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keep-the-wolves-close · 9 months ago

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Steady Heart

Chapter 14: Hollow Crown

* Pairing: Slow-burn Kayce Dutton x OFC Stella Daniels

* Rating: M? (Still figuring out the rating system) (might eventually be M anyhow)

* Warnings: language, brief violence between John and Jamie, brief wound tending

* Word count: 4,038ish

I would love to give credits to @dameronscopilot and @deanscroissant for being sounding boards for me during this whole process, giving outsider insight, being cheerleaders, and allowing me to screech at them about things that have happened during the writing process. I seriously couldn't have gotten this far without y'all

Author's note: Oof this chapter was a piece of work. I hope everyone is enjoying so far! I hope you love this chapter as well!

The pair trotted for another 10 minutes and on the horizon there was a rifle bang that cut through the air. Stella sagged in her saddle at the sight of her brother, Jimmy, and Walker riding out to meet her. She waved her hand at the bunch.

They met each other. In unison Ryan slipped off of BJ and Stella off of Abigail. Her brother called out to her and cleared the last few feet of space between them. “Stella! Are you okay?!” He jogged up to her wrapping her in a hug so tight, air rushed out of her lungs at the impact, a soft oof escaping.

She hugged Ryan back. “I’m fine. The officer got hurt, not me.”

Ryan started to check her over. Looking for any sign of injury. “What happened to your hands?”

“I got cut on barbed wire trying to untangle Snoopy. Is he okay?”

“Yeah he’s fine.” Jimmy said.

“Nothing some docterin’ and silver spray won’t fix.” Walker offered.

“Oh good.” Stella caught her breath. “The noises stopped not long ago. I don’t think she’s following anymore.”

Ryan stood back from inspecting his sister. “Where was the den?”

“Somewhere by pasture 11, I think? On the outside of the fence.”

“We’ll probably have to get them relocated.”

“If she doesn’t do it first with all the hoof traffic coming through there over the last few days.”

Ryan nodded at his sister's assumption. “Yeah that’s a fair point. Or maybe she was in the process of moving them already.”

“Yeah,” she looked down. “Thank you for coming to me.” She glanced at Jimmy and Walker. “All of you.” Walker tipped his hat and turned around to go back to the barn.

“What were you doin’ by yourself? Why didn’t you go with them?”

“There wasn’t enough room. And someone had to come back and tell John. It’s okay, I’ll be fine.” She brushed loose hair away from her face.

Jimmy smiled and came up to her and wrapped his arms around her. A startled noise left Stella. “I’m glad you’re okay. When we heard the call come through and then your horse didn’t show up we thought you were dead.”

Stella thought, ‘ah what the hell,’ and returned the hug. “Thank you, Jimmy. Really.” Ryan cleared his throat next to them. Stella pulled back and scowled at her brother for a split second. “I’ve gotta go talk to John. I was supposed to be back like an hour ago at least. I’ll meet y’all down at the bunkhouse in a bit.”

Ryan hugged her as Jimmy rode away. “Don’t get into any more trouble on the way to the house please?” He tapped her nose. “Matter of fact, I’ll come with you until you’re at the house.”

Stella wanted to argue, but thought better of it. Ryan was still coming back to earth. She would humor him today.

Stella and Ryan came loping into view of the ranch from the far side archway closest to the house. She came to a stop and Ryan waved at her as he headed to the barn. She turned her horse to slope up the big hill to the house. Abigail’s long legs made short work of the hill. Coming up on the big house, Stella could just barely make out someone on the porch in the dim twilight. Getting closer she could see it was John.

She slowed her mare to a stop at the trough by the driveway. She swung her leg over and dropped gracefully out of her saddle. She stroked Abigail’s neck and tied her to one of the few hitches at the house. “Catch your breath girl. We’re safe now. Get some water.” The mare was already halfway there by the time she finished her sentence. Stella could feel eyes on her and knew John was patiently waiting for her to come report to her.

Making her way to the bottom, she smiled sheepishly up at the man lounging at the top. “Just the man I hoped to find,” she joked breathlessly. John waved at her to come join him. She climbed the stairs. “Have you heard anything from Rip?” She went to take a seat next to her best friend’s father.

John shook his head. “No, should I have?” He was testing her. That was the thought that first came to Stella’s mind. He was seeing if she would lie at all. The tone he used gave him away. He knew already.

She bobbed her head. “Well he was supposed to call you, but he might have gotten held up. Taking that officer up the mountain turned into a shit show to say the least, sir. She was uncomfortable on Snoopy from the get go, which I thought was weird considering she most likely has to ride a horse quite often, but what do I know.”

Stella settled back into the chair with a quiet groan. “She fell off the horse after it got bit by a horsefly and got, forgive my lack of tact here, skewered on a fence post. Rip called Viggo and got her out to the hospital. I was to come back here and tell you. So here I am.” She raised her hand from the arm rest. “A little later than I planned, and more cuts than intended, but I’m here.”

“You forget who my daughter is. I would be shocked if you’ve been around this long and didn’t have something like that in your arsenal.” They smirked at each other. “Rip will be home soon. I think I hear the chopper now. He did call me a little while ago.”

“Oh good,” Stella listened intently and sure enough she heard the blades as they sliced through the air. In the distance a very distinct Rip shaped silhouette walked out of the darkness.

“She gonna make it?” John asked, getting up from his seat on the porch.

“Yeah. She's tough as a mule, that one.” He gazed at Stella when he said that. Stella stood and caught up to the patriarch, meeting the foreman at the bottom of the steps. He switched his stare to John. “They're sending another ranger out tomorrow.” Rip put his hands on his hips as they came to meet him.

“See if you can keep this one on a horse.” Rip chuckled. John pointed to her. “And Stella, I don’t think you should go this time. We’ll decide tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.” Both she and Rip answered in unison.

Rip took in Stella’s appearance. “You okay, Stella-belle?” John watched the interaction quietly.

Stella sighed and took her glasses off. She outstretched her hand and Rip grabbed them with a frown. The men shared a glance. They let Stella take her time. Taking out her hair, she ran her hands through it shaking it out. It went back up into a less fuzzy bun. She held out her hand for her glasses and Rip placed them gently on her palm. Placing them back on her face, she finally answered.

“Well I doctored my hands up after you left. Ran into a mountain lion den about halfway home. On the outside of the fence. I’m pretty sure mom stalked us most of the way home.” Rip opened his mouth, but she held up a hand to stop him. “Yes I called my brother in on the walkie. They came out and met me. He made sure I made it most of the way here. I told John about what happened. Just later than planned.”

“Sounds like you had a busy night.”

“That’s one way to put it.”

John interjected. “We’ll revisit the mountain lion near one of my pastures later. You forgot that little detail, kid.”

“Sorry sir. Ryan was already talking about relocation or something. If she wasn’t already in the process when I stumbled across her.”

A car pulled up and caught their attention. “Wow, I can't wait to see which disappointment this is.” The three of them watched Jamie get out of the car. John roared, “where you been? I needed you!” Stella and Rip stepped back.

“I was campaigning.” He stated like it was obvious.

John growled. “You been gone two fuckin' days, Jamie. You can't make one phone call? God knows I've been calling you.”

“I'm sorry.”

“Sorry? Hell, you don't even know what you're sorry for.”

“I'm sorry. Christina has my phone.” Stella raised her eyebrows at his admission.

“Christina has your phone. God damn it, Jamie.” John wiped his mouth. “When Rip takes Fish and Wildlife out tomorrow, I need you with them.”

“Okay. Why is Fish and Wildlife coming tomorrow?”

“Shit.” John muttered. The evidence was clear that Jamie hadn’t even bothered to check his phone before he got to the ranch.

“I have campaign stops in Helena and Great Falls…”

“No, you don't, because the first thing you're doing tomorrow is withdrawing from the race.” John made his word final.

“What? I'm doing this for you.” Jamie sounded hurt and confused.

“No, you're doing it for you, and now you're not doing it anymore.”

Rip and Stella looked at each other. They didn’t think they should be here for this conversation. Stella wanted to slowly slink away to her horse and go find her brother.

Jamie tried to stand his ground. “Hey. I won't quit. My entire career is based around this. I've earned it.”

“It's not your place to decide what you've earned.”

“Don't take this away from me. I've earned this! After everything I've done for you, after everything I said…,” Jamie begged.

John wheeled around and advanced on Jamie.“What have you done for me, Jamie?” John shoved him. “What have you done for me besides help me build the empire that you stand to inherit? Sorry, son, I just don't see the sacrifice.”

“Don't you take this away from me.” Jamie grabbed his dad’s coat and started shoving him.

“You took it from yourself.” John dismissed.

“After everything I have done for you? I have earned this!”

John launched his fist squarely against Jamie’s jaw. He fell to the ground and groaned. Embarrassment and pain all wrapped up into one. “All you earned today is that.”

As much as it pleased Stella that someone else shared the same thought about Jamie needing to be hit, she didn’t think now was the time. “Mr. Dutton!” John took his son to the ground, trading blows the whole way.

Rip jumped in. “Hey.” He pulled John off of Jamie.

“I swear to God, I never met a man more in need of a beating.” John paced as Rip got Jamie up off the ground and started marching him away from John. Stella put herself in between John and the other two men. She hoped that her presence in the middle would keep him from bowling her over if his anger rose again.

“Jamie, you touch me again, and I'll give you one.” He stood up straight and stared down his son. “By this time tomorrow, Attorney General Stewart's gonna announce that he's not stepping down. So if you want to run against the candidate I'm supporting, you be my guest.” He caught his breath just long enough to weave around Stella and up to Jamie and Rip. “Until you're ready to put this family first, you don't step foot on this ranch, you understand? You're not welcome here.”

Rip caught Jamie as he went to go back at his father for more blows. “Hey, hey, hey. Listen to me... Whoa. Easy now.”

“This is between family.” Jamie said hotly. Stella made a face at him not recognizing the foreman as family at this point.

“You're gonna fight yourself right out of it.” He patted Jamie’s chest. “Now, go get a hotel, okay? And then calm down.”

Stella herded John to the porch. He bent down and picked up the papers that had blown off the table with the breeze that had settled in. “You okay?” She heard Jamie’s car peel off and felt Rip come up behind her.

“No, Stella, I don't know that I am.” He sniffed. “Hundred and thirty-two years this ranch has been in my family, and I'm the one to lose it.” He stood from picking up the papers. “To be honest, I don't even know who I'm trying to save it for, anymore.” He looked at his employees. “You both go. I have a lot to think about.”

She gave him a bittersweet smile in response and watched him go inside. Rip went to go stand at the top step and Stella asked softly as she joined him, “penny for your thoughts?”

Rip shook his head. “Not much going on except, what a fuckin�� day.”

She hummed in response.

“You go to your brother. Have Lloyd look at your hands.”

“Yessir.” She jogged over to Abigail. The bay roan nickered at her. She smiled lovingly at Abigail, gave her a pat and climbed into her saddle. “Come on sweets. Let’s go put you to bed.”

After she got Abigail settled in, she chose to go find her brother and see what shenanigans everyone was up to. Coming up on the bunkhouse the sounds of a good time echoed into the night. She smiled feeling at home and swung the door open.

The men were in the middle of a poker game. Her brother goaded everyone. “Oh this is dangerous for you boys. I would stay away if I were you.”

The smile remained on her face and she walked up behind her brother and gave his shoulders a hug. “Oh hey Stellee. Kinda busy right now.” He squeezed her forearm that was around his neck quickly.

“Yeah yeah. Just wanted to say hi.” She chuckled standing back up. She noticed Jimmy was searching for something all over the back of the house.

Lloyd caught Jimmy pacing and gently directed him. “Jimmy, sit down. You're making us all fucking sea sick.”

“All right, where is it?”

“Where's what?” Stella and Ryan asked. They looked at each other in amusement.

“You guys know what.”

Stella scrunched her face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just got here.”

“We don't know how to help you find what we don't know you're looking for, Jimmy.” Colby said.

“Where's my fucking hat?”

Ryan looked directly at Jimmy. “Oh, that.” Ryan tapped on his cards. “Yeah, we got rid of that.” He explained simply.

Stella’s eyes widened. “Y’all did what!”

“Stupid scarecrow ain't a good look, Jimmy.” Colby smiled.

Stella swore she could hear a mouse fart out in the barn from how quiet it got in the house. All the men started smiling before Lloyd reached underneath the table and pulled out a brand new black hat. He tossed it at Jimmy who juggled it and caught it.

Ryan laid out the rules. He sounded like he was talking to 15 year old Stella the way he explained it. “Cost us each a weeks' pay. You lose it, pay us back.”

Lloyd smiled, delighted. “It ain't a damn soup bucket, try it on.” He tried to convince Jimmy.

Jimmy looked at it, almost as if he was making sure there wasn’t a catch. He flipped it up over his head and carefully slipped it on.

“Yay!” Stella yelled and everyone started clapping and congratulating him.

“You were in on this, too?” He asked Stella and then Walker, who had just walked in on the celebration.

Stella laid her arms on her brother and Colby’s shoulders. “Oh, look at him, honeys. Our little Jimmy's all growed up.” She playfully sniffled and wiped a fake tear away. Colby and Ryan played along and consoled her. “Also somebody call the academy. I deserve an award for the performance.”

“Thanks.” Jimmy smiled at the guys trying to forget his annoyance. The wranglers went back to their poker game, pleased with the turnout of getting Jimmy a hat.

Jimmy stepped up to Stella. “Thank you.”

“Of course Jaybird.” He smiled at the nickname. “We’ll get you fitted up right if it kills us.” She leaned closer to him and whispered, “I told you they’d come around.” She smiled and squeezed his shoulder.

Jimmy walked over to his bunk and everyone including Stella screamed. “No, no, don't put it on the bed!”

“Jesus fuck.” Ryan exclaimed.

“That's bad luck, Jimmy.” Lloyd explained.

“You can't give him anything.”

“Is there any way to undo that, or…,” Jimmy sounded worried he asked Walker.

Walker sighed and laid down. He seemed bummed. “Hell, Jimmy, if you cowboy into this outfit, you're already cursed.”

Stella glanced at him. “You good?”

“I guess.” He replied curtly.

Stella frowned but figured it would be best to walk away. “Hey Lloyd? Can you look at my hands? Rip wasn’t sure my docterin’ was good enough.”

“Of course lil’ bit. Here and take my seat. I’ll get the first aid kit.” He traded spots with her. He left to go to the bathroom and grab the kit.

Ryan watched as Colby leaned over and started gently taking off the medical tape Stella had put around her hands and fingers. She hissed as the tape caught some skin from her right middle and ring finger. They were the gnarliest.

“Damn girl, what did you do?”

“I was panicking trying to get Snoopy loose from barbed wire.” She laughed through the pain that emanated from her hand. “Didn’t know Rip had cutters.”

Colby whistled. “You sure know how to have a good time don’t you?”

“If that’s what you wanna call it, sure.” She chuckled stiffly. Lloyd came out of the bathroom hallway and came back to the table.

“My god, Stella.” Her eyes widened because it was rare that Lloyd used her actual name.

“I know it looks bad, but once I get it washed off it’ll be better.” She stood and made her way to the bathroom sink.

“Why’re you going there?”

“I’m not gonna have my blood in the sink we all use for food and dishes. That’s gross.” There were certain lines she wouldn’t cross. That was one of them.

Looking in the mirror, she could tell the day had been rough. The past few days had been rough. Hell, the whole last week had been. She turned on the water and examined her face while she waited for it to get warm. The dark circles on her face carved a wide path underneath her eyes. It looked like she’d been punched.

Stella flicked a finger in the water to test the temperature. It was warm enough so she grabbed the soap and gently scrubbed her hands. It started stinging and she grit her teeth. She washed the last of the soap and blood off and looked around for a towel. She found a wash rag and figured it would do.

She walked back out to the leader of the pack and held out her hands. “Okay so it’s still not great, but I don’t need stitches. So that’s a plus.”

“Sit.” Lloyd pointed to the chair. “Colby get up.” Everyone but her brother quickly skirted to their respective spaces.

“Ryan, you get her other hand.”

Stella laid her left arm out for her brother. The cut across her left palm wasn’t as bad as the ones on her fingers on the other hand. Both men got to work. Neither of them talked to her in their concentration. Looking around the room she looked at Jimmy. As they locked eyes she winced at a particularly tender part of her fingers.

Jimmy meandered over and took a seat across from her. “Need a distraction?”

“Probably. You got anything good to talk about?”

“So,” Jimmy tapped the table trying to come up with something. “Snoopy is doing good. He was still a little spooky when I checked on him.”

“He’ll settle out over the next day or so.” She smirked. “Also look at you using me and Kayce’s lingo!”

“You might have rubbed off on me.”

She looked at her brother. “I told you I could get through to him.”

Ryan looked up at her under his eyebrows with a scowl.

“What?” She made a face at her brother.

He looked at her hands and back at her. Stella instantly knew he was pissed she tore her them up. More so that she got hurt in general. Her shoulders dropped when she realized. She felt Lloyd wrapping the last one of her fingers and Ryan let go of her hand as he finished. Jimmy watched the whole silent conversation in awe.

“None of it was intentional, Ry.”

“I told you to be careful, and you said never before you left.”

Stella grabbed his hand. “I was joking when I said that. Out of everyone here, well except maybe Jimmy, I’m probably the most cautious. I panicked because Rip was considering shooting Snoopy so when he caught his breath he didn’t drag the officer all to hell.” She let go of his hand and put hers on her chest. “A horse I helped train with Lee and Kayce. I couldn’t let him do it. I didn’t know he had cutters, otherwise I would have used them first instead of trying to untangle him with my bare hands.”

The vibe in the room shifted. The mention of Lee sobered everyone up really quick.

“Snoopy is one of the things I have to keep him alive. He’s proof that I learned something and made a friend while I was at it.”

Ryan sat back in his chair with a sigh. “We’ve gotta work on your self preservation, but I understand why you did it.”

“We’ll get somewhere one day. I gotta go find Rip. See what he wants me to do.” Stella stood and walked over to Jimmy. She squeezed his shoulder. “Thank you for taking care of Snoopy for me.”

She came up to the lodge pleased to see that the lights were still on. Her hand raised and she thumped the door a couple times and stood back. A couple coyotes could be heard way off in the distance. They were far enough away that Stella didn’t worry. And if they suddenly came up on her she would just barge into Rip’s house and apologize later. She was sure that he didn’t lock the door. Knocking was just out of respect and common courtesy.

The door opened, Rip looking irritated as ever. “Woah there grumpy Gus. It’s just me.” Stella snorted. When he realized who was at his door, his face softened.

“Everything alright?” He asked, looking like he was preparing for more headache.

“Oh yeah, everything’s fine. I just wanted to see what you wanted me to do.”

Rip’s eyebrows dropped. “Meaning?”

Her face scrunched up in question. “Meaning should I stay at the ranch tonight to go in the morning, or?”

“Oh yeah you probably should stay. I know John said you weren’t going, but I’m sure he’ll want you there.” He stood back and waved her into the house. “You left your stuff here during your great escape this morning. I put it on the table.”

Stella stepped into the lodge and spotted her orange book bag and key lanyard sitting where Rip said it would be. She gripped it up and swung the strap over her shoulder.

“You can stay here again if you want?” Rip offered.

Stella laughed, turning around to head back out the door. “I’ll let you have some peace before tomorrow morning. Plus I have a couple extra things at the bunkhouse.” Remembering she had been banned she stopped and spun back to him. His eyebrows were raised. She scratched her head and looked down. “I mean if that’s okay.”

Rip was quiet. The silence made Stella rock back and forth on her feet. Monica called it the “mom rock”. He sighed and shook his head. “Okay I’ll let it slide tonight. Once this situation is taken care of, no bunkhouse still, but you can hang around.”

“Eeee,” Stella squealed and ran over to him. She jumped just high enough to be able to grab his shoulders and hug him tight. He hugged her back holding most of her weight, allowing her feet to swing back and forth. She dropped down and backed up. “Thank you. I’ll try to be on my best behavior.”

“You better be,” he swatted at her shoulder as she turned around to leave. He called out to her as she left. “I’ll come get you in the mornin’!”

A faint, “okay,” floated back through the door. He smirked to himself and shook his head at the soft spot he had for her.

#yellowstone #kayce dutton #yellowstonetv #luke grimes #ian bohen #ryan #kayce dutton fan fiction #yellowstone fanfic #yellowstone fanfiction #rip wheeler #kayce dutton fanfic

18 notes · View notes

fighterkimburgess · 2 years ago

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#he’s everything i want in a guy and we’ve known each other for two years so he passes my secretly a dick worries

My Top Posts in 2022:

Officer Down

Summary: After an explosion rips through a box truck in a parking lot, Hailey Upton doesn’t wake up immediately.

Words: 2.1k

Warnings: injuries, medical tests, talk of needles and blood.

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AN: If anyone had “Cíara writes an upstead fic” in their hiatus bingo, let me know. You should probably buy a lotto ticket.

—

The ringing in his ears began to fade as Jay sat up, the world covered in grey smoke. Turning his head too quickly was almost painful, but his mind was focused on one thing. Where was his wife?

“HAILEY!” He screamed, vision finally coming back fully as he looked around. The truck was blown to pieces, twisted scorched metal dotted around the lot. He thought there was a car alarm going off, but he wasn’t sure. “HAILEY!”

There was no response, and Jay made himself stand and survey the scene. She’d been just behind him. But now she was twenty yards away and he was running, losing his balance as he tried sprinting to her with a spinning head and aching heart.

“Hailey, Hailey. Hailey, wake up. Wake up!” She was too still, but her pulse was steady under her too pale skin. He grabbed out his multiway, the Intelligence only radio ignored as he fiddled with the channel.

“50-21 George there’s been an explosion at the parking lot at West Addison and California. 10-1, officer down. Roll an RA to our location right now, she’s unconscious.” His fingers never left Hailey’s neck, her pulse easing his worries. “Hailey, are you with me? Wake up, Hail, c’mon. Wake up.”

He was too afraid to shake her with the blow she’d taken, worried about how her back could have been injured. Instead with one hand he picked up his secure radio, Voight screaming into it.

“Sarge! Hailey’s been hurt. There was an explosion, I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Is she awake? Jay, is she awake?” He could barely hear his sergeant’s question over the fear in his head but he shook it.

“She’s unconscious. Ambo is on the way, we’re closer to Rush but I’ll get them to bring us to Med. She’s not waking up.”

“It’s Upton, she’s going to be fine. Stay with your wife. We’ll stay on Escano, Hailey needs you.”

“I’ll keep you updated.”

The roar of the ambulance finally arrived, along with CFD’s finest. And in this case he was so lucky it was people he knew from 51 arriving, hoses in hand to knock back the fire from the explosion. Mikami and a stranger came running over with the backboard, shock on Mikami’s face.

“Halstead, what happened?”

“There was an explosion, a case we were working our CI got burned. Hailey got the brunt. Violet…” It was the first time he’d used the paramedic’s first name, and he saw immediately how it affected her.

“You’re coming with us, you’re injured too. I’m assuming you want Med?”

“Please?” Jay never begged, never asked questions, but when it was to get Hailey the best care he’d do anything.

“But Rush is closest to—“ The paramedic he didn’t know began to speak, but Violet interrupted her.

“Detective Halstead’s brother is an attending at Med, and this is said detective’s wife. If we don’t bring her to Med she’ll get transferred across. It’s better continuity of care.” She paused, finishing her survey and putting a c-collar on his still unconscious wife. “Go get the backboard on the other side. STELLA! We need you for a roll.”

Jay watched as one of his wife’s friends came over, dawning horror on her face as she realised it was Hailey lying there.

“Halstead…what…what can I do?”

“Just help her. Please.”

He watched them roll her on and strap her in, the rest of Stella’s truck crew running as gently as possible with Hailey to get her into the ambulance. Jay followed, pats on his back and squeezes to his arm as he got in from the people he knew.

“Let me know what happens,” Stella said, the last one to give him a squeeze as he got in.

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85 notes - Posted May 26, 2022

Slow Dancing

Summary: At a CFD awards gala, Violet makes a decision to go for what makes her happy.

Words: 1.4k

Warnings: alcohol

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—

Violet stared at herself in the mirror, eyeliner perfect and her hair in an updo. Sylvie had convinced her to go to a salon for the two of them to get their hair done together before getting ready for the gala. It was the last thing she wanted to do, but she was getting her formal award so she had to turn up. Once the back was on her earring she stood, slipping into her heels. The dark green satin dress hung perfectly, her makeup neat. She’d be fine.

Apart from wishing that her paramedic chief would spend more time with her. But that was never going to happen, he was right. They needed space.

“Are you ready?” Sylvie called, knocking Violet back to orbit. She came out of the spare room, Sylvie on FaceTime to Matt and the boys.

“Here’s my partner who’s getting an award tonight! You look amazing.” Sylvie grinned and handed over a wine glass to Violet, the younger woman looking at the phone screen.

“Hey Casey, Ben, Griffin. Having a good night?”

“It’s only four here, but it’s good. Heading for dinner in a while. Congratulations on the award, you deserve it!”

It was a quick goodbye to them as they were ready to leave, Violet knocking back the last of her wine as the cab driver called to say they were downstairs.

The entire drive she could feel her nerves rise, Sylvie able to tell and holding her hand. It would be fine. It had to be. They walked in together, each receiving drinks tokens and looking around.

“You ok?” Sylvie asked, Violet nodding.

“Fine. I just hate being the centre of attention. But it’ll be fine.”

“You deserve this. Don’t panic.” Boden came up behind her, a hand on her shoulder that nearly made her jump. “Chief Hawkins has been singing your praises about that rescue. He wants you to know you deserve it. We all know you’re a fantastic medic, Violet.”

“Thanks. It means a lot.” The conversations went from there, and as the dinner was served she sat at the table with her shift. Everyone turned up to celebrate her, congratulating her on the award. But once the dry beef and over salted potatoes had been eaten it was time for the awards. Violet was one of three paramedics being awarded, the only one for a resuscitation. She watched Hawkins walk onto the stage, her heart doing a flip flop as she watched him in his well fitting suit and bow tie.

“As Paramedic Field Chief I’ve been honoured to do ride alongs with different paramedics under my tenure. And on my own ride along with Paramedic Violet Mikami I saw just how talented she was. We were called to the birth of a child who wasn’t breathing, and I watched her intubate and revive him after meconium ingestion. He made a full recovery, and in six weeks has gained several pounds and according to his mother is growing like a weed. They named him Joseph Mikami, as a way to honour the paramedic who saved his life. It’s not as impressive as naming an infant after her, but I’m proud that CFD is honouring her with the Clinical Resuscitation Award. Paramedic Violet Mikami, of Firehouse 51!”

The crowd cheered, everyone at the 51 tables standing to clap. She could hear Capp whistling as she walked up, smiling and taking the hand Hawkins offered for a shake. There were several others on the Paramedic Chief level there who she shook with before Hawkins pinned the award to her dress. Flashes popped for photos, Evan’s hand at the small of her back and all Violet could focus on was him beside her, the warmth of his hand through the thin fabric. There was a spark as he touched her and she tried to ignore it, but it was so difficult to do.

Finally she could get off the stage, sitting back down to watch everyone else get their awards. Once the medals were given out it was time for mingling and dancing, and all Violet wanted was to go home. But instead she went to the bathroom for a deep breath and a break.

She knew the step back between them was a good idea, that dating your boss was a bad idea. Or if it was even an ok idea there could be problems. It didn’t stop the heart wanting what it wanted. And what her heart was so desperate for was Evan Hawkins. She’d never felt this way about anyone before, she’d never wanted to even just hold someone’s hand that much.

There was a knock on the cubicle door, and she tilted her head back to blink back the emotions.

“One minute.”

“Take your time, I’m here.” It was Sylvie, and Violet tried to smile at her, but it was a fake smile. “You really like him, don’t you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Hawkins. A blind man could see how the two of you are, and how jealous Gallo is of the two of you. What’s going on?”

Violet shrugged, taking a moment before responding. “I asked if he has feelings. He said we need to take a step back. So I’m taking a step back.”

She studied Sylvie’s face, realising that she’d seen her PIC with a similar look on her face before. Except then it was because Violet had talked to her about Casey.

“I don’t know Hawkins too well, but he’s a Good man. And yeah you can make excuses about his job, your job, all of it. But you both deserve to be happy. And I think that he could make you happy, Partner. I really do.”

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104 notes - Posted January 13, 2022

Coffee At Midnight

Summary: While Sylvie is on furlough, Violet has to deal with floaters. But the final floater makes her think of painkillers, bubbly water, and Goodness.

Words: 1.2k

Warnings: none

—

Walking onto the app floor Violet took a glance at 61, the Leslie Elizabeth Shay memorial shining in the dull January light. It was her final shift with a floater, and she couldn't wait for Sylvie to get back. Her friend was enjoying her time off, and Violet had gotten multiple photos of Sylvie, Casey, and the boys at various Portland landmarks. But dealing with different floaters thanks to the paramedic shortage was killing her slowly.

She made it into the changing room, putting her bag in her locker and pulling back her hair. Once that was done she went to the briefing room, but before she could Boden called her into his office, someone else already there in a paramedic uniform.

"Mikami! As you know there's a serious paramedic shortage right now. Chief Hawkins has agreed to do the shift with you so he can keep 61 on the road. Will that work?"

No. No, no, no, no, no. This was the exact opposite of what Violet wanted to happen. She wanted to forget Evan Hawkins ever existed, the way he'd looked at her after he'd announced Sylvie was funded. But it was hard to do when she looked at his brown eyes and he smiled at her.

"Yeah, sounds good. I can show you around 61 so you can see where everything is?"

"Sounds good. Is there a spare locker I can use?" Violet nodded, and they left to go to the locker room, pointing out the floater locker at the end. He nodded and went to speak, but before he could the bells went off.

It was a busy shift, and she didn't get a chance to talk to him about much as they worked. In and out, restocking and getting everything done. But when they sat in the cab, Hawkins - Evan, as he insisted she called him while they worked - asking how her holidays had been. She shared about it being the first one since her dad had died in the pandemic, that it had been weird but they got through it. He offered condolences, making Violet smile weakly. They stopped to pick up coffees, and he ordered a bubbly water in the drive thru, passing it across. He refused to let her pay for their drinks, waving it off with a smile.

She hadn't felt this way for almost a year, since she and Gallo had first had their thing. But that was long gone, and no matter what Sylvie and Ritter said she didn't have feelings for him anymore. He was a friend, but he annoyed her like a brother and she didn't want to date him again. But with Evan it was different.

She'd joked with Sylvie that a man who gave you bubbly water and painkillers was a man to keep, but finding out everything that he'd done for her while she was in hospital had meant a lot. He'd done it without thinking, leaving the cup for her there. It was one of the sweetest things anyone had ever done for her.

The shift passed both slowly and quickly, and when they got back at eleven he went to sleep in Sylvie's bed. Violet stayed sitting in the common room, watching the room empty as people drifted to the bunks. But she stayed in her seat, a cooling mug of coffee in her hand.

She didn’t know what she wanted anymore. If it was six weeks ago her jealousy over Cara had burned through her stomach, three months ago she’d comforted Sylvie when Casey left for Oregon. But the idea that her feelings could be so muddled and confusing had never entered her mind.

“Penny for them.” Mouch slid over a fresh mug, taking in Violet’s expression. The older man sat next to her, his own mug in his hand.

“I’m fine. Missing Brett.”

“We all do. But you’re different than usual. Spit it out. Something about Gallo?”

Violet laughed, covering her mouth to muffle the sound as Mouch stared at her. That this was her immediate reaction confirmed that she was totally over him. But made her worry more about it.

“Or how working with Hawkins is? Is he a good paramedic?”

“He’s great…can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

Violet took a deep breath, taking a sip before admitting it.

“How bad does it look if you date someone above you in the chain of command?”

It was silent, the only noise from the tv in the background as she watched Mouch process her words. His jaw opened slightly, and Violet waited to hear what he’d say, only slightly terrified of it.

“I’ve seen it happen, successfully. And I’ve seen the same relationship also crumble with it. Casey’s first wife was his candidate and they ended things. Then they got back together. And people looked at them oddly but they made it work. Her being on his truck didn’t end their relationship. Your partner for the day?”

“Maybe.”

“He’s a good guy. His family are good people, I knew his dad for years. If there’s something between you, I think you should go for it.” He stretched, standing up. “I’m going to bed. Enjoy.”

Violet cleaned the mugs, putting them in the dishwasher and heading to the bunk room. She passed Evan’s bed, his arm over his face as he dozed. Getting into bed she put the pillow over face, wanting to yell into it. But as she closed her eyes the bells went off.

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108 notes - Posted January 5, 2022

So, abortion is constitutionally illegal…

Hey, I’m Cíara, and I grew up with a constitutional ban on abortion that wasn’t overturned till 2018. So I know a thing or two about dealing with this. Here’s some tips.

Mutual aid funds. Donate, donate, donate. If you’ve got some spare cash, donate. They help low income pregnant people access abortions and are the easiest way to help provide access quickly.

Women Help is a provider of abortion pills for places where abortion is illegal. It comes in the post and should help.

If you do have a pill abortion and need to seek medical attention - you’re miscarrying. You’re miscarrying a wanted baby. Do all of your searches on incognito mode, delete any abortion related browser history before getting medical help. Will your doctors and nurses mostly want to help you? Yes, but you shouldn’t risk it anyway.

Make a note of states that still have abortion. Illinois passed a bill in 2019 saying that even if Roe or Casey fell abortion would still be legal there. It’s safe there.

Make a list of close to the border abortion clinics. This will be harder for the Great Lakes area (but you have Illinois so that helps). Off the top of my head cities to check out are Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Windsor, the GTA, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Saint John in Canada. In Mexico abortion is only legal on a state by state basis so be aware.

Organise, organise, organise. Don’t leave people behind in your organising. Trans men and people outside the gender binary can get pregnant. It’s not their fault, don’t throw them under the fucking bus.

Your first question to every politician, at every town hall, canvassing event, and more, is “will you decriminalise abortion and recognise it as necessary healthcare?” And you stick to that message. Make politicians dread seeing you because they know. Call their congressional office, write weekly letters. Flood them with “I am your constituent and this is what I want”.

And do that on the state level too! Constant communication.

I am so sorry to everyone who is about to go through this. Find your group. Organise. Protest. You can do this.

291 notes - Posted May 3, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Broken

Summary: After your boyfriend and friend break your heart, you’re left to try pick up the pieces of what happened. You don’t expect to fall for the fourth person in this twisted love affair, but Adam makes you feel less broken.

Words: 5.7k

Warnings: infertility, talk of difficulty conceiving, pregnancy, infidelity, alcohol, angst with a happy ending

Pulling into your parking spot you threw your head back in the seat, staring at the car roof. Your doctors words kept going around and around in your head.

“There’s no physical reason you’re not pregnant yet.”

It had been eighteen months of trying, casually at the start but more seriously when it hadn’t happened. When the worry was too much that something was wrong. But you’d both been tested, Jay got back that his sperm were good quality. You physically shouldn’t have had a problem. But you still weren’t pregnant and it hurt so damn much.

Thumbing your engagement ring you got out and went to the elevator, wondering how you were supposed to tell Jay that they needed to run more tests, that your body just didn’t want to have a child.

As you got to your front door your fiancés work partner was standing there, Kim looking sick to her stomach as she waited. When she saw you her face paled, and you went straight to her.

“Kim, hey! Is Jay inside?”

“Yeah. I wanted to talk to you first. I need to tell you something.”

“Can it wait? I’ve had the day from hell.” She shook her head and you were immediately worried, watching her.

“It can’t. Look, I don’t know how to say this so I’m just ripping the bandaid off. Six weeks ago, Jay and I got drunk and slept together. I found out last week I’m pregnant with his baby.”

The words made you stumble, holding onto the wall for support. He’d cheated on you. He’d cheated on you and one night with someone else meant that he was about to become a father and it wasn’t your child. It wasn’t your baby. Because you were broken and this proved it if one time meant he could get someone else pregnant. Kim went to grab your arm but you shook her off.

“Don’t touch me. Don’t you dare touch me. You’re one of my best friends. You were going to be a bridesmaid. How could you?” Your voice cracked on the final word, tears beginning to roll down your cheeks.

“I didn’t mean to. We were drunk, it was a bad case. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t want to see you outside of work again.” You turned and unlocked the door, closing it firmly behind you to leave Kim outside. But instead of a moment of peace, Jay stood and opened his arms for you.

“Hey, how are you? Where were you I missed you?” He came over for a hug but you sidestepped him, staring at the man you loved so much it hurt.

“What part of me wasn’t enough? Why did you cheat? Is it because I can’t give you a baby? And now you get to have one with her?”

“Baby, please I didn’t mean to. It just happened.”

“It doesn’t just happen! She was going to be my bridesmaid. Every time I got my period and sobbed she comforted me. And one night? One night and you get her pregnant? How could you?” You watched as the full force of your words hit him and you asked the question you weren’t sure you wanted an answer to. “Do you love me anymore?”

“Of course I loved you!” His face dropped as he realised it was in past tense, and your tears flowed harder.

“Loved. Not love. I should have known you couldn’t love someone who can’t do the thing she’s supposed to do. I’m gonna pack a bag. Tell me when you’re in work so I can get the rest of my things.”

You went straight to your room, staring at your bed. At the artwork the two of you had picked, at the bed you’d made that morning. The bed you thought you’d sleep in for the rest of your life. But you pulled out a bag and threw clothes in, just wanting to make sure that you had enough to keep you going. When it was done you grabbed your tablet, your chargers, your toothbrush and shampoo.

Jay was standing there as you walked out, staring at you with watery eyes.

“Baby, please. It was a mistake. We can get through it.”

“No, we can’t. I was going to have your child. I spent today getting told I need even more tests because there’s no reason I shouldn’t be pregnant. And then with one night you get Kim pregnant? You told me she and Adam split up but not why. That’s why, isn’t it?” He nodded and it broke your heart fully in two. “I can’t do this. Because every time you had custody of that child, I’d be angry. And that innocent baby doesn’t deserve the sins of the parents inflicted on it.”

You held out your left hand, staring at the engagement ring there. The one Jay had proposed to you with a grin and a plea for you to marry him. Pulling it off felt so, so wrong. But you did, your finger bare for the first time in nearly two years as you set it down on the coffee table.

“We’re over. I’ll ask someone in Intelligence to tell me when you’re at work so I can pack my things. If you could box them up I’d appreciate it, but you don’t have to.”

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349 notes - Posted January 15, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

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spookyheaad · 3 years ago

Text

Another Tesoro sketchdump!

Some interloper stuff too!

I’ll start with Interloper stuff because I have a lot.

@heavenlyborne @goldenshowman

I have an idea for using the “two face”/“dr. Jeckyll & mr. hyde” metaphor because it’s a great metaphor both in a solely symbolic sense, and in the physical sense.

I like portraying Interloper through Tesoro like this, half of his body is the Interloper’s visage, showing that it is a part of who he is, as he was the catalyst for its existence. He tries to separate himself from it, and succeeds, but as with any trauma, it will always haunt him.

I can feel it behind my eyes, crawling between muscle and the epidermal layer. There’s that monster, slithering behind human skin. Please help me; get it out.

The inspiration for the idea is from one of my own original characters; one of my favorite boys :))

I’ve spoken about him very briefly; his name is Ambrose.

To make it short and relevant to this post, he was taken by cultists to be a ritualistic sacrifice, they attempted the sacrifice & it was botched, which caused him to be heavily disfigured. He shares sentience with the being that tried to overtake his body, but because the ritual was botched, it has very limited cognizance/sentience. While awake, Ambrose is able to suppress it. But when he sleeps it tends to gain control. You can hear it babbling and mumbling away in Ambrose’s quarters, attempting to haul threats and insults as it’s one eye follows around anyone who comes within its line of sight.

(For anyone curious, my inspiration for Ambrose was the tale of Edward Mordrake. It’s unfortunately not a true story, but damn I wish it was, just because of how uncanny and crazy it is.)

I love my boy Ambrose please give him love.

Drawing Interloper is like venting out pain for me, but also I really like drawing my fav characters in pain as well. I mean who doesn’t tbh.

I love doing this for Tesoro in a strictly metaphorical portrayal, mainly because I don’t have the brain power to do it in a literal sense like Ambrose yet. This is only something Tesoro would experience in a night terror, finding Interloper is just him, literally hiding inside his skin.

“I know it’s a part of me; that is an indisputable fact. But it’s actually kind of scary. Knowing that something you’ve done follows you around because of your terrible decisions.”

Ok to end it off let’s throw something wholesome into the mix. I can never explain it well but the way Tesoro behaves around Stella is so god damn adorable, I’ll just have to draw it out after work.

This is common knowledge but he loves Stella’s kisses.

#I wanna draw so much fucked up stuff #like monsters and gore and all that good stuff #I feel like my body is being possessed by some old era renaissance painter and I just wanna go apeshit & draw gore #I’m in the mood to make horror with deep visual metaphors #Tesoro is always gonna be the subject of it because duh #I haven’t drawn my OC’s in a while too and drawing Ambrose again gave me life #ranting aside #I feel like every time Tesoro sees Stella he just has the ooga booga urge to pick her up and carry her around everywhere #like a neanderthal #or like how I pick up my dog because I want to hold him like a baby #I could be wrong but I feel like it’s a tall man thing™️ to just want to pick up his smaller S/O and carry them around #and of course Tesoro does that because Stella is so significantly smaller than he is #he probably doesn’t want Stella to hurt her neck from having to look up at him so he’s just like ‘I’ll pick you up so you can look at me’#and Tesoro gets the added benefit of being able to hold her - because he LOVES it #art #artist #anime #manga #one piece #one piece anime #one piece manga #fanart #one piece film gold #one piece film: gold #gild tesoro

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sylvies-chen · 3 years ago

Note

Can you do 5+6 for brettsey?

5. "You're safe now" + 6. "No one's going to hurt you."

Sylvie's not weak. She's strong. She's a fighter.

That's what Matt keeps reminding himself of as Stella drives through the intersections, sirens blaring.

They’d heard the call for a 10-1 coming from Sylvie exactly seven minutes ago. He's been counting. They'd heard it all, from the scuffling of footsteps to Violet’s voice arguing with another in the background. The call, however, was short-lived and Sylvie’s calls for help were cut short when the line went dead.

The line went dead. And in their world, that’s never a good sign.

They’d taken a call at some old warehouse that’s undergoing construction. When 81 finally pulls up on the scene, however, there’s no one there. No construction crew, no contractors, nobody. All they see is the ambo with doors swung open, not a paramedic in sight. It’s not like Sylvie— or Violet for that matter— to leave the doors open like that, to leave supplies vulnerable and ready for the taking. It makes Matt’s stomach churn, and he finds it increasingly hard to be a Captain right now instead of Sylvie’s boyfriend.

But she’s strong. She won’t give up without a fight.

Casey strides through the front doors of the warehouse, Gallo, Stella, and Mouch trailing behind him and struggling to keep up. His eyes frantically survey the rooms before them. Everything in the building is grimy and unfinished and smells like sawdust. It’s cold. He hates that. Sylvie's warm in every sense of the word, this is no place for her to... to... well, he doesn't want to think about what could have happened here.

There aren’t any more gunshots— at least not ones they can hear, the warehouse only has two levels, thankfully, so they make haste and clear the first floor quickly as CPD’s squad car sirens wail in the distance. They probably received the call too, he thinks.

“Fire department, call out,” Mouch shouts aimlessly, hoping for a response. It’s dead silent.

“Brett, Violet,” Stella yells, checking the last room. “Call out if you can hear us.”

Still nothing.

Matt’s heart feels like it’s drowning in that dreaded silence.

“We’re up here!” Suddenly, they hear a voice coming from the second floor— one he instantly recognizes as Sylvie’s. She sounds panicked, and he immediately darts towards the staircase across the room.

Then, the single, harrowing gunshot goes off.

He doesn’t know what to think. He’s two steps up the staircase when the loud shot echoes throughout the warehouse, bouncing off the tinny walls and reverberating in his chest. It makes him stop dead in his tracks. In that moment, he swears he died a little and he knows then that he’s not being a Captain anymore. Because screw that. This is the woman he loves. He just needs to make sure she’s okay.

He’s only paralyzed with fear for a brief moment though until he turns around to see Stella staring at him, wide-eyed with worry. Then, everything snaps back into place. He bounds up the stairs, skipping a couple of steps with each stride, and moves into the first room. Gallo, Mouch, and Kidd all follow as quickly as they can, their boots thudding against the concrete. There, they finally set their eyes on the scene before them.

Sylvie’s there, and so is Violet. There’s a man next to Violet, lying on the floor and bleeding out as Violet keeps the pressure on his wound. Sylvie’s standing a few feet in front of Violet, holding the gun at her side as her hands tremble and she lets out a relieved sigh.

She’s alive. She looks sweaty and panic stricken, but she’s alive.

Matt turns to the man he hears grumble in the opposite corner of the room and half expects him to be bleeding. Honestly, he wouldn’t be surprised if Sylvie had shot someone in self-defence— and he certainly wouldn’t blame her. He can picture a struggle that somehow led to her taking this guy’s gun and… he doesn’t know. He’s still trying to process the whole scene himself; he’s barely past the pure relief that Sylvie is alright. But he turns as Gallo moves to check on Violet and the victim she’s tending to, and sees that the guy in the opposite corner isn’t injured at all. His hands are raised and he eyes Sylvie nervously. It confuses Matt but he snaps back to Sylvie quickly and runs over to her. To hell with the other guy. Stella and Mouch can take care of him— or CPD, now that the cops are flooding into the room. For now, Sylvie is his priority.

For now and for forever.

“Sylvie,” he exhales, his hands flying to her face as soon as he reaches her and brushing her hair out of her face. The temptation to pull her into his embrace and never let go is tempting but he resists it. For the moment, at least. “What happened?”

“I… I…” Sylvie sputters, her eyes darting between nothing frantically. “He had the gun to my head.”

“What?”

“He had the gun to my head and it- it just… didn’t go off,” she explains, still in shock. She’s shaking, her gaze is hollow, and her muscles tense.

“We came in and this guy had already been shot— the charming guy with the gun over there said something about trespassing on the warehouse property,” Violet explains from behind her, still in shock herself as she keeps pressure on the wound. It’s the first time Matt realize that Gallo’s gone, and then remembers hearing Violet ordering him to get the stretcher at one point. “We… we thought we were both dead. He was in some kind of fit of anger and then- then he just pointed the gun at us.”

“But the gunshot—”

“He shot at the wall to try and scare us,” Sylvie tells him. “I risked responding to you guys and he shot at us that time. That’s when the gun jammed. When I realized it did, I just tried as hard as I could to yank it out of his hand and hoped for the best. I… oh God, I can’t believe he— that I… I mean I almost…”

Matt brows arch inwards, his heart aching for Sylvie. He knows better than anyone how scary that kind of situation can be. He’s been through the exact same thing and he wouldn’t wish it on anyone. But she’d been there for him then so he’s here for her now, without a flash of hesitation.

“Hey, you did good,” he assures her. “You did so good, baby. You’re strong, you know that, right?”

He says it because it’s true. She’s alive, she’s okay. And that’s her own doing, because of her own strength. Not his.

She nods absentmindedly, too distracted by everything going on around her. CPD is rounding up the warehouse worker, Kidd and Mouch are helping Gallo move the victim out on a headboard while Violet wipes at her sweaty brow and sits back against the wall, just as panicked as Sylvie. Everything is dying down, people are busy doing their jobs or distracted.

When she looks around and realizes this, she looks back up at Matt. His hands move to rub gentle circles on her arms and pulls her in for a hug. And then, as if brought on by his embrace alone, the damn just sort of… breaks.

First, her muscles relax under his arms. She exhales heavily, tears finally streaming down her cheeks. He knows this because her face is buried so deep into the crook of his neck that he can feel her tears dampen his white shirt. The strength she’d needed to get through something like that, the adrenaline, the shock. It all wears off as soon as she’s met with the familiar embrace. It serves as a reminder that here, with him, she’s always allowed to be vulnerable.

“Shh, it’s okay,” he whispers. “You’re safe now. No one’s going to hurt you.”

He knows that she knows it. But he repeats it anyway until she believes it and, maybe, until he himself believes it.

#because sylvie brett does not have guns pointed at her often enough!! *inserts sarcastic thumbs up*#abby writes #fanfic prompts #prompt requests #brettsey #matt casey #sylvie brett

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roselarkiin · 3 years ago

Note

Brettsey + 16 please!!

#16 "Are you seriously giving me the silent treatment?"

When Matt told Sylvie they were invited to spend the weekend at Benny's cabin with Stella and Kelly, she envisioned a quiet, relaxing weekend. She didn't think it would take too much convincing for Matt to spend their time away massaging her aching back or rubbing her swollen feet. This could quite possibly be their last weekend before she gives birth to their second child, and they become a family of four. She wants to take full advantage of that.

Though, it's quickly turning out to be anything but relaxing.

First, the drive to the cabin with two three-year-olds had not been pleasant. The second they dropped out of cell phone range, and Daniel Tiger stopped playing on Sylvie's phone, all hell broke loose, and it was non stop tantrums from both kids until they arrived at their destination.

Then once they arrived and were settled, Matt and Kelly announced their plan to take Esme and Ellie fishing the following day. Sylvie knew it would not end well.

Though their husbands insisted it would be fine. They'd spend the day on the lake, in the small boat Kelly kept at the cabin, teach the girls to fish, and it would be fun.

Stella and Sylvie knew different.

As they're getting ready to leave, Matt asks Sylvie one last time if she's sure she doesn't want to come with them. And Sylvie just raises a brow at him, looks down at what she's wearing; one of Matt's oversized shirts, sweats, and a pair of fuzzy socks. Practically her uniform since starting maternity leave. It's comfortable, but it doesn't exactly give off wanting to spend a day on the lake vibes.

Because spending the next six hours on an already cramped boat with two toddlers while she's eight months pregnant does not sound like her idea of a good time.

Sylvie doesn't tell him that, though, doesn't want to ruin his visions of this perfect day he thinks he has planned with their daughter. While she's planning how best to deal with the inevitable fallout. So she just shakes her head and tells them to have fun as she kisses them goodbye.

Matt presses a kiss to her stomach, murmurs something she can't hear to the baby, and the baby tumbles in her belly. His eyes go wide, and he laughs, has this look of complete awe on his face. The same look he always gets, no matter how many times he feels their baby move. Esme mimics Matt, kisses her stomach, and then they're out the door.

After saying her goodbyes to her husband and daughter, Sylvie settles into the chair beside the fire and picks up the book she's reading. This is her plan for the weekend, to put her swollen feet up and do absolutely nothing.

Stella offers to keep her company, acts like it's such a chore in front of Kelly, having to stay with the pregnant woman instead of spending the day with her husband and daughter. Sylvie snickers though and rolls her eyes at her friend when Stella flops down onto the couch before the door to the cabin is even closed.

"I give it three hours before it all goes to hell," Stella says.

Sylvie snorts, not looking up from her book. "They aren't even going to make it to two."

"I'm willing to take that bet. Four weeks of Saturday night babysitting, no questions asked?"

"Deal."

They shake on it before settling into a comfortable silence.

Their peace and quiet is short lived. About two hours after the little fishing expedition started, the door to the cabin slams open, and in stamps Sylvie's furious three-year-old, followed by her very irate husband.

Esme throws her coat onto the ground and flings herself into Sylvie's arms, buries her face in her neck. Sylvie resists the urge to tell her husband she told him so. Sylvie's not sure what happened, but when Esme gets in a mood like this, she knows whatever it is, their child is not going to bend easily.

Severide follows behind Matt, a sleeping Ellie in his arms. Sylvie and Stella share a look.

So it went well all around then.

Stella sits up, makes room for Kelly to sit beside her. "How long did that take?" she asks, nodding at the sleeping toddler in his arms.

He chuckles and pats Ellie's back. "Took all of twenty minutes for the boat to rock her to sleep."

Sylvie runs a gentle hand through her daughter's hair, runs circles over the girl's back. "Oh, Ez. What happened?" she asks.

"Daddy yelled at me. He's not my best friend anymore!" Ez cries against her shoulder. In her little three-year-old mind, her daddy no longer being her best friend is the worst possible insult she can think of.

Sylvie's eyes flicker over to Matt, and she can tell their daughter's words landed and had their intended effect on him. She sees a flash of hurt in his eyes as he looks at Esme before it's replaced with irritation again.

She gives her husband a quizzical look. He's frustrated with whatever happened, but it's unlike him to lose his cool with Esme. He rarely raises his voice with her. Sylvie knows he worries that he'll lose control of his anger like his own father. And even with her assurances that it won't happen, he always makes a conscious effort to treat Esme with tenderness, even when she's in trouble.

"What happened?" she asks again, directs the question at Matt this time.

He sighs, pinches the bridge of his nose before pushing his hand through his hair. "Ez threw the rod into the lake," he growls, throws his hands in the air like he still doesn't believe it. "She announced she was done, and then she tossed it overboard!"

Sylvie has to bite her bottom lip to keep from laughing. Cause, yeah, that is definitely something she can see Ez doing.

Severide nods in her direction, clearly just as entertained by the whole thing as she is. "I got it on video."

"Thank you," she mouths at him over the top of Esme's head, and Stella snorts. Kelly already has his phone out of his pocket, holding it out to his wife before she even has a chance to ask, knowing exactly what she wants. Sylvie needs to get him to send her that video right now.

"It was a brand new rod, Sylvie," Matt exclaims.

"And it was a sparkly purple kids rod that cost $40. She was probably only going to use it the once anyway. It's not going to break the bank, Matt. That's not what this is really about, is it?" She holds her hand out to him, gestures for him to come to her. Because she's got Ez in her lap, and she's eight months pregnant. She is not getting out of this chair if she doesn't have to.

He crosses the room, sits on the arm of the chair. Just like she knew he would. Sylvie slides her fingers into his hair, uses her nails to massage his scalp. She knows he was excited for today and that he's disappointed Ez didn't like fishing as much as he thought she would.

She sees his shoulders relax, and Matt leans his head into Sylvie's hand. "I just wanted today to go differently, that's all." Sylvie nods. There it is.

"I know you did," she says, places her hand on his back. "But, babe, Ez is three. She can barely sit through an episode of Paw Patrol without getting bored. Don't you think that you might have had unrealistic expectations of what she's capable of today?"

He presses a kiss into her hair, and she doesn't need to look at him or even hear him say it to know that the gesture is his way of admitting she's right. He moves to the other side of the chair, crouches down beside Esme's face, caresses her little cheek with his thumb.

"I'm sorry I raised my voice at you, Ez."

Esme whines then, shrugs Matt's hand off her cheek. She turns her head away from him, tries to burrow herself further into Sylvie, as much as her pregnant belly will allow anyway.

"Aww, come on, Ez Pez." Matt lets out a low chuckle, pokes her shoulder. "Are you seriously giving me the silent treatment?" She nods against Sylvie's chest.

While Sylvie often finds herself thinking their daughter got the best of both her and Matt's personalities, it's times like this when she realizes they also passed on some of their worse qualities. Esme's tendency to be a little obstinate - okay, a lot - she gets from Matt (no matter what he says). The flair for the dramatics comes from Sylvie.

Sylvie brushes Ez's hair off her face. "Daddy can be silly sometimes, huh?" she whispers in her ear, and Esme nods. "Do you think maybe you should accept his apology?"

She scrunches up her face, looks over at Matt, and then back to Sylvie. "Do I have to?" she mumbles defiantly. Sylvie laughs, kisses her daughter's forehead, and reminds her to be kind.

"Do you think I can make it up to you?" Matt asks, and Esme just shrugs her little shoulders.

Matt pouts, and Sylvie can't help but roll her eyes at him. It's clear he's getting a little desperate when their daughter won't budge. Ez has always been such a daddy's girl that he doesn't know what to do with himself when she's angry at him and he's not the favorite. He hates it, and he's not against using bribery to win back their daughter's affection.

He tries again, gives it one last ditch effort to get her to forgive him. If this doesn't work, nothing will, and he'll just have to wait until Esme forgets about it. That usually takes a couple of hours, always filled with Matt's sulking, and then everything goes back to normal.

"Hey, Ez, what do you say we go for a drive into town? We can get some ice cream," he tries eagerly. Then, in an instant, Esme launches herself out of Sylvie's lap into Matt's arms. His arms fly up, wrap around her waist to catch her.

It's comical, really, just how fast she forgets that she's trying to stay mad at him.

"Can I get a really big one?" Esme asks, throwing her arms wide.

"Oh, I don't know about that," Matt says teasingly.

"Please, Daddy. Please," she begs, drags the words out in a long whiny way. She clasps her hands together under her chin and bats her eyes at him. She learned that from Sylvie.

"Okay, but don't tell mama," he whispers conspiratorially, winks at Sylvie over Esme's shoulder.

"If you're going out, could you bring me back some Oreos?" Sylvie asks, flashes him a bright smile.

Matt smiles back at her and places his hand on her stomach. "Baby craving?" Sylvie nods, covers his hand with her own. "What's the feel for today?"

Sylvie thinks for a moment before answering, "Boy."

"Nah, definitely another girl," Matt says. "What do you think, Ezzy? You're the tiebreaker. Are you getting a brother or a sister?"

"Sister!" she answers from Matt's arms.

"See, you're outnumbered. Definitely a girl."

Sylvie laughs and shakes her head. "If only it worked that way. Besides, that doesn't count!"

"Why?" Matt protests. "Just because Ez sides with me?"

"No, because last week she wanted the baby to be a puppy."

Matt laughs out loud at that. "Wouldn't that be something!"

Esme starts to get impatient, and she fidgets in Matt's arms. "Daddy, can we get ice cream now?"

Ellie lifts her head and chirps from Severide's lap, "I want ice cream."

"That you wake up for?" Severide gives Ellie an incredulous look, tickles her sides until she laughs. "Guess we're tagging along then."

"Matt?" Sylvie calls, just as he's almost out the door again. He turns back to look at her. "Can you get some pickles too? The round ones already cut for sandwiches?"

He makes a face like he knows what she's planning to do with the pickles and the Oreos. "If I have to watch you eat that, I'm going to be sick," he deadpans. He's guessed correctly.

"Don't watch then," she says, as if it's the most obvious answer, and she laughs at the disgusted look he sends her way.

#brettsey #sylvie brett #matt casey #brett x casey #technically set in the same universe as ASOW #but it should still work if you haven't read it #for someone who doesn't have kids #and has ZERO desire to have any of my own #i sure do include them in my fics a lot

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pride-moth · 3 years ago

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Here Comes The Rain Again - Stolitz Week Day 1 (Rain)

Ao3 Link

Even Info Link

Stolas doesn’t like hell’s rain. It’s sulfur and acid and blood and it burns the skin like fire. It doesn’t hurt him, not really, he’s from here after all. His body is anything but sensitive to hell’s tortures. But it’s still deeply unpleasant, so he usually tries to avoid it.

Unfortunately, you can’t always avoid bad things. Especially not if your dearly-hated wife decides to have a lavish birthday party in the palace garden, the elements be damned. So, he’s standing in the pouring hell rain, his body uneasily prickling from the droplets. And there’s no escape from it all either because even though he and Stella haven’t spoken a word to each other in months that wasn’t a scream or a death threat, he’s still expected to come to these things. “Good optics” they call it. He calls it socially acceptable torture. Required torture even.

Via is having a good time at least, mingling with the servers more than the other royals, but at least she’s mingling at all, and smiling and laughing. It makes his heart sing, seeing her laugh despite it all. Despite the constant fighting in the house, the constant shouting, the constant arguments about who she’ll live with if push comes to shove. It makes everything a little less difficult, a little less painful, a little less horrible.

Nobody but him seems to mind the rain. They dance and eat and drink like it isn’t even there. They don’t even have to be outside here, but Stella insisted and she always gets what she wants, doesn’t she?

Well, she gets everything she wants except for him, Stolas supposes. He still remembers her standing in front of him as a teenager with wide eyes and a timid smile, more beautiful than any woman he had ever seen in real life or in a magazine, but he had already been secure in the knowledge that no matter how beautiful she was, he didn’t want a woman at all. He still hurts for her in that way, even if the feeling fades with every piece of china she throws at him.

He sighs, it’s no use. He turns on his heel and goes inside, the acid rain dripping from his clothes.

“You look like you need a break.”

Stolas snaps his head around towards the voice next to him in the hallway. “What are you doing here, Blitzy?” he asks, startled but undeniably happy to see him.

“It’s the full moon? I’m here to bring you the book? And do kinky shit to take it back home with me?” Blitz says and waves Stolas’ grimoire around and pauses for a moment. “Did you actually forget?”

“No, no, I just… There’s a party happening outside as you’ve probably noticed.”

“Yeah in that piss weather, I was wondering what kind of weird cult shit is going on there.”

“Oh, nothing of the sort, just… royal things, I suppose.”

“Same difference.”

Stolas sighs. “I’m simply not a big fan of rain, I suppose.”

Blitz’ face lights up with a gleeful grin. “I know exactly what you need to see!”

Stolas wants to ask what he’s talking about but before he can open his mouth, Blitz has started drawing circles on the ground and opened a portal to the living world.

“Let’s go!” Blitz exclaims and holds his hand out towards Stolas.

Stolas takes it and feels the little burst of excitement flow through his body that has long become the familiar feeling every time he touches Blitz. It’s pleasant, he can’t pretend it isn’t. If he ever tried to in the first place. It’s warm and kind and good and he wants to savor the sensation uncritically whenever he can.

They step through the portal together and end up in a dark forest, the wind howling around them in, whirling up leaves and dirt and making the bird chirp excitedly. It’s warm, though, like a summer day coming to an end. Stolas hugs himself and looks at Blitz in mild distress. “Where are we?!”

Blitz laughs. “Oh Canada or something, I wouldn’t know, I was just aiming for ‘forest where it’s going to rain soon.”

“Why?! I just told you I don’t like the rain!”

“Well, you haven’t seen earth rain yet!”

“How is that different?!”

“You’ll see, just calm down and enjoy yourself!”

Blitz hesitates for a moment, but then he reaches out to Stolas again, grabbing his hand and massaging it slightly. Stolas can’t help but smile.

And then it begins. One drop at first, then more and more until it is pouring down on them. The wind throws the rain in every direction until they’re drenched from head to toe.

But it’s different than in hell. It’s warm and soft and it feels cleansing like the gentle embrace of a loved one. The unpleasant sting of the hell rain is washed away with every drop of soft earthly rain which wraps itself gently around Stolas like a warm blanket.

He feels elated just from standing there, Blitz holding his hand, looking into the unending darkness of the forest. He turns around without thinking, leans down without thinking and he kisses Blitz hungrily and passionately and with all the tenderness he can muster.

Blitz freezes for a moment before reciprocating, placing a firm hand in Stolas’ neck, pulling him closer.

And so they just stand there, soaking wet somewhere in the middle of nowhere on earth, kissing like it’s the only thing that matters. Kissing like they’re the only two people in the entire universe. Like a kiss of this caliber won’t make it impossible to pretend to dislike each other the next day. Like a kiss of this caliber won’t make it impossible to pretend they aren’t painfully, soul-crushingly in love with each other.

#stolas x blitzo #stolas x blitz #stolitz #stolitz week #fanfic #mywriting #Helluva Boss

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nitannichionne · 4 years ago

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If He Was Your Fan, Chapter 59: Prerogatives (A Henry Cavill Fanfic)

Chapter 59: Prerogatives (Henry POV)

CHAPTER 59: Prerogatives

NOTE: Thanks for your support and input, especially last chapter!

(Henry POV)

I lay in bed, looking at her. I made it priority to wear her out last night:

“Aaahhhhh!” she screamed as I drove her hips up and down an my cock. She gripped my shoulders, her head falling back riding out the previous orgasm. “I can’t—”

“You can,” I growled, turning her under me. My tongue snaked to her mouth, moistening her dried lips and the insides of her mouth. I went down on her again and she let out a whimper. We both moaned as we felt her passion flow again. “Ah, that’s it.” Her hips raised off the bed and I crawled between her legs, nibbling her torso on the way back up, and aligned my hips with hers again. I rubbed my meatus against her slit, kissing her neck.

She gave a kitten cry as my tongue surged inside her mouth, my cock thrusting into her at the same time. The sound struck the base of my neck and lit a path down my spine, making me ache to pound her again. How I loved hearing that sound, feeling her body become pliant in my arms but feeling her fingertips rake my back deliciously as her sex pulsed and pulled me, her eyes half open as if under a spell…my spell. Doesn’t she know what that does to me?

I sigh, blinking back to present. I am trying get it. She wants to establish her own identity in this new life here in the U.K. She didn’t see it coming, and she wants to try to start anew, get her bearings, as it were. I understand.

But I DON’T understand why she has to do it this way. I am being selfish, and I know it, but I barely care, I think as I lick my lips watching her. Yet I do care about her and how she feels, and I am going along with this. Did I sweep her off her feet? I must have not done a good job. She seemed stable the whole time we were together in all three film sites.

I hate games. Is that what this is? It’s hard for me to believe that. Our relationship started so differently from most. Our whole history is different from most. And I have never ever had a woman be so understanding of my quirks, like my gaming and such. She seemed fine when I went to work, didn’t even show a bit of insecurity until…until I put it there…damn, am I still paying for that?

And I gave her my ring! How can she question everything when she is wearing my crest on her finger? She had to know I was working up to popping the question. I looked down at the one she gave me. She thought it wasn’t good enough. How can she think that?

“Henry?”

I look at her. I’d been quiet too long.

She looks dejected. “Can we just…go outside awhile?”

I swallow hard. “Yeah, in a bit.”

“Oh, okay,” she nods, but she looks like she’s going to cry. “I’ll take Luna out. You bring Kal, alright?”

“Yeah.”

She gets Luna’s harness, and she, thinking she is part dog, trots over to be leashed. I can’t help but smile at that. “Okay, then.”

The second she’s alone, I get on my phone. I see all these numbers I’d conveniently blocked out—actresses and such, women I could call up. I slowed at Emma’s.

I call up my brother. I can’t believe I’m calling him. As the line rings, I realize how serious I am about her and how much I want to truly understand and not lose her.

“Hold on,” he says. “Let me get this right. She wants to not move in with you yet?”

“No.”

“Oh, she might be a proper lady, Henry.”

I roll my eyes at that. “She is.”

“No, you know what I mean,” he chastises. “She wants to establish her own status.”

“She wears my ring.”

“A ring, or the ring?”

“The ring.”

“Well, Good Lord, Henry, the horse is out of the barn!” he is quiet for a moment. “Did you ask her? Does she know what that ring means?”

“No.”

“Henry!”

“Good Lord, you sound like Mum.”

“No, she’d probably hit you in the back of the head with a paper,” he mutters.

“You’re not helping.”

“She loves you, and she wants to make a name for herself before you change it. She wants to be sure it isn’t proximity but really a desire to be together. She wants other people to at least have reason to feel that way too. Good enough?”

I sigh. “Good enough.”

“I kind of like her already.”

“She’s American.”

He lets out a low whistle. “Told Mum?”

“Met Mum online.”

“Well, well, well,” he teases. “When are the rest of us going to meet her?”

“Soon.”

“Good man,” he encourages. “Remember, it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind—”

“--And a man’s prerogative to change it back,” I finish with my brother. We have a laugh. Mum always hated that quote.

“Good luck.”

“Thanks.” I hang up and look at Kal. “Well, I guess that’s that, Kal. Let’s go.”

We join her and Luna outside. She looks worried. I can’t help but soften. She wants my understanding.

“So, tell me about this place at Stella’s,” I exhale.

“It’s in Brixton, not far from you,” she says hopefully, her eyes widening. “It’s a studio.”

“Small?”

“I don’t know, but it’s furnished and I can still afford it even with the pet fees.”

I look at the stars in the sky, the Northern Lights beginning to fade. For the first time I hold to the fact that they are still there. I take a deep breath. “I can help you settle in.”

“You will?” Painful relief crosses her features as she leans into me.

I drag her to my side. “If this is what you need, pet, but I want you to know that ring means something to certain parts of society.”

She is quiet for a moment, and swallows hard, looking at the ring on her finger. “Should I give this back—”

“No,” I say flatly. “And you can take my ring off my cold dead hand!” I earn a laugh from her. I gather her close. “I don’t fully agree, my love, but if this is what you need—” I was cut off by her pulling me down for a kiss. It was tender and vulnerable, tasting of tears.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

We look at the skies. “They are fading.”

“They’re still there,” she whispers with a shrug. “They’ll be back. We’ll be back.”

“We should camp next time.”

“No plumbing?” Her eyes widen. “No thank you.”

i couldn't help but laugh at that, and honestly I couldn't agree more. We finished our playtime with Luna and Kal and head inside. We ate all of our leftovers and curled in bed that night, warming each other. Snow and rain had fallen in the time we were here, only to melt and warm again. “Brixton.”

“Yes, Brixton,” she whispers. “It’s not Group A, but I can afford it and Stella says it’s nice. I know it’s not the most desirable area.”

It dawns on me that she is afraid of London, really afraid of it-the society.

may be in middle middle and you are upper, and I know that I think your line was Baronet but now Gentry, and that I am…well, essentially, no one to that, but…”

“I assure you, it’s not as strict as you think.” I look into her eyes and see real fear.

“Well, your father is in finance, so he still has the status, your brothers are in professions that adheres to the same—”

“And I’m an actor, love.”

“Line and wealth, Henry.”

I chilled at her words. She was truly afraid of not being considered good enough. And what’s more, she really thought I cared. “I love you.”

“I love you,” she whispers, framing my face in her hands. “but what of James Bond? What of the Knighthood?”

I laugh, albeit nervously. “Knighthood?” I pull her on top of me. “Stop it.”

“What?”

“Do you really care about all that?”

“I guess the real question is, do you?”

The question hung in the air. “If it comes, it comes, darling.”

“And if the door is closed without consideration?”

“If I do great works that improve or enrich over time, I can be considered.” I tell her.

“Like Durrell?”

“Among other things.”

“I want to be an asset to you—”

“You already are,” I pull her down and squeeze her for a hug. “Good God, woman.” I pull her back, looking at her. “You are beautiful and brilliant with a heart bigger than the skies we’re under. That’s why I love you.” I slap her arse. “This bum doesn’t hurt, either.”

“You’re so bad!” she playfully slaps my chest, making me laugh.

I take a deep breath. “I will back you, whatever you do, pet. I see you need this now.” But in my eyes it was far from necessary.

“Thank you,” she whispers in my ear, hugging me. “thank you for understanding this.”

I hug her close. I hug her as if she is all I have. I hate that she feels this way, though there may be some truth to it, but it will be so subtle that she shouldn’t notice. Smart as she is, I should have known she would. But I have never felt like this before. I get the feeling she hasn’t either. It means something-we mean something…

@mistress-of-ward @nuggsmum @messyinsomnimaniac @jencanbeyouryengeralt @sweetdreamsofgelato @mary-ann84 @omgkatinka @the-soot-sprite @viking-raider @keanureevesisbae @henryobsessed @summersong69 @sunshine96love @michelehansel @thelastsock @tumblnewby @tenaciousneckpartypainter @rn7rocks @daydreamin83 @ruthoakenshield @musicartmayheminmyheart @kaatelyynn-blog-blog@forallthebrokenheartedthings @alphacancrii @liquorlaughslove @designerwriterchic @tamychm @nikkilynn303 @circesgirl1 @xoxohannahlee @pixie88@fckdeusername @maan24 @kaatelyyynn @october505 @absentmindr @introvertedmouse @sassy-pelican @griscka75

#henry cavill #henry cavill fandom #henry cavill fanfic #henry cavill fanfiction #henry cavill smut #henry cavill fluff #henry cavill x reader #henry cavill x you #august walker #captain syverson #clark kent #geralt #sherlock #superman #walter marshall #will shaw #witcher

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alittlextrathatway · 4 years ago

Note

Brettsey + 7 general 😊

“Is that blood?” “Yes but that doesn’t matter right now, what does matter is-” “You are literally bleeding.”

******

“I love you, Sylvie. And I love you because of who you are. I don’t love someone else or love you because I can’t have someone else—“

What is that? Is that someone speaking? No, that can’t be it. She’s alone. She doesn’t remember how she knows she’s alone. She just knows she is.

“I love you and your ability to always give people the benefit of the doubt, the way you twist your watchband when you’re nervous, the fact that you put that picture of you and Amelia up everywhere.”

A little soggy laugh plays through her memory after those words, making her smile and then wince. Ow. What the hell? Where is she? And what is she remembering?

“My feelings are about you and me and not my past. I know that with a hundred percent certainty.”

There’s a flutter in her chest as if those words are some long lost part of her she never knew she was missing. They slide into place in her heart. She has no idea where she is or why the world seems upside down, but those words make sense. Even when nothing else does.

“I’m a little slow on the uptake and it took me too long to see it, but for the first time in my whole damn life I’m not moving on and I’m not letting go. Not when it comes to you.”

Matt. That’s who said those words. Matt.

But when did he say them? And why doesn’t she remember how she replied? She did reply, didn’t she?

Oh, god. No. No, she hadn’t. They’d gotten a call and then—

She winces again and forces herself to open her eyes. There’s splintered wood and a gaping hole about six feet above her, giving her a view of a very high ceiling through the shattered planks. She feels a cold firm surface beneath her. Not concrete, it’s softer than that.

She tries to turn her head and whimpers. The motion causes her muscles to ache, but she can do it. She wiggles her feet and kicks her legs. No neck or spinal injuries. That’s good. That’s very good.

Her brain feels like it’s been shaken up in her skull. Once it stops rattling her mind seems to anchor itself to the present again and the memories come flooding back.

Matt had said beautiful, wonderful words. She’d opened her mouth to reply and the bells went off. A solo call for 61. Man down. Her reply would have to wait — not that she knew what she would have said.

The house at the address they visited looked dodgy, but there was no red x on the outside and the doors and windows weren’t boarded up. She and Mackey had barely given a second thought before heading inside.

But then the floor started to give underneath her and she knew exactly what was about to happen. She pushed Mackey out the front door a second before the wood snapped.

After that, the world went black.

“Sylvie!”

Is that more of her memory? It doesn’t sound as distant as her memory had.

“Sylvie! Call out!”

The fear and desperation in his voice tell her it isn’t a memory.

“Matt! Down here!” She yells. “The floor collapsed! Be careful!” Through the latex of her gloves she thinks she feels dirt. “I think I’m in a crawlspace or a cellar or something!”

“Chief, I’ve got her. The house is structurally unstable. Don’t send anyone in. If we’re gonna get Brett out I need a location on a crawlspace entrance or a cellar door.”

“Copy that. Keep a close eye on her while we search the premises.”

“I’m okay!” She calls up to him, beating him to the punch. She can’t see him. He’s probably standing on the porch just beyond the threshold.

“You always say that,” Matt replies with a scoff.

“Really, I’m fine!”

“I think I’ll be the judge of that this time. Any injuries?” He sounds concerned and a little frustrated. It brings a fond smile to her face.

“I can move my neck and legs and I’m not feeling nauseous so I’m guessing no concussion or spinal and neck injuries,” she answers.

“Captain, we’ve got a cellar door on the right side of the house. It’s padlocked and chained.”

Kidd.

“I’m on my way.” A pause and then. “Sit tight, Sylvie. I’m coming to you. I know you think you’re fine, but do me a favor and try not to move.”

She rolls her eyes but agrees. “Copy that.”

She hears his footsteps walking away from her and sighs anxiously. She just wants to get out of here so they can finish their conversation. She wants a chance to say her piece!

While she waits for them she starts to feel woozy and lightheaded. She tenses as soon as the feeling settles over her. That can only mean one thing. She runs her hands over her body until she finds a growing wet spot on her shirt. The liquid is warm and thick.

Shit.

She reaches up and for the radio on her shoulder and presses the talk button. “Chief, this is Brett. If you’ve got eyes on Mackey tell her 81’s gonna need trauma dressing.”

“What happened to fine?” Casey shouts into the radio, renewed urgency in his voice. “I’m through the locks and chains, Chief. Kidd’s got the jump bag. She’s going in with me.”

“Copy that. Be careful in there.”

She hears the obnoxious squeak of rusty hinges and then quick feet shuffling through over the dirt floors. Casey’s next to her impossibly fast.

“Is that blood?” He asks with a shaky breath as he and Kidd crouch on either side of her. She feels him tugging the hem of her shirt upward. His palor pales considerably once he gets a good look at the wound.

That’s not a good sign.

She hasn’t seen the wound yet, but she doesn’t need to. She can feel how much blood she’s losing. It’s a lot. If she loses consciousness there’s a chance she might not—

They never got to finish their conversation. She has to tell him.

“Yes, but that doesn’t matter right now, what does matter is—“

“You are literally bleeding,” he huffs, cutting her off. “I don’t think now is the time. Focus on staying awake, Sylvie. We can talk later.”

Kidd grabs the trauma dressings, gauze, and scissors and moves to Casey’s side. Shoving him closer to Sylvie’s head and shoulders.

“You don’t know that. Neither of us do, but I do know you deserve to know how I feel. I need to tell you, Matt.”

“You said you were fine,” he says with a voice full of disbelief and eyes full of tears.

“I thought I was,” she replies sheepishly. “I’m sorry.”

“Stop,” he orders while his hands brush her hair out of her face. “Don’t apologize.”

“No, I—I’m sorry for pushing you away. I felt like I had to but I see now I didn’t. I should’ve let you talk—“

“Sylvie, I promise you that doesn’t matter. I never blamed you for asking for space. My head was a mess. It wasn’t on you to help me sort it out. I needed to work that out for myself. You did the right thing for you. I understand,” he assures her, his hand gently cupping the side of her face.

“This is gonna hurt,” Kidd warns her apologetically a moment before she starts packing the gash in her side.

Fuck! She yells out and grips Matt’s arms in a vice like hold. The pain lingers long after Stella finishes. Honestly, Sylvie’s surprised she’s still conscious.

Matt yanks off his helmet and presses his forehead to hers as Stella wraps gauze around her midsection.

“You’re gonna be okay,” he tells her with convincing certainty despite how red and raw his eyes are. “And once we get you out of here, we can have this conversation.”

Kidd leans into her radio and asks for a backboard before she gingerly squeezes Sylvie’s thigh. “He’s right. You’re too tough to be taken out by a little old cut. Trust me, girl. You’ve got this.”

Matt swipes a thumb under her tears and places a lingering kiss on her forehead. “Let’s get you to Med. we can sort the rest out later.”

She grabs onto his shoulders to keep him from pulling away, tugging him closer until her lips brush the shell of his ear.

“I love you too, Matt Casey,” she whispers. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. I love you too and I never want you to give me space ever again. Okay?”

He turns his head, quickly kissing the hinge of her jaw, and nods. “Trust me, space isn’t going to be a problem. You’re stuck with me now — for the forseeable future.”

Gallo and Mouch appear with the backboard as Matt pulls away. He puts his helmet back on his head, his Captain’s demeanor returning as he does.

“Chief, we’re coming out.” He says into his radio. “Get an ambo ready to roll.”

#chicago fire #brettsey #sylvie brett #matt casey #fanfiction #fanfiction prompt game #ask prompt #angellwings writes #my fic #another long one 🤣

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emdeedot45 · 4 years ago

Note

General 35, “We really shouldn’t be doing this…”

Thank you ♥️

Prompt #3 "We really shouldn't be doing this..."

“Where is he?” Sylvie demanded to know as she slammed the door of the ambulance and immediately stormed over to the squad table.

Severide’s eyes widened at her abruptness, “In his quarters, slamming doors just like you are...”

Sylvie rolled her eyes. He had no right to be slamming doors, she was the only one who should be slamming doors right now. She brushed past the rest of 51 who had congregated by them, wondering what the commotion was about, and stormed towards Matt’s quarters. 51 stood silently on the apparatus floor. It was rare to see Casey and Brett lose their cool like this, and they weren’t sure they wanted to know what would happen next.

“Have you lost your mind?” Sylvie asked as she burst though Matt’s door, slamming it behind her.

Matt clenched his jaw and turned around to look at her, his hands firmly in his pockets. “I don’t know what you want me to say, I’m not apologising.” He made clear.

“You had no right to pull me out of there like that, I was doing my job!” Sylvie shouted. They’d been tending to a fire a few blocks away when Grainger had asked Sylvie to come into the house to stabilise a victim before they moved him.

“You shouldn’t have been in that house in the first place, the structure was entirely unstable!”

“The victim needed immediate attention—”

“We could have gotten him out, Grainger put you in danger.” Matt said, the venom in his voice over Grainger’s name made clear. He’d heard from Stella that Sylvie had a date with the guy and it was driving him crazy. When he walked into the room at the fire and saw Sylvie standing over the victim he ordered her out of there immediately – an order that Sylvie refused to take – and gave Grainger a dressing down afterwards.

“So this is about Greg?” Sylvie asked in disbelief. “You’re letting your unwarranted jealousy of the guy get in the way of your job, that’s real professional Captain.”

“Unwarranted?”

“Yes unwarranted! I didn’t even go on a date with the guy, I called if off the morning of because I stupidly cannot get you out of my head!” Sylvie exclaimed. God, she hated herself right now, but it was the truth. Matt Casey consumed her thoughts and she just couldn’t let him go and she couldn’t let a nice guy like Grainger be collateral in it all. “And you are the one who actually did date Sydney! So who are you to get mad over me going on a date with someone else?!”

“I don’t want to talk about her.” Matt made clear. That was a move he wanted to forget about and not have thrown in his face. “Bottom line is Grainger made a bad call and put your life in danger, I’m not going to apologise for ordering you out of that situation because I almost lost you once when you were called into an unstable building, I’m not going to let that happen again!”

Sylvie paused, her shoulders and heart dropping. She had no idea that Matt carried the burden of Arnow around with him like that. Her heart hurt for him, because she didn’t blame him one bit. Nobody did.

“This is about Arnow?” she asked, her voice finally lowering as she tried to make sense of what was going on in Matt’s head. There seemed to be a hundred things at once, no wonder he'd struggled to answer Sylvie's question about Gabby or make any sense of the situation either.

“It’s about it all. It’s about the space, it’s about Grainger, it’s about Gabby, it’s about everything that I can’t seem to get right in my life!” he exclaimed frustratedly. He was mad that she asked for space and he’d given it to her without a fight, he was mad that Grainger called her into a dangerous situation, he was mad that Gabby somehow found a way to make his life hard even when she wasn’t here—but mainly? Mainly he was mad at himself. He was mad that he hadn’t taken any sort of accountability for his own life and his own feelings and done something about it. He was mad that he hadn’t let himself fight for what made him happy.

“I’m sick of feeling like I have to let things go in my life. I’m sick of not fighting for what I want.” He said quietly, staring right through her, sending shivers through Sylvie’s body. Nobody had ever looked at her the way Matt looked at her. It made the hairs on her arms stand up, it made her feel seen and loved.

“What do you want?” Sylvie asked with a gulp.

“You. I want you.” Matt said without missing a beat.

“Matt, I—”

Matt wasn’t sure what came over him in that moment, but he knew it was time for him to take back some control of his life and of this situation. He stepped forward, backed Sylvie against the door, raised his hands to the sides of her face and kissed her senselessly. It only took Sylvie a second to respond, her lips parting and meeting his kiss with the same amount of force. The kiss was fast and heated yet somehow full of deep tenderness and affection. It made them wonder how they’d gone all these weeks without it.

Matt moved one his hands down her body, his hand slipping under top and snaking around her back. He moved his lips down her jaw and towards her neck, stopping when he found a spot that momentarily took her breath away.

“No” Sylvie managed to get out, but her body language told a different story as she closed her eyes and craned her neck to the side, allowing him full access to her sweet spot. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Why not?” he panted against her sink, using his hand around her back to pull her closer against him.

“Because nothing has changed, there’s still so much that that needs said—” she reasoned.

“Yeah, there is – but I don’t want to talk about it all alone.” He said as he lifted his head to look at her. He wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t saying this in the heat of the moment, he was saying this because he meant it. He’d been stewing on these thoughts for weeks now and he was determined to get this moment right.

“I want to work through it together because that’s what you and I do best. I am miserable without you Sylvie. We’re a team, we always have been, as colleagues, as friends and now as more. I want you. I want this partnership because I’ve already done the dealing with my shit on my own thing in relationships and it doesn’t work. It shouldn't work.”

“You want to talk” Sylvie whispered. She knew it probably sounded like the stupidest response, but it was all she could muster out. She hadn’t really had a relationship before where the guy actually wanted to talk to her and work through their issues together. It was either their way or no way at all.

Matt nodded before moving his forehead to rest against hers, “I want to talk to you for the rest of my life.”

Sylvie gave him a soft, small but genuine smile. They still had so much to figure out, things were not set to be sunshine and rainbows – but that was ok because they were dealing with it together.

“Ok” she finally said. “Let’s talk.”

And Matt knew from the look in her eyes that she didn’t mind the idea of talking to him for the rest of her life either.

#brettsey #chicago fire #matt casey #matt x sylvie #sylvie brett #brett casey #brett x casey

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fighterkimburgess · 2 years ago

Text

Officer Down

Summary: After an explosion rips through a box truck in a parking lot, Hailey Upton doesn’t wake up immediately.

Words: 2.1k

Warnings: injuries, medical tests, talk of needles and blood.

Wanna join my taglist?

AN: If anyone had “Cíara writes an upstead fic” in their hiatus bingo, let me know. You should probably buy a lotto ticket.

—

The ringing in his ears began to fade as Jay sat up, the world covered in grey smoke. Turning his head too quickly was almost painful, but his mind was focused on one thing. Where was his wife?

He was too afraid to shake her with the blow she’d taken, worried about how her back could have been injured. Instead with one hand he picked up his secure radio, Voight screaming into it.

“Sarge! Hailey’s been hurt. There was an explosion, I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Is she awake? Jay, is she awake?” He could barely hear his sergeant’s question over the fear in his head but he shook it.

“She’s unconscious. Ambo is on the way, we’re closer to Rush but I’ll get them to bring us to Med. She’s not waking up.”

“It’s Upton, she’s going to be fine. Stay with your wife. We’ll stay on Escano, Hailey needs you.”

“I’ll keep you updated.”

“Halstead, what happened?”

“You’re coming with us, you’re injured too. I’m assuming you want Med?”

“Please?” Jay never begged, never asked questions, but when it was to get Hailey the best care he’d do anything.

“But Rush is closest to—“ The paramedic he didn’t know began to speak, but Violet interrupted her.

Jay watched as one of his wife’s friends came over, dawning horror on her face as she realised it was Hailey lying there.

“Halstead…what…what can I do?”

“Just help her. Please.”

“Let me know what happens,” Stella said, the last one to give him a squeeze as he got in.

“You know I will. She’ll kill me if I don’t.”

The doors shut and Stella hit them, the new paramedic setting off with the sirens going.

“Where’s Brett?” Jay asked, watching as Violet put a mask on Hailey, gauze on the cuts on her face.

“Put this on your cheek, you’re bleeding.” She handed him a wad of gauze and he followed her instructions, wincing at the ache the pressure gave him. “She’s in Oregon. Jacobs is my temporary partner while she’s gone. She’ll be back soon.”

It was clear she didn’t want conversation and Jay stayed quiet in the rig as Violet worked. Hailey was still unconscious as they pulled into Med, the doors opening to reveal Maggie and Will.

“Jay. What happened?” Will went to professional mode, but Jay could see the worry in his eyes.

“Hailey Upton, 33. Caught in an explosion, she’s been unconscious since it happened.” Violet rattled off vital signs but Jay didn’t pay attention, just watching as they wheeled her into a trauma room. It was flashbacks to finding Kim, except this time he wasn’t covered in blood. She’d be fine. She had to be fine.

His stomach roiled and he ran to the bathroom, barely making it in time to bring up bile. They’d been made. His wife was in danger and he could barely breathe. If they only got six months to be married and that was it…no. He couldn’t think like that. He couldn’t.

When he was steady enough he flushed and washed his hands, arriving back out to see Hailey’s bed be wheeled to the elevator. He went to run but Will stopped him, grabbing onto his shoulders. For the first time in almost two years Jay melted into his big brother and let Will hold him, taking the strength he needed for a moment.

“How is she?” He asked when he let go, Will steering him to an empty bay.

“She’s still unconscious. We’ve sent her up for a CT and MRI to make sure everything’s ok in her spine and brain. It’s normal after a hard fall like that, so I’m not worried that she’s still out. Do we need to know anything?”

“No, nothing. She’s healthy, things are good. Things are finally good for us, Will. We’re married and happy and things are finally right. I can’t…”

“She’s going to be fine. You could have told me about the marriage though, finding out from her ring wasn’t fun and I couldn’t answer any questions.”

Jay rocked his mind back to when he’d told his brother…and he hadn’t. Between work and the new apartment and Will picking up extra shifts because of the stupid ass apartment building he’d bought they hadn’t been able to get a drink since maybe Halloween.

“Fuck. I’m sorry.”

“Good to know you can keep a secret. I need to stitch up your face, tell me what happened.”

He didn’t have Hailey there to distract him from the needles, fear gripping him. But Will kept him talking and he was able to get through it with the thought that he’d see his wife soon. He had to see her soon.

“Congratulations. I’m taking you both out for dinner when she’s ready to go. You deserve it. Do you want Mom’s ring?”

“Nah.” The thought of that ring hadn’t even hit his mind. “She didn’t even want an engagement ring. The silicone bands mean we don’t need to worry in work about anything.”

“Practical as always. We were able to leave hers on for the moment. She should be back any minute, once I get the results I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks.” They came out to Hailey being wheeled down and Jay was allowed sit with her. It’d been an hour and a half since everything had happened, and time had passed too quickly and not fast enough. He stayed still, holding the hand that didn’t have a cannula in it. Every part of his body wanted to leave the hospital, but it was Hailey. He wasn’t going anywhere.

A knock on the glass startled him, Ruzek there with a grave expression on his face. Jay gave the wave for him to come in, Adam taking the spare seat.

“How is she?”

“Still unconscious. Will says it’s normal, but.” He shrugged.

“If anybody knows what you’re dealing with right now, I do. And I know the rage that’s gonna hit you in about an hour, that someone could harm the person you love. And I also know that you’ll let it fester because you won’t make the stupid decisions I made.”

“I went with you for some of them.”

“Let me be wise and sage for a minute. I wanted to check in, I was driving past and thought you’d want an update. But Escano’s dead.”

“The fuck?”

“He was stabbed to death. And castrated. Anna’s missing. It’s a mess but it’s our mess. Stay here with your wife, make sure she’s ok.”

“I can…”

“Platt once told me that the worst thing to do is to wake up alone after an in the line incident. I still regret not being here last year when Kim woke up. Stay here.”

“When did she tell you that?” Jay meant it as a joke, but Adam took it seriously, eyes staring at the ceiling as he counted.

“Seven years, four months, eleven days ago. When Kim got shot by that robot gun shit. But it’s good advice.”

“Yeah. It is. Let me know what’s happening?”

“You know I will.” Ruzek stood, looking over at Hailey in the bed. “You know she’s loved you for years, right? Even when we were together, we both knew there was someone else we wanted. I’m just really glad she’s happy. You both deserve it.”

“Thank you. For all of it.” Jay rose and pulled the younger man into a hug, holding him close for a few seconds before they separated. Adam got it out of everyone, and having him there for even a few minutes meant a lot.

“I’ve gotta get back, we’re searching for whatever we can find. Voight and Platt told me to let you know that if you even think about coming back to the district they’ll individually and together kill you.” Jay actually laughed at that, a real one that made Adam smile.

“I’m not leaving. Even if it is a hospital.”

As Ruzek left with a wave, badge around his neck as he went back to work, Will arrived in with an iPad. The first thing he did was pull the c-collar from around Hailey’s neck, Jay relaxing seeing it happen.

“What’s the diagnosis?”

“Her neck and spine are fine. She’s got some cracked ribs, and she’ll have a concussion and a hell of a headache, but she’ll be fine.”

“Why isn’t she awake then?” The anger burst out of him unintentionally, staring at his brother. “If she’s ok why hasn’t she woken up?”

“How much stress are you under right now? Can you even tell me about it?” Will didn’t give him an inch, Jay staring back at him.

“No.”

“That’s why. Her body was forced to rest, so now she’s fully resting. It’s a good thing, as awkward as it can be. She’ll wake up soon. We’re gonna admit her for the night for observation, someone will be over to bring her up to the neuro ward. I got Abrams to check her scans to be sure. Ok?”

“I’m sorry. Thanks.”

“I get it.” Will squeezed his shoulder before going to leave. “I’ve to get back to work, when I’m finished I’ll come up to see you both.”

It was another forty minutes before an orderly came down to get her upstairs, Jay following them. Hailey was put into a room on her own, a view of Chicago from the window. Not that Jay even noticed it, his attention was focused on his wife in the bed.

Every twenty minutes or so he got a text from someone in his unit letting him know what was going on. They’d found the stash house and Anna was safe, Escano’s killer unknown. He could read between the lines of Burgess’s text, what she wasn’t saying but was. He didn’t care. Anna wasn’t his problem right then, his wife was his priority. Whatever happened with the case happened. He’d find out later.

Violet had put Hailey’s cannula in her right hand thanks to him insisting she was left handed so Jay got to hold her hand, pushing a kiss to her wedding ring. After the worst week of their lives, the fear that she’d be in prison or worse. The not knowing. The way Voight proved he would actually go down for one of them. He’d never trust the man how he used to - and he knew Hailey wouldn’t either - but that had meant a little to him.

“I really need you to wake up soon. I dunno how long I can wait here without your eyes open. Please?”

He stared at the tv in the corner, a random infomercial playing. How they’d found an infomercial in the early evening he had no idea, but there it was on the screen.

“Jay?” He turned too quickly, Hailey’s eyes open and a confused expression on her face.

“Hey. There was an explosion, you got hit pretty hard and you’ve been out. How’re you feeling?”

“Like I got pushed onto my back by an explosion?” Her dry humour made him laugh, Hailey grinning. He hit the call bell for the nurse, watching as the exam was done.

“A mild concussion but you got very lucky, Detective. And your husband didn’t leave your side. We’ll leave you alone for a while, and I’ll get food for you.”

She stared at Jay in shock for a moment until they were alone. “You hate hospitals.”

“And?”

“No, Jay, you hate hospitals. I had to bribe you with paying for range time to make you get a flu shot.”

“But I love you. So wherever you go, I go. Got it?”

“Got it.”

He leaned down to kiss her, breathing in the smell that was just Hailey. They were ok. That was all he cared about right now.

#Upstead #jay halstead #Hailey Upton #jay halstead x Hailey Upton #Hailey Upton x jay halstead #jay x Hailey #Hailey x jay

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rwbyvein · 3 years ago

Text

Firen Lhain: Chapter 1007: Chevalier/e: Part III / III

Hartman lay strapped to the bed, and looked at Salem hauntingly, dauntingly above her, as she pulled some kind of darkness from a pot. "What exactly is this going to do?" Hartman asked.

"I really don't know." Salem simply replied, and developed a psychotic glare.

"How can you say that with such a crazy glare?" Hartman asked.

"Oh?" Salem asked, "Tyrian lost his tail, and got a new one. Cinder lost her eye and arm and got new ones. They both got what they want. You might want to ask yourself what you want, because you just might get it. Now, enough prattle, my dear, let's get you infected." She moved the dark, writhing mass towards her.

* * *

Jaune walked back with the Cheval Knights, his comrades behind him. As he approached the castle he saw Neo holding the knife of her umbrella up to Shantae's neck from behind. "Oh, please." he dismissively said, and a surprised Neo let go of Shantae. "Shantae's not that good at acting." Jaune stated. Both Neo and Shantae huffed at him.

"Nothing wrong with wanting her big brother to come and save her." Weiss added, and Jaune's head uncertainly bobbed back and forth.

"I did put her in a castle surrounded by Huntsmen." he added.

"He has a point." Ruby added. "Why did you want to be kidnapped?"

"She probably just wants attention." Ilia stated, and Jaune sighed.

"Yeah..." he uttered.

"I don't know why?.." Shantae tried to say, and trailed off.

"There is nothing wrong with wanting attention from a sibling you care for." Weiss added. "I know I have oft felt forlorn for my own." She paused for a moment, "Though, this has recently been remedied."

Jaune wandered up and looked down at his sister. "Why don't we have a talk."

"About." Shantae asked.

"How you are doing." Jaune replied.

Ilia walked up to Neo. "Want to talk?" she asked, and Neo simply glared at her before subtly nodding.

* * *

Jaune and Shantae sat on the inner edge of the curtain wall, legs dangling down. "How have you been?" Jaune asked.

"That's what you have to ask?" Shantae replied.

"It's what I haven't asked." Jaune replied. "How's school?"

"It's school." Shantae replied.

"You know what I mean." Jaune replied.

"Yeah, yeah..." she voiced.

"You don't know what you want to do, do you?" he asked.

"There's just so much..." she tried to say.

"It doesn't matter." he replied.

"It doesn't what?" she asked, "But, you're a Huntsman! You're THE Huntsman! The saviour of Haven, you fought at Beacon, you..."

"I knew what I wanted to do." Jaune replied, "Did Stella know what she wanted to do?"

"She's mayor of Ansel!" Shantae replied.

"Because they needed her." he added. "She kept fixing problems until they just made her mayor. What about Selena?"

"She's KIND of mayor." Shantae added.

"Headman, and it's because they needed her." Jaune added.

"What about Sylvia?" Shantae asked, "She became a farmer."

"She married a farmer." Jaune replied. "Horace was more important to her than farming."

"You're just making this harder to figure out!" Shantae exclaimed, and he ruffled her hair, carefully avoiding her antlers.

"I'm saying it doesn't matter." Jaune said to her, "You're an Arc. You can do whatever you want to do."

"And if I don't want to do?" she asked.

"It doesn't really matter." he stated, "Whatever you do, you'll do well. Arcs never give up. Arcs never pull out."

"What if I wanted to move into Vale?"

"Then you'll probably end up on the council." Jaune replied.

"Atlas?" Shantae asked.

"CEO." Jaune replied.

Shantae then stood up and turned towards him, still shorter than his antlers. "What if I wanted to move to the shadier side of Vale?!"

"Sadly, we know people there." Jaune replied. He then stood up, slowly lumbered around, being careful to not accidentally harm his sister. "You'll be the best damn pimp in all of Vale."

Shantae than punched him and managed to hurt her hand. "Why would you bring up your Aura? Afraid your LITTLE sister is going to hurt you?"

"I didn't." Jaune replied.

"You're saying that's armour?" she asked.

"You purposefully missed my armour." Jaune replied.

"Then what was that?" Shantae asked, and Jaune sighed.

"I have been training for a couple of years." he stated.

"You got that much, in?.." she asked.

"It's more about confidence." Jaune replied, "I was raised a farm boy."

"What does that have to do with it?" Shantae asked.

"When you punched me, I didn't react because it hurt, but because I flinched."

Shantae once again punched him, and once again hurt her fist.

* * *

Neo sat on her bed, huddling her legs as Ilia sat against a wall. As she relaxed against it, her camouflage was triggered. She let out a great sigh of relief. Her eyes opened, "Sorry for camouflaging, but it's strangely freely." Neo looked like she wanted to say something to her but instead looked back down. "You don't have much in here for guests." Neo looked at her questioningly, "Maybe a chair?" Neo looked back down. "You feel at home, here, don't you?" she asked, and Neo slowly nodded. "You're afraid of letting anyone else in." Neo instantly looked up and looked deep into her eyes, trying to find out where she found this truth. "I was the same way. I didn't let anyone in. Not even Blake." Neo looked at her curiously, "I was afraid of what she would find. That I wasn't good enough for it." Ilia sighed, "The truth is, I wasn't..."

Neo held up a sign, 'But' The sign quickly changed, 'you can't'.

"I can..." Ilia sighed. "When it came to make a choice, Blake made the right one, I made the wrong one. Funny enough, neither of us really understood why we made our choices. I honestly thought that by killing enough people, the Faunus could be free." Neo eagerly made stabbing motions with her umbrella. Ilia just shook her head. "It turns out the Faunus aren't oppressed." Neo looked at her questioningly. "Faunus are hated - distrusted, but not oppressed. Legally, we in theory have rights. In Mistral, not the same as the upper classes, but most people don't have the same as the upper classes. In Vale we are equal. In Vacuo, having rights means the government leaves you alone. Atlas is the only place we are oppressed, and it turns out it's because they just like being exclusive bastards." Neo once again made stabbing motions. "We were shouting at them." Ilia stated, and Neo paused, looking confused. "We weren't doing anything to make them trust us. Worse, we were attacking them, giving them every right to defend themselves." She then looked at her hands, her arms returned to normal near the shoulder, though looking like blood at the tips. She then looked at Neo who could not hold her gaze.

"Alright?" Ilia asked, "What good could possibly be gained by destroying the Huntsman Academies? Even the ones from the more racist kingdoms have no problem letting in and qualifying Faunus. They were the very icons, BEACONS of what we wanted." Ilia's colouration returned to normal, and she breathed in deeply. "And we attacked them. Blake? She joined them. Here I am, somehow accepted." She wrapped her legs in her arms and pulled them close, "The only reason I'm a Huntress is you."

Neo looked at her for a moment before shrugging. She then gave her a look of trust.

"You trust me?" Ilia asked. and Neo looked shocked. "That honestly makes some crazy kind of sense." Neo looked at her curiously, "We're both from... questionable backgrounds..." she said, and paused, "And we're both only Huntsmen because they want us to be."

Neo sat up augustly, and pointed to herself.

"Nope." Ilia stated, "You got us the ID. They gave us the skills. A Huntress is more than just a picture on her scroll." Neo looked at her uncertainly. Ilia then held her heart, "A Huntress is in here," she said, and moved her hand to her head, "and here. I was arrogant enough to think I knew how to fight, but I knew nothing about being a Huntress. But you know what?" she asked, and Neo looked like she hung on every word, "I'm not the girl I used to be. I'm not the orphan, not the mindless assassin..."

Neo held up a sign, 'But'. She then changed her sign, 'You do.' She then changed it a third time, 'Dum-dum.'

"I do, do I?" Ilia asked, and Neo looked at her nervously, "Every - single - thing - I - do, I analyze. And you know what conclusion I've come to?" Neo looked at her eagerly, "They're right. Maybe not by themselves, but together, they are right." Neo looked at her questioningly, "If they are ever wrong, I will say something. But, making a moral choice seems easier for them. Quicker for them. By the time I've caught up, it's aleady happened." She leaned back and sighed as Neo looked distant. She breathed in deep before looking back at Neo, "You count on them too, don't you?"

Neo looked shocked, and tried not to answer but eventually had to nod.

* * *

Blake, Nora, Penthesilea, and Ciel walked down the streets of Atlas carrying shopping bags. Nora stopped instantly and spun around to look at the others. "You know what we need?"

"Wine?" Blake asked.

"Good answer, but no." Nora stated.

"I'm pretty sure Yang got Little Bit to buy some." Penthesilea stated.

"Okay, yeah, but not what I was talking about." Nora voiced and pointed at Ciel.

"Yes?" Ciel neutrally asked.

"We need to get you sun glasses?"

Ciel looked upwards, "Because of the sun?"

"Pfft." Nora replied.

"Pfft?" Ciel mimicked.

"To replace your watch."

Ciel looked at her watch, "And what is wrong with my watch. It works with exceptional precision." She then looked back to Nora.

"But you're always looking at it in combat." Nora continued.

"I was worried about that." Penthesilea added.

"To maximize the effect of my Semblance." Ciel stated. "If I miss a single second, I miss a tremendous advantage I have in combat."

"What if your glasses could do that for you?" Nora asked, and Ciel seemed distant for a moment.

"I had not considered this." Ciel neutrally stated, "I am intrigued."

"Pickup is tomorrow, anways." Blake added, "We still have lots of time."

"Then let us proceed with shopping." Ciel neutrally stated.

#rwby #firen lhain #faunus au #arc-en-ciel

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ssfghfrrggf · 4 years ago

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Heavy is the Head Chapter 2: Let’s Go Find Our Lost Lovers

ao3 link

“Casey? Casey? Hey! Captain, wake up!”

Casey wakes up to Stella shaking him and shouting at him, only it doesn’t sound like she’s shouting everything is muffled by the ringing in his ears. But he can tell she’s yelling by the expression on her sooty face.

“I’m fine,” he grunts and sits up, his head spinning as he looks around the darkness around them trying to make out some familiar feature in the beam of his flashlight. Everything hurts like he’s been sent through the spin of a dryer, and his skin feels hot and sharp- like the unbearable shriveling hot it gets when a room is getting dangerously close to flashing over. “What the hell happened?”

“We almost roasted what happened,” Stella pants and wipes her face with the back of one gloved hand.

Casey nods and blinks his eyes a couple times. He remembers now. They’d been on the landing of the second sublevel when the fire had come through the door, Stella had tackled him out of the way and that’s the last thing he can picture clearly.

“The stairs came down on top of us,” she says, shining her flashlight up the stairs behind him to reveal what looks like a wall of cement blocking their way back up.

“The good news is, we made it to the third floor,” Casey says, directing his own light toward the number painted on the wall. They must’ve rolled down an entire flight of stairs; it definitely feels like they did. He’s bruised in places he didn’t know he had. “We can get to Severide and Brett now.”

“I don’t know if that’s going to happen Captain,” Stella breathes and shines her flashlight on the doorway. The door has been blown off its hinges and on the other side of it is a solid wall of debris.

“Damn it,” Casey spits and punches his fist into the hard ground; he barely even feels it. The more he thinks about Sylvie being stuck down here the more his chest tightens out of fear and panic. “We have to get to her.”

“Captain-”

He grabs up his halligan and hauls himself to his feet. There’s no telling if Severide got to her, for all Matt knows she’s trapped somewhere on the side of the slab of concrete blocking the doorway. A halligan is no sledge hammer, but he’s done more with much less. He starts his swing, but Stella jumps in front of him grabbing both his arm and the shaft of the bar.

“Woah there cowboy!” She says urgently and restless his arms down. “You can’t just go whacking away at stuff! I know you want to get to Brett, but you don’t know what that thing is supporting. You could cause a secondary collapse!”

“I have to find her!” Casey argues and tries to yank his tool free from Stella’s hands, but she tightens her grip.

“Casey. I know you want to find her! Trust me! Kelly’s out there somewhere in all this mess too! I want to find him just as badly as you want to find Brett, but we can’t just go blowing through debris. That blast probably brought this whole place down. We gotta use our heads, Captain!” Stella shouts and yanks the halligan out of his hands.

“But…” Casey starts to protest but gets hit with a sudden wave of dizziness and collapses back onto the hard ground, everything around him spinning.

“Captain!” Stella’s cry is distant and gets drown out by the ringing in his ears intensifying.

***

Gallo’s been his fair share of blazing infernos, but the heat wave that came off the parking garage as the gas ignited was like nothing he’s ever felt before. It was blistering…

Cruz grabs him and shouts something at him, but he can’t make out a word of, just a deafening ringing in his ears. The world is spinning around him and his eyes are stinging from the heat and the dusty smoke, but he can make out blood coming out of the squad firefighter’s ears, and he looks as dizzy and out of it as Blake feels.

“Cruz are you okay?” he shouts, or at least he hopes that’s what he shouted, as he grabs hold of Cruz’s arm and turns his gaze toward the parking structure that’s now more of a pile of rubble than anything else. It’s hard to make out much more than that through the smoke and dust.

The squad firefighter tugs at Blake’s arm to get his attention, and says something as he points at his ears, but Gallo can’t make out a word of it. Part of him just wants to pass out, everything hurts and his head is spinning.

“I can’t hear you!” Blake tries to tell him, and Cruz gives up on whatever he’s trying to say and grabs Gallo the shoulder strap of his air pack and hauls him to his feet. It’s not until he’s upright that he realizes just how bad his dizziness is, the only reason he doesn’t fall over is because Cruz keeps him upright as he tugs him back toward the relative safety of the trucks. As they stumble toward the trucks Mouch emerges from the dust to meet them.

***

“Are you two okay?” Mouch asks as he grabs onto both Cruz and Gallo. Neither of them look okay. Gallo looks like he’s about to fall over and they're both bleeding from their ears. He can also make out a couple burns on the firefighters.

“I think the explosion ruptured his ear drums,” Cruz pants, both of them nearly collapsing onto Mouch. “He can’t hear anything-

“Okay,” Mouch says, scanning both of them for further injuries. Gallo is definitely burned but nothing too bad. “Let’s get both of you to 61-”

“Mackey-” Cruz starts to ask, still talking a little louder than necessary. It wouldn’t surprise him at all if the squad firefighter also ruptured and ear drum.

“She’s fine!” Mouch promises and throws Gallo’s arm over his shoulder. The kid looks wholly confused.

“What’s happening?” he shouts, and the sound of the kids voice hollering in his ears makes his head hurt. He hadn’t been nearly as close to the explosion as Cruz or Gallo, but the blast still did it’s number on his head.

“Chief, I got Gallo and Cruz,” Mouch says clicking on his radio to let Boden know he found them. “There in one relative piece.”

“Any sign of Severide, Casey, Brett, or Kidd?” Boden replies, he sounds relieved that at least two out of the six MIA firefighters are safe.

“No sign of them, chief,” Mouch replies looking around the hazy air. The four of them had still been inside when the building went up in flames, so he’s not sure why he’s looking around hoping to see them. There’s a good chance he won’t see any of them ever again, not in one recognizable piece anyway.

***

Brett groans and tries to sit up but there’s something heavy laying on top of her; her head is pounding like nothing she’s ever felt before and she’s not entirely sure she’ll be able to keep herself awake- or even if she wants to try. Everything hurts and the weight bearing down on top of her isn’t helping; it’s not a solid weight like concrete or cement, it’s softer than that… like a body pinning her face first on the ground, but there are things poking her too. She blinks open her eyes and finds herself staring at a hand flopped a couple inches from her face. There’s a yellow reflective strip around the cuff of the thick black coat sleeve that the hand is coming out of.

“Casey?” she whines and tries to roll to get him off of her, but he’s too heavy. She doesn’t really remember much of anything after sending Mackey up to radio to help, but she’s pretty sure Casey was down here with her, after all it would be him to come get her.

“Casey, please,” she chokes desperately and tries again to wiggle herself free from the weight bearing down on top of her. It’s hard to breath and she’s not sure if it’s from dust and smoke or the body crushing her. She knows just from being around the station that anyone in full bunker gear could easily weigh well over 200 pounds, and if she didn’t believe it before, she definitely does now.

“Casey, wake up,” she gasps, her fear running deeper than just not being able to breathe or being crushed the firefighter laying on top of her. Casey isn’t saying anything or moving, and her mind leaps to the worst possible explanation for it all.

“Casey! Please!” she begs not really for herself anymore, she just wants him to be okay- to move or talk or just not be dead. She pushes at the ground trying to push his weight off her, but after a couple seconds of struggle she gives up and lets her forehead flop against the rough dirty floor. She has to get out from under him, not so much for herself, but for him. He needs her help. Sucking in a deep breath, Sylvie digs deep and mustering what’s left of her dying strength she uses her legs and arms to push herself onto her side and tip Casey’s dead weight off of her. There’s a heavy thunk as his air tank hits the ground. It’s only as she claws herself upright that she realizes it wasn’t Casey laying on top of her at all. It was Severide.

“Severide?” she chokes and leans over the downed squad lieutenant. She can’t tell if he’s breathing through all of his gear, but it doesn’t look like he is. “Severide, stay with me buddy.”

She presses her fingers against his neck in search of a pulse, he flinches as he hand makes contact with his hot skin.

“Brett?” he groans and blinks his eyes open as he attempts to lift his head off the floor.

“Yeah, it’s me, but take it easy.” It’s hard to tell in nothing but the dim light of his flash light, but she’s pretty sure he has first and possibly second degree burns on the back of his neck. There’s also a deep cut on the side of his ear going from above one eyebrow to the top of his ear. And it’s oozing a significant amount of blood, nothing life threatening at the moment, but it’s also not good.

“I’m fine,” Kelly grunts and pushes her hand away from him as sits up and unbuckles the straps on his air tank.

“You don’t look fine,” Sylvie observes skeptically, but she’s too tired and her head hurts too much to put much effort into her argument. “You got a nasty cut on your head.”

He frowns and gingerly pokes at the side of his bloody head. “It’s just a scratch.”

“Severide can you please just let me look at it?” Sylvie requests. He’s probably a long ways off from passing out of blood loss but it’s better safe than sorry since they appear to be trapped and he’s the one who knows how to get them out.

He sighs and rolling his eyes hands her a flashlight so she can examine his injury better.

“We’re still in the elevator,” he comments as she scoots closer to him.

“We’re in the elevator?” she asks and looks at him in shock. She hadn’t really taken much time to examine her surroundings, but now that he says it… “What happened to the two victims?”

Severide ducks her gaze with a guilty expression. “They were still out there when the explosion happened.”

“You left them!?” Sylvie chokes in a mix of shock and anger. “Sev-”

“It wasn’t like that Brett,” Severide snaps interrupting. “I was the only one down here and the only way I was getting all three up was to put you guys on the elevator. I moved you first because you were the only one who didn’t have air. Then the gas blew.”

Sylvie sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose trying to stave off the pounding in her head; she feels bad for jumping down Kelly’s throat. She should’ve known he wouldn’t leave two victim’s on purpose- really she did know it. Everything is just so scrambled right now and her head feels like it’s going to explode.

“Sylvie, are you okay?” Severide asks with gentle concern and gives her shoulder a little reassuring squeeze.

“Yeah, I’m fine-”

“Lying to each other isn’t going to work, Brett,” he prompts.

“Fine, my head hurts and I feel like I just got crushed by 250 pounds of firefighter,” she says teasingly. She knows Kelly did what he had to, to protect her from the explosion and she’s grateful for it even if she still feels like a pancake.

Severide snorts and shakes his head. “I wasn’t about to let one of my paramedics get baked. Besides Casey would probably kill me if something happened to you.”

“And Stella’ll kill me if I let you bleed out from that head wound,” Sylvie replies and pulls out her pocket knife so she can cut off the long sleeves of her shirt. They’re not the ideal bandaging, but nothing about their situation is ideal and all her supplies are lost somewhere outside the elevator so her sleeves will have to work for now.

***

“You two need to take the next available ambulance to hospital,” Boden says, taking a second to divert his attention from the scene to Cruz and Gallo.

“No way, chief,” Cruz says standing up indignantly, his lieutenant and friends- members of his family are still down there beneath the rubble, and he’s not going anywhere until he knows they’re safe regardless of the pounding in his head and how muffled everything but the ringing in his ears is. Gallo doesn’t say anything to back him, just glances between the two of them looking really confused, and still dazed; Ritter taps him on the shoulder and shows him his phone screen, evidently typing out the conversation because after a second he looks up defiantly at Boden.

“I’m not going anywhere either!” He says a lot louder than he needs to.

“You’re both going to the hospital to get checked out, that’s an order!” Boden shouts, with a kind of foracicity that’s rare for him. “I don’t want to hear any more argument about it! Go with 57.”

“Yes chief,” Cruz mumbles and dips his head submissively before grabbing Gallo by the arm and pulling him up off the back bumper of 61. The truckie tries to pull back, but Cruz tightens his grip and tugs him along. He’s tempted to sneak off and help in the search behind Boden’s back, but if he does that Gallo will follow, and there’s no disputing that he needs to take a trip to the hospital to get his ears checked out.

They haven’t made it far before Gallo gets stumbly like he’s dizzy.

“Hey buddy, we’ll take it slow,” Cruz says comfortingly despite knowing the young firefighter can’t hear him, and puts one of Gallo’s arms over his shoulder to support him.

“Is my hearing going to come back?” Gallo asks, in a loud whisper.

Cruz looks him in the eyes and nods. He’s not really sure if it’s true, he hopes it is. He’d never admit out loud, but Gallo’s a damn good firefighter and a good kid with a bright future in the cfd ahead of him. It’d be awful if hearing loss got him booted. He wishes he could give Gallo more assurance than just the head because he doesn’t look convinced, but any words Cruz tries to say to him will be lost. He gives Gallo another nod yes, and then continues helping him toward the waiting ambulance.

***

“Damn it,” Stella hisses and throws down her halligan, it clatters loudly on the landing of the fifth sublevel, and Casey lifts his head from where he had it rested between his knees to squint at her.

“Should I repeat the speech you gave me?” he says dully, trying and failing to poke fun at her.

“No,” she replies in frustration and sinks to the dirty ground, leaning against the metal door blocked shut by debris.

“What’s eating you, Kidd?” Casey asks, leaning his head against the railing of the stairs.

“I didn’t tell him,” she says, tipping her head back against the cool door.

“Didn’t tell him what?” Casey questions lifting his head up to look at her better.

“My promotion came through and I didn’t Kelly. Which is kinda hypocritical, isn’t it? I’m always trying to get him to tell me stuff, and now I’m doing the same thing he used to do,” she replies sighing heavily. “And now we’re stuck down here, and he’s stuck down here and it’s all so messed up…”

“Your promotion came through?” Casey breathes, like he barely believes it. “Stella that’s great, you can tell Sev when we get out of here. He’ll be thrilled.”

“I don’t know if I’m going to take it,” Stella interrupts him and closes her eyes bracing herself for whatever speech her captain is about to give her. Gallo had a good point this morning. If she doesn’t want to be talked into taking it than that more than likely means she doesn’t want it, and shouldn’t take it.

“You don’t want to leave 51,” Casey says understandingly and rests his chin on his knees. He looks too tired for much speech giving.

“Yeah,” Stella says. 51 has become her family and she can’t even properly process the idea of not working there anymore.

“You haven’t told Sev because you don’t want him to talk into taking it,” Casey adds with a sigh.

“It’s stupid, right? I’ve worked so hard for this and now suddenly I’m thinking about turning it down,” she says in frustration.

“I don’t know, family’s family, Stella. But whatever you want, Kelly will back you. I know that much.”

“I was gonna tell him, you know? We just got this call before I could…”

“He’ll get it,” Casey mumbles and closes his eyes.

“Hey, how’s your head feeling?” Stella asks sitting up straight and examining Casey from where she’s sitting.

“Awful,” Casey mutters.

“We should keep moving,” Stella says. He seems to be getting more drowsy and they should keep moving so he doesn’t have the chance to sleep.

“In a couple minutes.”

“Now captain,” Stella insists and grabbing up her halligan she stands up. She offers Casey her hand. “Come on. Let’s go find our lost lovers.”

Casey cracks a dazed smile and takes her hand.

***

“Looks like we dropped,” Sylvie says, peeking out the hatch in the top of the elevator and scanning the shaft with Severide’s flashlight as she stands on his shoulders. The only number she can see is a six a couple feet above them which means they dropped three floors.

“What’s the closest floor?” Severide grunts through gritted teeth. Holding her up is probably more of a struggle than he’ll admit outloud.

“Six,” Sylvie reports. She can see the doors a couple feet above them.

“How high up is it?” Severide asks.

“Five or six feet,” she calls back.

“That’s doable,” he mumbles to himself like he’s calculating something in his head. “I’m bringing you back down.”

“I’m going to need a knee up from you,” Severide says as soon as Sylvie has her two feet back down on the elevator floor.

“You realize how crazy that sounds, right?” Sylvie asks, not entirely convinced he’s serious.

“Yeah, but I need to get up there,” Severide replies. “Well we both do. But I can’t reach that high without a boost and you can’t pull me up if I send you up first.”

“But you can pull me up,” Sylvie finishes for him. In theory it makes sense, but she’s not entirely sure she’s physically capable of hoisting him up.

“I don’t need much of a boost,” Severide says, eyeing the ceiling. For a guy who has the side of his head sliced open he’s very lively. “Just a push off your knee and then I should be able to reach and pull myself up.”

Sylvie’s not entirely convinced he can make it, but it’s their only option so they have to try.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure Brett,” Severide says encouragingly and gives her a little pat on the shoulder.

“How’s your head feeling?” Even in the dim light of the elevator she can make fresh blood dripping down the side of his face from under the makeshift bandage wrapped around his head.

“It’ll be fine,” Severide replies with a nonchalant shrug. “We’ll worry about it once we’re out of this elevator shaft, okay?”

“Yeah, okay,” she agrees and getting down so she’s on one knee directly under the roof hatch. “Then let’s hurry up and get out of here.”

“You ready?”

“Ready,” Sylvie says, and grits her teeth as he puts his boot on her knee and pushes off. His weight is only there for a second and then he’s hanging in the air from the hole in the ceiling, he’s only there for a second before he pulls and wiggles his way up through the hole and disappears.

“Alright, hand me up my halligan,” he says poking his head back through the hole and reaching down to her with one arm. She picks up the heavy metal glorified crow bar and hands it up to him.

“Now it’s your turn.”

She reaches up with her hands and jumps, grabbing Severide’s hands before she falls back down, as she does the whole elevator groans and shifts like it’s about to fall.

“Severide…” Sylvie chokes questioningly, looking up into his face as he starts to pull her up.

“It’s fine, Brett,” he grunts, hauling her up through the hatch. “The elevator’s not going anywhere.”

“You seem pretty sure about that,” she pants as she flops down on the roof of the elevator roof next to Severide.

“As long as we get out of here quickly, we’ll be fine,” he says standing up and studying the door to the shaft next a couple feet above them.

“What if it falls?” she asks, unsure about the stability of the structure they’re standing on.

“We’ll be out of here before that happens,” he promises, but it sounds a little like he’s trying to convince more than just her. “I just gotta get that door open, which shouldn’t be too difficult.”

***

“Got it,” Severide says triumphantly and pushes his halligan down between the doors of the elevator to stop them from closing again. He knows this elevator predicament isn’t even half the struggle they have ahead of them, they still have six stories worth of rubble they have to make their way up, but he lets himself revel in the small victory a little.

Brett gives him a congratulatory pat on the back and a weak smile; he’s pretty sure she’s hurting more than she’s letting on which makes two of them. His head hurts and the burns under his coat are hurting a little more with each passing minute, but he’s gotta keep it together and get them out of this mess.

“Ladies first,” he says and intertwines his hands to make a step for the paramedic to give her a little boost up. She probably doesn’t really need it, but it’ll help her out and make it easier on her.

“Thanks Kelly,” she replies and steps into his hands and clammers through the elevator doors as he gives her a little push. Kelly pulls himself up after her and pulls the halligan free from the doors as he clears the door frame.

The air is thick and hazy with smoke and he can see the red flicker of fire coming from a couple places around them.

“How are we going to get out of this?” Sylvie breathes hopeless and glances over at him with scared blue eyes.

“One step at a time, Sylvie,” Kelly replies and tucks one arm around her shoulders to pull her into a reassuring hug. “We got this, okay? It’ll be a walk in the park.”

Brett lets out an amused snort and shakes her head, but doesn’t look encouraged.

“Come on, you were a farm kid. It’ll be like climbing around in a hay loft,” Kelly adds, trying to encourage her. “It’ll be fun.”

This time he gets a real smile out of her.

“See? You just gotta think of it as something less scary than it actually is. It won’t get in your head that way.”

“Do you realize how long it’s been since I climbed in a hay loft?” she asks.

“Isn’t that one of those things they say is like riding a bike?” Severide jokes.

“Guess we’ll find out,” Brett says through gritted teeth and puts on her determined face.

“Here, put this on,” Kelly says and plops his helmet down on top of Brett’s head. It’s a too big and falls over her face.

She pushes it back up with a grin on her face. “Does this make me a member of the squad?”

“An honorary one, sure,” Kelly says and adjusts the interior head band on the helmet so it will stay put on her head. “And put these on,” he adds, handing her his gloves. “There’s all kinds of stuff laying around you don’t need to be cutting your hands on.”

His gloves are absolutely too big for her, but there’s no adjusting them so they’ll have to do.

“Okay, let’s get out of this hell hole,” Sylvie says, slipping her hands into his gloves.

***

“Maybe there’s a way we could keep you at 51,” Casey says as they make their way further down the stairs. They’re almost to the sixth sublevel now and he’s not entirely sure he’s going to have the energy to climb back up through all the rubble when they finally figure a way out of the staircase. His head is pounding and the edges of his vision are getting blurry; on top of that his whole body is aching from the tumble down the stairs he and Stella took. He’s sure she’s hurting too, but she seems to be keeping it under wraps better than he is.

“If you’re suggesting I try to talk Herrmann into retiring, you hit your head harder than I thought you did,” Stella replies glancing over at him.

“That’s not what I was suggesting. I was just saying there might be someway, because believe me, nobody wants you to go anywhere, but you also shouldn’t pass up this amazing opportunity.”

“It’s a nice thought, but I don’t really see a way for me to stay and get my promotion,” she says as they both come to a stop on the landing of sixth sublevel.

“Frame’s bent,” Casey points out after briefly scanning the door.

“Yeah, but there’s nothing on the other side blocking it,” Stella says peaking through the window. “We might be able to bust it open.”

“It’s worth a shot.” Casey adjusts the grip on his halligan. Everything hurts and he’s sure that if not for the adrenaline pumping through his body and his need to find Brett he’d be passed out by now. They have to get through the door and they have to get back up to the third floor.

“Am I being a complete idiot for thinking about turning this promotion down?” Stella asks and slams her shoulder into the door in an attempt to bust it open.

“I don’t know, Kidd,” Casey says and moves to stand next to her so he can help try to force the door free. He doesn’t want Stella to transfer out, her loves her like family and 51 wouldn’t be the same without her. But it’s not his place to tell her that. Sometimes people just have to spread their wings and fly, and he doesn’t want to hinder that by telling her his feelings. “I guess, the way I see it is, are you going to regret it if you don’t take it.”

“You ready?”

“Ready.”

They both hit the door at the sametime and Casey can feel it give a little. He can also feel the jar sent up through his body that makes his vision go blurry for a second until he blinks his eyes clear again.

“I don’t know is the thing,” she says through gritted teeth and hits the door with the head of her halligan.

“You could always take it, and then when a position opens up at 51 transfer back,” Casey suggests. “Ready?”

“Ready,” They hit the door again and this time it screeches a little as it gives a little more. “I guess I could do that.”

“And it’s not like you’ll leave and never see us again.”

“It’ll just be weird being away from you guys is all.”

“Personally, making the switch to leader would probably be easier when you don’t know the crew. People don’t try to pull the friend card to get away with stuff. Like when I first made the switch to lieutenant me and Sev’s old buddy Darden was the worst about that kind of thing,” Casey says. Andy has always been a bit of a piece of work; he was a goof and one hell of a firefighter but he always had that little bit of bull headed defiance where he’d dive into any situation head first without much of a second thought. He was never unmanageable though, he just never quite got used to the idea of taking orders from his best friend and in the end it got him killed. Matt’s always wondered if it was someone else up on that ladder with Andy giving orders if he’d still be alive. “Besides, finding a new crew could be fun.”

Stella looks him in the eyes, but doesn’t say a word as she slams her foot into the door and forces it open. “Let’s go find Sylvie and Kelly.”

***

“I need a breather,” Sylvie huffs as Kelly helps her scramble up a leaned over pillar of concrete creating a kind of ramp to the next level of the parking garage. She doesn’t really need a breather, but she can tell he does and there’s no way he’s actually going to take one for himself. She wants to get out of this smokey and dusty air making her lungs burn and her chest tight, and she wants to stop feeling so trapped, but Severide needs a rest and the only way to get him to take one is for her to say she needs one.

“We can’t rest long, we gotta get out of this smoke,” he says, shining his flashlight around them. “And we’ve still got a good three or four stories to go.”

“I know, I just need a minute.”

“Hey, you’re doing great. At this rate we’ll be up and out in no time,” Severide promises and gives her a little pat on the shoulder.

“How's your head feeling?” she asks, from what she can tell there’s no fresh blood dripping down the side of the lieutenant’s head anymore, it’s all dry and crusty now.

“It’s still fine, Brett,” he replies.

“And you wouldn’t tell me if it wasn’t,” Sylvie says flattly.

“Bingo,” Severide chuckles with a playful wink. “You ready to get going again?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she sighs. It’s probably best they hurry up and get out of here and get him up to the surface, then Stella can yell at him to take care of himself. Sylvie doesn’t have the energy right now.

They’re about to pick up and start moving again when Severide’s radio crackles and Casey’s voice sounds over it. ‘Does anyone copy’ is the only thing Sylvie gets from his transmission through all the static and popping, but he sounds exhausted and even a little scared.

“This is Severide, Casey I copy,” Severide says, clicking on his mic. “Casey can you hear me?”

“Sev-” is all they get in response before the radio cuts out again.

“Casey, we are on the 4th sublevel. I have Brett. Do you copy?” Severide says loudly.

“Below… stay put…”

“Case, repeat that,” Severide says looking to Brett in confusion. They get no reply. “Casey, do you copy?”’

There’s still nothing but static as they wait in silence for Casey to repeat himself.

“Damn concrete,” Severide spits angrily and slaps the ground. “Casey do you copy?”

“What did he mean ‘stay put’?” Brett asks, looking around them. They have to get out of here, staying put isn’t an option.

“I don’t know, I don’t even know if that’s what he said,” Severide replies in frustration. “We gotta get out of here.”

“But what if he did say to stay where we are? There could be a fire above us or something.”

She wants to get out of here, probably more than Severide does, but if Casey told them to stay where they are, he probably has a good reason.

“I’m not sitting around down here on my ass, Brett. We need to get out of here, and you need to get your lungs checked out because of all that gas you inhaled,” Severide says. “Now let’s get out of here.”

Sylvie decides not to argue with the squad lieutenant and follows him as he heads off into the darkness without another word.

***

“I’m sick of trying to get this damn thing to work,” Stella says and shoves her radio back into her radio pocket.

“Kidd, take a breath,” Casey says quietly and sits down on a piece of debris. His head is spinning and he’s not sure how much longer he’s going to be able to hold out. He hadn’t been able to make out much of what Severide said, but he got the part about him having Brett which means she’s safe. There’s no one better and more likely to get her out of this than Kelly.

Stella shakes her head and cups her hands around her mouth. “KELLY!”

“Kidd! Enough!” Casey snaps, her shout is the last straw. He can’t take it anymore; he feels like his head is about to explode. “He’s fine. Him and Brett will get out of here on their own. We just have to find our own way out. Okay? So please, quit yelling.”

Stella stops and her expression softens. “Casey, you don’t look so good.”

“I’ll be fine if you just take it down a notch,” Casey replies softly. He’s not sure if that’s true. He’s exhausted and now that he knows Brett is safe with Severide he’s not sure if he can still find the same drive to climb his way out of here.

***

“Joe!”

Joe flinches a little at the sound of his wife’s shrill worried cry as she comes through the doors of the hospital, eyes wide and scared.

“Chloe!” He calls and stands up to greet her.

“Joe, are you okay? I saw the collapse on the news and then the hospital called-”

“I’m fine,” he promises, interrupting her and wraps his wife in his arms. “I ruptured one of my ear drums, but other than that I’m fine.”

“You did what?!”

“It’s okay, the doctor said it’ll heal in a week or so. I’m okay, Chloe.”

“You promise?” she says and cups his cheeks in her soft hands.

“Yes,” Joe replies softly and grabs one of his wife’s small hands. “I promise

“Well you look like a mess,” she says scoldingly and brushes off the top of his head. She’s starting to relax a little. “What happened?”

“It was a gas leak, something sparked it and the whole place came down.”

“Is everyone okay?”

Cruz ducks his head. When he left Casey, Kidd, Severide, and Brett were all still down there and unaccounted for. He should’ve never let Severide keep going by himself.

“Oh baby…” Chloe breathes.

“Casey, Kidd, Severide and Brett were still missing when I left,” he mumbles, and keeps his gaze on the floor. He can’t lose any of them; he won’t be able to take it.

“Come here,” Chloe whispers and pulls him close to her, tucking his head into her shoulder. “They’re all tough, they’ll be okay. They’ll be okay.”

***

“Is there any word from the hospital on Gallo?” Ritter asks, taking a second to stop and talk to Boden. He knows the chief is very busy, but he at least has to try to get an update on his friend’s condition. He’d walked to the ambo himself, which is a good sign, but he looked like he’d been struggling.

“Yes, he’s going to be fine,” Boden says before returning his attention back to the radio and three in coming truck companies. Ritter turns away and leaves the chief to his business, that’s all he needed to hear, just a simple yes.

“Hey, Ritter, get over here!” Herrmann calls and waves him over to 51. “Grab a hose bundle. We’re heading to the delta side to help engine 18 knock down some flare ups they have over there.”

“You got it,” Gallo says and pulls a bundle off the engine. “Do you know what the word is on Captain Casey and them?”

“Yeah, squad 6 is coming to assist. Capp and Tony are planning on saddling up and going down with them,” Herrmann says, pulling his own pack of the truck. “Don’t worry about them. They’re nothin’ but a group of stubborn bastards. They’ll be fine.”

From the look of things Ritter isn’t so sure about that, but his lieutenant seems pretty sure of himself and not worried, so the best Darren can do is trust him. There’s not time to worry right now.

***

“I need a breather,” Sylvie pants and flops down on the hard ground. This time she needs it for herself. It feels like they’ve been going for hours, and the going has been slow and hard. She’s exhausted and everything hurts.

“Okay, take your time,” Severide replies and sits down next to her. He seems relieved that she’s asking for a break. “I’m going to try to get Casey on the radio again.”

“Okay,” she mumbles without picking herself up. She wishes Severide could just carry her the rest of the way out. They have at least two more floors to climb and then navigate their way out of whatever rubble is sitting on the surface.

“This is Severide, does anyone copy?” Kelly says, keying his radio.

“I read you Sev,” Comes a response from Casey. There’s a little static and interference, but for the most part the Captain’s transmission comes through loud and clear. Sylvie lets out a sigh of relief, it’s good to hear his voice again; he sounds exhausted, but he’s okay. “What floor are you on?”

“Probably two, but I’m not exactly sure.” Severide sounds so relieved. “Are you sending people down to find us?”

“Negative, me and Kidd are a floor below you. We can’t get contact with the surface.”

“What the hell are you doing below us?” Severide demands, losing his calm at the mention of Stella.

“We came to get you,” Casey replies. “Stay where you are so Kidd and I can catch up, and activate your pass.”

Severide lets out a frustrated sigh before replying to his friend. “Copy that Captain.”

***

Stella hears Kelly’s pass device long before she sees him, but when she finally gets eyes on him it’s like seeing him for the first time in what feels like forever. He’s banged up and looks exhausted, but he’s okay. He’s okay.

“I was so scared,” she breathes as they meet in the darkness of the parking garage.

“I know,” he whispers and wraps his arms around her. “I’m okay.”

“No more building collapses,” Stella says, resting her chin on Severide’s shoulder. It’s so good to have him back.

“I wish I had a say in the matter,” Kelly replies and pulls away from her. “Now we just need to get out of here.”

They both glance over at Casey and Brett who are still celebrating being reunited with a passionate kiss.

“Hey, love birds, we should probably get going,” Severide calls and throws a pebble at Casey’s head. Casey holds up his middle finger, and doesn’t stop kissing Brett. Stella can’t help but laugh at the shocked look that comes across Kelly’s face at being flipped off by Matt. For the first time since this whole mess started she doesn’t feel completely on edge. “I can’t believe you guys actually came down to get us.”

“We were heading down when the place went up,” Stella explains. “We knew there was no way you were getting three victims up by yourself.”

“You guys are crazy,” Kelly says shaking his head.

“That’s what love does to you,” Stella replies and gives him a quick kiss on the lip.

“Okay, we’re ready,” Casey says, finally breaking away from Brett. “Let’s get the hell out of this hellhole.”

***

“Have you heard any word from squad 6?” Ritter asks Mouch as he helps him set up the scene lights on 81; the sun is setting fast and they don’t long to get the lights on. It’s been well over an hour since the members of squad six and squad three went into the collapsed parking garage to look for the four missing firefighters from 51.

“Not as far as I’ve heard,” he replies glancing over his shoulder at the smoking mountain of rubble. “Radio contact is gonna be rough, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t hear anything until they come out.”

“How are you and Herrmann so calm about this?” Ritter finally asks as Mouch fires up the generator.

“We’ve been around a long time, kiddo,” Mouch replies and hooks his thumbs into his suspenders with satisfaction as the scene lights click on, lighting up the darkening air around them. “But don’t mistake our calm for not caring. It’s killing us not knowing as much as it’s killing you.”

“Hey! We’ve got movement near the entrance!” Herrmann shouts as he runs past Mouch and Ritter. Darren can hear the excitement in his lieutenant’s voice. “And chief’s got squad six on the radio! They’ve got our people!”

Ritter looks to Much half a second and then follows after his lieutenant; he can hear Mouch running after him. By the time they reach what used to be the entrance of the parking garage the members of squad six are already emerging from the rubble, Severide, Casey, Kidd, and Brett with them.

“Come’er you idiots,” Herrmann says lovingly and somehow manages to grab all four of them in the same hug. Darren joins them, relieved to see all four of them okay and in one relative piece; when Mouch catches up he joins in the hug. Herrmann is the first one to break from the group hug and shoos Mouch and Darren back a little. “Let’s get you guys to an ambulance.”

***

“Hey, you escaped the scene,” Casey says as Boden knocks on the door to his hospital room. Dr. Halstead had checked him for a concussion, which apparently does have, and then insisted he spend the night for observation. His head still hurts, but the fluids they have him are helping a little.

“The district chief took over the scene, and told me to come be with my people,” Boden replies, closing the door behind him.

“I may have gotten my bell rung pretty good, but I haven’t forgotten about our conversation this morning,” Casey says, holding his chief’s gaze. The man laughs nervously and nods his head.

“I didn’t think you would,” he says, a mix of amusement and sadness coming across his face.

“Come on chief, what’s eating you?” Casey presses.

“There’s a chief’s exam coming up in a couple months and I want you to take it,” Boden replies.

“And leave 51?” Casey asks. Being completely honest he thought it was a little crazy that Stella wanted to turn down her promotion to stay at 51, he understood it. It just seemed wrong, but now that he might be facing the exact same decision he’s pretty sure he’s about to do the same.

“No,” Boden replies calmly. “And take over 51.”

“What?”

“I’m not as young as I once was,” Boden says. “And I’m not getting any younger. I’m ready to retire, but I want to leave the house in good hands, and I know you’ll take care of it.”

Casey doesn’t even know what to say.

***

“Oh that’s gonna scar,” Stella says, slipping into Kelly’s exame room as April finishes giving him stitches. She didn’t really realize how big the cut in the side of his head was until now.

“Shut up,” he says flatley.

“No, it’s a clean cut, and I’m great at making my stitches pretty and neat,” April says, and starts wrapping his head. “You don’t have to worry about your pretty face.”

“I think it’d be hot,” Stella says with a shrug and plops herself down on the exam table next to him as the nurse finishes up.

“Dr. Choi wants to keep you overnight for observation. I’ll come back and get you when we have a room for you,” April says, getting ready to duck out of the room.

“Thanks April!” Kelly calls after as she closes the curtain behind her. “You were kidding about it scaring, right?”

“Your hair will cover most of it up,” Stella says lovingly and kisses him on the cheek.

“Hey, what’d you want to talk about earlier?” he asks, looking over at her.

“Oh.” She wasn’t really expecting to tell him about the promotion just yet, but she’s not going to lie to him, and she does need to tell him. “I got offered a lieutenant’s position at another house.”

Kelly raises both eyebrows in a mix of excitement and surprise. “Stella-”

“I don’t know if I’m going to take it,” she blurts, interrupting him.

“Of course you are! You worked so hard for this, and if you turn it down they’ll bump you to the bottom of the list,” Kelly says, looking more confused now.

“Kelly, I don’t want to leave 51. It’s my home, my family.”

The confusion leaves his face and he closes his mouth.

“And I haven’t made up my mind yet either.”

“Stella Kidd,” Kelly starts, and takes her hand in his. “You are the most deserving person in the world of this promotion, and I can’t tell you how proud I am of you. And whatever you decide I will still be proud of you.”

Stella smiles at him, and for the first time since getting that letter her insides don’t feel like they’re twisted up in nights. “Thank you Kelly.”

***

Two days later…

“Case that’s huge,” Kelly says, taking his cigar out of his mouth, Benny and Grissom had always wanted him to shoot for chief, but it was never something Kelly wanted or even something he could see himself doing. Casey on the other hand, Casey was born to be chief; he’s got the head for it and that little bone in him that can play politics. Kelly’s definitely with Boden, the best person to take over the house is Casey. “What’d you tell him?”

“Nothing,” Casey says staring out into space. “I didn’t know what to say.”

“You’ve gotta take it. You were born for the job, and there’s no one better out there to take over the house. You know how things work there,” Severide replies. “Tell me you haven’t ever thought about it?”

“I mean yeah, I’ve thought about it, but not in a way like it’s a reality,” Matt says and takes a puff of his cigar.

“Have you talked to Brett about it?” Kelly asks.

“Yeah, she thinks I should take it too.”

“She’s a wise woman, that one,” Kelly laughs

Casey sighs. “I kind of have to do this, don’t I?”

“Only a crazy person’d turn it down,” Kelly jokes and nudges his friend with his elbow. Having Casey as a chief would change things drastically, not just for the two of them, but for the whole house, but it’s better than having an outsider come in.

“Then maybe I will,” Casey snorts. “You seem to think I’m pretty crazy.”

“Case, I’m serious. You’d be a great chief, and do you really want someone coming in and taking over the house? Boden built the house to what it is today, and I think he always had one of us leading it some day as his end goal. We both know that was always gonna be you. He trusts you with everything he has worked to build,” Severide says firmly. “At least consider it, and consider what will happen if you don’t take his offer.”

Casey turns his gaze away from Kelly and stares out into the distance, deep in thought as he puts his cigar back in his mouth.

“And I’ll back you all the way,” Kelly adds.

***

“Chief, you have a second?” Boden looks up to see Casey poking his head into his office.

“Of course,” Wallace replies and stands up to greet the truck captain. He knows the chief pitch was a lot to throw at him, but he wouldn’t have done it if he didn’t have absolutely faith in Casey’s ability to lead the house. There’s not a single better person he can think of to do it. Ever since Matt Casey was a probie Wallace had a feeling he’d one day grow to take his job.

“I’ve decided,” Casey says holding his gaze, the captain looks a little like he’s about to jump off a bridge. “I’m going to throw my hat in the ring for battalion chief.”

#chicago fire #chicago fire fic #cf fic #stellaride #brettsey #Stellaride fic #brettsey fic

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goddesswritings · 4 years ago

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home with you - Stiles Stilinksi | everything i wanted

Title: home with you – Part One

Pairing: Stiles x Reader

Summary: Lydia Martin has a cousin. She’s Y/n. She moved in with Lydia and her mother two years ago after tragedy struck in her life. She met Stiles and Scott, and the two boys basically saved her. She developed a crush on Stiles through this, despite him having a crush on her beautiful cousin. People start going missing in Beacon Hills, and Y/n is forced to face her feelings and her ability to save the people she loves.

Word Count: 6.8k

Notes: Finding a title that fit this story was a bit of a task, but I think ‘home with you’ by FKA twigs is pretty fitting in a way for the feelings I have for this story.

This story is based on season 6A of Teen Wolf. It took me three years to finally finish Teen Wolf and season 6A was definitely a favorite of mine. The character development of everyone was just wow. So here we have a Stiles and Reader fic, because this idea hit me. Enjoy. More Stiles fics to come!

Masterlist

********

“Lydia, don’t say that.” You said to your cousin as she picked at her nails.

“What, I thought Stiles would have moved on by now. It’s been what, 4 years?” She popped her gum as she lounged back on her bed. “Aiden and I have been together for a while now, he does know I’m not breaking up with him, right?”

“I’m sure he does, Lyds. Just don’t antagonize him. He can’t help who he likes.” You would much rather not be talking about Stiles’ crush on your cousin with her, but she brought it up when Aiden mentioned that he thought Stiles was still into her.

You sighed and laid back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. This whole thing was not fun to talk about. You hated the way she treated Stiles, yet he still loved her. Two years ago, you moved in with Lydia and her mom after your parents were killed in a freak accident. You and Lydia had always gotten along, but she was definitely not the nicest person. But she’s been getting better.

“Oh I know, why don’t I set him up with someone? That will help him move on, right?” She raised her eyebrows as she grabbed her phone from the table. She started browsing it.

Your heart perked up, hoping she would realize you were the perfect person to set him up with. But she ignored you.

“Stella is a good choice. Wait no, she’s into James. Oh maybe Ellie, oh she’s perfect! Her hair is identical to mine.”

“Except for the fact that Ellie plays for the other team.” You mumbled.

“Wait, she does? I never knew that.”

“Yeah, at that party at Derek’s last year, she was all over that chick from Econ. Hailey I think.”

Lydia sighed and put her phone down. “Well then I don’t know what to do. He needs to move on, like now. I can’t have him stuck on me like this. We’re seniors and I don’t want him following Aiden and I around in school.”

Rolling your eyes, you moved from her bed. “I will talk to him, Lydia. You don’t have to worry.”

Her eyes lit up, “Perfect Y/n! Now I’m meeting Aiden for a late-night talk. Can you cover for me, with my mom?”

“Of course.” You left her room and headed down the hall to yours. It was nice that Natalie Martin took you in, but sometimes Lydia took advantage of you.

A message came through your phone. It was Scott.

Stiles and I have a kid at the station. He’s terrified and we have no clue who his parents are, we need you and Lydia.

Of course she was already gone.

I can help, but Lydia just left with Aiden. I’m the best you got.

Scott and Stiles became good friends with you when you moved to Beacon Hills. Almost immediately you fell for the quirky boy who had way too much energy. He was funny and sweet to you. When you moved, you’d fallen into a depression but somehow him and Scott got you out of it. Especially since they vowed to find out what happened to your parents.

With the help of Sheriff Stilinski, you did find out what happened to your parents. Not that you wanted to remember it right now.

Stiles will be there in 5.

Okay!

You rushed around your room, pulling off the sweatpants you had been wearing and pulling on some jeans. You got one leg in and lost your balance and fell to the ground. Chuckling, you pulled the pants on and searched for shoes to wear. Finally you had finished dressing when you saw Roscoe pull into the driveway. Shoving your phone into your pocket, you were off. Natalie was nowhere to be found, so you didn’t have to convince her to let you go.

Stiles smiled when you hopped into the jeep. “Well hello, little Martin.” He stated with his signature smile.

“I’m the same age as Lydia and you know this.” You quipped as you clicked the seatbelt in.

“Of course, I know this. I’m just joking with you. I only say it because you’re shorter than me and Scott.” He patted your thigh. “We love you regardless.”

Shaking your head, Stiles backed out of the driveway and headed towards the station.

“Damn, I wish I had a growth spurt.” You mumble making Stiles laugh.

“No Y/n, you’re perfect the way you are. Trust me. You don’t need to be taller or anything like that.”

The words warmed your heart. This is why you had a massive crush on him. He was the sweetest man alive.

“Well that was as sweet as pie, Stiles. Now tell me what to expect with this kid?”

Stiles was now in detective mode. You loved how passionate he was about all of this. He had amazing skills that made him valuable to Scott’s pack, despite being human. You on the other hand, felt very useless to the pack. Your cousin was a Banshee, Scott was a werewolf, Malia was a Coyote, and well Stiles was gifted with his detective skills as well as being smart as hell. You were just a human with no special skills to help them. You always did your best when these things happened, but you just weren’t all that useful to them.

“Liam and Hayden found this kid in a car alone. He was mumbling about needing to find his parents, but my dad has no record of them or the kid. We are all simply confused. He was also mumbling about these men who came out of nowhere on horses and stole his parents.” Stiles explained as he stopped at a red light.

“Interesting. What does your dad think?” You asked when you watched the light turn green.

“He thinks he just ran away from home and found an abandoned car to hot wire.” Stiles was not happy with that answer.

“How old is the kid?”

“12 apparently.”

“Okay, what twelve-year-old can hotwire a car? Who’s the car belong to?” Everything was not adding up.

“The car wasn’t registered to anyone. It had no plates. But the windshield was smashed off. The kid said the men on horses shot the car.”

“That doesn’t sound like a runaway kid to me.”

“Same. Scott is not sure what he thinks.”

You put your hand on Stiles’. “What do you think happened?”

He sighed. “I think it was supernatural of course. I’m not sure what, but I feel it in my bones that he didn’t just run away from home. They don’t even have record of this kid.”

“Well then we will find out what it is, won’t we?”

“You want to help?”

“Of course I do, Stiles. You’re my best friend and I believe you when you have a feeling about these things.” Also your feelings for him, made you believe him even more.

The two of you pulled into the station and he led you from the car. Sheriff Stilinski was in his office with Scott and a kid who looked scared and confused.

“I just want to find my parents.” He cried as Sheriff Stilinski looked on in helplessness.

“How do we find his parents if he’s not even in the database?” He asked Scott in a whisper.

Scott looked pensive before a thought hit him. “Well I could use my claws?”

You shook your head. “Scott no, that’s a horrible idea. That will hurt him!”

The kid spoke up. “I will do anything. I just want to find my parents.” You all exchanged looks, unsure of how to precede. Did Scott really want to use his claws on this kid to get answers?

“It’s going to hurt. Are you sure?” He asked him.

“I am. I need to know where my parents are.” He whined, tears clouding his eyes.

“Okay, we have to do this.” Scott looked to Sheriff Stilinski, Stiles, and I.

Stiles’ dad sighed and shut the door, locking it. Then he lowered all the curtains to his office. You stepped back, knowing it would hurt him. Stiles stepped up beside you and took your hand in his. You turned and buried your head into his chest as Scott buried his claws into the neck of this kid. He screamed in agony as Scott delved into his memories. Stiles wrapped his arms around you, blocking out some of the sound.

It all stopped, and Scott fell away from the boy. Stiles loosened his grip and you turned to see a highly confused Scott. The kid was passed out now.

“What did you see?” Stiles asked.

“Nothing. There are no memories of his parents at all. Just him. His name is Alex.” He mumbled, walking away from him.

“How is there no memories of his parents?” Sheriff Stilinski was so confused.

“That’s what I want to know.” You were all left in a state of confusion. Sheriff talked about how he would be keeping Alex at the station until they could locate his parents. Stiles, Scott, and you exited the station.

“We should go look at his house. You did see his house, right?” Stiles said as you three stopped by the jeep.

“I did. I know where it’s at.” Scott stated.

“Then why don’t we go check it out?” He suggested with hope in his eyes.

“Tomorrow we will go. It’s getting late and we have school in the morning.” Scott told him.

“Okay, that’s fine. Let me know if you remember anything else?”

Scott smiled and put on his motorcycle helmet. “Will do. Good luck!” He told him before riding off.

You were confused. “Good luck with what?” You asked as Stiles led you to the car. You hopped in.

“Oh it’s nothing. Can we, uh, go somewhere to talk?” He was suddenly nervous.

“Sure. I’m positive Lydia isn’t home yet and well I didn’t see her mom, so she’s also probably on a date.”

“Good, let’s go.” He started up the jeep and drove off without another word. He was silent as you both drove along with quiet streets of Beacon Hills. Your mind went to what Lydia asked you to do, and your chest tightened with nerves.

Stiles parked the jeep on the edge of the Beacon Hills Preserve. He shut the car off.

“So I actually needed to talk to you about something.” You said knowing you had to do it now or never.

“Sure, go ahead. I have something to say too.” He said with his cute little smile.

You smiled back but felt like bolting from the jeep. You couldn’t believe Lydia was making you do this. “So I was talking to Lydia and she mentioned that she still thinks you have a crush on her. Do you?”

“I don’t know, maybe.” He answered while watching you closely.

“Okay, she said her, and Aiden were talking, and she didn’t like that you still crushed on her. She was rambling on about how she didn’t want you to spend Senior year following her around, especially now that you and Malia are over.”

“That’s good because I have a crush on someone else.”

You barely registered what he said as you continued on. “And I know it sounds mean when she says this. I even told her she couldn’t say that because you are so sweet and don’t deserve that kind of treatment.”

“Of course.”

“I’m so sorry Stiles, I didn’t want to be the one to say it. But she wants to set you up with someone else, and I said it was a horrible idea because I hate when people set you up with others.”

“Mmm hmmm.” He mumbled as he watched you ramble. He loved when you got like this. You were just so dang cute when you rambled without really understanding what the other person was saying.

“Because I think we should be able to choose who we date on our own without being set up.” You stopped when you realized something he’d said. “Wait, did you say you have a crush on someone else?”

Stiles started laughing. “I was wondering when you would catch that. Yes I did, and yes I do have a crush on someone else. Someone who’s beautiful and loyal and just downright adorable all the time. Someone I should have seen ages ago.”

Inside, your heart ached. “Who is she?”

He shook his head. “Well I think you know her, she’s in all my classes.”

Your brain went into overdrive, thinking about all the girls you and Stiles shared class with. There was only a handful that were in all your classes. “Melanie?”

Once again he was laughing. “No. Y/n, it’s you.”

The world stopped. You looked up at the dark-haired boy in front of you. His eyes sparkled in the moonlight as he watched you with curiosity.

You point to him. “You like me?” Then you pointed at yourself.

“I do. Ever since the Chimera stuff, as well as me and Malia drifting apart. I realized I had the perfect girl in front of me. Who is more perfect than she realized.”

“But I’m not Lydia. At all.”

“I don’t want you to be Lydia. My crush on Lydia was infatuation for someone I thought I knew. But she’s been pretty keen on ignoring me for years, despite us now being in the same friend group. After the Nogitsune, I started thinking about why I liked her and realized all my reasons for liking her, didn’t make sense. I think I just wanted her because I couldn’t have her. Does that make sense?”

“It does. But you really like me?”

“I do, a lot.”

Smiling, you leaned forward and kissed him. “I like you too, Stiles. A lot. I have since I moved here.”

He smiled and pulled you into another kiss. Stiles was happy he finally admitted his feelings to you. He’d known you had some sort of feelings for him but because of Lydia, you never said a thing. He knew he was truly over Lydia.

“Then will you let me take you on a date?” Stiles asked with hope in his beautiful amber colored eyes.

“Yes, oh my god, I would love that!” You wrapped your arms around his lean body, and he reciprocated the movement. His arms pulled you close as you leaned over the console of his car, where he kept his police scanner.

He kissed your forehead, then your cheek, and finally your lips. His lips were hot against yours. You leaned into the kiss until the console got to be too much. Stiles pulled away and motioned to the back of the car. You nodded before hopping over the console with Stiles hot on your heels.

His arms wrapped around you as he pulled you close once again. His lips found yours in another searing kiss. You’d wanted this for so long, that you simply melted into his kiss. Stiles licked your lips to get you to open up, and you did. His tongue was quick to find yours. Your mouths meshed together in the most perfect way.

Stiles’ hands wondered your body over your clothes, increasing your excitement. The way your bodies fit together, was truly a magical feeling. The kisses had your head swimming while he caressed you in the sweetest way.

You took a hold of the situation and rolled the two of you, until you were on top of Stiles. Your lips left his and started sucking on his neck. Stiles moaned when you found the spot on his neck that had his body feeling alive. He pushed up against you, allowing you to feel the forming bulge in his jeans.

Smiling, you pulled him into another kiss and this time, your hands were the ones exploring his body. You felt every muscle in his body as your hands trailed it like he’d done with you. Stiles’ hands were gripping your waist, holding you in place so he could still have some sort of control over you. But you had your own plans up your sleeve, and you pressed yourself into the bulge that was pushing up into you.

“Oh shit.” He moaned as you did that. He was not expecting that at all. “My dirty girl is taking control, huh?” He groaned as you rubbed yourself on him. Your pussy was soaked at this point and the friction of you rubbing against him, was sending you on a trip.

“I am.” You whispered as you ground down again.

“Fuck, you’re making it hard to take this slow.” Stiles’ grip had tightened on your waist. He was trying to stop you from grinding yourself down on him again.

“What if I don’t want to go slow?” You’d pulled away to study his face. You counted the moles on his face, dying to kiss him again, so you pushed forward to do just that.

He lightly pulled away. “As much as I love that, I would hate myself if we did that. I want to do this right. I want to take you out and show you the world.”

You bit your lip as you thrust your hips down again. A steady pressure was building in your core, and you were so ready for it to burst.

“Y/n, gosh you’re so fucking sexy.” He let go of his inhibitions and pulled your lips back to his. His hands were now exploring your body again, while yours wrapped around the back of his neck. He pushed himself up against your needy core, causing the sexiest moans to fall from your mouth.

“Please Stiles, I need you.” You moaned when one of his hands grabbed a breast and palmed it.

His lips were hot against your skin. “I need you too, shit.” His head fell back as your core connected with his hard cock. He was so ready to release it and plunge into your needy little pussy.

“Then have me, Stiles, I don’t want to wait. I have wanted this for so long and I want this now.” Despite everything, you wanted to feel him, and you wanted him to fuck you right here and now.

“Yes, I would love that.” He flipped you over, so you were beneath him. Then he leaned over the seats to grab a condom from the glove compartment. He pulled you into another erotic kiss when a cellphone went off. Your cellphone.

“Awe fuck.” You mumbled as you leaned over the seats to grab your phone. It was Natalie.

“Hello.” You asked into the phone.

“Where are you, Y/n. Lydia said you were in your room but you’re not. It’s nearly 12:30.” She kept her voice level as she asked. She was never too strict with you. Not after what happened with your parents.

You mouthed that it was Natalie to Stiles.

“Scott and Stiles needed me for some research for school. We lost track of time.” You said quickly as Stiles frowned.

“Okay, well you need to come home. You have school in the morning.” She stated, not sounding mad.

“I will be right there. Thank you Aunt Natalie.” You hung up the phone.

Stiles dropped the condom in defeat. “No sex, huh?”

“I’m sorry Stiles. I think we really lost track of time.” You kissed his cheek and jumped back into the passenger seat. Stiles followed behind and started the car.

“Well it’s probably for the best. I meant what I said when I told you I wanted to take my time with you. You just distracted me with your charms.” His eyes traveled the length of your body. Your face heated up when he did this.

“Alright, I agree. We did move a little fast. I just lost myself when I was kissing you.”

“I know the feeling. Now, let’s get you home. I don’t need Natalie on my case for keeping her niece out all hours of the night.”

“That ship has sailed. But she likes you anyway. Especially after what you and Scott did for me when I moved here.” You smiled in his direction.

He smiled back and put a hand on your thigh as he drove through Beacon Hills towards the house you lived in with the Martin’s. He didn’t move his hand at all, not until he pulled into the driveway.

“I had fun, Stiles. I can’t believe you like me.” Never in the world would you have expected the night to turn out this way.

“Well believe it, babe. I’m all yours. Now I will see you at school tomorrow.” He leaned over to kiss you sweetly. Not letting this kiss grow out of control.

“Yes, I will see you tomorrow.” You left the jeep and waved bye to him. He stayed in the driveway until you were safely in the house. You stood at the door and watched him leave. A huge smile was planted on your face as you did this.

“Damn, what has you so smiley?” A voice cut through your thoughts. Shutting the door, you found Lydia sitting on the couch watching you.

“I had fun with Scott and Stiles.” You stated, trying to not let her know you had just been making out with Stiles Stilinski in the back of his jeep.

“Sure, that’s totally why you’re smiling. I know you better than that. Who’s the lucky guy?” She stood from the couch and crossed the room to stop in front of you.

“Guy? There’s no guy.” You mumbled, looking away from her.

“Y/n sweetie. Your neck is red like some guy was just sucking on it. Cut the bullshit and tell me who it is. I think I have an idea. But please, do spill.” She smirked as she watched you.

“Uh, it was a friend.” Why couldn’t you just say who it was? It was not like she’d be upset.

She shook her head. “It was Stiles wasn’t it?”

“Um, maybe.”

“It was. He was the one who just dropped you off. Besides, I know you’ve had a crush on him.”

Wait, she knew? “How?”

“Y/n, we’ve been close since birth. I saw all the signs. Why do you think I told you to talk to Stiles tonight?”

“You said you wanted to set him up with someone.”

She laughed. “You, I wanted to set him up with you. I knew if I just nudged you towards him, you would admit your feelings for him. I’m happy he feels the same way.”

“Me too. So you aren’t mad?”

“Why would I be? I wanted him to move on from me and you know I want you to be happy.”

“Thank you, Lydia. I really do like him. I never expected him to like me back though.” Not in the least. Not when your cousin was Lydia.

“How could he not? You’re beautiful Y/n.”

“Because he’s liked you forever.”

“Well it looks like he’s over it. Okay, time for bed. You can tell me all about it tomorrow.” You nodded and the two of you went off to your rooms. A huge smile stayed on your face as you drifted to sleep.

You drove with Lydia to school, but you woke up to a ridiculously cute text from Stiles. It was still very unreal that he likes you the way he does. But you knew it was real. The proof was the hickey you had to cover when you woke up. Part of you wanted to leave it there, so people knew, but that was stupid to do.

I hope you slept well, my sweet girl. I was sorta up late when a theory hit me. I did some research; you know how it goes. I can’t wait to see your beautiful face at school. See you soon, gorgeous.

The text had you smiling the whole morning, which freaked Lydia out a little. You texted Stiles back, telling him you couldn’t wait to see him at school. Now that you had expressed your feelings, all you wanted, was to be in his presence.

You pulled up at school and spotted Roscoe in the parking lot, with Stiles leaning against it, with Scott not too far from him. Liam was there too, while Malia had just pulled up to school. Trying to hold in the excitement, you and Lydia joined the group.

Stiles didn’t even hesitate before taking your hand in his. Your group of friends eyed you curiously, but the two of you didn’t really notice at all.

“What’s going on with them?” Scott questioned as he watched the way you both looked at each other.

Lydia chuckled. “Somebody came home extremely late, after being out with Stiles last night. It’s safe to say, the two of them admitted their feelings to each other.” She told them.

“Finally!” Scott shouted, throwing a fist into the air. “It was becoming way too much to keep Stiles’ feelings from Y/n.”

Malia rolled her eyes and smacked Scott on the shoulder. “Knock it off. Stiles was just being Stiles. I knew he would do it eventually.”

You looked to your friends. “You knew he liked me?”

They all nodded, even Liam.

“Shit, he even showed me his feelings for you when we were dating. Stiles isn’t particularly good at hiding his feelings.” Malia stated, wrapping an arm around Scott. The two of them were becoming particularly close since Scott and Kira officially ended things a few months back.

“We also knew Y/n had a crush on Stiles. I mean, I’ve known since it started.” Scott laughed as your face heated up.

“I can’t say I knew about it until Scott told me recently.” Malia admitted.

Liam laughed. “I’ve known since I met you all.”

“Well that’s my cue to go find Aiden. He said he was here early to study.” Lydia waved goodbye before leaving the group.

The fact that all your friends knew that you and Stiles had something for each other but said nothing, was frustrating. “Now that I know my friends have been keeping things from me. Is there anything else you want to tell me?” You said, trying to look serious.

They knew you better than that. “You love us, Y/n. Don’t lie.”

“Perhaps. But I am a little mad at you.”

Stiles chuckled. “No you’re not. You can never stay mad at them for long. They just wanted us to figure it out on our own.” Stiles stated while kissing your cheek.

“I know.” With that, the bell went off and you all headed into the school to go to first period, making plans to meet for lunch in the quad.

Lunch rolled around and the group met up in the quad like they said they would. Scott, Malia, Lydia, Aiden, Stiles, and you all sat around the tables. Lydia was particularly invested in Aiden as always.

Stiles was talking about going over to Alex’s house on his break, because the investigator in him couldn’t wait to get more evidence. Luckily, Scott convinced him to wait until after school, where he would be able to go. You were grateful because it would be safer to have Scott with you both.

They were going around taking pictures for the yearbook when they stopped at your table. You all huddled in for the picture. Stiles wrapped an arm around you and held you close as the picture was snapped. Everyone was happy to get a picture of the friend group.

Stiles was practically bouncing off the walls when school ended. You followed him and Scott to Roscoe, you jumped into the back and were all headed to Alex’s house. The closer you got, the more a deep feeling of dread built up in you. Something was up and you kind of didn’t want to know but you had to. Alex needed help.

The jeep pulled up in front of a dark blue house, the same one that Scott had seen when he delved into Alex’s memories. The three of you exited the jeep and headed up to the house. There was something up with it.

Scott led you and Stiles into the home and immediately the three of you were massively confused. It looked like a completely abandoned house. There was hardly any furniture, but the minimal furniture that was there, was dusty as hell.

“Are we sure this is the place you saw?” Stiles asked as he looked around the home.

“Yes, this is the right place.” Scott said as he touched a dining table that had a lone plate setting.

You were silent as you wandered the house. The three of you wandered up the stairs where you found Alex’s room. It was fully furnished, and looked clean and lived in, unlike the rest of the house.

“Oh what the hell is this?” Stiles sighed as we looked at the room.

“This doesn’t make sense. How the hell is the rest of the house empty, but his room is not?”

Scott was silent as he looked at Alex’s belongings. “I’m not sure. This is weird. Let’s see if we can find anything else.” He started to leave the room.

You were looking at the bulletin board when you noticed something odd. There was a picture of Alex, but he was alone, but it was clear there were other people that were supposed to be in the picture with him.

“Stiles, look at this.” He stepped up beside you and took the picture from you.

“Huh, that’s weird. It’s like the others in this picture were completely erased from it.”

“Right, this is not any normal disappearance. Especially since we don’t even know Alex’s parents names.” You flipped the photo, to see if he’d written anything on it, but it was blank.

Stiles stopped short. “Did you hear that?” He muttered as he looked towards the hallway.

Hearing nothing, you shook your head.

He was focused on the door though. “I heard a horse.”

Clearly, he wasn’t joking. You knew when Stiles was joking and right now he was completely silent.

“A horse? Stiles, we’re in a house. There can’t be a horse inside it.”

“Yeah well I hear one and it’s getting louder. Stay here.” He said as he headed for the door. The dread you felt earlier was back and more intense. You looked at the ground and spotted something peculiar. A dirty white bandana laid on the ground. Reaching for it, you saw a flash of a vision. It was some sort of creature on a horse, pointing a gun. You jerked from your thoughts when you heard Scott in the hallway. You rushed to the door.

“Are you okay, Stiles? What happened?” Scott asked as you saw Stiles on the ground. He looked absolutely terrified.

“I saw this ghost rider on a horse. He was coming at me. He was about to shoot me.” He rambled, clearly terrified by the ordeal. Your stomach dropped.

“Stiles, was the ghost rider wearing a handkerchief?” You questioned as Stiles finally pulled himself from the floor.

“No, he didn’t have one on. Why?”

“Because I just found this in Alex’s bedroom.” Holding up the dirty piece of fabric, the two guys studied it. Stiles grabbed it and examined it.

“Shit, let’s see if there is anything else in there.” Scott was quick to go back to the bedroom but stopped when he opened the door. There was no furniture in the room anymore.

“What the hell.” You mumbled, grabbing Stiles’ hand. For the moment, you forgot the vision you had when you touched the fabric Stiles was holding.

The guys were silent as they looked into the room. “We need to get out of here. We need to check on Alex.” All three of you left the house to head to the station. Stiles had handed you the handkerchief again and you studied it while he drove the three of you to the station.

Entering the building, something was very wrong. The cell where Alex had locked himself was empty. No one in the station had any recollection of the boy either. It was like he vanished into thin air, just like the furniture from his room.

“He was taken by the ghost riders.” Stiles said to you and Scott. You had headed back to Beacon Hills High for the Lacrosse scrimmage. Stiles and Scott were late, but coach didn’t really seem to notice.

“Hey, why are you wearing my jersey?” Stiles asked a random kid when he walked by in Stiles’ 24 jersey.

“Coach gave it to me at practice yesterday.” He said with a shrug before walking off.

“Huh, what the hell. Why would coach do that? Did he forget to tell me something?”

Scott shrugged. “Not sure man. Let’s head in to change for the scrimmage.” Scott left you and Stiles for the school. Stiles was looking after the guy who wore his jersey.

“Are you okay, Stiles?” You asked, jerking him from his thoughts.

“Yeah, this is just weird.” You agreed and followed him into the school.

“Hey, I forgot some of my homework in my locker. I need to go grab that. I will meet you in a few.” You told Stiles as you both entered the school. His hand was locked in yours. He was on edge and you could feel it just by the way he held your hand. “Hey Stiles, take a deep breath. You’re going to give yourself a panic attack.” You whispered while putting a hand on his cheek.

He looked to you. “I’m okay.” He assured, kissing you before telling you to get your homework.

You nodded and walked away, feeling like something bad was about to happen. The vision popped back into your head as you walked towards your locker. Why and how did you get a vision? That shouldn’t be possible. At all.

Rummaging through your locker, you looked through your belongings to find the book you need for your homework. You stopped short when you felt someone behind you. You glanced back and saw no one at all. Shaking off the feeling, you found the book you needed and slipped it into your bag.

As you were headed back to Stiles, you saw him looking extremely distraught. You rushed back to him and took his hand in yours.

“What’s wrong?” You whispered making him look down at you.

“They don’t remember me.” He said with a frown.

“Who doesn’t remember you?”

“Your Aunt. Liam, Hayden, and Mason. My dad.” None of them remember me.” His voice was low. You felt the panic building.

“Shit, what’s happening?”

Stiles looked behind him. “They are here.” He gripped your hand tighter and pulled you out of the school.

“Who’s here?” You stopped when you heard the distinct sound of horses.

“The ghost riders. They are back.” He raced around. You could hear them, but you didn’t see them and that scared you.

“Where are they. I can hear them?” You jumped when you heard it from your left. Stiles led you away from them.

“You hear them?”

“Yes.”

“Come on, we have to get out of here.” The two of you ran to his jeep and jumped in. He tried to start it, looking up every other second. When the jeep wouldn’t start. He gave up.

“Y/n listen to me. They are going to take me. This is what they do. They take people and make everyone forget they ever existed. I need you to help me. I need you to remember me.” He said, the panic increasing.

“What, no they can’t take you!”

“They are. Listen baby. I love you; I need you to remember me and help them find me. You have to do this for me.” He was now holding your hands in his.

“Please no, you can’t go. I just got you. I need you.” You whined, feeling tears dripping from your eyes. The sounds of the horses were loud, and you knew you were completely surrounded by them.

“I know, baby. I don’t want this. I need you to stay strong.” He wiped away some of the tears that streamed from your eyes.

“Don’t leave me Stiles. I love you. Please.” He was now crying too.

“I’m sorry baby. I don’t have a choice.” He grabbed your head and pulled you into one last passionate kiss before the door flung open and he was pulled from the jeep. “Remember me, Y/n!” Those were the last words you heard from Stiles before he was completely gone.

“Please no!” You yelled as he disappeared from existence. The tears flowed heavier down your cheeks as the weight of the situation hit you. Stiles was gone and you weren’t sure if he would come back.

Everything hurt. Your heart ached in your chest as you cried for Stiles. It was unreal that he had been taken from you. The two of you only just realized how much you liked each other and now he was gone. The biggest fear was that you would forget him. You didn’t want that.

Holding your hands to your chest, you cried for the boy you now knew you loved. He’d been a huge reason why you were still alive after losing your parents. He pulled you from the dark depression that threatened to claim you.

The two of you had danced around your feelings for way too long, but now it had been ripped out from under you.

“Stiles please, come back! I need you.” You mumbled as the tears never ceased falling.

You glanced in the backseat to see a jacket. Stiles’ jacket. You grabbed it and as you touched it, another vision popped into your head. It was Stiles, being thrown off the horse by one of the ghost riders. The vision was so quick that you couldn’t see where he was at. But it gave you a small sense of hope that you could see him again.

The tears still fell as you grappled with the weight of the heartbreak you felt. It was like losing your parents all over again. The world felt incomplete and you weren’t sure what to do.

The fear of forgetting Stiles, made you stay right in his car. Curled up in the back seats as you mourned his disappearance and prayed he would return to you.

At some point, you managed to drift to sleep but you were plagued by nightmares of the ghost riders, taking the ones you loved. Taking Stiles from you over and over again. It was about 3 am when you were awakened with a start.

There was a loud ringing in your ears, that scared you. You noticed you were in Stiles’ car alone. The disorientation from sleep, made you forget where Stiles was. But the weight of the loss hit you like a freight train.

The ringing was coming from outside the car. You pulled yourself up and jumped the seats to get out. The ringing was loud outside the door. A flash of gold caught your eye.

Bending down, you studied the gold object. It was an old-style pocket watch. You reached down to grab it. The ringing stopped once you held the strange object.

Opening the watch, you noted that the time was stopped at 8:43. The time Stiles had been cruelly ripped from the jeep by the invisible ghost riders.

You closed the watch and turned it over. There were initials on the back. ‘GD’.

“I think that belongs to me.” A voice startled you. You turned to find an unfamiliar man behind you.

“Who are you? What are you doing here so late?” You asked, taking a step back from him.

“I’m a teacher here, and I lost track of time because well it looks like I dropped my watch out here.” There was something unsettling about him. “I’m Mr. Douglas, one of the new teachers here.” He added.

“Okay.” You watched him closely.

“Can I have my watch back?” He eyed the gold piece in your hands.

“Oh yes, here.” You handed him the watch, hoping he would leave you alone.

“Thank you, darling.” He placed the watch in his pocket. “What are you doing out here so late anyway? Alone I might add.”

“I’m not alone, I’m here with my boyfriend.” Your heart constricted when you said that.

“Where is he?” A sick smirk entered his face. “I don’t see him around here, Y/n.”

Chills went through your body. You had never met this guy, so how the hell did he know your name.

“Uh, I have to go.” You quickly hopped back into the jeep and locked the doors. Mr. Douglas stood outside and watched you. The keys were still in the ignition, so you turned them and hoped the jeep would start. It did.

As quickly as you could, you raced away from the school in Stiles’ jeep Roscoe.

PART TWO >>

115 notes · View notes

procrastinatorimagines · 5 years ago

Text

Okay

Fandom: One Chicago

Series: Okay

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4 // Part 5 // Part 6 // Part 7 // Part 8 (Final)

Characters: Will Halstead x Halstead!Reader x Jay Halstead, eventual Casey x Reader

Warning/s: kidnapping, assault, drugging, fire, guns

Word Count: 2,542

Request: If you’re still taking requests can you do a jay x will x sister reader were she ends up getting kidnapped then they save her but she’s badly hurt and they freak out and worry about her when she doesn’t seem like herself please?

Summary: Reader has a comfortable life in Chicago and works a safe job at a library in town, but her life is thrown upside down when she gets kidnapped on her way home from work by people who want revenge against her brother Jay Halstead.

You didn’t really seem to fit the Halstead mould, the your oldest brother, Will, was a doctor, your other older brother, Jay, was a detective, and you, well you were a librarian. Will and Jay hadn’t always been around, Will had gone to New York for his medical degree and Jay had left to fight a war, you didn’t hold any ill will towards them for that, but someone had had to stay in Chicago to take care of your parents, especially when your mom got sick. So that fell to you, the youngest child, which was honestly fine by you, you hadn’t had any big plans for your life anyway, and you enjoyed what you did now... or at least, what you did now was safe and kept a roof over your head.

Your brothers didn’t mind that your job wasn’t heroic, they actually prefered you far away from the front lines, and you couldn’t blame them, there’d been a lot of tragedy for the Halsteads, and you didn’t plan on being the next casualty.

Well, you may not have planned to be, but whoever grabbed you and pulled you into a moving van when you were heading home from your usual week day shift clearly hadn’t gotten that memo.

One minute everything was normal, the next everything changed.

Your attacker wore a mask, and he wasn’t alone, there was at least one other person in the back with you and someone was obviously driving. You tried to kick and scream but they overpowered you, securing your hands and feet. The last thing you remembered before everything went dark was an odd smelling cloth being forced over your mouth.

By the time you woke up your head was pounding and your mouth was dry, your ankles and wrists chafing against the ropes that tied you to a beam in the room you were in, where ever that was. You weren’t sure how long you’d been out, but as your eyes slowly focused in on your surroundings you noticed a small window on the opposite side of the room you were in, the night sky partially visible through a crack in the newspaper that had been used to cover it up.

This was bad, very bad, you thought, panicking as you tried to desperately to free yourself from your restraints, which actually seemed to do more harm than good. Taking a very shaky breath you tried to focus, breathing in and out of your nose slowly as you though of what Jay might do in this situation. Jay... he’d come for you, with the full force of the Intelligence Unit behind him; it was a comforting thought, and one which enabled you to steady your heart rate enough so that you could hear your own thoughts without it pounding in your ears.

You could see stairs on the otherside of the room leading up, you were definitely in a basement, but there wasn’t much down here besides a broken games table, and a washing machine and dryer that looked like they hadn’t been touched in years - somewhere abandoned maybe? a foreclosed house? God a drug den even? This place clearly didn’t have a white picket fence outside, and the thought of who might be staying here, who might be staying here, who might have taken you, had your mind racing...

The sound of a door opening snapped you out of your thoughts, jumping as someone came stomping down the stairs, phone in hand and paying you no attention. He was a heavy set man, white and maybe middle aged, and you didn’t recognise him from anywhere. His face was uncovered, which was bad, you knew enough to know that if your captures didn’t go to lengths to hide their identity, then you probably weren’t making it out alive to ID them. What you needed was time, you thought as he slid his phone back into his dirty jean pockets.

“Good,” he said, approaching you as you tried to shuffle away, your wrists and ankles burning from the strain, “you’re awake.” He pulled the gag down from your mouth so that it hung around your neck and stepped back again as another man came down the stairs. He looked considerably younger than the first man, but still in his late 20s at least, leaner and with much more hair, but the family resemblance was clear, father and son you guessed. Which meant the third guy was probably a brother, or uncle.

“You gonna call him now that she’s awake?” The younger one asked, and you had a sinking feeling you knew who they were going to call, your cop brother.

“Yeah,” he dug a phone out of his pocket, but it wasn’t his own, it was yours. “Get her to unlock it.” He passed the phone to his son who approached you, grabbing your hair to make you look at him.

“What’s the password?” He demanded, giving your hair a rough tug as you struggled in his grasp.

“Go to hell,” you tried, your voice audibly shaking with fear. He let go of your hair and back handed you across the face, your cheek stinging with the contact as he grabbed you again.

“Try again,” the father said and you nodded, telling him the number combination to unlock the phone, if you were braver you might have held out, but you weren’t trained for this, you were a librarian for God’s sake.

The phone started ringing and your brother’s voice came through on the other end, “hey Y/N, I’ve been worried, you were supposed to come to Molly’s but you didn’t show, everything okay?” You opened your mouth to say something but the son shut you up, the father taking the phone from him as another man came down the stairs, gun in hand, and definitely another son.

“I’m sorry detective, but your sister can’t come to the phone right now, she’s a little tied up,” he said.

“Who the hell is this!?” Jay demanded, “where the hell is my sister!?”

“Someone who you owe Halstead, you took my son from me, destroyed my family, and now I’m going to do the same to yours,” he said venomously and you swallowed a large lump in your throat, the pit in your stomach growing painfully large.

“If you harm a hair on her head-” Jay began but the man cut him off.

“Do you remember my son detective? You put a bullet in him! You took my Joseph from me, now I’m going to show you what that pain feels like!” He yelled, face going red with rage. The son on the stairs had come down and his father snatched the gun from his hand. “This is only a taste of the pain you put my family through detective.” He pointed the gun and fired, pain shooting through your shoulder and your entire body as you cried out.

“Y/N!” You heard Jay yell frantically, but it was drowned out by your own screams.

“You’ll never see her again detective, just like I’ll never see my boy and my sons will never see their brother. Just remember Halstead, this is on you.” He grabbed your shoulder and squeezed the wound, making you cry out again. “Goodbye.”

“No, no!-” Jay was cut off as the man hung up, dropping the phone and smashing it beneath his heel. The gag was put back on your mouth, but it wasn’t necessary, your vision was blurring and you passed out from the pain.

You were beaten, bruised, bleeding, so groggy that it had taken you a few seconds to realise what had finally pulled you from your unconscious: the room was on fire. That’s right, you thought, your mind still foggy from the beating, and the smoke probably, they’d doused the room in gasoline when they’d left.

You struggled to move, realising they hadn’t even bothered with your restraints when they left you for dead; it was too hot, you couldn’t breath, could barely think as the flames got closer to you. You tried to crawl to the stairs but you saw that they had collapsed, the wood hadn’t stood a chance once the gasoline was ignited.

You stayed as close to the floor as you could to breath clean air, not that you could stand up if you tried. Darknessed threatened to overcome your vision as you tried to stay awake, soundlessly screaming for help. There was movement at the top of the stairs, muffled noises, and the last thing you remember before unconsciousness claimed you again was strong hands pulling you out of the flames.

They told you that they’d managed to work out who the perp Jay shot was, that they’d found a car that had been reported stollen by someone matching the description of one of the sons outside a gas station leaving town and caught them before they could make their getaway. But by the time they found out where you were, everything was up in flames. 51 had arrived at the scene at the same time as Intelligence, and Ruzek and Atwater had had to hold Jay back as Casey and Stella had come in to get you out. You had minor burns and smoke inhilation, they told you, three broken ribs, a broken ankle, severe bruising and laserations, a deep gash on the back of your head, and of course, you’d been shot.

Will had filled you in the best he could after you’d finally woken up. The bullet hadn’t gone all the way through and you’d needed emergency surgery to save your life. You’d been in and out for a few days after that, when you were awake you were so hopped up on pain medication that you couldn’t tell if you were just dreaming.

But you were fully awake now, and very much aware of the ache in every body in your body, as your brother spoke. You didn’t say much back to him, or Jay, or anyone who came and went, you just felt numb.

You’d grown up knowing all the dangers in the city, in the world, but you’d always been pretty sheltered by your brothers, and to go through what you did... you felt vulnerable, bare, like your world view had been stripped off and you were left seeing the true horrors around you.

“Y/N,” Will said, touching your arm to get your attention. You jumped and he pulled back, face stricken with emotion as he looked at his little sister, God you must have looked as bad as you felt, you thought, turning to face him to show you were at least listening. “We’re going to keep you here a couple more days for observation and then discharge you in the morning okay?” You nodded, “you can go home then, or stay with me or Jay if that’s what you want,” another nod, your eye lids getting heavy again all of a sudden. Will noticed and stood to leave, kissing you on the top of the head. “I love you Y/N, I’m so sorry- it’s going to be okay, I promise, just rest for now.” You knew he meant it, you knew he believed it, but you weren’t sure you believed it too.

It’d been a few weeks since the incident, your arm was still in a sling but most of the damage was fading, the external damage anyway. You’d stayed with Jay for most of the first week out before you forced yourself to go home to your apartment, but you still slept with all the lights on. You didn’t know when you were going to stop feeling this powerless, but you’d recently been starting to think that the way to get some control of your own life again was to take charge of something that you could do. You didn’t want to go back to the library, you’d spent the past week shelving books the best you could with one hand, but it felt wrong, you wanted to do something more, something to help people, like you’d been helped when you needed it.

You were meeting your brothers at Molly’s, and you’d finally made up your mind on the way over, you knew what you were going to do to take charge of your life again.

“Hey, there she is!” Jay waved to you from where he sat at the bar and patted a seat next to him, “Will’s just chatting to Maggie he’ll be over in a minute, want a drink?” He was trying to sound normal but you could tell it was strained, he’d been beating himself up for weeks about what had happened to you, blaming himself even though there was nothing he could have done differently, nothing he’d done wrong.

“I’ll just have a water, thanks,” Stella nodded to you from across the bar and went to fetch one as you took your seat.

“You good?” Jay asked, giving you a careful once over.

“I’m good Jay,” you said softly, squeezing his hand as your drink arrived. He opened his mouth to say something else but you shook your head and said more confidently, “I am.”

You could tell he wanted to say more but at that moment Will came over and took a seat on the other side of you. “Hey, glad you made it, I was beginning to think you would show.” He patted your arm, the same concern in his eyes that Jay had.

“Why would I not? I am the one who asked to talk to you guys you know.” You smiled.

“Uh-huh we know, is everything alright?” Will asked.

“Yeah you said you had something to tell us,” Jay sat up straighter, and both men got very serious.

“Relax, I’m fine, it’s nothing bad,” you reassured them before continuing, “I know I haven’t really been seeming like myself lately, and I know you guys are worried, but I just needed you to know that you shouldn’t be. I’ve needed some space to think things over, make sense of what happened-” Jay cast his eyes down guiltily and you grabbed his hand again “-and I’ve come to a conclusion, I’ve made a decision about my life that I think will really help me move past this.”

“Oh?” Will said questioningly, “you’re not like, leaving Chicago are you?”

“No, nothing like that,” you said, “I’m quitting the library, not right away, but it’s time I do something else with my life, something more impactful, like you guys.” Jay and Will shared a worried look.

“Are you sure? After what happened, don’t you want to be somewhere safe?” Jay asked.

“I was somewhere safe when what happened happened Jay,” you told him, “and I can’t go back and pretend nothing happened, I want to move forward, make a difference,” your voice was confident and steady, “I’m not a kid anymore, this is my decision, I’ve given it a lot of thought and I know it’s the right one.”

“Okay,” Will conceded but Jay still shook his head.

“What did you have in mind?” He asked, “what, cop?”

“Doctor?” Will followed on.

“No,” you shook your head and smiled, “I’m gonna become a firefighter.”

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