#gregs out of town

[madychi]

Okay I know i wasn’t gonna post any more SU au’s aside from my Time Heals…

But hear me out-

I have too much power

Full doodle sheet

[childoftheriver]

Another beautiful pic from Prog Magazine. I’ve gone through every episode of Hargreaves show I could find online but I can’t find this one! Caption by Regina.

[aquilacalvitium]

I think pokemon gets a pass because they seem to have an obligation to feature almost every biome known to man in just one region

Either the planet is tiny or their global warming is worse than ours

when a film or tv show takes place somewhere where you have been, it is your sacred duty as viewer to say “i’ve been there” every time you recognize a place

[marvelfanfn2187a113]

Another

Sam and Dean Winchester & little sister!reader

Requested by anonymous

Synopsis: You go with your brothers to a bar, but things turn sideways when a stranger won’t leave you alone.

Warnings: creepy guy, scared reader, protective Sam and Dean

Another hunt. Another town. Another bar.

After you guys had moved into the bunker, some stupid, stupid part of you thought that maybe some things would change. But some things would always be the same.

You didn’t mind the hunting, you really didn’t. You didn’t want to do it, and you wished your brothers had a safer life, but you understood at least. They helped people, and that was everything.

But you hated this; being in a town full of strangers in a bar full of people much older than you, huddling in a corner waiting for your big brothers. There was nothing like not belonging while being surrounded by drunk, adult strangers.

Usually, the adults would stare at you like you were an alien for a moment or two, then ignore you. Young teens weren’t common in bars, but it wasn’t interesting enough to keep them from their good times.

This time, something was different. A man near the bar had been staring at you ever since you walked in the door. You had even gone to the other side of the bar to avoid him, but he followed. He hadn’t approached you, but he wouldn’t stop staring. Since he’d yet to go near you, you didn’t see a reason to bother Sam and Dean about it.

But he was starting to freak you out, so you found yourself trying to locate Sam or Dean in the crowded bar.

“Hey.”

You were so distracted looking for your brothers that you hadn’t seen the man approaching.

“Name’s Greg,” he greeted.

“Hi,” you muttered, still glancing around for Sam and Dean.

“What’s a sweetheart like you doing here alone?” Greg asked in a sickeningly sweet voice.

“‘M not—“ You were squirming in your seat now, and Sam and Dean were nowhere to be seen. “—not alone.”

“Now don’t be nervous.” Greg took the seat next to you and scooted it closer so that his knee was touching yours. You tried to scoot back, but you chair was already against the wall. You couldn’t go back, and Greg was angled in such a way that if you got up, he was blocking any easy exit.

“I have to find my brothers,” you said, deciding to risk it and stand up, attempting to squirm past the man.

Your whole body stiffened as though someone had dropped an ice cube down your back. Greg, still sitting in his own chair, and grabbed your leg right above your knee when you stood. His fingers were curled, gripping you much too tightly.

“Hey now,” he said, trying to keep up the sweet tone but sounding annoyed. “No need to rush off.” His fingers slackened their grip, but once he let go he stood, towering over you much too closely. And then the hand that was on your knee was on your shoulder, his fingers digging into the sensitive skin near your neck.

“I-I have to—“ your voice caught in your throat when his grip tightened painfully.

“No you don’t,” he all but commanded. “Just stay right here with me, nobody’s gonna miss you.” He shifted forward until all you could see was him. Your back was up against the wall; you had nowhere to go.

“Please don’t—“

“Hey!”

As soon as Greg had appeared, he was gone, and in his place stood the men you’d been so desperate to find.

Dean was shoving Greg toward the exit, and Sam was right there with him until you called out for him.

Sam turned hesitantly, leaving Dean to deal with the creep as he rushed to you and began to examine you.

“Did he hurt you?” Sam demanded.

You shook your head even as you rubbed your sore shoulder. This didn’t go unnoticed by Sam, who pulled aside your sleeve just enough to see the bruises already forming near your neck. His jaw ticked, and he turned to go after Greg, but you grabbed onto his sleeve to keep him near you.

“Don’t go,” you pleaded, and he relented immediately. The moment his arms wrapped around your shoulders, you all but melted into him. The adrenaline that had been pumping through your veins since the moment the man laid his hands on you now felt like a foreign substance pulsing in you, clogging your lungs and burning your eyes and making your knees weak. Your big brother held your weight up effortlessly, rubbing your back and breathing with exaggerated slowness as an example for you to slow your own ragged, racing breaths.

“You’re ok, you’re ok,” he breathed over and over again. “You’re safe now, I’ve got you.”

“Hey.” Dean’s voice had you peaking out from the safety of Sam’s arms. He was standing next to you now, his knuckles suspiciously bruised and bloodied. “Hey, you ok sweetheart?”

You nodded weakly, still resting against Sam. Dean pulled his jacket off and draped it against your shaking shoulders, and the familiar weight and scent washed over you and seemed to abate the adrenaline in your system, at least a little. You took a slow, deep breath that matched Sam’s.

“Let’s get you to the Impala, ok?” Sam suggested gently. You nodded, and Sam kept his arm around your shoulder as the brothers ushered you out. There wasn’t a moment when you weren’t completely surrounded by their protective presence.

Sam guided you into the back of the Impala before joining Dean in the front seats.

Dean glanced back at you every few seconds in the rearview mirror.

“How’s it going back there?”

“‘M ok,” you mumbled, and Dean’s eyebrows curved downward as his mouth retreated into a thin line.

“Ok,” he sighed, and you knew he didn’t believe you.

It didn’t take long to reach the motel, and once the three of you were settled inside Sam spoke again.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

You shook your head quickly, bringing your legs up to your chest and hugging your knees.

“I’m fine,” you said shakily. “He just—he got a little pushy…and grabby.”

“Grabby?” Dean gritted his teeth. “I knew I should’ve hit him harder.”

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” you sighed.

“Ok, ok.” Dean rubbed his face. “I’m sorry.”

“This isn’t your fault,” you said quickly. “It’s not—it’s not that big of a deal.”

“Yes it is,” Dean insisted. “And it’s not going to happen again. Either me or Sam is gonna be with you next time, we’re not gonna leave you alone again, ok?”

You nodded. “Ok, that…that sounds good. In case there’s another time.”

“There’s not gonna be another time,” Sam said, pulling you into his arms. “We’re gonna be there. Always.”

Taglist:

@nyotamalfoy @mrvlxgrl @chocorade @aestheticdaisies @inlovewhithafairytale

[kikimurphys]

I just can’t

One shot.

Warnings: Cheating, Smut.

" We shouldn't be doing this," you murmured between breathless kisses, your fingers clutching the fabric of his jacket as his hands roamed your body, gripping your waist and pulling you closer.

"I know," he whispered, his lips grazing the curve of your neck, leaving a trail of heat down to your collarbone.

"I'm engaged," you gasped, the words tumbling out like a confession as your hands clung to his shoulders, desperate and trembling.

"I know," Cillian replied, his voice low and rough as his fingers found the hem of your dress, pushing it higher. He cupped your ass, his touch igniting sparks that made you moan softly. "This is the last time."

"The last time," you echoed, though the words were more for you than for him, a fragile attempt at convincing yourself. Your resolve crumbled as you pulled him into a searing kiss, your hands sliding beneath his jacket, shoving it down his arms.

You always told yourself this would be the end. That you'd finally walk away. But it was a lie, and you both knew it. Something about him, about this, always pulled you back in—no matter how hard you tried to resist. You were already engaged when you met Cillian, but the heart is never bound by logic. It wants what it wants, and yours wanted him.

Before you met Cillian nearly a year ago, you were certain your future was exactly what you wanted. You had been with Greg for almost a decade—your first love, your only love. Or so you thought. You didn’t know any different. You didn’t know what real happiness or love felt like until you saw it reflected in the most captivating pair of pale blue eyes.

It was at a birthday party for a mutual actor friend. You’d slipped out onto the balcony for a cigarette, shivering as the biting Irish cold seeped through your short black dress and into your bones. The thin fabric offered no protection, and your high heels didn’t make standing out there any easier. You weren’t used to this kind of weather, and it showed.

Then he appeared, stepping outside with an easy confidence, a faint smile on his lips. He shrugged off his coat and offered it to you without hesitation. “You’ll freeze out here,” he said in that unmistakable accent, his voice a low murmur against the wind.

You took it gratefully, wrapping yourself in his warmth, and in return, you handed him a cigarette. That exchange led to a conversation that lasted the rest of the night.

You’d known who he was, of course—Cillian Murphy, the actor. But meeting him in person was entirely different. There was an effortless magnetism to him, an intensity in the way he listened, his pale blue eyes fixed on yours as though they were the only thing that mattered. And when you said his name, you swore his gaze darkened, his lips curving slightly at the sound.

“I’m engaged,” you had confessed at some point, the words feeling strange in the open air between you.

It didn’t seem to faze him. He leaned in just enough to blur the lines between casual and intimate. “Maybe we could have a drink next time you’re in town,” he said, his tone as light as the smile he wore, though his eyes hinted at something far heavier. He gave you his number, and you kept it, telling yourself it was harmless.

A few weeks later, you were in Dublin again. You texted him to meet for a drink at your hotel bar. “Just a friend,” you’d told yourself. You even planned an early night.

But you never finished your drink. Before you knew it, he was following you back to your hotel room.

Since then, the two of you had been entangled in a secret affair, hidden in the shadows of your work. You were filming in Dublin, and he made every excuse to be near you. It wasn’t just sex—it had long since stopped being about that.

Cillian cooked you dinner and took you to places he thought you’d like, his thoughtfulness surprising you every time. In turn, you brought him little tokens, things that reminded you of him, things you knew would make him smile. You were like any other couple, except it was a secret.

He nipped gently at the sensitive skin of your neck, his breath hot against your ear. “You know what would make this easier,” he murmured, his voice low and weighted with meaning.

Your fingers clenched his shirt instinctively, your body betraying your inner turmoil. “What?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

He pulled back just enough to meet your gaze, his pale blue eyes searching yours. “If you’d leave him and come with me.”

Before you could respond, his lips captured yours in a desperate, consuming kiss, as if silencing the words he couldn’t bear to hear. He already knew your answer—it was always the same.

“I can’t, Cill,” you gasped when you finally pulled away, your voice trembling. “I do love him… just not the same way I love you. It’s confusing. I can’t—I can’t—I just can’t.”

Your words spilled out in a frantic rush as his lips trailed down your chest, grounding you in the intensity of the moment.

The truth was, you were terrified. You always had been, and Cillian knew it. You had been with Greg for half your life, and those years meant something to you. Every time the subject came up, he could see the battle in your eyes—how your mind drifted to the memories you shared with Greg, to the times he made you laugh, to the comfort of the life you’d built together. Those thoughts were like an anchor, pulling you back from Cillian every time.

But Cillian wasn’t ready to let you go. He had a plan, one that simmered quietly in his heart. If he could make you laugh more, love more, feel more alive than you ever had before, maybe—just maybe—you’d choose him. If he could create more joyful memories with you than Greg ever had, then one day, you might see that your place was with him.

And if it took time, he was willing to wait. He would wait a lifetime if that’s what it took. Because he believed, deep down, that if he made you happier, you’d come to him. You had to.

His hands slid down your sides, steadying you as your knees threatened to give way under the weight of his words and his touch. “You don’t have to decide now,” he murmured against your skin, his lips brushing the hollow of your collarbone. “But you’ll have to decide eventually. You can’t keep living like this. We can’t keep living like this.”

You hated the truth in his words. Every stolen moment with Cillian brought you closer to the edge of a decision you weren’t ready to make. Your mind kept returning to Greg—the man who’d been there for you through everything. He was dependable, stable, good. You loved him, you did. But then there was Cillian, who made your heart race in a way Greg never could, who saw you, really saw you, in ways you didn’t even see yourself.

“You say that, but you’ve stayed this long,” you whispered, your voice cracking under the weight of guilt and longing. “If it’s so unbearable, why haven’t you walked away?”

He stilled, his hands resting on your hips as his forehead came to rest against yours. For a moment, there was only the sound of your mingled breaths, the silence between you heavy with unspoken truths.

“Because I can’t,” he finally admitted, his voice raw and quiet. “Because when I look at you, I see everything I’ve ever wanted, everything I didn’t think I deserved. You make me believe I’m more than just… me. You make me feel like I’m alive.”

The vulnerability in his voice broke something inside you. Without thinking, you pulled him into a kiss—a kiss that spoke the words you were too afraid to say aloud. It was deep, desperate, and full of the emotions you kept locked away. Tears slipped from your eyes, spilling down your cheeks and onto his as your lips moved together.

Cillian cupped your face, his thumbs brushing away the wet streaks, his touch as tender as his kiss was consuming. “Don’t cry,” he murmured against your lips, his breath warm and shaky. “Please don’t cry.”

You couldn’t stop. The weight of everything—your love for him, your fear, your guilt—was too much. “I’m sorry,” you whispered, your voice breaking.

He shook his head, his forehead pressed to yours. “Don’t be sorry. Just be here. With me.”

Before you could respond, he scooped you into his arms, and you instinctively wrapped your legs around his waist, holding onto him like he was the only thing keeping you afloat. He carried you to the bed, his movements deliberate, his gaze never leaving yours.

As he laid you down, his hands traced your body with a reverence that made your heart ache. You reached for him, pulling him closer until there was no space between you, just the heat of your shared breath and the rhythm of your hearts.

“Make love to me, Cill,” you whispered, your voice trembling but steady, your green eyes locking with his. They were filled with a quiet plea, a desperate need to lose yourself in him, to forget everything else.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Cillian stood and stripped himself bare, his movements unhurried but deliberate. He kicked his pants aside and returned to you, his body warm and inviting as he hovered over you. Your lips met his again, a fiery, unspoken connection passing between you as your arms and legs wrapped around him, holding him close.

His hands moved with practiced ease, peeling your dress away and tossing it carelessly to the floor. He unclasped your bra, his eyes drinking in the sight of you as his lips descended to your skin. He kissed down your chest, lingering at your breasts as his tongue flicked over your sensitive nipples. The soft nip of his teeth sent shivers through your body, your back arching in response to the exquisite sensation.

As he continued his slow, deliberate descent, his hands found the waistband of your panties. He slid them down and off in one smooth motion, discarding them without a second thought. His fingers brushed over your wet folds, drawing a sharp gasp from your lips as pleasure coursed through you.

He looked up, his blue eyes dark and hungry as he watched your reaction. The corners of his lips tugged into the faintest smile, one laced with satisfaction.

“Please,” you gasped, your voice breaking on the single word, your hips instinctively bucking against his hand.

He captured your lips again, his kiss deep and consuming as he pushed your legs open, his hands gliding down to caress the sensitive skin of your thighs. One hand gently cupped your cheek, his thumb brushing over your flushed skin, while the other moved to position himself at your entrance.

Cillian pulled back just enough to meet your gaze, his blue eyes dark with desire but soft with emotion. Without breaking eye contact, he rolled his hips forward, entering you with a slow, deliberate thrust. You both gasped at the connection, the air between you electric. His forehead rested against yours, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

Your eyes locked, your breaths mingling as he began to move. Each thrust was unhurried yet powerful, his body pressed firmly against yours. His lips brushed yours in fleeting, tender kisses as your heels dug into his back, pulling him closer, deeper.

The pleasure built quickly, your body responding to his every movement. He groaned low in his throat, his head tilting back briefly as his eyes squeezed shut, lost in the sensation. The bed creaked beneath you, the sound mixing with your gasps and the rhythm of your bodies.

His hand found your breast, his grip firm as he squeezed, drawing a moan from you. The skin of his hips slapped against yours, the intensity rising as you felt yourself nearing the edge.

As the tension reached its peak, his movements slowed for a brief moment. His hand came to cradle your cheek again, tilting your face upward. “Look at me,” he whispered, his voice rough with passion and emotion.

You opened your eyes, meeting his gaze, and time seemed to still. His blue eyes bore into yours, filled with a depth of feeling that made your heart ache. “I love you,” he told you, thrusting deeper.

“I love you too,” you responded, your voice trembling as you felt yourself climbing higher and higher toward your orgasm.

The connection pushed you both over the edge. His hips quickened, and you cried out as waves of pleasure crashed over you, your body trembling beneath him. His jaw tightened as he groaned deeply, his eyes never leaving yours as he followed you into release.

Breathing heavily, you clung to each other, your foreheads pressed together once more. Your heart thundered in your chest, matching the rhythm of his, as the world slowly came back into focus.

Cillian’s hands were still gently resting on your body, as if unwilling to let go, even in the aftermath. He looked at you with an intensity that sent another wave of emotion rushing through you. His voice, hoarse and raw, broke the silence.

“Please, Y/N, come with me. I can’t share you anymore.”

His words hung in the air, both a plea and a promise.

You looked into his eyes, searching for the sincerity, the depth of what he was asking. And there it was—no more doubts, no more hesitation. Just love, raw and unapologetic. You felt a warmth spread through you, the decision that had been weighing on you finally becoming clear.

“Okay,” you whispered, your voice breaking with emotion. “I will.”

tags:

@mamawiggers1980 @xsweetcatastrophe @galactict3a @thistheivyseason @cillianmurphyvevo @sweetcheesecakesblog @cillianmurphyfanatic @meadowshelby

[dovesdreaming]

Double trouble

Summary: Rodrick Heffley finally meets his match when a new band member joins Löded Diper and they’re exactly like him.

Request

Masterlist

Warnings: none

-

Rodrick Heffley had always been the king of his own world, a world filled with the raucous sounds of heavy metal, the smell of worn leather, and the unbridled chaos that came with being the drummer of Löded Diper. So when his parents forced him to find a new guitarist for the band, he wasn’t exactly thrilled. But then you walked in. You were exactly what the band needed, a fierce guitarist with a sound that matched Rodrick's energy note for note. You showed up to the audition wearing a beat-up leather jacket and band tee, your hair perfectly messy, looking like you had just walked out of one of Rodrick’s favorite music videos. He wasn’t sure if he was looking in a mirror or at the person who might just change everything.

“Alright, show me what you got" Rodrick said, leaning back with an air of disinterest he’d perfected over years of being a self proclaimed rock god. You rolled your eyes, just like he would have, and adjusted the strap of your guitar. When your fingers hit the strings, the sound that came out was pure magic, a riff so heavy it made the basement walls vibrate. Rodrick’s usual smirk fell into something more serious as he nodded along. By the time you finished, the rest of the band was staring in awe, but Rodrick just crossed his arms and gave a curt nod.

“You're in” he said, trying to play it cool. But there was a glint in his eye that you caught, one that said, This might actually be fun. Practices were different after you joined the band. There was more energy, more intensity. Rodrick found himself playing harder, pushing himself to keep up with you, and he liked the challenge. “You know, you’re not half bad” he said one day after a particularly grueling practice, sweat dripping down his forehead. “Coming from you, that’s a compliment” you shot back, smirking. Rodrick chuckled, a rare sound from him, as he wiped his brow with the back of his hand. "Maybe we should do something together. Like, you know, write a song”. “Only if you promise not to mess it up” you teased. He rolled his eyes. "Please. You’re the one who better keep up with me”.

But it wasn’t just about music. As the weeks went on, Rodrick started noticing how similar the two of you really were. You shared the same taste in bands, down to the most obscure groups that no one else in town seemed to know. You had the same disdain for anything ‘mainstream’ and you both took pride in your rebellious style. One day, Rodrick came to practice wearing a shirt from a band’s farewell tour that he’d been sure no one else knew about. When you showed up wearing the exact same shirt, he almost dropped his drumsticks. “No way!" you both said in unison, then laughed. Rodrick grinned at you, feeling something warm in his chest. It wasn’t like him to care much about other people, but you well, you were different.

As time passed, you and Rodrick became the dynamic duo of Löded Diper. The band started to sound tighter, more professional, almost like you actually knew what you were doing. The guys even started to talk about getting gigs outside of Greg’s middle school parties, something Rodrick had only dreamed about before. One night after a particularly killer session, you both stayed behind, too hyped up to leave.

“You know, we might actually make something of this” Rodrick said, strumming his guitar absently as he sat next to you on the worn out basement couch. You leaned back, looking up at the ceiling. "Yeah, if we don’t kill each other first”. He chuckled, nudging you with his shoulder. "It’s not my fault you’re always trying to one up me”. “Please” you scoffed. "You’re the one who always has to have the last word”.

Rodrick smirked. "Yeah, well, someone’s gotta keep you in check”. You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help smiling. It was weird, but despite all the back and forth, you knew you made a good team. More than that, you were starting to think maybe you’d found someone who really understood you, someone who saw the world the same way you did, even if they were a total pain sometimes. "Hey” Rodrick said suddenly, turning serious. "I’m glad you joined the band. It’s…cool having someone who gets it”. You looked at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. "Yeah” you said softly. "I’m glad too”. You could have sworn you saw his eyes flit down to your lips and lean in ever so slightly but as quick as you saw it he had turned away from you with an absent minded smile on his face.

You both sat there in comfortable silence, the sounds of the night filtering through the basement windows. It wasn’t something either of you would say out loud, at least not yet. But you knew, whatever came next, you were in it together. And with both of you in the band, Löded Diper was about to rock harder than ever before.

-

Thank you for reading!

[austinsastrology8991]

> MC ASPECTS < How you renowned around town “You make your own reality. And once you’ve done it, apparently, everyone’s of the opinion it was all so fucking obvious.” - Logan - Fucking - ROy

!!parental advisory explicit!!

MC Aspecting Sun - “rome, I think you're a super talented superstar and I love you” - Shiv Roy : Its hard not to notice you, you got a poise of regality, and you work the public sphere with ease; you put yourself out there and you get a lot of attention from onlookers - and it makes you one of a kind. you are someone with dignity and maybe too much self respect for some, to give you the credit that you do deserve > because no one does it quite like you - high key a dominant force in any room you enter - wolf of wall street vibes and lets be honest you are not above having a party at the office... and paying hookers to make it more cool...... you do the most and its a vibe vibe MC Aspecting Moon - "They fuck you up, your mum and dad. They may not mean to, but they do. They fill you with the faults they had, and add some extra just for you" - Therapist in succession You know how to put people at ease, and your basically a professional therapist at this point. You can lighten up anyones mood or piss everyone off depending on how you feel. And this understanding of psychology really benefits you; because people want to treat you right, so you can give them some insight as to why they have a mental breakdown every 5 minutes (this generations daily cycle) your like a dog that lives in a hair-salon and everyone wanna get a cuddle from it/he/she/thing/you

MC Aspecting Mercury - “Information, Greg, it’s like a bottle of fine wine. You store it, you hoard it, you save it for a special occasion and then you smash someone’s face with it.” - Tom Wambsgams When you stfu people are wondering what your thinking. because somehow. someway. you've taken control of the conversation, and whatever you say is taken with heavier consideration then the average person. However that does not mean you get your way, it just means we listen to you the most - easily the most valuable insight comes from you guys, and your perceived as. a hustler. no wonder your careful with ur words because you dont really care about getting the right answer in the known, if that ultimately inteferes with your master plan you'll just stay quiet - because you know how to navigate the world with words, and your aware that ultimately the final word - the best word - is the deciding factor of what we do MC Aspecting Venus - "Here’s the thing about being rich, okay? It’s fucking great. It’s like being a superhero, only better. You get to do what you want — the authorities can’t really touch you. You get to wear a costume, but it’s designed by Armani and it doesn’t make you look like a prick." - Tom Wambsgams Beauty pageants. Everyone is interested in you, because your beautiful and your graceful, and you'd make a fine edition to the list of exes that everyone has. So besides the fact that your fuckable, you know how to charm people so easily and thats why you get so much attention, and its positive unless your insecure about how attractive you are.... which is a real thing... and id say just get that plastic surgery or stfu and find some real solutions. i mean has anyone ever tried to tell a beautiful person, that they beautiful.... its exhausting... and then they just look for someone else (more beautiful) to get that validation. its a death trap!!! dont fall for that bs... but damn yo fine ass better get used to being a fine ass or someone gonna commit a crime on yo ass MC Aspecting Mars - "I got a track record from founding one of the most exciting new media brands in the world. And what do you got? Track marks from shooting junk? Thanks for coming down. It was great to meet you." - Lawyrence Yee Unfuckwitable - you embody the underdog - and i mean an under dog thorugh and through; youll bark at anything that pisses yall offf, and thats why people watch they step around yall, no one wanna get bitten by da big dog with a small dog complex. but your fierce and people try their best to match your aggressive energy just to save face for themselves - meanwhile your just more pissed off that you always gotta show yo teeth to anyone you talk to lol. Your competitive and act like crackhead that knows karate. everyone is low key intimidated by ya, and you know it

MC Aspecting Jupiter - "Most things don't exist. the ford motor company hardly exists. It's just a time saving expression for a collection of financial interests." - Logan RoyEveryone likes you, and sometimes you don't even understand why, and thats just another reason to like you. You show a geniune uninterest in any boring mundane activities > and this lack of care for bullshit makes it so that when you do show an interest for something > you've somehow convinced everyone in the room that your enthusiasm defines whats enjoyable. and this discernment makes others believe that your the new budha for socio-economic observations . I respect it. and you did it without even realizing, like thats a feat initself, and you guys are 100 feet tall in everyone elses eyes because you got a name fo yo self MC aspecting Saturn - "the actual fact is we're persuading more and more shareholders everyday that we offer them just a slightly better chance for them to make a little bit more money on the dollar…and that's all that this is…." - Stewy Hosseini The boss is here and now everyone gotta actually do something productive. you guys have respect, and people know that if they don't come at you correctly, then you'll correct it for them, and no one wanna be daddied by the king kong daddy. Your life is defined by hardships and this is the most noticeable trait about yall, and it has molded you into a gus fring. A stone cold killer. You don't have to say much but the weight of your presence in itself, is so much pressure, that everyone wanna ask for more time, but no one wanna be scolded by yall so we just stfu and deal with it MC Aspecting Uranus - "Nothing is a line. Everything, everywhere is always moving. Forever. Get used to it." - Logan Roy Who is they? who are we? why can they get away with acting like a complete fucking retard? Well they don't 'get away with it' they just fucking do it. I mean the balls on ya'll is undeniable, but the audacity and the concept of why. well no one knows and I don't think you do either. But you literally change the game wherever you go, because you do ridiculous shit just to make fun of reality, and it really does expose how much of a cult we all live in; since we all about our own rituals of bullshit. I applaud the audacity but everyone gets nervous around your unpredictable nervous explosions - your like a charged creeper; youve been shocked by something and now you just have to explode and ruin everyones buildings

MC Aspecting Neptune - "Climate said I was going down. Climate said I should just step aside. I guess I'm a climate denier" - Logan Roy You're imagination personified. You somehow write your favourite stories into reality > and you do this so uncosnciosuly thst you've somehow convinced everyone its real. You don't care much for whats actually real, you'd rather manifest what you want to be real > no matter whats being thrown at you (and theres a lot) you have a uncanny ability to be a energy conduit > and transform that energy into what pleases you the most. And because of this you appear to be a mystic. and theres a tendency to be very calm, and if life throws too much shit at you > and you've ran outta favours, its adios to the world. and the long road of finding your purpose again awaits! MC Aspecting Pluto - "Would you like to hear my favourite passage from Shakespear? Take the fucking money." - Logan Roy You are daunting aren't you. people don't talk to you very much, at least not any normal self abiding citizen. you look like TMNT - you look neglected > look like you ate some radioactive poison > became this mutant thing > and was raised by a rat that could beat your ass... how'd that go? you look great! I would shake your hand but Im honestly afraid your gonna bite me. Look your life is intense and borderline traumatic, I get it. but this makes you so mesmerising > you can have the whole room in a trance with your dark aura, and people just hand you power like its nothing. You don't even care tho, and thats what makes you even more powerful lol > if anyone can handle the dark. its you > and a powerful 'rep' requires someone who doesn't fuck around. and you do not

highly highly recommend succession > all the quotes used are from dat show - and its a fkn masta piece

[that-one-banger-of-a-rhcp-song]

A Rodrick x reader where they're friends with benefits and aren't aware of each others feelings towards the other util reader gets asked out by someone from their school :]

i started this one earlier and then the draft got deleted (this is why you dont take grilled cheese brakes kids) Thank you so much for the request, i have never written fwb before so i hope i meet your expectations :) (p.s. im a sucker for hand/knuckle kisses and it shows) lets just say greg and rowley weren't there for the party.

"Dammit Rodrick," you chuckled slightly, sitting on a desk.

"What?" The raven haired boy started, "Don't like doing this anymore?" His hot breath tickled against your neck.

"It's not that," you muttered, "I just, don't feel like making out in an empty classroom five minutes before lunch ends."

"Oh, 'cause you are so above that," he retorted, going back to his assault on your neck and jawline.

"I'm turning over a new leaf!" You leaned back slightly, humming.

"Proud of yourself?" his hand relocated to your waist, the other supporting his weight.

"I would say I'm more proud of you,"

"Oh?"

"You haven't gotten a detention in two days!" at that, the boy laughed, and removed his head from the crook of your neck.

'God I love you!' he wanted to say, but you seemed content with your current status, and he got to make out with you whenever he wanted... so he was fine! Totally.

"Has that Micha kid been bothering you?" The so called 'Micha kid' had been trying to hit on you for months, and you were to nice to tell him you secretly hated him, but you were working on it (thanks to Rodrick)

"Kind of? He tries to talk to me a lot, but he's less persistent."

"Good" he smiled, patting your waist before kissing you again.

You pulled away after a moment, "We should probably get our stuff," you commented, pulling him out of his blissful state.

"uh, yeah!" god he was so awkward sometimes. He held out his hand for you to take, (which you did) and you slid off the desk.

"You're such a gentleman!" you mocked in a brittish accent

"Oh, I know, love," he carried on.

-----------

'party at my house -rodrick' The text had been sent four minutes ago on the dot. Your parents were out of town, so you could go without being caught. So you fucking did. You put on a white button-down, black skinny jeans that were torn to shreds, and You put your earbuds in and started walking the block to the Heffley household. Your mind shifted to your previous interaction. How concerned Rodrick was being, he did care about you. and some times it felt like he loved you. you felt as if you could only dream.

---

You knocked on the door, the music was so loud already.

"Y/NNNN!" Rodrick dragged your name out, he took your hand and kissed your knuckles, "You do know this is casual, right?"

"Yes."

"Alright then. Get in here!" he pulled you in the house, there were lights, MCR's 'na na na" was blasting at full volume, and there were high-schoolers making out in random corners, someone had started a fistfight, and it seemed like it was more Rodrick's element than yours, but that was ok. And then you saw him.

Micha.

The boy who looked at you like a Piece of meat.

you grabbed Rodrick's sleeve, "Micha's here," You said desperately. He noted your concern, and looked around for the boy, "Hey," he said, grasping your arms, "It's gonna be fine! if he starts bothering you, just come find me and we can make out or some shit!" He looked you in the eyes and smiled, trying his hardest to reasure you.

"Thanks Rodrick," you said hugging him.

"Of course!"

-------

Rodrick had decided to be social, so you just wandered around the house, looking at the people you knew, and those you didn't. When you heard that terribly familiar voice.

"Hey y/n!"

Well fuck. you turned around, and sent a glare that could kill toward the boy.

"How's the party?" Micha said.

The sound of his voice made you want to yell. "Good." you said, not looking at him.

"I haven't talked to you in a while,"

"I know." you kept your answers short and half assed. Hoping he would get the memo.

He didn't.

Lucky for you, Rodrick had pardoned himself from his buddies chit chat, to make sure you were alright.

An arm looped around your shoulders, "Hi," the boy said "Uh, Micheal, was it?"

"Micha."

"Oh, sorry meesha,"

"That isn't even close to my name."

"Cool" you were never really religious, but you took the time to thank god for Rodrick. "Now, Mickey, can you not tell that you're making y/n uncomfortable?"

"I figured they would tell me if-"

"Micha, I don't like you." you said, voice laced with anger, "I never fucking have."

The boy just looked at you sadly and nodded before walking away.

"Rodrick, thank-" you were cut off by a rather agressive and passionate kiss.

"Y/n I love you. It's okay if you don't love me back but seeing you that uncomfortable made me want to tell you."

you could only stand there shocked. "I- Rodrick I" you stuttered, "I love you too. I always have and I really want to thank you for keeping me close!"

Just hearing those words made his heart melt and his confidence boost dramatically.

"I know this is my party, but" He tried, "Wanna blow this place?"

[shy-blue-blossom]

Secrets

Wyatt Lykensen

Seabrook seemed to be changing every year. Two years ago the divided town was put to the test, with zombies and humans now getting along with one another. Addison and Zed are the first couple of the two. There was still a stigma about zombies from the older and odd younger generations. It was known because of what happened a year ago. Wearwolves had come looking for the mother moonstone.

Y/n's parents are some who are still wary about werewolves joining the community. She meets her boyfriend in secret because of the stigma and has yet to introduce him to them. Her sister knew. Her friends knew. Her parents would be…protective, is one word to describe how they would react if they met him.

It was a quiet night as y/n sat in her room doing her homework. Focusing and not noticing her window opening behind her. Reading through a question two hands grabbed her shoulders and pulled her backwards. The individual held her on their chest. Y/n let a squeal out as she looked at the person.

"Wyatt," She said breathlessly before she turned to hug him. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you," Wyatt answered and kissed her cheek, moving back to look into her eyes. Her cheeks went red.

Y/n hid her face in his neck. Wyatt held onto her tightly and talked among themselves. Neither of them noticed the footsteps that were getting closer to the room. The door opened and Wyatt jumped in front of y/n not risking her safety.

"Y/n, your father and I are-" Her mother stopped when she looked at the werewolf guarding her daughter. "Greg!" She called out for her husband. Footsteps could be heard rushing up the stairs.

"What?" Greg said rushing into the room not knowing what he might see. "Is y/n okay?" He continued looking around the room for his daughter. A sign of relief was let out when he noticed she was okay. "Who are you, young man?"

"Wyatt Lykensen, sir," He said standing up straight and holding a hand out to Greg. "I was hoping to meet you tomorrow."

"Greg, what are you doing? Call the z-portal!" Y/n's mother cried out.

"Why should I?" Greg said looking at his wife. "His first institute was to protect our daughter even in her home." The mother had nothing to say to that.

"Hi, Dad are you going out somewhere?" Y/n asked noting the clothes her parents were wearing.

"We are going to a party at my workplace," Greg moved closer to her and Wyatt moved out of the way, so he could kiss the top of her head before turning to his wife. "Amber, are you ready to go?" She nodded. "Look after her for me, that is not permission to do anything." He told Wyatt as he left her room. The room was silent.

Y/n giggled before she pulled Wyatt's hand dragging him to sit next to her. He watched her laugh. He reached a hand into his pocket and pulled something out. While she was distracted he placed it on her causing her to stop her laugh.

"What?" Y/n trailed off seeing what he out on her. She stared at the necklace, then at him with wide eyes.

"It's my promise to you," Wyatt looked from the necklace to her eyes. "To always be there for you as much as I can. You are part of my pack" He smiled at her.

Y/n jumped onto him, kissing him as she did, hugging him tightly. They enjoyed being together doing mundane things not worrying about anything happening outside the room. Y/n admired the moonstone on the necklace, happy to be part of his pack.

The end.

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

Masterlist

[fallout-lou-begas]

between rebecca sugar's old pearl/greg and amethyst/sadie sketches there's lots of stuff coming out lately about some kind of alternate Steven Universe that could have been that's about genderfluid shapeshifting space lesbians without earthly human understandings of romance both unwittingly and wittingly fucking their way through the entire population of a small town. imagine. and nobody joke "that's what the show was about though!" or i'll kill you i mean actual explicit on-screen for-adults dyke drama

[witchygagirlwrites]

Broken Bonds-Part 30

Greg "Mouse" Gerwitz x Reader, Jay Halstead x Hailey Upton, Coparenting Jay Halstead x Reader

With a ticking clock there are no rules when it comes to Jay and Mouse finding you and Hailey

Warnings: TORTURE, MENTION OF RAPE (NO RAPE) LOTS OF VIOLENCE

The sound of Mouse’s cell phone ringing was nearly too loud in the marshal office. The guy Gwen had just dragged in was yelling from the holding but somehow the simple ring of his phone seemed louder. He glanced at the screen and the moment he saw Jay’s name he felt his world screech to a stop. He glanced at the time, ten forty five. The meeting was over. If Jay was calling…

“Jay” he answered and heard the other man take a ragged breath “Greg…” no no no, if Jay was calling and if Jay was using his real name? “Please tell me she’s not dead Jay. Please” he begged and Jay breathed “Greg….they took our girls”  “Who took our girls?” he asked, eyes meeting Xavier’s across the floor as he grabbed his gear and headed for the stairs. He heard his team one by one falling in step behind him before he ever hung up with Jay.

He looked over his shoulder at them all. “I don’t have clearance to go, you could be risking your jobs” Gwen shrugged “This is Kidd we’re talking about. Let’s fucking go”

“You fall in line and there aren’t any rules” he told them before heading down the stairs not looking to see if they followed. He had to get to the twenty first. The more time passed, the harder it would be to get a lead. Not finding them was not an option.

The drive across town, hell he wasn’t sure if any light he rolled through was red or green. You were in danger. Some assholes decided they were gonna put their hands on you, hurt you, take you. He wasn’t here the last time you needed him, he was now dammit and nothing would keep him from finding you.

The moment Mouse parked his truck in front of the precinct he grabbed his gear out of the seat and stormed up the steps. Sure enough his entire team had followed him. The moment he stepped in the door Trudy looked up at him from her place behind the front desk, he could see tears in her eyes “Mouse, you and Jay bring them home” he nodded, knowing she needed him to sound certain  “We will” she hit the button to pop the gate leading up to intelligence and he didn’t waste any time, taking the stairs two at a time.

The moment he hit the top of the stairs every set of eyes turned towards him. It seemed like Jay and Voight were mid conversation but he could’ve given a damn less “Tell me we have any damn thing we can track Jay. Give me something”  Voight looked at him “Mouse, you can’t be here” he cut his eyes at Voight “Me and Jay honestly don’t need the unit or my team. More hands and eyes just come in handy. Are you gonna help us get them back or stand in the damn way? I’ve got five marshals here to help your unit, take the help and get your detectives back or we’ll do it ourselves”

Voight raised an eyebrow then nodded “I’ll get it cleared for your team to be here. You and Jay run point” Mouse nodded then looked back at Jay who told him  “Kev’s running the plates. We got Phillip Jones in custody, best we can tell his brother Eric and his goonies grabbed them. We’re thinking they’re gonna contact for a trade” Mouse nodded and looked back at Gwen “Take the back stairs, tell Kevin you’re part of my team. Take over running these assholes down. Let’s find them before they ever have a chance to try to make a trade. Send Kevin up”

Gwen disappeared through the door Mouse pointed her in the direction of and Jay bumped his shoulder and leaned in “How solid is your team?” he nodded “Solid” “Like we can take Phillip down to the cage?” Jay asked and he nodded “Yeah, they’re that solid”

Jay looked back at Voight who nodded once “Do what you gotta do, I got the rest” that was pretty much clearance to do anything and everything. Him and Mouse had done some shit and that was for men in their unit but this? This was for the women they loved. This was for Addy. This was for everything that mattered, nothing was off limits.

Kevin walked back through the door about that time and Mouse cut his eyes at Jay before saying “Kev, go to fifty one and pick up Stella and Kelly. She needs to know” Jay nodded then breathed “After that I need to ask something of you that you aren’t gonna want to do” “What’s that?” Kevin asked and Jay shrugged one shoulder “Sit out of this? I need Addy safe and who better than her mom’s best friend. I need you to stay with her and Stella until we bring the girls home”

Kevin looked from one of them to the other “I can’t do nothing” Jay shook his head “Protecting Addy is everything” he nodded slowly “Promise me that you two aren’t stopping at nothing” Mouse nodded “You know us Kev. They’re coming home”

___________________

“What do you mean she’s been kidnapped?” Stella’s voice shook as she looked from Jay to Mouse. Kelly moved to put his hands on her shoulders and she shrugged him off. “Where the fuck is my little sister?” Jay swallowed hard “We’ll get her back Stel” 

Stella’s head whipped towards him “How the fuck did you lose her? How does a decorated army ranger, decorated detective manage to lose two fucking women on a damn undercover?” “There’s a lot of moving parts to things” Mouse tried and Stella scoffed “You’re defending him?”

Kelly pulled her back against his chest “Baby, you’re upset. You’re saying stuff you don’t mean” her hands shook and tears were shining in her eyes when she said “Just please get her back Jay. She’s my little sister. Don’t make me bury her and you know she loves Hailey too. Get em back, they both believe in you” then she looked at Mouse “My little sister loves you, get her back”

She took a deep breath, visibly resigning herself to the fact that this was reality not some horrible dream then said “I’ll take vacation time and keep Addy home until you get them back. Don’t worry about her. Just concentrate on my sister and Hailey, ok?” Both men nodded so she turned to Kelly and Kevin “Let’s go”

They watched her walk out and Jay took a deep breath “Thank you” “For what?” Mouse asked and Jay shrugged “For defending me even if I don’t deserve it, I was right there man…a few steps too slow…” Mouse shook his head “Don’t fucking go there Jay. I need your head on straight. Don’t think about what you could’ve done. Think about what you’re gonna do when you get those son of a bitches that have them in front of us”

Pain wasn’t a stranger to you. Hell in your life of work, you’d been shot, stabbed and in a couple car wrecks. That was all since joining intelligence. You could handle pain, it was the burning that made consciousness rush back into you with a scream being ripped from your lips.

“Looks like this one is awake, what about blondie?” you fought against the pounding behind your eyes to force them open. Blondie...Hailey? Memories of what happened flooded back to you. You’d run right into it, worse than that was Hailey had followed you step for step. You’d never seen those damn guys or those fucking shock sticks.

The last thing you could remember was Eric Jones telling someone to “Shoot that damn guy” was Jay ok? Where was Hailey? Hell where were you? The moment you managed to get your eyes open you were face to face with a man that was taller than Kevin and twice as broad “Damn, what did your mama feed you?” you blurted out and he chuckled “Oh I like her, she wakes up feisty”

You shrugged, looking around the room and cutting your eyes up to see you were chained by your arms to a pulley system that was attached to the roof. Explained why you couldn’t currently feel them, also why your feet were barely touching the floor. “Unchain me and I’ll show you just how feisty I am asshole” he grinned “Oh she’s gonna be fun. Is blondie awake yet?”

About the time he said it you heard Hailey’s voice and it sounded like she was waking up in the same mood as you. You glared at the mountain of a man in front of you “Sounds like it” he chuckled “See, my boss is wanting his brother back. He’s gonna use you two to do so. The thing is that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun in the meantime”

You felt your stomach churn at his words and it must have shown on your face because he shook his head “Oh no dear, we’re not animals. We wouldn’t take that from you…we just want to break you down in a little teeny tiny heap so when CPD releases Phillip they get piles of their detectives back. That way they know the Jones brothers are indeed untouchable”

“How do you plan a trade if we’re dead?” you asked and he grinned “Who said you’ll be dead?” and backhanded you across the face hard enough if you hadn’t been hanging by your arms you probably would’ve flown across the room. The coppery taste of blood filled your mouth and you turned your head to spit it out onto the floor “Should I start here with you or go to Blondie first?” you were shaking from a mixture of pain, adrenaline and fear as you said “If you touch her just remember I will get down from here eventually and when I do I will break your fucking neck”

“Tsk tsk tsk Detective. You’re in no place to make threats” you spit out more blood, damn your teeth must have sliced the inside of your mouth “Not a threat, it’s a promise I will make good on”

____________________

Hailey could hear you, she knew you were close. She couldn’t exactly call for you because you both didn’t know if these assholes knew your identities beyond being detectives for intelligence. When she heard you tell one of them that if they hurt her you’d break their fucking neck her eyes flew to the men in the room with her.

You had to stop fighting so hard. She could take it. She’d handled worse. You and her could make it through this. The unit would come, you just had to stay alive until then and you trying to take the focus off her wasn’t happening.The man in the room with her eyed her, your initial observation of “Damn what did your mama feed you?”  was pretty fucking accurate. Where the hell did the Jones brothers get these men?

“She your girlfriend or something?” he asked and she grinned “Or something” he nodded “You gonna let her take everything to keep it off of you?” she shook her head “Not on your life asshole” and he grinned “Always loved the fact that women are always stronger than men. They take twice as long to break” “Lucky us” she breathed, turning back towards the sound of your voice. She had no idea of knowing how much time had passed since you and her had been taken. How close the unit was to finding you two or what had happened to Jay.

Hank walked down the stairs with Xavier next to him, both men pushing Phillip in front of them. Mouse and Jay stood on either side of the cage. Hank shoved Phillip in then looked at Jay and held the keys out “You two got five minutes, make it count”

Xavier looked at Mouse “I got the exterior door. No one is coming in” then he walked off. The man had the nerve to smirk at Jay  “What’s wrong Jack did ya lose Veronica and Vivian?” Jay unlocked the cage and pushed the door open wide enough Mouse could walk in behind him. “I’m gonna ask you one time and one time only where would your brother take them?”

“Fuck you” Phillip told him and was met with a hard punch from Mouse. Jay nodded towards him “Did I mention one of the women your brother took was the woman he loves?” Phillip spit out a mouth full of blood, a tooth amongst it and shrugged “Let me go and you may see them again”

Jay cut his eyes at Mouse and held his hand out, Mouse laid his knife in it “Last chance. Give us a location” “Fuck you” Phillip repeated. “Suit yourself” Mouse told him and nodded to Jay who didn’t hesitate to slam the knife down into Phillip’s left hand, pinning it to the bench.  Phillip let out a blood curdling scream as Jay leaned down face to face with him “A location, now”

“I don’t- I don’t know” Phillip tried and Mouse grabbed the handle of the knife and twisted it “What was that? Talk up Phillip!” Phillip groaned “There’s three places! Three places! He’ll have them in one of those”

“Good boy. Luckily you’re right handed so here ya go” Jay handed him a sheet of paper and pen “Write quick and he’ll get the medic from his team down here to patch ya up before you pass out” 

He scribbled down the locations and Jay nodded then snatched Mouse’s knife out of his hand “Good talk Phillip” Mouse nodded “Very lucrative for us all” the two walked out and Xavier walked back in, eyeing the puddle growing under Phillip as Jay locked the cage “Guessing I should get Jonah?” Mouse nodded “Yeah, asshole doesn’t deserve to bleed out” then looked at Jay “We gotta get Gwen running these then we need teams hitting them all”

“What if he has more addresses?” Jay asked and Mouse shrugged “We hit every damn property he owns until we find them” Jay nodded “We gotta move fast and hit every damn place hard” Mouse nodded “We know how and we will. They fucked up laying a hand on her and Hailey”

Your ribs were aching, you were fairly certain you were losing circulation in your hands and your jawbone may very well be cracked or at the very least bruised deeply They’d given you one hell of a beating already. You heard the room next to yours open and knew they were going in on Hailey next “LEAVE HER ALONE DAMMIT! PLEASE, HURT ME NOT HER!” you screamed, groaning from the pain as tears slipped down your face.

You heard Hailey’s voice cut through the wall “STOP FIGHTING SO MUCH. I CAN TAKE IT” and flinched when the first blow landed on her. Tears streamed down your face as you listened to them beat her like they had you. 

_____________________

Hailey took the beating, grunting when they hit her and tears flowing again when she heard your sobs. This would be how they broke the two of you. She could take the hits, she couldn’t take hearing your pain and knew you couldn’t take hearing hers. They would use you against each other. The worst part was they didn’t even have any real use for the two of you beyond pawns to try to get Phillip released. This? This was just a bunch of sickos playing.

When they finally got tired and walked out of her room she sagged in her chains. “Hails?” you spoke lightly and she swallowed hard “I’m here babe” she could hear your voice shake “They’ll find us” “I know”

“Hit it fast and hard. Don’t give them time to alert anyone in case this isn’t the place with the girls. If it’s not we hand it over to patrol and move the hell on” Jay told the group and Voight cut his eyes at him “Unless there’s an issue. If so everyone go home and we got this because out of everyone I trust him to have my back and if goes both ways”

“Jay, we’re with you” Adam told him and Kim nodded. Gwen looked at Mouse “Let’s get Kidd and Upton back” the group surrounded the first location, waiting on Jay’s command. “Take it”

“CPD! US MARSHAL” The call sounded out and doors were kicked in. The guards inside didn’t have time to run. The group of men and women they had backing them were slamming them down left and right. They left them to cuff them while Jay and Mouse moved through the house, clearing it.

When it came up empty they moved back into the living room where Voight had gathered all the perps. “Who’s in charge” Mouse asked and no one replied so Voight kicked one of the men in the side and he grunted then pointed at one man “He is”

“Asshole” the man cursed as Mouse and Jay snatched him to his feet. “Kitchen?” Jay asked and Mouse nodded. Voight looked back at the team “Stay in here” then followed the two into the kitchen, hanging back. 

Mouse looked towards the stove “Oh look Jay, gas stove. Actual fire” Jay nodded and looked towards the man they were dragging between them “This asshole has a pyro streak. Picked it up in Kandahar Valley. The problem with electric stoves?” They dragged him over to the stove as Mouse turned one of the burners on high, the flames flickering up as he said “The burners man. It’s too clean. Actual flames. They fucking melt skin”

They both grabbed one of the man’s shoulders and held him down over the flames, just close enough the smell of burnt hair from his beard filled the air. Mouse leaned down close to his ear “Your boss Eric Jones?” The man nodded, eyes wide. “Does he have a place where he takes hostages?” 

“He’ll kill me man?” Mouse looked at Jay “Did you hear that? Jones will kill him” Jay nodded then shoved the man down just enough the flames burnt through his beard and he screamed in pain as his chin blistered then they pulled him up. Jay leaned in “Eric is not your biggest worry. You’re here so you didn’t actually have anything to do with. You can get by with a felony arrest. If you don’t tell us where your face is going down in this flame and I will fucking hold you in it until you stop kicking and swear we found you like that”

The man looked between them then nodded “It’s about an hour north..I…I can show you on on a map” Mouse slapped him on the shoulder “Attaboy!” then snatched him up by the burnt part of his beard “Let’s go”

You passed out at some point and when you came to you were being taken down from the roof and chained to a wall instead. You grunted from the pain in your side as they dropped you to the hard concrete floor. “What’s wrong killer, don’t tell me we already broke ya? I wanted you to keep some of that fight?” the man in front of you said. The way he looked at you made your skin crawl, then he reached to push your blood soaked hair back from your face “Not all of us have Dominic’s views on things. That fight may be fun, especially if we can rub that into CPD” you flinched away from his touch and glared at him “Go to hell” he grinned “Uh oh. There’s killer” and winked at you.

He walked out and a few minutes later Hailey’s limp body was dragged in and chained to a wall opposite you. You waited until the men who’d bought her in walked out then moved a little closer to her, straining your eyes to see if she was breathing. 

The slight rise and fall of her chest as a reassurance. If she was here, in the room with you that meant you could protect her. If this was all a play against CPD to get their attention to get Eric out, you would get their eyes on you the next time Dominic came in. After all, someone who loved you more than anything worked for the marshal service. Using you, hurting you could get the attention of both branches. They didn’t need to hurt her.

___________________________

You sat in the quiet, listening to her stir and knew she was fully awake. You’d made your decision and had come to peace with it. You just needed her to now. This was the only way for either of you to make it out of this. That slimy guy said “Not all of them” that meant more than one of them went against Dominic. How long could he keep it to Physical abuse?

You’d already endured more than you ever thought you could. These men had beat every inch of your body to the point of near breaking before they had stopped. How your heart was still beating and how you were still drawing breath was beyond you.

“Hailey” you barely whispered her name but knew she heard you because of the slight flinch “Yeah Y/N?” you turned towards her as far as you could, the pain in your side feeling like it was tearing with every movement “Hails promise me you’ll be there for Addy” her head rolled to the side to face you, one of her eyes was nearly swollen shut but the other bright blue and wide as she stared at you “Always but why wouldn’t you be?”

You swallowed hard “I have to think about her instead of myself. Jay needs you coming home. I can’t break his heart again. So if it comes to me or you, get the hell out of here and get home to him and my little girl. Be a mom to her please” she shook her head, tears falling “I won’t leave you. I can’t face her and know I left her mom. I can’t look Greg in the eye and know I left you. You can’t ask me to leave you” you wrapped an arm around yourself, grunting from the pain but managed to get close enough to grab her hand “Hailey, I love you. I know you love me. I’m asking please if you get a chance, get out. Live for us both. Take care of my daughter, help Greg get on his feet. You’re so strong. They need you. I need you to live please live for me” 

She squeezed your hand “If I get a chance, I’m taking you with me. There’s no future for me without my wife in it. We’re a family, family doesn’t leave each other behind” 

You shook your head, tears falling “Listen to me dammit. Their goal is to completely destroy us. I can’t let that happen to you if I can stop it” she squeezed your hand “I am not leaving you, no matter what. We face whatever comes together”

“This is the place,” Mouse spoke, looking around at the team. “Surround it. Hit it hard. No one walks out alive” Voight ordered and everyone nodded. The teams going in were Gwen with Jay and Mouse. Jonah and Xavier with Adam and Kenny and Kim with Voight.

“If you can make it hurt, even better” Jay added then cut his eyes at Mouse “Let’s do this” 

___________________

Jay and Mouse moved together through the halls. The two men didn’t have to speak, they knew where each other was, on feeling alone. “Two offenders down” Mouse called over the radio, stepping over the bodies of the men he and Jay just killed, their blood still drying on his hands.

“From the blueprints I pulled the cellars are at the end of the hall” Gwen spoke low and both men nodded. She moved first, opening the door and they moved in, shoulder to shoulder. 

________________

You flinched at the first sound of gunfire “Hailey” you whispered, trying to nudge her and she nodded “I know” the door burst open and you would’ve preferred Dominic. It was the slimy guy. He looked from you to Hailey and smiled “Don’t have long but might as well have a little fun” you felt adrenaline rush into you and knew it hit Hailey too because despite your injuries you were both on your feet.

_______________

There was a door at the end of the hall that was open and they could hear fighting coming out of it. They ripped it open to find a man on the ground while you and Hailey had chains that appeared to be hooked to your hands wrapped around his neck, choking him.

Mouse called your name and Jay called Hailey. You both looked up and the moment you spotted them, collapsed. Gwen moved in, shooting the man without question and dragging him away from the two of you. Jay and Mouse started to step into the room but the moment they did you and Hailey curled into each other as far as your chains would let you.

They froze at the door. Mouse locked eyes with you “Sweetheart?” you barely met his eyes and shook your head “Please Greg” he nodded and hit Jay’s arm then tapped his com “We need you Kim” his eyes stayed on you but him and Jay didn’t come any closer.

Gwen slowly moved towards you and Hailey and the two of you let her unchain you but still didn’t move from your corner, wrapped around each other. Kim came running into the room and looked at them then at the two of you then ran over to you. “Oh my god” she crouched down in front of you and then looked back “Call a bus, specify we want Brett and Foster”

Mouse and Jay were forced to stand by while you and Hailey allowed Kim and Gwen to help you to stand and slowly make your way upstairs. A total of seven hours had passed. What had you two endured in that time?

They followed behind, watching as you and Hailey sat on the couch in the house, flinching if any of the men got close. Mouse had a pit in his stomach growing larger every time you or Hailey flinched.

Kim looked up and met his eyes and shook her head “No rape” she mouthed then squatted down next to Hailey while Gwen was squatted next to you. That took one horror off the table but the physical proof was still there.

The ride back to Med Jay was close enough to the ambulance Kim had called with a message from Emily of “Get off my ass Halstead” 

Mouse and he both refused to let you and Hailey out of their sights. It didn’t feel like you were safe. Not yet.

The hospital had already been called. Maggie, Nat and April were waiting to be in charge of yours and Hailey’s care and Goodwin had ensured you wouldn’t be separated from each other. That was all they could do for now.

_________________

Once they got to Med they both rushed in behind the stretcher but were stopped outside of trauma which they knew would happen. “Stay here. I’ll update you” Maggie promised.

The door closed and they were left on one side while you and Hailey were hurt and terrified of even their touch on the other. They barely registered their teams or Will walking up. “How are they?” Will asked and Jay shook his head “I don’t know” “They couldn’t bring themselves to even let us touch them” Mouse added.

Voight tapped both of them on the shoulders and they cut their eyes at him “Can we talk?” “Here” Jay replied so Voight looked at the rest of the group and Will nodded “I’ll buy everyone a coffee”

Once it was just the three of them Jay looked at Voight “How big of a mess is this?” Voight shook his head “What mess? You were working a joint task force, took down a crime ring and rescued our detectives. Good job” then looked towards the room “They’ll come out on the other side, those two are strong” “They look so damn broken” Jay whispered and Voight shook his head “Nothing is stronger than a woman’s will”

A few hours passed before their teams trickled out, telling them to call if they needed anything. The two didn’t move. You and Hailey got transferred to a private room together but had been sedated to allow for your bodies to rest so they simply followed the two of you to the private room.

It wasn’t until about six the next morning that Maggie approached them “Jay, Mouse” they glanced up from the seats they were sitting in and she held up two bags and pointed behind her to Voight and Adam “I have clothes for you two. You’re covered in blood and scaring the hell out of everyone in my hospital. Please let Hank and Adam watch over them for a few minutes and clean up”

They nodded slowly, standing to take the bags. “Don’t let anyone but Maggie, Nat or April in” Jay told them and Adam nodded “Believe me, I’m listening to you two. No offense but you both kinda scare me now” Mouse shrugged “Don’t mess with the two in that room or Addy and you have nothing to worry about”

______________

They were almost back to the room when Jay’s phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket and saw it was Stella. They’d called to let her know they’d got you back. He stopped and motioned for Mouse to get closer before answering “Hey Stel, what’s up?”

He could tell she’d been crying even if she was trying to make her voice sound cheerful “Hey Jay, is there any way I can video call you and Mou so little Miss can be assured that you two are ok and making sure mommy and Hayhay are getting their booboos checked?” 

Mouse nodded so Jay said “Yeah, I’ll hang up” he hung up and half a second later the video call alert came through. Him and Mouse locked eyes and took a deep breath before he swiped to answer it. Stella and Kevin’s face was first in the screen “Hey Jay” Stella greeted and he nodded “Hey Stel”

Kelly came walking up to the couch behind her with Addy and sat her down in Stella’s lap. Addy smiled big when she saw him “Hey daddy!”  “Hey baby” He greeted then turned the screen so she could see Mouse too and she giggled “Hey Mou!” “Hey sweetheart” Mouse greeted.

Both men were working to keep their emotions in check and that proved to be a feat when she asked “Where’s mommy and hayhay?” Mouse swallowed hard then said “They’re asleep sweet girl. They were tired” she nodded “I stay with Aunt Stel and Uncle Kelly till mommy and hayhay not hurt?” 

Jay nodded “Yeah baby, you’re gonna get to stay with Aunt Stel and Uncle Kelly. Daddy loves you so much. So does Mommy and Hayhay” “And Mou”  Mouse added and Jay smiled, tears in his eyes that he blinked away “And Mou” 

She nodded “Kay daddy. Love you! Love you Mou” then shoved the phone at Stella and wiggled down to go chase Kelly. Stella watched her then looked back at the screen, tears in her eyes “She’s ok, we got babygirl. You two get our girls healed up,you got me?” they nodded and she cut her eyes at Jay who shook his head “We’re good Stella” she smiled “I love you two idiots. I hope you both know that” they nodded “We do. Take care of Addy” after she hung up they headed back to their posts outside of yours and Hailey’s room.

You were semi conscious. Nat was giving you both pretty strong sedatives to combat panic attacks but Maggie had let you stay together. You reached out and could brush your hand against Hailey’s your beds were close enough. 

@desimarie12

You knew without looking that Mouse and Jay would be right outside of the door but you both couldn’t do that yet. It was too much, too soon. Hailey called your name lightly and you turned your head to look in her direction, she was already looking at you “Told you we’d make it out together” you smiled slightly “Now we have to face it together” she reached out for your hand and you slipped yours into hers, she squeezed yours lightly considering neither of you had a lot of strength at the moment. “For now, let’s just go to sleep” she whispered and you smiled “Deal” 

Part 31

@allisonargent144

@nevaehstreater18

@alexisquinnlee-bc

@courty-courtz00

[inbarfink]

So when discussing the ending of ‘Over the Garden Wall’ and the nature of the Unknown in general, I think it is important to remember that it’s left deliberately up for interpretation. You know, it’s not a Quiz with one concrete answer we must uncover, but it’s more about our interpretations and personal feelings. Each and every one of us experiences that journey with Wirt and Greg into the Unknown in a slightly different way. 

So what I want to do here is not present a Correct Interpretation that will dispute all the others and prove them all wrong and prove myself right, I just want to share my own outlook on the nature of the Unknown. In the hopes that others will like it and it’ll inspire more cool readings and interpretations

So on some level I do agree with the popular theory that the Unknown is some sort of Afterlife - but I don’t see it as a regular Afterlife for human souls, I think it is an afterlife for Stories. This place is where fictional characters and stories end up once they’ve been totally forgotten by the living, ‘lost in the clouded annals of history’. and become.... unknown It is quite literally a place where ‘long forgotten stories are revealed to those who travel through the wood’.

That’s why the Unknown is a mishmash of different time periods and primarily visually and narratively influenced by stuff like fairy tales, ghost stories, children’s books and old cartoons - these stories have a high-tendency to be forgotten and thus get lost in the Unknown (whatever it’s because they rely on oral traditions or because they suffered from very poor preservation historically). 

And that is what the theme song, ‘Into the Unknown’ is talking about…

Where can we pretend that dreams do come true? In Stories.

And what are ‘the loveliest lies of all’? Now that would be Fiction. 

The entire concept of stories is a huge theme of this song, I think.

Beatrice and her family, Adelaide of the Pasture, Auntie Whispers and Lorna were all originally fairy tales. Maybe the same fairy tale, or maybe they were originally separated before being ‘melded’ together. (If, for example, the last child to Remember them before they were forgotten just assumed the Bad Witch in both the Auntie Whispers and Beatrice stories was Adelaide)

Pottsfield was an old urban legend about a haunted ghost town, Wirt and Greg basically played through its ‘plot’ directly. 

Miss Langtree, the schoolhouse and the other associated characters come from a long-forgotten and out-of-print children’s book. That’s why those characters tend to talk in comically-stilted expository dialogue. 

The Tavern was the setting for a series of 20’s animated cartoons.  (Although obviously set long before that era). The Tavern Keeper was created as a Betty Boop clone and was the main character. The Tavern setting was probably a mere framing device for all sort of musical animations. The reason why none of them can comprehend the idea of not having some sort of Title or Label is because that’s how they were written - all given job-related titles but not named.

Fred the Talking Horse was a main character from a forgotten tradition of humorous oral stories where he was sometimes a trickstery anti-hero and sometimes a straight-up comedic villain protagonist.

Quincy Endicott and Margueritte Grey were characters from a satiric limerick about the greedy rich and their wacky habits. (Quincy was at least inspired by a real-life person since his name appears on a tombstone in the real world)

Possibly the same limerick where the punchline was the status-quo at the beginning of their OTGW ep, that both rivals’ mansions have become connected and they assume the other is a ghost haunting their house. Or maybe they were each from different regional variations of the same limerick about a greedy rich weirdo being lost in their own house and going mad. 

Frogland and their little boat might be from a children’s book as well, but I also think that maybe… from the vignettes shown at the opening of the series…

That one might take place outside the Unknown, and shows the real inception of Frogland. Two brothers making up stories with their toy boat by the river. Since they never shared these stories with anyone else, when these two brothers died or maybe just grew up and forgot their boyhood misadventures by the stream - these stories also ended up in the Unknown. 

The Fishing Fish we see briefly in ‘Babes in the Woods’ might be a small comedic illustration from a children’s book, or another piece of limerick, or just someone’s random notebook doodle that gained a life of its own first in the creator’s mind and then in the Unknown. 

Cloud City, the North Wind and the Queen of the Clouds were also, much like the Tavern, from a very old cartoon.

The Beast was once just a mere Boogie Man to keep young children from wandering off into the woods. Ending up forgotten in the Unknown just ended up giving him a whole world of lost souls to harvest. 

Maybe the Woodsman and his daughter were always a part of the story of the Beast. But since it seems that the Woodsman being a lantern-bearer is a fairly recent development - they might have had their own separate story. Some sort of pastoral novel about a family moving near the woods? But their narrative has been ‘hijacked’ by the Beast. 

Wirt and Greg ended up lost within the Unknown cause had they actually died in the lake that night - they would have become a Story in their town. I mean we have a moody lonely teenager and his adorable little brother disappearing/dying - on the night of Halloween - after last being seen in a graveyard - with the older brother’s last act on this earth being to hand his crush a cassette of his love poetry. Can you imagine what sort of Urban Legenda you can grow from those seeds?

But as they were not yet dead, and not a Story yet… so they were technically an Unknown story. Between the borders of life and death from a human perspective because they were about to die, and from a Story perspective because they were just about to be born.

And the ending sequence, with the little vignettes showing where all the characters from all the episodes ended up. I think that’s almost like Wirt and Greg back in the world of the living and the real - being able to create happy endings for all of those stories they've met. That’s how the Woodsman’s daughter ended up being alive all along - it was less that the Woodsman's whole tragedy was a wacky misunderstanding all along. But it became so as a gift of thanks by their new storytellers - Wirt and Greg.

Because if dreams can't come true, than why not pretend?

[childoftheriver]

Revisiting this because I think it might be a still from the Jack Hargreaves show that Greg was on. Still wish I could find the episode!

[skulls-soul]

you know the van that Mario and Luigi have.

what if they lived in it… like Greg from Steven universe live in it not Vanlife Pinterest live in it��

Give me luigi and Mario taking a shower at the gym cuz that’s the only way they can

Give me the boys sitting in a Walmart parking lot trying to make breakfast

Also them renovating the van little by little getting excited when they add in the most home made shit you’ve seen

One of them getting upset cuz it’s to cold and the blankets are being hogged by the other

After the boys find themselves in the mushroom kingdom and after saving the princess for the first time they’re given a small cottage on the outskirts of town since they have nowhere else to go and princess peach has to say that it’s fine and it’s the very least that she can do all the toads in town agreeing with her.

When the boys finally except the gift all of them a.k.a. Mario Luigi princess peach toadsworth toad and toadette Head over to the location

Mario and Luigi get really excited and explore the house with childlike joy princess and the toads are all enjoying them wander around enjoying the place but they slowly get a bit concerned about a couple of things at the two point out

“Luigi! The bathroom has a tub AND a shower”

“Mario look an actual stove and refrigerator”!!!

“MARIO LOOK AT THE BEDROOM”

“ oh we would definitely be able to fit two beds in here”

Peach would cut in saying something like “oh are you guys gonna turn the other room into a office?” Which would lead to Mario and Luigi  look at the princess with wide eyes asking “there’s another room?!?” Is that this moment that the new friends would start to wonder what kind of living situation they had before hand.

At some point when the exploring is all finished peach will mention about how she knows that “this might not be able to replace your old home but hopefully it is to your liking” and Mario will be like “this place is amazing by far the best that they’ve ever had” and Luigi would be like “I’ll miss the van but it will always have a special place in our hearts”

 insert peach doing the Pikachu gasp meme



[yu-huuuu]

…

No, because when someone asks me, "what would a relationship with Itachi canon be like, you know, the rogue ninja who killed everyone to stop a civil war and abandoned his brother for his own good?", I imagine a relationship similar to that of Greg and Rose Quartz.

Imagine being a civilian who enjoys playing the guitar, and one day, singing in the forest, you encounter this mysterious man.

He congratulates you, arguing that he was drawn to you by your melodious voice and the gentle sound of the guitar.

He tells you his name after you tell him yours, although you vaguely asks why he didn't tell you his last name. But, Itachi is a nice name even if there's no suffix to pair it with.

The most random and imaginative topics arise in each encounter you both have. You two always meet in the same place, always at the same time. It quickly becomes a routine for you.

Without signs indicating that Itachi comes from any village or indicating that he is a ninja, you are left wondering where this sweet man could have come from. (although maybe if you looked behind the tree that is two meters away from you, you would see the articles he used daily)

Maybe he's the son of a vendor passing through your town, or maybe he's a tourist who likes to visit towns that aren't visible at first glance on the map.

Whatever he may be, it doesn't matter, not as long as your heart beats strongly when his hand brushes yours or when his fingers gently touch your cheek as he tries to tuck your wild locks behind your ear.

Itachi knows it's wrong. He knows these encounters are wrong. But he can't help but want to be by your side, listening to you ramble about random and simple yet fascinating things that as a ninja he never would have thought or imagined.

You make him feel like someone normal, like an ordinary man. You make him feel alive, something he hadn't felt since the massacre, perhaps even long before joining the Anbu.

It's as if he doesn't have blood covering his hands. As if he doesn't bear all the hatred of the world on his tired shoulders, preventing him from breathing.

All his problems disappear from his mind when you allow him to rest his head to take a nap, while you arguing that his dark circles look too big. Nightmares and insomnia leave him when you run your delicate hands, with no calluses in sight, through his hair. The protest dies on the tip of his tongue when you scratch that specific part that quickly turns him into putty in your hands.

One morning, Itachi Uchiha vaguely realizes that the dark circles and stress marks have become smaller and blames you for the gentle fluttering his heart does at the thought of you taking care of him. Kisame looks at him puzzled when he comes out of the bathroom. At first glance, he had a neutral face, but his eyes told a different story; they looked more alive.

Kisame wondered what or who made him that way. Itachi simply ignores him as usual, trying to keep the corners of his lips from rising because his happiness hasn't waned yet and he doesn't want Kisame to see him like that.

It's a night when Itachi finally realizes that he has fallen deeply in love with you. His heart stops for a moment when he realizes that it hurts to think about leaving you when he dies at the hands of his brother.

And he simply doesn't want to.

He doesn't want to leave your side. He's being selfish, he knows it well, but for once he wants to be. He himself destroyed all his dreams and hopes, all for Konoha and his younger brother.

By sacrificing his world, he can never become Hokage or live in Konoha again.

Maybe if he cut his hair and ran away with you to live in another secluded place away from the ninja world—

He stopped.

What was he thinking? He was dangerous. Everything about him was dangerous.

He had hurt so many people, had ended the lives of so many. You deserved someone better, someone who didn't have hands stained with blood or a destroyed man.

And he simply decides to push you away.

He told himself that this would be the last time. He didn't hesitate when he told you that he didn't want to see you again and that you should stay away from him.

Maybe if he were strong enough and you didn't have him in the palm of your hand, he would have been stronger, and he would have left without explanations.

But that wasn't the case.

"Itachi, you have to tell me what's going on."

Itachi sighed, almost as if trying to prepare himself for what he was about to say. "I— you have dreams, I don't want you to sacrifice everything for me," he told you the truth, unable to hide it under a lie.

"It's a pity."

"Uh?"

"You are all I want."

“So…”

“Hmm?”

“What was the answer?”

“… Love”

“Woahhh-! I know it!”

“So do i”

…

*the end*

love like you starts playing in the background

Also— maybe I’m gonna write a series of this now that i have ao3 🤭

[holmesianlove]

Chapter 26 -  Alternate Meeting

The fresh fall of snow had made the streets quiet, and cold. They had come out tonight, despite the snow - and much whingeing from John - to meet Lestrade for dinner at a pub in the centre of town. A catch up before Christmas. Every year, they treated it like they would all be going on vacation and wouldn’t see each other for a couple of weeks, but invariably, each year, there were murders at Christmas time - heightened emotions and all of that - and they would be called back to help out. So the dinner meeting was usually unnecessary, but it was nice to take a moment away from death and casework, and acknowledge they had become more than just colleagues now. They were friends. 

After a hearty meal which had helped warm them and polishing off two bottles of wine between the three of them, they had capped of the meal with a whisky. With a lovely buzz in their systems, there had been much laughter and merriment: stories of the mad cases they'd dealt with across the year, and memories of older cases too. Greg regaled them with tales of his cheating wife and how much fun his Christmas with the in-laws would be.

And finally, after three hours together, Sherlock and John had stepped back out into the cold together. The walk back to the tube station was a few blocks, but there weren't many cabs floating around, so they began to walk.

“I always feel for poor Lestrade. He seems to like being married and in a family, but she’s clearly still cheating and he knows about it. How is that happy?” Sherlock sighed heavily.

“Everyone has their own threshold, I suppose,” John said. “Sometimes being alone is the most painful way to live. I suppose he’d rather be with her than without her.”

“How romantic,” Sherlock scoffed sarcastically.

“When we met - you and I - I was so very lonely, returning from war, and while I don’t like people, I couldn’t bear being that alone. If we hadn’t…” John let the thought drift into the cold night air, his breath creating clouds of condensation.

“Do you ever think of other ways your life might have been?” Sherlock asked. “You know, if you hadn’t got shot? If you hadn’t joined the army at all? Or what if we hadn’t met? Do you think we might have still met at Barts - if you’d stayed on after studying? Not joined the army at all? Imagine that,” Sherlock chuckled. 

John couldn’t help laughing at that too. He smiled, stopping the walk and turning to Sherlock. He had absolutely thought about this already - their possible alternate meeting and what it would have been like. He nodded. “Sometimes I think—"

It suddenly occurred to John, as the cold soaked into him, that he had left his gloves and scarf back at the pub. His lovely new warm things. He was about to turn back towards the way they had come, his words for Sherlock forgotten, when a voice stopped him in his tracks.

“John? John Watson?” The voice interrupted him. John sighed. Probably another bloody reporter. John made a decision in that instant to be on his best behaviour this time, and say nothing, as Sherlock had directed him he should from now on. He was never as calm and collected as Sherlock in these situations. Not for things like this. He spun around to flash the reporter a winning smile, just in case there was a camera at the ready again, but instead, he was greeted by a group of people, coming out of a nearby restaurant, at the front of which stood a tall man, quite respectably dressed. His salt and pepper hair coiffed perfectly, a sophisticated cashmere scarf twirled beautifully at his neck. 

John froze to the spot. His brain was working overtime and he could feel Sherlock watching him for his response, but he felt like he was going to disappear into himself. His body felt disconnected. All the blood ran out of his face to his toes. He felt hot and cold all at once. He could hear Sherlock say his name, beside him, but it sounded like he was miles away. 

“It is you. John!” the man said, rushing forward.

“Alex?” John choked out, knowing full well who it was. His voice sounded weak and raspy.

He felt Sherlock tense beside him at the mention of the name. John absolutely regretted having told Sherlock about this, now.

“John.” The man rushed to him and hugged him tight, although John didn’t move a muscle. His hands didn’t wrap around and reciprocate. “How have you been?” he asked, as he stepped back again.

“Fine,” John said stiffly. 

Alex looked next to him and took in Sherlock’s equally stylish figure. John made no moves to introduce them so he held his hand out. “Hi, I’m Alex.”

“Sherlock Holmes.”

There was a moment of silence and then: “Oh good lord, the detective fellow? Oh, of course. I had heard about your blog, come to think of it,” he directed at John. “I’d clean forgot about it. Guys it’s Sherlock Holmes - the detective!” he called out to his friends who all murmured and seemed excited. “I’ve read about you both in the papers.”

“Ah. Funny. I know nothing about you,” Sherlock said coldly, pointedly. 

John still made no move to talk. The air was thick between them all. He knew Sherlock would have deduced plenty about Alex - and him - just by standing there in silence.

Alex nodded, the encounter now incredibly forced and awkward. He was definitely assessing the two of them standing together. But it was clear John wasn’t going to speak. “Well. I won’t keep you both. It was just such a surprise… I had to come over. Lovely to meet you,” he said to Sherlock. He reached out and touched John’s arm. “So good to see you. You’re looking well,” he added in a slightly condescending tone. John’s spine straightened slightly. “I should get back.” He paused, seemingly hoping for John to still say something.

Sherlock also looked to John waiting for him to say more, though he had apparently become comatose, and then offered a stiff smile to Alex, in place of John’s response.

And with that, Alex returned to his friends and got in a cab. The street was silent again. But John remained still, silent, staring into the distance where Alex had been moments earlier.

“John—“

“Don’t,” John warned. His voice was flat, and cold and angry.

Sherlock stood beside him in absolute silence for as long as he could but John didn’t move a muscle.

“Sooo… Alex was…”

John sucked in a breath at the sound of the name. He turned to look at Sherlock, his eyes so lost all of a sudden, searching Sherlock’s face for something, for some way to escape this. He couldn't find a single way to start this conversation comfortably. So before Sherlock could speak, John rushed away, without a word, crossing the road and moving at quite a pace.

“Not a woman then,” Sherlock sighed to himself, processing the information. 

The big relationship in John Watson’s life, that could have become marriage-and-kid-worthy… and apparently broke his heart… was not with a woman at all. Alex was a man. A slightly older man, too, if Sherlock’s judgement was right. And, assuming it was pre-Afghanistan, it would have been back before marriage was legalised.

All the pieces were falling into place and Sherlock felt almost sick with understanding.

“John!” He called after his friend, but John had already disappeared around a corner into the cold night. Sherlock let out a heavy sigh and took off after him.

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