#he would have button eyes methinks
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this is oh so niche but my favorite type of good omens fanart is when people will draw crowley's eyes all gorgeous and detailed and stuff and then they draw aziraphales eyes and he just looks like this
gotta be one of my favorite types of good omens art fr i eat that shit up
(ft my shitty mspaint mouse drawing)
#good omens#good omens fanart#aziraphale#crowley#i love aziraphale so bad you guys#you don't get it#ugh#she#goodomens#ineffable husbands#dunno what it is about the little black dots that I love so much#they're just so very *aziraphale*#like of course if you drew him he would have little dots for eyes#they're like buttons#he would have button eyes methinks#but not in a coraline way#just in like a yeah ok he has button eyes kinda way#but also in a coraline way
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From the prelude to smut prompts; methinks 7 + 9 + Oscar and reader?
heyy j hehe i was gonna make this fluffy drunk friends to lovers but this turned out kinda angsty sorry hun!!
7. âYou think we could like⊠Fuck these feelings out somehow?â + 9. âIf you fuck me the way you fuck me up emotionally, I think youâd do a pretty damn good job at it.â
warnings: 18+ minors do not interact! angst? makeup sex? idk what this is tbh i didnât proofread it
Her breath hitches in her throat when she enters his bedroom and finds him curled up in bed. âYouâre not supposed to be here.â Her voice sounds small in the large room, she feels small. He looks small, hidden in the swaddled duvet.
He grunts, âNeither are you.â She feels a pang of guilt course through her at the clear implication she was sneaking in to avoid him.
She winces, âI was getting my clothes. I thought you would be out of town this week.â
âI cancelled.â She doesnât ask why he didnât go on the ski trip Lando had invited them on. It was easier for him, probably, to say they werenât going than to say she wasnât going anymore and have to explain. Sheâs grateful she gets to look away from him when she turns to his dresser. She imagines him like this in the chalet and feels worse.
She hears him sit up as she opens her lone drawer. âAre you-â A sigh cuts his question off. Since he doesnât finish asking, she doesnât give any answers. She knows he wants to ask if sheâs just wanting her favorite pajamas or if sheâs cleaning it out for good. She canât say.
Heâs behind her before she can move away, and his arms trap her between him and his dresser. The pajamas she loves, the soft grey ones, are clutched in her palms. She stares beneath them, at the paired up socks and folded jeans and sweaters. Itâs the outfit she wore the last day he was here, so he did laundry. He expected her to come back and wear them another day.
She drops the pajamas in the drawer and nudges it shut with her knee, and he presses himself closer. She lets out a shaky breath as she tilts her head back against his chest and he matches it, sighing again as he leans into her and squeezes the dresser. She turns around and places her hands where her head just was and tilts her head up to him. âYou think we could like⊠Fuck these feelings out somehow?â Sheâs not sure what feelings she means; the hurt, the confusion, the love. All of the above.
His eyes scan over her features before he retorts, âIf you fuck me the way you fuck me up emotionally, I think youâd do a pretty damn good job at it.â
She lets out a laugh even though itâs not funny. She doesnât know what else to do when her throat tightens at his words and she feels worse about this. He saves her from responding by slamming his lips to hers and pressing her back against the dresser with his body. She whines as he bites her lower lip and the edge of the dresser digs into her lower back, and he steps back to give her room, his hands curling around her waist and pulling him against him so sheâs not pressed into it. His kisses always make her dizzy but this one holds so much emotion behind it that it hurts her heart. She pulls back to gasp for air and he drops his head down to her neck, biting and sucking a mark into her throat. She wants to tell him to stop, she curls her fingers into his hair to pull him back but he senses her move and sinks his teeth into her skin a little harder. It makes her knees weak and she presses closer to him as she gasps, and her complaint is forgotten.
His hands find the button of her jeans and she steps out of her sandals, kicking them to the side as he unzips her pants. He hooks his fingers into the waistband and tugs softly to pull them down her hips, a soft groan falling from his lips as he sees the white panties on her hips. âThose always were my favorite.â
She sighs, petting his hair as he crouches before her to pull her pants all the way off. âI know.â I wore them for you. rides on the tip of her tongue but it goes unsaid, like so many things.
She steps out of her jeans when he gets to her ankles and he tosses them aside before both hands grasp her right leg, and he lifts her leg so he can press his lips to her ankle. She rests her elbows on his dresser and watches as he trails kisses up her leg until he reaches the apex of her thigh and sets it down. He repeats the action on the left leg and her heart is hammering in her chest at the action. She wants to kick him away, to grab her pants and put her shoes on and leave because he deserves better, he deserves someone who loves him this much, as much as he loves her.
She ignores the voice in the back of her head as he finally kisses her through her panties, teasing and soft like always. His hands explore her body like itâs the first time ever, after he lifts one leg onto his shoulders both hands roam her body, squeezing her ass and thighs before sliding up to palm her through her bralette and when thatâs not enough, push it up over her tits so he can have his hands on her bare breasts. She has the urge to beg him to hurry as he nips at her clit through her panties but she resists. She wants to give him whatever he needs now, even if itâs him torturing her by lapping at her entrance through her panties. Her panties were already soaked, but his spit surely isnât helping matters.
She tugs on his hair and whines pitifully as his nose rubs her clit. She gives into the urge to rock her hips into his face and he squeezes her tits in response, moaning against her. âI love the way you taste.â He finally pulls away from her, mushing his wet lips against her inner thigh and muffling his words. She slumps against the dresser with a gasp, running her fingers through his hair. He grins up at her, with her head hung back and her top all messed, his hands squeezing her tits. For a moment, sheâs his again.
He tugs at her top and she gets the hint, wrangling it and the bralette off in one go. He loves the sight of her hair all messed up and is thankful she doesnât try to fix it, just drops her hands to his shoulders to tug on his hoodie. He takes it off and quickly pulls his t-shirt off before she can complain. He licks his lips as he looks over her body in front of him and then meets her eyes, and sighs. âCan I say I miss you?â
It hurts to know that he feels the need to ask for permission, like sheâs going to leave if he says it without asking first. She nods, âI miss you too. Iâm sorry.â She says Iâm sorry so he knows I miss you doesnât mean everything is okay.
He hooks his fingers into her panties and tugs them down her legs and immediately returns her right thigh to her shoulder. He looks up as his mouth meets her pussy and his tongue swipes through her folds, swirling around her clit. Her eyes flutter shut and she moans his name softly. Her hands return to his hair to tug him closer as she leans back into his dresser.
Oscar shows her how well he knows her body and makes her come alarmingly fast. She doesnât even know itâs happening like usual, she feels it in the pits of her stomach, almost there but not quiet. She knows sheâll come just from his mouth on her clit easily, but then he surprises her by pushing two fingers into her entrance and curling them, and she comes with a surprised shout. He scissors his fingers as he pulls them out and curls them as they push in and the slick sounds filling the room would be embarrassing if she werenât so turned on. He barely stops after her orgasm passes. he gives her a soft kiss to her thigh as he catches his breath for a moment and then his mouth rejoins his fingers and he brings her to another orgasm in what could be record time.
Her legs are shaky from her orgasms as he removes his mouth and fingers and puts her right leg on the ground. Then he catches her off guard and spins her around before sheâs got a good look at him, and sheâs blinking at the blank wall where she always told him to hang something, anything.
She whines as his fingers find her pussy again to spread her lips for the head of his cock press against her. He hesitates, âCondom?â She wishes he didnât ask because it truly is embarrassing how quickly she shakes her head and pushes back against him so the head slips inside, her mouth falling open in a silent moan. He doesnât ask twice, and wastes no time in pulling out as soon as he bottoms out, and then repeating it. Sheâs not expecting him to start fucking her without any time to adjust, her hands fly back but he captures them and braces them against his dresser. She wishes he kept his hands on hers because the sight makes her cunt throb, but they abandon her hands in favor of her hips. He holds her in place as he sets a brutal pace, his hip bones slapping against her ass with each thrust.
âYou should have bought a mirror for this wall like I told you.â She wishes she sounded more put together, but her voice comes out between moans and pants and her words are shaky.
Oscar laughs, nuzzling his face into her neck. âYou wanna watch yourself take my cock?â His voice is as even as ever and the confidence in his words make her clench around him, she feels herself, maybe even his leaking precum, dripping down her thigh and she clenches again.
She shakes her head, âI wanna watch you, I canât see you like this.â
âYouâre the better view baby.â One of his hands moves to her clit and he swirls around it, âPlus, I like having you like this.â His words go straight to her pussy and she flutters around him, teetering on the edge of another orgasm.
She gasps, âFeels good.â He murmurs his agreement into her hair and then presses a kiss to her shoulder.
âYou gonna come again? Already?â The teasing tone to his voice annoys her, as if itâs not his doing that sheâs about to come for a third time.â
âWhatâs that supposed to mean?â
He huffs, âJust that, youâre⊠I donât wanna say easy,â She blushes with embarrassment and wishes she could deny it but she huffs, âI havenât touched myself.â He suddenly freezes, finger on her clit, cock inside of her, pressed against her. âReally?â He sounds genuinely surprised, and thereâs something else in his voice that she canât place. Her orgasm immediately fades away and she squeezes her eyes shut as she squeezes his cock pathetically.
She presses herself against him and moans as his cock reaches deeper inside her and his finger brushes her clit again, âWhyâd you stop?â
He press her closer and inhales deeply before he asks, âWhy?â It comes out as he exhales and it tickles her neck, sending shivers down her spine.
âI tried, I thought about you and I stopped.â He groans and she feels him twitch inside of her, his hand leaves her clit and finds her wrist and drags it between her legs.
He covers her hand with his and murmurs, âTouch yourself for me, Iâll keep fucking you but if you stop, I stop.â
She rolls her eyes and begins swirling her middle finger around her clit, her finger rubbing against his hand above hers. He begins fucking her again, at the same pace as before and she peels her other hand back to curl into Oscarâs hair as he mouths at her neck. Sheâs close again all too soon, her thighs shaking as she traces a pattern against her clit, one she knows from habit but canât place at the moment. She feels Oscarâs lips sink into her neck and she moans his name softly, tugging his hair as his cock brushes that spongy spot deep within her walls. Her back arches as the knot in her stomach tightens. Oscarâs breath is hot on her neck as he teases, âI love the way you say my name.â
The sudden realization of the pattern hits her and she feels herself tumble over the edge as she swirls the s of his name on her clit. He starts to say something again? but his words are immediately interrupted by a moan as his orgasm hits, triggered unexpectedly by the feeling of her gushing around him. He presses her into the dresser as he moans her name, his hips stuttering against hers as he spills inside of her.
Neither of them move for a minute as they catch their breath and recover from their orgasms, but Oscar is the first to do so. He carefully pulls himself out of her and rushes to the bathroom to grab a wash cloth. Sheâs bent over the dresser with her cheek pressed against it when he returns and he feels his stomach ache with the idea that sheâs about to leave him again. Heâs careful when he wipes up her legs and between her thighs, and tugs open her drawer to fetch a pair of panties. She thanks him as he pulls them up her legs and out of pure habit he fetches his shirt and helps her into it, pulling her back against his chest and kissing the crown of her head as she raises her hands.
She wants to leave, planned on it until he put panties and his shirt on her and kissed her head. Before he came in her. She pulls the top drawer open and retrieves a pair of boxers before she turns and pulls him down for a kiss. Itâs soft and selfish, and then she sinks to her knees and gestures for him to step into the boxers like heâd helped her into his panties. He rolls his eyes at her but concedes and she giggles as she pulls them up and tucks his cock into his boxers. He holds out a hand to help her stand and she lets him, then guides him to bed. She sees the state of the tousled top sheet and duvet and shakes his hand off and begins sorting out the mess.
He sighs behind her, âDonât bother, Iâm just gonna mess it up.â There's a playful lilt to his voice but the words make her sad, thinking about him in his cocoon when she arrived.
She ignores him and straightens out both of them before she crawls underneath and settles in the center of his bed before holding her arms out to him, âCuddle?" He tosses back the covers and crawls over to her before he drops onto her chest and tugging the covers back into place. She has to wiggle her right arm free to drape it over his back, fingers skimming across his shoulders.
Itâs soothing for her, and she assumes him by the way he shifts himself closer and tugs the blanket tighter before mumbling, âThank you.â She hums in response and he tilts his head up, âFor not leaving, I mean.â She hums again, unsure of what to say. He doesnât say anything else, so she waits until he falls asleep to ensure heâs not going to drop any other heartbreaking sentiments before she lets herself fall asleep.
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GOLDEN KAMUY x MARIO KART 8 DELUXE
a silly little post about what racer they'd choose if they played mario kart 8 deluxe (+ some headcanons)
SUGIMOTO
he'd 100% choose baby luigi . he thinks luigi is MUCH cooler than mario and he chose him as a baby because he thinks he'll go faster if tiny. he also always chooses the jet bike as the vehicle (what can i say it just looks like it goes very fast)
SHIRAISHI
HE WOULD ABSOLUTELY CHOOSE ROY . i mean look at his sunglasses he's clearly the coolest. shiraishi always gets the WORST items and when he finally gets a mushroom he ends up crashing against a wall or falling off the map
ASIRPA
king boo . she LOVES choosing king boo and screaming BOOOOOO SUGIMOTO IM GONNA EAT YOU when she's behind him (she really does it with everyone but sugimoto is the one who gets scared the most because he genuinely thinks king boo can eat other racers). she just loves feeling like a menace and hitting other racers all the time
OGATA
WHAT CAN I SAY they have the same black void eyes and i think ogata relates to him in a very deep way. ogata SUCKS at drifting but he throws bananas, bombs and green shells like a pro (doesn't matter if the other racer is behind or ahead of him)
TANIGAKI
tanooki mario because inkarmat told him tanooki mario reminds her of him. he always ends up being the last one because he absolutely SUCKS at mario kart
INKARMAT
100000% CAT PEACH . she's matching with tanigaki. she always drives extremely well and therefore ends up being one of the last ones with tanigaki (but theyre in the bottom 3 together)
KOITO
BABY PEACH . he thinks peach is an absolute GIRLBOSS and like sugimoto he thinks she'll go faster as a baby. he can NEVER win against ogata because ogata somehow always has shells or bananas or bombs and throws most of them at koito no matter if he's behind or ahead of ogata
TSUKISHIMA
toad . he didn't really know who to choose but koito INSISTED toad reminded him of toad and he thought choosing toad would be better than choosing the random option. he does NOT know what he's doing and tries to avoid the item boxes because he thinks they're obstacles for some reason. he sometimes ends up going THE OPPOSITE way but still manages to be in 11th place (just because tanigaki is worse)
TSURUMI
this man has his own mii (i made a mii just for him btw) . hes the kinda guy that has studied every object in the game and know how they all work and how to use them to win ... not a menace because hes a violent racer but because he just knows how to play
USHIYAMA
HE'S DEFINITELY DAISY . my man ushiyama chooses the prettiest girl and THAT'S DAISY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i think he's a pretty average mario kart player but sometimes he stops the vehicle because he accidentally pushes the backwards button (his fingers are too big, he thinks someone threw him a mysterious item that somehow stops the vehicle and he doesn't even notice he's the one doing it)
HIJIKATA
he thinks THE GAME gave him the character and he can't change it (he seriously believes he's stuck with mario but no one tells him because they all think he chose mario himself). despite that he's surprisingly good, not because he's a good racer but because he always gets triple red shells and annoys everyone with them
NIKAIDOU
his brother played wario (he will bite ANYONE who tries to pick wario) . he screams WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH in every jump or gliding part. he goes feral when he gets a superstar and starts hitting all the people he can
KIRORANKE
YOSHI !!!!!!!!!!! ironically he SUCKS at throwing bombs and ends up hitting himself with them (he HATES when they're playing battle mode and it's Bob-omb Blast time). he's VERY bad at first but gets better after playing a few times if you ignore him hitting himself with his own items
WILK
DRY BONES . hes a silly guy and picks the silliest guy !!!! a pretty average player methinks ... definitely laughs at every single person that gets hit with a shell but gets mad when hes the one that gets hit
#will probably make a part 2 ... eventually ...#golden kamuy#gk#golden kamuy headcanons#gk hcs#saichi sugimoto#immortal sugimoto#gk sugimoto#sugimoto saichi#gk shiraishi#yoshitake shiraishi#shiraishi yoshitake#ogata gk#gk ogata#hyakunosuke ogata#ogata hyakunosuke#gk tanigaki#genjirou tanigaki#tanigaki genjirou#koito otonoshin#gk koito#otonoshin koito#gk tsukishima#hajime tsukishima#tsukishima hajime#kiroranke#wilk#gk kiroranke#gk wilk#sid.txt
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The Morning After: Leona
I wanted to write Leona purring into this so bad but my logical mind wouldnât let me since lions canât purr but now I think abt it do kemonomimi boys really need to follow the rules of real world animal anatomy???Â
cw: fem!reader, no use of Y/N or gendered pronouns, readers birth assigned gender isnât specified, nothing explicit but implied/referenced nsfw, fluffy wuffy gwumpy Leona, hinted Ruggie x Leona x reader but itâs ignorable methinks, ear scratches and soft kisses, not proof-readÂ
Leona always looked so peaceful when he was asleep, features relaxed instead of taunt in a scowl or pulled into a smug smirk like usual.Â
 You sat at the edge of his bed, eyes fixated on the pile on the floor where he had thrown your clothes after tearing them off the night before yet not moving to pick them up. Your mind was elsewhere, thinking of how you would explain your being in savanaclaw first thing in the morning if anyone was to find you while making your way back to ramshackle. You brought your knee up to your chest humming thoughtfully.Â
 Bumping into Jack was a possibility to consider, he was most likely getting ready for his morning jog now if he hadnât already started. Lying to him about what you were there for would not be an option, even not being a beastman yourself you knew that he would be able to smell Leona all over you from a mile away. It was best to mentally prepare yourself should that encounter be made.
 Ruggie already knew about what you and Leona had going on and you knew about what he and Leona had going on so you didnât need to worry about judgment from him. Your spur of the moment ânap timesâ and midnight visits occasionally involved him too when he wasnât busy working at the lounge after class or running errands for Leona that you had safely assumed he gave him just to have you to himself for a while.Though you usually arrived and left the same night so bumping into the hyena with mussed hair and a slight but noticeable limp would definitely earn a lighthearted giggle and teasing nudge from him.Â
âWhatâre you thinking so hard aboutâ his words came out as an annoyed huff. You turned to look at him, his arm was lazily thrown over his face. âGetting back home in time to get ready for class, why?â His ears twitched at that â oh? âHomeâ really? I'm sure the one other member of that raggedy dormâll be fine without you for one dayâ He didnât answer your question. âYou know how he gets. If Iâm not there when he gets up heâs gonna be suspicious and heâs more irritating than usually when suspicious.â you didnât mind Grim all that much, but maybe that reasoning would be sound enough to convince Leona to go back to sleep without you. He just grumbled in response.Â
 You sighed and hopped off the bed to get to picking up your clothes. Placing them on the bed you took in the state of them. Your panties and stockings were ripped beyond use and your top was missing buttons but at least your jacket and skirt were intact. Thoughtfully choosing your words you spoke up with a patronizingly thick layer of sweetness. âIâll stop by the garden before lunch and spend time with you then ok? I donât want you being all grumpy wumpy.âÂ
âJust stay now. Weâll only miss the first two bells, Iâll let ya go thenâ he grumbled âCanât. I have a quiz second period.â you answered quickly, back to your usual tone. âThen weâll only miss the first bellâ you rolled your eyes even though he couldnât see âI promised Grim I would make him pancakes for breakfast today, and like I said I'm not in the mood to deal with his whining todayâ another grumble âwho cares, the furball can just make âem himself now can you come back over hereâ
Leona moved his forearm from laying over his face to look at you. Eyes looking more disinterested than usual, he stretched with an obnoxious yawn before reaching out to pat the space on the bed in front of you. âYou are so spoiled, you know that? Wanting me alllll to yourself even after last nightâ you teased crawling towards him only to stop just to lean over him. You leaned down to peck him on the corner of his mouth before moving to give him an ever lighter kiss on the lips. He didnât react in any noticeable way. You closed your eyes and pulled your lips into a line before giving in. â Fine, I'll stay.â He let out a pleased hum at this and pulled his arms up to wrap around you comfortably. âGood.â he hummed, pulling you in for another kiss. You leaned into him and moved your hands up to gently scratch your nails behind his ears. Pulling away for air and rolling the soft texture of his ears between your fingers you gazed into each other's eyes for a while, content. The second you lay back against his chest ready to fall back into sleep you jump at the sound of a knock at the doorÂ
âLeona-san~ Iâm off for class. Iâll bring you both back some breakfast in a sec kay?âÂ
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Locklyle
Snippit from a Locklyle fic that I've been writing on and off for a while. Fanfic of the Lockwood & Co. series which is tragically less popular than it should be. Comfort characters babes. Comfort characters. This is about 1,400 words out of the 5,200 I currently have written so lmk if you'd want more of it! (Also, thanks to the folks who have started interacting with this page <3 )
âWhoâs her date?â
âA bloke named James McGladdery. The charming and wildly handsome type. He was a pretty talented listener at Fittes before he got shuffled off to DEPRAC. A perfect match for our Lucy, methinks.â George replied, smugly looking over his biscuit.
âAnd good with his rapier,â Kipps said, coming through the door, arms laden with bags. Lockwood scoffed in disgust, but a nasty turn in his stomach complimented the unease that had snaked its way through his chest. âI fear you may be out of the game now, Tony,â Kipps said with a pat on his shoulder, âYou had a shot for a while there, though.â
âWhat do you mean, âout of the gameâ? What game? Lucy can do whatever she wants.â Lockwood replied, he cringed internally at how defensive he sounded. He knew exactly what Kipps meant, unfortunately.
âAnd she wanted to go out with James Whatâs-His-Face.â
âSo?â Lockwood replied, preparing his tea in case he was going to want to avoid his coworkers for the rest of the evening.
âFuckâs sake, Lockwood. Do you like her or not?â Both the directness of the question and the heat in Georgeâs voice brought his anxiety to a head. Holly held up her hand, calling for peace, âLockwood, you donât have to answer that. What the boys are getting at is that we canât keep letting you go back and forth with your feelings for Lucy,â Lockwood, though physically towering over Holly, felt quite small under her pointed gaze, âSheâs our friend and youâre not going to lead her on. If you donât like her, stop acting like you might. Okay?â Her smile and even her tone were still the Munro Special, but her eyes indicated otherwise.
Lockwood was brooding the rest of the evening. He couldnât get the image of Lucy out of his head as he took violent swipes at Floating Joe. Did he have a crush on his employee? It wasnât even really a question anymore, he hadnât seen Lucy as just an employee since he hired her, and she had begun to cross over from his best friend to something more he didnât know how long ago. Memories of her broad smiles and dark hair filled his mind â they had been through so much together that heâd seen every expression, rapier trick, and plasma-stained outfit that she had. Except for that dress, I certainly hadnât seen that one. She had looked beyond phenomenal, and it was for someone else. He lopped a nasty gash into Joeâs side and tore a hand through his hair in frustration. As Lockwood put away his gear and fixed up the dummy he thought back to his friendsâ advice. With shame he realized that he was sort of leading Lucy on â he gave her a necklace that represented undying devotion, took her on a spin around the block and that was it. They had hardly been alone with each other in the past months unless publicity events counted, and he doubted they did. And now she was wining and dining with some adonis who would surely steal her heart. Has she ever smiled for me the way she was smiling when he knocked? Like a train full of hot coals ramming through him, Lockwood realized that he couldnât ever be satisfied with his Lucy just being a dear friend to whom he occasionally gifted the private parts of himself. Kipps told you though, itâs too late.
He stepped upstairs and into the living room, sweat lining his brow, to see Holly dozing in her arm-chair. âHolly, I didnât expect you to still be here. Everything alright?â She blinked sleepily a few times before she responded, âOh, yeah, Iâm just making sure Luce gets home okay. She might need my help with her dress buttons.â Lockwood frowned at himself, he hadnât even thought to wait up for her. âIâm going to freshen up then take over for you. Youâre dead on your feet and weâve got a case tomorrow. Unless Kipps is also still here and has taken the spare room, itâs at your full disposal.â Holly nodded as he passed her and went up to his shower.
In all honesty, this was one of the rare nights when Lockwood could have retired early himself, but anxiety and frustration were keeping his eyes open. The gossip magazine, open in his hands, was going sorely unread as he pictured a strange man with his hands on Lucyâs hips, buying her drinks and making her laugh. Then it was Lockwood in the strangerâs position. His hands on her. Him making her laugh. Him kissing her at the doorstep before they stumble into the kitchen andâ fucking hell, get a hold of yourself. But, the thought had been thought and though shame burned in the back of his mind, it wasnât enough to smoke out the new images of him and Lucy.
His attention returned to the present at the sound of voices at the front step. A male said something and then there was Lucyâs laugh, âBye, Jamie, thank you!â She took a few clumsy steps through the doorway and her beaming smile was enough to both elate and crush him. âOh, hi, Lockwood! Didnât expect to see you up,â she said with a small giggle.
âHolly wanted to make sure you got home alright,â after a few moments watching her struggle with her shoes he realized she wasnât close to sober, âHave a good date?â There was perhaps too much ice on the last word.
Her smile still hadnât faded, âYes! Although it wasnât a date, which I thought except Holly told me it was,â she rambled slightly, âJamie said his boyfriend would have a fright if he found out he was cheating on him, with a girl no less! It was so great and heâs so much fun to talkââ
âWait, James is gay?â
âYeah, apparently!â Oh. Lucy continued to animatedly recount her night, but Lockwood felt like the carpet had been snatched out from under him and could hardly pay attention. Perhaps he hadnât lost his chance with her.
âLockwood,â his attention snapped to the girl in front of him â was she this close before? â âIs Holly still here?â
He was struck dumb by her all of a sudden, âShe turned in about an hour ago.â In the moments she didnât reply, he drank in the sight of her â she normally guarded her emotions a bit more, he wasnât used to seeing her so exuberant. âWouldâ would you be able to help me with my dress?â
Perhaps it was the unwholesome thoughts he was having before she came in or maybe it was her earnestness, but Lockwood felt heat flush the back of his neck, âWhat?â
âWell, Holly did up the buttons in the back for me and I donât want to wake her, but I donât think I can get them myself.â
âOhâ oh, okay, sure,â he stuttered and raised himself from his chair. She cast him a toothy smile that was so quintessentially Lucy and his anxieties were smoothed â this was his best friend, not a creature he had to worry about slipping up in front of. The back of the dress, which he hadnât seen before, was tantalizingly open, crossed with straps that were held together at her spine by a few buttons. He was immensely thankful that no one was witness to his shaking hands as his knuckles and finger tips brushed her bare skin. Undoing a beautiful girlâs dress, best friend or not, was far more intimidating than any raw-bones or poltergeist he had fought. Oh God, Iâm taking Lucyâs dress off. Oh shit. His thoughts were reduced from sensical to a droning wail as she shivered and tilted her profile towards him, gifting another broad smile, âI donât know if I already thanked you for this, but you really donât know how hard those would have been for me to get myself!â
For a brief moment as she turned back around, he was ensnared by the vision of her, dim light reflecting off of a glitter on her eyelids and the gloss on her lips, her hands holding the top of her dress up. His face felt far warmer than usual. Has she always had such small hands? âAnyways, I should head up if Iâm going to be worth anything against that banshee tomorrow.â She left him standing dumbly on the worn down carpet. I need to go to bed.
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Destiel prompt from Twitter;Â kissing each other to prove thereâs nothing there, even though, itâs a lie, and the kiss proves it (from this prompt list)
âIâm just saying that I donât think youâd get this defensive if there really wasnât anything between you two -â
âThere isnât, and Iâm not getting defensive!â Dean argues, decidedly defensively.
âMethinks the lady doth protest too much,â Sam offers with a shrug and a smirk.
Staring down into the open grave the boys are in, Castiel glances between the brothers and tilts his head, wondering if perhaps by a different angle, he may better understand what their expressions mean.
âWeâre bonded or whatever - thatâs it, man! Thereâs nothing else going on!â
âIâm not even saying there is anything âgoing on,â Iâm just saying there could be, and if that were something you wanted -â
âIâm not qu -â
âI know, I get it, I hear you, humor me for a second, okay? All Iâm saying is just - if there were something between you two, and you wanted there to be something âgoing on,â where there is currently nothing âgoing on,â I just think you should, hypothetically go for something rather than settling for the nothing, because, personally, I think there is something there, and you could have a great thing going if that were what you wanted.â
âEven if - which I donât - Iâm not - listen, though, okay? Iâm not, and I donât want that - not that thereâs anything wrong with it, or something, just - even if that were the case, Cas isnât like that. Heâs not a being that experiences shit like that -â
âIâm telling you youâre wrong, Dean! The way he stares at you -â
âHe stares at everyone!â
âDo I?â
The Winchesters jump in unison, both with hands on their guns faster than should be possible. They both visibly relax again, though, when they realize itâs only Castiel interrupting.
âOh, hey, Cas,â Dean greets, his voice markedly more gentle than it was with Sam only a moment before.
Castiel appreciates it.
âHello, Dean.â
With a cheeky grin, Sam clears his throat, and says to Cas, âyour timing couldnât be better, actually, Cas - Dean and I have some questions -â
âNo, no, we do not have questions,â Dean growls at Sam, eyes blazing dangerously.
âI am always available to you boys for whatever inquiries I can assist in. Is this pertaining to my staring? Itâs academic in nature, I assure you - frankly, I am used to having a form that hosts many more eyes; being in this Earthly form can present obstacles, as my perceptions are more limited than I can remember them ever being. I promise I do not mean to insult anyone.â
âOh, I donât think anyoneâs thinking of it as an insult,â Sam intones; Dean shoves his elbow into Samâs kidney to shut him up.
âThis is you being defensive, by the way,â Sam wheezes, doubled over, but still smirking at Dean, âWhatâs the big deal if thereâs nothing going on?â
Flushed, Dean scowls at Sam, drops his shovel, and tells him, âIâm not being defensive! Thereâs nothing to be defensive about! And Iâll prove it!â
Clambering out of the grave, Dean brushes the soil from his hands onto his dirtier jeans, and stomps more than walks up to Castiel.
âYouâve a cut,â Cas murmurs worriedly, spotting a knick Dean got on his cheek earlier in the day.
âItâs nothing. Listen, Cas -â
Before Dean can get anymore out, Castiel reaches for his left-side cheek, cups that side of his face, and spreads a cooling sensation that knits the skin back together neatly and cleanly.
âUh - thanks, Cas,â Dean mutters gruffly as Cas takes his hand back.
âMy pleasure, Dean.â
Uncharacteristically nervous, Dean glances down at the ground, his hands shoved in his jean pockets, then his eyes skim the ground until they happen upon Samâs again, and whatever silent exchange they have works Dean up again.
âCas,â Dean begins, looking into his eyes with determination, âWeâre friends, you ân me, right?â
âYes, Dean. You are my most cherished friend,â Castiel answers.
That gives Dean a momentâs pause where he seems to be searching Castielâs face for some sign of sarcasm or deceit; there is none to be detected, of course.
âI - thanks, man. Uhm. Now - this is gonna sound like a weird question, but bear with me, âcause Iâm not about to assume consent or something.â
âOkay,â Castiel says in confusion, tilting his head again.
âIâm tryinâa prove a point here to Sam, and to get it across - just - would you be okay with me kissing you? Like, just this once - I promise I wonât make it weird or anything, but I gotta ask, you know? I know youâre not into physical stuff like -â
âYouâd like my permission to kiss?â Castiel intercepts neutrally, âLike people do?â
Something about that is funny - or startling? - to both Sam and Dean, and Castiel canât tell which or for what reasons.
âYeah. Just this one time,â Dean repeats.
Though he takes a respectable count of four seconds to seem as though he needs to consider his options, Castiel nods, and replies, âof course, Dean. Of all the favors youâve asked of me before, I assure this is certainly the most convenient and pleasant of them.â
Sam snorts a laugh, Dean tosses a glare at him, and then settles gentle, if a little nervous, eyes back on Castiel.
âOkayâŠâ
Dean steps closer into Casâ space, bringing them toe-to-toe and he finds himself staring down; heâd not realized Cas was shorter than him. Itâs not by much, not really enough to be remarked upon, even, but it means that Cas winds up looking up at him from under the cover of long, dark lashes, and even in the dark of the night, his eyes shine like twinkling gems.
Swallowing with some difficulty, Dean holds loosely onto the lapels of Casâ trench coat, and he means to go in chaste, he really does, itâs just that heâs actually struggling to breathe a little, so his lips are just barely parted, and Cas - as far as Dean can tell, Cas takes that as a cue.
Because Casâ full lips press in, but so does his tongue; before Dean can even secure his footing, Cas makes his loose hold on the lapels go tight, licking up into Deanâs mouth without hesitation or mercy.
Praying his shocked gasp wasnât audible to Sam, Dean just tries to hold on while Cas turns his head, bites Deanâs heavy bottom lip, and then pushes Deanâs mouth more open with his own, and then he drags his hot tongue against Deanâs, coming in broad, and soft.
Dean hears himself make some kind of noise - he canât tell what it is, because thereâs too much blood rushing in his skull - thereâs stubble. Stubble. There is stubble in this equation other than his own, and thatâs new, and terrifying, and should be wholly unwelcome, but every synapse in his brain dedicated to pleasure is telling him otherwise.
One wide hand insinuates itself under the hem of Deanâs weathered flannel, calloused fingers pressing into his left hip possessively while the other hand glides over his pec, and shoulder to the back of his neck, pinky finger teasing the sensitive skin just under the back of his cotton collar, and thumb brushing the fine hairs at the base of Deanâs skull.
Dean thinks he may be swaying - heâs dizzy.
Cas is dragging him closer, pressing their hips and abdomens together, and Deanâs hands have somehow found better purchase on the front of Casâ button-down dress shirt than his lapels.
Dean thinks he hears one of the buttons pop off with the strain of his hold, but neither of them seem inclined to do anything about it, so he figures it doesnât matter; he tries to establish himself as a bit more dominant, thrown off his usual groove by the absolutely sinful way Cas apparently kisses.
To Deanâs simultaneous horror and delight, Cas doesnât relinquish any control; he wonât be moved, his hands get tighter and hotter where they touch Deanâs skin, he only presses them harder together, and he kisses Dean like he wants to eat him alive.
He kisses Dean like he wants to crawl inside him, like heâs hungry - starved - like kissing is an act of carnage just as much as an act of love, like those things arenât mutually exclusive.
Heâd rather die than admit it to anyone, but Deanâs knees get a little weak, and Cas basically holds up his entire weight by just the grip heâs got on Deanâs waist.
Before he knows itâs happened, Deanâs hard enough to carve stone, and Cas readjusts how theyâre slotted against one another to better accommodate Deanâs failing balance, and Cas feels it - he must. Even if he doesnât feel how hard Dean is against him right away, the guttural moan Dean will deny having made til his dying breath clues him in.
What sounds like hundreds of cherry bombs going off has them stumbling away from each other, and frantically looking about.
The streetlights have exploded. Thereâs glass everywhere, and based on the echoes of car alarms and distant voices, itâs becoming more and more possible that Cas destroyed the windows and lights of several cars and nearby homes.
Even he and Samâs flashlights are busted.
In the blanket of darkness thatâs settled over the graveyard, Dean can still see clearly, because Casâ eyes are high beams cutting through the fog of the night.
Theyâre both panting, Deanâs pretty certain that a resting heart rate isnât meant to feel like this, and Cas is looking positively feral.
âJesus fuck!â Sam curses, his arms crossed over his head where he still plucks a shard of glass from his hair.
Reminded of Samâs presence, Castielâs head swivels to him, the glow of his eyes dims down, and then he looks back at Dean, visibly frightened.
Dean takes no pleasure in Cas ever being scared, so he reaches out, takes a step back into Casâ space, but that spooks him more, and in less than a blink of an eye, heâs gone.
Not cool, Cas, Dean thinks loudly, hoping it counts as a prayer that Cas will hear.
Reaching into the front of his jeans, Dean uses the near blackness of the power outage to his advantage, and readjusts himself to the best of his abilities.
It really doesnât do much.
âWell,â Sam starts pointedly.
Dean, weak at the knees, lips criminally swollen, face flushed, hair mussed and harder than heâs ever been in his life, turns slowly to scowl at Sam.
âThat was not nothing.â
Dean doesnât see a way of winning the argument, so he kicks dirt into Samâs hair, and leaves him to finish burying.
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Hello! I had a wet dream last night with Yunho where he was my soulmate. Our bond was mind reading and I was so horny, the only thing I could think about was Yunho's cock lmao. We were out but he could hear all the dirty thoughts I had so he brought me home and became a hot hard dom.
Could I request something similar if this is okay to you?
(By the way I think I had this dream thanks to you because I fell asleep while reading you blog lol đ)
AAAHHH LMAO I LOVE THAT FOR YOU - also lowkey flattered - also Yunho has been fucking me UP so hard lately I need this as much as you do methinks.
Also Happy Birthday Yunho đ„°
-
0003: Yunho was your soulmate. Youâd discovered this after your first date when you realized you could understand what he was thinking the entire time before he said it.
You see everyone has a soulmate - whether they like it or not - and, when connected, the pair will discover a power they have together. For some couples it was flight or invisibility; for some it was even teleportation.
So mind reading seemed pretty tame compared to other powers; however it did make for easier communication with each other.
But with mind reading, there was one downside, and that downside was discovered during a dinner in a beautiful restaurant when you couldnât keep your eyes - or your hands - off Yunho.
You couldnât help where your thoughts wandered to, seeing him in a black button down and tight slacks was a recipe for disaster. Especially the thought of getting home and watching him take his belt off with his large hands and then pinning you to the wall and-
Right. He could read those thoughts. Redirect.
Yunho tried not to read your thoughts much, he didnât wanna invade on your privacy, so when he could sense your thoughts he would usually try and cover them up with his own.
However, your thoughts were headed straight for the bin with him looking like that and after a while of you not hearing questions and clenching your thighs together, he decided he was left with no other choice.
A blush creeped up to his face when he realized what was on your mind, clearing his throat and adjusting his pants as he called the waiter for the bill.
You looked at him with an unknowing pout, but he just gave you glazed over, dark eyes, âyouâre in for it when we get home kittenâ
-
As soon as the door shut, Yunho had you pressed against it, arms on either side of your head as he smirked âlook at you kitten, youâre already a mess and I didnât do anything but take you on a nice date; are you that easy?â
You blush and pant at his words, shaking your head even though you knew it was true. Yunho smacked your ass, âlies, kitten, all liesâ
Your eyes raked up and down his body, taking in his broadness, especially in a black button down - even better now that he had half of the buttons undone - and how he hovered above you, all the way down to his black slacks, far tighter now than they were before - and his thighs.
Yunho smirked when he noticed your eyes fixed on his thighs, using one leg to spread yours apart and pressing his thigh to your core âgrind on it baby, make yourself feel good, let me watch you.â
His voice is low and demanding and filled with lust and you couldnât possibly disobey those orders, so you start moving your hips, clit dragging against his thigh muscles as you move.
Heat crawls to your cheeks when your own thigh presses against his cock, straining impatiently against his slacks, but you continue your movements, slowly growing faster and more desperate as you moan his name.
âDonât cum yet pretty girlâ he growls, but youâre long gone, body tensing as you cum against his thigh, whimpering for him. Yunhoâs eyes darken, but he grips your hips and helps you ride it out before pulling back.
âOh baby, did you need it that bad?â He asks, brushing your hair from your face before cocking your chin in his hands âlook at me when Iâm speaking to you.â
You gasp but look at him and nod and he smirks again âwhy didnât you tell me baby girl? Couldnât use your words?â
Two of his fingers come down and rub against your slit, gathering your previous wetness and smirking.
âWhy didnât you just read my mind, weâre soulmates for a reason arenât we?â You bite back, hoping to unleash the dom inside of him.
He pauses and his eyes flicker up to you, chuckling low with his tongue in his cheek. He says nothing as he picks you up and takes you to the bedroom, pressing you against the bed and hovering close over you, âsay it again, kitten, I fucking dare you.â
His fingers come back down to your clit, rubbing again âthink you can cum again for me?â
His tone is deep and dominant, but you can hear the request for permission behind it and you nod. The nod was insufficient for him it seems as his movements halt, âuse your words this time kittenâ
âYes, I can cum again, I want you inside me,â you whimper, hips thrusting up into the air.
âWell how could I say no to such a good girlâ he says, letting your eyes wander as he strips, large fingers working easily on his belt and slacks before ripping off his shirt and boxers, cock standing long and hard between his legs.
His hand comes down to stroke himself, relieving a bit of pressure while also torturing you. Another hand goes into the side drawer and grabs a condom, rolling it onto himself.
âReady baby girl?â He asks, waiting for you to nod before he sinks into you, biting his lip and cursing as he hisses.
âFuck you feel so good,â he growls, waisting no time to start thrusting his hips inside you, hands gripping your waist again.
His cock stretches you perfectly and your jaw drops, a blush on your face when you hear the wet sounds from his movements, âplease.â
The sound is nothing more than a pathetic beg, but it makes Yunhoâs hips speed up against yours âlook at you kitten, a mess beneath me, is this what you wanted? Is this what you were fantasizing about in the restaurant? My cock inside you, fucking you into the bed?â
His words are demanding and you canât do anything but let out more whines and moans of his name while you nod, eyes falling shut as you get close.
âLook me in the eyes when you cum,â he demands, fingers back on your chin and forcing you to look at him.
Your jaw goes slack and you nod, keeping eye contact as his fingers come back down to your clit and rub it, ïżœïżœïżœcome on baby, thatâs a good girl, cum all over my cock.â
Your hips buck up and your eyes canât help but close this time as you cum hard around him, moaning loudly. Watching you cum sets him off as he gasps, falling to his elbows above you as his hips ride out his high, filling the condom.
You both come down slowly and Yunho looks at you and smiles, kissing you gently âwas that what you needed baby?â
His voice is soft but teasing as he pulls out and discards the condom, laying next to you and pulling you in close to him, kissing your forehead.
âYeahâ you whispers and smile, âsorry if I ruined our dinner.â
Yunho shakes his head and kisses you once more ânot at all my love, in fact this was probably the best way to end off the night.â
You both giggle and he rubs your back and plays with your hair, keeping you close to him as you both fall asleep.
#k speaks#ateez#ateez smut#ateez yunho#jeong yunho smut#jeong yunho#ateez jeong yunho#yunho smut#ateez yunho smut#ateez imagines#ateez oneshot
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What A Flashy Romance PT. 1
Batsis x Wally West (Flash) Story
A/N: This title will still be the best title Iâve ever created, and thereâs no ifâs, andâs, or butâs, about it. Enjoy! -Thorne <3
She watched the two of them joke around before she scoffed and walked over to her father. âDoes he have to be here?â Bruce didnât look at her as he typed away on the Batcomputer.
      âHe came over to see Dick, (Y/N). Stop acting like a kid and act like a grown-up.â She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, glaring at him.
      âIâm not acting like a kid, dad. Iâm acting like an adult who really dislikes her older brotherâs best friend.â
      âWhy do you two even dislike each other? Did you two just not get along well?â
      âHave you met Wally? Heâs practically Dick 2.0, just more annoying.â Bruceâs response was cut off by Wally.
      âSticks and stones, Your Highness.â (Y/N) turned, directing her glare at him.
      âOh, go shove it speedster.â A smirk worked its way on his face, and he leaned forward.
      âI think youâre just jealous of my speed.â (Y/N) barked a sarcastic laugh and placed her hands on her hips.
      âHardly.â
      âThe lady doth protest too much methinks.â
      âAt least my brain cells move faster than yours.â
      âAnd whose to say they donât?â
      âHmm, probably the person with more degrees than you could ever earn in your entire life.â
      âAt least I earned my degrees without my parentâs money.â The cave went silent at his comeback, and (Y/N) felt as though sheâd been slapped in the face; she stepped forward, her tone threatening.
      âExcuse me? What did you just say to me?â Wally crossed his arms and nodded at her.
      âYou heard me. You act all spoiled and entitled, and itâs solely because of your dadâs money.â She blinked and he continued. âPerhaps if you gained some humility and thought about people who were less fortunate than you, youâd be better off. But the truth is, you just act like a spoiled little brat who stamps her feet when she doesnât get what she wants.â (Y/N) felt the air disappear from her lungs and all she could do was blink. Dick nudged Wally, who in turn looked at him and nodded; the two of them took off out of the cave, leaving (Y/N) with the rest of the family. Each of them watched as (Y/N) walked numbly to her bike, climbing on it; Bruce walked over and rested a hand on her shoulder.
      âDonât take it to heart (Y/N).â She shook his hand off her shoulder and adjusted her cowl.
      âIâm going to sleep at the apartment in the East Side tonight.â She looked at him. âI really donât feel like seeing him again.â Bruce nodded and watched her leave before pressing a button on his cowl.
      âYou were out of line tonight Wally. Donât let it happen again.â
      âYes sir.â The line cut and he turned to Tim and Damian.
      âCâmon, we have patrol.â The two of them climbed on their bikes as Bruce climbed into the Batmobile, and they left the cave.
A Few Hours Later:
      (Y/N) stepped out of the shower, picking up the towel and drying off before wrapping it around her and walking into the kitchen; she pulled out a water bottle from the refrigerator, taking a few sips before listening as the sound of a speedster coming into her living room echoed through the kitchen. She stepped into the living room seeing Wally pulling down the red cowl around his face; she watched the bluish lighting fade and then she walked up to him. He saw her coming and gave her a smile. âHey (Y/N), Iâm-â She cut him off as she squeezed the water bottle in his face, dousing him in water; he blinked at her then turned his face to the side and spit out the water that was in his mouth. He turned back to her and tipped his head. âOkayâŠI kinda deserved that one.â (Y/N) huffed and put her hands on her hips.
      âOh, you think?â Wally ran a hand down his face and gave a firm smile.
      âIâm sorry (Y/N)âŠit slipped out before I could stop it.â
      âYou went way too far tonight WallyâŠI mean, I know that sometimes I say super rude shitâŠbut that was downright disrespectful.â He shifted forward, wrapping an arm around her waist.
      âI know, and I am sorry about it. I was wrong to say that.â He paused and reached up, cupping her cheek. âYou are one of the humblest people I knowâŠand you donât wave around your dadâs money to get what you want.â He met her eyes, his look and tone solemn. âIâm sorry (Y/N).â She observed him for a moment before sighing and leaning into his chest.
      âI know we have to keep up the antagonistic relationship but try and make the insults not too personal next time.â He shifted, wrapping his arms around her before he nodded.
      âI will.â They were silent for a few moments before she pulled back and glance at him.
      âSo, what did you tell Dick this time?â Wally grinned and pulled away, reclining on the couch.
      âTold him that Barry needed me in Central and took off.â
      âAnd he didnât question you moving in the direction of my apartment?â Wally winked at her.
      âCarbon copy babe. It looks like I went to Central-â
      âBut instead youâre here.â (Y/N) looked at him. âNicely done.â He placed a hand to his chest and gave a mock bow.
      âThank you, thank you.â (Y/N) tipped her head to the kitchen and said,
      âFoodâs in the oven. Iâm going to go get dressed.â She began to walk away when a flash of blue appeared in front of her; (Y/N) looked up to see Wally smirking at her.
      âYou donât have to do that babeâŠI wouldnât dream of it.â (Y/N) huffed a laugh.
      âYouâre a perv Wally.â
      âMaybeâŠbut when I have a beautiful woman in front of me wearing nothing but a towel? HmmâŠdoesnât take much.â (Y/N) fought to keep the grin from her face and he stepped forward. âIs that a smile I see?â She let out a giggle and stepped behind the couch, putting distance between them, not like it would do anything in the long run.
      âNo Wally West, itâs not a smile.â He moved in front of the couch and leaned forward.
      âI think it is a smile and youâre just denying it.â
      âWell I think youâre wrong.â She put her hands on the back of the couch, and Wally raised an eyebrow.
      âYou do know how fast I move (Y/N)âŠwhat makes you think I wonât catch you?â She shrugged, taunting,
      âI like taking my chances Wally.â He placed his hands beside hers and closed the distance between them until they were almost touching noses.
      âIâve noticed you doâŠhave you noticed that I also like taking chances?â
      âYou mean like the chances of having your ass handed to you by my brothers because weâre dating?â That stopped him and he stuttered out,
      âUhâŠyes?â (Y/N) snorted.
      âGood answer.â
      âI have my moments.â
      âKey word moments.â
      âThat wasnât nice (Y/N).â
      âIâm not a nice woman WallyâŠyouâve been with me long enough to know that.â
      âI have beenâŠwhatâs it been, ten months?â (Y/N) pulled back and narrowed her eyes.
      âUh no. Weâve been together eleven.â He moved before she realized it, and she found herself pressed up against his chest; his hands gripped her wrists and held them and she tipped her head up, her voice laced with disbelief. âWally West!â His lips brushed her ear as he pulled her tighter against him, her back brushing his chest.
      â(Y/N) Wayne.â She swallowed, feeling her heart thump in her chest.
      âYou were stallingâŠthat wasnât fair.â His chuckle reverberated through her back as he murmured,
      âWhen it comes to you (Y/N)âŠI donât want to play fairâŠI want to win.â
      âAnd you think youâve won?â
      âI donât see you trying anything to win back the favor of the game.â (Y/N) twisted her head, flashing him a grin as she shifted her body, pressing herself into his front. Wallyâs eyes widened and he sucked in a breath; (Y/N) smirked and quipped,
      âI think I just did.â His eyes met hers and she moved one of the arms he held until it gripped the towel tied at her chest; she slipped a finger under the tie and pulled. It fell to the floor and she leaned her head back onto his shoulder, her tone taking on a sultry feel. âSo, are we going to stand out here all nightâŠor are we going to go play?â His eyes narrowed at her and she felt him lift her up and dash off towards her room.
The Next Day:
      She felt the bed shift and her eyes snapped open to see him sliding the covers down as he threw his legs over the side of the bed. She reached out a hand, rubbing his hip and smiling when he jumped at her touch as she murmured, âLeaving so soon?â He turned around and gave her a small smile.
      âBarry texted a few minutes ago. Said Bart was goofing off and needed someone to look after him. (Y/N) snorted.
      âThe kidâs the same age as TimâŠcanât him and Conner hang out with Bart?â Wally shrugged as he pulled on his boxers.
      âThatâs probably where Iâll end up taking him.â
      âI can text Tim and tell him to go meet up with them.â (Y/N) shifted, wrapping her arms around his waist. âAnd you can spend some more time with me.â Wally went silent as he tipped his head side-to-side.
      âI dunno (Y/N)âŠBarry seemed pretty adamant that I needed to get Bart.â She pulled herself up, draping herself across his back as she pleaded,
      âPlease WallyâŠwe donât get to do this often.â (Y/N) looked at him. âWill you stay just a little while longer?â He stared at her for a few moments before sighing and nodding.
      âAlright. Just make sure you call Tim and tell him to go get Bart and Conner.â (Y/N) grinned before grabbing her phone and dialing a number; they picked up after a few rings.
      âHello?â
      âTimmy? Have you gone to bed yet?â
      âIs that a serious question?â She sighed.
      âTimmy youâre seventeenâŠyou need more than a few hours of sleep every night.â
      âWill you get to the point already?â
      âDonât be an ass to your older sister.â She paused and looked at Wally. âDo me a favor and go collect Bart in Central and then go get Conner.â There was a slight pause in the line.
      ââŠAnd why should I do that?â
      âBecause four years ago I did you a favor and now Iâm asking for it to be repaidâŠno questions asked.â
      âWhen did I do you a favor?â
      âWhen you lied to Bruce about being on a date, and instead you were out saving the world.â There was another pause.
      ââŠFineâŠIâll go get them. Where am I supposed to take them though?â
      âI donât know Tim. Youâre the son of a multi-billionaireâŠtake the jet and hit up Tahiti for all I care. So long as you get them, I donât care what happens.â
      âAlrightâŠwhatever.â
      âBye Timmy. I love you.â
      âLove you too.â (Y/N) hung up the phone and laid it back on the nightstand, turning to Wally.
      âLooks like we have some time to ourselves.â He grinned and turned around, wrapping his arms around her as he pulled them down, then pulled the sheets back up; (Y/N) huffed a laugh as she adjusted herself in his arms. âI canât believe I score us time and you want to go back to sleep.â Wally shrugged and buried his face in her hair mumbling,
      âItâs like ten A.M. Who wouldnât want to sleep some more?â
      âAre you sure that stomach of yours isnât going to rumble in a few minutes?â Wally pulled back and looked at her.
      âMy stomach is not-â He was cut off as his stomach gave a loud grumble, and he looked down at his stomach then back to her; a faint pink tinged his pale cheeks and he mumbled, âThat wasnât supposed to happen.â (Y/N) began laughing, and soon he joined her; after a few minutes, she nudged him.
      âCâmon, Iâll go make us breakfast.â They made their way into the kitchen, and she began pulling ingredients out of the refrigerator; (Y/N) glanced at him. âWhat do you want to eat?â
      âIâll eat anything.â (Y/N) nodded.
      âYeah I know you will.â She glanced at him. âRemember the first time you came over to the manor? You practically obliterated our stocks of food.â Wally started laughing and she threw the hand towel at him. âMy dad was so annoyed that he didnât allow any speedsters over for like two months.â Wally nodded at that.
      âYeah, me and Dick had to hang out in Central after that.â He shrugged. âBut things are better now. Dickâs doing better, Iâm doing better.â He took her hand and rubbed his thumb across the back of it. âWeâre doing better.â (Y/N) raised an eyebrow at him and questioned,
      âWhatâs got you so sentimental Wally?â He shrugged again.
      âI donât knowâŠthe longer Iâm with you, the more I love you.â (Y/N) smiled at his words until his face turned solemn and he looked at her. âAnd I donât want to hide it anymore.â (Y/N)âs eyes went wide, and she pulled her hand back.
      âWally you do understand whatâs going to happen if we tell, donât you?â He nodded and opened his mouth to reply, but she cut it off. âWe risk you and Dick falling out, me and Dick falling out, and pretty much any member of my family with you.â She paused. âI donât think we should tell them right now.â He looked at her and she raised a hand. âJust for a little while longer.â They held eye-contact for a while before he sighed and reluctantly nodded.
      âAlrightâŠbut just for a little longer (Y/N).â She smiled and moved forward, wrapping her arms around his waist.
      âThank you, Wally.â He grinned and leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers before pulling away and moving to the bar.
      âYou can repay me by cooking food. Because Iâm hungryâŠvery hungry.â (Y/N) rolled her eyes, but grinned and started cooking.
      After breakfast, the two of them sat on the couch watching the TV when (Y/N)âs phone rang. She reached over and picked it up, groaning when she caught sight of who it was; Wally glanced down at her. âWho is it?â
      âMy over-achieving brother.â
      âJason?â (Y/N) huffed a laugh and shook her head.
      âNo Jasonâs my hard-ass brother.â She showed him the screen. âItâs Dickie.â Her thumb slid along the bottom and she put the phone to her ear. âHello?â
      âHey kiddo.â
      âHey Dickie. Whatâs shakinâ?â
      âNothing much, just called to tell you Iâll be up at your door in a few minutes.â (Y/N)âs eyes went wide, and she scrambled off the couch.
      âWHAT?!â
      âAre you okay?â She glanced at Wally and spoke rapidly.
      âWhy are you coming over?â
      âBecause I wanted to talk to you about Wally.â
      âWe donât need to talk about Wally. Iâm fine.â
      âWell even if you donât want to talk about him, Iâm already walking though the doors, so Iâm still coming over.â There was a slight pause. âAlright, Iâm getting into the elevator. Iâll see you in a few.â He hung up the phone and (Y/N) motioned to Wally.
      âYou need to leave, and you need to leave now. Like right now.â He stood up and zoomed off to the bedroom, coming back fully dressed. (Y/N) began shoving him to the door. âOh, weâre fucked. Weâre so fucked.â Wally snorted at her and she glared at the back of his head. âShut up before I shove my foot up your ass Wally. This isnât funny.â
      âItâs a little funny.â
      If our asses werenât on the line, Iâd agree. But right now? Weâre fucked.â (Y/N) threw open the door and looked outside, only to see the doors begin to open and Dick step out; her eyes widened, and she slammed the door, turning Wally around. âOh my god! Heâs here!â She began looking around until she saw the pantry. She looked at Wally then back to the pantry; his eyes followed hers and he shook his head.
      âNo.â
      âWally!â
      âI am not hiding in your pantry.â The doorknob began to turn, and she shoved him forward.
      âWe donât have a choice! Go!â He grunted and moved into the pantry, shutting the doors just as her front door opened; (Y/N) turned around and slapped a smile on her face. âDickie!â He grinned and opened his arms; she ran into them and he lifted her up as he hugged her.
      âGood to see you kiddo.â
      âDick, you saw me last night.â He set her back down and ruffled her hair, laughing when she batted his hand away.
      âI knowâŠbut between you and Wally being jerks to each other, we didnât get a whole lot of time to talk.â
      âThatâs because Wallyâs an ass.â Dick sighed and made his way into the kitchen, setting his stuff down on the counter; her eyes darted to the pantry and back to him.
      âWhy are you and Wally so mean to each other?â He paused and motioned to her. âDid something happen that just made you two hate each otherâs guts?â (Y/N) pulled a frown and crossed her arms.
      âYou mean besides Wally acting like a major-rager arse-biscuit? No, nothing happened.â
      âThen why donât you get along? Heâs not a bad guy.â
      âHeâs an ass Dick.â
      âAnd you can act like an ass too.â (Y/N) raised an eyebrow at him.
      âSo, youâre defending him?â Dick raised a hand and pointed at her.
      âI didnât say anything like that, and you know it.â
      âSure, sounded like it.â He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
      âCan you just try and get along with him next time?â (Y/N) thought about it before shrugging.
      âSure, so long as he doesnât act like the jack-ass he is.â Dick observed her for a moment before sighing.
      âItâs progress.â He glanced around. âDid you cook something earlier?â (Y/N) nodded.
      âI made myself breakfast earlierâŠhad I known you were coming, I wouldâve made enough for you.â Dick waved her off and rose from the bar, walking around the kitchen towards the pantry.
      âYou always have lucky charms stored for me.â His hand reached for the pantry door and (Y/N) reacted.
      âWait!â Dick stopped and turned to her.
      âIs something wrong?â
      âI-uhâŠthereâs a cafĂ© a few blocks from here that sells really good food.â (Y/N) moved forward and took his arm, leading him away from the doors. âHow about we go eat there?â
      âDidnât you eat already?â
      âDick I can always eat.â He laughed and nodded, then grabbed his stuff from the counter.
      âAlright. Letâs go then.â He shifted and moved her to the door; (Y/N) brought up a hand.
      âI need to get my wallet and phone really quickly Dick.â She turned to him. âGo start the car, Iâll be down in a few minutes.â Dick nodded and walked out the door; (Y/N) closed it then let out a sigh of relief and slid down the door. Wally stepped out from the pantry and walked over to her.
      âYou okay (Y/N)?â She nodded weakly.
      âIâm fineâŠjust trying to calm my racing heart.â Wally smiled and knelt beside her.
      âHave fun going to breakfast.â (Y/N) rolled her eyes but gave him a brief kiss.
      âDick and I will leave in a few, then you should be able to leave.â He nodded and they rose from the floor, staring at each other until Wally spoke softly.
âI really want to tell your family that were dating. You know, that right?â (Y/N) sighed and nodded.
      âI knowâŠbut right now we canât.â She looked at him. âYou know exactly how angry Dick and Jason would get if we spilled.â He nodded then looped an arm around her waist.
      âI love you (Y/N) Wayne.â She smiled at him and pressed her lips to his, then pulled back and said,
      âI love you too Wally West.â He watched her leave the apartment before sitting down and waiting a few minutes, then he left and locked the door behind him, making his way down the steps. Wally stepped outside the apartment complex and made his way down the street when someone grabbed him from an alleyway. He began to fight back when the sound of a cocking gun, and the press of cold metal against his stomach made him stop and he looked up to see someone he was not prepared to see standing there.
      ââŠJason?â His head tipped to the side and he questioned, âWhat the hell man?â Jasonâs teal eyes narrowed, and he pressed the gun harder against him and when he spoke, his voice booked no arguments.
      âYou and I are going to have a little chat Wally.â
      âAbout?â Jason leaned forward, getting in his face.
      âAbout why the fuck youâre leaving my sisterâs apartment.â Wallyâs eyes widened and he whispered,
      âOh crap.â
      âOh, crap is right.â He paused. âYour answer to my question better not be what Iâm thinking the answer is.â His words were dark and cold when he spoke again. âBecause if it is, Iâm going to shove this gun up your ass and unload the clip.â He looked at Wally. âSo, let me ask you this, are you sleeping with my sister?â Wally shut his mouth and narrowed his eyes.
      âAnd if I am?â
      âYouâd better pray you arenât.â Wally cleared his throat and stood up straight, no longer afraid of the gun.
      âYou know I can move faster than you.â
      âI know. But I also know how to catch you. Answer the question Wally.â
      âYour sister is an adult.â
      âMy sister is my baby sister. Youâre also Dickâs best friend. Did that not slip through your mind when you started sleeping with her?â
      âWe arenât sleeping together Jason. Weâre dating.â Jasonâs jaw clenched and he stepped back, allowing Wally to move; he pointed at him.
      âYou tell Dick, or I will.â Jason turned and walked off but stopped and turned back around. âAnd I can assure you WestâŠyou donât want me to tell Dick.â Wally watched him leave and then he rested his head back against the wall before sighing and mumbling,
      â(Y/N)âs so not gonna be happy about this.â
#batsis imagines#batfamily x reader imagines#batfamily x batsis imagines#wally west imagines#wally west x reader imagines#batsis imagine#batfamily x batsis imagine#batsis x batfamily#batfamily#batfamily imagines#batfamily fanfiction#batfamily fanfic#batfamily x reader imagine#batfamily x reader#wally west imagine#wally west x reader imagine#wally west x reader#bruce wayne#dick grayson#jason todd#tim drake#damian wayne#wally west#batman#nightwing#red hood#red robin#robin#flash#dc comics
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Going Under Part One
Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairing: 13th Doctor x Reader
Summary: An accident during a routine adventure made your life spiraled out of control with only the Doctor as the anchor. Will you ever find your way back to your Doctor again?
Trigger Warning: ooc, angst, plot holes as usual, attempted suicide, dark!doctor, death, insanity, etc. You have been warned.
More warning: English is not my first language so beware of the headache you will receive upon reading this.
  A/N: Ok, this is going to be a very disastrous story and to tell the truth, I have no idea how to wrap it up in a pretty bow. For this particular story, I put the song Going Under by Evanescence on a loop to get in the mood hence the title. As usual, this story probably filled with lot of plot holes, but that is to be expected in my fanfiction. I'm very afraid to post this actually. It would be very me to ended up writing a bad fanfiction that no one care to read. I have finished part two, actually, but I will post it on queue. Ugh, I'm throwing myself into the usual circle of hell of wondering whether writing this worth it or whether this is trash. Wish me luck, guys!
  Part Two is here
I fell to the ground after I was shot by that light beam. I thought I was a goner. From the concerned sounds of the Doctor and the fam, they thought the same.
 It was our usual routine adventure that almost always followed by a crisis that only the Doctor can solved. This time, the crisis involved human experiments. The Doctor is righteously pissed at the perpetrators. And one of the scientists shot at the Doctor using his experimental weapon and I pushed her out of the way.
 The Doctor and the fam fussed over me.
 I felt pain and then nothing. I think I lose my consciousness for a bit. I woke up to the sound of sonic screwdriver insistently scanning me. I forced myself to open my eyes and saw the relieved faces of the Doctor and the fam. I groaned. "What happened?"
 The Doctor and the fam shared a chuckle at my respond.
 "Don't ever do that again." The Doctor said with a firm tone.
 Seeing her serious expression, I sighed. Eventhough she would have done the same as me if she was in my position, the time lady doth protest too much, methinks. But I'm not in the mood to argue, so I replied, "I won't."
 The Doctor gazed at me with indecipherable expression. "We should go back to the Tardis. I have to scan you some more. I don't know what that weapon is, seem to malfunction, you are very lucky, (name). But just in case, I need to do more test on you."
 "Whatever you want, doc."
 "How are you feeling?" Yaz asked me as she helped me up.
 "Like I was electrocuted? But...now I feel kind of okay." I said.
 "You scared all of us." Ryan said.
 "Sorry. But I'm fine, see?" I decided to do a dramatic spinning and I regretted it when I lost my balance.
 The Doctor catches me before I fall. "Not so fine after all..." she murmured. She is surprisingly very strong.
 "Okay, I might need a rest." I admitted.
 The Doctor made Yaz and Ryan led me back to the Tardis as she had to deal with the scientists.
 7777
 Yaz and Ryan took me to my room back inside the Tardis. I thanks them for their help before hugging one of my stuffed animals pillow on the bed and blissfully fell into a deep sleep.
  I woke maybe a few hours later. The room is cold. I felt so uncomfortable as I forced myself to open my eyes. I was surprised to find myself on the floor in a very dark room. I reach around my pant for my smartphone and turned on the flashlight. I found the door and got out. I could hear the voices of the Doctor and the fam in the console room so I went over there.
 "Guys, how did I ended up on the floor in some random room?" I asked loudly.
 The Doctor and the fam froze as they saw me.
 The Doctor quickly approached me and demanded in a very scary tone, "Who are you? How did you get on board of my Tardis?"
 I was confused. "What do you mean?"
 "We are inside the time vortex. How did you get here? And when did you even get in?"
 I stared at her in confusion. "Doctor, what are you talking about?"
 "Y-you know who I am?" The Doctor asked. She look at me in skeptical.
 "Of course I do. Duh. We have been travelling together for a while." I said. "Ryan, is this one of your prank? Did you get her to play along?"
 Ryan look very confused. "Err, you know me?"
 "Ok, this is not funny, guys." I complained. "I'm so tired after our latest adventures. I mean, I did get shot. I'm really not in the mood for whatever prank this is."
 The Doctor and the fam exchanged a look at each other.
 They were making me nervous now.
 "We don't know who you are." It was Yaz who replied.
 "That's not funny, Yaz." I said. "Just stop it, guys."
 "How did you know my fam? Who are you?" The Doctor demanded as she grabbed my wrist in warning.
 "Doctor, you are hurting me. What is wrong with you?" I yelled angrily as I tried to pull my wrist free of her strong grip.
 "Err, doc, I think we all need to calm down some." Graham said.
 The Doctor released me grudgingly.
 I massaged my wrist. "Had I known you would act this way, I would let that scientist shot you."
 "What scientist?" The Doctor asked.
 "You said you were shot? Where are you injured?" Yaz asked.
 I sighed. "Are we still playing this? You are all there when he shot at the Doctor and I pushes her out of the way." I glared at the Doctor. "Don't worry, doc, I won't shield you again next time." I said sarcastically.
 The Doctor pulled her sonic screwdriver and scanned me. "Human."
 "Of course, I am human! Guys, I'm so..." I trailed as I finally take a good long look at them and realized they really have no idea who I am. "You really have no idea who I am?"
 The fam nodded in unison.
 I could feel myself start to panic. "Oh God, is this the side effect of that shot? Did it makes you guys forgot all about me? I mean it was experimental weapon. And, doc, you promised to do a scan on me in the Tardis to see if there is any other...damages..."
 "I don't know who you are and what your plan is but if you are planning to..."
 "I'm not! I am not the enemy, okay! Just chill!" I yelled at her when I noticed she is about to give me her oncoming storm rants. I quickly pulled my smartphone.
 The Doctor raised her sonic screwdriver at me warningly.
 "I have proof, okay?" I placated. I went through my phone and to the gallery. I showed them our many selfie group pictures. "Here."
 The Doctor grabbed my phone and took a few step back. The fam goes to see the pictures in disbelief.
 "How is this possible?" Yaz asked the Doctor.
 The Doctor observed the pictures and then she stared at me. "What is your name?"
 "It's (name). (name) (last name)." I replied weakly.
 The Doctor nodded and went to the console, pushing some button. The monitor suddenly turned on and show information on me. While at it, the Doctor performed a scan on me via the Tardis. She also cloned my phone so that she can investigates the pictures. I think she suspected it was fake photoshop picture or something.
 "Satisfied yet? I'm not lying, okay."
 The Doctor hummed. "We will see."
 I groaned in annoyance.
 While the Doctor busy consulting with the Tardis, I sat on one of the stairs. I watched the Doctor and the fam stay far away from me and whispered really quiet. I sighed.
 The Tardis suddenly bleeping loudly and the Doctor run around the console and then stopped in front of the monitor, reading the information provided by the sentient ship.
 The Doctor look awed, her mouth dropped open. She turned to look at me.
"What is it?" I asked.
  "According to this, you are from an alternate universe." The Doctor replied. "But how did you even ended up here?"
 "You are asking me? I have no idea. Last thing I remember is sleeping in my room at the Tardis and then I woke up here." I said.
 "Tell me exactly what happened before. You said that you were shot...by some scientist?" The Doctor asked.
 So I told her exactly what happened.
7777
  While The Doctor is busy figuring out what exactly happened to me, I sat alone at the kitchen's Tardis. At least the way to the kitchen is still the same. I made myself a coffee and sat staring at my cup absentmindedly.
  Ryan come in and sat with me for a while. He was curious about the other Ryan and asked me to tell stories about my own adventure back in my universe.Â
  I sighed. It seemed I have come to accept what is happening to me. I am indeed in twilight zone where I have never met the Doctor and the fam thus never boarded the Tardis. I was kind of sad so to distract my mind, I relented and tell him whatever he want to know.
  Eventually Yaz joined us. We started talking about our respective adventures and about the Doctor. We got a laugh over the Doctor being pretty much the same in any universe.Â
  I don't know how long we talked but I was grateful for them for easing my loneliness. I finally noticed the Doctor is standing leaning against the doorway, watching us. A small smile touched her lips as she watches us.
  "Doctor." I called out. "Did you find anything?"
  She shook her head. "I'm sorry. Unless we found the weapon they used on you, I can't exactly figure it out."
  "So, we have to go to the place where the scientists are? Okay. Let's go." I said, eager to get this over with so I can go back to my Doctor and my friends. "I mean, I guess we should find your version of the scientists who did this to me, right? So that you can take a look at the weapon?"
  The Doctor look impressed with me.
  "Then what are waiting for?"
  "Tomorrow." The Doctor replied. "We are all tired. You look tired."
  I wanted to protest but she shushed me.
  "Come on I will show you to your room." The Doctor said.
  7777
The Doctor left me in my new room. The room is just ordinary without any of personal touch. I felt the loneliness come back. I laid on the bed, trying to hold back my tears. I pulled my phone and swipe on the pictures of my Doctor and my fam. I hope to God that I could return back to them as soon as possible. "Please don't let me be trapped here." I whispered. I fell asleep soon after.
  I woke up to the concerned voices of the Doctor and the fam. I opened my eyes in confusion. I wasn't in my room. The Tardis med-bay, my mind supplied.
  The Doctor and the fam looked at me with troubled expression.Â
  "Doctor? What happened?"
  "You're awake."
  "How did I get here? I was in my room."
  "The Doctor is checking on you and she found you in a seizure." Yaz replied. "You really had all of us scared out of our mind."
  I smiled a little. I felt bad for intruding on them when they didn't even know me. I frowned. I didn't remember getting a seizure though. I looked up toward the Doctor. "Thank you for checking up on me. You saved me."
  "We are even then..." The Doctor said.
  "Yeah."
  The Doctor gazed at me. "Do you feel any pain right now?"
  "Not really, just really really tired." I trailed. My eyes widened suddenly as I look at the Doctor. "we are even?"
  The Doctor looked confused. "Yeah, you did saved me first, by pushing me out of the way."
  "You know me!" I yelled suddenly. "You know me, right?" I asked her and then turned to the fam. "You guys too? Yaz? Ryan? Graham?"
  The Doctor and the fam stared at me as if I had gone insane and exchanged a look with each other.
  "err, did she get a concussion, doc?" Ryan asked.
  "Hey!!" I yelled. "Focus!! Who am I?"
  "You don't know?" Graham asked.
  "Of course I know who I am. Do you? Come on, guys, work with me here!" I said as I forced myself to get up despite their protests. "Who am I?" I barked at them. If the situation is different, I would have laugh at how angry I sounded but I was desperate for them to make sure they do know me.
  The Doctor stared at me and then replied, "You are (name)."
  "And?" I urged. "Did I travel with you and them in the Tardis?"
  "You know you do, (name)." Yaz said. "What's gotten into you?"
  I sighed in relief at their confirmation. I laughed. "I'm back!" I laughed some more as tears suddenly fell into my cheeks.Â
  "(name), are you alright?" Graham asked cautiously.
  "You guys won't believe what happened to me." I said. And I told them what happened to me earlier.
  7777
  I sulked. They don't believe me. At all. Because according to them, I have been sleeping in my room that whole time.  Even the Doctor said what I'm experiencing is probably a nightmare. In a way, it made sense. The Doctor and the fam never knew me? My greatest fear.
  I sat on the stairs on the console room. After what happened to me, regardless whether it was real or not, I don't feel like to be alone so I sat there, watching the Doctor at the console.
  The Doctor noticed me and decided to join me at the stairs.Â
  "So, a seizure, huh? Was it because of that weapon? Have you figure out what that weapon are? Did it meant to give the victim a nightmare and a seizure?" I asked the Doctor.
  The Doctor look troubled.Â
  "Doctor?"
  "Don't worry, (name), it will be okay."
  "So there is something to worry about?"
  "Of course not."
  "But you just said..."
The Doctor surprised me when she suddenly grabbed my face. I blushed at the close proximity.
  "Just trust in me, (name)." She said as she put her forehead over mine. "Just trust the Doctor."
  "I do trust you, Doctor." I said softly.
  I feel dizzy all of sudden and fell to the floor, unable to balance myself. "Ow, what the hell...? That is some headache..." I looked up and frowned when I realized I was alone. "Doctor?"
  7777
 My eyes widened as I take in the console room. It was different from what I used to. But there is no one in the console room. Fear nagging on the corner of my mind. Have I gone insane? Or did I somehow travel somewhere else again?
  I know the Tardis is not in mid-flight, it was already landed somewhere so I got out of the Tardis to check it out. As I opened the door, I saw the beach and a man in a trench coat was there, nursing a banana daiquiri. He had his ties tied around his forehead and a black sunglasses covered his face. He was drunk as a skunk. With no one in sight, I had no choice but to go to him for information.
 "Hello." I greeted.
  The man glanced at me and smiled brightly. "Why, hello there. Where did you come from? No one go to this beach this time of the years..."
  "Yeaah...about that...where am I...exactly? I'm kinda lost...?"
  He beamed. "I'm good with lost thing. Oops, where is my manner? Hulla there, I'm the Doctor."
My jaw dropped in shock. "W-what? You? You are the Doctor?" I asked.
   "Yeah, do you know of me then?" He asked in dopey manner.
  "But...you are a man..." I said dumbly.
  "Of course I am a man. What else I could be?" He asked almost like I insult him.
  "Right. She said she was once a Scotsman before. It was a time lord thingies, was it?"
  He sobered up almost immediately. "How did you know that?"
  "I'm not the enemy, okay? Everytime!" I yelled, pissed at his tone that is almost accusing. I admitted I was being dramatic. It was only one time but I just hated being questioned of my intention. But then again, this version of the Doctor never met me so of course he will be suspicious.
  He frowned at me.
  "Look, Doctor. I don't know what is happening to me. I keep waking up into different Tardis than the one that I know of. My Doctor said everything is alright but as you can see, the fact that I'm here instead with her means something is wrong. I knew she is holding out something on me. Trust in the Doctor, my ass!" I ranted.
  He blinked at me. "Soo, you are a future companion of mine then? And I will be a Time Lady in the future?"
  I blinked back at him. "You are taking this surprisingly well. I thought you would give me the oncoming storm speech. Considering I have no proof that I am indeed your future companion..."
  "I feel like you are quite genuine to fake it."
  "err, thanks?"
  He grinned a boyish grin at me. "Right then, off to the Tardis we are!" He said as he grabbed my hand toward the Tardis.
  I pulled away from him. "Bit forward, aren't you?"
  "What? Didn't your Doctor grab your hand and told you to run?"
  "Noo. She told me to get off my ass and help her barricade the door."
  "Oh."
  "We were under alien attack, you see, it was my first time to see alien so I was kinda out of it."
  "Right. That sounded like interesting story which we can continue on the Tardis. Come on."
  I followed him obediently.
  7777
  I told him what happened to me, about the shooting, about the alternate universe.
  The Doctor hummed as he pushed some button on the Tardis as he made the machine scan me.
  "So, am I in the past or am I in some random alternate universe?" I asked.
  The Doctor frowned as he observed the monitor containing information on whatever it is he is working on.
  "What is it?"
  "Nothing." He said as he tried to pulled the monitor away from me but I was faster this time and I saw it.
  "Ooh..." I was understandably shocked. Because according to the Tardis database, I don't exist.
  "Different universe yeah?" He said as if trying to console me.
  "Yeah." I nodded numbly. "But... you believe me?"
  He nodded. "Course."
  I sighed in relief. "Can you get me back home?"
  "I will most certainly try."
  I nodded gratefully. "Thank you."
  He smiled at me. "So, since you are from alternate universe, it meant whatever you tell me will not be spoiler. So tell me about your Doctor. I have never regenerated into a woman before. What was I like?"
  "Well, you love to talk, I guess you are always like that, huh?"
  "Love talking." He said cheekily.
  I described my Doctor to him. He gave me an amused smile. "What?"
  "Sounded like you fancy her..."
  I blushed. "Shut up. She is my best friend, okay."
  He grinned.
  My stomach choose that moment to protest in hunger much to my embarassment.
  He chuckled. "Come on, let's go to the kitchen."
  I followed him gratefully. "Doctor, where are your companion?"
  His smile vanished. "I wasn't taking anyone currently."
  "Ooh." I felt bad for bringing that up because it sure ruined his mood. "I'm sorry."
  "What for?"
  "For whatever happened to you or your companion."
  He look surprised.
  "You have that sad eyes, like my Doctor. Before she met me and the fam, she lost someone too."
  He smiled sadly. "Yeah that tends to happened." He sighed and then he stared at me. "The fam?"
  I shrugged. "It is what she called us."
  "Blimey how many companion did she have right now?"
  I told him about the fam happily. He was lonely, I can tell. I wonder what happened to his companion. But I know better than to ask that. So all I can do is tell him about my funny adventures to ease his loneliness. We entered the kitchen and he started preparing a light snack and tea for me.
  7777
  I woke up on the floor...again.Â
  "err, how did you get here?" A young man suddenly waved me for attention.
  "W-what? Where am I?" I asked in confusion.
  "You are in the Tardis kitchen but how did you get here?"
  "Are you the Doctor?"
  "No. I'm Rory, my wife and I travel with him." He said. "Are you alright?" He look concerned.
  "My head hurts." I said. "Can you get me to the Doctor please?"
  He nodded. "Wait here." He quickly left and yelled for Amy and the Doctor.
  My head hurts really badly. I felt like I'm about to throw up. I forced myself to stand up and walked out of the kitchen and fell.
  7777
  "DOCTOOOORR!!" A young woman screamed loudly making me wince. "Hey, are you alright?"
  I groaned. "I'm not okay. I think I'm dying..." I said.
  "DOCTOOOORRR!!"
  I groaned. "Please stop yelling at me. God, I'm in hell..."
  "Sorry."
  "Clara, what's with all the yelling?" An old man dressed like a magician suddenly appeared.
  "Look at her."
  "Who is she? Did you invite a stranger without my permission?"
  "I did not! I found her in the corridor like that." Clara said with a glare.
  He sonic-ed me. "You looked like hell."
  "I'm dying..." I said almost petulantly.
  "She kept saying that..." Clara said.
  "Get her to the medbay."
  Contrary to my belief, I was not dying. Apparently I was dehydrated. The Doctor gave me some infusion. I felt so much better now.
  The Doctor and the young woman who identified as Clara stared at me curiously as I devoured some food they gave me.
  "Right, you want an explanation." I said.
  "That would be great, yeah." Clara said.
  "Well, what did the Tardis tell you? Am I at least exist here?" I asked.
  The Doctor frowned. "How do you mean?"
  "The last universe I was in, the Doctor told me that I didn't exist. The one before that apparently never met me. I'm so tired. I just want to go home to my Doctor and my friends." I said tiredly.
  "Tell me exactly what happened to you." The Doctor demanded suddenly.
  And so I did. Again.
  "So, ever since the shot, you have been crossing all over the universe?" Clara asked in awe.
  I sighed. "That, or my Doctor is right and this is all just happening in my head. A nightmare of some kind. Though I didn't think so. Even I wouldn't be able to conjure so many detail about the Doctor."
  The Doctor told me that the Doctor I met in the beach is his tenth incarnation and that he was the Twelfth one.Â
  "Yeah, I think my Doctor is after this you. She mentioned that she used to be a Scotsman before." I replied.
"Wait, your Doctor is a woman?" Clara asked giddily. "Oh, I have to meet her."
The Doctor gave Clara a look.
  "What? I am curious. You as a woman." Clara said with a grin at the Doctor. "Tell me what she look like." She asked me.
  "Am I allowed to tell her?" I asked the Doctor. "Am I in the past or...?" I'm almost afraid to ask.
  "You are in an alternate universe. And you did exist here." The Doctor said.
  I nodded.Â
  "Well? Tell me please." Clara urged me.
I grinned at her and told her what she wanted to know.
 The Doctor pretended to be busy with something else but both Clara and I know he is secretly listening. He asked me for some blood sample and I let him. I trust him.Â
  The last words my Doctor left me...trust in the Doctor. So I did.
  7777
  I woke up alone in the Tardis medbay. I sighed, resigning myself to be in another random place of universe. I wonder where I ended up right now.Â
  I got out of the medbay trying to find the Doctor. For once, I recognized the Tardis interior. My hearts swelled with hope that I am back at home. I walked as fast as I can to the console room hoping to find the Doctor or the fam. I found none.
  I got out of the Tardis. I was in some alien planet. Without thinking for my safety, I stepped out of the Tardis. And then I saw her. The Doctor. My Doctor. But does she know me?
  The Doctor stood alone, looking so lonely. My heart ached for her.
  "Doctor?" I called out.
  The Doctor turned around and her eyes widened as she saw me. "(name)? Is it really...you?" she stuttered my name.
  I gave her a hesitant smile. "It's me."
  She hugged me and she actually burst into tears.
  I hugged her back but I was confused. "Doctor, what's wrong?"
  She pulled out of the hug and put both of her hands over my face. She smiled sadly. "My (name)..."
   I felt uncomfortable. I like her so much. In fact, I could actually admitted that I have a crush on her. But the way she called my name, it's almost like we are lovers which I know we are not.
  "I missed you so much." She said with a sob.
   I was floored. The Doctor? Doing emotion? Something is wrong with her. "Doctor, where is the fam?"
  She sobered up immediately. A dark expression crossed her features.Â
   "What's it?"
   "I lost them...to the cyberman."
  I blinked. "Jack's warning..."
  She nodded sadly.
  "What happened?"
  "I failed them." She only said that, not wanting to relive the painful memory.
  I wanted to cry. I can't believe it. The fam can't be gone.  "How long have I been gone?"
  She didn't answer. Instead she turned around and walked toward to a bunch of stone. I followed her and I froze when I saw it.
  It was my graveyard. The stone has my name carved on it.Â
  I shook my head. "This isn't it. This isn't home." I whispered.
  "She said that too." The Doctor said. "You, she died in my arms. She died in pain and she kept screaming that she wanted to go home."
  I was shook to the core. Is this my future? Did I just give myself a spoiler?
  "I never understand what is happening to her. I tried to make sense of it. It sounded like she was being torn apart from the inside." The Doctor said with a forlorn look.
  I shook my head in disbelief. I ran back toward the Tardis. I screamed while I was inside. "Please, please take me back home! I'm done with this! I'm done!!"
  The Doctor entered the Tardis. Her eyes looked sad.Â
  I ignored her as I broke down in tears. I bend my knees on the floor and cried.Â
  She also sat beside me and hugged me close.
  "What is happening to me? Please fix me, Doctor." I begged her. "Please..."
  The Doctor nodded weakly. "I will. Of course, I will."
  I stared at her. "Promise me." I demanded. I know I was being cruel. "I want to go back to my Doctor and to my friends."
  "I promise."
  The Doctor lies. That's what the Master once told me when we met. She won't lie, would she?
  I made the mistake to gaze at her and I saw something frightening in her features.
  7777
  I blinked and froze when I saw Twefth Doctor and Clara again. I was in a different console room again.
  They stared at me.
  "You are back." Clara said.
  My whole body just trembled mixture of fear, shock and relief.
  "I just found out I will die a painful death." I blurted as I wipe my tears off with my sleeve.
  The Doctor and Clara blinked at me.
  "I'm so tired of saying this. But for the love of God, please help me, Doctor." I begged him.
  The Doctor stared at me and nodded. "Your blood sample come back. You are indeed dying."
  "Doctor!" Clara shouted in warning.
  I nodded and laughed harshly. "I figures as much."
  "There is something changing your DNA and it made you into a personal time machine. One that seemed to anchor yourself to the Doctor. Any Doctor. Any universes." The Doctor said. "And you are only human, your body can't take it. You are dying a slow death."
  I sighed. "I guess the good thing about this is it was me instead of the Doctor." I said softly. If I had not pushed my Doctor out of the way, it would be her in this predicament. The thought of the Doctor dying, I shuddered. The universe will be screwed.
  The Doctor looked like he was being slapped. "She would not want that. I, she would not want you to die in her place."
  "I didn't want to die either. But..." I stared at Clara. "You would do the same for him, wouldn't you?"
  Clara stared at her Doctor solemnly. "In a heartbeat."
  The Doctor gazed at Clara.
  "Right, okay? Is there a way to at least prolong my life?" I asked them, broke them from their loving gaze.
  The Doctor replied without looking at me, "Working on it... Would be easier if you led me to the scientists so I can take a look at their project."
  "Right." I tried to wreck my brain to remember what planet the Doctor took me that times. I was at loss.
  He rolled his eyes. "Human. Pudding brain."
  "Hey!!" Both Clara and I yelled at him.
  He grabbed me and told me to put my hands on the Tardis telepathic circuit. He told me to focus on my memory of that planet. So I did.
  7777
  I was in a middle of a town square. The town sign told me it was Christmas. I groaned. "Now what?"
  I heard the unmistakable sound of a sonic screwdriver and a man in bow tie is wielding it at me.
  "Hello, there, I'm the Doctor."
  "I know. The sonic screwdriver kinda gives you away."
  "You know me then?"
  I sighed. "This is bullshit. Doctor, I'm a future companion, okay? I traveled with your Thirteenth incarnation. But I might be from another universes. It has been happening a lot lately. And I'm dying apparently."
  The Doctor glared at me and let out a harsh chuckle. "Nice one. But I am on my last regeneration and I don't have anymore. So, who are you, really?"
  I stared at him disbelief. "You have got to be joking. I don't have a proof, okay? But I wasn't lying."
  "Yeah, you are not lying about dying, are you?" The Doctor said as he read the result of his scan from his sonic screwdriver.
  I fell silent to that. "Fine." I said. "Don't believe me for all I care. I won't be here long anyway. I probably gonna disappear to another universe, another you again soon." I crossed my arms, well aware that I'm sulking.
  He frowned at that. "You are from another universe." He stared at me as he circled me around.
  "Oh now you are curious, are you not?" I mocked him in my anger. I shuddered in cold.
  He sighed and he pulled his jacket and gave it to me much to my surprise.
  I took it and murmured a small thank you.Â
  He took me inside a tower.Â
  "Soo...you believe me?"
  "You can't tell a lie here. There is a truth field in this planet. So, yeah, I do believe you." He said as he gave me some hot tea. "So, tell me about what's been happening to you. Sounded like you have a tough day."
  "You have no idea. And honestly, I'm tired of having to tell it over and over again to every version of you. I never stick around long enough to get some answers." I said solemnly.
  "Tell me anyway." He requested.
  And so I did. Again.
  7777
  I felt dizzy. "Oh great..." I moaned without opening my eyes.
  "Found you." Someone suddenly grabbed me from behind and hugged me.
  It was the Thirteenth Doctor but from her voice, I could tell immediately she is not the one.
  I tried to move away from her but she kept me still. "Doctor?" I called out.
  "My (name)..." She whispered and then she put some sort of a collar on me.
  I struggled against her but it was futile. "What the hell is this?"
  "I found a way to keep you from splintering again." She said as she released me.
  I fingered the collar. "This?" I asked as I turned to face her. I noticed she was dressed differently from her usual clothing. Everything about her feels different.
  She nodded solemnly.
  "Splintering?" I asked.
  "Basically you tearing every atom in your body by traveling all over the alternate universe."Â
  "So, as long as I wear this, I can stay here."
  She beamed. "Yes. With me."
  "But, if you are from my future, wouldn't this be a paradox or something?"
  She smiled at me chillingly as she caresses my cheek. "Don't worry your pretty face about it." She said. "There, I keep my promise. I fix you, my dear."
  I forced a smile for her despite feeling really uncomfortable and also I can't help that bad feeling nagging in my gut. Instead I said, "But does it have to be a collar?"
  She laughed in delight. "Would you prefer a ring instead?"
  I blushed at that. "Maybe." I muttered. "Because this collar isn't really me at all."
  She smiled at me in fondness. "Then I will work on it for you." She pulled my hand. "Come on, you must be tired and hungry."
  I followed her to a room. I didn't recognize it.
  "This is my room." She said.
  I blinked in surprise and took a look at the room. "It's nice." I said lamely.
  She grinned. "Come, sit with me. Tell me all about your adventures."
  I stared at her warily but did as requested. She gave me plenty of food and drink and it was all my favorite. I smiled at her.
  7777
  I must have fallen asleep. I blinked for once realizing I'm still in the same place. The collar did work after all. But the Doctor is nowhere to be found.
  I walked out of the room and take a glance at the corridors. I decided to go find some food in the kitchen when I heard voices in the distant followed by some bleeping light on the corridor. Almost like the Tardis is trying to guide me somewhere. So I followed it.
  I wish I didn't. I can't believe what I saw. The Doctor. She had a hostage on board of the Tardis. I distinctly recognized the scientist that shot at me. The Doctor is torturing him.Â
  I felt like I was being punched. I was so scared. I wanted to confront her, to demand her for explanation but that bad feeling in the pit of my gut come back full force. I decided not to risk it. I slowly left the place, hoping she didn't notice me.Â
  As soon as I was a safe distance away from the Doctor, I pulled on my collar wanting to rip it free but realized in horror that I couldn't.
  "Nooo. This can't be happening. What is happening?" I muttered to myself, shaken in fear.Â
  I touched the wall and hesitantly speak toward the sentient machine. "You purposely show me that. What do you want me to do?"
  There is no answer. I felt weak in my knees. I let myself fall to the floor, hugging my knees and cried.
  A hologram suddenly appeared before me. It was the hologram of the Thirteenth Doctor but it was wearing the original clothing. It was staring at me in somber.
  "Tardis?" I asked.
  "Run." It said.
  "What?"
 The hologram suddenly vanished as the real Doctor suddenly showed up. She was staring at me with a look I can't decipher.
  "You should have stay back in my room, (name)." She said solemnly.
  "Why did the Tardis tell me to run from you?" I demanded.
  She shrugged. "She is just confused. My old girl."
  "She is warning me about you." I said.
  She rolled her eyes. "Come on, (name), be reasonable."
  "Reasonable? I'm not the one who has been torturing people!" I snapped.
  I know I did something wrong when a dark expression crossed her feature.Â
  "You saw it, didn't you?" She said in resignation. "Oh, well..." She moved toward me.
  I stopped her. "Don't."
  "Don't be afraid of me, (name), I would never hurt you."
  "You just going to keep me as your pet, is that it?" I asked.
  She blinked at that. "I promise I will change that collar into a ring soon."
  "This is not about the damn collar!" I yelled.Â
  She didn't look bothered by my outburst.
  "Actually, yes, this is about the collar." I recanted as I tried to pulled it off. "Why can't I take it off?" I demanded.
  She smiled chillingly. "I have to make sure you will stay with me."
  I shook my head in denial. "Who are you? The Doctor I know wouldn't do this to me."
  She snorted. "You don't know me that well, (name)."
  "You are right. And right now, I don't want to know you."
  She look like she was being slapped. She growled at me. "Stand up."
  I glared at her. "No. You go away." I said petulantly.
  "(name) (last name), do not test me."
  "Leave me alone." I said as I closed my eyes, covering both of my ears. "Just leave me alone!"
  Silence. And then I felt her hands pulled my hands away from my ears as she put her forehead over mine. And then she whispered, "Never."
  I opened my eyes to look at her and stunned at her sorrowful expression. Part of me almost wanting to comfort her.
  And then everything went to black.
   7777
  When I woke up next, I was hoping to be somewhere else. The one time I wish I could leave, I got stuck. I woke up in a room, not the Doctor's room from earlier. I was alone. The Doctor is nowhere to be found. I realized in horror that this particular room does not have a door. I can't tell the way out.
  The Doctor never showed her face to me for the next few hours? days? I don't know. At first, I didn't care. I did wonder if she is planning to starve me as she has not given me any sustenance. Strangely enough I did not feel hunger or thirsty. Heck, I didn't even need to go to the bathroom which is probably a good thing as it would be embarrassing if I have to pee or more all over the place. Though it did make me wonder if I was already dead. Why else would I not require sustenance?
  There was nothing to do in the room. I was alone with my thoughts. And I was never good at being alone. I refused to let her win though. I know she is punishing me, a silent treatment of sort. For a time, I was fine with it. I thought of my favorite stories, my favorite scene in a movie, a favorite song, anything to get my mind off the loneliness.
  "Tardis?" I called out hesitantly. "Can you...talk to me?"
  Nothing.
  I sighed as I sat on the floor, hugging my knees close. I was bored out of my mind. I started wondering if this will be the end of me.Â
  Eventually the Doctor did visited me but she always appeared out of nowhere. I tried to be vigilant on her next visit in hope I could catch a glimpse of the way out. No such luck.
  She gave me some book to read and an ipod containing music. She even brought some flower and put it on a small table.
  I was curious about how long I have been here and how it is I remained alive without sustenance for so long.
  "This is a time vault. It basically forcing you to stay alive." She explained. "Like the flower I brought in, it won't require water to remain blooming. This place sort of paused your time, I suppose."
  "Why am I here?"
  "It is for your safety."
  "So, this is a prison."
  "It doesn't have to be. I just need you to accept your reality."
  "And what is my reality, Doctor?"
  The Doctor stared at me. "If you have to ask, that's meant you still didn't get it."
  My eyes widened as I realized something. "I'm still dying, aren't I?"
  The Doctor flinched immediately and I know I was right.
  "Even with the collar, I am still dying. It just stopped me from...splintering away." I said as I stared her down.
  She didn't reply.
  "I was right, wasn't I? That's why I am here in this...Time Vault. You put me...on pause."
  She smiled solemnly at me. "500 points for (name)." she said, her joking tone fell flat.
  I shook my head. "This is insane. This is all wrong. You have got to let me go."
  "If I do, you will die."
  "Maybe that's what I want!"
  "You didn't mean that."
  I didn't reply. I know it's pointless to argue with her, so this time, I'm the one who give her silent treatment.
  She sighed and then she left. She left me alone for so long. The next time she come in, I almost felt relieved, craving for any company.
  I know she did this on purpose. She wanted to put that Stockholm syndrome thing on me. But I won't let it come to that. It was a time like this that I wish I could actually do some meditation to clear my mind and stuff.
  I think I go insane for a bit. I started talking to the shadow created by my slowly deteriorating mind. The books laid scattered on the floor, torn apart. So does the flowers and the vase and the table. I didn't destroy the ipod. Yet.Â
  I started laughing at the song 'Sweet but Psycho'. It reminded me of the situation I'm in for some reason. And then I started crying. Then I threw away the ipod across the room. My emotion is all over the place lately.
  The Doctor came in once in a while and she was nice and friendly one minute and shut me down next. I begged her to let me out of this room. I begged and promised I won't run. But she didn't believe me. I hated her so much at that moment and I yelled it at her. She left again.
  I screamed and I cried. I demanded the Tardis to talk to me, to help me. But, of course, she didn't respond. Needless to say, I ruined the room again. I know the room will clean up by itself again later on, no matter the damage.
  One day, the door suddenly showed itself. I had to blink my eyes a few times to make sure I wasn't dreaming.Â
  "Run."
  I heard the word in my mind and I did. I bolted out immediately. I have no idea the surrounding around me but the small light appearing on the corridor guided me somewhere to a another room....where a single hanging rope and a medium chair is waiting for me.
  I frowned and then I giggled. I guess I did lose my mind because I walked toward it. I stood on the chair and fingered the rope that is fitting around my neck. I guess this is the only way I can escape. I kicked the chair and almost immediately the breath is knocked out of me as I struggled against the rope. It was painful and it took so long for me to black out completely.
  Suddenly an alarm ringing loudly as I was about to black out. I could heard the Doctor screaming at me or the Tardis?
  The Doctor pulled me down and laid me on the floor. She was crying. I almost feel sorry for her. She took off the rope and the collar.
  Oh. So, that's why the Tardis did this. I suddenly having a realization. I wanted to laugh but I couldn't.
  The Doctor pulled some injection and hit it on somewhere on my body and I gasped really loudly and coughed hard. She laughed and cried in relief at the same time. She hugged me tight. "Don't ever do that again, (name)! I can't lose you!" she begged me.
  Whatever that injection is, it was a very good drug as I could feel the pain is gone. My hand rubbed the rope burn mark on my neck. I realized if I ever could have any control over the splintering, now would be the good time. As much it pained me to left her behind, I know my presence here is bad for her.Â
  I could feel myself being ripped away right at that moment.
  The heartbroken look on the Doctor's face seared forever in my mind.Â
  7777
  I stumbled down and someone caught me in their arms. I could see a visible blond hair and my blood ran cold. What if I was still with her? I screamed.Â
  The owner of the blonde hair also screamed, more like in surprise than anything. It was then I realized it wasn't the Doctor.
  I pushed the woman away from me and I ran blindly into another person who grabbed me firmly. "Let me go! Just leave me alone!" I screamed.
  The man calmed me down. "It's okay. You're okay. You're safe." And somehow, I did calm down some but I was still sobbing.
  "Doctor, who is she?" The woman I pushed asked. "She appeared out of nowhere."
  "Doctor, I think she is hurt." Another voice said. It was a man. I recognized that voice. It was Jack Harkness, I think. "Look at her neck..."
  The man who grabbed me pulled my hair aside and frowned when he saw the rope burn around my neck. "Who did this to you?"
  I laughed hysterically. "I did this. I have to get her to take it off." I said. "well, I had help, isn't that right, old girl?" I looked up toward the ceiling
  "Take what off?" Jack asked.
  "Are you talking to the Tardis?" The Doctor asked in the same time.
  "I guess she wouldn't know me, different Tardis, different Doctor." I said. "The Doctor, my Doctor...She has gone insane. I am too, I guess. She wanted to keep me even though I already died." I laughed again. "i'm going to die in pain, she said. I'm scared." I whispered. "The fam is dead too. She said she failed them. She put me on pause." I said and giggled at how ridiculous that sounded.
  I know they are probably confused with my incoherent babbling but I really don't care. I told them about the collar and the Time Vault. Their Doctor is probably the only one who can put the pieces together from my rambling.
  "Wait, I'm confused, some woman that has the same name as you did this to her?" Rose asked.
  Jack's eyes widened as he glanced at the Doctor. He know a bit about Time Lord from his time as a Time agent so he knew about regeneration.
  The Doctor nodded at Jack. "She is from the future. My future." He look troubled, probably feeling ill when he realized I'm a future companion and as I babbled on, spoiler that his future-self has gone insane.
  I chuckled. "I might not. I could be from alternate universe. That has been happening to me, always alternate universe, always another Doctor. But never the correct Doctor. She said I should trust in the Doctor. I tried. But her future-self is torturing people even if she did it to the person who shot me. I can never go home." I said and I cried, wailing actually.
  The Doctor awkwardly trying to comfort me. Of course, he wanted to know the mystery behind me even though I'm sick of telling it to the Doctor. But before I could, I finally recognized the somewhat tingling feeling as I was about to be ripped away once more.
  7777
  I dropped on my knees and coughed blood. Well, this is new.
  "(name)? (name)!" A man rushed toward me. "Are you hurt? Where are you hurt?" He demanded as he check me for injuries.
  I looked up to see the Tenth Doctor and he wasn't alone. He recognized me which I'm grateful because I think I'm going to throw up if I have to repeat everything again.
  "Doctor, I think she is sick. She is coughing blood. And look at her neck! Is that...? Did someone strangle her with a rope?" The woman fussed over me.
  The Doctor introduced me to Martha, a medical student. He pulled up my chin and asked with a very serious manner, "Who did this to you?"
  I wanted to answer but I coughed up again and then I fainted.
  7777
  I was expecting to be pulled into another place but I woke up to the Doctor and Martha fussing over me at the Tardis medbay.
  I have a clearer mind now. I guess my nervous breakdown has dissipated now. Plus it seemed I got a good rest from that fainting despite the blood bonus. I coughed up again. When I saw the blood, I chuckled. "So, it's finally happening..."
 The Doctor stared at me. "What happened to you?"
  "A lot. And frankly, I'm tired. I'm dying, I'm sure you know from the scanning." I said. "I went to the future, my future, and my friends are all dead and the Doctor is insane." I was being brutally blunt now.
  Despite my words about his alternate version being insane, he seemed to be taking it well. "How can I help?" The Doctor asked instead as he took one of my hand in a gesture of comfort.
  "A cure would be nice. A cure for what did this to me." I said. I told him to investigate their version of the scientist who did this to me. Chances are they would also developing the weapon used to shot me with. Hopefully.
  The Doctor agreed with me.
  "Tell me your finding when or if we meet again..." I said.
  The Doctor and Martha looked at me in confusion.
  I smiled weakly and waved goodbye at them as I felt myself being pulled to another place in another time.
 A/N2: Ok, it's great if you read this till the end despite how bad this is. Just wanna say thank you for reading. Also thank you for those who follow my blog and has leave likes/comment/reblog on my past stories. I hope you will still stick around for some more painful reading.
#thirteenth doctor x reader#13th doctor x reader#thirteenth doctor imagine#doctor who x reader#doctor who fanfiction#doctor who imagine#dark!doctor#shiefenwrites
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for the otp asks! Alex and Henry!!!
1. Coffee shop AU: Who is the barista, and who frequents the coffee shop?
oh, oh, oh, 10000% Alex is the barista whoâs working there part-time to keep up expenses during college and Henry is the customer who has a massive crush on Alex but doesnât know how to ask him out because heâs worried asking him when heâs working might be insensitive (since itâs like, his place of work, and he doesnât want Alex to be obligated to say yes just because he doesnât want to lose a customer)
Alex just thinks that Henry is weirdly attached to the coffee (and honestly, itâs a bit pretentious of him I mean he comes in like 4 times a day, why doesnât the guy just invest in a coffee machine if he likes coffee that much?)
2. Highschool/College AU: Who is the straight-A student, and whoâs the back-row slacker?
i know like canonically Alex is a very hard worker but i just rly like the idea of Henry being a transfer student (because his father wants him to see other countries when he still has the chance, and he gets a layer of anonymity in the US that he doesnât get in England),,,a babie gay whoâs trying to figure out his way in the world and doesnât understand how Alex Diaz is so laid back,,,because he keeps himself up at night trying to maintain his 4.0 GPA and Alex doesnât even care??
(why does Henry care so much about a classmate he barely talks to? thatâs a story for later)
anyway Henry spends a lot of his time trying to figure out what Alexâs deal is,,,and his A.P Chem suffers for it - so his teacher (whoâs just looking out for him) assigns Henry a tutor. He shows up at the library as promised, and sitting at the desk three steps from the back shelf,,, whereâs heâs supposed to meet his tutor, is Alexander Diaz.
No royal training prepared Henry for this
3. Rivals to loves AU: Who takes their rivalry seriously, and who is half in it just to push the otherâs buttons?
i think canonically Alex is the one who takes the rivalry seriously while Henry is just trying to be friends with him đ„ș
4. Enemies to lovers AU: Which one switches sides?
hmm methinks that i like the idea of Henry switching sides for Alex đ
5. Soulmate AU: Who is eager to meet their soulmate? Who absolutely does not want to meet their soulmate?
Princes of England donât get soulmates. Princes of England get introduced to the beauty of makeup at the tender age of six and grow up to marry equally grab princesses who have bags under their eyes before the age of 25.
Too bad Henryâs soulmate didnât get the memo.
6. Single parent AU: Which one is the single parent? (Alt. if theyâre both single parents: Which one is open to starting a new relationship from the start? Which one is never planning on finding love again⊠Until they meet the other and are instantly smitten?)
ooh i like the idea of Henry as a single father? Maybe an ill advised one night stand when he was still figuring out his sexuality?? and he refuses to give up his child, not when he knows what the loss of a father can do to one - and as punishment, his grandmother banishes him to the US because if he insists on raising the bastard (her words, not his), then it certainly wonât be in Buckingham Palace.
7. Doctor AU: Which one is the long-suffering doctor? Which one is the patient?
OH OH HENRY AS THE DOCTOR I MEAN WHO ELSE COULD THE DOCTOR BE and Alex is just,,,,clumsy okay itâs not his fault
8. Bodyguard AU: Who is the bodyguard? Who are they protecting? Which one is secretly pining for the other?
okay so this could go either way tbh but what im thinking is: British Royal Men are expected to sign up for the Military. Iâm not sure if itâs necessary, but itâs definitely like the done thing. So obviously, Henry signs up, but he finds he likes it. Like really likes it. Like heâs found his calling type likes it. So he renounces his title, and does another before he injures himself and has to be honourably discharged.
His grandmother might not like it, but his mother and sister always made it clear that his title was waiting for him, should he want it. But he doesnât want it. Heâs itching to serve and protect, even if he canât serve in the military anymore. Pez, who was an eternal godsend during his years in the military, mentions that heâs setting up a private security firm with some of the other men that they served with and does Henry want to join?
Henry jumps at the opportunity, even though it takes him to the United States, and away from everything familiar. Heâs used to being away from his family. Business is good, if not a little slow - but Pez assures him thatâs just because theyâre recently established. Then, thereâs an attack on the Presidentâs life and Pez and Henry find themselves with the contract of a century: tasked with protecting the First Family.
(Henry would be happier if Alex Diaz, member of said First Family, hadnât been the reason for his sexuality crisis)
9. Pirate AU: Who is the pirate? Who is the member of the royal family who did not sign up for this?
hmm methinks Alex would make a good pirate (as First Mate, Nora is obviously Captain) and Henry is the butthurt prince
10. Childhood best friends AU: Which one was super obviously in love with the other the whole time? Who was oblivious until they were older?
shshshsh LITERALLY HENRY DO BE THE ONE PINING WHILE ALEX IS LIKEÂ âhmm weâre just good FRIENDS yes FRIENDS who sometimes exchange blowjobs heâs such a good FRIENDâ sjsjsjsj
send me a ship for OTP asks
#questions for your otp asks#my writing#firstprince#alexhenry#rwrb#alex diaz#henry windsor#red white and royal blue#anon ty so much for sending this in đ„ș#anon ask#adi answers asks
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Romanâs Idea is Best
By @barelyticklishlee and @why-not-a-tickle-blog
Virgil was outside sitting in a tree with a notepad. Thomas had a date tonight and he had to list all of the things that could and would go wrong.Â
Roman, of course was ecstatic, and Virgil was trying to avoid that at all costs.
Roman was walking in the Imagination. He spotted Virgil, and immediately walked towards him, continuing the argument from where it had left off.Â
âTall, dark, and Emo, hear me out before you run away! I know you donât like them all that much but justâ flowers. What if I compromised, and we did just one? Just one wouldnât be too much!â
âFlowers? Really? That is THE MOST CLICHE thing to bring to a date. Heâll get slapped. Or pre-dumped.â
Roman pouted. âCliche? Itâs like youâre criticizing my very being! I wasnât talking about any old flower, weâd only get the most perfect, unique flower. Iâd go with Logan through the memory, and be sure to pick one with a real meaning to it!â
âBooooorrringggg.â Virgil scribbled something on his list and dangled from the tree.
Roman frowned, throwing himself on the ground and looking up at Virgil. âWell, I donât suppose YOU had a better idea,â he pouted.
â... Pay for the meal with the money we wouldâve spent on the flower and actually treat him right instead of using cliches to win him over. Just a thought, though, right? I donât have any better ideas than the PRINCE.â
âWell, of COURSE weâre paying for the meal! I didnât even know that was a point in contention. Iâm arguing for meal AND a flower! Weâll treat him right AND romance him! And I do like your ideas... sometimes.â
âIâm touched.â Virgil said sarcastically. âAlso, itâs going to be hard romancing him when we could-â He looked at his list. âOrder the wrong thing and not have the guts to tell the waiter to change it because we donât want to bother them.â
âUgh! See this, this is when I do Not like your ideas. Even if it gets to that, we can handle one poor meal in the pursuit of loveâ- OR! Or I can make a joke about it! Between me and Patton weâll make a joke that will blow his socks off!â
âDonât blow his socks off. Itâs the first date. Consent and all that.â Virgil smirked. It seemed like he was almost TRYING to annoy Roman.
Roman suddenly had an idea. He stood up. âOh, come on, you know my ideaâs a good one.â He reached out, his hands held like claws, just over Virgilâs ribs. âAdmit it. You like my idea.â Roman smirked right back at Virgil.
Virgilâs eyes widened and he shot himself back up on the branch. âDohonât.â He pulled his legs up, too.
âNope!â Roman said, rocking his weight from his heels to his toes excitedly. âIâm waiting right here until you admit my idea is the best. And I can wait allll day~â
âHow do we even know this dude likes flowers??â
âWho DOESNâT like flowers???â
âSome people!â Virgil shifted on the creaking branch.
âOh, really? Who?â Roman shifted, with the creaking on the branch, he needed to be in position to catch Virgil in case it fell.
âMe.â Virgil scooted away from him. âTheyâre stupid. If youâre getting your SO something, get it from the heart. Donât get them plants that will wilt in a few days time.â
âFlowers ARE from the heart! Each one has a special meaning, a special message, and putting them together artfully shows your care, and if youâve spent money on them then it shows that youâre willing to spend money for the one you love. And they do wilt after a few days, but that just gives you more chances to show your love!â
âThatâs dumb. I want food.â Virgil gave up and jumped from the tree.
Roman was in almost the perfect position, he only had to move a bit to catch Virgil. âWell, Iâm not denying the appeal of an edible present, but youâve still got to admit that my idea is the best.âÂ
He shifted Virgil in his grip so that his hands had access to his sides, fully intent on tickling the admission out of him if he wouldnât comply.
âRoman! Lehet go!âÂ
Virgil groaned inwardly. He was already giggling? This was going to suck.Â
âOoooh, no, Stormcloud. Iâm not letting go until you say that my idea is the best.â Roman wiggled and scratched his fingers at Virgilâs sides.
Virgil squeaked and pushed Romanâs hands off of him. âNonono- Rohoman! Roman, Iâll hurt you, seriously.â His tone seemed concerned, rather than threatening.
Roman set Virgil down on the ground, sitting on his thighs and trapping his hands underneath his knees. âCanât do anything like this~!â Roman smirked. âAnd now I can get you as much as I want!â Roman tickledÂ
up his sides and over his ribs.
Virgil fell into hysterical giggles, bucking and squirming to try and throw Roman off.
But Roman was stronger than Virgil, and knew how to use it. All Virgilâs squirming did was edge his shirt up and turn his hair into a massive flyaway mess.Â
âCome on, Virge~ all youâve got to do is admit my ideaâs the best~â Roman gave a positively evil smirk. Virgil never, not once let his stomach show, and Roman had a sneaking suspicion he knew why. âOr else I guess Iâll have to push this button here.â
Virgilâs face went a light crimson as he shook his head frantically. âIt doesnât do anything! No use! Donât push it. It wastes your time.â He tried to object.
âMethinks the Virgil doth protest too much,â Roman teased, giving the bellybutton a poke.
Virgil tried to pull his legs up and spewed out a little burst of laughter.
Romanâs grin got even wider. âAw, does this tickle? This little button Iâve found?â Roman gave a series of pokes in a circle all around Virgilâs bellybutton, finishing by dipping his pinky finger inside and swirling it around.
âSohoMEOnEâS gohoNNA see!!â Virgil pulled at his wrists. His face went a deep red.
âOh, little Tickle-me-Emo is embarrassed. You know how to make it stop.â Roman grinned down at Virgilâs bright red face. Since he had full control in the imagination, he grew vines up and around them, twining into a closed bubble that couldnât be seen through. âUnless you donât want it to stop~â
Virgil, now being closed off from society, fell completely limp in a little pile of bubbly laughter.Â
Virgil was stubborn, and that was just a fact. He wouldnât say Romanâs idea was better even if he had to sit like this for the rest of time. But, that didnât sound too bad.
Virgil went limp, and Roman was almost worried for a minute, but he was still happy and bubbly and giggling. Roman grinned, and shifted to a more comfortable position. Virgil could get out of it easier, but he was all puddly at the moment, and he couldnât get through the vines without Roman anyway.Â
Roman traced little curlicues on Virgilâs stomach, his fingers dancing close, but not quite into, his bellybutton.
Virgil seemed genuinely happy, which was rare. Being the embodiment of anxiety, he usually wasnât anything other than worried.
Roman felt very pleased with himself. It was decidedly not how he had anticipated the interaction going, but that didnât make it any less pleasant. He kept tracing for several minutes, moving up over the ribs sometimes, or down over the sides,
Virgilâs giggles were sounding more loopy every second. He was still thoroughly enjoying it, but he also looked close to going to sleep because of the gentle tickles.
Virgil falling asleep? Now that was just not allowed. Roman used one hand to hold his bellybutton stretched out and open, and conjured a feather, swirling and fluttering it mercilessly.
Virgil shrieked and sat up quickly, trying to stop the feather.
âUh uh, no, you arenât getting out that easily!â Roman said, growing two of the vines up out of the ground on either side of Virgilâs chest, to twine together and hold him down to the ground. âYouâre in my world, now, Virgil.âÂ
Roman started dragging the feather in a long, slow spiral, starting from the outside edge of Virgilâs stomach and heading inward.
Virgilâs laughter, as the feather drew inward, got higher and higher pitched.
Roman was laughing himself now, getting closer and closer. But just before he reached it, he snapped, swapping the feather for a softer, more tickly one. He rubbed the end between two fingers, spinning the feather directly inside Virgilâs bellybutton.
All Virgil could do, at this point, was dissolve into hysterics as he was driven closer and closer to insanity.
Roman swirled the feather for only a few more seconds. He didnât want this game to be over quite yet. He went back to the light tracing, giving Virgil a bit of a break.
Virgil pulled one of his hands out of Romanâs hold and rubbed his bellybutton.
âAre you too ticklish for that spot~?â Roman teased, letting Virgil rub away the tickles. Heâd get back to that spot soon enough. âI wonder where else youâre ticklish?â He squeezed and dug his fingers in around Virgilâs hips.
Roman discovered that, while it didnât make Virgil laugh as much, hips were a key melt spot.
Virgil was melting into a little puddle again. âWho wouldâve guessed our resident Emo could be so adorable~?â Roman cooed.
âIhihi- mm-â Virgil lost the ability to form coherent words.
âYouâre what?â Roman asked, teasingly wiggling his finger just over Virgilâs bellybutton.
âHmhmhm- Y-" Virgil pulled his other hand out and covered his face.
âWhat~? Iâm afraid I just canât understand you~â Roman said, dropping his finger down to trace a small circle around the bellybutton and then back to wiggle teasingly. âWhat did you say?â
Virgil whined and pulled down his shirt, holding it there for as long as he could.
âNow, no one said that was allowed,â Roman said, grabbing both Virgilâs hands. He was able to hold them with only one hand since Virgil had been so thoroughly melted by all the tickling. He sloooowly rolled Virgilâs shirt back up, letting out a low chuckle at the little squirms. He traced feather-light circles around and around the bellybutton. âNow, what were you saying?â
âYouhour ihidea...â Virgil was cut off by a river of giggles.
Roman laughed at the stream of giggles, but it just wasnât enough laughter. He twisted his finger down into Virgilâs bellybutton, wiggling and twisting and tickling as best he knew how.
âAH- YOUR IDEA IS B-!!â Virgil jerked at his arms and shut his eyes tightly, letting all of his laughter flow out.
Roman kept tickling for a minute, but finally relented. He removed his hands and just smiled, taking in all of Virgilâs laughter. Laughter that he had caused.
Virgilâs arms fell to his sides. But, Roman realized, he wasnât rubbing away the tingles.
Romanâs smile got bigger. He positioned his hands again, but doubted heâd need them. âIâm afraid I didnât quite hear you a minute ago. It seemed you were going to say something about my idea?â
âYouhour idea... is mildly better thahan mine.â Virgil crossed his arms.
âOh?â Roman smirked. He leaned back slightly. âIâm pretty sure that means I get to keep going.â He reached his hands back and tickled Virgilâs knees.
âIhi said it!!â Virgil kicked at him.
âOh, no you didnât!â Roman said triumphantly, moving to get better access and where Virgil couldnât kick at him. âYou have to say that my idea is best.â
âRoman, you a*s!!â Virgil pushed at his back.
Roman gasped. âVirgil! What would Patton say? I simply cannot allow this.â Roman started squeezing up and down Virgilâs thighs and calves, paying special long attention to tickling behind his knees every time he passed them.
Virgil seemed out of it, now. He laid back, not doing anything to stop Roman. He was tired. Really tired.
Roman stopped. Virgil looked exhausted. He moved to lay down next to him. âYou about done, Stormcloud?â
âMhm...â
âWell, I donât want to tickle you completely to pieces, but I will keep my word. I must insist that you admit to my idea being the best.â Roman leaned over and blew a tickly stream of air at Virgilâs ear.
Virgil hummed. âWhatever... Iâll think about it when I wake up.â
âI bet youâll wake up pretty quick if I go after your tummy again,â Roman said, setting a finger just over Virgilâs bellybutton, only very slightly touching. âCome on, say it and Iâll let you go.â
âMaybe I donât wanna say it.â Virgil looked very smug.
âMaybe I donât want to let you go,â Roman retorted, returning the smug look exactly as he skimmed his finger veeery lightly over the giggle button.
Virgil smiled and scooted back. âFine, then. Just let me sleep first. Hey, could you summon an air mattress?â
Roman grinned. âNope. I certainly donât mind keeping you, and Iâll get you the most comfortable bed in my kingdom to sleep on if thatâs what you want, but you arenât going to sleep until youâve admitted to my idea being the best.â Roman flicked his wrist and a large feather fell into his hand. âDonât think Iâm above pinning you down and using the feather again.â
Virgil squeaked and stood up, backing into the vines. He turned and pulled at them.
Roman jumped up too, giving a playful growl as he picked up Virgil and wrestled him to the ground again. âClearly you arenât too tired for more tickles, since you had so much energy to try and run away.âÂ
Roman pinned Virgilâs hands and pulled up his shirt again, skimming his fingers across his belly with more purpose. Finally, he readied the feather, spinning it with his fingers just over Virgilâs bellybutton.Â
âLast chance, Stormcloud.â
Virgil bit his lip and covered his face. âMfmf mfmf mf mfm mfmf.â He mumbled, squirming in place.
âIâll be honest, I have no idea what you just said,â Roman said flatly. He fluttered the feather. âGuess that means more tickles!âÂ
He cupped one hand around the bellybutton, to hold it still and taut, and spun the feather around with the other, dipping it in and out, over and over, spinning the whole time.
âYOUHOUR IDEA IS BEST.â Virgil burst out through laughter. He grabbed at the vines with one hand to brace himself.
Roman snapped the feather away. âAh, itâs music to my ears.â He clapped once, and they were immediately transported to the most comfortable bed in his kingdom, which happened to be his own. He flopped on his back onto the bed next to Virgil.Â
âAh, that was more fun than Iâve had in a long while!â
Virgil fell onto the bed in a little heap of giggles. â... Ihi didnât mean it.â He said, still stubborn as ever. Roman just said he had to say it. Not that he had to mean it.
Roman laughed. âI figured.â He closed his eyes, enjoying the giggles, and looking forward to a short nap before they had to get ready for the date. âI suppose weâll have to do this again some other time, then.â
âNot if you canât catch me.â Virgil closed his eyes, slowly drifting into sleep.
Roman smirked. Oh, heâd find a way. Maybe if Virgil was naive enough to wander into the imagination again. Trees could be made to catch and capture, after all. But for now, heâd take a nap, his mind replaying all the giggles and squeaks and laughs.Â
Postscript: With Virgil all tickled out and well rested, Thomas had a surprisingly small amount of anxiety about the date, and his creativity just kept coming up with more and new ideas the whole time, making the date go very smoothly.
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Throwing Copper Extended Chapter Notes
1 / 5 Reinventing Your Exit
Hyperlinks appear in blue (underlined on mobile). The story is posted here.
Teresa could see the stress James carried in his jaw and the dark circles under his eyes. She recognized it because sheâd seen it in herself before, the restlessness and slight delirium, when she wasnât sleeping.
The first sentence is an ode to the opening lyrics of Remo Driveâs âIâm My Own Doctorâ: Iâve been self-diagnosing all of my problems, carrying all my stress in my jaw.
David Lee Autry was one of many aliases James had over the last few years but one he maintained with close attention because the so-called Autry had a credit card in his name. James hadnât exactly had time to pack a bag when he broke out of a CIA facility to warn Teresa about impending doom. He showed up in New Orleans in a stolen car, the clothes on his back, contents of his pockets, and a bullet lodged in his chest.
David Lee Autry is the name written on Jamesâ fake passport in 2x03 (around 20:54 in the episode); Pete from the militia group reads it.
James felt a lump in this throat. Whether it was because there was something very domestic about letting someone else do his laundry or because he worried the warning heâd come with wasnât enough to protect Teresa every time she walked out the door, he wasnât sure. But he swallowed his feelings down and didnât put up an argument to her laundry suggestion. He appreciated the clothing George had lent him, but oversized tracksuits and brightly patterned button-down shirts were far from Jamesâ aesthetic. And he absolutely refused to put on King George-branded attire, aerodynamic or not, so heâd been going commando while waiting for David Lee Autryâs online order to show up at Teresaâs PO Box.
When Teresa and James meet King George for the first time in 2x01, we get the lovely scene where he yells for someone to get Teresa a King George bikini (1:12) and later points to the speedo heâs wearing, saying âaerodynamic as shit, will make you feel alive, I trustâ (1:18). And, like, who am I to not bring up aerodynamic speedos and going commando?
The doctor had come back and after patching him up, again, prescribed bed rest for the patient who seemed to be doing everything to keep aggravating his body rather than help it get better. Teresa had been furious, asking if he had a death wish after all, so heâd spent the last two days bored out of his mind in bed from inactivity, barely sleeping and reading Faulkner. Or maybe heâd barely slept because he was reading Faulkner. Either way, James knew it best to tread lightly where Teresa was concerned.
That didnât mean he couldnât sit in a chair at a desk though. Anything would be an improvement over laying on his back and waiting for his thoughts to float up to the ceiling.
So, listen, since theyâre in Louisiana, and given their close proximity to matters of death and dying, if James is going to be reading anything at all, it just feels fitting that heâd be reading Southern literature, specifically William Faulkner. As I Lay Dying is an obvious choice, but personally I think heâd be reading The Sound and the Fury. Not that it matters.
The last sentence in the second paragraph is a reference to âDreamspaceâ by Glacier Veins, and the line that goes Iâm on my back so I float up to the ceiling to feel different.
Teresa had cried herself to sleep that night thinking about everything that could have gone wrong, if he hadnât made it in time, or if he had but if it had been too late for him. It wasnât just anyoneâit was James, and he wouldâve spent his last dying breath to tell her to chase safety if that was what it took.
Never did I think Iâd manage to make a nod to and with my one last gasping breath Iâd apologize for bleeding on your shirt from âYouâre So Last Summerâ by Taking Back Sunday. To be here, in 2020, as an adult, and finding a way to make that reference is...strange yet somehow satisfying at the same time. Also, the chapter title is in reference to a song off the Underoath album Theyâre Only Chasing Safety, and it looks like I found a way to work that in as well. I donât know why my musical inspiration for this version of Jeresa seems to come from music that peaked in the early 2000s?
There was a time when James had been her mentor to the underworld, always keeping her from sinking to the bottom, even when heâd been the one who had to make the tough calls and take the brutal actions. She didnât think heâd ever be able to rid himself of that balancing act, of showing her the ropes but strongly advising her to untether herself from the line completely, to walk away. Teresa could still hear his voice in the back of her mind, from the night after the party at the Birdmanâs when he told her in a matter-of-fact fashion why heâd sent her in: your job was to learn. Since then, and especially in his absence, it seemed thereâd been only tough lessons to learn and bitter pills to swallow.
I have so much appreciation for the early dynamic between James and Teresa. The car scene in 1x05 outside the warehouse is a highlight because when Teresa gets out, all indignant, she thinks she has the last word (0:15), and James comes right back at her (0:21) to tell her how it is. Heâs kind of smug about it. I love it.
And I know that thereâs trouble all the time. But itâs interesting that when they get away from this dynamic (especially in S4 where it doesnât exist, because James isnât there), it seems thatâs where the real trouble comes in.
The balance that they create is delicate.
They were so far removed from the time heâd said Iâve got a plan for a future and it doesnât include getting killed by crossfire meant for you. But heâd chosen crossfireâsought it out, reallyâthat was what his future devolved into. And like heâd said back then, she was trouble. More and more, Teresa had begun to wonder if there was anything the James sheâd first met in Dallas wasnât right about.
I know this scene in 1x04 is often reblogged and quoted. After watching it several times, my only question is if itâs just the lighting of the scene or did they forget to apply Jamesâ tattoos on set that day? I canât watch it or see gifs of it now without that bothering me.
It only took Teresa a day to get the cat to venture inside and it only took George a few minutes to declare its name: Peach. God damn, we got ourselves a grumpy cat on our hands, George had exclaimed as she sunk her claws into his flesh before escaping from his embrace like a magic trick, sheâs got the same personality as Giant Peach over here. Sheâs little Peach.
So I guess I rolled with that bts picture of Peter from Aliceâs story and wrote the cat into the story. I bet this cat makes zero appearance in S5 and at no point do any of them ever have a pet but I did it anyway. The first thought when I saw it was âPeach and Giant Peachâ. Would James be a cat guy? I think he would.
George suspected there was much more to the exchange than the parting words voiced out loud, noticing there was a sense of thanks in her eyes, too. The looks Teresa and James gave each other exuded the tension between them and always made it feel at least ten degrees hotter than it actually was in any room. They had their own way of communicating that only made sense to them, that no one else was privy to. There were better odds throwing copper down a wishing well than trying to decode their language of silence.
The story title comes from âThrowing Copperâ by TouchĂ© AmorĂ©. Like throwing copper in a well. Youâll never know if wishes work only time can tell.
This is not really the part that made me decide to name the story after the song, but I was still happy to find a place for it in the narration.
âThink you might need to reinvent your exit strategy, Giant Peach,â George said with a frown, nearly in disbelief with himself over what he was about to reveal to James.
âReinvent?â
âReinvent. Rethink. As in donât make one. Methinks the last thing Little Principessa needs right now is more people leaving.â George spoke without his usual puns, so James didnât have to question if he was being serious.
As mentioned earlier, the chapter title is from a song off of Theyâre Only Chasing Safety, âReinventing Your Exitâ. I think this might be the biggest Underoath song there ever was? Just listening to this makes me feel 14 again. This was such a gateway to other music that I ended up loving.
Teresaâs evolving thirst for vengeance, to even the score, was foreign to James. It was part of Teresa that scared James a bit. Before he left Phoenix, heâd seen tiny red flashes of her anger, questionable decisions so far removed from when sheâd stood within shooting distance on a train car and said we can do a different way, where none of us has to die. Her vision had seemed clear then; she wanted to move product without the same bloodshed as Camila. When James worked for Teresa, heâd never wanted her to lose herself in the business, and never thought she should stay in the businessâthose were things sheâd said she never wanted, too. But being at the top in the business, like she was, it changed people. It was inevitable. It pulled them down into the fire until there was nothing left but scorched earth.
I get the sense that we are never ever getting this kind of James in canon, who is not totally cool with the part of Teresa that she shuts off in order to be queen. I think we probably get another yes man. And for canon, for the sake of Teresa being the queen, I get it. Thatâs fine. But, in any fic, I always find myself trying to humanize characters and not just leave them as archetypes. The reason this story got so long, the reason there was no way I was going to get through it in 2500 words or less (lol, who am I kidding, I canât write anything of that length), is because I realized this is the James I want to explore. I want to see him push back at Teresa and not just let go, not just get shut down. Because Teresa is far from perfect and she doesnât always make the right decisions (tbh, I think she makes a lot of dumb decisions). Itâs a delicate balance between the two of them that gives the best outcome.
Jamesâ thoughts in this first chapter are the setup for the exploration of the Jeresa dynamic in the next two chapters.
James used to see a blinding light when he looked right into Teresaâs eyes, a moral compass of sorts, always willing him to choose the humanity heâd buried so deep. But now it was light mixed with dark, integrated too well to be separated. Now looking into her eyes was like staring at a flickering light, not sure if it was going to illuminate the cave or burn out.
Here is the part of âThrowing Copperâ that resonated with me for this whole thing: Like staring at a flickering light, you don't know when It'll burn out, or how much time you have left to let it light up your life.
So relevant.
I donât want to lose you. Maybe that had been a proclamation of love in her own way, and maybe that was the last honest thing Teresa had ever said to James, after sheâd realized sheâd been wrong to doubt him. Those words had gripped him and followed him. Heâd found solace and comfort in them even after he left, because heâd wanted nothing more than to stay, but he left to protect her because of what Devon had hanging over his head.
One of the lines in Tegan and Saraâs âThis is Everythingâ is baby, this is the last honest look Iâll ever give. But by the end of the song it turns into baby, this is the last honest love Iâll ever give.
Teresa and James so obviously love each other but they never say that out loud, right? I feel like that moment in 3x12 when she says âI donât want to lose youâ (around 23:05 of the episode) is the closest weâve gotten thus far. Thereâs a silent moment before she says it, and a silent moment after, before James answers and I swear all of it is so telling. The silence. The way they look at each other. The body language. Everything. They know.
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Tony Starkâs Guide to Being a Functional Adult
Step 4: More Basic Adulting (AO3)
âTony? Did you run the dishwasher this morning?â Bucky asked in an odd voice. Â The kind of voice that sounded like he already knew the answer but he just wanted Tony to admit guilt first before chewing him out.
âUh, yeah?â Â The bottom dropped out of Tonyâs stomach as he and joined Bucky in the kitchen where he was staring down into the dishwasher. He looked at the dishwasher too but didnât see a problem. Â âWhy?â
Bucky stared at him in disbelief. Â âThereâs like, five dishes in here.â
âIt was my turn to do the dishes,â Tony said defensively. Â âSo I did them.â
âWell, yeah, thanks for that, but donât run the dishwasher unless itâs full. Â Thatâs a huge waste of water,â Bucky said slowly, making Tony feel like even more of an idiot. Â âIf you do that after every meal our water bill is going to be astronomical.â
âOh. I didnât think about that, Iâm sorry.â
âWhy donât you-â Bucky stopped and pressed his lips together into a thin line.  He closed his eyes, inhaled slowly and exhaled even more slowly.  âIâm sorry,â he said after a moment. âI get these, you know, days where I feel really anxious and stressed out and it makes meâŠâ he drummed his fingers on the counter. âSnappish, I guess. Pissy.â
Tony stared for a minute. âItâs okay,â he said, confused about why Bucky was apologizing. Â Howard had never apologized, not even the time he had given Tony that scar on the bottom of his chin. Â âIâll do better next time, I promiseâ
âHow about from now on, I load the dishwasher, and you do whatever is left in the sink and wipe down the counters?â
âSure, yeah, sounds good.â He paused, watching Bucky as he started to grab the few dishes out of the dishwasher and said hesitantly, âAre you feeling stressed out right now?â
âNo. Yes. I donât know.â Â Buckyâs movements were jerky and his shoulders were tight, so Tony put a hand on his arm.
âHey, Iâll straighten this up,â he said, taking the plates from Buckyâs hands. Â âIs there something you usually do when you feel like this?â
Bucky let him have the plates and sighed, leaning against the counter and running his hand through his hair. Â âYeah, my therapist gave me tips to deal with days like today.â
âWell, then go do what you need to do, I got this. Â Iâll even open up the garage if you want, just come down when youâre ready.â
(More after the break!)
Bucky nodded gratefully and disappeared into his bedroom. Â Tony put the dishes away and wiped everything down until he was pretty sure that even Jarvis would be impressed, then went down to the garage.
Tony opened up the big metal garage doors so he could hear and see the pounding of the rain outside; it had been the sound of the rain on Buckyâs roof that had woken him up that morning, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Tony felt at peace while he laid there and listened to it. Â They didnât have any cars in yet, so as Tony surveyed the shop he figured that if there was one thing he could clean properly, it was a garage, so he metaphorically rolled up his sleeves, grabbed a shop cloth, and got to work. Â He made it halfway through the tool cabinet when his phone rang, so he wiped his hands on his jeans and answered. âHey, Rhodey, whatâs up?â he said cheerfully.
âNot much. How are you doing? Â Sleeping in your car or did you find a place to stay?â
âI found a place to stay,â Tony said, straightening all the socket wrenches so they were lined up neatly according to size. âI found a guy renting out a room who also owns a garage, so I found a place to stay and a job all in one.â
âOh, yeah?â Tony could tell that Rhodeyâs attention had been piqued by something from the way his tone sharpened. âTell me about this guy.â
âNot much to say,â Tony said, suddenly wary. Â He found a couple of lug wrenches leaning against the bench so he hung them up on the wall. âHis name is Bucky and itâs his familyâs business, he bought them out when he got out of the Army.â
âSo heâs cute.â
âWhat?â Tony protested as he started separating the spanners from the adjustable wrenches. âI never said that.â
âYou just did. Â Methinks you are protesting too much.â
âMethinks you are an asshole,â Tony muttered.
âLet me guess. Is he tall?â
Tony sighed because he was so busted. âYes.â
âDark hair?â
âYes.â
âAnd military, huh?â
âOk, look, I donât know where you are going with this-â
âJust saying, Tones, you have a type.â Â Tony could hear Rhodeyâs grin through the phone and he scowled.
âI never should have told you I had a crush on you in college,â Tony complained. âI take back all the nice things Iâve ever said about you.â
âNah, you still love me. Â So howâs everything else going?â
It wasnât much more than a couple of hours before Bucky came downstairs to find Tony organizing and wiping down everything on the tool bench. Â The radio was on, playing something soft and low, and Tony was humming along, swaying gently to the music. Bucky whistled, impressed by how nice the garage looked.
Tony looked up, and his smile made Buckyâs heart turn over in his chest. Â Tonyâs smile was rapidly becoming something that Bucky looked forward to every day. âHey, Buck. Â Feeling better?â
Bucky shrugged. Â âRainy days are usually not the best for me,â he said, trying and probably failing to sound casual. Â âIt was raining like this when, you know,â he gestured towards his empty sleeve. Â For some reason, when Tonyâs eyes went soft and sympathetic it made him feel understood, not patronized. Â Perhaps because his look didnât immediately turn to morbid curiosity.
âIâm sorry, B,â he said simply. Â âIâm glad youâre feeling up to working today, but if you need to go back upstairs, I can-â
âNo, Iâm okay,â Bucky said, not wanting to seem like an invalid.  âI mean, a while ago I would have been spending all day in bed with a rainstorm like this, but itâsâŠâ he wanted to say fine, but it wasnât, really, he still couldnât go out in the rain and listening to it drumming on the sidewalk was making the hair on the back of his neck rise.  âBetter.â
Tony smiled at him and patted the now clean work bench. Â âHave a seat, I made coffee,â he said, and he turned up the music so the rain didnât seem quite as loud.
âYou know how the Middle East gets these like, huge dust storms?â Bucky said as he accepted the cup from Tony. Â âThis one time while I was in Iraq we had a dust storm and a rain storm at the same time.â
âSo it became a mud storm?â
âYeah. Â Raining mud.â Â Bucky took a sip of coffee, eyes far away. âGod, that was miserable. Mud in your clothes, your hair, the way you tracked it everywhere you went. You would go take a shower and be muddy again by the time you got back to your CHU.â
âJesus, that sounds horrible,â Tony said, making a face. Â âMust be kind of nice now, to be able to listen to it and know that you can stay inside, safe and warm and cozy.â
âThatâs true,â Bucky said slowly. He hadnât really thought about it that way before, but knowing that if the sound of the rain got to be too much he could go get on the couch under a blanket and know that someone was around to still take care of things actually made him feel better. Â âThanks.â
It didnât take long for them to fall into a sort of easy rhythm of living together; Tony still screwed up basic chores sometimes, like using the sponge for the dishes to scrub the bathroom or putting dishwashing liquid in the dishwasher when they were out of the little dishwasher pods, and there was that one time the vacuum was making a weird sound so Bucky woke up one morning to find it completely disassembled in their living room, but Tony was grateful that Bucky never blew up at him about any of it. In return, trying to make up for the fact that Bucky had pretty much given him a whole new life, Tony tried to find ways to make things easier on Bucky around the house. Â He repurposed a clamp from the garage to help Bucky open jars and mounted a shampoo dispenser in the bathroom when Bucky complained one night that he had accidentally dumped too much shampoo in his hair in the shower.
Mostly he puttered because he genuinely wanted to be helpful, but it didn't hurt that italso distracted him from the looming issue of his grad school application; the truth was, heâd lost all inspiration for the projects heâd been so excited about before. Â Ironic for him to do all of this, the fight and moving out and everything, only for nothing to come of it because he couldnât figure out what the hell to do for his proposal.
Tony stared fruitlessly at his computer, fisting his hands in his hair with frustration.  All of the ideas heâd had a month ago that seemed so rife with possibilities were justâŠblah. âDammit,â Tony sighed.  At the corner of his draft paper he drew a stick figure with sunglasses and then drew a big missile flying at him and flames all around.
Just then Bucky knocked and said through the door, âThere are new episodes of that cop show you like, do you want to watch it with me?â
âSure, just a second,â Tony called back and shut his laptop. Â He crammed the papers in his desk so he wouldn't have to look at them anymore and joined Bucky in the living room.
"Iâm sorry, where you working?â Bucky asked as he came out, pushing the button on the microwave for popcorn.
âOnly in theory,â Tony sighed as he grabbed two beers from the fridge. Â âStill having problems with my application.â Heâd complained about his lack of inspiration for his proposal enough times that he didnât bother going through it again.
Bucky made a sympathetic face and said, âThat sucks. Maybe some time off will help.â
âCan't hurt, I guess,â Tony said. Â Bucky dumped the popcorn into a bowl and joined him on the couch as Tony hit play on the TV. Â They didnât talk much during the episode but the silence was comfortable, a far cry from the stilted few times that theyâd hung out when Tony had first moved in. Â
Glancing over halfway through the second episode, Tony realized that Bucky had fallen asleep leaning against the arm of the couch with his feet on the coffee table. Â Tony smiled and leaned over to tuck the blanket over Bucky and settled back against the couch. Â After the episode, the app automatically played another episode, this time from a different series. Â Too lazy and comfortable to get up and get the remote, Tony was idly watching MacGyver when an idea occurred to him. He stilled and turned the idea over in his head, examining it from all angles. Â âHoly shit,â he breathed. He carefully climbed off the couch so he wouldnât wake up Bucky and tiptoed quickly to his room before the inspiration was gone. Â Sometime in the middle of the night he came out for something to drink, shaking out his cramping hand, and noticed that Bucky must have gone to bed. Â Finally, at the small hours of the morning, he put his pencil down and flipped through the pages and pages of schematics and diagrams and notes with satisfaction. Â Not only would the new arc reactor design turn the clean energy market on its head, but Howard hadnât made any breakthroughs on it in decades so when Tony showed him up he was going to look like a real asshole. Bonus.
âWakey, wakey,â Tony said, knocking on Buckyâs door. When he answered, looking adorably sleep-rumpled and kind of grumpy, his heart flipped and he knew he probably had a stupid look on his face, but at this point he was too proud of himself to care. âI made you an omelet,â he said, presenting the plate to Bucky. âTook me three hours, but I did it.â
âThis looks amazing,â Bucky said sincerely. âLet me put on a shirt and Iâll be right out.â
âOh, uhâŠâ Tony had been so excited he hadnât even noticed that Bucky was only wearing a pair of boxers and nothing else; it occurred to him that this was the first time he had ever seen Bucky shirtless, and damn.  âSure,â he said, jerking his eyes back up to Buckyâs face, hoping his voice didnât sound squeaky. âIâll just, um, be in the kitchen.  Thereâs coffee, too,â he babbled as he backed away. âAnd OJ, and, uhâŠâ
âCoffee sounds great,â Bucky said with a small smile. The smile told Tony that Bucky noticed that he was checking him out and that realization made his face burn. Â He made his escape and was tempted to stick his face in the freezer to try to cool it off, but instead he just sat down at the table and thought about car engines until all of the inappropriate reactions subsided.
âSo whatâs the occasion?â Bucky said as he came to sit down at the kitchen table. Â âYouâre up early.â
âI am actually up late, I didnât sleep. Â But I wanted to celebrate because I submitted my grad school application!â Tony said proudly, doing a little drumroll on the kitchen table.
âThatâs amazing, Tony! Congratulations! Â So you finished your proposal and everything?â Â Bucky sounded so sincerely happy for him that Tony found himself blushing again.
"Yeah, I had a breakthrough last night while we were watching that movie, and then all of the ideas just wouldnât stop coming.â Â Last night it had seemed like his hands couldnât keep up with his brain; in a flash of inspiration, he had suddenly seen the arc reactor and everything that needed to be done to make it smaller and more efficient and all of its potential applications, and after that it felt like the proposal had written itself.
âThatâs really impressive, Tony. Â I appreciate the omelet, but with news like that, I should be making breakfast for you,â Bucky teased, gently poking Tony in the arm with his fork before he took a bite of the omelet.
âWell, I was already up,â Tony said with a shrug, making a mental reminder to buy more eggs since heâd gone through half the carton trying to make this.
âDinner, then," Bucky said around a mouthful of food. Â "Whatâs your favorite food?â
âOh, uhâŠâ Tony stalled as his brain went through food that was actually possible for a amateur chef to make; somehow he didnât think Bucky would be up for seared swordfish or a white truffle risotto.  âSpaghetti,â he said finally.  Howard hated spaghetti so all of Tonyâs memories of it came from eating it in the kitchen with Jarvis and Ana, and sometimes his mom snuck into the kitchen to eat it too if Howard was busy.
âSpaghetti it is, then,â Bucky said with a soft smile. Â He speared another bite of omelet. âSo whatâs the next step?â
âFinancial aid, I guess,â Tony said glumly. Â The prospect seemed a little daunting; it was going to take some research just to figure out the first step.
âI donât know how helpful I would be, but if you need anything, just ask.â
âI really appreciate it, but youâve already done so much for me,â Tony said. Â âYou gave me a place to stay, a job-â
âCâmon, Tony, youâve earned all of that stuff,â Bucky said, waving off Tonyâs words. Â âItâs not like you arenât paying for the room or earning your keep down at the garage.â
âI know, butâŠâ  Tony didnât know how to put into words the feeling that Bucky had opened up his entire life to Tony and welcomed him into it, giving him stability and a sense of purpose.  Bucky had been patient with Tonyâs myriad fuck-ups and encouraged him when he was down about his application and he was funny and he thought Tony was funny and- âOh, shit,â he blurted, eyes widening.
âWhat?â Bucky asked curiously, scraping up the last of his omelet.
Iâve got a crush on you. Â âI forgot to return a call yesterday,â Tony said, which was true; his mom had called him last night and he hadnât even heard the phone ring because he was so busy with his proposal. Â âIâll go, uh, do that, and Iâll see you downstairs.â Â Â Â
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Book Love part 6 - Nova Blast
And now we have Nova Blast. After finishing the Brothers Trilogy, I was in a position I hadnât been in for a while: What book was I going to write next? Do I start something new or maybe continue writing about the brothers. After a small rest, I started looking about at the various characters I had met in the journey of all the previous books and those that I only knew in passing--characters mentioned, but not introduced.
Well, there was Sari and Jayd, who I had been attempting to write before I wrote about Rum and Gin. But there was also Nova and Thrace chattering at me.
So I tried writing both, see who was talking loudest. Turned out that Nova and his treasure wanted their story told more.
Nova started talking to me...(looks at my files) back in 2007. Wait, really? That would have come around not too long after Golden Boots. Okay then. How time flies. Back in 2007, Nova and Thrace werenât quite ready. I had an opening. I knew how they met, sorta. There were bits and pieces that werenât quite fitting together. In 2007, who they each were, what their exact motives were, wasnât for me to know. I kept checking on them periodically, but nothing.
Flash forward to 2012/2013 and well, these two men started making themselves very well known. Thrace wanted adventure before he settled down to run his estate. Nova wanted vengeance for the death of his sister. What better start could there be to a relationship? (Ha!)
As what usually happens in my stories, the pirate finds their treasure and, surprise, their treasure is not who they thought they were getting (usually surprises me too). Their treasure ends up turning things around and changing the rules while leading their pirates on a merry chase.
Nova never expected someone like Thrace and Thrace wasnât having any of Novaâs shenanigans...at first. It was adventure Thrace was in want of after all.
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[Image ID: Image of a three mast ship sailing through a snowy, icy passage with the words Nova Blast written across it]
Longing for adventure, Thrace never expected to be kidnapped by a wild and lusty pirate seeking vengeance. Looking to avenge his sisterâs death, Captain Nova Blast steals his enemyâs betrothed only to find his treasure. But time is short for both men as duty to home and hearth complicate everything. Story contains strong language and explicit sex. 195,000 words
Amazon / Smashwords / Kobo / Apple / BN
A preview of Nova Blast can be found under the cut.
Thrace could not fully relax as he bathed after cleaning the fish. He kept expecting Nova to barge into the cabin, take the cloth and soap from him, and insist upon aiding him. Nova had whispered of such as they were cleaning the fish, whispered what he would do, how he would touch him. He closed his eyes and tried to push away the image of the rotten pirate doing just that.
He failed.
And never could he mind; no one need know his thoughts. A soft moan slipped from his lips, he could nigh feel Novaâs big hands gliding overâŠ
âThen I am not too late.â Nova grinned wide seeing Thrace in the tub. He closed the door behind him and strode over to the tub, pulling off his coat as he went.
âFuck!â He glared.
âDo ye wish it then?â He tossed his coat aside and started pulling at his jerkin, uncaring if he lost a button. âA hot tumble?â
âNae. I seek not a tumble, but was swearing that I took too long.â Thrace gripped the cloth tight, ready to fight for its keep. âHow is this a seduction when constantly are you badgering me? âTwas only three days previous that we met, two of which I saw hardly a moment of you for the storm, and suddenly I am supposed to fall into bed with you?â
Nova stopped undressing, realizing what Thrace said was true. He was moving quick, quicker than he usually would. âMy apologies. IâŠâ Shit. âAdmit I must to being anxious.â
âAnxious to gain your vengeance against Xaev? That makes me want to fall into bed,â his voice dripped with sarcasm.
Nova opened his mouth and then closed it. Again he opened his mouth, certain he knew what to say, but closed it once more knowing that whatever words he thought to say, they were wrong. Finally he decided the truth needed telling. âNae. Were it just that, I would be moving slow and proper, gain yer trust, yer affection. I⊠Anxious I am becauseâŠbecause the thought of marrying Yoona fills me with dread. You and Feather spoke of such things so ye know that I am to marry this autumn and unlessâŠunless something catastrophic were to occur, there is naught that can stop it.â
Thrace lessened his hold on the cloth and knew in that moment that something was changing betwixt them. Whether or not âtwas a good thing would be decided later. âI⊠I felt the same regarding mine. Handsome is Xaev, but when he kissed me, I felt naught for him. I felt much unease with the embrace. Truth be told, never was I able to imagine accepting him into my bed. No desire did I feel to undress him, to touch him, to have him do the same with me.â
Nova grabbed a chair and sat by the tub. He stretched his legs out and crossed his arms over his chest and concentrated his line of vision upon Thraceâs face or he might continue undressing and join him in the tub. âI know not why he would want to marry ye, for never had I known him to be interested in men. Many times when one protests an interest, âtis oft proven that they do indeed hold interest, but never did he even make face or comment when he would see me seek out a man for the evening. He held nae care, nae thought; âtwas a non-event. Truth isâŠI never knew what interested him for never had I seen him go off with a woman either. Only do I have his insistence that he would marry naught but a maiden. For all I know that was a joke upon his part.â
âHe kissed me not as a man would kiss another man.â
âThen ye have been kissed by other men?â
âAye, aye. A certain way there is when men kiss, a strength to the kiss that is missing when a man kisses a woman. Though since we are being truthful, I wondered about his own experience for there seemed little in his kiss.â
âAnd methinks that ye cannot be maiden to know such a thing.â
Thrace laughed and began rubbing the washing cloth over his arms. âNever did I say I was. If Xaev thought it of me, I know not where he gained the notion. Also have I kissed a woman, which I found interesting, but not interesting enough to attempt more than once.â
Novaâs eyes suddenly took notice of the clothâs movement over Thraceâs finely muscled right arm and found himself staring at an ornate set of markings covering from shoulder to hand. âTattooed ye are.â
Thrace stopped washing and looked at his arm. âAye, tattooed I am; tattooed are you.â
âAye, but I knew not that those of the Northern Seas held such decoration.â He motioned to the tattoo. âWhat is it?â
âThe Asqa Spear.â He held up his hand to show the tip of the spear. âEvery Grand Dusal or Dusalla has held it. Received it I did the day I commanded my first splitfan migrationâI was sixteen. There was quite the celebration that evening.â
âMost surprising I must say.â
His brow furrowed. âI understand not your surprise when you have tattoos covering nigh the whole of your left side.â
ââTisâŠa cultural thing.â
With a nod of understanding, he returned to washing. ââTis quite extensive the work done. Beautiful as well.â
âA prince I am and first born, andâŠâ He pushed that away. âDo ye have other tattoos or is the spear the extent of yer decoration?â Nova grinned when Thrace glowered at him, again his hand pausing. ââTis a simple question and one asked in sincerity.â He motioned to a spot on Thraceâs chest, just under the wet mat of hair. âIt looks like ye have one over yer heart.â
âTwo ravens to represent my father and grandfatherâs journey to The Everafter.â
âRavens? Why ravens?â
ââTis cultural, dating back to the time of the very first Everdaimon, long before Yeryl and Zasara, when the Northern Continent was filled with unending war over territory. Ravens aided in escorting the spirits of the dead to The Everafter.â
âSurprised I am such things still remain.â
âThose of the Northern Seas hold long memories.â
âI suppose much can be answered with cultural. Any other tattoos?â
âThreeâŠâ Thrace paused trying to decide if he mentioned⊠He tried not to think of that one, but not wishing to lie⊠He sighed. âFour others do I have. One on my back, two upon my right leg and,â he turned his right arm over to display a bow nocked with three crossing arrows on the inside of the forearm, âthis one. âTwas done after a successful hunting competition. Won it I have thrice.â
âAnd why there are three arrows?â
âNae, âtis three because when I received it, I could hold three, now am I able to hold five. I need prove it at The Hunt so it may be added to.â He pointed to the filigree lines behind it. âThese indicate the three wins. âTis much the deal, The Hunt; all of the Northern Countries compete.â
âLike yer hoquet?â
Thrace thought about that for a moment. âMayhap, or very close to it. Hoquet, at least at this time, âtis just Nortand and her provinces that compete, though the other countries do play. Plans I had to enter The Hunt once moreââtis being held in Sandyl this timeâbut it looks as if âtwill not bear fruit.â He brushed his hand over the tattoo and then once again returned to bathing, running the cloth under his arms, washing the pits.
âWhat is hunted?â Nova shifted his position slightly, crossing and uncrossing his ankles as he watched Thrace lift his arm up, exposing the side of his chest, admiring the way the muscles and skin stretched along the ribs. âIs there a quantity hunted, a specific size of the quarry needed?â
âNae, nae. âTis⊠We do hunt various quarry, but âtis only a small part, and what is hunted is used to feed those present for the competition. The Hunt, âtis mostly a competition of skill. Inanimate targets are set up at various heights amongst the treesâsmall ones, large ones, those that move, those that are stillâand each competitor hunts them, strikes as many as possible in the allotted amount of time. No set course is there, so each hunt is different for each participant. The targets are set by magik and counted by magik.â
âAre there those that cheat?â
âThere have been such individuals, but always are they outed. The magik used is strict and unforgiving. Does one cheat, one is turned bright red and their scent turned most foul for a year.â
Nova laughed. âAye, sounds indeed strict. And would make life most unpleasant. So, you have won thrice?â
âAye. âTis quite the endurance challenge as âtis held within one of the various mountain ranges across the Northern Continentâevery two years a different country hosts which keeps the areas fresh, the game plentiful, the competition fierce. Some of the targets, the ones worth the most points, are at the higher elevations. Mayhap next time. âTwill be in Koniaq then. Never have I been, so should prove exciting.â
âWould ye be my lover?â Nova blurted. He went still, unable to believe that he had actually asked it. He had never asked before, there had never been need to ask. But the words were out and all he could do was wait and try not to call them back.
Thrace went still, even his lungs, but then his prick dared twitch at the offer and his breath continued in and out, but perhaps a little quicker than before. âCaptain, whether or not you seek vengeance, âtis a temporary acquaintance ours. You are to marry and I am to return to Asqala.â
âIs it something ye would regret, being with me?â
âMost likely not, but⊠Allow me to think upon the matter, at least for a few days.â
âIf lovers ye have had previousâŠâ
âI have cared for each of my lovers, some more deeply than others, but I have cared for them. Sex is naught I play with, âtis a most serious endeavor. I need decide if the ache I will feel at the end of our time is something I could deal with.â He looked at Nova. âAnd I think I would ache greatly when âtis over betwixt us.â
Nova dropped to his knees beside the tub and slipped his hand behind Thraceâs neck. He leaned in to kiss the object of his desire, needing to kiss him, but a sopping wet washing cloth was shoved against his mouth.
âI said, I need think upon this, you rotten pirate.â
Nova started laughing. He had never known an individual such as Thrace. He shoved the cloth away and spit out the water that spilt into his mouth. âI just wished a kiss.â
ââTis never just a kiss with you.â
He bobbed his head from side to side. âWhen âtis ye I hope to kiss, I must agree.â
--
© A. Jane
Book Love: Part 1Â Part 2Â Part 3Â Part 4 Â Part 5Â Part 6Â Part 7Â Part 8Â Part 9
#© A. Jane#A. Jane#Book Love#Nova Blast#book promotion#my writing#pirates#magic#fantasy romance#story snippet#Nova and Thrace
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in the dark kisses for wynn and toni đ
Also features @isaaclahysâs Riya Rose (now you know why I was asking so many questions besides just wanting to know more about her ;)) Hope you donât mind me borrowing her and doing a mini crossover!
âWhatâs with the crowded halls?â Wynn asked as she slipped her messenger bag off her shoulder. She spun the dial on her lock to the last number and popped it open. Thank you, Nedâs Declassified! She hung up her messenger bag and placed her late pass onto the top shelf.
âDidnât you hear? The Southside moved in today,â Riya replied. Wynn hummed in interest as she pulled a box of poptarts out of her bag and held it out to her locker neighbor. Theyâd been placed next to each other alphabetically for yearsâRose and Tateâand their frequent hallway run-ins were something to look forward to. They traded snacks and hearsay when given the chance between classes. It made the part where they had to take classes and do homework a little more bearable. As Riya took off the shiny foil wrapping, her eyebrows furrowed and she asked, âWhere were you anyway?â
âMom had an early doctorâs appointment. And since we only have one car, Pop wanted to cut down on how much he was driving around,â Wynn explained as she took a pink Starburst out of the bag at the top of her locker and popped it into her mouth. âBesides, I wanted to hear what the doctors had to say.â
âIs she okay?â
Wynn shrugged. âAs much as she can be, I guess. No improvements butâŠno setbacks so itâs better than nothing, right?â
âNo news is good news,â Riya agreed with a smile and a bump to her arm.
âOn that subject, I canât imagine that the Serpents were well-received.â
âOh? Did you see the pitchforks in the trash?â
âClose. I was nearly choked by the tension when I walked in.â With a teasing wink she added, âAnd not in the fun way.â
Riya rolled her eyes. âLetâs just say that Cheryl and Reggie made it clear where they stand in the whole thing.â
âIn a pile of bullshit?â Wynn suggested with a smirk. Riya laughed and Wynn went back to getting her books for her next class. She had missed Historyâthankfully!âand Science. So that meant math was next. Good, math was one of her best subjects. She closed her locker, set the first two numbers, and turned around in time to see as people in the hallway started to part. Interest piqued, Wynn looked past Riya to see a group of Southside Serpents, lead by Jughead, walking down the hallway. Jughead sported his almost ever present frown and the other three following behind him held stiff jaws and clenched fists.
Wynn couldnât help but make a comment. âJesus, Jughead, did someone give you coffee that wasnât black enough for you?â
âNot in the mood, Wynn,â Jughead commented, a little more burusque than usual. They traded barbs sometimesâhipster and poser flung the most oftenâbut it was all in good fun. Wynn and Jughead practically grew up together in Popâs; he spent a lot of time there. He was one of their best customers.
Her eyebrow popped. âWhat bit your ass?â
Jughead rubbed his bottom lip with a hand and stepped towards her. She noticed that his dark circles seemed, if possible, darker. âYour boy-toy has no qualms with marking his territory. Think you can put a muzzle on him?â
Wynn scoffed and held up her hands, as if to block his words. âI take no responsibility for his dumb ass. As far as Iâm concerned he can get whateverâs coming to him.â
âWait.â Wynnâs eyes shifted over to the tall one. He brought tall, dark, and handsome to an entirely new level. It was almost as if he stepped out of the pages of some YA romance novel, tattoos, narrowed eyes, and all. âFleabag belongs to you?â
Wynn blinked, stunned, though she wasnât sure if it should be attributed to someone actually referring to Reggie as Fleabag or to the fact that thisâŠguy thought that he was her possession. Thankfully, Riya spoke up before she could. âDonât mind him, this serpentâs more bite than venom.â
Tall, Dark, and Handsomeâs stern gaze turned to Riya and she held it, lifting her eyebrows as if to challenged him. An amused smile blossomed on Wynnâs face as she looked back and forth between the two. For a brief moment her eyes locked with the girl who stood closest with Tall, Dark, and Handsome and she noticed that she, too, was restraining a smile.
âAnyway,â Riya said with a flippant tone, âthatâs Sweet Pea for you.â Wynn really had to keep from laughing. Of course his name would be Sweet Pea. The only other option would be Tiny, wouldnât it? âThatâs Fangs,â Riya motioned to the quiet boy that stood behind Jughead, âand this is Toni. Guys, this is Wynn.â
âHey.â Wynn lifted her chin in Toniâs direction. âI like your hair.â She really did; she was jealous of the color and how well it set in Toniâs hair. If sheâd tried to do anything to her pile of curls sheâd be paying for it later.
âThanks.â Toni gave a half smile as she pulled on the end strands of her hair. âI like yours too.â
Wynn made a face. âYou say that now. This is after taming it for two hours. if it rains? Itâs a goner.â
âOh, girl, I know,â Toni said with a little laugh. âThe trick is to use a little more conditioner than usual. Itâll lock everything down.â
âSpeaking of lockdown, we should get to class,â Jughead spoke up, clearly uninterested in the efforts of a good hair day. âBefore weâre put under lockdown.â
âActually, this is my locker,â Toni said, pointing to Wynnâs right. âSo, Iâll just meet you guys in class alright?â
The boys grunted in response and ambled away. Save for Sweet Pea, who seemed to make it a mission to have some sort of staring contest with Riya as he walked away. Grumbling, Riya said around her poptart, âTake a picture, itâll last longer!â
Toni chuckled as she opened her locker door. âIf he can see through his heart-eyes, that is.â
âThatâs a laugh. Sweet Pea wouldnât know what a heart is if someone ripped it out of their chest and presented it to him,â she said.
âThe lady doth protest too much, methinks,â Wynn said in an airy tone. Riya gave her a look and Wynn shrugged. âHamletâs a good play.â
âKeep Shakespeare out of my life.â
Wynn laughed. âWould you prefer a Greek Chorus instead?â
âOoh, Iâm down for that,â Toni spoke up, a smirk curling on her lips as she put her bag in her locker. âFollowing you around all day, voicing those oh so forbidden thoughts that tend to run through your mind when Sweet Peaâs around.â
âMaiming and dismemberment?â Riya offered.
âJust what every girl fantasizes,â Wynn joked. Her eyes shifted back over to Toni, slipping down her neck and resting on the camera that hung in front of her. She hummed. âNice equipment you got there.â When Toniâs chin hit her chest and then was followed closely by a raised brow, Wynnâs eyes fluttered closed and she briefly stuttered out, âC-camera. Talkinâ âbout the camera. Not your jugs.â
âWell, they are nice,â Toni said with a particular incline to her head. Wynn cleared her throat. âAnd thanks. Itâs nothing special but it gets the job done.â
âOh, forgot to mention,â Riya spoke upâWynn didnât miss the shit-eating grin on her face, âToni was on the newspaper back in Southside High. She was saying something about wanting to check out the dark room.â
âBeing that you actually have one, figured I should get myself familiar with it,â Toni agreed.
âLucky for you, Wynn here is the photographer for the yearbook,â Riya said with a nudge to Wynnâs arm.
Wynn gave a modest shrug. âWe use digital mostly, the dark roomâs just a formality and if anyone wants to learn how to use actual film. Or if we want to go for a certain affect.â Spotting the way Toniâs eyes lit up she said. âWould youâŠlike toâŠsee it?â She didnât know why it came out as a question; something about Toni had shifted her self-absurdness off-kilter.
âOnly if we have time. I donât want to make you late for class.â
âShe has a pass,â Riya jumped in. She slapped her hand on the slip at the top of Wynnâs locker and practically shoved it in her hands. âCome find me at lunch, okay?â She closed her locker and said to Wynn with a wide smile âyouâre welcomeâ and hurried away.
Wynn blinked at Riyaâs retreating back and clutched her late pass in her hands. Sighing, she turned on her booted foot and flashed a smile at Toni who stood by, waiting. âSoâŠhow are you liking Riverdale High so far?â
âWell, the windows are intact, you have working toilets, the teachers actually know your name, and Iâm not getting frisked every morning,â Toni replied. âSo far, this is a nice step up.â
âJust wait. That shiny veneer that makes everything look like gold will be stripped away soon enough and youâll find everythingâs just bronze.â
âWell, when youâre used to tin, bronze is a nice step up.â
Wynn bobbed her head; she understood that sentiment wholeheartedly. She wasnât ashamed to say that she got excited when she got her first phone three years ago. It was a few generations behind all her friends and some of the buttons were wonky but it was a phone and it was hers.
âSo howâd you get into photography?â Wynn asked, glancing to her side. Her mouth twisted to the side when she spotted Toni walking with her elbows out, as if waiting to push someone out of her way. In the spacious halls that housed Riverdale High it was an odd sight. She didnât comment on it.
They spoke with an ease that loosened Wynnâs otherwise stiff tongue, marveling in their shared revelations that they both lived with their grandfathers, worked as waitresses at their local eateries, had an interest in photography, and that their grandfathers were the ones that bought their âbabiesâ: for Toni her camera, for Wynn her podcasting microphone.
By the time they reached the room in question Wynn had to mentally get a grip on herself lest people would notice the little wings that sprouted on her shoes. She had a good group of friends but not many girl friends, save for Riya and Valerie, so it was nice to get along with someone who was a lot less prone to dramatics as compared to Betty and Veronica.
âWait, hold on. Lemme justâŠâ Wynn knocked on the door a couple times, pressed her ear to it, and then turned the knob. âWeâre good.â
âWhat was that about?â Toni asked, following her into the room.
âPeople sometimes sneak in here to makeout,â Wynn replied with a wave of her hand. âYou have to be careful or else youâll get an eyeful of something you werenât prepared for.â
âWorse than someone on a coke binge?â
Wynn whirled around; Toni had said it with such nonchalance, almost as if she were commenting on a cloud in the sky. What kind of school was Southside High? She heard rumors, of course, but those things tended to stay that way. Where there was smoke there was fire and blah blah blah but she wasnât the sort to put much stock into what people whispered about. She lived in a world of facts (and, yes, she knew she was being a bit hypocritical since she consumed Riverdale gossip but that was bonding time and that was different.)
âWell, I mean, if you donât mind trading a few winks with a one-eyed monster thenââ
âGross!â Toni said, laughing. She held up her hand. âI think I get it.â She slowly walked around the room, the heel of her boot echoing with every step she took. Wynn stayed back, watching Toniâs face as she took in the computers and printers and equipment stationed around the room. Watched the awe settle into Toniâs eyes and slacken her jaw. âIs this the dark room?â She pointed at a closed door in the back.
âYeah. The room next to it is where we develop pictures in the bath and everything.â Wynn walked around her, catching a whiff of something melon scented and opened the door. âOnce the light is off, the red bulb on the outside goes on so people know that itâs occupied and not to open the door. Lest they want to suffer a very slow and painful death.â
âBut how do you keep the light from getting in?â Toni asked.
âThe door goes to the floor. Itâs not ideal for the claustrophobic sort, let me tell you. This dark room actually does its job. It gets dark.â
âCan I see?â
Wynnâs eyebrows lowered. It was a bit of a strange question, she had to admit. It wansât too hard to figure out what a dark room looked like but the particular way Toni looked at her made her swallow her words of confusion and instead nod stiffly.
She waited for Toni to enter the room and closed the door. Hmm, she didnât remember it feeling this small. Granted, she was rarely in the room with another person save for a few stolen moments last year⊠She scrunched up her nose, shook her head, blew out a breath and then flipped the light switch. Toniâs face was replaced with a stifling swath of pitch black. Wynn rubbed her hands on the legs of her jeans, and then winced when they brushed against something as they swung forward.
âShit, sorryâcanât see you.â
Toni laughed. âThatâs kinda the point, right?â Her voice came from somewhere in front of Wynn. It sounded a bit closer than it had before.
âYeah. Riverdale does a few things right.â
Silence. ThenâŠ
âSoâŠyou used to date that guy?â
âWho?â Wynn hated how small her voice sounded.
âFleabag?â
âReggie.â She licked her bottom lip. âItâs..complicated.â
âAlways seem to be.â
âI guess.â Wynn cleared her throat. âI broke up with him over the summer.â Not that you needed to know that. Still, she felt compelled to explain.
âOh?â Her voice was definitely closer now. Something brushed against her hand. She didnât move away.
âYeah. Just another mistake Iâm trying to move on from.â
âTo another guy?â
The steady thump-thump-thump of Wynnâs heart sounded in her ears and her mouth dried and she suddenly wished they werenât encased in darkness. âTo anyone at this point,â she uttered.
The melon scent hit her again; overwhelmingly so. She tasted it on her tongue; cantaloupe or something of the like. She didnât think on it too much for, a second later, she tasted something sweeter: Toni.
Sparks shot through her at the briefest touch of Toniâs lips against hers. It was a chaste kiss; a little sticky from Toniâs lipgloss. It was different, very nice but different.
Wynnâs breath shook and she alternately pushed her thumb against each knuckle until they popped, a nervous habit she was yet to break. Toniâs fingers brushed against hers, and then her hands held on tight. Almost pulling her down.
Wynn took a step forward, pressing her lips against Toniâs. Her eyelids fluttered shut, she sucked in a breath when Toni pressed back against her andâ
Brrrrrrrriiiinnnngggg!
Startled, Wynn jerked backwards. Her chest heaved and her hands shook. âThat was the bell,â she managed to utter. Damn, one kiss from a pretty girl suddenly turned her into Captain Obvious.
âI know,â Toni replied. Wynn almost saw the smile on her face.
âYouâre going to be late for class.â
Toni squeezed her hands. âThatâs okay. People probably expect it. After all, I have a reputation to uphold.â
âOh yeah?â Toni leaned in and kissed her again, so Wynn continued against her mouth, âWhat kind of reputation is that?â
Toni let go of Wynnâs hands, choosing to wrap them around her neck instead, drawing her closer. âShut up and Iâll show you.â
Wynn did as she was told.
#isaaclahys#fyeahriverdaleocs#fyeahocsofcolor#ocappreciation#again i got carried away. this was supposed to be short! T^T#i just like to take time and set everything up apparently#toni topaz#riverdale fanfic#toni topaz x oc#riverdale#under a read more for length#because this was supposed to be short!!!
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Waltzing's for Dreamers, Chapter 17 (a Walking Dead story, Caryl AU).
Title:Â Waltzing's for Dreamers.Â
Rating:Â PG if that.Â
Warnings:Â some language.Â
Characters/Pairings: Carol/Daryl, Jadis, Beth Greene, Ezekiel, mentions of Sophia Peletier, original character, Noah, Eric Raleigh, allusions to Carol/Other, mention of Tobin, Benjamin.Â
 So sorry about the delay on this. I was blocked on this chapter for a number of reasons, but then Jadis just inserted herself and the log jam cleared and I'm still not completely sure if that's a good thing, lol. I'll take what I can get, though. ;)
  Waltzingâs for Dreamers
  Seven years after Vegas. Second week of April. Aka, Prom week.  Â
   The auditorium is already humming with activity when she slips inside. Ducks into the back row to hide in the shadows with the rest of the latecomers hoping to go unnoticed. Of course, she isnât that lucky. The part-time art teacher, full-time pain in her ass this particular time of year definitely notices.Â
 âAre we going for unfashionably late orâŠâÂ
 Carol simply uncaps her water bottle and takes a measured sip. Mulls her words and her life choices. Because taking the long way around? Sprinting clear across campus in an effort not to inadvertently cross paths with her should have already been, soon to be (if not already) ex-husband? Well. Not only is it ill-advised and more juvenile than sheâd ever care to admit out loud, itâs more of a workout than sheâs ever previously realized and she vows to be a little more understanding the next time one of her students has to do the same. Jadis, however? Doesnât necessarily deserve her good will but she gives it to her anyway. Until she presses her luck.Â
 âVery boho-chic.âÂ
 Itâs not so much the words she says. It never is actually. Itâs the way she says them and Carol fights the urge to scowl like a child, which she suspects is very much the reaction the other woman is going for. Instead, she schools her expression and glances down at her ensemble. The long, gauzy peasant skirt that (hopefully) hides the fact that she is too tired dealing with the prom and this play business, dealing with the kids and their respective busy schedules, dealing with Darylâs return and all the emotional upheaval it has caused in so very short a time to really care if she hasnât shaved her legs in a few days. The loose, flowing tunic with its pretty paisley pattern that makes her feel like a bit of a gypsy queen and the ancient ankle boots that are broken in and comfortable and still kind of low-key sexy. She looks back up, matches her seating companionâs lifted brow, and smiles, obviously catching her off-guard. âThanks. Did you do something different with your hair?âÂ
 âAs a matter of factâŠâÂ
 âVery David Bowie.â
 Jadis narrows her eyes and leaves in a huff, insinuating herself with the group of flummoxed music students a couple of rows down. Beth among them.  Â
 Carol barely has any time to celebrate her departure before Ezekiel is claiming the womanâs abandoned chair and dumping a pile of dog-eared scripts in her lap. âWhat is this? No. No. This is your dog and pony show, remember?âÂ
 âBut I disagree, fair maiden. Twas your students, if I recall, that chose this yearâs production.â  Â
 Rolling her eyes at him, she mutters, âYeah. A group of departing students with an ax to grind.â She shudders at the memory of a weekâs worth of performances of Seussical and glares at the back of Jadisâs head because the womanâs artistic vision for the show had been a source of nightmares at her house for weeks. With even Sophia suggesting they shelve anything Dr. Seuss related until it all had time to fade from their consciousness. When the kids had voted to permanently retire it, she hadnât voiced any objections and neither had he or any of the other teachers involved in the joint venture except one. âDo you really blame them?âÂ
 Lost in the fog of his own memories, Ezekiel intones, âI do not. And yet, Romeo and Juliet is a marked improvement.âÂ
 They donât discuss it any further because the door next to the stage opens and bright sunlight and more people spill inside, including Noah and the man sheâs been so desperately trying to avoid for days now. âYou didnât.âÂ
 Ezekiel doesnât even bother to deny his guilt, instead taking credit where credit is due and seeming to delight in her utter state of shock and shrugging off her assertion of betrayal. âOh, it would seem that I have indeed. You cannot run from love forever, Carol.âÂ
 Maybe not, Carol thinks as she studies Daryl unaware. His dark blond hair falling across his blue eyes and the button up shirt stretched tight across his broad shoulders. The snug jeans that have more than a few of the teenage girls in the auditorium voicing low twitters of approval and her own reawakened hormones staging a revolt against her better sense.  Fortunately, sanity prevails. After all, his physical beauty she can resist. However challenging it might be. The marvel of his heart beneath his gruff exterior? Well. Thatâs a different story altogether and damn Ezekiel for pushing the issue. She knew she never should have trusted leaving him alone in an inebriated Ericâs presence at the last staff party. Making a mental note to have a little talk with the loose-lipped band director as soon as this meeting is over, she tells him, âThereâs nothing to run from. Not anymore.âÂ
  âMethinks, the lady doth protest too much.â  Â
 âLove is overrated.âÂ
 âCarol, Carol, Carol. DonâtâŠâÂ
 âBullshit a bullshitter. I know,â she hisses, mindful of the curious eyes that are starting to turn in their direction. âIâve heard it all before. And anyway. Isnât that somebody elseâs line?â Feeling cornered, with her emotions more than a little bit raw due to all of the revelations of the past month and a half, she lets her anger at the whole fucked up situation bleed through. âYour schtick is getting old and I donât appreciate you sticking your nose in where it isnât wanted.âÂ
 âI was merely trying toâŠâÂ
 âHelp?â She laughs derisively. Quietly as she looks away from him. Knots her fingers in the folds of her skirt.  Â
 âMock me if you will, but do not deny that you pine for him and he for you. Anyone with eyes can see it. Even those that do not know the half of your history together. And this situation with Tobin, his very public proposal...âÂ
 She cuts him off with a finger to his chest. âIs none of your business.â Pulling the strap of her messenger bag onto her shoulder and standing, she canât find it in herself to care anymore about whatever audience they might have. Shoving the scripts back into his arms, she shakes her head. âWhy do you even care?âÂ
 âBecause it makes me feel good. And because I do not wish to see two very stubborn people make yet another mistake. This one irreparable.âÂ
 âItâs our mistake to make. Ours.âÂ
 âExcuse me. Sir? Ms. Mason?âÂ
 As one, the sparring adults answer. âYes, Benjamin?â
 âA few of us were talking and we wondered if we could go ahead and get started. We got prom committee, too, and we still have a shiâcrapton of work to do, Sir.âÂ
 Carol uses his distraction in answering the boy to make her escape and she doesnât look back. If she had? Well.  Point is, she doesnât.Â
 Darylâs steely gaze softens and lingers on her in concern anyway.Â
#The Walking Dead#Caryl fanfiction#Caryl#Carol x Daryl#Waltzing's for Dreamers#aka What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas fic#stuff that I write#Jadis#Beth Greene#Ezekiel#Noah#Eric Raleigh#mentions of Sophia Peletier#original character#allusions to Carol/Other#mentions of Tobin#Benjamin#some language
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