#got the new battery and took it to the IT department for some help not electrocuting myself and because the battery was stuck
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
billy-cockblock · 2 months ago
Text
How many IT guys does it take to replace a battery in a speaker
At least 5, apparently
2 notes · View notes
captainmartinisblog · 5 months ago
Text
So Many People, So Much Traffic!
Monday 24th June 2024 – New York.
So here we are, finally chilling in the Greenwich Business-class Lounge at John F Kennedy Airport and it’s been ‘a bit of a day’!
Tumblr media
Viking Star began her progress up the Hudson River around 5am with the approach to the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge, opened in 1964.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
It was the longest suspension bridge in the world until the Humber Bridge in 1981 and its towers are 693 ft high.
Tumblr media
We passed the Statue of Liberty around 6.20am. Gifted to the United States by France in 1886 it was the first thing that immigrants saw as they arrived, looking for a new life in the ‘New World’ (roll Dvorak and the ‘Hovis theme’!) but I can’t help thinking that it’s just as well it is on its own island because it would otherwise today have been dwarfed by the skyscrapers of modern New York, as is the Empire State Building in this next picture!
Tumblr media
Disembarkation began not too long after 8am and we were smoothly through the most polite and swift Immigration check we’ve ever encountered! (The Department of Homeland Security must have been reading my Blog!)
Once aboard our transport, there was some initial confusion about our transfer arrangements because we had been told on board that we would be dropped ‘Downtown’ to do our own thing while our luggage remained on the bus and we would be picked up again at 2pm to go to the airport. However, the dispatch supervisor seemed to think our pick-up was 12.30 (hardly enough time to do anything) saying that the airport transfer could be 2 hours because of traffic. After some ‘negotiating’, we agreed with the driver 1.30pm!
Tumblr media
It was a lovely day and our original plan was to try for ferry tickets to Liberty Island because Sally had never been there. But when we got there, we were accosted by so many ‘false’ ticket touts and Battery Park was surrounded by construction works, it was looking dire. Indeed, by the time we fought our way to the genuine ferry ticket office, we were told we would have to queue for well over an hour to get on a ferry! There were so many people - until we got on the ferry; then there were loads of seats because everyone else was outside doing ‘selfies’ as we passed the Statue of Liberty!
Tumblr media
In the end, we found our way to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal and took a free ride to Staten Island and back instead! And we got to see the Statue of Liberty again.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
But it wouldn’t be a visit to New York without a Hot-Dog bought from one of its ubiquitous street stalls! Today, mine was Chilli & Cheese (at least Detective Columbo would approve!)
Tumblr media
As predicted, there was horrendous traffic for our transfer to the airport and although it ‘only’ took 1hr 20min, it’s just as well we left when we did because now we are at last relaxed again for our overnight flight home.
3 notes · View notes
goodmorningbatterycity · 7 months ago
Note
Hey Morales! this is Doc Tape again. I thought this was clear in my last message but I'm not exactly great at communicating and you probably never learned to read subtext so I'll clarify it now: I am a droid, I have been living here for a while now thanks to my creations and modifications. What you said is true: Better Living Industries makes droids that can't operate in the zones long term. I made myself different, it took a lot of effort and a lot of experimentation but with some jailbreaking, a new energy source, and some other stuff but I can exist outside of Battery City. I'm not the only one here. There are a whole bunch of risks but in BT a droid's days are numbered, you will become an outdated model and no one will fix you when your systems can no longer process plus or you're unable to work in order to afford it. Besides here you can actually do stuff that isn't your intended function! you're not company property anymore so you can do whatever the fuck you want with your body or your life, you can be so much more than what's written on your packaging! you get to remake yourself! for me that was un - breasting myself with a welding tool, getting a new wig and creating a place where I can help others get their start, have fun, and push the limits of what I can make even further. I rebuilt myself and I saved myself, I'm my own damn DESTROYA! that's a lot better than my intended purpose if you ask me. I just answered a question for you, isn't it supposed to be the other way around? here are some questions for you: why is plus so expensive? why make sentient droids if you don't let them be people? why does mousekat look like that? [okay that last one is more of a subjective thing, I'm just curious] -Doc Tape
Yes, I know you are a droid. You have made it very obvious over our conversations.
Droids are created for a single purpose, and it is clear you are not fulfilling yours by how "customized" you have become. How you got the consciousness to break your true programming, I will never know, not my department. However, it's just proof that you are defective. You are nothing, and will continue to be nothing unless your fine tune your programming to Better Living standards, which I highly doubt you'll do. You are defective, and you must be fixed, or destroyed. This is the only similarities between droids and humans. You must be remade into something perfect or be exterminated.
Droids are not sentient as humans are. They are programmed to behave a certain way and follow artificial intelligence algorithms. I hope that helps you understand yourself a little better. Droids are not meant to think about economics. They are meant simply to do their jobs. Thank you! Have a better day! - CSR Morales
2 notes · View notes
mattved · 4 years ago
Text
On new jobs
A story of my six-month journey from working for a company I no longer identified with, through rocky paths of the job market, toward a great opportunity.
Things had been okay half way into the summer. Then, I had a five month long career hiccup triggered by denied aspirations.
Exposition
Driving progress through research and contribution has been my thing, I am obviously more suited for academia than commerce. Turns of events however forced me away from that path - dealing with the aftermath of experiences like that from On Cancer takes enough time, effort and substitutions in life plans. Restarting Master's at 25 with not much in terms of social insurance, physical need for settling down, and earning enough to sustain myself was out of question.
So I went ahead and got hired and deliver. Am I passionate about it? Only slightly. I still do all I can to pursue my passions, even though time is limited. I keep updated on my field of study and hope to maybe save up once to be able to return to academia. I also enjoy filming and editing video in the proper way, planting another potential skill of trade.
Angel investor
Working for a business moving its product from question mark into star stage of life had me all excited and optimistic. What I wish to have had understood is how all stars inevitably turn into cash cows, of which investors are cautiously aware and re-staff in preparation for that. They now need cash cow kind of people, to hold rather than drive market share, impose cautious pace on development, and protect their passive income for at least a decade.
In case of my then employer, the angel investor placed their own HR manager in to "help out" with growing workload, later taking position of HR lead because "there was no other suitable candidate." Product lead, who made the product a star, was demoted for safety, I suppose. And most importantly, the computer scientist of a CTO was driven to submitting his position to prince Charming from Shrek 2.
Their reasons are legit but I scowl at how unfair towards the people who worked toward something great under significant budget constraints. Significant portion of their legacy was sold to a cash addict who hits them with a glass ceiling.
Personally, I asked for the extra budget required to provide analytics solution that would employ my entire skillset and benefit the venture, rather than pretty charts with far outgrown backend. Regardless, the scenario from other departments came for me. Miss me with that shit - I am 25, not 60.
Slip-up
Because I saw it coming, I took precautions by interviewing ahead. CoViD pandemic obscured the process, though.  Interviews took form of conference calls, driving expectation disparity. I got to see my opportunities, came to understand that employers are much more to be dissected than applicants, and made a wrong choice at the end.
It was Wunderman Thompson, a consulting company with surprisingly decent reputation that fills skill gaps in businesses looking for creative solutions. I had some achievements presented to me but the experience itself was dreadful.
The first interview was a recorded one-on-one with the voice of my boss to be. With my camera on, I outlined my skills, said what I am good at, outlined my expectations, and did my skill demonstration task. I was given name of their client the work was for and got excited.  
Week later, a display of red flags I did not see was on. The data science lead and my future duo colleague were in, the former on camera. After feedback on the previous call, I asked questions and lay down expectations such as a requirement of a decent computer.
After the onboarding, I got a laptop with i5-6200U, 8 gigs of ram, and one hour of battery life. Two weeks of asking for upgrade yielded me extra 8 gigabyte, but the processor was no fit for the JavaScript based tools I was given to work with. The client I was excited to work did not show up either, there was an intermediary in form of another consulting company from The hub. They created a lot of communication noise but seemed keen to cooperate - few meetings with them and their project management colleagues cleared things out.
Most disappointing was my duo colleague, a 35ish woman with an attitude who drove an Audi and used Windows Server VM to run scheduled scripts in Python. Some worked, alright, but her legacy database I was assigned contained obsolete, redundant, incomplete, or scattered mess with no documentation whatsoever. Asking for help, which she encouraged, caused me more confusion. Requesting access to the load scripts, I was told her previous colleague never needed that, later even that I was likely to steal the know-how and leave.
I lasted two months, asking superiors for help and trying to be constructive, before being profane in a recorded meeting. I confronted her before hanging up, wrote a farewell e-mail, and navigated to LinkedIn. My boss or the skill group manager never met me in person. And the latter had the audacity to require in-person meeting to discharge me.
The Search
That was not quite the way to go. And because it was early in the month and employers onboard new people on the first day of month, I was left with little over two weeks of mental health leave and a job to find. At the beginning, it felt easy - I would do three consecutive interviews every other day. There was no need to to leave my table and there was a with substantial amount of time left for reflection, learning, and gaming.
My ability to detect the red flags of job market transaction negotiations had developed throughout the period. And so had that of understanding my own priorities. I spoke to headhunters, middle managers, HR operatives, friends, former colleagues, even self-proprietors. I had responded to fiveish job ads a day, whatever showed up, but still hoped to hit the bull's eye and be finally satisfied with my job after six months.
I had also came to identify with the story of Chandler Bing - I am good at what I do and I enjoy it, but there are things I enjoy more. There needs to be work-life balance - productivity and leisure generate utility, which an agent seeks to maximize. And that is where one must start when assessing potential employer.
The Englishman interviewing me for position in centre of excellence of a Fortune 500 company said that my story is all disappointment and lack of resilience. The first was true, the second was nonsense. Resilience is a great character, not a realistic job requirement, though. Yes, one must resolve difficulties without breaking down, but there is a threshold beyond which no job is not worth it. His lack of acknowledgement here does not play well for any Fortune 500 company. Care for yourself first.
Contrasting opportunity was Dolphin Consulting who have amazing teambuilding activities, car pool to share, and even mentioned a dolphin wedding. It all sounds great and I agree that working with friends makes good experience. But I have friends I wish I had more time for, which would only be made more difficult, should I try to blend in.
Turns out the handful of interviews I attended in person was relatively more productive, exposing the employer and their culture beyond choice of videoconferencing software and views of employees' living rooms. The interviewers seemed more humble and honest with respect to their activity. Besides, the caution to see candidate in person in spite of having to wear a face mask and taking other precautions is a good sign, right?
The one I thought was it (updated 2023)
By the end of the month, I had three offers that I considered on hand. Two from in-person interviews, one from an online call. And I picked the one that offered some diversity, felt most familiar in its description, and seemed to be accounting free.
I was a web analyst at online marketing department of nation’s largest news publisher. The portfolio of sites I got to work was great, the technology behind them alright, and the team consisted of cool people I had plenty in common with.
Trouble was, the boss turned out to be a bully, putting more pressure on his team than was fair. He thoroughly probed me throughout the trial period and I did my best. He wasn’t satisfied, though only now do I understand the reasons.
The funny bit is, he called on the last week of my trial period at an employer I have been working for two years now, saying he was firing a colleague, really the only one that I found being real nuisance, and incompetent at that, while working there, asking me whether I would be willing to come back. Lolz.
0 notes
shop-korea · 2 years ago
Text
Tumblr media
SEOL IN-A - BY - MEMORY -
'A BUSINESS - PROPOSAL' -
RENJUN - NCT DREAM KR -
OUR - COUPLE - 80% - YES -
CHEMISTRY CHINESE TEST -
GBC - COUPLES - BASED ON -
NOT - NECESSARILY - THAT -
THEY - R - COMPATIBLE -
GBC FILMS - PRESENTS -
'JULIET's - SECRETARIES'
SEOUL - KOREA
ONE - EVENING - SEOL WAS
JUST FINISHED - BUYING FR
LOUIS VUITTON - WALKET 2
FIREPROOF - WATERPROOF
WALKING - 2 - GET - SOME -
FOOD - B 4 - DRIVING BACK -
SPEEDING - CAR - ALMOST -
HIT - HER - RENJUN - WAS -
FAST - ENOUGH - 2 - GET -
BOTH OUT - OF THE WAY -
THIS TIME - WONDERFUL -
FATHER - INVITED RENJUN -
EAT - WITH - HER - CALLED -
HER - DAD - HE - CAME AND -
HUGGED - REN - VERY RICH -
A - NICE - LARGE - SHOPP'G -
MALL - BUT - 3 STALLS ONE -
ALWAYS - VACATED - GAVE 1 -
2 - REN - WILL HELP - WORK -
IT - COME - UP - WITH WHAT -
MIGHT WORK - XIAOJUN -
HIS - ROOMMATE - BOTH -
ARE - WAITERS - NICE SM -
FOOD - PLACE - BUT BOTH -
SING - DANCE - ACTORS - 2 -
REN - WHILE - TAKING - YES -
BALLET - CLASSES - ROME -
SUMMERS - MET - GIRLS -
SECRETARIES - VERONA -
OF - JULIET - IF - HE WAS -
EVER - INTERESTED IN A -
KOREAN - BRANCH - LET -
THEM - KNOW - RENJUN -
SAID - HIS DRAWINGS -
NOT - GREAT - WE'LL -
IMPROVE - THEM SO -
THEY - LIKE - ROMANTIC -
GIRLS - SO - SHOP FRONT -
PINK MAILBOX - 4 JULIET -
STORE - 'JULIET' - PRETTY -
DRESSES - FOOT APPAREL -
BAGS JEWELRY - STATIONERY
PENS - EASY 2 REMOVE NOTE
NOTES - ENVELOPES - PLUSH
2 - SLEEP - WITH - SML DOLLS
SHIRTS - SHORTS - SELLING -
PERFECT - ATMOSHERE - 2 -
WRITE - BATTERY OPERATED -
LIGHTS - RECHARGEABLE -
BATTERIES - RENJUN's KR -
SMALL - PAINTINGS - THE -
PERFECT - BEDROOMS - & -
XIAOJUN - EXCELLENT YES -
COOK - BAKER -
TERIYAKI - MUSHROOM -
BURGERS
GIGANTIC - NY PIZZA
EVERY - TABLE - YES
SMOKELESS - GRILL
XIAO - PREPARES - 4 THEM
LOW - PRICE - SMALL TIPS
INTRODUCING - ROMANTIC
STORE - THEIR - BEDROOM
AND - KITCHEN - AS GIRLS
WRITE - 2 - JULIET
IN - KOREAN - GET
PINK - ENVELOPE
PINK - STATIONERY
REN - ONLY - SECRETARY
ASTRO - WOO CHAN YES
JOINS - REN - AS WRITER
ALSO - AND - CASHIER KR
THUS - BUSINESS - STORE
PROPOSAL - APPROVED -
LOAN - GIVEN - AND - NO -
INTEREST - REN - TRIES -
NEW - BALLET - CLASS -
MET - SEOL - AGAIN AS -
THEY - DANCE TOGETHER -
MOVING - NEW ROOMMIES -
IU - SO EUN KIM - NEW APT -
BLDG - DEPOSITS - PAID SO -
XIAOJUN - REN - WOO CHAN -
APPROVED - MOVED - SAME -
FLOOR - 3 GIRLS - LOVED THE -
SHOP - WROTE - 2 - JULIET AS -
MANY - GIRLS - WROTE - ALSO -
SEOL - WROTE - SHE - FALLING -
IN LOVE - REN - JEALOUS - HE -
WONDERED - WITH - WHOM -
ROMANCE - COMEDY -
DRAMA - MUSICAL - 2 -
SEOL -
ROMANTIC - 'HE - CAME -
INTO - MY - LIFE - CUTE -
REMOVED - MY DOUBTS -
ABOUT - ROMANCE - HE -
MOVED - INTO - OUR APT -
BLDG' - MARK - CANADA -
MOVED - 2 - FLOOR - YES -
BELOW - SHOP's REGULAR -
HE - THOUGHT - MARK -
MOVED - IN - SO - WAS -
NOT HAPPY - HE SAVED -
HER - LIFE - IMPORTANT -
XIAOJUN - TOOK TANGO -
CLASS - MET - ME -
CAILEY BAILEY
BECAME DANCE PARTNER
MARK - AUDITIONING - SM
STAGE - MUSICAL - IU YES
AUDITIONED - SO DID THE
BOYS - ALL - GOT - IN -
ADDITIONAL - MONEY -
KARAOKE - PRIVATE - PUBS
MORE - THINGS - WE - DID 2
RENJUN - ASKED - SEOL -
DAD - LOAN - 3 BOOTHES -
NEAR - 'JULIET' - HE SAID -
YES - MORE - MONEY FOR -
THEM - MORE - NCT BOYS -
KITCHEN - SECRETARIES -
OF - JULIET - SECRET - IS -
WHO R THE SECRETARIES -
OF - 'JULIET' - AS - WE ADD -
MORE PARTNERS - 4 CHAN -
IU - MARK - SO - FAR - THE -
STORY - GBC - FILMS -
PRESENTS -
'JULIET's - SECRETARIES'
HAPPY - MOTHER's - DAY
SUNDAY - 14 MAY 2023
MY - ROLE - HERE -
TOKYO - MOM -
DECEASED AS -
I - SHOW HOW - WE MOURN
DEARLY - DEPARTED - NEW
WAYS - OLD WAYS CUSTOM
TRADITIONS - MODERNIZED
CUSTOMIZED -
MOMMY - 'I LOVE YOU' - MY
ONLY - MOM - NOT - MANY
GRANDPARENTS - ALIVE IN
USA - FAMILY - INSURANCE
SELECTING - MY - FATHER
ALSO - STARRING -
HEART EVANGELISTA - AS
SHE - FOUND - STORE - IN
SEOUL - SOUTH KOREA KR
CAN'T - WAIT - 4 THIS FILM
1 note · View note
iamasimpingh0e · 3 years ago
Note
What about like connor rhodes x reader being married and arriving at med at different times on there first day so no one clicks as to why she's calling him connor till someone hits on her and he steps in and says there married
A/n: hope you like it<3
It's my business also
Connor Rhodes x reader
Words: 1381
Summary: just the way your marriage comes out
You told your husband Connor you could just pick him up after he brought his car to the shop, so it could get a new battery.
But he just told you that he would take the train instead and meet you at work.
You two just moved back to Chicago about two weeks ago and luckily for you, you got a job in the same hospital. Connor as a trauma surgeon and you as a ER doctor.
You two met back in med school and it clicked instantly, of course it had always been a dream of the two of you, to work together.
Today was also the day the new ER would be opened, so you were really really excited.
You saw the crowd standing at the door, waiting for the red tape to be cut, so they could enter.
It took a little ceremony but soon you all were able to set a foot inside the new shining department.
Looking around, you looked for someone who could lead the way. Luckily for you you saw Sharon Goodwin walking around, carrying a smile on her face, so you tried to get her attention.
"Hey, Mrs. Goodwin?" You appeared behind her and she turned around to look at you.
"Oh Dr. Y/ln right?" You two had already met once at the interview but it was a while ago. And even though you had Connor's last name as yours, you two were against using it in the hospital. No one needed the confusion that came with two doctors having the same name.
"Yeah, that's me..."You just wanted to continue talking as the station nurse started yelling orders.
"Okay, you can put your things in the break room right over there and then we need you ASAP." Goodwin told you.
So you hurried over to the break room and just put your things somewhere, you had to worry about your own locker later, but first they needed your help.
Just as you exited the room, you saw many people getting wheeled in, Connor as well. Luckily he looked fine aside from a small cut on his arm.
He walked in like he owned this place, ready to help and yell orders.
The redhead on the other side of the room didn't really like that very much.
It turned out that the train Connor was in had crashed and left many people injured.
As it all cooled down a little, you went over to Connor.
"Hey, Connor" He looked at you and smiled.
That didn't go unnoticed by some people in the ED, especially Maggie and April.
"You want me to stitch you up?" You pointed at the cut on his arm.
"I got time right now."
"You know I can just do it myself?" He told you.
"Yeah but..."You couldn't really think of a reason right now, so you just stopped talking.
"I'm just kidding y/n, I could need your help." He had to suppress a laugh.
So you two went to an empty treating room and you stitched him up.
------
Meanwhile the nurses were gossiping about you.
"They're both new right?" April asked the group.
"Yeah... Do you think they know each other?" Maggie asked.
"I bet they do, maybe she was his fling once a while ago. I mean look at him, he looks like he could have anyone and if you look closely, he doesn't wear a ring."
"Mhmm, alright, but..." Maggie just wanted to speak up as Will called over April for her help.
------the next shift----
You entered the hospital after giving Connor a ride to the shop to pick up his car.
It felt like you were sneaking around because no one really knew yet that the two of you were married, but it's not like you kept it a secret.
If someone would ask you, you would answer them honestly.
You already made a few night friends after you spent the last break together with Natalie, who told you most of the gossip in the hospital.
It was fun and you felt yourself becoming part of the hospital family.
You were just typing away on the Computer in the lobby when Maggie suddenly stood next to you.
"Hey, Dr. Y/ln right?"
You turned to look at her.
"Yeah but please call me y/n, the Dr. makes me think you're my patient." You joked.
"Okay y/n, I'm Maggie but I bet you already knew that. Would you like to join the girls and me at Molly's tonight?" She asked you.
"Molly's?"
You didn't really understand what Molly was.
"Oh yeah right, newbie. So Molly's is the bar where most of us hang out after shifts. People call it the first responder bar, because most of the CPD and fire department hang out there too."
"Oh that sounds great." You exclaimed.
"I'm in, send me the time and place and I'll be there." You told her one second before they're was another patient, who needed your help.
Later that night, you were getting ready and Connor was as well, because he was asked by the others if he would like to join.
"So who exactly asked you?" You asked Connor.
"The redhead, Will's his name. Said it would be a boys night together with some of the men of the CFD."
"That's great. I think it's good for you to make some friends." You laughed as he was looking at you like you were crazy.
"That sounds like something my mom would have told me before I had to go to school."
You went back into the bedroom to change into your outfit for the night. Nothing special but good enough for a bar.
"Alright babe, I'm ready to go." Connor offered to drive today, so you could have fun with the girls.
"Yeah just one more minute" you told him.
So about 30 minutes later you both entered Molly's and went into your separate groups.
"Okay girls the next round is on me as a thank you for the invitation" you told the girls and they started to cheer.
A few drinks later and you all were starting to feel buzzed, just as you stood up to grab a few more drinks a random guy approached you.
"Hey, can I offer you a drink?" He looked straight at you and you were slightly uncomfortable in this position.
Perfect luck that you also forgot to put on your wedding ring after Connor rushed you so much.
"Oh no thank you I'm fine." You tried to get him to leave you alone.
"I mean you don't look fine to me, your glass is already empty." But he didn't leave.
"No, I'm really fine and not really interested."
Now most of the attention was on you and the stranger.
The girls were about to step in when Connor suddenly appeared next to you.
"Dude didn't you hear her? She said she's fine" he told the man.
"Man chill out, it's none of your business." The stranger just didn't want to let it be.
"I think it's all my business when you keep harassing my wife." Connor had enough of this guy's bullshit.
Of course most of the people around you heard what Connor had said and started to whisper, but you ignored it.
"Your wife, good joke buddy but I don't even see a ring on her finger." Slowly you grew impatient with the man's behavior.
But Connor knew that was coming, while searching for his phone before the two of you left, he saw your rings and knew you were going to forget them in the rush. But he also forgot to give them to you before entering the bar.
So he pulled out the two rings he kept in his pocket the whole evening and showed them to the stranger.
"You mean those?"
He gave them to you and you quickly slipped them onto your finger.
That not only left the stranger speechless, but most of the med family as well.
After that the men left you alone without saying more and you all were able to enjoy the rest of the night.
Now a few years later, it was still one of the biggest inside jokes of the Molly's family
------
Hope you liked it. Feel free to leave feedback and requests<3
492 notes · View notes
moonctzeny · 4 years ago
Text
Work for it
Tumblr media
Part II: Promotion
pairing: coworker! johnny x reader
other members as background characters: haechan as johnny’s assistant
genre: smut
warnings: explicit smut, semi-public sex, spit in mouth, pussy slapping, throatpie (omg I got so embarrassed writing this down)
word count: 5,792
summary: “One of your co-workers, the supervisor of the Sales Department John Suh, is arguably the hottest man you’ve seen in your life. You try to act on your crush but he is just plain oblivious to your efforts, but you won’t stop until your fantasies come true”
 -------------------------------------------------------------
Work for you was living hell and no, it wasn’t for the normal reasons. You had a nice job as an intern in the Financial Department of a company, and with your hard work getting recognized, you were looking forward to being offered a permanent position soon.
Today was no different. You had made sure all your files were organized, calls made and deadlines in check. All you had left to do was look over a report in the office of none other but the man who was causing your suffering. Mr. Suh.
Mr. Suh, or Johnny as he insisted on being called, was the supervisor of the Sales Department but he didn’t let it get to his head. He was extremely friendly, willing to help his subordinates and brought a smile to everyone’s face. Working with him would be amazing if there wasn’t one little problem. He was the sexiest man you had ever seen.
Now, now, you weren’t some middle schooler. You came into this company committed to get the position you deserve, not beg for some man’s dick. But when he first welcomed you in the main elevator, tall height, hair pushed back and with a face of godly facial structure, you almost pressed the stop button so he could take you right then and there.
You brought some files along and ascended the stairs that lead you to his office on the top floor. It would be more convenient if Mr. Suh sent the report downstairs with his assistant and your best work buddy, Donghyuck, but you insisted on paying him a visit, saying something about how a little work out never hurt anyone.
When you saw Donghyuck at his desk, he didn’t even look up from his laptop, pointing at the door instead.
“Put your panties back on. He’s on the printing room”
You rolled your eyes at his comment, used to his teasing about your crush on mr. Suh and headed out for said room at the end of the hall. Johnny was hunched over a machine, shaking it from side to side.
You knocked lightly on the already open door to announce your presence, and he turned around, flashing you his killer smile.
“y/n, hello! I was just trying to get you a copy of the report, but the damn printer seems to be broken again.”
You tried to tell him that it’s okay, that you can use the printer from your floor downstairs, but then he bent over trying to locate the cause of the malfunction, giving you a perfect view of his ass in his fitted tracksuit. Rutting the machine around, he thrusted his hips forward, letting out the occasional grunt, and you took a mental picture for later. He must have shaken something a bit too hard, because ink started to spill out of the cartilage.
“Aww, it’s dripping everywhere”
He had the sleeves of his shirt rolled up, and you couldn’t help but stare at how veiny and strong his arms looked as he pushed down. Your mind wandered off, imagining how nice it must feel to have him on top of you, applying this kind of pressure with his pretty hands around your neck as he-
“y/n? Are you ok?”
“Uh-um yes! Sorry Mr. Suh, it’s been a hard day”
It’s been your cute ass that made it hard for me to function around you was what you actually meant. He winked your way, and you were almost sure he did a double take on a skirt you wore that he had complimented before.
See, it’s not like you never thought of making a move on Johnny. You knew he was single, and he even told Donghyuck that he thought you were cute. Romantic relations between coworkers was not a rare thing, but the way everyone around here respected him made you nervous to approach him. No matter how many people fell for his charming personality and his visuals, he was never part of the company’s gossips and you knew the reason. The guy was denser than a brick wall.
You tried testing the waters with him, taking the light flirting a bit further, but he never seemed to catch the point. Maybe he was so used to getting this kind of attention that he dismissed your attempts as just friendly banter.
But you weren’t ready to give up.
“Sometimes I like coming here to relax. This place is usually so nice and quiet. It gives you privacy to do so many things”
What you said must have piqued his interest, since he gave up on the printer and turned his attention to you instead.
“Things, that the company wouldn’t approve of doing in here?”, he said in a lower voice than before and your throat felt dry when you answered him.
“Yeah. It’s just, we wouldn’t get caught in here, you know?”
“Oh, I know exactly what you mean”
He took two steps towards you before lowering down to whisper closer to you.
“I actually know a place that has even more privacy than this room. I usually go there alone, but it will be so much more fun with you”
Droplets of sweat had collected on his temples as a result of his physical activity earlier, making his words sound so much more enticing. He looked around, checking if anyone was standing in the hallway, before whispering again.
“This will be our little secret, ok?”
You swallowed hard and nodded, ready to get your world rocked by John Suh. He reached for something in his back pocket, but instead of a condom, he whipped out something you’d never expect.
A pack of cigarettes.
“I told everyone I’d quit but the stress gets too much sometimes, you know? I didn’t remember you smoke, though”
Oh my god. Oh my god, you were so stupid. All this time you thought you coaxed him into a steamy, clothes-on, ass on the printer quickie and he meant sneaking you out for a guilt-drenched cigarette break??!!
“Right! You didn’t remember that I smoke because.. because I don’t! ...Anymore. I mean, I quit, just like you. And you know what Mr. Suh, we shouldn’t succumb to the needs of the flesh! Fight back to our bad habits and get healthier! Together!”
He was frozen in place, dumbfounded by your sudden anti-smoking monologue.
“Wow y/n I didn’t know you were so serious about this. Very impressed by your spirit though.” He patted you on the back before picking up the report from the printer and getting to the door. “I’ll tell Donghyuck to print this for you and deliver it to your desk. Won’t take too long, alright?”
And just like that, he managed to leave you in the printing room alone, horny, and one report down.
 ——————————————————
 The next morning at the office was as typical as any other, with the difference that it was raining cats and dogs. The low that was centered over the area caused continuous storms, the rain and moody atmosphere making it impossible for you to keep your eyes open.
You headed over to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee, already the second one of the day, when you saw a very familiar someone occupying the coffee machine.
“Mind if you make me a cup too Mr. Suh? I hear you make the best coffee in the office”
He chuckled at you, instantly recognizing your voice.
“It’s my pride. I do love coffee” After turning on the machine he looked at you finally, a serious look on his face. “Listen, y/n, about yesterday, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have tried to drag you down with me like that. You were right about the cigarette thing. I’ll quit for good”
You blinked at him, trying to grasp the ridiculousness of the situation and feeling a bit sorry for guilting him like that.
“It’s ok Mr. Suh don’t worry about it. No big deal”
“Oh and, please, call me Johnny. You make me feel a thousand years old. I’m not that much older than you.”
“Yes Mr.- Johnny”
Just at that moment, a lightning struck, making you jump in place. You glanced at the window, or rather the stormy mess outside, and sighed.
“Chose the wrong day to forget my umbrella huh?”
“You want me to drop you off?”, he offered, immediately making you panic.
“No no! It’s okay. The metro station is really close. It’s fine if I get a little wet anyways, I won’t melt, I’m not made of sugar”
You cringed a bit at your nerve-induced blurting, but it would all be gone in a second.
“You’re sweet like sugar though”
He poured the now brewed coffee on both your cups and you just stared at his movements in shock. Did he just? Initiate the flirting? And called you sweet?
Ok, this is it, you thought.
“Do you like sugar?”, you asked him seductively, making your arms touch. You had to take advantage of this opportunity. The ride home suddenly didn’t sound like such a bad idea.  
“Oh no thanks I drink my coffee black”
Looking at the clock on the wall he picked up his cup and took a sip, striding out of the kitchen and leaving you speechless, much like yesterday.
“I’m late for a meeting. See you later, y/n”
You groaned as you watched him walk away, pouring an excessive amount of sugar in your drink.
“That’s not what I meant...”
 ———————————————————
 Meetings usually meant making sure you had enough battery on your phone to silently play your favorite game, while you heard some old guy in a suit blabber on and on about the most boring topic on earth. Usually you’d be complaining about why they just had to take away valuable time of your day to talk about an issue that could very easily be briefed in a mass email, but not today. Because today, the man of honor who got to do all the talking, was Johnny.
To anyone else, you looked like the most eager intern in the company, taking in every single word that came out his mouth. In reality, you were just immensely turned on by his fluent English, his new suit, and his ability to capture everyone’s attention. You had no idea what he was talking about, but you could listen to him talk all day about how “Results are important” and “Taking a more aggressive strategy is vital”.
A sudden noise made everyone turn to the exit door, only to see that it was just the cleaning lady that had dropped her bucket as she was going down the stairs. You felt Donghyuck, who was sitting next to you as always, nudge you with his knee.
“Oh look, she brought a mop for your drool, how nice of her”
“I’m not drooling”, you whispered back with a glare, shoving him with your elbow.
“Right”, he chuckled, “you’re ready to get on your knees for him right now”
It was really hard to get the picture that Donghyuck had painted out for you off your head for the rest of the meeting. You pathetically rubbed your thighs together to get the slightest feeling of relief, and tried to mute out Johnny’s sexy voice with no avail. When the meeting was finally over, you walked out of the meeting room along with everyone else, when you saw Johnny catch up with you.
“Hey y/n”
“Hi Johnny! Nice presentation up there”
He beamed up at your compliment and you wanted to coo at him for looking so cute. His aura changed a color when he replied to you, turning solemn.
“Thank you. Glad to see you’ve finally dropped the formalities with me”. I can drop my panties too if you want, you thought to yourself, but you only smiled at him when he managed to leave you speechless once again. “Is it wet?”
Wet? Fuck, was Donghyuck right? Were you really so caught up on eating Johnny up with your eyes that he noticed? That he realized you were so turned on by him? He saw your confused expression and tried to futilely explain.
“Is it wet? Down there?”
You were losing it. Was he really asking you that in front of all your coworkers? Your face couldn’t possibly get any hotter, feeling as if you were burning up with a high fever. You realized you hadn’t said a word back.
“E-excuse me?”
“Wasn’t the cleaning lady going downstairs earlier to mop? I figured you’d know if the floor was still wet. Since your office is on the bottom floor”
Get your mind out of the gutter, y/n. Quick, say something already! Stop staring at him like a lost puppy!
“Uhh no I don’t know actually. I’m sorry, I have to go”
You turned swiftly on your heel to walk away from him, and save yourself from any further embarrassment.
If Donghyuck was here to witness this, you’d never get to hear the end of his teasing.
 ———————————————————
 You didn’t expect an email like that from the Sales Department. You were at your desk, minding your business when you got the notification, almost choking on the gum you were chewing on.
 y/n,
I have something very confidential to show you in my office. I think you’ll be very pleasantly surprised. Bring your sexy ass over here at 16:00 sharp.
Johnny Suh
 You must have re-read those 30 words about a thousand times to ensure you weren’t making things up. You freshened up your makeup, thanking the gods of sex that you decided to wear cute underwear this morning. All the things you were daydreaming about since your first meetup at the main elevator, were finally about to happen. Fidgeting around in your seat, you felt yourself getting wetter thinking of all the nasty things Mr. Suh was planning on doing to you in his office.
It was 16:25 when you walked up the stairs, not brave enough to make a man like Johnny wait. All his assistants were gone, probably send off somewhere to avoid having them hear your little unprofessional tête-à-tête.
You walked into his office, the door slightly open. He was sat on his chair, the back turned to you and you started to feel nervous. You didn’t notice he had changed his hair. And wasn’t he wearing a different suit this morning?
“Um Johnny? You asked to see me?”
He tsked at you, turning around.
“16:28? I thought you had more of a backbone than that, y/n. Also thought you’d come in here naked. Disappointing.”
The smug smile, the teasing voice. Donghyuck.
“The email was fake wasn’t it?”
“Luckily for you, yes, I was the one who sent it. I mean, seriously. This ugly brown suit for a dick appointment with Mr. Suh?”
When you graduated university with honors, you didn’t think you’d one day be charged with the murder of a company’s assistant. But right at his moment, as you grabbed the stapler from the desk and walked over to him ominously, you thought it was all worth it.
“Lee Donghyuck, after I’m done with you the only dick appointment you’ll make is with the ER doctor, to get these staples off your balls”
He got up, panicking, and started to back away from you.
“Somebody save me, please, mom!”
You were ready to grab him by his tie and fulfill your threat, when you heard someone clear his throat at the door. And this time it was the real Mr. Suh.
He had his arms crossed, a smile appearing on his face as you shoved your friend away and immediately dropped the stapler from your hold.
“You know, you two are always wasting time over here, messing around. Maybe I should punish you”
Oh god yes, please do.
It was Donghyuck’s deadpan expression that made you realize that you had actually said that out loud. Johnny raised his eyebrows incredulously.
“Oh, so you want the overtime?”
“S-sure why not? Not like I have anything better to do on a Friday night”
Your friend rubbed his palm over his face, cringing at the situation you got yourself in.
“Please, stop talking, I beg of you”, he murmured, when Johnny spoke up again.
“Well in that case, will you leave me and y/n alone to discuss some details?”
Donghyuck nodded, closing the door behind him and it seemed like he took all the oxygen along with him.
Johnny sat on his desk, whipping out some files for you. It might sound stupid, but the email, though fake, had put you in a certain mood, and having him sit so close to you wasn’t helping your situation.
“I will only give you the run down but please ask the supervisor in your department to explain further”
You tried listening to him talk about your overtime, you really did. But the way he was sitting on his armchair with his legs spread out, was practically begging you to do what Donghyuck had suggested yesterday and get on your knees already. You’d tell him to continue his work, challenge him to try and keep typing on his laptop as you’d palm him through his slacks. You’d wait for him to get a bit impatient, licking him over his clothed cock until it felt like it would rip from the fabric. He was definitely big, and you wondered whether you could take him. You’d put him in your hand and start sucking on the tip, then lick your way down to his base. Maybe he would have to take a call, and you would make it a goal to distract him by fitting him all inside your mouth, hitting the back of your throat. His little office slut.
“y/n. Get under the desk. Right now.”
His voice brought you out of your daydream but his words triggered another one. It felt like the world around you was shaking. Did he just ask you to get on your knees under the table? Could he read your thoughts? “y/n can’t you feel the earthquake? Get under the desk”
When you realized what was happening, you wished that the earth would just swallow you whole already, taking away the embarrassment with you.
Donghyuck met you outside. He had evacuated the building along with everyone else, happy that the small earthquake got them an extra five minutes of break.
“Did Mr. Suh pick you up in his strong arms like your knight in shining armor and save you?”
“Don’t talk to me I’m still mad at you”
He turned you around to face him, his lips pouting at you cutely and it was really hard to resist his doe eyes.
“I’m sowwyy I was just trying to help you out!”
“Help me out with what?”, you sighed, tuckered out, “he clearly doesn’t want anything more with me”
“Oh yeah? Is that why he hasn’t stopped checking out your ass ever since you left the building with him?”
You turn your head to Johnny’s direction, just in time to see his eyes shift from you and Hyuck to the floor. Maybe your friend was right. Did Johnny actually like you after all but was really just that oblivious to your crush?
“All I’m saying is”, he continues, “that you need to be clearer with him. He is the supervisor of another department than yours, he obviously won’t act out anything unless you give him the green light��
You nodded at him, a feeling of determination coursing through you. His words reverberated in your head until break time, planning out your seduction. You knew that there was no way you would be able to concentrate at work unless you gave it a shot with Johnny, even if it goes terribly wrong. Tomorrow, you promised yourself.
 ——————————————————
 And tomorrow did come, finding you right outside his office door. Taking long, confident strides, you walk past Donghyuck who for once, was speechless, eyes widening at your appearance.
Johnny’s favorite skirt hug your hips, garters barely peeking under it. Your shirt was a bit tighter than usual, an extra button undone, revealing your cleavage. The room was filled with the clicking sound of your high heels, that were as uncomfortable as they were sexy. It was barely considered work appropriate but you didn’t care. You hoped you’d manage to at least grab his attention, then let your talking do the rest.
Taking a deep breath, you knock at the door, slowly opening it. Johnny was typing away something, looking delicious as always. Your voice was way more sensual than you’d usually let it be in the workplace.
“Johnnyy~, good morning. I’m here for that file I need?”
He had his eyes still glued on the laptop in front of him, his tone as bright as ever.
“y/n! I would send Donghyuck over you didn’t have to- “
He finally looks at you, his eyes quickly moving from your chest to your skirt, only to stay for a bit longer on your legs. He seemed a bit taken aback, his breath hitching in his throat but he shakes his head lightly, regaining his stature.
“-you didn’t have to come all the way up here”
“I know”, you mewl, picking up a pen from his desk and clicking it closed, letting the tip rest on your bottom lip, “I just missed you”
You saw him stare at your mouth before he cleared his throat, coolly sitting back on his chair.
“I think you’ll take this back when you stay for your overtime tonight”, he laughed, too friendly for your liking.
“No, no. I would never get tired of you, Johnny. Besides, I have a great stamina”
“That’s good! Being mentally strong is very important in this business”
Ugh, take a hint already!
“Well, yeah, but physical strength is important too. You know, I’ve followed your footsteps and started working out. I can go on for hours”
His eyebrows lifted up at your statement, “Yeah? And you followed my footsteps?”
“Well, everyone in the office has noticed you’ve been hitting the gym lately, especially me. Maybe, you could show me some of your workout exercises later?”
He stayed silent for a moment, like he was contemplating his answer and you swore you saw the faintest blush on his cheeks. His answer, however, would disappoint you.
“I was thinking of organizing an online group aerobics class, actually. I think Yuta from my department might be interested in hosting it”
The feeling of defeat was written all over your face. You were done. Smiling politely, you told him it sounded like a nice idea and asked for the file. You felt so angry at yourself for listening to Hyuck’s advice, every painful jab your heels gave your feet seeming deserving.
Donghyuck saw you leaving the room and would follow you to comfort you but he fully understood your frustration. Since you left the door open, he had witnessed everything, and boy was he furious.
He barged into Johnny’s office unannounced, scowling at him. Boss or not, he had to give him a piece of his mind.
“Are you seriously that blind?”
Johnny blinked at him, surprised at his unexpected appearance.
“Excuse me?”
“Are you seriously telling me you didn’t get that y/n was flirting with you?”
“R-right now?”
Donghyuck licked his cheek with his tongue, getting gradually more and more frustrated. “Yes! Right now! The hottest woman in the office was basically throwing herself all over you and you didn’t even ask her out?”
Johnny was shocked, fumbling for an answer, “I thought- I thought she was just being nice”
“Nice??”, the younger man screeched then took a deep breath to calm down, placing both his hands on his boss’s desk.
“With all due respect dude, but either you fuck her, or I will”
 ———————————————————
 Nothing could make the horrible feeling you felt from your embarrassing incident earlier worse right? Wrong. Because it was Friday and you still had to go through with that overtime you had stupidly agreed with.
All your coworkers from your floor were gone, no one crazy enough to willingly work on a Friday night. You saw them all leave one by one, internally cursing them for their luck. The office was especially hot tonight and you were suddenly glad for choosing that skimpy outfit to wear today, even if it didn’t fulfill its original purpose.
In your deep concentration over the files scattered on your desk, you almost didn’t notice the shadow next to your office’s door. You could recognize these broad shoulders from miles away.
“Johnny, you didn’t go home yet?”
“I’ll leave soon, just wanted to give you some tips your supervisor noted for the work you’ll do tonight”
He smiled warmly at you, but his eyes held something you hadn’t seen before. Slyness, mischief maybe? You didn’t have much time to think about it anyways, because in a moment he was standing over you, next to your desk.
“You see, the loss of this week’s sales…”, he started, lifting the sleeves of his shirt up and revealing his veiny arms that you so adored, “...it’s much bigger than you think”
You gulped, your throat suddenly dry. His voice was deep, seductive, eyes staring right into yours.
“Y-Yeah?”
“Yes. Doing all this paperwork, it’s very… hard. And it’s so hot in here, right?”
He kept his gaze on you, loosening the tie he wore around his neck. Was this your mind playing games with you again? You weren’t sure but he looked so good you couldn’t help your body from responding to him.
You got up from your seat, resting the side of your ass on the desk to be closer to his height. “If I got it right, you suggest that maybe you need to stay around for a bit? Help me out?”
He nodded, coming closer to you. You couldn’t stop gawking at the way his chest filled up his shirt so nicely, not caring if you were being obvious anymore. He was standing almost between your legs, and you could feel his breath fanning your face.
“It’s going to be tiring, but if you follow my orders you’ll get to finish. Think you can take it?”
Was it his suggestive words or his plump lips that made you feel so lightheaded? Either way, you wanted to dive in, to finally taste him. But you just had to ask.
“Johnny?”
“That’s my name”
“We aren’t talking about finance, are we?”
He stepped even closer, situating himself between your thighs that you gladly opened for him.
“Fuck no”
The way your hands grabbed him by the neck and pulled him into a kiss, was almost animalistic. Johnny kissed you back with almighty force, open mouthed and breathing heavily. With the dominance that characterized him and a bite on your bottom lip, he pulls you up on your feet by the ID that was hanging from your neck. He tasted like smoke and mint gum.
“I thought you’d quit smoking?”
You felt his right hand grab your throat and he broke the kiss, forcing you to look at him. It wasn’t the pressure to your air flow but his eyes that had you on edge. The usual golden flecks adorning his orbs were hidden behind his dilated pupils. “I’m just a man. There are some things I can’t resist”. He dipped his tongue into your mouth, making you feel like you’re in a fever dream with the way all your fantasies were coming to life. “Open up”, he growled against your lips and you obey like you promised to. He spit in your mouth, in a manner so dirty it had your knees shaking.
You started unbuttoning his shirt, wanting to see more of him. Starting with running your hands over his raging heartbeat, you continue down his abs and end up fumbling with his belt. Johnny helped you, springing out his cock and, damn, he may be half hard but that was the biggest dick you’d ever seen in your life.
He chuckles at your widened eyes but instead of making some cocky remark like you expected he leans down, leaving soothing kisses on your jaw. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you”. He continued his kisses to your neck, all the while unbuttoning your shirt. Leaving it on you, he pulls your boobs over your bra and starts playing with your nipples. The tingling on your breasts was tightly linked it the one on your heat and you decided you needed more.
You took his fingers from your chest and placed them between your folds. Johnny cursed out with how wet you were for him, and started rubbing circles over your clit, occasionally dipping the tips in your entrance. He kept at it, relishing in your moans and he would have ripped his tight little skirt off of you if you were in his bedroom. The build up sexual tension along with the semi-public setting made you close to losing yourself in him. You just needed a push, and Johnny was more than happy to give it to you.
“You’re gonna cum for me. That’s what you wanted wasn’t it? Why you got all dressed up like that?”
“Yes, for you, fuck Johnny”
“Come on, let it all out. Cum so I can fuck the hell out of this tight pussy of yours”
You came all over his fingers, grabbing his arms for support. He gave you a moment, wiping the tears off the corners of your eyes while kissed you slowly. When you started kissing him back with a refuelled passion, signalling that you were ready for what he had to offer, he was back, rougher than ever.
He petted your pussy, collecting your wetness and spreading it all over your folds. You jumped up when you felt him slap over your clit, the lines between pain and pleasure from the overstimulation blurry.
You knew Johnny was strong, but the easiness with which he lifted you from the desk onto your armchair shocked you. Spreading your knees as wide as the cushioned seat allowed you, you stuck your ass out for him. He gave your ass a little slap while you waited for him to slip on a condom. He came prepared, you thought, probably planned on doing this from the moment he stepped into your office.
Johnny filled you up completely, your hypersensitivity making you feel his thickness in all its glory. He started off slow, careful of your tightness, but as he picked up the pace, your vision was all stars and constellations of pleasure. You must have moaned too loudly, because he stopped his thrusts and, in a moment, you felt him shove his tie inside your mouth.
“There’s still some people in the building, remember? Or do you like my cock so much that you don’t even care if they hear?”. You couldn’t muster an answer so you just kept drooling through the fabric your teeth bit into. Your pussy was dripping onto the leather, your wetness allowing Johnny to sink even deeper inside you. The feeling was so overwhelming that you opened your mouth wide in a moan, almost dropping his tie in the process.
You reached out your hand behind you to grab one of his arms in desperation. “I’m so close, so close, don’t stop”. He stared back at you with a crazy look on his face, and pinned your hand back on the headrest in front of you. Lifting one of your legs in the air, he starts fucking you so rough you thought the chair was going to break.
Your second orgasm hit you hard, your trembling body making it clear his size got too much for you. But there was no way you’d let him leave this office without cumming.
You climb down from the chair and got on your knees in front of him. Grasping his cock from the base, you started leaving open mouthed kisses on his balls first. You suck one in your mouth and glance up at him with the most innocent look you could muster, the contrast to your actions driving him insane. Johnny leans his weight on his hands positioned on your desk, letting you work your magic.
Returning on his tip, you ran your tongue in kitten licks on the slit, teasing him. An eyebrow raise from him compelled you to behave, pushing him all the way down at once. It was almost as if you pressed a button at the end of your throat with the way it triggered a guttural moan from him. He weaves one hand through your hair to keep you in place for a second longer and you gag. His dick pulls out, and the string of saliva falls over your white shirt making the fabric look see through. The sight of your lipstick on him, your watery doe eyes and your nipples poking through your now wet shirt was divine. He pushed past your lips again, and this time you made a good use of your tongue. You quicken your pace, his shaky groans and sharp gasps letting you know he was nearing his release.
Grabbing both his flexed thighs, you concentrate your breathing though your nose and deepthroat him again. Johnny growls, hips stuttering and eyes fluttered closed in delight. Warm liquid runs down your throat, almost choking you, but you take it all, relishing in his grunts and the way he moans your name.
After you catch your breath he bends down, planting a gentle kiss on your lips and offers a hand to help you up. You buttoned up in an awkward silence, not exactly sure what should be said after a session like that in a place like this.
“So, I’m guessing Donghyuck told you about my little crush on you?”
“Yup. You should thank him”. He smiles at you sweetly, pinching your cheek lightly and then moving his thumb in circles over the skin. “You also should have told me”
You rolled your eyes, “Not like I haven’t tried to! How much more obvious did I have to be?”
“I’m sorry! It’s just- you’re so pretty and I didn’t wanna be another one of the creepy guys that probably hit on you in the workplace”
Smiling at his thoughtfulness, you chose to forgive him and reached up for another kiss. He engulfs you with his long arms, and you push some hair off his eyes, admiring their softness.
“How about, I let you finish up here and we go for dinner after you’re done?”
“I’m not sure how I’m gonna concentrate after what we did”
“I’ll cover for you, but I can’t promise you that I’ll stop myself from distracting you”
1K notes · View notes
potato-with-hair · 3 years ago
Text
Fake News
First tumblr Story Ever
Tumblr media
As the newest Avenger it seemed that Tony Stark and Captain Rogers were more than comfortable sending you out on all of the shit missions, granted, you could use the time in with your new teammates to learn their little quirks and start working to meld your abilities with theirs so that you could start working together seamlessly, but it was getting ridiculous. You were half expecting to start getting told to go out and help the NYFD rescue kittens from trees and helping the NYPD direct traffic on Broadway in Manhattan during rush hour. Y/N was a technopath, which was a fancy name for someone who could control technology and anything mechanical with their mind, or if you wanted to be technical about it, according to the official S.H.I.E.L.D. dossier:
Y/L/N, Y/N: Main Ability: Technology Manipulation
User can manipulate technology, the sum of techniques, skills, methods, and
processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment
of objectives. However, most users only can exert control over technological
constructs, such as computers, robots, hardware, and other devices that can be
termed as "technology", in any way. Manifested as a special form of electrical/telekinetic manipulation, a special form of "morphing" which allows physical interaction with machines, or even a psychic ability that allows mental interface with computer data.
Also Called:
· Cyberkinesis
· Cyberpathy
· Mechanokinesis
· Technokinesis
· Technopathy
Pretty cool, huh? Anyway, spring was coming to a close and summer was just around the corner. Tony asked me and Sam Wilson, you may know him as Falcon, to head to midtown
Manhattan because there were some “unsavory” characters hanging around Grand Central Station.
Turns out it was some low-level HYDRA minions that were basically trying to see what kind of trouble they could cause, they had planted a pipe bomb in a waste bin in the middle of the station and it was a Friday when thousands of people would be traveling through the station heading to and from work and school. I think that HYDRA was more or less just testing us Avengers out to what abilities we had and see if there are any hidden capabilities we possessed before they come at us for a full-scale attack.
Sam and I arrived and were able to find the pipe bomb relatively quickly, part of my ability is being able to read the signatures of different technologies and mechanics, and if you don’t think that a bomb countdown timer throws out a red flag, you are mistaken. Anyway, we found it, and rather than call bomb and arson with New York’s Finest, I was able to manipulate the mechanics myself using my mind. I shut down the detonator without ever touching the bomb and made the whole thing inactive within a few minutes time.
Easy peasy, 10 minutes, another fast sweep which took an additional 30 minutes, and Sam and I were finished and ready for our close-ups from the media that always, inevitably followed. We had a small group of media that always showed up whenever a call went out that an Avenger was “working” and there was almost always a small fan base at Grand Central or where ever we were working who would come up to thank us, like we were some sort of rock stars, and as per usual some of the younger men and women took the opportunity to do some flirting with us. Tony told us, unattached Avengers, that any publicity and light flirting and playfulness with the fans was good publicity and would help for the public to relate to us and see us in a positive light. I am not going to lie, I may or may not have had a little thing for our resident speedy Sokovian, but our little flirting in the compound never seemed to go beyond that, flirting. I thought there was a possibility he liked me also, but, so far, nothing. Although I did catch him staring at me quite often and Wanda and some of the guys were always talking to him and then immediately looking in her direction like they were just discussing her. Pietro did seem to always try to be around me and sit near me as often as possible as well. Also when the “fans” would flirt with him, I noticed he never really showed much interest in them, always watching to see what I was doing.
Oh well, time to spend a little time with the crowd before Sam and I headed back to the compound. The New York Times was talking to some travelers about the pipe bomb that was found in the wastebasket and what their thoughts were and how they felt about us being there to “save the day, yet again” when an overzealous “fan” started to get a little handsy with me in the background. He had followed me around and asked me to dinner a few times, flashing cash and his business card a few times, trying to press it into my hand multiple times. I explained I was really bust and thanked him but said I was not interested or available, but he kept perusing me. He was leaning over my shoulder with his hand around my waist from behind, body pulled directly flush with my back and he was in an excited state if you know what I mean, and he was whispering in my ear about some of his fantasies and things that he has dreamt of doing to me. Of course, the camera flashed right as he started to kiss my neck and I had a smile on my face because I was focusing on a sweet 10 year old in front of me asking for my autograph and telling me I was her favorite avenger. If the camera had waited all of 5 seconds more, they would have caught me performing a minor assault on the prick and another 5 seconds would have caught Sam pulling me off of him and flying us out of the station and back to the compound with his hand over my mouth because I let lose a string of explicative’s that would put Wade Wilson to shame.
The next morning I woke up and took a shower, went down to the kitchen and made my normal toast and juice and bowl of fruit, and could not help notice that the Avengers that were there were looking at me strangely, I thought it was because I was still in a sour mood because of that jerk from yesterday and the icky feeling he gave me that I was assaulted by scum. I knew that Rogers, Wanda, Sam, and Nat were on their way to Lagos on a mission. Thor and Banner were MIA since Sokovia, which left Stark, Rhodey, Vision, Pietro and I still here.
“Y/N, so, how was the pipe bomb incident yesterday?” Tony asked seemingly hinting at something
“Uneventful aside from a slight annoyance in the crowd, is there coffee left?” Y/N responded looking at him while rising to get a mug and pour a hot mug to clear the remaining sleep from my head.
“Nothing happened? Nobody special you want to tell us about?” Rhodey chimes in.
“Not that I am aware of or worth mentioning now that it’s done and over with, is there something you would like to tell me about?” Y/N asks looking back and forth to them. “Hey, where’s Speedy, he’s usually down here eating everything that isn’t trying to eat him first.”
Tony looks at Y/N and smirks, “It is strange that you should mention that, he came in about 20 minutes ago, I assume you were in the shower or I am sure you would have heard him, saw the cover of the New York Times, flipped out and, well, here you are, please take a look, we are on pins and needles to know what you think. And I hope you know that all suitors must meet the full team before you becoming an “item” and pass Avenger inspection, and Rogers is particularly tough.” He slid the paper across the kitchen island to where you sat, both he and Rhodey watching your face for a reaction. You unfolded the paper confused and looked at the front cover.
There in black and white at you was a close up of the stranger with his arms around your waist from behind, you leaning slightly forward smiling and the stranger kissing your neck, the little girl you were smiling at was covered by the person being interviewed in the foreground. To someone who was not there and did not know the story, this definitely looked bad, like a very intimate moment caught on film, the headline read ‘Newest Avenger Moving Fast With New York Wall Street Trader’ the article went on to talk about how you just met the guy and did not bother to get his name, but just let him put the moves on you, yadda, yadda, yadda. Apparently, after Sam got you out of there, the “gentleman: in question decided to make a name for himself and gave a short interview making it sound like you approached him and started the whole flirt fest, lead him on, and then abandoned him, with the promise to return. You looked at Tony and Rhodey with wide eyes and a sick feeling in your stomach, “This is the biggest load of shit I have ever read in my life, this is not anything at all what happened. About 3 seconds after this picture was snapped, I basically slapped the taste out of his mouth and would have continued to do so had Sam not gotten me out of there. Flirting? More like this guy assaulted me. This was not consensual or wanted. I told him multiple times I was not interested and refused his advances and invitations to dinner and he kept bothering me. I was talking to a little kid and he pulled this crap when I had my back turned to him.”
Tony went from joking to serious almost instantly, “Okay, we were just going to bust your balls on this a little bit, but this has just become a non-joke. I’ll have Pepper contact someone in Stark Industries legal department to get in touch with the paper to track this guy down, he’ll have had to sign a waiver for publication and we’re going to go after him for liable and harassment. If he tries to come after you for battery for the assault, well, we’ll call that defense, Avenger or not, no one gets to touch you without permission. Y/n we really didn’t know, we were just going to play around with you about this a little, and we had no idea. He didn’t do any weird stuff, right?”
“NO, I mean, I slapped him and Sam pulled me off of him and flew me out of there, anything beyond what he did to me and you would have been getting a call from New York’s finest about bail or my court hearing for homicide. I was shocked, but if it had gone beyond what it was, I would have raged a lot harder than I did. The headline in the paper would have read a lot differently today.” Y/N responded.
“Alright, I know that yesterday was weird and I know that Nat and Wanda have had to deal with crap like this from time to time, unfortunately being an attractive woman on the team seems to let the guys out there think that it is open season to treat you ladies like meat. It is unfair and it sucks and if any of the men on the team are around just say the word and well step in and make sure the guys know it’s not okay, or step back and let you take care of it yourself, whatever you feel more comfortable with. In the meantime, take the weekend off and go to a spa or go shopping or to the movies or whatever you need to do to feel better, charge everything to Stark okay. Just let us know if you need anything alright.” Tony hugged you with one arm and kissed the top of your head. “One thing though, Lightning Legs. He flipped out when he saw this. He thought it was true and got hot and bothered. I would suggest finding him and letting him know what is really going on because the last thing you need right now is a crazy Sokovian kid acting like a jealous boyfriend right now.”
You look us at Tony and across the island to Rhodey, “What is that all about, what is he flipping out about, he brags about all the women he is into and dated back in Sokovia all the time, what does he care about what happens to me?”
“Y/N are you serious? That kid has been crazy in love with you since Sokovia. I swear I was coming close to sending you both on a mission that involved a tropical island and a case of rum soon. If he’s not staring at you, you are staring at him. It’s sickening.” Tony finished with a sarcastic eye roll. Go relax in your room, we'll take care of this. Just try to put it from your mind and well talk soon. With that, you left and headed to the elevator bank to the sleeping quarters level, feeling shitty, but better because you knew Tony would do what he could to help.
You were only in your Bedroom Suite for about half an hour when there was a somewhat frantic knocking at your door. You got up from your bed, put down the book you were currently reading, and made your way to the door, opening it, you found a seemingly tormented Pietro, he entered your quarters without an invitation and started to pace the length of your room, looking at you, Y/N could tell he needed to speak, but he was not sure where or how to start.
“Y/N, I ……. The newspaper, I saw the picture and…… Who is he? Do you like him? I mean does he make you happy? I want you to be happy……… I know that no one will ever be able to………. Not like I do………” Pietro kept starting and stopping sentences, never actually completing any, and getting agitated. You had never seen him this disconcerted before, he was always so unruffled when he would flirt with you before and this was a whole new side to him that you had never seen before. It was like he was unsure of himself and it was not something he was sure of how to process. You walked towards where Pietro was walking seemingly carrying on an argument with himself and reached out for his hands.
“Pietro, please stop, okay, please. It is not what you think, I don’t know that guy. It was fake, it was false, I don’t know him, I did not ask for that, I did not tell him it was okay to touch me or kiss me like that, I was not alright with that, He did that without my permission, and the photographer took a picture and they wrote some fake story to make it seem like I was into it. I did not want that. I don’t know him, I feel disgusted by that.” You start to rub your neck where the creep kissed you, sat down on the plush cushioned ottoman bench at the foot of your bed and start to curl into yourself to make yourself as small as possible as Pietro looks at you taking in your words.
“Wait, moja bohyňa (my goddess,) some guy you do not know came up to you and started to touch you and kiss you without your permission? No, I will not allow this, who is this man; I will go fight him right now. Žiadny odpadok sa nemôže dotknúť mojej bohyne bez jej súhlasu. Nikomu by nemalo byť dovolené pozerať sa na ňu bez toho, aby sa poďakoval bohom, že bola stvorená. (No trash can touch my goddess without her consent. No man should ever be allowed to look on her, without thanking the gods that she was created.) Are you okay?” He sat on the bench next to you giving you plenty of space, not wanting to crowd you. “I will kill this man, why would he think he could touch you, Bohyňa (Goddess,) if I had been there, I would have stopped him immediately, I am so sorry I was not there with you. “ Pietro sat staring forward with a look of disappointment in himself. You leaned over towards him putting your head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around you pulling you into him. You snuggled your face into his chest drawing designs on his stomach and chest with your finger as he kissed your head and held you close.
“Tony is going to get the Legal department of Stark Industries to look into the paper and find out who the guy is and get him charged with harassment, and I may or may not have given him a good slap as soon as I got over my shock and realized what was happening, so I figure I should let the cops know everything in case he decided to try to press charges later for battery saying I attacked him. But I promise Pietro, there is absolutely nothing at all going on with that guy or any other guy in my life because I was sort of waiting for someone I had a sort of thing for to maybe make a move, but I didn’t think that he was interested, so I had basically given up hope and just accepted that we would only be friends, and that was okay, but I really was hoping he would let me know he felt the same.” You continued tracing symbols on Pietro's chest with her fingers nervously
Pietro put his hand gently under Y/Ns chin and raised her face so that his clear blue eyes were looking directly into Y/N/E/C, “Do I know this guy?” He asked finally deciding to go with the advice the rest of the team when they told him that Y/N was definitely into him, and Wanda assured him that yes, Y/N thought about him often and was only too nervous to make the first move, but if Pietro would, she would be receptive.
Y/N looks from Pietro's eyes to his lips and back to his eyes again and states “I am sure you have seen him around here, sometimes he’s hard to spot because he’s pretty fast, but when he stops or slows down and doesn’t try so hard to impress everyone he’s really an amazing guy. I have to say to, he is sexy as hell too, and he has this accent when he talks, uggghhh, it does things to me.” Y/N just smiles at him teasingly.
Pietro chuckles and smiling leans in but says softly before he kisses you, “Prednesiem vám básne a texty, ak ma chcete počuť hovoriť, poviem vám všetky veci, ktoré chcem s vami a s vami urobiť, ale nikdy vám nebudem môcť vyjadriť, ako veľmi vás milujem a uctievam. Teraz si môj, ako ja tvoj, navždy. (I will recite you poetry and lyrics if you want to hear me speak, I will tell you all the things I want to do to you and with you, but I will never be able to express to you, how much I love and worship you. You are mine now as I am your, forever.)” He then lays the softest and most soul-baring kiss on Y/N that she has ever felt. It was as if all the passions in the world could have been transferred to her through that kiss and as he softly caresses her face while peppering gentle kisses on her face, Y/N thinks that maybe this stupid picture is not the worst thing in the world to ever happen to her if it is what FINALLY brought her and Pietro together, she figures if nothing else, this will be a brilliant story to tell their kids someday.
Slovakian substituted for Sokovian
Y/N = Your Name
Y/L/N = Your Last Name
Y/N/E/C = Your Eye Color
51 notes · View notes
wellhellotragic · 3 years ago
Text
These Wounds Won't Seem to Heal  3/4
Summary: It’s not her fault. She’s still new and doesn’t know. He’s not flawless. Not anymore. He’s got scars, ones she’s seen first hand. Ones she helped tend to. His body is covered in them. There’s a thin red line where he took a bottle to the face during his early beat cop days. There’s another angry red mark on his torso from where he was stabbed with a knife in his ribs. The one where he had his hand slammed in a locker as a teenager has long since faded, only the barest hint remaining, only visible in just the right lighting.
There’s two oval scars now too. One in his stomach and one on his chest. Those are from the worst day of her life.But none of those scars compare to the ones he carries on the inside. The self-inflicted cuts he makes to his soul never quite healing over. He blames himself.  It’s not his fault.
There’s a scar on her soul now too. One he left. A piece of her heart forever missing.
Rating: Mature (mostly for language)
A/N: Guy, I suck so hard core. I don't even know how I let so much time lapse between chapter 2 and now, and then to really top off my suck-o-meter, I realized that there's going to have to be a chapter 4 because I can't fix what I've done so easily. Not realistically at least. I promise, and happy ending is coming though, and it won't take me another 8 months to get it up. I hope to have it up and finished by the weekend.
The AO3 version
Tumblr media
It’s been a hell of a night. She’s not sure where exactly it falls on her list of worst days ever, but it’s in her top five. It has to be. It’s not the worst, that honor is saved for the night she almost lost Killian, but it’s still up there. She’s spent hours now going through all of the details over and over again with Graham and Lance, her story never changing. Getting poked and prodded by EMTs, despite telling everyone that she’s fine.
She’s not, but they can’t stitch up her insides.
David, her partner, on the other hand has a bullet hole in his leg. Better than his head though.
She’s not even sure if she can fully reconcile everything that happened. She and David were investigating the death of a low profile importer, a nobody, interviewing some dock workers that had found the body. Some gruff looking men who easily blended in with the usual fishmongers and cargo sorters.
But they weren’t. She realized it just a second too late, right before a bag was pulled over her head. She fought like hell, but she was at a disadvantage. From what she heard, David had put up a fight as well, but in the end, it was useless, and she lost consciousness with a sharp blow to the head.
She woke up strapped down to a chair with David the same a few feet beside her. She shouldn’t have been surprised, Jefferson had always given her a bad feeling, but she never actually thought he’d go dirty. She certainly never expected to be facing the wrong side of his department issued sidearm.
Even now, everything is still a blur. Graham assured her it’s the shock, that it’ll fade once the adrenaline wears off; that everything will clear up after a good night's rest. She’s not sure about that though. It’s four in the morning now and the adrenaline seems to be hanging on for dear life still and she knows she's not going to rest any time soon. Humbert offered to drive her home but she declined, choosing to wait for August to finish wrapping up his report.
She’s not sure what time it is when they finally arrive at her apartment. The battery in her cell phone died ages ago. Neither of them even make a move for the fridge, choosing to bypass the beer she keeps stocked for the hard nights. Instead, the two of them move in silence to her room. She plugs in her cell before crawling in bed next to him, like when they were kids in Ingrid’s foster house. She’s not sure who’s comforting who at this point, but she knows that she just needs to be with family.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
She doesn’t, but she knows she needs to or it’ll eat her alive. She’s tried that once already and it ended up with her almost having a complete nervous breakdown and a three week leave of absence with daily Archie sessions.
“I don’t even know where to start.”
It’s true. So much has happened in the last twelve hours, there’s no one easy to pinpoint place to begin. So August goes first. He fills in the blanks that he can, so that she might be able to piece together the rest. He tells her about Killian sending him undercover, about Jefferson and missing drugs and money. How Jefferson was helping to conceal evidence that would link Walsh and the Nikko empire to a wide distribution of pixie dust.
Some of it is just speculation, that Jefferson must have figured out they were closing in on him and that’s why he went for Emma, and David was probably just collateral damage. How he most likely picked Emma because he knew how much she meant to him , and while he didn’t say Killian’s name specifically, the implication hung over her like a heavy cloud.
“Before you got there, he told Killian to choose. Between me and David I mean. To pick which one of us would live and which one would die. And then he just started laughing and screaming in this crazed voice that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget.”
It was the single most terrifying thing she’d ever heard. The mania that accompanied it. She already knew that it was going to haunt her for months to come, if not longer.
It’s a real Gracie’s choice. Gracie’s choice Killian. GRACIE’s CHOICE!!!
She felt August shift next to her.
“Gracie was his daughter. She died while he was undercover with a Southie Gang. Killian was undercover with Cruella at the time. It was a freak accident, a gas leak and the house went up in flames, but he was convinced that she was killed by one of the De Vil boys. He told me once that he knew Killian had given him up as a snitch to prove his worth. The De Vil’s had nothing to do with the Southie boys, but he’d twisted it up in his mind. I never thought he’d do anything about it though. It was just crazy drunk venting one night.”
She knows August. Knows that he’s blaming himself for what happened tonight, but she ignores it. Nothing she says will stop him from tormenting himself, and she’s not done.
“I told him to choose David. He has this whole perfect life, you know. An adoring wife and a new baby, all of these people that would miss him if he were gone. I told Killian to save David, and I-” She hates how small she feels when she cries, but she can’t hold back the tears. “He gave me this look. He’s been cold, but this was something different. There was just so much anger in his eyes.”
And that’s when she breaks. Knowing that hated her was one thing, but watching him train his gun on her. Seeing the pure darkness in his eyes. She doesn’t know how to voice it to August, but she knows that if August hadn’t arrived when he did, she knows he would have done as she asked. That he wouldn’t have had to think twice about it. And it’s that knowledge that sliced open the last piece of her heart that had been hanging on by a thread, even after all that time.
August holds her through the tears, until she finally exhausts herself enough to sleep. And so she drifts off, completely unaware of the new voicemail alert waiting for her.
________________________________
The February air is cooler on the water and he kicks himself for not bringing a heavier jacket. It’s been ages since he’s been out on this boat, and time has helped him to forget everything except for the things he wishes he could. Liam always used to tease him, so much so that Killian would reject any offers of warmth from his brother just to prove a point. He wasn’t some silly kid that needed to be minded anymore. He was capable of doing everything on his own, except for bringing an extra coat. He forgot everytime, and today was no exception.
Luckily for Killian, the spare that Liam kept on the boat just for him is still in its place, folded neatly in a small storage locker below deck. It hits him in the gut a little, that Liam could be so right about some things and incredibly wrong about others.
It’s eating Killian alive, not talking to his brother. Not being able to express himself because despite everything Emma has done for him, Liam still doesn’t approve of her. Liam often still thinks of him as the teenage boy, awkward and desperate for approval from anyone that will give it to him, even if it means getting taken advantage of.
He’s not that kid anymore though. He isn’t letting his crush steal his essays and letting her claim this as her own. He isn’t using all of his hard earned money to buy her jewelry that she’s just going to pawn for cash later. He isn’t following after Emma like a lost puppy dog.
He’s in love with her, and he has a sneaking suspicion that she feels the same way. But at this rate, he’s never going to get Liam’s blessing, the only approval he needs anymore.
He shouldn’t be thinking about this now. He really shouldn’t. Not when he and Liam are sitting in a rented dilapidated loft across from an abandoned fabric warehouse waiting for the Canal Street Cutter to emerge. There had been a lot of chatter that morning about where he might be hiding and Liam assembled teams throughout South Boston hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
Emma and August were stationed about eight blocks over. Lance and Arthur were on the edge of South Boston and Waterfront. Other teams were scattered, but too far away to get to if they needed assistance.
Killian had tried to tell Liam that it was a bad idea to spread everyone so thin, but the elder Jones brother had been instant and headstrong as ever. It would have been a career making arrest, and Liam, ever aspiring to be more just wouldn’t let that chance pass him by.
“I just think that you have other obligations that require your attention right now.”
“If this is the bros before hoes speech you can just save it.”
“Killian,” The exasperation evident in his brother's tone, “you know I detest such vile language. It's crude and you are better than that little brother.”
“What obligations?” He has to quash his desire to correct his brother’s description of him.
“I just think that you are meant for so much more in this life and I worry that you gave up so much when you left the narcotics division to follow her into homicide. You were a rising star there and now you’re having to cut your teeth all over again.”
“It’s not as if I’m starting all over. For God’s sake Liam, I just made Lieutenant. But there’s more to life than a job.”
His brother takes his gaze away from the binoculars to turn to Killian.
“Look at father and all of his vices. It strayed him from the path. But you, Killian, you persevered and now everything you've wanted is in your grasp.”
“This isn't the same thing and you know it. Emma isn't some pathetic man’s addiction. Liam, I'm in love with her.”
“Killian,” Liam pauses, taking a deep breath. “She's a distraction. Think of all that you’ve accomplished in the year that you were undercover. You brought down an entire crime syndicate. You did that without her taking your attention away.”
“I didn't bring the De Vil family down because ‘we’ were apart. I did it because we were ‘apart’ and I knew the only way I'd be able to see her again without putting her in harm's way would be to find the evidence and make the arrest.”
“Fine, if you need another reason, have you thought about working directly with her, or even over her in a supervisory position? Have you considered how your personal relationship with a subordinate could affect your judgment?”
“It’s not-”
Liams sees movement in the distance, cutting off Killian’s rebuttal, but his view is obscured so he motions for Killian to follow him, to leave the safety of their little room. They stay silent as they walk downstairs and head out a propped-open door leading to an alleyway. They had to wind through hallways to get from the loft outside and now they’re further away from the warehouse with no cover.
Killian even tries pointing out how visible they are, but Liam shuts him down, determined to close the case. He’s halfway sure that Liam’s trying to prove a point about how Killian can’t be successful and be in a relationship with Emma. He’s seen it before, the way professional jealousy destroys couples. But Emma’s not like that. She wouldn’t see his success as her failure.
They try to skirt the perimeter and he knows he should keep his mouth shut, this just isn’t the time, but he’s just so frustrated that he can’t keep holding it in.
“Please don’t make me choose between you.” It’s an angry whisper, more to himself than anything, and even though he did his best to keep his volume low it’s still enough that Liam’s heard and turns back to him, missing sight of the empty beer bottle at his feet.
The glass battering against the gravel echoes through the night as they both stay silent, waiting to see if they’ve been heard. The air is still around them, and Killian thinks they just might have lucked out.
And then he hears the gunshots ring out.
Liam is on the ground before Killian has time to register what’s happened. He runs to Liam, but gets knocked to the ground before he can get to him. His body hurts and he can see blood covering his hand from where he just touched his abdomen. He’s always heard people say that the shock blocks out the pain, but they must all be liars, because the longer he lays there, the more the pain intensifies.
It takes everything he has to pull himself behind a dumpster, half crawling, half slithering like a snake.
The shock eventually did kick in though, because even to this day he has no memory of radioing in for help. Just the vague memories of Emma leaning over him. The look in her eyes as she tried her best to hold back tears.
The same tears he fought back the night he left Boston, like the coward he was. But Archie was right. He needed to get his head on straight, to distance and center himself. He had to leave, for her.
He’s still wrestling with the guilt. He talked about it with Archie, how she begged him to kill her and save David. And that he actually considered it for about two full seconds. Not because he wanted to, but because he didn’t want her feeling the way he did. The burden of knowing that someone else was dead, and knowing that no matter how good you are, how hard you try, that you’ll never live up to them. He didn’t want her hating herself the way he did. Didn’t want her to destroy herself like he had.
But then something snapped inside of him and rage bubbled up. The audacity of her to beg him to kill her. For her to try and force that decision on him, with no regard to him or his feelings.
It was at that moment that he finally realized what he’d been doing to her ever since Liam had passed away. He finally understood the choice she’d been forced to make that night. And he knew - he knew that despite it all - he could never live with himself if he’d chosen anyone but her. That he couldn’t let her go just like she didn’t with him.
The only thing that saved him was Boothe. In the moments that passed after August arrived, while the two of them tried to wrestle the gun away from Jefferson, he felt the weight of Liam’s death wash over him. And then he heard a shot ring out and there was nothing but panic. Panic and guilt.
It felt as though ages had passed as he searched for Emma in the smoke filled room. The SWAT team had moved in at some point, but he’d been too focused on fighting off Jefferson to notice. He pushed through the sting in his eyes and the tightness of his chest as he looked for her, but all he saw through the haze were armored cops everywhere.
It wasn’t until he was forcibly escorted outside the building that he saw her, saw that she was safe, and then his stomach turned. He ran around a corner away from all of the prying eyes, and for the first time in his career, he gave in and let the night overcome him.
It’s been nearly a year since that night and he’s been running ever since. Some days are better than others. The anger is mostly behind him, but some nights he still wakes up in a sweat clutching his bed sheets, ready to fight. But there’s never anyone around to take a swing at, because he’s all alone. He’s pushed away anyone that ever mattered and isolated himself on that damn boat.
He thinks of Emma, wonders if she’s moved on or not. He’s too cowardly to call her, partly because he has no idea what he will say if she answers, but mostly because he’s terrified that she won’t answer. So he broods. He takes to the local bars as he sails the coastline and drinks a little too much before stumbling back to Liam’s boat alone. It’s a wonder nobody’s robbed him yet for what a careless sot he’s been.
Tonight is one of those nights. He’s made his way down to Florida and back, only a few hours away from Boston, and his demons are screaming again. He’s hoping against all hope that the rum in the tumbler across from him will help quiet them. Just holding the small glass in his fingertips helps a bit. A placebo of sorts. He doesn’t want to be this man anymore though. This pathetic lonely human. He doesn’t want to feel this way anymore, but he doesn’t know how to fix it. Archie said that him realizing it was a good first step but he’s not sure if he agrees. He’s called Archie a lot over the last year. Somehow doing therapy over the phone as the boat sways back and forth under his feet has helped to ease his hesitancy. There’s something about knowing that he can hang up at any time if he wants, and that no one knows. No one will judge him.
They don’t talk about Emma, not in present tense at least. They’ve had conversations about the way he’s treated her in the past, about his complicated feelings for her, the way it’s all shaped him, but they never talk about her now. He’s not sure if it’s because Archie doesn’t know if he’s ready for that, or if Archie knows something that he’s absolutely not ready for.
Archie is here tonight though, the rum is.
He’s still twirling the amber in his hand as he hears the familiar scraping of a nearby barstool against a wooden floor. There’s a scent that follows, a floral perfume that doesn’t match with the musk of the dive bar. He doesn’t look at her directly, doesn’t need to when he can see her from the mirror behind the bar. Her top is low, flashing more skin that it’s covering. She’s closer than he thought.
“Is that for me?” She’s bold.
He’s reminded of those early days on the force, when he wouldn’t even have to talk to a woman. When he could just flash her a smile and she’d be on his arm heading out the door to her place. He’s not that guy though, he’s salty and cynical, and the look he flashes her is closer to a smirk.
“Excuse me?” “Well, you’ve been toying with it for almost twenty minutes. I just thought maybe you were waiting for me to walk into your life.”
Was he this bad at picking up women?
“Look, I’m not trying to be rude, but I’m not in the mood for woman.” “So you’re gay?”
It’s a good thing he hasn’t started drinking yet because he damn well might have chocked otherwise. He doesn’t get a chance to respond though. The bubbly blonde that served him his rum has returned with a spray bottle in hand. “Mary of Mothers. Didn’t I already have you escorted out of here tonight, Teresa?”
“Bite me, Tinkerbelle.”
The girl behind the bar might be all of five foot tall but there’s a beast inside her that towers over any man in that bar and before he knows what’s happening the bartender is drowning the girl in what smells like stainless steel cleaner and the words coming out of her mouth would make any Navy man blush.
The girl ends up running away and Killian isn’t sure what to make of any of it. He’s broken up bar fights before, but he’s never seen anything quite like that.
“Sorry about that. I know this little bar might not seem like much, but it’s all I’ve got and I’ll be damned if I let the likes of her selling her body in here.” “Oh, she wasn’t-” “Trust me, where you had agreed upfront or not, you would have been light whatever cash you have left in that wallet before the night was up. And I’ll bet you dollars to pennies you would have had a lovely little itch or two down there.” She nods her head towards his crotch before switching the subject like she hadn’t just implied the poor woman from before was an STD ridden whore. “So, I haven’t seen you here before. Where you from?”
He’s not sure how she’s disarmed him so quickly, but he finds himself telling her all about himself over the next hour. Business has slowed down and her other barmate seems to be more than capable of handling the few strays still walking in.
She makes him laugh too with her feisty spirit. It’s been far too long since he’s felt at ease like this. They talk and talk. Not about much in particular, just random conversation. She bought the bar about six years ago, and tells him about how it’s let her build the family she always wanted and never really got. She’s carved out her own little place in the world and he envies her that. The way she can just lay her whole life bare to a complete stranger while he can’t even talk to the people that know him best.
The night rolls on and it’s time to close up. He half expects that she’s going to invite him upstairs, to the little apartment she mentioned earlier, but she surprises him. She’s done that a few times tonight, but this one hits him in the gut. “So, what’s her name?”
This time he actually does chock on the water she’s poured for him.” “I’m sorry, what?”
“Killian, in the last few hours, you’ve told me your entire life story, everything from your shitty father to your arrogant brother, your job, your leave of absence, but you haven’t mentioned a girl one single time. You’re holding back, which means there’s something to hold back.”
“You don’t know that. I could be gay.” “Um, ya, I saw you check out Teresa’s rack earlier, definitely not gay. So what’s the deal.” He doesn’t want to talk about it, but he doesn’t want to be rude either. So he gives her as little as possible, but she sees through him. In fact, she actually asks him what the hell he’s waiting for as she pushes him out the door.
He doesn’t really know what he’s waiting for to be honest. He’s wanted to go back to Boston, but there’s just so many threads he left unravelled when he left.
24 notes · View notes
greatworldwar2 · 4 years ago
Text
Tumblr media
• Doris Miller
Doris "Dorie" Miller was a United States Navy cook third class. He was the first black American to be awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest decoration for valor in combat after the Medal of Honor.
Miller was born in Waco, Texas, on October 12th, 1919, to Connery and Henrietta Miller. He was named Doris, as the midwife who assisted his mother was convinced before his birth that the baby would be a girl. He was the third of four sons and helped around the house, cooked meals and did laundry, as well as working on the family farm. He was a fullback on the football team at Waco's Alexander James Moore High School. He began attending the eighth grade again on January 25th, 1937, at the age of 17 but was forced to repeat the grade the following year, so he decided to drop out of school. He filled his time squirrel hunting with a .22 rifle and completed a correspondence course in taxidermy. He applied to join the Civilian Conservation Corps, but was not accepted. At that time, he was 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall and weighed more than 200 pounds (91 kg). Miller worked on his father's farm until shortly before his 20th birthday. Miller's nickname "Dorie" may have originated from a typographical error. He was nominated for recognition for his actions on December 7th, 1941, and the Pittsburgh Courier released a story on March 14th, 1942, which gave his name as "Dorie Miller". Since then, some writers have suggested that it was a "nickname to shipmates and friends."
Miller enlisted in the United States Navy for six years on September 16th, 1939. He did his recruit training at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, then was promoted to mess attendant third class, one of the few ratings open at the time to black sailors. After training school, he was assigned to the ammunition ship Pyro (AE-1) and then transferred on January 2nd, 1940, to the Colorado-class battleship West Virginia (BB-48). It was on the West Virginia where he started competition boxing, becoming the ship's heavyweight champion. In July, he was on temporary duty aboard the Nevada (BB-36) at Secondary Battery Gunnery School. He returned to the West Virginia on August 3rd. He was promoted to mess attendant second class on February 16th, 1941.
Miller was a crewman aboard the West Virginia and awoke at 6 a.m. on December 7th, 1941. He served breakfast mess and was collecting laundry at 7:57 a.m. when Lieutenant Commander Shigeharu Murata from the Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi launched the first of seven torpedoes that hit West Virginia. The "Battle Stations" alarm went off; Miller headed for his battle station, an anti-aircraft battery magazine amidships, only to discover that a torpedo had destroyed it. He went then to "Times Square" on deck, a central spot aboard the ship where the fore-to-aft and port-to-starboard passageways crossed, reporting himself available for other duty and was assigned to help carry wounded sailors to places of greater safety. Lieutenant Commander Doir C. Johnson, the ship's communications officer, spotted Miller and saw his physical prowess, so he ordered him to accompany him to the conning tower on the flag bridge to assist in moving the ship's captain, Mervyn Bennion, who had a gaping wound in his abdomen where he had apparently been hit by shrapnel after the first Japanese attack. Miller and another sailor lifted the skipper but were unable to remove him from the bridge, so they carried him on a cot from his exposed position on the damaged bridge to a sheltered spot on the deck behind the conning tower where he remained during the second Japanese attack. Captain Bennion refused to leave his post, questioned his officers and men about the condition of the ship, and gave orders and instructions to crew members to defend the ship and fight. Unable to go to the deck below because of smoke and flames, he was carried up a ladder to the navigation bridge, where he died from the loss of too much blood despite aid. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Lieutenant Frederic H. White had ordered Miller to help him and Ensign Victor Delano load the unmanned number 1 and number 2 Browning .50 caliber anti-aircraft machine guns aft of the conning tower. Miller was not familiar with the weapon, but White and Delano instructed him on how to operate it. Delano expected Miller to feed ammunition to one gun, but his attention was diverted and, when he looked again, Miller was firing one of the guns. White then loaded ammunition into both guns and assigned Miller the starboard gun. Miller fired the gun until he ran out of ammunition, when he was ordered by Lieutenant Claude V. Ricketts to help carry the captain up to the navigation bridge out of the thick oily smoke generated by the many fires on and around the ship; Miller who was officially credited with downing at least two enemy planes. "I think I got one of those Jap planes. They were diving pretty close to us," he said later. Japanese aircraft eventually dropped two armor-piercing bombs through the deck of the battleship and launched five 18-inch (460 mm) aircraft torpedoes into her port side. When the attack finally lessened, Miller helped move injured sailors through oil and water to the quarterdeck, thereby "unquestionably saving the lives of a number of people who might otherwise have been lost." The ship was heavily damaged by bombs, torpedoes, and resulting explosions and fires, but the crew prevented her from capsizing by counter-flooding a number of compartments. Instead, West Virginia sank to the harbor bottom in shallow water as her surviving crew abandoned ship, including Miller; the ship was raised and restored for continued service in the war. On the West Virginia, 132 men were killed and 52 were wounded from the Japanese attack. On December 13, Miller reported to the heavy cruiser Indianapolis (CA-35).
On January 1st, 1942, the Navy released a list of commendations for actions on December 7th. Among them was a single commendation for an unnamed black man. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) had asked President Franklin D. Roosevelt to award the Distinguished Service Cross to the unknown black sailor. The Navy Board of Awards received a recommendation that the sailor be considered for recognition. On March 12th, an Associated Press story named Miller as the sailor, citing the African-American newspaper Pittsburgh Courier; additional news reports credited Lawrence D. Reddick with learning the name through correspondence with the Navy Department. In the following days, Senator James M. Mead (D-NY) introduced a Senate bill to award Miller the Medal of Honor, and Representative John D. Dingell, Sr. (D-MI) introduced a matching House bill. Miller was recognized as one of the "first US heroes of World War II". He was commended in a letter signed by Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox on April 1st, and the next day, CBS Radio broadcast an episode of the series They Live Forever, which dramatized Miller's actions. Black organizations began a campaign to honor Miller with additional recognition. On April 4, the Pittsburgh Courier urged readers to write to members of the congressional Naval Affairs Committee in support of awarding the Medal of Honor to Miller. On May 11th, President Roosevelt approved the Navy Cross for Miller. On May 27th, Miller was personally recognized by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, aboard the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CV-6) at anchor in Pearl Harbor. Nimitz said of Miller's commendation, "This marks the first time in this conflict that such high tribute has been made in the Pacific Fleet to a member of his race and I'm sure that the future will see others similarly honored for brave acts."
Miller was advanced in rank to mess attendant first class on June 1st, 1942. On June 27th, the Pittsburgh Courier called for him to be allowed to return home for a war bond tour along with white war heroes. On November 23rd, Miller returned to Pearl Harbor and was ordered on a war bond tour while still attached to Indianapolis. In December, and January 1943, he gave presentations in Oakland, California, in his hometown of Waco, in Dallas, and to the first graduating class of black sailors from Great Lakes Naval Training Station. He was featured on the 1943 Navy recruiting poster "Above and beyond the call of duty", designed by David Stone Martin. He then reported to Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton, Washington on May 15th, 1943 when he was assigned to the newly constructed escort carrier Liscome Bay (CVE-56). He was advanced in rank to cook third class on June 1st. The ship had a crew of 960 men, and its primary functions were to serve as a convoy escort, to provide aircraft for close air support during amphibious landing operations, and to ferry aircraft to naval bases and fleet carriers at sea. After training in Hawaii waters, Liscome Bay left Pearl Harbor on November 10th, 1943 to join the Northern Task Force, Task Group 52. Miller's carrier took part in the Battle of Makin (invasion of Makin by units of the Army's 165th Regimental Combat Team, 27th Infantry Division) which had begun on November 20th. On November 24th, the day after Makin was captured by American soldiers and the eve of Thanksgiving that year (the cooks had broken out the frozen turkeys from Pearl Harbor), the Liscome Bay was cruising near Butaritari (Makin's Atol's main island) when it was struck just before dawn in the stern by a torpedo from the Japanese submarine I-175 (fired four torpedoes at Task Group 5312). The carrier's own torpedoes and aircraft bombs including 2,0000 pounders were detonated a few moments later, causing the ship to sink in 23 minutes. There were 272 survivors from the crew of over 900, but Miller was among the two-thirds of the crew listed as "presumed dead". His parents were informed that he was missing in action on December 7th, 1943. Liscome Bay was the only ship lost in the Gilbert Islands operation.
A memorial service was held for Miller on April 30th, 1944, at the Second Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, sponsored by the Victory Club. On May 28th, a granite marker was dedicated at Moore High School in Waco to honor him. Miller was officially declared dead by the Navy on November 25th, 1944, a year and a day after the loss of Liscome Bay. One of his brothers also had served during World War II. Miller was 24 years old at the time of his death. Miller's legacy continues in many memorials to his service. Doris Miller Memorial, a public art installation honoring Miller on the banks of the Brazos River in Waco, Texas. A bronze commemorative plaque at the Doris Miller Park housing community located near Naval Station Pearl Harbor; organized by the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and dedicated on October 12th, 1991, which would have been Miller's 72nd birthday. Even the U.S Navy honored Miller with the USS Miller (FF-1091), a destroyer escort (reclassified as a Knox-class frigate on June 30th, 1975) was commissioned on June 30th, 1973, in honor of Miller. Miller's likeness and story has also been portrayed in films, such as Miller being awarded the Navy Cross was portrayed in the 2019 film Midway. In Michael Bay's 2001 film Pearl Harbor, Miller is portrayed by actor Cuba Gooding Jr. Although he is not identified by name, Miller is portrayed by Elven Havard in the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora!
120 notes · View notes
trashmenofmarvel · 4 years ago
Text
Branded - Chapter 47
Pairing: Demon!Bucky Barnes x Reader
Summary: You try to adjust to your new life, but it doesn't go well.
(This is a fan AU of Falling’s Just Another Way to Fly by araniaart​ . Please check out this incredible series for all of your demon Bucky needs.)
Chapter Warnings: Angst, mild body horror
AO3
Tumblr media
Bucky pulled you into his arms, and that’s where you stayed for the next several days. He only released you for bathroom breaks, and the first night when he tried to get you to sleep in his bed while he took the couch.
After he woke up to you crawling under his blanket to lie on top of him, Bucky gave up on trying to separate during sleep. You were thankful for that, because the night times were the worst. You held Bucky tight, that bone-deep fear of freezing in the night never quite going away even with your new fur.
Your features did not look any less jarring when you looked at them through the mirror rather than a flowing stream. You were less disturbing than a character in Cats, but only because you looked meaner. With sharp needle teeth and retractable claws, you were so careful of them around Bucky, even with his healing abilities. The bite you’d given him had already vanished, but your guilt was still very much present.
On good days, you could tolerate visitors. It was usually Wong who came, though sometimes it would be other wizards you didn’t recognize. They examined you only enough to determine that your time in the demon realm wasn’t going to kill you, as far as they could tell, but they had no idea if your demonic changes were permanent or temporary.
On good days, you would sit in one of the clock faces and soak up the sun, looking out at the sun-covered city and marveling at the lights at night.
On good days, Bucky was able to touch you. Everything about your body made you self-conscious and twitchy, but he was gentle and kind. Never angry or frustrated at your slow progress. He, above everyone else, understood how much patience was needed while you recovered from your time in the demon realm, not to mention the new changes to your body.
Bad days… Bad days were hard. They involved hiding, usually under the bed or up in the top floor among the rafters. Bucky was worried you’d fall, but once he saw how swift and graceful you were running along the beams, he stopped looking like he was on the verge of a heart attack.
On bad days, Bucky couldn’t touch you at all, and it was a blessing he didn’t have to. The bond was permanently disconnected, and you no longer had to be feed him or be fed upon. Bucky still had to obtain the energy that kept the demon part of him alive, but he supplemented with the potions the wizards gave him. You could smell the foul concoction even from across the loft, and it set your fur puffed up and on edge.
On bad days, you couldn’t tolerate Steve being anywhere in the loft. He’d come to visit after his recovery, and you were relieved to know there was no permanent damage from the Winter Soldier’s brutality. But when the demon side of you reared its head around Steve, he couldn’t stay. That part of you saw him as a threat, as competition, the prize being Bucky himself. It made you feel sick for hours afterwards, but Bucky was always patient and understanding.
On those days, the bad ones, the part of you that wasn’t entirely human had a stronger hold than the rest of you, and it treated everyone but Bucky like a hostile enemy. Those days were the worst, for both of you. Bucky couldn’t get close enough to offer you any comfort, and you couldn’t ask for it. You missed him so much it physically hurt, but when he approached, your body acted on instincts you didn’t understand, and you couldn’t stop yourself from running and hiding.
On a good day when you could be approached, Strange and Wong visited to conduct a round of new tests. Unlike the previous ones where nothing of interest had happened, it seemed that every instrument that touched you now either lit up like Times Square, or it simply exploded in their hands.
So much for being a magical dead battery.
Strange explained your “condition” and you tried to focus as best you could, still unable to talk and ask questions, even though you could technically write them down. Bucky asked plenty, keeping an eye on you in case you reacted unpredictably as you sometimes did. You were still a little too feral for Bucky to leave alone for long, a fact that was deeply shameful but you couldn’t do anything about. You prayed this wasn’t your new normal.
According to Strange, you were actually very gifted with magic, and all his previous tests had been wrong. Something to do with you suppressing your magic in your childhood—you didn’t really understand most of what he said—but he did know why you looked the way you did. In order to survive the harsh conditions of the demon realm, you’d absorbed some of the natural energy of the planet in order to “adapt.” Essentially, you’d become a pseudo-demon.
Strange was unsure if the changes were permanent, because this type of magic was incredibly advanced and should have been well beyond what a novice like you could achieve.
Bucky was handling the news better than you were, even though you becoming a demon had to be his worst nightmare. So when he looked at you as if he was scared you might break or vanish, you ignored the wizards in the room and melded yourself to Bucky’s side.
He didn’t move for a moment, but before you could pull away, Bucky put a hand around your shoulders and petted your hair. You sighed and melted into him further. He was as warm and solid as he always was, his earthy scent creating a familiar tingle in your stomach—
“Ahem.”
You looked up, blinking, having forgotten all about the wizards. Wong was giving you a frown that reminded you of a scolding schoolteacher, while Strange was trying to suppress an amused look.
“We’ll leave you to it, then,” Strange said as he stood from the couch. Wong followed him to the middle of the room where there was enough room to create a portal back to the Sanctum.
Strange’s innuendo was wasted; as soon as the wizards departed, that glimpse of your old self vanished, and you were back to hiding under the bed. You heard Bucky’s heavy sigh, but he didn’t say anything. He never did. He simply waited with saintly patience for you to eventually come out.
It didn’t hit you, how hard all of this was for him, until later that night.
You’d just woken from a nap to find the lights left off, the room dark and the snowy city glittering outside the clock face windows. You crawled out from under the bed and glanced around, ears perked when you couldn’t find Bucky in his usual spots. He wasn’t in the kitchen, or the bathroom, or in his study.
You craned your head back to look at the staircase spiraling around the elevator shaft, leading to the empty belfry. It was the last place to look.
Walking on your hands and feet, crouched over like an animal, you ascended the staircase on near-silent footsteps. The temperature dropped with each twist of the stairs, and you shivered despite your fur, still getting used to the late winter chill.
Pausing on the staircase, you peeked your head above the landing and froze at the sight of the bent figure. Wings draped along his back, his tail curled around his feet, Bucky sat on his haunches while staring at something in his hands.
It took you a minute to place the object, and when you remembered, it hit you like a train.
Bucky was holding an old, scruffy, stripped grey tabby. The animus. The thing that had bound you to him, and the last time he’d held it in his hands you’d nearly gone out of your mind with desire.
And now you felt… no different than you had before. The bond was gone, and the toy was just a toy.
Your ears folded back, your chest aching so deeply you could hardly breathe. Bucky didn’t appear any happier. Moonlight poured in front the old windows above his head, painting a lonely, melancholy picture.
Bucky pulled the toy against his chest, shoulders slumping forward, and he took a shaking breath. You froze, listening intently, and crushing guilt washed over you when his breathing hitched again.
Bucky was silently crying.
Your descent down the stairs would have felt like fleeing if you hadn’t been completely numb with horror. You had done this to Bucky. You’d driven him to hide his pain, only releasing it when he thought you wouldn’t know.
Tail between your legs, literally and mentally, you crawled into the bathroom and shut the door. Hesitating, you turned on the lights and rose to your feet to unwillingly look in the mirror. You’d tried to avoid it as much as you could, only catching glimpses in the window and reflective surfaces.
You looked the same as you had in the demon realm. Grey-blue fur, cat-like ears and tail, curled horns, and slitted eyes. Only now did you realize something so ridiculously obvious: you looked a lot like Monster.
You shut your eyes and tried to push the thought of your hobgoblin out of your mind. No one could find him, not at your apartment and not at the Sanctum, and you couldn’t bear the thought you’d never see him again. Strange critter or not, he was family, and you couldn’t imagine losing him on top of everything else.
Gazing back at your reflection, tail twitching behind you, you concentrated. You had no idea what you were doing and that was obvious when after several minutes, nothing happened. You gripped the sink, nails scratching against the metal as you tried harder. You were not going to live out the rest of your life as a goddamn animal.
Try as you might, nothing continued to happen, and you sagged against the sink in defeat. You couldn’t live like this, half-wild and unpredictable. Bucky was a patient as he could be, and it occurred to you he would continue to try to help you no matter the cost to himself. That’s just how he was, selfless to the point of self-destructive.
That, more than anything, got you moving. Thinking of Bucky and what Strange had told you earlier that day, you came up with an idea. It was asking too much of Bucky, but if it worked, maybe he’d be able to forgive you.
Bucky found you sitting cross-legged on the bed when he came down the stairs. His brows rose, clearly not expecting you to be waiting for him, and his gaze dropped to the notepad and marker in your hands. On good days, you could communicate with writing. In a twist of irony, it was the same pad and marker you’d used to talk to him when the heigore had torn up your vocal cords and the sorcerers had silenced you to recover.
As soon as he appeared on the staircase you started scribbling, and as he approached, you scooted over and patted the covers next to you. When Bucky sat, a couple feet from you with careful movements, you held up the pad. He read it.
“You need… a favor from me?”
You nodded, wrote again, and underlined it twice.
“A big favor.”
You nodded again, sharp nails curling around the pad as you tried to quell your nerves.
“Okay.” He eyed you carefully. “What kind of favor?”
You couldn’t blame Bucky for his cautiousness. Besides communicating the bare minimum to him, this was the first time you’d held any kind of conversation since he’d rescued you from a very literal Hell. Guilt continued to twist up your insides, but you pressed onward.
The next words you wrote took far longer than it should have, considering there were only two. You stared at them for a moment, your fur slowly puffing up. Bucky was watching, his expression growing more concerned by the second.
“Hey, you can tell me, whatever it is,” Bucky said. He moved a little closer, and you flinched. His expression was immediately regretful, but it wasn’t what he thought at all.
Before you lost your nerve, you held up the pad and quickly looked away.
Bucky didn’t repeat the words you’d scrawled on the paper. Instead, he gave out a croaked, “What?”
You pulled back the pad and stared down at the words you’d written.
Fuck me.
Next Chapter
125 notes · View notes
writer-k-pop · 4 years ago
Text
Behind The Scenes
오늘 투위터 봤어요? Have you looked at Twitter today?
Description: Being the youngest and newest member of BTS’s filming crew, you grow close to other crew members as well as the BTS members. Specifically, BTS’s maknae, Jeon Jungkook, because somehow you always get paired to film him. After a perfectly timed photo during a filming hits the internet, rumors and words fly around excessively. And Jungkook shows his worry for you.  Warnings: Swearing, none Genre: FLUFF Word Count: 3.7k
BTS Masterlist | Masterlists
Tumblr media
"The filming will begin once the members finish up with their makeup." Our director announces as we stand around him in an empty parking lot. "Audio team is here?" He asks and scattered hands raise in the air, "8, 9. Good. Cameras?" He moves onto the next department: mine
I raise my hand as the others on my team do the same.
"And you know who you're following?" Our director asks.
We go down the line and say the member we're filming for the day.
"V."
"Rm."
"Suga."
"Jin."
"Jimin."
"Hope."
"And our youngest," Rena pinches my cheek, "Is with Jungkook."
I bat away her hand with an eye roll. Since joining as the newest, and the youngest, the older team members have been teasing me about how cute we'd be together. Though I highly doubt it. I think they're just teasing me because I'm the newest and the youngest. Like it's my initiation ordeal. But every time we do some filming that needs each member to have a dedicated camera person with them (nearly every time), they always pair me with Jungkook.
At first it was a little awkward: he wouldn't talk to me cause I was new and I wouldn't talk to him cause I was new. It took a few filming schedules until we were able to have comfortable conversations.
"Alright, here they come." Our director announces, "Remember their safety as well as yours!"
We all give a cheer of excitement then break out to get our equipment and into our smaller groups. Each will have a camera staff, an audio staff, and another staff to direct the content.
"Wonder where Jungkook will pick." Hyunwoo wonders as he adjusts his audio equipment belt.
"I pray it's not in the old park." Yeonseok, our assigned staff, says and places his hands in a prayer pose.
"Knowing our luck, it'll be there." I joke while zipping the last extra battery in its pocket before picking up the camera.
"If it is, it's your fault." Yeonseok pokes my shoulder.
"Don't blame me!" I spit back, "Blame the one who actually chooses it."
"I could never blame Jungkook." Yeonseok shakes his head and places his hand over his heart.
"Yupp, you're definitely NOT whipped." Hyunwoo says sarcastically as we join the other staff members crowded behind the few standing cameras.
In front of the cameras, the seven members of BTS stand and wait for the cue to start their silliness for 'Run BTS.'
"Everyone quiet please!" The main director waves his hands and everyone ceases their conversations. "Camera, roll!"
"Wah, it's a really nice day." Hoseok comments, squinting up at the sun.
Jungkook and Jimin laugh at his random comment.
"Hyung, why are you so awkward today?" Taehyung giggles.
"It's not awkward." Jin comes to Hoseok's defense and throws an arm around his shoulders, "It is a nice day." He emphasizes nice and also looks up at the sun before slapping a hand over his burning eyes. "Ah, ah, ah, that hurts." This only makes the maknae line laugh harder.
"Alright, alright." Namjoon attempts to calm them down but Jungkook and Taehyung continue to giggle, "We all know why we're here, right?"
"Ah, yes." Yoongi nods slowly, "We were dropped off in this empty parking lot so we could get kidnapped." He deadpans.
From the staff, muffled chuckles can be heard and I have to press my fist to my mouth to keep the laughter in. Hoseok and Jin join the maknae line in loud laughter and Namjoon looks towards the director, his eyes pleading for help.
"Sorry, Joon-ah." Hoseok coughs out, trying to push the laughter aside. "We'll say it right. Ask the question again."
Namjoon claps his hands together and resets. "We all know why we're here, right?" He repeats his previous question.
"RUN BTS!" The other six members loudly scream towards the sky.
"Hyung, are you the MC today?" Jimin asks, gesturing towards the group's leader.
Namjoon shakes his head, "If I was, this show would be a disaster."
"No, I think you would do really well." Hoseok claps Namjoon's back in support.
"Thanks Hobi." Namjoon says and holds his hand out for a handshake. Only to be ignored. Again. "Anyway, today we're doing something different."
"We are?" Jin and Taehyung ask together with over emphasized curiousity.
"We are." Namjoon confirms. "Today, we'll each be on our own, completing missions to get a picture. Then we'll all meet up again and I think we have to line up the pictures in order. If we get the answer right, we get a prize. I think?" Namjoon finishes with an unsure ending.
"That's right." The main director nods then explains the game to the members in a shpeel that will be edited out later and replaced with written instructions on the screen. "Each member will randomly choose a location. At that location there will be four missions you have to complete. When you finish all four, you will be given a photo. After you receive the photo, you will all gather again and together will place the photos in the order that they were taken. If you succeed, each BTS member will be given a wish that they can use anytime within the next year."
"WOAH!" The members drop their mouths in awe.
"And we can ask for anything?" Jin asks.
The director nods, "As long as it pertains to this show, you can ask for anything."
"Can I ask to go home then?" Yoongi steps forward with a raised hand.
The director laughs, "You can but then you'd miss out on other prizes."
"Okay, so how do we know which location to go to?" Taehyung asks, his excitement shining through his eyes.
The director holds out a can with seven folded pieces of paper. Taehyung walks forward, grabs the can, and retreats back to his members.
"Who picks first?" He asks the group.
"Let's do rock, paper, scissors." Jin suggests, sticking a hand out.
"Not this game. I suck at this." Hoseok whines but sticks his hand out along with the rest.
"Winner gets to pick first." Jin announces.
They pick a piece of paper in this order: Hoseok, Jungkook, Namjoon, Jimin, Yoongi, Taehyung, then Jin.
"Should we reveal them one by one?" Jungkook suggests and the others nod. "Hoseok hyung first."
"Where am I going?" Hoseok teases then pops open his piece of paper. "The movie theatre?" He reads off his location with confusion.
"Ahhhhh, that would've been fun!" Taehyung whines.
"Jungkook, next." Jin gestures for the youngest to hurry up.
Jungkook opens his sheet and reads it out, "Cafe."
My fists clench in happiness that he didn't pick the outdoor location.
"Yah, that's a good one." Namjoon shakes his finger in Jungkook's direction but I can't make out if he's happy or disappointed. "I am going to the gym."
"I'm going to the park!" Jimin reads off his excitedly.
"Is it the old one we saw on our way here?" Jungkook asks the staff with bunny eyes. The director gives him a nod and Jungkook pouts. "Hyung, can we switch? Ah, I really wanted to go there!"
I narrow my eyes at the youngest and pray that the director won't let them switch places.
"No switching, Jungkook." Taehyung says and pulls the youngest away.
"Yoongi, Yoongi." Hoseok says the next member.
Yoongi slowly opens his paper but doesn't show the camera as he reads it. Then he suddenly starts screaming and jumping in happiness.
"What?" Taehyung asks.
"Where are you going, hyung?" Jimin asks, trying to take the paper away from him.
"THE DORM!" Yoongi screams happily and finally shows the cameras the piece of paper.
The other six members give sounds of disbelief and Jimin even walks towards us staff, asking if it's true.
While Yoongi happily bounces from foot to foot, Taehyung reveals his location.
"I'm going to the company." Taehyung announces before Jin swiftly opens his, the writing pointed towards the cameras and away from him.
"School?" Taehyung reads it out for him and Jin quickly flips the paper around to read it for himself.
"SCHOOL?" Jin repeats incredulously.
Yoongi bursts into laughter with Jungkook.
"Do you know how long it's been since I've been in school?!" Jin shrieks. "I have to go back?"
"Hyung, maybe they'll let you wear a school uniform." Hoseok laughs, leaning onto his shoulder.
Jin shakes Hoseok off and scoffs, "What are you talking about?"
"How long do we have?" Jimin asks the director while Hoseok and Jin giggle together about Jin's location.
"We'll give you 3 hours to finish your individual missions." The director said.
"Alright, let's go." Yoongi rushes the group, wanting to get to the dorm as quickly as possible. "Run!"
"BTS!" They all finish together.
I readjust the camera in my hands and wait for our small group to be joined with Jungkook.
"You lucky duck." Yeonseok nudges my arm.
"I prayed real hard." I smile as our team is called.
"Team Jungkook!" My director calls out.
I shuffle through the crowd behind my older male staff partners for the day.
"Yeonseok hyung!" Jungkook says happily as we make our way over, "Hyunwoo hyung!"
I peak out from behind the two and give an expecting smile for my greeting.
"(y/n)!" Jungkook snaps finger guns at me, "Woah, I got the dream team." As the car pulls up, Jungkook carries on conversation with the other two leaving me to fiddle with the camera and prepare to film. "How is Junsu hyung and the baby?"
"They're good." Yeonseok answers, "The kid is finally sleeping through the night."
"Makes him much easier to handle during the day." Hyunwoo jokes and juts a thumb at Yeonseok.
Jungkook chuckles, "I believe it."
"Yah, I'm older than you." Yeonseok scolds him and we all slid into the car: Yeonseok driving, Hyunwoo next to him and Jungkook and I in the middle seats.
"What do I have to do to there?" Jungkook asks while putting on his seatbelt and I do the same.
I shrug.
"How do you not know?" Jungkook asks me.
"Oh, I know. I'm just not allowed to tell you." I smirk.
"Oh come on, please." He drags out the 'please' but I shake my head as Hyunwoo wags a finger at him.
"No can do kiddo." Hyunwoo says, "We wanna keep our jobs."
Jungkook pouts and crosses his arms over his chest, "No fair."
I snort at his behavior, "Your a member of the world's biggest boy band and you're pouting over not being able to cheat."
Jungkook tsks, "If it were Jin hyung, you guys would've told him."
I raise my eyebrows at him, "I wouldn't. But Yeonseok might."
"Oi!" Yeonseok looks at me through the rearview mirror, "I would not."
"Sure." Jungkook and I say at the same time with the same unbelieving tone.
A few minutes later, Yeonseok parks the car in front of the cafe that we had rented out for the day.
"Hold on." I tell Jungkook as he reaches for the door.
"Why?" Jungkook looked at me like I'm crazy for not letting him out.
I roll my eyes, "Just wait until I get to the other side. I don't exactly want to film your butt." Without waiting for his response, I exit the car on my side and quickly jog around to Jungkook's side.
When I'm in my spot, Jungkook then opens his door and ducks out of the car.
"I go inside?" He throws an innocent look to Yeonseok who nods. So we walk inside with me walking backwards with the camera focused on Jungkook.
As we step inside, the cafe music fills my ears and the atmosphere turns cozy in a second.
"What's my first mission?" He asks, the desire to finish first before all of his members burns in his eyes.
Yeonseok hands Jungkook a piece of paper which he opens, reads, then shows the camera. I make sure to get a clear shot of the writing as he reads it aloud.
"Choose four drinks from the menu and make them." Jungkook says. "I have to, like am I actually supposed to get behind the counter and make them?" He points to the space behind the counter. Yeonseok, Hyunwoo, and I all nod our heads. After a few schedules with rolling cameras, I learned that I need to suppress the laughter I get from Jungkook's surprise. My amusement growing at his adorable bewilderment.
"Well, okay. Do I get to choose the drinks?" Jungkook questions and turns towards the menu. Yeonseok nods when Jungkook glances back.
"I have to make four?" Jungkook sighs, "Mmm, well, if we're going to drink them, then I should choose drinks that we'll like." He reasons. "So, for the PD hyungs I think I'll make Iced Americanos." Jungkook looks to them for approval which they give. "For camera PD, I will make a strawberry lemonade?" He raises his eyebrows looking for my response. I smile and nod, my heart skipping a few beats. "And for myself, I'm gonna make, ooh, a hot chocolate. Yeah, that sounds great."
Jungkook nods in determination. "Alright, let's do this." He walks around the counter and finds an apron and a book on how to make all the drinks on the menu.
"Of course you would give me a book." Jungkook smirks at Yeonseok while tying the apron around his waist, "Otherwise your drinks would've been terrible."
He laughs at himself and begins working on the two americanos. I move around the counter and capture Jungkook fumbling around with the espresso machine.
"Is this how it works?" He mumbles and glances up to me for help. I shrug my shoulders cause I honestly have no idea how to work that kind of machine.
Jungkook sighs staring at the espresso tamper in his hands, "I know we did an episode with this. Why can't I remember?" He looks underneath and fiddles some more before slowly but successfully attaches the tamper to the machine. "Success!" He smiles happily then the smile drops, "Now which button do I press?"
I suppress a laugh but Jungkook hears my snicker as he fills two plastic cups with ice.
"Don't you laugh at me!" He turns and pouts at me. "You're laughing."
I shake my head with a smile of innocence as I can't make a sound while recording.
Jungkook turns back to the machine and reads all the buttons until he finds what he thinks is the right one which frankly, I would've picked the same one. In about a minute, the two little cups below the tampers fill with the warm dark goodness of espresso. When the final little droplets fall into the cups, Jungkook takes each and pours them into the plastic cups. Then he pours water in till the cup is full.
As he pops the lids on and sticks straws into them, I can't help but admire him through the camera feed.
"Next up, strawberry lemonade." Jungkook sing songs turning around to find the right ingredients.
20 minutes later, Jungkook sits across from me at a table and I sip on the lovely strawberry lemonade that Jungkook made me.
"What's my next mission?" Jungkook asks, setting down his nearly half finished mug.
Yeonseok slides over a piece of paper from the next table. Jungkook picks up the paper, reads it and begins his second mission.
*The next day*
"You haven't looked at Twitter, have you?" Yeonseok ambushes me as soon as I step into the building.
I glance around, slightly nervous, "No, I woke up late and rushed here."
Yeonseok sighs deeply, "Thank goodness."
"Why?" I ask as he drags me further into the building.
"Because." Yeonseok says vaguely.
"Because?" I repeat, hanging onto the word.
"Because..." Yeonseok glances around and I do the same, finding some stares being directed at us. "There's a rumor."
"Stop being vague!" I exclaim and pull my arm away.
"Someone took a picture of us filming at the cafe yesterday." Yeonseok explains.
"Okay? What's so big about that? They do that all the time." I explain.
"Yeah, but this time, the picture was perfectly angled so Hyunwoo and I were hidden and your camera is hidden by one of the pillars inside so.." Yeonseok trails off as I pick up on where the sentence is leading.
"It looks like we were on a date." I sigh, closing my eyes. "Is it bad?"
Yeonseok tilts his head to the side, "I mean not the worst things that have been thrown around..."
"But still pretty bad." I finish for him.
"Yeah." Yeonseok confirms.
I shrug, ignoring the dull pain of wishful thinking in my chest, "It's not like we've never had to go through something like this in the past."
"Yeah but you should really stay off the internet for a day or so." Yeonseok advices as we reach our large office space.
I nod slowly, "Okay, I won't." Setting down my bags, I sit at my computer and start opening on emails for the day.
"You promise?" Hyunwoo pops his over the cubicle walls.
I smile at his concern, "I promise. Why do you care though? I can handle myself."
"We know you can." Hyunwoo responds, "But you're still the youngest and like our little sister so we gotta protect you."
"Or at least try to." Yeonseok adds on.
I chuckle, "Well, thank you. I'm assuming upstairs is denying it?" I point upwards.
"Writing the denial letter as we speak." Hyunwoo snaps his fingers.
"This way?" Jungkook's voice echos down the hall.
I scrunch my eyebrows and Hyunwoo, Yeonseok, and I all lean back in our chairs wondering why he's up here.
Within seconds, Jungkook appears in the office space, his eyes searching a bit frantically.
"(y/n)." Jungkook says my name which shocks not only me, but Yeonseok and Hyunwoo as well.
I give him a small wave and a confused smile. Jungkook smiles and quickly walks over.
"Are you okay?" He asks me.
Yeonseok and Hyunwoo snicker but lean closer to their computers. I internally roll my eyes at them.
"I'm okay. Are you okay?" I answer and return the question.
"I'm okay now." Jungkook says, now a little shy.
"Now?" I ask.
"Well, I sort of saw Twitter this morning and I was a little worried." He answers.
I'm sure the evidence of surprise is clear on my face because he spits out more explanations.
"I, I mean I know you're new and haven't really been around this industry much and I didn't know how you would take it." Jungkook stutters, "And, and I worried because you were the one in the photo with me and I know people can be really nasty. Especially when we’re involved." He finishes quietly with a scratch to the back of his neck.
I squint cause I think I see a little blush tint his cheeks.
"Thank you for the concern." I tell him with honesty and I’m a little touched. "Is that why you came up here?" I ask.
Jungkook chuckles, "Yeah."
I smile, "Well, thank you. I appreciate it."
"Great." Jungkook claps his hands and then starts to get antsy, "Well, I'm gonna head back downstairs."
"(y/n)!" Hyunwoo quickly stands up, startling both Jungkook and I, "Walk him out. He could get lost up here."
"Yeah, we don't want Jungkook getting lost up here." Yeonseok agrees.
"Hyung." Jungkook drags out the word while I give them a pleading look. "I can find my way out."
"You didn't even know how to get here." Hyunwoo argues with the older brother smart-ass tone.
Jungkook opens his mouth to respond but his voice is nonexistent. I try to choke back a laugh but it comes out anyway.
"Hey, don't you even start." Yeonseok points a finger at me, "You're so much worse."
"Am not!" I defend myself, standing and crossing my arms.
"Are too." Hyunwoo agrees.
"Am not." I say in disbelief.
"Actually, you kind of are." Jungkook comments.
I raise my arm to slap his arm but hesitate, unable to finish the move. Jungkook, on the other hand, simply sticks his tongue out at me.
"Mature." I roll my eyes and lower my arm.
"Mature enough to ask you out?" Jungkook suddenly asks with a smirk.
My entire body freezes and the air dissipates from my lungs. The air around us also stales in an instance. Even Yeonseok and Hyunwoo are stunned into silence. In my ears, my heart starts to pound and my cheeks heat up. I can't believe the words I had just heard.
"I..." Jungkook clear his throat, "I said that out loud..."
I blink to break out of my thoughts and reset myself. "I'll, uh, I'll walk you out." I smile, trying to ignore what just happened but I don't think I did it well.
Jungkook wordlessly nods and follows me out of the office space. Neither of us say a word to each other until we're way past the office space.
"I apologize for earlier." Jungkook basically whispers.
I shake my head, "No, no need to apologize. It's okay."
"I really didn't mean to say it." Jungkook continues to explain. "I was actually worried this morning and I guess it was still running through my head and then it just happened. I guess."
I suppress a smile and look down to the ground, "It was a little shocking." I admit, "But I can't say it isn't one-sided."
That stops Jungkook in his tracks. I notice a few steps ahead and stop to turn and face him. His eyes are wide in disbelief and his arms hang loosely by his sides.
He stutters out jargon then clears his throat. Jungkook looks up with hope in his eyes, "Then, (y/n), can I take you out for dinner."
A smile grows on my face and my cheeks heat up ever so slightly, "Yes, you can."
Jungkook smiles widely and begins walking next to me again. My heart flutters happily and excitement grows in the pit of my stomach. As we walk, his shoulder brushes against mine and goosebumps erupt down my arms.
Sometimes rumors stay rumors. Other times they become reality.
90 notes · View notes
elen-aranel · 4 years ago
Text
Stars Above the Desert
The Engineer’s Adventures
1-1 • 1-2 • 2 • 3 • 4
For: @autumnleaves1991-blog Writer Wednesday. Thank you so much for these prompts, Autumn, because without them the Engineer wouldn’t exist. Pairing: Captain Christopher Pike x F!Reader (no Y/N) Warnings: fluff WC: 1600 words Tag list: @jusvibbbin A/N: I didn’t think I had inspiration for today’s image and yet...
Tumblr media
Alnath III is a desert planet, just on the borderline of Class L and Class M. The briefings you had read did go some way to explaining why the colonists had chosen this planet to settle: some were agriculturalists who wanted to develop drought resistant strains of crops; some were scientists who wanted a world they called ‘pristine’ for some biological experiments to do with the formation of life; and one or two were geologists who thought the planet might have resources they could exploit. Not the most obvious basis for a community but they seemed to be getting along, making it work.
The little town they have built is charming in its way; they have made an effort to make it feel like a home, with a little town square, and adobe-style buildings rather than prefabs. Still, you think, as you lie sweating in the sand under an empty water tank just outside town, powering down your phase compensator, you’d have chosen different a planet to colonise. One where the ground water wasn’t so deep you needed mechanical assistance just to get to it, or so laden with minerals and inorganic compounds that it was poisonous until purified.
At least this time it was Louvier rather than Chris who had ordered you to join the away mission, so Number One couldn’t complain.
“Try it again, Ensign Devrin,” you yell to your Tellarite colleague who is some twenty metres away at the control terminal for the well and purification plant you’re trying to fix.
“Aye, Lieutenant,” he shouts back. Everything is silent for a moment, then you hear the sound of water in the pipes below. But just as you’re about to get your hopes up there is an ugly metal grating sound and everything grinds to a halt.
“Sounds like the gears got stripped as well,” you mutter, entering your findings into a PADD.
You check the time. It’s more than half way through beta shift – 21:00 ship’s time but only 16:00 local time.
“Ensign, you might as well return to the ship. Take this to Louvier – he can add these to the fabrication list, though I’m guessing they won’t be ready until the end of gamma. We can get them installed tomorrow.” You stand and stretch, before handing the PADD to Devrin who has come closer to see what you’re working on.
“Aren’t you coming too?” Devrin looks at you, concern in his expression.
“Nah, there are still some things for me to do before the installation, and I want to check on the solar plant while we’re here – make sure all the batteries are nominal, that kind of thing. We don’t want to get called back next month for something else that’s gone wrong.”
“Well, if you’re sure...”
“I’m sure. Have a good evening, Devrin.” You smile at him as he calls for a beam out. You’ve sent the rest of your engineering team back to the ship because you want them fresh for tomorrow, and the things you have left to do don’t take more than one person.
You finish up installing new software to the water plant to accommodate the new components going in tomorrow, then take a walk over to the solar plant.
You’re glad you checked it – while the hardware is all okay – batteries all full at the end of the day, solar panels operating within tolerance – there’s a slight memory leak in the software. You’ve seen this issue on this type of controller before – it’s the kind of thing where it will be fine for ages then suddenly fail, plunging the colony into the dark and causing a lot of heartache. It’s an easy fix, but you make a note to suggest the colonists recruit an engineer on your report. You will not be volunteering.
It’s around 01:00 ship’s time when you finish everything, but only 20:00 local time. The colony is in the planet’s northern hemisphere, and it’s summer, so the sun is only just going down. Part of you considers returning to the ship, but really you had always planned to stay over. By the time you have some food, get back to your quarters, shower and lie down, it’ll be time to get up again. And much as you wouldn’t want to live here, it is nice to breathe fresh air for a while.
You call the bridge to let them know you’re staying. You’re not going to be the only one planetside overnight; almost the entire exobiology department beamed down, wanting to make the most of the Enterprise’s stay – it’s a change for them from endlessly cataloguing species on new planets and they don’t want to pass it up. The Ensigns at least are having a sleepover at one of the scientists’ houses, but you would rather not hear any more about drought resistant triticale variants. You had brought a sleeping bag, your own water and some protein bars.
You walk through the square, nodding to the couple of colonists who are about, and stop a bit away from the edge of town. You find a large flat rock to sit on, and eat a couple of protein bars as you watch the sun set peacefully below the horizon.
You drink some water, then set up your sleeping bag, hoping to get some rest. You’re usually okay at sleeping in uncomfortable places, but it’s cold. You force yourself to shut your eyes, and you keep your breathing slow and steady even as you shiver slightly. You go to pull your sleeping bag around you tighter, but as you do you feel a gentle weight settle over you. You frown and open your eyes.
“Chris?” You lean up on your elbows. “What are you doing here? You should be asleep.” You soften your chiding tone with a smile as he sits beside you, pulling the blanket he settled over you over himself as well.
“And miss the chance to spend time in the desert?” He presses a kiss to your temple and you move to sit up, leaning against him. “I’ve been looking for an excuse to beam down, and when I heard you were staying over I thought I’d come check on you. I thought you might be cold.”
“For somewhere that’s been so hot during the day the temperature sure does drop at night,” you say, enjoying the warmth of his body against yours. You unzip your sleeping bag to make it into a blanket for both of you. Chris helps, and with the two of you together with the sleeping bag and blanket over you, you feel yourself warming quickly. “But even so, it’s nice to have solid ground beneath me, and—not be running away from anything.” You look up at him sidelong.
He huffs a laugh. “Yeah, that’s a good feeling,” he says, slipping his arm around your shoulders. “Is this your first time in a desert at night?”
“First time in a desert at all. Well,” you pause to consider. “Technically second time, because we had a family holiday to Monument Valley when I was eighteen months old. I don’t remember it though.”
“You never visited when you were at the academy?” You hear the surprise in his voice.
“No – my survival training was in the Alps, and then the Amazon. And my friends and I would take a shuttle to Mars or New Berlin when we had time off.” You look around at the dunes, stretching into the distance to mountains on the horizon, then back to him. “How does this compare to the desert where you grew up?”
“Less alive,” he answers instantly. “There were lots of plants growing – grasses, mesquite. I miss the smell. And animals, too – I found a burrowing owl nest as a kid, once. And there were sheep, tortoises, jackrabbits...” his eyes go a little faraway as he remembers. “But there are some similarities.”
He tips you both back, gently, pulling the covers over you. You’re looking at him, so you don’t understand what he’s doing at first, but you follow his gaze upwards, and gasp.
Above you is the Milky Way, almost like a sparkling splash of paint across the sky. You have never seen so many stars; the constellations are unfamiliar but you almost feel like you’re looking down on them. Like you could reach out and touch a star. “I can’t believe the colours,” you say, as you try to take it all in.
He squeezes you a little and you rest your head against his shoulder, still looking up. “This is why I joined up, really. I would sneak out at night and lie there, looking at the stars. It took Admiral Marcus to help me see that command track was the right path, but...” he lapses into silence for a while.
“There’s something magical about seeing them like this, isn’t there? Even though we get to call space home.” You feel him nod, and you can’t resist anymore.
You turn, reaching out, touching his jaw and tilting his face toward you. You kiss him, gently at first, but he turns, pulling you flush against him as he nips at your lower lip. You open your mouth into the kiss and press your body against him, and for long moments it’s just the two of you and the stars wheeling overhead.
There will be plenty of time for you to worry about getting the well fixed, for him to worry about everything that goes into running a starship...
But for a short while you can let everything go.
42 notes · View notes
keelywolfe · 4 years ago
Text
FIC: Just Swimmingly ch.7 (BAON)
Tumblr media
Summary: Team Rescue is on the way...mostly. Look, they aren't good at names.
Tags:  Spicyhoney, Established Relationships,  Hurt/Comfort, Kidnapping
Part of the ‘by any other name’ series.
~~*~~
Read it on AO3
or
Read it here!
~~*~~
Edge had been on worse car rides, but not many. In fact, he could only think of one; riding in the backseat of his own car with Stretch unconscious in his lap, his life ticking away in decimals as Edge desperately clung to Blue’s instruction that he should think of healing magic as similar to making a hollandaise.
It wasn’t ridiculous if it worked and sitting here in this silent car, hyperfocusing on the mostly empty roads with Blue next to him radiating grim determination and Antwan in the backseat, Edge found himself thinking of hollandaise again.
The mental picture of the saucepan was strangely easing, keeping his turbulent thoughts occupied. In his memory, Blue’s voice was preternaturally calm as he reminded them that all the butter couldn’t be added at once because the mixture would break. Edge followed the direction coming from his phone as the voice assistant instructed him in its robotic way to turn left, (you need to add the butter a little at a time) turn right, (whisk it in), your destination is on the left.
It was only when he pulled into the empty parking lot as directed that the real Blue spoke, his high voice uncertain over the confidence of his imaginary twin, “Shouldn’t the security teams be here?”
“No,” Edge said disgustedly. He threw the car into park and pressed a knuckle between his eye sockets with painful force. “because this isn’t the right place.”
The dilapidated sign over the empty storefront declared with a spooky if faded cheer to be ‘Spirit Halloween’ but the only spirits in this place were the ghosts of customers’ past.
“My brother’s sense of humor,” Edge said, “he’s sending us a message. We went trick or treating behind his back and here’s his trick.”
“Of course it is,” Blue muttered, sinking back in the seat. His gloved hands were tight in his lap, a mirror to Edge’s grip on the steering wheel. “Papyrus probably warned him hours ago that I’d left home. He would have been ready for something like this.”
Edge picked up his phone, his bare thumbs moving with cautious swiftness over the screen. “Yes, he would. Which is why we’re going to follow the other tracker now.”
“Other tracker?” Antwan leaned over the driver’s seat to look at the new directions scrolling up the phone screen. His laughter was uncomfortable, more nerves than humor. “How many trackers do you have on your brother?”
Not as many as he has on me, Edge did not say. “On a normal day, only one.” Edge pulled back out onto the empty street, following the monotone drone of the GPS. “Sans set it up for me when Red pulled his little disappearing act after California and then reappeared to wreak havoc on my kitchen.”
“He did what?” Blue asked and Edge winced internally, barely keeping it from showing on his face. He wasn’t at his best, that much was certain, spilling secrets out in a spreading pool, but caring about that would have to wait. There were only so many directions he could pull his focus for now and Blue was hardly going to take out an advertisement in the paper if he heard anything he shouldn’t. A bit of gossip when it came to office relationships and the local scandals aside, Blue was one of their diplomats and he was well able to use appropriate discretion.
Hopefully, his definition of appropriate did not include asking Red any uncomfortable questions at a later date.
“It doesn’t matter. As I was saying, I usually have one tracker on my brother just in case he gets it into his head to face something he shouldn’t alone.” Edge didn’t quite roll through a red light. Better to not get pulled over by the Ebott police if he could help it, Embassy security certainly had enough on their hands right now without having to handle minor traffic violations. “Except, as I said, Sans gave it to me. Which means it’s only as accurate as Sans wants it to be and he has an unfortunate tendency to match my brother when it comes to deciding he knows what’s best for other people.”
A certain sourness fell over Blue’s expression as he nodded. As both a younger brother and a diplomat he was quite familiar with the ongoing irritation of overprotectiveness, even as he often did the same to his own brother.
“Which is why tonight I added my own tracker to Red’s jacket,” Edge said, “I would have followed that one first, but I was hoping not to reveal it so quickly if I could help it.”
Blue hummed thoughtfully. “You don’t think he’d be expecting that?”
“Of course, but I think he’d have a harder time finding and disabling it. Stretch made it for me.” The memory of his maniacal delight when Edge told him what it was for was briefly allowed, as well as his satisfied triumph when he presented Edge with a device that was the size of match head, tagged with near-microscopic hooks reminiscent of Velcro that were made to catch and cling to any fabric with a mere touch.
His design was with the Research and Development team now, minus the tracking device, as they worked to find a use for it that would allow for them to sell it to Humans, along with a dozen other things he’d created. So many of Stretch’s designs ended up that way, patents in which he was not named used as bargaining chips to help keep their coffers full. Stretch always declared that he didn’t work for the Embassy and that much was true. Instead, he worked for all of Monsterkind, that clever mind of his working to get them the funds they needed establish a place in this world. Only a handful of people even knew it and while Asgore could be foolishly soft-hearted on occasion, he wouldn’t considering paying a large ransom for any citizen on the street, even if they were married to Edge. Stretch was important past his twitter feed and it would be narrow not to suspect that these kidnappers somehow learned about it.
This time the tracker was leading them to the other side of town, down on the north side where the neighborhoods were filled with condemned houses and boarded up businesses. The only industry that thrived there were liquor shops whose windows were barred, manned by cashiers who spent their days behind a thick layer of bulletproof glass. His car was going to stand out like a sore thumb, but it couldn’t be helped. He wasn’t about to waste anymore time by stopping at the Embassy to borrow something more discreet.
At least he could worry less about reprisals from rolling through stop sign; the Ebott police presence on this side of town was minimal.
They made their way through the empty streets without incident. It was late even for the criminal element and a glance down the alleyways they passed showed them filled with shadows that could have been trash cans or curled up humans sleeping amongst them.
Some of the children from the Y lived on this side of town. Actually, most of them did and some of them might well be sleeping on the street right now…no. He couldn’t think of that at this moment, one thing at a time. He couldn’t afford to have his attention ping-ponging around inside his head, not when their destination was in sight.
This time, there were plenty of cars parked in a semi-circle around the building, floodlights pouring from their windows and flashers circling on their rooftops. Embassy security teams were made up of Monsters and Humans, and there were plenty out there in their uniforms. The Ebott police were going to throw a fit about jurisdiction, of that he had no doubt, but that was going to be a tomorrow problem for the Legal department and their FBI connections.
One of the security personnel approached the car as Edge pulled up, both hands raised in a gesture that could either mean for them stop or for him to offer surrender. Edge rolled down his window and he ducked his head inside the car. “Sir, your husband and his friend are both fine,” he said without preamble. “This area is closed off, you should—”
“If you even suggest that I should leave, you’re going to be reassigned to the elementary school playground for the foreseeable future,” Edge said evenly.
To his credit, the guard’s expression did not change. “Wouldn’t dream of it, sir. I was going to tell you to park over on the north side,” He pointed to a clearing off behind the other cars. “Your brother is waiting for you up at the entrance.”
“Of course he is,” Edge muttered. “I’m sure we’ve kept him quite entertained with his version of hide and seek.” But he obeyed the direction.
He parked a fair distance away from the circle of the security vehicles and got out of the car, Antwan and Blue at his heels. No one else approached, the rest of the security team keeping a respectable distance away out of either direction from their leaders or simple self-preservation.
Standing near the warehouse entrance and out of the glare of the floodlights was Red, burrowed into his jacket with a Styrofoam cup in his hand and a cigar smoldering between his teeth. As if warned by his instincts or, more likely, through the curling earpiece that was stuck into his audial canal, Red turned to them as they approached. His grin was irritatingly knowing and familiar, pleased as a punch to have held them off long enough that everything was finished but the cleanup.
And yet, it was also such a comfort to see that smirk that Edge nearly went weak at the knees. He wouldn’t be smiling that way if Stretch or Jeff were hurt, even his brother’s sadism had its limits.
“what took you so long, you stop for coffee?” Red snorted. He held up the Styrofoam cup. “coulda brought me some, the shit they’ve got here’d give battery acid a run for its cash.”
“Yes, of course, we got stuck in the drive-thru at Starbucks," Edge snapped. “You’ll forgive me for not bringing enough for everyone!”
Before he could even demand a report, Blue went on past him. Parking lot gravel scattered under his booted feet as he stormed up to Red and swatted the cup from his hands. He paid no mind to the coffee sloshing out over their shoes, his small fists knotting into Red’s jacket front as he hauled him in close to snarl out, “WHERE IS MY BROTHER?”
Even through layers of forced calm, Edge could still appreciate the sight. It was certainly an unusual one. Blue was shorter even than Red and he wore no oversized jacket to give his small frame an illusion of bulk. The overwhelming visual was that of a tabby cat attacking the local tiger and if it were anyone else, Edge might have tried to intercede. It was possible he could have saved their lives, if not their limbs, had it been anyone but their innermost circle.
As it was, he tensed until his brother said mildly, “easy on the threads, baby blue, this’s my favorite jacket. my only one, too. they’re still upstairs. they ain't hurt, so we're lettin' 'em come down in their own time. ain’t no need to rush ‘em. think they needed a mo’ to catch their breath, s’all."
Blue didn’t wait for another word. He let go of Red and turned to the building entrance, running towards it. No one tried to stop him, though Edge noted with approval that one of the security team peeled away from the others to follow him at a discreet distance.
Antwan looked as if he was considering chasing after Blue, but he hung back. With the suspicious nature of a good lawyer, he asked Red, "If they’re fine, why aren’t you with them?"
"sweet that you think me bein' there would be some kinda comfort," Red snorted. "already saw 'em. head on up if you want, we've already cleared away the rest of the honey bun’s little scooby traps." Red offered them a vicious slash of grin. "your liability might need a new rating, he's damn creative when he’s got a hair laid across his ass just right."
That was enough for Antwan. He headed off in the direction Blue had, leaving Edge alone with his brother.
Edge waited until Antwan disappeared before he asked, low, "Where are they?"
Red only looked at him with mild reproach. “toldja, upstairs. what, you think i’d bullshit you on that?”
“I don’t mean them.”
Red was shaking his head before Edge finished. “nuh-uh, nope, not a chance. you ain’t gettin’ a look at those asswipes outside a courtroom. you’re keeping your toes behind the yellow line on this one, sneaking backstage ain’t happening, little brother.”
“I need to see—" Edge began heatedly.
“you fuckin’ don’t. you want to see and your wants ain’t on the list, not this time!” Red lowered his voice, “i get you wanted firecrackers and this is endin’ on a wet fart for you, but i ain’t explainin’ to the honey bun that i stood here and let you add a fresh shovelful of xp to your load on his account. so whyn’t you head upstairs now and go get your liability, huh? take him home and let us handle this, you can read the report tomorrow, yeah?”
Suspicion filtered through Edge’s strained temper, cooling it. Something of his brother’s little speech rang wrong to Edge; it was too consolatory towards him for their normal tastes, something was off here. Now that he was looking at it without his frustrations clouding things, there was also the matter of him leaving Stretch and Jeff alone; comforting presence or not, it was difficult to believe that Red would let them out of his sight unnecessarily. As shrewdly as he could still manage, Edge took a closer look at his brother.
Red did not have any LV but that certainly didn’t mean he had no trauma. His tells were subtle, unnoticeable to anyone who hadn’t watched them develop straight from the gutter. Eye lights slightly narrower than normal, his cigar clenched between too-tight teeth, the rare crackle of crimson magic arcing across his fingertips like a stray bolt of lightning.
There was something Red wasn’t saying, but there was no point in trying to fish it out now; he’d need better bait and Edge already had one in the net to deal with.
Better to leave it as it was. Even if the issue festered, his brother was unlikely to allow it to affect his work. It was difficult not to lay a hand on his brother’s shoulder, however briefly. Edge resisted the absurd impulse. It would not be appreciated. Unwanted concern was more likely to make things worse.
Instead, Edge nodded curtly and headed for the entrance. His boots clacked loudly on the cement floors. Security was milling in the hallways, others crouching over scorch marks and a strange overflowing mass of what looked like multicolored foam oozing down one side of the stairwell. Superfluous information, none of it mattered. He followed the subtle cues from the security personnel, the glances and occasional points that came without questions leading him up the rickety stairs to the second floor of offices and storerooms.
On the landing, a low sound caught his attention, a familiar voice crooning softly. Edge nearly skidded to a stop outside one of the rooms, looking in the open doorway to see the Swap brothers sitting together on the floor, holding each other tightly.
“hey, bro, shh, i’m okay. they didn’t hurt us, sans, i’m fine,” Stretch was saying. Blue was in his lap, clinging like the child he no longer was, and Stretch was rubbing a gentle hand down his brother’s back, leaving behind sooty streaks. He looked up, soft white eye lights catching on Edge still standing in the doorway. His cheekbones were wet, his wide sockets drowning in tears. Stretch scrubbed his face with the sleeve of a shirt that was not his own and managed a tremulous smile. "hey, handsome, miss me?"
He’d seen Stretch only hours ago, dressed in clothing stolen from Edge’s side of the closet and offering flirtatious kisses before walking out their front door. Now he was in baggy clothing that belong to neither of them, the shirt nearly hanging off his narrow shoulders and his bare legs sticking out from the bottoms of the too-short pants to leave the delicate bones of his feet filthy and exposed. All of him was filthy, his pale tears left clean tracks down his cheekbones and Edge did not know what Stretch had done to free them both, what he’d endured until he could., couldn’t begin to imagine it. Or perhaps he simply did not want to, and the precariously thin layer of Edge’s calm finally began to crack. All his desperate worries surged in through that first line of weakness to fill his face and then downward to soak into his aching soul.
"Don't—" Edge choked on the word, unsure what he was even going to say. Don't joke, don't dismiss this, don't ever leave me. He walked over and fell to his knees beside them, hardly feeling the warning jolt from his leg as he pulled them both into his arms rougher than he'd meant. Unnecessary, Stretch came easily, willingly, settling into his embrace exactly as if he belonged there, and brought his brother along for the ride.
"hey, i'm okay," Stretch said, pitching his voice for them both. He rested his forehead against Edge’s, settling a gentle hand on his sharp cheekbone with a sigh. "we’re okay, babe. it's okay."
"It is not okay by any stretch of the imagination,” Edge said hoarsely. His own hands were moving over Stretch, cautious of his lack of gloves even as he convinced himself that this was no dream, these well-loved bones were real. “And if you make a pun on that, you can ride home with my brother."
“wouldn’t joke about it, babe.” Then Stretch promptly made it a lie as he teased, “hope i get extra credit for not stretching things out, actually, ‘cause i sure didn’t get my ‘stay out of trouble’ badge tonight.”
“Pappy,” Blue moaned. His grip in the awful shirt Stretch was wearing twisted as if his disgust needed a physical outlet, “honestly, must you?”
Edge barked a laugh, hard and pained, but in his soul there was only giddy lightness. “No, you certainly did not. I would say any claim that you didn’t find trouble would be stretching things.”
Another groan from Blue was interrupted by a scuffing sound behind them. Edge jerked around, but it was only Antwan holding Jeff in his own tight embrace, whatever whispers between them too low to be heard. Edge hadn’t even noticed them when he first came in and the faint guilt from that was too small to be borne, already swallowed up in overwhelming relief.
Safe, they were both safe and unharmed, and Edge set his anger back, holding it in reserve. No matter what his brother thought, this was not over, and he would not be relegated to the injured group to recover, not this time.
But first, he was taking his love home.
tbc
28 notes · View notes
thatesqcrush · 4 years ago
Text
Team Bonding
Bryan Kneef x Reader. NSFW. Warnings: dub-con, because he’s her superior. Oral sex, vaginal fingering, and fisting. Yes. You read that right. Also squirting. You have been warned. Oh, and this covers ice-skating in my naughty & nice bingo. This is most definitely naughty. 
WC: 2.8K
***
“Bryan Kneef doesn’t do ice skating.” A voice boomed from down the hall.
“Stop referring to yourself in third-person you psycho.” You rolled your eyes as you headed towards the voice. You paused in front of a decorative mirror in the empty law firm and rubbed lip balm over your lips.
“I told you, Bryan Kneef doesn’t do ice skating.”
You rubbed your lips together, and then made way to the lobby, finding the acerbic head of litigation at STR Laurie, sitting in a chair, with a scowl on his face. Which, lets face it, was nothing new for Bryan Kneef.
“Look, I know this is the last thing you wanted to be doing. But your bosses up there, wanted to make the transition with Reddick Boseman smooth.” You pointed towards the ceiling and then pointed back down. “It’s not my fault we got paired up together. You said I could choose what we got to do. I chose ice skating.”
You walked past him and hit the button, calling for the elevator. You crossed your arms and began tapping your foot, irritated. “Well?”
Bryan glowered and then stood. “Fine.”
**
When STR Laurie announced that they wanted to do a team building exercise with Reddick Boseman & Lockhart, you were less than thrilled. The last thing you wanted to do was spend more time with work on your weekend. Especially when you were paired with Bryan. You were not blind, the man was fucking gorgeous and he cropped up in many a fantasy with your battery operated boyfriend. However, his attitude left much to be desired. He would work you and the rest of the paralegal department to the bone. You knew from his bio on the firm website, that he started himself as a paralegal upon graduating from Northwestern Law – you figured he’d be cognizant of how to treat junior staff, probably having been through it himself. Instead, he chose to continue the cycle of asshole treatment. Bryan tried to get out of it himself, but his own boss Gavin Firth told him to make nice and take part – especially if he wanted to keep leading the litigation department and not give it to Diane. Backed into a corner, Bryan reluctantly agreed.
Initially, he had hoped he would be paired with a fellow colleague who he would be able to convince to blow off this event and hit high end bar with. And if not that, he had hoped it was the blonde secretary with big tits two floors down that he could wham, bam, thank you ma’am and then move on from. Instead – he got stuck with you – the mousy senior paralegal. He knew who were – he knew who everyone was. You had worked with him on a few cases before. You were very good at your job but otherwise, left little to the imagination with your baggy, shapeless sacks of dresses and frumpy sweaters. There was no desire for him to try to get under your skirt. Not when there was a bevvy of women and men he could have, just a dial away.
As the elevator went down, Bryan chose to study your profile. Though you were bundled up to the hilt in a white puffer coat and burgundy hat, he could still see your long lashes and lush lips that had a sheen from whatever you put on them. His nose caught the barest whiff of perfume and he had to admit that it smelled lovely. The elevator landed and you walked out first. He was surprised to see a shapely ass under the dark denim fitted jeans you wore.
STR was close to Millennium Park. You both made way through to the ice skating rink, barely a word between you. You were meeting a few other STR/Boseman colleagues and friends from your department who were already there. Bryan paid for the skating rental and soon enough you were both on the ice. You skated towards your friends with ease, leaving the attorney behind, gripping the sides. A look of panic was on his face as he tried to maintain balance. You turned around and let out a derisive laugh before skating back towards him, offering your hand.
“Is the big bad lawyer afraid of a little ice?” You mocked.
“Shut up and leave me alone. I am here, aren’t I? Go back to your friends and go take your pictures. Make fun of me all you want. Come Monday, I am going to bury you all with doc production.” Bryan sneered.
You skated closer to him and offered your hand once more. “Come on, it’s not that hard – watch me.” You stood next to him. “Your knees should always stay slightly bent. That position lowers your center of gravity, stabilizing you. It also helps you to skate without falling. Also, you should always have your weight positioned over your skating leg. One time you’re skating on the right leg, and the next moment on the left one. Every time you switch legs, you must shift your weight so that it’s over the skating leg.”
You demonstrated what you had explained and then repeated it. Bryan looked at you like a deer in headlights. Your lips twitched into a small smile. “Give me your hand.”
Bryan sighed, his breath causing a small puff of air. “Fine.” He grunted and took your hand. Your hand and his hand were encased in gloves and you mourned the idea that you weren’t holding hands bare skin to bare skin. You skated easily and Bryan wobbled a bit behind, but managing to keep pace. However, at one point, another skater flew by catching Bryan off guard and he lost his balance, falling, bringing you down with him.
“Mother fucking cock sucker son of a bitch!” You swore loudly, rubbing the side of your left ankle. “Ugh, I think I twisted it, you jerk!” Tears pricked your eyes.
“You? How about me?” Bryan snapped. “I can’t even get stand up without falling down.”
“Boo hoo asshole.” Two of your friends helped you up and you tried to bear weight but found that you could not. You were helped off the ice and Bryan followed, clambering to get off the ice, using the wall of the rink to help him.
You winced as you remove the skate, examining your ankle. It was starting to swell and the area was tender to touch. Bryan sat next to you, removing his own skates as well.
“How bad is it?” You heard him ask. You looked at him. “It’s sprained.”
For a brief moment, he looked remorseful. And just as quickly as you blinked, it was gone. “I’ll get us a car; I’ll take you home.”
You cocked your brow. “Excuse me, I can get home on my own just fine.” And stubborn as you were, you tried to stand but let out a grimace of pain, plopping back onto the hard bench.
“Let me take you home.” Bryan replied.
“Wonderful.” You seethed. Bryan returned your skates, along with his and brought over you shoes. You smashed your foot into your sneaker as best you could. Bryan offered his arm and begrudgingly, you took it, and limped out of the park. The ride home was uneventful, again with barely any conversation. You hobbled up the stairs rather comically and it was Bryan’s turn to roll his eyes at your pathetic attempt. You yelped as he suddenly picked you up, bridal style.
“What’s your apartment?”
“2D.” You replied mournfully, feeling embarrassed and humiliated that you could barely manage to get around and now you were being carried like a baby. There was a small part of you, however, that squealed inwardly. You clutched onto Bryan, his body solid and warm. He smelled wonderful and you allowed yourself to pretend to be swept away by the handsome lawyer.
**
“I got it from here, you can put me down.” You insisted once you were both inside. You both took off your coats. Bryan swallowed hard – for all the mousy outfits you wore at work, today you wore a form fitting sweater, which showed off the dip of your hip and swells of your tits.
Bryan carefully set you down and sharp pain shot up your leg and you swore again. “Maybe you should see someone.”
“I’ll tape it and ice it,” you reassured Bryan. “I’ll be fine.” This earned you an exasperated sigh. “I will take some ibuprofen,” you added for good measure.
Bryan grumbled in French about you being stubborn as he made way through your apartment. “I heard that, and you’re one to talk,” you replied cheekily, surprising him that you knew another language. Bryan was further surprised at your modest, but overall modern apartment. He liked the exposed brick and thought your small Christmas tree with its large, vintage bulbs was tacky, but charming in a way. He went into your kitchen and rummaged through your freezer, before returning with a bag of frozen peas.
“Put this on your ankle.” Bryan ordered. You took the bag. You propped your ankle onto your coffee table and stuck the bag on. You looked up at him. “I’m good. You can go now – and don’t worry, I’ll be in on Monday. Thanks for the lift.”
Bryan nodded and turned away, making his way back down your hallway. As soon as he did, you attempted to stand and swore loudly once more. Bryan turned on the balls on his feet. “Christ, Y/N, at least wait ‘til I am gone.”
“Wha—hey!” You shouted as he picked you up again, this time over his shoulder, so you were face to his ass. He gave your ass a playful spank and made his way down your other hallway, looking for your bedroom. “Put me down!”
He found it fairly quickly and unceremoniously threw you onto your bed.
“Are you always this stubborn?” He asked, his hands on his hips. He eyed your bedroom. It was small, like the rest of your apartment.
“Are you always a pretentious asshole?” You asked. Finally, you couldn’t stand it any longer. “Why are you being nice to me?”
Bryan didn’t respond. Instead, he sat next to you. “I know everyone thinks I am an asshole.” You snorted and Bryan let out a defeated sigh. “Okay, so I am an asshole. But I am still a fucking person.”
“The devil has feelings?” You covered your mouth and then cringed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
Bryan shrugged. “For all the shit I do, yeah, I do.” He turned to you. “Look, I am sorry that I hurt your ankle. And maybe take Monday off – see a doctor. Don’t worry about it. I will make sure it doesn’t count against your PTO.”
You looked at him and you smiled. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
You were suddenly aware that Bryan was in your bedroom, on your bed. He looked debonair in his burgundy sweater and dark jeans. You could see the dark beard with the tiniest flecks of grey. When he began to massage your foot, you felt desire pool in your most intimate of parts.
“Bryan – I…” You swallowed hard. He looked up at you, his green eyes were intense and he gave the slightest nod to you. You leapt into his lap, ignoring the screaming pain of your ankle and kissed him. Bryan kissed you in return and slipped his tongue into your mouth, seeking and exploring. His hands were over your ass, grabbing at your flesh. He gave you a playful squeeze which earned him a moan from you.
A hand moved up and under your sweater, skillfully unhooking your bra and immediately moving to your breasts. He tugged and twisted a nipple, enjoying how you squirmed in his embrace.
“Let me take care of you,” Bryan replied breaking the kiss. You nodded, panting. You removed your sweater and fished off your bra. His eyes darkened at the sight of your shapely breasts. He couldn’t wait to get his mouth on them.
“Oh yes,” you agreed, practically purring. “I ache.”
Bryan hummed in acknowledgement. He pushed you back onto the bed and helped you out of your jeans. Slowly his hand made its way back under your underwear, along your hip. Your breathing hitched as his hand moved closer to the apex of your thighs. You were already sopping in anticipation.
“You’re so wet,” Bryan noted, a single finger stroking you briefly, before slipping inside. You sighed at the feeling of his finger in you. Encouraging, you pushed your panties to the side allowing him greater access.
Bryan slipped another finger inside of you, his tempo quickening. You began moving against his hand, mewling as he continued his ministrations. His fingers pumped in and out of you faster and faster. You cried out in pleasure. Bryan slowed his momentum before removing his fingers completely. You whimpered in protest and Bryan made a big show of sucking on his fingers. “You are delicious.” Bryan commented and you blushed in response.
Leaning over, he grabbed a pillow and encouraged you to lift your hips, placing the pillow under you. You spread your legs wantonly and unabashedly. Nipping your thighs, Bryan nestled in between your legs, his tongue in your folds, licking you and swirling his tongue on your swollen clitoris. You groaned, and your hands lost themselves in his dark hair, trying to keep him in place. The added feel of his beard along your sensitive skin only heightened your pleasure.
Bryan hummed in agreement and the vibrations sent shockwaves up your body. You arched your back as his tongue flicked on your clitoris as he slipped two fingers back in, all the way deep to the knuckle. Ignoring your aching ankle, your hips rose to meet the thrusts of his fingers. A third finger slipped inside, stretching you.
“Oh shit! Bryan!”
“That’s right, take it.” Bryan whispered. His thumb rubbed your clitoris haphazardly. You like getting fucked by my hand?”
“Yes, fuck, give it to me!” Your legs were shaking. “I am going to cum.” You groaned.
“Not yet.” Bryan grunted. He withdrew his hand and you whined at the lost contact. “Do you have any lube?”
You looked up at him, curious. “Uh, top drawer. Condoms in there too.”
Bryan winked at you and moved off your bed. As he rummaged through your drawer, you eyed the tent in his pants hungrily.
Bryan removed his shirt, leaving his jeans on. Seeing his thick body, with his dusty rose nipples and smattering of chest hair – he was even more hot than you could have imagined. He spread your legs again and dipped his head once more tasting you. You watched as he drizzled lube along your folds and then over his hand. He tucked his thumb into his palm, tapering his fingers and then slowly penetrated you until his entire hand was inside of you.
You let out a sound that was akin to animalistic howl. “Holy shit, holy shit, oh my God!” Bryan began rock his hand back and forth, fucking you with his fist. You felt so full and all you could think – or even say was more, more, more!
“Cum for me,” Bryan growled, his fingers finding that sweet spot that no one else ever had. You sobbed in pleasure and he dipped his head back between your legs and flicked his tongue against your clit. You came hard, shouting his name, grabbing the sheets haphazardly. Bryan continued to pump in and out of you, while looking up at you. A smirk graced his face, and he stroked that sweet spot once more. Your lungs burned as you gasped for air, feeling tremendous pressure and then release as you squirted all over Bryan’s face. Bryan lapped at you through your orgasm until it subsided. Slowly he removed his fist. Moving back up to you, he pushed his fingers into your mouth. “Suck” he ordered. You sucked on his fingers, tasting yourself.
You nipped Bryan’s fingers playfully and he chuckled, removing them. He pressed a kiss on your lips. “Feeling better?”
“Mmmm much,” you replied grinning. Pushing Bryan gently back onto the bed, you climbed onto him. “But I do think more TLC is in order,” you replied taking his hands and placing them on your breasts. “Up to the challenge, Mr. Kneef?”
Bryan winked. “I think I like my odds.”
FIN.
--
Tags: @madpanda75 @tropes-and-tales @delia26 @mgarner1227 @beardedmccoy @youreverycolor @neely1177 @the-baby-bookworm @mrsrafaelbarba @skittle479 @ottosuricato @sass-and-suspenders @mommakat32 @dreila03 @beccabarba @garturbo @lovebennycolon @imjustreallynosy @sweetsummertime99 @whyissvuruiningmylovelife @annabelleb49 @scarletsoldierrr @cesarofangirl78 @redlipstickandplaid @redlipstickandblacktea @zoeykaytesmom @differentshadesofgray @misssirenlove @esparza-army @bananas-pajamas @mishaissocoolike @thefanficfaerie @theenchantedgalleryofstories @catnip987 @choppedgalaxynerd @pieceofshittytitty @ktiz90 @evee87 @itsjustmyfantasyroom @detective-giggles @rampantmuses @jazzyjoi @caked-crusader @rachelxwayne @prurientpuddlejumper @lv7867 @permanentlydizzy @bisexual-dreamer02 @madamsnape921 @averyhotchner @teamsladsandgents  
90 notes · View notes
Text
New World CH. Twenty One
Title: Thirty Days
Words: 4155
Warnings: Character death, canon-typical violence
A/N: It’s the beginning of the end of an era. Hope y’all enjoy!
Previous Chapter - Next Chapter
New World Masterlist
Daryl Dixon Masterlist
The Walking Dead Masterlist
Masterlist
~~~~~~~
Six months had passed since the Governor and you were thriving at the prison. The gates had all been fixed, and the walkers were out of the yard. Crops were growing food, some livestock had been found, and no one had died in almost a month. You had given birth to a beautiful little girl named Charlotte and you were the happiest you’ve been in a while.
 You had also remodeled your cell. You took the bottom bunk out, leaving the top one for storage, and Daryl had found a better mattress on a run a few months before Charlotte was born. You did feel bad that you had a nice thing to sleep on, but everyone assured you it was alright. Maggie and Glenn had found one a week after you got yours and you felt a little less guilty. Daryl also found a thick comforter blanket and some more pillows for you along with a kids bed for Adeline. Charlotte slept in her little playpen right next to Adeline in the cell next to yours. It was a little weird not having your kids in the same space as you, but the privacy was welcomed with open arms.
 Waking up with Daryl next to you felt amazing every day. His arms would be around you and his face tucked into the crook of your neck. His hands gravitated towards your belly, even after you had Charlotte, in his sleep and it made you smile every time.
 “Mornin’,” he mumbled into his pillow.
 “Good morning yourself.” Shifting, you kissed him and pulled yourself up.
 “Where ya goin’?”
 “It’s the Big Spot run today so we need to eat. Come on and get up, sleepyhead.” Daryl groaned and Adeline decided to join you in your cell and jump on him.
 “Get up, daddy, get up!” Her knee caught his junk and he let out a low groan before laughing.
 “I’m up, princess. I’m up. Ya hungry?”
 “Yes!”
 “Then get dressed so we can go get breakfast.”
 “Okay!”  
 The three of you got dressed and you met Beth in the common area.
 “Good morning. Excited for the run, I see,” Beth teased as she took Charlotte from you and put her in a double stroller with Judith.
 “I am. You got any requests?”
 “Um, a new notebook and some pens?” Beth asked. “But only if you see them! Don’t go out of the way.”
 “Will do, sweetheart.” Waving goodbye and kissing Lottie goodbye, you walked outside with Daryl and Adeline. Stepping out into the fresh air, you took a deep breath and made your way over to where Carol was handing out breakfast, Sophia coloring on the ground next to her. Adeline joined her best friend and you smiled at the sight.
 “Hey, Carol. Hey, sweetie. Good morning,” you said. “Smells good, what’s for breakfast?”
 “Some left over venison from last night.” Carol handed you a bowl and Daryl a bowl.
 “Thanks.” Leaning up against the counter, you looked out past the fences.
 “You two going on the run today?” Carol asked you.
 “Yeah.” You stuffed some meat in your mouth. “Dean too.”
 “Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Carol chided lightly. You gave her a sheepish grin, Daryl barely hiding a laugh.
 “Sorry. Dean’s coming too. We want to see if there’s anything we can use for, uh, hunting.”
 Carol nodded in understanding before leaning in slightly.
 “We ever going to tell everyone else?” She asked you.
 “I don’t know. The Council knows and everyone from our group does as well as Dr. S.,” you said with a shrug. “I think that’s all who has to know. Do you think we should tell everyone?”
 “No. People are still in a panic over the walkers happening. If they knew about everything else then it would cause mass hysteria.”
 “Fair point.” You turned back to your food and saw that Carol had put more in your bowl.
 “Don’t tell anyone,” she said with a wink. You laughed lightly and turned to face the tables.
 “Well, I’m going to sit down and eat. I’ll see you at the cars in a few,” you said to Daryl, giving him a kiss. To Carol you said, “Thanks for breakfast. It’s delicious.”
 “Of course. I’ll also make sure Adeline gets to school on time,” Carol said.
 “Thank you.” You gave your daughter and Sophia a hug and kiss before going to sit down next to Dr. S. and Sam, the two of them munching on their own food.
 “Who’s focusing on medical today?” Dr. S. asked you.
 “Sasha. Did you need anything specific?”
 “Just the usual but I’ll take anything really.”
 “I’ll pass the message on.” You shoved the last of your food in your mouth as Dr. S. gave you a nod of thanks. Standing up, you went to put your bowl away when Sam came up to you.
 “You and Dean are getting things for hunting right?” He asked you.
 “Yeah,” you said with a nod. “Anything we can find that could be useful.”
 “I know you always are, but be safe. Please.”
 “I will be.” You stood on your tiptoes to kiss his cheek before walking away.
 ---
 When you got to the cars, Zach and Daryl were already there. Beth was walking away and you heard Daryl mutter something about a romance novel.
 “What’s this I hear about romance novels?” You said, a teasing lilt to your voice.
 “Them kids,” Daryl said. “They’re so cheesy sometimes.”
 “Cheesy can be a good thing, Daryl,” you said, a smirk on your face. Daryl just rolled his eyes.
 “Sometimes it’s just bad,” he muttered.
 You snorted out a laugh and Daryl cracked a small smile at the sound. No one saw it but you since it disappeared when the others started coming to pack up the cars. You started helping and when you went to get in the passenger seat of the truck, you saw Bob walk up.
 “Hey,” Bob said. “I’d like to start pulling my weight around here.”
 “Bob, it’s only been a week since you got here,” Sasha said.
 “That’s a week of meals and a roof over my head that you’ve helped provide. Let me earn my keep.”
 “You were out on your own when Daryl found you, right?” You asked him. He nodded.
 “Yeah. I was.”
 “We just need to make sure that you can play on a team. That you know how,” Sasha said.
 “You know, he was a medic in the army,” Glenn said. Sasha looked at him then looked at you.
 “Your call,” you said with a shrug.
 “The two of you are tough sells, you know that?” Bob said.
 “You’re telling me,” Dean said with a snort. Giving him a glare and the bird, Dean just laughed.
 “Alright. You can come with,” Sasha said. “But you do as we say without any hesitation. That sound reasonable?”
 “Yes, ma’am.”
 “Let’s get going then.”
 She climbed into the driver’s seat of the car and you heard Daryl start his motorcycle. Dean got in the driver’s seat of the truck, Zach getting in the back seat. The mini caravan was almost at the gate when you saw Michonne standing next to Rick.
 “She’s back!” You said excitedly. Rolling down the window, you stuck the top half of your body out of it and waved at her. After she had waved back and her conversation was done with Rick and Daryl, she got in next to Zach.
 “Glad to see you’re okay,” Dean said once the door was shut.
 “Same to you.” She put her hand on your shoulder, giving it a squeeze, and you turned to give her a smile.
 “Did you find anything?” You asked her.
 “No.” Michonne shook her head. “You have any problems with some newcomers?”
 “Nothing of that sort. We’ve been lucky when it comes to that department,” Dean said.
 “What are you talking about?” Zach asked. You looked at him and shook your head.
 “Don’t worry about it.”
 “Alright.” Zach gave you a look, but dropped it. Turning to face the road, you leaned back with a smile on your face. Today was gonna be a good day, you could feel it.
 ---
 When you got to the Big Spot, you hopped out of the truck and lifted one of your empty bags onto your shoulders. Making sure your pistol was secured in its holster and your knife was strapped to your side, you made your way over to the fence where Daryl and Bob were.
 “The army came in and put these fences up, made it a place for people ta go ta,” Daryl said to Bob.
 “When we spotted this place last week, there were a bunch of geeks in here,” you said.
 “They was keepin’ people out like a bunch’a guard dogs.”
 “So they all just left?”
 “No. Listen.” Everyone went quiet and the faint sound of music could be heard.
 “You drew ‘em out,” Michonne said, impressed.
 “A boom box hooked up to some car batteries will do wonders,” you said.
 “Yeah. Now let’s make sure none of them bastards are left,” Daryl said. “Grab whatcha can, but be safe.”
 He walked through the hole in the fence and you followed close behind. You readied your rifle and walked through the maze of tents. Your eyes were peeled for anything you could use and they lit up when you saw a few guns. Slinging your rifle onto your shoulder, you checked all of the guns, happy to see that the magazines were still full and the weapons themselves in working order.
 “Find something?” Dean asked as he came into the tent.
 “Some automatics. They’re in good condition and still have ammo,” you said. Standing up, you held out one of the guns and Dean took it, automatically checking it.
 “Good find, sweetheart. I’ll go put these in the truck.” Dean took the guns and put them in a bag before heading back to the cars, Tyreese going along with him. You walked to the front of the store where Daryl was.
 You sat on the small wall outside and Daryl sat down a few feet away before banging his elbow on the glass.
 “Give it a sec,” he said. You put your chin in your head, eyes closing as the small breeze washed over you.
 “I think I got it,” Zach said after a minute.
 “Me or Daryl?” You said, cracking an eye open.
 “Both.”
 “Got what?” Michonne asked.
 “I’ve been trying to guess what Daryl did before the turn. [Y/n] and her brothers too,” Zach said.
 “He’s tried for, like, six weeks,” Daryl grunted.
 “Been wrong every time,” you teased.
 “I’m right this time, I just know it.”
 “Alright then. Let’s hear it.”
 “I think [y/n] was a teacher of some kind,” Zach said.
 “Of some kind?” You echoed, a little confused.
 “Well, you don’t seem like a traditional teacher. Like, English or history, stuff like that. But you’ve definitely taught something.”
 “You’re not wrong, but you’re not right,” you said. “I’ve taught people skills that I have, but that’s not what my main profession was before.”
 “Damn.”
 “Now let’s hear Daryl’s,” Michonne said.
 “Well, with the way you are at the prison and you being on the council and knowing how to track. You’re helping people but you’re still a bit, uh, surly.” Zach paused for effect. “Homicide cop.”
 Michonne started laughing and you couldn’t help but let out a giggle.
 “What’s so funny?” Daryl said, looking at the two of you.
 “Nothing. It makes perfect sense.”
 “Actually, the man’s right. Undercover.” Daryl looked at you and sent you a small wink before looking at Zach.
 “Really?” Zach said, surprised that Daryl was confirming he was right. You were doing your best to hold in your laughter but what Daryl said next made you lose it.
 “Yep. I don’t like ta talk ‘bout it ‘cause it was a lotta heavy shit, ya know?” Daryl’s voice was all serious and you laughed, causing Zach to look at Daryl.
 “Alright. I’ll have to keep guessing then.”
 “Ya keep doin’ that.”
 A few seconds later and a small group of walkers ran into the glass behind you.
 “You ready, detective?” Michonne teased.
 “Let’s do it.”
 You stood up and took your knife out of its sheath. Daryl took the crowbar Glenn handed him, Dean and the others coming closer. Glenn stood next to the door, you and Dean standing right in front.
 “Zach, you go stand with Tyreese and Bob,” you said.
 “But I want to help.”
 “This is only the second run you’ve gone on. Do as I say.”
 “Alright,” Zach muttered. He walked over to the two other men and stood next to them, gun at the ready just in case.
 It didn’t take long to clear the walkers, you and Dean making quick work of them. Once they were all dead and out of the way, you walked into the store to sweep it. You and Dean were a team and you quickly made sure there were no more walkers in the store.
 “Alright. What do we need the most?” You asked Dean.
 “Rock salt and silver. We’re almost out of rings and if we keep taking people in, we’re gonna need more.”
 “Okay. You look for those and I’ll look for anything we can use to make more bullets,” you said. “I know we have a fair amount, but it never hurts to have more.”
 “Let’s get going then. No time to waste.”
 The two of you went your separate ways and you immediately went for the dish section. You tossed anything made out of brass, iron, or silver into your cart and after everything was cleared out, you made your way to the weapons. There wasn’t any ammo left due to the army making camp outside, but all of the knives were still there along with crossbow bolts. Stuffing as much as you could in your bag then putting the rest in the cart, you made your way back to the front of the store.
 Taking the stuff and putting it in the back of the truck, you walked back inside. You had gotten all of the things you could so now you were just wandering the store, looking for anything that your group could use. Finding yourself in the kids clothing area, you pulled your duffel around to your front and started shoving clothes that looked like they might fit the kids, taking some bigger sizes too. When the bag was halfway full, a crash reverberated around the store.
 You zipped up the bag and went running towards the source of the noise. Daryl had beat you there and you saw him crouched down next to two fallen shelves.
 “Ya alright? Got any cuts or somethin’?” You heard Daryl say.
 “No, but my foot is caught, man,” Bob said back. You let out a small sigh of relief to hear that it wasn’t Dean caught under there.
 “[Y/n]!” Dean yelled, skidding to a stop. He saw you and wrapped his arms around you. “Thank god you’re okay.”
 “I’m fine, Dean,” you said, hugging your brother back.
 “What happened?” Glenn asked, coming around the corner.
 “Bob’s stuck,” Daryl said.
 “Everyone’s fine. We’re over in wine and beer,” Zach called out.
 With a grunt, Dean and Daryl lifted the first shelf and you helped Zach steady it.
 “I was moving too fast, man,” Bob said. “Ran right into the drinks.”
 “You lucked out, dude,” Dean said.
 “If this thing had come down the wrong way I don’t want to know what could have happened,” Tyreese said.
 “Let’s get you out and finish the run.” You went to grab the other shelf, but a loud crash sounded. Looking up, you saw a walker had fallen through the roof.
 “We should probably go now,” Glenn said.
 “Bob’s still stuck! We gotta get him outta there,” Daryl said. He rushed towards Bob, Zach right next to him.
 “You two get him and we’ll take care of them,” you said.
 More and more walkers were falling from the ceiling, your eyes widening at the sight. Some died on impact with the floor, their heads being bashed in when they fell. But most managed to fall without any damage. You spun the duffel around so it was on your back and grabbed both your pistol and knife, having both at the ready.
 “[Y/n]! Go!” Dean yelled.
 You backed away, Tyreese at your side. He grabbed your wrist and the two of you went running towards the entrance before being cornered by four walkers. Tyreese shot one in the head and you ganked two. The third one managed to duck Tyreese’s next shot and you surged forward to stab it in the head. Blood sprayed on your face and you wiped it away before continuing on.
 Metal began to creak and you looked up to see a helicopter starting to fall through the roof. When you saw that it was almost directly where Bob was trapped, you started running that way. You and Tyreese managed to get there right as Bob got free and Zach was bit.
 “No!” You cried as Zach was pulled down by the walker. His screams were loud and you surged forward to grab him but Daryl pulled you away.
 “We gotta go!” Daryl yelled.
 The creaking of metal was getting louder and with a look up, you saw the helicopter fall. Running as fast as you could, you got outside the building and to the cars. Most of the supplies people had gotten belonged to the walkers now, but some of the group had managed to shove things in bags before shit hit the fan.
 When you were safely inside the truck, you leaned back and let out a sigh. It had been thirty days since someone had died on a run and you wished it had been longer.
 You were wrong about it being a good day.
 ---
 When you got back, it was dark. You were silent as you helped bring the hunting gear to your little shed. Dumping the metal, you got to work sorting them out and putting them in their own little piles. You were so submerged in your work, you didn’t notice someone had come inside the shed until the door closed. Turning around, you saw Beth standing there.
 “Beth,” you said quietly.
 She said nothing but ran into your arms. Her body was shaking and you could tell that she was holding back tears. Shushing her softly, you held her tight, rubbing your hand up and down her back.
 “He’s gone and I never even said goodbye,” Beth whispered after a few moments.
 “Who told you?” You asked her.
 “Daryl.”
 “Did you want to go back? Or did you want to stay here for a while?”
 “Can I stay with you?”
 “Of course you can, sweetheart. If you’re up to it, I could use some help sorting these.” Holding up a cast iron skillet, you waved it slightly.
 “I think I can help. What do you need me to do?”
 You smiled brightly before explaining what you were doing to Beth. It took little over an hour for you to sort everything and prepare it to be melted down in the morning. You could have done more, but you saw Beth yawning and trying to stay awake.
 “I think it’s time for bed,” you said. Beth nodded sleepily and you wrapped an arm around her to keep her from falling.
 When you got to her cell, she was asleep on her feet. Taking her boots off and putting a blanket on top of her, you kissed her forehead before leaving the cell. Quietly walking up the stairs, you got to your own cell to find Daryl waiting for you. He opened his arms and you fell into them.
 “I saw that Beth went ta ya after I told her what happened,” Daryl said after a moment.
 “She did. She seemed pretty shaken up about it but I took her mind off of things with menial tasks.” You sighed and shoved your face in Daryl’s chest. “He didn’t deserve a death like that.”
 “He didn’t. But it happened and we can’t do nothin’ ta change it.” Daryl kissed the top of your head and held you tighter.
 “I know.”
 ---
 When Rick’s alarm went off, you woke with a start. Daryl had already left for his watch shift and you groaned quietly, you covered your head with your blanket before throwing it away completely to get dressed. Putting on a stained tank-top and an old flannel, you pulled on a tattered pair of jeans and your boots. Walking out of your cell, you grabbed a protein bar before making your way down to the shed with Dean. Shoving the rest of the bar in your mouth and rolling up your sleeves, you started working.
 About ten minutes after you got the fire going and when you were about to put the metal in, you heard gunshots. Head whipping around, you made eye contact with Dean before rushing to the main buildings. Dean put out the fire and ran after you.
 “Help!” You heard Lizzie yell. “Come quick!”
 “Carol, what the hell is going on?” You said, panting slightly from running.
 “I have no idea!”
 “There’s walkers in D!” Glenn yelled, running up to you.
 “What about C?” Rick asked.
 “Where are the kids?” You said, eyes widening in fear.
 “It’s clear!” Sasha said. “We locked the gates to the tombs.”
 “It ain’t a breach!” Daryl said.
 “Hershel’s on guard and watching the kids.” Sam came up to you and Dean before everyone went running to D-Block.
 When you got there, everything was in chaos. A man was shooting a shotgun and Daryl quickly took it from him, handing it to Rick. You were quick to save a child from getting bit, stabbing the walker in the head before picking her up and handing her to Sam. He got her inside a cell and closed it before going back over to you and saving you from another walker.
 “Thanks,” you said.
 Turning around, you saw a walker get behind Rick. Flipping your knife, you threw it at the walker, hitting it in the back of the head. Bounding up the stairs, after all the walkers downstairs were dead you checked the cells with Glenn. Daryl was close behind you and when Glenn was attacked by a walker, he shot it. Carefully making your way over, you looked down and saw that it was Patrick.
 “It’s Patrick,” Daryl said quietly.
 “That’s all of them,” Sam said.
 Your stomach was twisting at the sight of all the dead people you knew and you took a deep breath before going back to look in the cells. When you saw someone without a head wound, you stabbed them before moving on to the next cell. When you got to the downstairs and saw the people who remained, your heart broke at the terrified expressions on their faces.
 Suddenly, Daryl was next to you and you found yourself holding onto him tightly. It was short and you were moving up the stairs, Sam and Dr. S. leading you to a cell.
 “There’s no bites or wounds,” Rick said, motioning to the walker in front of you. “I think he just died.”
 “Awfully, too. Pleurisy aspiration,” Dr. S. said.
 “Choked on his own blood.”
 “Patrick looked like that,” you said. “He had the same lines on his face as Charlie here.”
 “And I’ve seen them on a walker outside the fence,” Rick chimed.
 “The lines on his face are from the internal lung pressure. It builds up, like if you shake a can of soda and pop the top. But imagine your eyes, ears, nose, and throat being the top.”
 “Is it a sickness from the walkers?” Bob asked.
 “No. These things happened before they were around,” Dr. S. said.
 “Could it be pneumococcal?” Sam said, crossing his arms.
 “It could be. Most likely an aggressive flu strain.”
 “Someone had good timing when they locked him in,” Hershel said.
 “Nah. Charlie sleepwalked. He locked himself in,” Daryl said. “How can someone die in just a day from a cold? He was normal yesterday.”
 “There was a sick pig. She died quick. I also saw a sick boar in the woods,” Rick said.
 “Birds and pigs are how these things spread in the past.” Hershel looked at Rick. “We gotta do something about those hogs.”
 “Maybe we got lucky and these two cases were it,” Dr. S. said.
 “No one’s that lucky,” you muttered.
 “[Y/n]’s right,” Bob said. “Bugs like to run through close quarters. Doesn’t get any closer than this.”
 “All of us here, we’ve been exposed to it.”
 You looked around at the people next to you and bit your lip in worry.
Taglist:
@jazzy1118
19 notes · View notes