#he incurred enough wrath in people for them to decide to hit back ten times as hard

[fate-defiant]

something something Mytho's entire character being, as @schafpudel so eloquently put it, associated with self destruction; something something the heartless princes inability to connect with the world and care; something something the raven!Mytho's hair trigger temper and capricioussness; something something Drosselemeyer's personality and what his life and interpersonal relationships must've looked like when he was still a mortal human man; something something Mytho's entire being as an expression of trauma, of loneliness, of psychological struggles of his author.

[orsuliya]

Love your blog!! Do you have any headcanons about XiaoQi's backstory?

Oh, thank you! And oh, do I. By the way, we are going by drama!canon, since I like this version of Xiao Qi’s backstory better.

Most peasants won’t travel much during their whole lifetime; some never leave the place of their birth. Xiao Qi’s father was an exception. Nobody knew from whence he came, this scarred and limping, yet strangely cheerful soldier. One day he simply came into the village, announced that he was here to work, should anybody have a task needing some strength and smarts, sat down under the awning and that was that.

Much later, over a third or fourth cup of local spirits, it came out that his maternal grandmother had been born in this area, but even to the eldest villagers her name meant nothing much. Who remembers spilled water after half a century? “Had she been a beauty, that mythical grandmother, then perhaps,” tried the headman, yet received nothing but a quiet laugh. “To my grandfather, she surely was,” said the soldier and that was that.

Even so, once the soldier recommended himself as a tried, conscientious worker, many a family wanted to claim him. He only laughed and went around on his business, remarkably light on his feet despite an old injury, which tended to flare up on cold days. The first winter he spent sleeping with the animals, which bothered him none. The second one he weathered in a faraway homestead, taken in by an elderly couple who felt they could use a strong man around the yard. Every single winter after that he chose to spend in that one homestead and that was that.

Xiao Qi’s mother was the last child born to an elderly couple, long after they lost all hope. There were other children before, but what happened to them, I cannot tell you. A failure to thrive, some villagers said, while other kept turning around from the childless woman, full of fear and superstition.

That last child was no beauty worthy of gracing palace halls, but her mother cared not. “Better to live with a clean face and clean hearth than to wear paint alongside ten concubines”, she used to say every time her daughter got carried away with her girlish dreams. And so the last child went around with a clean face and diligently tended to her hearth, and in due time gave generously of both to a soldier from faraway lands.

Mind you, that soldier would have claimed to prefer her over any concubine from the governor’s mansion, speaking no lie, had she but asked. She never did. Not one to speak much, that last child, although when she spoke, even her wizened father stopped to listen. The soldier loved her all the more for her silence and laughed enough for both of them; he laughed and then he cried, when she could not let out a tear over her parents’ grave.

Barely had the villagers begun to wonder if the soldier’s wife carried in her womb her mother’s curse, when she grew heavy with child and in the very middle of summer gave birth to a boy; three summers later the cradle was full again.

Wealthy or poor, wizened or in prime of life, the plague cares little for such distinctions. Much less the dreadful plague they called beautiful flowers as not to offend the passing goddess and thus avoid incurring her wrath. Some said that this merciless goddess liked the beauty of small children and touched them first of all. Perhaps they spoke the truth after all, for the soldier’s small daughter, innocent and beautiful like the first flower of spring, fell ill before anyone else. Who brought the disease, nobody could say. Maybe the passing trader who came into the house, maybe the autumn winds, that mattered little as the flowers of disease took root on the child’s soft skin.

The soldier, though hardened in battles and wise above his years, stilled and wailed, while his quiet wife marched into the yard, where her little son, but five years of age, kept agitating the geese. She bade him to strip and when she saw him to be clean – as much as any rambunctious child can be – she took him up like a kitten and carried him into the shed. “Stay here, no matter what you hear or see,” said the ever-quiet mother with unusual fire. “I will bring you water and food every day, and knock on the door. When I do, close your eyes and count all your fingers and toes. Then and only then you can open the door. You are a big boy now, so give me your word that you will not leave until I tell you so.”

The boy agreed, swallowing up his confusion and fear, even as his mother closed the door without a single look back. His mother kept her word for twelve whole days; he kept his for fifteen and would have for fifteen more, had the homestead not caught on fire on that fifteenth night. The shed was far enough to stay safe with this particular summer not excessively dry; the flames, however, were seen so far and wide that the nearest neighbour arrived to help before the inferno had time to die out.

The boy, for all that he shared blood with half the families around, had no relative close enough to take him for his own. He was no man, whose strength could be of use, you see, and there were many whispers of a curse running in his line. The homestead was gone and the land went untilled, held by the headman until the boy could claim it for his own; in the meantime he went around from house to house, giving small services in return for rice in his bowl and roof over his head. The headman tried to give the boy a corner of his own, but his wife liked the boy not, too unnerved by his quiet eyes.

And so he went around, welcomed by all for his calm disposition and clever hands, yet loved by none. A motherly hand sometimes took care to repair his torn clothes, a strong palm directed his unlearned one in the fields, yet he found no welcome in lovingly open arms and no careful fingers were eager to play with his tangled hair.

With every summer the boy learned new skills: the first summer he learned to talk again, the second he could go into a shed alone, the third he went out to mind the sheep, the fourth he learned to laugh, bringing his father’s spirit back to life…

…and the fifth summer the village drowned in blood.

Okay, I have no idea what happened later. I cannot quite decide if Xiao Qi spent the intervening years wandering from place to place or not. Maybe he came upon a military camp and just stayed, watching, learning and being so useful that nobody even thought of chasing him away. He probably enlisted early and the very same day got hit – literally and metaphorically – with the full force of Hu Guanglie and his humongous personality. Perhaps an exasperated sergeant Dou was the one to pull the two gangly teenagers apart. Who knows. Certainly not me.

Anyway, I do know one thing. After many, many years Xiao Qi returned to the place of his birth. He found only pastures where his own home had once stood and the village filled with unfamiliar faces speaking a dialect alien to his ears. A few people later recalled a quiet soldier and his lovely wife, who rode around the village on horses of excellent blood, said not a thing to anybody and then disappeared right into the night. Coincidentally, a beggar child who got trounced around a day or two before disappeared that very night. Nobody cared all that much.

Anyway, that’s it for now. I hope you are satisfied, dear Nonnie! I might have sat on your objectively lovely ask a tad too long, but this delay has already been avenged. I now know far too much about childhood amnesia, smallpox in ancient China and the wisdom of not shuffling your asks to the bottom of the stack.

[agentdagonet]

HP cross? Eggsy is a wizard living in the Muggle world. Harry his lover, is a squib who was raised muggle and has no idea. Eggsy is invited to meet Harry’s family and recognizes Lord Hart, and is recognized in return (I dunno why, maybe Eggsy went to school with Potter?) Harry can’t figure out why his brother who was so stiff about his relationship now loves Eggsy (because he’s not a muggle)

Okay, I hope you enjoyed this- I certainly enjoyed writing it. I’ve made it a bit more compatible with the rest of my Vaguely Magical verse. I’ll make a timeline eventually. But. Yeah. Hope you like it!

Eggsy had never thought that his Harry was related to those Harts. How could he be, when he was so obviously Muggle? The Harts weren’t the sort to have lined up with Voldemort, or Grindelwald before him, and any other similarity could be chalked up to fluke genetics. He’d met plenty of people who looked enough like himself for it to be eerie, it happened, so any similarity to Lord Hart of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Hart was happenstance and nothing more.

Eggsy should have remembered that even the Weasley’s had squib relatives that they didn’t talk about- and they were as Light as they come. Maybe then his fireplace exploding in green flames wouldn’t have been so startling.

‘Oi! It’s polite to send an owl b’fore showin’ up uninvited!’ Eggsy’s mouth had run away from him before the flames had died down and the soot was cleared, and as soon as it was he wanted to shove his fist in his mouth as surely as his foot had been. 

Cygnus Hart was an old friend of Eggsy’s from Hogwarts, someone he’d lost touch with when he’d decided to settle on the muggle end and had actually missed. So it wasn’t an unpleasant surprise, just an incredibly unexpected one. But his presence here meant one of two thing: either the postman had brought his invitation to dinner to the wrong Hart household, or he was incredibly mistaken about Harry’s being a muggle.

‘Well, for a moment there I was sure I’d been hallucinating, but there’s no one else quite like you, Eggsy, is there?’ From anyone else it would have been an insult, but from Cygnus it was saturated in the same kind of dry amusement he loved Harry for. He’d aged well since they’d last seen each other at the Quidditch World Cup nearly ten years beforehand, eyes still bright and more laugh lines than crows feet, and Eggsy couldn’t help but laugh.

‘The world don’ need more than one of me to be full, mate.’

‘True enough. Now, to business,’ Cygnus transfigured a book into a chair, elegant but not obscene, and sat seriously across from Eggsy at his desk. ‘Did you know?’

‘Know what?’ Eggsy took a moment to pour them both a drink, smirking to himself that there were some things that were universal, like an appreciation for good liquor. Or, at lest, liquor that didn’t taste like shite.

‘That Harry’s my uncle?’ Eggsy spat his first sip out as soon as it had hit his tongue. Like the first time he’d tried firewhisky, shocking and wholly unpleasant.

‘Well, that answers that question.’ Cygnus wiped his face with a grin and no small amount of amusement on his face. ‘So I can truthfully tell my father that this isn’t come ploy by house Unwin to get into the Wizengamot or whatever nonsense he’s cooked up today.’

‘Yeah, that’d be safe, seein’ as I had no idea you was even related until now.’

‘Was I that forgettable? Truly?’ There was a wry twist to his lips, and a waggle to his brow that seems out of place with the setting at hand, but Eggsy laughs anyway.

‘Oh, you’re unforgettable, but it don’t take a genius to know that Harry ain’t got magic. The fuck was I supposed to think but there was just more Harts than you lot?’ Eggsy made his way around the desk and summoned a chair with a wave of his hand, a luxury he rarely afforded himself. As much as he loved the muggle world, loved Kingsman, he missed casual magic most days. ‘So you can go an’ tell dear old dad that Eggsy’s back.’

‘He’ll be thrilled.’ There’s no sarcasm, no cocky grin, and Eggsy’s laughter falls from his face. Of all things, the approval of Astraetus Hart was the last thing he thought he’d have. Eggsy’d been a cheeky git as a kid, and sharing a dorm with Cygnus had done nothing to curb his enthusiasm for life- in fact, he’d actually just drawn him into his shenanigans- and the last he’d heard that wasn’t a thing for the heir of such a family to be doing.

‘What?’

‘Well,’ Cygnus spins his tumbler on a finger the way only a wizard can before taking a sip, ‘turns out, dad’s been tryin’ to find a way to bring Harry back into the family since his dad sent him away and this is the easiest excuse he’s got.’ Cygnus brandishes the invitation to dinner like a victory flag.

‘You’ve given father the means to, without incurring the wrath of his peers, gain the brother he should have always had. And that means you don’t have to hide, anymore.’

‘Bold of you to assume I’ve been hidin’ anything.’

‘The fuck does that mean?’

‘Guess you’ll ‘ave t’come to dinner, then.’

—

‘I’d say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but then we’d both be lyin’.’ Eggsy smirked from where he leant obnoxiously against Harry’s side, martini glass in hand, and Cygnus slapped a hand to his face. Astraetus didn’t quite know what to do with himself.

‘Are you the man who’s been making the most disastrous excuses to avoid meeting me my entire life via letters that mysteriously appeared in my post box with no marks whatsoever?’ Harry said blandly, stealing a sip from Eggsy’s glass, ‘Or perhaps the person with the issue with my falling for a man far younger than myself and tried to convince me to think otherwise also via mysteriously unmarked post?’

‘Well, Hedylogos,’ Harry choked, ‘even if I was, I think I’d be backtracking quite quickly.’

Taking Kingsman Prompts! Send in anything and I’ll give it a go!

[zutaras-where-its-at]

Zutara Month Day 18: Diplomatic Solution

Summary: A ransomed noblewoman with a bark equally as bad as her bite, a cruel Captain with a shady background, a crew on the verge of mutiny, and a tired quartermaster reaching his last limits... [or, a zutara pirate au // part 2]

((day 2: Hidden Identity, pirate au part 1))

The woman is uncharacteristically quiet when he arrives well past sunset to unlock her iron bars. Zuko’s blood is still simmering in his veins, but he is gentle with her as he lifts her from her prison.

Before he can think to avoid her shrewd gaze, she’s stopping him with a surprisingly strong hand on his shoulder and turning him to face her.

“We can help each other.” Her voice is low and steady, and a shiver travels down his spine.

“I can’t release you, and even if I did, where would you go? In case you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of the—”

She shakes her head, cobalt eyes seeming to glow in the light of the moon above them. “No. I don’t want you to release me. I want you to help me so that I can help us both.”

His dark brows furrow in confusion. “What the hell are you going on about, Yokai?”

“Katara. My name is Katara. And what I’m telling you is that I can get rid of Zhao, right here, right now. But first, I need your dagger.”

He thinks his heart might have skipped a few beats, and when the words fully sink in, he takes a moment to truly look at her. Her eyes are crystal clear and her chin tilts up in a stubborn angle, lips pressed into a determined line.

“Why?”

The breath she inhales through her nose trembles just the slightest bit, and it’s the first moment of raw vulnerability that he’s seen from her in the entirety of her two weeks on their ship.

“One year ago, my husband and my two children were sailing across the Wan Sea to join me in Ba Sing Se where I was studying to be a healer. Seven days into their voyage, their travelers ship was ambushed by a small band of rogue pirates who claimed that they were sent by their captain to take the ship’s gold. There were seven casualties. My husband and my children made up three of the seven.”

She does not cry, and her voice does not waver, but he hears the grief all the same.

“I don’t know what two children could possibly do or say to incur a pirate’s wrath, but it can’t possibly justify a death sentence. And after I heard the news, the only thing I had left was the name of my family’s murderer.”

“Zhao.”

She holds his gaze and a breath of understanding passes between them. It was not an accident that she was on their ship.

Zuko’s voice is solemn and tinged with warning. “How do you know you can succeed in killing him?”

“Those with nothing left to lose will always fight harder than those only looking to gain.”

Inwardly, his respect for her doubles.

“Why do you think this will help me?”

One slender brow arcs in a gesture that brings her back to her usual dry, witty self. “Quartermaster, I would have to be blind, deaf, and dead to miss how spectacularly unpopular your Captain is aboard his own ship.” Her expression morphs into something softer, something more honest. “You’ll make a much better Captain. The crew already respects your authority more than that asshole’s. The only reason they haven’t already committed a mutiny is probably because they are waiting for your cue.”

He scowls. “Flattery won’t get you any favors from me.”

The whites of her eyes flash at him as she rolls them. “I’m not flattering you, you idiot. And even if I was, that doesn’t make it untrue. Look, we don’t have a lot of time, and while I would much rather prefer having your help in this, I’ll do it on my own if I have to.”

Zuko purses his lips, eyes roaming over her face. There’s tension in her jaw that he hadn’t seen before and her chest rises and falls at a faster pace than normal, but the unrelenting steadiness in her gaze is what wins him in the end.

He watches his own hands give her his Uncle’s dagger almost as if he’s exited his own body and is looking on from above. His eyes rake across her smooth skin when she lifts her skirts and tucks the knife into the waistband of her undergarments. Dread and excitement wrestle each other in his stomach as he leads her towards Zhao’s quarters, and overall, Zuko is overwhelmed with the urge to drown himself in the dark waves on the horizon.

With a final look of determination, she disappears through the heavy double doors into the candlelit Captain’s cabin, and then there is only the sound of the sea and the moon over his head.

Crew members approach him with their usual questions or come to offer their quartermaster a beer or two, but Zuko remains where he stands just outside the Captain’s doors.

Ten minutes and he hasn’t heard a sound.

Fifteen, and he can’t stop fiddling with his sword.

It is just past the twenty-minute mark when he hears a muffled thump that has his head jerking up in alarm.

After a few tense seconds, the doors are abruptly pulled open, and Zuko watches the woman’s—Katara’s—figure step into the threshold. 

The candlelight behind her contrasts starkly with the light from the full moon above so that he can only make out the edges of her cheekbones, the glow of her eyes, and the rise and fall of her chest. His breath hitches.

The crew slowly begins to sense the shift in the atmosphere, especially since many of them had been acutely aware of any activity in that particular area since watching Zuko escort Katara into the lion’s den earlier. One by one, they shuffle towards the Captain’s doors until there is a crescent of rugged pirates surrounding her silent shadow.

Zuko watches her wait for them to settle, watches her raise her chin in a motion that he can’t decide is strength or nervousness. 

And then he watches her raise her right arm, Zhao’s severed head dangling in her slim, noblewoman’s hand. Her left is clutching their dead Captain’s glinting sword, the bloody tip dragging on the ground.

Strength, he decides.

“I’ll understand if you decide to execute me, and I will not fight your decision, as it is your right to end my life for the life of your Captain’s.” Her voice is calm and rings clearly over the sound of the ocean waves. “But, your Captain was not a man worthy of following, and I suspect that many of you are in agreement with me. He was vicious, selfish, and cruel, and he would have led you to ruin, not glory. Which is why I have provided you with the opportunity for a more appropriate option.”

Her gaze lands on him, and Zuko feels a thrill of adrenaline shoot down his spine. It only intensifies when he realizes that every other eye has also turned to him. 

“Captain Zuko has a fairly nice ring to it, don’t you think?” Her grin is just big enough for him to see it through the dark.

At first the deck is silent, hardly a soul daring to breath. 

Then, like the sound of the opening canon shot in a battle, his first-mate Lu Ten shouts, “All in favor of Captain Zuko!”

As a chorus of approving shouts flood his senses, Zuko does not break eye-contact with Katara. Something passes between them, and if he were a more romantic kind of man, he might call it fate.

Predictably so, the crew votes to spare Katara’s life, and the next hour has Zuko bouncing from one of his mates to the other, always being greeted with the smell of freshly poured beer and sent on to the next with a hearty slap on the back.

All too soon, it is late in the night and half of the—his, he thinks with a start—half of his crew is passed out over crates of supplies or across each other. The other half continue to drink in celebration, different folk songs being carelessly butchered with the exuberance of men well past their body’s tolerance.

Zuko finds himself leaning on the edge of the helm, enjoying the cool sea breeze that calms his flushed cheeks.

At the sound of light footsteps, he looks up to see the woman—Katara, he amends—make her way to him. She stops a few feet away, bringing one hand to rest on the ship’s wheel. 

She’s changed from her blood and salt stained dress into a pair of loose trousers and a cream-colored tunic that might have been white at some earlier point. The sleeves, that he assumes would normally fall long past the tips of her fingers, are rolled up to her elbows, and he infers that she has raided one of his men’s wardrobes. Her hair, however, is what truly transforms her appearance. Instead of the precise updo or fraying braid, it hangs utterly unencumbered, falling in loose waves over her shoulders.

For once, he is the one to begin the conversation. 

“Of all the people aboard my ship, you were the last person I expected to perform a coup d’état.”

She chuckles softly in response, and he finds that he likes the sound. “Well, that was the goal.”

She comes to stand beside him, leaning her forearms on the wooden rail. Her expression is the most relaxed he’s ever seen it, and he knows that a large part of her has now found peace.

He’s a little too buzzed to care that he’s staring. “So, what’s next for you?”

Her shoulder bumps his and the playful shine to her eyes tells him it was purposeful. “I’ve noticed that there’s a shameful lack of feminine representation on board your ship, Captain.”

Zuko grins. “Then you obviously haven’t seen Chan when he’s had too much rum.”

Katara snorts lightly, elbow jabbing him in the ribs. “As I was saying... I think you ought to fix this grossly disproportionate issue as soon as possible.”

“You’re right, I should. Now, where to find some feminine representation...”

The punch she levels at his arm stings more than he was expecting it to, and the laugh he lets out is so natural that it sounds foreign to his own ears. 

“Is that supposed to convince me of your femininity? Because I’m fairly certain you hit harder than most of my crew.”

She sniffs haughtily, but he can see her lips pursing in an effort to refrain from smiling. “Perhaps I’ll just take my extremely proper and dainty female presence to another Captain’s ship where it’ll be better appreciated.”

“You could,” he turns to face her more fully, voice lowering in pitch, “but once they found what you’re truly capable of, I don’t think there’s a Captain alive who could see you as just another proper woman. You deserve a Captain and crew who know what you really are and aren’t afraid of it.”

His eyes are fixed on hers with a weight he can’t seem to hold back, and her eyelids flutter just the slightest bit. 

She tilts her head up. “Is that a job offer?”

His head tilts down, but there is space still between them that he carefully maintains. “It’s whatever you want it to be, Yokai.”

Her lips twitch and her whole face seems to soften.

“Then I suppose you’re stuck with me, Captain.”

He smiles. “Welcome aboard, Katara.”

[thewildheroine]

Meet Me In Between |Part Three| An Infinity War Spoiler Story

Warnings: Language, underage use of drugs and alcohol, vomiting, death, major spoiler, anxiety, nightmares, angst

Word Count: 3.3k

Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader

A/N: Honestly I'm super surprised by how many notes this series has received as well as the number of people asking to be tagged in it!!! Thank you so much loves and I hope you enjoy part three!❤️💛💙❤️💛💙

|Masterlist|

|Part One| |Part Two| |Part Four|

People surround me, attempting to get a few words in with the adventurer at Lily’s end of the world party. It is in no way the end of the world though. In fact, it’s like everyone has returned to their normal everyday life, or they’re trying to. That’s the reason Lily is even throwing a party tonight. She believes it’s better to cope while drunk on your parents' whiskey rather than actually understanding what is going on. Maybe I would be doing the same thing as her if things like drugs and alcohol didn’t affect my abilities so much. Hang on some random junior from the Academy and pass around a joint. God. I wish I could get lost in it all.

The cup of beer in my hand is still full though and I haven’t laid a finger on any sort of drug since the incident two years ago. I intend to make sure I never do again. Suddenly, I swat a hand away from me but it isn’t an in-betweener’s. In front of me is a sophomore boy, drunk off his ass with a smug look on his face. He says something but I can’t be bothered to listen. Deciding I don’t feel like dealing with him I swerve past the lowerclassman and begin making my way towards where Lily is. Clouds of vape burst across my vision and I cough, bothered by the saccharine smells.

“Baby!” Lily hiccups as soon as she sees me through the crowd of our peers. Just as I thought she has slung her body over a juniors lap who seems especially happy about the situation. I smile and roll my eyes, still finding it in me to adore my best friend in a bubbly state such as this. Moving past high teens I make my way across the room and to the couch where she sits mimicking the posture of some sort of goddess.

“Hey beautiful,” I wink at her jokingly, throwing her into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. “I think I’d better get home.” As soon as the words leave my mouth Lily’s giggling is replaced with a frown and she stares up at me with wide green puppy-dog eyes.

“But, Y/N,” she laments while pulling herself off the boy’s lap, “I’ve barely gotten a chance to talk to you. Also, you haven’t even finished your drink yet.” Lily points down at my red cup to make a point.

“You know I can’t drink. Not with my gift,” I remind. Lily watches me sadly for a moment, sobering up so she can sympathize with me. Abruptly she pulls me into a hug that is tight enough to make my spine crack. I chuckle and tuck my nose into her warm brown skin that smells like honey. She pulls away abruptly and makes direct and unnerving eye contact with me.

“Text me the moment you get home,” she asserts and I feel myself shrink a bit under her harsh gaze.

“Of course,” I promise and hug her again. She sighs, her breath somehow not filled with the scent of the strong liquor she was drinking only moments earlier. “I always do.” Finally, I pull away from her body and grin to comfort her. In Lily’s eyes, I can tell she knows somethings up. For as long as we’ve known each other she’s been able to read me like a goddamn book. I think that may just be her superpower. “I’ll see you later.”

“Okay,” Lily responds sadly. As I’m backing away I shoot a glare at the boy who tugs my best friend back into his lap. He meets my eyes in a moment and looks down fearfully, not wanting to incur the wrath of the ghost girl. I smirk to myself when I turn away and begin walking towards the door. People call out my name so that they can talk to me even for a moment but I ignore each and everyone, just desiring to get home at this point.

Finally, I push past the double doors and enter the night. The pale moon shines a light on every single blade of dewy grass, creating an ocean of pure white. I giggle and move down Lily’s front walk and towards my car. Even outside I can hear the hollering of the students enjoying the part. A piece of me hates them for that. That they all can go about and do what they please without nearly dying. At least most of the time.

An image of hospital lights flash overhead and I have to lean against my car to keep from falling at the sight of them. Like a bird swooping in and out of view, the vision is fleeting, and as soon as it has disappeared from my mind I walk around my car and get inside. The dashboard automatically lights up and drive away.

As I’m driving home I find that the streets are empty for the most part. The only exception being the very few people driving home from their late shifts. I find comfort in the unusually quiet streets. Seeing that no one is behind me and my mother hadn’t texted me a specific curfew besides be home by the time I wake up tomorrow I take my time driving home so that I can enjoy the way the light emitted by the intersections look in the thick mist that has settled upon Greenwich suddenly. Slowly, I come to a halt at the last stop light before I reach my neighborhood. Enjoying the feeling of the cold, wet air when I roll down my window down, I drop my head against the back of my seat.

All of the sudden, pain bolts through my chest though and I gasp for air. Lurching forward, my hand hits the wheel and causes a long drawn out horn to break the silent air. I cry out and clench my jaw. My body stays paralyzed for a good five minutes, adjusting to the pain and pure anxiety I just experienced. The light had gone through a full cycle three times until the emotion disappeared enough for me to move again. Hesitantly, I look down and at my chest where the pain rooted from. My heart stops when I see the dark purple bruise branching up from my sternum and over my collarbone. I touch the bruise and wince.

“What the fuck?” I question. Looking around wildly, I try searching for an in-betweener who may have inflicted the injury upon me. All I find is a completely empty car though. I lift a hand to my face and run it through my hair, pulling at half of the strands that were pulled into a bun.

“HEY!” someone shouts at me. I look in my rearview mirror and see a car waiting for me to move behind my own Audi. Gulping down my fear I press down on my pedal and move to the right side of the road. As the person passes they lift their middle finger at me and speed away. I groan and rub aimlessly at my chest, wondering how in the hell a giant bruise like that just appeared.

The moment I see my house I’m relieved which is definitely a first. Haphazardly, I park my car in the garage and walk towards the front door. I pray that when I come in Max doesn't bark at all. Knowing my mom won’t be angry if he does though I swing open the door fearlessly only to be met with the Australian Shepherd who is lazily stretched out on the wooden tiles. He offers me a dopey smile which I return as I kneel down to his level and scratch his ear.

“Hey big boy,” I whisper. “How come you’re still up?” Max stands with me and shakes his thick brown, black, and white coat. We wander down to my room together, ignoring the overhead lights as they turn on when they sense our presence so that we don’t trip over each other. At the end of the hall, I can see my mother and father’s bedroom door that is barely cracked open enough for me to see the light of someone’s phone. For some reason, I feel the need to look away in shame.

I push my door open and Max immediately rushes in and jumps on my bed with a wagging tail, making me giggle. Lazily I toss my keys onto my desk and drop my jacket on the floor. Max watches curiously as I pull off my shirt and look into the mirror.

I'm shocked when I see my reflection. Only ten minutes ago there was a giant bruise covering the entirety of my chest up to my collarbone. Now, I am only met with my chest that has no purple, yellow or green marks on it. I run my fingers over my ribs to see if I can feel any pain from the contact. There's nothing though. Just the feeling of skin lightly brushing against skin, a touch that I never really appreciated until this moment. I press my hand against my sternum and sigh.

“Okay,” I mumble. “We're okay.” After I peek in the mirror again I waddle over to my bed and fall onto the soft mattress. Right away I snuggle into my comforters and close my eyes, willing sleep to envelope me before the nightly event begins.

I'm younger here. A sophomore with hope coiled inside of me like a child's slinky before trying to make it leap down the stairs. Lily sits across from me at the lunch table. I scroll through my Instagram feed, seeing what people have been posting about the Avengers most recent battle.

“Y/N.” I lift my eyes when I hear Lily calls me only to be met with her skinny juul. I stare blankly at it and raise an eyebrow.

“What?” I wonder with furrowed brows, not sure what she wants me to do. Lily rolls her eyes and pushes the item close to me.

“You should try it,” she encourages. I just scoff and look back down at my phone.

“Thanks but no,” I mumble and double click my home button to switch to Twitter. “You know I don't do anything like that.” When I glance at Lily through my hair I see her rolling her eyes while taking another hit. She leans in towards me and blows the steam right into my face. I choke on the faux smell of peaches and turn away.

“Dude,” I cough.

“Come on Y/N,” she moans and offers it to me again. “It's gonna happen sooner or later. Might as well get used to it.” I nod sarcastically and swag it away from me.

“You can't know that,” I hiss. Lily's stubborn though, and the little black thing stays right next to my lips.

“You go to a hippy liberal school in New York,” she informs me. “It's gonna happen.” I spare the juul another look hesitantly. I know better. I know that doing anything unusual may disrupt my connection with the in-between, but the begging look in Lily's eyes is enough to make me take the item from her. She smirks victoriously as I turn the mouthpiece towards my dry lips and take a shaky breath.

“One hit,” I reaffirm. Hesitantly, I put it in my mouth. The moment the drug hits my tongue I feel repulsed by the feeling and pull it out of my mouth. Coughing out loud I toss Lily's juul back to her. She laughs sweetly as the steam sputters out of my throat.

“Like it?” she chuckles. I roll my eyes and flip her off while grabbing my phone again.

“God no,” I tell her while gritting my teeth, the peachy taste still stuck in my throat. She pats my shoulder hand softly. The moment her skin meets mine I'm jolted forward through the day until I'm in my sixth-period class. I tap my finger paranoidly on my desk and glance around.

Hundreds if not thousands of hands run around my body by I can't make out any in-betweeners. I flash in and out of this world uncontrollably despite how hard I cling. Beads of sweat drip from my face and my teacher stares at me blankly.

“Y/N sweetheart, are you okay?” The moment she asks it I stand from my seat and shake my head. My chair falls backward and onto the linoleum with a loud thud. I stare down at my hands which fade in and out of sight and I nearly faint when I realize that they remind of the warped space when in-betweeners are around.

“No,” I mumble, suddenly feeling sick beyond belief. Hurriedly I sprint over to the trash can and vomit into it. I cling to the bag as I continue hurling into it, feeling weaker and weaker as more is released from me.

The dream doesn't continue as it should though. Abruptly, I'm taken from my dream and placed on an entirely different planet. The ground beneath me is course and the color of rust. My fingers dig into the rough sand and I lift it to my face. I study the material as it falls through my nimble fingers and hits the planet’s crust.

“Something's happening,” a woman announces. I twist around wildly to face her and demand some sort of answer about where I am. When I meet her wide eyes that stare straight into mine though I'm shocked. Whoever she is, she is absolutely not human. I step closer to her, taking in her pale skin, pure black eyes and skinny antennas. The moment I open my mouth to question her she begins turning to ash.

I watch in horror as what remains of the woman brushes past my face as though it is one last scared attempt to cling to life. My vision flickers away for a moment. When it returns there is yet another alien figure in front of me, only this one has grey and red skin with broad shoulders. He stares right through me, obviously not realizing I'm here with him.

“Quill?” he mumbles before fading into ash as well. I turn slowly to where he was looking and find myself face to face with a man who I believe to be human. He, just like the other, doesn't notice me as he looks down at his hands that begin turning to ash.

“Oh man.” Just like the others, he disappears, his ashes whispering along my skin as I begin to cry. I begin hugging my body desperately to try and quiet the whimpers that escape my already raw throat. My eyes shut, not wanting to see any more death.

“Tony…” another voice begins but I keep my eyes closed, unwilling to watch as another person dies. “There was no other way.”

“Mr. Stark?” For some strange reason, this is the voice that completely breaks me. My head snaps up and I look at a young man, dressed in a metal Spider-Man suit who hugs himself like I'm doing. He looks up and I understand that each of us knows what is going to happen next.

I stand on my weak legs, staring right at the boy who can't even see me. My stomach is in hurtful knots when I realize he's the boy Ned promised I would meet one day. God, I don't want to meet him like this.

“I don't feel so good,” he slurs his words. With a choked gasp I begin backing away. I can't find any sort of courage in me to watch him of all people disappear and stain my body with ash. All of the sudden he falls forward and into my arms. A sob escapes my scratchy throats as he wraps his arms around me and begins to cry as well. Despite the voice in my head telling me not to I wrap my arms around his torso and pull him closer to me.

“I don't want to go,” he bawls into my chest. “Please, I don't wanna go. I don't wanna go,” he repeats. I bow my head and look down, finding that not only is the boy I'm holding turning to ash but so am I. I hide my face in his chestnut curls and cry out, scared beyond belief.

“I’ll go with you,” I promise, hoping he may just hear. “We’ll go together. We’ll go together.” Suddenly, the boy falls back and I go down with him.  He stares tto his right as my body begins to disintegrate more and more. I find that my vision becomes blotchy with dark spots and soon enough the only thing I can see is his calming brown eyes as he turns back towards me.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers. I place a hand on his face as I begin fading away with him.

“Me too.”

I shoot up from my comforters that have become damp with sweat. My hands cling to my sides as I make sure I’m still pieced together. Much to my relief I haven’t turned to ash or disappeared but that doesn’t make what I just experienced any less real. Searching for solace after such a terrible nightmare I look to my hands. I only find more horror etched into my skin though. Tucked into the creases of my palms are flakes of ash. A silent scream escapes my throat as I glare down at them.

Because of my sudden outburst, hundreds if not thousands of in-betweeners come to me. Despite my efforts all of their own fear and pain and suffering bleeds into my head, making what I’m going through a million times worse. I hyperventilate while holding my hands far away from me. Just like sophomore year, hands begin stroking my exposed skin. I grind my teeth to trap the sob that bursts through my throat.

“Please go away,” I mumble. “I can’t do anything for you. Go away.” The hands and emotions stay persistent though. “I can’t help any of you. I can’t save your souls. Please, please, please go away. Please-” my head lulls to the side slowly when my breathing becomes too short. Achingly I fall backward and onto my bed when my breathing stops completely from having such a severe panic attack, allowing me to fall back asleep.

Hours later I wake to the shining sun bouncing into my room. I have to squint my eyes because of such an extremely bright sunrise. After I few minute of adjusting to the light I yawn and stretch out on the bed, running my hands through my tangled hair and across my messy comforter. Something weighs down on the mattress next to me but I just figure it’s Max. Smiling to myself I turn around on my bed and run and drop my arms around him, finding comfort in the fact that he stayed throughout the night.

“Max,” I begin to wearily open my eyes, “you’re such a good-” my words get caught in my throat when I find myself staring right at a sleeping boy who had covered himself in my sheets. My mouth drops open and I stare at him blankly for a moment, unsure of what I do in a scenario such as this. My heart skips a beat when his eyes crack open, forcing me to realize this is actually happening. He stares at me tiredly, obviously still unable to differentiate reality from his dream. My heartbeat picks up again and I can’t help the frightened shriek of horror I let out right next to his ear.

And god, if he wasn’t awake before then he is now.

A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed and as always if you’d like to be tagged in series please send an ask to me or leave a comment! Requests are open! ❤️💛💙❤️💛💙

Tag List

| @isabella212 | @holyhumorliteraturelight | @hamiltrin | @why-am-I-here-again-shitheads | @tom-holland-imagines-are-us | @ohdamnerons |

[spnsimpleman]

The Unknowns: Twenty Three

This is a continuation for The Unknowns.  A one-shot turned into a long ass Prologue.  Part One.  Part Two.  Part Three. Four.Part Five.  Part Six.Part Seven.  Part Eight.  Part Nine. Ten. Eleven.  Twelve.  Thirteen. Fourteen.  Fifteen.  Sixteen. Seventeen.  Eighteen.  Nineteen.  Twenty.   Twenty-one.  Twenty Two.

Dean x Psychic!reader

Teaser/Summary: An AU sparked from a songfic challenge, The Unknowns is based on Season One Episode Nine, Dean met reader in Lawrence as a child and they created an unbreakable bond. At the end of The Unknowns, reader decided to stick with her boys because she felt something coming but she holds secrets; one she holds close to her heart and a few that she doesn’t even really know yet.

Word count: 3373

I stared down at the pretty calligraphy. I had snorted the first time I saw it and Pamela only grinned in response. A lot of my father’s family had thought this dream was merely a fairy tale and someone had taken it a step further by writing it down like it belonged in an old book or maybe had been torn from one.

Pamela had warned me multiple times that it had been translated too many times and rewritten to remove some of the flowery nonsense but I could hear her warning loud and clear, don’t waste your life hanging everything on a dream.

I think in some way she still blamed my father for leaving us too early because of his obsession but it might be the one thing that ends up saving my life, our lives. If it helps us in any way, could it really have been that much of a waste?

If I can’t figure it out, it just might. I shook my head and tried to focus.

A fair warning, powers shall bless and curse while some always remain stringently aloof. All will leave marks. To those who have the ability, to read and to choose, not only what legacy they shall leave behind, but what future they will set forth.

The same powers that whispered freedom into the ears of men at the Alamo on that November night when Halley’s Comet blazed high in the sky, a different kind of battle was revealed to an old warrior with spurs already retired. A vision of bloodshed and a solution, but only if he was steadfast with his time, his sweat and blood, and the iron and steel.  

A warrior’s sacrifice will prove fruitful if the solution stays on course and gripped by those destined to wield it against the evil that threatens them. The Marksman, Soldier, and Witness.

Below the text, someone added in a careful hand without the fancy swirls and ink,  

Samuel Colt built a weapon and thirteen bullets to end a war brewing between heaven and hell. The same night brave men lost their lives at the Alamo, the last sigil was carved in the revolver that would end a demonic plot and reign.

Entrusted to a fellow who appeared in the vision and held promise in his own right. Wesley Campbell bore a son that continued the line for generations, the weapon will pass through these hands until finally gripped by those destined to wield it.

The marksman, soldier, and witness?

Scrawled underneath in a familiar messy hand,

Halley's Comet- November 1835.

The Texans defeated at The Alamo- March 6th, 1836

Gun surfaced in 1920 with seven bullets in Chicago before disappearing again.

Marksman- Danny? Soldier- John? Witness- me.

My father had fact-checked what he could and added his own assumptions. Did he ever know Mary’s maiden name? Was it just coincidence that we ended up on that street?

Lips pressed against my neck in a sensual touch and I stretched my head to the side. Dean looked down at the paper as his hands smoothed around under my chest, “still reading over it?” I nodded and leaned back into him. “I thought your dream or feeling was four though. Why did you have something tell you four if this family thing is three?”

“I don’t know. I talked to Pamela about it too. She reminded me once again that it was just a dream and premonitions are not always clear but she did have a few ideas, only one that had any strength though.” He pulled me up, sat down, and yanked me into his lap. I chuckled but settled against him soothed by his energy swirling with mine. Even though he showered, he still smelled like grease and metal. He was so close to finishing Baby and I knew when he left I wouldn’t be able to go this time. My focus needed to be here and away from Sam.

Sam. My brother who could barely handle being in the same room as me.

He squeezed my side and nuzzled his face into my neck, grief and love surging through the bond and blending with mine, “what’s this idea?”

“Three is a strong magic number but Pamela said four is balanced and it would make sense since four always relates to stability. In some old cultures, and you can find it in almost every religion…” He pinched me again and I rolled my eyes, “okay, geez, she focused on Native American culture, the number four is sacred and she said the first thing that came to mind was the four sacred obligations of the Zia people; to develop a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and a devotion to the welfare of your people. She doesn’t believe in coincidence and she thinks the reason that came to mind is because we could break those four obligations up between the four of us.  Strong body, clear mind, pure spirit, and devotion to your people.” I worried my lip again, “although she spent a good amount of time in New Mexico where the Zia tribe lived so she could be...”

“I don’t get it.”

I blew out a breath and pulled away, “never mind. It still doesn’t mean anything.” He gripped my sides, not allowing me to leave his lap.

“Okay, come on, dumb it down for me.” I scowled at him and he chuckled, “sorry, I’m not dumb but I’m a little lost.” He pouted and I looked away, frustrated more by my lack of any progress than his attempt to distract me.

“It really doesn’t mean…” He turned my head to face him and his brow rose. His fingers playing against my jawline just skimming my lips. “Fine. Jess is the pure spirit, you are the devotion, I’m the mind, and Sam…”

“Wait, why am I not the body?”

“Seriously? You’ve been devoted to protecting us since we were kids.”

“So have you or did I just imagine a little girl holding up a bat to beat away a demon?” I narrowed my eyes and he chuckled, “okay, but this is just an idea? Because I’m not judging… I’m just...”

I punched him and he barked out a laugh, “we’re grabbing at straws.” I sighed, “I don’t understand why your dad thought it was us that the stupid dream was talking about when I know that Jess is supposed to be with us. That we’re supposed to be four, not three.” I scrubbed my face and pressed the heels of my hands into my tired eyes.

“You know what?” He stood, lifting me with him only to let me slide down his body until my feet hit the ground. He grabbed my hands, “enough of this for today. You need some fresh air.”

He pulled me toward the back door. “What are you doing? I don’t even have shoes on!”

He flashed that smile and despite the shadows beneath his eyes, it was blinding. “You leave them by the door, stop fighting me. You know you don’t really want to.” He stopped and turned as I bumped into him. “Actually, yes, fight me. You said yourself you’re grabbing at straws and we haven’t sparred in too long. You’re gonna get your ass handed to you if I don’t intervene.” He wiggled his brows, gave me a quick kiss, and then dragged me onward again.

My laughter, however scratchy, followed us outside. A good fight with him sounded wonderful, but anything with him was.

~~

I walked into the kitchen stretching my arms over my head. Dean had been right, of course, I needed to get out of my head. The stress had been knotted up my muscles more than I had realized. I smirked. There was no way I wanted to admit it but I knew he already felt it. There was no point in fighting it when it streamed through the bond completely awake because of our time together outside.

I bumped into a solid wall of muscles and winced. I was so busy thinking about this open wave between us that I completely lost focus on the world in front of my eyes. “Sorry,” I mumbled.

Sam walked across the room while I glanced around for Jess. No save there. I opened my mouth to say something else but nothing would come out. I snapped my jaw shut and winced at the stupid sound that echoed in the small room with too many acoustic surfaces. I rubbed my arms and moved to the cabinets Bobby kept some snacks in. I didn’t want any, I needed to get in the fridge. I glanced over and Sam shut the fridge door, a glass of orange juice in his hand. The one he would ultimately shove on me missing and completely jarring no matter how hard I tried to forget it.

The room was hollow, an empty void where I stood alone. My heart punched my ribcage, the rushing sound in my ears overbearing. I ached to tell him what I didn’t need to say, what I needed to say but couldn’t. Shouldn’t. There was nothing but empty space, an overwhelming silence that hurt more than anything I could imagine. I watched him from the corner of my eyes, the stiffness in his shoulders and arms, his back far too straight as he turned and strode out of the room without a word or a look in my direction.

My eyes burned and my vision blurred, the shelves in front of me weren’t even there. Memories crashed over me, more torture than relief to a throat too tight, a chest too full.

My laughter filled the room the second I saw my gangly goof. Sam held a glass against his chest with his forearm as he gripped another he carefully poured orange juice into, trying not to spill and incur Bobby’s wrath. “That’s what counters are for, pumpkin. Why do you need two glasses anyway?”

He glanced over and almost spilled the juice. “Shit. This is what I get for looking out for you.”

I laughed again and opened the snack cabinet. “Please, you give oj way too much credit.”

“No, you don’t take care of yourself. Everyone knows Dean isn’t going to help. The only vitamins he knows are flintstones.”

I shook a box of crackers and pulled them down. “I know and eat all the food groups.” I closed the cabinet and Sam was next to me holding out the second glass.

“Malnutrition is not only a third world problem.”

I glanced down and the juice didn’t sound half bad. “If I drink that will you leave me alone?”

He chuckled, “nope. Without me, how are you ever going to be as strong as you dream to be?”

I fought back the laugh, “okay, coach.” I narrowed my eyes, “but I’m not running 5 miles today.”

He grinned, “we’ll see about that.”

I closed the cabinet and turned. I needed water and a beer for Dean but my feet were so heavy. I rested my hands on the counter, my arms shook and I cursed myself. This was my own choice. This was what I had prepared for. My lungs screamed and I squeezed my eyes shut.

I snatched the water bottle out of the air, “hydrate.”

“I know,” I chuckled as he poured half of it over his head. He glanced at me and I knew that look in his eyes but didn’t move fast enough. He shook his head and I shrieked, “gross, Sammy! Damnit, get away!��

His laughter echoed in my head but didn’t match the man that couldn’t be around me, that couldn’t look at me without seeing the person who lied to his face, who allowed him to hurt for so many long months. This was mine to bear. I knew this would happen when I made my choice.

A searing pain in my chest had me leaning on the counter, my legs too shaky. I was strong enough. I had to be for him.

I was yanked off the counter and spun around before crushed in a familiar embrace. “Breathe, damnit!”

I knew what would come if I gave in to that desire, what I would unleash. “Y/n,” Dean’s voice cracked, “please. Just breathe. We’ll get through this.”

It was too hot in here, too heavy. Get me out of here.

BREATHE! His voice shocked through my system with an actual electric jolt.

I sucked in a breath and the sob was smothered by his chest. He lifted me up and moved. I couldn’t tell where and couldn’t care. I just let go while hanging onto him for dear life. Trusting him to tether me while I drowned.

“Not drowning. I got you. I’m right here. This will pass, we’ll get past it. Just keep breathing. I protect you, y/n. Always.”

The tears continued, my chest heaving out sobs I couldn’t control. I slipped into that place where his energy blended with mine, weaving through it and curling around it. I didn’t deserve escape but I couldn’t survive without him. At least I’d always have him.

“He’ll come around too. Just like you said. It’ll take time.” He whispered into my ear, his breath hot pulling me toward the surface.

I curled inward tucking further into his swirling green. The one thing I didn’t want to think, didn’t want to give any piece of reality to, slipped out, he hates me.

Never. You’re family.

But I knew Sammy. I knew his worst, most vulnerable thoughts. I knew how he felt about John during those years when things were tortured and crazy and things were just too much.

“I hate my own father, y/n. What kind of person does that make me?”

I touched his face, those eyes screaming and echoing the strong emotions churning with my own. “Human, pumpkin. It makes you human.”

“You’re different from him and you know it. We’ll always be different.” We weren’t moving anymore and he had me tucked into him somewhere soft or maybe that was just him.

I gripped him tighter and didn’t answer. I couldn’t because I didn’t have one.

~~

I believe there's a moment that everyone comes upon once or multiple times when they feel a future event coming. They call it gut instinct, women’s intuition, or sometimes a sign from above, but no matter what they call it or what rationale they give it, they all know that something’s coming, it’s going to happen no matter what and it's going to hurt. In spite of all that, they do it anyway because they also know it's the right thing, that it's supposed to happen. For better or worse. We just hope to hell it’s better. Or they don’t think they can change it because it’s already been written.

I don’t know which one is a better way to look at it.

I haven't had many moments where my intuition told me it was something I couldn't change ahead of time, but there have been a few. When I saw John at the motel the night Dean left me in bed; it had solidified a feeling I'd had the whole drive there but I ignored it because Dean was there and I was too excited to see him again. I could blame my sex drive but I have blocked things plenty of times because I didn't want to think about it.

But tonight, tonight I wanted to savor every inch of him, commit him to memory. I wasn’t clingy so much as I kept close within range so I could touch him at every chance. Sitting next to him on the couch finding any space for skin to brush, at lunch and dinner our hands sharing touches underneath the table, and then as we headed to bed, we moved together to the bathroom. We brushed our teeth, took a shower much like we had before but the touches were different, they weren't rushed or heated but slow, purposeful in a completely different tone. He dried me off, I dried him, and we pulled our towels around us for the walk to the bedroom.

Once behind the closed door, I thought we might lose that calm for frenzied action but we didn't. Dean peeled the towel away, each movement deliberate as if opening an unknown package. Before he touched me, I did the same to his. We stood naked in front of each other, taking in the person standing there. I could feel his melancholy, his longing, and that steeling; an armoring process he started when we were kids just before we had to leave each other. We knew tonight would be our last night for a while.

I shivered, an unfounded fear twisting in my stomach as I allowed my gaze to wander over a body I knew so well, but when I pulled at it, it fell away. The last time we said goodbye like this, darkness had been hanging over us, Dean’s possible death blocked from me. But there was no feeling of impending doom on the horizon this time, but there wasn’t one when he had come close to losing his life because of a damn taser either.

He closed the space between us and pressed his finger to my lips, “shh. Just us. Nothing outside of this room right now.”

I looked up into those eyes and didn’t need to say a word. He took my hand and led me to the bed. I climbed on but before I could crawl to the pillows, he grabbed my waist. I turned and knelt before him on the bed not having to question before his hands were on my neck, his thumbs brushing my jaw before moving up and over my lips. They were soft and tantalizing before moving over my cheeks and into my hair. His lips were next, gently teasing mine before pulling me in and pressing my body against his.

Sometimes it could be too much when he was constantly gentle, not demanding anything but more like gently lapping waves moving and discovering then taking what he'd found, marking it as his own. Tonight, it was perfect. We took turns exploring and memorizing, murmuring through the connection but not rushing the other.

When we finally joined in a slow, smooth stroke, my legs wrapped around his waist and we held each other there pulsing. Our foreheads pressed together, his darkened green gaze staring into mine.

I love you.

Forever and ever.

This was our memory. Our one moment we’d always want to keep the other in. We were both many things, both had so many favorite memories but this was where we always found ourselves. These were always the memories held closest to the heart, when we were joined in every sense of the word.

He finally kissed me and began a slow rhythm. We moved together, rocking, tweaking the position to find another until we found the one that was explosive, but still, he kept a torturously slow rhythm through each orgasm he coaxed.

His hands smoothing up my back, down my sides, gripping my hips. I pushed back into him, kneaded his thighs or his arms, and trailed my hands up his stomach and chest, smoothed my hands over the stubble on his jaw before pulling him down for a kiss. We changed positions, becoming a little more frantic when we felt him getting close and then finally wrapped our arms around each other, crushing our upper bodies into one as our last thrusts sent us reeling over the edge. My cries and his groans mingling in our ears until we fell to the bed, spent and yet still swimming on the high.

He kissed my forehead, my nose, and then my lips. “Perfect.”

I touched his face wanting to say that I didn't want to lose him but I didn't want to make this any harder than it already was. He kissed me again only this time he went deeper. You’ll never lose me because I will never let go.

No matter how hard it gets, I was still the luckiest woman on earth.

Twenty Four

@duchessofwinchester , @jodyri , @jencharlan , @deanssweetheart23  @torn-and-frayed , @chrisatplay , @mogaruke, @captainemwinchester  , @ashrod98 , @mrswhozeewhatsis , @caitsymichelle13  , @escabell , @thealyana , @michellethetvaddict , @ashch , @rashinyx2002 , @tamtamlov

[atlazaraes]

𝐊. 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 : 𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 - 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐎 𝐌𝐈𝐃 / 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝟏𝟒𝟗𝟎𝐒

ACT           I                      ━━                               katherine           was           born          pyeon           kyung-mi           in           1473         ,           during           the           joseon           dynasty           under           the           rule           of           emperor           seongjung           in           korea          .               they          belonged          to          the         yangban          social          class          ,          her         father          being          an          official          of         their          area          .               her          parents          had          high          hopes          for          their          daughter          ,          especially         given          that          she          was          born         with          a          face          prettier          than         most          .               she          was          ,          in          face          ,          betrothed          to          another          .               a          man          from          a         military          background          over          ten          years          her          junior          .   

unfortunately          ,           those           hopes           were          dashed           when          ,           at           sixteen          ,          she          fell          pregnant          after         a          tryst          with          a          traveler         they          had          invited          into          their          home          .               truly          ,          she         had          feelings          for          this          boy          &&               she          believed          he          loved          her          ,          as          well          .               whether          he          did          or          not          ,          they          were          not          destined          to          be          together          .

desperate          &&          ashamed          ,          her         parents          sent          her          away          for         the          duration          of          the          pregnancy          .               at          seventeen          ,          kyung-mi          gave          birth          to          a          baby          girl          away          from          home          &&          she          was          forced          to          watch          ,          sobbing          &&          pleading          ,          as          the          midwife          ,          under          orders          from          her          father          ,          took          the          infant          away          before          she          got          the          chance          to          even         hold          her          .               not          long         after          ,          before          she          had         fully          healed          from          childbirth          ,          she          was          made          to          leave         korea          entirely          .              

it          was          by          the          grace          of          the          women          who          had          cared         for          her          over          the          past         months          alone          that          she          did         not          leave          empty          handed          .               money          went          pushed          into          her          palms          ,          sewn          into          the         hems          of          her          clothing          &&          a          small          amount          of          food          that          could          be          spared          went         handed          over          as          well          .               it          is          likely          that          ,         because          of          this          kindness          ,         that          kyung-mi          continued          to          survive          .      

at           first          ,           she           went           to           thailand           (                the           kingdom           of          ayutthaya           )               ,           a           country           friendly           with           her           own           &&           from           there           she           went           to           portugal           before          ,           finally          ,           landing           in           england         .                having           little           to           no           money          ,           she           bartered           her           way           onto           ships           offering           her           services          ,           eager           to           see           the           world          .                it           was           on           these           ships           that           she           started           learning           other           languages           &&           even           how           to           read           -           however          ,           not           in           in           her           own           native           language           for           she           was          ,           often          ,           the           only           korean          .    

ACT           II                      ━━                                 upon           arriving           in          england          ,           she           settled          down           to           do           whatever           she           could           to           survive           with           her           passing           grasp           on           english          .                Not           long           after          ,           she           met           a           man           named           trevor           who           introduced           her           to           elijah           mikaelson           who           then           introduced           her           to           his           brother          ,           klaus           &&          ,           to           her           surprise          ,           they           brought           in           to           their           place         .                at           first          ,           she           didn’t           think           much           of           it         .                likened           them           to           two           kind           souls           that           saw           a           struggling           foreign           woman           &&           decided           to           help          .                if           asked          ,           kyung-mi           would           say           she           fell           in           love           with           both           klaus           &&           elijah          ,           both           for           very           different           reasons          .               &&           she           did          .                

there           was           something           about           the           brothers           that           appealed           to           her          ,           had           her           seeking           them           out           when           she           was           not           working           on           her           english           with           a           tutor           brought           in           specifically           for           her          .                she           grew           eager           to           please           &&           see           them           smile           &&           could           often           be           found           playing           among           the           grounds          with           them          .                

oh          !                if           her           parents           could           see           her          ,           now          .                wearing           beautiful           western           gowns           the           like           they           would          never           see           back           in           korea         ,           attending           balls           &&           meeting           the           well           to           do          .                she           decided           that           she           could           very           much           enjoy           the           style           of           living           that           came           along           with           being           in           the           brothers           circle          .    

unfortunately          ,           things           took           a           turn         .                you           can           only           inhabit           the           same           space           with           others           for           so           long           before           things           are           revealed          .                kyung-mi           learned          ,           by           sheer           accident          ,           what           they           were           as           well           as           what           klaus           planned           to           do           with           her          .                immediately          ,           she          enlisted           the           aid           of           trevor           &&           fled           before          the           brothers           knew           what           hit           them          ,           taking           the          moonstone           with           her          .    

she           ran           &&           ran           &&           ran          ,           separating           from          trevor           at           some           point          ,           before           reaching           the           cabin           in           the           woods           he           intended           for           her           to           find          .                there          ,           she           met           a          vampire           named           rose          ,           whom           kyung-mi           begged           for           assistance          .                unfortunately          ,          rose           was           on           the           mikaelsons           side           &&           planned           to           return           her           so           as           not           to           incur           klaus’           wrath          .                

deciding          she           would           rather           die           than           be           returned          ,           kyung-mi          stabbed           herself          .                instead          of           dying          ,           rose           force           fed           her           blood           in           order           to           heal           her          .                still          ,           her           desire           to           take           her           own           life           was           there          .                if           she           were           to           die          ,           it           would           be           on           her           own           terms          .               &&           so          ,           the           next           moment           rose           left           her           alone          ,           kyung-mi           slipped           a           noose           around           her           neck           &&           hanged           herself          .    

ACT           III                      ━━                               kyung-mi           woke           up          in           transition          ,           due           to           the           vampire           blood           in           her           system          .                after           an           argument           with           rose           &&           trevor          ,           the           other           woman           attempted           to           stab           her           with           a           stake           in           order           to           end           her           life           for           good          ,           now           that           she           was          no           longer           of           any           use          .                instead           of           taking          the           attack          ,           kyung-mi           used           the           owner           of           the           cabin           as           a           shield           &&          ,           after           the           old           womans           death          ,           gave           into           her           urges           &&           drained           her         .                like           this          ,           she           completed           the           transition          .               like           this          ,           she           disappeared           once           more          .    

a           few           months           later          ,           she           resurfaced           back           in           korea          with           the           goal           of          returning           home           only           to          discover           her           family           had           been           slaughtered           by           klaus          .                a           gruesome           display           of           his           anger           over           being           denied          what           he           wanted           -           her           blood           to           end           his           curse          .                knowing           that           her           home           is           no           longer           safe         ,           she           stays           just           long           enough           to           bury           her           parents           before           fleeing           once           more          .    

she           never           stays           in           one           place           for           long          ,           always           looking           over           her           shoulder           for           klaus           or           elijah           or           their           people          .               sometimes          ,           she           stays           ahead           of           them          .                other           times           she           must           sneak           out           of           a           town           or           city          ,           barely           making           her           escape           before           they           find           her          ,           so           convinced           she           was           that           she           would           be           torn          apart           in           retribution           for           what           klaus           lost          .    

BULLET           POINTS                     ━━

made           the           transition           into           a           vampire           at           around           age           20-21          as           opposed           to           18          .               After           leaving           her           home           at           age           17          ,           it           takes           several           years           before           she           is           able           to           reach           england                     .  

[lazaraes-a]

𝐊. 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊 : 𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 - 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐎 𝐌𝐈𝐃 / 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝟏𝟒𝟗𝟎𝐒

ACT           I                      ━━                               katherine           was           born          pyeon           kyung-mi           in           1473         ,           during           the           joseon           dynasty           under           the           rule           of           emperor           seongjung           in           korea          .               they          belonged          to          the         yangban          social          class          ,          her         father          being          an          official          of         their          area          .               her          parents          had          high          hopes          for          their          daughter          ,          especially         given          that          she          was          born         with          a          face          prettier          than         most          .               she          was          ,          in          face          ,          betrothed          to          another          .               a          man          from          a         military          background          over          ten          years          her          junior          .   

unfortunately          ,           those           hopes           were          dashed           when          ,           at           sixteen          ,          she          fell          pregnant          after         a          tryst          with          a          traveler         they          had          invited          into          their          home          .               truly          ,          she         had          feelings          for          this          boy          &&               she          believed          he          loved          her          ,          as          well          .               whether          he          did          or          not          ,          they          were          not          destined          to          be          together          .

desperate          &&          ashamed          ,          her         parents          sent          her          away          for         the          duration          of          the          pregnancy          .               at          seventeen          ,          kyung-mi          gave          birth          to          a          baby          girl          away          from          home          &&          she          was          forced          to          watch          ,          sobbing          &&          pleading          ,          as          the          midwife          ,          under          orders          from          her          father          ,          took          the          infant          away          before          she          got          the          chance          to          even         hold          her          .               not          long         after          ,          before          she          had         fully          healed          from          childbirth          ,          she          was          made          to          leave         korea          entirely          .              

it          was          by          the          grace          of          the          women          who          had          cared         for          her          over          the          past         months          alone          that          she          did         not          leave          empty          handed          .               money          went          pushed          into          her          palms          ,          sewn          into          the         hems          of          her          clothing          &&          a          small          amount          of          food          that          could          be          spared          went         handed          over          as          well          .               it          is          likely          that          ,         because          of          this          kindness          ,         that          kyung-mi          continued          to          survive          .      

at           first          ,           she           went           to           thailand           (                the           kingdom           of          ayutthaya           )               ,           a           country           friendly           with           her           own           &&           from           there           she           went           to           portugal           before          ,           finally          ,           landing           in           england         .                having           little           to           no           money          ,           she           bartered           her           way           onto           ships           offering           her           services          ,           eager           to           see           the           world          .                it           was           on           these           ships           that           she           started           learning           other           languages           &&           even           how           to           read           -           however          ,           not           in           in           her           own           native           language           for           she           was          ,           often          ,           the           only           korean          .    

ACT           II                      ━━                                 upon           arriving           in          england          ,           she           settled          down           to           do           whatever           she           could           to           survive           with           her           passing           grasp           on           english          .                Not           long           after          ,           she           met           a           man           named           trevor           who           introduced           her           to           elijah           mikaelson           who           then           introduced           her           to           his           brother          ,           klaus           &&          ,           to           her           surprise          ,           they           brought           in           to           their           place         .                at           first          ,           she           didn’t           think           much           of           it         .                likened           them           to           two           kind           souls           that           saw           a           struggling           foreign           woman           &&           decided           to           help          .                if           asked          ,           kyung-mi           would           say           she           fell           in           love           with           both           klaus           &&           elijah          ,           both           for           very           different           reasons          .               &&           she           did          .                

there           was           something           about           the           brothers           that           appealed           to           her          ,           had           her           seeking           them           out           when           she           was           not           working           on           her           english           with           a           tutor           brought           in           specifically           for           her          .                she           grew           eager           to           please           &&           see           them           smile           &&           could           often           be           found           playing           among           the           grounds          with           them          .                

oh          !                if           her           parents           could           see           her          ,           now          .                wearing           beautiful           western           gowns           the           like           they           would          never           see           back           in           korea         ,           attending           balls           &&           meeting           the           well           to           do          .                she           decided           that           she           could           very           much           enjoy           the           style           of           living           that           came           along           with           being           in           the           brothers           circle          .    

unfortunately          ,           things           took           a           turn         .                you           can           only           inhabit           the           same           space           with           others           for           so           long           before           things           are           revealed          .                kyung-mi           learned          ,           by           sheer           accident          ,           what           they           were           as           well           as           what           klaus           planned           to           do           with           her          .                immediately          ,           she          enlisted           the           aid           of           trevor           &&           fled           before          the           brothers           knew           what           hit           them          ,           taking           the          moonstone           with           her          .    

she           ran           &&           ran           &&           ran          ,           separating           from          trevor           at           some           point          ,           before           reaching           the           cabin           in           the           woods           he           intended           for           her           to           find          .                there          ,           she           met           a          vampire           named           rose          ,           whom           kyung-mi           begged           for           assistance          .                unfortunately          ,          rose           was           on           the           mikaelsons           side           &&           planned           to           return           her           so           as           not           to           incur           klaus’           wrath          .                

deciding          she           would           rather           die           than           be           returned          ,           kyung-mi          stabbed           herself          .                instead          of           dying          ,           rose           force           fed           her           blood           in           order           to           heal           her          .                still          ,           her           desire           to         �� take           her           own           life           was           there          .                if           she           were           to           die          ,           it           would           be           on           her           own           terms          .               &&           so          ,           the           next           moment           rose           left           her           alone          ,           kyung-mi           slipped           a           noose           around           her           neck           &&           hanged           herself          .    

ACT           III                      ━━                               kyung-mi           woke           up          in           transition          ,           due           to           the           vampire           blood           in           her           system          .                after           an           argument           with           rose           &&           trevor          ,           the           other           woman           attempted           to           stab           her           with           a           stake           in           order           to           end           her           life           for           good          ,           now           that           she           was          no           longer           of           any           use          .                instead           of           taking          the           attack          ,           kyung-mi           used           the           owner           of           the           cabin           as           a           shield           &&          ,           after           the           old           womans           death          ,           gave           into           her           urges           &&           drained           her         .                like           this          ,           she           completed           the           transition          .               like           this          ,           she           disappeared           once           more          .    

a           few           months           later          ,           she           resurfaced           back           in           korea          with           the           goal           of          returning           home           only           to          discover           her           family           had           been           slaughtered           by           klaus          .                a           gruesome           display           of           his           anger           over           being           denied          what           he           wanted           -           her           blood           to           end           his           curse          .                knowing           that           her           home           is           no           longer           safe         ,           she           stays           just           long           enough           to           bury           her           parents           before           fleeing           once           more          .    

she           never           stays           in           one           place           for           long          ,           always           looking           over           her           shoulder           for           klaus           or           elijah           or           their           people          .               sometimes          ,           she           stays           ahead           of           them          .                other           times           she           must           sneak           out           of           a           town           or           city          ,           barely           making           her           escape           before           they           find           her          ,           so           convinced           she           was           that           she           would           be           torn          apart           in           retribution           for           what           klaus           lost          .    

BULLET           POINTS                     ━━

made           the           transition           into           a           vampire           at           around           age           20-21          as           opposed           to           18          .               After           leaving           her           home           at           age           17          ,           it           takes           several           years           before           she           is           able           to           reach           england                     .  

[gilbertandanne]

AU College Fic. Farkle never figured out how Riley really felt about Lucas, so it never got out. Now she’s turning 21 and the gang decides to go to Las Vegas to celebrate. Sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas.

Rating: M

Pairing: Rucas

Word Count: 8,708

Cross-posted at ff.net            

Soundtrack (although not at all organized and subject to edits)

A/N: This song got dropped today, but it’s P E R F E C T to listen to as you read this chapter: “It Won’t Kill Ya” by The Chainsmokers.  

Also, 21 is now rated M.  And yes, I do take a little advantage of that switch in this chapter.  This chapter is dedicated to @gmwpluto because she held my hand and kicked my butt throughout multiple rewrites and edits.  She is the best sounding board ever cause she makes you kinda fight for what you’re doing and explain the reasoning behind it and yeah, I’m gonna get killed for this chapter, but I stand by everything that happens and considering the meltdown I had about it, I’m pleased with the result. Thank you Amy.

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K | A | J |

                                      Chapter Ten: Tension

Her brain couldn’t process anything that was running through her chaotic mind.  She had hurt him.  She knew that much, but he had hurt her too.  He accused her of trying to pit Asher against him, of trying to create this buffer between whatever was growing between them, but that wasn’t true.  It wasn’t true because she knew that whatever this was couldn’t possibly last longer than the next few days.  He had always been non-committal when it came to his girlfriends.  A few weeks or even a few months would be the most she could possibly hope for.  She wasn’t willing to sacrifice her friendship with him when they were in middle school, and as strained and practically non-existent as it was now, she still didn’t think she could bear it if he completely vanished from her life.  That’s what would happen next, wouldn’t it?  They would go out for a while and he would realize that she wasn’t what he was looking for, so he would break up with her.  Afterward, she wouldn’t be able to be around him because it would hurt too much.  Their friends would be forced to take sides, and the entire group would fall apart.  She couldn’t let that happen.

As tears streamed down her cheeks, she knew that one day, she’d look back on this whole experience and know that she made the right decision by walking away from this before it was too late.  As she watched the fountains dance to the beat of the music, her heart finally declared war on her brain.

She wasn’t sure how long she stayed on the patio by herself.  Part of her had hoped that he would come back outside so they could go ahead and completely annihilate one another with more accusations and resentment.  Maybe it would be better to get it over with in one fell swoop as opposed to prolonging the inevitable.  It was her fault, anyway.  She was the one who suggested they play ‘seven minutes in heaven’ for real.  She was the one who could have walked away after her alarm went off the first time.  Maybe then, they wouldn’t be like this.  Maybe then they wouldn’t act like two complete idiots who, if she didn’t know any better, seemed to be completely in love with one another.

She scoffed as she wiped her eyes.  That was impossible.  While she knew that it was true on her end, she knew that if he wanted to figure everything out, if he really wanted to work through it, that he wouldn’t have left her the way he did.

She didn’t even want to have the stupid conversation in the first place—not now anyway.  She was drunk.  He was drunk.  She knew it would end badly, but he kept pushing her until he finally figured it out.

As Riley turned away from the show to go back inside, her head was spinning.  He knew now.  After seven years of hiding it from him, he now knew that she didn’t step back from him because her feelings for him had changed.

She took a deep breath as she made her way back to the table.  She had never felt more sober in her entire life.  She hated it.  She was never a huge drinker, and didn’t anticipate that trend changing just because it was suddenly legal for her to do so, but the battle her heart and brain waged was beginning to take its toll on her.  All she wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep through the next 48 hours.  She wanted to wake up in her dorm room in New York and chalk this whole trip up to being a bad dream—a cautionary tale about the perils of giving into temptation.

Her eyes locked on to Maya’s as she slowly approached the table.  She wrapped her arms around her body as a shiver rippled through her.

As soon as Maya saw Riley, she stood up and quickly made her way toward the quaking brunette.  “Riley?”  When Maya reached her, she rubbed Riley’s arms in an attempt to warm her up.  “You’re freezing.  Are you ok?”

Riley shook her head.  She was the complete opposite of ok.  How did everything get this complicated?  She just wanted to go out and have some fun and now she wasn’t even sure which way was up anymore.

“What happened?”

Riley shook her head once more.  She didn’t want to talk about it, not now anyway.  “Maya, I-I need…I…” She looked all around them.  What she was in search of, she didn’t even know.  She suddenly wanted to claw through her own skin, shed herself of her own body and simply float away.  This was all too much right now.  

As her frantic eyes continued to search the room, she spotted him.  He was seated at the main bar, and he wasn’t alone.  He wasn’t with the same woman as before, but it was another blonde woman and she wasn’t alone either.  A brunette woman had her arm looped through the blonde’s as they giggled at something Lucas said.  Riley felt a fresh batch of tears sting her eyes as her mouth fell open.

Maya furrowed her eyebrows together when she noticed anguish slowly seep into Riley’s eyes.  “Riley?  Riley, what is it?  Do we need to leave?”

Riley blinked several times as she stared at the three people who didn’t seem to have a clue that they were being watched.  Lucas seemed completely unfazed by their earlier conversation.  He laughed at something the blonde woman said, and made no move to remove the hand that the brunette woman had placed on his arm.  Riley’s throat ran dry as the blonde slid onto the barstool on the other side of him.  He was perfectly nestled between both girls now.

What a happy little threesome they seemed to be.  

The agony Riley felt when she stood outside rapidly faded.  Her desire to finish their conversation evaporated as she watched him take a sip of his scotch.  From where she stood, their conversation was over and he seemed more than content enough with the outcome.  

She’d be damned if she’d ever allow him to see how deeply he had gotten underneath her skin and into her heart.  If he was about to fulfill his quest to bring multiple women back to the suite, then she was hell bent on doing what she had set out to do the entire night—not think and not second-guess a single move she made.

But first, she needed to reclaim the buzz she had before she stepped outside with him.

“No,” she finally answered as she turned back to Maya.  She wiped her eyes.  “I want to stay.  I-Is my makeup ok?”

Maya wiped underneath Riley’s eyes to get rid of the slightly smudged eyeliner.  “Yeah.  You’re fine.  Why?  Riley, if you’re upset, then maybe we should—“

“Drink,” she offered even though she knew that wasn’t what Maya had in mind.

“No.  Maybe we should call it a night?”

Riley shook her head.  “No,” she answered as a slow smile tugged at the corners of her lips.  “The night’s only just begun.”  She glanced at the bar.  “I just need to find my buzz again.”

Maya was grateful that Riley’s master plan only seemed to consist of more vodka and dancing.  She had no idea what had transpired during Riley’s dance with Lucas, and while she wanted nothing more than to lock both of them in a closet and let them duke it out, she also knew that tonight wasn’t the best time to do it.  Everyone was intoxicated and she knew that Riley’s emotions were at an all time high.

Although Riley had taken to dancing with any guy who showed a remote interest in her, Maya knew that it could only go so far as long as she were nearby.  She was grateful that Zay and Farkle had joined them a few songs in.  Initially, Farkle had only shown up to give them each another drink, but Riley insisted that he stay with them and dance for at least a few songs.  She batted those beautiful brown eyes and told him that all she wanted for her birthday was to dance with her friends.  Farkle never stood a chance.  Her entire group of friends always ended up giving in when she pouted.

Maya noticed that not once since they hit the dance floor did Riley look back at Lucas.  She considered it a small victory.  She wanted nothing more than to see Riley and Lucas give it a shot, but she also knew nothing good would come out of a drunken conversation right now.  They had a lot to work through and discuss.  If they could make it through tonight, then maybe, just maybe, they would be able to work it out when their heads were a little clearer.

Riley laughed as she wrapped her arms around Zay’s neck and pressed her body against his.  “Dance class has really paid off, huh,” she grinned as they moved to the beat of the club music.

“You all laughed at me in middle school, but it’s always been a lady magnet,” he answered a he focused on the best place to hold Riley.  The last thing he wanted was to get in between whatever was going on with her and his best friend.  Incurring the wrath of Lucas Friar was one thing he did not want to do tonight.  He glanced over his shoulder as Maya cozied up behind him.  He turned back to Riley as he gestured at the blonde behind him.  “See?  Total lady magnet.”

“You’re in the middle of a Riley and Maya sandwich,” Riley laughed as she wrapped her arms around Maya as the trio rocked to the beat of the moderately slow R & B song.  “Do you know how many men would kill to be in your shoes right now?”

Zay chuckled nervously.  She was right.  He was nestled in between two beautiful women, and he knew damn well that if Lucas caught a glimpse of him right now that he might not live to see the sunrise.  “I know of one guy who probably would like to kill me right now if he saw this.”

“Make way for me,” Farkle announced as he ducked in between Riley and Zay.  The entire group laughed as Farkle slithered in between his friends.

“Farkle, I’m not that drunk yet,” Zay smiled before he spun around to dance with Maya.  The genius was one of his best friends, but his dance moves could prove to be lethal.  Farkle needed space to dance, and in his currently inebriated state, Zay wasn’t sure that he would understand that he only had a small space to work with.

Riley laughed as she placed her hands on Farkle’s shoulders.  “Oh Farkle…how are you doing?”

“Pretty good right now,” he smiled as he placed his hands on her waist.  He wasn’t really sure what he had been drinking or even how much he had.  He had placed Zay in charge of everything he consumed since he had never been much of a drinker.  “I can’t really feel my face right now.”

Riley’s eyes widened for a moment before she nearly doubled over in laughter.  “Oh my God,” she snorted as she gasped for air.  He couldn’t feel his face?  She had never been that drunk in her life.  That couldn’t possibly be normal, could it?  “I am so not on your level yet, Farkle.”

“Try me,” he grinned.  “I’m not kidding.”

“So, you can’t feel this?” She lightly touched his cheek.

He shook his head.  “Not at all!”

She tapped his cheek as her smile widened.  “And that?”

He shrugged.  “Nope.”

She lightly smacked his cheek.  “Still nothing?”

He laughed.  “Not a thing.”

“Wow.”  She was more than a little impressed.  Maybe she should get Zay to dictate the rest of her drinks for the night?  She moved her hand back down to his shoulder.  “If you were ever going to get into a fight, tonight would be the night to do it, Farkle.  Only…please don’t do that because then the night would be over and I’m having way too much fun to get kicked out of this club.”  She spun around before she placed her hand over top of his as she moved her hips from side to side.  “I love that you’re dancing right now,” she called out over her shoulder to him.  She couldn’t remember the last time she had been able to dance with him.  It had to have been high school.

“I told you guys that I would loosen up once we got here tonight,” he called out from behind her.

“I know, but I haven’t seen you have fun in a long time.”  She spun back around to face him as the song ended.

He shrugged as a more upbeat song began to play.  “Comes with the territory, I guess.”  He leaned in to speak directly into her ear as the DJ increased the volume of the music.  “I know you wanted this trip and it was your idea, but I needed it.  I needed to spend time with you guys…get out of New York for a few days.”

Riley frowned at his words.  He never talked about the breakup—not since the night it happened.  She turned her head to speak in his ear.  “Does it hurt?  Seeing places that you shared with her day after day?”

He nodded.  “Not as much as it used to, but sometimes I’ll walk past a coffee shop or restaurant or even somewhere that we only went to once, but I’ll think about her and it’s like…it’s like I can’t breathe.”  He sighed.  It was the worst form of torture he could possibly think of.  “For six months I felt so claustrophobic everywhere I went.  I thought I was going crazy.”  He rubbed the back of his neck.  “Maybe I am.”

“That’s how you know it was real.  I know it doesn’t help anything, but we’re here for you.  We’re all here for you, Farkle.”

“You know, the worst part is that…she’s gone.  She’s still in the city, but Riley, she might as well be in another country.  I haven’t talked to her since it happened…I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to be friends again.”

Riley nodded slowly.  It made sense.  Even in her muddled thoughts, it all made perfect sense.  Her heart broke when he called her that night and told her that Smackle broke up with him.  There wasn’t any build up or longstanding issue between them.  She simply told him that her feelings for him had changed and while she wasn’t sure how or in what way, she needed to take some time for herself to figure it all out.  Six months later and Farkle hadn’t heard a word from her.  “So you not only lost someone you loved, but you also—“

“I lost my best friend.”

Riley’s eyes scanned the club.  She couldn’t see much of anything past the dance area.  Was he still here?  Had he already left with those girls?  She had easily been on the dance floor for half an hour, maybe longer than that.  As Farkle’s words echoed through her hazy mind, her heart ached.  Her brain was winning the battle, despite the fact that she had subconsciously turned off both organs the moment she saw Lucas with those women.

It wouldn’t take her long to find out where he was.  As the small group made their way back to the table, she spotted Lucas, the blonde woman, and the brunette woman at their table with Asher and Dylan.  Instead of sitting down or even acknowledging the strangers who seemed to be latched onto him, Riley headed directly toward the bar.  The conversation with Farkle still rang in her ears as she ordered a shot.  As soon as she downed it, the bartender smiled at her.  “You’re the birthday girl, right?”

She cringed as her throat burned.  She nodded as she sat the glass back down.  “Yeah, I’m Riley.  And you are?”

“Mark,” he smiled.  “Listen, I know this might sound a little weird, but are you willing to help us out with something?  I can guarantee you that you’ll have fun and you won’t have to pay for another drink tonight.”

She raised her eyebrows.  She came here to have a memorable birthday.  Judging by the smile the bartender gave her, she knew that she had to do whatever it was he wanted her to do.  She needed some fun.  “Mark, you had me at fun.  What do you need me to do?”

Lucas looked up at the bar as he watched one of the bartenders whisper in Riley’s ear.  When he saw her laugh in response, his jaw twitched.  He couldn’t stand this.  The air around them felt so thick.  How was she able to laugh and carry on like this when the entire future of their already fragile friendship seemed so uncertain?  He reluctantly looked away from her when he heard the cackling of the brunette seated next to him.  Why did Dylan insist on inviting them back to their booth?  He had hoped to pawn the women off on Asher and Dylan and kill two birds with one stone, but Dylan didn’t quite get the hint that Lucas had no interest in either woman.  How could he when the one woman he wanted was so close, yet so far away from him?  

He hated the way they left things outside.  He hated that he stalked off, but he was so frustrated and so mad that she would think, for even a second, that if they became something more, that he would eventually end it.  Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew that he had earned the reputation he had for a reason, but she didn’t know the whole story.

“Why is she standing on top of the bar,” Zay suddenly asked as he watched one of the bartenders help Riley climb on the bar.

“Seriously?”  Maya stood up as she turned toward the main bar.  “I thought she was only going to get a drink…not let the whole world see up her dress,” she groaned as she watched Riley run a hand through her hair.

Lucas snapped his head up to look at Maya.  “Excuse me?”  He turned his head toward the brunette.  Sure enough, Riley Matthews had climbed on top of the bar.  Apparently the members of their table weren’t the only ones to notice as a group of guys crowded around her.

Maya glared at the back of Lucas’s head before she walked toward Riley.  The others followed closely behind.

“Tonight at Hyde, we are very fortunate to help celebrate this beautiful woman’s 21st birthday!”  Mark gestured to Riley who grinned when the crowd cheered.  “And she has so graciously decided to help us deliver a round of shots for anyone who might be interested.  It’s an apple pie shooter and the way it’s gonna work is that Amber will pour some apple juice into your mouth.  After that, I’ll come by and add in some vodka, then Miss Riley over here will top it off with a dab of whipped cream!”

“Well,” Farkle smirked as he watched the bartender hand Riley a can of whipped cream, “She said she wanted to have fun tonight.”

“She’s making memories that she might not actually be able to remember tomorrow.”  Zay glanced at Lucas.  He could practically feel the anger and jealousy billowing from his best friend.  At least that anger couldn’t possibly be directed at him.

As Mark grabbed a bottle of house vodka, he gestured to the area around them.  “So, line up around the bar if you want one.  First come, first served!”

“I don’t know about you guys,” Maya smirked as she slid up to the middle of the bar, “But I’m getting a free shot.”  She couldn’t believe what was happening, but she had to admit that it would definitely make one hell of a story.  Riley Matthews was serving whipped cream to a bunch of strangers on her 21st birthday.  As she heard Riley laugh, Maya figured that maybe doing something a little crazy like this could be good for her.  She had played it safe for her entire life.  She was due for a semi-wild night—as long as it didn’t involve some sort of exchange of bodily fluids with a random stranger.  

Most of the group followed Maya’s lead as they stood in front of the bar.

Lucas didn’t want to do it, but he knew there was no way she would willingly climb down and forget the whole thing.  If he could prevent her from spraying whipped cream into just one stranger’s mouth, then he’d stomach what was sure to be a disgusting shot.  Instead of lining up with the rest of his friends, he moved to the end of the bar.  If he had any luck, he would be the last one.  If he had a little more than luck—and if his brain hadn’t been completely thrashed by the jealousy he knew he’d have by watching her doing this—then maybe he could get her attention long enough to apologize for running away from her earlier.

He watched her slowly bend down to spray the whipped cream in the first few guys’ mouths.  Lucas noticed that there were a few women by the bar, but most of the patrons consisted of guys—guys he knew couldn’t wait to get their chance to hit on Riley.  Lucas’s focus never wavered as she moved from person to person.  She laughed when she saw Maya and the guys about midway through her trek around the bar.  After she squeezed some of the contents of the can into the blonde’s mouth, she kissed her cheek.  Both girls giggled as Maya swallowed the shot.

Lucas noticed that Riley seemed to be getting more and more into what she was doing as she skipped down the line.  He clenched his fist as she slowly slid her index finger down Asher’s cheek before she squeezed the whipped cream into his mouth.  Did she know he was watching her?  Was she purposefully trying to drive him insane with jealousy?

It was a great exercise in patience and test of his growth as a person to watch her casually flirt with about twenty-five random strangers.  It felt like an eternity had passed by the time she reached him.  Luckily, their friends had retreated back to the table, as had most of the other people who had gotten a shot.

As he opened his mouth for the apple juice and vodka, he wondered if she even noticed that he was there.  As the two bartenders turned back to make drinks for the crowd that awaited them, Riley’s eyes finally locked onto his.

She was surprised to see him.  She thought that if he had wanted a shot, he would have been lined up with the rest of their friends and the two girls he had been with for nearly an hour.  She had never been so tempted in her life to drown the two women in whipped cream, but she managed to avoid a murder charge as she breezed by them.  Now, as she looked down at Lucas, she wasn’t so sure she’d be as successful with him.  She crouched down as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.  She wasn’t sure that she had ever been this angry with him.  It was new territory for her, but she gladly welcomed it compared to the agony she felt when she first saw him with the two girls.  “Thanks for proving my point by walking away earlier,” she snarled before she sprayed the substance into his mouth.

Lucas swallowed the shot the moment she began to spray the cream into his mouth.  He thought for sure she would try to use up whatever was left in that can on him in an attempt to cover him in the frothy concoction.  While she did end up giving him more whipped cream after he swallowed, it wasn’t nearly enough to make him choke on it.

As she turned to leave, all thoughts of an apology escaped him.  He wanted to apologize, but he couldn’t remember the speech he had formulated as he watched her dance around the bar.  So, he acted completely on instinct when he grabbed her arm and gently tugged her back down to him.  He lifted his head slightly as his lips met hers in a searing kiss.

The first thing Riley could taste was the whipped cream in his mouth.  She was shocked that he had pulled her to him, but as she felt his tongue slip into her mouth, her anger melted into an unbridled passion that she had no idea how to subdue.

When she heard herself moan into his mouth, she snapped herself out of her daze.  She pulled back from him without saying a word and turned to the bartenders.  “Is that it,” she asked as she wiped a little bit of the whipped cream from her mouth.

“Not quite,” Mark smiled.  “It is your birthday, and what good is a birthday without a birthday cake?”

Riley smiled as she spun around to see one of the other bartenders bring a cake over to her table.  She quickly climbed down from the counter as she walked over to the chocolate cake lit up with sparkler candles.  Lucas trailed several feet behind her as her friends sang “Happy Birthday” to her.

She pushed the brief interlude with Lucas to the back of her mind as she looked at the friends who surrounded her.  This was the moment she knew she’d remember for the rest of her life.  She had made it to twenty-one.  She had no clue what the future held, but if this group of people remained in her life, she knew she’d be ready for anything.

After the song was over, Riley closed her eyes as she made a wish.  Her wishes over the last eight years hadn’t changed, but this one was slightly different.  It still centered on the Texan she had just kissed, but instead of wishing to be with him, she wished for some sort of sign to know what to do, whether to let go or to hang on.  She pulled her hair back as she leaned over and blew out the candles.

Everyone around her cheered as she raised her head back up.  “This is so incredible,” she happily smiled as she sat down in the booth.  She turned to Farkle.  “It’s perfect, Farkle.  The place, the cake…everything.”  She glanced around the club.  “You know…if I had to pick anywhere in Vegas to celebrate my 21st, it would have been here…the fountains, the dancing, the ambience…it’s perfect.”

He smiled.  “I wish I could take the credit for it, but I can’t.”

She frowned.  “What are you talking about?”  She thought Farkle had planned the entire trip out.  If he didn’t set all of this up, then who did?

Farkle searched the club for his friend.  He couldn’t believe that after everything, Lucas missed the cake being brought out, especially after how specific he had been about where and what cake to get.  “I thought for sure he would have told you, but it makes sense why he didn’t.  He’s not one to really brag, but…Lucas set up the whole thing.”

Riley glanced at Maya before she looked back at Farkle.  “What are you talking about?”

“I had no idea where to even begin to look for a place.  Lucas told me that he wanted to plan your birthday celebration.  He’s the one who booked the table here, got us all into VIP, and he even picked out the cake.”

“He planned it?”

Farkle nodded.  “I thought I knew you better than anyone…well, except for Maya, but…I think Lucas beat me on this one.  This place screams Riley to me.”

Just then, Lucas walked around the table as he sat down at the other end of the booth.  Riley couldn’t help but to stare at him.  He planned the whole night?  How did he pay for this?  Riley didn’t even want to think about how much it all must have cost him.  

She watched as the two girls she still didn’t know the names of turn their attention away from Dylan and back to Lucas.  As she reached for the drink Maya ordered for her while she was on the bar, her inebriated brain began to weigh her options.  On the one hand, she could continue to ignore him to the best of her ability and watch him accomplish the mission he had set out for himself at the beginning of the night—or—maybe she could be the mission.

As the vodka slipped past her lips, she figured that it would actually be pretty poetic to lose her virginity to him in Las Vegas on her 21st birthday.  He had been her first everything—first date, first kiss, first boyfriend, first love.  Why not complete the circle?  Why couldn’t she be the hookup he craved tonight?  It was only sex, right?  If she could keep her heart silent, then maybe it would actually help her begin to move on.  Maybe they wouldn’t be physically compatible?  Maybe this was the first step to letting go?

She smirked as she continued to consume the contents of her glass.  There wasn’t enough liquor in the world to convince her that sex with Lucas wouldn’t be good.  A few heated kisses told her everything she needed to know about their physical compatibility.  Still, she was feeling completely light and free.  Maybe she needed one night of passion with him in order to finally close the door on her first love.

Once she finished the drink, she slowly stood up and walked to the other end of the booth.

Lucas’s attention immediately shifted to Riley the moment she stood up.  He was more than a little surprised when she stopped right in front of him.  He had no idea what to expect.  Was she going to yell at him in front of everyone?  Was she going to get back on the bar and do something else that would surely test his self-control?

“Hey Huckleberry,” she smirked as she casually drummed her fingers on top of the table.  “Are we dancing or what?”

He knit his eyebrows together in confusion.  He knew that he must have misheard her.  She wanted to dance with him?  After their argument outside and after everything that had transpired between them in the last 24 hours, she actually wanted to dance with him?

“It is my birthday.”  Her smile never wavered as she watched him reach for his drink.  She raised one inquisitive eyebrow at him as she waited for him to finish drinking the amber substance in his glass.

Lucas finished off his scotch and sat the glass down next to her hand before he looked back up at her.  “Lead the way.”

He thought for sure that she would take him to where she had spent the better part of the night with most of their group.  Instead of going to the dance floor, she led him back outside, back to their hidden corner, back into the darkness.  Only a few people mingled outside, as the temperature must have dropped another five degrees in the hour since they were last out there.  Riley felt a chill ripple through her as soon as she stepped outside, but she didn’t care.  This was the only place she knew of that they could have a little bit of privacy.  They were nowhere near the music, although they could still hear the bass beat as clear as day.  

Riley didn’t say a word as she spun around and placed his hands on her waist.

“Riley, what are you doing?”

She wrapped her arms around his neck.  “I don’t want to talk.”  She knew that this would go a lot better if neither of them said a word.  Every time one of them opened their mouths, they ended up in some ridiculous fight.  If they could just somehow float together, let things happen naturally without having to discuss the past or what it all meant, then maybe they could work this out without a fight.

“What do you want to do?”  Lucas swallowed as he stared at her.  He had no idea what was going through her mind.  She didn’t want to talk.  That was fair enough.  Every conversation they attempted in the last 24 hours was disastrous to say the least.  He never wanted to ruin her birthday.  If she wanted to dance with him in silence, then he would take that time trying to commit every millisecond of it to his memory.

“Have fun.  Not think.”  She shrugged her shoulders as she glanced at the fountains for a moment before she looked back at him.  “I’ve spent the first twenty one years of my life thinking about every move I made…doing the right thing…saying the right things.”  She shook her head.  “I don’t want to do any of that tonight.”  She was tired of having to be perfect all the time.  She was tired of her brain stopping her from doing the things she wanted to do.

He sighed.  Despite the canyon between them, he knew who she was.  He had always known.  “And what happens tomorrow when you wake up?”  She was saying all of this now, but he knew that once she sobered up, she would regret it if she did something completely reckless.

She shrugged.  “I don’t want to think about that.”  Didn’t he understand?  She wanted to give into her emotions for once.  Maya always led with her heart while Riley had always led with her brain.  Leading with her brain had only made a huge mess of everything, so why couldn’t she simply give into her feelings for one night?  What was so terrible about that?

“But I do.”  He wanted to step back from her.  He wanted to remove his hands from her waist and go back inside, but he couldn’t.  He wasn’t strong enough to separate himself from her right now.  He was a man who had been starving for a third of his life over the woman who stood before him.  At this second, he was holding the only thing he had ever really wanted.  He couldn’t let go.  Maybe if he was a little more sober, he could.  Maybe if she wasn’t looking at him in the way he had always wanted her to, he could let her go and walk away.  

“You’re not pulling away from me,” she murmured as she stepped forward and pressed her body against his.  She lowered her right hand to the nape of his neck as her fingertips brushed through his hair.  She bit her bottom lip as her eyes lowered to his lips.

“I need to,” he groaned as she leaned forward to kiss his cheek.  The alcohol in his system worked against him as he felt himself slowly give into whatever she wanted to do.  He knew that he was wrapped around her finger, but he never knew how much until tonight.  He’d die to try to give her the world if she wanted it.  He’d move heaven and earth for her if she asked him to.

“You don’t need to do anything,” she responded softly before she began to plant open-mouthed kisses along his jawline.  

Lucas felt his earlier anger dissipate with every connection her lips made to his skin.  It wasn’t fair.  None of this was fair.  Every single emotion he had felt tonight was placed into extremes.  He was certain he had never been angrier with someone in his entire life, but at the same time, he knew that he had never loved her more.  It wasn’t just the fact that she was stirring up every single hormone he possessed, but it was the fact that for the first time ever, he finally realized that she wanted him just as badly as he wanted her.

He swallowed as she moved her attention to the other side of his neck.  He craned his neck back and stifled a moan as she scraped her teeth against the base of his neck.  He was rapidly becoming putty in her hands.  Whatever she wanted, he was prepared to give her.  Anything—everything.  He just had to know that she wanted him and only him.  

Finding some inner strength that he didn’t know he possessed, he slowly moved his hands up to her shoulders as he nudged her back slightly.

Confused, Riley lifted her head.  “Isn’t this what you want?”

The way her eyes had darkened nearly set off an explosion in the Texan’s mind.  Dear God, he knew that no matter how much alcohol he consumed, he would never forget the way she looked at that exact moment.  Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her breathing had become slightly labored, and the way she pursed her lips immediately made a certain body part of his throb in sheer anticipation.  He knew he had to maintain his composure for at least another minute.  He had to know she really wanted this and she wouldn’t claim it was some drunken mistake tomorrow.  “Is it what you want?”

She smiled as she slowly, purposefully so, closed the space between them once more.  “Yes,” she purred as her lips quickly covered his.  She wanted to silence him before he had a chance to think, a chance to ruin whatever moment they could have together.  

Lucas felt most of his remaining defenses slip away as her fingers slowly danced down his chest.  As her tongue slipped into his mouth, his hands slid up her back as he quickly guided them further into their little oasis.

As soon as her back hit the wall, she shoved one of his hands down to her thigh.  “I want to feel your hands all over me,” she murmured as she hooked one of her legs around his waist.  She smashed her lips to his once again as she wanted nothing more than to feel him explore her entire body.

He squeezed her thigh as her tongue met his once more.  When she moaned into his mouth, he felt the last shred of ‘Lucas the Good’ slip away.  Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew that while whatever they were doing was completely and utterly right, the timing of it and the location of it was not at all how he had imagined it.  Still, the alcohol in his system and eight years of dreaming about the woman in his arms night after night tipped the scales into Lucas the not-so-Good’s favor.  When she placed his hand on her thigh and told him that she wanted his hands all over her, he nearly took her right then and there.  As soon as she moaned into his mouth, ‘Lucas the Good’ ceased to exist all together.  His hand slowly crept up her thigh.  He knew that if she didn’t want this, she would push his hand down, pull away from him and tell him that they were going too far.

But she didn’t.  As her nails scraped across his back, she wiggled against him in a desperate attempt to get his fingers toward their destination quicker.  She needed to feel him. She needed him to touch her in a way that no one else had before.

Up until that moment, Lucas didn’t know that his brain possessed an off switch.  As his fingers slowly disappeared under her dress, Riley whimpered in sheer anticipation.  How many times had he dreamt about them like this?  How many times had he woken up and taken a cold shower because the woman he fantasized about wasn’t next to him?

“Please,” she murmured desperately in between kisses.  “I want you to.  I need you to.”  Goose bumps peppered her entire body as she felt his fingers graze the outside of her underwear.  “Please, Lucas.”

All he wanted to do was to make her happy and to make her feel good.  She wanted this.  He wanted this.  As he opened his eyes, he noticed that hers were already opened as they continued to kiss one another.  He looked for a sign of hesitation, any indication that it was merely the alcohol talking and not something she really wanted.  It was the only thing that could possibly hold him back from doing this.  A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she lightly bit his bottom lip.  “Please,” she begged once more.

At that moment, no one on Earth could have resisted her.  

She gasped as soon as she felt his fingers slide into her underwear.  She dug her nails further into his back when his lips reclaimed hers while his fingers slowly explored a new uncharted territory.  Was this real?  As his fingers paid homage to her most private of regions, Riley sighed into his mouth.  God, it felt so much better than she imagined, and it wasn’t even the real thing.  Her entire body felt completely electrified by his motions.  As insanely wonderful as it felt, she wanted more.  This was becoming an addiction.  He was becoming an addiction.   She had to have more of this.  She had to have more of him.

Lucas wished that she had left with him earlier when he mentioned it.  It was a mile and a half back to their hotel, but with traffic, it could easily take 20 minutes to get back to their suite.  He wasn’t sure about her, but he knew he couldn’t wait that long.  He wasn’t even sure they could make it to a room at the Bellagio at the rate they were going.  

Riley couldn’t stand it anymore.  She thought she could be placated with a tease, with a glimpse into a world that had been forbidden for so long, but it only made her demand more.  She dragged her fingernails down the length of his back before she brought them in between their bodies.  As she lowered her lips to his neck, her fingers grazed the outside of his pants.

He groaned the moment he felt her fingertips against him.  Did she have any clue how close he was to taking her right then and there?  All it would take is one word, one indication of consent and he would happily spend the rest of the night—the rest of forever—worshipping her like the goddess she was.

He used his free hand to run through her slightly tangled hair.  As she lifted her head up, he pulled her face to his in a scorching kiss.

Lucas quickened his pace as his mouth desperately sought contact with hers.  Riley could hear her heart race in her ears as the pressure within her began to build more and more rapidly.  She wasn’t exactly sure how she was able to pull in any oxygen between the breath Lucas commanded and the fact that his ministrations had already labored her breathing.  She felt like she could pass out at any moment from sheer pleasure.  If she died right here, she would die the happiest woman in the world.  She never wanted this feeling to end.      

He kissed her with every single feeling she was giving him in return.  A lethal combination of love, lust, anger, jealousy, and passion swirled within him as he desperately tried to tell her everything she was doing to him without ever saying a word.  He was a man possessed.  He couldn’t control anything anymore.  “Tell me,” he commanded as he slid his lips across her bare shoulder.  His free hand fell to her lower back in order to support her when she threw her head back and desperately gasped for air.  “Tell me that I’m the only one you want.  Tell me you don’t want him.  Tell me, Riley,” he pleaded as his lips brushed against her collarbone.  “Tell me that when we wake up tomorrow, we’ll be together.”  He kissed his way toward the base of her neck as he waited for her answer.

Riley’s heart pounded even harder as she listened to his pleas.  As her mind desperately tried to fight through the thick fog of alcohol and lust, she replayed his words again.  Be together as in dating?  Her mind raced as the logical side of her brain tried to dissect his words and the meaning behind them.  She couldn’t do this right now.  She was hammered.  She told him that she didn’t want to talk.  She didn’t want to make a life altering decision while they were intoxicated.  

She thought this would be easy.  She thought that maybe they could get whatever this was out of their system tonight—chalk it up to the city, to the alcohol, to being young.  She knew that on some level, she had waited for him, had wanted him to be her first because he had been her first everything else and that maybe she could begin to move on if she got some sort of closure from the last seven years.  She knew that at least for her, it wouldn’t be so simple to walk away, but maybe it would be for him.  Maybe getting the tension out of the way could somehow pave the way for them to repair their friendship.  At least, that was what the inebriated side of her had foolishly thought.  

She closed her eyes a newfound embarrassment filled her.  For one moment, she had successfully turned off her brain.  For one moment, she led with something other than the sense that had kept Lucas Friar at arm’s length for a third of her life.  In one foolish moment of weakness, she might have just wrecked an eight-year friendship.  

She slowly opened her eyes when she felt his lips slowly pull away from her neck.  They weren’t on the same page at all.  She knew that couldn’t risk this anymore than she already had.  Her body still cried out for him, but her mind had finally taken control once again.  She thought she could give into this for one night, but she wasn’t that kind of girl.  She never was.  “I can’t,” she answered weakly as she braced herself for the fallout she knew she deserved.

It felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped on the Texan.  He felt completely paralyzed as the weight of those two words fell on his shoulders.  She had driven him completely insane.  He never would have allowed things to get this far between them if he thought that she didn’t want to be with him when morning came.  As he slowly pulled away from her, it felt as if a thousand knives had penetrated his heart.  He couldn’t do this anymore.  He couldn’t be around her while he was still in love with her.  If the last seven years were any indication, he knew that trying to get over Riley would be nearly impossible.  As he shoved his hands into his pockets, he knew that he had to get away from her, but first, before he threw himself off a cliff, he had to know why.  “Why,” his voice cracked with the weight of emotion that flowed through his heart, “Why is it so hard for you to understand that I want to be with you?”

Riley slid her dress back down before she wrapped her arms around herself.  She wanted to tell him it was because of what she had overheard earlier that night, but the real problem extended beyond that.  “Because,” her voice shook, “it was so easy for you to accept what I told you we were and move on.”  She looked down.  “If you did it back then, I know that you’ll do it now.”

“But I didn’t accept it!”  His eyes widened as he waited for her to say something else.  Was there no other reason than the stupid label that she put on them when they were in middle school?  “Don’t you get it, Riley?  Everything that’s happened since then has been because of this ridiculous idea you got into your head that Maya and I liked one another.”

She cut her eyes up at him.  “Didn’t you?  Even for just a second?”

“No!”  He shook his head as he tried to pull himself together long enough to explain to her what actually went on in his confused fifteen year old mind.  “I thought that…that maybe there was…or that there could be…but I realized later that I only thought about that after you told us there was something there.”  He scoffed when she said nothing in response.  “Do you not understand that Maya and I only dated because the person we loved the most in this world told us that we had to see how we felt about one another?  I’ve been chasing you ever since then.”  He shook his head as he looked away from her.  This was completely ridiculous.  Was he supposed to pay for her decision for the rest of his life?

Riley furrowed her eyebrows.  “What did you say?”

His eyes fell to the ground.  “I’ve been chasing you, Riley.”  Was she going to laugh in his face?  Was she going to completely pulverize the last shred of hope he had for them?

She shook her head.  “Before that.”

He took a moment to think about what he had actually revealed to her.  When his words came back to him, he realized that after seven years, he finally told her how he felt.  As he lifted his gaze, he knew that he had never intended for it to come out like that.  He had always imagined some huge romantic reveal—something that would rival the white horse he rode in the gymnasium at John Quincy Adams Middle School—but perhaps some of the purest moments didn’t need to come with pomp and circumstance.  Maybe they were best received when spoken from the heart, even if it’s outside of a club at 2:00 in the morning.  “Maya and I only went out because the person we loved the most in this world told us that we had to see how we felt about one another.”

Riley was convinced that the entire earth was currently spinning at a rate that would perplex scientists for the rest of eternity.  She swallowed in a desperate attempt to ensure that her voice didn’t shake when she finally asked him the most important question she had ever asked anyone.  “You loved me?”

“Yes!”  He looked all around them as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.  Had she not been listening to anything he had said or done in the last 24 hours?  Could she not see it before then?  Did she never suspect how destroyed he was over what happened to them in middle school?  Did she never catch on to the fact that his gaze always seemed to stay on her no matter where they were, who they were with, or what they were doing?  Did the woman before him have zero clue that he not only wanted to give her the world but that she had been his entire world for the last eight years?  “I loved you then,” he finally declared.  As she lifted her eyebrows in surprise, he realized that she really had no idea what he had sacrificed just to be able to continue to orbit around her.  “I love you now,” he confessed.  She had to know.  She had to see that this wasn’t some random hookup to him.  She had to know that this was the culmination of seven years of emotional repression.  “I never stopped loving you, even for a second…even though you told me that you only saw me as a brother.”

[schafpudel]

#like#Drosselmeyer was a difficult man for sure. so like #he MUST'VE had a hard time in his personal life #i know bcs im difficult and was even worse in childhood #and ok maybe i dont have the same level of bullshit going on as mr I-can-warp-reality(<-implied god complex) #but like #i can see it clear as day #my guy was in misery #and you know how ppl are when they percieve someone as bad enough to be deserving of certain things #rightful anger can quickly snowball into vengefulness #and a lot of ppl take a cerain sadistic glee in doleing out justice #i imagine even before he may or may not have become dangerous enough that he needed to be stopped #he incurred enough wrath in people for them to decide to hit back ten times as hard #and i imagine lines were crossed #we can argue all day and night how much if any sympathy certain ppl deserve #at the end of the day cruel treatment has a bad effect on everyone no matter how cruel they are themselves #idk im trying to explain this without woobyfying him #like. that shit dude is also a dude. like me. like us #the pain is real and the same in every person it occurs in #yanno???

something something Mytho's entire character being, as @schafpudel so eloquently put it, associated with self destruction; something something the heartless princes inability to connect with the world and care; something something the raven!Mytho's hair trigger temper and capricioussness; something something Drosselemeyer's personality and what his life and interpersonal relationships must've looked like when he was still a mortal human man; something something Mytho's entire being as an expression of trauma, of loneliness, of psychological struggles of his author.