#fic: killing me series

[cloveroctobers]

DANTE TORRES | PAGE TWO — memory game

A/N: you’ve had to have known after that recent episode (12) that id be inspired to write more. Shoutout to the snow day that gave me a chance to write this! There’s been some debates about how some people feel like this episode “still”didn’t add any depth to Dante’s character but I guess you’re entitled to your wrong opinion…they just don’t see him like I do! 😉 It’s neither here or there but I feel like with the crumbs that they do feed us in centered episodes, it gives you a chance to understand these characters bit by bit. I’m all here for subtle details! We have two weeks apparently until the next episode?!!! Which is an Atwater focused one so why not write a little something in the mean time?

S/N: I’m going to attempt to not make this as long but there’ll be some important scenes to see I think! Also we got a canon age for Dante and it’s apparently twenty-five? I always knew he was younger than the rest but I still thought at least thirty or pushing thirty! + I’ve also decided to go down the rabbit hole of watching Chicago PD from the beginning, finishing up season two soon, wish me luck lol!

WARNINGS: more angst, yearning, a little crossover with another show since I’m currently watching it lol, language, how childhood trauma plays into your adulthood, + mini flashback scene that leads to something! —without me giving too much away.

<- read the first piece to the sequel here.

ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ

The days started to blur into one since settling into a place that felt like quicksand. She tries not to sink, finding outlets that are supposed to provide coping mechanisms. Seraphina’s been trying therapy, had to after being abducted and the whole talking to a stranger thing helps but the cold sweats and nightmares are a force of their own.

It doesn’t help that chief deputy Reid has found use for her. Tracking her down to her parents’ new place of residence, something else she doesn’t need right now and it’s reminiscent to his imposing ways back at the place she’s now renting out. Seraphina can feel herself dissociating as Charlie Reid is talking to her, ears ringing, the weight of everything comes toppling back on top of her and his presence is no relief.

“Did you get that?” He questions her on the stoop of her parents’ brick home.

Her arms are folded, backside pressed against the railing as she slowly rises her head, “I get that you have a funny way of timing.”

The wavy haired man lets out a slow sigh, peeking at the closed shut door, wondering if there was anyone inside trying to listen in on this conversation, “I…understand that you’re dealing with a lot right now but I also understand that you’ve got free time since you decided to pitch in for the care of your father, Mr. Coty.”

The short haired woman lets out a scoff of disbelief, “You mean taking on a job in the east coast, just to give it up, live on some savings all while trying to help my mother tend to my stubborn and mean sickly father? I don’t think you know what free time is, Mr. Reid.”

He nods, understanding how bad it sounds, off-putting even, “Right. I just mean this could be a way to keep your mind off everything.”

Seraphina begins to chew on her bottom lip in irritation, knowing that this man didn’t care much about her well being, eyes closing as she focuses on her breathing more than her irritability, another reminder that she needed to make a run and pick up more feminine care, “Sorry but no…you came here for personal gain and if I remember correctly, not that long ago, you were introducing yourself to me and throwing clues. So I suggest you tell me what your purpose of being here is because I really don’t have the patience to play the guessing game.”

Reid goes quiet at this, taking in the appearance of the younger woman across from him. He could appreciate that she wanted him to get right to the point and stop throwing hints. He’s backed off for a while, giving the IU the chance to do what they do but that didn’t mean he stopped having eyes on all of their cases.

Seraphina Coty happened to be included in Reid’s spark of interest.

There was a specific case that was brewing and Reid wanted to get ahead of it before it would eventually be brought to intelligence. He also found immediate connections involving this case, which brought him out to Kansas City instead of Jersey city.

“What’s your history with Quantico?”

Reid’s eyes are hard on Seraphina and although she was mainly a case file to him, he had a feeling that he was just about to learn that she was much more than that. She’s good, almost trained to not show emotion on her face but her shoulders are more tense now at the mention of the academy, than when she first stepped out onto the stoop.

“I think you already know.” Her voice is hoarse against the wind, exhausted, “What does that have to do with anything?”

The Chief Deputy blinks, “Are you kidding? Trying out for the FBI, that could have led you to great heights.”

“Yeah no thanks, being more screwed up isn’t the path I wanted.” Her voice is much stronger with this statement, “I quit after five weeks because I didn’t like the weight, the power, or the intent of guns. Still don’t. I fired it and had a whole panic attack in front of the class. I enrolled for forensic science not to kill or cause harm to anyone. That’s not me but that part, was mandatory.”

Reid hums as he takes in this perspective.

The man attempts to be genuine but it feels anything but that. Seraphina learned pretty quickly that people like this always have a motive but nonetheless she let him continue his play, “…I won’t ask you to kill or harm anyone but I will—am asking for your help.”

Ironically enough, this felt more like a demand.

“What exactly do you think I can help you with?” Seraphina frowns, tightening her crossed arms, “Shouldn’t you have a team that handles whatever you’re getting at?”

“You’re my best bet.”

“In what world?”

“Well mine of course,” he says with a crooked dimpled smile before hardening his stare and throwing this at her, “Do you know a Peter Sutherland?”

Seraphina keeps her mouth shut but she inhales.

“What about a Francisco Jenkins?” Reid fires off, “See…one of the most interesting things about you is, you like to stay clear from crimes—well for the most part—in the present but somehow your past will always have ties to it.”

Seraphina feels her nostrils flare.

It was clear he was trying to get underneath her skin but she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.

“The only one that is the most clean is your current boyfriend, Manny Castillo. How long do you think that is going to last before you go back to what you know?” Reid quizzes but it felt more like he was taunting her.

Seraphina tightens her stare at the beady eyed man on the stoop with her, “I think this conversation is over.”

“I’d have to disagree,” Chief deputy responds as he moves with her, “I think it’s just part of your story and you have to see how it plays out.”

“Is being vastly vague and metaphoric your way of guilt tripping people?” Seraphina frowns in confusion before declaring, “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Sure, if you say so,” the man shrugs, “I believe we all know what’s wrong and what’s right. Yet there are always things in between that can cloud your judgement: you and Jenkins, then you and Torres.”

“What’re you saying?”

Reid spits it out, “You were once involved with Francisco Jenkins and he was murdered about a year ago.”

Seraphina chokes on her saliva then, grabbing at her throat and coughed to catch her breath, Reid offers to clutch at her shoulder but she smacks his hand away. Once she fights to gain her breathing back she wheezes, “Shit, not Cisco. There’s no way you think I had something to do with that? We were in the same class and we haven’t spoken in years.”

“You dated didn’t you?” Reid keeps on dumping, trying to get more out of her but he already knows that she’s clean but he’s her connect.

“What?” Seraphina snaps, “We went on a date once, that obviously didn’t go anywhere. He’s a—was a nice guy.”

“Because you’re too caught up on Torres, who you’ll do anything for.”

He’s not wrong!

“What does any of this have to do with the murder of Cisco?”

“Not much, really.” Reid eases off some, “He and Peter Sutherland remained good friends. Sutherland used to work for the White House but got into some trouble, yadda yadda. He’s now involved with some secret organization. Want to know what else I found interesting?”

Seraphina tilts her head to the side after learning information about people who were in her life for a mere second before turning into scrolling faces on a social media app, “I’m sure you’re gonna tell me.”

“When you were sixteen, you had a kleptomaniac habit that started to develop after your mother OD’d.” Reid says as if he’s delivering more detail in the personal life section from a Wikipedia page of Seraphina’s life, “Even hung out with some jewelry thieves but you didn’t have anything on you, let’s call it right time, wrong place it seems. Yet you were the only one out of the crew that had a well known fancy father, a superintendent that had the power to make anything go away.”

Seraphina feels her body run hot and her heart seems to go into over drive. The wheels are turning but she hopes the exhaustion internally and externally overshadows what she’s really feeling.

“You like to solve crimes, put the puzzles together in a lab. It’s no different than me and Torres’ world.” He reasons, “And since you’ll do anything for the people you love…like cover up a illegal relationship that Torres was involved in, get pills for your sober mother so she can cope with the thought of your declining father…or end up with some jewels of your own that somehow end up with a certain lawyer that’s collecting rent on your property, I think those are also things that can go away, if you assist on this case.”

Seraphina rests her elbows back against the railing now, trying to weigh out her options. The last two were not true but it was clear that Reid had a way of making things appear a certain way. It was obvious that he had the power to destroy everything that Seraphina worked so hard for but it had to be on his terms. Never in a million years would she sell Dante out, especially when she had no desire to have any ties with law enforcement, somehow she was still connected.

Mainly to the science of it but that can only get you so far.

“I’m going to leave you with some files that are in my car but they’ll go more into depth,” Reid is checking his phone as if he had someplace else to ruin, “Here’s a brief run down: a crew of thieves that go by the sanguine forsaken, TSF for short, have been using blood diamonds from Sierra Leone to fund not only weapons but to also smuggle into the states. And they’re making their way into Chicago.”

Seraphina shakes her head, “That goes beyond my pay.”

“You’ll be compensated when you comply.”

“It’s not just about pay…this is manipulation and not what I do. I used to work on crime scenes and bodies. Now I just analyze, research, and experiment.”

“You keep saying you like to play it safe but you’ve haven’t known that for a while, have you?” Reid probes making her break eye contact, “I’m not trying to be your enemy here, I just want you to know what you’re made of and it’s not a shell. I’ll get those files for you and we’ll be in touch.”

That was final and not a choice.

Seraphina takes a moment after slamming the front door shut behind her. The files burn against her fingertips as she holds them to her side. Her back is against the door, head raised high up towards the ceiling as she tries to mentally prepare herself for what she just got tossed into.

“Stupid question I know…but is everything okay sweetie?” It’s the voice of her mother to the left of her that brings Seraphina back down.

She turns to the woman, who stands fidgeting with her fingers, hoping that her words didn’t set off her child. Growing up, normally the two didn’t have the time to butt heads mainly since Mr. Coty had enough energy to provide that. There was a time where Seraphina was comfortable saying that she preferred and loved one parent over the other, as a child, you don’t understand what damage that does to the adult.

However it takes two.

Seraphina takes a moment to respond and even move but when she does, her gaze is focused on her mother’s hands. Those same hands that tucked her in many nights, those same hands that tended and provided tender care to her hair as she sat on a pillow on the floor, and once those same hands that guided her until she lost control and could no longer provide that.

When her dark eyes flick to meet her mother’s, there’s a small smile by her mom’s plump lips. She appears much fragile now over the years, Seraphina wouldn’t dare call her weak like her father often did because despite it all, she still knew how to love her parents. It’s almost like staring into a mirror, how she favors her mother much more now that she’s older when many used to tell her it was the opposite.

“You were just…out there for a while with that man.” She says, almost as if she’s stepping on eggshells.

Seraphina’s not in attack mode, although she feels that if she didn’t have a therapy session this morning via online, this moment maybe different. She’s gently shaking her head, reaching a finger to twirl the end of a faltering coil from her birth giver’s fro, giving it shape, before resting a hand on top of her mother’s shaky ones, “Everything’s fine mom, just work stuff unfortunately. You doing okay? Need me to grab anything for dinner?”

And just like that her troubles are tucked away at the sake of making sure things run the way that they should.

After a quick run out to the store, she grabs some essentials and last minute ingredients for her mom’s vegan dish, Seraphina finds that she can’t bring herself to put her car into drive just yet. She moved through the store almost on autopilot, grabbing mostly what she needed and a few things that she didn’t. Self-checkout normally was her best friend but since her mind was gone, she almost left her things at checkout even after a worker came to assist twice.

Letting her hands drop from the keys in the ignition, she pulls out her phone, fingers halting over a number that she said she would call later tonight instead of through constant texts, she chooses another number instead.

“Hello?” Which sounds more of like a, “y’ellow,” to be honest.

Seraphina clears her throat, “You still don’t know how to pronounce your H’s do you, Atwater?”

He scoffs, “There you go, already startin’ something on my line.”

A small smile appears on her lips as she sniffs, running a finger back and forth over her brows. There’s a heat that washes over her frame again, a wave of tears building in her throat, and she doesn’t have to say anything because the man on the other line can already sense something is wrong. Calling each other out of the blue like this was not the norm and although they were friends through a mutual person, they usually got to see each other through work related moments or random times around the city.

They didn’t even have a proper goodbye before Seraphina took off.

Kevin didn’t want to ask how she was because he already knew and assumed so he goes with this instead, “Tell me what’s on your mind, girl. I’m listening.”

So she does.

Seraphina hates that she’s troubling the man with this, even threw a few apologies in there but he didn’t want to hear any of that. She barely mentions her father but she didn’t need to as she says that this chief deputy had a weaseling way of getting what he wants at the worst time and that’s possibly something the IU should keep in mind. This Atwater could sense after learning about Kim’s promotion and how she felt about it but that didn’t stop Kevin from making note of Seraphina’s words.

“And you don’t want Voight in on this…or even Dante?” Kevin says Dante’s name, almost quietly, which makes Seraphina think he’s at the district.

Seraphina sighs, “We’re taking one step at a time to rebuild our relationship. I don’t need to bother him with this—

Kevin’s ready to argue against that, also aware that this woman right here could never be a bother to Dante Torres.

She doesn’t leave room for him to interrupt, “And the last thing I want is Voight getting in on this right now when it’s not really anything yet. I know it’ll eventually get to you guys anyway just based on what Reid said. I just feel like I needed to tell someone who would get it.”

“And if something goes south.” Kevin pointed out which makes Seraphina suck air through her teeth, “Which it won’t. I got you, alright? You called me, so you can trust me. And I guess I’ll have to take the heat if Torres is on my ass once he finds out.”

Seraphina is so sure, “He won’t.”

Kevin snickers at that, “Do I need to remind you of his birthday party back in June?”

Instantly she’s rolling her eyes at the way Dante acted but ultimately she knew it was because he cared. Getting involved would just lead to more scars that she didn’t need. He was right on that part. He had nothing but good intentions, they fought for each other and knew that they always would. However they were their own people and would always do what they felt was right whether the other liked it or not. Just look at Dante and his whole profession of working with and for the law! Seraphina made the decision to back off after it all got to be too much, she knew her limits yet somehow Dante felt like he had to keep facing his.

The woman knew that as soon as she was officially brought into this case, she would have to leave Kansas City and go back to Chicago. Whereas Kansas City felt like quicksand, gradually tugging at her toes the longer she stayed here, Chicago felt like she was being drowned again. The city she was born and raised in also felt as if she was being pulled under but she would go back if it meant she could help.

Again…there really wasn’t a choice here.

“Thanks for having my back, Kev.” Seraphina finally says after more talking.

He blows a raspberry and jokes, “Just be lucky that I like you.”

Seraphina laughs a little and it feels good to be able to.

There’s another voice that can be heard in the background.

A woman’s.

“Yo, Atwater. Get a look at this.”

Seraphina tilts her head to the side in question and decides to tease herself, “Uh oh, better get back to your work wife.”

She’s learned little of their newest team member, Kiana, just based off of what Dante’s mentioned over check-in’s. She’s never met Kiana or heard her speak but Seraphina pinpointed that Kevin must still be working and she already knows what Kim and Platt sound like.

“It ain’t even like that sis but hold on, check this out.”

Before Seraphina can get a, “what?” Out she’s met with the dial tone, which makes her roll her eyes at the man’s childish ways, although she feels a little at ease telling someone about what was on her plate.

When she gets back to her parents, it’s walls back up but she makes her presence known as she takes on a role moving around the home. Her father is only awake for maybe twenty-twenty-five minutes, to put little food and liquid’s down as much as he can stomach before it’s time again for his daily dose. And just like that the mother and daughter are watching his steady but shallow breathing as he rests in one of the rooms that now contains a hospital bed.

Mrs. Coty keeps busy, also tucking herself away in one of the many rooms of the older 1950’s home, picking up the bead painting hobby with neo-soul softly playing in the background upstairs, although Seraphina knows this hobby is to stop her mother’s hands from shaking so much, she leaves her to it, deciding to clean up the kitchen. This also keeps her busy, transferring the coconut rice bowl into containers and leaving them on the counter just in case someone wanted leftovers. Seraphina’s scrubbing at the dishes with such intensity that it would scratch anyone’s skin off if she kept the same motion to her body.

She’s using more than enough force that’s she panting, scrubbing at a scorched spot at the bottom of the pot, that she’s got a trinkle of sweat falling down the back of her neck. It isn’t until she picks up on the buzzing of her phone on the dining table that she stops her assault.

Immediately she thinks it’s Manny, not knowing what time it is and over the years it feels as if she lost the concept of it. When she gets to her phone, her hands are partially dried as she picks it up and placed the phone on speaker.

“Hi.” She greets, shaking her hands about, in hopes of drying them faster.

There’s shuffling on the other line, “Hey, Nina. Do you mind if I come see you?”

Resting her hands down on the table, she leans towards the phone, eyes shifting as she picks up on Dante’s tone. It’s normally gentle, slightly accented, comforting, and it’s still all of those things but there’s a hint of something else.

Fear?

“What’s wrong?” She asks, knowing that something is up but not because he wanted to see her again.

He hesitates at first but gives a little, “I’ll tell you when I get to you. Is it okay, though? That I stop by? If it’s too much, I won’t.”

Seraphina closes her eyes and shakes her head. She put up boundaries when she took her exit once before but they knew hiding from each other wasn’t the way to go either. There was too much history, too much love to just put everything to the side for good.

“I’ll send you the address.” Seraphina decides, “Drive safe.”

And she hears the acceleration of his car pick up before they bid their farewells. The hours drag on as Seraphina feels like she’s a ghost in a home that doesn’t belong to her but it holds two parts of her. Her parents are of course the first to go down completely for the night and she lets her mom know that Dante should be here around midnight or after.

Mrs. Coty only provides a smile as Seraphina is the one almost tucking her in for the night. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask if she could take the spot where her father once lay but she simply placed a kiss to the woman’s forehead, closing their bedroom door with a soft click before going into her own night time routine, all while talking to Manny out in Philly.

He’s as lively as ever and things seem so well on the other side. He doesn’t apologize for his good nature and Seraphina appreciates that normalcy, he’s aware that she prefers to hear the good over the damper, to let her know that there’s still life out there to grab. Of course he isn’t insensitive, always checking in on how things are going and if she needed anything but she’s not the type of person that wants people to fuss over her. If Manny pushed then she tended to shut down but not without biting back. It was something he had to learn about her and navigate not through but with.

Butting heads for the first time was scary to witness on Manny’s part but he wasn’t going to back down by any means. He’s used to disagreements and duked them out in the professional world as well. He wasn’t ready to let go, not when he felt like this relationship was worth it, sure it was still fresh and a lot was going on her end but he was determined to stick beside Seraphina.

Seraphina expressed to her therapist, Dr. Tamsin, that she felt like their relationship wouldn’t last (since any other never did) and it would be her fault, she was prepared for it despite her therapist telling her that self-sabotage was also a weight that she needed to let go of in order to find true happiness.

Her eyes are closed but her mind won’t let her sleep and the ding from her phone makes her rise. It’s 12:48am when she reads the message, giving it a thumbs up not even a second later, she’s slipping her feet into some slippers and pushing off from the bed. Leaving the room that’s adjacent to the stairs that leads to the first floor where her father lay, she pauses in the hallway, along with her breathing as she listens to the consistent beeping of the monitor, before continuing to the left through the living room and towards the front door.

Seraphina doesn’t pause here, unlocking the door to meet Dante’s light green hue’s. The expressions on each other’s faces hold a mixture of emotions and it’s not long before Seraphina is the first to lift her arms. The buzzed haired man charges at her, wrapping her up in his embrace so quickly that her back hits the coat closet door behind her. She holds onto him, arms around the back of his neck, as Dante bunches up the back of her sweatshirt, pulling her as tight as he can to his frame.

She gets off her tippy toes, their arms rearranging so she hugging him around his waist, his arm goes across her shoulders, while her head rests against his chest and the weight of him finally brings her reassurance. It’s bittersweet really, how this is the one weight that her body will always welcome.

They’re back up in the room, she’s under the covers but Dante is lying on top of them with a blanket. They switch from staring up at the ceiling and one staring at the profile of each other’s face. They’re shoulder to shoulder, he’s examining her hand and her nails look much better than what he remembers but just the thought of what happened makes his insides burn deep.

“What’s got you so upset that you took a five hour plus drive to see me?” Seraphina whispers, her gaze slowly blinking up at the view of the bubbly ceiling.

Dante gives a long tired sigh but finds a way to let it out, “I went undercover at my old juvi center. It was tough because I thought I was over it but…I guess I’m not.”

That gets Seraphina to bring her dark eyes to his and his focus is back on her hand.

“Well…it’s not something you can just get over. Stuff like that is heavy and it takes time,” Seraphina tells him, “I didn’t get to see you often in there but of what little I did…I knew you weren’t okay.”

Dante is nodding, his touch is warm against her surprisingly cool hand, “I had to survive and I didn’t need you or mi ma worrying more than you two already were. I did things in there that I’m not proud of and I saw things…my roommate…experienced the same thing I saw in there today. I did nothing then to protect him but I made sure I did something now.”

Seraphina is still staring at him, Dante’s jaw is clenched with tension and she can’t help but to use her free hand to caress the bone. His eyes close at her touch and he exhales.

“You don’t have to say it if you’re not ready,” her tone is hushed although her heartbeat should be loudest thing in the room, “But you also don’t have to carry it by yourself.”

Dante’s replies, “The same goes for you.”

Which makes her breathing hitch. Their eyes locked in and it’s filled with such an intensity it feels as if Seraphina’s heart might just burst. Did he know about Reid being here?

He says nothing more as he stares at her.

“I thought I buried everything as best as I could, try to forget it all as a way of moving forward but there’s a piece of me that can’t be fixed.” He admits, “I’m stuck between who I am, who I was, and who I’m supposed to be.”

This she could relate to in many ways.

They’ve been lost since their youth was ripped out of their hands but that didn’t mean they didn’t try.

At this point in life, there were times where it still didn’t feel fulfilling enough.

“That’s okay too you know? You’re the one who told me that I don’t have to have all the answers right now and life isn’t meant to be planned out all in one day.” She sends him a small smile, “There is no guideline. I know our childhood still hurts, I know but we’re not there anymore. We don’t have to be. You made it through what most people never could and that is something to be proud of.”

There’s a lump in Dante’s throat as he listens to his voice of reason. His best reason. His forehead goes to rest against her’s and he knows her words hold truth but there’s a darkness that wants to win and likes to slip out every now and then. Being in church didn’t help this time around and that was painful to acknowledge, especially since it provided the strength for Dante to get through juvi.

“I’ve been losing my mind without you,” He informs Seraphina, his eyes flicking open so that she sees that he means it, “Just so you know…I’m as proud of you as you are of me. Even when you dyed your hair hot pink when we were what? Sixteen?”

Seraphina groans, earning a laugh out of Dante, which is a good sign. “What is this? A walk down memory lane?”

“What’s wrong with that?” Dante braces himself as she lightly shoves him, “I said I was proud of you, for doing what you wanted and standing by it.”

“And pissing off my dad?”

Dante can’t help but to smirk, “That too.”

The short haired woman rolls her eyes, and moves to rest on her back. She remembers one of the times when she showed up to the detention center on her own, thoughts of smuggling a teen Dante his favorite drink and some ice but remembered how they confiscated momma Catalina bringing in a cupcake for his sixteenth birthday. Seraphina remembers touching his shoulder in greeting before she plopped down on the bench across from him.

“No fucking way,” Dante is all grins, the type of grin that meets his eyes, bringing out that signature dimple at the top of his cheek as they settle on Seraphina.

He wasn’t expecting her today and assumed it was another lawyer and already knew his ma had to work overtime. This was a pleasant surprise, seeing his best friend sitting across from him in the most vibrant shades of hot pink you can imagine.

The teen shakes her head back and forth, lightly curled hair bouncing with her as she did so, “I did it, Tay.”

She ignores the ring around his right eye because the smile on his face is much more joyous. The last time she was here he had a much different tone, hint: he was being an asshole that day so she wouldn’t say anything else that brought that side of him out. The dark haired curly haired boy looks around, resting his elbows on the table before reaching out to pinch at her hair, tugging on it lightly, which makes her scowl and slap his hand away.

“Stop that.”

He rubs his fingers together to see if any of the dye came off, “My bad. Had to make sure you’re not pranking me.”

“Who me?” She crosses her ankles over the other, straightening her posture before clasping her hands on the table, “Never.”

Dante gives her a blank stare, “Yeah, whatever. That’s a good look for you, Nina.”

“Thank you, baby.”

It slips out but Seraphina doesn’t dwell on it as she pulls out an envelope to slide over to Dante. Whose heart may or may not have skipped a beat at the term of endearment. “What?” She inquires, finally meeting his light eyes and taking her own off the ink that decorated his arm.

“N-nothing!” He quickly shakes his head although now Seraphina thinks he’s acting a little weird, “What’s this?”

“Open it and see, genius.”

“Shut up.”

She uses the tip of her finger to push the tip of her nose back and sticks her tongue out, making him mock her back before they fall into laughter. Dante makes quick work of opening the envelope, eyes peeking over at Seraphina who has a grin of her own on her lips.

Inside the folded up paper is aluminum foil.

Dante is confused as he holds it for her to see, “Um…?”

“It’s ice.” She snickers while Dante gives her a look of annoyance, “To put on your teeth.”

“Oh you’re so lame.” Dante can’t help but to snort out a laugh, surprised this was even allowed in but still appreciated the sentiment.

Despite the fact that Seraphina thinks it’s the most hilarious thing, just picturing Dante posing with the new grillz in his mouth. He’s ready for her to knock it off. To cut her laughter out, he reaches across the table to yank on her arm—not enough to hurt—pulling her towards the table so he can pluck at her hair, “Cut it, lava girl. You think you’re gonna help my street cred with this?”

“It’s a start.” She smiles at him from over the table.

He doesn’t argue with her even with the bullshit that’s going on in this place…because she’s so damn cute and he can’t help but to love her.

Their gaze is back on each other’s once again, forehead to forehead just breathing each other in. There’s a tension in this room again and the weight is tipping the longer they stay like this. So the only thing Dante can think of is to nuzzle his nose against Seraphina’s, not fighting hard against the urge of his actions. Her eyes are closed and her heart is drumming so fast as if Sheila E was the one with the sticks. She knows what’s about to happen before Dante even does it, just by the way they had a far off glint in their eyes at seperate memories that still brought them to this very moment.

Love.

His lips connect with her’s, his hand going to her cheek to keep her in place. The kiss is slow, tentative and challenging a boundary that was supposed to be in place but anything short of familiar. The seconds stretched on yet the kiss only deepened, Seraphina feels herself completely falling into his frame, her hand going to his wrist, her thigh tossed over his hip, inviting him on top of her.

There’s this unspoken understanding, a quiet moment of support that’s poured into this kiss. He tries to use his elbow to support his weight but Seraphina is open to take it all as his tongue slips into her mouth. Her hands are caressing his back, squeezing as their tongues do a dance that would be too much for PDA. A free hand goes to his buzzed hair, the hair prickling her fingers as their lips pull apart with a pop.

Their chests are heaving but Dante doesn’t stop there, his face burying into her neck to suck on the skin there. There were times like these when Seraphina was thankful that her mother was not a light sleeper. Her nails scrape at his back as he continues his assault on her neck and right now she doesn’t fight against this wrong.

“I love you,” she breathed out making Dante pull back to show her his pretty eyes that have significantly darkened.

It rolls off his tongue with ease as they’re nose to nose, his finger running over her full bottom lip, “I love you more than you know.”

She’s shaking her head now, “Not possible.”

His head tilts followed by a frown, “What?”

She lifts up some, nipping at his lip, “Show me.”

And his lips are back on Seraphina’s, erupting a moan that he echoes at this sensation and just the way she sounds. She shouldn’t threaten him with a good time.

They both exhale.

ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ ꫂ ၴႅၴ

[starlight-eclipsed]

A place to rest.

[sunsetsandsunshine]

~ 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎 ~

·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚔𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙸 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚂𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚌 𝟹 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚖𝚢 𝚂𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚌 𝚑𝚢𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚒𝚡𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 😭👍🏾…˚*• ̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*＊·̩̩̥͙

𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: 𝙷𝚞𝚛𝚝/𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝 

𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜: 𝟺,𝟸𝟽𝟻

𝙻𝚎𝚎: 𝙺𝚗𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚜 🥊❤️

𝙻𝚎𝚛: 𝙼𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚒𝚎 🥨💜

𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚢: 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝙺𝚗𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝙶𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝙷𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚜…𝚑𝚎’𝚜 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚍𝚊𝚙𝚝. 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝, 𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚝…

(𝙰/𝙽: 𝙰 𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙. 𝙽𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎…𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚜. 𝙳𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚐𝚞𝚢! 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚔/𝙽𝚂𝙵𝚆 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚜 𝙳𝙽𝙸!!!)

𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: 𝚃𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑 𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚞𝚎𝚜, 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑 𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚖 𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐. 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚔!!!

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝙼𝙰𝙳𝙴 𝚃𝙷𝙸𝚂 𝙸𝙽 𝙻𝙸𝙺𝙴 𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙴𝙴 𝙳𝙰𝚈𝚂 𝙳𝙾𝙽’𝚃 𝙴𝚅𝙴𝚁 𝙿𝙻𝙰𝚈𝚈𝚈𝚈𝚈˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙

Maddie almost fully leaped out of her spot on the bed her and her husband shared as she suddenly awoke, her eyes darting around the room before taking a deep breath, relaxing herself. 

She didn’t need to use the bathroom…

And she made sure all of the kids (+ Ozzie) were in their beds…

So why did she feel so…uneasy?

Tom broke through his sleep at the sudden movement from his wife, holding her hand as he rubbed it with his thumb gently, “Everything okay, love?” He mumbled out groggily. 

Maddie couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle at her husband’s sleepy voice, giving his hand a quick kiss as she got up from the bed, “I’m fine, babe. I just…I-I just…” She trailed off.

The cop yawned, raising a brow, “Having those random feelings of uneasiness again?” 

The woman in purple pajamas nodded. 

“Gonna go check up on our kids?”

She nodded once more.

“M'kay…” The famous Donut Lord yawned, drifting back to sleep, “Just call me if you need anything…” He mumbled as he closed his eyes and snored like no tomorrow.

Maddie rolled her eyes fondly, putting on her fluffy purple robe that was hoisted on a clothing hanger as put on her house slippers, going upstairs to the attic. 

The nurse quietly made her way to the attic, her heart racing with a sort of…adrenaline as she made her way to the beds…

…Although, she didn’t know why.

First, she made her way to Tails' bed, who, was soundly sleeping peacefully underneath his blankets. Maddie kissed his forehead, adjusting his noise canceling headphones on his ears as she further tucked him in as she made her way to Sonic…

And ohhhhhh, Sonic…

The kid was basically sprawled along his bed like a used up rag-doll…

…Which, Maddie didn’t know whether to mark it off as concerning or impressive. 

Maybe both.

The adult wrapped the blue hedgehog in his favorite blanket, kissing his forehead and subtly giggling as she saw him smile in his sleep at the kiss.

Lastly, she made her Knuckles' bed…

…That was missing, well…Knuckles. 

The woman took a deep breath, taking her phone out of her robe pocket as she tried to calm herself. 

He was going to absolutely GET IT if he went out 'adventuring' again. 

Maddie could not handle another week asking random people in Green Hills of the red echidna’s whereabout’s…

…Her heart just could not take that amount of stress anymore!

And if Wade was even the SLIGHTEST bit responsible he was going to GET IT too.

The brown eyed human made her way downstairs, relief washing over her as she saw the back quills of a familiar red fellow sitting at the bottom of the stairs that led to the kitchen. 

“…Knuckles?” She quietly said. 

The echidna swiftly turned around at the woman’s words, his pupils sharpening before softening upon realizing who was behind him. 

As he met her concerned yet loving gaze, he looked away, focusing on the wooden floor as if it was the most interesting thing as of right now.

Well…at least it was just Madeline. 

Or 'Pretzel Woman' as the red themed teenager liked to call her.

It honestly could have been way worse…

…The blue themed hedgehog could have awoken instead of Maddie…

…And that would have been a whole other problem Knuckles did not have the time or patience for. 

The teenager forced himself to relax slightly, his shoulders still tense in case of anything or…anyonedeciding to…surprise him.

Because he was an echidna warrior! He simply just did not get sneaked up on. 

“Pretzel Woman.” He hummed, “I would not have expected you to be awake at such hours…” 

“I wish I could say the same for you, sweetheart…” The 'Pretzel Woman' in question chuckled lightly, coming down and sitting on the stair the small teen was stifly sitting on, “What are you doing up, love?”

“I am keeping watch.” Knuckles stated simply, his seating spot remaining on the steps but his eyes darting in every which way around the house, seeming to look for a nonexistent threat. 

Or grapes. Those he will always look out for.

“Did…I wake you?” His violet eyes morphing into one of guilt, “I am sorry if that is the case…I tried to be as silent as possible whilst scouting this evening.” 

“No no! Not at all.” Maddie quickly assured, “I-I just…had a certain…feeling to get up, y'know?” 

But Knuckles did not know, only quietly nodding his head as he tried to make sense of what the chocolate eyed human was stating, “…I see.” He hummed once more, now looking up as he peered on the outside door, his eye ridges creasing together. 

Maddie fiddled with her fingers anxiously, not appreciating the sudden silence as she tried to collect her thoughts to think of what to say next.

Because, truth be told…Knuckles has been doing this…'guarding' business ever since he came to live in Green Hills. 

And it was somewhat nice the first week…

A tad bit jarring the second week…

But now it was the third week. 

And Maddie cannot recall one time she has seen Knuckles shut his eyes for more than a second.

“You are distressed.” The short teenager concluded bluntly, observing Maddie’s facial expression and body language, “Are you perhaps…cold?” 

The woman let a small smile strech to her features at that, “I’m not cold, sweetheart. But thank you for your concern.” She said gently, resting her hand on the teenager’s shoulder but drawing it back as the teeanger in question stifened further at the sudden contact. 

“But…I am worried.” The purple cladded woman stated, well…worriedly as she put her hands on her lap. 

The fifteen year old’s eye ridges knitted together in slight confusion, letting out a small: “Oh.” 

He looked up at her, “Why is that?”

The nurse started, “You’ve been staying up—”

“Scouting.” Knuckles politely corrected.

“—scouting…” She corrected herself, “…for three weeks straight, Knux. Aren’t you tired?”

“No.” The violet eyed teen uttered, “An echidna warrior is only tired when they need be. Which, I am not.” He stated, ironically burying back a small yawn that was bubbling in his throat.

Which, did not go unnoticed by Maddie. 

“Everyone gets tired eventually…” The human said, “It’s not healthy to just…skip sleep, hun. It’s not good for you.” 

“Only I know what is good and what is not good for me, Pretzel Woman.” The red echidna huffed, completely brushing off the other’s concern, “I will sleep when my duty is done.”

“Your…'duty?'” Maddie repeated.

Knuckles nodded, putting his right fist on his chest as he spoke, “I have promised you, the Lord of the Donuts, the loud hedgehog and the anxious fox to guard the Master Emerald, yes?”

“Well, yes, but—”

“And I have also promised to protect you all.” He announced proudly and matter-of-factly, “A protector never rests.” 

“Hun…I think we’ve proven we’re more than capable at protecting ourselves.” The human lightly joked as she almost immediately regretted her statement and tone as she saw the teen’s expression shift from proud to…distress. 

And there it is...

…You have such a wonderful way of words, Madeline…

…SUCH a wonderful way with words…

A flash of hurt made their way through Knuckles' eyes, though, he tried to hide it as we looked away, glaring at the floor slightly he hugged himself, which made the human feel even more guilty, “…I…I am aware of that fact.”

And immediately the adult started to backtrack at the teenager’s now almost distraught and downtrodden expression, “I-It’s not that we don’t appreciate it— appreciate you, love. I just don’t want you collapsing randomly one day because you’re staying up every single night keeping watch of us and the house.”

“I do not collapse.” The kid said in an almost defensive-like tone, “And when I eventually will, I would gladly do so knowing I have protected you all to the fullest.” 

And right then and there Maddie could have sworn she felt her heart stop at that, feeling the smallest twinge of lightheadedness as she curled her fingers, forming fists on her lap. 

“No!” The human shouted, lowering her voice as she realized she yelled a tad bit too loudly, making Knuckles flinch slightly at the sudden exclamation, “No no no! Knuckles, where is this coming from?!” 

The nurse pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to stay calm but found it really difficult due to the fact one of her kids openly stated he would be fine literally DYING if it meant he would fulfill his 'duty', “I don’t want you staying up guarding, scouting— whatever you call it! I just don’t want you doing any of those things!” 

The echidna’s face morphed to a frown, “But—“

“No, Knux…” Maddie said, her tone leaving no room for argument…

…The 'Mother voice' if you will…

“This is the last time you’re doing something like this. End of story.” The purple cladded human said, crossing her arms across her chest.

And then again, there was…a small silence that fell between the two. 

A silence neither of them liked at all. 

But the air was too thick with…all of a sudden tension that they both stayed quiet, in fear they would say the wrong thing…

…Again.

But eventually, the red echidna couldn’t take the silence; couldn’t take the tension any longer. 

He looked at the figure in front of him once more, fixing his composure to appear more confident…but ultimately just appearing to be straight up panic-stricken. 

“Then what can I do…?” He mumbled out meekly.

Maddie’s hands dropped to her sides, her eyebrows creasing together, “…What…do you mean?”

“To…To repay you all.” The violet eyed teenager further explained, mentally punching himself for sounding so completely and utterly…weak, “To make up for what I’ve done previously. T-To…guarntee my stay in the Wachowski clan.”

And those words alone spoke measures. 

The nurse’s heart might of well dropped all the way to the floor, because all of a sudden she felt like she could not breathe. 

She puts Knuckles' hand in hers, even though the echidna’s hand was obviously and ultimately TWICE her hand size…she didn’t care.

For crying out loud this was her son.

And she would never ever forgive herself if after this he would continue to think otherwise.

Then…

…Everything clicked. 

“…Sweetheart…did you…d-did you think we were going to…kick you out…?” She asked as if she already knew the answer, afraid of what the other would say. 

The short teenager picked up quickly that Maddie somehow knew now, guilt almost immediately hitting him like a train as he hugged himself with his free hand, looking down at his lap, “Yes.” He admitted, hugging himself more as he saw the other start to become teary eyed, “Before coming here to the Wachowski residance…I was responsible for so many casualties…” He muttered, “…I still am.”

The teenager’s tail droops, bringing his fist to his face to try and hide his also now tearing up expression, “I helped Robotnik seize control of your town and almost the entire planet…” 

“…I-If I had just listened to Sonic…your house would not still be under repair. You and the Lord of Donuts would not have to call that 'Uber' you always speak of every morning to simply go to your designated jobs!” He yelled, not really caring if anyone else besides Maddie heard him at this point.

“Growing up, my Father always told me to never put my hands on someone else unless they did so to me first…” He murmured, a hint of fondness in his tone speaking of his as of late Father.   

“I broke that promise when I met Sonic.” He mumbled out, ignoring the feelings of his eyes starting to become more wet, “But…B-But above all else…all my Father wanted for me was for me to be a good person…”

Knuckles let out a small sob, harshly wiping his face as his shoulder hung low…

…Out of hatred or frustration…? 

Maybe a little bit of both…? 

Maddie wasn’t sure.

“A-And I promised him. I swore on my life I would live by those two promises…” The small echidna hiccuped, yanking his arm away from the human as he gripped his arm with one hand until he couldn’t feel it anymore, “A-And I f-failed those two simple oaths b-by j-j-just acting so f-foolish…” 

The taller figure watched the other shake with sobs, swiftly scooting closer to him as she gently held his wrists to stop him from further hurting himself.  

“Oh, sweetheart…” She mumbled, her heart heavy as she saw the teenager duck his head further, “Hey…hey…” Maddie whispered, cupping the echidna’s face in her palms.

And to be completely honest? Knuckles wanted to hurt himself further as he did nothing but melt to the small but impactful form of affection…

“Can you look at me?” The nurse carefully asked. 

Knuckles quietly looked at her, his face scrunched up to try and attempt to stop the tears freely flowing down his cheeks like a waterfall. 

Maddie sighed sadly, wiping his tears with her thumb as she gently rubbed his cheeks, “I need you to listen to me, okay?”

He shakily nodded.

“You are a good person.” She emphasized sternly, “One mistake that you made doesn’t automatically define your worth.”

“This…” She said, gesturing to herself and Knuckles. “…is not a transaction. We are giving you a room to sleep in because we love you. We are giving you clothes to wear because we love you. We are giving you food to eat because we love you…”

“…Even though I would prefer you eat something other than grapes.” She tried to joke, which ended up finally working very effectively as she saw a small but genuine smile appear on the echidna’s face.

Knuckles couldn’t help but let out a soft snort, rolling his eyes before focusing on Maddie once again, “My grapes have nothing to do with this…” 

“And I do also consume Cool Ranch Doritos from time to time…” The teen mumbled, “So saying I onlyeat grapes is inaccurate.” 

The nurse gently squished his cheek playfully, “And this?” She gestured as she wiped away his tears once again, “Is because I love you. Not because I’m expecting something in return.” She explained as she now put his hands in her’s as if the size meant nothing to her…

…Because it didn’t.

“Robotnik tricked you. He tricked you into thinking he was a nice man. That isn’t your fault.” The human sternly announced once again. 

The red furred echidna shook his head, “But I endangered everyone—”

“—But you also saved everyone.” The purple pajama wearing woman quickly added, “You tried to fix your mistakes…don’t think I didn’t see you punching those egg robot thingies, hun. You weren’t messing around.” 

“I am not prone to be one who 'messes around…'” He said, his eyes almost jumping out of their sockets as Maddie planted a small kiss on his forehead.

“And that? That is because…” She gently urged on.

“You…Y-You love me...” Knuckles finished, almost choking on his own words, before lightly pushing her away in an attempt to get her to leave…

…Because she would eventually…

…Right?

“…Y-You hardly even know me.” The violet eyed echidna whispered, looking up at the taller figure as she gently bumped her shoulder with his.

“Doesn’t mean I can’t love you.” Maddie exclaimed as she smiled warmly, the warmness somehow making its way to the echidna warrior as his heart fluttered in his chest.

A small, subtle blush appeared on his muzzle as he looked away, trying to hide his expression. 

He cleared his throat, “I…suppose that is true, Pretzel Woman…”

“Just 'Maddie' is fine, sweetie.”

The fifteen year old swallowed, wiping his eyes with his arm as he finally looked at the taller.

And if Maddie squinted…she was almost 100% sure she saw a small sparkle in the child’s eyes. 

“Alright…Maddie.” The teenager announced shyly but proudly, resting his head on the other’s shoulder.

The nurse had to keep in literally every single fiber in her body to stop herself from squealing like a high-school preppy girl. 

“You don’t owe us anything…okay?” The brown eyed woman stated, “You’re apart of a family, Knux. And one doesn’t protect the whole family…we all protect each other.” She rubbed Knuckles' knuckles gently and comfortingly with her thumb, “You’re a Wachowski. And the Wachowski’s stick together.”

And just like that, another silence fell among the two…although, this one was less tense which Maddie could not be more grateful for. 

But the nurse couldn’t shake the feeling that something was being left…unsaid and undone.

And if you knew her…you knew dang well those two words were just simply not apart of her dictionary. 

“May I give you a hug?” She asked somewhat hesitantly, but couldn’t stop the smile spreading to her face as she saw the echidna perk up at the mention. 

The red echidna collected himself, clearing his throat again as he glanced up at her, “You may.” 

The human wrapped the echidna in her arms, her smile doubling in size as she felt the teen wrap his own arms around her…somewhat stifly and awkwardly. 

But hey, he was trying.

“I love you, Knux.” The chocolate eyed woman hummed, “And you don’t have to say it back if you aren’t ready.” 

The violet eyed echidna nodded, shyly burying his face into the other’s shoulder as they continued to embrace.

“Do you…want to go back to your room…?” Maddie asked in a tone signifying she was alright with a 'yes' or a 'no'. 

The warrior only held Maddie tighter at that, shaking his head as he buried his face into her shoulder harder, “In…I-In a little bit…” He answered honestly, “I do not want to go just yet…” 

“That’s fine.” The human assured, “How about…we stay on the couch for a while? I bet it’s way more comfy than these old stairs.”

The red furred echidna nodded, “…Alright.” 

He followed the taller to the living room, sitting on the couch as she did, watching her as she flipped through the channels.

“You okay with watching 'F.R.I.E.N.D.S.?'” The woman asked as she flipped to the Nick-at-Nite channel, relaxing on the couch cushion. 

“I am very fond of my companions, yes.” The young warrior nodded, resting his eyes on the TV as this so called….'F.R.I.E.N.D.S.' show started to play.

The two sat on the couch for a while, small chuckles and snickers being shared as they reacted to the show in front of them. 

Knuckles yawned, crossing his arms as he rested his head on Maddie’s arm which the older did not pay any mind to, subconsciously scratching his quills.

The younger’s eyes widened, not moving away from the touch but seeming genuinely shocked by it, “What are you doing?”

At that, the human quickly drew her hand away.

Shit.

“O-Oh, I’m sorry, baby.” She said apologetically, cursing herself for making it seem like she was trying to rush him with anything…

“It’s just a thing I do with Sonic and Tails— they find it calming. I’m sorry, I should’ve asked. It’s just…kind of an instinct…” Maddie said to Knuckles as he looked down, fiddling with his gloved fingers as he looked anywhere but the person beside him, “You do not…have to stop if you do not wish.” He admitted quietly, “It feels nice…”

The nurse tried (and failed) to hide yet another dorky grin that spread to her face as she gently ruffled Knuckles quills once more, cooing on the inside as the echidna subtly leaned into the touch, trying his absolute best to concentrate on the television but obviously clearly enjoying the affection as his tail wagged softly against the couch. 

As the TV ran, Maddie moved her hand to scratch where Knuckles' ears would be and the young warrior absolutely melted at the new touch, his tail wagging faster.

The purple cladded woman fondly smiled at the reaction, moving her fingers to gently scratch the back of the echidna’s neck but nothing would have prepared her for the loud shriek the teenager let out as she did so.

The violet eyed fifteen year old covered his mouth in shock as the human retreated her hand back, her face morphing to worry once more, “A-Are you alright? Are you hurt?” 

The echidna swallowed, not even trying to hide the small blush that appeared on his muzzle now as he put his hand to the side, “I-I am…uninjured.” He said as calmly as he could muster, “I apologize for startling you…I also startled myself…” 

“It’s okay, sweetheart…” The purple cladded human said, “…But what happened?”

“I am…not sure.” Knuckles explained as he rubbed the back of his neck as if to redo the feeling he just felt, “You touched the back of my neck and it felt…odd.” 

“Odd?” Maddie repeated. 

“Odd.” Knuckles said again.

The nurse raised a curious brow, lightly poking the red furred echidna where she was once scratching him as he burst into surprised and confused giggles.

The fifteen year old shook his head back and forth, scrunching up his shoulders as he lightly tried to pry the other’s hand away.

What…was this?

And why did it make him feel so…giddy and carefree?!

“C-Cease thihis s-sohorcery ahahat once!” The violet eyed echidna giggly demanded, hugging himself and falling down on the couch, “Ceeheease ceeheease ceeheeheeheease!!” He snickered as Maddie gently started to spider her finger nails along his sides. 

“It isn’t sorcery, love. Your just ticklish.” The adult chuckled, putting one and one together. 

“N-Nohohoh Ihi ahahaham nohot!” The red furred teen denied through his chorus of laughs, “Ahan ehechidna waharrior woHOULD neHEHEver hahave suhuHUCH AHA c-chihildish weeheeakness!” 

“Really?” Maddie smiled, intrigued as she gently prodded the other’s lower ribs, causing the other in question to automatically jerk, throwing his head back as he buried his heels in the couches cushions, “NOHOH thIHIs ihihis CHIHIHILDIHISH!!” He desperately squealed. 

The woman in purple pajamas couldn’t help the small coo she let out at the teenager’s adorable reactions…

…And Knuckles didn’t even need to look at her to know she found his once-in-a-full-moon flustered expression very amusing.

“Awe, Knux…” The nurse lightly teased as her fingers continued their ticklish torment on the echidna’s ribs. 

“NOHOH— snrk! DOHOHON’T!!” The echidna in question cried as his cheeks started to match his fur color, internally cursing his natural body movements as his tail wagged happily once more.

“Don’t what~? Don’t tickle you?” Maddie sweetly asked, only receiving a small but LOUD snort from the other as she moved down to gently scratch along his stomach, “Looks like I found a bad spot, huh, bud~?”

“IHIHIT IHISN’T snrt BAHAD!!” The teen insisted, banging his fists on the couch, “IHAT JUHAH—! SNRT! JUHUST FEEHEELS OHODD!!”

“Interesting…” The adult hummed, pretending she was pondering something as he dug her hand’s into the violet eyed echidna’s underarms, wincing slightly as he let out a sharp scream before descending into loud cackles.

“This feel odd too?” She asked innocently. 

“IHIHAT’S snrt snrt EEHEEVEN WOHOHORSE!!!” Knuckles laughed, “G-GEHAT snrt AHAHOUT OHOF THERE!” 

“Get out of where~?”

“THEHEHEHERE!” The teen quickly retorted, trying to gesture to his underarm but anytime he tried to the other would just simply make her touches even lighter, “MAHADDIE DAHAHON’T AHACT snrt STUPID!” 

“'Stupid~?'” The nurse dramatically gasped, “And here I thought we bonded!” She huffed as she fluttered her fingers in the crooks of the teen’s neck and under his chin.

And truth be told…Knuckles was absolutely, positively embarrassed of this whole ordeal.

And to be honest…he could have gotten up anytime he wanted…

…But he didn’t.

He hadn’t thought he’d ever feel such…happiness and carefreeness ever again…

…But it’s like Sonic always said…

'Hope is a hedgehog’s greatest weapon.' 

“SNRT! NOHOH!! STOHOP SNRT IHAT!!!” The echidna wheezed out, his legs frantically kicking behind Maddie.

“Guess this is your sweet spot…” The woman smiled brightly. 

“NAHAHAH! SNRT! NOHAHOTHING AHABOHOUT SNRT SNRT MY NECK IHIHIS SWEEHEEHEET!!!” The young warrior cackled loudly, tears welling up in his eyes…

…And for the first time in…well, forever…they were happy ones. 

“AHALRIGHT!! AHAHALRIHIGHT!!!” He relented, lightly pushing on her hands, “IHI SURRENDER! IHIHIHI SURRENDER!!” 

And just like that Maddie immediately let up, sitting back as Knuckles let out a couple more aftermath giggles.

“You okay, baby?” The human asked, wiping away the rest of his happy tears. 

“Y-Yehes. I aham snrt fine…” The red echidna hummed, sitting back on the couch as he layed his head on the figure’s shoulder again. 

“Thank you, Mo—“ Knuckles' eyes widened, quickly catching his slip-up, “M-Maddie. Maddie. Thank you, Maddie.” He exclaimed quickly, quietly praying to his echidna ancestors that the purple pajama wearing woman did not catch his mistake.

But judging by her wide eyes and agape mouth…she most likely did.

“Uhm…I-I must go to my sleeping quarters now…g-goodnight.” Knuckles stammered under his breath quickly and quiety, not waiting for the other to give an answer as he basically sprinted to the attic, quietly closing the door to not disturb his brothers whom were soundly fast asleep. 

Maddie slowly got out of her state of shock, her heart basically leaping out of her chest as she fondly smiled, shutting off all the lights in the living room and kitchen before taking one small glance at the closed attic door.

She felt…so warm and…so fuzzy…

Instead of her heart dropping…she honestly felt like it just soared to heaven. 

“Goodnight, son.” She whispered, wiping her eyes as she slipped into her and Tom’s bedroom, going under the covers next to her husband and going back to sleep. 

·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝙵𝙸𝙽˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙ 

(𝙿.𝚂.: 𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚌, 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐!!!)

[yaoiconnoisseur]

Please consider Modern (magical) AU thirst trap lawyer Astarion Ancunin

find me on bsky

[reidsbabyhoney]

the move in | hozier

roommates (i)

the one where you’re meeting you’re new roommate for the first time

pairing: hozier x fem!reader category: fluff cw: this is not my best work, please forgive me the original was so much better. promise, promise the next chapters will make up for this!! wc: 1.7k a/n: this is much shorter than planned. mainly just an introduction to the story and a bit of background. future chapters will be longer and add more to the plot. also this entire story is basically a self-insert oc, if that makes any sense. it is not very vague when it comes to backstory or personality, but really what fun would reading fanfiction be if you couldn't pretend to be someone else?

series masterlist hozier masterlist

There was a common theme with the thoughts currently rushing through your mind: dread. And it's been all you’ve felt for the past week.

Though you were already in your third year of university, the unease of this year's living situation began creeping up.

For the first two years of university your roommate, Sienna, was one of your closest friends. But at the end of last semester, she decided that university was no longer for her and she would drop out. Though you would remain friends, not having her as your anchor who was literally only a shout away created an unwanted storm in your mind.

Obviously, you were supportive of her decision. You had no reason not to be when she wanted to create her own business and was more than prepared for every possible thing the world could throw at her. Sienna was also very impatient, so she decided she didn’t need the final two years of, “Unnecessary professors telling me things I already know,” as she liked to remind you.

Since she had dropped out, you didn't have anyone to room with this year. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem. Most students would just decide to get an apartment off campus and commute to class when necessary. But the scholarship you were on required you to have on-campus housing, how great.

Not wanting to go through the trouble of finding a new roommate, you signed up for the school's anonymous roommate program and hoped for the best.

Though it's not exactly the school that pairs you, more so a random website that seems more like a dating app than anything. After fifteen minutes of answering an intruding questionnaire to match you with the absolute best option for a roommate, you were paired with someone named Andy.

When you received the email about who the website paired you with, you nearly stopped breathing. Andy was short for Andrew apparently. For the entirety of your third year in university, you would be living with a man.

According to his profile, his hobbies were literature and music. He also happened to be very, very cute.

Out of pure anxiety, you haven’t opened the message he sent you once you two were paired together. You assumed it was him attempting to get to know you better before you were due to move in, and that message was sent a week ago.

You knew yourself well enough to know that you were a hopeless romantic at heart. You were practically raised on romance, both in movies and in literature. You knew if you answered his message your mind would run wild with scenarios between you and him, even though you had yet to interact. That’s just how you worked. So you refrained from talking to him until you could do it in person and find one of his flaws to turn you off from him if that was even possible.

The only good thing that’s come out of this entire thing so far is that instead of sharing a small room with your new roommate, the school assigned you to one of the student flats. This means you had an entire house to yourself. Well yourself and Andrew.

After a week of anxiety being the only emotion you knew, today was the day you were set to move in. Being an international student you didn’t have any family to help you, so you’ve dragged Sienna back to school for a day to help you get settled.

“I didn’t think someone could hide this many pots and pans under their bed for an entire year at uni,” Sienna says with a huff as she breaks down the final box that contained your kitchen supplies.

You chuckle at her words and playfully roll your eyes as you reach up to place a cup into the cupboard.

“Don’t be so dramatic, I barely went shopping for most of this stuff in February, most of them lived at your family’s house. I only had a few in our old flat anyway.”

“Why do you need so many kitchen supplies anyway, trying to get into this man’s pants by cooking or something?” she asks with a raise of her brows, already knowing you found your new roommate to be “blessed by the gods” as you’ve mentioned.

Your eyes widen as the words leave her mouth, moving to smack her arm with the kitchen towel you had in your hand.

“You can’t say stuff like that. What if he just walks in and hears you say I’m trying to sleep with him by cooking for him?”

Sienna's eyes only widened at your response, looking past you as if something had caught her eye.

But it couldn’t be what you thought, right? There’s no way you were that unlucky. There's no way the first introduction to your new roommate was you saying you had ulterior motives and wanted to get into his bed. Right?

As someone clears their throat in the hall next to the kitchen, you knew you were wrong. So utterly and embarrassingly incorrect.

“Well at least he’ll have someone cooking for him, better than what I did for him.”

It’s the voice of a man that breaks the tension in the room. As you turn around you’re met with someone that is not Andrew. And you accidently voice that.

“Disappointed?”

My cheeks heat at the playful jab, “I-sorry that was rude. I’m Y/N and this is Sienna, my best friend.”

“It’s nice to meet you, I’m Alex. Here to help Andy move in.” He says, offering you a hand to shake.

You take his hands and are about to open your mouth when the door swings open and you see the man who has been occupying your thoughts for the past week.

See, haven’t even met him yet and you’re already creating stories in your head.

“Alex, what’re you doing? You’re meant to be helping me, not flirting.”

His voice meets your ears like honey dripping on toast, smooth, sweet, and completely addictive.

Once you look to Alex’s left you’re met with possibly the most beautiful man you’ve seen in your life.

He was wearing a loose fitting pair of jeans and a white button up that strained against his arms with the box that he held in them.

If you weren’t already completely embarrassed, you’re sure you would be drooling at how good this man looked.

Once again it’s Alex that breaks you out of your thoughts, “Not sure I was the one doing the flirting,” he says, giving you a look with raised eyebrows.

Great, this isn’t going to be forgotten about any time soon like you might’ve hoped.

Before Andrew can ask any questions you quickly speak up.

“I’m Y/N and this is Sienna, it’s really great to meet you. We’ve just finished unpacking my stuff in here so we’ll be in my room if you need anything!”

With that you grab Sienna and practically drag her to your room and slam your door shut.

Once you're in the comfort of your room, she can’t help but let out a loud laugh. Basically folding in on herself as she cackles at your embarrassment.

“Oh, I had no idea you could embarrass yourself that bad when meeting a cute guy, babe.”

“Please don’t make it worse. I don’t know how I'm meant to live with him,” You say with a huff.

Walking to your bed, you throw yourself down face first. Allowing yourself to wallow in self pity for a few minutes before Sienna inevitably drags you back out to the living room to get to know your beautiful new roommate.

“You sure you don’t want to re-enroll so we can live together again,” your words come out a bit muffled but Sienna can understand you enough. Enough for her to throw a pillow at your head and force you to sit up.

“Okay stop. You will be fine, there’s no need to be dramatic. You didn’t embarrass yourself to the point of death, now go out there and get to know him before I start sharing stories about you myself.”

As she speaks, she drags you out of bed and into the hall that leads to the living room. Surprisingly, the guys seemed to have unpacked fairly quickly and were sitting on the couch finding something to watch.

Alex is the first to see the two of you walk out of the hall and he gets up. Patting his legs, he stands up and stretches.

“Okay well, time for me to go. Don’t have too much fun without me.”

Alex waves bye to the three of you and quickly leaves, signifying his absence with the harsh shut of the front door.

“So, Alex told me all about this villainous plan of yours,” Andrew breaks the silence between the three of you and you’re reminded of why you didn’t want to be out here in the first place.

“I-See I didn’t mean it in the way he probably heard. I have no intention of cooking for you to get into your bed,” you say quickly walking closer to the couch as the words frantically leave your mouth.

“Well, I can’t say I would be opposed to the idea.”

Before he even finished his sentence your eyes are widening and you’re turning to look back at Sienna who’s giving you the same expression.

Did he really just say that?

“Wait, I-No. I didn’t mean I want you to sleep with me. I meant, no that sounds wrong. You’re beautiful really, but I don’t expect-”

His words are cut off by sharp laughter that leaves the two of you at his rambling.

Looking up at his face, you see the deep red that coats his cheeks and runs down his neck.

Rubbing the nape of his neck, he clears his throat before speaking, “What I meant is, I wouldn’t mind you cooking, if you ever wanted to of course. I wouldn’t force you to do any of that. I mean we’ve barely met.”

Looking up he sees the small smile you have on your face and covers his with his hands, “I’m truly sorry.”

“No,” you let out another small laugh at that, “we can call it even now.”

You were truly fucked, and once you met Sienna’s eyes your thoughts were solidified. There was no way you were going to survive this year without falling in love with your new roommate.

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tags: @man-i-love-folklore @the-song-of-flowers @songbirds-sweet @cowboycatreign @celery-grace @alexis-34 @inejghafawifesblog @colddarkearth23 @hauntedworld @sleepy-time-dreamy @midsummervixen

[muffinlance]

Next Dark Night in Ba Sing Se part! Is! Fully outlined!

...And so is the majority of series in lesser detail because oops my hand slipped.

[ai-the-broccoli]

enemies to lovers / but you'll never own my heart

@luzon-dove happy birthday, Quinn!! As a present, I decided to draw a piece fanart of your "blood in the walls of the yagami house" AU fic series, since I found it very well-written and full of super interesting ideas and concepts. I hope you like it!

[oldbutchdanielcraig]

a gallery of memory

armand/daniel, e, 7.3k

tags: Pre-Season/Series 01, Missionary Position, Body Worship, Mildly Dubious Consent, Blood As Lube, Memory Alteration, Bouncing on it in a way that establishes character development. and character regression

Language:

Daniel is half-drunk and, as he is most of the time, unpleasant. These are important facts. The other important facts are as follows: Daniel is three years away from sixty. Daniel’s second marriage officially ended seven months ago, though she moved out two years ago. The divorce took a long time because he was dragging his feet on signing the papers. He doesn’t know why he dragged his feet for a whole fourteen-and-a-half months. He told his wife and her lawyers and his lawyers it was because he was too bogged down in preparing this memoir to give a shit about some paperwork. He is so fucking tired of getting divorced. He’s decided, officially, that he’s not ever going to get married again, even if it means he doesn’t get laid for the rest of his life. If needs must, he’ll buy a fleshlight. New York, 2010. Daniel celebrates the release of his memoir with an old friend.

[vexedmilky]

Happy birthday Danganronpa V3 you changed my life in both the best and the worst ways

(Kinda sappy rant in the tags)

[ficauthor]

Valerie is so interesting text wise in the Danny Phantom cannon.

She was rich but now she's poor. All basically overnight. She wasn't even particularly snobby compared to the other a-listers. but we watch in an instant how the life changes affects her. Her rapid decline in financial and social status was bc of a ghost dog. but overnight we also see her friends of many years reject her bc she cant go to a concert.

she takes it on the chin but seriously oof. that pain of her friends all ditching her must have been brutal its a huge display of her kindness that she continued to care about them even with that betrayal.

she's extremely socially adept, and very good at leveraging it. enough to trick Tucker into telling her details on ghost hunting.

She works at her local exploding McDonalds as a mascot. At any moment that place could blow because of its C4 sauce but she stays anyways because she's a hardworker, and is trying to help pay the bills.

Now she hates all ghosts because all of her life being ruined is because of one specific awful day. Vlad who's (and i can't stress this enough despite everyone knowing it) a ghost uses that very real trauma to gaslight her into trying to kill her boyfriend. she doesn't know its him but still. she tried to kill him and she's still likable/ nuanced/ complex enough that i can't even be mad.

she'd so caught up in protecting Danny that she doesn't know that she is trying to hurt him.

She also does it bc she believes it protects her dad. Her dad is a security officer he can protect himself but Valerie loves so fiercely it doesn't matter. she loves to her own detriment i'd argue.

in that alternate future we see her working with her dad to protect all of the town from Dark Dan. She never stopped trying to help people. Her number one priority is to always do what she thinks will keep people safe.

She'd very misguided about ghosts but considering the information available at the time it makes sense why she believes that ghosts are all bad.

.She's kind and smart and resourceful but always terrified. it's really easy to see that the way she goes about protecting including her motivations to do so, is all fueled by the fear that anyone's life could be ruined like hers was.

She's so caught up by it all that she breaks up with Danny because she thinks it is best for his wellbeing. she doesn't want his life ruined like hers was. she doesn't know that his was already turned upside and she's trying to make sure harm doesn't befall him.

Her entire life was twisted on its head bc of ghosts just like Danny's was. But circumstance lead her to try and kill them all. She's always in a state of survival juggling side jobs school and vigilantism.

She dated Danny for like a week tops and he became so instantly smitten to such a strong degree he ignored the murder attempts. He was so in love with her he wanted to give her a dorky old fashioned promise ring. he liked her that much! and it was all while she tried to kill him as Phantom! imagine how loveable you have to be for a person to disregard the murder attempts and somehow ignoring it is the correct thing to do.

The show makes it very clear that Valerie is one of Danny's biggest threats. More than Skulker, or Vlad or any of the normal ghost rotation. Not just bc he didn't want to hurt her either. she is genuinely so skilled motivated and quick on her feet that it gets Danny in trouble when they fight. seriously the way she learned the tech from Vlad in no time is majorly impressive. the way she adapted to technus' tech demonstrated a huge display of power and strength (in the Dark Dan timeline she's most likely the biggest factor in protecting the city from him. there are other people working to fight him but she's so powerful that it takes his worst weapon to take her down)

The way she foils him is so interesting. Danny is also often prone to try and shoulder the burden alone but he still always has people in his corner. that's why he turned in Dark Dan in that alternate timeline. the removal of his support made him lose his humanity.

But Valerie doesn't have that support system like him. yet it never consumes her like it does him. she is so interesting! it's just such a shame that the show never got a chance to expand that further.

[cloveroctobers]

@darqchilddaydreamz ahh you have no idea how happy I am to read the words of thee queen of feedback! I really appreciate you! 🤎 See I’ve been debating in my head when I wrote the whole possible baby scene if she did share…Now that I’ve had time to marinate on it between writing this piece and the latest I’m sticking with a negative on that part. Which only makes their story much more heartbreaking 🫠 what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him? Yeah right. Yet she feels like she deserves to know it all since she’s so intertwined with Dante. And he’s forever stuck in his guilt which in his mind makes him feel like God—since he’s religious—is punishing him and making him believe he doesn’t deserve Seraphina more than a friend because of their past.

HAMMER TO THE HEART — THE FINAL CHAPTER: DANTE TORRES [Summer Writings]

A/N: We made it to the final part of this mini series that had no plans of being a series, which is still mind-blowing for me since I’ve nicknamed myself as “NeverWriteAPart2ESS.” 🤭 This is for the readers who asked if i had any more Dante on my list and here it is but I’m sure it won’t be the last! Thanks for all of your support. Also hope you have either a fun, safe, or chill holiday 💥 I originally had this planned to drop Saturday or Sunday but I’ve been in my writing bag lately so enjoy this (mostly) angst gift ✨

🏷️: @darqchilddaydreamz as always thanks for tuning in, I love reading your responses ❤️

S/N: Seraphina now has a face readers but ofc you’re always welcome to imagine whomever! + rewatched the last two episodes to refresh my noggin—I’m still new to PD and debating if I want to get into it from the beginning due to past ICKS so if some things are/have been inaccurate that’s why lol.

WARNINGS: language, tweaked the original plot just a little, light? discussion of deceased bodies, bodily injury, triggering flashbacks, & a LENGTHY read!

<- read part two here.

𓂃 ࿐ 𓂃࿐ 𓂃 ࿐ 𓂃࿐ 𓂃 ࿐ 𓂃࿐

There’s an unknown number that stands out on Dante’s phone screen. He came to the bar with Atwater and Ruzek, Ruzek briefly disappeared to the bathroom after telling Dante he was ready to kick his ass in some pool and Atwater struck up a conversation with a very flirtatious woman that Dante had to point out to him. It was funny how the taller man tried to get updates on what was going on with him and Seraphina but was being oblivious to the attractive woman that wanted his attention.

Dante’s sipping at his beer when he feels his phone vibrating. Shifting a bit he manages to pull the phone from his pocket, peering at it he swallows the alcholic beverage before swiping across the screen. “Hello?”

“Hey, man thanks for picking up! Uh, sorry to bother you.”

Dante turns his eyes into slits, picking up on the familiar voice, “…Manny? How’d you get my number?”

“Remember my dad who I mentioned weeks ago?”

How could Dante forget? That day on his thirty-first birthday has been on his mind since and after everything that went down, added more disdain for his “special,” day.

Dante felt his eye twitch, “The old cop?”

“Uh huh…I guess you guys still have some type of pull even if you’re retired.”

Dante rubs at his face, slightly irked. Resting his elbows onto the counter he exhales as he thinks about what he should do about this situation. Somehow he chose to brush that off for now and get back to the point of this call.

Dante presses, “…is there something you need?”

It’s not as loud on Manny’s side of the line besides the barking that he scolds before it’s quiet again compared to Dante’s but the buzzed haired cop is focused on nothing but the intent of this call right now. “it might not be anything but my last call with Phina-Mena ended kinda abruptly. And I’ve been trying to reach out to her since and it seems like the call keeps dropping? I was just wondering if you heard from her?”

Dante feels his jaw tighten at this, it hasn’t been easy for him to process that Seraphina’s been keeping this from him at all. Which of course added to the mountains of tension between the two and it’s actually been two weeks since his birthday. Once Voight realized that Dante had a deeper connection to Seraphina than what this case is and felt a way about him getting her involved, Voight made sure to carry out visits to the lab without him.

Which further pissed Dante off.

“You gave me shit about not only becoming a cop but kept giving me shit about the situation with Gloria…and you think it’s okay getting yourself involved in this kind of danger when you already stepped away from it?” Dante felt like his brows were touching, the aggravation burned through his veins as he tossed Seraphina’s front door shut behind him.

The short haired woman continues her walk to the back of her home, to the kitchen, “Nothing about this case is okay and I have valid reasons just like you do with your career and Gloria. I may not fully ever get that second half but it happened and it is what it is.”

Which was ironic to hear since Seraphina was the one who said that she was done taking things for what they were with Dante. Was this all to get back underneath his skin because honestly it felt like she was kinda trying him?

“Yeah somehow I don’t think you’re gonna be saying that if you get yourself killed.” Dante’s usual gentle tone feels like frostbite, making Seraphina freeze in her tracks right in the center of her kitchen.

Relaxing her shoulders she turns to face Dante. His doe eyes are wide and he looks as if he wants to start pacing the floor but Seraphina isn’t in the mood to soothe him, not when his attitude’s been ugly since she made herself comfortable down at the district.

“You’re worried, that’s fine.” Seraphina shrugs, “I can understand that but you’re acting as if Voight handed me a gun—

Dante scoffs, “He might as well have!”

Seraphina argues as if it was so simple, “Tay, I’m working on the chemical end, not the physical. That’s your guy’s area. What you all signed up for.”

It wasn’t only PD’s job. She allowed herself to get thrown back into the true forensics of things. The amount of bodies that ranged from young kids to teens months ago to current time—still children was insane. At first the cases Seraphina’s dealt with, didn’t seem connected to her until she found something in common with each of the youngest children, that high traces of Librium contributed to their death along with specific wounds that ultimately caused them to bleed out.

The darkness was falling and Seraphina did not seem like she was ready to dodge it.

“What we’re dealing with is a serial killer.” Dante states while the woman nods her head being full aware from what she’s seen and before what made headlines, “They’re smart and have been steps ahead of us lately. If they find out that someone else is onto them…then there’s no telling what they have up their sleeve next.”

Seraphina inhaled and exhaled, “Which is why we’re doing everything to catch them and why Voight brought me on. He knows I can help so why can’t you?”

Dante shakes his head, “I never said that. You’re outstanding at anything you do…I just can’t go through having you in harm’s way again.”

She gets close to him now, hand going to grab the side of his neck and he thinks she’s going to embrace him but she just brings her chin above his shoulder, making sure her lips are near his ear, “Well, that’s not up for you to decide.”

And she goes to exit the kitchen, forgetting her appetite but Dante’s not finished as he also whips around, stalking after her, ready to follow her all around the house to get his feelings out about the path Seraphina was throwing herself back into.

The battle was just beginning.

Dante ignores Manny’s question and decides to ask his own, “when was this?”

“Last night.” Manny answers, “l called to see what she thought about the lastest MasterChef episode and we were just about to get off the phone after she took the trash out but there was some…shuffling? I guess and then the call dropped.”

At that moment, Dante felt as if all the air was just punched out of lungs. His head drops and he’s rubbing at his face now, eyes clenched while trying to find some air to bring back into his body. “time.”

“Pardon?”

“What,” Dante tries to keep his tone leveled but his gut was telling him that something was wrong and his stomach’s been funny since he last left his person’s house two weeks ago, “What time did this happen last night?”

Manny blew out a breath, “It was late…some time after 10pm my time and 9 for you guys.”

“You said you heard scuffling—

“Shuffling,” Manny corrected, “but now that you mention it, maybe it was more of a scuffle.”

“Did you try to call back?”

“Course. What kind of guy would I be if I didn’t check on a lady to make sure she made it safely into her home?” Manny says if it Dante offended him but it’s not like he cared, “There was a text sent ten minutes later saying that she dropped her phone, cracked her screen and would probably have to take it to a repair shop or get a new one but I haven’t heard from her all day today and we usually send morning affirmation texts or checking in texts during the day…it’s after 9pm now and there’s still nada. White noise.”

Dante can see that Ruzek’s made his way back out of his peripheral view, “Alright, I’ll get back to you.”

“Great, keep me posted. You now have my number—

Dante ends the call.

When his eyes meet Ruzek’s, his smirk vanishes as Ruzek gets rid of the teasing that’s sitting on his tongue, watching Atwater trying to spit game once he takes in Dante’s facial expression.

“Dante, what’s up?”

Dante’s rapid blinking makes Ruzek further concerned as he lets the words slip from his lips, explaining, “We have to do a wellness check on Nina.”

And Adam doesn’t need to hear anymore, with Dante making his exit before getting on the phone again, leaving Ruzek to toss some money on the counter in thanks to the bartender and calls out to interrupt whatever Kevin and his potential love interest of the night had going on.

When the trio make it to Seraphina’s brick home, Dante only pauses for a short time, his eyes scanning all over the exterior that was basically his first safe space once she brought it and second home. Kevin and Adam both share a look on either side of Dante, tempted to ease his worries but they were loud enough as they stood beside him.

It was a silent conversation between Kevin and Adam, both eyes widening to push the other to say something first but soon they realized Dante whisking by them as he jogged up the steep steps. He stops at the front door and gives a quiet signal for one of the men to check around the back while Atwater chose to follow after Dante.

The door was closed shut but not locked and that was something she did not do. With a twist of the door followed by his foot, he pushes the door open and calls out, “Nina…are you home?”

The home doesn’t feel warmed by her spirit so his mind already told him what he needed to know. Atwater does the honors of going up the first set of stairs to the right while Dante is checking closets, scanning the living room and there’s a closed laptop sitting on the coffee table, before heading down the hall. He passes the second set of stairs, checks the half bathroom, and continues to the kitchen. The house looks as it should and there’s a carton of raspberry chocolate chip Talenti ice cream soaking in the sink, perhaps it’s something she forgot to toss into the trash being too wrapped up in a conversation with Manny…but it reminds Dante of a dark time back in July when they were kids.

That July where their scars got fresh ones.

There’s a snapping that irks Seraphina’s ears, a light so bright that shines against the skin of her closed eyelids. She can feel her neck beginning to ache right at the spinal cord, the weight being too much to bare as she struggles to get the pressure off. It takes time but the light that keeps flickering is supposed to be encouraging and it does get her to focus.

Leaning back against the hard chair, her eyes peel open but the one on the left feels tight and more than sore. Swollen. She tries to blink it away but that feeling is prominent and it makes the space above her brow experience a sensation that radiates to the center of her forehead, leaving her skull to throb. She had been hit with something when she turned away from her trash out back and now she was sitting face to face with the man the entire city was searching for.

“You don’t realize how fascinating you are.” He starts, “At first I thought my one more would only be Hank but then…I started watching you too.”

That unsettling feeling that sunk in was not pleasant. The woman winces as she feels the ties chaffing into her wrists and her ankles, “…this isn’t going to end well for you.”

“I could say the exact same to you.” The bearded man says, emotionless, “But I’ll do you a favor and let you get one last call.”

Seraphina huffs, knowing what that means but slowly let’s the determination kick in trying to buy herself some more time, “Did you really catch me off guard and hit me in the face?”

“It was a spur of the moment thing,” He answers honestly, “Like I said, you originally weren’t my target but I figured a two for one special wouldn’t hurt, much.”

Seraphina licks her dry lips, “tell me…are you married? Children? You should know, hitting women is a punk move but you got bigger problems than that. Kids? I hear the slammer doesn’t play with those that are kid killers.”

He scoffs out some laughter, “I won’t be there. I’ll be reborn, new by then and as for you…that’s to be determined. Are you a Phoenix or a scared duck hiding from the rainstorm like you’ve been doing over Dante?”

Seraphina clears her throat, “does that make you feel better? Speaking on things you think you know?”

He stands in front of the dark haired woman, hands clasped behind his back as he trailed his eyes all over her features, that alone made her skin crawl. It was as if he imagining all the ways to disfigure her face. There was a strong detachment in his eyes that would leave anyone shook.

“I think I know enough. I’ve watched all of you but the most intriguing happened to be: Hank, Hailey, Dante, and you.” He informs, “I needed Hank and I wanted you.”

“For what?” Seraphina quizzes.

He doesn’t miss a beat, “for new beginnings. We can’t take the easy way out but at least the comfort of a loved one in your final moments will make it seem that way. Which is why, you’re going to give me what I want and call.”

Seraphina shakes her head but stops as the pain follows her movements, “sounds like it’s more to give you a piece of mind. You think you provided all these people with peace as you tortured them for nothing?”

He has a cool blade underneath her chin so that their eyes are locked, “is anything really for nothing? Nothing is ever truly senseless. Look at yourself for an example. You’ve been here all your life, wishing on a star for Dante to love you back but maybe it’s a fever dream. Everything that you’ve been through, where you could have been, if only he took the romantic love you have for him serious—is all in your head.”

He’s squatting now, dry hands on Seraphina’s bare thighs. Her breathing hitches as the deranged man pulls the waistband of her Terry cloth shorts forward, “there it is.”

He’s in amazement and she wants nothing more than to spit in his face at him showing her vulnerability in this dark room.

Seraphina doesn’t look at him as he runs the point of the blade along her lengthy scar, “Stop touching me!”

She grits out but the killer can see that she was swallowing the rising tears down.

“Dante does love you beneath his own problems but he won’t allow it because he feels like he doesn’t deserve you. You know that. He chose someone else because that’s a life he’s known. You could have been a new life. Always have been which is why he keeps you close. He’s scared to have a life with you past friendship because of all of the things that happened when you were kids but most importantly he took a piece of life from you.”

The exposed air is cold against Seraphina’s old scar and she can feel her eyes burn; she just wanted this man to shut up and rot.

[July, 2009]

The horn from the opposite car is deafening.

A sixteen year old Dante is stunned on what he’s seeing. The classic mustang rammed into the back of Dante’s new low-rider, which was given to him by the exact man who decided to ram his car into the back of his. Dante’s leaning on his elbows on the hot gravel, trying to find his voice since his car was just totaled but that didn’t matter. What mattered was Seraphina happened to be in the passenger side eating her signature raspberry chocolate chip ice cream while he was outside of it, vibing to, “Forever,” by BBL Drizzy, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and Eminem.

Although this was his first car through being involved with the gang, he took pride in it because he knew what he had to do to get it. He had to hide it up the street from his mother but she was no dummy, she sensed the change her in son the moment he returned the favor to his step-father, nearly beating the man to death. He looked up to, “Sad Eyes,” as almost an older brother with methods that gave him the potential to be a powerful man. However he wasn’t sure what this method was? And he scrambled to his feet as he heard the creaking of Sad Eyes’ car, he fell onto his shoulder out of the car, his eyes settling on Dante as he lay on his side.

“Why?! What was this for?!” Dante called out to him.

Sad Eyes just blinked as he spluttered around the blood that escaped his mouth, “Good Luck.” Were his final words.

Dante didn’t have time to process that right now as he circled around the car. His hands go right through the rolled down window to press a shaky hand into Seraphina’s pulse point. It’s moving but it’s too slow. She’s not conscious but the horrors were already settling in as Dante’s green hues followed the path of the crushed car and the iron fence that pierced through her abdomen.

There was blood everywhere. Dripping from the iron fence while pooling into the lap of her white jeans. His heart was hammering against his chest at the sight, she looked dead and that alone felt unbearable. He snapped out of it, hands moving to the handle of the door trying to pull it open but it was obviously jammed shut.

The sirens were squealing through the summer air in the distance and Dante just knew there had to be some sort of motive. There always was with this gang. Carefully he leaned into the window, pressing a kiss to her temple, breathing her in as he whispers, “I’m sorry, Nina.”

That wouldn’t be the last of his apologies. He went into hiding around the empty parking lot, just to make sure that the firefighters got her out and the paramedics got her into the ambulance. Dante was aware that the police would start searching the area but he couldn’t just fully leave his best friend behind. Not when their relationship shifted weeks prior.

Sure he’s thought about it, asking Seraphina to be his girl but he let the members of the gang get into his head. He only told the other youngest member of the gang, who went and ran his mouth to the main two in command: Sad Eyes and Joker about it. Rico aways had diarrhea of the mouth and sometimes Dante felt bad at how hard everyone was on him, until Rico told his business with Seraphina.

A meaningful intimate night that they all clowned him for. That she wasn’t anything different or even special because she didn’t choose to get passed around by them. Seraphina didn’t even want to be around the gang after they disrespected her, especially with most of the members being much older than the both of them. She would never be just some, “bitch,” and they told Dante that he would find plenty more along the way in this life. That did not sit right with Dante so he cut his time short with them that day (plus some days after that but they always came to him when he didn’t want to bothered) and gave Rico a nice busted lip on his way home. He felt bad about it later since the fourteen year old struggled to find his place in the gang and just wanted to be part of something but in that moment? A sixteen year old Dante stood on business, which the gang got another laugh at.

When Dante and his mother, Catalina made it to the hospital Seraphina’s father was just finishing talking to the doctor. It had been hours since Dante watched them take Seraphina away. He waited for his mother to get home from work, keeping his gun nearby just in case any other members dared came to his door, telling her what happened and she didn’t bother putting her things down. She waved him along, mind racing with a million and one thoughts as they left their home to catch the bus to the hospital.

Catalina prayed the entire way, rosary held in both her and Dante’s hands but the younger boy kept his eyes on the city lights that blurred by.

He couldn’t lose Seraphina.

“You piece of shit!” The boulder of a man hissed while yanking Dante up by the collar, “I told her to stay about from you countless of times but she continues to be hardheaded—must of been something you taught her. You bring nothing but poison, you started this. I know you convinced her to hide those pills that got my wife caught out. I know my daughter.”

Dante was breathing hard but out of anger, “you think you do, sir. You think you have the answers to everything but you don’t. You’re the definition of neglect. You neglected your wife when anybody can take one look at her and see that she was about to lose her shit. And Seraphina? The only time you paid attention to her is when you’re looking to point the finger for your miserable life. Tell me, do you really think I’m the only piece of shit here when you tried to drown your so called daughter the night they took Mrs. Coty away?”

“Dante!” His mother’s voice cuts through, knowing her son crossed a line but she never appreciated the way Mr. Coty spoke of her son, and she also wasn’t aware of what he did to Seraphina.

Her hand was resting right on Mr. Coty’s bicep tightly and she noticed the nurses looking, hands probably waiting on the phone to call security to throw them out. Seraphina didn’t need to be alone like this, this much Catalina knew and just needed these two to put their egos aside for the sake of Seraphina.

Mr. Coty huffed as he shoved Dante against the wall one last time, his head hitting the wall as he tells him, “You think you’re so much better? You’ve done nothing but break her and that’s all you’ll ever be, a scared little boy that brings nothing but damage. You think you saved your mother by beating that coward of a man down? You only ended up hurting her just as much and as for my daughter? Two broken ribs, neck sprain, and that fence went right through her pelvis. Do you know what that means? There’s a high chance that she’ll never be able to create life in the future and sure she won’t have to worry about that now but you’ll always be the reminder of what you took from her. That’s all you are, a good for nothing taker. So you remember that when you want to shit on my parenting skills.”

And Mr. Coty fixes Dante’s shirt, condescendingly patting his cheek as he stalked off in the opposite direction of where Seraphina lay. A sixteen year old Dante thought about many things in that moment, one of those being the act of swinging on the older man, there was a familiar look in his eyes that his mother saw so she sat beside him on the floor and brought him into her chest while he clenched his fists, holding back tears. 

There was a time back when Dante was in the academy, where he and Seraphina slipped up back in their early twenties. The age of sixteen was the first time but as they grew, it happened again. She slipped into a bookstore while Dante was eyeing a new boba shop that was across the street. He had a tough day the day before and agreed to hang out that Saturday to get his mind off it. Dante knew that he had what it takes but the instructor was a Grade-A asshole and that only pushed him even harder. He easily pinned out what type of cop he would be dealing with and heard the gossip, so he showed his ass just exactly what he was capable of.

It did get tiring and he was exhausted but wanted to be around Seraphina to ease his mind. Seraphina stood across the street, a bright smile on her lips as she had a tote bag full of new purchases that her bank account would give her shit for later when she went over her finances like she commonly did every reset Sunday. She didn’t like what she saw, another woman, with bright copper hair, clearly flirting and being too close to Dante for her liking.

Did she not see that he had two drinks in his hand? It wasn’t Dante’s fault, he was a single good looking man and could do whatever he wanted. Seraphina just messed up her previous date that Seán set her up with because she was too hung up on Dante. It was ridiculous considering that they weren’t children anymore but constantly bringing him up to other contenders was a red flag. She saw that, had to understand how that was off putting because she wouldn’t put up with it herself honestly.

So she took the risk, not wanting anyone else to have Dante as they got into an argument over her shift in moods after their outing uptown. She walked right up to him, grasping his face and planted one right on him. He wasn’t expecting that as he pulled back, silently questioning what that was with curiosity in his light eyes but that curiosity is exactly what led to him connecting their lips again, picking her up and leading her through her apartment at the time to her bedroom.

She’d like to call it a true false positive, taking two tests after the third time. Her OBGYN confirmed it with a blood test and she was happy but scared. Seraphina and Dante were friends, the best anyone could have but they discussed that it couldn’t be more until she ended up wanting it to be more. No one else matched up to him. They were careful—not enough—and she imagined what children would look in their friendship and automatically knew Dante would be a great dad. Just when she worked up the nerve to tell him, waiting days after the news…she suffered a miscarriage alone because of that terrifying injury when she was fifteen going on sixteen.

Asherman's syndrome is what they call it.

“Somewhere around all of it, you still love him and he cares for you immensely. It’s twisted because anyone would have called it quits but there’s something…enchanting about you two.” The killer is back to standing up straight, “I want to hear how much up close so…call.”

Seraphina slowly blinks while she stares at the device the killer is holding out to her, “No.”

The bearded man deeply inhales, putting the burner phone back into his pocket, “tell me something…when you went through your miscarriage…when that abdominal pain almost ripped you apart from the inside out, did you dig your nails into the palms of your hands hoping that would help?”

She exhales, closing her eyes and knows what’s about to happen next. She doesn’t grant the monster with a response as she feels the blade pressing underneath her nail. Her screams did not go unheard in the room close by which contained a non-coherent Hank Voight and once satisfied, the killer whispers as he enjoys the drips of blood that hits the floor, “Take all the time you need but I’ll be back. It’s time to see Hank.”

The state of Dante Torres’ heart felt as if someone took a meat tenderizer right to it. He was right on Hailey’s tail despite Petrovic telling her to stand down. This case quickly became personal for the both of them and it didn’t take long to realize that Voight got snatched as well. The team all knew it was a matter of time and that was not something they wanted to continue to give to Matson.

He wished Upton stood on her stance of shooting Matson in the kneecaps and had his own finger on the trigger to fire. The next moments he blacked out on after seeing Hailey climb in the trunk of Matson’s stolen car.

Eventually he’s heading down the steps, eyes immediately picking up on Matson’s mutaliated body, eyes gaugeed out, brain matter surrounding him, and a knife sticking right out of his abdomen that Seraphina was still holding onto. Dante lowered his gun after putting in the call for the paramedics to make their way down.

“Nina,” Dante gently speaks as he gets down on his knees beside a sitting Seraphina.

He carefully reaches out to touch her bleeding hands but she pulls them back from holding the blade, curling her hands into herself numb to her missing fingernails. “Hey, hey, it’s me, Tay. I’m here, Nina.”

It’s like she’s not here, eyes glossed over but she hears him. “Dante?”

He nods and there’s a sob that rattles from her chest as a bloody hand tries to silence it. Dante springs into action, bringing her right into his arms. His face tightens as he glances at Matson’s body and back to Ruzek who’s tending to Hailey and Voight, he dips his head for him to get Seraphina out of here.

“I’ve got you,” he says to her after repeating a nod to Ruzek, “let me get you out of here, alright?”

Scooping her into his arms, he spins around taking her away from the violence that was inflicted. Hating that he didn’t try harder enough to keep her out of this. Kim nods her head at them on their way by, empathy was heavy in her large eyes as she watched her team member take the love of his life as far as he could.

“I wouldn’t call.” She whispers to Dante in the ambulance, one hand holding his while the paramedic is bandaging her right hand.

Dante hums as he brings her in tact hand to his lips, “I know Mi Corazón…you’re the toughest person I know, next to mi ma.”

Seraphina snorts before her eyes widen, “…you didn’t tell her anything did you?”

“She’s knows we’re going through our bullshit again,” he mocks his mother, knowing that Seraphina’s reaction was valid because as soon as Momma Catalina found out that her babies were up to some bullshit, she was ready to bring out the chancla after embracing them and making sure they were okay first, “but not the specifics.”

“Good.”

Dante scoffs, “good? Not good. I know what happened and you should be more concerned with that than anything else.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Seraphina closes her eyes but Dante nudges her with their clasped hands, “…can we do this later? I’m tired.”

Dante peeks at the paramedic who shakes their head, which lets Dante know that there could be signs of a concussion. “How about this? Let’s talk about the rest of our summer plans?”

“Are you sure you even want to spend the summer with me?” Seraphina wiggles around trying to get comfortable on the stretcher, “I know you’re going to beat yourself up over this and it’s not necessary. I’m a big girl and made myself part of this, not you.”

He exhales through his nostrils, laughing internally that she knew him so well. How could he not beat himself up over this? It was his job to look after her, something they both vowed once they became friends at thirteen. Once he got into the gang in juvi, he made sure he had people on the outside looking out; not only for Seraphina but also his mother until he got out.

“Yeah it is necessary,” he starts but Seraphina doesn’t want to hear it.

“I’m tired of Chicago, Tay.” She shifts the conversation, although the green-eyed man knows he can bring it right back there if he wanted to but he decides to listen on their ride to the hospital, “My parents went to Kansas City as soon as I moved out full time to get rid of all the bad memories so why can’t I do the same…even if it’s for a little bit? My cousin Behati’s been begging me to visit the New England area with her husband and two year old daughter.”

Dante is quiet at this but he shows he’s listening as he lightly squeezes her hand.

“B and Makari always extended the invitation to you too, you know?” She’s hinting as Dante leans forward to press a kiss to her forehead.

He’s met Seraphina’s cousin Behati and cousin-in-law Makari many of times over video calls and the pair seems so full of joy. So positive and compassionate with the intentions of showing that they were good people. Seraphina’s always talked about Behati and hated that she always lived far and cant remember the last time she’s seen her in person.

“You should go.” Is all Dante says, sending a small smile to Seraphina who goes silent at that.

Dante lets out a long exhale after cutting the engine. He knows they’re pressed for time as he’s in the line up, and glances over at Seraphina who peers out the window in excitement. Dante dips his head as they both move to exit the car, she’s fixing the carry-on that’s on her shoulder while Dante pulls out the hard-cover suitcase from the trunk. Reaching out for the handle, they both meet each other’s eyes.

Seraphina offers Dante a smile and he takes it, a soft grin splitting over his lips that she gets a view of the tiny gap in between his front two teeth before he’s pulling her into his arms. He always loved holding her. The feathered haired woman rubs at his back in his embrace as he holds onto her like he’s going to lose her forever.

“I don’t know where I’d be without you and I’m gonna miss you, Nina.” He says as their heads rest side by side.

She laughs, “I know.”

Dante snorts as he pulls back to look at the amusement in her eyes. It’s been a tough time after the events with the serial killer but Seraphina always knew how to keep going and this trip was part of that. She didn’t need anyone’s permission to relocate but she kept talking it over with her therapist—something new she was trying—and with Dante. What kind of friend would he be if he told her to stay after everything?

“How sweet of you.” Dante is sarcastic as he gently rubs the sides of her arms while Seraphina winks.

“I’ll be back after Labor Day.”

Dante nods.

Seraphina uses her pointer fingers to lift the corner of Dante’s mouth who rolls his eyes in return, a smile breaking through on its own, “And if you change your mind or want a little break from this…from Chicago, you know where to find me.”

He places a lingering kiss on both cheeks before hugging her again, lifting her off her feet, “yeah, I do. I love you, have a great flight. Now get out of here.”

She kisses one of his cheek’s back, “I love you more and I’ll text you when I land!”

“You better.” He puts her down on her feet, letting her take her things and watching as she makes her way into the airport.

Once she sends another wave and he can’t see her anymore, Dante circles back around his car to get into the drivers seat. The hammering starts in his chest as he starts the engine, pulling away from the curb and he’s struggling to swallow the lump in his throat.

See Dante wouldn’t blame Seraphina if she decided that she didn’t want to come back. They always talked about seeing what the world had to offer but Chicago was all that they knew. He was glad that she was getting out, although she claimed it was only for a little while, the back of his mind was saying something different.

His eyes flicked to the new ornament that he hung from his mirror. It was a old Polaroid photo, on Seraphina’s fifteenth birthday during a late December, she held up a deck of cards which shielded the lower half of her face, arm tossed over Dante’s shoulder as he appeared unimpressed wearing a red headdress that was Vegas themed and forced on his head for the photo.

Written on the white space in Seraphina’s chicken scratch of handwriting she always had it says: I’ll always celebrate my bday and ur bday enough for the both of us! —Forever your road dog, Nina :)

Dante sucks in some air after glancing at it, blocking his mouth with a shaky hand in attempt to quit the cry that wants to burst out as he puts on a smile.

He really was happy that Seraphina got out, for real this time.

This didn’t have to be goodbye but it was certainly feeling like it and Dante would be lying if he said it wasn’t breaking him.

Guess he’s a sucker for pain and evolving it into something better, which he’s competent of.

When Dante truly sinks into this new found emptiness, a separate shade of darkness, he comes to terms with: not having the reassurance of Seraphina by his side or a simple drive across town where she resides, he’s not entirely sure how this will all play out and that petrified him.

“Torres,” he answers his phone, after realizing that it’s been ringing for a while.

The familiar gruff voice replies, “I need you down at the district.”

Crime was never ending as Dante put his foot to the pedal, flying down the highway to dive into the life he’s built for himself.

And continues to buries the rest.

For now.

𓂃 ࿐ 𓂃࿐ 𓂃 ࿐ 𓂃࿐ 𓂃 ࿐ 𓂃࿐

FIN.

Continue with my summer anthology writings & prompts here.

[insomniaflarrow]

Seven Some Sentence Sunday

Tagged by the very nice @elodiah! :D

Decided to do some non-linear writing, so an excerpt from a near-future chapter!

Mobius lowers his eyes, the isolation finally breaking over his head in a wave, still fighting to pull him under the surface after all this time. He chokes on a particularly shaky exhale, feeling it stick to the inside of his windpipe as though it might come up more like a sob, and swallows to hold it back.

He kicks at a pebble, half-buried under the silt and dry grass, and it wobbles its way down the shallow incline, coming to a stop just before it hits the edge of the stream. Sighing, he puts his hands in his pockets, blinking at it mournfully.

A flicker. Green particles envelop the small stone, nudging it until the wet sand gives way and it rolls the remaining two inches, falling into the stream with a splash.

Mobius stares into the rushing water. Then he tilts his head back, smiling at the sky – although he's sure he probably still looks very sad and very tired. “Guess neither of us are getting out of this alone, huh?”

It's been a good few years since the sky answered.

No pressure tagging @blackbirdofasgard @kcscribbler @lokimobius @loki-is-my-kink-awakening @megglesthegeek @zephyrsobsessions @gloriouslokiuss @thosegayoldmen

[un-pearable]

just ran around the house like a deranged puppy bc i was consumed by . don’t even know how describe the emotion

[cavennmalore]

one of the worst things about publicly saying you’re working on something is then you have to finish it

[rancidsugar]

Another one for the darling fic

Reach Out and Feel Me by @femmefighter

<3333

[hyewka]

draft 1 was literally. all about beomgyu’s (alleged) feelings