#fighting for my life watching goodbye mr chips

[cottagecore-raccoon]

Looks at the closed captioning: he didn’t fucking say that

[wavyhairedbabyy]

Idiots - Part 1

Karl Jacobs x gn!reader

tldr: They’ve both got a crush. Sucks, since they’re the only ones oblivious to it. (Slow Burn!)

CW: some swearing(not at each other), fluffy as a teddy bear.

a/n: I got a random influx of followers ;-; Tysm for enjoying my works and sharing them. I haven’t written in 6 years, in case it wasn’t obvious lmao, so even one is super meaningful to me :) this ended up being way longer than I intended it to be so I’m splitting it into 2 parts. 

edited yet: yes - let me know if I missed anything!

Part 1 - Part 2

Y/n and Karl met when Karl was still going to college in New York before dropping things to move to North Carolina. They met the fall of their sophomore year at the campus café when Karl was trying to shoot a piece of paper into a trash can. The problem was he couldn’t aim and it landed right in y/n’s mug of coffee, quickly dissolving into a paper coffee soup. For anyone else it would’ve been okay but being that coffee was y/n’s life line, especially during finals, it most definitely was not.

“You’re buying me another, right?” they asked, “I would highly recommend it or you might see a side of me you don’t want to see.”

Being the good guy he was, and the slight fear of their bad side, he did with no questions.

“So, since there’s a side of you I don’t want to see, and I bought you a new coffee, do I get to see the side of you that I do want to see?”

“Find me next semester and you might.”

And he did.

***

“Karl, if you don’t give me that sword, I’m going to hurt you!” Y/n screamed as they lunged toward him. It was y/n, Karl, and Chris hanging out at Karl’s place until it was time to leave for a Mr. Beast project. They sat in his living room, Karl with a foam sword that y/n was desperate to take from him.

“That’s the problem! If I give it to you, you will hurt me with it!” He yelled back, jumping out of their reach.

“Okay children, why don’t I just take the sword so we can end all of this?” Chris intervened in an attempt to stop the ruckus.

Both of them paused, looking at him in disbelief. They shook their head and in unison scoffed, “No!”

The two continued their play fighting, one holding on to the sword for a short period of time before the other pulled it from their grasp. This went on until it was time to leave the house.

While this was all going down, Chris watched Karl’s behavior. He noticed how he let y/n hold on to the sword a little longer, even when he could’ve easily reached out to grab it from their hands. He noticed how he was much more careful with his movements, almost scared to be too rough with them.

With anyone else, Chris knew Karl’s pride would have taken over in this situation. He thought back to any other time he had any of his SMP friends over. With Nick or Alex, he would have hogged the sword and brutally whacked either of them with it as much as he could. He would happily tacked them and pinned them to the ground. With y/n though... there was a gentleness with them, and Chris did not fail on picking that up.

“Okay lame-os, let’s get on over to the warehouse. Y/n, you coming?” Chris asked.

Y/n shook their head, “Nah. I’m gonna unpack my stuff and relax from the flight. Plus, word on the street says that tomorrow is when the cool stuff is happening so I’ll come then.” they replied.

“Well the street is right, but they’re still a dummy,” Chris looked at Karl for reference.

“Hey...” Karl faked a sad look before staring at y/n for defense.

Y/n giggle and just shrugged, waving goodbye to the both of them, “If you don’t bring me back Burger King fries, don’t bother coming back at all!”

***

Chris and Karl sat in the car, Chris driving and Karl in the passenger seat. With some music on in the background, the two were discussing the plan of action for what was going to be filmed for the day.

“Do you know how long it’s going to take?” Karl asked, “I feel bad leaving y/n by themselves so I want to try to get out as early as humanly possible.”

“I’m not really sure. I’m sure Jimmy wouldn’t mind you scootin’ out a little early,” Chris replied. He took the opportunity and leaned over to his friend, “Speakin’ of y/n, anything going on there? Y’know, anything special?”

“Uhh- whaddya mean special?” Karl haphazardly, “We’re best friends. I think that’s pretty special.”

“No, idiot. I mean is there anything there besides just being best friends,” Chris paused for a second, “I dunno. I just noticed you’re different with them, man. You know you would never treat Nick or Alex the way you treated them.”

Karl paused, trying to think of a response but failing. He sighed, “Yeah, there’s definitely something there on my end. I mean, I’ve been attracted to them since we first met. I just don’t think they reciprocate it.”

“You never know if you don’t try. What’s the worst that can happen?”

“I’d rather not think about it,” Karl sunk into his seat, thinking of all the bad endings that could happen if he told y/n his feelings.

***

Meanwhile this was happening, y/n was making themselves comfortable in Karl’s guest room. They planned on staying for a week and a half which meant packing a month’s worth of clothes. Before starting to unpack their things into the dresser, they FaceTimed their other best friend that was back in New York to keep them company.

“You’re calling me now? Your flight landed 4 hours ago! I was sure you crashed in the middle of the ocean - gone like that Malaysia flight,” y/bff answered.

“Hi to you too,” y/n responded as they started to place their clothes in the closet, “ You are so dramatic. My flight didn’t even go over the ocean. And don’t act like you weren’t tracking my flight. You knew damn well I was fine.”

“All this worrying and caring, and this is how I’m being treated?” Y/bff shook their head as the wiped their fake tears away “The disrespect.”

“Pft, the only disrespect I’m seeing here is the lack of questions about my day,” y/n said, “I had a great flight. I got those yummy blue chips and had a nice drive from the airport in a Tesla.”

Y/bff gasped, “What kind of Uber driver is driving around a Tesla? We need more of those people up here.”

“Dude, it was Karl,” y/n replied, “I was shocked. Last time I saw this kid he was driving a hunk of junk. One year down here and he’s driving around like he’s Elon Musk.”

“Well, I’ll tell you this now. If you don’t cuff him, I will!” Their laugh echoed through the phone

Y/n rolled their eyes, “Oh please, if he doesn’t like me like that then you’re in no good luck.”

“So you told him then?”

“No, not yet,” y/n paused, “I dunno. We’ve been friends for 3, almost 4, years now. If he liked me, he would’ve said something by now. Plus we live so far away from each other now. I just don’t wanna ruin a good thing, y’know?”

“Well, I still say do it. You can tell him and spend your life in peace knowing his answer, or keep it to you yourself and spend the rest of your life wondering ‘what if?’ And I’ll tell you now, the latter always ends with regret. With the first answer, you’ll at least have a chance of a happy ending.”

Y/n shrugged, putting away the last piece of clothing from their luggage, “I know, I know. I’ll think about it. Thanks for the chat, but I’m gonna go relax now before he gets back. I love and miss you already.”

They exchanged their goodbyes and hung up. Y/n flattened their luggage and slid it under the bed. Moving back to the dresser, they found some comfortable clothes to change into after a shower.

Y/n knew y/bff was right. They just couldn’t bring themselves to share their feelings. What if Karl didn’t feel the same way? Would it ruin their friendship? Would this be the last time they ever saw each other? No, y/n knew it wouldn’t end their friendship, but it would make it awkward for a little while. They moved to the bathroom. Maybe a shower would help them compose their thoughts.

***

“I’m back!” Karl shouted as he kicked the door shut behind him. The project took a few hours so the sun had set and nighttime was settling itself in North Carolina. There was no response. Karl continued, “And I have Burger King fries!”

“You should’ve started out with that! Coming!” Y/n yelled from down the hall. Karl rolled his eyes and walked over to the living room table. He started making room for the food when he heard fast footsteps coming toward him.

“Incoming!” Y/n yelled, tackling him to the floor with a hug. They were giggling as if they just pulled the best prank in the world.

“Hi to you too,” he groaned from his body hitting the floor. Y/n continued to chuckle as they got up, grabbing Karl’s hand to help him up too. They sat on the couch, looking at the food in front of them.

“A whole whopper meal? What did I do to get the honors, Mr. Jacobs?” Y/n remarked in a posh accent, popping a fry into their mouth.

“You existed,” Karl giggled out. Y/n smiled, but the butterflies in their stomach couldn’t feign their excitement. It was small shit like that that made y/n fall for Karl. He continued, “Plus I didn’t know if you ate or not so I thought better safer than sorry.”

“Aw, you’re the sweetest,” they gave him a tight hug before returning to the spot they were in on the couch, “So, what’s the plan, Stan?”

“I’m kind of tired from filming, I hope you don’t mind-”

“Actually, I completely mind” y/n replied sarcastically. Karl shook his head at them.

“So, I was thinking we could just watch a movie or watch a show,”

“Ah yes, head empty activities. I’m down. Can we watch a movie though? Not in the mood for a show right now,” y/n replied.

“Sure let’s scroll through and find something,” Karl switched on the TV and the two munched on their food while they decided what they were going to watch. After 20 minutes of scrolling, which really was 20 minutes of fighting over who had better taste in movies, they finally agreed on Wall-E.

Before the movie started, y/n looked over to Karl. Their hands were in the shape of finger guns, pointed to each other and the tips of their index fingers touching. They had a pout on their face when they asked, “Can we cuddle while we watch?”

“No,” Karl shook his head quickly, keeping a stoic, straight face. Y/n’s pout got bigger. He continued, “I absolutely hate physical touch.”

They both immediately broke out into giggles, y/n grabbing the nearest pillow and smacking him with it, “You are so lame.”

Karl continued with his fit of giggle, “The day I say that and mean it is the day hell freezes over.”

As the intro to the movie played, the two came closer, y/n’s legs tangling up with Karl’s. When they finished up their food, they moved closer with Karl’s arm around y/n’s shoulders and their head laying on his chest.

Y/n gave a playful scoff, reminiscing on their past memories together, “This reminds me of the time we had a Disney movie marathon before spring break.”

Karl laughed, “Yeah, and you made my old roommate cry beforehand because he wasn’t doing his dishes all semester.”

“In my defense, I gave him warnings. He didn’t wanna listen and there’s no way I was letting you live in a house with a sink full of fruit flies.”

“I’m not sure if you did that for me or because you practically lived with us.”

“Don’t get it mixed up, pretty boy. That was for you.” Karl smiled at those words, looking down at the person laying on their chest. He wanted to believe there was more than friendship behind those words. The warm feeling he would always get with them filled his chest as he turned his focus back to the movie.

“I really missed you.” He whispered.

“I really missed you too.”

***

Part 2

[leossmoonn]

Unexpected Love [Kai Parker] || Part One

masterlist 

pairing - kai parker x fem, human!reader

type - fluff, angst

note / request  - this request is by @mrs-parker-1972​ “The reader is on the other side with the others, and gets trapped there with bonnie and damon, or you can just skip to part when all three of them are in the prison world. So i am not really sure on how the reader meets kai, but you can improvise that part, I trust you. And then well, um, the reader and kai will hate each other and despise each other (damon and bonnie are in the real time world I guess?) And then kai does something human for the reader (you know, coz he doesn't have feelings) and it wakes something in him and the reader and kai grow close to each other, and I really don't know what else, but like can you, make their time in the prison world longer?? (Kai and the reader's) . And please it would be hilarious if you could add some comedic lines if damon, coz you know, damon is damon. And it would be AWESOME if you added the deleted scene of kai Parker where he is really emotional, and he says that after the reader touches a really soft spot about his child hood. And please make the reader human.” 

note - so i was planning on just rewatching the 6th season and copying scenes but i discovered it would take so long lol, so i split this into a 4 parts. i also didn’t really copy anything from the show, just the scene at the end. so most of this is just my writing. part two is at the end and word count is 7k+

summary - you and kai fall in love over a period of time after spending time with each other in the prison world

warnings / includes - language, alcohol, crying, fighting, 

————

*gif isn't mine*

“Maybe if you didn’t take so long to look for Alaric, we would still be alive!” I exclaimed. 

“Hey, you’re the one who insisted that you have a whole conversation with Lexi about the last few years,” Damon spat. 

“Yeah, but we were both already with Bonnie. You were miles away!” 

“You two stop it!” Bonnie shouted, putting her hands up in-between Damon and I. 

“No, Damon needs to know that this is his fault,” I glared.

“Oh, hardly. Why were you even there, again?” Damon asked. 

“Because you twisted my neck, jackass. Which thank you, by the way,” you smiled sourly. 

“Man, I wish you weren’t wearing that ring. You being dead right now would really-”

“Damon!” Bonnie yelled again. “I’m serious. You two need to stop. You’re giving me a headache.”

“Not my fault,” I mumbled, looking down at the road. 

“Liar,” Damon said not-so-quietly. 

“Before you two start again, let me remind you that I’m scared and mad, too. We can’t just fight the whole time, though. We need to see if we can get out. You two have been fighting about this for months, so stop,” Bonnie said. 

“We’re dead, Bon-Bon. We can’t get out,” Damon said. 

I rolled my eyes and started to walk away from them. I couldn’t stand Damon. 

“Where are you going?” Damon exclaimed. 

“To look for a way out, and to get away from you!” I yelled without looking back. 

“See? She’s useless,” Damon muttered behind my back. 

I let out a long, distressed sigh. “I’m going back home.”

“Same. I need some food,” Bonnie said, catching up with me. 

We walked for miles until we got to Damon’s house. I was sweating and panting by the time we got there. We had no cars so it was a good 5 mile walk.

“Need any water?” Damon asked as we walked inside his house. 

“Yes, please,” I breathed out. 

I trudged over to the couch, flopping down and taking my sneakers off. Damon came back over with a big class of cold water. I smiled at him gratefully, standing up to take it. Damon had other ideas, though. He lifted the glass up to the top of his head, making it hard for me to grab it. 

“Oh, c’mon. You’re such a dick!” I whined, jumping up. My fingertips skimmed the bottom the glass, but I still was just a little too short to grab it. 

“Say that magic words,” Damon smirked.

I rolled my eyes. “Thank you, oh great wise one.”

Damon smiled happily, setting the glass down on the table. 

“Jerk,” I muttered, taking a long sip of the water. 

“You love me!” Damon sang. “Nope,” I shook my head. 

“Hey, we need to get more food,” Bonnie stated from the kitchen.

“Then go and get it, Bon-Bon,” Damon muttered. 

“I was just about to, Damon,” Bonnie spat.

“Maybe you can go and learn magic again, too,” Damon snickered. 

I turned my head to him. glaring. “Wow, you are just full of shit today. Huh, Damon?”

Damon rolled his eyes at my insult. “Yeah, well, I don’t want to be stuck here. I want to see Elena.”

“And you will! Who knows, maybe I’ll get my magic back. While I’m out I’ll go and practice magic,” Bonnie shrugged off Damon’s insult. 

“Good idea. I’ll go with you,” I smiled, standing up and slipping back on my shoes. 

“With all do respect Bonnie, you haven’t been able to do magic ever since you became the anchor. What makes you think you can do it now?” Damon asked.

“Just have faith, Damon. She can do it. I know it,” I smiled at Bonnie, who smiled gratefully back at me.

“Fine. But are you guys gonna leave me all alone?” Damon whined. 

“Yep,” I nodded, walking over to the door. 

“Who’s the rude one now?” Damon challenged. I put a finger up to my chin and hummed, pretending that I was thinking hard. I then put on a charming smile. 

“Still you. Ready Bonnie?” I turned to the girl next to me who was putting on a jacket. 

“Yep. See you later, Damon,” Bonnie smiled and waved. 

“See you,” I nodded. 

Damon waved goodbye as we shut the door behind us. I walked with Bonnie until we split off. She went to her grandmother’s house, while I went to the little supermarket a few miles out. 

Walking there was a pain in the ass. I had my car keys with me, but I couldn’t seem to find my car. Even though this place had everything else; Damon’s house, my house, Bonnie’s grandmother’s house. Even Elena’s house. Just not my car, which pissed me off, but I knew I couldn’t start to get mad again. Getting angry and upset wouldn’t help us get out of here. 

I walked up to the supermarket and entered the market, expecting someone to be at the register, but no one was there. I laughed at myself for expecting someone. Every time I’ve gone out, I’ve always expected to see people. But I remind myself that I’m dead. Of course no one would be here. We were all alone. Those cars outside were just there because this was just a very real, very confusing after-life. 

I grabbed a shopping cart and started getting the stuff we needed. Eggs, milk, fruit, vegetables, bread. I then got some soda and water bottle cases, some bags of chips and sweets. I went over to the frozen food section and got a few microwavable dinners and some ingredients to make food like chilli and tacos. I went around the store once more, making sure I got everything we needed. I passed one shelf, stopping once I realised that something was missing. 

“I thought there were pork rinds here,” I muttered. 

Merry-go-round music then started to play. I turned a full 360, trying to see if there was anybody in the store with me. No one was here. I went outside of the store, seeing the little merry-go-round spinning. 

“That’s weird,” I mumbled. 

I heard the sound of flapping and my head snapped to the sound. I saw someone pass by in a flash. Goosebumps sprung up on my arms and the hairs on the back of my neck raised. I got this uneasy feeling in my stomach as my mind went to disturbing thoughts.

“Hello?” I called out. 

I walked further into the parking lot, hearing the noise again. I sighed as I realised it was probably just Damon pulling a prank on me. 

“Very funny, Damon! You’ve freaked me out, good job. You can come out now!” I exclaimed, my eyes searching the open area. 

The merry-go-round came to a stop and I let out a deep breath to try and calm myself down. Bonnie, Damon, and I were the only ones here. No one was going to hurt me… Right?

The merry-go-round music started up again suddenly. I jumped in surprise and fear, doing another 360.

“Must be on a timer,” I muttered. 

“False,” an unfamiliar, matter-of-fact voice spoke behind me. 

I froze in my spot, afraid to turn around as I knew that definitely wasn’t Damon. 

“Don’t be scared. I won’t hurt you,” the voice said, getting closer to me. 

The person appeared in front of me. I stiffened up more as the voice belonged to a man. A very attractive man, might I add. He had a big, teasing smile on his face. His blue eyes danced around my face, studying me as I studied him. He had brown hair that was combed up, wearing jeans, a black t-shirt, a green jacket and carrying a bag of pork rinds.

“Oh, you’re the one who stole the pork rinds. Who are you?” I asked. “I’m Kai,” the man held his free hand out.

My eyes flickered down to his arm and back up to his eyes. I put my hand out gingerly, slipping my hand into his slowly. I kept eye contact as we shook hands. My stomach did flips as we touched. 

“Nice to meet you, Kai. I’m Y/n,” I offered him a friendly smile. 

“Oh, I know,” Kai shrugged. I furrowed my brows, instinctively pulling my hand away from his. 

“How?” I asked. 

“I’ve been watching you and your friends for a while,” he admitted. 

“Oh,” I said, my eyes wide in shock. 

“Yep! It’s so nice to have friends now. Man, I have been really lonely,” he chuckled. 

“We aren’t friends. And what do you mean you’ve been lonely. Are you dead, too? Have you been stuck here as long as us, too?” I asked. 

Kai frowned, stepping closer to me. “Why all the questions? Don’t you want to get to know me?”

“Um,” I shifted uncomfortably on my feet, stepping back so there was distance between us. 

“Am I making you uncomfortable? Sorry about that. It’s been a while since I’ve had face-to-face type human interaction,” he chuckled, looking down to the ground. 

“No, it’s fine. Anyways, are you dead, too?” I repeated one of my burning questions. 

“No! I am very much alive. Well, I think so. You can kiss me to find out, though,” he flirted. 

I felt the tip of my ears grow warm as his suggestion. “No, thanks.” 

“Oh! I’m doing it again. God, sorry. You are just so pretty and i get nervous when I’m around girls. Especially ones like you.”

I chuckled, my grip on the shopping cart tightening. “So, you said you have been lonely. For how long, exact?”

“Long time. I’m not sure. It’s 1994, though,” he explained. 

My eyes bulged out of my head. “What?! It’s 1994?”

“Yep. There’s literally newspapers everywhere,” he snorted. 

“Well, I haven’t really been observant, I guess. What are we doing in 1994?”

“We’re stuck!” He explained. “Oh, damn,” I muttered. 

“Yeah, it sucks, but now you guys are here to keep me company!” He grinned. 

I smiled politely at him, getting ready to turn around and go back home. “Right. Well, I gotta go. My friends are expecting me for dinner. Maybe you could uh… You could um, come to dinner?”

His eyes widened in surprise. I kept on my smile, shifting the weight in my feet. 

“Really?” He asked. 

“Yeah, why not! Um, chilli sound good?” I asked. “Perfect. I’ll bring drinks,” he suggested. 

“Sounds great. Well, um, see you later?” I proposed, getting ready to turn around. 

“Yep,” he smiled. “Great,” I chuckled, looking down shyly. I began to turn around, but Kai stopped me. 

“Why don’t I drive you there? It’d be tedious of you to carry the cart all the way home, right?” Kai asked. 

I turned back around, “Um… Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. Are you sure, though?” 

“Positive.”

My smiled widely, giggling a little. “Well, yeah, I’d really appreciate it.”

“Great. My car’s over here,” He said and pointed to a dark blue Chevy. 

“Wow, this is a really cool car,” I said, wheeling the car to it. “Yeah, I know,” he smiled, shoving his hands in his pockets. 

I opened up the trunk and loaded the groceries in the car. I then walked over to the passenger seat and got in, buckling and waiting for Kai to get in the driver’s seat. We got to Damon’s place in 10 minutes. I was very thankful I had met him, even though he was a little bit of a weirdo. Kai parked in the entry way and he helped me take in the groceries. 

“Hey, Damon! Is Bonnie home yet?” I called out. 

“Yeah! I am,” Bonnie came out from the kitchen. Her smile faltered as he saw Kai standing next to me. “Who, uh, who is this?” “Oh!” I giggled. “This is Kai. We met at the supermarket.”

“Oh, really? Hi, Kai,” Damon narrowed his eyes at him. 

“Hi, Damon!” Kai said cheerfully. “How the hell do you know my name?” Damon asked. 

“Oh, he’s just uh… He’s just been observing us and stuff,” I explained. 

“Hm, not creepy at all,” Damon muttered. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Kai. Are you joining us for dinner?” Bonnie asked. 

“Yeah, I hope that’s okay,” Kai said. “Yeah! It’s fine, guys, right?” I asked. 

“Sure,” Bonnie nodded. 

“Great! I brought drinks, too,” he said, holding a bag filled with bourbon and whiskey. 

“Great, but we already have some,” Damon said, gesturing to the liquor cabinets. 

“Oh,” Kai frowned. “But it’s fine! We’ll drink your’s,” I said. 

“Great,” Kai perked up again. “Let’s get dinner started, yeah?” I suggested, walking over to the kitchen. 

Everyone nodded in agreement and helped with dinner. Kai mostly helped. Damon got bored in the middle and went to his room to do God know’s what, while Bonnie went to sit on the couch and watch 90′s classics. 

“Thanks for helping with dinner,” I said. “No problem. You are an amazing cook,” Kai complimented. 

“You haven’t even tasted the food,” I chuckled. 

“Well, you seem to know the recipe and whatnot. And it smells amazing.”

“Well, thank you,” I smiled, turning and looked at him. 

My eyes met his and a wave of butterflies washed over me. I looked into his mysterious blue eyes, getting lost in them quickly. 

“Is dinner done yet?” Damon asked, interrupting the moment. 

I jumped away from Kai in an instant, hanging my head low in embarrassment.

“Yeah,” I muttered, walking away and getting bowls out. I poured the chilli in each bowl, bringing them to the table with a glasses of Kai’s alcohol. 

“Dig in.” I sprinkled cheese over my chilli. 

“Let me take a sip of this bourbon first,” Damon said, holding the glass up skeptically. He brought the glass up to his lips, taking a slow and small sip. As soon as the bourbon touched his lips, he dropped the glass on the floor and his hand flew to his throat. 

“Oh, my God. Damon, are you okay?” I jumped up from my seat, running over to him. 

“V-Vervain,” Damon gasped. “Vervain… What?” I gulped, my eyes immediately meeting with Kai’s. 

“You!” I pointed. “Oops,” Kai chuckled, getting out of his seat. 

“Not so fast,” Bonnie said, grabbing his arm to sit him back down. Kai grabbed her arm, too. Bonnie started screaming and holding his hand in pain. 

“What? What are you doing to her!” I exclaimed, going over to them. 

“Taking her magic,” Kai shrugged. “What! B-But… How?” I asked. 

“She’s a witch, so am I. Well, not exactly. I’m more of what you say… a siphon,” he explained as if I was supposed to know. 

“Well, whatever are you, get off of her!” I yelled, taking ahold of his jacket and pulling him away. I stumbled back, still holding onto him. 

“I wasn’t done yet!” Kai whined. 

“I don’t care! You were hurting her,” I glared at him, shoving him out of the way and going to Bonnie. 

“Hey, did he burn you? Let’s get your arm under some water,” I said, grabbing her shoulder gently. 

“No, I’m not burned. It just hurt like hell. Ugh! Why did you do that?!” Bonnie exclaimed angrily at Kai. 

“Because I needed the power to do this,” Kai said, holding up his hand. He made the bottle of bourbon float up and poured it all over Damon. 

“Stop!” I shrieked, running over to shove his arm down, but he sent me flying across the room with his other hand. 

“Sorry, princess, but I can’t let you ruin this,” Kai said. 

I groaned, holding the back of my head. “Screw you.”

“Oh, I wish you could,” Kai winked at you. 

I gagged in disgust and got up slowly, groaning at the paining my back. “Not anymore.” Kai chuckled will finishing pouring the bottle of bourbon on Damon, then lifting him up and throwing him against the wall.

“B-Bonnie. D-Do mag-gic,” Damon whimpered.  “Yeah, please do,” I nodded, balancing myself on the island counter. 

“Yeah, please do, Bonnie. Please humiliate yourself in front of your friends. It’s so sad that you can’t do magic. I’ve been watching you for weeks now. What’s even the point of you trying? What’re you gonna do, fail at me? It’s embarrassing. I’m embarrassed for you,” Kai taunted her. 

Bonnie gave him a death glare and looked around the room, spotting a few candles. She closed her eyes and held up her hand. “Phasmatos Incendia.”

I watched in amazement as the candles lit. Bonnie then turned to Kai, who had a shocked look on his face. She grinned at him, cocking her head to the side. 

“I’m embarrassed for you,” she mocked him. 

“Dammit,” Kai muttered. “Looks like I have to kill you now. I was planning on for that to be later.” “Oh, no you don’t,” Damon remarked, getting up slowly. He then sped over to Kai and before Kai could react, Bonnie held Kai’s arms back while Damon punched Kai. 

“You’re going down, wacko,” Damon muttered, taking Kai’s head in his hands and slamming him down on the floor, knocking Kai out. 

“Are you okay, Damon?” I asked immediately. “Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s get him chained up,” Damon said. 

“Yeah, okay,” I nodded, going over and lifting Kai up form under his arms. 

“Good job, Bon-Bon. About time,” Damon patted Bonnie on the back. 

“Thanks,” Bonnie gave him a small smile. 

Bonnie helped me chain up Kai to a chair, Damon going on the couch to heal and rest. 

“I can’t believe you liked him,” Damon spoke up after a while. 

“I didn’t,” I protested. “You sure? You were drooling all over him when he first came into the house. You're type is crazy,” Damon smirked. 

I rolled my eyes, wanting to change the subject. “I think the whiskey he brought also has vervain in it.”

“He’s right, Y/n. You have horrible taste in guys,” Bonnie teased. 

I scoffed. “Un-called for! Damon’s supposed to be the rude one.”

“It’s not being rude if I’m telling the truth,” Bonnie smirked. “Yeah, well, I guess I liked him. Not anymore, though,” I sighed, sitting down on the couch next to Damon. 

“Good. We would definitely have had to take you to therapy,” Damon smirked. 

I laughed with him, letting out a long sigh. “I just still can’t believe there is someone here with us.” “Yeah, and he’s a psycho,” Damon spat. 

“What're we gonna do with him when he wakes up?” I asked. 

“Interrogate him. See what he knows, what he wants, how to get out of here,” Damon answered. 

“Well, I know a little bit about what he knows,” I said. “We’re in 1994.”

“Yeah, I know,” Damon muttered. “What, how?” I asked. 

“While you were gone we found a newspaper. Apparently, we have been re-living May 10th since we got here,” Bonnie said sourly. 

“Oh. Great,” I shook my head. “Anything else you guys found out?”

“Yes, actually. Kai is a murderer,” Bonnie said. She grabbed a newspaper from the coffee table and held it up to my face. She pointed to the left side where there were four headshots of teenagers. 

“Family Massacred in Portland. The only one missing was the oldest boy. A 22 year-old named Malachai,” I read aloud. I then looked up to Kai who was still knocked out. “I-Is he Malachai?”

“All signs point to yes,” Damon said. “My God. I liked a murderer? Jesus, what is wrong with me?” I muttered, setting the newspaper down. 

“Really? Your type in men is what you’re worried about?” Damon scoffed. 

I smiled a little. “No, no! It’s just… Weird to me. Anyways, if he knows the way out, we have to get out without him, okay?”

“Deal,” Bonnie nodded. 

“Do you guys want to go to bed?” I asked. “Well, someone has to stay and watch,” Damon gestured to Kai. 

“Why don’t you. You’re the immortal,” I nudged his shoulder. 

“Fine. I’ll alert you guys when he wakes up,” Damon said. 

“Great. Thanks, Damon,” Bonnie smiled. “Mhm. No prob!” Damon exclaimed as Bonnie and I climbed up the stairs. 

“He is kinda cute,” Bonnie said once we reached one the guest bedroom.

“Who? Damon?” I asked. “No, Kai,” Bonnie explained. 

I raised my brows, my mouth formed in the shape of an ‘O’. 

“What?” Bonnie asked. “I cannot believe you just said that about our enemy. You’re never this two-faced,” I smirked. 

Bonnie rolled her eyes, “Yeah, well, he’s still a sociopath.”

“True that. Hey, wanna have a sleepover? Maybe have some fun,” I suggested. 

“Yes! Oh, I wish that Care and Elena were here,” Bonnie sighed. 

“Me, too, Bon. We’ll get to see them soon, though.” I put a hand on her shoulder. 

“I hope,” Bonnie smiled.  I smiled back and went to the closet, finding a pair of sweats and a tank top. Bonnie and I got ready for bed, staying up for a good hour talking, finally passing out across the bed. 

I was the first one to wake up. I rose up slowly and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. Once I opened them fully, I looked around the room with complete confusion. Once I looked at the clock, though, I finally realised that I was in a repeating loop of May 10th, 1994. You’d think waking up for months in this place, I would get used to it, but I really never have. Not yet, at least. 

“Disappointing, right?” Bonnie spoke next to me. I turned, chuckling in agreement. “Most definitely.”

“At least we got a full night’s sleep. It’s 10 AM,” Bonnie said. “True,” I nodded, getting up and stretching. 

“Let’s go and see the sociopath living downstairs,” I groaned. 

“I’ll need coffee before I see him,” Bonnie said, getting up and putting on a robe.

“Oh, me, too,” I chuckled. 

We both went downstairs after freshening up, going to the kitchen immediately.

“Um, hello? Did you forget about us?” Damon asked form the living room. 

“Yep,” Bonnie smiled at him. Damon rolled his eyes, going over to us. 

“Hurry up, sleeping beauties. Malachai is awake,” Damon said, his eyes going wide as he said Kai’s full name. 

“Please, it’s Kai,” Kai said. “Hm, nope. I read Malachai in the newspaper,” Damon gave Kai his signature sarcastic smile. 

Bonnie and I laughed at Damon defying Kai. I poured myself some coffee and made myself some eggs and toast before going over to Damon. 

“Alright, I am ready to get this interrogation on,” I smiled, sitting down on the couch. 

“Me, too,” Bonnie said, sitting next to me. 

“Wow, you look beautiful when just waking up,” Kai complimented. 

“Drop the act, weirdo,” I rolled my eyes. 

“I was actually talking to the green-eyed beauty next to you,” Kai grinned. 

I couldn’t help but frown. My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach and I looked down at my food, picking up the toast and nibbling on the crust. 

“You can still drop the act. We want answers,” Bonnie demanded. 

“Ooh, you are so sexy while dominant,” Kai winked. “And you are so gross and desperate,” Bonnie stated. 

“If you don’t give us answers, I’ll snap your neck,” Damon threatened. 

I looked up and saw Kai pursing his lips. 

“It’s so funny,” Kai stated. “What is?” Damon asked. 

“Well, you three seem to hate me, yet you haven’t killed me yet,” Kai explained. 

“Because we need information from you, and you are withholding for no reason,” Bonnie explained further. 

“Fine. But I want Y/n to ask the questions,” Kai said, his blue eyes landing on me. 

I glared at him right away. “Why me? You seem pretty infatuated with Bonnie.”

“Jealousy is not a good look on you, princess,” he spoke playfully.

I had to fight the butterflies that were swarming in my stomach. “And being annoying is not a good way for us to not kill you.”

Kai laughed, “Fair. So, what do you guys want to know?”

“Why are we here? Is this my personal hell?” Damon asked quickly. 

I furrowed my brows and looked up at  him. “Why do you think this is your personal hell?”

“Well, first of all my car is parked in the entry way. Yeah, I noticed that. And second… There was something bad I did during May 10th, 1994,” Damon sighed. 

“Damon… What did you do?” Bonnie’s voice wavered. “Yeah, Damon, what did you do?” Kai pressed on. 

“You,” Damon pointed to Kai. “Shut it. And… You guys would hate me if I told you. Like, hate me for real.”

“Oh, I bet it’s not too bad,” I smiled comfortingly. 

“Nope, it’s bad,” Damon sighed. “Well, then tell us,” Bonnie pushed. 

Damon sighed, walking from the back of the couch to the armchair. He slumped down. “I… I killed a pregnant woman.”

The plate that was once in my hand clattered to the ground. 

“You what!?” Bonnie exclaimed. 

“Not one of my best moments,” Damon sighed. 

“W-Why?” I stuttered, racking my brain for any type of logical explanation. 

“Cause I was mad at Stefan,” Damon shrugged. “And that justifies the fact that you killed a pregnant woman?” Bonnie shouted. 

“Yeah, yeah, I know! I’m a horrible person, okay?” Damon exclaimed, shooting up from his seat. 

“You’re worse than I thought. How can Elena love you!” Bonnie scoffed. 

I stood up in-between them. “Okay, not the time, guys. We need to ask Kai questions.”

“And before you do that, I need you guys to get a few things for me,” Kai said. 

I groaned, “What now?”

“Well, I need to make a list, and I can’t if I’m all tied up.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine.” I went over to him, untying the rope. I then got a paper and pencil and handed them to him. 

“Thank you, honey,” Kai gave me an eye-blinding grin. 

“Yeah, whatever,” I muttered, going to the kitchen to get a dustpan to sweep up the broken pieces of the plate. 

“Alright!” Kai announced after a few moments. “All done.” “Great. I’ll go out,” I said, going over and taking the paper out of his hand. Kai reached out to stop me, though. 

“Nope. I want you to stay,” Kai said. “Why?” I asked. 

“Because you’re so cute,” he complimented. “Shut up. I will kill you,” I sneered, jerking my arm out of his grasp. 

“I’ll go. I don’t want to be around Damon,” Bonnie snarled, snatching the piece of paper. 

“Bon, c’mon,” Damon said helplessly, following her to the door. 

They both went out of the house. I could hear Bonnie shouting from the outside. 

“Finally alone together,” Kai said. 

“Yeah, no. I’m going upstairs,” I said, turning on my heels. 

“If you stay I'll tell you everything,” Kai said. 

I stopped in my track, turning back to him slowly. “Really?” 

He nodded. “I promise.”

“Fine,” I sighed, sitting back down on the couch. Kai got up and walked over. He sat down right next to me. 

I huffed and got up, sitting in the armchair. 

“Fine, I’ll talk to you this way, I guess. So, what do you want to know?” Kai asked. 

“Why did you kill your family?” I asked.  “Well, I was born into a coven of witches. The Gemini coven, to be exact. I was the black sheep of my family. The one whose magical ability was sucking the power out of people. My family hated me. My father hated me. He never showed me love or tried to understand me,” he explained. 

“And that’s why you killed your whole family? Because you never got love?” I asked. 

“Yep. Basically,” he shrugged. “Not a good enough reason,” I shook my head. 

“Well, what were you expecting?”  

I sighed, “I don’t know.”

“Precisely. Anyways, that’s why this is my personal hell. Not Damon’s.”

“How do we get out of here?” I asked. 

“Well, there’s this thing called an ascendent. That will take us home,” he explained. 

“Okay, what is it?” I asked. 

“A mystical relic that was created by my family. It can harnesses the power of a celestial event and creates a portal, to which we can all then go home.”

“And where is the ascendent?” I asked. “I have no idea,” Kai smiled. 

“Ugh! Seriously? How are we going to get out of here now?” “Well, the stuff I asked Bonnie to get will help us. Don’t worry,” he shrugged. 

“Okay, well, I’m going to go and get ready for the day,” I said, standing up. 

“And you’re going to leave me here alone? What if I kill you in the shower?” Kai asked. 

“Well, I need a shower. So, if you do, at least I’ll be released from this world,” I smiled sweetly, walking off. 

I heard him chuckle behind me. I sighed quietly and climbed up the stairs. I could not wait to get out of there. 

I came back downstairs after 30 minutes. I first looked in the living room, seeing Bonnie and Damon with Kai. 

“Took you long enough,” Damon said.

I rolled my eyes, “I assume Kai filled you in?” “Yep. I have to do a spell now to find the ascendent,” Bonnie nodded. 

“And we’re gonna do that with Kai having jam on his fingers?” I asked, pointing to Kai was scooping out jam with his hands. 

“Well, I’m not gonna do the spell. Bonnie will. I’ll just guide her,” Kai explained. 

I hummed in reply and nodded. “Alright, well, let’s get started then.”

Bonnie and Kai went to the dining room table to work. Spreading out a big map and putting some of Kai’s blood on the paper to do a locator spell. 

We watched as she tried a few times before she realised the blood wasn’t moving. 

“It doesn’t feel right,” she sighed. “Maybe I need bigger map.”

“Maybe you’re just out of practice, and you suck at magic now,” Damon said.

“Ignore him, Bonnie. Pretend he’s a white noise machine,” Kai said. “That’s how I used to tune out my siblings.”

“How many siblings?” I asked casually. 

“Seven,” Kai answered. “You know, all of them constantly yammering. But it, uh, taught me how to focus.” He went by Bonnie, looking her in the eye, his gaze traveling down to her lips. 

A pang of jealously hit my heart. I looked down at the ground, not wanting to see them kiss, if they did. 

“Easy there, big brother,” Damon remarked. “She doesn’t know you. At least buy her a drink.”

Bonnie and Kai chuckled, looking at each other. I groaned quietly, going to the kitchen to get myself a drink.

“Hey! Where are you going, princess?” Kai called. 

“Somewhere where you’re not,” I grumbled. 

I got out a bottle of scotch, taking a swig from the bottle. 

“Woah, easy there, princess,” Damon mocked the nickname Kai had given me. 

I glared at him. “Do not call me that.”

“What, I can’t, but Kai can? Sounds like someone still has a crush,” Damon sang. 

“I do not!” 

“You sure you don’t like him? Cause I think you two would make a great fit. He’s crazy and well, you seem to like crazy.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, like you and Elena are a great fit, right? You being the one who keeps breaking up with her and all.”

I then walked past Damon and back into the living room, earning a glare from him. 

“The blood’s moving towards Virginia. Can’t be right,” Kai said. 

“Mm-mm. Spell’s working. It’s showing me Mystic Falls. It feels so… close,” Bonnie said, putting her hand on Kai’s jacket, candles lighting up. 

“It right here,” Bonnie said, pressing her hand into his chest. 

Kai took out the ascendent from his jacket pocket, an expression of shock on his face. “Very good.”

“That’s the ascendent?” I asked. “The one and only,” Kai smiled. 

“Thanks for the mind games, jackass,” Damon said. 

“It was just another little test. To make sure Bonnie’s magic was precise enough for the spell,” Kai explained. “I do believe we’re ready. Pack your bags, we’re going home.”

Kai then walked out of the house and to the front yard, stopping every few moments. 

“You’re wandering around like a crazy man, why?” Damon asked. 

“I’m looking for the exact right spot,” Kai answered, holding the ascendent up to the sky. “We need to find where the power of the eclipse is focused.”

“You know, you could have just showed us the ascendant to begin with,” Bonnie said. 

“Yeah, but I wanted to feel your hand on my chest,” Kai smirked. 

A frown rested upon my lips and I looked down at the ground. 

“He is so annoying,” Bonnie muttered. 

“You’re just not used to guys hitting on you,” Damon said. “You know, I can’t wait to get out of here,” Bonnie glared. 

She then went next to me. I held my head back up, but not looking at her.

“Hey, how you holding up?” She asked. “Oh, fine,” I shrugged. “I’m getting kind of bored, though.”

“Yeah, I feel you… Hey,” Bonnie said, putting her hand on my arm. I turned to her, “Yeah?”

“Kai is a sociopath. He’s just flirting with us to get a rise out of each other. I know you don’t like him anymore, but that attraction you felt to him is probably still there. Let’s not let him tear us apart, okay? We’re stronger than some guy,” she smiled. 

I smiled with her, perking up. “Yeah. You’re right. Sorry, just between him calling me pet names and the fact that Damon is always so pissy, it’s hard to be optimistic.”

“Well, I can do magic again now, so there’s one reason!” “Very true. Good job, by the way,” I complimented. “Why, thank you,” Bonnie chuckled.

We followed Kai and Damon, beginning to talk about our plans for when we got home. I looked down at the ground as she talked about her plans with Jeremy. I kicked around a rock, a pair of shoes appearing in front of me. It was Kai. Before my body could stop, I knocked into him.

His hands supported my waist, holding me up. My eyes met his and for a split second, I could see the human in him. I pushed him away though, scoffing in the process. 

“A little warning next time?” 

Kai just smiled down at me, then looking up to the sky. “The eclipse will happen directly overhead. In perfect alignment with the Gemini constellation. You need to dig under the tunnels below us. We’ll do the spell here,” Kai said 

“Wait, why do we have to dig?” Damon asked.

“Have you never portal-jumped through an eclipse before? Okay, look, the light of the eclipse will shine down and activate the ascendant. You spout a little witchy woo and then, poof! Anyone standing in the circle of light holding the ascendant goes home,” Kai explained. 

“Let me see the spell,” Bonnie said. “When the time comes,” Kai smiled.

He then walked past us three. 

“Where are you going?” I asked. “Into town. I need to gather some important supplies,” Kai explained. 

“Y/n, why don’t you watch over him to make sure he isn’t planning to kill us,” Damon said. 

“What! No!” I protested. “You really want to be stuck with us? Digging a hole?” Bonnie asked. 

“Not really,” I sighed. “Fine, I’ll go. See you guys later.” 

“Have fun,” Bonnie smiled. “Oh, you know I will,” I smiled sourly as I followed Kai’s path. 

I jogged to catch up with him. “Hey, Kai! Wait up.”

Kai stopped in his tracks, turning in surprise. “Stalking me?”

“Nope. More like babysitting.”

“Hm. Well, I’m older than you, so technically I would be doing the babysitting,” Kai said. 

“Yeah, like you have any parental instincts. So, where into town are we going?” 

“I thought you hated talking to me,” Kai said. “Just answer the damn question,” I glared. 

“I’m picking up some personal belongings,” Kai explained. 

“Why?” You asked. “Because 1994 has been my home for most of my life. I don’t want to get homesick when I go into the 21st century,” Kai answered.

“Hm, I see. Well, a lot has changed in the last 18 years,” I said. 

“So I can see. They obviously didn’t make girls as pretty as Bonnie back then,” Kai smirked. 

My lips pulled down into another frown. Him complimenting Bonnie was like a stake to the heart. I didn’t know why, but it bothered me a little too much to hear him talk about other girls. It was even worse considering that the girl he was talking about was my best friend.  

“Hey, don’t be so sad. You’re pretty, too,” Kai nudged my shoulder.

“Wow, thanks,” I rolled your eyes. 

“I’m serious! You’re more pretty than Bonnie!” Kai said. “Just want I wanted. You dragging my friend down so I can be complimented,” I hummed. 

Kai rolled his eyes. “Women are so difficult. Look, I meant that you’re really pretty. Bonnie is, too. Just accept the fact I think you’re pretty!”

My face warmed up quickly and I hung my head low. “T-Thanks.”

“Let me guess, not a lot of guys compliment you?”

“They do, but doesn’t mean I don’t get flustered.”

“You seem pretty outgoing to me,” Kai said. 

“Well, that’s probably because I hate you. I’m shy to guys I like,” I explained, putting my head back up. 

“Hm… Or you just think that. You know, girls can be mean when they like a guy.”

“Yeah, in elementary school. Look, I’m not 8 anymore. I know the difference between love and hate and trust me, my feelings for you stand on the hate side.”

“Keep saying that, princess,” Kai remarked. “And stop calling me princess! God, it’s so annoying,” I groaned. 

“C’mon, I know you like it, princess,” Kai teased, poking at my arm. 

I swatted his hand away. “For someone who is a sociopath, you sure like to flirt a lot.”

“I am not a sociopath,” Kai said. “You sure are,” I chuckled. 

“I’m not. I was just treated like the biggest embarrassment and disappointment of my family, and I’ve been stuck here for 18 years. It’s not fun going through what I did,” Kai argued. 

I softened up a little. “Right, yeah. So, how long do we have to walk for?”

“Not very long,” Kai said. 

We walked in a weirdly comfortable silence for 10 more minutes before arriving at a house. 

“This your place I assume?” I asked. 

“Yep. Not the place I grew up in, though,” he said, walking up. “Because you were born in Oregon?” I guessed. 

“Yep. Wow, you pay attention to what I say. So sweet.” I huffed, “Just hurry up.” 

“Yes, ma’am.” I waited for him outside the house, beginning to play with the locket around my neck. I took it off, opening it and smiling nostalgically.

“I miss you guys. I wish you were here,” I said to the pictures, running my fingertips on them. 

“Are you talking to yourself?” Kai’s voice sounded out of nowhere. 

I jumped, immediately shutting the locket. “No. Are you finished?”

“Yep,” he nodded. 

“Good, let’s hurry back.” 

“Who were you talking to?” He asked as we started our journey back to Bonnie and Damon. 

“Nobody,” I answered. “So you were talking to yourself?” Kai pressed. 

“Yeah,” I admitted. “Why?” He asked. 

“It’s none of your business,” I said quickly. I hoped he got the hint that this was something that I would never share. 

“Oh, please? You know, like, everything about me!”

I groaned, “No, Kai! Stop it.”

His eyebrows raised, his lips curling up into a smile. “Alright, Miss Fussy.”

I went in front of him, walking fast. We finally got back to the big hole that was now in the middle of the forrest. 

“Now will you show us the spell?” Bonnie asked, panting. 

“Not yet,” Kai said. “Why? We’ve done everything you want. Just get us out of here,” Damon said. 

“I just… I can’t. Not yet,” Kai shrugged. 

I scoffed, “Now is not the time to be a dick.”

“Wait,” Bonnie said, staring hard at Kai. “He doesn’t know the spell. Which means we don’t need him. Motus.”

Suddenly the pickaxe that Damon had flew up and plunged Kai in the heart, missing my arm by a centimeter. 

“Bonnie!” I shrieked. 

“What? You never liked him anyways,” Bonnie shrugged. “I have my grimoire right here, I’ll find the spell.” Bonnie pulled out the spell book from her backpack. 

“Yeah, and how long is that gonna take?” Damon asked. “Not long if you two let me concentrate,” Bonnie said. 

Damon groaned and walked over to me. “She seems way too calm.”

“She’s not one to freak out like you or Caroline. I’m a little mad at her, too, but I know she’s got this,” I shrugged, taking a seat on the dirt. 

“Find the spell yet, Bon-Bon?” Damon asked, leaning against a tree. 

“It’s been 2 minutes,” I swatted Damon’s leg. “No, but I think the Gemini coven used a Bennett spell to create this place. That's why my grams sent me here,” Bonnie explained. 

I smiled at her, “Great thinking!”

Bonnie thanked me with a nod, holding the ascendent up in her hands and muttering an incantation. My jaw dropped as I saw the ascendent move outwards. 

“And this is why Kai never killed me. He needed a Bennett,” Bonnie smiled triumphantly. 

“See, I told you she knew what she was doing,” I smiled up at Damon. 

“Yeah, well, I did, too. I was just giving her a hard time,” Damon shrugged. 

Bonnie chuckled. “You guys ready to go home?”

“Hell yeah!” I exclaimed and jumped up. 

We all jumped down the hole that Bonnie and Damon dug up, landing in a cave. Bonnie wasted no time dropping her blood onto the ascendant. She muttered the spell, the ascendent winding out further. 

“Ready, guys?” Bonnie asked. 

I nodded, walking up to her and putting my hand under her’s. Damon put his hand under mine. 

“Let’s go home,” I smiled, tears threatening to fall out of my eyes. 

As Bonnie was about to say the spell, an arrow struck just right under my heart and sent me flying. Another arrow also hit Bonnie. I hit a pile of rocks, my head turning to whoever hit me. It was Kai. 

“Forgetting someone?” He asked. “Did you really think I haven’t tried to kill myself before? Because I have.” He loaded up the crossbow again. 

Damon made a move for the ascendent that was now on the floor. 

“Grab that or the next arrow will be in their hearts. Your choice.” Kai threatened. 

Damon sighed and sped over to Bonnie, pulling the arrow out from her body. She screamed in pain, my eyes widening as I watched Kai take the ascendent. 

“Damon!” I exclaimed as Damon as about to feed us his blood. 

Damon fed Bonnie his blood quickly and ran up to Kai, knocking the ascendent out of his hand. My eyes fell to the ascendent as it was close enough for me to try and grab. I tried to reach, but Bonnie was a few steps ahead of me. She then bent down to me, ripping the arrow out of my side. I screamed in pain, tears streaming down my face. 

“We’re gonna get you out of here, okay? Just put pressure on this,” Bonnie said, grabbing her jacket around my wound. 

I shook my head, smiling sadly. “No, I-I won’t make it. You and Damon go. You guys have too much to live for. Me? I have no family there, and we all know Caroline and Elena miss you more.”

“That is so not true,” Bonnie said. “When you were gone at camp for those 3 summers, all Care and Elena could take about was how much they’ve missed you. And I know for a fact that Tyler, Matt, and especially Stefan miss you, too. We are getting you out of here.”

“We are, Y/n. Otherwise Elena would kill me,” Damon groaned from behind me. “I would rather be killed by my hot, vampire girlfriend instead of this psycho. A little help Bonnie?”

Bonnie nodded, muttering a spell that sent Kai flying back. Damon then came over and lifted me up, carrying me over to Bonnie. We stood under the light and I looked up, smiling happily. 

“I’m getting out of here,” I sighed. 

“Not on my watch!” Kai exclaimed. As soon as we started to float up, Kai ran over to Damon and knocked me out of his arms.

“No!” I screamed. 

“Y/n!” Bonnie exclaimed as she shot up in the portal. 

I watched with hot, burning tears as Bonnie and Damon disappeared. I sobbed in pain and sadness, looking at Kai with a watery gaze. 

“Why?!” I screamed. 

“Because like you said, you don’t have any family there. Me neither, so there’s no reason for you to get back to your home,” Kai explained with a shit-eating grin. 

“Screw you,” I muttered distantly. I felt my eyes begin to droop. My breathing was so shallow, I could barely feel my heartbeat. I looked up to the light that was shining down. Where my friends once were. 

“Sleep well, princess. I’ll see you soon.” Was the last thing I heard before I lost all consciousness. 

————

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Impeccably Bad Taste (Drarry)

This might be one of my favourite fics that I’ve ever written? It was just so much fun and I love these two so so much, I’m obsessed with their dynamic!

In which, Harry gets tired of Draco's complaints and wears Amorentia as cologne one day.

“Merlin’s beard Harry there’s not much we can do about being stuck together as potions partners but you could at least not use so much of that awful cologne.”

Harry shot a dirty look at Draco and chose not to reply, instead choosing to continue chopping the newt tails as if he had never heard his Slytherin counter-part. Really none of his complaining was fair, sure Harry wore a dab of cologne but at least it wasn’t nearly as pretentious as whatever citrus-scented shampoo Malfoy used.

Harry tossed the tails into the caldron and stirs it three times, counter-clockwise. He was pretty impressed with himself until it turned an awful mucus green and began spitting flecks of boiling hot liquid everywhere.

“Fuck, what did you do?” Malfoy cried shielding himself.

“I followed the instructions!” Harry protested, reading back over the spell quickly. “Wait shit no, I stirred counter-clockwise, it says clockwise here.”

Malfoy rolled his eyes. “Trust a Gryffindor to be incapable of something as simple as following simple instructions.” He wiped bead of sweat from under his lip and Harry wished his eyes hadn’t followed the action.

Harry stirred the potion rapidly clockwise in an attempt to undo his mistake. After a few moments, it stopped spewing steaming droplets and slowly regained its deep purple colour.

“Shove off Malfoy. I got it back under control, it’s fine.”

“Fixing a problem of your own creation isn’t much of a boast, Mr Potter.” Came Snape’s characteristic drawl. “Ten points from Gryffindor.”

Malfoy’s pink lips curled into a little smirk.

Harry sighed. Just his luck.

****

“He’s just so annoying, you know!” Harry ranted, throwing his hands up in the air as he spoke before letting them fall limp at his side and flopping back onto the grass they were sprawled on.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. “Yes Harry, we know, you’ve been going on about him for, how long has it been now Ron?”

Ron cast a quick tempus, squinting in the light of the sun before turning to Harry. “Twenty minutes mate. That is a bit excessive.”

Hermione hummed in agreement. “That’s a bit of an understatement. Harry, you’ve got to either get over this obsession with Malfoy, or do something about it. Either way, make up your mind soon before you drive yourself insane.”

Harry leaned up on his elbows so he could look at her properly.

“Do something about it? What does that mean? Hex him or something?”

Hermione shook her head and closed her eyes “Yeah, or something.”

****

“There’s supposed to be a faint smell of almonds.” Harry muttered, sniffing the air over their shared caldron. “Can you smell it?”

Malfoy rolled his eyes. “I can’t smell anything over your goddamned cologne. What, do you take a bath it?”

Harry gritted his teeth, trying not to get too riled. It was hot in the dungeons that must be it. It would make anyone irritable. He didn’t want a fight ‘get through this year with as few incidents as possible’ -that was his plan.

“What even is that, sandalwood?” Draco asked. Harry hated that he was right.

“Whatever Malfoy, just concentrate on the potion.” Harry muttered, rolling his shoulders. He could do that.

“I’m trying if you hadn’t noticed.”

There was silence for a few moments as they both leaned over the caldron, taking in deep breaths.

“No almonds, just sandalwood.” Draco drawled and Harry bit his lip. Screw ignoring it.

****

“Hey Hermione, you have a vial of Amorentia, right?” Harry asked his brilliant friend as they sat alone in the common room that night.

Hermione looked at him cautiously. “Yes… Why do you want to know?”

“I was wondering if I could have some?” Harry asked, quickly continuing at his friend’s shocked face. “No! Not to use on anyone, I swear! It’s just to, well it’s hard to explain but I just really need some, only a little dab, I promise.”

“A little dab wouldn’t have much of an effect on a person.” Hermione contemplated.

“Yeah I know, but like I said, I don’t want to use it like that, I‘m not trying to make someone fall in love with me. I just need a little drop, please ‘Mione?”

Hermione looked at him for a long moment. “As long as you’re definitely not going to give it to someone?”

“Of course not, you can trust me.”

“Alright then, I’ll grab it for you. I expect to get the rest of it back.” She said sternly.

Harry grinned. “Of course, it’ll be like it was never even gone.”

****

Harry sat down at the breakfast table trying to hide his smile.

“Wow Harry, you smell amazing, what is that?” Ginny asked, leaning in close and breathing deeply. “It’s like… chocolate chip cookies, right out of the oven.” She sighed.

Her boyfriend Neville who was sitting right next to her, frowned. “That’s not it, it’s more like, soil, the scent of everything growing and coming to life like spring.”

“Don’t be daft Neville.” Ron mumbled around a mouthful of toast. “He smells like lavender.” Ron leaned closer lowering his voice, “Mate, are you wearing Hermione’s perfume?”

Harry bit his lip in his attempt not to laugh and watched as understanding dawned on Hermione’s face. “You used it as a perfume?” She mouthed across the food-leaden table. Harry nodded then lifted a finger to his lips in a silent ask for secrecy. Hermione nodded faithfully.

Harry glanced at the time. “I’d better get going. My first class is Potions and Snape already has it out for me, I can’t be late too.”

His friends nodded in understanding and waved him goodbye. As Harry walked away, all he could hear was Dean’s voice raising above them all, “So what did he smell like?”

Draco walked into the dungeons exactly thirty seconds before class was due to begin. For once, Harry couldn’t wait for his arrival.

They began making the potion in silence. The dungeons were colder than usual – the potions got progressively colder as they brewed and Harry shivered, grateful that Draco was the one stirring today, his long fingers wrapped delicately around the no doubt freezing ladle.

Harry crushed the seven rose petals and levitated them into the bubbling brew, breathing in the refreshing scent that followed. Harry couldn’t help but bait Draco a little.

“Smells good, doesn’t it?”

“Sandalwood? It’s alright, though it’s obvious you love it.” Draco drawled.

Harry’s heart stopped and he waited.

“I meant the potion.” He said barely able to stop his voice from shaking.

“I know what you meant Potter but it’s not like I can smell anything over your goddamned cologne.”

There was no mistaking it this time. Harry was wearing Amorentia but all Draco could smell was… him.

Harry ran it all though his mind, and it all made sense. How could he have missed it? Maybe he was as oblivious as his friends said.

Draco liked him.

And when Harry thought about it, admitted it, he liked him too.

“Draco.” He said and watched the other boy freeze. “Draco , I’m not wearing my cologne, I’m wearing Amorentia.”

Draco turned to him, panic in his eyes obvious but before he could say anything, come up with whatever excuse his Slytherin mind could think of – one that would probably be very good if it wasn’t absolute bullshit, Harry grabbed him by his shirt collar and pulled him in for a kiss.

Draco gasped against his lips, and tangled his cold fingers him Harry’s ever-wild hair and from that moment everything else drowned out. They didn’t hear anything, not the gasps of the other students, nor the ladle as it fell to the floor. No, all Harry could hear was the sound of his own heartbeat – rapid and uneven and feel Draco’s hands in his hair, the sliver of his skin on his neck under Harry’s fingers and those smug lips pressed against his.

He pulled away, gasping and felt his face redden as he realised what he did in front of an audience.

“Potter!” Snape raged, and Harry snapped back to reality, pulling further away from Draco “Fifty points from Gryffindor, for extreme class disruption.”

Draco’s hand slid into Harry’s and squeezed.

“And Malfoy,” Snape continued as he passed their work station. “Ten points from Slytherin, for impeccably bad taste.”

[andilovetowrite]

The Chosen Couple (Part 1)

Peter Parker x Reader

Summary- Peter and you have a movie night to celebrate the school year ending, but the night takes an unexpected turn. (Not that you minded of course)

(Btw- the reader is an avenger, and Tony is kind of her father figure)

Warnings- None really, just tooth-rotting fluff and awkward confessions.

Word Count- 2.2k

Posted April 21, 2021

Here is Part 2 and Part 3

God, I hate the rain, you thought as you ran across the street, pulling your jacket even further up your head. You knew you should’ve bought an umbrella or even a raincoat, but since it was movie night, you didn’t even hesitate to run to Peter’s house after you dropped your bags at home. Every Friday was the same. Either you or Peter would have the privilege to pick what movie you guys wanted to watch, and then both of you would relax on the sofa until you left, or fell asleep.

This Friday was different though. It was the last day of school, so the day was even longer than usual. Everybody was just glad that the year was over, and summer had finally arrived. Sophomore year had been challenging, especially Physics, but you couldn’t wait for the next two months. Obviously saying goodbye to your friends had been bittersweet, but the feeling of relief of not having to do any homework or tests triumphed over the sadness. Tonight, you and Peter would watch movies until morning, and eat every possible snack you could find. The entire week had been leading up to this.

Trying to shield your face from the sharp drops of water, you finally reached the door, pushing it open with one hand, the other occupied with holding four huge packets of chips. Finally reaching the top floor, you dropped the bag on the floor, holding your knees and taking a breather. Hey, not all of us have superpowers to walk up seven flights of stairs and not get breathless. Pushing the jacket off your back, you knocked on the door, bouncing on your feet, waiting for Peter. A couple of seconds later, after the sound of a thud on the floor and May’s laughter, the door flung open, revealing a flustered Peter.

“Hey Y/n!”, he breathed out, smiling his signature grin before engulfing you in a hug. You felt his arms circle around yourself, pulling you close. Smiling slightly, you reciprocated, throwing your hands around his neck.

“Hi Peter”, you said, your voice muffled in his sweatshirt. Pulling away from him, you pushed him off me, laughing at the cute pout on his face. “I’m soaking wet with this thing on me.” Plucking the clingy jacket off yourself, you squeezed it, water splashing off it. Peter stifled a laugh, taking the bag out of your hands.

“Drenched, aren’t you?”

Elbowing him, you gave him the bags of snacks, muttering sarcastically. “That’s the sympathy I get for bringing the best food for our movie nights”

“Ooh, Doritos and… sour cream Lays!” He looked up at you, smirking. “You got the good ones.” Rolling your eyes, you nodded, walking inside the apartment.

“Is there any place I can dry this?”, you asked, referring to the sad bundle of cloth in your hand. Peter took it from you, despite your complaints.

“Let me do it. You are my guest”, he said, looking over his shoulder, winking and he threw it into the washing machine.

“Well, I am your guest every other day”, you shot back, walking into the kitchen. It was true anyway. The Parker’s house is your second house. The tower was nice and all, but with all the Avengers and Bucky and Sam constantly arguing, it can get annoying fast. Peter’s house is a shadow of calm in your life. Ever since you found out he was Spiderman, well, (he actually told you, but that’s a different story), you tried to come to his house every night to make sure he was fine. Tony had stopped you from fighting crime since last month due to exams, as well as Peter, but it didn’t stop you from coming and visiting him. You know, since he was your best friend.

“Hi sweetie!”, May called out, embracing you. Knowing where Peter got his talent for amazing hugs, you hugged her back, smelling the scent of warm cookies and cinnamon. Realizing that the smell of cookies was coming from behind her, you looked across, seeing a batch of cookies starting to burn.

“May! The cookies!”

“Oh-oh!” Running at them, she grabbed a towel, quickly pulling the burning hot cookies out of the oven.

“Here!” Pushing some of the items off the counter, you made some space for the tray of cookies. Dropping the tray down with a clatter, she blew on them, fanning the golden-brown discs with her hand. “They look awesome Aunt May!”

“Aww, thanks Y/N”, she said, staring at the cookies on the table. “They are, aren’t they?”

Smiling, you nodded, getting hungrier just looking at them. “Oh my god, what smells so good?” Peter called out, walking out of his room. Gesturing to the perfect cookies on the table, you pointed to May.

“Wait a second, they aren’t burned” Peter looked at May in astonishment, carefully taking one off the pan and biting it. “It tastes perfect May!” She merely smiled, walking over to the counter, grabbing her purse and some packs of gum. Now noticing her clothes, you called out.

“Where are you going, Aunt May?”

She looked back at me, quickly applying some lip gloss. “Oh just a night out with my friends. I need it. Plus-”, she glanced at the TV and then Peter, “- I know how loud movie nights can get.” You laughed, jumping off the chair and walking to the front door. Grabbing an umbrella, you gave it to her, mumbling about how to not make the same mistake you did. “Okay sweetheart. I’ll see you both in a few hours. I might stay over at Ashley’s house, but I’ll call you if that happens.” Kissing Peter on the cheek, she walked out, shutting the door behind her.

The minute the door closed, Peter jumped up, pulling you towards the sofa, showing you the array of snacks that he placed out. “Okay, so we have chips, chocolate, cookies that May made and there is ice cream in the fridge.” His eyebrows furrowed like he was remembering something but his eyes lit up in recognition when he was the small box next to the door. “Oh, and Mr Stark sent over a couple of things for us for tonight.”

Chuckling, you told him to get those, while you picked out the movie. Trying to choose one between Star Wars and Harry Potter, you chose the latter, knowing that you two were going to have a Star Wars marathon in the near future anyway. Grabbing the remote, you chose the first movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, pausing it to wait for Peter. Looking for him, you saw him standing at the door, the box lying open, untouched. He was holding a small index card, his face bright red.

“Hey Pete, you alright?” Worried, you slipped your hand under your shorts, feeling the edges of your dagger sitting over there. Pulling it out, you carefully walked over to him, thinking that something was wrong. However, when you got closer, Peter heard me, turning around so fast he hit his head on the wall. Crumpling the card in his palm, he threw it behind him, smiling nervously. “Are you okay? What was that?”

“Nothing”, he replied, too quickly. Quirking your eyebrow, you shrug, letting it go.

“What did Mr Stark send for us?”, you asked, trying to get a glimpse at the box.

“Uhh, just some snacks and drinks. I think there was some cold coffee in here as well. Why don’t I go heat us some?”, he said in a high voice, the same one he used when he lied.

Not even letting you get a look at the mystery box, he began pushing you towards the couch, mumbling something under his breath.

“Y/N, your t-shirt is soaked! Why didn’t you tell me?”

You shrugged half-heartedly, not wanting to go home and change. Seeing your expression, he pushed me down the sofa, telling me to wait. A beat later, he ran back, holding out a dark blue hoodie with a picture of Luke Skywalker on the back. “Here, change into this. Don’t wanna get a cold”

A half giggle escaped me as you took it from him, walking over to the bathroom as you changed into it. Pulling it on, the familiar scent of Peter embraced me. The plush inside of it felt warm against your skin, making me shiver involuntarily. Biting your lip, you looked into the mirror, liking the sight of Peter’s hoodie on me. The more you stared at your reflection, the fuzzier you felt. This just seemed like a very boyfriend thing to do. To be honest, you always thought of Peter as more than just a best friend. The first time you saw him was in 8th grade. You had just moved to Queens, due to your parent’s job, and you were quite excited. It had been a month since you had gotten your newfound power of controlling objects with your mind. It was hard. Your parents didn’t know about it just yet, and it was getting harder to block out your power off from simple everyday objects. You remember how one time you almost threw a plate at your mom because she was freaking out about your Math grades. Soon after you had moved in, you met Peter Parker. He lived across the street from you, wearing glasses and carrying lego boxes home most days. Since you were the same age, it was only a matter of time before you two became friends. And friends you became.

“Hey Y/N! You alright?”, Peter yelled out from the living room, cutting me out from your thoughts. Shrugging your shoulders, you walked out, seeing him sitting comfortably on the couch, chips, ice cream and some sandwiches in his hand.

“Delmars?”, you asked, nodding to the sub in his palm.

“Yup got it earlier” Pulling the sleeves into your hands, you brought the hoodie closer, loving the warmth. “Come here, I’m freezing”, Peter said, making ‘grabby hands. Chuckling, you carefully jumped in, arms curling his midsection. Resting your head on his shoulder, you grabbed the remote, pressing play.

On the screen, the intro of Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone began showing up, as Peter scrunched up his nose. “Wait, Harry Potter?”

“Yeah, it’s my turn? Remember?”

“No, I’m pretty sure it’s mine. The last time was yours.”

“But I had an extra one, right?”, you looked at him accusingly, “because you came and ruined my date.”

He looked down sheepishly, trying to hide the small smile. It had happened about 3 weeks ago when Brad Davis had asked you out. You couldn’t begin to explain how hard it was to explain to him why Spiderman had swooped me out of the sky to go help him do English homework. But truthfully, you weren’t vibing with him. He talked too much about sports and how much he worked out. No offence Brad, but you could backflip him out of a window within minutes. Sadly, he didn’t know that you were an Avenger, so you had to act like you were interested in his biceps for 2 hours straight. Thank god Peter had shown up, otherwise, you would have had a very awkward conversation with him.

“Fine fine”, Peter muttered, grabbing a few chips and stuffing them in his mouth.

“Aww, come on”, you said, threading your hands in his curls, “you love Harry Potter” Smiling cheekily, though it sent a twinge of pain through your heart, you teased. “Especially Hermione Granger”

His cheeks turning pink, he mumbled. “No, I don’t”

“Uh-huh”

“Alright alright, let’s just do this!”

“We have literally all summer, I’m sure we can spend some time discussing your crush on Hermione”

“In that case, let’s talk about Mrs Potter over here”

“Okay, I think we got it”, you said, making the word much longer. We grinned at each other, ready to watch the movie, as the intro began playing in the background. Little did you know that these beautifully crafted cinematic adventures that you guys were about to have would change your relationship with Peter forever.

Thanks for reading till all the way here! If you liked this, please follow me and I’ll send out the next part in a couple of days :)

Here is Part 2 and Part 3

[confusednarcissistwrites]

Teenage Dirtbag Pt.5 (K.S.)

strap in babies: this is rough one. love you all and hope you are staying safe 💛 enjoy

(cancer, v sad)

The minute the door slammed behind Kyle, you sunk the floor, pulling your knees to your chest and letting out a heavy sigh. No one else made you quite so ferocious in only a matter of moments. Yet, even so, you felt that obnoxious pang of guilt in your stomach for raising your voice at him. You often left confrontational situations feeling guilty; it was merely circumstance that most of the confrontation in your life was with him at that time. At least that’s what you told yourself.

You stood abruptly with a growl, frustrated with yourself. As much as you’d like to sit and rationalize with yourself forever, you knew in the end that the nagging feeling rarely left entirely. Perhaps he was right; you had very consensually slept with him twice with little to no complaint before blowing up on him. You could understand how he might be confused. You came to the conclusion that you had just been set off by his abrupt arrival, and that you’d apologize next time you saw him.

However, the next day, Kyle was absent from the class you shared with him. This was incredibly unusual as it was a criminal justice class he practically led most days, and he rarely missed classes in general. You struggled to pay attention, the guilt in your belly growing and gnawing at you. Was he okay? Had your words affected him more than you realized? What if he did something stupid? Something unthinkable? You were nauseous by the end of class, thinking yourself into a dither. Rationally, you knew he would never, but he’d done more than a few things you’d seen as out of character as of late. As soon as class ended, you spotted one of the boys from his band. Taking a deep breath, you approached him.

“Hey, Tony. Have you seen Kyle today?” you asked, hoping he wouldn’t pry.

Half baked, he shook his shaggy hair. “Nah, weird huh? Wonder what the little guy’s up to..”

“Mm, thank you,” you replied distractedly, not entirely convinced he was a reliable source. However, you had little else to go off of. You knew you had to make sure he was okay.

Your feet carried you swiftly to your car. Once in your driver’s seat, you found yourself unable to catch your breath. Were you being rational about all this? You really had no reason to be this concerned. Heaven knows he wouldn’t be if the shoe was on the other foot. You let out a long breath, pressing your palms against the steering wheel. Your conscience refused to let you just drop it and drive home.

The drive to his house felt oddly automatic despite how long it had been. Everything looked the same. White picket fences, square, manicured lawns, and housewives sprawled out in lawn chairs drinking sweet tea in the sun: The American Dream. But you knew better. The Scheible home had taught you much about how deceiving the appearance of a home could be. Bright white smiles sometimes hide the most bitter sadness.

You parked next to the curb, noticing an unfamiliar utility van sat in his driveway. Curiosity sparked, you hurried up the steps to the front door and knocked, suddenly feeling a little silly for being there. Too late to turn back now.

Mrs. Scheible answered the door. She flashed you a shiny smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Y/N, sweetie, what a surprise! Is there something I can do for you?” she asked. You could instantly see things were not good. She wore dark, puffy circles under her bloodshot eyes, and her normally manicured hands dry and the polish chipped. She normally invited everyone in without a second thought. Fear clenched your stomach.

“Hi, Darlene,” you smiled. “Is Kyle home?”

“Yes, he is. I’ll go get him for you, okay?”

You nodded, trying to convey as much sympathy for her as you could without saying anything. As she closed the door, your eyes found the van in the driveway again, and it all suddenly clicked into place.

Nurses. For his father.

You felt a bit queasy, feeling even more ridiculous for thinking he could possibly be upset over a squabble with you when he had much more pressing matters going on at home. Your thoughts were interrupted when the door was pulled open again, Kyle stepping out onto the doormat and closing the door behind him. It was as if the family was afraid the tragedy living inside their home would escape through the front door if it was held open too long.

You felt a pang in your chest as you took in the sight of him. It had been less than 24 hours since you’d seen him last, but he looked thinner, a shell of the boy you knew. His eyes looked like his mom’s.

“Hey.” His voice was weak.

“Hi,” you responded dumbly. “I-I, uh- you weren’t until class today. I was just… making sure you were okay?” It came out as more of a question than a statement. You weren’t sure why you were there anymore.

“Ah,” he replied, his arms wrapping around his middle. The silence hung heavy between you, his lack of a response speaking volumes.

“I’m sorry,” you blurted, picking at your fingers. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you yesterday.”

He blinked at you as if he didn’t remember for a moment. “You had every right to react the way you did,” he responded, shaking his head.

“No, I didn’t,” you sighed, hating how defeated he sounded. “You were right; I was giving you mixed signals and I just can’t expect you to read my mind. I think we… both have some uncertainty about what we’re feeling.” You met his eyes finally, seeing him give you a little nod of agreement. “And I can see you definitely have a lot more serious matters on your plate right now.”

He audibly swallowed, his eyes blinking rapidly for a moment. “Yeah,” he choked.

Overcome, you acted on pure instinct, wrapping your arms around his middle and pulling him into a tight hug. He tensed at first, but slowly relaxed, reciprocating your tight grip. You felt a shuddery breath leave his thin frame and could hear him physically fighting not to break down. “It’s okay,” you assured, feeling a knot in your own throat now.

He abruptly pulled back, hands wiping at his eyes harshly. “Thank you,” he breathed, giving you a tight-lipped smile as he stepped back toward the door. You wanted nothing more than to resist him pushing you away, but there was nothing you could do. You couldn’t rescue him from the realities waiting for him inside. You couldn’t ease the pain of losing a father one day at a time. So you just stood there helplessly, watching as he stepped back into his home and closed the door behind him. You weren’t sure how long it was before you finally came back to yourself and returned to your car.

++++++

You didn’t remember much of the drive when you arrived back at your dorm. You felt completely disconnected from everything around you. Walking into your empty dorm felt almost like a relief. You knew exactly what you needed.

You numbly pulled your phone from your pocket, selecting your mom’s contact. She answered after just a few rings.

“Hi, baby! How are you?” she greeted cheerfully.

You felt your throat tighten, tears welling up in your eyes. You couldn’t help but feel so grateful to have her there and healthy and available.

“I, um.. I’m kind of a mess, actually,” you replied, letting out a little sad laugh.

“What’s going on?” she asked, worry filling her voice.

You told her everything. She’d known about Kyle and everything that had happened during the breakup, but everything since then was new. You poured out every anxiety and doubt until you had nothing left to say, and she listened carefully to every word. By the end you were a blubbering mess.

“I just… I don’t know how I’m feeling. I don’t trust that I’m not just wanting to take care of him through this trauma he’s going through,” you sniffled, wiping your eyes with yet another tissue. You had a pretty impressive pile growing beside you at this point.

Your mother was quiet for a moment, thinking. “Honey, you have a big heart. I think that your desire to help Kyle is what drew you two together in the first place. You always wanted to teach him vulnerability.” You listened carefully, her words becoming your gospel as always. “But, I think you know that it’s more than that to you now.”

You felt stupid for not seeing it sooner. All the turmoil and heartache; how could you not have seen how much you still cared for him? You had never stopped caring for him. “I’m just scared he doesn’t feel the same. What if he just thinks he needs me right now so he can get through this?”

“Well, you’re going to have to decide if that’s a risk you’re willing to take or not, sweetheart.” Her tone was calm and resolute, convincing you it was really just that simple.

“Okay,” you replied finally, a shaky sigh leaving your tense body.

“I love you bunches. I know you’ll make the right decision, hon.”

“I love you too, Mom.”

You both said your goodbyes and hung up, leaving you a ball of snot and tears. Gathering up your tissues, you thought about all the things she had told you. Though your mind fought to keep up, your heart had really already made its decision. You just prayed you’d make it out in one piece on the other end of all this.

+++++

A few days passed. You found yourself thinking of him almost always. You texted him occasionally to check in, but it was never more. He needed space to be with his family, and you respected that. You just wanted him to know that you were never far if he needed you. It was draining to worry so much about something so far removed from you, but you remembered your mom’s words and prayed you were doing the right thing.

It was very early Sunday morning when he finally called. You quickly sat up, knowing it could only be him calling you at this time.

“Hello?”

His ragged breaths came from the other end of the line.

“Y-N... he’s gone.”

TAGLIST: @londonmademedoit @cathyoliveros10 @chclcmet @isthataladybag @not-ready-to-lose @lilttletimmy @madschalamet @cali4niagirl @kissessforharryyy

[miss1extinct]

My First Novel!

Hey guys! This is my first post here and I’m posting the first chapter of my novel as a little teaser to advertise. If this interests you, contact me and I’ll send you the link to read more!

"And here is the break room." Mr. Lenich turned the corner, and I followed close behind. I found that my supervisor took another left, entering into a relatively large room. The doorway was large, twice the size of the average entrance. The flooring and paint on the walls were the same as in the hallway and every other room I had been in thus far - extensive black tiling and eggshell white paint. The room had several tables and chairs scattered about, most with workers enjoying their lunch breaks. I was taken aback by the amount of vending machines covering the break room's back wall: one water dispenser, a machine for an assortment of both regular and diet sodas, two for all sorts of chip varieties, one for several different types of candies, and finally one vending machine for a dozen brands of salty snacks and goods.

As soon as we stepped into the breakroom, I could hear multiple workers begin to whisper but could not comprehend more than a few words: the new girl, professional, only twenty-two, Laine, proud.

Although I couldn't, Mr. Lenich seemed to understand every word the workers were saying. "I believe your reputation precedes you, Miss Nichol."

"I have no idea what you mean by that, sir."

"Oh, come on, Miss Nichol. Mr. Lenich put a hand on my shoulder, pulling me closer despite my discomfort. "You shouldn't have to be modest when you're with your people, your fellow gamers! First, everyone here looked up to your father, and now we all look up to you, myself included."

"Please don't bring up my father, sir." It was all that I could think of saying. It had already been seven years since my father had passed, but I still didn't like to talk about the event, still refused to accept the fact that my best friend was forever gone. I chose to ignore the fact that I would never again see my closest companion, never again have a conversation with him.

I wiped a tear from my eye and smiled at my new coworkers sitting in front of me. Mr. Lenich was right; this wasn't high school where I would be bullied for being a female gamer. This wasn't college where I was ridiculed for being the only girl pursuing an education and career in programming. This was my job - Byte's Incorporated - where I could embrace my online persona. This was a safe place for me where everyone respected my reputation. Here, I could finally be myself without any repercussions - a professional, award-winning female gamer, the proven best in my state. In June, I was competing against forty-nine others, one from each state other than my own, to decide who is the best in the country.

"If you don't mind, Miss Nichol, our next stop on tour is right over here." Mr. Lenich smiled and turned towards the doorway, motioning me into the hallway.

"Okay." I waved goodbye to my coworkers in the break room before stepping out into the hallway. I followed Mr. Lenich down the hallway. After a few seconds of walking, Mr. Lenich unlocked a door on the left titled "Chief Executive Officer, Founder Laine Landborn." I couldn't believe it; was Mr. Lenich really going to show me the company's CEO and founder's office? Was I really about to meet my idol, the man second only to my late father, Laine Landborn?

"This is the office of the main boss, Mr. Laine Landborn. Unfortunately, we aren't allowed to actually go inside right now as he's not here at the moment..."

Not here?

"...so you'll have to wait until later to meet him. Normally, employees don't get to meet the CEO on their first day. Still, Mr. Landborn always makes it a point to personally know his company's line of beta-testers."

"Personally?" I looked up at Mr. Lenich with a hopeful face. I then looked into the CEO'S office. Mr. Landborn's desk was surprisingly clean and tidy - in one corner was a flower pot holding a bouquet of several crimson red tiger lilies. On the opposite end of the desk was a stack of multiple brightly coloured folders and white binders. A window directly behind his desk, covered in transparent black curtains with a bookcase on either side. The left bookcase held all different kinds of video games and small consoles. The right bookcase contained several other black binders and books. In front of Landborn's desk was a thin dark red carpet - as red as blood - with two stationary black cushioned chairs facing the desk.

"And now to our last stop on the great Byte tour." Mr. Lenich gently moved me back a couple steps and shut the door. He locked the door back and moved to the door directly across from the CEO's office, this door titled "Beta-Testing Room 1". "This will be where you'll work during your time here with us. Now, fun fact: this was the room where Laine Landborn himself worked during his first two years of this company's life, and no one else has worked in this room in the fifteen years since. So you'll be the first."

"Really?" I smiled as I excitedly stepped into the beta-testing room, looking around with absolute wonder. It was unbelievable to think that I would be working in the same room that Byte's CEO used to work in. Suddenly, my mind was overflowing with thoughts: was this the same couch that Landborn used to sit on? Did the consoles I saw in his office used to be in here? The room where I would now spend eight hours of my day was the same room where the Laine Landborn used to spend his time.

"Yes, really." Mr. Lenich chuckled and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "If you'll excuse me, I need to quickly run to the bathroom. Get yourself settled in, and I'll be back in a few minutes to show you out."

"Okay." I watched Mr. Lenich walk down the hallway to the restrooms. I took a deep breath and sat down on the white couch. It was of modern style, and both it and its small black pillows were extremely comfortable - once I sat down, I never wanted to stand up again. I pulled off my white cushioned tennis shoes. I brought my feet up onto the couch beside me, knocking down one of the pillows accidentally. I leaned over to prop it back up. I discovered that behind the pillow hid a small splatter of mysterious red liquid, almost black with age - a discovery that made me freeze. My mind raced with possibilities. It's probably just a drink Landborn spilled, or possibly makeup from his wife. Or maybe even... my paranoia made me sick, and I quickly repositioned the pillow in its proper place. I took a deep breath in preparation and picked up the other two cushions. Behind one, the one farthest from the first, was no stain. The cushion was perfectly clean and white. However, the pillow closest to the first, was a more prominent red stain, double the first size, and darkened with age. I gasped and quickly dropped both pillows onto the floor, backing away and tripping over my shoes. I gasped again and yelled out as I hit my head on the floor. It was a soft carpet, but it felt as if there was hardwood or even concrete underneath. My hand shot up to the back of my head. I pushed my white hair out of my face while fighting against the vomit rising in my throat.

I rushed to my feet, the speed almost making me fall back down again. I shoved one shoe onto my foot and went to put on the other but stopped when I heard the door open. "Mr. Lenich?" I asked as I looked up, still holding onto the coffee table for support with my foot in the air, my shoe halfway on.

"So Jeremiah was the one that told you to work in here." When I looked up at the door, Mr. Lenich wasn't the man I saw standing in the doorway - it was the founder and chief executive officer of Byte's Incorporated, Laine Landborn. "How many times now have I told him and everyone else to stay clear of this room? Five times now? About to become six?"

"I'm not supposed to be here?" I asked as I finished putting on my shoe. I looked up at Landborn and tried my best to stay calm. Half of me wanted to be excited - Laine Landborn was standing right in front of me! The other half of me, the sane half of me, wanted to run away, to get as far away from here as I possibly could. I had just found some very suspicious stains on the couch that used to belong to the very man now staring down at me, walking closer to me with every passing second. Before I knew it, I was looking up at Laine Landborn, and my heart was racing.

"What is your name, miss?"

"Hannah Nichol..." I replied reluctantly, not sure if I wanted this man to know my name at all. What other information could he find out about me? What would he do with that information?

"Well, Hannah Nichol," Landborn talked as his gaze also shifted towards the couch. My pulse struck an all-time high as I watched his expression fall, his jaw tighten. "I believe I have something to show you."

"Okay..." I swallowed hard and followed behind Landborn out into the hallway.

"One moment." Once in the hall, Landborn pulled out a set of keys and locked the door we had just walked out of. As Landborn began walking, Mr. Lenich turned the corner and froze once he saw Landborn. Landborn turned to Mr. Lenich and held out his hand, palm up. "Have another key made for this room again, and you're fired."

Mr. Lenich swallowed hard and nodded, taking out his own set of keys. He removed one key from the ring and placed it in Landborn's hand. "Yes, sir. It won't happen again."

"Now, Hannah," Landborn smiled and resumed walking. "Right this way."

I took one last look at Mr. Lenich and took a deep breath before following Landborn. For some reason, we only went across the hall... which was the office of Laine Landborn.

"Step inside, please," Landborn said with a smile as he opened the door. I swallowed hard and stepped inside, my chest feeling as if it was about to explode. "This will only take a moment," Landborn said as he closed the door behind us both, locking and shutting it tight.

[idonthaveanaccent]

It’s been a while

Hello everyone, it’s been months since I last posted anything on here. I don’t know if I still want to post anything on tumblr, but I figured I should use the platform I gained a little at least. 

I’ve changed a lot and I like to think my writing has improved since creating this blog at 14/15. I’ve included the first chapter of a story I’m writing. I’ve included a link to it, it is available on wattpad.

The Immortal and the Cursed

Who knows if I’ll ever post anything again...college was shit so I’m no longer in school for this semester so I have a lot more free time and plan on working on writing more and hopefully one day publishing my stories.

I hope you all have a good day.

Seattle, 2018

"AND SO, THE WAR of 1812 was significant to America as it helped to..."

I watched as the class remained silent, their lifeless eyes staring at me with hollowed expressions. A sigh escaped me as I ran a hand across my forehead. As per usual, my class was basically dead. This was what my on-level history class looked like. My eyes scanned the crowd before landing on Derrick, a kid who was busy whispering to his friend about something. I was going to relish this moment. "Derrick?"

The kid jumped in his seat before looking at me like a deer caught in headlights. "Yes, Mr. Herwy?"

"Can you answer my question?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow.

Derrick muttered something under his breath as he looked around. "Uh— What was it again, sir?"

A few people snickered, but I quickly cut them off with my hand. "How did the War Of 1812 impact America?"

The boy frowned as he began to think. I watched the gears turn inside his head before he looked up. "It made lots of people die?"

I nodded. "That's one impact. But what I want to know is long term impacts. There's one big one that I think we should really focus on. Think of today's world and think of the people we fought during the war. What changed between then and now?"

Now everyone was thinking. I knew I had mentioned it. I did, didn't I? Honestly, couldn't tell anymore if I had said something or if I had forgotten to mention it entirely. Derrick frowned, rubbing his chin. Suddenly, a voice from the back piped up. "Canada."

Everyone turned their attention to Cera, a young and timid girl. Her voice immediately paled as she saw all the attention. "What was that, Cera?" I asked.

Her face flushed as she looked down at her hands. "Our relation—relationship with Canada changed."

"Thank you, Cera! That is a perfect example!" I shot up from the desk I had been perched on. The entire class jumped at my sudden burst. I didn't care, though. My passion for history overtook everything. "Before the War of 1812, Canada and the US were simply just neighbors. They didn't like one another, especially since Canada was still under the control of England. After the war, the US and Canada made a treaty that is still lasting to today. It is the longest standing peaceful border in the history of the world. We have never fought against Canada since."

I saw a few students scribble down what I said before I changed the slide. "Another very important part of the War of 1812 was—"

••••

THE SMELL OF RANCID lunch meat made me gag. Thankfully I didn't have to sit in the cafeteria. However, I needed to talk to a teacher that was on duty here. Due to budget cuts, Maryanne had to watch the high schoolers in order to keep things safe.

My eyes scanned a table populated by giggling teenagers. I grimaced. My stomach rolled in physical pain at the sight of the 'meat' and 'food'. It had gotten really bad in my entire existence.

I immediately remembered hunting and killing my food way back in the day. My chest tightened. Maybe I didn't miss those days as much. It was always a fight for survival, one more intense than todays. In today's world I could drive down the street and pull into one of the fast food places for a quick bite to eat. I could stop by any gas station and buy a water or a bag of chips. While it was less healthy than the past, it made things more convenient.

My mind wandered to my old friends. They would've loved this.

Immediately my mood soured. I couldn't indulge in such thoughts. My attention went back to the task at hand. Finding Maryanne to ask her about a lesson plan.

I was tasked with teaching her class during fifth period because she had to help set up the assembly the school was having during sixth. I don't know how she managed a wild group of history students while also being the student council teacher. I was barely able to hold these rug rats at bay in my classes, and yet she taught two different types of kids.

Dividing these students into types made it easier for me to identify the most likely reaction they would have to something. There were the charismatic popular kids, the popular for some reason kids, the average kid who was smart, the average kid with average grades, the failing kid who was smart, the failing kid who was not smart, and late but not least, the delinquents. Of course, there were sub groups as well, but I didn't have time to list all of them in my head.

I had just found Maryanne.

The petite woman looked like the super sweet Hispanic neighbor that those kids in movies always have who shower them with delicious food. Maryanne was that woman. She couldn't bake or cook in general, but otherwise she was really sweet. I towered over her, but most times people couldn't tell the difference between me and a student.

My chest tightened. I would forever look like a teenager. It made going to bars really difficult. It also made it real awkward when a parent came in and asked where Mr. Herwy was. I once had a parent ask me if my dad was out at the moment, and another time one of my student's sister hit on me. Awkward.

"Maryanne! Mrs. Garcia!" I called, waving at her.

The woman looked to me and then smiled. "Lawrence! How can I help you?"

"I need your lesson plans. Where did you put them?" I asked, stopping in front of her.

"I believe they are in the second drawer on my desk. If not, then just know they are learning about the Salem Witch Trials."

I felt my throat dry up. "You're that behind?" I croaked.

Maryanne nodded. "As an AP teacher we go more in depth. That means we spend more time on events."

I tried not to take offense to that. I didn't want to go through and learn how to teach AP kids. Plus, it was way harder to grade them and such. Ick. "Well, it's a good thing colonial America is kind of my thing."

"That's why I wanted you to teach them. I think they'll like you, Lawrence." Maryanne winked at me, a grin spreading on her face. "Oh, by the way, there is a new student too, so just keep a good face on and all that jazz."

I nodded, giving the needy woman a soft smile. "Will do. I will see you later. You owe me!" I called after her as I walked away.

Maryanne laughed as I walked off. My mind then ran off to the task at hand. I had to teach the Salem Witch Trials.

I rubbed my neck, my face darkening. History was my thing, but there were certain events I did not like to talk about. Whenever it was time to talk about be witch trials, I typically briefly talked about them. However, if I were to just gloss over it, Maryanne wouldn't be happy. Something twisted within my gut. I immediately tumbled into the nearest teacher's bathroom. My legs gave out in front of the toilet. It was just in time to as all the contents of my delectable lunch spilled into the bowl. A groan escaped me as I leaned back, pressing my back against the wall.

Dammit.

After making sure I was not going to throw up again, I stood up and made sure to clean any evidence of my episode up. I knew it had to do with thoughts of the trials, but that couldn't be helped. After years of it still haunting me and talking to a few people about it without giving away too many details, it was determined I had PTSD. It wasn't hard to imagine that I did, especially since that was the most horrific time of my life.

My neck ached once more, and I rubbed it as I walked out of the bathroom. The next ask for me was getting a mint because I could taste the vomit in my mouth. My mind immediately went to Miss Robinson, the lady at the front desk. She had a huge bowl of mints and I would need some of them.

By the time I reached the desk and had grabbed a handful of them, lunch was almost over. "Lawrence, did you eat some tuna or something?"

I looked down at the young woman and gave her a dazzling smile. "Yep. I have to teach Maryanne's kids too so I gotta make a good impression."

My stomach rolled hazardously as she laughed. "Good luck. I heard fifth hour is full of the self-centered kids that everyone loves."

I muttered a few obscenities, which only furthered her hysterical state. "Goodbye, Miss Robinson."

"It's Emma, Lawrence!" The young woman said as I walked off, a bright red flushing over her cheeks.

While I was flattered that she was into me, I knew that nothing would come from it. I couldn't afford to hand my heart out to anyone. That would only lead to yet another crack. I don't know how many more I could endure before my heart shattered.

I barely made it to Maryanne's room before the bell that ended B lunch and started fifth hour began. I quickly went to her desk and found the lesson plans. My eyes skimmed the paper before I heard people begin to come into the room. I glanced up and saw students walking in. When they noticed me, they immediately began to whisper amongst themselves. I sighed before continuing to read this paper full of retched memories for me.

By the time the bell that signaled class was starting rang, I had managed to quell any nausea threatening to break way. I looked up at all the students talking. I picked up the roster sheet and then looked down. I adjusted my glasses before clearing my throat. "Okay then."

Everyone looked at me. I saw a girl looking at me with a confused glint in her eyes. She was probably the new kid. "So, I'm Mr., Herwy, one of the other history teachers here. Mary— Mrs. Garcia is busy setting up the assembly for next hour, so I'll be filling in. Let's do roll first, okay? Uh— Marcus Alcantara?"

I watched a boy in the back nod to me as I raised his hand. "Here."

And so, I continued down the list, butchering a few names. It's not my fault I can't read every single name these kids have. I speak five languages and yet none of those names were ones I could speak. It's honestly stupid. People these days were so strange. "Did I get everyone?" I asked after marking down everyone who was absent.

The one girl raised her hand. "And what's your name?"

"Lavern Yeller."

I stiffened at the name but smiled nonetheless. "Are you the new student Mrs. Garcia told me about?"

Lavern nodded, her face flushed red. I chuckled before writing her name down. "Perfect. Who wants to take this to the office?"

After handing it to someone, I began to lesson. "Today we will be talking about the Salem Witch Trials. Who here knows what they were and why they happened?"

Some kid whose name was Kyle raised his hand. I pointed at him as I took a seat on a table near the Smartboard. "So, the Salem Witch Trials was an event in which people were executed for being witches, and they happened because of hysteria or some form of it."

"Yes. There're other theories that perhaps disease and boredom also played a part, as well as a want for power. Other than that, that is basically what happened. A group of 22 people were executed because they were thought of as witches or warlocks. Warlocks being male. Now, Salem was a Puritan colony. Can someone explain a Puritan to me?" I adjusted my glasses again, my stomach churning.

A young girl whose name was Hannah raised her hand. Kyle did as well, but I called on her instead. She gave Kyle a pointed look score looking at me, batting her eyelashes. "The Puritans were a group who came from England because they believed that the church was corrupt, and so they wanted to come to America to make their own, better version."

"Very good, Hannah." Her face flushed red and she winked at me. I kept my face as neutral as possible. She was a teenager, she had to know flirting with me was illegal. "Puritans followed the Bible to a T because they saw it as the exact word of God. They also believed in predestination, so no matter what they did, they were either going to heaven or damned to hell for all eternity. Now, one thing they did think would automatically damn you was becoming a 'Devil's Agent'."

I watched as thy began to write down what I was saying. "They believed that when a person made a deal with Satan, they became a witch or warlock. There were tell-tale signs of them being one too. If they were unable to speak the Lord's Prayer or if they were able to hold a rifle, with their arm extended and their finger in the barrel, they could be a witch or warlock. They also checked for any physical flaws, such as a skin tag. They called them 'witch's tit', and so the person might be sent to the gallows.

"Now, of course, finding proof of actual witchcraft is impossible. However, people would often fake being possessed by demons in the witch's presence or fake symptoms of curses to better sell the witch. The people who started the witch trials are two young girls named Betty Parris, who was only nine, and then her cousin Abigail Williams who was eleven. They talk to a slave named Tituba for advice on their future husbands. After telling their fortune using a West Indian ritual, the girls began to act erratically. They identified Tituba and two other women as witches."

I watched as they continued to write. I took this chance to begin writing down every person executed. My stomach rolled, and a sick feeling began spreading across my spine. As I wrote my name, memories of the rope tightening around my neck flooded through me. I bit my lip, trying to focus on anything but that. If I blacked out now—

"Mr. Herwy, why is your name up there? I mean, your name is Lawrence, right?"

"It's a strange coincidence, isn't it? But no, me and his Lawrence are not the same. He was barely nineteen when he was executed. Hung. Poor kid. Anyways, let me get into some of these people and why they were accused—"

A strange feeling suddenly filled my body. I immediately felt dizzy. The next thing I knew, the ground was rapidly approaching me. I could hear people calling my name as I fell forward. The feeling simply spread, and it took me a moment to realize what it was.

As soon as I realized exactly why I had collapsed, my head hit something hard. A desk, I think.

My eyes rolled into the back of my head. As everything turned black, I came to the realization of where this horrific event had just taken place.

Salem.

[subasekabang]

Past Nova - Chapter 02

Title: Past Nova - Chapter 02

Rating: T

Word Count: 12,665 [Ch 02: 3699]

Pairings/Characters: Neku Sakuraba. Beat. Shiki Misaki. Rhyme. Sota Honjo. Nao. Joshua Kiryu. Sota/Nao. 

Warnings: Past Character Death mentions. 

Summary: Neku and his new friends find that they’ve been brought back to life, time wound back as if the three weeks had never happened. It’s something that they don’t have time to adjust to though, as Neku realises that Sota and Nao are still alive, with no guarantee that the two won’t end up back in the UG. Even without a timer on his hand, time is ticking down - but Neku isn’t going to let Sota and Nao disappear without a fight. Not again.

Partner: @licobleps & HB Kit

Author’s Note: So, we’ve got our misson set and things are ready to kick off! Hope you enjoy this chapter too!

“Sota, I was wondering, like, how would you catch a star?”

Stars were pretty high up. Nao knew Sota wouldn’t actually be able to catch a real star. She totally wanted to hear what he would do, though. Like, he had to at least try.

He adjusted the white band around his elbow, something Nao knew he did when he was really trying to think hard.

“Maybe I’d shoot something at it. Fireworks or somethin’. Knock ‘em right outta the sky.” His mouth stretched into a boyish grin.

He looked younger when he did that.

“And then, what?”

“Hm, I dunno. You got any ideas?”

Nao thought about it for a moment.

“You could totes set up a net under it. To catch it when it falls!”

She knew it - they came up with the best things when they did so together.

Chapter 02 - Nuclear Crossing

The sensation of waking up, lying on his back and staring at the ceiling was something that Neku should be familiar with. Instead, he found his hands clawing below, searching for concrete and meeting with softness instead. Those were three long, long weeks in the game and he suspected that it would take longer than another three for him to stop expecting to wake up in the middle of the scramble crossing.

It was odd, yesterday when they had parted ways. Neku had met up with his friends for the first time but it was also the first time that he had said goodbye to them. At least, goodbye with a certainty of seeing them again soon.

So soon, that it seemed like no time at all before he had breakfast and his parents left for work. Then here they were, at his doorstep. He was glad that it was a Monday; he didn’t know if he could muster up an explanation on how he suddenly had friends that could come over during the summer break. Up until now, he had always gone out, left the house as fast as he could.

He felt a knot tie up in his stomach, as he watched Shiki, Beat and Rhyme take off their shoes. Is my place clean enough? Did I buy enough snacks? Do they even want to be here?

Normally with a mission, he wouldn’t have to think about these things. This time, though, there was no physical timer on their hands. The day wasn’t going to go by without them noticing.

There was no Pact that meant that they had to stick around him.

That was the reason Neku kept thinking of what he would have thought to be really trivial things in the past. He couldn’t help it.

Can I keep the friends that I’ve made?

Even with the reassurance that they would help him with this (of course they would, they were good people, better than Neku had been), outside of a life and death situation, would they still want to be around him?

What the hell is with me?

Neku didn’t understand. He wasn’t worried about this yesterday. He didn’t think he could be worried about this.

“Do we get to see your room?” Shiki grabbed his attention back with that question.

No, not yet, he thought. “Sure,” is what he said instead.

The apartment he and his parents lived in was comfortable enough. Nothing too big, nothing too small. His room was similar in that sense. If Neku were to describe it in one word, he’d say it was ‘practical’. He supposed that something that might stand out was his -

“Check out all this CAT merch, yo!” Yeah, that.

Embarrassingly enough, he had convinced his parents to get him a bookstand that, while it did host a humble few textbooks, was mostly taken up by works by CAT. As CAT ventured into many of the creative arts, there was an assortment there from small posters, to keychains, to handcrafted statues. Posters designed by CAT were hung around his bedroom, too.

“Didn’t know you were this into CAT, Neku.” Shiki sounded surprised.

Neku had to remind herself that she had only been around him when he was missing his memories. “Yeah, I wasn’t kidding. I really admire CAT’s - Mr. Hanekoma’s work.”

She took one more look at the displayed items, then a quick look over at the rest of his room. “I like your room,” she said, decidedly. “It’s very ‘you’.”

“Yeah, your crib’s cool, Phones.”

“Home is where the heart is, after all.”

“…Thanks.”

He could feel his shoulders relax and his mouth curve upwards. It wasn’t really that he wanted their approval about his room specifically but…perhaps he was actually more concerned about being liked by them than he realised. Something that he just hadn’t clocked in, since he hadn’t cared about what others thought of him before.

“I’ll be right back.” He left, for five minutes, before returning with a plastic bag full of chips, chocolates and other sweets that he had bought from the convenience store yesterday. He plopped them on the floor. “I thought we could eat while coming up with a game-plan.�� They sometimes mulled over the next steps of a mission over a food break, so there was no reason for this to be any different.

Beat didn’t need to be told twice, as the boy dove for the snack bag and snagged the norishio flavoured chips, chucking konsome ones at Rhyme. Neku rolled his eyes, before taking out some rice crackers and passing them along to Shiki. They ended up sitting in a circle with the snacks in the middle.

This was what Neku thought it would be like if he were to have a study session with friends; although they were all there for more serious matters.

“So, from Joshua’s message, we have until Sunday before…the deadline.” Before they die. “If we want to help save them, I think we need to try and find out how they died the first time around.”

This was something that Neku had been thinking about.

Since he had gotten home last evening, after they all agreed that they needed to come up with an actual plan, it had been all that was on his mind.

“We know exactly when they died. Aside from the ‘how’ we’re also pretty much clueless on the ‘where’. What we do know is that it’s within Shibuya. Luckily for us, we’re all pretty much experts on running around everywhere in this town.”

“You’ve got that right,” Shiki said, only just barely audible. “So, we know they were hanging around at the Scramble on Saturday? Do we just wanna try and find them then?”

Neku shook his head. “I think that would be leaving it a bit late. And I don’t think we could follow them all day until Sunday. Even if that was going to be our plan, that’s if we can find them on Saturday.”

“Ain’t it the same thing if we found them sooner? Wouldn’t we still be tryna’ follow them ‘till Sunday?”

“I was…maybe planning to well…” He lowered his voice. “Maybe try and make friends with them.”

There was a slight pause, as all three of them stared at him.

He scratched the back of his head. “You know. If we made friends with them, maybe we could just…ask them where they planned to be on Sunday.” Still quiet. “We could just exchange numbers and maybe hang with them until the time passes.”

Shiki was the first one to break the silence  - with a laugh. It wasn’t a cruel laugh, however.  “You really have changed, haven’t you, Neku?” If anything, the tone she had laughed in and had spoken in had a soft quality to it. He might even call it affectionate.

“I guess.” He knew that. She didn’t have to say it out loud, though.

Beat and Rhyme jumped in to agree with her enthusiastically, all three breaking into big smiles.

Well.

Maybe having it said wasn’t too bad.

“Anyway,” he cleared his throat, “they were the ones who approached me and Joshua, so I think that it’d probably be easy to make friends with them.”

The way Sota and Nao selflessly offered the two their help, even if it might cost them the win - it was something that Neku appreciated all the more after coming back to life.

“That still leaves us the problem of finding them,” Rhyme pointed out.

“Right, so I wanted to ask you guys. You did that…people-watching thing a lot, didn’t you? Back when we could scan.”

“You bet,” Beat laughed, “man, remembering some of the things people were thinking cracks me up.”

“Speak for yourself, Beat.” Shiki sighed. “I swear, I kept scanning people who were either complaining all the time or…well thinking things that probably should have been left unscanned.”

Neku was not going to ask Shiki to elaborate on that one. “Did you guys remember picking up on anything that first week? Anything that might be a clue? I think it’d be helpful if we scanned something related to them on the seventh day but obviously, we were all a little preoccupied.” As he said that, he gave a little apologetic nod to Rhyme, realising that she wasn’t really part of that, of course.

There was another lull, where each of them tried to remember something, anything that might be a clue. He wished he had paid more attention to people that first week. There was no guarantee that they would find anything concrete, but it sure as hell would useful.

“You know, actually.” Shiki scrunched up her face. “I think that I scanned some guy…I think he was a detective or something. He was looking for a blond ganguro girl. That would match the description of Nao.”

“Dunno ‘bout that, Shiki. There are a lotta blond ganguro girls in Shibuya.”

“That’s true,” said Shiki. “‘Sides, this guy was looking for a suspected criminal. Doubt it’s them since they were helping Neku out.”

“I can’t say I knew them well enough to say they’re not criminals but that’s definitely not the feeling I got from them.” No, he didn’t know them closely but what he did was enough. “I mean, we can’t be sure. Either way, it doesn’t really give us a clue on how to find them.”

Seemed like they would have to go with Plan B.

“In that case, the other thing that I wanted to ask you guys was - do you think you guys can ask around if anyone you know, knows anything about Sota and Nao? I’d do it myself, too, but I don’t really have…anyone to ask.”

At that, both Shiki and Beat stiffened up. Hm? That’s strange.

“Shiki, do we think you could ask Eri?”

“I - uh, I guess that would be okay.” Her eyes were suddenly indiscernible behind her glasses, as she shifted them.

Neku saw Shiki’s other hand curl up tightly.

“Hey.”

Shiki looked up at him.

“Don’t sweat it, we don’t have to.”

Her expression seemed to harden but Neku didn’t want to push. She told him to take his time yesterday if he needed it. He wanted her to feel the same.

“Sorry.”

He didn’t know what was bothering Shiki - he thought that she had resolved her troubles with Eri but it was beginning to seem like that wasn’t the case. He hadn’t asked. I should have asked. He could sense that now wasn’t the appropriate point to do so, though. She’d tell him when she was ready to.

Turning to Beat, he could see that his other friend was equally hesitant to say anything. Neku wondered if Beat had a reason too, why he didn’t want to ask anyone. Perhaps…he also didn’t have many friends? Neku just assumed that he did have some. When they first met, Beat seemed to want to get along fine. Until Neku showed off some of his old attitude, and Beat stormed off but that was Neku’s fault, he could admit to that. He didn’t want to push Beat either, but now they were kind of stuck.

“Neku, I think I have some friends I can ask,” Rhyme said.

Oh right, Rhyme.

“Thanks but…aren’t you a bit…young? I think Nao and Sota are a bit older than us so I don’t know if you’d know anyone who would hang around them.” He also doubted that with Beat as a brother, she would be hanging around with older kids a lot, if Beat wasn’t around others either.

“Yup but I’ve got a friend - he’s a classmate from school. He’s not afraid to talk to older people, though he could stand to, I think. He’s really into Tin Pin so he just challenges everyone he meets into the game,” she explained. “Even adults…including the nice grannies who live around our area.”

“Do the grannies play Tin Pin?” Shiki asked.

Neku shot her a look. Not the time.

She shot one right back at him that said ‘I know you were thinking the same thing’.

“Some of them do.”

Huh, you learn something new every day. “Hold up…Tin Pin.” Don’t tell me - “This guy’s name doesn’t happen to be Shooter, does it?”

xxxxx

“DO YOU GUYS PLAY TIN PIN?!” The boy’s voice sounded like someone had gotten hold of a tv remote, aimed it at him and turned the volume all the way up to maximum.

Neku debated whether to say yes or no.

“Didn’t you say you got pretty good at it, Neku?” Shiki had to open her big mouth

Right, maybe he shouldn’t have told her all about it on the way to meet Shooter. It was a bit of walk from his place to Tipsy Tose Hall and they were all asking about how he knew Shooter. He may have…embellished his skill in Tin Pin ever so slightly. Look, he did beat Shooter in their practice round, okay?

“Oh yeah?” There was a glint in his eyes that Neku wasn’t quite liking. Shooter moved to adjust the red bandanna around his head. Tugged at his jacket. Tightened the straps on his fingerless gloves. “Then I challenge you to a slam-off!”

Ah shit, Neku thought, here we go again.

…

Only a few minutes later, Neku had been completely humiliated in front of his friends.

“Oh, it’s okay, Neku.” Shiki patted his shoulder, reassuringly.

“Right on! You weren’t bad, but you need to put a little more POW into your attacks, if you know what I mean?”

“Uh yeah, ‘more pow’. Gotcha.” Was he disappointed? No! Of course, not.

…Fine, maybe a little bit.

“Hah, you suck!”

Neku glared at Beat. “I’m just a little out of practice!”

“Really? We can count it as a warm-up if you’d like, bro? Wanna go again?”

“No, I’m good,” Neku said, immediately.

Before Shooter could protest, Rhyme interrupted him. “Good job, Shooter! Nice play.” Rhyme and Shooter shared a very light fist-bump.

“Thanks, Rhyme. Gotta get some practise so I don’t lose again to you. Can’t keep letting my rivals get ahead of me all the time. Just you wait, the next one is gonna come in with a WHAM.”

There was so much that Neku wanted to ask after witnessing that exchange but they needed to keep focused on the task at hand.

“Shooter, all sorts of people come through the Stride, don’t they?”

“Yeah! I mean, everyone plays Tin Pin!” Shooter said this like it was obvious. “If there are people out there who don’t play Tin Pin they should play Tin Pin. I’ve been trying to get my gramps to play with me but he keeps saying he’s busy with his store!”

Looks like what Rhyme said about him challenging grannies must be true, then. Wonder if Tin Pin has specific categories for senior citizens…

Looking around the Stride right now, there were quite a few setups for several Tin Pin matches to go on at the same time. While the majority of players did seem to be around Rhyme and Shooter’s age-group, he did spot a lot of older kids and adults here too. Looked like anyone could get into Tin Pin.

“You know anyone named Sota Honjo? Or Nao Akahoshi? They’re usually together.”

Shooter thought for a moment and the longer he took, the more Neku started to believe they hit another dead end.

“Oh wait, is he the guy who wears shades on his head?”

Neku’s heart started to race. “Yeah, him!”

“Yeah I know him! He’s a bit of a rookie, started coming around here not long ago. He’s only a little worse than you though, bro.” Neku would not take offence to that. Nope. “Haha, though he totally wanted to take on the tournament next week. I dunno if it’s too early for him but you can’t gain experience without slamming! Oh hey, you wanna join the tourney?”

“No thanks, I’ve already done - uh, I mean - I’ve already got plans.”

That was close.

He avoided his friend’s eyes, knowing they were probably all going to hound him for it later.

“Do you know when he’s going to be here next?” Neku pushed through, determined to get the information he needed.

“Bro, I wish! I tried to challenge him when I saw him near Miyashita Park. He told me to go home, though. Saw him heading towards the Shibuya river side of the park. Think he hangs there a lot.”

It wasn’t anything concrete but it was a lead nevertheless.

“Guess that’s where we’re going then. Thanks Shooter. C’mon guys.”

Thinking it best to leave before Shooter could demand another slam-off, Neku tilted his head towards the exit and began walking towards it. Rhyme and Shiki started heading out, but Beat did not move.

That’s weird. He was usually first out the door.

His back was towards Neku and he couldn’t see Beat’s expression but he suspected that it was similar to the one he had on back at Neku’s place.

“Beat? You coming?”

“Yeah…les’ go.”

xxxxx

This really was strange.

Beat wasn’t saying a word as they made their way to the park. He wouldn’t stop talking when they were going to the Stride but now? Nothing. He was also lagging behind even Shiki.

If Neku noticed it and Shiki noticed it, judging by the way she kept looking behind her and then back to Neku, then Rhyme must have noticed it. She didn’t give any indication of it, though. Was that on purpose?

This was another thing that Neku had to ask about. Later, after they had found Sota and Nao.

They didn’t exactly run to the park but it hadn’t been a gentle walk either. Finding his breathing to be slightly laboured he gestured for them to stop by the entrance of the park. He looked around the area. It was one of Shibuya’s more run-down locations.

While it wasn’t such a large area, they still needed somewhere to begin. He asked if they should split up to cover more ground. He would need to give a bit more detail, he suspected. Since Shiki and Rhyme agreed to it fairly quickly he started to give them a bit more description of what they looked like.

“Like I said to Shooter, Sota had shades. I don’t know if he’d be wearing the same thing but he also had ripped jeans. Some kind of black vest. Think he had a watch and a few necklaces. White armband. Think he had some piercings too.” He actually surprised himself with how much detail he remembered. Briefly, he wondered if having memory loss once meant that your memory was better once you got them back. Another question to ask, someday.

“Alright, so should we split up into two groups?” Shiki nodded at him. “Neku and I one way and you two in another?”

“Wait, Shiki.”

Beat had finally spoken up.

“It ain’t…it ain’t a good idea to split up.”

“Hm? This place is a little shady but it isn’t that bad.” As far as Neku knew, at least. “Beat?”

“…I think I know where they’re at.”

“You what?”

This time, Beat did start sprinting off. It was all they could do to keep up with him. They were heading deeper into the park and past any area Neku had visited before, or heck even known about. They were heading towards the side, near the Shibuya river as Shooter had mentioned, but down a path leading to the junction to the housing areas.

“Who’s there?”

Oh no.

Beat had led them to the edge of the park, with stairs dipping down from the raised ground. Several people were sat on these steps and they did not look like the friendliest bunch. Or at least, most of them didn’t.

“Oh hey! Beat, that you, man?”

Two of them got up.

Shit.

He had been looking for them. He had wanted to find them.

But -

Sota, sorry… I can’t…

Nao! Stay with me! We’re finishing this thing together!

I’d…love to…but it…doesn’t look like I can. Sorry…Sota…

-        he found himself staggering backwards.

He would have fallen over if Shiki hadn’t jumped to his side to steady him.

“Wow, is your friend, like, okay there?”

Neku wanted to answer on his own but couldn’t. He could open his mouth to speak.

They don’t know me.

He knew they wouldn’t.

They’re alive.

He was so relieved they were.

And they…know Beat?

“Well, well, well. Lookie who showed up here?”

This didn’t come from either Sota or Nao but from one of the other people sat on the stairs. He wasn’t standing up but somehow his gaze managed to seem as if he was looking down on them.

“Did ya change your mind?”

The man tapped at his white arm-band. All of them were wearing white arm-bands.

“Beat, what’s going on?” Neku was suddenly aware that Shiki’s grip on him had tightened.

“Yeah, c’mon. What’s going on that you had the balls to come back here, huh ‘Beat’?”

This time the man did stand up and he towered above them all.

“Or should I still be calling you -

Beat didn’t flinch and met this man’s gaze head-on.

“ - ‘Mad Boar’?”

[laythornmuse]

Distopia - One Quote, One Shot

Squeaking in 40 minutes before the end of my deadline, if you’re Pacific time ;)   Thank you @notevenjokingfic and @balfeheughlywed  My One Quote, One Shot!! Enjoy everyone!!!

Claire slapped the X-Ray onto the viewing screen, the snapping of film against glass sending a ripple of satisfaction through her. Her eyes studied the bilateral image of a skull, her husband’s skull, as her tablet loaded his last MRI report.

The acidic coffee in her mug swarmed her senses as her eyes searched, probed, for an answer. A tangible one. One besides prayer, patience and time. She’d had her fill with patience, and wanted to rage against the invisible bars of her well mannered, and understanding prison.

She’d lost her husband.

***

It had been a quiet Tuesday evening in her surgical suite. A dislocated shoulder and a minor hernia that had her and Joe playing “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” winner chooses last. It was during her surgery that Joe appeared with Dr. Weis, the hospital’s chief surgeon, to relieve her.

She knew to expect the worse and had often seen the worse scream through the trauma unit. But reading the accident report sheet—

- - -Vehicle roll over after head-on collision- - -Driver 1 DUA - - -Driver 2 non responsive- - - severe head trauma - - - 20 minute extradition from vehicle - - -

Claire read the words over and over, but her brain would not comprehend their meaning. She stood outside his trauma suite and saw the team prepping him for surgery, yet she could not reconcile the swollen, ravaged face as the one she’d kissed goodbye earlier that afternoon. He’d teased her when she made dinner reservations to celebrate their 4 month wedding anniversary.

“I dinna think four months is any more symbolic than 4 weeks,” Jamie quipped, “but I’ll eat cake with ye all the same.”

Four hours later, he entered surgery under the care of two men she respected and trusted—she could ask for no better—yet Claire felt desperate and agitated, her hope and faith a mere whisper in her mind.

24 hours after that, her world began to unwind.

***

It seemed he couldn’t avoid a complication. Infection, a punctured lung, burst spleen…

“It will all heal, Claire.”

Joe’s mantra played over and over in her mind. She prayed it, whispered it in the dark corners of the doctor’s lounge where she reviewed his labs and tests.

On paper, Jamie’s body was slowly mending, his vitals showing steady improvement, but Claire was restless as the days passed. And then, finally, his eye lids fluttered, and Claire felt a breath shudder against her ribs in relief. She smacked the call button to the nurses' station before her hands were on him, gently tracing the contours of his cheek.

“Jamie?” She sobbed. His face creased in the effort to flutter his lids again, his mouth pulling into a full Scottish grimace. “Aye,” he rasped. “God, I’m thirsty.”

Tears streamed down Claire’s face as she pushed his curls back from his brow. An impatient Scottish sound emitted from him, and she chuckled as she picked up her own cup of ice chips.

“Here then…small spoonfuls…” a smile broke across her face, as she saw his tongue move distastefully along his lip. With his lips less parched, he turned his eyes to her, his expression soft, confused, and wondrous.

“You were in a car accident, Jamie,” Claire explained. “You’ve been unconscious for three days.” The crease between his brows deepened as she spoke. When she swept her fingers along his jaw, he gasped and Claire jerked her hand away, startled. Claire watched as words crept to the edge of his lips, nearly spilling from his mouth before his teeth stopped them, a storm of emotions crossing his face in silence.

“Do you remember anything about the accident?”

“Just…light. And then pain.” He grimaced again before he pushed her spoon and ice chips away.

“And how’s your pain now?”

“I’ll bide. Can I see my sister and my Da? They must be driving ye—”

“What?” Claire whispered. She cursed her glass face as her lip trembled and Jamie’s expression turned from sleepy to alarmed. “Och, It’s no that I mind ye—”

“Did—” Claire felt her tongue was too large for her mouth as she stared back at him. “Did you just ask for your father, Jamie?”

“I did, and I’d appreciate ye not making me feel odd for it,” Jamie grumbled, his mood quickly becoming more agitated.

Claire’s face crumpled as she processed Jamie’s words, and then his painful cringe. “Ack, my head…”

“Mr. Fraser! I’m so glad to see you awake,” Joe greeted from the door, his face beaming. “It’s been hard to keep Claire away from you.”

A blush crept up Jamie’s cheeks that made Claire’s blood run cold.

“I can tell the lass has been attentive, but…”

“Lass?” Joe deadpanned, his eyes cutting to Claire as realization washed over her.

“Jamie,” Joe asked quietly, approaching the bed now and motioning for Claire to step back. The motion was unnecessary. Claire was already off the bed, holding her arms against her body. “You don’t recognize Claire?”

“Nay, but I fear I should,” Jamie croaked, his body trembling as his eyes locked on Claire. Joe nodded and reached into the hospital nightstand. He held in front of Jamie a simple platinum band and placed it into his good hand.

“Your left hand surprisingly was unharmed. We removed this from you to keep it safe.”

“It’s mine?” Jamie asked softly.

“Yes,” Joe answered. “It’s your wedding band. Claire’s your wife.”

***

Claire ‘s time as a doctor exposed her to many emotional outcries from patients, but she was not prepared for Jamie’s rejection. Upon hearing Joe’s words, Jamie’s eyes locked upon her and immediately began measuring. She felt naked before his gaze as his eyes scanned her from the tips of toes to the ends of her curls, and then…doubt. Doubt was all she could see beaming from his eyes and the weight of it crushed her.

Jamie’s doubt morphed into trembling sobs as Joe gently explained it was actually 2017, not 2015, but that this type of lapse was very common after head trauma. Claire also knew the reassuring language,  but could not focus just then on reassurances. When her phone pinged, she stood up suddenly, drawing both men’s eyes to her.

“Jenny’s in the waiting room. I’ll bring her in.” Claire turned to leave, a murmured “Thank Christ” reaching her ears before she started toward her sister-in-law.

Jenny’s face paled when she saw Claire’s face.

“He’s all right,” Claire reassured, squeezing her hands.

“I’d never know that by the look of ye,” Jenny murmured. “How is he, really?”

“He has some….memory loss,” Claire muttered. “He doesn’t remember me, but…”

“He’s scrambled his heid that bad—”

“Jenny,” Claire whispered. “He’s asking about your father.”

Jenny placed a hand on Claire’s shoulder and grasped it tight, her other hand covering her mouth. “Oh, Claire. Oh, God.”

***

Claire sat on the tile outside her husband’s hospital room. He’d asked to speak with Jenny alone, so here she kept her vigil. She tucked her trembling knees to her forehead and leaned her aching chest against her thighs. It wasn’t fair, she thought. He shouldn’t have to live through this loss twice.

The first time, they lived through the loss of Brian Fraser together. This time, he would face it alone.

A shout shook her and made her teeth chatter. A keening sob sounded next, a rare sound she’d only heard once before, and Claire felt her insides liquify with the pain of it.

Murmurs echoed from the room behind her, Jenny’s soft voice crooning to him in Gaelic.

“I dinna want her!”

Claire froze. As suddenly as her tears had started earlier that afternoon, her eyes cleared as realization flooded her. He didn’t want her.

Claire sniffed and stretched her legs forwards, allowed herself to stretch over her knees. Gently, she gathered her feet beneath her and crossed the hall to the visitor’s bathroom. She splashed the tepid water across her cheeks and over her forehead before she physically shook herself before the bathroom mirror.

“Right,” Claire said to her reflection. “Food and Tea, Fraser. You have a long night ahead of you.”

He didn’t want her.

Claire scoffed to herself, righting her hair and patting her face dry. Of course, he didn’t want her.

He bloody needed her.

***

For two days, Jamie barely spoke to anyone, except the hospital staff and Jenny. Jenny’s visits involved more shouting than talking, so much so patients began closing their doors at 3PM in preparation for the incoming fight. It was impressive, even to Ian.

“This is more than his Da, Claire,” Ian spoke softly, watching Claire as she refilled his hospital water jug.

“I know it,” she replied. “He’s just…lost, I think. And frightened.”

“Jenny brought photos from your wedding today,” Ian said, and they both turned to watch the closed door of his hospital room as if it could explode at any moment.

“Well,” Claire muttered. “Silence is new, at least.”

Jamie had allowed her to be in his room during the day but stubbornly insisted each night he wanted to be alone. Claire, armed with a freshly packed weekend bag of clothes, stubbornly refused to leave the hospital and reminded him each night that she was sleeping across the hall if he changed his mind.

Tonight was no different.

“I dinna know ye, woman, and sitting there staring at me willna change it.”

Jenny had left an hour before, and Jamie had turned away from her when she reappeared in his room. Squaring up her shoulders, she eyed his back and the shivers she still saw under his hospital gown.

“I know that,” She said quietly. “But I won’t leave, Jamie. I—”

“Even if I told ye to leave me?” Jamie huffed. “Even if seeing your face just reminds me of how broken I am? That there is a life I had that’s now lost, along with—” His eyes closed as his body shook. “Did ye even know him?”

Claire watched as Jamie turned onto his back, not looking at her, but not blocking her out either.

“Yes.” Jamie didn’t respond but his head turned towards her, so she continued.

“We spent two weekends a month at Lallybroch. He transplanted a rose bush from your mother’s garden for us to take home.”

“We were living together?” Jamie asked, incredulously.

“If what Jenny said is true I only knew ye about six months…”

“Yes everyone said we rushing, but not Brian,” Claire chuckled. “Brian, however, saw our disastrous flower bed and berated you for not digging it up —”

“—Because we didn’t have a working front door—” Jamie froze and Claire’s face lit up into a knowing smile. “Christ,” Jamie whispered, as his eyes cut to hers. “How…how can I remember that but nothing else, but not…”

Claire let out a laugh, as she brushed a tear from her eye. “I’m a doctor and I can’t explain it.” She wiped at her cheek, but her smile warmed him, even from where he sat.

“Dinna cry,” Jamie murmured, not unkindly. “Christ, I remembered a door, of all things…”

“You remembered an argument,” Claire corrected. “And you’ll keep remembering. Just be patient with it.” Looking down at her hands, braced them together for courage. “Have I earned the right to stay, then?”

“I didna mean to be unkind, Claire,” Jamie muttered. “Aye. I’d like ye to stay.”

Jamie fell silent and turned on his side. Claire pulled a blanket around her shoulders as she sat back in the visitor’s chair.

“Did you like him?” He asked softly, as she dimmed the lights.

“Oh yes,” she answered. “I loved Brian very much.”

***

The next few days showed the typical signs of healing that Claire had learned to expect from her husband: stubborn and vile crankiness. If Claire joyous for her presence finally being accepted, Jamie was showing her the price she’d pay for it.

“Is there nothing in this hospital but weak broth and jello?” Jamie grumbled. “I canna even get full off this piss.”

“You can’t get full because you keep throwing up breakfast,” Claire muttered as her hands opened the seven cracker packets he insisted on for his weak broth.

“Ye try to keep down hospital eggs that are soppier than a bog.”

Claire rolled her eyes but pushed the bowl in front of him. His mood didn’t improve either as the day went on. His bones ached, his skin itched, and he just about bowled over a nurse who insisted he uses the walker to traverse from the bed to the bathroom.

When the sun settled, Claire thought his mood may have improved when he asked her to play cards. Until he asked to play Crazy Eights.

“No.” Claire deadpanned.

“What? Why?”

“Because every time we play Crazy Eights I’m double fisting 40 cards while you have 5,” Claire answered. “How about Rummy?”

“Bah, that’s a terrible—No!” Jamie sat up in bed, trying to make his body as menacing as he could to the nurse walking in with his dinner tray. Broth again, this time with apple sauce.

“Ye can take that brackish water right back to your prison kitchen and get me some proper bread and meat!”Jamie yelled. The nurse, a waif-like creature called Mary, startled at his tone, her jaw flapping as she looked between Jamie and Claire.

“You can leave it, Mary, thank you,” Claire responded.

“Ye will NOT leave it, and I’ll thank ye to no’ contradict me,” Jamie growled at Claire. Claire watched as Mary escaped, closing their hospital room door behind her. Claire grabbed the tray and began opening his crackers. “Jamie, I know it’s been a hard day but—”

As Claire moved the wheeling tray over his lap Jamie forcibly slapped it away, spilling the contents onto Claire and the floor.

“What the hell, Jamie!” Claire hissed, as she pulled hot steaming shirt away from her skin. “You could have burned me!”

“I’m tired of no one considering what I want, damn it! If I’m ever getting out of this hospital I need real food, not this processed bairn food fit for invalids!” Jamie shouted.

“All I’ve done is listen to you, damn it!” Claire yelled back. “Ever since you nearly killed yourself I’ve done nothing but try to keep you alive, despite you screaming at me!”

“I didna ask ye to, did I? I told ye to leave me, no? And I canna see why ye bothered to save my life if it’s only to starve me to death—unless ye enjoy watching it!”

This was altogether too much.

“Bloody ingrate!”

“Shrew!”

“You fucking bastard!!” Claire bellowed at him as she slammed his hospital door behind her.

Claire turned to see the hospital staff, and a stunned Ian and Jenny looking back at her.

“Feeling better, is he?” Jenny asked, a smirk lighting her face.

Claire took a breath. “Why, yes actually. He is.”

***

Later that evening, Claire awoke in the visitor chair when a soft hissing noise penetrated her sleep.

“Claire,” Jamie whispered again. “Are ye awake?”

“I am now…” Claire murmured, blinking several times into the darkness. “Are you all right? Are you in pain?”

“Nah. Will ye come here?”

Claire stood and wobbled toward his hospital bed, taking a seat on the edge of his mattress. When he moved over to make room for her, she lifted her legs onto the bed and turned on her side to look at him. “Whatisiit,” she murmured into his pillow.

“I dreamt of ye.”

“Oh. What of?”

“Well, to start…” Jamie muttered. “After Jenny and Ian left, I remembered…something. Another time ye called me a…erm, fucking bastard.”

If Claire was grateful for the darkness just then, but couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped her. “Oooh. Is that so?”

“Mmhmm. I believe…if I remember it right, I’d accused ye of flirting with some lad who got handsy with ye…”

“We were at a nightclub for Geillis’s birthday, against our will, mind you,” Claire murmured. “But you were pretty tipsy…”

“As were you, I think…”

“Uh-huh. But you got…angry.” Claire paused. “I think the term you said was ‘rut.’ If I planned to ‘rut’ with the lad, and if so you’d take yourself home.”

“Ah.” To his credit, he bowed his head, quite similarly to how he had two years ago. “So ye put me in my place, then.”

“Too right, I did.”

“But I went after ye?” Jamie whispered back, and Claire gasped as she felt his hand grip hers for the first time in a week.

“You did.”

He nodded, and brought her hand up to his lips, placing a soft kiss against her palm. “I think I dreamt what came next. My groveling…and my cherishing of ye. I feel like a right ass for making ye call me that again, but…”

“But what?” Claire slid closer so she could feel the heat coming from his chest.

“But, I’d like verra much to kiss you, if you’ll allow it.”

Claire grinned and felt her heart do a summersault.

“I’ll allow it,” she whispered and pressed her lips to his in the dark.

[dokidoki-tae]

Hey! I really like your blog so far! I was wondering if you also do some sad/angst stuff... how would each member of la squadra react to finding out they have a little daughter (like 5 or 6 yrs old) that they didn't know about? And then meeting her? Thanks!

Hello! So I will break this into individual parts throughout the next couple of weeks since they are turning out longer than I thought. I will post them one by one! First, we have Risotto!

Risotto: He never thought he’d be back in hometown inSicily especially so soon. It had been a little over 5 years since he had lefteverything behind. When he was assigned an assignment to take out a targethere, he wanted to pass it on to someone else, but the situation called for him.Evidently, almost nothing had changed, only a few new businesses had poppedup and some of his favorite stores he loved visiting as a child had closed down. Hedidn’t have the luxury of walking around in the open; he would stand out toomuch and be recognized. Using Metallica to cloak himself in case he needed togo out, other than that he had to hide out in his motel room until his mission wascomplete. This whole assignment had Risotto convinced Boss was doing this tospite him in hopes to bring up old memories. Boss doesn’t know much aboutRisotto or his stand, but he does know where Risotto originates from. He probablyexpects the assassin to “feel” something “nostalgic” from this trip. Begrudgingly,old memories stirred up for Risotto, memories of the family he abandoned. A smallprice to pay to avenge the murdered child of his cousin. It wasn’t like Risottohad many happy memories here. All his life he felt estranged and detached from thepeople of the Sicilian town, only ever feeling attached to his family, thebeauty and history of his home, and someone special.

Until he was 18, Risotto was once an awkward short teen, hitting his growthspurt when he was 16 and towering over his classmates who often bullied him forbeing the shortest and then for being the tallest. His neighbor and classmate wereoften there to speak up for him and defend him. The bullying never got to Risottobut to watch someone defend him with such passion, feelings began to develop.They spent much of their time together; she was there to support Risotto and theNero family when their family member was killed by the drunk driver even whenRisotto lashed out at her to leave him alone. She stuck by his side, and she was the one who Risotto lost his first kiss and virginity to. He thought she couldbe the one who could help him make peace with the cruelties of this world, butwhen he heard this family member’s murderer was going to be free after justfour years, any thoughts of settling down and living a normal life no longerexisted for him. He left his family and left her without a word.

He found himself thinking about her without warning one night andmindlessly went out without hiding himself to walk and feel the cool airagainst his skin. He needed to feel something, to experience the nostalgia ofbeing back home at least once. He knew it was a senseless and reckless thing todo, but he didn’t care. On his walk, he heard his name being called out, knowinghe had been recognized by a local. Deep down, maybe it was something he wanted.To be remembered as the young, awkward, Sicilian boy and not the cold-bloodedmurderer he had become. When he turned to look at his caller, his breath hitchedwhen he discovered who it was.

“Is that really you?” He heard no resent in her question, just confirmher suspicions. As she walked closer, her eyes and smile grew wide, extending herhand to wave eagerly at him. “Long time no see, Ris!” Just like nothing haschanged, she softly punched his chest, and he couldn’t fight his smile.

“It has.” He wanted to say more but couldn’t bring himself to. He simplysmiled down at her, hoping she would continue, but she equally struggled to saysomething, making the air awkward.

“Who’s that?” A small voice bringing them out of their own world. Risottohadn’t noticed the small presence holding the hand of his former lover. A smallgasp escaped his lips when he saw the little girl with ashy hair and red eyes. Thislittle girl couldn’t be…

“He’s an old friend of mine, sweetie.” She explained, nonchalantly. Herbehavior made Risotto question if this was his child. The little girl’s appearanceand the time he left, it added up but her casual attitude made him questionhimself.

The little girl remained watchful and looked Risotto up and down, observinghim. He watched her for a reaction, but the little girl gave him nothing,completely stoic. Though, she did stick her tongue out at him when he staredfor too long.

“Are you just visiting or…” His childhood friend asked, unsure if shewanted to know his honest answer.

“Visiting.”

“Oh. I see.” He watched as disappointment made its way onto her features,but she quickly perked up. “If that’s the case, come have breakfast with ustomorrow morning! We were just out buying some last-minute groceries, turns outwe were out of eggs and milk and a few other things. You should come over beforeyou go!” She offered, hopefully.

When Risotto opened his mouth to decline, a simple “okay” came outinstead. His childhood friend enthusiastically told him where she lived and thebest to go over while the child frowned and pouted, scrunching her nose at Risottobut said nothing. When her mom wanted to continue her conversation, she pulledat her mom, telling her she was tired and wanted to go home. They bid their goodbyesuntil the morning.

Risotto had a mind to simply not show up, but his mind was not beingreasonable, so he found himself eating breakfast with the mother and child.Risotto and his childhood friend talked and caught up. She spoke animatedly abouther career and hobbies while Risotto nodded along. She did all the talking andnever once made Risotto explain himself for leaving so abruptly without sayingso much as a word to her. While she spoke passionately about herself, she madeno mention of where this child came from.

“Can I go play outside?” The child asked before pushing her empty plateto the middle of the table.

“Oh. Don’t you want to get to know Mr. Nero?”

“No.” She said bluntly.

“It’s alright. Let the child play outside. She must be bored just hearingus talk.” Risotto interjected. He wanted to speak privately anyway. The child narrowedher eyes before heading off outside.

“I’m sorry about her. She’s can be very straightforward about her thoughtsand feelings.” She apologized, getting up to wash the dirty dishes. “People sayshe’s exactly like me when I was her a-“

“Who is her father?” Risotto interrupted 

She pressed her lips into a thin line and went silent, letting the sink faucet run, the running water replacing their conversation with neither of them moving an inch for a couple of minutes.

“I-“ She paused again. “I’ll discuss this…” She sighed. “I can’t say, not when you’re leaving again.”Her voice shook.

“So she is mine?” Risotto asked one last time to confirm.

“I…Yes. I’m sorry…” She breathed, Risotto watched as her shouldersshook but didn’t move to comfort her. He had his own feelings he needed to sortout. What did this mean for him? Did this change anything?

“Has she ever asked about me?” Risotto wondered out loud, catching himselfand her off guard. She looked down at her fiddling hands and thought deeplyabout his question.

“Only once.” She said honestly. “Only once did she ask where her fatherwas. When I told her I didn’t know, she never brought it up again.”

Risotto bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself composed; hecould not let this get to him. Not here. He got up before asking permission tospeak to the child.

“You're not going to tell her, are you?” She instinctively moved to block the door. He could see the fear,distress, and hope in her movement, expression, and voice. Fear and distress as to what the child couldfeel and hope that it could mean Risotto would stay.

“I am not. I just want to speak to her if you’ll let me,” Risotto reachedout and held her cheek to calm her. She relented and gave him permission as shesat down to collect herself.

Risotto found his child sitting by a tree, seeking shelter from theunforgiving sun and saw her filling in a coloring book. She must have grabbedit before heading out. She glanced up when he approached, giving him a quick “hi”before returning to her messy coloring. Knowing that this little girl was hisdaughter caused his heart to lurch, and he was angry at himself for it but choseto ignore it in the moment.

“Hello,” he greeted awkwardly, seating himself next to her.

“… Hi.” She responded quietly, not looking at him. Risotto noticed her downtrodden faceas she colored absentmindedly. As the adult, Risotto figured he had to strikeup a conversation, but his child beat him to it.

“That’s the happiest I have seen mom in a long time…” She opened up, “EvenI never made her that happy,” she said mumbled bitterly. Risotto didn’t know a childher age could saying something with such bitterness. She stabbed her cartoon onto the page and color furiously,breaking the crayon in the process. “… Thanks for making mom happy, I guess,”she muttered.

Unable to find the right words, Risotto placed his large hand on her headand gently ruffled it. Without direction, his child leaned into him and restedher head against him. The sadness on her face chipped away at his heart. Thiswas his child, and he had no way of comforting her; he couldn’t tell her who hewas to her. Not when he couldn’t stay.

“Are you my dad?” She suddenly threw her question at him.

He paused before asking, treading light. He didn’t want to break his word to the mother. “Why do you think that?” He wanted to know.

“Because of how happy mom was when she saw you because we share the samecreepy eyes.” She said, pointing to her own.

“Creepy?” Risotto repeated?

“That’s what all the kids here say about them. My eyes are creepy,” shesaid, matter-of-factly and unbothered.

“They aren’t creepy,” Risotto expressed, a protective and sudden paternalside manifesting, wanting his child to be confident in her appearance.

“Are you my dad?” She repeated, ignoring Risotto comment.

He remained quiet, knowing his silence was both an answer and not an answer at once,and she seemed to accept that and chose to go back to drawing. Things suddenlybecame tense, and Risotto realized he had made a mistake and stayed too long.He had to go. Without warning, he used Metallica’s ability to cloak himself andleft without uttering a word to his daughter and former lover. As time passed,the young girl’s mother came by to check on her.

“Where is Mr. Nero?” She asked her lonely daughter who told her that heleft a while ago.

“He told me to tell you sorry that he couldn’t say good-bye and that he’llmiss you,” she lied, hoping she lessened the blow for her mother.

“Is that so?” She smiled understandably, kneeling to give her daughter asoft kiss on the forehead. “That was very kind of him. Thank you, bambina.” Thelittle girl trembled and wrapped your arms around her mom’s neck, fighting theurge to cry. “There, there, my little sweet pea. There is no reason to cry.” Shetook her into her arms and carried her away, leaving her coloring book behind andtaking her inside.

The mother and daughter did not come out the rest of the night when Risottofound himself on their property once last time. He was tempted to cloak himselfand see them one last time but now had enough sense to know it was not a goodidea and would stop him from going back to Naples and his team.

As he began to walk off, he noticed the coloring back, picking it up and flippingthrough the pages. He smiled at his child’s reluctance to stay inside the lineand using random uncommon colors for common things. He didn’t expect to takeany gifts for back home, but he carefully placed the coloring book in hissuitcase when he finally headed back to his new home in Naples.

On the plane ride, he fell asleep thinking about his former lover andtheir child and dreamt about the life they could have had if things had turnedout differently.  

[superrobotmonkeyteamramblingsgo]

A Defining Moment

Summary: A hero wants to know what is threatening his home and friends. An alchemist wants to have a chance to help. And a Veron Mystic just wants one moment to share her burden with another. But the road to hell, and the Skeleton King, are paved with good intentions A/N: Some backstory for my OC’s Pheena and Flora, as well as showing my theories about how having an eldritch abomination seal in its core would affect Shuggazoom. Also, here is an explanation for why its ‘Sparks’ here when I normally write it as ‘Sprx’ elsewhere.

~

Captain Shuggazoom may have left all matters scientific, magical, and otherworldly to his friends, but that didn’t mean he was stupid. He did have a city to protect, and more often than not that was on his own. Sure it was always great when his friends were able to pitch in, and the Alchemist’s inventions were always a boon, but a tool could only get you so far. He had to rely on his wits, instinct, and experience to make the most out of his friend’s help.

And then there was his life as Clayton Carrington, where he had to use his smarts to appear as dumb as he did. It was a balancing act, playing the part of airhead playboy while also subtly manipulating his handlers so that his family’s company and wealth were being used how he wanted them to. He had long since learned how to anticipate people’s behaviors, and how to act so that they would react in the way he wanted. It may not be like the volumes of facts and physics and what not Pheena and the Alchemist knew, but it was intelligence all the same and the price he paid for ensuring that Captain Shuggazoom stayed as far away from Clayton Carrington as possible.

But it meant that he knew how to read people. And pattern recognition was an important skin in both sides of his life.

He observed and these were the facts that didn’t escape his notice: Delpheena just so happened to get leave from the Varon Mystics at the same time as a monster attack. But it wasn’t a normal monster attack, the result of his enemy releasing some beast on the city to accomplish their goals. Because if that was the case, the monsters would be targeting the city. Instead, these beasts always focused on someplace away from the city. It was places like desolated quarries that weren’t even used for mining anymore, an island out in the middle of nowhere that was barren save a ring of stone pillars, and a temple hidden among the jungle the Alchemist also lived in.

That one was literally too close to the Alchemist’s base for comfort. Attacks on the city were on thing, because more often than not Clayton Carrington was there and could easily slip out for Captain Shuggazoom to appear. But even at his fastest, it still took him a while to get to the Alchemist’s. Sure, his friend was a great wielder of magic and machines, but he also had a troop of baby monkeys to look after as well, not to mention whatever else was lurking in the Shuggazoom-forshaken foliage.

Something was going on, and it may not be threatening his city directly, but it was threatening his friends and that was enough for him.

Especially when they didn’t even become aware of the beast until they discovered Pheena was missing, and when the Alchemist was able to track her down, there was the beast, with her glowing green sword through its heart.

She had greeted them like it was any other time, like it was routine to meet each other among the corpse of a slain beast.  Or she tried, but it was hard to ignore the surrounding, the dark sludges dusting her uniform, or even how tired she was behind the façade of normalcy she tried to maintain.

He didn’t say anything, allowing his thoughts to stew as she babbled (with more effort and pauses to catch her breath than normal) about whatever caught her fancy, the Alchemist occasionally chipping in with his two cents so there would be some semblance of a conversation

Because here it was again, the way she tried to downplay it and wave it off as nothing to worry about, only to try way too hard. She only seem to genuinely relax once they were back to the Alchemist’s lab and she was playing with his troop of monkeys.

He leaned against a wall, just watching how genuine her smile became and some of the exhaustion left her shoulders as she let them crawl and climb over her. Even Mandarin, the oldest who usually preferred to hang back and observe, approached her as he and Antauri played with the draped edge of her cloak.  She especially perked up when Flora, the smallest and youngest of them, woke up and wanted to be cuddled by her.

Maybe that was why he finally felt time was right to speak.

“Sucks how your leave is always interrupted by monster attacks.”

“Yeah, my luck has just been so bad lately. I don’t know why I’ve been so unlucky, but at least I have my good luck charm here” Sparks chirped in response, and she giggled. “Isn’t that right, Lucky?”” She giggles as she takes Spark’s hands into her own and shakes them in rhythm with her chant. “Lucky, lucky monkey, good luck charm!” 

Sparks squealed in delights with her, and from her lap Flora chirped and reached her hands out to their clasped ones.

She use to do something similar with her siblings, way back when they were kids. Whenever she was babysitting them and a serious issue came up, she would quickly change the subject with a silly song or joke or some other distraction. Anything to distract from the things she didn’t want them to think about.

That was fine when she was babysitting her siblings, but not now as adults. Pheena was a year older than him and the Alchemist and never let them catch up to her. When they were kids, a year meant so much more and did make things different for her. She was the first to double digits, new schools, and graduations. She was even the first to leave Shuggazoom when that Master Zan recruited her into the Varon Mystics. But as they aged and that year became more negligible, she still refused to let them close the gulf. He and the Alchemist had caught up to her, but she never let them in. 

“Well, I’ve been getting pretty lucky myself lately,” At that, she turned to him to stare enough that he caught what he just implied. “Get your mind out of gutter, I mean that things have been going well in both my heroic and civilian life. I’m sure it could help counter your own bad luck, so I’m open to assisting you however you can.”

“Of course that is what you meant Mr. Shuggazoom’s most eligible bachelor,” She chuckled, but it was forced, “But what if instead my bad luck ends up taking over your good luck? Then you or the city could get hurt?” She shook her head and looked him in the eye for the first time the entire evening. “No, its better if I’m still on my own and you keep doing your own thing. So Shuggazoom’s golden boy doesn’t have to worry about little old me, okay.”

He frowned but she just kept staring, trying to hammer the point home without speaking. She only let up when Flora began to climb out of her lap, trying to steady onto her feet and walk over to the rest of the monkeys. Sparks was still by her lap, as was Otto who poked at the nearby Gibson to look his way. Nova, ever adventures, had climbed onto Pheena’s shoulders while were still a playing with her cloak.

He had to smile at the scene, especially how Sparks reached out to help Flora as she tried to steady her stance, Nova chirping encouragement, and Otto clapping his hands. They really were amazing creatures and every time he visited it was a treat to see them grow and develop. Gibson always hung around the Alchemist lab, Otto tried to get his hands on his gadgets, and Nova took to imitating his fighting stances from the battle clips they watched. Antauri had even begun mimicking their lotus positions during meditation!

If he wasn’t so busy, in both facets of his life, he would be severely tempted to ask the Alchemist if he could keep one. He wouldn’t mind the company when he had to be away in the city. Maybe he could ask the Alchemist about it…

Flora slipped, but Pheena quickly had a hand under her belly to catch her. “Don’t worry, everything is okay.” She said with just enough emphasis his way that he knew she wasn’t talking to just the monkeys.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t think of anything to say that wouldn’t devolve into arguments. “Well, I have to get going. Got things to do and people to see. Will I get we get a chance to meet up again before you head back?”

“Probably not,” And for once there was a break, a genuine gleam of sadness to her eyes before she fixed it away, “I’ll be heading back to Karaladol once I’m done saying goodbyes to Patches and the monkeys. The masters will want an update about what I’ve been getting underfoot about.”

“Before you leave, I want to show you something I’ve been working on Captain,” Spoke up the Alchemist, who had otherwise blended into the background of the lab and their conversation, “Would you be fine with watching the monkeys while I’m gone Pheena?”

“Of course,” She laughed as the monkeys tried to fill her lap, now empty since she was holding Flora. It was a good thing she was being overwhelmed with the cute, otherwise she might have caught the look that was shared between her two friends. Or that they were walking not towards the Alchemist’s lab, but the secluded hallway that led to the front door exit.

She also didn’t see how Captain Shuggazoom let out a huff. “She’s hiding something,” He said, his frustration venting out through gritted teeth.

The Alchemist nodded. “She is.”

“Do you have any idea what it could be? I figured that it’s probably related to the monster attacks but that is as far as I got.”

“I have some theories, but nothing concrete.”

He frowned as he ran a hand through his hair, as if it would stimulate his brain to come up with a solution. “Do you want to try talking to her about it? You’re better with this spiritual stuff than I am, so you’ll understand it more than me anyway.”

“I doubt she’ll be more open with me, but I can try. I do have some questions for her about the Power Primate that might help illuminate some things.”

And probably would involve things Captain Shuggazoom couldn’t even begin to understand, but he was use to that now.  The Alchemist and Pheena would deal with esoteric magics and spirits, while he would always be here, protecting Shuggazoom and the home they could return to.

“Best of luck to you then, old friend.” Captain Shuggazoom put his helmet back on, but before slipping the cover, he turned towards the front of the hallway to shout. “I’m heading out now, Pheena, see you next time!”

“See you then, Goldie!” Her voice, somewhat muffled by the distance, replied. His helmet’s screen then slide into place, his cape fluttering behind him as he walked out the lab.

(But there wouldn’t be a next time for the two of them)

-

The Alchemist got into the habit of always makings sure the front door slide into place when Captain Shuggazoom left. It was suppose to automatically close, but there was always a chance of a bug or leaf or some other factor interfering with the mechanism. The Captain would probably say his magic could handle any creature that dared to walk in, but his biggest fear was more of what could get out.

His monkeys were at a precocious age, all save the youngest steady on their feet and ready to explore. He had plans that would allow them to stand up against the threats around their home, but that was for the future. For now they were small and curious and needed the front door to stay closed.

It also gave him an excuse to take a moment to think about what he and the Captain discussed, and how he would approach Pheena.

There was the blessing that the time made for a good conversation segue-way. “It’s almost feeding time for them again.” He said as he returned to the monkey covered pile that was his other childhood friend.

“Alright,” She laughed as she careful stood up and gently pried the monkeys off of her. “You heard him, it snack time!”

Pheena still kept Flora in her arms, so he handed her a bottle. The littlest monkey was doing better, and able to eat some solid food, but she still needed some formula supplements. Pheena happily took to the time-consuming task of bottle feeding her, allowing him to focus on the rest of his monkey troop.

He sat down a plate of fruit, vegetables, and other snacks. There was a cascade of squeals as they clamored over the plate, Mandarin trying to ensure some semblance of order by making sure no one monkey hoarded all of one type. But the afternoon playing made him as hungry as his younger peers, so he gave up at a point to stuff his face from the selection of citrus. And then, with bellies full, they all let out a yawn, one by one in turn, and curled up in a file of fluff and fur to sleep.

The Alchemist reached down to clean up the scraps of peels and rinds left on the floor and turned around with the now empty plate towards Pheena, only to find her gone.

Frowning, he placed the plate on one of the many tables that littered his lab, reviewing where she could have gone. She still had Flora, he thought as he put a blanket over the rest of his sleeping monkeys, so he was pretty sure that she hadn’t returned to Karaladol behind his back.

Or at least he would like to think she wouldn’t, but she became more of a stranger with each visit

There was a change in the atmosphere, a slight shifting in the aura of the area that his magical training let him pick up on. It was the same feel when Pheena used her Power Primate abilities and was coming from another room.

Pheena was there, the empty bottle discard off to the side and a sleeping Flora clutched to her chest. Her eyes were glowing white-green, bright enough that he couldn’t see her blue irises but it did seem that she wasn’t focusing on something in the room.

“Pheena?”

She gasped as the glow subsided, her irises reappearing as she turned to him. “Oh, it’s just you Patches! Sorry, I just wanted a quieter place to feed our little Sprout.”

“That didn’t seem to be the only reason.”

She shrugged, “Just scanning the area and practicing my technique. It’s one thing to read a single life force, but it’s another, harder thing to be able to spread it out.”

“And the Veron Mystics taught you that. Did they teach you anything else?”

“Oh, just things that I don’t think you’ll understand.”

He walked up to her, towering over her even with her standing upright. “Try me.”

There was a flicker of something on her face before she smiled. “Oh Patches, trust me, it not something you’ll be interesting in knowing-”

“If it troubles you, of course I want to know.” She backed off at her interruption, “Pheena, Clayton and I both know that something is going on. It’s just not these monster attacks, but your behavior as well. We know you’re trying to hide something from us.”

“I’m not-“

“We know you too well. And it’s because of that we are worried for you. Especially because I know something is up. I can tell with my magic, that you are battling some force far bigger than petty crooks and super villains.”

She was stricken silent, the smile slipping from her face as she stared at him. There was a gaunt paleness to her skin, and combined with the dark coloring of her Veron Mystic clothing, it made her look deathly ill.

The Alchemist’s heart ached with a need to help. He was all too use to being resigned to the sidelines. He wasn’t born with gifts the way Clayton and Pheena were, he didn’t have super strength and flight like Clayton, or read mind like Pheena. All he had was his mind, an ability to consume and absorb the offer conflicting knowledge of magic and science into a harmonious mix.

And it was through knowledge that he was able to do good, even if it wasn’t directly. It was why he labored so long with Maezono and Takeuchi to create the Super Robot, a prototype for future fighting machines that could be used for good. It was why he happily made weapons and tools to assist Captain Shuggazoom in defending the city.  It was why he had such big plans for his monkey team.

It was why he wanted more than anything to know what weight Pheena carried on her shoulders.

He bend down, putting his hands on her shoulder as they stood face to face. “Please Pheena, we’re your friends.  Let us help you, let me help you, even if it as a sympathetic ear for the burdens you bear.”

The silence seemed as heavy as she took in his words, looking away from him mismatched stare. He found himself holding his breath, waiting in anticipation for her answer.

“…they’re called the Dark Ones.” She finally said, looking at him with a steel to her eyes.

“The Dark Ones,” He repeated, mulling over the name. “That sounds familiar, I think that I saw some references to them in some of my arcane texts.”

“You probably have, they’re as old as the galaxy. They remnants of the first evil that threatened all life and existence.”

“And the monsters are trying to complete that goal?”

“No, the demons and cultists are trying to free them, or at least the surviving offspring, no matter the cost to the planet.”

“The planet?” There was a flip of his stomach as a horrid thought crossed his mind. “Pheena, where are they imprisoned?”

“…it seems you have figured it out already,” She said, in a tone barely above a whisper, “But to confirm your suspicion, they lay dormant in the cores of planets, and Shuggazoom is one of them.”

She turned away, her eyes directed at the floor but peering at something far below it. She left out a short, bitter laugh. “You know, I always felt that there was something within the planet. It felt like there was something just crawling under the surface, trying to burrow its essences into every part of the planet.” Her left hand still held Flora, but her right one was free to dig its nails into her left arm, as if trying to claw at a worm underneath her skin. “That’s why the Veron Mystics recruited me, because I can so easily sense them.”

He put his hand on hers, gently pulling it off from the arm and giving it a comforting squeeze. It broke whatever trance she was in, as she turned back to the Alchemist and took a deep breath. “That’s why the planet gets targeted so much, why Shuggazoom always had a protector in the past even before Goldie. They may not be actively seeking it, but its evil subconsciously calls to them and they respond. Normally, that’s no big deal, as freeing it isn’t their main objectively, but lately-”

“But lately there have been one’s going after it.”

She nodded. “The powers of the Dark Ones grows in their dimensions, and with it their influence in ours. Now they have dedicated followers that are trying to tip the balance of the universe in their favor by releasing the ones sealed in the cores.”

“But if the Veron Mystics recruited you because of them, then that must mean that have their own ways of dealing with it.”

“They do, and I’ve become quiet adapt at sealing their evil, but it’s just exhausting because of the size of their forces and areas we have to defend. Take Shuggazoom, where we have three main points of concern.”

He immediately knew the place. “The temple, the island, and the mining pit.”

She nodded. “Right, but we already were able to control most of it. The Arcane Island is supposed to be a portal to their home dimensions, but we reinforced it so that it is pretty much useless. Nothing can come out of it, and while they could get in, that’s only if they have some Power Primate to bypass the seals. Same thing with the temple, it’ll be years before they can work around my wards. The only one we’re having trouble with is the mining pit.” She frowned. “It’s not a means to summon or empower the Dark Ones, but a way towards the weak point of the prison.”

“And I take it you don’t know how fix that.” 

“The ruins on the island and the temple are relatively recent compared to how long the Dark Ones have been imprisoned. For now, all we can do is to try to manage the threats.”

There was a soft cooing sound, and Pheena looked down to where Flora was waking up in her arms. She let out a small yawn before bleary red eyes looked up to her and smiled.

Pheena returned the smile and gave the monkey an affection pat on the head, fingers running down to the pink ribbon tied around her. “I spend so much time sensing and reading the minds of those dedicated to evil and death, that it is such a relief to be here. Being with your monkeys, just being able to bask in their life and innocents, has been a bright spot in all this. It was especially wonderful tending to Sprout and watching her grow up.” She sighed, reluctantly pulling Flora away from her chest, despite the protesting cries the monkey made, and holding her out to him. “She can keep the ribbon, consider it my way of thanking her.”

It was only semantics that made Flora ‘his’, more out of convenience that he was already use to caring for young monkeys.

But it was Pheena who had found Flora among the wreckage left in the wake of the beast’s destruction, cradled by the bodies of her parents who had sacrificed their life to protect their young daughter. It was Pheena who had not let their sacrifice go to waste by bringing Flora to him, otherwise he didn’t think she would have let him or Clayton know she was even on the planet. And Pheena was the one who did most of the demanding one-on-one care Flora required, allowing him more time to see to the rest of the monkeys. He had doubted her chances of surviving, but she persevered, probably because of the extra attention Pheena gave her.

From the very first moment, from being the finder and the found, that was a bond put in place between Pheena and Flora. Pheena didn’t try to show such blatant favoritism, but it was clear once she tied her old pink ribbon around Flora, trying to justify it under the flimsy excuse of ‘being too cute.��

He really shouldn’t do this. Flora was entering a precarious stage of development. As she became more mobile, she would need social interaction with monkeys of her species. The socialization would be crucial to her development, teaching her certain behavioral cues and rules. Who knows how her temperament would turn out without it?

But he kept thinking of the uncensored joy and peace that Pheena always had with Flora, and his decision was made. “Do you want to take her back with you?”

Pheena looked like she was about to fall over. “What? Patches, are you serious?”

I am,” He nodded, pushing her hands and Flora back towards her. “You already showed that you can take care of her, since you’re basically her primary caretaker already. Flora’s going to still need more individual attention, and I have six other monkeys to take care of. You’ll be able to better give her the attention she needs, unless you don’t think you will?”

“No, no, I can!” She hugged Flora again, lighting up like a kid who was told they could get a puppy. “Most of my time on Karaladol is spent sensing for Dark Ones, meditating, studying, all that stuff that will leave me with plenty of time to care for her. And she is such a good girl that I’m sure the masters will be fine with her tagging along with me.” Pheena held Flora up, resting their foreheads together. “Even stuffy Master Zan wouldn’t be able to say no to such a cute face!”

Flora chirped in response, getting a genuine, happy laugh out of Pheena.

The Alchemist had to smile at the display. He could help Pheena this way, he thought as they went about packing up supplies for Flora and going over instructions just in case she fell sick again. 

But his mind was already working on another solution, recalling what he learned about other dimensions and interacting with them. He could make it so they could better monitor the Dark Ones, and if what Pheena said was true about the connection between them and the villains that threaten Shuggazoom, then this could even help Captain Shuggazoom as well in the long run.

In time, he was sure he could make it so that such evil would never be such a threat again.

[bigherosixfeels]

City of Monsters Part II REVIEW

Liv's arc has come to an end. We get the answers we've been theorizing on and her actions led to a painful departure.

Liv has Hiro right where she wants him. All she needs is for him to cooperate and she reveals herself as well as the real Liv's background. One of the theories was correct; the Liv we've known this whole time is a clone! The real Liv created the parasynths, believing they could increase life expectancy. She tested them on herself since no one believed in her work, but they mutated. With weeks to live and no one able to cure her, Liv decided that the only option left was to clone herself and have her find the cure. Her clone goes by Diane (or Di).

With all the tools they need, Hiro and Baymax use his nanobot technology along with Karmi's solution and virtual reality to destroy the parasynths in Liv's bloodstream. The cure is highly effective and they're able to destroy most of them with ease! One extremely large parasite puts up a good fight, but with some quick thinking, Hiro and Baymax manage to get the parasynth to digest it. They successfully cure the real Liv! Of course, even though Di gets what she wants, she considers herself a monster artist and since Hiro and Baymax know her secret, she's prepared to give him an upgrade too.

Between these intense scenes, we get a lot of good stuff with the nerd gang. Chris has released all our monster villains in different parts of the city to keep them distracted. Fred and Mini-Max deal with Knox and the Bessie bear. Wasabi has High Voltage. Gogo deals with Mr. Sparkles and the mayoi. And Honey Lemon handles Momakase. They all have to come up with an idea and struggle before deciding to lead everyone to the same place. Fred in particular has the hardest time, but he manages to come up with a great idea. He sends Mini-Max off to get more help and Ned Ludd shows up to retrieve Bessie. Ned doesn't think any less of  her being part bear. The others try to retrieve her, but Bessie sends a fire blast their way, deactivating their chips and turning them all back to normal.

In order to keep Di from controlling Karmi any further, Hiro kicked her phone out of her hand. Between a mutated Karmi and Chris, who can apparently become super buff, is part human, part canine, part gorilla and part foodie individual which makes for an interesting fight. Chris manages to crush Baymax and give Di her phone back which leaves Karmi chasing after Hiro. She grasped onto him, but Hiro is able to get through to her. He tells her that she's the smartest person he knows and that she's his friend and he cares about her. It works and Di has no control over her, so she sends Chris in to finish the job, but Karmi fights him. She gets pinned down and Hiro tries to help, but Chris throws him towards Di who attempts to mutate him too. She manages to get a transdermal patch on his neck, but her phone has been taken...by the real Liv! But Liv is ashamed. This isn't how she wanted to be saved. She changes Chris back to his regular size as well as changes Karmi back.

Di and Chris are rightfully arrested and Hiro remarks how appreciative he has to have such good friends in his life. He decides he wants to go check on Karmi, but he's greeted to Karmi's now empty lab. Granville tells him her parents took her home, feeling as though the city was too dangerous. Hiro didn't get a chance to say goodbye, but Karmi is revealed to be okay and still continues to write her Big Hero 6 fanfiction that Hiro now happily reads.

Things I Liked:

The “previously on” sequence

When the nerd gang was coming up with a plan outside of Sycorax and Chris somehow joined the circle.

Someone please give that poor waiter a raise.

The clone theory was right!

It was cool to know that Liv herself was the one to create the parasynths that caused her disorder.

The clone’s name reveal. Di(ane)

Liv and Di. You writers are clever.

I like that part of curing Liv was using virtual reality. It was a really cool way to do it!

Nanobot Hiro and Baymax are so cute!

Mr. Sparkles saying this is no picnic for him either and it shows him having an actual picnic with the mayoi.

Hiro and Baymax combining into one nanobot!

Hiro and Baymax’s plan worked!

Fred came up with a back-up plan!

Mini-Max actually brought back tacos

HIRO KICKING DI’S PHONE OUT OF HER HAND I’M SO PROUD

Chris having the ability to turn buff.

The stand-off between Ned and Bessie

HOW HIRO SNAPPED KARMI OUT OF IT

“Karmi...you can fight this. Because...you’re the smartest person I know. You’re my friend. I care about you.” I’M SOFT

MUTANT KARMI PROTECTING HIRO!!!

The real Liv being ashamed for what her clone did and doing the right thing!

THE HIRO AND KARMI HUG MY HEART

DI AND CHRIS ARE RIGHTFULLY ARRESTED

Honey Lemon has a mayoi now

Hiro being grateful for his friends looking out for him

Karmi is thankfully okay and still writing fanfiction

Hiro now reads her fanfiction with a smile

Things I Disliked:

I’m really not sure what I expected as far as how the villains would turn back to normal, but I didn’t expect it to be the Bessie bear monster doing so with fire blasts. It happened so fast I needed to watch how it happened again to figure out what caused it.

Karmi’s departure. I respect it. It’s great to know she has parents who care about her. It’s beyond reasonable that they felt that the city wasn’t a safe environment for their daughter. Not to mention it would probably be painful for her to be in San Fransokyo. But her and Hiro didn’t get the chance to say goodbye?! They just became friends and they didn’t even get that after all this?! I relieved to know she’s okay and Hiro is reading her stories, but still! I hope they text and video chat and stuff.

On a scale of 1 to 10...I’d rate City of Monsters Part II an 8.4

[justanoutlawfic]

Heaven, Hell and Nothing In Between: An OITNB Fic

Summary: Boo says goodbye.

A/N: Season 7 spoilers. Do not read if you have not watched all of season 7.This story is still canon in which, Boo/Tiffany never dated, but it does hint that Boo loved Tiffany because I think S5 proved that.

Also on AO3

New people didn’t exactly phase Boo. Sure, it could mean some fresh vagina if she was lucky, but after being in prison so long, it wasn’t something she was going to pounce on. She had a new strategy. Going after them like a hungry grizzly bear was going to scare them off. It was better to let them get situated and then come to the girl, let them know that momma was there for their needs.

 That was until Yoga scurried up to her one morning, squealing “Alex is here! Alex is here!”

Boo looked up from her magazine, tilting her head. “Alex? You mean Vause from back at camp?”

Yoga nodded her bony head so fast, Boo worried it would snap right off. “Same dark hair, soulful dark eyes, those great legs…if only I could get her to do tai chi…”

“Save the hippy shit. Show me.”

 Yoga gave her a disapproving look for the language (which Boo ignored, it hadn’t worked when her mother gave it, it wouldn’t from some pot head, hippy), but lead her off nonetheless. Sure enough, sandwiched between Norma and Anita, was the long, curvy specimen with glasses that was Alex Vause. The guard was trying to get them to pull away, but Anita shooed him off.

“I’ll take the shot,” she said, her accented voice booming across the rec room. “This here is family.”

Alex chuckled. “I wasn’t expecting such a warm welcome.” She managed to worm out of their tight grip. “I had no clue you guys were all here.”

“Got transferred over after the mess at Litchfield.”

“Doesn’t explain what you’re doing at this joint, Stretch,” Boo said, walking over and slapping five with her before giving a quick hug. “Where have you been?”

“I got sent down to max with a lot of the others,” she explained. “We’ve been there for a bit, but they transferred me.”

Boo tilted her head. “You start another riot?”

“Nah, long story.” Norma had taken out a piece of paper, with some questions about Red, Nicky and Lorna. Alex frowned. “I need to talk to you about them.” Norma looked worried and she held up her hand. “Everyone’s alive…” She trailed off, looking at Boo with a flash of pain in her eyes. “Well, not everyone.”

“Don’t tell me Blondie kicked the bucket.”

“No. Piper’s fine, she’s out actually. But, come with me, Boo. We should talk.”

 Boo cocked an eyebrow, following Alex off to the side, as far as they could without the guard glaring at them. Alex was looking at her weird, in a way she never had before. Boo didn’t like it, not one bit. They had never been what Boo would consider close, but maybe Doggett had sent a message through her.

 “This isn’t easy for me to say,” Alex said, softly.

“If you’re looking for a side piece now that Chapman’s out…”

“No, no. Look, please just let me talk. Um, look…you and Doggett, Tiffany Doggett, you were close, right?”

Boo nodded. “I helped that little squirrel out a time or two. Was she with y’all at max?”

“She was. She was doing pretty well for a bit, keeping herself out of trouble. Trying to get her GED from what I heard. No one’s really sure why she decided to do it…especially because she ended up passing…”

Boo grinned. “No shit, good for her! I knew if she sat down for a few minutes, she could accomplish something.”

Alex still didn’t smile, that serious look remained on her face. “The thing is, after she took the test, before she could get the results, she went and took…a bunch of drugs.”

Any source of joy dripped away from Boo’s lips. “That’s impossible. Doggett was clean. After she got her new teeth, she wasn’t going to mess them up. She…wanted to do better.”

“Like I said, I’m not sure why she would do it, but she did. She…didn’t make it.”

 Boo felt her stomach flip. No, no. That wasn’t true. Doggett lived on a diet of ding dongs and Mountain Dew, but she wouldn’t die. This was the girl that never brushed her teeth, did mounds of heroin and somehow managed to survive a bitch fight with Chapman. She had gotten a second chance at life, she literally never shut the fuck up about that. This was Tiffany Doggett. She was the luckiest girl in the world. Murdered someone, but got a lesser sentence because a church mistook it for a religious conviction. Got her heroin encrusted teeth knocked out and had them replaced. Had even shittier parents than Mr. and Mrs. Black, yet still somehow managed to become a loving, kind and gracious person. She was doing so much better, passing her GED for fuck’s sake.

 She wasn’t dead. No, that little girl still had half her life to live.

 “No, you’re shitting me,” Boo said, clearing her throat before she started crying. “This is revenge for fucking with your girlfriend.”

“No, it’s not,” Alex said, seriously. She looked like she felt sorry for her and Boo hated that.

“Fuck that. Doggett’s not dead. She’s a kid! A fucking kid!”

“Boo…”

“No!” Her voice shook. “You’re lying! She’s fine! She’s there, probably making her lemon drink and talking off some other dyke’s ear about the bible and her shit childhood. She’s still alive!”

 The tears started to fall down her face. Alex took a step forward, putting a hand on her shoulder.

 “She’s still alive, man!”

“I am so sorry,” Alex whispered.

 Boo let out a sob, falling into Alex’s arms. She allowed her to hug her, not caring what anyone else thought. The other women came over, Yoga asking what was wrong and Alex quietly explained, but Boo could barely hear it. They all stood there, crying for the girl that never had a chance.

 For the first few days, Boo wouldn’t leave her bunk. Anita managed to find a sympathetic guard to get her out of work for a bit so she wouldn’t get in trouble. This wasn’t like most prison deaths. She knew that at Litchfield Max, there had probably been a memorial for her, with some of her things and people who knew her. Here, there wasn’t much of that. Alex had gone to tell the others who knew Doggett and a few had dropped off snacks for the “widow”, but that was it. She didn’t want to see Leanne or Angie’s stupid faces any day of the week, but especially these days. Jeannette came by and offered to take her for a walk, saying exercise helped after Poussey, but she turned it down. The snacks remained untouched, for the first time in forever, Boo was not hungry.

 It took awhile for Boo to realize that Doggett would probably yell at her. She would say she was being a sad sack and probably say that she was being selfish. She’d probably quote the bible and Boo would roll her eyes, but secretly, even though she didn’t believe a word of it, she’d enjoy the passion of it. She sat up in bed and gathered up her snack, grabbing hold of some paper and pen, making invitations for everyone that went to Litchfield. Even Angie and Leanne, she could put up with their yellow teeth and ratty hair for one night. (So long as they didn’t speak. Perhaps someone could make a muzzle.)

 The invitations told them to bring junk food. Nothing healthy. Everyone was to raid their commissary stashes and bring as much candy, potato chip stashes, soda (did the prison have Mountain Dew? If they did, BRING IT), whatever they had. They were going to feast.

 They held the memorial in the church, as Doggett would’ve wanted. Alex showed up with Anita, Norma and Jones. Angie didn’t show, but Leanne did. She was surprised to see Brooks and Jeannette make an appearance. Everyone gathered together to remember a girl they may not have always gotten along with, but may have made them smile at one point or another.

 Using a contraband cell phone, they borrowed from Alison, they had a picture of her from her obituary (according to it, the church she was apart of made sure to give her a nice burial, her family stayed out if it all together like the pieces of shit they were). They ate snacks and drank soda, sharing stories of that they had once knew. As Boo finished telling the story of the time she caught Doggett toasting her aborted babies on Mother’s Day, she stood up to address the crowd.

 “I want to thank you all for coming today. I don’t know how many of you know, but I lost my mother when I was a young adult. I missed her funeral and it…fucked me up. Doggett used to say you could make up for your past, but I do regret it. I regret I couldn’t go to Doggett’s either.” Boo bit her lip. “This kid…she was a trip. But she changed a lot too. When I first met her, she was a racist, homophobic little shit. And in time, she became one of the most accepting people I know. To the point where she got angry when I tried to change myself.”

 Tears gathered up in Boo’s eyes, which she willed herself to not fall down.

 “I…I once tricked her into thinking she was a lesbian. And God, there were days I wish she was, because damn…I would’ve settled down for her. She…” her voice broke a bit. “She was my best friend. I loved her. I laughed with her, I cried with her…I tried to shove a mop up a guard’s ass with her…” Boo saw the crowd looking perplexed and shrugged. “You had to be there. Anyway, the point is…I once said, “All Boo needs is Boo” but I was wrong. I needed her. I don’t know if I believe in any afterlife like she did but…I do believe in her.”

 Boo raised her can of Mountain Dew, the tears free falling now.

 “I love you, Tiffany. Here’s to Heaven, Hell and nothing in between.”

[svucarisiaddict]

Hi there! How about “Let’s get one thing straight about this” with Peter?

// Foolish Pride Series//

“I’m going to go grab some snacks for the road,” you announced. The apartment was all packed, just a few more boxes to load into the truck.

“Uh, what does one usually eat on road trips?” Peter asked as he taped up the last box. He looked up at you from where he was sitting crossed legged on the floor.

“Chips, jerky, candy, soda- have you never been on a road trip?”

Peter chuckled. “Just when I was playing ball and that didn’t involve eating junk.”

“Well, Mr. Stone. Be prepared to experience an All-American road trip,” you said. Leaning over you kissed his cheek. “Be back shortly. Love you.”

“Love you too. Be careful,” Peter returned.

A couple minutes later the buzzer rang. Peter smiled to himself. “What did you do forget your wallet and keys to get in?” Peter swung the door open wide but was surprised to find it wasn’t you standing in the hall. “Mike?”

“Peter.” Mike looked into the vacant apartment then darted his eyes back to Peter. “Is Y/N here?”

Peter narrowed his eyes at Mike and stood in the doorway blocking Mike’s line of sight. “I’m pretty sure Y/N said all she had to you already.”

“She did,” Mike answered while he nodded his head. “It’s just…I need to see her before she moves to Chicago.” There was the smell of whiskey rolled off him.

Peter crossed his arms over his chest. “Let’s get one thing straight about this. If she wanted to see you before she left she would have contacted you. So, it really doesn’t matter what you want. She made her choice and it wasn’t you. You had your time with her and you squandered it. She’s finally happy and it kills you that it’s me.”

“You tell yourself that, Peter. There isn’t a person on the planet that can make her happy. She’s a cold-hearted bitch,” Mike spat.

“Don’t ever call her that again,” Peter snarled.

Mike chuckled. “Or what? Maybe you like whore?”

Peter’s eyes fired with fury. His clenched fist made contact with Mike’s jaw. Mike stumbled back but didn’t lose his balance. He surged forward tackling Peter to the ground. The two of them rolled around in the hallway punching one another in the face, stomach, and ribs.

“Stop!” you yelled dropping the shopping bags that were in your hands. You rushed over to where Mike and Peter were still exchanging punches although they had made it back to their feet. In an attempt to halt the fight you grabbed Mike’s arm. His hand flew back hitting you in the eye and cheek. It took your breath away and sent you to your knees. Your eyes immediately filled with tears.

Peter was at your side in a heartbeat. “Are you okay?” He gently moved your hand away from your eye. “Jesus.”

“Y/N! Oh my God! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-” Mike started to place a hand on your shoulder.

Shaking your head you said with a sniffle, “I know. It was an accident. Just go okay? Please.”

“Let me help you get her ins-” he started.

“She asked you to leave,” Peter growled. “I can take care of her. You’ve done quite enough.”

Peter helped you to stand putting a supportive arm around your waist.

When you looked back Mike was watching you. His lip was busted and he was holding his side where Peter landed one of his punches. You had never seen him sadder and defeated before.  

“I think we should take you to the hospital,” he suggested once he got you inside and settled on one of the barstools.

You watched Peter fill a baggie with ice then wrap it in a clean kitchen towel. ““I’m okay. Not the first time I’ve taken a punch,” you said.

Peter visibly tensed. “Someone has hit you before?” He placed the ice pack gently to your already swollen, bruised cheek.

“Not like that. I got into a fight in high school. Got my ass kicked,” you said with a laugh then winced.

“I can get you some Tylenol. It’s safe to take while pregnant, right?” Peter asked.

“Yeah. In my purse,” you directed to the end of the counter. “Someone has been doing some research,” you said with a grin.

Peter’s cheeks pinked slightly and he nodded. “I want to learn all I can about our baby and what your body is going through. It’s fascinating. Did you know the baby is the size of a plum?” He shook two tablets from the bottle and got you a drink of water.

“A plum?” you giggled. You swallowed the pills with a gulp of the cold water.

Peter grinned. “I love that sound.”

A few months after arriving in Chicago, you and Peter got married. It was a small, simple ceremony. Just you, Peter, and the judge. Your son, Alexander, was born shortly after your nuptials. Within a year after Alex being born you were pregnant again. Everything was going so well in your lives. Your relationship with Peter had grown strong as had your love for him. You knew you made the right decision on Peter. He was an attentive husband, father, lover and your best friend.

“Hey dinner is almost done,” you said as you heard him enter the kitchen.

Peter wrapped his arms around you from behind and buried his face in your hair. He inhaled deeply and you heard him swallow hard.

Your brow furrowed. “You okay?” asking as you soothed a hand over his bare arm. With your free hand, you turned off the stove.

Peter was silent except for a small sniffle. When he finally said something it was barely a whisper. “My Dad died this evening.”

You turned in his arms and cupped his face in your hands. “Peter. I’m so sorry. What happened?”

Peter shrugged. “Jack McCoy just called and told me. I’m not sure.”

“Oh, babe,” you said pulling Peter close to you.

The next day the three of you were on a plane back to NYC. It was a long flight due to weather delays, Alex being cranky and your air sickness. Once you reached your hotel, Peter insisted you lie down with Alex and get some rest while he met with Jack about his father’s arrangements. You didn’t put up much of a fight. Both of you were out before Peter even left.

Waking up to a baby dancing on your bladder you got up. Alex was starting to stir when you came back into the room. He sat up rubbing his eyes. “Momma?”

“Right here, baby,” you answered. “You getting hungry?” He nodded his head. Picking up your phone you texted Peter to get an idea of when he might be back. He texted you back almost immediately asking you to meet him and Jack at a family restaurant a few blocks away.

After getting yourself and Alex freshened up you headed down to get a cab. It was nice being back in NYC. It was your first time back since the day you moved. “Momma used to love here before you were born,” you told a not very impressed Alex.

Peter and Jack hadn’t arrived when you got to the restaurant. You sent a quick text letting Peter know you had a table. As you looked over the menu someone tapped your shoulder. When you looked over your shoulder it was like the wind was knocked right out of you.

“Hi, Y/N,” Mike said somewhat shyly.

“Mike. Hi.” Why did you feel so awkward all of a sudden? Maybe because the last time you saw him it wasn’t exactly what you would call a goodbye. You stood to give him a hug. “How have you been?”

“I’m good. I’m sorry to hear about Ben. My Dad always spoke very highly of him.”

“Thank you. I’ll pass on your condolences to Peter.”

“Congratulations are in order I see.” You motioned to your small baby belly. “And this must be-” Mike didn’t finish the sentence as he took in the all too familiar facial features, dark hair, and green eyes. His eyes flicked back and forth from Alex to you.

“He,” Mike cleared his throat. “Is…I mean he looks-”

Slowly you nodded your head. “You’re right this time,” you whispered. “His name is Alex.”

“How could you not tell me?” The look on Mike’s face was a mix of betrayal, sadness and a glimmer of hope. “Does Peter-

“He knew it was a possibility the baby wasn’t his. And I wasn’t sure until after he was born,” you confessed.

“So you just let me walk around this whole time with a child I knew nothing about,” Mike hissed.

“Mike. Don’t. Please. I’m finally happy. Peter and I have made a family. We love one another. You never wanted kids or to even get married. So please don’t do anything and ruin my happiness,” you pleaded. “Remember when I had a miscarriage? You told me you were so relieved. That hurt me so bad. I cried for days and you acted like it was just another day.” Tears started trailing down your face.

Mike dropped his gaze to his feet. “I’m sorry.”

“I’ve heard that one too many times from you to take it seriously. Be honest. If I would’ve told you I was pregnant and I wasn’t sure if the baby belonged to you or Peter what would you have done?”

Mike turned his green eyes to yours. “Not sure.”

“When I told Peter he didn’t flinch. He was there. So, as far as I’m concerned he is Alex’s Dad. If you ever loved me you’ll act like today never happened, let me live my life and be happy.”

Mike regarded you for a few moments. “It’s all I ever wanted for you to be happy.” Mike looked between you and where Alex was sitting in a high chair.

“I am. Very,” you confirmed. “Maybe someday when he’s older…”

Mike gave you a curt nod. “Goodbye, Y/N.” He looked over Alex one last time before kissing the top of his head. “Take care of your Momma,” he said quietly.

That would be the last time you ever saw or heard from Michael Dodds again.

[lady-divine-writes]

Coldflash one-shot - “Illusion” (Rated PG13)

Summary: Barry needs to find a way to fix things. To change things between him and Len. To stop the inevitable. But as smart as Barry is, with all of his super powers, are there some things that just can't be changed?

Notes: This is kind of a re-write of a one-shot I wrote for another fandom. Also, it has a twist to it, so you've been warned.

Read on AO3.

Pop …

Sizzle …

Crackle …

Whir …

The intense silence in the kitchen amplifies the sounds of breakfast cooking, but Barry’s mind has wandered so far from this room, the noise barely chips its way in. He’s working on autopilot, meandering from stove to sink to counter, paying no attention to where his feet land, his hands powered by déjà vu, not a thing pulling his notice – not the bacon, smoking in its oil, needing to be flipped; not the toast, popped in its slots, cooling for over thirty minutes; not the eggs he’s been whisking so fast they’re becoming meringue. A groan from upstairs jars him out of his stupor, and he finally looks down at the bowl of frothy pale yellow on its way to becoming white peaks. He glances over at the staircase, a huge lump settling above his Adam’s apple, then back at his eggs, and sighs. He was never that good at cooking anyway. Most of his adult life has been spent existing off of cold cereal and ramen soup when he wasn’t living with Joe and Iris. Of all his talents as a scientist and a superhero, whipping up pancakes or frying an egg wasn’t among them. Funny since cooking is basically science, a factoid that his boyfriend points out every morning Barry overcooks oatmeal.

Just this once, for this breakfast, Barry had wanted to get something right.

Labored footsteps cross the floor overhead and Barry continues whisking. He’s in no danger of making anything out of the eggs at this point, but he can’t think of anything better to do. It’s not actually about the breakfast, it’s about this moment. He’s been waiting all morning for it, and now that it’s arrived, he’s not ready to face it.

Thunk, thunk, thunk – the sound of one-hundred seventy pounds of lean muscle making its way to the kitchen kicks Barry into overdrive. He zips around, collecting up the edible elements of the meal and laying them out on the table. If he’d been searching for self-satisfaction, he’d have to admit that the spread he comes up with – a stack of toast and another of waffles, the original pound of unburnt bacon, and a farmer’s market worth of diced fruit – is impressive, especially considering he doesn’t remember making any of it.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” Len grumbles to the streak of red lightning serving up food. “The infamous Flash making breakfast for little ol’ me? Whatcha tryin’a do, Red? Fatten me up before you drag me off to Iron Heights? My last decent meal as a free man?” He runs a hand over his shaved head, suspiciously side-eyeing the wall clock as he makes his way to the table. “12:30? So, either you let me sleep late on purpose or you’re still not talking to me.” He takes a seat, reclining with his arms locked behind his head. Silver-blue eyes watch Barry hop between pans on the stove, preparing what looks like a colossal meal.

Big meals mean people, and Len’s not exactly in the mood.

“Are you expecting guests for breakfast, Red? Iris? Joe? The CCPD, perhaps?”

“No,” Barry says, cursing the hoarseness in his voice. He turns off the bacon, gives up on the eggs, and sets two empty plates down on the table. Barry has yet to look at Len, spread out in his chair, observing him curiously. He’s been on the edge of tears all morning and if he looks at his face, that smug smile and those mischievous blue eyes, he’s not going to make it through breakfast. Crap! He should have done this another day.

“So, you’re not still mad at me for last night’s little escapade?”

“No. No, I’m not.”

“Even after I did something you expressly told me not to do? Something you said would destroy our relationship if I did?”

“Yes.”

Len’s eyelids narrow. “What about everything you said last night …?”

“I don’t care about that!” Barry slams his hand on the table hard, catching the lip of his plate and smashing it to bits. “I don’t care about any of it! Just forget it! Please? I’m sorry! I’m so sorry for what I said, for every fight we ever had! Please, just …!”

"Barry?” Len gets up from his chair and takes Barry’s hand, bleeding from a long cut down the palm. It’s also healing up fast, pushing pieces of ceramic out of his skin as it does. But Len still leads him to the sink to wash it off. “Barry, what’s going on with you? You’re acting like a moody teenager. You’re usually not this weepy over me pulling a job. You’re usually more punchy and jabby.”

“I don’t like this,” Barry admits, looking Len in the eyes for the first time since he came down to breakfast. “I don’t like what’s going on. I haven’t for a while, and I don’t … I’m having a hard time handling it.”

“And what’s that?” Len asks, lips pinched tight in defiance even though his eyes still brim with concern. “You and me? Is that what you’re talking about?”

“No, Len!” A tired breath accompanies Barry’s words because it always comes back to this. No matter what the argument, Len brings it back to them being together as Barry’s ultimate issue, as if running off on the Waverider at a moment’s notice to places unknown where Barry can’t contact him only to come home and pull jobs he swore off, with Barry eventually hunting him down to make sure he doesn’t end up dead – or arrested - would be less stressful than the two of them being together as a regular, every day couple. But that’s not how Len thinks. The everyday and the normal seem to be more of a burden to him than the shit he puts Barry through. “I … I just … I’m scared, Len! Scared you’ll walk out the door one day to a place I can’t go, I can’t find, and never come back! I don’t think I could handle it if you disappeared – blinked out of existence on another Earth or in another dimension!”

Len grins, his tight lips and concerned eyes melting into a cocky grin. “Oh, baby. We’ve been over this. I’m invincible, remember?”

Barry stares at his boyfriend, tears and screams and pleas threatening to split his skull, begging Len to see the truth. But Barry knows it’s no use. Nothing he can do, nothing he can say, will ever change what happens next.

Barry was right. He picked the wrong time for this.

“Yeah,” Barry sniffs sarcastically. “Yeah. You’re invincible.”

Len wraps his arms around Barry’s shoulders, confident he’s won this argument. And, of course, that means to the winner go the spoils.

“Say,” he starts, and Barry sighs, knowing where the conversation goes from here, “I know you spent all morning on this fantastic breakfast, but whaddya say you and I leave it for now, go upstairs, and maybe work up an appetite?”

Barry takes another look at Len’s handsome face, longer than the last, and shakes his head.

“Not today.” He takes a step back, the confusion on Len’s face heartbreaking, but Barry can’t. Not today. “Gideon? Pause simulation.”

“As you wish, Mr. Allen,” the melodic voice of the AI responds. The scene around him shifts, goes fuzzy. Except for Len’s face, which is crystal clear everywhere for Barry – here in STAR Labs and in his memory. Those memories have haunted Barry ever since the day the Waverider came back without Leonard Snart. Barry has been reliving those days within the confines of this program he’s created, mostly out of guilt, drudging up the details of how they left one another – Barry seething over a heist that didn’t matter in the long run, and Len, self-righteous as always, taking off without so much as a goodbye. Because Len wholeheartedly did believe he was invincible. He never would have conceived of the Waverider returning to Earth without him on it.

But what could Barry have done? How could he have changed things? If he could nail it down, then go back in time, maybe he could fix it. He created an algorithm inside Gideon’s programming to help him isolate it. He’s giving himself one shot. Considering how badly he tends to mess up timelines, he’d only take the one chance. Two if it seemed warranted.

But he hasn’t gotten to the point where he can will himself to take that next step.

Barry has an eidetic memory. He doesn’t need Gideon to regurgitate the same scenes from his final days with Len over and over until he tears his eyes out. All this is is an exercise in lying to himself. Because as much as he wants Len back, he wouldn’t have said the things he said to his simulation. He wouldn’t have completely absolved him. He couldn’t go against his principles, put the greater good in danger, for the man he loved.

Because Len and the things he did were dangerous.

But is there an alternative? In months of searching, Barry hasn’t found one. He’s not helping anyone by doing this. He’s torturing himself by giving himself hope that Len will come home one day and he can fix things between them.

But Len is gone. Dead and gone.

And Barry, with all his powers and all his talents, will never see him again.