#door to door rental car pick up and drop off

[solapurtravelexperia]

Experience seamless travel in Solapur with our convenient car rental services. Book a car for hotel hopping, day rentals, and enjoy door-to-door pick-up and drop-off. Discover the best car rental agency for effortless mobility today!

[snowysosturn]

Allies or Affiliates? - Chris Sturniolo Part 23

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24 Part 25 Part 26 Part 27 Part 28 Part 29 Finale

Pairing : Y/n x dealer!Chris Sturniolo

Summary : Law student Y/n’s life takes a turn when she reconnects with Chris, her brief teenage flame who is now a dealer for a dangerous Boston drug gang. As their bond reignites, Y/n is drawn into Chris’s tumultuous world, where rival gangs clash and loyalty is everything. Balancing her love for Chris with her own ambitions, can their connection survive the chaos that threatens to pull them apart?

Warnings : MDNI, angst, cursing, mentions of death, mentions of murder

We pulled up to Y/n’s house just after 2:30, the noise of the car's engine dying down as we parked in the driveway. The air was crisp, a subtle chill hinting at an incoming storm.  I stepped out first, popping the trunk to grab the bags. The routine of it – helping her, making her laugh, pretending like everything was normal, helped distract me from what was coming next.

Once inside, I dropped the bags in her bedroom and glanced around. Her place always had this warm, lived in feeling that made me feel like I belonged, even if I didn’t. Y/n followed me in, smiling like I’d just made her day.

“Oh, by the way” she said, her voice teasing, “Mom and Dad are gone for the next week, so I’ve got the place to myself if you want to stay?” She raised an eyebrow, playful but hopeful. “I can cook tonight if you’d like.”

Her tone, her smile, it almost made me forget about what I had to face later. Almost.

I grinned, playing along because I couldn’t bring myself to break the moment. “That sounds perfect. And if it’s anything like the chicken you made last time, I’m all in.”

She laughed, that soft, genuine sound that always made me feel like I was doing something right. “Perfect. Chicken it is.”

For a second, it felt like nothing could touch us. Just two people, together, planning a quiet evening. But then my phone buzzed in my pocket, snapping me back to reality. I glanced at the screen and saw Nate’s name.

“Nate says my car’s back at his” I said, keeping my tone neutral, even as unease settled in my gut. “I should probably go get it and return the rental.”

Her smile faltered, just slightly, and I hated myself for noticing. “Yeah, that’s cool” she said, brushing it off like it didn’t matter. “I’ll see you later then, when you’re finally a free man!”

I chuckled, but the words hit harder than she probably realized. A free man. It sounded so simple when she said it, but it was anything but. “Free man is right” I said, leaning in to kiss her, quick and soft, before pulling back.

“I’ll be back around 8ish?” I added, pretending like it was just another errand, like I wasn’t about to walk into something that could change everything. “Who knows how long this talk with Vince is gonna take.”

She nodded, her expression unreadable, but her voice was soft. “8 is cool with me. Be safe, and keep me updated.”

“I will” I promised, knowing it was a lie I couldn’t avoid. I kissed her again, slower this time, trying to memorize the way her lips felt against mine. Part of me wanted to stay, to hold onto this version of life a little longer.

Finally, I pulled away and made my way to the balcony. I paused by the door, flicking the fairy lights on and off three times, my little ritual to secretly tell her I love her. I glanced back to see her smile, and it hit me how much I didn’t want to leave.

But I did.

I climbed down into the treehouse, the rain starting to pick up again as I jogged to my car. I drove in silence, gripping the wheel tighter than I needed to. 

I drove to Nate’s place first, figuring I’d pick him up before heading out to return the rental. I knocked once before stepping inside.

“Nate!” I called out, shutting the door behind me. The house was quiet, the kind of silence that felt off. “You here?”

From the hallway, he emerged, stepping out of Danny’s room like he’d seen a ghost. His face was pale, his eyes darting like he was processing a million things at once. In one hand, he held my keys and a small airtag, in the other, a crumpled piece of paper he seemed to be gripping for dear life.

“What’s up?” I asked, motioning toward the airtag. “What’s that?”

“Your stuff?” Nate muttered, his voice unusually clipped. He handed me the keys and the airtag in a quick, jerky motion, like he couldn’t get rid of them fast enough.

I frowned, holding the airtag up. “What the hell is this? It’s not mine.”

“Its not?” Nate responded, looking like the cogs were turning in his head.

I blinked, confused. “Yeah I don’t own one of these. Where did you get this?”

At that, Nate froze. His face changed, his eyes narrowing, jaw tightening, like something had just clicked in his head.

“What?” I asked, my voice sharper now. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“This just keeps getting better and better” Nate muttered, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he rubbed his temple.

I stood there, still clutching the airtag, my confusion mounting with every passing second. “Can you tell me what’s going on, man?” I asked, my voice sharper now, teetering on frustration.

“That thing” Nate said slowly, almost like he didn’t want to say it out loud, “was stuck on your car, dude. The mechanic handed it to me earlier.”

My stomach dropped. For a moment, I just stared at him, the weight of his words settling in my chest like a boulder. “What do you mean stuck? Like.. someone planted it?”

A cold chill ran through me, my mind racing. It didn’t make sense, at least, I didn’t want it to. “Who would-”

“Vince.” Nate cut me off, his voice low and certain. “Who else? 

I looked down at the air tag in my hand, my mind racing. “Do you really think it was him?” I asked, lifting the small device between my fingers.

“100%, Chris” Nate replied without hesitation. “That’s how they knew your every move the night of the shooting. That’s how they kept showing up everywhere. They’d been following you that whole time through that.”

I clenched my fist around the airtag, my mind flashing back to the chaotic night of the shooting. Vince’s words from the night before at the docks echoed in my head, and they sent a chill down my spine. “Distractions” he’d said. 

“Vince mentioned something about distractions the night someone was in the warehouse.” My voice cracked as I pieced it together. “Do you think the shooting happened because he thought it would scare the ‘distractions’ off?”

Nate’s eyes widened as he processed my words. “It lines up. That must’ve been when they planted the air tag, when you were fighting that guy with the knife. Vince probably wanted to send a message, to make sure you knew who was in control.”

As soon as he said it, a memory surfaced like a bad dream. 

The knife. The one Nate had tripped over when we tried to hide my car. My stomach turned as the realization hit me.

Both of our eyes locked together at that moment. “The knife” I said, my voice trembling. “The one in the warehouse. Vince’s knife. You think.. you think he set that up too?”

Nate looked me dead in the eyes, his expression grave. “He’s been testing you, Chris. Every move, every so called accident, it’s all him. He’s been watching to see how loyal you are, to see if you’ll bend or break. Makes sense why the sedan was at the docks the next morning, he was probably paying them off then and there.”

I felt a surge of anger rise in my chest, hot and blinding. “Testing me?” I spat, my voice rising. “For what? To see if I’ll roll over like a dog and keep taking orders? I’m meeting him at 6pm today and telling him how it is. I’m done”

“No Chris, you can't. You can’t tell him you’re out.” Nate urges.

“I can’t let this slide, Nate. I can’t just do nothing. I have to tell Vince I’m out, or I’ll lose Y/n. I can’t lose her, Nate. I can’t just stand by and let Vince dictate my life. I have to end this.” My tone becoming more definite.

“Chris I’m not fucking kidding around. You go there and you’ll end up like Danny.” Nate looks at me, full of fury, like he could knock me out if he wanted to.

“What are you talking about?” I ask, starting to get more pissed off.

Nate held up the crumpled paper in his other hand, his expression darkening further.

“What’s that?” I asked, my chest tightening.

Nate hesitated for a moment, then handed the paper over. The words were rushed, scrawled like Danny had written them in a panic.

To whoever finds this,

I’ve made up my mind - I’m going to talk to Vince.

I know what you’re thinking, it’s stupid, it’s reckless, but maybe, just maybe, it’s the only way. I’ve been around this business long enough to see how things go when someone tries to leave. Sneaking off, running scared, hiding, it never works. Vince sees it as betrayal, plain and simple, and betrayal gets you killed.

But what if it doesn’t have to be that way? What if the only way out is through?

I’ve been close enough to Vince over the years to know he respects strength, respects people who have the guts to stand their ground. Maybe if I’m man enough to look him in the eye and tell him the truth, I can make him see reason. I don’t want to go behind his back. I don’t want to run. I just want out, clean and simple.

I know it’s a long shot. Hell, I know it’s dangerous, but what other choice do I have? If I don’t try, I’m stuck in this life forever, and I can’t live like this anymore.

So, if you’re reading this, it means I was wrong. It means Vince didn’t see it the way I hoped he would. Maybe I underestimated him. Maybe I underestimated how much this life has twisted us all.

If that’s the case, if something happens to me, just know this: it wasn’t for nothing. I wanted something better, something clean. And if you’re still in this life, take this as a warning. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t think you can reason with a man who doesn’t see people, only tools.

Stay safe. And if you can, get out before you’re in too deep.

- Danny

I stood there with my jaw on the floor, unable to process what I was reading. My voice came out in a hoarse whisper. “Vince killed Danny?”

Nate didn’t say anything at first, just gave a grim nod. The silence was deafening, his expression confirming what I already knew but didn’t want to believe.

“This is why you can’t meet with Vince” Nate said firmly, breaking the silence. His voice was low and urgent. “If you go to him, Chris, he’ll kill you too. You know that, right?”

I ran a hand through my hair, pacing the room like a caged animal. “Then what the fuck am I supposed to do, Nate?” I snapped, my frustration boiling over. “What am I meant to do, huh? Keep running? Keep pretending this isn’t my life? You know as well as I do there’s no way out of this.”

“Chris-” Nate started, but I cut him off.

“No, seriously. Why the fuck did we ever get into this life? It’s like quicksand. Every move we make just drags us deeper. And you’ve said it yourself Nate, the only way out is a body bag!”

I stopped pacing, my chest heaving, and looked at him, expecting a retort. But instead, Nate just stared at me, his expression shifting like he’d just pieced something together.

“You’re right.” he said, almost too calm for the moment.

“What?” I asked, taken aback.

“That’s exactly what we need.” Nate said, his voice gaining momentum.

I narrowed my eyes at him, unsure where he was going with this. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“We need to make Vince think you’re dead.” Nate said, the words coming out as if he’d just uncovered the solution to all our problems.

I blinked at him, unsure whether to laugh or punch him. “You’re joking, right?”

“I’m not” he said, stepping closer. “Think about it. The only way Vince stops coming after you or using you is if he believes you’re gone for good. No loose ends, no doubts. You disappear, and he moves on.”

I stared at him, trying to gauge if he was serious. “You want me to fake my death?”

“Yes.” Nate said, his tone resolute. “It’s the only way to get out alive, Chris. You said it yourself, this life doesn’t let go. But if Vince thinks you’re dead, he’ll stop looking for you. You can get out. Really get out.”

The weight of his words hit me like a freight train. My mind raced through the implications, the risks, the fallout. “And what about Y/n?” I asked, my voice cracking. “What happens to her? What do I tell her?”

Nate hesitated for the briefest moment, then met my eyes. “You don’t tell her, Chris. You can’t. We have to make this seem real, believable. The more people who know, the more likely Vince finds out. You fake your death, and you walk away from everything. It’s the only way to keep her safe.”

I stared at him, complete disbelief etched into every part of my face. “You’re out of your mind. Y/n will-”

“She’ll grieve” Nate interrupted, his voice softening. “But she’ll be alive. And so will you. That’s what matters.”

I felt my chest tighten, the pressure of this decision closing in on me. “And where am I supposed to go? What am I supposed to do while the whole world thinks I’m dead?”

“You stay with me.” Nate said simply. “Lay low at my place. Vince won’t look for you here. We’ll make it convincing, make sure the word is given to the right people, and once the heat dies down, we figure out what’s next.”

I swallowed hard, the reality of the plan sinking in. It was reckless. It was cruel. But it was the only way.

I shook my head, the enormity of the plan sinking in. “You’re insane, Nate. This…this is insane.”

“Maybe” he said, stepping closer, his voice steady. “But it’s the only shot you’ve got. Otherwise, Vince will never stop. He’ll take you out, and then he’ll come for her too. Is that what you want?”

The thought of Y/n in Vince’s crosshairs made my stomach churn. Every fiber of my being screamed against leaving her, but the reality was staring me in the face.

I took a shaky breath, my mind a storm of doubt and fear. “How the hell are we even supposed to pull this off?”

Nate gave me a grim smile. “We’ll figure it out. But trust me, Chris, this is your only way out.”

a/n: next chapter might be extremely long (the linked sentence goes back to a lil bit of foreshadowing in part 11 hehe)

taglist: @mattybearnard @sturn-33 @ncm9696 @yourfavsturniologirl @crazy4jewel @sodakid1234 @stupendoustreewinner @lovealwayssturniolos @matthewsturniolosss @m4ttsmunch @loveexxx @ilusa @starkeyszn @wonnieeluvvr @dylnblue @valxrieq @maggot3647 @cigarettecemetary @ribread03 @chrisstvrns @bandasaruswrx @noplaceissafeanymore @amexiass @witchofthehour @mattssgf @jetaimevous @v33angel @ivysturnss @urmom69lol @ashlishes @watercolorskyy @sturnioloshottiekay @amelia-sturniolo3 @imjusthereforthesturniolosmut @pvssychicken @alizestvrnss @lvrsturniolo @bernardsbunny @spaghetti835928383 @marrykisskilled @sturnsxplr-25 @bxtchboy69 @vickytaa @anikaistg @matts-girlfriend @lvrsturniolo @sophand4n4 @ilovepurpledragons @mattsside @riasturns @sturnslutz @chrisstxrnsaxe @2prcntmilkluvr

[thehereticdiaries]

A (Not So) Meet Cute: Chapter Six

Summary: You go on your first date with Seungmin! Afterwards, you get some good news from the detective

Warnings: It gets suggestive toward the end but not much else.

Series Masterlist

You returned to the studio, hoping that your blush faded enough that the XDH boys wouldn’t notice. Jiseok, being the main gossip of the group, immediately saw right through you. 

“Sooooo,” he teased, placing his guitar on his stand so he could invade your personal space. He seemed to have a habit of doing that. You had gotten used to it by the second week working with them. “How did your little chat with Kim Seungmin go?”

“It was delightful.” You narrowed your eyes at the guitarist. 

“Oh, I’m sure it was.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Especially since O.de was saying how Seungmin was heavily eye-fucking y-”

“Jiseok!” O.de shouted from the door of the booth. “I did not say that.”

“Okay, fine, he didn’t say it outright. But it was implied!”

“No it wasn’t! All I said was that Seungmin looked kind of jealous.” Leave it to Jiseok to make such a massive leap. 

“You’re right, though. He scared you away on purpose cus he was jealous of how close we were,” you admitted, brushing past both boys to enter the booth.

“Who’s jealous?” Jooyeon asked, suddenly interested in the conversation. You rolled your eyes when the other members perked up.

“You guys are so nosy.”

“And you aren’t?” Jungsu sarcastically asked with a sly grin.

“Touché. But to answer your question, Seungmin from Stray Kids was jealous. Great news though! He asked me on a date, so thank you O.de,” you snickered at the chorus of shouts from the members.

“Dude, fucking finally,” Jiseok gushed, smacking your shoulder affectionately. “You’re both so oblivious. I was about to put a sign on your back.”

“You’re a little shit, just be happy for me!”

The rest of the week passed by in a blur. Seungmin refused to give you any hints other than ‘wear warm clothes’. It annoyed you to no end, because what if you pick something totally inappropriate for the venue?! Since it was almost December, you settled on fleece-lined jeans, a crewneck sweatshirt, and your favorite parka. You figured it would be outdoors, so you also grabbed a beanie and gloves. 

“Do I have to wear this? I have my own mask,” Seungmin complained while Dohyun drove the two of you to the mystery destination. 

“Yes!” You insisted on having matching masks since he wouldn’t give you any hints about the date. They were simple black fabric masks with a cute cartoon puppy nose and mouth printed on the front. After a few minutes, the car came to a stop by Seoul Plaza. Seungmin opened the door for you before leaning back in to address your favorite driver.

“You’ll be back in two hours?” The elder nodded once. “And you’ll bring what we talked about?”

“Yes, I have everything set up. Go have fun,” Dohyun gently shooed the idol away. Seungmin joined you on the sidewalk, grabbing your hand to tug you into the plaza. 

“Oh, wow,” your mouth dropped behind your mask. The lawn of the plaza was transformed into an enormous ice skating rink. A large Christmas tree made of twinkling fairy lights sat at one end of the rink, even though it was currently turned off in the bright afternoon sun. 

“You’ve never seen the plaza like this?” You shook your head, glancing up at Seungmin. His eyes crinkled, indicating a hidden smile. 

“I don’t know how to ice skate,” you told him while he led you to the skate rentals. 

“I’m not the best, but I can show you the basics.” The employee handed you two pairs of skates, and you moved to the benches and lockers. You stood on wobbly legs, carefully following Seungmin to lock up your shoes and purse. He took your hand again and the two of you made your way to the rink. Seungmin stepped on the ice first, turning to hold your elbows while you tightly gripped his biceps. 

“Easy, I’ve got you,” he encouraged when your breathing grew heavier after slipping slightly. 

“‘Show me the basics’ my ass! You’re skating backwards right now,” you grumbled, refusing to tear your eyes away from your feet. 

“Yeah, cus I’m making sure you don’t fall,” he chuckled at your intense concentration. “Y/N, you have to look up. It’ll be much easier if you have your shoulders and hips lined up.” 

“O-okay,” you took a deep breath before standing up straight. Your knees shook, partially from nerves and partially from supporting your weight on the blades.

“That’s it, just look at me. We’ll go slow, okay?” Seungmin guided you over the ice, gradually increasing your speed so you were keeping up with the other skaters. He kept your mind off your anxious thoughts with constant questions about Xdinary Heroes and your job. 

“No, I’m telling you! Jiseok can find out anything about anyone. I swear he’s secretly an NIS agent,” you grinned, your eyes scrunching up into crescents. Seungmin has never hated a mask more in his life.

“Remind me not to piss him off,” he snickered, glancing quickly at the clock on the edge of the rink. Dohyun would be back in an hour. “Do you want to try skating on your own? I’ll stay right next to you.”

“Yeah. I think I got it.” Your anxiety swelled when the warmth of his hands left your arms. “Wait! Hold my hand, still. Please?”

“Of course.” Seungmin twisted around to skate forward for the first time today, lacing your fingers with his. You continued circling the rink, and with every passing minute your confidence on the ice grew. You glided effortlessly, and by the time you had to leave, you found yourself reluctant to step off the ice. 

“You did great, especially for your first time,” Seungmin praised while you changed back into your street shoes. 

“Thanks, I had a lot of fun.” Dohyun always had impeccable timing and today was no different. He pulled up right as you left the plaza. Seungmin sighed, ripping off his mask as soon as he shut the door. 

“Close your eyes,” he instructed. You raised a brow, but did as he asked. You heard him shift around for a few moments. “Okay, open.”

“Seungmin,” you cooed. Two cups of hot chocolate sat in the cupholders in the center console. 

“I have to put the lids on while we drive, but I wanted you to see the marshmallows and peppermint shavings first.” He popped the lids on and Dohyun began the drive to the dorms. 

“Who knew you were such a romantic?” You teased, making the idol roll his eyes. 

“I have one more surprise.” He handed you a small glass container with a wooden lid. You tilted your head before removing the lid with a gasp.

“No way! Is this a Mississippi mud pie?” 

“Yup. I remember you saying it was the only thing you missed from the states, so I had Felix help me make it.” Your eyes snapped to him.

“You remember that?” You asked quietly, feeling a little overwhelmed by the affection in his eyes.

“I remember everything that makes you happy.” Seungmin rendered you completely speechless. The last time you could remember someone putting in that kind of effort for you was your final foster father. You stayed with him throughout high school and he always made it a priority to let you have a normal teenage experience. With words failing you, you decided to let your actions speak instead. In a bold rush of confidence, you tugged Seungmin toward you, leaning up to meet halfway and pressing a kiss to his cheek.

“Thank you.” Seungmin stared at you with a wide smile growing on his face. You blushed, rushing to change the topic. “Do you want to share the pie?” He smirked, clearly aware of what you were doing, but played along anyway. The ever-prepared Dohyun tossed two plastic spoons into the backseat, landing on the middle of the backseat bench. You giggled, handing one to Seungmin and digging into the pie.

The dorm was strangely quiet when you returned. Of course there were times when all of the boys had schedules, but normally almost everyone was home on Saturdays.

“Where is everyone?” You asked while changing into slippers and hanging your jacket in the hall closet. 

“Hm, Jisung said that 3Racha was recording today. I’m not sure about everyone else, though.” You both flopped onto the couch, putting on Kitchen Nightmares reruns as background noise for your doomscrolling. You barely got three posts down when a call from Detective Keng came in. 

“Mute the TV! Mute the TV!” You sat up immediately, smacking Seungmin on the shoulder for emphasis. His eyebrows raised in a ‘what the fuck’ kind of expression, but complied nonetheless. “Detective! Hello!”

“Good afternoon, Ms. L/N,” she sounded as serious as ever. “I have an update for you. My team and I have successfully identified all of Mr. Cho’s associates that know about you.”

“Really? That’s amazing!”

“It’s good progress, but now we need to locate them all. Some of these individuals are very skilled at hiding. Rest assured, we will find them.” You nodded, momentarily forgetting that she couldn’t see you. Seungmin tapped your thigh repeatedly. He was nosy and wanted to know what the detective was saying.

“I understand. Thank you for all of your hard work.” You silently shushed Seungmin, who was now shaking your shoulder and asking what was going on in a whisper.

“It’s no trouble at all. Your court date will likely proceed before we locate all of Mr. Cho’s associates. Be careful, they may try to sabotage you. Good luck.” You exchanged a curt goodbye with the detective.

“Was that Keng? What did she say? Did they find that asshole’s friends?”

“Seungmin, please, one question at a time. Yes, that was Detective Keng. Her team knows who his friends are, it’s just a matter of arresting them now. She said to be careful around the courthouse, since they might show up there.” He nodded along with your explanation.

“I’ll ask Chan and our manager if we can get security to escort you when you go in.” You opened your mouth to protest, but- “Don’t argue with me on this, your safety is important.”

“Fine.”

“Good girl.” Your brain short-circuited. “Did she say anything else?”

“Huh?” He smirked, tilting his head to the side so his eyes could rake over your form, lingering on your denim-clad thighs. “S-she didn’t say much more than that. Just that, uh, t-they’re good at hiding.”

“Y/N.” You peeked at Seungmin from the corner of your eye. “You’re blushing, sweetheart.” 

“I-I’m, uh. I d-don’t-” The sudden pet names stole every coherent thought from your mind. 

“You’re cute.” He hooked a finger under your chin to turn you to face him. “Can I kiss you?”

“Yes.” Seungmin grinned at the lack of hesitation. He started gently, almost like he was trying not to scare you away. It was short but the intensity behind it had your mind reeling. He pulled back, nose-to-nose with you to give you a chance to back out. Your hands on his shoulders and a tiny whimper escaping your throat broke down the last of his resolve. 

“Fuck, you’re killin’ me,” he swore under his breath. He pushed you down to lay flat on the couch, planting his hands next to your head. One of his knees settled in between your thighs and you inhaled sharply, staring at his chain dangling over you. He crashed his lips back into yours, moving one hand down to rest on your hip. Your fingers curled around the fabric of his shirt. His tongue darted out to brush against your lower lip and you instantly allowed him to lick into your mouth. His hand slid under the hem of your shirt, trailing higher while he dragged his tongue along yours, until-

“OH HOLY SHIT!” Your head snapped back, gaping at Hyunjin’s shocked face.

“What’s going on- oh!” Jeongin appeared next, followed quickly by Felix and Changbin. The room fell to silence as they processed exactly how you and Seungmin were currently positioned. A snort from the youngest member broke the stupor, causing you to squeak and hide your face in Seungmin’s neck. He still hovered over you, glaring heavily at his members. 

“Come on, leave them alone,” Minho corralled the other further into the dorm, hands full of grocery bags. Whines of protest were cut off by a sharp look from the second eldest. With the living room empty once again, you sighed in relief, dropping back onto the cushion. 

“Sorry,” Seungmin huffed, rolling his eyes and helping you sit up. 

“It’s o-”

“No fucking on the couch!” Minho called as he passed from the kitchen to his room. Seungmin groaned loudly.

“Shut the fuck up!”

“I’ll put you in the fucking air fryer!” You cackled, clutching your stomach and leaning into Seungmin’s side. He clicked his tongue, wrapping an arm around your waist and unmuting the TV.

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[chelseaknoo]

25 days with Eminem

Eminem x reader

Day 22

The evening started with a buzz of excitement as you stood in front of the mirror, adjusting your outfit for the night. The Christmas lights outside the window twinkled, casting a soft glow into the room. You could hear Marshall pacing downstairs, muttering something about being late.

“You ready yet?” he called up the stairs, his voice impatient but playful.

“Almost!” you shouted back, slipping on your shoes and giving yourself one final once-over.

When you came downstairs, Marshall was standing by the door, his hands in his pockets. He was wearing a sharp black jacket over a deep red sweater, and his usual beanie had been swapped for a slightly more festive knit hat. When he saw you, his mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.

“You clean up nice,” you teased, walking up to him.

“Yeah, well, you…” He trailed off, looking you up and down with an appreciative grin. “You look amazing.”

You smirked, grabbing your coat. “Good save.”

He laughed, holding the door open for you. “Come on, smartass. We’ve got plans.”

---

The car ride was filled with your favorite Christmas songs playing softly on the radio. Marshall was focused on the road, but every now and then, his hand would reach over to rest on your knee, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Where are we going?” you asked, glancing at him curiously.

“You’ll see,” he replied, his eyes twinkling with a mix of excitement and mischief.

---

When you finally arrived, you gasped in surprise. Marshall had taken you to a beautifully decorated outdoor Christmas market. Strings of lights hung overhead, and the smell of roasted chestnuts and hot cocoa filled the air. Stalls were lined up with everything from handmade ornaments to festive treats.

“Thought you’d like this,” he said, slipping an arm around your waist as you both stepped into the bustling market.

“I love it,” you said, leaning into him.

“Good,” he replied, kissing the top of your head. “Because we’re not leaving until you pick out something ridiculously overpriced and Christmasy.”

You laughed, playfully nudging him. “You’re the one who’s going to end up buying something unnecessary.”

---

As you wandered through the market, the two of you stopped to admire the various stalls. At one, Marshall insisted on trying roasted marshmallows, only to burn his fingers and drop one into the snow.

“You’re supposed to blow on it, not inhale it like you’re starving,” you teased, handing him a napkin.

“Thanks for the lesson, fire safety expert,” he shot back, though his grin betrayed his amusement.

At another stall, you found a set of matching Christmas mugs.

“These are cute,” you said, holding them up.

Marshall raised an eyebrow. “Do we really need more mugs? There’s no room in the cabinet as it is.”

“Come on, they have little reindeer on them!” you argued.

With an exaggerated sigh, he pulled out his wallet. “Fine, but only because I know you’ll never let me hear the end of it if I say no.”

---

The highlight of the evening came when you stumbled upon a small ice rink in the center of the market.

“Let’s go skating,” you suggested, tugging on his arm.

“Do we have to?” he groaned, though he was already being dragged toward the rental booth.

“Yes, we have to,” you replied, grinning.

It didn’t take long for the chaos to start. Marshall, who wasn’t exactly the most graceful on skates, spent more time clinging to the side of the rink than actually skating.

“You’re terrible at this,” you said, laughing as you glided past him effortlessly.

“Yeah, well, you married me anyway,” he retorted, glaring at his feet as he tried not to fall.

“Come on, Santa,” you teased, holding out your hand. “I’ll help you.”

He took your hand cautiously, but it wasn’t long before his balance gave out, and you both ended up in a heap on the ice.

“Real smooth,” you said, wincing as you tried to stand up.

“Hey, you’re the one who pulled me down,” he argued, though his grin was anything but apologetic.

---

After the skating disaster, the two of you warmed up with hot cocoa from one of the market stalls. Marshall’s nose was pink from the cold, and he looked more relaxed than you’d seen him in weeks.

“This was a good idea,” he admitted, his voice soft.

“See? I’m always right,” you replied, nudging him with your shoulder.

He smirked, wrapping an arm around you as the two of you stood there, surrounded by the glow of Christmas lights and the laughter of other marketgoers. “Merry Christmas, babe.”

You smiled, leaning your head against his shoulder. “Merry Christmas, Marsh.”

---

The evening wasn’t over yet, though, and Marshall had one more surprise planned. “We’re not done,” he said, taking your hand. “Come on.”

Marshall led you down a cobblestone path lined with glowing lanterns. You looked around, curiosity bubbling.

“Where are we going now?” you asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

“Relax,” he said, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You’ll like this.”

“Should I be worried?” you teased, squeezing his hand.

“Only if you hate surprises,” he replied.

“That’s not reassuring,” you muttered, though you couldn’t help but smile at the way he seemed so excited.

---

After a few minutes of walking, you arrived at a small clearing in the market. A cozy-looking wooden cabin stood there, adorned with fairy lights and a sign that read **“Private Sleigh Rides.”**

Your jaw dropped. “Marshall, are you serious?”

“Yeah, I’m serious,” he said, grinning at your reaction. “Figured we’d end the night with something a little... festive.”

You could barely contain your excitement as the sleigh pulled up. It was beautifully decorated with garlands and bows, and two majestic horses stood at the front, their reins jingling softly.

“This is amazing,” you said, turning to him. “You planned all this?”

“Maybe,” he said, pretending to look casual. “Or maybe I just got lucky and found it earlier today.”

You laughed, pulling him into a hug. “You’re the best.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he said, though his arms tightened around you. “Don’t make a big deal out of it.”

---

The two of you climbed into the sleigh, bundling up under a thick plaid blanket. The driver gave a cheerful nod before snapping the reins, and the sleigh began to glide smoothly over the snowy path.

“This feels like a Hallmark movie,” you said, leaning into Marshall’s side.

“Except way better acting,” he quipped, earning a laugh from you.

The snowy landscape was breathtaking, with twinkling lights strung up on nearby trees and the soft crunch of snow beneath the sleigh’s runners. Jackie’s absence gave you both a rare moment of peace, though you couldn’t help but mention him.

“Jackie would love this,” you said, your voice wistful.

Marshall chuckled. “Yeah, he’d probably try to jump off the sleigh to chase the horses.”

“True,” you admitted, shaking your head fondly.

---

As the ride continued, Marshall grew quieter, his arm around your shoulders pulling you closer. You glanced up at him, noticing the relaxed expression on his face.

“Penny for your thoughts?” you asked softly.

He looked down at you, a small smile playing on his lips. “Just... thinking how lucky I am.”

“Oh, come on,” you teased, though your heart swelled at his words.

“I’m serious,” he said, his tone more earnest now. “I’ve got you, Jackie, the kids... everything’s finally good, you know? Like, really good.”

You reached up, cupping his cheek. “You deserve it, Marshall. All of it.”

For a moment, neither of you spoke, just sitting there in the quiet beauty of the night. Then, of course, Marshall broke the silence with his trademark humor.

“Don’t get used to me being all sappy,” he said, smirking.

You laughed, leaning up to kiss him. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

---

As the sleigh ride came to an end, you noticed a small booth selling freshly baked gingerbread cookies and cider.

“We’re stopping,” you announced, already climbing out of the sleigh.

“Again?” Marshall groaned, though he followed you anyway.

“Don’t act like you don’t want cookies,” you shot back, giving him a knowing look.

He shrugged. “Fair point.”

You ordered a batch of cookies and two steaming cups of cider, and as you stood there enjoying the treats, Marshall’s phone buzzed in his pocket.

“Don’t even think about it,” you warned, narrowing your eyes.

He hesitated, looking between you and the phone. “What if it’s important?”

“It’s not,” you said firmly, taking the phone from his hand and shoving it back into his pocket. “No distractions tonight.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender.

---

The two of you eventually made your way back to the car, the night air crisp and your spirits high.

“You really went all out tonight,” you said as Marshall started the car.

“Well, you’re worth it,” he replied casually, though the slight redness in his cheeks gave him away.

You smiled, resting your hand on his. “Best Christmas date ever.”

“Don’t tell the kids,” he joked, pulling out of the parking lot. “They’ll never let me live it down.”

“Oh, I won’t,” you said, smirking. “But I might hold it over your head for a while.”

He rolled his eyes, though the grin on his face made it clear he didn’t mind one bit.

[indigosunsetao3]

Chapter 5

Surprise visitor

AO3 (Full list of tags/warnings. Please check them.) Masterlist 4.5k Words

Chapters 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Simon was sitting on the back porch, half laid with the flooring and the skeleton of the built-in seating when he heard the car pull up. It wasn’t unusual to hear cars on the street as of late. The true tourist season was just around the corner, but closer living locals were already coming in on the nicer days to get their properties set for the season. Or to drop their boats in the water and get them in their slips before the more coveted marinas were fully sold out.

But it was odd to hear the crunch of gravel in Celeste’s driveway as the vehicle came to a rolling stop and the car sat there idling. It wasn’t a delivery, too small of a car for that, and it definitely wasn’t Celeste either. He had seen her leave a few hours before for work, and it wasn’t nearly enough time for her shift to be done.

Curiosity peaked, Simon pushed up from the spot where he had been reading, stepping carefully over the exposed support beams to peer at the trees that split the property border. There he spotted a small SUV, brand new and shiny in the sun, and a woman sitting in the driver’s seat texting on her phone. He stayed where he was to watch what she was up to. Perhaps she was lost and had wandered to the wrong address for her rental. Or she was attempting to sell something. If that was the case, he would be promptly going inside and ignoring the knock on the door until she went away.

But then the woman climbed out of the car, tucking her phone away, and went to the trunk to dig out a suitcase—two suitcases, a large backpack, and a tote bag that was threatening to bust with how overstuffed it was. Clearly, she had the wrong address for the rental. Still, Simon watched quietly as she dragged her things over the gravel to the backdoor instead of the front. Interesting.

Digging out his own phone, he sent a quick text to Johnny asking him to swing by the café to see if Celeste was still working. He had gone into town with Kyle, taking pity on the guy who was moping around the house. Simon looked pointedly the other way when Kyle climbed on the back of Johnny’s bike and slipped his good arm around his waist. Not for jealousy of the closeness, Simon had watched the two of them together much closer than that, but because he knew it was reckless.

If Johnny slipped, if there was a wobble, the chance of injury to both of them was high. But Simon also knew Kyle was so close to snapping at being handled like a child he kept his mouth shut. Johnny was an excellent driver, and it was just to town. He had to trust him. But John would definitely not hear anything about this trip.

We’ll swing by there next. Everything good?  Fine. Just has a visitor at her place. Don’t know who it is. Don’t want her coming home if it’s unwelcomed.  Softie  Piss off

The woman had ditched her bags by the rickety patio table set, and Simon had to step off the deck and walk toward the lake a bit to get a better look at what she was doing. She was picking up rocks in the landscaping by the door and flipping them over before sighing and picking up another. She was looking for a key Simon quickly realized. After a few more tries, she found what she was looking for, pulled the small tab on the fake rock back, and tilted it over to find no key inside.

When she dropped the plastic rock back into the dirt, she stood up, wiped her hands on her pants, and looked around as if to see if anyone saw her. Simon was careful to stay shrouded in the shade of the trees, and she didn’t spot him as she stepped into the garden and moved to push on a window that didn’t budge. Whoever this person was, she was determined to get inside the place, and Simon was about to find out why.

Simon kept his footsteps light and quiet, which was a feat that he was unusually skilled at despite his size. He sidestepped all the fallen branches under the trees and shuffled through the dead leaves that no one had cleaned up after last season before going around the back of Celeste’s garage. The woman had no idea he was even there as she shoved herself between a bush and the house and tried pressing on another window. Well, she may not have known, but the little orange cat locked in on him and stared unabashedly before pawing at the glass where the woman huffed up at him.

“Goddamn it, Celeste, since when did you become the epitome of house safety?” The woman complained as she twisted and attempted to get out of the bush. Her hair was tangled up in the branches and Simon stared at her with his arms crossed over his chest as he saw her flail about trying to get out. He was a few feet away from the backstep watching her, and when she finally saw him and shrieked, he didn’t flinch.

“Who the fuck,” the woman startled as she nearly fell over, crushing the bush under her as she lost her footing.

Simon didn’t bother to help her as he watched her, though his lips quirked up under his mask as he watched an embarrassed expression break over her face. She clearly had not been anticipating an audience, and a man that was nearly twice her size had scared the shit out of her. Perhaps that would teach her to not break into people’s houses.

“Who are you?” The woman asked once she got herself free and stumbled back onto the back steps so she felt like she had the higher ground. She was still shorter than him, even at this angle, but he had to give it to her that despite the startle and huge eyes, she was standing her ground. Most would have run. “And why are you on this property?” She added on before wiping away a leaf that was brushing the side of her face, ruining some of her bravado.

“I could ask you the same thing,” Simon answered as he sized her up. “Since you are the one breaking and entering into someone’s house,” he replied, “or attempting to anyway. Doesn’t seem to be working out that well.”

“I’m a friend,” the woman answered after a second, narrowing her eyes at him. “She must have forgotten her own keys at some point because the spare she keeps out here is missing,” she explained, pointing to the fake rock. “So again. Who are you?”

“Her neighbor,” Simon said simply. “Saw you rummaging around and thought I’d see what you were up to. The bush seemed to keep you occupied enough though. Clearly, she doesn’t need an alarm system if these are the type of burglars around here.”

“I’m not a burglar. Would a robber know where someone kept their spare key,” she hesitated, clearly realizing that, yes, someone breaking in would potentially know where a key was. She changed tactics quickly. “You’re lucky I didn’t attack you,” the woman snapped as she smoothed her hair a bit. “How do you know I don’t have a knife or something?”

“I’d say you’re the lucky one in that situation,” Simon replied flatly. This short woman would hardly be a challenge, and he knew she was all bluster because there wasn’t anything remotely intimidating about her. Physically anyway.

When his phone vibrated in his pocket, he pulled it out to take a look and saw a message from Johnny stating Celeste was still at the café. Then, another question about sweets that Simon ignored as he shoved the phone away again. “If you’re a friend, why are you here locked out when she’s at work? You’d think she would have left the door unlocked for you or the key.” He looked at the fake rock and made a mental note to promptly get rid of that. There were better ways to hide keys and secure a house.

“She didn’t know I was coming; I wanted to surprise her…I live pretty far away,” the woman answered, pointing toward all the luggage. “I wanted to try to get in, clean up, and surprise her when she got home. But it looks like I’ll be sitting out here until she gets off shift in,” she paused and looked at her watch with a huff, “four hours.”

“Give me proof you know her, and I’ll let you in,” Simon answered as he uncrossed his arms to not seem as intimidating. Though the woman hardly seemed like she would fall for intimidation tactics. After the initial startle, she didn’t back down from Simon’s stare, nor did she fumble in her words or actions. She was willing to stand toe to toe with him, a rarity.

“Proof? How about you give me some proof,” the woman snapped. “How do I know you’re not some creepy stalker or something?”

“I’m Simon,” Simon said after a second, “I live next door with Johnny, Kyle, and John. Moved in a few weeks back. I’m sure Celeste has mentioned something to you if you are that close of friends. John and Johnny managed to piss her off already.”

“Mmm,” the woman muttered under her breath as she narrowed her eyes. “Fine, yes, she has. Hasn’t said much about you aside from the fact you wear a skull mask.” She looked pointedly at the mask that was across his as if to indicate ‘exactly that’. She held her ground for a moment, testing him before sighing and digging out her phone. “What proof do you want?”

“Give me her number. I’ll see if it matches,” Simon bluffed. Celeste had never given any of them her number. As she rattled it off without having to even look at her phone, Simon typed it in his and hit save before looking up at her. “Anything else?”

“Fucks sake, this the inquisition?” She asked before huffing and tapping into an app and holding up her phone to show him. It was pictures of the two of them together. She swiped through them quickly to show how many she had before raising an eyebrow as if to ask if she passed the test.

“Fine,” Simon relented before gesturing for her to step aside. If this woman was a problem it wouldn’t be that hard to dispatch her. And he was more than curious to see exactly what Celeste got up to inside of her house. She barely spent any time in it, so he had a faint idea of what it was.

“You have a key?” The woman asked as Simon dug out his wallet and flipped it open before pulling out a card.

“Not exactly,” Simon said as he grabbed the small brass doorhandle and yanked the door up and to the side before shoving the card in the gap. It took two more shoves and a bit of wriggling before the latch popped and the door opened. “No deadbolt on the door,” he offered as the door swung open, and the woman stared at him slack-jawed.

“Solidifies you are a creepy stalker,” the woman answered giving him an up and down glance before moving to shove him aside. “I’ll be getting her a deadbolt, chain, perhaps a baseball bat, and alarm system before I leave,” she rattled off, looking over her shoulder at him.

“I won’t tell you the ten different ways I could get around those without breaking a sweat then. Let you sleep better at night.” He smirked behind the mask as she glared at him, her mouth falling open a little bit at his brashness. “Military,” Simon replied in explanation as he held out the card between two fingers for her to take. It was his military ID, conveniently missing his picture. “You learn a few things,” he smirked as she snatched up the card and read it over before shoving it back at him.

“Sure. Well thanks for letting me in, you can go now,” she said dismissively as she attempted to block the door.

“Still not sure you aren’t up to something,” Simon answered as he followed her into the kitchen, crowding her space. “What’s your name?” As if he’d know if that was a friend of Celeste’s or not, he had barely spoken to the woman.

“Listen. I’ve just gotten off a four-hour flight, one wrong train stop, a two hour drive and fought with a car rental place for that horrendous thing out front. If I was coming all the way out here to cause issues, I clearly am a shitty criminal with low ambitions.” When Simon raised his eyebrow at her for the unanswered question, she rolled her eyes. “Alice. I’ve known Celeste since we were kids. We have cheesy matching tattoos, I was in her wedding, and if you look hard enough I’m sure you can find our old yearbooks somewhere when we had braces and pigtails. We done?”

“Alice,” Simon answered with a nod as he leaned against the kitchen counter as Samson winded around his legs. The little thing had taken to hounding Simon when he was outside for scraps, and when no one was looking, he had slipped him bits of chicken and steak. Apparently he now thought Simon walked around with food in his pockets.

“Simon,” Alice shot back pointedly. “Are you just going to stand there and stare at me?” She asked as she looked down at Samson, who was brushing up against the hulking man's black jeans. When he didn’t answer, she huffed and twisted to continue her inspection. “This place is ten times worse than I expected, I’ve got my work cut out for me. Here I was hoping I could soak in the gigantic garden tub for a bit.”

Simon glanced around the kitchen for the fourth time, eyes lingering on the doorway to the living room beyond before going back to Alice. It wasn’t in bad shape. Dated. Perhaps a bit dusty atop the fridge and cabinets where Celeste wouldn’t be able to see or get to without a stepstool, but it wasn’t awful. Some plates in the sink, plants that needed watering but otherwise it seemed to be in relatively good shape. Stark but Simon wasn’t one for decorations either.

“You seeing something I’m not?” Simon asked as Alice pulled open the fridge, peered in then scoffed. It was barren inside as well.

“She’s lived here for a few months now,” Alice answered as she shut the fridge, moved to the kitchen pantry, and pulled open the door. “And it looks just as empty as when she sent me pictures from the day she moved in.”

“If that’s a sign of an issue, then I’d hate for you to see our home,” Simon replied as she started inspecting boxes of food and putting them on the kitchen table.

“She’s never been one to live like this. I bet all her things are still in boxes because she,” Alice paused with a sigh. “You know what? Not your business. So,” she stated as she opened the trash with her foot to throw away expired food. “Either you can go back to whatever it was you were doing, or give me hand hauling in my luggage and tell me where the nearest grocery is.”

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

Tomorrow. Tomorrow and the day Celeste had been dreading would be upon her.

It was on constant repeat in her mind. One more day and it will have been a year since he had left. A full year without him. She was a full year older while he was perpetually frozen at thirty-seven. She’d keep aging. Keep moving on, keep living, and eventually surpass his age while he’d still be that same man. The one that had bemoaned the stray white hairs that had started cropping up in his beard and questioned if his hairline had receded. Fuck. She’d never see him grey. Never see that bald spot she promised to rub for good luck as she teased him. And he’d never see the small streaks of grey that had started in her own hair.

Fisting her shaking hands to keep them under control, Celeste stared at her reflection in the bakery case to get herself together. She couldn’t start crying behind the counter in front of all these people; customers, her boss, and coworkers. She couldn’t take the stares but most of all she couldn’t take the questions. Some of them had figured out who she was, of course; they knew her husband’s family from having grown up here, but most treated her like a mystery, and she wanted to keep it that way. It hurt to see her old friends and family without him at her side and to see their pity. But it hurt even more to try and explain it to strangers and hear the condolences that were a year too late. A year. Fuck, no, she needed to get out of that spiral.

“What else do you need help with, Carl?” Celeste asked as the man appeared from where he had gone for yet another smoke break.

“Ah,” the older man replied as he glanced around the area. “Just refill the napkins and the coffee stand? It’ll just be me here tomorrow with you off,” he stated, his voice sounding a bit put out.

“Mmm, it’s mostly me here even when you are here,” Celeste muttered to herself, though she nodded and headed out to the floor to start checking the napkin holders on all the tables.

She worked on refilling everything, from the napkins to the sugar packets, the straws, cup lids, and any other small thing she could think of. It would keep her busy for the last bit of her shift and be one less thing for her to do when she got back to work. The rest of her coworkers did pretty much the bare minimum, only refilling when things were empty, and that would end up with her having to do it all anyway.

The busy work helped keep her mind occupied, when she was idle that was when the thoughts would creep in. That fact alone had almost made her not take the next few days off but after a very long phone call, where Alice had threatened to call out for her, Celeste had put in for it. She wasn’t sure what she would do all day though. Perhaps just try to sleep through them, stare at the water for hours, and avoid every single phone call and text. She knew his parents were going to the gravesite but that wasn’t something she had been ready for. It was going to be hard enough to face them for dinner.

As she fought to shove a pack of napkins into a container, the rumble of a bike caught her and half the café's attention as it pulled into the parking lot.

Bikes in town were normal in the warm months, but at the moment, they weren’t. The only ones Celeste knew of were her neighbors and sure enough it was them, though they had only brought one bike and were riding together. They lingered on the bike talking, and Celeste peered up a few times from her work to find both of them with their visors up, staring at her. Surely not. She was far from the window and not worth the attention, but as she made eye contact, one waved.

“Know them?” A customer asked as she walked over causing Celeste to jump a bit as she returned the wave halfheartedly.

“Oh, I mean…I guess? Not really well, though; they’re my neighbors,” she confessed with a small shrug. “We see each other around.”

“They moved into that broken down place?” The woman asked a bit shocked. Of course the woman knew where she lived, which wasn’t weird at all. “Flippers I bet, looking to make quick money.”

“Perhaps,” Celeste said as she watched the one with the injured arm, Kyle, as she came to learn against her attempts not to learn about any of them, climbed off the back of the bike first. “They travel a lot for work, could be their vacation spot.” Why did she know that? Perhaps because of the constant rotation of cars and the only person that seemed to stay no matter what was Kyle.

“As long as they are quiet,” the woman sniffed before handing Celeste her plates for her to take, ignoring that she was busy with other work. “Those bikes are horrendous.”

Celeste didn’t answer as she took the dishes to the kitchen and glanced at the clock. Ten minutes left. Surely she could ride them out hiding in the back. Take her time getting her things together, linger washing her hands, and make a show of double checking her time. She was too tired to get into anything else and was honestly afraid if she found something to do it would keep her past her shift. Then Carl would try to rope her in to cover yet another smoke break that could range from fifteen to thirty minutes.

Right at the four o’clock mark Celeste punched out and flitted right for the door. She avoided eye contact with anyone working and tugged her jacket tight around her shoulders, the spring air still a bit chilly. She knew she needed to stop at the store for food, her last bit of deli meat gone with dinner the night before, but the idea of going shopping was daunting. Maybe there was some cereal in the pantry she could eat and then shop tomorrow to get out of the house. If she even had the stomach to keep anything down.

While she started up her car she spotted Johnny and Kyle walking out of the small convenience store next to the café. They were chatting and she watched as Johnny snatched Kyle’s bag away to carry it before stuffing it in the bike bags and handing him his helmet. Despite neither of them was nearly as large as Simon, Celeste found herself fascinated at the fact they both fit on the motorcycle. Both were tall, Johnny stockier compared to Kyle’s more lithe form yet they made it work. Johnny slipped on first and Kyle behind him, adjusting a few times for his arm before he reached around to grab Johnny’s waist. It was an intimate enough position to sit like that, but as Johnny grabbed Kyle’s knee to tug him closer and didn’t let go, Celeste raised an eyebrow. Perhaps they were more than just joint investors in the house. Not that it mattered to her she told herself as she threw her car into drive to pull out of her spot.

She didn’t want to know anything about them, didn’t want to get friendly with them or allow them to know her. She vowed to keep her circle small after everything that happened. Death brought out the worst in people, and she truly learned who her friends were. The less people she had around her, the less heartbreak she’d have to deal with down the road.  Yet as she waited at the light, she watched them pull up behind her in the rearview mirror, and when Johnny gave her a polite nod, she returned it with a half-smile.

You home yet?

Celeste jumped as her car read out her text message and she sighed before answering. Alice had been checking in constantly. Despite the long distance between them physically, she never let that stop her from reaching out. She called, texted, video chatted and any other form of communication she could figure out to keep Celeste engaged. As of late Celeste hadn’t really been keeping up her side of friendship, not initiating conversations and letting messages go unanswered for a day or two at a time. But Alice didn’t begrudge her and still continued to stay ever present. The one real friend she really had left.

On my way mom. I left work on time for once.  Good. I’m starved.

“Shit,” Celeste muttered. She had forgotten they were supposed to have a video dinner date and movie night. Alice was going to chew her a new one for eating cereal out of the box. She was already on her for looking exhausted all the time and suspicious as to why.

The drive home was uneventful, though she kept glancing up as Johnny and Kyle followed behind. It was odd to have anyone around on the ride home, the cottage so far out of downtown. They kept a respectful distance, but she smirked a bit as she spotted Kyle pressed tight to Johnny’s back and let his other arm extend out in the wind. She noticed Johnny sped up a bit to toy with him and laughed a bit to herself as Kyle abruptly wrapped his arm back around Johnny and held tight.

She was so engaged in watching them, eyes darting between the road and the mirror, the SUV in her driveway startled her. Celeste had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting it and she rocked in her seat before glancing at her cottage. She didn’t recognize the car, running through the mental list of her former in-law's vehicles. Surely they wouldn’t surprise her with a visit, not like this. As she narrowed her eyes at the lights that were on inside her phone dinged again.

Dinner’s getting cold. Get in here.

And as Celeste pondered just what that meant she saw the front door open and her friend’s silhouette in the doorway. Alice was there. She had surprised her with a trip, a feat in itself because she was horrible at keeping any type of secret from Celeste. Her friend had dropped everything, made the trek out to the middle of nowhere, to make sure that she wasn’t alone. Knowing that Celeste would struggle through it in silence and wasn’t about to let her do that.

Alice had been at her side in less than twelve hours a year ago after the accident. She had been the only person who actually knew how to take care of her and had taken charge when Celeste was catatonic on the couch. Had curled her up in the guest bedroom and slept with her in the tiny rickety bed so she wouldn’t be alone because Celeste hadn’t slept on her own in almost fifteen years. And after a solid year of misery she was still there, fighting off the ghosts and trying to help Celeste find joy and life again.  

[upstatenyer75]

Alright….i really wasn’t going to share my story as I’m afraid someone will find out it’s me….but then realized, everyone will find out anyways.

So this past weekend I took a mini vacation….decided to go somewhere nice and warm. Got on the plane early Friday morning and flew off to warmer places. Got off the plane, got my convertible rental car and went and checked in at the hotel. By 11am, I was sitting on the beach outside the hotel enjoying a nice beverage and relaxing in the sun. Before heading down, I had been talking to a guy on Grindr and agreed to invite him to the hotel for some fun once I was checked in and settled. At 1pm, Austin arrived and I met him in the lobby. He was about 6’2”, 195lbs, short blond hair and wearing a baseball cap backwards. He was wearing a black tank top, white board shorts and some flip flops! He looked like a typical surfer guy. We decided we’d spend a little time on the beach before heading up to the room for some private fun. We went out, dropped our things, stripped off our shirts, he grabbed my hand and we ran into the water. After cooling down a bit, we made our way back up to our spot and noticed a police officer standing by our things.

“What seems to be the problem officer?” I asked.

“Are you Austin James?” Replied the officer.

“Yeah, is there some sort of problem?” Austin chimed in.

“ Turn around and put your hands behind your back!” The officer said in a very authoritative voice, and as he snapped his cuffs around Austin’s wrists and ordered him to sit on the ground.

“What is going on?” I said.

He replied, “and who are you?”

Not thinking, I replied back “his boyfriend!” And Austin had this smirk on his face.

“I’ll need to search your things!” The officer stated.

He picks up my backpack first and after opening the middle compartment, he pulls out a hand gun.

My jaw drops! He puts it back in the bag and pulls his gun out and points it at me…”give me your hands!”

I put my hands in the air and I quickly reply “where did that come from?”

He grabs my left hand and pulls it behind my back and then the right, securing them with hinged handcuffs.

He then pats me down, and as he passes over the front of the shorts states, “feels like someone is enjoying this!”

He grabs Austin and lifts him to his feet. I look at Austin and ask him “where did that gun come from, and how’d it get in my bag?”

Before he could say anything, the officer grabs us by our arms, tells us to shut up and starts walking us up to his cruiser outside the front of the hotel. He then tells us to sit on the curb, and tells us to keep our mouths shut and then reads us our Miranda rights.

About 10 minutes later a police van shows up. Two officers get out and grab each of us by our arms and yank us over to the back of the van and again pat us down, not that we really had anywhere to hide anything!

I was helped into the back of the van first, then Austin. He slid in next to me and the doors were slammed shut placing us in total darkness.

“What the fuck is going on Austin?”

“You told me your fantasy about being arrested and spending time in jail, I figured I’d make it a reality for you!” He replied. He then turned himself away from me and reached back with his hands and started rubbing my groin and my already hard cock!

I couldn’t believe what was happening, but I was so turned on!

At this point, the van started moving…..

[walkingintheheartbreaksatellite]

Sky High(1)

(Harry Styles x Fem!Reader)

Summary: You take Harry to do something he never would have thought he’d do.

A/N: In honor of Balloon Fiesta season(aka my fav time of year) ITS TIME FOR BALLOONRRY! This has literally been spinning around in my brain since last December so yeah… enjoy.

Warnings: Judgmental family member, mentions of body shaming(only once), fear of heights, mentions of traumatic childhood and abusive parent (not in detail), Mentioned aged gap but not specified.

>>>————————————->

London, Wednesday

Harry smiles as he shuffles around the house, throwing things in his suitcase.

“Hey Harry, don’t pack your puffer-.”

“Y/N, you said it was gonna be cold and that I should expect snow!”

“Yes but- your puffer is cotton. Which can catch on fire. And we’ll be operating a propane burner. And don’t pack your wool gloves either-. You know what, finish packing your clothes and then we’ll go get you everything else. I need new gloves anyways.”

He rolls his eyes and kisses my forehead before turning back to our dresser.

This year, Harry is joining me for a hot air balloon rally that I crew for with some of my family every year. I have never seen him more excited for something so boring.

After he finishes, he drags me out the door immediately and we head down to the shops.

“We need to go to Workwear. They should have everything.”

He nods and grips my hand as we walk down the chilly streets. Harry grabs the door and we head inside. Harry bites his lip, a bit reluctant at his unfamiliar atmosphere.

“Come on, dork. Let’s go find you a jacket.”

I manage to find a nylon and polyester jacket that he’s satisfied with, though he complains that he’d rather his puffer.

“I know- you can pack it but you can’t wear it when we’re crewing or Bob will never let us hear the end of it.”

I grab a few pairs of nylon gloves before dragging him over to the shoes.

“Boots, love? Really?”

I snort and nod my head.

“We’re carrying heavy equipment. Your Vans won’t work. You could drop something and seriously hurt your foot. Hence the steel-toed boots. And they’ll keep you warm. Trust me.”

He nods and we head to the checkout, excitement rushing through us at our week ahead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thursday

As soon as we land in Albuquerque, we quickly pick up our bags and our rental car before getting on the road. We get settled on the highway and Harry turns on cruise control, taking my hand in his while driving with the other. My hands start to shake more and I sigh.

“You’re shaking Y/N. Why are you shaking?”

I let out another sigh and I look at him.

“My father might be there… And my brother and sister. You haven’t met them… And honestly I don’t really talk to them. So I guess I’m just nervous. And you’ve never met my granny or her husband- And since you’re helping crew for Andrew… I don’t know… Just a lot going on.”

He lifts my hand up and kisses the back of it before he squeezes it. His eyes remain on the road but his words make me tear up.

“I know you’re not particularly looking forward to all of that- But I’m here. I’m always here. And your mum. You know she won’t let him do anything to you. I will be the perfect Angel that I always am-.”

I snort and he gives me a playful side eye.

“As I was saying- everything will be just fine. Okay? So let’s have fun. I’m definitely excited. And happy to see your mum again.”

He smiles and squeezes my hand again before turning his attention back to the road. After about 2 hours, Harry gets off at the exit and it only takes us a minute to get to our hotel. He parks next to my mom’s car and we get out. She gets out of her car and rushes over to Harry, pulling him into a hug as he laughs and smiles.

“Oh my god, Harry! I’ve missed you! Look at you! You look great!”

He laughs and hugs my mom back for a minute before they pull away.

“I’m great, Kelly. How are you?”

She nods and gives him a smile before she pulls me into a hug as well.

“Hi my babies.”

I smile and hug her, rolling my eyes at Harry as he laughs.

“Hi mama.”

She pulls away and shoves her hands in her pockets.

“You both doing okay? Taking care of each other? You look good but you know I worry.”

I smile and nod.

“We’re fine. Harry is very excited.”

Harry nods and wraps an arm around my waist, his smile clear as day. We stand by the car, talking to my mom for a few minutes when my grandmother pulls up. Her husband gets out of the truck and gets her walker out, setting it up as she gets out. Not ready to face her, I drag Harry inside to check in and get our room keys.

We collect our keys and walk up the stairs to our room.

“Love, I really don’t think you need to avoid her-.”

“You know how frustrating she is! The woman flat out told me when I was 16 that it was my fault that my mother was depressed! Because somehow I could control who she slept with to create me!”

He wraps his arms around me and kisses my head.

“I know love, I know. But you know your mum won’t let her do anything. Did you pack your meds?”

I huff and just shrug. He holds me for a minute, rubbing my back before he decides we need to go downstairs and get our bags. He drags me down the stairs and out to the car where, surprise surprise, my grandmother is. I elect to ignore her, opening the back to start grabbing bags. My mom pulls us over to them as I huff in frustration.

“Mom, this is Harry, Y/N’s boyfriend. Harry, this is my mom, May and her husband Andrew. You’ll meet Bob later. He’ll be crewing with us.”

Harry shakes my granny’s hand as well as Andrew’s when my grandmother adverts her gaze to me.

“Sweetie, what did I say about all that eating you do? It’s not good for your figure. I mean look at you-. And did you get that job I sent you the link to?”

I sigh and shake my head, squeezing Harry’s hand to calm me down before answering her.

“Granny, that job was in Arizona. I live in London, remember? And I have a job. I work at a publishing firm, remember? And I like it.”

Before she can say respond, Andrew interrupts her.

“How about we all get settled in our rooms? We’ll meet back here in the parking lot at 6:30 to go check in?”

We all nod and head inside. Before we enter our room, my mom puts her hand on my shoulder, and I turn to face her.

“You two go ahead and have to time with each other for the night. We don’t all need to go to check in and I know you’re not exactly ready to see him. I’ll text you what time we need to meet in the morning.”

Harry smiles and hugs my mom and I let out a heavy sigh.

“Thank you, Kelly. I’ll take care of our girl. She’ll be fine.”

My mom kisses my forehead and squeezes my shoulder before she heads into her room and disappears behind the door. Harry pulls me into our room and pulls me into a tight hug as soon as the door closes. He rubs my back and I let out a sigh.

“How about we go on a walk after we get settled in love? Think that would help? Or are you in the stuff your face with sweets until you pass out kind of mood?”

I shake my head as I hang up my jacket.

“I’m actually in the take a hot shower and then cuddle with my hot boyfriend until I fall asleep kind of mood.”

Harry flashes me a bright smile and hugs me as he hangs up his jacket.

“You take your shower. I’ll run to the vending machines and get some sweets. When you’re done, we can head to bed.”

He kisses my forehead and leaves the room. I grab some sweats and a soft top before heading into the shower.

By the time I’m done, my hair in a wet braid and teeth brushed as I walk out in my soft clothes, Harry is already in bed, scrolling on his phone. He looks up and smiles, pecking my lips softly when I get into bed.

“Your sweets are in the fridge, let me brush my teeth and I’ll turn the light out.”

I nod and curl up into bed as I wait for him. Not 5 minutes, he’s back in bed, pulling me close before he turns out the light.

“Are you gonna be okay, love? You’ve been tense since we got here.”

I sigh and bury my head in his chest.

“I’m nervous… And honestly I haven’t been feeling that well lately so maybe that’s just not helping. And with the stress of seeing him, and of course my granny, I guess I’ve just been a little off. But I’m really glad you’re here… I’m excited for you to meet my sister. She’s a-.”

“A pain in the ass, you’ve mentioned.”

“But you’ll like her! We fought a lot when we were kids of course but we got closer in high school. You’ll love her!”

He laughs and squeezes me tight.

“I could never love anyone as much as I love you. But I’m sure she’s great. Just keep thinking of all the positives, remember? You love this town, you love this time of year, don’t let them take that excitement from you. And I am very excited to experience this with you. Now let’s get some sleep, okay?”

I smile and curl up into his arms before slowly falling asleep.

Friday 05:30

So put your best face on everybody

Pretend you know this song everybody

Come hang (Come hang)

Let's go out with a bang!

Bang! Bang! Bang!-

I wake up to my alarm going off as I feel butterfly kisses on my cheeks. I wake up to see Harry, planting soft kisses all over my face before he smiles when he sees I’m awake.

“Time to get up, love. We have to be downstairs in 30 minutes.”

I groan and wrap my arms around his neck as I sigh.

“Can you just tell them I died or something? Or better yet we both did? I don’t want to go into the cold… I wanna stay here and cuddle.”

He laughs and shakes his head, pecking my lips before he pulls me up.

“Well, your mum is bringing coffee in like 10 minutes so you have to be alive if you want some of that. Because I do.”

I laugh and shake my head as I get up from the bed, pulling clothes out of my bag before I start to change. Harry and I are quickly dressed by the time my mom knocks on the door and Harry happily accepts the coffee.

The second I smell it, I get nauseous and I run to the toilet, throwing up. I hear Harry sigh and he comes into the bathroom, throwing my hair up in a clip before he starts to rub my back. I throw up a few minutes before I flush, slowly standing up so I can rinse and brush my teeth.

From the corner of my eye, I see my mom with a worried expression on her face.

“How long has that been going on, Y/N/N?”

I shrug and wipe my mouth, turning out the bathroom light before fixing my hair quickly.

“A couple weeks I guess. I’m never running a temp so I figured they were just random waves of nausea.”

She sighs and shakes her head.

“I think you should take a test.”

My eyes widen and I look at her.

“You think I could be-.”

Harry and I share a look, one filled with anxiety.

My mom only nods and rubs my back in comfort.

“When we come back after breakfast, I’ll go get you a few tests and you can take them and we’ll go from there, okay? Just try not to stress about it.”

We only nod and she leaves only a minute after. Harry lays back down and holds his arms open to me and I immediately lay in his arms, holding back tears.

“What are we-.”

“Shhh. Everything will be just fine, love. No matter what. If you’re pregnant, we’ll handle it. And if not… maybe it’s just not the right time. Either way, I’m not going anywhere. We will figure this out. Together.”

He kisses my head and rubs my back as we lay there for a few more minutes before we finally head out to the parking lot. We all hop into the van, the vehicle filled with silence as we make the small journey to the lift off field. After about 10 minutes, Andrew parks the van and gets out, meeting Bob outside so the can attend the pilot’s meeting. Harry squeezes my hand and gives me an anxious look.

“So… we just wait? I thought we would all be getting out and that’s when the hard work starts.”

My mom and I laugh and I shake my head before I peck his cheek.

“No, there’s always. Just a little waiting. They have about a 30 minute pilot meeting to determine whether or not we can fly. Based on the wind, I don’t think that’s gonna happen. Right now, if we flew, we’d flop around and lose control.”

He laughs and nods. As expected, when they come back from the meeting, we aren’t able to fly. Andrew makes the decision to head to breakfast rather than still inflating like most were doing, even though we couldn’t fly. We pull into the parking lot of an almost empty diner and finally get out of the van. We eat breakfast, Harry and I sharing a plate since I really wasn’t in the mood to eat much.

The minute we get back to the hotel, my mom runs to her car and takes off, no doubt to go buy me tests. After about 20 minutes, she comes back with a knock on our door. She hands me the bag and I let out a shaky sigh.

“I’m sure you know how to use these… I’ll give you two some space. Call me if you need me sweet girl.”

She kisses my forehead and squeezes Harry’s shoulder before leaving the room. We’re quiet for a few minutes before Harry sits next to me on the bed, taking my hand in his, squeezing it before he raises our joint hands to his lips, softly kissing the back of my hand.

“I meant what I said, Y/N. No matter what the results are… we’re gonna be okay.”

I sigh and start to tear up.

“Are we even ready for this-.”

He sighs and puts a finger on my lips, silencing me.

“We’ll figure it out love. Just like we have with everything else. Alright? Now go take those tests. We can cuddle when you finish and we’ll wait for the results.”

I sigh and stand up, taking the tests into the bathroom. I take all 4 and place them on the counter, letting out a shaky sigh. I wash my hands and take a quiet minute to myself before opening the door and flinging myself on the bed and into Harry’s arms, causing him to laugh. Harry sets a timer on his phone before he puts it back on the nightstand and cuddles close to me, kissing my head.

“Are you hoping for certain results…?”

Harry is quiet for a minute before he turns to me with a small smile.

“Well… If you are pregnant… I would be extremely happy. I mean we’ve been together for 3 years and we live together. And besides… I want a little you… I’ve thought about it on and off… And maybe that can happen now. If you’re not… I don’t know… Maybe it’s something we could talk about? I mean… obviously I’m not getting younger despite how hot and young the girl next to me is…”

I laugh and nudge him playfully as he laughs and hugs me. He pecks little kisses all over my face before he starts to tickle me. He towers over me, determined to tickle more, but is interrupted by the timer on his phone going off. My face pales and we both sit up. He turns off the timer and we sit quietly for a minute before Harry speaks up.

“We’ll do it together…”

He takes my hand and pulls me up before he walks to the bathroom. We share a look and nod in agreement before looking at the tests. Positive. All positive. I turn to him, tears in my eyes, as are his as he quickly pulls me into his arms and hold me tight. After a minute, he pulls away and kisses me passionately as he holds me close. When we pull away for air, we share a small laugh and he hugs me once again.

“God I just- We’re having a baby! I love you! We need to call mum! And Gem! We need-!”

I laugh and shake my head.

“Let’s try to find some onesies here… Maybe we can surprise them. But we should go tell my mom since- of course she knows and she’s probably dying to know.”

He laughs and nods. We leave our hotel room and head over to my mom’s room, softly knocking on the door. She opens it and immediately lets us in.

“We’ll…?!”

We laugh and she glares at me.

“Okay okay… I’m pregnant. We’re having a baby.”

She tears up and hugs the both of us tightly.

“I’m gonna be a grandma again!!!”

I shush her and put my finger on her lips to shut her up.

“Hush! There’s people here we don’t want knowing!”

She nods and I remove my finger. Her phone pings and she picks it up, reading it before she looks up at us.

“Your grandmother wants to go shopping and Andrew wants to know if you guys are going to dinner tonight.”

Harry and I share a look and I sigh, falling back into his arms with a groan.

“Tell them we’re still jet lagged. I don’t want to deal with her tonight.”

She laughs and nods, hugging the both of us before she leaves our room. For the rest of the night, we cuddle and talk a little about the baby until I finally fall asleep, drifting into my dreams of hoping for a bright beginning.

And in the back of my head, I knew that this weekend was going to be a whirlwind.

>>>—————————————->

Please like and reblog! And please let me know what you thought!

Tag List

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[sydsaint]

How do you think Adam Copeland and Christian Cage would react if their crush y/n got hurt or was caught in the crossfire?

Take a fic to answer.

Summary: The reader finds herself in the crossfire of two former best friends.

You head into Daily's Place with Darby at your side. The two of you unload your bags from the rental car and head inside the arena to get ready for the show.

"You've got a tag match with Sting against Swerve's guys, right?" You ask Darby.

"Yeah." Darby nods. "What about you?" He asks you. "What are you up to tonight?"

You shrug and adjust your bag hanging off your shoulder. "I have a match against Red Velvet scheduled for the Rampage taping." You explain. "Besides that, I'm free all night. I was going to maybe check in on Adam and see how he's doing."

Darby nods. a hint of a smile on his lips. "What?" You ask him when you see the smile.

"Nothing," Darby replies with a small laugh.

"Mhm." You roll your eyes at him. "There's nothing going on between me and Copeland." You narrow your eyes at him.

Darby laughs again and puts his hands up. "I didn't say anything." He defends himself. "But, alright."

The two of you part ways once you're down in the locker room area. You get ready for your match against Red Velvet and change into your ring gear.

While you're getting changed, someone comes knocking on the locker room door.

"Hold on, just a second!" You shout and pull a T-shirt over your top. You make your way over to the door and answer it, finding Adam on the other side. "Oh, hey, Adam." You smile at him. "Come in. What's up?"

Copeland flashes a smile at you and steps inside the locker room after you. "Thanks. I saw that you were scheduled later tonight for a match. So I figured that I'd drop by and see how you were doing." He explains.

"That's sweet of you." You grin. "What are you up to tonight? Anything interesting?" You ask him.

Copeland takes a seat on the empty bench in the room while you walk over to your vanity and sit down.

"I've got this dumb thing with Christian's brainwashed little protege." Adam huffs.

"Nick?" You reply curiously and pick up your mascara.

You see Adam nod in the reflection of your vanity mirror. "Yeah, that's it. And his mom is supposed to be out there with them." He adds. "That's actually kind of why I'm here."

"Oh?" You reply and swivel around in your seat to face him. "What can I do for you, Adam?" You ask him.

"I was kind of wondering if you'd be willing to join me down in the ring for my match," Copeland asks you. "Just so I don't have to worry about Nick's mom bothering me and getting in the way." He explains.

A look of slight surprise crosses your face upon hearing Adam's request. "Yeah, of course." You are quick to agree to help him. "When are you due out in the ring? And what about Christian?"

"I can handle Nick and Christian," Adam assures you. "And as far as when I'm due out in the ring? Well, I'd say about ten minutes now." He chuckles.

"Of course." You laugh. "Let me just get my boots on." You turn and pick up your sneakers from their place on the floor.

Adam nods and rises back to his feet. "Perfect. Thanks for this, YN." He smiles at you.

You get your boots on and join Adam at the door. The two of you head down to the ramp and out to the ring.

Adam slips into the ring and waits for his opponent to come out and join him. Christian music hits a few moments later and the self-proclaimed 'Patriarch' of AEW appears at the top of the ramp with Nick and Shayna at his side. The trio files down to the ring and Nick joins Adam in the ring for their match.

You remain in Adam's corner and keep your eyes on Shayna standing in Nick's corner with Christian. You make a small glance at Cage and he meets it. You watch Christian raise his brows at you before uttering a few hushed words to Shayna.

Shayna peers across the room at you with a sneer and you roll your eyes at her. Christian on the other hand, starts moving around the outside of the ring toward you.

"Oh god." You mumble to yourself as Christian makes his way over to you.

"YN! Now what is Darby Allins criminally beautiful best friend doing out here with Adam Copeland?" He asks you with a suggestive smile.

You reluctantly turn to Christian and put on a friendly smile. "Christian! Lovely seeing you as well." You greet him. "And as far as your question goes? Well, I'm just out here helping a friend. You do know what it is, don't you?" You tease him. "A friend?"

Christian chuckles, acknowledging the burn. "There's that sharp tongue I love so much." He grins at you. "Now what's a girl like you doing hanging around a loswer and a hack like Adam Copeland?" He asks you.

"Adam is sweet. Dare I say, a gentleman." You reply. "That's more than I can say about you, Cage." You add sharply.

"You don't think I'm a gentleman?" Christian puts a hand to his chest and fakes a hurt look. "Now that hurts to hear, sweetheart." He flashes a frown at you. "You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, YN. Why don't you let me take you out sometime?" He suggests. "I guarantee it'll only take one night to change your mind about me."

You scoff and roll your eyes. "Wow!" You laugh. "You sure do lay it on thick, don't you?" You ask him.

"I won't deny having charms," Christian replies.

Your little conversation is cut short when you notice Shayna looking to aid her son in getting a cheap win over Adam. You turn away from Cage and jump into action to stop Shayna. You stop the devoted mother from aiding her son and walk back to Adam's corner where Christian remains.

"You're still here?" You ask Cage as you walk back over to the corner.

The bell rings signaling that Adam's baten Nick in his match. You laugh and hop up onto the apron to congratulate him on his win. Adam turns around and spots Christian standing near you. He puffs out his chest and stomps over to the corner of the ring.

"Hey!" Copeland barks at Christian. "Leave her alone!"

You step off to the side as an argument between Cage and Copeland ensues. Nick scrambles to his feet and walks over to start bothering you.

"YN and I were just having a friendly conversation," Christian argues with Adam. "Talking isn't a crime, Adam. And you can't blame YN for enjoying a conversation with me instead of your boring ass." He laughs.

The sound of Christian and Adam arguing about you is drowned out by Nick bothering you.

"What are you even doing out here, Y/N?" Nick confronts you. "What? You suddenly decide that Darby's not old enough for you?" He asks you.

Nick's comment prompts Adam and Christian's argument to stop. Both men cease their chatter and both turn to you and Nick.

"Hey!" Adam raises his voice at Nick. "Don't talk to her like that!" He shouts.

"Nick! Knock it off!" Christian adds. "You don't talk to her like that!" He scolds his pupil.

Nick scoffs and turns back to you. "Whatever! I don't need this!" He glares at you and looks back at you. "Move out of my way, YN."

"Bite me, Nick!" You snap back at him. "You whiny, backstabbing, little brat." You scold him in your own way, still not fully over his betrayal of Darby.

Tired of being berated by you, Nick grits his teeth and shoves you off the ring apron. You fall backward with a gasp and slip to the floor. Your nose collides with the lip of the apron and crunches under the weight of the blow.

Pain shoots up through your face and you crumple into a sitting position on the floor. Blood gushes from your nose and you clutch it in pain. Adam and Christian both rush to your side.

"Shit! YN, are you alright?" Adam kneels down in front of you

"Nick! You idiot! Get out of here!" Christian barks an order at Nick before rushing over to your side. "YN! I am so sorry. Are you okay? Come on, let's get you back to the trainer's room."

Adam stands back up from helping you and confronts Christian. "Step away from her! This is your fault!" He shoves Christian.

"Me?" Christian shoves him right back. "Nick shoved her! And arguing about it isn't helping her any!" He adds.

"Guys." You groan in pain. "I'm getting kind of light-headed." You explain.

The arguing stops and both men turn to you. Adam kneels down and helps you to your feet. He tosses your arm over his shoulder so he can help you backstage. Christian comes around and grabs your other arm to put around his shoulder for extra support. Both men help you backstage with no argument from either of them.

The pair get you backstage and to the trainer's room where you get looked at. Adam and Christian both wait outside the room in silence and wait to hear from you.

A bit later you come out of the trainer's room with a bandaged up nose. You walk over to Christian and Adam who both jump to attention upon seeing you.

"YN! Are you okay?" Adam asks you first.

"Yeah, are you alright?" Christian adds. "What did the trainers say?" He asks you.

You bow your head and huff out a breath. "Broken nose. I'm going to be out for a while." You explain.

"Shit," Christian mumbles to himself. "YN, I'm sorry." He apologizes. "Nick, he can get out of control. I'll have a talk with him later. If there's anything I can do for you, just let me know." He offers.

"Please." Adam scoffs. "You think that she wants any help from you? After what your idiot protege did to her?"

Another argument ensues between the pair while you stand silently between them, unsure about what to do.

"Ummm, excuse me?" You clear your throat after some more arguing. But your attempt to silence the pair does little to stop them.

It's only when Darby comes looking for you after hearing you got hurt, does a break in the argument happens.

"YN! Are you okay?" Darby walks over to you. "Hey, what's going on? Someone came by and told me that you got hurt. What happened to your nose?" He puts a hand on your arm.

"Broken nose." You answer Darby. "It was an accident, Darby. Nothing to worry about." You assure him.

Darby nods and narrows his eyes at Adam and Christian still caught up in the blame game. "Are they going to be alright?"He asks you.

"I have no idea." You shrug. "Can you grab my bags from my locker room while I handle this?" You ask him. "While I handle this?"

Darby nods and walks off to fulfill your request. Christian and Adam finally notice Darby as he walks off and turns to you.

"Are you two done arguing now?" You ask Adam and Christian. "Can I speak?"

"Sorry." Adam bows his head in shame.

Christian does the same and agrees. "Yeah, sorry, YN."

"Christian, I don't blame you for my nose." You explain. "Now Nick on the other hand? I'm kicking his punk ass next time I see him." You warn.

Christian nods, accepting that you're pissed at Nick for what he did. "Right, That's fair."

"And, Adam." You turn to Copeland. "I'm alright, I promise." You assure him. "So don't blame yourself alright?"

Copeland nods and smiles at you. "Alright."

"Now." You add. "My head is killing me so I'm going back to my hotel room for the night. I'll see you two next week." You pat both men on the shoulder and head out to meet Darby.

[all-risejd]

Chapter 22: The meeting and burning questions (A Poly Judgement Day Fic)

San Diego Tuesday, May 9th,

Nessa drums her fingers against the arm rest of their rental car as they pull up to the familiar house with the cream colored exterior and dark brown accents on the sides of the windows, the dark of the accents contrasting the light cream of the exterior of the house beautifully. Nessa stares at the exterior of the house as the knot in her stomach tightens as Dominik pulls in and parks in the driveway. Nessa see’s a curtain flutter in movement, signalling that Angie was watching for their arrival. Neither of them make a move to exit the car, Nessa’s nervous tapping on the arm rest, her other hand firm in Dominiks hand. Dominik raises their conjoined hands placing a kiss to the back of her hand.

“It’s not too late to cancel Mi Sol. I can have Mom call him and cancel. We can just go in and go to sleep.” Dominik offers, giving her the out he feels she needs. Nessa takes a shaky breath and shakes her head before answering.

“Np, No, I can do this… I think… Should I do this Ducky?” Nessa looks at Dominik her eyes wide and filled with tears, some of them spilling over and falling down her cheeks. Dominik cups her cheek wiping away her tears.

“Hey, this is up to you but I do think it is a good idea at some point to talk to him. You made this decision very quickly, you could postpone a few weeks or months or never if you want. I will support whatever you choose.” Dominik promises, hiding his own anxiety better than Nessa is. He smiles at her when she turns her head and kisses his palm. Nessa releases Dominiks other hand and uses both of hers to wipe away her tears.

“Lets get this out of the way and then we decide where to go from there.” Nessa tries to pep herself up to get ready to face her father. Dominik scoffs and rolls his eyes. “No, Corazon, you decide where to go and we follow. You don’t need to ask us for permission for every little thing. Baby I thought we worked through that the first time around.” Dominik looked at her sadly, realization setting in he did more damage than he thought when he left her. His chest hurting at the thought of her blaming herself still for him leaving and that is why she always asks for permission.

“I… Uh… ok” Nessa gives in unable to explain her setback, her eyes flickering to the window, seeing Angie’s form leaning against the door frame to the house, her arms crossed clearly inpatient waiting for her children. Dominik turns to see his mom clearly annoyed and he curses under his breath and gets out of the car, Nessa doing the same not wanting to face Angie’s wrath. Dominik grabs Nessa’s hand and they make their way up the path and meet Angie at the door.

“It’s about time. Nessa mija go to the back yard by the pool, I have some tea there for you, Dom you stay in the kitchen. Kevin will be here any moment so do whatever you need to to be ready sweetheart. Dominik I told you stay in the kitchen” Angie reiterates, her tone going sharp as she repeats herself when Dominik tried to Follow Nessa into the backyard. Dominik stops in his tracks and turns to face his mom, his face contorted into a pout. The same pout that he would use as a child. Angie rolls her eyes, crossing her arms and shifting her weight.

“If you must be so nosy in such a delicate time then you can watch from the window.” Angie cuts off when the door bell rings. Dominik jerks his whole body towards the front of the house. Angie holds up her hand, silently telling him to stay put while she goes to answer the door. Dominik bounces up and down, one arm crossed over his chest, the other bent around it, chewing on his thumbnail. A habit he has picked up from Nessa.

He drops his arms to his side as the lumbering frame follows his mom into the kitchen. Dominik stares at him warily. Angie rolls her eyes again and just walks outside to the back yard while Kevin pauses momentarily and looks Dom up and down appraisingly before just nodding his head and walking out the back door, the door swinging closed behind him. Dominik steps to the door, his hand resting on the handle, the tip of his nose pressing on the glass, streaks of fog appearing from breathing. Watching the tall figure slowly head towards Nessa sitting on the edge one of the beach beds, clearly wringing her hands. _________________________________________________________________________

Nessa sits perched on the edge of the wicker beach bed, wringing her hands together, ignoring Angie just hovering around pretending to water the nearby plants as Kevin approaches her, his hands in his pocket and his shoulders slumped forward to seem smaller thanhe actually is. Nessa chews on her lower lip as he silently sits on the bed opposite her so he is able to face her. He is unable to meet her gaze, unsure how to start or what to say. Theye sit like that in an uncomfortable silence until Nessa takes a deep breath and clears her throat.

“You… you wanted me to hear you out, so… here we are… im ready to listen, but for me to hear you out you have to actually you know speak.” Nessa starts off unsure, her voice getting more steady as she goes, her tone bordering on annoyed. This breaks some of the tension, making Kevin scoff and bite back a chuckle. Seeing the attitude that runs through his family, reminding him of Tristen and he can’t help but smile. Nessa cocks her head and crosses her arms, getting annoyed by the older man just sitting there and smiling at her like an idiot.

“Ok, you must have had a stroke or something because your face is stuck like that. Why are you staring at me like that?” Nessa asks, trying to get the conversation started.

“You have the family attitude and you reminded me of my son… your brother… Tristen” Kevin explains, clearing his throat and blinks back tears, the pain still fresh in his heart.

“You don’t have to explain, I know about him.. Well the basics a good friend told me when I went to her for advice after Backlash..” Nessa scrunches her nose and moves her lips back and forth before offering an olive branch of information. “I lost my older brother Thomas earlier this year. To an overdose… It… it is a heavy thing to bear, let alone losing a child…” Nessa swallows and glances over at Angie who continues to “tend” to her plants.

“I..” Kevin clears his throat and tries again, “You were born a few months before him and I have one picture of you with him if you'd like to see it?” Kevin offers and waits for her answer. She nods her head unable to find any words. Kevin shifts his weight to pull out his wallet and pulls out a small picture, he leans forward and hands Nessa the picture of two babies side by side in a crib, a baby blanket Nessa recognizes as her blankie laid across them.

“The uh one on the left is you, and the right is Tristen. This is the only picture I was ever able to get of the two of you together. Not long after that your mom decided to atone for the “wrong” she did to your father and to my wife by seeing me on the side, even though it gave us you.” He explains, his voice cracking.His hand pausing midair where he went to stroke her cheek like he used to. He pauses to see her reaction, lowering his hand as Nessa continues to hold on to the little picture he provided and glances up at him. He takes that as his cue to continue.

“Your mother is a strong and lovely woman who didn’t deserve how your father was treating her and you didn’t deserve it either. She hoped he would change and right his wrongs at Yom Kippur that year but she was the only one who put forth the effort and we see how that ended up… I was alway there ready to help, to help her escape with you and your brother and get a new life started but she was scared so don’t blame her for not letting me in your life.” Kevin pleads, reaching forward to grab Nessa’s hand but she pulls back.

“Then why not after she divorced him, why did you not tell me when I turned 18. You were always lurking about on those big days. I thought I was going crazy because of all those stories mom told me about when I was a kid.” Nessa accuses him, asking the question she hasn’t stopped asking herself since Backlash.

“Because your mom asked me not to and I respected her wishes. We thought it would be best for you and would protect you as much as possible. The life I led” Kevin takes a shaky breath and continues, “the life you lead now is not an easy one and we wanted to protect you from it. Then you got with Dominik, a lovely boy by the way, and I knew it was only a matter of time before you would be even more immersed in this world. While I couldn’t always be there in person I made sure you and she were always taken care of. Tamara… My wife, knew and accepted and forgave my transgression, and wanted to be part of your life as well but again respected your mother's wish, she didn’t agree with my method of protecting you. God this is all jumbled.” He mumbles to himself after explaining as well as he could with how frazzled his emotions were. Nessa gently hands the picture back to him.

“No, that actually made some sense. You have to see it from my point of view, my whole life is a lie. My father isn’t my father, you paid for all my schooling basically handing everything to me. I don’t know what I have actually achieved now or was it all because of you. I’m in the WWE because of your friendship with Hunter, maybe I only passed nursing school because you donated an assload of money. Now you buy me a fucking bus a…a…a… and I don’t know why” Nessa lists off and throws up her hands, bringing them back down and running them through her hair and then down her face where tears have started to fall. Angie stops watering her plants and goes over, sitting next to Nessa and grabbing her hands. “Ay, Mija. It wasn’t just him that got you that bus. I did as well. You deserve a place to be home while on the road. Somewhere to be safe after everything you have been through. You are my daughter just as much as Aalyah and I will do anything to keep you safe and happy. Just… Don’t tell Oscar he is still uh coming to terms with your uh… dynamic with your partners.” Angie pats Nessa’s hand and caresses her cheek, Kevin snorting at the choice of words. Nessa turns her gaze to Kevin, narrowing her eyes.

“What?” She asks, the feeling of being judged settling into her gut. Kevin just shrugs and smiles.

“I have no issue with your dynamic, fully support it. Whatever makes you happy. You arent the first wrestlers to have that kind of relationship.” Kevin explains and Nessa cocks her head.

“Don’t… Don’t try to overcompensate to get on my good side. You weren't there for me when I needed you. Instead, you lurked like a…a… fucking creeper. Where were you when I skinned my knee learning how to ride a bike, or… or… or when I had my heart broken the first time, or my proms. I needed a dad.. I needed my dad, someone, to help protect me and Ma, where were you then, instead of just my graduations and a few recitals, for the good stuff? I needed you…” Nessa rattles off, her voice cracking and Angie rubbing her back trying to calm her down.

“I wanted to be there, I wanted to be more involved, to protect you. I did what I could, to provide for you and your mother. I want nothing more than to protect and provide for you and to get to know you.” Kevin explains, Nessa furiously wiping the tears from her face with shaky hands. She glances over to the back door to see Dominik's face pressed against the glass. Nessa chokes on her breath trying to not laugh, she scratches her nose and he flings the door open and runs out quickly getting to where the three of them are sitting, Kevin fighting to keep his own tears at bay.

Dominik takes the space right next to Nessa and pulls her into his arms, resting her head on his shoulder, sniffling a few times, her hand still held tight in Angie's.

“I know about your ex and who it is and I would have given anything, ANYTHING to protect you and get you out of that situation safely. I am glad you were able to get yourself out.” Kevin praises, ignoring Dominik and Angie shaking their heads no. Nessa angrily gets to her feet so she is standing in front of Kevin.

“I got out of it but the cost was so high I live every day with the regret of what it cost me and you were nowhere, nowhere when i needed comfort after, the fear, the depression, the self loathing…” Nessa takes a deep breath trying to calm herself, “you didn’t know so I don’t hold that against you not really but you did know about what my dad did and again you did not protect me. You asked I hear you out and I did. You can go this conversation is done.” Nessa storms off, wiping away more tears as they fall. The remaining three watch her retreating figure as she disappears into the house, the door slamming behind her. Kevin slumps back finally letting the tears fall, his heart shattering more than before, feeling defeated the knowledge he may never get to know her, that it is too late.

“Mijo go after her, make sure she is ok, I’ll talk to Kevin. Maybe this was too soon. After you make sure she is ok have her nap and you could do with one too. I’ll wake you for dinner.” Angie dismisses Dominik who glances over at Kevin who has his back turned.

“Look man, she hasn’t had an easy time of it either and I haven't exactly made it easier, especially this year. Just give her some time ok, she will come around. Maybe not to the level you want but she will forgive you eventually.” Dominik tries to reassure the other man before returning to the house. Angie sighs and runs her hands down her face.

“Well, that could have gone better huh Kev? Dom is right she will forgive you soon enough. You need to give her some space, let her come to you ok. I’ll keep an eye on her for you.” Angie advises, giving Kevin's shoulder a slight squeeze.

“What was the price she paid? What happened?” Kevin asks, the knots in his stomach getting worse. Angie sighs again before answering, “its not… its not my story to tell.” Angie pauses weighing the pros and cons. “She was pregnant, and the stress from healing from the last beating and the fear of him coming back made her lose it and she has never forgiven herself. Now don’t go blaming yourself either, you wouldn’t have known and couldn’t have known or done anything to help. Let us just be glad she got out and is doing better now and that she has Dom and the others.” Angie tries to stop his own blame and self loathing, rubbing his shoulders soothingly.

“I uh… I better go. Thank you for hosting this Ange and for having my back and taking care of Nessa.” He thanked her, giving her a hug and a kiss on the forehead.

“Of course Kev, I’ll always take care of her like she is my own which she practically is now. I’ll keep you updated.” Angie promises, walking him back to the house and escorting him to the front door. __________________________________________________________________________

Nessa storms in to Dominiks room and paces back and forth, brading and unbraiding her hair trying to make sense of the conversation she had with Kevin. Battling her emotions, knowing it wasn’t his fault fully that he wasn’t around but the resentment he wasnt there to help her when she needed it yet he payed for her schooling making her lucky and giving her a leg up she wouldn’t have had. Her thoughts are interrupted by Dominik knocking on the doorframe announcing his presence.

“Princesa sit on the bed.” Dominik orders, knowing she needs some stability and guidance. Without argument she goes over and plops on the bed, still braiding and unbraiding her hair. Dominik goes to Nessa’s bag and grabs her brush and a hairtie. He sits down behind her and with one hand gently guides her hands to her lap so she stops fussing with her hair. He then unbraids her hair and starts to brush it gently knowing he trusts her with this most vulnerable part of herself, the part she protects the most.

“Whats going on in your head Princesa, lets talk through it, then we can nap until dinner.” Dominik prompts, focusing on not yanking the brush through the knots.

“I can’t rightfully blame him. It was a decision they both made.” Nessa starts explaining, letting out a deep sigh.

“Doesn’t mean you can’t blame him. He could have contacted you still, especially after you turned 18.” He agrees with something she has said multiple times.

“That is true, he did provide for us though, when he didn’t have to. Mom had no claim to anything of his yet he at least made sure we had a place to live, food and a damn good educaiton for me. I just can’t get over him not trying to be there harder. He could have fought, he could have done shared custody, visitation, something. Instead of hiding in the shadows at celebrations. I needed him during the bad things too where was he then?” Nessa sniffles again, still confused on how to feel, not knowing how to process everything still.

“He was on the road like dad. Or doing his movies once he sort of retired. Though he hasn’t fully retired yet still. Not to defend him, but how would you have taken it at age 18 going to college finding out he is your father, or any point after that?” Dominik asks, setting down the hair brush and braiding down nessa’s hair in a simple french braid.

“I… it wouldn’t have gone well either. I probably would have cussed him out and mom. Now I kind of understand. If only a little. Damn… I wanted to ask if he beat up dad to convince him to allow the divorce. And a few other things.” Nessa complains, her thoughts becomming less jumbled. Dominik finishes the braid and secures it in the hair tie and wraps his arms around Nessa, kissing her cheek.

“Thats fine Mi Sol. You can arrange another meeting and ask. Or contact him another way if you want to. This doesn’t have to be the end. You don’t have to have a father daughter relationship with him but you could still ask the questions you need and get your answers. This is all done by your lead. He won’t contact you first he is going to wait for you that I can promise you, so the ball is completely in your court.” He explains and he feels stress and tension leave her body. Nessa reaches up and places her hand on Doms forearm and squeezes it.

“Thank you Ducky. For being here, for setting it up,... for everything.” Nessa thanks him and leans back into his embrace. “Anything for you baby, now lets take that nap. We have had a long night and day today.” He orders again, scooting back on the bed and dragging nessa with him before letting her go. She gets under the covers, Dominik doing the same. Nessa wastes no time snuggling up to his chest and drawing shapes on it over his shirt until they both doze off. ___________________________________________________________________________

Nessa blinks her eyes as she wakes up, the smell of food bringing her back to the land of the living. She looks around the room, her gaze finally landing on Dominiks sleeping form, his arm and leg hanging halfway off the bed, his other arm thrown over his head and his mouth open, twitching as he snores. Nessa tries to hide her laughter, causing her to shake but thankfully Dominik sleeps like the dead. She slides out of the bed and quietly exits the room and tiptoes down the stairs, walking as quietly as possible until she reaches the kitchen. Angie turns when she hears a floorboard creek.

“Ah Nessa you are up, dinner is almost ready. Go ahead and sit down at the table, you need more rest. You can help with dinner tonight instead.” Angie orders and Nessa does as she is told and sits in her normal seat that she claimed when she first started coming around.

“I uh… I have a few questions for you.” Nessa states, swallowing the lump in her throat, watching Angies form float about the kitchen.

“Ask away sweetheart” Angie prompts, stirring the concoction on the stove.

“Did you know” Nessa asks quietly, her index finger drawing patterns on the table. Angie freezes for a moment and sets down her spatula.

“I did, from the moment Dominik showed me a picture of you and told me your name. Before you go say something about I could have told you, no, it wasn’t my secret to tell. My concern was my childrens happiness and safety and then yours. It is clear you make Dom happy and you are such a good sister to Aalyah. You quickly became one of my own.” Nessa nods her head, accepting the explanation, not feeling as nearly betrayed as she felt weeks prior at Wrestlemania.

“The bus, you said you got it too, so you split the costs with Kevin and I am assuming Hunter because that bus is mahooosive, its basically a house with a fucking huge bedroom and still a bunch of bunks, basically a full kitchen and living area it must have cost you a fortune” Nessa frets, more so worried for the woman she sees as a second mother. She knows the men have cash to spare.

“Aye Niña, the cost split three ways is almost nothing, like I said would do anything to help you and Dom. Rey doesn’t know because he is having his little temper tantrum. I also know the boys are paying for almost everything except your clothes. I also hear you might be wrestling in the next couple months so get some ring gear designed and made because thats is something you gotta pay for so plan for it.” Angie warns, while plating the food and setting a plate in front of Nessa. “Go ahead and get started while I go get Dom.” Angie kisses the top of Nessa’s head and guilt fills Nessa for how she acted to Kevin when Angie allowed a safe space to meet and she just stormed away not letting him finish.

“Hush now child, you are allowed your feelings. Don’t feel guilty. I expected it to go that way. You don’t have to forgive him, you don’t have to have a relationship with him and you did your part by hearing him out. But if you want my opinion I think it would be a good idea to at least get to know him, allow him to be around. For both of your sakes.” Angie leaves the room with that piece of advice to go gather Dominik for dinner leaving Nessa alone with her thoughts. Nessa pushes the food around the plate, her appetite lost to the guilt and conflicted feelings she is battling with.

A few minutes later Angie returns with Dominik in toe, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He takes the seat next to Nessa and starts digging in, but eyeing Nessa who is just pushing her food around her plate to look like she is eating.

“Aht, Nessa you better eat that, you are nothing but skin and bone. You need some meat on your bones so you can give me grandbabies.” Angie chides, while making her own plate and taking her seat. Nessa is not at all surprised that Angie brought it up and it makes her let out a little laugh. Part exasperation other part genuinely thinking it is funny. Dominik chokes on his food which makes Nessa laugh harder at the fact he was shocked.

“Yes ma’am.” Nessa smiles and takes a bite, glancing over at Dom who stares down at his plate unable to meet Nessa’s gaze.

__________________________________________________________________________ Later that night Nessa is laying in bed on her side, Dominiks arm thrown over her waist. He can tell by her breathing she is still awake. He tightensis arm around her, pulling her closer so her back is flush against his chest.

“Nes” He quietly calls her name. She jums in response waiting for whatever question he wants to ask. Or to say whatever he needs to get off his chest. “No matter what you decide on the Kevin thing I am by your side, supporting whatever decision it is. No questions asked. I know I broke your trust before but I am not leaving you ever again. You have been the one constant in my life besides Mom that I could depend on.” Nessa smiles to herself, placing her hand on top of Dominiks and squeezing it three times in a silent “ I love you.” Dominik sighs in relief and continues, “This is the future I want, you, me, Damo, Rhea and Finn. A big house, children running around.” He smiles, seeing that future clear as day, children that are the mix of all of them. No one caring who the “real” father is as they are all one unit. Some memories take over the fantasy and he clarifies, “but I never want to be like our parents, they will be on the road with us if we cant be home for extended periods of time. We are not going to miss major moments of their lives, we are going to be there for it all one way or another.” He promises himself and Nessa, going quiet when he hears quiet snores coming from her as her breathing had evened out and she fell asleep. Dom smiles and whispers out loud to the universe, “I promise”. Before laying his head down and closing his eyes, falling asleep to the fantasy of his future.

[justagalwhowrites]

Lavender No Outbreak AU - Ch. 1

You and Joel have dinner. Chapter one of a No Outbreak AU of Lavender, found on Tumblr here.

Pairing: Joel Miller x Female Reader

Warnings: None really! Mentions of pregnancy. No use of Y/N. Minors DNI 18+ only

Length: 4.5k

A/N: For those who aren't readers of Lavender, this is an AU of that fic. If you'd like to read it in context (or just want to go back and remember what happened!) Read chapters 1-6 of Lavender in their entirety. Then read through their text message conversation about halfway through chapter 7. Pick up here.

Love you!

Friday, October 17, 2003

You weren’t sure if the nausea was from nerves or from the morning sickness that had never actually limited itself to just the morning hours. 

It had been months since you’d last seen Joel. You remembered it so clearly. It’s not that you’d known he was going to break up with you a few weeks later, but you did know it would be a while before you saw him again. There hadn’t been a set plan, just vague discussion of getting together at Christmas - unsure if he would bring Sarah to you or if you would come down to him - and you wanted to make sure you held onto everything as tightly as you could. 

Joel never just dropped you off at the airport. He always parked the car, always walked you in and lifted your bag onto the scale at the check in counter like 35 pounds was just a bit too much for you to do on your own, always walked with you through the security line with his arm around your waist. He always stood there on the other side of the security area until you made it through the metal detectors and you always looked back at him when you did, holding his gaze for a moment with the ache of longing deep in your chest, the two of you raising a hand to each other. “Goodbye. See you soon. I’m leaving a part of myself with you, please take care of it.”

You hadn’t known you’d been taking a literal part of him inside you then. Though, if you were a betting woman, you’d put money on him getting you pregnant the morning you left town. You couldn’t know for sure - you’d been visiting for two weeks and you were pretty sure you hadn’t gone more than 14 hours without him inside you - but your birth control use was always a bit… spotty when you were traveling. You didn’t take it at the same time every day like you did at home, often sleeping in past the usual schedule. You’d forgotten it completely twice, once when you’d taken Sarah to Six Flags and you were in a rush to get out the door so she could get adequate roller coaster time and once when you were so hung over after going out with Cassie, Josh and some of Tommy’s friends the night before you’d barely eaten anything that day. 

You’d taken your pill the morning you left but things felt different. He had held you so tightly to him in the pool, been so deep inside you when he fell apart, you were sure that’s what had done it. 

And now you were trying to not panic about seeing Joel again. 

It had been so long since you’d seen him as a friend. Kind of a friend. Who knew what you were now. You weren’t sure how to occupy this space with him. 

On the plus side, you’d found a dress you actually liked. It hugged your chest and waist but concealed the small bump that you doubted anyone would notice but you didn’t want to take any chances. It had been a few months but Joel knew your body like no one else. If there was someone who would notice - at least once upon a time - it would have been him. You spent too much time curling your hair and doing your makeup and hoped he wouldn’t think you’d spent too much time doing your hair and your makeup. 

Fuck, you were going to throw up. Maybe not right that minute but you were. You put a travel bottle of Listerine in your purse.

“You can do this,” you said, whole body tense as your knuckles turned white around the steering wheel of your rental car. “You can do this.” 

It was strange, driving yourself around Austin now. It had been a few years since you lived here and when you visited, it’s not like you got a rental car. Joel almost always drove, except for the occasional day where it was just you and Sarah because he had to be at a job site. You’d drop him off in the morning so you could use the truck and always inevitably end up there for lunch and show up a bit early for evening pick up because you couldn’t stand to be away. You’d been tempted to take Joel up on his offer to pick you up for dinner but that felt a little too dangerous. A little too much like a date. And for this conversation, you wanted to have some control. To be able to jump in the car and leave if you wanted to. 

It had taken you a while to feel like you were even remotely ready to tell Joel that you were pregnant. 

You’d sat down and looked at everything you wanted to do for yourself and your career, how the timing would line up with the pregnancy and having a new baby at home, how much it would all cost and what you would do to support it. You wrote it all out clearly with dates and numbers. It was there in black and white, just how much you didn’t need his help with this. You were telling him because it was the right thing to do, not because you wanted anything from him. That was all. 

Even though it had been a while since you’d done much driving in Austin, the way to your favorite Mexican place was automatic. Joel’s truck was already in the lot, making your stomach tight. You were early. Joel never got anywhere early. You’d been counting on having some time to sit down and gather your thoughts, maybe read through your plan one last time. Not that you’d expected to have it memorized - it was folded up in your purse specifically so you could reference it when you needed to - but you didn’t want to just sit there and read it to him, either. 

You took a deep breath, trying to center yourself. 

It was just Joel. Just the love of your life who’d left you after he knocked you up - not that he knew about that last part. It wasn’t like he was going to bite you. 

The hostess knew exactly who you were looking for when you got inside and Joel stood up when you came over to the table. 

You hadn’t been prepared for what seeing him again would do to you. For a second, it was like nothing had changed. When he picked you up from the airport, you always hurled yourself at him and he had to catch you and you had to stop yourself from doing that now, keeping your feet firmly on the ground. 

But when he smiled at you, it was damn near gutting. The sudden realization that he wasn’t yours anymore, that you couldn’t just walk up and kiss him, fall into him, slip your hand below the hem of his shirt to the smooth skin of his back and feel him. 

You smiled back anyway.

“Hey,” you came to a stop in front of him, unsure whether you should hug him or not. Did you shake his hand? What do you do to greet the man you had been with for three years and were about to tell him that you were carrying his child? 

“Hey,” his smile got a little wider. The hostess walked away and he hesitantly put an arm around you, pulling you into his side. You looped your arm around his back and gave him a squeeze. He was warm and still smelled like pine sawdust, even through the smell of his soap.

“I’m surprised I beat you here,” you stepped away from him and sat down, smoothing your dress as you did. “I know how the end of the week can be, I hope you weren’t rushing…” 

“No,” he said quickly. “Just wanted to try ’n make sure you weren’t waitin’. Either on me or a table, you know how this place gets on Fridays…” 

“I appreciate it,” you smiled a little, picking up the menu. Your stomach was in knots. You still were eating almost exclusively Clif bars. 

“Surprised you even need to look at the menu,” he smiled a little from across the small table. 

“Hey, they might have changed something,” you smiled back a little. 

You settled on a quesadilla - it seemed like the thing you’d be least likely to throw back up at the table - and an iced tea. Joel frowned but waited for the waitress to leave. 

“Everything OK?” He asked. “Seems like New York might be changin’ your tastes a bit…” 

“Fine,” you said quickly. “Just… wasn’t feeling the enchiladas tonight. And I have to drive. So, how have you been?” 

He looked at you for a moment, like he wasn’t sure of your answer. 

“Been alright,” he shrugged after a moment. “More of the same. Job I’m doing right now is fuckin’ exhausting, most indecisive client I’ve ever seen.” 

“Oh that’s got to be a blast for you,” you smiled a little. “I know how much you love when people don’t know what they want…” 

He took a long drink of his beer and nodded and you laughed. 

“How’ve you been?” He asked, watching you, his eyes going up and down the parts of you not hidden below the table. 

You considered for half a second telling him then, but you couldn’t bring yourself to. You’d have dinner first. A last supper of sorts, where things were normal. You’d tell him after.

“Oh, you know,” you shrugged. “A lot of school. Go to work at a school, come home and do school, study for school on the weekends, do it all again on Monday.” 

“Well you were always real good at school,” he teased a little. You laughed. 

“You know what they say,” you smiled. “Those who cannot do…” 

“You can, though,” he said. “Think you could do just about anything.” 

You talked through dinner, you picking at the quesadilla more than anything else and having to excuse yourself to the bathroom to throw up after eating some of it, bringing your purse with the Listerine with you. 

And then dinner was over and you couldn’t put it off any longer. You were walking together to your separate cars and you were trying to get up the courage to blurt it out when Joel spoke first. 

“Wanted to ask ya,” he cupped the back of his neck awkwardly. “If you… had a date for Cass’ party.” 

“A date,” you raised your eyebrows at him, standing next to a curb in the parking lot. The crickets were loud, the moon bright. 

“Yeah,” he said. “Just… wasn’t sure…” 

“Who would I bring?” You laughed. “One of the guys from my vibrant college dating life?” 

“Wasn’t sure if…” he shoved his hands in his pockets and looked up a bit. “If you brought someone with you.” 

“Who I left in a crappy hotel room alone while I went to dinner with my ex?” You said skeptically. He laughed. 

“Guess when you put it like that,” he looked at you again. “I’d just… like to spend more time with ya while you’re here. And I always liked Cass, she’s a nice girl…. So I thought… I mean, if you’d want and it wouldn’t be too much trouble…” 

“Are you asking to be my date to Cass’ engagement party?” You asked, smiling a little. 

“Yeah,” he said. He sounded relieved. “If you don’t…” 

“That’d be great,” you said quickly. “It’ll be nice to have someone to talk to, Cass is going to be pretty damn busy.” 

“I’ll pick you up,” he smiled. 

“I’ll text you the information,” you smiled back. 

He hugged you goodbye - a real one this time, one where you could feel his whole body against yours - and pecked you on the cheek before making sure you made it into your car. 

You’d tell him tomorrow. 

Saturday, October 18, 2003 

There had been less planning with the outfit for Cassie’s party than there had been for the dinner with Joel. 

For one, you weren’t friends with a lot of Cassie’s other friends. You liked them well enough but they weren’t about to be paying you any mind while you were there. You’d see Cass for a few minutes of the party, help out where you could and that was that. Joel you desperately wanted to impress, even though you thought there was a good chance he’d never want to see you again after this weekend. That dress had been much more important. 

But the khakis you’d worn the week before to teach suddenly wouldn’t close. You stood profile in the full length mirror by the dresser of your hotel room, your hand covering the bump that had somehow doubled in size in the past week. It was still small, likely not noticeable to anyone but you, but it was just enough that the zipper wouldn’t come up all the way and the button was a fraction of an inch away from closing on the pants. 

“Shit,” you looked at your watch. You had a grand total of 15 minutes before Joel was supposed to pick you up and you didn’t have fucking pants. 

You rifled through your bag and found an extra hair tie, looping it around the button and through the button hole to help hold them closed. Thankfully, the sweater you’d brought for the party covered the top of the pants enough that no one should notice. You hoped. 

“Hey,” he smiled warmly, opening the door of the truck for you. It was a slightly less awkward greeting than the night before, a hug and a kiss on the cheek before you climbed in the truck and he closed the door behind you. 

“Thanks for driving,” you smiled. “I’m hoping I can remember quite how to get to Cassie’s parents’ place, I’ve only been there a few times…” 

“Well, you sent me the address, so…” He handed you a printout of Mapquest directions. “Figured I’d cover my bases.” 

“You’re the best,” you smiled a little. “I did not plan that far ahead…” 

“Always happy to come to your rescue,” he winked at you and headed off. 

It was nice, just being in the same space as Joel again. He was still warm and funny, you still wanted to lace your fingers through his as he drove or lean your head on his shoulder when at a stoplight. But you kept your hands to yourself. 

“So Cass’ OK with me comin’ right?” He asked as you pulled into Cassie’s parents’ neighborhood. “Doesn’t hate me or anything?” 

“Oh she definitely burned you in effigy a few months back but she’s moved on,” you teased. He half smiled. “No, she’s fine with you being there, I did ask.” 

Fine may have been a strong word for it. You texted her after you got back to your hotel the night before to make sure it was OK that you brought a date. 

“Who?” She texted back. 

“Just Joel,” you replied. 

She didn’t text back, she jumped straight to calling. 

“Are you FUCKING kidding me?” She yelled. 

“Hi Cassie, how are you?” You asked. “Ready for your party tomorrow?” 

“Joel?” She demanded. “Fucking JOEL? You haven’t even been in town a whole day and you’re already going to just, what, forgive him for dumping you over the phone after you were together for three fucking years?” She must have pulled the phone away from her face, her voice muffled. “No, Josh, I will NOT calm down…” 

“We had dinner,” you picked at a hole in the bedspread. “It was nice, he said he wants to see me more before I go…” 

“I swear if you just jump back in bed with that man…” she muttered. You sighed. 

“Do I need to text him and say never mind to the party?” You asked. “Because I definitely will, I don’t want to upset you, it’s your day.” 

“No,” she sighed. “You can bring Joel.” She said his name like it was a curse word. “At least this way I can keep an eye on you and make sure you’re not… I don’t know, falling back in love with the guy or something.” 

“Hard to do since I’m still in love with him,” you said wryly. 

“Yeah and maybe I’ll just shove him in the pool with some rocks in his pockets,” she muttered and then sighed again. “Look, I’ll be nice. Bring him if you want, of course you’re welcome to bring a date. If you want to be a masochist about it, I can’t stop you.” 

“Have been a bit worried that all your friends hate me,” he smiled a little, his head leaning on his hand that was propped up by the door. 

“Yes, my broad social reach is sure to cause you problems on the Austin scene,” you said knowingly. He smiled broader. 

Joel pulled up to the gate and you gave him the code from the invitation. He keyed it in and the gate opened. 

“Feelin’ a bit out of place,” he said as he drove in, looking at the mansions lining the road. 

“Yeah, tell me about it,” you said. “I’m pretty sure you could fit Nan’s house in one of these garages.” 

Cassie’s parents lived at the end of a cul de sac, their expansive home all brick and stone with lush gardens in front, the kind that required constant watering under the Texas sun. 

“Really hope she doesn’t want to kill me,” Joel said as you followed the signs down the path to the side of the house toward the back yard. “Feelin’ like they could get rid of whatever body they wanted to…” 

You giggled. 

You’d shown up a bit early to help Cass and her mom set up, handing the bottle of wine and engraved glasses you’d brought as a gift off to the guest of honor. 

“It’s so good to see you!” She shrieked, jumping as she hugged you. You grabbed her ring hand and she obliged, happily letting you turn her fingers in the light to see the diamond before she looked at Joel for a second, eyes narrowed. “Joel. Thanks for coming.” 

He glanced at you quickly before looking back at Cass. 

“Just let me know how I can help,” he said, standing close enough to you that his arm brushed against yours. 

“I think my mom and Josh need help moving some stuff over that way,” she gestured into the yard where there was a tent and tables. “Why don’t you go make yourself useful?” 

Cass didn’t wait for a response, she just looped her arm through yours and tugged you inside. You glanced over your shoulder and mouthed ‘I’m sorry’ but he just smiled and went where Cassie told him. 

“You said you’d be nice!” You said as she pulled you into the kitchen. 

“That was nice,” she shrugged. “I didn’t call him a douchebag once. Margarita?” 

“No thanks. I’m cutting back,” you said. She handed you a sparkling water and got a margarita for herself. “What else is there to get set up?” 

“Oh, basically nothing, the caterers have the rest,” she said, pulling you along to the picture windows that overlooked the backyard. “But now we have refreshments while we watch the men do strong man shit.” 

She tilted her glass toward you and you toasted her with a giggle, taking a drink of water. 

“So,” she said after a minute of watching Joel and Josh haul an oversized planter around the yard at Cass’ mom’s direction. “You told him yet?” 

“Told who what?” You frowned. 

“Told Joel that you’re knocked up,” she took a sip of her drink like she’d just noted the weather. 

“What?” You coughed, trying to keep the water from shooting out your nose. “I don’t…” 

“Please,” she rolled her eyes. “You look like you lost weight everywhere but your uterus, you’re not getting hammered on the free booze when you showed up with your ex… You’re not that hard to read, hon.” 

“You can’t say…” You began but she waved you off. 

“I’ll keep my mouth shut,” she said. “Really wish you’d have told me, though! It’s his I take it?” 

“Either that or I’m getting added to some religious texts,” you sighed, looking out the window. Joel had rolled up the sleeves of his button down. “I just didn’t want to tell you before I told him. That just… it felt weird.” 

“You’re telling him this trip, right?” She asked. “Because if you decide to come down in a few months it’s going to be less telling him and more him just observing you.” 

“I was going to tell him last night at dinner but I just kept putting it off and then he asked if he could come with me tonight and…”

“And you chickened out,” she nodded. “Did you fuck?” You shook your head. She nodded again. "Babe, you can’t sit here and cling to… whatever it is that you two are doing this weekend. He made his call, can’t change that. You’ve gotta bite that bullet.” 

“You’re right,” you sighed. “I’ll tell him after the party. I have to, right?” 

“Unless you were planning on hiding the baby forever,” she shrugged. “Think you have to.” 

The party was oddly fun. Maybe it was because you were dreading the end because that meant you’d have to actually tell Joel. Maybe it was because Cassie’s parents had spent a probably obscene amount of money on food and a band. Maybe it was because you hardly knew anyone and you basically just hung out on the edge of everything with Joel as Cassie and Josh made the rounds, the two of them only coming over when she wanted a break from dealing with her family to chat or roll her eyes about something. 

“I swear to God my mother thinks I’m marrying the future king of England or something,” she groaned, chugging a glass of Chardonnay. “She was just saying she’s got 250 people to invite. I don’t think I’ve ever MET 250 people let alone 250 people I want at my fucking wedding… Oh hi Aunt Barb!” She gave you a wide eyed, desperate look before going to talk to the person who waved her down. You giggled. 

“Never thought having no family and very few friends would be a perk,” you leaned against a table, glancing up at Joel. “But at least I know that I won’t have to worry about stuff like this if I ever get married.” 

“If?” He asked, taking a sip of beer. 

“I mean,” you shrugged. “It’s kind of ‘if’ until you actually get married, right? Not like it’s a guaranteed thing.” 

“S’pose that’s true,” he nodded. 

“And we’re gonna slow it down just a bit,” the lead singer crooned. You recognized the opening notes of Wonderful Tonight and you laughed a little before you groaned. 

“They were accepting tips, I made a request,” Joel shrugged and held out his hand. 

“No,” you laughed a little again. “Clapton? No way.” 

“C’mon,” he jerked his head to the dance floor. “Old time’s sake.” 

You sighed and put your hand in his. “For old time’s sake.” 

He smiled and led you to the dance floor, pulling you against his body, swaying in time to the music. His arm went around your waist, your hand in his held to his chest. Joel was humming the song to himself, so softly you doubted he even knew he was doing it. 

Wonderful Tonight was one of the first things Joel ever played for you on guitar. He’d put it on the stereo when Sarah was sleeping at a friend’s house after you’d had a few glasses of wine and he’d pull you into his arms to sway with you in the middle of the living room, dodging the coffee table and the couch and so full of love you thought you’d burst with it. 

“I’ve missed you,” he said quietly, his nose brushing along your temple. You could feel his heartbeat below your palm, the heat of his breath on your cheek. You swallowed past the knot in your throat. Your stomach got tight.  

“Missed you too,” you said. He held you a little closer, the hand that was against you slipping up, below your sweater so his fingertips were brushing the bare skin of your lower back. Your heart rate picked up. “I think in a different way, though…” 

“I hope not,” he whispered. 

The song wound down and his lips brushed against your temple, your cheek. 

“Joel,” you breathed. His hold on your hand tightened as he kissed you. 

It was gentle at first, soft and hesitant. Almost innocent, as though he’d never touched you before. But you felt the familiar heat gathering low inside you, the raw and needy ache of it. His lips grew firmer, more insistent and you pushed him back, stepping away from him just as the band was shifting to another song, the buzz in your head too loud to recognized what that song was. 

“I’m sorry,” you said, stomach turning. “I can’t do this.” 

You took off before he had a chance to stop you. You could feel the Clif bars you’d had for breakfast and lunch creeping back up and you tried to work your way through the people milling about the yard without being disruptive. Joel called your name and you ignored him, trying to find your way to a bathroom or at least a quiet corner…

You’d made it to the corner of the yard when Joel’s hand closed around your arm. 

“Please don’t just run off,” he said. 

“Joel,” you tried to pull away from him but he tugged you closer. 

“Don’t tell me that you didn’t want that, too,” he said, his eyes searching your face. “Baby…” 

“Don’t call me that,” you said. You were about to throw up, you could feel it coming, you were an expert at it now. “Joel, let me go….” 

“Let’s talk about this,” he said. 

“I can’t,” you tried to step away from him but he held onto you. Not hard, you could pull yourself away, but his eyes were begging you to stay. 

“Why can’t you?” He asked. “Please…” 

“Because I’m pregnant!” You all but yelled it at him. His eyes went wide, his hand still on your arm. You looked at him for a second longer before you doubled over and threw up on the ground next to his shoes. 

[strangerstilinski]

SELENOPHILES OF BEACON HILLS | Teen Wolf Rewrite

Stiles Stilinksi/Original Female Character

chapter six

fic summary; after an already traumatic evening involving the unfortunate discovery of a gruesome scene, amber is convinced to hike through the woods with her two best friends in search of the other half of a dead body. but it's not as if she could ever say no.. not when stiles looked at her like that.

chapter word count; 15,008

chapter notes; the alpha throws a dangerous wrench in amber's plans for a girl's movie night, and lydia is left mildly traumatized by the events. scott goes awol. amber gets her first glimpse of kate argent. parent teacher conferences get a little crazy thanks to a *ahem* mountain lion.

masterlist

c h a p t e r   s i x

the tell

In the backseat of Mrs. Martin's Volkswagen, Amber was sitting with her arms crossed over her chest, staring at the vacant passenger seat that she'd thought she would be sitting in. Lydia had borrowed her mother's vehicle for the evening and Amber let her eyes travel over to where the strawberry blonde sat behind the wheel of the car.

"Hey, what did you do with all those balloons, anyway?" Amber questioned suddenly, leaning forward in her seat and tucking a lock of her ashy brown hair behind her ear. She'd nearly forgotten about the favor she'd done for Lydia that afternoon.

"I hid them in Allison's locker for her birthday." Lydia smiled, turning onto the next street. "Thank you for picking them up, I couldn't get the car until my mom got home."

"Oh!" Amber said in surprise at the new information, "Yeah, it was no problem." She smiled as she recalled how Stiles had slapped at the balloons in annoyance as they floated around the inside of the Jeep. He'd agreed to drive her back to the school that afternoon so she could hand them off to Lydia, and he had been very vocal about his regrets.

Amber's smile was wiped away and replaced with a frown when they turned to park in Jackson's driveway. The girls waited for him to come out to the car so that he could join in on what Amber had thought was supposed to be a girl's movie night.

"I still cannot believe you invited Jackson to our movie night," Amber hissed as Jackson opened the front door and stepped out onto the stoop.

"Oh, come on, babe-" Lydia sang, glancing at her friend in the rearview mirror, "It's one movie night. And besides, Jackson's been acting really strange since last week.. I couldn't say no."

Amber thought back to the look of sickening fear on Jackson's face after Derek had shoved him against the lockers a week before. She sighed, settling back into her seat as Jackson pulled the passenger door open.

"Hey," Jackson said to his girlfriend, dropping into the seat and leaning across the center console to peck Lydia on the lips. "Amber." He greeted her with a grimace before turning to buckle his seatbelt.

"Hi, Jackson." Amber said as politely as she could manage as Lydia pulled out of the driveway and headed in the direction of the video rental store. She absently picked at a loose thread on her jeans for a few minutes before breaching the silence, "So, what movie are we gonna get?"

"Here me out," Jackson started, turning to face Lydia with his hands up in a placating gesture, "I have a movie that I think all three of us will enjoy-"

"What kind of movie?" Amber asked, leaning forward in her seat in interest.

Jackson sighed at the question, "Okay, so it's a Drama.." He hedged slowly.

"And?" Lydia prompted, raising an eyebrow.

"And also a sports movie-"

"No."

"Lydia, c'mon!" Jackson pleaded, "It's really good!"

"No." Lydia repeated as she slowly turned into the parking lot, "We are not watching some stupid movie about football or whatever."

"No," Jackson argued, "Hoosiers is not only the best basketball movie ever- It is the best sports movie ever made."

"No." Lydia blinked, unimpressed as she put the car in park.

"It's got Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper." Jackson defended.

"Who?" Amber asked from the backseat. Jackson quickly turned to shoot daggers at her with his eyes and she frowned in apology, leaning back in her seat.

"No." The redhead said again, continuing to stare out the windshield.

"Lydia, I swear to god you guys are gonna like it-"

"No."

"I am not watching The Notebook again!" Jackson said angrily. Lydia turned her head toward her boyfriend slowly and said nothing but she gave him a sinister smile.

Jackson took a deep frustrated breath and huffed loudly through his nose, getting out of the car and slamming the door closed behind him. He made his way into the video store and Amber unbuckled her seatbelt, moving to go in with him.

"I'll just.. Go and make sure he grabs something decent."

Amber trailed in a few seconds behind Jackson, and looked around the large room at all of the shelves holding different genres of movies. A phone was trilling loudly at the empty front desk and Amber sighed in annoyance as it just kept ringing, never going through to any sort of machine.

"Can somebody help me find The Notebook?" Jackson called out loudly and Amber snorted in amusement.

"I'm sure we can find something else." She laughed at him, squatting down to peer at the movie cases on the bottom shelf in the aisle labeled 'Romantic Comedies'.

"Hello?" Jackson called out again, walking past the aisle that had caught Amber's attention and moving further into the store, "Is anybody working here?" He sighed and the lights in the store flickered, drawing Amber's attention toward the ceiling. "You gotta be kidding me." Jackson mumbled.

Amber rose to stand and her eyes caught on the ladder that stood a few rows away. It was propped up beneath the flickering fluorescent light. She moved around Jackson and walked to stand underneath the hole in the ceiling, frowning in confusion. Someone had left the long light tube dangling down to rest on top of the ladder as if they'd stopped what they were doing mid-installation.

"Amber.." Jackson's voice was quiet as he took slow, measured steps toward her.

"What?"

The girl spun to face him and found his eyes were glued to the floor at the end of the aisle across from her. She turned her head to follow his eyeline and a scream slipped past her lips when she saw the full picture of what had caught Jackson's eye.

Jackson could see the feet that stuck out past the end of the shelf, but what was hidden inside the aisle was so much worse. There was a young man leaning against the shelf with his throat ripped out, the skin of his throat slashed from four long mangled cuts, blood dripped down to seep into his video store uniform shirt and leaving it stained a dark red. Worst of all, his eyes were open wide in unseeing fear behind his glasses.

Stumbling back in fright, Amber bumped into Jackson's chest just as he was coming to stand behind her. He reached up in an attempt to steady her with his hands on her arms but it was too late and the two of them fell backwards, tumbling into the ladder behind them. It crashed to the ground loudly, ripping the dangling light from the ceiling in the process and plunging the store into darkness.

"This can't be happening." Amber whined as Jackson pulled her up and steadied her on her feet again. Heavy, fear-filled breaths came from the boy beside her and the sound was only amplified by the way the lights flickered weakly in an attempt to come back on, the store remaining eerily dark.

There was a low growl from the darkest end of the store and Amber's head snapped up to look over Jackson's shoulder, a pair of glowing red eyes meeting her own from the darkest corner of the room.

"Jackson. Run." Amber whispered hurriedly, giving him a hard shove in the direction of the front door.

As soon as he had regained his footing, Jackson was turning back to grab her wrist, dragging her to squat down with him as he hid behind one of the shelves. They were both breathing too loudly, shaky exhales leaving their lips in quick bursts. Amber held a hand against her own mouth to muffle the sound as she peered out around the corner of the shelf slowly.

She looked back in the direction she'd seen the creature that she knew had to be the Alpha, something dark darting between the rows in a blur and rushing to the other side of the store with another low growl. A gasp escaped her at the sight of it and she retreated quickly back into the aisle, taking a few deep breaths.

The shelf the two were hiding behind shook against their backs and a handful of DVD cases rained down onto the ground around them. Suddenly, there was a loud bang, and then another, and then another, and Amber belatedly realized it was the sound of the shelves knocking against one another as they toppled over like dominos down the row toward them.

"Shit-" Amber exclaimed, moving out of the aisle and pulling Jackson behind her. She slipped out of the way just as the shelf collapsed but the boy beside her was pinned underneath it from the waist down. "Oh my god! Jackson."

Amber tried in vain to lift the shelf off of the boy's legs but he was pinned not only by the weight of one, but the weight of all four of the shelves layered on top of one another. She groaned and lifted with all of her strength once again but the shelf only moved a couple of inches before she was forced to drop it back down again.

"Amber, just go-" Jackson pleaded.

Her stomach dropped at his words, "But-"

"Go." He hissed at her while attempting to pull himself free.

Amber whined miserably but rose to her feet. She looked up from the floor and her eyes widened at the sight of the beast now looming over Jackson's back. Its red eyes still glowed bright in the dark store as it reached down with a clawed, paw-like hand to pull at the collar of Jackson's jacket, leaning down to sniff at a newly exposed scab on the back of Jackson's neck.

She wasn't sure what it was smelling, but after a few seconds of huffing breaths over the boy's back, the Alpha rose to its full height again, towering over Amber by more than a foot. It was inhumanly tall, and black. Covered in thin, mangy fur. It had a horrifying, wolf-like face, its mouth pulled back to display dangerously sharp teeth as it snarled at her.

The Alpha took a menacing step forward and Amber countered it with one step back, her wide eyes glued to the creature in fear. Her hands shook as she slowly matched its steps in an attempt to keep the beast at a distance.

On her fifth step toward the back of the store, Amber stumbled over the ladder yet again where it had fallen to the ground and she tripped as her foot caught on the metal. She fell to the ground, catching herself on her elbows and gasping when the thin shards of glass from the broken light cut through the skin of her bare arms.

The Alpha leapt forward several feet until it loomed over her, leaning down to sniff at her in the same way it had done to Jackson just a few moments before. It sniffed at her hair first, huffing a hot, sneeze-like breath over the top of her head before it moved to sniff lower, breathing in and out at the collar of her tshirt. Amber whimpered quietly when its nose brushed against the skin of her throat but It moved to sniff lower again, stopping at a spot on the fabric that covered the center of her chest. It huffed another hot breath accompanied by a quiet growl before taking one step away from her.

Suddenly, the Alpha turned and took off in the direction of the front of the store, jumping straight through the large glass window with a loud crash and running into the dark of the night.

Amber remained on the floor for a moment and took a few slow, trembling breaths before her mind cleared and she frantically moved to untangle her legs from the ladder, more small shards of glass driven into the skin of her forearms as she struggled to get up.

"Jackson!" She called out as she got to her feet. She rushed back to the front of the store on shaky legs, "Oh my god, are you okay?"

"Would you just call someone strong enough to get me out from under here!" The boy snapped at her.

"I- Jeez, okay," Amber relented quietly, pulling out her cell phone to call 911, "I thought near-death experiences were supposed to bring people closer together, not turn them into bigger assholes." She muttered under her breath as she dialed the phone and exited the store.

As soon as she stepped foot outside, she caught sight of Lydia staring out the windshield with wide, fear-filled eyes and Amber hesitated as the operator picked up on the other end of the phone, aching to comfort her friend. She shook her head with a trembling breath, moving to the other end of the parking lot as she spoke to the woman on the phone and reported the dead worker. If she were far enough away, Amber hoped her friend wouldn't be able to overhear anything, so she paced at the edge of the pavement as she spoke, not wanting to scare Lydia any further.

When Amber hung up the phone with shaking fingers a few minutes later, she rushed back toward Lydia, finding her still in the same position that Amber had left her in, with fear-filled eyes glued to the empty space in front of her. Amber wrenched the car door open and knelt down onto the pavement to take Lydia's hands in hers.

"Lyds, babe-" Amber said softly, her voice only slightly shaky, "Are you okay?"

The redhead didn't speak, continuing to stare ahead of her still with wide, unblinking eyes and Amber sighed, taking a shallow breath and rubbing Lydia's cold hands softly between her own. She gently toyed with her friend's fingers while whispering quiet soothing words, hoping to pull her friend out of her state. Amber continued for several long minutes, time dragging in a haze before she spotted an ambulance pulling into the parking lot with flashing lights.

"I'll be right back, okay?" Amber told Lydia softly, still not getting a response.

Leaving the car door ajar, Amber made her way over to the ambulance just as three EMTs were exiting the vehicle, all rushing toward her with rapidfire questions until Amber pointed them all in the direction of the store.

"There's a worker dead inside," She told them past a lump in her throat, "And-And my friend Jackson, he's stuck under some shelves but- I wasn't strong enough to lift them."

They nodded and rushed inside, one of them heading to the back of the store where Amber knew the dead worker was still lying while the other two moved to free Jackson as quickly as possible.

Amber made her way back to the Volkswagen and enveloped one of Lydia's hands in her own again, standing just outside the driver's side door.

When two police cruisers pulled into the lot a few minutes later, the group of officers split off and spread out to cover the scene. One of the officers cautiously approached where the girls were waiting at the car and patiently began to ask Amber a long list of questions, collecting as much information from the frightened girl as he could.

"The animal, did you get a good look at it?" The officer questioned eventually.

"I, yeah, uh.. It got pretty close." Amber told him nervously.

"Do you think it could've been a mountain lion?" He asked her.

"A mountain lion." Lydia repeated quietly from inside the car.

"Uh, yeah, a mountain lion sounds right." Amber corroborated, squeezing Lydia's hand.

As soon as the shelves were lifted enough for him to slip out, Jackson rushed outside, shoving past the two paramedics in the store when they tried to check him for injuries. He made a beeline for Amber and Lydia just as a police officer a few yards away was lifting a hand in signal, the officer who had questioned them darting over to assist with something. Jackson shoved Amber out of the way when he got to the vehicle, his focus on where Lydia was still sitting inside the car. He leaned in to pull her from the vehicle, speaking to her softly.

Amber took a reluctant step back from the couple, turning to watch through the broken window as two of the EMTs and a coroner moved over toward the dead body while the third paramedic made his way back outside to check on the teens. The paramedic led Lydia and Jackson over to the back of the ambulance and waved for Amber to follow when he caught her gaze.

She joined them just as Lydia was being guided to sit at the end of the ambulance between the open doors and Amber rushed to her friend's side, squeezing in to stand beside Jackson.

The paramedic glanced back at Lydia for a moment before he spoke to Jackson and Amber quietly, "She's not responding due to shock.. That should wear off soon. But she's got some blood on her hands and clothes-"

"She's not bleeding." Amber assured him. Her eyes fell to the blood on the backs of Lydia's hands and shirt and Amber frowned in confusion.

"Miss.. Are you alright?" He asked her, finally taking a moment to look the brunette up and down in scrutiny.

"I'm fine." She told him impatiently, "Could you please just get her a blanket or someth-"

"You're bleeding." Jackson muttered into her ear.

"What?" Amber looked down at herself and her eyes caught on the large smudges of blood that trailed down the skin on the backs of her arms. Now that she was looking at the red stains, the glass embedded in her flesh suddenly stung painfully, "I-I forgot." She admitted quietly.

"It's because of the adrenaline. That happens a lot." The EMT assured her. He gently guided her to sit down beside Lydia, climbing into the back of the ambulance and moving around behind them in the space. He re-emerged a few moments later with tweezers, a small metal bowl, gauze, cotton balls, and rubbing alcohol.

Amber pressed her knee into Lydia's thigh and sat silently as the paramedic raised Amber's trembling right hand above her shoulder and began to pull tiny shards of glass from the back of her forearm. She winced with each piece that was tugged gently from her skin before being dropped into the metal dish beside her.

Jackson moved off to the side after a moment, mumbling something under his breath about calling both Lydia's parents and his own.

Amber watched through the colorful lights flashing in the parking lot while the police officers worked quickly to block off the building with yellow tape. They moved around methodically, speaking with one another and frequently speaking into the radios that were clipped onto their shoulders.

By the time Jackson returned, the paramedic had finished removing the glass in Amber's right arm and had moved on to clean the cuts with alcohol while she bit down her lip painfully at the sting it caused, trying not to pull away.

"I'm going to head out." Jackson announced, standing several feet away.

The EMT didn't look up from where he was tending to Amber's arm, "I'd still like someone to take a look at your head before you go-" He insisted for what must not have been the first time.

"No, I'm fine," Jackson snapped, "I'm not one of the people here who are dead or bleeding."

Amber looked up to give the boy a look of astonishment, "Jesus, Jackson. Way to be sensitive-"

A Sheriff's Department cruiser pulled into the parking lot just as Jackson was turning to face Amber with a dark look, "Oh, shut up, Callisto. You're the one who left me trapped in there-"

"I- You told me to!" Amber defended herself, wincing when the paramedic began to pull tiny shards of glass from her left arm.

"This is ridiculous! I'm not even injured," Jackson's voice rose as he argued with the paramedic who was still focussed pulling glass from Amber's skin, "Why the hell can't I just go home? I'm fine." His voice trailed off into something quieter as he finished speaking.

"I hear ya, but the EMT says you hit your head pretty hard," Sheriff Stilinski's voice cut in as he approached the group. His gaze caught on the brunette sitting at the back of the ambulance and he paused, frowning at her with worry for a moment before he re-focussed his attention on Jackson, "They just wanna make sure don't have a concussion."

"My god. Jackson, just let them look at your head. It'll take five minutes." Amber finally said, yelping when a particularly long piece of glass was pulled from the underside of her arm above her elbow.

"What part of 'I'm fine' are you people having a problem grasping?" Jackson asked, raising his voice again, "Okay? I wanna go home."

"And I understand that-" The Sheriff started gently.

"No, you don't understand! Which kind of blows my mind, since it should be a basic concept to grasp for a minimum wage rent-a-cop like you! Okay, Now I wanna go home!" Jackson yelled in the Sheriff's face.

Amber had heard enough. She pulled her arm out of the paramedics grasp with an angry snarl and closed the small distance between herself and Jackson with purpose, her fists clenched in rage, nails digging into the palms of her hands. She was only a second away from hitting the boy when Sheriff Stilinski stepped between them and gently pushed her back with his hands on her shoulders.

"Oh, woah! Is that a dead body!?" She heard Stiles' voice cut through the tension.

Her fury dissolved immediately and her head snapped around to see the boy standing at the passenger side of his dad's cruiser, his arms draped over the open door with an arm pointing in the direction of the store behind them.

The Sheriff gave his son a disappointed look and Stiles began to shrink back before his eyes landed on where his dad was releasing Amber's shoulders from his grip.

"Amber?" Stiles called out worriedly, slamming the car door shut as he stumbled over his own feet and jogged toward the back of the ambulance.

"Stiles," She sighed in relief at seeing her best friend, flinching in surprise when she felt the paramedic place a hand on her shoulder and guide her to sit still again, this time off to the side so that the other EMTs could wheel the dead body into the back. "Sorry," She apologized to the man quietly as he wordlessly lifted her arm and resumed with the tweezers.

"What happened?" Stiles asked in concern, looking her over and narrowing his eyes when another tiny piece of glass was plucked from her arm.

"I tripped?" She settled on in explanation for now. Her eyes flicked nervously over the large crowd of people that had filled the parking lot.

The paramedic began to wipe her cuts clean with alcohol again without warning and she winced, reaching out automatically to grip Stiles' hand in her free one.

Stiles looked at her worriedly while the paramedic wrapped gauze around her forearms before the man left the two teens alone. Stiles pulled gently on Amber's hand in his and tugged her away from the crowd to stand behind his father's car, leaning close to speak to her quietly, "Okay. So, what actually happened?"

She swallowed, tightening her grip on his hand, "The Alpha killed the video store clerk," She explained in a choked voice, "He chased me and Jackson but didn't hurt us at all. I-I don't know why-"

"Your arms?" He interrupted, eyes flicking down to her bandage injuries before meeting her own again.

"I tripped and fell in a little bit of glass from a broken light, it's fine," She assured him before continuing, "But the Alpha, it just- Smelled us both and then ran away."

He took a deep breath and she watched as he licked his lips in thought before his gaze dropped and paused on her chest, "Where did you get that shirt?" He asked.

She glanced down at the dark gray tshirt she was wearing. She'd tied the oversized shirt in a knot at the bottom, cropping it above the waistband of her jeans to reveal a strip of skin on her stomach.

"I don't know-?" She said honestly, "I was running late when Lydia picked me up and I just threw it on. It was in my room. I figure it's either yours or Scott's."

Stiles reached out to tug at the neckline, pulling it out to look at the tag sewed into the collar, "It's not mine," He confirmed, leaning back to look at the front of the shirt again, "Scott?"

"I don't- You don't think the reason the Alpha didn't kill me is because I smelled like Scott?" She asked nervously, heart rate picking up.

"Maybe," He replied, "But then, why didn't it kill Jackson?"

"I'm not sure." She furrowed her eyebrows and looked up at the boy in front of her.

The flickering red and blue lights from the emergency vehicles filtered over his face in a haunting way, the blinking glow bringing the ever-present queasy feeling from the knots in her stomach into a sudden focus.

Her eyes drifted back to the video store. The broken glass on the pavement in front of the large front window reflected the shining colors of the lights. The yellow crime scene tape flapped back and forth in places where officers were ducking underneath it to move in and out of the building. The tshirt she was wearing suddenly felt too heavy against her skin as she remembered the way the Alpha had sniffed it deeply before growling and exhaling a hot menacing breath over her.

"Amber?" Stiles called out quietly, his voice sounding oddly distant to her ears.

She belatedly realized that she wasn't entirely sure when she'd last taken a breath and she attempted to inhale deeply but her lungs barely managed to pull anything in before she was forced to exhale again with a sharp gasp. She tried again and found herself choking on the air as she sucked it in, looking up at Stiles with wide panicked eyes as she felt her chest tighten with anxiety at the lack of oxygen.

"Hey, you need to breathe." Stiles said gently, reaching up to rest his hands on her shoulders and rubbing his thumbs softly back and forth.

"I-" She started before gasping around another too-small inhale, "Stiles- I can't."

He pulled her into his chest and wrapped his arms around her tightly, cradling the back of her head and guiding her face into the crook of his neck in a practiced motion.

"Hey, listen to me," He said softly into her ear, "You're okay. I know you're scared, but I'm not gonna let anything happen to you ever again, y'hear me? You're okay-"

She gasped in a lungful of air and her whole body trembled when she exhaled against the warm skin of his neck.

He carded his fingers through her hair as he continued to murmur in her ear, "You're safe now. And I'm gonna keep it that way because- Because I'm the Batman of the group, yeah? You said so yourself. So, I'm gonna keep you safe." He promised quietly.

As he spoke, she finally managed to lift her hands from where they'd been hanging limply at her sides and she thrust them into the warmth beneath the fabric of Stiles' jacket and gripped desperately at his waist over the thin cotton of his shirt.

Every inhale filled her nose with the scent of him. The strongest thing she could smell was the lingering traces of his body wash, beneath that there was the laundry detergent from the collar of his shirt, and then a barely-there hint of sweat. She pushed her face further into his skin and breathed in the calming, familiar scents gratefully.

It took a few minutes, but her head slowly cleared, breathing evening out as more oxygen was pulled into her body. She continued to puff out warm breaths from her mouth, parted lips pressed into the soft skin of Stiles' neck. She focused on the sound of his voice, the gentle rhythm of his long fingers combing through her hair, his chest against hers.

"Yeah, y're okay," Stiles said softly, his mouth pressed close to her ear. He waited for her to take in a couple more deep, even breaths before his grip loosened around her shoulders, "Y'okay?"

"Yeah, I-" She let out an embarrassed laugh, speaking quietly, "I'm sorry."

"No, hey. Don't apologize, alright?" He combed his hand gently through her hair, pushing it back from her face.

"I don't know what happened, I just- I was thinking about the way it looked. The way it moved. The way it was so close that it could've ripped my throat out-"

"But it didn't, right? For whatever reason, it didn't. You're safe now." He assured her.

She took a deep breath and nodded just before Stiles' dad came to stand beside the pair. He squinted at her in scrutiny, "You doin' alright, Amber?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm okay now." She stepped out of Stiles' embrace but grabbed his hand in the process and interlaced their fingers.

"Alright. Well, I talked to the paramedic and he says you're all set to go home." The Sheriff told her.

"Good, cool." She nodded distractedly. Her mind raced with what she was going to say to her brother when she saw him, "Can we hold off on telling Jason about this until he's off shift?" Amber pleaded.

"No can do. I already called him-" The Sheriff told her. At her outraged squeak, he continued, "I'm sorry, kiddo, but it was out of my hands. You're a minor and you were injured at the scene of what we still have to consider a possible homicide."

"Oh, god." She whined, looking around the parking lot frantically as if Jason were about to appear out of thin air to yell at her.

"Not to mention this is the third time you've stumbled across a dead body in the last month-" The Sheriff frowned at her with a disappointed look that she was sure would rival the one she'd be getting from her brother at any minute. "I don't know what is going on with you kids, but this has gotta stop happening when you all are around. Y'hear me?"

Amber and Stiles both nodded.

"You're coming back to my place, right?" Stiles asked quietly into her ear when his dad was distracted by something happening behind them.

She nodded, whispering back, "Yeah, we need to talk to Scott ASAP and figure out what the hell-" She started before a faded red pickup truck caught her eye coming down the dark street.

When Jason's truck turned into the parking lot, it did so in a rush, coming to a stop just behind the Sheriff's cruiser without bothering to pull into a parking space. He flew out of the vehicle, rushing toward them, and his hands went to cup Amber's shoulder and the side of her head as soon as he was close enough to grab her.

She watched her brother huff out a relieved breath as he verified that she was mostly unharmed and she released her grip on Stiles' hand to stepped forward and pull Jason into a hug.

"I'm fine, I'm okay." She attempted to reassure him.

When she stepped back from the embrace, Sheriff Stilinski had pulled Stiles away, leaving the siblings to talk in privacy.

"What happened?" Jason asked her firmly.

"Um, they think a mountain lion might've gotten inside the store somehow before we got here.. It attacked the worker. Then it knocked some shelves over on top of Jackson, and I tripped trying to get away but- It, um, it just ran off."

"You're damn lucky it did," He told her, smoothing the hair at the side of her head down flat. His own hazel eyes went to the scene around them and he took a deep breath before letting it out slowly, "How are you feeling though? Really. Must be shaken up?"

"I- Yeah. I-I am. Shaken." She admitted quietly.

"I'd be worried if you weren't," He said with a small smile, squeezing her shoulder firmly in reassurance, "You ready to get out of here?"

"Can I- Would it be okay if I slept at Stiles' house tonight?" She asked nervously.

"Do I need to remind you what happened the last time I let you go to a friend's house right after something like this?" Her brother questioned. The cool and calm attitude he'd displayed since he arrived at the scene seemed to fade into something more panicked and Amber shrunk back under his gaze but she didn't speak, so he carried on, "You went out in the woods to look for the other half of a dead body. And I didn't find out until Noah Stilinski called to tell me about it almost two weeks later," He paused to take a breath, "And that was before we knew it was just an animal attack! For Christ's sake, Amber. You're killing me here."

She figured it would be in her best interest to let him get it all out at once, so still, the girl deigned not to speak. She chewed her lower lip and glued her eyes to a small stain on the collar of her brother's tshirt until he filled the silence again.

"You keep finding dead bodies, and you're trespassing on private property to get my old classmates arrested for suspected murder, and I don't know what I'm supposed to do to keep you out of trouble," Jason sighed, "Would things be different- If I didn't work so much? I'll leave the station if you want me to- I will. I can find a regular nine to five and-"

"No!" She interrupted quickly, "Jay, c'mon you love being a fireman." The girl reached up to rest her fingers over the hand on her shoulder, "I'm sorry about digging up the Hale property and getting Derek arrested — I really am." She promised him.

He sighed after a moment and held a hand out, gesturing toward his parked truck, "Home tonight. Okay?"

"Okay." She agreed, following him toward the vehicle. She cast a final look back toward where Stiles was standing a couple yards away, waving to him sadly as she went.

The boy gave her a small reassuring smile in understanding and waved back just as she was climbing up into the truck. As soon as she closed the door behind her, she dropped her head back against the headrest with a sigh.

The next morning, after a fitful night's sleep, Amber was dropped off at school unreasonably early before Jason had to be back at the station. Her brother had insisted on giving her a ride, and after seeing the pleading look on his face, Amber couldn't help but agree.

The first bell wouldn't ring for another hour, so Amber wandered into the library to work on an English paper that wasn't due for another week. She managed to nail down her outline and wrote a few hundred words before she noticed a handful of students milling around the library, returning and checking out books, and she suddenly realized that there were only ten minutes left until the first bell.

Collecting her things in a rush, Amber made her way through the halls, pausing when she saw Allison just a few steps away from her locker. Amber smiled in giddy excitement and plastered herself to a locker beside the girl, leaning against it casually.

Allison gave her a sweet smile, "Hey, Amber." The girl seemed to pause in thought before her face set in determination, "Can I ask you about something that's been bothering me?"

"Yeah, of course." Amber agreed immediately.

"Why was Derek at the school last week?" Allison asked, her eyes downcast.

"Um," Amber started, struck dumb by the question, "He was- Looking for me."

"Mm, how come?" Allison questioned, fingering at the edge of her leather jacket.

"He- He wasn't feeling well, so-" Amber struggled to come up with a believable lie on the spot, "Stiles and I ended up giving him a ride to the doctor's office."

"Okay-" Allison responded slowly after a few seconds passed, "And you and Derek aren't still- Y'know?"

"No, no, we're not." Amber said quickly, "Just- Friends? Sort of."

Allison nodded, pursing her lips. She looked like she was about to ask another question so Amber deflected quickly.

"So.. Birthday girl," Amber started, grinning when Allison's eyes went wide and glanced around them to see if anyone had overheard, "How does it feel to be sixteen?"

"I- Uh, I'm actually turning-" Allison looked around them worriedly again before whispering, "Seventeen." Amber went to speak but Allison held up a finger to the girl's lips before speaking again, "Please don't tell anyone. It's always a huge thing when people find out-"

Amber laughed, pulling Allison's finger away from her lips, "Why is being seventeen such a big deal?" She asked, "Stiles turns seventeen in two months."

Allison seemed surprised at this, "Really?"

"Yeah," Amber said, "I mean, he was held back in elementary sc-"

Allison sighed loudly, "That's exactly what I'm worried about people thinking."

"Who cares?" Amber asked her, "People get held back. It happens. Being held back doesn't mean you're stupid or something." Amber said defensively.

"No, no, you're right." Allison said with a shake of her head, "I'm sorry."

Amber relaxed slightly, "It's okay."

Allison turned back toward her locker and moved to begin working the combination on the little purple padlock. When she got it undone, she pulled the door open and a cluster of colorful balloons tried to break free from the confined space. The girl frantically fought to push the balloons back inside and looked around with wide eyes while Amber laughed at her.

Pulling a small card from where it was magnetized to the inside of the door, Allison flipped it open and read the note inside.

"You and Lydia-" Allison began to whisper quietly before Scott approached them from the other side.

"Is it your birthday?" Scott asked innocently, pointing to where a balloon was about to drift free from Allison's locker yet again.

"No, no!" Allison said immediately, fighting with the balloons, "Uh, no. I mean, yes. Please don't tell anybody. I don't even know how Lydia and Amber found out."

Scott looked up at Amber with a wide eyed look of betrayal and she raised her hands in surrender, "I didn't know. Lydia asked me to bring her balloons after school yesterday and I did. She didn't tell me what they were for until last night."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Scott asked softly, his attention focussed on Allison.

"Because I don't want people to know." Allison said quickly before pausing, "Because- I'm seventeen."

"You're seventeen?" Scott asked in surprise, blind to the way Amber was waving her hands frantically for him to shut up.

"That's the reaction I'm trying to avoid." Allison said with an annoyed look.

"Why?" Scott tried to recover, grimacing when he caught Amber's eye, "I mean, I-I totally get it. Uh, you had to repeat a year because of all the moving around, right?"

Allison looked at him in surprise before closing her locker door. She turned her back to Amber and leaned into Scott's space to give him a slow kiss.

"What was that for?" Scott asked with a smile.

"For literally being the first person ever to make the correct assumption. Everybody always assumes I got knocked up or held back." Allison told him, taking a step back to lean against her locker and glance at Amber again.

"-Which, y'know, if either of those were true that would be okay too." Amber reminded her futilely.

"But, that's what you hear on your birthday?" Scott asked, ignoring his best friend.

"Oh, yeah." Allison told them, "All day long."

"Then- What if you and I get out of here?" Scott asked her with a tender look.

Allison looked at him closely, "Skip class?" She asked.

"Yeah, the whole day." Scott smiled, reaching up to pull gently at one of Allison's curls.

"Scott, are you sure that's a good idea-" Amber started, cutting herself off at the sharp look he gave her. She pursed her lips, rolling up onto the balls of her feet before dropping back down, "And, I am going to leave you two lovebirds to make your own questionable choices." She announced, stepping back from the pair slowly. 'Happy Birthday' she mouthed at Allison with a grin before turning and heading in the direction of her own locker with a shake of her head.

In third period Chemistry class, Amber took the open seat across from Stiles with a smile, rubbing her hand back and forth along the softness of his short hair as she passed him and fell into her seat.

They were having a quiet class period wherein they were all supposed to work on the problems from the current chapter in their textbook — so that they could ask questions if they had trouble with anything. Hardly anyone ever did ask for help, given that Mr. Harris was a condescending nightmare on a good day, but if they talked quietly enough, it was easy to work with the people at your table.

Amber pulled out her things as class started and she began copying down the questions into her notebook. Twenty minutes passed and she was only just beginning to work on question number three, the pencil in her hand having spent more time hovering over the page in her notebook than it had pressed against the paper. Her concentration was hard to keep focused when her eyes kept drifting up to the boy in front of her.

Stiles had shifted his stool to the corner of the table to be closer to her and he was rapidly highlighting important information in his textbook for when the two of them would make flashcards later on. He had the cap of the marker held between his teeth and she watched Stiles gnaw on it, his jaw working distractedly as he traced over the words.

Her attention was suddenly torn from the way that Stiles' lips wrapped around the tiny piece of plastic as Mr. Harris began to speak from the back of the room.

"Just a friendly reminder.. Parent/Teacher Conferences are tonight," He said as he began walking down the aisle between tables slowly, "Students below a 'C' average are required to attend. I won't name you.. Because the shame and self-disgust should be more than enough punishment." As if the statement had triggered something in his brain, Mr. Harris paused at the end of Stiles and Amber's workbench, his eyes narrowing at the empty stool at their table. "Has anybody seen Scott McCall?"

Stiles looked up at where Mr. Harris was standing beside him but Amber bit her lip and looked down at her notebook in avoidance. She was saved from having to come up with a lie about her friend's whereabouts when Jackson walked into the room late, drawing their teacher's attention.

"Hey, Jackson," Mr. Harris spoke quietly, approaching the boy as he found his seat, "If you need to leave early for any reason, you let me know."

Jackson nodded and Amber scoffed at their teacher's kind comment. She'd been told nothing of the sort when she had entered the room at the start of class, despite her also having been attacked by a psychotic werewolf the night before.

Mr. Harris stepped back and moved to the chalkboard at the far end of the room, "Everyone, start reading the next chapter." He announced, pausing mid-step before speaking again, "Mr. Stilinski-"

Stiles' attention snapped up from his textbook again and he looked to the front of the room with wide eyes, surprised at having been called out.

"Try putting the highlighter down between paragraphs," Mr. Harris told him loudly in front of the class, "It's Chemistry. Not a coloring book." He finished patronizingly.

Amber's eyes narrowed at their teacher's back before her eyes were drawn to the boy in front of her again. She watched as Stiles threw his head back, exposing his long neck and sharp jawline, her eyes following his eyes movement. He blew the marker cap from his mouth and up into the air over his head, snatching it effortlessly in his outstretched hand as it fell back through the air.

Amber leaned forward across the table on her elbows and nodded her head to beckon Stiles closer. His eyes seemed to trail down to the low cut of her shirt for a second before he leaned in on the edge of his stool, closing the distance until only a small gap separated them.

"Don't listen to him," Amber told her friend quietly, reaching out with the hand not holding her own writing utensil and grabbing the capped highlighter from him. She innocently fingered the cap, chewing her lower lip for a second as she thought about the place it had been between his teeth a only few moments before. She shook her head and blinked rapidly in an attempt to clear her thoughts, "It's a studying method that works for you-" She tapped the highlighter lightly on the tabletop, "..And he's a dickhead." She whispered as an afterthought.

She unthinkingly raised the highlighter cap to her own teeth to pull it off single-handed before holding the bright yellow marker back out to Stiles. He took it from her outstretched hand with a dazed look, eyes never leaving her face.

She grinned at him and the action reminded her that she still had the cap held between her lips. When she reached up to grab it, the piece of plastic slipped from between her fingers and dropped beneath the neckline of her shirt, stopping to settle at her belly button where her shirt had been tucked into the waistband of her jeans. She cursed quietly, leaning back on her stool and peering down her shirt to look for it. She reached past the lace of her bra to fish it out, the material of her shirt stretched slightly around her arm, and just as her fingers closed around the cap, there was a loud crash.

Amber flinched, looking up to see Stiles' stool toppled over at the end of the table and the boy on the floor with it.

"Stiles!" She said in quiet alarm, "Are you okay?"

Stiles' cheeks were flushed pink as he climbed to his feet again and righted his stool, nodding and wordlessly taking the marker cap from her fingers before sitting back down in his seat. He didn't look up at her as he slowly began highlighting the page of his textbook again and Amber blinked in confusion.

She glanced around the room and caught the eye of Danny Mahealani, who was sitting directly behind Stiles. He was already watching her and Stiles with an amused grin and when she gave him a questioning look, he shook his head and turned back around to face his own table again.

Weird.

At the end of the school day, Stiles rushed up to Amber and slammed his body into the open door of her locker. He gripped the metal before it could smash into the girl and moved to stand beside it.

"Scott is being painfully unhelpful and we need to figure out what exactly Lydia saw." He said quickly as she shuffled her books around, "Where is she, anyway?"

Amber shrugged, "She was really shaken up last night. I think she stayed home for the day, but she hasn't been responding to any of my texts." She explained, zipping up her backpack and pulling it over her shoulders.

"Well, we should go to her house and talk to her, then." Stiles said simply.

"I- Yeah, I mean- I was going to-" She paused when she caught his eye, deciding against telling Stiles her plans for the afternoon.

Stiles raised his eyebrows at her sudden silence and she sighed quietly, closing her locker, "No, we should definitely go see Lydia." She agreed.

When the two arrived at the Martin house, Lydia's mom answered the door with a smile, "Amber, sweetheart." The woman pulled her into a hug, "It'll be so good for Lydia to see you. She's been holed up in her room all day."

"Yeah," Amber agreed, pulling back from the embrace, "We just wanted to check on her."

As if she hadn't noticed him until that moment, the woman's eyes caught on the boy standing beside Amber, "Oh!" She said, "And who's this?"

"Uh, I'm Stiles." He said with an awkward wave.

"Well," Mrs. Martin said simply after a moment, "Let's get you two inside then."

The three climbed the stairs to Lydia's bedroom and Mrs. Martin knocked softly on the closed door, pushing it open and poking her head in as she spoke, "Honey, Amber and Stiles are here to see you."

Lydia was laying across the bed on her stomach in a beautiful but revealing blue nightgown, examining her fingernails distractedly. Her strawberry blonde hair was long and loose, falling messily around her, and when she looked up, her eyes looked drunkenly distant.

Amber pulled Stiles through the doorway by his hand as Lydia blinked, "What the hell is a styles?" She asked in sleepy confusion.

Mrs. Martin laughed awkwardly behind them, clasping her hands together, "She, uh, took a little something for her nerves," She told them as she began to pull the door closed behind her, "I'll just, I'll leave you three-"

"Thanks." Stiles told her as Amber pulled him over to the bed.

"What are you doing here?" Lydia asked, turning onto her side and exposing her chest as she focussed her attention on Amber.

"We wanted to make sure you were okay." Amber told her softly, moving to sit beside the girl and combing her friend's red hair back from her face with her fingers.

"Really?" Lydia asked, glancing at where Stiles was still standing beside the bed, "Both of you?"

"Yes, both of us," Amber told her, tugging Stiles down to sit beside her harshly and causing him to land very nearly in her lap, "We were both worried about you today."

"How're you feeling?" Stiles asked, looking at the redhead on the other side of Amber.

Lydia propped herself up on her elbow, leaning into Amber's hand in her hair for a moment like a cat who was enjoying being petted. The redhead then came closer until her forehead rested in the center of Amber's chest, Lydia's face pressed against the place where the fabric of Amber's low cut shirt revealed her cleavage.

Lydia spoke softly into Amber's skin, "I feel.. Fantastic." She slurred as Stiles watched them with wide eyes and huffed an awkward laugh.

Amber looked down at the girl in surprise and Lydia leaned back from her place between the brunette's breasts to settle a hand on her thigh instead. Amber looked over at Stiles with wide eyes of her own and saw the matching look of shock on his face.

Stiles suddenly reached around both girls to grab a little orange prescription bottle from the bedside table before examining the label. Amber leaned close, peering down at the plastic in Stiles' hands and reading the dosage of Lorazepam the doctor had prescribed.

"Lydia, your dose is only half a tablet to start, how much did you take?" Amber asked, pulling the bottle out of Stiles' fingers.

"Mm, I took two." Lydia said dreamily.

Amber shook her head in concern for her friend. Lydia was so hopped up on her medication, she was almost completely out of it.

Stiles looked at the redhead for a moment before a small smile pulled at his lips, "I bet you can't say 'I saw Suzy sitting in a shoeshine shop' ten times fast."

Amber laughed quietly, placing the bottle back on the table, "Stiles, I couldn't say that ten times fast."

Lydia leaned forward with a determined look on her face, "I saw Shuzy-" She started.

"Ah-" Stiles interrupted quietly with a grin.

Lydia sighed, eyes moving to Amber as she started again, "I shaw-" She said, her smile slowly fading until she flopped back down onto the bed heavily, "I saw."

"What?" Stiles asked.

Amber leaned closer, resting her hand on Lydia's arm, "Lydia, babe. What did you see?" She asked gently.

"Something." Lydia said distractedly.

"Something like-" Stiles prompted, resting a hand on Amber's thigh as he leaned closer, "A mountain lion?" He asked.

"A mountain lion." Lydia agreed with a small nod.

"Are you sure you saw a mountain lion?" Stiles asked.

"-Or are you just saying that because that's what the police and I said." Amber finished.

Lydia continued to stare at the wall at the side of the bed, "A mountain lion." She repeated.

Stiles reached around the two girls to grab a small stuffed giraffe from the bedside table, holding it out in front of his chest, "What's this?" He asked her.

Lydia turned to face the both of them again and looked at the stuffed toy in Stiles' hands, blowing a clump of hair out of her face before answering, "A mountain lion."

"..Okay," Stiles said slowly, putting the animal back where he found it and flopping down to sit beside Amber again, "She is so drunk."

Just as quickly as the words left his mouth, Lydia dropped her head into Amber's lap and nuzzled her face into the girl's stomach.

"Um.." Amber laughed quietly at their current position as the redhead reached an arm past Amber to place a hand at the top of Stiles' thigh.

Stiles gasped out a surprised breath and when Amber looked over to see what was wrong, her eyes caught on the spot where Lydia's fingers were resting on Stiles' upper thigh, just along the inner seam of his jeans.

Amber took pity on him and reached out to move the offending hand, but when her fingers settled over the top of Lydia's, Stiles made another choked noise, his mouth dropped open and he leaned back, clenching his eyes shut tight. At his shaky breath, Amber quickly removed their hands from where they'd both  been clearly violating him.

"Sorry." She told him quietly, "..Are you ready to leav-"

"I gotta pee." Stiles said urgently, standing from the bed and turning his back to the two girls. He stumbled and tripped over his own feet as he headed in the direction of the door.

"I- The bathroom is across the hall-" Amber told him as he rushed from the room, "Well. You, he finds attractive," She told her unconscious friend quietly with a frown, "But then, don't we all?" Amber combed her fingers through Lydia's hair for another moment before sighing, "Alright, Lyds. We should really get going." She lifted Lydia's head from her lap and the girl pouted sleepily.

"Stay." She told her, sitting up straighter and reaching out to touch Amber's cheek, "Stay-" Lydia leaned closer and her green eyes traced slowly over her friend's face before cupping Amber's other cheek and holding her face softly between her hands. Lydia's thumb trailed down to brush over Amber's lip and she pulled it from where the brunette had it nervously pinched between her teeth, "Please?"

"Lyds, I-" Amber started nervously.

Lydia tilted her head forward and brought their mouths closer until their lips brushed together softly. Amber froze found her heart beating loudly in her ears at the barely there touch of lips.

"Oh for the love of-" Stiles' voice cut in loudly in distress.

Amber flinched and jumped back from the bed like she'd been burned. She watched as Lydia flopped down onto the mattress as if nothing had happened and snuggled into the pillows sleepily.

A moment of silence passed.

"Not. A word." Amber said quietly, lifting an accusing finger at the boy whose mouth had already been opening to say something.

Stiles raised his arms in surrender and Amber shook her head, her eyes caught on where Lydia's cell phone was sitting on the bedside table. She remembered how the redhead hadn't returned any of Amber's messages and wondered if it needed to be charged.

She took a step closer and picked up the phone, surprised when it immediately unlocked to display Lydia's camera roll. A video began to play automatically and Amber squinted at the dark grainy footage, her stomach dropping when she realized it was the moment that the Alpha had jumped through the front window of the video store. She paused it just as the creature broke through on the screen and gulped as she looked at the close-up of the Alpha's wolf-like mouth open in a snarl.

"I- Stiles?" She said in a quiet voice, waving him over.

He moved to stand beside her immediately, "What? What is it?" He asked.

She tilted the phone toward him and showed the frozen image of red eyes that glowed on the dark screen.

"What-? She got a picture of it?" Stiles asked frantically, pulling the phone from her hands.

"A video." Amber corrected quietly.

She took the phone back and texted the video to both Stiles and herself before deleting the file and the evidence of the outgoing messages, gently putting the phone back on the tabletop.

She turned, grabbing Stiles' hand and pulling him along behind her, "Let's go."

Despite the situation with the Alpha and her need to go speak with Derek growing more dire with every passing second — More than anything else, it was the guilt churning away in her gut that affected her the most.

Amber couldn't believe that she'd practically let a drug-delirious Lydia kiss her.

An hour later, Amber stepped off of her bike at the top of the gravel driveway in the preserve and made her way toward what was left of the large covered porch surrounding the Hale house. After a moment's hesitation, she wheeled her bicycle over to the side of the charred house instead of simply abandoning it out front. Once she had stowed her bike in the overgrown weeds and bushes, she climbed the porch and knocked on the chipped, soot-covered red paint of the front door.

The door was pulled open a few seconds later to reveal Derek standing in the entryway, shirtless and covered in a light sheen of sweat. In juxtaposition from the last time Amber had seen his muscled body shining with sweat, the sickly paleness from the week before had been replaced with a healthy looking glow.

"Why are you here?" He asked simply, raising his eyebrows with an unimpressed look.

"Why are you all sweaty?" Amber countered, stepping past him to enter the house. She looked around with barely concealed curiosity, eyes flicking over the room around them.

Unlike the caved-in shell that she knew stood at the back of the house, the front rooms seemed slightly less damaged. Standing in the entryway, she could almost imagine what the house might've looked like before it burned but regardless, Amber didn't much like the idea of Derek holed up in the ruins of the home where his whole family had burned alive.

Derek didn't respond to her evasive question, but he closed the front door and came to stand by the staircase in front of her, leaning back against the banister and crossing his arms over his chest as he waited for an answer to his own initial question.

"I wanted to check and make sure you were doing okay after last week-" She started. When Derek only proceeded in raising his eyebrows as if he didn't quite believe her, she carried on with a small sigh, "..And also I wanted to know if you figured anything else out about the Alpha. Scott's information distribution skills are crap at best and that thing could've killed me last night, but it didn't.. I want to know why, and also how we're planning to get rid of it for good."

Derek sighed, "First off, you are not going to be doing anything, even if I do come up with a plan. You are going to try to stay out of all this, like I told you before. Just because it left you and your friends alive last night, doesn't mean you'll be so lucky next time."

Amber took a step forward and opened her mouth to speak but he continued on.

"You can't keep coming around, alright? The hunters don't know about Scott yet, but they do know about me. If someone sees you hanging around, you're going to have more than just the Alpha to watch out for. I don't need you to be worrying about me."

Amber tore her eyes away from him to focus on the dust that covered the dark hardwood floors, "Someone should." She muttered under her breath.

"I don't need anybody to worry about me. I can take care of myself."

"But that's just it, Derek. I don't think you should have to go through all of this on your own. I want to help-"

"I don't need your help," He said simply, "I need you to not get yourself killed."

Amber's face scrunched in frustration and she sighed loudly, "Well, I don't want you to-"

Derek suddenly stepped forward and pressed the palm of his hand to her lips, his other hand coming up to cup the back of her head to ensure she didn't move away. His eyes were squinted in concentration as he looked toward the front door and Amber recalled the way he'd done something similar when he'd been listening to Argent's vehicles approaching at the gas station.

Amber made a small, questioning noise and his eyes snapped back down to her. His green eyes met her hazel ones and before she could take a breath, he had wrapped an arm around her waist and had begun to drag her down the hallway, her feet barely touching the floor as they moved. When they reached a small closet beneath the staircase, he pulled open the door and shoved her to crouch inside.

"Listen. I mean it- Do not say a word, d'you understand? I don't care what you hear or see, you stay put and you stay quiet."

"Der-" She squeaked nervously.

"Not a sound." He told her, quickly shutting the slatted closet door and moving back a few steps further into the house.

The small storage closet wasn't much of a hiding space. There was a ten inch hole in the wall to her left that gave her a decent view through to the living room and the door was shutters instead of solid wood.

Amber leaned as far away from the hole as she could in an attempt to hide herself from view, peering through the slats to see what Derek was doing only to find that he seemed to have disappeared.

Amber had only just placed one of her hands on the wall to maintain balance in her crouched position when the front door to the house burst open with a crash. She flinched hard at the loud sound of the shattering wood but managed to hold back any noise of her own as two men and a woman entered the house. One of the men held a large black gun in both hands, turning with it slowly as if ready to open fire at any moment.

"No one home?" The man with the gun asked, shuffling around as he looked around the house.

"Oh, he's here," The woman grinned playfully, "He's just not feeling particularly hospitable."

"Maybe he's out," The second man started. Amber thought he looked more like a nineties boyband reject when compared to the dangerous aura the other two held, "Burying a bone in the backyard."

"Really?" The woman asked him in disappointment, "A dog joke? We're going there and that's the best you've got?" The three moved a bit deeper inside the house as she continued, "If you wanna provoke him, say something like, 'Too bad your sister bit it before she had her first litter,'" She smiled and raised her voice, "'Too bad she howled like a bitch when we cut her in half!'"

Amber raised a hand to covered her mouth and muffle a gasp. She heard Derek growl loudly from the other side of the house, followed by a scream that had to have come from the boybander who'd been outside of her field of vision. Derek must've thrown the man to the front of the house because his body landed in the front hall with a loud thump.

She watched as Derek jumped up and swung from the doorway, hitting the man with the gun in the chest with a hard kick that sent him flying to the back of the living room. Derek rose to his feet and snarled at the woman standing in the center of the room. He charged at her and the woman pulled a baton from her back pocket, whipping it out and extending its length with an electrified zapping noise. She thrust it into Derek's naked side as soon as he was close enough and Amber watched in horror as he dropped to the floor in pain.

Derek writhed on the ground, rolling onto his side and releasing small noises of discomfort. Amber bit her lip to the point of pain, her jaw trembling as she was forced to watch Derek's body tense and twitch from the shock of electricity.

"Wow," The woman stated, stepping closer and circling Derek on the floor as she examined him, "This one grew up in all the right places." The woman watched with a smile as Derek recouperated slightly and got his hands underneath him, "I don't know whether to kill it, or lick it."

Amber's heart clenched in both fury at the women's words, and pity as Derek weakly dragged himself along the dusty floor in an attempt to put distance between himself and the woman standing above him. The electric baton zapped threateningly at his back a couple of times as the woman followed behind him with a smile.

Derek tried to pull himself up with the help of the sofa in the corner of the room and the woman shocked him again with a jab to the stomach. Derek flew back several feet from the jolt and his body twitched, muscles tightening with the after effects.

Amber pressed her hand tighter to her mouth to stifle a sound and her eyes welled up with tears as the woman laughed joyfully at Derek.

"Ah, nine hundred thousand volts," The woman grinned, examining the baton in her hand, "You never were good with electricity, were you? Or fire." She laughed again.

Amber took a quiet trembling breath and she watched through the blur of her tears as Derek slowly pulled himself away again, his legs dragging behind him limply.

"-Which is why I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. And, well, maybe we can help each other out." The woman sat on the end of the sofa and looked down at Derek as he took a shaky breath and continued to crawl across the floor, "Yes, your sister was severed into pieces and used as bait to try and catch you.. Unpleasant." She tutted, "And, frankly, a little too Texas Chainsaw Massacre for my taste, but quite true." She laughed again, "Now, here's the part that might really kick you in your balls — We didn't kill her."

Derek finally pulled himself up into a seated position at the end of the room and leaned against the wall. He glared up at the woman as the muscles in his body continued to tremble.

"You think I'm lying?" The woman asked, her eyes wide in faux surprise.

"Wouldn't be the first time." Derek choked out as his body shook.

"Sweetie," The woman said the word mockingly, coming to stand at the end of the room and crouching down in front of him, "Well, why don't you just listen to my heart and tell me if I am, okay?" She leaned into his space until she could speak directly into his ear, "We. Didn't. Kill. Your. Sister.. D'you hear that? No little blips or upticks. Just the steady beat of the cold hard truth."

Amber took another large shaky breath in through her nose, the exhale puffing out over the backs of her fingers where they covered her mouth. Her calves and thighs were beginning to ache from crouching in the cramped broom closet for so long and the resigned look on Derek's face made her chest feel tight.

The woman's lips spread into an eerie grin as she rose to stand above Derek, "They found bite marks on your sister's body, Derek. What d'you think did that? A mountain lion?" She laughed, "Why aren't we helping each other out? You might as well admit what you've been guessing all along which is; The Alpha killed your sister." She stated unsympathetically with a tilt of her head, "All you have to do is tell me who he is and we'll take care of it for you. Problem solved. Everybody goes home happy."

The woman paused with a smile, as if waiting for a response. Derek took slow even breaths but didn't respond to her, his eyes cast down to the dusty floor.

"Unless.." The woman said with a look of surprise, "You don't know who he is either." She chuckled in astonishment, shaking her head, "Wow. Guess who just became totally useless?"

As quickly as the question left her mouth, the woman pulled out a large gun that Amber hadn't even realized she'd been holding. Derek rolled to the side and dashed out of the way just as the woman pulled the trigger, releasing a rapid-fire stream of bullets.

Amber muffled a frightened noise with the hand over her mouth and Derek ran through the front door and out of the house, avoiding the area near the hall closet to protect the girl from getting caught in the line of fire.

The moment that Derek was gone, the woman sighed woefully and dropped the gun to her side. She made her way over to the men she'd brought with her, giving each of them a swift kick and ordered them to get up. Both men groaned in pain but did as she instructed, pulling themselves to their feet slowly.

"Well, that was a bust." The woman said in disappointment.

"What if Chris finds out we disobeyed him and came here?" One of the men asked, brushing himself off as the group slowly made their way to the front door.

"He won't." The woman told them, "And besides, we didn't kill him. Just.. Played with him a little."

Amber leaned toward the hole in the wall to watch them leave and waited, taking slow shaky breaths. She counted to three hundred before easing open the closet door and cautiously stepping out. Her hands trembled as she took careful steps toward the front door and when she reached the open doorway, she looked around the property warily, checking to be sure they were truly gone.

Both hearing and seeing nothing, she let out an anxious breath she'd been holding.

It was entirely possible that Derek had been on to something when he told her it was dangerous for her to keep coming around.

It didn't mean that she planned to listen to him — Just, it was possible that he wasn't totally incorrect.

"Hey, it's me again-" Amber said into her phone after going straight to Stiles' voicemail for the third time, "Look, I don't know if you're ignoring me because you're mad that I ditched you earlier or if you're on another call or what. Just-" Amber sighed, flopping down onto her bed, "I don't know if Scott's talked to you but I still can't get a hold of him. So, anyway, I'm going to go to the parent-teacher thing with Jason. Gonna see if I can talk to him there." She told Stiles through the tiny speaker, "Right. Just, call me or text me when you get this. Bye."

There was a sudden loud knocking and Amber flinched in surprise as her bedroom door was pushed open, sitting up in bed to find her brother standing in the doorway.

"Hey, you about ready to head out?" He asked her.

"Yeah, let me just grab a sweatshirt." She told him, walking over to the closet and pulling out a large gray hoodie that had almost definitely belonged to Stiles at some point.

"You know you don't even have to go to this thing, right? Your grades are really good." Jason pointed out with a raised eyebrow.

Amber pulled the zip-up sweatshirt on over her tank top and brushed past him to head downstairs, "I know. But Scott has to go. I wanna talk to him about something and he's not answering his phone."

"Alright," Jason conceded as they reached the front door, "But I guess if you're coming with, I might as well show you now-"

"Show me what?" Amber asked in confusion, following him outside.

Instead of heading toward the old pickup truck that was parked on the side of the driveway, he led her to the closed garage door. Amber's heart thumped nervously in anticipation as she watched her brother pull open the large rolling door. When the garage door went up and out of the way, it revealed an absolutely hideous AMC Pacer — nearly identical to the one their dad had purchased in the seventies and had still owned when the two of them were kids. It was a ridiculous sunshine yellow and the metal was lightly rusted at the bottom and it looked so much like the one that their dad had driven them around in for the first several years of her life.

"Oh, my god." Amber finally choked out.

Her eyes welled with tears at the memories that cropped up of their dad picking them up from school. The memories of their mom complaining loudly about how much she hated the ugly car and the way things were always falling out of the backseat because, for some reason, the passenger door was built different from the one on the driver's side. The memories of Jason sitting in the back beside her and reading a comic book, flipping it around as he finished each page to show his sister his favorite parts.

Amber took a shaky breath, "It looks just like dad's."

"It is dad's," Jason revealed, stepping up behind her and putting a hand on the back of her head, "Or, it was. He sold it to that older couple over on Beacon Lake, remember?" When she nodded weakly he continued, "Well, turns out they're both eighty now and the husband finally lost his license. He sold it back to me for almost nothing."

"You bought dad's car back?" Amber finally pulled her eyes away from the vehicle and turned to face her brother.

"Yeah, bud. It's yours, if you want it."

"I want it," She said quickly, her head snapped back and forth between Jason and the car, "I want it. Oh my god."

Her brother laughed, pulling a small keychain out of his pocket and handing it to her, "It's yours."

She took the keys with wide eyes, her hands shaking as she gripped them tight.

"It's manual, though. So, you're gonna need to practice driving stick shift." He warned her.

"Stiles tried to teach me in the Jeep once," She told him, "I did okay, I think."

"Alright, well, why don't you drive us to the school and we'll see how good of a teacher your friend Stiles is." Jason grinned, walking to the driver's side door and holding it open for her.

Amber bit down on her lip and made a small excited noise, ducking into the car and onto the stained tan seat, sliding behind the wheel. Her fingertips traced over everything she could see; the ancient radio knobs, the cigarette lighter, the gear shift behind the steering wheel, the speedometer that only reached ninety miles an hour.

She was going to drive her car to the parent-teacher conferences, track down Scott, and figure everything out.

When Amber finally located Ms. McCall outside of the school, the woman was standing by herself, watching the parking lot like a hawk, and Amber deflated slightly as she approached.

"No Scott yet?" Amber asked.

"Have you talked to him?" Ms. McCall asked immediately, checking the phone in her hand as if it might've gone off without her noticing, "I should be in there already but I can't get a hold of him."

Amber attempted a reassuring smile, "I'm sure he'll be here any minute. I'll wait for him out here and I'll send him in the second I see him." She promised.

Scott's mom looked like she wanted to argue, but then she watched the last of the other parents trickle into the school and sighed, "Okay. But, send him straight in. I mean it, Amber."

"I'll send him straight in," Amber promised, "I'll even give him a kick in the ass for being late."

Ms. McCall cracked a smile before agreeing and heading inside as the doors were closing behind the final group of adults.

Amber sat down on the stairs outside the building, bouncing her knee impatiently as she waited for Scott to show up. She sat restlessly, fiddling with the strings on her hoodie and shaking her leg in anticipation. She waited for over an hour, eventually turning sideways to lean back against the cement that held the guard rail.

As more time passed, she began to lose hope. Her stomach dropped sadly when she heard the school doors creak open again after nearly two hours. Parents filed back out of the building and at the front of the pack, she spotted Mr. Argent and a woman she figured had to be Allison's mom.

"Allison. Answering your cell phone will make discussing the terms of your grounding much easier." Amber heard Allison's dad say angrily into his phone, "Well, call me back before your punishment reaches Biblical proportions."

"Kate hasn't heard from her either," Mrs. Argent told him worriedly as they descended the stairs.

Amber scrambled to her feet as the couple reached where she was and winced at the chill in her backside from sitting on the cold ground for so long, sighing at the realization that Scott was still with Allison.

Ms. McCall put a hand on Amber's shoulder as she passed and the woman went to stand in front of the Argents at the bottom of the staircase, "Excuse me, you're not Allison's parents, are you?" She asked, "I'm Scott's mom, and I hate to say it, but he's not answering his phone either."

"You're his mother?" Chris Argent said judgmentally.

Amber took a defensive step forward to stand beside Ms. McCall but the woman responded before she could cut in, "Funny, how you say that like it's an accusation."

"Well, I wouldn't claim it as a source of pride since he basically kidnapped my daughter today." He said gruffly.

"Hey-" Amber said in anger, quieting when Mrs. McCall put a hand on her shoulder.

"How do we know skipping school wasn't your daughter's idea?" She asked defensively.

Mr. Argent glared, "My daughter-" He started loudly, cutting off as he caught sight of something behind them and sighing, "-Is right there."

Ms. McCall immediately turned and rushed toward the parking lot. Amber caught sight of her brother exiting the school and she held up a hand in signal for him to give her a minute, when he nodded and pulled out his phone, she turned to follow behind Scott's mom with wide eyes.

"Where exactly have you been?" Amber heard Ms. McCall yell as the girl approached the group.

"Nowhere, mom." Scott responded quietly.

"Nowhere meaning, 'not at school,'" His mom clarified angrily.

"I- Kinda." He told her.

"It's not his fault," Allison defended, "It's my birthday and we were-"

The girl was cut off when her dad reached them and pointed sternly to the back of the parking lot, "Allison. In the car."

Suddenly, there was a shrill scream from the other side of the parking lot and Amber's stomach dropped, immediately looking at Scott with wide eyes. He met her gaze with a matching expression of uneasiness.

People quickly began yelling and rushing around the parking lot, proceeding to get more frantic as the seconds passed. No one was sure what was happening, but fear spurred them on and people rushed to their cars, some tearing out of the parking lot quickly to get away from an unseen threat.

Scott began to wander away from the group and Amber followed behind him with a hand gripping his jacket, "Is the Alpha here?" She asked quietly.

"I don't know." He told her, tilting his head as he listened through the chaos around them.

Another scream sounded out loudly above the murmuring shouts and Amber flinched, releasing Scott from her hold. When she heard her name being called, she spotted Jason standing at their yellow car on the other side of the lot and he waved to her urgently but she held up her hand again, pleading with him to give her another minute.

There was a growl in the distance and Amber flinched again at the sound, though it didn't resemble the one she remembered from the night before. In the mayhem, she realized that she'd lost Scott, her friend no longer beside her, and she wandered forward, eyes alert as she searched for him.

"Allison!" Amber heard him yell from several yards away.

Amber rose onto her toes to watch as Scott pulled Allison out of the way of a car that was barreling through the parking lot, managing to save her only a second before she would have been hit.

Amber's heart thumped painfully beneath her ribs with adrenaline and the yelling around her only seemed to get louder with each second that passed.

There was another animalistic growl, louder this time, closer, and Amber gasped and spun around as she heard whatever it was dash past where she was standing between two parked cars. When she looked up, she spotted Sheriff Stilinski standing just to the other side of the vehicle beside her.

"Move!" He yelled at the group that was forming around the parked cars as he went to head in the direction the animal had gone.

Amber ran forward in time with her friend's father. As they reached the back of the car, she noticed the tail lights come on and her eyes went wide, reaching out toward Stiles' dad and giving him a small shove just as the car tore out of the spot in reverse and backed into her. She was slammed back several feet and down onto the pavement but the car managed to come to a stop before it could run her over entirely.

"Amber!" Mr. Stilinski yelled worriedly, "What were you thinking, kid? You okay?"

There was another loud growl in the distance and Amber's heart beat loudly in her ears while Stiles' dad grabbed her with one hand in hers and another on her waist as he pulled her to her feet.

Her elbow hurt from the fall and her left hip throbbed painfully where the car had rammed into her, but she didn't feel any serious injuries, "I-I'm fine." She told him breathlessly.

The man's eyes flicked back and forth between her hazel ones before he nodded and stepped back, looking around them at the ever growing chaos. Amber watched him reach down toward his shoe and pull a small gun from a holster he had hidden beneath his jeans at his ankle.

Just as quickly as he'd pulled out his weapon, there were two loud echoing gunshots from the other side of the parking lot. Mr. Stilinski covered Amber's head with his hand and pushed her down for cover as the girl let out a quiet yelp in fear.

A few moments later, Jason sprinted up to them and pulled Amber toward him. When his hand pushed on her hip she cried out at the tender spot and his eyes widened further, "What happened? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I-"

"She got hit by a car." Mr. Stilinski told him over her head.

"What!" Jason asked frantically, "We should go to the hospital-"

"We don't need to go to the hospital. They just bumped me, I'm fine." She assured both men, looking between them, "I'm probably getting a bruise already, but I'm fine." She focussed on Jason, "But the gunshots- What-"

"The mountain lion," Jason told her, "It was wandering around the parking lot and someone shot it."

"I- A mountain lion?" She asked in surprise.

"Yeah," He said, "Probably the same one that killed that guy and scared you last night."

Amber looked between the men, seeing the relief on her brother but a look of confused disbelief on Mr. Stilinski that she was sure matched her own. Before she could say anything else, Jason thanked Stiles' dad for his help and pulled her under the safety of his arm, guiding her back toward the car.

"I feel like this should go without saying, but I don't think you should drive the car for a couple days," Her brother told her as they reached the yellow vehicle, directing her toward the passenger side with a gentle push.

Amber sighed but nodded, wincing when she bumped her sore elbow as she climbed into the car.

As her brother drove them home, she couldn't help but think how unlikely a coincidence it was for a mountain lion to wander into town and get killed while the Alpha remained conveniently out of sight.

Amber clicked Stiles' contact to call him the second she closed her bedroom door. She propped the phone in the crook between her shoulder and her ear as she attempted to peel off her tight jeans painfully. She was pulling on a tiny pair of shorts that had a loose waistband as he picked up.

"Amber, hey!" Stiles said casually, "Sorry I didn't get your calls earlier, I was trying to get a hold of Scott."

He sounded normal, which meant his father most likely hadn't gotten home to talk to him yet. Amber sighed as she sat at her desk and pulled out the Algebra II homework she'd yet to start.

"Don't worry about it." She paused, gnawing on her lower lip.

"So, did you talk to Scott at the parent-teacher thingy?" Stiles asked her after a moment.

"Uh, yeah, kind of," She said, "We, uh, didn't really get much of a chance to talk before all hell broke loose though."

"Hell? What hell?" Stiles asked, "What happened?"

"Mountain lion." She told him, "An actual mountain lion this time. It just showed up in the parking lot and everyone was screaming and panicking and it was... Insane."

Stiles seemed to have too much he wanted to say, releasing a series of small aborted noises on the other line before he spoke, "Wh- Well, what happened?"

"Well, everyone was running around terrified. It was just stalking between cars and growling and then your dad almost got hit by a car-" Stiles released a horrified noise and she continued quickly, "He didn't get hit." She reassured him before adding in a quiet voice, "I did."

"What! Amber I sw-"

"I'm fine!" She said for what felt like the hundredth time in the past twenty-four hours, "Apparently Chris Argent shot the mountain lion, and after that everyone kind of calmed down and we all went home."

"Okay, we can circle back to the mountain lion- You got run over by a car?" Stiles asked her frantically.

"I was not 'run over' by a car," She said with an eye roll, "I was clipped. Tapped. Grazed, if you will."

"You were grazed by a car?" Stiles repeated disbelievingly.

"Yes. I was." Amber confirmed.

"And where the hell was Scott when you were being grazed by said car?" Stiles asked in annoyance.

"He was on the other side of the parking lot. He barely pulled Allison out of the path of another car- I told you, everyone was panicking." Amber explained before sighing, "Anyway, I have a doctor's appointment first thing in the morning so I might miss the beginning of English- I'm not sure yet. I'm hoping it won't take long."

Stiles groaned, "A doctor's appointment? I thought you were only tapped?"

"I was tapped!" She defended, "I couldn't talk Jason out of it though. It was like, his one stipulation for allowing me to go to school tomorrow at all."

She heard Stiles sigh as she mindlessly solved a problem to find the vertical asymptotes of the function in her textbook. When she finished solving the equation and Stiles still hadn't responded, she set down her pencil.

"Look, as much as I appreciate your concern for my well-being, I have like twelve more problems to finish before my Algebra Two homework is done." She told him, "I'm gonna shut my phone off for the night, but I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"I- Yeah, alright." He agreed reluctantly, "Talk to you tomorrow."

"G'night." She smiled down the phone.

"Night."

The call ended and she powered her phone down with a sigh, leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes for a moment. There was a quiet noise behind her and she spun in her chair and jerked, nearly falling out of her seat.

"Jesus- Derek!" She exclaimed as she caught herself on the edge of her desk, "What are you doing here?"

Derek was in her bedroom, casually resting against her windowsill like it was a bench. He had put on clothes since she'd seen him that afternoon and he now wore a dark tshirt beneath his leather jacket.

"Well, I came to make sure you were alright after this afternoon. But from what I just heard, Kate wasn't the only one I needed to worry about almost killing you today." He said, raising his eyebrows at the red splotchy skin that poked out from the places where her tank top had ridden up and beneath her tiny shorts.

"It was an accident." She told him defensively, pulling her shirt down over her hip.

"I heard you tell Stiles you were hit by a car at the school." Derek reminded her.

"Grazed," Amber repeated, "I was grazed by a car. And I'm fine."

Derek shook his head at her and seemed to reluctantly drop the subject. He stood from the windowsill and stepped over to her desk, studying the bulletin board hanging above it and eyeing the many photographs of Scott, Stiles, and herself. He looked at them in silence for a minute before he pursed his lips.

"I also wanted to let you know I'm going to try to train Scott." Derek said before turning to face her.

"Really?" She asked excitedly, "Finally! That's great-"

"Try." Derek repeated, "I'm going to try. I don't know if I even can train a bitten werewolf."

Amber nodded, "As long as you both give each other a chance."

Derek nodded, turning toward the window and making to leave again.

"Wait-" Amber called quietly. Derek had one leg out the window and he turned to face her, "Are you okay?" She asked him, "After earlier. That woman-"

"Kate." Derek told her, "Kate Argent. She's Allison's aunt."

"Kate," Amber repeated, "She- She electrocuted you or tased you or something. And the things she said-"

"I'm fine, Amber." Derek said, "I already told you- I don't need you to worry about me."

"That's not going to stop me from doing it." She murmured softly, "I'm pretty sure I'm going to worry about you, regardless."

Derek seemed slightly stunned, still hovering half inside the window. It took him a moment, but he seemed to recover with a small shake of his head, "Just.. Be safe." He told her.

He ducked his head around the open window to leave and jumped to the ground, landing silently in the grass beneath Amber's window.

"You too." She mumbled to the empty windowsill after a few seconds.

[solapurtravelexperia]

Discover Solapur on a budget! Book a cheap rental car for your hotel, enjoy a day of exploration at your pace, and experience hassle-free travel with door-to-door pick-up and drop-off. Find the best car rental rates for a memorable and affordable trip. Your Solapur adventure starts here!

[sisterspooky1013]

What Desire Will Make Foolish People Do, 1/3

Rated X | Read it here on AO3

His best guess is that the guy is an ex-boyfriend. They aren’t too far from Stanford; she could have called ahead and set something up. He doesn’t think she’d pick a guy up at a bar—not that he’d judge her if she did. It just seems unlikely that she’d risk it after what happened last time. 

  Maybe it’s that hippie guy she told him about. The one who had greasy dreadlocks and played guitar. Or maybe it’s one of her former classmates, some guy who’s a brain surgeon at Cedar Sinai or fixes kids’ cleft palates for free out of the goodness of his heart. Someone smart and accomplished. Someone worthy of her time. 

  Scully laughs, high and girlish, and Mulder clenches his fists. His fingernails dig into the meat of his palms and it hurts. The physical pain helps distract from the mental anguish, so he digs them in deeper.

  She’s been on the phone a lot since he told her about their travel plans a few days ago. At first he was worried that she was talking to her doctor, and his lingering fears about her cancer returning kept him awake all night devising new plans to save her life for good. But then he caught a wide, toothy smile on her mouth during one of those calls when she didn’t realize he was watching her, and his stomach dropped out. The good news is, she isn’t dying. The bad news is, her brush with death seems to have inspired her to live her life more fully—with someone else. 

He knows he holds no claim to her, but that hadn’t prevented him from feeling like shit when she turned down his offer to eat dinner together and disappeared into her room the second they wrapped up their fieldwork for the day. He should have gone down to the local bar to drown his sorrows, but, being a glutton for punishment, he stuck around to catch a glimpse of the competition (Tall. Blond. Completely average looking). He watched them get into the guy’s Lexus and drive off, and when they returned a couple hours later he shamelessly peeked through the curtains to see whether she’d kiss him goodnight. The kiss itself was a punch to the gut, but then after several minutes of hushed conversation she invited the guy in, and now Mulder is lying splayed out on his bed listening through paper thin walls as Scully slowly wades into a sexual encounter with someone who probably makes twice as much money as he does and has half as many idiosyncrasies.     

  He knows Scully doesn’t care about stuff like that. She’s not shallow. But it’s more comfortable for him to imagine that she’s chasing rich doctor dick than to confront the fact that she’d rather get her rocks off with some nobody from her past than give him the time of day. He doesn’t blame her—he knows he’s no prize—but still. He���s always kind of thought there was something between them. Something that meant they wouldn’t see other people, even if they weren’t seeing each other. At least that’s how he felt, and the realization that it wasn’t reciprocal hurts in a way he doesn’t know how to process. 

  He hears a low, deep moan from the other side of the wall, and something angry and wounded wells up in him. It’s one thing to hear her feeling good, but knowing that she’s pleasuring another man feels like such a betrayal that tears prick at his eyes. He wants to be angry with her for allowing him to hear this, but he went to great lengths to make her think he’d gone out so he could spy on her, including moving the rental car, turning off all the lights in his room, and ignoring her knock at his door shortly before her “date” arrived. He just wanted to see what the guy looked like, but he’s getting a whole lot more than he bargained for. He hears the snap of her bedside lamp switching off and he gets to his feet, not really allowing himself to think about what he’s doing. 

  He pounds on her door with the side of his fist, his heart blasting in his ears and his jaw clenched. It takes entirely too long for her to answer, though he can hear muffled whispers through the chipped wood and sees a flash of light through the peephole. When she opens the door it’s only wide enough for him to see her face, which is flushed beneath her mussed hair. Her lips are parted and swollen, and she seems out of breath. She looks unkempt and beautiful, and he feels equally relieved and devastated. It’s only after staring at her for a handful of seconds that he realizes he’s going to need to offer some explanation for his abrupt arrival outside her door. 

  “What is it?” she asks, her eyes flashing over her shoulder and giving her away.

  He almost tells her that it’s her mother, but he doesn’t want to make her worry, and honesty is definitely not the best policy in this particular circumstance. 

  “There’s another body,” he blurts out, and her shoulders sink. “Sheriff just called me.”

  “Okay,” she says with a defeated sigh. “Give me ten minutes.” 

  He pulls the car around and watches her door as he waits for her. He doesn’t see the mystery man, but the lights in her room are still on when she emerges thirteen minutes later and closes the door behind her. He wonders if the guy will wait for her to come back. Lord knows he would. 

  “Where is it?” she asks as she slides into the passenger seat, smelling like toothpaste and hairspray. 

  He looks at her while she buckles her seatbelt and pulls down the visor to check her makeup in the mirror. She’s wearing jeans and a blue T-shirt with her suit jacket thrown on over top, and he wonders how far they got before he interrupted them. In his experience, the woman’s shirt is always the first to go, and he has an image of her topless against the ugly motel bedspread, her nipple perched between the mystery man’s lips. His cock stirs and he blinks the thought away, disturbed by his own bodily response. As he’s interrogating how he could possibly get turned on by thinking about her with another man, he realizes that she’s staring at him, waiting for an answer. 

  “By the river,” he says, putting the car in reverse and backing away from their rooms and the scene of Scully’s almost-indiscretion. 

  She doesn’t ask any other questions, and he certainly doesn’t offer additional information seeing as how he doesn’t have any to give. He’s not even sure if there’s a river in this area. He just drives, mentally mapping how far they are from their point of origin so he doesn’t get lost. The longer they drive, the more panicked he becomes about how to get himself out of this situation. He doesn’t want to take her back to the motel, but he also doesn’t have a body to show her. To his own shame, he makes a Hail Mary plea to the universe that there’s another murder just so he has a reason to keep her in the field. 

  “Mulder,” she says after a time. 

  Her tone carries the hint of a question, but there’s an undercurrent of accusation that only he could possibly detect. He swallows and decides to accept his fate. This situation probably can’t get any better, but it can definitely get worse. 

  “Yeah?” he rasps through a tight throat.

  “Where are we going?”

  The question has a singsong quality that makes the hair on the back of his neck stand up. It’s how she talks to him when she’s preparing to hand him his own ass. He pulls off on the side of the road and kills the engine, then stares straight ahead through the bug-smeared windshield as she bores a hole in the side of his face with her eyes. 

  “Are we lost?” she asks derisively, like he’s a stupid child. 

  “No, we’re just a couple miles off the main drag,” he answers flatly. 

  “So where’s the river?”

  “Not sure if there is one.”

  A pause. 

  “And the body?”

  “Not sure if there’s one of those, either.”

  He can’t bring himself to look at her, but he doesn’t really need to. He can feel the shifting energy in the car as she works through confusion, suspicion, realization, and then something else that he can’t quite read. The windows are slowly fogging over and he realizes just how sufficiently he’s trapped himself. There’s no obvious way forward. 

  “Why did you knock on my door, Mulder?” she asks. She sounds afraid of what the answer is. 

  “I’m sorry, Scully,” he tells her, dropping his head to stare at his own lap. “I just couldn’t take it anymore.”

  “Take what?” There’s so much trepidation in her voice that he starts to feel guilty instead of worried about what she’s going to do to him. 

  “Hearing you—” he starts, then stops. “That guy. I just…I couldn’t.”

  The silence is so thick he starts to become lightheaded. He can’t look at her, can’t allow the image of whatever face she’s making right now to be imprinted on his brain. He hears her breathing pick up into quick, heavy breaths that could mean tears or rage, and he waits to find out what happens. To him. To her. To them. Probably, the option of there ever being a “them” is now off the table. 

  “You were listening to me?” she finally asks him, removing any doubt about how she is receiving this information. She’s furious. 

  “Not intentionally,” he defends himself, glancing at her only long enough for his testicles to self-protectively retreat into his body. “The walls are thin.”

  “You weren’t there, Mulder. The car was gone, the lights were off. Did you—did you hear me knock on your door?” 

  “I think it’s best that I don’t answer that,” he says contritely, and she sucks in a huge breath. 

  “What the fuck , Mulder?!” she yells, making him jump. Scully rarely swears, and she’s never sworn at him before. “I am genuinely asking, what the fuck is wrong with you?!”

  He does look over at her then. He can’t believe that she’s talking to him this way. Not because he doesn’t deserve it, but because Scully is always careful with her words. He needs some visual feedback to understand what she’s feeling. Her eyes are wide, nostrils flaring, jaw set. But there are also tears pooling along her lash line, and her bottom lip is trembling. 

  “If I knew the answer to that I would have saved my parents a lot of money on therapy bills,” he quips, inexplicably returning her anger. “It’s not like you were exceedingly discreet, Scully, taking your little secret phone calls all week and then ditching me for the evening. I could have come back at any time, only to walk into my room and be greeted by you getting railed by some Silicon Valley hotshot who hopefully doesn’t give you chlamydia, or worse.”

  Her jaw begins to drop partway through his diatribe, and by the end it’s gaping open in utter disbelief. He immediately wishes he could take it back. He’s not even sure why he’s getting angry at her when he knows he’s the one in the wrong. She collects herself, blinking away tears and regaining composure. He thinks she’s going to ask him to take her back to the motel, but she doesn’t. 

  “I suppose you can’t get sexually transmitted infections from 1-900 numbers, can you, Marty ?” she spits at him, and a flare of shame joins up with his anger. Anger is all he’ll allow himself to feel. The rest hurts too much. 

  “Yeah, well, pathetic as it may be, I find it a bit more noble to get my jollies from a stranger on the phone than sticking it in anyone who happens to be in the same city as me at any given time,” he shoots back. “I mean honestly, Scully, would I have to be the last man on earth? It’s hard not to take it a bit personally.”

  Once again, there is immediate regret. He hadn’t meant to say it, though he’s certainly had the thought many times. He feels her staring at him, but she doesn’t say anything right away. 

  “Let me just make sure I have all the facts straight here,” she says, too-levelly. It feels like a trap. “You knew that I was having someone over, so you tricked me into thinking you weren’t at the motel in order to spy on me, and then you became so enraged when you realized that I intended to have sex with that person that you practically beat my door down and lied to me to get me away from him because…you think I should be having sex with you ?”

  All of what she said is absolutely true, but hearing it laid out in that way makes him sound like a really awful person. At some point he’ll have no choice but to explore the possibility that he is, in fact, exactly that. 

  “I do not think you should be having sex with me,” he corrects her. “I’m simply drawing attention to the fact that you seem inclined to have sex with anyone but me.”

  She laughs and he looks over at her, surprised. Her smile is somewhat crazed, certainly not happy. He suddenly wonders if she might hit him. 

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” she says quite loudly with that same maniacal smile on her face. “Is this a joke? Are you actually sitting here, in this car, right now, telling me that I would have sex with anyone but you?”

  He takes the question to be rhetorical, but when he doesn’t answer she juts her chin out and raises her eyebrows at him. 

  “Is that not accurate?” he asks instead of answering. 

  “Is that not accurate?” she repeats under her breath, turning her face toward the foggy window briefly. “You know what’s accurate, Mulder? I have invited you to spend time with me outside of work on numerous occasions, and you always say no. It’s also accurate that I have been almost embarrassingly flirtatious with you to no effect. It would also be accurate to point out that I practically threw myself at you when we ditched that damn conference so you could go play in the woods, and you ditched me too.” She pauses, and her anger dampens to something closer to frustration. “I would say what’s accurate is that I have done all but directly asked you if you have any interest in…things being different between us, and you have ignored or declined every single advance. That is accurate, Mulder. So forgive me if I find it just a bit hard to understand why you’re acting like I broke your heart and handed you the pieces because I got tired of waiting for you to look up from your case files and decided to live my life. One that I nearly lost, if you recall.”

  He blinks at her, trying to assimilate the information she just unloaded into his mental schema for his and Scully’s relationship. Embarrassingly flirtatious? Threw herself at him? He has no idea what she’s referring to. 

  “Scully—” he tries, but she cuts him off. 

  “Take me back to the motel, Mulder,” she says curtly, turning to face the windshield and crossing her arms over her chest. “Whatever you’re going to say, I don’t want to hear it. I’ve already heard more than enough.”

  He starts the engine and drives until he finds his way back into town. He doesn’t speak, and neither does she. 

Tagging @today-in-fic

[goodlucktai]

run, boy, run

chapter five

natsume yuujinchou pairing: one-sided kitanishi word count: 2k summary: Nishimura has a cursed mark on his arm, a crush on Natsume’s famous idol friend, and a whole lot of brand new problems that start and end with the taboo circle he found. full circle au

read on ao3

x

Satoru keeps looking over his shoulder at Hiiragi, just to make sure she’s still there.

“Watch where you’re walking or you’ll fall, Nishimura,” she says after the third backwards glance, voice low and monotone and still, somehow, entirely reassuring. She’s looking at him, talking to him, and he can hear her.

“No, I won’t,” Satoru argues cheerfully. Natori’s hand on his shoulder steers him around a crack in the pavement before he can prove himself wrong. And he’s still holding a sleeping Nyanko-sensei, so he definitely would have eaten dirt.

They’re south of town, much farther down the highway than Satoru ever has reason to go on his own. Matoba must have had his yokai chauffeur drive them for longer than Satoru realized. He’s pretty sure there’s a gas station nearby, and he thinks this is the road his old elementary school is on, but other than that he’s got nothing.  

Natori’s rental car is parked in a tiny lot outside a Western-style building with a rustic cottage vibe. Satoru expects to be sheparded into the car, but instead Natori leads the way up the brick steps and through the lattice-patterned front door.

The inside is cluttered and cozy, warmed by potted plants on every available surface. A smiling young woman behind the pastry counter encourages them to pick any table they’d like.

There’s an older couple seated in the back corner booth, and a grizzled man reading the paper in a squashy armchair shoved next to a bookshelf overrun with paperbacks and waving cats. Natori guides Satoru to a table by the window, points him into a chair, and then slides over the laminate menu. Satoru remembers, abruptly, that he skipped breakfast and missed lunch.

“Order whatever you like,” Natori says, sounding distracted. “I need to make a few calls. I will be right outside. Okay?”

“Do you want something?” Satoru asks. He settles Natsume’s cat in his lap, relieved when the lucky cat actually stirs a bit and grumbles before tucking himself into a comfortable-looking loaf and going back to sleep.

“No, but Hiiragi has a sweet tooth. Pick her out something with strawberries.”

The shiki makes a noise that could, by generous definition, be considered a scoff. Natori leaves, and the cheerful woman who greeted them by the door takes Satoru’s order for hamburger steak and an ice cream parfait with all the extras. She looks indulgent when he tacks on the dessert and he can’t exactly explain it’s for a ghost.

The ghost in question sinks into the chair across from him only after the employee has dropped off a glass of melon soda and gone again.

“Your friends were very scared for you,” Hiiragi says without preamble. “They’ll be relieved to know that you’re safe.”

Satoru’s heart makes a sudden glad leap. “You saw them?”

“I did. Natsume called Natori-dono this morning when you didn’t arrive at school on time. And your little bird warned them you weren’t safe. You were missed immediately.”

It seems like she’s making a point, and Satoru can’t say he knows why, but he’s grateful all the same. It’s good to know that the whole time he was in Matoba’s dubious clutches, rescue was imminent. It’s really, really good to know that Fish didn’t just fly away in a panic, she flew away to the rescue. 

“Do you know if they told anyone else?” Satoru thinks to ask after a moment.

“Just your brother,” the shiki replies. “Kitamoto informed Natori-dono that he had two hours to find you, after which time he would  also be telling his mother.” If she considers it strange that Satoru’s own mother wasn’t a part of the equation, she keeps it to herself. Yokai probably don’t have strong feelings on humans and their relationships with each other anyway. She does add, “It took Natori-dono an hour and a half. …He was stressed.”

“I bet.”

Kitamoto can be kind of intense. Sure, Natori deals with curses and ghosts and what have you, but that’s nothing on Acchan when he’s in a mood.

Natori doesn’t come back to the table until after Satoru has started eating. He orders a cup of coffee and seems content to sit there for an indeterminate amount of time. Even though he’s busy—living a double-life, with double the work—he makes pleasant conversation with Satoru and teases Hiiragi about her ice cream and does nothing to rush either of them out of the restaurant.

Digging the tines of his fork through the sauce left on his plate, Satoru carefully doesn’t look at anyone in particular when he says, “Um. I didn’t say earlier. Thanks.”

Natori doesn’t speak up right away, and the silence is excruciating, even though it’s only like two seconds long. Satoru rushes to fill it.

“For—you know. You didn’t have to. I know you don’t really—uh, I just meant, thank you.”

Please stop talking! he begs himself.

The coffee cup lands against its saucer with a solid click and Natori’s hand comes to rest on the table between them. Satoru catches the little dart of a lizard tail disappearing up his arm, beneath his sleeve. It’s distracting enough that he almost forgets to be mortified that Natori Shuuichi is giving him his undivided attention. Almost.

“You’re a good kid,” Natori finally says, sounding, somehow, as if he means it. “And you have nothing to thank me for.”

Nyanko-sensei wakes up for real in time to finish the rest of Satoru’s hamburger steak. Natori gives sensei a dirty look, but Satoru is so relieved that he lets him have the fried potatoes and broccoli florets, too.

———

Less than an hour later, Satoru is delivered to the temple doorstep like he’s a Lotteria burger and Natori-san is a very stylish, very single-minded Demae-Can driver.

At around two in the afternoon, anyone who might be happy to see Satoru turn up out of the blue is almost definitely still at school. Satoru is opening his mouth to explain as much when the door rattles open hard enough that it crashes into the wall, and half a dozen voices yell, “Nishimura!”

It's a little funny. The sudden chaos settles something jangly and jittery in his chest that the quiet ride back into town couldn’t. Natori’s hands on his shoulders propel him gently forward and Satoru is folded into the crowd. Nyanko-sensei is lifted from his arms. Kitamoto is there.

He looks paler than he should. His eyes are dry, but red-rimmed, and while he usually greets Natori with a glare for whatever reason, this time he doesn’t seem to see the man at all. He’s staring right at Satoru from the second the door opens. He yanks Satoru into a hug that feels like it could go on for years and years, warm and tight and safe.

For the first time since he left his house that morning, Satoru relaxes fully. He can’t move his arms enough to get them around Kitamoto in turn, so he clutches fistfuls of his best friend’s shirt and sinks against him. He could probably fall asleep standing up right there if they’d just give him about five minutes.

“Come in, please,” Tanuma is saying, his tone equal parts gentle and stressed out. “I’ll make tea.”

Natori helps shuffle the Kitamoto-and-Satoru package into the genkan. The door rattles closed, and Satoru floats through the motions of exchanging sneakers for house slippers, peeling out of his sweaty school jacket and pulling a hoodie over his head instead.

“I know for a fact that you should be in English right now,” is the first thing he says, to Natsume, who looks like he doesn’t know if he wants to hug Satoru or shake him like a terrier would a rat.

“If anyone should have been anywhere, ” Taki says, and lets the statement hang there ominously.

“Shibata will be here by dinner,” is what Natsume settles on saying. He has Nyanko-sensei nestled in one arm, petting him gently with the opposite hand. Sensei’s eyes are slitted, his purr a quiet, rumbly thing. “He’s getting on a train after school.”

“Ogata’s volleyball team is away at a tournament right now, but she’s going to be livid she missed all this when she checks the group chat,” Taki adds.

Tanuma returns to the crowded hall with a tray of tea and glasses, and since he looks like he’s seconds away from a nervous breakdown if he can’t host them properly, everyone finds a place in the living room to sit. There’s one too many cups on Tanuma’s tray, but after the day they’ve had, Satoru doesn't blame him for miscounting. 

Kitamoto doesn’t even pretend like he’s about to let Satoru go anytime in the immediate future, keeping an arm wrapped around him like it belongs there. Satoru, for his part, doesn’t pretend like that’s anything but a comfort. 

A clatter on the engawa is the only warning any of them get before a frantic magpie bursts inside, silent except for the noisy scrabbling of her talons against the floor, wings half-spread, beak ajar.

“There’s my best girl,” Satoru says brightly. “Fish, you’re a hero, you know that? Hiiragi told me what you did. They should write songs about you.”

“satoru,” she cries, hopping across the room with gusto. “the scary human took you.”

“That he did.” Satoru puts the cup down and offers his hands to his bird instead. “But thanks to you, he gave me back.”

With Fish nestled under his ear where she belongs, her warm, slightly oily feathers and rapid little heartbeat against his cheek both a touchstone, Satoru accepts the cup of tea that’s pressed into his hands. He opts to just hold it for a while, breathing in the fragrant steam, shaking off those last, clinging fingers of anxiety.

“Wait,” Taki blurts. “Hiiragi told you?”

Oh, yeah. “There’s been a new development,” Satoru tells the room at large. “I can see yokai without the circle now.”

For a beat, no one moves except to stare at him blankly. Then all heads swivel toward Natori, who only says, with feeling, “It has been a very long day.”

“And it’s only halfway over,” Hiiragi comments plainly. 

Since unpacking the yokai thing is going to be a conversation and a half, Satoru interjects quickly, “Before we get into all that, can we talk about how much trouble I’m in at school really fast?”

Natsume and Taki look too frustrated to speak for the moment, so Tanuma says, “You’re not in trouble, Nishimura. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Refusing to let Tanuma’s whole soft-spoken, gentle self get to him—he was kidnapped today and didn’t cry about it, he’s not going to cry just because his friend is being nice —Satoru replies, “Okay, we know that, but Nomiya-sensei doesn’t.”

“He does,” Tanuma insists.

It turns out that Satoru won’t have after-school suspension after all—because Kiyoshi, in a bizarre, uncharacteristic turn of events, covered for him.  

“Sorry, I forgot to let his homeroom teacher know this morning,” was his brother’s story. He had called the school and lied directly to the principal herself, according to an impressed Taki’s eyewitness account. “He has a stomach bug. Can one of his friends bring by his homework later?”

“We had to call Kiyoshi-niisan when you didn’t show up,” Kitamoto says doggedly. It’s the first thing he’s said since Satoru got here. “I didn’t tell him everything, but I had to tell him something.”

Fish tugs on a piece of his hair with her beak. Satoru leans his head on Kitamoto’s shoulder.

“Acchan knows best,” Satoru says, because that was true even when it wasn’t. Of course, this meant that Satoru owed Kiyoshi the truth, whether he was ready to have that conversation or not, but at worst, he would just think Satoru and his friends were crazy. And he kind of already thought that, so no harm done. “At least that’s future-me’s problem,” he goes on, smiling around at his friends. “He’s taking a mock entrance exam for Kyushu University today, up in Fukuoka. That’ll keep him busy and give me time to spin a story.”

They frown back at him. Even Natori looks over, a crease in his brow.

“You think he still went to Fukuoka?” Taki says slowly.

“Nishimura, you were missing, ” Natsume adds, bemused. “Someone took you right off the street.”

“It sounds bad when you say it that way.” Satoru can feel the twinge in his arm that means the cursed bruises are coming back. His heart rate picks up a little, too, for good measure. “But it’s his mock exam. Mom’s been hounding him about this school for ages. He wouldn’t do anything to mess this one up.”

He wouldn’t let me mess this up for him, is what Satoru doesn’t say out loud. He digs his fingers into the overlarge hoodie he’s wearing, twisting the cuffs all out of shape.

Natsume glances at Natori quickly, concerned. The man sets his tea aside and stands up, moving around the table and then settling tailor-style in front of Satoru and Kitamoto. 

“I think there is a reason your brother studies so hard,” Natori says. “And I think it has very little to do with your mother.” 

“You haven’t met my mom,” Satoru says. It makes Natori crack a smile. 

“I haven’t had the pleasure. But Kiyoshi told me plenty. And while you might think he’s doing everything he can to please her, from where I’m standing, it looks a lot more like he’s doing his best to spite her.”

Natori Shuuichi spoke to Satoru’s brother. They talked about personal stuff. Satoru wants to bury himself under a rock. 

It doesn’t sound like Kiyoshi at all to trash-talk mom in any capacity. He’s her shining up-and-coming med student, bringing home perfect scores and skipping weekend trips and holidays to study. She doesn’t really care about Satoru, but she loves Kiyoshi. He has no reason not to love her back. 

But if his friends are to be believed—and of course they are—then Kiyoshi covered for him today, even without understanding what, exactly, he was covering for. Why would he do that?

Footsteps from further in the temple draw nearer, along with a voice that Satoru would know anywhere. He whips around, spilling tea over his fingers, because that’s his brother’s pissed-off tone, here, in Tanuma’s house, where Satoru and his friends and Natori and the ghosts all are. 

As he gets closer, his words get clearer, until Satoru can make out, “…my problem, remember? Not yours. Please don’t trouble yourself.”

“Nii-san has always had the best timing,” Kitamoto mutters. 

“Kyushu was a compromise, ” Kiyoshi is saying, his voice making it easy to trace his progress down the engawa. “Fukuoka is three hours away, I didn’t want to go to school there in the first place. Kumamoto University is much closer, and it’s a good school. My friends are applying there, too. It’s where I want to go.”

Fish is poking insistently at Satoru’s ear and chin, so he lifts his hands mechanically and moves her down into his lap instead. She busies herself with snapping at the drawstring of his hoodie instead, unbothered by the force of nature headed their way. 

“Um, so he knows some stuff,” Satoru hears himself say weakly. “How much exactly is that?”

“Enough,” Kitamoto says, which explains nothing. 

The porch doors rattle the rest of the way open from where they were cracked, presumably to let nosy spirit birds in and out, and Kiyoshi stands there backlit by afternoon sunlight. It’s impossible to make out his expression. Satoru thinks he’s more nervous now than he was with Matoba. 

“Bye, mom,” Kiyoshi says, and hangs up without waiting for a reply. 

“You wanted to go to Fukuoka,” Satoru blurts before anyone can say anything else. “You made me memorize the train line.”

“That was just in case, brat,” Kiyoshi replies, crossing the room in long strides. Natori moves and Kiyoshi takes his place, looking over first Satoru, then Kitamoto carefully. “I was probably going to throw the mock exam anyway. I was just going today to make mom happy. I’ve been accepted at Kumamoto Uni already. An hour-long commute will be annoying, but it’s better than the alternative. Heaven only knows the kind of trouble you’d get into on your own.” 

“And us,” Taki pipes up. “We know.”

“Right,” Kiyoshi says, sitting back. His expression is no-nonsense, gaze level and boring into Satoru’s. “And now me. Start talking, or I’ll make your life miserable.”

Now that, Satoru thinks, is the first believable thing anyone has said all day.

[karatekels]

Disorderly Conduct - Chapter 2

Sorry this is late, everyone (though technically, me being aaaaall the way on the West Coast means this is still posted on Day 4!) - I've got some unfortunate family stuff that's possibly going to impede my ability to write. But we will soldier on!

Previous Parts:

Part 1

TW: (This chapter) Police corruption, violence

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Chapter 2 - Reconnaissance:

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You grimace as you experiment with your movements; you hated the feeling of wearing a wire taped to your skin. Fortunately, you’ve elected to wear baggy clothes, different from the prim, proper, more form-fitting clothing that people were used to seeing you in, so at least you weren’t restricted by your movements and could (hopefully) adjust the hidden camera and microphone as needed. The platinum blonde wig may be overkill, but you aren’t willing to risk being recognized prematurely.

You were going to figure out what that arrogant, dismissive son-of-a-bitch was up to, before the bastard got himself killed.

You pull up your hood, completing your disguise, and get into your rental car. It was the first of your scheduled days off, and after they ran out you had booked off a week’s vacation, just to be safe. You know that Cash is jumpy and paranoid these days, and you don’t know how long it’ll take for you to find out what he’s up to; you have to move slowly, and you can’t risk spooking him.

You aren’t taking any chances.

You’ve been feeling this strange sense of guilt-ridden giddiness since you started plotting how to do this, going behind the Chief’s back – behind anyone in a position of authority’s back, you think – for the first time in your life.

Ideally, you’d just catch Cash in the act or planning on doing something stupid and then nagging him until he agreed to get his shit together. The recording devices strapped to your body, peeking out from a couple of the button-holes in your shirt, they were just a contingency plan. You weren’t past snitching if it kept the jack-ass alive.

The first several days are simple reconnaissance.

In other words, you sat in the rental car with its tinted windows, your binoculars, and a stash of food, waiting for Cash’s silver pick-up to drive by, leaving the busier part of the city for the backroads. You’d follow him with your binoculars until you couldn’t see the truck anymore, then relocate to that area, slowly inching your way closer to… wherever it was that he was spending all of his time.

On the fourth day, you watch the truck turn down an isolated driveway, waiting awhile until it seemed safe to slowly drive past, looking at the dilapidated building over your shoulder. You make note of the address on the faded mailbox, heading home the long way, doubling back to make sure you weren’t followed.

You take the rental car to the strip mall across the street from the precinct, waiting until you see Cash show up for his night shift. Once he does, you call a cab, getting it to drop you off just down the road from where Cash had been holed up – you couldn’t very well leave a car nearby.

Creeping along the treeline, you don’t see or hear any sign of life in the old house and decide to cautiously approach. Doing a quick perimeter check, you predictably don’t find any points of entry that are accessible.

You’ll have to break in. Fortunately, you were prepared for this sort of thing. Sliding a spare bobby pin out from under your wig, you pick the lock to the front door quickly, slipping inside and re-locking the door behind you.

You’re limiting yourself to using a flashlight rather than risking switching any of the lights on; you didn’t know if Cash had anyone watching the premises, and even though the windows were almost completely boarded up, you didn’t want to risk any light seeping through and alerting somebody to your presence on the property.

The place is a wreck, somehow managing to be both destitute and slovenly. Still, you do your best to case the joint, looking for any sign of what he might be up to, but the place yields no information whatsoever. It’s a simple, one storey rancher, comprised of a kitchen, a small sitting room, a bathroom, a bedroom and a storage room.

What the hell could Cash possibly be doing, spending all his free time in this dump? It certainly wasn’t renovations.

As if on cue, you hear tires on gravel outside, the glow of headlights casting shadows through the wooden planks covering the windows. Peeking out, you recognize Cash’s truck.

Oh, fuck.

Trying not to panic, you dive through the French doors into the storage room, figuring it was the one he was least likely to use, trying to blend in with the random furniture and other assorted crap tossed in here. The doors had been closed when you’d arrived, and you shut them now, grateful for the barrier between you.

The front door opens, and a hazy light comes on in the kitchen. You hear the clinking of bottles being put in the fridge, but Cash is otherwise quiet. He had always moved quietly, despite being such a large person.

Keeping one eye looking through the boarded up doors, you quickly check the time on your flip phone. It wasn’t even two in the morning; his shift shouldn’t have ended until four. What the hell was he doing here?

His own cell goes off, and he answers it before the second ring ends. You press the buttons on your microphone and camera to start recording, just in case; you hope the former doesn’t pick up the thudding of your heart.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, I just got to the house. Thanks for the cover. Good thing there are so many B&Es these days – plenty of opportunities to disappear for a few hours for investigation.”

Cash chuckles at something the caller says, and his long shadow comes into view before he himself does. The sight of his handsome profile, even partly obscured by the wooden planks, sets your heart off. You know that he will be very, very angry if he finds you here, and you didn’t even know what he was up to yet.

“I’m telling you, the place is deserted; not another house for at least a mile in either direction. When I came by earlier today there was one car that drove past. In three hours! It’s the perfect place for the drop.”

You’re fairly certain that it had been your car that he’d seen, and that piece of news makes you feel justified in all of your over-the-top decisions. The rental car, the disguise… you have no doubt Cash would have recognized your car had it driven past, and you’re relieved you took the precautions you had.

“The guy said he’d drop it off in the next 48 hours; I’ll get a call when he’s got a time nailed down. I’ve got the stuff here to weigh and repackage, and then Ray’ll take it to his connection to get it distributed. Once we cut the guy in, we should be making out with 20 grand each, easy. And no one will know about the swap; it’s not like anyone’s testing the drugs once they make it into evidence.”

Well, that sounded an awful lot like he was dealing drugs, however indirectly. And it sounded like more than one other officer was in on it.

“Well, let me know if you hear anything while you’re on duty. Bye.”

There’s a bitter taste of disappointment and anger in your mouth. Cash, a dirty cop? Before his suspension, you would have found the idea completely unfathomable. Now he was stealing drugs from evidence to sell on the street?

You’re almost upset that you’re here, recording this. You’d have to turn him in now – it was your job.

You had been way off in your suspicions about what Cash had been up to; he hadn’t been planning to redeem himself for whatever the hell he’d done last year, but was instead doubling down.

Had he been lying to you the whole time you’d known him? Had you ever actually known him? Or was this just a result of the suspension? Had it messed him up so badly that all sense of duty had abandoned him?

You’re not sure you want the answer.

What you do want is to get the hell out of here, pronto. You’d thought that Cash would be mad if he caught you when you thought he was up to something self-sacrificing, and shudder to think of what he might do if he found you here now.

The idea makes you shudder so hard, in fact, that you jostle one of the knick-knacks off of the shelf you’re crouched against, and it shatters when it hits the floor.

You fight the urge to close your eyes and go to your “happy place”.

There’s a prolonged silence, and then Cash comes around the corner again, this time wearing a ski mask that conceals his face. Well, except for his eyes. His eyes are darting about as he takes in the darkness, a hand on the holster at his hip.

You don’t have your firearm with you; you hadn’t imagined it would be necessary for your well-intentioned intervention.

Before the suspension, Cash had never scared you, despite his size and his ability to go from goofy to intimidating at the drop of a hat. It had come in handy in interrogations, but you’d never had it directed at you.

Since returning from his suspension, his goofy demeanour had disappeared, and you mostly saw him silently brooding around the precinct, but even then you’d still felt confident that he was on your side.

Looking at him now though, as he approaches the doors that you’re hiding behind, you are seeing him for what he is: a terrifying, unpredictable giant of a man, armed (and very capable with a weapon, you knew), and with quite a skewed moral compass, if his prior conversation had been anything to go by.

He opens the doors suddenly, as if to catch you by surprise, and you don’t move.

You don’t even blink.

You watch as his piercing blue eyes scan the room, thankfully leaving the light off – that meant you had a sliver of hope that you wouldn’t be spotted.

But you have no doubt that he’ll be thorough in the search, and you know you’ll have to take any chance you can, the moment you see an opening.

He bends to examine the broken teacup on the ground, and you make your move.

Adrenaline surging through you, you run towards him, bringing your knee up to his nose. Having taken him by surprise, you make contact, and he drops to his knees to clutch at his face with a pained scream, giving you the opportunity to hurtle past him and make for the door.

You only have to get down the hall, to the kitchen. You don’t know what you’ll do once you make it outside, but you’ll cross that bridge when you come to it.

Unfortunately, you never do.

A large hand closes around your ankle as you move to run away, pulling you back in one sharp motion that has you falling down flat, twinging your wrists as you hit the ground hard. You try to kick back with your free leg with a yell, but he’s suddenly on top of you, using his weight to pin you down. The air is knocked right out of you, and you can’t speak.

“Cash,” you choke out, trying to push out any remaining breath in you to help you say his name, but nothing comes out. “Cash!” you huff out desperately, but he doesn’t hear you.

“You picked the wrong house to break into, sweetheart,” he growls, a hand shoving your head down onto the hardwood roughly. He grips your hood, and the hair beneath it, intent on pulling your head back and slamming it back down again, but as he tugs something feels off to him, and he freezes.

The gentle way that he pulls your hood down off your head stands in stark contrast to the rest of the situation, and as he tangles his hand in the cheap strands of fake blonde hair, pulling the wig off of your head, he lets out a sharp intake of breath.

Were the situation completely different, you might find yourself flattered by how quickly he recognizes you just from the back of your head alone. As it stands, you’re just hoping that maybe, by some miracle, he decides that the fact that it’s you means something to him.

Lifting his weight off of you slightly, he rolls you over as you gasp, your body’s sole focus on getting its much-needed oxygen. You stare deeply into his eyes, the only part of him not concealed by the mask, and you lose track of how many emotions you see flit across his face through those icy blue orbs as he stares down at you: anger, guilt, confusion, regret, sadness… He seems to settle on anger, glaring at your teary, red face like it offended him somehow.

“Fuck.”

That’s the only thing he says, the word coming out as a hiss, before you feel a gloved hand come up to your neck, finding the pressure point there just as you’d both been trained to do, and you quickly feel yourself start to lose consciousness.

‘Fuck’ is right, you think to yourself as your world fades to black.

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Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

[chaletnz]

Ecuador: Mitad del Mundo

I waited about 20-30 minutes for the guide Javier to show up with the driver Jorge, and another guest, Domingo. We got settled in the car and drove 30-40 minutes to Mitad del Mundo and on the way Javier explained everything we needed to know about the equator in both English and Spanish. The latitude at the equator is 0,0,0 where the northern hemisphere meets the southern hemisphere. “Qui” means middle in their native language which is how Quito got its name but Javier said that you would find “Qui” in other place names in the area. Due to the position, centrifugal forces are at play and push outwards towards either pole so there are no hurricanes, cyclones, or tornados at this latitude. The only natural disaster risks would be earthquakes and volcanoes from movement in the tectonic plates. There are also no seasons here since the weather is mostly the same the entire year round. There is a wet and dry season but the temperature is the same all year. At this latitude there are no longer or shorter days, every day is exactly the same length, and there is no solstice or equinox. In March and September around noon there is no shadow at all as the sun is directly above the equator at that time of year. The elevation is around 7,000 feet in Quito and there is a lesser resistance to gravity which means at the equator you weigh about 1kg less than normal.

Inside the visitor area of Mitad del Mundo there were some museums and shops and the main monument to the equator with a line painted all the way through representing the northern and southern hemispheres. Javier invited us to do a photo shoot with the monument and showed us how an egg can be balanced on a nail due to the centrifugal forces. We then had about an hour of free time to explore the area, I visited some of the souvenir shops which had some good quality stuff unlike Colombia! I finally found some really nice postcards and got a stamp in my passport from Mitad del Mundo. I tried the helados de paila, ice cream made in the old fashioned style in a large dish inside an ice bucket, and chose the coconut and rum raisin flavours which were delicious. While we waited for Domingo to get back to the meeting point I hopped on the wifi and found that Ecuadorhop had cancelled my entire trip that was due to pick me up tomorrow morning at 6am. I explained this to Javier and on the drive back to Quito he was on the phone calling around to various people he knew to enquire about private drivers and rental car companies that could help me follow my itinerary. The private driver would be $190 for the 2 days, from Quito to Quilotoa, and then on to Baños. If I wanted to rent a car he said it would be $45 per day which seemed reasonable however when he requested the total with taxes and insurance and upgrade to an automatic vehicle he said it would be $145 which was a bit much. Defeated, I was leaning towards accepting Javier’s suggestion to skip Quilotoa and go straight to Baños on the public bus. After they dropped me off back at the meeting point, I walked to the metro to take the train back downtown and realised that I had no small bills left, only a $10 and $20. I wondered what would happen when I tried to buy a 45c ticket with a $10 bill when it occurred to me - the decoy wallet! For safety, I had a cheap wallet with a few expired travel cards and small bills that I could throw at anyone who attempted to rob/attack me. I used the saviour $1 bill to get my ticket and squeezed myself into a completely full carriage. I actually heard someone in the mass of people say “sardines”. Someone farted. There was no air conditioning and it was so hot inside. This was by far the busiest, most uncomfortable train I’d ever been on. I started out being crammed against the door, then as we headed south I was gradually pushed into the middle as people got off and on around me. After a sweaty eternity I arrived in San Francisco station and plunged onto the platform to breathe normally at last. Back at the hostel I got on the wifi and cancelled the Quilotoa hotel for tomorrow and sent them an apology email explaining that this was Ecuadorhop’s fault. I extended my stay in Quito for one more night and Grace, the receptionist, was so nice about it all. She also told me I’d have the room to myself again as those people who arrived this morning ended up taking a shower and flooding the whole room (except for my bed/locker area luckily) so they were moved to another room. I redeemed my voucher for a free welcome drink at the bar which was a delicious (hot) alcoholic drink traditional to Ecuador called canelazo. I ordered a plate of bacon cheese fries just for the ease of not having to go anywhere else to get some food and they were fairly average but good enough to attract the little ginger hostel cat to sit and meow near me!