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viinchester · 7 months ago

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Haunted Reflections

Warnings: References to Violence and Murder, mentions of Stalking, Trauma (related to losing a limb & violent incidents), Obsessive Thoughts, Unhealthy Behavior, graphic descriptions in thoughts of Gore (Violence, Bloodshed, a bit of Body Mutilation), Moral Ambiguity (we're talking about Brian Moser here, hello?), Insults (like a single word lol), mentions of Drugs (two sentences, nothing about taking them), mentions of Death

Fandom: Dexter (TV Show/Series)

Pairing: Brian Moser/Rudy Cooper x F!Reader

Request by: @ireallydontknowohcrabs

Summary: You head to your routine appointment for a readjustment of your prosthetic leg at the Miami prosthetics clinic. This time, however, you are met with Rudy Cooper instead of your usual doctor. Unbeknownst to you, his dark secrets lie hidden beneath the surface, and you’ve unwittingly captured his undivided attention and care.

Word Count: 2.321

My Masterlist

A/N: Initially wasn't sure about which direction to go with this request, but I decided on one eventually.😅 It was fun to write, so I hope you guys will it!💞 Reposts/Comments with feedback are, as always, very much appreciated!!🙏🏼 And just as a reminder: My requests are currently open.🥰💙

You expected this visit to be the same as any other to the prosthetics clinic usually was.

You were going to meet Dr. Gardner, the prosthetist who had been with you since you’d first been fitted for your prosthetic leg, and he'd make a slight adjustment to it, and then you'd leave again.

But instead of that being the case, when you walked into the clinic today, you were greeted by someone else. A man, much younger than Dr. Gardner, with a tall frame and dark curly hair stood by the window and was currently slipping on his gloves. The doctor, obvious by the signature-white lab coat he was wearing, calmly turned to you with a professional and slightly reassuring smile.

“Unfortunately Dr. Gardner’s out sick at the moment,” he immediately explained, his voice smooth and composed. “I'm filling in for him, so I’ll be the one handling your adjustment today. My name's Dr. Rudy Cooper, it's nice to meet you.” He shook your hand gently before gesturing to the chair in the middle of the room. “Please, have a seat.”

You nodded, sitting down and rolling the cuff of your pant-leg up, glancing at him curiously. “Well then let’s see if you’re as good as Dr. Gardner at putting me back together.”

Brian gave a small smile as he seated himself across from you, gently lifting your leg to begin his examination on your prosthetic. “I’ll try my best. Dr. Gardner’s very good at it, from what I hear.” His voice was light, but he was already scanning you, taking in the way you moved, the way you spoke.

When his eyes reached your hands, he had to do a double take, his world stopping. Your nails, painted in the exact same way his mother used to paint hers. The hues were extremely similar, and the order of the colors was identical.

It came out of nowhere and hit him like a physical blow. For just a second his breath hitched and his usually steady hands trembled at the sight.

No. It couldn’t be. But it was.

His mother’s nails, now on your hands, like some ghostly echo of the past.

The carefully constructed facade of calm professionalism flickered for a moment as a flood of memories surged through him.

His mother’s laughter, the smell of her perfume, the soft touch of her hand as she ruffled his hair. And then… the blood. Her blood, mixing with the colors of those very same nails.

How could this be happening? He hadn’t thought about his mother in this way for so long, hadn’t let himself remember.

Blinking a few times, he quickly put your leg down and reached for your file instead, fighting to regain control over his composure.

He couldn’t lose it here. Not now. It was just a coincidence anyway. Just some random woman with the same taste in nail polish.

Still, deep down the shock lingered, sending tremors through the carefully walled-off parts of his mind.

He flipped through your file as casually as possible, clearing his throat once to keep his tone friendly, but professional. “Just going over some notes here. It says the injury happened... a few years ago? Could you remind me of what happened, just to make sure everything lines up?”

Forcing a polite smile, the mask of Rudy Cooper slipped into place, though it felt more strained than usual. His eyes couldn’t help but glance back to your nails every time you so much as shifted, the image of his mother — and her terrified eyes, her pleading hands, those painted nails — almost overlapping with you. He could barely hear your voice over the roaring in his head.

Not noticing anything off, you nodded, hesitating for a second. You hesitated, not because the incident was difficult to talk about anymore, but because it had become such a strange story to tell. You’d almost made peace with it, enough to laugh about it sometimes.

“Yeah, it was... a pretty bad day. Tried to steal some drugs. Not for me, though.” You smiled shyly, a hint of awkwardness in your tone. “My idiot ex, thought I could help him out of a mess he got himself into. But then I got cornered by three guys with a chainsaw. Like something out of a horror movie, right?” You laughed a little, but it didn’t quite reach your eyes.

Brian’s hands paused again, but he kept his face neutral, even with the chaos inside him growing. Drugs? That was already close enough to the horrors of his past. But then you mentioned three guys with a chainsaw, and the floor seemed to fall away beneath him. Though his expression didn’t change and he resumed his adjustment on your prosthetic, the memory inside his mind hit him like a sledgehammer, and in vivid detail as well. His mother, the men, the chainsaw whirring. He was too young to stop it, too small to save her, but the memory had never left him. The blood, the screams, the way her nails had clutched at him in desperation before the world went red.

And now here you were, sitting in front of him, your soft voice recounting a version of his nightmare.

Brian exhaled slowly, maintaining a steady voice. “That’s... an intense way to lose a leg. It must have been terrifying.” His words sounded professional, if empathetic, but internally he struggled to comprehend how this was possible. How could you have survived something so reminiscent of what happened to her?

His disbelief mixed with something darker, something predatory. He had been powerless as a child, but not now. Not anymore.

The thought of you cornered by men with a chainsaw, just like his mother, made something in him snap into place. His shock was replaced by cold determination.

It was as if the universe had handed him a second chance, a way to rewrite the past. This time was different. This time, he wouldn’t be helpless. This time, he would stop the violence, before it consumed you, too.

You gave a small shrug and kept talking, oblivious to the storm brewing inside of him. “Yeah, it was... I honestly didn't believe I’d make it out alive. But it’s been a few years now and here I am, still standing. Just… in a slightly different way.” You offered a small, self-deprecating smile. “Guess I’ve learned to adapt. Well, kind of. I’m still getting used to the leg in a way, but hey, I haven’t fallen flat on my face in a while, so I guess that’s progress.” You smiled again, this time more genuine though, trying to lighten the mood. “And at least my ex didn’t get the drugs. Silver linings, right?”

Brian’s gaze darkened slightly at that, though he kept his tone light. “I see. That’s very impressive and brave of you, as I can only imagine how tough all that must have been. I’m hoping your ex is not someone you still have to deal with on top of that?”

You hesitated, biting your lip and avoiding his eyes, a little uneasy at the topic of your ex boyfriend. “Well, actually… he’s, uh, kind of been stalking me, on and off. Nothing too serious, but... it’s still annoying, you know?”

Brian's fingers flexed around your prosthetic, the material fitting securely into place. His eyes, though still composed on the surface, deepened in intensity and became more focused. Your ex was stalking you. Lurking, like a predator. His jaw clenched, and his disbelief at the situation melted away, replaced by a new resolve.

I couldn’t save her. But I can save you.

The idea of this man, your ex, still in your life filled him with an odd sense of purpose. He didn’t care about people, not really, but this was different. You had painted nails. You had suffered violence. You reminded him of her.

He would make sure nobody hurt you ever again. Starting with that ex-boyfriend of yours. Yes, he would definitely be dealt with. Permanently.

And going further, from now on, you would become his patient. Dr. Gardner had served his purpose, but Brian knew, with a chilling certainty, that you wouldn’t be seeing him again. Not if he could help it.

He forced a sympathetic chuckle, masking his true emotions as he continued to work on your prosthetic with his usual precision. “That sounds... frustrating. You’d think he’d get the hint by now.”

“Right?” You rolled your eyes playfully, trying to dispel the tension that came with the subject of your ex. “But I’m fine, really. It’s just one of those things I have to deal with.”

Brian simply nodded, his hands moving delicately, ensuring the fit was perfect, but his thoughts were miles away, plotting, considering what exactly he needed to do next to make sure you'd no longer have to do deal with it.

He was nothing if not methodical, his mind working like a finely-tuned machine, always planning, always calculating. When it came to taking care of your ex-boyfriend and Dr. Gardner, he would need to use two different approaches, that much was obvious.

Your ex-boyfriend would be the one to pay in blood. The man had been the catalyst for your suffering, the reason you had been put in a situation that mirrored Brian's own mother's gruesome death.

So your ex wasn't going to just disappear, that would be too easy, too nice. Instead, the bastard was going to feel every ounce of pain, every bit of terror that Brian imagined his mother and you had felt. He’d stalk him for days and learn his habits, figure out where he was most vulnerable. And when he’d finally make his move, it would be somewhere isolated, somewhere he could really take his time.

The act itself would neither be quick nor clean. Instead, Brian would make it messy, and visceral. He'd use tools that mimicked the chainsaw that had haunted both him and you. While he wouldn’t use an actual chainsaw, far too noisy and difficult to control, he would choose something just as violent, perhaps a hacksaw or an axe. He would let your ex feel the terror, hear the whir of a blade, and realize that his time was up.

In his twisted mind, Brian believed that you deserved closure. You needed to know that your ex-boyfriend was truly dead. Maybe you wouldn’t know it had been Brian, but you’d know your ex had been taken care of — brutally, and publicly even. The police would find the body, bloodied, hacked apart, left in some abandoned place where no one could escape the horror of the scene. It wouldn’t be a neat kill; it would be a spectacle. The kind that left a permanent mark in the mind of anyone who saw it.

It would be justice for you, and revenge for his mother.

It would be perfect.

You were going to feel safe, knowing that the danger had been wiped out, grateful that the threat was gone.

Dr. Gardner, on the other hand, required a different touch. Brian held no ill feelings toward him, the man simply needed to die out of necessity. But the doctor was a respected figure in your life, and if he simply vanished or died a violent death, you might grieve too hard, or worse, become suspicious. So Dr. Gardner's exit had to be quiet, peaceful, and leave no room for doubt. Brian could easily make it look natural, the man was already old enough that it wouldn’t raise too many questions if he were to die in his sleep anyway.

He'd slip a small dose of potassium chloride into Dr. Gardner’s food or drink, undetectable and mimicking the signs of a natural heart attack. The man would feel a sudden, overwhelming pressure in his chest, his heart seizing painfully — but he wouldn’t be able to cry for help. And in mere minutes, it would be over, and the man would be found peacefully in his bed or his office chair, just another old guy who’d met his end from "natural causes". No one would question it, and you might feel sad for a little while, but definitely not suspicious.

And Brian knew grief over a natural death tended to fade more quickly.

Then you’d return to the clinic in need of further adjustments to your prosthetic in the future, and who would be there for you? Him. The friendly, capable replacement who’d been there all along.

As Brian thought about it all, his hands checked the fit of your prosthetic, his fingers running along the edges.

“Now, hopefully this adjustment will work perfectly for you,” he then said, his voice calm as ever. “If you need anything else, any follow-up, you can come back to me and I’ll take care of it.”

You nodded — still oblivious to anything going on underneath his professional exterior — as you softly smiled up at him and stood up, testing your leg and finding it already fitting better. “Thanks, Dr. Cooper, it’s great, and that’s really nice of you. I’ll be sure to come back if I need any more work done.”

Brian smiled back, but it was colder this time, more possessive. “Rudy, please. And I’ll be here, whenever you need me.”

As you left the clinic, you felt relieved, glad that everything had gone well despite the fact that Dr. Gardner wasn't the one doing your adjustment. Dr. Cooper, or Rudy, had been kind, careful, and understanding. He was a really nice man. Hopefully you'd have him as your prosthetist again if Dr. Gardner ever fell sick another time.

Watching you walk away, Brian was certain of your return. He intended to mold your future so that you would always come back to him.

You may not know it yet, but he was going to ensure you’d never need anyone else, ever again.

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il0veaphr0dite · 1 year ago

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FIRST TIME’S

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REQUESTS ARE OPEN!

A/N: thank you all for the likes on my posts! im so happy that you guys have been enjoying my work😭🫶🏽 i tried a lil bit of Minhos pov this time. Enjoy!!

SUMMARY: Minho’s friends are noticing how he pays extra attention to you and encourage him to talk to you.

PARING: shy!fem!reader x Minho

WARNINGS: nothing fluff❤️

WORD COUNT: 1367

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Quiet, is what the gladers described you as.

You came into the glade 3 months ago, scared and alone. You didn't talk to anyone when you got out of the box, but, when you did it was only a few words.

It was weird for everyone to have a girl around, multiple gladers hit on you but realized it was no use when you wouldn't respond.

And when it came time to pick a job, you chose to be a Gardner. Ever since you first tried it out, you liked how it kept your mind off the fact that you were stuck in the maze.

Everyone who worked in the gardens knew you didn't like talking much, so they mostly left you to yourself, which you were grateful for.

You just finished your work in the gardens and made your way to the kitchens, you didn't eat lunch earlier so you were starving.

You grabbed a plate of Frypan’s ham sandwich and hurriedly sat down. You took a bite of the sandwich, silently thanking Frypan for his cooking skills.

You went to take another bite when you felt eyes on you. You were used to getting stared at since you were, you know, the only girl.

But this felt different. You couldn't quite describe it. You soon chose to ignore it and continued eating.

On the other end of the stare was Minho. He hadn't touched his sandwich since he saw you enter, too occupied watching you.

“Dude, stop staring it's creepy” Ben set his sandwich back on his plate, still chewing.

Minho broke his gaze, turning to Ben, “I don't know what you're talking about”, eventually picking up his sandwich and taking a bite.

“She’s going to notice soon that a random dude is staring at her,” he said, soon following Minho’s actions and taking a bite out of his sandwich.

Minho proceeded to ignore him, when Newt sat down across from Minho and Ben, setting his plate down.

“Hey Shanks, what's going on?” Minho watched as Newt took a bite out of his sandwich.

“Just eating with a creep who likes to stare at people” Ben responded jokingly causing Minho to roll his eyes.

Newt raises his brows in confusion “What are you talking about?” he asks.

“Minho’s been staring at Y/N ever since she stepped foot in here.”

“I know, this isn’t the first time,” Newt explains. “He’s been doing this ever since she came up in that box,”

Newt wasn't lying. Minho had been paying extra attention to you ever since you came to the glade.

He liked how you were in your own world, and never seemed to be bothered by anyone.

The following weeks after you came up, he couldn't understand why he couldn't stop watching you, and furthermore why his heart beat every time he saw you.

He soon found himself telling Frypan to save an extra plate for you because he noticed how you woke up late most of the time and missed breakfast.

And while Minho did all that, Newt was watching him. He could tell how he felt about you.

“Why haven’t I noticed then?” Ben's eyes widened at the new information.

“I dunno, maybe cause you’re a slinthead” Newt spoke before taking another bite out of his sandwich.

Ben raised his hand into a fist threateningly, causing Newt to put his hands up in defeat. “You should ask her to sit with us tomorrow,” Ben suggested lowering his fist.

“I dunno..” Minho said, uncertain.

Ben nudged him slightly with his elbow. “Come on”

Soon Newt found himself joining in, “What could possibly happen?”

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And so that day Minho found himself asking you to sit with them.

You were in the gardens planting tomato seeds. You put the bag of seeds down to tuck your hair behind your ear when you see a pair of boots in front of you.

It was Minho.

He came back from the maze to see you working in the gardens, remembering what Ben and Newt said, he gathered the courage to ask you.

You stood up from your kneeling position, brushing you pants off.

“Hey uhh, Would you, maybe, want to sit with me and a couple of other gladers during dinner?” Minho asked, hoping his nervousness wasn't showing.

You were more than surprised, you were dumbfounded. You would have expected anyone to ask you that, but not Minho. Your heart was beating and you couldn't understand why.

You knew who he was. I mean, the man was gorgeous with his black hair and buff arms and he knows it. He had an amazing smile and furthermore, he was a runner.

So why was he asking you, a quiet girl who barley speaks, to have dinner with him and his friends?

You didn't know why.

“I..uhh..sure,” you said barely above a whisper.

“Okay, well I'll see you at, uhm, dinner” Minho kept his composure before turning around.

He couldn't believe it. You said yes. He made a mental note to thank Ben and Newt later.

He walked to the map room grinning from ear to ear.

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Later that day, Minho found himself waiting for you at the same table with Newt across from him and Ben to his left.

“What if she doesn't come?” Minho said, bouncing his leg up and down.

“Minho, it's dinner, where else would she go?” Ben rolled his eyes as Newt laughed at his response.

Minho’s leg stopped bouncing as he caught sight of you. You walked towards them with a ham sandwich (again) making eye contact with Minho.

Ben and Newt followed Minho’s gaze to you walking towards them.

“uhm..hi” you said, holding your plate awkwardly.

“Hey Y/N”

“Hey”

Newt and Ben looked at Minho, waiting for him to reply to you.

“Hey” he finally met out.

Newt patted the spot next to him. You sat next to him and set down your plate, and soon after that the conversation between them began to flow.

“I only tripped one time!” Ben argued.

Newt and Minho laughed before Newt continued“I saw you trip at least five times and that was this week alone”

You found yourself joining in the laughter.

“Come on Y/N!, not you too,” Ben said in defeat.

You laughed, “I'm sorry, I can't help it.

He watched you, laughing, he’d never seen anything so beautiful. You'd always been so quiet, this was the first time he'd seen you laugh.

Ben nudged him in the arm “You're staring” he whispered.

Minho quickly looked away, not wanting to seem creepy.

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After a while, you all cleaned up. You were all planning to take a walk together but Ben and Newt said they had to leave so it was just you and Minho.

You and Minho were now walking together.

“How was the maze?” you asked softly.

That was the second time Minho had heard you speak above a whisper today. The first being when you apologized to Ben earlier.

“It was the same, nothing new yet. How were the gardens?”

“Nothing new either unless you find planting tomatoes interesting”

Minho chuckled. This was now the first time Minho had heard you tell a joke. It seemed he heard a lot of first’s today.

It turned silent after that. Not an awkward silence, a comfortable one.

You felt Minho’s fingers brush against yours as your fingers interlocked.

He turned towards you to find you blushing.

This had now been the first time he saw you blushing.

“I was wondering, uhm, would you want to go on a date with me?” he asked “ Only if you want to I'm not going to make you do anything you-”

“I’d love to,” you said.

He stopped walking and turned towards you.

“Okay..well, uhm, great”

“Yeah,” you said giggling.

You look up, locking eyes with him.

You wrap your arms around his waist as he wraps his around your shoulder.

Minho lifts his head to see Newt and Ben hiding behind a tree. “Shuck”

“What?” She questions.

“Nothing” He looks back at Ben and Newt to see them giving him a thumbs up.

A smile grew on his face.

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slu7formen · 1 year ago

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MDNI. luke x drunk!reader

luke decides to take care of you when he notices how drunk you are a party, you didn’t know how much you needed him until he showed you so.

warnings: drunk!reader, protective!luke, lil violence, use of yn, allusion to s3x

reminder: english’s not my first language so I apologize for any spelling mistakes

₊˚⊹♡

The melody from a stolen radio emerged through the humid night air, barely audible over the loud laughter and shouted conversations of the older campers reunited in the woods. The stars offered little illumination, replaced by the flickering glow of a bonfire fueled by firewood. The air was heavy and hot, filled with the scent of chips, spilled beer, and teenage rebellion. This was a rare ocasion for the senior campers, a chance to forget about monstrous threats and drakon training for a night.

Luke nestled in the shadows of a nearby oak tree, holding a way too warm can of beer to drink now, and listened to his friends, trade their usual brand of mischievous gossip. A comfortable camaraderie settled over him, a welcome respite from the weight of responsibility that pressed down on him as a counselor.

"Did you see Lucy practically drooling over Malcolm after Ally dumped him?" Travis snickered, nudging Connor with his elbow.

Connor snorted, barely containing his laughter. "Ouch, sister drama. Ally must be thinking about drowning her in cheap perfume"

Luke chuckled, shaking his head. The Aphrodite cabin drama was always entertaining, even if a little predictable. He glanced around the clearing, his gaze sweeping over the other campers. A group of Ares cabin warriors were engaged in a play-fight, throwing each other to the ground as they groaned and laughed. He spotted Katie Gardner, daughter of Demeter, tending to a small patch of wildflowers. Even at a forbidden party, Katie couldn't resist nurturing something green.

"Hey, Luke" Chris nudged him, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "You gonna tell us your big secret yet? We all know there's something going on between you and yn"

Luke's smile faltered slightly. "There's nothing to tell" he replied noncommittally, taking a swig of his warm beer, the taste bitter in his tongue. “We’re just friends”

"Oh, come on" Connor pressed, a sly smirk spreading across his face. "We see the way you look at her. Like she's the only girl alive."

Luke rolled his eyes, but a blush crept up his neck under the teasing of his friends. Suddenly, a melodic laugh cut through the din, a sound that sent a jolt through him. It was your laugh, bright and carefree, a stark contrast to the usual reserved demeanor you displayed around camp. He followed the sound, his gaze landing on you amidst a group of campers near the edge of the clearing. But it wasn't your presence that triggered a tightening in his chest. It was the hulking figure of Ares cabin resident, Mark, who stood far too close to you, his arm draped around your shoulder as he leaned in to whisper something that caused another burst of laughter from you.

A sting of jealousy pierced Luke´s insides. He knew it was silly. He and you were nothing more than friends. But still, that doesn’t mean he’s gonna like it when he sees you with some other guy. He watched as you swayed slightly, the red plastic cup clutched loosely in your hand a clear indication of your intoxicated state. Your usually sharp eyes held a glazed look, a vulnerability that made his protective instincts flare.

He saw you and Mark detach from the group, heading deeper into the shadowy woods. There was a part of him that urged him to let you be, to let you enjoy your night. But another, more primal part couldn't shake the image of you, intoxicated and unaware, disappearing into the woods with someone like Mark.

Sighing, Luke pushed himself off the tree trunk. “I´ll be back in a minute” he says to his friends, leaving his can on Travis´ hand. He weaved through the tight and large group of campers, his purpose hardening with each step. You stumbled on a protruding root, giggling at your own clumsiness. Mark steadied you, his hand lingering on your waist in a way that made Luke’s right eye twitch.

"Hey, yn" Luke's voice cut through the air, catching your attention. You turned, your face splitting into a wide, drunken smile.

"Luuuke!" you slurred, swaying towards him with open arms, nearly knocking him over with the force of your hug. Ignoring the glare Mark shot his way, Luke enveloped you in a hug, his nose crinkling at the distinct scent of fruit punch and something a little stronger.

"Whoa there" he chuckled as you wrapped your arms around his neck. He could smell the sugary sweetness of your lip gloss. "Easy, tiger."

You giggled, your head lolling against his shoulder. You mumbled something nonsensical, giggling at a private joke only you seemed to understand. Your mascara, usually neatly applied, had smudged slightly at the corners of your eyes. Despite the obvious effects of the alcohol, you were undeniably beautiful, the firelight casting warm shadows on your face. "M'so happpy you´re here! Dance with me!" you yelled as you lift your arms, your voice thick with intoxication. Luke felt a pang of worry. You were far too drunk to be alone in the woods with a boy you barely knew.

"Seems like you've had a few too many tonight, huh?"

"Just having a little fun, Luke" you pouted, the way you said his name sounded funny. "Don't be a all couns-, counselor"

He glanced over your shoulder towards Mark, whose jaw was clenched tight. "Yeah, well, maybe a little too much fun" Luke countered, his voice gaining a hint of firmness, but as softly as possible. "Maybe it's time for you to head back to your cabin, yeah?”

"But Mark was showing me…" you began, but were cut off by Mark's snide voice.

"Mind your own business, Castellan" He growled. Luke narrowed his eyes at the Ares camper, a dangerous glint flickering within them. “This doesn´t concern you”

"She's clearly not in control of herself" Luke retorted, his voice low and cold. "Someone needs to make sure she gets back safely. And it won't be you."

Mark scoffed, a humorless sound. "Says who? Why don't you worry about yourself, Castellan?"

The barb hit a nerve. Luke wasn't drunk, but the implication stung. He wasn't about to get into a debate about his tolerance with this ridiculously big guy.

"Look," Luke said tightly, trying to keep his voice calm, "I'm not trying to cause any trouble. I just—"

"Just what?" Mark interrupted, stepping forward, his chest puffing out in a show of dominance. "Going to swoop in and save the damsel in distress? You think she needs rescuing?"

He shot a pointed look at you, who seemed to be lost in your own world, giggling at some private joke as you covered your mouth. The sight of it only fueled Luke's simmering anger.

"Whether she needs help or not isn't the point" Luke growled, his voice strained. "The point is, she's clearly intoxicated and shouldn't be alone with someone she barely knows."

"Barely knows?" Mark echoed, a sneer twisting his lips. "We were just getting to know each other, weren't we, yn?"

He turned to you, his voice dripping with false sweetness. You blinked at him owlishly, then shrugged, a nonsensical answer escaping your lips.

The sight of it was too much for Luke. His fists clenched at his sides. He knew Mark was deliberately trying to get a rise out of him, but it was working. The implication that his concern was fueled by jealousy rather than genuine care was infuriating.

“Now if you excuse us…” Mark pointed out, pulling you to him by your hip as he tried to walk away with you.

But Luke´s had enough. That was the last straw. In a blur of motion, Luke lashed out. He lunged forward, his fist connecting with Mark's nose with a satisfying crunch. Mark stumbled back, roaring in pain, a hand flying up to his now-bleeding nose.

You, however, seemed oblivious to the sudden violence. You blinked at the scene in confusion, your brow creased in a frown as you looked at Mark. "What the-…" your words slurred, lost in the midst of your intoxication.

But before you could form a complete sentence, a wave of fury washed over you. You turned around, shoving Luke hard in the chest, sending him stumbling back a step. "What the fuck, Luke!" you shrieked, your voice laced with a venom that startled him. "Why do you always have to be all over me!?"

The words hit Luke like a physical blow. He wasn't angry at you, not truly. You were clearly out of it, the world a dizzy sight because of whatever it is that you drank. But the accusation stung. Here he was, trying to protect you from a situation you couldn't navigate in your current state, and you saw it as him controlling you.

"yn," he started again, trying to choose his words carefully. "I just-"

"Just what?" you shot back, your voice thick with slurred defiance. "Just what gives you the right to decide what I do?"

Tears welled up in your eyes, threatening to spill over. Luke's heart ached. You were upset, confused, and vulnerable – a dangerous combination amplified by the alcohol coursing through your veins.

You crossed your arms over your chest as you sniffed, walking past him fast, head down and all pouty. “You ruined everything” you mumbled, more to yourself than directly to him, but he still heard. Luke watched you go, a wave of despair washing over him. He'd messed up.

He glanced back at Mark, who was clutching his nose and glaring at him with a mixture of fury and grudging respect. "Look, man" Luke sighed, the fight momentarily draining out of him. "That was a cheap shot, I´m sorry"

Mark grunted, wiping blood from his face with the back of his hand. "Yeah, well, you got a nice fist, I must say."

There was a hint of grudging respect in his voice, perhaps because he couldn't deny that Luke's concern for you seemed genuine, or because if he recieved another punch, he'd need his nose surgically reattached.

"I wasn´t gonna do much either" he tried to defend himself. “She can´t even walk straight” Mark mumbled, ponting at you, then he turned away and disappeard into the shadows.

Luke glanced back at your retreating figure. He knew he needed to fix things with you, but for now, all he could do was hope you wouldn't hold his overprotective actions against him. He took a deep breath and started following you, determined to apologize and explain his actions once you were sober enough to listen.

Your walk was more of a drunken sashay, hips swaying precariously with each wobbly step. Luke watched you stumble away, a knot of frustration tightening in his gut. He knew you weren't thinking straight, the alcohol muddling your judgment and turning his concern into a controlling act in your eyes.

"yn" he called after you, his voice laced with a pleading he rarely used. "Wait a minute, please."

You ignored him, your focus solely on putting distance between you and Luke. He quickened his pace, catching up beside you.

"Seriously, stop it" Luke's voice was closer now. "You're going to fall on your face if you keep walking like that."

You stopped short, whirling around to face him. “Will you stop following me? This is embarrasing enough, Luke”

"Embarrassing?" Luke echoed, his voice rising in exasperation. "You're practically falling over drunk! You can't just walk around like this."

"I can handle myself" you slurred, puffing out your chest in a show of false bravery. You wobbled slightly, proving his point.

Luke sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Look…" he said, trying to keep his voice calm. "I'm not trying to be a jerk. I'm just worried about you. You're clearly hammered, and it's not safe for you to be alone."

You scoffed. "Safe? I'm not a little girl, Luke. I can take care of myself."

"Yeah, well, right now you can't even take care of your balance!" he retorted, his patience wearing thin. You wobbled again, nearly toppling over before catching yourself on a nearby tree trunk.

"Just stop following me, okay?" you slurred, your voice thick with a pout. "I don't need this from you"

He sighed as your trembling body swayed precariously, threatening to topple over at any moment. Luke knew arguing with you further would be pointless. You were a force of nature in your current state, fueled by both alcohol and indignation. He needed to take a different approach.

With a resigned sigh, he whipped his denim jacket off in one swift motion. Kneeling before you, he draped it around your waist, the familiar scent of him momentarily grounding you. You blinked at him, a flicker of confusion replacing the anger in your eyes.

"What are you—woah!" you yelped before you could finish your question. In a smooth, practiced motion honed from years of wrestling monstrous opponents, Luke scooped you up effortlessly, hoisting you over his broad shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

A surprised shriek erupted from your lips. The world tilted on its axis as you found yourself dangling upside down. The clearing erupted in laughter. A few of the campers who had been watching the whole scene unfold hooted and hollered, their amusement evident. "Careful with that one, Luke!" one of them called out, a wide grin plastered on his face. "Looks like she bites!"

Luke shot him a withering look, his jaw clenched. "Very funny" he muttered, ignoring the whistles and catcalls from the others. His focus was solely on you, the warmth of your body radiating against his back.

“You better put me down!" you shrieked, kicking your legs in the air in a futile attempt to dislodge yourself.

"Not a chance, Short Stuff" Luke called back.

"But I don't want to go back to my cabin yet! The party's just getting started!" You pounded your fists against his back, a feeble attempt at protest. "Seriously, Luke, put me down! I can walk perfectly fine!"

"Uh-huh, you´re right" he said sarcastically, walking down with your full weight on one shoulder as if you were as light as a feather.

You let out a frustrated groan, burying your face on his back. “This so embarrasing!” you cried. You hated that he was right. You were a mess, and the last thing you needed was to stumble around the woods in this state, potentially attracting unwanted attention.

Despite your annoyance, a strange sense of security settled over you as Luke carried you. The rhythmic thud of his footsteps against the earth and the warmth of his hands radiating against your legs as he held you were oddly comforting.

The walk to your cabin, however, was far from peaceful. You continued to mumble incoherent protests, punctuated by occasional swats at his back and what felt like an eternity of "Put me down!"s. But Luke remained undeterred, his jaw set in a determined line.

Finally, after what felt like an hour —but was probably closer to five minutes—, you reached your cabin. Relief washed over Luke as he gently lowered you onto the porch, careful not to jostle you too much.

You glared at Luke, your arms crossed defiantly across your chest. He couldn’t tell if your eyes were truly filled with anger of constantly trying to focus on his face so your world wouldn’t keep spinning.

"Well, aren't you prince charming himself, Mr. Castellan" you huffed, voice thick with a playful slur. "Kidnapping girls and all"

Luke, however, seemed unfazed. He chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent a shiver down your spine despite yourself. "Just get in, sleepyhead" he countered, his eyes gleaming under the moonlight as he opened the unlocked door to your cabin.

You pouted, a childish expression along with the stomping of your feet on the wooden porch. "I could have walked!" you protested weakly, knowing full well it was a lie.

He ignored your protest, stepping past you and gently maneuvering you towards your bed, placing his hand on your lower back as you walked. The cabin was, as expected, empty. Your half-siblings, ever the social butterflies, were undoubtedly wreaking havoc at the party you were now forbidden to attend.

You felt lonely for a second, but it was quickly overshadowed by the warmth that spread through you as Luke helped you onto the bed. You wanted to be furious with him, to unleash the full force of your drunken anger. But the lingering warmth of his touch on your legs and back, the way he so effortlessly hoisted you like a defiant princess, somehow muddled your outrage. The thought was absurd and yet undeniably attractive.

He knelt down in front of you once you sat at the edge of your bed. You could smell the faint scent of woodsmoke and pine needles clinging to his clothes, a comforting aroma that filled your nosestrils instantly.

With a gentle hand, he reached out your calve and started unlacing your boots, his touch surprisingly tender. You watched him in a daze, your head spinning slightly. The world seemed to tilt on its axis again, everything blurring at the edges except for Luke's face. You watched him in fascination as he repeated the process with your other foot.

Suddenly, a wave of nausea washed over you. You squeezed your eyes shut and groaned, a weak sound that escaped your lips.

Luke, sensing your distress, immediately stopped what he was doing. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern as he placed one hand on your knee.

You opened your eyes, blinking slowly. "Yeah, just a little…" you trailed off, searching for the right word. "Woozy" you finally managed.

Then, he stood up and looked around. His gaze landed on a package of makeup wipes on your bedside table. Without a word, he picked them up and returned to stand in front of you.

"You might want to clean some of this off" he said, holding up a wipe and gesturing to the smudged mascara beneath your eye.

You were speechless. No one had ever offered to do something like this for you before. A warmth bloomed in your chest, chasing away the remnants of your anger.

He held the wipe out to you, but you didn't take it. Instead, you found yourself blurting out; "Can you do it for me?"

He didn't hesitate. He fully unfolded the wipe as he lowered to you just a little to continue the process of taking care of you, his touch tender.

He was wiping the makeup from your face with a meticulousness that surprised you. You sat there, mesmerized, feeling strangely vulnerable under his watchful gaze even though you kept your eyes closed. The alcohol, combined with the unexpected intimacy of the moment, had rendered you uncharacteristically quiet.

"You didn't have to punch him, you know" you mumbled, the words tumbling out before you could stop them.

He kept as concentraded in his task as he was before. "Who?" he asked, though you both knew exactly who you were talking about.

"Mark" you clarified.

Luke sighed, going for your other eye. "He was… well, he was clearly taking advantage of your state" he explained patiently.

"How do you know?" you challenged, a sliver of defiance still clinging to your voice.

"Because I know you, yn" he said softly, his gaze locking with yours. "You think I would´ve done what I did if you were sober?"

His words hit you like a wave of realization. Shame washed over you, hot and prickly. You hadn't realized how vulnerable you were, how easily manipulated under the influence of your drink. “There we go” He stopped his movements eyes. “All clean” he announced as he placed the dirty wipes over your bedside table.

"I-, I'm sorry" you mumbled, looking down at your lap, playing with the edges of your miniskirt. "I shouldn't have pushed you like that."

He knelt down again, this time untangling his denim jacket from around your waist. As he spoke, his voice was laced with a quiet understanding. "Listen, I know you might be mad at me for… well, everything. But I wasn't trying to ruin your night. I was just worried about you. You were drunk… you are drunk” he said playfully, reaching out and squeezing your cheek as if you were a little kid. “and that Ares guy –, didn't exactly seem like he wanted to be nice, and I can’t handle that. You can´t go around with people you don´t know, you know better than that" his voice dropped again.

He was right, of course. You were a demigod, trained to be aware of your surroundings and the dangers that lurked in the shadows. Yet, tonight, you'd thrown all caution to the wind, blinded by the effects of vodka and fruit juice and the fleeting attention of a stranger.

A pang of guilt washed over you. You squeezed his hand, a silent apology for your earlier outburst.

He gave your hand a gentle squeeze in return, his lips curving into a small smile. “Besides, we´re friends, right?”

The word felt cold, heavy with unspoken meaning. Friends. You and Luke. The idea was both familiar and exhilarating, a spark igniting somewhere deep within you. You didn´t say anything, but Luke didn´t need you to.

He stood up again and leaned down, surprising you by brushing a light kiss on your forehead. It was a chaste gesture, meant to be comforting, yet it sent a jolt of electricity through you.

"Go get some sleep" he said, his voice a low rumble. "I'll check on you in the morning."

He started to turn away, but before he could take a step, you reached out and grabbed his arm. "Wait" you stammered, your cheeks flushing crimson.

Luke turned back, a questioning eyebrow raised. In that moment, the alcohol-fueled bravado that had propelled you through the night seemed to evaporate. You were left with a newfound shyness, a sudden awareness of the intimate atmosphere that had settled between you.

"Can you..." you began, your voice barely above a whisper, "can you stay a little?"

Luke stared at you for a moment, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. He didn't answer immediately. He stood there for a long moment, studying your face, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched between you, thick with unspoken emotions.

Emboldened by a newfound courage, you stood up from the bed. You were still a little unsteady on your feet, the remnants of alcohol making your movements slightly wobbly.

Reaching out, you stopped in front of him, his height suddenly a towering presence. You closed the gap between you two in a second. Now you were standing impossibly close, your body brushing against his.

Looking up at him, you were struck by how tall he seemed, how broad his shoulders were. A wave of dizziness washed over you as you registered the clean scent of his cologne, one that you hadn’t noticed before, a scent that suddenly seemed incredibly appealing.

"Luke" you whispered, your voice barely a breath, your eyes tracing the outline of his lips. "When did you get so tall?"

He chuckled softly, a low rumble that sent a delicious shiver down your spine. "Maybe you just haven't noticed before" he replied, his voice a husky murmur.

The playful banter momentarily broke the tension, but the air between you still crackled as heavy as it could. Your gaze drifted back to his lips, now so close you could almost feel the warmth of his breath on your skin.

They were full, inviting, and in a moment of drunken bravery, you found yourself leaning closer, your lips hovering just a breath away from his. "You smell good" you mumbled, your voice slurred but filled with a newfound confidence.

Luke swallowed hard, trying to find his voice. He was dangerously close to you, the heat radiating from your body a tangible thing in the cool cabin air. His muscles tensed, a battle raging within him between concern and a growing desire.

You reached out and toched his thigh, your fingers brushing against the worn fabric of his jean. Slowly, teasingly, you trailed your hand upward, until you reached his belt, hooking one finger to it, and you pulled him even closer to you. The movement was subtle but undeniably provocative, sending a jolt of electricity through Luke's body.

He stood frozen, mesmerized by the sudden boldness you exuded. This wasn't the girl he knew, the playful friend who teased him mercilessly. This was a stranger cloaked in the familiar, and the effect was intoxicating.

His own breath came out in a ragged sigh. Every rational part of him screamed at him to step away, to put some distance between the two of you. You were clearly inebriated, and taking advantage of that wouldn't be right.

But another part of him, a more primal part, yearned to close the gap between you, just a breath away. He had always found you attractive, drawn to your quick wit and fiery spirit. But the line between friendship and something more had always felt too blurry to cross.

Now, with the inhibitions lowered by alcohol, that line seemed to have vanished entirely.

He leaned in closer, the space between your faces shrinking with each passing moment. The scent of your coconut perfume and something uniquely you filled his senses, further muddling his already clouded judgment.

"yn" he began, his voice husky, a warning more for himself than for you.

"Stay" you whispered, your lips still hovering tantalizingly close to his. The raw need in your eyes mirrored the war raging within him. “Stay and make me yours, Luke. Please”

His hand reached up, cupping your jaw as his gaze locked with yours. You tilted your head into his touch, a silent invitation.

"We can't do this, gorgeous” he murmured, his voice a low rumble against your ear. "You're not sober”

"I don't care" you interrupted, your voice thick with a desperation that surprised even you.

Luke felt his resolve crumble. He wanted this, just as much as you did. The idea of kissing you, of finally exploring the feelings that had simmered beneath the surface for so long, of touching you, feeling you, was undeniably tempting.

But a sliver of sanity remained. He knew that taking advantage of you in this state would be a betrayal of your trust, something he wouldn't be able to forgive himself for.

"But I do" he countered, his voice firm yet gentle. "If I'm doing this with you, I want to do it right. When you're sober and can make a real choice. When you can remember"

A wave of disappointment washed over you, but a tiny voice in the back of your head, untouched by the alcohol's haze, whispered its thanks. He was right. This wasn't the way you wanted things to happen.

So you nodded slowly, a small pout forming on your lips.

"Alright" you mumbled, letting go of his belt loop. “Can you still stay a little longer, though?”

A ghost of a smile played on his lips. He leaned down and brushed a soft kiss to your cheek, the touch feather-light, sending another wave of warmth through you.

"Go to sleep, trouble" he chuckled, the sound warm and familiar.

You walked back onto the bed, a strange mix of disappointment and relief swirling within you. As you drifted off to sleep, Luke pulled a chair beside the bed and settled down, keeping a silent vigil over you.

You immediately fell asleep, your mind could be running as fast as it could, but your body told another story. He watched you sleep for a moment, then left and went back to the party.

On his way back, he couldn’t help it but smirk to himself, a gushing and warm feeling rushing on his chest as he realized how close he had you. How his feeling were not so oblivious to you, and now that he knew, he wouldn’t have to work so hard to have you, or hide any longer.

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cacoetheswriting · 1 year ago

Text

honesty: the music video

pairing: rockstar!eddie munson x popstar!fem!reader word count: 2.3k summary: after a long day on set, you can't wait to get it on with your costar.

content warnings: 18+, minors dni: mature themes, literally smut with a minor plot, established relationship, unprotected p in v, overstimulation, praise kink, dom-ish eddie, adult language, heavy use of pet names, mentions of aftercare — if i missed anything in this chapter, pls let me know!

celebrity skin. masterlist <- part of this lil' universe, but can totally be read as a stand-alone. timeline wise, this takes place somewhere after part 3 and before end part 5.

“We want it to be sexy.”

“But not too sexy.”

“Revealing.”

“But not too revealing.”

“Sounds like you guys don’t know what you want,” Eddie chimes in, interrupting the back and forth of your respective teams.

You stifle a giggle.

“That’s ‘cause of the two distinct styles,” someone from your team clarifies, “We wanna be respectful.”

“For sure,” one of the creatives on the Corroded Coffin side agrees. There’s a short pause. “We will have you two kiss at the end, though.”

At that, Eddie smirks. He looks at you from across the table and you could just about melt right there, blood rushing to your face, warming your cheeks.

“That won’t be a problem,” he says confidently and winks.

Honesty was a guaranteed hit. Top of the charts. Everybody that’s been so far involved in the project said it. They praised it. From the bass, drums, to the guitar and vocals. The production value was off the scale. A dream arrangement that would stand the test of time.

All the song needed was a music video equally as captivating.

A back and forth discourse began shortly after you first started recording with the band: whose style should the clip resemble more?

Corroded Coffin screamed all things dark, maybe a little gory. Their usual expression featured slightly melancholy undertones and a lot of references to all things Dungeons & Dragons. Imaginative, for sure. An artistry that had rarely been seen in the genre.

Although it’s been an artistry vastly different from yours.

The glitter hadn’t necessarily been your idea, but it certainly became a signature of sorts. Anything sparkly, always. And music videos that told a story. Most often one of love since that’s what you idolised ever since you were a kid — it obviously helped that love also sold millions of copies.

Eddie’s team argued that it’s the band’s song and you’re just a feature, therefore the accompanying video should lean into their style. Your management team was hesitant to agree. Calculating risk in case the lines get blurred a little too much and your pristine image shifts to the opposite end of the spectrum. Hours of arguments. Hours of negotiations. None of which you, or the rockstar were even mildly aware of. Too lost in each other's eyes and soft cotton sheets.

Eventually, a compromise, of sorts, was found.

Ernest Hemingway’s The Killers influenced, in part, a 1946 film noir of the same title, with Ava Gardner and Burt Lancaster taking the lead. The movie, in turn, inspired the black and white music video.

Done up in flair of the characters, Kitty Collins and Ole Anderson (aka Swede), you recreated iconic scenes alongside the brown-eyed rockstar. The rest of the band was also dressed to the nines. Side characters that played their instruments in the background of main shots. They blended in well, while adding a unique spin to the known story.

Overall, the Honesty shoot quickly became a big spectacle. Bigger than anything Eddie Munson and his band of closest friends has ever been lucky enough to be a part of.

Intricate sets. Glamourous. In front of cameras and bright lights, you and your scene partner, Eddie, mouthed along the lyrics to the song as if they were a script. And with every scene, as if the two of you were the only people actually there, no equipment and no crew, you got lost a tiny bit. Lost in the chocolate of the rockstar’s wide gaze. In the way he smelled. The style of that decade suited the brunette greatly, so you became lost in how he looked in this character. Dapper. Unlike you’ve ever witnessed him before. He committed to the role too. A certain swag in his movements. How he touched you so hesitantly, delicately because that’s what the video required.

By the end of the night, after the director yells, “Cut!” to signalise a wrap, a round of applause for all involved in this project, you’re feeling hot and bothered. Sweaty, though not because you just completed a full day’s work. No. Somehow, you found the Corroded Coffin frontman even more attractive than at the start of that day — something you didn’t think was possible. When you glance in his direction, he’s already staring you down, and you know he feels the same way.

Backstage, inside your trailer, you’re sitting cross-legged on the couch. Fingertips at your lips as you wait for that inevitable knock on your door. You know it’s only a matter of time considering the build up of tension throughout the shoot. From the lingering touches and that kiss the director had you two repeat over and over and over…

Logically, you could wait until the two of you were home. Back at Eddie’s Hidden Hills mansion, away from prying eyes and ears. In a bed that’s become all too familiar. Far from possible interruptions. Logic however, well, right now, logic was taking a back burner ‘cause you needed him now. Desperately. And without a doubt, Eddie needed you too.

A knock. Then again. But the rockstar doesn’t wait for you to answer. He lets himself in.

“What happened to the wig?” You ask, raising a brow.

“It was itchy,” he replies with a slight laugh, then shakes his head. “I much prefer my natural locks.”

“That’s too bad,” you say with a slight shrug, “You looked quite smart with that short hair.”

Eddie hangs his head with a smile, though his eyes don’t leave yours. Not even for a second. That’s when you notice the glimmer. That look, the reason he’s here, just like you predicted. So you return the expression. Only yours is a little more sly. Tempting him. Teasing.

“I had fun today.”.

“Me too.”

There’s a lot that happens in the seconds after you stand up. A lot that happens quickly.

Eddie reaches for your wrist, pulling you closer before wrapping his, for once, ringless hand around yours completely. He presses it to the middle of his chest, holding it against his heart. You can feel it beating and that’s enough to make you melt ‘cause it’s strong and you swear it skips at the contact. His other hand reaches for the base of your throat. He holds it gently, caressing upwards until he’s gripping your jaw.

“Kissing you in front of all those other people kinda got me going,” he admits in a low tone.

Naughty, that’s what you want to say, but you don’t get the chance ‘cause his lips crash into yours. Hungry. Desperate. Rough. Heat rushes through your body at the sudden contact, no different than any other time his mouth found yours. You’re at his mercy, always, and he knows it well.

His tongue glides along your top lip and you part your lips to accept him without hesitation. He wastes no time sliding into your mouth, letting this tongue work in tandem with yours as he tilts his head to further deepen the kiss. The hand holding yours lets go, instead finding home on the small of your back, pushing you as close to him as humanly possible. His other hand lets go of your jaw, albeit not completely. Ghosting along the side of your neck before you feel him wrap it around your throat, squeezing lightly. It’s nothing new for Eddie to be a little rougher with you, but there’s something about this moment, after a full day of moderate teasing and borderline foreplay, that causes a moan to burst through you when he squeezes again, only harder.

The rockstar pulls back, sporting a devilish grin. “Making such pretty noises for me and we haven’t even gotten to the best part.”

“Do your worst, Eds.” It’s a dare. Nothing sweet about it.

He smirks at the challenge and before you can register what exactly is happening, Eddie is lifting you up swiftly, hiking up your dress in the process, only to drop you down onto the sofa with a gentle thud. You’re wide-eyed as he unbuckles his belt with one hand, the other tugging at the pantyhose the wardrobe lady had you wear for the last scene of the video. He partially rips them off of you, then he hikes his index finger along the band of your underwear, eagerly pulling them down your legs until they’re wrapped around your ankles, with the reminisce of your stockings.

“The heels stay on,” the rockstar instructs, pushing your legs apart with force and positioning himself in between. All you can do is nod. Half-naked, half in costume. Same as him.

In the space of a heartbeat, his lips are on yours again. This time they don’t stay for long, instead moving downwards towards your chest. When he squeezes your breast through the silk material of your dress, he compliments how fucking good you looked, “I wanted to ravish you the second I saw you, baby.”

You whimper at his words, and at the fact that his now freed cock is gently brushing against your wet folds. Not quite breaching, just teasing you further. Only adding to the overall stimulation.

“God, you’re so fucking hot. So fucking pretty. And all mine.” Eddie’s breathing into your bare chest ‘cause somehow in the moment your dress has slipped down ever so slightly and your tits made an appearance. Fingers from one hand are digging into your hip, holding you in place, while the other has you by the ribs. Thumb brushing your soft skin while his hot mouth is sucking on your hardened nipple.

Your eyes are closed. You’re not sure when you closed them. He’s invading your senses all at once. Just when you feel like you can’t take it anymore, when you want to whither and plead for him to touch you where you need him most, Eddie plunges himself into you without warning and your eyes snap open.

“Oh God…” he groans, drawing his hips back only to slam them in again, making your body bounce against him. “Fuck, baby. Jesus.”

You sob in pleasure as Eddie knocks the wind out of you with each relentless thrust, still increasing his speed. Heavy panting and grunting fills the trailer, along with the sounds of where his cock slams against your sweet juices. He’s sitting straight now. Eyes are fixated on the mess you’re both making, where his length disappears in and out of you, while you admire the way his locks fall naturally in place. Although briefly, ‘cause you’re arching your back the next second, rolling your eyes to the back of your head when he hits that sweet spot.

“So. Fucking. Pretty.” He growls. “You’re so fucking pretty when you’re all stretched open like this, sweetheart. Your pussy was made for my cock, baby. You take it so well. You take this big dick so well, my good girl. Fucking made for me. Ain’t that right, dollface?”

“Made for you, Eds.” You just about whisper back, nodding your head feverishly.

Slap. His hand makes contact with your thigh and you practically wail. “That’s right,” he praises, “Made for me. So fucking tight for me.” Slap. Slap. Slap.

Eddie’s cock starts to swell. You can feel it expand inside of you, then again when he thrusts back in. It has you heaving. The speed he’s established is close to becoming a little too much for the two of you and he drops his weight slightly, allowing you to wrap your arms around him, nails digging into his bare back. He can sense that you too are close and he’s trying hard to hold back, make this moment last longer, but his body refuses to slow down. Chasing the way your glistening pussy chokes his length.

“Where do you want me baby?”

“Inside,” you croak out. “Cum in me, Eddie. Please. I need you to fill me up.”

“M’mph—” He chokes out, movements growing more and more erratic. The whole trailer is shaking at this point, that’s what it feels like to the two of you anyway. “Everybody out there will know what a good little slut you are. Not that innocent. Wanting me to fill you full of my cum, fuck.”

Slap. Slap. Against your thigh.

“Please, Eddie.”

Slap.

“Shh… I’ll give you what you want, sweetheart.” He coos, “Gonna pump you full. Gonna make you see stars while my cum drips out of you.”

That’s when you shatter around him, uncontrollable desperate squeals making him groan louder as he continues. It’s sloppy, messy, and once you’ve completely unravelled underneath him, the rockstar can’t contain himself any longer. He lets out a broken moan as ropes and ropes of his warm spend start to throb into your hole.

His body gives up at the last spur and he drops flat on top of you, although not without a loose kiss placed to your jaw. His cock remains inside of your pussy. You can feel it pulsing until, after a few minutes, it no longer matches the beat of your heart.

Eddie lifts himself then. He kisses you softly and you smile against his mouth. When he eventually slips out and stands, he tells you not to move, that he’ll grab a towel from the small trailer bathroom and will help you get cleaned up.

“Wardrobe is going to kill us,” you call after him, balancing on your elbows as you sit up slowly. “Pretty sure these clothes can never be worn again. Purely for the fact that they reek of sex.”

“At least your wig stayed in place,” Eddie points out lightheartedly when he returns, his pants once again buckled, a towel in his hand. “That’s something the hair and makeup team should be proud of.”

“I’ll be sure to tell them,” you say, meaning it as a joke ‘cause there’s no way you would ever admit to what sins the two of you just committed.

Eddie smirks. “Pretty sure they already know,” he says as if it’s no big deal, “We weren’t exactly quiet, sweetheart.”

as always, thank you for reading! pls comment, reblog & support your creators.

celebrity skin. masterlist | the killers (1946) reference

& the celebrity skin. taglist: @eviethetheatrefreak , @thirddeadlysin , @haylaansmi , @nope-thanks , @tlclick73 , @vintagehellfire , @ashlynnkennedy , @avalon-wolf , @sidthedollface2 , @astheni-a , @bebe07011 , @aysheashea , @papillonoirsworld , @vol2eddie , @spideyanakin-interacts , @rogers-sweatbands , @mimsie95 , @mmunson86 , @eddiesguitarskills - (if your user is crossed out, it means the tag isn’t working. pls check you’ve enabled tagging in your settings)

#this one is a little self indulgent ngl #eddie munson #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson fic #eddie munson filth #eddie munson smut #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson x fem!reader smut #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson x f!reader #eddie munson x fem!reader #rockstar!eddie munson #rockstar!eddie x reader #rockstar!eddie smut #stranger things #stranger things smut #celebrity skin.

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riordanness · 2 years ago

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pick up lines - [p.jackson]

pairing: percy jackson x reader

wordcount: 1.4K

warnings: none

I hated waking up.

Not that sleeping was particularly amazing, being a demigod and all, but waking up really sucked. I'd been resting peacefully (not), when I was rudely shaken from my sleep by the breakfast bell.

Unfortunately, I had never been an early riser, so most mornings, there was a mad rush, involving a lot of mess, losing everything I needed, and desperately trying, (and failing) to clean up my cabin before inspection, which was right after breakfast.

I was generally the one who had the messiest cabin during inspection.

I finally was dressed in jeans and an orange Camp Half-Blood shirt, with my h/c hair pulled away from my face. Then, I ran to the dining pavilion.

I was a daughter of Demeter, the plant goddess. Yeah, I'm sure most of you are thinking: Oh, wow, plants... But seriously, it's kinda cool. I do have some pretty sweet powers. I can grow any plants from practically nothing, control plants and stuff, and sense things in the earth. I can even use plants to travel instantly from one place to another, by just hopping through the trees, or seeds, or flowers, or weeds, or . . . whatever.

I slipped into my seat next to Katie Gardner, my elder sister. She was the counsellor for Cabin Demeter. Katie was super nice, but she was always busy at the moment, mostly hanging out with her new boyfriend, Travis Stoll, Son of Hermes.

"You slept in again," Katie whispered to me, trying, and failing epically, to hide her laughter. "We thought it was best not to try and wake you."

That was probably smart. If someone woke me up, they'd most likely leave that situation with a black eye and seeds growing in their skin. I can be fairly lethal when I want to be.

"I stated up too late again last night," I said back, my voice also low. I didn't like when other kids were listening in on my conversations, especially those Hermes kids.

"Doing what?" Katie smirked, like she knew something I didn't.

"Um..." What was I doing? Hanging out with my best friend of course. Who also happened to be the cutest and most popular guy at camp. The only current Son of Posiedon. Percy Jackson.

"I was with Percy, at the beach. We were finding lost starfish and chucking them back in the water..." My voice faltered. I wasn't good at lying. 'At the beach' was accurate. We'd been laying on a picnic blanket, watching the stars, and just talking about everything and anything, for hours. We did that almost every night. It was the best feeling in the world, just being with him.

"Uh huh." Katie turned back to her food. "He likes you, y/n, I'm sure of it. Just as much as you like him, I bet."

"Katie!" I hissed, my face beet red, but the words pleased me. I'd had a crush on Percy Jackson since the first day he arrived at Camp Half-Blood, tired and bruised and scratched from fighting the Minotaur. He'd limped into camp, stole my heart, and became the coolest guy at camp within a month.

And yes, I was in love with him. We'd been best friends for years, and we hung out all the time. How could I possibly not fall for him, with his stupid trouble-maker grin, his dark, messy hair, his sparkling sea-green baby-seal eyes, and his voice. He was, at least in my eyes, perfect.

***

Later, I was practicing my sword-fighting in the arena, hacking arms and legs and heads off the stuffed straw dummies. I'd never been the best fighter, but I felt like I was getting the hang of my sword.

"Are you a child of Hermes?" a joking voice rang out from behind me. I spun around, and came face to face with one of the Hephestus kids. Leo Valdez, maybe?

I blew my hair out of my face, breathing hard. "Um, no? Demeter, actually. Why?"

The boy, Leo, cracked a grin. "Because you stole my heart."

I blinked, not sure what to say. I never really spoke to any of the kids from Hephestus cabin, especially not this one.

"Uh, okay... thanks, I guess?"

Leo grinned again, then ran off without saying anything else. Okay... that was pretty weird.

I decided to go for a walk, to cool down and to stretch my legs a bit, so I headed for the basketball courts, where a bunch of kids were playing a really aggressive game.

I plopped down on the grass a few meters back from the courts, and watched the game. It looked like Ares and Apollo (a strange match), against Athena, Dionysus, and a couple other kids, like Jason Grace, Nico Di Angelo, and Percy.

I found myself watching Percy more than the other players, but snapped my eyes away from him once I realised. I didn't want anyone seeing me staring at my best friend.

After a while, the players called for a break, and Jason Grace approached me. "Oh, hey (Y/N)," he smiled at me, sitting beside me and taking a swig of water from a drink bottle.

"Hey," I said back. Again, I was surprised at why Jason was talking to me. He didn't usually. Demeter kids were looked over quite a bit, and Jason was one of the big shots - a child of Zeus. Of course, Percy was a son of Posiedon, and he talked to me, but that was different. I'd known Percy for years, even before we came here at twelve years old. I'd know him since he was seven.

"Are you a child of Hades?" Jason asked suddenly.

I frowned at him. "No. Demeter, actually. Why does everyone keep-?"

I was cut off by Jason grinning and saying: "Because I'm dying to call you mine."

I swallowed. "Um..."

Jason got up and walked away, heading back to his game. I was totally confused, so I stood up, brushed off my jean shorts, and decided to go to the strawberry fields, where I usually spent most of my time, among the plants. Plants always calmed me down, and this random guys telling me pick-up lines were a little stressful. I wasn't the kind of girl who normally got guys, anyway.

After a few minutes of walking up and down the strawberry aisles, I ran into Nico di Angelo. Nico wasn't usually the sort of person you ran into in the strawberry fields, so I was surprised.

"Oh, hi, Nico," I said cheerily, waving at him. Nico and I were actually pretty good friends, so I was glad to see him. We got along surprisingly well, considering our parents' rivalry. You know, the whole Persephone getting kidnapped thing.

"Are you a child of Hephestus?" Nico stammered, blushing with embarrassment.

At this point, I was utterly confused.

"No!" I said, frowning. "I'm a daughter of Demeter, and I know you know that, Nico. And why does everyone keep trying these stupid pick-up lines on me? Besides... you like guys, don't you?"

"Well, um..." Nico shrugged and ran off, leaving me in a state of helpless confusion.

I sank to my knees in the soft grass, picking at it with my fingers. "What's happening with me today?" I wondered aloud.

"Hey, are you Aphrodite?" a familiar voice asked. "Because you're divinely gorgeous."

I glanced up, meeting the sea-green eyes of my best friend. "Percy?" I asked. "You too? What's-?"

Percy stopped me, sitting down cross-legged beside me. "Hey, I've- I've liked you for ages, but I never told you because I was scared you'd not feel the same and so we'd lose our awesome friendship, but the guys found out and so they were trying to make me jealous enough to admit me feelings today, by trying out pick-up lines on you, so, well, I- I decided that I should just tell you.”

I sucked in a breath. "Oh my gods," I managed. "You stupid son of Posiedon."

"What?" Percy chuckled nervously.

"Are you a child of the Sea God?" I asked softly. "Because I'm drowning in your beautiful eyes."

Gathering all my courage, I leaned forward and pressed my mouth against Percy's, feeling him smile against my lips, and I couldn't have wished for anything more.

#fanfiction #percy jackson #fanfic #pjo #percy jackson x reader #leo valdez x reader #nico di angelo x reader #jason grace x reader #percy jackson fanfic #pjo fanfic #rick riordan

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a-god-in-crime-alley · 9 months ago

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So I got to thinking.

DP x DC prompt #3

You guys know that awesome prompt where Black Canary goes to work as a therapist at Casper High? (Edit: no I don’t have a link. I can’t find the post even though I know I reblogged it)

I just remembered who ELSE could do that instead. Arguably (slightly) more qualified as having been a high school counselor at one point. So he would have the necessary qualifications already and would only need to be recertified as he hasn’t been a school counselor for a while.

Former PE Coach. Former Leader of the Red Lantern Corps. Former Star Sapphire (is that still in continuity? I’m gonna say yes)

You know him! You (probably) hate him! The one and only…

Guy “Glass Jaw” Gardner!!!

That’s right folks. A Green Lantern with a Public Identity. Can you imagine?

Everyone hates him at first, and with the student’s history with school psychologists, his more abrasive personality would probably make people avoid talking to him.

But he can be genuinely sincere and has a lot of helpful advice. He’s GOOD at being a counselor. It’s why him owning a Bar on Oa kind of works.

So just imagine, Space Loving Danny Fenton getting to see a Green Lantern in person! Not so happy to have a new school counselor but hey, at least this one isn’t likely to try and kill everyone. And Guy really doesn’t make the best first impressions. In fact, he probably reminds Danny of Dash.

Right up until Guy jumps in to help Phantom. After all, that’s one of his students. So the next day he had Fenton pulled from class to talk to him. About the heroing, the gaps in his class attendance, the missing assignments, and about how he’s given up on working for NASA.

#dcxdp #dpxdc #dcxdp prompt #give Guy his due here #he knows what he’s doing

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cillians-sweetheart · 3 months ago

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How to Calm a Man - Robert Capa

Capa!Patient(29) x Fem!Psychologist!Reader(25)

Plot: (kind of a silly plot and beginning but trust it’s good) On the Icarus II ship, physicist Robert Capa meets the Gardner and psychologist aboard and can’t resist her ‘man calming’ treatment.

Content: smut, handjob (m), riding, therapy sex, slight teasing, cream-pie, unprotected pv, oral (f), face riding, semi public setting

Aboard the Icarus II, I join the group of the ‘real’ scientists as they say while they discuss a new radiation detection device currently being manufactured. I sit next to a long haired man in a tank top at the back of the room. He was the physicist, the one who created this idea for a radiation detector.

His head turned to me as I sat next to him in my tight, colourful, tank top and yoga pants. Though I hadn’t been looking straight at him, I could feel his eyes glaring to the side of my face.

“I don’t believe we've been properly introduced yet.” I turned to him, breaking the awkwardness of his stare. “Dr Y/L/N.” I grinned warmly, holding my hand out to him. He took my hand in his and shook it lightly.

“Capa, Robert Capa.” He replied shyly, “You’re positioned in the greenhouse.” He nodded, taking recognition of me. His flashing blue eyes analyzed my every feature.

“Yes I am a horticulturist, but I also have a degree and work in psychology.”

Capa leaned back slightly, intrigued by what I had said. “I wouldn’t have expected to see a psychologist working on a space mission.”

“It’s quite common that being so distanced from civilization can cause astronauts to grow severely unwell, mentally. Specifically, most suffer with anxiety and isolation caused depression, which as you probably know can cause difficulty in completing the mission.” I smiled and chuckled as I explained the best I could my reasoning for being on this mission.

“I suppose you’ve met the majority of the crew then.” He smiled while he fidgeted with his hands. “All of these intelligently complicated minds putting together one of the most important humanity saving missions sure can cause some to lose their minds.”

“Oh yeah,” I chuckled. “If you ever wanted to stop by and do some yoga, just let me know.” I winked. “Just kidding, I know guys like you probably wouldn’t be into that.”

“Can’t say I am.” He laughed along and shrugged.

“Well it’s more used in calming women… but do you know the best way to calm a man down?” I leaned closer to his anxious, handsome face, and my voice turned seductive, sounding like silk through his ears.

Capa paused, staring deep into my eyes. He regained his composure and the rest of the crew began to part to their stations, leaving us alone as last. “I’m not sure I do,” He grinned awkwardly. “How?”

“Well you don’t seem necessarily stressed.” I tiled my head, making him want to beg for the answer.

He chuckled and his expression turned to amusement as he played along. He couldn’t help but be drawn in by me, and my power. “Are you offering to fix that for me?”

“If you were stressed, yes.”

Capa smirked and leaned back against the cushion. His tone is still teasing through my game with his sarcasm. “Is that so?... Well I suppose I am feeling a bit stressed. Now that you mention it.”

I giggled and moved myself closer next to him. My hand slowly rubbed up his thigh to the center of his lap. I looked into his eyes as his cheeks went red and his breath got caught in his throat. The look in his eyes became serious, and lustful.

I looked over my shoulder around the empty area, then grabbed his hand in mine and stood from the sofa. “I’d like to see you in my office, Mr Capa.” I winked and pulled his tall, lanky body off the sofa.

Capa followed behind me, his mind going out of sorts and his eyes moving quickly up and down the backside of my body. He felt a sudden eagerness for what it was that I had planned. What it was that truly calmed a man.

Walking through the narrow halls I brought Capa to my bedroom, which was also my office where I would ease these poor, stressed men on ship. In my room I locked the door and continued to drag him to my bed, pushing him down onto the colourful, mandela patterned duvet.

He stared up at me while I crawled over his slim body. My hand returned to message the bulge beneath his track pants. His breath hitched and his body began to slowly loosen from my gentle touch. The suddenness of it all caused his mind to fog up with nothing but mindless pleasure, and need.

“So… what is it that’s making you so stressed?” I said mockingly as I continued to gently rub him.

He inhaled deeply, a silent whimper escaping his lips as I squeezed the tightening fabric beneath my hand. “I think you know what’s making me tense.” His voice was sarcastic and seductive.

“For sure something is tense.” I winked feeling the hardness of his cock in my hand, lightly stroking it through the fabric.

Capa blushed at my words and his body quivered slightly under my touch. He struggled to keep his voice and breath even with the growing pleasure I caused him. “Maybe you should do something about that then.” He groaned.

“That's my job.” My hand traveled up under his tank top to the hem of his pants. “How else would I heal these men here?” I smirked.

He swallowed hard, “That’s your speciality? Taking care of the physical ailment of your patients?”

“It heals both mental and physical health as it is a full body release.” My fingers glazed his bare, hot skin. “Also known as the best way to calm a man.” I wrapped my smooth hand around his pulsing, hard cock. Capa’s eyes closed and he inhaled deeply. I -while taking his cock from his pants- moved to straddle him.

I stared into his eyes while I stroked him with a therapeutic touch. The sight in my hands, and the length of his cock was the biggest -longest- compared to the other men aboard. It excited me in a way no other man has.

“Does this seem to be an effective treatment, or is there still more that you need?” I asked hoping he’d let me take this further, or even deeper by chance.

He stifled a groan and just barely opened his eyes to look up at me on his thighs. His eyes holding a look of need and lust “There's definitely… more I need.” He panted through a moan.

“Good…” I purred. And with the room dimly rit, I lifted the tight tank top over my head. My breasts falling out and bouncing against my chest. Suddenly his eyes were now wide open, scanning down my body as I began to strip down my pants. Revealing no bra, and no panties underneath.

His eyes roamed from between my legs to my breasts, to every curve and contour of my body above him. I stroked him faster while moving my hips up closer. Close enough I could rub his cock with my soft, wet pussy. The touch made him twitch and groan with arousal. His eyes became unable to look away.

Slowly lifting my hips while holding eye contact, I sat my pussy down onto his thick cock. He groaned as my soft, hot flesh wrapped around him tightly. His needy cock bucked up into me, and his hands grasped around my plushy hips.

My hands lifted beneath his shirt as I felt his sweaty, slim torso and chest. My tight walls squeezed against him the further my hands lifted. I kept lifting his shirt until it was fully over his head and thrown to the floor.

Capa’s eyes closed tightly and his body arched desperately into me. He tried, and struggled to hold that little bit of control he still had.

“Does that feel good?” I bit my lip and began to slowly grind and twirl my hips around his throbbing cock. He became overwhelmed by the slow pace, and could hardly speak through his soft groans.

“Mhm…” Was all he was able to moan out.

As my wet arousal began to spread over his length, my speed increased and I jumped hungrily down onto him. His groans grew louder as I rode him and clenched my walls around his needy cock. Both of our breaths came out as heavy gasps and moans. His cock hit everywheres I needed and wanted it to. My insides twisted and ached with pleasure.

Luckily with the thick, steel, sound proof walls, I could scream for him and slap my pussy against his cock as hard as I wanted.

Capa eyes stayed glued at the sight between us. He became completely immersed in the moment. His twitching became more frequent, as did his low groans. Instinctively, his hips began to buck up into mine. The double amount of force made both of us incredibly close.

I rode harder and bit my lip, “Mh, you feel so good.” I moaned.

Capa gasped and groaned, his cock twitching and beating inside of me. Hot cum shot up deep inside me. I too felt as though I were going to cum and continued to fuck his cock. Tremors shook through his body. The sensitivity made him whimper and shake as he still continued to cum all the way until I did.

His breath was laboured and ragged as I finally began to slow down. Both his and I’s cum dripping heavily from between my thighs. But I didn’t move, nor did I get off yet.

I hadn’t said anything but leaned down towards him, pulling his face into a rough kiss. He immediately sank into it and his body reacted eagerly to my silky lips. His sweet moans filled my mouth before he paused and pulled back to say, “I want you sitting on my face…” With the most sexy, low voice.

I giggled and my expression turned to pure excitement. There's nothing I wanted more than to rub my pussy on his beautiful face. “Is that a yes?” He smirked.

“If it helps my patient.” I winked and sat up away from his face.

“It will help me a lot.”

Instantly I moved myself to have my thighs either side of his head. His hands came eagerly around my thighs, pulling my soaked pussy down to his lips. He closed his eyes and flicked his tongue hungrily over my clit. I shivered and whimpered over him, my hands latching onto his hair. His tongue never slowed. He licked and sucked as if he were a pro.

He held my hips tightly, being sure I wouldn’t move until I came on his tongue. I desperately -the best I could- tried to grind against his face as my insides began to tighten. Capa hadn’t even been thinking of anything but the taste of my sopping pussy on his lips. A taste he’d continue to crave.

I looked down at his beautiful face, seeing him lick me so perfectly made everything come out all at once. I shook profusely against his face. Screaming and moaning, I came like I’ve never had on his lips and tongue. He groaned deeply against me as he continued to lick me all the way through my orgasm.

His eyes glared up at me with satisfaction, and perfection. With the look on his face alone I knew he’d be getting stressed a lot more often. And with a cock -long and thick- like his, so would I.

#cillian murphy #cillian murphy x reader #cillian x reader #cillian murphy smut #cillian x fem!reader #cillian murphy x y/n #cillian fanfic #cillian murphy fanfiction #robert capa #sunshine #sunshine 2007 #Capa #cillian fic #cillian murphy x you

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poutysprouty · 1 month ago

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RUN WILD HORSES

Chasing The Wind

pairing: Ranch Hand!Gojo x Fem!Reader wc: 10.8k warnings: Still just fluff. Tiny bit of angst if you squint, I guess? a/n: It's been 70 degrees here in Kansas lately, which means I'm listening to more country music while driving for work. Which also means more brain food for this fic! Gojo is so cute I just wanna squeeze his cheeks SO BAD. chapter track: Chasing The Wind - Lanie Gardner

◄ masterlist ►

The first thing you noticed when you woke up was the smell—warm, rich, and sugary sweet, wrapping around you like a cozy blanket. The scent of pancakes, golden and fluffy, laced with the unmistakable warmth of maple syrup, drifted through the house. It was enough to pull you from the depths of sleep, stirring you from your drowsy haze. Blinking against the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, you stretched, your gaze landing on the unpacked boxes stacked near your dresser.

With a sleepy sigh, you slid out of bed, shuffling to the nearest box and digging through it until your fingers brushed against the familiar fabric. You barely registered what you grabbed, pulling on the clothes without much thought before running your hands over them in a half-hearted attempt to smooth out any wrinkles.

Navigating the house in the morning light was easier than it had been last night when you'd groggily gotten lost trying to find the bathroom. You made your way through the quiet halls, the scent of breakfast growing stronger with each step until you reached the kitchen.

Your mom stood at the dark soapstone counter, her back to you, flipping pancakes on a griddle. The sizzling sound filled the space, mingling with the occasional clatter of dishes as she worked. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow over the warm, homey kitchen.

She must have heard your footsteps because she glanced over her shoulder, her expression softening into a smile.

"Good morning, dove," she greeted, voice rich with warmth.

You hummed in response, still groggy, stepping closer to peer at the pancakes. One side of the griddle held perfectly golden rounds studded with chocolate chips, while the other had slices of banana and fresh strawberries nestled into the batter. Your stomach rumbled at the sight, and your mom chuckled, shaking her head as she nudged you away with a gentle shrug.

"Go set the table, dear," she instructed. "A few of the hands will be joining us for breakfast."

You arched a brow. "Just a few?"

"Yes," she confirmed, expertly flipping a pancake with a practiced flick of her wrist. "Most are already up and working, so they feed themselves. But Geto, Nanami, and Yuji usually swing by."

She paused for a beat before adding with a knowing smirk, "Gojo always makes a point to pause whatever he's doing, too."

Of course, he did.

You exhaled a soft laugh, shaking your head as you turned toward the cabinets, pulling out plates to set the table. It had been years since you'd sat down for a proper breakfast like this; your mornings in Chicago were usually a blur of grabbing a pastry and coffee from your favorite café before rushing off to work. But here, things moved slower.

As you laid the plates down, the sound of the front door opening drew your attention. The familiar creak of old hinges was followed by the heavy thud of boots against the hardwood floor. A deep voice filled the space.

"Mornin', hope we're not too early," Geto called, stepping inside and dipping his head to you, an easy smile stretching across his face.

Behind him, Yuji practically bounced through the doorway, his bright grin as warm as the sunlight streaming through the windows. "Oh man, it smells so good in here," he inhaled deeply.

Nanami followed the two in more measuredly, offering a polite nod as his sharp gaze flicked over the scene. "Good morning," he greeted, mimicking Geto in dipping his head to you in greeting.

You smiled at the trio, setting down the last plate. "Morning, guys."

Your mom emerged from the kitchen and expertly balanced two large platters stacked with pancakes. The golden-brown rounds glistened with melted butter, the chocolate chip ones dark and rich, the strawberry banana ones bursting with color. The scent alone was enough to make your stomach growl.

Yuji looked positively starved, his eyes wide and practically sparkling as he stared at the feast before him. "Oh my God," he breathed, damn near drooling.

You chuckled, shaking your head. "I'll grab the syrup," you said, slipping past them as they took their seats and headed back into the kitchen.

The moment you stepped inside, you focused on gathering what you needed, reaching for the syrup bottle and, after a brief moment of thought, pulling open a cabinet to grab some glasses for the pitcher of orange juice you saw sitting on the counter nearby. You had just placed a few on the counter when a presence suddenly appeared behind you, the shift in the air making the tiny hairs on your arms stand up.

"Need any help?"

The low, teasing lilt of Gojo's voice sent a jolt through you, and you nearly jumped, turning to find him standing far too close with a crooked smile on his face, mischief twinkling in those pale blue eyes. His hair was still damp from a quick morning rinse, strands sticking up in different directions like he hadn't bothered to smooth them down.

You huffed, pressing a hand to your chest as if that would steady your heartbeat. "Do you always sneak up on people?"

His grin widened. "Only when they're fun to fluster." He reached past you, plucking the syrup from your grasp like he had every right to it, then winked. "Come on, we don't want Yuji to pass out from starvation."

Rolling your eyes but unable to suppress your smile, you grabbed the glasses and followed him back to the table.

You settle into your seat, realizing that Gojo has chosen the one beside you. There were plenty of open spaces, yet here he was, uncomfortably close, his knee nearly bumping against yours beneath the table. It flusters you more than it should, and as you reach for your fork, you can't help but wonder if this is where he always sits or if this was a deliberate choice.

Before you can dwell on it, your mom returns with the juice pitcher, making her way around the table and filling up the glasses you had set out. Each person murmurs a quiet "thank you" as she fills their glass. Once she's finished, she sets the pitcher down in the middle of the table next to the syrup before taking her own seat.

With that, everyone starts to dig in, the comforting sounds of breakfast filling the air, forks scraping against plates, the occasional clink of a glass being set down, and quiet hums of appreciation as the first bites were taken.

To distract yourself from the substantial presence of Gojo next to you, you turn to your mom. "Where's Dad?"

She doesn't hesitate, and her expression is straightforward. "He decided to haul a load down to Oklahoma."

You nod, but the news tugs at something inside you. Part of you had been looking forward to him being here for your first full day back. Your face must give you away because your mom chuckles softly, catching your fleeting disappointment before you can hide it.

"Don't worry, he'll be back before dinner," she reassures you. "He wasn't going too far. Besides, you've got plans today, I hear." Her eyes shift toward Gojo, a knowing smile on her lips. "I heard the two of you were gonna go for a ride. It'll be good for you to get back in the saddle instead of sitting around here unpacking."

Gojo, seemingly sensing an opportunity for teasing, shifts slightly in his seat, turning toward you with a lazy grin. He props his head on a fist, eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Sleep well last night?" he asks, his tone light, almost innocent—but you're not fooled. He doesn't even give you a chance to answer before his smirk widens, and he leans in slightly. "Or maybe," he drawls, voice dipping with amusement, "you were up all night, too excited about our little ride today?"

The sheer arrogance in his voice is enough to make you scoff, though you can't stop the quiet chuckle that slips past your lips. He's so shamelessly smug, so sure of himself, and it's annoyingly endearing for some reason.

Before you can shoot back a response, Geto beats you to it. From across the table, he shakes his head, smirking as he knocks Gojo down a peg. "Gojo, don't act like you didn't get up two hours earlier than usual just so you could finish your work faster and have more time with her."

A ripple of laughter moves through the table as all eyes shift to Gojo.

For once, he doesn't have a snarky comeback. Instead, he pointedly avoids Geto's knowing look. He busies himself with his pancakes, stabbing into them with exaggerated nonchalance before shoving a considerable forkful into his mouth. The syrup on his plate is excessive, practically flooding the edges, thick and glistening as it drips down the sides.

You arch a brow, biting back a smile. "Big fan of syrup, huh?"

Gojo finally swallows, turning back to you. His gaze is unwavering, just a little too intense. When he speaks, his voice drops to something smoother, lazier, and intimate, making your pulse stutter.

"What can I say?" He tilts his head slightly, his smirk deepening. "I like things sweet."

The words alone would be harmless if not for how he's looking at you. Like he's savoring something, letting the double meaning settle between you like the syrup pooling on his plate. Your stomach flips, warmth curling at the base of your spine before you tear your gaze away, shaking your head in exasperation.

Still, even as you turn back to your plate, you can feel his eyes lingering on you—steady, teasing, and just a little too fond, lingering like the warmth of the morning sun filtering through the window.

The conversation around the table hums with an easy warmth, voices and the occasional clatter of forks against plates mixing in an almost familiar way. Geto is teasing Yuji about something, and your mom chuckles as she listens, occasionally interjecting with a comment of her own. Nanami offers his own dry remarks, which only seem to fuel the lighthearted banter.

Gojo occasionally inserts himself into the chatter, stealing the spotlight whenever he pleases. His voice is smooth, but you find yourself barely registering his words. Your focus drifts, your body going through the motions of eating. At the same time, your mind lingers elsewhere—on the warmth radiating from the man sitting beside you, on the subtle shift of his movements whenever he reaches for his drink or leans back in his chair. He's close enough that you can catch the faint scent of his cologne, something crisp yet undeniably warm, mingling with the smell of syrup and coffee in the air.

But even that isn't enough to fully hold your attention. Not when something else has settled at the forefront of your mind.

Rosie.

The thought of her sparks something deep inside you, a restless energy that makes it nearly impossible to sit still. Excitement hums beneath your skin, a warmth that spreads through your chest at the mere thought of seeing her again, of running your fingers through her mane, feeling the steady rise and fall of her breath beneath you as she carries you across the land like she always had. It's been too long, years slipping by like sand through your fingers.

Your mind drifts, carried away by memory, back to those endless summers spent roaming the Flint Hills. Just you and Rosie, nothing but the open land stretching infinitely in all directions. You remember the wind pulling at your hair and tugging at your clothes as she thundered across the rolling pastures, hooves drumming a familiar rhythm against the earth. The land seemed to surge in soft waves, rising and falling like the ocean frozen in time, its golden grasses rippling beneath the vast blue sky. Here and there, pockets of trees clustered together, shading the winding creeks that cut through the plains like ribbons of liquid silver, the water calm and clear against your fingertips.

Some days, you'd ride for hours, chasing the horizon with no destination in mind, no constraints beyond the slow sinking of the sun. Beneath that endless expanse of sky, you felt weightless, untethered, freer than anywhere else. You knew every trail, every hidden dip in the hills where wildflowers grew in bursts of color, and every stretch of land where the grass grew tall, thick, and soft, swaying in the warm summer breeze. The scent of sun-warmed earth, prairie flowers and sweet grass would fill the air, mingling with the ever-present hum of cicadas. It was a world all your own, a place that felt untouched by time, where nothing existed beyond you, Rosie, and the sky.

And the sunsets—God, the sunsets.

You would slow to a walk as the world was bathed in gold, the sky painted in breathtaking strokes of fire and lavender, deepening into dusky purples as the evening crept in. The light would catch in Rosie's coat, turning her a rich, burnished red, her mane shifting like silk with every step. The land seemed to pause in those final moments of daylight, the wind holding its breath, the rustling of the tallgrass, and the distant, melancholy call of a meadowlark the only sounds breaking the hush of twilight.

It had been perfect. It had been your second home.

And now, after all those years away, you get to have that again.

You exhaled softly, setting your fork down as you blinked into the present. Around you, the conversation continued, but it felt far away, merely background noise compared to the anticipation thrumming in your veins.

Beside you, Gojo shifted, resting his elbow on the table as he turned slightly toward you. His eyes flicked over your face, sharp but curious.

"You're thinking pretty hard about something," he mused, voice low enough that only you could hear.

You glanced at him, your pulse kicking up when you realized how close he was—close enough that you could see the way the morning light caught in his pale lashes, the teasing glint in his eyes softened by something quieter.

A small smile tugged at your lips. "Just… thinking about Rosie," you admitted. "And how much I've missed this place."

Gojo watched you for a beat, something unreadable flickering across his expression. Then, slowly, a smile of his own formed. Not his usual smirk; this was something more genuine, something real.

"Well," he said, nudging his knee against yours beneath the table, "I'd say it's about time you got reacquainted."

Breakfast passed in a comfortable blur, the warmth of good food and familiar company settling into your bones. Yuji was the first to leave, stretching with a groan before grinning at the table. "Gotta go help Sukuna with the cows, or he'll have my head," he sighed, shoving the last bite of pancake into his mouth before heading out the door.

Geto and Nanami stayed behind, their conversation turning to quiet murmurs as they helped your mom clear the table and wash dishes. You lingered long enough to thank them before heading upstairs to change, trading your casual clothes for something more suitable for riding—well-worn jeans, sturdy boots, and a button-up you knotted at the waist to help keep cool. The anticipation thrummed beneath your skin, each step bringing you closer to the moment you'd been waiting for.

When you came back downstairs, Gojo was where you expected him to be—leaning lazily against the doorframe, peering out through the screen door with complete ease. The morning sun caught in the strands of his snowy hair, illuminating the sharp angles of his face.

You stepped up beside him and, without a word, poked him in the side, hoping to catch him off guard like he did to you earlier in the kitchen. But he didn't even flinch. Instead, he glanced over his shoulder, a slow, knowing grin curling at his lips.

"I don't scare easy, sweets," he murmured, voice dripping with amusement.

You pouted, crossing your arms. "Shame."

His grin widened, and before he could say something else undoubtedly cocky, you called out toward the kitchen, letting your mom know you were heading out. Her voice carried easily over the soft clatter of dishes. "Be safe, and have fun!"

With that, you followed Gojo out the door, rounding the house and heading down the gentle slope toward the main stables. The walk was quiet, neither of you speaking, but there was no need for words. The land itself was enough.

The morning air was crisp but warming with the rising sun, the sky an endless stretch of blue, barely touched by wisps of white. The rolling pastures, still glistening faintly with dew, spread out like a golden-green sea, the occasional wooden fence post standing like a lone sentinel amidst the vast openness. Birds flitted between the trees near the creek bed settled in the horse pasture, their calls weaving into the rustling of the prairie grass. The scent of earth, hay, and something familiar filled your lungs with every breath.

The sight of the stables sent another jolt of anticipation through you. The large wooden structure stood sturdy and familiar, its open doors revealing the movement inside—Nobara and Choso, along with a few other hands, were already hard at work tending to the horses. The rhythmic sounds of shuffling hooves, soft nickers, and the occasional clink of metal filled the space.

Nobara, dressed in worn jeans and a faded T-shirt, crossed her arms as she eyed Choso, who was methodically brushing down one of the geldings. "You are way too meticulous about this," she grumbled, though there was no real bite to her words.

Choso didn't even look up as he replied, "And you're not meticulous enough."

Your lips twitched at their familiar bickering as you stepped inside, your gaze scanning the stalls for a flash of chestnut red. For Rosie.

Nobara looked up as you and Gojo stepped into the stables, her lips curling into a knowing smirk at the sight of the two of you like she was aware of something you weren't. She wiped her hands on her jeans and stepped forward, her eyes flicking between you and Gojo with a look of amusement that you couldn't quite place.

"Miss Rosie's down toward the end," she said, pointing to the far stalls with a lazy gesture. "We already got her cleaned up for ya. Choso wanted to tack her up for you," she added, nudging the tall cowboy beside her with her elbow.

Choso glanced over at you and exhaled with a soft, amused grunt. He didn't miss a beat, continuing his gentle strokes on the gelding's coat. The gelding's muscles rippled under the motion of the brush, and the horse's soft sighs filled the air with a quiet rhythm. "Thought maybe it'd be helpful," Choso muttered, his voice low but teasing.

Nobara raised an eyebrow and grinned. "I told him you'd probably wanna do it yourself."

You chuckled softly and nodded. "I appreciate it. Really."

Without wasting another second, you head in the direction Nobara pointed, your boots scuffing softly against the packed dirt floor. Gojo follows right beside you, his usual air of lazy confidence wrapped around him like a second skin. You're too focused on the anticipation building in your chest, the thought of finally seeing Rosie again, to notice how Nobara shoots Gojo a knowing wink.

Or the way Gojo—Satoru Gojo, who rarely gets flustered—flushes ever so slightly before schooling his features back into their usual playful ease.

The stable air smelled like hay and leather, with a faint scent of sweat and horses. The soft sound of hooves against the ground, the occasional whinny, and the quiet murmur of the stablehands filled the space as you walked past the stalls. You heard a soft shuffle behind you but were too focused on the sight in front of you now.

Rosie stood in her stall at the end of the stable, her chestnut coat glowing in the sunlight drifting in through the windows high above. The familiar sight of her made your heart skip. Her dark eyes flicked toward you, and everything else fell away at that moment. The world slowed, and it was just you and her.

"Hey, girl," you murmured, stepping closer, your hand instinctively reaching out toward her. "I'm home."

Rosie's ears flicked forward, her soft muzzle nuzzling gently against your hand as if greeting you. The warmth of her breath brushed against your palm, and a smile spread across your face as a wave of comfort washed over you. Her nostrils flared as she leaned into your hand. She let out a soft, low nicker, her breath warm against your cheek, and it felt like a welcome home—a greeting only a horse could give, full of trust and familiarity. You couldn't help but chuckle, reaching up to gently scratch her neck.

From the side, Gojo's voice cut through the peacefulness of the stable. "I'm gonna go get Rain ready. I'll meet you out front."

You glanced over and saw Rosie's tack neatly laid out on a nearby bench, and your heart swelled with gratitude. You stepped into the stall, moving toward Rosie's side, and wrapped your arms around her neck in a soft hug. Rosie shifted her weight, lowering her head gently and bumping your back with her chin, as though returning your hug in her own way.

You chuckled, pressing your cheek to her soft neck. "You always were the affectionate one," you said, voice low with affection.

Stepping back, you left her stall momentarily, your eyes still on her as you reached the bench. You picked up the saddle pad first. You ran your fingers over the soft wool before carrying it into the stall, placing it carefully on Rosie's back. You moved with practiced ease as you continued to get her "dressed," as your dad so fondly put it. However, the excitement still lingered in the pit of your stomach, the anticipation of getting back in the saddle and feeling the familiar rhythm of the ride.

You paused momentarily, your fingers lingering on the leather of her saddle. Typically, you would've taken Rosie to the tack room to get everything on, but this was a new stable, and you weren't entirely sure where it was.

Once you had finished tacking Rosie up, you led her out of the stall and toward the front of the barn. Gojo was already there, standing next to a large, beautiful dark bay mare that you assumed must be Raincheck. The mare's coat gleamed in the sunlight, and her mane swayed in the gentle breeze.

As you drew closer to Rosie, she suddenly whinnied, the familiar sound filling the air. Rosie gently bumped her nose against Raincheck's, a soft, affectionate greeting between the two mares. Rain responded with a huff and a nudge, her dark eyes bright and curious. Gojo chuckled at the sight, his voice full of amusement when he turned to face you.

"So, where do you think we should ride?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

You paused, scanning the horizon for a moment. "I was thinking we could go towards the creek that runs through the west side of the property. There should be a nice patch of wildflowers there right now."

Gojo's gaze flicked toward the direction you indicated. "Never been out that way," he said, his tone thoughtful.

You smiled to yourself, unable to help but feel a quiet thrill at how well you knew the land, how much it had become a part of you over the years. With one last glance at Rosie, you quickly hoisted yourself into the saddle. You took a second to relish in the familiar weight of the reins in your hands and the leather of the saddle beneath you, savoring the feeling of being back in the saddle after so long. The rhythm of your heart seemed to align with the quiet pulse of the horse beneath you, and the memories of all those years spent riding flooded back to you.

Gojo whistled in approval, breaking the quiet moment. "I've never seen anyone get up in the saddle that smoothly. Not even Nobara," he said, his voice full of admiration.

You shot him a teasing glance. "I've had a lifetime of practice," you replied with a playful smirk, knowing exactly how true that statement was.

With that, you clicked your tongue and gave Rosie a gentle nudge, urging her forward. Gojo followed close behind on Rain, and the two of you set off, heading toward the dirt road leading out to the property's western side. The horses' hooves kicked up small clouds of dust as you rode side by side, the quiet of the morning broken only by the sound of the breeze rustling through the trees and the steady clip-clop of hooves on the well-worn path.

The two of you rode in comfortable silence for a while. The morning sun bathed the rolling landscape in a warm golden light, casting long shadows that stretched across the plains. Rosie's steady gait beneath you was comforting, and you found yourself lost in the peace of it all.

After a while, you decided to break the silence. You glanced over at Gojo, riding alongside you, his tall frame relaxed in the saddle.

"So, you obviously know where I'm from," you started, "But where are you from?"

Gojo glanced over at you, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Japan," he answered, his voice casual.

You blinked in surprise. "Wait—what?" You hadn't expected that answer and turned your head to look at him, half-expecting him to be joking. But his expression didn't change, and you were left a little stunned.

Before you could ask more, he continued, "My family immigrated to America when I was about seven. We moved to California."

You took a moment to process that, and before you could even gather your thoughts to ask more, Gojo kept going. "When I was growing up, I started watching a lot of old Western movies. You know, the classic kind. Cowboys and horses and all that. I guess something about it just clicked with me, and I decided I wanted to be a cowboy."

Your eyebrows raised in surprise. "A cowboy?" you repeated, imagining a young Gojo watching westerns. It didn't add up, but you were intrigued.

"Yeah," he laughed lightly. "I know, right? But as I got older, I started helping out after school at some ranches just outside the town I was living in. I mostly did odd jobs at first—feeding horses and mucking stalls. But the more I worked with the animals, the more I loved it. It felt like something I was meant to do."

You smiled, picturing Gojo working alongside horses in a dusty barn, and it seemed to fit him perfectly. "That's pretty cool," you said, "But how did you end up here, in Kansas?"

Gojo's smile widened a little, but there was a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "Well, I met Geto in high school. He's also from Japan, the same area I'm from—Tokyo. We clicked immediately, both being immigrants, and we became fast friends. He'd always talk about wanting to go to college in the States despite his parents wanting him to study abroad, and I guess I just followed him. Geto's family had first moved to Kansas City because that's where his grandparents lived. So, we both decided to head there for college."

You listened closely, hanging on his every word, fascinated by how their paths crossed. "I didn't know you two were that close. What did you study in college?"

"Nothing too glamorous," Gojo said with a shrug. "I went for business. I thought knowing how to run things someday might be a good idea. But after we graduated, Geto and I stayed in the Kansas City area for a few years. He got into some corporate job, and I was still working on ranches here and there. It wasn't glamorous, but I was happy."

You nodded, absorbing everything he was saying, and then your curiosity got the best of you. "So, what brought you to White Stag Acres?"

Gojo's eyes lit up as if he was recalling the moment it all clicked for him. "Well, one day, I watched this horse show where Dez was performing. He was incredible, and I was so intrigued by everything. So, I looked up White Stag Acres, saw they were hiring, and… the rest is history, I guess."

You grinned at the way he told the story. He was not quite shy but still had an evident fondness for the events that led him here. "Well," you chuckled. "You definitely fit in."

Gojo chuckled, the sound light and filled with his usual playful energy, and just like that, the weight of the conversation had lightened once again. He flashed you a grin, and there was a glint of pride in his eyes like he was more than a little pleased with himself for finding his place in all of this. "I guess I do," he said, his voice easy, almost casual. "But, honestly, I don't think I'll ever stop feeling like the new guy here."

He turned his gaze to the vast expanse of land stretching before you, his eyes taking in the endless horizon where the earth seemed to blend with the sky in a perfect, untouched line. His posture relaxed, and for a moment, you could sense a quiet contemplation in him, as if he was still trying to settle into this life in the middle of nowhere despite everything he had already accomplished here.

You nodded, understanding the feeling all too well. The sensation of never entirely fitting in was something you were all too familiar with. It was the reason you had left for Chicago in the first place—fleeing to the city in search of something that would give you a sense of belonging. You had hoped that the hustle and bustle of urban life would somehow offer the clarity you needed, a place where you wouldn't feel like an outsider. But now, as you rode beside Gojo, you realized that feeling never truly left, no matter how far you ran or how much time passed. You glanced at him, seeing the same flicker of uncertainty in his expression that you had once felt so strongly within yourself.

"You ever get used to it?" you asked, the question slipping out before you could stop it. Your voice was quieter now, a hint of curiosity lacing your words.

Gojo glanced at you, and for a brief moment, there was a depth in his eyes—something that seemed to hold more weight than the playful exterior he often wore. He looked forward again, his hands steady on the reins as he considered your question. "I think you just... adjust. You find little things that make you feel at home, even if it's not the same as where you started. It's a slow process, but eventually, it feels like it's yours. But I'm still getting there, you know?"

You hummed in agreement, your thoughts swirling in the stillness of the vast, open plains around you. There was something comforting about the fact that for all his confidence and bravado, Gojo was still in the process of figuring it all out, just like you were.

The quiet settled between the two of you once again. The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting long shadows as the two of you continued down the winding path. It was a comfortable silence, and neither of you needed words as you let the peaceful surroundings speak for themselves.

Gojo's presence beside you seemed to anchor you in the moment. You lost track of time, simply enjoying the feel of the saddle beneath you, the steady rhythm of Rosie's gait, and the breeze whispering between the grass. The world felt broad and free, untethered by the complications of everyday life.

It was Gojo who broke the silence first. He pulled Rain to a stop, his horse's hooves crunching slightly on the road. You slowed Rosie down in response, pulling her to a halt, looking at him and wondering what had caught his attention. He reached out, nudging your leg with the back of his hand, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he gestured toward the road ahead.

You frowned in confusion, following his gaze. At first, you didn't see anything—just the long stretch of dirt road ahead, the endless prairie on either side. But then, your eyes caught a flash of movement, and there, just off to the side of the road, you saw them: two small red fox cubs, their fur bright against the green backdrop of the tall grasses. They were playing together, rolling and tumbling, their little paws kicking up tufts of dust and grass as they frolicked in the day's warmth.

You couldn't help but smile at the sight, their playful antics reminding you of the innocence of youth, untamed and free. You watched for a moment longer, mesmerized by their energy before the sound of Rain huffing broke your reverie. The horse pawed at the ground, the noise catching the attention of the cubs. The two foxes froze instantly, their ears pricking up at the sound. They glanced over, eyes wide, before scrambling away from the road. Their tiny legs moved with surprising speed as they darted into the tall grass, their soft, fluffy tails the last thing you saw before they vanished into the thick grasses.

Gojo chuckled softly, the sound low and warm, his gaze following the foxes' retreating forms. "Well, that was a sight," he said with a smile, his tone light but filled with the moment's wonder. "They're quick little things, huh?"

You nodded, still watching the spot where the cubs had disappeared. "I've never seen them so close before. They were so—" you paused, searching for the right word, "so small. And fast."

"Yeah," Gojo agreed, his voice filled with amusement. He gave Rain a gentle nudge with his heels, urging the horse forward. "Nature's a funny thing. Sometimes, it gives you these little moments that make you stop and appreciate everything around you."

You gave a soft hum of agreement. The sound of hooves on dirt resumed as you gently nudged Rosie forward, guiding her away from the main road. Your gaze swept over the prairie, and you spotted a small, hidden trail off to the side, barely noticeable unless you knew where to look. With a light tug on the reins, you steered Rosie toward it.

Gojo followed close behind, Rain's hooves crunching on the dirt as the two of you descended a small hill, entering the thick, swaying grasses of the prairie. The trail wound its way through the landscape, curving with the natural dips and rises of the land, and for a while, neither of you spoke. It was as though the world had faded away, leaving only the sound of hooves and the soft whisper of wind through the grass.

The sun hung high in the sky now, its warmth pressing against your skin, and you figured it must be getting close to noon. The heat of the day was starting to make your skin feel hot under your shirt, and you were thankful that you had thought to apply sunscreen before leaving. The sun was relentless out here, but it only added to the vastness of the open prairie, amplifying the feeling of freedom as you moved further into the wild expanse.

As you rode on, the trail continued to wind between patches of tall grass and scattered clusters of wildflowers, the colors vibrant against the golden landscape. The occasional bird would take flight from the tall grasses as you passed, adding brief flashes of movement to the otherwise still scene. Gojo stayed close behind. You glanced over your shoulder at him, seeing his eyes scanning the landscape as if taking it all in.

After a while, you slowed Rosie to a stop, taking in the surrounding view. You glanced at Gojo again, noticing a slight glint in his eyes as he looked around. "Never been out this way before," he said, his voice thoughtful. "It's different from the rest of the land around here. Feels… quieter. Peaceful."

You nodded in agreement, the words escaping your lips almost before you could think of them. "Yeah, it's like it holds its own kind of secret. A place where everything slows down, just for a moment."

Gojo gave a slight, appreciative nod, his gaze lingering on the horizon. The warmth of the sun was starting to make your skin feel heavy. Sweat had already begun to bead on your forehead, and you reached up to wipe it away with the back of your hand.

You smirked to yourself, an idea forming in your mind. With a mischievous glint in your eye, you broke the comfortable silence. "You know, it's kinda hot out here," you said, smiling at him.

Gojo raised an eyebrow at you, clearly intrigued, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "What're you thinking, cowgirl?" he teased, his voice light and humorous.

You rolled your eyes but couldn't help grinning even brighter, your heart picking up speed. "The creek isn't too far away," you began, nodding toward the distant hill. "Once we round that hill up there," you gestured, "there'll be a big patch of trees surrounding it. Wanna race? The breeze should help us cool off a little."

He shook his head, clearly amused by your challenge. He glanced quickly toward the hill you pointed out and then looked back at you, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Race, huh? You sure you're up for it?" His tone was teasing, but there was an edge of competitive fire, a spark you hadn't quite expected.

You met his gaze confidently, narrowing your eyes. "I'm pretty sure I'll beat you to that creek, but if you need a head start, I'll give you a minute."

He chuckled, the sound rich and warm. "You're on, sweets," he said, voice laced with amusement.

Without another word, Gojo nudged Rain forward, his horse responding with an eager trot, the rhythmic sound of hooves stirring the dust beneath them. Gojo set his posture, his body language clearly preparing for the race ahead. You mirrored his movement, urging Rosie forward with a gentle squeeze of your legs, feeling the muscles beneath her coat ripple with anticipation.

The shift in the air was immediate, the heat from the sun not a concern now as the ground beneath Rosie's hooves seemed to open up before you. The steady beat of her hooves gradually grew quicker, matching Rain's, and the sound of galloping hooves filled the air, a thunderous backdrop to the exhilarating rush of freedom. The breeze surged past you, catching your hair and sending it flying behind you in wild streams, whipping across your face and neck. Your pulse quickened, and a laugh bubbled in your chest as the wind tore past you. You couldn't help it. With a holler of pure excitement, you threw your head back, the joy of the speed and the rush of the ride overtaking you completely.

The dust kicked up from the ground, swirling behind you as you raced towards the hill, the path ahead widening, stretching into the horizon. The earth felt firm and steady beneath Rosie's hooves, and you relished the familiar, comforting sensation of riding full-out across open land. The wind swept through your clothes, brushing against your skin like a cool touch amidst the heat that had been hanging heavy only moments before.

Gojo was beside you, tall and confident, perched easily in the saddle as Rain matched Rosie's speed effortlessly. You pushed your mare harder, leaning forward as Rosie's muscles rippled with every powerful stride. The breeze was picking up, offering a brief respite from the sun's heat, but it also stirred the competition in you. You were determined to keep the lead.

Ahead, the landscape unfolded as the hill loomed closer. In the distance, you could make out the dark green of the trees, a forest cutting through the sea of golden grass like an oasis. The creek snaked through the small woodland, the glint of water shimmering beneath the trees. You could practically taste the coolness in the air, and the thought of it urged you to push Rosie harder, coaxing more speed from her as you leaned into the rhythm of the gallop.

Gojo, though, wasn't far behind. The thunder of Rain's hooves was close now, and you could feel the challenge in the air as he began to close the gap. You grinned, the excitement building with every breath, every stride. Rain's speed and strength were impressive, but Rosie wasn't about to let up, either.

Your heart hammered in your chest, and the world around you narrowed to the rhythm of hooves and the distant trees. Adrenaline surged through your veins, and for a brief, beautiful moment, it felt like the whole world was at your fingertips. You were flying.

The trees grew closer, the creek just beyond them, and you urged Rosie forward with everything you had left. Gojo was right behind you, but the finish line was near. The exhilaration of the ride surged within you, and with a final burst of speed, you grinned as the trees welcomed you, the creek waiting just beyond them. This was what you'd missed—this feeling of pure freedom.

You couldn't help the wide grin that spread across your face as you slowed Rosie to a stop once you crossed the treeline, and you glanced over at Gojo, still buzzing from the exhilaration of the race. Your chest was still racing, and the thrill of the victory pulsed through you, sharp and electric. You were about to tease him, but then your eyes caught Gojo's expression—his lips parted slightly, and a small, surprised smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. The soft pink tint on his cheekbones didn't escape your notice. It was almost too cute to ignore, but you decided to keep it to yourself, letting the victory linger in the air.

Gojo chuckled, though it wasn't his usual confident laugh. "Good job, cowgirl." There was a slight shift in his posture as if he was trying to hide something. He quickly looked away, his gaze dropping to the trees ahead. He nudged Rain further into the treeline, his movements a little too deliberate, almost as if he was trying to act like nothing had changed. You stifled a laugh, caught off guard by the slight embarrassment coloring his usual calm demeanor.

The trees opened up as you both rode closer and soon, the sound of flowing water reached your ears. The creek appeared, winding lazily through the land, the water cool and clear, catching the sunlight and reflecting it in glimmering patterns across the rocks. You breathed in the scent of the water and the earth, and a sense of contentment settled over you.

You dismounted, the heat of the ride lingering in your muscles. Your legs felt a little wobbly, the adrenaline still pumping through your veins, but it didn't take away from the satisfaction of the race. You led Rosie closer to the creek, tying her reins to a nearby tree but giving her plenty of leeway to drink from the water. Gojo followed suit, giving Rain a quick scratch behind her ears as he did so.

The two horses seemed content to relax, the water refreshing them after the gallop. You turned your attention back to the creek, stepping closer to its edge. The breeze, cooler here near the water, lifted your hair, and the faint rustling of the leaves above felt like a soft melody. You knelt down, bringing yourself closer to the water, and peered at the smooth rocks below. The current was steady, swirling gently around the stones, the water so clear you could see small fish darting between the shadows of the rocks.

You reached out a hand, your fingers hovering above the water's surface. The current tugged gently at your fingertips, inviting you to dip your hand in and cool off. For a moment, you watched how the water flowed, hypnotized by its steady rhythm.

"Pretty peaceful, huh?" Gojo's voice cut through the quiet, his footsteps softer now that he had approached. You glanced at him for the first time since dismounting, his figure outlined against the dappled sunlight, standing a few feet away.

You smiled to yourself, still feeling the calm of the creek wash over you. "Yeah, it's perfect," you said quietly, your gaze returning to the water. You let your fingers graze the surface, the coolness a sharp contrast to the heat baking your skin earlier. You breathed in deeply, feeling the tension from the ride and the rush of excitement slowly fade.

Gojo leaned in slightly, watching you with that familiar spark in his eyes. However, there was something different about it now. "Think you'll ever get tired of this place?" he asked, his tone playful but with an underlying curiosity.

You chuckled softly, still distracted by the tranquil scene before you. "I don't know," you mused. "I've been coming to this creek since I found it in high school, but it always feels like there's something new to discover."

Gojo nodded thoughtfully, kneeling beside you, the faint rustle of his jeans the only other sound between you. "Guess you're lucky then," he smirked, "finding a place that always feels new."

You glanced up at him, the warmth of his voice surprising you. "Yeah, I suppose I am." You paused, thinking for a moment before speaking again, the words almost coming instinctively. "Maybe one day, I'll show you all my favorite spots. We can race again, if you wanna."

Gojo's grin widened. "I'm up for the challenge," he said, a wink accompanying the words. "But next time, I'm definitely winning."

You laughed softly, feeling lighter than you had in a long time. The quiet that settled between you two was different now—more comfortable, a kind of understanding passing without the need for words.

As you sat back on your heels, you glanced at Gojo again, the way his expression had softened, catching your attention. The usual cocky grin and playful gleam in his eyes were replaced with a quieter, more thoughtful look. It was almost like he had forgotten about the bravado, letting the peacefulness of the creek and the moment settle over him. The sight tugged at something in you, and you couldn't help but smile to yourself.

You pushed yourself up, the cool breeze brushing against your skin. With a little grunt of determination, you kicked off your boots, letting them land beside the creek. Then, you rolled up your jeans as far as they would go, your legs feeling free as the fabric bunched just below your knees. You shot a quick glance at Gojo, who was still standing in the same spot, watching you with a bemused expression.

"What?" you asked with a smirk, catching his eye.

Gojo raised an eyebrow in question, clearly intrigued but not entirely sure of your plan. "You gonna do something crazy again?" he teased, a hint of amusement in his voice.

You didn't answer right away. Instead, you stepped into the water, feeling the coolness creep up your legs as you waded deeper. It was refreshing against your heated skin, the current gentle but steady. The water barely reached your mid-calf, perfect for cooling off without fully immersing yourself. You glanced back at Gojo, the playful smile still on your lips. "C'mon, let's cool off," you called over your shoulder, your voice light and carefree.

Gojo laughed, shaking his head as if he knew what was coming. "You just can't sit still, can you?" he said, but you could tell he had already decided to join in. He removed his boots, rolling up his jeans like you did, and followed you into the water.

As he stepped into the creek, you giggled and splashed a small amount of water in his direction, watching his reaction with amusement. The water hit his chest and face, and you could see him freeze for a moment before his lips curled into a dangerous smile.

"Oh, it's on now," he muttered, and before you could react, he kicked water back at you, sending a splash that soaked you from the waist down. The cold water hit you unexpectedly, and you spluttered, swatting at the air, but your grin widened.

"You're gonna regret that," you warned playfully, and with a mischievous glint in your eye, you charged toward him.

The two of you were soon caught up in a flurry of splashing and laughter. You darted through the creek, your feet finding purchase on the slippery rocks beneath while the water cascaded around you in all directions. The sound of your giggles mixed with the slosh of water as you raced back and forth, sending waves toward each other in playful retaliation.

Gojo was faster than you expected, the way he effortlessly dodged and retaliated, keeping you on your toes. Whenever you thought you'd outwitted him, he was there, grinning like he was waiting for the next round. You dodged one of his splashes but slipped on a rock and lost your footing, sending a massive wave of water crashing over your head as you fell. You laughed loudly, the water dripping from your hair when you sat back up, and you were still smiling as you wiped your face.

"I'm totally gonna win this time," you teased, gathering your balance to stand back up and splash him again.

"Ha! We'll see about that," Gojo challenged, eyes lighting up with the same playful fire. He started running, dodging the water you splashed at him with an agility that surprised you. You were laughing so hard it was hard to focus on your next move, but you charged after him anyway.

The creek was a blur of cool water, splashes, and happy shouts, each of you trying to outdo the other with bigger splashes. The world felt distant, as if the only thing that mattered was the current of the creek, the cool air, and Gojo.

You managed to send a large splash his way, watching with a triumphant smile as the water splashed over him. Gojo paused for a moment, eyes widening in mock disbelief before his lips curled into a grin, a maniacal laugh escaping him. "Sweets, you're gonna regret that," he teased, his voice deep and playful, sending a shiver down your spine.

You squealed, suddenly feeling a shift in the air, and your heart raced as Gojo charged at you with surprising speed. You tried to dodge, but it was too late—his strong arms wrapped around your waist, lifting you off your feet. "No, wait! Gojo, no!" you protested between giggles, but it was all in vain as he twisted, and in a split second, you were falling backward into the creek with a loud splash.

You landed on top of him, the cool water splashing around you both, your body pressing against his as the two of you sank into the creek. The water swirled around you, the chilly embrace of it mingling with the warmth radiating from his body beneath you. You could feel his chest rise and fall under you, his breath shallow from the sudden tumble.

For a long moment, you stayed there, on top of him, the two of you caught in the peaceful silence of the creek. The water lapped gently around you, and you felt your heart beating in your chest, both from the thrill of the splash fight and how close you were to him.

His hands were still on your waist, but they were gentle now as if he was holding you not just to keep you in place but as if he was memorizing the feel of you. His fingers brushed against your sides, sending goosebumps rippling over your skin.

Gojo tilted his head, the wet strands of his hair falling in messy strands around his face, and brushed a stray strand of your hair away from your forehead. His touch was light, and you felt a flutter in your chest at the sudden tenderness in his eyes. "You good?" he asked softly, his voice quieter now, as if the playful energy between you had shifted into something more serious.

You puffed your cheeks in mock defiance, knowing full well you'd been bested. "Okay, fine," you sighed playfully, trying to ignore how your heart skipped a beat from the moment's seriousness. "You win this time."

He chuckled, his hands still resting on your waist, his touch warm and reassuring. "I told you not to mess with me," he said, his voice teasing, but there was a softness to it now that made you feel like you were the only thing in the world that mattered at this moment.

You shook your head, your smile still wide despite the emotions swirling within you. "You always have to win, don't you?" you teased, but there was no bite to your words, only the lingering warmth of being close to him in the cool creek.

Gojo's lips curled up again, and his gaze softened as he stared up at you, his body still beneath yours. "Not always," he murmured, and for a moment, you both just lingered there, not speaking, taking in the moment.

The air felt different now; thicker, more charged. The playful energy was still present, but something else was underneath it. You weren't sure what it was, but you couldn't deny the way your pulse quickened as you lay there, still on top of him.

The cool water flowing around you, the closeness of his touch, and the way your breath mingled with his created a cocoon where everything outside of this moment disappeared. You stayed there for a little longer, just breathing, your heart beating a little faster, the stillness of the creek somehow amplifying everything you felt.

Only when the sound of Rosie snorting broke the silence did you realize how long you'd been lying there, lost in each other's presence. Slowly, almost reluctantly, you pushed yourself up, your hands bracing against his muscular chest, and you looked down at him.

"Alright, alright," you said, the teasing tone returning, "but I'm not going easy next time."

Gojo chuckled, watching you stand before doing so himself. "Oh, I'm counting on it, sweets."

x x x x

A little while later, you both had settled on the creek bed, the warm sunlight casting its golden glow over you. The water around you had cooled down, and the gentle current rippled lazily through the creek. You lay back on the soft bed of dirt and sand, your body drying in the sunlight as the warmth from the day seeped into your skin. Your eyes were closed, the quiet sinking into your bones. The murmur of the creek, the rustle of the leaves in the trees, and the occasional soft whinny of the horses filled the air. Rosie and Rain had found a small patch of grass, grazing contentedly, and the world was still.

But then you felt it. The weight of Gojo's gaze was unmistakable. You didn't need to open your eyes to know he was looking at you, studying you in that quiet way he seemed to do when he was thinking deeply, trying to figure something out. You had a sense of what was coming. Sure enough, his voice cut through the quiet, his tone casual but with a touch of curiosity that was hard to miss.

"So, what else did you do to pass the time out here?" he asked, his voice low and inviting like he was fishing for something deeper.

You kept your eyes closed for a moment longer, taking a slow breath before finally opening them and turning your head toward him. He had shifted, now lying on his side with his head propped up on one hand, his posture relaxed but still giving off that characteristic chaotic energy that you were starting to notice more and more. His blue eyes were focused on you with curiosity, as if waiting for you to answer. His hair, still slightly damp from the creek, fell in soft waves, some strands catching the light as it flicked playfully across his face in the breeze. You swallowed, the faintest flutter of nerves settling in your stomach, but you pushed it away.

You thought for a moment, the memory washing over you like the gentle current in the creek. "Sometimes I would sneak out of the house and go for a drive," you said, your voice soft but steady. "Nothing really beats the clear night sky." You paused, turning your head to stare up at the canopy above you, remembering the feeling of those late-night drives. The cool air rushing through the windows, the quiet hum of the engine. It was one of your favorite ways to clear your mind, second only to going on rides with Rosie. "It was always so peaceful. Going for a long drive to nowhere, nothing but the sky and the stars and the moon as my companions."

You let the words hang in the air for a moment. Something was soothing about the memory of those solitary drives, the stillness wrapping around you as you drove aimlessly through the night. The world felt smaller at night, like it was just you and the vast expanse of the night sky, stretching on forever.

Gojo was quiet for a few beats, his gaze never leaving you as he processed your words. His expression softened slightly, the teasing grin he usually wore replaced by something a little more thoughtful. You could tell that your answer had caught him off guard somehow. He seemed to be weighing your words, and the pause stretched slightly longer than usual.

"That sounds... nice," he said, his voice quieter now. He shifted slightly, propping himself up further on his elbow, his gaze still fixed on you. "I've always liked the quiet, too, but..." He trailed off, his eyes flickering toward the trees, then back to you. I'm not really great at being alone with my thoughts.

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Yeah? I'd never have guessed." Your voice had a hint of teasing, but it was still light and gentle, like you were trying to keep the conversation from becoming too serious.

Gojo chuckled softly. "I'm always surrounded by people," he said, his smile small but genuine. "It's not like I'm complaining; it's just... different, you know?" He paused, his gaze drifting back toward the horses, expression thoughtful. "Can't really hear your own thoughts when you're surrounded by people, so when you finally get a bit of quiet… It can be overwhelming.

You nodded, understanding the need to fill the silence with action, to keep yourself busy so you didn't have to confront whatever thoughts were swirling beneath the surface. You'd always found peace in the quiet, in the stillness of the world, when it felt like time had slowed down.

"Yeah, I get that," you said softly.

There was a brief silence between you two. You could feel the connection between you both growing in that silence, the way you had been circling each other, testing the waters, trying to figure out what it was. You shifted slightly, your body settling comfortably into the creek bed, letting the sunlight warm your skin. You could feel Gojo's gaze linger on you, but you didn't shy away from it this time. There was no need to.

After a moment, Gojo sighed and sat up, his legs crossing beneath him. "I think I get why you like it out here," he said with a faint smile, his eyes scanning the peaceful surroundings—the creek, the trees, the horses grazing nearby. "It's peaceful. A good place to think."

You also sat up, stretching your legs out in front of you. "It's the kind of peace that doesn't need explaining. You just feel it, you know?"

Gojo nodded slowly, his lips curling into a thoughtful smile, but he didn't respond.

You both sat there awhile, watching the horses graze and the water drift lazily. The silence was comfortable, not awkward, just two people sitting side by side in the sun's warmth, allowing the world to keep turning around them. Every now and then, your eyes would meet, but neither of you said anything more, content to be in each other's company for the moment.

Eventually, Gojo broke the stillness with a sigh, pushing himself up into a sitting position. He glanced at the horses grazing nearby, then looked down at his watch.

"We should probably get to heading back now," he said, a hint of reluctance in his tone. "Already missed lunch. Don't wanna miss dinner."

You couldn't help but laugh, a teasing smile curling on your lips as you turned toward him. "Always thinking about food, huh?" you remarked, raising an eyebrow. "I swear, you never want to miss a meal."

Gojo grinned, his eyes sparkling with the familiar mischievous gleam. He leaned back slightly, stretching his arms out as if preparing to make his following statement with all the drama in the world. "Oh, it's not just about the food," he said with a wink, his voice light and playful. "I don't want to miss your mom's cooking!"

The words hit you with such a perfect blend of sincerity and humor that you couldn't help but laugh. Gojo chuckled, too, standing up and offering you a hand. You took it without hesitation, letting him help pull you to your feet.

Gojo shot you a playful look as he pulled you upright. "Come on, let's get back before your mom calls me out for being late again. I'm not trying to be her next target."

"Well," you teased as you adjusted the sleeves of your shirt and brushed dirt and sand off your jeans, "you're the one who insisted on tackling me into the water."

He rolled his eyes with a grin. "Fair enough," he muttered, then gave you a mock pout. "But I'm still gonna blame you if we're late."

With a final laugh, you both turned your attention toward the horses, content and unaware of the drama unfolding around them. You walked over to Rosie and gently untied her reins, and Gojo did the same with Rain. The horses flicked their ears at the sound of your footsteps but otherwise paid you no mind as you mounted up, settling into the familiar rhythm of riding.

Gojo was already in the saddle, adjusting his reins. You followed suit, pulling yourself onto Rosie's back and taking a moment to ensure your balance before looking at Gojo.

"Ready?" you asked, a smile tugging at your lips.

He gave you an exaggerated look of concentration, pretending to think it over. "Oh, I'm always ready."

You nudged Rosie forward with a nod, and Gojo followed suit with Rain. The two horses moved side by side, and the soft clopping of hooves on the dirt path was the only sound as you started your journey back toward the house.

The ride back was leisurely, the afternoon sun now lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the landscape. The cool breeze that had picked up during your time by the creek now felt perfect against your skin, and the light chatter between you and Gojo kept the atmosphere easy.

As you neared the house, you glanced over at Gojo, catching him looking at you with that same glint in his eye.

"You sure you don't want to race back to the house?" you asked, your lips curling into a teasing smirk as you glanced over at Gojo.

He returned your smile with one of his own, mischief twinkling in his eyes. "Let's do it," he replied.

Without another word, you both spurred your horses into motion. The sound of hooves hitting the dirt was almost drowned out by the rush of wind as Rosie and Rain galloped forward.

The path ahead became nothing but a blur of dirt and green as the two of you raced, the air rushing past your ears, the thundering of hooves like a steady drumbeat in the background. Gojo's laugh rang out, full of life, and you echoed it with your own laugh. Every stretch of the path was an opportunity to close the gap between you, the wind biting at your skin, but his laughter was always just ahead, egging you on.

The race wasn't about who would win anymore. It was about the thrill, the exhilaration of being caught up in the moment, the rush of freedom. Of feeling like, for once in your life, you belonged somewhere.

You only wished the ride could last forever.

Tag List: @tequilya @lunastar888 @ritsatoru @byakuya61085

all dividers made by me @/poutysprouty. please do NOT use.

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magnolia-among-the-stars · 2 months ago

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the last bit of us (chapter six)

Plot: Tyler Owens hasn’t been home in a year. He’s survived all the storm chasing and motel living with his new partners as they try to save lives. But with all the damage they’ve taken from driving high beams first into monster storms, it’s time to pay the piper and bring the truck in for repairs. And the only person who can fix them is the best mechanical engineer he’s ever met. Eleanor Harding, his estranged wife.

Pairing: ex!Tyler Owens x estranged wife!OC, Estranged Wife! OC x Rhett Abbott

Word Count: 2.5k

Playlist Song: chasing the wind by lanie gardner

prologue / one / two / three / four / five / six

My hand is sweaty as I tug Rhett across the yard to my truck. I feel vindicated, my nerves on fire. The finality of the first steps toward freedom from a failed marriage that I didn’t walk away a weight lifted from my shoulders. When I get close enough to the truck, I turn to Rhett and release a deep breath.

He’s staring down at me, warm and attentive. His blue eyes are so different from those of my ex. Where Tyler’s are vibrant and bright, Rhett’s are deep and soulful. He looks at me with a softness that makes me want to look away from the sincerity. He adjusts his cap, thumb fingering the worn threads on the brim. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I think my nerves are shot,” I admit. I release his hands to wipe my palms along the denim seams of my jeans. “I never thought I’d get to serve him those papers.”

“I’m really proud of you,” he says. His smile is genuine. “I can’t imagine how hard that must’ve been and I know how long you’ve been wanting to start to close that chapter.”

I nod, still lost in his gaze. I get a little bashful, looking down at my boots and then look at the old truck by the barn. “Shit, I gotta get to my parents’ house and go check up on my dad.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” he asks, leaning against the hood.

“And let you play hookie with your dad?” I say. The door to the porch squeals open and I can see Tyler watch us. Behind him, Kate’s head pops up. I look back to Rhett and shake my head. “No, I couldn’t do that…plus, I’ve got a lot of work to do this week. Big testing left to finish for our contract.”

“Right,” he nods. “Maybe we can go out Friday after my ride? Get some beers if the contract goes through?” Rhett’s voice is thick as he rocks on his toes.

“I’d like that,” I say.

He breaks out in a grin, kisses my cheek and breathes out a noise similar to a laugh. We whisper soft byes and he slips past me, heading back to his truck. He climbs in and waves, engine roaring to life as he peels out of a driveway. I climb in the truck, turning the truck on as my phone starts to ring again. I tuck it under my ear as I back out the driveway.

“Hi ma, I’m on my way,” I say, turning onto the main road. The radio roars to life, blasting way too loudly. I drop my phone in the process of trying to turn down the music.

“El, before you head in our direction for the day…there’s a cell headed in your direction,” my mom shares. I can hear my dad in the background again. The mumbles of “big one” and “perfect data” are all I can catch.

“Ma, I’m not about to let Dad go without his meds just so we can do a study drill,” I tell her, watching the collect of clouds move through the area. It does look like a perfect condition though. The fields are starting to breeze heavily, the tall Oklahoma grass sways in the breeze. “What’s the moisture?”

“That’s my girl,” my dad grumbles as there’s a shuffle of them passing the phone. “Dew points sitting at a 76°F sweetheart. And don’t worry about me. The doc gave me a few days worth. This is too good of conditions for your contract. Perfect testing grounds.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, checking the time. The team was all planning to be at the warehouse anyways today…

“Sure,” he says. “Go get ‘em…and invite the team to join us tomorrow alright? Uncle Rabbit has been anxious to hear about everything,” he says.

“I will and I’ll see you guys tonight, alright?” We say I love you and hang up. I hit Charlie’s number and tuck the phone between my ear and shoulder. I take a deep breath as the phone rings, swinging the steering wheel so that I can wipe around in the other direction. The tires squeal just as Charlie picks up.

“I was waiting for your call…” she says with a knowing tone.

“My parents called me. Dew point of 76?” I ask, picking up speed as I take off in the direction of the warehouse.

“Relative humidity is about 79%,” Charlie reads. “They haven’t lost their touch clearly. Are you on your way?”

I pass by a familiar RV, huffing as I notice them turn in the same direction that I head down. “C’mon, c’mon,” I grumble, checking the rearview mirror to see if its really who I think it is.

“El?”

“Yes, yes. I’m on my way. Get the team ready…and,” I look again at the rearview mirror. “Get some extra gear ready…I think we’re going to end up getting some excitable parasites.”

She groans loudly. “Seriously?”

“Can’t shake ‘em so might as well entertain.”

“Right,” Charlie says, “because that’s what we do…entertain. CAPE is nearly hitting 3,000 J/kg…you gotta hurry up or you’re going to be in the storm…not studying it.”

“I’m nearly there, open the gate so I can pull right in when I get there” I say, watching the sky turn a little darker. I pick up speed, tossing my phone on the seat as I focus on the road and not on the storm building in the distance. I look in the rearview mirror again, too excited by the storm conditions to be frustrated with my ex and his friends. I pull up to the gate quickly, the RV rumbling behind me as we drive up to the warehouse.

Boone pulls in to the right of me as I shut off the truck, climbing out as Birdie closes the gate behind me. Charlie tosses me a walkie and my vest, passing me my iPad as we pace down the warehouse toward the other door. “You idiots can’t just show up because you’re excited by a tornado,” I say to the group, walking backwards as my friends hand them bright orange vests - the ones we normally give to investors and clients.

“We saw you zip past,” Javi says, smiling sheepishly. “Couldn’t help ourselves. I’ve always wanted to know how you guys do your testing. I studied your parents’ work when I was in school, inspired by the technology you’ve invented.”

“Well, stay close to one of us on the field. Y'all might be tornado wranglers but we aren’t taming tornadoes here,” I say, glancing at Tyler as I get to the others. “We’re trying to help protect and save people from losing their livelihoods.”

Birdie runs through the safety protocol for the wranglers and I’m a little shocked at how contained they are in listening. Even Boone, normally shaking with excitement, remains still as he listens to our rules. “Your vests all have chips in them for your safety so that we can locate you in the case of…in the case of anything going wrong. Don’t take off the vest. We stay safe, we stay alert,” she finishes. She looks at me. “Good?”

“Let’s go get this contract,” I murmur, turning to head to my building.

“Eleanor?” I turn to see Kate and Tyler catching up to me. Kate isn’t paying attention to Tyler. She looks unsure as rain starts to pour from the sky, the wind wiping around to pick up. Our phones start to ping with warning sounds. Kate’s hair wipes in her face and I clip my walkie to my belt, grabbing a hair tie from my wrist to pass to her. “Thanks…do you mind if I join you?”

I look up at Tyler behind her. She turns, following my gaze. “Tyler, go with Javi,” she says, causing him to stop in his tracks. He raises a brow, looking between the two of us as the wind picks up.

“Go Tyler, hurry up,” I say, pointing to where Javi is heading with Carter into the Doctor’s office. He looks between the two of us, hesitating. I can see the hero complex fighting to wash over him. I guess he decides against it though, nodding and turning to run to where the other two men are. He disappears inside, giving us one last look before he goes.

A crack of thunder rattles through the air, causing me to move. “C’mon, this way,” I tell her, tugging her into the direction of the Grille. I push the door open, ushering her inside. I flip the lock system and nod over to the monitors in the safe corner that we built into the buildings. I log into the tracking system, the camera views pulling up for me to watch the conditions outside. I tug my walkie from my belt and call “Everyone in?”

I get an echoing of confirmations, nodding as I type a few things into the tablet for testing conditions and peer back at Kate. She’s glancing around the space, taking in the mock town set up. Her eyes are filled with wonder, curiosity stretching over her eyes. The wind starts to whip around loudly outside and something large slams against the side of the building, making her jump. “So these buildings are all made of-,” she starts to ask.

“All different developed materials,” I say, nodding and turning back to the screen. She steps over to me, staring at each view of the buildings we are studying. I point to each, explaining further. “The warehouse was the guinea pig. She’s all tried and tested, kind of what we use as a base standard. She’s got steel-reinforced, impact-resistant roll-up doors, concrete & carbon fiber roof reinforcement, and smart glass skylights with polycarbonate coating. Though I’ve been considering building an underground storage lift for the trucks…haven’t had the time.”

“The doctor’s office and the farmhouse are nearly perfect,” I share as we watch more debris roll through the field, slamming into different buildings as the building rattles. “They’ve both got shock absorbent foundations. The doctor’s office is built with a concrete material infused with bacteria that generate limestone….it self-heals against the wind stress. We’ve also been testing some hardened rooftop turbines and solar panels for emergency energy even if the grid or generators fails for a potential contract with hospitals. The house has interlocking concrete panels and kevlar in the wall panels with kevlar so that it bends in the wind instead of tearing apart. The windows have been the hardest so we’ve been testing transparent aluminum.”

She blinks, taking in all the information I share. “Too much?”

She shakes her head no, mouth parting. Nothing comes out.

“Tyler and Javi are safe,” I note and she nods absentmindedly. I don’t know why I say it.

I turn back to the screen and watch the way the foundation of the home shifts, holding against the pressure of the tornado. “Palmer, how are you guys holding up? How are those windows? Over,” I call over the radio.

The door to the Grille starts to rattle in the distance and I let out a breath, tugging the door to our safe room closed and locking it as we wait for a reply. There’s only a crackling silence for a few moments.

“Holding steady over here boss,” she says. “I think we’ve done it. And uh…what’s your name…Dexter is really enthusiastic with his questions. Over.”

I can’t help the laugh that comes out, looking up at Kate. “Happy to hear, over.”

“We’ve figured the reinforced concrete is the way to go for most of the buildings. The gas station has a new roof design that’s more aerodynamic with the angled kevlar roofs and curved walls to deflect the wind,” I point out. “Birdie has been taking that building because she and Sean have been testing new fuel storage to protect against-,” I’m cut off as a large shrapnel of metal flies through the air, slamming into the tank and puncturing the metal. Flames erupt in the air as the tank bursts open. “That…shit…”

“The fuel tank blew up again,” Birdie says over the walkie, Boone and Lily screaming in excitement clear in the background. She sounds like a tired mother when she says “Didn’t penetrate the station though which is progress, over.”

“Happy to hear, over,” I call as I hear another rattling, some metal grinding and a burst of glasses from outside the safe room. The wind is loud as Kate turns to the locked door, stepping closer to me.

“El, the refrigeration system just blew but I’m happy to report the roof is holding. This storm’s taking some of the Grille with it from the look of the monitor. You holding tight for us? Over,” Sean calls.

He’s right. Even though it’s fairly quiet inside the safe room we're locked inside, the Grille doesn’t seem to be holding well against the strength of the tornado. The feed goes dead after another moment and I sigh. “Our feeds have gone dead but we’re safe otherwise, over,” I say, turning to Kate.

She looks a little more shaken than when we got into the building, gripping the counter of the desk as she digs her hip against the wall tightly.

“I know it's kind of freaky but I promise you are safe here. The grocery store and this building are newer designs so we put these safe rooms in to make sure we can safely troubleshoot from inside the storm. We’ve been working on retractable tornado shutters but the shipment prototype hasn’t come in yet. But it sounds like the new support beams are holding up the roof. That’s a big win from the last storm,” I say, pointing to the ceiling as the whistle of the wind outside becomes less harsh.

It’s quiet for a long time as she just stares at me, blinking a few times. “Kate…are you alright?” I step toward her a little.

“This is wild,” she breathes, trying to shake out of whatever emotions and fears are running through her.

“No more wild than driving into an EF5,” I say with a small shrug, leaning back in my chair. It’s not meant to come off as a shot at her, really more that crazy for science and change for community respects crazy for science and change for community.

Kate’s gaze is heavy, her eyes glossy. “I didn’t know,” she just blurts out. Her voice is strong, almost loud. Her words sit in the air, her fingers find purchase on the mesh of her vest as she fiddles with it.

I don’t know if I’m surprised or confused. She didn’t know it was an EF5? Or did she mean she didn’t know that she was driving into it? Or did she mean the building?

She clears her throat, stands up straighter. “I didn’t know he was married.”

A/N: Well, I was not expecting to research and get so sciency with this one but that's where the story took me! I am not a science/engineering type so forgive any inaccurate science information. I'm really loving exploring El as a character outside of her relationship with the men. All your comments and feedback has been incredible! please continue to send any along and click here if you want to join the taglist!

taglist:

@tw232103, @arieltwvdtohamflash, @magicalfurykoala, @janoskiansecondsofdirection, @fever-daydreamm @buckybarnes-1917 @kim-taehyung-12301995 @accordingtoawallflower-blog @axolotllover225 @tgmreader @smoothdogsgirl @paramedicnerd004 @charmyeol69-blog @tktstomydwnfall @milesdot @arieltwvdtohamflash @dream-alittlebiggerdarling @sunmoon-01 @memoriesat30 @tw232103

#thelastbitofusfic #twisters #twister #twisters imagine #twisters imagines #tyler owens #tyler owens imagine #tyler owens imagines #tyler owens fiction #rhett abbott #rhett abbott imagine #rhett abbott x oc #tyler owens x oc

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yall-batman-fanfic · 29 days ago

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Moments with the Justice League [Part 1] | Bruce Wayne/Batman x OC!Magician

Synopsis: A really, really short fic that will be a mini-series of the many times Vivian visits the Watchtower and walks into the shenanigans of the Justice League that reminds her that they’re also human and petty.

It was a last minute call, but Vivian got to the Watchtower right in time. Or a bit too early than Batman hoped, because just as Vivian and Hawkgirl came to the hall where JLA meetings are hosted, she found the members of the League standing by the window watching someone.

“Sorry I’m late, I had to make up an excuse and find a substitute for my class… why is Guy Gardner flashing his anus on the window?” Vivian fell to Batman’s side and looked at the man who pressed his ass against the window glass with bright green light saying: BYE BYE BATS!

“You’re early,” Bruce told her and was about to cover her eyes from the sight. “You don’t need to see that.”

Vivian swatted his hand away and walked up to the window she knocked on the glass. Guy turned to see who it was and found Vivian looking at him with an unimpressed face. He smirked, “Liked the show, sweetheart?”

“You need a shave, asshole,” Vivian told him. “Now, stop rubbing your shit on the window or I’m coming out there and use your face to wipe that clean.”

“Geez, you’re no fun,” Guy pulled up his pants again and flew away.

Turning to the Justice League, Vivian sighed and gestured to the table for them to start the meeting.

“Sorry about that,” Hal told her.

“Well, it’s Guy,” Vivian shrugged. Turning to her husband, Vivian said to him, “That one’s going to haunt me for a while. I’m sure I saw the inside of his ass. And I thought demons and hell are scary.”

Batman smirked. “I’ll make sure you don’t get nightmares about it later.”

“Oh, and how are you going to do that?” Vivian bit her lip to stop her smile.

“Stop, just stop,” Hal told them, disgusted to see Batman flirting. She’s his wife and all, but it’s still hard to see the Batman being all flirty.

“That’s not even the worst of it,” Superman muttered.

#fanfic #dc fanfic #batman fanfiction #batman x reader #batman x oc #bruce wayne x oc #justice league fanfic

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fluentmoviequoter · 1 year ago

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Me and the Ring

Part 2 of Me or the Ring

Pairing: Hal Jordan x fem!reader

Summary: After Hal broke your heart and failed his mission, the Guardians send Kyle to pick up where he left off. You can't trust Hal, but that doesn't mean you don't love him.

Warnings: angst to fluff, some suggestiveness/objectification (it's innocent, just Hal Jordan flirting), lots of DC Lantern lore references. ignore the incorrect timeline of the GLs

Word Count: 2.9k+ words

Picture from Pinterest

Masterlist | DC/Hal Jordan Masterlist

Coast City isn’t the same without Hal Jordan. Every time you see Green Lantern fly across the sky or a picture of him on the news, you miss your Flyboy a little more. Leaving Hal was the right choice, or so you keep telling yourself. As you walk out of a mediocre coffee shop, because you’re too nervous and heartbroken to return to the one where you met Hal, you accidentally bump into someone.

“Sorry,” you murmur without looking up.

“I’m not,” the man replies.

You glance up at his face before dropping your eyes again. He moves his arm, and you see something green reflect the sunlight.

“I’m not interested,” you say. “Excuse me.”

“Look, I know I started poorly,” the man continues, moving to block your path. “But let me start over? My name’s Kyle.”

“Okay. Kyle, get out of my way.”

“Where’s Gardner?” Kilowog mumbles. “Guardians sent ‘em both, but I ain’t seen him since we left.”

“I’m not worried about Guy,” Hal replies. “She keeps backing up. She’s different than she was with me. This is all my fault, Kilowog.”

“You’re right, poozer. But don’t give your apology to me.”

Hal sighs as he watches you. He can’t hear, but Kilowog’s Bolovaxian ears pick up every catch of your breath.

“Hal,” he grunts. “He’s taking her somewhere.”

Kyle sighs, and when his shoulder rolls back, you see the unmistakable ring on his finger. Another Green Lantern. As if one breaking your heart wasn’t enough, they still think you are guilty of some intergalactic crime spree.

“Kyle, I’m late for a meeting. Maybe I could give you my number?” you suggest.

Playing along seems like the best option. He smiles and moves again, blatantly showing off the ring. You accept his phone and input a fake name and a fake number.

“Now, lying isn’t nice,” Kyle says as he takes his phone back.

“What?”

“That’s not your name.”

You take a step back as your face drops in worry. Hal was never this pushy, and you wish he was here now. Before you can turn on your heel to run, Kyle reaches out and wraps a hand around your arm.

“If you don’t willingly go back to Oa and confess to your crimes, I will drag you across the worst planets I can think of on the way,” he threatens quietly.

You fumble with your phone at your side, navigating to your favorite contacts with only one name in mind.

“C’mon, you’re my girl,” Hal murmurs as he watches Kyle lean in to speak. “You know what to do. Don’t trust him.”

“She just said your name,” Kilowog announces.

A single second later, Hal’s phone rings. At the same time, a sapphire portal opens behind you and Kyle. Hal is angry for you, at Kyle, at the situation, but he doesn’t bother to answer your call as Kyle pulls you closer.

“Rayner,” Hal greets as he lands beside you. “Let her go.”

You lean toward Hal, and Kyle’s eyes remain on the opening portal.

“This isn’t over, Jordan,” he responds. “She’s coming back to Oa.”

“Don’t do this,” Kilowog says as he lands behind Kyle.

Your eyes widen at the sight of Kilowog, another Green Lantern. Hal steps closer to you, and you find comfort in his proximity. The other Green Lantern is large, but he seems to be with Hal, unlike Kyle.

“Last chance,” Hal tells Kyle. “Don’t make this worse.”

Sapphire sparks fly off the portal as it reaches its peak. Kyle hesitates before releasing his grip on you. His suit forms around him before he flies away, but you use your new freedom to turn toward Hal. You grip his suit, although you’re surprised you can actually feel it, and hide your face against his chest.

“This is Kilowog,” Hal says calmly. He presses a hand against your back to keep you close before promising, “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, pretty girl.”

As Kilowog steps back urgently, you anticipate that Hal will break yet another promise. The portal begins shrinking suddenly, and Kilowog yells something before an unseen force pulls you closer to the pink circle.

When you open your eyes, Kilowog groans in a language you don’t recognize. You step back, out of Hal’s hold, and look around.

“Where are we?” you ask softly.

“Zamaron,” Kilowog answers.

“Why can I breathe?”

“My ring,” Hal says. “I can create an atmosphere for you.”

“How am I supposed to go home?”

“I’ll get you home, I promise.”

“Stop promising! Tell me how!” you demand.

Hal sees the fear in your eyes and shakes his head. “I don’t know yet,” he admits.

“Okay. What now?”

“Hal!” Kilowog alerts. “We’ve got company.”

“Hello,” a pink-skinned woman says as she lands before you.

Hal moves quickly to press himself against your back. You want to find comfort in the touch, but you’re terrified and don’t want to fall for another Hal Jordan trick.

“The Guardians- the guys who make the rings thought you were working with her,” Hal whispers.

You turn to look over your shoulder with wide eyes. The accusations have a new layer of unbelievability, now. There’s a sapphire ring on her finger, and when she doesn’t acknowledge the Green Lanterns with you, you tense your shoulders nervously.

“I’m sorry,” Hal adds.

“Save it,” you snap. “Tell me when you get me back to Coast City.”

Hal nods, and you turn away. There are more women before you now, and you unconsciously lean against Hal before he is pulled away.

“Take the men to their quarters,” the woman commands. “Welcome to Zamaron, human.”

“Where are you taking my friends?” you ask.

One of the women lays a hand on your back, but you step forward to preserve your personal space. They let you follow at your own pace, though they do not answer your question.

“Where did you take them?” you repeat loudly.

“Do not be concerned. Our atmosphere has adapted to your presence, so you no longer need the men to protect you,” someone answers.

“We are taking you to my palace,” the first woman says. “I am the current leader of Zamaron, and I would like to extend our hospitality to you.”

“I would appreciate a plane ticket home a bit more than hospitality,” you argue.

“In time. You will have the chance to return home, I assure you.”

You continue in silence. The palace appears as you turn a corner, and you wonder where Hal and Kilowog are. If you needed him, could he come? Would he?

“We have to get out of here, Kilowog,” Hal says before hitting the prison bars again.

“You know we can’t,” Kilowog replies.

“She is out there alone! I’m not going to just sit here and accept my fate!”

“I’m not tellin’ you too, poozer. I’m sayin’ that you need a new approach. You’re not a hero, remember?”

Hal nods as he begins pacing. “Right. I’m not a hero. But I am a Flyboy.”

Kilowog agrees before asking, “Is this a translation problem or are you making up words?”

“They’re going to offer her a ring, Kilowog,” Hal says. “I trust her, but she doesn’t know what the Sapphires do.”

“You broke her heart. If she accepts the ring, you’re her first stop.”

“Trust me. I know.”

“She called for help, Hal. Work on finding a way to do that.”

“You have strong emotions toward the human Lantern,” the leader of Zamaron muses. “Is there love?”

“Not anymore,” you answer.

“I see. My friends and I here are the Star Sapphire Corps. Do you know what that means?”

“I don’t. We humans aren’t well-versed in the whole ring thing.”

She chuckles, her laughter just as royal and majestic as her voice. “Star Sapphires are a race built on love. As our first members said, ‘Life without love is blasphemy.’ Tell me, what would you do for a life of love and power?”

“Work,” you answer. “Love and power aren’t given; they’re earned and created.”

“Poor child, you have no idea of the possibilities in the universe. Accept a ring, join our people, and the life you crave, the love you no longer have, can be yours.”

You shake your head, determined to get off of this planet. “I just want to go home.”

“And you may. A portal can be made available to you.”

“Thank you. Can I see my friends now?”

“I fear you misunderstand. We, women, are the only beings who understand what love truly is. There is no place for men on Zamaron.”

“You’re going to kill them,” you realize. “You kill all men.”

“We free them from their failed responsibilities. They cannot love, so they cannot live.”

“That’s not true.”

“Your Hal Jordan could not love you as you deserve. What proof do you have?”

“I- I can show you.”

“Green Lanterns are not to be trusted. Prove your worth with a ring or return home. Without your unfortunate friends.”

You close your eyes and take a deep breath before saying, “I would like a ring. Hal Jordan used me, and he must learn what life without love is like. He takes but never gives. It’s my turn.”

Your dramatic speech wins over the Sapphires, and the leader nods. Another Zamaron kneels before you and slides a pink ring onto your finger. Power surges through you as sapphire ribbons circle your form.

“Go and eliminate blasphemy.”

Hal makes using a ring look much easier, and as you shakily take flight, you wish he was here to help you. Here and now, it’s your turn to help him. Hal Jordan hurt you, but he doesn’t deserve to die on an alien planet. As you fly, you use the ring to scan the planet. It happens without much conscious thought, and when you find the prison, you raise your arms and increase your flight speed.

“Hal?” you whisper at the first opening.

“Pipe down,” a woman calls from inside the prison.

The prison is full of men from different planets, but you don’t allow yourself to think about what will happen to them. They need help, but your mission is to free Hal and Kilowog. When the bars beside you shake, you follow the sound of impact around another corner. A large, green bulldozer is ramming into a wall of bars, and you shake your head in concerned amusement before raising your own ring. You form a pink coffee cup, which causes the green machine to disappear.

“Whoa,” Hal says in place of greeting. His eyes are wide at the sight of you, and he asks, “Is that a new outfit?”

“Shut up,” you demand. You haven’t looked down at the skin-tight pink bodysuit more than once, but the mention of it makes you shift uncomfortably. “We need to get out of here.”

“The door won’t open. I’ve tried everything.”

You grab a bar and open the door with minimal effort.

“Your ring’s the wrong color,” you say.

Hal and Jordan step out, and you lower your gaze to the ring momentarily. You shake your hand, and all of the cells open. The men walk out before running for cover.

“How do I get this ring off, Hal?” you ask.

“You have to prove you love and are loved at the same time, with the same person,” Kilowog answers.

“How do you know that?” Hal asks.

“Did you mean any of it? What you said at Ferris Air?” you interrupt.

Hal turns toward you and nods. “I meant all of it.”

You look into his eyes, and he sees that yours have a depth and a hurt that he missed. The hurt is his fault, but what lies behind it caused him to fall in love with you. With your eyes locked, you think about everything that Hal has done to prove he loves you, and then admit to yourself that despite his seeming betrayal and how he used you, you love him, too. The sapphire ring hits the prison floor with a clang and Hal rushes to adjust the atmosphere for you.

“You did it!” he cheers before pulling you into his arms.

“Hal, something’s wrong,” Kilowog says.

You try to agree, but everything goes black before you can.

“Ma’am are you okay?” someone asks above you.

Your head pounds until you open your eyes. The Coast City sky above you is clear and bright, and you sit up quickly at the sight and feel of earth. There’s a crowd around you, but Hal and Kilowog are nowhere in sight.

“Where’s Green Lantern?” you ask.

“He hasn’t been seen in days,” the man kneeling beside you says. “Did you hit your head?”

“I have to go,” you say as you push yourself up to stand.

Several people yell for you to wait, but you run past the coffee shop where you first met Hal on your way home. There’s a list in your mind of things you need to do. First, you have to find some comfort, and then you can worry about Hal and where he is.

“Don’t you people know how to make a phone call?” Hal complains when he realizes he and Kilowog are on Oa. “We would’ve come if you’d just sent an invite.”

“Quiet, Green Lantern Hal Jordan of Sector 2814,” Ganthet demands. “This is a trial, not a debate.”

“A trial for what?” Kilowog asks. “Bein’ imprisoned?”

“The Intergalactic Court sent you to find a woman guilty of murder, yet you allowed her to take you to Zamaron. She has been sent back to Earth, where Green Lantern Guy Gardner will do what you failed to do,” Sayd explains. “Failing in a mission that was requested is punishable to the full extent of Rimbor law.”

“We didn’t fail!” Hal argues. “She is innocent! She saved us from the Sapphires; would a killer do that?”

“Have you any proof?”

Kilowog grumbles before summoning a hologram from his ring. A blurry video of your arrival in the prison plays for the Guardians, who then turn to one another and whisper.

“Can you send me that video?” Hal whispers as he leans toward Kilowog.

“Focus, poozer,” he replies.

“The Guardians have decided to investigate this occurrence in more depth. Green Lanterns Jordan and Kilowog, you are free to go. Be prepared to return to Oa at a moment’s notice,” Ganthet announces.

“Go,” Kilowog demands. “Or you can watch that video in your dreams.”

“I think I’ll do that either way,” Hal says before disappearing into the clouds.

“Where are you, Hal Jordan?” you ask as you click another search result.

Plenty of people have claimed to see Green Lantern today, but none of them are your Flyboy. Someone knocks, and you ignore it as you add “Coast City” to the search again. The knocking continues, and you groan as you stand.

“Coming!” you yell.

“Hi, pretty girl,” Hal says as you pull the door open.

“Hi,” you reply softly. “You know, when I called you this morning, I didn’t expect anything.”

“I’ll always be here for you. You can hate me, tell me you never felt anything, but I’m yours.”

“Hal, I-“

“No. Look, I’m not going to pretend like I know what I’m doing or that I’m relationship material. But I love you, and I will help you no matter when or where. Not because of the ring that I wear, but because of who you are and how wildly in love I am with you.”

You raise your brows as he speaks, and when he finishes you say, “Love. Do you know what that means?”

“You know I do.”

“Then you know I feel the same way. But I can’t let you use me again, Hal.”

“I never thought you were guilty, and I was trying to convince the Guardians to let it go. I’m sorry that I failed and got you into even more trouble.”

“It worked out,” you remind him. “Because I love you.”

Hal smiles and grabs the jacket you’re wearing – his jacket, you remember suddenly – to pull you against his chest. “Thank you,” he murmurs before kissing you.

You grip Hal’s shirt and return the kiss, giving and receiving love at once. Your life hasn’t been short of love since Hal walked into it.

“I love you,” you say as you pull back. “I’m sorry for reacting like I did.”

“I don’t blame you for that. Walking away wasn’t,” Hal hesitates before finishing, “It didn’t change anything for me. Except make me hate myself a little for hurting you.”

“Consider it forgiven and forgotten.”

“You,” Hal says. “I choose you. Tell me that you want me to prove it and I will throw this ring into the sky and let it find a new bearer.”

You purse your lips as you consider how the ring works. When Hal raises his hand, you wrap both of your hands over his knuckles and the ring.

“This ring is part of you, so I love it, too,” you promise.

“You really do love me,” Hal says with a smile.

“Obviously.” You gesture dramatically to his jacket on your arms to reiterate your point.

Hal leans forward and drops his voice to ask, “Enough to find a sapphire outfit? To remember old times?”

You roll your eyes before walking farther into your home. “You wish, Flyboy. The jacket’s as good as it gets for you. At least until you put a ring on my finger.”

#hanna writes✯#hal jordan x fem!reader #hal jordan x reader #dc comics x reader #hal jordan #hal jordan fic #hal jordan imagine #green lantern #kilowog #green lantern corps #star sapphire #star sapphire corps #fem!reader

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jazziejax · 10 months ago

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𝐀𝐛𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲

𝐌𝐬.𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥

Pairings- Black!OC x Abbott Elementary Cast, later Black!OC x Manny (Can be read as x Reader though!)

Summary- S1E1-Light Bulb with Naoya Lovel

Warnings- Swearing, kids, mixed race reader( those aren't warnings really, just what to expect)

Jazzie'sNotes!- let me know what you guys think!! I've been really obsessed with Abbott Elementary recently and I'm contemplating if I want to write S1&S2 just to get to the Manny season. I want to get there fast but I know what won't be possible with two seasons worth of writing. Let me know what you guys think I should do.

Word Count- 5,680

“Ten seconds!” Jacob yelled over his shoulder at the people in the room. Melissa and Barbra rushed over to the sitting area in front of the television that played the action news. Naoya sitting the opposite of them on the small couch.

“Oh, we love Action News! Get in early just to watch it.” Melissa said to the cameras. “It just really calms you down after wanting to take a wrench to someone's side mirror in traffic.” She beamed as if what she said was totally normal.

“But the Philadelphia region continues to suffer, temperature in the mid-90s with a heat index approaching 100…” The television said as they all sat and watched.

“Now I’m a proud married Christian woman and I love my husband. But there’s something about that Jim Gardner.” Barba gushed to the cameras. “That non-regional diction.” The woman was practically blushing just at the thought of the man.

“It is so important to support and acknowledge local journalism, okay?” Jacob started. “There’s no agenda here. This is—This is one going, in the streets, powerful stuff.” He explained seriously.

“I get in early just to see my aunt Magnolia on the screen. She’s a news anchor and I like telling her what I like and dislike about her outfits every morning.” Naoya nodded nonchalantly.

“Wouldn’t want to see that dog in traffic.” Jim Fardner said as they all laughed while watching a little Pomeranian dog drive a toy car.

“Yes, Jim.” Barbra agreed, not seeing the confused look Noaya gave her from the side.

“I like the news because that’s when I can say whatever I want and nobody asks any questions.” Mr.Johnson told the cameras with a smirk.

“I’m taking a personal day.” The old man said as he entered the room, looking at the backs of everyone’s heads as they continued to watch the morning news. “Going fishing with my friends. Anyways, toilet papers in the closet.” He said before walking out.

“I hear him.” Naoya nodded, giving the people behind the camera a small smile. “I hear everything. Plus he is a hilarious old man and I wanna know all his secrets. I am this close to cracking him.” She said with an evil smirk making its way into her face as she lined her fingers together to indicate a small amount.

“I saw Jim Gardner once. At the Chipotle.” Barbra smiled bashfully, not taking her eyes away from the television. “Ooh, he orders a bowl so handsomely.” She gushed. Naoya gave the older woman another look, this time more concern than confusion.

It was only a moment later that Jacob was going through the break room fridge, poking around for something. “Who’s branzino is this?” He asked, holding the fish dish in his hands. “This is a very powerfully smelling fish to put in a shared fridge.” The boy complained as politely as he could, closing the ice box with a disgusted look on his face.

“Don’t touch it,” Melissa said looking up from her phone. “I’m making it right at my cousin Annette’s.” She made her way over to have a seat in her usual spot next to Barb. “She thinks she’s the best cook in the family. I’m gonna show her in a non-threatening way. Imma look cuter than her too.” She smirked.

“I have a distant cousin named Annette,” Naoya said, finishing up the delicious breakfast sandwich that she had every morning. “She was psychotic though, used to put poison in the condiments at restaurants.” The younger woman stated, looking off in thought as the rest stared at her in disbelief. “I haven’t seen her in ages. Don’t want to either, she was butt ugly.” She then took a sip of her orange juice.

Just as she finished, Janine walked into the room, putting her bag down on the table in front of Melissa and Barbra. “Guys, the lights in the back hallways have been out for weeks.”

“Thank you for the update,” Melissa said as she applied more makeup.

“What are you wearing?” Barbra asked, looking her up and down.

“And we need to do something about it. Okay?” The short woman tried to sound demanding but it didn’t come off that way. “Uh, Melina, from your class.” She started, pointing at Melissa. “Yeah, she was afraid to come to school this morning. Said it looked like “The Shining.” And I don’t even get how she knows that reference.”

“She loves “The Shining,” Melissa stated.

“It’s a classic movie.” Jacob chimed in.

The camera panes Naoya’s way, who looks at them at their movements. ‘Never seen it.’ She mouthed with a shrug of her shoulders.

“This isn’t okay, alright?” Janine stressed. “And I already talked to Mr.Johnson and he said that there isn’t anything he can do.

“What do you want us to do about it?” Barbra asked the girl tiredly.

“I mean, it can’t be hard. It’s just screwing in a few new bulbs.” The small woman stated.

“Janine, just worry about what can be controlled.” Barbra cut her off.

“Exactly.” Melissa agreed. “All we can do on a hot day like this is our own jobs, anyway.”

“I know what’s right,” Ava said as she barged into the room and made her way over to the coffee machine. “Why is it February and hotter than the devil’s booty hole outside?” She asked.

“Climate Change.” Jacob and Naoya said at the same time, causing them to point at one another in recognition while Ava shot both of them a tired look. “We are living in the middle of its disastrous effects. The permafrost in Russia—” He was about to rant before Ava cut him off.

“Nerd.” The woman said between coughs, which sounded more like a laugh. Naoya rolled her eyes while Jacob just turned back to what he was doing.

“Ava.” Janine started, walking up to the woman who was still laughing from her childish joke. “Can someone from the city come and check on the back hallway lights?”

“Girl, no.” The woman answered, her usual judgmental look on her face. “Do I look like the Kool-Aid man?” She asked, halving around the room. Her eyes stopped on Naoya, who raised her eyebrows in question. “Don’t answer that.” She pointed at the woman, who just shrugged it off. “I don’t have enough juice to manipulate the inner workings of city hall.” The principal continued, looking back at Janine and scoffing before making her way out. “They’ll probably come in the summer.” She said as the bell rang.

“I’m the summer?” Janine asked after doing a double take at her words. But the woman was long gone and the others were making their way out of the room to their classes.

“Tough break. Want some egg white bites?” Jacob asked, easing closer to Janine and holding out a plate. The solemn woman looked up at him with a new determination. “No. I don’t have time to eat.” She said before walking out. Jacob was mid-bite when he turned and faced Naoya, who was putting her bag over her shoulder. And before the man could even speak, the woman stopped him. “No, I don’t want your peasant food, Jacob. It’s insulting that you would ask someone as cultured as myself such a question.” She started before strutting out of the break room. Jacob stood there in disbelief.

“It’s just egg white bites, you put them in the microwave.”

▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣▣

“Janine, what on earth are you doing on that thing?” Naoya asked as she rushed down the hall to the smaller woman who stood on a ladder. She had just come from using the restroom and leaving a class of a bunch of nine to ten-year-olds unattended for even a few seconds could lead to chaos. She didn’t know that chaos would be the grown woman who was the height of a nine to ten-year-old.

“I’m going to fix this broken light.” The woman said determinedly, only a step above the floor in the heightening tool. Naoya made it next to her, seeing the woman wasn’t doing much movement. She placed her hands on her hips, a smug look on her face. “Janine, you are not meant to go to those heights. God gave you your stature for a reason. Plus you’re terrified.”

“I am not terrified.” The woman said, shooting a glance at her. At that, Naoya gave her a knowing look before ushering the woman to go ahead. Janine nodded and looked back at the matter, fear gripping her. She gulped looking back at Naoya. “Okay, I am terrified but I’m gonna do it because I’m on a mission.” She said before carefully making her way up the ladder.

“If this backfires, you buy my dinner,” Naoya asked, after checking in on her classroom through the glass door, seeing them still doing their reading time. At that, Janine gave a confused look to the air, since she was too scared to look down. “Uh, no. This bet is not in my face, at all.”

“Well, at least have some faith in yourself, goodness gracious.”

At that, Janine continued, taking the cover off the lights and continuing to tweak at the wires. “See, look at this. It was just a loose wire.” The woman said, briefly glancing down at the people below her. She then connected the wire with another one, watching as the light stopped flickering. But it didn’t stop for long, the bulbs brightening before bursting in her face.

“Oh!” The woman screamed as she ducked:

“Janine!” Naoya yelled from below her, hosing her arms out in case the woman fell. Instantly, all the rooms were filled with the sounds of confusion and discomfort. The doors opened as the teachers exited.

“Oh, God! Can someone please help me down?” Janine asked, her voice shaking from the fear of the height she was at and the bulb exploding before her.

“And why would we do that since you caused this situation?” Melissa asked as she propped her door open.

“Okay, I didn’t know doing this would cause all the power to go out.” Janie tried to justify, still clutching onto the ladder.

“Well, the power is not all out,” Barbra stated. “It’s on in some places and off in others.”

“It’s off in my room,” Gregory said.

“On in the gym.” The coach said tiredly, slugging up to the group.

“Yeah, it’s off in my room,” Melissa spoke back up. “Thank God we got the A/C or we’d all be meltin’ already.”

“Okay, well before anyone freaks out, the best thing to do in these situations is just stay calm and—” Naoya started as she looked around the group but was silenced by the frantic voice of their terrible and terrified principal.

“Okay! This is it, y'all! The End Times!” The woman said as she rounded the corner in a hurry, a light strapped to her head. “It’s three months early, but it’s happening!” She said, as she closed in on them, giving the closest thing to her a tousle, which happened to be the very thing that was holding Janine up.

“Aah, don’t shake the ladder.” The smaller woman yelled from up top.

“Gregory is the only person that can stay in my bunker, so stop asking.” The crazed principal continued. Naoya’s head jerked back at her words, shocked at the woman’s blatant advancements that were harassment at this point.

“Ava,” Barbra started, holding her arms out in a non-offensive manner to calm the woman. “It is just a partial power outage. Alright, listen up everyone—.”

“Listen to Barbra, y'all!” The doomsday woman yelled, still latched into the latter out of fear.

“Are you kidding me?” Janie asked, clasping at the top of the ladder for support as it shook again.

“This is what we’re gonna do.” Barbra started again. “Everybody without power, please, head to the gym.”

“Head!” Ava chimed in again.

“We will conduct classes there until this is all fixed. It is not ideal—.” She stressed, looking up at the culprit on the ladder. “But it will work.”

“You hear her. Let’s go!” Ava demanded with a nod.

“Guys!” Janie called from the top of the ladder, causing them all to look up at her. “I-I just wanna I-I’m sorry, everybody.” The woman said nervously. “I just thought if I could get up here and get this done then we wouldn’t have to wait and..”

“And look where it landed us, baby girl.” Barbra cut in. “Everybody please head to the gym. We’ve got bigger fish to fry now.”

“Oh, Jesus! My branzino! Everybody out of the way. Out of the way!” Melissa yelled as she sprinted down the hall filled with children.

“Well, if someone can please help me! I feel like I’m one wobble away from death!” Janie begged from where she fluted the top of the ladder. At that, Naoya walked closer, raising her hand to help guide the woman down but was intercepted by Gregory's large arms. The two people glanced at each other, unexpected by the other one's move. Naoya waved her hand, signaling him to help instead. “Thank you,” Jannie said, too spooked to even pay attention to the odd interaction before her. “Okay, give me your hand. Take your time.” Gregory soothed, his large hand latched onto Janine’s. When he was turned away from her, she gave the camera an odd look, scratching the back of her ear. “Whenever you're ready.”

“Okay.” Janine sighed. There was a moment of silence between them all as they waited. “Am I doing it?” Janie asked, just standing there.

“No, honey,” Naoya spoke up, raising an eyebrow at such an odd question.

“Okay, let’s do a count of three.” Janine reiterated, adjusting herself to prepare.

“Okay,” Gregory started. “One, two…three.” He finished and the woman still wasn’t moving. “One more time.” He said.

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“This is all my fault,” Janie said as she looked around the gymnasium at all the students. The shock clock then went off, the constant noise startling Gregory, who paused his class to speak to the woman. “Yeah, you probably shouldn’t have tried to do the job of a newly graduated DeVry student, but this is okay.” The man sassed, with an awkward smile as she gestured around the room. Melissa was teaching her kids the best she should with something in flashcards, while Barbra was teaching her students to tell time.

Naoya was on the other side of the room, all her students sitting in rows with their eyes closed and taking deep breaths, with her in the front as a group meditation process. She chose this alternative instead of their gym scheduled gym activities, so the kids weren’t accidentally hitting four-year-olds in the head with basketballs.

Janine sighed, going to pick up her phone that pinged. She read the messages she got from Tariq, and that pissed her off even more. Well, it wasn’t helping her attitude for today.

“I made this mess, and I need to fix this.” She said again, looking around at the distressed room of teachers.

“Okay, but fix this how? Gregory asked her. “It seems very outside of your skill set. You should probably just wait for somebody to get to it—.” He tried to reiterate what Barbra had been saying all along and Janine was not having it.

“I don’t want to wait for someone to get to it!” Janine hissed. “You know, our children have needs that deserve to be met. And I’m going to fix this. Nothing is going to get in my way.” She said determined.

“What if you have to climb another ladder?” Gregory finally asked. “Those seem very tricky for you.”

“No.” That was all Janie gave him. “Not today.

Sometime later, the bell rang, signaling to everyone that it was much time.

“Aren’t you going to lunch, Janine?” Melissa asked as she, Barbra, Gregory, and Naoya made their way to the gymnasium doors.

“Uh, no, I’m actually gonna stay and help the lunch ladies with lunch.” The shorter woman tried to find a reasonable excuse.

“The lunch ladies don’t like you, Janine. They never say hello back.” Naoya said, crossing her arms as she looked at the woman across from her. “So, is that what you’re really doing?”

“Yes!” She answered. “And maybe trying to get the lights back on.” She rushed out at the end, hoping no one heard. At that, the two older women groaned.

“Would you give that a rest?” Melissa started. What do you want? To make the whole school blow up?”

“No!” The woman said as she folded her arms. “Plus, I can’t. Luckily the school was built as a bomb shelter in WWII, so…”

“Let it go.” Barbra practically begged the girl before her before she and the rest of the teachers started walking away.

“Okay, I will.” The woman told them, watching them exit. She and Gregory held long eye contact, both knowing the truth deep down. After they were gone, Janine looked back down at her phone, not paying attention to her friends next to her.

“You’re not gonna let it go, are you?” Jacob spoke up.

“No, I’m not gonna let it go, Jacob, okay?” She said, giving the two of them a look. “I need to right my wrongs.”

“Okay, we’ll count me out.” He said, waving her off.

“I never counted you in,” Janine said to him, confused about where he got that from.

“Well, then count me in.” He restated. “Because I don’t have any lunch plans.”

“Okay.” She sighed. She then looked at the woman next to him, her purse on her shoulder. “Weren’t you going to lunch?” She asked.

“You owe me lunch, remember? Your plan backfired.” She reminded the woman from earlier with a shrug. Janine sighed, turning away from them and walking, knowing they would follow. “That’s not how bets work, Naoya. Both people have to agree.”

“That’s how my bets work and you owe me food, woman!”

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“This is just like the one in my apartment, this is going to be easy,” Janine stated as the three of them made their way to the breaker box that was in the custodian closet. “Me and Tariq have to go in that thing like three times a month.” She said them behind her, Jacob holding the flashlight above her head.

“Maybe you should move.” The man suggested.

“Yeah. Tariq says he is “practicing” his credit score.” Janine struggled out and she pushed to get the metal box open. “Apparently 380 isn’t a good—.” She continued to struggle, her words getting lost in her. “Let me try,” Naoya said as she softly nudged the smaller woman out of the way. She gave the box a pull and the thing popped open. She turned and smiled at the two. “I loosened it,” Jannie said, trying to save face.

“Sure, Jan,” Naoya said, going back to looking in the box. “Oh..” she said, looking at the jumbled mess of wires and switches.

“Oh, no,” Janie said, looking at the same thing. “Don’t touch. Not even a little bit.” She read out loud, giving the camera a certain look. “Uh, okay. What’s that say?”

“End of the Road? It’s so hard to say goodbye?” Naoya read out loud, looking at the labels next to some of the switches. “What? Motownphil—These are Boyz II Men songs.” She deadpanned, turning to the rest of them.

“Why?” Jannie asked, moving to stand in front of the box herself.

Jacob chuckled. “It’s ironic ‘cause I’m on Bended Knee.” He joked, giving the camera a brief look. Naoya genuinely snickered while Janie just laughed awkwardly. “Heh. Okay.” She said before going back to the wires. “Oh God, why is that one hot?” Offering them a glance of concern. “Let me try this one.” She said and just a flip of a switch caused a giant spark to erupt, the trio screamed and jumped back to dodge the sparks as best as they could.

“What in the world.”

“What going on?”

Melissa and Barba exclaimed as she entered the hot and dark school building with children running around. “It’s so hot I’m gonna frizz.” Just then, Janie and Jacob came out of the appliance closet, their hair a mess from the static they endured. The three teachers who left for lunch automatically knew who the culprit for everything was.

“Janine! What did you do?!” Barbra asked, quite fed up with the younger woman. “Looking like ‘who shot John.’”

“Barbra, look, I know you told me to let it go, but I couldn’t. Jacob and Naoya—.” At that, she looked back to see where the woman was but she was nowhere to be found. “Jacob helped me open the breaker.” She was quick to accuse.

“I ran away as soon as the sparks started flying. I was looking out for myself.” The woman shrugged as she leaned against the wall next to her. “Plus, I wasn’t about to get yelled at by Barb for this whole mess.”

“It was a chance to support a strong Black woman.” The man next to her breathed out, in a state of shock, quite literally.

“The breaker?!” Melissa asked. “Janine! You can’t do this stuff! What had you come to work today and lose your mind?”

“Look, I—.” She tried to find something to say. “I just have—she gulped—I feel lightheaded.” She said as she swayed.

“Ohh, okay,” Barbra said worriedly as they all closed in on the smaller girl.

“Did you eat today, because I know you didn’t have lunch,” Melissa asked the girl worriedly.

“And you didn’t have any breakfast,” Jacob stated, his tone showing his concern for the woman’s wellbeing. Janine couldn’t even say anything, her balance was off and her mind was delirious.

“Okay, we’re losing her,” Melissa yelled, easing up on the girl. “Do I have your consent to slap you?” At that, Janine fell backward into Gregory’s arms just as Ava and Naoya rounded the corner. “There she goes,” Melissa said over the shocked screams of her colleagues. “She’s out.”

“Yall feel this heat?” Ava asked, just now seeing the sight of the woman on the floor before her. “Oh my God! She’s pale like a zombie! You know, they eat the hottest people first, let me back my tasty ass up.” Ava said, going back to where she came from down the hall. At her stupid words, Naoya was tempted to follow her but snapped out of it when she saw Janine on the floor.

“Uh, okay! I’m gonna go see if I can get some water out of the fridge. Hopefully, it’s still cold.” Naoya said before running off.

“Oh my God, my branzino!” Melissa yelled, moving to push Barb back.” “Excuse me, Barb. She’ll be okay!” She yelled as she pushed the older woman out of her way and jumped over the unconscious woman.

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Once Janine woke up from her little coma, the coach told her that all the kids and teachers were outside. She walked out to see all of them playing in the water that was sprouting from the fire hydrants while the teachers lunged in chairs. “Oh, look who’s back in the land of the living,” Melissa said once she saw the small woman exit the school.

“Who opens the fire hydrant?” Janine asked

“Well, as Melissa would say, snitches get stitches,” Barbra said.

“It was Naoya,” Jacob whispered to his shorter friend, pointing over at said woman who was playing in the water with the children. She had her bat at her side, leaning her weight on it as she splashed the kids who came near her to throw water her way.

“That is correct.” Melissa started again. “But I am not talking to you on account of you killing my branzino.” She said, before leaning back in her seat. Barbra gave her a look and cleared her throat. Melissa looked at the woman from under her shades and sighed a little before sitting back up. Barbra then got up from her seat, allowing Janine to take it.

“So that’s it, huh?” Janine asked, looking around at the kids. “I , uh, gave it my all, passed out, and ruined the school day?”

“Oh, you tanked,” Melissa told her. “You tanked Janine. You took the whole school down with you. It was impressive.” She pressed, knowing she was pushing the woman’s buttons.

“Look, I know. I should’ve stopped. I’m sorry.” Janine sighed. “I just felt so bad when I saw that look on Melina’s face this morning.”

“You don’t think it kills us to see those faces in the morning?” Melissa asked her. “What, are we made of stone? You’re not the first person to feel things, kid. We care.”

It was silent for a moment as Janine thought over the woman’s words. “How do you and Barbra stop yourselves from caring too much if that’s a thing.”

“Because it’s the opposite.” Melissa smiled at the girl as she took off her shades. “We care so much we refuse to burn out. If we burn out, who’s here for these kids? That’s who you gotta take care of yourself.”

“Yeah, what’s with you today Nini?” Both women jumped at the sound of Naoya’s voice, while the woman just stood behind them with her bat. “You’re normally bananas, but…” She trailed off, waving at the girl's aura.

“Uh, I don’t know. Just some stuff at home, I think.” Janine shrugged with an answer.

“Oh, okay,” Melissa said with a nod. “See, that’s the other thing me and Barbra learned. All that at-home stuff—you gotta leave it at the door. Otherwise, you open up a whole nother Panera’s box of problems.”

“I think you mean Pandora’s box,” Naoya told the woman sitting in front of her.

“Nah, I’m pretty sure it’s Panera’s box.” She nodded, while Janine and Naoya both gave the camera a look.

Later on that day, Naoya was in her room in the process of changing the clothes she had on into some that she kept in her closet. She enjoyed playing in the water with the kids but she was not going to go home wet. As she was in the process of changing, she got a phone call. Looking down at her phone, she saw the contact and quickly answered the phone.

“Hello, Adona.” The girl sighed into the phone as she pulled a new shirt over her head.

“Oh, well don’t sound so pleased.” The feminine voice over the phone said to her. Naoya rolled her eyes, as she opened the drawer of her desk and pulled out a plastic store bag. She offered the camera a glance, knowing they were probably thinking as to why she kept so many plastic bags in her drawer. But all she could offer them now was a shrug as the voice over the phone continued.

“Anyways, how are you?”

“What do you want, Adona?” Naoya spat, stuffing her semi-wet clothes into the plastic bag.

“What? I can’t see how my own sister is doing?” The woman said over the phone, the hurt in their voice obviously sarcastic.

“No, but I know you. And I know that you only call when you need money. Money for something other than your child.” The younger girl snapped over the phone. All she got in response was a sigh and some shuffling from the other end.

“You know, you don't have to rub it in.” Adona started, and Naoya rolled her eyes at the woman’s words, knowing this conversation was about to go to the argument they always had. “This all would have been so much easier if the rest of us weren’t left out of her will.”

“That’s not my fucking fault, Adona. I tell you that every time you call. Do you think I want the burden of you and the others calling me every month for some fucking bill for me to pay? Not to ask how I’m doing?” Naoya spat at her sister over the phone. She could feel her eyes start to sting, she was never the best at arguing when it came to her family. She’d been called sensitive all her life and it rang true every time she talked to her siblings.

“ “The others”? That’s what you call us? You’re family?” That was all Adona could say back. Naoya rolled her eyes and let out a scoff, pulling the phone away from her face as she sniffed and held her head back, trying to stop her tear flow. After only a few quick seconds, she brought the phone back to her face. “Uh, I can already see where this is going, so I’m gonna end it here. Just send the amount and I’ll talk to you some other time. Take care.” She said before pressing the red button on her screen to end the call.

She placed her phone in her back pocket and moved around her room to gather her things, trying her best to occupy her mind from what just ensued. She was so in her head that she forgot the cameras were there. And she didn’t hear the voice of Gregory at her door.

“Naoya?” He called out to her.

She looked up at the sound of his voice as she placed her things into her bag. “Oh, Hello Gregory.” She smiled, her face showing none of the emotions she was feeling.

“You’ve eaten?” He asked, just standing in the doorway of her classroom.

“Uh, no, actually. Janine was supposed to buy me lunch because I bet that her plan would backfire.” The woman said as she placed her things in her arms. At that, Gregory gave her a questioning look. Naoya raised her hands in surrender. “I know, I sound like a terrible friend. But it’s not that I don’t believe in Janine, I just know how to black a bet. Get it from my father.” The girl shrugged. She and Gregory both laughed lightly. And when it died down, they just started at one another, the air between them oddly peaceful.

“But, uh, are you offering?” She asked, looking at the man before her.

“Uh, yeah. I was going to ask Janine too.” He said, pointing his thumb in the direction of the said woman’s room.

“Cool! Let’s go.” She said with a genuine smile, causing the man to smile at her as well. They walked out and over to Janine’s room, where it looked like the woman was doing something on her phone. Gregory knocked on her door to get her attention. “Hey.” He said.

“Hey,” Jaimie said, looking at the two.

“Have you eaten?” He asked.

“Oh. No. The um, lunch lady gave me that can of peaches but no can opener, so, no.” She chuckled, pointing at the can on her desk.

“What? No fair! You’re so lucky. Well, besides the whole can opener situation. ” Naoya said jokingly.

“Alright, we’ll, you wanna go get something to eat? With me?” Gregory said before Naoya lightly cleared her throat. “With us?” Gregory was quick to reiterate. Naoya nodded, offering the slightly flustered older man a brief look.

“Oh,” Janine said, looking between the two. “I was gonna wait for my boyfriend to finish his show to eat…” She said. Naoya nodded at her words, understanding where she was coming from. Well, understanding as best as she could because she’d never wait to eat for a man. But maybe that was love. She caught the way Gregory’s posture changed at Janin’s words out of the corner of her eye. She didn’t say anything but she did give me a crazy side-eye, hoping he noticed.

“But…no.” The shorter woman started back up with a laugh. “I’m hungry now, so I should eat now, right?”

“That’s typically how hunger works, yeah.” Gregory played along.

“Right! Normal people eat at normal times, like…4:00.” She said, pointing over at the clock on her wall.

“Yeah. All true.” Gregory said with a nod before smiling. “So, let’s go eat.”

“Let’s. Okay.” Janine said with an equally large smile before moving to grab her things. At that, Naoya turned around to head out the door, not wanting to be in the middle of an obvious love fest. She gave the cameras outside a knowing look, a large smirk on her face.

Seconds later, the two of them walked out of the room, Naoya joining them to go down the hall. On their way, they ended up meeting Jacob.

“Oh, hey guys, what up?” The man said.

“We’re just headed to get something to eat,” Gregory answered.

“Oh, great, I’ll join.” The man just inserted himself, not catching the looks thrown his way by the three. “After school crew.” He continued.

“Ooh, “After School Crew.” I like that.” Janine smiled. They all ended up stopping at the lights coming on within the school. They looked over to see Mr.Johnson in the supply closet, standing next to the breaker machine in his fishing gear.

“You touch the lights, didn’t you, Janine?” He asked, shooting an accusatory look the woman’s way.

“Yes,” Janine answered with a defeated look.

“Good thing I got me a system.” The man told her, flicking the breaker box closed. “I’ll make love to you. Like you want me to.” He continued to sing. This caused them to all sigh and continue walking. Naoya stayed behind, a fond smile on her lips as she watched the old man. When he caught the sight of the woman still there, he paused and looked at her.

“You have a good fishing trip?” She asked the man, crossing her arms over another. The man looked at the girl kind of shocked that she asked and that she knew.

“Yeah. Yeah, I actually did.” He said, offering her a smile of his own. Naoya nodded at his words before walking away, following the crew that left her. Mr.Johnson looked at the spot she left, a fond smile on his face as she continued to sing the song.

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