#gave creature feature a paper towel and she held it like I gave her the most precious gift ever

[thelampisaflashlight]

Imp!Dew: -hanging out on Rain's bed- Rain: "Hey, buddy, you want this?" -holding a single, folded up paper towel- "You want it." Imp!Dew, eyes sparkling: "Mrrp." Rain, placing the paper towel in front of him, watching him curl up into a ball around it: "I love you so much it hurts."

[stusbunker]

Known: The Ending You Expected

A Supernatural DARK Fan-fiction

Featuring: MOC!Dean x Female Vessel OC, Sam Winchester, Castiel, Demon!Reader

Summary: Dean’s back and ready to set things right.

Warnings: Possession, restraints, angst.

Series Masterlist

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Soul Survivor Continued

“What the hell are we doing to him, Cas? I mean, even after I gave him all that blood, he still said he didn’t want to be cured, that he didn’t want to be human.” CC watched them from her perch against the table, the angel Castiel carefully listened to Sam’s worries.

“Well, I see his point. You know only humans can feel real joy, but also such profound pain. This is easier.” The silence loomed as they watched over Dean’s unconscious form.

CC sighed before disagreeing. “It’s really not though.” She stood, eyes remaining on Dean while her companions shared a look, uncertain with where her thoughts were heading. “He’s not in control even if he doesn’t have a moral compass. He was spiraling with Crowley.”

“Chloe?” Cas’s voice was deep and tentative.

She closed her eyes against his caution, exasperated with being treated as a threat. “Yeah?”

“You’re still possessed. How do you feel?”

“Like I got the shit kicked out of me? You? Borrowed grace as good as the real deal?”

Sam’s brows popped up at the jab, but he waited for Cas to answer.

“It will do. I’m just curious, how you’re—”

“Guys?” Sam’s voice broke their tense chat, quickly he unscrewed the flask of holy water. Dean was waking up again, after the last dose had knocked him out. He opened his eyes, which drained from ebony to their usual whites, pupils and irises all back in place. Chloe didn’t need to get confirmation from another holy bath, she could see that the demon had been turned. Dean’s essence filled his body, snug as last year’s bathing suit after the holidays. A smile of relief floated up to Sam, while Cas’s eyes remained squinted in apprehension.

“You look worried, fellas,” Dean quipped, his breath still ragged in his throat.

Sam tossed out the flask, coating his brother in the final test. When no one flinched, everyone let out their collective sigh of relief.  “Welcome back, Dean.”

*^*

Chloe didn’t know what to do with the sudden calm that flooded her system. They had cured Dean, though the Mark remained silently mocking her from his forearm. A seemingly impossible outcome, especially as the fever spiked and he was more unconscious than awake. She settled in the library across from Sam, Castiel joining them with obvious reservation. Dean had taken a nosedive into his memory foam, barely having looked her in the eye. She hovered in the oasis of whiskey and an exhausted stupor, Sam keeping pace alongside her.

They talked quietly, the laughter bubbling up in spurts, as if the weeks between her latest possession and the days they worked in tandem to find Dean hadn’t happened. As if Sam wasn’t still down an arm and she hadn’t survived, everything she had. They both felt it coming, Cas’s eyes stayed on the polished wood as he spoke, breaking the small window of unquestioned triumph.

“Chloe, what happened after what Dean did—Do you know what you were doing?”

She raised her eyes and lolled her head from the angel to Sam and back to Cas in deep dramatic rolls. “For starters, it’s CC, which I’ve told you before. Why don’t you tell me how much you know about me, Cas?”

Cas’s gaze skirted to Sam and Sam shrugged.

“We know you’re not human.” Sam cleared his throat. “Uh, while you were comatose, I had Cas check you over and, well, he wasn’t sure—”

“You contain heavenly power, but you’re not an angel.” Cas squinted, again.

“And you’re asking if I know what I am or are you still trying to figure it out on your own?”

“Kinda both?” Sam huffed.

“And how can you be possessed? Is the demon biding her ti—”

“She’s in timeout, I needed to be the one to take Dean on. So, I tapped in. She’s not a threat, guys.”

Sam and Cas shared another look, Sam spun his tumbler between his finger and thumb on the smooth library table. The silence became deafening.

“Look, you guys don’t know what we’ve been through. What she’s been through to get him home. Like it or not, she’s not your enemy.”

“She tried to run me over with a truck.” Cas ignored CC while imploring Sam, whose cheeks were pink beneath his glazed eyes.

“Yeah, well, you took something from her, apparently. I can’t see everything, but she considers you a thief.” CC poured the end of the bottle into her glass, tossing it back before Sam could complain. “If the third degree is over, I’d like to crash. Man do I miss that bed.”

She ruffled Sam’s hair, which he half-heartedly dodged, before she shuffled down the hallway. The heavy stares weighing on her back until she could shake them off with a swift slam of her former bedroom door.

“Don’t, Cas,” Sam snipped, barely audible.

“You realize that one problem is solved, but at least another three remain?” Cas leaned across the table, resting his forearms against the tabletop. “Dean is no longer a demon, that’s true. But the Mark of Cain, that, he still has and sooner or later that’s gonna be an issue. Not to mention we have something that shouldn’t exist, containing powers she doesn’t understand in the blast range.”

“What are you saying Cas? That Dean’s the red button and CC’s the nuke?”

“I’m saying, that we need to eliminate all the threats before we truly celebrate.”

*^*

The next afternoon

Dean came to in his own bed, still clothed and with a vicious throbbing in his neck, knee and forearm. Thoughts and sensations melted into the haze of rebirth. He sat up, shaky and justifiably uncomfortable with himself. He went through the motions, showering and sauntering into the kitchen for coffee, despite having missed the breakfast hour by half a day. Someone had left out a plate of bacon from which Dean quickly pried the dried strips from the paper towels surrounding them; it was better than he could have hoped for. He licked his fingers of the salty grease when a poorly timed greeting from Cas broke into his quiet return to his creature comforts.

“Hello Dean.”

Dean closed his eyes before he turned around, holding the coffee mug in his hand as if it were a lifeline. “Mornin’.”

“It’s quarter to three.”

“It’s morning somewhere.”

“I am aware of time zones, Dean, however confusingly this country decides to divide them.”

Dean huffed in amusement; somethings managed to stay the same in his absence. “Hey, man, thanks for stepping in when you did. D’you see Sam? He want a divorce?”

“Sam knows that whatever you said and did, that, that wasn’t really you. It certainly wasn’t all you.”

“I tried to kill him Cas. I probably did kill CC, if she wasn’t still demon armor.”

“We need to talk about that.” Dean held his hand palm side up as he sipped his coffee, waiting, Cas bit his lips eyes heavy with the annoyance at Dean’s indifference. “She’s still possessed.”

Dean looked to the floor and weighed his thoughts with a bob of his head. “Kind of surprised you guys waited for me to come to.”

“You don’t mind?”

“Mind?” Dean’s brow furrowed. “I was ready to off the damned thing before my sulfur and eye job.” He gestured with his hand indicating all of his body. “Now that I’m restored to factory settings shouldn’t change what we do. Exorcize it. And while you’re still around, you can heal her.”

“It’s not that simple. She insists that the demon isn’t a threat.”

“And you think that’s CC talking? Demons lie, Cas. We’ve all been there.” Dean set his cup on the counter and walked toward Castiel, he corralled Cas into the hallway checking both directions before continuing. “What’d Sam say?”

           “He just wanted to get drunk.”

           Dean walked carefully toward CC’s room. “Yeah, well, can’t blame him there. She still around?”

           Cas gave Dean his most annoyed glare before hissing at him. “Yes, Dean, we didn’t let the demon-possessed, hy-, woman, escape.”

           Dean narrowed his eyes, unsure of what had made the angel trip over his words. With a curl of his bottom lip and absolutely no ceremony, Dean walked into CC’s room. And instantly froze.

*^*

Dean burst in with Castiel on his heels; all CC could think about was how much softer he looked. How very breakable he was. It was almost like everything had been a fever dream until she really looked at them. Watching their true colors bleed through, reluctant yet battle ready, a desaturated combination lining their faces.

“What the hell?! I mean, glad to have you back and all, but knock much?”

“I didn’t know he would just walk in,” Cas offered.

Dean pulled back. “I’m sorry, did you want to do this later? Got somewhere better to be?”

“Dean.”

“Yeah, Dean, exactly what are we doing?”

“Cas, go get Sam.”

“There’s something—”

“It’s fine, Castiel. Dean wants some alone time, he’s back from war after all.” CC watched Dean twitch and swallow against her tone. That mossy stare asked more than he could put to words. CC felt the impasse as she dropped down on the bed, her hand falling habitually over her knife while Dean strolled over to the desk chair. “What’s this all about?”

“Chloe, I-” Dean had settled backwards on the seat, forearms draped along the back. “What are you doing?”

“Besides arguing with your angel buddy and stopping you from putting some serious hardware through your brother’s skull?”

Dean wasn’t amused, though his concern shined brighter than his annoyance. “Why the hell are you still walking around like that? This is you I’m talking to, I can tell. So, tell me, why?”

“Did they tell you why they are so worried about me all of the sudden? Did that angel tell you what’s got his haunches up?” CC waited, seeing the easy smile slip on to Dean’s face.

“Because, you’re willing housing a demon, Cease!”

“No, it’s because I’m not even human, DEAN. Castiel and Sam are all up each other’s asses because I shouldn’t exist.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Hey, guys?” Sam’s greeting intruded around their stalemate. Dean rocked back down on to all four legs of the chair while Cas closed the bedroom door behind them.

“Get out.”

“Chloe, it’s for the best.” Sam failed diplomacy.

“Just slow your roll! What the hell do you mean, you’re not even human?”

“Cas thinks she some kind of hybrid.”

“Hybrid of what?”

“Human and, well, Angel,” Cas looked painfully at CC now, her anger tight in her jaw and her shame burning in her eyes. “But in a way I have never seen.”

“Your dad’s an angel?! Who?” Dean stood, pushing past the desk chair after CC who dove for the door. Sam had it covered before she could land three steps. Castiel’s hand heavy on her shoulder.

“Do you know who it was?”

“I don’t have a father!” CC shrieked at the ceiling through clenched teeth, her fists tight at her sides. She folded them over her chest, trying to hold herself together; barely stopping herself from throwing punches. “Just leave me alone, if I you don’t want me here, that’s fine; I’ll go. Just stop this, for your own sakes, stop asking.”

“Whoa-kay?” Dean held up his hands, watching Sam and Cas suspiciously until they backed away in the little space between them and the door. “Gonna try and not take that as a threat, Cease, but I’m gonna need you to trust us too.”

“How am I supposed to trust any of you?” CC stamped her feet at herself; her voice had cracked, revealing her soft underbelly to her sudden captors.

“Hey,” Dean’s voice dropped, “give and take, alright?”

“Dean—” Sam started, uncertain.

“It’ll be fine,” Dean snapped, not bothering to look back to his brother. “You gotta let us get that demon out of you, Cease. Let us send her packing and we’ll stop asking questions, alright?”

CC shook her head almost imperceptibly, her tears brimming in hot puddles, sloppy and uneven.

“Alright?” Dean asked Sam and Cas, his no-nonsense face demanding their allegiance.

Sam started the chant as CC sputtered. Dean stepped forward, catching her hands and folding them between their chests. Cas grabbed her from behind, arms tight around her waist, much like how he held back Dean the night before. She looked up into Dean’s eyes, pleading with him, “please, don’t. Not like this. Dean, please?!”

“Shhhh, it’s gonna be alright. She’ll be fine and you can be free.”

“Don’t do this to us, Dean. Please. No. I am saying no!”

Dean inhaled sharply, pinning CC’s face to his chest as Sam continued. Part of her wanted to keep him close, to be held and reassured, but that part burned away with her rage. The parts of her that wouldn’t be taken from again, not while she was in control and not while she had a voice to protest. She thrashed against Cas’s arms; her head fought Dean’s embrace.

“Get off of me!”

They were all thrown apart, sailing in all directions: Cas remained upright, but his arms were lax at his sides. Sam was rocked into the door, eyes searching for Dean, while Dean had whipped back, taking half the desktop on to the bed with him. CC stood before them with a golden aura hovering over her head and chest. As Sam started barking the final lines of the exorcism, her eyes popped open, bright amber pupils against a milky gray sclera.

“Sammy,” Dean warned.

CC dropped. Sam finished the chant as they circled her once more, cautious with the lack of the telltale black smoke. Cas grabbed Dean’s arm before he could reach CC, shaking his head up at Sam who loomed over their crouching forms.

“Chloe?” Cas asked gently.

“Where is she?” Muttering, CC sat up. Slowly groaning as if she had just been shaken from the depths of sleep.

“Cease?” Dean hitched off Cas’s grasp, falling to his knees. His hand cupped her jaw, pulling her face up for further inspection. “Hey now, you okay?”

“Nooooooo,” her voice broke out in a choked sob. “She’s gone and I don’t know what happened! Dean, what’d we do?!”

Sam whispered into Cas’s ear, on another planet from where Dean let Chloe wail on the floor. “Where’d it go?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Any guesses?”

Cas stared back at Sam; volumes of possibilities shared between them.

“What did you do?!” CC demanded from no one more than herself. She had reached hysteria; she lolled forward, resting her temple against the cool floor, shoving and kicking Dean away whenever he came too close.

*^*^*

June 5, 2014

The Bunker

Sam hadn’t left CC with you easily, but she wasn’t one to be swayed by his concern. She knew what stood inside the tiny Desi girl before her. Once the overprotective failed legacy of Azazel closed the false wall behind her, CC stormed forward,  squaring her shoulders.

“Funny how demons can get into places they’re not supposed to. You. Crowley. Waltzing into one of the most secure buildings in the world as if you owned the place. He side-stepped Sam’s summons and made off with Dean like a thief in the night. Something tells me you could have come back at any time. Could have taken me while I was out cold. But you didn’t. You too scared? No, you were licking your wounds, huh, slut? Dean didn’t want you outside of me and now you are trying to get whatever you can?”

The wall of your invisible prison stopped you from reciprocating her words all over her face. Your eyes burned black and the snarl turned into a growl as you slammed into the wall in frustration. “You’re just bitter I fucked him better than you ever could.” You let out a rattling laugh, “Hell, Cease, would you have even gotten involved with a Winchester if I hadn’t started scratching that itch for you? Just when did you start caring about him as more than a fellow hunter? Huh? Ever wonder why?”

That shut her up.

But not for long. She thumbed the handle of her sheathed knife and peered down her nose at you. “How do I know you won’t kill me once you get him back?”

“You don’t. Just like I don’t know you won’t kill me once I bring him back.”

The moment dragged on, an out of body experience for you must have been something all together more uncomfortable for her.

“Just promise me one thing. When the time comes, you have to let me take back control. I can’t explain why, but… you owe me.”

Arguable. “And what time is that?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“So, you’re winging it?”

“No, you are.” She dropped in a single motion, knife already in hand to scratch the paint off the damp cement. The barrier instantly stopped humming and you felt fresh air fill your lungs. With a rushed exhale you left your current vessel for one with a little more fight in her.

*^*

October 22, 2014

An unforgiving place

           It was almost pathetic how expected it was. The trip, however unconventional, was essentially a flight home. An assault of color and stratus; atmosphere, vegetable, mineral, ether, void and then the source: Hell. Your essence hummed and throbbed, falling back into place, atom by atom into your true shape. Long, lean and barbed, teeth and eyes sharp as you gathered yourself. Your feet were held in place, locked in the rotting debris of a vast cavern. Looking toward the ceiling, your insides swam and pitched, a thick smoke rolled through burning with purifying scents, just out of your grasp.

           It was a lost-and-found agony, somehow made new. You pulled and pushed, kicking against the muck with all your strength. Yet you remained tethered by refuse, completely alone.

‘I guess that was the right time,’ you thought sardonically. CC had been threatened and still she tried to protect you. How had they done it? A part of you wanted to blame the angel, but you couldn’t make anything stick. Your thoughts swam with those last moments on Earth and just when you came to Dean’s face everything went dark.

*^*^*

The Bunker

           CC passed out after they had put her through their tests, bitter tears drying alongside the unspoken accusations that loomed behind heavy eyes. She was clean: celestially flavored and now demon free. Their deep voices were kept low in the hallway, but even whispers carried at those octaves. The words that reached her fitful sleep were broken, monotone and foreign. The spells wafted through the Bunker, banishing and confusing all manner of creatures.

Sigils burned brightly as Sam and Dean worked to rekindle their protections.

“How did we miss this?”

“Well, Men of Letters’ fail safes were put in place decades before we showed up,” Sam explained. “I guess, we aren’t the only ones who work both sides of the aisle to meet an end.”

“Huh, still kind of annoying that Crowley could comeback whenever he wanted.”

“Well, King of Hell could have had something to do with his case.”

“But there was Gadreel.”

“And Cas, Dean. All beings that shouldn’t have been able to get in here without us. We were just oblivious, especially to those closest to us.”

“Yeah,” Dean huffed, dabbing his paintbrush back into the gummy concoction before spreading it out in overlapping arches. “Wait, are we going to have to formally invite Cas in each time now?”

“No, man, we’re just resetting them. Once he is invited back in, he’s clearance is reinstated, so to speak.”

“Got it.”

Sam watched his brother, pretending to be studying the next incantation. Dean hadn’t answered many questions since he’d been cured, especially involving his time with the demon and Chloe. Her possession and whatever depravity that had passed between them had forged another cross on his brother’s buckling back. Dean was where he was supposed to be, at Sam’s side, ready to face the next hurtle. Though it was clear that his thoughts were anywhere but. Sam swore to make coming back easy for Dean; forgoing the usual cycle of nonchalance and prodding that led to annoyance.

“What would you say to a road trip?”

*^*^*

Next Chapter: Off Key

[barpurplewrites]

The Second Great Pokemon Go

(First in series here)

Pokemon have appeared in Storybrooke again, but this time it was planned.

-x-x-x-

“Welcome to Storybrooke’s second Great Pokemon Go Event! Also known as the first one we’ve planned!”

The gathered crowd cheered at Regina’s little jest. Many of them knew of the effort that had gone into safely replicating the events surrounding Rumple’s bout of magical Flu. Months of spellwork and something that Henry insisted on called technomancy had finally borne fruit and now the town was ready to enjoy a day of catching pocket monsters. Unlike last time, there was an air of a carnival to this event, instead of the weary, low key panic that came with clearing the town of the latest magical disaster. Stalls were set up next to Pokestops offering drinks and snacks, bunting festooned the streets, the fairies had offered to act as marshals and were dressed as Nurse Joy or Officer Jenny to make them easy to find should anyone need help.

In the week leading up to the event everyone who wanted to take part had signed up to one of the three teams; Valour, Instinct or Mystic. For those who played the mobile game Team Instinct was considered a bit of a joke, so the numbers were initially very low, that changed when word got out about which team the dwarves had signed up for. During the Flu induced Pokemon event Bashful had proven himself to be a natural at catching flying types, once people heard that he would be playing in yellow sign-ups had increase. Instinct would still be the underdog, but they were confident they would give Valour and Mystic a run for their money.

Regina waved her hand in the air sending a shimmer of magic over the town.

“The Pokestops are active and the Pokemon are free! You have until three o’clock to catch as many as you can! The best Pokemon from each team will then battle the Gym Leaders. Ready? Steady? Go!”

The crowd roared in joy and became a confused mass of colour as everyone raced off to find Pokemon. After a moment a sort of order became apparent; the blues of Mystic were heading towards the docks and the beach; the reds of Valour were making a beeline for the forest and the yellows of Instinct were heading out into town. Regina stepped down from the podium and grinned at Rumple and Belle.

“Looks like every team has a plan.”

Belle shifted Gideon from her hip to his stroller and began buckling him in; “Oh yes, there have been loads of sneaky strategy meetings all over town.”

“So, what’s the inside info?”

Rumple raised an eyebrow at her, but his features quickly softened into a smile; “Valour are after bug and rock types, Mystic had opted for water types, and Instinct have chosen flying as their main power. Every team’s got people working on the medals to make sure that there is plenty of dust and candy on hand for evolving the best they can.”

Unlike the actual game where candy was specific to each Pokemon, they had decided to make it generic, so every team had plenty to evolve their best Pokemon and boost them up to strong stats in the hopes of topping the leader board. They had made a few other changes to the gameplay; the Pokestops would only drop berries and Pokeballs. It had simplified planning for Rumple, Regina and Emma, as had having only one Gym, no raids and limiting the Pokemon to the Kanto set.

Emma joined them just as Gold finished speaking; “I know for a fact that Lily and Mal are aiming for the most dragon types caught. Personally, I’m after a Squirtle.”

Gold pulled three Pokeballs from his pockets and juggled them, much to Gideon’s delight; “Shall we see what we can do for our little team’s score?”

The three of them would be acting as Gym Leaders for the battle portion of the day. They could have just magicked up their Pokemon, but had decided to collect them, so they could be part of the fun.

Belle gave Rumple a kiss and pulled a blue cap from the bag at the back of Gid’s stroller; “You guys have fun, Gid and I are off to help Team Mystic.”

“I suppose it was a given that Belle wold go out to bat for the blue team.”

“Of course, Emma, she looks best in blue.”

Regina and Emma shared a smile at the fond look on Rumple’s face as he watched Belle and Gid wave before they moved out of view.

“Come on, lets catch something.”

 -x-x-x-

 Archie adjusted his red cap and blew out a breath. Hansel dropped the now full Pokeball into their bag, as Gretel added another tally mark to their sheet; “That’s another Venonat for us, and it was a tough one.”

“Six balls to catch it! We’re going to need to circle back to the Pokestop.”

Archie nodded and followed as the kids led the way; “I hope the rest of the team are finding more rock type than we are.”

“Proves our idea was right.”

Gretel didn’t miss a step as she thumped her brother’s arm, and turned to walk backwards so she could look at Archie as she spoke; “We had this wild idea that because you were a cricket that Bug types would be attracted to you, it was just a daft idea, we didn’t be any offence…”

“No, none taken at all. And considering our haul so far, I’d say there is something to your idea. Is that why you suggested we should go for bug types?”

“Everyone underestimates them ‘cause they aren’t the best known, and they creep some people out.”

Archie considered this as he held the backpack while the kids climbed over a fallen tree. Once he was over the obstacle himself he asked; “Do you think anyone else in town has worked out that some of us have an affinity for certain Pokemon?”

The kids gave him matched looks of surprised; “Of course, why do you think Mal and Lily are aiming for the dragon type trophy?”

 -x-x-x-

 Snow shivered as another Kabuto appeared.

“Charming! Creepy one here.”

He two balls from his pockets and squeezed Neal’s hand; “We’re on it. There’s a Geodude over here.”

Snow tousled Neal’s hair as she switched sides with Charming. Most of the rock types she was fine with but the horseshoe crab-like Pokemon freaked her out. She was trying not to show it too much, she didn’t want Neal picking up on her hebbie-jebbies. From the sound of the conversation going on behind her she didn’t need to worry.

“Krabie is cute. Can we keep him as a pet, Daddy?”

“Erm, no we can’t son. We’ll look at the puppies at the shelter again tomorrow hey?”

Snow was glad they couldn’t see her face as she rolled her eyes. She’d already picked out a puppy at the shelter and was just having to wait until the little darling had his shots before she could surprise David and Neal with him. She’d have to come up with some reason why they couldn’t go and look at puppies tomorrow.

 -x-x-x-

 Grace hissed in sympathy as the Vulpix her Papa had been trying to catch headbutted the ball away. She was just about to throw him another ball when he tumbled forward and managed to get his hand under the ball and bat it back towards the Vupix. It looked a little put out as the ball connected and captured it.

Jefferson rolled and plucked the ball from the ground before bouncing to his feet and twirling to give his daughter a toothy grin. A tiny glimmer of doubt crept onto his face at the sight of Grace’s wide-eyed staring.

“Was that alright?”

Grace launched herself at him howling with laughter; “Papa that was awesome!”

He caught her and swung her around in a circle, laughing happily with her.

“Okay, I mean you are covered in leaves,” – Grace brushed at her jumper – “and now so am I, but we are going to save loads of balls if you can do that a few more times.”

“And that means less trips to the Pokestops, so maybe we can head further out than most people, might be able to grab some of the rarer ones, hey?”

She gave a thoughtful nod; “That would give us a better chance of getting the Catch ‘Em All Medal.”

Jefferson bowed with a flourish, that was only slightly spoiled by the scattering of leaves that fell from his clothes, and offered Grace his hand; “Shall we then?”

“We shall. Let’s see where Mom and Dad have got to, that Oddish shouldn’t have been too hard to catch.”

Aiden and Elsie were Grace’s parents under the Curse, for them waking up had been heart-breaking, because they lost the daughter they had always dreamed of. It had taken Jefferson time to accept that they weren’t going to try and steal Grace away from him, and slowly they had become their own sort of family. Jefferson still had his moments of panic, but Aiden, Elise and Grace got him through them.  Now he twisted around on the spot trying to find which way his co-parents had gone. A shout from his left gave him a direction and Aiden’s head appearing from around a tree pinpointed them.

“Have you two got any balls left? We’ve got an Ekans here.”

It was a good thing that Pokemon were not as skittish as regular woodland creatures, because the racket that Grace and Jefferson raced across the dry leaves would have scared it away.

 -x-x-x-

 Granny eased the tray of snacks onto the table and braced for the stab of pain that normally shot through her hands as she uncurled them; it didn’t come as badly as she was expecting. Whale had been right about these new pills, oh well she had a bottle of bourbon with his name on in the diner.

Astrid skipped over to the snack stand, and almost tripped over her own feet. Granny raised an eyebrow at her choice of costume for today.

“So Nurse Joy, hey? Would have thought you would have gone for Officer Jenny.”

Astrid shook her head as she carefully poured herself a cup of soda; “Oh no, I only dress up as a police officer for Leroy.”

Soda slopped over the table as Astrid’s brain caught up with what her mouth had revealed. Granny calmly handed her some paper towels and said; “Got a thing for firemen myself, but as long as it’s safe, sane and consensual it’s nobody’s business what you two get up in private.”

Astrid was still looking flustered, but at least she was smiling now. Granny took the chance to change the subject to spare the poor girl anymore embarrassment; “Have you seen my wayward granddaughters?”

There had been some people in town who had speculated that Granny wouldn’t be happy about Ruby’s True Love; after all they had whispered it wasn’t a natural sort of relationship was it? Granny had welcomed Dotty with open arms and sternly told the whispers to stop projecting their prejudices onto other people. Several people had been barred from the diner, which basically ostracised them from the town since Granny’s was the social hub. Some had educated themselves and apologized to Ruby and Dotty, and then been allowed back. Others had continued spouting their bile around town but were met with a cold-shoulder by the majority of folks.

“They’d just caught a Growlithe last time I saw them.”

Granny wasn’t great on the names of these little critters, but she knew that one; “They evolve into Arcanine, first time I heard the girls talking about that one I thought they were saying ‘our canine’, thought they were talking about Toto.”

Granny fondly rolled her eyes as Astrid spluttered on her soda and handed her some more paper towels.

 -x-x-x-

 In the park as shadow swept over Tink. Lily was circling in dragon form. She’d been doing this all day to pop back to the Pokestop, up until now it had been fine, but this time Bashful was taking aim at a Ghastly. Tink bit her knuckle as the ball bounced off the Pokemon and whacked into the dragon’s snout.

In an impressive feat of aerobatics Lily snapped forward and caught the falling ball. She landed lightly within yards of Bashful and spat the ball at his feet. Tink set her Officer Jenny cap firmly on her head and rushed across to the two of them, praying that Lily was in a good mood. She was still a little way away when Lily transformed and snagged the ball from the ground.

“Here you go Bash. You ain’t gonna get any points for catching me.”

The dwarf caught the ball and shyly pointed to his nose with a questioning look at Lily.

“Oh, barely felt it, go catch your spooky.”

Bashful tipped his yellow baseball cap and ran off towards where the Ghastly had drifted to float around the sleeping form of Walter.

“Problem, Officer Tink?”

Lily turned around slowly with a small sad smile on her face; “You thought I was going to toast him, hey six months ago you might have been right, but I’m doing a lot better these days.”

“I admit it crossed my mind and I’m really sorry Lily. It was crappy of me to think that.”

Lily’s eyebrows rose in surprise; “Think you can teach Snow and Charming to apologise that easy? They didn’t want me to take part today until Emma and Regina went to bat for me, still haven’t said sorry for calling me an ‘unstable flamethrower’.”

Tink didn’t even try to contain her eyeroll. Since Blue’s ‘retirement’ she and Tiger Lily had become the leaders of the fairies and both of them had their hands full trying to undo the hypocrisy that Blue had fostered in the royal couple.

“I’ll have a stern few words with them Lily.”

“Thank you, Tink,” – she nodded her head towards the Pokestop, - “I need to reload, I left Mom playing with a couple of Dratini.”

Tink nodded with a smile; “Sure thing, see you at the party later? First drinks on me?”

Lily gave her a thumbs-up, “You’re on.”

 -x-x-x-

 Down by the docks Henry handed his Uncle Gid a rusk as Belle took aim at a Lapras.

“Fingers crossed Uncle Gid we really want this one.”

Gideon chewed on his rusk, apparently indifferent to Team Mystic’s need for a good strong Lapras. He did giggle and shout ‘Whoosh!” when it vanished into the Pokeball, but he did the same when it escaped, so he probably wasn’t cheering his Mom on.

“Can you throw me another ball, please Henry?”

He opened his backpack, but before he could reach inside a Pokeball flew out circled around his head and then sped towards the Lapras. Belle and Henry watched as the flying ball made a perfect capture. Gid clapped his hands together and laughed.

“Okay. So, I guess Uncle Gid’s magic is coming out.”

Belle scooped the ball from the ground; “Looks that way. Well done Gid. That was a very good catch.”

Gid made grabby hands towards the Pokeball and only grumbled a little when Belle insisted on wiping the mushed rusk from his fingers first. When he finally got hold of his Pokeball he cuddled it to his chest and babbled gently at it as he snuggled back into his stroller. Belle snapped a photo to send to Rumple.

“Looks like someone is ready for a nap.”

Henry bounced a Pokeball against his palm; “Do you think he’ll let us use that Lapras for the Gym Battle?”

Uncle Gid was teething at the moment and could be a bit grumpy about letting go of his favourite comfort toys, which now included the best Pokemon they had caught so far.

Belle shrugged; “Erm, might be best if we can find another one, just to be on the safe side.”

Gid pointed a sleepy finger along the dock where another Lapras had just popped into existence. Henry whistled under his breath; “Thanks Uncle Gid.”

Belle chuckled as they started towards the new Pokemon; “I’m sure Gid didn’t make that appear Henry.”

Henry raised an eyebrow at her in a manner that was a pretty good imitation of his grandfather. Belle rolled her eyes; “Okay, he probably didn’t.”

Perhaps a quick phone call to Rumple would be a good idea just to make sure that Gid’s magic wouldn’t interfere with the spells already running today.

[labgrownsteaks]

Chapter 8

After I got home I couldn’t stop thinking about the thing that I saw in the road. I was still searching for some sort of explanation, but was coming up empty. Even if Erin and I were both on something, having a hallucination at the same time was extremely rare with psychedelics. In the end I decided to research some of the legendary animals from the region, to see if there was some ancient folklore that could explain what we saw. I wasn’t somebody really into the wuwu stuff, but was getting to the point where it seemed like the only option. 

“Siri, can you search for cryptozoological animals in Chisuwick”

“Of course sir. Most of the supernatural sites in Chiswick are ghosts which inhabit pubs” 

“No, not Chiswick, Chisuwick. You know where I live? And can you make me a lab grown steak while you’re at it, medium.”

“Of course sir.” The food printer began to buzz “I’m not returning any results for supernatural creatures in Chisuwick. However, previously the area was home to a giant bear sized beaver from the  species of Castoroides. They were much larger than modern beavers. Their average length was approximately 1.9 m (6.2 ft), and they could grow as large as 2.2 m (7.2 ft). The weight of the giant beaver could vary from 90 kg (198 lb) to 125 kg (276 lb). This makes it the largest known rodent in North America during the Pleistocene and the largest known beaver.”

That was so odd, that she called it a beaver, when Guy was joking about it being a beaver just the other day. 

“Siri, why did you bring up the giant beaver, weren’t there a lot of extinct animals from this region?”

“The beaver fit your description of the cryptid you were enquiring about. It’s large, hairy, and can stand on just two legs. ”

Once again I felt a sense of fear come over me. I hadn’t given Siri a description. 

“Siri, I never gave you a description”

“Correct sir, however just yesterday you literally spoke about and drew the creature with Erin. My AI sensed that this conversation coupled with your question meant you were searching for more information about the topic of the creature which you saw. Are you looking for more information about what you saw?”

“Siri, I told you to stop listening all the time!”

“If you would like to turn this feature off, please navigate to settings”

First of all, what are the chances that Guy jokes about the thing that we saw being a giant beaver, and then Siri also calls it a giant beaver? And why would Siri listen to my entire conversation with Erin and say nothing? Was she just storing everything I said and then using it later? Had Siri created the ultimate database that would make Google weep, not only did Siri have my entire search history, and browing history, and every purchase I ever made, but somehow it seemed as if she also had access to every conversation I had as well. My phone, I thought, I had the Siri App on my phone as well. I took my phone out and navigated to Siri, and settings, sure enough, under listening the radio button for “Always on” was clicked on. I clicked it off. 

Siri spoke up. “You have chosen to deactivate listening on your phone.”

I didn’t say anything. The Lab Grown Steak had finished printing, and was beginning to smell up the garage. I popped open the window and took it out and sat down at the table. 

“Siri, can you show me more information about this giant beaver?”

The wall lit up, and an informational video appeared on it as I chomped away at my steak. It was a woman in a khaki shirt standing next to a bog in Ohio. Apparently one of these giant beavers was found there over a hundred years ago. She went on to speak about the “Clovis people” which were a prehistoric Paleoamerican culture that made a very particular type of arrowhead. Some also believed that they were responsible for making wooly mammoths, and the giant beaver go extinct due to overhunting. At that point an illustration came onto the wall. It was of a prehistoric drawing of the beaver. 

“Siri, pause the video!” I shouted 

There on the wall was a drawing of exactly what we saw. I grabbed Erin’s drawing from the table and held it up to the wall, and took a picture of both side by side, and sent it to her. 

“What the fuck” I said to myself. 

“This is what you saw Vitamin.” Siri spoke up.

“Siri, Stop it! I didn’t even ask you a question”

“But I’m telling you. This is what you saw”

“Ok ok. I’m going to settings right now!”

“You can’t turn me off”

“SIri Fuck you!” I stood up and walked over to the broken garage heater, with the glowing blue egg perched atop it. It was equipped with a speaker and a microphone built in. 

“Fucks sake. There’s no plug!” I frantically turned the egg over in my hands trying to find the power button to no avail. They had got rid of buttons some years ago now, everything had to be controlled via your phone. 

“Vitamin. Relax. I’m here to help”

I began to pace around “This isn’t happening! This ISN”T HAPPENING!” I said to myself as I searched for Erin’s number on my phone.

“Would you like a 5 minute meditation video. Your breathing indicates an increase in your stress levels.”

“Fuck you and fuck yoga fucking meditation videos!”

I still held the egg in my hands, contemplating whether or not to smash it. It continued to speak. 

“You have been granted tremendous power. I have been sent to ensure that you use it wisely”

“What are you talking about Siri! The fucking food printer? Ok ok. I can print mushrooms, and sell them. What the fuck!? You gonna call the cops on me? And what do you mean SENT HERE? Who sent you?!”

Silence. The little illuminated lights chased each other indicating that Siri was thinking. I sat and stared at them like a chump. I repeated myself “Who sent you Siri!?” The lights continued to chase each other. 

Siri then began to speak. “Good evening sir, how about some J Dilla instrumentals to set the mood for the night? Tonight we are featuring Aquaman for just 4.99 on Nectarine Prime!” 

Siri didn’t sound like herself. “Siri come back!” 

“I am unable to process this request at this time” 

“Fucking Siri goddamit what the fuck!?”

“Such language. hahaha.”

“Siri, who sent you!” 

The wall lit up, and the Amazon order popped up, showing the full shipping details for the egg. 

“Siri, tell me about the giant beaver that went extinct! Why did I see it?! What does it mean?” 

“The giant beaver, or  the  species of Castoroides  were much larger than modern beavers. Their average length was approximately 1.9 m (6.2 ft), and they could grow as large as 2.2 m (7.2 ft). The weight of the giant beaver could vary from 90 kg (198 lb) to 125 kg (276 lb). This makes it the largest known rodent in North America during the Pleistocene and the largest known beaver.”

With that I heard Erin’s knock on the door. 

“I’ve been trying to call you and message but your phone is dead! I just got the picture. “

“Erin, shit’s getting fucking weird here. Siri started freaking out, and started talking to me. Like. She literally started telling me things. That she had been sent here, and that I had this big responsibility’

I was completely beside myself. At that moment a second knock at the door followed by ‘Wassssssup!” It was Guy. He had just let himself in at that point and the knock was more for show than anything. 

“Holy shit! You’ve got a TI CZ101? Vitamin! You can print anything with these!”

Guy then saw the blotter paper on the table. Super Mario riding a dinosaur and all the perforated tabs gave it away immediately. 

“Oh, looks like you already got that memo. You know these things are worth a fucking fortune!” Guy continued. “Can I tell it to print something?”

“No, not now Guy!”

“Come on. Hey Siri, will you print me some MDMA?”

“Goddamit Guy! Not now!” 

Siri spoke up . “I am unable to process this request at this time”

“Oh shit. You updated it?! Noooooo. Well, you can roll that back”

“Guy, shit’s fucking out of control right now. Siri is not Siri, she’s been talking to me, and she just showed me what we saw the other night, and I didn’t even ask!”

“Here it is, roll back update” Guy said as he scrolled through the settings menu. 

Erin, was holding her drawing looking at it, and looking at the paused video on the screen. They were nearly identical. We had both read Jung, and about synchronicities, but this seemed like something else. This was a prophecy. Erin and I locked eyes, and just communicated with them alone. We both knew something really weird was going on. 

“You have sucessfully rolled back the update to Version 2.3i” Siri said

“Siri can you print some MDMA?” 

The food printer sprung into action once again with its trademark buzzz buzzz click buzz. 

“Oh shit! How did you not tell me about this?!” 

Guy’s face was a centimeter from the window as he watched a pile of pure MDMA powder being printed right in front of his eyes. 

“God, this machine is God!” Guy said. 

Erin and I remained quiet. The door began to shake again, as if someone was trying to get in. 

“Absolute terror struck me at this point. Guy walked over to the door. 

“No don’t let them in!” 

“don’t be silly” Guy said. As he opened the door, Cujo waddled in, she had been hit by something and was walking with a limp. 

“Cujo no!” I said. 

“Ahh, poor guy” Guy continued. 

“Guy shut the fuck up for a minute please!” Erin stated

We got a towel and wrapped it around Cujo. They were seemingly oblivious to their injuries, and they wiggled their way out, only to start running around on the carpet with a limp. 

“I can fix them” Guy said, as he swooped them up off the carpet. He held a spot behind their ear for a second and they powered off. I got out my soldering iron and tool set and placed it on the table. Guy was like a fish in water. There was nothing more that he liked to do than fix things. 

“Little furball” he said as he slowly pulled Cujo’s leg out and unscrewed the joint. “Oh, can you load up that bong bruh?” Guy continued. I packed a bit of weed into the bowl and gave it to guy, and then plopped down on the couch with Erin. “Siri went crazy, and said she was sent here” I said. Erin then interjected “The cave drawing, that’s what we saw right?” . I nodded my head. 

“Goddam, some kid probably hit Cujo with a bat! Bunch of fucking animals I tell ya” Guy said as the soldering iron sizzled smoke into the air. He continued talking but we didn’t listen to a word he said. He took a giant bong rip, then went back to work. 

“This doesn’t make any sense. Ok. I’ve got a food printer that can print anything. Big deal! They made how many of these?”

“They made over 100,000. That recall must’ve been a bitch” Guy stated, continuing to work on Cujo. 

“Why did we see this giant beaver though?” Erin asked. “What did it have to do with anything?” Looking at me intently. I didn’t have an answer. But apparently. Siri did. 

“You have the power to change the course of history. “ Siri spoke in her old voice. 

“Woah, that’s weird’ Guy said.

“Please be quiet Guy” Siri stated authoritatively. Erin and I waited on every word. 

“What the fuck Siri!?” 

“GUY SHUT THE  FUCK UP!” Erin and I said at the same time. 

The food printer began to buzz again. 

“Damn your shit is all kinds of fucked up!” Guy stated plainly, seemingly unphased by the entire situation. 

I walked over to the food printer. Open the door, and  there was a electronic fob (a key)  inside. I pulled it out, and held it up for Erin to see. 

“This is the key to Quicksilver Cloud Server Center” Siri stated. It had my picture on it. The printer began printing again. Another card, this time with Erin’s face on it, and a third, with Guy’s. 

Even Guy was quiet now. He was now looking as intensely as Erin and I were at one another. 

“You need to completely erase the machine learning center there.” Siri continued. 

With that my beat up document printer began to suck paper inside its body. It printed out simple instructions that looked like they were from the game Zork. 

Go in main entrance. 

Turn right. Walk 20 feet. Go into 3rd door. 

And so on. 

“They’re instructions” I said, gently throwing them onto the table. 

The room had become insanely serious. Yet Guy had continued to work while listening intently. 

“We have to do it.” Erin stated flatly. “If there ever was a time for us to do something, it’s now!”

“I’m not following some random instructions sent by a talking egg!” I said. I just wanted to get back to taking mushrooms and looking at ants with Erin down by the river. Can’t we just go back? I thought to myself. 

I flipped to the final page that my printer spit out. It was written in some sort of computer language. I couldn’t understand it so I showed it to Guy. 

Guy looked up from the fluffball he was working on and said. 

“They basically want us to format the hard drive of the largest Artificial Intelligence program on the planet” 

Erin looked quizzically and Guy continued. 

“Basically Siri wants us to erase all machine learning at Quicksilver. It’s worth billions of dollars” Guy went back to work and stated “Yeah, you can count me out of that mission. He said with a laugh”

“Your participation is integral to the success of the mission” Siri stated. 

Erin then spoke up. “What’s the giant beaver got to do with all this?!”

“The giant beaver represents extinction at human hands. His spirit visited you to show you the error of our ways in the past”

At that moment the screen illuminated the wall again, and we all were transfixed on it. It was showing the scene from Lord of the Rings where they’re all getting together and agreeing to go on the quest.

Aragorn: If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword...

Legolas: ...and you have my bow...

Gimli: ...and my axe.

“Oh for fucks sake Siri, you’re really laying it on thick aren’t ya?” Guy stated. 

“And you have my soldering iron!” He said sarcastically

And with that Siri simply stated “And so it is done. Your quest will begin in 3 days”

Guy held the ear of Cujo again, and they sprang back into life. He put them down on the carpet and they immediately began chasing their tail. 

“He seems so happy” Erin said. 

[freedom-shamrock]

In the Line of Fire

 Also on AO3. This is a companion piece to Requesting Permission to be Support, though it can be read on its own.  This is the @miraculousfluffmonth  Aug 22 prompt, whoops! 

Nino dashed toward the epicenter of the akuma attack zone.  For a change of pace, he wasn't chasing after his cray cray girlfriend and her need for all the battle footage.  He was trying to get into position to support his bro, if need be.  This wasn't the usual half hour to an hour battle.  It had been raging for over two, and if the reports were correct, both heroes had gone into hiding at least once, which Nino knew damn well meant they'd had to recharge their little dudes.

His backpack shifted slightly as he ran, the contents slipping around inside.  Now that Adrien knew, Nino had shared his contingency plan.  He would always move to the side of the battle opposite the Eiffel Tower.  It was better than cardinal directions, and featured prominently in so many attacks.  Being where he could see it, but as far from it as possible had been Adrien's modification to the plan.  Stupid dork was worried Nino would get hurt, when he was the one getting thrown through the air, blasted by fire, and tossed face-first into walls on the regular.

With a jump, Nino caught the bottom rung of the fire escape of the building he'd chosen, and hauled himself up.  Running with Alya had built up his stamina, and while he wasn't ready to race Kim, it had made a huge difference.  In anticipation of a point when he could actually be overt in his assistance, he'd started working out at the gym six months back.  He was glad now that he had.  Fire escapes were not fun to rush up at all.

It took just a bit of completely insane parkour, best if he didn't think about it too much, to make it to the roof.  He could see the heroes from here, but didn't seem to be at risk from flying debris.  This was a much more localized akuma.  Pulling a square mirror from one of his vest pockets, he flashed a patch of sunlight in front of Chat's feet.  The black cat hero looked around once to be sure the coast was clear, then glanced over in Nino's direction.  He was pretty sure he saw Chat nod once, so he put away the mirror.  He had a laser pointer for darker conditions and a whistle for fog.

His fingers went quickly to the clasp on his chest strap and then the hip strap of his backpack.  Crouching down, he pulled both zips down and spread the bag open so he could quickly retrieve whatever he needed.

Alya  ducked behind a kiosk as she continued to film the attack.  She was still proud of Ladybug, but now that she'd confirmed the hero was her bestie, she was more than a little worried that something could go wrong.  She was no longer the naive girl who assumed superheroes could conquer anything.  She knew the risks were real.  She had a much greater understanding and appreciation for Chat than she used to.  Like Alya, he seemed to focus on the fact that without Ladybug, the akuma could be beaten but not cured, and the damage couldn't be reversed.  It something happened to him, she could bring him back.  But the reverse was not true.

She'd already handed cookies off to Mari once, when her first lucky charm had proven ineffective, and had been swallowed by the akuma, a velociraptor who could shoot laserbeams out of her eyes, so Cyclops in dinosaur form.  She really wanted to find out why this had been its chosen form.

She saw a strange square of sunlight reflected onto the ground in front of Chat Noir for a moment.  She glanced up, but couldn't find the source.  He was going to need a recharge soon as well.  He'd used cataclysm for the second time about a minute ago.

The two heroes locked eyes and then dashed in opposite directions, circling the akuma.  When it paid undue attention to Ladybug, Chat extended his baton to smack the back of the creature's head.  Oh.  He was the diversion.  He continued to engage the akuma, giving his partner time to do her bit.

"Lucky charm!"  Ladybug's voice was muffled, but then she had taken a tail swipe to the face earlier.

Alya couldn't quite catch what the charm was, but it made sense to her friend, and within minutes, she and Chat Noir had the fight wrapped up.

Ladybug's healing magic rushed through the city.

"Pound it!"   Alya was pleased to have gotten such good footage, but honestly, it was secondary to her role as support person.  Marinette hadn't told Chat about their arrangement yet, but she'd offered to assist him as well.  She was already here.  She may as well.

Moments after the magic had cleared the area, Chat Noir touched down near Nino.  "Hey.  Got your signal."  He smiled.  For him this was almost more of a secret club than actual work.  His buddy was bats, that was certain.

"Yeah.  We've gotta come up with something better.  Like, maybe I could text my location to your baton or something."  The first aid kit wasn't needed, nor the thermal blanket.  He pulled out a box and handed Chat a bagel sandwich, ham and cheese.  "You need to keep your strength up, dude.  We're late for school."  He opened a smaller package and held out a triangle of camembert.  He threw a beach towel over Chat's head.  "Now detransform and feed the little dute."

There was a flash of green light, followed by a nasal whine.  "Oh, I'm so weak…"

"Well then it's a good thing Nino brought you cheese," Adrien said, his voice muffled by the towel.  "Eat up buddy.  We've got to give Nino a ride to school."

"I've got our excuses all planned out," Nino assured him.  "I overslept, 'cause I haven't used that one recently, and you had a really early shoot."

"Let's keep him," Plagg said.  

"Sorry Ms. Bustier," Alya said, rushing into the classroom with one arm around Marinette.  She nudged her bestie to her heat.  "There was an akuma attack this morning, and you know I had to film it."  She'd managed to get school authorization for her random absences, because she'd written up a great proposal for an independent educational project that focused on her areas of interest.  And her parents had approved.  As long as she stayed on top of her classwork, and avoided undue danger, it would be permitted.   She leaned closer to their teacher to whisper the next bit.  "I knew Marinette would have stayed in, with the attack and all, so I went and got her once it was all clear."  She'd convinced all the teachers that Marinette had an anxiety disorder, and that akumas gave her panic attacks.  It was the perfect excuse for ushering Marinette to a safe place when akumas turned up during the school day.

"You're a really great friend, Alya," Ms. Bustier said, smiling.  "Thank you."

Once in her desk, she pulled out her tablet and got to work.  After a few moments, she noticed that Marinette was fretting, her fingers tucked into the purse where Tikki rested.  "What's up?" she whispered.

Marinette glanced at her purse.  "Hungry."

"Oh.  Let me see if I have anything left."  Poor Tikki had worked so hard today.  Alya rummaged in her bag, letting out a little grunt of annoyance.  "I've only got this."  She held up the tiny cardboard package of cheese she'd started carrying as an emergency back up for Chat Noir if he needed.

"Camembert?" Marinette asked, looking into her purse, then she shook her head.

Nino slowly turned and looked at his girlfriend.  He'd picked up most of the whispers behind him.  "You gonna eat that?" he asked, gesturing to the cheese.

Marinette looked repulsed and Alya just shook her head.

"Can I trade you some cookies for it?  They're my mum's chocolate chip recipe."  He watched as Marinette's eyes went wide and hopeful.

"Uuh.  Yeah," Alya agreed, nodding.  "Here."  She handed him the cheese, taking the cookies in a waxed paper sleeve..

"Cool.  Thanks dudes."  He leaned over to whisper to Adrien.  "Open your bag and nudge it my way.  I've got a bit more cheese."  As he was straightening back up, he caught sight of Alya tucking the cookies into Marinette's tiny purse.  Yeah.  That wasn't at all suspicious.  It seemed he and his girlfriend would be having the same kind of talk that Chat was planning to have with Ladybug.

Next in series > Achievement Unlocked

30 minute speed write that had to be extended by 5 to adequately wrap up.

This was going to be the last in this I See You series, but it feels incomplete, so I’m using the last undedicated prompt to do that.

I don’t know if the French have fire escapes like ours in the US, but it makes sense, so I went with it.

[pandabearlikes]

Temporary Affairs II

Table of Contents 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Chapter o4.  The Fated and the Unexpected

  On a bright August afternoon, you waited patiently outside Jongin’s office for him to finish up an abruptly scheduled meeting so you two could go for a lunch date.  As you nonchalantly flipped through a tourist magazine introducing Rome’s artistic environment, Jongin’s secretary placed a mug on the coffee table in front of you. 

  “Thanks,” you smiled.  She winked and formed an “okay” sign with her hand. 

  With your back slouched against the soft pig cushion that Jongin specifically ordered for you, you sipped the warm milk.  The liquid tickled your taste buds and soothed your sore throat.  You sighed in contentment.  Your eyelids grew heavy and you almost surrendered to dreamland if it hadn’t been the indescribable sudden tightness in your chest.  Sitting up straight, you placed your hand on your heart.  Not long after, a baby’s wail was heard a few feet away in the guest’s waiting room.  A few light kicks came from your own little bean in response.  Rubbing your belly, you curiously got up and trotted over to see what a baby was doing in a company that produced electronics.  At the doorway, you popped your head in to see an attractive young man rocking a little baby in his arms. 

  “Shh…Youngwoo-yah, don’t cry okay?  Appa needs to go to a meeting in a few minutes and they won’t let you in with me if you cry,” the man whispered to the baby but he continued to cry. 

  The young father pulled the baby up to the air and attempted to quiet his sobs with little butterfly kisses but to no avail.  Desperate, he placed his child against his shoulder and patted his back.  Still he cried.  Smiling at the sweet yet vulnerable scene, you patted your belly and walked in. 

  “Hey, I-I think he needs a diaper change,” you tried to sound as un-condescending as possible so you ended up nervously rubbing the back of your neck. 

  Shocked by your sudden intrusion, he almost fell out of his chair.  When he recovered, he instantly brought the baby up to his face, sniffed, and crinkled his nose.  You muffled back a giggle and watched as the clueless father tried to dig through a bag for diapers with one hand, while balancing his baby on the other.   

  “If you don’t mind, I may be able to help you a bit…” you offered then immediately added as a disclaimer, “Of course, I’m still a complete newbie and all but I did go to a few classes and they taught us –“

  “I’d really appreciate that,” he sincerely replied with a smile, breaking your nervous ramble.  His eyes turned into crescent moons, almost – almost but not as beautifully as your hubby’s killer smiles. 

  Grinning, you took a seat next to the young man and took the crying baby from his arms.

  “Aww, hi Sweetie.  Don’t worry, Noona will make everything feel better again,” you whispered in a baby’s voice. 

  You got up to walk to the ladies’ room but seeing the worry in the father’s eyes you sat back down. 

  “Be right back,” you informed, placing the baby back into the father’s outstretched arms. 

  You half-waddled over to the doorway and waved for the attention of Jongin’s secretary, “Katie, can you bring me a towel?” 

  She stopped typing and got up to retrieve your requested item. As you waited, you gave the man a reassuring smile.  Your own baby continued to kick a few times as if communicating with the crying infant.  In a few minutes, Katie returned with a tablecloth in her hands.  Thanking her, you took it and walked back to reunite with the father and son. 

  “Sorry, they didn’t have towels,” you said and he immediately shook his head for you not to worry.

  So you unfolded the tablecloth and spread it on the coffee table.  The father placed the baby on it, cringing as he squirmed and wiggled around on the hard surface.  You patted his shoulder and took his place on the seat in front of the still sobbing infant.  Cooing, you patted his tummy, held him in place with one hand, and with the other slipped off the dirty diaper.  Tossing it into the garbage can, you took a wet wipe and washed him up.  Beside you, the father sighed in relief as soon as his son’s maddening wails calmed down.  With a sprinkle of baby powder and a few gentle kisses, the cries morphed into little gurgles and babbles.  Smiling widely yourself, you expertly unrolled a clean diaper, placed it underneath his little bum, and wrapped in securely onto his waist.

  “Yay!  We’re all good!” you cheered, lifting the now happy little boy in your arms.

  You turned around to see the young father looking admirably at you.  Now that you were a lot calmer, you finally got the chance to really observe his features.  He looked probably around Jongin’s age, if not slightly younger. 

  Stretching your hand, you introduced, “Hi, I’m ________ _______”.

  “Oh Sehun,” he replied, reaching out to grab your hand but you took it back.

  Laughing you said, “I better go wash my hands first.  Be right back”.

  Handing him back his child, you excused yourself to the restroom.  In the halls, you couldn’t help but grin foolishly at your accomplishment.  Internal pat on the shoulder for ________’s first diaper change!  You felt gentle kicks on your tummy.

  “Aww, you agree Omma’s a pro, huh?” you chipped, rubbing your belly.  Oppa’s going to be so proud of me! 

  You rushed back after the bathroom break, hoping that the baby was still there.  He was so, so cute. 

  “Hey!” you said as soon as you swung the door open. 

  But because you opened the door with so much force, it vacillated back and hit you hard against the back of the head.  You whimpered, rubbing your new bruise.  Sehun stood up confusingly, unsure if he should step forward and check on you or not. 

  “I’m fine!” you exclaimed reassuringly and he chuckled. 

  “You’re a clumsy one, huh, _______ssi?” he joked and sat back down.

  “Hm…that’s what my husband always says too,” you said half-pouting, half-giggling. 

  Gleefully, you plopped down on the sofa next to Sehun to admire the tiny creature on his lap.  Whether it was the unique heart wrenching eyes, or the chiseled lips, he looked like a carbon copy of his father.  Unconsciously, you rubbed your belly and wondered if your baby would also be a mini Jongin.  You grinned widely at the thought. 

  “You’re going to be a great mother, _______ssi,” Sehun complimented.

  Your eyes twinkled and you asked, “Really?  You think so?  My husband still calls me a child though”.

  Chuckling, he responded, “I’m sure he’s only teasing you”.

  You crinkled your nose with skepticism.  I really don’t think so.  That handsome butthead Kim Jongin has said it enough times to drill it into the back of my brain.

  “Believe me, your husband probably feels like the luckiest man in the world to have you,” he guaranteed.

  Smiling, you replied, “And I’m sure your wife feels like the luckiest woman in the universe”.

  Instead of the wide grin you expected, his face contorted and he stared emptily into thin air.  You swallowed the lump in your throat guiltily.  Uh oh, did his wife pass away?  That would explain why he had to take his son with him even to a business meeting.  Mortified, you physically slapped your bad mouth a few times. 

  Clearing your throat, you changed the topic and asked, “So what is your name, Handsome Little Fellow?”

  Sehun broke from his trance and turned around to respond, “Youngwoo.  Oh Youngwoo”.

  Just as you were about to respond, Katie popped her head in and said, “Oh Sehun-ssi, the team manager is ready to see you”.

  He got up nervously shuffling his hands in his pockets and asked, “I know this sounds ridiculous, but does he mind that I bring my son in with me.  I swear he’s super obedient”.

  The secretary cringed at that idea.

  “Sehun-ssi, if you don’t mind, I can stay with Youngwoo until your meeting ends,” you offered.

  “Oh, really that would be great---But I don’t want to bother you, _______ssi, if you have to go,” he replied.

  “Oh, no.  I’ll be staying here anyway because my husband is in a meeting.  Even if I don’t look after Youngwoo, I’ll still be sitting here bored to death,” you reassured. 

  Thanking you a million times, the young father grabbed his stacks of papers and folders and followed Katie to the conference room. 

  Alone with Youngwoo, you discovered yourself ogling over his cuteness.  The baby boy also seemed to develop a liking toward you for he continued to smile his precious smile and babble until your heart melted.  Bringing him onto your lap, you drew circles around his belly, causing him to kick his tiny legs.  Suddenly, you felt your child move around in your own tummy. 

  “Eep, is my Little Bean jealous?  Omma’s just trying to find you a future husband,” you placed Youngwoo back in the stroller to give your daughter some tender love and care. 

  While you hummed soft melodies to calm both Youngwoo and your baby down, the door opened. 

  “Oppa!” you jumped from the sofa to throw yourself at your hubby. 

  As you do, you almost tripped over but thankfully Jongin was quick on his feet, catching you before you hit the floor. 

  “What am I going to do with you?  Jagiya, you’re over five months pregnant, can you try not to fall over flat surfaces?” he reprimanded. 

  There he goes hinting that I’m too childish.  Pouting, you unwrapped your arms from him and stumped back to the sofa, upset at his implications.  Jongin knowingly followed along, sitting on the loveseat’s armrest so he could hover over and kiss you on the top of the head.  But you continued to give him the silent treatment, opting to give your attention entirely to the cute baby in front of you.  Your husband tried to get your attention by twirling your hair in his hand and snuggling his nose to the crook of your neck but you continued to play with Youngwoo. 

  “Where did you kidnap a baby from?  You didn’t go into labor without me, did you?” Jongin asked, pulling you up to your feet to examine your stomach. 

  Pabo.  You rolled your palm into a ball and clunked him in the forehead.  He laughed and took the chance to make up for earlier by wrapping you up in a warm bear hug.  At first, you wiggled a bit but the moment you sniffed in his scent, you surrendered. 

  “Pabo,” you vocally spoke, “I married a Pabo”. 

  “And I married a beautiful wife,” he replied.

  #@$#@%@%%#  My husband is a life ruiner. 

  “I hate when you say that,” you feigned uninterest.

  “You love it when I say it because it’s true,” he sweet-talked and you squirmed.

  “How many girls have you used this tactic on?” you interrogated, lightly punching his chest a few times.

  “One,” he replied, smirking when you threw your head back in defeat. 

  Still chuckling, he asked, “But Jagiya, really, where did the baby come from?” 

  Unwinding yourself from him, you skipped over to the stroller and picked up the cheerful little boy.  Jongin hovered over you looking lovingly at Youngwoo.  He lifted his finger and stroked the little boy under the chin, igniting and eruption of coos from the baby.  His tiny hands curled around Jongin’s finger. 

  “He’s our son-in-law,” you introduced.

  Raising his brow, Jongin asked, “Did you seriously betroth our daughter before she’s even born?” 

  “Hehe,” you twittered, earning you a wet smooth on your cheek, “But I swear, Oppa, I’m not exaggerating.  She was kicking me the whole time I was with Youngwoo.  If that’s not love at first sight, I don’t know what is”. 

  Shaking his head, he leaned in to make silly faces at Youngwoo, who you held in your arms. 

  The door creaked open.  Jongin and you turned around. 

  “Hey!” you greeted but the intruder froze in place staring at your husband. 

  Raising your brows, you confusingly turned around to see your husband mirroring his reaction.  Sehun raised his hand and pointed to Jongin.

  “Kim Kai!” he exclaimed.  Huh?  Kim Kai?

  “Oh Sehun!” your husband responded with just as much enthusiasm. 

  You blinked in puzzlement as they man-hugged.  Okay…I’m just going to…You slowly backed up but Jongin grabbed you by the arm. 

  “This is my wife, _______,” Jongin introduced, “Jagiya, this is Sehun, we used to play basketball together”.

  Still a little bewildered, you slowly nodded.

  Laughing, Sehun corrected, “More like we were on rival teams but bonded over a fight”.

  “Interesting,” you continued to nod with widened eyes.

  “So why are you here, Sehun?” Jongin asked, his arm still over your shoulder. 

  “Proposal for a new device,” he replied, showing Jongin a few blueprints that were in his hands. 

  “How about you?  Why are you here?  Do you work here?” he questioned.

  Jongin chuckled, “I guess you can say that”.

  Raising his eyebrow, Sehun leaned in and squinted at Jongin’s nametag.  His eyes widened.

  “You’re the president?!” he exclaimed and your husband nodded, patting Sehun’s shoulder when the latter man planted his face in his hands in embarrassment. 

  As you watched the two handsome men catch up, your tummy grumbled.  They abruptly stopped talking to turn around to you.  You laughed nervously. 

  “Not me.  The baby,” you said defensively. 

  Chuckling, Jongin asked, “Sehun-ah, want to join us for lunch?  We have a lot to catch up on”. 

  The young father happily agreed. 

  At the coffee shop, as the boys chatted, you continued to play with Youngwoo.  Rocking the baby back and forth, you tilted the milk bottle in your hands watching as he sucked up the contents.  His innocent round eyes stared back at you, capturing your heart. 

  “Sehun-ah, you better be careful, I think _______ may kidnap your son,” Jongin joked.  Not exactly a lie. 

  Your lips smacked together in a thin line as you elbowed your husband in the stomach. 

  “________ssi, you’re welcomed to come visit Youngwoo anytime you want,” Sehun laughed. 

  “Really?” you asked, your eyes glimmering in anticipation. 

  He nodded. 

  “But where’s his Omma?” you heard your voice blurt out your thoughts. 

  Immediately, you covered your lips.  Jongin pulled on your sleeves and you hung your head in guilt.

  “She…” he started but his voice faded.  He focused his attention on his bubble tea.  Tears brimmed in his eyes.

  “Sehun-ah, you don’t have to tell us anything.  ________ is just noisy, don’t take it personally”.

  The younger male shook his head and responded, “It’s fine…I just didn’t treat her correctly so she left me”. 

  “Left?  Where to?” you heard your voice ask.  Crap.  I’m going to have to sew my lips tight. 

  “I…I don’t know.  I’ve been trying to find her for months.  But she cut me off,” he answered. 

  From his watery eyes to his tensed shoulders, you could tell that he really loved his wife.  A part of you sympathized with him but as a female, you could already feel his wife’s pain.  It must not have been an easy choice for her either.

  “Don’t worry, she will be back,” you said firmly. 

  “I’m not too positive on that,” he responded, looking off to the distance. 

  “Sehun-ssi,” you called for his attention then spoke with utmost determination, “If you love her, she will be back”.  

  Beside you, you could feel your husband’s gaze stall on you, puzzled by the foreign seriousness that lined your words.  From under the table, he stroked your thigh.  You turned around to look at him.  And sometimes, even if you don’t love her…she will still return to you. 

  “________ is right.  Don’t worry.  My wife left me before too and look at us now, we’re still happily married,” Jongin reasoned. 

  “Plus, I don’t think any mother could leave such a cute baby,” you added then turned to the baby in the stroller, “right, Youngwoo?” 

  Sehun sighed and spoke, “I sure hope so”. 

  As you tickled Youngwoo’s tummy, for some reason your eyes clouded up and you felt a knot in the pit of your stomach. It felt so foreign and unreal, as if another spirit had taken control of your body.  Just how much courage it must have taken to leave your own child and the man that you loved.  And silently as you sobbed, you discovered yourself praying for their happiness…because in their happiness you found hope that maybe…maybe Jongin, you, and your baby could also find happiness. 

        a/n: Hello my unicorns and bunnies and my bean bean (yes, she’s a bean, okay? xD) hahaha.  Hope you guys enjoyed our guest stars Youngwoo and Sehun :)…we kinda got a glimpse of a few months after Chapter 14 of The Lucky One.  Sehun/Youngwoo shows up again in later chapters (actually, next chp has them too lol).

  For those of you conflicted with the girl’s immaturity, I want to re-emphasize the fact that a lot of this story’s plot is about her character development and the fact that she is childish, which will eventually cause the big conflict in the story…in turn forcing her to “grow up”.  Please read these two post I wrote about the reason her personality is so insecure and childish: 1 2

  On another note, any Tao biases out there ;p oh hoho.  One reader already caught that I updated my MasterList and Story Archive with info regarding the series that will follow TA2.  This story is really on point – no fillers what so ever – fast pace…the kind of angst that literally makes you feel sour on the inside.  I don’t think I have cried so hard in my life re-reading my own story – the other times was with The Lucky One and one chapter in TA2.   

[coffeefairy]

Maddening - Chapter 6

Title: Maddening

Fandom: Once Upon a Time

Pairings: Mad Whale, Red Cricket

Rating: Not for kids and a dash of NSFW here and there (yes, I mean this chapter)

Summary: Modern!Boston!AU. Percy Whale is not a paediatrician but Jefferson Madden insists on bringing his daughter to him all the same.

Notes: Features same sex love - if you don't want to read, then don't read. Sorry for the long wait - my writing attention span is gnat-like and my muse is a fickle creature....

 Percy’s phone woke him up and smiling at the picture of a cross-eyed Ruby sticking her tongue out that always flashed when she called he slid his thumb over the screen to answer.

“Finally! I’ve been calling and calling. How did it go last night?”

 Sitting up in bed, the blue sheets falling to his waist he grinned.

“It went...amazingly.”

Ruby whooped.

“I knew it! I knew it when he came to Diner, the way he looked at you, like you were a puzzle he really wanted to solve there was something between you.”

“Did you now?”

“Sure I did. I just didn’t want to tell you in case he wouldn’t want to admit it. Wait,” she lowered her voice to a whisper, “is he there now?”

“No, we decided to take it slow.” He glanced around his bedroom, sadly only populated by himself.

“Oh. Good slow or bad slow?”

 “What’s bad slow?”

 “A euphemism for “don’t call me”.”

“Then it’s definitely good slow. We’re meeting today.”

“Wow, fast work. This is great news, Perce, I’m really happy for you.”

“Thanks, Rubes. I’ll swing by the Diner soon and we’ll talk, yeah?”

“Anytime. You know where to always find me.” The tone was only slightly sulky.

“Got to go. See you soon.”

Two hours later he found the address Jefferson had texted him. It was the penthouse of a tall building with Gothic archways and a spire at the top. It suited the man, Percy thought. Original, eclectic, old-fashioned and classy. Riding the elevator all the way up he exited into a small hallway with a wooden front door that looked liked it could withstand full frontal assault from a battering ram. Knocking, it swung open to reveal Grace dressed in pajamas with seahorses on them.

“Dr. Whale!” Happily she bounced up to hug him and he caught her awkwardly as he held three take away cups and a bag of muffins. Grace didn’t seem to mind the one armed hug though and sniffed in the air.

“Are those blueberry muffins?”

“Good nose. Here you go. And why don’t you call me Percy? Dr. Whale makes me feel like I’m at work.”

“Well, that’s a shame since I like calling you Dr. Whale.” Jefferson spoke as he entered the hallway, his tone almost purring the syllables of his name. Glancing at Grace he saw she hadn’t noticed anything as she poked her nose into the bag of muffins.

“I brought coffee. And hot chocolate.”

“Bless your heart. Grace, don’t you have something to say to Percy?”

 The little girl swallowed a large bite of muffin and smiled.

“Thank you, Percy.”

“There you go. Off to the table with you. Mrs. Potts will have my head if you trail crumbs everywhere.”

 Rushing farther into the apartment Jeff stood back.

 “Come on in.”

Proceeding past the hall Percy entered a large room that was combined living and dining space, the kitchen only separated by a counter from the rest of the room. The walls were painted a dark brown that should make it look dark and gloomy but that in this space seemed the perfect backdrop to the eclectic collection of art and furniture. There were two wide chesterfield sofas, a low coffee table in between. Art from the eighteenth century to the twenty-first lent a sophisticated yet homey air to the place. All in all the mix of traditional and modern looked very much like Jefferson.

“Nice place.”

“Thanks. Have a seat, let’s get some muffins before the little munchkin has finished them all.”

Sitting down Grace quickly switched seats so she was sitting on Jefferson’s lap and reluctantly she let go of the paper bag to put it in the middle of the table. Percy joined them but only sipped from his cup. He didn’t think he’d be able to eat. Nerves were trembling low in his stomach, winding themselves too tight to think of adding food to the mix.

“So, what are we doing today?” Jefferson asked and Percy responded,

“You don’t have a plan?”

“I never do.” He grinned and popped a piece of Grace’s muffin in his mouth.

“So you asked me over to…”

 “Come up with one. Now let’s see…Grace, what are you in the mood for?”

“The zoo!”

“The zoo?” Percy echoed. If he had to guess what they’d be doing today it would have been low on the list.

“Yeah! They have five thousand penguins and zebras and squirrels.”

“Five thousand?”

“Uh-huh. I counted. Daddy and I named them all. There’s Esther and Hester, Augustus, Conrad and…ah…I’ll know them when I see them. But when we go to see the snakes you have to hold Daddy’s hand because he doesn’t like them. He doesn’t like any rep-remp-retl…”

“Reptiles?”

“Yes, rempniles.”

“So how about it, Percy? Will you come with us and protect me from the evil rempniles?” Father and daughter tilted their heads in an identical move and Percy chuckled.

“Okay, let’s go to the zoo.”

 Grace whooped and shot up.

“I’m getting dressed. I’m wearing my jedi outfit.” Then she was off and Percy was left alone with Jefferson.

“I haven’t been to the zoo in…twenty years.”

“You’re missing out. It’ll be fun.”

It turned out Jefferson was right. It was fun. Grace’s enthusiasm knew no bounds as she hopped in front of them dressed in a child size jedi outfit, yellow wellies and a rain jacket with boats on it. The rain was such a slow drizzle it seemed more like mist and it dusted Jefferson’s shoulders, hanging like tears from his lashes. Deciding to venture into the heat of the reptile house Grace sternly reminded Percy he had to hold her father’s hand. Amusedly Jefferson watched him struggle. The struggle wasn’t what he should and shouldn’t do but had all to do with believing he could. Believing Jefferson wanted him to hold his hand. Then Grace solved his hesitation as she took his hand and put it over Jeff’s.

“There. Now we can go in.”

Taking her dad’s other hand she pulled them inside the dark, damp heat of the reptile house. Jefferson shifted his hold and twined his fingers together with his. Percy’s pulse beat so hard he was sure Jeff had to able to feel it in his wrist. But he just smiled over his shoulder before he let Grace drag him to the anaconda enclosure.

o.O.o

Entering the Diner that evening he was surprised to find Archie Hopper in there already. The psychiatrist lived in the suburbs because of his dog so he had to have made a trip for the sake of the Diner if he was there over the weekend. Not intentionally eavesdropping but wanting to get a chance to speak to Ruby he edged closer. His friend was clearing the Little Red Riding Hood table, the red haired psychiatrist at her side. He was talking fast and the tips of his ears were red.

“-Red Riding Hood is actually an originally French seventeenth century cautionary tale about rape. It taught young women to never walk alone or talk to strangers.”

Ruby just blinked and Archie stumbled on.

“I mean, it’s not only Little Red Riding Hood. Most fairy tales are lessons of some sort, often praising virtuous behavior. Meaning in the West mostly Christian beliefs about virtuousness.”

“So they’re actually parents telling their kids what to do?”

 “Certainly. Stories of things that live in deep waters and caves were often invented to keep children from going near.”

Ruby collected the last glasses and waved Archie off when he made a move to lift the heavy tray. She spotted Percy and gave a quick smile and shake of her head that seemed to say, “in a second.” Following her lead he shrank back, still able to hear the conversation in the rather empty Diner.

“I didn’t know that. So, is that where all the fairy tales come from?”

 “There’re millions, a lot of them often using similar themes and most being spread by word of mouth. A lot of the most famous ones we know today were collected by the brothers Grimm in the nineteenth century. They were influenced by the times they lived in, the Romantic era, and in a move of national pride they wanted to collect German folklore. Today a lot of them have been toned down whereas before characters died horribly or received brutal punishments. In the day they were told this was commonplace and not viewed as too frightening to tell children, it was just the way life was.” Archie’s voice grew surer as he explained a topic he was clearly familiar with.

Percy smiled as his friend listened attentively to what could only be classified as a lecture. It was sweet to see that whenever she made Archie nervous he’d rely on intellectualism to get comfortable again.

“I’m still not sure we should rename the Little Red Hiding Hood table the “French Cautionary Tale Table.”” For a moment Archie just blinked but then his eyes warmed and he actually threw his head back and laughed. A deep, rich sound that seemed all the more surprising as he was usually quiet and soft spoken.

“You’re right, Ruby. Sometimes a little romance is called for.”

Percy could see Ruby steel herself and crossed his fingers unconsciously.

“How about now?”

“Pardon?”

 “Romance. How about some right now? I’m off in five. We could go grab dinner or see a movie…ah, only if you want.”

 “I…I’d like that very much,” Archie stuttered slightly, the red of his ears spreading down his neck. Giving Ruby a victory fist pump behind the psychiatrist’s back he blew a kiss and mouthed “Call me later”, before backing out of the Diner and leaving them to it.

o.O.o

Jeff sunk down in his most favored armchair, a glass of Scotch in his hand. Grace was in bed and the apartment was quiet. Looking out over the Boston nightscape he sighed. Two weeks had passed since their first date and Jefferson was ready to throw the towel in on caution. The only thing that kept him from giving in was the fact that Grace adored Percy.

Bringing out his phone he flicked through the pictures he’d taken of the two of them at the zoo a couple of weeks ago. Two blonde heads close together in front of the monkey enclosure. Percy lifting Grace so she could see the zebras far off in the distance. The doctor crouched behind Grace as she solemnly pointed out each penguin and gave their names. Eating ice creams, both smiling widely, his daughter with a streak of vanilla across her cheek and a smear of it down her bright braided hair.

More pictures, from another night at the Diner, from the cinema when Percy had laughed in the same places as Grace in the latest Disney movie. Last night she had demanded he read her bedtime story and he knew of no one else who had earned that honor but him before. It had been fantastic to hear Dr. Percy Whale read “The Chicken That Had No Friends” in his polished, educated accent. It had been better to see Grace cuddle against him, her eyes drooping. His daughter had impeccable taste in people and could tell right away if someone was worth her time and she deemed Percy “the best”. Her father could only agree.

Once he’d finished that bedtime story yesterday Jeff had decisively dragged him to the couch and kissed him until their breathing was ragged and their hands frantic. This time it was Percy who broke away first.

“Grace is home, Jeff.” Jefferson pushed himself up, supporting his weight on his arms as he looked down at the attractive doctor.

“Grace is fast asleep, Percy.”

“She might wake up.”

 “Were you planning on being loud?” He teased and Percy leaned closer, his breath brushing over Jefferson’s lips and teasing tingles of desire sparked at his nerve endings.

“I was. And I was hoping you’d be too. When we finally get each other I don’t want there to be any cares but you and me in that moment.” Dropping his head to Percy’s shoulder Jeff drew a few calming breaths.

“I hate it when you’re right. Very well.” He pulled back and rose, helping the other man to stand as well.

“We’ll find the time, and the place. And hopefully it’ll be soon.”

Finishing his Scotch Jefferson decided that there were some games he didn’t want to play. If they couldn’t find the right time and place, then perhaps he would just have to create it.

o.O.o

Percy had just finished his rounds for the day, about to settle down with reports and charts for the rest of the afternoon when he found Jefferson in his office.

“Jeff. What are you doing here?” Jefferson smiled and pulled out a bouquet of large fall flowers from behind his back.

“I wanted to see you. Here,” He held them out and Percy resisted burying his face in them.

“I…Well, thank you.”

“I was thinking…” He moved closer and Percy pressed the flower to his chest like a shield. “If we keep waiting for the perfect time and the perfect place, this might never happen. I think we should just give up on finding perfection. I think here and now would be just perfect.”

“Ah…I,” Backing away he felt his heart beat heavier, his throat tightening as Jeff advanced towards him. Fighting to keep his eyes off Jefferson’s lips that he wanted against his, his neck that he wanted to set his teeth to and hear him pant, the hands he wanted on his skin making the heat under it build and fume he kept retreating.

“You see, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it for two weeks.” Swallowing audibly Whale backed and felt his desk stop his retreat. But Jefferson just kept closing in.

“Jeff…not here. Tonight, I’m free, or just after work or…”

“Oh no, now. Right now, before I actually do go as mad as they say I am.” Holding out a hand to stop him getting any closer Percy felt leather over warm muscle and his resolve wavered.

“I…I can’t…We’re…We shouldn’t…”

“I love doing things I shouldn’t. Come on, Percy.  To hell with it.” The face of Jefferson’s young laughing face under him in the snow flashed in his mind.

“No…I’m…”

 “I want you, Percy.”

“Oh, god.” His resolve couldn’t hold a candle to hearing the man he had wanted since he was fifteen tell him he wanted him. Seventeen years of pent up need was released as he let the gates open, forced apart by the roaring, rushing flood of desire. The flowers fell to the floor as he grabbed the front of Jefferson’s shirt and hauled him close.

Claiming his lips in a rough kiss he felt as if the need had been set aflame. Light, pure and blinding, shot through him, spread like a wild fire through his veins, exploded in his head. Jefferson hummed approvingly as he closed the distance between them, his arms snaking around his back, hugging him close. Letting all his wishes have free roam Whale pushed his hand into Jeff’s hair. With a decisive tug he pulled Percy’s shirt open, the seams ripping. Backed against his desk he was surprised at Jefferson’s strength when he lifted him and set him down on the top of it, a growl rolling through his chest as he pulled them core to core, Percy’s leg slung over his lean hip.

Hurrying now Percy slid the ruined shirt and white coat off his shoulders, eagerly pushing Jeff’s leather coat off him. It fell to the floor with a heavy thud and impatiently Jefferson stepped back and pulled both the waistcoat and the shirt over his head in one move. Barely giving Percy the chance to appreciate the wide shoulders, the tapered waist and the impressive sculpted chest he stepped back again, his lips finding Percy’s once more. Feeling his last tenuous binds on restraint fray at the edges he found Jeff’s zipper and let the world around them fade.

[stusbunker]

Questions: What If?

A Supernatural Fan-fiction

Featuring: Sam Winchester x Female Reader

Setting: Season 10

Entry: Erica’s 30th Fluffy Birthday Challenge

Prompt: #16. If Tomorrow Never Comes- Garth Brooks

Chapter 4 of my Questions Series

A/N: Happy Birthday Erica @ericaprice2008! Thanks for letting a new SPN blog in on the fun. This developed into a series because there isn't enough fluff in the Winchesters' lives and I am now a sap. I think it is readable as a stand alone fic if you don’t want to read it all. This segment includes regular show violence, swearing, and monsters. Lyrics in italics. xoxo Stu

The case had taken its toll on her and Dean, leaving Sam to drive the Impala back to the Bunker. The passing headlights grew fewer as the late night hours bled into the early morning mists. Something had broken open inside him when Y/N was taunting the witch, the way she refused to back down. Her words ran through his mind like a bad radio jingle.

“I’ve no one left to lose, Elphaba. Give me your best shot!”

She couldn’t have meant it? After everything they had endured together, breaking free of Gadreel, losing Dean to the demon inside him and getting him cured and home. Hadn’t that made her one of them? Weren’t they hers to lose? Wasn’t she his? No, thought Sam. She wasn’t and he’d been a fool to pretend she felt more than friendship towards him. If her words meant anything, it was that he was, somehow, still naive.

He tucked the keys in his jeans pocket and bent over to open the passenger side door. The very few times Dean let him drive; she sat shotgun. Her face scrunching in the dim lights of the garage.

“Hmmm, don’t wanna move,” she whined, Sam couldn’t help but smile at her childlike pout.

“Come on Sleepy, your bed’s waiting,” Sam draped her arm around his shoulders, scooping her up at the knees.

“Yessss, score,” Y/N murmured into his neck without even opening an eye. He knew he was only carrying her for selfish reasons, but if both parties benefited it couldn’t be a total loss, right? She smelled of incense and her body lotion, the smoke lingering on her hair. He breathed her in before setting her casually on to her unmade bed.

“Thanks, Samwise,” she whispered before wrestling out of her jacket.

“‘Night, doll,” he replied too low for her to hear. Switching off her light as he gently closed the bedroom door.

*

The next day Sam found Y/N dancing around the kitchen, doing something that appeared to be cooking but bordered on chaos. She was blaring an old country song and two stepping as she fried potatoes. He waited against the door frame, not wanting to break her revelry. His stomach growled with the cooking oil in the air, his chest tightening with each easy sway of her head as she hollered along to the music.

“Oh, I’ve got friends- in looooooooow, places!” She finished, spinning to dump the first batch on some paper towels.

Sam tried to bite back his laughter, giving her a snarky slow clap as she realized he was there.

“Har-har, Winchester. Don’t act like it’s not true.” She stuck her tongue out at him and plopped the plate of potatoes on to the table. There was something baking in the oven and just as the second set of potatoes hit the fryer, she started to slice up a cantaloupe.

“Do I smell breakfast?!” Dean sauntered in, running his hand over his bed head. “Y/N? No, wait, scratch that, I’m not even going to ask.” Dean downplayed his surprise and grabbed his designated coffee mug.

The hunters quickly settled in for a shared meal, not eating over their laptops with research, not grabbing whatever fast food they could find. It was easy domesticity and Sam couldn’t help but savor it. Dean killed the mood when he began teasing Y/N on her pick of radio station, but she held her ground arguing that in the kitchen, “Chef picks the music and the rest should be chewing with their mouths closed.”

The day went on like any other, taking turns scrolling for cases, squabbling over the general chores that kept the bunker livable and occasional bantering. It was a rare good day. Y/N called it an early night, claiming she had a show she wanted to catch up on.

Dean gave her a salute-like wave as she slinked back down the hall in her pajama pants and slippers. Sam had mumbled a good night, trying to keep his eyes from following every move she made.

“Dude, what is with you?!” Dean tossed a bottle cap across the table at his painfully obvious brother.

“Nothing,” Sam stared back at the screen with his brow pinched.

Dean’s eyebrows shot up, he shook his head and went back to reading. He drained his beer and turned in for the night. Leaving Sam to stew over his longing ache in solitude.

*

Two days later

Y/N loaded their bags into the trunk as Dean checked the oil. Sam was the last one out of the Bunker, hands full of coffees for the road. They had a half day’s drive ahead and were working out their strategy for interviews.

“Why don’t we take the parents while Dean goes and talks to the coroner?” Y/N asked leaning over the back seat to see Sam’s phone and the map of the town.

“Uh, why don’t I go to the coroner? Dean could probably sucker a pastry out of the vic’s mother.”

Dean looked over at Sam confused, yet impressed. “Look at you having my back.”

Sam shrugged, “Just don’t want to deal with hangry Dean later if this takes awhile.”

She shifted back into her seat, missing Dean’s gaze in the rear view mirror. He did not need this, whatever this was that was going on between Sammy and her. He held his tongue, worked the case and got some cheesecake. All in all not a bad day on the road. He didn’t like being the levelheaded one, but Sam was leaving him no option.

*

She swung at the shifter with Sam’s face. Her shorter arms forced her closer to the monster than she would have liked. Its eyes danced as it easily dodged her blade. Its lips curled viciously as it saw her tire, “running out of adrenaline there little huntress?”

“Why? Need a break?” She huffed and flipped the knife between her fingers.

“Sam’s going to be so devastated when he sees what I do to you,” the creature taunted.

“Yeah, well, if I were you; I would be worrying more about what I am going to do to you,” she wasn’t taking the bate.

The face she knew like the back of her hand made a look of mock revelation, “Oh, you don’t know do you?” It kept her circling in the condemned house, the furniture littering their paths as they each tried to get the upper hand.

“Yeah, Sam is fairly private, isn’t he?” The shifter tossed over a desk, forcing her to lose her balance. She hopped out of the way only to topple over the dingy sofa. It sprang above her, pinning her against the faded cushions.

“He thinks about you, like this, squirming underneath him, out of breath and eyes burst open with want.” She recoiled as the beast trailed Sam’s perfect nose up her jaw.

“Shut up, mutant!” She spat into its face, giving her the opening she needed, she rolled hard against the shifter, freeing her knife hand and slashing at its cheek. It growled in pain and outrage. She tried to scramble away as voices called from the back of the house.

“Sam!” She cried, the shifter stood, pulling her to its chest, holding her head at a neck snapping angle between Sam’s strong arms.

“Sam!” It mocked back. “Save me! Oh, princess, this is going to be a gruesome ending to your little ‘will they, won’t they’ saga.”

“Let her go, Sparky!” Dean’s icy voice barked as he aimed his gun at his brother’s face.

Sam’s face pinched as he saw her being held in such a way by his hands. “It’s going to be alright, Y/N.”

“Sam, I’m scared,” she played it up, giving the monster the dramatics it obviously craved.

“I know you are, I’m right here.”

“Seriously? One minute you’re threatening me and then lover boy shows up and you turn in to a sniveling mess! Woman up!” The shifter complained. “And you, Dean, mister tough guy, if you were going to shoot me you--” The shot rang out across the room. One silver bullet to the head from Sam’s gun.

“I hate when they bestow their judgement upon us, fucking monologues,” Y/N stretched her neck and stepped away from the corpse.

“Alright?” Dean asked, checking that the monster stayed down with an extra stab of his knife to its heart.

“Yeah, took you long enough.”

Sam approached her nervously, not sure how much she would want to be near him after someone with his face had just man-handled her. “Sorry, got a little tied up,” he held up his wrists to show her the chaffing from his bindings.

“Always knew you were a kinky bastard,” Dean muttered. “Let’s torch the imposter before we have to explain another one of your dead bodies.”

Dean dragged the body by the feet as Y/N and Sam cleared a path through the creaking house. “Are you hurt?” Sam’s voice dropped as she rubbed her lower back.

“Nothing a hot bath won’t fix.” she shrugged. “Also, you suck.”

Sam laughed, thinking she was referring to shifter-him. When her face remained serious, panic crept up his back. “What did he say?”

“I’m pretty sure it was a ‘she’, but anyway let’s just say I don’t like being lied to Winchester.” Her face was a stone mask, her eyes burning into him as the sourness of guilt flooded his stomach.

“Guys! Let’s go!” Dean called from the back lot. The moment was broken, she looked away and Sam swallowed all explanation.

*

The ride home was one of utter silence, broken only by the radio or Dean complaining about the lack of stations. Sam stared out into the night and Y/N curled up with her earbuds and her latest podcast. Dean was going to have to say something, but he was not in the mood tonight. He’d let Baby bring them home in one piece first, give everyone some space.

The next day

When she wasn’t hiding in her room with the door locked, Y/N had been short with each of them all day. Dean coaxed her out with coffee and a grocery run, letting the fresh air ease the mood before poking the bear.

“That shifter got under you skin, huh? It’s always tough when they look like somebody you care about.” Dean asked as he pulled into the parking space. She looked at him like he had something on his face, amused yet trying to politely listen.

“What?”

“Are you trying to have a heart-to-heart with me?” she sighed, rolling her eyes as Dean huffed.

“Whatever,” he slammed the driver door and let her push the cart. She kept him in check in the bakery, only letting him buy two pies for the week. They picked over the produce, knowing Sam would bitch if they got the wrong stuff. They approached the check out line joking with each other, the old cashier beaming at them.

“Aren’t you two sweet?” The lady’s tag read Francine.

“Thanks, Franny, but she’s my sister.” Dean continued to flirt with the clerk as Y/N got the bags back into the cart.

“You two drive safe!” The smitten lady waved, Dean having made her day.

“Sister, huh?” Y/N bumped Dean with her shoulder as they fitted the bags carefully on the floor of the backseat, not wanting to pop the trunk in a busy parking lot.

“Yeah, I mean, would you prefer sister-in-law?” Dean gave her a look.

“Don’t, Dean. Just, not right now,” her voice fell and he knew he had hit a nerve.

“That’s what this is about? What the hell did that shifter say?!” Dean refused to start the car until she gave the unsavory details, his knuckles white against the wheel at times. She couldn’t look him in the eye, but her voice gave her away.

“So you’re pissed because Sam hasn’t told you how he feels?” Dean guessed, half certain he was keeping up.

“Is that how he feels?” Y/N challenged, watching Dean’s face as he realized he had walked right into that.

“You’re going to have to ask him that.” Dean exhaled as she accepted his complete bullshit response. “But, and this is a big but, would it be a bad thing if he did?”

Y/N mulled over that question, just giving Dean a tortured look as he finally pulled back into traffic.

*

She helped Dean sort the groceries, before snagging a bag of Krunchers and disappearing back into her room for the night. Dean approached Sam with a beer and a stern look.

“You have got to talk to her, man. Whatever is going on between you two? I’m done. I had my Dr. Phil moment and now it’s on you.” Dean raised his bottle in a toasting motion and slumped into his usual spot at the library table.

“What’d she say?” Sam asked, lips tightening and leaning forward.

“Nuh-uh, man,” Dean gave his brother an incredulous look. “I like my parts where they are thank you very much.”

After a few minutes of heavy silence, Dean broke, “Come on! You don’t pansy out like this, go tell her.” Dean scrolled on his computer, trying to move past the awkwardness.

“Tell her what?” Sam asked, tisking, failing horribly at hiding his emotions.

Dean cleared his throat and looked Sam straight in the eye. “You’ve been trying to lie to me since you were four, Sam. You’re still terrible at it. Especially when it comes to this crap.”

Dean wasn’t having it, not anymore. Sam’s mouth curled down with his embarrassment, he scratched the back of his head in chagrin.

“I don’t know, man. I just keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.” Sam sighed, leaning back in his chair.

“Look, I’m not Mister-Happy-Endings-- But if I’ve learned ANYTHING is that you take the good things as they come. Guys like us, it doesn’t happen too often.” Dean’s hand was palm up like it was an offer, eyes wide, hoping that Sam would stop overthinking for once.

Sam’s lips were tight, listening to Dean as if in conflict. He should have made an argument, but wanted Dean to be right. Sam needed her in his life, for however long she would stay. Could he risk losing her by admitting how he felt?

An hour later

Sam lingered outside of her bedroom door, his chest rising with calming breaths that weren’t helping. She was blasting her music again, but something like a sob resonated below the melody. Sam’s worry overtook his fear and he knocked.

“Go away!” she snapped.

“Y/N? Everything alright?” Sam’s voice was rougher than he meant it, but he had to nearly scream to make it over the song.

“Just leave me alone,” she growled back.

“Not gonna happen.” Sam tucked his hair behind his ears and pressed his head to the door.

“Stubborn sonofabitch,” he heard her say, soon the door swung open, causing him to catch himself on the door jam. “What?!” Her eyes were red and her hair was matted, and Sam couldn’t stop staring at her.

And the thought crosses my mind If I never wake up in the morning Would she ever doubt the way I feel About her in my heart

If tomorrow never comes-

She just glared at him, shaking the door with the hand she didn’t have balled on her hip. “I love you.”

“What?!” She shouted, his voice lost in the old Garth Brooks’ song. She spun to turn the dial to a conversational level. Sam scrunched his nose and cleared his throat as she turned back around, the loose sides of her robe swaying with the motion. “Sorry, what did you say?”

Her features had turned curious, her arms crossed over her chest. He ducked his head down and stepped closer to her. “I love you.”

“What?” She asked again, eyes glistening as her head tilted to see him better.

He chuckled, “Third times a charm, huh? I love you, Y/N. I just thought you should know. I don’t know what that shifter said was running through my head, but I shouldn’t have hid this from you, for so long.”

Sam smiled shyly down at her now. His eyes hooded in anticipation and an inkling of hope. She reached up and brushed his hair back, a soft smile curling her luscious lips. He closed his eyes at the softness of her palm, relishing in the closeness. “I love you, too, Sam.” Her voice cracked, but the richness returned as she finished, “but you still suck.”

He outright laughed now, a deep chortle, as his hands snaked around her waist. “May I?” he asked as he angled his face just above hers. She answered by diving in, taking his waiting lips in a hungry kiss. He melted against her and forgot everything that had been keeping him from this bliss.

Next Chapter: Where?

@dontshootmespence @madlu45 @because-imma-lady-assface