quietly in Spanish as he puts the pills in the man’s mouth and then holds the canteen up to his lips, carefully helping him to drink. Clay’s surprised that Jensen is able to get them down; it’s obvious that he’s in agony, and he’s looking pretty out of it, eyes half-lidded and wandering. Small groans escape his lips every few seconds, and he squirms uncomfortably against Roque. Roque, whose tough-guy facade is currently full of cracks. 

“Roque. Let’s trade places,” Clay says. “You need to get dressed, anyway; it’ll be dark soon and the last thing we need is you freezing.”

“Let me,” Cougar says quickly, already backing toward the pile of clothes and throwing on his shirt and vest.

Roque seems grateful for the change, and he slips his hands under Jensen’s armpits and stands, holding the man while Cougar sits down behind him. 

“Hey, Pooch,” Clay calls, turning to the man crouched at the fire. “Go get dressed.”

“But the water--” 

“I’ve got the water, go get dressed.” Pooch nods and joins Roque by the sandy clothes pile. 

Clay takes off his coat, grateful that he’d dressed in layers for once, and drapes it over Jensen, tucking it around his shoulders. 

“How we feelin’, soldier?”

At first he’s afraid that Jensen hadn’t heard, but then the young man’s lips part and he says, voice strained, “Like…like my leg’s on fire…” He blinks heavily, and his eyes roll up to meet Clay’s. “‘m I dyin’?”

“No!” Clay says, too quickly. He tries to cover with a smile. “Don’t be so damn dramatic. Just gotta change the water out. You’ll be fine.”

He moves to the water that’s on the fire, relieved when it turns out to be hot. He dumps the cooled water out of the pot, then brings the freshly heated water and pours it over Jensen’s foot. He barely responds this time, his jaw clenching and unclenching while his lashes flutter. He’s still sweating like crazy, and his breathing is noticeably labored. 

“Hey.” Clay reaches forward and grips Jensen’s shoulder. “I said you’ll be fine. You hear me?”

The young man doesn’t answer, his barely-open eyes moving aimlessly. 

“Jensen!” Clay barks, using his best colonel voice, heart sinking when  it doesn’t get the desired response (or any response).

“We’ve got flares.” Clay turns at the sound of Pooch’s voice. “We could send one up. That’s gotta be faster than waiting for ex-fil.”

“Yeah, great idea Pooch. What Jensen could really use right now is a-a bunch of pirates. Or fuckin’ shark poachers. Or maybe we’ll get lucky, and it’ll be the guy Jensen just stole classified intel from!”

“What, you have any better ideas?” Pooch steps forward, closing the space between himself and Roque, staring up at the man who’s easily got three inches on him.

“Guys,” Clay says. Roque is right, but now’s not the time to be taking sides. “There’s probably not even anyone close enough to--”

“Yeah, but if there is--” Pooch begins, and Roque groans loudly. 

“If there is, it could be anyone. You could get all of us killed, man, get your head out of your ass!”

Pooch glares, shoulders squaring. “This is Jensen we’re talking about, or do you not care?”

Roque’s face darkens, and Clay knows that look all too well.

“Guys!” 

They both ignore him, and Clay’s getting ready to break up a fight when Jensen lets out a sharp cry, his arms curling around his stomach as he leans forward and vomits.

“Fuck,” Roque breathes, turning away with a grimace, and Pooch just stares as Jensen is sick again.

“There’s gotta be something I can do besides boiling water,” he says. 

“You think fighting Roque is gonna help?”

Pooch’s shoulders sink a little. “No.”

“The fire needs fuel. Roque, you go with him.” 

The man looks like he wants to argue, but he finally nods, and he and Pooch stomp off into the woods. Either they’ll talk and figure it out, or they’ll beat the shit out of each other but at least it’ll be far enough away that Clay doesn’t have to deal with it. He waits until they’re out of sight before he turns to Cougar. Jensen is leaning against him again, eyes closed, and Clay can see the tremors running through his body. 

“Cougar, what’s the prognosis here?”

Cougar looks up at him. “Probably it will get worse before it gets better.”

Clay lets out a long exhale. “Jesus.” He doesn’t know what worse looks like, and he doesn’t want to know. Even unconscious, Jensen is letting out pained sounds, his right leg twitching. 

Clay remembers the day Jensen showed up, all spiky hair and dorky glasses and stupid jokes and technobabble to hide his nerves. He’d thought then that the kid would definitely die out here, and was promptly proven wrong. The techie’s strength and fast thinking under pressure have continued to surprise him since. He’s had no trouble keeping up with the rest of them. And he’s survived his fair share of terrifying shit.

And now this. Stepping on a poisonous fish while waiting on extraction. 

What a stupid fucking way for it to happen.

“He better not die.” He says it mostly to himself, but Cougar answers anyway, his steady fingers running idly through Jensen’s sweaty hair.

“Ya lo sé.”

Clay lets out a long, exhausted sigh. It’s gonna be a long day and a half, and there’s nothing to do but hope and wait. 

Waiting is one of the worst things to be doing in this line of work.

xxx 

[kordeliiius]

nintendo knows about your husbandos

[wiypt-writes]

Too Loose And You’ll Lose It

Ch9: Lebanon, Lebagone  

Co-written with @icanfeelastormbrewing​

Summary:  A few months post their reconciliation, Jake and Stella run a mission with the rest of the team…

 Pairing: Jake Jensen x OFC Stella Stevenson

Warnings: Bad language, Smut (NSFW, 18+)

Word Count: 8k ish.

Disclaimer: This is a pure work of fiction and classified as 18+. Please respect this and do not read if you are underage. We do not own any characters in this series bar Stella Stevenson and the other OCs. By reading beyond this point you understand and accept the terms of this disclaimer.

A/N: So the mission detailed here was highly inspired by the second book in the Grey Man series. Locations and a few major details are changed, and the names are completely made up.  The Terrorist/Political party- The Lebanese Freedom Party, does not to our knowledge actually exist.

Too Loose And You’ll Lose It Masterlist // Main Masterlist

Chapter 8 

 “Alright, let’s get in position before daylight hits.” Clay looked around as they walked down the narrow alleyway.

“Roger that.” Stella nodded as Cougar replied with a tip of his hat to show he had heard, Pooch also inclining his head.

The four of them stopped by a door to their right, Stella pulling the tool from her utility belt which was fastened around the waistband of her camo pants. She picked the lock in under thirty seconds, a simple job that required a little bit of jiggling, twisting and a good jerk with the torque wrench Cougar was holding to defeat.

“Not particularly high security considering this was a bank.” She mumbled as behind her Cougar chuckled.

Inside it was pitch black, dust rose in clouds, shimmering in the moonlight, which was streaking through the dirty arched windows. Both of them flipped out their flashlights, quickly scanning the room for any sign that someone had been here recently, but there was none. 

They crossed quietly and quickly through the main atrium of the old building, taking care to keep to the shadows. The old bank was completely deserted bar a few desks and old telephones which sported thick layers of dust as they moved through, heading for the spiral staircase at the far side.

“We’re clear.” Pooch said as he looked up to the top of the staircase. “This place hasn’t been accessed for years.”

“Lima Six, anything to report?” Clay spoke into his radio and a moment later Jensen replied.

“Nothing on the comms, they’re talking about moving Kilo One out at the time we suspected but it could be a rouse to make sure…but Lima Two knows the code-word should they decide to go early.”

“Okay, as soon as you get movement let me know.”

“Ten-four, One.”

“Okay, let’s get set up.” Clay instructed and the team nodded in agreement as they all set about, placing various pieces of equipment around the place exactly where it needed to be for when their target and his security detail, in which Roque had embedded himself undercover, came storming into the pre-designated building, seeking refuge from an attack outside.

It took them roughly an hour to set up completely, things having to be precisely as Pooch directed. Eventually, when he was happy, they climbed the staircase at the back of the room. Four sets of eyes swept the square below. It was deserted, as was to be expected at such an early hour in the morning.

Stella scanned the buildings, nevertheless, her eyes sharp, looking for any sign of movement around the whitewashed and pebble-dashed sandstone that they had grown accustomed to seeing over the last three weeks or so they’d been in Nabatieh, Lebanon.

“So Khalil should be coming from there.” Pooch raised his arm and pointed to a small road to the right. “The plan is we lay down some fire by his bodyguards as he approaches the podium, and force them to take shelter in the bank, as led nicely by Roque.”

“Why do we want this guy alive so badly, anyway?” Stella mumbled to herself. “If he’s such a bastard, why don’t we just kill him? He’s a terrorist leader.”

“The Lebanese Freedom Party ain’t deemed terrorists all over the world.” Pooch grinned and Stella snorted. “Russia views them as a legitimate socio-political force.”

“Russia basically executes people for being gay” She scoffed. “Forgive me for not taking their viewpoint here as the one to set my moral compass against.” She sighed. “Cougs could take one shot, straight in the head. Boom. Job done.”

Cougar chuckled as he unloaded his rifle and stand, looking up at Clay. “She’s not wrong, Boss.”

“Whilst wiping that particular shit stain off the face of the earth might be appealing, they ain’t our orders. We apprehend alive.” Clay spoke, matter of factly and Stella rolled her eyes.

“Whatever helps us sleep at night, huh?”

****

Stella had to hand it to their Intel department. The start of the hit went like clockwork. At bang on the designated time, Jensen radioed in to say that they were moving out and sure enough, twenty minutes or so later he accounted the SUVs and jeeps had left the compound. He joined the rest of the team little over half an hour later, leaving the dirty van he had been driving hidden down a dark alleyway at the back of the bank, behind the one the rest of the team had arrived in and headed into the dank building, wrinkling his nose at the musty air as he walked in. 

“Hey.” He greeted Stella, his hand falling to her shoulder as she sat in the back, her attention focussed through the window, a pair of binoculars raised to her eyes.

“Hey.” She whispered back, her gaze flicking to him quickly, flashing him a smile as she turned back to her spotting.

“So I picked up on their coms that they think Khalil’s personal security have done a sweep of the area.” Jensen looked at them. “Roques done his job nicely. They should be entering the square from the South West corner.”

 “ETA?” Clay turned to him.

“Less than five minutes.”

“Excellent.” Clay nodded. “So far so good.”

The next five minutes or so passed in silence, all five of the Officers in the room observing the roads leading to the square just in case. Even though their intel was solid, it was drilled into them that they should never rely on it completely.

“Boss,” Cougar spoke suddenly, his shoulders squaring back, “target approaching. Roughly two miles out.”

“Fuck, I got something coming too from the North East.” Pooch groaned.

“What?” Clay demanded.

“I dunno but it looks suspiciously like an ARV.”

“An ARV?” Clay frowned.

“Yup. They’ve stopped. Six hundred yards out.”

“What do you mean they’ve stopped?” Jensen demanded, snatching the binoculars off him.

“What the fuck do you think I mean?” Pooch replied. “They’re not moving.”

“What the fuck is going on?” Stella growled and Clay took the binoculars off Jensen. She watched as Clay took a look before he sighed heavily and dropped his head.

“It’s the Lebanese Special Service. I recognise one of them from a mission a while back.”

“What the hell are they doing here?”

 “I should have seen this coming.” Clay bit his lip. “They’re going to hit him at the rally. The false trail we leaked to them means they think we’re moving on him as he makes his way out of town and up to Beirut. They’re going to get in first.”

“It’s a double cross.” Stella looked at Jake and Pooch as she spoke, the pair of them exchanging a look before all eyes bar Cougar’s, which remained firmly fixed on his target, turned to Clay. “Why?”

“Death to the West and all that.” Clay sniffed. “They’re gonna take him out and try and use USA involvement as cover.”

“Don’t they realise that won’t work?” Stella shook her head. “We’re Black Ops, the thick fuckers. As soon as there’s so much of a sniff that shit is going west, the CIA will leave us high and dry, denying they had anything to do with it.”

“So what’s Plan B?” Pooch turned to look Clay. “I’m hoping you got a Plan B, because Plan A is going to shit.”

“Kilo one still approaching.” Cougar stated.

“You got anything special in your arsenal?” Clay turned to Pooch. “As in blow up an ARV special?”

Pooch blinked. “Yeah, the RPG but…”

“Go get it.” Clay instructed.

Pooch didn’t hesitate, he shot off down the stairs and Stella watched him go before she turned her attention back to the large square, which was roughly the size of two football pitches, busy with people bustling about their everyday business.

“If we get this wrong, the whole square is gonna be caught up in a fucking gun fight,” Stella spoke, her eyes falling on a group of kids in the middle.

There was a pause before Clay spoke again. “Khalil is our main objective; we just need to keep collateral to a minimum.”

Collateral. Stella hated that fucking word. She swallowed and looked at Jensen who gave her a small smile, which she returned before she glanced back at the square.

“One mile out.” Cougar informed.

“Okay,” Clay spoke, clapping his hands together. “Pooch, as soon as the LSS move, you shoot that RPG straight at the fuckers.”

“Gladly.” He nodded, “But, chances are if they’ve got an ARV out there then they’ll already have agents on the ground.”

“It doesn’t matter, all we gotta do is get a shot off first.  Once that initial gun crack is heard, Khalil’s security outfit are gonna herd him in here anyway. And hopefully, when the LSS get note their vehicle has gone bang it’ll draw them into blowing cover somehow.” Clay nodded. “At least then we’ll be able to spot where they are.” He took a deep breath. “Cougar, keep watch on Khalil. As soon as you get a viable opportunity to lay down the fire, take it.”

Cougs, who hadn’t taken his eye away from the target sight of his gun simply tipped the brim of his hat again with his finger to show he had understood and Clay turned to the other three of them as they waited instructions.

 “What about Roque?” Stella asked. “He doesn’t know about the LSS.”

“He’ll roll with the punches.” Clay rubbed his hand over his chin. “Everyone clear?”

“Clear as, boss, it’s a shoot-out.” Jensen snorted, nodding his head as he gave a chuckle. “Good times.”

“If this is your idea of a good time then I’d hate to see a bad one.” Pooch grumbled and Stella gave a chuckle.

“Hey, Poochy, I just like to see the positive in all aspects of life.” Jensen grinned, holding his hands out to the side, palms up. “You’re just grumpy because Jolene’s finally managed to…ouch!” Jensen gave a yelp as Stella punched him hard on the arm. “What was that for, babe?”

Stella shot him a look which instantly shut him up. Pooch had confided in her, Cougar and Jensen no less than two days ago that Jolene was four months pregnant, but he didn’t want to tell Clay or Roque for reasons that he was keeping to himself, as per his prerogative, she supposed. It had made her and Jensen snort a little, as when Aubrey had found out she was pregnant roughly five months or so ago, the entire world had known pretty much before the pee was dry on the test stick. Jensen’s eyes widened as he realised exactly what he’d been about to say and he grimaced, before turning to Pooch, giving him an apologetic look.

“Kilo One is approaching the square.” Cougar spoke, and they all turned their attention to him, stepping forward to the window, Clay observing their surroundings with the binoculars. 

“Okay, focus up Losers.” Clay hushed them all, gesturing to Pooch. “Get ready with that RPG”

Pooch shot Jensen one final filthy glare before he stepped forward, resting the grenade launcher on his shoulder.

“Arty, Jensen, in position.” Clay instructed. “Coms on, code names only.”

They both nodded, Stel picking up a device that had been in Pooch’s big bag of tricks, and made their way back to the spiral staircase.

And then, it all happened at once. Clay gave the order to fire and both Pooch and Cougar took their shots at the same time. The popping of guns, sounds of screaming and yelling and a rather large explosion followed by Pooch’s loud chuckles of glee hit their ears and Jensen looked at Stella as they waited at the top of the stairs.

“I really shouldn’t enjoy this as much as I should.” He grinned, and Stella snorted as suddenly the room below them was full of voices, once of which the recognised instantly as Roque. From their extensive planning, Sella knew that they would likely hustle into the room in a tight cordon, with Khalil in the middle and head to the most secure part of the building, the vault. They had no idea how many of the guard had made it into the building with Khalid, but essentially it didn’t matter. The Losers were one step ahead.

As soon as the group made their way towards the main part of the atrium, through the open double doors which led through the cashier area, Jensen grinned at Stella.

“Hit it, babe!” 

Stella smirked as she pushed the button on the device she held in her hand. The large electromagnets that had been placed on the locks snapped into place, firing the four inch thick steel bolts into their slots, securing them tightly, ensuring no one could get out, and no one else could get in. Yells of warnings rang out about the place as the guards instantly wheeled round, their guns raised and Roque’s eyes flickered upwards to where they were hidden on the veranda above. Jensen raised his right hand, his index and middle finger extended and he waved them across his face, indicating that their next move was about to go down. Roque made no sign he’d seen them, bar a quick double-blink.

“I’m sorry, pal.” Jensen grimaced a little as he ducked down and lifted a heavy square box off the floor, flipping the plastic cover up, jamming his thumb onto the red button. “Lima Two is about to deploy, please return to your seats and cover your ears.” He spoke into his coms, giving the rest of the team a warning. As soon as the device beeped to say it was charged, Jensen launched it over the side of the railing where it fell onto the floor below. As soon as it left his hands, he and Stella ducked down, their fingers jammed in their ears, eyes scrunched shut as the device activated.

Referred to merely by Pooch as the S-Fud- ‘Sensory Fuck-Up Device’, the item had been developed by the boffins in the CIA lab to create complete optical and aural disorientation by using ultra violet and bright white lights and a loud, high pitched sound and sonic wave. Even with his eyes screwed shut, the flash of light still bounced off all the surfaces surrounding Jensen, and the hands which were clamped over his ears might have dimmed the majority of the loud wailing siren, which lasted no more than two seconds, but the combination was still enough to leave him feeling slightly woozy as he stood to his feet, blinking furiously, his eyes feeling like he’d stared straight at the sun, his eardrums ringing as if he’d spent hours in a nightclub with music thumping in his ears. Besides him, Stella staggered to her feet and shook her head, pressing the heel of her palm to the space between her eyes. But they had no time to waste. Jake gently shook her shoulder and she nodded to show him she was okay. Together they made their way down the stairs as quickly as they could. 

The S-Fud had done its job, all the men were incapacitated to some extent. As Stella’s eyes glanced around she quickly counted six men in total. Three, one of whom was Khalil, were completely unconscious, face down on the floor. Two more, including Roque, were writhing in pain, hand clutched over their ears, and one was attempting to stagger to his feet. In a flash, Stella had nailed him with a kick to the face, and he fell backwards with a thud, his nose shattering as her heel smashed straight into the bridge.

“Did you see that?” Jensen turned to the other three men who had joined them, all looking around the room. “My girl, she’s a bad ass chick.”

“Can you concentrate on the mission in hand for once and not your dick?” Pooch shook his head as Cougar hit the moving guard with the butt of his rifle, knocking him out.

“Your momma concentrated on my dick last night.” Jensen shot back and Pooch groaned.

“Seriously? Momma jokes, now?”

“Shut up.” Stella nudged Jake harshly with her elbow as she walked past, following Clay as they stepped over the unconscious guards, heading towards Roque as he groaned and lay curled up in the foetal position. Clay knelt down and reached out, loosening his tie and the top button of his dress shirt before patting him on the shoulder, as Stella did the same to their target.

“Okay, lets move.” Clay looked up. “Jensen, Pooch, you take Roque. I’ll get Khalil. Cougs, Arty, give us cover to the vehicle.”

The team all nodded, Jensen and Pooch stepping forward, each seizing Roque under his arms. They managed to get him to his feet, each supporting him, their arms round his back as his arms slumped over their shoulders. His feet staggered on the floor as he made an attempt to talk.

“We got you, buddy.” Jensen said softly. “You’ll be alright, just feel like you’ve got one hell of a hangover for a few hours.”

Meanwhile Clay had managed to hoist Khalil to his feet with Cougar’s help, the man a complete dead weight, which he allowed to slump against his right shoulder. With an almighty heave he ducked and then stood, using his legs to rise up fully, Khalil slung over him in a fireman’s lift, his arms dangling freely down Clay’s back.

Without another word, the team moved as quickly as they could to the dead-bolted doors where Stella reached into her pocket with one hand, whipping her pistol out with the other. She clicked the device, which unlocked the glass doors and they made their way across the atrium, the chaotic noises from outside growing louder as they approached the back door to the bank they’d used to enter. Stella flattened herself against one side of the wall to the right of the door as Cougar took aim with his rifle. He looked at her and nodded, and in a flash she reached out and yanked it open, Cougar darting through, rifle held in front of him. 

“Clear.” He spoke and Stella moved to allow the rest of the team to step out into the alleyway, taking up the rear. 

She spotted the man hiding in a doorway two down before Cougs even had chance to shout a warning. In a flash she fired pistol twice. The first shot hit the guy in the arm, causing him to drop his gun, the second in the knee and he fell to the floor, screaming in agony. Then came another, and another. As Stella and Cougar continued, Jensen, Pooch and Clay heaved their charges to the side of the van, ducking as shots rained down on them. Pooch wrenched open the door, and Jensen hopped into the back, hoisting Roque in as gently as he could, a sharp contrast to the way Clay simply slung Khalil unceremoniously into the back. As Pooch ran to the front and hopped into the driver side, Stella and Cougar both sprinted towards the van, flinging themselves in as the engine started. With a sharp tug, Clay pulled he door shut as Pooch started the engine. 

Seconds later, the van roared back off up the alley, the crackle of gunfire from the square growing quieter and quieter as they put more distance between them and the danger.  Pooch drove them out onto the main road, towards the point, some six miles or so away, where they would ditch the van and hop into two separate SUVs and make their way to the agreed Ex-fil point at Saida Port roughly a half an hour or so drive away.

Stella closed her eyes, resting her head against the cool metal of the van, watching as Pooch and Jensen  hoisted Khalil into a sitting position, securing his wrists with flexi-restraints behind his back. Cougar was busy offering Roque some water, Stella pleased to see their teammate was finally starting to come round. She smiled as Jensen flopped down next to her, his arm looping round her shoulders as he pulled her to him for a soft kiss.

“I love working with you,” he grinned and she snorted, shaking her head as she chuckled.

“Yeah, we’re a regular nine-to-five couple, aint we?”

****

“Stel?” Jake called through the door of the bathroom of their temporary lodgings before he opened it and to be greeted by Stella led back in the bath, eyes closed. She turned her head to look at him. “I was gonna ask if you wanted head out with the guys for a beer and food but you look pretty comfortable.”

She pulled a face. “I’m feeling anti-social.” Jake laughed at her frank answer and smiled as she gave a small shrug. “Sorry, not sorry, but we spent four weeks in a hell hole motel and I’m extremely grateful Clay’s managed to get us holed up in a nice place and not the Officers’ Quarters on base so I intend to make the most of it.”

“Babes, we were both in the army.” He snorted. “Rocks for pillows and all that.”

“Yeah, well it’s been a while since I did that. What can I say? I’ve grown used to the finer things again.”

“Fair enough, I’ll let Clay know you hate them all and don’t want to socialise.” He teased.

“Jakey, we’re gonna be here for by my guess a week at least, plenty of time to go out sampling the finest bars the UK has to offer.” She shrugged, not bothered in the slightest by his teasing. “If you wanna go meet them, feel free. I’ll grab a take out. There were some leaflets pinned to the board in the kitchen.”

“Or…” Jake smirked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, “I stay here, because frankly, that bed looks really comfy and I kinda wanna test it. See how grossed out we can make Pooch.”

“Jerk.” Stella snorted.

“Well, he’s done nothing but complain since we got here about how he has to share this house with us and can’t go in with the others, so I wanna give him something to really complain about.”

“You’re such a little shit.” She laughed and Jake groaned. 

“Don’t do that.”

“Do what? Laugh?”

“Yeah, it’s making your boobs wobble under the water, and that’s making me horny.”

“You’re always horny.”

“Hornier than usual.”

“Well, I can solve that problem.” She grinned and Jake smirked.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, turn around and shut the door on your way out.”

“Ouch, Stells.” Jake slapped his hand over his heart. “That’s cold.”

“Hmmm,” She muttered, laying her head back and closing her eyes again. “If you’re getting in here you better hurry, or the water will be cold too.”

Jake grinned and in a flash, reached back to grab a fist full of his t-shirt behind the collar and pulled it over his head. As his hands flew to the button on his jeans Stella nodded to the door.

“You better lock that, I know you said you wanted to gross Pooch out but if he walks in on us he’ll be scared for life.”

“And?”

Stella merely arched her brow, “No locky, no fucky.”

With that Jake spun on his heel and flicked the lock, before he turned round and shoved his pants and boxers down in one full swoop and swung his leg over the side of the tub. Stella moved forward so he could settle behind her, his legs laying either side of hers. It was a tight squeeze, the tub in the two bedroomed terraced house wasn’t built to accommodate two but neither paid it any mind. 

Stella took a deep breath, closed her eyes and leaned back, her head laying against Jake’s chest as his hands softly rubbed up and down her forearms, his lips pressing a kiss to her shoulder. 

They were silent for a while, the pair of them simply contented to stay there for a moment, relishing the peace after a long and tedious mission and the chance to relax for an evening before the debriefs and analysis started the next day in the War Rooms of the RAF Base in Suffolk, England. Often, the aftermath of a mission was more hard-going than the action itself. They’d hash over the events, listen to the CIA operative justify some of the more morally ambiguous decisions made, no doubt the ramifications and political fall-outs, be informed about how the CIA were going to play it and then they’d have to submit written reports, which would be Classified at the highest levels and stored in the top secret vaults in Virginia. 

It was part and parcel of being in a black-ops team. They knew the script, having read and played it many a times before. But it was draining and exhausting, one of the many reasons Stella was glad that the actual missions they ran, whilst they could last months at a time, were on the large few and far between.

“You okay?” Jake broke the silence and pressed his lips once more to the back of her shoulder and Stella nodded, tilting her head round so she could look at him.

“I spoke to Rey before.”

“Yeah, how is she?”

“She said she felt the baby move for the first time.” Stella beamed.

“Oh, that’s awesome.” Jake grinned back, “are they gonna find out what they’re having?”

Stella snorted, “dur. You know what she’s like. She’ll want to decorate and buy it blue or pink clothes, plus if it’s a boy she’s got time to mentally prepare seeing as all she wants is a little girl to treat like a doll.”

Jake laughed. “Is it wrong I kinda hope it is a boy?”

Stella grinned. “Nope, I was thinking the same. She’s asked me to be with her when it’s born.”

“I’m not surprised.” Jake wrinkled his nose. “Dick’s gonna be about as much use as a knife in a gun fight.”

“Knives can be very useful in a gun fight, if you know how to use them.”

“Oooh I love it when you talk dirty, babe.” Jensen smirked and dropped his head to kiss her softly. His right hand moved from its spot on her arm to stroking her hip, tracing a path down the outside of her thigh. His fingers softly traced shapes on her warm, wet skin just to the side of her knee before he moved his touch up her leg again then across to her abdomen. Stella sighed against his mouth, as her head lolled to the right. Jensen’s mouth moved, trailing a line down her neck, nipping at the hinge of her jaw. 

He was growing hard against her, Stella could feel it, and the way his fingers were ghosting over her made her skin tingle and her body shiver. "Jake," she whimpered. "Yeah, baby?" His fingers found the tuft of curls and then her nub. "You gonna sing for me, Stells?" He encircled her clit with his fingertip and drew back up. "Let me play that pussy?" “Fuck...” she groaned, leaning further back into him, her body sagging into his. She loved his dirty talk, being so in control for most of the time, she enjoyed letting herself go when it came to this. “Feels good, Jakey.” "Yeah? You like it when I touch you, feel my fingers inside? Stretching you for my dick?" He dipped two fingers inside, his thumb able to press into her sensitive clit. "Jesus, fuck," Stella gasped as he moved into her. The thickness of his fingers felt like she was on fire and had her silently begging his foreplay wasn't long. "So fucking wet already, babe." Jake was enjoying the feel of her on his fingers. It'd been a long while since he'd felt all of her and he hid his desperation well behind dirty words and filthy ministrations. His mouth moved down her neck, teeth gently nipping at her skin as he went, lips curling into a smirk as he listened to her softly groaning. Her hips moving in time with his hand as his fingers curled inside her.  Water began to just teeter over the tubs edge but neither paid any mind. Stella's breathy pants bounced off of Jake's cheek as he watched himself finger fuck her. "I love it when you fuck my fingers, baby." "Oh God," Stella squeaked, for she was going to hit that edge and fall right over. The time between, the angst of their mission and Jake's mouth were nearing too much. "Jakey, please," she moaned. "Cum on my fingers, Stells, then I'm gonna fuck you, really...really... good." With each 'really' Jake barely rutted against Stella, just enough to tease her at what he wanted to do to her. He wanted to slide in, slow and deep, her body seated on top his, while he feasted on her nipples and neck. He wanted to be buried into her to the hilt and paint her walls with his seed. Stella came undone as her body quaked against his chest. With a breathy squeak she went rigid and her hand flew from the side of the tub, wrapping around is wrist as she came, her walls clamping around his fingers "Fuck, Stella, turn around baby, sit on my lap." She was as languid as the water around them, her body drowning in ecstasy as Jake helped her turn in the small space. His fully erect and throbbing cock stood at attention, his head just above the water’s surface. He guided Stella just where he wanted her and slowly dipped inside her still trembling walls. The sensation was more than Stella had bargained for and she moaned out loudly as she sank into him. "That's it baby, let them hear you" Jake bucked a bit into her, closing the gap that Stella was slowly shortening, his cock fully inside her and he moaned himself. She felt so good, so tight. Like there was no one else made for him but her. The thought gave him a flutter deep in his belly. She was his, and would be forever, if she'd have him. Stella rolled her hips against his, grinding down the pressure on her sensitive clit while Jake's lips moved over her skin, nearing her pert nipples. His hands wove around her back, fingers pressing into her spine as he bobbed his hips up and down to meet with her rolls. It was a dirty grind, water sloshing out of the tub like waves licking the shore. When Jake found a nipple and rolled it between his lips, his tongue tasting her flesh and his teeth nipping at it, Stella tugged at the little bits of longer hair atop Jake's head as she squeaked out a pleasurable sound. One of Jake's large hands palmed down her back and over the curve of her ass, squeezing her cheek as she rocked all whilst he played with her breasts. The same hand soon found its way between their bodies and pressed hard into her clit before smoothing upward over her tummy and grasping her left breast, kneading it gently. The more he gave, the more she took and before long she was grinding down against him, her breathing ragged as he thrust up, hard, his hands dropping to her hips.  “Come on baby,” he groaned as her head fell back, his lips nipping against her collar bone, “fuck, I love you.” “Love you.” She groaned as he thrust up, her hands curling over his shoulders, nails biting his skin. “Shit, Jakey, I’m gonna...” “Cum baby, come on.” His jaw clenched as her body trembled and her eyes fluttered closed, as she let out a broken, whispered groan. As she clenched around him, Jake gave a soft growl of his own, his hips moving slightly faster as he rutted up, pulling her down onto him. The coil in his abdomen that had been tightening and tightening snapped and his entire body surrendered, a surge of warmth spreading from his belly outwards and he stilled, his cock twitching as he came. A few sloppy thrusts later and he stilled with a satisfied him, his hands moving to smooth Stella’s damp hair back off her face as hers cupped his cheeks. She simply looked at him for a moment and he gave her a grin causing her to chuckle as she pressed a soft kiss to his mouth.  “Jesus Christ, that was amazing.” Jensen mumbled and Stella grinned, her lips meeting his once more. They stayed still for a moment, soft kisses being shared until Stella shivered a little and Jake helped her move off him so he could get out of the tub and leave her to finish off. He grabbed a towel and his glasses from the basin unit before he dried off, gathered his discarded clothes and headed onto the small landing of the accommodation. Pooch, who was just emerging from the other bedroom shot him a look. “You better clean that damned bathroom before I use it.” He arched his eyebrow and Jensen grinned. “You’re like the best disgusting person I know.” Pooch continued with a snort before he nodded his head to the stairs. “Take it you’re two ain’t coming?” “Already came, Poochy.” Jensen grinned as he walked to their bedroom, laughing as the sounds of Pooch’s groans of disgust hit his ears.

****

Stella woke the next morning to a burning deep in her core and Jake’s face between her legs. Her orgasm roused her much better than any alarm or cup of coffee ever could and as Jake stuffed himself insider her, his mouth nipping softly at her neck, she smiled softly to herself as she realised he’d done this very thing the first morning they’d moved up to college together.

After pulling on her Army Uniform cargo pants, Stella tucked her khaki green tee into the waist and adjusted the belt before she sat down and laced up her heavy boots as Jake fiddled with the collar of his, complaining that it felt tight. When Stella pointed out he was slightly more built than he had been last time he wore it a good few months ago, he grinned and flexed his arms to give her the ‘gun show’ making her snort and shake her head.

They headed out of the house and walked the half a mile to the main gate of the base, flashing their ID and making their way to the Mess for breakfast where they met with the rest of the team, Pooch giving them another filthy look as their antics had continued beyond the bathroom and much later into the night. Once they’d finished eating, they each grabbed a coffee to go and headed down to the War Rooms - a network of conference rooms and IT facilities nestled in a bunker along the runway of the RAF Base - and settled down in the leather seats around the large, polished mahogany table ready for whoever it was from the CIA that would be arriving to give the debrief.

They’d been there for roughly half an hour or so and Jensen was already bored. He was messing around, twirling his pen in-between his fingers, the other tapping against the disposable coffee cup. After a pause, he took his pen and began to draw a face on the white plastic lid.

“What are you doing?” Stella looked at him, having caught his fiddling in the corner of her eye.

“I’m bored, Stelly,” his voice was a childish whine, “where is this guy anyway? We’ve been waiting here for like thirty minutes!”

“Just take the fucking pen off him, Arty.” Roque groaned. Stella reached over for it and snatched it away”

“Hey, that’s mine!”

“Jensen, shut up!” Roque shot back and Jensen turned to him.

“Why? It’s not like anyone is talking anyway.”

“You, you’re talking. As usual. Put a sock in it.” Roque turned to Stell as Clay stood up and walked to the door to see if anyone was coming. “How the fuck do you put up with this?”

“He has his mouth busy most of the time.” Stella quipped as she leaned back in the chair and Jensen gave her a dopey grin.

Both Roque and Pooch let out noises of disgust, Cougar’s chuckle just audible from the other side of the table where he lounged with his feet on the table and his hat pulled down over his eyes.

“Yeah, laugh all you want but next time it’s you sharing the digs with them.” Pooch looked at him. “I’m done.”

“Chill out.” Cougar replied and Pooch blinked.

“Did you just tell me to chill?”

Cougar smirked in response, tipping his hat up slightly to flash Pooch a wink.

“The Pooch is perfectly chilled.”

“The Pooch refers to himself in the third person,” Jensen shook his head, “that’s so not chill.”

“Oh…this just got even better.” Clay’s remark had them all turning towards him, the teasing banter dying off as Roque sat up.

“What?”

Clay simply walked into the room, rolling his eyes. Less than five seconds later, in walked a very familiar face.

“Oh great.” Jake mumbled as Stella blinked, coming face to face with her ex for the first time since he’d stormed out of her apartment all those months ago.

“Good Morning.” Evan greeted them all before he nodded to Stella, a little awkwardly. “Hey.”

“Evan, hi... what are you... what are you doing here?” She asked and Evan took a deep breath.

“It was my intel you guys were running down so I’m here for debrief.”

“That was your intel?” Pooch spoke and Evan nodded.

“Yeah, we’ve been tracking Khalil for a while and reached out to him a while ago to offer him a deal. He declined so we needed to bring him in.” Evan nodded. “His activities were giving us cause for concern, not to mention with the Russians behind him. We needed to make the grab before he got even more power behind his cause.”

Jake sensed Stella tensing slightly besides him and slid his hand over her thigh. Her fingers gently locked over his as she kept her gaze on Evan, who had spotted the subtle movement of Jake’s hand. He didn’t say anything, instead the man’s eyes flicked to Jake’s who simply stared back before Roque chipped in.

“So, we got the guy. Did he give you what you needed?”

“I can’t tell you that.” Evan replied, apologetically. “It’s classified, need to know basis.”

“In that case I don’t wanna know.” Pooch mumbled.

Stella’s mind was whirling. Truth be told, she’d started to think about exactly why they’d been dispatched to capture this particular guy alive, when his type were ten-a-penny all over the place. There was a lot more to it than the fact this guy’s ideologies didn’t fit with those of the Western World.  And then, the final little piece dropped into place in her analytical brain and she turned her head to see Clay watching her.

“Did you know?” She asked.

Clay shook his head. “Suspected but…”

“Suspected what?” Jensen looked at Clay then Stella. “Babe?”

She took a deep breath. “There’s a reason why we were on a capture not kill mission. At first I assumed it was to do with not making him a martyr but then throwing him in prison would cause just as much unrest. But that unrest will die down when he’s released in a few months in exchange for his cooperation for details on his Russian backers and arms suppliers.”

The rest of the team looked at her, then to Evan who blinked, his face remaining stoic as Stella shook her head and continued.

“He then lets his supporters know that he and his friends in Russia had a disagreement and he was traded away. He retires to some island somewhere, under the careful watch of the UN and fades away into non-existence.”

There was silence and Evan took a deep breath, “it’s not quite as simple as that, Stel…Stevenson, but yeah, that’s pretty much the basics.”

“God, this is so fucking bent.” Stella shook her head. “It’s no wonder the entire world hates us.”

“You know, considering you technically work for the CIA and the Armed Forces, you kinda signed up for this.” Clay raised his eyebrow as Stella rolled her eyes.

“We tried to negotiate terms with him. He turned them down.” Evan replied, matter-of-factly. “So we sent you in to enforce them. The rest, as I stated a minute or so ago, you really don’t need to know.”

“Yeah, classified, we heard.” Clay replied, leaning back in his chair.

“Did you suspect the Lebanese Special Service would try a double cross?” Roque looked at Evan and the man shot him an apologetic look.

“It was always possible, yeah. But you know how it goes…”

Roque scoffed and Cougar shifted in his seat, Evan’s eyes flicking to him before he took a deep breath and shrugged.

“If it helps, think of the bigger picture. We remove their leader, cut off the Russian support, and suddenly the LFP is nothing more than an overhyped street gang...”

“Yeah, that doesn’t really help.” Jensen wrinkled his nose and Evan shrugged, not quite meeting his eyes.

“Well, that’s your opinion. Not ours.” He cleared his throat, “anyway, it’s done. The mission is over. For now, you guys need to lay low. We’ve cleared it with the RAF for you to stay in the area for a while until all the fuss about Khalil going missing has died down. We’ll be monitoring all the usual lines and channels of communication, making sure no one has your descriptions and doing what we can to keep your faces out of the public eye.” Evan paused. “But, I’m sure I don’t need to remind you what happens if we can’t.”

At that The Losers simply looked at one another. Evan was right, they didn’t need reminding. That was the whole point of the CIA running the number of Black-Ops teams it did. It gave them a way to do the slightly grey area dirty jobs and remain at arm’s length, denying all responsibility if required.

“Any idea on how long that’s gonna be?” Pooch asked. 

“Probably be a week, maybe two. But once we’re confident we’re clear, we’ll send word and get you back to the US.” Evan replied.

“So what you’re saying is we got two weeks off?” Cougar spoke and Evan looked at him, giving a shrug.

Pooch grinned and fist bumped Cougar.

“Are you staying here too?” Jensen looked at Evan and he shook his head.

“Don’t worry, I’m flying back to Virginia tonight”

“I’m not really worried…” Jake shrugged. There was a moment where both men simply stared at each other until Clay coughed.

“Right, is there anything else?”

“Mission reports due as usual, next forty eight hours.” Evan turned his head away from Jensen and looked around the team. “I’ve arranged access into the Red Network from the hub on the base. Your liaison officer, Wing Commander Levinson, says he can set you guys up with time on the range or the phys- ops courses too, have you join their drills if you want. Might be an idea to keep yourselves sharp.”

Cougar, Pooch and Jake all groaned at the suggestion of the physical training whilst Roque and Stella looked at one another, nodding.

“Yeah, I can go for that.” Roque agreed.

“And that’s it, other than on behalf of the CIA I wanted to thank you, it was a slick operation. We’re really pleased with how this one turned out.”

The team exchanged looks and soft smiles, before Clay stood up.

“Okay, Losers. Let’s grab some more coffee and then we can regroup. Figure out what we do for the next two weeks.

Movement filled the room as they all stood to leave, and just as Stella had picked up her empty coffee cup, Evan cleared his throat.

“Stella, can I have a word?”

She hesitated and Jake turned to look at her. He opened his mouth to protest but she cut him off. “Jakey, it’s fine. Go, I’ll catch you up.”

He blinked, before he turned to Evan, the glare he gave him positively filthy before he turned and left the room. Evan and Stella stood still watching him go, before Stella turned to Evan, the man giving her a soft smile.

“You look well. Being happy suits you.” His tone carried no anger, and Stella found herself returning his smile before she sighed and shook her head.

“Listen Evan, I...”

“It’s okay Stella,” he spoke, holding his hand up, “I won’t keep you long. I just wanted to apologize. I was an asshole when you broke up with me.” Stella took a deep breath as he continued. “The way I acted and the things I said were horrible. My mother would be ashamed and I just ...” he shrugged. “I wanted to let you know I was sorry, that’s all.”

Slightly surprised at his outwardly contrite tone, Stella simply shook her head. “It’s okay. You were hurt. I hurt you.”

“Yeah you did but that doesn’t excuse the way I reacted. So, like I said, I’m sorry.” He smiled, gesturing with his hand to the door. “And I’m glad that you and Jake are, you know, making it work.”

As he spoke the final like, that tell-tale nerve in his jaw twitched a little and Stella knew that he wasn’t happy, at all. But, given that the rest of his apology had been genuine, she accepted the gesture for what it was.

“Thank you.” She gave a soft smile. “And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry too. I did like you Ev, it just…”

“It wasn’t meant to be.” He shrugged. “Yeah, I get that now. And hey, no hard feelings. If we hadn’t broken up I’d never have met Talia so…”

“Oh, you’re seeing someone?”

“Yeah.” Evan nodded. “It’s early days, we’ve had a few dates and been away for a weekend. She’s nice, I like her.”

“Good, well I hope it works out.” Stella smiled. There was a pause before she took a breath. “I better…” she jerked her hand towards the door and Evan nodded.

“Of course…”

“I’ll, erm, see you around, yeah?”

“Yeah, take care, Stella.”

“You too, Evan.”

With a final smile at one another, Stella left the room and headed back up the corridor. Jake was waiting outside for her, leaning against the wall of the building.

“All okay?” He asked and she nodded.

“Yeah.”

“What did he want?”

“To apologise for the way he acted when we broke up.” Stella shrugged. “That was it, oh, and he’s seeing someone else. Which is nice. I hope it works for him. He’s a good guy.”

Jensen made a non-committal noise in his throat and Stella looked at him. “Don’t start.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You don’t need to.” Stella rolled her eyes. “Stop.”

“Okay, okay, sorry. I just, well, I don’t know what it is but I still don’t trust him, never have. He’s shady.”

“He’s an intel officer for the CIA.” Stella scoffed, taking Jake’s hand. “We’re a Black-Ops team. Far more shady than he is.”

“Suppose.” Jensen sniffed, as the two of them walked down the side of the building. As they went, Jensen suddenly had a sense of unease. Almost as if they were being watched. He turned his head to glance over his shoulder, but found no one. Taking a deep breath, he shook his head, telling himself he was being ridiculous. They were on a secure Military Base, probably the safest place they could be given the circumstances.

“You okay?” Stella asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” he assured her, “so, the rest of The Losers are in the coffee shop. Pooch is already on his phone checking out local bars, fancy hitting a few tonight?”

“Why not?” Stell grinned up at him, leaning up to place a soft kiss to the underside of his jaw. Jake smiled, and pulled her closer as they headed off to join up with the rest of the team, casting a final glance over his shoulder, once more seeing nothing out of the ordinary.

**** Chapter 10

[workingonit-currently]

Dob was sick, really sick.

The not-cool kind of sick, the sweating, warm, fuzzy kind of sick.

He'd been sick for a while, the others just hadn't noticed.

Or maybe they had, Dob can't recall.

It doesn't matter now. They've noticed now and they're all talking. Dob should probably listening but he's not, he's thinking. He's looking at their faces and smiling.

"Dob? Dob!" Merilwen calls out and breaks Dob out of his haze, her worried eyes staring at him unblinking. Dob considers that he might look terrible, weird just smiling at them with an unblinking glazed expression.

"Uuuhhh...yes?" Dob questions and puts on a grin but he doesn't sound like himself, his voice is too throaty, too scratchy.

The Oxventurers cringe at this, this is not the voice of care-free Dob the bard. This is the voice of Dob the very ill half-orc.

"Dob...what have you done?" Prudence sighs as she takes his hand, a frown on her face as she looks at his hand. It's a comforting guesture and it's for both of their benefits, an anchor for both of them.

"N-nothing...I..I don't...think?" Dob answers and makes her huff, a smile returning at his unsure answer. In Prudence's eyes Dob never did know what he was doing until it was done, poetic if it wasn't soo stupid.

"Okay...well...ummm.....Y-You guys sleepy now?" Dob coughs but puts on a smile to reassure everyone he's okay, he thinks they should be sleepy, Cor and Merilwen look dreadful, they keep moving.

Dob yawns and keeps muttering about how late it is, the Oxventurers don't tell him it's the middle of the morning or that he's been in and out of consiousness for a while now, they just nod and agree, shuffling out of the room but leaving Merilwen in there to keep an eye on the stupid half-orc.

As the remaining Oxventurers close the door to Dob's room they meet each others eyes, a solem look extanged.

It's Prudence who gathers the strength to speak first.

"Dob's getting worse." Prudence states as Egbert nods and sits on the floor of the ship. Corazón watches him with keen eyes, usually he would be shouting at the dragonborn for sitting in a weird place but he's too tired now, the ringing in his head confirms that.

"Well, what can we do? Not like healing hands or any spells worked..." Corazón muses to Prudence, the one he's got along with most from the start. He dips his head, looking at the floor of his ship, their ship...

Egbert grits his teeth as he remembers the last time Dob blacked out and they tried any and all spells, he and Prudence even prayed to their gods. Nothing happened, infact Dob woke himself up coughing and Egbert thought it was all his fault.

"I-I would suggest trying to find out what's actually happening but I don't have any way of doing that...unless..." Prudence states and tucks her hair behind her ears absently, trying to keep a clear mind and a narrow focus so she doesn't have to deal with her thoughts. Prudence has always been dictated by power and logic, if Dob's been suffering like this for a while and he's already blacking out it could mean-

"Pru, whatever you need we'll get it. If it saves Dob I will give you my heart." Egbert speaks up and approaches the tiefling, squaring his shoulders and huffing out smoke. Egbert will do anything, including damning himself to hell, for his friends.

Corazón thinks Egbert's words are a little strange but doesn't question it, they're all tired and stressed right now so can't be expected to think clearly all the time.

"I...umm..are you sure?" Prudence starts but backtracks, placing a hand on Egberts shoulder as she offers a soft look. Most would think Prudence couldn't look soft but it's amazing what you find out when you become her friend.

"Yes." Egbert responds, nodding slowly as Corazón laughs slightly beside him and smiles.

"Team insanity it it then." Corazón laughs as he nods his head and fixes his hat, grimicing as coughing is heared, he knows this plan is a long shot and what they're willing to do is insane but he wouldn't have gone along with these idiots if he wasn't a little insane, "I'll do the same, anything you need Pru, human blood, cursed coins, all the rum on the ship, name it and I'll get it. I'd curse myself tenfold to cure Dob."

Prudence dips her head in respect before they start planning, Merilwen and Dob not knowing of this inside Dob's room.

Just as Corazón, Egbert and Prudence left Dob himself to keep awake.

"M-Mer?" Dob coughs again and roughly swallows, his throat feeling on fire as a comforting hand takes his.

"Yes Dob?" Merilwen answers, her voice quiet and soft but Dob can still hear how close to breaking it is.

"Mer, if...Mer, if I don't..you know...you know-" Dob starts but can't find the energy or breath to finish, it's a little too much, too similar to something he's already experienced.

"Dob, come on, don't-don't you dare say that. We'll be fine, the spells didn't work but...we'll be fine." She muses, squeezing Dob's hand, Merilwen doesn't care that it might be covered in his cough germs. Dob is unsure if she's saying that to herself or him but he stays silent and lets her continue, he has to understand why this feels so familiar.

"Listen, Dob..you're strong, you can survive this. We can survive this because...well...uhh..if you-We don't then..I mean..." Merilwen starts but trails off, her voice cracking at the end as Dob smiles and can't help but laugh slightly. It's a broken, airy and chest laugh but it's still a laugh that makes Merilwen smile for a little bit before Dob starts coughing again, aggressively.

Merilwen grabs the drink placed at the side of Dob's bed by Corazón but Dob pushes it away, he feels...the water's bad.

"Mer-" Dob starts, his voice is more horse, like he's choaking on his own words but Merilwen cuts him off, hugging him around the neck and suprising him.

"This can't be the end Dob, we've been through so much and there's still so much to do! I-I...I'll miss you Dob..." Merilwen cries into Dob's shoulder as he places a warm hand on her back, neither cares that they're both crying or that they both smell terrible, as long as they're together and close.

"I will to Mer...now go sleep. I'll be better in the morning, don't worry." Dob smiles as Merilwen sits back up, wiping her tears slightly but they're still falling just like his. Merilwen almost argues against Dob when Prudence calls her name.

Merilwen fake-glares at Dob who puts on his best smug grin before she leaves the room causiously. His smile soon drops. Dob knows why this feels so familiar. Dob knows he won't be better, he never will be.

"Ah...the consequences....they're....hhhh..." Dob muses bedore drifting off, he's been fighting off the slowly fuzzy darkness creeping in but with no reason to fight anymore and no tether to the real world now Dob drifts off.

..........................

Sooner than Prudence expected Merilwen came out with the vials full of Dob's blood and his saliva.

Merilwen comments on how weird ot was and how weird Dob was acting, still ill but angry, scared and stressed.

"I mean it was hard to even get a saliva sample as he just refused to drink, I had to hold him down..."

Prudence then set to work in her new lab, all equipment gathered by Egbert and Corazón. Prudence doesn't want to ask where they got half the stuff from...

The others wait outside, Prudence aggressively insisting she not be disturbed. So, to Prudence, it's not a suprise when she opens the door she finds them all looking expectantly at her.

Corazón looks at her face and immediately sees through her, his heart is going crazy and there's a chill running through him. Something is wrong. Maybe it's him being a pirate, able to read omens but he knows something is wrong as soon as Prudence steps out of her lab.

So he's the first to cry as Prudence starts speaking, grabbing onto Egberts arm as a lifeline.

"What's the verdict Doc?" Egbert asks and tries to lighten the mood like they usually do but gulps as Prudence looks at him. She looks in a worse state than him, her skin dark and her hair greasy, Prudence looks less like an evil warlock and more like an unhinged hermit, Egbert supposes her adopted father would be proud.

"It's hydrophobia." Prudence mutters, Merilwen is unsure if it's her, Prudence's hair or fate that shadows the tiefling's face as she says this.

Corazón knows what that means, he's had an expensive education and been a pirate long enough. He shakes his head while pressing himself into Egberts side.

"What does...what does that mean?" Merilwen ask the warlock who shakes her head before taking a deep breath.

"Umm...Dob..Dob has...Dob has rabies...again.." Prudence finally states and Merilwen runs to her, hugging her tightly as they all take in this news.

..........................

"Hey Cor, Pru, you guys okay?" Dob asks as they enter his room, Dob's eyes are bearly open and he looks thin.

"Yeah.." Corazón reassures him, smiling that Dob is still worried about everyone else despite the situation he's in.

"Listen...Dob..ummm..." Prudence starts as she sits on the side of his bed, Dob shuffeling his legs to one side so she can properly sit as Corazón takes the seat next to his bed.

"You...well you're really ill and...what's making you ill is..-" Corazón continues as he sees Prudence look at him, pleading for assistance.

"Rabies. Yeah, I know." Dob laughs and satrts coughing again, smiling despite the pain as they both look comically suprised.

"W-What!?" Prudence shouts at Dob, glaring at him as Corazón hands the ill half-orc a glass of water.

Corazón gets a face full of water and a hand of glass as Dob almost immediately smashes the water in a panic, fear deep-rooted inside him. He apologises before coughing again.

"Suprise!" Dob teases as he smiles before coughing again, wiping his mouth as Corazón takes a cloth and bounds his hand, he'll get the glass out some time later but for now he's spending time with Dob.

Dob knows he should have told the others. Maybe Dob should have recognised the signs before it had got to this stage but what can he do now. Except tell them something.

"Prudence, Corazon, I-I.." Dob starts but is cut off by coughing again, making his frantically try and sit up, Prudence helping him before it stops, "I...I love you guys."

Prudence and Corazón look at each other, realising what this means, what Dob's trying to say, what's happening.

"We..we love you to Dob." Corazón calls back at the half-orc placing a hand on his shoulder.

Dob brings them both into a hug, both tense but secretly unable to resist hugging their friend one last time.

"It's that bad aye?" Prudence comments as they pull away from the hug, tears in her eyes.

Dob nods and smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes, it's not his usual smile, it's not Dob.

"I suppose we should say something poetic..." Prudence then muses and makes Corazón laugh slightly, running a hand through his hair as he dramatically gets up to make a speech, Prudence laughing with Dob as they both object.

"Rest well my friend, may your mind sail the waves of oblivion and your heart guide you. We will meet again and when we do nothing shall stop us for you are the greatest crewmate I could have wished for, you are the greatest friend I've ever had. Our voyage has been too short but all journeys must end and all songs must come to silence, for that is what makes them worthwhile. Your song is a marvel of laughter and poetry, it shall be written in the starts and in each of our hearts so we carry you with us always. Loss is what paves the road to the future but your loss shall be the hardest to bare my friend."

"You're an idiot." Prudence huffs as she sobs, hiding her head in her hands in mock disgrace and embarassment.

Dob smiles. This is what he should remember, this band of idiots and disgraces to the world, Dob should be proud of the upper-class pirate who can't pirate, the warlock that cares about her friends and has the heart of an innocent, the dragonborn paladin who likes bombs and fails at attonement, the druid pacifist who has killed more than anyone and the half-orc bard who's a deus ex machina.